gbe Vrobinses.

The proposition of a new declaration on subscribing the Thirty-nine Articles in Oxford University is not to be pressed. The precise agency which brought about the change of policy is not stated; but we may men- tion a fact antecedent to it. A case was submitted to Sir John Dodson, the Queen's Advocate, and Mr. Bethell, Queen's Counsel, to elicit their

opinion whether the House of Convocation has the power to degrade Mr. Ward for a theological offence such as that imputed to him; and whether it has the power to pass the proposed new " test "? Sir John and Mr. Bethell delivered an opinion against the competency of the University on both points, as follows- " We are of opinion, that the House of Convocation has not the power of de- priving Mr. Ward of his degrees, in the manner or on the grounds proposed. A degree is a certain dignity or title of honour which the Umversity derives its right to confer by grant from the Crown; and to the rank or status thus con- ferred the law has annexed many privileges, both ecclesiastical and civil. The University i can have no power of taking away this dignity and the franchises with- which it s accompanied, unless such power be derived from the same source, namely, royal grant, or has been created by some statute or by-law which has received the sanction of the Crown, or been confirmed by act of Parliament. " But, upon an examination of the statutes of the University, we do not find any statute winch confers upon or recognizes in the House of Convocation a jurisdic- tion or authority to deprive any one of its members of his University franchise, except only in the subordinate office of publicly executing the antecedent decree of a court of competent jurisdiction: and we are therefore of opinion, that the pro- posed act of degradation will, if it passes, be illegal; and inasmuch as by its con- sequences it would deprive Mr. Ward of certain legal rights, we think it may be pro- perly made the subject of application to the Court of Queen's Bench; and that such Court would by mandamus compel the University to restore Mr. Ward to his degrees, and to the status and privileges which he now holds in respect of them. " We desire to observe, that we give no opinion on the question whether Mr. Ward, by the publication of the doctrines contained in his book, has or has not committed an offence against ecclesiastical law, which might be made the sub- ject of a proper judicial proceeding before a competent tribunal; but simply, that in our view of the case the House of Convocation is not sticli-a tribunal, and that the notion that it can degrade by virtue of some general or legislative power ap- pears to us to be erroneous. Should the resolution pass, Mr. Ward may have another remedy, namely, as appeal to the Crown as Visitor of the University; and this may be resorted to even if the Court of Queen's Bench should, on an application for a mandamus, de- cline to interfere.

" With respect to the second statute, which in effect proposes to annex a new sense to subscription, we are of opinion that it is contrary to law. The law re- quires the clerical subscriber to take the Articles in their literal and grammatical sense: but the proposed statute requires him to take them in that sense in which he believes them to have been originally fi-amed and promulgated, and also in the seam in which he believes them to be now accepted and taken by that body which at the time of his subscription constitutes the University. Thus, the belief or conjec- ture of the subscriber upon these two difficult subjects of inquiry is substituted for the legal interpretation. Should this statute pass, protesting members of Convocation might perhaps appeal to the Queen in her capacity of Visitor of the University; but a shorter remedy will be to apply for a prohibition, in case the Vice-Chancellor shall proceed to require any member to subscribe the Articles with the proposed declaration. JOHN DODSON.

" Doctors Commons, 17th January 1845." RICHARD BISTHELL..'

The Standard announces, "that, in deference to the opinion of a large number of the members of Convocation, who have expressed their dissent from the proposed alterations, the intended additions to the statute, tide xvii. sect. 3, De Auctoritate et Officio Vioe-Cancellarii, will be withdrawn; and so form no part of the academical business to be considered and deter- mined on upon the 13th February." An Oxford correspondent of tits Globe adds some further information- " In this ease there will remain to be submitted to Convocation on the 13th February two questions only,—one, of the consistency of Mr. Ward's propositions with good faith in subscribing the Thirty-nine Articles; the other, of his being re- moved from his degree. It is said that, whatever question may still exist as to the latter ni the Hebdomadal Board have in the ease of Mr. Ward acted t b- out under the best legal advice. There is no doubt of the resolutions against isle book passing by a Large majority; but the degradation of the author will be resisted by the whole force of the Tractarians, on the excuse of presumed illegality. Many Liberal members of Convocation will also vote against it, or be neutral, on the ground of its being a privilegium."

