The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-08-14 00:00:00

be found several counterfeit penny.pieces. Mr. Sawley went afterwards and found several hammers, pincers, &c. a tin dish with some metal in it and some Roman vitriol or sulphate of copper, commonly called blue stone, for colouring the pieces which are made of lead. The prisoner said the tools were what he used for mending his children's shoes with. As to the other articles he knew nothing of them bow they got into his house, Mr. Powell produced the pieces of coin found on the prisoner and his wife. Some were in the white state, others were coloured ready for circulation. The officer stated that the prisoner, when he asked what account he had to give, exclaimed, " Why you've got the things, and that is sufficient." The Jury found the prisoner guilty. POSSESSION OF COUNTERFEIT PENNIES. Theresa Murphy s a good looking young w oman age d 21 , was - charged with having had in her possession 291 pieces of counterfeit coin called pennies, with intent to utter the same. Mr. Worthington, au officer of customs, whose duty it is to rummage vessels, stated that on the 19th of July he went on board the Herald, a Newry packet. He found a bag which the prisoner claimed. It contained 291 pieces of copper coin which he perceived to be counterfeit. She made no secret of the matter, and said she had purchased the pennies in Newry from the country people at eightpence, ninepence, and tenpence per dozen. She said she lived with Mrs. Ken nedy in the park in this town. He gave her into the cus tody of the police. It afterwards appeared that she really did live with Mrs. Kennedy. The prisoner, in her defence, said she bad since th e death of her f a th er d ea l t i n fow l s and butter which she purchased at Newry. When she was there the country people brought her these pieces of coin. They told her they were cried down at Newry, but they were good money in Liverpool. She bought them at 7d, Bd, and 91 per dozen and brought them over. The Jury found the prisoner guilty. William lIPAvoy, aged 50, was charged with having bad in his possession in this town, in July last, a thousand counter feit coins. The Attorney-General and Mr. Armstrong for the pro secution, and Mr. Theobald for the defence. It appeared that on the 6th July last the prisoner went to the shop of Mr. Bigham, a pawnbroker, and, presenting a ticket, said he wished to redeem certain silver spoons. He tendered the amount in copper money, which the shopman refused to take, as it was not good. Lloyd, the constable, came in at the time and took the prisoner into custody, and the money into his possession. He ascertained that the pri soner resided at 49, Vernon-street. Ile went there, and found in his room, at the lodging-house which he keeps, a large quantity of counterfeit copper coins, made up in five-shilling papers. The prisoner informed Lloyd that he had received 2Us. in that coin from a man who came from Belfast in the Corsair steam-packet. Mr. THEOBA LD addressed the jury in defence of the pri soner. He called for a letter, which the counsel for the pro seciPion had failed to read. He read this letter, which stated that the writer had sent a quantity of 'copper, and cautioned the prisoner not to offer too 'fled; to any one person, and to place it where no person would have access to tt. A man named James M'Kay, who was in custody, having been committed with the prisoner M'Avoy, was called. He was the writer of the letter above alluded to. He stated that he had taken the copper from the peasantry of Ireland in Payment for cheese, in which he dealt. He sent the cop per over to Liverpool for his friend to buy cheese with. He told him to be cautious because he was afraid the money might be lost, and he told him not to give too much to one house because he was afraid a per centage might be charged fur receiving much copper. Before M'Kay spoke, the learn ed JUDGE cautioned him that if he said any thing that would criminate himself he would be tried upon it. When the man had finished his statement. the Judge told him be would be sent to take his trial in Ireland. Mr. Powell stated that upwards of two tons of this base or inferior copper money had been circulated in Liverpool since the last assizes. The Jury found the prisoner guilty. BAS COIN. Isabell a Fothergill, aged UTTERING E 30, was charged with having un lawfully uttered two base sixpences at Heaton Norris, in July last. '1 he prisoner, on the 23d July l as t, p urc h ase d a penny worth of milk from Anne Walker, and gave a counterfeit sixpence in payment, receiving the change. On the 25th of July, to Robert Thomas Walker she passed another counter feit sixpence in a similar manner. Both the aboVe witnesses were children. The Jury were not satisfied that the prisoner knew the looney to be base. They therefore acquitted her. POSSESSION OF A MOULD FOR COINING. Thomas Large, aged 28, and William Rodgers, 26, was charged with having at Manchester, had iu their possession a certain mould for coining Mr. Armstrong app eared ' on behalf of the mint. Mr. Ven a bl es defended th e prisoner Large, and Mr. Knowles, defended Rogers. appeared that on W e d nes d a y, the 6th of June, the prisoners were at M anchester races. A dispute arose in c_( , ),nequence of a b a d shilling having b een presented by one I". th e prison ers. The result was, that the prisoners were given into custody. The pr i s oners were searched, and seve ral counterfeit f oun d o n each. Large said he ~s lived in Granby row, ;vith his mother. An officer was sent to his residence, and the room stated to be his bed-room was searched. here several gets of metal were found, and a large piece of metal that had been melted. The officer went to a cellar where th e prisoners worked together as j o i ners . Here they • found a ladle into which the piece of metal fitted; a mould for shilli ngs, two tobacco pipes, some plaister of Plris , and other m a t er i a l s used in coining. The evidence did not go to prove that Rodgers had any thing to do with the possession of the mould, as Large only had taken the shop in which it was found. He could not, therefore, be convicted under this indictment. The jury found the prisoner Large guilty. Joh :inderson alias Gorman..—His Lordship passed sen tence of transportation for 15 years. John Cusgruve.—His Lordship ordered him to be trans ported for 15 years. William Gregory.—Transported for 15 years. Marti Philip Illakia.—Transp orte d f or 15 years. n Kivlaransported 15 years. Michael E ar l e, and F. Donolly.— His Lordship setenced Earle. wh o i s an o ld offender, to 15 years transportatio n n, and Donolly to two years imprisonment and hard labour in Lan caster Castle. Barton and Hall.—His Lordship ordered that the pri soners should be imprisoned 18 month in Lancaster Castle, and be kept to hard labour. Patrick Savage.—The learned Judge sentenced the pri soner to 18 months imprisonment and hard labour, in Lan caster Castle. Theresa Murphy.—The prisoner was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment in Kirkdale gaol. M'Avoy.—The learned Judge ordered that he should be imprisoned one year in Lancaster Castle, and be kept to hard labour. Thomas Large.—Trausported fur 15 years. Previously to the adjournment of the Court, his Lordship passed the following sentences: — Thomas Disley for stealing a cask of oil, 18 months impri sonment and hard labour in Lancaster Castle. Jame: Bell, for polygamy, two years imprisonment and bard labour in Lancaster Castle. The Court adjourned at seven o'clock. NISI PRIUS COURT.—MONDAY. (Before Mr. Justice Wit.t.tssis.) His Lordship took his seat at nine o'clock. CHARLTON, V. WARD AND OTHERS. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Whigham appeared for the plain tiff, and Mr. Cresswell, Mr. Wightmau, and Mr. Martin for the defendants. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, who is a lodg ing -house keeper at Southpott, against the defendant, who is an attorney, a person named Scholefield, his assistant, and the late Higfi Sheriff, T. B. Crosse, Esq., as Sheriff, for an alleged illegal distraint of the plaintiffs furniture, valued £45, and for damages for the assault and inconvenience of turning him and his family into the street. It was stated that the furniture was seized as the property of the son, and it appeared that the furniture had been lent to the son by one individual, and afterwards sold to the father, the elder Charlton. The cause was one of those petty cases which too often disgrace the cause 'list, waste the time of the court, and disgust the public with the chicanery of some members of the legal pro fession. M T . CeEsswxtt, for the defence, said it had seldom been his lot to addr ess a j ury in a case more palpably fraudulent thawthis, and he trusted that the verdict the jury would give would tend r a th er to discourage people from bringing actions of this nature. It appeared that the from formerly re sided at Knotty Ash, and getting into difficulties, handed over his furniture to a person named Robinson. He then removed to Southport to avoid a debt, an d hi s furniture found it s way back to him in the name of old Charlton, who was a common day labourer, and kept a lodging-house. The plaintiff got again into difficulties, and the furniture made several migrations backwards and forwards to different in dividuels, and the defendant and he contended there could be no doubt but that the furniture was the plaintiff's, there being no proof whatever that he had sold it; and that there fore the sheriff had a right to distrain on. the goods. The plaintiff, after successively being a publican, a lodging-house keeper, a butler to a gentleman, and a servant to a sacitor for orders, bad got finally into the service of Mr. Biackburst, solicitor, of Preston, solicitor for actions, as his clerk, who brought the present action. The jury, without troubling his lordship to sum up, found for the defendant. This case occupied all the morning till one o'clock. SHARP V. NEWSHOLME AND OTHERS. Mr. Cresswell Mr. Starkie ad Mr. Tomlins o n app eare d for th e plaintiff, and Mr. Alexander, Mr. Wightman,and Mr. Higgins appeared for the defendants. The plaintiff in this case, carries on business as a worsted Manufacturer, at Bingley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In March last, lie sent 226 stuff pi eces t o b e dy e d , t o M essrs. Holt and Bedford, dyers, at Bradford, on the recommenda tion of a nephew, named Henry Sharp Bailey, who gave some directions respecting the dying of the goods f or hi s uncle. The good s were worth £469. - Bailey. at the same time, sent some goods of his own to Messrs. bolt and Bed ford, to be dyed, and soon after became a bankrupt, when his assignees, the defendants, Messrs. Newshulme, Stocks, and Taylor, seized upon the goods which were at Messrs. Holt and Bedford's as the property of the bankrupt, and appropriated them for the benefit of the estate; and the pre sent action was brought by the uncle, the plaintiff, to recover the value of his 'Dods, the 226 pieces so seized. For the defendants it was contended, that the bankrupt, Bailey, had exercised ownership over the g oods, and th a t, therefore, the defendants had right to seize them ; and that it was but a pretext to save his uncle which induced the nephew to say that the goods were only sent to his (the bank rupt's) dyers'on his recommendation. In reply, it was con tended, that the conclusion of the property belonging to the bankrupt ought to be drawn from the acts of the plaintiff, and not from the dealing with the property of another, who might, or might not be authorised, so to deal, or only autho ,iri,sed to give in s t ruc ti ons respecting it by the real owner. here was no proof of any positive transfer of the property. