The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-25 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

SPEKE-HALL-RETURN OF RICHARD

WATT, ESQ

Yesterday was a regular gala day in the neighbourhood
°f Speke-hall, Garston, and localities adjoining, in conse_
titlence of the return of Richard Watt, Esq., to his
ancestral hall, and the occasion of his marriage to Miss
Iligtiett, of Chester. The rejoicings were of an ample
des •
criptaon, and the tenantry on the Speke estate, one of
the richest and best managed (so it is said) in Lancashire,
testified their feelings on the return of their young land-
lord, in a manner highly creditable to themselves and no
doubt gratifying to that gentleman. It may be observed
that Mr. Watt will not have attained his majority for
8(w.
e few months to come, and that he has not resided in
the
hall, where he was born, for several vars. He has
oee.,
" recently married to Miss Ilignett, of Chester, and
ape
• spending the honeymoon he resolved to return to the
• and this was the opportunity given to the wealthy
sad reseeetable tenantry of the estate to welcome their
future landlord. This they did in the good old English
style, V.hich exhibited the kindly feeling that should
always
exist between landlord and tenant. From Garston,
the road to the ancient hall of Speke leads through a
Picturesque
portion of our suburban districts, and, as for
the
hall itself, it is, we believe, the only relic-gem of the
Elizabethan style at present in existence. Few, indeed,
-sole that so near to Liverpool stands one of the most
BP!eniliil monuments unbroken, uncurtailed, and in all its
0
glory—if we may say so—of nearly 300 years ago,
It is a square building of one story, and the style of
areLiteeture at once proclaims the date of its erection. It
Is the
mostiinteresting residence we ever looked upon, and
o'ut,t,heat_opinion we are confirmed by antiquarian writers
fort° first celebrity. Speke-hall is equally remarkable
its external appearance, its internal economy, and for
' historic remembrances—and besides, as we have stated,
It
1:
a,,1„„ 8 the only one of the old baronial halls of England "
in existence. Over the entrance is the following
ate •
ription in old English (as it is called) black letter
Esq
"This work, 45 yards long, was built by Edward Norris,
1591" From each end of this front runs two oblong
buildings, forming three sides of a square, and at the end
01 1,, it"eBe would appear, in 1605, the same Mr. Norris, or
fur answ.?ring to his initials, built the southern end, which
Ins the whole into a square, entered by a splendid
eo fort Way In the centre of the quadrangle stand two
tn he largest and most spreading yew trees in
gland• Over the entrance to this portion of the build-
t,..ll the key stone, are cut, in relief, the letters
Of 1,,,P1*, 1605. M. N." These are said to be the initials
1,,,87r• Norris and his wife. The rooms in the north-
latrlZl, wing of the building are ample, curious, and
Wat""telY arranged. They are chiefly cruciform, and
ewireetted with deep old oak, carved in the most curious,
pi-uY, and historical manner. The windows and fire-
rui).B are wonders of the olden time. It would take
wn‘e, sPace than we could afford to describe—(which we
et ad. certainly very much like to do)— these rooms in
suffice it to say, that the furnitnre and the apart-
gts are in harmonious keeping, and we believe that no
man
in England can boast of such a halt as that which Mr.
boatt has just fixed on for his residence. There was a
(not
oat originally
14 pleasure about the house, but it is now filled up
level), and modern art has converted it into flower
gardens. The out offices of this unique,
itifol, and admired hall are in keeping with the whole;
and we believe, with few exceptions, that both the hall
buildert buildings stand at this moment as the hands of the
otk left them in 1595 and 1605. The servants' hall and
;:'cc departments of the dwelling prove that there was
th cheer kept up in this place in bygone times. Above all
antlf,a, we should wish to spend three or four days exploring
aith'ile nooks and corners of this ancient mansion, for
ugh one can appreciate it at the first visit, yet it
W4l-st be examined in detail to find out all its beauties.
yeylantations that surround it are just the same as
riot n planted (only about three hundred years older),
fore tree has been stirred—it is a linkd glorious
ria ,t, la the centre of which stands the that binds
,litso former ages ! So much for the Hall. From the
