The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-08 00:00:00

IT V LIVERPOOL STANDARD, ITESDA_Y,

iiittONISII IN LIVERPOOL.—The three
men,William Robinson, Gerald Farrell, and John Roo-
who were apprehended on a charge of being mem',ei
an illegal society, called " Ribbonism," and with wing

THE CASE o

bers of

fn their possesslo n written signs, passwords, and other
documents connected with said society, have been corn-.
mitted for trial by the magistrates in Dublin,

COMMISSIONS signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of the
County Palatine of Lancaster :—Edward Parker, Esq.,
William Earle, Esq., John Weld, Esq., James Hardy
Wrigley. Esq., Edward James Stanley, Esq., Henry
Master Fielden, Esq., John Rowlandson Marshall, Esq.,
Thomas Dugdale, Esq., William Ainsworth, Esq., and
Peter Catterall, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenants.
ROYAL INSTITUTION ScnooL.—ln the list of mathe-
teutical honours lately published at Cambridge, we
observe that Mr. Glynn, formerly a pupil at this school,
has obtained the distinguished place of sixteenth wrangler.
Mr. Glynn was the successful candidate for the Canning
scholarship at the Royal Institution. and has since
obtained a scholarship at St. Peter's College, Cambridge.
PRIVATE EXPEDITION TO AUSTRALIA.—Some time ago
a number of young men in the Isle of Man purchased a
schooner, and fitted her up for a voyage to Australia. On
Wednesday week the adventurers set sail from Peel.
The Vixen carries out 37 emigrants, all young able-bodied
men. They are expected to be absent from Peel four
years, when they are bound to return to their native land.

Jonw ADAMS, the cook of the Marco Polo, brought an
action at the County Court, last week, against Captain
Forbes, for the sum of £lB 183., being the price of 21 cwt.
of fat, which the plaintiff alleged had been improperly re-
tained and sold by defendant. It appeared that Captain
Forbes had sold the fat, and handed the money over to

the owners. His honour gave a verdict for the defendant.
A LECTURE ON " MONASTICISM" was delivered by
the Rev. T. W. Moeran, on Friday evening, in the news-
room of the Church of England Institution, being one of a
series of lectures designed more immediately for the diffu-
sion of useful knowledge under the direction of sound
principles. Several very instructive lectures have been
delivered this season, and arrangements are made for their
continuance.

ASSAULT AT THE WORKHOUSE AND ROBBERY.—
Mary Ann Kirby and Mary Robinson (two impertinent
looking young females) were convicted at the police court,
on Thursday, on a charge of assaulting the matron of the
refractory ward in the workhouse. Kirby was ordered to
pay £5, or to suffer two months' imprisonment in
default; and Robinson, for stealing a handkerchief, was
committed to trial.

MORE PLUNDERING By WORKMEN-.—Two porters,
named John Gleaves and Thomas Ball, were convicted
at the Liverpool Police-court, last week, of stealing a
quantity of articles from the warehouse of Messrs. Isaac
Hadwen, jun., and Co., general brokers, Tithebarn-street.
The prisoners had been in the employment of the defen-
dants for a period of 14 years. They were sent to gaol
for two months each.

FOUR of the workmen at the quarries of Messrs.
Raynes, Lupton, and Co., Pedmaen Mawr, have received
on of £lO from the Liverpool Shipwreck and
ty, for saving two men from the wreck of
!Tool, which foundered in a heavy gale
in November last. Griffith
likewise received the

Humane Soei

the Atlas of Lic
of wind in Conway Ba 3
Parry, who took the helm, has

silver medal

FRIGHTIML RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A shocking acci-
dent occurred on Tuesday morning, at the Stretfort-
station, on the Bowden extension of the Manchester and
Sheffield Railway. Robert Twiss attempted to get into
one of the carriages while the train was in motion ;
the poor lad's foot slipped, and he fell beneath the car-
riages, several of the wheels passing over his chest and
literally dividing his body.

MANY OF THE WELSH residents in this town and
neighbourhood have had under agitation the propriety of
establishing a Welsh Reform Association, as the means of
advancing their political position. A meeting took place
on Friday night, in the Concert-hall, under the presidency
of David Davies, Esq. The Rev. .1. 'Foulkes, the Rev.
Wm. Rees, &c., and the Rev. Henry Richard, of London,
took part in the proceedings.
INTEMPERANCE.--On Monday, James M'Donald,
Peter-street, died suddenly, while sitting in his chair. He
had been drinking immoderately the previous night, and
was a man of dissipated habits.—Ann Edwards, Highfield-
street, was found dead on Monday evening, the cause of
death being congestion of the lungs, supposed (from the
usually intemperate habits of the deceased) to be the re-
sult of excessive drinking.