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff. CLARK V. WRIG HT .— LIBEL . for the plaintiff, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Mr. C ROMPTON appeare d and Mr. CRESSW ELL Tor the defend a nt: znThe ArrottNEY-GENERAL in stating the case said, this was action brought by Mr. Clark, who was the manager of the :, n , i k ' 11 ;ed the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank, o n t — i'',_ s t Nit. Wright, of Liverpool: trading under the name '',` ) ° o Wright, and Co., of Liverpool, for having written a concerning him, calculated to do him serious injury with toe Directors of the Rank in which he was employed. It ap- Pe"red that some time ago, the defendant was desirous of " en ing an account with the bank, to an extent of some where about £ 2OOO and w as to give security to the Bank for the a mount. An account was by Mr. Wright, and carried 00 for so me t i me, and finally his account not being satisfac tory, by the directions of the directors under whose superin tendence the plaintiff acted, the account was closed. This action th e defendant appeared to have attributed to Mr. C lark. Sh ort l y after the account was closed, an action was brought for the recovery of the balance owing to the bank by the defendant, an d the defendant labouring under the im pression that this was owing to the interference of Mr. Clark, wrote a letter to the Directors as follows, dated the 22d of February 1,7, and addressed to the Directors of the Man chester and Liverpool District Bank. "G ENTLENIEN,-1 beg leave, respectfully, to lay the fob: lowing statement before you :—On the ll3th ultimo, whilst 1 was front home, it was intimated to me that the bank, here, had come to the decision of closing my account. I submitted, without remonstrance, and without asking for any explana tion. The caprice of the ma nager, hi s c h at ac t e r altogether, (my appreciation of it is not singular) bad created my dis gust and abhorrence of him to a degree which , for a long period, I cou ld only, with difficulty, controul; and the just, though, perhaps, imprudent, eression of which has, at last, caused his bitterest enmity. The document enclosed is au Abstract of my account with the bank, (I dn't go into arti - culars) to Avow bow triaing are the advant o ageb and indul Bence I have received for a good business, and for a-prem ium of £l2OO, paid on shares, which I am now called on to sacrifice. The result is, that, valuing the shares at the market rate, I owe the bank £749 65., against unexceptionable secu rities amounting to £2400. Under these circumstances, however, a suit has been brought against me. My proposals to avoid it, made previously to your manager, have been re peated, through my solicitor, to your's, and are as follows: .1. W. and Co. will pay the bank the amount which is due, and also retire, at once, any bill passed to their credit, to which there may be objections; or if required, J. W. and Co., in what may b e cons id ere d, between man and man, a reasonable time, will retire every bill running to their ac count, howsoever distant the period of its falling due. The bank will be required to give up the shares they hold, the shares to be sold. Although upwards of twenty years in bu siness, 1 have never been at law, and I have never refused indulgence to any one during the whole of that period; and, it is, therefore, difficult for me to conceive that any one, especially a public body, with such proposals as the above before them, and in possession of undoubted wealth, will countenance the infamous conduct of a party too despicable a craven for other means, can, it appears to me, resort to legal proceedings, merely through feelings of revenge.—l have the honour to be your obedient servant, "JOHN WRIGHT." Mr. Clark felt it incumbent upon him to clear himself with the public from so foul an imputation as this, and with the sanction of the directors brought l the present action —not to seek for pecuniary damages, for if the defendant would retract the offensive expressions contained in the letter, he would be satisfied with mere nominal damages to carry costs. The proposition not being acceded to, the case proceeded, and Mr. Jackson, the general manager of the bank, was ex amined to prove that-the bank was dissatisfied with the de fendant's account, and desired it might be closed, and that the plaintiff was merely carrying out their directions. Mr. Miller, the plaintiff's attorney, was also examined, and deposed that he was instructed by Mr. Bateson, one of the directors of the bank, to commence the suit against the defendant for his account; and that the plaintiff was merely carrying out their directions. The suit was stopped on the defendant giving a cognovit. Mr. CRESSWELL then rose for the defence. He designa ted the proceedings adopted by the bank against the defend. ant as harsh and untiadesman-like in the extreme, and said it only could be accounted for by private malice operating against him, which he charged on the plaintiff; and that that malice was seen in dragging 'unnecessarily the fact be fore the public that the defendant's account with the bank was unsatisfactory, and that he had been obliged to give a cognovit to stay a former suit. He contended that the letter was not libellous, but came under the title of a privileged communication. His Loansme summed up, describing the nature of a libel. If the jury were of opinion that the letter was written by the defendant to serve himself and to stay the suit against him it was not libellous. If they were of opinion tiw t t t it was written maliciously to injure the plaintiff, then it was libel lous, and they would find accordingly, and assess the da mages in their judgment. The jury retired for about half an hour, and on their re turn found a verdict for the defendant. The court adjourned at a little after six o'clock. CHESHIRE ASSIZES. NISI PRIUS COURT.—WEDNESDAY. THE MONKS' FERRY CASE. ( Continued from our last publication.) James Walton.-1 am turned 81 years of age. When a boy I lived with my father at Grange-house, Birkenhead. I was twelve or thirteen years of age. It was a mile from Woodside ferry. The ferry started from there, and the tenant was my uncle, William Woods, who kept the ferry house. My uncle kept boats at the ferry regularly—two one mast and two two-mast boats. There was no other ferry then. I was in the habit of seeing persons go by the boat, and they paid 2d. each. Liverpool boats came at that time, and he charged Id. for every passenger who landed on his old slip. He would not allow them to take the passengers back unless they paid him one penny to the house, us he had boats of his own boat to take them back. I have seen the penny paid. I don't suppose Woods interfered with the Liverpool . people taking passengers from the slip. He bad disputes with the Liverpool boatmen on the quay, as the people objected paying a penny to the house after paying their passage. He got his penny and would have it. The only houses at Birkenhead were the ferry-house and three cottages for the ferry-men. I know the new pier. The old pier is about forty yards from Mr. Price's new pier. Cross examined.—The roads have been a great deal altered. The witness described the site of the ancient roads, and said the road stopped at the edge of the pool, and the people made their way along high-water mark to the slip as they best could. If people did not want to go to Woodside, they landed where they liked. Woods did not give himself any trouble except they landed on his slip. I have often been at the ferry since my apprenticeship, but I know nothing about the re ceipt of the penny from Liverpool boats since that time; but in my uncle's time I have seen it. I nevet crossed in a Liverpool boat. William Blundell, aged 70.—My father held the Woodside house and ferry, and was tenant for twenty years; he became tenant fifty years ago. He held Bridge-end farm, half a mile from Woodside, and I and my sister lived there. My father had four ferry boats and two punts. There was no other ferry from Birkenhead to Liverpool, and the fare was 2d. The Liverpool boats brought passengers to the ferry house, but my father would not let them take ally of his passengers back; they might have taken those they brought, but none else. if they attempted to take any he prevented them, and threatened to throw the anchors off the quay. There were about twelve houses at Birkenhead at that time. I remern her Mr. Woods, Mr. Cottrel, .John Hitchcock, my father, Mr. Jones, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Hugh Williams being te nants of the ferry.—Cross-examined.—My father claimed the right to take back his own passengers, and the Liverpool theirs. He never interfered except on his own quay, or if they landed or embarked any where -else. I never saw my. father claim any payment for the town boats landing on his quay. The new pier at Woodside has been built five or six Years, and folks can't run away now no bow. I dare say it is ten rood from where the old slip was. The new vier at Bir kenhead was built about twenty years ago, close to the old ruin: they are both in the parish. I know the boundary of the township: it runs up Wallasey Pool, as high as Bidstone Moss, and the other way as far as Tranmere Pool. The Monkshead ferry is rather nearer to Birkenhead ferry than to Woodside. The Tranmere boats have not plied lately, nor carried passengers since Laurence left, two years ago. 'lran mere has done no good since Ball went to Birkenhead. 'lran mere hotel was built fifty sears ago.—Re-examined.—When Liverpool boats brought a party, they waited for the party, but they were not allowed to take back any body else : if any traveller came he was obliged to go over by the Woodside boat.—Cross-examined.—My father did not interfere with parties who embarked from any other places than his quay. —He-examined.-1 do not recollect any but Liverpool par ties embarking at other places. Jane Hughes, whose father kept the Woodside ferry in 1781, gave similar testimony to the preceding witnesses. tier father kept three large boats and two small punts. On her cross examination witness said she had lived for three years at the cottage where the Monk's ferry now is. There were steps, but not for the people to land—they were for Mrs. Price to bathe. She remembered when there was no-ferry at Tranmere. When Tranmere was first commenced, nobody interfered with it; but people went. to it, as they did to the shore before. Randall Newby, ageds2—l have known Woodside near4o years, when Blundell and Roberts w ere t ena nt s —l h ave seen row boats come from Liverpool with passengers. Blundell would allow the town boats to bring as many passengers as they liked, but not to take them back. I have seen town boats attempt to take persons from the shore, where they landed passengers, and Blundell, the holder of the ferry, has ordered them away. I have seen Roberts prevent the town boats taking passengers back in a similar way.