The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-19 00:00:00

ACTION FOR DEBT

ROURKE v. GIRVIN.—The plaintiff was a lumper, and de-
fendant a shipowner, and the action was brought to recover
a sum of £l4 2s. for work performed in discharging a vessel
called the Success, belonging to the defendant. After some
conversation between Mr. James and the defendant's coun-
sel, a verdict was taken by consent for the plaintiff, subject
to arbitration as to the costs. There was also a cross action,
Girvin v. Rourke, for an amount of £lO, which was disposed
of in a similar manner.

BROKER'S COMMISSION.

BARFF v. BECKETT.—The plaintiff is a broker, and de-
fendant a passenger agent. The action was brought to re-
cover a sum of XS, which had been incurred in chartering a
vessel called the Henry Wood, but which charter had been
afterwards transferred.—Verdict for the plaintiff for the
amount sought.

This terminated the businep in the Court of Passage,
which adjourned at a quarter past five.

CASE OF DESERTION.-REFUSAL OF SEAMEN'S

WAGES

On Wednesday, Mr. John Radcliffe, solicitor, of the firm
of Rogerson and Radcliffe, appeared before Mr. Rushton, on
behalf of Henry Curtis, for the purpose of substantiating a
claim made by John Curtis, a seaman, for wages alleged to he
due to him from Messrs. Challared and Co. owners of the
ship 'Windsor Castle, M'Clelland, master. The case of
Curtis, it was understood, would settle several other claims.
Mr. Radcliffe stated that Curtis shipped as a seaman on
hoard the Windsor Castle, bound for Bombay, and back to
Liverpool, or any port in the United Kingdom. On the
Ist of March last, about half-past eleven o'clock, the ship
Windsor Castle, which was homeward bound, with a cargo
of cotton, was run into by the Berlin, of Boston. When the
collision took place, the Windsor Castle was under close
reefed top-sails and reefed foresail, the wind blowing hard
from S.S.E. with a heavy sea. She was standing in towards
the land on the starboard tack, and the Berlin out on the
larbord tack. The ship was about 100 miles off the S.W.
coast of Ireland. The bowsprit and cutwater of the Wind-
sor Castle were carried away, and the three masts in a few
minutes afterwards went overboard. No very serious damage
was done to the hull of the ship, but in consequence of her
disabled condition, she became entirely unmanageable. The
Berlin stopped by her until morning and took on board three
passengers and four of the crew who were sick After the
sick men had departed, the captain called the crew aft and
said if they were any one willing to leave the ship, they
might go. The crew said, " let the sick men go, we will all
stop by the ship." The captain said, " I ant glad to hear 11
it." The men said'they would stop and see if they could by
any means get her into port. The captain, mate, and crew,
thus determined to remain by the vessel, thinking the wea-
ther would moderate, though there was at this time imminent
danger, owing to all boats being staved. The weather having
got worse, they showed a flag of distress. On the day after
the Berlin bore away, the ship Hudson, of New York, hove
in sight, and the captain seeing the disabled and distressed
condition of the Windsor Castle, bore down and spoke her.
Captain Page requested Captain M'Clellan to leave the
Windsor Castle, as there appeared to be little chance of saving
the ship, and the lives of the crew were in great jeopardy, from
the risk of her drawing on the iron-bound coast of Ireland
without the means, in case of such an event, of quitting
the vessel. She was rolling very heavily in the trough of the
sea, having no sail to steady her. Captain Page said he would
remain by the Windsor Castle till morning, as it was blowing
too hard to lower a boat then. He did remain, and though it
still continued to blow strongly, he, next morning, sent his
mate with a boat to take off the crew. Previously to thin,
repeated conversations had taken place between the captain
and the crew of the Windsor Castle, as to the necessity of
going themselves, and leaving the ship. The captain told the
crew that the vessel was drifting in the direction of the land,
and was likely, in less than 24 hours, to be on shore. He said
it was a very dangerous part of the Irish coast, where there
would he very little, if any chance of any one being saved.
Whtn the mate of the Hudson came with the boat, the cap-
tain made no objection to leaving the ship himself, or allow-
ing the crew to do so, but merely said he would be the last
man to leave her. He left her accordingly, in the last boat,
accompanied by the carpenter, who unscrewed the two chro-
nometers, and put them into the boat. This was on the
morning of the 4th of March. During the period which
elapsed between the collision and the abandonment of the
ship, she had continued to roll very heavily in the trough of
the sea, throwing every thing moveable about the decks into
the greatest disorder, and threatened to send the anchors
through the top-gallant forecastle. The captain several times
showed an unwillingness to allow the crew to set a spare sail
on the stump of the wizen-mast, to endeavour to steady her,
and they did so almost against his consent, but it had little
effect. It was quite impracticable thin to take the vessel in
tow, the sea ran so high. She was unmanageable, and the
weather very threatening. She was subsequently seen and
reported by various vessels, but none of them attempted to
take her in tow. On Sunday, the 13th March, she was
boarded by a schooner, 15 miles to the west of Loophead, but
they were obliged to leave her after vainly endeavouring to
get her into the Shannon. Two steamers were then put out
to search for her, and she was ultimately towed into Kilrush
by her Majesty's cruiser Hamilton, with the loss of masts,
spars, and rudder. Mr. Radcliffe concluded by saying that
the Windsor Castle arrived in the Mersey on Thursday last,
and that frei:lit will he payable to the extent of £3,000.
Curtis, the carpenter of the Windsor Castle, and the sail-
maker were called, who swore to the statements embodied in
the above address. They also stated that the boats of the
ship were in such a conditio❑ as to be useless. _

