The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-05 00:00:00

Committee

A letter wa's read from the Pilots' Committee, recommend-
ing an additional buoy to be placed between the two now on
Taylor's Bank, the distan2e between them being too great ;
and.the Marine Surveyor having expressed his opinion that
it would do no harm, but might do much good, it was or-
dered.

SECRETARY read the following letter from the Tele-
office, relative to Marryatt's code of signals :

" Telegraph-office,2nd March, 1841.
" SIR,—In the last edition of Marryatt's Code of
Signals,' the arrangement of vessels' numbers, &c.,, is so
different to the preceding editions, that not one vessel in the
edition for te year 1841 has the same numbers opposite to
their names as they have in former additions, wherefore it is
almost an impossibility to report vessels correctly. For in
stance, on the 27th ult. we received, off Holyhead, out-
ward bound, by part 2nd, Marryatt's Code, No. 7483,' Can-
ton packet, 8.8., at 9 30, A. M.; and it was reported to the
several newsrooms as above, but on inquiry it turned out
that no such vessel as Canton packet' had sailed at all
from Liverpool, wherefore I referred to Marryatt's new
edition, and there in part 3rd, opposite to No. 7483, was
Lydia,' which vessel is supposed to be the right one, as a
brig of that name sailed hence on the 25th ult. Although
we may sometimes guess the right name when outward
bound, we can very seldom when inward ; so we are at a loss
how to proceed, whether when we receive a vessel's number
off Holyhead, or any other station, they are to be reported
by the new or the old edition, or by both; or to report the
number only without any name attached, which to the public
generally would be worse than useless. I am sorry to say
that latterly the signals are forwarded in a very slow and
—1 remain, sir, your most obedient servant,
" G. JOHNSON."
Lieut. Lord, R.N., Marine Surveyor.

ss Wanner

The MARINE SURVEYOR, the CHAIRMAN,_ Mr. RIPLEY,
Mr. MELLOR, Mr. EVANS, Mr. TOBIN, and Mr. CHAPMAN,
pointed out the inconveniences which would arise from the
-- es made in the arrangement of vessels' numbers, &c. ; and
sally the matter was referred to the Marine üb-com-
with a request that they would attend to it imme-

Mr. CHAPMAN then brought forward the following mo-
tion :—" To call the attention of the committee to the reduc-
tion of the dock rates in 1836, stated to be about 38 per
cent., but which, although affording great relief on goods,
has not proved equally beneficial in its operation on tonnage,
owing, it is supposed, in a great measure, to the new mode of
MC •

~surfing having subsequently come into active operation,
and to move that the subject be referred to the Finance Com-
mittee, to report upon the best mode of so apportioning the
reduction as to place the rates of tonnage and goods on the
same relative footing, with respect to each other, as shown
prior to 1838 ;_such reduction, however, not to take place
until the passing of .the new Dock Bill." 10 support of this
motion Mr. Chapman_ entered into a variety of details-._..:_,

---,-
the proposition being referred on tfie
it number of public works in contemplation
by the committee. He should himself withdraw the rider to
the resolution of which he had given notice, to the effect that
a small charge be mzde upon coasting vessels using the •docks,.
because he felt be could not carry it. He contended that it
the, rates were reduced, there would be more difficulty in bor-
rowing money for the completion of the intended works ; and
that when the contemplated improvements were finished, they
would be equivalent to a reduction in the rates.

Ir. AIKIN 0

Mr. HOLMES expressed a similar opinion.
Mr. CHAPMAN explained that he meant the suggested re-
duction to be prospective, and he should be satisfied to allow
it to stand over till the new dock bill had become law. He
merely wished to establish the principle. The reduction would
amount, at ten per cent., to only about £6OOO per annum,
and as there was a surplus revenue of about £70,000, there
was no fear of its affecting the borrowing of money. He
wished to induce the India trade to come to Liverpool instead
of going to London, by relieving the ship owners.
Mr. RIPLEY and Mr. EVANS thought the present was not
the time to enter upon this subject.
Mr. MELLOR submitted that Mr. Chapman had made out
a very-strong case, inasmuch as he had shown that in conse-
quence of the new system of measurement, ships had not had
the benefit which they ought to have had of the reduction in
1836. The only difficulty was whether the funds were in a
condition to admit of the reduction. If they were, the jus-
tice of the case was completely established. But in whatever
way the committee might report, Mr. Chapman did not pur-
pose that the reduction should take place until after the new
dock bill had been carried.

