The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-30 00:00:00

by occasions like this, to set before christiaus their duty, and to show them how the spiritual blessing,s they had received ought to be given forth to others. Now there were various sorts of sympathies in the world. There was that spurious sort of sympathy, that kind of delicate and pleasurable sen sation which some persons feel when they read, perhaps in a novel or some other story, a tale of the most touching dis tress, or when they see a tragedy. We bad sometimes too that sort of feeling which is dignified by the name of sympa thy, when a rich man releases a poor man; but sometimes this would not a bear a very minute investig ation . But how different was christian sympathy from all these varieties of the so miscalled name ! With respect to all other sorts of sympathy, it seemed to be necessary that we should have felt ourselves, and that those whom we assist should also feel, miserable. (Hear, hear.) Now how different was that sympathy which led Jesus Christ from heaven to earth to die for us ! It was not a sympathy which arose from the feeling that those whom he came to seek and to save had any feelings themselves of the depths of misery into which they had fallen. And this, therefore, was just the sort of sym pathy that we ought to feel, that we must feel ; because we are reaching out the right hand of spiritual assistance in many cases, not to those already awakened so as to feel the desire of it, who are not like those that in former times cried out, " Come over to Macedonia and help us," but we were going forth amongst those who were "'dead in trespasses and sins"—who bad no desire for those spiritual blessings which—we were conscious, by our own experience, and by the words of scripture—were the only blessings which could make us happy here and blessed hereafter. This was the sympathy to which he wished to direct their attention, and which he . . wished, by God's Grace, to excite in their hearts. He wished to bind them to the consideration of their own happy and iie;;diOiiilon, as those who were under the ordinances of God and under the means of grace—and to direct their no- Lice to many of those portions of our country which, though it be called a Christian country, and which, though COM: pared with Christian tioctrines,;vas highly favOured by God, nevertheless, did appear m many parts of it to be nothing better than a howling moral waste and wilderness. For in stance, a large collection of men are suddenly gathered to gether by speculation ; a mine is found, or a factory is established ; and suddenly in the midst of the -wilderness you find a town of 7,000 or 8,000 inhabitants collected together. No church ; perhaps a solitary meeting house; no discipline; no gathering of the people together Sunday after Sunday to hear the preaching of the Word of God ; no parochial visiting ; none of that home-walk of the Christian minister, by which he entered into the intimate so ciety and friendship of those over whom God has placed him. All this is unknown. And how is this to be remedied ? Simply by awaking by God's grace within the hearts of men this Christian sympathy, this following of Christ's example, who came to seek and to save that which was lost. It was only in this way that we could hope to abate this intolerable evil. It was an awful thought for every one of us that God seemed to have placed as it were—(and he spoke with pro found reverence of the ways of God)—the salvation of souls, practically speaking, in the hands of men, of fellow-creatures like ourselves. St. Paul says that He has put " this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of God, and not of man." And, doubtless, this was the great object ; that it might appear quite evident that it is not by the might, nor the power of men, that the conversion was effected ; but by the immediate preventing grace of God. But the resolu tion also spoke as truly and as sensibly of our own responsi bility. How was it that we were now Christians? Not on account of any sensible miracle which had been effected by the hand of God, but because the apostles went forth preach- ing in the midst of heathenism, and because those who suc ceeded them had banded down to us the glorious gospel of our salvation. And we would say, therefore, let us each in our sphere, and according to th . e optics with which God has blessed us, by his grace go do likewise ; let us plata. fest to the world that we ha - ve some sense of these spiritual mercies ; and let us show in the only way in which we can show it, that we were anxious to impart these blessings to others [Here a voice from the lower end of the room ex- claimed, Three cheers for the Additional Curates S cietv.":l He was speaking in reference to one society, he could not speak with reference to two at once, and he should be very glad to hear any one that could. (Applause.) Now the last part of the resolution referred to the result of this Christian sympathy, which he would fain see awakened in the breasts of every one before him. It was that we should use our energetic and prayerful exertions for its removal. And here we must begin, go on, and end in prayer. (Hear.) We must have a distinct feeling and impression upon our minds that every spiritual gift comes from God alone, and that we are the machinery, as it were, which, in his mercy, he vouchsafes to use for these so great blessings. But after we had prayed we must show that there was some meaning in our prayers, by using our best energies and exertions ; and he would say one or two words with respect to energy. . . Suppose that a man had in his heart the desire to glorify God, and that he was therefore only looking out for an op portunity by which God might be glorified ; he was anxious to do it, and just looked about for the best mode of doing it. Now, one man might take the scriptures in his hand, and plunge at once into a society which had become almost hea then, and here attempt, by reading the scriptures, to com municate by the grace of God life to the dead society. His exertions, doubtless, would in some degree be blessed ; and there were many persons who had no other way except acting in some isolated manner of this sort. But this was not that direction of energy which he this evening wished to set before them. He wanted to show them how these energies might be rightly directed, and therefore how they were most likely to produce the very best results. Now, we had a machinery over the whole of this kingdom. It was a glorious thing in theory, but it would not now bear an examination in practice, that our country was so parcelled out into districts, that there could not arise a single house, there could not collect one single family, in any part of this land, which was not in theory placed under pastoral superintendence, who had not in theory a minister to preach to them and to console them, and to warn them and to pray for them and with them. This was the theory, but in practice it was not so. Churches could not contain the worshippers • ministers of the gospel, already in many instances overtasked, were utterly unable to occupy the spaces which in theory they were sup posed to do ; and here, therefore, had arisen this spiritual destitution. And, therefore, when this society wanted to ex cite Christians to energy, when it wanted them to shew forth to the world that they had sympathy for this spiritual desti of their fellow-countrymen, they wished also to point out to them a way in which they conscientiously believed such ef forts would be crowned by the brightest results. Rather than throw away a piece of machinery, if it was good in principle, let them attempt to improve it and add to its power. Here, therefore, was brought b e f or e their notice the Pastoral Aid Society, the sole object of which was to improve and to amend, and to supply what w a s wanting in the parochial sys tem ; to sustain the clergymen that they might be able to oc cupy that ground which at present it was utterly impossible they should occupy. And this was the scriptural way of viewing it ; this was the Way that the Apostles acted. In the first plac e they were sent forth by Christ himself; they went oat wherever boldly, and preached th e g os p el indiscriminately they could obtain a hearin g • but then, after they had don e thi s , a f ter they had succee d e d in gathering churches in various places, then their object was to increase the effi cbfoaecyroef these chureh es . They did not leave the chu rches as ; but they had a code of discipline ; they appointed ministers to feed the flock ; and they continually vi sited, again and again, thse churches, in order to confirm and strengthen them in the faith. (Hear, hear.) And it wa s according to this Christian principle that we wished now to act. We thought and were sure that we could see over onr country a church of which, with respect to its discipline and its theory, the apostles themselves would approve ; and we therefore were anxious simply to supply the necessary deficiencies for the churches which had arisen in consequence of the increase of our population, without at the same time there being anything like a correspondent in crease in the means of grace. And therefore—for he would not detain them longer from the interesting details, which he doubted not they would be glad to hear, of the operations of this society—he fervently hoped and prayed that God might put it into their hearts, that they might shew forth this true and Christian sympathy, and that they might be led to see, that the support of this society, which he most heartily had honoured and recommended to their notice, would be one of the most useful and profitable modes of showing forth their energy, and thus glorifying God. He begged, therefore, to move the resolution. (Applause.) Rev. T. B. MARSDEN (one of the deputation from the parent society.)—The resolution lam about to second de clares that the spiritual destitution of any country must awaken the sympagiies of a Christian community ; but that community must be first instructed in the nature and extent of those wants. A few years ago we were not listened to when we spoke of the spiritual destitution of the country but now the cause has made thus much progress, thai, we are able to gain a hearing. But we are still heard with reluc tance, because the belief is that the case is hopeless. The state of things is this :—we have an ecclesiastical establish ment for fifteen millions which was originally designed for five millions. The resources of the church have not increased with the wants of the people. England had 10,500 parishes originally ; she has only that number now. Where there are a few wealthy laymen to build churches, it is well ; but in deso late hamlets, or manufacturing districts, the people are left to die in ignorance of God, because no man cares for their souls. Nobody grudges an increase in the army, and in the navy--indeed, the complaint of some is, that a larger levy . is not made on the country for their support. Additional judges are required for the administering of justice, because the population and necessities of the country have so in creased as to call for these various augmentations in the variou departments of the state. And then, 1 ask, why should not the same standard be applied to the church ? Some talk of voluntary exertions—and I would to God that we had more of them. I can not travel without being delighted to see the number of new churches which have been raised by voluntary benevolence. It has done much, and it is delightful to observe it; bat in the course of the last forty years, the increase of the population has been more than live millions, and It is idle to suppose that voluntary benevolence could have kept pace with such an increase of re quirement. All we can do is, to stand in the gap, and tell our senators and wealthy men their duty. I have shown the necessity for some such society as this, and now it can only work this effectively, the voice which it owes to Liverpool will reverberate through the metropolis, like the distant stroke of au electric shock, it will be felt through the whole country, and the work will progress every where successfully. In 1700 the whole population of Lancashire was not equal to the present population of Liverpool, but in other counties there has been no increase, and in some there has been a diminution. But that which constitutes a case the most difficult to deal with, is the col collecting of large masses together in some one district sud