The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

BIRKENHEAD PROSPERITY.-THE CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—The gigantic movements at Birkenhead have,
undoubtedly, produced an unprecedented prosperity in
that place, a prosperity that has, more or less, reached
every interest in it, excepting, perhaps, one, and that is
the CHURCH.

There is scarcely a landowner whose land has not al-
ready been much improved in value, or a houseowner
whose property is not benefitted ; and these advantages
have, as yet, only arrived at half what the future promises
to effect.

Rejoicings have very properly been made, and compli-
ments of the most gratifying description paid to Mr.
Jackson and his colleagues, who have richly deserved
the laurels which have been presented to them. Amidst
the tide of prosperity, however, the calm observer sees
little spreading itself but self-aggrandisement, and fears
for the feverishness that may arise if unsubdued by
healthier symptoms. We should not forget the interests
of our noblest public institutions, if we would give per-
manance to our private ones. There can be little doubt
that the seed of a very considerable portion of the pros-
perity of Birkenhead has been sown by the able and ex-
cellent clergymen who fill our churches and chapel; and,
that to them we owe very much of the respectability and
rank of our present position. It would only be just that
they should have a fair participation in the advantages
which every man of property in the place has received.
It is well known that the churches occupied by our excel-
lent friends Mr. Knox and Mr. Baylee are so encumbered
by the claims of lay proprietors, that during the (nearly)
twenty years of Mr. Knox's zealous ministry, he has not
received more than £2OO per annum for his own and cu-
rate's stipend, excepting occasional aid from private sub-
scriptions • and, Mr. Baylee's situation is little or no
better. Certainly, this is not the position in which any
friend of the church, having the means of remedying it,
would wish to see the clergymen of a town rising so rapidly
in wealth and importance as Birkenhead. In conversa-
tion the other day with Mr. W. Jackson, he suggested,
for another purpose, that a subscription of one shilling
per square yard from each landowner at Birkenhead,'
would raise half a million of money.
I avail myself of the suggestion to draw his attention to
another—viz.: Whether a subscription of a halfpenny or
a farthing per yard from the same persons, who are church-
men,`would not he sufficient to buy off the entire debt
which now encumbers our two churches, and which re-
flects discredit on ourselves; and, whether such a trifling
consecration of our mite to God is not worthy of this
great and merited occasion of our rejoicing. Ido not
wish to suggest a burden of any description on dissenters,
but hope, if they require it, that they will follow the same
example, and do likewise for themselves.
I trust, sit, neither you nor the public will think these
remarks obtrusive ; I have no doubt of Mr. Jackson and
his colleagues being able to effect without difficulty this
object, if it meets their approval; and I shall be glad to
see any expansion of their merited reputation that may
arise from its accomplishment.

I have the honor to be
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD WELCH, Architect.
Ivy-street, Birkenhead, Bth August, 1844.

UNGRATEFUL ROBBERY.—On Wednesday last a wo-
man named Mary Anne Greenbank, was committed to the
sessions on trial, for having stolen a coat from the house
of Mr. R. Kaye, surgeon, Pembroke-place, where she had
gone to obtain medicine which Mr. Kaye had kindly pre-
pared for her. She pledged the coat at Parley's, Cop-
peras-hill, for the sum of £2.
NEW CHURCH.—We understand that a new church
will shortly be erected in the neighbourhood of Breck-
road, the gentry of that vicinity having resolved on com-
mencing a subscription for the purpose. The site is to
be near Cabbage-hall, where a place of worship under the
establishment has long been wanted, as we know of no
locality in this neighbourhood where the inhabitants are
so far removed from the ordinances of the church. We
shall be extremely glad to forward the work all in our
power.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN A COAL-PIT.—A serious accident
occurred on Saturday morning week, at the Rushy-park
Colliery, near St. Helens, occasioned by the falling in of
a portion of the roof (about six tons weight) upon a
youth, about sixteen years of age, named William Lucas,
and a boy, about ten, named Benjamin Crooks, both of
whom, when released from their awful situation, were
dead, although no external marks of injury were visible.
A man, named John Crooks, uncle to the boy above
named, who was working with them, fortunately escaped
with one of his legs only slightly bruised.
