The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-08 00:00:00

THE PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION.

On Friday evening, a public dinner in aid of the Bene-
volent Fund connected with this association was held at
the-Adelphi Hotel, and was very numerously and respec-
tably attended. We know of no society in the town
more worthy of support—of none which, in its operations,
is better calculated to be of real and substantial benefit to
a large and important class of our fellow-townsmen. We
rejoice that it has taken friendly hold of the public mind ;
and we would urge upon all parties for whose special be-
nefit it is intended, and who have not yet joined its ranks,
to lose no time in enrolling themselves as members, as-
sured as we feel that, by so doing, they will, at a mode-
rate outlay, be " casting their bread upon the waters,
and it will be found after many days." The object of
the society is to grant annuities to decayed members or
their widows, and gratuities and allowances to orphan
children ; to assist members when out of employment,
and to afford them medical advice when required. But,
be it remembered, the main sinews of the society must
be derived from the clerks themselves, if they be (which
we have no doubt they are) possessed of an independent
spirit. Their friends will help them, but they must mainly
help themselves.
The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor, and
about 100 gentlemen sat down to dinner, including many
of our most respectable citizens, laity and clergy. The
dinner was, as a matter of course, served up in tasteful
and liberal style by Mr. Radley, who is on all hands ad-
mitted to be a prince of caterers. A glee party, conduct-
ed by Mr. G. Holden, enlivened the party.
After the usual loyal, toasts,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the original society was
founded by a number of merchants and bankers in Lon-
don, and was supported by many influential gentlemen in
various parts of the kingdom. He considered it highly
essential that both clerks and others should make a pro-
vision when in the enjoyment of health for themselves
and their families in case of need, as it was the means of
producing a feeling of independence which could not
otherwise exist, and making them better members of so-
ciety at large. No man would question such a principle ;
and he who neglected to provide for his own, and espe-
cially for his own house, might—to take a high authority
—be said to have denied the faith, and was worse than an
infidel. (Cheers.) He proposed " Prosperity to the
Association," which was drunk with enthusiasm.
Mr. R. H. JONES, chairman of the London Board,
expressed his great delight at meeting such an assem-
blage. The society, he was happy to say. was in a most
flourishing condition. The operations of the association
were twofold ; the first, or mutual life assurance, being
self-supporting, and one which inculcated habits of pru-
dence and forethought, thus tending to make all who
availed themselves of this most legitimate mode of provi-
sion for their families, more careful and circumspect in
all their relations in life, and more valuable members of
society. In this department 1606 policies bad been issued
for sums amounting to £289,270, producing an annual
income from premiums of £8,703, while from the accu-
mulated premiums the sum of £13,000 had been invested
in the names of the trustees, and during the existence of
the association the sum of £3,900 had been paid to twenty
families who had been deprived of their head, or their
near relative. Up to this period 44 members had received
gratuities, amounting to £4,138 ; seven widows were in
receipt of annuities of £l5 each, and three aged clerks
received £25 per annum each, (Cheers.) He urged
those present to procure additional members, and thanked
the Mayor for his kindness in taking tho chair.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER BUSHELL, in proposing thanks to
the Mayor, which he did in a deserved eulogium, called
attention to the necessity of life assurance as the only
means by which a man could insure himself and his fa-
mily from the evils produced by misfortunes and adver-
sity. It was highly necessary, not only on worldly but
on religious grounds ; and he hoped the benefits held out
by the society whose anniversary they were celebrating
would be embraced by the clerks, not only in Liverpool,
but in other parts of the kingdom. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN eloquently and feelingly returned
thanks.

A number of other appropriate toasts were afterwards
drunk, and the company separated highly delighted with
the intellectual treat of the evening.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