—Cross examined. I have seen boats sent away from between the old quay and the new one, and the other side the old quay at Wallasey pool. Richard Leigh, (aged 45)—1 live at Tranmere. I was born at and lived at 13irken head hall farm till I was '23 years of age- I have seen Roberts send the town boats from the quay; they attempted and succeeded sometimes in taking passengers off the quay ; and sometimes he drove them away. Aly father used to set herring nets on the shore, but I don't know that he paid anything for that. My father's farm was abbey land and tithe free ; both Woodside and Monks ferry are on the abbey land, so is the old Woodside slip.—Cross examined: We had 1(15 Cheshire acres in the Birkenhead hall farm; I know Woodside to be abbey land by the stones, and because it pays no tithes. We occupied some - part of it after Blundell left. Other witnesses gave similar ,evidence. Mr. Hugh Williams was formerly tenant of the ferry and hotel at Woodside. He entered in January 1823, and left in August, 1835, when he surrendered his lease to' Mr. Price irt, writing. When he entered, the steamers were not on the ferry. The Liverpool boats brought parties over, but he pre vented them from landing, and they landed on the beach. The steamers were put on in 1823. The new slip was built in his time, because there was not sufficient water at the end of the old pier. The steamers start every half hqur. The ri ver is not quite half a mile broad there. The accommodation before the Monk's ferry began was sufficient for the public. Witness has land near Monk's ferry, and if that ferry could be maintained, it would be improved. The Monk's injures Woodside ferry. Witness would not like to give the same rent for it as he did formerly. On his cross-examination, witness said that Monk's ferry would damage Woodside more than Birkenhead. There has been a ferry at Seacombe since he could remember. Not far from Seacombe another ferry, Egremont, bad been established; and still further New Brighton. This closed the plaintiff's case. The Court adjourned at six o'clock. THURSDAY. Mr. CRESSWELL, in opening the defence, submitted two or three grounds on which the plaintiffs could not maintain their action ; for in the first place the terry was from Cheshire to Lancashire =- not in the ordinary sense or the word, but one way only : and as the right and duty of a ferry are co-relative, it is necessary the right. should be rightly stated on record— neither larger nor smaller. All evidence given on the other side was of a ferry both ways, The original grant was on the term passagium, going and returning. The proceedings of the Duchy Court of Chancery, gives the answer of the de- fendant on oath, there setting it up as a ferry both ways. The other side then introduced leases granted by the owner of the ferry. The lease from Mr. Pl ice (1755,) was the only one giving any description of it ; and it described it as a ferry from Woodside to Liverpool, and from Liverpool to Wood side. On the evidence as it stands, it was a claim to a ferry both ways; therefore it was important the plaintiff should set fortis his right correctly on the record, that the public may have it as evidence against him. The next point was, that the situation of the ferry was changed. There was no authority in law to change the position. The crown could never grant the right of the whole district, but it must have some fixed point The original place in the grant was at the Priory of Birkenhead. The gr a nd sa id , " from the Priory to Liverpool," where there was a " passage": - or ferry. The JUDGE.—Are the precincts of the Priory extended? What do you understand as the Priory ? Mr. CilEsswm.c.—Probably the gardens; &e., but not the estates. It was evident that there was an old road from which parties mig.ht embark. The place .in question had never been called Birkenhead, but 'Woodside; 1752 was the first year they heard of Woodside. JUDGE.—Woodside is part of the estate of the Priory. Mr. CHESS WELL.—But that could not mean the Priory ; or they might go up to Bidston Moss, for there the estates extended. Would the Court hold that Mr. Price bad a right to take his ferry to the Priory estate? The JUDGE.—The words are the Priory of Birkenhead. Mr. CaEsswELL.—Then if the owner had the right to carry the ferry on any part of the, estates, then a co-equal duty wa s cas t on hi m by law, and he might be compelled to land them on any part of his estate; and if he could nut, then his right (lid not extend that far. Lord Kenyon, in " Tripp v. Frank." ruled that to be law. The JUDG E.—l shall reserve the liberty to move a nousuit, but I shall not nonsuit here. Mr. Cansswki.t..—The next point he would urge, was one on which the Court would have to observe to the jury. The point was—that there was no proof of the invasion of the ferry : for it could not be treated as an invasion of a fran chise unless it had been shown that by the act of the defend ant the plaintiff had been deprived of the benefit of some thing he would otherwise have received. It ought to have been shown, that persons had crossed by the defendants' boats, who would otherwise have crossed by the plaintiff's; ' and boats had plied at Birkenhead for twenty }ear s by per mission of plaintiff. What proof was there that the parties who crossed at Monk's ferry would have gone to Woodside and not to Birkenhead ? The erection of Birkenhead ferry was in itself a destruction of the ferry at Woodside, it being on Mr. Price's land. The JuntiL.—Minit it not be destroyed by legal means; Mr. CRasswELL.—That was not the state of the law. A party may do an act, which may deprive him of his right of action, but not of bis right of toll. • If ever Mr. Price had the exclusive right, he had lost it by the erection of Birken head ferry. The next point was, that the duty and right were co-equal. If Mr. Price had a right to embark where he liked, the public could be landed where they liked. This was Lord Kenyon's dictum in ."rririp and Frank.' If the right was to. ferry from any part of the Priory estates, his duty would be to convey to any part of the Priory estates: but by selling this portion of his land, he has deprived himself of the power to fulfil that duty, therefore he has lost his right. Mr. Crompton and Mr. Vaughan. Williams followed on the same points at great length. The JUDGE reserved the points without hearing the other side. Mr. Canssww, then proceeded to address the jury at great length on behalf of the defendants. The learned gen tleman's speech occupied three hours and twenty minutes, At its conclusion several aged witnesses were called and ex amined, the evidence of some of them (Mr. Peacock and Mr. Lloyd) was to the effect, that the penny had not been enforced for sixty years, and that the penny was resisted; that when the ferry-boats were not ready, the people went in the town's boats ; that a id. was charged for landing, and 2d. for passage money. Mrs. Price said . the town's boats were never prevented landing at Woodside, and some town's boats plied regularly, and that she went with the town's boats when ever she liked; she would have gone by the feiry-boat, be cause it was nothing but right she, should; but if it was not, then she went in any boat. Parry, a Liverpocil boatman, said his father was a boatman 59 years before he was born, and he was 60 years of age. They plied to any part of the river whenever they were em ployed; and often to Woodside in .Woods and Cottrell's time, , and had taken passengers from Woodside to Liverpool frequently, from the quay or the rocks, and if they could not fetch the quay, they took them from the rock where Monk's ferry now is, and where there was a landing place and a lane leading from it; they were not disturbed. On cross-exami nation, he said, we rose early and got all the passengers who were in a hurry, and could not get by the ferryboat; he had landed 140 persons from his boat at a time. Mr. John Pea cock, Upton, aged 81, said a boatman in Woods' time seized his father's wallet for the penny, and law being threatened, the wallet was returned by the boatman, who begged his pardon; witness never did pay the penny; he recollected hearing of a law-suit about the ferry; the penny was not ex acted. Mr. George Peacock, solicitor, and several other witnesses were examined to the same point, namely the free passage to and fro of the town's boats, without let or hindrance. Mr. Hewlett produced a conveyance from the Earl of Sef ton (who held by letters patent, 9th Sept. 4th Charles Ist) to the Corporation of Liverpool, of the ferry or passage over the Mersey. About a century before be had leased for 10(X) years all he held in Liverpool from the crown, except the ferry; and by this conveyance he parted with all: in the ori ginal grant the mines of gold and silver were as usual reserv ed to the crown. On his examination Mr. Hewlett produced a record from the Duchy of Lancaster of a lease to Henry Cooke, of Liverpool, dated 6th March, Ist Henry the 7th: a minister's account of 4th of Charles the Ist, sheivine• the re ceipt of the said ferry amongst other things. An examined copy of a record in a cause Price v. Ellison, Trinity Term, 1773, and precipes of writs between the same parties : also examined copy in the record of the last action, shewing the cause of action, for carrying, not landing, which showed that the grantee of the Crown had suffered judgment as in case of a nonsuit, and paid £4O costs, two years after the action was brought. Admission was made by the plaintiff that the original declaration in the case was to and from Liverpool; also that notice of trial had been given at the last assizes. Mr. W. Hetherington, of Birkenhead. was called and de clined to produce the conveyance from Price to himself and others, of the Birkenhead property. The last evidence was the conveyance from Price to Hum ble, dated 24th May, 1821, of the site of Monk's Ferry, con veying it to him in fee, including the land between high and low water mark in front of the purchased property. FRIDAY. The court opened at nine o'clock. Mr. Temple replied in a very able speech, which occupied the attention of the court during two hours and twenty minutes. The Learned Judge was about to sum up the evidence, when the jury intimated that it was unnecessary for his lordship to do so, as their minds were made up relative to the verdict; still they could wish to have his lordship's opinion briefly express ed on the various points, to see if it coincided with their judg ment. • His LORDSHIP replied, that he was placed there by the queen and country to discharge a duty—to see that justice was done, according to law, between man and man. It was 'immaterial to him which side they gave their verdict; but he wished to go through the case fully. He then went over the evidence, from the commencement to the conclusion, with great impartiality. The jury requested to be allowed to see the declaration, which was read by the properofficer. The foreman then said, " 'We find a verdict for the plaintiff, with an infringement of his rights—damages one shilling." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MONEY MARKET. T O'CLOCK. In the course o f yesterday , the ATURDAY Briti sh WELVE market was rather heavy and Consols receded—Consols closed heavy at 94 for Money, and 9,15 . f0r the Account. Exchequer Bills, 76 78; India Bonds, 76 78; Bank Stock, 207 208; India Stock, 264 265. In the Foreign market the pri ces are nominal, Spanish Active, 215 %•• Portuguese, 355; Three per Cents 235; Brazilian, 821; Mexican, 2.11 : 255; Dutch Two and a-Half per Cent. 5.1 i 5. HALF-PAST ONE. Consols may be quoted at present 945 for Account, Money .94; Exchequer Bills, 76 78; India Bonds, 76 78; Bank Stock, 208; India Stock, 2615; Spanish Active, •21 Af ; Portuguese. 