The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

the orders of the Watch Committee; were the result
of that ignorance. We turn again to his letter :
The third charge is `That Mr. Miller had not attended
the bridewells and stations at intervals during the day
and night.' Here is something specific, and to this alle-
gation I answer distinctly that it is not correct. I ques-
tioned the expediency and utility of the regulation enjoin-
ing me to visit the bridewells and stations at certain
hours, because fixed and regular visits would destroy the
object in View. That which is known or expected is pro-
vided against ; but when the visits are irregular, there can
be no temporary provision made—all must be right at all
times, or there will ultimately be detection. But that I
did visit the bridewells and stations frequently, though
irregularly. the entries in the books will testify beyond
denial. In fact, so far from not having' gone round the
town sufficiently often, my opinion is that I went too fre-
quently. A sound discretion, I conceived, called upon
me to modify, in practice, the rule; but the spirit of the
rule was observed with fidelity."
We disdain to remark upon the obvious quibble
contained in the use of the words marked in italics;
but we must deny the assertion that Mr. Miller
visited the Bridewells and Stations " regularly" or
" frequently." The books will show that such visits
were anything but frequent, and were almost, if not
altogether, " regularly" paid before twelve o'clock
at night. The entries during Mr. Whitty's time of
service will show a very different result.
With respect to the fourth charge of the Watch
Committee, that Mr. Miller had selected as Inspec-
tors "young and inexperienced officers," the reply
appears so foolish that we have some difficulty in
bringing ourselves to record it. He says, " surely
the Watch Committee must be aware that young
men, who have been hut a limited period in the
force sometimes exhibit an amount of intelligence
and a degree of aptitude far exceeding those of
officers of long standing." A gentleman who bases
so much of his pretensions upon his great experi-
ence, should scarcely have been so communicative
as to the stupefying effect of " long standing as an
officer." Perhaps Dogberry was right after all, in
choosing as his captain " the most desartless man."
But the fifth charge. Hear Mr. Miller !
"The fifth charge I cannot help regarding as both a
trivial and a strange one—namely, "fhat Mr. Miller kept
himself aloof from the superintendents and inspectors,
and that his general conduct and demeanour had been so
haughty and overbearing es prevented intercourse with
him.' Haughty and overbearing ! If haughtiness con-
sist of a systematic abstinence from uncalled-for famili-
arity, then must I plead guilty •, for, ever since I first
took charge of a police force, I have considered it my
duly to keep both officers and men at a respectful dis-
tance, (I) as one of the necessary means of securing that
' general discipline' which I am accused of having neg-
ected or deteriorated. At the same time, however, it has
always been my earnest desire and endeavour to promote
the comfort of the men to the very best of mv power—to
show them kindness in deeds, and, when brought into
necessary contact with them, kindness in words. I never
regarded it as part of the duty of a Head Constable
to indulge in prolonged and familiar chatting* with the
officers of the force on Vivial matters, having no con-
nection with their business or my own ; but when they
had police business to transact with me, or I with them,
they found, I can safely say, nothing of haughtiness or
overbearingness in my conduct."
This is certainly the most extraordinary passage
in the whole letter, and might almost tempt one to

inquire from what vast altitude Mr. Miller stooped
to accept of the office of Head Constable of Liver-
pool, and six hundred a year. May we, however,
instead, direct his sublime consideration to the fol-
lowing direction, as to the duties of a Head Con-
stable towards the superior officers of the fore:,
contained in the printed rules and regulations, a
book which he seems to have perversely disre-
garded :
" He," the Head Constable, " will have the whole of
the force under his control, and will be held accountable
for its good order and efficiency. He should, therefore,
by frequent personal intercourse, make himself well ac-
quainted with the superintendents and inspectors, and
through them wit 'the character and conduct of every nan
it the establishnunt. He should bti firm and just, yet
kind and conci ia Ay."
We put it to any unprejudiced man whether Mr.
Miller's interpretation of his " duty" is in keeping
with the plain rule of such " duty" here laid down.
He keeps his officers at " a respectful distance"—
perfectly correct, and yet perfectly compatible with
the requirements of the Watch Committee. He is
" kind to them" only " when brought into necessary
contact with them !" Heneverindulges in "prolonged
and familiar chattings" with them. How ineffably
sublime, but how opposed to the spirit of the corn-
mittse's injunctions ! He is by them required to seek
" frequent personal intercourse," not only to gra-
ciously unbend himself, when brought into " neces-
sary contact with them," as with something unclean.
He is to make himself " well acquainted" with
them ; and, however repugnant " long and familiar
chattings" with such people may he to a gentleman
of Mr. Miller's refinement of ideas, the " noli me
tangere" line of deportment towards them, is
scarcely, in our opinion, that best adapted to enable
him to fulfil his duties to them, to the Watch Com-
mittee and the public.
We are tired of pursuing further in detail the
various paragraphs of this injudicious production ;
but there is one portion of it in which he attempts
to prove his vigilance as head constable by enume-
rating the duties, not his own; which he has per-
formed since his appointment, which we- must
notice, so strong an illustration does it afford us of
the nature of the deficiencies complained of by the
Watch Committee, and of the truth of all that we
have heard of his conduct in the position which he
held in Glasgow. " I prepared," he says, " a return
of 4,000 streets and houses in the borough which were
destitute of either name or number—a return of