BIRKENHEAD DOER TRUSTEES 27:SHREWSBURY ANT)
CHESTER RAILWAY COMPANY.—At the Rolls Court, on
Monday, Mr. R. Palmer, on behalf of the defendants in
this cause, moved that an injunction, obtained on the 13th
November. whereby the defendants were restrained from
placing an iron swing bridge between the Morpeth and
'Egerton docks should he dissolved. His honour said he
could not dissolve the injunction.

RETURN OF Boys -KIDNAPPED FOR TILE BRAZILIAN
NAVY.—The wrongs of the boys who were decoyed some
time since from our commercial ports into the Brazilian
navy, by agents of the latter service, have at length been
redressed. The British minister of Rio demanded the
boys of the Brazilian government, and they were delivered
up. The boys complain of most infamous treatment.
Offences have been committed too horrible to mention.

SERIOUS FIRE.—On Tuesday evening last, the pre-
raises of Mr. Robert Johnson, oil-cloth manufacturer, in
Cornwalliststreet, was burned to the ground. The oil
and prepared clothing are estimated at £6OO. The owner
was perfectly uninsured. Great fears were entertained
bout for the safety of the adjoining houses, and the
as removed from the house of 'Mr. Sim, and
Michael's-churchyard. About ten all danger

furnitu:

was over

MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA.—Her Majesty's government
hare made arrangements for the conveyance of mails to
Australia once in every month in futuro, by the establish-
ment of a packet to run once in two months from Singa-
pore

(in connexion with the Indian mail of the 4th of the
month, via Southampton, and of the Sth of the month, via

Marseilles) alternately with the line of mail packets s'ia
the Cape of Good Hope, sailing from Plymouth on the 3rd
of ever• second month.

THE CORN SWINDLE.—At a meeting held in London,
on Friday, of the creditors of Messrs. Coliman and Stol-
, f London and Liverpool, it was shown that the
assets amounted to £98,155, against liabilities to the ex-
tent of £153,811, and that they thus showed a dividend of
about 12s. Gd. in the pound. Taking into consideration
the cxpenses of liquidation and other contingencies that
full sum might not be realised ; but at all events there was
a prospect of 103. being paid.

terfoht,

THE BLENHEIM, LIVERPOOL AND BELTAST STEAMER.
—This fine steamer, which has been undergoing repairs
for some time, arrived here on Thursday evening, and
attracted much attention, from the thorough "outfit" she
I got by the skilful hands of Messrs. Todd and Mac-
.;regor, of Glasgow. Her sailing qualities are calculated
at from 13 to 17 miles an hour.—Belfast Chronicle,—
[The Blenheim has now resumed her piece on the station
between this port and Belfast.

LLS tN PAIILIAMENT.—The standing orders
lied with in the followinz cases :—Liver-
,,ns of acts of civil
mode of plead-

pool Borough Coo

WILLIAM TYRRELL, a Manchester man, has per-
petrated a cowardly and wilful homicide. He quarrelled
and fought with Quinn, a weaver; the quarrel continued,
and Tyrrell wished Quinn to strike him, that they might
renew the fight ; Quinn repeatedly said he would not,
unless Tyrrell would " show both his hands." He would
only show the left band, keeping the other in his pocket ;
until at length he drew it out, clasping a knife in it, with
which he fatally stabbed Quinn. The coroner's jury
pronounced the act a " wilful murder."
ROYAL MERSEY YACHT CtUß•—The meeting for Fe-
bruary was held at the club-house, Duke-street, on Tues-
day evening last. Mr. Edward Barlow, of Bolton, and
Mr. Thomas Byrne, of this place, were elected members.
A letter was read from the harbour-master of Lowestoft,
with a presentation copy to the club, from S. M. Peto,
Esq., M.P., of some sketches of that harbour, and con-
taining an invitation for the yacht-owners to visit that
place. The accounts show a good balance in the hands
of the banker to the credit of the club.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT NEWTON STEEPLE-CHASE.—
The race for the Selling Steeple-chase was attended by a
very serious accident to Walter White, owing to a colli-
sion between Harkover and Freshwater. It was found
that his collar-bone was broken in three places, two or
three of his ribs completely smashed, and his lungs very
much injured. When first brought in he was quite cold
and pulseless, and remained so for nearly an hour Hark-
over received a gash in the front of one of his arms.
Poole escaped with a severe shaking. White is said to be
going on favourably.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH AID ASSOCIATION.—The first
annual meeting of this society was held on Thursday
evening last. in the school-room, Great Crosshall-street,
the Rev. W. F. Taylor, incumbent, in the chair. The
resolutions were moved and seconded by the Revds. W.
M. Falloon, G. L. Ireland, Messrs. Owen Williams, J. P.
Gmatkin, J. B. Williams, and Thomas Gregory. The first
quarterly payments for the present year, amounting to
nearly £35, were handed in. This society, during the
past year,received in small subscriptions the sum of £l2O,
in addition to the usual church collections.

