The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY.

LAST night, at the usual fortnightly meeting of this society,
Mr. DAWSON presided.
Mr. T. W. BAKER exhibited a mnemonical and rhymthic
tablet, intended to fix on the memory of youth the leading
events of the history of the early English kings. It was
much admired for its uniqueness and ingenuity.
Mr. LEVY, of Manchester, then exhibited a sewing machine,
in practicd I operation. This was very much admired for its
simplicity ai:d evident efficiency. We may state briefly that
the machine is set in motion by a foot-crank, and the sewing
performed by a double thread. A needle placed horizontally
makes rapid perforations, when the thread is caught each
time by the second filament, acting lat!rally, which hooks
and secures it in a manner similar to ordinary knitting. Mr.
Levy sewed with the machine a variety of fabrics of various
substances, and the ingenious and rapid manner in which the
work was performed elicited the highest approbation. Mr.
Levy, in explanation and in answer to questions stated, that
the machine was an American invention, but that it had been
brought to England, patented, and very much improved. It
could put in as ninny stitches within a given time. from 800
to 1000 a minute, as it would take twenty men to perform. It
could sew, he said, a finer fabric than a lady can, and it was
already used extensively by: Messrs. Nicoll and Co., of
London, in the manufacture of their garments. It could be
wrought by a girl of twelve years of age; and besides, a
straight seam could sew (as he showed) circularly or in any di-
rection. He did not think it would injure tailors, fur they would
still have a great deal of finishing to perform, and would
be released mainly from what formed the drudgery of their
business. The cost of each machine was about .30. It had
been introduced into Liverpool only a fortnight ago, and had
been shown to several sailmakers. who appeared highly pleased
with its operation. The machine, for sailmaking purposes
and otherwise, was already very extensively used in America.
The ladies here who had seen it, appeared much to approve of
it for the purposes of quilting.
The CHAIRMAN thought it a most ingenious machine; and
Mr. SALT, the Secretary, moved a vote of thanks to:Mr.
Levy for its exhibition, and said that the society would be
glad to hear of its success. The motion was carried by ac-
clamation, and duly acknowledged.
It was then announced that Mr. Scott would read a paper
the next evening, and the subject of amalgamation with the
other learned and scientific societies of the town would be
brought under notice.
Mr. BAKER read an extract of a letter Irani Australia, sug-
gesting a new geological theory as to the gold formation
there.

The Rev. Dr. HUME replied to the vigws enunciated by the
writer, in the course of which he stated that it was a well
known fact how widely diffused was the precious metal; but
then gold could be bought too dear. He believed that in
some parts of Westmoreland they could get about 19s. worth
of gold, at an expense of working of about 235. 6d. (A laugh.)
The society then Adjourned.

DEATH BT DROWNING.-011 Saturday evening a bov named
John Hawkins, residing with his parentson Wellington-road,
was missed about dusk. Search for him having been insti-
tuted, he was found about six o'clock in a pit, near Beresford-
road, quite dead.

APOTHECARIES' HALL.—Amongst those who passed their
examination in medicine, and received certificates to prac-
tise, on Thursday last, were Thomas Booth Brierley, Tat-
tenhall, Cheshire, and William Valentine Bird, of Sea-
combe.

TICE KNIFE AGAIN.—Mr. Benson, of Watkinson-street,
about three o'clock on Sunday afternoon, was stabbed by
a man in Greenland-street, with whom he had a quarrel.
He was three times struck in the face with the knife, and
is severely injured.
MAIL FOR AUSTRALIA.—Letters for the Marco Polo,
for Australia, will be received at the Post-office until 7,
p.m., to-day, and until 7 30, p.m., by payment of a late fee.
All letters will have to be pre-paid. The Marco Polo will
sail to-morrow.

TIM ARABIA, British and North American Mail steam
ship, Commodore Judkins, took her departure hence for
New York, on Saturday at noon, with the usual mails, a
full cargo, and 130 passengers, among whom was Mr. John
Bigham, who is proceeding to San Francisco on business
matters.