denly. There is a parish in the neighbourhood of Durham, which in 1834 was a very great one, with a population of 250 persons. The minister was an aged man, but quite equal to the discharge of h i s pastoral duties. To-day that parish counts within it front ten to twel ve thousand souls. How h as this happened? A coal mine was discovered in it, and hence this sudden influx of new parishioners. The aged minister was of course quite unequal to such a change as this, and the aid of this society was solicited in his behalf ; and he is now assisted by a curate paid out of its funds. The reverend gentleman next entered into a history of the formation of the society, and answered every objection which had been raised against it in the most satisfactory manner. We regret that we are prevented by the lateness of th e h our a t w hi c h the meeting term inated, from giving his very able and satisfactory of Societyt h e Society n oNv collected ais tw o speech at full. The following statementlaotfetrheeatlapegra—tiTonilse under their charge an o f ?,039e,1a5v6,r0ar average amount on an average, the from his speech will be ainount .of their incomes hundred and seventy-nine incumbents , having aggregate population charge of 7,344 souls; while th e is only X 162 ; and 139 of these incumbents . are without parsonage houses. Previous to the aid of he society, only 314 clergymen were engaged in the pastoral care of . the dabove-stated population. The existing grants are to provide stipends for 294 Clergymen and 41 lay assistants, at a charge to the society, when all the appoint ments shall be made by the incumbents, of '26,808 per annum. • assistants are now supported in their 225 clergymen and 42 lay as of .e2O 688 er annum, The labours by the society, at a charge P The Rev. HUGH M`NEILE then rose amidst enthusiastic cheering to move the next resolution. lie found on co •ust delivered that • paring his resolution with the speech Jit rentleman who had had already been spoken to. The rev. g just sat down had admirably conducted a dissertation upon this theme. He (Mr. M`Neile) however would read the re solution, and the meeting might then see how completely his rev. friend had exhausted the topic— " That the Church Pastoral Aid Society, whether as re gards the correctness of its system or it s efficiency, is, under the Divine blessing an unexceptionable a nd approved means of remedying the evils connected with the spiritual destitu tion which prevails in many parts of our land. The meeting had heard the correctness of the society spoken to, and, as he thought, unanswerably defended. There was one point connected with the working of the system that he might perhaps be allowed to add one observation upon. The rev. gentleman who formed the deputation from the Parent Society had very fairly said, that however admirable the con stitution of the society might be, we could not in reason ex pect that it should please every one. Well, those who did not like it were in no way compelled to join it ; and those who did not approve of its rules were in no way called upon to ask for its assistance. (Hear.) In one of its fundamental regulations the veto, as it was called, was fairly and honestly stated. The regulation was No. 8, and it was this : " No grant from the Society's funds for the benefit of any parish or district can be made, unless the Incumbent himself shall apply, or sanction the application for aid, and shall fur nish to the Committee sufficient proof of the exigencies of the case. The nomination of an Assistant shall always be left with the Clergyman to whom aid is , given, the Committee claiming only full satisfaction as to the qualifications of his nominee, who, when approved, will be under engagement only to the Clergyman by whom lie is employed." He was then to be approved by the committee before he was handed over to be supported by means supplied by the so ciety. In all fairness, then, no man who did not choose that his nominee should be subjected to its approval ought to ask for the the society's funds ; and if any man did ask for the society's funds, and did proceed to nominate a gentleman to assist him in his parish, and complained afterwards that the committee did not approve of that gentleman, it was in all fairness, and without any unkindness said, that en incum bent so acting was mistaken, that he had acted rashly in having applied for funds from a voluntary association without being willing to comply with the conditions. Then he turned about and found fault with the committee for insisting upon the observation of a rule which was printed before his eyes before he made the application ! With regard to the test no thing could be simpler, more candid or more honest, than the manner in which it had been set before the meeting. It was not a test upon technical or disputed doctrines, but upon the notoriety of a devout life, upon the notoriety of a con verted soul, upon the notoriety of being a wan born of God, who could feel for the glory of God and for the salvation of his fellow men. (Hear, hear.) And the society did not go beyond scripture authoity when they said that no man who was not born of God could feel for God's glory and for the salvation of his fellow men. He might from other motives feel :7 party spirit for the maintenance of some cause among men, he might easily feel an ardour as to the pro vision for an established church ; but except he was born of God by the renewing power of the Spirit, it was not in him to feel for the divine glory, it was not in him to be really interested for the salvation of men's souls, as such, to the glory of God. The society knew this ; they had felt this ; they believed that the natural man dis cerned not the things of the Spirit of God ; that he could not understand them because they could only be spiritually understood. (Hear.) The society believing this, willingly took pains for accumulating funds for the purpose of propa gating truth. They would then be mad, they would be in consistent with their own principles, they would deserve no man's confidence, if they could squander that money without regard to the character of the individuals by whose instru mentality it was to be made available to the community. The grand, indeed the only object of the society then was to aid the church in carrying out the doctrines of salvation to the ends of our land. (Cheers.) When he said this, lie said what it was ea'sy to speak, and easy to listen to, but what it was not easy duly to appreciate. (Hear, hear.) Every in dividual of the tens of thousands of our great extra-parochial population, if lie might so call it; not geographically extra parochial, for our parishes included every nook and corner of our i,land, but extra -ministerial, if he might so call it. It was beyond the power of the ministrations of the minis ters of the land. Every individual of that teeming popula tion had an immortal soul, and was involved in aggravated responsibilities. (Hear.) Who should dare to enter on the question of comparative responsibility ? We knew, upon unquestionable authority, that the responsibility of Choraziin and Bethseda was of a very different charactei from the re sponsibility of Tyre and Sidon ; but among the dis tricts of a land blessed with the gospel as England was, who should estimate the degree of awfulness that be longed to the neglect of the gospel? Who should estimate the degree of inevitableness, if he might use such a word that belonged to the neglect of its precepts ? (Hear.) The responsibility, however, rested in an awful de gree, modify it as you might, upon the whole population of the country. (Hear, hear.) But, with regard to this ques tion, it was consoling to the heart to feel that judgment was committed to one that was the Son of Man, that all judgment was committed to him, because he was the Son of Man, be cause he could estimate all the varying movements of the human spirit, and could bring with the judgment all the va rying shades of human responsibility, all the degrees of wil fulness, all the errors connected with human ignorance, and prounce an adequate, true, and righteous judgment, taking in all the merits of every individual case. (Applause.) Great was our thankfulness to God for the relief to the kindest feelings of our hearts in these reflections of his love and wisdom, that judgment was committed to the Son of Man, to one whose heart felt for all the necessities of our fallen species. (Applause.) Yes, this was comforting to us, but not so that it should relax our exertions upon their behalf. Our earnest desire was that all should know Him, from the least to the greatest; our prayer was, that men might be multiplied among us, who were taught of the Holy Spirit to preach that Son of Mau, Jesus Christ the Lord, to pro claim the promises of God in Christ Jesus, to declare the everlasting and sovereign election of his love, whereby be fore the foundations of the world were laid, he had designed to bring those whom he had chosen out of mankind in Christ Je sus, unto eternal salvation; to tell of the faithfulness of. God, that all who were chosen, should be called by his spirit workin g in them, that through g race they should obey the call, and be made sons of God by adoption ; be made like to his dear son Jesus Christ, their dear pattern, and at last, by God's mercy, attain everlasting life. These were precious words. (Cheers.) They were enshrined in the articles of our national church ; they were dear to the hearts and precious on the lips of her faithful sons who loved her testimony, the glory of her God, and the all-suffering of her Saviour. (Cheers.) We desired to have these and kindred truths reverberated through the land, in order that sinful, helpless, fallen creatures, hearing of God's love, might find what their necessities required. (Cheers.) It was not the stern voice of authority, that the degraded and ungodly of our population required ; it was not the harsh hand of the law that could restrain that ungodliness. No. There lurked • in man a principle of resistance against coercion, there lurked in man a principle of resistance against threatenings. No threatenings, no coercion, no law, no punishment could ever reach the turning point of man's character, and win him to be a new man. It must be by the planting of love in his soul. Only love begat love ; and this was the secret of the gospel, let the law be proclaimed among men, let all the thunders of Mbunt Sinai be arrayed before his eyes, and carry alarm into every heart; except it were followed by the still small voice of love, except pardoning love ruled over the conscience, no permanent effect was produced. (Hear.) It was pardoning love that changed the heart and ruled the feelings ; and only pardoning love could touch the breast. The gospel was one, and man's necessities in the last resort were one ; the evil was one and the remedy was one ; the is one and love above was one. Adam was one, and s Claist was one ; tia..aaLion was ane,andsahatioa was It was this that made the gospel the universal remedy. Let the Lord's love in his dear Son be proclaimed ; let man be told that God loves him ; let him be assured on good au thority that He loves him ; let the bread of life be set before him—" in this was manifest his love in that he gave his only begotten Son for us that we might live"—there we saw the hardened, wretched creature, that used to be dead to it, lend a willing ear. The sound of it was so strange to such characters—they were not used to love—they were used only to hear of reproof, of unkind reproach ; and when the minister of the gospel used to the 16va of God in his own soul, told them without reproach or reproof, that God loved them—loved them as they were even when they were dead in trespasses and sins—that for " the great love wherewith he loved them he gave his own Son"—this was a charming sound. We knew its efficiency. (Hear.) His re solution spoke of the efficiency of the society, as well as of the correctness of the system. He was pointing to the effi ciency of its practice which lay in this—that it proclaimed, by converted men, God's love to fallen sinners. (Hear.) This was its grand, final object, to the glory of God ; but as Mr. Hodgson had observed, it had indirect objects. Some of these indirect objects deserved calm consideration, not only for themselves, but because they were reflected back again upon V the increase of the means for its financial object. The reverend and eloquent gentleman then, at considerable length, and with much power, proceed ed to point out some