The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-06-14 00:00:00

`A. ) ibertiool tailbarV. TUESDAY XORNING, JUNE 14, THE WEEK. THE chief topics of discussion during the week have been the proceedings before the Election Corn mittee, and the apprehensions of a war with Russia. The latter contingency has derived somewhat more importance from its inevitable interference with one of our largest sources of supply for foreign corn ; but, as one of the effects of Free-trade was to make us partially dependent upon foreigners for food, we must he content to put up with the con- sequences. Our excellent chief magistrate has been doing due honour to his elevated position, and worthily representing the Commercial capital, at the meeting in the great metropolis to promote the extension of Science and Art. At the assembly of Mayors, con vened by the LORD MAYOR of London, he occupied a distinguished place, and by the part which he took in the proceedings justified the good opinion which is entertained of him by his fellow-townsmen. Not the least interesting part of his duties was a visit to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and his subse quent attendance at the Society of Arts, where Prince ALBERT presided at the distribution of prizes. The interesting ceremony of the installation of j the Earl of DERBY, as Chancellor of the University of Oxford, took place on Tuesday, and the imposing ceremony passed off with more than ordinary echit. One of the most interesting parts of the proceedings was the conferring the honorary degree of D.C.L. upon most of the distinguished members of the late Cabinet, in addition to several other men of note, and two of Royal blood, the Duke of CAMBRIDGE and the hereditary Grand Duke of MECKLENBURG STIZELITZ. LIVERPOOL ELECTION PETITION. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) TUESDAY, JUNE 7 This was the ninth day of the examination. The com mittee met at 11 o'clock, and the first witness called was Thomas Walthew, the person who was under cross examination when the committee adjourned the previous evening ; but Mr. Bodkin intimated that he would not re examine him. William Stamp, watchcase maker, residing in Bolton street, Liverpool, who voted as a householder in 18-17 for - Cardwell and Birch, and who before the last election said he would vote for Cardwell and Ewart, deposed that, while he got a card from the red side, he did not receive one from the Whig side. John Hickson, a freeman, voted for Mackenzie and Turner ; had three days' employment before the election from Mr. Bremner, in making out canvass-books and carrying messages ; was paid half-a-guinea for the three days by Mr. Wilkin, and received 10s. from Mr. Buck master for Sunday work done at the Central Committee rooms. Was engaged in the Royal Bank-buildings, Ex change Ward, and knew that messages were sent back wards and forwards from the Bank-buildings to the Central Committee-room by messengers appointed for that purpose. Wilkins and - Bremner called at the Bank buildings to see how they were getting on. Was a poll clerk, acted as such in Lime-street Ward, and received a card from Mr. Bremner, on producing which the day fol lowing at Mr. Bremner's office, witness received payment for his trouble. John (lute, a physician who has been resident in Liverpool for eighteen months, was not a voter, but took an interest in the last election on the side of Mackenzie and Turner. Was a member of the committee which sat in the Great George Tavern, Pitt-street, and canvassed in the Great George ward. Mr. E. M'Keverigan was absent from none of the meetings. Had never acted on a municipal committee, but knew the committee was the municipal one. Samuel Orme, Burlington-street, Liverpool, porter for Mead, Corney, and Co., of the Shipping Gazette, was engaged by Mr. Jonas Gleave, " as outdoor clerk, mes senger, and everything in-door and out" in the Lime street ward. His in-door business was transacted at the Swan, whither he was sent by Mr. Gleave. A. committee met at the Swan, at two of which meetings he was pre sent, and of which Mr. Lloyd was chairman, Gleave secretary, and Riding vice-chairman. Knew Smith, the letter-carrier, but never saw money paid to him at the Swan. On the morning of the polling-day was in Gleave's house, and saw him take thirty or forty voters up to the poll. There were coaches and cars at the Swan, but none at Gleave's. Mr. Gleavo paid him his wages. Sylvester Redmond, who said he had lived three years in Liverpool, and was the correspondent of one London newspaper (a Roman Catholic publication, we under stand), dined at the Bee Hotel, Mr. Lawton's, on the election-day, and saw there Mr. J. Buck Lloyd and Mr. Jonas Gleave, both of them busy with voters. Daniel Warburton Kellett, stationer and printer, voted at the last election for Mackenzie and Turner. Executed work at the election time by the orders of Mr. Buck master, Mr. Bremner, and Mr. John Briscoe, the chair man of St. Paul's Ward, and also of Mr. Jackson, clerk to Mr. Charles Turner, official assignee of the Liverpool District Court of Bankruptcy, and a voter in Everton Ward. In respect of all the printing, made out a bill of £56 103., £5O of which had been paid to him by Mr. Thomas Bold, though not before he had written to Mr. Molyneux, the chairman. Mr. Hatch also gave orders for printing. Cannot say the manuscript of the procession programme was in Mr. Bremner's handwriting, but a proof of the document was sent to Mr. Bremner as well as gave him the manuscript. He printed some for the other side, but the amount of their bill was only £-1 10s. John Taylor, engaged by Mr. Rigby, chairman of Pitt-street Ward, was engaged at the committee-room at the Vine Tavern, charged 7s. 6d. per day, and 10s. for the day of the election, and was paid by Mr. Rigby a day or two after the election. He was employed as messenger. Mr. Postyn was, he believed, paid secretary. and Mr. Charles Callis deputy-chairman. Was sent twice or thrice by the committee to the central office, North John street. Sometimes he had a written and sometimes a verbal message to deliver. Has seen a gentleman named M`Keverigan at the committee-room in the Vine Tavern. Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Turner paid a visit to the Vine Tavern one evening, and addressed the electors of the ward. He is not a voter. Is a house and ship joiner. Mr. Solomon May was occasionally at the Vine, and he had been present at meetings of the committee where coopers and shipwrights had come to, but he did not hear what took place ; when he went to the central office he did not recollect that he saw Mr. Buckmaster. _ _ Sylvester Redmpnd, the last witness examined, was asked by Mr. Paget : Did you hear Mr. Gleave order refresh ments for those people who had voted ? Mr. Rodwell objected to the question being at present answered. He asked the committee to adjourn the proceedings at this turn of the case, when it was about to be attempted to fix the charge of treating. He knew that at this moment his learned friend Mr. James was preparing to argue this point of the case. The Chairman immediately intimated that they quite coincided in what Mr. Rodwell had re marked as to the importance of the case, and they ac cordingly acceded to the suggestion. The proceedings then terminated at a quarter to three. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 Mr. Shuttleworth, town-clerk of Liverpool, was ex amined as to the arrangements made at the election. — Mr. Redmond, the witness examined yesterday, was re-called, and the following questions put to him by Mr. Paget :—Did you hear Jonas Gleave give any orders ? Witness : Yes.—What did he say with respect to treat ing ?—Mr. James objected to the question, on the ground that there had been no proof of agency on the part of Gleave. He contended that the sitting members were not responsible for his acts ; and that evidence with regard to treating by him was not admissible against them.—After lengthened arguments by counsel on both sides, the room was cleared. When strangers were re-admitted, the Chairman said the committee had come to the conclusion that the facts established as to Gleave individually had proved his agency, so as to make any alleged acts by him prima facie evidence a ga i ns t th e sitting members.—Mr. Redmond's examination continued : I heard Gleave giving orders for brandy and other liquors at the Bee, on the day of the election, for the people with him. The liquor was consumed by them. They had tickets in their hands. There was dinner, or lunch, as the case might be, provided for the same people several times that day. The house was thronged during the day. l went to the house in the morning, arel dined there between twelve and oneo'clock. I dined in th. coffee-room, at the back of the bar. I returned to the house about three o'clock, when the same thing was going on. I was there again at six in the evening, after the close of the poll, when the drinking was still going on. Gleave was not there all the time. I left the house at the latest at half past eight or nine. I saw Gleave after three o'clock. I last saw him in the Rear Horse, talking to some men, but not about drink. There were five or six of us who had dinner and wine. It was not paid for by us. We wanted to pay for it, but the landlord would not take any payment. I know Miss Lawton, the daughter of the landlord, who acts as barmaid. Gleave gave her the ), but I did not see any payment made to her. She a slate, on which she made memoranda.