Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-26 00:00:00

WRECK OF. THE ROYAL CHARTER. BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY.—SIXTH DAY. The inquiry into the circunistances connected with ' the wreck of this vessel was resumed in the Crown Court, St. George ' s -hall, before J. S. Mansfield, Esq , S.M., and Capt. Harris, R.N., assessor to the Board of Trade. Mr. Smith, receiver of wrecks, who has been attend ing the inquiry from the beginning, received the follow ing letter yesterday from Mr. John Pritchard, tide waiter, who is in charge of the wreck : "MenraatA, Nov. 24, 1859. "On the last body that came ashore yesterday were found Bs. 6d, in a bag, in his pocket £6 10s. in gold, bills of exchange on the Bank of Australia to the amount of £96, .payable to Robert Evans. This day a male body, about 5 feet. 9 inches :high, having a grey coat, plaid waistcoat, cotton drawers, and sort of duck trousers, and" Blucher hoots, gold Albert chain and key, a gold ring; • marked F. S., with the name Alexander Maule, Hampton, Middlesex, written in a paper memorandum book, identified by Gapper as John Maule. Another body, about 5 feet 9 inches .in height, with red shirt,. white flannel waistcoat, and worsted drawers, 'Wel lington boots, and the body Much disfigured. A third male body, with Guernsey shirt, short knee boots, grey flannel shirt, and a striped one, a gold ring, marked ' Ballarat,' and a full-rigged ship, a knife, a key, and 2s 6d. in silver. It blows very fresh, with a heavy - sm." Foster, the carpenter, was re-called, and stated, in, reply to the court, that he sounded the pumps about ten minutes after she struck on the sand. He found about six inches of water in her, and the pumps generally sucked at about six or seven inches. In point of fact, she had made no water up to that time. After that he asked the engineer if all was right, and received an answer of " yes." The engines were stopped at the time. When she was on the reeks he did not get any order to sound, but he could have sounded her then. The cargo was hides and - copper ingots. • He heard there were about forty 7 five tons of copper, The ship drew eighteen feet five inches forward andl twenty , feet six inches aft when we left Melbourne. They did not take the draft of water when they entered the Channel. • To 'Arr. Aspicall.—l was not here when Comae gave his evidence, I was down town with a gentleinan. .Captain Wm. Martin was next called, he said : 7 -I am the marine superintendent under Messrs. Gibbs, liright, and Co., and to the Liverpool and Australian Navigation Company. In that capacity it was•my duty to look after the Royal Charter when she was in port. During the time she was building I was engaged to see that the materials were good. The putting in of the masts, &c., was done under my control at Liverpool. When the ship was building, I was there as a kind of check on all parties, I confirm what Mr. Patterson has said with respect to the quality of the materials. There were three best bower—Trottam's—anchors, Weighing • 50 cwt. 0 qrs.. 24 lbs., 50 cwt. 2 qrs. 16 lbs., and. 51 cwt. 0 qr. 18 lbs. There were 300*.fathoms of 21 inch fall of bower cables. They were proved at 72 tons each. Henry Wood & Co., of Liverpool, supplied them, and 'proved them at Chester to bear 72 tons, each. I was not present at the proof. The builder's test is the only one we are bound to.. The stream anchor weighed 15 cwt. 1 qr. 10 lbs. We had our full complement of kedge anchors, and our stream - cable was 110 fathomi inch and a quarter, and was proved by Messrs. Wood 'at twenty-five tons tension. The bower anchors were 455. per cwt. The spare sower anchor was also 455. per cwt. The stream anchor was 365. per cwt. The kedges were also 365. The bower cables were 13s. 6d. per cwt. The stream cable was 13s. 6d. per cwt. These chains were all stud links. The one cable was shackled on to the other. The spare bower was stowed in the square of the fore hatchway with the ring up, as the most convenient place to get it up. It was not the practice to carry a sheet anchor on the gunwale. It would be almost impos sible to do so coming in and out of dock as the Royal Charter was. The carpenter I heard saying that there were thifty men employed for a length of time, but • that was, only for about a couple of days for caulking bet Ween decks. I have seen the Royal Charter stay when I was on board in a topgallant breeze, going at about ten and a quarter knots. I never saw her wear, but the log-books show that she did 'wear. She was a large clipper ship, with auxiliary power. We thought she would be crank, but her stiffness or crankness depended on her loading. We ,considered that she would want more ballast. When , the ballast was taken out at Plymouth, as stated yester day, she done first-rate. We had 210 patent brass scuttles, out of which a great quantity of water passed. All the heavy sails throughout the ship, to the upper topsails, were number one canvas. She would have lain to under a lower maintopsail. We done away with trisails in the Royal Charter, because we found that in heavy weather she done better under lower topsails than she would do under trisails. This has been done with all ships of her class. The masts were nicely proportioned and balanced, so as to make the ship efficient. The Royal Charter, when under sail on a wind, would go along for a quarter of an hour without moving her helm. The ship was well found in every way. I have been .nineteen years at sea, and during that time I have been in ,both, large and small vessels. What I think might have guided Captain Taylor is, that when you cast away the masts there is danger of fouling the screw, and render it useless. Captain Harris—What is your opinion as regards cutting away the masts. Do you. think that when the ship held for four hours, it would not have been better if Captain Taylor had cut them away ? Captain Martin—lt is a very difficult thing for a man to determine what he should do. If the mast went over the side in a heavy sea, and a large piece of iron were to be dashed against one of the plates, it is more than likely it would go through the vessel. • Captain Harris—Tke masts could have been no use to the vessel, and if they had been cut away, it would have been a relief, and in all human probability, the ship