3.55 5; Three per Cents., 235; Brazilian, 825; Mexican, 24% 55; Dutch Two and a-Hatt, 51i 5, The. Share market is heavy, and prices lower. Great Western 13 pm.; Brighton, 25 discount lower. The Hamburgh mail has not vet arrived. QUARTER BEFORE' THREE. Consols for the Account 915 buyers. (From the official list, containing the business actually transacted.) BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Bank Stock, India Stock, 265 3 per Ct. Red., 94X India Bonds, 78 pm. 3 per Ct. Con., 935 4i 4 South Sea St oc k, 35 per Ct. Anus. 1818, 1014 Bank Stock. for 3!{ per Ct. Red., 102 1% . Consols for Acct., 945 New 3%. per Cents., 101% 5 £lOOO Ex. Bills, 76 Long Ans. 1860, L`. 9-16 £5OO do. 76 8 Ditto, 30 yrs. 1859, Small do. -76 8 Ditto, 30 yrs. 1860, 15 3-16 Ditto Commercial, SHARES. (The quotations give the actual price, without reference to premium or discount.) Real del Monte Unregistered, , Asphalte, British, 10 5 • - Asphalte, Polonceau, Dublin and Kilkenny % Asphalte (Clafidge's Patent,) Great Western, 78 7 8 London and Brighton, 8% 5 Bitumen. Robinson, 25 London and Blackmail, 6 British N. American Bank Southampton, New, 35% 211 , Manchester and Birmingham, Provincial B a nk o f I re l an d , 42 THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL. Last Night but Pour of Mr. DOWTON, who is re-engaged for the present week. Fifth Night of Mr. VANDENHOFF, who is engaged fora limited. period. Miss VANDENHOFF, of the Theatre-Royal, Haymarket, is engaged for a limited period, and will make her second appearance here, since her London engagement, This Evening. Mr. F. VINING, of the Theatre-Royal, Covent-garden, is also engaged for a limited period, and will appear This Evening. THIS present TUESDAY EVENING. th ' tith instant, will be performed Shakspea re ' s Pl a y o f, THE MERCHANT OF VEtiCE. Shylock.... Mr. Vandenhoff. I Gratiano Mr. F. Vining. Lurenzu Mr. G. Horncastle. Antonio Mr. Gray.) Launcelot Gobbo.Mr. Baker. Nerissa.... Mrs. 'relict. [ Jessica Miss Grant. Portia Miss Vandenhoff. • To conclude with Col Man's celebrated Comedy of THE POOR GENTLEMAN. Sir Robert Bramble Mr. Dowton. Frederick Bramble Mr. F. Vining. Mr. Charles Cropland, Mr. W. H. Bland; Lieutenant Wor thington, Mr. Gray; Doctor 011apod, Mr. Baker; Stephen Harrowby, Mr. Slaiter • Corporal Foss, Mr. G. Horncastle; Emily Worthington, Miss Faucit; Miss Lucretia Mac Tab, Mrs. Clarke; Mary, Mrs. Tellet. • On WEDNESDAY, the Tragedy of DAMON A4P PYTHIAS. Damon, Mr. Vandenhoff; Pythias, Mr. W. Howard; Hermion, Miss Cleaver; Calanthe, Miss Vanden holt —To conclude with the Comedy of THE RIVALS. Sir Anthony Absolute, Mr. Dowton ; Captain Absolute, Mr. F. Vining; Faulkland, Mr. W Howard; Bob Acres, Mr. Baker: Sir Lucius O'Trigger. Mr. G. Horncastle ; Julia, Miss Faucit ; Lydia, Mrs, 'Pellet; Mrs. Malaprop, Mrs. Clarke. • On THURSDAY, HAMLET, and HARLEQUIN IN SICILY. On FRIDAY, for the BENEFIT OF .MR. VANDEN HOFF. THY, WIFE, and the WHEEL OF FORTUNE. Ou SATURDAY, HENRY THE FOURTH, and HARLEQUIN IN SICILY. The Tragedy of CATO having been received with most distinguished approbation on Thursday last, will be repeated in the course of Mr. Vandenhoff's engagement. LIVERPOOL ASSIZES. R. W .L il.t p F a O n S d 'I R T EI R ( . ; R E H R O F R O T r: SHORTHAND D I, I N N, V E I R , I P T O E O R L , s L T A A DART.), will attend, Daily, in the Civil Court, during the en 'suing Liverpool Assizes, and will furnish VEE:IIATIIi Reports of Causes to Professional Men or others on( reasonable terms. Having taken Short-hand Notes in the Courts of Law for many years, he has attained a knowledge of law terms and an acquaintance with the forms of the court, which enables him to furnish minute Verbatim Reports of arguments of counsel, evidence, &c. Address, Mr. FOSTER, Standard-office. In the press and shortly will be published, in boards, Bvo, with for Lithographic Plates, price 2s. 61., A COMPLETE and PRACTICAL SYSTEM of ±1 SHORT-lIAND. By T. C. FosTnn, Professional Short-liand iter, and Reporter for the LtvEnpoot STANDARD. Londnn : WilITTAKnit and Co. Liverpool : MA RYLES, and all Bookselleis. Zbe Eiberpool ~tan Darb. TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 14, 1838. The Publication of the STANDARD commenced this morning at 5 o'clock. THE WEST INDIES.—Since our last we have re ceived our usual files of Jamaica and Leeward Island papers, by her Majesty's packet. Express, which arrived at Falmouth on the Bth instant. The Jamaica papers are to the Bth of July, the Barbadoes to the 9th of July, and the St. Thomas to the 17th, with concurrent dates from the other Leeward Islands. The Express had on freight 59,000 dollars. Sbeshas made an extraordinarily short passage, having arrived from St. Thomas' in eighteen days. This is almost equal to the feats of the Atlantic steamers. The papers are chiefly occupied with discussions respecting the enfranchisement of the apprentices. The great existing difficulty connected with this im portant subject seems to be the settlement of the wages in future to be allowed to the Negroes. In St. Thomas' in the East, (Jamaica,) the following rate of wages has been determined on:— s. d. Head men, by the day, 2s; and for the week of five days JO 0 Several head people and Pradesmen ditto is 4d; or ditto 6 8 Second tradesmen and field people ditto, ls; and ditto 5 0 Second class field people, 8d ; and ditto 3 4 The Negroes to retain their houses and grounds,. and to be provided with medicines and medical attend ' ance in the hospitals when sick; when absent, time to be deducted. A private letter from Kingston states that the Negroes, generally, express themselves wil ling to remain upon the properties and work for hire. It then proceeds to remark— The new system will interfere materially with the trade in Osnaburgsand Penistans, so far as local►demand is concerned; but, on the other hand, it will operate in favOur of the lighter and snore showy articles of manufacture, such as cottons, checks, &c. It will take at least twelve months before the effect of the change can be calculated upon, and spoken of with any degree of certainty. Some sugar estates must go to the wall; this will benefit others situated under more favourable circumstances, as a decrease in the quantity produced may have the very natural effect of enhancing the market" price for the little that may be made; again, I think that a strong reaction will take place in England, and that West India en gars, made by free labour, will enjoy more popularity than East India sugars. Coffee property may, be easily kept on under the new system, and with my limited knowledge on (he subject, I would say at as little, or perhaps less expense than heretofore. Our crops this year have been larger, and there has been a scarcity of shipping for the produce made, and sugar making has been retarded by the rains which visited us last month in place of the one previous. The prospects of the crops in all the Leeward Islands continued to be very favourable, though the state of the seasons had somewhat retarded their pro gress to maturity. Great complaints are made of the deficiency in the small currency, not only in Jamaica, but throughout the Leeward Islands. Great blame is thrown upon the government at home, and most de servedly, that knowing the demand for small specie would be increased, in the event of final emancipation, some provision has not been made to afford a more efficient circulation. It appears also that the Bank of Jamaica and the Colonial Bank have had some dispute, which mainly arises out of this deficiency in the cur rency of that island, and that the latter institution was the holder of island checks to the amount of £31,000, which . the receiver-general of the island could nut re deem, from the causes to which we have referred. The only settlement in which the emancipation of the apprentices, on the Ist of August, bad not been determined upon was Demerara, but the bill for carry • ing this into effect was then in progress through the Court of Policy. There appears to have been no foundation for the rumour that Sir Lionel Smith had sent home his resignation. Advices had been received at Jamaica from Santiago de Cuba, dated the 30th of June, which mention that an insurrection had broken out among the slaves, at Trinidad, in that island, which had, however, been suppressed, without loss of life. It was stated to be the intention of the authori ties of Cuba to interdict all communication between the southern parts, if not the whole, of that island and Jamaica, after the Ist of August, the day when the complete emancipation of the negroes takes place. "NON-CONSUMPTION BY THE IRISH PEOPLE OF ALL TAXABLE ARTICLES."—The Cork Southern Reporter has just published a most extraordinary document un der the formidable heading which we have prefixed to this article. The document is said to have been trans- mitted to Mr. O'Connell, to whOm it is addressed, with a request that he will give "his advocacy and support to the following means of obtaining redress and justice,—viz., the non-consumption by the Irish people of all taxable articles. The revenue raised in Ireland amounts to at least £4,000,000 yearly. The English people have sacrificed £1,000,000 already for the maintenance of an obnoxious tithe system in this country ; they will now have to pay £4,000,000 yearly in addition for their apathetic assent to the perpetra tion of injustice to Ireland." The address to Mr. O'Connell commences by stat ing that, "for three years past," the people quietly awaited the result of his experiment for obtaining "justice to Ireland," without again resorting to the agitation of the repeal of the. union. That experi ment, it says, is now complete, and has turned out to be a failure. The Act of Union must therefore be "flung to the, winds," and Ireland become "a free and independent kingdom ;" but a long period must elapse before that " desirable result" can be obtained. The address then proceeds : "Pending the repeal of the union, we respectfully submit for your consideration an intermediate plan, which, if cat vied into general operation through your instrumentality, must be effectual in wresting from the reluctant hand of England speedy and ample justice for our ill-fated country. It is the plan which marked the origin of the American revolution,, and ledlo American independence. It is the plan which was partially carried into effect by yourself in Clare, and just now put into operation in the comity of Wexford; it is the plan of arousing an - organised determination amongst the whole Irish nation of abstaining frOm the consumption of ail taxed articles." The address concludes by suggestidg that a single year may be sufficient for this great experiment of "national abstinence ;" and the Southern Reporter adds, that " Mr. O'Connell's assent to the proposed measure is not doubted, and the most effective means will be taken in this cityancl county to give it practi- cal effect." This is certainly a new species of agitation, for which, knowing as we do the habits of the Irish, and their predilection for certain exciseable articles, we