The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-12-16 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

tenced to ten years' transportation. Rodgers and Parker
were acquitted.
Catherine Ball, 30, pleaded guilty to the charge of
having, at Liverpool, feloniously stabbed Jane Jones.—
The prisoner was sentenced to imprisonment and hard
labour for six calendar months.

Jahn Myall, who had been sentenced to ten years'
transportation for robbing and assaulting Wm. Reynolds,
of Manchester, was called up again to-day, when the
Learned Judge observed that he had re-considered his
sentence. and had come to the conclusion of sentencing
him to fifteen years' transportation.
James Kelly, convicted of bigamy, was sentenced to
three months' imprisonment.
Richard Bent was indicted for having fraudulently
personated a person of the name of John Holden, in No-
vember last, at the municipal election at Bolton. The
prisoner was found guilty, but Mr. Pollock objected to
the indictment, and the prisoner was not sentenced, but
liberated on bail.
This case was the last to be tried.

MEETING OF THE LIVERPOOL AND HAR-
RINGTON WATER COMPANY.

On Wednesday, a special general meeting of the pro-
prietors was held at the Clarendon-rooms, to consider
the proposed application to Parliament in the ensuing
session,—Harmood Banner, Esq., in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that
former acts of Parliament prescribed that extension of
the company should be provided for out of its income,
and from time to time this had been acted up to, the por-
tion of income so expended being added to the capital.
The income had hitherto been equal to meet this expen-
diture, but the increase of the town had rendered this re-
sort no longer adequate. From the year 1800, when this
company was first established, up to the year 1820, the
population had doubled. From 1820 to 1810 it had
doubled again, so that the population of 1800 was then
quadrupled. From that time to the present, and with the
prospect of its proceeding in the same ratio in which it
was going on, there was a far greater proportion, so that
the directors felt it necessary to apply to Parliament for
further powers to enable them to raise capital sufficient to
keep pace with the increased demand for water. A reso-
lution was, after mature consideration, come to, to the
effect that " in consequence of the great increase of po-
pulation, and the increased demand for water in Liver-
pool and Toxteth-park, and requisitions to supply water
in other townships, and the consequent necessity for
raising further capital, the income of the company being
insufficient to extend the works as required, application to
Parliament be made in the ensuing session to raise the
capital, and for further powers, and that notice of the
same be given." At the last general meeting in July,
the necessity of borrowing money for extensions was
made apparent, and an amount was raised upon bond,
witbin the provisions of the act, but that amount had
been expended, as well as their income, as far as they
could. Tire directors had, in fact, only anticipated a pub-
lic want, and had properly put the proprietors in a posi-
tion to go to Parliament without delay. They had taken
the preliminary steps, and it was for the meeting to con-
sider how far they felt disposed to enable the directors to
carry into effect the object they had commenced. The
Parliamentary notices were given on the lith of Novem-
ber, and the intention of the directors was communi-
cated by letter and read to the Mayor of the town, in
which a hope was expressed that the intention of the di-
rectors would meet with the concordance of the Town
Council and the public. The letter also noticed that the
ant of water for the poorer classes, so frequently corn-
rlained of, had principally arisen from a want of cisterns
for small houses and courts ; that the erection of such
reservoirs would efi,Ttually remedy the evil, and that it
was to be regretted that the company was not empowered
to make it compulsory on the public to supply them, es-
pecially as the expense would be comparatively trifling.
T,!is letter had been politely acknowledged by the Mayor,
and referred to the committees of the Council, but had
not, as yet, been taken into consideration. He might
state that the solicitor of the company would be shortly
in communication with the Town Clerk ; and he hoped
the result might be, not an opposition on the part of
public bodies in the town with respect to the supply of
water, but a cordial co-operation. (Hear, hear.) He
was quite sure that such a co-operation was desired by
the directors : and that they were very anxious to meet
the wishes of the public, and to supply water in the most
efficient manner possible. He had great hopes that when
they came fairly into communication with the Corpora-
tion, or any other of the public bodies, they would strike
out a mode of clrdially co-operating, instead of expen-
ding large capital in the establishment of an object which
would, after all, be a great expense to the public without
a corresponding benefit being derived. The proceedings,
as stat d, awaited the sanction of the proprietors, and the
dir'ecto rs were ready to reply to any questions that might
be put to them.