The prospect of a " new test" of sincerity in subscribing the Thirty- nine Articles has excited a good deal of dissatisfaction among various classes of Churchmen, and appears to have drawn forth a remarkable cor- respondence between the Reverend Canon Wodehouse and the Bishop of Norwich. The Canon had before tendered the resignation both of his benefice and his canonry, on the ground that he objects to certain parts of our ritual," namely, the damnatory clauses of the Athanasian Creed, the form of absolution in the office for the visitation of the sick, and the fol- lowing part of the form of ordaining priests: Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a priest in the church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained,' &c." And Mr. Wodehouse, whose letter is dated on the 11th November, again urged the acceptance of his resignation. The Bishop, however, writing on the 15th of the same month, declines to accept it; for the following rea- sons- " 1st. Because I believe that the objections you entertain to certain parts of our ritual, in their literal acceptation, are not inconsistent with a sincere and hearty attachment to the general doctrines of the Church, and to the form of prayer prescribed by it.

' 2d. Because, considering the number and nature of many of the propositions included in our Thirty-nine Articles, the Homilies, and the Book of Common Prayer, to which assent is given by subscription, it is impossible that any number of individuals should view such propositions in exactly the same light and sub- scribe to them in precisely the same sense. Latitude in subscription is therefore absolutely unavoidable.

"3d. Because such latitude has been repeatedly recognized and defended by the

highest authorities in our Church, from the time of the Reformation to the pre- sent moment, when it is claimed and exercised in its fullest extent by many who hold and proclaim opinions much further removed from the spirit of our Pro- testant Church than are any objections of yours; as well as by many who have taken the same view as yourself of the points to which your scruples refer. There would therefore be a manifest injustice in allowing you to resign a situation which you have filled long and usefully, while others, who on the same grounds would be eQually. called to resign theirs, continue to retain them.

" The interpretation you entertain of the points in question has been so far

acknowledged and established by general consent, that a latitude to that extent may be fairly and properly exercised by any who are called upon to subscribe to the Thirty-nine Articles and Book of Common Prayer, although there may be others who are anxious to carry out to their full extent those remnants of Roman Catholic worship and priestlypower which, under the peculiar circumstances of the times when our Church was gradually severing itself from that of Rome, were still retained in our reformed ritual.

" Whilst, in the exercise of that discretion intrusted to every Bishop, which in the present state of the Church cannot be shared with any other adviser or au- thority, I come to the above conclusions, I at the same time feel strongly with you, how far more satisfactory it would be if steps could be taken to remove diffi- culties and remedy evils, of which many, and, I have reason to believe, an increasing j

number of our clergy, justly complain. For it is impossible to shut our eyes to the obvious truth, that a clearer explanation is required of some words and phrases that are rather of doubtful signification, or otherwise liable to miscon- *traction,' in days like the present, when our Church is so fearfully divided against itself, and suffering from dissensions and internal schisms far more dangerous and perplexing than those with which she is assailed by adversaries without her sale."

The disturbances at St. Sidwell's Church in Exeter were thrice renewed on Sunday last. In the morning, when the Reverend Mr. Courtenay ascended the pulpit in his surplice and proceeded with those innovations that have excited so much dissatisfaction, about two-thirds of the congre- gation rose up, looking about, whispering, shuffling, and indulging in other expressions of curiosity and " excitement "; while a score or two went away. When Mr. Courtenay left the church, he was received by a great mob; who attended him, hooting, to his lodging; the police escorting the reverend gentleman, as a protecting guard. The same scene was repeated in the afternoon; with the difference that, as it was getting dark, it was more difficult to preserve order. In the evening, the Reverend Dr. Cole- ridge preached a sermon on the text " Thou art full of stirs, a tumul- tuous city "; in which he upheld the spiritual supremacy of the clergy. He too was attended to his carriage by au uproarious mob and a guard of police. The Reverend J. T. Toye, Rector of St. Stephen's in Exeter, having persisted in his innovations, his parishioners met and discussed the matter at great length. The Rector had said that when his ministry was no longer profitable, and when requested by the parishioners to resign his rectory, he would be prepared to do so; on which it was resolved, " That this meeting, considering his ministry will in future be unprofitable, does, with feelings of unmingled sorrow, suggest that it will be the most proper course for him to adopt."

