The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-21 00:00:00

OUR DOCK COMMITTEE.

We have read a pamnhltt by ‘ll.,
James Coey, (who was a canniLiat._ !o the
situation of superintendant of the Stanley Dock
re 11,) tr 4 es ,) in which he gives a clear statement
of the treatment he received from the Dock
on that occasion ; and holding the
opinion that a public body, like the Dock Com-
mittee, entrusted with the management of such
an important estate, should be " like Caesar's wife,
nct only above reproach, but above suspicion ;"
and one (not like a private individual whl,
in the selection of a servant, may show the
greatest amount of inconsistency with impunity)
amenable to public opinion.
Mr. Coey's testimonials speak highly of his
character and qualifications • and when we men-
tion that he offered, before receiving the
appointment, to show that in the discharge of a
large proportion of the cargoes, be could do fifty
per cent more labour than is at present done at
either the Albert or Stanley dock Warehouses,
with the same number of men ; and also
requested that he might be examined on all the
qualifications necessary for the situation, and
keeping in mind the numerous complaints made
by importers at the exhorbitant charges on pro-
duce, by the Dock Committee, we are altogether
at a loss to account for their conduct in refusing
Mr. Coey an interview.

Mr. Coey has intimated his intention of pre-
senting the Mayor, and each member of the
Town Council and Dock Committee with a copy
of his pamphlet ; and we do hope that it will
lead to a strict enquiry on the subject, as the
Dock Committee, and particularly the Chairman
of the Warehouse Committee. have lately had a
rather unenviable notoriety in connection with
the appointments made by that body.
It is evident, from the exertions made by Mr.
Coey to get the situation, that he was anxious for
it ; but his principal ground of complaint against
the Dock Committee is, not that he did not get the
situation, but that, under the peculiar character
of his offer, to erect such an important saving in
the expenses, and offering himself for examina-
tion, that he did not get a personal interview ; he
substantiates his case fully by documents, and
makes out a clear case of having been robbed of
his undoubted right to a fair hearing as an hon-
ourable candidate.

In conclusion, we may add that Mr. CORY is
the writer of several letters, which appeared in
our paper some time bark, to the Water and
Watch Committees. He also made a sugges-
tion to the Library Committee, with reference to
the arrangement of the periodicals, which was
carried out at once, and which is a great improve-
ment, and convenience to the readers. He also,
some time since, laid before the Dock Committee
plans for increased dock accommodation,
approaches to the landing stage (to which the
plan of Mr. John Hartley, most approved of,
has a remarkable likeness), and warehouses, by
which an estimated saving of 120,0001. per
annum, in cartage alone, would be made.

COPIES.
Liverpool, 30th January, 1857.
To James A. Picton Esq ,
Chairman of the Library Committee.
Sir,—l frequently visit the Library, to read
some of the periodicals there, and finding it• very
unpleasant and troublesome (when looking for
the one I want) to disturb gentlemen who make
reading desks of one or more of them, allow me
to suggest that a table or shelf be appropriated
for laying them on, when not in use ; also, if
there was a particular division for each work,
with the name on it, it would save much time.
as any person requiring one would see at once
whether it was in use or not.

If I have not communicated my views clearly
enough, I will have pleasure in meeting you,
or any of the Committee, at the Library, and
explaining.—Yours, very respectfully.

JAMES J. CoEr.

20, Clayton-square,
Liverpool, February :ird, 1857.
Sir,—l am in receipt of your note, dated
January 30th (only this day delivered), respect-
ing the arrangement of the periodicals at the
Free Library. I think your suggestions very
proper ones. The note shall be laid before the
Committee on Thursday morning, and I have
no doubt will be attended to. Your views are
sufficiently clear and intelligible to be acted on.
—I am, sir, yours respectfully, J. A. PICTON.
To Mr. James Coey.

THE KING OF PRII93IA AND NEUFCHATEL.—In the
beginning of the negociations the King stipalated for
2,000,0001, under the name of" back revenues," to be paid
him. The amount was a nominal one, but the object was
in this form td procure a stringent recognition on the part
of Switzerland that during these nine years past he has
been de jure Prince of Neufchatel; and the amount, whrn
received, was destined to go towards indemnifying the
indigent Swiss suff,rers by the self-interested attempt of a
few patrician families to restore the former oligarchy in
Neufchatel. The mere naked recapitulation in the treaty,
pro:ining that " Switzerland pays to the King of Prussia
1,000,000 f," does not realise the object he had in view, and
he will therefore—or I am very much mistaken—lecline
to accept any money at all from Switzerland. What it
will be necessary to do fur the Neufehatelois, at present
driven from their homes, and with their future livelihood
destroyed or jeopardised, he will do from his privy purse.
Letter from Berlin.

The folloAing incident, which occurred on the day of
the disbanding of the 19th Regiment of Native Infantry,
shows the extreme anxiety of the East India government to
avoid offending the religious pr judices of the men. Her
Majesty's 84th were landed from the steamer at the
Barrackpore Ghaut. Close by the Ghaut is a little temple,
outside which the S.2.poys put their household deities,
ugly little images of wood, stone, earth, or bras., Now,
the instinct of a European soldier when he sees an idol is
to knock its head off, not from hatred of idols, but love of
mischief. General Ilearsey knew that any insult of the
kind would exasperate the Sepoys to madness. He there.
fore received the men himself, and the first two soldiers
who landed were ordered to stand sentry over the deities.
So, on the parade-ground there were Europeans prepared
to put down a mutiny caused by the Sepoy's dread of con-
version, and outside Ste parade-;round there were
Europeans keep;ng guard over tte Sepoys' gods.
A LESSON IN LAW.— At the Bow-street police-court, on
Monday, a youth, named Henry Baker, late errand boy to
Mr. James Richard Greaves, tallew chandler, of New
Oxford street, was charged with stealing and embezzling
money from his master. It appeared that on the 7th inst.
the prisoner was sent to the house of a customer in Morti-
mer street, to collect a debt of £2 18s 9d. Mr. Greaves
gave him £2 is 3d, that he might be able to change a five
Pound note if necessary. The prisoner never returned, nor
= seamy more heard of him until last night, when he gave
If up to a policeman in Holborn, saying he had ran
away with £5 of his master's money. Mr. Hall observed
that it would bb
nets. If the prig:nee: to bring the customer as a wit.
master had entrusted tor hadh.kept the £2 ls 3d, which his
received
dfor the
£2 purpose of giving
charge, and had also the lBa 9d from the
customer, it would be a stealien
note, then
embezzlement of the latter. Bgutof.fthi!tefoili•mer sum and an
the iven the £2
is 33 change, receiving a •x 5 1
hThole sum
would he money which he hablentakinenthon master'sf
account, and which had never
pemosesetssoin
the
whole In that case it would be an embezzlement
who npaid thete
whole £5. Mr. Greaves said the person
money to the prisoner was a casual customer, whose name
he did Lot know, and who had since left town. The priso-
ner said that be received three sovereigns and gave is 3d
change. He had nothing to say in defence or palliation.
Mr. Greaves hoped his Worship would dispose of the case
summarily, and as leniently as possible The prisoner had
never done any thing wrong before ; and he (Mr, Greaves)
believed that the boy had yielded to a sudden temptation,
but would not commit himself again if another opportunity
were given him. Mr. Hall convicted the prisoner of
stealing the £2, and sentenced him to three months' im-
prisonment, observing that he should have given him six
months, but for the prosecutor's interference.