The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-07-25 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL JULY SESSIONS.

Yesterday these Sessions commenced in the Crown
Court, before Gilbert Henderson, Esq., Recorder. The
calendar is much heavier than usual, and contains the
names of 159 prisoners, 140 of them being charged with
felonies, and the remainder with misdemeanours and as-
saults. The following is an analysis of the calendar with
respect to the state of education of the prisoners :
Neither read nor write, 53; read and write imperfectly,
61 ; read imperfectly. 33; read and write, 5. The Grand
Jury were sworn as follows :

Harold Littledale, broker, Exchange-buildings, (Foreman.)
Henry Booth, gentleman, Bedford-street South.
John Campbell, cotton broker, Exchange-court North.
John Gibson, distiller, Dale-street.
William Henry Dobie, merchant, Fenwick-street.
Thomas Philip Dawson, cotton broker, Exchange-alley North.
William Edward Thomas Duncan, merchant, Exchange-alley.
Matthew Gregson, merchant, Lower Harrington-street, Tox-
teth-park.
Thomas Haigh, cotton broker, Exchange-buildings.
Robert M'Andrew, fruit merchant, North Johu-street.
Robert Mather, gentleman, Mount-pleasant.
Henry Murray, merchant, Rumford-street.
Joseph Parton, broker, Exchange-buildings.
Braithwaite Poole, agent. Water-street.
John Smith,wine merchant, South Chapel-street.
William Stock, glass merchant, Dale-street.
Richard Johnson.

The RECORDER, in addressing the jury, remarked on
the heavy state of the calendar, and said that although
they could not entirely subdue crime, still it was their
duty to make every effort to keep it within reasonable
bounds. There was, as all would agree with him, a con-
nexion between the vice of drunkenness .nd the com-
mission of crime, and he wished to place on record his
opinion that the number of public-houses in this town
was far too great. He congratulated them on the prospect
of returning prosperity, and complimented the working-
classes for the patient manner in which they had borne
their sufferings during the late depression of trade. He
wished some better mode of employing porters at the
docks could be carried out, so that persons might not be
induced to come here, when there was a sudden demand,
to be subjected to severe distress and privation,
when a reverse state of things came to pass. If they
could employ permanent hands and do away with
casual assistance it would be desirable, but he did not
know whether the exigencies of commerce would admit
of anything effectual being carried out. One thing had
contributed materially to prevent the suffering in this
town being so severe as in many other places, and that
was, that we had been preserved from internal commotion
and convulsion. He regretted that the public mind
should be harrowed by seditious agitators, who recom-
mended the commission of acts of violence, tumult, and
treason. Such persons ought to be brought to justice,
and he also begged to intimate that the hearers of such
agitators are not safe, as the law on these points
was exceedingly severe. All persons belonging to secret
clubs, such as were supposed to exist in this town, were
liable to imprisonment, and, if convicted, to transportation
for seven years ; even the places where such meetings were
held were prohibited, the owners liable to penalties, and,
if publicans, their licenses might be forfeited. Meetings
for training to the use of arms, except sanctioned by the
Government or the magistracy, were forbidden, and per-
sons giving such instruction liable to imprisonment for
two years. H e considered it necessary that all persons
should know the state of the law on those points, in order
that those who knowingly entered upon such proceedings
might be aware of the danger. He was glad that every
precaution was being used for the preservation of the
peace, as serious consequences might arise from neglecting
to take the necessary measures ; and though he had no in-
formation himself on the subject, those magistrates more
immediately connected with the matter had, no doubt,
sufficient grounds to cause them to act in the prompt and
energetic manner which they had done. He concluded by
dismissing the Grand Jury to their duties. _

The petty jury were then sworn, and the court pro-
ceeded to the trial of the prisoners.

The following were the sentences yesterday :—John
Markland, three weeks' hard labour; Mary Pearson, one
calendar month, not hard labour ; Patrick Brennon,
seven years' transportation; Charles Brannigan, one
month hard labour—one week solitary; Jane Clare, four
months' hard labour; Bernard Riley, four months' hard
labour, and twice whipped ; Johanna Hartley, ten days'
hard labour—three days' solitary; Thomas Maguire, five
calendar months' hard labour.