The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-14 00:00:00

SICILY.

NAPLES, F. 12.
A proclamation is in circulation, calling upon the
people to avenge the death of Agesilan. Milano.

The Eastern Counties Herald states that £l,OOO has
been raised, for the establishment of a Sailors' Home in
Hull. .
ME NEW JUDGE—The Post says that Mr. Sergeant
Channell will succeed the late Baron Alderson.
THE LATE MILITARY OUTRAGE AT THE CHATHAM Po
OFFICE,—The Poitmaster General, on being made ac-
quainted with the- particulars connected with the recent
outrage at the Chatham Post, office by a party of the
military belonging tG that garrison, immediately ordered.
an official investigatiol into . the circumstances, and
yesterday morning Mr. J. H. Newman, the Post office
Surveyor, procoeued to Chatham for; the purpoee of com-
mencing the enquiry. Of the seven soldiers in custody four
have been already recognised, and on, this occasion the
other three men, who belong to the 70th Regithente were
paraded with several other prisoners, to see if either of the
witnesses could identify them, but they were linable to do
so. -A report of the outrage has been made to the anthori.-
tics at the Horse Guards, but it is not yet decided what'
course will hs'adopted.
PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND.—It appears from blue
book'just published that the total (net) amount of loans
made for public works in Ireland to the.3lst of• December,
1855, was .£5,809,801, and that the total repayments to
the Exchequer, to the same date, were £2,674409. The
disbursements of the commissioners olf account of public
works or services in the year 1855 appear to harianaounted
to £317,310, and the balances on the 31st of December,
1855, to £36,944. The report abounds in details of local
interest only.
DEATH IN THE (MILK) POT.—We have received from a
practioner at Chelsea, a letter questioning the necessity or
possibility of abolishing the keeping of cows in London,
as recently advocated in our columns. His arguments fairly
ripetriparehetsioaeten.twietiahetohrseeerprueisssueally cited by the defenders of this
fist often at
converted.
t h e m i
into
broughtte
bat
butter
e railwayb
sbhearakrien.g.: orTohteh edrawmi saeg
es ?tohiul bdynnbelienangythe
cannot
b e milkedv a thery
Ls,owndboenrecnoneasirdlyeraalbllytbeexcmeeildkedteeoeB 4000:
00
for it is estimated that in 1853 the quantity of milk brought
bqlgovrtaniatgrortnae to y
distancesPari
(o 70 7bOyoronleoOramiliwleas)y,;upyewtarddsuroinfqi6e,iogobOt
Months of the year only about 5 per cent, and during the
lour hot months less than 15 per cent of the milk sustains
any injury, and even this is employed for the manufacture
of cheese. The effect of thus obtaining the Parisian supply
from the. provinces, has..been to diminish instead of
increase the price of milk. In London, on the other
hand, the profits on its sale are excessive. Between the
delivery of the milk by the farmer and its consumption
by the London customer a, profit accrues to' the .dealers of
nearly 60 per cent. Allowing, therefore, the same amount
of loss as in Paris, there would still remain a fair margin of
-profit. In Paris a few grains of soda are usually added to
each gallon of the milk, to preserve. it from acidity—a
practice entirely unobjectionable. But when the rogue is
detected diluting the milk with . water, he is justly
considered to be guilty of a fraud, and
is punished by
the infliction of a fine, varying from 25f. to • 50f.
The whole argument, however, as to the. railway con-
vevance of milk is beside the quest What we
urge, on sanitary grounds, is the necessity of prevent-
ing cowkeeners London from huddling together into
be got into them, the ordure being suffered to remain, or
badly paved rind ill ventilated sheds as many cows as can
only cleared away at the convenience of the cowkeeper ;
the poor " beasties" being kept at milk for two or three
years, and fed upon brewers' grains and other unfitting
food. Under proper restrictions, and in suitable neigh-
bourhoods, a few animals might be permitted to remain,
for the supply of invalids.. But, as tows are kept in London
at present, it seems a doubt whether the milk they supply
does not sometimes generate disease,
instead of supplying
healthy nottrishmeut.—The Lancet,