upwards of 1400 cellar entrances which were in a
dangerous state—a return of nearly 400 places where
the streets and parapets were in a state of disrepair,"
&c. ; services no doubt of great value, and evincing
vast industry and talent. But these were not the
services for which Mr. Miller was engaged and paid,

_
but precisely the kind of intrusions upon the func-
tions of other parties for which Mr. Miller was dis-
tinguished in Glasgow. Had he confined himself
more to his legitimate duties, possibly the Commis.
sioners in that place would not have had to com-
plain either of gross remissions on the one hand or
of undue presuming on the other, or the Watch
Committee here to resort to those inquiries which
have resulted in Mr. Miller's present unfortunate

position.
We trust we have done now with the subject,
although we have ample matter before us for further
remarks. It shall be Mr. Miller's fault if it is re-
newed, as it is his fault that we have at all been
compelled to bring it before our readers.

SIR HENRY POTTINGER.—This distinguished individ-
ual, accompanied by Lady Pottinger and family, Col.
Malcolm, and several of their friends and connections,
arrived about half-past six o'clock, last night, and he was
immediately conveyed in the mayor's carriage to the
Adelphi Hotel, where he will remain during his brief so-
journ in Liverpool. Shortly after his arrival at the
Adelphi Sir Henry was waited upon by a deputation from
the several mercantile associations of the port, consisting
of Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. Crosthwaite, to ascertain
at what hour this day, (Tuesday,) it would be convenient
for him to receive addresses from those bodies. The
ceremony was appointed to take place at two o'clock this
afternoon in the Town-hall. Two addresses are intended
to be presented, one from the East India Association of
this town, and another in which all the other associations
have united. The dinner in the evening, which will take
place in the great ball-room at the Town-hall, will be one
of the most magnificent and imposing displays of influence
and wealth that has taken place in this town for many
years. The room is one of the most commodious in Li-
verpool, and on this occasion its capabilities will be put to
the test in accommodating the numbers who are eager to
do honour to the distinguished guest. The arrangement
of the tables is such as to afford every comfort to the
guests, whilst there will be ample space for the attendants
to discharge their duties without cro xding or confusion.
Along the room, from east to west, there will run the
principal table, which will be slightly elevated over the
rest; at this table his Worship the Mayor will preSide,
and at his right hand the welcome guest of L?verpool will
take his place. The following noblemen and gentlemen
will also occupy seats at this table :—Lord Stanley, Lord
Sandon, Mr. Wm. Entwisle, M.P., Major Pottinger,
Col. Malcolm, the High Sheriff, Sir George Larpent.
(Chairman of the London East India Association,) Archi-
bald Hastee, Esq., M.P., Deputy Chairman of ditto, Mr.
Thos.Bayley, jun., Chairman of the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce, &c. &c. Eleven tables will be extended
from the principal table, at each of which there will be a
vice-president of the evening, and four stewards. The
vice-presidents are the chairmen of the various mercan-
tile associations of the town. Amongst the guests there
will be a native East Indian gentleman, named Mohun
Lal, who is upon a tour in this country, and who is de-
scribed as a man of most intelligent and enquiring mind.
Mr. Baron Gurney had been invited but we understand
that yesterday the learned judge ruluctantly felt himself
under the necessity of declining the invitation in conse-
quence of the delicate state of his health. Altogether
seats are at present provided for 392 individuals, being
the whole number of tickets issued, hut last night there
were about fifty applications more so that it is possible a
a few more may be accommodated. As to places we be-
lieve that those who arrive first are likely to be the most
fortunate inithat respect, for we are informed that each
gentleman as he arrives will be conducted to his seat.
Horabin's band will perform during dinner, and Mr.
Holden's company of glee singers are engaged to be in
attendance. Mr. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel, provides
the cuisine.—Sir Henry Pottinger will remain in this
town until Friday morning next, when he will proceed to
Manchester where the same evening a magnificent enter-
tainment will be given to him at the Town Hall, at which
the Mayor of the Borough will preside.