—Cross examined by Mr. Rodwell : I did not go to the Bee as a spy, but to get news which I published in London and Dublin. I published it in London in the Sunday Times. I never spoke to Gleave. Mr. Lawton asked me to have dinner at the Bee, and I inte nded to pay for my dinner.— Samuel Hesketh re-called : On the morning of the polling day I went to the Derby Arms. I had something to eat, and some coffee, that morning. Gleave was there. Gleave had told me that I might go and get a cup of coffee there, and so I went. The others were eating. I paid nothing.—J. Wilson : I am a freeman of Liverpool, and voted for the sitting members. I had something to eat at Gleave's house. I helped myself,' and did not pay anything.—Millington Walthew re-called During the election I went to Pyecroft's house, where a committee sat. Whilst I was employed at that committee I saw refreshment tickets given to various parties. Altogether there were not more than two or three that 1 saw. Mr. Watson was in the room at the time ' • I had one or two myself.—The Chairman asked Mr. Bodkin if he could conveniently mention all the names of those persons with regard to whom he proposed to offer proof of agency. It would be better to conclude the case against Gleave before going into that against Watson.— Mr. Bodkin said he would endeavour to do so to-morrow. —Margaret Hunt : My aunt keps the Swan, and I assist her. I know Gleave, and saw him there often during the election. No person went into any particular room at the election, as the rooms were all public. The club room is up-stairs. A clerk sat up-stairs in the club room during the election. I know Jonas Cleave; I do not think he was there. I think there were two clerks: One night, when there was a club, the clerks went into a smaller room. A glass of ale or *two was sent up in the course of the day to the clerks. Ido not know that any one kept an account of what was sent to the clerks. Sometimes I took it up myself. I was not paid for it. My aunt never kept books.—By Mr. Freshfield : I do not recollect Cleave being at the Swan in particular. He came in and out during the election. The committee ad jurned at a quarter to four o'clock. THURSDAY, Jusr. 9ru The following list of persons who were alleged to be agents in treating, and the communication which accom paniedit, was produced :—" The gentlemen whose agency will probably be called in question by the evidence of to morrow will he the following :—Thomas Watson, Robert Clegg, Richard Whittle Birchen, R. P. Manger, Oliver Hatch, William Rowett, Joseph Green, Edward M`Kev erizan, Humphrey Smith, 'William Gibson, William Fisher, of Redcross-street, William Buckley Jones, Evan Jones, Thomas Inman, Wm. Joseph Horsfall, J. B. Lloyd, George Sandford Russell, Henry Buckmaster, Edward Smith, Thomas Bold, James Parker, Thomas Williams, Edward Williams, and any publicans who may be called in reference to treating in any of the houses named in the list. You will understand that this is not a list delivered under any resolution of the committee, and that we are not in any way to be debarred from giving evi dence of treating by any person not named in this letter." John M•leially, a freeman of Liverpool, said : I promised my vote, before the election, to Cardwell and Ewart. On the morning of election I was in company with William Bland, a freeman, and went with him to the Swan. Bland introduced me to Jonas Gleave there. Bland asked Gleave whether he might have some drink, and we had a glass of rum each. Mr. Gleave paid for it, and said he would pay for it out of his own pocket. Gleave asked for our voting papers, and we showed him our voting papers on the red side, and he asked us to go over to his own house and have breakfast. This was to the Derby Arms. We saw Gleave, and went up stairs and found plenty to eat and drink, there was beef, bread, and ale and coffee there. There were seven or eight per sons in the room. I heard a noise in other rooms. I re mained an hour before I voted. I paid nothing. I did not see any one else pay. Cross-examined by Mr, Smith. —I voted for Cardwell and Ewart. We were canvassed be each committee :—Murphy voted for Cardwell and Ewart. Bland and Taylor voted for Mackenzie and Turner. He went to the Great George Tavern with Bland and another, and got drink there, for which they did not pay. After leaving the Vine, went to Lockett's, and got nearly tipsy there, with out paying for the liquor. Got no drink at Lowe's ; it was a committee-room for Cardwell and Ewart.—William Musker, publican, in Gildart-street, keeps the Thatcher, in Lime-street ward; had a good many voters in his house on the election day, who drank there and were taken to the poll in cars ; reeeived his orders for drink from Mr. Edward Smith ; received orders from Mr. Jonas Gleave for a committee-room for can. vassers ; he had not sent in his bill, nor had he been paid. Expected Mr. Smith to pay him the bill, which amounted to £2s.—William Smith, provision dealer and letter car rier, had been a letter carrier for about three months ; took an interest at the election time in the return of Messrs. Mackenzie and Turner ; was not a member of committee, but attended at Musker's, in Finch-street ; canvassed, and reported his prozress to Mr. Jonas Gleave generally. Mr. Edward Smith, brewer, Mr. Musker, himself, Mr. Parsonage, Mr. Thomas Atherton, and a great many others, attended this branch district. Saw Messrs. May, B. Lloyd, Scott, and Gleave there ; re ceived directions to go to Musker's from the general committee, at the Swan. Mr. Riding was in the chair—he was deputy-chairman ; he could not recol lect that it was from Smith he received instructions. The Chairman said there was no proof that Smith acted as an agent. A person might be a member of a com mittee without the sitting members being responsible for his acts.—John Henry Francis Curchod, landlord of the Queen's Hotel, Lime-street, said : On the day of the Liverpool election the central committee occupied part of my house. The room was used on a previous day, and was ordered by Mr. Buckmaster. Mr. Buckmaster was there, and his clerks. I believe T saw the chairman of the committee, Mr. Molyneux. I have been paid for the use of my rooms on the polling day. Mr. Thomas Bold paid me, three or four months after the election. I charged £5O for my house, and lost by my bargain. I received £5O. I thought it was robbery to charge £5O, but I found afterwards I lost by it. (Laughter.) The £5O included refreshments and the use of the house. —Millington Walthew was employed at Pyecroft's as a messenger from the Friday before until the election was over ; Pyecroft's is in Scotland-roal ward ; received small tickets, with a mark on them, from Mr. Watson, after T came on the Friday. I cave two or three of those tickets away. I only received six. I received them twice. Mr. Watson was there every day ; sometimes in the evening, and sometimes not. He acted as deputy chairman, and gave orders about making out books and lists. They were copies from the canvass books. I was bound to obey Mr. Watson and Mr. Clegg at the Wheat Sheaf.—What directions did Mr. Watson give you when he gave you the tickets ? Mr. RODWELL objected to the question.—The committee decided that there was sufficient evidence of Watson's agency for the examination to proceed.