APPREHENSION OF A ROBBER IN LIVERPOOL.—The
Wigan Times says :—Our readers will remember the
daring robbery committed upon the lady of J. Woodcock,
Esq., in the Haigh plantations, a few months back, by a
man having on, only a shirt or blouse at the time. A
large reward was offered by the Earl of Crawford and Bal.
carres, and another by Mr. Woodcock, for the apprehen-
sion of the robber. Sergeant France proceeded to Liver-
pool, on Saturday, and apprehended Thomas Latham,
formerly in the service of Lord Crawford. He is charged,
along with two persons of the name of Nelson, with being
concerned in the crime.

A MAN NAMED MgDERMOTT was brought up at the
Police-office, on Wednesday, under distressing circum-
stances. Mr. Parkinson, bridewell-keeper, said that the
man was orought to bridewell on the previous night, with
a child in his arms about five months old. The poor man
had come from Manchester, where he had converted all
he possessed into cash for the purpose of sending his
daughter and her child to America. The captain refused
to take the child in the ship, and at the last moment the
infant was thrust upon M`Dermott, in spite of every en-
treaty. The magistrate ordered the man to be sent to
Manchester.

THE ATTORNEY OF A BANKRUPT refused lately to
give the Commissioner of the Court in London informa-
tion where the bankrupt might be found, and was sent to
prison for contempt. After being in gaol ten days, the
attorney intimated his readiness to answer, and upon ex-
amination stated that the bankrupt had sailed for Mel-
b3urne. He was thereupon discharged. The messenger
of the court immediately proceeded to Liverpool with a
warrant for the arrest of the bankrupt ; but the Prince
Arthur, the vessel in which be had taken his passage. had
sailed. The messenger, however, recovered some of the
property.

- -
WARNING TO VIE LIVERPOOL LADIES'.—On Thurs-
day afternaon a lady, whilst " shopping," had her pocket
picked of £l2, in gold, in the Compton House. About
an hour afterwards, £2 7s. 6d. was abstracted from a
lady's pocket in Ahlborn's, Whitechapel. On Wednes-
day evening another lady had her pocket picked of 10s.
6d., in a shop, while making purchases. Mrs. Levy, of
London-road, on Thursday night, had her pocket picked,
whilst in her own shop, of 10=. On the same day, a lady
had her pocket picked, in Drinkwater's, Church-street,
of £5 4s.—An expert gang of operators in the extracting
actively at work throughout the whole town.

THE DOCK DEBT.—At the Dock Committee, on
Thursday. after the reporters had retired, Mr. Robertson
Gladstone suggested the desirability of funding four or
five millions of the debt, and creating a three-and-a•half
or four per cent stock. His reasons for making such a
proposition were, that a large. sum of money would be
required for the mew works ; that there were constant
fluctuations in the value of money in the money market;
and that they would thereby save the great uneasiness
and anxiety occasioned in the number of bonds continu-
ally falling due. and in raising the necessary funds for
paying them off. The law adviser is to report next week
whether that clause would be applicable to the particular
proposition made by Mr. Gladstone. •
A YOUTHFUL DENTIST.—The other day a boy in this
town, eleven years of age, went to his mother and asked
her if she was in want of money, to which she replied she
was. " Very well, I know how to raise you some," said
the little urchin, and immediately retired from the apart-
ment and extracted one of the best teeth he had in his
head, which he sent with his two younger brothers (twins)
to a druggist's shop in the neighbourhood, saying that
they would get sixpence for it. The disciple of Ascula-
pius, however, told them to take it to the grocer's shop
next door. The poor little fellows were obliged to return
to their brother disappointed, failing to transact business
in the precious instrument of masticulation of which he
had so unwisely deprived himself. _ _

