Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-23 00:00:00

THE POLICE AND THEIR SPY SYSTESI.

There are people who use sophistry for reason, and others
who receive it as conclusive evidence. Which of these
classes are most to be censured or admired it would be
hard to define, for the proverb, "fools will be fools still,'
remains in force to the end of the chapter. Of all the
sophistry in the world, magisterial sophistry is the worst ;
it is calculated to blind the ignorant, who are supposed to
profit by the wisdom of lessons taught by those upon
whcm the legislature has conferred the power of dispensing
the laws that regulate our social position, and the duty
we owe to our neighbours. A question of considerable
local, if not of general importance, has recently been
raised in consequence of a decision made by Mr. Jeffery
io the Police-court, regarding the police being allowed to
wear private clothes on Sunday morning, for the osten-
sible purpose of catching publicans selling liquors at
illegal hours -on these mornings. We are not about in-
quiring into the origin of this practice by the police. We
fled it in existence, and it is with the legality of the system
that we are about to deal. A batch of beerhouse keepers,
and some publicans, are summoned before Mr. Jeffery for
an infringement of the law; Mr. Bluck raises a question
on the legality of the police going about in coloured
clothes instead of the usual uniform ; Mr. J .ffery ascer-
tains the fact that the police were iu coloured garments,
and, thinking it illegal, he dismissed the complaints.
For this act he has been censured and praised, very likely
caring for neither, being conscious of having performed
his duty to the best of his skill and knowledge, without
fear, favour, or affection towards any one. The same
point was raised a day or two afterwards by Mr. Cobb
before Messrs. Bolton and Anderson, who ruled in oppo-
sition to the decision of Mr. Jeffery, Mr. Anderson,
at the time, remarking that he believed Mr. Jeffery
had arrived at the conclusion through mistake.
Mr. Anderson then gave the reasons why the
police were allowed to go on Sunday mornings
in plain dress, and set the seddle on the right horse, by
stating that it was consequent on an order made by the
magistrates some years ago. It is satisfactory to know
whence the police derive their authority, because many
persons were under the impression that Major Greig was
the author of the order; whilst others contended it eman-
ated from the Watch Committee. Here, however, we
have the fact from one of the gentlemen who no doubt
attended the meeting of magistrates when the order was
made; and it will not, therefore, be a subject of surprise,
if he upheld the order which he had already sanctioned.
In upholding the order, he entered into an argument that
had no more parity to the point than latitude bears to
longitude; because, said he in substance, if detective
policemen are permitted to go out in plain clothes to catch
burglars. swindlers, robbers, and perhaps murderers, why
not allow another branch of the police to go out in plain
clothes to catch transgressing publicans on Sabbath
mornings? Without stopping to notice the compliment
paid to the publicans of Liverpool, by comparing them to
offenders, such as above named—which, in point of fact'
the observations, although perhaps :not intended, clearly
indicate—let us come to the philosophy of the reasoning.
Detective police officers, as the designation indicates, are
formed for a different duty from that of an ordinary
officer. The business of the detective is to arrest offenders
where erime has already been committed; the duty of the
ordinary constable is (if posSible) to prevent crime being
committed at all. What would the chances of success be,
if a detective went in uniform after a burglar ? Need we
answer ? What are the chances that publicans (if any are
tugc a o:ue-coateo letter.
collared constable makes his appearance in his locality on
Sunday morning? The answer to this 'glory is supplied
by the police. Mr. Jeffery asked one of the policemen
why he did not go in his uniform ? And mark his reply.
It was this--" I could:mot then; catch any one doing
business." " Why not ?" again asks the magistrate.
" Beconse I would be recognised in my unirortn, and no
business would be. done." -" Then," repli .d Mr. Jeffery,
" Your presence prevents crime—you are a terror to the
evil doer." This is quite true and quite right ; let the
police go about in their ordinary clothes, and, according
to their own testimony, no offence will be attempted. Oh,
but replies the police and the advocates of this system
—which we shall show to be both illegal and immoral—the
'publican will have out his spies watching us if we go in
uniform, and the police cannot catch the offender at work.
How many spies, let us ask, have the police out before the
plain clothes spy comes, navvy-like, begging for a glass so'
ale, as a tseseuee just come from St. Helen's, or anywhere
else, in order to entrap the unthinking victualler ? The
police know such things exist—so do we. Talk about
spies at the publican's side ! the testimony of the police at
once puts an end to that, for they say, if we go in uniform
no business will be done. We say, then,: go in
uniform, and you prevent an offence when it would
be committed. Another point which Mr. Anderson
dwelt on was this : the "respectable" class of pub_
!icons, he said, wished the police to go about in
coloured clothes to catch those who are not respectable.
The licenced victuallers society of Liverpool is a large
body, and even such of the trade as are not members of
that society come under the head
," respectable." If Mr.
Bolton or Mr. Anderson went into a public-house in the
lowest part of the town, and asked the proprietor, " Are
you, sir, a respectable man ?" what think you would he
the reply ? We think the question would be inapt-Anent,
if not insulting, and probably the questioner would leave
quicker than he entered, and after a different sort of loch_
motion. Now, we tell Messrs. Bolton and Anderson, as
two of the magistrates who sit in judg neat on publicans
and grant licenses, that all publicans must, under the
hands of these gentlemen themselves, be " respectable,"
or no license would he'granted them. There is as annual
licensing session, at which all licenses must be renewed, and
Mr. Radley, of the Adelphi Hotel, holds the same license
as the humblest man in Morybone—the latter pays for the
same privilege that Mr. Radley enjoys, and obtains it.
What is the primary condition up3l:whieh the license is
granted? T:11" respectability" of the applic int. This
is an indispensable requisite; :the min's character is
sifted in all phases through almost:his lireti me, and if the
slightest stain is discovered, he is refused a license. Well,
then, it is useless to talk about the respectability of one
class of publicans and the non-respectability of another.
There cannot, according to the fact just stated, be any of
the latter, for the magistrates themselves take care to
prevent such from obtaining a license. As to the legality
of the magistrates making an order empowering police-
men to assume private clothes on Sunday -mornings, for
the purpose specified—we hold it to be illegal, and ;no
order that the rnagistrate,rcan make Is capable of legal-
ising that which is iu itself illegal. A magistrate's order
cannot upset the comena law of the land, nor ride rough
shod over a statute. It has been stated that the order
made by the magistrates was so made in consequence of a
deputation fro n the licensed victuallers ; aid, indeed,
Mr. Anderson said the "respectable" me nbera of the
trade did not object to it, as they wanted to punish those
who are not "respectable." We have shown that if there
are persons in the trade who are not " respectable," the
magistrates are the persons to blame for granting the
license; but it would be a libel on the bench to say so,
as our reports of the last two years will show several
persons refused both new license and the transfer of old
ones, because they were net respectable. In fact, there
is a-regular standard of purgation that prevents any one
but a " respectable" persoa from holding a license. Let
us, however, suppose that a man, not "respectable," by
some chance, gets into'possession of a license, how long
can he hold it ? By no means more than a year, for if there
13 a police report against his conduct he is sure to lose his
licence the next annual day. We have said quite enough 1