Mr. SANDBACII, sen., inquired if the corporation had
given the company any notice of their intention to go to
Parliament?

The CHAIRMAN said he knew nothing of their inten-
tions beyond what he saw in the newspapers. A notice
had been given by the Highway Board to go to Parliament
for certain powers, which included a power to supply wa-
ter for domestic use. The corporation had given notice
of a bill, which included a right to take from the Highway
Board their powers altogether, and to centre the whole in
the corporation. In fact, the desire of the Corporation
appeared to be, to carry out the spirit of Lord Lincoln's

Mr. SANDBACH said that if the three bodies went to
Parliament for similar purposes they would be in opposi-
tion to each other.

The CHAIRMAN admitted this, but if others went for
powers to supply houses, the company must in duty to
themselves be brought into collision. In reply to a ques-
tion, he added, that if the company did not go to Parlia-
ment they would be in no worse position as regarded the
interest of the money than they now were. But there
were two reasons for going to Parliament. First, they
had had the supply of the town for upwards of forty years
and it was their duty to extend that blessing to the people
whether the doing so was additionally profitable to the
company or not. (Hear, hear.) Then, as a matter of
private interest, they might fairly hope that if their powers
were extended, and they advanced capital out of their own
pockets for that purpose. Parliament would allow them a
fair remuneration. Their duty was not to stand still, but
to go forward.

Mr. SANDBACH concurred in the latter remark, provi-
ded there were no opposition. He inquired whether any
overtures had passed between the company and the corpo-
ration, relative to the purchase of the water works ?
The CHAIRMAN replied iu the negative, and said that
such an overture could not proceed from the company.
No offer had been made to them ; but he believed that the
proprietors generally—if it were the wish of the public to
have the water-works in their own hands, and the corpo-
ration expressed that wish—would have no objection to
dispose of their works on fair and equitable terms. (Ap-
plause.)
Mr. SANDBACH considered that it would be for the in-
terest of the public to have the supply of water in the
hands of one body instead of two, and that the best thing
the corporation could do would be to purchase the existing
works, and to extend them, instead of erecting new ones
—to give the full value of the works, and to take them
into their own hands.

The CHAIRMAN concurred that one body was better
than two, for the sake of economy.
Mr. SANDBACH thought the town was under great ob-
ligations to the Harrington Company for what had already
been done, and that the company ought to be paid libe-
rally if the works were purchased.
On the suggestion of Mr. GRE GSON, a clause was
agreed•to be inserted in the application enabling the corn-
; patty to dispose of the works; and another enabling the
e company to look for water in places outside the parochial
3 boundary.

The CHAIRMAN assured the meeting that before any
bargain for the sale of the works should be concluded the
proprietors would be called together and consulted
A motion was then uut and carried ap

pro v ing

and cob-

firming the proceedings, and giving the directors full
power to proceed with their bill, and to modify or alter it
as they deemed meet.
The CHAIRMAN suggested a resolution to the effect,—
" That the directors be authorised to oppose any other bill

or bills introduced into parliament next session which
might be considered .by them to affect the rights and in-
terests of the Harrington Company." This was neceay
sary for the preservation of the company's springs.—The
motion was carried ; and thanks being voted to the chair-
man. the meeting separated.

SELECT VESTRY

At the fortnightly meeting on Tuesday there were pre.
sent twenty-two members. Mr. Schofield in the chair.
A report was read from the medical officers, stating that
the increased cost of drugs was owing to the much greater
number of patients prescribed for than formerly.