. -
A SERIOUS CHARGE.—On Thursday, the widow of
Gilbert Evans, of Burrough's-gardens, appeared at the
Coroner's Court, in consequence of a letter received- by the
coroner from the father of the deceased, which said :—" I
hear that she put a strong needle through the chair,
which went through a certain part of his person, and was
likely to cause death. From certain details lam inclined
to believe that she put a pillow to his mouth, which
caused suffocation. They were four years separated by
reason of acting the harlot with certain men. It can be
proved that she gave him a pint of ale two hours before
his death, which appears very singular." After putting
some questions to her, the coroner said he considered the
thing merely an idle tale. subsequently the writer of the
letter had an interview with the coroner, and made certain
statements, but the coroner declined to proceed any further
in the matter unless some more satisfactory evidence was
brought forward.

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS OF
THE LIVERPOOL UNION BANK was held on Wednesday,
Mr. J. A Turner in the chair. Ti►e nett profits of the
bank for the year 1852, all bad debts deducted, was
£42,059 lls. ld., out of which had been paid a dividend
of six per cent., together with a bonus of 6s. per share,
leaving a balance of upwards of £i4,000 to be carried to
the credit of the surplus fund, which now amounts to
£70,899. A resolution having been passed in 1848,
limiting the dividend to six per cent. until the surplus
fund reached £60,000, and this sum being exceeded, hence
the necessity of the bonus ; the directors recommended
that the surplus should be allowed to accumulate to
£lOO,OOO, before any increase of dividend took place,
unless, in the meantime the directors thought it advisa-
ble to declare it. The report was adopted, and also a
recommendation to increase Mr. Lister's, the manager's
salary.

REFORM SOIREE AT MANCHESTER.-041 Thursday
evening a meeting of leading reformers resident in the
various towns of South Lancashire, was held at the Town.
hall, Manchester. It was called in the cards of invitation
a soiree ; but, estimated by the refreshments served and
want of arrangement to partake of them, it was far below
a soiree. Mr. George Wilson was in the chair. He
claimed. that the forthcoming Reform Bill should give
Manchester four members, Liverpool four, and in the
whole increase the representatives of Lancashire from
twenty-six, the present number, to sixty. Mr. Milner
Gibson promised Government his support, provided that
their measures were such as to give general satisfaction to
him and the constituency of Manchester. Mr. Brother-
ton, M.P., for Salford, spoke to the same effect. Mr.
James Heywood, M.P. for North Lancashire, moved a
resolution, engaging the liberal members representing
Lancashire to be a committee in London, to watch over
the political interests of Lancashire, in connexion with
the new Reform Bill. Mr. Bright seconded this resolu-
tion. Several other members of parliament were present.
Mr. William Brown was absent from illness ; and Mr.
John Cheethana, owing to a death in his family.