THE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE JUDGES.—The large
house in St. Ann-street has been again taken for a new
period, and has been prepared and re-furnished in the
most ample and splendid manner, for the reception of the
judges and their attendants. The lodgings have been
newly fitted up in every department, in that style and ele-
gance alike creditable to the taste of the contractors,
Messrs. J. Hand and Sons, as it is also to the liberality
displayed by this ancient and loyal borough, and particu-
larly so to those members of the corporation forming the
committee to whose hands the management has been
intrusted.

DISEASED MEAT.—On Tuesday, James Stackpoole, a
young butcher, was summoned before Mr. Rushton, to
answer a complaint of having bad two carcases of diseased
beef, weighing 8081bs, exposed for sale in a slaughter-
house in Trowbridge-street. It appeared from the evi-
dence of Holden, one of the market inspectors, that he
discovered the carcases on the Ist instant, and that he had
reason to believe the cows were in such a diseased state
that the owner bad killed them on the way from Chorley
to Liverpool. The defendant was fined in the penalty of
£2 and costs. The meat was destroyed by Holden at the
time of the discovery.

APPLICATION FORA W ARRANT.—On Thursday, Mr.
Dowling applied to the magistrates at the Police-court for
a warrant to apprehend a person calling himself Glover,
on the ground that he had presented his card, represented
himself as a tradesman living at Chester, obtained goods
'from various tradesmen, and after disposing of them, had
absconded. In answer to Mr. Rushton, Mr. Dowling
said the name given was correct, but the address was a
wrong one. Mr. Rushton said, under these circumstances,
he would not grant a warrant. If the, partiea mcant to
charge him, they could do so when they found him.
Tradesmen should be more careful how they parted with
their goods.
A BUILDER'S BILL.—At the Chester assizes, on Wed-
nesday, the following case was tried—Cole v. Aspinall
(S. J.)—Mr. Welsby opened the pleadings, by which it
appeared that the plaintiff claimed £233 odd on account
stated, to which the defendant pleaded the general issue.
The plaintiff was a builder residing at Birkenhead, and
the defendant a Liverpool merchant, who employed the
plaintiff to erect a brewery, in Livingston-street, Birken-
head, which bad been designed by Walter Scott, an
architect. Amongst the witnesses were Mr. Samuel
Holme and Mr. John Stewart, of this town. Verdict
for the plaintiff—damages £233 Bs. Bd., with liberty for the
defendant to move to reduce the damages to £162 Bs. 10Id.
FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.—During
the past week several persons of distinction arrived at
the Adelphi Hotel. in this town. On Thursday the Duke
of Devonshire returned from a visit to his extensive es-
tates in the south of Ireland, and left on Friday morning,
accompanied by the Hon. Mr. Cavendish, M.P., for
Bolton Abbey. The Earl of Fingal arrived from Lon-
don and left for Killeen Castle, Ireland. Lady Caledon
arrived on Tuesday, and, after having remained four days
in town, left for the county of Antrim. The Countess
of Cardigan passed through, on Wednesday, for Dublin.
General Wallace passed through to Scotland. Colonel
Close arrived from Dublin and proceeded on to London;
and the Rev. R. J. M'Ghee arrived from London and
sailed for the Irish metropolis.
EMBARKATION OF TROOPS FROM LIVERPOOL.—On
Friday last a detachment of the 53d Foot, consisting of
about 250 men, embarked on board the John Bull, under
orders for Calcutta, and on the following evening the
vessel put to sea. She is a fine ship, of about 700 tons
new measurement, belonging to Mr. George Kendall.
The highest satisfaction, we understand, was expressed
by the officers in charge of the troops, as well as by the
government inspector, with the whole of the arrangements
and accommodations, and the attention and civility of all
parties connected with the vessel. This, we believe, is the
first instance of troops being embarked at this port for the
East Indies ; and we are gratified to think that it has been
done in a manner so well calculated to lead to the further
employment of Liverpool shipping in the same way.
BIRKENHEAD POLICE-COURT.-011 Thursday last,
Sarah Hickson, an innkeeper, at Whitby Locks, and
James Miller, the constable of the township, were repri-
manded—tbe former for refusing to admit a poor fainting
wretch found in the neighbourhood, and the latter for re-
fusing to go for a surgeon.—Peter Humphreys was re-
manded on a charge of assault on William Hanson, in
Bridewell. Hanson was too ill to appear. Humphreys
said it was a " lark."—John Roscoe, a servant man, in
the employ of Mrs. Broster, was charged by his mistress
with taking a sovereign. The prisoner had been sat with
the money to purchase provender, but never returned.