—Examination resumed : There was a small oak tree printed on the cards. They were for refresh ments. If I wanted refreshments I got one of those tickets, and gave it to Mr. Pyecroft: they gave me a glass of ale. I gave away some to voters who asked for refreshments. I gave away two or three. I saw some of those tickets in Watson's hands. I did not see him with above half-a-dozen altogether. Mr. Watson gave me authority to put my initials on a small piece of paper if I wanted refreshments myself. I was also to do so for the other men and to voters. I gave those papers to about twenty or thirty voters and non-voters. I gave most of them on the day of nomination. I saw only half a dozen of those cards during the election. Altogether I did not give more than eight of those slips to voters—the rest were to non-voters—on the day of nomination. The change from cards to slips was made because Mr. Watson did not wish to he troubled for tickets, and he authorised me to give those slips. FRIDAY, JUNE 10. Millington Walthew's examination was resumed : Was engaged on the polling-day in an up-stairs room of the Wheat Sheaf, Scotland-road. Occasionally went down for refreshments. The house was full on the nomination day. He saw nothing drank and nothing paid. When he used the tickets he got a glass of ale, or a glass of wine or whiskey, as he wrote it. He gave away thirty or forty of those tickets. The voters were conveyed to the poll in cars, of which Mr. Rousson had the manage ment. Mr. Clegg was the head-clerk. Saw Mr. Watson with the voters on the polling-day, and sometimes Mr. Clarke. After the close of the poll went down stairs, and found the vaults crowded. Mr. Watson and Mr. Clegg paid him. He should say both of those gentlemen had to do with the management of the finances. He knew of an application being made to the central committee for money. A resolution was passed by the committee for Mr. Watson to make an application to the central committee for funds to defray the necessary expenses of the canvass. Did not hear in the committee-room that that application was made and responded to. Mr. Clarke was a member of the committee, and was present at the meeting relative to the money. Joseph Atkins, Mr. Bur rows, and Mr. Healing were on the committee, and can vassed and returned the names. He made an application for money, and Watson said he bad none at the time. The other canvassers had money, and so had he. They did not pay for printing in the ward, and the books were supplied from the central ward. George Knowles, sailmaker. a freeman who voted for Mackenzie and Turner, knew Mr. Watson. Had been invited by him to go to Pyecroft's public-house, in Scot- \ land ward, three weeks before the election. Saw Messrs. Watson, Clarke, and Clegg there. He went there a number of evenings before the election, and with other voters had glasses of liquor to drink, for which none of them paid. Saw a great number there on the polling day I —from 100 to 200. They were eating bread and beef, and drinking ale; and he saw no person pay. He can vassed freemen who were sailmakers, carpenters, and ropers. He was stationed at Pyecroft's by Watson. He drank whisky and ale, and did not pay for it. Received money from Messrs. Clegg, Watson, and Clarke. Re ceived 15s. for his five days' services. Saw no one else paid. The evening of the election they were called in one by one ; there might be a dozen there. He received ss. more than the 15s. There was a room at the top end of the yard on the election day, where they had plenty to eat and drink. Plenty of them were full of drink, but he did not know they were freemen. He was not bribed. He worked five days pretty hard for £l. When he got the ale at Pyecroft's he was canvassing. He made appli cation to Peacock on the 19th of June, as an old freeman. Joseph Pyecroft, landlord of the Wheatsheaf, had seen Mr. Buckmaster that morning. His house was engaged as a committee-room, a fortnight before the election, by Mr. Clegg and Mr. Watson. He let the whole house to be used as they thought fit ; there was no stipulation as to payment ; he demanded nothing for it ; he made a present of the use of the house; he made his profit out of the refreshments ; that was the understanding. He had not been paid ; he applied to Mr. Clegg for £59 19s. 5d., the amount of his bill. Had got memoranda to show what was served to the working committee ; believed there were 100 persons who t oo k part i n transac ti ng th e business of the election ; they did not all sit together. The £59 was for meat and drink ; there were 47 dinners. His charge for the pollin g d a y, w h en voters on l y were admitted, was £3O 19s. 2d. There might be as many as 200 voters pass into the yard where the notice was posted ' • every person who had refreshme n t s pro d uce d a t i c k e t. No refreshments were supplied unless a ticket was ten dered. In a week or a fortnight after the election, re ceived £3O from Mr. Clegg. Hail applied to Mr. Clegg for the balance—the last time about three months ago , when he said, " You must wait." Had call e d u p on M r . B uc k m aster about his could not say when. He told me he could not tell me either when or where he was to get his bill ; he spoke to Mr. Watson on the subject. After the polling the committee dined at his house ; up. wards of 50 dined. There were upwards of 80 persons on the committee —respectable tradesmen. Whatever h e supplied, was by order of the committee. The committ ee themselves were not above drinking brandy and whisky. He received a few tickets from Mr. N\ althew. John Bridge, keeper of the Org an Tavern, in Vauxhall ward, a freeholder and a voter, had upwards of 30 voters in his house after the close of the poll; they had something to drink, for which Mr. Thomas Williams gave the order; the amount of his bill was £ll 2s. Id.: he gave his bill to a young man who came from the office of the Constitu tional Association, in Harrington-street ; he saw Mr. Buckmaster about this bill on the first Saturday after the election ; he saw Thomas Williams at the Constitutional • office also mr. Williams and Mr, Buqlcmaster told me. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1553. when I called upon them, that they could not settle my account then, but it would be settled in a short time ; Mr. Buckmaster did not give him any hope of the money being paid at any particular time. Thos. Williams ordered something at his house. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE : What was the nature of the order you received from Thomas Williams ? Mr. RonwELL objected to this question. The Committee decided that CVilliams's agency was established, and that the examination might proceed. Mr. Bridge continued : he supplied the parties with ale and spirits, and some of the persons who partook he him self knew to be voters : Williams told me to go to the ex tent of .£5 on the polling day : it is a rough neighbour hood, and he was obliged to give refreshments to the other side to save his house : about 20 or 30 persons came with the canvassers. . Sylvester Mathewson, who keeps the Railway Hotel, Great Howard-street, said a committee sat at his house ; Mr. Williams ordered some rooms from him before the election ; he had not yet been paid, although he had sent in his bill to Mr. Williams; the bill amounted to £6O; he charged £2 2s. for the rooms per week ; the charge was for eight weeks, £l6 165., and the rest was for re freshments supplied to canvassers, cabmen, some of the committee, pole-carriers, on the day of the nomination and election ; he applied several times for payment to Mr. Williams ; he supplied any person, without distinc -lion of party, without pay ; he had applied to Mr. Buck master, in North John-street, Mr. Nicholson, and Mr. Bold,—the last-mentioned of whom said he had no doubt witness would be paid in time. Jas. Clegg, keeperof thePontack, in Christian-street, had one of his rooms ordered by Mr. Oliver Hatch three months previous to the election. The canvassers met in this room. Mr. Birchen, a furniture-broker, was one of them. The canvassers brought their friends there. Had seen Mr. Hatch writing in a book. On the morning of the election refreshments were provided for the canvas sers. Drink was supplied during the day to Mackenzie and Turner's voters—a great many of them paying for it. Received no orders on the day of the election from' any one but the canvasser. His bill, amounting to about .E-10, was sent in to Mr. Hatch, and was paid after the election. Does not remember seeing any voter in the room on the polling day. Saw persons with the canvassers, but did not know any of them. He did not see Joseph Grooby at his house previous to the election. He received no orders to give drink to any one. £25 out of the £4O was for the use of the room. Thomas Wilson, before examined, voted from the Pon tack, where he went more than once before the election, at the solicitation of Mr. Birchall, and got his glass, like the others. This closed the proceedings of to-day. SATURDAY, JUNE 11. The first witness called was Oliver Hatch, who deposed . I am a merchant. I acted as secretary in St. Anne's Ward. I began so to act about twelve years ago. I acted as secretary at the last election. I was a member of the car committee at the last election. There were about three members who attended—Mr. Lowe, Mr. Cooper, and myself. We met at the Constitutional-office, in John-street. There was a regular business room, which is a large one, there, and an anti-room. That was the central office. Those were the only rooms there that I know of. I believe another room was rented to me, but I knew nothing about it. I know Mr. Buckmaster. He did not attend the meetings of the car committee. I did not communicate to him what the committee did. I don't know what other members may have done. Our business was to arrange for the cars, to carry up the voters to the poll on the polling-day. I cannot say when I first went to the central office on the subject of the elec tion business. I was there most days. I can't say I communicated with any one when I went to the office. I did not go on any particular business. I took in my re turns of the canvass, and communicated with whoever I saw there. I do not recollect that I communicated conti nually with Mr. Buckmaster concerning the state of my