On Tuesday, one of the hooters was brought before the Mayor, charged with exciting a riot. As it was a first offence, he was discharged. with an admonition.

The Anti-Corn-law League held the "great aggregate annual meeting," at Manchester Free-trade Hall, onWednesday evening. " Nearly six hun- dred gentlemen of wealth and influence" attended, many as deputations from other manufacturing towns; and altogether " it was an overflowing and most enthusiastic gathering." The Secretary, Mr. Hickin, read a report from the Council.

It extends over a period of fifteen months—from September 1843 to December 1844. Alluding to the electoral movement, for which a fund of 100,0001. was de- manded, the report stated, that England and Wales had been divided into thirteen electoral districts; to each of which an agent was appointed, to promote effectual registration, &c., and to report on the state of the district in such respects. 'Un- der this arrangement, 160 boroughs in England and Wales were visited during the past year; the League having secured a gain in 112. More than two hundred meetings, attended by a deputation from the Council, have been held in England and Scotland since October 1843. Of these meetings, more than one hundred and fifty have been held in Parliamentary boroughs. The lecturers of the League have pursued their vocation in thirty-six out of forty English counties, and in nearly all the Welsh counties. More than ;000,000 stamped and other publications have been ; besides 15,000 copies weekly of the League newspaper issued for sub- scribers to the League fund. The letters received during the year, in London and _Manchester, were 25,000; despatched, 300,000. Alluding to the electoral proceed- uws, the report says—" The government of this country is at present in the hands a Class, solely through the instrumentality of the Chandos-clause, which places the County representation at the mercy of the landlords, through the votes of less than 200,000 tenants-at-will in England and Wales. From calculations carefully made, the Council are convinced that it will be practicable, in a short time, to in- duce such a number of the friends of free trade to purchase freehold qualifications as will neutralize those dependent voters at the poll, and give to the intelligent middle and industrious classes their due influence in the government of this com- mercial country."

A separate financial report stated the receipts on account of the 100,0001. fund at 86,0091; the expenditure, 59,3331.; balance in hand, 26,6761.

In addition, the Chairman, Mr. George Wilson, explained, that when the League first launched the address in which they asked from the country a con- tribution of 100,0001., they had it in contemplation to raise a large portion of that amount by a bazaar to be held in Covent-Garden Theatre; but that bazaar had not yet been held. The amount received, therefore, was quite as much as they had anticipated.

On the motion of Mr. Edward Baines of Leeds, seconded by Mr. Law- rence Heyworth of Liverpool, the report was affirmed.

Speeches were delivered by Mr. Milner Gibson and Mr. Bright; who triumphantly referred to the report for disproof of the insinuations that the League has retrograded.

Within the last fortnight, the Carlisle manufacturers have advanced the hand-loom weaver's wages fully 9 per cent; making a total advance of 20 per cent on wages since the spring of 1844.

At the first annual meeting of "the Northamptonshire Society for the Protection of British Agriculture and Native Industry," on Wednesday, Sir Charles Knightley, in a high Protection speech, uttered some remarks that will be more welcome on the opposite side than among his own friends.

He complained of the tariff. When Sir Robert Peel brought in his tariff, he gave as a reason for proposing it, that flesh-meat was too high-priced for poor people to procure. It was then about sixpence per pound, on the average; it was now not more than fourpence-halfpenny. But that price was ruin to the agricul- turists, for it was impossible for them to breed and feed stock for a less price than sixpence. The Government, of course, said that it would do the agriculturists of England no harm—nothing that they proposed did them harm: they said that only five thousand beasts were imported since the passing of the bill, and that there was no probability of increase. But that importation was only the begin- ning of the evil, in his opinion. Few persons were aware of the extensive prepa- rations which were making abroad for breeding for the English market; and it was impossible to predict the result. It might not answer the purpose of the foreign breeder., doubtless, to send live stock to this country; but from the arrange- ments that were everywhere in progress abroad, there was no question that meat would soon be had from those quarters as fresh as if it came from Herefordshire. A still greater injury to the Englishagriculturist would be the quantity of salt provisions with which the market would be flooded. Even at this moment that branch of the tariff was working with the greatest activity. A friend of his had been informed by a large Navy-contractor that he got all his contract-meat from America this year, instead of getting, as before, his pork from Ireland and his beef from England.