h,„.rnce gate, to the Speke estate, which lies a little
8-Jond Garston, the road was yesterday: crossed by
vieverai
, beautiful triumphal arches, which were got up
4t,,'" a high degree of taste. We believe Mr. Richard
tape was the chief conductor of these really attrac-
:Te erections, which were very much enhanced by the
tote flowers festooning the pillars and surmounting
is aPer. About half way between the gate and the hall,
the large farm establishment of Mr. Thomas Atherton,
b'm, this place presented an immense display of flags and
saatlnevs, all laid out in te most tateful manner. We
jaY here state, that Mr.h Atherton, s
and his brother Mr.
ttaePh Atherton, not only paid marked attention to
several visitors from Liverpool, but their hospitality
as remarkable also, and to the latter named
gentleman, we feel it would be an act of injustice, if we
(t)tr`iLlitteil to mention his unwearied and polite attention to
the valuable assistance and information given by him. At
"Oir house of Mrs. Edwards, there was also a fine display
ft nags, and all the tenants' houses on the estate
At three o'clock,had
tags floating from their summits.a
tlelY mounted body of tenantry (as any to be met with
England,) collected at the gate, entering the estate, and
Vi.engst them were the following gentlemen :—Messrs.
b. • A therton, jun., T. Atherton, R. Atherton, Holme, Bram-
-411: John Sutton, Robert Ashcroft, jun., Jenkinson, Wm.
Th"thn, Thomas Edwards, John Rimmer, Anderson,
10mas Langshaw, James Langshaw, Joseph Boyes,
liabert Edwards, Cartright, Joseph M'Farlane (agent. to
Mr* ‘Watt), and several others. The excellent hand of
4tr• elartin, of Liverpool, was stationed at the gate, and
three o'clock Dr. Ring rode up to the gate, and
a.„' onunced the arrival of the carriage containing Mr.
and -
Mrs. Watt, and immediately a splendidly appointed
vehicle, drawn by four grey horses came up, and the
lily pants were received with loud applause, the band
b:Y.ing an appropriate air. The carriage was followed
(,Two others, the first containing Mr. and Mrs. Hignett
'Parents of the bride) and Mr. Brereton, the late resident
Of the hall, the other with Miss Watt, Miss Boland, the
Messrs. Gibson and Chambers. When the cheering
had subsided, Mr. James Langshaw proceeded to address
,:ir• Watt. He said, on behalf of the tenantry of the
tit`a,te of Speke, he telt pride and pleasure in addressing
bidenoble landlord, and to offer him and his amiable
their hearty and cordial welcome and congratula-
a,"lts on their safe and happy arrival at the hall of his
esters That Mr. Watt and his bride would live to
..Pend many years of peaceful and happy life in the hall,
os,„,
• —gst their tenantry, to whom they were endeared,
• the ardent wish and sincere aspiration of one and
Welcome,
the tenants, who now gave them a good and hearty
Isar. (Loud cheers.)
• Ir. Watt replied as follows :—Gentlemen, I thank you
for sincerely, in my own name and in that of Mrs. Watt,
the kind wishes and congratulations you have ex-
4essed. I feel a pleasure in coming to reside among you,
Q11(4 again visiting the scenes of my childhood. We
boTkil do all we can to realise the good wishes for us
k~na,
wind most cordially thank you for the
manner in which you have welcomed us
at.. N7teke. I hope these good feelings will be
o,' :engthened by close intercourse, and that nothing will
a,eur to obstruct the harmony that should subsist between
ist'andlord and his tenants. I understand from my agent,
dlt M`Farlane, that you have for the day declined the
annier i offered you • but I beg you will only consider it
fctlti4Poned to the nex't fitting occasion. In the meantime,
wth°l3e you will walk to the Hall and partake of a glass of
/10.,,,e, Land wishing you all health and prosperity, I must
th; 'id You all good morning. Loud applause followed
- rpy.
4' Procession was then formed, the band taking up the
ea—ptll, followed by the tenantry on horseback; then the
att:'ages, and ti long line of pedestrians, which was
eamtnented at every inch, until it reached the Hall. The
abvha,lcade then halted and formed, and, amid deafening
the band playing " Home, sweet Home," the
happy pair entered the glorious old Hall, with as hearty
1,,V.,4 wishes as ever greeted a landlord in England. We
a•h,.."" them many years of happiness. There was a splendid
lal-4er Party (as we understand) at the Hall in the even-
14' Mr. Watt is grandson of the late Mr. Watt, of Bishop
thAverleY, in Yorkshire, and we understand the estates of
a,PfluYna°ll.og gentleman are worth upwards of .e 13,000 per

