The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-23 00:00:00

The following clerical appointments have recently been
made in this county :—The Rev. C. Bissett, to the in-
cumbency of Upholhod ; the Rev. E. Pigott, to the
living of Longridge ; the Rev. Richard White, to Wribby-
with-Wray ; and the Rev. T. Lamb, to St. Mary's,
Preston.

SALE OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS.—The following
vessels, belonging to the royal navy, are shortly to be
brought to the hammer, at Somerset-house, viz. :—The
Lyra, 10 guns, 236 tons; Delight, 10 guns, 231 tons;
J.isseur, 16 guns, 387 tons; Plyades, 18 guns, 432 tons;
4% tzerine, 10 guns. 231 tons ; Weazle, 10 guns, 237 tons ;
Termagant, 0 guns, 231 tons; Swan (cutter,) 144 tons;
and Harriet, (lighter,) 83 tons.
WHITBY.—We are glad to find the revival of trade has
reached this place, the advance in Iron has caused an in-
creased demand for ore, which is procured along the line
of the railway. The quarries also, with which the district
abounds are in full work, having some extensive contracts
on hand, the workmen making extra time. The shipping
interest in which the port is largely interested, is consider-
ably.affected by the turn-out in the coal district, but the
owners look for a higher freight when that cause ceases.
LONGEVITY.—Lest week a few friends met in Walton-
ledale, to enjoy each others company over a refreshing cup
of tea, when their conversation turned npon their. relative
ages. It was ascertained that there were three in the corn
pany, whose united ages amounted to 260 years and all in
excellent health. The names of the three' individuals
were Fanny Barnes, aged 91 in March last; Henry Pres-
ent aged 88 last Michalmas day ; and James Whalley, in
his 81st year.
PUBLIC WALKS AT OLDHAM.—A grant of £l,OOO,
being the first grant from the fund of £lO,OOO voted by
parliament, for the purpose of providing public walks for
the use of the inhabitants of large towns has been allotted
to Oldham ; and a communication having been received
to that effect a short time ago, from Thomas Freemantle,
on behalf of government. It is understood, that additio-
nal funds will be required to carry into effect the highly
desirable object in view ; and measures are to be taken
forthwith to promote the design.
REDUCTION OF THE HOURS OF FACTORY LABOUR.—
We are informed that the proprietors of one of the most
extensive cotton factories in Preston have intimated to
tellt
i:hxtgbtepeolirerueodsr ssfouetuijdobnt
.ntaeeblrewThis:
nettia;rni neegddnwawei
hlis "
other work people in their em p loy-
ment, that if they wish it, they will reduce the hours of
y.
t
es t
owoTefa
believep,
eteche
esl
pipet ihvntaenhi:eedbr
hands
offer,
ffwaei
rlgenerally,ratonapkdoe rt tha deo
rhvneaaa
nvti s
have
11,
reduction of wages.—Preston Chronicle.

