The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-12 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS.

We understand that our present Chief Magistrate, in addi-
tion to his own good fortune on Tuesday, had the gratification
to receive a notification of the appointment of his second
son, Mr. Henry Leigh, to a lieutenancy in one of her Ma-
jesty's regiments of horse.
THE LATE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.—It is a remarkable
circumstance, that the only reform councillors who were re-
turned at the late municipal election were the three, viz.,
Mr. John Holmes, Mr. Henry Holmes, and Mr. William
Preston, who voted against corporation dock warehouses.
This speaks volumes as to the opinion of the public upon the
subject.
CONCERTS A LA MUSARD.—We copy the following very
just remarks from the Courier :—Are our musical readers
aware of the pleasant treat that is occasionally prepared for
their gratification at the Portico ? Here is a most creditable
effort made by a company of the very first of our native art-
ists, and we have looked in vain for that patronage and
popularity which ought to be the immediate encouragement
and reward of such a movement. The object of these con-
certs is to convince the public of our town that if they will
only encourage " native talent," that commodity is as indi-
genous to our soil as to that of other towns and other coun-
tries. Let our young professors see a sure reward for their
pains, and they will practise together till they win as much
fame for the Liverpool instrumentalists as has been earned
by its choristers. Thirty instrumentalists, some of them
already eminent, and others young and of high promise, ate
offering delightful concerts for the public approbation. But
where are those of our townsmen who habitually patronise
musical ability? They have not yet honoured those who
have most right to look to them for favour with the sunshine
of their countenance. They will flock to hear Julien when
he arrives amongst us, while they will neglect those who, we
have no hesitation in saying, would, with a little encourage-
ment, outrival Julien. There is no earthly reason why the
band of the Portico should not equal that of Strauss in pre-
cision, effect, decision, and all other qualifications. We are
sorry that we have no space for criticism. Mr. Aldridge, jun.
performs well on his instrument, and has many other essen-
tials of a good leader. He keeps his band well together, and
will have them under still greater command when practice
shall have given each to understand the system of the others
more perfectly. We should expatiate at some length on the
merits of the performers, and with one or two we could be
very angry, seeing that they did not exert those energies and
talents with which they are endowed. We shall recur again
to the subject, and we hope to find that our hints to the pub-
lic will not have been in vain. The price is modestly low ;
and if we follow the example of the most refined of our con-
tinental neighbours, these very pleasing musical soirees will
be crowded.

ASSAULT ON THE HIGHWAY.—On Wednesday an Irish
reaper was examined before Sir Thomas Brancker and Chas.
Birch, Esq., charged with having assaulted a female named
Ann Green, on the highway between Garston and Aigburgh,
on Monday night. The complainant, who is a servant out
of place, residing with her brother in Hughes-place, Robert-
street, Toxteth-park, stated that about five o'clock in the
afternoon she was returning from Garston, when the prisoner
met her upon the road near the place where three lanes meet.
She attempted to give him the way, but he stopped her, took
hold of her hands, and said—" B—y end to your soul if
you go a foot forward, or say 'a word, I'll murder you." She
replied to him—" You are mistaken man, I have done you
no harm, pray let me go, I am going home." He rejoined—
" You b—y b—h, I 'll murder you if you say another
word." She screamed out—" Oh, do n't murder me," and
" John, pray come back," several times, in the hope that the
apprehension of some one being near at hand would induce
him to quit his hold of her. This produced the desired
effect, and she ran away. In doing sw, he made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to trip up her heels, after which he threw a
stone at her, but she was not struck with it. She ran to the
end of the lane, and told a man named John Bate what had
happened : whilst she was speaking with him, Mr. Law-
rence, the omnibus proprietor, came up ou horseback, and
undertook to protect her.. When they had arrived at a cot-
tage nearthe Roman catholic chapel, the prisoner darted out
of a small garden at the road side, and said to the
prosecutrix, " Oh, you are returning." She immediately
told Mr. Lawrence that he was the man who had assaulted
her. Eventually, Mr. Lawrence caused the man to be ap-
prehended, and lodged in the toll-gate house till the arrival
of the police, who had already been sent for. Whilst he was
in the house the prisoner asked for a basin full of water and
some salt. When they. were given to hint he put the salt
into the water, and pronouncing some unintelligible words
over the mixture, he drank it off. The next instant he rushed
like a maniac to the fire-place, seized the tongs, and say.
ing, " May God protect me from my enemies," he rushed
on Mr. Lawrence, swearing he would sink them into the
skull of any one who should apprehend him. Mr. Lawrence
avoided him by running into the road ; he was followed by
the prisoner, uttering frightful imprecations, when one of
Mr, L.'s servant men fortunately threw, him down, and he
was secured. In reply to questions from the magistrate, the
prosecutrix said the prisoner had not demanded any money
from her. The prisoner, in his defence, told a long, rambling
story of Mr. Edwards, for whom he had been working, having
detained his wages, 35., because he was Catholic, that he had
seen the prosecutrix in the fields there, and did not like her,
and that she was the cause of his .earnings being detained.
The sum of £3 15s. was found upon him. The magistrates
fined him £5 for the assault upon the prosecutrix. In de-
fault of payment he was committed to the House of Correction
at Kirkdale for two months.

TRADESMEN'S ASSISTANTS AND THE HOURS OF Buss-
NESS.—In another paragraph will be found a short notice of
a meeting held on Wednesday evening by the tradesmen's
assistants. We understand that a number of the more re-
spectable shopkeepers in Church-street and Bold-street have
come to the determination to close their shops at seven du-
ring the months of October, November, December, January,
and February ; at eight during the two following months,
and at nine through the remainder. This is a most praise-
worthy step, and we hope will be followed by the trade gene-
rally. The young men cannot appreciate too highly such a
boon on the part of their employers, and we hope they will
one aad all—we feel persuaded the majority of them will—
shew by the mode in which they spend their additional leisure
time that the indulgence is not abused. They have many
opportnurithie. s afforded for the profitable employment of their
time, which, if neglected, they will only have themselves to
blame, and cannot wonder if the masters return to their old
system. We are requested to ask if the committee of the
Mechanic's Institution cannot arrange so as to commence
the lectures at quarter to eight instead of half past seven, as
at present. The alteration would afford time for the young
men to attend there after the closing of the shops, which
they would not be able to accomplish if the lecturer com-
mences at the accustomed hour. The shopkeepers in the
Haymarket and Pitt-street complain of the markets being
kept open until a late hour, which prevents the stall-keepers
from making their purchases until after seven. This is cer-
tainly a matter worthy of serious consideration, and we sug-
gest the propriety, without knowing whether it can be accom-
plished, of closing these markets at six. Some little incon-
venience might be occasioned by such a step at the first, but
when the mental and physical culture of such a number of
persons is concerned, we do not fear that the sacrifice will be
willingly submitted to.
POPULATION OF ST. HELEN'S.—It appears from the late
census returns, that the increase of the population of St.
Helen's, during the last ten years, may be estimated at near
50 per cent. This is certainly not more than it might have
been originally averaged at, for it is well known that this
town has, of late years, increased most wonderfully in its
commercial relations, and, therefore, also in extent. It is
proverbial that the inhabitants are of a most enterprising and
spirited disposition, and no wonder, therefore, that their
suburbs should be barricaded with manufactories of every
description of useful commodities. The following return of
the population of the different townships, situate in the St
Helen's district, will show the large increase we have men-
tioned :