The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-04-15 00:00:00

THE'LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

ion of the corporation to the dangerous state of a public-house
at the corner of Liver-street, in Mersey-street. They gave
great credit to the new police for the manner in which they
gave their evidence while before them, and for the prompt and
efficient check they had been to the growth of crime. They
also recommended an increase of its numbers, so that the sub-
burbs might be benefitted by its establishment.
The Recorder, in dismissing the Grand Jury, observed, that
this was the list session that would be held under the ancient
charter of the borough. That the whole jurisdiction Would
soon be vested iu the corporation, when be had no doubt but
their presentation would be attended to. The establishment of
a police for the suburbs, similar to that established for the town,
would greatly add to to its efficiency, as the jurisdiction, by the
new_municipal act, will extend seven miles round.
The following gentlemen took the oaths, and qualified as
magistratesior the borough :—Hardman Earle, William Earle,
R. E. Harvey, and William Rathbone, Esors.
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1836.

Mary Kelly, 18, was charged with stealing a coat and cloak,
the property of Henry Medder and George Byford, in February
last.,,and found guilty; sentenced to fourmonths' imprisonment
in the Borough gaol.
Mary Murphy, 40, was charged with stealing 23 pair of
slippers,• the property of John Anderton; fotind guilty, and
sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment in the Borough gaol.
John Woods, 20, charged with stealing sundry articles of wear-
ing apparel, the property. of John Charnock. Guilty, and
sentenced to six months' imprisonment in the Kirkdale House
of Correction. _ _

John Myers, 20, was charged with stealing a quantity of plate,
:he property of Charles Burgess. Previously convicted of a
ike offence. Guilty, and sentenced to be transported for four-
teen years. _ _

John Harris, 18, was charged with stealing a diamond, a
quantity of solder, and Prussian blue, the property. of William
Dry, jun. Guilty, and sentenced to four months in the Kirk-
dale House of Correction. .

John Macwell, 24; wi.Scharged with stealing a pair of boots,
.he proFerty of William Wiskett. Guilty,
,and sentenced to
.hree months in the Kirkdale House of Correction. . .

Richard Foster, 23, was charged with stealing a chair, the
property of John Robinson,-Stanley-street. Guilty, and sen-
tenced to three months' imprisonment in Kirkdale House of
Correction.
Eliza Fairhurst, -1.2 and Mary Fairhurst, 44, mother and
daughter. The former was charged with stealing eleven ducks,
a tray, and a towel, the property of Edw. M'Cortnick, in thel
New Market, and the latter with receiving the same, knowing
them to be stolen. The former pleaded guilty, and was sen-
tenced to one months' imprisonment in the Borough gaol, and
the latter totwelve months'. in Kirkdale.
• John Blackluck, 24, and Robert Holliday, 27, were charged with
stealing 700 skins, the property of R. Roscow and Co.; guilty,
and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in Kirkdale House
of Correction.

Edward Evans, 15, Wm Skelhorn, 12, Edwin Roberts, 13, were
charged with stealing a writing-desk and work-box, the property
of Ellen- Chambers, on the 4th of March last. Guilty. The
former was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in the
Kirkdale House of Correction, and the two latter to 6 mouths
in the Borough gaol, the last 14 days to solitary confinement,
and to be twice whipped.
James Steele, 21. was found guilty of stealing a. quantity of
print, the property of Elizabeth tennison, and sentenced to
nine months' imprisonment in Kirkdale House of Correction.
Ellen Roberts, 22, was charged with stealing a quantity, of
wearing apparel and bed linen, the property of her master,
Jacob Hunt. Guilty, and sentenced to fifteen months' im-
prisonment in Kirkdale House of Correction.
Solomon Jackson, 27, and John. Haskell, 32, the former was
charged with. stealing a quantity of wearing apparel, the pro-
perty of Jno. S. Clarke; and the latter with receiving the same.
knowing it to be stolen. Guilty. The former was sentenced
to six months' imprisonment, and the latter was acquitted.
Thomas Connolly, 19, charged with stealing a watch and sun-
dry other articles, the property of Sarah Fishwick, was acquit-
ted.