should scarcely have felt prepared. That such a mad scheme may be attempted by the arch-agitator we can readily believe ; but of its ultimate failure we have not a moment's doubt. The anti-English spirit in which this new description of tee-totalism has originated, is too palpable to deceive the most indifferent observer. But what shall we say of the loyally of the prdpoged measure ? It will be in the recollection of our read. ers that, at the period of the last general election, the Popish faction in Ireland were loud in their protesta tions of attachment to the British throne. Their electioneering motto was The Queen and Reform," and a most liberal use did they make of the Queen's name in their appeals to the passions of the rabble of Ireland. With respect to this view of the matter our very excellent contemporary, the Dublin Record has these remarks:—" Such is the treason maturing against the sovereignty of Britain—such is the attach ment of Popish apostates to Queen Victoria—and such the return made to her ministers and servants for governing Ireland according to the dictates of an ido latrous priesthood—namely, fur the "discouragement of true religion and virtue, and for the encourage ment and promotion of wickedness and vice." Mr. O'Connell has been consulted on this notable scheme; and most probably advises it to be suspended for the present—not having immediate occasion for it, but will have it carefully kept in terrorem for his misera ble slaves in power. Such are the friends of those who have discarded the church, and we may add, the religion of Protestants. to appease the voracity of hungry Papists, and the enmity of Satan. They are rewarded according to their deserts, and they will be turned out with Signal disgrace from their present eminence. Only let not righteous Protestants move a finger to assist them. As soon should they attempt to avert the fall of doomed Babylon itself. Let such come out from among them and be Separate, and leave them to be dealt with as shall seem good unto the Lord, unless they repent. Their time is now probably short." When will Englishmen open their - eyes to the real character and objects of the Popish party in Ireland ? When will they cease to bow the knee to O'Connell and the agitating priests ? THE " GLORIOUS NINETEEN."—A S we expected, the " vulgar fraction" who indites the special origi nals of the Albion rejoices in the notoriety which he has obtained by his connection with the independent freeholders who have qualified as county voters from the snug little property in -"Economy place," Can ning -street. Our pugnacious contemporary,-to whom the war of words is the highest treat in the world, has boldly taken up the cudgels for himself and his asso ciates. He is, however, wrong in supposing that the formidable list of "Economy place" freeholders has thrown us into a state of " dreadful trepidation." We are just as liable to be frightened by this catalogue of electioneering worthies as by the angry and petulant ravings of the doughty hero of the Albion. We think that the announcement of such an addition to the list of county voters is calculated to produce no greater impression on the minds of the public than the cele brated declaration of the " three tailors of Tooley street." The editor of the Albion and his brother es• quires must have a very exaggerated opinion of their own importance if they fancy that we care a farthing rushlight for their interference with the franchise. So far as they are personally concerned we have no ap prehension whatever that " the county constituency will be swamped ;" but we certainly do think that if many others iu each district could be found who would be so unscrupulous as to follow the example thus os tentatiously set before them by the " Economy•place" radicals, there would be some danger that the "re presentation of South Lancashire might.be divided." This, however, we do not fear, as the exposure of this nefarious attempt to " swamp the county constituency" will deter others froM following the example. There ate few men with so morbid an appetite as to desire such an unenviable notoriety as the editor of the Albion has obtained in this matter: • and there are fewer still who would run the gauntlet against public ridicule for the sake of gratifying such a desire. The Albion labours hard, but very fruitlessly, to establish its own consistency in now justifying the propriety of what it formerly condemned. It would be quite as easy " to wash the Et hiop white" as to dis prove the charge of inconsistency' brought against the Albion. Our contemporary has, howeve►, been so long in the habit of asser►ing that "black is white," to suit his own temporary purposes, that there is some reason for believing that lie has, at length, lost the power of discriminating between right and wrong. We do not pretend to dispute the dictum of the Albion, that the scheme under notice is "strictly within the permission of the law :" but we would ven ture to ask whether such a wholesale mode of multi• ing votes is within the intention of the law ? "here are many things which the law permits Which the law would never justify. O'Connell has repeatedly de clared that it would be impossible to frame a law through which he could not "drive a coach and four." The Albion has discovered it to be an equally easy matter to drive a whole waggon load of electors through an act of parliament. " When bad politicians combine, pod ones must associate" is a maxim which the Albion very com placently applies to the " Economy Place" batch Of freeholders. What right such persons have to con sider themselves as coming under the category of good politicians we cannot divine. Noscitur e socit's is an excellent proverb, and so is its English equivalent " birds of a feather flock together :" and if we may judge of the " Esquires" of " Economy Place" by their political associates, we should apply another epithet than " good" to them. The partisans of the foulmouthed bletherer O'Connell—the friends of my Lord Durham, and his very moral councillors—and the strenuous supporters of the present unprincipled ministry —are not the men that the majority of Eng lishmen would take to be " good politicians." Before we quit this subject, we would strongly urge our conservative friends to inspect as narrowly as pos sible the published lists of the electors, both for the borough and the county. They will, no doubt, find many names on the list which have no right to be there. A little activity now may save a great deal of trouble and anxiety hereafter. THE REV. T. D. GREGG. TO THE EDITOR OP TEE LIFERPOOL ST./IND/IRD, Ste,—lt is generally known that a short time ago the Rev. Mr. Gregg undertook to defend and prove that the doc trines of the Church of England are based upon the word of God; and that those of the Church of Rome are not based upon the word of God, but are the most corrupt and the most blasphemous ever taught by the enemies of Christ, tending to drown immortal souls in everlasting perdition. This discussion, sir, cannot be said to have been unprofita ble to the Protestant cause, but has produced effects on the minds of many, who, doubtless, have been before it took place, apathetic and regardless as to what religion they attached themselves. I believe, sir, that very recently a meeting was convened by the Roman Catholic body of this town, for the purpose of taking proper steps which way they should signify their ap probation of their champion, Mr. Maguire: and why should not Protestants arise from their state of lethargy, and show that they are not unmindful of the services rendered them by the Rev. Mr. Gregg? Efforts were made last evening by, I may say, a few ob scure individuals, possessed of no influence, but who, never theless rejoice in the cause of Protestantism, and would, by all means in their power show their attachment to our Esta blished church, to obtain subscriptions for this end; but Owing to sufficient publicity not . h. , ving been given, the pau city of their number frustrated their object. Finally, Air. Editor, may 1, request, through the medium of your journal, that attention be called to this subject, and that some ofourinfluential clergymen take part in this cause. —I am. &e. . August 10, 1838. JW. THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.4ND4RD. Stn,—The observations of - a• ‘• Shareholder" in your paper of the 7th instant, as to the last Ilepott of the Liver- pool and Manchester liailvvay, evincing "an instance of increased Railway traffic; which, instead of yielding a proportionate profit to the proprietors, has produced a colitrary result," is' well founded, although assumin g th e figures given t o b e correct. there appears o i.siency in the printed re p orts, the epitome of whic n h is nc. as st fotllows, anti presents a result of diminished profits beingsimultaneous with increased receipts; from the great increase .of expense of engines and carriages, amounting to £7.384 7s. 10 , 1., although these charges were previous' very heavy, and this railway has been many years in operation,—Yours. &c., . A PROPR I ETOR. LIVERPOOL. AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY, 1838. Comparison of July Half-year with the preceding Half-year. IN FAVOUR OF JULY. Increase of Receipt of July on January £3562 1 2 Decrease of Interest in that of July 3229 16 6 6791 17 8 eduction made in the paymentsto Shareholders 3056 12 6 £9848 10 2 PER CONTRA. Increase in the charges made for carrying, loco motive power, maintenance of way, &c. &c.. £7384 • 7 10 Difference in . the amount of cash balances, brought and carried forward £9848 10 2 At 41 per cent., £1792 16s. is required to pay at the end of each balf.year the additional interest necessary to satisfy every additional call of £5 on the new half shares. And when the whole of the calls on such shares are paid up, £8964 will be required more than at present to pay the pro prietors 41 per cent. half-yearly; but then the present charge of £5534 17s. for interest will be abolished. MR. J. RussErr..—Mr. James Russell is giving his ad- mirable "Recollections" at the Tivoli Gardens, at Margate. ZooLoGicAr. GARDENS.—Last evening there was a grand gala at these gardens. The weather being beautifully fi ne , the gardens were crowded with visitors. The fireworks were much admired. THE CAUSE LIST.—The West Derby Hundred has, these assizes, been taken first. It contains 61 causes. The Salford Hundred list contains 56 causes entered : 28 causes have been got through in the first list. So faras we can form an opinion the conies generally are very trifling in their character; and there does not appear to be any cause of importance in those which are to come. On Wednesday last, the 6th instant, the United Secession congregation of Meadowside Dundee, gave a most cordial - and unanimous ca ll to the Rev. ' Samuel Spence, A.M , of Liverpool, to be their pastor. The Rev. James M‘Gavin, of Dundee, preached and presided. FIRE. —About two o'clock this morning, a fire broke out in a room over the kitchen of the George Inn Dale-street. The engine N o , 3 was quickly on the spot, with a body of the fire police, through whose active exertions the flames were speedily extinguished. THE FREEMASONS' LIFE ASSURANCE SoCIETY.