The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

have no right to complain of the New Poor Law Act,
because in Parliament Tories as well as Whigs assisted
in the passing. of it. This is his editorial Whig law,
which, however good in itself, we fear, he will not find
so efficient in its sanctions as he might desire. For
our part, though we allow that for our sins we must
sometimes submit to the infliction of Whig legislation,
we know of no right that a Whig gentleman of the
fourth estate has to make laws for us, and we appeal
against his jurisdiction. Let it be a rule for Whigs to
persevere in ill-doing, if the fates will have it so ; but
for Tories, we claim the right of retractation and
amendment when they perceive that there has been
error in any of their proceedings.
We are now threatened with a brace of nuisances
against which the inhabitants of Liverpool ought, in
our humble opinion, to make every resistance, at least
in their own behalf, let others do as they may : we al-
lude, certainly, in the first instance, to the introduction
of the New Poor Law Act into the borough, and, in
the second, to the extension of the powers of the pro-
posed commission under Lord Normanby's Building
and Drainage Bill within our jurisdiction.

We take, as a common ground of objection to these
twin Whig blessings, that here at least we stand in no
need of them, and may well claim to be exonerated
from their bestowment. We do not say that in other
places the Building and Drainage Act, when properly
modified, may not be found useful; nor is it at all ne-
cessary for our purpose that we should go at length
into the questio vexata between the new poor law and
the old. Enough is it for us to contend, simply, that
Liverpool is sufficiently well able to take care of its
own poor upon the existing system and principle of
self-government; and as to the building and drainage
measure, that if it required one, Liverpool would na-
turally prefer a local act for itself, to being compre-
hended in a general enactment such as that projected.
It is, we conceive, nothing less than an insult to include.
under the centralising administration of Government
Commissioners, a city of the magnitude, importance,
and character of Liverpool, as if it were incapable of
self-gdvernment ; and we think that the more wealthy
and intelligent classes of its inhabitants ought—not for
this reason only, but for the prevention of great prac-
tical evil and injury to the poor especially—to use every
exertion that the operation of these bills may be kept
without its boundaries.

ks to the Bastile system, and its grinding economy,

enough has been said to make every man who feels for
the poor of the neighbourhood in which he resides

both anxious and alert to save them from such a cala-
mity; and, as to the Building and Drainage Act, even
in that case also we are called upon for the sake of the

poor still further to stem the torrent of Whig tyranny
and injustice. Some of the clauses of that dct inter-
meddle with the concerns of the poor and the rights of
Englishmen in a manner which we trust will never be
endured either in legislation or in practice in this
country.

Lord Ndrmanby proposes to settle by act of Parlia-
ment the size of rooms and the height of wisdoms.—"No
room in any house built after the passing of this act in
any such town or village, having only one room on the
ground floor, or having four rooms in all, shall be less
than 8 feet in height from the floor to the ceiling ; and
in every such house there shall be at least one room of
not less dimensions than twelve feet from the back to
the front in the clear thereof, and 12 feet from one side
to the other side in the clear thereof, exclusive of any
space which may be taken of for any closet or stair:-
case."

And, " In every room containing 144 square feet of
flooring in any house built after the passing of this act
in any such town or village, there shall be at least one
window, the dimensions of which shall be not less than
4 feet 9 inches in height, and not less than three feet
wide in the clear of the sash frame ; and every such
window shall be either a casement window opening
on hinges, or the sashes shall be double hung, opening
both at the top and bottom."

If this becomes law, not only cannot a man build,
but we suppose (if there is to be any consistency in
the thing) he cannot alter or divide a room in his house
without running the risk of having it pulled down ;
yes, incredible as it may appear, pulled down.

By the. 2gth and. 30th clauses, any two justices of
. the peace are enabled to declare a house " irregularly
built " a common nuisance, and to order it to be
" abated or taken down" at the owner's expense.
" This reckless and wanton invasion of property and
liberty," justly observes the Times, in commenting on
this bill, "is proposed by a liberal.government in the
nineteenth century, and in a country where every man's
`house' was formerly said to be 'his castle.' Any un-
fortunate workman who may wilfully, carelessly, or
negligently" make a window an inch too short, or a
room a foot too small, is to be visited with heavy pe-
nalties ; and public surveyors are app6inted, to whom
every master workman or other person who, after the
passing of this act, shall build, or cause to be built,
any house, or any addition to a house, in any such town
or village,' will be obliged to give notice, before it is
begun, and after it is finished ; and these public sur-
veyors are authorised to take the .whole direction of
the works into their own hands, (and to demand a fee
for so doing,) and are required to inform against any
deviation from the statutable dimensions."