TIIM WATER QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF TgE.NORTHERH TIMES
Sir,—Few sensible men are willing, to interfere
in mutters, the management of which is entrusted
to others, without having, as they consider, some
good enotive for so doing. No apology is, there-
fore; offered for the following obServations ; vor is
tiny hesitation felt in leaving it with the.public to
decide 'whether, they are justified. or not.
No one, it is presumed, could be accused of
being desirous to take credit. to himself for any
greater depth of observation' than _distinguishes
the most ordinary mortal, Who, frOm a careful
examination of the parts that compose the Liver-
pool Town Council, might be led to declare, that
its measures are not likely to be distinguished by
any great degree of talent or wisdom,. If such a
notion should,lndee I, be erroneous—and the Jelled
and
,presumptuous individual indulgine it, should
be convinced of his error, by shown on all
.hands, schemes and under tailings of every descrip
tion, as ably conceive-a' 'as executed ; he would, no
doubt, bow to toe gneral opinion, and at once
confess himself
7.rong;
Without
entering upon the useless and disagree-
able.te .e-ie of detailing what has been uttered in the
Chamber, upon the subject of the absolute
btwessity there has been said to exist for a new
supply of water, it will be seen by simply viewing
the case in its right light:-Ist. That the evidence
Of scientific individuals is not necessary to prove
that our new water, as compared with the old, is
utterly unfit for use. 2nd. That those persons
Who have been most active in forcing it upon us,
have acted from ignorant—or worse—motives. And
3rd. What would appear to be the best plan for
remedying this, and of securely providing against
the occurrence of such 'another evil ?
To declare the present supply impure would be
folly.. No man in his 'senses would seriously tell
a blind man he could not see. In both cases the
fact is too apparent. It therefore only remains to
'she iv whether the degree of impurity be such-as to
render it, as before said, unfit for use. In discuss.
ing this question we are entitled to judge by com-
parison, and if we are nice, we have reason to be
so, while we have to regret the loss of the bright
. sparkling water we used to enjoy, the uncommon
excellence of which, if not equal to that of
the- far famed Choaspis of Persia; whose
waters were preferred to wine, has at least
always_ been the remark and delight of
strangers, who, coining from all parts of the king.
-dein, have envied us the possession of so pure and
wholesome a stream. We have only to look at our
,present water, even in the small quantity that is
contained in an ordinary-sized Carafe, to shrink
with disgust at the idea of swallowing such: a
diaught. And those who do drink are bitter in
their complaints that its appearance is not its
worst fault. This is no exaggeration, no forced
and highly coloured description of a committed
partisan,- but a plain statement of a fact; the truth
of which is established beyond question by the
complaints that are universally heard.
If we could believe this unhappy state of things
to be the result of accident, that it was altogether
unforeseen, and that the originators and supporters
of the 'icheme had every reason to suppose the
result would have been exactly the reverse of what
it is, we should have had less reason of complaint,
But however anxious we may be to believe
.01i°, however ready we may be to think there
'ere 'many men in the Council who are actuated
by the best motives to do all that lies
in their power for the good of the inhabitants, we
. know that this result could not be otherwise than
perfectly apparent to all. A single moments
reflection is sufficient to convince a sensible per-
son that the water of a stagnant pool -is 'certain to
be discoloured. And when, as in the present-case,
this pool is, comparatively speaking, a very con
tracted one, and without the advantage of being
renewed and refreshed with a continuous stream,
but -is merely dependant for its supply upon the
at*ning of sonic diminutive hills, here and there
spotted with farmsteads and cottages, large and
small, and nearly everywhere offering opportunity
for the depasturing of 'Cattle, and the feeding of
.= flocks, the accumulation of nastiness must indeed
4.1.1 la ca.. Lyhl
'by Mr; liawksley, will not for some time to. come