BEESTON CASTLE FESTIVAL.

reduced—were quite as numerous and as well conducted.
Great numbers amused themselves with the merry dance,
to sweet music, produced by the celebrated band of Mr.
Horribin, the Bickerton band, and a brass band from
Manchester. On both days we noticed the presence of
Mr. Tollemache and his lady, Mr. and Mrs, Wilbraham
Tollemache, Mr. Corbett, of Filson-lodge, and their
families, Captain Duff, one of the heroes of the Crimea,
&c., &c. The whole proceedings were admirably con-
ducted by the committee, and on both (lays, as the
shades of evening set in, the parties returned to their
homes. The greatest credit is also due to Mr. M'Dermott,
special high constable of the Eddisbury Hundred, for the
assistance he and his force rendered on the occasion, and,
no doubt, while two happy days were spent, sufficient
funds will be realised to gladden the heart of many a
widow and orphan belonging to the excellent order of
Odd Fellows.

THE SELECT VESTRY.-YESTERDAY.

The fortnightly meetinc, of the select vestry was held at
ten o'clock yesterday. Rev. Rector Campbell in the chair.
The other members present were—Messrs. Owen, Denton,
Critchley, Cooke, Smith, Satchell, Hatings, Voodruff,
Whitby, Shaw, Taylor, Brancker, Crellin, Jackson, Luff,
and Syrel.
The minutes of the last meeting were read.

WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE.
The minutes of this committee were read.
It appeared that the numbers admitted into the vagrant
sheds duringthe past week were,2oo males, 99 females, and 27
children, in all 326. The number of sick cases in the hos-
pital, on the 18th instant, was 616, including 40 fever and
29 itch. The total number in the hoase, on the 18th inst.,
was 2,176.
Mr. Shaw, in moving the confirmation of the proceedings,
stated that it was the wish of the committee, in consequence
of the length of their meetings, to transfer a ponion of their
medical business to the finance committee. He, therefore,
gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that
the out-door medical arrangements be transferred to the care
of the finance committee. _ _ _

Mr. Denton drew attention to the fact that a pauper nurse
had been dismissed for having interfered with the religion
of a dying patient, and improperly sprinkled the latter with
holy water. He thought that the public ought to know
this, because there was at this time a very great feeling with
regard to the Roman Catholics in that house. At one time
he was condemned as a bigot and a person who did not wish
to act fairly towards his Roman Catholic brethren, and for
that reason he wished to point out this case as an instance
of what had been the consequences of allowing Roman
Catholic worship in the house. Now, while on his legs,
he also wished to ask whether it was true that one of the
members of that board had been threatened with prosecution
for having made an assertion at a meeting of the board.
The Chairman : 1 beg your pardon—what has this to do
with the proceedings ?
Mr. Denton : It has to do with one of the members of
the board.
The Chairman : But really it does not come before us
now. Ido not know, in fact, what your speech has to do
with the proceedings at all. The nurse has been properly
dismissed by the governor, and I do not see the object of
taking any further notice of the matter.
Mr. Denton : Perhaps my question may come more pro-
perly under the Industrial Schools' proceedings.
The minutes were then confirmed.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS' COMNIITTEE.

