The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-16 00:00:00

OPERATIVE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

INTERESTING STATISTICS OF THE LIVERPOOL I of the House of Lords, and published in the Times, under
POLICE OFFICE. the signature of " Lwlius."* The opportunity afforded to
the peers of Great Britain by this trial, of discountenancing
the absurd and barbarous practice of duelling, is pointed
out in beautiful and impressive language ; and there are
few—very few—upon whom its perusal would not force the
conclusion to which the writer endeavours to lead them.
There are amongst the peers of England, men sufficient, who
might safely submit to the imputation of cowardice—which
an absurd custom has rendered the alternative of a refusal to
break the laws alike of God and man—rather than risk life
by the pistol of a duellist, or to incur the doom of a mur-
derer ; and, although in the case of the most illustrious of
Heat body, that course has not hitherto been followed, the
opportunity now afforded ought surely to be embraced, of
stamping with reprobation a custom at once so tyrannous, so
barbarous, and so wicked.
London, Saturday night, Feb. 13.
* This letter will be found in another column.

The following details exhibit the business transacted at the
Police Office in Liverpool, from the Ist day of January,
1840, to the 31st day of December, inclusive. The table of
prisoners shows that the greatest number of offences in the
town of Liverpool are committed in the summer months, and
that more than half of the offenders are females.*

The informations for penalties include all the offences
against the acts for regulating the town and harbour ;—cases
of collision of vessels, and damage within the port, as well as
all offences the punishment of which is by forfeiture under
acts for regulating the respective trades of licensed victual-
lers, pawnbrokers, &c.
It appears that a large regiment is-raised every year in the
borough,—the number of recuits attested being (during the
past year) no fewer than 828.
The beneficial operation of these acts which enable seamen
to recover their wages by summons, and landlords to recover
possession of tenements under the annual value of £2O, by
summary proceedings, in the nature of an action of ejectment
is amply proved ;—the cases of applications for the recovery
of seamen's wages, heard by the magistrates, being 224, and
those for the recovery of small tenements being 100.

It will be observed, that while the orders of removal of
paupers to parishes in England are but 109, the passes of
Irish and Scotch paupers amount to 3091.
These returns, and particularly that of the prisoners, if
carefully examined, and kept for a series of years, (which we
hope to be enabled to do,) would afford valuable evidence of
the effect of our system of prison discipline, and the means
used for the prevention of crime by the activity of the police.
We hope arrangements will speedily be made which will ad-
mit of further reformatory meliorations in the Borough
Gaol,—in which, we understand, the average number of pri-
soners during the past year has greatly exceeded 500.
It is highly gratifying to observe, that the expenses of the
Police-office for the year are more than paid by the legal
charges for business transacted :

NUMBER OF PRISONERS BROUGHT BEFORE
THE MAGISTRATES OF LIVERPOOL DURING
THE YEAR 1840.

MONTHS. MALE. FEMALE. TOTAL.
January 897 477 1374
February
March
Almil
May
June 1124 652 1776
July
August llOl 595. 1696
September - 1481
October 932 587 1519
Nov ember
December BO7 451 1258

LIVERPOOL MARINE SOCIETY,

On Saturday, the general annual meeting of this society
was held at the Clarendon-rooms, for the transaction of the
usual business, and to consider the propriety of making some
alteration in the rules, with a view to increase the number of
mercantile and—particularly of—maritime members ; there-
by extending the benefits of the institution commensurate
with its undeniable merits, and with the hopes and intentions
of the original founders. We may briefly state that this so-
ciety was instituted on the 13th February, 1789, and has for
its objects the relief and benefit of masters of vessels, their
wives, widows, and children. .

