The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-09 00:00:00

THE DOCK COMMITTEE.

At the weekly meetiniOnrii;;;Ki,trieTe were present
fourteen members, including the Chairman, J. B. Moore,
Esq.

The Committee of Works recommended the erection
of sheds for shipwrights at the graving docks, namely,
two at the Clarence Graving Docks, one at the Queen's,
and two wt the Brunswick—cost, £67s.—Confirmed.
Mr. HENDERSON stated that the new Crosby lighthouse
was lighted up on the 2nd instant : that Lieut. Lord had
inspected the whole of the arrangements and considered
them most efficient.

The Harbour--masters' Committee reported that they
had had an interview with Mr. Cubitt, in the presence of
the harbour-masters, as to the removal of the landing
stage one hundred yards further to the north. Having
heard Mr. Cubitt's explanation, they concurred in the
recommendation that the stage be removed as proposed.
Some conversation followed as to removing the stage,
and Mr. J. HARTLEY stated that the depth of water at
the bank had latterly increased ; but if the bridges were
fixed it might be necessary to remove them again, at
great expense. The bank had been going and coming,
and could not be depended upon.—Mr. ROYDEN sug-
gested cross-moorings to secure the stage more effectually.
—Mr. Tonnt thought it should be fixed properly at once,
and take its chance of the removal of the bank.—Mr.
HENDERSON said that from the great cost of the stage
it ought to have a fair chance.—Mr. AIKIN said he had
no hesitation in saying, in spite of engineering opinions,
that if it were removed further north, the entrance to
the Dock (George's) Basin would be obstructed.—Mr.
HARTLEY said (to a question) that if one end of the stage
got aground it would break immediately.—Finally, on a
division the recommendation was confirmed by a majority
of 11 to 3.

RETIREMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN.
Mr. BOLD said he had a pleasing duty to perform, and
that was to propose a vote of thanks to their chairman,
who, on that occasion, was presiding over the committee
fonhe last time. He believed all would join with him
heartily in the feeling he was expressing as to the conduct
of their chairman during the four years he had been ap-
pointed, and it was unnecessary to point out the services
he had rendered, or the ability he had displayed in carry-
ing through the various acts of parliament entrusted to
him by the committee since he had been their chairman.
Many months, taken from the attendance to his private
affairs, must have been involved in the great sacrifices he

had made, which no man, without being paid for liis.ser-
vices, could have been called on to do. He concluded by
moving the thanks of the committee to the chairman.
(Applause.)

Mr. ToBIN seconded the motion, which was carried by
acclamation.

The CHAIRMAN thanked the committee for the flatter-
ing manner in which they had been pleased to speak of
him, and said it had always been his endeavour to dis-
charge his duty faithfully and impartially. He felt con-
siderable obligations for the kindness he had at all times
received from the Trust generally, and the facilities af-
forded him by the committees. He could not but express
his gratification, since he had the honour of sitting there,
at the increased prosperity of the estate. When they met
there six years ago, the tonnage of the port was 2,423,000
tons, but this year it had increased to 3,351,000, being an
increase of 926,000 tons during the time he had had the
honour of sitting there. Such a course of prosperity was
without parallel in any port in the world. He had also
to notice with satisfaction the previous measures which
had been passed for facilitating the carrying on of the
commerce of the port. It was admitted that the ex-
tension of the docks at the north end of the town was
very much wanted, and if one fact were wanting to
confirm that point, it would be the increased tonnage
during the period he had quoted. It was such an in-
crease that the new docks would scarcely be able to meet
it, and, under present circumstances, he looked forward
to the proposed dock at Wapping being attended with
great advantage. There was one gentleman, however, to
whom they owed deep obligations in carrying out their
measures, and that was Lord Sandon ; on all occasions he
had come forward to give them his services, and he hoped
to see the day when that name was to receive the full
honour to which it was entitled. In conclusion he said,
that in taking leave of them he thanked them for the
honour they had conferred upon him.
The financial business was then proceeded with, and
the reporters withdrew.
[The proceeding relative to the Chairman arises from
the fact that his term of office as an alderman expires to-
day (Tuesday), and the vacation of his seat, as chairman,
is rendered necessary; he is, however, re-eligible.]

