Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
25 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
.ABERGAVENNY.
ABERGAVENNY. On Tuesday, owin to the unsettled state of the we it er, potatoes sold at from fJiI. to IOs. 6d. per bag; and eat varieù from 7s. 9d. 10 88. t%l. The faithless rib of a sawyer in this town took her deping ture from Ler husband's house on Wednesday last, in com pany with a lad of the Crispin fraternity. The husband, who had been at HOIK in the country. found. on his return. not only that he was a wife minus, but that, a quantity of bacon hid been converted into cash. and also that several articles of wearing apparel had been slowed away in two boxes, which were to follow the guilty pair to Newport, per omnibus. O.ie of them was detained, and the other allowed to be firwarded as directed. 1 he enra„«ed hiiMiand is, we Underst IlId. in close puisuit of the fugitives, and i overtaken, it is [Hi)!>a!i! ■Mr. Lanstone's s irrup will be used about his shoulders with something like energy.
EX I f'AOUDlNAKY FEAT AG \IXS!…
EX I f'AOUDlNAKY FEAT AG \IXS! I'LME! On U'ed'le.-d iy. Captain Price perfoi-m. d his oi.it. Ii against time. Tiii.> in <:cii originated at. a dinner party "/iven by F. H. Williams, Esq., of Colebrook Park -il>;mt tinee months ago. In speaking <.f horses, and what they couUl perform, Captain Pnee asserted that there wa> no horse o! moderate breeding and pretensions to the name of a hunter, but could go 100 miles, on a turnpike-road, in the space of 12 hours. Captain Price wai challenged to prove hi* assertion by riding hit horse, "The Monmouthshire Muff," that distance, in the time, on any turnpike road in the county; and the challenge was backed by a wager of £100. Captain Price accepted it, the agreement was at once drawn out, and any day till the 7th September allowed to the captain. The backers of time seemed to have made a good affair of it, for the Muff appears by no means a horse calculated for such a perform- ance, being ] 61 hands high; and the captain was not the most appropriate jockey, as his weight was nearly 13 stone, and being no ways aldermanic m his proportions, could not reduce much. Whether it happened through chance, or that the captain is weather-wise, he pitched upon the 19th of August; and on that morning Mr. John Richards, clerk of the races, and Dr. Reynolds, the two umpires, saw the gallant sportsman mount the pigskin just five minutes before six. The course chosen was five and a half miles of the road between Abergavenny and Crickhowell, commencing at the termination of the pave- ment below the George Inn, and was performed in the follow- ing manner:— Started at h. 55 min. Time. First I I miles completed by 7 h. 0 min 1 h. 5 min. Second ditto completed by B h. 4Jmin 1 h. 4imin. Rested Oh. 15 min. ————— 15 min. The horse, who looked very gay at the termination of his first eleven miies, sweated a good deal, and appeared languid. Betting as at the commencement—3 to 2 on time—freely taken. Time. Third 11 miles completed by 9 h. 4 min. I h, 5 min. Fourth ditto completed by 10 h. 30 min.1 h. 5i min The horse now became the favourite with several, and was freely backed at evens. He lost his corn and beans, and looked lively. Rested 0 h. 30Jmin. Time. Fifth 11 miles completed by 12 h. t0 min.1 h. 6 min. Sixth ditto completed by 1 h. 13Jmin.1 h. 7§ min. The horse looked jaded.and time again became the favourite at 3 to 2—but the noble animal having bid a temporary fare- well to his teetotal principles, and seasoned his gruel with half a bottle of old port, set off as if sure of coming again to port with victory. Rested 0 h. 27 min. Time. Seventh ] 1 miles completed by 2 h. 47 min 1 h. 6J min. The horse, who seemed all the better, the favourite at 2 and 3 to 1. Eighth 11 miles completed by 3 h. 58 min.I h. 11 min. The horse the favourite still—10 to 1 offered on him. Ninth II miles completed by 5 h. 28 min. J h. 5Jmin. The horse then was turned to do one mile more to complete the 100th mile, which he did by 5 h. 37 min. Oh. 9 min. Thus winning by 23 minutes. He afterwards, to make as- surance doubly sure, did a mile, returning home, in seven minutes, retiring to his stable as little fatigued as he would be after a hard day's hunt. He eat his corn, and strctched him- self comfortably to his evening repose. The reception the captain met with on reaching the last time at Abergavenny, must have been highly flattering to him. The roads were lined by ladies and gentlemen, who waived fair hands, and uncovered smiling faces. As he cantered by them, shouts |rent the {air. and a bouquet of beautiful dahlias and other flowers preceded him, as the flag precedes the warrior in battle. The evening was passed very agreeably, the victor having invited his opponents and other personal friends to an elegant dinner at the .Angel, where champagne, wit, and good fellowship detained the company till a late hour. The captain rode 12st. bIbs. for the first 66 miles, and then using a lighter saddle, rode the last 34 miles 61bs. less.
TOWN-HALL, ABERGAVENNY, AUG.…
TOWN-HALL, ABERGAVENNY, AUG. 19. A young man from Llanelly, having more money than wit brought a charge of robbery against Caroline Jones, one of the Cyprians of our town. It appeared he accompa- nied her in a ramble, and she madeffree with his money, to the amount of four sovereigns, one of which fell to the ground, which he immediately secured, and promised her a present if she would return the others, and engaged not to make the matter known. When the magistrates heaid of the attempt to compromise the felony, they immediately dismissed the case. A fellow named. James Berry, who keeps a house of ill- fame in Mill-street, charged one of the lodgers with stealing from him a waistcoat, and pawning it. The case was of a disgusting character, and appears to have been brought against the girl because she would not live with him.— Case dismissed.
CARDIFF.
CARDIFF. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. A few nights ago some friends met at the house of a respec- table widow, who keeps an inn in Cardiff, amongst whom were two candidates for the hand of the fair landlady. After enjoy- ing a few glasses together, the debate between the rivals be- came warm—each pressing his suit with great ardour. The senior of the admirers entreated her to retire from business, and spend the remainder of her life with him at his beautiful residence on the banks of the Taff; the other, more in the meri- dian of life, had nothing to offer but a warm and generous heart wished her to remain in statu quo, and hallowed the idea of hanging up his hat. Both being warm with love and blue ruin it was considered, by the noise at the period, that it would end 'in bloodshed; but happily things took a turn, and after some discussion, it was mutually agreed that the fair hostess ehould declare herself in favour of the one, and the other should forever after hold his peace. Both urged her to be candid, and if rejected, they would bear the shock with fortitude-allowing a little time for the delicacy of the question—she declared in favour of the senior gentleman. This avowal was received with enthusiastic cheers, and an ocean of brandy and water was or- dered to console the rejected admirer, now twice a widower; while the other, on the tiptoe of expectation, elated with suc- cess, worshipped the jolly god with all his heart, laid plans, and made arrangements for holidays and happiness: the ser- vants were called, orders were given, and Mrs. —— to be in readiness, at five o'clock on Sunday morning, to go to the country. What vistas of pleasure The party then broke up-the one to brood over his misfor- tunes, and the other to revel in the dreams of felicity When he arrived at home, he gave orders for his carriage to be at the door at five o'clock, and, lest he should oversleep his engage- ments he laid himself down on the sofa. The servants, awake to the proceedings, had the carriage in readiness, and called their master at the time appointed, but, alas matters had taken a turn the evening and morning were not the same day. Orders were countermanded—the carriage was housed, and an apology sent to the intended bride, intimating that business required the attendance of the gentleman elsewhere. The lady, half dressed when she received this intelligence, went into a paroxism of grief; but ultimately vowed revenge. The disappointment was not without its effects, as a prosecution, for the breach of promise, has been ordered, and the beautiful re- sidence, with all its attachments, situate on the banks of the Taff, is now likely to become food for the attorneys and the gentlemen in the gown and whig. CORONER'S INQUEST.—On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at the Hope and Anchor Inn, St. Mary-street, before R. L. Reece, Esq., coroner, on the body of John Nisbett, land- lord of the above inn, who was found dead in his bed on Sunday morning. From the evidence of the wife and daughter of the deceased, It appeared that he had been unwell for the last twelve months, and was in the habit of taking great quantities of Morrison's Pills, averaging 150 per week, although fre- quently remonstrated with by his family, who considered they injured him.—John Williams sworn: I am an ironmonger, and live in Dukegstrcet j for the last fifteen months I've known the deceased; he used to purchase Morrison's Pills of me—ge- nerally 2s. 9d. boxes I never knew him buy them oftener than once a fortnight, but he might have had them without my knowledge I used to speak to him about taking so many, and he told me he gave them to horses; I've heard him say that six wa. a good dose—that they would not gripe so much as a j smaller quantity. I took five last week, and found them rather powerful.—Thomas Evans, surgeon, was then sworn, and said On Sunday morning, at about eight o'clock, I was requested to see Mr. John Nisbett, who, I was informed, was dying. I went down immediately, and when I entered his chamber, I found him dead At the request of the coroner, I made an examina- tion of the body eight hours after death.—After describing the atate of the stomach and intestines, Mr. Evans added—I am of opinion that the late John Nisbett, died of pulmonary apo- plexy, occasioned by disease of the right cavities of the heart and pulmonary artery. I am also of opinion that his death was accelerated by the continued use of laige doses of drastic pur- gatives, which occasioned extreme debility. The debility occa- sioned by the continued drain from the bowells, must have weakened the powers of the heart, already affected by disease, and accelerated his death.—Verdict accordingly.
MERTHYR.
