Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from the Galway Independent Paper
Saturday, December 30, 1826.
DUBLIN, December 26.
DREADFUL FIRE - DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE.
It is with painful regret we have to record one of those calamitous visitations, which appear to baffle human precaution, and the awful consequences of which have excited the strongest sensations of sympathy in the public mind.
At about half-past seven o'clock on Sunday morning a fire broke out on the premises of Sir Abraham Bradley King, Bart Dame-street.- It was perceived in the warehouse in the rere of the dwelling, by Mr. Pettigrew, the principal manager of Mr. King'sconcerns. He had risen some time before and looked out on the rere from his window, but, perceiving it to be earlier than he expected, had again retired to rest; on this occasion he had observed nothing whatever, but shortly after he was awakened by a crackling kind or noise, and, on rising, discovered flames issuing from the warehouse. On giving the alarm, Mr. Allen, residing in one of the houses adjoining, proceeded, in conjunction with Mr. Pettigrew, to cut down a kind of wooden bridge, connecting the premises on fire with the dwelling-house in front. In doing this, however, they perceived the upper part of the dwelling-house was also on fire, although the bridge by which they were alone[?] connected appeared perfectly untouched. At about eight o'clock the fire engines of the respective Insurance Offices were in prompt attendance; but owing to the great delay in procuring water, from ignorance of knowing where to open the pipes, they were comparatively useless till nearly ten o'clock, at which period the destructive element had attained to an almost ungovernable height, not only in the back premises, but also in the front concern, the interior, of the upper part of which was involved in one unbroken body of flame.- An individual who was employed on the roof, with a wet mop, to prevent the flame catching on the premises of Mr. Walsh's house adjoining, had fallen down on the top floor, having extricated himself from the burning matter, he presented himself at a window, the flames rapidly approaching him, his situation excited the most painful interest among the crowds in the street, until a rope thrown from the parapet wall over him, by Henry Handwich, and which, by fastening round his middle, shifting him through the air to a corresponding window in Mr. Walsh's house, happily extricated him from his perilous situation. The upper part of the premises were now one blaze of liquid fire; the raging element spread with resistless fury on every side, notwithstanding that several of the engines played with powerful perseverance, and the greatest exertions were made by numerous individuals. About twelve o'clock the roof fell in, carrying down by its weight all the floors in the house, with an appalling crash, overwhelming in the burning ruins a number of persons actively engaged in endeavouring to preserve the property, among whom was Mr. Henry Pim, of the City-quay Brewery, who, with the principal part of the workmen of that establishment, had been among the formost in attendance on the first alarm. Mr. Pim, the engine-man of the Imperial Insurance Office, two of the brewery men, and a boy who were also involved in the ruins, were in the act of conveying the tubes of the engine through the lower part of the house to the front, where the dreadful occurrence took place. The most strenuous exertions were used by the people in attendance to extricate those buried beneath the ruins. The bar in front of the windows were torn down. Mr. Pim, was the first brought out, we are happy to say, apparently little injured. Mr. Butler, a confidential clerk of Alderman King's was next extricated, with every appearance of having been dreadfully injured. One of the brewery men was also shockingly crushed. It was upwards of an hour before the other, named Kenny was come at. A large stone had fallen on him, and rendered him entirely unable to stir, while the devouring element was surrounding him on all sides, and he was enveloped in heaps of burning ruins; at this moment of death, he was rescued at the hazard of his own life, by a sailor, named Treddin, who had all along distinguished himself by the most daring acts of intrepidity, and had eminently contributed to the preservation of life and property throughout the whole of this perilous occasion. The most lamentable part of the occurrence, however remains. At about four o'clock the body of a person unknown was dug from beneath the ruins, from the disfigured state of which it was impossible to be recognised. From the accumulation of ruins, it cannot as yet be confidently ascertained whether others may not still remain