—Our attention has been directed to an advertisement in another column, announcino the formation of a society for affording relief to distreSsed Freemasons. We quite approve of the general objects of the undertaking, and at the same time ate of opinion that it will prove a source of profit to the shareholders. But as its objects and advantages are so fully exposed in the advertisement, we shall, by simply referring to it in this place, do the institution the greatest service. BACK PARLOUR MATRimoNT. —An amusing story is going the social round relative to the important functionary who carries into operation the new whig matrimonial law—or the " fast and loose" system, as it has been termed, in the neigh bourhood of West Derby. It is the good fortune of the lucky tier of untiable knots, who has obtained the tying ap pointment, to be tied himself to what is called "a better half" who like most "better haifs" is assiduous in looking after her good man's worldly interests. It chanced that the knotable man's cam sposa, was, as is not unnatural with cara sposa's, taking tea with a friend in Moira-street, one clay last week, and in the course of the evening two maiden ladies came in, of (hat particular antiquity when ladies are said to become furiously in earnest in search of husbands, who are then rather difficult to find. As was naturally to be expected, the subject of matrimony was introduced on the Lapis, when good Mrs. Deputy-Registrar'P---- by way of assisting her husband's calling, seeing so good an opening, strenuously recommended to the two virgin remnants of anti quity aforesaid, that, if ever they should think of changing their situ a ti on i n lif e , not to go t o a church, .nor even to a chapel, but "to come to our Jos, he does it so nice; and then it is so solemn in our little back parlour!" WLy did not poor Mrs. P. call it "Our snug ?" A SPECIAL PLEADE [l . — Yesterday, at the Nisi Prius Court, in the midst of a cause which was proceeding, "Sharp v. Newsholme and others," the parties concerned in which reside in Yorkshire, a stout elderly woman, whose flushed face and restless eye showed that something of weighty mo ment was brewing within her, stood for a length of time be hind the witness box, and it soon became evident that the fermentation must burst forth. As soon, therefore, as a wit ness w h o h a d been under examination for some time quitted the box, she walked uncalled into it, and, without the usual oath-taking pre:tminary, addressed his lordship as follaws I hoop, my lord, you'll allow me wax you a few questions ?" His lordship, who seemed amused by the interrogatory, re ,hear, you." Th e f ema l e continued— " Th at " m i a ' i n n t h readyeire t iles kept me out o' my rights under a fause will, an' I houp yer lordship'!! look to it." -(Laughter.) His Lordship.—" No doubt you ought to get your rights." The officer of the court, not admiring such intrusion, here attempted to eject the rubicund lady. She , however, was not so easily to be turned ou t, anti said to hi m sharply—" ' Be quiet wi' you; I want my reights; I want to speik to his lordship, don't you see." His Lordship—" No doubt you ought to have your rights as well as other people when the time comes, but you must not interfere with other people's rights in asking for your's, at the present time." The officer here succeeded in ejecting the lady amidst much merriment, and the case proceeded DISTRESS OF TILE DUCHESS OF BERRY—The Swabian Mevcury, under the head of Vienna, says—" The appearance of the Duchess de Berri, with her husband, and their short stay in the capital, has produced con s id era bl e sensat i on. I t would seem that the Emperor of Austria, conjointly with' the members of the elder branch of the Bourbons, in con sideration of the distressed state in which they are, had re solved to assist them, but upon condition that the supplies should not be lavished on Legititnist partizans in France, on whose activity they had too much hitherto relied. • Such a step may not unlikely silence more than one Legitimist journal in France," THE ASSIZE SERMON. On Sunday, the Judges attended Divine Service at St. George's church in the morning, accompanied by the High Sheriff, and his Chaplain, the Rev. Rector Brookes. The Sheriff did not enter the church. ' His Worship the Mayor at - lived soon after the Judges had taken their seats, and was accompanied by the town-clerk and other officers of the corpo ration, and followed by the regalia of the town and the usual retinue. The junior minister read prayers, and the Commu nion was read by the Rev. J. B. Mon* senior minister. Du ring the service, the talented organist, Mr. George Holden, introduced several sublime anthems; and it is to be, hoped, that the swelling tones of the organ did not ascend to heaven as a mockery, but as the voice of thanksgiving, and the psalm of praise. The sermon was of course preached by the High Sheriff's Chaplain, and was one worthy of a Christian minister, and such an one as was calculated to be eminently useful. As public journalists, we have deemed it within our province to endeavour to give a discourse so valuable in a form calculated to make a more lasting impression than is too generally the fate attending oral discourses, anxious alike to afford food for moral, as for sound political instruc tion to our readers. Being situated at a distance from the preacher, and disadvantageously for hearing•, we lost one or two words of his discourse, but we believe, we give the ser mon, with one or two exceptions, verbatim. The Reverend Rector took for hiS text, the 2.3 d chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, and the 4.3 d verse : " Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise." No one can attentively study the Holy Scriptures without being convinced, from their whole tenour, that we have need of pardon and forgiveness.. For there is not a troth more insisted on in the revealed word, of God, than that all have sinned, and come short of His glory. Yet, while the mind is labouring under the weight of this curse, and is over whelmed with the conclusion which must necessarily arise flout it, the sincere and humble Christian derives the great est consolation from the discovery, that no sooner did trans gression render redemption necessary, than a Redeemer was promised, and pardon freely offered through his adventation. Nor was the freedom of the gift in any way affected by the circumstance of its being accompanied with certain required conditions. When forgiveness is extended to one whose guilt has been proved at the bar of an earthly tribunal, his abstaining from a repitition of the offence is doubtless im plied; and yet, the forgiveness is not on that account less complete. Now, the conditions on which the Christian ob tains remission of sin, are, as we are told by the apostles, repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They who comply with these conditions, and endeavour in sincerity, and in truth, to act up to them, are the characters who are represented in scripture as righteous, for to them will the Lord—not indeed on account of their own works or deserving, but through the merits of Jesus Christ—impute no sin. They are the blessed children of the Father, whose offences are forgiven, and whose sin is blotted out. ' The light of reason alone could never have justified us in enter taining the comfortable persuasion that the Almighty would deal with. us not according to our sin—not with reference to what we were on the day of our guiltiness, but to what we are subsequently on the day of our repentence. Reason would have told us that punishment must be the unavoidable consequence of transgressing the commands of God, and we must have been left the helpless victims of a hopeless des pondency, had not the Revelation of Christianity been vouchsafed to teach us the opposite truth, that the sincere and repentant sinner should not be visited with that awful measure of retribution which his actions considered in them selves, and in their own nature must unavoidably bring upon him. Whilst, however, we are encou rage d not to d espa i r of the Divine mercy on the one hand, we should be careful not to allow ourselves to indulge in any unscriptual assurance of pardon on the other. Both of these in their different ways, when carried to •excess, may be, and have been productive of incalculable evil, and to. the extremes of both these feel ings much of error, and much of misery may clearly be traced. It is, therefore, most essential, that we should form a right judgment ou a point of so much importance; 'and useful lessons of instruction, connected with this subject may be drawn from the due consideration If the passage of scrip ture that I have selected for our present meditation. It must, I think, be admitted by every one who reflects attentively on the case before us, that there are circumstances attending it of a very peculiar nature, and tortwhich, in these days of professed Christianity, it would be difficult to find a parallel. We have an instance of a man whose course of life must have prevented him from enjoying any opportunities of be coming acquainted with the character of our blessed Lord, or with the proofs which he had given of the truths of his Di vine nature. He had been engaged in a systematic course of plunder and of crime, till being arrested by the hanctof justice, be had been condemned to suffer death, as the merited punishment of his numerous offences. His sentence was directed to be carried into execution at the same time with that of Jesus Christ: and it is more than probable that, rumours must have reached him, during his confinement in ! prison, of the transactions which were then taking place, and of the pretensions of Him who was destined to be his fellow sufferer. He there, too, might have heard for the first time, of the many miraculous works which our Lord had per formed in different parts of the countrv—of the dignified composure which he had shown before the Jewish and Roman tribunals, and of the tokens which he had given in his whole behaviour, not only of his Innocence, but of his holiness also. The history seemed to imply that he bad been made acquainted with the offers of mercy and salvation which our Lord had publicly proclaimed to the world—with the kingdom which he had promised as the inheritance of his faithful disciples, and of the happiness which was reserved for those who sincerely believed in him. With this newly acquired knowledge he was carried to the place which was to be the last scene cf his mortal life, and there, into the pre sence,of Him to whom his attention had been so recently di rected. What he there witnessed made a powerful impres sion upon his mind. The unassuming meekness, the digni fied submission, the innate majesty of the Son of God, then iu the act of dying for the sins of the world, affected him so forcibly as to strengthen his hope in conviction, sod subdue the si übborness of his heart. He seems at this awful moment to have been overwhelmed with the sense of his own sin, and of the surprising dignity of Him who was then the object of universal scorn; aini he at once yielded to an evidence which appease(' to hint as clear and decisive, and acknowledged in itie first in s t ance —' th i s i s the true and lawful Son of God." When his companion in crime joined in the brutal revilings which were on evety side cast on the holy Jesus, he severely rebuked him fur his impiety, for the insensibility which he showed to his own condition, and for the insults which he offered to a dying man, unmindful that he himself was the object of hopeless misery. " Dust thou not fear God? Hast thou no apprehensions of His displeasure and vengeance? seeing that thou art thyself in the same condemnation. And not only so, but we are suffering justly; we have no right to complain; we are only receiving the due reward of our deeds; our sentence is the deserved retribution of our • crimes, whilst this man is innocent. He has done nothing wrong; he has not been guilty of any violation either of the law of God or man; he has committed no fault at all." Having thus checked the ardent insolence of his partner in wickedness, he turned to Jesus, and said unto him, " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." How much is contained in these few words! As if he had said, "I confess that thou art the supreme Lord of all: that Saviour which thou hest declared thyself to be; I believe too that thy kingdom is not of this world; that though thy enemies may now seem to exercise an uncontrolled power, and to subject thee to an ignominious death, yet that their triumph will be short-lived; thou wilt rise superior to the utmost efforts of malice and of persecution, and wilt enter on that eternal state where thou wilt live for ever. I therefore • take this, the first and only opportunity I have had, of pro - ' fessing myself thy disciple, unawed by the thre a t s, an d re oardless of the reproaclies of the thoughtless multitude that surround us, and glory in declaring my full trust in thy power, and my confidence in thy mercy. 