The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-04 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Your Lord-street contemporary has, for a long
time, laboured to convince the public that he possesses a
most extensive and accurate acquaintance with the ortho-
graphy, etymology, syntax, and prosody of his native tongue.
In fact, Sir, I am frequently inclined to suppose that he is
a hypochondriac, and singularly enough imagines himself to
be a.walking edition of Murray's English Grammar. What
can have implanted so extraordinary ri notion in his brain-
box, of course lamat a loss to determine. No sooner does
any slight error appear in the columns of a contemporary
print, than Egerton pounces upon him with all the ferocity
of a merciless pedagogue, and publishes it as a speCimen of
what he very elegantly and correctly styles "wretched gram-
mar." Nay, he goes further than this—sometimes he mani-
fests his ability by pointing out inaccuracies where none
exist ! No one who is in the habit of reading his weekly
(weakly, indeed !) composition, can have forgotten the pro-
digious dust which he kicked up, a short time since, by filing
; into his columns, for several successive Fridays, a whole regi-
ment of "thats." The reason that these "thats" were.
made use of, was that that grammarian that published them
might display, to all due advantage, that learning that he
thought he possessed. The very luminous explanation with
which he wound up matters might have been furnished by
the .veriest dabbler in the A B C of Grammar—this, ton,
albeit Mr. Hypochondriac very profundly declared that the
subject was sufficient to puzzle not only scholars but teachers !
What a pink of modesty !
These remarks have been induced, Sir, by noticing an at-
tack made by the Mercury, in his last Friday's number, upon
a sentence extracted from your paper. Possibly it might be
as well for your contemporary to avoid 'breaches of grammar
hlinself, as to.attempt to dust the breeches of other persons
for slight errors which he frequently commits. This I can
truly say—in no Liverpool paper do Iso commonly meet
with sentences inelegantly and incorrectly worded as in the
Mercury. I cannot help thinking that this should deter, him
from assuming the office of public censor.
If you will allow me a small portion of your space occa-
sionally, I shall do myself the pleasure of placing upon record
a few of the Mercury's ornamental blunders. Perhaps this
may serve as a warning—" verbum sat sapienti."
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
A LOVER OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Liverpool, August Ist, 1840.

A contemporary re-printing the lines of Robert Story; the
Craven poet, entitled, " I'll suffer as becomes a man," has
made them read rather ludicrously, by a slight mistake, viz.,
" I'll supper as becomes a man." There are few poets who
can do this.

FINE OATS.—There was exhibited, on Saturday last, in
the Exchange Newsroom, a specimen of very fine oats grown
on Mr. Atherton's estate, at New Brighton. The specimen
speaks well for the soil in the vicinity of that delightful wa-
tering-place.

LAUNCH.--On Thursday, a Buenosayrian, a beautiful new
barque of 320 tons burden, -was launched from the building-
yard of Mr. Joseph Steel, Baffin-street. The Buenosayrian
dashed into her native element in gallant style, amidst the
shouts of hundreds of delighted spectators.
DEATH IN THE33OIIOI7GH GAOL.—On Friday an inquest
was held on the body of Thomas Mason. The deceased had
been sentenced in October last to twelve months' imprison-
ment. In the early part of the last month he complained of
being ill, and was put on the sick list, and continued to get
worse until the 30th ult., when he died. A verdict, in ac-
cordance with the evidence, was returned. •

TIIEFT BY A CARTER.—John Taylor, a carter, was placed
before Mr. Rushton, on Saturday, charged with having stolen
nine pounds of copper bolts, value nine shillings, the property
of Messrs. Roscoe, Grentell, and Sons. The prisoner was
employed to carry a cask of copper bolts to the Brunswick
Dock. On his way, it appears, he opened the cask and took
out a dozen bolts. He was committed for trial.

THEFT F 13014 AN EEPLOYER.—George Maxwell, a joiner,
was, on Saturday, placed before Mr. Rushton, charged with
having stolen two coach springs and some knives and forks
from his employer, Mr. John Andrews, coach proprietor,
Richmond-row. The prisoner had, it appeared, taken the
property from Mr.:Andrew's stables, and had sold the coach-
springs to a marine store dealer. He was committed for
trial.