would have been saved. I only mention this to know your opinion as a nautical man. I know that the engi neer could have feathered the screw, though the engines must have been stopped, and, no doubt, were stopped when the masts were cut away. I only wish to know if you consider it a prudent or an imprudent thing to cut away the masts. Captain Martin—l think myself that, under the cir cumstances, a shipmaster Wou ld think a good deal be fore he would cut away his masts, if he was depending on his screw. It does a pp ear that the engineer had re ceived orders to g o a little slower ahead, that the ship should ride easier. I dare say the reason of that was, that she may have forged a little ahead in a lull, and then come back with great force, causing great strain on the anchors. I think that Captain Taylor was depending more on his anchors than on the screw. I have no doubt that Captain Taylor wished to ilirn as much ahead as would assist his anchors. If she lad been a ship, it l'srelx!ent of the screw, then I would say, cut away the masts by all means. Captain Harris—We know that there are lulls when a ship will go ahead with her screw working, and then with the full force of the gale will come back with a surge which is liable to snap the chains. Captain Martin—lf the vessel had been propelled at the rate of four knots an hour, it would have been of great advantage. Captain Harris—You cannot regulate at what speed the engine should be driven in a gale of wind. Mr. Aspinall.—l am not aware that the ship was brought up at all, or that she got her head properly to the wind. Captain Harris.—l think that she must have held for me time, for, looking at the distance, she must have Ibeen four hours before was driven ashore by the force of the gale of wind, so that she must have brought up. One of the witnesses, I think, said that she came up E. half N., and fell off E.S.E. Mr. Aspinall.—There is this difficulty, that these men were not so well able to judge, and Captain Taylor had three nautical captains to consult with. Captain Harris.—l do not intend that these remarks should cast a reflection on the character or conduct of Captain Taylor. He is gone, and I will not attempt to throw a shadow of blame on him, but I am merely judging from results. Mr. Aspinall.—We are judging from results from very imperfect evidence. Captain Taylor had the facts before his eyes of which we know nothing. Captain Harris.—l make allowance for that. Captain Martin said he.had been at the wreck; and, it, was quite evident, that the bilge must have been knocked right in before the ship parted, as the rock went right through the bilge and left the stern unsupported. Evidently, the whole weight -of the vessel came on the centre, and the place where she went on could not have been more effectual if it had been picked out for wreck ing a vessel. The cost of the ship, when ready for'sea, was £34 per ton. Captain Francis Boyce, on being called, deposed as follows :—I was on board the ship one voyage, when Dr. Gilmour was in her, and there was no such thing as rattling of rivets. There never was a tighter ship afloat. I commanded the Royal Charter for the first two voyages, and I " wore" and " stayed" her fre quently without the aid of the steam power, both in strong and fine weather. I attribute her broaching to in the Bay of Biscay to her being overloaded at the time. If the ship was going four or five knots she would steer very well. When I• was going head to wind, and she was not making 4 or 5 knots, I set sail and kept her a little off the wind. The ship was splendidly sparred. I did not consider her a weak ship, and I was in her before and after the stringer was put into her. I was on board when she got on the ground at Flint, and I heard the report of the box kelson breaking. I know myself that the damage was properly repaired. Robert T. Steele said—l am an insurance broker, of the firm of Rathbone and Martin, and the Royal Charter was insured at the rate of 70s. out and home, which we consider a low rate. We have been in the habit of in suring for Gibbs, Bright, and Co., for some' years, and this rate of insurance was for the last voyage. That is the lowest rate that it ever has been done at.. We make no distinction between a wooden and an iron vessel, ex cept in the case of a steamer, and those we insure at a lower rate. I may say that if anything had been wrong with the Royal Charter we should have heard of it. William M'Donald-1 am the superintendent of the Liverpool Corporation testing machines ; and I have tested six iron plates furnished to me as part of the wreck of the Royal Charter. I made the experiments on my own responsibility. The machine is worked by two double levers, resting on knife centres at one end. The-other end is. a scale, upon Which we put the weights. The subject of the test is fastened to the end of the lever, - which rests upon the knife centres, and the other end is fastened to the other end of the machine. Thsrmotion is commu nicated by multiplying wheels, and the chain which fastens all together passes round the machine. I tested those plates of the Royal Charter by this machine. I made some experiments yesterday, and' some to-day, And the experiments of to-day are rather higher than yesterday. We tried two to-day and fkr yesterday.- The results are : the first plate we tried was 5' inches by and it broke at the bolt eye at a pressure of 41 tons: I I did not consider this a fair test. The next was 3' inches by broke at 45 tons 10 cwt. This was a fair break. The next was of the same dimensions, and that broke at 42 tons. The next was 3 inches by 13-16th, and that broke at 45 tons, Those of to-day, the first was 2 inches 11-16th, and broke at 32 tons. The next was 3 inches by 11-16th plus 1-32, and brclie at 28 tons. Of the five that were fairly tested, the- second, averaged 20-22 to the square inch; the other. 