see him, and farther knowing that Dr. Verling was at hand, and ready to attend, if required, in any such emergency.

6th. For having, contrary to his duty, communicated to general Buonaparte or his attendants, information relative to certain books, letters and papers, said to have been sent from Europe for the said persons, and which had been intercepted by the governor of St. Helena; and for having conveyed to the said general or his attendants, some information respecting their money concerns, contrary to his duty, which was to afford medical advice only.

7th. For having, contrary to his duty and to the character of a British naval officer, communicated to the said general Buonaparte or his attendants, an infamous and calumnious imputation cast upon lieutenant-general sir Hudson Lowe, governor of St. Helena, by Barry O'Meara, late a surgeon in the royal navy, implying that sir H. Lowe had practised with the said O'Meara to induce him to put an end to the existence of the said general Buonaparte.

8th. For having disobeyed the positive command of his superior officer, in not returning from Longwood on or about the 21st of January aforesaid, at the hour especially prescribed to him by the rear-admiral, there being no justifiable cause for his disobeying such command.

9th. For having, knowingly and wilfully, designated general Buonaparte, in the said bulletin, in a manner different from that in which he is designated in the act VOL. LXI.

of parliament for the better custody of his person, and contrary to the practice of his majesty's government, of the lieutenantgeneral governor of the island and of the said rear-admiral; and for having done so at the special instance and request of the said general Buonaparte or his attendants, though he, the said Mr. John Stokoe, well knew that the mode of designation was a point in dispute between the said general Buonaparte and lieutenant-general sir H. Lowe and the British government, and that by acceding to the wish of the said general Buonaparte, he, the said Mr.John Stokoe, was acting in opposition to the wish and practice of his own superior officers, and to the respect which he owed to them under the general printed instructions.

10th. For having, in the whole of his conduct in the aforesaid transactions, evinced a disposi tion to thwart the intentions and regulations of the said governor and of the said rear-admiral, and to further the views of the French prisoners, in furnishing them with false or colourable pretences for complaint, contrary to the respect which he owed to his superior officers, and to his own duty as an officer in his majesty's royal navy.

The court having heard the evidence in support of the charges, as well as what the prisoner had to offer in his defence, and having considered the whole with the most minute attention, is of opinion, that his conduct (with respect to certain particulars relative to his intercourse with the French prisoners detained at St.

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Helena) being improper,is proved; that the 1st charge is proved; that the 2nd charge is proved; that the 3rd charge is proved; that the 4th charge is proved; that the 5th charge is proved; that the 6th charge is proved; that the 7th charge is proved; that the 8th charge is proved; that on the 9th charge it is proved, he called general Buonaparte "the patient;" that the 10th charge is proved. The court do therefore adjudge the said Mr. John Stokoe to be dismissed his majesty's service; but in consideration of his long services, recommend him to the consideration of the admiralty for half-pay.

LANCASTER, SATURDAY, SEPT.11.

Conspiracy to raise the Wages of Weavers at Blackburn.-This was an indictment against James Watson and Laurence Moss, for a conspiracy to raise the wages of those employed in the art, craft, or mystery of weaving.

John Kay was a constable, in September last, at Blackburn. There were meetings about the beginning of September. There was a meeting on the 7th at Blakely-moor, within the town of Blackburn. There were about 2,000 persons, the greatest part weavers. He saw them come in procession into the town, four or five or six a-breast. He saw the defendant, James Watson a weaver, amongst the crowd. He heard him speaking to the people around him, and advising the weavers to stick true to one another and they would come to the point; that they had got their wages at Bolton, and he

had no doubt they would get them there; that in Bolton they had got 7s. in the pound. Defendant desired them to go home peaceably and quietly, and to come the next day, clean washed and with clean shirts on. On Wednesday the 9th, a great many more met than on the Monday. He should not wonder if there were 4,000 or 5,000. There were women and children. Women were employed in weaving there. On the Friday morning there was another meeting. He only saw the defendant in the street.

Cross-examined by the defendant.-Witness was not on the Moor on Wednesday. He always heard the defendant advise the people to be peaceable and to keep within the law, and not so much as touch the hem of the garment of the law, and to disperse quietly; and if they saw so much as a dog battle in the streets, not to meddle with it. He heard him say the laws of England were the best in the world; he never saw him but sober and industrious, and never knew him connected with any bad company.

David Hogg lived at Blackburn in December last. He was at a meeting on Monday the 7th, and saw James Watson standing with several others on a heap of earth. One spoke, and called out, "Preston delegate." One went up to the place where Watson was, and Watson went away. That man that was called to said he came from Preston that morning. James Watson came again, and wished them all to go peaceably away, and not to hurt the hem of the garment of the law.

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He had said before, those that had a mind to work might work, but those who had a mind to stand out were to make a show of hands. People put up their hands. Either he or some other person said they might be mistaken, and desired them to put up their hands again. He said they might all do as they would; those that had a mind to work might work, and those that had not might stand out for wages. He said they might, when tired of sitting, take a walk for a mile or two on the high road, but not to go over any man's grounds, or hurt any man's property.

