The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-03-23 00:00:00

THE Li V ERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1852.

REPRESENTATION OF LIVERPOOL.

MEETING OF THE CONSERVATIVE ELECTORS.
A very numerous and influential meeting of the Con-
servative electors of Liverpool, convened by the com-
mittee of the Constitutional Association, for the purpose
of submitting for approval a requisition to William
Forbes Mackenzie, Esq., (one of the Secretaries
to the Treasury,) and to Charles Turner, Esq., (Chair-
man of the Liverpool Dock Trustees,) to allow them-
selves to be put in nomination for the representation
of the borough at the ensuing general election, was held
in the Clarendon-rooms, on Wednesday last, at noon.
Edmund Molyneux, Esq., presided ; and amongst the
gentlemen present we noticed Francis Shand, Robert
Rankin, Wm. Potter, Adam Hodson, Harold Littledale,
Gilbert Moss, S. Holme, R. Woodward, Duncan Gibb,
R. Horsfall. G. H. Horsfall, W. J. Horsfall, Jas. Tyrer,
Laurence Peel, T. Bold, Chas. Groves, S. R. Greaves,
Chris. Bushell, A. Henderson. H. C. Chapman, J. H.
Worthington, C. Cotesworth, E. G. Deane, Jas. Bourne,
John Longton, Thos. Carson, Thos. Fleming. Jas. Bold,
John Worrell, Adam Norris, John Myers, T. C. Clint,
Joshua Prowse, Jos. Brereton, P. Drinkwater, Robert
Wynne, J. Bramley-Moore, John Lockett, J. Peacock,
B. Darhyshire, F. A. Clint. R. Wright, S. Warner Shand,
Alex. Shand, N. D. Bold, J. F. Goodwin, James Holme,
S. Woodhouse. 0. Hatch, John Torr, T. Turner, T. H.
Satchel!, W. Wagstaffe, Peter Leather, Ambrose Byford,
Edward Byford, Henry Steele, F. Staveley, F. Hamp,
G. E. Taunton, J. Williamson, Sykes, 0. Watson
C. J. Warrington, J. S. Wolfe, R. Frodsham, C. Lister,, J. L. Trotman, G. H. Gregory, R. Williams, W. F.
Foster, J. Shaw, J. Gardner, and R. Ellison, Esqrs.,
Dr. Neill, &c.

The CH AIRMAN having remarked upon the importance
and necessity of being prepared with two candidates qua-
lified to represent the interests of so important a town
and port as Liverpool, and stated the objects for which
the meeting had been convened,

Mr. FRANCIS SHAND .said they had secured the ser-
vices of two gentlemen who were in every respect quali-
fied to do full justice to the interests of this great com-
mercial port. They would not then take up the matter
of politics, but they had selected ts candidates to submit
for the approval of the electors, Wm. Forbes Mackenzie,
Esq., and Charles Turner, Esq. The first gentleman was
sufficiently pointed out as fitted for the consideration of
this great constituency, by having been appointed as Se-
cretary to the Treasury by the noble lord now at the
head o 5 affairs. (Cheers.) As to the second gentleman,
Mr. Charles Turner, he need only mention his name as a
guarantee for his capabilities. (Loud cheers.) Theser
gentlemen had consented to be put into nomination, if it
should he the wish of the town, so expressed as to show
them that they had a fair right to say they had the sup-
nnrt of •,• ••

ne eieetors generally; and it so, they were quite
prepared to meet the constituency. (Cheers.)
Mr. SAMUEL HOLME said that some fault had been
found with the Constitutional Association for not
-ufficient celerity in bringing the names of two
heforp mi_ _ _resent

playing
gentlerr

was merely

p.uttmtmtry meeting, ro he succeeded, he
trusted, by a large and important gathering in the Am-
phitheatre ; but he would take the opportunity of stating,
that the association had been actively engaged in making
inquiries, and had been for some weeks in negotiation
with gentlemen whom they thought were fit to represent
a great commercial community like ours. Some gentle-
men, to whom they were much indebted, had spent a
considerable time in London, and had been in communi-
cation with some of the heads of the Conservative party ;
and the result was, that they had now to present the
names of two gentlemen who would, if elected, serve the
town of Liverpool, end the country at large, with fidelity,
and with a strong attachment to those Conservative prin.