Letters were read from Mr. Eckersley, superintendent
registrar, to the Select Vestry, and others, all relating to
Mr. Ecker,ley having been charged double rent for one
year (X 100) for the premises occupied by him as tempo-
rary offices in Islington, and for which he was threatened
with an action. It appeared that Mr. Eckersley had done
his part to relieve himself from responsibility, but that
through some neglect on the part of others (in the vestry)
he Was considered by the proprietors of the premises as
liable. Al r. Eckersley was called in and examined as to
the facts, and the matter was ordered to stand over for a
fortnight, it being understood that Mr. Lowndes would
then give his opinion on the facts as to whether the parish
was or was not liable.

Mr. BREMNER gave notice of a motion on the subject,
" Thht the rent claimed by Messrs. Medley from Mr.
Eckersley, for the occupation of the premises in Islington
Terrace, occupied by him as Superintendent Registrar for
Liverpool, he paid by the Select Veitry."

A letter was read from Mr. Alfred Austin, dated Man-
chester, stating that he had been appointed to succeed Mr.
Twistleton as assistant Poor-Law Commissioner for this
district, and that he should be glad to be favoured with
the usual returns, &c. '
Mr. EARLE then submitted a motion, to the effect that
it was desirable that more appropriate offices be procured
for conducting the business of the parish than those in
which the Vestry were then assembled ; that such offices
were erected on the vacant ground adjoining the work-
house ; and that a committee be appointed to take the
matter into consideration, and to report to the Vestry.
He pointed out the inadequate size and state of the pre-
sent premises. The annual expense of them was consi-
derable,—so much so that he believed a saving to the
pariah of £2OO a year would be effected by removal else-
where. _ - _ _ _ _ .

Mr. FERGUSON seconded the motion ; in doing which,
he pointed out in detail the confined and crowded state of
ne present offices.
Mr. HENDERSON thought the poor and the public
would experience great Inconvenience if the offices were
fixed on Brownlow-hill, and thought that as the pre vent

courthouse would be vacated when the new Assize
Courts were opened, that a building ought to be enquired
about, as it might probably be got at a more econ3mical
rate than a new building. He moved, as an amendment,
that a committee be appointed to select a site.
The original resolution was, however, carried, and the
following gentlemen were appointed as the committee :
Messrs. Ferguson, Thornley, Urquhart, Blackburn,
Earle, Houghton, Bennett, and the Churchwardens.

THE NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR TIE PEOPLE

In the estimation of a certain class of people, the
liberals, par excellence, the working poor, whether agri-
cultural or engaged in manufacture, appear to be regarded
more as machines than as human beings. Not long ago
we directed the attention of our readers to the nonchalance
with which a worthy Quaker Leaguer, Mr. Ashworth, of
Bolton, expressed his belief that his workpeople might
'• be brought" to relish the salted pork of America, in
the same way as they had been brought to put up with
salted herrings to their potatoes. The cheap pork and
the salt fish for the human machine were, in a gentle-
man's mind, regarded in about the same light as he
would look upon cheap oil for his spinning jenny and his
power loom.

A much more striking discovery, however, as which
the poor can be " brought to relish" has just been made
by a "liberal" agriculturist, the Duke of Norfolk. In
his eagerness to devise the means by which his agricul-
tural labourers can be reduced to a cheaper kind of diet,
and less of it, the Duke has found that the use of " curry
powder" would greatly facilitate the first process neces-
sary—viz., the getting rid of their appetites. He argues
thus :