MECII ANICS' INSTITUTION .—The exhibition closed at ten
o'clock on Saturday night. During the six weeks .and two
days that it has been open, <in all, 38 days,) nearly, 100,000
persons have visited it, and the gross receipts are, we believe,
about £3,300. After Mr. John Smith's lecture, on Satur-
day night, the president of the institution, John Leyland,
Esq., and the Alayor, Sir Joshua Walmsley, addressed a few
remarks to the auditory, and congratulated them on the suc-
cesssful conclusion of the exhibition.

THE Riven DANE VIADUCT.—WC are happy to say that
the contract for the Viaduct over the River Dane, near
Holmes Chapel, has been let to Messrs. Holmes and Tom-
kinson, of Liverpool, the gentlemen who are erecting the
splendid viaduct over the valley and the River Mersey, in
this town. The contracts for the Dane is, we understand,
between £50,000 and £60,000, and is to be completed in 18
months.

THE STANDISH-HALL ROBBERY.—The whole of the pro-
perty stolen at the late robbery of Standish-hall has at length
been found. The plate was all broken up, and no doubt in-
tended for sale, only the conviction and punishment of Edge,
who it will be recollected was tried at the last Kirkdale ses-
sions and got two years imprisonment, seems to have oper-
ated as an intimidation to the other parties concerned.—
Wigan Gazette.

REVIVAL IN THE EXPORT OF MANUFACTURED GOODS
TO THE UNITED STATES.—The quantity of manufactured
goods exported to the United States was remarkably small
during the first six months of the present year. Within the
last few weeks, however, the quantity has increased, and now
there is a fair export to the States. The President, steam-
ship, although she charged five guineas per ton, got not less
than 1300 packages of manufactured goods on erefght. The
packet-ships as well as the transient vessels also get a fair
share of goods. We trust, therefore, that we may hail the
present revival of export as a symptom of returning confi-
dence in, the United States' markett and that the consumption
of British goods by our transatlantic brethren will speedily
become as extensive as it was before the season of distress.—
Albion.

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON IN ISLINGTON MARKET.—
Ann Newman and Ann Roberts, two meanly attired women,
were, on Saturday, placed at the bar of the Police-court,
charged with having stolen a gold watch and appendages from
Miss Mary Rigg. Miss Rigg stated, that she was standing
at a 'stall ill_ Islington Market purchasing some peas. She
felt a great pressure upon her from three or four women,
whom she believed to be pushing forward to inspect the com-
modities offered for sale. Suddenly there was a slight bustle,
and a lady asked her if she had lost anything. As her purse
was in her hand she was about to reply in the negative, but
feeling at her side for her watch she found that it had been
cut away. She made known her loss, and a man who stood
near pointed to the two prisoners, saying, that he had seen
the woman in the shawl (Newman) hand something to the
woman in the brown cloak (Reynolds). A gentleman who
was at hand called a policeman, who took the prisoners to
the Market-office. On the way thither, the overlooker of
the market and another person saw Reynolds drop the watch
from under her cloak. Both prisoners were committed for
trial. •

FORTUNE TELLING.—An old woman, named Catharine
Duffy, and a little girl, were on Friday placed at the bar of
the Police-court, on a charge of stealing a purse, containing
3s. Gd. The complainant, a rather elderly female, said she
had gone with the person who was beside her (another el-
derly lady), to have their fortunes told, for which, it appear-
ed, they were to pay the sum of threepence each. While in
the house her purse was stolen, and, as she believed, was
taken from her by the little girl. It was afterwards, on a
disturbance being made, delivered to her by the elder pri-
soner. A very old withered beldame appeared in court—the
grandmother of the child. This person had been the original
fortune-teller of the establishment, but, as Mr. Rushton
afterwards remarked, had " resigned" in behalf of the other.
Mr. R. expressed his surprise that persons, such as the com-
plainant, had not more sense than to go to such places to
their fortunes told by parties who could not tell their
own. He read that part of the act of parliament against for-
tune-telling, by palmistry or other device, and sentenced the
elder prisoner to three months' imprisonment. The child
was discharged.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—At the Police-court, on
Friday, Mr. Strettan, a respectable-looking gentleman, was
placed at the bar, under the following circumstances :—Mr.
Balfour, of the coroner's office, stated that, on the evening
of Thursday, he had heard that a woman named Gray, who
resided in Henry Edmund-street, had died, after taking some
medicine received from those who attended her from the
North Dispensary. As it appeared there was something
wrong, the prisoner was taken into custody. A bottle con-
taining a solution was produced in court, which the prisoner,
who appeared to be much distressed, immediately acknow-
ledged to be that which he dispensed. It appeared, by the
further evidence, that the deceased person had procured a
note for the-dispensary, and that Mr. Dean, one of the sur-
geons, had made out a prescription for her, with an order to
bprocure the medicine from the apothecary's shop of the esta-
lishment. A little girl was.sent for it, and, by some mis-
take, a solution was given, which was of a poisonous nature.
The directions were that three table-spoonsful should be
taken every two hours ; and a professional gentleman stated
that in his opinion one large table-spoonful would produce
death. The liquid was, as we heard it, " tincture of monks-
hood." Mr. Rushton stated that, as the prisoner had ac-
knowledged dispensing the drug, and as an inquest would be
held 'on the body on Saturday, it was his duty to remand
him. He then instructed Mr. Parkinson, keeper of bride-
well, to attend to any order that he might receive for the
prisoner to appear at the inquest.