les which hac

and which he trusted would continue to animate the
statesmen of England for years to come. (Cheers.) The
names were those, first of Mr. Wm. Forbes Mackenzie,—
and he felt satisfied, from some little personal knowledge
of the great attainments of that, he might safely c7'

Am, distinguished man, that they would have in him a
representative of great talent, of inflexible integrity, and
one devotedly attached to the constitution of our country,
as by law established. He had been specially selected by
Lord Derby to fill one of the most important practical
posts which his lordship had to bestow. The other was a
gentleman of whom it was unnecessary for him (Mr.
Holme) to speak ; but when he stated that he had been
a worthy representative of a commercial ward—that he
had raised himself to a high position by the exercise of
that commercial talent which was the glory of our tow n—
(hear, hear)—when he knew that he had been the first
and foremost in every good work—when he had seen his
conduct as a member of Council, and knew the ability
with which he was conducting the affairs of the Liverpool
docks, he might venture to say that they would have, in
Mr. Charles Turner, a gentleman intimately acquainted
with all their local affairs, and one who, by his great com-
mercial knowledge, would prove himself a fit representa-
tive for a great commercial town. (Loud cheers.) He
would not, at a preliminary meeting, occupy time by
going into any of those great questions which were agi-
tating the public mind at this moment -V-

...t—uestfons
must he definitively settled—not mere fiscaql qu esti ons,wine. or
whether there should be a duty of a few shillings imposed
upon wheat. The question at issue was a more extended
one, and must be treated at a larger meeting. He would
ask,—Are the men of Manchester to he the rulers of
England ? (Loud cheers, and cries of " No, never !")
Are they, a number of them, to shake their purses in the
faces of the aristocracy of England—(hear, hear)—in the
faces of the commercial men of England—(cheers)—in
the faces of the agriculturists of England, and then to say,
" With a subscription of 417,000 at our back"—how
much of it is paid I know not or care not—" we will
become the dictators of England ; we will destroy the
balance of the British constitution ; and we will dictate
to you the principles upon which England shall be go-
verned, and you shall do as we bid you, but shall have no
voice in the matter." (Laughter, and loud cheering.)
A gentleman recently stood up at a public meeting, and
threatened the aristocracy of England " to look to their
order," but he (the speaker) asked any gentleman, who
had read the debates in the House of Lords, whether
there was not a larger amount of talent and ability dis-
played there upon commercial questions than in the
House of Commons ? (Cheers.) He would say, with
Cobbett, " Thank God, we have a House of Lords ;"
and he trusted the people of England looked upon the
peers as a component part of the British constitution—
that constitution which had been a blessing to mankind
at large, and which had given strength and security to
England when the thrones of Europe were tumbling.
(Cheers.) He would ask, were they to barter these
invaluable privileges away ? Were they longer, by their
unhappy divisions, which at the last election they had
such reason to regret,—(hear, hear,)—to suffer two
gentlemen to represent a great commercial community
in Parliament gentlemen both of them amiable in
private life, but utterly unfit to have placed in their
hands so great a trust ? (Hear, and applause.) He
would not detain the meeting furtler, but trusted that
every gentleman would come to the large meeting soon
to be called at the Amphitheatre, with an invincible
determination to do his duty. Every single vote was of
importance, as he would show them by an illustration.
Mr. Holme then related an anecdote of a gentleman,
who, while at Cheltenham, read in the newspapers that
the election was to take place in his own town, where ho
had a vote, that very day. He despatched his breakfast,
and journeyed with all speed to the seat of contest,
arriving just in time to give a vote, which turned the
scale in favour of the conservative candidate, which same
gentleman, when in the house, turned the scale against
the ministry, who were defeated, and, if Mr. Holme
recollected aright, turned out. Mr. Holme further said,
that it was with some degree of reluctance that Mr. Turner
had come forward. His modesty on this occasion was
only equalled by his general ability. He had consented
to place himself in the hands of the electors, and would,
with Mr. Mackenzie, come forward, if the requisition
justified them in doing so. Mr. Holme, therefore, most
urgently and respectfully made an appeal to the meeting
to accept the two names brought before them, and to
attach their signatures to the requisition, which would
be presented to each gentleman ; so that, whether an
election came instantly, or whether it was delayed until
August, the electors of Liverpool would be prepared for
the defence of their glorious constitution, and their civil
and religious privileges ; and the taunt of Mr. Labouchere,
that "Liverpool spoke through its representatives," would
be related. (Cheers.) He was reminded that a depu-
tation had waited upon Mr. Horsfall, who found, how.
ever, that he could not accede to a requisition from
Liverpool ; but Mr. Horsfall was one of the first men to
attach his name to the requisition to Mr. Charles Turner
and Mr. Forbes Mackenzie. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then read the requisition.
Mr. ADAM HODGSON said, before it was put for adop.
tion to the meeting, he wished to ask a question. In
bringing forward the two gentlemen Named, but a very
partial account of the principles of one of them had been
given, With those of Mr. Turner they were well ac-
quainted; but were the gentlemen who had brought for-
ward the two candidates prepared to state what communi-
cation had been made with Mr. Mackenzie as to his
Protestant principles ? (Hear, hear.)
Mr. THOMAS BOLD, as one of the deputation who
waited upon Mr. Mackenzie, Said that that gentleman had
asked in the most frank manner, " Do you know who ou
are asking ? I voted for the grant to Maynooth ; but I
never regretted anything so muel in my life as having given