WHO SHOULD RENEW JIGGER ROPES ?—On Saturday
an information was heard against Mr. E. P. M‘Knight, of
this town, for having at a warehouse which he occupies, in
Lancelot's-hey, a rope attached to the jigger in such a worn
and weakened condition as to endanger life. The joint
owners of the warehouse in question are Mr. Councillor
Stewart and Mr. Jackson. These gentlemen refused to
renew the rope •, and the information was laid against Mr.
M`Knight, at his own request, in order that the question
of liability as affecting the owner or the tenant might be
tested in court. After the case had been stated, Mr.
Rushton said that, in strict law, he had only to look to
the narty using the rope, and that there was nothing in
the act to compel landlords to supply the rope. As there
had been a dispute in this instance, he would discharge the
information, and the parties must settle it among them-
selves, but the public must be secured from danger.
REFRACTORY PAUPERS.—On Thursday, Mr. Lythgoe,
the master of the West Derby Workhouse, appeared be-
fore Mr. Rushton to prefer a charge of theft against three
male paupers, James Lythgoe, John Parry, and Edward
Taylor. Mr. Lythgoe stated that the first-named priso-
ner and Taylor were ordered to be set to work at Toxteth-
park, and Lythgoe, who has several children in the house,
was to have five shillings and the children were to be given
up to him. Upon this decision being communicated to
the parties concerned, it appears they, in conjunction with
Parry, who is quite a lad, made their exit very unceremo-
niously by climbing over the wall. All three were stopped
at Evertou, and taken up for going off with the workhouse
clothing. They are old offenders, having been in custody
before for similar offences. Lythgoe said that the guar-
dians wanted to turn him out, with his children, under
harsh circumstances. He was told that he ought to have
appealed to a magistrate, if he felt himself aggrieved.
Committed for three months.
CHARGE OF MUTINY.—ALLEGED ILL TREATMENT BY
A CAPTAIN.—On Thursday Captain John Smith, mister
of the United Kingdom, a ship trading between Quebec
and this port, appeared before the magistrates to prefer a
charge of mutiny against Josias Murry, a young man who
had been acting steward on board that vesssel. The
young man was so ill that he was accommodated with a
chair. Mr. Owen appeared for him and said his illness
was caused by the maltreatment he had received from the
captain and mate. The captain said the prisoner had
shipped at Quebec, as steward ; that it turned out that he
e Id iiot discharge his duties as such ; that he spoiled
the victuals • that on being found-fault with, he offered to
fight, and refused to do duty ; and that he was placed in
confinement from the 19th to the 31st July, on the ground
that he had beep guilty of mutiny. The mate, in answer
to Mr. Owen, said, " I was called by the captain to place
the man in confinement. I tied him with his bands behind
him. The place in which he was confined was large
enough for any one to go into,-12 feet by 15. While he
was confined be had bread and water, and once some coffee
and a little pork. When in the river, the place in which
he was confined was open, and the prisoner came upon
deck ; I told him to go down again ; he did so, and I put
two spikes into the cover and nailed him up. 1 tendered
papers to the prisoner for him to sign ;—these were rela-
tive to the terms of his release from confinement. I had
heard the prisoner complain that the place in which
he was confined was so much infested with rats, he could
not put down his food without fear of it being taken."—
Mr. Rushton " Did you untie him ?"—The mate : " Yes,
three days after he was placed in confinement."—Mr.
Owen : " Was he not obliged to bow his head down—to
stoop—when he was confined ?"—The mate : " No, he
was not."—Mr. Rushton : " Then for three days he was
tied with his hands behind him ?"—The mate : " He
Iwas ; and when he got food I released him, and tied him
afterwards."'—Mr. Rushton : " Then he was tied with
his handkerchief after the three days ?"—Mate: " He

was."—Mr. Rushton : " Vor the remainder of the time ?"
" No, sir, for about a week afterwards, and then he- was
set at liberty." Mr. Owen elicited other particulars of
the cruelties practised towards the prisoner, and a very
respectful and apologetic letter was produced, which had
been addressed by the prisoner to the captain. There
appeared to be no real foundation for the charge of
mutiny, and Mr. Rushton discharged him. Mr. Owen :
" I hope, sir, I shall be allowed to place him (the prisoner)
in the witness-box to prefer a charge of assault against
the captain and mate."—Mr. Rushton : " I do not want
to say anything unnecessary in the case ; but it does seem
to me an extraordinary course to have placed a man in
confinement in such a place, infested with rats, and to
keep him there after having written that letter."—Mr.
Owen : " Your own officer, sir. 437, has examined the
place, and is here to speak to its dimensions."—Officer
437 was then examined, and stated that in the highest part
of the place in which the man had been confined he was
not able to stand erect. When he knelt down with one
knee, he could press up the roof with his shoulder.—
Mr. Rushton : " You hear what the officer says. You
say you confined him in a place, the lateral dimensions of
which were twelve feet by fifteen ; but you have heard he
could not stand erect in it, and that he was confined from
the 15th to the 31st, and part of the time fastened down
with spike nails. He appears to have behaved ill;
but, as to imprisonment for mutiny, there is no pretence
for saying he contemplated seizing the ship, or turning
pirate." Mr. Owen then applied for summonses against
both captain and mate on behalf of his client, which Mr.
Rushton granted, as he considered that the case required
investigation.