The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-02 00:00:00

THE NEW INSOLVENT ACT.

A singular advantage has recently been taken of the
protection which this act affords, in the Liverpool Court
of Bankruptcy. The features of the case, from their sin-
gularity, are not exclusively confined to the commercial
public, but must arrest attention in the Legislature. An
insolvent by his attorney came before the Court to file his
petition, in order to gain the interim order for protection.
A day was appointed for a bearing (which by the act is
necessary to be three clear days before the meeting), when
notice was given to the messenger, whose duty it was to
advertise, that the prosecution of the petition would be
abandoned. This unusual circumstance being represented
to the learned Commissioner, a day was appointed for the
surrender of the insolvent, and to hear, by himself or his
attorney, the reasons for not prosecuting the petition
already filed, a month having elapsed between the filing
and the hearing.

On Saturday a most respectable solicitor in Liverpool,
appeared for a creditor, appealed to the commissioner
whether in the case of an insolvent presenting a petition
to the Court, by a withdrawal of it, without tangible rea-
son, the act might not be construed into a contempt of
Court. They had got the admission of an attorney that
three several executions were in process against the insol-
vent; and in apprehension of these he had filed his peti-
tion in this Court, and obtained his interim order for pro-
tection. If a license of this kind were sanctioned by law,
a petition entirely false might be presented, because the
action being preliminary, it was not necessary for the in-
solvent to swear to the truth of it. The interim protec-
tion sanctioned by the present law was one that would
present to the fraudulent the most unlimited means of
making away with their property : in fact, protecting the
insolvent from any let or hindrance except by the issue of
a judge's order; the evidence in the support of its neces-
sity it was very difficult to obtain. He further observed
that the section of the act recited was, "until the ap-
pearance, and not before the date of the appearance," in
confirmation of this opinion as to the necessity of the in-
solvent at some time surrendering to his petition. By
the 6th section, also, the attorney could be summoned to
answer any misrepresentation.
Hia,l7lowoun, after remarking upon the. singularity of
the case, said that lie had no jurisdiction. The rules and
orders require that all advertisements should be gazetted,
and the insolvent was not judicially before him. The act
certainly never contemplated an evasion of that kind, but
as it was a matter of which he could have no cognizance,
he bad no alternative but to dismiss the petition. The
difficulty which had arisen was as regarded the costs, in
which, again, he had no jurisdiction. His power only ex-
tended to the final order, after whiuli it was in his discre-
tion to allot the costs to any party he should think fit. He
(the Commissioner), however, could not but express his
displeasure, as the process of the court had been most
improperly interfered with.
The summary of the objection to this part of the act
may be contained in a few words. A plotting insolvent
may file a petition in the court without a single correct
item in his balance-sheet, or the smallest particle of fi-
delity in his returns, get the Court's protection for a
month antecedent to his hearing, and may then give no-
tice by his attorney of his alleged inability to prosecute
the tenor of his petition, the whole of the interim being
allowed to him fraudulently to dispose of his effects or to
abscond from his creditors, as in this very case it was
stated by the attorney that under the protection of the
Court he had been collecting his accounts for his own
purposes,.
How does this stand when the act clearly states that
upon filing the petition the estate of the insolvent is
vested in the official assignee?

DEATH BY DROWNING.—On Saturday, an inquest
was held before the borough coroner, to inquire into the
circumstances touching the death of a boy, eight years of
age, named Thomas Martindale, who was found drowned
in the graving docks at the potteries. It appeared that
he left his father's house, in Wellington-road, in the
Park, about half-past eleven o'clock on Friday morning,
and that nothing more was heard of him until his body
was found, in about seven feet of water, in the dock. A
verdict of " Found drowned" was returned.