He alluded to the agitation for the repeal of the Malt-tax. Though he knew he should give much offence to many of his constituents, he felt bound to state that no power on earth could make him vote for its repeal,—first, because it was no more a burden to the farmer than it was to any one else: secondly, because there was no substitute proposed for it; and, as honest men, they should never submit to the alternative of spunging out the National Debt. It would not in- crease the price of barley; for the moment that grain attained a certain figure, the country would be flooded with the foreign article.

The annual dinner of the Sussex Agricultural Protection Society was eaten at Brighton on Thursday. The Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Egremont, and many gentlemen of influence, were there ; and speeches abounded. The League formed a staple topic. The Earl of Egremont, in returning thanks for the Navy, declared that " at the bottom and foundation of the League was revolution." And Mr. Staf- ford O'Brien (who often makes bad arguments very amusing by his witty treatment, as he did now) gravely announced a discovery—

The manufacturers of the Anti-Corn-law League were the real monopolists. This was their scheme. They wished to destroy the production of food at home, in order that they might acquire a monopoly of the supply of the English market from foreign countries, whilst they preserved also to themselves the sole mono- poly of supplying us with manufactures.

At the annual meeting of the Wingerworth Farmers' Club, last week, there was a good deal of plain speaking about the relations of landlord and tenant.

Mr. James Brotherton, after insisting upon the advantage that farmers would derive from a knowledge of agricultural chemistry and other modern improve- ments, declared that they would be comparatively useless to tenant-farmers unless preceded by other considerations; and he alluded sarcastically to the attempts of landlords to enforce silence on such " obnoxious subjects" as rents, leases, and

fame. These things, however, should be discussed : these are times when armers must speak out, not only about guano and drilling, but about land-agents, land-valuers, and game-preserving. At great length, he quoted Professor Low of Edinburgh, for the purpose of showing how impossible it is for an English tenant to effect improvements while pressed by rack-rents, and how impossible it is for him to emulate the Scotch farmer, who is protected by the system of corn-rents. "Tell a landlord—of course there are exceptions, but the exceptions prove the rule —that any particular tenant is making a profit, and he will immediately think, and not unfrequently act upon the thought, that the farm has been let for too little rent" " In fact, the English farmer is now paying three times as much rent for his land as his grandfather paid about seventy years ago, whilst his wheat is actually selling under the. price of that period. Now, gentlemen, these are facts which

demand serious reflection at your hands; and I think these Farmer's Clubs may be made very useful instruments in leading to a right understanding both upon these and various other topics in which your interests are concerned. You begin to talk them over among yourselves; and having talked together, you will soon learn to act together. For, depend upon it, the want of unity of purpose and of action has been one great cause why the present vicious system under which you are suffering has continued so long."

Mr. Holland, of Grassmore, said, if landlords would come forward when tenants were in difficulties, and say, " We will meet your case by reducing the rent," their struggles would meet with some alleviation. But such was not the case. Instead of meeting them with sympathy on a tenant's complaining, the answer in a ma- jority of cases was, " If you do not like to stay on the farm, you may leave it; we have plenty waiting for R.." Let the farmers, then, in future depend more upon themselves. Farmers' clubs would tend to unite farmers in one common bond of agreement in all that concerned their mutual interests. They would be able to stand in their own defence much more effectually than in their individual capacity. What was of importance, too, they would produce more effect upon the landlords. Landlords who expended large sums in routs and balls should take heed and stop in time. These were times of serious moment, and the shadow of coning events was upon them. Mr. Nethaniel Bacon responded on being toasted as one of the oldest tenant- farmers in the district. He had been a ploughman between fifty and sixty years; he had handled the scithe in all its forms; and he believed there were things to be improved upon at the present day. With regard to improvements, it was out of the power of a great many to do what they could wish; he himself would like to do a great many things; but, as Mr. Brotherton had observed, the farmers wanted some security for the outlay of their capital. No man was more willing to expend money upon the land than he was, with the proper means and a proper security; but the want of means not only prevented him, but many others whom he knew, from carrying out their wishes. Now he wanted to lay these things be- fore their landlords. " Friends," proceeded Mr. Bacon, "we must call upon our landlords to lower our rent. Let us not be ashamed of naming our distress. With high rents, and corn and cattle reduced one-third in value, how can we stand in Chesterfield market-place and compete with the produce of farms lower-rented at a distance? Let us have assistance from our landlords. We are willing to do all we can; but if we are beat down—what then? 'Help, help, or I perish ! ' It so happens that we are paying twice as much for our land in these parts that others elsewhere are paying: how then, as I before asked, can we compete with them in the market?