buried beneath them. The whole printing office at the rere of the building has been burnt - nothing but the shells of it and of the front house remain standing. It is said that two fine horses were burnt to death in the stable. The property consumed cannot amount to less than from sixteen to twenty thousand pounds. All the books, stationary, &c. for the several Government offices, for the Custom-house, the Stamp-office, &c. &c. consisting of their entire supply for the year commencing the 5th of January, 1827, have been consumed. The book-binding and printing materials form a very heavy estimate in the sum of losses. A safe, containing a quantity of plate, fell along with one of the floors - it has been secured. The books of the establishment have also been secured, but we understand that the vouchers are lost. The front house was insured at the Atlas Office for �3,500; the printing-office and back concerns were insured in the St. Patrick's Company for about �4,000. The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Counsellor Graves of the Head Police-office, and the civil establishment, were in prompt attendance, and, by their efficient services, preserved not only the most admirable order among the immense multitude, no depredation that we could hear of having occurred, but were among the most daring in rescuing the property from the flames. At about one o'clock, when what remained of the property had been secured, and the fire had been partially got under, or rather exhausted itself for want of materials, a company of infantry and a troop of dragoons, paraded the street in front of the ruins. We cannot close these particulars without noticing a circumstance connected with the sailor Treddin already alluded to. At an advanced hour of the night this brave fellow was found unnoticed, nearly naked and exhausted, seeking shelter near one of the fire engines, by Mr. Godison, of College-street Police, who humanely took him home, amply relieved his wants, and recommended him to the Sheriffs.
Yesterday, at three o'clock, an inquest was held on the body taken from the ruins when the usual verdict was returned; but no trace whatever of who the deceased was could be discovered.
DEATH OF MR. BRIC.
Fatal Duel.- A meeting took place this morning about 8 o'clock, in a field behind the Whitworth Hospital, Royal Canal, between John Bric, Esq Barrister-at-law, and William Hayes, Esq. Attorney. The misunderstanding it is said, arose from the following occurrence. Mr. Bric was putting a letter into the Post Office on Saturday, when the Cork Mail Coach drove up; some Gentlemen it appeared had been waiting its arrival, to learn the state of the contest for the Election of a Member for that City. On it being announced by a passenger, that Mr. Hutchinson was a head of the Poll, Mr. Bric expressed his satisfaction at the circumstance to the purport "that he was glad that rascal, Callaghan, was behind," in a tone sufficiently loud to be over-heard by Mr. Hayes, who is a cousin-german to Mr. Callaghan, who immediately replied, "that he, Mr. Bric, was a ruffian for saying so," a short recriminatory conversation then took place between the Gentleman, and they exchanged cards. The arrangements having been made by their respective friends, the parties met this morning, and took their ground at ten paces distance. The Seconds having arranged the preliminaries, and placed the parties, Mr. Bric appeared to have mistaken the directions given, and was preparing to fire too soon, when his Second notified to him his error, he immediately said, "I beg to apologize, I believe I am a premature," a few moments after, the word was given by Mr. Bric's friend. Mr. Bric immediately fired, the ball grazing the ground at Mr. Hayes's feet, and then turning round, received his adversary's ball under the left arm, which passed through his body, and instantly fell, declaring that he did not think it touched his heart, and expired within a quarter of an hour. The body was immediately conveyed upon a door, to a cabin at the Cross Guns, where an inquest has been held. At the moment Mr. Bric fell, some of the bye-standers called aloud the word "fly" when Mr. Hayes retired to his carriage which was in waiting, and drove off at a rapid rate.
DUBLIN, Dec. 28.
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR. BRIC.
George Connell, Foreman : Richard Seagrave, William Berkley Rogers, David M'Gowran, Robert Nixon, Patrick Cuthbert, William John Gerrard, Daniel Couran, Francis Langhan, Richard Coyne, Thomas Daniel, John Moran, Peter Bronby, jun.
The Jury proceeded from a public house at the Cross Guns to a Cabin, a few doors nearer to the bridge, where the body was laid. After taking a view of the body the Jury returned to the room where they had been sworn.