18-66 ; the first of to-day, 23-29, and the second 20-3% The average of the five plates is 20tons a cwt., whirl) gives 11 tons over Pairbairn:s average which is 19- tons 5 Mt. William Clay was called,. and said—l am the-super intendent of the Mersey Iroa , Works, and I was present at four experiments made by. Mr. 31‘Danald. t am practically acquainted with the- manufacture et iron. Tension : is an important quality: in iron used for ship building, but ductility is equally important. I concur with the evidence, that this irom sustained an extraor dinary tensile strain. I may say that Governmeat, in the construction of steam rams, have contracted foriron to bear 22 tons tensile strain, to the square inch, and have had difficulty ins procuring it. I think it would be bad economy to put cheap iron into aiship. Mr. Aspinall then said, as the enquiry was finished so far as the evidence was concerned, he would' isles the court for permission to say a few words on the subject as far as regarded the position of the gentlemen for whom he appeared. As it was desirable that something should be said, not so much that it was necessary, on their account, as because so much had: been said before the public, and it was most desirable that the public should be satisfied so far as possible, that every precau tion had been taken to save , the ship. The inquiry, though a painful one, had proved that all the rep or t s that had been circulated were nothing but fabrications front first to last. Mr. O'Dowd had referred to Dr. Scoresby's journal, and he should also make reference to it in connection with the Royal Charter during the COurse of his remarks, and he did not believe that the court would be able to say that the ship was inefficient, for there never had been a science on a busi , ness but what improvements had been made in it, and be hoped that inquiry would lead to some improvements in shipbuilding. He did think that they had gone into the whole matter so fully that the public would not be able to put their finger on one single thing that was omitted from first to last. The evidence went to show that Gibbs, Bright and Co. were anxious, as the gentle men who had previously owned the vessel were, that she should be turned out one of the most magnificent ships , that ever sailed. They had the evidence of Mr. Patterson, who built the ship, and he might observe that the evidence they had furnished to Mr. 0' D owd was not given by parties .who were interested with Gibbs, Bright & Co. ; but public officers, one after - the other—persona whose interests, -if ho might so speak, were opposed—some of them em played by the Underwriters, and some' of them by the Board' of Trade ; and, of all these,' there was not one who had not examined the vessel as-it was his duty, and, as the law required them to do, and every one had spoken in the highest possible terms of the ship. With. regard to the officers and the crew, nobody could find fault with them. They had a lamentable exhibition at the court the day before, occasioned by the doctor who had been brought there by Mr. O'Dowd, whose duty it was to have him there, inasmuch as he had been calumniating the ship and those on board of her; and after the exhibition that he had made, he was sure the court felt, and the public would feel, that his ' statements were without foundation. Everything went to prove that the ship was a good ship. They had the evidence of Captain Boyce, who had sailed the ship, and of Captain Martin, who had been out in her, and knew her well ; and then they had Dr. Scoresby's experience of her, who, though he was a minister at the time he wrote of her, he had been a sailor in the early part of, his life, and was a man of science • and, though there was some little diffic u lties experienced at first, the reason was fully given, and the difficulties removed. He continued to say t h at i t had been ' which sp o k e highly of "Journal of a Voyage ag He then read-from passages,Dr. Scoresby B t t h o e A ß us oy tr a a l l c ia h ' a ' rt s e e r v . era Ti l said that Captain Taylor anclhis officers were like a band of b r others, and he considered, if . that was the ease, they were the,more likely to preserve Order , and act in har mony for the interest of that vesse l, b y p r eserving disci pline onboard. On the morning preceding that terrible night they had fine weather, and no appearance of a , change. They were getting into the pilot-ground, and there_was no indication of bad weather. The barometer did not show it, and they were pursuing their course le with a hope of getting into Liverpoolall right on t following 'morning; and almost immediately, there came on such a hurricane as was scarcely ever seen on that coast, and certainly never from that point of the compass, which drove the ship on a lee shore ; and he would venture to state that it was imppss,ble for that court - to' come to a proper judgment on the conduct of Captain Taylor, as they had no proof from persons of science who were on board with Captain Taylor, or who presumed to be capable of navigating a ship. Captain Taylor was there with all the facts before him, which they could' now only see through a cloud imperfectly. As to the cutting away of the masts, •Captain,Taylor was there, and saw and felt everything, and, no doubt, with those .who were with him, with whom he could consult, he did everything that it was possible for man to do. He' was not there to answer for his conduct. He hoped the court would deal with his memory,' as they should like to be dealt with. With regard to cutting away the masts, it was well known that when the. Prince was lost off .Balaclava, •the captain had been blamed for cutting away the masts because they fouled the sc-ew. How far Captain Taylor's knowledge of that fact had been used they had no.means of - ascertaining. There were facts, no doubt, that justified Captain Taylor for doing as he did, but these facts were not before the court, and, therefore, they should assume everything in his favour. Mr. Aspinall then wentun to show that everything had been done by the officers and crew to save the lives of the passengers, like true British sailors ; and concluded by asking the court, when the report was presented to the Board of Trade, to say something in memory of those that were gone that would be a consolation to those who have been.left to mourn their loss. Mr. Mansfield said he spoke his own sentiments, and he thought those of Captain Harris also, when he said he entirely concurred with Mr. Aspinall with reference to the captain and crew, for it appeared that at the last moment they kad done their duty nobly ; and when they considered the manner in which the passengers had con ducted themselves, who were nearly all of the middle and lower