Mr. T. M. GLADSTONE, president of the society, occupied
the chair. He expressed much pleasure in meeting so re-
spectable an assemblage of the members, and trusted that
from the result of their deliberations, the society would be-
come better known and receive a new impetus that would ere
long extend the sphere of its influence and utility. He was
happy to observe from the annual statement of the society
that the funds were in a prosperous state, and that there was
a large increase of honorary members, and—which.was not
less gratifying—an increase in marine members. The society
was still, however, capable of largely extending its beneficial
influence, and he hoped and trusted that the merchants and
shipowners of the port would come forward more nume-
rously in support of so admirable an institution. By the
statement of accounts it would be found that there was a dis-
posable sum, independent of the original capital, of no less
than five hundred and thlrty-five pounds in the hands of
Messrs Leyland and Bullin, bankers, and it would be for their
consideration whether from this source it would be advisable
to make any increase tattle ,annuities. Four or five of the
widows who were annuitants had died since the last yearly
meeting, by which, also, the fund was to some extent relieved:-
They might therefore, if they thought fit, increase the present
annuities ; and he thought their doing so would form an ad-
ditional inducement to maratime individuals to join the so-
ciety,—inasmuch as parties who might not otherwise do so,
might become members from motives of personal interest—
the advantages being so obvious. It had for some time back
been considered advisable to make some alterations in the
rules of the society, which, without departing from the ori-
ginal principle laid down by the founders, would be highly
beneficial. Some doubts were entertained as to the compe-
tency of the present meeting (though a general annual one)
to make such alterations, without previous notice to the
members generally that a motion or motions to that effect
should be brought forward. Should this doubt be entertained
by the majority of the meeting, the subject must stand over
for final discussion and decision at the next general quarterly
meeting of the society. The trust reposed in the committee
was one of much responsibility, arid though it was highly de-
sirable that some of the rules should undergo revision and
alteration, it became them not to proceed with any precipi-
tancy, which they might afterwards have to regret.—lie then
read the principal items and balances in the annual statement
of accounts, from which the following facts appeared :
That the annuities paid to 22 widows, 1 superannuated
captain, and 1 orphan, were £344 7s. 6d. ; that the capital
stock of the society was £10,351 Ils. 7d. ; that the annual
subscriptions for the year were £33 12s. ; and that an avail-
able balance remained of £535.

The Chairman, in continuation, remarked that it was a prin-
ciple laid down by the society not to infringe on the capital
or original fund. They had to consider in what manner they
should dispose of the surplus of £535 in the bank. He then
read the proceedings of the society, at their several meetings
during the past year, giving satisfactory explanations as he
proceeded. He remarked that by the rules it was required
that 25 members should be present to constitute a number
sufficient to make alterations in the rules. It had at a for-
mer meeting been deemed desirable to procure copies of the
rules of other similar societies at the several seaports as a
guidance, and inquiry bad consequently been made ; but
it was found that the precise objects of the marine societies
of other towns were so different from those of the Liverpool
society that their rules were not available as regarded theirs.
He concluded by some observations, showing that it had
been found necessary in some instances to depart in some de-
gree from the resolutions of former meetings; but that this
was in no case done but for the obvious advantage of the in-
stitution. _ _

The meeting then proceeded to nominate a committee for
the ensuing year, and the following gentlemen were unani-
mously chosen :—Mr. W. Rowett and Mr. Alex. Smith,
jun., out of the honorary members ; and Mr. Tyzard and six
others from the list of marine members.

Mr. Row Err expressed a doubt as to the definition " ma-
ritime members" required to be on the committee, and sug-
gested, as more comprehensive, that the words " nautical
members" should be substituted. _ _

The chairman's explanation, however, removed the ob-
jection.
A discussion of considerable length ensued as to the com-
petency of the meeting to make any alteration in the rules
without certain previous notice to the members at large.
Mr. Moss, solicitor, at the request of the meeting, gave
his opinion. He referred to certain portions of the rules,
and expressed his doubt of their competency.
Mr. S. Moss, and afterwards Mr. DUNCAN followed, each
arguing the competency of the meeting.
The meeting finally adopted the recommendation of Mr.
Moss and the Chairman, that the doubt entertained should
be acted upon. It was consequently resolved, in effect, that
it be a recommendation to the committee to take into consi-
deration the present rules and regulations, with It view of
rendering the society more available to shipmasters, and
submit their opinion on the same to the next general meeting
(to be held in April next).
The election of the principal officers for the year was then
made, as follows :
Mr. Thomas Murray Gladstone, President, (re-elected).
Mr. William Potter, Vice-president, in the room of Mr.
Radford, retired.

