The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS,

“ OLD SUBSCRIBER.”—His letter came too late for insertion
this week.
=-• We shall be happy, at all times, to receive communications
on subjects of local or general interest ; and if ourfriends
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tures, for our ownsatisfaction, we shall feel obliged.

Etberpoot tatibub+

TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 15, 1853.

THE SHIPPING INTEREST:
MR. CA RD WELL'S STATEMENT.

THE important question of the grievances said to
affect the Shipping interest was brought before
the House of Commons on Monday, last week,
by Mr. CARDWELL, the President of the
Board of Trade, and introduced with such a

flourish as to lead to the belief that the re-

jetted of Liverpool was the coming man, whose
consummate skill and masterly comprehension of
the whole subject were to place the Shipowners of
Great Britain upon the coveted pinnacle of un-
alloyed prosperity and calm content. Under the
humble guise of a Committee on Pilotage, the
aspiring statesman did not confine himself to this
simple point, but at once avowed his intention to
state the views of the Government with regard to
the mercantile marine ; and in order to accomplish
this purpose, said it would be necessary to trespass
at some length upon the time of the Committee.
Upon the present. state and prospects of the
Shipping Interest, he talked of unexampled pros-
perity, but prudently admitted that it was no part
of his duty to account for it. He left it to be in-
ferred that the repeal of the Navigation Laws had
had a beneficial effect, because that was a portion
of his party's free-trade policy; but he made no
allusion to the impetus given to emigration by the
gold discoveries in California and Australia, because
that would have been inconvenient, and incon-
venient truths are better kept out of view. He had,
however, the statement of the preceding CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER before him, with all
the benefit of the discussions it had undergone, and
he was emulous of creating a rival sensation. He

had, therefore, a long list of heads upnn
was about to treat ; and anxious they should gain
in number what they were deficient in substance,
announced them as :-1. Lights; 2. Passing-tolls;
3. Management of the Mercantile Marine; 4. vo-
luntary Enlistment in the Navy ; 5. Salvage ; 6.
Desertion; 7. Fees to Consuls ; and 8, Pilotage.
It may be thought that out of such a list of
subjects affecting the mercantile marine, the
Minister was prepared with a scheme from
which the parties chiefly interested could derive
some prospect of improvement ; but an impartial
examination of the official manifesto will show how
little is to be expected from the wisdom of "all the
talents." On the first bead, he entered into an
elaborate eulogy of the excellent manner in shich
the funds raised by Light-dues had been ad-
ministered by the Trinity Board; and then, as a
proof of Whig-Radical appreciation, proposed that
in future the expenditure should be under the con-
trol of the Government; but not one word as to
the reduction of Light-dues. So that the excellent
management may be lost to the country, from the
responsibility being removed from competent hands
to an incompetent Minister, with not the slightest
promise of any countervailing advantages, but the
gratification of the truly Radical anxiety to inter-
fere with every existing arrangement. He did not,
neglect, however, to show his own share in the
transaction, by reading to the House the letter
signed " EDWARD CARDWELL," addressed to
Prince ALBERT, as Master of the Trinity-house.
Upon the second head, Mr. CARDWELL was not
prepared to state anything more than that there
were difficulties in the way of adopting the sugges-
tion of the late CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER;
and all he proposed was inquiring, without doing
anything.

Upon the third head, applying to the present
restriction, by which the crew of a British ship is
required to consist of three-fourths British subjects,
his proposition had all to do with the Shipowner,
and nothing with the British Seaman, but to throw
him into further competition with ;the foreigner.
To prove a boon to the former, it must prove a dis-
advantage to the latter; but this Mr. CARDWELL
denied, upon the single authority of a letter from
our Consul at Christiana, who said that the Nor-
wegian crews were better fed than the British.
And upon this the Minister sapiently remarks that,
whether true or not, it was the opinion of a com-
petent witness, and was certainly calculated to
assuage the alarm of those who were afraid, lest the
interests of the British sailor should suffer by this
change." It would be a waste of words to argue
against such trash being advanced before intelligent
men, as a reason for throwing British seamen, as well
as British ships, open to unrestricted competition.