" Gentlemen, a thing was suggested, in a letter by a
lady the other day, which certainly is very warm and
comfortable to the stomach, if it can be got cheap. I
have endeavoured. The other day when I was in London
I went to several places to inquire, and I bought a pound
or two of it, because there is more difficulty attached to
it than what we at first imagined. They have not been
accustomed to it, and, perhaps may not like the taste.
I like it very much myself. In India a vast number of
the population use it : in fact, it is there to them what
potatoes are in Ireland—l mean curry powder.'
(Laughter.) People may smile at it at first, but it is a
very warm thing, made of peppers and a variety of things
of that description. If any gentleman will try and take a
pinch and put it into hot, water—l don't mean to say it
will make a good soup, but this I say, that if a man comes
home, and has nothing better, it will make him warm and
go to bed comfortable. (Laughter.) It may create
amusement, but if any gentleman will try it, he will find
out what I say. I don't say it may be given in quantities ;
but with potatoes, or a little bit of bacon, or anything of
that kind, it is like a pickle. People whose appetites are
fastidious take pickle; and with this article, a pinch of it
will make a meal extremely palatable and comfortable.
((-lear, hear.) I mean to try it among my labourers;
and by doing that I am sure that if the winter comes on
severe, we may add very much to the comforts of the
poor, (` hear, hear,' and suppressed laughter.) I may be
ridiculed hereafter for what I Fay ; but as I said before,
1 don't care what is said, so long as I can make the poor
comfortable." (Cheers)
We shall not attempt to comment upon this absurd and
heartless proposition—this attempt to substitute pepper
for the solid food which the agricultukzl labourer ought to
be enabled to eat. But we may ask bow can thelandlords
of England wonder that demagogues are successful in
raising popular odium against their order, when they
thus shamelessly expose their own self-interest.

REMINISCENCES OF AN EX PARISH DOCTOR

[The following is part of an unpublished series, from
the pen of an intelligent and highly cultivated gentleman,
who has laudably devoted much of is time to the welfare
of the labouring classes, and who hopes that painful facts,
thus illustrated, may induce some to read, and so become
acquainted with the subject, who would be in vain ap-
pealed to through the medium of bare facts and mere sta-
tistical statements.—E. L. S.]

"I was a boisterous evening in the latter end of Novem-
ber—the wind whistled resolutely, and the pattering of
the rain was brought in fitful dashes against the window—
as I sat smoking a cigar in my library. My wife was
sewinz—my youngster playing on the hearth-rug before
us—the kettle was singing cheerily on the hob—and I
had just lapsed into a reverie after reading several pages
of that most excellent and truthful record of painful
facts, " Chadwick's Report on the Sanitary Condition.of
the Labouring Classes," when a knock at the door
aroused me.

" Come in," said I.
My assistant entered. " A woman has just come, sir
and wants you to go to Mrs. Edwards, in -- street.
immediately."

Knowing that this street was one inhabited by the most
destitute of the locality, I said,—" There must be some
mistake. The messenger supposes that I am still the
parish surgeon. You had better correct her mistake, and
direct her to Mr. —, who now has the management of
such cases."

The young man went out, but soon returned to say that
the woman would wish to speak to me. I went to her ;
she said that Mrs. Edwards had formerly been a servant
with me ; that her name had been Ruth -- ; and that
she had taken the liberty to request me to come and see
her before she died, as she could not afford to pay for a
surgeon, and she was anxious to avoid the necessity of
applying for parochial relief, if possible. Remembering
that about a year and a half previously a servant of that
name had left us, who had been in our srvice upwards of
three years, and to whom we were much attached, I told
the woman I would call within half an hour, and returned
to the library.

what I have ju

On telling my wife the substance o
written, she urged me to go immediately;

she, " I well remember when I was so-ill. poor Ruth
was very kind to me—she never seemed tired of attending
to me; and she was always so tidy, neat, and obliging."

I put on my boots and greatcoat, and, muffling myself
up. followed the woman who had brought the message.
Whilst I walked towards -- street, as I remembered
the smart, healthy girl, who, hardly two years before. had

lived in a good house, slept on a good bed, and lived on
the same food as the other members of the family, I could
not avoid comparing her condition then with the state in
which I expected to find her; how many silly servant
girls thought I, are giving themselves airs, and quarrelling
with their good places for some trifling matters,—an angry
word, or even look from:their mistress,—a few shillings

of extra wages,—an unwillingness to rise in the morning,
—a want of economy in the management of their master's
goods,—or twenty other silly causes of " giving notice,"
and how ends all this ?—place after place is left ; at length
Betty gets married and in exchange for the cross looks
or words of ber mistres, she gets too often the angry
curses and heavy blows of a brutalized and drunken hus-
band, for whom she must sit up late at night and rise
early in the morning ; instead'of her quarterly wages to
expend upon herdress and other comforts, she has doled out
to her weekly the few shillings which have not been spent