my vote on that occasion, and I would now do all in my
power to subvert it in any way I could." (Loud cheers.)
Mr. HODGSON said that nothing could -have been more
satisfactorily and fully answered, and he should have great
pleasure in attaching his name to the requisition. At the
same time he did not wish to be misunderstood. He did
not wish it to he understood that he was an advocate for
every line of policy marked out by the present govern-
ment. He appeared there, to a certain degree, as a free-
trader. He thought the protective policy, if pursued to
the extent contemplated, would prove injurious ; for ex-
perience had shown that the free trade policy was the best
of the two. (Loud cries of " No, no.") That was his
(Mr. Hodgson's) opinion, and one which had not been
hastily arrived at; others, who thought differently, could
maintain their own views on the matter. (Hear, hear.)
But he would throw free trade to the winds. rather than
oppose the slightest obstacle to an administration on
which be could depend, with ten times more firmness,
than that of Lord John Russell for the preservation of the
fundamental principles of the constitution. (Cheers.) He
for one felt that the principles of the constitution were
safer in the hands of Lord Derby than in the hands of
Lord John Russell; and, as compared with these, all
other matters became as dust in the balance. (Hear,
hear.) What was our commerce, if the principles of our
constitution were to be sapped and undermined—if the
social institutions of the country were allowed to be
threatened, if the attachment to our Protestant insti-
tutions were allowed to be weakened, or more aggressions.
such as those of last year, made upon them ? (Cheers.)
What was the question of free trade, compared with our
determination to say that Protestant England shall be
Protestant England still. (Loud applause.) The speaker
concluded by expressing his pleasure that Lord Derby, in
his speech on Monday night, had announced his intention
of not being driven to an appeal to the country by any
taunting or sneering. His lordship would not go to the
country upon any trumpery five shilling duty, but only
upon great and important considerations.

After some remarks from Mr. J. TYRER, pointing out
th,) qualifications of Mr. Forbes Mackenzie ; and a few
further observations from Mr. SAMUEL HOLME,—who
said that the late ministry had not been put out by the
Conservatives, but they had put themselves out, as alto-
gether incapable of managing affairs,—the CHAIRMAN put
the requisition to the meeting, and it was unanimously
approved.

Three cheers were then given for Lord Derby, three
cheers for the Queen, three cheers for the Church, three
cheers for the town and trade of Liverpool, &c. ; when
the meeting separated.

The requisition was signed by several hundred gentle-
men in about half an hour.