as to the " respectability" of the trade—a word for which
we thank the magistrates. Now as to the legality of the
order. Suppose the magistrates made the order on the
alleged representation, what right had they to do so ?
Suppose the inhabitants of the south and east of Aber-
cromby-square sent a deputation to the magistrates,
praying that police in plain clothes might be sent every
Sunday morning into the houses of the inhabitants of the
north and west to ascertain what they had for breakfast,
what would their worships say? Suppose the magistrates
were capable of making such an absurd order, it would be
just as legal as that in existence. OF what n3e is uniform ?
It must have been for some purpose, for, if not, it would
be just as well for all police to dress as ordinary persons.
If a soldier, under any circumstance, dresses in plain
clothes, he is subject to very severe punishment by a
court-martial. Suppose a respectable man is awoke out
of bed in the dead of night by a knocking at his door, and
on looking out of his window sees a policeman in uniform,
and asks him his business ? he is informed that he has a
warrant to search, and says, you see who I am, you can
take my number and have redress if lam wrong. Such
man, knowing his innocence, will admit the officer and
seek his redress for the outrage afterwards. Let a
policeman in coloured clothes make such a request, and
he is sure to be refused, awl if in persisting to force
an entrance, he is shot, would any jury in England
find a verdict against the man who shot him ? The sys-
tem of allowing men to dress in plain clothes opens a wide
door for immorality—a policeman is promoted according
to his activity in convicting persons w:lom he summon,,
rather than for his intelligence and ability. We chal-
lenge Major Greig to deny this—and as he has all the
swearing to his own side—for in cases where pecuniary
penalties are the result of convictions, the pol'ceman's
oath only will be heard and taken; although could the
defmdint be sworn, a very different tale would bo told.
We say, therefore, the system is illegal and immoral, and
Mr.. Jeffery acted quite right in dismissing cases
brought before him by such illegal means. If the
magistrates are in doubt about the legality of the order
they confess having in ode, let them apply to the law
officers of the crown, and they will receive proper in
tructions. We do not advocate the abolition of the
illegal ru'e on other grounds, than to have Liverpool
relieved from a degt adationi not to be found in any
other town in the United Kingdom.

