The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-06-14 00:00:00

SECOND EDITION.

MONDAY, JUNE 13.

The Committee assembled to-day at noon.
Robert Talbot was re-called and examined by Mr.
PAGET : I saw Mr. Burchall the day before the election
at the Pontack. I told him I would vote for Mackenzie
and Turner. He said nothing to me about putting my
name down ; but he told me if there were anything going
I would have part of it. I understood him to refer to
employment during the time of the election. There were
other persons in the room ; some of them were voters.
I went to the poll from the Pontack between eleven and
twelve. I saw other persons polling from the Pontack.
We went to the poll in a cab. I saw Mr. Burchall at the
Pontack on the day of the election. I had some coffee at
the Pontack that morning. I did not pay for it. There
was plenty to eat ; but I could not take any food. Mr.
Burchall seemed to be full of election business. He spoke
to all the people at the Pontack. He asked me when I
was going to vote ? I replied, I was ready to vote
at any time. Immediately afterwards I went to the poll,
in company with two voters named Westmore and Brown.
I recollect Mr. Birchall asking me to go up stairs and
have some breakfast. I did so. This was at the Pon-
tack. I saw no persons there who were acting as can-
vassers, or who were taking voters up to the poll. I did
not see Mr. Birchall speak to Brown or Westwore. In
the breakfast-room there might be about two dozen peo-
ple. I did not see where they went to after leaving
the room. There were several persons in the car which
took me to the poll, but I do not recollect having seen any
of them in the breakfast-room. Mr. Hatch gave me a
voting card. He was in a little room at the Pontack. I
saw voters going into it, and I followed them. Mr. Hatch
asked me to what ward I belonged. I told him, and
nothing more passed between us. I saw several persons
getting voting-cards. Several of them were persons
whom I had previously seen in the breakfast room.
The Pontack was very throng that morning. I do not
think Mr. Hatch, from the room where lie was sitting, could
have seen what was going on in the other parts of the
house. I did not pay for the coffee I had, nor did I see
any of the others pay anything. I saw no liquor in the
breakfast-room—l mean liquor given for nothing ; but I
called for a glass of rum and paid for it myself.
By the CHAIRMAN : I returned to the Pontack after I
voted ; but, seeing no one there, 1 immediately left. I
got nothing then.
Thomas Cannell, examined by Sergeant KINGLAKE : I
am a voter of Liverpool. I know Mr. Birchall. I saw
him on the morning of the election ; he called at my
house. He asked me if I was going to the Pontack ? I
said I was. He told me to go up and get breakfast. I
went up to the Pontack, and when I got there I saw Mr.
Birchall. I had some breakfast and a little drop of
whiskey ; but I cannot say whether I tasted beer or not.
A number of people were breakfasting at the- same time,
but I did not know any of them. After breakfast a stran-
ger asked me to go to the poll with him, and I went. I
saw Mr. Birchall before I left the Pontack ; but I do not
recollect him saying anything to me. I did not return to
the Pontack after I voted. _ _ _

By Mr. JAMES : I was not in bed last night. I was on
the railway all night. When arrived in town this morn-
ing, I went to the Horseshoe and Magpie. I made no
statement yesterday at Liverpool that was taken down.
I certainly saw a gentleman, but I gave him no satisfac-
tion. I have not been drinking to-day. (The witness
was evidently labouring under the combined effects of
liquor and drowsiness.) I cannot tell when I first saw
Mr. Birchall. He canvassed me for my vote, but Ddo
not recollect the date—it was some days before the day of
the election. I told him I wanted something for my
vote, but I subseouently promised to vote for Mackenzie
and Turner, and I did so. A gentleman called upon
me yesterday in Liverpool, and asked me if I
went to the Pontack on the day of the election. I
said I did. He asked me if Mr. Birchall took
me into the Pontack. I said he did not. He
then asked me if Mr. Birchall took me to the poll. I
said he did not;, that it was a strange man who went with
me to the poll. He then gave me half a sovereign, and
told me to come up• to London. I came up in a first-
class carriage, but I do- not know who paid my fare. I.
wanted more money fcr my vote at the election. I, voted
as a £lO householder. I got half a sovereign for my vote
at the last election, and' ths man who gave me the money
came with me—Mr. Birchall—but I did not know him ;
he was a stranger to me. Ido not recollect talking to
any person within the last week of what took place at the
Pontack on the morning of the election. One glass of
whiskey was all that I had that morning. I. did not feel
very well, and asked Birchall to give me a glass of
whiskey, which he did. I. was in the Pontack about half
an hour.

