The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-05 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

OPENING OF THE FIRST
.ROYAL EXCHANGE.—The
original Exchange built by Sir Robert Gresham was not
opened in the first instance with any formalities. The
building had been thrown open for the merchants to
transact business, and several shops had been occupied
two or three years before Queen Elizabeth named and
opened it in form. The 23d January, 1570, was the day
appointed for the ceremony, and as it was of importance to
make as goodly a show as possible on the occasion, WP
read in " Stowe's Chronicle " that Sir Thomas " went
twise in one day round about the upper pawne, and be-
sought those few shoppe-keepers then present that they
would furnish and adorne with wares and wax lights as
many shoppes as they either coulde or would ; and they
shall have all those shopper so furnished rent-free that
yeere, which other wages at that time was forty shillings
a shop by the yeere." It was a great day for the city and
for him, when the royal Elizabeth fulfilled her promise.
That due importance and eclat might be given to her pro-
gress, even tram its commencement, we learn from the
accounts of the churchwardens of St. Margret's West-
minster, that fourpence was paid to the bell-ringers " fur
ringing when the Queen's Majesty went to the Burse and
back again." Other parishes, this being regarded as no
every-day occurrence, were no doubt equally regardless of
expense, and the whole of her progress was, in all proba-
bility, rendered as triumphant as its commencement.
The trusty historian: just named thus describes it :—" The
Queen's Majesty, attended with her nobility, came from
her horse in the Strand, called Somerset House, and en-
tered the city by Temple-bar, through Fleet-street,
Cheap, and sn by the north side of the Burse, to Sir Tho-
mas Gresham's house in Bishopsgate-street, where she
dined. After dinner. her Majesty returning through
Corn.hill, entered the Burse on the south side, and after
that she had viewed every part thereof above the ground
especially the pawn, which was richly furnished with all
sorts of the finest wares in the city, she caused the burse,
by hera:d and trumpet, to be proclaimed 'The Royal Ex-
change, and so to be called from thenceforth, and not
otherwise.'" During the proclamation, leaden medal•
lions, commemorative of the event, were distributed
among the populace. One of these medallions, now in
the collection of Mr. C. R. Smith, has the royal arms of
England with the legend " Regina Vbiqve Honorata.
The second Exchange, it was expected, would have been
opened by Charles 11., who had laid the first stone, but
either business or pleasure prevented the thoughtless mo
narch from keeping his promise, therefore the only cere-
mony that took place is thus briefly noticed by Stowe :
" September 28th, 1669. was the day the Exchange, new
built, was opened for the merchants again to meet in,
when was expected the King, but he did not come. But
the Lord Mayor, Sir William Turner, came, and walked
twice about it, and congratulated the merchants upon
their Change again."
VALIDITY OF THE INDICTMENT ON THE LATE STATE
TRIALS.—Mr. Justice Coltman observes, that, " in old
times an indictment contained one single count only ;"
and that, " now it has become usual to insert many
counts." It has become usual—it should rather be said
necessary; but why ? Because of the rigid precision which
the law, in spite of the subtle and complicated character
of its modern mode of administration, has long thought
fit to require for the protection of the subject, in the
statement of an offence charged against an individual.