1 implore there fore, thy compassion; 1 pray, therefore, that thou wouldst accept me as a true penitent—that thou wouldst remember use when thou hast entered into thy glory. That as thou hest promised to receive all such as sincerely believe in [nee, and to acquit them of the guilt of all their former sins for the sake of that b e li e f , t h ou wou ld st no t re j ec t one, who, in the deep conscientiousness of his own sin, in the Divine merits throws himself at the foot of the cross, and awaits that mercy." Here then we have a striking instance of a modest and ingenuous willingness of. mind that embraces the truth as soon as it is known—a vigorous, a noble faith which no res'stance could intimidate, no threatenings divert from its course. In the last hour of life he is for the first time made acquainted with the saving knowledge of the gospel. He loses not this first opportunity; he hesitates not courageously to avow his belief and his conviction at the very time when our Lord was in the deepest affliction and disgrace that human rancour could heap upon him; when to all appearance he was impotent to save even himself, much less others; when he was made the sport and derision of his enemies.and was forsaken by his friends. At this moment did this penitent sinner fly to him as to a sanctuary. Through the dark cloud of misery and of suffer ing, he discovered the rays of Divine glory, and placed his hopes on the spiritual kingdom, which was perceptible only to the eve of faith, and when even they who had enjoyed the in terviews, and had been blessed with the advice and instruction of their Divine master through the whole period of his mi nistry, were too dull to comprehend, or too prejudiced to act upon them. Now !his man did all he could; as soon as ever the character and pretensions of our Lord were brought under bis view, he applied himself to the serious consideration of them. When his reason was convinced, his repentance was prompt and decisive; his avowance of his belief was resolute and fearless; there was no prevarication, no subterfuge, no delay ; under the most discouraging circumstance, be at once threw himself upon the mercy of Him whom he believed to be the promised Redeemer, and so implied a testimony to the truth. So illustrious an instance of faith, not a whit behind that of the chiefest Apostles, was at once graciously accepted, and our Saviour exercising an act of sovereignty even upon the cross, held out to him the assurance of au immediate reward. "To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Such, then, is the ease of the penitent culprit; and how can it with any colour of reason be applied to Christians of the present day, as offering encouragement to a late repentance, orthat that certainly would be of avail. There is indeed a wide difference between one who hes been a stranger to the name of Christ, Hit the night of death is closing upon him, and one who has had opportunities from his infancy of hearing the words of eternal life; between one who has embraced the offer of salvation as soon as made to him, and one who has wholly closed his eyes against the light, and rejected the re vealed Saviour; between one who has paid a ready submis sion to the first convictions of truth, and one who has refused to admit the clearest proofs, and the most undeniable evi dence; between one who confessed Jesus to be his Lord when hanging upon the cross in the last agonies of his mortal ex istence, when hope itself seemed withered and destroyed, and one who disowns the Lord of life when he has risen victori ous from the tomb, and is seated on his throne in heaven at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Here there are no points of resemblance which can justify our drawing the same con clusions, and to suppose that because pardon is granted in the one case, it may as reasonably and as certainly be ex pected in the other, is to wrest the scriptures in their whole description. There can be no doubt but that Almighty God will dispense His rewards and punishments with the most per fect impartiality, and how can he reward those, asthe thief on the cross when in a state of repentance, who have proved themselves widely different in the state of trial? He judgeth not indeed as man judgeth; he will make allowances for every one's case; he will consider what light has been placed be fore him, what advantages have been vouchsafed, what time has been allowed. For less degrees of guilt he will look for !less abundant proofs; but where more has been given, more will be required, and a strict account will be demanded from all of the use and improvement which they have made of such a portion of instruction as has been committed to them. If the omitting to make a right use of the advantages put into our hands be an offence against God, how much more peril ous shall the abuse of them be ? How much more greivous a sentence must they expect that have perverted the exam ple of their influence to the purposes of evil, and have dis graced their Christian profession by the dissoluteness of their lives that have been engaged in their whole course in the con tinued practice of sin and wickedness, equally injurious of the happiness of their fellow creatures, and of the honour of their Divine master. To suppose that the sorrow of a dying hour in such awful transgressions as these will be a ground for acceptance is a fatal mistake; and no man can be justi .fied, from the case before us in indulging a fond expectation of forgiveness at last; because it has been granted in an in stance that bears no just relation to the circumstances in which he himself is placed. These reflections apply with no inconsiderable force to the situation of those unhappy persons whose atrocities call for the forfeiture of their lives at the bar of justice It has by no means been uncommon to represent them as leaving the World not only in a penitent odour of mind, not only under the influence of' anxious anticipation and even half hope, but with the feelings of the liveliest joy and in full assurance of acceptance. Now doubtless this is a faithful saying and worthy of an acceptance, "that Christ, Jesus carne into the world to save sinners." Doubtless the Son of Gud came "to seek and to save that .which was lost." Doubtless be is not willing that any should perish, but that "all should come to repentance." These unqualified declarations of divine truth are sufficient to prevent despondency even in the extremist cases; but then it should be remembered that appearances are always liable to deceive; that the very circumstances which often surround these persons are calculated to engen der and to support delusion, and with our imperlect means of judging we cannot be too cautious in forming our own con clusions; we cannot be too guarded in bearing such decided testimony as may uo doubt be liable to be overcharged. Far be it from me in any instance to set beunds to the mercy of God. I would not have any arguments pressed : on the dying criminal which should border on despair. 1 would not have his eyes to be closed against those premises of pardon which, even when death conies in her'gentlest and most peaceful form, are required and are alone sufficient to allay his petit. But then he should be made sensible of the imminent danger to which be has reduced himself by his crimes; he should if possible be brought to a due conviction of the serious respon sibility which awaits him; he should impress his mind with that overwhelming fear which is so necessary for all in this state of trial, becoming all who have to work out. their own salvation. But surely they cannot be promoting the interests either of society or of religion who would represent these un happy men as patterns of fortitude, like mai tyrs at the stake! They should be rather held up to the world as awful exam ples. They should be considered as supplying the gravest motives to all men for earnest self-examination, humility, and repentance. They should be exhibited as terrors of evil to the consciences of the wicked doers. And if in their last moments there should be any feeling beyond that of calinnt•ss and resignation, anything of an unholy pride, the true Chris tian will deeply regret the insensibility which such a state of mind exhibits, and will not be deceived by it. The best that can be done for these when they come even to death, who have resisted every previous wet ning, who have stilled the admonitions of every monitor, and who have pursued a con tinued course of fraud and wickedness, is to urge upon them a deep contrition for their past sins, to move them to the de testation of their former evil ways, and to encourage them in earnest supplications for pardon, that God will he still graci ous to them, and that by Christ only Ile can have mercy upon them: but anything else is not the feeling which can furnish either serious consolation to themselves or to society in times of trial. "A broken and a contrite heart" is indeed to God a most acceptable and pleasing sacrifice. His ears are never shut against the cries of the truly penitent; be is ever ready to give consolation to the heart of the contrite. But as far as man is concerned great difficulty ,lies in ascertaining his sincerity when he is on the brink of eternity. • It is then most difficult for man to distinguish between the hatred of sin and the dread of death—between the love of God and anxiety as to himself; between the sorrow of his penitence and forebodings of his punishment. These are so perplexed and so intricate as to baffle the strictest researches; and yet this must attend tho closing scene of one who is only awaiting his last moment to be in possession of the nature and extent of God's holiness and of his own punishment. We can only lead them up to Him who will remember their infirmities. He loves them; and we do not know but He who can read the heart may see