At the Police-court, on Friday, Captain Chadley, of the
Hairbell, was summoned by several of his crew, for wages
to the full extent of the voyage, the lowest claim being
£l4 7s. A mutinous spirit, of a very aggravated charac-
ter, was provedagainst the claimants ; but as fares Cubbin's
case went, who had shipped as second mate, and was
found to be incompetent a day or two after sailing, Mr.
Rushton said he would not give him a single farthing, Lis
conduct being most disgraceful. Three other cases, hin-
ging on the same matter, were adjourned.
MERSEY AND IRWELL NAVIGATION.—We noticed in
our last the purchase by Lord Francis Egerton of the
whole of the shares of this navigation. It is reported that
his lordship contemplates a further expenditure of X 300,000
in deepening and improving the river, so as to render it
navigable for vessels of considerable burthen, in anti-
cipation of the time when Manchester will become
a bonding port.. In other respects, the business of
the Old Quay Company, it is expected, will be conducted
precisely as it has hitherto been, and on the same pre-
mises, which are of course included in the purchase.
From yesterday (Monday), the river, as well as the canal
navigation, between Liverpool and Manchester, will be
under the control, and in fact the property, of his lordship.
THE BRIDGEW&TERCLERHS:—On the 15th instant,
all thew_ eats and clerks-engaged in the Bridgewater Trust,
were conveyed to Worsley in barges prepared for the oc-
'asion, whither they were invited by Lord Francis Eger-
ton, to have a day's coursing upon the beautiful estate
attached to the princely mansion which his lordship has
lately erected there. At eleven, o'clock the party assem-
bled to the number of seventy, and proceeded to the sport
at once. A fine body of dogs were provided, and the rul.
Wing was splendid, so much so that by three o'clock
twenty-two hares were killed. At four o'clock they sat
down to a most sumptuous dinner, at the Grapes Inn.
F. Smith, Esq., was called to the chair. The chairman
proposed, after the usual loyal toasts," Lord Francis Eger-
ton and his lady," "James Loch, Esq.," and others.
The company separated soon after ten.
THE IRISH SOCIETY.—On Sunday morning the annual
sermon in aid of this society was preached at St. Jude's
Church, by the Rev. Drummond Anderson, the newly
appointed curate, a young divine of very considerable
ability. It had been announced on the preceding Sunday
that the sermon would be preached by the Rev. Hugh
M'Neile ; but, in the course of the week, the latter gen-
tleman received a communication, announcing the alarm-
ing illness of Mrs. M'Neile's sister, and he was,.there-
fore, unexpectedly obliged to leave town for a few days,
to attend the bedside of his afflicted relative. His place
sehe pv oiut
apmadeoairupon
nt
eg h strongctoe
nn
was well oftcaocvuso,putbiresdocfrbibtyhellellisbro.ecrDrummond,
society, and
for. t
gnaipreepngeatatloioifnna country which had given them such a pastor as
the Rev. Mr. 111'Neile, "whose praise was in all the
Churches." The collection amounted to zesa 12s. 6d.
MARKING AT,ID NUMBERING OIL OF VITRIOL.—On
Wednesday last the superintendent of the Transit-sheds
preferred a charge against Mr. James Muspratt, in con-
sequence of some casks of oil of vitriol belonging to that
gentleman being on the Prince's Dock Quay without the
proper mark. The contents were only discovered in con-
sequence of two of them having been broken by accident,
and been found burning on the quay. Mr. Rushton said
he was not sure that the mark V, which, it appeared, was
on the casks in question, was not sufficient. The super-
intendent said, that the V did not denote the contents;
the act of Parliament required that notice should be given
to the superintendent of the docks, and that a distinct
mark, denoting the nature of the goods, should be put on
them, under a penalty of £2O. Mr. Rushton said the•
terms of the act ought to be complied with, and notice
had better be given to the parties to the effect, that the
terms of the act must be complied with. lie would only
inflict a nominal fine of 20s. and costs.

Dim( ABERDAR.ON.—The Ca7arvan Herald gives the
following particulars respecting this individual :—This ex-
traordinary linguist ended his earthly erratic career at St.
Asaph, on Monday last, and was buried in the church-
yard of that city on Thursday, the clergy, with the prin-
cipal inhabitants, paying homage to his acquirements by
forming a,funeral procession, to escort his body to its
resting place ; and on which, we understand, a tablet is
to be laid by his friends and patrons, to point out the spot
where Dic y litimedd has been interred out of the reach
of all tongues. We understand that a cast of the head
and features of this singular individual has been taken by
Air. Craft Roberts, surgeon,, of llolywell, a model of
which will be a study to the curious in phrenoicgy and
phisiognomy. It is rather a singular fact that Die's ex-
traordinary talents were ftrst noticed and fostered by the
late Dr. Cleaver, while Bishop of Bangor. and that his
last days should be comforted by his equally benevolent
sou, the Rev. William Cleaver, of St. Asaph. Poor Dick.
to whom these posthumous honours were paid, was well
known in Livei pool.