Such being the extraordinary provisions of this mea-
sure, well may we wish that LiVerpool should be ex-
empt from its operation.

In another part of our paper this day will be found
a report of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and
Manchester Railway Company. The very satisfactory
statements made in the report cannot but prove highly
gratifying to the shareholders. When this line is com-
pleted it will doubtless be a very profitable one, as it
will command not only an extensive carrying trade,
but the number of passengers upon it will be very
great. Seven or eight miles of the line will be opened
this year.

LOCAL NEWS,

ASSAULT.—A car-driver, named Edward Barrow, was
yesterday fined 50s. and costs, (or to be imprisoned one
month,) for a violent assault cn an old man, who had merely
gone up to obtain the name of the owner of the ear, with
which the prisoner had run against and broken his son's
shandry.
MODEL OF THE LAKE DISTRICTS.---NOW that the wea-
ther has burst into beauty and become pleasant, it is to be
hoped that this very excellent and interesting model will be
well supported. The children of the Deaf and Dumb Insti-
tution were allowed to visit the model last week, and we un-
derstand that many of them, from Ulverston and the neigh-
bourhood, took the most lively interest in examining the
country before them. We recommend a visit to this very
clever work of art.

REPRESENTATION OF MANCHESTER.--WC are glad to
perceive that the conservatives are making the most strenu-
ous efforts for contesting the representation of this borough,
in. gase.of an early dissolution_ of-Parliament. _.. Encouraged,
by a division amongst the liberal party, they • are about to
bring forward two candidates—namely, Sir George Murray
and Richard Entwistle, Esq. (the son-in-law of Edward
Lloyd, Esq.)

SERIOUS COMPLAINT AGAINST, A LETTER CARRIER.—
Yesterday, at the Police-court, a letter carrier, named Joseph
HolloWay, was placed at the bar on a charge of having de-
tained a number of letters, which he ought to have delivered
on the previous day. The inspector of letter carriers from
the postoffice said that he had gone to the prisoner's house,
and there found 180 letters. The prisoner said his round
was more than he could accomplish, and that he had made a
complaint to that effect. The' inspector admitted that the
prisoner had complained, but added, that the round was not
greater than that given to others. Mr. Rushton said it was
the duty of the prisoner to return the letters to the postoffice
when he found he Could not duly deliver them. The charge
was a serious one, and he must be remanded.

TRIBUTE OF ESTEEM.—The members of Mr. Joliffe's
Royal Liverpool Lancer Band having met together at the
house of his son, the Lancer Tavern, Old Haymarket, a few
evenings ago, it was determined amongst them to pay a tri-
bute of respect to their worthy leader; a very handsome sub-
scription was immediately entered into, for the purpose of
presenting him with a magnificent silver medal, surmounted
with gold, in the shape of a star. Mr. Doke, our talented
townsman, will in the course of a few days have completed
this present, and will allow it to be placed in his window a
few days previous to its presentation. From such hands the
"star" must indeed be brilliant. I recommend the lovers of
the unique to avail themselves of the opportunity of inspect-
ing this chaste but splendid specimen of art.—From a Cor-
respondent.

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.—Yesterday, at the police
court, Mr. Moss, pawnbroker, informed Mr. Rushton, that
a poor man named Joseph
Hill, who was in the habit of occa-
sionally calling on his (Mr. M.'s) mother for relief, and who
had yesterday been sent from that office to the parish office,
but refused relief there ; had that morning gone to informant's
house, and dropped down and died at the door, of what ap-
peared to be destitution of the necessaries of life. This
statement, which appeared to involve a serious charge against
the relieving officers, was, however, so far as they were con-
o•
cerned,
speeday disposed of. It appeared from the evidence
of Mr-. Evans and another gentleman, as well as of Mr.
Parkinson, of the Bridewell, that the deceased was taken
from the streets, on Tuesday, to Bridewell, for safety, as he
appeared to be in want. On Wednesday, when he applied
for relief, he was paid Is, and told to return in the morning
(yesterday), and he would be sent to the Infirmary, as it then
appeared he was labouring under asthma. He remained in
the Bridewell till half-past six on that night. He had also
previously received 2s. as relief. Under the circumstances
Mr. Rushton said that lamentable as was the poor man's
death, no blame was attributable to the parish officers, and
the case terminated.

