Zbe lattropolts.

The Confederate Clubs of London are " dissolving " themselves gene- rally. The "John Mitchel Club" dissolved last week, and on Sunday evening the "Meagher East London" and the " Gortnan and Emmett Lambeth Irish Confederate Clubs" followed its example. The grounds stated were, that the Government were about to put the bill for the Secu- rity of the Crown in force against the Irish Confederate Clubs; the authori- ties having obtained evidence sufficient to bring the most of them within its clauses.

The meetings of the Chartists and Confederates are now held with strict precautions against reporters and spies; but the Morning Chronicle reported at some length the speech of a Mr. Campbell to a meeting held at the hall in Webber Street on Sunday. "Every one was painfully convinced that society was in a most disordered state, and various persons are endeavouring by various means to remove the ex- isting distress. Many, however, were working experimentally and in the dark. It was a fact that had been well-established, that the working classes paid di whole taxation of the country, for the whole country depended for subsistence upon their labour. Notwithstanding this well-established fact, the producers of wealth reaped the smallest portion of its advantages. • • • He had analyzed society, and had arrived at some startling facts, which be would communicate. Let them take the section of farmers who with their wives and families amounted to 1,540,000 individuals: the annual income of this class was 33,600,0004 giving to each of that class 221. a year or the average of six in a family of 1321. The proportion of the farmer class to that class who produced the wealth was three to one. (Cries of " Shame! " and "Hear, hear!") ") The farmer class had three times as much of the national wealth as the manufacturing class. The master manufacturers came next: their number was 264,000, taking 35,376,0001.; the individual income being 1341., or calculating the family at eight, 1,0721. per family, being 24-i times more than the working bees received from their labour. The next class was persons employing capital in making wearing apparel, 318,750 persons, taking the sum of 7,785,0001.; giving an individual income of 361. per annum, or 1801. for a family of six, or five times more than the working classes. The next class was that Of professional persons, whose number amounted to 43,500: their amount of income was 2,610,0001., giving an individual income to 60L; thus giving to a family of seven persons 4201. per annum, or 9* times the amount of the labonring share. He found that boat-builders, and those who fitted out vessels, got 24* as much as the labouring classes. Then as to shop- keepers—persons who bought in the cheapest market and sold in the dearest, who mixed old tea-leaves with new tea and sand with sugar—these persons, who only distributed the wealth, got 5/1 times as much as those who produced it. The speaker proceeded to detail at great length the inequalities of national wealth, and went on to say that the whole system was one of legerdemain, to cheat the labouring classes out of what was their due. * * * The men who produced the wealth were sent into the union workhouses, whenever there came what the political economists called 'a stagnation.' This stagnation used to come upon the country once in about ten years, then it came once in seven or five years, and now it came every year; making society a complete pandemonium, and crippling the best energies of the working classes. Until a change was effected in that system, there must be anarchy and confusion. The Government might attempt to put down insurrec- tion, and imprison men who were bold enough to declare their sentiments. That was no cure for the evil; on the contrary, it was an aggravation of the evil, and was only smothering a flame which would one day break out and create general devastation. It was impossible for the wealthy classes to believe themselves se- cure in their possessions; and this fear it was that induced them to call out sol- diers and policemen with saw-back swords. The intentions of Lord John Russell might be good—perhaps they were; but if so, he was totally incapable of turning those intentions to good account."

A very violent thunder-storm raged in London on Thursday evening, for nearly two hours. The lightning was exceedingly vivid, followed by astounding peals of thunder, that shook the buildings in an unusual man- ner. Torrents of rain fell. It does not appear that any serious accident resulted from the storm; which is rather surprising.

The trials for sedition commenced at the Central Criminal Court on Friday the 25th Augast.

The first case was that of George Snell, shoemaker; who presided over a meet- ing at the Chartist Hall in Webber Street, on the 28th of July—the day after that fabricated despatch arrived in London which stated that Ireland had risen in general rebellion and the troops had been defeated. In allusion to thia news, and in hopes that it was true, Such had urged an English rising,

"As soon as the Irish people are up—as soon as the insurrection in Ireland becomes

genera], as I believe in the course of a very few hours it will become general trust that the people of England will rise and support them." a • • " Genllemen, allow me to ask you if you are men Will you act as men? (Cries of g' Yes I") If you are called on tonight, tomorrow night, or any other time, do not show you are cowards and flinch, but rally round the standard of liberty ; defend it with your lives : and may God Almighty grant we may be victorious, that our enemies may be crushed, that they may hide their heads in the dungeon or the hulks ; and that our honest patriots may be restored to us, and that they may take their places, is my sin- cere wish."

The speech was proved by Government reporters; and there was some docu- mentary evidence besides.

The prisoner read a written defence, the pith of which lay in its first sentences. "He should not attempt to follow the Attorney-General through the mazes of the law; such matters were beyond his comprehension. He hoped that it would not be thought that he stood at the bar for any act of dishonesty towards his fellow men : it was a consolation to him that his honour and integrity as a man were not impeached; and he considered that he was only placed at that bar for differing in opinion with the Government, and nothing else. He was accused of exciting the people: but history confirmed the view he had taken of the manner in which Ireland had been misgoverned by this country, and he and every one else would be justified in assisting the Irish people by constitutional means to obtain their just rights."

