Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-07 00:00:00

6 CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not hold „ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.] SHOE-BLACKING BRIGADE. TO THE EDITOR OF TIES NORTHERN DAILY TIMES, SIR, —It is with much pleasure I read your admirable leader in to-day's impression, suggesting the formation in Liverpool of a Shoe-black Society, similar to those institutions now existing in London: - Perhaps you will be interested to learn that a move ment of the kind has, - during the last few weeks, been in course of organisation; and that a private meeting in furtherance of this object was held last week. An undertaking of the kind was started in Liverpool in 18.51, ITA unfortanately it failed for want of public wipport. There are many difficultiei still in the way; but several able .Men have put their shoulders to the wheel, and I trust soon to be in a position to place the matter more prominently before the public.—your obedient servant, J. 11. M. 14, Manthester-buildings, Liverpool, Doe. 0, 1859. LIVERPOOL LIGIIP-lIORSE CAVALRY. TO TED EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES. SIR,—I. that your columns are always' open to any remarks on thiS Very important project, the expediency of which no man can for a moment doubt ; in fact, it is the restoration of the old "LiverpoOl Light horse VoluntOrc," a fine body of soldiers, which I remember many years since, were considered an honour to the town, and went through all their exercises with the greatest, steadiness .and celerity. The dress and accoutrements were splendid, and soldier-like, and the corps was of great service in many cases of necessity. I therefore propose, as a b2ginning in this movement, to suggest that the remaining few of that corps do take an active part in this, patriotic cause, and that 'they be promoted for past services. , When I am Walking along the streets, I often see a few of them, amongst whom I may, peihaps, be allowed to mention ,the names of Samuel Heinle, Esq. ; John H. Parr, Esq. ; Captain Faulkner, and Mr. Briscoe, veterinary surgeon, who I believe, had the appointment of that post to the regiment, which was coiumanded by the late Major Faulkner and Captain Ford: The riding school used for that purpose in those days being now occupied by Messrs. Lucas and and Co.'s carriage: room, will show the necessity of pro viding another, not for a riding school alone, but also for the eiercise . and drilling of the rifle and artillery brigade, gymnastics, &c., &c. ; and, for this most, desira ble object, I beg- to suggest that Gill-street Market, being corporate property, should be appropriated fin- the purpose. If this were done, .Liverpool will then have the finest, riding schools in England; the premises being all but ready made for the purpose, and requiring little more than the laying down bark.—Your obedient ser vant, • A CAVALRY OFFICER. December, 1859. LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY; Pefore J. S. MANSFIELD, Fsq.) Poerayr-riexiNa.—Ann Devit, a woman known by the police to be an adept in the light-fingered art, was brought up on the charge of picking the podket of Mrs. Gray, residing at 89, Renshaw-street, of a purse,_ con taining, a sum of money.—The prosecutrix stated that as she was proceeding along Bold-street on Monday, she observed the prisoner Allowing her closely, stopping when shiseoPpecT, .and - jostling against her. She felt her put her hand intoherpocket, a ! ml afterwards observed that her purse and money were gone. She immediately gave information to the police, and in a short time she was sent'for to Seel-street Police Station to identify the prisoner. This she was unable to do at first, as the per son who robbed ber.was carrying a basket in her band. The prisoner' was holding the basket behind her at the time, but, on it being shown to Mrs. Grey, she at once declarod.her conviction that the prisoner was the person. Mr. Cobb, who appeared for the prisoner, submitted that no.jug wouli convict her on account of the diffi culty experienced by 'Mrs. Grey in identifying her. Mr. Mansfield said, that juries in other places might not be able to `agree in convicting her, because they were, gene rally speaking, excessively stupid, but, in Liverpool, they were the very reverse. He thought they would convict her, and he therefore would send her for trial. STEALING DRAPERY GOODS.—Three women, named Agnes APLeod,,Ann Bentley, and Sarah Chapman, were brought up on remand, charged with stealing and receiving about 700 yards print 'goods. It appeared that the goods belonged to a house in Manchester, and had been consigned to Messrs. Nicol, Duck Worth and Co., 5, - Cobk-street,' for shipment abroad. For this purpose they were lying upon the quay at the. Prince's dock, - Where the bale containing them was broken open and the' above-named quantity extracted. It was brougEt out in evidence that a portion of the goods had been Pledged by the prisoners Bentley and Chap man. Mr. Blink appeared for M‘Leod, in whose possession a few yards of the print had been found, and contended that she was a very ignorant woman, and might have purchased the print without having par ticipated in the theft. The prisoners were sent for trial. How SHIRT 'MAKERS ARE PAID.—A woman named Esther,cammings, was brought up charged with illegally pledging a number of Guernsey shirts. It appeared that a person named Elizabeth Crawford, contracts with Mi. Jones, of Whitechapel, to make these shirts at the rate of 4ld. each. She receives a large quantity of material for this purpose, and again in her turn employs a number of women to make the shirts at 4d. each.. One of them was exlibited in court, - aftd it was stated that a very expert seamstress could make two in a day. The prison - fir was one of the women em ployed by—Mrs. 'Crawford, and had pledged the materials that had been handed over to her. Mr. Mansfield observed : that the prisoner appeared to be in a very wretched and destitute condition; and having cautioned her against such a course at any future time, dismissed the case, ordering 3s. 6d. to be given to Crawford from the poor-box, to enable her to redeem the articles pledged, and thus indemnify her loss. THE ROBBERY IN r1.113N TER-STREET.---WilliaM Stan ley, the noted pick-pocket, was brought up on remand, on the charge of robbing Mr. Williani Robinson of a gold watch, and a sum of - money; in Hunter-street. The facts of the case were stated last week, when Stanley was brought up, immediately after his apprehension. The prosecutor, who could not then appear, appeared to-day andidentified th e p r i soner as th e person w h o ro bb e d hi m . —Mr. Cobb conducted the defence, and offered toprove an alibi. Mr. Mansfield however considered it unneces sary, its there was a prima facie case against the pri soner, who was accordingly committed for trial. (Before Messrs. HUTCRINBON and CA STELLAIN .) S C ANPALOUS 'ArSsAu vr.