The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-20 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Ebt itiberpaol

TUESDAY MORNING, AUG. 20, 1844.

The Parisian Journals of Thursday brought us
the intelligence that the war between France and
Morocco had been commenced by the bombardment
of Tangiers. The Moniteur contained the following
telegraphic despatch from the French Admiral.
" PERPIGNAN, AUG. 13, FIVE O'CLOCK, P.M.—The
Prince de Joinville to the Minister of Marine.
" Before Tangiers, the ith. On the 4th instant, a re-
ply to the ultimatum of M. de Nyon was received, but
was not of a nature to be accepted. On the sth, I was
informed that Mr. Hay was in a place of safety. On the
morning of the Gth, I attacked the fortifications of Tan-
giers. Eighty pieces of artillery returned the fire. In
about an hour their fire was silenced, and their batteries
dismantled. Our loss iu men is trifling, and the injury
sustained of little consequence. The quarter inhabited
by the European Consuls has been respected."
By an extraordinary express, since received, we
have news from Paris down to 9 PM. on Saturday,
which fully confirms the telegraphic despatch and
gives the following particulars of the action, from a
subsequent report addressed to the Minister of
Marine.
" It was on Tuesday, the 6th instant, about half-past
eight o'clock in the morning, that the squadron under the
orders of the Prince, at anchor under the walls of Tangiers.
opened its fire with shouts of Long live the King.'
In one hour the fire of the place was extinguished, the
batteries were dismantled, and the guns dismounted. On
our side the loss was not considerable.

—"
Notwithstanding the difficulty of the ground, the
squadron took its position in a most successful manner.
The ship Suffren, commanded by the Prince, anchored in
six fathoms and a half, with a rocky bottom, and the po-
sition nearest the enemy's batteries was that chosen by
the Admiral.

"The fire, which commenced at half-past eight, was
not entirely discontinued until towards 11 o'clock. It
continued during this time with order which did not ex-
clude for one moment that steadiness and precision ne-
cessary for taking good aim. It was to the accuracy of
the tiring, as much as to the position chosen by the Prince,
that the rapid success is to be attributed.
" The example given by the Suffren was followed by
each of the ships of the squadron. Everywhere on this
occasion did officers, seamen, and soldiers, rival each
other in ardour and steadiness. The resistance was much
more vigorous than was generally imagined ; several of
the guns on the ramparts did not cease their fire until
they were destroyed by our shot.
" Mr. Hay arrived during the action in the Vesuvius,
coming from Nlogador. In the evening he waited on his
Royal Highness the Prince de Joinville, who had an in-
terview with him. _ _ .

--- ...„.. ...... ____
"The Spanish division, a British man-of-war and frigate,
some Sardinian ships, as well as some Swedish and Ameri-
can ships, were present at this brilliant exploit."

- - -
" It is believed," says the Constitutionel,—
" That after the attack of Tangier, the Prince proceeded
to bombard Tetuan and Larache."

The Paris Correspondent of the London Times
asserts that a degree of dissimulation has been prac-
tised by the Admiral in his proceedings, which may
lead to serious differences between the two Govern-
ments. Sir Robert Wilson, Sir Edward Owen,
Mr. Lytton Bulwer, and Lord Cowley relied upon
the pacific views of the Prince de Joinville up to
four o'clock on the sth; and despatches were
actually sent off to the British Government on that
day, announcing the probability of an amicable ad-
justment between France and Morocco. It appears,
however, that on the preceding day, the 4th, the
Prince had considered the reply of the Morocco
Government to his ultimatum unsatisfactory, and
on that day resolved on hostilities. Another charge
against the good faith of the French Government
itself, is, that a pledge was given to Great Britain,
that Tangiers, as a quasi-European town, should be
spared; and, having given such a pledge it is con-
tended that instructions to fulfil it should have been
sent to the Prince. France therefore has either
failed in her faith towards us and forwarded no
such orders; or, as was broadly asserted on Satur-
day, in the best informed circles in Paris, the Prince
has, of his own will and in violation of orders, bom-
barded Tangiers.
There was another report at Tortoni's, that the
town had been taken possession of ; but it was ge-
nerally treated as a stock jobbing manoeuvre, and
not credited. _ _

