The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-26 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL

MIC HAELMAS SESSIONS

The Quarter Sessions of the peace for the borMigh of Li
verpool, commenced yesterday, before JAMES CLARKE
Esq. The Court having been opened with the usual fortnali
ties, the following gentlemen were sworn the Grand Jury :
Maximilian Fischer, merchant, Harrington-street, Foreman
Haynes Waite Appleton, merchant, Temple court.-

Jonathan Cook, druggist, Canterbury -street

Edward Cox, broker, Old liall-street

Robert Dixon, merchant, Upper Parliament-street
Hewson Dutchman, merchant, High Park-road.

John Fox, wine merchant, Water-street
Isaac Fletcher, merchant, Irvine-street.

John Finch, jun., iron merchant, Park-lane,

Duncan Giht;, merchant; StrandLstreet.

William Hill,"chemist, Roscommon-street

Isaac Hadwin, jun.,Merchant,Tithebarnerstreet

Richard Eddlesion Hyde, merchant, Old Hall-street

John Hore, merchant, Canning-street.
Michael Humble, shipbuilder,Queen's Dock

John Audley Jee, broker, Hargreave's-buildings.
John Job, jun., merchant, Pownall-square.
James Lee, broker, Childwall.
John Leyland, merchant, Queen Anne-street.
Mr. Hadwen being a member of the society of friends,
made the usual affirmation.

The RECORDER, in his charge to the grand jury, said he
was happy to inform them that though the calendar was very
heavy in point of numbers, yet, as far as he had made himself
acquainted with the facts in each case, each case seemed so
extremely simple that they would have very little difficulty
in coming to a right conclusion. Indeed, as he had observed
to the gentleman who put the depositions into his hand, the
premises and the conclusion, of each case, seemed to jump
together. He was not surprised at the great number of
offenders brought here, because lie agreed with the intelli-
gent magistrates who had lately been sitting in the county of
Middlesex, that the time was now arrived for the truth to
come out, that imprisonment was quite ineffective. It did
not seem to arrest the evil in the smallest degree ; and when
he mentioned that one-half of the prisoners for trial at the
present sessions had been convicted over and over again, he
thought he was justified in saying, that imprisonment did
not work well. A few years ago there was a great mania
upon the subject of prison discipline ; we were all quite mad
upon it ; every county would have its prison ; but the system
had, as he had already said, proved inoperative, therefore we
must come to the old subject again, namely, that of education.
Education was slow in its progress •, it was very slow in its
operation ; still it was better and cheaper to build places of
worship and devotion than prisons. We must improve the
people as well as we can, by giving them sound moral and
religious education. It certainly operated slowly, but lie be-
lieved it was operating at this present moment, and, where-
ver it did operate, it was, unquestionably, for the benefit of
the public. Several of the cases to come before them pre-
sented no difficulty whatever; still, however, he could not
but regret that young men were to be found going through
the streets, with large sums of money in their pockets, who
had robberies committed upon them through their own im-
prudence. There were forty cases of this description—of
property being taken from young men, to a great extent; but
it was a grievous thing that the public were to be charged
with the expense of prosecutions, through their imprudence
and improvidence.; and the time had now arrived, he thought,
when something should be done to prevent this practice.
The number of cases against women of the town was quite
frightful—no less than from 40 to 50 ; but though the number
was heavy, he was not prepared to say that the police were at
all to blame. Some people complained of there being a great
deal of crime, and asked what the police were about to permit
it. He did not think there was much force in the observation,
because two-thirds of the cases in the calendar consisted of
crimes with which the public had nothing to do. Young
men running into the habits of improvidence to which
he had alluded—could any police correct that ? Cer-
tainly not. The various frauds by young men in shops upon
their masters—could the police correct that? No; and if
people expected the police so to abridge crime they were
much mistaken. The value of the police to this town, never-
theless, was immense. They kept the peace admirably,
and whenever criiee was committed, they almost always
succeeded in detecting the criminal, and recovering the pro-
perty. Those rash persons, to whom he had already refer-
red, seemed to put themselves out of the pale of the law by
their own imprudence, yet the police, by knowing the haunts
of the thieves, in almost every case, recovered the stolen
property back, sometimes in a most extraordinary way.
There was one circumstance which he would mention, though
perhaps it might be thought he was going a little out of his
way in alluding to it. The brightest feature in the English
law was the anxiety it had for the preservation of human
life. We could not open our law books without discovering
that. He thought the public were much indebted to her
Majesty's government for attending to the safety of travelling
upon the different railways throughout the kingdom. There
was at present scarcely any other mode of travelling, and
therefore it was essential that her Majesty's subjects using
them should at all times have a certainty that they were
safe—that the carriages should be constructed upon the best
principles, that the roads and gates upon the line should be
carefully watched, and not the slightest error in the machi-
nery. On these accounts he was gratified to find the atten-
tion of the government devoted to this important subject.
After a few further observations, the recorder dismissed the
I grand jury to their labours.
The trials commenced shortly after twelve o'clock, but

