The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-14 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

indulged in such conduct, because it ministered to their
Own vanity and self-importance, and evil to those vi,ited
with it, because it provoked a reply of repugnance and
hostility. Tl.ey must be visaed leisurely and kindly.
The stories of their domestic troubles—their contentions
and quarrellings with their neighbours must be listened to
—their regrets must excite neither sneer nor smile—their
wants and troubles must not he derided as insignificant—
their failings must not be rudely assailed—nothing could
justify rudeness to any man, however poor—they inuA be
attended to kindly and affectionately, because, he re-
peated, the poor had feelings as well as wants, and bounty
must be accompanied with sympathy, or the grand object
they had in view would never be ace )mplished. (Cheers.)
The reverend gentleman concluded by moving the follow-
ing resolution !—" That it appears, from various Parlia-
mentary and other inquiries, that the labouring classes in
this country are placed in circumstances which call for the
efforts of an enlarged and wet-directed benevolence to
produce a permanent and effectual improvement in their
condition.''
Mr. Colquhoun, M.P., seconded the motion.
The followi :g resolutions were sub,equently passed :
" That the recent Pa, liamentary reports on the Cottage Allot
merit System, on the Sanatory Condition of the Dwellings of the
Poor, and on the Loan Funds of Ireland, suggest the means by
which such an improvement may be attempted with a reason.
able prospect of success."
That a society be now established, under the designation
of ' The Society frr the Improvement of the Condition of the
Labouring (lasses,' which should embrace the above-mentioned
objects—the improvement of the dwellings of the pc) r. the ex-
tension of the cottage allotment system. the formation of
friendly loan slcieties, and the consideration of other matters
involving the'general and permanent welfare of the labouring
classes."

A committee of noblemen and gentlemen was then
formed to carry out the objects of the meeting, and up-
wards of £lOO was collected on the spot.

•
[lt is worthy of remark that. though the Rev. 11. M'Neile
toot such a prominent part at this meeting. and at the meeting
for promoting the missionary exerti ns of he Church of Scot.
land on the previous day, he preached two sermons at St. Jude's
Church, as usual, on Sunday.]

Mr. NORTH said he did not intend to answer Mr.
Blackburn, because he could scarcely do so without
seeming to testify a respect for that gentleman's inten-
tions, and a deference for his arguments, which, under
the circumstances of the case, he told him candidly, he
did not feel. For he had ❑o sympathy with any one who
sought strife for its own sake, and a perseverance in it
without nay attainable object or even hope of success,
merely for the love of dissension, anti with a full know-
ledge that it must be barren and fruitless. (Hear.) To
annoy and weary an opponent, without any possible ad-
vantage to our ow❑ cause, was no legitimate, no manly
object of party strife, if the occasion of the present strug-
gle were even less calculated than it was to suggest very
different feelings; and he could not but think, and there
was comfort in the thought, that it would be proved that
day, and that Mr. Blackburn would find, that he himself
had done his own cause some discredit by his very unne-
cessary breach of peace and charity, losing thereby, as he
(Mr. North) thought he would, the support of some who,
under other circumstances, might have been inclined to
vote with him. (Hear.) But he had said that he would
not answer Mr. Blackburn's speech, and neither would
he be provoked to more than this very brief comment
upon it, intending to confine himself, and recal to the
attention of the members present the resolution of the
Education Committee, which the. Council confirmed by a
very large majority last year, and then to state what
course, as it appeared to him, it became that large, or
perhaps still larger majority now, to adopt, under the
circumstances of this repeated, but in no other respect
new, attack. lle would not detain the,Council by having
the resolution of December 1842 read, although he might
perhaps do so with considerable advantage to his own
argument. Suffice it to remind the Council that it stated
somewhat elaborately the views of the Education Com-
mittee on the question, and the grounds on which they
had formed and were prepared to maintain it. Now, that
resolution was not at all intended for their guidance for a
year and a day, but was the permanent and unalterable
record of the determination of the Council as then and
still constituted. (Hear.) Against that resolution Mr
Blackburn was patiently listened to for an hour and a
half.

