The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-05 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

PROPOSED SALE 01,ilTriiltICENHEAD DOCKS,—
Yesterday morning a special meeting of the Birkenhead
Dock Commissioners was held for the purpose of " consider-
ing the propriety of authorising the commissioners to enter
into such negotiations as they may think judicious, with a
view to transferring the Birkenhead Dock trust to parties to
be named, upon such sonditions as will ware the interests of
Birkenhead and the public generally." Mr. W. Potter was
called to the chair, in the absence of Mr. Mallaby from in-
disposition. A discussion of some length took place, on a
motion from the chairman that the reporters withdraw,
in consequence of financial subjects having to be considered.
The commissioners sat for upwards of two bests, and seve-
ral propositions in connexion with the proposed negotiations
for the transfer of the docks, were considered. The appoint-
ment of a committee to carry out the proceedings, formed
one of the principal objects of the meeting. Several names
were mentioned, and resolutions proposed accordingly, but
ultimately a resolution by Mr. C. A. Watson, that Messrs.
William Jackson, M.P., William Potfer and Joseph Mal-
laby, be appointed a committee for the transfer of the docks,
was passed by a majority of 8 to 6. The names of the par-
ties who have made overtures have not exactly bees ascer-
tained, but the impression is, that the Liverpool Dock Com-
mittee is the most likely.
THE ANTICIPATED TURN-OCT IN TEE SILANUYAC-
,TVRINO DISTHICTS.—The attempt to reduce the wages of
the operative cotton spinners, now making at Malley, as
anticipated in this paper, is very likely to become general.
The notice of reduction given at Ashton-under-Lyne has
created considerable alarm throughout the whole district;
and on Sunday a general delegate meeting of spinners was
held in Manchester, for the purpose, amongst other objects,
of determining what course to adopt in the present state of
affairs. The meeting was well attended, there being present
38 delegates, representing 20 towns and districts. At this
meeting, the whole question as affecting the workmen was
fully discussed, after which it was resolved to hold public
meetings In the towns represented, in order to recommend
an entire suspension of factory labour for a given period ;
but whether for a month or a longer time was not resolved
upon.
INSURANCE ASSOCIATION AGAINST DISEASES IN
Comi.—At Lancaster, on Saturday week, a meeting of
farmers was held for the purpose of forming an association,
on the principle of mutual assurance, against loss by those
diseases to which horned stock is peculiarly liable. Is plan
and objects are briefly explained in the two following of the
many rules determined upon et the sistiet:
The especialobleat MUM assosielis.leds4 *man. graders,
and owners of made the Met rear of Sennelves
insea by ell demo isd NNW
pat adairlAbieLat it la= boa i=oUsiong, end fro-
fa Osier ON We gent not be kept
ntet-vis.,eeenseay mg gee pmentlen el Ts sone ego-
nosey, the sissailien Y oneirb-es pment bed. En wow will
receive u, wane use than tbreeSeelks ef the bar fide value of
the animal Was bat he will he entitled be enedburth et the skin and

I
A 'LEVER AITIMPT TO SWINDLE WBB brought
before the magistrates at Manchester yoderday, of which
the hero wee a " HOC Charles Walter Fitzelarence, Captain
of the First Royals." The following are the tactics which
seem to have been adopted. A respectably-dreamed, genteel-
looking young man, walked into the Albion Hotel,
Manchester, on Saturday morning, and ordered roams,
announcing himself as described above. About half an
hour or an hour subsequently, be made hie appearance at
the Hulme barracks, asked for one of the officers, and get-
ting himself introduced to Lieut. Dallas of the 11th Homers,
to whom he represented himself ea lieutenant of the First
Royals, stated that his servant had deserted at Portsmouth,
that he had reason to believe the man was in Manchester,
sad requested assistance. The result was • promise that
in a short time Sergeant Matthews, of the 11th Hussars,
should wait upon him at the Albion Hotel. In due time
Sergeant Matthews made his appearance, and was accepted
as has orderly. The Hon. Mr. Fitsclarence then proceeded
to visit different tradesmen's shops to oupply certain
deflciences of his wardrobe and equipments. One of the
first shops that he tried was that of Mr. Hambleton,
saddler, whom he told that he had only just been appointed
to the Hussars, and had received a cheque from his uncle,
the Right Hon. Lord Auckland, for 1,0001., which he hod
not yet cashed. Mr. Hambleton accordingly allowed the
lieutenant to walk off with a pair of spun and a gold.
mounted riding-whip. The next victim singled out was Mr.
Syddall, of Market-street, a sort of gentleman's haberdasher.
Here be told the same story, and selected other articles to the
value of between 701. and 801., directing that they should be
forwarded to him that night to the address of his uncle,
the Right Hon. Lord Auckland, 41, Whitehall-gardens,
London. Mr. Syddall inquired how they were
to be packed, and this called for • further toes-
peke on the credit of Mr. Hambleton, who happening
to sell Teri superior hair trunks, had to supply a gum.

