cornwall england newspaper
1849 NEWS
NOVEMBER
2 NOVEMBER 1849, Friday
Local Intelligence
GREAT EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY &C - On Thursday the 25th ult., a meeting was held at the Town-Hall, St. Austell, to receive a deputation from his Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Society of Arts, to explain the nature and objects of the great exhibition of the works of industry of all nations, intended to be held in London in 1851, and to ascertain the willingness of all classes to support the proposal. The chair was taken by Mr. T. COODE, and after a statement made by Mr. BREWATER, one of the deputation, a resolution was proposed by Mr. JOSEPH DREW and seconded by Mr. W. WEST, expressing satisfaction at the warm interest evinced by his Royal Highness Prince Albert in favour of the arts and sciences, approving of the exhibition being opened to all nations, and of the prizes being awarded under the sanction of a royal commission. The REV. C. S. WOOLCOCK moved a resolution for forming a local committee to assist in carrying out the exhibition consisting of MR. TREMAYNE, MR. TREFFRY, MR. T. COODE, MR. SHILSON, MR. WEST, and other gentlemen, with
power to add to their number, and that MR. J. H. DREW be secretary. Mr. W. PEASE seconded this proposition, and it was carried unanimously. On the motion of MR. E. CARLYON, seconded by MR. MORCOM, a vote of thanks was passed to the deputation, which those gentlemen acknowledged, and moved the thanks of the meeting to the chairman for presiding on the occasion.
FALMOUTH MECHANICS INSTITUTE - This society has displayed extraordinary efforts to make the lectures and entertainments of the current session pre-eminently attractive. In addition to the weekly letures given by their own members, the list of which, as printed, appears remarkably good, they have formed arrangements with some of the most popular lecturers of the day. [..] The supernumerary lectures ... have been continued by two from the celebrated lady lecturer, MRS. CLARA LUCAS BALFOUR. These addresses were delivered in the Polytechnic Hall on the evenings of Thursday and Friday, the 25th and 26th of October. Their titles were respectively "The Moral and Intellectual Influence of Woman on Society," and "The Female Characters of Sir Walter Scott." It would not be possible to find language to convey the various and striking qualifications that Mrs. Balfour exhibits as a lecturer. The music of her voice, the grace and elegance of her diction - her precision and propriety of expression - and the grasp and logic of her reasoning, are truly surprising.
In her first lecture there was manifested an intimate acquaintance with the history of woman in all times and countries; and she demonstrated that men have as much interest as woman in taking care that she has due consideration shown her, that a choice and sound education beyond what are termed accomplishments be given her; and that a fair field for the exercise of her talents and making their due impression upon society, be afforded her. But whilst maintaining with unflinching zeal the claims of her sex, the modesty with which she refrained from pretending to place them into the position which she acknowledged to more properly belong to men, was exceedingly good-natured and graceful. She inculcated that the apex of the pyramid of genius, had in every department been occupied by men; but that woman, as she elucidated by numerous instances drawn from Bible and other history, is to be found among those who have their place immediately beneath. That man's intellect excels hers in grasp, the power of abstraction and concentrativeness, but intuitiveness of perception and promptitude in decision are given her as a compensation. The second lecture was also eminently interesting and instructive. A great number of persons of all classes attended the first lecture, but such were the reports of the hearers, that quite an excitement was produced in the town; insomuch that the Polytechnic Hall, on the second evening, was quickly crowded to the door, and so absorbed were those that were present by the lecturer's words, that not the slightest sound but her voice was to be heard. But perhaps the most conclusive proof of the satisfaction received by her visit to Falmouth is that the members of the institute invited her by acclimation to favour them again with her presence in the coming spring, and that delight was universally expressed on its becoming known that she has consented to do so.
FALMOUTH QUARTER SESSIONS - These sessions were held on Friday last, but there was no case for trial, which circumstance the Recorder remarked, considering the number of shipping which visited the harbour, of all nations, was highly creditable to the town.
After briefly alluding to two recent acts of Parliament, he dismissed the grand jury to their duties. They made the following
presentment: "The grand jury are desirous of bringing under the notice of the Council, the necessity of steps being immediately taken to provide a suitable Fish Market, in lieu of the old one recently removed, in order that the trade of the town and the customary occupations of its inhabitants may be interfered with as little as possible." The Recorder, in reply, said he would take care the recommendation of the grand jury should be laid before the proper authorities. The court then rose.
PENZANCE QUARTER SESSIONS - These sessions were held on Wednesday, the 24th ult., before MR. COLLIER, Recorder, and the Mayor and Magistrates of this borough. there was only one case for hearing, ANN GREEN for stealing a fowl from RICHARD TRENERY, of Paul. The grand jury were sworn and charged, and then found "no bill," which conclueded the business.
FALMOUTH FISH MARKET - The authorities have had another expression of public opinion on their proceedings with respect to the fish-market. A grand jury can scarcely be said to be the organ of a class, as it is generally composed of an indiscriminate selection of men from various parts of the town, and a presentment from their hands may be considered as the voice of the burgess list. It is temperately expressed, but there is no mistaking its intention, and if the town council possess any regard for the opinion of the public, we would earnestly advise them to pay immediate attention to its recommendation. There are whisperings abroad that the Recorder has privately delivered a legal opinion unfavourable to their proceedings, and if such is the case, and they continue to annoy the fish-people by removing their stalls, and levying fines and imprisonment, without providing them equal if not superior accomodation, no reprobation would be too strong for such conduct, and we would recommend the sufferers to submit their case to a higher tribunal. Magistrates deserve
every consideration in the discharge of their duties, and no trifling error should be made a matter of reproach, but they ought not to defy public opinion, or to usurp private rights as in some of the recent proceedings in reference to the fish-market, as the Falmouth bench has attempted to do.
SUMMERCOURT - A death from Asiatic cholera occurred here on Saturday last, in a filthy lodging house for mendicants. The woman whose name her paramour first declared to be SULLIVAN, and afterwards PASCOE, had lodged in a similar receptacle of filth on the night preceding, at Penryn, and is supposed to have caught the disease there, as she was ill but a few hours only. The authorities, in conjunction with the proprietor, have since suppressed this house of corruption, and prompt measures were immediately taken by St. Enoder board of health for fumigating and cleansing the premises with combustible matter, lime, and disinfectants, and hopes are entertained that their efforts will arrest the further progress of the infection.
NARROW ESCAPE - On Wednesday se'nnight, in the evening, a gig belonging to MR. VINCENT, with five pilots on board, was upset off St. Anthony's lighthouse when returning to St. Mawes from the bay. The wind was blowing strong from the south-west, and a heavy sea was running; but fortunately MR. DASH, another pilot, was not far off in a punt with two men, and on seeing the accident they went to assist, and got the five men into their little punt, two fo them being nearly exhausted. They then rowed the boat, with the eight men in her, and a quantity of water, stern before, unto they cleared St. Anthony Point.
ATTEMPTED SELF DESTRUCTION - The family of MR. VIVIAN, draper, Camborne, were alarmed on Monday last, by loud groans proceeding from some part of the house, which on searching were found to come from the servant girl, who had suspended herself by the neck in the kitchen, and was almost dead. Being immediately cut down, and medical aid procured, there are hopes of her recovery.
CUDDRA MINE ACCIDENT - JAMES COCK, one of the three men who were drowned at Cuddra mine, as stated in our paper at the time the accident happened, was found on the 24th, after the body had been in the water fourteen days.
MINE ACCIDENT AT NEWQUAY CONSOLS - On the morning of the 25th ultimo, a man of the name of WILLIAM HOLMAN was descending the foot way in the engine shaft with a pick in one hand and a borer in the other, with a torch in this mouth. He went down the first ladder, and in getting a light, he rested the borer on his hip, when the end of a bolt in the rod struck the upper end of the borer and forced it into his thigh, from near the body, nine inches downwards. There are some hopes of the man's recovery.
CORONER'S INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before MR. HAMLEY, coroner: October 24th, at Delabole Slate Quarry, on JOHN NOTTLE. It appeared that Nottle and some other men were working at the new quarry, belonging to MR. AVERY, when one of the men heard a noise as if from a blow; and on turning round, saw Nottle on the ground, and on moving him up, saw blood coming from his ears and nose, and he was quite dead. There was a large stone close by him on which there was some hair. It was supposed that the stone must have fallen from some part of the side of the quarry, and struck him on the head. He had no hat on at the time, and his death was instantaneous. Verdict, accidental death.
On the 27th, on RICHARD LANE, at Launceston. Lane and his son left their house, in Launceston, on the 26th, after breakfast, to go to work in the parish of St. Stephens, about a mile and half distance. On going through a field on their way, Lane had occasion to stop, and his son went on and commenced working. His father not coming so soon as he expected, he thought something had happened to him, when a person came to him and told him his father was found dead in a field. He went back immediately, and found his father in the same place where he had left him. His wife and several of his family had by this time arrived. The old man was quite dead, with his pipe firmly grasped in his hand; he must have died without a struggle. Verdict, died from natural causes.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -
CHOLERA AT REDRUTH
Sir - In my last week's WEST BRITON, I find a paragraph headed IGNORANCE and INHUMANITY, which, it appears. you took from the London papers. I feel called upon as the chairman of the Board of Health lately formed in this parish, to contradict in the most unqualified terms, the statement alluded to, which would, if true, reflect great disgrace upon the inhabitants of Redruth, who so far from deserving to be associated with the opprobious epithets of 'ignorance' and 'inhumanity' I am thankful to say have come forward from the most enlightened and humane motives to alleviate the distress of their poor parishioners during the prevalence of the late sickness and mortality. Medical relief, and other relief, has been afforded to a very great extent, in addition to which the ladies of Redruth have expended between GBP 60 and GBP 70 in clothing and bedding for the poor - and on the first Sunday in this month, a further sum of GBP 30 was contributed by the different congregations in the town, which is now in our treasurer's hands to be expended for the same benevolent purposes.
But perhaps the author of this statement only intended it to apply to "those wealthy individuals who quitted their homes and who had gone to reside at a distance through fear of the disease." if so, it is a gross misrepresentation of the truth - I only know of two families having left Redruth within the last few months; one of those did not leave their residence till after the sickness had taken its departure, and the other had left before it made its appearance in the parish.
I trust, Mr. Editor, that as you admitted this obnoxious paragraph into your last week's publication, you will not hesitate to allow a place in this week's paper for the contradiction of it.
I am, Sir, Your very obdiently, &c.
J. W. HAWKSLEY
Rectory, Redruth, October 31, 1849
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEST BRITON
SIR - As your recognized correspondent in Redruth, I am called on to vindicate the inhabitants of the town from the stigma conveyed in a paragraph inserted in your last week's paper, and said to have been copied from a London paper by request. I know not what part 'meddler' could feel he had reason for making such a request, but this I know - that provision was made for meeting the scourge of cholera in this place - on a scale and with a promptitude which have not been surpassed in any place of whose proceedings I have seen any account. House to house visitation - ladies benevolent societies - special visitations of the poor by an organized ladies' society - a large, respectable, and working Board of Health - spacious and conveniently appointed houses of refuge - an open dispensary free to all, without distinction, at which more than a thousand persons of this and the neighbouring parishes were gratuitously supplied with the necessary remedies for the
premonitory symptoms - a soup kitchen - liberal collections in all the places of worship, and more than all, a noble amount of private benevolence exercised by great numbers of persons who have not desired that their left hands should know what their right hands did.