After a long and minute investigation, the Jury returned the following verdict :-
"That the said John Bric, late Barrister-at-law, was killed on the morning of the 26th December, 1826, at a field called the Dean's-well Dairy field, in the Parish of St. George's, and County of Dublin, by a bullet, fired from a pistol at said time and place, by Mr. William Hayes, of No. 23, Grafton-street, Dublin, in a duel fought then and there between him, the said John Bric and William Hayes, and that the said Mr. David Fitzgerald, of Mabbott-street, and Mr. William Gregg, of Kildare-street, were then and there acting as seconds, aiding, abetting, and investigating the said John Bric and William Hayes to fight said duel - said Mr. Fitzgerald being second to Mr. Bric, and Mr. Gregg being second to Mr. Hayes, and that said Mr. Hayes has fled for same shooting and firing."
OUTRAGE AT THE CHURCH OF GALWAY.
During Evening Service, a constant tumult was kept up outside the Church on Sunday last, by a number of idle ruffians who had assembled for no other purpose than to annoy the congregation, and insult them on leaving the Church. Before the congregation dismissed, the Rev. JOHN D'ARCY, one of the Vicars, on coming outside, heard some persons use such language, with regard to some of the congregation, as was sufficient to prove to him that they intended to beat them. Having observed the two who seemed to make themselves more conspicuous than the rest - he, with great fortitude, seized them by the collars, for the purpose of bringing them inside the Church, that he might identify them, when instantly a third stepped forward to rescue them from his hands. From him the Rev. Gentleman received a violent kick in the side - Even this did not intimidate him; he succeeded not only in identifying the two whom he first seized, but also the third who had come to their assistance. On Monday he lodged informations and had them apprehended.
Though the circumstances connected with this affray may be considered as not important in themselves, yet when we take them as a sample of the conduct of papists towards Protestants here, they rise into a more commanding attitude. The Rev. D'ARCY, not only deserved no ill-treatment, of any person in Galway, but is entitled to the gratitude of all its inhabitants. The disinterested exertions to ameliorate the condition of the lower orders, have been inconceivable; his patience and perseverance, under the most forbidding circumstances, have achieved for them, what we believe no other Gentleman in Galway would have attempted. He has established a Mendicity Asylum, and sustains the accumulated weight of toil and insult connected to it. Roman Catholics, with a rare exception, are the persons benefitted, notwithstanding all this, however, when he is leaving the place of worship, where he officiates, he is to be abused and kicked by a Popish rabble.
We hope no solicitation will prevent him from punishing them as the law directs. The congregation has been constantly disturbed every Sunday evening, & sometimes in the morning, by the underlings of Popery collected outside. In consequence of this, some have been prevented from attending Evening Service. As therefore Mr. D'ARCY now had it in his power to arrest the progress of this Popish insult to Protestant worship, we hope we will see the absolute necessity of doing so.
If popish affrontery increase as it has done for some months, it will be criminal to enter a Church door, and at night, it will certainly be dangerous to leave it. To check it is therefore a most imperative duty.
IMPROPER CONDUCT DURING DIVINE SERVICE.
Some Gentlemen behave very unbecomingly in our Church during the time of Divine Service. We think it our duty as a public Journal to give them a hint, and to assure them, that if their future conduct compel us to return this subject, we shall be more particular in our remarks - verbum sat sapienti.
REFORMATION IN CONNAUGHT.
We understand that a number of Roman Catholics conformed in Ballinasloe, on Christmas day, and received the Lord's supper in the parish church - we cannot tell how many; but we hope some of our correspondents in that town will transmit to us the particulars.
There is a number in Galway ready to do the same, if protection could be afforded to their persons and property. But if it be dangerous for those who have been brought up from infancy in the Reformed Faith to make an open avowal of their principles, what must it be for those who have always worshipped at the shrine of bread and pictures to renounce it, and to testify that they have been idolators.
RIOT IN THE THEATRE.
Our Theatre, we are extremely sorry to state, exhibited last evenings, some symptoms of that sort of row, (as it is termed) which, but too often disgraces such places of amusement, owing generally, and more particularly was it so in the present instance, to the low and disorderly fellows who are allowed to find their way into the upper galleries, even in the most civilized of our towns.
The performance had scarcely commenced, when the popular air of "Patrick's Day" was called for, and readily played by the band of the 15th Regiment in their best style.
