The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-12-19 00:00:00

TICS LIVERPOOL STANDARD

other party to the first was dead, the evidence is not com-
plete, and in such cases, it would be your duty to throw
out the bill. There is one case in this calendar to which
I shall no further allude than this : that unless the evi-
dence satisfies you that the offence has been committed,
and that public justice requires a trial, public interest is
better consulted by suppressing it altogether, and avoid-
ing the evil which such details in public court must
necessarily occasion. Gentlemen, there is a case, No.
78, in the calendar, of a person named Joseph Tay-
lor, who is charged with having attempted, at Prest-
wich, to administer a certain poisonous substance, called
acetate of lead, to one Margaret Taylor, with intent to
poison and kill her ; and there is this peculiarity, as I
find upon the depositions taken in the case, that this is a
charge which is now introduced, the offence having been
committed in the month of June, 1840, three years and a
half ago, and under circumstances which would show that
there was no more reason for suppressing the institution of
an inquiry into the offence then, than there is for bringing
it forward at this time, after so long a period has elapsed,
instead of at the very time that it is alleged to have been
committed. I only mention this as a circumstance which
may induce you to exercise more vigilance in the case than
you otherwise might. With respect to the facts them-
selves, there is nothing that requires particular direction
from me, neither is it necessary that I should direct you
as to whether the substance was administered with the
intent which it is represented that it was ; but this I may
say, that if the medical evidence should satisfy you that
it was of a character to produce death, it must have been
a poisonous substance, and in that case it will be your
duty to find the bill. Gentlemen, there is also another
case, not in the calendar, that will be brought before you,
and which I am only induced to mention now, not because
it involves any difficulty, but because it is one not of
ordinary occurrence, and not usually brought under the

consideration of a grand jury or a court of justice ; and
that is the case of John Calrow, who bus been committed
for forcing and leaving behind on shore, in foreign parts,
one of,the crew of his ship for the completion of the
voyage. Now, that is an offence under an act of parlia-
ment passed in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of his
late Majesty King William the Fourth, which recites that
great mischief had arisen from masters of vessels leaving
seamen in foreign parts; and it is thereby enacted, that

it any master shill force on shore or leave behind, or
wilfully or wrongfully leave behind in any place, in or out of
his Majesty's dominions, any person belonging to his crew
before the return of such ship to the united kingdom, he

fore, to complete the offence, it must appear that the pri-
soner did force on shore and leave behind, or did wil-
fully and wrongfully leave behind, some person belonging
to his crew before the return of the ship into the United
Kingdom, on the completion of the voyage. If the evi-
dence satisfies you that such is the case, it would be your
duty to find the hill under this act of parliament, for the
offence charged. Gentlemen, I need not say more to
you on the subject of the present calendar. It is un-
necessary that I should delay you longer from the prose-
cution of duties that I fear will occupy no small portion
of your time, by observations on the remaining cases,
which, so far as I have looked into the depositions, do
not appear to present any other subject calling for parti-
cular remark. I may conclude, however, with one re-
mark, which is applicable to your general duties, as
forming the Grand Jury—which is, that if such evidence

is presented to you as would be sufficient, supposing none
else appeared in the case, to support a verdict of
" guilty," iu that case it will be your duty to find the
bill, considering always that you are not the parties to
determine the question of guilt or innocence, but simply
to find the bill and send it here. Gentlemen, I shall no
further detain you from your duties, except to add, that
should you at any time wish for my advice and assist-
ance, I shall feel most happy in affording it.
The Grand Jury then retired to their room for the de-
spatch of business, and shortly after sent several bills into
court.

THE NEW ASSIZE COURTS, ST. GEORGE'S

HALL, &c

(Concluded from our paper of the sth instant.)