The fourth head refers to the existing right of
any of the crew of a merchant vessel in a distant
port to leave his ship, and enlist in a man-of-war.
Mr. CARDWELL is not prepared to abolish the
privilege, but proposed to provide that, if a positive
loss fall upon a ship by these volunteerings, he
should be entitled to compensation from the funds
of the Admiralty.

Upon the question of salvage, which formed the
fifth head, we showed some time since, in comment-
ing on Mr. DISRAELI'S plan to abolish the right
to salvage by the Royal Navy, that it would not
only be an injustice to the naval service, but a
positive disadvantage to the mercantile marine, who
might be deprived of such assistance when most
wanted. Mr. CARDWELL has pursued a wiser
course than that of his predecessor, by proposing
to deprive the salvors of the peremptory lien upon
the ship assisted, so that she should not be de-
tained in a foreign port, leaving the amount of
salvage to be decided upon by the Admiralty Court,
in London. This is about the only reasonable or
intelligible item in the whole marine budget, and,
after all, amounts to very little.
Upon the sixth head, the President of the Bard

lof Trade offered no explanations. All he could
say was, that a Bill was in preparation, intended
to remedy the grievances to which the Shipowners,
especially in Australia, were exposed to by the
desertions caused by the gold discoveries. A mea-
sure effectual for this purpose would be a boon,
but in the absence of all details, and knowing bow
little Whig-Radical promises are realised by their
performances, we must be content to wait for the
Bill itself before placing any confidence upon a re-
medy being in prospect.
His statement upon the seventh head was, if
possible, more unsatisfactory. He said there were
some erroneous impressions on the subject of fees to
Consuls, but the power rested with the Foreign-

office, and Lord CLARENDON had promised to
redress the complaint if he found it well founded;
Mr. CARDWELL, therefore, hoped the Shipping
interest would be satisfied that there was no
indisposition on the part of the Government to do
what was just.
After all these preliminary statements, which it
will be seen amount in substance to very little, Mr.
CARDWELL approached the question of Pilotage—
the ostensible object of his motion, which was for
leave to bring in a Bill. The vested rights of
the Thames and Cinque Ports Pilots he proposed
to preserve, but, at the same time, to amalgamate
the two bodies under the same control. With
reference to the Mersey Pilots, he stated the hard-
ships to coasters and steamships in being compelled
to have a Pilot when the masters were competent to
take their vessels in and out of port without such
assistance ; and referring to the Act of 1849, by
which Pilotage authorities were empowered to con-
fer on masters and mates the power to pilot their
vessels, by granting them a certificate of compe-
tence, said that no persuasion had been sufficient
to induce the Pilotage authorities at Liverpool to
enter on that question, owing to the opinion of the
law officers of the Crown—that, by the provisions of
the local act of Liverpool, it was not in their com-
petence to do so. He, therefore, proposed to confer
on the Board of Trade the providing for the case.
The same means were also to be used to get over
the difficulties at the Severn. The whole project
may therefore be briefly stated to be the conferring
upon Mr. CARDWELL himself, as President of the
Board of Trade, the power, as he stated it, to
over-ride all local acts, in order that local ldies
might be enabled to make concessions to the mer-
cantile marine. In the subsequent discussion

several members bore testimnny to the great value
and efficiency of the Liverpool Pilots—a position
which few will attempt to dispute. We may fairly
ask, however, after all the promised improvement
upon Mr. DISRAELI'S plan, in what respect the
Shipping interest have reason to be thankful for
the change of Ministry, or wherein will the British
Shipowner receive any benefit which will not be

shared by the foreigner who frequents our ports?
It is plain that the ABERDEEN Cabinet thought they
must do something to allay the dissatisfaction
which they cannot deny prevails amongst the Ship-
ping interest ; and Mr. CARDWELL has been put
forward with a speech, in which high-sounding
phrases, vague promises, and pretended sympathy
are to form the remedy for acknowledged grievances.
The following is an analysis of the new Pilotage
Bill, which was brought into the House of Com-
mons on Tuesday :