No less than 14 merchants have been declare I inq3dvent
at the Exchange at Censtintinople. Nearly all of them
are Greeks, who hav r been spec dating excessively in corn,
anl been enable, through the monetary crises, to fulfil
thr.ir engagementP.
TEIE Czan's MovErkteNTs —The Emperor Alexander
arrived at Darmstadt, on the 17th, from Frankfort. He
was recei, el at the terminus by the Grand Duke. The
141napret•er, with the Princes Alexis and Alexander, met the
Emperor at Frankfort,
Tu INDIA Beat r•a, FUND.—The first collection in the
metropoltan churches in aid oft he fund was made last
Sunday,. September 2), at the new church, S. Peter's,
Notting-hill. The amount collected was £ll5. Tne
sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Adams, M.A.,
incumbent, and the Rev. H. Harding, M.A.
A society has been formed in Victoria for the prevention
of horse an 1 cattle stealing It is dcsigne.l to assist is
the prevention and detection of robberies of stock, by
offering rewards, and by assisting iErsons who are simi-
larly engaged ; to make granti to per:oas who may suffer
serious loss from such robberies; and to keep a registry of
lost and found stock.

LEWES GREAT SHEEP FAlR.—This fair took place yes-
terd,y. there were punned about 24 000 sharp and lambs,
a number short by s?veral th ousands of the average sopdly.
Pens were bespoke for 28,000, be: sal,s were made pri-
vately during the past week, several sharp buyers having,
in the anti :ipation of a short fair and high prices, made
" fore-handed" ba,gains.—Essex Advertiser.
A movement was on foot for the establishment, in Mel
bourne, of a fern ale refuge, for thi reception and reforma-
tion of M g lalenes. There can be no differfn.;e of opinfoa
as to the desirabieity of such an insti ution, but much
ra igi (Us acrimony has been i-np irred into the quesdm.
The promo era of thia s.;lieme commenced by declaring
Peetestant Evangelical principles, and thus raised sectarian
division at startieg.
Tess CAWNPORE MASSACRE.—FOUR MORE ENGLINTINININ
SAVED.—, xtracr of a letter from Captain H. B uce, dated
Cawnporo, July 31, 1857 Lieutenant Delifosse, C tpt.
'Vi.orn..triLO 1 23mtirc isarrinliy, , and two European
soldiers, arc safe at Nialivarh (twenty-!'our miles down the
river, on the Lecknow side), atAl all G.,neral great
energies are being directed to their recovery." The writer
adds, Tne latter part of this sentence refers not only to
th Nishgurh par y, bat a'sl to some Earodeans said to be
at Calpee, across the Jumna."
Vra)lilA PRESS ASSOCIATION.—.k meeting of the gentle-
m n of (lio press has beer' hell is Nfelhourne, when a
socie'y, eat' tled •‘ Toe Victoria Press Association," con-
sisti ig of persons C inuuced with the literary department
of newspapers alai other periodicals in Victoria, was
iaa igurated The object of the new ass elation is to
prom it. onion and Headship among the members of the
press in Vietniil, to elevate and secure the status of the
Lturary profession, to faeilitite the formation of basiness
engagements, and to provide inane avail:b'e for the assiet-
once of neeesiitoes members and their families.—Melbourne
Morning _Herald,