"THE LIBERALS" AT LOGGERHEADS-
THEIR PROCEEDINGS ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY, the 20th, will henceforth be a black day in
the calendar of the Whig-Radicals of Liverpool, and—
" the Ides of March remember"—a warning, repeated
oft in grave tones by Liberals " of all denominations" to
aspiring political juveniles. The morning dawned big
with the promise of a meeting of the Caucus which was
to extinguish the Earl of Derby's administration, and
place whiggery in the ascendant for at least half a cen-
tury. True, there was a rumour that a slight hitch
might occur in the day's proceedings through the obsti-
nacy of the Roman Catholic electors, who demurred to
the choice of Sir Thomas Birch as one of the candidates
to be brought forward at the approaching election ; but
the leaders of the party trusted that the administration of
a little soothing syrup and the big loaf argument would
still the ruffled waters, and win over the'sweet voices of
the Hibernians. The indefatigable bill-stickers, however,
had been exercising their vocation whilst politicians were
sleeping.; and our mural literature announced to thou-
sands the startling fact of the " Resignation of Sir
Thomas Birch." A bomb-shell dropped into the midst
of a Quakers' meeting—a fall of soot upon the matured
labours of the cook, for which a party of hungry diners
out were waiting—never c/eated more dire confusion than
the " Second Edition" of the Journal of that awful
Saturday in the ranks of the party. One section of it
were ready to toss up their hats for joy at having thus got
rid of the anti-papal baronet ; but the rest were struck
with mingled wrath and fear. The aristocracy of cotton
bales looked daggers at the smaller men of hides and
haberdashery—for the latter, to use the memorable words
of Lord Brougham on the occasion of a well-known
whig calamity, " had done it all." This was clear from
the

.d Journal's narration of the affair. Sir Thomas, it
seems, had placed himself at the disposal of his "Liver-

his address was in their hands, to be issued or not, as
seemed to them to be most productive of good to the
cause. But we quote the Journal's correspondent :

" The presence of two Liverpool gentlemen in London yester-
day apprised Sir T. Birch that his disinterestedness seas put to
the test. Mr. Wylie and Mr. Robertson had come here, by order
of the Liverpool party as represented at the Royal Hotel, to
look out for a candidate. They did not call on Sir Thomas or
Mr. Cardwell; but Sir Thomas, having ascertained their busi-
ness, took occasion to render them valuable assistance. At
once he signified his intention of withdrawing from the repre-
sentation of Liverpool.

Mr. Wylie, Mr. Robertson, and the small section of
" the Liberal party as represented at the Royal hotel,"
—namely, at the meeting of a little junta of busybodies
noticed in our last—had spoiled the aristocratic dish, or,
in the vernacular, " put their foot in it."

In the pleasant state of mind produced by these circum-
stances—this harmonious interchange of mutual good
wishes—the parties duly assembled, at a little after one
o'clock, in the large room of the Royal Hotel, Dale-
street, which was not inconveniently crowded, and did
not contain many more of the aristocracy of the whig
party than could have been comfortably accommodated in
the very smallest of Mr. Powell's private parlours. The
majority of the meeting belonged to the "great unknown"
class ; and there was a considerable sprinkling of Hiber-
nian faces, looking, from time to time during the pro-
ceedings, unutterable things at the men of broadcloth,
and evidently ready for a scrimmage with any " man or
mortial" who would say " pease," deny the gentility of
St. Patrick's paternity, or whisper a syllable against the
Pope or Cardinal Wiseman. Mr. William Rathbone was
called to the chair, as a reporter has it, " after a pleasant
resistance ;" and, as if doubting that the whig " mate-
rials" present were not quite the sort which he should
like to mix his own punch with, commenced by expressing
a desire not to be pledged by any resolution at which the
meeting might arrive ! and, after the usual platitudes,
called upon Mr. C. E. Rawlins to read the report of the
sub-committee of the Reform Association—viz., the little
knot of nobodies—appointed as such, at the before-
mentioned clique gathering. The report stated that the
liberal party had secured a gain upon the register at the
last registration ; but, as there had been much difference
of opinion created amongst the party on the subject of
the Papal Aggression Bill, they had felt it desirable to
secure two candidates who could command the united
support of the whole liberal party. WTith this view they
bed deputed Messrs. Wylie and Robertson to proceed to
London to wait upon Sir James Graham, and learn if he
was prepared to receive a deputation from Liverpool
inviting him to stand for the borough. Those gentlemen,
lie said, had just returned, and would state the result of
their mission.