Similar out-speaking occurred at the annual dinner of the Gloucester Farmer's Club on Saturday. The club is falling off, not only in its annual but in its monthly meetings ; and Mr. Watts, a tenant-farmer, volunteered an explanation of the reasons- " I am sorry that our club is continuing to fall off, and that the attendance at our meetings has been so small. But, gentlemen, I told you last year the reason of this,—namely, the unwillingness of many landlords to help their tenants, in these times of difficulty and distress. Surely, if ever we required help from our landlords, it is at the present time, when every article of farm-produce is full twenty-five per cent lower than it ought to be to meet the rents and taxes; and this, too, with failing crops, and, I may add, no crops at all in very many cases. I believe many landlords and stewards thought that if the farmers cultivated their farms as they ought to do they were sure of good crops, and that it was their own fault if such were not the case. The last season, however, must have convinced these persons that it is not always in the power of farmers to secure success; and the landlord who will not now assist an industrious tenant must be very unfeeling indeed. I understand there is a committee of our club employed in drawing up a form of agreement between landlord and tenant, which, I doubt not, will be pro- ductive of great good to both parties; but it will be incomplete unless the principle of a lease be acted upon."

At this meeting the Earl of Dude's health was proposed; on which Mr. John Long, a tenant-farmer, said—" That Earl Ducie is a great friend to agriculture, I admit; but from what has passed in other places, I will never drink his health as a friend to the farmer ": and the meeting supported Mr. Long in his refusal.

At a public meeting in Bedford, on Saturday, comprising about three hundred tenant-farmers and small occupiers, a petition to Parliament was adopted for repeal of the Malt-tax.

A public meeting was held in the Banqueting Room of the Guildhall at Bath, on the 16th instant, to petition Parliament for repeal of the Window- tax; the Mayor presiding. Mr. William Hunt moved a resolution con- demning the Window-tax as unjust in principle, unequal in its pressure, and in its operation injurious to the moral and sanitary condition of the community, particularly the poorer classes; and maintaining that it ought therefore to be abolished. In seconding the resolution, Mr. J. Fuller stated that Bath, although very low in the scale of population among the towns of England, is the third in the amount of payment for the Window- tax. [The sum derived from Bath in 1842 was 22,0004, from Birming- ham, 10,0001.] The resolution was adopted unanimously; as well as another, incorporating it in a petition to Parliament, and requesting the two Members for the city, who were present, to support it. Both, in ad- dresses of some length, promised to do so.

Lord Duncan showed how practicable it would be for the Minister, with a sur- plus estimated at 3,000,0001., to repeal the tax, which yields 1,600,0001. annually. The returns, showing with what peculiar weight the burden pressed upon Bath, had led him to consider how this tax originated. With considerable trouble he had ferreted it out. It was first passed in 1762, when Sir Francis Dashwood was Chancellor of the Exchequer; and in a work recently published, an anecdote is recorded, in which it is stated that he was afraid to go through the streets because the children cried out after him as he passed, "There goes the worst Chancellor of the Exchequer England ever had ! " But the act was not so much that of Sir F. Dashwood as of another person. It was the invention of a more clever man: Sir Francis was but the tool of George Grenville, whose love of taxation imposed the Stamp-tax, by which they lost America. In 1792, they were blessed with a war, and Mr. Pitt clapped on 10 per cent. This was a small amount, a mere fraction; for in 1796 he trebled the Assessed Taxes. His esteemed friend the Reverend W. Jay had told him that he recollected walking about the streets of Bath at the time, and seeing people boarding up their windows, with the follow- ing on the outside in chalk—"Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, 0 Pitt !" Lord Duncan then quoted largely from official documents, to show how, by inter- fering with light and ventilation, the tax presses heavily on the poor, whom its framers professed to exempt; and he promised to stand up for the claims of the poor.