1. Repeal of so much of 4 Geo. 4, c. 125, as relates to
Cinque Port pilots, and of the whole of 9 Geo. 4, c. 86.
2. The Trinity-house may license pilots for the passage
from Dungeness or the Downs inwards as well as out-
wards. 3. Present Cinque Port pilots to be competent to
pilot vessels either inwards or outwards in the limits for
which they are now licensed. 4. The above-mentioned
Cinque Port pilots to be subject to the same rules, &c. as
Trinity-house pilots. 5. Present Trinity-house pilots may
pilot ships inwards within the limits of their licenses. 6.
Provision for a constant supply of pilots at Dungeness,
wider regulations to be made by the Trinity-Imm. 7
Vessels coming pcaot. Dungeb..., Slaving a pilot on
"aoard. to take the first qualified pilot who offers. 8. Rates
to be demanded for duties hitherto performed by Cinque
Port pilots. 9. Provision with regard to the Pilots'
Funds. 10. Power to the Board of Trade to examine
and grant pilotage certificates to masters and mates, on
the pilotage authorities refusing to do so under 12 and 13
Vict., c. 88. 11. Fees upon such licenses. 12. Power to
withdraw certificates. 13. Pilots to make returns of their
earnings to bodies by whom they are licensed. 14. Pilot-
age bodies to make full returns to the Board of Trade of
various particulars connected with pilotage. 15. If any
of the local bodies fail to give the required returns, they
may be deprived of their authority, and the power of ap-
pointing pilots shall vest in the Trinity-house. 16. Re-
turns to be laid before Parliament. 17. Powers of mak-
ing alterations in the system of pilotage, of reducing rates,
of extending exemptions, &c., with consent of her Ma-
jesty in Council. 18. No new sub-commissioners to be
appointed, and no pilotage district to be extended, with-
out consent of her Majesty in Council. 19. Trinity-house
regulations to be approved by her Majssty in Council,
instead of by the Chief Justice. 20. Such Orders in
Council to be laid before Parliament.

THE ELECTION COMMITTEES-
UNSEATING OF MEMBERS.

THE number of Members of the House of Com--
mons who have been unseated by Election Com-
mittees, on the ground of bribery and corruption,
has called forth a vast amount of virtuous horror,
particularly on the part of those pretenders to
purity—the Whig-Radicals. It might be imagined,
from the result of the several investigations which
have already taken place, and the number of cases
which are waiting their turn to be heard, that the
Electoral Constittiency of Great Britain had become
suddenly corrupt; that the last General Election
was the climax of impurity; and that now it is the
duty of every honest man to lift up his hands when
such deeds are named, and wonder who could do
them. The most absurd part of the affair, how-
ever, is, that the greater portion of this simulated
indignation comes from the Liberal party, albeit
their own friends have been as deeply dragged
through the mire as their opponents. It is no
easy nor pleasant task to attempt a justification or
palliation of acts which appear to excite such very
commendable opprobrium; yet, it would only be
fair, before joining in such sweeping condemnation,
to examine a little into the circumstances, and ascer-
tain what are the facts which are sought to be con-
demned. Scarcely a borough election takes place
in which we do not hear from the Radical side the
loudest professions of their purity of intentions, and
their determination to pay nothing beyond the legal
expenses. They have such a high sense of the
independence of the electors, that they scorn to
tempt their cupidity, even by the bribe of refresh-
ments, and all the purity is on their side. But
mark the cause. The Reform Act not only gave a
preponderance in numbers to the representatives of
small towns, but endowed with the franchise a
class of men the least fitted, by social position and
intellectual ability, to maintain the integrity of the
Constitution. The majority are men the most easily
biassed by the declamations of loud-promising
demagogues—the most willing tools of agitators,—
and the most ready supporters of any candidate
who holds out to them hopes of cheap bread,
though at the ruin of their best customers ; and of
reduced taxation, though at the hazard of national
bankruptcy, and the destruction of the national
defences. They need no tangible bribery, for they
are more effectually bribed with promises of im-
practicable benefits; and well, therefore, may their
party leaders profess a purity which suits so well
their pockets and their purposes. On the other
hand, if the supporters of the Constitution are un-
willing.that the interests of the State should be sur-
rendered into such unworthy hands, what have
they to oppose to such magniloquent promises as
form the stock-in-trade of the other side ? They
cannot promise greater benefits; for those whom
they address know not how to appreciate the
blessings of good government, which implies a
certain amount of self-denial on the part of the
governed. Their only resource is to give up the
contest, with all its contingencies, or make their
appeal in the only way in which it is intelligible.