Mr. Gibson, Treasurer, (re-elected).
Mr. Samuel Moss, Secretary. This gentleman is also Se-
cretary to the Shipmasters' Association.
The question of annuities was next considered, and it was
agreed that these for the present should remain as before,
namely, to widows £l2. per annum ; to superannuated cap-
tains £16.; and to orphans £6.
The investment of the fund above the principal of £535.
was left to the direction of the committee.
Thanks were voted to the late Secretary and to the Chair-
man, and the meeting then separated.

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF BANK NOTES, &c., BY
A CLERK FROM HIS EMPLOYERS, AND EX-
TRAORDINARY DISCOVERY OF NEARLY THE
WHOLE OF THE PROPERTY.

On Friday last, at one o'clock, at the Police-court, a
clerk, named John Denton Holt, was placed before Mr.
Rushton, on a serious charge of having robbed his employ-
ers,
highly respectable merchants of this town, in December
last, of a large amount in cash. The case not having been
anticipated, there were very few persons in the body of the
court-room, but a considerable number of mercantile gentle-
men interested were present on and near the bench. Mr.
Dowling, commissioner of police, stated, as introductory to
the examination, that the prisoner stood charged with having
robbed his employers, Messrs. Hall and Co., of the sum of
about £l5OO, in two sums, namely, £l2OO, received by him
from Messrs. George Crossfield and Co., and upwards of
£2OO received from Messrs. Buchanan and Browne, for
which he had not accounted.—Thomas Medealf sworn, said
I am a clerk to George Crossfield and Co., who were indebt-
ed to Messrs. Hall and Co. On the 3d December I paid
over the amount of £l2OO, in Bank of England notes, to the
prisoner, John Denton Holt, in liquidation of the debt. The
money consisted of one £5OO note, and the remainder was in
notes of £lOO each.—John Young sworn : I am clerk and
apprentice to Messrs. Buchanan and Browne. On the 3d
December I paid to the prisoner, to be handed to Messrs.
Hall and Co., the sum of £273 Os. 6d. £2OO of the money
was in gold, and £3O of it in silver.—Mr. Benjamin Buchanan
sworn : I atna partner in the house of Hall and Co. The
prisoner was in our employment as a bookkeeper, but at the
time of the defalcation of the money he had the care of the
cash. He was empowered to receive money for the firm.
He did not account for, or pay over to us, the two several
sums state!' to have been paid to him by the two witnesses
who have just spoken. He left the office on the 3d Decem-
ber, and has not been there since.—Mr. Dowling sworn :
This morning the prisoner surrendered himself to me.—Mr.
Rushton to the prisoner : Have you anything to say ?—The
prisoner :—I have nothing to say.—Mr. Rushton : You are
remanded. The prisoner was then put down, and the parties
left the court.