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. •

SMUGGLING.—On Thursday, Andres Zuchantiqui and
Jose Barrandica were each fined 20s. and costs, for smug-
gling cigars from a vessel in the Prince's Dock.
ROBBING A HOUSE.—On Wednesday, at the Police-
court, Mary Devine was committed for trial for stealing a
watch from the house of Mrs. Jackson, Toxteth-park.
She offered the watch in pledge in Brownlow-hill.
IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—On Tuesday, a woman, named
Marrow, was committed by Mr. Rushton, for stealing
two cushions from a car in Bedford-street, while the
driver was taking his dinner.

PICKING POCKETS. On Thursday, a respectable
female, whilst walking along Byrom-street, was hustled
by a party of lads, one of whom she caught in the act of
handing her purse to another of the party. She imme-
diately tripped up the young rogue into the kennel, and
handed him over to a policeman. On Friday, he was
committed for trial.

A Rica BEGGAR.—On Tuesday, Bridget Dougherty,
an old Irishwoman, was committed by Mr. Rushton to
the Borough Gaol for seven days for begging. On being
searched by the assistant matron at the gaol, there were
founcrsecreted amongst the filthy rags with which she was
clothed, and upon her person, ten sovereigns, four half-
crowns, ninety-three shillings, and thirty-nine sixpences,
in all £l6 2s. 6d. She stated that she had been in this
country about ten months, and for some time past she
had been receiving 4s. a week from the parish, and that
land being now very cheap in Ireland, in consequence of
the distress, she had been saving the money to " buy a
little farm!"
CAUTION TO SERVANTS.—On Friday, Mrs. Ashcroft,
of Great George-square, widow of the late Dr. Ashcroft,
appeared at the Police-court, to charge a woman named
M`Leone with a theft perpetrated in her house. The wo-
man, with her son, a lad about twelve years of age, under
some pretence called upon Mrs. Ashcroft, and whilst in
the hall, in the absence of the inmates, got possession of
a child's dress which was hanging up, and with which she
made off. She was captured with the stolen property in
her possession, and conveyed to bridewell. Another lady
attended for the purpose of laying a similar charge against
the woman ; it was not, however, gone into, as she was
convicted on this one, and sentenced to three months'
imprisonment. The boy was discharged.
EMBEZZLEMENT. Two young men,. named Henry
Jones and Richard Yates, were examined at the Police-
court, on Friday, on a charge of embezzlement.—Mr.
Thomas Wilcock, tea dealer, Chester, proved that some
time ago he paid Yates £8 ss. 6d. on account of Messrs.
Palmer, his employers. Subsequently he paid Jones
£4 ss. for them.—Mr. Heath, of Chester, stated that, on
the 12th of October, he remitted a £lO note and a post-
office order for 3s. 3d. to them, the receipt of which was
acknowledged by Yates. There are proofs of other pay-
ments to both prisoners, but none of them had been ac-
counted for to Messrs. Palmer. In the possession of
each a betting book was found, and Yates had some en-
velopes of letters which had contained remittances.
Yates endeavoured to exculpate Jones. _

AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE.—On Tuesday, Thomas
Ford, a man residing in Birkenhead, was brought up at
the Police-court, charged by a man, named John Crook,
with robbing him of ten sovereigns. The statement of
the complainant was to the effect that he had ridden in a
coach to Kirkdale in company with the prisoner, and had
ten sovereigns in his pocket on starting ' • but on leaving
the coach he found that the prisoner had taken his money
from his pocket. The prisoner, in his defence, said that
it was true that he had been drinking with the complain-
ant, but had not taken his money. They had been for a
day or two enjoying themselves at several public-houses,
at an outlay, the enumeration of which was sufficient to
show that little capability could exist on the one part to
take care of, or on the other to feloniously appropriate,
money. The prisoner was discharged.
A CURIOUS CASE.—On Wednesday an inquiry took
place before Mr. Rushton, respecting the loss of eight bar-
rels of flour, belonging to Mr. Ellis Owen, which were al-
leged to have been taken by Messrs. Geo. Dennistoun and
Co. It appeared that there were two vessels, side by side,
in the Brunswick Dock, landing flour, one called the Ve-
nilia, and the other the Amelia. After the discharge of
the latter, it was ascertained that she had eight barrels
more than her complement, while the former had eight
short. How this strange mistake occurred no person
could tell. Mr. Rushton said the plaintiff had failed to
show that the eight barrels in the possession of Messrs.
Dennistoun and Co. were of the same brands, marks, and
quality as those missing, and this proof was necessary be-
fore he could adjudicate. It turned out in evidence, that
nearly the whole of the flour landed from the Amelia was
sold ; to trace the flour will now, therefore, be a difficult
matter. From the statement of one of the witnesses, it
appeared that Messrs. Dennistoun requested the plaintiff's
men to examine their flour before it was sold, but the an-
swer was that the barrels were without brands.
CAUTION TO SEAMEN.—On Friday, a case of consi-
derable importance to the merchants and shipowners of
this town was heard before Mr. Rushton. It appears it
is the practice of many sailors to ship from this port to
British America, and when there desert their vessel, and
engage for the run home at higher wages. On reaching
this port, by paying ten shillings to the customs, they are
allowed another ticket. During the past week, a man
named Neill Cook, who had deserted his vessel zt Quebec,
gave notice to the customs of his intention to apply for a
ticket to enable him to re-ship on board another vessel.
The ship which he deserted happened to be in port at the
time, and the captain gave such information as led to the
detection of the prisoner. Mr. Rushton haying inquired
what amount of expense the captain had been put to to
procure a substitute, he was told £l5 13s. 4d. The
magistrate then spoke at some length on the dishonourable
practices resorted to on the part of the men; and com-
mitted the prisoner to gaol for three months, saying the
men might as well rob the vessel of her cargo as act in
such a manner; he was determined to punish every man
hi the same way. Shortly afterwards another man was
brought up under similar circumstances, and he also was
committed for three months.
CURIOUS CASE.—In July, 1840, Mr. John Bibby, a
merchant of the utmost respectability in Liverpool, and
rounder of the Royal Bank, was found drowned in a pit in
a remote field near Aintree, six miles from Liverpool, and
three from Mr. Bibby's residence at Bootle. On the
Preceding evening Mr. Bibby had dined at the Royal
Bank, and had partaken rather freely of wine. He left
about eleven o'clock, and took a car to a spot within 300
yards of his own residence, as he was in the habit of do-
ing, but he never reached home. As he was a gentleman
of great firmness of mind, it was supposed by his friends
that he had been waylaid and thrown into the pit where
his body was found, and in this opinion they were con-
firmed by the discovery that his watch was missing.
Search was made for it, and the pit emptied in vain ; the
watch could not be found ; but as there was no mark of
violence on the body, it was considered possible that the
deceased bad been robbed of his watch, and that he had
wandered to the place of the fatal accident. Last Wed-
nesday, however, new light was thrown on the transac-
tion ; a stranger took a watch to Roskell's, watchmakers,
in Liverpool, to have it repaired. On looking at it, they
discovered that the original number had been defaced and
another substituted. On further examination they found
their own private mark, placed on the watch when they
had repaired it for the late Mr. Bibby. On Saturday the
stranger called for it, and on being questioned, the
watch was traced to a disreputable character, the keeper
of a disorderly house. Two men are in custody, and the
police are making farther ineuiry .—London Times. [We
were aware of the facts before our last publication, but
suppressed them at the request of the police.]
EXTENSIVEROBBERY OF MONEY FROM A CHESHIRE
LADY.—On Thursday, two men, John Burgess and
William Mitchell, were brought before the sitting magi-
strates of Birkenhead, on a charge of being concerned in
the robbery of Mrs. Mathison, of Capenhurst-hall,
Cheshire. The prisoners had been brought up at the
Guildhall Police-office, London, and were sent down to
Liverpool, and thence to Birkenhead. Mrs. M. stated
that on the 26th of last month she received at Heywood's
bank in this town a £lOO Bank of England note, and
eight sovereigns, &c. She went home the same day by rail
from Birkenhead. No one was in the carriage with her
at first, but afterwards five or six men got in, one of them
like Burgess. She got out at Sutton station, and on
going into the office, discovered that her purse and its
contents were gone, and the train had started before she
could give the alarm. She could not identify any of the
prisoners. Emanuel Franklin, of the firm of Franklin
Brothers, Lord-street, bullion merchants, said that two
men called on the 27th October, wanting American notes
for a £lOO Bank of England note. He changed the note
accordingly, and be gave the court an account of the
American notes given. The prisoner Mitchell was one of
the two men. John Durandu, bullion merchant, of
Waterloo-road, said that on the 27th October, Burgess
called, and said a friend of his had a number of American.
notes to change. He (witness) asked him where he got
them, and the reply was, from America. Witness said