The law conferred a power on those who are unfit
to be entrusted with it ; and the only choice is, the
material present advantage of the one side, or the
delusions of the other; both indefensible in them-
selves, but the latter by far the most mischievous.
This position of the case is upon the assumption,
which we by no means admit, that the Conservatives
have been most guilty of bribery, and that the
Radicals are as pure in their electioneering practices
as their organs would have us believe. The fact,
however, is directly the reverse, and the majority of
cases which have been tried prove that, while Con-
servatives have generally repudiated the use of
corrupt means, the Radicals have entered into the
contest with a determination to gain the return
either fairly or foully. Refraining from bribery has
been with them a mere question of economy; but
where false promises have failed to operate, they
have not hesitated to resort to those tangible in-
ducements, the effect of which none know so well
how to estimate.
We have, however, taken an extreme view
of the case, on the suppositon that all that
has been alleged of the extent of corruption--to
use the strongest phrase—at the last Election, is
true. If we confine our attention, however, to that
which has actually been proved at the recent inves-
tigations, we shall find that it amounts to a com-
paratively small proportion. It would appear,
indeed, as though the committees had suddenly
been seized with a mania for the strictest purity,
and determined to unseat every member who had
paid more for his election than the cost of the
polling-booths and printing his addresses. Even in
the case of Derby, which was held up to public
odium as a hotbed of corruption, and our respected
townsman, Mr. HORSFALL, made the mark for
every petty scribbler to point at, the committee
were compelled to admit—while they deprived him
of his seat—that not only was no instance of bribery
proved against him, but that it was proved to their
satisfaction that he had not teen guilty of any. It
may be well for Lord JoHN RUSSELL to vaunt that,
by the present system, the investigation was beyond
the influence of party feeling, but who will believe
it, after most of the recent decisions, wherein elec-
tions have been declared void for the most paltry
acts, alleged by the most doubtful testimony, and
involving little more than the expenditure of a few
shillings ? It were a consummation devoutly to be
wished, that a stop could be put to the purchase of
votes, but it will not be by straining at a gnat, and
following the example of Sir JAMES HOGG, who,
when Chairman of the Nottingham Election Com-
mittee, a few years since, unseated the late Mr.
WALTER, of The Times, because a sum under
Thirty Shillings had been paid to some half-dozen
voters.

The House of Commons, however, in their newly
acquired virtue, which seems to sit so uneasily
on them, have not been content with acting upon
the decisions of their several Committees, but seem
desirous of doing more. In the majority of in-
stances the evidence has been ordered to be printed,
further inquiries are threatened, and, in the mean-
time, the new writs have been suspended, in order
that a wholesome dread of disfranchisement may
operate as a warning, or be held as a rod in terrorem
over the many innocent for the faults of the few
guilty. This is a device suggested by the proceed-
ings taken with Sudbury and St. 'Alban's ; and
while there may be few cases in which it could be
applied with justice, the threat appears to be indis-
criminately resorted to, although all that has been
proved applies to the few black sheep to be found in
almost every fold. It may not be difficult to discover a
motive for this extraordinary zeal for the disfranchise-
ment of alleged corrupt boroughs. Every such dis-
franchisement will create a vacancy in the number of
the House of Cornmnnq aq hy tiro stororm
and it may be that when the time shall be thought
fit for filling up the list, there will be a struggle of
parties for bestowing the coveted privilege of return-
ing representatives on such places as present
the fairest prospect of augmenting the strength of
the party who happen to be in the majority. Like the
struggle in a Town Council to return the aldermen,
it will be the means of giving strength to the
strongest party.

