The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-16 00:00:00

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,-It was a most gratifying sight on Easter Monday, to
witness between three and four thousand persons, chiefly of
the working classes, enjoying themselves in the Museum of
the Royal Institution, examining and pointing out to each
other the objects of natural history which they conceived the
most curious, or about which they had some previous know-
ledge.

fwas there for several hours, and never did I see so many
people so intent upon the object for which they had come. It
was not uncommon to see a father or a mother with a family
of three or four children going round from one object to
another, full of the most lively curiosity ; and more than one
sailor was observed tracing on the globe the places he had
visited, and promising himself the pleasure of being a contri-
butor upon his return from his next voyage.
When I first heard of the intention of opening the Mu-
seum to the lower classes, on the first Monday in eaeh
month, I must confess I doubted whether many would attend,
or if they did, whether their conduct would be such as to
warrant a continuance of the privilege. It is therefore with
no common gratification that I find, that on a day when the
crowd was so great as to render it necessary for some time to
wait in the streets till others had come out, the only damage
was the breaking of two panes of glass, one by the door-
keeper, the other in the bird-room, by a boy, who expressed
his great sorrow at the accident, adding, that he was sure his
mother would pay for it.

These public days really make the Museum of use to the
town, and render that which in its origin was intended for
the gratification of compartively but few individuals, the
means of the most valuable instruction and rational amuse-
ment to all.

Instead of being the Museum of the Royal Institution, it
is now well entitled to the name of the Liverpool Museum,
and as such I sincerely hope it will meet with general and
cordial support. For my own part, I have determined to
follow the example set me, and add to its collections when-
ever I meet with anything worth depositing.
Understanding that the great difficulty which the com-
mittee of the directors have to contend with, is the want of
funds, I shall at once become an annual subscriber of £l,
which will enable me to admit my clerks, shopmen, and
many others with whom I am acquainted, who must
either forego the pleasures and the advantages of the
Museum, or visit it only on those days appropriated to the
lower classes.

If only a few hundred individuals, to whom twenty shillings
is of no moment, and of whom there are thousands in Liver-
pool, would become annual subscribers, the Liverpool Muse-
um would soon become truly worthy of our town, and second
to none but the British. I am, &c. D. W.

ARRIVALS AT THE ADELPHI HOTEL.—The Lord Crofton
and party • Sir Thos. and Lady Butler; Mr. Maher, M.P. ;
Lord Kildare ; Sir Simon Heyward and party ' • Hon. John
Talbot, M.P. ; Mr. and Mrs. Freshfield, of London ; Mr.
and Mrs. Tuke ; Col. O'Meara ; Capt. Williamson & party;
Capt. Gossett and party ; Mr. and Mrs. Spedding, of New-
castle-upon-Tyne ' • T. D. 'batch, Esq. ; Rigby Wason, Esq. ;
Capt. Ames, 17th Lancers ; F. M`Naghten, Esq., of Bel-
fast, and family ; Capts. Barron and Corbally • Scott Rus-
sell, Esq., of Greenock ; Hall Dare, Esq. ; Perez Lozano,
Esq. ; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace ; Captain Owen ; Rev. Mr.
Moore ; Professor Hulbeck ; Alderman White, of London ;
Mr. Fairbank, of Hull, &c. &c.

LIVERPOOL EASTER SESSIONS.