TAE LATE W. BONNAR R.S.A.—The Scotch papers
report the death of this celebrated
artist, who painted
portraits of many of our local gentry and clergy. Several
of these portraits have been engraved, among which are
those of the Rev. W. Ewbank, Rev. W. Pollock, Rev.
Dr. Baylee, and Rev. H. Hampton. Mr. Bonnar was a
native of Edinburgh, and was born in June, 1800. His
father was a house painter of considerable skill, and the
son, having from his early years evinced a remarkable
aptitude for drawing, was apprenticed to one of the lead-
ing decorative house painters of the time, in whose esta-
blishment he ultimately officiated as foreman. When
George IV. visited Edinburgh in 1822, Mr. Bonnar assisted
Mr. D. Roberts in decorating the Assembly. Rooms for
the grand State ball that then took place there. Shortly
thereafter some pictoiial signboards, painted by him,
attracted the notice of Captain Basil Hall, who sought out
and encouraged the young artist, advising him as to the
class of subjects in which he thought him qualified to
excel. In the year 1824, his picture of " The Tinkers,"
which was exhibited in Waterloo-place, established him
as a favourite with the public, and accordingly, shortly
after the formation of the Scottish Academy, Mr. Bonnar
was elected an Academician, and till his death continued,
one of its most consistent, independent, and useful mem-
bers. Mr. Bonnar has left behind him many fine pictures,
and a number of them have been engraved, the engravings
enjoying extensive popularity.
A LIVERPOOL TEA.CHER COMMITTED FOR MISDE-
MEANOITR.—On Friday, before his Worship the Mayor,
at the Police-court, Michael lon, teacher of navigation,
was charged by Mr. John Towson, teacher of navigation
at the Sailors'iHome, at the prosecution of the Board of
Trade, with having fraudently altered the certificate of
John Mardon, formerly mate of the schooner Bell. John
Mardon deposed that he had been for six months mate of
the schooner Bell, James Robins, master, on a voyage
from Liverpool to Vienna and Smyrna, and back to Lon-
don, and on leaving his service obtained a certificate of
character, came to Liverpool on the 7th of January, and
went to the prisoner's house for the purpose of receiving
lessons in navigation. On Monday or Tuesday last was
at his house, when he asked to look at the certificate. On
obtaining it, he remarked that the word " sober" was not
in it. Mardon said he would write to the captain and get
another, when he remarked, " Never mind ,11l make it
all right." He then took it to another table, and in five
or ten minutes returned it to me. Observed that the
words " being sober" were interlined. Did not take par-
ticular notice, not being aware that it was a fraudulent
proceeding. A few days afterwards took the certificate to
the Sailors' Home. Heard nothing further until sum-
moned to appear as a witness. John T. Towson, teacher
of navigation to the Sailors' Home, deposed to the inter-
lineation being in the prisoner's handwriting, The pri-
soner (who was defended by Mr. Arnold) was committed
for trial for a misdemeanor, but admitted to bail, him-
§elf in 450, and two sureties of £25 each.

A SIMPLE SKIPPER : SERIOUS ROBBERY.—At the
Police-office, on Thursday last, Mary Johnson and Ellen
Mackay were charged by John Kennedy, captain of the
Scipio, with robbing him of £176 in gold, on the 31st of
January last. The prosecutor deposed that, on the evening
of that day, he had received the above-named sum for
freight, and, meeting with the prisoners at a public-house
in Sherwood-street, full of beer and kindness, he treated
them to a glass of ale each. Not to be outdone, they
. .

invited him to their residence, a cellar in Dennison-street,
and put him to bed. He observed the women counting
his money, but still went to sleep. On awaking, he found
that the two ladies had decamped. The defendants, who
• . 11. • 1

stoutly protested their innocence, were committed for trial.
Ten pounds only had been recovered, which bad been left
in the hands of a publican by one of the women.
RIFORMATORY HULK IN THE MERSEY.—A meeting
of the Shipowners' Association was held on Friday, to
consider a proposition from Mr. Mansfield, our stipen-
diary magistrate, that boys convicted for vagrancy anil
trifling thefts should be sent on board a hulk moored in
the river, and there receive such moral and religious train-
ing, and such instruction in the duties of a seaman as the
place, and a period of detention varying from six months
to five years, would adroit of. The following resolution
was unanimously agreed to :—" That this meeting con-
siders the suggestion deserving of the best support and
encouragement of this association, and is of opinion that,
although there might be exceptions, yet that shipowners
generally would not object to taking youths from the hulk
(after such moral and religious training as is referred to in
the suggestion) who received good characters as respected
their conduct whilst there, from the governor or c.

tendent."

uperin-

HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the usual weekly meeting,
on Thursday, Mr. Alderman Langsdale presided.—A
letter was read from Mr. Lea, the gentleman who, last
week, propounded to the committee a plan for street ad-
vertising, by means of having " indicators" affixed.to the
different lamp-posts. A report was read from the borough
engineer, who was of opinion that the boards would create
obstruction to the traffic of the street, and, in themselves,
would be most unsightly. They would also offer a great
surface for the wind to act on, which, in a storm, would
risk the overthrowing of the lamp-posts. Mr. Hodson
must confess that he saw something commendable in the
scheme. Mr. Dover said the objections which he had
previously entertained had been removed by the explana-
tions of Mr. Lea. Five guineas is the yearly sum asked
by Mr. Lea for the privilege of one advertisement. Mr.
Lea's proposal was referred for one month. It was like.
wise agreed to consult the Guardian Society on the sub-
ject.—The medical officer of health reported that there
had been an increase on the mortality of the borough.
The deaths were 154 in the pari=h, and 62 in the extra-
parochial wards,—total, 216, being 31 more than in the
previous week, but 15 fewer than in the corresponding
week of the five preceding years. The mortality from
zymotic diseases was below the average. There bad been
only one death from scarlatina. No fatal case of bowel
complaint was registered during the week, being the first
instance in which this case has occurred since the sanitary
act came into operation. Consumption had caused 79
deaths. There had been one death from delirium tre-
mens, and two from rheumatism. One-third of the mor-
tality occurred between sixty and ninety years of age.