out of the money, and that he had paid £ll for it. He ap-
peared to be much gratified when the money was found.
Lloyd, the prisoner, and I, afterwards proceeded to Wake-
field, and thence to London, where we arrived about half-
past 9on Saturday night. On Sunday morning we left Lon-
don for Mitcham Common, a distance of about 9 miles. The
prisoner took us over by a mill, and thence to a spot which
was indicated only by a few shreds of a woman's bonnet.
They saw the white handles of two knives, which Lloyd took
up and began to dig by the prisoner's direction. In a short
time, he found a piece of a newspaper, which was found to
contain XlOO in sovereigns and half-sovereigns. The prisoner
then pointed to a rising piece of ground a short distance
off, and requested Lloyd to dig there also, which he did.
After turning up the ground about a foot deep, they found a
cash-box, locked and carefully wrapped in two pieces of
canvas. (The box, &c., were produced.) The prisoner said
there was still some further property, and Lloyd continued
to dig under his direction, and found this piece of linen (or
diaper), produced, which contained four canvas bags and
some gold besides, in two small papers. In one of the
papers there were 30 louis d'ors, and five half-sovereigns. In
another there were 100 sovereigns. In one of the bags there
were 22 sovereigns and a gold ring, which last prisoner said
was his own ; in another bag, 86 louis d'ors ; in the third, 60
louis d'ors; and in the fourth, 40 louis d'ors. The prisoner
several times told me that he had one night gone to the cash-
box to take a ten-pound note out of it ; that he had taken
one out, had put it into his hat, in which there were some
pieces of brown paper, but in his agitation had somehow lost
it on the common. This, he said, happened six weeks back on
Saturday night, and that he could never find it. We looked
for it on the common, over the track which he thought he
had taken when he lost it, but with little or no hope of suc-
cess, when, to my great astonishment, Lloyd saw the £lO
note at the root of some rushes, and about half a yard under
some clear water. When we got to London we dried it, and
it was now perfectly passable. The prisoner stated that he
buried the money on the moor forty-eight hours after taking
it from Liverpool, and ten weeks from the time it was found.
He said he had gone on the following day to the common,
and frequently afterwards, in hopes of finding the £3O note,
but could not. He also informed them that he had lived at
a small cottage at Oval Kennington, and we went to it, and
found at his lodgings the key of the cash-box. On opening
it in his presence, they found in it several neatly packed pa-
per parcels. In one there was 28 five pound Bank of Eng-
land notes ; in another 1 twenty pound note, 16 ten pound
notes, and 10 five pound ditto. In a paper parcel were 100
sovereigns, in another 100 ditto, in another 100 ditto, in an-
other 96 sovereigns and 4 louis d'ors, in another 100 sove-
reigns, in another 100 sovereigns, all of which I consecutively
numbered,. as now produced. The watch found near Hud-
dersfield (also produced) was not quite new ; but he must
have bought it cheap, as I have since had it valued at £18:

The amount found at Huddersfield was £175 and the
watch ; at Mitcham, £l-140 2s, Gd., taking the louis d'ors
at 16s. 2d. each. Altogether, valuing the watch at £ll, the
value recovered was £1626 2s. Gd. It is proper to state,
(continued Mr. Dowling,) that the prisoner said that amongst
the money (the £175) was £2O -beioning to a niece of his,
and £25 belonging to himself, both of which sums he had
taken with him from Liverpool. The prisoner also said that
the sum he took belonging to Messrs. Hall and Co. was
£lBOO and odd. (He stated in court at this part of Mr.
Dowling's evidence, that there was probably an error in the
addition made by Messrs. Hall and Co. ; and that the amount
was more likely £lBO2 than as stated by them £1702.) The
prisoner, (continued Mr. Dowling) said that there was a de-
ficiency of £6O, which he could not account for. We re-
turned on the same night from London, and arrived here this
morning._ _ - -
-- - . - -

Samuel Lloyd, police-officer, who had accompanied Mr.
Dowling, corroborated the testimony given. He found the
£lO note on Mitcham Common, about 100 yards from
where the other money was found, about three yards frorrkthe
side of the water, and half a yard deep.
The prisoner here said—l calculated that the louis d'ors as
worth 1200, and they are put down at only £230.
Lloyd continued :—We found two boxes at the cottage
where the prisoner lived at Kennington. One contained
clothes, chiefly new, and the other books, also a writing
desk, &c. No questions were asked of the prisoner when he
pulled the handkerchief out of the hole at Huddersfield.
This being all the evidence forthcoming, Mr. Rushton ad-
dressing the prisoner, said, " You are remanded."
The case is sufficiently remarkable, and is not a little ro-
mantic, as here given in evidence; but we understand there
were circumstances connected with the recovery of the pro-
perty, which do not legally bear on the case, but may
transpire after the prisoner's trial, which render it still more
extraordinary. The two remote spots in which the money
was hidden, are, we learn, upwards of 200 miles apart.
Mitcham Common contains 1,500 acres.

