The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-12 00:00:00

THE VALET COURVOISIER IN NEWGATE.

The utter incompetency of the new police, for the detection
of crime in the metropolis, has been signally evidenced, not
only on the recent occasion of Lord William Russell's murder,
but on several other occasions. As a preventive force, we
admit that they may occasionally be of service, and in some
large towns even necessary ; but when required for the pur-
pose of detection, to unravel the intricacies of crime, and to
follow up to their clue the Tangled threads of circumstantial
evidence, we submit that a more incapable and useless body
of men can scarcely be imagined. A single police officer, of
the old school, would effect more towards the detection of an
offender in a few hours, or even minutes, than the whole body
of the metropolitan force, with its array of inspectors and
subinspectors, could accomplish in as many weeks or months.
To make up, however, for the bungling inefficiency of
these raw recruits, the metropolitan authorities appear, in the
case of Courvoisier the valet, to liave adopted a mode of de-
tecting crime which strikes us as being very un-English, to
say the least of it. This unfortunate person who is, as our
readers are aware, confined in Newgate, has, according to the
Observer, " one of the turnkeys, in the apartment in which
he is confined, with him night and day." Our readers will •
naturally suppose that this somewhat extraordinary step is
caused by a fear on the part of the -authorities, that the ac-
cused meditates self-destruction. Such is not, however, the
object for which this proceeding is adopted, and the real ob-
ject only creeps out when we are told that, " although a moat
strict watch has been kept over him, no appearance of dis-
turbed dreams has been discovered, his sleep being perfectly
calm and sound !" This, we must confess, is the first time
we ever knew an attempt made to extract evidence from a
man's dreams ; and far too much resembles inquisition prac-
tice to be to our taste.

We really think that, whether guilty or not, the poor fellow
might be allowed to spend the few hours which are allotted
to him before his rapidly approaching trial, without being
condemned to encounter, during every moment of his waking
hours, the hard features,, and the inquisitorial surveillance of
his gaoler: In either case the position of the accused is one
of awful danger. If innocent, however strong may be the
evidence against him, his feelings will occasionally wander be-
yond the stone walls of his prison, and it is cruel to be ever
recalling then, to the stern reality of his condition. If guilty,
he has to make his peace with his Creator, arta the time which
will be allotted to him for that purpose, after condemnation,
is not likely to be too long.

QUICK DESPATCH.—The Isabel, from Antigua, consigned
to Messrs. Shands, discharged her inward cargo, consisting
of 520 hhds. sugar and 120 pus. of molasses, and took on
board 520 tons of outward cargo in the short time of 35 hours.
THE PROTESTANT BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.—WC have
been favoured with a copy of the third annual report of this
excellent and loyal institution, held at the George and Vul-
ture Hotel, Houghton-street, and are happy to find that there
has been a considerable increase in the number of members,
and a large addition to the society's funds. We trust this
loyal band of true-hearted 'Englishmen will have a consider-
able augmentation to their numbers during the succeeding
year, and that our more wealthy Protestants will follow the
excellent example set them by our two honourable represen-
tatives. and enrol their names amongst the list of honorary
members. We see by the advertisement that the annual
dinner will teke place on the anniversary of the battle of Wa-
terloo. when; ,no doubt, they • will be joined by many who
would wish to 'commemorate the recollection of that glorious
day for Old England. We understand several influential
gentlemen have signified their intention of being present on
the occasion.

Tin BELL Buoy.—We a few days ago heard an opinion
expressed, by an officer in her Majesty's service, in command
of one of the government mail-boats, relative to this buoy,
which we record in the hope that the suggestion it involves
may attract the attention of the Dock Committee. That
g,entLiman, after noticing the great value to mariners of the
light ship in the Formby Channel, stated, that he lamented
that the bell buoy, or perch beyond it, was not, on some
occasions, efficient. The bell is heard when there is a breeze
or a storm ; but in light airs or calms, which are often ac-
companied by togs, it remains silent, and the buoy is often
not seen until a vessel is close upon it. Our informant sug-
gests, that the simple appliance of a tide wheel would effec-
tually remedy this defect, and the cost would be trifling
compared to the advantage that would be derived by mariners
in that difficult portion of our channel.

ESSAY ON WRITING.—We have received a copy of an
excellent essay " On the Utility, Origin, and Progress of
Writing," by Mr. V. Bolingbroke Ribbans, in which this
interesting subject is handled with great ability. The his-
torical details into which Mr. Ribbans enters are extremely
curious, and are well-deserving of a careful investigation.
Mr. Ribbans is the author of a series of " Instructive Copies,"
selected from the criticisms of Dr. Johnson on Shakspeare's
Plays, which, from repeated transcription, must familiarise
the mind of the pupil with the leading characteristics of each
play, and thus tend to improve his taste and excite his
curiosity. The style of penmanship is bold and gentleman-
like.

