The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-08 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUS SELL, UNCLE TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL, SE CRETARY FOR THE COLONIES. (From the Times of Yesterday). Yesterday morning, about halt-past seven o'clock. the in habitants residing in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-stguare were placed in a state of painful and distressing; excitement, in consequence of a rumour that an atrocious and horrible • murder had been perpetrated that morning on the person of Lord William Russell, uncle to Lord John Russell, Secretary to the Colonies, at his late residence, 14, Norfolk-street; Park-lane, Hyde Park. The report first obtained circulation from the circumstance of seeing some of the domestics of the establishment leaving the late noble lord's mansion in a very excited manner, and who, to the enquiries made, stated that such was the case. Information was promptly given to the parochial authorities and the police, immediately upon which Baldwin and Coal, officers of the parish of St. George, Hanover-square, proceeded to the house, and were soon followed by Superintendent Baker, of the C division, accom panied by Inspector Beresford, and several Sergeants and men attached to the same division:' By this time a great crowd had gathered in front of the mansion ; and, as the report had become widely circulated, several noblemen had called to ascertain the truth of the report, while some of the noble deceased's relatives had also arrived, who were plunged into the most poignant grief upon finding that there was little doubt that a murder _had been committed. We have made enquiries, in which we have been most minute and particular, and we have been made acquainted with the following circumstances . :— At a quarter past seven o'clock yesterday morning, on the ousemaid getting up and reaching the passage,- she became alarmed upon observing several packages there. She hastened to the attic, in a room on which floor the valet slept, and called him up, as well as her other feMale servants, who slept in an adjoining room. The valet instantly rose ; and, on. discovering that, from the appearance of the packages iu the passage, there hail been some thieves in the house, he in. stantly went up to the room where his late lamented master slept. Upon entering the apartment his suspicions were more strongly excited that there had been thieves in the house, and he proceeded towards the bed, when he was horror-struck upon finding the noble lord lifeless, and his head deluged in blood. He observed likewise that there was a most dreadful gash across the throat. He hurried out of the room and acquainted his fellow-servant with the terrific sight he had witnessed, and at.once ran to the house of Mr. Osgood, a medical gentleman residing in the neighbourhood. Two of his sons pi omptly attended. They examined the nature of the wound, which they found to extend from ear to ear. It was evidently done with a leizor orsome- sharp in strument. Immediate search was _made for it, but none c ould be found. His Lordship, we. were informed, lay upon his back, and the appearance of tic position he was in would lead to the inference that when the frightful deed was com mitted no struggle took place. The deceased had been dead some hours. . . . Upon the arrival of Superintendent Baker and Inspector Ttprpanril thpv institnfp i the most diligent inouiries and examination of the premises. They endeavoured to find the instrument with which the horrid deed was done, but with out success. They then searched the room (the front on the second floor,) when a gold watch was missing. At that time, 10 o'cloelk, they had not discovered that any property was taken away. They next endeavoured to find out by what means an entrance had been obtained, but here they met with difficulties, and much mystery was involved as to what way they had got in. When they reached. the back kitchen they found that the staple by which a bolt had fastened the door bad been wrenched off by a jemmy, but there was a doubt whether that had been done for the purpose of effecting an entrance or for making an • escape. There were marks of footsteps at that deer. It was thought possible that the villains had been in the house previous to the family retiring to rest. No noise was - heard during the night, nor can there be any cause assigned for the thieves leaving the premises in the way they did, unless they had been disturbed. No clue is at present obtained of any person being impli cated in the transaction. Mr. Baker is most unremitting in his exertions ; several policemen were in readiness to pro ceed against any supposed party. Baldwin waited upon the coroner (Mr. ,Higgs) to acquaint him with the horrid affair. The house continued to be visited throughout the morning by the noble relatives of the deceased and some of his most intimate friends. Lord William Russell was in the 73d year of his age. He was a posthumous child of John, fourth Duke of Bedford. He has left two sons and two daughters. One of the daugh ters married the H on. Grey Bennet, and the other her cousin, Lord Wriothesley Russell. THE INQUEST. Yesterday evening, at 6 o'clock, a jury composed of 14 of the principal inhabitants of the parish of St. George, Hano ver-square, residing ia the immediate neighbourhood, were empannelled before Mr. Higgs, the Deputy Coroner for Westminster, at the sign of the city of Norwich, at the corner of Norfolk-street and North-row, to investigate the circum stances connected with the above mysterious and melancholy occurrence. The names of the jurors having been called over as follows : Right Hon. Mr. Dawson, and Messrs. Rowley, Riley, Carter, Garrard, Ingleby, Clarkson, Jackson, Woods, Bur nett, Dyer, Morris, Gurney, and Sharp, and the Right Hon. G. W. Dawson appointed foreman, the jury were sworn, and they then accompanied the coroner to the residence of the noble lord to view the body ; which occupied them about 20 minutes. _ . On their return to the inquest-room, and their names having been called over, the following evidence was ad- duced : Mr. Henry Elsgood, surgeon, of Park-street, Grosvenor square, examined.—l did not attend deceased before this morning, when I was sent for about half-past seven o'clock. I immediately went to the house and found him in bed, lying partially inclined on his right side. He was in his night dress, and had been dead about three or four hours. Coroner.—Do you think be had been dead seven hours? Witness.—No, not more than three or four. I examined the body, and found a wound extending from the shoulder on the left side down to the trachea. It was four or five inches deep and about 7 inches long, dividing the vessels and the trachea, which must have caused almost immediate death. It bad been inflicted by some very sharp instrument, and must have been done from the left. I saw uo other wound on the body. By the Jury.—I saw no wound on either of the thumbs. The edges of the wound were not jaggvd. There was a napkin over the face when I went in. There was a large quantity of blood in the bed and under the bed, which had ( 11Aedltuaiy.,16.. corner . was stained with blood. wittusiotL . • - .• • - By the Coroner.:--I have not carefully examined the body, and I saw no mark of a wound on the thumb. The Jury said they had noticed it on viewing the body. The ball of the thumb was nearly cut off. The witness further said, he considered it impossible the deceased could have inflicted the wound himself, or after. wards have covered himself over with the cloth. It was a chamber towel, that was placed over his face and head. I examined the bed, and could find no razor or other instru ment with which the wound could have been inflicted. De ceased wore a truss, which was removed. I never saw such an injury inflicted by a party on himself. Had the deceased inflicted the wound himself, I think his hands must have been covered with blood. Mr. John Nursey, surgeon, of Cleveland-row, St. James's, examined.=l have been Lord William Russell's attendant for several years. I have heard the deposition of the last witness read, and from what I observed on my arrival this morning, I think it correct. By the Jury.—l observed that the ball of the right thumb was cut off and hanging to it. I examined with the last wit ness the bed and the room, to find if there was any instru ment with which the wound could have been inflicted, but could find none. I am quite satisfied that the deceased could not have committed the act himself, for three reasons ; first, that he could not have placed the towel himself; se condly, from the extent of the wound ; .and thirdly, from the very nature of the wound, which extended from the cervical vertebra' to the shoulder. His lordship was feeble, and very deaf. He was in his 73d year. I had riot seen him for the last three weeks, he having been out of town for the recess. He laboured under a rupture, and wore a truss. From the position the truss was found in, in my opinion he had some slight struggle. The Coroner.—Can you account in any way for the cut on the thumb? Witness.—l should say it was inflicted in his endeavours to prevent the action of the instrument by which his throat was cut. Sarah Maneer examined.—l was housemaid in the service of his lordship. This morning I rose about half-past six o'clock, which was rather earlier than usual. I came down stairs about a quarter past seven. I first went into the back drawing-room, and there I saw his lordship's writing-desk had been broken open, and a number of his letters and papers scattered over the carpet and hearthrug. I then went down stairs, and in the hall, near the street door, I saw' his lordship's large cloak, his opera-glass, and other articles wrapped up in a cloth. I next went down stairs to the pan try and kitchen, where I found the drawers and boxes open, and several articles of plate on the floor. I immediately ran up stairs to the front attic to the cook, and told her all the silver was about. She desired me to call the valet, and on doing so I foUnd he was dressed, all except his coat. There were only myself, the cook, and the valet in the house, ex cept his lordship. I asked the valet what he had been doing with the silver. He said, "he had done nothing with it," and I told him it was all about. He then ran down stairs into the pantry, when, seeing the drawers open, lie said some person had been robbing. When he came up stairs again, I said, " For God's sake go and see where his lordship is." He went into the room and opened the shutters. I went in too, and there we found his lordship. By the Coroner.—His lordship never locked his room door. When I saw his lordship hail been murdered, I ran out of the room and upstairs to tell the cook, and thence to the house of Mr. Latham, opposite, (No. 23,) and told the but ler, who went for the police. When I went into the room I only saw his lordship !yin° stretched out. and a little blood. I did not notice any towel over the face:-• - - • • _ By the Jury.—The man servant went up with me and the police when they arrived. He sat in the dining-room, and appeared not at all alarmed.* - The street door was not fas tened when I came down. His lordship dined at home about six o'cicck, and did not go out afterwards. I went to bed about ten o'clock. It was the man servant's place to fasten the door, and it is usually locked, barred, and bolted. A number of articles were missing, among which are his watch and several rings, which were usually lying on his dressing 7 table. Ido not know if there were any razors in the - dress -case, as his lordship kept his razors in a little drawer. By the Foreman.-_I heard the cook say, when she came home, the valet fastened the door after her. The valet had only been in the family five weeks. I have been there three yea: s. I believe his lordship was perfectly satisfied with him. tie (the valet) had a male visitor last night to tea, who left about a quartet to six o'clock. The valet went cut with him as far as the stables. The man had been there once before, about a fortnight ago, and the valet told me he had been out of place for a twelvemonth. Ellis, the late valet, was sent for this morning as soon as Mr. W. Russell came. By the Coroner.