canvass in St. Anne's Ward. 1 left my returns with him. I cannot say why I gave the returns to him rather than to any one else. I communicated with whoever I saw. The rooms were up stairs. I went into that room to see the voting-cards. I did not get the voting cards there. They were sent through the post-office. I was present at the meeting of the Ist April. I was on the nomination com mittee, the procession committee, which was a separate committee from the car committee. The members of the committee were Mr. Crowther, the chairman, Mr. J. B. Cooper, Mr. Wadham, and some others. We engaged the bands for the procession. I saw the estimates for the expense of the bands. That was when the parties were called in. I did not see the estimates before. There were no papers sent in at all. The parties were called in individually, and asked what they would supply bands for. I am not aware that any one took a note of the amounts mentioned. I was in the chair. There was no agreement signed. There were agreements for the hire of the cars for the conveyance of the voters in St. Anne's Ward. The central committee had the return of these arrangemeets for providing the cars sent into them. The number of cars required they obtained from me, from my canvass. I managed the canvass. I never called the attention of the committee to the inconvenience of having a placard outside to the effect that there was a committee, where there was in fact none. I don't remember there were placards all over the town stating who were the chairman. vice-chairman, and secretary for each ward. Mr. T. Parker, Mr. Holden, and Mr. Birchen were can vassers ; so was Mr. Clegg ; also Mr. Hohb. They took districts as canvassers. Mr. Nicholson may have come in at the meetings of the canvassers, but I am not aware that he had a district. The canvassers met, almost every evening, at eight o'clock. I made arrange ments with - Nir. Clegg for the use of his house. I got £4O from Mr. Bold to pay Clegg. I received from Clegg a written account. I paid it. I kept it for some time myself until last November, when I' destroyed it, having paid him another account. I knew the petition against the return had been presented ; but I' never had the remotest idea that, with 1,400 majority, there was any probability of that petition being prosecuted. I gave Mr. Bold a receipt for the £4O. The municipal election takes place on the Ist of November;, and I generally get in the bills as soon as possible afterwards and discharge them. I keep the bills from one election to another. I always keep the last bill. I told Mr. Clegg I should want his rooms as usual. There was no particular agreement for the hire of his rooms. If I had them for a few days only I should give him £5 ; but, if 1 had them for thirteen weeks, I should pay £25. There were two rooms, one smaller than the other. I got writing-paper from the central office ; also, the canvass-books and burgess-roll. I paid the whole of the - expenses ; not only Mr. Clegg's £4O, but the whole. There was some car-hire that I paid for, but I did not pay for the cars employed by the car committee of the ward. I also paid for the refresh ments to the canvassers on the day of election. I paid the travelling expenses of several persons, and for sta tionery. I paid persons for carrying flags on the nomina tion-day. There were sixty or seventy persons engaged to carry flags. I took down the names of the persons who carried flags when the flags were delivered to them. I can not tell who made the arrangement for the distribution of the flags. The persons who carried flags came for them at night. One man could not carry one flag. Some of them required six or eight men to carry them. There were not sixty or seventy flags of that description. I destroyed the list of the flag-bearers at the time I destroyed Clegg's ac count. I destroyed it because I felt sure that, after the lapse of so long a time, no further claim would be made for the five shillings. I paid them five shillings a-day out of the money I got from Mr. Bold. There were no painted' staves with orange ribbons attached to them in our ward. I would not have allowed such things. Nothing of the sort was arranged in other parts of the town. The chair man set his face against it. I believe an intimation was made by some Orangemen that they wished to carry their colour. There were a great many paper flags carried in our ward by boys and other persons, but no payment was made to them. I received £2O from Mr. Bold on the day of the nomination. I saw him at his own office. He gave it me in sovereigns. After that I received £lO from him. I was at the Pontack the greater part of the following day. Canvassers were there superintending the transmission of voters in cars to the poll. Mr. Birchall and Mr.. Manzer were amongst them. I saw no eating and drinking going on at the Pontack during the day. When 1 went down stairs there were a great number of persons about the bar and other places. There was no drinking at all in the room where I was, and I did not see any drinking going on in other parts of the house when the canvassers were present. I did not order the refreshments which were charged in Clegg's bill. Clegg provided them. The bill was divided thus : £25 for hire of the room, and £l5 for refreshments. The canvassers consumed the £l5 worth of refreshments, I considered the charge extremely mo derate. I consumed some myself. Some of the can vassers grumbled because they had not enough to eat and drink, but I cannot say who they were. Mr. Birchall, Mr. Holden, Mr. Manger, and Mr.. Nicholson consumed refreshments. I did not ask Mr. Clegg to provide the refreshments. He did so of himself. I considered that Clegg would provide refreshments for all persons who acted as canvassers and in bringing voters up. I heard no order given at all for beer to be carried out by the can vassers. Cross-examined by Mr. M. SMITH : I gave no autho rity whatever to Mr. Clegg to supply refreshments to voters ; nor did I mean, in paying this bill, to sanction refreshments to voters. There were many persons en gaged as canvassers whom I do not recollect. If they had gone home to their houses for refreshments much time would have been lost. I received £BO and £2O from Mr. Bold, but he gave me no orders to provide refresh ments for any one. 1 was manager of this ward at the election. The canvassers did nothing else than canvass. I was my own secretary and committee. I was on the car committee, and on the nomination committee. The bandmasters were introduced one by one. 1 was in the room when Grooby was called in. I believe I myself mentioned him to the committee. He came to me some time before the election, and asked me it I would employ him and the band, and I said I would recommend him to the committee. When he came to me, I never asked him about his vote. As he had always voted for one party at the municipal election, I felt sure he would vote for one candidate on that occasion. I recommended the com mittee to employ him. The estimate for Joliffe and Stubbs' bands were £l5 each. Grooby's was £l2; but the committee decided on paying him £l5, as it might create dissatisfaction and unpleasantness if Grooby came to discover that the others were paid £l5. Mr. Trontbeck stated that ; and when Grooby came he was told that he should have £l5, the same as the others. To Mr. WILLIAMS : I don't remember that Stubbs or Joliffe was told that Grooby offered the services of his band for £l2. To Mr. M. SMITH : Mr. Bremner did not tell Grooby that, if ho would vote forMackerizie and Turner, ho should have £l5 (that was £1 a man) for his band, instead of the £l2, which was the amount of his estimate. To Mr. WILLIAMS : Grooby supplied two bands, I be lieve. I don't know how many bands were engaged. To Mr. BALL: I was present when Grooby was called, and I think he said he had two bands. To the CHAIRMAN : Mr. Bremner did not say that Grooby's estimate was £l2 for fifteen men ; but, if he would give his vote, he should have £1 a man. To Mr. M. SMITH : Nothing whatever of the sort was said ; and if Grooby has s t a t e d th a t there was, he tells what is false. Grooby was not asked if his band could play " Croppies lie down" an d " B o y ne Water." The chairmiin would not allow anything of the sort. The same resolution was come to by the committee as to party tunes that they had arrived at with regard to Ortlne flags; They determined not to allow,any party tunes to be played, and their reason was that a number of Orangemen had applied for permission to join the procession. The can vass lasted about thirteen weeks in my ward. Somebody told me that my name was on the central committee, but I never acted on that committee, or gave authority to any one to place my name upon it. Re-examined by Mr. MACAULAY : Of the three band masters I employed two ; estimated the charge at £l5, and the third at £l2. I sent word to Grooby to attend the committee. Grooby was a voter in St. Anne's Ward. I don't remember seeing him at the central office after wards, waiting there whilst I was