MERTHYR. ODDFELLOWS HIP.——On Monday last, the Glamorganshire Bee, and one or two other lodges of Oddfellows, took the accus- tomed exercise, and after attending divine service, at Ynysgan, returned to their respective lodges, preceded by the Rev. T. B. Evans, and closed the evening, as they had began the day, in joy and good fellowship. The following verses were written by one .f the gentlemen visitors at the, Lady Charlotte dinner, and sent to one of the brothers a ftw days afterwards :— Strength is the crown, that Oddfellowship wears,- Bright be the throne of her f>|?ry» Joy be the cause of her smiles and her tears, Fame be the trumpet in story. Friendship, protect thou thy goddess from harm; Hark to the voices that praise her Love is the robe that encircles her form, And Truth is the sceptre that sways her. Children of fellowship, honest and pure, Cling to your standard of duty On to the gaol, the reward is secure, Gratitude, honour, and beauty. Spread wide thy laws, till the world all in one, Breaths not a sound of confusion Hearts were not made to be beating alone, In gloomy desponding seclusion. Mortal, whate'er part of life by thy sphere, Here thou can'st banish all sadness Here are the hands that will dry the sad tear, And here is the source of thy gladness. Here thou may'st share in a scene that's divine,— Here would e'en angels caress thee; Smiles of the deity here may be thine, Widows and Orphans will bless thee. Up with the flag, and let nations make room, For unity, happiness, power, Held by benevolent beings on whom, Heav'nly mercies will shower. Laurels shall rest with their memories all, Peaceful and bla^s'd congregation; Death, when his scythe upon either shall fall, Will take a bright star from creation. i Aug. 15,1846. JAMES THOMAS. I DRUIDS. On Monday last, the ancient order of British Druids, preceded by two harpers, drawn in a decorated car, paraded the streets. So novel an exhibition of their flowing beards, and sacerdotal robes, created pleasing sensations in the minds of all, and in those of true Cambrians, revived visions of past grandeur and national greatness. In the course of the evening several fervid speeches were delivered. At the con- templation of these historical remnants, the eloquence of Cam- bria's patriotic sons flowed forth fast and furious and each true Druid on returning home found that the aspiring blood of the Cymry would not down, down, to a place that we won't mention;" but, on the contrary, impelled the ardent mind to revel luxuriously amid mystic groves, ceremonies of hidden, though awful, meaning, and to join in the dances and refined evolutions of the British Luperci. BRUTALITY.—A man named David Evans, a labourer, native of Pembrokeshire, working at Aberdare, was brought up on Wednesday, before their worships, charged with an unnatural offence.—Case not concluded when our reporter left. SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.—On Wednesday morning two serious accidents occurred at Penydarran Works. One, in which a man was seriously hurt while ascending the incline, by being pressed against a wall by the descending trams. The other, one in which a boy, a stranger to the works, who persisted in coming to the works, though repeatedly warned off, and who had been imprudently allowed by a lazy fellow of a roller to take his place. In straining he lost his footing, and his foot slipped into the rolls. The foot was horribly crushed, and nearly half of it was left in the shoe. THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD Above Trynyrodyn, in ascending the mountain, our eagle eye lit upon the following evidence of the march of intellect:— The Colter's Arms. Robept Thomas, Licensed, &c." FORCE OF ASSOCIATION.—We have frequently been amused by an anecdote which Mr. White has copied into his Guide to Abergavenny, p. 51. A stranger asked Mr. Prosser, of Wernddu, Whose is the antique mansion before us ?" That, Sir, is Wernddu, a very ancient house—for out of it came the Earls of Pembroke, of the first line the Earls of Pembroke, of the second line; the Lord Herbert, of Charbury; the Herberts, of Coalbrook, Rhymney, Cardiff, and York; the Morgans, of Acton: the Earl of Hunsdon, the Jones's, of Iscowen and Llanarth; and all the Powells. Out of this house, also, by the female line, came the Dukes of Beaufort." "And pray, Sir, who lives there now?" "I do, Sir." Then pardon me, and accept a piece of advice. Follow those excellent examples come out of it yourself, or it will tumble and crush you." While going last week in the direction above alluded to, we had reason to enter a cottage, and in a very few minutes had cause to exclaim, Good God, woman, your house is sinking." "Yes, Sir, there is a level under it." Then, why, in the name of fate, do you not remove ?" Well, Sir, I'll tell you the reason. I have lived here twenty years, and am, therefore, loath to leave it." Such a woman would view, unmoved,- "The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds."
DOWLAIS TRADESMEN & WORKMEN'S…
DOWLAIS TRADESMEN & WORKMEN'S LIBRARY. The first annual meeting of the subscribers was held at the Boys' School Room, Dowlais, on Monday, the 17th inst. J. L. White, Esq., president, took the chair. After a short and effective address from the chairman, Mr. F. Evans read the following REPORT: The committtee feel greal pleasure in congratulating the subscribers at this their first annual meeting, upon the steady and unabated success of the institution, and upon the great moral and social good which must necessarily result from its establishment, in a place so densely populated, and so devoid of means for literary and intellectual gratifications, as Dowlais and itE neighbourhood. The committee feel great satisfaction in stating that although the number of subscribers at present is not quite so many as in the first quarter, they still consider that the prospects 'of the institution are progressively improving, and they believe that there is a strong feeling in it's favour gradually increasing in the neighbourhood. The majority of the present members are a steadfast, active, and enquiring class, and the kind feeling displayed by several influential individuals, gives to every well-wisher of the insti- tution the most sanguine hopes of permanence and success. In all new institutions, there are many and serious difficul- ties to contend with, before they can be permanently esta- blished. There is a considerable apathy to be overcome on the one hand, and on the other it is necessary to create and cultivate a desire for intellectual enjoyment. There is also a little relaxa- tion to be expected from those who, impelled at first by novelty to become subscribers, afterwards discontinue their support. either from the want of power to appreciate the advantages they may derive, or from a want of industry to apply them. In presenting to the subscribers the statement of their finances, the committee feel assured that they will be highly pleased to find them in so satisfactory a state and it must not be forgotten that this is in a great measure owing to the con- tinued kindness of Sir J. J. Guest, in doubling the amount of subscription of the rest of the subscribers, and the handsome donations from other gentlemen. The committee would earnestly exhort every subscriber to exert himself zealously in promoting the common interest. Much has been done, but far more remains to be done; and if every individual member will but strive to increase the number of subscribers, and make the cause of the institution his own, they will shortly have to congratulate themselves on the pos- session of the largest and most efficient libraries in Glamorgan- shire. The expenditure for the year is JE82. lis. 10d., leaving a ba- lance of JE20 in hand. There were 82 subscribers last quarter. THE LIBRARY Contains six hundred volumes, and among them are the works of Sir Walter Scott, Byron, Wordsworth, Swift, Dickens, Shak- speare, and Pope. Fifty volumes are in the Welsh language. There were ninety-three volumes presented to the society during the year, among which are the works of Scott, Swift, and works in the Welsh language. The Welsh National Airs of Miss Williams have been presented by Lady Charlotte Guest. Exchanged during the year, 1062 volnmes. Fifteen hundred persons attended during the year.—In ad- dition to the library, the Times and Daily News, daily, the Examiner, weekly, and Blackwood's, monthly, are presented. It was proposed by Mr. F Evans, and seconded by Mr. Wal- kinshaw, that J. Evans, Esq, be appointed master, vice T. Evans, Esq., deceased. Carried. Proposed by Mr. J. Dickenson, seconded by Mr. J. Thomas, and resolved, that E. J. Hutchins, Esq., be appointed president for the ensuing year. Proposed by Mr. S. Howard, seconded by Mr. Wm. Evans, and resolved, that Mr. Walkinshaw and Mr. F. Evans be ap- pointed vice-presidents. Proposed by Mr. Walkinshaw, seconded by the Rev.J.Hughes, and resolved, that Mr. J. Dickenson be treasurer. The committee, consisting of sixteen persons, were proposed by Mr. Cowley, and seconded by Mr. Thomas Evans. Mr Thomas Jenkins proposed a vote of thanks to the officers and committee for the past year, for their services. J. L. White, Esq., returned thanks as president. Mr. J Dickenson returned thanks as vice-chairman, and Mr. F. Evans on behalf of the committee. After certain bye-laws had been adopted, Mr. Thomas Jenkins proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Peters, for his zealous services as secretary and librarian, during the past year. Mr. Jenkins proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, for his activity and zeal in behalf of the institution, during the term, and for his services this evening.
MONMOUTH AND HEREFORD RAILWAY.
MONMOUTH AND HEREFORD RAILWAY. There is at length a prospect of the active commencement of this line. The following is an extract from the Engineer's Report, read at the half-yearly meeting of the Great Western Company held at the Bristol station on Thursday last:— The rails for this permanent way—(the Oxford and Rugby) -are in course of delivery, and the timber and other stores are being prepared at Bristol. Upon the Monmouth and Hereford Railway the same progress has not been made at either ex- tremity a considerable pertion of the railway depended upon a bill for amendment, and also for the junction or extension into Gloucester, applied for this session this last has now passed, and arrangements have been made which determine the course of the line near Hereford. In the mean time, the works have been set out, and all the necessary preparations made for pro- ceeding, so that nearly the whole of the line may now be let by contract." From the report of the committee we take the following :— An act has been now obtained for amalgamating the Oxford and Rugby, Berks and Hants, and Monmouth and Hereford Railways, with the Great Western Railway, as authorised by a previous general meeting of this company. The amount required for the construction of those lines may hereafter be created as Great Western stock, in addition to that which was previously sanctioned as the capital of the com- pany for the Great Western Railway, comprising the Chelten- ham and Oxford Railways."
CRICKHOWELL.