THEATRE ROYAL.—As Van Amburgh and his lions w
shortly leave Liverpool, no time should be allowed to claw
who wish to see his wonderful performances.
' Venice Preserved" was played on Tuesday, and last night
" A Cure for the Heartache; ' to-night, " Laugh when you
can" will put the risible faculties of many into action.
THE POST-OFFICE GALLERY.—Since writing the notice
of the pictures that.bave been lately added to the Post-office
Gallery Collection, we understand that several more first-
rate works of art have arrived, and will be hung up to-day.
Amongst them are fine paintings by Guido, Caracci, Mor-
land, &c. We sincerely hope that this undertaking will an-
swer. We believe that the proprietor only wishes it to pay
the expenses. It has so far been well supported. The walls
now exhibit works of art at least worth £20,000 to £30,000,
and the gallery, in point of excellence, may compete with
many of the first collections in the kingdom.

by tha

PROTESTANT REGISTRATION OFFICE.—We omitted in
our last to direct the attention of our readers to the regis-
tration office now established in Elliott-street, by Mr. Lea-
therbarrow, for the purpose of providing- the public with
respectable and Protestant servants. Nye have no doubt
many of our friends will •be glad to avail themselves of this
excellent method of procuring fit individuals for their domes-
tic requirements.

DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.—We beg to draw
attention to the very liberal offer made by Mr. Cronin, in
his advertisement which appears elsewhere in our paper to-
day. We have heard of some very remarkable cases which
Mr. Cronin has had under his care, and lin recommending
him to the notice of our friends, we believe we can do so with
confidence.

ST. DAVID'S DAY.—The celebration of this day by the
loyal inhabitants of ancient Britain will take place as usual.
After a procession and examination of the children in the
Welsh school-room, the friends of Cambria will adjourn to
the Clayton Arms Hotel, Clayton-square, to partake of the
repast prepared for them. On the following day, we per-
ceive, a meeting will take place for the purpose of petitioning
the legislature against the abstraction of the Welsh ecclesias-
tical revenues for any other purpose than that for which they
were originally designed.
THE LIVER.—The " Church-Street Drawing Room," as
this theatre has been often called, has been well attended
during the week. Aladdin has been cleverly got up. We
earnestly recommend Mr. Rogers to give up those abomina-
ble deep tragedy airs he indulges in. He must recol-
lect that he is not roaring across the sawdust of
an Amphitheatre, but in the Liver Theatre, where,
to use Shakespe:e's excellent advice, he must " use all gen-
tly. In " Ten Thousand a Year," instead of acting like a
plain country gentleman turned out of his estate, he delivered,
the text as if he was doing the awful in a Sans Pareil melo-
drama.

A SHIP OVERTURNED IN THE GRAVING DOC/C.—A
rather novel accident occurred on Monday last to the ship
Baboo, Capt. Forrester, from Calcutta, at this port. The
vessel, it appears, was recently placed in the Canning Graving
Dock, where she had been repaired and coppered. On
Monday she was ready to take in cargo, and was about to
leave the Graving Dock for that purpose. Unfortunately
she was not sufficiently ballasted, and, as the water rose
upon her, she suddenly sprung up and immediately fell over
on her beam ends. The ballast that was in her hold slipped
over, which, with the water which rushed into her, contri-
buted to fix her with increased firmness in her awkward po-
sition. None of the workmen or sailors sustained any in-
jury, and active measures were immediately resorted to in the
erection of mechanical purchases, &c. to replace the vesselin
her natural posture, which, it is expected, will be effected
without damage. The rumour of the accident soon spread
far and wide, and hundreds of persons visited the spot for
the purpose of witnessing a sight so novel and extraordinary.
ST. HELEN'S SPRING FAIR.—The first spring fair in this
thriving and fast-increasing town took place yesterday week.
At ten o'clock in the morning a procession was formed, and
headed by a band of music, accompanied the authorities to
proclaim the fair according to the ancient custom. There
was a tolerably good show of all kinds of stock, with rather
a lack of buyers. In those brought to be exhibited for the
premiums offered by the fair committee, there was a mani-
fest improvement since last fair. The judges appointed to
decide upon the merits of the different animals were Mr.
Stetson, of Toxteth-park ; Mr. Almond, of Standish ; and
Mr. Wood, veterinary surgeon, Wigan. Owing to indispo-
sition, the latter gentleman was prevented from attending,
but the other two gentlemen very satisfactorily discharged
the important duty imposed upon them.
ASSAULT.—We alluded in our last to an assault which had
taken place between a fireman of the West of England
Junction Company and an inspector of police, at the fire in
Rumford-street, on Sunday. The parties were brought be-
fore Mr. Rushton on Tuesday, and after the following ob-
servations he dismissed the case :—" This is a case against
Inspector M'Donald, for having assaulted Mulholland, and
deprived the men of the West of England Fire-office of their
plug. He had not acted on his own responsibility, but from
the instructions of the head constable, and did so for the
purpose of obtaining a supply of water which was necessary
for the suppression of the fire. But if any man interferes in
such matters without an authority; he makes himself amena-
ble to the law and is brought before me, I should visit him
with the most severe punishment. But Mr. Whitty had given
his instructions, and the West of England men ought to have
made way for him, as it is in evidence that they knew that
they were an impediment to the head constable. The cor-
poration have vested powers in the head constable, and I
wish to be understood, that they must not be interfered with
at all. If the parties under him outstep their duty they are
amenable to this court. But in no case, when acting under
the orders of the head constable, are they to be molested. It
appears to me, that this is a case of jealousy on the part of
the West of England firemen."—The charge was preferred
by the fireman.