Mr. BIRKETT.—An hour and three quarters.
Mr. NORTH.—Yet, the result was its affirmation, by a
majority, he believed, of more than two to one. From
that, the decision of the Council, Mr. Blackburn appealed
to the public—at least if he might trust to his recollection
of having seen in the window of the Mercury-office, in-
scribed, " Substance of a speech of Mr. Blackburn, de-
livered" so and so. The effect of that speech so delivered
and so published, and the influence of the party whose
views it. expressed, might be inferred from the fact next
in succession in point of time, and, he supposed he might
say, in importance, to that vast display of oratory and
zeal—the Municipal Election, at which the party opposed
to Mr. Blackburn's views on the education question, and
in virtue especially of that opposition, succeeded in car-
rying twelve out of fourteen contested wards. (Hear,
hear.) And, notwithstanding all this, Mr. Blackburn
repeated his attack that day, upon precisely the same
grounds which had been refuted a hundred times in argu•
anent, and twice within one year, by the unanswerable and
overwhelming evidence of the public opinion to which he
had alluded. (Hear, hear.) Now, how were they to deal
with such pertinacity as this? If the sense of any body
of electors was ever determinedly and decisively mani.
felted—if the duty of an elected body was ever well and
faithfully discharged, it was by the manner in which the
Council dealt with the question last year. And were they
now, faithful yet, and therefore, and only therefore, ex-
ulting in increased strength,—were they now to submit,
at the bidding of Mr. Blackburn, to re-argue the whole
case with a view to a reprisal of their own judgment ?
Were they, under the circumstances, to condescend to
debate it at all ?—for that was the question which he was
anxious to put—the only question that he would conde-
scend to speak to that day. And, assuredly, they were
not to do so. Mr. Blackburn had, unfortunately, the
power to visit them with this infliction, and he might
repeat it ; and it was precisely because they could not
help themselves that he (Mr. N.) for one would submit
with civility, and all possible patience. But they were in
no way called upon to reply to him—to renew a struggle
into which they had been so often dragged, or, by any act
of their own, to bestow upon an ebullition of this nature
the character of a debate. His earnest counsel, therefore,
was, to listen, now that Mr. Blackburn had explained,
with perfect tranquillity to any other speeches which
might follow his on the subject, and, without offering a
word in reply, to proceed as quietly and as quickly as
might be to the cote ; for so, he was persuaded, should
they best discharge their duty to those who sent them
thither—so, at least, would they prevent discomfort to
themselves, waste of time, and a disturbance of their
peace, and so much more effectually quench and disap-
point the authors of this strife, than by ministering, by
any show of opposition, to the display and agitation which
was sought. He hoped the motion would be negatived ;
and if there were any form by which, more emphatically,
that could be conveyed, he should be happy to move it.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. EVANS said he had heard many speeches in his
time, but never one that carried his imagination into
Jerusalem to hear the Pharisees there—never one so Pha-
risaical as Mr. North's. (Hear, and a laugh.) He had
not the slightest idea of opening his mouth on the sub-
ject; and, if he did, it had been extorted from him by
the speech which they had just heard—a speech contain-
ias much misrepresentation, (oh !) as much injustice,
d as much arrogance and scorn, as he had ever beard.

Mr. NORTH.—I beg to ask what you mean by such
language ?—language to which I shall not submit. Did

I u4er-scorn?
Mr. EVANS.—Yes, you heaped scorn on what Mr
Blackburn said.

Mr. No itTEl.—Aye! on what he sa'd.
Mr. EVANS.—WrII. and what did I say more? (Se-
veral voices—" Arrogance.")
Mr. CHALMER.—I think your expression was perfectly
well warranted.

The MAYOR.—I don't think Mr. North said anything
incorrect, and I know not that Mr. Evans is out of order.
Mr. NORTH.—I hope he will restrain himself.
Mr. EVANS.—I should rather be regulated by my own
ideas of propriety than yours. With regard to sense,
argument, justice, or charity above all things, he was sure
that of the two speeches he would infinitely rather be the
speaker of the one that Mr. Blackburn uttered, than the
one delivered by Mr. North. To tell the Council that
they were never to reargue any question after a fallible
resolution had been passed, was one of the mo-t prepos-
terous things imaginable. He concluded by sayinz that
the slave-trade had been suupressed, and Catholic Eman-
cipation achieved by means of agitation and rei'eration
of argument, and that the conservative party had sought
safety by tot replying to arguments which were unan-
swerable.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE thought that the education
question had done an infinity of mischief to the Council
and town, as it had impaired the efficiency of the former,
interfered with their more proper municipal functions,
and prevented many gond men from entering the cham-
ber. He had never hx;ked back with satisfaction to the
education debates, and he thought the reform party had
much to answer for because of having introduced the
Irish system of education into the schools.