The CHAIRMAN and-Rr. G. I-lovr said it was very well
to have drawn attention to the subject, but they apprehended
that the present was not the time to enter upon it.
Mr. CHAPMAN said that, seeing the feeling of the com-
mittee was against him, be should withdraw the motion, con-
tenting himself with having excited attention to the subject.
The committee then separated.

AN EXPENSIVE "LARK."-CONDUCT OF THE
HON. EDWARD SYDNEY PLUNKETT AT THE
STORK HOTEL.

No less a personage than the Hon. E. Plunkett, a captain,
we believe, in the army—and whose trial at our assizes about
twelve months ago, for his participation in a military eme'ute
at Wigan, must still be fresh in the recollection of our
readers—was given in charge to the police for a " row" and
smashing match" at the Stork Hotel, Queen's-square,
yesteiday morning, where, after the fatigues of the steeple
chase, he appeared resolved to perform a feat that would
immortalize him in the eyes of all those sprigs of nobility
who delight in breaking lamps, upsetting watchmen, and
other "gentlemanly" freaks, and to whom the establishment
of the new police fo,rce is " a heavy blow and great discourage-

Mr. Plunkett was, in due course of Bridewell delivery',
brought up into the dock yesterday, before Mr. Rushton and
Mr. Heywood, and though doubtless a smart young man,
appeared to be considerably jaded, and much abashed by the
situation in which he stood. He wore a Ware " down.tbe-
road," and was otherwise in plain attire. The examinations
were for some time suspended in consequence of the absence
of one of the witnesses. The prisoner had employed Mr-
Davenport for his defence.
A porter at the hotel stated that about a quarter-past two
o'clock in the morning of yesterday, the prisoner came to
the house to see a gentleman named Reyes, who was stopp iog
there. He was told that the gentleman was gone,to bee'
He then asked for a bottle of Champagne, which he was in-
formed he could not have, as the family had also retired•
He had then some words with a gentleman there, a traveller,
and who being (as he believed) struck by him, took up the
poker in his own defence, and attempted to strike him.
A young man, a waiter at the house, corroborated the last
witness so far. The name of the gentleman who was up ie
the house was Hogarth, and the prisoner struck him. Ile
heard him call the gentleman a scoundrel. He then broke
the decanters, glass, and also the furniture and the door.
Mr. Davenport cross-examined the witnesses, with a view
to show that the breakage was done during the affray with
the traveller; but this they both denied, stating that it was
done after the gentleman had left the room and gone to bed.
Mr. Thomas Hogarth said he was a commercial traveller,
arid had been in the hotel from six o'clock on Wednesday
evening till ten next day. Very early in the morning the
prisoner and two other gentlemen came to the hotel, and the
prisoner, without provocation, used language towards•him s 0
shockingly gross, that he could not repeat it. Witness said
to him that he had heard his name was Plunkett, and that be
was of highly respectable family, and as he could not but think
that he had been drinking, he would forgive him. There-
upon prisoner took up the cruet stand and threw it violently
at him, and after defending himself for some time, he left the
room and went to bed.
No defence was offered for the prisoner, and Mr. Rushton
enquired what was the amount of damage done by breakage.
The 'brother of the proprietor of the hotel said 'that the
amount in furniture, plated goods, glass, &c., was about £3O.
The whole room was wrecked up. It would require some
pounds to make good the side-board : decanters and glasses
were all broken, and even the carpet much cut.
Mr. Davenport.-1 have heard it said in court, before the
that the damages was only
about £l5. The
house were much alarmed.
Mr.
m
Rushton.—The precise amount is of no consequence
families
e as
in e on, that
Aiction extends to an amount of £5 only
En
hat will become the subject of a civil action.
•ty to take care that persons in the garb and
_nee of gentlemen, shall not conduct them-
selves in so aisgraceful a manner with impunity. The pri-
soner must pay a fine of £5 for the breach of the peaee be
has committed, or be imprisoned two months; and be must
further find bail for his good behaviour, himself in £lOO, and
two sureties in £5O, and give 24 hours' notice of his bail.
The prisoner was put down.
Mr. Davenport inquired whether if bail was found it might
not be received this evening?
Mr. Rushton.—On what ground can it be asked? Here
was a ease of gross outrage, in which much property was de-
stroyed and damaged, and the females in the house thrown
into a state of alarm. They would have other races, and if
such matters were not strongly dealt with, the town would be
inundated by persons calling themselves gentlemen, who
conduct themselves in a similarly outrageous manner. He
could make no distinction of persons ; and if he: had the
power to do so, he should in this case exercise it the other
way.