Let us admit, however, for the sake of argument,
that something must be done to interpose a more
effectual check, than has hitherto been the case, to
the practice of bribery at elections; it might be
accomplished in a far easier and more simple way
than by the expensive and dilatory process of com-
mittees of the House of Commons. There needs
no inquiry into the vague generalities which make
up the wholesale charges of systematic corruption.
If every voter who was proved to have received a
bribe were punished with disfranchisement, the
number of electors would be proportionately di-
minished, and the extent of the diminution might
determine the fate of the borough. This course,
moreover, need not be involved in the costly pro-
cess of a Parliamentary Committee, wherein many
would escape in order to avoid the expense of pro-
secuting them ; but it might form a fitting subject
for investigation at the Registration Courts. Ob-
jections might be made to any voter who had taken
a bribe at the previous election, and upon proof
being made to the satisfaction of the Revising Bar-
rister, he should be empowered to expunge the
offender's name from the register. This would
operate far more effectually to purify the consti-
tuency than any plan now pursued ; the expense
would be but trifling, for the necessary witnesses
would be on the spot ; and all that would be re-
quired would be an additional number of barristers
to perform the extra duty thus imposed upon them.

THE DERBY ELECTION COMMITTEE AND

MR. HORSFALL,

THE enquiry into the proceedings at the late
election for Derby—which excited so much noto-
riety from the preliminary investigation into the
charges against Major BERESFORD—has at length
terminated, and the committee have decided on
transferring the seat of Mr. HORSFALL to his oppo-
nent, Mr. HEYWORTH. It is, however, gratifying
to be able to state, in justification of the high and
honourable character of our respected townsman,
that the committee completely exonerated him from
any participation whatever in the illegal transactions
which led to the loss of his seat. What had been
done was not only without his sanction or know-
ledge, but expressly against his will; yet under the
circumstances, the committee had, perhaps, no
other alternative than to strike from th 3 poll those
votes which, through the treachery of pair' ►gents
and the injudicious zeal of partizans, had been
gained for corrupt motives. Mr. HORSFALL, how-
ever, manfully declared his willingness to undergo
the ordeal of an examination, both by himself and
his attorney, and the following evidence was given
upon oath.
11Ir. HORSFALL said :

I recollect receiving an invitation to become a candidate
for Derby. It came from Mr. Lewis. I was first applied
to at the end of May. I was afterwards waited upon by a
deputation from Derby. Mr. Lewis, the late Mr. Mousely,
and Mr. Bowden, formed the deputation. They pro-
posed that they would pay the whole of my expenses, if I
was defeated. I declined those terms, but said that I
would enter on the contest and pay my own expenses, but
that I would not sanction anything but the legal
expenses. I produce a letter which I wrote to Mr.
Lewis. (The letter was put. in. It stated that Mr.
Horsfall would not, either by himself or. his agents, coun-
tenance any bribery, and expressing his suspicion that,
£l,soo,thought
something the parties at Derby asked foret he
something more than the legal expenditure was cont
letter
from but he would be ready to advance £750
.
from Mr. Lewis, in answer, was also put in, in whichl he
agreed with Mr. Horsfall that £750 would he quite suffi-
cient.) I took Mr. Forsbaw with me as my agent. I
was not at all aware of any bribery or corrupt practices
going on at Derby, nor had I the slightest suspicionof
anything. of the kind. I remitted £BOO to Derby
e o re
the election, with instructions that it should be drawn

upon by Mr. Forsbaw only. It was sent to W. Cox and
Sons—not the lead works, but the bankers. An account
has been rendered to me since, and £579 was the sum ex-
pended. I received the balance, and do not expect to be
called upon to pay another shilling.
By the committee.—l believe every farthing in the ac-
count rendered to me was for the legitimate expenses of
the election.

In this statement be was corroborated by his
attorney, Mr. FORSHAW, one of the most respect-
able of his profession in Liverpool. He said :

lam a solicitor, of Liverpool, and went to Derby as
Mr. Horgan's private solicitor. My instructions from
Mr. Horsfall were, that I was not to incur any expenses
hut the legal expenses : and so studiously carefal was Mr.
Horsfall, that I received my instructions from him in
writing. I was not in any way cognizant of any acts of
bribery or corruption there. I first heard of a man (Mor-
gan) taken for bribing while I was sitting in mr. Hors_
fall's committee-room. That was the first I heard or
knew of anything of the kind being done ; and when I
heard it, I said it must be done on the part of the
Radicals.

It will thus be seen that the character of Mr.
HORSFALL has been amply justified, and that
whatever may have been the doings at Derby, he
was not in any way implicated.

ALBERT DOCK.-STRIKE FOR WAGES.
-s.

