LATE FIRE INQUEST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XI, Issue 876, 16 December 1876, Page 7

LATE FIRE INQUEST.

Sir, — Though unable to controvert my letter m any parb, the irrepressible — of course not irascible, Mr Charles .'Joseph Rae, characteristically rushes into print to defend you m the matters complained [of, that appeared m the Express last month, m relation to the Fire Inquest. This perhaps you were entitled to, as I dare say it was he wuo furnished you with the falsehoods, and also supplied the garbled report of the evidence given during the Inquest. (What a most gratifying contrast does the report taken by another, of the proceedings m the lasb Supreme Court show). Ha complains you gave me too much space : I wonder what his eleven sheets of libel and slander, which you refused to print would occupy? You wished to read some of it to me, but I refused to hear it ; — and actually up to this moment have riot read a word of what you did print, so much have I always despised the garbage that com.es from his pen. I was only induced to break through this rule m regard fco what appeared m Saturday's Express, becauso of being told that the Coroner was also belied by tho same veracious scribbler. Mr Charles Joseph Pv,ae and I have nothing- m common — nor likely to have. His declaration therefore that my good opinion of him " would be no credit and my bad no disgrace," ,is the best policy to avow — if he ouly could obtain belief ; for my opinion of him, after a very short acquaintance, was that of disdain and contempt, which being unable for years to find grounds to alter, shall likely be chronic, as lam old fashioned enough to believe that there is some difficulty m .tho "Ethiopian changing his skin, or the Leopard his spots "; and a certain Sage off old, Jias pronounced, " though thou shouldsst bray a fool m ajnortar,

his folly will not depart from him." An 1 theve is a folly of " malevolence ;is \vr-li .f want of understanding. When it is the nfFspriutt <>f both, and fed upon self-conceit, it fi;ay > o cuiisidered iocurable. The" school of morals iv. which ho was e<!ucuted " — The Church and Prayers — Jim Crow and Hamlet— and the drama of course, have all been lugged m by Mr Charles Joseph Kae ; and doubtless in* -each- .and- all be has performed a distinguished. -part,, during bis vur iorum existence. A ship's "alley and the cockpit are undeniably the best foster-parents of morality and manners ; and -a training to be able to perform the part of clown or pantaloon, but only successful to the degree of caracaburing them m places of gaif entertainment, unquestionably .pre-eminently qualifies the intellect, aud tones the principles, for judicial investigations, and- rectitude of judgment. Being, so schooled, it would be impossible to trade intraduction mo'-e than truth, or designedly parade false suspicious, as superior to the acquirement of a large amount of circumstancial evidence ! But all have not beeu so virtuously and favorably educated, and consequently suffer from the drawback of having a ■ silly prejudice for 'a less fashionable code of truth and evidence, and- in thinking that some little inkling of knowledge of the undertaken' duties', desirable. • Of course it was a "groat falsehood m me to say that I refused the foremausliip of the jury, for Mr Kae " never heard me proposed." Nothing therefore can be more conclusive ! He forgot to add, that neither did he hear the Coroner proposed, as he would object to him also, and' try to got some one to propose himself instead as unquestionably ths more qualified parson ! But any one who knew the A-B-C, of the duties, should know, that the Coroner 'is statutorily appointed; and so likewise is the juror whose name is ' first on the precept, Foreman, If he objects to be Foreman, then the jury can choose one. My name was first on the precept — and I objected. * . - It was not a hanger-on, or partisan jury, that would meet the demands of justice, but an intelligent and independent jury; and the Inspector of Police, if he saw meet, could, but: did not demand Mr Ivae's service. His admission on the jury was not owing to selection but gapfilling, as one of the selected jurymen was a material witness, and could not sit, whereupon < Mr Rae eagerly volunteered and -was admitted. The jury iv the Supreme Court not long ago was more fortunate. On that occasion where '" a matter of morals" was being investigated, • notwithstanding his high " moral edueatiou " he was scornfully ordered back, as he was jumping into the jury box. Confidants were not at a premium there. • - '* . If 'the President of the investigation -into the "Thunderer" calamity when so ir.any were killed and mained forlifo, were to be guided by Mr Eae's - hijiher -aod abler authority and judgment, the tedious proceedings '.were -altogether wrong as to enquiring inro the cause that prol-nhly 'ed to the disaster. The dictum that the " boiler burst" should be all. - But happily such idiotism Btuls small ;espcct now. The causes that combined to lead to, aud therefore might lead again to any serious calamity should .be suarebingly and unflinchingly enquired into, and not merely one possible point. Inquests properly conducted should not merely dotect, but warn and prevent for the future iv many cases,' especially where burning half a town may be' involved. All along, whether right or| wrong, I was under the impression that Mi 1 Bae did all he could to v lead the Jury to false issues. Hence his 'remarks m the room ■ had scant respect from me, which irritated his vanity. The report as printed m the Express. leaves out some of the most suggestive facts and circumstances, which maybe unintentional, though I doubt it. Mr Itae's distorting letter m the " Expkkss of Saturday, certainly, does not lessen thu belief. I/ike all effusions of his it is a jumble of farrago, more to show the variety and range, of his acquirements. than'-aught else. These m all conscience are " surface without foundation" ,and should not be paraded. But "conceit is more incurable than consumption." Yet after all perhaps, surprise Should not be much. To speak aud bcribble before learning * the need to think, is no uncommon failing m early life ; but there are some that pass into the sere and yellow leaf of existence, that have not yet began to think, or are incapable of it, but who constantly obtrude, themselves and their crude inanities upon the public, stupidly' imagining that people will accept their addled, senile, drivellings for common sense, and their futile waspish venom for truth. However dross is. only dross, quack it up eyersomuch. I am &c. Dec. 11th 1876. James Sinclair.