Mr. Radcliffe cited the case of the Neptune from Haggar-
dy's Admiralty Reports, not as a case precisely in point, but
for the purpose of sheaving the judgement of Lord Stowell,
which container; all the law applicable to the Windsor Castle,
Lord Stowell says :—" The contract of the mariner covers
the whole of the ship ; a part separated by a storm is not dis-
engaged by that accident from that lien, if it be recovered as
a part of the primitive pledge mortgaged to the mariner."
In the present case, the whole of both ship, and cargo was
ultimately recovery. Again adds Lord Stowell :—" When
does the authority of the waster cease? His authority does
not certainly merge in the misfortune ; nor are the seamen at
liberty, without staying a reasonable time for the recovery
of parts of the ship and cargo (if there be any prospect. in
his judgment, of such recovery), immediately to disperse
themselves over the country on whose shores they have en-
countered the mischance without some discharge from him.
No such attempt was made in the present case." Nor was
any such attempt made in the case of the Windsor Castle ;
on the contrary, the crew all declared their readiness to stay by
the ship to the last, and it was not until the captain had ex-
pressly stated there was not the slightest chance of saving
her, that the men, with his assent and along with him, left
the ship.
Mr. Rushton said the law was admirably laid down in the
judgement of Lord Stowell, that the seamen should cling to
the last plank of the vessel for his wages. The case of the
Neptune, which was stranded on the coast of France, did not
apply. There was no parallel between the two eases. The
seamen of the Neptune struggled to the last.
Mr. Radcliffe said the seamen of the Neptune quitted the
vessel, yet they were entitled to their wages.
Mr. Rushton said they did not desert the vessel till she
was stranded, and till they had done every thing that could
be done to save her, so long as there was any hope or likeli-
hood of doing so. In this case, a ship at sea had been abon-
dened, lie (Mr. Radcliffe) said justifiably. However he (Mr.
Rushton) was not going to decide yet, as had not heard the
whole case.

Mr. Whitley, solicitor, who appeared on the other side,
contended that the vessel had not been justifiably abandoned
and he called William Everill, an apprentice to the owners
of the Windsor Castle, who deposed that on. the day after the
collision they cleared the wreck. The weather was moderate
till towards evening, and they might have repaired the boats
or done any thing they pleased. The long boat had been
cracked a shoe t time previously, and though it had a rat-hole
in it, it might easily have been repaired. The men went aft
to the Captain, and desired to leave the ship. He did not
hear them make the request, but he heard them say they had
done so.