All these we have done, and thus have we raised money to help to pay for the little work done by the suspected author of the paragraph in question. One of our two magistrates happened at the time of the appearance of the cholera, to be residing with his respected family at his country residence near Helston, and though he did not bring his family into the town, which he would have been to be greatly blamed if he had - he came himself, and as well as other members of his family contributed most liberally to the funds for the relief of the sufferers.
I am bound to bear this testimony to the great exertions made in this town, and remain with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT BLEE, jun.
Redruth, October 30, 1849
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
9 NOVEMBER 1849
FRESCOES IN TALLAND CHURCH - By Mr. BOX, of East Looe; read by DR. BARHAM [to the annual meeting of the Royal Institution of Cornwall; the article was introduced by the sentence: "The following papers were then read, from which we have made extracts:-"]
In the early part of October, 1849, it was found necessary to take down the wall of the north aisle in Talland church, on which were discovered a number of fine frescoes. They consisted of two series, laid one on the other, the first (that nearest the wall) was executed in colours, while the other was traced in black, and being on a white ground, its figures were displayed in bold relief. Both unfortunately were much defaced by exposure to heavy rains, and in attempting to separate them, many portions of each were unavoidably destroyed. Among the subjects of the coloured series was an imposing representation of the crucifixion. Mr. Box described the figures, and said the most remarkable feature in this picture was the vividness of colour displayed by the blood dropping from the wounded side of our Saviour. It was doubted whether the richest oil
painting ever equalled the peculiar brilliancy of this colour. It was suggested that the rain had thrown out the colour by moistening the plaster, but the richness and intensity was more probably due to the influences of time and chemical action. He described other frescoes on the same plastering, which appeared to be coeval with the building of the church.
It seemed, however, that a change had afterwards taken place in the opinions of the clergy as to what might be deemed appropriate decorations for the interior of their churches. The pictures described were considered too tame for a darker age, and were therefore covered with plaster about the third of an inch thick, on which was traced a second series of frescoes
in black. One of these was a picture of the devil, possessing apparently as much of the horrible as could be devised. A description of this was given, as well as of an imp at the devil's feet, a sorrowful nun, an ugle grinning dwarf, and a building - like a prison - all depicted in black. The intention appeared to be to excite dread in the minds of the superstitious, from which they could only be relieved by the priests when seeking the consolations of religion at their hands, and priestly power being thus established, the people became the willing victims of their tyranny.
The vicar, the REV. E. HOCKER, had directed every effort be made to preserve these objects, by detaching the coat of plaster from the wall, but this was impracticable, and as now uncovered to view, the black and red frescoes together display a very novel and incongruous aspect.
On the proposition of the President, the thanks of the society were given to MR. BOX; and also to the other contributors, after the reading of their respective papers.
MR. LOVE'S ENTERTAINMENT - On Friday last, MR. LOVE, the polyphonist, gave an evening's entertainment at the Assembly-room, Truro, to a large company. His first representation was entitled, "Love in all Shapes," and in this he excited surprise, and caused much amusement by his excellent ventriloquism, the quickness with which he changed his dresses, and his personation of the different characters, particularly that of MISS MATILDA MILDEW, a scandal-loving old maid. The latter part of the performance was an excellent display of ventriloquism, and the only complaint of the audience was that the entertainment was too short.
Mr. Love was engaged by the Truro Institution, the proceeds after paying him to be applied towards the debt on the reading-room in the High Cross, which is a most useful institution for the young men of the town. On Tuesday evening last, Mr. Love gave an entertainment to a crowded and respectable company at the Hall, in Prince's-street, Penzance.
THE REVEREND EDWARD RICHARD ILLINGWORTH - The following tribute to the memory of the Reverend EDWARD ILLINGWORTH, we copy from the Birmingham Journal. Mr. Illingworth was the eldest son of MR. ILLINGWORTH, of Fowey,and was educated under the Rev. EDWARD HOULDITCH, at Lostwithiel, and DR. RYALL, at Truro.
"It is our duty this week to record the death of the Rev. Edward Illingworth, of Clare Hall, Cambridge, the late Principal of the
Birmingham and Edgbaston Proprietary School. He became Second Master of that important establishment in the month of September, 1840, and upon the resignation of Dr. Ryall, succeeded in December, 1846, to the appointment of Principal. His high attainments, united as they were with a strong attachment to his profession, and with a rare felicity of imparting instruction, rendered him eminently fitted to become a successful preceptor of youth; while his temper, gentle but firm, his unswerving truthfulness and rectitude, and his kind, courteous, and gentlemanly demeanour, secured him the confidence and regard of his pupils. In short, he fulfilled the duties of his successive appointments with the highest honour to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the committee and friends of the institution. He will be long and deeply lamented by a wide circle of relatives and friends, to whom he was justly endeared by his correct, faithful, and honourable discharge of the various obligations of social life."
GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL - The shareholders of the Laxey Mining Company, under the presidency of MR. G. WM. DUMBELL, the Chairman of Directors, partook of a collation at the British Hotel, Douglas, Isle of Man, on Tuesday the 30th ultimo, when they presented their manager, Capt. ROWE, with a very handsome service of plate, of upwards of one hundred pounds value, and bearing the following inscription:
" This service of plate was presented to Captain ROWE, by the Laxey Mining Company, in token of the high estimation in which the Company hold the efforts of Captain Rowe, by whose skill and perseverance the Laxey Mines have been rescued from an almost ruinous state,and placed in their present valuable and profitable condition."
REDUCTION OF RENTS - "Liberal landlords and deserving tenants," is a favourite toast at the agricultural meetings in this county; and we are glad that we have to record this week several instances of the liberality of landlords towards their deserving tenantry. The Earl of Falmouth, at his Court held last week on the Barton of Erisey, in Grade, empowered his steward, Mr. FOULKES, to make a reduction to the tenantry of from fifteen to twenty-five per cent, and even a larger reduction was made in some instances to deserving tenants. At a Court held at the Red Lion Hotel, Truro, on the 8th instant, for receiving the rents of the home estates, a reduction similar to that above noticed was also made.
We understand that MR. COODE, at his annual court at Porthleven last week, for lands in Sithney, &c., made a reduction
of fifteen per cent, on the rents of his tenantry. At Sir HENRY ONSLOW's court, at Hengar, on Tuesday last, ten per cent, was given up to the tenants paying their rents in full; and this act of liberaltiy on the part of their landlord appears to have been duly appreciated by the tenants, an excellent receipt having been the consequence. These are good examples of what considerate landlords will do for their deserving tenantry at the present time of low prices.
FALMOUTH FISH MARKET - We are glad to find that the difficulties attending this matter are at length likely to be satisfactorily arranged. The Town Council have nearly completed the bargain for those vacant premises on the opposite side of the street, where the people usually exposed their fish on the pavement, to the great annoyance of every one passing. They now have leave to put their stalls in front of the premises, on the gutter side of the street, till the purchase is completed. The foot-way is now clear, and the drainage and offensive matter runs into the sewer close at hand.
THE FISHERY - The boats of St. Ives have taken no pilchards for several weeks, and matters are consequently looking very gloomy for the winter. The heavy catches are usually taken this month.
A ROGUE CAUGHT - A boy called BURNETT, of Redruth, has been committed for removing a tin plate from the window of MR. RICHARDS, confectioner, and for stealing some eggs and lemons. The lad had visited the shop before, and from certain circumstances, he was expected on the night in question. Mr. Richards's apprentices, therefore, had prepared a long rope with a running noose, by which they caught the depredator, and held him till their master came to capture him.
HEALTH OF PENRYN - The cholera, which recently visited this town, has now, we hope, left it, no case having occurred for the last seven days.
THE LATE EPIDEMIC - The Registrar General has just published his return of the mortality, &c., in the summer quarter ending September 30th. Thefallowing are his remarks respecting this county, showing the effect of the fatal ravages of the cholera, which has now, we trust, entirely disappeared from the country: "In St. Germans, next Plymouth, and the estuary of the Tamar, the deaths from all cases were 306 (five times the average), in a population of 16,120; in the little fishing town of Kingsand, ninety three died out of a population of 789. In Liskeard district the mortality was doubled. In St. Austell district, the deaths (277) were nearly tripled; in the Mevagissey sub-district the births were 16, the deaths 140, in a population of 5,218; the inhabitants left the town. Truro, and Falmouth, and Redruth, were attacked, but the deaths were not raised more than fifty per cent. Helston, Penzance, and the Scilly Islands, in the south-west, with Launceston, Camelford, and Stratton, in the
north-east, were exceedingly healthy."
BOTTLE FOUND: Mr. ANGEAR, of West Looe, has picked up on the Looe river, about a mile above the bridge, a bottle which was evidently carried there by the flood tide. It was carefully corked and sealed down, and had the appearance of having been long in the water, as a number of barnacles were attached to it. The bottle contained a letter addressed to MR MICHAEL MORAN, Black-Horse-Lane, Phoenix Park, Dublin; and it stated that the writer, John MORAN, and JAMES MOONEY, were on board the "ALICE WILSON" 210 miles out in the Atlantic, having fair wind, and all on board in good health.
"So we bid farewell to all our absent friends, and by the time (dear father) you get this, we shall be at our journey's end. We send this out in the Atlantic as a token, provided that you get it," &c. - Signed, JOHN MORAN.
MINE ACCIDENT - On the 31st ult. at Ding Dong mine, a lad called JOHN ORCHARD had his frock entangled in the machinery, and was thrown with great violence to the ground, one of his arms being severely fractured and his face much cut. Fortunately his frock gave way, or the consequences would probably have been worse. Medical aid was procured but he lies in a precarious state.
CORONERS' INQUESTS - The following inquest has been held before MR. GILBERT HAMLEY, deputy coroner: On Friday last, at Tideford, in the parish of St. Germans, on the body of ELIZABETH KNIGHT, who had died under circumstancves calculated to arouse a suspicion of foul play on the part of her husband.
The deceased was about fifty six years of age, and the mnother of several children; her husband is in the habit of attending the markets of the neighbouring towns as a dealer in butter, eggs, fowls, &c. He was considered a man of doubtful character, and is said to have formed an illicit acquaintance with a woman named CONDAY, the mother of six children, but who had separated from her husband - a farm labourer. Between two and three months since, Knight was known to have ill-treated his wife; to have beaten her so brutally as to have inflicted several severe bruises, especially about the arms. Subsequent to this she became ill, and for several days was confined to her bed. The husband, in the meantime, continued his intimacy with the woman Conday, who attended Liskeard and other markets with him - and the wife requiring assistance from the state of her health, MRS. CONDAY came to the house for that purpose.
On the Friday previous to her decease, the poor woman was reported to have ate more heartily than usual, and to have been much worse immediately afterwards. It did not appear that any medical gentleman was called in although the illness increased,
and on the Wednesday she died. The death occurring under such circumstances very naturally gave rise to considerable gossip in the village, and various surmises were whispered among the neighbours as to the cause of death; by some it was attributed to a long course of ill-treatment and neglect, and by others to the more active agency of poison; these suspicions were further strengthened by the conduct of the husband after the death of his unfortunate wife. He did not attempt to have the death registered until a lapse of five days, and when he did so the medical gentle-man refused to give any certificate as to the cause of death.
