The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-12 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

A somewhat froward-looking young woman, who was
dressed in mourning, was placed at the bar, she having on
the previous night, ben detected by a police officer in an at-
tempt to commit suicide, by throwing herself from George's
Pierhead. The sister of the young woman attended, and
gave a sad account of the conduct of the prisoner, whom she
had taken to live with her, after the death of their mother.
The girl was in the habit of stopping out until a very late
hour, and it was in consequence of her and her husband
having remonstrated with the girl on Sunday, for conduct of
that kind, that she left the house, and made the attempt
upon her life.

The prisoner said her sister was " always going on with
her," and told every body that she had been the death of her
mother. On Sunday she was only out of the house about 20
minutes, and when she returned, her sister and brother-in-
law began to abuse her, the latter stating that she might go
to the d—l if she liked. In consequence of that she left their
house, and on Tuesday evening, being destitute of a home,
she intended to have put an end to her life.
The brother-in-law stated that he had had a great deal of
trouble with the girl, but he was willing to take her back and
try her again.

The girl consented to return, and, having been reprimanded
for her ungrateful conduct towards her sister, and advised to
behave herself better for the future, she was discharged.

ASSAULTS.

Patrick Donelly was charged with having assaulted a man
named Morris. The complainant stated that he was going
up Moorfields on Tuesday night, when the prisoner, whom
he had never seen in his life before, and who was drunk,
came running up the street, and, without the slightest pro-
vocation, struck him, knocked him down, and then kicked
him. The prisoner denied that he had lifted either hand or
foot to the man ; but as evidence corroborative of the com-
plainant's statement was produced, Patrick was ordered to
pay a fine of 10s. and costs ; in default of payment to be
committed for eleven days.
Patrick Duffey was convicted of having struck a man,
named Peter Miller, a blow on the head with an axe. The
wound inflicted was not very severe. The prisoner was or-
dered to pay ss. and costs ; in default of payment to be im-
prisoned five days.
Edward M` Grady, a seaman, was fined 20s. and costs for
having assaulted Wm Thompson, the second mate of the
vessel in which he had been working. M`Grady knocked
the man down, and then kicked him violenty in the mouth.
William Rafferty, a master lumper, was fined 40s. and
costs for having assaulted the captain of the barque
Gazelle.

STREET ROBBERY.

Patrick Waterson was brought before the magistrates on
the following charge :

Henry Ainscough stated that he was a coal-dealer, and
lived in Gildart's-gardens. On Tuesday afternoon he had
been at a funeral, and had got a little liquor. About six
o'clock in the evening he went into Marybone, and called
upon his nephew, with whom he went into Rigby's public-
house at the corner of Milton-street, where each of them
had a glass. On coming out, complainant stood talking to
his nephew, when the prisoner came across from Banastre-
street, and said to Ainscough, " You drank my glass of ale
this morning, in Rigby's house." The complainant denied
the accusation, and said that he had not been in Rigby's
house in the forenoon, which he could prove by reference to
the landlord. He was going into the public-house, for the
purpose of clearing himself from the charge, when his
nephew pulled him back. The prisoner then sounded Ains-
cough's waistcoat pockets ; after which he thrust his hand
into the complainant's trousers' pocket, and took thence
some money. He (the prisoner) ran down Harrison-street,
dropping some money as he went. The nephew pick up 31.,
which he immediately returned to his uncle. The com-
plainant stated that he missed Bs. He gave information of
the robbery to police-officer No. 5.
Policeman No. 5 said, that he knew the man from the
description given of him by the complainant. He went in
search of him, and eventually succeeded in apprehending him.
The prisoner was committed to take his trial.

YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).
SMUGGLING TOBACCO.

John Fawcett, a respectable young man, second mate of
the Palmyra, was charged with having, on the sth instant,
smuggled away from the said vessel about 131 b. of tobacco,
which had not been duly entered at the Customs. He was
taken the same evening by Blackburn, the police-officer, in
Tithebarn-street, with the tobacco tied up in a handkerchief.
Mr. Brooke, Mr. Wayman, and Mr. Brown appeared from
the Customs and Warehouses, to support the information.
Mr. Wardle defended the prisoner in a very ingenious man-
ner, but not with the best result. The young man was at
length convicted in the penalty of £lOO for the offence, but
at the same time with the best recommendations from the
bench to advise in mitigation.—Several persons in attendance
spoke highly as to the character of the prisoner, having known
him for the last fourteen years, as honest, sober, and diligent.
These traits will, we trust, materially assist the young man
in his present dilemma.