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

he thought the notes had been stolen, probably from
Franklin s. The prisoner said that he would go with him
in a car to Franklin's. Witness said he would not Lave
anything to do with them, but he would keep the note he
had, and he, the prisoner, might call in the morning.
Witness then gave information to the police. Adam
Spellman, No. 10, Lombard-street, London, bullion
dealer, said he had seen both prisoners on the 28th Oct.
Mitchell produced a quantity of American notes, and
called himself Capt. Bridgewater, of the ship Wellington,
lying in the St. Catharine's dock. Witness purchased the
notes. Both prisoners afterwards came with more notes,
which he said he could not do until next day—when
Burgess called, and he gave him into custody. This
finished the evidence at present against the prisoners,
and Mr. Dowling, in whose custody they had been brought
from Liverpool, sought a remand' of the case, which was
agreed to, and fixed for Wednesday.
ALLEGED CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—On Thursday,
a man named Thady Freeman was brought before Mr.
Rushton, charged with an assault on Patrick Falkney,
who was at the time in a dangerous state. Before the
case was gone into, intelligence was brought into court
that the man was dead. The prisoner was therefore
handed over to the coroner, Mr. Curry. On Friday, the
inquest was held, and Freeman and his wife were brought
up as being implicated in the man's death. John
Mc. Nulty, a labourer, living in a court in Shaw's-brow,
said that deceased was thirty-two years of age. Three
weeks ago, on Sunday, he, (witness,) deceased, Freeman,
and his wife, a man, named Grady, and others, were
drinking in a public-house, in Dale-street. Words arose
between deceased and Freeman, and the latter struck de-
ceased on the head. When they got out into the street,
Grady struck deceased at the back of the, head with a
stick, and deceased immediately said, " There is iron or
lead at the end of the stick." The blood flowed from the
back of deceased's head ; and at the same time Freeman's
wife struck him about the head. Witness took deceased
to his house in North-street. His head afterwards
swelled, and a surgeon was called, who attended him up
to the time of his death, on Saturday week. Another
witness, who corroborated these facts, said, that after
Grady inflicted the blow, he secreted the weapon in a
grating. Mr. Lynch, surgeon, said he was called to de-
ceased on the 18th ultimo, and found a wound on the
head, which was followed by erysipelas. He did not at-
tend him again for two or three days, and then found him
in a comotose state. Death ensued by erysipelas, caused
by a blow of a stick or a fall. Witness, on his last visit,
found a man holding a basin under one of the deceased's
temples, and, on inquiry, was told that Dr. St.. Pierre
had bled him. That person was then in the garret, and
afterwards came down stairs, and admitted to witness that
he had interfered with his patient, that it was unprofes-
sional, but the danger was positive, and that lie had been ,
urged by the man's friend to bleed him. It appeared '
from their evidence, that he had put the man in a sitting
posture in bed, whilst he dashed cold water over the pa-
tient, put salt in one of his ears, and on his stomach ; he
also put vinegar in his eyes, and administered some yellow
stuff to him. Besides this, he bled him in three places in
the arm, on the temple, and on the ankle. The re-
mainder of Mr. Lynch's evidence went to say, that the
bleeding was decidedly improper, and that the treatment,
generally, adopted by Dr. St. Pierre, accelerated death.
It appeared on re-examination of witnesses, that the
bleeding was attempted by the counsel of the friends, but
that very little blood was taken away owing to the low
condition of the patient. In reply to questions by the
coroner, Mc. Nulty and Mr. Lynch said that they thought
that Dr. St. Pierre had had some drink, but was not po-
sitively drunk. The coroner, on addressing the jury, said
that he had gone to the Town-hall, and had received the
highest professional advice, the result of which was, that
he should adjourn the case until Monday, and in the
meantime order a post mortent examination. The co-
roner took Dr. St. Pierre's assurance that he would then
be in attendance.