On the occasion, the audience, in due obedience to the mandates of the Gods, took off their hats, as they had previously done in honour of "God save the King." - But these same Gods of the lower regions, being a little our of their element in the upper, &c not satisfied with their favourite tune, being played over and over again, duly accompanied as it was by the exhilirating notes of the great drum, continued to demand its repetition in the most troublesome manner, whenever any other air was attempted - Against such a "nuisance" the officers of the garrison at length set their face, and desired the band to continue the tune that had been playing. - The Gods were enraged at this well intended interference, and overwent so far as to send forth certain missiles from their cloudy abode, which soon led to the row we have alluded, but which the timely interference of our Worthy Mayor, who happily made his appearance at the moment, soon put an end to. We particularly regret this occurrence, lest it might in any way, tend to prevent the attendance of the Officers of the 15th at our Theatres, or public amusements in future. They have, since their arrival amongst us, certainly shewn not only every disposition to encourage our charitable institutions, but have powerfully contributed to the restoration of that social harmony and good feeling, which Galway had so long been famed for.
The performance was by Amateurs, and for a charitable purpose.
SHEEP STEALING.
Dr. Whitley, of the College, lost some sheep one night this week. It is a pity, for it is a loss to a useful member of the community. We hope the decided Protestants will manifest their public spirit, by stepping forward and offering a liberal reward for the apprehension of the ruffians who have so unhandsomely converted to their own use, the property of this Pillar of the Reformation. This uncompromising Protestant has been our warmest friend, and as such, we hope he will search for the strayed or stolen sheep, and find them, and have cause to rejoice, and we shall rejoice with him.
ARREST, AND ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
A person named Lauredee Scully, indicted for wantonly assaulting a carpenter named Burke, was arrested a few nights ago by our Mayor, Mr. Hardiman Burke, but having escaped, he plunged into the river, opposite Mr. Hughes's paper-mill, and nearly reached the opposite banks - not however unaccompanied, for the worthy Chief Magistrate plunged after him, and after a hearty struggle in the middle of the river, succeeded in re-taking him.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
A Coroner's Inquest, of which the following are the particulars, was held before William Blair, Esq., Coroner, on the body of William Dwyer, of the 15th Regiment. It having been insinuated that the deceased came by his death in consequence of a beating he received from the Fife-major; we feel great pleasure in giving minutely, the particulars of the Inquest, with which we have been furnished, as they sufficiently shew, that that insinuation is false in toto.
County of the Town of Galway to wit } By and before me, William Blair, Coroner of and for said County. At an inquisition, taken before me, the 28th day of December, 1826, at the Castle-Barracks, on the body of William Dwyer, and County aforesaid, the undernamed gentleman of said County were first duly sworn -
David Cummins; Pat M'Donough; Nicholas Smyth; William Evans; Valentine Irwin; Peter Carr; James Beswick; Daniel Callaghan; Robert Dickinson; Charles Taylor; David Robertston; Thomas Marshall.
Your issue is to try and diligently inquire how and what manner William Dwyer came by his death, and a true-verdict give according to the evidence - So help you God.
We find, on the examination of witnesses, whose depositions are hereunto annexed, that the deceased came by his death by Pluracy, as described by Dr. Bartley.
WILLIAM BLAIR, Coroner.
County of the Town of Galway to wit } Serjeant Lain of the Regimental Hospital of the 15th foot being duly sworn, saith, that the deceased was ordered into the Hospital on the 21st inst, by Doctor Bartley; deceased complained of pains about his knees; he said, a few days after his admission into Hospital, deceased believed his illness was occasioned by a cold, and deponent believes he came by his death in consequence of a cold.
GEORGE LAIN. Sworn before me, the 28th Day of Dec. 1826. WILLIAM BLAIR, Coroner.
Michael Dwyer being duly sworn, saith he is brother to the deceased, and that the deceased told him that in consequence of a blow given him by James Ash, Fife-Major of said Regiment, was the cause of his being sent into Hospital.
his MICHAEL X DWYER mark. Sworn before me, the 28th Day of Dec. 1826. WILLIAM BLAIR, Coroner.