BIRMINGHAM AND DERBY JUNCTION RAILWAY.—It
may be expected that this road will shortly be opened to the
public, as the works are in a forward state, and the junction
with the London and Birmingham railway, near the Hamp-
ton station, is nearly complete. A train of three beautiful
locomotive engines and tenders, intended for this line, were
brought by Mr. Grantham, of the respectable firm of Messrs.
Mather, Dixon, and Co. of Liverpool, to this town on Thurs-
day last. These engines are on six wheels, and are a fine
specimen of the perfection to which the science of engineering
is now carried. They are similar in appearance to the well-
known engines the "Hornet," "Hawk,' and " Vulture," on
the Grand Junction Railway, which were all made at the
same extensive works.—Birmingham Journal.
STATE OF BIRA.INGHAM.—Owing to the prudence of the
of the police no further disturbance had taken place at Bir-
mingham up to Wednesdey evening. A requistion had been
presented to Messrs. Attwood and Muntz, " for the purpose
of uniting the working and middle classes, in order to carry
out the great principles of the national petition," to which
Mr. Attwood had sent a somewhat evasive reply. The re-
quisition had obtained 7,000 signatures in a very short time.
It is stated that a meeting, at which Mr. Attwood and Mr.
Muntz are to attend, will be held on Monday next. The
injured policemen were doing well, and all was perfectly quiet.
NORTHERN MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—We perceive
that a public meeting will be held on Monday evening next,
at the North Corporation School, for the purpose of pro-
moting the formation of the proposed Northern Mechanics'
Institution. Several influential gentlemen are expect to
attend on the occagion,—See advertisement,

PUBLIC MEETING
FOR THE REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, a numerous and highly
respectable meeting of merchants, tradesmen, and other in-
habitants of the town, took place at the Sessions-house,
Chapel-street, in pursuance of notice issued by the Mayor,
who had consented to call the same in accordance with a
requisition signed by about sixty gentlemen, for the purpose
of considering the propriety of petitioning Parliament in
favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan for the reduction of
postage." Amongst those present, were most of the requi-
sitionists—including mercantile gentlemen, opponents in po-
litics ; but on this question, happily, concurring in opinion.
The following are the names attached to the requisition
which was presented to the Mayor :—Adam Lodge, S. S.
Gair, Thomas Todd, Joseph Greaves, John D. Thornley,
Daniel Neilson, Henry Glynn, Christopher Hind Jones,
Cannon, Miller & Co., P. Serjeantson, John Ashton Case,
James Riley, jun., Michael Humble, Harold Littledale, R. B.
Anderson, George Holt, William Wood, Jos. Hornby,
Thomas Hibbert, George Loch, William Brown, Joseph
Shipley, William Maury, Stanley Percival, Wiliam Wallace
Currie, Nicholas Roskell, R. H. Blundell, Joseph Ridgway,
S. Woods, jun., Richard Bryans, William Jackson, Edward
Bayliffe, Henry Harrison, John B. Nelson, Robert Higgin,
William Maxwell, John Cropper, jun., Horatio Nelson
Hughes, E. Muegens, John Yates, Samuel Holme, Thomas
Tobin, George W. Boyd, Robert Ledson, Samuel Bright,
John Parker, W. H. Tayleur, W. B. Currie, Richard
Withers, G. A. Tinley, C. G. Tattersall, William, Sharp,
Charles Booth, Charles Tayleur, Thomas Addison, Henry
Garston, Samuel Kearsley, A. Claude, William Earle, T. B.
Barclay, Thomas Read.