present. I might. I cannot say whether I did or did not. I don't remember that I came out, and, shaking my head, told him that we could not give him employment. I believe, after he applied to me, I told him to meet me at the central office. I recommended him to the committee, and put his name down for the band. I put his name down, in order that when the bands were engaged his should be one of them. I remember Groo by coming to me at my office, and ask ing me to have his band employed, and I said I would bear it in mind. Gribben, another band-master, was not employed, because it was known to the committee that he belonged to the opposite party. He was not in the room five minutes, and he was told that he was not wanted. Grooby was the only man that I took any interest in. Grooby offered his band first for £l2 ; then the others came in and offered theirs for £l5 each. I said nothing to the other two. Nobody asked Grooby if he could play " Croppies, lie down ;" nor was that question put to Joliffe and Stubbs. To the CHAIRMAN : When Groohy came to me first, he said he wanted employment generally. That was before the band was mentioned. I told him I would bear it in mind. To ➢lr. WILLIAMS : I was told that some of the can vassers could not get refreshments at Clegg's, and that they were obliged to go to the other side of the street to procure them. To Mr. BALL : Several of the canvassers were indepen dent persons, and were not paid. There were others, however, who were paid. To Mr. FRESHFIELD : Many persons volunteered to canvass, and the number increased as the election. ap proached. Many additional ones volunteered on the day of polling. Grooby at first wanted employment generally. It was afterwards he mentioned the subject of his bank To Mr. BALL : Mr. Birchall acted as a canvasser. He was a vounteer, and unpaid. I am not aware, it never came to my knowledge, that he invited persons to take refreshments. To the CHAIRMAN : There were 754 electors in nly ward, and there voted for Turner 321, Mackenzie SOS, Cardwell 258, Ewart 240. Thomas Wilson re-called, and examined by Mr. PAGET I stated yesterday, when under examination, that I was at the Pontack on the day of the nomination and the day of the poll. Mr. PAGET : Had you any refreshments there ? Mr. JAMES objected to the question being put, and the witness was ordered to withdraw. Mr. JAMES said that when the witness was under exa mination yesterday, the committee held that the question could not be put; and he contended that nothi ng had since been elicited to justify it being put now. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE argued that at the Pontack there was a room used for the conduct of the election on behalf of the sitting members; that Mr. Oliver Hatch, vtbo was there as secretary to that committee-room, was in constant communication with the central committee room, and that all that was done there was recognized by the central committee. Further, according to the evi dence of the landlord, (Clegg,) it appeared that the can vassers had ordered drink and refreshments to he given to persons whom he believed to be voters in that very room. He held, therefore, that counsel for the sitting members had a perfect right to go into this part of the question. Mr. JAMES : Why, it was decided yesterday by the committee, and, indeed, acquiesced in by the learned ser geant, that, until he proved some more agency than he had done, his learned friend could not ask the witness a question about what he had to eat and drink. The CHAIRMAN: What passed in the mind of the com mittee, when they held that the question could not be put,- was that the learned counsel for the petitioners was going on the ground of the presumed agency of Birchall._ Mr. JAMES It was almost COnceded by the learned sergeant, yesterday, that they could not establish Birchall's agency. And what had occurred since to establish it' It simply appeared from the evidence given to-day that Birchall was a canvasser, of whom there were a great many, but no proof whatever that Birchall had received any authority to order refreshments to persons. It was for the petitioners, then, to establish to the satisfaction or the committee prima facie evidence of agency. If Birchall were an agent, so also was every one of the sixty, eighty,- or one hundred other canvassers who were engaged for the sitting members, and in that case the acts of any of them might unseat those gentlemen.- He submitted that there was no evidence before the committee of Birchall's agency;: nay, he would go further and say, nor any evidence what ever that the witness Wilson had anything to eat or drink by order of any person who was satisfactorily established to be an agent. The room was then cleared, and the public excluded, whilst the committee deliberated upon this point for three-quarters of an hour. On being re-admitted, The CHAIRMAN stated that it was the opinion of the committee that Oliver Hatch was such an agent for con ducting the election in St. Anne's Ward as to make evi dence admissible with regard to refreshments supplied on the nomination and the polling days to voters-introduced by canvassers recognised by Hatch. The witness was then re-called and examined by Mr. PAGES' : I went to the Pontack because I was sent there to get some allowance. I saw Mr. fireball on the polling morning before I went to the Pont:leis. I saw him by the bar when I went to the Pontack. lam not aware that I bad any conversation with him then. I don't think he was by when 1 got the drink. I got my breakfast at the Pontack. It was before I polled that I saw him. I got my breakfast before I polled. I saw him by the bar before I got my breakfast. I saw him at the bar. Mr. Birchall canvassed me. I told him I had promised my vote,, anti I told him who I meant to vote for. The reaLon I went to the Pontack was, that when he canvassed me he said he would see me at the Pontack. By Mr. PAGET : I can't say who the persons were who were in the room I got my breakfast in. There were some freemen there. The CHAIRMAN : How do , you know they were free men ? You say you did not know them ? Witness They said they were freemen By Mr. PAGET : I polled early in the morning. I can not say whether I saw Birchall at the Pontack after I voted. I went to the poll in a coach. I don't know who put me into the coach. Wilson went with me and voted with rae. He cam 3 back with me in the coach. There was a man to take us up to the pull. I don't know who he was. He came back with us. _ Mr. PAGET : Did he order anything for you r Mr. M. SMITH : I object to the examination continued by Mr. Paget. Witness : I cannot say how long I remained at the Pon tack after I came back from voting. I don't think the man who took me up to the poll was in the room with me when I breakfasted. There were other men in the room. I don't know who they were. The only man who polled with me who was there was Wilson. I went to the Pon tack alone. Mr. Birchall was not with me. When I saw Mr. Birchall was at the bar, .I don't know whether he saw me. It was some time before the election that Mr. Bir chall first told me to go to the Pontack. He did not tell me that I was to go and vote from the Pontack. I think I said I would go up. to the poll from the Pontack. I don't know what he said when I told him. that. I don't know whether he assented or dissented. It was in Ha nover-street where I told him this. _ _ _ Mr. PAGET : What passed between you and Mr. Birchall when you told him you would vote from the Pont ack ? Mr. M. SMITH objected to the question. The witness had already stated all he recollected. The CHAIRMAN :• The witness has already told you he can't remember. It is a long time ago since it occurred. Examination resumed : I met Mr. Birchall afterwards, between his canvassing me and the polling-day, but I had no conversation with him further that I can recollect. Mr. PAGET : Why, can't you recollect whether you saw Mr. Birchall at the Pontack after you breakfasted ? Mr. M. SMITH again objected to the question. The CHAIRMAN said the witness had already answered the question to the best of his recollection. Mr. PAGET : Did you pay for your breakfast at the Pontack ? ill.. M. SMITH : I object to that. The CHAIRMAN : The witness had better withdraw. The witness having left the room, Mr. PAGET submitted that the question was within the scope of the resolutions of the committee. He has shown that the witness was canvassed by Birchall. He had shown that he had conversation with Birchall at the time the canvassing took place, and that the Pontack was men tioned, and he had shown that in consequence of what was said to him by Birchall, the witness said he would go to the Pontack. _ _ . The CHAIRMAN : That is not the effect of the wit ness's evidence. What he said was that he told Birchall that he would go to the Pontack. Thera is no evidence that Birchall said anything about it. Mr. PAGET I submit then, sir, that we have it in evidence that he went to the Pontack in. consequence of what he said to Birchall when Birchall canvassed him, and