A WEALTHY PrcIrPOCICILT.,—A very respectable-look-
ing man, who gave his nameaa Thomas Collins, was tried,
convicted, and sentenced to ten years' transportation, at
the Central Criminal Court. on Tuesday last, for picking
the pocket of a clerk in the house of Baring:Brothers and
Co., on Saturday last. It appeared in evidence that he
kept an account at a bank, lodged in expensive apart-
ments, had an ample and elegant wardrobe, and had con-
trived to acquire a reputable character with a number of
respectable tradesmen. From his case it appears that
careful habits, and apparently correct conduct, are not
incompatible with dishonesty.
SAGACITY or THE Doc.—Among the many instances
of canine sagacity or memory, the following may be re-
corded n excise officer in the west of Fife, in his
perambulations found a fine pup dog, which, from the
circumstance, he named " Trouve." This he kept for
some time, till getting a notice of removal, he gave the
dog to a friend who resided ia Leith; but the dog was
not long in his new quarters till he showed symptoms
that he was not at home, and soon after disappeared. No
more was thought of the animal; but upon a late night
in February, with snow upon the ground and the sea
between, the former owner heard his howl at the window,
and opened the door, found his faithful " Trouve," cold,
wet, and weary, with feet worn and jagged. It is need-
less to say, the poor dog found that welcome to which his
affection and sufferings entitled him.—Edinburgh paper.
A MONSTROUS POEM.—A poem about King Alfred
has lately been published, in six large octavo volumes.
The author of this huge work was a Mr. John Fitchett,
who died in 1838, after having consumed the best part of
his life in the attempt to sing at fitting length the valo-
rous deeds of the great Anglo-Saxon Monarch. The en-
tire poem is arranged in forty-eight books, and it is said
to contain no less than 131,238 lines ; so that if poetical
worth were measured by bulk, the name of Mr. Fitchett
would rank far above that of Homer, Virgil, or Milton.
The Iliad contains only 15,693 lines ; the Eneid, 9,985 •
and the Paradise Lost of Milton only 10,565. It would
therefore take four Biads, four Eneids, and four Para-
dise Losts to make one King Alfred. The most surpri-
sing thing about the poem, however, is the last book,
containing 2,500 lines, the whole of which have been fur-
nished by the editor, Robert Roscoe. After this let us
hear no more of the flimsy writing of the present age.
PUBLIC PETITIONS.—The total number of petitioners
to Parliament on various important public measures
amounted, according to the last statement issued by the
House of Commons, as follows :—For a repeal of the Le-
gislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, to
738,911 ; against the union of the dioceses of Bangor and
St. Asaph, 6,435 ; against any further alteration in the
existing corn laws, 48,866; for a repeal of the cotton
duties, only 173 ; for a reduction of the duties on tobacco,
55,676 ; against a Ten Hours' Factory Bill, only 483,
and in favour of a limitation of labour in factories to ten
hours a day, 7,853, this number being actually greatly
below the mark, from the circumstance that in two in-
stances the petitions, which represented the opinions of a
large concourse of persons, were only signed by the chair-
man on behalf of the meeting; for the establishment of
local courts, 2,980; against the Masters' and Servants'
Bill, 690; for an alteration of the Poor Relief (Ireland)
Act, 1,189; fora free competition in the carriage of goods
upon railways, 8,968' and, lastly, for withholding the
supplies until the " grievances of the people are investi-
gated and redressed," 59,869.
DEATH OF OLD STUART.—This singular being lived
amongst us a relic of hoar antiquity, connecting our aura
with the far-off reign of George II.; while, according to
his own unvarying tale, he was the lineal and the last
surviving descendant of the royal race of Stuart. He
this week paid the debt of nature. Endowed with a tena.
city of life, of which we have always regarded his extra-
ordinary feats of personal strength in former days, and
the extreme old age to which he reached at last, as the
joint confirmation ; his time could scarcely yet be said to
have come, in the course of nature, for his death was the
result of an injury in the hip joint, occasioned by a fall on
Thursday last week. In his anxiety to get out of doors,
to enjoy the recent sunny weather, his foot got entangled,
and he was thrown down. Any injury, however slight,
was almost sure to have proved fatal, and accordingly the
utmost care and skill were unavailing. He expired on
Thursday morning, at the advanced age of 116 years, 3'
months. On the Tuesday morning before his death, his
senses appeared perfectly acute, and his appetite was un-
diminished. He called to his wife and asked in a gurgling
voice for his breakfast, eating a little bread and treacle to
his tea. Shortly after he had finished it he requested a
gill of beer, which his wife went to purchase, and in her
absence the old man gave vent to an expression of dis-
pleasure at her delay in bringing it—saying he thought
she had gone to Berwick for it. On Tuesday one of the
last ordinances of the church to which he belonged was
administered to him. After that morning, recollection
and observation only recurred at fitful intervals. On
Wednesday his son visited him, and was recognised by
the old man. He has three daughters living—one at Ain-
wick, one at Lowick, and another at Rennington. It
may be satisfactory to know, now that all poor Jamie's
wanderings have ceased, that the fund, which the kind-
ness of a few munificent individuals (including our gra-
cious Sovereign, and several of the leading names in the
land) had placed at the disposal of Mr. Jaffrav, book-
seller, in Berwick, and ourselves, has amply sufficed to
smooth the last asperities in his path ; and the old man
lately bestowed his blessing on Mr. Jaffray, and said that
" he hadna been sae wee] aff this hunder year."—Berwick
Warder.

