The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TURSDA Y, StPTVISIBER 41840.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Lirwoor,. Auc. 28.
Henry Pennington was indicted for perjury, alleged
to have been committed before the revising barrister for
Wigan, Robert Wharton, Esq., at the Court held in
October last. Mr. Brandt and Mr. Wilkins conducted
the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr.
Wortley.
The defendant, it appeared, was a surgeon, who had
lately commenced business in Wigan, and at the Re-
eistriktion Court in question stated, it would appear,
that he was in possession or occupation (the words
seemed to be used as synonymous by the witnesses) of
a house in Wall-gate, Wigan, for trielve months pre-
vious to the 31st of July, 18:39, when, in fact, the pre.
vinus tenant had been i❑ occupation up to the 2d 0!
August, and the defendant had taken and paid rent
from the lath of August only, his furniture not being
moved into the house until several days after. It ap-
p
ared, however, that he had been in treaty for the
house for a considerable time previous, and that by con-
tract with the landlord he had a right to enter a con-
-iderable time before if the previous tenant could be
got out. He had nut, it would appear, any memoranda
with him at the Registration Court to refresh his memory
as to the dates.
Mr. WORTLEY (for the defendant), in a powerful
appeal, contended that it was merely a mistake—the
'lliad of the defendant being confused between the words
possession" and " occupation"—a mistake into which
the Counsel even who drew the indictment appeared to
have Linea, the latter expression being actually in part
of that document substituted for the other. He was
speaking, too, at a distance of fifteen months, without
memoranda to assist him, of a matter of which a day or
two only made the whole diff Tence. The Learned
Counsel called upon the Jury to interfere and prevent
the commencement of a system of intimidation, new in
its nature, but which, if once established, might be
used with terrible effect, especially against the poorer
clasces of voters. A very large class who had a right
to the franchise would be deterred from claiming it it
they would be obliged to do so at the peril of a party
prosecution for perjury.
The Learned Coun•cl called witnesses to chermeter,
and the Jury, interrupting his Lordship in the summing
up, returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Ili:. John Joseph Stoekdale, the plaintiff in the case
of Stockdale and Hansard, which occasioned so much
discus ion in the House of Commons relative to the
Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, waited upon the Lord
Mayor in the Justice-room, for the purpose of request-
ing that his Lordship would do him the favour to pre-
sent a petition from him to the Court of Alderitietn
upon a subject of considerable importance. He did
not, he begged to be understood, wish to induce his
' Lordship to express any opinion upon the subject, but
he considered that it was most desirable, so long as the
City Charter lasted, to elect to fill the chair of the
Chief Magistrate persons properly qualified to uphold
the dignity to the last, and to perform the duties of
the Chief Magistrate, and to serve the citizens of Lon-
don in that capacity. He had, under that conviction,
drawn up the petition, which he was anxious that his
Lordship would do him the favour to present to the
Court of Aldermen.
The LORD MAYOR—Are von a Liveryman of
London ? Mr. Stockdale—l have been thirty-eight
years a Liveryman, my Lord.
' The LORD MAYoR_It is not usual to apply to the
Lord Mayor to present petitions, except in the event
of a difficulty in prevailing upon some other Alderman
to perform that office. Do you apprehend any diffi-
culty ? Mr. Stockdale—(as our reporter understood
him—said he did not know that he should meet with
any.
The LORD MAYOR—If you should encounter any,
you can apply to me, and I shall present your petition.
I know nothing of its contents.
Mr. Stockdale—l merely am anxious to have it pre-
sented, and as I dare say the form is to call upon the
petitioner to support it, I shall be in attendance at the
bar to address the Court, if your Lordship will let m,
know on what day your Court will sit. Ido not ask
your Lordship to express an opinion at all upon the
subject.
The LORD MAYOR—The first Court stands in the
calendar for the 221 of September, and if you attend
at one o'clock, and find any difficulty in procuring an
Alderman to present your petition, I shall consider it
to be my duty to present it to the Court. I shall do it
as an ulterior measure, but I am sure you will find plenty
of Aldermen to present it.
Mr. Stockdale—l dare say I shall, my Lord. I have
given notice to Alderman Harmer, to whom it refers,
of my intention, so that he cannot say that I take him
by surprise.
The LORD MAYOR—I 10107/ nothing of the matter.
If the petition relate to the election of Lord Mayor, I
had rather that you would get one of the Aldermen to
present it.
Mr. Stockdale—My petition is to the effect that Al-
derman Harmer is disqualified to act as Lord Mayor,
and I shall be ready to state my reasons to the Court
of Aldermen.