The circumstances were communicated to the coroner, who directed a post mortem examination of the body, and the necessary arrangements for holding the inquest were made. Considerable interest was excited by the inquiry, and a
large number of persons assembled in the neighbourhood of the Commercial Inn, Tideford, where the inquiry was conducted.
The jury having viewed the body, several witnesses were examined and stated that during the illness of deceased the husband had treated her with much kindness, and that she had been properly attended to by the woman Conday, and another woman called FORD. The REV. T. FURNEAUX, the Incumbent of St. Germans, deposed to the fact that he had visited the deceased about two months' since, and that she had complained of her husband, and said he had beaten her severely with a stick; she showed him some marks of his blows on her arms, and said her husband had kicked her in the back.
MESSRS KERSWILL and CLARKE, the surgeons who made the post mortem examination, stated that the body exhibited no external marks of violence; and on opening it they found the lungs much diseased, and the heart partially ossified. They were of opinion that the disease apparent in the heart and lungs was quite sufficient to account for the death. From a careful examination of the body, their opinion was that death had resulted from these causes - disease of the heart and lungs. The Coroner summed up the facts to the jury, telling them that it appeared this was one of the cases in which the jury should be entirely guided by the evidence of the medical men, in their verdict. The jury were willing to assent to this, but expressed
their desire to mark their reprobation of the conduct of the husband. The Coroner said their verdict must be based on the facts which had come out before them, but their wishes might be met by appending to the verdict itself an expression of their desire that the Coroner should state the feelings of disgust with which they regarded the conduct of John Knight. This was done,and a verdict accordingly returned; and John Knight and the woman Conday were called in, and the coroner very severely reprimanded Knight for his conduct to his deceased wife. That conduct had been shameful, and he left that court without any one feeling the least compassion for him, but rather with a regret on the part of the jury that it was out of their
power to mark his unkind, cruel, and immoral conduct by inflicting the punishment which they believed it deserved.
The following inquests have been held before Mr. CARLYON, coroner: On Friday last, at Peterville, in the parish of St. Agnes, on the body of WILLIAM ARGALL, aged sixty-three years. Deceased was on his road to the mine where he worked, on Thursday morning, between six and seven o'clock, when he broke a blood vessel, and immediately returned home and had barely time to place himself in a chair, when he expired. He had been an ailing man for some time, but not so ill as to prevent his working. There was no doubt that he died from the rupture of a blood-vessel, and a verdict to that effect was returned.
On Saturday last, at the Chiverton Arms, St. Agens, on the body of JOHN JAMES, aged thirty-three years, who died on the previous Thursday, from injuries he had reeived whilst working at Garras mine, near Idless, by a scale of ground falling on him. This was the man whose life was almost miraculously saved at the time of the lamentable accident at East Wheal Rose in 1846, when so many miners were drowned; he had then one finger hitched in the link of a chain, and was drawn to the surface. The same man has also been hurt eight or nine times by other mine accidents, butalways escaped with his life until now. Verdict, "accidental death."
EXETER DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY - Before Mr. Commissioner BERE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Re FRANCIS PAYNTER, attorney, of Penzance. This was a sitting to consider an application by MR. STOGDON, on the part of the bankrupt, for a renewal of protection, which had been withdrawn by the Commissioner at the last sitting, when the certificate then applied for was adjourned for a year. MR. PITTS, as the agent of MR. J.H.B. GURNEY, attended on the part of RICHARD and JOHN COCK, of MISS ELIZABETH ROBERTS, and other creditors, whose affidavits he laid before the Commissioner.
The affidavit of Miss ROBERTS charged the bankrupt with having made misrepresentations in his evidence respecting his transactions with her, and the affidavit of JOHN COCK stated that his son had, without his authority, signed his
name to the memorial in favour of the bankkrupt, which was produced at the sitting for certificate, and the affidavit of John COCK set forth that he was persuaded to sign the memorial by the persuasion of ALFRED GEE, who came to him in the field whilst he was at work, and told him that if he did not sign, bankrupt would be imprisoned and the creditors lose everything.
On Mr. Stogdon's arrrival, the Commissioner informed him that Mr. TERRELL had intimated to the Court that as far as Mr. PIDWELL was concerned, he made no objection. His Honour added that MR. PITTS had presented affidavits in which he informed the Court that his clients were proceeding to sue with a view to obtain execution. MR. Stogdon loudly protested
against the reception of affidavits in support of a charge upon which a man was to be imprisoned. Some conversation ensued, after which the Commissioner intimated that he could not entertain a doubt but that he must receive these affidavits. His Honour added that the Court would like to place itself in the best situation.
But the bankrupt was not the only person to be considered. Indeed, he thought the creditors were entitled to the prior consideration, and frequently to more commisseration than the bankrupt. The object of the Court was to do justice between two parties. The Act of bankkruptcy had by some sigular omission left out this clause for the release of a bankrupt, and he proposed to do that indirectly by extending the protection. With regard to the efect of the affidavits, his Honour considered that they were most unsatisfactory. As to receiving them, however, he had not the smallest doubt about it. In the Court of Review it was the constant practice to receive affidavits. If upon that, the matter appeared unsatisfactory, the Court had the power to direct a viva voce examination, but it might happen on those affidavits that certain facts might remain uncontradicted which would enable the Court to come to a satisfactory decision. His Honour added that he saw no hardship in
calling on Mr. Paynter to answer these affidavits before he said whether he would give him that protection which he sought in order to prevent the suing creditors from taking his person in execution. The sitting was then adjourned till Thursday the 15th instant at one o'clock - it being understood that the bankrupt's protection, which expires meanwhile, would be renewed ad interim.
ADVERTISEMENTS
TO THE PUBLIC
I hereby give notice that I have relinquished all my Shares in the TREVELYAN MINES, situate in Perranuthnoe, and under the management of CAPT. WILLIAM HESSLEY, of Marazion, and that I will not be answerable for any Debt or Debts, that be contracted by Capt Hensley, or any other person on account of the said mines, after this date
THOMAS GITTUS
Bath, November 5, 1849
WANTED, for the COBRE MINES, Isle of Cuba, an experienced SUMPMAN, two MINE SMITHS, and one ENGINEMAN. Apply at the office of Mr. TREVENA,
Fore-street, Redruth. No one need apply who cannot produce a good charactrer for sobriety and ability.
November 7th, 1849
16 NOVEMBER 1849
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
DAY OF THANKSGIVING - This day was religiously observed on Thursday, in accordance with the royal proclamation, on account of the cessation of cholera. Business was generally suspended, and divine service was celebrated at the different churches and chapels in the county.
MICHELL - On Tuesday last MR. R. GULLY BENNET, of Tresillian House, held his annual court at the Feathers Inn, Michell, for the
purpose of receiving his rents due at Michalmas last; but taking into consideration the unusually depressed state of agriculture, he decided upon receiving one half only of the year's rent, the remainder to be paid some time in the spring of next year. As is usual with him on such occasions, Mr. Bennet kindly invited most of the principal farmers of the district to dine with his tenantry, wisely considering that an interchange of opinions and experiences between those engaged in similar pursuits, would be productivity of benefit to all. MR. KARKEEK, of Truro, was also invited to attend, and in the course of the evening read a very interesting paper on the "Breed and Management of Cattle," at the conclusion of which an interesting discussion took place. Several toasts usual on such occasions were drunk, and the evening was spent in the greatest harmony.
ELECTIONS OF MAYORS - On Friday last, MR. ROBERT RICHARDS BROAD, merchant, was unanimously elected mayor of Falmouth; MR. KERNICK, mayor of St. Ives; and Mr. S. PIDWELL, mayor of Penzance for the ensuing year. At Penryn, MR. JOHN STEPHENS, has been elected mayor for the ensuing year. Mr. Stephens is one of the oldest tradesmen in town, and has always been a consistent reformer. Mr. J. B. COLLINS has been elected mayor of Bodmin; and MR. W. D. BOASE, mayor of Liskeard. Mr. T. EYRE has been elected mayor of Launceston, for the ensuing year. On Friday last, MR. M.P. MOYLE, surgeon, was elected mayor of Helston for the ensuing year, and the retiring mayor, MR. W. PENBERTHY, entertained the members of the town council and a large number of friends at an elegant spread at the Angel Hotel. The party met at four o'clock, and were presided over by the retiring mayor, MR. J. G. PLOMER acting as vice. The cloth being removed, "Queen", and a variety of other loyal toasts were given and heartily responded to; "The Aldermen," "Town Council," and other officers of the corporation were also
given in succession, and responded to by the different officers. The wines and dessert were in keeping with the well-known celebrity of the Angel Hotel, to which the party did ample justice.
ST. ANTHONY IN ROSELAND - The proprietor of the ancient church in this romantic little spot, is now in the act of repairing, and indeed we may say resuscitating, this antique edifice. A new wing or transept has been recently built, and a steeple added to the whole, which altogether, willhave the effect of perpetuating this very pretty relic of antiquity. At the south door leading into the churchyard, is one of the most perfect and beautiful Saxon arches to be found in the west of England. The font has doubtless been there many centuries.
In the course of the repairs, some alfresco painting has been partially uncovered on the walls. This place was formerly a monastery, founded as early as the ninth century. The church service is now regularly performed there every Sunday morning and afternoon, by a curate lately appointed, the REV. E. PUCKLE, whose piety, zeal, and able discourses give the highest satisfaction to the neighbourhood, and are likely, when the alterations are completed, to make the venerable fabric a point of Sabbath day attraction in the vicinity.
CAMELFORD FAIR - This far was held on Wednesday last, when there was a moderate supply of cattle. The sale was very brisk, and many good bargains were effected.
YELLOW GLOBE MANGEL WURTZEL - Mr. JOHN LANE, of Budock, has grown a root of this mangel wurtzel of the extraordinary weight of 38 1/2lbs., besides many others approaching to the same size.
TURNIP DISEASE - We regret to learn that the disease has appeared in the turnip crop, in many of the parishes in the neighbourhood of Falmouth.
THE LATE EPIDEMIC - The Registrar General's report for the summer quarter ending September 30th, shows a large increase of mortality in the west of England, in consequence of the ravages of the cholera. The number of deaths registered in this county during the last quarter was 2,108, being 778 more than were registered int he summer quarter of 1848. And in Devonshire the number of deaths registered last quarter was 4,463, being 2,072 more than were registered in each of the districts in this county, (including also their sub-districts) in the summer quarter ending September 30th, 1848, and the same quarter in 1849:
1848 1849
Stratton district............29......32
Camelford....................23......21
Launceston...................75......76
St. Germans..................52.....306
Liskeard....................114.....247
Bodmin.......................71......94
St. Columb...................60......75
St. Austell..................95.....277
Truro.......................141.....217
Falmouth.....................83.....140
Helston......................96......90
Redruth.....................193.....305
Penzance....................285.....215
Scilly Islands...............13......12
There are a variety of remarks appended by the different registrars. At Camelford, it is remarked that the deaths had been considerably below the average. At Antony, the cholera had been very severe, more particularly in the little fishing town of Kingsand, in the parish of Maker; out of a population of 789, ninety-three had died. At Saltash the deaths had been about double the usual average in consequence of cholera. At Callington, the increase of deaths had been considerable from cholera and diarrhea. At Looe, in the twenty-four entries of deaths, there were nine certified cases of cholera. At Lerrin there had been a good deal of emigration, and only one death from cholera.