_ot
ahnadt called.
so
m "e
tin a e 8
EDMUND-STREET SUNDAY SCHOGL.—About fifty of
the friends of this institution sat down to tea in the
school-room, on Tuesday last, and were highly delighted
with both the fare and arrangement. After the table had
been duly honoured, Mr. Addison was called to the chair,
and made an appropriate address. Mr. Bennett also ad-
dressed the meeting highly eulogising Mr. Lackhart, who
had, by his indefatigable exertions, in the short space of
five weeks, collected above one hundred children together
in one of the darkest streets of the town, and put them
under the influence of moral and religious instruction.
lie concluded by stating that he had closely watched Mr.
Lickhart the last three years, and his incessant visits to
suffering humanity, in its most secluded retreats in ail
quarters of the town, entitled him to the highest possible
praise. The meeting separated highly gratified with the
t
one hundred and twenty children were
evening's entertainment. On Wednesday
regaled witli
and buns, after which several of them recited someo
'clock.
inte-
resting pieces. The meeting broke up about eight
that
WHAT Is IN A NAME ?—That is the questioned Juliet ; and
Shakspeare puts in the mouth of thenat
nature of her feelings
there seems aevtnenoisntglaaubgotheua.
those who can rightly appreciate the
But it sometimes happens that
tt.ill ehne rennroe te isn Romeo
description souise e
been
eh
eenr e f
oh
ua
nv
de been
guit
y two
of
when she asked it, would
heOref
ath
James
Innocent Romeo would
. still be Romeo were
really have drawn her conclu-
sivething in a name—comicality at least, if
nothing else;
answer
• sistency and unfitness of the name to the cha-
able inconsistency
uttering base coin ;
nacotteicreaantdtph tilerrseucitesntofasthsiezepserinsotnhibseatieiwnng,itw.
instances brought to
and on a former conviction being put in against him, it
was made to appear that such conviction had been for a
similar offence, along with a female accomplice of the
name of Mary Guilty. Now whether these names be as-
sumed or genuine we know not, but there is no doubt that
the offences alluded to have been committed by those who
have borne them, and we think the bearers shculd admit
that they have not been lucky ones.

Jan. 2, 1814

THE LADIES' CHARITY BALL.—Upwards of eight
hundred and sixty ladies and gentlemen attended this in-
teresting fete on Thursday evening, in the splendid suite
of rooms in the Town-hall, when a scene of the utmost
magnificence and pure enjoyment was displayed. The
visitors were received by the lady patroness, Mrs. Gibbs
Bright, in the most fascinating manner, and proceeding
to the ball-room, participated alternately in the waltz,
the quadrille, and the gallopade, which continued without
intermission until after two o'clock.
NEW STEAMER.—A large and powerful steamer, called
the Dundalk, and intended to ply between Dundalk and
Liverpool, was launched in the Clyde, a few days ago,
from the yard of Mr. Robert Napier, at Govan. The
vessel is a beautiful model, and admirably suited for the
trade, being fitted up with spacious accommodation be•
tween decks for the conveyance of cattle and live stock.
Her extreme length is 175 feet, breadth 26 feet, and bur-
then 600 tons. Her commander, Captain Hutcheson, is
an officer of considerable experience, and well qualified
for his responsible and arduous duties. The engines, of
260 horse power, are nearly completed, and will be ready
in a few weeks.
ATTORNEYS AND HALF-CROWNS.—A somewhat curi•
ous expose took place at the Police-court on Friday last,
which certainly reflects anything but credit on some of
the parties concerned. It appears from the revelations
then made, that the bridewell-keepers have been in the
habit for some time past of recommending the unfortu-
nate persons committed for felonies, drunkenness, as•
saults, &c., to employ certain attorneys who frequent the
court, and who gain a comfortable livelihood by their
practice there, to defend them when brought up on their
respective charges. But it further appears that the bride-
well-keepers did not perform this work, and thereby
throw half-guinea fees into the pockets of the " profes-
sion," without receiving a quid pro quo. Their usual
remuneration was a half-crown for every case they
brought, and it was more than insinuated, that the attor-
ney who would sport the greatest number of half crowns
early in the day, would stand the best chance of getting,
no doubt to the annoyance of his professional brethren,
the greatest number of cases. Mr. Rushton seemed per-
fectly astonished at hearing of these strange doings, and
said that he should instantly dismiss any bridewell-keeper
or police-officer, who had accepted or should accept mo-
ney for such a purpose.
A SUPPOSED MONOMANIAC FROM THIS NEIGHBOUR.
HOOD.—On Thursday last a young man delivered himself
up at one of the London police-offices, saying be was
labouring under a delusion, having a strong impulse to
shoot the queen. He was examined before the magis-
trates and by several medical gentlemen, and was brought
before Mr. Coombe at the Clerkenwell office on Friday.
He said Isis name was Edward Armstrong, and he had
worked as a gardener in the service of Mr. Wood, of
Woolton-grove, near Liverpool. He left Mr. Wood's
employment and had been in the service of two booksellers
and a chemist in Liverpool, He then returned to Mr.
Wood's service, but left him on Tuesday week, received
£3. ss. as his wages, slept at Mr. Goldsmith's near Scot-
land road, in this town, and proceeded to London by
railway. It appeared that he had been to Chichester,
through mere delusion, as he said, relating to a lady,
whose name it was not considered proper to mention.
The prisoner frequently complained of his head, said he
was destitute, and expressed a desire to go to America to
his parents. He answered all questions unhesitatingly,
but said his head grew worse and his chlasions were
increasing. The medical men were of opinion that there
were no grounds for suspecting insanity, as his replies
were rational. Mr. Combe said he saw no reason:what-
ever to think the prisoner was a person of unsound mind.
He thought his real object was to get to America, and
that he had trumped up his story for that purpose. He
would hold the prisoner to bail in two sureties of £2O.
each for one month, and in default thereof, send him to
the House of Correction. The requisite bail not being
forthcoming, the prisoner, who evinced no symptoms of
surprise at the result, was sent off to Coldbath-fields
prison.