Thomas Gilmer, being duly sworn, saith that on Monday 19th inst., witness was standing in the barrack room when Corporal Ash Fife-Major, desired the deceased to clean the table; he refused, and said he may do it himself, on which the Corporal gave him a slap on the cheek with his open hand, and subsequently a stroke on the breech with a cane, which stroke, deponent is of opinion would not hurt a child.
THOMAS GILMOR. Sworn before me, the 28th Day of Dec. 1826. WILLIAM BLAIR, Coroner.
Doctor Bartley, of the 15th Regiment of foot, being duly sworn, saith, that the third day after he went into Hospital, he reported to deponent that his illness was occasioned by a severe beating he received from Corporal Ashe, acting Fife-major. On enquiring, he stated that he beat him about the back and sides, on which witness examined him, and found nothing to confirm his statement. The fifth morning of his admission, his brother mentioned the similar statement to that made by his deceased. Finding his case to terminate fatally, witness called in Surgeon Grey, and reported the circumstance to the Commanding Officer, at the same time remarking that it was impossible the beating, however severe, could have produced the symptoms he then laboured under; particularly so, as there was no appearance whatever, on any part of the body, to justify witness giving deceased's statement the least consideration; deponent further stated, that in cutting into the cavity of the chest, the lungs on the right side were found very much diseased, apparently of much long standing; deponent further stated, in his opinion, and that of Surgeon Grey, the boy William Dwyer, died a "natural death," brought on by a disease commonly called Pluracy.
J.M.. BARTLEY, M.D. Surgeon, 15th Regt. Foot.
Sworn before me, the 28th Day of Dec. 1826. WILLIAM BLAIR, Coroner.
We regret to state, that a poor boatman in the Coast Guard service, who has for some months shown symptoms of mental derangement, and who had been sent into this Town, from one of the stations on the Cunnemara coast, for the purpose of obtaining medical relief, has, within these few days, disappeared, leaving his unhappy wife in a truly pitiable situation. The man's name is Charles Carney, he is about 42 years of age, nearly six feet high, thinly made, of rather a fair complexion, has the mark of an old sore on his left cheek, and some eruption on his forehead, over which he wore a white bandage. When last seen he had on his uniform or sailors dress. The poor fellow is a native of the Cove of Cork, of which place he is constantly raving, and it is supposed he has rambled on his way thither, as he has been traced as far as Oranmore. Though no further tidings can be obtained, it is hoped that this paragraph may find its way into the columns of the Provincial Papers, and that it may meet the eye of some one, who may be the means of restoring the unfortunate wanderer to his wife and family, by giving information to the Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, or to the Collector of H.M. Customs, Galway.
To the EDITOR of the INDEPENDENT.
"Why stand ye all the day idle ?"
SIR, - Your Correspondent "Harmodious" promises, after Lent, to treat us to series of lectures on architecture, on the dilapidation of our buildings, and the improvement of our docks and quays. Without intending to be severe, or wishing to do so, and assuming that "Harmodious" is a Minister of the Gospel; I would suggest to him, in the spirit of friendship, a subject more worthy of his radical knife. Let him labor to dispel the mental darkness of those about him, destroy that opposition that is evinced by the "Romish Parsons," to the spread of the Gospel of Christ, which he is SWORN to maintain, and well paid for maintaining; let him leave the subject of brick and morter abuses to those who understand it, and endeavour to understand that which he pretends to teach; let him apply himself to that which is his immediate province; and though he may consider it a sin to write during lent, I trust he will consider it none to read; that he will come like a giant refreshed after Easter, with his lance sharpened & his understanding improved, to enter the lists, with the system of humbug imposture and delusion, that is passing nakedly before his eyes. By complying with my request; he will oblige his friends and disappoint his enemies; and he will add something more substantial to his character, than that of being a brick and morter reformer, that he is a christian who is seriously inclined, to do his duty, in that state of life into which it hath pleased God to call him."
I am not the advocate of the Abuses of which your Correspondent complains, - no far from it, I do admit that the labours of Hercules were mere children's play, when contrasted with the Abuses that do exist in Galway, but I say that Harmodious is getting out of his element in encountering them, with little credit to his friends and less to himself.
