The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-05-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPO-OL STANDARA.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

DOCK COMMITTEE.—The arms of the Holyhead tele-
graph were ordered to be covered with galvanized wire,
and some repairs were ordered for Leasowe lighthouse.—
The receipts of dock and light dues on vessels entering the
port of Runcorn for the month ending the 24th April,
were stated as follows :—Vessels, 278, tons, 13,762, amount,
£72 2s. 11d., being £3 93. 6d. less than at the corres-
ponding period of last year.—On the application of Mr.
John Wilson Greene, permission was granted to the go-
vernment surveyors of steam-vessels to use lights at any
time when necessary for the examination of vessels.—A
communication was read as to the laying down of the
electric telegraph from Crosby lighthouse. The Chair-
man said there had been no proceedings taken to warrant
the application, unless the person offering chose to lay it
down at his own expense. The subject was at present
under the consideration of the sub-committee.

THE FEMALE PENITENTIARY.—The annual meeting
of the friends to this charity was held on Thursday. The
chair was occupied by John Cropper, Esq. The report,
which was read by the secretary, Mr. Michael Ashton,
commenced with an expression of gratification at the suc-
cess which had attended the labours of the committee
during the past year. The number of applicants for ad-
mission was 95 ; of these there were refused, as unsuit-
able, 41 ; taken into the probationary ward, 54 ; in the
house, 52: total in the house during the year, 106; of
these there had been placed out to service, or restored to
their friends, 15 ; left at their own suggestion, or from
disobedience of rule, 22 ; not returned from the hospitals,
5 ; remaining in the house, 64 ; admitted, 50 ; on proba-
tion, 14 ; making the average during the year, 56. The
total number since the commencement of the institution,
thirty-five years ago, was 1425; of these there were expel-
led, 167 ; eloped 54 ; left at their own suggestion, or from
'dislike of rules, 560 ; restored to their friends, or placed
in service, 470; removed to other institutions, 93 ; dead,
17. The report then went on to state that the number of
applications for admission during the year had increased,
and the committee entertained a hope that such circum-
stance arose from the desire of the females to escape from
a life of ignominy and sin, rather than from an increase of
those individuals who were the objects of the society's at-
tention and care. It was a gratifying fact, that fifteen of
the penitents who had concluded their two years' proba-
tion had been restored to their friends, or placed out in
respectable situations as domestic servants. Two others
had left the institution from impatience of the discipline
of the house, or disobedience of the rules; but there was
reason to hope that even one of those had avoided a re-
turn to a life of vice and ignominy. The number in the
house had been greater than during any former year, hav-
ing been as high as 68, and there were now 64 receiving
the benefit of .the instution. Notwithstanding that the
most rigid economy had been exercised in every depart-
ment of the expenditure, the amount expended had been
greater than the income, on an average of the last few
years, by £21;,0 per annum ; and last year, notwithstanding
the earnings of the penitents, which amounted to £331,
the deficiences had reached the sum of £254.

of Birkenhead, Fell, and 'others ; and' they further
appointed'assistants to the districtmedieal officers.
Mr. Austin, assistant poor-laweommissioner, suggested
that thc-bonfined parish-offices in Fenwick-street be never
again. occupied ; and the committee agreed to. provide
offices ehewhere.