DEATH OF LADY ROSSMORE.—This noble lady expired
suddenly on Tuesday afternoon, at Wilton House, Chelten-
ham, where she had only arrived on the previous day, accom-
panied by Lord Rossmore, from Dublin. Her ladyship was
Lady Augusta Charteris, fourth daughter of Francis, late
Lord Elcho, and was married on the 3d of June, 1819, to the
present Lord Rossmore, by whom she had no issue.
SINGULAR ENTRY OF TIIE JUDGES. INTO BEDFORD.
These assizes commenced on Saturday. In the afternoon,
the high sheriff, W. F. Brown, Esq., proceeded in an elegant
little carriage, drawn by four ponies, guided by two little
postilions in striped jackets, along the Bronham road to the
Biddenham turn, where he met the judges, the Hon. Sir E.
H. Alderson and the Hon. Sir John Matteson, who were
handed into the sheriff's carriage. Here a difficulty arose—
the carriage was so small that it would only contain two
persons, and the sheriff had only expected one judge to open
the commission. However, as the inside was full of judges,
the high sheriff took his seat on the box by the side of one
of the footmen ! and the other John Smanker rode on the
springs (for there was no dickey or footboard) behind. In
this singular style, to the glee of all persons assembled (the
judges themselves being unable to preserve their gravity),
the procession'was ordered off at a smart trot ; and the mo-
ment the trumpet blew, up reared two of the horses bearing
javelin men on their backs, snap went two stirrup leathers,
and down rolled one of the armed officials from his lofty seat.
Away scampered the sheriff's officers' and bailiffs' horses,
as if the hounds were in full cry; and some who were taken
a little by surprise were obliged .to spur their steeds to keep
up in the line .of procession .at all. It is not every livery-
stable horse that feels attached to spurs. So in this case ;
some of the nags danced, reared, and kicked, until those who
happened to be near had great difficulty in avoiding a kick
from the horse, as well as a prick from the javelin. Upon
the whole, it was one of the most singular judicial proces.
Sions ever witnessed, and it appeared very like a second edi-
tion of the Queen's visit to the city. We hardly know which
showed
the greatest skill, the London citizens, or the Bed-
ford javelin men ; certainly the latter did " witch the world
. with feats of noble horsemanship." However, at last the
judges arrived in the town, and opened the commission at
the County Hall, after which they were conducted to their
lodgings.—Hertford Reformer.
FORBIDDING OF THE BANNS IN HIGH LIFE —The ro-
mantic attachment of an elderly lady of high rank to a very
distinguished artist has long been the subject of conversa-
tion among the haute class. Recent circumstances having
enabled the lady to follow the bent of her inclination, we un-
derstand a marriage with the artist was not only in contem-
plation, but actually all but solemnised, when it became ac-
cidentally known to the numerous relatives of the two noble
houses to whom the lady is immediately related—a confer-
ence took place, and such formidable reasons were urged
against the proposed union, backed by a declaration of future
eStrangement from the family if 'the event took place, that
the lad}, was very reluctantly compelled to relinquish her de-
sign. The effect upon the artist was a very severe shock, fol-
lowed by an alarming inisposition that has placed him in
itn-
nsinent danger.—Argua.