CRICKHOWELL. The Marquess and Marchioness of Worcester, together with Earl Howe, the Hon. Captain R. Curzon, and some other branches of the noble family of Beaufort, arrived at Llangattock Park on Thursday evening last. The Marquess purposes re maining for the grouse season. Three convictions, in the mitigated penalties of E5. each, have lately taken place before the bench of magistrates, at Crickhowell petty sessions, under Lord Ashley's act, for pre- venting the employment of women and boys, under ground, in mines and collieries, and the payment of labourer's wages at public-houses. The demoralizing effect of the former practiee is too evident to need observation aDd the extent to which it is carried, in the South Wales district is almost be- yond balief. Unfortunately, in the above instances, the offend- ers are all poor, being sub-contractors for getting mine; the masters, who v. ere in the first plac? summoned for the offences, showing, to the satisfaction of the magistrates, that the offences were committed without their knowledge. We are glad to learn that many of the masters are now taking more stringent means for preventing them and, we doubt not, with success, aided, as they are by the measures adopted under instructions from the commissioner appointed to see that the law is carried into effect. To put a stop to the payment of wages in public houses, the most vigorous measures will, we understand, be had re- course to. Workmen must see that the practice is injurious to themselves and families and it is right they should know that such payments are void, as well as subjecting the payers to the penalty of £ 10., for the act expressly declares that wages so paid may be recovered over again.—Silurian. LLANELLY INDEPENDENT CHURCH, BRECONSHIRE.—On the 4th and 5th of August, the Rev. J. Davies, late of Brecon Col- lege, was set apart to the pastorate of the Independent church, at Siloam, Llanelly, Breconshire, when the following ministers officiated :—Tuesday, the 4th, at two o'clock, Mr. J. H. Phil- lips, of Brecon College, introduced, and theRevds. E. Richards, of Schethrog, LI. R Powell, of Hanover, and D. Jones, of Abar, preached. At six, Mr. T. H. Roberts, of Brecon College, commenced, and the Revds. D. Stephens, of Llanvair, Cardi- ganshire, and J. Williams, of LIagaddock, Carmarthenshire, preached. Wednesday morning, at half past six, Mr. Shun Phillips, of Brecon College, read and prayed, and the Revds. W. Moses, of Libanus, andT. Howard, of Tredustace, preached. Mr. J D. Williams, of Old College, Homcrton, introduced, and the Rev. J. Stephens, of Baychgoed, delivered the intro- ductory discourse, the Rev. E. Watkins, Canaan, proposed the usual questions, which were answered by the young minister in a manner exceedingly satisfactory: the Rev. W. Hopkins, of Tretower, offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. E. Davies M.A., classical tutor, of Brecon College, delivered the charge to the young minister, and the Rev. D. Williams, of Llanurtyd, preached to the church. At half-past one o'clock all the mi- nisters, of every denomination, who were present on the occa- sion, together with several lay-gentlemen, in all 49, dined at the Rock and Fountain. At three in the afternoon, the Rev. W. Williams, of Adulam, Tredegar, introduced, and the Revds. E. Jacobs, of Swansea, and J. Thomas, of Bulchnewydd, Car- marthenshire, preached, the former, in English. At half-past six, Mr. Noah Stephens, of Brecon College, introduced, and ReTds. J. Ridge, of Rendle, B. Owens, of Zoar, Merthyr, and E. Watkins, of Canaan, Swansea, preached It was exceedingly gratifying to witness, at each of the different services, congre- gations so large and numerous; at ten o'clock especially the chapel was crammed to excess, and there is every reason to be- live that the occasion will long live in the minds and hearts of many who were present as an event of the happiest recollec- tion. Mr. Davies commences his ministerial labours at Llan- elly—a vale which abounds in everything that is cheering in its future prospects, engaging in picturesque appearance, and at- tractive in romance: amidst circumstances the most favourable and promising, may his life be long spared for that great and lasting good, which, in all probability, he is intended to ac- complish. The minister and the church are deeply sensible of their obligations to Mr. Jane and Mr. Powell, for the kindness tkey respectively manifested on the occasion.Correspondent.
IBRISTOL ASSIZES.
BRISTOL ASSIZES. Williams and Sawtell, Bankrupts. (From the Bristol Gazette.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 18. A-lort-is and Ky nasi on, assignees, v. Tombs,—Mr. Roxburgh opened the pleadings. Mr. Cockburn: This is an action brought by the plaintiffs as assignees of William Williams and Joseph Sawtell, to re- cover a quantity of soap, as the property of those bankrupts. I shall have no difficulty in proving to your entire satisfaction that the soap formed part of the estate of the bankrupts, and ought to be in the possession of the bankrupts. It will be ne- cessary for me to enter into details, because it will be my duty to lay before you a case of the grossest fraud on the part ofthe bankrupts and others, for the purpose of defrauding the honest creditors. The bankrupts, Williams and Sawtell, carried on business at Newport, under the names of Phillips and Company. The business originally belonged to one Anthony Phillips, who was a general provision merchant, and died in 1841, leaving a widow, Elizabeth Phillips, whose name is much mixed up with these transactions. Mrs. Phillips carried on the business of her late husband, for the benefit of the family, down to 1843 In April of that year the business was made over to the present bankrupts; one of whom, Williams, was formerly a lawyer's clerk, and had married a daughter of Mrs. Phillips, named Jane, who had assisted her mother in the business. Sawtell, the other bankrupt, married Eliza, another daughter of Mrs. Phillips. After April, 1843, by arrangement, Sawtell and Wil- liams carried on the business under the names of Phillips and Co. They carried on business for one year. In the course of that year they increased the previous dealings of the firm, ob- taining credit by a system of bill transactions. In the beginning of May, 1844, having been in business little more than twelve months,they became seriously embarrassed. N umerous bills were overdue, others were becoming due, which tliey had not means at their disposal to meet. Amongst the over due bills was one of £ 300., drawn by Mr. Owen Carroll, a provision dealer in Ireland, and dne in April, 1844. Mr. Carroll, finding how the case stood, proceeded to Newport in order to communicate with his debtors, and see how their affairs were going on. He put himself into communication, first with Sawtell, and afterwards with Williams, and was introduced by them to Mr. Frazer, ma- nager of the Monmouth and Glamorgan bank; and he intro- duced himself to Mr. Phelps,solicitor. A general investigation took place at the bank, assisted by Mr. Towgood, for the bank- rupts, and by Mr. Frazer, the managerof the hank. Mr. Carroll, Mr. Phelps,and Mr. Cockram afterwards arrived, and a thorough investigation of the bankrupts'affairs took place. First, on the statement of Williams, it appeared that the book debts, in- cluding bills, amounted to £ 4,521 lüs. 8d., the stock to £ 5,640 private property of the bankrupts', £ 2,700., making a total otjEt2,861 16s. 8d. On the other hand the bills overdue amounted £ 2,024. IGs. 7d.; other debts, £ 1,000.; bills be- coming due £ 6,984. 3s. 8d., making a total of JE 10,819. 10s. 3d. This investigation took place between the 9th and 11 th of May, 1844. The object of the bankrupts was to gain time, as they could not meet their bills, and in this they were assisted by Messrs. Frazer and Towgood. On further enquiry, when Mr. Carroll went over the stock, lie found it to be of the value of £ 5,100., and a list of it was drawn up by Mr. Williams. In that list was an amount of JE200. for soap. Mr. Carroll, on looking over the warehouse, had seen only nine chests of soap, which by no mean* would have come up to the sum of £200. which Williams had stated it at. Mr. Williams told him that the greater part was not on their own premises, but that 19 chests had been sent to Mr. Buchan, at the Rhymney wharf, lor sale on commission. Williams furnished Mr. Carroll with an order to see the chests of soap at Rhymney, and he went there and did see them. I shall have no difficulty in satisfying you, first, that the soap was brought to th« premises of the bankrupt; secondly, that it was included in the list of stock, given by Williams to Mr. Carroll; and thirdly, that Mr. Car- roll saw the soap at Rhymney, as the property of the bank- rupts. This took place on the 11th of May, and on the 13th of May Mr. Buchan, who had had the soap sometime in his pos- session, and wanted to get rid of it, hearing that some one had been about the soap, and supposing that a customer had been found for it, lie sent it back by his foreman Obadiah Richards, who conveyed it by the tram to their yard, and there left it. Thus the soap was traced back to the premises of the bank- rupts. During this time the investigation by Mr. Carroll was going on. The bankrupts satisfied Mr. Carroll that the soap formed part of their stock. Mr. Carroll believed that the soap still remained at Mr. Buchan's On the night of the 13th, or early on the 14th, the soap was taken to the premises of Mr. Tombs, the defendant, in whose stable it was placed. In conse- quence of various matters which came to light from day to day, and the arrival of other creditors, who were dissatisfied with the state of affairs, the negociation which was going on with Mr. Carroll, and afterwards with Mr. Cockram, was broken off. The creditors were not satisfied with the state of things. They insisted that the bankrupts should make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, which was rejected by Williams. It was then proposed, on the part of the creditors to wind up the affairs, and place some one on the premises. That was also objected to by Williams. The creditors than proceeded to make them bankrupts, and those parties, who, on the lIth of May had JM,640. in stock, or, according to Mr. Carroll's estimate, £ 5,100.; book debts to the amount of £ 4,521. 16s. 8d., and also private property amounting to £ 2,700., making a total of ^>O m nnn TTIU T ° near on the J/thoi July, when the messenger goes in under the fiat of bankruptcy, there was not property enough left to pay the expenses of the messenger's man. Every frag- ment of property had been swept away not one bill had been paid, except one trade bill of £ 160.; all the rest, the bills due, and the over due bills, remaining unpaid. The whole of the stock was entirely swept away there was not enough to pay the messenger's man his common expenses. You will all feel quite sure that such a matter requires the closest investiga- tion. If I satisfy you that the defendant got possession of the bankrupts' stock, and holds it without a title, you will have no difficulty in giving your verdict. When it was discovered that Tombs had possession of the soap, application was made to him to deliver it up. At first he said he must be paid the ex- penses of the warehousing, which the assignees were willing to do but when he was applied to the second time, Mr. Tombs said, No; he had consulted with Messrs. Prothero and Towgood, who had told him he had better hold on, he would be in a better position as defendant than plaintiff, and as he had got an indemnity from Mrs. Hillier, he had nothing to fear." Mr. Tombs does not pretend to have any property in the goods. The issue raised was whether the plaintiffs had a right, as assignees of the bankrupts, to the goods, and Mr. Tombs sets up the title of Mrs. Hillier. Mrs. Hillier was .sister to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Sawtell, being the third daughter of Mrs. Phillips. Where an insolvent or a bankrupt was disposed to commit a fraud on his creditors, it was to the members of his family he would have recourse for assistance when the pro- perty was to be got rid of by a bill of sale, or some such con- tiiyance, and, therefore, I am not at all surprised that Mrs. Hil- lier is put forward as the person to whom the soap belonged. We shall hear her claim set up on the part of the de- fendant. If she should be called, you will havif put before you an invoice, and |a pretended bill of sale to Mrs. Hil- lier. They fix the date of that sale as the 26th of April. This is a false date, because at that time Mr. Buchan had the soap for sale. On the 10th of May, Williams enumerated it as part of his stock, and on the 11th of May, Carroll goes to Rhymney to inspect it. In the day-book the transaction is represented as taking place on the 9th of May. The invoice is of the 26th of April; the entry in the book, of the 9th May. It is clear that on the 9th of May the soap was still in the hands of Mr. Buchan. It is clear that the entry of the invoice of the 26th of April is untrue, and that the entry in the day- book is equally false. There is a third book, the cash-book and I shall prove to you-and if anything was necessary to stamp the whole transaction as an outrageous and disgusting fraud, this must do it-I shall prove to you to demonstration that that book, containing entries from 1843, is a forgery from the beginning to the end. The book purports to give an account of receipts and payments from the commencement of the year 1843. I will prove to you that that book was bought at a stationer's at Newport on the 4th July, 1844. The man who sold the book will identify it, and prove that he sold it to one of the women. I will tell you a little more. They got rid of all the other cash-books, and then forged this to pass cur- rent with the Commissioner of Bankruptcy and the assignees. It so happened that an execution was put in on the premises of the bankrupt on the 9th July, 1844, at the suit of other creditors, Messrs. Maunders and Powell; at that time Mr. Towgood, the attorney for the bankrupt, was under sheriff for the county of Monmouth, and his man was sent into possession of the premises. Mr. Towgood was at that time concerting a friendly bankruptcy, on which he issued a. friendly fiat-nottlie bankruptcy we are on to-day. Everything was arranged for the act of bankruptcy on the 9th July, and the fiat was to issue immediately after. On the 10th of July, Mr. Towgood's man being in possession of the premises, Mr. Towgood sends