The registrar at Lanlivery reports that a large number of people had emigrated. At Fowey, the small pox had proved fatal to many, causing an increase of the deaths. At Mevagissey the registrar reports that the deaths had greatly increased in consequence of the cholera, which raged very badly for six weeks, the births registered at Mevagissey during the quarter were only sixteen, while the deaths were one hundred and forty; the inhabitants left the town and district on account of the cholera. At St. Agnes, the registrar reported only one death from cholera, attributing the freedom from the epidemic to the elevated position of the county, and to general cleanliness. In St. Clement sub district twenty-two deaths were registered from cholera and three from diarrhea; the births were forty-eight and deaths sixty-six.
In Kenwyn twenty-three deaths from cholera were registered; and at Kea five deaths from the same disease. At Falmouth the births were seventy-eight and deaths eighty-two, which is rather above average, the registrar remarking that cholera had very slightly prevailed. At Crowan the deaths were much below the average, and the district healthy. At Gwennap twenty deaths from cholera were registered. At Redruth the births were fifty-eight, the deaths sixty-five, being forty-one in excess of the corresponding quarter of 1848, and also considerably above the yearly average. The registrar remarks that this is mainly attributable to the epidemics, cholera and small-pox; of ther former he had registered two cases of English cholera, twenty-one malignant cases, four malignant, followed by congestion of the brain and one of choleraic diarrhea, making twenty-eight deaths. At Illogan fifteen deaths from cholera were registered. At Camborne the deaths during the quarter were below the average; which result qppears to have been owing to the excellent measures so promptly adopted when cholera first made its
appearance in that town.
MR. R. LANYON, the registrar and surgeon, reports that he urged on the Board of Health the adoption of a system of house-to-house visitation by two paid visitors, whose duties were to visit daily every poor man's house in the place, and to administer
medicine on the spot if required. The result of these steps was that not a single case of cholera afterwards appeared, requiring medical attention. The number of cases of vomiting, purging, and cramps met with and cured daily by these visitors averaged fifty-four, and up to the time of the registrar's report, no less than 1,085 of one or more of these complications had been successfully treated by them, without the necessity of any medical interference. In the Phillack district the deaths were rather more than double the average, fifty-one having occurred from cholera. The registrar remarked that the disease had been chiefly confined to localities where the population is wretchedly poor, the huts exceedingly low and literally crammed, and the dirty cesspools contiguous to the dwelling houses. It is a fact to be observed, that the epidemic assumed far less virulence immediately after the formation of a local Board of Health, and precautionary measures were used to promote cleanliness, and supply food and other necessities to the destitute and afflicted part of the population.
From St. Ives thirteen deaths were reported from cholera and nine from diarrhea. The registrar at Marazion reported that the inhabitants had again been spared from cholera, as they were in 1832; the house visitation, however, had been adopted, and the inhabitants had been all free from any kind of epidemic; throughout the district there had never been less sickness, and the deaths were considerably below the average. The registrar at Penzance reported that ten deaths from measles had occurred, but otherwise this district had been free from epidemics. At the Scilly Islands the births and deaths were equal, three fatal cases of cholera having been registered during the quarter.
REPORT OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, and DEATHS - The report of the Registrar General has just been published, for the quarter ending September 30th. The result summarily is, that the marriages in the quarter have been a little above the average, the births slightly below the average, and the deaths in greater number than have ever before been registered. Taking all the districts in England, the deaths in the three months were 135,364, or 47,602 more than were registered in the summer quarter of 1848. The deaths exceeded the births (135,200) by 164; and as the number of emigrants in the quarter from London, Liverpool, and Plymouth alone, amounted, according to the emigration commissioners, to 46,558, the population of England has decreased during the quarter to a degree of which there is no example in the present century. England has now
less inhabitants by several thousands than were within its shores at Midsummer.
The Registrar General remarks that the mortality of the summer quarter this year exceeded the average by fifty-three per cent, and the excess has been caused almost entirely by the cholera. The average annual rate of mortality in the town districts is twenty-six, and in the country districts eighteen in a thousand; during the last quarter these numbers became forty-one and twenty-three respectively.
UTILITY OF VACCINATION - In reference to this subject, the REV. C. E. HOSKEN, of St. Blazey, writes as follows: "I would beg to call the attention of parents and others to the following facts. The small pox has raged most dreadfully in this parish, and out of thirty-three fatal cases, NOT ONE of the sufferers had been vaccinated, and out of the hundred who have been afflicted with this disease, a very small proportion had been ever vaccinated; indeed, those who were, either did not take the infection, or had the disease in a very mild form."
BENEVOLENCE - SIR R. R. VYVYAN, Bart., M.P., for Helston, has most liberally forwarded to the Mayor of that borough, MR. MOYLE, the sum of GBP 100 to be distributed among the necessitous poor of the town.
TRURO POLICE - On Thursday last, ANN BEHENNA was charged with stealing a silver spoon, the property of MR. GEORGE DANIEL, who keeps an eating-house in St. Nicholas Street, Truro. The prisoner has been in the habit of taking shrimps about the town, and went into the eating-house to offer some for sale. The spoon was missed after her departure, and it was subsequently found in the hous eof a man called JORY, in Kenwyn Street, where the prisoner had been, and had artfully deposited it before the oven door; at least such was the inference, as the theft had been talked about, and the woman was seen near the oven, a part of the shop where she had no right to go. Soon after she left, Jory found the spoon, and
having heard of the robbery, his wife took it to Mr. Daniel's who identified it as his property, it having his initials. The prisoner was committed for trial.
THE GAME LAWS - At a petty sessions lately held at Ruan Highlanes, WILLIAM SNELL, of Trewithian, was fined GBP 10 for killing a hare on an estate belonging to MR. R. JOHNS.
CORNWALL COUNTY COURTS
Truro- This court was held on Friday last, before G. G. KEKEWICK, Esq. There were forty-five cases entered, but the only case of public interest
was the following:
CAUTION TO DOG OWNERS - ROLLS v BLAMEY. MR. sTOKES appeared for the plaintiff, and MR. ROBERTS for the defendant. This was a suit for the recovery of compensation for an injury which the plaintiff had sustained on the 1st of August last, from having been bitten by a dog kept by the defendant, in consequence of which plaintiff had been unable to attend to his duty as a master mariner; had been compelled to leave his ship, and had ever since been under surgical care.
Plaintiff stated that on the 1st of August he went to deliver a message at Mr. Blamey's residence at Park farm, near Truro, and when entering the courtyard of the house four dogs attacked him, on which he shouted, "after sailor's fashion," but no one coming to his assistance for some time, he received a severe bite from one of the dogs in the calf of his leg. Mr. Blamey and his servant man, GUMMOE, then came out of the stable, and plaintiff pointed out the dog which had bitten him, and which had skulked off into the back-kitchen; and Mr. Blamey said he would take care it should not happen again.
On plaintiff's return to Truro, he suffered much pain in his leg, but as there was no lacerated wound, he thought it was only a bruise which would soon pass off. On the following day, however, he was obliged to apply to MR. SPRY, surgeon, who found the limb was much injured, and in such a state that he was obliged to open the bruise by a deep cut. Plaintiff siad he had ever since been under Mr. Spry's care; he also stated that his wages were GBP 3 per month, besides an allowance for food, and his surgeon's bill amounted to many pounds. Plaintiff was subjected to a strict cross-examination, the effect of which was to throw doubt on his being able to identify the dog which had bitten him. The dog in question he described to have the appearance of being a cross-breed between a bull-dog and sheep-dog; as having a short tail, and being of a light brown colour.
- EDWARD COURTS stated that on the 21st of July he went to defendant's house with some chairs, in company with a man called MARTIN and others. He was then attacked by the same dog and bitten in the leg, and if he had not had boots on, he must have sustained a severe injury. He said Mr. Blamey was present at the time, and saw the attack of the dog, and laughed at it; and that high words ensued between them in consequence, witness threatening him with a summons.
-__ MARTIN who accompanied the last witness, corroborated his statement, and proved that a boy who was with him had been bitten at the same time by a little bull-terrier bitch belonging to the defendant.
- CAPTIAN PETERS said that some weeks after plaintiff was bitten, he (the captain) was attacked by the same dog, and was obliged to draw his knife against him.
- WILLIAM SOLOMON proved that on the 21st of August last, when he was mowing wheat in one of defendant's fields, this dog, with the other dogs of defendant, rushed at some children, but were brought back by defendant.
- RICHARD BRAY stated that about six weeks ago he saw defendant at Truro, when this matter was talked over, and defendant said that if plaintiff had come to him, instead of sending a saucy letter, he would have given him something for the injury he had sustained.
- MR. SPRY. surgeon, said he saw the wound a few days after the occurrence, and it appeared to have been occasioned by the bite of a powerful dog. The skin was not broken, but there was deep inflammation on the calf of the leg, extending a considerable way up and down, in consequence of an inward bruise; it had a most livid appearance, and he was obliged to open it and let out the clotted blood. The leg had ever since been under surgical treatment, occasioning the man much suffering, and preventing him from attending to his ordinary duties.
For the defence, Mr. Roberts contended it was not proved that defendant knew the dog to be of a savage description at the time of this occurrence, and that it was absolutely necessary to show that he was acustomed to bit mankind, in proof of which he cited several cases as authorities. He then called the defendant, MR. BLAMEY, who contradicted plaintiff's statement that he recognised the dog at the time of the occurrence, and said that plaintiff was then unable to point out which of the four dogs had bitten him. Defendant said that none of his dogs were of a ferocious disposition, and they were not accustomed to bite persons. He also declared that the statements of Courts and Martin were incorrect, and that the
dog which bit Courts was not the same dog which plaintiff said had bitten him.
On CROSS-EXAMIANTION, however, Mr. Blamey admitted that he gave directions to have the dog in question tied up at the time plaintiff was there. Defendant's servant man, Gummoe, was next called, to prove that
plaintiff did not recognise the dog on the 1st of August, and that he had since been to him to ask whether it was a dog or bitch which had bitten him; witness also said the dog in question was not a ferocious dog.
- HENRY CADDY, overseer of St. Clement parish, was called to prove that he had frequently called at Park farm, and knew the dog in question, which had barked at him, but never bitten him.
- WILLIAM GUMMOE stated that he was constantly going to the farm to kill pigs and for other purposes; that he knew defendant's four dogs, and they had never attacked him.
- RICHARD THOMAS also said he was in the habit of going to the farm, and the dogs had never attacked him. MR. sTOKES then replied, calling attention to the remarkable circumstance of defendant's admission that he had caused this identical dog to be tied up on the morning in question; to the indubitable fact that plaintiff had been bitten by one of defendant's dogs; and to the positive statement of plaintiff that it was the cross-breed dog which Courts and Martin proved to have attacked one of them previously.
Defendant therefore knowing that the dog had once attacked a human being, was bound on the authority of a case which Mr. stokes cited, to keep the dog tied up, and on the authority of another case, he said
defendant was bound not to have dogs of the description he kept, running about loose at the approaches to his house. The JUDGE then summed up the evidence, and gave reasons for a verdict in accordance with the plaintiff's claim, giving GBP 20 damages as compensation for the injury he had sustained.