Henry Evans, 19, was cbarged with stealing a brass machine,
.called an upright, and sundry other articles, the property of Ed-
ward Evans, on the 16th of March last.—Guilty, and sentenced
to six months' imprisonment in Kirkdale House of. Correction.
John Jones, 16, was found guilty of stealing a sum money, the
property of George Walker, and sentence deferred.
John Leyland, 28, a young man of very respectable exterior,
was placed at the bar charged with embezzling several sums of
money, the property of his employers, Messrs. John Mather.
and Co. It may be in the recollection of our reader's that this
young man when apprehended, attempted to shoot himself, and
in doing so, nearly shot one of the officers. The charge was
fully proved against the prisoner, and he was sentenced to
twelve months' imprisonment in the House of Correction.
There were other indictments against the prisoner, but they
were abandoned.

John Jones, 39, charged with stealing a hand cart, the pro-
perty of William and Samuel Cliff, and a piece of iron, their
property. Guilty—four months in the House of Correction.
Ann Stretch, 24, for stealing a watch and a sum of money,
the property of George Gilbert Cocks. Sentenced to twelve
months in the House of Correction.
Ann Collins, 24, charged with stealing two pair of stays, the
property of William Edmunds. Guilty—sentenced to seven
years' transportation.
The calendar contains the names of fifty-nine prisoners for
felony, and twenty-one for misdemeanors and assaults. It is
expected the session will last the principle part of the week.
WEDNESDAY.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.

Thomas Taylor, 23: Thomas Jones, 19, John Allen, 25, .Tames
Howarth, 33, Charles Jackson, 20, were indicted for stealing a
number of bank notes and sovereigns amounting to upwards of
£6OO, from the dwelling-house of Mr. William Ownes, grocer,
Dennison-street.
The prisoner, Taylor, pleaded guilty. The other prisoners
pleaded not guilty.
[When the prisoners were examined before the magistrate,
we gave a detailed account of the manner in which this robbery
was committed. The evidence given against them on Wednes-
day was precisely the same, therefore, it would be superfluous
to repeat it here.]
The prisoners were all found guilty, and were sentenced to be
transported for life.
OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.

William Spence, 25, a young a man of respectable appearance
was charged with haviug received the sum of £5 14s. Od. under

false pretences.
It appeared from the evidence, that the prisoner had formerly
been in the employ of Mr. Potter, mustard manufacturer, at
Manchester. In the month of FebrUary last, he came over to
Liverpool, without the orders of his employer, and presented
an account to Mr Jones, grocer, Whitechapel, which Mr.
Jones paid to the prisoner, not doubting but he was authorised
by Mr. Potter to receive it. .*
The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended him to
mercy.

tore that he was confident the jury would think that the small-
est •coin in the realm would be sufficient compensation.
John Hill deposed to being a son of the defendant, and to re-
membering the plaintiff and two men coining to his father's
yard in October last with a crate and some carboys. He said he
had brought some carboys, and had come to pay a bill. Wit-
ness told him he could not receive it, as his father had put it
into the hands of his attorney. The plaintiff then called him an
impudent blackguard, and a puppy. He then went for his fa-
ther, who was very angry. Walker was also in a passion.
Rubt. Thompson Hill corroborated this statement. His fa-
ther did not strike the plaintiff.
Other witnesses were called who deposed to the plaintiff re-
fusing to leave the defendant's yard, and to the defendant then
pushing him out.
Mr. VENABLES replied.—He contended if his client had been
litigiously inclined he might have brought an action against the
defendant and his suns for false imprisonment.
The Recorder summed up, and the jury found for the plain-
tiff, damages 40s.

EDUCATION FOR THE POOR.

TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL.
is a well-established fact, that throughout the physi-
cal world there exist laws, the infringement of which, unless
averted by Divine interposition, is invariably followed by a cor-
responding punishment, nor is the infliction less certain that iu
many cases it is silent and protracted in its approach. The
same holds true in the moral world. An Almighty hand has
interwoven the one with the constitution of nature ; the other
forms the support of the social system.
The present apparently deranged and agitated state of so-
ciety is unquestionably to be attributed to this prolific source of
evil, and however difficult it may now be to lead a direct proof
to the specific fact, it is, nevertheless, a very prevailing opinion
that the seeds of moral evil which 'seem so fast ripening: into
'startling luxuriance around us were sown during that period in
the history of the country, when the unexampled prosperity of
her commercial speculations, uniting with her splendid success
in arms, combined to raise her, as if by common consent, to the
giddy rank of queen among the nations. Then every eye seemed
rivetted, as by a spell, upon her apparently invincible power
and inexhaustible resources ; whilst the nation itself reeled un-
der the influence of the intoxicating draught. That sobriety
and forethought which had, for a length of time, characterised
her gave way, and the spirit of intolerable pride and self-confi-
dence succeeded. Attracted by the dazzling ornaments around
the top of the social fabric on which the spirit-stirring names of
Nelson and Wellington were inscribed, her eye was altogether
withdrawn from its foundation, and perceived net that a sure
undermining process‘ was making good a lodgment there—a
moral precipitate—which would at no very distant period cause
the pile, noble and indestructible as it then seemed, to totter to
its base.
The earlier indications of the real state of matters at this pe-
riod made their appearance when the high pressure of war, with
all its deceptive blandishments, were removed. A general dis-
affection manifested itself ii; every quarter among the working
classes. Fearful, daring crime stalked abroad, and the most
astounding ignorance was disclosed as pervading the lower
ranks of the community. Happily with the discovery of the
nature of the disease arose also the most laudable exertions in
bringing forward the only effectual remedy, viz., an efficient
education. Sunday schools for the children of the industrious
poor then first started into general operation, associated with
which, in honoured remembrance, stands the name of Richard
Itaikes, while Bell and Lancaster's system of tuition in public
week-day schools successively attracted the public attention.
Of all these it may be said that they promised much, loomed
large, and fed to admiration that excessive itching after the
display so inherent in the national character. They contributed
however not a little towards allaying for a time much of the
overt actings of the distemper, but being far too superficial they
went not deep enough—fell short of rationally gratifying the
ceaseless craving of the young spirit for knowledge—trifled too
much with instead of feeding it. Such was the state of the-edu-
cation question at no distant period in England, so tar as the
interests of the poor are concerned, and we fear remains to this
day much as it was. But turn we to Scotland.
On the morning of the Ist of January, 1812, a riot, ending in
the loss of several lives, took place in the streets of Edinburgh,
which, by awakening the public mind to the state of matters in
that city, disclosed, upon investigation, such an alarming ex-
tent of youthful depravity and crime, as called forth the most
active energies of both clergymen and magistrates. From the
former, as its natural source, originated a scheme of general,
and especially religious education for the children of the poor,
which, after receiving the sanction of the then Lord Provost
and magistrates, and universal support from all classes of the
citizens was immediately put into operation. Through the
working of the Sabbath school departilient of this scheme it
came to light that not less than 300 of the children, nearly one-
fourth of the whole, were actually unable to read. For these
300 children a week-day school was immediately resolved upon,
and finally established under the name of the Edinburgh Ses-
sional School." In this school a gentleman, a native of Eng-
land, and a much attached member of her church, Mr. Sheriff
Wood, from sheer love to the work of instructing the poor, un-
dertook the charge of these Scottish children, and originated a
system of teaching which, while it trains the intellectual facul-
ties, imparts at the same time the best method of communicat-
ing knowledge to the mind—two points manifestly essential to
a right education, but too frequently left out of the account;
and so, by strewing the way with flowers and fruit, fairly cap-
tivated the young mind to a love of that which, by almost every
previous publicly recognised method, became a most revolting
task. To this method of communicating the ordinary elements
of education, and training the mind to the acquirement of know-
ledge is very commonly given the name of the "intellectual
system," but is more generally known, perhaps, by the name
of its respected author. The elements of it are few and simple,
and as it becomes every individual interested to any degree in
the education of poor children, (and who is not so ?) I may take
occasion in connection with the purposed superintendence of
the corporation schools by the town council to address your
worship on it more particularly hereafter.
Almost simultaneously with the educational movement in Edin-
burgh, another was going on in Glasgow, the mainspring of