The public feeling excited in Paris is of a varied
character. Amongst sober men of all classes regret
at the step taken by the Prince prevails, whilst,
amidst the swagger of not a few of the war party,
the symptoms of some little fear for the result is
perceptible. Considerable agitation had been cre-
ated on the Bourse and a serious fall had been ex-
perienced in the prices of stock.
'We have nothing up to the time of going to press
to explain intelligibly, the strange proceedings of
Mahemet Ali. The latest accounts attribute his
conduct to a freak of passion or insanity. Alexan-
dria was quiet ; but some fears were entertaied by
the Europeans of disturbances.

We brought before our fellow-townsmen, a fort-
night ago, the spirited example, which is being set
us in Manchester, in the attempt to construct pub-
lic parks, &c., for the promotion of the comfort and
the health of the community of that town. Unfor-
tunately our appeal has not produced the effect
which we sincerely prayed it would produce. Apa-
thy, on the part of our leading men, and of our
Corporation, is unfortunately too apparent; and, on
the part of our brethren of the press, we are sorry
to observe something worse than apathy—an evi-
dent disinclination to throw, for the moment, party
to the winds, and unite their strength for the secur-
ing of a boon so important to all classes in our
town.

It is painful to contemplate such a feeling, and to I
compare it with the eager zeal with which we em-
bark in any undertaking and in any outlay of money
by which gain to our commerce or increase of our
property can be promoted. We can expend mil-
lions upon railway projects, dock projects, ware-
house schemes, and schemes of more questionable
utility; we can build union workhouses and courts
of law, music halls and police courts; but when
the poor man appeals to us—when the sickly sons
and daughters of toil ask us for air and the fresh
breeze—when our wives and our children plead to
us for the privilege of inhaling an atmosphere free
from the effluvia of soaperies and alkali works, we
are cold as ice, impassive to the whisperings of hu-
manity, and close at once, as if panic-struck, our
pockets and our hearts.
Really, fellow-townsmen, this should not be.
Good feeling—Christian feeling forbids it. And
if these considerations are not enough to im-
pel us to move in a better direction, the inferior
consideration of vanity might almost urge us.
Manchester—Radical, selfish, money-grubbing, as
we call her population—is now instituting a vigo-
rous canvass for the subscriptions necessary for the
purpose of providing places of recreation ; her very
operatives are turning aside from the advocacy of
Chartism, and her shopocracy from the agitation of
the League, to unite their efforts in the pursuit of
this means of health and recreation; and shall Li-
verpool, with all her wealth, her valuable public
estate, her known public spirit, her Conservatism
and loyalty, hang back from an effort so loudly
called for—so imperatively required by the admitted
wants of her population ? We trust not. We trust
to see a better spirit spring up amongst us.

Our Foreign Relations have now assumed an
aspect pregnant with serious alarm for the peace of
Europe. On every side we find new complications
arising, new sources of danger manifesting them-
selves. No sooner has the collision occurred in
Morocco, the results of which England is hound to
watch with such jealous vigilance,—no sooner has
the hot-headed Boy, who commands the Navy of
France in that quarter, succeeded in gratifying his
craving for warfare,—than
i we are thunderstruck
of t
with the news
wherefore
retirement of Mehemet Ali,
whither and as yet we are not to know.
Whatever may havebee nthe circumstances, how-
ever, under which this strange movement has taken
Place its consequences may be sufficiently serious
to warrant, on the part of Great Britain,
storm. Already
sto the most
that
energetic preparations for a in
our fleet is concentrating its forces in
of the Mediterranean, for any emergency which
may
arise; and he must be a bold politician, endoweday
with more than ordinary dependence upon the favor-
able solving of this chapter of difficulties, who can
predict at what moment and in what quarter the

first calamitous accident may occur, which will
place us in hostile attitude towards some of the
powers with whom we are at present in a state of
peace and alliance.