MR. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, editor of the notorious
New York Herald, has actually had the audacity to apply
for the post of United States minister to Paris, and has,
of course, been refused. Hence the gross party attacks
made so constantly by the Herald on the government,
and its virtuous abuse of " office seekers."
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.—The Right
Hon. W. E. Gladstone arrived in Liverpool on Saturday,
with his wife and daughter, from Hawarden Castle, the
seat of Sir Stephen Glynne. He appeared wan and hag-
gard, and proceeded at once to Court Hey, near Huyton,
the seat of his brother, Mr. Robertson Gladstone. Yester-
day he paid a private visit of inspection to St. George's
Hall, and afterwards returned to London, for the purpose
of attending a Cabinet Council.

DIABOLICAL OITRAGE.—On Saturday night, whilst a
female was passing along Upper Hill-street, carrying a
number of sheets, and other articles, some miscreant
threw a quantity of fluid lime in her eyes, the effect of
which was to deprive her temporarily of sight. The
clothes were forced from the woman's hands, and the thief
or others escaped. The poor woman suffered dreadfully
for a considerable period, and serious results were for some
time apprehended as to her sight.
JENNY LIND'S DOMESTIC- LlFE.—Rumour would have
it, some time ago, that the life of Madame Goldschmidt
was not happy ; that her husband was inconsiderate, reck-
less, and even cruel. This, however, happily, is not the
case ; for a lady who attends the church of the Rev. Mr.
Cox, in Brooklyn, and who is in frequent correspondence
with Madame Goldschmidt, has been assured, by the
latter, that no man in the world could be a more delicate
and complete pattern of conjugal tenderness, considera-
tion, and affection than her "dear Otto."
A FAMILY of FICSPOCKETS.—Yeaterday, Patrick
Brown, and Ellen Brown, his wife, together with Julia
Brown, a girl about nine years of age, their daughter, and
Daniel Dally, the step-son of Patrick Brown, were placed
before the police magistrate, charged with picking pockets
in Queen-square, on Saturday night, Russell, the detec-
tive officer, said he saw the girl, who was evidently 'aided
and assisted by the other prisoners, put her hand into
the pockets of several females who were engaged in making
small purchases, from which she extracted something, and
gave it to the other female prisoner, her mother. He
followed them a short distance, and saw them enter a
public-house, where he apprehended them. On searching
the mother he found on her two purses, and 17s. Bd.
in money. M`Culloch, another detective officer, stated
that, at an earlier period of the same evening, he saw the
prisoners in Byrom-street, where they insinuated them-
selves into crowds, the elder prisoners screening the little
girl, who handed a shilling to the father ; upon which he
patted her back, and said she was a good girl. The ma-
gistrate remarked that it was a most flagrant case of
wickedness, to encourage a mere child, and that child
own daughter, in such a course. He sentenced the father
and mother to be imprisoned for three months each ;
Daily, a young man about 18 years of age, to two months'
imprisonment ; and the little girl, Julia, was remanded
till to-morrow.

SUSPECTED ATTEMPT AS BURGLARY.—On Sunday
evening, about half-past five, as Russell, the detective
officer, waikproceeding up Bold-street, he observed a man
in the act of examining the lock of the door of Mr. Har-
greaves' premises. Russell watched his proceedings, and
saw him joined by another, who also began to scrutinize the
lock. The two then went round to the back of the pre-
mises, which they narrowly examined, and at which place
they were joined by a third man. All three now came
round to. the front, and the one whom Russell had first
noticed, made a significant motion with his hands, and
said to his companions, " It is to be done in this way,"
and looked up as if to the roof. Russell having by this
time procured assistance advanced on them, when all three
ran away ; they were pursued and all three taken into
custody. On being pursued, the men dropped something.
which, in falling sounded like keys, and which, on being
picked up proved to be two skeleton keys, and shortly
afterwards five other skeleton keys and a carpenter's chisel
were found under circumstances which left no doubt as to
their having been dropped by the men who had been ap-
prehended, and who gave their names as John Thomson,
Michael Welsh, and George Cusack. They were brought
before the sitting magistrates yesterday, when they denied
all knowledge of the case as stated. They were remanded
for a week.