The LORD MAYOR—Then procure same Alderman

to present your petition, and I shall call unon you it,
the Court for any thing you oily have to aid!, as is cus-
tomary towards persons who appear as petitioners.
Stockdale said, that he should do as his Lord-
..h• I advised, and retired.

The following is a copy of Mr. Stockdale's petition—
" The Worshipful the Lord Mayor, and Court of
Aldermen, &c., &c.,
" My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen—ln right of
usage and succession, Mr. Alderman Harmer would. in
due course, be proposed to the Livery in Common Hall
assembled as Chief Magistrate of the City for the ensuing
year. I therefore feel it my duty to apprise you that
unless blasphemy of the worst character be esteemed a
paramount claim to the highe4 dignity the collective
sense of the metropolitan city can bestow, I protest
against the fitness of Mr. Alderman Harmer to
fill the Civic Chair of your Protestant Christian
Corporation ; because, as a wholesale manufacturer
of and retail dealer in the most fearful blasphemy
against the Almighty Founder and Rock of Christianity,
Mr. Alderman Harmer has realized that property, and
obtained that influence whereby he holds his station in
your Worshipful Court, which I pray will investigate
this cha•ge 'ere you decide that Alderman's claim to the
Lord Mayoralty of London.

" I have the honour to be, &c.,
"JOHN JOSEPH STOCKDALE,
" Thirty-eight years in the Livery of the Worshipful

Company of Stationers.

" 31st August, 1840.4

The contests for passengers amongst the small voyage
steamers which ply at Dyer's Wharf, and the places adja-
cent have been so numerous and violent, that not only the
respectable people of the neighbourhood, but the pro-
prietors of the rival vessels themselves have found it
necessary to make pressing remonstrances and petitions
to the Lord Mayor to abate the nuisance arising from
the immense prosperity of the trade of steaming. His
Lordship, who is distinguished for his efforts to put an
end to squabbles by a k'.nd, good.tempered mediation,
has frequently interfered between the two conflicting
parties, but be-has hitherto been able
.to accomplish
only a temporary cessation of
Yesterday six touters, who had been evidently ap-
pointed to the office of soliciting the custom of the public
on account of their Ster.torian voices, were brought be-
lore the LORD MAYOR, charged with having conducted
themselves in such a manner as to lead to breaches of the
peace. The voices of some of them were said to have
hen heard in the Churches during D.vine Service on
Sunday.

The LORD MAYOR 8,11(1 that as he frequntly took
the benefit of a little steam voyage hitr self he recollected
the faces of most of the young men who were brought
before him on the charge. They might, indeed, be called
peace-breakers, for their shouting had broken the tran-
quillity of the day that ought to be the day of peace.
He had too frequently forgiven the off ace, but he was
determined now, as his remonstrances and cautions were
disregarded, to fine every offending person in the fu,l pe-
nalty of 5 .

Some of the gentlemen connected with the several
Companies whose steam-bolts ply about the river sug-
gested the propriety of removing the touters altogether,
and

The LORD MAYOR advised the adoption of that
course as best calculated to do away with the nuisance,
and gave peremptory orders to Hackett, an experienced
'dicer of the district, to take into custody any person
whom he should find touting or soliciting for custom
for any of the Companies. His Lordship also advised
that the Directors of the Companies should meet and
make arrangements for the purpose.
Some of the gentlemen interested said that a meeting
had taken place some time ago, at which the Managers
came to a resolution to dispense with the services of
these bavrling auxiliaries ; kit the regulation was soon
violated by one Company, and all the rest were obliged
to follow the example, because it was the business of the
touters not only to praise the vessels they touted for,
but to calumniate all the rest.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, whoever breaks my ar-
rangement, shall certainly be fined 5/.
Mr. Nobler said that proprietors would soon get
tired of paying 5/. a-piece for offenders under the Act.
He then read the clause of cap. 114 of the 4th of
George IV., which inflicts a penalty not exceedinz 5/.
tor each offence of the kind, or imprisonment for a
period not exceeding three months.

