The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-26 00:00:00

STATISTICAL VIEW OF BIRKENHEAD

No place in ancient or modern times presents such an evi-
dent proof of rapid " progressing," as friend Jonathan would
say, as this town. 'Within the last forty years its appearance
was most lonely—nothing was observable but the ivy-topped
mouldering walls of the " aynciente abbey," and two or three
fishermen's huts, and at present is seen a town, with houses
which, in size and elegance of execution, vie with many of
the largest towns in the kingdom. We are ready to allow
that many of the American papers, fond of " throwing the
hatchet,' have frequently asserted that a town has risen up
on the banks of the Ohio or Mississippi, capable of accom-
modating ten thousand persons, in the course of twelve
months; but these invariable imitators of Baron Munchau-
sen, in their bombastic announcements, forget to tell the
public that most of these habitations in these new settlements
were made of wood. In proof of what we have asserted, we
have only to give the following statement, kindly furnished
us by Mr. T. S. Robinson, the indefatigable collector to the
commissioners of Birkenhead :

Years. No. of Houses. Population. Assessment.
1823 61 350 £3,101 4 6
1840 1501 11,520 45,102 4 6

Increase in 17 yrs. 1440 11,170 42,001 0 0
In Birkenhead there are two churches belonging to the
establishment, a Scotch church, a Wesleyan Methodist cha-
pel, an Independent chapel, a Welsh Calvinistic chapel, a
Koman Catholic chapel, and the Society of Friends and the
members of the Scotch Secession Church worship in the
Town-hall. Nearly all the churches and chapels have Sun-
day And day schools attached to them. The Town-hall, which
was erected six years ago, besides the large room for public
meetings, and magistrates' room, contains many other suit-
able apartments for offices, &c. Adjoining it is the lock-ups,
and a most commodious public market, containing vaulted
cellars, for the stowage of goods, and shops in the gallery
over them. There are three ferries in active operation on
this side the water, and seven steam packets ply from thence
to Liverpool. The town was brilliantly lighted with gas dur-
ing the last month. If Birkenhead advances in the same
ratio as it has done during the last five years, and if docks
are constructed in Tranmere and Wallasey pools, in a short
time it will become a town of vast importance.

THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—The preparations for
the
meeting of both houses of parliament are progressing
rapidly towards completion. Most of the benches in the house
at Lords are fixed, and the workmen have nearly got all the
seats in the passages leading to the house, which are prepared
for the accommodation of parties attending to witness the
processions, &c, fixed and decorated. The chair on the throne
will be re-gilded, and another chair will be placed on the
throne for Prince Albert. It is, we understand, considered
certain that her majesty will open parliament in person, ac-
companied by Prince Albert. The painting of the walls and
galleries in the house of Commons is finished, and little is
now required to be done to fit it for the receptionof members.
The matting on the. floor has not, however, yet been laid
down. The decorations of the Bude light apparatus are very
tasteful, and much improve its appearance.—Evening paper.

KIRKDALE SESSIONS.--JANUARY 25

IMPORTANT TO PUBLICANS. APPEAL AGAINST A CONVIC-

ON.-ELETCHER V. RUSHTON AND HOUGHTON, I.SQRS

This was an appeal of Stephen Fletcher, publican, of Brick-
street, against a conviction by Edward Rushton and Richard
Houghton, Esqrs., magistrates of the borough of Liverpool,
in the penalty of 505., for having had drunken and disorderly
people in his house contrary to the tenor of his licence, on
the night of the ]4th November last.
Ml'. Wilkins represented the appellant, and Dr. Brown
leppeared for the respondents.
Dr. BROWN, in support of the conviction, commenced.
He said he appeared before the court in support of a convic-
tion by two magistrates of the borough of Liverpool ; and,
inasmuch as this was a conviction which might seriously affect
the interests of the appellant, who was represented by his
learned friend, he was anxious to try the whole question of
fact, because at present he was in a condition to prevent the
hearing of the appeal at all. But, representing, as he did,
magistrates who were anxious only to do their public duty,
he was willing to go into the question cf whether the offence
had been committed or not.
Mr. WILRINS.—If you please.
Dr. BROWN, with an understanding that no formal objec-
tion should be taken by one side or the other, would there-
fore readily wave any objection which he might take, and
which would be fatal to the appellant.
Mr. WiLiciNs expressed his assent.

Dr. BROWN then said, that the very short question in this
case was, whether the appellant had committed an offence
against the tenor of his licence, that offence being his having
knowingly permitted drunkenness upoh his premises. After
the understanding which his learned friend and himself had
arrived at, he should merely call before the court witnesses
who would prove the case beyond all question. They would
prove that on the day named in the conviction, viz., the 14th
of November, they went into, at a late hour of the night. the
premises of the appellant, and there found twenty or thirty—
nearer thirty— persons, more than half of whom were in a
state of intoxication. If he proved that fact, he apprehended
he should be entitled to have the conviction confirmed. He
knew not what answer might be attempted to be given to it,
but if his learned friend had any witnesses to call, he should
have an opportunity of testing their evidence. The learned
counsel then requested that the witnesses on both sides might
withdraw. Mr. Wilkins immediately assented, and the
learned councel continued. If he was rightly instructed, a
number of persons were there, and they were in a condition of
intoxication. He should be able to prove, too, that con-
siderable acts of misconduct had taken place. He would re-
peat, that if he proved these facts, he apprehended his learned
friend would have no defence against this conviction. He
should call his witnesses, and it would be for the court to
say whether, upon their evidence, the case was made out. At
all events, he did not apprehend his learned friend would be
able to shake their evidence by any witnesses that he might
call.
The CHAIRMAN.—Have you the conviction ?

Dr. BROWN replied in the affirmative. It appeared to be
for having suffered drunkenness upon the premises against
the tenor of his license. According to the form of his
license, one of the conditions of it was, that the appellant
should not knowingly or wilfully permit drunkenness upon
his premises ; audit was for breach of that condition of the
license that he was now brought before the court.
The CHAIRMAN asked whether it was under any clause in
the act, or only against the tenor of the license, that the
conviction had taken place.
Dr. BROWN replied that it was under the 21st section, as
well as against the tenor of the license. The learned coun-
sel then called Ronald Macdonald who was examined as
follows : _ _

Are you an inspector in the Liverpool police force? Yes,
sir.

What situation were you in upon Saturday night, the 14th
of November last ?—Upon the 6th permanent section, south
division.

Do you know the house kept by the appellant, William
Fletcher ?—I do.

Have you known it for some time ?—I have.
What sign is his house?—lt is the sign of the
in Brick-street.
In the Borough of Liverpool ?—Yes.
_

On that night-did you go.into his house ?—I did.
At what time ?—Three or four minutes before 12 o'clock.
Did you find him there ?—I did.
What room was he in ?—He was standing in the bar.
Is he the master of the house ?—He is as far as I under-
stand.