him a written order to deliver up to the clerk of the bankrupt any books and papers that clerk may think proper to take away, and at the very time of the eve of bankruptcy, when arrange- ments were taking to make the parties bankrupt. At that time every book and paper which should have been held sacred as thg property of the aisigne • M Towgood, the under- sheriff for the county of Aioninouih,and attorney for the bank- rupt, sends his man orders to allow the bankrupt's clerk to do what he pleases with. The clerk, with the clerk of Mr. Tow- good, takes away a mass of papers, first to Mr. Towgood's, and afterwards to the house of Mrs. Phillips, and there they were destroyed in the meantime by fire, and a cash book was made up, purporting to be genuine entries of the transactions. In that book they omitted some transactions which they did not wish to come before the creditors, and they inserted others to cast dust in their eyes. When that cash-book was cast up by the accountant in bankruptcy, it was found that they had credited themselves with upwards of £ 1,0:>0. more than they had received. This is the case which I have to lay before you, and I do not believe you will have any hesitation as to the ver- dict which you should return. If I could entertain any doubt on the subject, I should despair of the bankrupt laws ever giving any protection to the honest creditor against the dis- honest bankrupt. Mr. E. T. Inskipp, usher from the Court of Bankruptcy, pro- duced the proceedings in bankruptcy. Tne fiat was opened on the 17th of July. Mr. Phillip Carroll, provision dealer, living in London, and doing business for Mr. Owen Carroll, of Watertord deposed that in the month of May, 1844, he went down to Newport, to the bankrupts, there having been a returned bill of their's for £300. Saw Sawtell, and afterwards Williams and Mrs. Wil- liams, who took an active part in the business. The interview was not satisfactory, and witness proposed to accompany Sawtell to their banker; another meeting took place on the 11th Mr. Frazer manager of the Monmouth and Glamorgan bank, Mr. Towgood, Williams, and wituess, were present; a statement of the affairs of the bankrupts was produced by Williams; amongst the goods belonging to bankrupts, it was stated there was £2\10. worth of soap; witness went over the stock to ascertain if it was there. Did not find that quantity on the primises; and Williams stated that the rest of the soap was at ths Rhymney wharf; 19 chests was the number mentioned; Williams said he had understood that he had sold the soap to Mr. Buchan, of the Rhymney wharf, but Mr. Buchan refused to take it, and now held it as the property of the firm witness went to Rhym- ney wharf and saw the soap, and ascertained it belonged to the bankrupts believes he saw the soap afterwards at Mr. Tom lis', several months after, either in January or April 1845. It was in a sort of stable or outhouse. There has been no payment to any one single creditor, that witness knows of. Obadiali Richards, foreman to Mr. Buchan desposed to taking the soap from the Rhymney wharfand delivering it to Sawtell; the next morning saw the soap in Tombs' outhouse. Abraham Challis, foreman to the bankrupts, remembered the soap coming from Rhymney; took it down in the evening, by the direction of Sawtell, or Williams to Tombs it was about 8 o'clock. Mr. Merrick, clerk to plaintiff's attorney, in the month of July went to Tombs and made a demand of the soap; he said he had nothing to do with it and referred witness to his soli- citors, Messrs. Prothero and Towgood. Mr. Wiiliam James, mining agent, said he had a conversation with Mr. Tombs on Saturday, when the lalter said he had no interest in the action, let them prove whose property it was, and there it was to be given up. Mr. P. R. Power, accountant in bankruptcy, produced the day book and ledger of the bankrupt firm. Received the cash book from Williams. loy of Mr. John Thomas Was formerly a clerk in the employ of the bankrupts; remembers the firm being in difficulties in April, 1844; recollects the sheriff's afficcr coming into posses- sion in July, 1844; Mr. Towgood was under-sheriff in 1844; it was in the evening when the officers came in; went to Mr. Towgood's to make an application respecting having access to the books; does not exactly know whether it was by the request of Mr. and Mrs. Williams; his impression was that it was at the request of Mrs. Williiams believes he saw Mr. Towgood; re- ceived this paper from him.—[The letter was addressed to Mr. Graham, the sheriff's officer, and his assistants, and was to the following effect Please to allow Mr. Thomas, clerk to Phillips and Co., to have access to the books at their couuting- house. Your's obediently S. Towgood."] Gave the letter to the officer, and got the day book, cash book and ledger; took them to Mrs. Phillips's house; Mrs. Williams was there posted the bookethere took a box of pap en therefrom Mr.Towgood's; believes the books were given up to the messenger; the cash books were rough paper books, and after witness had copied them, witness said il they are of no use now, better destroy them," and Mrs. Williams said I No,' and witness threw them intaPthe fire." Does not know who fir»t suggested the burning, whether Mrs. Williams or witness, the book produced was the book into which witness copied the entries there had been writing in it before; believes it was in March the first writing was made in it; the entries began in 1843; the earliest entry was in Williams's handwriting; the rough books were thrown on the fire, and Mrs. Williams took them off and said they would do for the girl to light the fire with; the box of papers was brought to the Bankruptcy Court; does not know if any papers had been taken out of it before does not. known if any papers had been burnt except the rough books. Mr. Justice Erie: Is it worth while to enquire after a few papers more or less, when you have the fact of books being burnt ? Any body acquainted with trade must see the effect of destroying these papers. The attention of the witness was then directed to an entry in the day book, which was as follows:—" Mrs L. Hillier, 19 chests of soap returned from Rhymney as above, invoiced to Mr. Buchan £ 149 4s. 5d. April 26 by notes £20. by cash jE129 4s. od. and he was asked in whose liandwritting it was. He replied in that ot Mrs. Williams; that it was there before the bankruptcy on the 10th July; he could not say how long; more than a month could not say how much longer. In cross-examination the witness stated that the notes above- mentioned w. re order notes for goods supplied by Mrs. Hillier to the people of the bankrupts. Witness was called in by Mrs. Williams to give some explanation about those notes, at the time the dealing about the soap took place. He did not see the money paid over to Mrs. Williams, hut he saw money on the counter. He heard something about soap, and saw the money. Mr. Carroll was re called and positively swore that the entry in the day-book before referred to was not there when he exa- mined the book on the 11th or 13tn of May. Mr. Inskipp on being re-called stated that there was no dividend from the estate; sufficient had not been realised to pay the expenses of the proceedings in bankruptcy. All that was realised was about JE230. The expenses would cost from £ 2000. to JE3000. Mr. Clapperton, bookseller, at Newport, and Miss Beale, his shopwoman, proved selling the cash book before referred to, to the bankrupts in July, 1844. William Graham, Sheriffs officer, deposed to levying on the premises of the bankrupts, at the suit of Messrs. Maunders and Powell, in July, 1844, for £ 220. This closed the plaintiffs' case. Mr. Crowder, for the defence, in the course of a very long and able speech, while admittingnhat there might have been fraud and dishonesty on the part of the bankrupts, utterly denied that Mrs. Hillier, the real defendant in the present- action, was at all mixed up or connected with it. There might have been an iniquitous disposal of property; there might have been the burning of the cash book and other improper conduct on the part of the bankrupts, but in no one single instance was Mrs. Hillier shown to Lave any, the slightest, knowledge of those transactions; much less was she shown to be in any way connected with them. The only instance in which Mrs. Hillier was at all shown to have had any communication with the bank- rupts was in regard to the purchase of the soap, and that was altogether on her part a fair and honest transaction. She did not want to buy the soap; it was more than she was a. the habit of purchasing or had room for, but Mrs. Williams pressed it on her, and she bought it and paid for it, and now the plaintiffs wanted to extract the money out of her pocket. There was no concealment about the transaction. The soap was openly sent down from the Rhymney Wharf; and was openly taken to Mr. Tombs. The reason for its being taken there was that Mrs. Hillier had not room for it on her own premises. Was it not monstrous, then, to bring all the matters which his learned friend had opened to bear against her ? The false entries, the burning of books, the making away of property, could not be brought into evidence against her, except she could be shown to have been in a conspiracy with the other parties. Of that there was not the slightest tittle of proof. It was true she was the sister of Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Sawtell, but she was car- rying on business for herself, entirely independent of them, and it was not because she was their sister that it was to be sup- posed she could not have a fair and honest dealing with them, However, he would call Mrs. Hillier before them; he would subject her to the cross-examination of his learned friend and she would tell them that she bought and paid for the soap fairly and honestly, and that would entitle the defendant to their rer- dict. There was another point he alluded to with great pain., His learned friend, for what reason he knew not, had been instruc- ted to make an attack on Mr. iowgood, and to represent him as mixed up with the fraudulent iuteniions of the bankrupts. Mr. Towgood was a gentleman of the greatest respectability and the highest honour. His learned friend had told them that he was Under Sheriff for the County of Monmouth. He might also have told them that he was Treasurer for the County, and Clerk to the Magistrates, and yet this was the gentlaman whom his friend had been instructed to accuse of aiding and assisting the bankrupts in destroying their books, for the purpose of de- frauding their creditors; conduct, which, if true, would not only deservedly cause him to be struck off the rolls, but drive him from the society of all honest men. No wonder Mr. Tow- good was affected in the manner they had seen, from such a monstrous charge. [The learned counsel alluded to Mr. Tow- good's having been seized with a fit at the conclusion of Mr. Cockburn's opening speech.] On what was the charge founded? He (Mr. Crowder) expected to see some evidence put in proof on which to support it, and all that was done was the reading a letter directing the Sheriff's officer to let the clerk have some access to the books, for the purpose of posting them, because he did not like t) remain in the place when all was shut up In his opinion Mr. Towgood had not only not been guilty of any dereliction of duty, but had not even committed any error in judgment. The learned counsel proceeded in his observations for a long time, and concluded by trusting that the jury would be of opinion that the transaction was a fair and honest one on the part of Mrs Hillier and that would entitle him to a verdict for the defendant. Mrs. Hillier I reside in Newport; I have been separated from my husband about ten years I have kept a grocer's shop in Newport above eight years; I live at the house where the shop is my husband is aware I keep it on my mother's name is over the door. I recollect about two years ago a transaction between myself and Mrs. Williams respecting some soap Mrs Williams came to me, as well as sent the clerk, to inquire if I would purchase some chests of soap-19 chests; I was not exactly willing to do so; I told her I was not in want of it, and the quantity was so large; she urged it, and said it was a bargain, and would do me good, for soap was likely to rise; I saw her two or three times about it; she said she wanted money; at last I agreed for the purchase of the soap; the amount was about LIFO. Williams and Sawtell owed me moneys at this time for money lent, and for goods supplied to their people to the amount of JE20 or £23; those notes were to be allowed for in the purchase of the soap, and the rest I paid in cash; there was a difference batween us respecting the notes, and Mr. Thomas, the clerk, was sent for; the whole amount was £ 150; it was paid in bills, gold, and, I believe, some silver; I believe the money was on the counter when Thomas came in; I sent my servant girl to Mr. Tombs about the soap; I went to Mr. Tombs the next morning, and asked him if he would allow me to put the soap in his warehouse, as I had not room for the whole of it. On her cross-examination, the witness stated that she had had the money, with which she paid Mrs. Williams, in her pos- session about a week or nine days. She had received about L60 of it from customers could not recollect from whom she got the rest; would swear she did not have it from Phillips and Co. (the bankrupts). She did not instruct the attorney for the defence, and knew nothing of it; she did not know if Mr.Tombs was indemnified; she had not indemnified him: did not know if her mother had. Her sister, Mrs. Williams, had come with her from Newport, to be examined on the trial if called for. The bankrups had owed her f,350 after the soap transaction, which they paid her. She knew the bankrupts were pressed for money at the time of the purchase of the soap. Mr. Daniel Tombs, senior, was called, but merely proved the warehousing of the soap in his son's premises. Mr. Cockburn made a forcible reply on behalf of the plain- tiffs. In the course of which, he stated that he did not charge Mr. Towgood with fraud: his assertion was to the effect that after the fiat was issued, on the 10th of July, the books of the bankrupts were the property of the assignees, and ought to have been preserved entire. This, however, had not been the case in the present instance. Mr. Justice Erie briefly summed up; and The Jury, without an instant's deliberation, returned a ver- dict for the plaintiffs, damages £ 149 4s. 6d.