Unless that degree of generality in framing criminal
charges, which has been so severely reprobated, in the
present instance, by Lord Denman, and which led the
judges unanimously to condemn the sixth and seventh
counts, shall be henceforth permitted, justice must, so to
speak, be allowed to have many strings to her bow ; other-
wise the very great distinctness and particularity which
constitute the legal notion of certainty, are only a trap
and a snare for her. There is a twofold necessity for al-
lowing the reasonable multiplication of counts : one, to
meet the difficulty often arising out of the adjustment of
the statement in the charge to the evidence which is to
support it; and the other, to obviate the difficulty, in
many cases, of framing the charge with perfect legal cer-
tainty and precision. Look for a striking illustration at
the sixth and seventh counts of this very indictment. Few
practical lawyers, we venture to think, would have pro-
nounced them insufficient, before hearing those numerous
astute and able arguments which have led the judges to
that conclusion ; and what if these had been the only
counts, or one of them the sole count? Of course, jus-
tice would have been defeated. Now the rule, custom, or
practice—call it what you will—which has been annulled by
the House of Lords, was admirably adapted to meet, in
combination with the allowance of several counts, the
practical and perhaps inevitable difficulties which beset
the attempt to bring criminals to justice; to prevent any
injurious consequences from either defective or unproved
counts; and we think we may truly state, that no single
instance was adduced during the argument, of actual mis-
chief or injury occasioned to defendants by the operation
of this rule—we believe we may safely defy any one now
to produce such a case. It is certainly possible for an
anxious straining ingenuity to imagine such cases; and
where is the rule of law, Which, in the infirmity of human
institutions, cannot be shown capable of occasioning pos-
sible mischief and injustice? One important distinction
has not, we venture to think, been kept constantly in
view by the House of Lords in arriving at their recent de-
cision ; we mean the distinction between defective counts
and unproved counts. It was principally in the former
case that the annulled rule operated so advantageously for
the interests of justice. Let us suppose a case. A man
is charged with an offence ; and the indictment contains
three counts, which we will call A. B, C—each differently
describing the same offence. He is proved in court to
have actually done an act to which the law annexes a pu,
nishment, and a general verdict and judgment, awarding
the correct kind of punishment, are given and entered. If
it afterwards become necessary to " make up" the record
e. to enter the proceedings in due and full form—it
might appear that count A was essentially defective, as
containing no "offence" at all. But what did that signify
—or wnat would it have signified if count B had also been
bad—provided count C was a good one, and warranted
the punishment which had been inflicted ? The only
consequence was, that the indictment was a little longer
than it turns out that it needed to have been. Though
several hooks had been used in order to give an additional
chance of catching the fish, that was not regretted, when,
the fish having been caught, it turned ont that two out of
the three had not been strong enough ; and that, had they
alone been used, the fish must have ecaped.—Blackwood.

EXTRAORDINARY PASSAGES AND QUICK DE SATCH.
—A Clyde ship, the Arguain, J. Leetch, jun., arrived at
Calcutta from Greenock in eighty-seven days; left Cal-
cutta in January ; arrived in the Clyde in 102 days; was
diseharg,d, coppered afresh, and loaded with a full cargo,
and was back in Calcutta in seven months.
CAUTION TO PARENTS.—On Monday an infant whose
parents live in Ratcliffe-Highway, London, that had been
left alone in bed, with a chair to prevent its falling out of
bed, was found quite dead, hanging with its neck tightly
fixed between the back rails of the chair ; having evi-
dently forced its head through, and then slipped out of
bed before extricating itself.
We see it announced in the papers that Mr. Morris,
Churchwarden of Devizes has expressed his determina-
tion to cite into the Ecclesiastical Court any person who
may leave the Church before the celebration of the Com-
munion Service ; that is. we presume, before the conclu-
sion of the prayer for the Church militant.— Churchman's
Newspaper.
GOING TO Crirmcir.—A few Sundays ago, a gentleman
who lives within one hundred miles of the village of Des-
ford, and is a regular attendant at church, but seldom
comes in before the service is half over, actually came in
triter the clergyman had finished his sermon, and ashen
the congregation were singing the dismission. We need
hardly say that the rev, gentleman, with the greater part
of his hearers, could scarcely suppress a smile.—Leicester
Journal.
SHEEP STEALING.—This crime is become very preva-
lent in the neighbourhood of Northleach. About three
weeks since a fine teg was killed in a field, within 500
yrrds of the police station, and the carcass carried off,
leaving the head and skin behind. Also on Saturday
night last, or early on Sunday morning, a sheep, the pro-
perty of Mr. William Hewer, was killed, but no part of it
was carried away. A person is in custody on suspicion.—
Cheltenham Examiner.