classes of Englishmen, it made him feel proud' to be their countryman. One thing he lamented, that notwithstanding what had taken plase in that court, he understood that some persons had persisted in casting a most malignant imputation upon Captain Taylor, as to his sobriety. This had been given as coming from an authority ; but when traced to any such person it was always denied, and he must call it a most malignant imputation. As Mr. O'Dowd had stated at the begin ing, it seemed to him that the whole story was utterly baseless, and he would feel it his duty to make mention of it in his report to the Board of Trade. There was no doubt that' Captain Taylor was a brave sailor; and it must be a feeling of malignity, from whatever cause, on. the part of any person that would attempt to leave a stigma on his memory, (Applause.) The inquiry then terminated. VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. THE WELSH VOLUNTEER 'RIFLER - A public meeting was held at one o'clock yesteniay afternoon, in. the Common-hall, .Hackin's-hey, for the ' purpose of promoting the formation of a Welsh Volunteer Rifle Corps. The chair was taken by Mderrean john Buck Lloyd, and amongst those present were Richard Griffith, Esq., Captain Chambres, Wallasey Rifles ; Captain Bousfield, Liverpool'Volunteer Rifles ; Ellis Yews, Esq., David Evans; Esq.,- john: Rogers, ,Esq., TOwn Councillor ; William Casson, Mg., John Roberts, its.q., Rev. Wm. Howell, William tones, Esq., William ;;'. Griffith, Esq., Lewis Roberts, Esq., John Roberts, END,. Thomas Clea ton, Esq:, R. W. Pritthard, Esq., Roberißoberts, Esq., James Grynne Bateson, Mg., Richard. Roberts, jun. Esq., Thomas tloyd Bowen r Esq., Lieutenant Bfady, Richard Lloyd, Esq., H. Pritchard, ESq., William , Jones, Esq., Eleazer Pugh, Esq., Dr. Games, D. W. Davies, Esq., Thomas Llayd, Esq., David Davies, Esq.,- J. Morgan, Esq., &c. The CiimitmAx said he: had been requested to take the‘chair on ,tat'occasior., as being, and having been ; himself connected with the' Principality; and as there was a movement in the borough—for their- Scotch ffiends had 'a Highland corps—it had been considered, knowing the number of those who resided in-Liverpool who were connected with the Principality, that there should be a Wash Rifle Corps established (Hear, hear, and cheers.) They knew this, that W7itslimen in Liverpool Were very numerous indeed, as connected with the buildinv trade in particular—with mechanics and other pursuits; . and it was. believed that they would form :a large, and he was sure: an efficient corps,-if it was the pleasure of the meeting to organise sucb.. a corps. The, other evening,. at St. Gborge's-hall, he- was sure that those who attended must have left it with an in spiration that they would themselves, if caile . d upon, join in-the present movement;: and although perhaps it would not be well that they should sever the town into sections of nationalities,- nevertheless, if this movement— - the Welsh movement—should! cause to be carolled :a hundred Welshmen, it - would, he thought, be-adinittet I that they had done a service te'the country by g those men, who, probhbly, under other circumstance s would not'have joined'any corps. (Hear, hear.)'. Os ir Scotch citizens had thought it right to. do s o, and he , did not - think . that they were, fritterb ig away time, as had been' insinuated, when they were 'at tempting to form a Welsh YOltinteer Corps for-this par's of the county of Lancashire. They knew this, that if it did nothing else, it would?. give pastime to many—it would give them, if not on animmediate occasion,, at least on some future occasion, the military drill anct the us e of arms, which of itself . vrould be very important to. this isolated island of our .own, where we had our army dis persed over the whole globe.. He would'say, let them form themselves into. a body of riflemen, 'so that they could be prepared at any moment, in any emergency that might arise, to assist the• Government of the country and our noble regular army in. the protection, of our nation. (Cheers.) This was, not a. war movement. (Hear, 'hear.) He would• say fearlessly, that this was a great peace movement—(hear, hea,r)—because if they showed from their, spirit and ardour and zeal, that they were willing to devote a,few of their leisure hours to a move ment such as this, so that if an oppression by a fOreign Statemere contemplated, they might, be ready when called 'upon to take their proper position and their proper part in the defence of their country, then the common enemy would be deterred from carrying his contemplated aggressive movement into effect; and so it would be proved, that those leisure hours which they were now called 'upon(*) devote to the study of the profession.of arms, had ;not been thrown away, and that the study and use of discipline and arms bad been of material service. to the state. (Cheers.) He would recom mend to the notice of gentlemen who had not already seen it, a lecture that was given at a meeting of the Army and Navy Club, by Colonel Wilford, upon the use of the rifle. It was instructing and amusing ; and it would be the source of much good, he was sure, if the Army and Navy Club would publish it in the form of a pamphlet, and circulate it. It was a practical, and at the same time an amusing mode of telling as to what extent the rifle might be used in thepresent mode of Warfare. They had examples before them of deeds of valour by their Welsh friends and compatriots, and he would only refer to one regiment in Her Majesty's service—the 23rd Welsh Fusileers. (Cheers.) He thought from the time of the formation of that regiment down to the present they could show from its colours that it had been at the front of every engagement in which it had been called upon to act a part. (Cheers.) Upon the colours of the , gallant corps Were inscribed Minden, Egypt, Corunn, Martinique, Albuera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, and' Waterloo. (Cheers.) The gallant deeds of the glorious 23rd did not end there, for when they brought down its ' records to more recent dates they all knew what it did at the first attack at the Alma—how it was engaged at Inkermann, and that it bore also upon its colours "Sevastopol.” (Cheers.) They knew that at the Alma it was one of the first regiments that mounted the heights; and that the slaughter committed amongst • its officers was great—that amongst others they had to deplore the loss of a gallant officer, Captain Wynn —(hear, hear)—who was brother to a lady who was the wife of one of the principality's princes—Sir Watkin V. :Wynn, who took the deepest interest in every move ment connected with the principality and its charities. They knew, too, the ,interest that Lady Wynn took in the memorial- to that gallant regiMent, and that the Welsh community in Liverpool, down to the very chil dren in the Welsh schools—who contributed their pennies to send £5O to Lady Wynn, that she might dispose of it in any way she pleased in connection with the regiment in which she took so deep an interest— sympathised deeply with her' ladyship -in her hereic determination.