- MORRIS & KYNASTON v. TOWGOOD…
MORRIS & KYNASTON v. TOWGOOD & PROTHERO. This was a special jury case. There were for the plaintiff Messrs. Cockburn, Barstow, and Roxburgh. For the defend- ants, Messrs. Crowder, Butt, and Montague Smith. Mr. Roxburgh opened the pleadings. The plaintiffs were assignees of Williams and Sawtell, bankrupts, and the defend- ants were Stephen Towgood and Charles Prothero; and the declaration stated that the defendants on the first of June were indebted to plaintiffs in the sum of JE1000, monies received by tkem for plaintiffs, as assignees. The defendants pleaded that they had not so received such monies, with the exception of £31., which they had paid into court. Mr. Cockburn stated the case for the plaintiffs, but as a great portion of his address embraced facts detailed in the report of Morris v. Tombs, it is not necessary to give more than what relates to the present action. He said Williams and Sawtell were general merchants at Newport, and commenced business in April, 1843, and in May, 1844, owed upwards of £ 10,000. to various creditors. In July, a fiat of bankruptcy was issued against theni, and then there was not one single farthing avail- able for distribution amongst the general creditors. The de- fendants were the solicitors of the bankrupts. In May, 1844, an investigation took place into the affairs of the firm. On the 11th of May there was a meeting, at which Mr. Towgood, one of the defendants, was present, and it was clear, therefore, that it was brought to his knowledge, that at that time the firm were not solvent. The assets of the bankrupts on the 11 th of May, amounted to £ 10,833. 18s. 3d. Between that day and the 27th of July, it was all got rid of. The creditors being of opinion that the estate of the late Anthony Phillips was liable to the debts of the firm, an attempt was made to make a bankrupt of the widow, Elizabeth Phillips, which, however, failed It was important to call attention to that fact, because the defendants were the solicitors for the bankrupts throughout, and, there- fore, must have had a full knowledge of the state of their affairs. On the 8th of July,the defendants concerted a friendly fiat against the bankrupts-the date was positively fixed by their own charge for it in their bill of costs of that day. The docket papers must have been sent on the 9th July, at the very latest. from their office at Newport, and yet on that very day an im- portant payment was made by the bankrupts to the defendants. That fiat, owing to an oversight, fell to the ground. The ma- chinery WaI got into better order. A declaration of insolvency was made by the bankrupts on the 11 th of July, and another fiat issued on the 17th of that month. It was clear, therefore, that the parties contemplated bankruptcy from the 8th, and were assisted by Messrs. Prothero and Towgood. In the month of October came the choice of assignees—the general body of creditors prevailed, and the consequence was, the ripping up of all the proceedings. When the messenger took possession, there was not a fragment of property. To the present time, the trade creditors, to whom was owing jE 10,000. had not, with the exception of Mr. Beynon, who had been paid a bill of £ 165., received the fraction of a farthiag. How that property was dis- posed of, they were now to enquire into. He would prove that there had been an earlier act of bankruptcy by Williams and Sawtell than the declaration of insolvency, and he would dis- tinctly show that that was brought to the knowledge of the de- fendants, and any payment which they received after that, they must refund. In the month of April, bankruptcy was staring the bankrupts in the face. They looked about how best to avert the storm, and put their property safe and snug until it had blown over. They went to their relations, and had resort to the common course of making a bill of sale. On the 8th of May, at the very time Mr. Carroll was investigating into their affairs, they executed a bill of sale of 40 64-th shares which they held in a vessel called Virtue, to their mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips. That was a mere fictitious, colourable sale. *>'• was an old lady between 70 and 80 she knew nothing of the transaction, and had no idea of so much virtue being trnsferred to her. (A laugh.) That bill of sale was prepared through the instrumentality of Messrs. Prothero and xowgood. In their bill of costs they had charged for taking instructions to prepare that bill of sale JE1. Is. Od. on the 8th of May. The meeting of the creditors was on the llthof May, and with the view of keeping back the transaction from their knowledge, they dated back the bill of sale to the month of March, whilst it was clear from the bill ef costs of Prothero and Towgood themselves, that the transaction took place on the 8th of May. The transaction might be capable of explanation. Mrs. Phillips was in the next room, and he challenged his learned friend on the other side to call her. He asserted, and the jury would have no doubt, that there was a fraudulent as- signment of propel ty on the 8th of May. That constituted an act of bankruptcy, and he would show that it was known to the defendants, who themselves prepared the bill of sale and dated it back, and any payments to them afterwards were contrary to law. He would now go on to the payments which the plaintiffs said the defendants must refund. On the 5th of June they re- ceived cash and bills, amounting to £ 65. 5s. lid. On the 30th November they got acceptances to the amount of JE63. 4s. Od. He now called the attention of the jury to a still more striking item of the 9th July, immediately antecedent to the bankruptcy. Before the defendant issued the friendly fiat on the 10th of July, they patched up the accounts of the bankrupts, and various traip bills belonging to Phillips and Co., (the trading name of Williams and Sawtell,) were endorsed over to Elizabeth Phil- lips, the mother, who was not in trade, and then carried to her account with Prothero and Towgood, who got the beuefit of them, to the amount of £ 212. I3s, Id. Such a proceeding was not to be tolerated for a moment. Mr. Inskipp produced the fiats in bankruptcy of the 10th and 17th of July. Mr. Carroll, who attended for some of the Irish creditors, and Mr. Johnson, who was deputed from the National Bank of Ireland, deposed to attending the meeting of the 11th of May, when the affairs of the bankrupts were investigated. Mr. Phelps, Mr. Frazer, and Mr. Towgood were present. Mr. George Latch, clerk to Messrs. Prothero and Towgood, identified their bill of costs, delivered to the bankrupts, in the cause of Maunders and others against them. Under the date of July, 1844, was this: "Finding that an execution had been issued, drawing notice of your having committed an act of bank- ruptcy, 6s. Sd." After that, came another entry, of the date of the 9th of July. Mr. John Thomas, formerly clerk to Williams and Sawtell, was next put into the box, and the bill of sale of the vessel Virtue, to Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, was handed to him, and in reply to questions by counsel, he said he could not tell if the execution of the bill of sale was before or after the meeting on the 11th of May it was after Williams returned from Ireland -old Mrs. Phillips was not present. Did not see the sum of £:i40. or any money paid over to Williams or Sawtell. Cross-examined: The date of the loth of March to the bill of sale, was in Williams's handwriting. Mr. Joseph Wildy, clerk in the office of Prothero and Tow- good, deposed to the attestation to the bill of sale being in his hand-writing. Williams executed, the bill of sale at theii ware- house. To the best of his (witness) recollection, in the month of May. The bill of costs was in the handwriting of Kilpin, formerly clerk to Frothero and Towgood. It was witness's bu- siness to make entries in the day book. The instructions were given ta Kilpin, before the bill of sale was prepared, and after- wards Williams spoke to witness about it. Believes no one was present but Williams and himself. Did not pay £ 340., or anv sum of money over. Cross-examined Mr Towgood knew nothing of the bill of sale; did not mention the matter to him—it was such a simple matter; asked Williams about the consideration, and he said that either part or the whole of the consideration money had been paid by Mrs. Phillips, ta discharge an execution, put into the warehouse in the month of April; does not recollect whether there was any date on the bill of sale at the time. Re-examined: Mr. Towgood made entries in the day book. Mr. Justice Erie I want to know about Mr. Towgood's not knowing anything about it. Would you take instructions for s1 eh a transaction as making a bill of sale of property to the amount of £ 310., without the knowledge of your principal ? Witness Not generally, my lord. Mr. Justice Erie Ever? Have you authority to do so? Would you mention it to your principal ? Witness Yes, undoubtedly, my lord. Mr. Justice Erie I suppose it is not left to the clerk's dis- cretion ? Witness: Certainly not. Mr. Justice Erie: Would not Kilpin or you have mentioned the transaction to your principal before carrying it through ? Witness: That would be the usunl course. Mr. Inskipp was re-ealled to produce the accounts left with him by Mr. Towgood, but an objection was taken by Mr. Crowder to their being received, which was allowed by the court. Mr. Wildy was re-callcd, and the books of the defendants put into his hands, and he was examined in respect to various charges in those books under the dates of the 8th and 9th July, having reference to their advising with Williams and Sawtell, in respect to their becoming bankrupts. Also with respect to an item under date 8th of May, for preparing the bill of sale to Mrs. Phillips. Also in regard to the various bills and accept- ances, amounting to £ 213., received from Mrs. Williams by Prothero and Towgood, on the 9th July, and retained by them. In regard to the last subject the witness stated that the act of bankruptcy was concerted on the 9tfc July. Early in the morning of that day he received the bills of Mrs. Williams on the same day, but a short time after, instructions were given to concert the bankruptcy. The attention of the witness was then directed to his examin- ation before the Commissioner in Bankruptcy, and he was asked whether the following questions were not then put to him, and he returned the annexed answers thereto? "Did not you and William Williams concert the act of bankruptcy on the 8th of July, 1844 ? We did." Was it before you had seen Williams to concert the act of bankruptcy on the 8th of July, that you received those bills from Mrs. Williams at Mrs. Phil- lips's house ? No, I do not think it was." Have you any doubt that you received the bills from Mrs. Williams after con- certing the act of bankruptcy ? No, I have no doubt." The witness now said he had no distinct recollection of having made those answers; if he had made them he was misled. He had no books to refer to. Had you not the cash-book before you at that that time ? I believe 1 had a cash. book put into my hands from the other side not my own cash-book. Cross-examination.—Prothero and Towgood had made ur- gent application to Mrs. Phillips for payment of her account; also to the bankrupts for payment of their bill. After those acceptances were received, there was a heavy balance still due to Messrs. Prothero and Towgood. During the cross-exmination of this witness, Mr. Cockburn rose and said,-I am happy to state that your lordship and the jury will be saved further troubled. Terms have been offered which I think the plaintiffs will accept, and a verdict will be taken subject to a rule. The next cause, Morris and Kynaston v. Fraver, will also be withdrawn, terms having been come to. Damages, JE240. and costs.