DISCOVERY OF THE PROPERTY.
Yesterday the prisoner was again brought up. at the Police
Court before Mr. Rushton.
Mr. Benjamin Buchanan, of the firm of Hall and Co., was
again called. He stated that the prisoner had beenin his
service for about three years. He had not seen the prisoner
from the 3d of December, when the defalcation took place,
until he saw him in custody in that court on Friday. The
amount which Il all and Co. had lost was about £lOOO, as far
as could be ascertained. The remainder of the witness's tes-
6mony was a repetition of what he had stated on Friday.
Thomas Medealf, clerk to Messrs. Buchanan and Co., re-
peated his former testimony, to the effect that he had paid
the prisoner £l2OO, to be by him handed to Messrs. Hall
and Co.
John Young also repeated his former evidence—that he
had paid the prisoner for the same firm the sum of £273 9s Gd.
Mr. Buchanan stated that his office was in Harrington-
street. The prisoner had not accounted to him for the sums
stated to have been received by him. The balance against
the prisoner on the 3d of December was 1700 and odd pounds.
The prisoner said that if the precise balance were stated to
him, and it agreed with his previous notions, he would, to
save trouble, admit it. He stated that all the cash entries
were made in a rough cash book, before they were entered
fairly in the cash book. Mr. 'Rushton was of opinion that
that would not affect his culpability, but as he expressed an
anxiety to know the balance from the rough hook it was sent
for, and Mr. Buchanan stated, on looking into it, that the
amount there entered by the prisoner, on the 3d, as received,
was £1702 5s Gd, and £lBO was credited to the prisoner's de-
posit account, the same being due to him as wages.
Mr. Dowling, being sworn, said :—On Friday last I saw
Mr. Frodsham' attorney, and from information which he gave
me I went to his office in King-street. I there saw the pri-
soner. Mr. Frodsham said this is Mr. Holt who wishes to
surrender himself. I took an officer with me, and the pri-
soner walked up with me as far as the bridewell. On the
way he told me he had buried part of the money he had taken
from his employers at a lane near Huddersfield, in Yorkshire.
That, however, he added, was but a small part of it. He
said the great bulk of it I have buried in Mitcham Common,
on the other side of London. lie was shortly afterwards
brought up before you, (Mr. Rushton,) and after the exami-
nation, remanded. I have since gone to the places named,
with the prisoner and police-officer Samuel Lloyd. On Sa-
turday night we reached a lane about three miles and a half
or four miles from
Huddersfield on the road to Elland (as
we understood the witness). We there searched a partieu-
i'ar spot, at some distance from the lane, pointed out by the
prisoner, and searched for the portion of the property said to
h ave beenthere deposited, but all in vain, owing to the dark-
ne..s of the night. On the following morning, at day break,
we: returned to the spot, and after searching some time, the
oft icer Lloyd pulled from a hole in a bank, pointed out by
the, prisoner, a silk handkerchief. I took the handkerchief
out. of his hand, and in his and the prisoner's pre-
sence proceeded to examine the contents. I found in
it two parcels, which I numbered 15 and 16. One
of them contained 26 louis d'ors, and the other 104 sove-
reigns ; and £45 in bank of England notes, and a gold
watch. The prisoner told me he had changed the English
money for French coin, and that the rouis d'ors cost him
about IGs 3d each. lie also said that he had bought the watch