DEPAUPERIZING THE POOR.—For the information-of
the public as to the meaning of this clap-trap phrase, so
much in use of late by our " liberal" philosophel s, we
give the outline of a most painful case, which has just been
tried before the Central Criminal Court. The accused, a
woman of 40 years of age, was arraigned for the murder
of her infant child by drowning under the following cir-
cumstances, which, as in the main facts, it agrees with the
evidence for the prosecution, we give in the words of her
own defence. The wretched woman, on being called upon
at the conclusion of the evidence, said, that '• while she
and her children were in the Whitechapsl workhouse,
they were well treated, but on going to the Bethnal-green
workhouse the eldest child became ill from some affection
of the head. It was removed to the infirmary, and sent
down again
wntaoshoerrd,earnedd itsto be ha
heasdbveeedam T
e ahse Garberecon v
second miehs
who
bad that

performed this operation was drunk, and in consequence
he eta pieces of flesh from the head of the child. The
wounds became very bad, end continued so for some time,
and on their being cured the child's eyes became sore.
An eruption also appeared all over its body, which she
attributed solely to the fact of the child being fed at the
workhouse on hard beef. She requested that it might be
changed for mutton, but this was refused. She then came
to the determination of leaving the house, and after hav-
ing obtained a loan of 6s. from the guardians, she went
about amongst her friends, and by small contributions
from then\she got a few shillings. She obtained employ-
ment at shirt-making, but as they only allowed ltd. for
a shirt, and by working hard she could only make three
shirts a day, she was compelled to relinquish it and seek
some more profitable employment. She then determined
to lay out the small stock of money she had in the pur-
chase of a few ribands, &c., to make up dress caps and
sell them, to try and eke out a slight subsistence for her
infant. She accordingly set out to do so, but, on arriving
at the shop, she found that a little green silk purse, con-
taining her money, had been lost or stolen from her pock-
et. This occurrence increased, if possible, her distress of
mind, as she had then no friend in the world who could
assist her, and no other prospect before her than to re-
enter the workhouse, to which she entertained such an
aversion, that she preferred death to herself and her
child. (.0 (The prisoner faltered at this part of her state-
ment, and spoke in so low a tone, that nothing but the
words, " I fell off the plank at the wharf," were heard.)
Sbe then sat down, much affected." Here, then, is the
process of " depauperizing !" Here is the process by
which workhouses are to be depopulated and parish rates
reduced. The lives of the wretched inmates are rendered
so insufferably miserable that they grasp eagerly at any
opportunity, however hopeless its prospects, of throwing
themselves once more upon society ; and, in the event of
failure to earn a livelihood, prefer death, or a felon's lot,
to a further experience of workhouse tyranny. The result
of the case of this poor woman has been a verdict of
guilty, and a sentence to undergo the last penalty of the
law; and yet great as undoubtedly is her crime, we much
question whether morally she is one-half so guilty as the
harsh and unchristian system which has impelled her to
her fate ! !

DUTIES ON TEA AND SUGAR.—A petition to the
House of Commons, praying for a large reduction of the
duties on tea and sugar, was laid down on Friday for
signature at the Royal Exchange, Glasgow. The petition
alludes to the very liberal tariff of the Chinese, and
the important mark et owned up in China for the sale
of our manufactures ; and sets forth that the extension of
our trade in that part of the world will he materially re-
tarded, unless we consent to receive the tea grown by the
Chinese, at a greatly reduced rate of clot:. The petition
states that at present the duty ranges at the rate of 100 to
200 per cent„ which limits the consumption to about 111 n.
per head per annum, for the United Kingdom, in place of
from 51b. to nibs.. which is about the annual consumpti-
on per head in families in easy circumstances. The con-
sumption of sugar, the duty on which would require to be
reduced simultaneously, is about lhlbs. per head, io place
of 'Albs. which is the usual consumption where the means
of freely purchasing it exist. Of course no possible re-
ducton could place the unrestricted use of these articles
within reach of the poor; but it is calculated that a really
liberal reduction in the rate of duty would cause the cr.n-
sumption of both to be at least doubled, thereby raising the
importation of tea from 4,000,000 to 80.000,0001b5., annu-
ally, and of sugar, from 200,000 to 400,000 tons.—Scoi-
lish Guardian.
FIRES IN MANCHESTER.—It is satisfactory to learn,
that, in consequence of the late disastrious fire at Man-
chester, by which property to the amount of £12,),000
was destroyed, the merchants, manufacturers, and other
proprietors of warehouses, are likely to follow the example
of the inhabitants of Liverpool, and improve the con-
struction of their buildings, with a view to add to the
security of the town, and prevent the extension of fires.
The fire offices have paid losses on warehouses alone,
within the last four years and a half, amounting to more
than £200,000, the largest portion of which loss has taken
place in those warehouses which were lined with wood,
were fitted up with well holes, had imperfect party walls,
and external cornices. Though the rates vrhichhave been
lately fixed for the risks of warehouses appear high, yet
very large reductions are provided for as soon as improve-
rormts are made by party walls being rendered perfect,
and by the removal of wood linings, well holes, and ex-
ternal wooden cornices. The fires have been of late years
increased to so great an extent, the investment of capital
in insurance companies has been found so dangerous, and
the rates have been so wholly ins&quate to the losses and
expenses, that upwards of 40 fire offices have discon-
tinued their business since the year 1825.—Manclrester
Guardian.