it was after he had been asked for his vote, and had stated for whom he meant to vote, that he said he would go there. There is every reason for believing that Birchall was to see him there. We find that be did go to the Pontack on the morning of the polling-day, that he saw Birchall twice, that he went up to vote and came back to the same place, that he saw Birchall at the bar, that he had breakfasted there, Birchall being by the bar at the time. Mr. M. SMITH : No, he did not say that. Mr. PAGET : He said he saw Birchall by the bar, and that he saw him there several times during the day, but he said he could not say bow late he saw him there. We have proved that Birchall was active in the canvass ; that he canvassed the witness; that when he canvassed him something was said about polling from the Pontack. We have proved that he went to the Pontack on the morning of the polling-day ; that Birchen was there ; that the witness went up from the Pontack to the poll ; that he got his breakfast there ; and now I ask whether he paid for that breakfast ? Surely that is a question I have a right to put. Mr. PRESHFIELD: I do not see anything in the evi dence to fix Birchall with what took place at the Pontack. The CHAIRMAN : There is nothing to fix Birchall with any knowledge of the transaction. There is nothing to show a recognition on his part of what took place at the Pontack in regard to the voter. The question would therefore be irregular. Mr. M. SMITH : I think sir, I am entitled to have this part of the evidence struck out from the notes. The CHAIRMAN : I don't know how far that is con sistent with the ordinary practice. It seems to me that the matter will be better explained by leaving the notes as they are. It will show then that an objection was taken to the course of evidence, and that it was not permitted to be continued. Mr. M. SMITH : My object only is that attention should be called to the matter. That being done, lam in the hands of the committee. The CHAIRMAN : We will let th 3 evidence remain on the notes. It will explain itself. It is now very near the hour we fixed for adjourning. 1 think we had better not go any further to-day. The committee then adjourned, at ten minutes to three SECOND EDITION. MONDAY, JUNE 13. The Committee assembled to-day at noon. Robert Talbot was re-called and examined by Mr. PAGET : I saw Mr. Burchall the day before the election at the Pontack. I told him I would vote for Mackenzie and Turner. He said nothing to me about putting my name down ; but he told me if there were anything going I would have part of it. I understood him to refer to employment during the time of the election. There were other persons in the room ; some of them were voters. I went to the poll from the Pontack between eleven and twelve. I saw other persons polling from the Pontack. We went to the poll in a cab. I saw Mr. Burchall at the Pontack on the day of the election. I had some coffee at the Pontack that morning. I did not pay for it. There was plenty to eat ; but I could not take any food. Mr. Burchall seemed to be full of election business. He spoke to all the people at the Pontack. He asked me when I was going to vote ? I replied, I was ready to vote at any time. Immediately afterwards I went to the poll, in company with two voters named Westmore and Brown. I recollect Mr. Birchall asking me to go up stairs and have some breakfast. I did so. This was at the Pon tack. I saw no persons there who were acting as can vassers, or who were taking voters up to the poll. I did not see Mr. Birchall speak to Brown or Westwore. In the breakfast-room there might be about two dozen peo ple. I did not see where they went to after leaving the room. There were several persons in the car which took me to the poll, but I do not recollect having seen any of them in the breakfast-room. Mr. Hatch gave me a voting card. He was in a little room at the Pontack. I saw voters going into it, and I followed them. Mr. Hatch asked me to what ward I belonged. I told him, and nothing more passed between us. I saw several persons getting voting-cards. Several of them were persons whom I had previously seen in the breakfast room. The Pontack was very throng that morning. I do not think Mr. Hatch, from the room where lie was sitting, could have seen what was going on in the other parts of the house. I did not pay for the coffee I had, nor did I see any of the others pay anything. I saw no liquor in the breakfast-room—l mean liquor given for nothing ; but I called for a glass of rum and paid for it myself. By the CHAIRMAN : I returned to the Pontack after I voted ; but, seeing no one there, 1 immediately left. I got nothing then. Thomas Cannell, examined by Sergeant KINGLAKE : I am a voter of Liverpool. I know Mr. Birchall. I saw him on the morning of the election ; he called at my house. He asked me if I was going to the Pontack ? I said I was. He told me to go up and get breakfast. I went up to the Pontack, and when I got there I saw Mr. Birchall. I had some breakfast and a little drop of whiskey ; but I cannot say whether I tasted beer or not. A number of people were breakfasting at the- same time, but I did not know any of them. After breakfast a stran ger asked me to go to the poll with him, and I went. I saw Mr. Birchall before I left the Pontack ; but I do not recollect him saying anything to me. I did not return to the Pontack after I voted. _ _ _ By Mr. JAMES : I was not in bed last night. I was on the railway all night. When arrived in town this morn ing, I went to the Horseshoe and Magpie. I made no statement yesterday at Liverpool that was taken down. I certainly saw a gentleman, but I gave him no satisfac tion. I have not been drinking to-day. (The witness was evidently labouring under the combined effects of liquor and drowsiness.) I cannot tell when I first saw Mr. Birchall. He canvassed me for my vote, but Ddo not recollect the date—it was some days before the day of the election. I told him I wanted something for my vote, but I subseouently promised to vote for Mackenzie and Turner, and I did so. A gentleman called upon me yesterday in Liverpool, and asked me if I went to the Pontack on the day of the election. I said I did. He asked me if Mr. Birchall took me into the Pontack. I said he did not. He then asked me if Mr. Birchall took me to the poll. I said he did not;, that it was a strange man who went with me to the poll. He then gave me half a sovereign, and told me to come up• to London. I came up in a first class carriage, but I do- not know who paid my fare. I. wanted more money fcr my vote at the election. I , voted as a £lO householder. I got half a sovereign for my vote at the last election, and' ths man who gave me the money came with me—Mr. Birchall—but I did not know him ; he was a stranger to me. Ido not recollect talking to any person within the last week of what took place at the Pontack on the morning of the election. One glass of whiskey was all that I had that morning. I. did not feel very well, and asked Birchall to give me a glass of whiskey, which he did. I. was in the Pontack about half an hour. By Sergeant KINGLAIIE : Mr. Birchall and another man called upan me a day or two before the election. It was then I got a half-sovereign for my vote. It was the same Mr. Birchall who , asked me to go, up to the Pontack on the day of the election. By Mr. FRESHFI•ELD : Mr. Birchall requested the man who was with him to give me half a sovereign. I had asked a Mr. Owen before to give me money for my vote. When I first came up to London I got a sovereign for my trouble and loss of time. I. was allowed 10s. a day for all the time I was in London. The pay stopped on last Friday week, when I. returned to Liverpool. By Mr. RODWELL I did not say in the shop. of a Mr. Taylor, in Liverpool, when I returned, that I did not care what I. said in London, so long as I get well paid for it. .Tames Dolby :lam a freeman in Liverpool. Know the Pontack public-house,. and a person of the name of Hatch. I remember being at the Pontack before the election. I saw Hatch there. He instructed me to come to the same place on the following day, in order that I might vote in that ward.. I_ went to the Pontack about Nine o'clock in the morning of the election. I went into a room and sat down. I got my voting card about an hour after that. I knovs , Mr. Burchall. He was at the Pontack on the morning of the election. He seemed to be busy, going from room to room, and talking to the people there, but I did not hear what he said, because I was too much engaged with my breakfast. I did not see him going with any person to the poll, nor did I hear him giving orders about taking voters to the poll. I got my voting card from Mr. Hatch in another room. There were several persons in the room at the time. I went to the poll in a car. I do not know who took me there. There were other voters with me. I. returned from the poll alone. I stayed at the Pontack about half en hour ; it was on my road home. The people had all gone by that time, and so I left and returned to my