The quarterly meeting of the members and friends of 'tilt
Liverpool Operative Protestant Association was held in: the
Music-hall, last evening, for the purpose of petitioning- the
legislature in favour of Lord Stanley's Irish registration
bill. The room was filled in every part, and the enthusiasm
of those present clearly manifested that the interest taken in
the Protestant controversy instead of decreasing is spreadi og
even in Liverpool.
Shortly after seven o'clock the Rev. HUGH I\i`NEILE took
the chair amidst loud cheers, and the proceedings commenced
with the offering of prayer by the Rev. Mr. Brtows.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN, after stating that owing to a severe
cold he was unable to speak at any considerable length, ad-
dressed the meeting as followS :—As Protestants, it behoves
us to be on our watch tower, and as operatives, not to stand
idle there, but to be ready, whenever occasion calls, to work.
(Hear, hear.) Occasion now calls. The legislative assem-
bly of the nation is again convened, and matters of vital
importance to the well being of the country are again under
consideration. The practice of morality in the country is
the very source of national arrangements—l mean in the
selection of the representatives of the nation in parliament—.
the practise of national morality is at stake. (Hear, hear.)
The interest of vital religion as a national establishment in
this country is at stake. Our free institutions, and with them
the personal liberties of our fellow-subjects are at stake. And
this being so, it well becomes us as watchful members of that
church, lovers of those institutions, privileged enjoyers of
that liberty, to watch and to act. (Applause.) There is one
point which calls for our immediate attention, and that is the
bill for the improvement of the registration laws for Ireland,
introduced into the House of Commons by Lord Stanley.
(Cheers.) You are aware that he introduced it towards the
close of last session, and it was read a first time and a second
time ; but through the factious opposition offered to it in
committee, availing itself of the forms of the house, he was
baffled, and unable to carry the 3d reading of it before the
session closed. He was opposed at every step by her Majesty's
government; yet he succeeded at every step, upon divisions
of the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) immediately upon
the opening of the present session he gave notice that he
should bring it in again. He has done so (cheers), and the
24th of the present month (Wednesday in next week) is fixed
for the second reading of that bill. In the meantime her
Majesty's government have proclaimed to the country the
justice of many of our complaints last year : they have pro-
claimed their sense of the existing mischiefs of the registra-
tion laws : they have acknowledged practically the excellence
of many of the provisions of Lord Stanley's bill, which they
so vehemently opposed last year, for they have themselves
brought in a bill. They have introduced in the House of
Commons, by her Majesty's chief secretary for Ireland, Lord
Morpeth, a bill which proposes in words many of the same
provisions that are found in Lord Stanley's bill, but which
undoes the whole, by adding a rider to it which would throw
open the whole question almost of universal suffrage. (Hear,
hear.) Ido not say entirely—l think it would be an exag-
geration to-say it—but I will explain myself as I proceed.
(Hear, hear.) I will Srst read to you one or two acknow-
ledgements made by Lord Morpeth respecting the evils of
the present system. He says—
" It would be sufficient on that point to admit, as he freely
did, that great facilities for fraud existed in the present
system of registration in Ireland, and it could not be denied
by any who had seriously considered the subject, that many
instances of such frauds had occurred."
Lord Morpeth says further concerning these frauds—
" Those frauds took place in the system of certificates, in
personating dead or absent registered voters, and the reten-
tion on the registry of persons who, after they had been once
placed on the list, were left there without any opportunity of
subsequent revision during the whole period for which the
registry continued, which was a period of eight years."
These are precisely the evils which we pointed out to the
country last year, and which it is the object of Lord Stanley's
bill to remedy. Government opposed that bill; yet now
they come with a bill of their own, and the chief secretary
for Ireland, in introducing it, acknowledges the existence of
those very evils. He acknowledges the personation of dead
or absent voters. In order to put an end to the personation
of dead voters, it was proposed by Lord Stanley that there
should be an annual revision of the list—that the registration
list instead of lasting eight years, should be revised every
year, as it is in this country. That was opposed by the go-
vernment. Yet now this also is a proposal in Lord Nlor-
peth's bill, that there should be an annual revision of the