of these indirect objects. One was that in causing the gospel to be so faithfully preached, it was prolonging civil and religious liberty, another that it was cementing the stability of society, for withciut it there was no basis for the stability of any human society. (Cheers.) What stability was there in civil government, as such ? Let the history of the world answer. Government after government had been subverted, and it must be so They abused their authority ; the people recoiled from the abuse, usurped the authority, and abused it in their turn. Governors ty rannized ; the people rebelled, and successful revolutionists became the fiercest of tyrants. History had told this story over and over and over again. But what was stable all the while? What was it that had a firmer foundation than civil governments ? Why the Chris tian church ; because it rested upon principles which were based in the heart of man—on principles that man must love so long as he lived ; and even if she were overturned in a revolutionary movement, she possessed in herself the sta bility. (Cheers.) Mr. M`Neile proceeded to establish this truth, which he did in a manner that elicited general ap plause. He afterwards applied the general principles that he had enunciated to the subject of the meeting and its collate ral branches, and ccncluded an admirable speech (for which we regret our utter inability to find room) amidst cheers from all parts of the meeting. The Rev. DAvin JAMES, incumbent of Kirkdale, seconded the resolution in a spirited address, in the course of which he bore testimony, derived from personal experience, of the necessity there existed for church extension in the west rid ing of Yorkshire, and in the many districts of South Wales. He also ably vindicated the principles of the Pastoral Aid Society against the attacks made upon them in the establish ment itself, and avowed his unalterable intention to defend the society against all or any of its adversaries. The rev. gentleman concluded a most animated speech, amidst the cheers of the meeting, by seconding the resolution, which was then put and carried. The Rev. Mr. dories, minister of St. Andrews, moved a vote of thanks to the venerable chairman and to the deputation from the parent society. In meeting this proposition, the rev. gentlemen entered into an explanation of the main points of difference be tween the Pastoral Aid Society and the Society for the Employment of Additional Curates in Populous Places. He showed that these were not antagonist institutions, but that they were both aiming at the accomplishment of the same great end—the glory of God, though by somewhat different means. Mr. RI oay seconded the motion, which on being put, was carried by acclamation. Mr. Chancellor RAINES returned thenks in an impressive ad dress, mingled with affectionate Christian exhortations. The doxology " Praise God from whom all blessings flow," was then sang, the whole assembly joining their voices in it, and at ten o'clock the meeting separated. THE POSTOFFICE-PLACE GALLERY The following have just been added to the Collection. 25. "The Portrait of Pope Clement Xl."—Carlo Maratti. This remarkable painting is from the Gallery Buonvisi of Lucca, and is considered as one of the master's best por traits. The head of his holiness stands out wonderfully from the canvas, and has all the vigour of life. The features are noble and. expressive, and mark the character of the pontiff. This is a most pleasing portrait. The flesh is very natural. —Carlo Maratti was of the Bolognese school. It is said that in early youth he squeezed the juices out of flowers, and used them as colours in drawing upon the walls of his father's house. His family sent him to Rome, where he attracted the notice of A. Saccbi while copying the works of Raphael. He was much patronised by Pope Clement XI., and was ap pointed painter to Louis XIV. He highly esteemed the works of the Caracci and Raphael in the arnese Gallery, and contributed to preserve them. He also erected monu ments to those illustrious men, at his own expense, in the Pantheon. 26. " The Inspired Author"—Richter. An inimitable picture, representing an author in his garret, in the act of catching a happy idea. His eye is in " fine frenzy rolling," and his countenance conveys at once the idea of Knowles's exquisite description of searching for a thought :—The face is lit up with a most expressive smile. The author's hair is grey, and his whole figure shews that time has touched him slightly. There he sits in his garret, with pen in hand, his elbow leaning on his desk, which beats manuscripts, books, ink-bottle, and snuff-box. His shoeless foot is placed upon a chair, on which a book, inscribed " List of Subscri bers," is reposing. The author's dress ind icates the care lessness generally attendant upon those of a literary occupa tion. On the floor is his shoe : around the room, which is sadly littered. are books, manuscripts, and papers. The light streams through a window looking out upon the tiles and chimneys a broken pane being stuffed with rags. This picture is finely conce i ved, and remar k a bly well painted. The left hand gr a p p li ng clever thought. It is a t once a most p l ea sing as well as a powerful picture. convulsively the manuscripts is a THE HEATLEY PROPERTY CAUSE.—It will, no doubt, be interestii?g. to mat?) , of our readers to learn the exact day when this interesting trial is to take place at Liverpool ; are,t willpleased i n b e i ng a b le to i nform t h em that !t is for Monday, th e s t h o f Ap r il.—Preston pilot. [ seen by our Assize R e p or t s that hi s l o rdship has specially I b therefore,fixede not definately fixed the day of trial.]--Sub. Ed. THE PRESIDENT AND THE BRITANNIA Up to the hour of going. to press with our first edition (two o'clock this morning), we are without any intelligence of either of these ships. The President has been long expected : she has, in all probability, been detained beyond her ap pointed day of sailing, in order to bring despatches from the British Minister in the United States. The Halifax steamer is but scarcely due, and the expectation of her arrival so early is a compliment to the line to which she belongs, the vessels. composing which having invariably hitherto accom plished their trips with surpassing speed and regularity. MEETING ON THE BIRKENHEAD GAS AND WATER-WORKS BILL Yesterday evening, at seven o'clock, a public meeting took place at the Town Hall, Birkenhead, called anonymously, by placard and advertisement, of the rate-payers and owners of property in Birkenhead, to adopt such measures as might be deemed necessary to oppose the Birkenhead Gas and Water- Works Bill now introduced into Parliament,—one clause of which is to the effect, that W. Jackson, J. S. Jackson, and others (whose names are recapitulated), and all others who have already subscribed, or may subscribe to the undertak ing, and their executors, &c., stiall form a company for the purpose of supplying gas and water to the township, " with perpetual succession" and power to purchase and bold lands within restriction contained in the act applied for. The advertisement further announced that the bill had passed the Committee of the House of Commons, and stood for a third reading on Wednesday (to-morrow) the 31st inst. The meeting was pretty numerously, and certainly respect ably attended ; and Mr. Laycock was appointed chairman. The CHAIRMAN opened the business in a brief and com prehensive manner, after which Mr. MALLABY, clerk of the magistrates, entered upon a long statement of the objects of the meeting and the purposes of the bill. He warmly advocated the cause in which Mr. Jackson had embarked, and contended that those who op posed him were mistaken in their policy, and acted in a man ner contrary to the general interests and well-being of the township. He furnished a variety of statistical details, chew ing the benefits that would accrue to Birkenhead from the bill now in progress, and endeavoured to rebut all the argu ments that had hitherto been advanced against it. His prin cipal plea was, that at a time when no money could be raised for the purposes stated in the bill, on similarly advantageous terms, Mr. Jackson had come forward, and at a cost of £30,000 supplied the desideratum required ; and above all, he reminded the meeting that M r.Jackson had, by the concurrence of the commissioners appointed by the rate-payers, obtained a monopoly for the term of 75 years, upon which, in the terms of the existing contract, he could charge a per tentage of profit of 40 or 50 per cent, if he thought fit to do so ;—but that, by permitting the present bill to pass, his contract would he so affected, by merging thereinto, that the ratepay ers would not be subject to a charge involving a profit of above 12 per cent. He statistically showed the gain to the township annually that would arise from the passing of the bill now sought for. The gas,.if the bill passed, would be supplied for bs per 1000 feet, in place of 10s. On the water. 10 per cent only would be charged for domestic purposes, and in this department Mr. Jackson was bound to put down fire-plug., and to supply water gratis in cases of fire. Mr. Jackson, he assured the meeting, expected no additional ad vantages from the bill, but what, as a propriet or , h e would participate in, in common with others in the township. (Ap plause.) Mr. APPLETON lamented that he should be in juxta-posi tion to the last speaker, and those whom he supported. He entertained the most friendly personal feeling towards Mr. Jackson ; but he took an opposite side on public grounds. He considered the bill a second gas bill for Birkenhead. He was in favour of Mr. Jackson having the supply of gas in perpetuity by the first bill; but he expected that the town ship would have the reversionary interest of that bill, which he considered would be worth £lO,OOO. per annum. They might be told that at the end of Mr. J.'s contract the bill would be returned to them ; but then another bill was to be thrown upon them from the same quarter. The revenue from the gas bill last year had been £400., and iu 20 years it would probably be £4OOO. He thought that even with the present small corporate estate they should expect better things. The ratepayers ought to defend themselves against a second gas bill, and not to give their interests away to any company. He moved a resolution to the effect that the bill should be opposed by the ratepayers by all means within their power. The motion was seconded by Mr. ME XCOCK. , Mr. STANSFIELD said, that the ratepayers ought to sup port the holders of the present lease for 75 years, without any restriction as to their profits. The statement rnadtt by Mr. Mallaby had removed all his objections. If the bill passed, it would limit the profits to 12 per cent., which was as little as would remunerate a company to supply the pub lic ; and it would save the township from being charged 30 or 40 or 50 per cent. for gas, to which they would be other wise subjected. He considered, indeed, that the act sought for would be a great boon to the township, for which they ought to be exceedingly thankful. With respect to water, he believed that that 'necessary of life would be supplied by Mr. Jackson, of the best quality, from Oxton. He con cluded by moving an amendment to the following effect : That the meeting - , having the fullest confidence in the com missioners, from the straigtforward manner in which they had acted, considered it a guarantee that they would consult the interests of the township in carefully revising every clause of the bill before parliament, for lighting Birkenhead with gas and supplying it with water ; and that a copy of the bill as amended be sent to each commissioner seven days before a meeting of that body held for considering the same. Mr. CHRISTOPHER BENTHAM seconded the motion. He considered the original motion as a vote of undeserved cen sure on the commissioners, which could only arise from an ignorance of their competency, their probity, and their ek ertions for the benefit of the township. Mr. SMITH strongly opposed the amendment. He ob jected to the power being taken out of the hands of the rate payers. He supported the first motion. Some explanations were then made by several speakers. Mr. ST ANSFIELD stated that the saving in the gas to the township by the new bill would be from £2,000 to £3,000. Mr. FRANCIS did not oppose the bill as regarded the water, but as regarded the supply of gas. The bill, in that respect, was founded on