•
We cannot bring ourselves to entertain any seri-
ous fears for our Country's ability to maintain her
present position in any circumstances and against
any opponents which may present themselves, how-
ever much all rational men must deplore that an
appeal should have to be made, in the present tem-
per of the civilized world, to warfare between nations.
We believe our navy was never in a better position
to maintain its pre-eminence on the seas, notwith-
standing all the boastings of our jealous neighbours
of France, or the senseless coinplainings of a disap-
pointed Faction at home. When the day shall
come for England in earnest to put forth her ener-
gies the same spirit will be found animating her
people and her rulers, which has defended her
against more powerful enemies than now menace
her. Humanity, commerce, and civilization may
suffer in the struggle; but England has ample
power to take care that her mighty empire shall not
he injured.

THE FUNDS, SATURDAY NlGHT.—Although busi-
ness presented little features to-day, the market closing
early Consols were flat, the aspect of affairs in France
not being considered altogether agreeable. The specula-
tors for the fall have increased their operations, which,
of course, in a degree, accounts for the heaviness obser-
vable. Consols for present transfer and the account
closed 981. Bank Stock left off 1981 to 1994 ; Exche-
quer-bills, 73s to 75s premium ; Three per Cents. Re-
duced, 991 to 4; Three-and-a- alf per Cents. Reduced.
102 k to ; New Three•and-a-Half per Cents., 1012 to *;
Long Annuities, 121 ; India Stock 282 to 284 ; and India
Bonds, 94 to 96 premium. Yesterday the price of Con-
sols was inadvertently quoted 954, instead of 984. In
the foreign market there was no essential alteration beyond
the business produced by the state of the English funds.
Spanish Five per Cents. left off 22+ to '"- ; The Three per
Cents. 338 to ; Portuguese, 431 to 4844 ; Peruvian, 21
to 25 ; Mexican, 351 to ; the Deferred, 151 to 4 ; Dutch
Two-and-a-Half per Cents, 611 to ; the Five per Cents,
1001 to 101 ; Danish, 821 to 891 ; Colombian, 131 to 14 ;
Chilian, 103 to 105 ; Buenos Ayres, 31 to 36 ; Brazilian,
81 to 85 ; and Belgian. 103 to 104.
BANK OF ENGLAND.—III the Gazette of Friday night,
we have the return of the quarterly weekly average of the
liabilities and assets of the Bank of England for the three
months, from the 18th of May to the 10th instant in-
clusive. We find, on a comparison with the quarter from
the 20th of April to the 13th of July, that the circulation
has increased from £21,246,000 to £21,324,000, being a
difference of £76,000. The deposits have increased
from £13,977,000 to £14,090,000, being a difference
of £113,000, and making the total of the liabilities
£35,414,000. The securities have increased from
£22,471,000 to £22,908,000, being a difference of
£437,000. The bullion has decreased from £15,767,000
to £15,579,000, being a difference of £lBB,OOO, and
making the total of the assets £38,487,000. The surplus
or rest has increased from £3,015,000 to £3,073,000,
being a difference of £58,000 during the month.
The Northern Church of England School, Rossall
Hall, Lancashire, is to be publicly opened by the Lord
Bishop of Chester on Thursday next.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE DOCK LAWS.—Yesterday,
at the Police-court, Murdoch Maynier, mate of an Ame-
rican barque, was charged with having neglected when
told by the dock officer to remove his vessel in the
Prince's Dock, so that another vessel was prevented from
getting into her berth a-head of her, and it was found ne-
cessary to employ some riggers to get the barque out of
the way. The case was proved, and he was fined 60 shil-
lings and costs, and required also to pay the wages of the
riggers.

THE CASE OF HOMICIDE ON BOARD THE THOMAS
BENNETT.—The prisoner, John Kent, who had been re-
manded from last week on a charge of killing Captain
Halsey, and who has since been acquitted by the verdict
of the Coroner's jury, as elsewhere recorded, was again
brought up at the police-court yesterday. Mr. Rushton,
without making any comment, again remanded him until
this day, the American authorities in this country not
having yet made up their minds for his release—to which,
however, it is probable, after the full and impartial in-
vestigations that have taken place, they will eventually
accede.