Mr. PARKER and Mr. CHALMER followed, after which
Mr. BLACKBURN briefly replied.
The Council then divided, when there appeared—For
the motion, 8; against it, 26 : majority, 18. The motion
was consequently lost. _

The following members voted in the minority :
Messrs. Blackburn, Thornhill, 11. Ilornby, Barclay,
Holt, Chalmer, Preston, and John Holmes.
The Cuuncil adjourned at ten minutes after two o'clock.

DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILL.—The Bishop of Exeter
has entered a protest against this bill, because usage has
never before been suffered to prevail against the purposes
of a charitable trust; because the bill disregards the in-
tention of founders of charities ; because it introduces an
ex post facto law, subverting the rights of the proper
beneficialies; because the alleged reason of the measure
ill accords with its provisions; because it is introduced to
quiet the titles of persons who have usurped meeting-
houses; because it is of avowed favour to persons who
deny the divinity of Christ; and because the violation of
principles for such an object may excite in the people an
apprehension of the readiness of the legislature to sacrifice
the most approved rules of law and the most sacred
interests of religious truth, &c.
SCRAPS FROM THE ANTI-STATE CHURCH CONFE-
RENCE.—This remarkable gathering of 500 delegates held
a three days session last week, and then adjourned until
1817. On the first.W. S. Crawford, Esq., the M.P. who
presented the petition anent hanging, declared " There
can be no security for religious or political liberty while
the connexion between the Church and the State remains."
Another M.P. (Dr. Bowring) said, " I have travelled in
many countries—l have seen people of every colour and
clime—l have looked at and studied the working of State
Churches at home and abroad—and I am firmly persuaded
that the separation of the Church from the State would be
for the advantage of both." Dr. Cox (who has been for
years a distributor of the regium donum or state endow-
ment of dissent) waxed so superlatively wise on his own
inconsistency as to declare that "he who touches the
regium donum as much insults the principle of dissent,
as he who withholds the Bible violates the principle of
Protestantism." By parity of reasoning, he who distri-
butes it is unclean. On the second day, Friend Sturge
declared—" I have never been able to distinguish between
my political and religious duties. I believe the distinction
is one drawn by priestcraft!" The first resolution agreed
to by the Conference declared " that the union of the
Church and State was the largest, the most specious, and
the most fatal obstacle which Christianity in these realms
had to. encounter! !!" It was moved by Mr. Shoe.
botharn, of Dundee, who said " they had been taunted by
the charge of belonging to the movement party. He, for
one, did not deny it. Change was the law of the universe ;
everything changed but Jehovah, and as to belonging to
the movement party, he gloried in it, and forward they
would proceed in their course until they succeeded in ob-
taining the full triumph of the Gospel." On the motion
of Mr. J. E. Giles, of Leeds, seconded by Mr. King, of
Cork, a resolution was put to the meeting and carried with
but two dissentients. This circumstance was occasioned
by some reflections on the Unitarians, but the remarks
objected to were eventually struck out by mutual agree-
meat. Of course it forms no part of the creed of these
men that "Jesus Christ is God." The next resolution
declared it the duty of Dissenters to petition for the abo-
lition of all State endowments, and for their appropriation
"to purposes strictly national and purely secular." On
the third day, "The British Anti-State Church Asso-
ciation" was f'ormed, and a hint was given that the great
battle which the Dissenters would have to fight would be
in the election of proper men to advocate their interests in
parliament ; and effectually to carry on the operations of
this society an annual sum of, at least, £lOOO would be
necessary. So that we are to have another League inter-
ference in elections ; and what with Anti-Corn Law can-
didates and Anti-State Church candidates the electors of
England will really have nothing left to do.

LOCAL NEWS.

FIRE PREVENTION BILL.—The Liverpool fire pre•
vent.on bill was read a third time on Thursday, and
passed.