be deliver ~ii in a condition of normal purity, on
. ocqr,;(int. of the newness of the pipes and reservoir.
els normal purity, as this gentleman is pleased -to
term it, may no doubt, in some very slight degree,
be affected by the newness of the works. But we
bare yet to learn whether the summer months will
see it grow brighter or better as its supplies are cut
off, and the proportion of its bad qualities becomes
enormously increased.
If there should be some slight diversity of opi-
.nion among our townspeople as to the quality of
. the water at different times, and in various parts
,of the town, it is at once explained when •we weed
lect that the power of directing it in. any course is
in the hands of those, who, it would appear, are
ready and willing, if not able, to deceive us by such
a trick. But that any of our councillors, or the
'initiated, shOuld endeavour to persuade us, against
the evidence of our senses, that the water is good;
is matter of great and painful surprise. As these
gentlemen appear to- be so evidently deficient in
reason, and at the same time so sadly wanting in
two at least of-the senses----sight and taste, it really
becomes a question whether they are the fitting
repiesentatives of a healthy constituency. •
Without taking the trouble to review the lengthy
arguments of the many and learned chemists -who
have been employed to test the qualities of this
water, I venture, without hazarding much, to assert
that theirjudgment, either one way or the other,
would, in this case, be • perfectly unnoticed, even
supposing they did-nut differ, which, unfortunately;
happens to be the case. The opinion of chemists,
-no one will doubt, is very valuable-, where needed ;
but here the evidence of our own senses tells us
the water is bad, and common sense tells us it will
yet be worse. If our former supply had been
inadequate, or disliked, we should not so much
have wondered at the persevering obstinacy with
which some men, who must either have been
aware of the folly they were about to perpetrate,
orwilfully blind to the interests of those whom it
was their duty to consider, so tenaciously clung to
the med'scheme that has just been accomplished.
But this was never proved ; and even though it
had been, would never haVejustified so transparent
a' job as this has appeared from the first whisper
of its being. undertaken. The cost of bringing
this water into the town has already been
enormous. , . What the ultimate expense may be is
. not easy to ascertain As yet we have . but little
more than a moiety of the Rivington water, because
it is found that the pipes would burst if they were
allowed to supply more. Then there would be
added to this shocking outlay and waste of public
money, compensation for damages of all kinds,
crops swept away, cattle drowned, mines flooded,
highways torn up, and, perhaps, dwelling houses
. overwhelmed and human life destroyed.
Some members of the Town Council forget that
they have been . elected such to watch over the
interests of the townspeople. They must now
understand that if they have been allowed far too
great a license in discussing matters of less moment,
it is because no one has been at the trouble of
finding fault. But the people are now roused, and
'cannot allow some of their remarks to pass without
- observation. At a meeting of the Water Committee,
held on the fourth of this month, Mr. Earle stated,
if his words are correctly repealed, that he had
received communication from people. of all ranks,
none of whom made any complaint of the new
water. Is Mr.. Earle's ear so dull that it cannot
bear, or his memory so treacherous that it will not
. retain, the expressions of reprobation that flow as
fast and as full.as the water itself ; and what is the
ingenuity by which Mr. Cooper and Mr. S. Holme
translate into " blessings," the curses both loud and
• deep, with which the inhabitants view and taste the
' turbid stream
It is certainly a pleasure to hear that. Mr. Earle's
servants find the water delicious, and after giving
this unbiassed evidence its full weight, it may not
be, amiss to ask whether the singular divulgence of
- opinion had any connection with the use of a filter.
Perhaps the construction of a filter in every house
is to form part of the-extensive scheme.
A memorial has gone-up from the inhabitants to
the Mayor and Council, couched in moderate terms,