CORN AVERAGES,
CORN AVERAGES, For regulating the Import Duties on Foreign Corn, from the 21st Aug. to the 27th August, 1846, both inclusive. AVERAGE. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Rye. Beans. Peas, s. d. s. d. s. d. I s. d. s. d. s. d. 48 6 27 3 j 23 7 ) 31 5 38 11 | 35 11 DUTY, s. d. s. d. I s. d. s. d. s. d. 1 s. d. 8 0 | 4 0 I 1 6 4 0 | 40|4 0 -♦
[No title]
An Account of COAL brought down theTRAM-BOAD from the 10th to the 15th August, 1846, inclusive. COAL. TONS CWT. TONS. CWT Thomas Prothero 1281 8 Decimus Prothero 108 1 Thomas Powell 1898 17 Rosser Thomas and Co. 744 5 T. Phillips and Son 4J5 15 Latch, Cope, and Co. 661 16 W. S. Cartwright 590 5 The Tredegar Coal Company. 1109 2 Joseph Beaumont 283 8 Rock Coal Company 939 3 Roger Lewis 405 12 Joseph Jones 259 11 John Jones, Victoria 730 Francis Adams 107 5 John Russell 1327 14 Allfrey Brothers. 747 7 Lewis Thomas and Company 19.5 10 Carr, Cargill, and Company. 817 19 Thomas Davis Brithdu Coal Company Total. 11965 18
[No title]
An Account of Iron brought down the Tram-road from the 10th to the 15th August, 1846, inclusive. Tram-road, Canal. IRON. TONS CWT. TONS. CWT. Tredegar Iron Company 323 10 Ebbw Vale Company 593 2 Rhymney Iron Company 538 8 CruttweU,Allies,&.Co. 492 10 Coal Brook Vale Co. Total 1947 10 2361 15
[No title]
An Account of Coal brought down the Canal from the 7th to the 15th of Aug inclusive. TONS. CWT. TONS. CWT Thomas Prothero 100 Thomas Powell 75 R. J. Blewitt 600.. John Vipond 450 J. F. Hanson 125 Richard Morrison 150 Allfrey Brothers 23 Carr, Cargill and Company. 25 John R usse II 17;).. 1723
TAFF VALE RAILWAY TRAFFIC,
TAFF VALE RAILWAY TRAFFIC, For the week ending August 15, 1846. £ s. d. Passengers. 256 Ii 10 General Merchandise. lt>:> 0 5 W. Coffin and Co. 185 7 5 ( Llancaiach Branch..236 2 0 Thos. Powell | Llantwitt Branch 3 4 0' 2G3 9 4 ( Darran Ddu Branch 24 3 4 ) Duncan and Co 124 7 3 Dowlais Co 227 16 10 J. Edmunds. 12187 Insole and Son 860 Plymouth Forge Company 6 1 5 €124719 1
PRICES OF SHARES AT BRISTOL.
PRICES OF SHARES AT BRISTOL. WEDNESDAY, August 19. PRICE PAID. PER SHARE. Bristol and Exeter 75 II 13 pm. Do New. 5 4t 51 Birming. & Gloucester, 100 128 130 Do. i Shares (issued 74 dis.) 171 31. 321 Do. j Shares. 3 Bristol and S. Wales Junction 2 1J 1 g dis. Bristol and Gloucester. 30 19 21 pm. Bristol and Liverpool Junction 0 Cornwall. 5 41 31 dis. Direct Northern 2, 91 sdis. Eastern Counties aver. 14.16.0. 22J 23 Do. Perpetual 5 per cents, 1 6.13.4 I s pm. Do. do. do. 2 6.13.4 I I pm. Great North of England 100 228 232 Great Western. 85 64 67 ex.div Ditto Half Shares 50 33 35 Ditto Quarter Shares. 10 13 14 Ditto Fifth Shares 20 13J HJ Great Western & Wyecombe 1 — Hull and Selby. 50 104 106 London and North Western.. 100 207 211 ex.all Ditto Quarters. 2 23 25 London & South West.aver. 41.6.10 76 78 London and York 2! 6 i dis. Manchester and Leeds 82 33 38 pm. Ditto half shares. 38 15 17 pm. Ditto quarter shares 2 6 7 pm. Ditto sixteenths 61 2i 21 pm. Manchester and Birmingham 40 78 80 Ditto quarter shares 5 8i 9J pm. Midland 100 140142 Ditto new 24 13 14 pm. Birmingham and Derby '00 115 118 Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Birmingham.. 2 South Devon 35 3 1 dis. South Wales.. 5 li 1 dis Taff Vale 125.16.11 134 134A Di*.to Quarter Shares. 25 28 281 Ditto Stock 10 2 3 pm. Trent Valley 21 —— Wilts and Somerset 10 4j 3i dis. Welsh Midland 2.1 li 1J dis. West of Eng.&S. W. D. Bank 12.10.0 13 13.
POLICE I!\TELL1GENCE.
POLICE I!\TELL1GENCE. + TOWN-HALL, NEWPORT.—MONDAY, AUG. 17. Present-Thomas Hughes, and Edward Dowling, Esqrs. 'VEGETABLES GIVEN AWAY. Thomas Morgan was charged on suspicion of stealing a quan- tity of potatoes, onions, apples, cabbage, and horse's harness. -P.C. Pennimore took the prisoner into custody this morning with the articles in his possession. He was not able satisfacto- rily to account for their being in his keeping, and he was there- upon taken to the station-house. No claimant for any of the property had been discovered, but if the case was remanded, the P.C. thought he might be able to obtain information in the case.—Prisoner said the things were given to him.—Remanded till Thursday. MERCY. Catherine Murphy was charged with having stolen a piece of ribbon, the property of Mr. Philip John, draper.-Prosecutor did not appear to press the charge, and we hope the mercy of the prosecutor will be rightly appreciated by the female.—She was discharged. William Smith was charged with having assaulted Michael Marks.-Settled out of court. LOOSE HORSE NUISANCE. Thomas Rees, haulier, was charged under the Bye Laws with having allowed his horses to run loose through the streets of Pillgwenlly -This kind of nuisance has existed to a dangerous extent in Pill, and PC Harris finding the defendant allowing his horses to endanger the safety of persons and children in the street, by running a tilt at whatever they liked, very properly laid an information against him for his conduct.—Ordered to pay costs, and cautioned not to incur the penalty of 40s. by a repetition of the offence. John Watts, for a similar offence, was also ordered to pay costs, and cautioned. Richard Chaddock, master of the Harmony of Waterford, was charged with having caused damage to a jetty head, to the amount of E3. 10s., the property of Mr. R. P. Jones.—Case adjourned till Thursday. Samuel Williams was charged with maliciously shooting three tame pigeons, the property of Mr. Henry Mullock.—Williams said he was anxious to settle the case with prosecutor; and the Bench having permitted such an arrangement, Williams paid jEl. 5s. for the damage, and the costs. THE STREET PESTS. Susan Travis, one of those foul beings who prowl about at the corners of streets, uttering obscene language, taking delight in shocking the ears of female purity, and committing vile indecencies, was to-day charged with drunken and disor- derly conduct, and refusing to go home when ordered.—The offence was proved, and the Bench having expressed a deter- mination to punish all such offenders severely, sentenced the prisoner to a month's imprisonment. CUTTING A VESSEL'S ROPE. William Pittmnn was charged with wilfully cutting the rope of the Swift trader, belonging to Mr. William Webb, of Pill.- Robert Guzzard, a hand on board, stated that the Swift was fastened by a rope to another vessel in the Pill, leaving room enough for boats to pass up and down. The defendant was running up the Pill in a pilot boat, and finding the rope pre- vented the mast passing, he said he would cut it, and did so, though ordered by witness and the master of the pilot boat not to do it. They were forced to get out another rope immediately, or the craft would have swiftly gone up the river.—Pittman said lie was obliged to cut the rope, or the boat would have been swamped.—Captain Richards, Harbour Master, said there were some parties at Pill who seemed to imagine that they could do anything they pleased against the law, with perfect impunity and lie hoped the Bench would show them, that any infraction of the law would be met by proportionate punishment.—The penalty for this offence is £ 2 )., above the value of the property (laiii aged.- Deiendtnt was ordered to pay a penalty of 2s. 6d., 5s. damage, and 13s. 6d. costs, or in default of payment, to go to prison for a month. A FURIOUS YOUXG DRUNKARD. David Griffiths, a ship carpenter, was charged with assaulting Sergt. Huxtable, and destroying hij uniform.—From the evi- dence given, it appeared that prisoner was fighting in the street about nine o'clock, on Saturdaymght last when he was ordered off by Sergeant. Huxtable. In five minutes afterwards he was creating a great disturbance in the Crown kitchen, from which he was ejected by Mr. Jenkins, who received from the prisoner, in making his exit, several violent blows, in addition to which, prisoner tore his clothes, and attempted to steal his watch. In the midst of this struggle, Sergt. Huxtable came to the rescue. and took Griffiths into custody, from which, however, he tried to get out again. In coping with the sergeant, he pulled his coat right in two up the back, and "digged into him" right and left, without mercy, till the poor sergeant was nearly done for. Prisoner was eventually taken to the station, and while there, struck a young man who had kindly helped him down, and lent the sergeant "one for his nob," while entering the charge.