James Roberts, another apprentice, stated that the men
demanded to have a signal of distress put up. Heard the
captain state, but not in the presence of the men, that he
would not leave the vessel. Heard the men say that they
would go and ask the captain to let them quit the vessel.
They went aft of ther own accord, and without any orders
from the captain. The long-boat might have been repaired
by nailing a piece of lead over the rat-hole.
Mr. Cullen stated that he went to Kilrush on the arrival
of the vessel there. He found the hull perfectly tight, and
only six inches water were in the hold. The boats were all
seaworthy, and he was himself several hours on the water in
the boat that was most damaged.
Mr. Radcliffe said the vessel had earned freight, and the
men had not left her till, they could not, with safety, remain
on board of her. She was now in the dock here, and was,
with her cargo, worth £20,000.
Mr. Rushton was of opinion that the men could not re-
cover their wages, for the Windsor Castle had been impro-
perly abandoned. It appeared that after the collision the
weather was moderate enough to enable them to make all
snug ; they had time to examine the boats, and to have re-
paired the long-boat by nailing lead over the rat-hole as sug-
gested by the boy. This was a most discreditable abandon..
merit of that high feeling which usually characterised British
seamen. No attempt had been made to rig a jury-mast, or
to provide for the emergency in any way. Thenaval charac-
ter of our men would soon
n cease to be what it wasif men
were allowed to recover their wages under circumstances such
as these.

The Count de Sails, having had his eyes opened to the real
objects sought to be attained by the men of the repeal move-
ment has very wisely cut the concern, and is, of course, made
to pay the penalty of a pretty reasonable share of vituperation,
oral and written. The Count states that he is determined to
remove the license from a Popish chapel, in consequence of
repeal meetings having been held there, though a short time
since he was a subscriber to the Repeal Association. The
declarations of the Government are working some reformation.

THE ROBBERY AT THE LIVERPOOL POSTOFFICE.

On Tuesday, at the Police-office, John Leeming, a clerk at
the Postoffice, in this town, was placed at the bar, on a charge
of having stolen letters. The first witness was Mr. Wilks,
assistant to Mr. King, wholesale jeweller, IS, Bridgewater-
square, London. Mr. Wilks stated, that on the 7th March
last, he received from his employer two gold rings set with
pearls and diamonds, which he was to enclose in a letter and
send enclosed to Messrs. Roskell and Son. lie enclosed
them and sealed them up and addressed them to Messrs.
Roskell and Son, Church-street, Liverpool. The two gold
rings produced, the witness said, were those which he had
enclosed. About three weeks afterwards he beard that the
rings had not been received.
Philip Phillips. the errand boy in the service of Mr. King,
described the custom of the establishment, as regarded
putting letters in the Postoffice.
Mr. Robert Roskell stated, that in February last, he sent
some stones up to Mr. King to be mounted in gold. He did
not receive the articles so soon as he expected, upon which
be wrote to make inquiry, and was informed in reply that the
rings had been sent through the postoffice. He believed the
stones in the two rings produced were those which he sent.
George Rose, a jeweller, in the service of Mr. King, iden-
tified the two rings. He made one of them himself about
two months ago.
Miss Martha Davies, of No. 42, Pleasant-street, stated,
that she first became acquainted with the prisoner on the
28th of February last. She had some knowledge of him
previously, but had never spoken to him before that day,
which was Shrove Tuesday. She saw him again on either
the Friday or Saturday following, again on the Monday, and
again on the Tuesday following. She was in the habit of
seeing him frequently after that. After she had seen him
about four times he showed her a ring, (produced,) and asked
her to accept it. He said, if she would not take it he would
throw it behind the fire. She then consented to accept it.
lie gave her another ring, which he said he had bought in
Manchester, but he did not say where he had got the first
ring. She kept both rings till the preceding day, (Monday,)
when she delivered them to Mr. Bond, a clerk belonging to
the Postoffice.
William Augustus Bond, senior clerk in the Postoffice,
stated, that the prisoner was a clerk in that establishment.
It was a part of his duty to face letters, which had been
sorted, to the delivery windows were the private boxes were
placed. Messrs. Roskell and Sou had a private box. A
letter addressed to them, posted in London on the 7th March,
would arrive on the morning of the Sib, and would he sorted
for the delivery windows and put into the private box that
morning. The prisoner was at the delivery window that
morning, and the letter would go through his bands.
The prisoner declined saying anything in reply to the
charge. He was committed to take his trial at the next
assizes.
On Wednesday the prisoner having again been placed at
the bar, the following evidence was adduced against him.
Mr. Peacock, solicitor to the General Postoffice, was pre-
sent to watch the case.