ROBBERY OF VALUABLE GOODS FROM A WAREHOUSE.—
At the Police Court, yesterday, Peter Taylor, Geo. Mercer,
James Hughes, Catharine Taylor, Jane Woods, and Catharine
Ashcroft, were placed at the bar, on suspicion of being con-
cerned in robbing a warehouse of some valuable silks, &c.
It appeared that on the 11th or 12th of the present month, a
warehouse-room belonging to Messrs. Wm. Rose and Co.,
in Tower-gardens, was broken open ; a case was also broken,
and a quantity of the articles carried off, while others were
left lying about, doubtless in the hurry of the depredator or
depredators to escape.—Philip Flinn, warehouseman to
Messrs: Rose and Co. (merchants and forwarding agents
(11,‘
said that he locked the warehouse-room in which the goods
were shortly after 12 o'clock at noon, on the 11th instant,
and all the cases were then in good order. On the following
day he received notice that something was wrong, and on
going to the spot found some pieces of silk handkerchiefs,
&c., strewed about. A man employed by Messrs. Bayley
Brothers, and who had gone to the warehouse for weights and
scales, saw a silk handkerchief-piece lying at the door of the
warehouse-room, and gave the alarm, and a poker was soon
afterwards found near the door, also a chisel, broken in the
lock. The room was then entered, a case was found broken
open, various articles carried off, and some left lying about.
The goods, it appeared, had been received from Glasgow.
Several pawnbrokers' assistants appeared, who produced silk
handkerchief-pieces, or separate handkerchiefs, pledged by
one or other of the prisoners. The house of Taylor, in Be-
vington-bush, was searched, and a quantity
of silk handker-
chief ends, or fents, were found stowed in a cradle by the
Police-officer. Several pawntickets, to correspond with the
articles pledged, were also produced and sworn to by the
pawnbrokers. Some silk handkerchiefs were also found at
the house kept by one of the male prisoners, and at that of
another more of the web ends, between the bed and the mat-
trass. The evidence was not so strong against Mercer as
against the others, but strong suspicion nevertheless attached
to him, and they were all remanded, till the parties from
Glasgow, who could identify the articles, could be brought
round. to give evidence. There were also found, along with
handkerchiefs, at the house of one of the prisoners, a hand-
some piece of plate, chased, and intended probably as a small
sugar-basin. This article is not part of the property taken
from the warehonse.