a false assumption, that there was no supply of gas now, whereas the township had already been supplied for nine months. He thought the residue of profits beyond a fair per centage should go to the improvement of the town ; and he had never yet beard of a company who had handed over any surplus profits, except to the proprietors. Mr. BRODERIP thought no man better qualified than Mr. Jackson to carry out the objects of the bill with greater ad vantage to the public, He was surprised that it should be opposed by Mr. Appleton and Mr. Smith, both of whom had supported Mr. Jackson's contract. Mr. SMITH and afterwards Mr. APPLETON successfully rebutted this accusation of inconsistency. Mr. JACKSON (the holder of the contract, and in whose behalf the bill was forwarded) defended himself against the accusations of personal benefit attributed to him. Mr. MALLABY, in explanation and reply, grappled with the opposers of the bill, giving a sketch of the advantages hitherto derived from the exertions of Mr. Jackson in fur nishing gas for the township, and thereby inducing an acces sion of residents, and promoting the public good. Mr. J. was the highest bidder when the contract was first advertised. He again explained that the saving to the township by the passing of the bill would be £2,500 a-year. He pledged himself that Mr. Jackson would be no individual gainer by the passing of that bill, and explained that in such case Mr. Jackson could not, under any circumstances, charge above 12 per cent. ; whereas, if his present contract remain, he might charge a much higher amount. Mr. APPLETON then withdrew his motion, and the amend ment was carried without further opposition. A vote of thanks was then moved to the chairman, and the meeting abruptly broke up. THE MERSEY CONSERVANCY, A public meeting, convened by the Mayor of Manchester, in con sequence of a requisition presented to him, signed by 176 firms and individuals, was held at the Town-hall, Manchester, yesterday, for the purpose of taking into consideration the several bills affecting the navigation from Liverpool to Manchester, brought into parlia ment this session; which bills involve the right of exacting dock and town dues on vessels passing the town of Liverpool, and other matters deeply affecting the lamest of the borough; and also for the purpose of authorizing such measures as may be deemed expe dient in relation thereto. The movers and seconders of the resolutions were Messrs. James Consterdine, David Ainsworth, John M'Viccar, Joseph Owen, Wm- Gibb, Alderman Cobden, J. C. Dyer, Joshua Radford, Wm. Entwis. tie, James Atherton, Thomas Hopkins, and T. 0. Lingard. The resolutions passed were to the effect that the navigation of the tidal water of the Mersey being a public right, the exaction of dock and town dues on vessels and their cargoes which merely pass the docks of Liverpool appear unreasonable and ought to be opposed ; and, that as the conservancy of the Mersey belongs to the crown, such power cannot with justice be granted to Liverpool, but as the navigation between Liverpool and Manchester may be improved so as to allow produce from Ireland and other places to be brought to Manchester without transhipment, the co-operation of the shippers of the produce in Ireland may be safely anticipated. Resolutions were passed authorising the Town Council to watch the progress of the several bills referred to, and appointing a com mittee of thirty-three gentlemen to co-operate with them in any measures they might deem it necessary to take. Swallows made their appearance at Knaresborough on Sunday last ; an infallible sign of an early spring and fine weather.—Leeds paper. THE Tilamas TUNNuL.—The great difficulties which have impeded the completion of this undertaking may be said now to have been overcome. The work has been completed under the river, and the shield, avant courier of the structure, is now below the company's wharf on the Middlesex side. The operations at Wapping for completing the shaft, by which foot passengers will descend, are in full activity. 30 feet of this shaft have already been completed, leaving about 40 more to be accomplished. The natural ground whieh has been already touched is favourable for the gradual and safe descent of this enormous mass of brickwork. The engineer has in some respects varied the scale upon which the shaft is constructed as compared with that which was sunk years ago at Rotherhite, by constructing it larger at bottom that it will be at its summit. Immediately the shaft has been sunk to its required depth, the shield will be advanced from its pre sent position, having traversed 33 feet 6 inches. The com munication throughout the entire length of the tunnel will be then thrown open.. The run of water from land springs into the tunnel at present is from 400 to 500 gallons per mi nute. When, however, the communication has been thrown open between the whole line this influx will cease. The en gine, with less than half its power, throws off the water arising from land-springs, and the visitors' archway up to the shield is perfectly dry. It is expected that the ceremony of opening the Tunnel will take place about the end of next summer. We hear that her Majesty is about to confer the honour of knighthood upon Mr. Brunel. The shield pre sents a very novel appearance, as now lighted up—viz., that of a Gothic window.—Times. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NEW MILLS.—On Tuesday fore noon, a fire broke out in a blowing room, at the cotton mill of Messrs. James and Joseph Stafford, situate in the Gnat Hole, New Mills : it originated in consequence of some hard substanee coming in contact with the beater of a blower, in one of the lower rooms. The manufacturing carried on in the premises was of a coarse description, being chiefly card ing and spinning of candle-wick and banding. More than £lOOO. worth of cotton waste, which was the only material worked, was on the premises at the time, which, being of a loose and inflammable nature, burned with such fierceness, that the whole building was one heap of ruins, in about an hour after the fire commenced ; though the greatest efforts were made by the workpeople and neighbours, to arrest the progress of the' flames. Unfortunately, the town of New Mills does not possess a single fire-engine ; the nearest being one being one belonging to Messrs. Andrewand Co. of Com stall Bridge. A person rode off for this at soon as the fire fire was discovered ; but, the distance being five miles, a considerable time had elapsed before it could be brought to the spot, and the building was in ruins before it arrived. Nevertheless it was of service in preventing the flames from spreading to a larger and more valuable mill adjoining, be • longing to Mr. Barnes, in which a considerable number of hands are employed. The building destroyed was between thirty and forty yards long, about ten yards wide, and four stories high. It was the property of Mr. Barnes, and was fully insured. The machinery and stock which it contained were the property of Messrs. Stafford, and we understand were not insured. At the time the fire broke out, Mr. Jas. Stafford was in the mill, and had pulled off his coat and hung it up in an upper room, he having bank notes to the amount of £2OO in one of the pockets, which were saved with the utmost difficulty. We have not been able to ascertain the whole amount of damage sustained; but no doubt it will be considerable.--Matechater Guardian. CORRESPONDENCE TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD Srn,—ln your last F r id ay ' s pu bli ca ti on I called your at tention to a letter from an anonymous correspondent of the Courier, who took the liberty of addressing his farrago to the Rev. James Hassell, and after insinuating, in a most improper and impertinent manner, that the rev. gentleman did not attend to the spiritual wants of his parishioners, and indulging in certain inaccuracies concerning the District Pro vident Society's visitors, thought fit to append, as a signa ture to his production, " Au Old Dispensary Surgeon," and, moreover, affirmed that he resided in the Park. I stated last week, in the STANDARD, I had every reason to believe that I was the only Old (?) Dispensary Surgeon resident in the Park ; and as I had no inclination to have the mischievous nonsense saddled upon me, I requested the person to sign his proper name in future. This he has not thought fit to do, for I find in last Wednesday's Courier the following as a no tice to correspondents :—" We must decline the second let ter of An Old Dispensary Surgeon.' The portions which are unobjectionable in point of taste, convey little more than a repetition of former assertions. In reference to Mr. Har bord's disclaimer, as ' an old Dispensary surgeon,' of the authorship of the previous letter, the writer explains, that Mr. Harbord is not the only old Dispensary surgeon in Toxteth-park there is another in the same street with him self.' We are not competent to decide the point ; but in the absence of an avowal from Mr. Hassall's correspondent of his real name, this may suffice with Mr. Harbord to exone rate him from the imputation which he is apprehensive at taches to him in the matter."—l waited upon the editor of the Courier on the Tuesday, who politely informed he could not give me the writer's name, and added that he had re ceived another letter from him, the greater part of which was not fit to be published. As I still have every reason to be lieve that I am the " old Dispensary surgeon" resident in the Park, I, in justice both to the Rev. James Hassall and myself, call upon the Courier's correspondent to avow his real name. Apologizing for trespassing so long, I remain, &c., H. G. HARBORD. 122, Mill-street. THE ELECTION OF POOR-LAW GUARDIANS TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SIR,-It is a trite observation, that " discretion is the better part of valour" ; and our radical friends cannot be too highly praised for not daring to measure swords with the loyalists of this parish in the appointment of poor-law guar dians. These liberals, who have introduced the pauper starving poor-law bill, have been justly punished for their inhumanity, and now remain unrepresented in a board which they had hoped to have packed with adherents. Alas for the cads of the Reform Association ! They no longer dream of filling the places of the tried and faithful servants of the parish, who were to have been turned off to accommodate these disinterested gentlemen ! They may now return to their ditty avocations, and " with what appetite they may." It was both amusing and instructive to observe the airs of the purity party prior to their late doleful defeat. Believing that the battle was already over, they were to be seen walk ing in and round the Parish-offices, as if only delaying the annihilation of the old vestrymen ; whilst the jacks of the corner house in Clayton-square were measuring out the groUnd in the Parish-office which they intended to occupy. " Sic transit gloria mundi." The lesson was not less in structive, for it proved to demonstratinn the animus which still actuates these brawlers about liberality, who pant to reduce the parish to the same exclusive model as they were enabled, by the temporary insanity of the townsfolk, to mould the council. They may rest assured that that day has gone by. It is positively refreshing to behold the stern and uncom promising determination of the loyal and patriotic conserva tives during the late struggle, and to know that whilst, un like their canting opponents,they liberally offered to allow a greater number of representatives to the radicals than they were ever able to get by the voice of the people, yet still that they knew their greatness, and did not fail, upon the refusal of their offers, to shew their enemies that they could use the power with which they were armed. Let us hope that this conduct will be followed up in office, and that those who lend themselves to the enemies of the constitution and the local interests of the town may either be checked or dis carded. If it is true that their appointments of officers are for life, I would have them take a care that they place no viper in their bosom. The people have sacrificed all personal considerations to place them in power, and they now call upon their officers to follow out their wishes. I. ` No sur render" is the motto, and let our guardians now look to it. To the poor it is a blessing that " good men and true" are in office. The snarling, cheese-paring radical economist, who skins the eel for its skin, would have carried out the provisions of the bill in all its cursed extent and deformity. Not so, ye British poor, with respect to your present guar dians. They will soften the rigours of the law to the utmost extent, and will beard the Somerset-house triumvirate in their very den. As a hirer of my country, and an affectionate admirer of the humbler class of my countrymen, I feel rejoiced at the humiliation of our whig tyrants, and hope their downfal will be the precursor of still more interesting objects with re gard to the poor-starving, wife-separating whig bastiles. I am, sir, yours, &c., R. G. J. Liverpool, March 261 h, 1841. P.S.