PROGRESS OF THE WORKS; THE MACHINERY BM-

PLOYED, &C.
On first entering the extensive ground we were much
surprised at its extent, and still more so by the din and
business of the numerous workmen within. The sight
reminded us of pictures we have seen of the " ruined"
remains of splendid Grecian edifices, with this gratifying
difference, that in this case all was new and unmutilated,
—all that was finished, perfect and sharp as the finest
statuary. In the middle of all the, at first, seeming
bustle and confusion, order and regularity soon became
apparent throughout. Generally not more than one
mason was engaged in hewing or polishing one block,
and there were clear passages through the whole of
the avenues of stone by railways for the ready conveyance
of the material,

The stone is from " Stonecliff Quarry" in Darley tale,
near Matlock, Derbyshire. It is a superior quality of
grit or free stone, o

a cream co

our when dry, and a

light drab colour when wet,—more pleasing to the eye, in
a town-building in particular, than even a white stone,
from what we may call its uniform and subdued tint. It

has to be carted from the quarry a distance of about nine
miles to the' High Peak Railway, by which it is taken to
Whaley (by rail.); and thence by canal to Runcorn.
This stone is compact and strong, is of a fine grain, and
takes a smooth surface. The blocks vary in weight from 2
tons to 10 or 12 tons, and even more where they are re-

quired. We noticed one block 13 feet loug, 4 feet wide,
and 2 feet thick,—for, we believe, one of the panels be-
tween the pilasters in the wings of the building. Another
_ _

block was 10 feet by 6, and some are 7 feet 7 inches square
for corner quoins.
The entire length of railways laid on each side the build-
ing and round them, (double lines,) is about 2300 feet, in
addition to which there is a single line of rail of 1400 feet
round it, on which travels the large SHEERS for hoisting

and
.plaCing, the stones, to any required

the best arid handsomest piece of machinery of the kind
we have yet seen. It is in a form of the letter Y, com-
pressed and inverted (A), with a derick, and crooked at

the top. The height of the standing part is about 98 feet,
and when the building rises towards its extreme height.
a longer derick, or jigger, may be supplied capable of
lifting the material to the top. The whole is secured by

lift from 12 to 15 tons. It is steadied at the top by four
guys ' • and is worked with great ease by a fine compact
small steam-engine, within the frame-work below, which
can be managed by one man. The heel of the derick
rests on an iron joint, and this (without moving the sheers)
may be lowered by slacking off a rope attached to its
upper end, and passing through a sheave at the top of the
sheers. It is truly gratifying to remark with what preci-
sion and comparative quickness a huge and finely hewn
stone may by this means be finally deposited in its des
tined bed. A number of common
tackles work
The F

legs, or sheers, with

RAMING, for moving the stones, from spot to
spot, is also worthy of notice. This is on the east side
of the building and consists of parallel lines of strong
posts, surmounted by baulks on which are fixed iron rails.
Spanning these rows are moveable frames with crossing
rails and jennies. These are each easily worked, though a
huge stone be attached, up and down the whole length
of the framing, or across it—so that a large block may be

lifted, carried off, and deposited on any spot within, the
entire area, by two men merely turning the crank handles,
they themselves being transported to the same point, in
the loc

Sven one man ma

hus move

a very bulky stone from place to place. Of this framing
there are double lines, parallel, extending in all 832 feet
in length. There are also extensive sheds for the masons.

mon lime stone, is of great toughness, and in setting
becomes very hard. Mr. Tomkinson's contract for the
whole of the stone work commenced in May last; (the
foundathns having been exeuted by Mr. Latham,) but
considerable time was required in perfecting the admire-
ble machinery used by him, which, however, will greatly
abridge the labour. The contract of Messrs. Samuel and
James Holmes for the whole of the brick work began

cellent system of machinery
the men with brink,: And mnrt

Themannei• of feeding

ways are carried through the building longitudinally and
across, and at various heights. The bricks are loaded at
the brick-field into boxes of lonvenient size, which are
placed on street waggons built on purpose. These boxes
have each a chain, like a basket handle, and are readly
placed on the rajjway waggons on the ground, and sent
within the building. Before the bricks are used they are
lifted from the waggons, by machinery on a lofty scaffold,
and immersed in a water-tank for from five to ten minutes
so as to become saturated,—any imperfection from lime-
stone, gravel, or otherwise, being thus detected. They
are afterwards conveyed for use to any part of the build-
ing on the small railway carriages, and, as well as the
,rtar - hoisted from one level of railway t' 'her

mortar, are E._ mot,
of any required height, on which they are pushed along
by hand. There are double transverse railways which
afford great facilities for these operations, and the station-
ary steam engine that grinds the mortar is employed for
hoisting by a rope passing under the crossing railway.