The profits on the Woodside Ferry during the year
have been upwards of £:500 monthly, the total sum
amounting to £6,132 Bs. 2d. The profits gu to the im-
provement of the township.
On Monday last John Entwistle, aged twenty-three, of
Manchester, plunged suddenly into the wAt,r on tue
North Shore, from a bathing machine, and was killed by
the shock.

LIVERPOOL NEW GAS AND COKE BILL.—The price of
gas, in Liverpool, which was reduced ro 6s. per 1,000 feet
on the Ist of April last, is, by this bill, which received the
royal assent on Friday last, made the maximum in future.
THE LIVERPOOL FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COM-
PANY.—At a meeting of the direc•ors of this company,
held on Tuesday last, T. Stewart Gladstone was elected a
member of the board, to supply the vacancy occasioned by
the death of Nathan Cairns, Esq.
The John O'Gannt, Capt. Robertson, sailed from Li-
verpool for Hong Kong in the middle of July last, was re-
ported at China in December and January, and was tele-
graphed off this port on Sunday last, having performed
the entire voyage in less than ten months.
NEW CHURCH AT WEST DERRY.—We understand that
the first prize for the best design for the intended new
church at West Derby has been awarded to Mr. CI iyton ,
and the second prize to Mr. Edward Welch, of this town.
Both designs are said to be very elegant.
HILL COOLIES.—A communication has been received
by the West India Association of Liverpool, to the effect
that a despatch has been received from the late Governor.
General of India, expressive of his lordship's entire ap.
probation of the transfer of Hill Coolies from India to
the West Indies for the purpose of agriculture.
PUBLICANS AND BEERSELLERS FlNED.—Fifteen pub-
licans and beersellers were charged at the Police-court on
Friday before Mr. Rushton and Mr. Hardman Earle, fur
various offences under the late act. The cases were en-
tirely destitute of novelty or interest. The result was
that four were acquitted, one was postponed, and the re-
mainder were fined, in amounts varying from .£5 to ss.
CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—The excise officers of the
Runcorn division have lately been making a rigid inspec-
tion of the publicans in the district. A considerable
quantity of rum has been seized, under the provisions of
Act 6, Geo. IV., cap 80, sec. 130, which provides that
spirits shall not be sold of less strength than seventeen
under-proof.

NEW MARKET AT BIRKENHEAD.—This spacious build-
ing is progressing rapidly ; already the brick-work is abeve
the ground, the first story having so far been raised.
Jnduing from present appearances it wilt be built much on
the plan of the Liverpool markets, for size it will be infe-
rior to none, St. John's excepted, whilst for general con-
venience it will be equal to any.
We understand that it is the intention of the Mayor to
lay the foundation stone of the new Northern Hospital in
Great Howard-street, at one o'clock to-day (Tuesday).
The Senior Rector and the members of the corrarn;ttee
will accompany the Mayor from the Town-hall at the time,
and we hope that a good attendance of the friends of this
valuable institution will be present on so interesting an
occasion.

FIRE AT BIRKENHEAD.—On Thursday evening last,
about eight o'clock, a fire broke out in a small house
situated in Carpenter's-row, at the back of Chester-
street, Birkenhead. Assistance was promptly given by
the neighbours, which happily had the effect of putting it
out in a snort time. We are sorry to add that a child,
two years old, was so dreadfully burnt that little hopes
are entertained of its recovery.
LIVERPOOL DOCK BILL.—Sir Howard Douglas moved,
on Thursday, on the bringing up of the repo t from the
committee on the Liverpool dock bill. that the bill be re-
committed to the former committee, for the purpose of
considering the system of cleansing the Liverpool docks,
and of amending the bill as regards the clause relating to
the land tax and poor's rates; and that the committee
have leave to sit and proceed on Monday next, at twelve
o'clock. Motion agreed to.
INQUESTS.—On Saturday two inquests were held be-
fore the Deputy-Coroner. The first was on view of an
illegitimate child, two years of age, named Lewis Penier,
who, about three weeks since, accidentally fell into a pan
of hot water, which was lying or, the floor of his mother's
house, in Bennett-street, and was so dreadfully scalded
that he died of the injuries on Thursday last. —The second
was on a child, twelve months old, named Ellen Wild,
who died of convulsions in the Workhouse. Verdicts to
Coese effects were returned in both casts.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE.—In the shop window of
the manufacturers (Messrs. Wordley and Mayer Lord-
street), an elegant piece of plate has been exhibited within
the last few days. It is intended as a present to the late
curate of St. Anne's Church, and contains the following
inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. William Dickson
Blundell, by a part of the congregation of St. Anne's
Church, as a token of respect, and as a memorial of the
high estimation in which his services were held during
the fiftee❑ years he officiated as curate of that church.
Liverpool, 18-14."