The proceedings of this committee were read. It ap-
peared that a sub-committee had been appointed to investi-
gate into the circumstances which took place on the occasion
of a disturbance between the Roman Catholic and Protestant
children, but that on investigating it was found that the
inquiry had originated in a total misunderstanding, inasmuch
as the only dispute which had taken place was a quarrel
between two girls, which ceased as soon as the matron
appeared.
Mr. Denton begged leave to Craw the attention of the
board to the subject which he had previously introduced.
During the discussion, at the last meeting but one, a mem.
her of the board made an assertion, with reference to the
Roman Catholic priest and a bay, having been closeted for
a considerably time.
The Chairman : Now, I beg your pardon-
Mr. Denton : I should like to know-
The Chairman . How does this come before us at present ?
Mr. Denton : It has reference-
The Chairman : There is nothing at all on the minutes
relative to it-
Mr. Denton : But it regards the truth of an assertion-
The Chairman : Yes ; but if you will excuse me, it really
does not come before us at all. We must confine ourselves
to the proceedings coming regularly before us.
Mr. Denton : You have allowed in other cases, where
persons had made assertions at previous meetings, that a
question should be put as to whether these assertions were
true or not: I merely put the question, whether it is the
fact that the Roman Catholic priest and a bay were closeted
together, and whether there is a prosecution pending upon
the assertion made at this board. Now, sir, if prosecution s
of this description are to take place, I say that our meetings
here become a perfect farce
The Chairman : What do we know about this prosecu-

tion ?
Mr. Denton : I say if such prosecutions are to take place,
that free discussion is at an end. If no person can open his
mouth without the fear of being incarcerated in a gaol—
Mr. Satchell : I am prepared with an entire explanation
of the matter if you will allow me to do so. It is a matter
of very great importance.
The Chairman : Well, perhaps, if we allow you to pro-
ceed, you can explain what we now cannot understand.
Mr. Satchell was then permitted to proceed. He said—
He would put the board into possession of the whole of the
facts of the ewe, in order that they might see the tendency
of the steps taken. They would remember that in a recent
discussion as to the religious designations of the children at
the Industrial Schools, he had stated that the Roman
Catholic priest who attended at those schools (the Rev. Mr.
Doyle) had had one or more of the boys iu a dark closet,
for the purpose, as he (Mr. Satchell) suppusal, of confesion,
and he had expressed his ahhorrance of that system. A day
or two after that he received the following letter :-
23, Harrington-street, Liverpool, May 30, 1856.
Sir,—l beg to call your attention to a report, of the proceed-
ings of the Select Vestry, as published in the Daily Post of
Wednesday, the 28th May instant, and to ask you whether
that part of such report as relates to yourself is a correct
report of what you said on that occasion resp:cting the Roman
Catholic priest having one of the boys "in the school in a
Peculiar position ;" and, if it is not a correct report, may I
ask the favour of your stating as publicly as the report has
been made that it is incorrect, and that you never uttered the
language attributed to you.—l am, air, your obedient servant,
Mr. Satchell. GEO. Noutn.
He looked in the directory, and not finding Mr. Noble's
name in it, he thought the letter was of no importance, and
therefore did not answer it. A week or two after he
received a second letter, which ran thus
23, Harrington street, June 14, 1856.
Sir,—Your not noticing my letter to you of the 30th May
compels me to issue a writ against you, and I will thank you
to give me the names of your attorneys, upon whom I can call,
to prevent the unpleasantness of a person,il service upon your-
self.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, GEO. NOBLE.
Mr. Satchell.
This letter was received about four o'clock on the Saturday
afternoon, quite too lat.: to take any notice of it that day,
but the first thing upon coming into town on the following
Monday morning, he (Mr. Satchel]) walked down Har-
rington-street, and, at the corner of North John-street, he
saw up the name "Noble, solicitor.' He consulted with
several persons (amongst them Mr. Hart, the vestry-clerk),
as to what he should do in the matter, and he was advised
to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Noble's first letter. He
accordingly did so, in the following terms-
-48, Lord-street, June 16, 1856.
Sir,—l did not reply to your letter of the 30th of May,
because, on referring to the Directory, I did not see your name
there, and therefore viewed the letter as not important. Upon
receipt of your letter dated June 14, I took the earliest
opportunity (viz., this morning,) to go into Harringtou•street,
and found your name up as a solicitor.
Having, as I thought, clearly explained that I believed the
Roman Catholic priest had taken the boy to the closet in the
schoolroom for the purpose of confession, I am at a loss tc know
what you really require of me, and should be glad to be
informed.—l am, &c., J. 11, SATCH ELL .
Mr. George Noble.
The first acknowledgement of this explanation was this note
'rom Mr. Noble