The whole of the walls are already raised Co the to

the basement story, and in some parts above it. The west
side, which is the highest, begins to look very beautiful.
The visiter have no adequate conception of the

unless

he noun

and walks round them. The principal rooms in the
middle are large ; the surrounding space is cut up into
long corridores or passages, jury•rooms, and smaller
apartments innumerable. The passages and nearly all
the small rooms will be vaulte3 and groined, or simply
vaulted, as well as moot of (he larger rooms ; oo that the

whole building will be as nearly fireproof as may be. The
underground places and passages form a complicated and
immense subterranean region, which, by reason of cut-
tings in the yet unremoved clay, it is ar once dangerous
and dismal to visit without a guide or a torch. Nearly
the whole ate for purposes of ventilation and heating;
and, besides hot and fresh air being introduced through
them, there are, above, numerous flues for chimneys,
lined with pipes of glazed mug, and square flues for air,
. .

in the middle of the
horizontal flue for ventilation, is 9 feet in he
steam-engine of considerable power, working fanners,
&c., will, it is said, be required for the heating and ven-
tilating department, the principle adopted being that of
the celebrated Dr. Reid.
The cells for the prisoners to be tried for grave offences

'sage, or
ght. A

They are twelve in number, and lighted by oblong hori-
zontal windows, doubly secured by upright bars inside,
grooved and bedded in the stone, and strong castings

outside. forming a

vaulted. There are other rooms less forbidding for minor
offenders, also apartments for the use of the governor of
the gaol, &e.
The radius o'f the semicircular north end is 34 feet 4
inches. Here the outer wall is 8 feet 8 inches in thick-
ness, and, taking the outer walls throughout, they are

from 7 to 3 feet thick, while most of the -inner wall; are
from 3 feet 10 inches to 4 feet. The quantity of bricks
already used is between six and seven millions! We
should add, that each course of the stone-work is
dowelled and clamped, each joint " joggled," and the
whole run in with cement, or the best of mortar. The
brick-work, after being put together in the most approved
manner, is also puddled, or run in, 'with the best strong
mortar, so that the whole will become a solid mass.
Some portions that had to be removed for slight interior
alterations (which necessarily arise ict a building of such
size) were found to be so firmly compacted, that the
bricks had to be broken.

The roofs of the two Court Houses are to be completed
in midsummer, 1844, and the whole 'contract in Dec.
1845.

But we must conclude, promising a further notice when
the building approaches to completion. We were much
indebted to Mr. Hughes, the clerk of the works, for the
statistics with which he kindly furnished us ; and also to
the intelligent foreman.

We omitted in our previous account of the principal
apartments, to state that in addition to the two Court
Rooms, and St. George's Hall, there will be at the north
end, a splendid Concert-room, which the architect mod-
eatly calls " small," but which will accommodate 1,200
auditors. This will be of semicircular form, and it is con-
sidered will not only by very elegant, but well adapted for
the conveyance of sound.

The new transit-ship St. George, Captain Ferris, which
sailed from New York in compan3 with the lioscius, on
the 25th, arrived here on Saturday night, after a passage
of twenty-one days.

The traffic in Figs between Carnarvon and Liverpool
this season has burn so extensive, that upwards of three
thousand head have been shipped by the steamer Dolphin

VICTORIA THEATRE.—The business at this theatre dur-
ing the past week has been excellent. " The Bohemians ;
or, the Rogues of Paris," has been well received,—as

also have the other entertainments. Many of the actors
personate their characters with great taste, more par-
ticularly Mrs. Campbell, whose efforts are nightly hailed
with the most vehement plaudits.—A new pantomime
is in preparation.

THE THEATRE ROYAL. —This place of amusement.
after having long been closed, owing to the untoward state
of legitimate theatricals, will be opened on Tuesday next,
under the able management of Mr. Webster, the new
lessee, (and lessee and director of the Theatre-royal Hay-
market,) who has for some time past been exerting every
effort, regardless of expense, to render it again, as it was
in days of yore, one of the finest and most popular theatres
in the kingdom. The interior has undergone a thorough
cleansing and renovation, with many striking improve-
ments. The decorations are superb, and besides much
new scenery, a beautiful new act drop has been provided.
Every part of the house has been beautified and rendered
more comfortable by fittings and improvements which
long egierience Could alone suggest. The seats of the
boxes are stuffed. anci those in the pit covered with da-
mask. The lessee will open the house for the season
in conjunction with the celebrated Madame Celeste, and
the prices are to be reduced, as an experiment in the
first instance, to dress boxes, 35., upper boxes, 2a., pit,
Is., and gallery, 6d. A very strong corps dramatique
has also been engaged, comprising many of the brightest
stars of the metropolitan and provincial boards. The
performances on the first evening are announced to be
" St. Mary's Eve," " The Happy Man," and " The
World of Dreams, or the Man in the Moon." We may
here suggest that since so much has been done for the
interior of this fine theatre, it would be well to improve
it outwardly, as a public building in one of our central
by cleansing the stone front, particularly in the