FIRE AT THE LIVERPOOL THEATRE ROYAL.—Whi!e
the " World of Dreams" was being performed at the
Theatre Royal yesterday night week, part of the light-
colotsed hangings used in the piece, and which were
suspended contiguous to one of the side lights, acci-
dentally caught fire, and hurned with great rapidity. The
audience, supposing the blaze to have been necessary to
give due effect to the representation, and not by any
means the result of accident, fortunately sat still, and
manifested little, if any, symptoms of alarm ; and the fire
having been speedily extinguished, the performances pro-
ceeded as if nothing had occurred.

RUNCORN.—The committee appointed at the last Easter
meerinC, for the re-building of the parish church, met at
the Town-hall, on Tuesday List, to consult the architect,
Mr. Salvin, who came from London on purpose, on the
best means for effecting soul, alteration in the plan sub-
mitted by him for the new church. Several alterations,
considered by the committee as improvements. were
adopted, such as elongating the spire, and so constructing
the church as to erect at any future period a gallery.
These met with the approval of Mr. Salvin, and the com-
mittee will now endeavour to obtain the necessary funds,
and proceed forthwith with the building.

STEALING A WATCH.—WINAITI Armson,a respectably-
attired person, said to have, till lately, a water at Chester,
was brought up on Thursday before Mr. Ru4iton,
charged with steatng a watch. It appeared that, on
Wednesday evening, the prisoner went to the house of
Mr. Edward Taylor, market constable, Denton-court,
Roscoe-lane, and asked to see a female who lived there.
Whilst in the house Mrs. Cowan, a lodger, looked at
Mr. Taylor's watch and then placed it under the sofa.
The prisoner soon afterwards waa observed to take the
watch and place it in his pocket. When charged with the
theft, he denied it and ran off. He was pursued ; when
in Berry-street he dropped the watch upon the ground,
and was then apprehended. lie was committed to the
sessions.

DEATH FROM DRINKING SPIRITS OP TURPENTINE.—
On 'Wednesday last, Mary Ann Williams, a child two
years and a half old, who resided with her parents in
Al'Kee-street, came by her death under the following
circumstances. The deceased's sister had sent for a
pennyworth of spirits of turpentine for the purpose of
cleaning some trousers, when, having laid the bottle on
the table, the child, by means of a chair, obtained access
to it and drank a portion of the spirit. She was taken to
Mr. Ackerly, surgeon, where the usual remedies were
applied, but without effect, and the deceased died early
the following morning. Tile immediate cause of death
was inflammation of the glottis, arising from taking the
turpentine. An inquest was held on the body on Thurs.
day, and a verdict returned in accordance with the evi-
dence.

DOCK COMMITTER. THURSDAY.—Pres-nt, Messrs.
Molyneux, Barclay, Holt, Smith, Roydcn, Kendall, Bold,
Sandhach, Middleton, Tobin, and Evans.—A letter was
read from the surveyor, who is now in London, request-
ing the secretary to inform the masters of the George's,
Salthouse, and Canning Docks, and the Pilot's Commit-
tee, that although the gates of the Canning basin would
not be made for some time. yet the basin might be used
to pass the shipping through in and out of the docks im-
mediately.—The Marine Surveyor reported the breaking
adrift of the Formby light-ship in consequence of a col-
lision, but stated that the vessel had been again re-
moored.—John Chessworth, one of the police-officers,
who has been in the force since its formation, was ap-
pointed assistant keeper of the transit sheds at a salary of
255. per week.—An application from W. B. Jones & Co.
to become the tenants of a yard adjoining that of Mr.
Cato, was deferred till the return of Mr. Hartley from
London.