Mr. A. H. WYLIE then presented himself, and, having
recapitulated the views of the committee, proceeded to
state the particulars of his own and Mr. Robertson's inter-
view with Sir James Graham ; but, first of all, he gave an
indignant rap or two on the knnckles of the unlucky cor-
respondent of the Journal, who had very indiscreetly let
the cat out of the bag as to the deputation's proceedings,
and Sir Thomas Birch's interpretation of them, a few
hours sooner than was pleasant. The correspondent's
version of the affair was wrong from beginning to ending.
Warming into a fury, he stated that "there were as many
errors in it as lies ;" but corrected himself by substituting
for the offensive monosyllable the more mild one, " lines."
They had, of course, been affably received by Sir J. Graham,
who, upon being made acquainted with their errand, had
" felt flattered at the high honour offered him of being
brought forward As a candidate for this most important
town," and so on ; but reminded them that the battle
they had to fight was that of Free Trade, and he was afraid
that his accepting their offer might peril the return of
Mr. Cardwell, who had been his colleague, and was un-
willing to disturb Sir Thomas Birch, who had a powerful
body of friends in Liverpool. Soon after this interview
the deputation learnt that Sir Thomas Birch had sent his
resignation down here, and they felt it their duty to wait
again upon Sir James, and acquaint him with the fact.
Still the right honourable baronet deferred ; " he was too
old, at his time of life, to take upon him to represent a
town like Liverpool,' or, divesting the sentence of its
courtly outside, " too old a soldier to be caught with
chaff." Besides, he added, " remarks might he made on
their inviting two gentlemen popularly called Peelitee !"
Mr. Wylie concluded by moving " that a committee be
appointed with full powers from this meating to select two
candidates to represent the Free Trade party at the next
election."

Mr. CH4RLES ROBERTSON, after a few remarks, se.
conded the resolution.

Mr. GEORGE HOLT expressed himself in high dudgeon
at the course which had been pursued by the sub-
committee, who had allowed themselves to be influenced
by all kinds of hole-and-corner objections, from all kinds
of parties. The mind of the sub-committee ought to
have been made up long ago , and it was time now that
they ought to be at work, instead of having still to run
about seeking candidates. Sir Thomas Birch was the
best man they could name; and he had only sent down
his resignation under a wrong impression that the cause
of Free Trade would be promoted by his doing so. He
was satisfied yet, that if he himself, or any of his influ-
ential friends, were to wait upon Sir Thomas, he would be
induced to retrace the step he had taken, and concluded
by moving, as an amendment, "That this meeting, con-
sidering Sir Thomas Birch and Ur. Cardwell as the
expression of Free Trade, resolve that they be requested
to offer themselves as candidates at the ensuing election,
and that the necessary steps for laying a requisition in
the proper quarter be proceeded with immediately."