I have the honour to be.
VIGILANTIUS.
P.S. Should your Correspondent resume his labours respecting Abuses, it may not be uninteresting to inform the public, how it can be considered no Abuse to continue a man for life in any situation, the duties of which he neither understands, nor regards ?
To the EDITOR of the INDEPENDENT.
SIR - I should like to hear from persons who maintain that Ireland was formerly "the Ireland of Saints;" at what period of her Saintship, was the origin of this worship ? My own opinion is that it is a remnant of Druidical paganism brought to its present state of perfection by the fostering care of the Romish Parsons. It is well known, that the Church of the Pope incorporated into her worship every thing she could cull from the refined knavery of the soothsayers of Greece and Rome : and she owes her assumed infallibility to some of the worthies who lived in the time of Numa. It therefore needs not surprise us to find the parsons give all their support to the worship of the gods of wells, because nothing is calculated to stultify and brutify their unfortunate votaries. Some of the imbeciles who talk of extending the civil liberty of these men, would insinuate that the priests do not encourage this heathenish and atrociously wicked religion. It is worse than nonsense to say so, for as long as it is in their power (like the pagan priests of Athens) to extinguish it, by cursing the performers, so long will they be held accountable in the sight of God and man for the wicked consequences.
Oh ! and if it were a number of persons who had met to read the Word of God, and to examine for themselves the religion of Jesus; what an uproar would not this cause, among interested knaves, who are hoarse crying out "civil and religious liberty !" and yet these brazen-faced men, have the frontless impudence to speak to the Protestants of Galway of "free-born men." Now I do ask these advocates of "free-born" men, how can they summon up sufficient impudence to speak of LIBERTY with reference to men, who are weekly, daily, and even hourly, seen, sometimes life spaniels, acting, as it were the deity in the well, at other times trotting in circles, half naked, to see who should be foremost in pleasing the god, by an exhibition of their calves, and by that which modesty forbids me to mention. As this is a subject, I have touched on frequently, I trust I shall be forgiven any sameness or repetition that may appear in this. I regret that some of abler powers than I, will not take it up; but I could not think of letting this publication appear without giving to the Romish parsons of Galway something in the shape of a Christmas-box. It is remarkable that it was a constant practice of the Druids to curse the votaries of their system when they shewed any disobedience to their infallible masters, for they too were infallible, as being interpreters of the will of the gods.
Your's, A READER.
P.S. What are he clergymen of Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Athlone, and other parts of Connaught doing ? They see the Druidical operations before them every day. I ask them where are their letters exposing it.
On the Matter of David O'Loughlin an Insolvent Debtor.
THE several Creditors returned by the insolvent in his Schedule are requested to meet me on Monday, the 15th day of January next, at the hour of twelve o'clock at noon, at the house of Mr. Patt Strong, in the town of Loughrea, in the county of Galway, to strike a dividend of the Estate and Effects of said Insolvent, which has come to our hands as assignees, since the 1st day of May last past, and when a dividend of such Estate and Effects will be paid to such Creditors. Dated this 28th day of Dec, 1826.
DARBY HEER
SYLVESTER CLARKE
GAMING IN HIGH LIFE.