which was an individual, honoured in every land for his regard
to the interests of the poor—the Rev. Dr. Chalmers. In one of
the most vice-abandoned corners of this very populous parish he
opened, and for a length of time taught or superintended, the
first Sabbath evening school, upon the local principle : and now
Glasgow is covered with them. The moral energy at that period
infused into society of Glasgow, by the educational movement,
has never since subsided. It passed from the Sabbath school to
the parish school, in every which seminary in Scotland, within
these few years, a complete reformation has taken place.
Long as I fear your worship will consider this exordium, it is
not without a point, and to that I would now more particularly
direct your attention. I am given to understand that many
influential persons in Liverpool are now directing their attention
to this important subject, viz., the education, and especially the
moral and religious education, of the poor ; and high time it is, sir,
if we may credit report respecting the result of the investigation
lately instituted by the town council into the state of crime and
mmorality in the community, unless indeed they intend to wait,
till the cry of murder and still more daring robberies shall startle
them into activity. And there is one feature of the case to
which, I believe, they are especially directing their eye, and
wise they are in so doing, for it is a feature which, faithful as an
index, marks with unfailing truth the state of general morals,
viz., the desecration of the Sabbath, existing throughout the
whole lower parts of the town. Gentlemen living distant from
the river, or in the upper parts of the town, can have no con-
ception of its extent. But lam told they are looking towards
your new police, sir, for a cure of this among other things, so
far as the young are concerned ! Beware of it, sir, I entreat you.
Such au interference can be but a salvo at best—a mere covering
up of the sore in all its festering power. It may take the nuisance
from the public eye, perhaps, but only to spread the more se-
curely in private; besides, does not every man's experience
tell him how the thing will work—driven from one street by,the
police, the children will, of course, fly to the next adjoining,
and, when disturbed there, return very possibly to the one they
had just left—or compel them to run for it to the fields; if the
police are not prepared to follow them, there also, is the matter
essentially mended ? Or even suppose they succeed in confin-
ing them to their own homes on the Sabbath evening, (which we
hold to be beyond the power of any police whatever, be they
public or private, hired or voluntary,) will this reach the cause
or seat of the disease ? Let any gentleman take a walk down
any of the streets leading out of Vauxhall-road, in the north
end, or Park-lane and St. James's-street towards the docks, in
the south end of the town, on a Sabbath evening, between the
hours of six and seven o'clock—let him a pay a visit to any of
the courts, or the houses and cellars in these streets, and then
let him answer in the affirmative if he dare. The thing is
absurd ; and I need not tell your worship is, except to a certain
extent, absolutely beyond the commission of the police; yet
should you, sir, be applied to, either publicly or privately, on
this subject, may I entreat your reply may he to the following
effect :—" Gentlemen,—'These are young rational creatures like
ourselves, and are not to be coerced or driven as they may do
cattle. Cannot you find employment for them on the Sabbath
evening—siiitable rational employment ? I have heard of the
local Sabbath evening schools of Scotland, unless you suggest
something better, of the same rational and appropriate charac-
ter, in the name of common. sense, why not resort to them
Scotland is studded, with them.; why should not England be so
too ? Say no more about' the police, I advise you, until you
have discharged your own duty as citizens. And the fact is,
gentlemen, establish Sabbath evening schools, on a rational
principle, in the streets and lanes of Liverpool, and by and by
there will be much less need for a police establishment." Say-
ing so, sir, you will say the truth.
And now, sir, allow me to do what 1 feel I should have done
before—apelogise for this letter—and yet, I fear, it will be an
awkward apology, for I am constrained to say that
.you have
brought it upon yourself ! I saw you presiding at a meeting in
the Mechanics' Institution a few weeks ago, which was as much
an honour to the important situation you till, as your manner of
acquitting yourself on that interesting occasion did credit both
to your head and heart. Sir, lam persuaded that in you the
young have a warm, steady, and enlightened friend. &'ou are
an advocate of general instruction for the poor; you will not
hold back when religious instruction, on a sound and rational
principle, is proffered to them; and, under the mayoralty of
William Wallace Currie, I trust yet to see the poorest outcast
Child in Liverpool withdrawn from the glaring desecration of
the " Holy Sabbath Eve," and placed under such a system of
moral anu religious training as shall best fit him for the active
dsties of his humble life, and which, by opening up to his young
mind, rationally and intelligibly, the prospects which the gospel
holds forth to his young faith, may bring him within the reach,
happily into a participation in, the only effectual, because the
only divinely appointed, remedy for the moral evil of the human
heart.
Esteeming the placing an individual so admirably qualified as
your worship is, in such a high and influential office, over such
a community, in such times, is not only a great public blessing in
itself, but the germ of many snore, I pray you may long enjoy
it, and remain, sir, your very obedient servant,
Liverpool, 301 h March, 1836.