Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-20 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES,

SIR,—Now that the session has come to a close, and
the lovers of grouse have been released from their Par-
liamentary duties to have a season in the Highlands, it
may not be out of place to make some reference as to
how our newly-elected members for South Lancashire, the
Hon. Algernon Egerton and W. J. Legh, Esq., dis-
charged their duties during the late brief session. The
glorious triumph achieved at the last contested election
for the southern part of the county must be fresh in
na victory Heywood
won
representativeso n andb y C
thshoeee
far
raams
the recollection of your readers ; and while I cannot
woulddLei nbye Liberalism
saemv
have
goes,
made thatytewt
iMte
was
excellent
Con-
servatives whisk will not soon be forgotten.
The Hon Algernon Egerton and W. J. Legh, Esq.,
were triumphantly returned ; and since they entered the
House of Commons, their conduct, as member of that
House, has been everything that could be desired. They
have never absented themselves on any occasion where
any vital question required their presence. And it must
not be forgotten that, when Mr. Egerton was set apart
to propose the address to the 'royal speech, his maiden
speech in the House was such as to elicit much enthu-
siasm from all parts of the dense assemblage ; more
particularly when he referred to the strict neutrality
that the Conservative sovernment had determined to
observe towards the belligerent Powers.
I have no desire to place two young M.Ps. on a
pedestal of flattery; yet I cannot refrain from saying that,
up to the present time, they have nobly adhered to their
principles ; and I trust that, when the next parliamen-
tary " tug of war " comes on, they will be prepared
to acquit themselves in a manner that they yet have had
no opportunity of doing, i.e., in taking a part in the
discussion of the great and momentous measures which
will be then brought before the House. Until then, I
shall defer any further remarks ; but I shall certainly feel
disappointed, and chagrined too, if they do not realise
the anticipations which their thousands of supporters
have formed of them.—Yours, &c.,

OBSERVER

Liverpool, August 18th, 1859

THE UNPAID STIPENDIARY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

SIR,-While our present stipendiary magistrate, Mr.
Mansfield, is from home, his onerous duties are well and
ably discharged, gratuitously, by Mr. Aikin ; whom, if I
May be allowed the expression, " I look upon as the
father of the Liverpool bench," in conjunction with his
compeers, Messrs. William Brown, ex-M.P. for South
Lancashire, and Mr. William Rathbone.
I have been attending the police-court for the last
eight or ten days ; and I have studiously observed the
manner in which Mr. Aikin dispenses justice. Punc-
tually, at the hour of ten o'clock, he attends the court,
and enters upon the business with all the vivacity of
youth. His venerable appearance commands respect ;
and his decisions are never given in a hasty manner.
He hears every ease with attention, and gives it, that due
consideration which its merits deserve. Then, with that
discriminating acumen which characterises his magis-
terial bearing, he pronounces upon the guilt or innocence
of the parties arraigned before him.
When Messrs. Cobb and Bluck are pleading on behalf
of their several clients, and trying to make an impression,
so as to divert him from the real merits of the case, he
listens with attention. But no ; the hoary head, which
knows what this world is, as respects our depraved and
fallen humanity, cannot be moved from the path of
rectitude and justice. Crime must be punished, and the
seat of justice—even-handed justice—he will not permit
to be tarnished. He calmly and dispassionately hears
both sides of the question, and then decides according
to the evidence before him.
I was rather amused, and better pleased, on Thursday
last, at the caution he gave a young thief, a lad of
thirteen years of age. He felt for the boy, and the
position he was placed in, for the felony he had com-
mitted. He remanded the case, so that if the mother of
the boy appeared, the boy should be handed over to her
care and keeping ; but not without first telling him
that if ever he appeared there again, he would be sent
to gaol and get well whipped.
I can only say that, in the absence of Mr. Mansfield,
when he has such a venerable " unpaid " friend to take
his place, he need not be troubled in his mind. In
fact, Mr. Editor, Mr. Aikin goes through the business
of the police-court as if he were only thirty years of
age, and he cannot be less than seventy-two.—l am, sir,
yours truly, JIISTITIA. •
August 19th, 1859.