list. (Hear, hear.) I shall find it, I apprehend, difficult to
make you understand the nature of this bill of the govern-
ment, which I wish to oppose, because it professes in words
to adopt many of the provisions of Lord Stanley's bill,
whereas in point of fact, when more closely examined, they
are not honestly, and cordially, and practically adopted.
For instance, in this matter of the annual revision, hear
Lord Morpeth's own words—
" When a voter was once on the registry, he (Lord Mor-
peth) proposed that he should be entitled to have his claim
reviewed for any change made in his tenure or in his fran-
chise : but if nothing occurred to disturb that—if it remained
the same as when registered, he would not make his right to
vote subject to any further disturbance."
That is to say, the annual revision should extend to those
cases only where a change in the tenure, or residence, or
qualification of a person had taken place ; but if the proposed
voter proposed to vote upon the same tenure or upon the
same qualification as before, then there was to be no annual
revision of his claim. Why this is to leave out the very par-
ties that voted fraudulently. The circumstance of a change
of tenure in the course of a year should itself call attention ;
but it is in the vast amount of cases where there is no change
avowedly, where the same tenure is professed, the same qua-
lification set forth, but where the same person may not be
found. There, as it were, it is desirable to avoid fraud, but
that point is avoided by the provisions of the ministerial bill,
so that whilst the name of an annual revision is kept, the
value of an annual revision is lost. (Hear, hear.) There
was another point to which we called special attention last
year, because much was made of it by our opponents, in a
meeting held in Clayton-square in this town. It was objected
against Lord Stanley's bill that it threw difficulties in the
way of the poor claimant of his rights. There are two clauses
in the bill—the one for exacting costs from frivolous claim-
ants, and the other an enactment of costs against frivolous
objectors to claimants. The one was zealously put forward
by the opponents of the bill, which seemed to throw difficul-
ties in the way of the claimant, but the other which threw
difficulties in the way of the objector was not put forward.
(Hear.) It is called a " double appeal"—an appeal against
frivolous claimants upon the one hand, and against frivolous
objectors upon the other. Now hear the language of Lord
Morpeth upon his proposed bill :
" When the case had .been gone into at the registration,
and when all the necessary deeds and documents bad been
produced whether these documents could be produced at
another tribunal or not, he did not think it fair to grant
such an appeal or rehearing as to the matter of fact. He
thought, however, that it was but fair to give an appeal both
ways—that was for and against the franchise—on all matters
relating to the legal merits of the case."
A double appeal he allows upon matters referring to the legal
merits of the case, but refuses it upon matters of fact.—
(Hear, hear.) Why, it is upon matters of fact the appeal
constantly arises : in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred
the appeal would be upon matters of fact, and not the legal
merits of the case ! Yet here, upon the double appeal, his
lordship's explanation neutralizes the value of it. (Hear,
hear.) There is a still more important feature in this bill.
You have heard much of the clamours made about defining
the franchise, sheaving what the ten pound franchise really
meant. The reform bill allows a man who has a holding
upon a fourteen years' lease, and has an interest in the hold-
ing of .1:20 a year, to vote ; but if he has a 21 years' lease,
then an interest in his holding of £lO a year qualifies him
to vote. The question was, " What was the meaning of
an interest in £lO a year." " Define the franchise"
cries Mr. O'Connell : he says, " if the noble lord's bill
does not define the franchise, 1 will divide the house on the
first reading." Surely, when his noble friend Lord Morpeth
brought in his bill he might have expected a definition of the
franchise. A definition is a telling of the latent meaning of
some hard words. The hard words that speak of the £lO
. .

interest are set forth in a marvellous definitiim in Lord Mor-
peth's bill by plain words. But what are the plain words ?
The plain words are, that every man who is rated at £5 to
the poor law is to have the franchise. (Hear, hear.) There
is a ministerial definition of the franchise for you! (Cheers.)
But I have a particular reason for bringing this forward now.
Not only does it form a portion of this proposed bill against
which we should petition, but it forms a very important fea-
ture of another subject. (Hear, hear, hear.) We have all
read and heard and talked a good deal about the settle-
ment of affairs in 1829, by what was called the emanci-
pation bill. I should inform those of you who are not
acquainted with the fact, and remind those who are, that
while, upon_ one side, by that bill of 1829 access to parlia-
ment was opened to members of the church of Rome ; upon
the other side, for the preservation of our Protestant consti-
tution, the right of voting, or the franchise, was taken away
from the 40s. freeholders in Ireland. (Hear.) It is a part