THE CONDF.MNED CONVICTS.—The five unhappy men
now lying in Kirkdale under sentence of death, for having
shot one of the Earl of Derby's gamekeepers, have mani-
fested since Saturday week a very becoming state of mind.
They are all fully aware of their awful situation. All but
Roberts deny all guilty knowledge of poor Kenyon's death;
they did not, they say, contemplate so dreadful a result;
and even Roberts intimates, we understand, that the fatal
,hat was fired under momentary excitement, and in appre-
hension that the keepers were about to fire on him.
Roberts and Hunt were residents in Liverpool; the three
others, Thomas Jaques, a carter, Joseph Rimmer, a la-
bourer, and Fillingham, a tailor, are natives of Prescot.
The two Shaws reside in this town. Hunt lived in Sawney
Pope-street, in a cellar, and lived altogether by poaching.
Roberts resided in Limekiln-lane,.was a profound poacher,
but was once or twice in prison for felony. He is an active
young fellow, with of course an indifferent character, and
is one of the best shots in England. Ile could kill more
pheasants at night than any five poachers in Lancashire;
and it was believed by his comrades that his aim was more
sure in the dark than in daylight. He lived also by poach-
ing. Next to him ranked Fillingham, the tailor, who was
also a good shot, and a desperate poacher. Slaw, the
elder, was formerly a 'ownekeeper with the Ear lot Derby,
and subsequently with Mr. Bold Houghton. Latterly he
has lived,.togetherwith his son, by poaching; and boasted,
the other day, that he could, in spite of all gamekeepers.
carry off thirty pheasants of a night. The system of
poaching to which these miserable men have fallen vic-
tims, exists in the vicinity of Liverpool: to an extent of
which the public have no conception. The observations ;
of Mr. Justice Wightman, in sentencing the convict Ann
M'Cormick, have led many to think that the extreme
penalty of the law will not be enforced in her case, par-
ticularly as the jury recommended her to mercy.
EXTIINSiVE ROBBERY OF SILKS.—On Tuesday John
Shore and John Higham were brought before Mr. Rush-
ton, charged with having entered the premises of Messrs.
Blackburn and Bell, tailors and hosiers, of Castle-street,
and stolen sixty pieces of figured satin, 120 silk and satin
handkerchiefs, seventy figured satin vests, and a great
variety-of other silk and satin articles of the value of £lBO
and upwards ; and Richard Graham, a very respectable
draper, of Stockport, was brought up.at the same time on
a charge of having purchased the same knowing them to
have been stolen.-11 appeared from, the evidence of the
book-keeper to Messrs.. Blackburn. and Bell, that he
fastened up their premises on the night of the 25th of
September, and that on corning to the shop next morn-
ing he- found the locks of the door broken off, and the ar-
ticles already mentioned missing from the drawers.--
William Bradbury, a silk-throwster, of Matiehester,
provedthat he met Shore and another man, whom he was
unable to identify as the prisoner Hignam, at Peter's
Tavern,.in that town, about the time of the robbery. They
had a parcel of silk goods with them, which they said they
had purchased from a French cflitain,and which they want-
ed him to buy ; but he declined, and left their company. •
They then went to Edward Redford, a linen-draper's as-
sistant, residing at No. 8, Cumberland-street, Manches•
ter, who introduced them to the prisoner Graham as a
person likely to purchase. Graham, who happened to be
in Manchester at the time, went to Hulme, where the
other prisoners lodged, and, after having inspected the
goods-, offered 25.. 3d. a piece round for the entire lot.
The bargain was not struck upon that occasion; and Gra-
ham left for Stockport. Upon the following daythe goods
were packed in a box and carpet-bag, put into a gig and
driven to Stockport, where another interview was had with
Graham, and where the bargain was concluded with hint
at the rate of 2s. 3d. a piece.—The landlord of the Boar's
Had, in Stockport, identified the prisoner Higham as
the party who arrived in the gig.—Mr. Hammond, the
sergeant of the Stockport police, deposed that Graham,
while in the lock-ups, admitted that he bed done a bad
job in purchasing articles for 2s. 3d. a piece which were
worth eight shillings upon an average.—Mr. Bell ',roved
that the waistcoat patterns were worth from Hs. to 15s.
on on average, the handkerchiefs 3s. 6d. each, and the
satin scarfs from 15s. to 211a.—There were 132 pieces dis-
covered at Graham's concealed up stairs in boxes, and it
appeared that this lot had never been taken into his stock.
The prisoners were remanded until Wednesday, when they
were again brcught up, and after some further evidence
being heard, were committed for trial.