THE IkiARINERS AND THE CHURCH.—We have seldom
witnessed a more gratifying assemblage than that which
met on the evening of Wednesday last, at the Concert-
hall, Lord Nelson. street, where the friends of the Mari.
ners' Church Day and Sunday Schools held their annual
soiree. The hall was densely crowded, and among the
audience were a large number of persons evidently con-
nected by the ties of relationship, as well as sympathy,
with the seamen. The hail was appropriately decorated
for the occasion, and appropriate mottoes were hung
round the hall, in front of the galleries. The company
having partaken of tea, the chair was taken by the Rev.
Mr. Maynard, chaplain of the Mariners' Church. In
opening the proceedings, he addressed the meeting at some
length on the claims of the sailor, both temporal and spi-
ritual, to their support. The rev. gentleman said, that
when they began operations, eleven years ago, they had
only £ll 16s. in hand, and they commenced alterations
in the building, making a reading-room and school, with
the prospect of being £126 in arrear ; but the Lord had
blessed their efforts, and they had been enabled to meet
it every farthing. The Sunday School was now going on
prosperously, and the only thing they had to complain of
was that they were cramped—that they wanted more
room. They could get the additional accommodation for
£6O or £7o.—The Rev. D. L. Barry, curate of St. Paul's,
next delivered a humorous and amusing speech, conclud-
ing with some interesting particulars as to the employment
of the sailor, and the dangers to which he was liable when
ashore, urging at great length his claims upon the atten-
tion of the audience. He attacked the expensive, and, as
he thought, offensive habit of smoking, which obtained to
such an extent among seamen, and expatiated on the
good which might be done by the devotion of the im-
mense sums of money expended in tobacco and snuff, to
objects of a higher character than the mere satisfying of a
false appetite.—The Rev: James Bardsley, of Manchester,
in a speech of great length, directed attention more par-
ticularly to the question of the education of the mariner.
He enforced upon them the necessity of studying a few
good and substantial works rather than of roving over a
wider range of literature.—Mr. Thomas Bardslev and
the Rev. Mr. Butler, minister of the Sailors' Home,
afterwards addressed the meeting, and the proceedings
did not close till shortly before eleven o'clock. During
the evening the choir from the Liverpool Blind Asylum
sang several pieces of sacred music in a very creditable
manner, and a vote of thanks was unanimplasly awarded
them for their services, and a similar compliment paid to
the chairman, by whose exertions chiefly the meeting was
one of the most spirited that we have ever seen. In the
course of the evening a handsome collection was made.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—At the meeting, on Thursday,
Mr. Turner presided. The proceedings of the sub.com-
mittee of works contained a recommendation that the
shed on the east side of the Huskisson deck, used by the
New York line of steamers, be enlarged to the best ad.
vantage, and that the crane be altered so as to be made
available. The recommendation was approved.
for a quantity of iron, and two tenders for the

oil, were accepted. A grant of £6 10s. was made to the
master of the Formby light-house, towards damage which
his furniture sustained in the gale of the 26th December.
The special sub-committee on the new landing-stage re-
commended that the south end of the proposed new land-
ing-stage for the sea-going steamers should be placed as
far south as the steps of the top of the George's pier.
The chairman communicated to the committee the pro-
ceedings in the council on the preceding day, with refer-
ence to the mode in which it was proposed to carry out
the execution of the works at Wapping. He snegested
that it would be a matter for the consideration of the
committee whether they would appoint a special meeting
for the purpose of reviewing the decision to which they
had come.—Mr. Gladstone said his object in recommend-
ing the adjournment of the council meeting was not only
that the dock committee might have an opportunity of
reviewing their decision, but also to give time for the
members of the council to re-consider the question.—Mr.
Nicol thought it was quite irregular for the dock com-
mittee to meet at all until the determination of the

council had been made known to them in the reg
course. He would propose that at the next meeting