St. AUSTELL - This court was held on Thursday, the 8th instant, when fifty-five cases were entered, but none of them were of any public interest.
HELSTON - At this Court, on Monday last, the cases were few, and of no public importance.
LAUNCESTON - This court was held on Wednesday last, when there were forty-four cases entered for trial, several of which were settled out of court.
In the case of PEARNE v. CUDLIP, plaintiff was a poor widow, residing at Treballett, in Lezant, and keeps a small shop; defendant was a shoemaker, of Launceston, but occupies a portion of his time in levying distresses for rent &c. It appeared that plaintiff had bought a clock of a person called BELLEW; and some time after this clock was delivered to her, defendant was employed to levy a distress for rent on the goods of Bellew. Defendant was accompanied by BATH, the landlord of Bellew, and after taking an account of the goods in the house, they both proceeded to the house of plaintiff and threatened to put her in gaol, and otherwise to levy a heavy fine upon her for buying the clock.
Plaintiff spoke as to the conduct of Cudlip being very violent; and that he went up into her bed-room and took away the clock, and sold it a few days afterward under the distress for the landlord. It was proved by plaintiff that she gave GBP 3 for the clock, and 4s for two chairs. There were ten witnesses examined, and the trial lasted several hours. His HONOUR gave judgment for plaintiff for GBP 3.4s., and GBP 2.1s.4d. costs.
In the case of HOCKIN v. SARGENT, defendant is the inspector of weights and measures of the Launceston division, and had overcharged the plaintiff, who is a cooper, living at Camelford. Plaintiff came to defendant to have some measures stamped, for doing which it was alleged he charged plaintiff 4s. more than the law allowed. Defendant was defended by MR. PETER, who contended that the Court had no jurisdiction in the case, and his HONOUR deferred judgment until the next sitting.
Protection was given to an insolvent, MR. THOMAS GRIGG, innkeeper, of Stokeclimsland, and the judge directed his first examination to take place at the next Court.
EXETER DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY
(Before Mr. Commissioner BERE) Wednesday, November 14
Re THOMAS TREFFRY - The bankrupt carried on an extensive business as a corn merchant at Tregony, and this was the meeting for choice of assignees.
MR. STOGDON appeared to oppose on behalf of numerous creditors, and the bankrupt was subjected to a very rigid examination as to his conduct during the last few months, preceding the issue of the fiat.
In reply to questions, he stated that on the 25th of July, he purchased 217 quarters of wheat at 40s. per quarter from MR. MASSY, corn-merchant of Guernsey, which composed the cargo of the "FAIRY" and for which he gave a bill for GBP 400 and the balance by cheque. He immediately sold the wheat, which was French white, to different parties in quantities of not more than ten quarters. The wheat cost him, with expenses, 44s. per quarter, and he sold it for 40s. because his neighbours were selling the same quality for 36s. or 38s. per quarter. The wheat was turned into money by about the middle of September, and the proceeds paid into the bank at Truro, of which Mr. BRITTAN was the manager.
On the 1st of August, he had overdrawn his account GBP 300, and having been asked by Mr. Brittan several times during the summer to bring his account under, as he (Mr. B.) was responsible, he had applied the proceeds of Mr. Massy's wheat to that purpose. He had no security with the bank, they advanced the money to him on his personal liability.
After he had offered a composition, Mr. CROKER, of Plymouth, came to him, on behalf of Mr. Massy, and said if he would only give him GBP 50, he would put him through the court quite easy.
MR. MASSY, who was in the court, said Mr. Croker had no authority from him to say anything of the kind.
MR. STOGDON examined the bankrupt as to a debt due to Messrs. Mealing and Mills, of Norwich, bills were given on the 6th of April and 12th of May, for GBP 764 and GBP 340 respectively, which were both dishonoured, and the bankrupt had since paid GBP500 and GBP300, leaving them creditors for GBP 300 odd. The GBP 500 was advised on the 7th of June, and GBP 300 on the 13th of July, which accounted for the balance due to the bank at the end of that month. His debts were now GBP 2,000 and his assets somewhere about GBP 400. He offered 3s.4s., and 5s. in the pound, but the creditors would not accept it, and a fiat was issued by Messrs. TREEBY, merchants, of Plymouth. He had estimated his property at GBP 1600, but it had depreciated in value. He farmed an estate of his own, which was mortgaged and would be sold on Tuesday next. He had purchased some freehold houses for GBP 1,000, and mortgaged them for GBP 350; they would be sold on Monday next, and he doubted whether they would cover the amount of the mortgage.
He gave the mortgagees of his farm his consent to sell, after the adjudication, when he had no longer any interest in it, and he had given up possession of some lands, rented at GBP 40 a year, because he thought it the best way as it was rented high. His property had been depreciating in value from the early part of this year. He sold the wheat for 40s, which cost him 44s., because of the badness of the times, and yet he thought times would change and he should be able to go on. He had paid Mr. Massy a great deal of money, and might have had GBP 200 or GBP 300 more goods, if he had liked. His cousin, MR. JOHN TREFFRY, had advanced him money for which he gave a bill of sale, and on the 18th of September, an execution was put into his house and all his furniture swept off under it. He consulted MR. KEMPE, a solicitor of Tregony, who was also solicitor for his cousin, upon the state of his affairs, immediately the execution was put in, and the composition was offered on the 22nd of September. Subsequently, MR. MILFORD, the agent of Messrs. Truman and Co., came and claimed some porter which had just been sent in. After taking advice, the bankrupt told him that the porter could not be given up, but he might take it at the trade price, 33s. per barrel. Accordingly twenty barrels were returned, and Mr. Milford signed a memorandom that the amount was not to be set off against the account, and the amount was now an asset of the estate. The debt to Messrs. Truman and Co. was about GBP 135, and there would be about GBP 40 for them to pay.
HIS HONOUR: Where are your ledgers between 1844 and 1849?
BANKRUPT: I carried on no business during that period.
HIS HONOUR: I see you have received GBP1.4s. of Mr. SANDERS, of the Ship Inn, GBP 3 of Mr. Bennett, of Polgooth, and 17s.6d. of Miss BENNETT since you signed a declaration of Insolvency?
BANKRUPT: I will account for it.
HIS HONOUR:You ought not to have received the money; the parties will have to pay it over again, so you see what a pretty position you put your debtors in.
EXAMINATION RESUMED: Did not tell Mr. Massy when ordering the cargo of the "FAIRY" that he had half the cargo of the "ENTERPRISE" still in the stores.
HIS HONOUR: It appears he had sold all the first cargo, before he wrote to you for the second.
MR. MASSY: That's what I say - what has become of the money?
HIS HONOUR: A large portion was sold to MR. ROWE, a miller, who gave a bill, and that bill went into the bank to advise a bill due to Messrs. FOX.
BY MR. STODGON - MR. KEMPE gave bankrupt an acceptance for GBP 200. He asked him (Kempe) to lend GBP 200; he said he had not got the money, but he would give him his acceptance for a short date. In a few days bankrupt paid Mr. Kempe GBP 100; he had paid some portions since and he now owed him GBP 34. Bankrupt was in difficulties. He wanted GBP 400 to provide for a debt to Mr. GURNEY, of Camborne, secured by a bond of self, and another some five or six years previous. In the month of August, Gurney became pressing and this transaction afforded the means of paying off the whole sum. The other GBP 100 he kept for some days and then paid it over to Kempe, because Kempe wanted some money as well as himself. The bill was discounted on the 25th of August, and he paid Kempe the GBP 100 on the 1st of September. On the 3rd of September, which was Tregony fair, he sold Kempe twenty fat sheep, weighing about seventeen pounds a quarter, for 28s. each, to be delivered in ten days or a fortnight. They were delivered before his cousin put in the bill of sale. Mr. Kempe was also a large farmer as well as a solicitor. Some time in September he also handed to Kempe an acceptance of JAMES GREENWOOD, of Charlestown, for GBP 20. He sold Greenwood twenty-five bushels of wheat at 15s.6d. or 16s. per bushel, and the acceptance was given in payment. There was no entry of the transaction in his books, because the wheat was grown on the farm and delivered from the farm by himself. He gave the acceptance to Mr. KEMPE the first opportunity, a week before he went about the composition. Did not know it would be necessary to call his creditors together until he went to Mr. Kempe. Expected the execution would come in, because John TREFFRY had asked for his money. He applied for the money the Saturday, before the Wednesday that the execution was put in. Bankrupt saw him about a fortnight before, and he then spoke of the payment, bankrupt told him he could not pay it, and if he wanted his money he must sell of course. He came to bankrupt's house
the Tuesday and said he should put in the execution. Did not ask him to wait a little longer. Did not tell him that he (bankrupt) was sinking. Would swear he never told his cousin that his affairs were desperate, and that he could not go on. Did tell him that he was losing money, and if it was not his own it was other parties.
BY HIS HONOUR: Why, you knew at that time you could not pay 5s. in the pound?
BANKRUPT: I could have paid a great deal more than that, if the property had been sold.
HIS HONOUR: No one can doubt that it was a collusion with your cousin.
BANKRUPT: It was not collusion.
HIS HONOUR: How do you mean?
BANKRUPT: The money was due.
HIS HONOUR: Yes!! but you gave your cousin a preference. Why did you not mention in your letter to your creditors that your cousin had put in an execution and swept off everything, instead of attributing your insolvency to heavy losses in trade? Why send such a dishonest letter as that?
BANKRUPT: I did not write the letter.
HIS HONOUR: It was written by your solicitor at your direction.
BANKRUPT: I told him to write a letter such as he thought best.
HIS HONOUR: But he got his facts from you. How did he offer the five shillings in the pound?
BANKRUPT: I said I could pay that.
The Messenger of the Court took from the bankrupt some papers he had produced from his pocket; amongst them were the notes of hand shewing the advance of the money by his cousin. The bankrupt said he had those from Mr. Kempe to satisfy the Court that the money had been borrowed.
HIS HONOUR: That is not the question - it is whether you did not give your cousin some preference.
BANKRUPT - I do not know that I did.
Mr. stogdon proceeded with questions relating to the accommodation bill with Kempe. The BANKRUPT said - I also let Mr. Kempe have three bullocks for GBP 18 the three.They were a year and a half old. The bill did not fall due until the 27th of October. I had sold cattle to Mr. Kempe before. The sheep were offered for sale in June last. The bullocks had not been offered for sale.
Mr. STOGDON - You had no grass, I suppose?
HIS HONOUR: Grass was so very scarce. A farmer must be very hard up before he would sell bullocks a year and half old. Did Mr. Kempe see the sheep before he bought them?
BANKRUPT: Yes, he did.
(by Mr. Stogdon) The bullocks were sold the same day as the sheep. I endorsed the bill to the bank.
HIS HONOUR: Then Mr. Kempe could not trust you for GBP 100, although you trusted him.
(BY MR> STOGDON) - MR. GURNEY is no relation of mine. The motive for going out of my way to pay him the GBP 100 was that he threatened to break me up if I did not. The bond is at home.
BY HIS HONOUR: Where is home? - At Tregony. At your house?-In my lodgings. Did you not know that it was your duty to give up all your papers? -I will send them up. You ought to have given it up before.