The prisoner said in his defence, that be had lost the
money, and having expressed a willingness to repay the
money by working until it was cleared off, he was dis-
charged conditionally.
SOCIETY OF ARTS, &C., ADELPHI, JUNE 10.—After
the distribution of the society's rewards on Monday by
Prince Albert as chairman, supported by the Duke of
Sutherland, the Marquis of Northampton, the foreign
Princes visiting at the Palace, and a long list of the no-
bility, the royal parties were introduced to the model
room of inventions, and there they were indeed highly de-
lighted with some extraordinary improvements made in
piano-fortes, by Mr. Mott, her Majesty's piano-forte
maker. The greatest attraction, however, was an instru-
ment termed by the inventor " an expressive orchestra
piano-forte," from the strings alone of which (without
the aid of wind-bow, or even friction upon them) were
elicited the tones of all bow and wind instruments, toge-
ther with the most delicate and comprehensive expression
peculiar to each particular instrument, from the softest
sighing of an fEolian harp to the full harmony of an orches-
tra of skilful performers. The numerous questions of the
royal party occupied a considerable time in explaining by
the inventor, Mr. Mott ; at the conclusion of which the
royal parties all retired expressing the greatest gratifica-
tion.—Herald.—[Two samples of Mr. Mott's improved
pianos were exhibited at the Collegiate Institution on
Friday evening, one was the smallest ever exhibited, but
possessed the full power and richness of tone of the
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TIIE ASSIZES: THE CALENDAR.—The commission for
the southern division of this county will be opened, in
this town, on Thursday next, before the Lord Chief
Baron and Mr. Justice Creswell, and the trials will be
proceeded with on the following day, at twelve o'clock.
There are 83 prisoners for trial at these assizes, of whom
one (Owen Leonard) is charged with the murder of his
wife. This is the only charge of direct and wilful murder,
and the particulars, as they appeared at the inquest, were
fully given in our paper of Tuesday fortnight. Seven
prisoners are charged with attempts at murder, and six
with manslaughter. Amongst the attempts to murder,
some are of a very bad complexion. One of the cases is
that of a man, James Burgess, who is charged with having,
at Heap, endeavoured to strangle his wife (Amelia) by
fixing his hands on her throat. Another case is that of
John Murphy, charged with having at Salford, mixed
oxalic acid in a tea-pot, with intent to poison his daugh-
ter-in-law. Five persons are under charge of uttering or
making false coin. The other offences in the calendar
are of the usual description, such as burglaries, highway
robberies, aggravated assaults, &c. We learn that Owen
Leonard (charged with the murder of his wife in this
town) his rather in low and desponding spirits; but that,
with apparently all his faculties, he does not appear to be
in that state of depression that might be expected. He
seems to think that he has done wrong, and that his life
may be forfeited ; but is not so acutely affected as might
be expected from a man in his awful situation.
EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CLERK.—At the Police-court,
on Frjday, a respectably dressed young man, named Chas.
Alexander Pritchard, was charged by his employer, Mr.
Robert Singlehurst, merchant, of Cross-chambers, Red-
cross-street, with embezzlement, to the amount of about
£260. Mr. Singlehurst stated that the prisoner was an
apprentice, and during the last twelve months he had been
the cashier; and, having heard several accounts of his
extravagance, he called upon him on Wednesday last to
make up his accounts immediately. He did so, and the
result showed a deficiency of upwards of £260, which he
said he bad lent to a friend of his, whose name be would
not reveal, whatever was the consequence. Mr. Edward
Clarke, merchant, of Temple-court, was called in, and to
him the prisoner said, in the first instance, he had lent
the money. Mr. Clarke, in ieply, observed that it would
be a great satisfaction to Mr. Singlehurst to know who
had his money ; and, after some hesitation, he said he had
lent £250 to a Miss Plant, who lived at No. 27, St. Vin-
cent-street, for three weeks. Subsequently he drew up,
of his own accord, a statement of how he had disposed of
the money, from which it appeared that he had spent a
great deal in disreputable houses. He made no defence,
and he was committed for trial at the next sessions.—Mr.