—D aniel Stafford, a respect able-looking old' man summoned, David Roberts, a powerful, rough-looking fellow on the charge of assault ing him on the'2Bth of November last. The prosecutor stated that he had lived for some time with the defend. ant, as a lodger, his bill at the time of the assault amounted to ZI, but being unable to settle it at once, offered the - defendant "t 2 on account. This sum was received; but Roberts knocked him down, and extracted several shillings from his pocket. Witnesses were called who substantiated these statements, and the defendant himself admitted taking the' money, but denied using any violence towards the complainant. The magistrates fined the defendant in the sum of 20s. and costs. PENNY-WISE AND SHILLING FOOLISII.—Mr. Banning, postniaster, summoned Mr. Hugh Carmichael, account ant, Basnett-street, to recover the sum of twopence, which he refused to pay for a letter which had not been prepaid. John Sillett, letter-carrier, stated that he called with an unpaid letter at the office of the defen dant on the 23rd of last month. The clerk, who was the only person in the office at the time, had not the money to pay for the letter, but he left it, intending to call on his next round. On doing so, the letter was returned to him with the seal broken, the clerk at the same time explaining that his master would not have it, because it was anonymous. Mr. Cross, who appeared for the defendant, contended that the letter ought not to have been left by the carrier till he had seen Mr. Carmichael. The mag,istrites considered that the letter was properly "delivered," and consequently directed that the defendant should pay the 2d., with the addition of costs, which amounted to 6s. 6d. . - MERCANTILE MARINE SERVICE ASSOCIATION. The usual monthly meeting of this association was held yesterday at noon, in the Chambers, 2@, Water street, Captain Ward presiding. The CHAIRMAN said two months had elapsed since they had last met. He was very happy to state that there : had been a steady increase in the number of members, as well as the prospects of the association in every way. He regretted to see•so few.present,• but the state of the weather accounted for that: He called upon the Secretary to read the report. Mr. Thompson read the following .REPORT. The council has much pleasure in reporting to tile members that the association - ail' contialies .to make, most steady and satisfactory progress. During the month of October eleven, and during the month of November nine, new members were enrolled.- The financial position of the associalion is also satisfactory ; the receipts for October being LH 2s. 411, and for November Is. 93. The committee of management of Lloyd's have kindly placed at the service of the association a copy of ,their register book, free of charge, and have intimated it to be their intention to forward the supplements on the day they are issued. Several members of the association have also Fiven valuable donations of books to the library of • the association. • The, council has received a communication from Captain Washington, 11. N., the head of the hydrographic department at the . Admiralty, stating* that he is desirous to avail himself al any knowledge possessed by members Of the association, of errors in charts published by_Trivate firms. . The council will be "N-erY glad if members - possessing or acquiring such information, or nay other information riot laid downinPrivate charts, ha the charts of the: Admiralty, or boos of railway • directions, will communicate from _time to time with the secretary, in order that the 'same May be "CionSiderell by a coin ' mince appointed for the purpose, and transmitted to the proper quarter without delay. • An invitation was received by the chairman and secretary of the association to be present at the dinner in London, upon the 15th of November, of the members and friends of the association there. Under other circumstances the council would gladly have deputed its principal officers to attend and• represent this association. It felt, however, that while the resolution of the council in London, of the 23rd of June, 1858, that they consider it desirable to cease correspondence and connexion with the Liverpool as'sociatior4".was not withdrawni, while no notice Was given to such officers of the association here • as are bk . -Alicia members of the council in London of th e met*. tings or proCeedings of that council ; while that cohncil persisted in meddling with other matters than those affecting the service,and while all the efforts made by this council to promote a reconc"- liation have been so unavailing, no good...could be attained froin this association being repreSented . : - the invitation was, therefore, declined. The council has, however, to ask the attention of member,: to the report. of th:_s, proceedings, on the occasion, and particularly to the speech of Mr. Digby Seymour, M.P., who strongly advocated', as this council has always cone, the efforts of the association in London being addressed exclu sively to the affairs and to promote the interests of the great seafaring body which it was formed to represent. In doing this, the council is certain the association in London has ample field for its labour ; and - until it does this, it prevents the united action of the service, and acts as a barrier to progress and an impediment to the efforts of others. _ _ _ . The'council has again to call the attention of members to the proposal in its last report, that the council shall grant certifi cates to such members as prove,. on . examination, that they Possess higher attainments than thon on Which tip compulsory certificates of the Board of Trade are granted ; and it has par ticularly to urge upon all the importance of that portion of the proposal which relates to the establishment of schools on ship board for the instruction of boys and apprentices. The council is satisfied that such a Scheme, if carried out, will do much good, both to members themselves and to elevate the serviec as a profession in' public estimation. It trusts that many more members will come forward and enter their names as desirous c f obtaining the certificates of the association. The council, observing that a board of examinersis proposed to be nominated by the pilot committee of Liverpool, for the examination of masters and officers for the pilotage certificates, has asked to be allowed to name one of sucirexaminers. The council has no reason to think that the examinations will be conducted otherwise than fairly and impartially ; hut it is aware that a very strong"feeling of dissatisfaction existed with regard to the examinations under the late pilot committee, and considers that much confidence would be created if the request of the council was acceded to. . As the period for opening Parliarrient is approaching, the council has again requested the serious attention of the Pre sident of the Board of Trade, to the alterations in the Merchant Shipping Act, suggested in its memorial to the late president, Mr. Ifenley, and will continue to urge this matter forward. 