—I imagine a certain knight may now be dubbed the " knight of the rueful visage." Poor fellow ! EGGLESTON'S TOOTII PASTE. — We perceive Mr. Priestly has ac cepted an agency for this excellent remedy for the toothache. MARCUS'S CIGAR SHOP.—The Atheneum snuff box is becoming a most fashionable resort, all the connoisseurs in fine cigars, and those who know what snuff really is, may be seen making daily purchases at the Parker-street corner. PROFILES.—We have been shown some profiles within the last few days executed by Mr. Neville, the artist. They are very cleverly done, and are the best likenesses of the parties we ever saw. Mr. Neville had the honour of :` taking off" her Majesty the Queen and the Duchess of Kent , a few years ago, being, we believe, the only artist who has bad the same opportunity. On Sabbath last, the 28th ult., at St. Andrew's Scotch Church, Rodney-street, a most appropriate awl affecting sermon was preached in aid of the Liverpool Dispensaries, by the Rev. John Park, minister of the church, when the sum collected in aid of the above institutions amounted to upwards of £4O. LIVER THEATRE.—MR. RAYMOND'S BENEFIT.—Fri day night, we see, will be the last of the season, when Mr. Raymond will have his benefit. He has apparently determined to take the town by storm, for we perceive be intends producing three new pieces, and has engaged the Rock Harmonicon to fill up the pauses in the amusements of the evening. We trust that his many friends will gather round him in full force. A parting address will be spoken, doubtless full of point and to the purpose. Mr. Raymond's anxiety to produce novelty deserves the warmest support. Ma. WILLOUGHBY WRISS.—We perceive that our young townsman, Mr. Wei ss , h as b een s inging at the Melodists' Club, in London. The Sunday Times says, " Mr. Weiss, a young and very promising singer, po,sessing a fine bass voice, sang a song of Mozart's, and Balfe's ' I would be a soldier still,' with very great effect." DEAF AND DUMB. —The power of affording relief to the deaf and dumb has hitherto been considered impossible. The case of Captain Macgeisson, 28, Pownall-street, deaf and dumb, is well deserving attention, as chewing the im portance of warm vapour, and the benefit to be derived from it. This little fellow can already hear in a wonderful man ner, and can speak many words. Many severe cases of nervous deafness have been cured within the last week by Mr. Cronin. whose advertisement in this day's paper we feel pleasure in referring to. Miss Stott's concert, on Friday evening, attracted a nu merous and fashionable company. The bill of fare was of ample extent, and gave abundant opportunity to the several aitistes to display their powers and gratify their hearers. Mr. Holden presided at the piano-forte with his usual spirit and acknowledged talent, and the company gave frequent in dications in the course of the evening, that they were highly pleased with the exertions made for their entertainment. The duet in the first part, " I know a bank," by Miss Leach and Miss Stott, was extremely well sung. "A dream of the past," by Miss Stott, was given with much expression. Pacini's " Il soave a bel contento," by Miss Leach, finely displayed this lady's powerful voice and facile execution. Bishop's glee and chorus, " Merry boys, away," concluded the first part, and was executed with much spirit. Of the remaining performances, we have only room to say that they were exceedingly effective. MUNICIPAL REGISTRATION.—WC have received a copy of a bill brought into parliament by Mr. Baines and Mr. Brotherton, " for the better enrolment of burgesses of bo roughs, divided into wards in England and Wales, and for altering the times for certain elections in such boroughs." We have not time now to enter into any detail as to the provisions of the measure, but its principal features are the following. Separate alphabetical lists are to be made out by the overseers of the poor for each ward, of all persons who shall be entitled to be enrolled in the burgess roll of any ward. Any claims to be rated to the relief of the poor, and all tenders of money in payment of any poor or borough rate are not valid, unless made in writing, and signed by the party making the same. The notices of objection are directed to be sent to the person objected to by the post only, and at the time of leaving such notices with the town-clerk, the objector is to deposit the sum of two shillings and sixpence with each, if the name of the person objected to was on the burgess roll of the same ward, in the then preceding year only, but if otherwise, the sum of five shillings for each of such objections, and the objector is required to state in his notice that he has made the requisite deposit ; and that the person objected to may, in case suck objection is withdrawn or disallowed, receive the amount on application to the town clerk ; and if this be incorrectly done, the objection is to be disallowed, without any evidence of the qualification of the person obected to. The objector's deposits are to be returned to him, if the objections be substantiated, but if they withdrawn or disallowed, they are to be paid to the party objected to. The court for revising the burgess,iist, is empowered to sit from the 15th day of October to the 15th day of November ; and wherever an objection is made to a person enrolled in the same ward the 'preceding year, the burthen of proof lies on the objector, and the former is not required to substantiate his claim unless a p ima facie case be made out against him. Any burgess entitled to vote in two or more wards may be enrolled, and vote in such ward as he may select by writing, delivered to the town-clerk, on or before the 15th of October, and in default of such selec tion, the mayor and revising assessors determine the ward for him. The time for completing the burgess roll is ex tended to the first day of December, and a third of the councillors are to go out of office, and their successors to be appointed on the 15th of December. We regret that we are only able to give such a hasty and imperfect sketch of this important bill; but during the present period our space is extremely limited, and the demands upon our time urgent and unceasing. THE CAUSE LIST, The following causes had been disposed of up to last night : SALFORD HUNDRED. Plaintiff-Nos. 1, 2. 3,4, 5,6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 , 16, 1 7 , 20, 21. 23, 25, 28, 2 9 , 33, 44, 4J. By co nsent -2G , 35 . Defendant-No. 14. Withdrawn-Nos. 27, 37, 40. 4G, 48, 50 , 52. Referred-Nos. 18, 19. WEST DERBY HUNDRED. Withdrawn-Nos. 7, 11, 17, 21, 38, 41, 49, 67. The special jury cause, Acton v. Blundell, fixed for trial to-morrow week. DREADFUL COLLISION ON THE MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY. DEATH OF AN ENGINEER. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) On Friday afternoon, about half-past f our o ' clock, a frightful accident took place on the above railway, a few mil es f rom Man chester. It occurred purely from the negligence o f S uper i nten d ant Charles Innis, who had been piloting an engine as far as to Moston, passenger train up the incline of that place ; to assist the four o'clock which, when done, lie return there the same line, instead of pro ceeding a little further where was a pass-by, by which he might have got on the other line, and thus have obviated the acci dent and saved his own life. _ The two engines met in the deep cutting near Moston, and at a place where the curve is very sharp, thus p reventing the two en gineers from perceiving.; their danger till too late to avoid it. The tender connected with the engine which I nn i s was conducting was driven before the engine , and was sh attered literally into frag ments. and the injury done tooth engines, & c., i s est i mated at b from .e 1.500 to .2,000. Innis was thrown from the engine and so dreadfully injured that he died in about half an hour. The fireman was also hurt, but not seriously. The engineer proceeding from Manchester was not hurt. Verdict—Accidental death. The jury expressed their opinion, that neither the com pany nor any of their servants, except the deceased, were to blame, N o deodand on the engines. SOUTH LANCASHIRE SPRING ASSIZES. FRIDAY. The Spring Assizes for the Southern Division of this county commenced this day in the Court House. The Judges are—Mr. Baron Manic, who presides in the Crown Court ; and Mr. Baron Rolfe, in the Civil Court. Their lordships arrived in Liverpool, from Lancaster, about seven o'clock yesterday evening, and the commission was opened immediately afterwards. This morning the learned Judges attended divine service in St. George's Church, accompanied by Sir Thos. Bernard Birch, high sheriff of the county. At twelve o'clock the Crown Court was opened before Mr. Baron Maule, with the usual formalities. The following composed the Grand J ur y : John Ireland Blackburne, Esq., M.P., of Hale, foreman Meyrick Bankes, Esq., of Winstanley Hall. Richard Barton, Esq., of Spring Wood. Thomas Bolton, Esq., of Liverpool. Thomas Brocklehurst Barclay, Esq., of Liverpool. Thomas Drinkwater, Esq., of Irwell House. William Earle, Esq., of Spekelands. Richard Edwards, Esq., of Roby House. William Gale, Esq., of Lightburne House. William Rathbone Greg, Esq., of the Dales. John Pemberton Heywood, Esq., of Norris Green. James Heywood, Esq., of Acres fi eld. William Ford Ilulton, Esq., of Hulton Park. Michael Hughes, Esq., of Sherdley Hall. William Nield, Esq., f Mayfield. R. J. J. Norreys, Esq., of Davyhulme. Sir Thomas Potter, Icrit., of Buile Hill. William Rathbone, Esq., of Green Bank, Liverpool Samuel Taylor,Esq., of Eccleston Hall. _ _ Humphrey Trafford, Esq., of Trafford Park. Sir Joshua Walmsley, Knt., of Wavertree Hall. Robert Henry Welsh, Esq., of Leck House. Richard Willis, Esq., of Halsnead. Mr. Nield being a member of the Society of Friends. The royal proclamation against vice, profaneness, and im morality having been read, The learned Judge proceeded to deliver the charge to the Grand Jury. He spoke as follows :---_ Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—lt is with great regret I observe that the cases to which your attention in the course of the performance of your important duties will be drawn upon this occasion, are not only considerable in number, but that the nature of them, or of a very large proportion of them, is of a very serious description. There are nearly one half of the charges which are for offences combined with personal violence, and a considerable number of them contain charges of the very deepest kind. I have not been able so far to acquaint myself with the particulars of the cases which are likely to be brought before you, as to call for any thing like detailed observations on my part. It is satisfactory how ever, in one respect, to see there is no trace, as far as I have beep► able to observe, of any of that disordered state of society, which I have sometimes found in this and in some neighbouring counties. I trust that the exertions of the magistracy and the police have been successful in convincing evil-disposed persons that the law is too strong for them, and in inducing them to desist. With regard to two or three of the cases which contain charges of a very serious nature, I will just take the liberty to remind you that in the event of a bill being found, avid the trial taking place, if the party be acquitted, whatever additional evidence may be hereafter discovered, no new trial can take place. That appears to be a reason in some very serious cases, why it may be advisable not to find the bill when a case of very strong suspicion only arises, unless it is such a case as will justify the common jury in convicting the prisoner, be cause, supposing a case of acquittal, there would be a•failure of justice in the event of the subsequent discovery of evidence to which