James Halsall, constable, stated that he apprehended the
prisoner on Monday, the Bth instant, at the Postoffice. The
prisoner said he resided at 34, Hunter-street. Halsall went
there with Mr. Bond, senior clerk at the Postoffice. In the
prisoner's apartment a pocket-book was found. It was ex-
amined, and in it were found seven bills of exchange, one
for £2,000, drawn at Macao, dated 31st December, endorsed
to Messrs. Dirom, Richmond, and Co. ; one for £3OO, drawn
at Bombay, dated 24th February last ; one for £lOO ; one for
£142. 4s. 10d. ; one for .£79. Ils. ; one for £2,000; and one
for £43. 18s. 4d. When he apprehended the prisoner he
took from him a watch that he was wearing, to which was
attached the seal produced.
Williams Augustus Bond, senior clerk at the Post-
office, described the departments to which the prisoner at-
tended, which were the returned letter office and the window.
Messrs. Dirom, Richmond, and Co. and Messrs. Edmond
and Co. have private boxes at the Postoffice, for the letters
addressed to them. Mr. Bond corroborated the testimony
of Halsall, as to the discovery of the bills of exchange at
Leeming's residence, and proceeded to say, that he found in
a division in the returned letter office, which was entirely
under the charge of the prisoner, two packets addressed to
the firms above named. These had the appearance of having
been opened and re:sealed, and had the word " refused " on

the part where the direction was. ^ The packet addressed to
Messrs. Edmond and Co. had been re-sealed with the seal
appended to the watch. He (Bond) found also a memoran-
dum belonging to the prisoner. The latter snatched it from
him, saying, lie had no right to examine his private memo-
randums. The prisoner attempted to tear out a leaf, but the
book was secured. On the leaf was written, "Miss Davies,
42, Pleasant-street." The packets found in the prisoner's
office appeared to have arrived by the overland mail by
Marseilles, and the London post mark was, 7th April, the
Liverpool mark, Sth April, on which day they would come
into the prisoner's possession.
Frederick Maitland Davidson, stated that he was one of
the firm of Diron. Richmond, and Co. They had an esta-
blishment in the East Indies. The letter produced was from
their house at Bombay. The bill produced for £2OOO. was
from their house in China, and was payable to them. The
bill for £3OO, was from their house in Bombay. The other
bills of £lOO, £142 4s. lOd., and £79 Ils. were also theirs.
It appeared that the prisoner had placed the documents be-
longing to each of the firms in the envelope addressed to the
other. Mr. Davidson proved that the whole of the docu-

ments, consisting of bills of lading, &c., found in the packet
addressed to Edmond and Co. were intended for them. Ile
showed that one of the letters referred to a bill of exchange
for £lOO, and to a letter addressed to Baring Brothers and
Co. from Lord Ashburton, which was found in the envelope.
The same letter referred to the bills for £3OO, and £142 4s. 10d.
The firm have duplicates of the bills of exchange.
Robert M'Kin, partner in the firm of William Edmond
and Co. of Liverpool, and at Bombay, of William and
Thomas Edmond and Co., stated that the packet produced,
addressed William Edmond and Co. was ,rom the firm at
Bombay. The packet was transmitted on the Ist of March
last, and he (witness) left Bombay on the 2d of March. The
two bills produced, one for £2OOO, dated Canton, 26th Dec.,
1842, and the other for £43 1 ls. 4d., dated Bombay, 31st
January, 1813, were part of the contents of that packet.
There was enclosed in it another bill of exchange for £5OO.
Mr. PEACOCK said this last bill for £5OO was yet missing,
and there had, as yet, been no time for inquiry after it, as its
existence had only been ascertained this morning. It appeared,
however, from a letter in the prisoner's possession, addressed
to a mercantile firm at London, that attempts had been made
to negotiate it. _ _ _