20, - Water-street, Gth December, 1859. ' Captain Campbell moved, and Captain Ponsonby Seconded the adoption of the report. Captain POWELL wished to say a word or two with reference to the conversation with Captain Washington, on the subject of imperfect charts. He thought there were few seafaring men who had not experienced great inconvenience from incorrect charts, or from books of direction. It was very inconvenient for a man to go ,along a coast he was unacquainted with, and be told by one of these books that a certain cape at such and such a distance bore so and so, and no description was given of the land on the intervening coast. He hoped the mem bers of the association who were in possession of facts bearing on these matters: would communicate the same, and allow them to show' the piople of London that the association was working to attain some good object. He might say that one of the leading shipowners iu Liverpool took a deep interest in obtaining correct charts and books of direction. He considered it was the duty of the association to forward these views. He hoped the gentlemen of the press would say that con siderable importance was attached to the paragraph bearing on that subject. The CHAIRMAN regretted that no very great move r ment had been made, owing to circumstances over which they had no Control, in connection with Government, which would have shown the importance and object of the association. He did not need to tell them that it it was a work of time. In , the meantime they were were steadily progressing, and he believed they numbered 716 captains, 161 mates; and 72 associates: He hoped that when they saw Europe in a quieter state, that the Government would be able to turn their attention to more peaceful matters, and assist in the amelioration of the sailor, and the improvement of ship masters. (Hear, hear.) Thanks were then voted to the chairman, which con cluded the business. Sir John Forbes, M.D., London, has preSented to Marischal College, where he was educated, his medical library, consisting of nearly 3,000 volumes, in English, Latin, and German. Considering Sir John Forbes' - eminence both as a physician and as a medical author, this large collection of medical works, formed by him, must be considered a very valuable acquisition.— Aberdeen Free ,Press. THE• DRAUGHTS MATCH AT GLASGQ7.—Four games were played on Saturday, two of:which were won by Martin and the other two drawn. Twenty-four games have now been played,. five of which have been won by Martin and four by M'Kerrow. One game has yet to be played on the black spares, ,after.which the remaining fifteen will be played on, the white, and it is considered likely that Martin will have the,best of it, as he has.been accustomed ,to the white instead of the black squares.—North British Daily Hail. LOLA MONTES.—This somewhat , celebrated woman is residing in Brooklyn, and not in this, city, as the Herald • states. Lola is now living with some intimate friends, who have stood by her in all her various fortunes. She is said to have really experienced a change of heart, and those that know her best, assert that recently she has lived the life of a devoted and sincere Christian: rola Montes ever since her marriage with Lieutenant Heald, in England, has claimed his name, , and has always used it in business transactions. Lola need neither play nor preach, for Heald enjoined in his will that his executor should pay her an annuity of £5OO as long as she lived.-r Nem York Day Book. The John Bull states that on Wednesday, week; in compliance. with an earnest invitation from the Arch bishop of Canterbury, the whole English Episcopate, with only here and there an exception, met in council on the subject of Church-rates. Our contem porary goes on to say :—" The unanimity which pre vailed among the archdeacons was but the whisper in advance of the unanimous determination of. the Episcopate. Yo surrender' is the flag fairly nailed to the mast, and so nailed as to float victoriously in the breeze—at least so we think ; for the bishopi were not afraid to admit to their councils six trusty taymen, a deputation from the Committee of Laymen in Defence of Church-rates, and three of their number spoke at considerable length and with convincing force. The laymen in question were Sir John Pakington, M.P., J. C. Colquhoun, M.P., H. R . Merewethe r , Lord Robert Montague, Loftus T. Wigram, Esq., late M.P. for the University of Cambridge, and the untiring and persevering Secretary of the Committee of Laymen, j. M. Knott, Esq. The two speakers who conveyed to the assembled Episcopate the confirmation of the repre sentations of Mr. Knott were those whose names we have placed at the head of the above list of six. It will be remembered that both these honourable gentlemen have hitherto been on the side of the compromise and concession in the matter of Church-rates. They have lived long enough to see their error and not to be ashamed to act on the old copy-slip, 'An error gracefully acknow ledged is a victory won.' NORThERN DA . . BiRKENTIEAD COMMISSIONERS. Mr. Hinde presided at the usual monthly meeting of tho Birkenhead.Commissioners yesterday; and•'the other members present were—Messrs. Cook, Barnett; Bell,. Beazley, Verelst, M‘Gill, Aspinall, Walker, Heightley, Rae, Willoughby, Bradley, and Baylis. , WATCH COMMLTTEE.-SMOKING ON THE EIRIZENHEAR RAILWAY, The proceedings of this committee stated that Mr. M'Whirter having resigned his.office-as chairman of the committee, Mr. Beazley had been appointed to• the vacancy.—The committee having investigated the report against -Detective-officer Hodgson,—that .he 'had : pro ceeded to Hooton station on business,connected with the railway company, without the knowledge of his super intendent, resolved. that Hodgson be reprimanded and' cautioned. Mr. BEAZLEY moved the confirmation , ef the pro ceedings. Mr.. ASPINALL called attention to the conduct of Detective-officer Hodgson. He belieVed every member of the beard would condemn that man's conduct. He' was a police-officer in the pay of the commissioners; and, without any authority froth the superintendent, he allowed himself to,he made use of—lowering himself to : the conimon level'of the lowest common informer—by the 'railway companies, to de- their dirty work. Mr. Aspinall then, at great length, entered into the details. of the case, in which Mr. French was concerned, and proceeded to discuss Hodgson's conduct at. 