-7 Any person could have got into the house by means of the back area. 1 did not see the hack door, which had been forced open. By the Jury.-1 did not say that the valet was not alarm ed : I said he was very in* - 11 alarmed.* Among the articles I found in the passage was a thimble belonging to the cook, which had been taken from the kitchen. ...John Tedman, inspector of the D division of police, sworn. —About a quarter past seven o'clock this morning a gentle man's servant called at the station-house in Al arylebon e -l ane, and in consequence I went to Lord William Russell's house, and first examined the lower part of the house. I found the valet sitting in a little room adjoining the kitchen, and two women servants were close by in the pas Sage. I asked them which way they thought it likely that any person could get into the liouse. One cf the women servants answered (Ar nold, I believe her name is ; I think she is cook) " through the back door," and showed me a door which leads into the area at the back of the house. I examined the door, and found marks on it, as if it had been tried to be opened with some blunt instrument. It was difficult to say whether it had been forced from the inside or the outside. The door and the door-posts were marked. The catch of the bolt was laid down inside of the h ouse. T he bottom bolt would not fasten at all. It appeared to be a very temporary fastening : I should think a good push would almost knock the bolt off it. I then looked round the walls in the area, and could not see the slightest mark of any person coining that way. We examined the walls at the back of the stables in the yard: there was not the slightest scratch upon either of the walls, or mark of any kind. I then returned into the house, and *. The agitation of the witness probably oce,iedoned this discrepancy. requested the women servants and the valet to accompany me up stairs, to show me where the body lay. We all went into the room, and found that the bed curtains were half drawn, and the shutters of the windows were closed. I opened the shutters. They pulled a towel over his face. I removed that, and pulled down the bed-clothes a little way, and found a great quantity of blood in the middle of the bed. It was running partly from a large gash in the throat, extending from ear to ear. I then asked the servant if a medical gen tleman had been called in before my coming. They an swered " No." I said, "Go fetch one immediately ; the nearest." Mr. Brayshaw came, and a second gentleman that I sent for, the gentleman who usually attended him. On the bed I found the miniature of a lady, a small box, and a purse. There was no money in the box or purse. Shortly afterwards Mr. Commissioner Mayne came, and requested the doctor to examine the body closer. He did so, and found that the thumb of the right hand was cut. A great quantity of property was in the room ; five gold rings, and other property ; some were not taker,, some were. There were three gold-topped canes, and a quantity of silver tops for different things;" some of them belonged to the dressing case. I had some conversation with the man-servant. I asked him " to come on this way and assist me," and he fell back in his chair, and said, " This is a shocking job, I shall lose my place and lose my character." I then examined every room in the house, and found that the drawers in every room were partly drawn open, and papers disturbed. In the front parlour there were some silver articles and some plated articles laid on the floor. In the entrance hall, close behind the door, there was a large blue cloth cloak, nicely packed up, and a small box lying on the top of it. In a bundle close by, there was a silver dish cover, an opera-glass gold mounted, a gold pencil-case, a toothpick, and a silver thimble. I asked the man-servant how he found the door ? He said he had fastened it himself by bolts and a chain the night before, about 12 o'clock, and that he had found it in the morning on the latch, with the chain down and the bolts drawn. The lock was also open, and it was only fastened by the latch. By a Juryman.—The key was inside the door. He had since searched the servants' room, and found in the valet's box a purse, a £5 note, and six sovereigns. By a Jurvmatr.—ls the bank-note marked in any way ? Yes, it is, sir ; marked on the back. I asked the valet where he got the note from ? He said he gave five sovereigns to Lord William Russell for it some ago in change. There is one thing I have omitted. I asked if Lord William Russell was not in the habit of having much money about him ? He said he saw a £5. note and a £lO. note in his possession yesterday in its usual place in a box or something of that kind close by the head of his bed." I said, -" Look if you can tind it." He did so, and said "-No, it is gone ; so is also his gold watch." A writing-case in his bed room was broken open at the back. The man seemed very much concerned all day about it, and kept running and drink ing water. In answers to questions by the Jury.—He appears to be about 25 or 26 years of age. I think he is a Swiss. 1 did not see the slightest marks of blood about any of these peo ele• or in nny part of tho erarnined all the places that I possibly could, and there was not the slightest tinge about them, on the linen, bed curtains, or any where else in any part of the house. I searched very carefully to see if there was any cutting instrument anywhere with which the wound might have been given, and searched every room in the house. The water-closet was also taken up by the di rections of Mr. Commissioner Mayne, and searched. My opinion is„that the door has been forced on the inside. I think that it has been done by a good push without any vio lence being used at all. It is the yard door, and opens in wards, I mean that it seems as if forced open by a good pull and not a push. It appears to me to have been recently done. I should rather think so. I examined all the gutters to the new coach factory near, but could not see the slightest mark whatever of any person having been there, or of any thing having been thrown. By) Juror.—You say some of the rings are gone. I want to lag . ow how you know there are some gone? ;The Swiss valet told me that. There were rings and brooches ; but Mr. Beresford took that account, I did not. A Juror.—ls it not your duty to make directly to the room in which a murder or suicide is committed ? It is, but finding the servants down stairs, I made a little inquiry. A-Juror.—ls it not your duty to send immediately for a surgeon to attend the party ? Witness.—From the account I received, I was told he was already dead. I should not think I was two minutes before I went up stairs. W. Beresford, inspector of the C division of police, ex amined. From information I received from a constable from the Vine-street station, that there had been a mur der committed in Norfolk -street, I immediately went with him to the house. It was •about eight o'clock when :I re ceived the information, and about ten minutes past when I arrived there. I found the last witness below, and - the body exactly as described.. I partially began to take down an account of what was stolen, but almost immediately went down to see if I could find any marks to lead to any thing, but could not discover any in any part. I then went up stairs and asked - the valet what was stolen, and he gave me an account of what was - gone. The dressing-case up stairs was broken open, the things were lying in diffe rent parts, but nothing was gone. The followingis an account of what was missing :—Two plain gold rings, one gold ring set with turquoise, one gold repeater watch, and three gold seals. He afterwards told me that there were three pins on a card ; one was a union pin. He could not give me any further de scription of them ; they were stones, and one a blue stone. Then from his own pantry the articles of plate which his Lord ship had used at dinner the night before were gone : five table spoons, three dessert spoons, four silver forks, and two tea spoons. I then went and searched all thethree servants'boxes, the female servants' first, and afterwards the man's. 1 found in one of the boxes of the valet, about the centre right down, a chisel. It was a middling sized chisel. I have seen it, and tried it with the marks in the drawers in the pantry, which are forced open, and it goes into the impresion made in the drawers, and fits them exactly. The chisel goes in the draw ers in the pantry, where the spoons are taken front. The drawers were forced down, and the bolt of the lock came from under the opening, which was made wide enough for the lock bolt to slip under. I did not put any questions to him, as i thought it better not under the circumstances. I afterwards particularly examined the back door, • where the violence was seen, and am•of opinion that the marks on that door were not the means of forcing it open, and I feel quite certain that the marks which are on the door are quite from the outside certainly, but I am quite certain that they are not made with forcing the door open. The bruises 011 the door post are not made on the inside, but after the door ad been onen, It is my opinion that the marks have been had tat we should seam) tor it, and on examining the place I found the poker belonging to the pantry, which was bent, and the end or point fitted th latch or socket which had been wrenched off from the door. Coroner.—Did the point of the poker appear through ? Witness.—Yes, it did. Inspector Pearce, of the A division, was then called for ward, but had nothing to add to the evidence of the sergeant, who produced the latch of the street-door, which he found in the kitchen. It was a common door-latch.) By a Juror a - c i c atu not aware that there are any steps leading from the area to the street. Mary Ham:elk-4 have lived in the service of the deceased as cook. The first person who went down stairs this morn ing was the housemaid, and after she had remained below for a few minutes, she came to my room, and told me t hat the dining-room was all in confusion. She then went to the valet's room and called him up, and they proceeded down stairs together. She then screamed out to me, and I ran down stairs as soon as I had finished dressing myself. I met the housemaid and the valet on the stairs, and,they told me that his Lordship was killed. We then went to the dining-room, which was all in confusion, and then went to the street door to call a policeman ; but could not see one. Shortly after, however, the policeman came, and went into his Lordship's bed-room. Coroner.—Had any person entered the bed-room before the police came? Witness,—Yes, Sir, the valet had been there. After the policemen entered the room, I went to the foot of the bed and saw his Lordship lying on it, but I did not go close to him. I afterwards went down stairs and saw the kitchen all in confusion. Coronen—Did you not miss something from your box ? Witness.—Yes, Sir; I missed my silver thimble from my workbox. Curoner.—When had you seen it last ? Witness.—l saw it safe in the box last night. Coroner.—Do you know where it was found this morning? Witness.—Yes, Sir,- it was found in the napkin at the street door with the other things. Coroner.—There was nothing, I suppose of value in the box? Witness.—No, Sir, there was not. Coroner:—What time did you go to bed last night ? Witness.—l think it was about half-past ten. Coroner.—Who was up then? Witness.—His Lordship and the valet. Coroner.—Do you know when they went to bed ? Witness.—No, Sir, I do not. Coroner.—Did you hear any noise during the night? Witness.—No, I slept soundly and heard no noises. One of the jury. —Had you been out during the evening? Witness.—Yes, sir, 1 had been to see a friend, and returned home a quarter before 10 o'clock. Juror.