MR. Stogdon directed the bankrupt's attention to the fact that in the month of September he had a bill of Mr. COLLIER's coming due, for GBP 50, of MR. LINDON, for GBP 182, of Mr. TREEBY for GBP 200. of MR. MASSY, for GBP 400, besides one of MR. cARNE, of Falmouth, for GBP 100, and then asked, how he thought to get over the month of September, with all those things coming due.
The BANKRUPT said his idea was that he should get time.He did not know that JOHN TREFFRY would press him.
MR. STOGDON: But John Treffry got no money, he only took the goods, all the cash at command was handed over to Mr. Gurney.
HIS HONOUR: You paid all your relations and friends, and then did all you could for the rest of your creditors.
BANKRUPT: I bore no friendship to any one.
HIS HONOUR: You let your cousin take all your goods and you pay GBP 100 to Gurney. It is nothing more than favoritism. You allowed Mr. J. Treffry to come in and take your goods, when you ought to have looked into your affairs and signed a declaration of insolvency. You will suffer for it, you may depend upon it.
The last bill the bankrupt paid was one of GBP 225 to Messrs. Fox, of Falmouth, in the early part of September. He was asked why he paid them and did not pay Mr. Carne and others. He said because they told him they would break him up if he did not.
HIS HONOUR: Every one told you they would break you up.
BANKRUPT: Every one of the trade creditors, Sir.
MR. STOGDON: And yet a fortnight before you are so alarmed about being broken up, you go and pay this creditor, Mr. Gurney, GBP 100.
HIS HONOUR: You have placed yourself in a very awkward position.If within two months of bankruptcy a bankrupt shall fraudulently, in contemplation of bankruptcy and not under pressure of a creditor, with intent to diminish the amount of his assets, give an undue preference, the Court is bound to refuse protection altogether, and your creditors may put you in gaol and keep you there, too.
BANKRUPT: If I am put in prison for life, I have not done it designedly.
MR. STOGDON: Ten days after you borrowed the money to pay Gurney, your bill to Mr. Carne was discounted. On the 3rd of September, you wrote to Messrs. Meeling and Mills for another cargo of flour, offering to pay half cash, when you must have known you were sinking.
The BANKRUPT said Mr. ROWE was going to find the money.
His HONOUR remarked that he had also kept back papers and documents.
MR. TREEBY, of Plymouth, was chosen assignee.
The bankrupt applied for an allowance.
MR. STOGDON said there would be no objection when he had supplied a statement of the amounts received since the bankruptcy.
The BANKRUPT said that whatever he had done, he had not put the money in his own pocket.
MR. MASSY: Perhaps you have left it at home. It went very fast in the last two months.
HIS HONOUR directed Mr. Treffry to prepare his balance-sheet, and afford every information to the official assignee.
The court was then adjourned.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
THE RECENT EPIDEMIC AT HAYLE
Sir - Being naturally of a retiring and peaceful disposition, I feel a great repugnance in again being necessitated to appear before the public, but were I to remain silent under the long reply to the stricture I made on the conduct of the Phillack Board of Health, I should indeed be deserving of censure.
[A paragraph then stated he did not need the help of a parish lawyer, "for truth is simple." The letter to which he was responding had been written with the advice of counsel.]
It is true, that between the formation of the board, and its confirmation and appointment of its medical staff, upwards of thirty cases of cholera occurred, and "ten died", and in proof of the reiteration I give their names: HONEYCHURCH, two MORLEYs, STEVENS, two MICHELLS, PENBERTHY, and three LUKEs, and who died between the 19th of July and the 7th of August. Even admitting their own version to be true, is it now an awful contemplation, that seven poor souls should have passed into eternity before they took any steps to arrest the strides of the frightful disease. Did they then bestir themselves? No! It was the feeling of self-preservation, evinced by a resident near Ventonleague, as he himself has declared, that moved them!
[The writer then listed several cases in which relief was denied persons desperately in need - not giving names in the paper - because they chose to visit Dr. WITHERINGTON, rather than seeking relief from the medical staff. More than half the people refused any relief died; some of the children did recover. One woman was left with a loaf of bread for her total sustenance; her daughter survived. The Board justified their behaviour by stating that the persons requesting aid must furnish an order from their [the Board's] medical staff, and without that order relief could/would not be given.]
It is true that the two medical men who composed the medical staff are well known to the members of the board, and still better known to the public. The board, however, cannot deny the fact, that they do not enjoy the confidence of the public. It is false that they [the staff] are in the habit of attending their [the board's] own families, for out of the twenty-seven individuals who constituted the board, not more than about one half of them, and many of them very recently, consulted them. Have the board already forgotten the mark of respect so lately shown to Dr. Witherington?
[The writer explained he had visited the sick once cholera had been discovered, and had continued to do so throughout the epidemic, helping the ill as best he could.]
[He then went into the case of JOHN COOK, the blind soldier, where he overheard one of the medical staff say the man would die within the night, and he could not help him. The writer then went to visit Cook, and gave him a mixture compounded by MR. FORD, the druggist, from "the prescription of one of the leading men in London." "Warmth returned, he moved, he opened his blind eyes, he spoke and ate. Soon after one of the staff arrived and insisted on having the rest of the mixture, and dared them to give him any more of it." He then forced the ill man to take some pills, and departed. Mr. Cook promptly died. The staff asked for an inquest, and the coroner attended, but refused to hold an inquest, as there were no grounds.]
In what estimation can the board be held, when in the same report in which they acknowledge the receipt of a second contribution from Penzance, they announced having voted a piece of plate to their medical officers? Is it not a most monstrous perversion of charity? I am at a loss to know in what way these men have merited such especial mark of favour. Is it that before the board could secure their services, a guarantee of payment had to be made? Is it because that their threatening to resign their office, they prevented a brother practioner from being added to the staff? Is it for the delay and the trouble they gave before they could be made to visit the poor destitute, starving, and dying nurse? Is it because one-half of the population died? Is it because they charged one hundred guineas for their services?
CHARLES WEBBER,
Hayle, November 13, 1849
23 NOVEMBER 1849, Friday
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS - On Friday last, a meeting was held at Polperro, of the landlords and farmers of the parishes of Lansallos, Talland, Lanteglos, and Pelynt, in consequence of the present distressed state of agriculture, and to consider of the best method of obtaining relief. MR. JOHN LEACH, of Pennellick, occupied the chair, and after considerable discussion, a series of resolutions was adopted, which are intended to be embodied in a petition to Parliament, respecting which another meeting is to be held in a fortnight from the time of the present meeting.
The resolutions were substantially to the following effect: The meeting declared its opinion that agriculture is at present suffering under great depression, which was not caused by unfavourable seasons or other unavoidable or Providential circumstances, so as to afford a hope that time itself may bring help; but it was the result of
alterations in the laws, by which our agriculture was set in competition with the efforts of foreigners, who have great encouragement to enter our markets, and under-sell us; they being at the same time free from many of the burdens which press heavily on the British farmer. Unless decisive steps are taken, absolute ruin to the agricultural interest is inevitable. [The article continued, mentioning tithes, specifically mentioning that they had to cultivate
the clergyman's portion of land at their own expense, (especially when they had to provide manure, the price of which had recently soared), the fact that military officers and government officials were freely promoted and given large pensions, making superannuation very expensive, and several other unfair practices. Evidently, the law had been recently changed to make tithes a rent-charge on land, so that if prices fell below a minimum, farmers had to make up any deficiency in selling prices from their own pockets,thereby forcing them to pay more than is [normal?.]
TRURO FIVE WEEKS' FAIR - This fair was held on Monday last, when there was a large supply of cattle, but the quality was very inferior, and a great number were sold at low prices; beef fetched fro 40s to 46s. per cwt., and lean cattle from 25s. to 28s. per cwt. There were many dealers from the eastward at the fair, and a number of sheep were purchased for the Bristol market. The show of sheep was smaller than usual, but a good sale was realised at 4 1/2 d. per pound, with, in some instances, a trifling advance on that price.
LAUNCESTON ST. LEONARD'S FAIR - This fair was held on Monday last,when there was a good supply of cattle, and a great deal of business was done, at better prices than have lately been realized. The demand for sheep was great, 5d. per pound being freely offered.
APPOINTMENT - The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas has appointed MR. JOHN L. PETER, Solicitor of Redruth, one of the perpetual commissioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds, to be executed by married women, under the act passed for the abolition of fines and recoveries.
COAST GUARD - Commander C. S. NORMAN has been appointed inspecting commander of the Scilly district, vice commander HALL, previously removed.
REDRUTH COUNTY COURT - At this Court held on the 14th instant, there were fifty-one cases entered but a considerable number were arranged by the parties and withdrawn. A trial between two horse-dealers, CHEGWIN, of Launceston, v. TONKIN, of Redruth, lasted a long time, there being a number of jockies and other witnesses examined, and the result was a verdict for plaintiff for GBP 6. This was the third time that the case has been brought before the Court.
At the last Court, in the case of WILLIAMS v. HUDDY, a verdict was given for the full amount of plaintiff's claim. The trial was by jury, and one of the five jurymen in the case now came forward to say that the verdict was given for plaintiff because the majority of three were of that opinion, while another, with himself, thought the verdict should have been for defendant. He now hoped the Court would grant a new trial on his making an affidavit of the fact, but of course the Court could not entertain so novel a proposal.
ROBBERY - On Monday night last, some thieves broke into the dwelling house of MR. THOMAS FRANCIS, farmer, of Roche, and stole therefrom two frock coats, one pair of shoes, five pair of stockings, four large loaves of bread, four pounds of butter, and various other articles. The thieves must have been in the house for some time, as they had
a light and examined every room below stairs. There is no clue at present to the perpetrators of the act; but some Irishmen were seen in the neighbourhood during the afternoon of that day.
STEALING FROM THE PERSON - On Monday last, before Mr. EYRE, mayor of Launceston, ANN REEVAN was charged by WILLIAM MARTIN with attacking him on Saturday night last, when returning home from Launceston market, and with stealing a purse containing about GBP 4.9s. from his pocket; she was committed for trial. SOLOMON HARES was charged with being an accomplice, but the evidence being inconclusive, he was liberated.
FIRE - On Saturday last, about ten o'clock in the evening, the stables belonging to Mr. HODGE, of Devonport, at Doublebois, four miles west of Liskeard, on the Bodmin Road, were discovered to be on fire, but not until one of the farm horses had been burnt to death and others much injured. An express was sent to Liskeard, and the engines were hurried to the spot, but before they arrived, the neighbouring inhabitants, from Dubwalls, Trevelmond, and other places, had, by water obtained from the threshing machine pond, arrested the progress of the flames, and prevented communication with the adjoining barn and mowhay, in both of which were a large quantity of corn.
ACCIDENT - On the 15th instant, MR. W. CARNESMITH [?] of Higher Town, near Truro, wanting to sweep a chimney, went to the top of his smith's shop for the purpose, when the ladder on which he was standing slipped, and he fell to the ground, receiving severe injuries.
CORONERS' INQUESTS - the following inquests have been held before Mr. Carlyon, coroner - On Thursday, the 15th inst., in St. Allen parish, on the body of THOMAS STEPHENS, aged four years. On the previous Monday the deceased's parents both went out to work, leaving their four children (the eldest of whom was about ten years of age) in the house by themselves. The children were cautioned to be careful of the fire, but about the middle of the day, the eldest girl, seeing her father at a distance coming towards the house, lighted a bush and put it under the kettle to warm some water for him against he came home to dinner, and then went out to fetch some more. During her absence, the deceased caught his clothes on fire, and died from the injuries he received before it could be extinguished. Verdict, accidental death.