- (Hear, hear.) From the. Crimea that regiment was moved to India; and let them re-call what it did on its approach to Lucknow. At Lucknow it had in its ranks a young' officer who was connected with Liverpool, the grandson-of one of our most worthy mer chants—Sir Thomas Tobin's son. He was wsunded at Lucknow; and, lamentable as it was to- the'friends and relatives of that young man, he died under the wounds. that he there received. (Hear, hear.) New, he thought they had sufficient on the pare of historY to show that Welshmen, when called upon, had not been backward in responding to any call 'made upon their patriotism ; and if this , movement was to he for the: pro tection of our shores, then he would say that it had not been wrong that Welshmen had been called tOgether to consider whether, at the present moment, they' should not establish and get embodied a Welsh Fusilier Corps:for Liverpool. (Cheers.) He would only urge upon them this—that they should not be care less, because of the excitement at the moment they had enrolled. Let those who enrolled themselves consider that they must keep up the: esprit, and not let' it pass away at a moment when some little change .might take place, but let the movement be thoroughly established amongst them, and let the rifle become the national arm. (Cheers.) Let theni consider what a relief it must be to the Government to know that: when they liad - no standing army in the country, they could cominand, at any moment, such a magnificent rifle corps as -they saw at St. George's-hall the other evening—young menfull Of vigour and ardour, Willing, if necessary, to fight their' country's battles, for the.protection of their wives and children, their homes and theiraltari r against any potentate Sovereign or foreign Government that might commit, an, i aggression upon our shores. (Cheers.) He would only further say that there would be feund in: Liverpool such a body of Welshrrien to come for Ward as- would be second to none in appearance and diicipline, if it 'was the Pleasure of the meeting that day that Welshmen should be called upon: to enrol themselves : in connection with the present movement He was certain that; if enrolled, the Welsh Volunteers would - be found ready,- loyally - and patriotically, to respond to any 'call that it: might be found hereafter necessary to make upon thenacheers) —in. defence of our shores-; and that the motto-which appeared on the .flags of the gallant Welsh I'Li,.Silters 'wont & be' apPlfrable to them also—" See: aspects terrent.'" (Loud and protracted cheer/n - 2;0 Mr. ditirprrnwthen rose, and, after remarking. that he had 'great - pleasure- in acceding to the • request of the. chairman, read the • first resolution, which was as follows That this-meeting concurs, in the general: opinion that it is necessary to form a Velinter Rifle Corps throughout the country, which; permanently 'established, will' moire an: efficient means of national defence." He then proceeded to state that he thought the- resolution sufficiently recommended itself ; and he feb - aure it would meet with their unanimous support:: He- might, therefore,. having- read the resolution, sit' down without making ,any further eominents, but he thought that his young friends- would alloW him to go on. .(Cheers.) He was-quite satisfied thatthe volunteer corpe l , when called out, would be found ready to meet anything that might happen. In proof of this he might menden an example that- occurred within his own recolleetion. It was 'stated , ;that a - French frigate was lying at the mouth of the Mersey, and the report of some guns that were fired from that direction threw the inhabitants of Liverpool into 'a 'state of great consternation. The volunteers however' cTiSplayed the greatest firmness and courage, every man at was his post, and had the danger been. 'much greater than it was' he had no doubt they - wohid have had the same result. H e believed that the - . sank spirit which actuated those volunteers would be found' actuating and encouraging the pregent corps. He remembered 'that when in his youth . he was told of Napoleon BuonaparteTheing a fatalist, and of his repeatedly declared intention to invade . England, he (Mr. Griffith) used to say "Don't you wish you may get it." At that tinie'moreoVer, the French might actually have come over while they (the English) were asleep in :their beds. The. courage of Welshmen was proverbial, and the chairman had related many proofs of this. But there was one grand example of this fact occurred in the last war, when on the occa sion: of some 1,400 Frenchmen landing on the coast of Wales, they surrendered to, and were taken prisoners by, a company of Welsh persons not exceeding, six hundred in number, and of whom a great many were women. This' 'slight attempt was the only French invasion which he knew of ; and, as for another, he cared nothing whatever about it.. These 600 Welsh men and women, undisciplined,as therwere, had overcome a body of Frenchmen of twice their own numerical strength ; and if undisciplined Welsh ' men and *oinett could do that, what would a 'set of 'ciplined riflemen not do. As-Welshmen and as ancient Britons they looked bank upon those ancient deeds of 'daring with a feeling of thpgreatest pride. The chair man, however, had recounted their acts of bravery-so completely that he would say no more nnon that sub. ject. When they first talked 'of a Welsh 'Rifle Corps they were advised . to amalgamate theni, but,: be dill not consider that that was thebeskplan ; and, as