—Who let you in ? Witness.—His lordship's valet. • Juror.—Did you see any stranger in the house during the evening ? Witness.—Yes, sir, a young man, whom I have seen be fore, called to see the valet. Juror.—Was the valet on good terms with his lordship ? Witness.—Yes, sir, as far as I know. Juror.—His lordship I believe, was a very kind master? Witness.--Hp was, sir, very kind. By the coroner.—l am not aware that his lordship was in the habit of keeping money in the house. In answer to further questions the witness said, that when she returned home, at about a quarter or 20 minutes before 10 o'clock the valet chained and bolted the street door, after which he fetched her a pint of porter for her supper. Coroner. —Did he open the door to fetch it? Witness.—No, sir, 1 think he went for it up the area steps. The valet was always last up in the house, as he had to put his lordship to bed. Coroner.—Do you know whether or not the candle in his lordship's room had been extinguished? ti's itness.—l do not know, sir. The witness then signed her statement and retired. The coroner asked the jury if they thought it would be advisable to call in the valet and hear what be had to say ? The jury were of opinion that he ought to be produced. The valet was accordingly called in, ,erandheawviinliginbgeteon heartold by the coroner that he was not bound to ma k e any statement prejudicial to himself, but that the jury , what he had to say, he gave his name Francois Benjamin Courvoisier. He then stated, without having been sworn, that on the previous evening his deceased master came home from the club at about half-past 6 o'clock, and gave him some letters to take to the post-office, which witness gav e t o t h e groom in the stables to take there. Witness then returned hothe, and his lordship went out for about half an hour before his dinner. Coroner.—Did you remain at home all the evening? Witness.—Yes, I stopped at home all the evening. Coroner.—`'hat time did the other servants go to bed ? Witness.—At about half-past 10 or 11 o'clock. A Juror.—Was the street-door properly fastened by you ? Witness.—lt was, Sir. Juror.—Did Witness.—No, ror.—Did Idid you unfasten it after the cook came home? Juror.—Did yod go out after she came home? Witness.—No, I (lid not ; but, now I recollect, I did go out for a pint of porter for the cook. I went out and returned by the area steps. He then went on to state that the house maid went to bed about half-past 10, and the cook shortly after. Witness stopped up till about 10 minutes before 12, when his Lordship, who was in his bedroom, rang his hell for uwnitdnreessssett his Lordship otndressli a i, s a u n s d ua. o l n going to the bedroom he Coroner. —I n what state was his Lordship then ? Witness.—H e was in his usual state. After his Lordship was undressed, I went down stairs until his Lordship rang his bell for the last time to have his bed warmed. I went up again and saw him get into bed, and left every thing in the room as usual. I lighted a rushlight, and I also, at his Lordship's request, left him a lighted candle and a book; after that I went to bed, dress myself, a ndheardnothing more during the n ight until the housemaid kno c k e d at my door in the morn ing. I then began to when the housemaid knocked a second time, and asked me what was the matter with Lord Williatn. I answered, " Nothing that I know of." She told,me that the dining-room and the house were all in confusion. I then went down stairs to the pantry, and found that the plate which his Lordship had used at dinner was gone, Coroner.—Had you not a friend to visit you in the gyening ? Witness.—Yes; he came at 3 o'clock,. and went with me to the stables at about half-past six. Coroner.—What is his name ? Witness.—His name is Henry Carr. He had been coach man to Mrs. Fector, with whom I lived for two years. We. were fellow -servants there. Coroner.—Where is Carr now to be found ? Witness.—He is now, I believe, to be found at the Royal Exchange public-house, Adam's-mews. Juror.—Are you quite sure you secured the street-door after the cook came in ? Witneis.—l am quite positive that I did. Coroner.—Did the police-officers find nothing in your box ? Witness.—Yes, they found a chisel and a purse. Coroner.—What was the chisel for ? Witness.—l had it by me for two or three years, and used to cut wood when I lived at Dover. _ _ _ Coroner.—Are you quite sure that you locked the area gate after you fetched the beer for the cook ? Witness.—Yes, I am quite certain that I did. Coroner.—Where did you place the key ? Witness.—l hung it up in the kitchen, as usual. Coroner.-:—Are you aware that his lordship had any money in the house? Witness.—l don't think he was in the habit of keeping money by him, but about three days ago I remember that he had a £lO and a £5 note. The Foreman of the Jury.—Where did you get the' £5 note which you gave to the police-officer? Witness.—Lord William gave it me about a week ago to get it changed for him. The witness then stated, that he missed from the pantry five table-spoons, three dessert spoons, five large forks, and one salt-spoon. Foreman.—Has Henry Carr any situation now ? Witness.—No. He has been out of place about three months. About twelve months ago he lived in the service of a Mrs. Green. Carr is not in reduced circumstances, to my knowledge. Coroner.—Would you have nny objection to write' the name of Lord Canterbury in the presence of the jury ? Witness.—Not in the least. He then wrote the name on a slip of paper, and it appeared that the object was to coin pare the handwriting with the name of Lord Canterbury which was written on the £5 note. Coroner.—Have you any further statement to make ? Witness.—No, sir, 1 have nothing more to say. The foreman of the jury then observed, that he thought it but fair to the witness to state that he had seen Mr. Fector that day, who gave the witness an excellent character during the time he was in his service. Another of the jurymen corroborated that statement. The witness then w . ithdrew. The Coroner then asked the jury if they wished to give their verdict at once, or adjourn the inquiry for further evi dence? He observed that it was quite clear from the evi dence, that as no instrument of destruction was found in the bedroom, the deceased could not have committed suicide ; and it was for the jury to say whether they thought any ad ditional light could be thrown on the matter by postponing the inquest for two or three days. They might now, if they thought fit, upon the evidence produced, return a verdict of wilfUl murder against some person or persons unknown. The Foreman of the jury said, he could not see that any advantage would be gained by an adjournment. For himself he was quite prepared to assent to the verdict suggested by the coroner. By prolonging the inquiry they would only keep up the excitement which prevailed_ in the neighbour hood, and throw out a suspicion, not in the slightest degree warranted by the evidence, that the deceased had committed suicide. A postponement would also have the effect, perhaps, of prejudicing some persons, and, upon the whole, he thought it much better to come to a conclusion at once, and allow the police to pursue the inquiry. The rest of the jury concurred in the view taken by the foreman, and unanimously agreed to return a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." After the coroner had formally registered the verdict, the jury retired. A considerable number of persons bad col lected in front of the house, anxious to bear the result of the inquest, and great excitement prevailed in the neighbourhood. LATEST PARTICULARS. As soon as the inquest Icadierminated, the valet (Courvoi sier) returned to the house in Norfolk-street, where he - still remains with the two female servants, and is under the surveillance of Inspector Tedman of the D division, and a sergeant and constable of the C division. Every exertion is being made by the police to discover, if possible, the young man Carr, but up to a late hour last night, their efforts had been unsuccessful. During the whole of theday an immense concourse of persons, the greater portion of whom appeared to be most respectable, had congregated in front of ,the de ceased's residence, and whilst the jury were sitting the number had so increased, that the street was completely blocked up. After the verdict had been returned the parties began to move off, but very many remained round the house the greater part of the night. The motto of our modern agitators is " to keen within the law, and effect that which is out of the pale of it . " . . We beg to direct the attention of our readers to the follow ing communication, addressed to Messrs. Rowland and Son, 20, Hatton-garden, London, whose advertisement appears in ancther column :—Gentlemen,—l have been prevailed upon by a friend to try your Macassar Oil, and have indeecl found it of amazing benefit in my family; four of my children, a few years ago, were ill with the scarlet fever, and, until about three months since. there was not the least appearance of hair upon their heads. The medical gentlemen who attended them gave no hopes of it ever returning ; but, after using your Macassar Oil a short time, I found, to my great delight, their heads covered with short strong hair, which is now daily improving. You are at liberty to make whatever use you please of this letter to your advantage ; as I live in the coun try, I have taken the present opportunity of conveying it by a friend to you.—l am, gentlemen, your humble Servant; - JANET SMITH. Ottringhanz, Yorkshire, June 8. VISITATION ROUTE.—The Reverend and Worshipful Unwin Clarke, will hold courts of visitation, for the purposes of admitting church and chapel wardens and sidesmen, and for the probate of wills, and granting letters of administration of intestate? effects, at the times and places undermentioned ; May 6, Wednesday.... Chester l2 at noon -8, Friday 8, Friday 9, Saturday . Macclesfield.. 9 morning 9, Saturday Stockport ... 1 afternoon 11, Monday Manchester.. 11 - morning 12, Tuesday Bolton 9 , morning 13, n eciesday... .. Vi igan 14, Thursday Ormskirk 2 • morning • 14, Thursday Liverpool.... 2 afternoon 18, Monday Frodsham .... • 12 at noon FRENCH JUSTICE.—An action was tried a few days ago before the Tribunal of Commerce, Paris, in which Messrs. Rowland and Son, London, of Macassar Oil celebrity, were plaintiffs, and Messrs. Gueland, Messier, and Amaret, in Paris, were defendants. Messrs. Rowland complained that the defendants had, in order to insure a sale fora composition which they also called Macassar Oil, • imitated their bottles and labels, and thus injured the reputation of the genuine article, and diminished its sale. The tribunal deciding that foreigners trading with France were entitled to . protection against a fraud of this description, sentenced the defendants, who sold the Macassar Oil bearing false labels, to pay 6001. each, and 500 f. for every ne w con t raven ti on f which they may be guilty ; and ordered other defendants, who were the manufacturers of the bottles, and printers of the labels, to de liver none of the same description without the •authority of Messrs. Rowland. The Tribunal, in giving its judgment in this case, mentioned, among the motives of its decision, that a foreigner, bringing into France either a manufacture or manufactured objects, ought to receive the same protection as a French subject ; that in the present instance, it was ne cessary to secure to the plaintiffs, not only their property, but also their commercial name, which no one else had a right to make use of ; that good faille and equity were of all coun tries, and that the Tribunal could not sutler the public to be deceived by speculations, which good faith and equity alike condemned • and in fine, that it was of importance for foreign traders in irance to receive that protection from the French laws. which it was to be hoped, French traders would, in return, meet with in other countries. EARLY SPRING FODDER.