CORRESPONDENCE.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
Several friends have requested me to address a, letter to the
Public, through the Press, on the subject of the present-alarin-
ing sanitary crisis ; they say that as 1 have hitherto been the
first to sound the toscin of alarm on the approach of danger,
I should also be among the first to allay undue apprehension'
when it exists. lii deference to their wishes, no less than in
accordance with my own feelings, I have determined to write.
When I found dysentery, gastric fever, and other disorders,
raging during the last summer, and at the same ti me • ascer-
tamed the deficiency of water, the overflowing condition of
the privies of the town, the quantity of diseased potatoes and
meat permitted to be sold in our markets, the Practice of carry-
ing to the grave the bodies of persons dying of infectious and
contagious disorders, hi the cars and vehicles licensed for pro-
miscuous hire, and these tacitly permitted as things that ought
to be, I considered it to be my duty, distinctly recognisirg as
I did the cause and effect in this matter, to apprise tbeauthori-
ties of the town of my strong convictions, first privately and
then publicly through the Press, and at the same •time urged
the adoption of certain measures as preventives—l advised,
inter alia, that the infected districts should be supplied once if
not tWice a day with water, that the sewers should be flushed,
that the sale of diseased food should be restricted, and that the
authorities should at once proceed to the removal of the con-
tents of the middens all over the town, but especially in the
worst districts. What then have the authorities done? After
a lapse of nearly seven months, when the Water Companies
were going to Parliament for further powers they were induced
as a remedial measure, to increase their previously stinted
supply. In a few weeks after my application, a few cart-loads
of fifth were removed from the worst courts; but at the time
when the cumbrous machinery of the new sanatory act began
to be slowly set in motion four months afterwards, the accuinu-
, lation was so erect that, under the present system, it will be
impossible to keep the atmosphere of the town sufficiently free
from malaria, to be under low" fever "mark." The diseased
potatoes are now nearly all gone—some few rotten—most of
them eaten. "Jigged beef" being certified by some medical
men, who were consulted. as quite fit for human food, the filthy
stuff is still permitted to be sold, but, thanks to Providence,
the " Cattle Epidemic" has much abated, so that the amount
of the certified carrion is not nearly so great as it was.
Under a wise provision of the new sanatory Act, a large
number of cellars and other dwellings, unfit for human habi-
tation, were shut up, but as soon as disease became more rife,
—as soon as Ireland began to pour her hordes of half-starved,
filthy, fever pre-disposed, invaders into our town, at a time
when (if sanatory regulations are of any avail), the utmost
precautions phould have been uzed,—then did those who ought
to have prevented it, wilfully shut their eyes and their ears,
and as a premium for mire fever-bearers to come over to us,
permitted those who chose to appropriate as habitations these
dens of disease and filth, to close up which our local legisla-
ture had been at considerable pains and expense in obtaining
the powers. When the numbers arriving lead considerably in-
creased, it was then deemed better openly to permit inendicancy,
and so inducement after inducement has been held out for fresh
arrivals—as "the cry is still they come."
Having now taken a review of the past, let us contemplate
the present, and the means of providing for the future. Liver-
pool is just now looked upon with dread from a distance, and
no wonder, as much which has gone forth to the world has been
exaggerated. In the first place, then, the disease which is now
so prevalent in Liverpool, viz., typhus fever, is almost entirely
confined to the districts where the poor Irish veyefale, or to
persons whose duties call them frequently into these districts,
and consequently who are subjected to many of the causes
which induce it among the poor Irish and their neighbours.
Next, TYPHUS FEVER IS NOT CONTAGIOUS. This assertion,
though strong, I am prepared to defend ; but, for the sake of
allaying the over-anxiety of the public mind on the subject, I
consider it no less my duty than my pleasure to state that, if
required, I mu prepared to prove it. Next, that the causes
which leave induced it to so n ~..eat an extent lit present arc com-
pletely removable. Ex gr., Let the " powers that be" imme-
diately make arrangements to evacuate the cellars, and other
dens of disease, which have been so improperly re-tenanted ;
let them build vast tents or sheds for those so deprived of lodg-
ing ;—let them, backed by their fellow-townsmen, insist upon
government at once preventing the further importation of Irish
paupers ;—let the cleansing staff, until the whole town is tho-
roughly cleansed of its abominations, be increased at least ten-
fold;—let the supply of water be still further increased;—let
the animated bundles of rags be prevented from obtruding
their disgusting peculiarities upon the passers-by in our streets;
—let the public mind lie re-assured ;—and while all this is be-
ing done, let one and all join " heart, pocket, and hand," in
petitioning government to dispense with the standing orders,
and pass at once into a law the two bills now before the house
on the subject, which will prevent, for the future, such almost
unbearable burtnens being foisted on the inhabitants of Liver-
pool. Let all this, I say, be done, and Liverpool will, in a few
weeks, be a cleaner awl a healthier town than she has been
since the commencement of the nineteenth century.
In conclusion, I say to government—to our paternal govern-
ment—if you do not immediately take measures to prevent the
further importation of Irish paupers, you are (now that you are
made aware cf the real facts of the case) morally guilty of the
death of all who may hereafter come and perish from fever in
Liverpool. A vast proportion of these misguided creatures
come to certain death, as the only places in ich they can be
put are already in the undisputed possession of the destroyer.
H. G. HARBORD.
• - - -

4, Upper Parliament-street,
May 3d., 1847.

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GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
Sir,--Highly as I approve of the Government scheme, one
abuse I see will soon become apparent. Most of our schools
are crippled in their funds; and I am sorry to say that many
committees are so niggardly that they will avail themselves of
any scheme to save their own purses: for instance, if they find
they cannot give their present teacher, say £lOO a-year, they
will form some excuse to get rid of him, and engage another for
.470 or .41=0, and obtain .V2O or .4'30 from government to make
up the deficiency. Then how will the teacher be benefitted ?
am convinced that such will be the case. CERTES.