The Jury were an hoar in private deliberation: their verdict was "Guilty."

James Maxwell Bryson, dentist, was tried for a speech at the same meeting, of a tendency to stimulate insurrection. In his speech to the Jury, Bryson com- plained of oppressive treatment in prison. He had been supplied with writing materials; but not only had political pamphlets been refused him, but every kind of printed book had been denied him—even that portion of the Penny Encyclo- pedia which contained a definition of the word "sedition" had been withheld from him.

Mr. Baron Platt inquired who withheld them. The prisoner said, that he sent out for the books; but the Deputy-Governor told him that the Chaplain was the person who had the power of refusing the supply of books to the prisoners, and he refused to sanction their admission.

Mr. Baron Platt said, that he considered a prisoner had a right to whatever books he asked for before conviction.

The prisoner hoped his Lordship would notice the matter • not that it would benefit him now, but it might be of service to others who might be similarly situ- ated. He then continued his speech, with very considerable ability; excusing himself from some charges, and justifying others, especially his "sympathy for Ireland." The Jury consulted half an hour: verdict, • Guilty." Robert Crowe, or Crone, tailor, was tried on Saturday, and was defended by Mr. Parry. The evidence againseCrowe was of two sorts; each, as Mr. Parry urged, questionable. Crowe WRS charged with uttering a seditious speech at a meeting of Irish Confederates in Dean Street, Soho, on the 31st July. The only evidence was that of Reuben Brothers, a policeman, who was directed as an intel- ligent officer to attend the meeting in place of a short-hand reporter. Brothers took no notes but pat down these phrases in writing from memory, within an hour or two after the meeting- " The late insurrection in Paris has shown bow easily a crown may be crumbled ; and the time Is now come for men to be brave and the game is their own. I do not care for those persona present who wear other people's clothes. I do not care if what I say is criminal. I, for my own part, shall do all in my power during the next week to put a stop to trade, and urge the Irishmen in London to rebellion."

At first Brothers stated that these words were uttered consecutively; but he afterwards allowed that it was not so, but that mach other matter was inter- spersed. When Crowe was arrested, he gave to a young woman a paper which bore his signature; the officer took the paper away from the woman, and found it to be apparently the draft for a speech of a very violent character. This paper was now offered in evidence.

Mr. Parry objected strongly. There was no proof that it was written by the prisoner, neither was there any evidence that it had been written before the al- leged seditious speech was made; so that it could not be taken as any proof of the mind or intentions of the prisoner at the time of the meeting. He was aware that in a celebrated case, that of Algernon Sydney, a paper found upon the pri- soner had been received by the judge—Judge Jeffreys, he should state—as evi- dance of an overt act of treason; but that decision, be believed, was now univer- sally considered to be an infamous decision. Baron Platt admitted the paper: these were among its passages— Royalty, and all its attendant manifestations of middle-age despotism, must be either greatly modified or annihilated. The aristocracy shall have no mercy at our hands ; for they are almost exclusively the descendants of a set of successful robbers, who invaded these countries some centuries back, and as yet hold the land by right of conquest and by the people's sufferance. And that monstrous Incubus called the Church and State interest, which hangs as a dead weight on the labour-market, crippling Ana perverting the mind, and tying the bands of the labourer at the same time, must be sent out upon the world to seek a more honourable and virtuous occupation."

On the completion of the case fur the Crown, Mr. Parry took an objection in the indictment. The different sentences of Crowe's speech were all given as, though they had been consecutively delivered, whereas the es ideruse showed that there were other sentences interspersed with them. This, he apprehended, was a fatal variance.

Baron Platt overruled the objection.

In his speech for the defence, Mr. Parry put it to the Jury, that the proof wag defective. A policeman professed, out of a speech which was admitted to have lasted three-quarters of an hour, to pick these few sentences; omitting the whole of the rest of the speech, which might have entirely qualified or altered the sense of the expressions imputed to him, if indeed they were uttered at all. In summing up, Baron Platt reminded the Jury, that the Government could not on every occasion send professional short-hand writers; and although it wan. certainly more satisfactory that gentlemen in that position should be employed, yet persons were not to escape punishment because it was found necessary to pro- duce testimony of another description. If they were satisfied from the evidence that the prisoner had committed the offence charged, they would desert their duty to themselves and their country if they did not say £0; and on the other hand, they would equally desert their duty to the administration of justice if they did not give the accused person the benefit of any reasonable doubt they might entertain of his guilt.

The Jury retired; and after an absence of more than two hours, returned a verdict of Guilty"; but at the same time expressed their opinion that it wouli be better in such cases to have the evidence of two witnesses.

The Judge remarked, that it was no doubt more advisable, but such a course was not always practicable.