. -
TtttvELs OF t LicrTna —ln the beginning of February
last, a grocer in Beau'y s n: a bank cheque to a merchant
in liverness, to settle is a.:coant np to that date. S ipue
days piss:id, and the expected remitt nice n arrivi -g in
Inveroess, no ice was sent to B and, er s nue co r-
respinrience it was stringed with the bank that the
cheque, if presen•e I, should not be paid, th- grocer settling
his account by a nem draft. Nithing mire was heard of
the missing ch qto till the other diy, when a letter from
Australia was Iran led to the Inverness me Thant, contain-
ing the long-lost • cheque. The mystery connected • with
disipp arance of the clocualeot was stated on the back
of the envelope : " Returned from lle'raurne, wh 're it
was received stuck into the fold of a Courier."—North
Briton.

INTERE.,TING CASE OP TRANSFUSION.—This operation
ara; successfulli per'orrmid on Wedne-iday I set, by Mr.
Wheatcrofr, surgeon, of C innnec, on the person of a
woman nem,d %Vied, residing there. Inrnediat,ly af;er
11,?r acecuch went fearful lice urnnrrhage set in, draining
the woman of blond. She felt herself dying, an sum-
moned her husband to her bedside, to bit him "G iid •
bye," an l'earneely requested him to take c ire of the
c lil ire n when she was no more. She then becarre
p ilse.legi and gasping, occasional breathin .h:.iag the only
indication of life. A vein was opened in her arm, and on,
in the arm cf h r hush end, and as the bloot flowed frim
Vie latter it was transmitted by suit ib'e appariitne i t the
veins of the wife. After selen,e,n oucces h ill been this
injected, the pulse b clme perceptible, and the c dourless
Lpa reldened, the glassy eye bri4i.erHrl, rad she thank-
f:ll,- slid, "I am better." The case has progressed very
favourably. and the woman is rec bvering. Death here
was literally robbed of his victim.—Staffordshire Advertiser.

Tfl E Sat MOUTH OF UaRAY.—Is the Murray
navigah'e 1' This important, c-natrove,sy seems likely to
be revived, as one who ought to be a comparative authority
has pran ninced is the affirmative. Captain Douglas, in
his " Directions," mikes the fo!loaing important
announcement :—" The moatia of the Murray, long
dreade 1 by mariners as presenting difficulties of no ordinary
nature, has, after a very minute and careful survey, been
found to possess a channel far s Iperior to that generally
known. It is presumed that, with orlinary care and
judgment in those pirtially acquainted with the channel,
and the assistance of a pilot to strangers, tcgether with
the chart lately constructed, that nothing beyond the o:--
dinary risks usually met with in all coasting navigation
will be eicauntered in passiag the bar in a properly con.
s'ructed and aapinted steamer, at a draught of water not
exceeding nine feet, due attentioa being paid to the state
of the tide, the weather, ani co edition of the bl. as
resp eta rollers." Cip•an Dmglas would scarc-ly make
this assertion upon unreliable testimony.—Melbourne
Age.