ESCAPE FROM TRANSPORTATION.--Amiddle aged
man, with marks on his forehead and chin, who gave his
name as James Gazon, was charged with returning from
transportation before the period for which he was sen-
tenced had transpired. The prisoner bad been appre-
hended at five o'clock in the morning, by Mr. Superin-
tendent Quick. Shaw, sergeant of the metropolitan po-
lice, said he knew the prisoner, and had bad him in custo-
dy several times. In the year 1839 he took him into cus-
tody for a burglary. He was tried at the Old Bailey, and
sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. A copy of the
conviction, certified by the Clerk of the Arraigns, was
produced. The prisoner at the time of his trial, gave his
name as James Punt Borritt. When asked what he had
to say, the prisoner insisted that he was not the man.
He was committed to take his trial at the next assizes.
We understand the prisoner, in conjunction with Sullivan
and Jordan, the parties transported for their participation
in the celebrated Custom-house robbery at London, es-
caped in a boat from the place where they were employed,
in New South Wales.

CAUTION TO OMNIBUS-DIIVERS.-011 Saturday the
driver of Mr. Blunt's omnibus to Wootton was sum-
moned, before Mr. Rushton, to answer a complaint,
a police-officer, of having taken
lodged against him by
up a greater number of passengers than he was licensed to
carry. It was proved that there were twenty-three pas-
sengers counted in Pembroke:Place, ten in and eleven
outside, and that he was only licensed to carry ten inside
and eight out, including the driver and guard. The dri-
ver of Moult's omnibus to the Old Swan, was also sum-
moned to answer a similar complaint of having conveyed
twenty-three passengers, when he was only licensed to
carry nineteen, nine outside and ten in, including the
driver and guard. Mr. Rushton said he was determined
to put a stop to the overloading of the public convey-
ances in and out of town, as the practice at present pur-
sued was dangerous to life. He believed the only mode
of effecting an Improvementin this respect was to impose
the full penalty of £5 in every case; but, at present, he
would only order the defendants to pay a fine of £3 4s Gd
each, in the hope that it would have a tendency to check
the evil. The fines were =cm dingly paid.

MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.—On Fri_
day a rot eon,: took place in the Great Rtom, Exeter Hall,
to receive the report of the Lay Association of the Church
of Scotland, on the state of its Home and Foreign Mis-
sions, together with an explanation of the causes of the
recent secession from the Established Cherrehof Scotland.
The Rev. Dr. M'Leod, the Rev. Dr. Barr, the Rev. Dr.
Muir, and the Rev. J. Cumming, attended as re deputa-
tion. The Marquis of Bute was in the chair. The speech
of the Rev. Hugh M`Neile was most effective, ant as the
arguments of the Rev. gentleman are of peculiar-import-
ance at the present moment, we shall give, in our next,
as much as possible of his clear and forcible address. It
appears that about £5OOO have been already subscribed
for the purpose of these miesions.

HONESTY !—Many men there are who, for the world,
would not take a purse, yet who would steal what is of far
higher value and importance. An instance has just reached
us, where a firm of long standing, Messrs. RowLANoand
SONS have acquired a high reputation—a " good name;"
in short, for the value of those articles which they have
discovered and prepared for the toilet. Learning the suc-
cess which Messrs. ROWLANDS had achieved, and the
reputation which attacked to their produclons. other
parties by a new and despicable species of fraud, have
concocted some trashy compounds, resemb!ing those pre-
pared by Messrs. ROWLANDS, and by adopting the very
same names, and closely copying the advertisements,
coolly endeavour to pass off their trash as " true M ACAS-.
SAR OIL," " real KALYDOR," &c., though a Glance at
the signature, which is not that of Messrs. ROWLANDS,
at once convinces the purchaser that be is buying not the
real products, but a spurious and trashy imitation, which
may be, and in fact is, of the most pernicious nature.—
See advt.