These Sessions commenced yesterday. Shortly after ten
o'clock, the Recorder, (James Clarke, Esq.) took his seat on
the bench.
The following gentlemen were then sworn as members of
the Grand Jury, viz.—
John Daniel Thornely, Esq., Foreman.
Thomas France Barnet, William M'Cracken
Robert Lewis Bolton, Thos. Rowlandson Robinson,
Thomas Brancker, John Unsworth,
Timothy Bourne, George Johnson Wainwright,
John Wilson Carter, Robert Wright Wood,
Thomas Challoner, John Wright, sen., and
John Manifold, John Walker.
The proclamation against vice and immorality having been
read,
The RECORDER addressed the Grand Jury. He sail, the
duties which they would have to discharge at the present
sessions would not be very burdensome, as the calendar
placed before him was not heavy, as to the number of cri-
minals ; though some of the crimes were of a serious nature,
and required their utmost attention. There was one case,
which was No. 8 in the calendar, in which the prisoner is
charged with having feloniously stolen one letter, one Bank
of England note of the value of £5OO. and two Bank of Eng-
land notes of the value of £lOO. each, the property of Wm.
Hague and partner, and one other letter, and one otherßank
of England note of the value of £500., and two other bank
notes of the value of £ICO. each, the property of Thomas
Sheddon. He had read the depositions taken in this case,
and he thought that the committing magistrates had acted
very properly in committing the prisoner, who was employed
in the capacity of a clerk, on the charge not of embezzling,
but of stealing the money in question. It appeared that the
person charged went to the post-office for his employers'
letters, and that he was not authorized to do so on the day in
question—that he had no business—that it was no part of his
duty to receive letters at the post-office ; but having by some
means or other learned that a money letter was expected, he
went with that knowledge to the post-office, and asked for
his employers letters. He obtained the letter, and the mo-
ment he got possession of it, he went away, abandoned his
employment, and as it would be shown, burned the letter,
an act which of itself was of a very improper nature. The
prisoner retained all the money contained in the letter, and
when apprehended he restored a large portion of the money,
part of it was sunandered away by him, but on the whole, the
owner of the property was not loser of much. The indict-
ment based upon the depositions, has been very carefully
drawn out—in the first place it describes the money so stolen.
to be the property of William Hague and partner, of Man-
chester and also that it is the property of Mr. Sleddon, to
whom the money and letter were addressed. There can be
no doubt but that the property belonged to Mr. Sleddon, for
it appeared from the depositions, he had written to Messrs.
Hague to Manchester, requesting them to remit the amount
of their account, and they having done so in obedience to
these directions, the moment the letter was put into the
post-office, it became the property of Mr. Sleddon. Sup-
pose the robbery had been committed under different circum-
stances, and that they had sent the money by post on their own
responsibility, they (the Messrs. Hague) would have been the
losers by it, for, generally speaking, there is no actual pay-
ment of a debt until the money for the discharge of it is
handed over to the party claiming it ; but in this case it
was put into to the Post-office at the request of Mr. Sleddon,
and he is equally liable in point of law, for the loss of it, as
if he had himself lost it. Therefore, the indictment was
framed as he had mentioned. There was another case (No.
33, on the calendar) of nearly the same description, but the cir-
cumstances attending it, made it a case of embezzlement, and
not larceny. The person charged was a clerk of the Messrs.
Rathbone, he got money to pay on their account, at the Cus-
tom-house, but instead of doing so, he appropriated it to his
own use, and not as he was authorised to do. This did not
constitute the crime of stealing, and, therefore, the commit-
ting magistrate, committed him on the charge of embezzling.
He (the Recorder) had read over the depositions, and it gave
him great satisfaction to say, that they were very carefully
drawn out. In this case, the committing magistrate acted
very properly, and did, as ought always to be the case, take
care that the depositions were made in the presence of the
prisoner—a circumstance that ought to appear on the face of
the depositions—for it was a matter of great importance, as
in the event of the death of all the parties to depositions,
not one of them could be read in evidence. There were
other serious cases to be tried, but they were principally mat-
ters of fact, and would not give them much trouble to dispose
of—there were cases of burglary and highway robbery—and
in reference to these cases, he begged to state to them, that
this court derived no relief from the gaol delivery by the
judges of assize. At the Lancaster sessions, there was not a
single case to be tried. The judges considerd it their duty to
clear the gaol of every prisoner, so that now there is not an
individual in Lancaster Castle to be tried for any offence.
Here, however, the case was different, and they would have
to act accordingly.
The Grand Jury then retired, and in a few minutes returned
a true bill against John Youd. He was placed at the bar,
and, to the indictment charging him with feloniously em-
bezzling the sum of £67 Os sd, the property of the Messrs.
Rathbone and Company, by whom he was employed as clerk,
he pleaded not guilty. He admitted taking the money, but he
any denied having intention to appropriate it to his own use.
Mr. James Powell, a partner of the firm of Rathbone and
Co., stated that the prisoner was employed as Custom-house
clerk for the firm—that it was his duty to pass entries at the
Custom-house, and receive money for debentures. That
was his regular duty, and he had a book in which he was to
insert all his debits and credits, and at the end of every
month a balance was to be struck, and he was to pay what-
ever was remaining due by him to the cashier. In December
last, he (witness) signed a receipt for money (X 67 Os sd) on
behalf of himself and the firm. The debenture was in his
own name, and he returned it to the prisoner to go and get
cash for it at the Excise-office. He accordingly got cash for
it, which he never accounted for. He remained in the em-
ployment of the firm a few days after, and on the ninth of
January absented himself altogether, without communicating
his intention to any one. Inquiries were made for him, but
the firm heard nothing of him till he was taken to the police-
office.

The prisoner, who was undefended by Counsel, declined
asking the witness any questions.
Mr. Parkinson, clerk to the Collector of Excise, stated
that he paid the debenture signed by Mr. Powell to some
person—he could not say the prisoner was the man—on the
31st of December last.
Richard Brown, cashier to the Messrs. Rathbone, stated
what the prisoner's duties, as clerk to the firm, were, us
already explained by Mr. Powell. He also proved the pri-
soner's defalcation, which he said amounted to £B2, at the
time he absconded.
The police officer who apprehended the prisoner•, on the
20th of March last, stated that he at first called himself
John Jones, and persisted in denying his name for a consi-
derable time. At length he admitted he was the clerk of
Messrs. Rathbone, and that he had taken the money, but
not with a view of converting it to his own use.
This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner on
being called upon to state any thing he might have to offer
in his defence, repeated what he set forth at the opening. of
the case, and added, he took the money to make up a loss
that he sustained in August last, when he was robbed of two
£5O notes, belonging to the firm, in the new marl et. He
had also in his pocket 17 sovereigns, and that, with about
£3O he had at home, enabled him to reduce the loss to
something less than £6O. He went to Manchester in the
beginning of January, to receive money from his father's
executors, in the hope that he could replace the whole with-
out the knowledge of his employers.
Mr. Brown was recalled, and being asked by the recorder,
he said, he never before heard of this loss of money by the
prisoner in August last.
The prosecutor expressed a hope that the court would be
lenient in sentencing the prisoner, the reasons assigned for
which, owing to the extraordinary tumult that prevails in
this court, none but his worship could possibly hear.
He was sentenced to be imprisoned Tor two years.
William Robinson, indicted with having feloniously and
burglariously broken into the house of Francis Home, pro-
vision merchant, and stolen therefrom a cheese, a ham, and a
small sum of money, was sentenced to be transported for ten
years.