By Sergeant KINGLAIIE : Mr. Birchall and another
man called upan me a day or two before the election. It
was then I got a half-sovereign for my vote. It was
the same Mr. Birchall who, asked me to go, up to the
Pontack on the day of the election.
By Mr. FRESHFI•ELD : Mr. Birchall requested the man
who was with him to give me half a sovereign. I had
asked a Mr. Owen before to give me money for my vote.
When I first came up to London I got a sovereign for my
trouble and loss of time. I. was allowed 10s. a day for all
the time I was in London. The pay stopped on last
Friday week, when I. returned to Liverpool.
By Mr. RODWELL I did not say in the shop. of a Mr.
Taylor, in Liverpool, when I returned, that I did not care
what I. said in London, so long as I get well paid for it.
.Tames Dolby :lam a freeman in Liverpool. Know
the Pontack public-house,. and a person of the name of
Hatch. I remember being at the Pontack before the
election. I saw Hatch there. He instructed me to come
to the same place on the following day, in order that I
might vote in that ward.. I_ went to the Pontack about
Nine o'clock in the morning of the election. I went into
a room and sat down. I got my voting card about an
hour after that. I knovs, Mr. Burchall. He was at the

Pontack on the morning of the election. He seemed to
be busy, going from room to room, and talking to the
people there, but I did not hear what he said, because
I was too much engaged with my breakfast. I did not
see him going with any person to the poll, nor did I hear
him giving orders about taking voters to the poll. I got
my voting card from Mr. Hatch in another room. There
were several persons in the room at the time. I went to
the poll in a car. I do not know who took me there.
There were other voters with me. I. returned from the
poll alone. I stayed at the Pontack about half en hour ;
it was on my road home. The people had all gone by
that time, and so I left and returned to my work.
By Mr. WILLIAMS I did not pay for anything I got
at the Pontack in the morning.
Edward Marshall : I keep the Edgebill Coffee-house.
One of Turner and Mackenzie's committees met there at
the last election, beginning in March. They occupied
one large club-room, and occasionally a small sitting-
room of my own. The rooms were engaged by Mr. Watt,
one of the committee. The chairman was Mr. Richard
Saunders, and the secretary Mr. Wensley. I have seen
Mr. Atrhur Henderson there, but I do not think he was
a member of the committee. M. Rowett was a member
of the committee ; Mr. Joseph Bailey was another ; Mr.
Lunt another. I was not a member myself. Mr. John
Downes was a canvasser for the West Derby Ward. I
had ss. a-night for the use of the club-room and lights. I
made out a bill at the close of the election. It amounted
to between £8 and ; but. I had another of about £l6
for the use of cars and refreshments—in all, XII, There
were several public meetings in my house of the rate-
payers residing within the ward ; likewise meetings of
ropers, for whom the committee ordered the room. Ido
not remember Mr. Rowett speaking to me about those
meetings. Ile might have been present when the room
was ordered. The candidates attended the first public
meeting held in my house. My bill for the use of the rooms
was paid about a week after the election by Mr. Whatham.
The bill for the rest has not been paid yet. I gave it to
Mr. Whatham at the same time I tendered the bill for.
the use of the rooms. The refreshments- were supplied
on the nomination and polling days. I gave refreshments
to persons supplied with tickets to the number of 531.
The tickets were only of one colour. I supplied the re-
freshments by order of the committee. The directions
were given to me on. the 3rd of July.
John Downes I know the house kept by the last wit-
ness. I. attended meetings there preparatory to the last
election. I, went because I was a canvasser. Mr. What-
ham , one of the committee assembling in Marshall's house,
requested me to give my services as a canvasser. I did
so ; had a district assigned to me ;.and I, was paid for my
services.. The secretary, Mr. Wensley, handed the books
to me and to. the other canvassers. We returned in the
evening and gave in our reports. Ido not remember all
the canvassers, but Mr. Bailey, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr.
Rowett,, and others were among the number. We were
paid by Mr. Buckmaster. Mr. Whatham told me to go
to that gentleman. I accordingly went to. the Constitu-
tional-office, and there saw Mr. Buckmaster, in the
presence of Mr. Whatharn. When I asked for pay-
ment, Mr. Buckmaster asked Mr. Whatham if it
was all right, and on being answered in the affirma-
tive, he paid rue. Ido not recollect how much I got ; but
I think I was paid at the rate of ss, a-day.