LIVERPOOL POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

" JUDGE NOT; LEST YE BE JUDGED."—On Tnesday,
in the Police-co-art, while Sir Joshua Walmsley was
amercing several individuals in various sums for their chim-
neys having been set on fire, singular enough, at the very
time, the stench of iYurning soot in the court was intoler-
able from one of their own flues.

RICH BEGGARS AGAIN I—On Tuesday, an elderly man
was brought before Sir Joshua Walinsley, at the Police-
court as a begging impostor. He had gone to. the Be-
vington-bush relief office, and alleged that his family were
starving. He had not, he said, one farthing of money.
The, policeman searched him, and found ss. 6d., and
('wrapped in some old rags) three £1 Bank of Ireland
notes. His wife was in the room at the same time apply-
ing, in another name, for relief, stating that she had six
children without a morsel of bread. He was' sent to pri-
son for a month, to be maintained out of his own funds.—
On the same day another man was brought up, who had
applied for relief with Bs. fid. in his pocket. He was sent
to prison for 14 days, under like conditions. •
COMPLAINT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR OF THE Bo-
ROUGH GAOL.—On Friday, Mr. Edward Bretherton, so-
licitor, appeared to prefer a complaint against Mr. High-
ton, the governor of the Borough Gaol, for having refused
him admission into that prison. Mr. Ilighton stated,
that according to an order issued by the justices at Kirk-
dale, no attorney was admissible into the prison, to see
criminal prisoners, unless he produced. his certificate, and
as Mr. Bretherton was unknown to the turnkeys, and
had not brought any certificate, he was, therefore, inad-
missible by the regulations. Mr. Bretherton said he
had been allowed into the prison the day before to see a
debtor, without producing a certificate. Mr. Highton
said he was unaware of the fact, but.that admission ander
the circumstances might have been granted, as the rule did
not apply to debtors. Mr. Rushton said lie would see the
mayor, and endeavour to get some relaxation of the order.
He would not overrule the orders of the visiting justices,
but he certainly thought that every proper facility ought
to be given to legal advisers.
A PUBLICAN CHARGED WITH UTTERING BASE COIN.
—On Wednesday, Elizabeth Carlock, who keeps the
Victoria Vaults, Stewart-street, was charged with passing
six bad shillings. Charles Darcey, an Irishman, about to
emigrate, who had been staying at her house, said that
she changed half a sovereign for him, but he found five
bad shillings amongst it. She afterwards gaVe him an-
other bad shilling, and he handed her into custody. Two
bad shillings were found in her purse. It was stated that
publicans were much exposed to.receiving bad money, and
Sir Joshua Walmsley ordered her diicharge. Mr. Owen,
solicitor, who appeared for the prisoner, addressed Darcey
at the close of the case, and said indignantly, " I'm sorry
you are not going- to stay in the country, sir ; I would
have shown you what you are in another court."
(Laughter.) Sir Joshua Walmsley :—" You should not
make a remark against a man after his being of six
bad shillings." Mr. Owen :—" It is not true, sir ! it was
a palpable lie." Sir Joshua Walmsley :—" There is a
proof of two at least being in her possession." Mr. Owen :
—" There would have been an answer given to that, sir,
Which would, perhaps, have let a little light into this case."
Sir Joshua Walmsley :—Well, it might be 50.."
CONFESSING TO AN ALLEGED MURDER.—A tall athle-
tic looking Irishman, who gave the name of Michael
M'Shean, was brought before the magistrates on Wednes-
dayl under the following extraordinary circumstances.
Police-constable Hitchmough, stated t hat, on the previous
day while on duty, the prisoner came up to him and said
be had been guilty of a murder in Ireland, and wished to
be taken into custody. The officer accordingly took him
to the Police-office, where he made some further disclo-
sures. They are to the effect that he and two other men
formed a design to murder a perlon named Cruish, at
Armagh, about six years ago ; that he (the prisoner) went
with them, and having repented of his original determina-
tion to take part in the crime, advised the men not to kill
Cruisle, but they persisted, and committed the horrid deed
by knocking down their victim and thrustinc, a bayonet
through his body. The prisoner when asked by the
magistrate what he had to say, replied, that he was one of
the men, as he had stated, but he did not take part in the
murder. We understand the prisoner's statement is not
entitled to much credit, as there is no notice of any such
murder in the Hue and Cry, where such offences are
usually
,noticed. He was remanded to gaol, and in the
meantime the Commissioner of Police would write to Ire-
land for further information.