THE WAVERTREE HALL ESTATE.—We regret to find
that a circumstance has arisen to put, for the presi•nt, a
stop to all further proceedings, preparatory to commenc-
ing the erection of the new gaol on the sire of Wavertree
Hall. The corporation deposited the money agreed upon
in Heywood's Bank, pulled down all the buildings, and
disposed not only of the materials, but of the growing
timber, when suddenly a claimant, not previously heard
i.f, appeared in the form of a mortgagee, whose demand
is increased by a long arrear of unpaid interest. It seems
that the property was twice mortgaged, the first one not
appearing when the contract was made to purchase the
land. He is in a condition greatly to embarrass the cor-
poration, but not to any final' injury, for the Town-clerk's
legal caution has obviated any loss except that which
must arise from delay. Mr. John Shaw Leigh, we be-
lieve, had from the first some suspicion of this flaw in the
ride, and the owners of property in the neighbourhood
will not be sorry if it put a final stop to the intended
erection. They are ready to become the purchasers of
the property themselves, not onry from a conviction of its
real value, but from an apprehension that the presence of
a gaol would depreciate their property, by rendering the
vicinity less eligible as a suburban residence.

COMMON INFORMERS.—Some curious disclosures
touching this class of persons were made on Wednesday
week, at Guildhall, before Alderman Kelly and Alderman
' Copeland. A common informer, named Birch, has caus-
ed a Mrs. King to be summoned for selling brandy with-
out a license, whereby it was alleged-she has forfeited £2O.
It has been stated by the officers that the informers were
in the habit of compromising cases in which similar
charges were made, and of receiving regular annual sti-
pends from pawnbrokers and others, to refrain from
harassing them with informations. Birch denied this, and
time was given for inqnry, but the informer now failed
to appear either to hei:r the result or to prosecute his
information. The case was therefore dismissed, and
Birch was adjudged to pay £2. 2s. cost. Evidence was
then produced to show that the gang of informers conspro.
raised cases of large sums, and that they received annual
payments or subscriptions as a sort of black mail, in
return for which the parties who paid were saved from
annoyance. A Mrs. Roberts put in a list of sums she has
paid to informers named Manning, Wyatt, Howell,
M'Callan, Birch, and Brown, to the amount of £25.
The city solicitor was directed to indict the parties con-
cerned in this nefarious business. We ate requested to
caution the public against a set of men connected with the
same gang who are now in Liverpool.
COMPLAINT AGAINST INSPECTOR ANDERS.—Joha
Chappel appeared to prefer a charge against Inspector
Anders. He said that passing along Exchange-street
East, he saw a crowd. The inspector had a boy in cus-
tody, and when he (complajt*nt) went to see what was
doing he asked him to stand farther back. He did step
back, but as he was doing so the inspector drew his night
protector and struck him on the arm, telling him to go
and tell Mr. Rushton, for whom he said be did mot care a
d—. Complainant added that the inspector called him a
thief. Mr. Anders said the boy he had in custody for
i stealing sugar, fastened his hands to the railings, and he
could not get him away. A crowd of about 150 persons
gathered round him, and he found it impossible to get the
prisoner away without assistance. He asked one ~ran to
assist him ; and he was about to take the boy's hands
from the rails when the prosecutor called out and asked
him what he had to do with it. The crowd then pressing
in upon hien, he drew his staff and struck the prosecutor
to m ke liim stand back. He added that he might,
whilst exasperated, have called the complainant a thief,
but he did not recollect doing so. Mr. Rushton said Mr.
Anders was a very good officer, and lie (Mr. R.) having
seen part of the transaction alluded to, approved of every
thing he had done except using the language he did, which
he ought not to have done ; as to the other parts of his
conduct they were correct. Mr. Rushton then cautioned
the inspector not to use such language, which he de-
scribed as extremely improper, and dismissed the case.
SOUTH LANCASHIRE.—NTIMI3ER OF COUNTY ELEC-
TORS ON THE REGISTER.—We understand that the total
number of county electors on the register for South Lan-
cashire, at the close of the revision of last year, was
18,666; but, as there are many duplicates in this list, and
there have been many deaths, as well as removals, and
other d.squalifications from voting, is is not likely that
more than 15,000 electors will vote, in case of a contest.
There have been three contests, four elections, since the
county franchise was given to this division. At the first,
in 1832, 10,039 electors were on the register, and 9.850
voted. At the third, in 1837, 17,352 were on the register,
and 13,967 voted. At the last election, in 1841, there
were 18,148 registered electors, but there was no contest,
The present register exceeds that of the last contested
election (1837) by 1.314 names. The numbers polled for
each candidate at the three contested elections maybe in-
teresting, to our readers, at the present time, and we there-
fore subjoin them :

1832.. G. W. Wood, Esq 5,694
Lord Molyneux. 5,575
Sir T. Hesketli .