a Welshman, he could onlfsay Oaths felt sorry they had perhaps. lost a few men in consequence of being late in the field; but, he should feel very muck disapPointed," if the young Welihmen Of Liverpool did not immediately join' this corps, at least as many of them -as possibly could; He thought that this corps would most likely enlist those men who would not otherwigo have joined the movement at all. The speaker then. referred to the unfortunate ; conflict respecting the'prineipality; and, after .paying a graceful tribute to the Prince of Wales, concluded by calling upon his countrymen' to 'come forward and enrol them selves in the present corps. _ Captain CHAMBRES, of the Wallasey Rifles, rose to second the resolution. -- In doing so, he said he could not abut feel that he was but a feeble initrumeht in furthering that cause. But, however feeble he might - feel - himself to be, he also considered that it was his duty to come forward and do his best. The chairman, he said, in opening the meeting, had's° ably represented the claims of the "Welshmen; that he did not think he could do any more respecting that subject. 'He would, however, consider, in the first place, the objections to the volunteer force. And what were they? It 'Was said that it would give them a taste for martial pursuits ; but let them ask who were the people that were joining this corps ? If they were thoughtless, flighty young men, he could agree so far with the objectors. But when he saw their worthy chairman, and the gentlemen by whom he was surrounded, taking an active part in the movement, he could not but think that they were doing what was perfectly right. They had also been told that 'foreign 'nations might look with a jealous eye upon these corps, and that, therefore, it was a sort of needless provocation. He was one of those who thought that the French Emperor had never in tended to invade this country. But he might be forced into an invasion, or some other poteutate might either willingly, or through force, be brought to invade this country. Let them look at what they had to defend. They had, in the first place, a glorious Constitution—a Constitution ,that is now almost alone in giving freedoM of thought and freedom of the press. He would here' take an opportunity to thank the press for the immense _assistance which it had given to the movement. Well, said.he, if it be true that we have so much to defend, he thought they would agree with him when he argued the desirability of ,raising a force like the present. He had, therefore, great_ pleasure in seconding the reso lution. which had been proposed by Mr. Griffiths. Mr. Eurs JONES said they were ealled upon to show their patriotism for their country, their veneration for their Qiieen, and their respect for the Constitution; and if any one of them then present were called upon to de fend his country, he :would do it with the greatest love and courage and energy, and exercise every power that he possessed to avert the dishonour of an invasion. He really wondered that this grand movement had not been engendered years ago, for it not only gave an army in Case of need, but it increased' the _physical power of our population, and the strength both of body and mind; and viewed merely as a means of relaxation, it added to our personal comfort and gave us manly ideas. He was afraid the population of our country had degenerated in point of physical strength, but looked upon this move-- nient-as one destined to regenerate us, and he trusted thatthe young men then present would enlist in. the, proposed corps, and persuade those of their relations and hien& who were of Welsh birth or descent to enter the regiment of Welsh Volunteers. He had very great pleasure in moving the following resolution :—" That, with a view of furthering this movement it is desirable to organise a Rifle Corps amongst the Welsh residents in this tOvin." (Loud cheers.) Mr. Councillor ROGERS consideredit a privilege to be-r. allowed to second this resolution. He really believed the movement would be successful, as he trusted and believed the Welshmen resident in Liverpool would one and all rally round the chairman, and enrol themselves in the proposed corps. (ApPlau4e.)- He had very good reason to know that the martial spirit did exist in his countrymen, for, though latent, it still manifested itself;,, and when called upon, they would be both able, willing, and ready to defend 'their country, - their queen,' and their Constitutinn. (Loud cheers.) Although late in the field, he was persuaded if the young men then 'present would come forward and. enrol themselves, they, would be a numerous and valuable addition to, the 'volunteer rifle force. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Jolor ROBERTS, in supporting the motion, said . the formation of separate national wipe would excite a_ sympathy' which would not have been evoked under ordinary circumstances ; and calling up energies that might have lain dormant would induce many . to join the corps whO would not otherwise have done so. ' He trusted' that; should the invader set his foot on out shores,lris defeat would be as decisive;. as immediate,. and as bold as- it was when lie encountered the old Welshwonien; in , their red cloaks, at Fishgnard. '(Loud and repeated cheers.) The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. DAVID EVAM was happy to . see at length his countrymen ,tltking 'part in-the popular movement of the day: , There could be no doubt that a cloud was over hanging i tg 'hellion, and that there was- a- painful' feeling abread'Whichwhispered to•this country that we - should take care of ourselves. (Hear, hear.)-- And he - wouldsay, that if, any people should conceive the wicked design, of carrying on an aggressive war Upon Our shores —if they should conceive the wicked and heartless. design of harrassiug an industrious and • peaCeable nation, they would have very much to answer for. (Hear,. hear.) But whatever might be the cause or the motive—it might be a motive of revenge, or of ambition—but be it , what it might, they would have a serious sin to answer for if they dared" to attempt to invade this country. Then; if such a thing should take : place, what was- our duty ? It was, evidently, to be prepared, so,that if the foe came, we might give_him a warm reception, or - what was still better, by our preparation show him that we were determined to defeat him, and so deter him:from hii 'wicked design. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Evalis. con cluded' by moving the appointment of a committee to . promote the formation of; a 'Welsh Volunteer Itifle Corps, and to receive subscriptions to aid in defraying the necessary expenses.. • kr. ROBERT ROBERTS. seconded the resolution. He was very much gratified' to find such an assemblage of- Welshmen in support of sO , gcled a cause ; and whilst he wished every Welshman might do his duty, he trusted that their wives and daughters would-forward the move ment by collecting the sinews of . wai—(laugWr and cheers)---for when it was known to the foe that both our. wives and daughters were taking part in the popular preparation for his discomfiture, he might feel it neces sary to his safety to stay on the other side of the' channel. (Cheers.) The resolution was unanimously agreed to. D. GAMES, in moving a vote of thanks to the chair man, called upon his audience as Cambrians to .proVe themselves worthy descendants—worthy sons of the old freemen and warriors of 'Wales. (Applause.), Mr. BENJAMIN GIBSON seconded the motion; and in, the course Of his remarks,_ said that a company of Welsh Volunteers had been nearly formed. - (Loud cheers.) The, motion, was carried' unanimously. The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment, and pointed out that a MilitarY suit, on lord Elcho's plan, lay on-the' table for inspection. It rooked very neat, _ but :there was one great :objection-to it, and - that was that,it would be spoiled by the rifle causing, a bruiied mark on ,the shoulder. The suit was one, however, that would answer very well for a deeratalker. (Laughter.) The meeting then broke up. • •At the conclusion. of the meeting .- a considerable amount was subscribed in aid of the funds- kir raising the corps. • SWEARIN - G - IN= MORE VOLUNTEERS. Yesterday,. sevir9 gipiitleine)i., who were unable to be present at the - ceremony at Si. - George's-hall, on Tuesday . evening, also a number of - recruits, attended at the head ' quarters -of the Liverpool Royal ;Artillery , Yoltuiteers; Tithebarn-street, and took the oath of allegiance to the Queen. .The oath was administered by William Rathbone,' Esq., one of the justices of the peace for the borough, in the preienCe George Melly, Mr: C. It Bead, and other gentlemen. This afternOot‘ deputation : - wait -Ripon the Earl of Sefton, the icfrd-lieutenanfof the county, for the pur7 pose of offering the services of the corps to her Majesty, coniiilthiS lordship as to the uniform to be worn by the corps. We are informed that the meeting will be kstrictly private one. A RIFLE CORPS ON LORD ELCHO'S PLAN. Acting on the letter of Lord Elcho, on the subject of , acCoutiements' and arms for a Volunteer 'Rifle CorPs, several gentlemen of influence in this town( have defer- :mined to raise a corps to be clothed and armed as pro Lordship. -; posed by his The total expense ,of joining this corps is not to exceed two guineas, and the arms are to be provided fOr the Members.' Experienced serjeants Will be engaged to instruct the members ; and it is ,ex pected that Captain Faulkner will personallysuperintend the drill. The company is already about half fornied. But fuller particulars will, no doubt, be found in our . advertising oolumns in a day 'or two. . (IROYAL ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS. - A meeting of the Liverpool Royal Artillery Volun teers was held on Thursday, evening, in, the Rose-hill Poli6-station, where, after a few Minutes had been inquvirteeresurmeoshte satisfactory (hear, spent in drilling the large number -of yomfg men whom they had assembled, Mr. -Waiter,--the honorary secretary, pro ceeded to acldress them, saying the subscription papers great responsibility would which t(ahhuaeadrtt uhpbtehoenaresliftwlaaondomdf h.haovneffiedrceyNedvrass selected now devolve, would give every satisfact cr ie: t. It was not intended to elect all the officers that Ilio° 4 but it was proposed to make some additions. He beg , ` to propose to them the son of the Rev. Rector CO?' bell—(loud applause)—James Pitcairn Campbell, t (Applause.) He would next propose to them, as ; of their lieutenants, Mr. Thomas Gardner, of the ni of R. C. Gardner and Co., and son-in-law of the i e mayor. He was a gentleman who had had a great dry of military experiende as lieutenant in the Lanes'! Militia. He proposed to them, as second lieutenel Mr. Edward Lawrence, son of Mr. James L a rence; a son of Mr. Ralph Brocklebank; and, t. g Robert Burke Honan, a gentleman who had ba d years' experience in Captain Bousfield's These gentlemen • were all unanimously -In conclusion, he stated that, with the view of 0 5 71 the different members of the corps, it had been 001; to hav,e drilling places in various parts of the tom' the following districts had already been chosen :- -131 wick-Street, for exchange Ward ; a schoolroom in dale, and another one in Everton, and it was eg c .„: there would be a room either, in the Collegiate last' 0 tion, or in the immediate neighbourhood ; a r° °°l o Windsor, another in Mill-Street, the one at Wo e ' station where they were then assembled, and anoth er Mount-pleasant or Hope-street. LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.—yEsTEB94I eJ'. S. MARRIAGE.—JohnAA In - seL rre, Christian, Esq.) : s ni r o A ljourtr.,(Eß-e -for stevedore,hoe illegitimatef w L z o a swi . v ml Gl drowned'sa n. married. e, Tewhh il a s e dTd. e s heihxfai This rnwldeeehoaedenncomplainant with refusing C ; her balanceoeerted hishusband s t sp suni l s aa t fti a n t ea e c r r n : la ta t i nd m h d a c e t ni d th i att l:p: fendant then seduced her. Here, rather a good-le ° le i female, who occupied the box with the defendant, Y i do i up, and exclaimed that it was the prosecutrix dia` , ruined the man.—Mr.. Mansfield asked her who sbe'y ' de Defendant : She is my wik, sir. Complainant : Al e ', 'married you eight months. after my son w as ber! . : i Mr. Mansfield said if proof was,produced that the ir° l s l was married, she could be prosecuted for perjury, a s d swore she was not married. ' He ordered the Inou e ' be paid,. which was done. v 0 4 SET'FINO FIRE TO A Housar.