THEFT FROM A SHOP.—An elderly female named
Elizabeth Scott was yesterday charged before Mr. Rush-
ton witblhaving stolen a web of gingham from the shop
of Mr. Robert Roberts, Great George-street. It appeared
that at about eight o'clock on Saturday night, the priso-
ner took the article from the shop door and made off with
it. She was seen rnnning with it uo Nile-street, and
being pursued was overtaken with it in her possession in
Rathbone-street. It was attached to the door by a string
which was found to be cut, and a pair of scissors were
found upon her. The piece was stated to contain 56 yds.
worth 61d. a yard. She said she saw it rolling in the
street and picked it up. Committed for trial at the
sessions.

RODNEY-STREET SCOTCH CHURCH SCHOOLS.—It
being in contemplation shortly to re-open the Sunday
school attached to the Rodney. street church, a sermon,
specially addressed to the young, was delivered by the
Rev. J. T. Brown, from the pulpit of that place of wor-
ship upon Sunday evening last. The reverend gentleman
selected his text from the second epistle to the Corin-
thians, v. 17. The intended pupils of the school were
stationed in the seats immediately fronting the pnlpit,
and appeared deeply impressed.with the emphatic and af-
fectionate exhortations addressed to them by their pastor.
The service was throughout of a most interesting charac-
ter. We understand that during the ministry of the late
incumbent, the congregational sabbath school was in full
and efficient operation ; and we are glad to find that his
successor has thus early formed the resolution of tread-
ing in his steps, by tendering to the children of those
committed to his pastoral charge, the benefits of a sound
and thorough scriptural education.
THE EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MR. BRENT SPEN-
CER.—Our readers will, doubtless, remember the extra-
ordinary case of this gentleman, who was recently found
in a house in Chelsea, under circumstances of a distressing
and degraded nature, under the care of a Mrs. Pelham,
his mother. A commission de lunatico inquirendo was
opened, on Saturday, to inquire into his state of mind ;
and, after hearing the evidence offered, the jury came to
the unanimous conclusion that he was of unsound mind,
and had been so from the 3rd of July, 1840. At the
conclusion, a woman came forward, and stated that the
younger son of Mrs. Pelham (Wilson Pelham, a young
man, 22 years of age,) had been kidnapped from her when
a month old, by Mrs. Pelham, under singular circum-
stances, and that she had never seen him until now. An
inquiry into the case was subsequently gone into, at
Queen-square police-office, when the magistrate promised
to take time to consider the course to be pursued. He
thought that a felony had been committed.
A POST-BOY AT FAULT.-At the Police-court yester-
day, a driver named William Cunliffe was charged with
having received a sum of money on his master's account,
which he had not paid over to him.—Mr. Evan Williams,
carriage-owner, said, that the prisoner was in his employ
as a post-boy. On Saturday last, he was employed, with
another postillion, to drive Sir John Gerard, of New
Hall, near Warrington, in his own carriage, from the
railway station in Lime-street to Bootle, he (complainant)
finding one pair of horses, and another person the other
two. He (prisoner) had received the money for both ' •
had paid the other postillion his half, but had retained the
remainder, and absented himself on the following day.
He had also appropriated the money he bad received on
Thursday, but of this the complainant could not adduce