1835.. Lord F. Egerton 5 620
Hon. R. B. Wilbraham 4,729
1,,,r 1 Molyneux 4.629
G. W. WooJ, Esq ... 4,394

1837.. Lord F. Egerton. ...

. 7,R22

Hon. IL B. Wilbraham
Edward Stanley, Esq
Chasles Townley, EN . 6,044

DESTRUCTION OF THE THEATRE -ROYAL,
MANCHESTER, BY FIRE.

From our Fourth Editim of Tuesday last.
We regret to state that the Theatre Royal, Cooper-
street, Man hester, was this morning destroyed by fire;
but with, happily, no loss of life. We have been enabled
as yet to obtain but a very imperfect account, the parties
who arrived by the last railway train having learned little
more than the simple facts. It appears that last night " Ihe
Christmas Carol" was presented, in the second actof which
a rocket is sent. up from the sta4e. The inference is that part
of this combustible projectile had lodged in the canvas
of the scenes, or wood-a ork, above ; and remained smoul-
dering and unnoticed during the night. Be this as it may,
smoke was seen to issue from the building at about six
o'clock this moaning, and on a door being opened, the
air rushed in, and the building was soon in a complete
blaze—defying all control. By seven o'clock it was
entirely burnt down. The firemen it is said directed their
attention tothe saving of the valuable property, warehouses,
adjoining, which however, suffered considerable
damage.

Half-past One o'clock p.m.
The fire, at the departure of the last train, was quite
subdued, and all danger to the adjoining premises was at
an end. The walls of the Theatre were still standing.
As to the origin of the fire, nothing is known beyond
what has already been communicated. It is fortunate
that, owing, perhaps, to the peculiar fot mation of theatres,
in which there is little to burn beyond scenery and
benches, the conflagration was confined within the build-
ing, which is surrounded by a mass of the most valuable
property in the town. At one end of the Theatre, which
is situated in Fountain-street, is a calico warehouse,
which was formed a few years ago by taking away a
portion of the box lobby. At the back, divided from it
only by a narrow street, were several valuable warehouses,
the Assembly and Club Rooms, facing Mosley-street;
and at the front the Parish-offices, and the extensive silk-
mills of Messrs. Occleston and of Messrs. Toots!, adjoin-
ing
to which is a mass of buildings, very closely packed,
which, if ignited, must have resulted in a vast sacrifice of
property.
The Theatre itself belongs to a company of proprietors,
and, we understand, is, with the proprietors' scenery, &c.,
fully insured ; and, not having been a p tying concern of
late, will, in all probability, never be rebuilt. The site,
which is of great value, will most likely be in a short time
covered with warehouses.

The Manchester Guardian says :—" The loss which
this destructive fire will cause is not easily calculated.
We believe the building cost about £10,700 ; it was a
property held in shares; and besides the building, the
greatest part of the. scenery, machinery, &c., belonged to
proprietary, who insured them to the extent of £7600, of
which £4OOO was in the Imperial, and £3600 in the
County Fire Office. We fear th's insurance will not cover
the loss of the proprietors. We may mention that the
theatre has been insured in these offices since the year
1810, a period of thirty-four years. Mr. Roiby, the
lessee, was unfortunately uninsured. For the ' Christ-
mas Carol'
. considerable expense had been incurred in
preparing new scenery, dresses, and decorations; and a
' slider. for exhibiting the visions of Old Scrooge, alone
cost about £4O. All the new scenery has been consumed.
The foundation of the Theatre-royal was laid in 1806, and
it was opened on the 12th of June, 1807, under the
management of the late Mr. Macready, (father of the
tragedian,) who agreed to give a rent of £l6OO a year,
increased, by taxes and parochial rates, to £2OOO. The
house was too large, and underwent reductions about 1814;
and it subsequently held upwards of 2600 Para"', (com-
fortably seating about 2000,) at usual prices amount-
ing to about £220 receipts. the us
We believe the recent rent
has been £BOO. The company will, for the present, per-
formi
in some other building, Cooke's Circus if they can
get it. It is doubtful if the theatre will ever be rebuilt.