Mr-. RUSHTON asked whether application had been made.
to pay this £5OO bill?
Mr. PEACOCK replied in the affirmative.

Mr. ItusirioN hoped it had not succeeded. The publica-
tion of the circumstances now would certainly prevent it from
succeeding.

Mr. PEACOCK expected to be able to trace the bill very
soon.

From other evidence brought forward, it appeared that the
prisoner had taken a letter containing a link of beads, which
had been put in the post-office by Julia Dalton, a servant,
residing with Mr. Marsh, Scotland-place. The beads were
intended as a present to a Mr. Sherlock, Bachelor's-row,
Dublin. The person who wrote the letter for the girl forgot
to put Dublin on the back of it. This was remembered after-
wards, and the girl made application for the letter at the post-
office, but was informed that it hnd gone to London. It was
proved that it was carried out by the deliverers of this town,
and returned to the department of the prisoner, who, instead
of transmitting it to London, took it into his own possessiost,
and it was found by Halsall, in a flour barrel which stood
close to his bed.

A letter, which was found in the lining of the prisoner's
drawers, was addressed to Messrs. J. and W. Brown, Gorce.
This letter had been sent out and returned. It was proved
that the words " refused" on the letters were in the hand-
writing of the prisoner.

To all these charges the prisoner declined to make any
answer.

Mr. RustiTos then committed the prisoner to Kirkdale,
to take his trial at the next assizes.

Mr. Davidson here said he was under the necessity of
proceeding to India, and he was desirous of being relieved
from further attendance.

Mr. ItusuToN said the officers of the crown would con-
duct this prosecution, and the application must he made to
them. For himself he should not think of granting it.
Mr. DAVFNPORT, who appeared for the defence, said that
in order to satisfy the friends of the prisoner, he wished to
know whether the court would admit him to bail.

Mr. RUSHTON replied—No, certainly not. This was one
of the most cruel cases he had ever known, for it not only
dishonoured the establishment in which the prisoner was a
'servant, but it embarrassed commercial matters in a very
high degree. It was a felony of the most grave character;
and he could not, for a moment, think of taking bail. The
prisoner must be committed upon all the charges.
The prisoner was then removed.

A soldier writing to his father from Limerick, says—" I
forgot to caution you against having anything to do with this
Repeal business, as we have received particular orders
respecting it. Every Chelsea and Kilmainham pensioner
taking part in it will be struck off the list immediately."—
Cork paper.