LEAGUE PATHOL—The imposing effect, in the list of
Doncaster subscribers to the League, of " R. Milner,
and Miss Milner, and Miss A. Miner, and Master C.
Milner, and Master F. Milner," has b•eo the subject of
much amusement in our town. It i, a grind conglome-
ration. which is universally felt to be " a heavy blow and
great' disCourageinent " to the corn-laws. But it is gran-
deur simply; it is wanting in the deep pathos which dis-
tinguishes the following exquisite moreean, announcing a
donation to 'the League from a daughter of free-trade 1
Quaker Bright :—." Helen Priestman Bright, Rochdale,
to help papa, and Richard Cobden, and Robert Moore.
to get bread for poor little children, 2s. 6d." How af-
fecting ! Such pathos from the touch of a single half-
crown is most wonderful. It is clearly a cut above the
Milner demonstration. But, " from the sublime to the
ridiculous there is oue step," says a cynic Frenchman ;
and that step is made by interpreting Miss Helen Priest-
man Bright's effusion into plainer English—" To help
papa, and Richard Cobden, and Robert Moore, to reduce
the wages of their workpeople, 2s. 6d.," or by giving the
Milner demonstration in the intelligible language of Al-
derman Brooks—" Lord love you, we are all for our-
selves and low wages: signed It. Milner, and Miss Mil-
ner, and Miss A. M. Milner, and Master C. Milner, and
Master F. Mitner."—Doncaster CltPonicle.

THE COST OF THE POOR.—From returns just prepared
for parliament respecting the amount expended for the
relief and maintenance of the poor, &c., it appears that
there are 590 unions in England and Wales, of which the
population was 13,993,967. The average annual expen-
diture for the relief of the poor, three years prior to the
union, was 5,608,934. In 1841 the expenditure was
£4,288,520 ; in 1842, £4,438,660 ; and in 1843,
£4,679,495. Under this head of expenditure are included
the cost of maintenance, out-door relief, establishment
charges with salaries, workhouse and emigration loans re-
paid, and other purposes immediately connected with the
relief of the poor. The number of in-door and out-door
paupers relieved in 1841, in England and Wales, was
1.116,523 ; in 1842, 1,235,437; and in 1843, 1,333,247.
The number of illegitimate children (in-door and out-
door) relieved during the quarters ending Lady-day, 1841,
was 29,123 ; in 1812, 29,357 ; and in 1843, 29,699. Thus
the proportion of illegitimate children, in 1843, to every
1,000 of the total number of paupers relieved in that year,
was 22.3; and the proportion of illegitimate children in
the same to every 1,000 of the population was 2.1. This
return is exclusive of places not united under the Poor
Law Amendment Act. The above will show that the ex-

penditure has been yearly increasing at the rate of about
£6,000 or £6.500, and the number of paupers from
100,000 to 120,000, while the number of illegitimate
chil-
dren increases annually at the ratio of about 300.
POLE-CATS OF THE PRESS.—A. Mr. Wells has told a
moving tale to the Lord Mayor of the sorrows and hard-
ships of Barnard Gregory, prisoner in Newgate. "He is
compelled to associate with felons," says Mr. Wells—
doubtless, a dreadful indignity to the late editor of the
Satirist, whose co-mates and fellow-labourers in the
vineyard were men of the nicest sense of honour—gentle-
men "of the first house, the very first house." More-
over, the said Gregory " sleeps on an iron bedstead, with
rope mattress and rug covering"—a shocking circum-
stance, when we remember the beds of roses that the said
Gregory was wont to spread in the columns of his news-
paper for certain sufferers. " Mr. Gregory is only allowed
the prison diet !" Considering the extreme delicacy of
his appetite, that for years fed upon lying and slandering
—a most cruel punishment ! " Mr. Gregory's health is
suffering," and therefore Mr. Wells will " call a public
meeting to address the Queen" upon the matter. We
I know nothing of the state of Mr. Gregory's health ; but
this we know—men, on board the hulks, who, it may be,
have only wronged society to the amount of a few shillings,
fall ill, and find no sympathy in their sickness from the
Home-office. llow, then, is the late editor of the Satirist
to claim any indulgence, denied to the late abstractor (to
use a soft word) of pocket-handkerchiefs? Mr. Sheriff
Musgrove " regretted to declare that Mr. Gregory's
health was declining." Has the sheriff no sympathy for
the declining health of many a wretched convict at Wool-
wich ? Can he only find compassion for the convicted
slanderer that turned his venom to profit—has he no
touch of tenderness for the declining footpad. the wasting
housebreaker? Let Gregory's ill-health plead successfully
for his pardon ; but let the same pardon be awarded to
sick culprits ofevery denomination.—Punch.