On Wednesday last, Mr. Carlyon held an inquest at Trelissa, in the parish of Philleigh, on the body of SAMUEL CHIPMAN, aged 21. It appeared that on Tuesday morning, between ten and eleven o'clock, a party of nine men, including the deceased, went out shooting; and, about half-past two in the afternoon, whilst eight of them were walking nearly close together, the gun of one of them called DANIEL SNELL, went off accidentally and shot the deceased, who was very close
by the muzzle. He immediately fell. It was found that the whole of the charge had entered his body just above the hind part of the hip, and had come out in front. ....the parties present bound up the wounds and conveyed him home, where he was promptly attended by MR. PRYCE, surgeon; but he died in about four hours.
It was clearly proved that there had been no animosity between any of the party, and that the death was entirely owing to an unfortunate accident. From the statement made by Snell, it would seem that he was carrying the gun - a double barrelled one - under his arm with both locks cocked; and it was supposed that the locks hitched in a pin which was projecting from the lower part of the front of his waistcoat. Verdict "Homicide by misadventure." The unfortunate deceased was a brother to a man killed at Mylor, a few weeks since, by falling from a waggon.
The following inquests have been held before Mr. HICHENS, coroner. On Monday last, at the Penzance Union House, on the body of THOMAS SAMPSON, aged 75 years, which inquest was deemed necessary in consequence of a rumour circulated by a discharged pauper that Sampson's death was occasioned by ill-usage on the part of the Governor. It appeared, however, from the testimony of Mr. JOHN PENBERTHY BERRYMAN, surgeon at Penzance, who attended the deceased at the Union House, that when called to do so, he found him labouring under a very severe attack of diarrhea, which had greatly reduced his
bodily strength, and terminated in his death on the 16th instant; and though the conduct of the Governor towards the pauper, in expelling him from the breakfast-room by force, about a fortnight before, in consequence of his having entered at a doorway through which the female paupers only came, was rash and apparently uncalled for, yet MR. Berryman was decidedly of opinon that the deceased's death was not to be attributed thereto in the slightest degree, and that he died
of diarrhea, which had attacked several others of the old paupers in the Union, occasioned, he thought, by the use of too much vegetable diet. The jury, therefore, returned a verdict of "natural death," and accompanied it with a censure of the Governor for his rash conduct, particularly towards so old a person.
On the same day, at Marazion, on the body of JAMES HENRY MILLS, a son of MRS. SEALEY, of the Marazion Hotel, by a former marriage. The deceased was a person of rather weak intellect, but was accustomed to assist in working about the house, in drawing and carrying water for brewing, and also in the stables. The last time he was seen alive was in the brewhouse, on the Saturday night preceding, about twelve o'clock. The house being about to be shut up, the deceased was found wanting, and search was made throughout the premises, but he could nowhere be found. On the following morning, the ostler in going
to the draw-well in the yard, for water for his horses, saw as he thoought a bat swimming therein, on which he made an alarm, and the well being searched, the deceased was found therein. Verdict "found drowned."
On Saturday last, an inquest was held at St. Cleer, before Mr. JOSEPH HAMLEY, coroner, on the body of JOHN COLLINGS, who was found hanging at Treneath, in the same parish. It appeared from the evidence of CHARLOTTE COLLINGS, a relation, that the deceased, who is now fifty-two years old, left this country for America thirty years since. No one having heard anything of him for many years, it was supposed that he was dead. About six weeks since, he returned to St. Cleer, and told his relations that he had come over to England to make some purchases, but unfortunately the vessel he was on board was wrecked, and that he had lost GBP 200 in consequence, and that when he landed at Liverpool he had only 16s. with which he had managed to come
to St. Cleer. He said he had written to his wife whom he left in America, with three children, and that he expected a remittance very shortly from her. Since his return, he has been living at Treneath, MR. GRIGG being a distant relation of his, under a promise of paying for his maintenance on receiving a remittance from his wife. However, Mr. Grigg, thinking all was not right, left on Thursday morning last to go to Plymouth, to make some inquiries of an American Captain, whose vessel was then at Plymouth, about him, and on Friday morning, Mrs. Grigg told Collings for what reason her husband had gone to Plymouth.
Soon after this, Mrs. Grigg went to St. Keyne, leaving Collings alone in the house, and desired him if he went out to lock the door. About an hour after Mrs. Grigg had left, Charlotte Collings came to Treneath to see him; she found the door locked; she hallooed but received no answer. She then went to some of the outhouses in search of some one; on passing the barn, she observed that the door, which is usually kept open, was shut, and on examining it found it was bolted on the inside. She tried to force the door but could not, she then ran to some cottages a short distance for assistance, and two men came and got into the barn and cut him down. It was supposed he committed the act immediately on Mrs. Grigg's leaving.
There being no evidence to show that he had ever shown symptoms of insanity in any way, the jury unanimously returned a verdict of felo
de se, and the coroner issued his warrant, directing the body to be buried privately at night, according to the present law.
Just as the inquest was over, Mr. Grigg returned from Plymouth, and stated to the jury, that he had seen a captain of one of the American vessels then at Plymouth, who knew Collings, and told him that he had been deceived and that part of what Collings had told him was untrue, particularly of his having a wife and two children, which was not the case, though he had heard he had some property in Prince Edward's Island.
An inquest was held at the Duke of York Inn, Falmouth, on Thursday evening, the 15th instant, before MR. PENDER, coroner, on the body of EDWARD ANGOVE, fisherman, aged 56. Deceased was found on that morning in a courtlage behind the Barley Sheaf beer shop, lying on his face, with his feet in a privy, and was quite dead. MARY ANN JENKIN, deposed that she saw him the night before going in the direction of the place where he was found, it was then about ten o'clock; she spoke to him, and he was quite sober and sensible; she did not see him again till he was found dead that morning. MR. WILLIAMS stated he was sent for about half-past seven that morning, and found deceased was quite dead; his opinion was that he had been so for some hours, and there was every appearance of his having died from an attack of apoplexy. Verdict, "Died by the visitation of God."
On the 15th instant, an inquest was held at the "King William the Fourth," Madron, on the body of a child named DANIEL, about two years of age. The child lived with its father and grandmother, and was left in the house with a little boy, who tried to wake it, and found it was dead, on which he went out and told the neighbours. Verdict, "accidental death."
30 NOVEMBER 1849
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE -
SHERIFFALTY OF CORNWALL - the following have been nominated by the Council of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to serve the office of Sheriff of the county of Cornwall: William DAUBUZ, of Killiow, Esq., Sir COLMAN RASHLEIGH, of Prideaux, Bart., George CROKER FOX, of Grove Hill, Esq.
APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES - Mr. W. BAZELEY has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor a magistrate for the
borough of St. Ives.
CUSTOMS PROMOTIONS - MR. CHARLES WILLIAM PEACH, late searcher, &c., of the customs at Fowey, has been
promoted to the office of sub-comptroller, of Peterhead, in the port of Aberdeen with an increase of salary, and MR. FLOWER, a redundant clerk in the secretary's office, in London, is appointed to the vacant situation in Fowey.
POST OFFICE - MR. JOHN EVA has been appointed postmaster to St. Just, in the room of Mr. PERROW.
ST. COLUMB - A vacancy having occurred in the office of vestry clerk and assistant overseer of this parish, an order was received from the Poor Law Commissioners directing the election of a person by the inhabitants; for which purpose a vestry assembled on the 1st instant, which was fully attended, and presided over by MR.NICHOLLS, of Trekenning. The vacant office being contested, much excitement was manifested on the occasion.
The candidates were MR. JAMES WHITEFIELD, MR. MASTERS, and MR. W. TRUMAN. On a show of hands the majority
was declared in favour of Mr. Whitefield, when a poll of the whole parish was demanded on behalf of Mr. Masters, the other candidate, having resigned and requested his friends to vote in favour of Mr. Masters. The poll was then opened, and continued through the following day, at the close of which the numbers were for Mr. Whitefield, 205, Mr. Masters, 165; majority in favour of Mr. Whitefield, 40; who was declared duly elected. On Tuesday last, the magistrates in petty sessions confirmed the appointment, though it was strenuously opposed. Mr. ROWSE, one of the largest rate-payers of the parish, and several other landowners attended in support of the appointment, and stated that three-fourths in value of the whole parish ere strongly in favour of Mr. Whitefield.
CHARLESTOWN DISTRICT CHURCH - The foundations of this new church was laid on Tuesday last, by Mr. C. B. G.
SAWLE.
REDUCTION OF RENTS - The steward of the Honorable Mrs. AGAR, of Lanhydrock, held her annual court at the
Queen's Head Inn, St. Austell, on tuesday the 20th instant, for the Manor of Burngalloe, in St. Mewan, and
lands in adjoining parishes, when a reduction of twenty-five per cent was made on the rents due at Michaelmas last.
REMISSION OF TITHES - In consequence of the low price of agricultural produce, the REV. R. HOBHOUSE, rector of St. Ive, at his recent tithe audit, made an allowance of ten per cent on the last half year's tithes.
CORNWALL AGRICULTURAL REPORT - (From the Mark Lane Express) The year 1849 is fast drawing to a close, and a more favourable one for farming operations few men can remember; the various seasons all in their turn being of a most favourable character, producing good crops, and affording a most delightful season for gathering them in. It is very true some fields of corn are to be found under an average; but we are safe in saying, taking this county together, it is a year that will long be remembered for its abundance and superior quality of all kinds of grain. The hay is exceedingly good; the greater portion having been saved without rain, and a full average quantity. The green crops are extensicve and excellent, so we have an abundance of winter food for cattle; the influence of which is already felt by the increased demand for cattle and sheep. The season is very mild, the clovers and pastures producing a plentiful supply for sheep's keep, and looking as green as if it was spring;vegetation as yet has received no check. But in the midst of this abundance for the support and comfort of man, we are all murmuring and complaining; and the spirit of discontent is shewing itself in strong colours.
However men differ as to the cause, in this all agree - that with our present prices, viz. wheat 40s., barley 22s., oats 16d.per quarter, beef and mutton (average) 4 1/2 d., and wool 5 1/4d. per lb. - by the time labour, poor's-rate, rent-charge, and the other outgoings on land are paid little or nothing is left for rent. That things cannot remain in this state for any length of time is self-evident; and if we wanted an instance to support the correctness of our observation we should say, look at Ireland - look at that fertile but unhappy country, where land can neither be let nor sold, and where the poor's-rate is eating up the very vitals of the country. This is a matter in which the English landowner and farmer are mutually concerned, and requires their best energy and co-operation manfully to meet; for unless we have a speedy change similar results will follow in England.
No one who considers the subject coolly and dispassionately, can for a moment doubt. "Ireland is ruined, and the right hand of England is paralysed." It is a just observation, "Shift the matter as you will, the rental of land is a question between the landowner and tenant."