'Hooton Station; on a . substlquent occasion. He denounced the officer's conduct as highly insulting, and was about to enter into further details, when Mr. BELL said the case had been decided by the com mittee,. and thought Mr.. Aspinall should not proceed with his remar6, unless he. intended to challenge the. conduct of the committee. - • : Mr. ASPINALL said he made these remarks, because it was said out of doors that the commissioners alloWed their. officer to ge oit 'of' the town 'and beyond their jurisdiction, to become an inform6r on behalf of a rail way_company. • . The Cii&inmAN—But he was not authorised to d4so.. Mr. .AspINALL said the summons upon which Mr. French was brought before the magistrates stated that Hodgson had been assaulted "in the execution of his duty." Now he was not on duty. kr. BZAZLEY said the committee had censured Hodgson, .and that was a sufficient answer to Mr. Aspinall's remarks. '- Mr. ASPINALL did not call in question the decision a the. committee. Mr. Cool( asked if Hodgson was the man who peeped through the lamp-hole of one of the carriages and detected some gentleman smoking. (Laughter.) Mr. BFAZLEY replied that he believed not. Mr. COOK asked for some information as to the labours of the • special committee appointed to inspect the lighting of the township. . Mr. BEAZLEY said fifteen additional lamps had been put downe in the townip, "and four or five more iirould be required. The committee would, however, keep within the annual estimates. The proceedings were confirmed, as were also those of the Markets Committee. HEALTH ,COMMITTEE. The registrar of deaths had repited that during the last five weeks there had heen seventy-five deaths (or which fifteen were from .zymotic diseases) in the town ship., The inspector having reported that some ehgines on .the Birkenhead line of Railway did not consume their own smoke, the law-clerk was directed to call the atten tion of the directors to the infringement of the law. Mr. BARNETT moved the confirmation of the proceed ings. Mr. ASPINALL said the smoke nuisance on the railway ought to be put a stop to. The nuisance from 'smoky engines was far worse than smoking in railway car= riages.—(Laughter)- 7 -and as. the London and North- Western Company had just been fined. £5 by the Liver pool Bench for having an engine that, created a. smoke . nuisance; he thought the committee ought to take steps against the Birkenhead Company. Mr. BELL—Pat Hodgson there. He will be in his element. (Laughter.) - Mr. tAiLNETT said the committee had done what they were able to abate the nuisance, but without effect. They had sent an, inspector to watch the engines, but the company bad removed the names and numbers, so that when an engine smoked it could not be identified, and moreover the drivers were so wary that they took care to get out of the way of the inspeCtor's observation. (Laughter.) Mr. BELL—Set Hodgson to work. (Laughter.) The proceedings were , confirmed ; as were also those of the Road and Improvement Committee. On the motion that the proceedings of the Finance Committee be confirmed, Mr. Coox oserved that per sons who lived in _£4o or £5O houses ought not to have their rates excused upon the ground of poverty. Such people had no ,business in such large houses. The pro ceedings were then confirmeda FERRY COMMITTFE.-ANCHORING SHIPS IN THE TRACK OF THE FERRY-BOATS • - • From the minutes of this committee it appeared that the manager had waited upon the Pilot Committee, on the subject of anchoring ships in the track of .the ferry boats ; and, having communicated to the Ferry Com mittee the result of his' interview, a resolution was passed expressing regret that the Pilot . Committee had not thought proper to take notice of those cases in which vessels had been brought to an anchorage contrary to the orders of this body, and especially the two cases of " The Spirit of the Times" and " The Lilly Dale," the manager. having personally requested, the pilot . of the former vessel not to let go her anchor in so dangerous a place. The following return of the ferry receipts for the past month, &c., was presented :- 1858. 1859. Ferry receipts for November £1,806 18 11 ... £1,954 0 6 Receipts from April 24, tp Nov. 30 17,543 17 10 ... 18,555 17 3 Expenditure (working , expen ses and. rent) from April 24, • 30,019 14 2 ... 13,129 6 9 to November 30 Mr. BELL moved the confirmation of the proceedings. Mr. RAE said the question of anchoring ships in the track of the Woodside ferry-boats was becoming one of very serious - importance. The Ferry Committee had had again to draw the attention of the Pilot Committee to the fact, and the result had'not been •so satisfactory as the Ferry Committee had hoped it would have been. He regretted very 'much after all the trouble the Ferry Committee had taken in the matter, that the number of vessels reported to the Pilot CoMmittee as having anchored in the ferry-boat track, exceeded in number any previous list. He presumed that the resolution of remonstrance having not yet been replied to- by the Pilot Committee, it would not be, judicious in the board to discuss the question now, but he would only say that if the members of the Pilot CoMmittee knew the frightful danger to human life which was incurred by vessels anchoring in the track of the Woodside boats, they would give to this matter more earnest consideration than they had hitherto done. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings 'were then confirmed. The minutes of the proceedings of the Gas and Water Committee, and of the Library Committee, were read and confirmed. THE. CEMETERY QUESTION. The CHAIRMAN, in answer to Mr. Bell, sEid that until the return of the chairman of the board, Mr. John Laird, who had plans, and who was so intimately ac quaintcd with the whole subject, no steps would be taken by the Cemetery Committee to carry out the Act under which the board was appointed a Burial Board. - - ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL DOCK YARD AND ARSENAL AT BIRKENHEAD. • _ _ Mr. RAE said there was a matter upon which he ILY TIMES should wish to elicit the views of the board generally — he referred to the now well-known -suggestion of their respected chairman, Mr. Laird, for the establishMent of a Government Dock-yard and Arsenal in the neigh bourhood of Wallasey -Pool. Ile thonght there could be but one opinion as - to the advantages to be derived from the adoption of . that suggestion, to Birkenhead