gr. JOHN TASLW regarded the great-question now

at issue as one affecting Free Trade and cheap bread for
the poor. It involved the peace, not only of England,
but of the world ; and he denounced the proceedings of
those who would endanger Free Trade by mixing up with it
their particular relieious crotchets. He sympathised as
little with Roman Catholics who objected to Sir T. Birch
because of his vote on the Papal Aggression Bill, as he did
with Quakers, who would oppose a government because it
made war. (Mnrmurs from the Romanists.)
Mr. RICHARD SHELL here rose, evidently excited, and
it became plain that a disruption of the Liberals " of all
denominations" must take place. He was indignant at
his religious opinions being referred to as crotchets. He
believed that his religion was the best in the world. It
had been the constant support of Free Trade principles,
and of civil and religious liberty, and of freedom,
throughout the world! He objected to Sir Thomas
Birch as the enemy of religious liberty. Mr. Shell having
concluded,
The CHAIRMAN stated that he had heard him as a
matter of fair play after Mr. Taylor's remarks, but that
he must insist upon religious questions being kept out of
the discussion ; and if he was not allowed to stop this, he
should leave the chair.
A few words of exelanation were exchanged between
the two previous speakers ; after which,
Mr. JAMES ATKIN urged upon the meeting the impor-
tance of unanimity, and of abstaining from pressing for-
ward their sectarian differences at this time. Mr. Shiel
had reminded them of the support given to the liberal
cause by Roman Catholics, but he should bear in mind
that the Liberals had reciprocated nobly. Mr. Aikin
proceeded to say that he himself had been suspected by
some of his free-trade friends because he had in the first
instance been for a fixed duty. But having now got more
than he at first thought possible, he was anxious to se-
cure it.
Some person here remarked in a whisper that Mr.
Aikin had omitted to notice his memorable anti-Free
Trade speech at the Sessions' House on the question of
the repeal of the Navigation Laws. He will, no doubt,
supply the omission on some early occasion.
Mr. J. R. JEFFREY interposed a few apologetic remarks
upon the conduct of the sub-committee, to the effect that
they had sat !for two months to endeavour to produce
something,—what it was, we could not hear, owing to a
slight confusion,—and that in the course of their incuba-
tion they had been continually in communication
with the heads of the party ; the sub-committee being,
of course, some of the lower members ; and, in reply,
we understood Mr. John'Aikin to deny that there had
ever been such communications, or that the heads
of the party knew what the subs had been doing. As
the result of the cross-firing between the two gentle-
men, it transpired that there had been a meeting and a
calling to account between them that morning.
Mr. WILLIAM EARLE reminded the meeting what
would be said on 'Change if they fell out in that way
amongst themselves, instead of uniting to send two honest
and Liberal representatives to Parliament. He consi-
dered the two Tory candidates a pair of incapables. His
friend Charles Turner was a pleasant fellow enough to eat
a good dinner with, but he would not have him as a
representative.

Mr. AsPINALt„ barrister, who had for some time stood
behind the chairman, evidently big with speech, here
attempted to secure a hearing ; but the CHAIRMAN
interposed, as if aware beforehand of the sort of topics to
be treated of by the learned gentleman, and consented at
last only on the understanding that he was to confine him-
self to the question by what means unanimity amongst the
party was to be secured. Mr. Aspinall said he would address
himself to that question, and contended that to force Sir
Thomas Birch upon the Catholic electors—(" No, no,"
from the high Whigs, replied to by "Yes, yes," from the
Romanists)—would not be to secure unanimity, especially
at this time when the Catholics had just been so rejoiced
at the announcement of Sir Thomas Birch's retirement.
Every one of them he had met. that morning had been in
ecstacies at the news. (Interruption.) The most politic
plan would be to adopt the original motion. It was a
fact, from whatever cause, that the Catholic electors would
not vote for Sir Thomas Birch, whatever influence might
be used with them ; and the meeting ought to consider
how they could do without the votes of these men.
Mr. THOMAS BLACKBURN said that at the last election
he had not voted at all, owing to differences of opinion
with the candidates ; and he should probahly have ab-
stained from doing so, under similar circumstances, on
the present occasion ; but he considered that the question
of cheap bread was of such paramount. importance, that
they should now have only one idea. Let them lay aside
all other questions, whether religious or political, and
have only one idea—to prevent the return of two bread
taxers to parliament. He should vote for the present
members. The worthy doctor's " one idea" seemed to be
regarded by the meeting as a very happy idea, and very
characteristic of some of his party, and of his own one idea
on the education question.
Mr. EYRE EVANS, who had been called from the
lower end of the room for the purpose, addressed the
meeting briefly in support of the amendment, and
denounced the obstructive attitude of the Roman Catho-
lics, amidst strong disapprobation from that party.
Mr. MELLOR invited the committee to withdraw their
motion. He was himself a Radical Reformer, but thought
that the present members went as far as the people of
Liverpool were prepared to go. He did not think that
one thousand Catholics would be found to vote for the
poor man to be deprived of his cheap bread.
Mr. RAWLINS supported the committee. If they did
not get the thousand votes, the second candidate could not
get in.

Mr. J. P. G. SMITH said, that if left to the committee
the difficulty would still exist, for it was impossible to get
candidates who would have the support of gentlemen of
so many different shades of opinion aswere in that room(?)
The CHAIRMAN here proceeded to put Mr. bolt's
amendment, and declared it carried by the show of hands.
A scene of confusion ensued, the committeemen and the
Romanists objecting to the decision. The room was ulti-
mately divided ; and, as the result, a large majority was
shewn in favour of adopting the present members as can-
didates. The meeting then adjourned, the contending
parties looking vinegar at each other; and the uninitiated
outside must have wondered from what funeral so many
long faces were shortly afterwards observed to proceed,
intently counting the stones on their way from the corner
of Moorfields, to the Exchange, and other business
localities.