TESTIMONIAL TO A CAPTAIN.

The following letter has been sent to Captain Burns, of
the ship St. John, just arrived here from St. John's, New
Brunswick : _

Dear Sir,—We the passengers on board the good ship
St. John, of and from St: John, New Brunswick, cannot
take leave of you without expressing our respect for the
truly efficient and skilful manner in which you have dis-
charged the responsible duties of your office, during a
passage of twenty days across the Atlantic.
At all times we have found your demeanour that of a
gentleman, and your unwearied anxiety for the safety of
the vessel, and our individual happiness, such as to leave
an abiding impression of gratitude on -our minds. We
will not soon forget the very happy time which has passed
so agreeably in the vessel under your command, and it is
our prayer that He "who rides on the whirlwind, and di-
rects the storm," may long preserve you in all your jour-
neyings, so that others may afterwards enjoy the same
privileges as those which we have so richly experienced,
owing to your unwearied assiduity and attention, and for
which we feel called on thus cordially to express our ap-
probation and thankfulness.
With sincere good wishes for your prosperity and hap-
piness, We remain, dear sir,
• Most affectionately, your friends,
Alex. M`Leod Stavely, Minister of St. John's, N.B.
James Law, A.M., Minister, Richibucto, N.B.
Alexander Petrie, Liverpool,
Arthur H. K. Allan, Fredericton, N.B.
Mrs. Iroine, St. John's, N.B.
Miss Reid, Ayrshire.
Off Mizen Head, 26th October, 1847.

The following is the worthy captain's reply :
Ladies and Gentlemen,—l beg most respectfully to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your most gratifying compliment,
dated 26th Oct. 1847, in which my conduct, during a voy-
age from St. John's to this port, is appreciated by you in
the most flattering terms ; and 1 beg also to state that the
assiduity and attention for which you so cordially thank
me, shall be exercised on all occasions under similar cir-
cumstances, and I trust, in return, you will accept my
best but most humble thanks for the high eulogiums so
recently conferred upon your most obedient and humble
servant, ARTHUR BURNS,

Master of the ship St. John.

THE ANTIQUITIES FOUND AT HOYLAKE.

A pamphlet bearing this title has made its appearance—
from the pen of our talented and respected townsman
A. Hume, Esq., LL.D., F.S.A., of the Collegiate Insti-
tution, and corresponding member of several antiquarian
and other scientific societies.