and to the Dock Estate of Liver pool, if such a scheme were carried -out.; iit- he thJught also there could be no question.that, on-public, grounds, the matter was well deserving,.of eaine.st. eon •Sideration. . lie had heard, himself, bat one opinion expressed on all sides regarding it—that it would add vastly to the popnlation. of the Birkenhead side of the water, enormously increase the value 'of property, that it would be capable of being- made one the -most convenient and safe arsenals in the kingdom ; and that therefore it would be their 'duty if they could at all strengthen Mr. Laird's hands to do so, and to bring the matter to the attention of the Government, before they irrevocably fixed on some- other site,, for he believed it was decided that either .pne or rnoL'edock-yards were required, .and if,: on public grounds, they could show Government that this site would be as desirable as any other,-he could see no reason why, when it would advan tage Birkenhead locally . ' as well, the . scheine. should - .not be tarried out: - If it met the views of the - people: Id - Birkenhead, he should' like to move a resolution' 'to . this effect--" That the establishment of -one of the GovernMent dock-yards and arsenals in the neighbour: hood of Wallasey Pool, . as: proposed by. Mr. -Laird would,.in the - opinion of .this board, be of advantage to the public as well as local interests, and that Mr. Laird be authoriSeel and requested to' seek the co-operatibn of the members for Cheshire, the gentlemen - of the Merky Board, the Corporation of Liverpool, and all 'interests concerned, - and- to take-Stich other steps as he shall'demn. expedient to give further effect to his proposal": Mr. 13nADruy theught'the -motions very de;irnble 6ne. Coox had great pleasure in seconding thei'notion All Who had taken the trouble to read the letter by Mr.. ; Laird, would have seen the public importance 6f that gentleman's proposal, With regard to local advantages. there could:be - no doubt about them, but the advantages to the public would be also great. Dr. BAYLVi admitted the great national advantagei to- be derived from the adoption of Mr. Laird's plan, but he was not quite so clear as to the local advantages. After a few words from Mr. Keightley and Mr. Aspi nall in support of the resolution, some discussion ensued as to the policy of . omitting any allusion as to the local advantages Birkenhead Would derive from the adop tion of the scheme, Dr. BAYLIS moved and Mr. BELL seconded an amend ment, for the omission of the words" as well as local," from the - resolution ; but this was lost, and the original .motion agreed to without a division. . The board then adjourned. . FORGERY or A BANK CHEQUi FOR £6oo.—One day lately a person petisented a cheque for £6OO at the teller's counter of a; bank in Glasgow, drawn in the name of a respectable firm dealing there. The teller . seeing the accountant's initials, handed over the money at once. It turned out, however, that both the cheque and the initials were forgeries, and the bank is swindled out of the amount.- DREADFUL DEATH AT 015.F0RD.- , -011 Saturday even ing last, a man named Thomas Hall, a servant of the North-Western' Railway Company, was assisting in shimting some carriages close to the .Oxford station, when, to evade a train coming on the line he. was upon, he stepped on the opposite rails, and just at—the..,same time, but in a different direction, and which he was not aware of, another train came an that line, knocked him down; and killed him instantaneously. The poor fellow was most dreadfully mutilated. -Hall, who was about 45 years old, was many years ago a servant at Brasenose College. He has left a widow and three children to deplore his untimely end. Arn. PRINCE ALFRED AT MOUNT ATHOS.—The following is an extract from a private letter from Mount Athos, dated Nov. 13 :—" His Royal Highness Prince Alfred landed at . Mount Athos; and was received by Hassib Effendi, Kaimakaii, aad Rutpei-Sanic, and the bishops 'and distinguished persons _of the monasteries. The prince, - accompanied by these gentlemen, visited the 1 monasteries and: the libraries attached to them, and all the places of note in •the mountain, after 3vbich his royal highness made a hunting excursion, daring which he shot two stags and four' pbeiiantS. " The prince embarked after thisparty,-not, however, without making splendid presents to the liaimakan, bishops, and priests. During. his sojourn the convent and monasteries': Were splendidly illuminated throughout the night." .` LAHARTINE'S DEBTS.—The Journal de Saone:et -Loire of Macon, of the 30th, says :—" AL de Lamartinc has left for Paris. No-purchaser having come forward for his , estates,. .and the national subscription having only produced about 160,000 f., to pay more than 2,500,000 f. of debts, 'M. de Lamartine was obliged to ask for time. He _called all his creditors (more than 400) to gether at the Chateau of Monteeau, and proposed to give up to them .his. estates, the value of which eiceecled his liabilities: -He also stated that, notwithstand ing' the insufficiency of " the national subscription, be had paid to his creditors; in eighteen months, out of the produce of his•literary labours, a sum of 1,200,000 f., and engagelto pay in Jannary and February next a further sum of 300,000 f., so that his - debts would be reduced• to 'l,boo.ooof. He therefore solizited::the indulgence of -dividing his payments into three of four instalments, hoping he said, by labour and economy, - to : pay every one in full. However inconvenient it might be for several‘of the creditors to have their debts settled .in these small payments, yet not one of them opposed the proposition." • DEATH OF SIR RICHARD E. CRC:4DRR, ONE OF THE JUDGES or THE CO,MMON IrLEAS.,—We regret to ah nolince the death- - of Sir R. B. Crowder, wbo died suddenly on Monday morning. The learned jUdge'Was in court on Saturday. last, in, to all appearanees;:his usual health. The deceased judge was the eldest son of • the late Mr. Crowder, and was in his 70th year. He was educated at Eton, and completed his studies, at Trinity College, Cambridge. In the year 1821 he was called to thnbar at Lincoln's Inn, and for a long series., of years .went the :Western Circuit. On the death, of Six Charles Wetherell, the late judge was appointed Recorder of Bristol, which honOurable position" he held for close on eight years, when in 1854 ,he was promoted . to be one of thp puisne judges of the Court of.Com.mon Pleas, on which occasion he received the customary honour of knighthood. The deceased was for 'a few years in the House of Commons, having represented Liskeard in Parliament from Januhry; 1819, up Co his' elevation to •the bench in 1854, after unsuccessfully: contesting 'Winchester in 1841. Sir Richard was far .some years Counsel for the Admiralty and Judge Advo cate to the Fleet. - . _ THE VOYAGE OF THE CANADA.