I have adverted. You will take this as a general observation, and as not arising out of any particular know ledge of the individual circumstances of any one case. Such cases do occasionally occur, and if they do, I think the sug gestion will be worthy of notice. The learned Baron then dismissed the Grand Jury to their labours in the usual form. The Grand Jury having retired, returned in about half an hour with a complaint that there were no bills brought be fore them. The learned Judge, in consequence, announced that unless attorneys immediately presented their bills nei ther their nor the witnesses' expenses would be allowed. RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY Patrick Parcell, 40, marine-store dealer, Bevington-bush, charged with having received 2001bs. weight of lead and a copper syringe, the property of Richard Houghton, he know. ing the same to have been stolen, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, and to be kept at hard labour. ASSAULT AND ROBBERY William Dougherty, 25, and John Knowles, 21, were brought up charged with assaulting John Boulter, and steal ing from his person two sovereigns and three crowns on the 16th instant, in Johnson-street, Liverpool. John Boulter, a sailor, deposed that on the day above named he was in Dale-street, about 12 o'clock, on his road home, when he met four men and two women, of whom he inquired the way to London-road. Knowles said he would show him the way home if he would treat them to some ale. Boulter said he would. The prisoners then pointed up a street, and told him that was the way to London-road. They then wanted him to go into a house and treat them, but he refused, and said if they would go on a little further he would give them something. Knowles then came round to his right side, and endeavoured to put his hand into his poc ket, when he said, " Keep off—that won't do." Dougherty then came behind him, seized both his hands, and forced him to the ground, when one of the prisoners placed his knee upon his breast, and the other kept his hand upon his mouth to prevent him from calling for assistance, and while in this situation, he was robbed of his money. As soon as he got up he called for assistance, when a policeman came up and followed the prisoners, who had run off, and on going a little way they met Dougherty, in company with a woman, when he charged him as being one of the persons who bad robbed him, and the policeman took him into custody. the other prisoner was seized next morning. Mr. MURPHY cross-examined the complainant at some length, for the purpose of shaking his testimony, but to little effect. Policeman 53 gave evidence corroborative of Boulter's statement. Mr. MURPHY then addressed the jury in defence of Knowles, and stated that he would be able to prove that he (Knowles) was not present at the time the robbery was com mitted, and that he would bring forward witnesses to show that the prisoner was in bed at the hour stated. Several witnesses were then examined, in order to prove an alibi for Knowles. Mr. RAMSHAW having addressed the jury, his Lordship summed up the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners. His LORDSHIP addressed the prisoners, and mentioned that if they had used any violence towards the prosecutor they would certainly have been transported, but as this was not the case, the sentence of the court was, that they be im prisoned for one year and kept at hard labour. BURGLARY John Brindle, 34, Thomas Stopford, 27, and Robert Wil kinson, 30, were charged with feloniously and burglariously entering the house of Richard Hamer, at Bury, in the month of December last, and with stealing therefrom a cash-box and its contents. Brindle and Stopford were found guilty, and sentenced to transportation for 15 years. Wilkinson was acquitted. The Court adjourned at six o'clock. NISI PRIUS COURT.—FRIDAY. (Before Bardn ROLFE.) The court was opened at twelve o'clock. There was a very full bar. There were GI cases entered in the first list, and 102 in the second. WALKER V. SMITH This was an action to recover compensation in damages for an assault. The plaintiff. Thomas Walker, is a banks man in the service of the trustees of the late Duke of Bridge water, at a colliery in Worsley. The defendant, Lot Smith, is a publican, keeping the Red Lion Inn, in the same neigh bourhood. He is also the owner of several carts, and on the 6th of February, insisting that one of his carts should be loaded out of its turn, the plaintiff took a hook from his ser vant, with which he was catching the tub as it came from the pit, when the defendant seized him, wrested the hook from him, threw him into the cart, and the defendant's ser vant, at his master's command, threw the coals into the cart upon him, whilst the defendant held him down, by which his leg was hurt, so that he complained next day, but was not prevented going to his work. These facts were proved by James Atkins, a farmer and carter at Worsley, who was cross-examined to show that an undue preference had been given to other recently arrived carts over those of the de fendant, which had been a long time waiting, and that the assault was a very trifling one. In the course of his re-exa mination he stated that the defendant's horses had no right to a turn, and that he had been told he must not come. Abraham Pollitt proved that the defendant was taken be fore the magistrates at petit session for the assault, and fined a shilling. _ _ _ _ Mr. WILKINS, for the defendant, contended that the fine of a shilling was quite sufficient. The JUDGE intimated that there could be no doubt that legally an assault had been committed, but he thought very little substantial injury had been proved. . . The jury found (or the plaintiff' damages, ss. The Judge declined to certify. WILKINSON V. WALKER This was an action to recover compensation in damages for grievous injury sustained by the plaintiff, in consequence of the misconduct of the defendant. Mr. CRESSWELL stated that the plaintiff, Mary Ann Wil kinson, a young woman, aged 22, a milliner and dressmaker, herresiding with mother at Audensbaw, near Gorton, and the organist of the dissenting chapel in the latter place, was, in August, 1837, at the house of Mr. Adeyard, a hatter, in Gorton. There was a party there, and she had been playing music for their amusement. After supper she was going to sit down to the piano, when the defendant, who was then a butcher and farmer at Gorton, withdrew the chair. and she fell back violently against the chair, and was severely hurt in the spine. A gentleman who was present, remonstrated with him, and when, in spite of her pain, she was going to proceed with the music, the defendant made a second attempt. She could not go on with the music, and was taken home, a dis tance of a mile and a half. The next day she was seriously ill, and having sent for an old woman residing in the place, a liniment was applied to her back. but it did her no good. As her sufferings increased, a day or two afterwards, Mr. Old ham, a medical practitioner, was sent for, and finding that much inflammation existed, leeches were applied. In Nov. she went to the chapel to play, but it was too much for her, and she had a relapse. During 1838 and 1839 Mr. Oldham attended her. She could not continue her occupation, and her mother and herself had to go to Manchester to keep a beer-shop. She was obliged to visit Southport, and have other medical advice, but became no better, and was still sub jected to great pain and suffering. The defendant had paid Mr. Oldham's bill without any communication with the plaintiff. lie pleaded, first, that he was not guilty ; second, that he had paid Mr. Oldham's bill with the plaintiff's con sent ; and thirdly, that he had her leave and license to do as he had done. These facts having been proved in evidence, Mr. Alexander proceeded to state the nature of the defence at considerable length as it frequently came out in evidence, the principal portions of which were that of the defendant's mother hav ing discharged the amount of Dr. Oldham's bill for profes sional attendance on the plaintiff, it was received as a satis faction for any injury suffered ; that the plaintiff, after the accident, was able to follow her customary occupations as usual ; that the taking away of the chair on the night of the occurrence was done for the purpose of creating merriment, the party being a juvenile one, and the night being full of jollity in the village; that nothing was heard of the plain tiff's intention to bring the present action until immediately after the defendant was married to another lady, in October last ; and that the plaintiff, who was subject to fainting fits in sultry weather, was at present in a state of convalescence, and likely to be perfectly recovered in a short space of time. Mr. CRESSWELL replied, and the JUDGE having gone over the evidence. th e jury found a verdict for £5O damages and 10s. costs. The Court adjourned at ten minutes to seven o'clock. CROWN COURT.—SATURDAY. FORGERY. John lingo, a very respectable looking man, aged 60, was placed at the bar, charged with having, on the 29th October, forged and uttered a warrant and order for the payment of money with intent to defraud Richard Bateson. Mr. Henderson conducted the prosecution and Mr. Wil kins the defence. It appeared, from the statement of the learned counsel for the prosecution, which was afterwards borne out in all mate rial points by the evidence, that on the 29th October last the prisoner went to the branch of Manchester and Liverpool Bank, in this town, and asked for an order for £8 on the bank in Manchester. A letter of credit was prep are d f or him, and, previous to his receiving it, prisoner signed an order in the name of " J. Smith." On the same afternoon the letter was brought hack to the bank, when it was dis covered that the letter " y" had been added to the word " eight", and a cypher to the 8, making the amount of eight pounds into " eighty". On the preceding Monday, the pri soner went to the shop of Mr. Robert Newby, a grocer in Richmond-row, in this town, and introduced himself by in quiring about an advertisement which had appeared in the Liverpool Mercury, for a situation as warehouseman, light porter, or collecting clerk. Mr. Newby said, that he had in serted such an advertisement. The prisoner then said, that he had been in the habit of collecting considerable sums of money in Liverpool, Manchester, and Wales ; that it fre quently occurred, that, after collecting as much of the money as he could himself, he appointed a person to collect the re mainder; and that he allowed such person 3d. in the pound for sums under £5O, and 6d. for sums above that amount, and that the money was sent to him by a bank order. Mr. Newby said, that he would be glad of employment of that nature, and prisoner said he would give him a trial, giving his name as Thomas Wilson. Newby was then told by the prisoner, that he might expect an order for £6O or £7O to be sent to his (Newby's) house; and if it came, he was to go to the bank and draw the money, which, on being paid over to him, (prisoner,) he would give him bills to collect. Prisoner afterwards called on Newby, and asked if any letters had been received, as he had di rected his agent in Chester to send all letters ad dressed to him to his shop. He told him not to open any letters addressed to him (Wilson). He then went away, and in a few minutes afterwards a letter came, directed to Thomas Wilson. Prisoner called again on the Thursday, about an hour after he had been at the bank, and, after open ing the letter, he said, " This is a bad job. I have here a letter calling me to Chester, as a great failure is apprehended ; and I have an order for £Bll on a bank in Manchester. I can't be in two places at once." He then requested Newby to go to Manchester ; and they set off together to the railway station, but the train had just started. They therefore took a car, and drove off to the station at the end of the tunnel, in Edge-hill; but the train had gone three minutes before. Prisoner then said, that Newby must go by the train at seven o'clock in the morning to Manchester, where he was to re ceive the money, and give a receipt in his own name. Pri soner then hurried off, as he said, to the pier-head, to catch the boat going to Chester; and Newby went home. He, however, happened to show the order on the bank to an ac quaintance, and, his suspicion being excited by what he said, he took it to the bank here, the same afternoon, when it was discovered to have been