The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-25 00:00:00

A COSTLY HOBBY

When our neighbours in Manchester were agitating for
the privilege of bonding their own goods, and converting
their smoky capital, with its muddy river, into a great
seaport, we took the liberty of hinting to them that they
would have to pay for their whistle rather more than they
would find it worth. And so we find it has proved. At
a special meeting of the Manchester Council, on Wednes-
day last, the fact was thus announced to the public :
" Mr. ADSHEAD called attention to the fact, that up to the
present time £8,244 19s Ild. had been paid by the ratepayers
of this borough for the expenses of the custom-house, and that
the receipts had only been 5t954 15s. Sd.. This expenditure
caused a great deal of dissatisfaction, both in the council and
out of doors; and when the estimates were brought forwaro,
he should move that no more money be paid on this account.'
Eight thousand pounds is a tolerable sum to have with-
drawn from the pockets of the ratepayers, in somewhat
less than three years, for a comparatively worthless whim.
It is hoped, however, that the impost may be got rid of
by the kindness of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but,
lest a precedent should be created for other unreasonable
people, the fiction is to be adopted of calling Manchester
" a Creek of Runcorn." We venture to doubt, however,
whether the Chancellor will be so complaisant in the
matter.

EXECUTION

AT CHESTER
CONFESSIONS.

-IMPORTANT

William Bates, aged 20, convicted recently at Chester
of murder and highway robbery, was hanged at that city
on Saturday. On behalf of John Walmsley, who was
convicted with him, a respite was received, on Thursday,
during her Majesty's pleasure. Between twelve and one
o'clock on Saturday morning, the convict Bates was re-
moved from the Castle to the place of execution. At
eight o'clock the execution took place. The culprit,
when led forth, appeared perfectly firm, and prayed
fervently. Every necessary preparation being completed,
the bolt was withdrawn, and the wretched man died ap-
parently without a struggle. There was an immense con-
course of persons, but the utmost order prevailed.
Bates and Mawdsley, alias Walmsley, have confessed
that they have been implicated in various highway rob-
beries, and there is reason for believing that they are the
parties who caused such apprehension in the minds of the
inhabitants of this neighbourhood during the last winter.
At the last Liverpool assizes two persons were tried
and convicted of highway robbery, and sentenced to 15
years' transportation. These parties, it now turns out,
are quite innocent ; forßates and Mawdsley have confessed
that they were the really guilty parties. The reason why
the culprit Mawdsley is respited is, we understand, in
order to perfect some inquiries now on foot, after which
it is probable the law will be allowed to take its course.
Two more desperate characters have very seldom, if
ever been brought to justice. Previous to the execution
the I- ev. H. S. Joseph, the worthy chaplain of the gaol,
although both were Roman Catholics, used his best en-
deavours to procure a commutation of the sentence, and
last week sought an interview with Sir G. Grey, but his
representations were not listened to.

Mr. Musker of Bootle, sent on Tuesday to market a
load of Italian rye grass, the first of this season.

1. •
On Wednesday,the ratepayers of Scotland Ward met,
for the purpose of co-operating with the confederation for
the adjustment of taxation.
The City of Dublin Steam-packet Company's contract
is £9,000 a-year, for conveying the mails daily between
Dublin and Liverpool.
TOKEN OF RESPECT.—The pupils of Mr. Forster, prin-
cipal of Pembroke-place Academy, on Thursday presented
him with a gold pencil case, as a small token of their
gratitude and esteem for his kind attention to them.
ORANGE PEEL.—On Thursday a woman, when passing
along St. John's-lane, slipped on a piece of orange peel,
and diglocated her leg. She is the mother of a large
family.

The time is fast approaching when the coroner's jurors
will be summoned to serve in Liverpool without fee or re-
ward. Should they refuse compliance, they will be liable
to a penalty of £5.
An inquest was held on Tuesday, before the borough
coroner, on the body of Deborah Egan, aged two years
and six months, who was rccidentally scalded last week,
by the upsetting of a coffee-pot containing boiling coffee._