FALL OF A GREAT CHIMNEY STALK.—The large
square stalk last erected at St. Rollox Works, fell on Fri-
day about three o'clock, with a tremendous crash. Most
providentially it crumbled down into itself, and did not
fall out in any direction, otherwise many lives must have
been lost. As it was, a number of outhouses and sheds
were crushed in the wreck, but we are happy to state that
no one, so far as we know, was either killed or hurt. The
stalk was upwards of 200 feet high.—Glasgow paper.
BALTIC WHEAT.—The arrivals of wheat from abroad
have, for several weeks past,. been small; and, by the
most recent accounts from the leading Baltic ports, it ap-
pears that the shipments to Great Britain were not ex-
pected to be of much importance during the remainder of
the season. At Dantzic, on the 26th of October, really
fine qualities of wheat were still held at 325. to 335., and
moderately good sorts at 28s. to 30s. per qr., free on
board, prices which are relatively higher than the value of
the article in the English markets.—Herald.
THE CONVICTS BARBER AND PLETCHER.—Accounts
have arrived in London stating, that in the vessel which
took out these will forgers, a fever had broken out, to
which it was said Barber had become a victim. It was
added that he had left behind him some important me-
moirs connected with the extraordinary forgeries.—[The
Shippiny Gazette says this news " cannot be true. The
Agincourt, the vessel having these convicts on board, was
spoken on the 7th of August—the latest accounts received
of the ship—and there had been but one casualty on board,
that of a soldier."]
A public meeting of Wesleyan Methodists was held on
Thursday, in London, for the establishment of weekday
schools in connexion with the body throughout the coun-
try. It is proposed to build 700 of such schools, and it
is thought that £5,000 a year would be sufficient, and to
obtain that sum they had proposed in the first place to
raise by one general subscription £20,000; and they
thought ti at £3,000 a year could be reaised by uniting
this education fund with the general chapel fund. Some
£14,000 had already been subscribed by promises, and the
remainder had yet to be raised.

A part of the tall chimney of Mr. Gill's alkali works at
South Down, near Millbrook was blown down on Wed-
nesday night last. The chimney was 160 feet high, and
was warped from the perpendicular, owing, we have been
informed, to the unequal contraction of the mortar when
drying up ; the top, we understand, overhung the base
several feet. Fortunately the chimney was situated in
the middle of the field, the smoke being conducted to it
by subterranean flues, and no injury was therefore done to
the works, to life, or property, by the fill.—West of
England Conservative.

THUNDER STORM.—On Saturday night last, a violent
thunder storm passed over Annan Waterfoot. The elec-
tric fluid struck one of the chimneys of the house of Mr.
Dcbinson, innkeeper, which was knocked down, and
other parts of the building also were damaged. Mrs. Do-
binson was struck by the lightning, and was immediately
deprived of her speech and sight, and otherwise suffered
seriously from the shock. A servant girl, who was filling
a pint vessel with water, was also struck, the pint knocked
out of her band; and one of her arms was so paralysed,
that she could not use it for an hour ; but, after that time,
she speedily recovered.—Westmorland Gazette.
DISGRACEFUL OCCURRENCE.—On Saturday after-
noon, a woman, residing near Watt-street, Hawkliill,
Dundee, went to a draw-well in the neighbourhood to
procure some water.. In dropping her pitcher into the
well, the cord broke, and the vessel fell to the bottom.
Having procured the aid of some of her neighbrurs, they
succeeded, as they imagined, in fixing a hook to the,
pitcher, arid commenced hauling it up ; but, instead of a
pitcher filled with water, they were struck with horror on
discovering that they had brought up a coffin ; which, on
being examined, was found to contain the body of a new-
born child, which had been thrown there by a person em-
ployed by the father to bury it.