BENEVOLENT INSTITV CION,Y,OR
THE RELIEF OF AGED AND INE4'lk:ii
JOURNEYMEN TAILORS.

IYesterday the Half•yearly General Meetin:T of this
lustitti:lon *as held at the Vreernasons' Lawn. At
eleven o'clock, Mr. Harrison, of the firm of Harrison
and Burn, Sackvillc-street, was called to the Cnair.
There were then about 400 members present.
The CHAIRMAN said he had great pleasure in being
called on to preside at the titestntmeeting, in which he
witnessed the consummation of all that he bed desired
in the formation of this institution. He was sure that
all who heard him felt happiness in finding the result
which this (lay attended their exertions.---( Hear, hear.)
Besides the usual business of the half-yearly meeting,
which was cot of any great importance, they had also to
elect ten pensioners.—(Applause.) He thought that if
any man three years ago ventured to assert, that in the
short space which had since elapsed this institution
would be in a situation, with perfect propriety, to plac,
ten pensioners upon its funds, he would have been ridi-
culed. He was happy to say they were in a situation
to do so with perfect propriety. And it was to be
recollected that what those pensioners would receive was
not a mere pittance sufficient to enable them to eke out
an existence with what else they could earn by their own
exertions, but it was sufficient for a comfortable com-
petency for the rest of their lives, for he meant to say
that 311. 4s. a-year secured to any journeyman tailor for
life was a comfortable competency.—(Hear, 'near.)
Thie, toe. was in addition to any trifling sum which he
could earn for himself. It was not the object of those
who founded the Institution to repress industry, or to
prevent an old man from doing wh ,t he could for him-
self, instead of passing his time in idleness, and sitting
all day in a beer shop.—(Hear, hear.) The more he
can do for himself', the better pleased will thase be who
established this Society.—(Hear, hear.) He knew of
no institution which gave so liberal a provision as this.
—(Heir.) But it had been deemed from the begin-
ning to be better to make those who were trlopted
comfortable than to give the u a pittance of or
ss. a-week.--(Hear, hear.) The Board had made every
inquiry into the characters of the candidates before they
were allowed to offer themselves, and he was sure that
those who should be so fortunate as to be el,eted would
be a credit to the Institution and to the trade ; and ho
could oniy regret, that where all were deserving, any
should be disappointed.—(Hear, hear.) As a Member
of the Board, he thought it right to say upon that oc-
casion, for himself and his colleagues, that there had
been amongst them but one object, which was, the
permanence of the Institution.—( Hear, hear.) lie
regretted with every Member of that Board that then,
was any number of masters who had not joined the In-
stitution—( Hear, hear)—but he trusted that the day
was not distant when they should have on the books
all the masters who were worthy to be called reep
ct-
able throughout London.—( Hear, hear.) He thought
tt woul I go far to bring about that consummations, it
every journeyman tailor who put his name on the
books would keep himself in a condition to vote.—
(Hear, hear.) It. was lamentable to see that there were
not less than 1,400 or 1,500 journeymen, whose names
were enrolled as members, and that out of these not
more than 300 or 400 had had proxies delivered to
them.—( Hear.) He wished they would adopt soul,
plan in the part of the year when they had lull employ-
ment—which ho was marry to say was very short—to
pay up the whole 7s. for their years' subscriptions ; or
that they would put by one week 2d. and Another week
IP., which would amount to the same thing.—(Hear,
hear ) He wished on this occasion to allude to wli it
he had long desired to see established—he meant, an
annuity fund, which should have Government security,
and he necessarily managed by disinterested parties.
By the plan to which he adverted, a young man, who
should pay Is. a week, from the age of 24 or 25 would
be emitted to an annuity of 201. on attaining his 60 h
year, secured upon the Government funds ; and there
might be 51 added to that from a tund formed fir the
purpose by the friends of the institution. •A journey-
man subscribing to the annuity fund would have the
advantage of being able to withdraw, at any time, all
the money he had paid in, if any necessity should arise
for his doing so, or if his circumstances were so
altered that he would not have occasion to look
forward to the annuity.—(Hear, hear, hear) If
he died, his widow or heir would be in the same
situation as be himself hal stood in. He wished