WE understand that a large body of the supernumerary
labourers at the Albert Dock warehouses have struck for
higher wages. Such a proceeding is to be deprecated in
most instances, and the parties themselves generally
suffer in the long run, but we hear that in this case they
have grounds for complaint, and the members of the
Dock Committee would do well to look into the matter
in a spirit of fairness, and put an end to a state of things
which seldom reflects credit on those concerned, and is
often the cause of much unpleasantness and acrimony.
In this case, the regular men, as they are termed, get
3s 6d a day, whilst the irregular, or those not in constant
employ, get only 3s, and that after waiting days for a job.
This can scarcely be fair. But another grievance is, that
instead of being paid for half a day, when they are caked
in for a job, they are only paid 4cl. the hour. We are not
aware that any house of standing employs these hard-
working men on such cheese-pairing principles, and
surely:a company like the Albert Dock Trustees should be
the last to do so.

ROYAL INFIRMARY.-ELECTION OF
SURGEON.

Yesterday a special meeting of the trustees and sub-
scribers to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary was held in the
board-room, for the purpose of electing an honorary sur-
geon, in the room of Mr. Robert Bickersteth. who bas
recently resigned, after filling the office fur upwards of
forty years.
Much interest was evinced in the proceedings by the
gentlemen supporting the respestive candidates, and when
the business commenced there was a large attendance.
Mr. JAMES BOURNE, the president of the institution,
opened the proceedings by a brief reference to the cir-
cumstances under which they were assembled. Mr.
Bickersteth, who had so worthily and faithfully filled the
office of honorary surgeon to the institution for a long
series of years, had, to the great regret of the trustees,
felt himself compelled to resign the situation, and they
were now called upon to elect a successor. After some
further routine remarks, the president called upon any
gentleman to come forward who might have a candidate
to propose.
Mr. EDMUND MOLYNEUX then came forward, and
proposed Mr. James Long as a suitable person to fill the
vacancy. It was desirable that they should elect a gen-
tleman of known and tried ability and experience to fill
such an office as that which was now unfortunately ren-
dered vacant by the resignation of Mr. Bickersteth, and
he thought that in Mr. Long they had a gentleman who
possessed in an eminent degree those qualifications. Mr.
Long was a pupil of Mr. Halton's, and had been brought
up in the institution. After some further complimentary
allusions to Mr. Long, Mr. Molyneux conclnded by pro-
posing him as a candidate.
Mr. EDWARD GIBBON seconded the nomination.
Mr. T. E. Moss, banker, then came forward and pro-
posed Mr. Henry Stubbs as an eligible person to fill the
vacant situation. Mr. Stubbs was bred and born among
them, and he had much pleasure in proposing him. In
doing so it was a satisfaction to him to feel that be was at
once performing a public duty as well as a private act of
friendship.

Mr. JAMES AIKEN seconded the nomination. He had
originally intended to have voted for Mr. Long, but find-
ing that Mr. Stubbs's services had been of longer dura-
tion thau Mr. Long's, although not much, he had come
to the conclusion to support that gentleman.
No other candidates were proposed, and scrutineers
having been appointed, the polling commenced, and was
carried on with considerable spirit until three o'clock,
when the poll closed. The scrutineers then proceeded to
examine the papers, and about half-past three o'clock
returned into the bowel room, when the president an-
.....•n,Fa the state of the poll to be as follows:
For Mr. Stubbs .
For Mr. Long
Majority for Mr. Stubbs -- 53

Mr. STUBBS then came forward and returned thanks
for the honour which had been conferred upon him, stat-
ing that he should always endeavour to do his duty, and
maintain for it the high character which the institution
had attained.

Mr. EDWARD GIBBON, jun., in the absence of Mr.
Long, who was unavoidably absent at the close of the
poll, returned thanks to those gentlemen who had recorded
their votes in his behalf, and who had given him their
support throughout the contest. On behalf of Mr. Long,
he (Mr. Gibbon) hoped that gentleman would be more
successful on a future occasion.

On the motion of Mr. STUBBS, a voto of thanks was
passed to The chairman, and the proceedings terminated
about. four o'clock.