In about two hours after the meeting, the public were
puzzled by an announcement, in a placard, in the win-
dow of the Times office,—
" SIR THOMAS BIRCH HAS NOT RESIGNED."
The Journal was, therefore, wrong ; the deputation to
London were wrong ; Mr. George Holt was wrong ; every
body was wrong ; and much " excellent indignation" has
been thrown away ! The only solution of this wonderful
mistake made by every body, is the production of the
document. Where is the letter of resignation ? Is it in
esse? Was it ever written, or ever received ? Or is its
actual existence and whereabouts a problem, to be left to
the solution of the same posterity which may be called
upon to answer the equally mysterious question,—" Who
is that Mrs. Harris ? Is there a Mrs. Harris ?"

the position of the prisoner, to be tried without the assist-
ance of counsel or other defence, except in so far as
might be included in the office of the judge, more atten-
tion would be directed to the locality in which the pri-
soner should be placed ; and, perhaps, until this was
done, the matter would remain unremedied. He could
not help thinking that the voice, generally speaking,
went downwards rather than upwards, and in a
church the preacher was placed in an elevated posi-
tion, so that he might be heard by the persons he
was addressing below him ; but here the positions
were reversed, and the prisoner, who had to preach
here, was placed below the persons he was addressing.
This was something like placing a celebrated preacher
at the bottom of a well in a church. But, however, these
were merely matters of detail ; the building possessed
space sufficient to enable them all to be placed right, and
he trusted that shortly such alterations would be made as
to remedy the matters alluded to. He would now proceed
to the business of his charge. The calendar contained a
great variety of prisoners ; and he was sorry that he could
not congratulate the county on the nature of the crimes
charged,— for amongst them there were no fewer than six
for murder; and though, on looking over the depositions,
he found that all of them would not amount to really cases
of murder, yet there was still a sufficient number to ren-
der them of fearful importance. One was the case in
which a wife had been killed by her husband ; but he
thought that, in this case, they would not perceive such
violence as to make the offence amount to that of murder,
for in order to make it this, it must be shown that the
offence had been committed with what was called malice
aforethought. It appeared that the man had been raised
from his sleep in the night time, by the woman entering
the bedroom through the window. It was clear that a
struggle had taken place between the parties, but there
were no other marks of violence but such as might well
have been produced by a push given suddenly, and which
caused the unfortunate woman to fall. So again, in an
alleged case of murder in which death had ensued from a
blow given with a brick. Here the use of the weapon was
such as to lead to doubts whether he who threw it meant
to kill, or whether his intent was to inflict pain and injury
to the person of him at whom it was thrown. His lordship
then instructed the jury as to the cases of child murder
which the calendar contained, observing that before they
found a bill it would be necessary for them to investigate
whether the fact of the child having been born alive was
fully established, and on this point no speculative pro-
babilities were to be taken into consideration. He now
came to a case in which three people were accused of the
murder of a foreman in the neighbourhood of Runcorn.
The only question with respect to one of them would be
whether or not he was guilty; and with respect to the
other two, if they (the jury) were not satisfied that they
took an active part in the transaction, but that they
merely were passive, and seeing the crime committed did
not interfere to prevent it, however wrong this might be,
it did not make out the crime of murder. One was
always sorry to find instances of such acts as these arising
from persons being turned off from their employment,
and then avenging themselves upon those whom they
supposed might have been instrumental in leading to
this. It was truly fearful to know how much this sort
of thing was going on at the present time in this
country ; and he should be glad to find that some
mode could be devised by means of which all these
unfortunate disputes could be readily settled on the one
side to the satisfaction of the persons who supposed
themselves to be aggrieved, and on the other, without the
slightest interference with the general freedom and ad-
vantages of carrying on the trade of the country. These
disputes arose, no doubt, out of the disputed opinions as
to which party was right in the matter ; there being no
means of now determining the question of right or wrong.
What was it that had led to the prevalence of duelling in
this country ? It was a feeling of resentment for revenge
of an intolerable wrong, for which society made no pro-
vision. If in the
,case of a man who seduced his neigh-
bour's sister, he were to be excommunicated, the brother
would not take into his own hands the avenging and wrong
done to his sister. It was because there was no mode of
ascertainingin these cases which was right and which wrong,
that this system of Lynch-law took place. It was by adopt-
ing something to show this, and not by compelling a work-
man to do that to which he might object,—by instructing
public opinion on the subject, that the evil would be sup-
pressed. If they talked about public opinion not properly
instructed, they talked of a foolish thing. No man pos-
sessed a more proper respect for public opinion, when
properly instructed, than he did, and no man a greater
contempt for it when not properly instructed. The opinion
of men, when properly instructed, was the " Vox populi,
vox Dei," and no other. There were two cases of a
nature which he deeply regretted to find upon the
calendar—two cases relative to persons throwing ob-
stacles upon a line of railway, which offence, under
the new act of Lord Campbell,—and in many respects
an excellent act it was,—was held to be a felony. By that
act it was provided that if any person should maliciously
throw upon any railway any wood, stone, or other matter,
or thing, with intent to obstruct, upset, or destroy any
train, or to endanger the safety of any person travelling
by the same, every such offender should be guilty of felony,
and be liable to transportation for life, or for any period
in the discretion of the court. One of the cases to which
he (the judge) had alluded was that of a person having
placed across the rails a large stone, which on the train
coming up, was, through God's providence, broken, and
the train thus relieved from peril. The other case was
that of throwing a stone or stones upon a moving railway
train as it was passing under a bridge spanning across the
line of the railway. This offence also, by the act to which
he had alluded, was held to be felony, and the party found
to be guilty of the charge rendered liable to the same
punishment as in the other case. His lordship having
instructed the jury relative to a case of rape, dismissed
them to the discharge of their duties.