rny jar

But it is my c

csvr,RPool:

=WM .4g4intiM

Tho aciaiona for the borough commenced on Tuusday, be.
tore James Clarke, Esq., recorder. The calendar contains
the names of 90 prisoners for felony, and six for misde-

meanours

The following are the names of thi
the grand jury.

Wellwood Maxwell,

Amos Bigland,

John Barnes lirancker.
Thomas Dodson,
James Currie Duncan,

Edward Gibbin,
Joseph Gibbins,

EdWard Humble;

John Judein,

otlemen composing

Gerard Lyn

tthew,

Charles S. Middleton,
John P. M.
Daniel Moore,
I Thomas C. Molyneux,

Robert Mather,
W. P. M`G
I Jar

Mulleneux,
Nichol,
ell, and

Matthew Lee,
Edward Ward Jackson, 'James Pe
Harold Littledale, Hugh J. San,
The grand jury having been sworn, and the proclamation
against vice and immorality read by the Clerk of the Peace,
the recorder addressed the grand jury to the following effect :
The grand jury, the learned recorder said, were no doubt
aware, that it was but eight weeks si
administer the law. A desire had been very generally enter-
tained, that the sessions should be held more frequently,
and certainly the present calendar showed the expediency of
compliance with that desire. He was glad of the opportu-
nity of stating, in the presence of the Mayor, that, having
been requested to exercise the power vested in him by the
law, he had readily acceded, not less frOm a conviction that
it was desirable to hold the sessions more frequently, than
from his readiness to comply with a request coming from so
influential and respectable a quarter. The calendar, in point
of number, was by no means light; but there were many of
the offences which were not of the most serious nature as re-
spected the amount of property stolen. A few of the cases,
however, were of a serious nature. There were two of a de-
scription which required some slight comment. That which
stood 59 in the calendar was a very serious case. The charge
against the prisoner was not for the embezzlement of, but for
stealing, his master's property. The magistrate, in commit-
ting the prisoner on this charge, and in directing that the
indictment should be so framed, had acted quite correctly,
for when the money was once deposited in the counting-house
it was then to all intents and purposes as much the master's
property as any other thing of value that was in his posses-
sion, as the commodities that were deposited in his warehouse,
or any article that was delivered at his office. At the first im-
pression the offence looked like embezzlement, but it was
undoubtedly larceny. The facts in the depositions were
exceedingly strong as to the intention. The prisoner, it
appeared, was about to proceed to a foreign country with the
money, but, after some time had elapsed, he was seized with
compunction, and a desire to make reparation, which led to
disclosures which would prevent them from having any diffi-
culty in finding a bill. There was a very serious case, No.
14, of breaking into a warehouse in Suffolk-street. The
learned recorder discoursed on the chief points in the case,
and said it was apparent from the procedure. of the party,
locks having been broken, &c., that it was intended to plun-
der the warehouse to a great extent. He was sorry to say
that only one individual had been taken, though it appeared
evident that there had been a number of persons concerned.
No doubt the prisoner was the principal. There was a case
against a man named Riding, who had stolen a quantity of
cotton, and who, being in a confidential situation, ought to
have known better. There were other cases of a description
to which they could not allude without great pain ; he meant
those of stabbing. This would not exactly be called a new
crime, but it certainly had greatly increased of late, and it
was necessary to do the utmost to put it down. In one of
these cases the offender was quite a lad, only sixteen years of
age. He had received no provocation, but had pulled out a
knife, and inflicted a severe wound. The case would be
brought forward as one of felonious stabbing, and the law,
as it applied to cases of this description, had been well ex-
pounded in the recent case of Lord Cardigan. After some
remarks on the hearing of the statutes in regard to cases of
wounding, the learned recorder again recurred to the neces-
sity of puttir.g a stop to a practice, which, if not discouraged,
would lead ignorant youths on every real or imagined provo-
cation to make use of knives and inflict injuries more
or less serious. The learned recorder said he was glad to
hear, from every quarter, of the great efficiency of the police
of this borough, which was organised on the most admirable
and correct principles. Those who had the government of
it knew the wants and requirements of the town of Liver-
pool, and the police was regulated and adapted to those
wants, and it worked admirably. He was sorry to say, that
in the rural districts, this was not the case, the operation of
the rural police being anything but satisfactory. In South
Lonsdale, for instance, which consisted of fifty townships,
how many men would it be supposed had been raised under
the act of parliament I Only eleven men to superintend
these fifty townships. If an offence were committed in that
district, the police-officer might be twenty miles off. As
regarded this measure, he thought the county ought to
retrace its steps. There was a bill at present passing through
parliament, which was deserving of the attention of agricul-
tural districts, as it regulated the divisions of the hundreds.
Each division knew best its own particular wants, and what
force, and what regulating it required. Let each hundred
then raise its own force and pay for it. if this plan were
adopted, he thought it would be perfectly satisfactory.