THE COLLIERY DISTRICTS.—The colliery districts
continue in a state of greai agitation. Various rumours
have reached this town as to acts of violence having been
committed, but we are happy to say they have either been
considerably exaggerated, or traced to no satisfactory
foundation. The pitmen in most instances have exhibited
a very improper spirit, being apparently determined to
secure by force what they have failed to acquire in a
peaceable manner. Matters will not be much better, as
long as the pitmen are led by men, whose object is evi-
dently to live—and live well—by the poverty and crimes
of the ignorant. The Sunderland correspondent of the
Times says :—The sailors' strike being just over at this
port, the pitmen's strike threatens to inflict still greater
mischief on the shipowners and also the sailors, many
hundreds of whom are out of employment. Reports of
slight disturbances among the colliers in the Durh4m coal
field are constantly reaching the town, and these, as well
as the conduct of the pitmen generally, form the ordinary
topic of conversation. The opinion among those best in-
formed on the subject appears to be, that, considering the
present advisers of the men, the strike will be a protracted
one, provided the shopkeepers io the pit villages will sup-
ply the men with goods on credit. lam inclined to think
many of them will do so, for they are bound up in feeling
as well as interest with the men, and are easily persuaded
that the colliers are an injured body, and that the masters
are disposed to grind them into the dust for the gratifica-
tion of their selfish and sordid purposes. A Chartist lec-
turer, named Dickenson, is endeavouring to enlist the
sympathies of the working classes on behalf of the pitmen
by the delivery of exciting addresses. A. petition ema-
nating from a public meeting of working men (including
many of the colliers lately employed at the Monkwear-
mouth Colliery) is also in course of signature against the
Master and Servants' Bill, which it is supposed (I do not
know with what reason) will press with peculiar severity
on the mining population. The petition has already re-
ceived about 1,000 signatures, and when completed it is
to be forwarded to Mr. buncombe, for presentation to
the House of Commons. Mr. Ferrand and the members

for the borough and the county being especially requested
to support it.—Newcastle Herald.

CATHEDRALS.—Mr. Hume,.un Thursdhy night, pro-
posed a resolution, which promises to be periodical, that
the public should be admitted freely to the cathedrals of
this country. The motion was negatived, without a divi-
sion, on the old ground that the question was no affair of
the House of Commons. We quite agree with Sir Robert
Peel that it is not very consistent with the dignity of the
house to pass a resolution which it is utterly powerless to
enforce, and which in all probability will have no other
effect upon those whom it is desired to influence, than that
of "putting their backs up"—of rousing a very natural
suspiciOn of intended usurpation, and a not less natural
readiness to resist it in limine. We bear no bigotted at-
tachment to deans and chapters. They have fallen griev-
ously short of what might be fairly expected of them.
With the funds of which they, or at least some of them,
are possessed, our cathedrals should have been in a state
of continually growing magnificence. The ravages of the
rebellion should have been remedied, the unfinished de-
signs of other ages should have been completed, the effi-
ciency of the cathedral schools and choirs continually
increased. They have not, it is true, had at their com-
mand the wealth which in former ages was employed to
build those stupendous works of art ; but they have surely
had enough to mend what their forefathers created. It
has been, however, the fashion during the last century to
take a strong view of the domestic obligations—of the
duties of giving good port wine to our friends, leaving our
sons in comfortable circumstances, and keeping carriages
for the use of our delicate wives and daughters. Our own
flesh and bone, it has been thought, is nearer and dearer
to us than stone and mortar—antique monuments and
painted windows; and so, while the dining-rooms of dig-
nitaries have marched with civilization, and partaken to
the full in all the growing luxuries of the age, the mighty
and beautiful buildings which had a prior, if not a closer,
claim upon their pockets, have continually increased in
dismalness and disrepair. Now at last public scrutiny
has been sternly fixed on them : their guardians, partly
from the constant pressure of opinion from without, and
partly from a participation in the growing spirit of the
time, are slowly awakening to the duties of their situation,
and some part of cathedral incomes is again being appro-
priated to strictly cathedral purposes.—London Times.