none of any interest took place during the day.
THE CALENDAR.—As the Recorder observed, the calendar
at these sessions is very heavy. It contains the names of
191 prisoners for trial on charges of felony, and 11 for mis-
demeanors and assaults—total, 202. Education appears to
be in a very low state indeed among the parties charged, as
there are only 13 who are able to read and write well, whilst
the very large proportion of 58 have ❑ever learned either.
There are 131 prisoners who can read imperfectly, very few
of whom are able to write. It is among the second class
that the largest number of re-commitments occur.

THE SOCIALIST COMMUNITY

IMPORTANT DECISION

On Friday last, Mr. Brindley attended again at our Police
Court, to hear Mr. Rushton's decision respecting the ma-
nagement of the funds obtained from the socialists for com-

munity purposes.
Mr. Ellis, the magistrates' clerk, requested Mr. Brindley
to meet him in his office when the court adjourned. and he
would shew him the impossibility of the magistrates affording
any redress to those who had paid into the fund in question,
and who were refused relief on application to the officers of
the socialist body.
Mr. Brindley waited upon Mr. Ellis accordingly, and
found that he had taken considerable pains in going through
the whole of the " Laws and Constitution," as their rules
are called, and in making extracts to assist them in their
decision. The following conversation then ensued :
Mr. Ellis.—Well, I have looked over the rules, and find
there is considerable benefit promised to the members.
Mr. Brindley.—Will you be kind enough to point out the
benefit ?
Mr. Ellis.—Here is law 166, which promises " residence,
comfortable maintenance, and education, in any of the soci-
ety's establishments, either in sickness or in health, to any
member subscribing to the community funds, his wife, and
children, who may be elected to reside therein."
Mr. Brindley.—Then the case of my applicant must be
admissible. Her husband has paid into the community fund
several pounds ; here are their own acknowledgments. But
she has applied to Mr. John Finch and the socialist board,
by her husband's written authority, and they laugh at her
application, and treat it with contempt.
Mr. Ellis.—Well, but perhaps they have not paid in the
full amount required?
Mr. Brindley.—There are those who have paid from £5 to
£5O. Some thousands of pounds have been subscribed in
Ill; and I now want to know whether there is any means of
compelling those men who have received it to refund any
portion in case of the subscribing member being in want and
applying for the same?
Mr. EIIis.—CERTAINLY NOT, if they do not choose to
give it up.

Mr. ikrindley.—Then these socialist community officers
are an entirely irresponsible body—may detain and appropri-
ate, at their own pleasure, all the monies paid into their
hands by the members; and in case of the members feeling
aggrieved; a magistrate can afford them no redress ?
Mr. Ellis.—Well, it would appear so.

Mr. Brindley.—Then, how 'dare they have these rules
enrolled under the act of parliament for regulating BENEFIT
societies, when it is clear the members cannot enforce one
farthing of benefit under any circumstances ?