—Prisoner told the Bench lie was so blessed drunk, that he couldn't tell what he was up to.Fined 10s. and costs, or a month's imprisonment. Richard Chapman, of the Three Cups beerhouse, was charged with selling beer in his house, at improper hours.—Adjourned for a fortnight. A MISTAKEN NOTION. James Pell, keeper of the Compasses beerhouse, Club Row, was charged with selling beer at an improper hour.—The case was proved by PC Harris.—Defendant appeared to labor under a great mistake-and a very common one. He said he thought himself at liberty to draw beer at any hour of the night to tra- vellers, and that, in fact, he was compelled to.—The Bench told him that no beerhouse keeper was affected by such a regulation -it only related to those who had a spirit license.—Fined 10s. and the expenses. QUAHRELLING ABOUT A DEBT. Thomas Williams, keeper of the Fountain beerhouse In Com- mercial-street, was charged with having assaulted Jonah Fran- cis, of Spring Gardelltl.-It appeared from the statements and evidence given, that a brother of complainant lately died in the defendant's debt, for money advanced to keep him clear on his benefit society's books, for beer, &c., and that a bill was sent to Francis for the amount, he, it was said, having promised to pay, when the death relief should be advanced by the club. A short time after the bill was sent, Francis and his sister were passing the house of Williams, who was standing on the pave- ment with two or three tradesmen, when Williams asked com- plainant if he was satisfied with the bill. He said he was not, and would not pay a farthing of it. Then, you d-d scamp,' said defendant, why didn't you come and tell me so before, like a man ?" Francis told him he had been trying to see him about it; and he then tried to move on; on which, Williams collared him, held up a fist against his mouth, and said, D-n you, you are a dishonest fellow. You shall not go on. I'll put you in the MERLIN, and expose you, I will." Complainant said all this could not be, and was not, seen by the tradesmen with whom Williams had been talking, though they were very near. Defendant denied having assaulted Francis in the manner de- scribed, and begged the Bench to adjourn the case, that he 'c might bring forward the tradesmen mentioned, to confute the statements of Francis, as they must have seen everything that transpired. He also offered to pay complainant for his loss of time, if the case was adjourned, but he refused. The witnesses could not then attend, being engaged in the fair.—The Bench heard the charge, and taking into consideration the mitigating circumstances of the case, &c.,the defendant was only fined Is, and the costs, Mr. Dowling observing that defendant looked the reverse of a quarrelsome man, and he should be careful not to allow anger get the better of his prudence. Upwards of forty persons were summoned for non-payment of the Improvement rate.
THURSDAY.
THURSDAY. Magistrates present—Joseph Latch, mayor, T. Hughes, Esqrs. Thomas Morgan, the man charged on Monday on suspicion of having stolen a quantity ef vegetables, was set at large this morning, no prosecutor having been found. "JOEY NUTS." Joseph Parry, a distinguished caterer to the public appetite for nuts and fruit, and hence known by the familiar cognomen of "Joey Nuts," was to-day placed at the bar on a charge of having been found drunk and disorderly in the street.—Thus it fell out: Joey was pursuing his usual avocation, with what suc- cess we are not aware, when he became painfully sensible of being beleaguered by a host of swells," who treated his nut- laden basket to a summerset—destroyed the uniform beauty of his magnificent curls--defaced the snow-white purity of his braided smockfrock, and altered its shape to the ribbon style- and otherwise damaged his valuable person. Enough to make a man get drunk, this-with rage, and disorderly enough in the bargain and the magistrates considering Joey had been pun- ished sufficiently, gave him a reprimand and discharge. Joey made his grateful salaam to the Bench, and withdrew, vowing he'd bring down the vengeance of the law on the heads of the gents, who had assaulted him. The case of damaging a jetty head, remanded from Mond was settled out of court. There was no other business of importance. In the case of collision between the Themis and Ant, after a long and patient investigation, on Saturday evening last, before Messrs. Hawkins, Hughes, and Dowling, damages were awarded against the owner of Themis.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. NEWPORT. Arrivals and Sailings for the week ending August 19, 1846. ARRIVED. Preciosa, Minde, Memel, 102 pieces timber, 4430 deals and battens, 2400 staves, 3 cord latliwood. Economist, Smith, Quebec, 374 pieces timber, 1310 deals, 40 pipe staves, 6 cords of lathwood, 148 barrels flour.-Balticum, Direksen, Bremen. ballast.—John Royal, Jones, Whitehaven, iron ore.—Elizabeth, Driscoll, Kinsale, cattle.—Elizabeth Ann, Curtis, Fowev, iron Me.—William, Lawrence, Cardiff, sundries.— Octavia, Taylor, Whitehaven: Eaglet, Phillips, Barrow, iron ore. Industry, Murphy, Kinsale, cattle.—Wesleyna, Braund, Bidetbrd, oats, —Charlotte and Hannah, Ellery, Hope, Nicholls, Powey, iron ore.—Joseph, Cavauey, Bridgwater, bricks.-Jane, Harris, Bridgwater, flour.—Resolution, Reed, Bridgwater, bricks. Amelia, Pope, Stephen Wright, Wyatt, Thomas & Elizabeth, Burd, Millicent, Carveth, Padstow, it"n orc.-William, Hill, William, Smith, Gloucester, iron.-Ceres, Inman, Glo'ster, flour. Jane, Parish, Bridgwater, sundries. Unanimity, Mitchell, Bridgwater, flour.-Mary Anne, Davey, Swansea, iron.—Undaunted, Barbara, Richard Carnall, Hocking, Lerrin, Stephens, Fowey, iron ore.-Bee, Rymer, Chepstow, malt.— Elizabeth and Mary, Guswell, coals.-Newport Trader, Jack- son, Gloucester, suiidrfes.—Atlas, Windows, Bristol, timber.- William and Eliza, Jenkins, Reform, Williams, Barrow, iron :;re.—Venus, Davies, Port Madoc, slates.—Helena, Tiaverer, Mary Pope, Barnet, Rover, Beynon, Success, Todd, Fowey, iron .ore.-George, Farley, Kinsale, sheep.—Swift, Camburii, Grlasgow, iron.—Adelphoi, Thomas, Barrow, iron ore.-Eliza and Anne, Richards, Youghal. cattle. '1 he market'boats and steamers with sundiies. SAILED. Hibernia, Michuels, Stettin, 268 tons rail iron.-Dart, Gray, Gibraltar, 105 tons coals. Charles, Dreland, Jersey, 28 tons coals.—Jules Cesar, Lebart, Bordeaux, 12U tons coals.—Wm. Henry Augas, Thomas, Grenada, 364 tons coals.—Altina, Gal- loni, Malta, 275 tons coals.—Margaret Roberts, James, Ham- burgh, 181 tons rail iron.—Arab, Gowing, Barcelona, 260 tons coals.—Georgiana, Besset, Havannab, 203 tons coals.—Bank, Duggin, Ceylon, 544 tons coals.-Water Witch, Hughes, I Messina, 200 tons bar iron, 38 tons coals. Maria, Darracot, Ipswich; Boston Packet, Corish, Wexford; Margaret, James, Alliance, Ley, Weymouth; Agenoria, Jones, Favourite, Wil- liams, Liverpool; Speedwell, Felix, Glasgow; Union, Prewett, Cardiff; Regina, Lapthorn, Southampton; Thomas, Martin, London; Surprise, lewis, Drogheda; Sisters, Pine, Cardiff; True Blue, Bovey, Hull; Spread Eagle, Phillips, Liverpool; St. Pierre, Jones, Neath; Louisa, Climo, Weymouth Ann, James, Dartmouth; Harp, Brenan, Dublin; Mary Ann, Montgomery, Newry; William, Wakcham, Poole Concordia, Ball, Salcombe; Vine, Griffiths, Liverpool; Progress, Owens, Chester: Elizabeth, Cavin, London; Statira, Evans, Shore- ham; Charles, Howe, Cardiff; Ann and Elizabeth, Jones, Dublin; Robert Law, Sutton, Cork: Emerald, Meaney, Liverpool; Brothers, Roche, Wicklow; Tribune, Hill, Ips- wich Unity, Williams, Liverpool; Iris, Williamson, London, iron and tin plates. The market boats and steamers with sundries from Bristol, and 136 vessels for various ports coastwise with coals.
SLEEP, THE MESMERIST:
SLEEP, THE MESMERIST: After the Manner of a Celebrated Poet When racking pains or joints molest- No peace by night, no joy by day, What art can give the spirit rest, And drive our heaviest woes away ? The art that shall our hopes, renew, And bid us smile instead of weep, Is all our doctors to eshew, fo quit our cares and go to Sleep!