nce that court last met to

Gabriel Roberts pleaded guilty to having stolen, on the
28th January last, six pounds weight of lead, the property of
Alexander Maskew, his master. As the prisoner bore a
good character previously to this offence, he was only sen-
tenced to one week's imprisonment.

THEFT FROM A SHOP DOOR

Robert Cook was for having, on the 16th January
last, stolen a cloak from the shop door of Mr. Rogers, a
linen draper, in St. James's-place, Toxteth-park.
The prisoner was found guilty, but sentence was deferred,
in order to inquire further into the character of one of the
witnesses.

SHOPLIFTING

Margaret Webb was convicted of hawing, on the 25th of
January last, stolen five silk handkerchiefs and one scarf, the
property of Mr. Denver, a linen-draper, in Byrom-street.
The facts of the case were detailed at the time of their oc-
currence, and the evidence was but a recapitulation of what
was adduced before the magistrate.
.

She was sente

A to 18 month

been previously convicted of r,
A PICK

Dila'. acne

She had

Joseph Wllsbn- nets conviCte
transportation, for having, on

nd sentenced to ten
25th January last,

a pocket handkerchief from the person of John Robinson.
The prosecutor was passing along Church-street, when the
pri,oner put his hand in his pocket, drew forth his handker-
chief, and conveyed it to another person who was with him,
but who escaped. This was observed by a person who was
passing, and who informed the prosecutor of what he had
seen, when the prisoner was given into custody.

ROBBERY FROM A SHOP DOOR.
George Howell and John Flood were indicted for having
feloniously stolen, on the 19th ultimo, 20 yards of moleskin,
the property of Mr. John Krebs.
To this indictment John Flood pleaded guilty ; and Geo.
Howell not guilty.
It was attempted, on the part of Howell, to prove an alibi,
by a person who has cohabited with him for some weeks past,
and who swore that he was not out of the house from four in
the afternoon till eleven at night, and the robbery was com-
mitted at five o'clock. This not being believed by the jury,
they found the prisoner guilty ; and both prisoners were
sentenced to seven years' transportation.
ROBBERY. FROM THE PER4ON BY A BLIND MAN.
Peter Callaghan, a blind harper, was indicted for having
feloniously stolen a purse containing five sovereigns and
seventeen shillings, the property of Bridget Brannan, his
daughter-in-law.
The jury consulted a short time, and found the prisoner
not guilty.
The RECORDER ordered the prisoner not to be sent away,
as he wished to have some conversation with him privately.