—William ..... tr - ,, J` g t , t y mate of a, ship, was brought up' on the charge of s e -1., fire to the-room of the house in which he lodged. . 0 j Carpenter; the prosecutor, said that late an the prod night, after the prisoner had goneto lied, he smelt d 0 and conseqmxtly went to: his room, which he folualli fire, and the:prisoner behaving in a very wild rael l - 1 0 He had nce doubt that the bed clothes caught gl e , o , consequence of Heywood being in Ustate of intoxic att 0 He had no wieh to punish the prisoner, but 0 1 1.4 Jo -Obtain payment of the amount of damage done, - 0 was about .£5:. Mr. Mansfield accordingly ordere d prisoner to be 'discharged on payment of tha; sure. . RoBBERYBYAXEMALE.—MaryWiIIiamson,a/ias.S ti le), was charged with stealing a gold watch and 3 511° 0 money from Edward Robinson. Mr. Cobb appear ea o l the prisoner. The prosecutor, who was : apparently i # of those gents who "do it heavy," stated that he j A at going up Church-street the previous night, an 4 ~.es• crossing came rather rudely in contactwith the pri!,, u ;# on account of being nearly run over by. acart. J'a o f once apologised, which was accepted in the blondes cor most ladylike manner possible. They entered int°, l o versation, and ultimately. promised to meet her atIF . 3- 03 the theatre. Theymet accordingly in due cours h u',,, V after "treatineher to some liquor accomgan Hunter-street: He' here expressed his fears that $ d was taking him into a disreputable neighbourhooc4oot intimated his intention of proceeding how'. r a i d - he was standing talking with her, a mal l ieft hit , ' between them, and the woman immedie.telY, l2o7 , 'a. He shortly after missed his watch and ow cou tend• gave information to the police. 3.1 r. Cobb Ail if 0, for the defence that she was a most dextero us ' „ f ide' could rob a gentleman like that. There waa -11 °Z en , 10 to prove that the person who rushed betweet ' n u an if an accomplice, and it was always the Cascre When e t thef fortunate girl was brought up on such a ehar,,,,e. a c ..,# judiee was strong against her. It was 11 sac p rsofoi made them ' l l l# . the gentleman in the witness box who that • r they are ; his worship would also observe 4 gentleman wore trousers known by the name of peg;f ied.,.;01 and from the formation of the pockets, it was pert' V sible he might have dropped his watch and money., t: • Mansfield considered the evidence sufficiently strom , .commit the prisoner fbr trial. Sm r THE RESULT OF TNTOXICATION. --- 1 1 / 4 0 men, /1 f el' respectively William Fowler and - Joseph Pricer if charged with having robbed Mr. Hutchinson, rfe , broker, of his watch.. The prosecutor, wheeeithqiog excessive stupidity, or from being utterly oblicl' o je .i what was passing around him the previous e le i' r ,„ could give no account of the matter. Polieenrsaiiv Stated that he found :the prosecutor in corapail o r i the prisoners in Great Charlotte-street, nea a r ror th o. e t-. 1 ' of Queen's-square, this morning about 3 o'cloe' l oi r d was very much intoxicated. He had fallen a ff ground; and when in the act of rising, , ( T h e the prisoners said, if he-would not come along w"" e h ,f he would - leave him to himself, and at the sal, d r robbed him of his watch.—They were comra" f trial. oP". I , • " YOER SIN WILL FIND YOU OIST:' - -- ,,, e g A . Crosby, not a very, prepossessing specimen of L' o f tO,YO homb, was placed: in the dock on the c harge x i v is :slaughter committed in -- June, 1855. It aPPe arw i l he was a tinker, and in a-, faction fight in the ',. 0 1 ,1e ; question, he killed d brother of the Craft with a o stt,), ingiten,=in'Great Orosshall;.stieet. He- was re do' for seven days, that more evidence might be P r (Before Mr. WILLILit EARLE.) , PUBLICANS'. AND BEERSELLERS' CASE S. t,, , John , Elston, Finch-street, . beerhouse-ke e rgct summoned for Sunday trading. Fined • ,rif i cost.. , • John Elliot, ,bee rhouse-keeper, Falkland-str,eeikr don-road, was summoned for Siiuday trading '"i o , of in g Open housecon 'Sunday. Fined 408. and ec ) :!„ j eJ • 'William Foster, beerhouse-keeper, Jaglier-s4oper summoned for Sunday trading. Mr. Parker ' of in defence. Cautioned and dismissed. - .gr., trr- -0 Lewis Schoen, beerhouse-keeper Duke' s ael summoned,for Sunday trading. Tined 20s. a n to jets Mary Cowley, beerhouse-keeper, Rathbone-s 0 1 ' summoned, for Siinday. trading. Dismissed. _Jo' ,1) 1 . Matthew Walkcr, publican, Strawberry a'''' 8 0 0 11 3,, summoned for 'selling after - eeven o'clock ° a ir JO :evening. Mr. Black ,defended, and he was oq $l O Thomas Simpson,puhlican, summoned fe r t y ~ trading. Acquitted. k 14t Edward' Holmes,. beerhouse-keeper, Bac a , ftl e ~ street, summoned for , Sunday trafficking, w corPj and costs. fe st, ' 0 • James Spence, beerhouse-keeper, Gore-std Os' was summoned for Sunday trading. Fill' ,0 1: ) : costs. a llc. Ellen Garside, beerhouse-keeper, Evertors' 0 3 moned for a similar offence. Fined 28. 6d. 3 e t ' its'4,o' costs. 10,1 e ° ' t., Thomas lifoyser, beerhouse-keep_er, SPa r so, s tre e j summoned for Sunday trading. Fined 1•0"01 t'i' Charlotte Foster, beerhouse-keeeperl. Y e j F: t was also summoned for Sunday traffic. ti ll tre e j costs. William. Carey, beerhouse-beeper, SP ei l ,d was 'summoned' for Sunday trading, and fil l iie jr costs. l ota ° , e ti William Langley, Norfolk - street, was s .ste,,i Sunday. trading : Dismissed. ; kills ° F s Joieph Lewis, beerhouse-keeper p•-° lice. J was summoned for b r e e e fu .r : x i ms ng e_ to ke a ep dmi er,, ;th ßunr e dooar P et ° :efiett,:e4 l ' l, 64u0ritjSA:oni,liimacenende,ladcosufoatil. Bramwell, Everten, was summoned for selling Liq u ' r ' AA. 1 1; ,Isl_* , o'clock at night. Acquitted. Se'unday trading Disraisse .flooei, • AIM p utt on ,beerhouse -k e ep r Bo loe f , , stiminoned for - Selling ale after eleven o'e ..st eL j Dismissed. sf t°ll ° Greeds e Aia Ann Grace, beerhouse-keeper , tra' foci' S . un elest el ,i ., r was summoned on two cha Of beerhous . e-keeper, 'dot ' 0 permitting drunkenness. Mr. Blucic_a? t hat ,'"" , to , cc de n fe s n w ce e , re an lc d d c g a e l r l s e . d w A it4 u es i s t a -stree t ' 40 5 '' Thomas Roberts, publican, Vern ° F i n ed , , kenness. . moned" for permitting drun costs, e te s d. whe pro 04 0:00 NORTHERN DAILY TIMES. NOVEMBER 26, 1859. 0 4 4 kg i 1 Al PSI 01 • 1 ;y1: 1