Mr. Ellis.—Certainly, the rules and constitution, as they
are called, are most vague and indefinite ; but so it is, and
your only chance to have the matier equitably arranged
would be by an appeal to the Court of Chancery.
Mr. Brindley then thanked Mr. Ellis, and expressed his
great satisfaction of the trouble taken by himself and the
magistrate. He had by this investigation gained the point
he aimed at, that of exposing to the world the fraudulent
character of the community scheme in gaining money from
its dupes, under the pretence of benefits to be derived to
themselves and their families ; whereas it turned out they
were an entirely irresponsible body, and eould set at defiance
all whom they celuded. He doubted not this decision would
have a most salutary effect in preventing hundreds, of
working men from any longer subscribing to the. Community
Fund.

THE CHORAL SOCIETY.—This society meet this evening,
when " Jepthah" will be performed. There are some of
the most magnificent choruses in it ever composed. A great
treat may be anticipated.
PANILLA.—Since we last noticed this article, we have
again tried it, and found it extremely pleasant and nutritious.
We can, therefore, repeat our recommendation of it, The
following is the mode of making soup with it:—" To one
ounce of the panilla add one quart of boiling water, let it
dissolve, add a little rice or pearl barley, a small piece of but-,
ter if desired, a little catsup or Westphalia sauce, a little
penny-royal, parsley, or celery, salt and pepper, as agreeable.
Invalids and sea-sick persons can enjoy it when nothing else
will please. One trial of the article will prove the fact."
The Duke of Cleveland is still indisposed at Raby Castle,
but his grace is out of danger.

PROSPER THE ART: WORDS BY Bit. JAMES STONEHOUSE,
COMPOSED BY GEORGE HARGREAVES. NOVELLO, LON-
DON.—The new Masonic Song has been highly extolled
by the press. The Albion says—" A song, under the above
title, has just made its appearance, which, we believe, is
likely to become a great favourite with the masonic brethren.
Uninitiated as we are in the mysteries of the craft, we do
not see anything very mysterious about the song ; for, in
our opinion, it is a composition that may be give❑ at any
time and in any society. It is literally a cheerful song, with
a complete chorus; and if, as we have been given to under-
stand, it is one that is highly approved of and relished by the
craft at their festive meetings, it will, we are confident, be-
come equally popular elsewhere. The words are beautiful
and graceful ; the music is spirited, and capable of great ex-
pression. We can safely recommend it to the notice of our
musical friends. The title-page is handsomely and well exe-
cuted. This composition was sung at the Provincial Grand
Lodge meeting, at the Adelphi, on Thursday last, and was
encored, those present expressing themselves delighted with
it.

O'CONNELL, LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN.—Lord Mayor
O'Connell, it seems, is preparing to make a grand display of
his civic equipage and gaudy liveries on the day of his instal-
lation. As far as concerns
..the out-of-doors pageant, it Is
possible that with the help of varnish and tinsel he may ex-
tort the usual cheers of the populace ; but his presentment
at the Castle by the Right Hon. Frederick Shaw and Lord
Eliot must prove in all respects, we think, a curious and
embarrassing scene. In the new Lord Mayor's choice
phraseology it has been his practice to speak unceremoniously
of " the bigot Shaw ;" and when recently haranguing his
Corn Exchange minions, he told them that the present
secretary for Ireland must henceforth be known
. by no other
'W
name than that of " Humbug Eliot." ill the learned
recorder then, according to ancient custom, introduce the
vilifying repealer to the Lord Lieutenapt,as a " distinguished
citizen, sincerely attached to the institutions of his country,
loyal to her Majesty's united crown, and sworn on the true
faith of a Christian to do nothing whatever subversive of
the Established Church ?" Will O'Connell, without reserve
or protest, give his assent to this statement with the usual
bow of courteous acknowledgment ? Will Lord Eliqt's spot-
less honour suffer no violence by
being a party tp such an
indecent and hypocritical ceremony? Will Earl De Grey,
in giving his answer to the recorder's high eulogium upon
the new Lord Mayor, express his pectiliar gratification at
the office having devolved upon so worthy a calm', and his
Excellency's steady determination la support. the Chief
Magistrate in enforcing the laws, in repressing agitation, and
in discouraging repeal ? We wait with some curiosity to
hear how the interview will come off.