proof.—William Fletcher, footman to Sir John Gerard,
said he had on Saturday paid the prisoner, on account of
his master, £1 4s. The prisoner was apprehended yes-
terday morning, and on his way to Bridewell said, of his
own accord, that he had received the money and given it
to his wife.—He was committed for trial at the sessions
for the embezzlement.
ALARM OF FIRE.—Yesterday evening, shortly before
seven o'clock, a young man on horseback rode up to the
Fire-station, Temple-court, and gave the alarm that
smoke had broken out, indicating a dangerous fire, in a
warehouse in Norfolk-street. He had on his way stated
the circumstance to all the police-officers he saw, and
from his anxiety, Mr. Hewitt, superintendent of the fire-
police, immediately ordered out, and accompanied, three
engines and a number of new water-carts, and drove
rapidly towards the spot. Other water-carts, from in-
termediate stations, were also ordered out, the number in
all being about twelve. On reaching the vicinity of the
warehouse, the adjacent crossing line of street—Park-
lane and St. James's-street—was crowded by thousands
of " expectants," but it was announced that the alarm
had been occasioned by the chimney of an office having
taken fire, the smoke from which had so filled some of
the floors of the warehouse—bursting out above—that it
was inferred that it had there originated. All being again
in safety, the engines, water-carts, ladders, &c., returned
to the station before they reached the ground. The
young man who gave the alarm was, we learn, by no
means to blame, as his motive was good, though he did
not again return to the station. The alarm had merely
the effect of showing the efficiency of the fire-police, and
gave them a " review" exercise.
MORE LETTER OPENING.—NOVEL FEATURES IN
SPORTING FRAUDS.—During the last few days disclo-
sures of the most extraordinary character have been made
in the letter-carriers' office of the General Post-office,
from the discovery by the authorities of a most extensive
collusion on the part of several letter-carriers employed
in the delivery of letters in the western district of the me-
tropolis, who, it appears, have been for some time in the
habit of opening letters directed to noblemen and gentle-
men belonging to the sporting world, with the view,. as
far as we can learn, of disposing of such information for
some pecuniary consideration, or betting tra heinselves upon
the strength of it. It is said that this pctice has been
carried on for a length of time, and that letters, both in-
ward and outward, have been thus treated, the letters
being afterwards duly delivered. Rumour states that this
scandalous plot was thus discovered :—Two letters, open,
were found on Wednesday morning last upon the seat oc-
cupied by a letter carrier named Tapson, directed to well-
known sporting characters, but with which 119 had no bu-
siness, as the parties did not live in his district, or walk.
Upon being closely questioned, Tapson admitted that
such letters had frequently come into his hands, and even-
tually he gave such information, that six other letter car-
riers and one sub-sorter were brought up for examination.
A most rigid inquiry into the whole circumstances of the
case is instituted daily ; and up to Saturday afternoon
there were suspended, until the decision of the Post-
master-general can be known, the letter-carrier who de-
livered the letters of Lord George Bentinck, the one who
delivered those of Mr. Tattersall, besides four others
employed to distribute those belonging to other sporting
characters.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF
REVENUE INQUIRY.

