The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

my return to_ town, on Saturday last, I addressed the
note marked No. 1 to the editor of the paper, and
which, as he was stated to be out of town, was en-
closed by my friend Mr. Adams in another note,
marked No. 2.
Though the editor of the Standard was stated to be
out of town, and not expected to return until Monday,
this note, though addressed to him, and marked " pri•
vate," was immediately opened by a gentleman who
subsequently called upon Mr. Adams, stating that he
was the responsible party for whatever appeared in
that paper. After some conversation, he stated to my
friend that a communication would be made him, on
the subject of my note, on Monday morning.
No communication having been received upon the
Monday morning, the note of which No. 3 is a copy
was sent in to the office of the Standard on the even-
ing of that day, and to which, also, no reply has been
received.

Under those circumstances I have deemed it a duty
I owe to myself to instruct my solicitors, Messrs.
Crump and Hassall, to prosecute the publisher of the
paper for a libel, and I must leave the anonymous
writer of the article to the contempt which his false
and cowardly attack deserves.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
ALEXANDER HOY ES.
Liverpool, 20th Nov., 1838.

[No. I.]

Tristram's buildings, South Castle-street,
17th November, 1838.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—In the Liverpool Standard of the 30th of
October, you have inserted a letter with the apparently
anonymous signature of " William Watch," in which
a very free use is made of my name, and an opinion
passed upon my character which I deem it necessary to
take notice of.

I have, therefore, to request you will favour me with
the name and address of the writer of the letter in

question:

would have applied for this information at an ear-
lier period, but I have been in a distant part of the
country fur the last month, and only returned to town
last evening.—l am, sir, your humble servant,
ALEXANDER HOYES.

[No. 2.]
Tristram's•buildings, South Castle street,
17th November, 1838.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

cabled at your office this morning with the
enclosed, but not finding you at home, I have now to
request you will favour me with the information re-
quired at your earliest convenience.—l am, sir, yours
respectfully, . JOHNADAMS.

[No. 3.]

South Castle street, 19th Nov., 1838

SIR,—In conformity with the arrangement of Satur-
day, I expected to have heard from you this morning,
on the subject of Mr. Hoyes' communication; and
hoving again left my card, with a message for you, I
am somewhat surprised 1 have had no reply.
As Mr: Hoves' object in requesting the name of the
writer of the letter in question must be obvious to
you, I have now to inform you that, in the event of
my not hearing from you to-morrow morning, with a
satisfactory explanation, Mr. Hoyes will then take
another, and the only course open to him, by proceed-
ing against yourself as publisher of the Liverpool
Standard, through the medium of his legal adviser.—
I am, sir, yours respectfully, JOHN ADAMS.
To Richard Pattisson, Esq.,
Publisher of the Liverpool Standard.
After perusing the above correspondence we were
curious to learn upon what expressions in the letter
of "Wm. Watch" Mr. Hoyes
,or his legal advisers
grounded the charge of libel. The following extract
from a letter, subsequently received from Mr. Hoyes'
attorneys, at once gratified our curiosity, while it
served to allay our apprehensions :-.7" Mr. Hoyes has
placed in our hands the Liverpool Standard of the
30th ultimo, in which is contained a letter addressed
to the editor of that paper, under date of the 27th
ultimo, reflecting upon the conduct of Mr. Hoyes, who
is therein stated to have made use of language " TO
DEGRADE AND INSULT THE DIRECTORS AND,ENGINEER

OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, PERFECTLY UN-
CALLED FCR AND UNBECOMING A GENTLEMAN!"

In this "paragraph" we find the whole gravamen
of the alleged libel is concentrated! Mr. Noyes actu-
ally proposes to prosecute us for inserting a paragraph
which is, in one sense, actually complimentary to
himself, fur the language of our correspondent dis-
tinctly implies that Mr. byes is a "gentleman !"
Perhaps Mr. Brunel and the directors of the Great
Western, if appealed to, might not feel disposed to be
so complimentary as "Wm. Watch."
We feel assured that our readers will agree with us
in opinion that nothing could be more preposterous
than to occupy the time of a court of justice, perhaps
for a whole day, in adjudicating upon the libellous
tendency of a paragraph so innocent and commonplace
as the above. - We feel• equally assured that no jury
of Englishmen could be found, that would so far
stultify themselves as to bring in a verdict of
guilty against the publisher of this paper on a
charge so utterly devoid of foundation. If we
placed a plea of justification upon the record,
shat would be the issue to be tried ? No other
than this—whether Mr. Hoyes be "a gentleman"
or not—whether or not, he "made use of lan
guage unbecoming a gentleman" at the meeting of
the Great Western shareholders—or whether or not
such language was calculated "to degrade and insult
the Directors and Engineer of the Great Western !"
Were ever such ridiculous questions submitted to the
decision of a court of law ?
As to the alternative of surrendering the name of
our correspondent, without his express- sanction, we
have only to say that we should feel humbled in our
Own estimation if we descended to the meanness of
committing a breach of trust. We should act pre-
cisely the same part towards Mr. Hues, if he reposed
a similar reliance upon our honour.
In justice to ourselves, we cannot allow this matter
to end here. In order to show that we acted advisedly
rn admitting the letter of " Wm. Watch," it is neces-
-4ary that we should revert to the proceedings which
took place at the last meeting of the Great Western
lhareholders, and to the part enacted by Mr. Hoyes on
the occasion. , We shall probably have something
more to say on the subject in our next.