—The Royal Mail steam-ship Canada, which has arrrived. at Boston, had an exceedingly rough and disagreeable passage, even for this tempestuous season. She left Liverpool on the afternoon of the sth instant, in a storm of wind and rain, increasing during the night to a gale of unusual I violence, quite as severe as those which had preceded it for the two previous weeks, and had strewed the shores of the Channel with so many wrecks. The. Canada was due at Queenstown on Sunday afternoon, but did not reach there till noon on Monday, and some anxiety was. felt both there and at Liverpool, at her non-arrival. The voyage from this last point of I departure, was attended with successive storms, first from south-east, and then from the opposite direction, till the day before she made Cape Race. On Sunday week the sea and the wind were so heavy and violent as to seriously alarm the less experienced among her "pas sengers, and to cause some anxiety even among old seamen. The bulwarks on her larboard bow were partially stove in, and some of the upper panels on both bows carried away. The gale continued nearly two days, during which time the ship was .run at a slow rate, and with great cau tion. The whole voyage, in short, was one of great dis comfort to all on board, and of suffering to many, till the vessel ran into the more settled and quietweather of our own coast. The .Cunard steamers are undoubtedly as good ships, as well manned, as well commanded, and as well disciplined as any afloat, and this. voyage 6f the. Canada is an evidence of the fact. It is not less true, however, that great • improvements yet remain to be made by this line, for the comfortable accommodation of their_ passengers, for the want of which most of those who made this trip of the Canada will, probably, all bear witness that. the/ suffered a. degree of exposure and discomfort unknown even in any good sailing . packet ship.—:.Yetv York Tribune. IMPORTANT LIVERVOOL CASE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER—MONDAY: (Sittings at Sidi Prime, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a- Special Jury) FENHALON AND OTHERS V. THE MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR BOARD. - • - The plaintiffs were the owners-of the ship Sierra Nevada, bound from the. Chincha Islands to • Liverpool • and sued the defendants to re - cover damagei for injuries sustained .by reason of the negligence. and improper conduct of- :the, defendants in allowing a !large bank of mud to accinnulate in' the 'Wellington Half-tide Dock at Liverpool, which rendered the dock . unfit . _ .'for iise, and [wised the vessel on striking thereon to "break - her back." The defendants pleaded notguilty,' and that the ship was not the proi*rty of the plaintiffs. Mr. Wilde, Mr.. Cleasby, Mr. -Aspinall, and Mr. Luslsington were counsel' for the plaintiff's ; Sir. F. Kelly, Mr. Edward James, Mr. Forsyth,- and Mr. QUain represented the defendants. 7 •-- Mr. Wilde stated the case for' the ;plaintiffs, which was supported by the following evidence.:-,- Captain Peirce .Wentworth Penhalon examined.—l was master and joint owner of the ship Sierra Nevada. She was built in the early part of •1854, by Tobie and- Littlefold, of Portsmouth, in America,-and was launched in May. . Her register was 1,942 tons. She was a very strongly built ship. Her first- 'voyage -was to the Chincha Islands for a cams of guano. She went' in ballast, and I „attended her ballasting,, which. was-yery, carefully done:• - We 'had -. on the *hole - a favourable voyage.. , We took in - a - cargo of guano of _3,400 tons. • The vessel might safely have carried 200 or. :3.00 .more tons, : On •the 21st December, 1F454, we sailed from. the Chinchas for Hampton Roads. The weather was as good as usual, but:wnhad-roUgh- weather • --eff, gape . Horn—nothing snore than, Usual.. The ship, .behaved ;very well. She was ve r y easy, and not at all' strained. •If she had received any injury at that time it wouldhave been apparent.. The lower main rigging was 'Only s'et up once .during the voyage. There was j nothing. about the vessel which induced. me to sup : pose thiire ,was any alteration in her - keel: - -- No "sagging" . could` have taken- place (sagging . is a depression in the centre of the khl)., - We arrived in - the 'Mersey* on the • 15th of - April, • - -1855,, and' went into the dock, about half-past ten on the night of- the 10th, - by, the • western entrance. The barboUr - master was there. We were towed in by the steam-tag which threw off, and lines were thrown - out to buoy directly ;shad, and the' ship " Walked in" with that until her bow entered the dock. - The bow then sheered quickly to starboard,. and the ship struck against the stonework of the pier and stopped. lt was then found she could not be got ahead. The ship's stem, which..was over against the island, .savu.n„,, ,, round. She was then draw ing 22 feet 9-inches. The marks on the. stonework of the pier were 23 . feet 9 inch e S.7 W e _ tried ‘to heave ••astern, but Could not. I was there all night. As the tide f'll, the ship broke between the main and mizen masts, near the afterhatch. - She brokein several places. • Colley, the harbour-master, requested me. to go ' down and examine the ship. There. was water on the higher part of 'the dock sill. After Mr. Colley. left, I Went on the island and noticed a mud bank extending along the port side of the ship for about twenty feet. . On - that day, or the next, I got,the ship's carpenter to . measure it. A letter written by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., the consignees of .the cargo, by the direction of the witness; was then put in evidence. Its effect was to call the attention of the harbour board to the state - of the dock as the cause of the accident. ' Examination continued—There were marks of mud on the ship's bows after the accident, three feet high. - Cross-examined—lt was about high, water when the ship entered the dock. I know. an American ship, Calhoun, but I know nothing of her draught or her entering the same dock. I know the Australia, but I do: not: know what is her draught. The mud in the dock was quite sufficient to stop the vessel. The cargo was consigned to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Co. , Sir F. Kelly here proposed to read a letter from Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co. • Mr. Wilde objected, - on the ground that .the letter was not written with the authority of the plaintiffs. Cross-examination continued.