in it such a change as would be productive of good fruits, if the opportunity were granted. He may. accept the honest intention where nothing else can be offered; He may may blot out their iniquities and remember their sins-no-more. If this is the use, the proper use which we ought to inake'a the subject before us; how are we to apply it to ouselves? We have an instance of a notorious criminal brought to remorse and contrition, and received into grace and the favour of God just as he is on the point of leaving the world. It teaches us that though a man's sins be terrible, though they be " as scarlet and red like crimson," yet if he be sincere and un reservedly casts them away, and goes to the cross of his Saviour for help and salvation,. he must not be considered as shut out of mercy. The most, however, that can te! inferred is, that such a thing may be ; but it furnishes no probable argument to prove that it certainly shall be. Look on the other side of th e cross an d you have as manifest a proof of God's forsaking men in their last hour as you here haVe of His accepting them. Search the whole of the scriptures, and you will find no other record similar to this, -It • has been given to man t h at none may be driven to din - fair,- but it is the only one that has been given, that none may pre sume. There is no safe foundation upon which we can build separated from the law of righteousness and of true holiness. We must live as becomes Coristians, in a manner worthy of that holy name by which we are called, and of that divine master whom we profess to serve. This is what is required of us, and we can only attain to it by keeping strict watch over ourselves and frequently examining into the state of our own hearts. Do we there find any'acts encouraged, any be setting sins persevered in, let us cast them away. Do we resolve to abandon them, and do we earnestly pray for the influence of the holy spirit to lead us into the way everlast ing ? If instead of this, my brethren, if in the spirit of an extravagant 'fanaticism, we resolve to sin that grace may abound; or, if in the spirit of the formalist welook-to out ward observances for inward renewing; of if in the spirit of the proud Pharisee we substitute our own righteousness for the righteousness of Christ; or if again in the spirit of an overweening sufficiency we pride ourselves on our vaunted superiority over others, and say. "come not near to me, for I am holier than thou," if we indulge in any such frame of mind as this, we may be sure that our expectations and four faith will be alike vain. But if on the contrary we seek for elory and mercy by a continuance in well doing—if conscious of our own weakness we place our reliance on the all-suffi cient merits of our Redeemer, if we feel a godly sorrow for past offences and firmly resolve on amendment for t he future, if we are diligent in seeking the Lorcrehile he may be fount', and delay not to call. upon Him while Lie is near:we thus press onwards towards the mark of our high calling. Tien may , we reasonally hope that our sins i. ill he blotted out frem the book of God's remembrative, and that we shall he at last transl a t e d to those mansions of g lory where lie e born we have humbly endeavoured to serve is gone befoie its to prepare a place for his faithful servan.s.—Now to God, &c. The Earl of Sefton has rallied, and the answer id the numerous inquiries on Friday, in Ar l4 4lton-street, was. that his lordship wes better. lie has been rents.vell- to Stoke, near Windsor, where he is attended bt Dr. Chambers, phy sician to the. Queen Dowager, and Mr. Copland.. EARTHQUAKE AT TURRIFF.—On Monday night last the town of Turriff was visited by the slight shock of an earth quake, which overthrew a con,iderioile part et the Oburch yard wall. Only one visitation of a similar k ind ever-iicciirred in Turriff within the memory of the oldest inhabitants.— Glasjow Courier. feed a IN BANKRUPT LAWs.--A. ay ago a creditor. under a commission issued 20 years agO, applied for a dividend, a muunting to £1 6-. fiul was told th,t it would cost him more. to prove his identity fhau'ihe dividend amounted to, so that he prudently relinquished it. Quter e What becomes of the £l6s. Bd. FIRST LOVE.—Scarce one person out of twenty marries his first love, and scarce one out of twenty of the roinanider has cause to rejoice at having done so. What we love in those early days is generally rather a fanciful creation of our own than a reality. We build statues of snow, and weep when they melt.—Sir Walter Scott. (WHO'S RIGHT P—A Catholic priest in this neighbourhood a Jesuit) told his congregation in his chapel, after the morn ing service last Sunday—That there would be nu service in the afternoon; that they ought, this had weather, to attend to their hay-making, &c. On the same day, another priest (a secular) denounced his hearers as sinners and reprobates, for having done the very saute thing on the Sunday preced ing; and what, he said, was worse, on a holiday. These reverend gentlemen live within two or three miles of each other. Where is the unity of faith,' the priests so much boast of! Qurere—Was either of Ahem right, and which ?—Pres ton Pilot. A KNOTTY POINT:—MATURE DELIBERATION AND DE PARTURE FROM A PRECEDENT. —On Saturday, a case. Stra ker v. Graham and another, was tried before Mr. Justice Wil liams, The jury, finding they could not come to an unani mous agreement, retired at two o'clock in the afternoon. The court adjourned at half-past five o'clock, hut the jury was looked for in vain during many hours after that time. A num ber of individuals interested in the cause sauntered about the court, till ennui, fatigue, or hunger sent them one by one away, and, at length, none remained, by the single dimly burning gas-light which made darknes s a v n i d ssi t i h il e e, k b e u e t p t e h r e o r triole thonotories' clerk, a bailiff or two, courts. At midnight it was found, that the jury were as f ar from coming to anything like a general agreement as ever, and all whose duty . did not de man d their attendance retir e d 'to their homes. esterday morning (Sunday) the yi nified to the bailiff ward who had them u n d er watch and jur s , tha g t there were still two parties amongst them, and that each held fast by the opinion with which they had retired. As they were stanch good men and true, who did not wish to be starved into the expression of that which they were not convinced of; th e y sent a humble request to his Lordship, that he would be pleased to grant them some breakefdasti.,ivWanitdh I,ll,tishereqtwueelvset,tishLavoirnd; rn ship was kind enough to , g replenished the inn e ro-rme successa inner-man, aga than inb bef o re, eg an to for,argue by two o'cloc k the case, io it would appear, with more in the afternoon, they sent word to his Lordship, that they had agreed in a verdict for the defendant. The Judge sent an immediate order for their discharge, they having been locked up upwards of twenty-four hours. This is, we believe, the first instance of any Jury having been furnished with food during their deliberations alter retirement.—Aibion. LANCASHIRE CoMmEnCIAL CLERKS' SOCIETY.—In our last Saturday's paper we advertised the proceedings el' the annual meeting of this society, which was held on Friday se'nnight, for the election of the officers, passing the arepunts, and the transaction of the general business of the society. On reference to the general account of receipts and expenditure, we find an excellent proof of the great utility of this society; for, during the past year, it has assisted ninety-five widows with £647. ls. 2d.; ten orphans with £4O. Bs. 4d.; and forty five sick and aged members with _1!517. Bs. 6d. We further find, that, since 1808, the time when the society first began to afford assistance to its members, it has paid, to widows, £18.885.25. 3d.; to orphans, £2474. 85. 7d.; and to skit and aged members, £12,298, 11s. 11d.; being a total, in Thirty years, of £33,658.25. 9d. This year's expenditure-exceeds its actual income by £kl2. Os. 4d.; but we are gl a d to see that this deficiency is more than covered by the kind donations of several benevolent friends, who subscribed at the annual din ner the sum of £266. 16s. We note also, that the' society possesses a permanent fund of £17.686. 14s. 7d. invested in chief rents and mortgages, and yielding I.:831.8s. The re maining annual income is the subscriptions °Nile members ; and, when the expenditure exceeds the income from these two sources, the auxiliary fund, arising from donation's, is resorted to; and we are glad to-see,- notwithstandi ng the above pay ment, that it amounts to £593. Ss. 6d. It is true that the sum given to each person is 'small; but still the allowance is greater than could be obtained by any investment of an an nual or life subscription; and we would earnestly call the at tention ofclerks, and the principal servants iu o ur numerous commercial establishments, who wish to provide for the fu ture, to this old-established society ; which, for upwards of thirty years by the united assista nce of its members and ge nerous donations of principals, has withstood much adversity, and yielded so large au amount of pecuniary assistance to the distressed.--illaneliester Guardian. PROSPECTS OP THE HARVEST.—The following is an ex tract from the monthly circular ef Messrs. Stutge, the eminent corn dealers of Birmingham:--"Birmingham. Bth month, Bth, 1838.—Since the , commencement of last month, wheat has advanced here from 6s. to Sc.per quarter, though we have not had a very short supply There are very, general com plaints of extensive injury to the crop on the ground; from a small yellow maggot in the ear, which is.so serious in its ravages, that in many ears the produce must be materially reduced. It it a disease which appears to have been nearly unknown before to the oldest of our farmers, and extends, more or less, to the whole of the south-western counties. We hear of it so far north as Lancashire, and also in some parts of Ireland. Several of the eastern counties appear to have es caped; and should the weather prove tolerably fine thv'next month, we expect the crop iu that part of the kingdom will Erove fully an average one. In Scotland and tLe north of England the wheat is not in a sufficient state'tif forwardness for any accurate opinion of the probable pr6duce, and much will depend upon the weather. It is now universally admitted, that the stocks of free wheat have not been so nearly exhausted for many years; as, although there is no certeiu means of ascertaining what remains in the hands of the farmers—the present high prices, and the certainty that in d fey; weeks all the foreign under lock will be liberated at a kW duty, creates a general disposition to sell all they have before the new comes to market. Th e p r i ces o f w h eat in most of the Baltic ports have risen with.equal rapidity to our own; but those in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, by the late advises, will afford a considerable martin for profit. W. think the 10-e,l , h tof land under wheat in this part of the country is much greater han usual; but bow fa r tits compensate for th e ilea ciency in the produce, per acre, we are - unable to torus an oeinion.---The barley crop is spoken of very favourable • and, if the weather admits, pertion will be cu t i ll our early dis• tricts ill the course of nest week." -