PROPOSED ODDFELLOWS' HALL,'
PROPOSED ODDFELLOWS' HALL,' To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin. SIR.-A letter appeared in the MLRMN of last week, which is fairly entit'ed to the consideianon of the numeious and res- pectable body of Oddfeliows in Newport, numbering, i: apoears, between four and five hundlert brotheis. The letter conuim-.l a suggestion or two rtsptciin^ the utility of erecting an uddlrl.. sug lows' Hall-oiie commodious enough to acoomuiodaie the lodges I of Newport, at tiie :Iine time seive ottier purposes which may produce a levenue to the shareholders. >-ee!n:, thatoii^r towns have. in some cases, erected srni'ar Hails, and that success has been attendant there >n, and, moreover, that I'K? utility of such a building must be undeniable. I confess th.it t!i« subject may bs facly discussed with a view to arriving at a sound conclusion. I Lii w that great OLjfC ions agan.si the project would he on the part of a resp-crable portion of our community—I mean the innkeepers and publicans at whose houses the todies are, now held but this is so individual a con- sideration, when placed in an opposite scale to the benefits which might be conferred on the body ot members at large, that it can have but little influence in consideration of the matter. I therefore discard that portion of the question at once merely acknowledging that it would be fairiy entitled to a share of discussion in the reasons which might he adduced pro and con. Looking at the subject, then, apart from all points except such as regard the interest ot the Order itself, I would iccornmend a free and searching investigation, as to whether such a Hull would be of utility, or not; and, beinc; found or considered of utility, whether it would not be advisableiminediately to proceed with measures for its accomplishment. And first, there alc many reasons which may be urired in proof of its utility, among which may be stated, that it would tend to eiev-tte the Order in the scale of respectability-I hat numbers who have now ihoughis of joining the Order, but who have a contcientious objection to meeting any society at a public-house, would, by the iormation of a Hall, apart from the object of theii scruples, units them- selves with the brotherhood—that there would natmallv exist greater independence with the lodges, were they to assemble in a room which they were properly ahle to call their own-iia: it would open, eventually, a source of revenue to lhem-thllt an extensive Hall, properly fitted up with all the necessary conve- niences &c., would be of infinue service to the Order in regard to its anniversaries, and matter of public importance—while it might also be made available for the use of other bodies on occasions of anniveisaries. festivals, concerts, lectures, and public demonstrations of whatever proper kind. These, among reasons which may be produced adinjinitum, may serve to prove that the utility of such a Hail would lie no fallacy and taking ib s for granted, it may next be safely advanced, that immediate steps should be taken to carry this great and exceileat object into effect. This is essentially the age of advancement; and it naturally belong to the great Order of Oddfellowship to go toiward with the popular feeling. A body of working men, which now ranks as the highest and most respectable, for wealth, intelligence, and, above all, usefulness, may justly, in this position, take a high stand, and attempt measures which may advance it still further in the social scale of society. The erec- lion of public Halls may be considered the first step to this state; and with due economy and rigid adherence to tne best plans for making an Oddfellows'-Hall in Newport answer the ends of usefulness and profit, theie c in be no doubt such an undertaking would be ctowned with perfect success. As one who has long been considering the propriety of joining the Order of oddfel- lowship in Newport, but who has an objection on conscientious motives to meet in a public-house, I hail the proposed election of a hail, independent of pints and pipes, with great sa;i»!ac- tloD, since it will enable me, with many other of my fellow tradesmen of Newport, to become a brother of the Order. I have a great desire to become an Oddfellow, but never shall I expect, while so many temptations to make the lodge a drinking, noisy, debating society, are placed in the way of its members. 1 remain, sir, yours &c., A TRADESMAN. Commercial-street, Newport. August 17, 1843. k
COAL AND ITS PHEFOAIENA.
COAL AND ITS PHEFOAIENA. To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin. SIR,-The origin of coal seams, and of explosive gasei their nature and composition, although examined by all those aids which modern science has biought to Us investigation isobscure, and the information biought out on that subject is as yet to be very" impeifeet. Sir Henry T. de la Heche and Dr. Lyon Playfair, in their report to government, state, that gases evolved fiom becls of coal, may be viewed as the result of continued decomposition of the vegetable matter trom which coal is derived—a decompo- sition which may be legarded as still in progress, under favour- able conditions, the coal being essentially composed of c.irbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The quality of coal depends upon the relative proportion of these ingredients. When tne proportion of carbon to the oxygen does not exceed about 7d per cent, the coal, in common terms, is called bituminous when the caibon amounts to about 85 or 90 per cent-, it is termed u anthiacite, or stone coal. Now, sir, the working collier take.. a very different view to the learnedand scientihc. I am not going to say whether or not it's a more correct une. for instance, upon these grounds:—crossing tne minel al basin of South Wales, through the county of Glamorgan, runs a fault, or what it, geologically termed, a dislocation, vaiying north and south in its direction in the west side of this fault, the coals are anthracite-oil the east side, bituminous -not onlv ii there a difference apparent in the coal beds, but the overlaying and underlaying strata differ, not only in substance, but in various thicknesses. This is a sufficient demonstration to the working collier, that in its first arrangement the difference existed on one side, the fault on the other, and they believe that the inflani- ahle gases existed in the same ratio five hundred yesurt ago. and will be found to exist five hundred years to comn if not released by vacuum and air. According to the theoiyof de- composition, time would produce a complete ossification and the beds of coal now considered in a per eci state. would be changed into another substance. As fire damp is found in otiier strati- fied portions of the earth, as well as in beds of coal, we b iieve il to be a necessary ingredient diffused into dissonant matter, when, at the fiat of His will, who formed the natural won., the whole s:ratified part of the earth moved into perfect order. How difficult to persuade those employed in coal mines that beds of coal are a congealment of vegetable matter requiring su«n;j«sive ages to consolidate. They see something so beautiful and tegular in its formation,-so stupendously wise in its organiza- tion, as admits of no such construction. Beneath the stiwmirs of the high and lofty mountains of Wales, c:>veied with almost impenetrable rocks, lay deposited some of the richest veins of coal, entirely excluding the possibility that coal seams are accu- mulation of land plants and stoney detritus, carried down by rivers into estuaries, and deposited into the sea. w here the vege- table matter undergoes changes that convert it into coal. Resting on this theory, no wonder the formation of coal continues obscure in the department of geology. Mr. Horner, in his address to the Geological Society, says-" The origin of coal has long been a subject of great difficulty, nor has any theory been yet advanced with which it has been possible to reconcile all the appearances which the coal measures exhibit-all the variety of forms in which coal is found; but the more closely they examined the phenomena, the mote did they feel the distance they were from a satisfactory explanation of them." Your obedient servant, A SOUTH WALES COLLIEH. August 17th, 1846.
CRUMLIN SCHOOL.
CRUMLIN SCHOOL. To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin. SIR,—I am anxious, through the medium of your very useful journal, to correct an erroneous impression that has been made by a correspondent's report of the opening of the National School at Crumlin, in last week's MERLIN. From that report, it has been inferred that none of the coal proprietors have con- tributed towards the school in question. Such, however, is not the fact; and, as in all other cases, so also in this—there aro some praiseworthy exceptions, which will appear, with your per- mission, by the subscription list, that will be published in your columns next week. I am, sir, your obedient servant, A. B.
FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL…
FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL GWYNNE HOLFORD. The Funeral of Lieutenant-Colonel G wynne Holfotd, which took place on Tuesday week, was attended by the laigest con- course of persons ever seen in that neighbourhood on a similar occasion, and was marked by every tribute of respect and affec- tion that could be paid to one so esteemed in his neigh- bourhood. At 11 o'clock in the forenoon the tenantry (including some from Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire), assembled at Buckland House, where they were most hospitably received. Shortly afterwards, a great number of the neighbouring gentry arrived, and all the necessary arrangements having been com- pleted. nnder the direction of Mr. David Jenkins, of Brecon, the mournful procession moved off for Llansainifretd Church, dis- tant about two miles from Buckland a long line ot carriages, of the neighbouring gentry, led the way, and were followed by the hearse and two mouroing coaches, each drawn by four horses after which came the the carriages of relatives, then ther seivants connected with the establishment, the whole brought up by 123 tenants of the deceased. Besides whom, 400 of the farmers and the peasantry had assembled, some of the latter unconected with the family, having travelled on foot from Carmarthenshire, and returned without making their presence known. ^The line of procession extended nearly a mile, and presented yWry imposing appearance to the spectators, who crowded every imposing appearance to the spectators, who crowded every point whence a sight of it could be obtained. On arriving at the Church, the funeral service was read, impressively, by the Rev. Thomas Watkins, incumbent of the parish, and the coffin was deposited in the vault, amidst manifestations of giief and sym- pathy, on the pait of the crowds who had assembled to pav their last token of respect towards the departed and his afflicted family. The great bell of St. Mary's at Brecon, was tolled at intervals throughout the morning, and in the afternoon a muffled peal was rung. DEATH OF MR. W AHD.-Illtelligence was receivedi n town on Friday morning of the death of G. H. Ward Esq., at his at his residence in Hertford, at an advanced aje. The deceased gentleman was father of the honourable secretary to the Admiralty. He was the author of Treiii: iie," and formerly held the officer of one of the Lay Lords of the Board of Admiralty. On Wednesday, the King aad Queen, of the Belgians, who have been 011 a visit to the Queen, his Majesty's royal niece, embarked at Woolwich in the steam-packet Garland, on tlieir return to Brussels.
Family Notices
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES. AND DEATHS. BL K I LLS. On Friday se'nnight, the wife of Mr Edward Harris, Rock- field, of a son and heir. On the 9th instant, the lady of Henry Hudson, Esq., of Col- let Place, Commercial Road/of a son. On the 15th instant, at Rhayader, the lady of R. Wood, Esq.. solicitor, of a son. MARRIAGES. At Llantarnam, Monmouthshire, by the Rev. D. Davis, Roper Williams, Esq., of Panrhew Park, nephew to Wm. Jumps, Est)., of Brythdyr, to Miss Waters, of The Tonn House, Llantarnam, all in this county. On the 13th instant, at Devynnock Church, the Rev. William Worker, Wesleyan Minister, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late — Williams, Esq., of Bailiau, Breconshire. DEATHS. On the 14th instant, at his residence, Commercial-strcot, Newport, Mr. Henry Williams, hair-dresser, aged 36. [The funeral of the deceased, who was an OddFeilow, will take plac. on Sunday, when the brothers are expected to attend his remains to their last resting-place.] Recently, full of years, and blessed with a fervor of Christian piety, Mrs. Williams, mother of Mr. Williams, of Crinda. On Sunday last. in her 19th year, Emma, youngest daughter of Mrs. Leugo, Monmouth. On the 14th instant, after a short illness of 10 days, aged m, Hannah, the beloved wife of Mr. Timothy Wallington, saddler, Abergavenny. On Friday last, at Cardiff, after a short illness of 3 quarters of an hour, aged 43, Harriet, the beloved wife of Mr. Aubrey, sergeant in the Cardiff police. On Saturday last, the infant daughter of Mr. Woodman, stationer, Cardiff, aged 5 months. On the 16th instant, sincerely lamented by all who knew her, in the 53rd yeav of her age, Mrs. Miller, landlady of the Lamb Inn, Merthyr. On Sunday last, aged 73 years, of cholera Mr. Wilson, ship- broker, Swansea.