THEATRE-ROI-AL.—The performances this evening (Fri-
day) are for the benefit of that inimitable performer Mr.
Keeley ; and a cursory glance at the " bill of fare" will
convince any but an extraordinary sceptic that there will be
an immense fund of entertainment. With the exception of
last evening, which was exceedingly wet, the houses have
been crowded. The present engagement has been the most
popular of any during the present season, and tlle manage-
ment are entitled to great praise for the spirit which they
have shown in the preparation of the pieces.
MODERN YEOMANRY 4` VALOUR"—" A TRUE -BILL."-
-We have all heard of " fresh-water sailors ;" and modern
times occasionally furnish us with specimens of butter-milk
soldiers. A party of five or six individuals belonging to a
corps of yeomanry now located for a short period not a hun.
dyed miles from Liverpool, after visiting the " lions" of the
town, felt their courage screwed to the sticking place, and
resolved to view the veritable living " lions" encaged in the
Zoological Gardens. They entered the grounds, and viewed,
with unshaken nerves, the lions, the tigers, and the bears.
The view of Algiers next attracted them, and they gazed
with open month, in dumb admiration. At length the bom-
bardment began; guns were fired, and bombshells and
rockets streaked the air. Our heroes had not gazed long
when they began to move backward, and one of them ex-
claimed, in a tremulous and energetic tone, to his compa-
nions, " Come, lads ! let's be gooan. if we doant run, we'll
be gettin' hurt!" Whereupon the whole party turned to
the right about in a shorter time than they had ever accom-
plished the same feat on the drilling field, and taking to their
heels, made a direct steeple-chace, over shrub, hill, hedge,
and railing, out of the gardens, the company nicking way for
them, thinking they were running for a heavy wager.

THE SYLPUIDE.--This steam vessel, which, it will be re-
membered, was a short time ago sunk about four miles north-
ward from the Bell Buoy, Victoria Channel, and with which
an outward bound ship came in contact,—has been weighed
up, and brought into the river. She now lies opposite the
Magazines, water-logged.

TRH QUEEN.—CALIGRAPHY.—We hear, that among the
presents lately made to her majesty, is one of the most mag-
nificent specimens of penmanship ever executed. It is by
Mr. John Craik, the writing master of the celebrated acade-
my of the royal burgh of Dumfries; which has produced in
other respects so many eminent m en. At the head of the
specimen, is a representation of her Majesty and Prince Al-
bert, done with a pen. Her Majesty received this tribute
from Mr. Craik, through the Marquis of Nortnanby, Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, in the most gracious
manner, it having been given by the right hon. Sir A. John-
stone to the Marquis of Lansdowne for presentation.—Lite-
rary Gazette.
NEW CART FOR WATERING THE STREETS.—On Mon-
day last, and yesterday, a street-watering cart, on an im-
proved system, the suggestion of Robertson Glalstone, Esq.,
was tried in several of the streets with gratifying success.
It is of a large size, of the tank form, firmly built, and em-
pannelled, and well secured with iron bolts, is mounted on
tour wheels, with grasshopper springs, and is drawn by two
horses abreast. It will contain two tons and a half of water,
and its principal peculiarity is that the distributing perfo-
rated pipe is continued from behind to a short distance
on each side of the cart, so as to produce a lateral dis-
tribution of the water. From this addition, and the large
size of the cart, a much greater breadth of street is dredged
than by the carts formerly employed. Another advantage
is, that the cart has two main pipes for the conveyance of
the water to the distributing pipe, which last is divided in
the middle. Each of those main or feeding-pipes has its
separate valve, so that the flow of water may he readily
stopped from half of the distributing pipe on either side as
occasion may require. The advantage of this is, that if a
street requires one-and-a-half or two-and-a-half watering
breadths of the cart, one breadth of which will wet a breadth
of twenty-one feet. The ordinary carts, hitherto in use, wet
a breadth at once of only thirteen or fourteen feet, and the
whole breath must be let on at once, there being but one
valve, so that by partial double wetting, there is a waste of
water. The new cart was built by Mr. Richard Holnies
Wood-street. Oa the first'day of its trial, it wet the whole'
of Bold-street, and about half of Fleet-street, with one load
of water, drawn once through them. The following is a list
of 'some of the principal streets, and the breadths and halfs
(as may be) of the distributing pipe required to dredge
them :
BREADTH. TIMES.
Bold-street ............ 20 feet.• once.
Seel-street ............. 4.30(;,- do.
Duke-street ................. once and a half.
Great George's-street 29 " do.
Church-street ..... 25
................
twice. do.
...
Lord-street .......... 42_
North John-street • • 32 ........ once and a half.
Castle-street ..........
.4_o_ ........ twice.
Paradise-street ........ '2 ........ once.
Hanover-street ........ 18 ........ do.
Leece-street ......... 63 " ........ three times.
And so forth in proportion. The cart is on the *hole very
neat and effective, and with a few slight improvements,
already obvious, will be still more useful.
STEAM.—By the following statement
Quiet( VOYAGE BY
of the last voyage of the steam-packet Pernambucana, it will
be seen that she was only 33 days and 10 hours steaming on
her passage out and home, and her stoppages at the different
ports 21 days and 16 hours. We know this vessel to be a
very fast
_o'w, boat, but we are also persuaded that her hav-
ing made such an extraordinarily expeditious voyage is very
much owing to the abilities of her excellent commander,
Capt. F. R. Cobh,
—to the knowledge lie has of the Brazilian
coast,—and to
experience_ in regard to steam-vessels pre-
vious to his being engagedin the Company's service :
Ha). -
Arrived at.
Sailed from. At Sea. boar.
d. h. d. h.
Rio Janeiro, Oct. 12.. Bahia, Oct. 18.. 5 14.. 2 1
20.. Maceio,
Bahia, 23.. 2 18.. 1 16
25.. Pernambuco, ~ 26.. 1 4.. 2 5
Maccio,
2 31.. 2 21.. 1 2
Pernambuco, „ 28.. Ceara,
Maranham, 3.. 2 1.. 19
Ceara, Nov. 1.. Nov.No
~ 8.. 2 10.. 2 5
~ 6.. Para
Maranham, ,