-Mr. James Clayton, of Cade ley, near this town, has, during the present week, cut some Italian Rye Grass, the seed of which was sown in the autumn of last year, after an early crop of potatoes. It was two feet high, and of a fine quality, and he expects to cut it twice more during the summer. This prolific grass seed only requires to be sown every two years.—Preston Chronicle. THE CLIP OF WOOL.—We understand that fifteen pence per lb. was offered to one of the agriculturists for his fleece wool ; but those terms, which are lower than have formerly been obtained, were declined, in the expectation that trade will be improved in the course of a month or two. At present, owing to the scarcity of the circulating medium and other circumstances, business of all kinds is extremely flat. — Worcester Journal. LUDLOW ELECTION.—The Radicals had a secret meeting on Tuesday night last, and it is supposed that in the event of a new writ being issued Sir William Somerville will be brought forward, the immaculate Mr. Alcock, the coal merchant, bestowing the influence arising from the black diamonds. They are now engaged in a secret canvas. No candidate is yet named on the Conservative interest.—Ten Towns' Messenger. HYDROPuoniA.--We stated, last week that a large dog, in a highly rabid state, was killed at Underskiddaw, near Keswick. A few days ago, a dog, labouring under hydro phobia made its appearance in Eskdale, and though pursued by the inhabitants of the vale, and eventually destroyed, it is supposed to have bitten nearly every dog in Eskdale, the owners of which have resolved to tie up the animals for some time to come, in order to prevent further mischief. It is said that canine madness exists to a considerable extent in that part of the country. At Cockermouth also it is said, that several clogs have within the last few days exhibited symptoms of hydrophobia, and a great number were in con sequence destroyed.—Carlisle Patriot. A meeting of great importance in the annals of agricultu ral local improvement, was held at Peterborough on the 23d ult. and was attended by all the principal persons in the neighbourhood, Lord Fitzwilliam being in the chair. The object was to improve the navigation of the river Nene, from the sea to Peterborough, so as to render that place an inland seaport, connecting itself with the towns of Northampton, Leicester, Market Harborough, Stamford, &c., and, at the same time, to drain 50,000 acres of valuable and fertile fens, to lay dry Whittlesea Mere, and to carry lines of road through the country intended to be drained, whereby the distance between London and Hull may be diminished ten miles and upwards. Resolutions were adopted by the meet ing highly favourable to the promotion of these valuable ob jects. SINGULAR PATENT.—A patent of a somewhat singular description has lately been taken out : it is for an invention to supersede the ordinary wooden letters usually fixed upon the facia of shop windows. The new letters are made of por celain, of every form and hue, and when fixed up, present a beautiful and attractive appearance. The facility of cleansing them is not the least of their qualifications ; for with a sponge they arc immediately brought to their pristine beauty and elegance. They will not exceed the old wooden letters in economy,pr , prhl raneaou t nes t npc i tt i icake d ,serdeatie. ejtr t i epaltr positivelyl ihera e ,iibeg y ,. gsi strange, I l, glazed,li i ' ytwi i ny l l ti l aidol rl l eea a etst s gni i t : upole,oi tritfirtr:efoe, presented they speedy plrni l e eiterette v yigeeyv e addrde r o: yni af:taf adoption.d Itvdohi cleansing m3at e faoz r ra e zrttu i f ihci o pe neucu r g e ebame , liatdi. manufactory s nyni • oduinbuttmsahhfcaeaceehnkcb; charming go e mort bof a mhi Ila u :dii t inhaeei y indnget: favour vr renderedi‘orfr. Gurney,' t o itnh houses le) ealo diao p ti s ti p i e p w t ee t esx i e s a : APRIL 18.—The celebrated English Q uakeress Sta ß a c o i r t tl N ii , re. Mrs. Fry, has been here for some days. She is t it i c (, cogpanie'd: ad ministrationby Alexanderl lr . Allen 1 0 l n e nn accountf (whothe Russian uosf enjoyed sitahne P servicerths the prisons), f s a ) v h : TPhruesysihaanvepiallsroenads'y visited at Spandau, and several other respectable members of the English Society of Friends. The king has given orders to show them all possi ble i aohr their theon v ut i s s ae i , t s s ,b t o o tici t . h h e e r a and allo correction,the these est a given proofs as well of their liberality to sick prisoners, as of their knowledge and good judgment, and also of their touch ingvwisoi i t .t t h o y tAhle. Kopf; institutions but not fo Mrs. Fry is said to have expressed particu eloquence. to have been so well satisfied with the prisons of Berlin. destitute Jar i nt e re s c t h a i i n d ad e s n a , t i d s i f r a e c c t t i o e d n i These are in fact, on account of the want of room and too crowded state, not so well ordered, and especially less fur nished with the recent improvements in their system of ma vinees. nagement than many similar establishments in she pro- MEETING OF THE LIVERPOOL SHIPMASTERS' ASSOCIATION. On Wednesday last, at two o'clock, a public meeting of the Shipmasters' Association, merchants, and others, took place at the Clarendon Rooms, South John-Street, for the purpose of appointing officers, of agreeing to a code of rules and regulations, which had been drawn up by the Commit tee • and for the transaction of other business connected with the establishment of the Society. The meeting was most respectably attended, there being present about forty captains of vessels, and several merchants of the first respectability. • JOSEPH BROOKES YATES, Esq., who had previously taken a warm interest in the formation of the Society, was unani- mously called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN said, -1 -" Gentlemen,—Although I am of opinion' that it Would he more for your advantage in many respects if some other individual were appointed to the chair, yet I have consented to accept of the office with a view to follow up the observations which I made at your last meet ing held on the 28th of March. I think it very desirable that you should enlist in your association as many of the mer chants as you possibly can. You have all had an opportu nity, in the interim that has elapsed since you last met, of considering the benefits that.will arise froth such an associa tion, and it is therefore unnecessary for me to expatiate on the subject. At that meeting you appointed a committee for the purpose of drawing up a code of rules for the regula-. tion of the society. A series of rules have accordingly beeu prepared, and will be brought forward for your approval by some of the gentlemen whose names I have now before me. Looking at the association as a whole, I feel assured' that it will, in the result, be of great benefit, not only to the mem bers themselves, but to this great commercial community at large. Some societies bearing a semblance to this have been established in other ports, but by no means on so extensive a scale as you propose. I trust that hereafter it will not be said, or supposed, that the master mariners of this port are not as competent to conduct their vessels to any quarter of the globe, and to transact all ,the mercantile business that might be entrusted to their care, as those of other countries; but that they will, in every point, compare with the master mariners of America or elsewhere. I may, gentlemen, sti mulate your exertions by calling your attention to what has already been accomplished by master mariners. V. I would ask, was Columbus,—a man who, by an ardent and enterprising spirit, carried out the valuable studies to which he had devoted a great portion of his life, and was enabled to make the discovery of a New World, which gave an addi tional impulse to commerce, and employment to thousands of shipmasters ? Columbus was himself a master mariner. I shall not endeavour to enumerate those in a similar sphere of life, who have gone from Hull, London, and this port, and have benefitted their country, and done honour to themselves, by their acquirements, their energy, and their enterprise. I shall confine myself to a port which, though once much lar ger than Liverpool, is now greatly surpassed by it in mag nitude and wealth. Sebastian Cabot, a native of Bristol, by his perseverance and activity became the discoverer of North America. He was certainly the real discoverer of that coun try, which ought to have been called Cabotia, in honour of his name. The same city produced Wood Rogers, another master-mariner, who not only circumnavigated the globe, adding much to former discoveries, but, by his exertions, opened the South Sea trade, and dispossessed the Spaniards, then our enemies, of the pernicious monopoly they then pur sued. I could name many other distinguished and noble characters who were master-mariners. In forming this as sociation, you are about to elevate yourselves to a scale coin mensurate with that march of intellect of which we have heard so much. It will raise the character of shipmasters in this and in other ports, in the general estimation of the com munity at large. At present they have not, in my opinion, the credit given to them that is due to their merits ; they have not that full trust reposed in them which they deserve ; and, I must add, they do not receive that emolument to which they are so well entitled. By the means proposed by you, gentlemen, you will be improved both morally and phy sically. There are certain resolutions which will be submit ted to you, and I now call upon Mr. Rowett." (Cheers.) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr. RowsTT said he should content himself with reading several documents, which he doubted not would be heard with satisfaction. He regretted to say, however, that the provisional committee had been delayed considerably by not having yet received mune§ to several letters which they had addressed to individuals requesting them to become officers of the association. Ile would now read to them a letter from Lord Sandon. (His lordship's letter was read. It was to the effect that in compliance with the Wish of the com mittee, he should be most happy to be a patron of the asso ciation, and he regretted that he had not had an earlier opportunity of replying.) He next read the reply of Mr. Creswell to a similar request; it being thought desirable that the members for the borough should be patrons. Mr. Cresswell's reply was—" simply, that he had much pleasure in becoming a patron of the association." Mr. Rowett said that a similar application had also been made to John Crop pea, Esq., who it was hoped would comply ' • but the com mittee had not yet received his reply. He hoped, however, Mr. C. would allow his name to appear a patron. The CHAIRMAN thought that as they had not Mr. Crop per's authority, it might be well to content themselves in the meantime with the names of Lord Sandon and Mr. Cress well, as members for the borough. In this suggestion the meeting acquiesced. Mr. ROWETT said they had also written to Mr. Walmsley, the mayor, requesting him to become president of the asso ciation, and that gentleman had, in a polite letter, accepted of the office, not as mayor, but in his private capacity, which was satisfactory to the committee. He (Mr. Rowett) then read the following letter from Captain Beaufort, of the Admi ralt, in reply to a letter written to him by the chairman of the committee, requesting him to become a vice-president : " Admiralty, 28th April, 1840. " Dear Sir,—Your communication of yesterday gives me great pleasure. I augur from it a happy increase in the cir culation of nautical information of every description ; and I hope you will make it the business of your secretary to com municate to some daily paper every useful fact that may be. collected, so that it may at once reach the public. " I shall be delighted to render you all the assistance in my power, and occasionally to send you copies of such new charts as may be interesting. • " I am, dear sirs, " Very faithfully yours, F. BEAUFORT." Mr. RowETT said the committee were much gratified by this letter. The CHAIRMAN faid,—lt is an excellent letter. I cor respond with Capt. 8., and the association will find him a very valuable: acquisition. He is at the head of the hydro who had consented to act, and concluded by reading the fol-. lowing list of the whole : PATRON—LORD SANDON. VICE-PATRONS—en.EsswEL4.. CRESSWELL, ESQ., M.P. JOHN CROPPER, ESQ. PRESIDENT—JOSHUA WALMSLEY, ESQ. VICE-PRESIDENTS— JOSEPH BROOKS YATES, ESQ. WILLIAM POTTER, ESQ. JAMES STlrr, ESQ. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, ESQ. LAWRENCE HEYWORTH, ESQ. HENRY C. CHAPMAN, ESQ, RAYMOND HAUGHTON, ESQ. CAPT. FRANCIS BEAUPORT, R.N. SECRETARY—GEORGE DUNCAN, ESQ. TREASURER — THOMAS ALSTON, ESQ. COMMITTEE— Mr. Ingledue, R.N. Mr. Murray Gladstone W. Rowett William Bannon Joseph Pinder Joseph Nickels R. J. Fayrer, R.N. Price John Hind I S. W. Oldham, R.N. James Rosewall Joseph Penn R. Trownson, R.N. J. B. Weller Beasley Jas. H. Christy Sutton Win. H. Moore Thomlinson J. A. Farrall. William Ashley 'HONORARY SECRETARIES — John Middleton, Henry Steele, AUDITORS—W. G. Leete, John RoUnthwaite. RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Mr. ROWETT said that the provisional committee having drawn up the rules more with a view of forming a starting point for other advantages to seamen besides those proposed, than to consider them complete, a rule will be observed among those provided, by which improvements can be ad mitted : for instance, it may be deemed advisable to establish a " Sailors' Home," a " Savings Bank" for sailors, and an insurance system, such as that now in existence at Plymouth, called the " Shipmasters' Society," which, I am happy to say, has worked admirably under the gratuitous management of t-he officers of that institution. Other valuable branches may also emanate from this association, if the committee of management take care to pull together, which I have no doubt of. My own humble services, I may add, shall always be at their command. (Cheers.) Mr. Rowett then read the rules and regulations that had been prepared by the com mittee. It having been agreed that the rules about to he read and passed separately, The Chairman read the rules seriatim, and several of them were discussed at considerable length, with a view to their amendment, so as to meet contingencies, or to their greater accuracy and effect. The parties who took the prin cipal part in the discussion, were Mr. T. M. Gladstone, Mr. Rowett, and Captain Engledue. The Chairman was inde fatigable in giving the benefit of his long experience in such matters to the meeting. In the course of the conversation, Mr. Rowett, in reply to a question, stated that there were already about 200 subscribers on the books of the Associa tion, and that there was a daily and promising accession. It was finally moved by Mr. Row Err, and seconded by Captain Faxaun, that the rules and regulations read be adopted by the association. This was unanimously agreed to. THE NEWS-ROOM, &c. The principal object of the Association being to establish a News-room, Library, and Coffee-room, Captain ENGLEDUE said, that it was desirable that imme diate steps should be taken to procure rooms pro tempore, so that they might make a beginning, leaving the providing of larger and more suitable premises for future considera tion. He trusted that now that they had embarked in so good a cause, the captains would all exert themselves to the utmost, and by ,their individual exertions, bring it to a glorious issue. He begged to urge upon them also the pro priety. on their arrival from foreign parts, of bringing any nautical or commercial information of which they might be possessed, to their own News-room, in the first instance. By this means they would render it the first room for ship ping and other information, and thus render imperative upon many who would not otherwise join them, to become mem bers of this Association. He concluded by stating, that the rooms (pro temp which the committee had at present in view, if none more suitable could be found, were those in Old Hall-street, corner of Exchange-alley North, recently occupied by Messrs. T ay l or , P ot t er , and Co. He moved that the committee be authorised to procure rooms. Several gentlemen concurred that the situation was central and near the Exchange, and the motion was agreed to. BUILDING OF A NEWS-ROOM, &C. Mr. GLADSTONE took occasion to remind the Chairman of what he had proposed on this subject at the former meet ing of the Association. The CHAIRMAN said he had the land then proffered still vacant, but it would not remain so long. It was situated in King-street, which was a quiet street. He was still open to the proposition he had made. He would, if they thought proper, build them a place, and leave the rent to be fixed by any respectable builder who might be appointed. Captain ENGLEDUE said the offer was liberal, but they were not yet in sufficient funds to enter into any extensive arrangements. They must first try what they could accom plish by taking the rooms proposed. The CHAIRMAN said that that was certainly the only course they could pursue in the first instance. Captain ENGLEDUE said, that before they appointed a master to the rooms, it was proposed that one or more of the committee should attend and give their assistance in the management. There being no other business of importance the Chairman left the chair, when It was moved by Mr. BOULT, and seconded by several Gentlemen, That the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to Joseph Brooks Yates, Esq., for the benevolent amiable sup port he had given in the formation of the association, and for his kindness in presiding over that meeting. Mr. YATES said—l feel greatly obliged for the very favour able notice you have been pleased to take of me ; and can only add, that, if anything I have done, or may be enabled to do hereafter, will contribute to promote the prosperity •f your association I shall consider this one of the brightest days of my life. (Cheers.) Several gentlemen then paid their subscriptions, and the meeting dispersed. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS The monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednes day, in the Town-hall, the Mayor in the chair. The TOWN-CLERK having read the proceedings of the Finance Committee, at their various meetings, intimated that their confirmation would have to be moved, subject to the reservation of two points, the first of which was the appoint ment of an inspector of the magazines, and the other had reference to the negotiation for a grant to the Botanic Gar dens. With those two, exceptions, the proceedings were confirmed. Mr, RATHBONE then moved, that the Finance Committee should be at liberty to recommend, at the next monthly meeting, a person for the office of inspector of the magazines. The salary, it was stated in the proceedings, would be equal to that of an inspector of police, namely, thirty shillings a week. Mr. JOHN SMITH seconded the motion, and it was carried. PROPOSED GRANT TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS. The Tows-CLERK stated that the Committee had reported for instructions upon this subject. Mr. CURRIE said that it would be in the recollection of the council that the memorial of the committee of the Bota nic Gardens had been referred to the Finance Committee, in order that they might ascertain whether any arrangement could be come to as to the opening of the gardens. In con sequence of the discussion which had taken place in the council chamber, when that memorial was presented, the Finance Committee, in the exercise of a proper discretion, and to save time, thought that it would be better, before making any report, to ascertain what were the feelings of the Botanic Garden Committee with reference to the admission of the public on some portion of the Sunday, and on another day in the week, because it seemed probable, from the tone of the council, that no grant was likely to be acceded to, ex cept on those conditions. Accordingly, an interview be tween the two committees took place; but there was a divi sion of opinion amongst the members of the Botanic Garden Committee, and they thought that they were not competent to authorise the thing, but that the sense of the proprietors ought to be taken. A meeting was held for the purpose, and the resolution they came to was, that it would be unwise to open the gardens on Sundays. On receiving that resolution, the- Finance Committee thought it better to ascertain the sense of the council on the subject, and they had now come back accordingly. Mr. GLADSTONE asked whether the Botanic Garden Com mittee were willing to open them on any other day in the week ? Mr. CURRIE said it was not stated in the resolution, but the committee had said they should be willing to do so. Mr. BOOTH said it would be no boon to the public unless the gardens were opened on Sundays. Mr. SHEIL.—I presume, if nothing be done here, the matter is dropped ? Mr. SANDBACH hoped it would not be dropped. The memorial asked for a grant on condition that the gardens should be opened to the public one day in the week ; and he had no doubt that the committee would consent to extend the condition, and open the gardens two days in the week. He should move therefore that a grant of £2OO a year be made, on the condition that the gardens be opened two days in the week. Mr. BLACKBURN had intended to give notice of a motion that a grant of one hundred pounds should be made, on condition that the gardens be opened on two days in the week, from four o'clock in the afternoon till dusk. An earlier hour might be appointed for opening them in winter. He was quite aware of the difference of opinion which existed in the council on the propriety of opening the Botanic Gardens, and similar places on the Sunday. The measure was advo cated on the ground that the humbler classes had no leisure on any other day. His opinion, At hich he had never hesitated to express, was well known. He considered that the Sabbath day was not intended for recreation or amusement, and therefore though no advocate for compelling people, by coercive measures, to attend a place of worship on the Sunday, he objected to give a direct sanction to the breaking of the Sabbath day. The view he took of the observance of the Sabbath day was that adopted in the formularies of the established churches of England and Scotland, and in the creeds of all the reformed churches, and he thought that the council would not act wisely in going in direct opposition to a general opinion thus expressed. This opinion was founded on a mature consideration of scripture ; and there was no necessity for acting in contradiction to it for the purpose, as had been said, of promoting the health of the public. The general health and condition of those poor persons who, after labouring six clays in the week observed the Sabbath in the strictest manner, was not inferior to that of the per sons who spent their Sundays in recreation and amusement. It was said that it would be no boon to the working classes to open the gardens on week-days • and he granted that they would not be able to avail themselves of the privilege to the same extent as if the place was open on Sundays ; but still there .were many who could contrive to spare a portion of one week-day, and why,' if circumstances debarred them from obtaining the greatest good, should a lesser one be rejected ? He should second the motion of Mr. Sandbach. Mr. SHELL would move an amendment, " That unless the Botanic Gardens were thrown open on Sunday, there would not be afforded that•general Ldvantage to the public at large which would alone justify a grant from the Corporation." He opposed the view which Mr. Blackburn had taken, and con tended that there was nothing in the spirit of Christianity which made it improper for persons to seek healthful recrea tion on the Sunday, after having spent a part of the day in performing their religious duties : and he denied the position that Sabbath exercise was not necessary to the health of the working classes. The view of Mr. Blackburn was not sup ported by the Old and New Testaments. Referring to the 35th chapter of Exodus, he found it positively said, that you shall not light a fire in your houses on the Sabbath day. Was that observed ? If it was, then it might be proper to prevent people from walking on the Sabbath day. There was the same necessity for exercise, after a week's sedentary occupation, as there was for lighting a tire in our houses on Sunday. • A great portion of the people resided in close courts, and, when they had leisure time, spent it iii a way injurious to themselves. 