signed in fivb days by nearly three.thousand.incli-
viduals, and heAded by a large proportion of medi,
cal-men, which hag been' treated with a contempt
which reflects no dishonour upon the memorial, but
much on those members who dared to treat it so tin
worthily.. Slight inconveniences and considerable
annoyance are being patiently borne by the people
'with little murmur, and it 18 not until the oppresl
sign is really great that recourse is had to
combined' action. The object of the memorial is
known. A sa,tisfactory Method of compromise has
been. suggested; itnctit now only remains to be. Seen
whether the moderate wishes of the inhabitants .or
!the intolerant; tyranny of the Council is- to' prevail.
If the spirit of the memorial should not be com-
plied with, the time will come, and before long,
I,vhe,tl some of the members will be reminded, of the
severe lesson they received some years ago, and by
the loss of the votes of their constituents they will
learn that we are the masters, 'they the servants.
URBANUS. -
•

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL
BEFORE MR, CROSTRWAITE.
A DUFFER AND A " BUFFER."—A wild looking fellow,
named Pat Morris, was brought up by officer 283 on the
following charge. He said the prisoner fell into the
Huskisson dock, but was got out by a flatneau, who pulled
him on the deck of the fiat, and the moment he did si
the prisoner knocked him down, and jumped into the
dock again. The people on board the Morning Light
got him out, but the moment he got on the deck again
he commenced knocking them down, and they fell like
chaff before him. (Laughter.) He was called on board,
and on going, the prisoner knocked him down also. He
then grappled with him, and got him down, and held
him until assistance came. • He found a forged
certificate and a jacket, which he supposed was stolen,
on him. He was well known as a Ben Jonson street
" duffer," and was one of the greatest blackguards in
Liverpool. Thu prisoner was remanded in order to seek
an owner for the jacket.
A LARIC—DEPRAVITY.—Two young men of respectable
appearance, who gave their names as William Burgoyne,
a clerk residing in ffackenZie street, ana Thomas Graves,
a watch maker, in broil:less, of Oreat Crosshall street,
were brought Up by officer Magee, 677, on a charge of
having stolen two decanters from the house of Anne
.Hayes, of No. 1, Anson Terrace. Mr. Muck appeared
for the prisoners. The officer said that about half past
twelve the previous night, (or morning) the woman
came to him and said two men bed stolen two decanters
front her house. They went in search of the patties, and
in a public house in Falkland street, he got the prisoners,
and took the decanters, one from each, out of their
pockets. Mr. Block : Were they tipsy ? No, they
were sober. Did they say anythirg about the affair ?
Yes, they said they were defrauded of half a crown,
end that they took the decanters for the worth
of their money The owner of the house proved
that she saw the prisoners take the decanters,
but she was afraid to present them. Mr. Block :
Ycu keep a house of ill fame. Witness (with
apparent triumph) : I do, sir. Mr. Block t Are you
married ? Witness : Yes, lam a decent married
woman, the mother of ten children. Mr. Block :Y u
swear you are a decent Woman, the keeper of a brothel ?
Witness , I do. Mr. Muck : You ought to be ashamed
of yourself. Witness : I am not ashamed of myself ; I
never did anything to be ashamed of. Mr. Block : Do
you bring up sour children in your house? Witness :
I do. Mr. Block : How many daughters have you
Witness : Five—half and half. 'Mr. Black : And do you
bring them up after your line of life ? Witness : Yes,
I do. Mr. Block (to the bench) :If anything could be
done to I,revent the destruction of these children, it
would be well to do it ; I never heard of greater de-
pravity. He then made an asle address for his clients,
whom he stated were respectable, but admitted that they
had acted very improperly, but they had no intention of
stealing the decanters, as they took them out of a
lark. His worship said the prisoner had acted
most disreputably, and he., trusted they reporters
would inform the public so. They-had a 41.ry narrow
escape of being sent for trial, and he could not allow
them to escape, afrei such disgraceful conduct, and be
would fine them L 2 each for not properly accounting for
the possession of the decanters. The fines were paid.
CAPTURE OF A NOTORIOUS SWINDLER • John Ridgway
was brought up by detective officer Carlyle, under the
following circumstances. It appeared, that in November
last, the prisoner (who has about two dozen of aliaaes to
his name) his father, mother, and other branches of the
family, were committed from this town to Warrington
jail. on charges of fraud. eonsniracv. forgery, and for
having obtained goods, from various places in Eagland,
Ireland, and Scotland, by false representations. Mr.
Rae, of the guardian society, prosecuted at Warrington,
and the parties were sent for trial at Chester assizes. and
were to be tried at the next sittings. On the Bth November,
the prisoner asked one of the jailors for liberty to write a
letter ; the jailor opened an iron gate that led into the hall
when the prisoner stepped out, shut the gate, leaving
the jailer locked up, and politely wished him good
morning, and leisurely walked off. It appeared, from a
statement made by Mr. Rae, yesterday, that since the
prisoner's escape he followed his old trade of swindling,
and had obtained goods from persons at Stalybridge,
Stockport, Manchester, Wigan, and other places. He
has recently went by the name of " Kelly and Co."
drysalters and shipbrokers, Strand street Docks. Liver-
pool, and "J. Kelly and C 0.," Mancbester. From the
time he got away from jail, up to Thursday night, he
was not heard of. On that night, Carlyle and Inspector
Murphy went to a beerhouse in Rose place, where they
arrested him, and Carlyle said, on searching him he
found several cards and bill heads, with the names and
addresses mentioned, on him. When they arrested him,
he said they were the only two detectives in England be
had any reasonable dread of it. A letter was found on
him, addressed to some one called " dear James," giving
an account of how he escaped from two "bobbies" (police)
at the Post Office, who were watching him when he
went for letters there. Although so clever at obtaining
goods by false representations, if be wrote no better to
tradesmen and manufacturers than to his "dear James,"
the former must have been easily taken in, for penman-
ship, diction, grammar, and all, would at once betray the
writer. He uses the small i for the personal pronoun,
and spells great thus, " ghrate," "as" he doctors up
" has," and soon. Carlyle was asked if the prisoner was the
same man whom he took from Liverpool to Warrington
in November Lasts and he replied he was, and stood
committed to be tried at the spring assizes at Chester.
Mr. Rae said there were upwards of fifty charges against
the prisoner, consisting of fraud, forgery, conspiracy,
&c. The magistrate ordered the prisoner to be sent
again to Warrington, when Mr. Clough said to Carlyle :
" Take care he does not lock you up, as he did the War-
rington gaoler." Carlyle said if the prisoner was able to
" do"shim, he would give him a " big drink." The
prisoner was then removed.

LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT.— Yesterday.

BrFORE MR. COMMISSIONER STEVENSON.

- . -
In re HADWEN AND M GREGOR..—Tbis was the certificate
meeting; The bankrupts were supported by Mr. Carson and
Mr: _Gregory, and Mr. Lowndes appeared for the assignees,
who offered no opposition. Mr. Conway, instructed by Mr.
Anderson, appeared ou behalf of Mr. Thin, a creditor. His
Honour intimated tvat be would give judgment on Monday.
In re JogN UNwm—Toe bankrupt, baker and flour
dealer, of Seacotnbe, ulnae up yesterday, on his last examina—
tion. It was adjourned.