Mr. Ephraim Maymond, a master manufacturer, was, on the 7th, in a yard adjoining the meeting; he saw Watson there on a midden of dirt, with several more. He heard Watson address the weavers to be firm and to stick out for advance of wages; he wished for an advance of 7s. in the pound upon the present wages; he wished them to show a firmness by a show of hands; and said, if they would be firm they would gain their object; he wished them not only to put up their hands, but their hearts with it. There was a show of hands. A great many did put up their hands. Watson wished them again to be firm to that cause; they might class themselves in companies and be firm to a man till they got their wages advanced; if any one of his relations wove under 7s. advance, he would cut their yarn across; "but," he said, "I don't say you must do so; because, if I cut it I can piece it again, and perhaps you cannot." Watson went for a jug of water and returned with a jug, and putting it to his mouth,

said, "Gentlemen, here is all your good healths. This is Adam's ale, and I wish you to be firm." Watson then said, "You weavers, you think that we have a secret; and so we have, and we must keep it to the last: for, had our ministers told the army what they were for with them, they would never have gone to fight; they kept their secrets till they had got the armies together, and then they were obliged to fight. We must do the same." Watson ordered them to collect a penny a loom a week till they could collect a fund, and they might return peaceably home and choose every one a leader to their classes, and parade the streets till the advance of wages was obtained. Several persons spoke in the same way. There was a turn-out that day. The greatest bulk were weavers. Either that day or the day following witness's weavers turned out.

The defendant read a paper in his own defence. It represented, that those of the master manufacturers upon whom the defendant had waited, had agreed to an advance of 7s. in the pound, if the whole would agree to it. He had mentioned at the meetings, that the weavers in Bolton and Manchester had obtained the required advance, and that if they would follow the example, the effect would be the same. But he had stated, that he would act so for himself, and leave it to others to act as they chose. When he spoke on the 7th, there had been a partial advance, but it was totally inadequate, and the masters at the same time possessed every advantage over them. It

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Mr. Baron Wood summed up the evidence. The defendant appeared to have some art, and seemed to think that if there was no riot, there was nothing improper. Upon this view he had advised not to touch the hem of the garments of the law. That kind of art would not, however, protect him, if he illegally and corruptly conspired with others. It was very true that a labouring weaver might refuse to work, might be idle, or might go to another master; but he may not advise, excite, or encourage others to do the same. He did not know whether conspiracy was not more dangerous than open violence. The defendant had said some foolish thing respecting ministers. It might mean that they should preserve peace till they got the upper hand and then break out. If the jury believed that the defendant had conspired with others to force an advance of wages, they would find him guilty; if they believed that he had acted only for himself, they would find him not guilty.

The jury almost instantly found a verdict of-Guilty.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

Burglary.--James Hagin, Patrick McDonald, Dennis M'Coy, Jeremiah Curran and Bryan M'Manus, were charged with having burglariously entered the dwelling-house of Joseph Oliver at Manchester with intent to steal, and also with intent to murder.

Betty Whitaker lived at Ardwick-green, and was at the house of Joseph Oliver on the night of Tuesday, 29th June. There were in the house Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, Ellen Cairns, James Aspinal and witness. Witness and Ellen Cairns slept together. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver were in an adjoining room on the same floor. Witness awoke and saw a light. She jumped out of bed. She saw two men, one with a candle, go down stairs. She saw their faces. It was M'Donald and Curran. She desired Ellen Cairns to go and tell her master; and then shut the door and shouted "Thieves." Two persons forced open the door and knocked her down. She shouted "Murder." One of them put his knee upon her breast, stabbed her side in several places, thrust her head to the ground and throttled her till the blood came out of her mouth. and nostrils. None of them spoke. It was M'Coy who used her so ill; the other was Hagin. She found herself afterwards under the bed. Ellen Cairns had not left the room when they broke in. She heard one of them say, "Ellen, is there any person in the room besides you? 'I'll blow your brains out with a pistol if

you

you make alarm." She heard it said by some one, "We'll kill Oliver." A nail-box was next morning found in the house.

Ellen Cairns, a young girl of 14, was desired to go to tell Mr. Oliver, but she was afraid and did not go. She saw a light, and observed Hagin and M'Coy going down stairs. They afterwards forced their way into the room and knocked down and strangled Betty Whitaker till the blood came from her mouth and nostrils. She heard blows given in Mr. Oliver's room, and afterwards heard Mr. Oliver call out murder. She saw other two of the prisoners, M'Donald and Curran.

John Oliver, son of Joseph Oliver the prosecutor, slept at his brother's house, next door to his father's, on the night of the 29th. He was disturbed a little after 1 in the morning. On looking out at the window he saw a man pacing backwards and forwards between his father's house and the house he was in, and asked him what he was doing there. He said he would blow witness's brains out if he said another word. Witness said, Fire away." He did fire, with his arm stretched towards him. The brother of witness then began to knock at the wall that separated his room from his father's. Witness immediately saw 6 men coming at a quick pace in front of his father's house. They went over a field, and one of them fired. Witness went to his father's house and found his father at tempting to come down stairs in a very bloody state. He found his mother recovering. His father had told him that he thought

she was dead. When witness had been awoke by his wife, he heard: cries of "Murder," "Thieves,' and a great confusion as if persons were wrestling on the other side of the wall.

Joseph Oliver, the prosecutor, a fustian manufacturer at Ardwick, was awoke by the cry of "Thieves" from the servants' room. He went forward into the passage between the two rooms. Some men met him and began laying upon him with some instruments, drove him back into his own room and knocked him down. Afterwards he got up, threw up the sash and shouted "Murder!" A person immediately below the window said, "If you make another noise I'll blow your brains out," and immediately fired. He thought from his person that it was Curran that fired at him. He could not swear to him, but he thought it was he from every appearance. They had two pikes which they left; one of them had a handle of old oak. He found that the cellar-window had been forced open, and the cellar-door and back-door were broken open. They went out at the back-door: he missed a pair of stockings. A surgeon was got; he had got about 12 wounds: his head had been broken almost to pieces: his wife was struck at the back of her neck as black as a man's coat; he thought she was dead.

John Williamson, a weaver, employed Hagin at the time; M'Donald had left him some weeks before. Hagin left his house at the edge of dark, and said, "I'll have my night's spree," (drinking). A nail-box peculiarly formed and made by Hagin,

was