Our readers no doubt remember a series of articles
which appeared in the London Times, in the autumn of
last year, laying open a system of a very fraudulent, or
at least suspicious, character, alleged to be carried on
amongst the superior officers of the Customs. The de-
tailed nature of the charges thus brought forward, and
the intimate knowledge of the working of the Customs
department displayed by the writer, stamped them with
an importance which rendered an inquiry into their truth
absolutely necessary ; and accordingly the Commissioners
of Revenue Inquiry, then sitting, proceeded to call before
them several parties (including the gentleman, a Mr.
Roper, who had written the articles in the Times, and
Mr. Poole, a discharged searcher, and others), and, after
a long and patient innuiry, have addressed to the Lords
Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury a report, which
is now before us.

It is admitted, at the outset of this report, that very
numerous frauds and irregularities have been practised in
the landing department of the Custom-house in London,
a considerable portion on the Surrey side of the river,
where the inspection of the superior officers has been
most deficient. Goods subject to high duties have been
passed as goods subject to merely nominal duties. In
one instance a cargo of coculus indicus passed as flax.
Barrels of snuff have been passed as pork, silks as calf-
skins, &c. In all these frauds the officers have been
acting in dishonest concert with importers or agents ;
and it appears that the greatest facilities have existed
upon those wharfs, mainly used for the coasting trade,
where the surveillance exercised was least. A practice
has existed, amongst these officers, of having carousals
in the upper rooms of the warehouses on the quays, to
which none of their inferiors were admitted, and at which
it is said that the wines used have been drawn from the
bonded stores, and consumed, with the connivance of the
importers, duty-free.
A great portion of this system is attributed, by the
Commissioners, to the fact of the landing-officers being,
practically, uncontrolled by the officers beneath them in
rank. No such inferior officer, although perfectlyin-
formed of malpractices going on, durst lodge any infor-
mation, from the almost certainty that the affair would be
burked, and the party laying the information dismissed
or suspended, the duty of inquiring into its truth devol-
ving upon an officer of probably the same class as the
one complained against. To remedy this, it is proposed
that such inquiries shall in future be taken before one of
the Commissioners instead of an officer, by which it is
thought that the Board will he more likely to arrive at
the knowledge of any malpractices going on. It is sug-
gested, too, that an increased number of officers be placed
upon the wharfs upon which facilities for fraud chiefly
exist, and that those officers be more frequently removed
from station to station.

Upon the subject of the relative position of the different
classes of officers, we take the opportunity of quoting
from the report in extenso

" It is a remarkable circumstance, tha`, in all the disclosures
which have come to our knowledge, a combination between a
landing-waiter and his subordinate officer, to effect an illegal
importation, has never appeared. We do not mean to absolve
the whole class of weighers or other inferior officers from sys-
tematic and successful attempts to defraud the revenue. There
are numerous instances of such disgraceful conduct by them,
but there is no proof of confederation between the landing_
waiter and his weigher. Without, therefore, denying that in
come instances they may have joined in illicit practices, we
feel ourselves warranted in stating that the greater proportion
of the frauds committed by the landing-waiters were not parti-
cipated in by their subordinate officers, and, nevertheless, they
were such as those individuals (if they had been by their duty
called upon to give attentis,n to the nature of the importations
on which they were employed) must in many instances have
detected.

" We have no desire to degrade the landing-waiters. It is
es ential to the public service that, amongst them, as amongst
every other class of officers, self-respect should be encouraged ;
and no regulation should be adopted which could really be de-
rogatory to their position ; but, in our opinion, the object should
be to apply this principle to all persons in the employment of
the Customs' department.
" We certainly think that the position of the lower classes of
officers has not been always viewed in a proper light, and we
should anticipate most useful results to the public service if
they were led to feel that to the manual duties, for which they
are specially appointed, they were bound to add a constant
vigilance, and were encouraged to control the attempts of
others, whatever might be their position, in the commission of
fraud.

" From the highest to the lowest class, the integrity of the
officer is the first object to be attained, and the more each offi-
cer can be made to feel his own reputation interested in the
protection of the revenue, and in the prevention of frauds, the
more probable is it that he will resist the innumerable tempta-
tions to swerve from his duty, which are constantly presenting
themselves to him. It is also worthy of consideration, whether
the proportion of the proceeds of seizures now accruing to a
weigher might not be increased with advantage."

The accusations of Mr. Roper and Mr. Poole, directed
against several of the superior officers of the customs, into
which, most particularly the commissioners thought it
their duty to enquire, resolve themselves into the follow-
ing heads,—viz.
lst,—His having been employed by such officers, and by commis-
sioners themselves, in buying goods in small quantities at wholesale
prices, averaging 30 to 35 per cent. under retail prices.
2nd,—He obtained for a commissioner silk goods by retail, whilst
they were under examination at the Custom-house.
3rd,—lmproper release of passengers' baggage seized.
4th,—The determination, by tossing up, on the part of two land-
ing surveyors (since promoted), whether a duty of 20s. or 275. 6d.
should be charged on certain silk goods.
sth,—The toleration by a surveyor-general of the fabrication of a
blue book, in place of the proper one, lost
6th,—The corrupt intimacy of a surveyor-general with a party,
who was concerned in recent fraudulent transactions and discharged.