rid unseemly by the lon

of bilk, and the want

of washing or ribbing with grit sior

THE BRITISH CHRISTIAN CHURCH HOME
MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On Tuesday evening last, a meeting was held at the
Bible Society's House, Slater-street, to hear certain
charges against the above society. The meeting was
called at the request of several gentlemen, who had strong
grounds for believing that the funds had not been properly
applied. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. C. Bezer.
Mr. T. Hendrick, assisted by Mr. Matthews, brought
forward the charges, and ques ioned the parties who had
acted as agents as to the appropriation of the funds, the
inquiry being confined to the period from November,
1812, to November, 1843. After the evidence had been
gone into, the chairman commented on some of the facts
brought forward, and said it appeared to him that the
society had been defective in its constitution, and in the
management of its affairs, and was not entitled to the con-
fidence or support of the public; that there had been
collected by the agents, the sum of £286 Os 5d., accord-
ing to their own statement, out of which about £47 had
been paid, consequently there would be £230 remaining,
the exnenditure of which hart not

•
little if anything done for the poor, or for the interests of
those who were perishing for lack of knowledge. It
appeared that the society was instituted at Manchester,
December, 1837, under the specious pretext of adminis-
tering religious and moral instruction, as well as temporal
relief, to the destitute—that, these being the avowed ob-
jects, the sympathy of many benevolent individuals was
excited in its behalf, who, never susnectinr but that it

was pruperiy organised, accepted honorary situations, and
thus lent their names to imposition—that large sums of
money were contributed, but which, instead of beine

applied to the purposes the donors imagined, were appro-
priated by the collectors, for the most part, to their own
use—tint £286 Os. sd. was contributed in Liverpool,
from Nov. 1812, to October, 1843, but that the officers,
who are self-constituted, fixed their salaries in the fol-
lowing proportions; Rev. Joseph Peart, £125 per annum ;

30s. per do., and now allege that the society is in debt—
that this society comprises a ladies' committee, who are
wives or other relatives of the officers, and who charged

.A..co per (xi', 'or weir Crn uoie in collectlng—and that a
statement in the printed report that 274 children are receiv-
ing daily instruction at a reading establishment is untrue ! !
After the above detail, (and there are many other rnatterb
which we omit, as we think our readers will feel suffi-

,) the c

ciently indignan ,natrman rose and said he fell
confident that the proceedings developed that evening
must excite strong emotions of disapprobation. He stood
there in a pure spirit of impartiality, and would be glad
to recognise one redeeming feature ; but, no—all was de-
formity. The society was at first improperly constituted,
and irregular in its progress. He thought it but right to
disabuse the public mind, and candidly declare that it was
undeserving of support. He then asked if any gentleman
had a resolution to propose? The Rev. Joseph Har-

CORRESPONDENCE

IMPROVEMENTS IN LIVERPOOL

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD
Slap—Through the medium of your publication 1 bo
leave to suggest what I conceive to be a very treat in

provement in the northern portion of the town.
readily be admitted that there is no good direct comet
nication from the northern docks towards the ear
of the town, whilst in Toxteth-park and its vicinity we
find very excellent streets leading eastward from the
southern docks. I would candidly ask the Corporation
of Liverpool, what street, of any note or respectability
None.

goes eastward from any* the northern doci
Yet the Dock Committee are now proce
construction of another dock, or docks
of the Clarence Docl
the lotaliti

iy person well acy
)f Liverpool will. on a moment

the obvious diffeience th;t exists b

It-street, Green!

of a fact to

stern en

on G

:oria, Trafalgar,
rton, Mile-end,

ne of com-

ged to go by that very iuele:

What othe-r rout

fact that dl
of Lower

a street at all. 1
.y ground where, al

bid a ready

)emg com-

dearly for
it is to be

uncil to

ne of the

e good
I._

'or £l,Ol

iterest of the latter in a

Y