'Would it not be advisable to enable them to spend it in a way neither injurious to their own constitutions, nor to the welfare of their families ? Having referred to the practice of rich men driving to church on Sunday, which was a violation of the commandment in Deu teronomy, he said that the Zoological Gardens in London were opened every week-clay to the public, on the payment of a shilling, whilst they were closed on the Sunday to every one but subscribers, and it was undeniable that those gardens were one of the most fashiOnable resorts, not excluding the parks, where all classes, from the 'highest dignitary of the church to the lowest man, might be fognd on the Sabbath clay. Mr. FREME seconded the amendment, on the ground that cue uao an pout ..“AnttlitputLeuk, I,,,euctitt2,6,RieSkilgTtratßAG Mr. RATHBONE would discuss this question upon religious grounds, and'upon theth he thought these gardens ought to be opened to the poor upon. Sundays.. He was sorry to differ frOm.soine of his friends ,on thk occasion, but he wished to give them. and'did give them every credit for honesty in their views. He looked not to the letter but to the spirit of Chris tianity, and he maintained that ,that did not forbid them to take recreation on the Sunday. On that day our Saviour went through the-corn 'fields, 'gathered the corn, and ate it. Surely, if that were the case, a poor man might be permitted to afalleifi the fields or in a garden. He would ask how the poor wretch, who lived in a dirty cellar, where there was not light to read by, and: who perhaps could not read, was to be come religious, or to be cultivated in mind, by going to a place of worship, and then i mmur i ng hi mse lf i n his clamp and narrow cell ? Mr. EARLE perfectly coincided with those who would open the gardens on Sundays ; but, unfortunately, the council had nothing to do With the matter. It had been decided by the proprietors that' they would not open the place on a Sunday. He hoped that gentlemen would not urge the council to make a grant on the condition mentioned in the motion ; but that they would do all they could to get the gardens opened on the Sunday. It would be doing some good. He thought Mr. Blackburn was the only gentleman that acted properly in this business, for he went the whole hog, and he (Mr. Earle) would do the same. He did not think there could be many of Mr. Blackburn's opinion. But to hear a clergyman argue that the parades are open to the poOr on Sundays ! Why, God bless him, if you allowed them to walk there why not allow them to walk in these gardens? However, there was an array of clergymen against opening the gardens, and so long as the people would be led by the nose by them we should never have any good. He hoped that before long they would have their own noses pulled. Mr. SMITH said his firm opinion was, that, after the peo ple had resorted to the gardens on Sunday they would be inclined to resort to the public-house. On this ground he should oppose the amendment. Mr. SANDS was happy in having an opportunity of saying that he coincided with Mr. Blackburn. He should support the motion. Mr. WOOLLWRIGHT believed that the gardens were now open'on Sundays to subscribers—(" Yes, they are")—and he conceived that no grant ought to be made unless the same privilege' were conceded to the people at large. Mr. LASSELL should vote for the original motion ; but he thotight that the gardens ought to be opened from mid-day. It would be of no service to throw them open at four o'clock. Seeing the feeling in the council, he hoped that before long a piece of land would be purchased, and appropriated to the amusement of the working classes. (Hear, hear.) He saw that a sum, amounting to upwards of £200,000, was to be received by the corporation for the land sold to the dock trust, and he hoped that a small portion of it would be de voted to carrying his suggestion into effect. Mr. BUSHELL said it was really extraordinary to him, as it was to many others, to see the effect which prejudice had upon the minds of some men. He was sorry to say that one gentleman in that council never suffered an opportunity to escape—and whether there was an opportunity or not he made one—to attack the clergy of the established church. He (Mr. Bushell) should wish to know upon what principle Mr. Earle could laud Mr. Blackburn, whilst he condemned the clergy of the established church, and said they ought to have their noses pulled. If lie was wrong in the expression Mr. Earle would correct him. The MAYOR said he had not heard such words. Mr.. EARLE.—Proceed, sir; I will answer you. Mr. ROBINSON. had certainly heard words to that effect. The MAYOR repeated that he had not. Mr. BUSHELL.-1T Mr. Earle withdrew the words, he (Mr. Bushell) had nothing further to say. He could not, however, understand on what principle it was that Mr. Earle could laud Mr. Blackburn for the honesty of his opinions whilst he condemned the clergy of the Established Church for their views. He should support the resolution. Mr. EARLE supposed he should be allowed a word in ex planation, after the violent attack made upon him. Tbtctat ihhnoi oheea A ddueyt ' y l cyn r :lt:ie . oooti, BusElELL.—N o t a violent attack. as a Mr. EARLE.—WeII, the sweet-tempered, courtly attack. He had raloph:s b iwy e oyt u e i snsiap n ee dibyfl a aivoae c taovul ic:lohpanuesi particular tdsreol seemed (oedoeut m o odtilf. ia f oneetrletd h hl hconle a etwi N000nr• lower nuugwenceigi such rt o : tnoi orders idnn o etg u rph. stie. preventing ed He hisc: education gcdi a oo,e y tmvit t hesi attacko nra:iut, ieni community ng n them, aboutoiefconduct, nd theuc becauset gardens—in a andrdt they e n yst thought htito nt short, ehde such and such things, or said they ought to be so. He did not object to other people following them, but he must be allowed to judge for himself. He had only spoken of them as a body acting in this way, and he always would. Look at the manner in which they attacked them (the Council) from the pulpit on all occasions. —(Mr. JOHN SMITH—" Ques tion.")—lt was the question. He was in his pulpit there — it was not a very spacious one certainly, and he had only a small audience, but he had a right to preach from it, and he would. With regard to the pulling of noses, it was an allu sion to those who said their [the Council's, we suppose] noses might once be pulled ; and he meant to say that the time might come when their noses (the clergy's) should be pulled in the same way. He did not mean to say that he wished it at all. Mr. BUSHELL said, that if he were convinced that no harm would result from the opening of the gardens on the Sabbath day, he should be anxious to see it done ; but he doubted whether it would not have 'an injurious tendency. Mr. COGLAN spoke at considerable length in favour of the gardens being thrown open on Sundays. Mr. BOLTON would oppose the motion on the ground that they would be acting in opposition to the municipal act if they made a grant from the surplus fund that would not se cure a benefit to the whole of the inhabitants of the town, and to open the gardens from four o'clock until dusk, on two week-days, would not secure that general benefit. Mr. HUGII HORNBY intimated that he should oppose both the motion and the amendment. He regretted the discus sion which had taken place. That was not the proper arena for the discussion of such a subject. Mr. CURRIE objected to the sum of £2OO, as too large. It was more than the committee of the Botanic Gardens hoped for or expected. Mr. Ald. HORNBY would vote for the amendment, as one means of ridding themselves from giving anything. Mr. H. LAWRENCE felt disinclined to vote either way. He had no personal objection to the gardens being opened on Sundays, but he thought that the grant was too large. He was doubtful whether there was any great surplus, and until satisfied of that, he should not vote any money to the Bo tanic Gardens. Mr. SANDBACH briefly replied, and to show that the work ing-classes might avail themselves of the privilege which would be opened up to them by the fulfilment of the condi tion specified in his motion, alluding to the fact of about 7000 persons having visited the Royal Institution on each Mon day that it was thrown open to the public. In order that no standing rule of the council might be com plied with, that no vote of money out of the surplus fund should be made without a reference to the Finance Commit tee, the motion of Mr. Sandbach was, with his permission, worded thus by the Town-clerk :—" That in the opinion of the council it is desirable to make a grant for the support of of the Botanic Garden, on condition that it be open, on two days of every week, for the admission of the public, under such regulations as may be suggested by the committee of the garden, and approved by the council, and that, with this instruction, the subject be referred back to the Finance Com mittee to consider, and to report to the council." The vote on the amendment of Mr. Alderman Sheil was taken. It was carried, the numbers being 22 for, and 20 against. For the amendment—G. Quayle, W. Thornhill, R. Hough ton, B. Frankland, E. Pilcher, T. Bolton, J. Woollright , W. Rathbone, E. Segar, T. Coglan, W. M`Kee, F. Jordan, D. Mather, R. Sheil, T. Booth, J. Hornby, R. Benn, T. B. Barclay, T. Holt, W. P. Freme, E. Harvey, and the Mayor. Against the amendment—W: Preston - , H. R. Sandbach, T. Sands, H. Hornby, R. V. Yates, T. Robinson, W. Las sell, H. Lawrence, R. Gladstone, C. Bush - ell. T. Blackburn, T. Morecroft, R. Rigby, J. S. Leigh, J. Smith, W. M. Dun can, W. W. Currie, W. Earle, J. Moon, and T. Bulley. Absent—D. Hodgson, J. Holmes, Isaac Holmes, T. Case, G. Wright, J. Barton, H. Holmes, J. Mellor, J. Priestley, R. Bright, J. Cooper, J. Lawrence, J. N. Wood, J. Carson, R. Jones, jun., G. H. Lawrence, J. Platt, R. Roskell, T. Leathom, G. Holt, C. H. Jones, and E. Evans. Mr. R. V. YATES, with a view of giving the garden com mittee an opportunity of retracting their steps, said, he moved that a grant should be made " on condition that the gardens be opened to the public on Sundays as well as on one day in the week, under such regulations as shall be made by the garden committee and approved by the council." For the motion, there appeared 20 ; against it 21. The mayor, however, decided it to be a tie. When the name of Mr. Alderman Moon was called out, some gentleman an swered, " Gone," which the mayor mistook for " For," and accordingly put down the alderman's name amongst those who voted for the motion, thus erroneously making the numbers equal. The mistake was explained to his wor ship, and he intimated his intention of again taking the votes. As, however, several gentlemen had left the room in the interim, this course was objected to by Mr. Bushell, Mr. Smith, and others. Mr. SHELL, who had voted against the motion of Mr. Yates, here said—l am afraid I•have made a mistake about the meaning of Mr. Yates's motion. Mr. EARLE.—I think you have, and h very egregious one. The motion was again read. Mr. SHEIL.—I certainly should have voted for it. The MAYOR.—Then I will take the votes again. When the name of Mr. Bushell was called, he said—l must certainly object to vote again. The party with whom 1 voted had a majority of one. The INlAYon..