altered. Next day the prisoner called at Newby's shop, where a police-officer was in waiting for him ; and, on being taken into custody and told that it was for a forgery on a bank for £BO, he said, " I am aware I have done wrong. I did it for want, for I have a large family, and I hope you will allow me to go." The cashier of the bank, Mr. Bronson, said that the person who got the order at the bank had a wig on. When the prisoner was taken into custody a wig was found in his pocket. Mr. WILKINS said, be had nothing to say for the defence as regarded the facts of the case, but he called several wit nesses, who proved that the prisoner had always borne an excellent chardcter, until the present case was brought against him. His LORDSHIP said, that the prisoner had been found guilty of forging an order for the payment of money. The case was, some years ago, punishable by the severest penalty of the law, which was almost invariably carried into effect. The legislature had, however, wisely reduced the capital punishment, but had still left an adequate penalty, for the forging of such instruments, which were exceedingly injurious in a mercantile country. Transportation for life might be pronounced; but, from the good character which, it appeared, the prisoner had previously borne, and the recommendation of the jury, he considered he would be justified in following up that recommendation to a considerable extent. The manner in which the forgery was made also led him to sup• pose, that the prisoner was note very practised hand. If the prisoner had ever been brought before a court before on a charge of felony, he would have considered it his duty to send him out of the country ; but, under all the circumstan ces, he should pass the most lenient sentence which the sta tute allowed—namely, that he should be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years. TEALING POST LETTERS CONTAINING BILLS OF E CHANGE, 8C( John Brown, aged 16, was indicted for having feloniously stolen, at Manchester, a number of letters, containing bills, bonds, &c., to the amount of £6,408 ss. 9d., sent from the Bank of Liverpool, and various other letters from Bury, Newtown, &c., containing bills and money to a large amount, the property of the Bank of Manchester. The Attorney-General, with whom was Mr. Pollock, con ducted the case for the prosecution. The Hon. Stuart Wortley defended the prisoner. . - - Mr. Robert Healey, clerk in the Bank of Liverpool, said, that on the 18th of .December he wrote a letter to Mr. Bur dican, enclosing bills to the amount of £6,408 ss. 9d. ; he sealed up the letter, addressed it to Mr. 8., and handed it to one of the clerks. (Here some fragments of a letter were produced.) These are portions of the letter he wrote. Mr. F. Rawson received the letter, and handed it to F. Blonhom, another clerk, who said he put it into the post-office. Win. Drennan made up the letter-bag as usual for Man chester, and despatched it. A clerk of a bank at Bury identified a bill sent by him on the 18th Dec. The bill had originally contained the words " Bank of Manchester ", but that was now erased. He also identified some portions of the letter he had then writ ten. Sarah Dawson, assistant to the postmaster at Bury, said, that a letter posted to Manchester at five in the evening would be sent off at nine at night. He posted the letter on the 13th of December last, and she identified the Bury post mark. Henry Robinson, a clerk in the Manchester Post-office, opened the Bury bag, and forwarded the letters to their des- tinations John Hall, a clerk of the Bank of Newtown, in Montgo meryshire. Mr. Bretherton there is agent for the Manches ter Bank. On the 18th December Mr. B. enclosed a bond to James Parr, Esq., at the Bank of Manchester. Witness took it to the postoffice. lie identified the bond. W. H. Dunn, clerk of the Manchester Bank, said, there were boxes or pigeon holes for the letters of the several firms; the number of the box of the Bank of Manchester was 286. Robert May, another clerk of the Manchester Bank, said, that he thought th 3 prisoner was the person that came and called 28(i, but was not certain. He admitted that he had fired upon another party as the individual, from his personal resemblance to the prisoner. The prisoner received the let ters, and went away deliberately looking .over the letters, as if they belonged to him. A Mr. Wcbb afterwards came for the letters for the bank. Edward Morris, clerk to Messrs. Hodgson and Son, Man chester, went for their letters, and then saw a person whom, he believed, was the prisoner, and who called out 286. He did not see him receive the letters. There is a slight resem blance about the nose between Brown, who was mistaken for the prisoner by the last witness. The resemblance was slight in the nose only. Brown had bushy whiskers. Richard Webb, clerk of the Manchester Bank, went for the letters of that establishment to the post-office on the day in question, and was told they were all gonebut one large let ter, which he received. Thomas Thistlethaite, clerk to Jones Loyd and Co., Man chesier, said, that, on the 18th Dec. the prisoner came with a check. He identified the check. Witness asked him how he became possessed of it, and he said a Mr. Brown had given it him to get it cashed. I spoke to Mr. Loyd and gave him the check. The prisoner was allowed to go. Edward Loyd, Esq., said he was a partner in the bank. The last witness brought me a check on the 19th December. This was the same. He spoke to the prisoner, and asked him how the check was iu that state, partly erased. Pri soner said, Mr. Brown belonged to Preston. We detained the check but not the man, and I did not see him again until he was in custody. Archd. AV Mullen, police-officer, Manchester, saw prisoner brought in, in custody. From w hat h e h ear d h e went to Mr. Lewis, a hosier, who pointed out a jacket and a mackintosh ; the prisoner owned them. In the jacket he found the bond produced, and in the mackintosh nine sovereigns. He was asked if he knew how much money he had, and he said he did not exactly know, £7 or £B. He declined saying any thing about the bond,. stating that he would account for it before the magistrates. Mr. Burdican, clerk in the Bank of Manchester, said, he he received the letter produced on the 22d of December. The prisoner was a stranger to him, and had no authority to to take letters out of the Post-office. Mr. R. H. Rowe, hosier, Church-street, Manchester.— The prisoner was in his employ in December last. The pri soner always wore a jacket in the office. The letter handed him was in the prisoner's handwriting. The paper and the star, or seal, were the same as those we were then using in the warehouse. The crossing of Mr. Brown's name on the check was, he believed, written by the prisoner. He tound the fragments of two letters (produced) under a counter. One of the letters appeared to be in a disguised hand ; but was, he thought, in the prisoner's writing. The letter was read. It was addressed to the manager of the Manchester Bank, and signed J. Brown. It inquired of the manager how much he would give to have the bills and bond he had taken out of the bank returned; and requesting him to ad vertise in the Manchester Guardian, anti he would return all, to the amount of £7,000, except the check, which had been sent to Messrs. Jones Loyd and Co.'s bank by another person. Another letter in the handwriting of the prisoner, signed with his own name, and addressed to his master, was also read, in which he acknowledged the felony, lamented his conduct, and expressed his gratitude to him as an em ployer. The Hon. STUART WORTLEY objected to the indictment, ;Wing, that, from the facts proved by his learned friend, the case was not one of larceny ; it was only one of false pre tence, as the postmaster-general, by the hands of his ser vants, intended to part with the letters, and when he had done so they ceased to be his property, which they only were by act of parliament while he held them. His LORDSHIP ruled, that the party delivering the letter had no intention of giving it to the wrong person, and the prisoner having, in receiving it, gone further than the inten tion of the deliverer, the case was therefore one of larceny. The Hon. STUART WORTLEY addressed the jury in behalf of the prisoner, at considerable length and with much elo quence._ _ The learned JUDGE summed up, and the jury found the prisoner Guilty. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then brought forward another indictment of a similar nature, the abstraction of a letter from the Postoffice of Manchester, containing bills, &c. A clerk to Messrs. Caffrey and Co., of Dublin, said, that' on the 16th December last, he copied a letter to Messrs. Bannerman and Sons, of Manchester, and enclosed in it two bills, one for £69 155., and another for £23 1 ls. (The letter book, containing the copy of the letter and of the bills, &c., was put in, and the bills were read.) The bill for £69 15s. was payable at the London and Westminster Bank. Ano ther clerk said, that he posted the letter on the 16th De cember. Mr. Thompson, of the Dublin Post-office, made up the mail bag at ten minutes befo re e l even o'cloc k on the same night. It was shown that the letter would reach Manchester at three o'clock on the following afternoon. W. H . Nichols, a clerk in the London and Westminster Bank, proved the receipt of a - containing the larger bill, and requesting an order for payment in Man- chester Mr. Lowe, hosier, of Manchester, who appeared in the last case, said, that the letter was in the hand-writing of the prisoner. The letter was read. It was signed Wm. Wil kinson, and requuested the reply to be sent to the post-office, at Knott-mill, to be left till called for. Henry Hardman, a clerk in Heywood's Bank, Manches ter, said, that on the 19th the prisoner came to the bank, and asked if there was a sum of £69 15s. there, payable to Wm. Wilkinson, from Masterman and Co., of London. He was told there was, and was asked if his name was Wilkin son. He said, no ; and witness drew out a check and gave it him to get Wilkinson's signature. He afterwards came back with the check signed, and received the money from another clerk, in sovereigns, half-sovereigns, and silver. A. clerk in the bank of Messrs. Clarke, Robarts, and Co., of London, received, on the 29th December, a letter, signed Wm. Wilkinson, containing the other bill for £23 lls., re questing an order for payment on the Liverpool and Man chester District Bank, to be addressed to him a:: Knott-mill, Manchester, to be left till called for. From intimation re ceived, the money was not sent. M. H. Bannerman, partner of Banne rman an d C o., sa id , he did not receive either of the bills. No one was authorised to endorse them to \Vm. Wilson. The daughter of the postmaster, of Knott-mill said, the prisoner came for a letter directed to Mr. William Wilkinson. She gave it to him, He came again on Tuesday, the 29th, similarly addressed , and it was handed to him. Mr, Lowe said, the endor sements o f b ot h bill s were i n t h e p r isoner's handwriting. The two lette rs were r ea d. Police Inspector Bibby, of Manchester, was employed to go the Postoffiee. at Knott -mill, on the 9 9th December. He Saw the prisuue► wag, out, and tollowLd hiu. He gave his name as John Bourne. He found the letter addressed to Wilkinson, in his pocket. The letter was a made-up one for the purpose of detecting. - Mr. Lowe saw the prisoner afterwards at Bridewell. He said it was a bad job. He said his father would pay counsel for him ; and, if he did not, there was some money concealed in a bag in an empty house in Holme, which should be used for that purpose. Witness was present when the bag was found with forty-six sovereigns in it. The bags belonged to witness. Mr. Sorley, Superintendent of Police, in Manchester, went with the last witness to the premises pointed out in Cambar-street, and found the bag under the cellar steps amongst some rubbish. The Hon. S. WORTLEY addressed the Jury for the pri soner. There was no proof that the prisoner was the actual person who obtained the letter ; but he might have been the tool of another individual. He could not deny that the pri soner had had possession of the bills, and had endeavoured to negociate them. The evidence would be pointed out by his lordship, and he would leave the case in their hands. His LORDSHIP summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The learned JUDGE said the prisoner had been found guilty, on two indictments, on stealing certain letters from the post office, containing bills and money. It was a most serious offimce, inasmuch as large sums of money were constantly transmitted by post from place to place. It did not, how ever, appear that the prisoner had shown much skill in the several transactions, although he had certainly used no little art in obtaining the letters and disposing of their contents. His master had, however, given him a good character, and the case was one in which he would be authorised in not transporting him from this country. If he ever came there again, he might feel assured that be should - be transported for life. He hoped that the imprisonment to which he should send him would lead to a reformation ; that he would attend to the advice of his parents, who were respectable people, and would endeavour o get him into an honest way of living. The sentence of the court was, that he should be imprisoned and kept to bard labour for one year, except the last fort night, when he should be put into solitary confinement. DETAINING POST LETTERS. Joseph Holloway, 25, was charged with h av i ng , at Liver pool, in February last (he being a person employed by and under the post-office), contrary to his duty, unlawfully and wilfully detained and delayed twelve post letters. The pri soner pleaded guilty. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that in the months of Ja nuary, February, and the beginning of March, the prisoner had detained above 700 letters. Since the reduction of the postage rate, there was not a sufficient check upon the letter carriers. His LORDSHIP, addressing the prisoner, said,—You have been fouud guilty, on two indictments, of detaining letters intrusted to you for delivery by the post.office. It appeared that you detained several hundreds of letters within a short period. You did not, indeed, open them, and I hope you had no such intention. The transaction, however, was a mischievous and ruinous one in its consequences.—[The pri soner here said that he had repeatedly mentioned to Mr. Banning, and to another gentleman belonging to the post office, that the round assigned to him was more than he could get through.]—His Lordship continued :—Still the offence is serious. Many persons rely, in their business, on receiv ing remittances or valuable information by letter. To pre vent a recurrence of such conduct, the sentence of the court was, that he should be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for four calendar months. BIGAMY. Betty Booth, the wife of George Booth, of Stockport, stood indicted for having married one John Robinson, at Ashton-under-Lyne, her former husband being still alive. Mr. Murphy appeared for the prosecutor, Mr. Wilkins for the defendant. William Jackson, a labourer, of Stockport, was acquainted with the prisoner, whose name should he Booth. He knew George Booth, and saw him and the prisoner at Northern church about eight years ago. He saw them married. He had seen Booth a few weeks ago. Her name was " Chea tham"—Chiatharn. A witness saw the prisoner married to John Robinson, at Ashton - under- Lyne. Mr. Sadler, of the Stockport police, examined the certifi cate produced at Stockport, and it was a true copy of the registry of the first marriage. (The certificates of both mar riages were read.) William Hough, of the Stockport police, apprehended the paisoner in Stockport, and told her that there was a warrant against her for marrying Robinson. She said, that she had married again in order to be protected from the assaults and ill-usage of her first husband. • Mr. WILKINS said, that he should not attempt to deny that the second marriage had taken place ; but there were circumstances which, he trusted, would go far in extenuation, and induce the Jury to recommend the prisoner to the mer ciful consideration of the Court. He called a female, who proved that the first husband of the prisoner, who was a drunken, worthless fellow, had used her with great barbarity; that she supported her• old father• until his death by her own industry ; that her husband constantly assaulted her, and, on two several occasions, sold all the little furniture she had got by her own labour, and turned her, friendless and pennyless, into the street ; and that, on the last occasion, she was far advanced in pregnancy. Her first husband, it appeared, had threatened her life ; the police had been sent for, and he had twice been in gaol for ill-treating her. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, but strongly re commended the prisoner to mercy. His LORDSHIP said, the prisoner had, undoubtedly, been guilty of a breach of the law, and that, too, with her eyes open. There were, however, extenuating circumstances in the case, and he concurred in the recommendation of the jury. The sentence of the court was, that she should be im prisoned for one month. CUTTING AND STASHING. James Hand, 22, and James Kerr, 27, were charged with having, at Castleton, stabbed and cut John Bradley. The case presented no 'particular feature of interest. The pri soners were drinking at the house of the prosecutor, on tho 24th of October. A. quarrel arose and a scuffle ensued, du ring which, the prisoner Kerr drew a small sword from a stick and slightly wounded the prosecutor with it in the cheek. A man, named Healey, was after w a r d s s li g htly stab bed by Kerr. The jury fonnd both the prisoners Guilty of a common assault. Kerr was then put up for stabbing Healey. In this care the jury also brought in a 'verdict of Guilty of a common assault. • His LORDSHIP, after a suitable and impressive address on the folly and danger of carrying such weapons, sentenced Hand to two calendar months' imprisonment, and Kerr, who used the dagger, to four months' imprisonment. CUTTING, STABBING, &C. John Rozelle, aged 40, stood indicted for feloniously stab bing and cutting one James Lowe, at Todmorden and Wals den ; he was also charged with stealing a silk gown, the pro perty of William Bock. Mr. Brandt was for the prosecutor. The prisoner was undefended. It appeared that on the 12th January, the prisoner and the prosecutor met together in a public-house. After a scuffle, the prisoner stabbed the prosecutor with a knife in the region of the left hip. H e a ft erwards cut him in the arm, and cut his clothes in several places by repeated stabs. He became exhausted, and his trowsers were ripped open, and a woman came and held the wound together. The prisoner then said, " Now, what can you do ? You see you have had the wrong man to deal with." There were six cuts in all on his clothes. The prisoner smartly cross-questioned the witness, with a view to show that the prosecutor was a regular subscriber to the Book of the Moral World ; that he was an avowed Atheist, and did not believe in the sanctity of an oath. He stated, that he (the prosecutor) had often declared his belief, that Robert Owen, the socialist, was a better man than Mahommed, or Moses, or Jesus Christ, or any man who had ever appeared on the earth ; and that he held the Bible altogether fabulous. The prosecutor admitted that he was a subscriber to the work named, as he considered he had a right to be in a free country such as this. In reply to his Lordship's question whether he . believed in a state of future rewards and punishments, he said, that he considered himself bound. on taking an oath, to speak the truth. The The prisoner ssid he conceived it to be of no use to put any further question to the witness, who had come there with a determination to do him an injury. A witness who saw the affray did not see the prisoner stab. The prisoner was afterwards struck and kicked by the com pany as a sort of summary revenge for stabbing his shop mate. Another admitted that the place was much crowded, and it was possible that some one else and not the priioner Ind stabbed the prosecutor. The knife, a pointed pocket-knife was p ro d uce d. Wh en the constable apprehended the prisoner, he said be would give himself up, and held out his hands to be handcuffed. The prisoner was rather bloody at the time, and appeared to have been struck. The prisoner said, there was not proof that he had used the knife, and as he was all over blood at the time, it was not un likely that the knife would bear marks of it. He was much abused, and had two ribs broken. He added, .that he had never been known, by the police or others, to have commit ted the slightest breach of the peace. The JUDGE summed up with great care, and The Jury found the prisoner Guilty of stabbing, with in tent to commit some grievous bodily harm. Mr. MURPHY stated that there was another indictment against the prisoner for stealing a silk gown. His LORDSHIP expressed his wish to proceed with it. Mr. MURPHY said, he feared all the witnesses were not then present, and it was not usual to sit very late on Satur day night. If the Court now rose, the jurymen would be en; abled to go, so as to be at home on Sunday. The prisoner was then put down, and the Court rose at five minutes past six. NISI PRIUS COURT.-SATURDAY PARKER V. BODY In this case, which stands No. 42 — in the second or West Derby List, Mr. CRESSWELL on the part of the defendant, said, it was an action for demurrage, and part of the question in dispute would turn upon the detention of the ship at Odessa. The vessel arrived in England so long as twelve months ago, yet the present action was not commenced till the 4th of March instant, the very last day on which the issue could be made up for trial at the present assizes. The application he had to make was not made for the purpose of delay, but because the defendant believed that he had a good defence to the action, but it was necessary, for that purpose, that he should examine witnesses at Odessa, who must either come to England or be examined by a commission. The de fendant, therefore, prayed for the trial to be postponed the requisite time._ kule nisi granted: cause to be shewn on Monday. MIDDLETON AND OTHERS V. SHERBURNE.-THE GREAT WILL CASE After a long discussion between counsel, the learned .T twat said, he would undertake that this cause should not come on before Monday week, and that, in the meantime, he nerhaps should be enabled to fix the day for the trial. ALLEGED POISUNING.—STOCKDALE V. MOSS. Mr. Cresswell and 'Nit. Cowling appeared for the plaintiff in this case, and Mr. Martin for the defendant. Mr. CRESSWELL commenced his statement of the facts by informing the jury that the plaintiff was a man in very hum ble life. He was a labourer, living in a ce ll ar i n Portland street, Manchester, and hada wife and three children depen dent upon him for support, with such assistance as his wife could render by carrying on a little trade in making oat cakes. He asked, at the hands of the jury, pecuniary com. pensation for the trouble, expense, and anxiety he had been put to, and for the suffering which his child sustained in con sequence of an exceedingly inconsiderate and improper act upon the part of the defendant. He (the learned counsel) wilful injury not impute to th e d e f en d ant an i ntention to i n fli ct injury upon th e c hild ; b ut, nevertheless, it was a mostwan : ton and reckle ss ac t, f or w hi c h h e oug h t to ma k e compensa tion. sa don. The plaintiff had been in the habit of sending h is n chil drenport- to the sh o p o f th e d e f en d ant , w h o w as a g r o cer Port land-street, for such articles as he wanted . Day, 1840, l o B f 4o t , he a m nd , Ann and Hannah, went there on New Yea asked the defendant for a new year 's gift. He and his man, figs, put a quantity of by way of joke, he supposed, too k two ao _d t hengave them to the ehil- Cayenne pepper into them, given to her, and cried fort calleds t he uffe d r e i f in e r" n,;daaitnnl and immediately bit a piece c• i u s t_o u f rn b ~, e d which he (the learned dren. The youngest child, _H e an e n n a g h, then four years old, out, " Oh, my mouth b and his man. symptoms the :ie frequently fe defendant nofa ctt i scarletTheto h t n o e cse eher ; anxiety counsel) supposed wags.relxcweeendti: flammatory 1-i fifer on ensued. He must, however, do hg b o t ing i rogeoedoi in 1 I gren was a justice to say, that when he heard of I • consequences hisfolly , he appeared exceedingly of the conaeq sorry; he expressed great bout the child ; he paid the expenses of the doctor' so far as they went. But her mother, for fifteen or twenty weeks, was wholly occupied in nursing her sick child, and was obliged to give up her little trade of baking oatcakes. After a time, with the assistanee of some charitably disposed