Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

he gave him. Deceased frequently complained to me of
his leg and back, and I repeatedly told the Captain that
lsg was very much swelled, and the Captain insistci
that there was nothing the matter with him, and that I
must make him keep the look out, if nothing else. After
that, on cold nlgnts, when I found him on the 10.1 our,
and when the Captain went below, I used to send him
below, and keep the look out myself, as he was not able to
keep he look out. The deceased did once take the wheel
after that. The witness also corroborated the evidence
about the ill-usage given by the Captain to deceased on
the occasion of heaving the lead, which has already
been published. The Captain struck and kicked him
on that day, and whilst deceased was down, the Captain
kicked him three or four times, but I would not say he did
so with all his might. Deceased was never able to do
duty after that. The captain ordered me that night to
make Roderigo keep his watch. I took him out that
night until the captain went below. He complained
dreadfully of his leg and back, and said he would never
live to see Liverpool.
Mr. Tyndall: Did he say why? Yes, from the ill-
usage he got from the captain and mate.
Did he say from whom ? Yes, from the captain and
ma' S.

Did you ever tell the captain that ? Yes, I told
the captain that Roderigo told me his leg was bad
from the kicking he gave him, and the captain said its a
d—d lie, there is nothing at all the matter with him.
The captain ordered me to bring him out to see what was
the matter with him. The Russian crawled aft in a
stooping position to the port side of the poop, and showed
the captain his leg. It was the right leg, from the knee
upwards. It appeared to be very much swelled and
inflamed. The Russian told the captain it was by the
kicks he got from him and his chief officer that his leg
was so, and the captain said he never kicked him. He
ordered deceased to go to his work.
Was he able to work? Ire was not able to work,
sir. He lived fourteen or fifteen days, or perhaps three
weeks after that. I used to give him some sennet to plait,
and he sometimes kept a look-out, as I was obliged to keep
him so. He lay up in his bunk before he died for fourteen
or fifteen days, and never was out lat all. He looked as
healthy and strong the day he died, as he did when he
joined, but he complained always of his back. I saw him
removed the day before he died, by the captain's orders, to
have him and his bunk cleaned, so 89 not to cause
sickness in the ship. He was put at the galley doer,
and I saw blood flaw from his mouth. He died that
night, but I don't know what time. He did not appear
to loose any flesh, but he breathed very heavily.
I know what scurvy is, and I rather think he had it
before he died, but I could not swear that ; my only
supposition for saying se is, I fancy his gums were swelled,
and that caused the blood from his m .uth. I can't say it
was scurvy in the leg—the cap of the knee was very bad,
but no other place. I have frequently seen the captain
kick him at the wheel, in the legs mei back, when he
would not be steering what he called correctly. I re-
member one time when the mat was in a stooping
position at the wheel the captain knocked him in
the mouth. I heard the captain say both to deceased and
stward, " D—n you, yes I will kill you yet before you
get home." I came to Liverpool in the ship, but all the
crew except myself, the chief officer, steward, and an
apprentice lad, were paid off at Cork.
Mr. Mansfield : Did you ever tell Roderigo you thought
ho had the scurvy ? Yes, but he could not say whether
it was it he had or not. His salt provisions were stopped
when he was laid up.
Cross-examined by Mr. Snowball : Never saw blood on
the man till the day before his death. I did not see any
wounds on him except the legs, but the skin was not
broken. I sowed him up in his clothes and hammock.
The night the mate kicked deceased the latter said he did
not know it was his look out, but kept the look out that
night. _ _ _

Cross-examined by M-. Bluck : The man was dirty. I
told the captain I did not think there was anything the
matter with him except the leg.
To Mr. Snowball—There was no complaint made at
Cork about this affair, but the coopers and chief officer
hai same quarrel, and they swore they would tell it when
they came to Liverpool.
To Mr. Bluek . I have struck deceased over the
shoulders with a rope for bid steering, but not to hurt
him. Never pulled his 'nose. Heard the captain tell
the men to shave his he In the best of his
health he di I not know him to do anything
aloft. He was not able to do any duty for three
weeksbefore his deith. I always did think he had the
scurvy. Persons dying of that, their gums swell up and
burst, and then blood comes from the mouth. A part of
the funeral service was read over the body.