huckster's shop, for goods which have been obtained on
credit the week before, and which must be paid away
before another week's credit at exorbitant prices can be

thoughtless persons who when surrounded by plenty,
have been wasteful of their master's goods—the habits
then indulged in follow them through life, and in this as
in many instances proves that a bad servant cannot be
either a good wife or a good mother,—but reader you
will say every servant does not marry such as you des-
cribe—true, I answer—Ruth did not;—John Edwards
was when he married her as smart and sober a young
fellow as ever worked at a joiner's bench—and yet he—
but I am anticipating.
" This is the court, sir, said my conductress as she
stopped opposite a narrow archway, about 5i feet high
and less than a yard wide, in street ; but you
must stoop, sir,—there now, sir,"she said as we emerged
into a narrow court, about seven feet wide, with three or
four dirty houses on each side, and closed at the end
by the back of another house. " Please mind where you
set your feet, as the yard is full of holes filled with dirty
water

she had scarcely uttered her warning, before
she herself slipped her foot and was thrown with some
violence on the ground, her fall disturbed the pestilential
filthy puddles, which gave out such a disgusting smell,
that although used in bygone times to such localities, I
felt fairly sickened by the stench.

" Surely," said I, as I assisted the poor creature to
se, " Ruth Edwards does not live in this horrid placer'

" 0 yes, sir, the last house there." slid she, pointing
forward as she got up; " but it is indeed a sorry place to
live in; it is next the privy,—saving your presence, sir,—
and the stuff drains through the walls into the cellar of
the house, and makes such a dreadful smell right through
it, that nobody would live in it ; and it was shut up till
Mrs. Edwards took it, as the landlord offered to let her
live in it for a shilling a week, and, God help her! she
could afford no more.

All this passed as the woman was poking the piece of a
key she held in her hand into the key-hole of the rusty
lock which fastened the door. At length it was opened,
and we entered an empty dark room. " She is up stairs,
sir," said the woman ; " if you will wait I will get a
light." In a few moments a gleam of light in the room
above enabled me to grope my way up stairs,- and, on.
entering the room, stretched on a wretched pailliasse,
covered with a clean but ragged old counterpane, I saw
laid the poor object of my visit, pale, haggard, and cold.
A momentary smile of satisfaction gleamed on her wasted
features as she said, with difficulty, in feeble, half.whis-
pered voice, " God—bless you. sir ;—I knew you 'd—
come ;—excuse me for troubling you." Her lips qui-
vered, and a large tear rolled down either cheek, as she
faintly added, " God bless you, sir; but,"—l involuntarily
followed the direction of her eyes into the far corner of
the room, where lay a little white heap. I lifted the
cloth • beneath it lay the body of abeautifully but slightly
formed infant. lat once saw the nature of her case, and
told her that she must calm herself—that I would attend
to her until she was well—(B6e mournfully shook her
head)--that in her present exhausted state she must not
excite herself—that 1 would, after examining the state of
her pulse, get what further information I required about
her from her neighbour, who must accompany me back,
for what was needed,—having previously sent her over to
the little shop at the corner of the street for materials to
make a fire in the grate, with a request that the huckster
would get a girl to.light apd attend to the fire until the
woman's return. _ _ _

On my way, home I learnt that poor Ruth had been
prematurely confined of a stillborn child, and, from want
of proper attendance in her reduced condition, had nearly
sunk from haemorrhage and consequent exhaustion ; that
her husband was in the Infirmary. where be had been for
more than two months suffering from a painful affection
of the joints, which had been left by a very severe attack
of rheumatic fever.
On my arrival at home I hastily told my tale of woe to
my dear wife, who lost no time in filling a basket with
such little.necessaries and comforts as were required by
the invalid, and in making up a large bundle of bed and

other clothing, when a servant was despatched to help in
carrying and arranging them ; my assistant having mean-
while supplied the needful medicines. _

(To be concluded next week.)