Margaret Quin, Elizabeth Lever, and Jane Williams
were charged with stealing five table cloths, four pillow slips,
and three bolster cases, the property of Margaret Thomas ;
and Sarah Williams with having received the same, know-
ing them to have been stolen.
The prosecutrix keeps the Globe Tavern in Adlington-
street, and the three former prisoners having gone into the
parlour for the purpose of drinking, saw a chest of drawers,
from which they extracted the above named articles. The
cellar in which they reside was afterwards searched by a
policeman, when the articles were discovered in a water tub,
and from the conduct of Sarah Williams during the time it
was apprehended, she was a particeps eriminis. Mr. Vena-
bles defended her, and she was found not guilty—a contrary
verdict having been returned against the other three, the Re-
corder, after stating that it was very improper to leave things
so exposed in a public room, sentenced them to six calendar
months imprisonment.
Mary Robinson pleaded guilty to having feloniously stolen
several articles, the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, and
was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.
William Henry Surber was brought up for having stolen a
large sum of money from his employer, the particulars of
which were fully disclosed when the prisoner was before Mr.
Hall, several circumstances were stated by Mr. RzsrizoN,
in mitigation of punishment, and the young man was sen-
tenced to 12 month's imprisonment in the borough gaol.
Mary Bannon was indicted for stealing a portmanteau,
the property of William Austin and John Jones. Sentenced
to 2 years imprisonment.
Elizabeth Cutler was indicted for stealing a barometer, the
property of James Pendebury. Sentenced to be imprisoned
for 18 calendar months and hard labour.
James Donnelly was indicted for stealing a watch, a key,
and guard, the property of Robert Geehan. -Sentenced to
be imprisoned 18 calendar months.
Eliza Jones was indicted for stealing some wearing apparel,
the property of Elizabeth Jackson and James Simpkins, was
found guilty, but recommended to mercy. Sentence de-
ferred.
Joseph Kaye, indicted for stealing two logs of timber, the
property of Charles Chaloner and. partner, was found guilty,
and sentenced to be imprisoned for 2 calendar months.
Robert M'Alpin, charged with stealing a watch, the pro,
perty of one James Dewar, was acquitted.
Mary M'Avoy was indicted for having feloniously stolen
two bank notes, of the value of £5O each, one bank note of
the value of £2O, and £2 in silver, the property of Elizabeth
Bark, and a bead purse, the property of Silvester Mattison.
She was found guilty, and sentenced to two years imprison-
ment.

Hugh Owens was indicted for stealing two firkins of but-
ter, four cheeses, two sacks of meal, 96 pounds weight of
sugar, and 11 pounds weight of tea, the property of James
Smith. He was found guilty, but recommended to mercy.
Sentence deferred.

James Egerton was indicted for embezzling the several
sums of ss. and two half-crowns, which he had received for
and on account of his master, James Connally. He was
found guilty. Sentence deferred.
The Court then adjourned till ten o'clock this morning,
and it is expected will be able to conclude the business of the
sessions in the course of the day.
The cases to be tried are utterly destitute of interest.

OH ! FILL THE WINE CUP HIGH.—The glee bearing this
title, and which gained a premium of the Liverpool Beef Steak
Club, has just been published. It is a composition of very
great merit, and will become a standard favourite with the
class of glees to which it belongs. It has been stated, that
the composition would have gained the gold medal, had the
words been original, which, to the composer, is a compliment
equivalent, or nearly so, to receiving it.
The result of cold winds, dense fogs, damp atmosphere,
&c., are frequently subversive of female comfort and attrac-
tion, by generating cracks, chaps, and a harsh rough skin,
and signalising a prominent feature of an otherwise beautiful
countenance with unseemly coarseness. To successfully
oppose those innovations, the ladies have a powerful friend
in ROWLAND'S KALYDOR—and where the results mentioned
have attained progress or completion, this infallible specific
excludes and resists with an effective and rapid energy truly
astonishing, rendering the skin delightfully smooth and
pleasant ; and, as increasing the fairness and transparency of
the skin, exceeds all competition.—See advt.

- -
CLASSICAL CHAMBER CONCERTS.--011r musical readers
will be pleased with the announcement of these concerts.
The distinguished patronage Mr. Eyton has so far obtained
is security for their success. They are much spoken of as a
treat seldom met with. Good music we are sure to have
from the parties engaged, and we heartily wish they may lead
to the establishmenteof. a series of social -meetittgs of this'
kind. Nothing can contribute more to the advancement of
musical taste.