[We may say that Mr. Long has been for some time
lecturer at the medical school in connexion with the in-
stitution, and Mr. Stubbs has been for several years sur-
geon of the Northern Hospital.]

POLICE COURT

;YESTERDAY

COMMITMENTS.-A man named John Armstrong, a
car driver, in the employ of Mr. Jab Shuffiebottorn,
George-street, was yesterday committed to take his trial
at the Sessions, charged with obtaining. the sum of £3
under false pretences, representing that Mrs. Shufll,3bot-
tom had sent him for the money.

ANN MILLS was committed for trial, charged with
stealing 111 yards of Alpaca, from the shop of Mr.
George Williams, in Great George Street. She took the
goods from the shop door, and was seen by a person pass-
ing to drop them from under her cloak.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH RAGGED SCHOOLS;
HODSON- STREET.
To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—In a tabular statement of the attendance at the various
places of public worship in Liverpool, together with the schools
in connection therewith, published in the Mercury of the 25th
of February last, the number of children attending St. John's
Church Ragged Schools, Hodson-street, appears to be 80, or
only about one-half of the real number, which is from 150
to ISO.

How the compiler of the table obtained his information 'on

this subject is a mystery, no such return having been furni

by those connected with the schools; and had he made a per-
sonal inspection, he would, undoubtedly, have been better

informed

Probably, other portions of the statistics to which reference
has been made are about as truthful, and worthy of an equal
amount of credence, as that relating to St. John's Church

Ragged Schools

The reason why so long a period has elapsed %rithout any
notice having been taken of this matter is, that (in order to
give an o(rciat contradiction) it was considered better to defer

not take place until this week. By inserting this note in your
paper of Tuesday you will oblige, yours, obediently,
W. B. S. MATHIAS, Clerical Superintendent.
EDWARD FORD, jun., Lay Superintendent.
Liverpool, March 12,1853.

MR. HUGH NEILL, the eminent surgeon of this town,
has had an attack of influenza, which at one time
threatened to be fatal, but he is now rapidly recovering,
and starts to-day for Cheltenham, where he will remain
about a fortnight. He expects to resume his profes-
sional duties the first week in April.
ROYAL Disn.— Mr. Morrish, of the Merchants'
Dining Rooms, has publicly announced that this day he
will dress a baron of beef, from one of the magnificent
heifers bought at Messrs. Littledale and Torr's sale ; and
several saddles of mutton. This will be a rare combina-
tion of quantity and quality.

- -
UNSUBSTANTIATED CHARGE. -- Yesterday, at the
Police-court, a charge for using abusive language was
preferred before R. E. Hervey and J. H. Smith, Esqrs.,
by officer Connor (661) against Mr. Hornblower, architect,
of this town. The circumstances of the case, as detailed
by the officer, went to show that, at about ten minutes to
twelve o'clock on Thursday night last, Mr. Hornblower,
who was proceeding to the landing-'tage, complained that
the bridge at the north end of the George's Dock was not
closed in due time to enable him to reach the ferry boat,
and stated that he would hold the officer responsible for his
detention in town. This led to an altercation, during
which the officer collared the accused, but on the interfe-
rence of a gentleman who witnessed the proceedings,
be was liberated on giving his address. Mr. Hornblower,
feeling aggrieved
immediately proceeded, in company
with bis friend, to the office of the head constable, andge
a complaint against the officer, which was ap-
pointed to be heard yesterday before the Watch Commit-
tee at three o'clock. In the interim, however, (on Satur-
day) a summons was served, as above stated, on Mr.
Hornblower, to appear before the magistrates to answer
the complaint of the officer, at half-past two o'clock yes-
terday. The evidence of the officer was entirely disproved
by a gentleman of high standing, who bore testimony to
the constable's insolence and Mr. Hornblower's forbear-
ance. On the case being dismissed, Sir Geo. Stephen
applied to the magistrates for the committal of the officer
on the charge of perjury, but as the original case
had to be heard before the Watch Committee,
they (the magistrates) declined to interfere until
the Watch Committee's decision was given. At
three o'clock Sir George Stephen appeared before the
Watch Committee, but they declined to interfere, alleging
that the case had been already adjudicated upon by the
magistrates. [We understand that the matter will not be
allowed to rest here.]