AWFUL VISITATION OV THE METROPOLIS.—Never.
since London was London, has there been such a flocking
thither of gentlemen connected with the law as during
the past week. The reason of this extraordinary im-
migration we believe to oe this. Hitherto an attorney
admitted to the Queen's Bench, London, was supposed
to be at liberty to practice in all the courts at Westmin-
ster-hall, five in number, and the ceremonies attendant
upon his admission could all be performed by agent or
deputy. According to a strict reading of a clause in the
act of last session, it has been discovered that every at-
torney, before he can practice in the superior courts,
must sign by his own hand the rolls of each court.
SERIOUS INJURY BY A RAT.—On Tuesday night, the
proprietor of an ale and stout house, Southwark-bridge-
road, was sleeping with his little girl, about three years
old, who was lying in a cot adjoining his bed, when he
heard the child scream several times, and as she remained
uneasy for some time, she was taken into her father's bed,
where she also kept on crying for some time. About
three o'clock he was awoke up by something biting the
forefinger on his right hand in a dreadful manner. He
immediately got up, and found the bed-clothes covered
with blood, which was flowing from one of the child's
ears, which was dreadfully bitten, as also his own finger.
On searching the bed, an immense rat was discovered,
which after some trouble was destroyed. Both the wounds
are in a very painful state.—London paper.
THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT.—On Thursday last, at en
inquest before Mr. Wakley, the relieving officer for Ma-
rylebone stated that he had relieved the deceased person,
but had directed that he should be passed on to his pa-
rish, and contended that in doing so he had acted strictly
in accordance with the law of settlement. Mr. Waklev
said the law of settlement was absolutely disgusting, and
he hoped another year would not pass without any altera-
tion in it. He said that dreadful scenes of distress were
of every day occurrence, and mainly owing to the abomi-
nable law of settlement. He considered that the relief of
the poor ought to be a general and national affair. A ge-
neral rate ought to be distributed throughout every parish,
and parishes equalized, and than the law of settlement
might be abolished. The coroner expressed his determi-
nation to bring the matter before parliament.

THEATRICAL PROPERTY.-011 Thursday Mr. 'George
Robins put up to auction "an annuity or rent charge in
Covent-garden Theatre." It entitled the owner also to a
free admission to any part of the tbeatre,and though it had
originally cost £5OO, it was knocked down at 105 guineas.
Another lot was a £5OO renter's share in Drury-lane
Theatre, with a free admission, and transferable annually.
The renters originally received 2s. 6d. per night of per-
formance, but which is reduced to Is. 3d. The share was
knocked down for 100 guineas. The next three lots con-
sisted of 15 subscription shares (five in each lot) of £lOO
each, in the same theatre, entitling the purchaser to at-
tend the annual meetings and partake of any dividend that
will on a future day accrue, and all the arrears. They
went for 5 guineas each lot, this being the only offer. The
last lot comprised five similar shares in the same theatre,
and an admission (quite distinct from the shares) for any
one person's life. The auctioneer said, that he had often
sold an admission for 50 guineas. 20 guineas were first
offered, and 28 guineas taken.
THE SUICIDE AT KILMARNOCK.—We gave on Wed-
nesday last the particulars of a very singular suicide com-
mitted near Kilmarnock, by an elderly gentleman and a
lady presumed to be his wife, who had drowned themselves
in the river Irvine, after having tied their arms together
with handkerchiefs. We understand there is every reason
to believe that the parties were a Mr. Joseph Barker, for-
merly of this town, and his wife. Mr. Barker was one
of the firm of John and Joseph Barker, Cromford Court,
who were largely engaged in the German trade, and
failed somewhat about the year 1814. Mr. John Barker,
we believe, died very shortly afterwards ; but Mr. Joseph
Barker subsequently resided in London, and more re-
cently travelled for some time for a house at Birmingham .
This employment he left a few months ago, with a view
to a connexion with a house in London, in which, how-
ever, be did not succeed ; and it is supposed that disap-
pointment on this score, and probably the exhaustion of
his resources, led to the commission of the fatal act.—
Manchester Guardian.