DOCK COMMITTEE.—The usual meeting of this bed,'
was held on Thursday, the following members being pre-
sent .I..—Messrs. J. B. Moore (chairman), Barclay, Holt,
Holmes, Trotman, Smith, Molyneux, Nicol, Bulleyr
Evans, Royden, Tobin, Bold, Sandbach, Chilton, Ripley,
Middleton, and Aikin.—Mr. Tobin wished to know whe-
ther, in the event of the committee determining to build
docks at the north and south ends of the town, it would
be any saving to go on with both at one tune 2- Mr.
Hartley said, it wonld undoubtedly be an advantage. The
Chairman said, it would be more in order to ask the sub-
committee.—ln the departments of Marine, Warehouse
Management, Works, &c., nothing to report.—A letter
was received from Sir J. Hall, conveying the expression
of his thanks for the very flittering manner in which the
committee had been pleased to value the information he
had given them, and that the gratification was increased
by the fact of his suggestions having been male available
to the public service. The Chairman said, he had seen
Sir J. Hall a few days ago, and he appeared much grati-
fied by the presentation of plate; he merely suggested
slight alteration in the inscription, which was agreed to by
the committee.—The Superintendent of the Transit Shede
h ich
penaltyhad boefe n2os finedTre
wmitrigoafte'7l.
reported that some packages, containing vitriol, had been
sent to the sheds without being.marked, according to the
properly
rs
leyt forthmarked,
that s partiesto t h e
natureought toof gtihveeirnoctoince,
Secretary referred to the act of 4th Victoria, section 93,
to the Superintendent of the Docks, and also have the
actt
e
tents, under a penalty of £2O. The section of the act
referred to was ordered to be placarded and headed " can'
non, so that all parties might be aware of it.—The North
of
Harbour-master
apgairsltiranutieesn tint the owner
reported that a fire occurred an the 27th
instant, in a vessel in the Waterloo Dock, but by timely
assistance was soon extinguished without any material
damage to the vessel; the cargo, however, was injured:
pwahcekraegi wherein
packages
tp
the fire was supposed to have originated from spontaneous
combustion.---A letter was received from ?dr. Cherie
Horsfall, tendering his resignation as a member of the
Dock Trust, owing to ill health, and conveying his thanks
to the committee for their uniform kindness to him during,
a period of twenty years that he had been a member of
their body. Mr. Shand, seconded by Mr. Evans, moved
a resolution to the effect that the committee expressed
their deep regret at the intimation which had been given
of Mr. Horsfall's resignation, and the circumstances under
which it originated ; and they also desired to convey tO
him the high sense they entertain of the valuable services
he has rendered during the long period of his being 5
member of the Dock Trust. The Chairman said, there
would consequently be a vacancy, and the necessary steps
must be taken to fill it up, which must be within seye°
days. One or :wo other members expressed an opinion
that the number of the general committee being incomi"
plete, the business could not be proceeded with, and an
adjournment therefore touk place.

of eight
i this in-
ndid suite
ae utmost
-ed. The
rs. Gibbs
roceeding
he waltz,
d without

er, called
adalk and
lays ago,
an. The
11 for the
itttion be•
,tre stock.
and bur•
:besot', i 5
qualified
igines, of
be ready

chat curi-
iday last,
some of
!velations
;:n in the
unfortu-
ness, as•
pent the
by their
) on their
he bride-

thereby
" profes-
eir usual
ase they
he attor-
If crowns
' getting,
brethren,
med per-
ngs, and
11-keeper
:ept ma-

yJohn