7th,--The habitual practice of most of the commissioners arid of
officers of every grade, of making purchases at the Cttstom.house
sales in fictitious names, through the medium of the officers en.
trusted with their lotting and sale.

The whole of these charges appear to have undergone a
searching cmciinaination and la o. •o, ~ c•ca y UtasC, lieeu
found insufficiently proved to fasten a stigma upon the
character of the parties against whom they were levelled,
although against the impropriety of some of the transac-
tions the commissioners earnestly protest.

SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—At the Police-court yesterday
William M`Pherson, a seaman, was fined 205., or in de-
fault to be imprisoned seven days, for smuggling 311 b. of
foreign manufactured tobacco.
CANADA AND THE STATES.—The steam-ship Great
Western, Captain Matthews, sailed at noon on Saturday
for New York, with 132 passengers, and a larger amount
of freight than she has taken out on any previous occa-
sion. The steam-ship Hibernia will sail to-day for Hali-
fax and Boston.
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.—Three young girls, Betsey
Kelly, Elizabeth Tyrrell, and Jane Smith, were yester-
day placed before Mr. Rushton, at the police-court.
Kelly was charged with stealing a sovereign from a chest
belonging to Mary Williams, her mistress, and the other
two with receiving it. They were all committed for trial.
Musuaooms have recently, in this neighbourhood,
been so abundant, as to have become almost a drug in our
public markets and streets. They have been sold, of good
quality too, at from lid. to 2d. per quart—a price which,
considering the toil of gathering, and the expenditure of
shoe leather in the morning wet or dew of the old mea-
dows, can scarcely be remunerative. Pains-taking house-
keepers have been enabled to bottle up an ample supply
of ketchup.
We observe that the claims of the Church of England
School Society will be advocated in St. Bartholomew's
Church, on Sunday evening next, by the Rev. H. H.
Higgins, who is well acquainted with its operations and
the beneficial results of its efforts. We need no other
argument to recommend this society to the support of the
friends of Scriptural education, than to make it known
that upwards of 2000 children, belonging to the poorer
and working classes of this town, are now receiving in-
struction in its schools.
PROTESTANTISM AND POPERY.—At a meeting of the
London Missionary Society, last week, on the proceedings
of the French at Tahiti, the Rev. B. Noel said " he rejoiced
that, although these difficulties had occurred, they were
calculated to fix an eternal hatred on the Roman Catholic
religion. (Cheers.) Catholicity and Protestantism were
now face to face in Otaheite : Catholicity, supported by
French cannon, French brandy, and the debauchery of
French sailors ; Protestantism, supported by the Bible,
by the civilization and happiness of the Otaheitans.
(Cheers.) Give the Catholics every liberty they might
ask, only let them not gag the defenders of the truth,
and he had no fear for the result." It would be well if
the rev. gentleman would always speak in the same un-
compromising spirit.
THE CROPS.—Durnig the past week the weather has
been showery, or drizzly, in this quarter; but we have
had no long soaking rains as yet, and the high winds that
have occasionally prevailed ha ye to a great extent neutra-
lised the effects of these downfals, by speedy evaporation.
To-night, (Monday,) however, a thick and rather threa-
tening rain is falling, which if it continue long may retard
field operations, if not indeed injure the ripe grain yet on
the ground. A good deal of wheat and oats has already
been cut in the neighbourhood, but comparatively little
has been housed, and whether as regards that in the stock,
or that on its legs, the gathering is somewhat precarious.
The wheats are generally excellent, and, on the average
for this county, abundant. The spring corn is short both
in ear and in straw. The turnips, and especially the po-
tatoes, fed by the late rains, look exceedingly promising.
THE CAUSE LIST.—Of the cases for trial, from the
Hundred of Salford, three only remain for trial. These
are marked for special juries, in one of which, that of
" Farrar v. Deflinne," the Solicitor-General, Sir Frederick
Thesiger, is specially retained, with a fee of 300 guineas.
The Solicitor-General is also retained specially, with a fee
of the like amount, for the Corporation of Manchester, in
the case of "Milne v. the Manchester Corporation ;" and
for the plaintiff, Mr. Fitzroy Kelly has been specially re-
tained, also, it is said, with a fee of the same amount.
The case is not likely to last long, as, in all probability, a
special verdict will be returned, subject to the opinion of
the Court of Queen's Bench upon the question whether
Mr. Milne, as clerk to the stipendiary magistrate of Man-
chester, is an officer entitled to compensation under the
charter recently conferred upon that borough. The two
cases in which these eminent counsel are specially re-
tained, have been appointed for Friday next. The list
for the Hundred of West Derby is rather longer than
usual, containing no less than ninety-five causes, of
which eighteen are marked to be tried by special
juries. We do not hear of any counsel being specially
brought down in any case in the list, the tact
and eloquence of the ordinary members of the cir-
cuit being probably considered equal to whatever exigen-
cies may arise. Altogether there are only eleven special
jury cases in the whole list. The common cases in the
first list were cleared off last evening. The
arrangements made by Mr. Justice Cresswell, on Satur-
day evening,
are as follows :—The special jury cases in
the second, or West Derby list, will be taken in the order
in which they stand after the whole of the common jury
causes in that list shall have been disposed of. The first
special jury cause in the first list, " Booker and another
, v. Tebbutt," (No. 15.) will be taken to-day ; and the se-
cond special jury cause in the same list, " Bentley v.
Fleming," 30,) will be taken immediately after the
common juries in the second list are gone through.