BIRKENHEAD FAIR, TUESDAY.—This fair being a new
one, and some doubt and uncertainty having existed as
to its being held at all, caused the attendance to be rather
slack. There is no doubt, however, from the great faci-
lities offered by the railway to Chester, that if the Birken-
head fairs were made more public they would be extremely
well'attended, while the excellent prices at all times obtained
on all descriptions of stock ought to prove a sufficient encou-
ragement to the farmers in the neighbourhood to bring down
their produce. In the cow fair we saw seine very likely
calvers, at .£l6 to £22. There were two or three fat beasts,
which /etched high prices, varying from £22. to £25. There
were very few sheep, but high rates were obtained for them.
There were a few pigs, for which 30s. to 40s. were asked, too
high prices for their value. In the horse fair were many
very serviceable animals, some good useful cart horses were
shown, but high prices were asked for all sorts. If this fair
were well supported, we are confident that it would become
one of some consequence. We saw many respectable dealers
from Liverpool, who would doubtless have laid out their
money if prices coutd have tempted them. We were sur-
prised
to find that there was no cheese pitched. Consider-
ing the very excellent prices obtained at the last fair, we should
have thought it Would have been worth the while of the
farmers to bring their dairies forward. More publicity must
be given to the next fair, and there is no doubt that the at-
tendance will be better.
FATAL. ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday evening, about half-past
seven o'clock. police sergeant Beckerson, 22 A, was on duty
in Hy de Park, when he observed a chimney bekinging to No,
4, Hamilton-place, on fire. He went to the house to apprize
the inmates, and knocked at the door, but no one answered
it, and whilst standing there be heard something fall very
heavily in the hall, accompasied with a great smashing of
glass. The door was afterwards opened, and the sergeant
saw a man lying on his face, on the floor of the hall, sur-
rounded by an immense pool of blood. He turned him on
his back, but the poor fellow was to all appearance dead. Dr.
Fuller, of Piccadilly, was sent for, and that gentleman said
that life had become extinct the moment the deceased fell.
The deceased was afterwards removed to St. George's work-
house. It appeared that the deceased, whose name is James
Bexford, was under-butler to Henry Bevan, Esq., of No. 4,
Hamilton-place, and had ascended to the roof for the pur-
pose of Tutting something down the chimney, when his foot
slipped and he fell through the skylight into the hall, where
he was found.
ANOTHER DUEL.—An affair of the above nature took
place on Thursday, the 18th instant, between a Mr. L. and a
Dr. H. The principals, their seconds, and an eminent sur-
geon of this city, whose services had been secured for the
occasion. met, by appointment, about two miles beyond
Penicuik. Here they were unable to carry their purposes
into execution, being watched and followed from the inn by
two men who appeared to suspect their object. Upon this,
a move was made back to Penicuik, where, by means of
each party leaving the inn separately, and proceeding into
the wood by different routes, they escaped observation. A
difficulty now arose concerning the mode in which the duel
was to be conducted, Dr. H. insisting, through his friend,
that it should be in the French style, where the parties
are placed back to back, and the signal being given, each
advances a certain number of paces—previously agreed on
—turns, and fires. This difficulty being disposed of by an
appeal to " a toss," which was won by Dr. H.'s friend,
the French mode was adopted. The seconds then retired
considerably to the right side of the combatants—the signal
heinc
fi given,
and turning, but in his eagerness to gain the advantage of firing
Dr. H. rapidly paced his steps
first, he discharged his pistol before he had turned wholly
round, consequently his bullet passed between the two sec-
onds. Mr. L.'s ball passed within a few inches of the doc-
tor's head. The parties fired a second time without effect,
the usual mode being this time adopted. Dr. H. now yielded
to the original demands made by Mr. L., and signed a writ-
tenup certain physiological
document to that effect. We understand the affair arose
This manner of settling
in consequence of a dispute concerning the right to a disco.
anatomy,pvbereynoinmemnainuhtiether
a dispute musttlappear, app
ear we should hope eve to
ine
xlci clearing g
n the parties
themselves, both foolish and culpable. Although a duel has
been fought, has it been ascertained who was the real disco-
verer of the physiological fact? We suspect not.—Edinburgh
Evening Post.
SERIOUS OUTRAGE.—We are sorry to have to record
another instance of those villainous and cowardly acts, which,
on too many occasions, have had their rise among the dis-
contented colliers. On Tuesday last some malicious persdn
or persons, between ten and eleven o'clock, discharged some
fire arms, loaded with bullets and sings, through
one of the
windows in Mr. Peace's house in Haigh, with intent to kill
or maim an inmate of the house, who was at the time
closing the window previous to his retiring to rest. We un-
derstand that a clue has been already obtained to the perpe-
trators of this diabolical outrage, but we refrain from saying
more on this head, lest, by doing so, we should frustrate or
impede the attempts which are now making, by our active
and vigilant police, to capture the offenders. Fifty pounds
reward is offered by Mr. Peace, to any person who may give
such information as will lead to the convietion of the person
or persons who perpetrated this atrocious act.—Wigati
Gazette.