work. By Mr. WILLIAMS I did not pay for anything I got at the Pontack in the morning. Edward Marshall : I keep the Edgebill Coffee-house. One of Turner and Mackenzie's committees met there at the last election, beginning in March. They occupied one large club-room, and occasionally a small sitting room of my own. The rooms were engaged by Mr. Watt, one of the committee. The chairman was Mr. Richard Saunders, and the secretary Mr. Wensley. I have seen Mr. Atrhur Henderson there, but I do not think he was a member of the committee. M. Rowett was a member of the committee ; Mr. Joseph Bailey was another ; Mr. Lunt another. I was not a member myself. Mr. John Downes was a canvasser for the West Derby Ward. I had ss. a-night for the use of the club-room and lights. I made out a bill at the close of the election. It amounted to between £8 and ; but. I had another of about £l6 for the use of cars and refreshments—in all, XII, There were several public meetings in my house of the rate payers residing within the ward ; likewise meetings of ropers, for whom the committee ordered the room. Ido not remember Mr. Rowett speaking to me about those meetings. Ile might have been present when the room was ordered. The candidates attended the first public meeting held in my house. My bill for the use of the rooms was paid about a week after the election by Mr. Whatham. The bill for the rest has not been paid yet. I gave it to Mr. Whatham at the same time I tendered the bill for. the use of the rooms. The refreshments- were supplied on the nomination and polling days. I gave refreshments to persons supplied with tickets to the number of 531. The tickets were only of one colour. I supplied the re freshments by order of the committee. The directions were given to me on. the 3rd of July. John Downes I know the house kept by the last wit ness. I. attended meetings there preparatory to the last election. I, went because I was a canvasser. Mr. What ham , one of the committee assembling in Marshall's house, requested me to give my services as a canvasser. I did so ; had a district assigned to me ;.and I, was paid for my services.. The secretary, Mr. Wensley, handed the books to me and to. the other canvassers. We returned in the evening and gave in our reports. Ido not remember all the canvassers, but Mr. Bailey, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Rowett,, and others were among the number. We were paid by Mr. Buckmaster. Mr. Whatham told me to go to that gentleman. I accordingly went to. the Constitu tional-office, and there saw Mr. Buckmaster, in the presence of Mr. Whatharn. When I asked for pay ment, Mr. Buckmaster asked Mr. Whatham if it was all right, and on being answered in the affirma tive, he paid rue. Ido not recollect how much I got ; but I think I was paid at the rate of ss, a-day. The examination of this witness was not concluded when the committee adjourned at a quarter before 4 o'clock. THE LIVERPOOL ROMANISTS AND THE "NUNNERIES BILL." The Concert-hall, in. Lord Nelson-street, was crowded to excess last night, the Romanists having assembled thereto pro test and petition against the so-called " Nunneries Bill," intro duced into Parliament by Mr. Chambers. Hundreds were un s,„ab.alsemtoogstaionppanreessintvrea.nce, and the crowded state of t t i h e e m b: n l o d r ing a Mr. DANIEL POWELL, corn-merchant, was called to the chair, on the motion of Mr. Levingstone, and, in his preliminary speech, he denounced the bigotry which dictated the adoption, in the Lti dish Senate, of the Ecclesiastical Titles. Bill—a bigotry which was manifested anew on the Nunneries Bill. He denied that the Lord Chancellor of England's nominee, in inspecting C re h li r g is io ti v a s n. ho ( u , s , e N s, o c ,N ou o ld l,, b ) ehave . eithes like a Resolutions were moved and seconded by Messrs. LYNCH, SH EIL, ASPINALL, IWCURTIN, YATES, and others. Mr ASPINALL was the principal speaker; and, what lie uttered, included all that was said by the others. He moved the protest and petition on the following ii irotb,h,ue,,e,:eiar:ebltosa ng,amongstothereipainrinnotanpromoters eloei tti ens g ; risi,pteoi specimen wouldtaci t tn d oie s rl ies,i : --that the bill was an unmanly and fanatical measure, proposed to gratify the malignant feelings of certain constituencies ; that it was specially designed to annoy the Roman Catholics; that obl ifeo pfkuei three-fourths r,ciikoteulidse iob)uii gl out of bigotry fafot, Parliament ~i , ate ,rne p l rio e aet o i napo(elinenol adopted, t t ; ' Englandthe bill that,lbi ei l called to gratify their prurient curiosity in the houses of the religious, they would at once be kicked out of the window. Mr. JOHN YATES said that, if the bill were passed, the Roman Catholic population would set the measure at defiance, and laugh it to scorn, and give the inspectors a greeting which would prevent them returning a second time. These and similar sentiments were loudly applauded, espe cially by a poor old maniac, in the front of the gallery, whose furious exhibitions of approval created a pitiable interlude, which proved a source of merriment to those who relished fun more than oratory. All the resolutions, including a strongly-worded petition, were adopted ; and at half-past nine o'clock the proceedings closed, with an advice from Mr. Powell, that the Roman Catholics of England should frighten the members of parlia ment, by telling them that no Romanist would vote for that person, at the coming election, who gave his support to the motion of Mr. Chambers. THE CUSTOMS' AUTHORITIES now allow the luggage of passengers from Paris by the mail train to he brought to London without examination at Dover, in order to prevent detention in the latter place. The examination is made by officers from the Customs, at the LQndou-bridze station of the South-Eastern Company. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, JUNE 13. (Continued from the eighth page.) Mr. R. PIIILLIMORE opposed the amendment. Mr. MuLLINGs supported it. After some observations from Mr. Pellatt and Sir J. Walsh, Lord J. RUSSELL briefly opposed the amendment. The present proposal was charged with injustice, but it was remarkable that those who complained of it did not com plain of the Legacy Duty. If taxation was at all to be made equal, the principle of the bill must be agreed to , however it might be modified in committee. The mea sure had been approved of by the country, and he hoped it would be supported by the house. Mr. ERNEST DUNCOMBE, irl a maiden speech, sup ported the amendment. The succession tax he regarded as a war tax only. Sir E. DERING opposed the bill, on the ground that it was wanting in the fundamental principles of equity to the holders of real and personal property. The house then divided, when there appeared—for the amendment, 185 ; against, 268: majority against, 83. The amendment was consequently lost. The bill then passed through committee, pro forma• SAVINGS' BANK BILL.—On the motion for the second reading, Mr. VANCE objected to the motion at that late hour (two o'clock.) Mr. H. HERBERT said the object of the bill was to give Savings' Banks depositors the security of the public for their deposits. The bill was retrospective. The bill was read a second time and ordered to be corad mitted this day week. Savings' Banks and Annuity Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed this day week. CHATHAM ELECTION.—New writ ordered in the Nola of Sir F. Smith, unseated on petition. Common Lodging Houses Bill, and Bail in Error Bill , passed through committee. Public Works Loan Bill was read a third time. Convicted Prisoners' Removal and Confinement Bill, and Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill was read a third time. MR. FITZGERALD moved for a new writ for Sligo. MR. BUTT moved as an amendment that the writ be postponed for a fortnight. Lord PALMERSTON thought the writ ought not to issue until the evidence taken before the Committee wee printed, Mr. F. SCULLY moved the adjournment of the debate until this day week. The House then divided. when there appeared For the adjournment Against Majority for the adjournment.. 