A WHOLESALE TEETOTALLER.—In a neighbouring
city, a few days ago, a bacchanalian from the country ex •
pressing a determination to become a teetotaller, consulted
a wag as to the mode of procedure, when he was jocularly
recommended to go to the office of the New Water Com-
pany. When the rustic called, a number of clerks were
seated at their desks, but the manager was absent. Be-
ing anxious for information, he asked if many were join-
ing just now? He was answered, " Oh. yes." He far-
ther inquired, "Do you not tak' a drap yoursels' occasi-
onally?" " What do you mean, Sir ?" " Now," re-
joined the would-be votary, " tell me honestly—do you
no tak' a spark o' the whiskey ava ?" " Oh, certainly,"
was the answer. " I was just thinkin as muckle," quoth
he. One clerk asked another " What does the old quiz
mean ?" when the manager made his appearance. Bump-
kin was then politely shown into the manager's room,
upon which he expressed a wish to join his society.
"Well, Sir," said the manager, " it's eighty pounds a
share." "Eighty pounds, Sir," exclaimed the sal disant
waterbibber in amazement, " what for ?" " Oh, for the
water, Sir." " Eighty pounds for water! ! Saul, VII
stick to the whiskey yet said he emphatically, and
bolted out of the office.—Dundee Advertiser.

" SUMMARY OF THE SESSION."—A. return has just
been issued of the number of days on which the House
of Commons sat during the past session, the number of
divisions, the number and disposal of private bills, and
other particulars. The first return states, that from Fe-
bruary 1 to August 9, the House sat 119 days laid four
Saturdays, the total hours of sitting being 9961, the num-
ber of hours after midnight 69, (5S nights.) and the ave-
rage time of sitting 7 hours 36 minutes. The aggregate
number of divisions was 167, before midnight 126, after
midnight 28, private bills (before midnight) 13.

BANK OF ENGLAND FORGERIES:—Our Paris. letter
mentions that the forgers of the Bank of England £lOO
notes, mentioned in The Times of Friday last, had reaped
a rich harvest in France and Belgium. Forty of those
forgeries had been passed on the money-changers of Paris
between Monday and Thursday last.—Times.—[Wirh re-
gard to the extent of these forgeries, it is ascertained up
to this time that 22 Mae notes, of £lOO each, have been
presented. Lindor, the man who is considered to be the
principal agent in the forgeries, appears to have effected
his escape from Paris, as he did from Brussels and Lon-
don, after having got several of the forged no4es exchanged.]
THE GAAIE LAWS.—The Earl of Euston who has just
inherited the title and estates of his father, the Duke of
Grafton, has just addressed to his brother magistrates a
letter in which he tells them it is the duty ' of a justice
of the peace to prevent crime," as well as impartially to
administer the laws of the country ;" and declares poach-
ing in Suffolk to be the prime source of all the crimes
committed in that county. He then comes to the conclu-
sion that there is no cure for poaching but abandoning
entirely the preservation of game. The reasons on which
he urges this do honour to his philanthropy and his
patriotism. No class of the community, he declares, is
privileged to be idle; and therefore no one class of the
community has any right to pursue amusements which
injure the rest. He ridicules, too, the modern bagging
system, asking " how can real gratification wait upon
th'i slaughter of a thousand head of game in one short
day ?" while he vindicates tl.e sportsmen of a previous
generation from the imputation of propensities which ally
our civilized gentleman with the Indian of the prairie,
strewing, in mere wantonness, the grassy plain with the
body of the bison. " Our fathers" says the Earl of
Euston, " and we of the earlier part of his generation,
were satisfied with a very little spoil to our gun and were
more gratified by the health we obtained by the exercise,
and by the sagacity of our dogs, than by the effects of our
shooting. But the system is changed. The sagacious
dog is scarcely used to hunt the woods and fields, but
men and boys are used for these purposes." Do away
with preserving, he contends, and the farmer, relieved
from a heavy burden of county rates and poor rates, will
have more means to employ the adult,and to subscribe
towards promoting the education of the young. The
adult, set free from the temptations of poaching, will
gradually return to habits of steady industry; the young,
better educated, will no longer be helplessly tied to their
locality.