SURVEYOR OF TAXES. Mr. Easther, surveyor of
taxes, was removed from this town to Liverpool. He has
recently been further promoted, inasmuch as Liverpool
has been made a first-class town.—Cambridge Chronicle.
BIRKENHEAD FERRY.—In consequence of the Liver-
pool Corporation attempting to raise the rent of the Bir-
kenhead Ferry and Hotel from £9OO to £l3OO, the Messrs.
Willonehby intend removing to Tranmere Ferry, which
they will open on Saturday.
THE DOCK BILL.—The preamble and most of the
clauses have passed the committee, who have adjourned
to allow time to petition the house to enable them to in-
sert the rating clause. All the clauses tendered by the
warehouse owners were rejected by the committee.
In the Admiralty Court, on Tuesday, Dr. Lushington
awarded to the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company
damages for the injuries sustained by the steamer Queen
Victoria, by reason of a collision with the Isaac Allerton,
near the Skerries Light, on the 10th November last.
The Rev, Dr. Scoresby, who was a passenger in the
Hibernia, has addressed a letter to the "'times, in which
he exonerates Captain Neil Shannon, the commander of
that steamer, from all blame in reference to the emigrant
ship Omega, and the subsequent loss of the Barbara, a
brig, on board of which about 150 of the Omega's emi-
grants had sought refuge.
An open air meeting of the Liverpool Chartists was
held, on Good Friday, on the sands of the North Shore.
It was composed of persons of the labouring classes, of
all ages, and numbered probably between ten and twelve
thousand. The speakers addressed the multitude from a
cart, from which a banner waved, as a landmark to the
crowd as they approached the scene from the town.
THE WATER QUESTION.—Mr. Wicksteed, lately en-
gineer to the Liverpool and Harrington Company, has
published a letter, in which be maintains that the supply
of water to be obtained from the Liverpool and Harring-
ton, the Bootle and the Green-lane Water Works, might
easily be increased to 8,190,630 gallons per day, without
any further excavation. _ _ _

By accounts received from Plymouth we learn that the
East Indiaman reported to be lost off Jersey was the
Nabob of Liverpool. Eleven hands were unfortunately
drowned. The captain, chief officer, and second mate
are among the survivors. It is, therefore, more than pro-
bable that had there been a light on the western end of
Guernsey the ship would not have been lost. It is stated
that the loss of the ship and cargo will fall little short of
£50,000.
NEW ORGAN FOR DR. VNEILE'S CHURCH.—The 1
organ for Dr. M`Neile's new church, built by Mr. Bew-
sher, of Boonte-street, is now on view at his establish-
ment. The instrument consists of a great organ, ranging
from double CtoF in alt., fifty-four notes. It has twelve
stops, viz., great open diapason, small open diapason, stop
diapason, principal, celectine, twelfth, fifteenth, sequaltra
four ranks, mixture two ranks, trumpeter, and clarion.
Most of the organists have visited it, and pronounced it a
good instrument. The organ has a good tone, The in-
strument does credit to Mr. Brewsher, its builder, and
adds another to the list of good organs built by him.
TFIE LIVERPOOL FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY.—La,t
Tuesday evening, the above society gave their thirty-ninth

public performance, in the Music-hall, Bold-street. The
oratorio selected was Handel's " Joshua," the fine cho-
ruses in which gave ample scope to the members to exert

Mr. G. Holden conducted the oratorio, and great praise is
due to that gentleman for the attention he displayed, to
bring out the particularly effective passages; and be was
ably assisted by the admirable leading of Mr. H. F.
Aldridge, and the efforts of the gentlemen composing the
band. The principal vocalists were Mrs. G. Holden, Mr.
Ryall, and our old favourite, Mr. Armstrong, all of whom
appeared to give general satisfaction to the audience.
Mr. Armstrong sang the first air with much feeling, the
words of which are so applicable to the present times that
we venture to quote them :

O first in wisdom, first in power,
Jehovah ev'ry blessing sbow'r
Around thy sacred head !
The ncighb'ring realms with envy see
The happiness and liberty
O'er all thy peopl-
C -. •

a. wen's recitative, " Joshua, I come commis.
sioned from on high," was loudly applauded. The air,
" Hark ! 'tis the linnet and the thrush," by the same

lady, with a violin and flute obligato, was called for a
second time. Mr. Ityalls was also encored in the air,
" With redoubled rage return," and was also rapturously

The recitative, by Mr. Armstrong, Thus far our cause
is favoured by the Lord," and the last chorus in the first
part of the Oratorio were rapturously applauded. After
an interval of ten minutes the second part commenced
with the chorus, " Hail, mighty Joshua ;" the air, sang
by Mr. Armstrong, " Shall I in Mamre's fertile plain,"
was admirably executed, and was repeated. The favourite
chorus, " See the conquering hero comes," was loudly
applauded and encored. and also the !dr, " Oh, had 1
Jubal's sacred lyre," by Mrs. G. Holden, met with a simi-
lar reception. The Oratorio concluded with the chorus,
" The Great Jehovah is our awful theme." We are happy

to say the room was well filled with a highly respectable
audience, who appeared delighted with the Oratorio,
which was executed in a manner that reflects great credit

on the Choral Society.