NATILOTIEL HAWTHORME.—T he Washingion Union
says of Mr. Hawthorne :—" Tills distinguished author
has resigned the cmsulate of Liverpool, which place he
has filled for four years, with great ability and credit to
himself, as well as most satisfactorily to the governor nt,
and to those of his countrymen with whom he has been
brought into cont,c-. Hia °Mehl and personal relations
with the present chief magistrate, as with the las', were of
the most friendly character; but his private interes's made
it desirable for him to give up his office ; and, in February
last, he sent his resignation 'to a friend in' this city, to be
placed at the disposal of the President after bis inaugura-
tion. It is understood that M. Hawthorne will, spend a
year in Italy, and then return to educate his children in
th-ir native land. Freedom from tho cares of office will
enable this favourite writer to prepare and 'phblish a work
which he has been .for some time contemplating; and as
the Scarlet letter' followed his retiranent from one
office, we may expect, as an.early result of this resignation,
a book in no wise inferior to that remarkable romance in
pour and poplarity."

TELEGRAPHIC NO

(By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph)

THE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN AUS#
AND SARDINIA.

ester
The Paris Pays, semi-official journal, off es oi
announces that the difference between Austrlid
Sardinia will be immediately arrange tilt°
the mediation of England.

FRANCE.

PARIS, TO
uy
oas
The Emperor will leave the camp at
Chat
ob 114
morrow, and will pass Luniville and Stras

Stuttgardt.
betl°
A tender for the line of steam packets
Elavre and New York has been sent to the •
tia
of Finance. The capital, 16,000,0001., P'S

subscribed in full.
The Three per Cent. Rentes closed this
t ig
at 60f. 05c., being a decline of 15c. on fesfi

prices.

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIO*

Ai 00°
The mail steun-ship*Atlantic arrived in the —e3
an early hour this morning, with 33 passengers all'

specie.

The news by the Atlantic is to the san23 a3tAeitolf
Vanderbilt, to be found in another column, am.
ticipated by our special correspondent.

00 101;'
PASSENGER 3 per %tlantic from New York.--,
Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. West, F. W. Colematir
Preston, R. E. Dixon, A. R. Chrisholm, l'Ptp.rilei'
L. P. Hunt, S. G. Tiloyer, S. Wilson, aC' 1j:
A. J. JAneon, Mr. and Mrs tiro chil.'ir-iirotr
servant, S. Holrne,, Mrs. Fitzgibbon, W.
Jno. O'Donaltl, A, D. Hemplull, Mrs. S)v3rsr
Ur. and Mrs. P.land, anti five children; Mr. Bar'.

AUSTRALIA.

The Montgomery, Captain Kiddie, which 0111.01,
Melbourne on the 17th of June, arrived Yestermod-0/1
noon. She brings about SO passengers, and 58'uv-0
of gold. The captain reports being 43 dal's fr°,oVj
boorne to Cape Horn, and being becalmed seg,-go,
there. From thence she had nothing but light
calms to the Western Island, where she had tirr-oti,
Friday morning last. From these islands to Wee/
she made the run in three days, and from Wee.
to Live.rp)ol in one day—a most extraordinaryr

BELFAST RIOTS.

COAIKISSION OF ENQUIRY•

PROM OUR OWN •CORRESPONDENT.