23, Harrington-street, 17th June, 1856

•
Sir,—My client is at present out of town ; on his return, in
a few days, I will communicate further with you.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant, GEo. NOBLE.

Mr. Satchell.
On Saturday he had received another note from Mr. Noble,
making a rather formidable claim :-
23, Harrington street, Liverpool, June 21, 1856.
Sir,—In reply to yours of the 16th instant, 1 beg to say
my client, Mr. Doyle, has called on me this morning, and
read your letter of the 16th. He says if you will publish a
letter in the Daily Post, stating your regret at the publication
I previously t eferrcd to, and that you only meant to insinuate
that the boy was with Mr. Doyle for the purpose of confession,
and that you did not intend to convey anything immoral in
Mr. Doyle's conduct on that occasion, and pay the expenses
incurred, you will not hear further from Mr. Doyle on the
subject. The costs of the writ and retainer fee to counsel are
five guineas. —I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Mr. T. H. Satcliell. GEo. NOBLE.
After Mr. Satchell had read the concluding letter he said, I
deny that any remarks made by me were intended to convey
anything more, or anything worse, than that the boy was
taken for confession. I do not appear before you this
morning claiming any peculiar sanctity of character, but I
most unhesitatingly declare that the impurity of meaning
sought to be conveyed by these letters has never entered
my mind : my remarks were against the place and against
the practice. lam an advocate for freedom of spe..ch, also
for the liberty of the Press, and I call upon the Press, this
day, to publish through the length and breadth of Liverpool
my unevivocal and truthful declaration, and that I feel
myself injured by an.attempt to put such a construction on
my language. Having made tits statement, I have no
desire to compromise myself in this matter ; and I call upon
this board to authorise me to defend this action, and to hold
' me harmless from the consequepces. Ido so upon the
authority of the following clause in the local act of puha-

ment :
And be it enacted that nothing in any deed or contract by
this rct authorised to be made by or on behalf of the select
vestry for any of the purposes of this act shall extend to change
or affect the powers of any of the select vestrymen, or their
heirs, executors, or administrators, or their or any of their own
proper lands or goods, with or for the performance of anything
contained in any such instrument, but the amount of all
damages, costs, and charges received in any action or suit in
consequence of any such instrument, or which any select
vestryman shall otherwise be put to by virue of this act, shall
be respectively discharged cut of the money which shall be
received from the rates or assessments made for the relief of the
poor of the said parish, unless such action or suit or damages
or charges have arisen in consequence of wilful neglect or