The -MAYOR, on taking the chair, said, that he. had called
the meeting in compliance with a requisition numerously
signed, by respectable and influential individuals, and that
the object was to forward the plan, proposed to Parliament
by Mr. Rowland Hill, for the reduction of the rates of post-
age. He would not take up the time of the meeting, which
would be ably addressed by other gentlemen ; but he could
not help expressing his great astonishment that a tax so
impolitic, so hurtful to the commercial prosperity of the
country ; a tax, too, more especially oppressive to the poorer
classes of society, should have been suffered so long to exist.
(Hear.) He considered the high rate of postage to be a
powerful impediment to the spread of useful knowledge
amongst the people. (Cheers.) As a profitable financial
system, it had proved to be singularly injudicious and inope-
rative. The revenue derived from it had for years remained
stationary, while all the other branches of finance had con-
tinued to improve. That a tax so impolitic, so injurious,
both commercially and morally, should so long have been
tolerated by the country—so long persisted in by successive
administrations, was truly calculated to exite the wonder of
an intelligent community. (Cheers.) The only argument,
at all plausible, which the enemies of a reduction of postage
had advanced, was that its abrogation would cause a defal-
cation in the revenue. But surely the commercial and moral
prosperity of the country was paramount to this • and if a
deficiency do arise, (which he-did not assume), the govern-
ment ought to substitute some other tax, or rather to curtail
all unnecessary expenditure, •by which a saving would, he
believed, be affected more than equal to the anticipated de-
falcation. (Cheers.) He concluded by reading the requisi-
tion, and calling up the gentlemen who were to take part
in the proceedings to bring forward their resolutions.
Mr. W. BROWN said that, in supporting the object of the
meeting, they were borne out by the irresistible appeal of
the country at large. It was to be lamented that the govern-
ment should so long have persisted in imposing so high a
rate, that it operated against the commercial and moral in-
terests of the country. No one who had read the evidence
adduced, and the facts contained in Mr. Hill's pamphlet,
could entertain a doubt of the impolitic and demoralising
influence of this tax. He hoped the country would not cease
to press the abrogation of this tax, until they succeeded in
the object in view. Facility of correspondence was one of
the most powerful instruments for the promotion of com-
merce, and the general spread of knowledge. It was, indeed,
one of the greatest blessings that could be conferred upon
the people ; for nothing could conduce more to their ad-
vancement in their several vocations, or their improvement
in the moral and domestic relations of life, than a cheap and
ready communication by correspondence. (Cheers.) It was
the duty of a wise government, even admitting a supposed
defalcation in the revenue to the amount stated, not to im-
pede the means of prosperity in a country such as England.
It would be much better to remove this tax, and to increase
some other tax or taxes to make good the deficiency—say,
for instance, the tax on malt. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had, in his proposition to the House of Commons
on this subject, involved a pledge that the deficiency should
be made good. He (Mr. B.) hoped he would not
.persist in
making this an immediate condition of the passing of the
bill. The deficiency, if any, might easily be made up ; and
he hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would press his
measure, and not forego a positive good for a prospective
and contingent evil. (Cheers.) Mr. Brown, after adverting
to the fundholders' concluded by moving the first resolution,
for which see the advertisement in another column.

Mr. A. HODGSON said he had just been called upon to se-
cond the resolution, which he did with much pleasure, as he
conceived the proposed reduced postage would be highly be-
neficial to the community. After the full statements already
made, and the able manner in which Mr. Brown had met the
principal objection, he could add but little to strengthen the
arguments already adduced. Nothing could, he thought, be
more unwise than to relinquish the measure merely because
it might cause a defalcation in the revenue. If such a de-
falcation arose, the country ought, and, he doubted not, wil-
lingly would, supply it. The whole country, indeed, ought
not only to supplicate, but to demand the desired change.
They ought not to suffer a measure fraught with so many ad-
vantages to fall to the ground ; but if a deficiency arose, to
supply it from another quarter. (Cheers.)
Mr. THOMAS SMITH said, that the two gentlemen who
had last spoken, had noticed only one obstacle to the measure.
There were few who were more anxious than himself that
the object in view should be obtained : but it was proper that
those who had the power to remove the existing evil, should
be shown in what manner the inconvenience of adopting the
new measure could be obviated. A meeting had been held
in London, on Monday last, of the principal paper manu-
facturers and stationers, on the subject of the reduced post-
age, and it was there represented, that in the event of the
measure passing, the stamped letter paper would necessarily
be manufactured by government, to the great injury and dis-
advantage of these parties. It was added, that an immense
establishment would also have to be erected. Now, he pro-
posed as a remedy, not certainly novel, nor orignating with
him, that government, in place of becoming paper manufac-
turers, should issue stamps, or franks, printed on large
sheets, so that they might be cut out, and each affixed by a
wafer to a letter to be transmitted by post. Five hundred of
these stamps, similar to those on patent medicine bottles,
might be printed on one large sheet, the size of a newspaper.
This plan would also afford a check upon those employed to
distribute or sell such stamps. He merely threw this out by
way of suggestion. (Cheers.)
The MAYOR said, that Mr. Smith's idea was well worthy
of consideration, but did not amount to an amendment to the
resolution.