STREET ROBBERIES

The cases first brought on for trial were of this descrip-
tion, principally from the borough of Manchester. They
possessed but slight public interest.
Michael Day, aged 25, was indicted for having, at
Windle, violently assaulted Catherine Brown, and stolen
from her person 2s. 4d. in money, and other articles. On
the morning of the 14th of December, between one and
two o'clock, the prosccutrix was going down Ormskirk-
street, in St. Helens, when the prisoner knocked her down
and stole the property stated in the indictment. The
prisoner was apprehended by a police-officer whilst in the
act of committing the robbery. The prisoner was found
guilty, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
Henry MiDernzet and John Barry, two young men,
were indicted for having feloniously beaten and assaulted
James Dickson and Sarah Atkinson, and robbed the latter
of an umbrella. About one o'clock on Sunday morning,
the 4th of January, the prosecutor, James Dickson, who
lives in Walton-street, Hulme, Manchester, was returning
home from the house of a relative, in company with his
sister-in-law, Sarah Atkinson. The two prisoners came
up ; M'Dermet struck James Dickson of the mouth. He
fell, and then the prisoner kicked him. He got up and
ran away, for the purpose of procuring assistance. On
returning towards the spot where the attack was made, he
met his sister-in-law, who had been knocked down and
her umbrella stolen. The evidence being doubtful:on the
question of identity, the prisoners were acquitted.
James Quinn, a young man, was indicted for having,
with several other persons unknown, violently assaulted
Benjamin Grange, Elizabeth Grange, and Emma Watson,
and with violence stolen a shawl from the last named
person. On the night of the sth of January the parties
were proceeding together on their way home, when they
were violently assaulted and beaten, and from Watson
was stolen the shawl in question. The prisoner was ap-
prehended in the act of committing the felony. The
other persons made their escape. The prisoner was found
guilty, and a former similar conviction being proved
against him, he was sentenced to fifteen years' transporta-
tion.

Richard Bibby and Charles Caulfield were indicted for
having assaulted and robbed Abraham Ham, at Man-
chester, in December last. The prisoners knocked the
prosecutor down as he was passing on his way home from
a factory, at which he worked. The jury found the
prisoners guilty, and there being a previous similar con-
viction against them, they were ordered to be transported
for fifteen years.