Mr. Roebuck took up the same theme; and with something of a sneer at the eleemosynary projects for giving " wash-houses and washing-tubs " to the poor, enlarged on the injury to cleanliness, health, and morals, from a tax which re- stricts the method of building the abodes for the humbler classes. He looked with hope, however, to the present state of parties in the House of Commons. He could really and truly assert that the feeling of party was not now the predomi- nant feeling among the leading men in the_i political world. They had broken down party. And every future Minister would not consider so much the majority of the House of Commons as the strong public opinion existing out of doors. This was the result of their having a Tory Government. Not that it was the wish of the Tories, or their work; but of the strong opposition that had been raised against them. They bad forced those who rode into power upon all the old Tory and Orange cries to adopt those Liberal measures they formerly opposed. This would go on. The greatest opponents of the Minister were not those of the Opposition, but those who sat close at his back, and, as Cobbett used to say, were t. sting their knees into his shoulders. His colleague had spoken of the Canada Corn Bill: did they think the Minister had acted upon the wish of the Tory majority? No such thing. It was the public opinion of the people, aided by the strong op-

position of the minority in the House of Commons, that influenced the Minister.The landed aristocracy would be glad to repft.1 this law, but public opinion will be too strong for them; and the next thing that would follow would be the repeal of the Corn-laws. Such would be the importation of corn from America, that the landlords will be first in the cry for the total repeal of the Corn-laws. Now, he would show them another thing. Corn was the first great element of subsistence. Next to corn came sugar. Now what had the Minister done here? Mr. Glad- stone had brought into the House of Commons his Sugar-bill; not to do directly what they had demanded—he could not think of such a thing—interests were at stake. But in that bill he had introduced some circumbendibus clauses which effected jest the same purpose. The Queen, by an Order of Council, had directed

sugar to be imported from America and other places; and before twelve months they should have free trade in sugar. How had this been accomplished? Had it been done by the Tory majority? No; this also had been effected by the pub- lic opinion abroad and the powerful Opposition within doors. He had told them of these things before; and now they saw his prophecy come true. They should go on step by step with these reforms. He explained how it was that Bath came to pay so much more than other towns. The houses in which the poor resided in this city were not intended for them. The houses were larger than in other towns. They were built for the rich, but had become the habitations of the poor. The lower part of their city, which was now entirely inhabited by the poorer classes, was once fashionable Bath. But the fashionables had now mounted the hill, and had their crescents, their circus, their squares. Those large houses had all more than seven windows: whereas in Birmingham the houses were small, whole streets being built with houses containing less than seven windows. But if they were by these small houses relieved from the Window-tax, they were not relieved from the sanitary- tax on their health. Builders were obliged so to construct houses as to injure the health of their inhabitants. Let them just conceive this fact at this day, in the middle of the nineteenth century, in a country priding itself as being at the head of the civilization of mankind—at this time, in this country, we have a system of taxation upon health, light, and air. The rich man could say to his builder, I care not how many windows I have; give me air and light, and make my house as healthful as you possibly can. But the poor man must build as the law allows. He must be subject to bad exhalations; he cannot free himself from the diseases arising fron ill-ventilated apartments. He must not have that light so necessary for the wellbeing of his family. His directions to the builder must be, to be careful lest he should ruin him by the taxes. A man who did not know in what manner society wagged, and possessed with reason, would, if told of such facts as these, say it was impossible, unless the nation were governed by madmen or knaves. Mr. Roebuck devoted swine time to assuring his hearers that he had not become " a Tory ": which they seemed very well to understand; and he as well as his colleague was cheered loud and long.

Evan Prince, a shopman in the employ of Mr. Percival, a haberdasher and clo- thier at Manchester, has been plundering his employer wholesale, by embezzling money paid to him for goods in the shop. His practices being suspected, persons were sent to purchase goods with marked money, and Prince was arrested imme- diately after; when some of the money was found on his person. On search being made, it was discovered that he .possessed no less than 3,5161. in cash and se- curities ; upwards of 7001. being in gold and notes, and the rest placed in various banks: of this large sum there is little doubt that he robbed his master. He has been committed for trial.

Four young farm-labourers of Husker Moss have been sentenced, by the Re- verend Joshua Thomas Horton, to pay nearly twenty pounds, fines and costs, for momentarily, and it is said unwittingly, trespassing on a field belonging to Lord Skelmersdale, father-in-law to Lord Stanley. The young men had permis- sion given them to ferret for rabbits on the lands of Mr. Moms; and to assist them in the sort one carried a gun: in mistake, they got into a field of Lord Skel- mersdale's, whose keeper saw them and ordd.ed them off; upon which they im- mediately quitted it. The men are parishioners of the clergyman who convicted them.