139 The House then adjourned at a quarter to two. TURN-OUT OF THE LABOURERS., IT is one of the evils attending legislation for the% masses,. that it is almost impossible to do them good. if trade is slack,. they complain of want of employment ;- and when trade is brisk, they cot their own throats, by turning out for an advance of wages, such as the profits of business will not allow mastsrs- to pay. At Stockport thousands are now idle, notwithstanding that they have bees offered the full average wageti of the district ; and the infection has spread to our own town, all the cotton porters being out for an advance from 3s. 6d. to 4s. per day. Such proceedings, which are usuallY instigated by the least worthy among the men, are suicidal to then own interests, and should be firmly resisted by the employers,, even. at some sacrifice to themselves. Where skilled'artisans refuse to work, the movement, however injudicioug- and reprehen sible, has an apparent chance of success ; but for men whose whole service consists irbthe exercise of animal strength to stand out for more than 21.5. per week, when there are thousands within a few hours' ride by railway who would - be glad to take their places even for less money, is absolute folly. THE DOCK LABOURERS' STRIKE. COMMITTAL FOILINTIAIIDATION-YESTERDAY, At the Police-court, yesterday, James Hughes; a porter egl ployed at the Albert Docks, charged a man, named Nlichael O'Hara, with a disgraceful and cowardly act ofi'inthnidation• on Saturday evening last. Mr. NORTE!, solicitor to the dock trustees,appeared in stir port of the charge, and; having_brietly addressed the court, said the complainant would lay before the magistrates-the particu laraof the case: The complainant, James Hughes, then stated that he resided in Edgar-street. On Saturday night last he-was -sitting at home along with his family, when they heard a smash at the-windows, which were broken by something; havino, b een tkrown. through the panes of glass. They ran outi of the house, w a e". s trh a ; r e tpuearn scns standing outside pointed out the prisoner and nt. who , was with him as the men who p h o a l i e b m to a therep or la ni sienorna untili re i er t p a o i ; eht v h e epa d ritl t ash l oi l ie e inbhearraotdcokabearnenleei his i u oss s le, e (tnc i oto i tfioltptlri (complainants) lu s t k t ic, r .e 6eo e; c e n,N t vNl t pii i lns a l ieea e d n nLo d , ala is nens t d.OtaCptstorikpoin Com plainant it. asked him to pay for the window, on which the prisoner pulled out a large iron bar, and struck him, and said; " I will pay you, and all the b—y black sheep as well." complainant then seized the prisoner, and held him until a him into custody. By Mr. MANSFIELD :.Was sure the prisoner called him "a b—y black slieep,' r and that he was sent to do it. Had reason to fear that other assaults would be made upon him. Was em ployed at the Albert Docks. In answer to the magistrate, the prisoner said he,admitted breaking the complainant's windows,.but he did not strike him until the complainant struck him. Mr. MANSFIELD (addressing the prisoner), said, that after the evidence which had been adduced it clearly appeared that the prisoner was-one of those persons forming a class of men who were most disgraceful and dangerous-members of societYP and by whom the peace of the community was to be broken , arising out of the differences b-Aween the employer and the. employed. The. prisoner, according to his own account, seemed to have taken upon himself the office of a hired ruffian, for the purpose of wreaking his vengeance upon a man who was simply taking his labour to the best market, and, by so doing, making an honest living. There was no palliation for conduct BO cowardly and base, and therefore the full penalty of the laW must be inflicted on the prisoner. He must be committed for three months, with hard labour. The prisoner was then remo7ed in custody. ASSAULTING A. POLICEMAN. COMMITTAL OF TWO WITNESSES FOR PERJURY. Yesterday, at the police-court, a man named Richard Pierces representing himself as a hardware dealer, residing at No. lig ! Camden,street, London-road , was ch arge d b e f ore the stipen' diary magistrate, and F. Heywood, Esq., with an assault en Police. odicer Carlyle, whilst in the discharge•of his duty. Mr. Pemberton, solicitor, appeared for the defendant. Police-officer Carlyle stated that, about &o'clock on FridaY evening last, a man came to the police-office, and said that lie had• been swindled, and he (Carlylel received instructions from Mr. Clough to go in search of four inen. Amongst other places he went to a beerhouse, in Hothatn-street, kept by a. man named James Anderson. He there saw seven men, among them the prisoner, who, was sat on a chair. Another officer was. with him, but he did not come into the house at first. On looking round at the people in the house, complainant said to four on ',lye of the men, "I thin 'we want you • you had better come down to the Police-office.' ' The prisoner then said,. " Youd—d Scotch b —r, neither you nor sixteen like you shall take He then said, "Do yon take me for a thief ?" Complainant replied that lie bad not called him a thief., The prisoner then got up and hit him on the breast and head, and Isis hat: fell. As complainant nag stooping to pick his hat up,tha prisoner struck him again, and knocked him dawn. During the time he was down, the othel men made their. escape from the house. Cross-examined by Mr. PasraEaToN : I did not lay rat hand on the defendant, and say to him, " You are a thief, ant! I want you dawn at, the station," What I said was, "I do nod call you a thief, but show me.your company, and then I. Wi l l' tell you what you are." Defendant did not tell me until 1 get to the Police-office that his name was Richard Pierce, an . that lie lived in Camden-street. lie did not say what he Was or who he-was until we got to bridewell. Officer 216 was next called, and corroborated Carlyle's.state - , - ment. After telling Carlyle that he should not take the men t. I3ridewell, the prisoner, got up and struck Carlyle. He.strueo him three times, first on the breast, then on the head,tind theft in the neck. Mr„.PESIBERTON, for the prisoner, denied the complainant ? ! statement, and said that Carlyle came into the house, and pub his hand upon the defendant, and called him a thief, and.then, struck him. Defendant was a respectable man, and .a strange r : in Liverpool. He (Mr, Pemberton) would call "A'itn i :S ti e i s azie to disprove what the policemen had stated. James Anderson, the keeper of the beerhouse, in street, was then called, and examined by Mr.. P.E.-. 4 ' I PRT."• he put his hand on the defendant and said, " &want yOn.;, you He said that, immediately on (t C vlvi a ei r t i nc y eh l s e asr, c sg) o e m lrlo i a n u : a.e. i D nt ec o fae t n l y l i h en e t T od; are a, thief." Defendant said, " What charge have you .4ainso Charge,'' Car,' then 1 will tell l d l oU o'i t te h 'A'st a ili s kl tic Cn k oa , rt a l n yte d lell s a a th i a d inll t i o iwn P hh i a e it r s ce, " I coubi, kill You with this. have Camden-street." ° m ' cer Carlyle. —I ght. I live tied to her. I believe she has been married before. 1 don know what has become of her first husband. He may 115 , C ,,i been transported for anything I snow . I don't know ;ha Mickey Waters, my wife's husband, is transported. I Nov; me C I s never been convicted for felony at 'Manchester. I have bee , ' He-examined p.. ? arr, she l oe.tvner li xea v tati e hnaNe,s a iit:a t ,Frfineb,r i cyihdeb o eN,ay . slyatro l e.ii s tfirl a ip. in EMBEWtON.—Carlyle did not charg e the defendant in my house with having assaulted him. I al ' . sure of that. William Jones, a man who. was . in the house at the tfme,cer' roborated Anderson's statement. In answer to a further question from Mr. Mansfield, both t 11 „f witnesses swore that the defendant Pierce neither struck I,ll r pushed the officer Carlyle. The evidence having been read ov er to the witnesses, tP Mr. MANSFIELD said lie had not the slightest. doubt 1 1 „$ - , r , the truth of the officer's statement. It was clear to Idan(..„.„. wP Mansfield) that the defendant assaulted the officer, and, the cause of four men escaping, who would otherwise t 'i t o been arrested on a charge of robbery. By this conduct t oe defendant appeared to be an accessory to the felony after to act. Notwithstanding the evidence which had been givqo the contrary, he had no doubt the defendant was guilty. „ e d defendant must be fined .t 5, and the Magistrates also dire C', s . that the two witnesses, Anderson and Jones, be taken into tody, and seat for trial at the next assizes for perjury. iii prison' ytC. eeybn*, e ELECTRIC WIRES.—A great stride iii submarine etlfli, neering has been successfully accomplished by the es l a, blishment of a telegraph between England and Holl y wires having been carried from Orfordness, on the ccg‘ c o of Suffolk, to Schevening, on the Dutch coast, a distal ) of one hundred and fifteen miles. TILE GLASGOW PAPERS are boasting of a feat th e complished by the steamer Mountaineer, one of h 1 4 Clyde fleet, built by Messrs. Thomso n , o f Clyde - 10.- Foundry, which, on her trial trip, ran the distaneois, 0 tween the Cinch and the Cu m b rae li g ht s , with . 1 0 ' to , advantage of a breeze a-head, in the space of 531 Ing iti o a• or at the rate of eighteen mil es an h our . Our cout be, porary goes on to remark that this is "a speed , '‘ e .oro lieve, unparalleled in this country in still water . so have the greater ple as u r e i n n oticing these fac ts ' o ur creditable to our Clyde builders, as we observeiece. Mersey friends have been lately extolling the aques ments of their erack river steamer, the Countess 0,..,00-, mere." Now, it is proper the Glasgow folk should 5"1,05 that our " crack boat," the Countess of Elle s wer e, 13 frequently run from George's Pier to Runcorn Jll' s "fel miles, including calling at the Brunswick steps, '" seconds over 45 minUtQs,