CHURCH EXTENSION

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sts,—You are, no doubt, aware that the friends of
church extension are making vigorous efforts to raise
funds for the erection of two, if not three churches, in
Toxteth-park. This being the case, you would a priori
expect that every clergyman of the Established Church
would aid in the good work, or at least would refrain from
inducing members of their congregation to refuse their
aid. I regret, however, to be obliged to state, that a
friend of mine heard from a Church of England pulpit in
Toxteth-park, a clergyman inveigh against church exten-
sion, whilst his own was badly filled, and wanted repair.
This is not as it should be.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
A FRIEND TO CHURCH EXTENSION.

MEMORANDA OF THE LATE & NEW CABINET.

On Friday, December 5, 1845, after various previous
discussions, which had led to no result, the final meeting
of the Conservative Cabinet took place. at whi'th the re-
solution was taken, that, on the ground of the disagree-
ment in opinion which had sprung up, it would be their
duty not to attempt to go on after a division or seces,ion,
but rather at once to place their resignations in her Ma-
jesty's hands, and thus to enable her to form a united
government. _

To place this communication before the Queen, Sir
Robert Peel left London on Saturday, December 6.
Lord Jahn Russell arrived at Osborne House at half-
past three o'clock on Thursday afternoon. His lordship
remained on a visit to the Queen until Friday morning,
taking his departure in one of the royal carriages.
The Marquis of Normanby may be expected home from
Italy at the earliest possible time, information having been
forwarded to Florence apprising the noble marquis that
Lord John Russell had been summoned to form a new
adsainistration, and urging his lordship's speedy return to
this country.

We have reason to believe that Viscount Me'bourne
does not contemplate joining his former colleagues in the
administration, if Lord John Russell should succeed in
forming one, as his health will not admit of the fatigue
naturally attendant on official occupation.
The far-seeing merchants do not at all relish the idea of
Lord Palmerston's having to deal with Mr. President
Polk, and every one and all agree in the Oregonterritory
question being very much darkened by the prospect of its
arrangement being handed over to Lord Patine, stop.

Leiters are in existence from the Duke of 'Wellington
in reply to inquiries especially directed to this point, in
which letters his grace distinctly says that it is utterly
untrue that he had ever given way on the cora law
question, or that heeven entertained an ideaof so doing.
The Herald declares that Sir Robert Peel never pro-
posed any change in the corn laws at all to the extent
reported. It says t—Whatever Sir Robert Peel's opinion
upon the subject of the corn laws, the country may be
well assured that he never did propose, and in office or
out of office never will either propose or support any
charge in the corn laws, unaccompanied by what he be-
lieves to be full compensation to the landed interest
through all its gradations. Whence that full compensa-
tion is to he obtained we are utterly at a loss to conjec-
ture; but it is no more than an act of justice to the late
premier, as we suppose we may call him now, to repeat it,
that lie never did propose, as the infamous fabrication of
the Times asserted, an unqualified and total repeal of the
corn laws. Nor, as we firmly believe, will he ever pro-
pose or support any such measure. This is most impor-
tant, because whatever difference has existed in the Ca-
binet has been merely a difference in degree and not in
species, and, therefore, cannot extend to the Conservative
party in either House of Parliament.
The Herald of Saturday says, " We can state that it is
totally untrue.that Lord 'John Russell had an interview
with Sir Robert Peel, in his lordship's passage through
London to obey the Queen's summons. We believe we
can affirm with perfect certainty that Sir Robert Peel has
not lately had any communication with Lord John, either
personally or otherwise. Equally untrue as this fable of
the personal interview—which was, indeed, under the cir-
cumstances, impossible—is the statement that Sir Robert
Peel advised the Queen to send for Lord John Russell.
To offer such advice, in Sir Robert Peel's position, would
be officious and unconstitutional."

aisso-
nt ruction to
an i rnmedi-

The Sun says, the opinibn gains ground that n

lution will take Place Until Lord John find

which c

ate dissolu
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