of the emancipation bill of 1829 that the 40s. freeholders
should no longer vote : the franchise was confined to a more
select class, with a higher qualification. Lord Morpeth's
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proposal would lower the franchise to a class more than in-
clusive of the 40s. freeholders. Lcrd Morpeth's proposal is
a proposal to repeal a part of the emancipation bill ; and he
cannot in fairness object to us if we propose to repeal another
part. (Tremendous cheers.) I deliberately charge her Ma-
jesty's government with reopening the discussion of the
popish question. (Renewed cheers.) As to the matter of
_ _ _

the poor law rating by Lord Morpeth proposes to test the
qualification of the claimant, if fairly and honestly done, there
can be no objection to it. (Hear.) It is a more objection-
able test than an oath, especially in Ireland. I have said
"if truly and honestly done"—but here is a danger. We
have heard how poor law valuers and poor law guardians have
been appointed in some of the unions in Ireland, and we
know how readily matters can be arranged among parties
who understand one another. (Hear and laughter.) I have
an instance, and rather a curious one, mentioned by a gen-
tleman learned in the law, in a late speech upon that sub-
ject. lie says—
" A person sought to register out of some premises in
Mary's-lane ; the shop was proved, as a matter of course,
to be worth £lO a-year. He (Mr. H.) asked him what the
next shop was worth, and he replied ten pounds a year. A
poor-law valuator, who was in court, with more zeal than
discretion, proved that both shops were each well worth £lO
a year. May I ask you,' said he (Mr. Hayes), were you
appointed a poor-law valuator ?" Yes,' said he, decidedly.'

' In the course of your duty had you occasion to value the
premises in question?' Decidedly,' said he. At what
value did you estimate them ?" I did not value those shops,'
he replied, I valued the whole house." At what (lid you
value it ?" At 1.:18 a year.' Why,' asked he (Mr. Hayes),
' is not the house with the two shops worth as much as the
two shops ?' This was a staggerer; but he was not altogether
put to the wall ;' for when asked to account for this gross-
ness, he said that he valued the premises at a certain rate,
because there was an appeal from the decision. And this
immaculate poor-law valuator—appointed for a purpose—
thought proper to perjure himself, because the law had not
left them without the redress which that infamous wretch
would have taken from them."
There are some other curious instances recorded of the way
this matter works. One I cannot help telling you, because
it took place in no lower or more insignificant hands than
those of the then lord lieutenant of Ireland, our present neble
home secretary. Lord Normanby. (Hear.) His course in
Ireland is connected proverbially with the gaol. (Laughter.)
He went to the gaol of Carrick-upon-Shannon, and a pretty
black-eyed girl was overheard conversing with him. She
was explaining to him why an Orange judge had committed
her to prison. When she spoke of her brothers, that had
been long before transported, she told him it was for
having voted at the election. The distinguished person said,
" How is it possible your brothers could have voted when
they were transported before the election ?" " Oh," said
the girl, " though the men are gone, the certificate answers
better than if they were here." Whether the men were hung
or transported, the certificate would always be good. I have
taken the liberty of preparing according to my promise a
petition upon Lord Stanley's bill. It is open for comment
or examination, but being adopted eventually, it is for your
determined and instant signature. (Hear.) The rev. gen-
tleman then read the following petition :
"That your petitioners, deploring the present defective
state, and demoralizing tendency of the existing registration
laws for Ireland, desire to express their great satisfaction
with the bill, which has been introduced in your honourable
house a second time, for the supplying of the acknowledged
defects, the removal of the proved abuses, and the remedy of
the various evils of the said registration law.
" Your petitioners rejoice in the testimony borne even by
political opponents, to the excellency of many of the provi-
sions of that bill, seeing that they are, in name at least,
adopted hi a bill having avowedly the same object in view,
brought into your honourable house by her Majesty's chief
secretary for Ireland.
" Your petitioners feel no objection to have the qualifica-
tion of the claimant of the franchise,:tested by bis.rating to