Three poachers have beaten a gamekeeper at Bicester, in Oxfordshire, so se- verely that he lies in a dangerous state. The poacher who struck him first is in custody.

A daring burglary has been committed in the house of the Reverend G. Pochin, near Stamford. blr. Pochin lived alone, his residence being a short distance from the turnpike-road. On the night of the 9th, when he was in bed, three men in masks broke into the house through his bedroom window, while a fourth kept guard outside, and a fifth is supposed to have watched the road. After robbing the place of upwards of 100/. in cash, and a quantity of plate, they bound Mr. Pochin hand and foot, and then decamped.

The inquest on the body of Sarah Freeman's husband was coacluded, at Shap- wick, on Friday; and an inquiry also took place into the causes of the death of illegitimate llegitimate child, James Dimond: a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against Freeman was returned in each case. James Dimond was seven years old when he died; and he appears to have been destroyed by arsenic given to him in tea. An inquest was held at the time of his decease; but, no post mortem examination having taken place, a verdict of "Natural Death" was returned. The body of the child had been covered with water for fourteen months in the grave, yet Mr. Herapath easily discovered the presence of the poison. At the inquest on Henry Freeman, it was proved that the man belonged to a burial-club, and that his wife received upwards of twenty pounds from it after her husband's death. The Coroner told the Jury that he feared he should require their services to inquire into the deaths of several more persons with whom Freeman had been acquainted.

Thomas Dickman, a journeyman baker at Uxbridge, has attempted to poison his wife and infant, by putting oxalic acid in sugar used for breakfast: the wife swallowed some of the poison, but was saved b' means of emetics. Dickman, who is only in his twentieth year, has been out of work for some time, and this preyed on his mind. He has been committed for trial.

Mr. Gallop, who was poisoned by his daughter, at Crewe, stated before his death, that he was possessed of 4001. After he died, only 751. was known to belong to him, in a building-fund. His goods were recently divided between his two sisters. A neighbour wished to purchase a chest of drawers; but being anxious to have them a bargain, he refused to give the sum asked for them. It was nearly decided that he should have them, only some eighteenpence prevent- ing the completion of the bargain, when the stepdaughter of the deceased said there was a secret drawer, which might contain something of value. This drawer was forced open, and was found to contain 107 sovereigns.

Mr. Evans, a hairdresser at Shiffnall in Shropshire, has been killed by his mo ther's inadvertently giving him too large a quantity of laudanum as a medicine. The woman sent for some of the drug in a tea-cup, and, without knowing any thing about its powers, gave the whole to her son.

A poor woman at Eastbourne was in pecuniary difficulties, from which a Mrs. Gilbert relieved her; whereupon she was so overjoyed that she went into a fit and shortly afterwards expired.

A fatal accident happened on the North Union Railway, at Wigan, on the night of the 16th instant. William Round, a servant at the luggage-station, had mounted on a train of carriages to remove some tarpaulins, when the train started; and not being seen any more, it was supposed that he had gone home. Next day, however, his body was found in the river that runs near the station, much eat about the head. It is conjectured, that on jumping off the waggons while on a bridge he staggered and fell, and so rolled over into the water; the sides of the bridge being unprotected by any rail ! A Coroner's Jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death."

Three men have been killed in a mine, at Coseley in Staffordshire, by a great fall of earth. Three others who were with them were dug out alive, after many hours had elapsed.

Four miners have been killed at Ludworth pit, Durham, by falling down a shaft; the corf in which they were suspended having by some accident become detached from the chain. While Mr. Jones, the head keeper .of Plymouth breakwater lighthouse, was walking along the breakwater, on Thursday week, he was washed off by a wave. Forward, a boatman towards whom he was going, attempted to save the drown- ing man; and it is thought worth while, in one of the accounts, to tell us, that although " Mr. Jones sank immediately," " Forward recovered Mr. Jones's cap" I

The extensive paper-warehouse of Messrs. Smith and Ingle, at Manchester, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday night. The William Turner of Belfast, a large ship bound from Ichaboe to Liverpool with guano, has been wrecked in Carnarvon Bay; all hands perishing. The number on board is unknown, but is supposed to have been twenty or more.