Singlehurst suggested that some of the property might be
found at the house in St. Vincent-street. Mr. Rushton
said there might be little doubt of that ; but it was a mat-
ter which had better be left in Mr. Dowling's hands, who
would recover all which could legally be recovered.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—ENGAGEMENT OF JULLIEN.
—We had the pleasure yesterday of attending the morn-
ing concert, given at these delightful gardens, by that
first of orchestral chiefs, Mons. Jullien. The day, un-
fortunately for the spirited proprietors, who had provided
the treat, was rather lowering in the morning ; and hence,
we fear, many of our fashionables, and especially of our
fair, were deprived of the opportunity of making their ar-
rangements. The weather, however, disappointed the
weatherwise. It turned out splendid; and a sufficient
number of visitors took advantage of the opportunity of
bright sun and a cool air, to listen to harmony such as
is seldom heard in our town. The gardens themselves
were in beautiful order, the very showers which, in the
early part of the day had threatened damage to the plea-
sure of the visitors, contributing, by the fragrance which
they conferred upon tree and flower, to give increase of
delight. We shall not attempt to give a critique of the
entertainment. All we shall say is that it was really
worth the money and the walk, and much more, had we
even had bad weather for our companions. Some of the
pieces played were magnificently given—especially the
" Post Horn Galop," in which Herr Koenig, on the com-
mon post horn, was splendid. The selection from " I
Puritani" was beautifully given ; and the " English Qua-
drille" —a medley, comprising some of our first com-
monest gallery favorites, was a unique affair, We can-
not, short as our notice of this performance is compelled
to be, omit to giving our mede of praise to Herr Koenig,
whose cornet• a-piston was beautiful, and Prospere, whose
orphecleide was most magnificent. The performances of
these two are in themselves a concert; and the flute of
Mr. Richardson is scarcely less to be applauded. It will
be seen that to-night Mons. Jullien takes his benefit.
Every lover of music, who can appreciate the splendid
programme given, should attend.

A WOMAN KILLED BY HER HUSBAND.—On Tuesday
night last the neighbourhood of Wallgate, Wigan, was
thrown into excitement and alarm by information that a
man named William Swanton had killed his wife by kick-
ing and otherwise ill-treating her. Swanton has been
an overlooker at a mill, and was respected in his situation.
The deceased Ann Swanton, by whom her husband had
eight children, lived in Victoria-street with her family.
She was not, it is said, addicted to drinking. From the
evidence at the inquest, it appeared that deceased had
been washing clothes during the day, and from some
cause or other had gone to bed before Swanton came
home from his work, and, it is said, instead of finding his
supper prepared and the house in order, he discovered the
deceased in bed intoxicated, and the family. In what
way he had assaulted her is only known from his own ad-
mission. A daughter, 16 years old, who worked at the
same mill, said that when she went home that night,
about eight o'clock, she found her father in the house,
and her mother ill. She asked what was the matter with
her, and her father said " He was sorry he had done it,"
and appeared much affected. He sent her for a doctor,
and she brought Mr. Pinnington. Her father carried her
mother down stairs and placed her in a chair. The doc-
tor bled her, and gave her a little brandy, and her father
carried her up stairs to bed. •• lie said •he would never
strike her again, if she got better." He asked her several
times to speak to him, for the sake of himself and children,
and her mother blessed him. " She said " Bless thee
Bill" three times. Mr. Goblin was afterwards sent for
to read to her, and he was doing so when she died about
eleven o'clock. Mr. Pinnington, the surgeon, who at-
tended her, bled her—a strange way of restoring life
under the circumstances. There was a pool of blood on
the floor; the pulse was gone at the wrist, and he at first
thought her dead. A stream of blood flowed from the
lower part of the body. The prisoner said that "he be-
lieved he had kicked her there." There was a wound on
the lip, which he said was done by a blow with his fist.
He afterwards said " Thou should not have been drunk, II
and I should not have done this to thee." All efforts to
restore her failed, and she died as stated. She smelled
strong of drink when he got to her. The prisoner, it ap-
peared, gave himself up to the police. This witness and
Mr. Latham made a post mortem examination. There
was a bruise on the right leg, and the bladder was found
to be ruptured through the whole extent of four inches :
other serious injuries were also observed, the effect of
kicks or blows, and those together had caused death.
The jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter," and the
prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes. Mr.
Grimshaw, the other coroner, had another inquest on the
body on Friday, with a similar result,
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.—An inquest was held on Fri-
day before P. F. Currie, Esq., at the Coroner's Court, on
the body of a respectable person, named Samuel Lewth-
waite, aged 24, a mathematical instrument maker, who
had, on Thursday afternoon, shot himself with a pistol.
It appeared from the evidence of Mrs. Sarah Potter, that
on Tuesday last the deceased took apartments from her
for his sister-in-law and her family, situate in Fairclough-
row, Mill-lane, Everton. The parties took possession of
the lodgings on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon the
deceased visited his sister-in-law, when shortly after
hearing the report of fire-arms and screams, she ran into
the parlour where the parties were, and found the de-
ceased bleeding from his ears. She immediately procured
medical assistance. but the deceased died the same even-
ing. Mrs. Lewthwaite, the sister-in-law of the deceased,
stated, that he engaged the lodgings for her at the house
of the last witness, and met her at Dublin on Sunday, for
the purpose of accompanying her to Liverpool. He ap-
peared in his usual health and spirits. On Wednesday
evening she saw him, when he appeared rather low, and
stated that he was about to start for London the next
morning. On Thursday, however, about two o'clock in
the afternoon, witness was sitting in her parlour, with the
window open, when the deceased made his appearance be-
fore it, but did not speak. She opened the door and he
walked in. He then said, " I suppose you did not ex-
pect to see me ?" She replied she did not. Nothing fur-
ther passed for a few minutes, both standing together in
the room. She then heard the report of fire-arms, and
on turning round the deceased gave a great sigh, raised
his hand to his forehead, and said, " 0 my God, it will
soon be over with me—l shan't see any person longer."
She then ran out of the room and called out for assistance.
The surgeon stated that the deceased had shot off his right
ear, fractured part of his skull, and injured the carotid
artery, The ball, which was a brass one, and produced,
bad passed to the back of the head, and lodged under the
brain. He died the same afternoon. The uncle of the
deceased and Mrs. Ann Smith, of Bridgewater-street,
with whom the deceased lodged, were next examined as
to the state of his mind, but they had not observed any-
thing particular with respect to him. The former de-
posed to the deceased having shown him a letter from a
young lady of respectability residing in London, to whom
he was engaged to be married, and had promised to ask
her father's consent. This and two other letters were
produced. One was the copy of a letter to the young
lady in question, and the others were from her, couched
in terms of attachment. Mrs. Smith stated that she had
given a letter to the deceased, which was hatidedtoher
by the postman on Thursday morning, and
immediately
after receiving it he had left the house. This letter, thougl
diligently searched for, could not be found : therefore,
the cause which had immediately led to the sad catastrophe
was involved in some degree of obscurity. A letter from
the father of the deceased was discovered, but as it had
reference to pecuniary and domestic affairs, it threw no
additional light on the matter. Some scraps of poetry
and several love sonnets were also discovered. The de-
ceased's aunt observed, that the young lady residing at
Goldsworthy-terrace was the daughter of a London mer-
chant, of very respectable connections ; that it was a
" looking up" on the part of her nephew, to solicit the
hand of such a gentleman's daughter, and that she should
not be at all surprised if the letter he had received was
a rejection of his proposal. The jury returned a verdict
of felo de se; and the body was interred, at twelve
o'clock on Saturday night, in the parish burial-ground,
of course without the usual funeral rites being performed.
A PRIZE FIGHTER APPREHENDED.—Monday week
was the day appointed for the fight between Harris
Birchall, of Liverpool, and Charles Jones, of Manchester,
for £3O a-side ;to come off within three
miles of Stock-
port. The parties began to select theirground near the
railway station, Wellington- oad forth. The authorities
having, however, got information of the affair, Birchallwas apprehended near Heaton Norris. Jones contrived
to get out of the way. Articles of the peace were exhi-
bited before the Mayor against Birchall, and he was held
to bail for his good behaviour for twelve months.