PUBLIC OPENING OF THE BATH ARMS HOTEL.

On Tuesday evening last the friends of Mr. John Dredge,
of the Bath Arms Hotel, gave him a public dinner for the
Aurpose of celebrating the opening of the hotel under its new
!pill; and the iipproved management of its present landlord.
hThe improve in the appearance, and conduct of the
ouse under its present management, over what it was as the
Old Blue Bell," are striking apparent; from a dirty ill-
eutiducted public-house, he has changed it to a highly respect-
thle, and comfortable hotel, which is an ornament to its neigh-
4urhood. This fact being considered, it is not surprising
144.1 a large party of upwards of 60 gentlemen, were found
'„4'xious to testify their respect to the landlord, and their ap-
Pr"Vill and support of the house.
I,,The tickets were one guinea each, and about 70 were sold.
4e large room in the front of the house was elegantly set
0, and also one of the back rooms, the front room not being
qirge enough. A most sumptuous dinner was provided for
Te.guests, Mr. Itadley, of the Adephi, presiding, and Mr.
v;°l'ers, of the Angel, occupied the vice-chair. 'I he various
itidads having been discussed, a concentration of the parties
4,he two rooms took place.
6„ .he CHAIRMAN then, after hoping that no politics would
Introduced to disturb the harmony of the social meeting,
itD"ed " the Queen," which toast was given with all due
4,n4,,10yal honours. An excellent company of glee singers
the National Anthem.
he CHAIRMAN then gave "The Army and Navy."
The Farmers' Oak."
4t,iihe CHAIRMAN next gave Mr. Dredge's health. By his
I.l4tvltY and general good management he had raised the
11,11 Arms from a common public-house to a respectable
irloe'• If it ever laid in his power to assist him, he should be
,n,t. happy to do so. (Loud applause.) Mr. Dredge,
losticcess to him in his new undertaking."
cord!` Dredge was here introduced, and received with the
tit4g,'4,.congratulations of the company, and the Vice-presi-
lti, telly intimated to him that the company had drank
DREDGE, in brief and appropriate terms acknowledged
of the' compliment paid to him. It should be his
',,let.ted endeavour to deserve their patronage.
I,llL'g--" The Chong') and Crow." . , •
,rodee CHAIRMAN then gave in succession " The Town and
br ,r,'f Ltverpool," The Stewards," with musical honours.
,qle• alartztN acknowledged the toast.
ut,d e•" Mynheer von Dunk," " The health of Mrs.
dirt. I) It nnG E acknowledged the toast.
l'6„e,---" Here's a health to all good Lasses."
r~ti,"lce,-PRE proposed "The Mayor and Corpo-
-44.-",," Liverpool," with three times three. Mr. Coglan,
tti (heats called upon, Lrut declined acknowledging the toast,
14t41,4'nund of youth. Mr Cooper, jun. was called upon,
‘l!;4roadeclined to acknowledge the toast., Mr. Woo Lt-
. length, responded.
ka`fleuhairman's health, the Vice-Presidents health, Mr.
mhe ere tr' health, Mr. Towers' health, and several other toasts
ate e 9 proposed and acknowledged, and the harmony. of
~, eluIR was kept up till a late hour, every one being
-110 gr,kt • e •
t,t, 'am with the social evening, and the excellence
°dance of the wines.
P,

4',),,;1.1;
,14, -.S BY THE ANCIENT MASTERS.—Mr.J.PeeI still
I„l'airP at the Adelplit, with his. very splendid collection
4" 'l)t'S by the old masters, which he has on sal
illkk tract. We have heard some of the pictures highly
pi)ett or.
ts.."l 4r4Tr,''r, OF THE HON. RICHARD BOOTLE WI LBR AHA M.
(1-11 81;ts-Iri;,(1,1°"sh.y, of the 'Repositnry of Arts, in Bold-street,
I pf),_.. publisher, has at present on view a very Wen-
leoth, ~4it of our respected county member, the H on., ifichd.
INtir -6 ‘Vilbrahain from which it is intended shorty to
eis 1,!:'•• au ea", •• '
11? 1 • i• es Kind with those of Lord Fran.-
vitti t""tun ;oil ' Nilson°(
()r
)Patten' Esq. Most good C°""`"
''ool';.):.,we doubt nor,will furnish themselves with this, as a
The", n to the other splendid priiits.
h•-tve • Poor-Law Commissioners for England and Wales
tier 'ts,stled circulars to the boards of guardians, directing
tithetithes i,!.'t't? all suits or appeals in which the rateability of
s 1„ irt question ; measures being in progress for settling
wngdisputed point.