REPEAL AND,_CIVIL WAR.—At a meeting of the repealers
on Monday last, .at Dublin, Mr. O'Connell after stating that
he despised Peel and Wellington and regarded their threats
as a mouthful of chaff, said " There would be no civil war in
Ireland as long as he (Mr. O'Connell) lived. The people
would keep at the legal side, and if others invaded them that
was not a civil war, and he promised them that there was not
a Wellingtonian of them all who would shrink less than he
from that contest, if it was forced upon them. Violating no
law, the repeaters would keep on constitutional grounds, as
long as it was left to them ; but, said Mr. O'Connell, if they
throw us from that, then vice viclis for the contending par-
ties. (Great cheering.)"
SECRETS OF THE CHARTIST EXECUTIVE.—It WAS stated
last week that Campbell, the secretary of the Chartist Exe-
cutive, had decamped to America, taking with him the books
of the National Charter Association. Since then it has been
intimated to the executive that Campbell had, previously to
his flight, pledged those books, with a large number of cards
of membership, for the sum of 4:16 15s. 90. and that they
will be delivered up by a Mr. Arthur O'Neil as soon as the
lien upon them is paid off. The defection of Campbell,
O'Neil, and other firebrands, from the Chartists, had des-
troyed all the confidence which they had formerly in each
other. Even Mr. O'Connor himself, who boasts so much of
his disinterested services and sacrifices in the cause of Char-
tism, is charged with being a venal and time-serving public
character. The following charges are made against him :
That he accepted £2B for lecturing and assisting at Mr. Stur-
ge's contest with Mr. James Walter, sen. ; that be demanded
£l9 from Mr. Rogers for his services at the late contest be-
tween Mr. Gisborne and Mr. John Walter, jun. ; and though
last not least, that lie received from Mr. Sturge's committee
the sum of £5 for an active agent, to whom he only paid £3
putting the remaining £2 in his pocket. Mr. O'Connor as
a matter of course, denies these charges, but his accusers
allege that they can prove them.
Mr. BRUNEL'S CASE.—Some particulars of the treatment
pursued by Sir Benjamin Brodie in the case of Mr. Brunel
have been made public. It appears that the accident hap-
pened on the 3d April. Sir Benjamin was consulted on the
18th, and found that the half-sovereign had passed into the
windpipe. A consultation was held on the 22d, at which it
was decided that the half-sovereign was probably lodged at
the bottom of the right bronchus, and that it was movable.
It was determined that every effort should be made for its
removal, and that for this purpose an apparatus should be
constructed for inverting the body of the patient, in order
that the weight of the coin might assist the natural effort to
expel it by coughing. The first experiment was made on the.
25th. The body of the patient being inverted, and the back
gently struck with the hand between the shoulders, violent
cough came on, but of so convulsive and alarming a nature
that danger was apprehended and the experiment was discon-
tinued. On this occasion the coin was again moved from ;
oirts,
situation, and slipped towards the glottis. On the 27th
tracheotomy was performed by Sir Benjamin,
swuibthsegt of the
enhueitnly-
tendon of extracting the coin by tlleforcepas
and
repetition, if n
in the event of this failing, with the expectation that the
eoxppening in
experimentielfietwhein2d2pdi.pe
Onw thisould facilitateoccasion,
on the 2d cf May, the introduction of the forceps was at-
irastio onn
tended with so much irritation that it could not bepersevered
consult
in without danger to life. On the 3d another
was held, and it was agreed that the experiment ofit
should be repeated as soon as Mr. Brunel had recovered
sutG-
cient strength, the incision in the windpipe being kept
On Saturday, the 13th, Mr. Brunel was again placed
apparatus, the body inverted, and the back gently ) open.
so
struck
thek
ia
itsptahsesage openingthrough the in the
After two or three coughs he felt the coin quit itsoacec o
g
.
the right side of the chest, and in a few seconds it dropped
from hisanmy oudtihs
t,r'ewsisthoorut inconvenience,exci ti
windpipe presenting any spasmodic action of the glottis.

