Zbe Vrobincts.
The Anti-Corn-law meetings begin to merge in election meetings, except where the lecturers keep up the special excitement. Meetings, however, for Corn-law repeal or Free Trade, have been held at Windsor, Hounslow, Dorking, Leicester, (a large tea-party in the Theatre Royal,) Manchester, (2,000 non-electors,) and at Rhosllanerchrugog and Cef- nmawr, in Wales.
At Merthyr, Dowlais, Tredegar, and Nantyglo, the Chartists, and many other workmen, have declared war against the present high price of meat, 8d. per pound ; they have signed a solemn declaration not to purchase any till the price be reduced to 41d. per pound. Nearly all the butchers that attended the above markets last Saturday returned with their meat unsold.—Morning Chronicle.
The Devizes Auxiliary British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, at a meeting on Monday, passed resolutions disapproving of the opposition raised to the Government proposition by the London Committee ; and recommending "the parent Society to use their influence in returning men to the ensuing Parliament who will support the reduction of duties on foreign produce proposed by her Majesty's Ministers"
Mr. Horace Twiss being by this time, we suppose, convinced of the hopelessness of his enterprise as a candidate for the representation of Bury St. Edmund's, has it is said, been retained as a Corn-law lecturer by the Dear Bread Duke and his Starvation Society. In this capacity he made his debut in our market on Wednesday ; but was so coldly re- ceived by those whom he affected to wish to benefit, and so warmly re- minded by his opponents of his own notorious career as an upholder of every abuse perpetrated in the worst days of Toryism, that he is not likely to venture again upon open-air enlightenments.—Bury Post.
Mr. William Baines, the Church-rate victim, after an imprisonment of more than seven months, having be n incarcerated on the 13th No- vember last, was released on Wedneseay morning; and on quitting the prison, without coming into the town at all, started immediately for Hallaton, a village at some distance, where his parents and some of his brothers reside. Mr. Baines has not paid the rate, nor have any of his friends.—Morning Chronicle.
Mr. William Bush, a civil engineer, is engaged in building a light- house on Goodwin Sands, and has made some progress. He expects to secure the foundation before the equinoctial gales.
Riots have lately taken place at Hyde and Stockport, in vindication of Irish Repeal and O'Connell's political principles. A lecture was de- livered last Thursday at a large room in Hyde, by one Tranien, in which Englishmen were denounced, and Irishmen were urged to assert their liberties "even unto the death," and to support O'Connell in all things. On the next pay-day, Saturday, a body of drunken Irishmen armed themselves with rude weapons of all sorts, and paraded the streets with cries of "Down with the bloody English ! " and then began a general attack upon the people in the streets. A large Police force was able to subdue them for a time ; but they rose again, and the Police were overpowered. The English working-people, who were sorely beaten at first, now managed to collect ia great force; and a successful stand being made, the Irishmen fled. The English pursued them to their homes, broke open every house in the streets of their quarter, and left hardly a man with a sound limb. The Police again interfered, and at last restored quiet. Nearly forty rioters have been taken up ; and on Monday morning eleven of them were committed for trial at the forthcoming Sessions at Knutsford. The injury done in the demolition of doors and windows and the gutting of houses is estimated at between 400/. and 500/. Two troops of the Eighth Hussars left Manchester on Tuesday, and are now stationed near the town. The riots at Stockport were less serious. They arose at a Chartist meeting ; a body of Irishmen falling on the Chartists at a signal given. The ringleaders were secured.
On Monday, at the Liverpool Police-office, a seaman named Benjamin Franklin White was placed before the Magistrates, charged with the wilful murder of Jacob Heiper, chief mate of the American ship Con- stantine, whilst on her passage to Liverpool from New Orleans. On the 14th May, when on deck, the two were observed in conversation ; which was broken short by the mate's seizing the other by his shirt White immediately stabbed Helper with a knife, cutting through the first rib and nearly through the second. Mr. George Winsor, the master, who was threatened by the prisoner, gave orders for him to be seized. He had before said that he would run a knife into the mate, because he ordered him to work. Mr. Rushton, the Chief Magistrate, said that a question presented itself, whether or not the Court of Admiralty could take cognisance of the present case—whether or not they could interfere with what was done on board a ship belonging to a nation with which we were in amity ? He was of opinion—and this was the opinion of many eminent lawyers—that the case was in the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court ; and therefore he should send the prisoner there for trial.
On Monday last, a person named George Colley was thrown on the Manchester and Sheffield Railway by a horse, which he was leading off the line near Glossop. A waggon came up at the time, and before he could rise went over him. Ile was instantly taken to the infirmary ; where he died the next day, of a compound fracture of the leg. An inquest was held on the body before W. S. Rutter, Esq. Verdict, "Accidental Death."—Manchester Chronicle.
On Sunday week, a number of colliers and quarrymen were drinking at the Navigation Inn, Crumlyn, near Pontypool ; and at about twelve o'clock at night Charles Powell and Thomas Gardener, two quarrymen, left the inn to go to their homes. Having proceeded a short distance from the house, they were met by three colliers, who had alsoleen drinking at the Navigation ; and without any notice, they knocked Powell and Gardener down, and commenced kicking them in a most brutal manner for some time, and then left them. Gardener attempted to rise ; when the party returned, and began kicking them again as before, and then went on. Perceiving this, Gardener rose, and, accost- ing Powell, said, " Charley, come let us get up and go to our homes ; I think they are gone now" : to which Powell replied, " I will presently." Gardener then went to his lodging, supposing that Powell would pro- ceed also to his. On the Monday morning, a collier going to his work found Powell dead. On Tuesday, an inquest was held, and a verdict of "Wilful Murder" was returned against Nathaniel Jones, Henry Morgan, and Peter Peters, all young men. They had escaped, and the Police were in search of thew.—Monmcuth Merlin.
A few days ago, at Exeter, a nurse gave an infant, nine months old, a bottle containing oil of vitriol, to amuse it ! The poor child contrived to get out the cork and drink part of the liquid, which caused its death.
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