defanit on the part of a select vestryman incurring the same,
or unless such action or suit have been defended without the
order or direction of the select vestry.
The Chairman said, it struck him that the matter had
better be considered by the finance committee before the
board took it up. The whole appeared to him supremely
absurd. The board should know whether it was to proceed
farther before they pledged themselves to anything.
Mr. Jackson thought the words quoted were, unfottun-
a'ely, somewhat ambiguous; but, after the explanation Mr.
Satchel! had made so fully, he hoped that they should hear
nothing more of it.
Mr. Denton was glad the board now perceived that the
affair was one in which he was justified in pressing them to
hear some explanation.
The Chairman hoped they would hear no more of it.
Mr. Brancker : It is nothing more than an attorney's
action for costs.
The Chairman : If I may be permitted to say a word, I
would remark, that this only proves how very cautious we
ought to be in the use of language here. I do not myself
pretend to he always sufficiently cautious We ought to
consider that we are speaking in public, and that it is not
at all as if' we were talking among ourselves, but that we
are speaking in the hearing of the whole people of Liver-
pool, and that every word we utter here ought to be well
and cautiously weighed. (Hear. hear.) No doubt, to cor-
rupt and wicked minds, the words Mr. Satchel' used may
bear a corrupt and wicked interpretation. I never, for one
moment, supposed that Mr. Satchel! could mean to insinu-
ate anything so corrupt and wicked as the meaning put to
these words.
Mr. Satchel' : I never even thought of such a thing.
(Hear, hear.)
The Chairman : This only shows that we should be ex.
ceedin!ly cautious in the use of language. although it is
scarcely possible to be so cautious but that corrupt and
wicked minds will give a corrupt and wicked perversion to
the most innocent language. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Satchel'
hag diavowed any such meaning, as, of course, we knew he
would. He never could have had such an idea in his mind.
I should think that nothing would come of it ; and perhaps,
for the present, it will be better for the board not to take
any notice of it, until we see whether any result will follow
from this proceeding.
The matter was then referred to the finance committee.
The minutes of the industrial scho)ls' committee were
confirmed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

The minutes of this committee were read, but did not
contain anything of public importance.
Mr. Brancker asked if the vestry was near a settlement
with the Messrs. Holme ?
Mr. Woodruff said, the account for which the vestry had
been waiting had not yet been produced. No mord money
would be paid until it was produced. The responsibility
would, therefore, rest with the Messrs. Holme themselves
and the surveyor ; still, it was very desirable that the account
should be settled.

Mr. Brancker : Certainly.
The proceedings were then confirmed.
Mr. Jackson drew attention to the clause which it was
proposed to introduce into the Dissenters' Marriage Act,
requiring the notices of such marriages to be posted outside
the registrars offices. Ile considered this a very offensive
provision, and proposed a motion to the effect that the
board petition against it.
The Chairman did not think it was a matter in which the
vestry could properly take any steps. He was anxious that
they should, as much as possible, confine themselves to their
own affairs.
Finally, the board divided, whe❑ there appeared five for
the motion and nine against it. The motion was accord-
ingly lost.
After disposing of some routine business the board then
adjourned.

THE MURDERS AT MELTON MOWBRAY

The suspected murderer, Wm. Brown, was apprehended
on Sunday at Wetherby, near York. From the papers
found upon the man, as well as from his description, there
can be no doubt of his identity. It appears that the land-
lady of an inn at Wetherby had been reading an account of
the murders, and was directly afterwards called upon to
supply a glass of ale. To her astonishmt.nt she found that
the man who required the refreshment exectly answered the
description given of him in the papers. She detained him
in conversation until a constable could be sent for, and he
was then given into custody.
The adjourned inquest was held on Saturday afternoon.
Juhn Brown, brother of the supposed murderer, deposed
that his brother William came into his shop a week last
Thursday, and witness accused him of running away with
his wife. Witness called him a scamp, and said if he were
sure he had slept with her he would run him through with
a knife. His brother then pulled out a pistol, and presenting
it, said, "Look here, this is loaded and capped." Witness
then passed it off as a joke. He afterwards examined the
pistol, and believ,d it to be the same as he saw at the
Melton police station—(the one found near the murdered
man).
Supei intendent Burdett produced a pair of trowsers, a
shirt, a black silk handkerchief, a waistcoat, all torn up,
and in a wet sate, together with a black hat. There were
spots of blood upon them, and fresh dirt marks. The
clothes, which appeared to have been roughly washed, were
found on Saturday morning in the hedge bottom, near Mr.
Cross's barn, each article at a distance of five or six yards
apart.
Wm. Moore, baker, of Melton, and two other witnesses,
identified the trowsers and waistcoat a 3 those Wm. Brown
had on when he came to him.
After some little conversation, it was aereed still further
to adjourn the inquest till four o'clock on Friday afternoon.

POLICE COURT

.-YESTERDAY

BEFORE ➢IR. JAMES AIKEN