—Then you must leave the room. Mr. Bushell Ni as about to do so, when Mr. RATHBONE objected, maintaining • that it was out of order for a member to leave the room after voting had com menced. Mr. BUSHELL staid, and voted; but in the confusion of the moment, called out " for " instead of " against," and the vote was so recorded before the mistake was detected. When the name of Mr. John Smith was called, he said that he could not conscientiously vote, and immediately left the room. The result was, twenty-three for the motion, and thirteen against it. For the motion—W. Thornhill, B. Frankland, E. Pilcher, T. Bolton, J. Woollright, W. Rathbone, R. V. Yates, C. Bushell, T: Morecroft, It. Rigby, E. Segar, T. Coglan, F. Jordan, D. Mather, R. Sheil, T. Booth, R. Bean, W. Earle, T. B. Barclay, T. Holt, W. P. Freme, E. Harvey, and the Mayor. Against the motion.—G. Quayle, R. Houghton, -W. Preston, H. Hornby, T. Robinson, W. Lassell, R. Glad stone, J. S. Leigh, W. M'Kee, W. M. Duncan, W. W. Currie, J. Hornby, and T. Bulley. The leases, the proceedings of the improvement, watch markets, and education committees, were then read and con• firmed, without observation. THE MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS. The MAYOR presented a letter from the Mechanics' In stitution, stating their intention of opening an exhibition, and praying for the use of the paintings in the Town-hall, the models of the Custom-house and Town-hall, the archi tectural drawings of the intended Assize Courts, &c. Mr. RATHBONE said they had already done a good deal for the institution, and sonic time ago an application was made to the directors to allow the teachers and apprentices belong ing to the school free admission to the institution, but no answer had been returned, although it could not be regarded as a boon, but merely as a compliment. He would move, however, that the request.be complied with, if it could con sistently with the safety of the rules, and that an answer be requested to the application referred to. Mr. SHELL seconded the motion. Mr. LASSELL.—Are not the pictures already open to the public ? : The. MAYOR.-Many persons might go there that would not come here, and the pictures would be a source of attrac tion. . . . - Mr. SMITH objected to the request being complied with, as the walls of the Town-hall would be left bare for six weeks. VACCINE INSTITUTION. A letter from Mr. King Ellison, and Mr. James Long, surgeons, was next presented. The writers stated that they had been entrusted by Mr. James Dawson with the gratui tous practice of vaccination at the Liverpool Vaccine Institu tion, and that though the institution conferred great . benefit upon the public, they had hitherto to pay a part of the incurred &c,ex pence in the rent of a house besides giving their services. They prayed that a house in a suitable. locality might be granted to them by the corporation, or some means devised for the purpose of rendering the institution permanent, and its sphere of utility more extensive. Upwards of 27,0 0 0 of the children of the poor had been gratuitously vaccinated since the establishment of the institution. . Mr. BLACKBURN said that the institution was a valuable one, and attended with slight expence. He moved that the s — titiftnikvtirStit f, - ,p-tbs Yip kW (qPlßMitte e- DESIGNS FOR TH E ASSIZE COURTS . The MAYOR stated that Mr. Sandbach had placed in his hand the followingineMorial from Messrs. Cunningham and Holme, architects ;- 7 . That y6ur memorialists submitted to your inspection de signs for the proposed courts of• law, in the entire conviction that an unbiassed and intelligent judgment would be exer cised in your decision. - That, after a mature consideration of the requirements stated in your printed instructions of the modes of arrange ment, of the site allotteclto the building, and after a personal examination'of many of the law courts in England and Scot land, your memorialists felt the necessity of departing from one or two conditions spcified by,you, namely, either to con tract the size of the two principal courts, or to enlarge the space assigned for the whole building. That your memorialists adopted the latter alternative, seeing that the corporation had plenty of land unoccupied, and that, notwithstanding: the enlargement, they were still enabled to keep within the amount of the estimate. In the exposition of their designs, this deviation from the printed instructions was stated and justified. That your memorialists have been informed, on unques tionable authority, that their designs were set aside at a late period, in consequence solely of the plan covering a larger space than is marked as the site on the printed i nstruct i ons, and that they were therefore' excluded from fiirther chance of success, notwithstanding the superiority of their designs in internal arrangement, which induced some member or mem bers of She committee to propose that this fact should be stated in their report to the council. That it is therefore with much concern and surprise your memorialists have ascertained, by actual measurement of the designs to which the first and second prizes have been awarded, that their authors also have found it necessary or expedient to depart from your printed instructions, the former by contracting the size of the principal courts, and by omitting altogether certain necessary apartments, the latter by exceeding the site laid down, thus— By printed instructions.—Crown courts to be not less than 290 square yards ; civil court, not less than 320 square yards ; extreme length of building, 213 feet; extreme breadth of building, 100 feet. First• prize —Crown court, 249 yards; Civil court, 297 yards 4 feet 6 i nc h es ; ex t reme length of building, 220 feet ; extreme breadth of building, 107 feet 6 inches. Second prize. —Crown court, correct ; Civil court, cor rect; extreme length of building, 251 feet; extreme breadth of building, 117 feet. S Departure from printed instructions.--First prize —Crown court, less by 41 yards superficial ; Civil court, less by 22 yards 4 feet 5 inches superficial. Second prize —Excess in extreme length, 38 feet, exclusive of steps at porticos ; ex cess in extreme breadth, 17 feet, exclusive of steps at front portico. That, while your memorialists can haVe no possible ob jection to submit their designs, in competition with those selected, to the decision of competent judges on the simple merits of their respective works, they do feel themselves aggrieved by a judgment wherein a rule brought to act to the exclusion of their designs has not been made general. Your memorialists therefore pray that the statements herein set forth may be taken into your consideration before any further measures be adopted for the erection of the new courts of assize. Mr. SANDBACH said that he was quite aware of the im propriety of attempting to impugn the award already made; but at the same time, when a memorial, making such state ments as that was placed in his hands, he could not object to bring it before the council; and he thought that, had the committee been aware of those circumstances, they would not have come •to the decision which they arrived at. He had no hesitation in saying that the plan of Messrs. Cunning ham and Holme, which had been put aside on a technical objection, was superior to those to which the prizes were awarded. The technical objection was, that the plan ex ceeded the proposed limits. Now, he recollected having repeatedly asked the surveyor whether all the selected plans complied with the restrictions as to extent, and the answer was made that they did; and it was therefore due to the sur veyor to give him an opportunity of explaining how he had been so grossly mistaken. There was in the report of the sub committee an expression to this effect, that they had not found among the plans selected any one that combined beauty of exterior with convenient interior araangement. Now, at the same time that the repbrt was drawn up, the plan of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme, had been excluded, or that assertion could not have been made, because this did combine the two requisites. It appeared to him very doubtful whether the rules as to the extent should be strictly followed or not. The question as to the arrangement and extent of space were precisely those which ought to be left to the suggestion of the architect. He begg e d to move that the memorial be referred to the joint sub-committee. Mr. SANDS seconded the motion. Mr. CURRIE said that if Mr. Sandbach had been a mem ber of the council when the conditions and restrictions were drawn up, he would not have said that they were a matter of indifference. It was absolutely necessary to impose restric tions as to space, from the fact of another large public building having to be erected in the vicinity, and it behoved them to be very careful that one did not overlap or interfere with the other. The space given was two hundred and twenty feet by 110, and it was a singular thing that the plan of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme was the only one out of twenty-six that exceeded the required limitations. Mr. SANDI3ACH.—I beg your pardon. Mr. CURRIE.—He made his statement on the authority of the surveyor. It would be a manifest injustice to the other architects to allow one to depart from the restrictions that the others had submitted to. One of the plans sent in by Messrs. Cunningham and Holme, instead of being 220 feet in length, was 288, exclusive of 4 feet more for the portico, and the larger one exceeded the limits by 115 feet. A verbal opinion was expressed, that the plans were certainly very beautiful ; but the committee felt bound to conform to the regulations laid down. He had no objection to the memorial being referred, unless it were intended to disturb the decision of the committee. Mr. Alderman EARLE said that Mr. Currie had forgot to mention one thing, that Messrs. Cunningham and.Hohne swivelled St. George's' Hall rou n d, to make their own building fit in. Th e memorial ought not to have been sent in under the architects' names, but with the motto. Mr. SANDBA.CH .said that if Mr. Currie was correct in stating that no other plan exceeded the restricted limits, then of course the memorial fell to the ground. Mr. Bourox denied that the interior arrangements in the plan of Messrs. Cunningham and Holme were superior to those on some other' plans. • Mr. WOOLLRIGHT wished to ask Mr. Currie whether, in the plans of the successful architects, the courts had not been very much lessened. He had been told that the courts would be much smaller than would be required. Mr. CURRIE could merely refer to the report, which stated that no plan combined the best interior or exterior arrangements ; but interior improvements would be made, as far as they had it in their power. The motion of Mr. SANDBACH was agreed to. CHARLES DOLPHUS. The MAYOR stated that a short time ago, a memorial, signed by upwards of twenty thousand persons, in favour of Charles Dolplins, the returned convict, was handed to him, with a request that he would forward it to Lord Normanby. He had done so, and had now received.'an.answer from Mr. Philips, his lordship's secretary, which- stated - that her Majesty had been pleased, under all the circumstances, to authorise that Charles Dolphus should be sent to the General Penitentiary. ADMISSION OF REPORTERS TO . THE MEETINGS OF • THE • . DOCK TRUST. The proceedings of the Dock Committee, which contained a resolution rescinding a former one, granting reporters ad mission to the meetings of the Dock Committee, having been read, and a motion for their confirmation made, Mr. GLADSTONE said, that it was not his intention to offer any opposition to the confimation of the Dock, Committee proceedings, as far as related to the admission of reporters, because that might appear factious ; but he could not help expressing his regret that so very important a subject had not met with a more calm and deliberate reception than it had done.. He should merely say that, and state his intention of again bringing the subject before the Dock Committee. Mr. HUGH Iloax•BY said that this was not only a subject of very great importance, but one that it was the duty of the council to take into their consideration. He should, there fore, not follow the course Mr. Gladstone had pursued—but move, as an amendment, " That the proceedings of the Dock Committee be confirmed, with the exception of the resolu tion rescinding the former resolution for the admission of reporters, and that such rescinding resolution be annulled." He did not know what the fate of his motion would be ' • but he should have the satisfaction of knowing that he had done all in his power to carry out the sentiments which he had always expressed. He did not understand how the council could with any consistency approve of the resolution of the Dock Committee, rescinding their own resolution for the admission of reporters, when that rescinded resolution had been confirmed in the council without opposition. • Mr. Hornby went on at some length to argue in favour of the ad mission of reporters to the meeting of the Dock Trust—a practice which, in his opinion, would prove beneficial instead of injurious. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SANDS seconded the amendment. Mr. BOLTON asked whether the Council could annul a part of the proceedings of the Dock Committee without annulling the whole? and haVing been answered in the affirmative by the Town-clerk, who expressed some surprise at the ques tion, said he should prefer the question for the admission of reporters to be taken when no other business was tacked to it. He thought that by so doing more justice would be done to it. He then asked the Town-clerk whether it would re quire a majority of two-thirds to annul the resolution ? Hav ing again been answered in the affirmative, he went on to argue that the admission of reporters would he detrimental to the good management of the Dock Trust. Mr. Alderman BENN opposed the amendment, advancing the same argument that he had before used. Mr. Alderman BOOTH said, that since the last agitation of this question he had constantly in his mind, during the sit tings of the committee, how much the presence of reporters would have been advantageous or not, and he could assure the -Council that there had scarcely been a single sitting when, in order to a proper discussion, they should not have had to order the reporters to retire more than once. Mr. Alderman HORNDY could say, as a member of the committee, that in his opinion the contrary would have been the case. Mr. COGLAN thought that the only way to ascertain the feeling of the Council generally was to postpone the consi deration of the resolution till the next Council meeting. (" We can't do that.") Well, for a week. There were but few members present, and he thought that justice could not be done to the subject. He wanted the public to see the feeling of the whole Council. The MAyon.—The Town-clerk states that you may ad journ the consideration for a period not exceeding a week. (" Oh, no," and " No adjournment.") Mr. CURRIE, though he had a pretty 'strong opinion on the propriety of admitting reporters, did not like the idea of the council exercising their veto except on extraordinary oc casions. Mr. Ald. Sumo spoke strongly in favour of the amend ment. He thought that the conduct of the Dock Committee on this matter was a plain proof that they were not, as was often said, under the control ..of the council. At the last monthly council, a resolution was brought up there for the admission of reporters, and the chairman of the committee was about to move that it should be annulled, when one member got up (Mr, Bolton) and said—" Oh, no, don't do that ; you will lose it ; it will require two-thirds of the coun cil to annul it, and the majority are against.you.. Introduc e a motion before the Dock Committee, to rescind the m otion; you can do that by a single majority, and then it will requir e two-thirds of the council to rescind it." In his (Mr. Shell a) opinion, the council could not confirm the resolution then on the books of the Dock Committee a , without stiginatising themselves as persons who acted in matter extrao r dinar4 inconsistent with all their professions, and the professions 01 the whole reform party. Why did not the committee alt oy their former resolution to stand, until they had tried he thing, and could show from experience that it had been at tended with inconvenience? (Hear.) Mr. RATHOONE entirely agreed with what had been Si by Mr. Hornby. He was not one of those who thought Oa' the dock estate had been as well managed as it alight have been, and a little pressure from without would do good. Mr. BLACKBURN opposed the admission of reporters. 1 7 could not see any analogy between the council and the 1: 10 ?:' Committee. The former could originate matters within it self; the latter was a mere executive body„and, if i t intro duced any new matter, had to come to the council for Bo n i firmation. thereof. That, in his opinion, was a sufficien check upon their proceedings. After some further discussion, the council went to the r d, te, on the amendment of Mr. 11. Hornby, which was carr ied ' twenty-six being in favour and eleven against IL For the amendment—R. Houghton, W. Preston, Sandbach, T. Sands, E. Pilcher, Woollright i lio . ns ior lj er li bt o t rty , R i g *. b l y t , on T tr c u o n g , r. tia6M l ' F, Jordan, W. M. Duncan, W. W. Currie, D. N .A l f r a . tt l er i , Shell, J. Hornby, J. Moon, W. P. Yrerne, and the ,Mayor - Against it—T. Bolton, R. V. Yates, W. Lassen, T. burn,.T. Booth, R. Benin W. E ar l e , T. B. Barclay, T. 13i 11- ley, T. Holt, and E. Harvey. AbsentD. Hodgson, J. Holmes, G. Quayle, W. Thorn hill,. es, Isaac Holme s , T. C ase , G . W r i g h t, 3Barton, ll' Holm J. Mellor, J. P r i es tl ey , R . B r i g h t, J . C oo per, Lawrence': N.lrdciii,J:Carson, E. Segar, R. Jones, ) 1111 '' G, H. Lawrence, J. S. L e i g h, J. Platt, R. Roskell, T. Lea thorn, G. Holt, C. H. Jones, and E. Evans. APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ERECTION ° C THE ASSIZE COURTS: Each of the members present having handed in, according to agreement, a list of the nine persons whom he consider ea , , most comp e t en t. t o f orm this committee the mayor • select s( ' the nine who bad the gre a t es t number the votesin their fa vour. His worship announced these to be—Messrs. Currie , Earle, H. • Hornby, SandbaCh, - H. Lawrence, R a thbone , Shell, Barclay, and Wahnsley. It was decided that the committee should have the so le powers as the late Custom-house Committee, and that they were from time to time to report to the council. As it was now twenty minutes to four, the council decide d upon an adjournment, the business was not finished. The MAYOR said that as there were some bye-laws to be amended, to do which required the presence of two-thirds of the council, it was desirable that at the next meeting there should be a full attendance. They could not be brought on to-day, from the want of a sufficient number of members. The council then adjourned to Wednesday next. FOLIC! INTELLIGENCE.-WEDNESDAY. HEARTLESS ROBBERY. A seafaring man named Holmes stood charged with a rob bery on board ship. The prisoner had, it appeared, heed , I employed on board the bri g Eli za b e th, l y i ng i n t h e Queen , Dock, discharging and loading, and had been kindly treated by'the captain, who had advanced him small sums from WO; to time. He worked with the seamen, one of whom, name," Frederick Fredericksen, s a id th a t on M on d ay night, at half' past eight, while he was in the forecastle with the prison 11 and a witness (a boy) pr esen t, h e t oo k a sum o f £ 25, w hir he had saved, out of hi s c h es t, an d, f or greater safety, put It i in a place behind the ch es t. S oon a f terwar d s the witness went ashore, and did not return till eleven at n i g ht. I n the morning he missed his money. The boy corroborated the first facts, anti stated that the prisoner left the ship soon after the last witness, saying that he would return in a few minutes ; but he never returned a t all. A constable afterwards apprehended the prisoner in a lodg ing -house in Peter's-lane, and found o n hi m a new su it 01 clothes and a new watch. He afterwards found, in a box to the house, a gown-piece and o th er art i cles of dress. lie stated that he had bought the watch some time ago frog' Litherland and Davies, an d gave var i ous accounts of tne other articles. The female who kept the house where the prisoner and b ig wife lodged stated, that on Monday night he had paid he r some arrears in a sovereign, out of which she gave his wif e some change. Mr. Brown, watchmaker, Whitechapel, said that the watch was purchased from him on Monday night for £5 55., an d that to his accustomed inquiry he gave the name of Wilkinson. A shopkeeper, from whom he had purchased soine.of th e other articles, also appeared, showing that he had given $ false name as to the shop where he had bought them. The captain of the vessel stated that he knew the coo plainant, who had served some years on board the ship, t° be possessed of a consid era bl e sum ; b u t h e di d not kW'. that he had it on board, otherwise he wou ld h ave loc k e d It up for him in the cabin. Mr. Rushton said this was a very cruel robbery. Her e was a poor sailor, who had toiled for years perhaps to save this money, stripped of all he was possessed by a man who was before penniless, and who had that very night been in sisted by the captain with a shilling. He was afterward s found with a fine garment, watch, and other articles of v alue, and the case was so clear that he must be committed to the sessions. STEALING TOOLS. An Irish youth, named Thomas Ryan, was placed at the bar, charged with having stolen a quantity of coachmakers tools. It app eare d t h at on Monday morning the prisoner went to the shop of Mr. Higgins, ironmonger, Marybonef and offered the tools for sale. He said they belonged to his brother who had had a paralytic stroke, and was unable to work, and that he had more tools. Mr. Higgins said h e would go with him to his brother and buy the remainder 14) 1 him, if he (Mr. H.) could agree. The prisoner refused to go. Mr. Higgins therefore detained him, and gave him in charge. He said his brother lived at No. 10, Cross-hall street : but o n i nqu i ry th e consta b le found no such person was known there. Thomas Fitzsimon, a coachmaker, said he lodged in Francey's-street, Clarence-street, and arrived on Saturday last, at the Clarence Dock, from Dublin. He had a chest with him, with a quantity of tools and clothes in it. The prisoner was a passenger in the same vessel, and saw the chest landed, and put into a small wooden offien d He left th e prisoner on the quay ab ou t th ree o ' c l oc k, and went away. He returned between fi ve an d s i x , an d missed his chest and a ll its contents, which were wor th £lO. f'" did not see the prisoner again until he saw him in custodY' The tools produced were part of those missed, and were In! property. The prisoner said he got the took-to sell front person on board. He was fully committed for trial, THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.—Friday 13 ' 4 ' being the anniversary of the birthday of the illustrious hero of Waterloo, who then 'completed his seventy-first yea r ' 3 salute of s even ty- one guns was fi re d from the groun d s io front of the workhouse. The strictest order was preserved, and the children paraded around the area, and responded to the salute with loud and unanimous cheers. This public mark of respect to the Duke of Wellington was promoted by a subscription got:up in a few minutes. In addition to this the bells of St. Nicholas, St. Peter's, and Walton and other churches sent forth merry peals, and numberless flags were hoisted during the clay. Several of the pilots of this port. belonging to St. Paul's Ward, 'assembled at the house of gr . Edwards, Prussia-st ree t, to celebrate the duke's birthday The superb flag (which cost upwards of £7O) was hoisted out • in honour of his grace, as Warden of the Cinque Ports.