—On my arrival I re 'ported myself to 'Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., in reference, to the cargo. I also reported the accident to them the day after it occurred, and afteiwards the sup posed cause of the accident. Sir F. Kelly submitted that this evidence made the letter aclmiaeible , but His Lordship held it could not then be read. Cross-examination continued.—lt would be myself, or some one authorised "by me, who Would - amply to the ,_defendants for compensation for the injuries done to the ship. I gave Gibbs, Bright, and Co., no authority to write a letter on the 18th of. May.. No one to my knowledge, reported to Gibbs, Bright, and Co., that ' the accident occurred in consequence of there not being sufficient water on the docksill. I think I said to •Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., that the 'ship on coming into the entrance of — the dock had stopped. I have no recollection that - I , entered into any particulars. of the accident. Ido not recollect that I said anything to them about the mud on. the _port bow of the vessel which I had seen on the 17th of April. I said so en the last trial in my cross-examination by Mr. James. I do not think I said anything about the mud until the Ist of May. Ido not think I said anything to them about applying for compensation before the - Ist of May, because I was told the. dock company were not liable. The ship stopped suddenly when she struck the stone work of the pier. If she stopped in the centre she would be as likely to sheer as not. I attri buted the stoppage.to the mud bank in the first instance. By sheering, I - mean that the ship. in her progress sheered off to the right. When 'sve left the Chnicha Islands she did not draw lesS than when we arrived at Liverpool. On her arrival in the Mersey she drevi about an inch less than when slit started. The plank ing of the ship was Georgia pitch pine. English vessels of the same size are generally, of oak. She was about 225 feet long. The tendency of a ship of that size, if she alters at all, is to " hog." Ships built like the Sierra Nevada would not "sag " or depress in the middle of the keel. . ' - The examination of Mr. Chisholm, formerly first officer of. the. Sierra Nevada, taken on interrogatories, was put in to prove there was no "sagging.". • Mr. John Jenkins Brown, who had succeeded Mr. Chisholm, deposed, that sbe was the strongest built ship he had ever seen, and had never " sagged." He also corroborated the account given by the master' of the entry into the dock at Liverpool, and the accident which' resulted therefrom. In his cross-examination, the witness deposed that lie had never said to a person, named Fraser that.the ship was down in the middle. - A sailor, who had formerly been one of -the Nevada's crew, proved her seagoing qualities, and that she did not ‘‘ag." Williams, the pilot who was On - board when she was taken into the dock, swore she was as Straight as a die, and had not " sagged" an inch. On being told to de scribe the cause of the accident, the witness said—" I must tell the truth, though I shall get myself into a hobble if I do." (Laughter.) The Lord Chief Baron.—Then you must get yourself into a hobble, for we must have the truth. Witness.—Well, the fact of the matter is, we were too late for the tide. We were told to go in by Mr. Colley, ,the dockmaster, and we went in when he told us. • We were too late to all interitTandlOurpcTses. There was water on the sill when we started, Ido not think she struck on the sill at first. - - - Mr. Wilde—What was the cause of the accident ? • Witness—What accident? (Laughter.) Mr. Wilde.—The ship stopping. Witness—Oh, want of water, to be sure. Cross-examined—We ought to have had twenty-seven feet of water that night. It was spring tide. I have been a pilot about forty-seven years. Mr. George Pollard, a partner in an engineering firmfirm at Havre, who was master of the ship Parliament, lying in the Liverpool dock when the accident occurred to the Sierra Nevada, proved that he had surveyed the extent of the damage she had received, and discovered A mud bank on the port bow, which had caused her to sheer to starboard. That was, in his belief, the cause of the accident. A number of navvies were propping up the after end of the ship. He- had seen the vessel before the accident, and her sheer had not at all altered. • Some evidence taken on interrogatories; having been put in to.prove the existence of the mud bank, The Lord Chief Baron asked when the case was likely to terminate. morrow. Mr. Wilde—l hope vte shall finish our cas Sir F. Kelly—l am afraid, m t y o I e sh to all i d n e o s t a y b e ? able e b t e o Lord C ou h r ie e f a ß se a i r n on l — ess l t V i mnaethan the rtd, h aotherst of my learned friend. Two more day s ? These sittings terminate on Wed nesda y . Other depositions w ere then p ut in, an d at five o'clock the court adjou rned. The Lord Chief Baron— DECEMBER 7, 1859. THE DUKE OF RUTLAND• ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS. The Duke of Rutland, who presided at the annual dinner of the Leicestershire Agricultural Society, on Friday night, made the following statement : There is at the present moment, gentlemen, a great movement going on in this country. There is very con siderable alarm caused by the feeling that our defences are not in a perfect state, that this country might be invaded by a foreign Power, and that that Power would be Prance.- (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I wish here to say that I, for one, have not shared in the apprehensions that have been so generally en tertained by my countrymen. (Cheers.) lam now speaking, mind, my own individual opinion, which is worth nothing more than the individual opinion of any.man in this room. But. I repeat again that I, for one, think that we have been alarmed rather needlessly. (Hear, hear.) I say this, gentlemen, because I think that, if the Emperor 'of the French had ever seriously contemplated the invasion of this country, a man of his sagacity, of his foresight, and of his intellect, would not have allowed the opportunity to slip that was presented to him during the time of the Indian mutiny. If he had contemplated such a thing as the invasion of this country, that 'was the time, that was the opportunity thathe would--naturally have seized upon. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I don't -wish- to be misunderstood. By no means do I decry -the military ardour'of the country-:—by no means do I decry the volunteer rifle movement; on the contrary, I- give it my earnest and 'most sincere support. (Loud cheers.) But the ground on which I rest my support is this . Formerly, our defence was the ocean and our fleet. •(Hear,-; hear.) Circumstances; time, steam, and science hi - eve Swept away our defences. (Hear; ,hear.) Forinerly, it was impossible for an army to land here without having to. encounter, in a naval engagement, a superior fleet. That is no longer neces sary. It is now 'possible in a few hours to land an enormous army in' this country: (Hear, hear.) But gentlemen, when I say, therefore, for God's sake let us put this country into an efficient state of defence — let us call out the militia, encourage the rifle corps, and do all we can to make ourselves safe—l say also, let us not in the same breath, which is not neces sary, abuse the ruler whom the French people have chosen, or run down the Church which they choose to support. (Cheers.)' Gentlemen, lam rejoiced to hear that you accord .with me in these sentiments, because I am quite sure that those are the sentiments that become a great and powerful country like England. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I -may be told that "the press of France in encouraging and fomenting the invasion of this country, but my answer to that is, look at our own press. What provocation is Rot our press giving ? And if there is a feeling in France—and I fear _to some extent it is true—against this country, I ask whether it has not been mainly fomented, and whether it it is' not mainly owing to the vituperative language that has been used by the press of England ? I know, gentlemen, that great authorities find fault when any member of the agricultural interest v entures to go out of the routine system of the cultivation of farms, or the manner in which ploughs should be used. (A laugh.) But, gentlemen, it may be that those jour nals are anxious to prepare the agricultural mind for the new state in which it appears Mr. Bright intends to place us. (Laughter.) Mr. Bright evidently thinks it is no' longer fitting that the agricultural body should have any political influence in this country of England. Mr. Bright made a speech' yesterday evening, and by that speech I collect that; although the agriculturists are not any longer to have any political power,-as far as I can understand the mass of _figures with which he e o o v u er te w in h ili elm at e e d , w h h is ile Li h v e erp r o e o li l eve a s ud e ie s nc f e r , em he au do r e ee s ro n n e . t . sibility and all power, that we should be relieved from all taxes. ("Hear, hear," and laughter.) lie says, "Gentlemen, I don't wish you to be disturbed by the knock at the 'door of the candidate for your suffrages, but I have no objection to the tax-collector coming -to you, and asking :-yen for your money:" I gather this, gentlemen, from the speech of Mr. Bright, because I see that .he, alludes to the tax on fire in surances; from which you are exempted, and he says the tax is a very great wrong. Mr. Bright talks of doing away with all indirect taxes, and he mentions a great number of them ;, but I remarked that he never alludes to the malt tax, which is anindirect tax of a very large amount. Gentlemen, this is not the place, the time, .or the opportunity, in an after dinner speech, to meet these arguments of Mr. Bright, but perhaps you will allow me:generally to state my-own conviction that direct taxation is the very worst taxation you can have —(hear, hear)-Lthat it does press upon the poor, ho t directly but -indirectly—(hear, hear)that it - crusbe s the springs of prosperity and industry ; that it drivfS capital -abroad ; that it reduces the wages of the labourer/ and that it is paid by the honest man and evaded by th e dishoneit Perhaps you will allow me to give this general answer to Mr. Bright, without venturing at such a time as this to enter into details of the tigur e he has quoted. I would also make this furthe r remark on Mr. Bright. In all his speeches he has held up AMerica as the model th 3 we are to copy. Mr. Bright says, "It is very hard he is always very plaintive if you don't agree with him -=--" that you take your inventions from America ; if th e / invent a new gun, you have no difficulty in adopting i t if they build a new, boat on better lines than your 0' 1 ; you have no difficulty in nflopting•it ; 'but the mo ment say adopt their republican institutions, you fly off and e say, hWe have a. constitutional monarchy that Iv_ think gives us :more liberty -than any other State, 0 : know of.' " But ,if we adopt the one, he says, iv 1 . 1 net adopt the other ? Mr. Bright forgets, hoWev e that one of the - main distinctions between this ee,coun try and America! is, that while we raise our . 1 ; venue partly by direct and partly by indirect ta. ° Itilrect America raises the whole of her revenue by in ir taxation. (Hear, and cheers.) Mr. Cobden, wilth': . be sorry on account of 'the cause, was not able to present - at Liverpool yesterday, has lately be en America ; but I doubt whether even with his eloquent 0 ho has been able to persuade the Americans to ttleir up one jot of the protection which they give t manufacturers in that country. ' '(Loud cheers.) ' lto Bright made another remark last evening._ as j ie thought there Ewciuld be a: millenium of I )yi' be nesa and prosperity; that all nations might!.. one thing, and that is,: ,to do away with all ti t ia brought into one happy family; If you e°lll -d -war _ re ° _ ch, all war F t. : tio , h s C a lltt s o id ill e -h ; O w US e es. sho l ui f d w f o ra c t o c ; a lcl ise d , o embrace t ac al e and all be happy together. But Mr. Bright---nud to I observed he lectured the landed interest do us we ought to be very ned on this question of taxation, seeing what h of mo'Kesty• if ea —has not, I think, set us the 'example and the° Ya says, do away with all your customhouse s. ost tPe c i will have this ;prnplete fraternity. - But a! 1,1 eeeee ie same breath Mr. Bright takes credit for having ?u if the corn laws; and having initiated free-trade t his modest-in what we _ said asij a p ;l c in this country.. Then how in common sense is . ite,, r i, en de, has been accomplished by Mr. Bright and las 1 t er j a which Europe was in so precarious a state, Is i " , e,t - ; our s, country so much alarmed by invasion from our e n' - , w ar that there was never, I will venture to say, a year this and in which we have been so nearly draggedakinto " a after -with America ? (Cheers.) The noble e ° this countrf enough to think the most important thing in . a nd i d beer , crier° theis production of bread, and beef, an few observations, thus concluded :—I am d ld t the that of am also old-fashioned enough to think mea ns be we can raise in oar own country, whethereoay may associations like these, or by whatevertora e tr e „inee suggested, the more we shall conduce _ ou t r i? ng ii p "l e 'hayol the welfare, and the morality of the lab 1 this country. (Cheers.) ftashionee L a It]