By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph•

BELFAST, TuEsP° - 1
The Commissioners sat at eleven o'clock. Ott
John M'Cr'ochlin, proprietor of the Ulster"
paper. was called for cross-examinination. e
F. R. Faulkner, Esq., proceeded to cross-o,of/
Uls
as to several articles which appeared in the
previous to the July and September riots. rrho,:eflg.
read abused the Protestants and Protes'ant tbf
B3lfast, and suggested that the .R.mlan Cathallei
arm themselves. 04;
Mr. M'Gloehlin said, in his opinion, the arti_cli4,l/11.
calculated to cause peace in Belfast—a stately"-
created great laughter in court. fr ;, of 0,4
Mr. Wetson, a Roman Catholic, the ovvrier, 01,1
houses which had been demolished. was the 3 he:111or f
Upon cross-examination, he a''mitted that t''-ts,
most injdred, were those occupied by Protestae.od
heard music playing, but he knew that th:gtir
were p'aying were not natives of Sandy-row, 39 )
stated by other witnesses. tiCir
The court adjourned at four o'clock until eleven
this day (Wednesday).

r
° Ifss*V
13
The crime and outrage act, now in force i° w,ogge
fift•;
still in operation in the city of Limerick. 't li°4
repealed since its original enactment, thong'', 60/.4°,1
is one of the enie•est citie, in lieland.—Lemerie'rfis vi
DEATH OF THE DUKTC or WilEtTEMBUKG."'iitb .10
ness Duke Eugene of Warteml.urg died oa the ;3( °,lOl
atilis castle in Carisru'ie, in theseventieth Yh'e P-
age. The deterred duke was a general to tv,o (00;1
service. •
PARIS GOSSIP.—I notice ,that a subserip;ioo
of the Indian victims is being organised itiore'lde,i
The Akhbar, one of the journals of that coloner "ceiVeo7,
that such is the case. The office of the Caisse 04,50011.01
Algerien is the establishment -at which the stlii"eeilfYt
are to be received. The office of the journel la "iihfr,
is ale° open for the purpose. The sub3eriPtle mr
is making some way, I am toll, although it gig`cs reiltia:l/1
signs of life. Tne Ministers, and the
authorities, are slid to have put dawn their ,ebt
1), fees,
considerable amounts. I hear tha'., there is -trievo A.'
be::efit at the Opera, anl at all the subventia° ;rbi4
order to swell the amount of the ib-cription• ft 4.
the
,51.370,
really be an excellent method to appeal to
of the Parisian population. Many peopl°
pretty s ire, would never put tie& name to -ign iP" O;
list, would go to hear the ° Huguenots." -phi° °lfej
Lepeltier, or "Tartuffe,' at the Theatre Fratie3,ioo
thus to aid the work of charity. If represents,jseßior,
given at the Opera, the Theatre Francais, the eloßagt"
the Opera, qtmique, the total amount realise be
something considerable. When amusement ca" ig s°'
to the aid of benevolence in this manner it ;
ao" 0
use it. teo
A New FC:tIEW FOR STEAM BOATi elr eu
the French navy, M. Vergne, has invented "e'fil-ftil
screw, propel:er, which he calls the fisted screw' Lieli °JO
prvement founded on a very niv observ•ilelß./ed Pie
direction teeter; by the particles of the water d15,40t,
repelled by the screw. A commission was TY 00',110,1/.,
compare the working and results of the t
screws. The persons composing it enehirk,_eho,3t,°,
on beard, the Vigilant, anion steam deseateß you' 14-:
horse power, fitted with the ordinary screw% oisfelstilee'j
were made along a me isared distance ; then till getarhelg
replaced by tint of M. Vergne's invention, a° tilts "„ji",
trips were made alert; the same line. The resod, ngio:
a gain of 17 per cent in speed with the teeN sCir vlbr„jer
almost total suppreslion of that disegreeahle,i, rag
used in screw s'eamers, and which in small yegli;eafico:,{
it necessary to make the binder part of the Bbil) deo°6iti
more costly th in it otherwise need be. Thehitl-bs ob•
been raised wl ether the same advantages viol' lief° diel
in laree vessels. 6ome scientific persona be Pr
300 tii4
would, even in a greater degree and give re est, j ,
belief. This qu-stion will soon be set a' r ate 'lO
Emperor has ordered the experiment to be regneentietlf °tit
time on a ship of the line. As far as the il3ritjetio
et been tested, it seems well deserving the atSe
English naval engineers.

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