LANCASHIRE SUMMER ASSIZES.
Continued from 3rd page.

CROWN COURT.—YESTERDAY.
The Lord Chief Baron took his seat at eight o'clock.
HORSE STEALING AT BOLTON.

John Wilkinson (55) was indicted for having at Elton,
near Bolton, feloniously stolen a horse, the property of
John Scholfield.

It appeared that on the 26th of last March, a person
named Kaye, who had previously borrowed the animal
from the prosecutor, was about to send it home by a little
boy, when the prisoner came and offered to go with the
horse and deliver it to the owner for the sum of 6d. The
prisoner, however, instead of taking it to Scholefield sold
it for 12s 9d, the actual value being about £2.
The Judge observed that the prisoner was charged, in
the indictment, with stealing a horse, whereas he had
stolen a mare. If it should affect his case, he was enti-
tled to the benefit of it. [lt turned out, however, that the
indictment was good.] The Jury convicted the prisoner,
but recommended him to mercy, and he was sentenced
to three months imprisonment and hard labour.

ASSAULT AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY, AT MANCHESTER.
Joseph Forster, (18,) and Thomas Smith, (18,) were in-
dicted for having, at Manchester, feloniously assaulted
Ensign John Davies, and robbed him of a watch, watch-
guard, and key.
Mr. Cardwell conducted the case for the prosecution ;
Mr. 'Wilkins defended Smith ; the other prisoner was un-
defended.

It appeared that the robbery and assault were commit-
ted on the persons of three ensigns in her Majesty's 32d
Regiment of Foot, stationed at Salford, on the night of
Tuesday, the 2d of April. On that night, the three en-
signs, Davies, Laurie and Birtwistle, were returning from
dinner to their quarters at a late hour, and when they ar-
rived opposite the Manchester Infirmary, at the top of
Piccadilly, they were suddenly attacked, without giving
the slightest provocation, by a number of persons. In
the course of the scuffle, Davies lost his watch. Subse-
quently, however, he found it lying on the ground ; but
when it was regained, its gold chain and key appendages
were missing. The only question in the case was, as to
the identity of the prisoners. With regard to Forster, it
appeared that Davies never lost sight of him from the
time of the attack until he was arrested by the police.
With regard to the identity of Smith, a young woman
who was present, and knew him well, deposed that he
was one of the parties engaged in the attack ; and in order
to corroborate her testimony, Smith's conduct when ar-
rested. and his conversations with the police, were detailed
to the jury.
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jury, evidenceaft
after
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consultation, acquitted both the prisoners, and
they were discharged after a suitable admonition from the
court.