Some able writers on this subject tell us we must go back to 1792, and returns must settle down there; others show us, if land with wheat at 56s. per quarter was worth so much, what is it worth with wheat at 40s.? We know the value of the produce must give the value of the land itself; and we have been long of opinion that the value of a certain quantity of grain is a better representation of the value of arable land than a fixed money value.
NEW POTATOES - On Saturday last a small sample of very fine new potatoes was exhibited at Falmouth. They were the produce of JOSEPH DIXON, of St. Anthony in Roseland, were planted in June last, and have thriven and attained perfection in the open air without any other protection than a mat hung over them at night. Dixon has been very successful with his potatoes for some time past, and has been in advance of most other cultivators by two or three months. His present success, however, much exceeds what he has hitherto accomplished.
ST. AGNES -- During the past week diarrhea has been very prevalent at St agnes, and there have also been several cases of cholera, but up to this date there have been but two deaths from the latter cause. A board of health has been established, who, as a precautionary step, have engaged DR. PADDOn from Truro, through whose exertions and that of the local practitioners, it is hoped this dreadful malady will soon disappear.
CONDITION OF THE LABOURING POPULATION OF CORNWALL - The Morning Chronicle has, for some weeks past, been giving its readers an insight into the physical condition of the various classes of the labouring population - not only of the metropolis but of the several manufacturing and agricultural district throughout the kingdom; to effect which correctly, and ascertain, from practical inquiry and investigation, the real state of the thousands who toil on from year to year, with barely sufficient sustenance to keep soul and body together, three commissioners are employed, devoting their time to this useful inquiry...
The writer gives the result of his inquiries into the condition of the labourers and their families, both mining and agricultural. He shows that the industry of Cornwall is, from its position and resources, of a varied character. From its peculiar maritime facilities, and also from its being the extreme and the richest part of the metalliferous penninsula, which constitutes the south-west portion of England, it
sustains, along with its agricultural, a large fishing and mining industry. ...if the money rate of wages were to be taken as the sole standard whereby to judge of his comforts, there can be no doubt but that the condition of the labourer in Cornwall would, in the main, be better than that of the same class in any of the [other] counties visited, and far better than the condition of that class in some of those counties.
But there are considerations ...which detract somewhat from the standard indicated by the mere money rate of wages. Still, after having made allowance for such draw-backs as may exist, he admits that the Cornish farm labourer is, on the whole, better off than his brethren either in Bucks, Oxford, Berks, Wilts, Somerset, or Devon. The first point to which he directed attention was to the house accommodation of
the labourer; and he discovered [there was no basis for a claim of superiority in this matter.] As elsewhere, there were around him abundant evidences of very straitened accommodation for a large and increasing population. The few cottages visible, were, in all cases, old and muddy; in many they had greatly progressed on the road to ruin, and in some were utterly dilapidated. Some of the worst specimens of these miserable tenements may be seen along the high road between Torpoint and Liskeard, and though at great intervals in the neighbourhood of almost all the parishes lying north and south of the main highway.
This is speaking of the purely agricultural portions of Cornwall; and he asserts,without hesitation, that the accommodation provided for the labourer in these districts is, on the average, little, if anything, better than that at his disposal in the adjoining counties. In other parts of the county he found far better house accommodation. These, however, were invariably in districts where not only had mining been carried on, but where mines had been long established, and he found some of the miners forming a very striking exception to the rest of the population.
The writer states that the average rate of wages paid to the agricultural labourer may be taken at 9s. per
week; this, however, is but the money rate, and by no means indicates the real extent of his command of the comforts of life. With respect to the really mining population, the same extent of information is not afforded. Happily we know, that bad as things are, the miner in constant employment is even better off than the agricultural labourer, some of whom he found in the rich district round Truro obtaining a regular pay of 10s. per week, with, however, a considerable drawback in the shape of rent, arising from the scarcity of house accommodation. Upon the whole, he has come to the conclusion, that while the house accommodation of the labourere in Cornwall is little, if any, better than the neighbouring counties,
his condition otherwise is better, for after making all the deduction necessary from his nominally higher rate of wages, there are circumstance connected with his case, wuch as a continuous and a cheap supply of fish, which place him in a somewhat better position, as regarded diet at least, than his brethren in many other counties.
EMIGRANTS' THANKS - A number of emigrants from this county, arrived at New York from Penzance, in the QUEBEC, emigrant ship, and have addressed a letter of thanks to CAPTAIN JOHN PEARSON, since their arrival. They state as follows: "Sir, with sentiments of the sincerest esteem and respect, we, the undersigned, passengers on board the QUEBEC, desire to express to you our grateful thanks for your kind and unremitting attention to our comforts during our voyage. Though we were fortunate enough to have but few cases of sickness on board, where such did occur, your sympathy and assistance were never wanting, and will be remembered by those who experienced it with feelings of the liveliest gratitude."
SMUGGLING - On the 20th instant, before MR. R. R. BROAD, mayor of Falmouth, and LIEUT. HILL, the crew of the Greek ship EVANGELISTA, from Athens to Malta, were charged with smuggling 212 lbs. of tobacco and a quantity of cigars. The first seaman charged pleaded guilty to having had a part of the articles, and was fined 10s. and 10s. costs. Three others confessed that the smuggled property belonged to them, and were remanded for a week to communicate with the Board of Customs. Mr. SHELLEY, the collector, appeared on the part of the board.
LOSS OF WATCHES - A Liverpool police-officer has lately been at Falmouth investigating circumstances connected with the loss of some gold watches by a jeweller of Liverpool.
About two years ago, Mr. M. JACOBS, who is in the emnploy of Mr. M. J. JACOBS, pawnbroker &c., at Falmouth, sold to a Captain THOMAS, a gold watch and chain for twenty-three pounds. The captain took it to sea, and on his return, found it wanted repairs; his wife, therefore, after his departure on another voyage, took it to a jeweller, who recognised the watch as one of a lot which were formerly his property. Mrs. THOMAS was detained, and on her husband's return, he, with an officer, came to Falmouth, and traced the original sale of the
watches to Captain HILL, of that town, who had received, three years before, several watches from a Liverpool tradesman to dispose of for him.
About that time Captain Hill's vessel was driven ashore on the north coast of this county, and the
watches were reported to have been lost in the general wreck; but, contrary to this, they were sold some time afterwards to Mr. Jacobs. After inquiries had been made, Mr. Jacobs, Captain Thomas, and the police-officer, left Falmouth for Liverpool, where they met with Captain Hill, who had put back from sea in consequence of a contrary wind; and the affair is now awaiting further investigation.
SHEEP-STEALING - On Monday last, WILLIAM BOND, of the parish of Davidstow, and JAMES COCK, of Lesnewth, were committed to the county gaol at Bodmin, by the REV. SAMUEL CHILCOTT, for stealing a sheep, the property of MR. THOMAS JAMES, a farmer near Boscastle. It appeared from the evidence that on Saturday last, Mr. James missed a sheep from his flock, and on making a search through the field, he found the skin with the head attached to it, on the spot where it had been by all appearances recently slaughtered.
Mr. JAMES immediately called upon Mr. THOMAS PEARSE, of Halwell, and MR. DIGORY LANGFORD, who accompanied him to the field where the skin and head of the sheep lay, when on a minute inspection it was found that two men had been concerned, as footmarks were distinctly seen, and both offenders were traced by them to their respective houses, where was found an equal quantity of mutton, as if a sheep had been divided between them. It appeared to have been cut up by a non-professional hand, and some parts of the flesh found exactly corresponded with the parts left in the skin.
COMMITTALS FOR ROBBERIES - WILLIAM PRESTON, who in company with GEORGE OLIVER (the latter tried at the last spring assizes) broke into the shops of MR. WILLIAM BUDGE and MR. JOSIAH WADGE, watchmakers, of Callington, and stole a quantity of watches, watch chains, tools, &c., and immediately afterwards absconded, was apprehended in Jersey about a fortnight ago, has since been brought over under a warrant, and on Monday last was committed by the Rev. Dr. FLETCHER and MR. HURNDON, to take his trial at the next assizes.
On Tuesday, two girls, named JAMES and O'DONNELL, were taken before the same magistrates, and committed to Bodmin, charged with stealing a watch on Saturday night last, from a miner named TREVENNA, at the Royal Oak Inn, Callington.
CORONOR'S INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held by Mr. JOHN CARLYON: On Friday last at Carharrack, in the parish of Gwennap, on the body of WILLIAM TREMBATH, aged fourteen years, who was killed the day before, in West Wheal Jewel mine, by accidentally falling into a pass or winze. The mouth of the pass had been generally covered over, when the men were not tramming stuff into it. On Thursday, they were tramming stuff there, and only a few minutes before the accident, the deceased cautioned the man, who was tramming the ore, to be on his guard as he and his father were firing a couple of holes. The man, who was driving the waggon cautioned the lad, on his part, to take care of the pass. The smoke, however, after the holes had gone off, lay so thick in the level, that it was supposed the deceased did not see the pass, and accidentally fell from the seventy to the eighty-five fathom level. Verdict, "accidental death."
At Portscatha, in the parish of Gerrans, on Monday last, on the body of JANE GRYLLS, aged seventy-two years. Deceased had enjoyed remarkably good health all her lifetime. On Sunday evening, she went to the Independent Chapel, apparently as well as ever she had been. Just at the close of the service, however, she was observed to fall back and died instantly. Mr. PRYNN, surgeon, being examined, stated his opinion that from the extreme suddenness of her death, it was caused by hypertrophy of the heart, and the jury returned a verdict to that effect.
EMIGRATION FROM PLYMOUTH - On the 16th inst., the STATESMAN, CAPTAIN LANE, arrived from London, to embark her West of England passengers for Adelaide and Port Philip. This splendid ship followed others of the regular monthly line of first-class Australian packets, which are despatched from London by Messrs. Marshall and Edridge, and from Plymouth by MR. WILCOCKS.
The STATESMAN is a new ship, the property of Messrs. Marshall and Edridge, and combines every improvement, not only as regards the details of shipbuilding, but in all the requirements for passengers, and, perhaps, no superior ship has ever been seen in the port of Plymouth. She is a thirteen-years' ship, and 874 tons per register. The STATESMAN sailed from Plymouth on Monday evening, with a full and select complement of cabin passengers, and her between decks were occupied by a full complement of most respectable passengers, who all expressed their entire satisfaction with the arrangements on board, as well as the kind attention they had received from CAPTAIN LYNE, and Mr. Wilcocks, the despatching agents at Plymouth, who accompanied the vessel to the pilot's limits.
The STATESMAN is to be followed by the TROUBADOUR and HOUGHLY, both well-known ships. The LADY KENNAWAY, 584 tons, to embark emigrants for Port Philip, and the ORIENTAL 437 tons, to embark emigrants for Sydney, were also under charter to H.M. Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, and consigned to MR. Wilcocks, the agent for government and general emigration, at Plymouth.
We observe that the Natal Colonization Society have chartered a splendid ship, the EDWARD, 1,000 tons, built expressly for the Natal trade, which is to follow the other monthly ships in December. Mr. Wilcocks, of Plymouth, represents the interests of this well-founded association.
The ELIZA, which sailed from Plymouth with emigrants, under charter to H.M. Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, and a large party of cabin passengers, among whom was CAPTAIN STURT and family, the well-known Australian explorer, arrived at Adelaide on the 23rd of August, having made a very satisfactory passage of one hundred and three days.
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