John James Bezer was tried on Monday. His case presents few features of interest. The charge was, that he made a seditious speech to a meeting of Irish Confederates held on the 28th July, in the Milton Street Theatre. Parts of his speech—the most objectionable parts—were extracts from American papers, read from the Tinier under a seeming notion that sedition read was not sedition spoken. The witness was a Government short-hand-writer. Bezer defended him- self, with what the Attorney-General called "a most dangerous ingenuity." The Jury at once found him "Guilty."

At the end of this case, sentence was given on the four prisoners, Snell, Crowe, Boxer, and Bryson. The first three were condemned to be imprisoned for two years, and to pay each a fine of 101. to the Queen, and give securities amounting to 2001. for keeping the peace during five years. Bryson's sentence was similar, with 201. fine. As the prisoners were retiring, Bryson remarked cheeringly to the others," Never mind, brother Chartists, come along."

At Bow Street, on Thursday, William Cueffy and twenty-six other Chartists and Confederates lately arrested were finally examined on charges under the Crown and Government Security Act. All, save one man, were committed for felony; and bail was refused, At the Central Criminal Court, on Saturday, Richard Wllsdon Morris, aged twenty-seven, was tried on the charge of uttering a forged receipt for 31. 2s. 6d, with intent to defraud the proprietors of the General Medical and Mutual Life Assurance Company. The accused was formerly the secretary and actuary of the Company, of which also he had been the original promoter. In the early pail of the present year, Mr. Morris being in arrears with the Company, the Directors. urged him to resign his office; he did so; and on an investigation it was found that he had been obtaining money by forgeries. It was his duty to issue vouchers to the proprietors for their dividends, the documents being signed by the recipi- ents and countersigned by the secretary. For the prosecution it was stated, that divers vouchers, amounting to 321., had been appropriated by the prisoner: he had forged the names of the proprietors to them, countersigned them himself, and then got them cashed for his own advantage. The check for 81.2g. 6d. pu to be signed by Dr. Chalmers: it was clearly proved that the name was iorged. For the defence it was urged, that a clerk named Nixon, who had been guilty of misconduct and had absconded, was more likely to have committed the forgery, than the founder of the society, whose character had been hitherto irreproach- able. The verdict was "Guilty." Mr. Clarkson then remarked, in consequence of the attempt to throw the offence on Nixon, that there were other indictments against the convict, in which cases be had proved his guilt by attempting com- promises. The Common Sergeant said, the present case was conclusive enough; and he sentenced the prisoner to tea years' transportation.

On Monday, Mrs. Mary Spry and Mrs. Anne Dore her daughter were tried for the murder of Mrs. Dore 8 infant child. The Grand Jury had ignored the bill, and the prisoners were arraigned on the Coroner's inquisition. The evidence extended to great length, but these were the leading facts. The child was sud- denly taken ill; Mr. Hustler, an assistant to Mr. Woolmer, a surgeon at Pimlico, gave some medicine for it, and said it might go a journey with the mother: Mrs- Dore went to the Isle of Wight; but the child getting worse she immediately re- turned to London. Mr. Driver, a gentleman who acted for Ar. Woolmer while he was out of town, now attended the infant, and saw at once that it was suffering from intussusception of the intestine: he sent Mr. Hustler for some calomel; and what he brought was administered. A post mortem examination showed the ex- istence of the mtussusception, which in the opinion of two of the three operators- was the cause of death; but arsenic was found in the stomach, which Mr. Rogers the chemist considered the cause of death: no mercury was detected. Professor Taylor thought the poison must have been administered a few hours before death. Thetwo women accused had shown great affection for the child; and there was sot a jot of evidence to show that they had had any arsenic in their possession- From the testimony of Mr. Hustler and a nephew of Mr. Woolmer, it would seem probable that instead of calomel white arsenic had been sent by mistake, as powder for the child. Mr. Baron Platt at length stopped the case, without call- ing for a defence; remarking, with considerable warmth, that there did not ap- pear to be the slightest ground for the charge against the poor women at the bar: it only showed what might be done by a Coroner's jury. Of course a verdict of "Not guilty" was at once returned. On Tuesday, four men implicated in the plunder of Messrs. Dickenson and Cor the stationers, were tried for their several offences. Henry Turner, who was in the employment of the prosecutors, was convicted of stealing a quantity of cards and other goods, and Thomas Blanchett of receiving them: sentence on each, seven years transportation. Frederick Edwards a printer, was also found guilt/ of receiving other stolen property; and a like sentence was passed. Richard Wil- liams, another receiver, was convicted; but his case not being so flagrant, the punishment was only twelve months' imprisonment John Smith, the young man who has been committing frauds by pretending to be Lord Bernard, Lord George Bentinck, Lord Alfred Hervey, or some other person of rank, was convicted of stealing a watch from Emily Ferrer. There were other indictments; so he was sentenced to be transported for ten years.

Drury L Wake pleaded "Guilty" to the charge of uttering a forged bill of ex- change with intent to defraud Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, from whom he obtained some articles of jewellery. Judgment was suspended till next session.

At the Mansionhouse, on Wednesday, Mr. Edward Hagan was reexamined on a charge of obtaining a quantity of copper from Messrs. Young and Co. under false pretences, and held to bail.