North should give them his opinion as to whether their
proceedings were not already absolutely passed by the
council, for they had allowed the time to go by for exer-

cising the veto by adjourning the meeting yesterday with-
out taking a vote.—Mr. Bigham said the Town-clerk
gave it as his opinion that it would be perfectly legal to
exercise the veto at an adjourned council or special council
called within seven days after the preceding meeting.—
Mr. Nicol remarked that the dock committee must be
guided by the opinion of their own solicitor upon all sub-
jects.—Mr. Bigham said, not only had the Town-clerk
given his opinion that the veto upon the proceedings of
the dock committee vras legal, but that opinion bad been
confirmed by the opinion of Sir Fitzroy Kelly. He dis-
tinctly confirmed the opinion of the Town-clerk, but he
said further, as he (Mr. Bigham) was told, that any act
of the dock committee performed after their proceedings
or decisions had been vetoed by the town council, was
performed at the responsibility, risk, and loss or profit
of the individuals so acting.—The chairman said, I think
the committee is of opinion that however they would
wish to hold a meeting to meet the view of the council,
there will be no use in holding such a meeting.—Mr.
Bigham.—And this committee refuses to review its deci-
sion ?—The chairman.—No ; there is refusal. The
financial business of the committee was then proceeded
with, and the reporters withdrew.

A GANG OF CoexpronTEßs.—Thirty-two persons were
summoned at the police court, on Thursday, on a charge
of being engaged in aiding and abetting in the brutal
practice of cockfighting. The informations were issued
under the third section of the Cruelty to Animals Act.
The defendants were notorious prize-fighters, belonging
to this town, to Manchester, Oldham, Chowhent, and
other places. This disgraceful proceeding, it appeared,
took place on the 20th ultimo, in a large room in a bee
house, kept by Matthew Walker, Burli
where upwards of 200 persons had assembled
officer Carlisle, along with detectives Eaton an(
and police-officer 419, went to the house on the evening
in question. In going in, Carlisle was asked by a man
if he was a better, and, replying in the affirmative, was
allowed to go up stairs, and on getting up to the door of
the fighting-room he met two men coming out, each with
a cock in his hand, the birds bleeding profusely. After
waiting in the room for a quarter of an hour, 40 or 50
fresh men entered, and cried " Clear the pit." This pit
was regularly constructed, and was five feet in length,
and 41 feet in width, in which the fighting of the cocks
took place. Two other men, attired in sporting uniform,
then entered with cocks ; scales were also produced, and
the birds were weighed and spurred. The fighting then
commenced, bets were exchanged, and the greatest ex-
citement as to the result of the fight prevailed. Before
the battle commenced, Walker, the landlord, ordered
the blinds to be pulled down, and less noise to be made,
as Lloyd, the policeman, was in the street. Carlisle
then went out to obtain the assistance of the other officers,
and on coming hack he met two men coming out of the
room with the two cocks in their hands, one 'of them
having been killed in the conflict. The doors were then
closed, and the names and residences of the defendants
were obtained. On seeing the officers the greatest con-
sternation seized the sporting fraternity, and many of
them made their escape through the windows.—Matthew
Walker, the proprietor of the house, excused himself by
saying it was the first offence. He was fined £5 and
costs. Most of the other defendants were fined in various
sums.—John Roper, 23, Henry-street, (a respectably-
attired elderly man), said he was summoned for dog-
fighting. Carlisle stated that the cock that was killed
belonged to the defendant. The man's dignity appeared
to be offended at the idea that he was summoned for dog-
fighting. " Here," he exclaimed, "I am summoned for
dog-fighting—a thing which I detest. (Laughter.) There
is not a man in this place who more abhors dog-fighting
than me—that hates the very name more than I do ; but
from my heart lam fond of a cock. (Renewed laughter.)
I have gone 24 miles to see a cock-walk ; but as to dog-
fighting,"—(Here the court was in a roar of laughter.)
" I leave myself in your hands; I want nothing but what
is right ; but I am fond of a cock from my heart—
(laughter)—and when I die I shall have some cock's
feathers put in my coffin." (Renewed laughter.) The
defendant was ordered to pay a fine of 20s. and costs.
Defendant "Then I will willingly pay it, and bow to
the court." (Laughter.)-The whole of the fines were
. .
Paid.

ton-street,
Detective-

Lloyd,