The resolution was then put from the chair, and was
unanimously carried.

Mr. SAMUEL HOLME rose amidst considerable cheering
and said that having been one of the individuals who had
signed the requisition to his worship to call that meeting, he
did not for a moment hesitate to present himself before them,
because he thought the object they sought to effect was one
founded on principles of justice and equity. This was no
party measure. (Loud cheers.) Had it been so, it was highly
probable that neither himself nor many gentlemen whom he
saw around him would have been present ; but he conceived
that the present system was partial and unequal, and was a
measure which all parties might and ought cordially to join
to amend. (Cheers.) The objections he had heard to the
measure of a penny postage were of a two-fold nature. First,
that it would afford facility for the dissemination of those
publications which were calculated to have an injurious ten-
dency, and to be detrimental to our public morals ; and se-
condly, because it would tend to decrease the public revenue.
To the first of these objections he would reply that if an equal
right was conceded to the friends of good order and benevo-
lence, both parties would have fair play, and he trusted that
the wise and good would not be behind any in the dissemination
of those principles of wisdom and virtue which they deemed
important for the well-being of mankind. (Loud cheers.) He
for one was not afraid of the ultimate victory of truth, for
wherever truth had free scope, it was sure in the long run, in
its right and its majesty, to be victorious. As to the defalca-
tion of the public revenue, he for one would tax luxuries as
heavily as necessity required, but the necessaries of life as
lightly as possible. The demands of the public exchequer
must be complied with for the maintenance of our national
honour and credit. Truth must be kept with the public cre-
ditor, whether he be the princely fundholder with his millions,
or the humble artisan and the laborious domestic, who, on
the [faith of our national honour and our national credit, in-
vested their weekly or monthly earnings in our savings'
banks. (Long continued cheering.) But when he looked at
the abuse, he did not say the use, of ardent spirits consumed
in this country, although it did not exactly bear on the sub-
ject which that meeting had met to consider, he could not
help directing their attention to one or two striking facts, to
show that any defalcation in the revenue caused by the pass-
ing of the measure under contemplation, might be made up
without injury to our national credit. At any rate, he felt
satisfied that there was integrity and honesty enough in the
land to consent to any other mode of making up an incidental
deficiency caused by the adoption of a measure of such in-
calculable benefit. (Loud cheers.) In the year 1834, he
found, from official returns, that the quantity of ardent spi-
rits consumed in London alone amounted to the incredible
quantity of 6,698,579 gallons, and of this vast amount about
three millions of money was expended on gin alone.
(Hear, hear.) In a report made to the House of Commons
in the same year, it is stated that the number of dram-
shops throughout the kingdom averages one to every
twenty families ; and one of the witnesses stated to the com-
mittee, that in the city of Glasgow alone, the sum expended
in intoxicating drinks was nearly equal to the whole amount
expended in public institutions of charity and benevolence in
the entire kingdom. (Hear.) Mr. Spring Rice said, in
March 1836, " he had always thought and always said, that
spirits was a fair article for taxation ; indeed, it had always
been his conviction that a more fair article for taxation could
not be found, and the limit was the fullest extent to which
you could impose a duty without creating smuggling."
(Hear.) Wiser heads than his would have to consider whether
spirits would bear an addition taxation • but after the appal-
ling statements that were made in referring to the use of
intoxicating spirits, and their dreadful effects, he thought
that an additional impost upon them would assist in making
up any defalcation in the revenue, caused by the reduction
of postages. (Cheers.) He would mention also the use of
quack medicines ; and it would scarcely be believed that it
was calculated that not less than four millions were annually
expended on these deleterious drugs. To return, however, to
the subject more immediately under consideration. He would
mention a fact. He had a considerable number of workmen,
at a distance of 35 miles from Liverpool, and as it was neces-
sary for the conducting of his business, that an interchange of
ideas should take place between himself and his manager at
that place, the mere asking a question and receiving an
answer was attended with an expense of fourteen-pence, at so
short a distance. Was not this a shackle on trade ? (Hear,
hear.) He would also revert to the effects of an exorbitant
postage on the working classes. He had in his employment
a considerable number of workmen from Scotland and other
places, and it certainly was painful to him to see that the in-
terchange of sentiment between them and their relatives
invariably cost them elevenpence, and sometimes a shilling—
within a trifle of a twentieth part of their weekly earnings.
(Cheers.) To tax a man to such an amount, considering his
circumstances, and for such a purpose, was both unwise and
unjust, and its unequal pressure was one reason why he ob-
jected to it. (Hear.) He hoped the Chancellor of the Ex- ,
chequer would make a virtue of necessity, and yield with a
good grace what would inevitably be wrung from him if he
refused—(long continued cheers)—and he hoped also that he
would yield the boon in a frank, open, and fearless manner,
for it was one of the characteristics of Englishmen to admire
what is open, frank, and zealous, as it bears the impress of
honesty upon it ; and, that he will not on this important
subject render his legislation ridiculous by what he calls mo-
difications, nor by a sort of Siamese twinship, or affinity to
his celebrated measure of superficial riches. (Laughter.)
Until Lord Lichfield and the subalterns of the Post-office
answered fully and cogently the statements and arguments
put forth in the pamphlets of Mr. Rowland Hill and Mr.
Ashurst, they will consult their own dignity by abstaining
from any further opposition to so just, so necessary, and so
equitable a measure. Mr. Holme then moved the second
resolution, which will be found in our advertising columns,
amidst loud cheering.
Mr. SAMUEL GAIR briefly seconded the motion.
Mr. W. RATRBONE said he had just had a resolution put
into his hands, which he should have great pleasure in pro-
posing. It was to the effect, " that a petition he sent to
the Holin of Commons, preying that the plan of Mr, R.