The following letter has been addressed to a Morning Paper :
"Sir - Unwilling as I am, in any manner, to offer myself to public notice, yet, as my name has unavoidably been fixed up in the transaction which, under the designation above quoted, has of late occupied some portion of the public attention; and as I cannot reconcile it to myself to withold any support in my power to afford, to a cause in which I have once embarked, I am induced in reference to the statements which have been published with the signatures of 'A.J O'Neill,' and 'Bethell Waldron,' and in expectation of the further statement which the former gentleman intimates his intention to publish - and as the only reply which at present appears to be necessary, on behalf of Mr. Auldjo - to state, that inasmuch as it is the decided opinion of his legal advisers, that the answer which he could easily give to those statements ought to be witheld until he shall have the opportunity of giving it in evidence before a jury, he has, in reference to that opinion, determined to leave the parties in possession of all the advantages which they can derive from the publication of statements before trial; requesting only, that his silent endurance of the unfounded insinuations which he is aware industriously circulated against him, may not, under such circumstances, prejudice his case in the public opinion ; and were it not for the confidence with which such insinuations are circulated merely because they remain uncontradicted, it would really seem extraordinary that it should become necessary to offer any explanation of the conduct of a young man who has openly appealed to the laws of his country, against proceedings which, in the first instance, he openly represented privately to friends whom he consulted, and in whose hands he considered his honour and character would be safe; but which proceedings, in the opinion of those friends, of his legal advisers, and finally, of a Grand Jury, have considered such, as to justify him in preferring against some of the individuals concerned, an indictment, charging them with a conspiracy to defraud him of his money, by means of unlawful play, and which charge is in the course of being submitted to the consideration of a jury.
"In reference to another part of the same transaction, and in consequence of the publication of an extract, or supposed extract of a letter from Mr. Ellice to Mr. Prendergast, M.P. stating that 'Messrs. Gurney and Chitty have, after a full consideration of the case, given it as their unqualified opinion, that their is nothing connected therewith in the slightest degree to impeach the honour of either of the Lords Howth or Clanricarde;' also in justice to Mr. Gurney and myself, because, as I intended a consultation at his chambers, he might otherwise impute to me this unauthorised use of his name, as having given an opinion which he did not give, I am induced to offer an explanation of what the opinion in question really was, and by whom it was given.
"Mr. Auldjo's statement was laid before Mr. Chitty, and the questions to put to that learned gentleman were - 'Are there grounds for proceeding by indictment for conspiracy, and against whom ? In his opinion he says, 'I am satisfied that there was no guilty participation in the fraud, on the part of Lord Clanricarde or Lord Howth : On the contrary, I think there is every fair and just ground to believe, that they were as much the object of plunder as Mr. Auldjo, or at most, that they were made use of as the instruments to assist in the circumvention of Mr. Auldjo. And upon this view of the facts, I believe it will be no means expedient to adopt any criminal proceedings against Lord Clanricarde or Lord Howth.' Upon this opinion, in which, it will be observed, the learned counsel answers more questions than have been put to him, a reference was made to Mr. Gurney, whom I attended in consultation, and who gave no written opinion; but in regard to whose opinion I wrote to Mr. Ellice, that he, 'Mr. Gurney, concurs in Mr. Chitty's opinion, that in Mr. Auldjo's case there is no evidence on which to include either of the Lords in any indictment.'
"This is all that has been stated in regard to Mr. Gurney, and this was stated in that confidential communication which has subsisted between Mr. Ellice and myself, as the friends who originally gave the opinions upon Mr. Auldjo's proceedings have been founded. How can this be held to amount to the 'unqualified opinion, alleged to have been given by Mr. Gurney. I leave it to be explained by the writer of the extracts already quoted; and how that extract, supposing it to be authentic which I do not all admit, came to be published, I leave to be settled between the parties through whose means the publication took place; but any thing contained in that extract to the contrary notwithstanding, I must declare the fact to be, that neither impeachment, nor the vindication of honour of any party, was at all considered or consulted upon, unless, as herein stated, by implication, arising from the question - what course it was most expedient for Mr. Auldjo to pursue, in seeking redress for the injury which he has sustained ?
"I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
"SIMON M'GILLIVRAY
2, Suffolk lane, December 16, 1826."
The following advertisement appeared a short time ago, in The London Morning Herald.
"Matrimony. - Wanted, a Partner in the Matrimonial State, by a young man, 23 years of age, of undoubted respectability, who is now a partner in a flourishing concern, with prospects of considerable expectations from his parents. He wishes for a young Lady, not exceeding 21 years, of mild manners, tolerable understanding, and possessing a sufficiency of personal attractions to render domestic society agreeable. It is needless to add, that sweetness of temper is the most important requisite. As fortune is not the object of the advertiser, he merely expects the above qualifications, with a respectable connection.- By addressing a letter to W.L., Post-office, Blackhead, a meeting may subsequently be arranged."