THE NEW COUNCIL.—The first meeting of the new
Council will be held to-morrow, to take into consideration
the following subjects :—The election of Mayor ; the
election of eight persons as aldermen to supply the places
of the undermentioned aldermen who go out of office
under the Municipal Corporations Acts ; namely, Mr.
Thomas Bold, Mr. James Parker, Mr. Joseph Cooper, Mr.
John Nelson Wood, Mr. James Proctor, Mr. John Bramley
Moore, Mr. Edmund Molyneux, and Mr. Thomas Chilton ;
the Mayor's allowance ; the appointment of six members
of the Council to be members of the committee for the
affairs of the estate of the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks,
upon the vacancies occasioned by the retirement from the
Council, under the provisions of the Municipal Corpora-
lions Act, of Mr. Charles Turner, Mr. James Holme, Mr.
Edmund Molyneux, Mr. Oliver Holden, Mr. Matthew
Gregson, Mr. James A. Tobin.—A recommendation of the
Health Committee to increase the salary of Mr. W. L.
Crosby, clerk in the treasurer's-office, Cornwallis-street,
from £lOO to £l2O per annum, the consideration of which
was postponed at the last meeting, and the appointment
of the following committees :—Finance, fifteen ; Watch,
Lighting, Fire-police, and fire prevention, eighteen ; Im-
provement, eleven ; Courts of Law, nine ; Markets, nine ;
Education, fifteen; Gaoland House of Correction, thirteen;
Town-hall Establishment, eleven ; Health Committee,
sixteen ; Gardens, nine ; Church Expenditure, eight ; Ob-
servatory, ten ; Water, thirteen ; Library and Museum,
fourteen ; Hackney-carriage, nine ; Shipbuilding Com-
mittee, ten ; and Baths, nine.
INTERFERENCE OF THE POLICE WITH PUBLICANS.—
Yesterday, Mr. Robert Walker, proprietor of the Man-
sion-house Hotel, Drury-lane, appeared at the Police-court
to complain of the conduct of some officers of the police
force. In the absence of Mr. Mansfield, the stipendiary
magistrate, Mr. Walker presented a written statement,
of which the following is a copy, to Mr. J. H. Turner,
who occupied the bench :
"TO MR. MANSFIELD, OR THE SITTING MAGISTRATE.
" Sir,—My business requiring my early attendance is my
apology for giving you a written outline of a circumstance
which occurred yesterday. For two years last past I have
been proprietorof a restaurant in Chapel-street (next door to
the offices of Brown, Shipley, and Co.) From the premises
being required, I have during the past month removed to the
Mansion-house Hotel, Drury-lane. Since I have been in the
business it has been my rule to close entirely on the Sab-
bath. Yesterday morning, after part of the family had gone
to church, I was called from dressing by my wife in terms
repeated so frequently and rapidly that I became alarmed
and rushed down stairs, where I found three men in the
habiliments of spring-cart drivers, or even worse disguises.
They convinced me they were officers by exhibiting one
dirty card. I admitted their authority, conceiving they had
made a legal entrance, and told them the house was open to
their inspection; but judge my surprise to find, on their de-
parture, that they had gained admission through a window.
As a ratepayer and as a conservator of the law t ask your ad-
vice, as a stipendiary magistrate, if an entrance is to be ef-
fected into my house, where there are ten females, by the
window, how am I to guard against felony or other crime?
Three ordinary men might enter in the same manner. Had
I had a friend or relative in the house, or had I invited any
one to dinner (as I often do), the result might have been a
conviction, as I should not in such a case have closed the
sources of hospitality; for, though a licensed victualler. I
cannot conceive I should be restrained more than any other
British subject, whatever his trade or profession. Respect-
fully waiting your reply, I am, Sir, yours, &c.' &C.,
ROBERT M. WALKER."
The magistrate having read the note, said the case could
not be taken up by him on such a representation. If
olkullrd.
Walker had any complaint to make, the proper plan_
Gdwon
he to apply for a summons, and he might
searchingry
la)ne rdg
ihmrpeacrotmi ailnienseicri
deasla. eya
e.livnaelrkitdosre of the
would follow Nr. Wy.
a complaint, in reference to the case, before Capt. Greig.
Mr NA alker having stated that lie
Ylliinatto3tlhr
bergh's advice, then left the court,