Hill should be adopted." After what had been so forcibly
stated by Mr. Holme, and which he fully concurred, it would
be little better than reiteration in him to offer any remarks.
The measure proposed was a most important one, not only to
the commercial world, but to the country at large. He
noticed the evasions of postage caused by the present im-
politic system, and expressed his regret and astonishment
that it had not been abrogated half a century ago. He
particularly objected to it as it affected the. poorer
classes of society, on whom its operation was in many
instances absolutely cruel. (Cheers.) Many of them not
having the means of paying heavy postage were constrained
to purchase a newspaper, in which they could write a word.
to send abroad to their distant relatives, as the only token of
their being in existence. In this respect the postage system
was a disgrace to humanity, and the age in which we live.
With regard to the supposed reduction of the revenue, how
did those who opposed the measure know that such would be
the result. For himself, he believed that with a penny post-
age, ten letters would be sent for one new dispatch, and the
consequence would be a great increase in the consumption of
paper, which would probably make up the difference. There
might be a defalcation the first year, but before the third, he
believed all would be made good. (Cheers.) It was diffi-
cult for a man to say much on an occaion like the present ;
for they were all he rejoiced to say unanimous. He could
not, however, avoid giving his hearty concurrence to the ob-
jects of the meeting. He moved the resolution. (Cheers.)
Mr. D. NEILSON seconded the motion. He stated that
a most numerous meeting had been held yesterday, (Wed-
nesday,) in London, of the merchants, bankers, and other
inhabitants, and that the petition in favour of Mr. Hill's
plan had been signed on the spot by upwards of 1,000 indivi-
viduals. He begged to propose, that in order to save time,
the petition should be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the
meeting. (Cheers:)
Mr. JAMES HARVEY said that if the government were a
little more careful of the people's money, there would be no
need to keep up the present rate of postages. But they had
a general to every regiment ; and an admiral to every ship ;
and had even lately voted a sum of £70,000 for the building
of stables at Windsor. No wonder they have heavy postages
to pay. He hoped the country would be unanimous on this
question, and that the conservatives would assist his party,
reformers, in obtaining the object they had in view. (Cheers.)
The resolution was put and unanimously carried.
A vote of thanks was then proposed by Mr. Holme to the
Mayor for his attention to the requisition, and his conduct
in the chair. This was seconded by Mr. Ledson, and was
carried by acclamation. The meeting then dispersed.

CRICKET.—On Wednesday last a match was played between
the City and Garrison of Chester and the Liverpool Club, at
the ground of the latter, on the Wavertree road. The fol-
lowing is the score : _