To Mr. Maisfield: I saw him on one weasion fall
down four steps, but he was not hurt, nor did he ever
compla'n of tlr t

To Mr. Bluck : I rubbed his leg with tarpentine, by the
direction of the captain.
James Lambert, examined : I sailed as cooper in the
Elizabeth, and remained till paid off at Cork. The
prisoners joined the ship in Calabar river. I recollect
Roderigo joining the ship there also. He was well ansi
hearty as I saw; ha was about 28. He wts a gaiet,
sober, sedate man. I saw the captain strike him with a
rope's end after leaving Bonny river. Witness said the
affair of the binnacle lamp took place about three weeks
after the ship sailed from Calabar. Witness also corro-
borated the statement of the other witnesses, that be saw
blood running from his mouth the day before he died. He
was on the deck, and the captain came up and said, if he
did not leave off his bawling, he would rope's-end him.
His leg was swelled from the knee down, and looked black
and brown.

Cross-examined by Mr. Bluck: Did not see any one
strike the deceased except the captain. Could not say it
was scurvy he had; heard the captain give orders to have
his head shaved. The leg was swollen from above the knee
downwards

The case was then (after four o'clock) adjourned to one
o'clock this day.

THE FREE LIBRARY, BIRKENHEAD.

All must admit that:Free Libraries are a great boon and
privilege to the inhabitants of any town wherein they may
he established, b'ecause they elevate the minds of those
who properly use them, and the man who thirsts for
knowledge has the means, without expense, of gratifying
his taste and improving his mind. The first most
important feature that belong, appropriately, to reading
rocenfi or reference libraries is, the strictest regard which
should be paid to the indispensibility of silence; without
it, no man can concentrate his thoughts, or give his
attention, to the matter contained in the various subjects
that books evidence. Forcibly struck, as I was, with the
due decorum and order which reigned in the Duke-street
Library , I was induced to visit the Birkenhead Free
Library, and, to my surprise, order, as regards silence,
was at a lamentable discount. I do not allude, Mr. Editor,
to the readers in the reference room, as, taking them in a
body, there was great decorum manifested, and many,
ami Ist the confusion of B tbcl, were endeavouring, no
doubt, to master some pithy observations contained in
mateezincs, whilst othe-s were dipping into philosophy
on all the various sciene^s which the books of the reference
library contain. But, hew is it possible that two things
so opposite can amalgamate, or, how can extremes he
made to coalesce ? The lending library of this institution
is placed in tin identical room in which the reference
library is ; hundreds of people—boys, girls, men and
women—are continnally racing up and dowe the stairs,
to the great annoyance of many persons who come to the
reading room for a legi'imate purpose. The question may
naturally be asked how, or, in what way, is this abuse to
be remedied—for abuse it is, no one will say to the
contrary. My opinion is, that the whole room should at
once be converted into what it ought to be,—solely a
reference or reading room. The lending library removed
to some other pert of Birkenhead, as the method pursued
by the Liverpool managers, and which is rot only the
case on the opposite side of the water, bat I believe, and
I think I do not err, when I state it is the method pursued
by every ether free library in the Kingdom. But an
objection may be made by some persons, that the fluids will
not permit of the above regulation. How can it be
imagined that an institution having the good wishes of the
people, an institution that most subscribe willingly to,
because it is an actual benefit; how can this institution be
patronised, or contributions pour in, if such anomalies
exist ? I would suggest the following means be resorted
to, to avoid the nuisance above alluded to :—Lot some
shop he hired in Birkenhead, which might be obtained at
a very small rental, and let the lending library be removed
to some such spot centrically selected fir the purpose, and
I am persuaded that the Birkenhead Free Library would
stand A 1 in the estimation of the public, and would gain
a far-spread fame, which would at once be appreciated by the
committee of management and give universal and heartfelt
satisfaction to the public, who are the parties that
are entitled to act as jurymen, and give their verdicts as to
the merits of an institution established by philentrophic
men for the benefit of the people. OBSEUVATOR.

ALEXANDRIA, Nov. 21—Sydney revenue continues on
theincrease. Imports of gold dust amount to 10,407 oz.
for the Ist of October. Markets steadier. Wool firm.
Tallow quiet. Freights and wool, 3cl to Id per lb. The
Lands Bill, passed by Melbourne Assembly, has been
rejected by the Upper House. The Ministerial scheme for
railways has been sanctioned by the House of Assembly.
Trade continues excessively dull. Wool in good demand,
at 2s 2d to 2s 6,1 per lb. Tallow, £5O to £52 per ton.
Beef, £46 to £4B. Freights unaltered. The Marco Polo
and Northumberland were expected to sail for England
about the end of October, with large cargoes.