thy for the "trifling articles" of wardrobe Mr. Syddall was
going to furnish. So far all had gone smooth, and the next
" move" was to get rid of the orderly. This was sooa done.
The Hon. Charles Walter Fitzelarenee told the orderly ser-
geant that be bad an uncle, Lord Cardigan, who weal visiting
at General Si, Thomas Arbuthnot's, and despatched him
thither with a note. It was now that things did not begin
to run smooth. Mr. Syddall had taken a second thought ;
and, before parting with his goods, sent up •
shrewd sbopman, to have an interview with the lieu-
tenant touching the money. The lieutenant said he had
nothing lees than a cheque for 1001. The 'human went
out and returned, as he said, with change. " Show me
the money," said the lieutenant. " Show me the cheque,"
said the shopman, nothing daunted. The lieutenant, not to
appear disconcerted, took the ehopman into the passage of
the hotel, pointed to a heap of luggage belonging to various
travellers, said his orderly had gone out, and asked him if
he thought a gentleman could be expected to unpack that
luggage for a paltry 1001. cheque, when Monday would do
as well ? The shopman went away. Mr. Syddall hinted
his suspicions to the saddler, and soon afterwards
the latter was at the Royal Hotel for his "small account."
The Hon. Charles Walter Fitsclarence did not wait for Mr.
Hambleton to ray unpleasant things, but observed that the
whip was not so handsome as he could have liked—" he did
not mind extra expense,"—and asked if he could have a gold
guard fixed to the handle ? Mr. Hambleton sketched one
which would only cost 231. additional, which was agreed
upon, and Mr. Hambleton walked off with his whip, reeole-
ing inwardly that neither whip nor guard should again be
forthcoming. Thus ended the adventures of Saturday. On
Sunday Mr. 13eswick, superintendent of police, hearing of
the affair, apprehended the Hon. Charles Walter Fitzda-
react+, who, giving a very unsatisfactory account of himself,
was yesterday brought before the magistrates. He stands
remanded.

IMPORTANT TO SEAMEN.—At the Liverpool police-
court, on Saturday, Capt. Kennedy, of the ship Gauntlett,
of this port, appeared before Mr. Rushton and Mr. Potter,
to show cause why he refused to pay William Alenek the
sum of 191. Is., due to him for wages. The ease had been
before the court, but had been postponed. Alcock,
upon being sworn, stated that he had been the chief mate of
the Gauntlett, and that he had sailed from Liverpool to
Acajulta, at 41. 10s. per month. The moment the ship had
left Liverpool the captain ordered a quantity of brandy to be
brought to him, and from that time he was continually drunk.
Five days before arriving at their destination the captain's
conduct was such that it was found necessary to put him in
I irons. This was done at his own request. He bad at-
tempted to shoot one of the crew, and the mate had taken
' the pistol from him. He had threatened to take the ship to
the coast of Brazil and sell both her and her cargo. Upon
cross-examination by Mr. James the complainant stated
that he and several others of the crew had been placed is
irons for mutiny, and brought home prisoners by the brig
Fifteen, Captain Chafe. The complainant and the second
mate and carpenter had been examined by the British con-
sul at Acajutla. The log-book had been altered in some
places a month after the entries had been made, and the
mate contradicted some of the evidence which he had given
at the time of his examination before the British Consul.—
Wm. Gamble, carpenter on board the Gauntlett, said that
the captain was seldom sober, When off Cape Horn he
came on board with a pistol, and swore he would shoot a
man who was on the yard-arm ; but W. Alcock stepped
behind him, took the pistol from him, and fired it off over
the starboard quarter. The steward had another loaded
pistol in the companion to hand to the captain.—The second
mate, in the course of his evidence, stated that the captain
said he dare not proceed to his destination because of his
conduct to the lady passenger. He told the men that be
would tell her that he would put a light to the powder if
she would not forgive him; and then, said he, " We'll all go
to hell together."—The second mate was next called, and he
repeated the statement that the captain was seldom sober ;
but he denied the carpenter's statement as to certain
words which the captain was alleged to have uttered when
he threatened to shoot the man who was on the yard-arm.—
Mr.
Rushton said it was quite clear there was a contradiction
by the last witness of one most material allegation against
the captain. The thing was utterly false, or it would have
been heard by the last witness, who was within 19 inches of
the sailor when the words were alleged to have been, used.
There were three points in the case which showed that
the evidence was not to be relied upon, and in the course
of his experience he never heard a case got up in such a
manner. The mate had falsified the log. He had made
cross entries on the log to justify his conduct, and many
of these entries had been made a moath after the day on
which they bore date. Of course the complainant would
get no wages—Mr. Davenport said, at any rate there were
the cases of the others—Mr. Rushton ; You have all three
acted in concert together. —Mr. Davenport: 'file carpenter
claims 191.—Mr. Rushton : I won't give him a shilling.
This case only comes before me in a certain form, and there-
fore I shall only say that I reject the claims for wages.