The examination of this witness was not concluded when
the committee adjourned at a quarter before 4 o'clock.

THE LIVERPOOL ROMANISTS AND THE

"NUNNERIES BILL."

The Concert-hall, in. Lord Nelson-street, was crowded to
excess last night, the Romanists having assembled thereto pro-
test and petition against the so-called " Nunneries Bill," intro-
duced into Parliament by Mr. Chambers. Hundreds were un-
s,„ab.alsemtoogstaionppanreessintvrea.nce, and the crowded state of
ttiheemb:n lodringa
Mr. DANIEL POWELL, corn-merchant, was called to the chair,
on the motion of Mr. Levingstone, and, in his preliminary
speech, he denounced the bigotry which dictated the adoption,
in the Lti dish Senate, of the Ecclesiastical Titles. Bill—a bigotry
which was manifested anew on the Nunneries Bill. He denied
that the Lord Chancellor of England's nominee, in inspecting
Crehlirgisiotivasn.ho(u,s,eNs,oc,Nouoldl,,b)ehave
.eithes like a
Resolutions were moved and seconded by Messrs. LYNCH,
SH EIL, ASPINALL, IWCURTIN, YATES, and others.
Mr ASPINALL was the principal speaker; and, what lie
uttered, included all that was said by the others. He moved
the protest and petition on the following
ii
irotb,h,ue,,e,:eiar:ebltosa
ng,amongstothereipainrinnotanpromoters
eloei
tti
ensg;
risi,pteoi
specimen
wouldtaci ttndoiesrl
ies,i:
--that the bill was an unmanly and fanatical measure, proposed
to gratify the malignant feelings of certain constituencies ; that
it was specially designed to annoy the Roman Catholics; that
obl ifeo pfkuei three-fourthsr,ciikoteulidse iob)uii
gl
out of
bigotry
fafot,
Parliament
~i,ate
,rnepl
rioeaetoi
napo(elinenol
adopted,
tt;' Englandthe bill
that,lbi
ei l
called to gratify their prurient curiosity in the houses of the
religious, they would at once be kicked out of the window.
Mr. JOHN YATES said that, if the bill were passed, the
Roman Catholic population would set the measure at defiance,
and laugh it to scorn, and give the inspectors a greeting which
would prevent them returning a second time.

These and similar sentiments were loudly applauded, espe-
cially by a poor old maniac, in the front of the gallery, whose
furious exhibitions of approval created a pitiable interlude,
which proved a source of merriment to those who relished fun
more than oratory.

All the resolutions, including a strongly-worded petition,
were adopted ; and at half-past nine o'clock the proceedings
closed, with an advice from Mr. Powell, that the Roman
Catholics of England should frighten the members of parlia-
ment, by telling them that no Romanist would vote for that
person, at the coming election, who gave his support to the
motion of Mr. Chambers.

THE CUSTOMS' AUTHORITIES now allow the luggage
of passengers from Paris by the mail train to he brought
to London without examination at Dover, in order to
prevent detention in the latter place. The examination is
made by officers from the Customs, at the LQndou-bridze
station of the South-Eastern Company.