The author has evidently brought to his task the fruits
of much antiquarian research, and has treated his subject
—not in itself very fertile—with that extreme and retiring
modesty which is the frequent concomitant of genius.
The topic is one of much interest in this locality, and
scarcely less so to the topographical in any part of the
kingdom ; for who, of the thinking world, can be dead to
the feelings and speculations to which the contemplation
of physical mutations of territory give rise ?—the sub-
mersion, as in this case, by the inroads of the ruthless
ocean, of a probably extensive and assuredly fertile dis-
trict, peopled by a race long since gathered to their fathers,
vet leaving behind them, on the site of their habitations,
relics, though simple, of their state of civilization and
ingenuity. The work is illustrated by drawings on stone.
It appears that in the spring of 1846 the author hap-
pened to be at the parsonage of Hoylake, where he saw
some curiosities on the chimney-piece, which he was
informed were but " a small portion of tEose procured by a
poor man in the village who occasionally amused himself
by picking them up on the sea shore." These he exhi-
bited. Shortly afterwards, the interest of the curious was
again excited by the finding, by the late Dr. Carson, of
aLlilvbeeraproionlg, omf
aarksskulofl
aannd tiqoutihtyer. reElivcesnnteuaarlltyh,eaftsaemr esevsperoat,
l
visits,procuredhe
te place
eaecne entire ton as theckoft Submarinehehumbleco Forest,llector
extracted from the
to which several members of the Liverpool Literary and
Philosophical Society made an excursion in 1845. It lies
between the Leasowe Lighthouse and the mouth of the
Dee ; and our author remarks, that "to whatever cause
the fact is attributable, it is unquestionable that a place
in which large quantities of vegetable matter attained
maturity and fell to decay, is now daily covered by the
tide."
The area, over which the articles were found, is several
acres in extent, and consists of " a bottom of light blue
clay, with black earth like turf, at the top." It is lower
than the adjacent land, but not probably more than two
feet; and a sand-hill—variable according to the state of
the wind—rests upon this bed, and presents its side to
the sea, from four to twelve and even twenty feet high.
The collector, an old inhabitant, has occupied the leisure
hours of 18 years in procuring them.
The most important of them are,—upwards of 100
buckles, 20 rings and fragments, 6 skewers or pins, 80
tags of straps, 3 needles, 2 needle cases, 3 brooches, 3
fibulae, 8 amulets or beads, one fish hook, one key, and a
cross.

Dr. Hume describes these seriatim with reference to
the drawings, and enters into an interesting inquiry as to
the respective probable dates of their formation, and the
several uses to which they were applied. The details are
highly interesting, and exhibit much antiquarian research.
Dr. Hui states :

" Until the time of Edward 111., however, Wirrall was
still a forest ; but it was not the less fitted to be the posi-
tion of British towns and villages. This circumstance may
also in part account for the quantities of timber still found
here, similar to those which are found in Bagmere and
Ellesmere two centuries ago. From the period when
Wirrall was disafforested, it, of course, became much
better known. The Roman station at Hilbre was taken
possession of by monks, and the shepherd, the husband-
man, the sailor, and the ecclesiastic, passed frequently
over the district that had long been known only to the
forester or the sportsman. Villages were no doubt built,
and others extended; and there can be little doubt that
the convenience of Hoylake for purposes of navigation
caused it early to attain considerable celebrity. For
several centuries it was the practical Liverpool of our
north-western coast. It was one of the great landing-
places from Ireland. It has been celebrated in history as
the place of embarkation of William 111. at the period of
the revolution ; and it was the place from which William
Penn sailed with his friends when going to colonize or
" plant " the State to which he gave his name. Since
that time, strange causes have been in operation, sufficient
to account for more than all the changes which these anti-
quities suggest to the mind."
Several highly interesting extracts are given from vari-
ous authors relative to the locality, including some from
Captain Denham's " Mersey and Dee," from which it
appears that, from the tidal action, " the inhabitants of
two or three villages may have been dispossessed by
Father Neptune, when they fancied that their name and
fame were sufficient to endure for ever. And if we carry
our thoughts back, not 150 years only, as Capt. Denham
foundations informed
of
houses could have been distinctly traced at a recent
has done, but 300 or 400, how much greater must the
changes have been that have taken place in all that time."
the
that Our at
tutthhe orlofuwrt-wheartesrtoatfess,prtihnagt
tDidre.sTraill ,
period on the Hoyle Bank.