also to suggest the formation of a sick club in connexion

with 6nel:ran institution. It was we:l known that sick
clubs, as at present constituted, were frequently broken
up, and that men who had paid their money into them
for years, were deprived of the assistance upon wWch
they had calculated. At present he only threw out
these hints for consideration, until a fitter time came for
discussing them. He hoped th it from the result of this
days' proceedings, the institution would grow, ntil
every da”erving man in the trade would be secured a
competence to the end of his days.--(Hear.)
The SECRETARY then read the Report of the Boar;l,
which expressed the gratification of • the Directors
at -the great progress. of their institution... and their
ability this thy to an Ake a permanent allowanee of
311. 44. per annum each to tea. rnsioners. The state
li of the fun is were most satisfactory. The amount in-
vested with the Commissioners of the National Debt
being 9,546/. 183. l ld., with as balance of 178/. ;n the
hands of the hanker. The Directors laid aiso to in-

form the members and th. tvorld (fir the. hoped

koowleAge of the fact would not h conneed to this se-
, ciety), that Mr. Stultz, the Pre,idont, lc purchased
a piece of ground on Haverstock-hill ( Ilainpst ead-
road), having a double front age of 400 leet in one road,
and upwards of 400 feet in another, consis! ing in the
whole of nearly three mires of freehold land, which he
hail presented to the institution as the site of an itylcitn.
—( Applause.) lid the envirms of Landon been
searched fir a spot, one more aitracti ye for the beautt
of its situation, or the salubrity of the air, could scare€ly
have been h,und,—( Great arplause.)
Mr. ANI`REW M.KELLAN, in moving that, the it -
port be receked and adopted, observed that it was ver)
gratifying to find on the day of their first electi,o, the
munificent present of thi piece of ground announced.—
(Applause.) After the admirable example set by Mr.
Stultz, and the success which hal already attended the
exertions of the founders, there could be little doubt
that the institution would go on progressing in pros-
perity, and would become one of the most resp,Tctahle
in the metrodolis.

Mr. SPRAGUE was unexpectedly called on to second
the motion fo • the reception of the report, but hi. would
have preferrei that the duty had devolved upon abler
hands. All present must he gratified as much as he
was. It must be gratifyink to every feeling heart that
they were now able to place ten deserting men of their
trade in a condition above want for the remainder of
their lives.—(Hear.) The information that Mr. Stultz
had presented the Insetution with the piece of freehold
ground must gladden all hearts ; but, according to their
rules, they could not begin to build upon it until the
present building fund amounted to 5,000/. That fund
now wanted only 500/. of the necessary sum, and it
only required a little exertion on their parts
speedily to raise it to the required amount. He related
several instances of persons who had before hung back,
having lately come farvvard to assist the Association when
they saw that it W3S established upon a permanent basis,
and he had no doubt that the proceedings of this day
would awaken a lively interest in the breasts of many
others who had not yet joined them.--(Hear, hear.)
The irregularity of a large number of the journeymen in
the payment of their subscriptions was greatly to be
lamented. He was sure that if these had kept them-
!
selves in a condition to record their votes, it would be
the greatest. inducement to others to give the Institu-
tion their support, and he hoped that tne recommenda-
tion of the Chairman would be attended to in future
by the journeyman who were members.—( Hear.)
The motion for the reception of the report was then
carried amidst applause.
Mr. WEAVER then said that as a journeyman mem-
ber of the Institution, be could not allow the other
business of the meeting to be proceeded with, without
proposing a vote of thanks a,ith three times three, to
Mr. S;ultz, for his munificent present of the freehold
ground for the Asylum.—( Applause.)

Mr. HOLLOWAY seconded the motion, which was un-
animously agreed to; and three times three cheers
were given with great cordiality.
Mr. STULTZ thanked the meting for the honour
which had been done him, and hoped to live long enough
to see the Asylum well built and well filled.--(Cheers.)
The ballot for the ten pensioners was then proceeded
with. After the announcement of the n ones of the
successful candidates. thanks were vote.l in a very cor-
dial manner to Mr. Harrison, for his conduct in the
chair, and to the scrotators for their vat and expedi•
tion in the discharge of their du,ies.