MEETING OF TIIE DISTRICT PROVIDENT

SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of the above society was held
on Tuesday afternoon, at one o'clock, in the Savings Bank,
Bold-street. The meeting was but thinly attended, and the
majority of those present were, as usual, ladies.
Amongst the gentlemen present were the Mayor, the Rev.
Rector Campbell, R. L. Carr, Esq., Mr. Henry Hcathcote,
Statham, Mr. Payne, Mr. James Heyworth, Mr. T. Rath-
bone, Mr. R. Rathhone, Dr. Iliff, the Rev. J. H. Stafford,
the Rev. J. B. Monk, Rev. Thos. Bold, Rev. R. L. Towns.
bend, Rev. R. Appleton, Rev. W. Hesketh, and the Bev.
John Robberds.
On the motion of the Rev. Rector CAMPBELL,
The MAYOR took the chair. His worship expressed his
regret at the sinking state of the society, the merits of which
he highly eulogised, and hoped sufficient funds would accrue
to place it in a state to act with the efficiency that is so de-
sirable.
Mr. CARR, the secretary, read the report. The report set
out by stating, that the committee had lost no time in con-
sidering the recommendation " to carry into more active
operation that portion of the past rule which relates to the
suppression of mendicity and imposture, by inducing the in-
habitants of the town to the consistant practice of giving
the society's tickets instead of money to all street beggars."
As an inducement to the public to make use of the society's
tickets they were offered for sale at the society's office, one
class at one shilling a ticket, and a second class at one penny
each. The committee anticipated from this a more general
circulation, and an augmentation of funds, but were disap-
pointed, for they only sold 136 shilling tickets and 3,072
penny tickets, almost the whole of the latter having been
taken by subscribers in virtue of their subscriptions, so that
£2l 18s. was all that had come to the treasurer's hands from
this source. It was recommended, therefore, that the lowest
priced tickets be three-pence each. The premiums have been
discontinued. Some improvements have, it appeared, been
made in the mode of administering relief whereby more dis-
crimination is insured, and imposture is more easily detected.
The accounts of the funds were less favourable than hereto.
fore. In May, 1842, the treasurer had a balance in hand of
£25 95., at present there is due to him a sum of £324 Is.
The annual subscriptions have decreased from £1,030105. to
£1,004 10s., and the donations from £1,341 14s. to £553
15s. 2d. The calls upon the town have not, however, been
of so prominent a character as during the year preceding.
The number of applications for relief entertained by the
board has been 19,426, of whom 500 were refused as unde-
serving, or as not being objects of the society's care. The
number actually relieved was 18,926, at a cost of £1,056 3s.
100. In 1840-1 the number was 14,506, at a charge of
£1,230 is. 2d. The committee again expressed their ac-
knowledgements to the managers of the soup establishments
for their liberal donation of soup tickets to the amount of
£lOO, and also for the remission of a debt of £49. The
committe reported a trifling increase of visiters, the number
being 315 ; but as there are upwards of 1,200 districts which
require visiting, this number is very inadequate. A con-
siderable falling off was reported in the amount of deposits
and the number of depositors. This is partly attributable to
the suppression of the premium, and partly to the effect of
the severe winter of 1842, and the continued depression of
trade. There has been paid out of the deposit fund during
the past year £11,471 ss. 2d., and the balance in the hands
of the treasurer on this account is £1,907 17s. 9d. The com-
mittee lamented the very inadequate means of relief at their
disposal. The committee suggested that efforts be made by
the clergy in conformity with the mode expressed in one of
the resolutions.
Dr. 'LIEF moved .the first resolution. In moving the
approval of the report, he wished it might be approved
a little more extensively than merely by those present.
Dr. Iliff proceeded to point out the great advantages of the
society to those whose occupations prevented them from
making inquiries into the cases of distress which came under
their observation. He had known many instances where in-
dividuals whom he had encountered were promptly attended
to, but which would, but for this society, have been either
cases of protracted distress or of imposition.
Mr. BOUTFLOWER seconded the resolution, and said, he
could fully bear out the testimony of Dr. Iliff. He had
been a frequent trespasser on the visiters of the society, and
should be most ungrateful if he did not acknowledge his

obligations to them. He hoped the finances of the society
would soon be in an improving condition.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
The Rev. THO➢rAS ROBBERDS proposed the next resolu-
tion, which was seconded by Mr. CHARLES STUBBS, and
carried.

Mr. PAYNE moved the next resolution. Mr. Payne
pointed out the great and anxious labours of the committee,
and the slight encouragement they had received from the
town at large. Considering that the society was one which
afforded relief without the consideration of creed or opinion,
it was lamentable to see the slight support which it received

from persons of all denominations. The speaker next ad-
verted to the great usefulness of the society, and the excel-
lent effect that accrues from persons of higher grade mingling
with the poor, aiding them by counsel, and sympathising
with them in their distresses. When they heard that the
annual subscriptions did not avail for the working of the so-
ciety, it was plain that, if a change for the better did not
take place, the society must go down. Mr. Payne concluded
by pointing out the evil of premiums, the withdrawal of
which be considered a proper measure.
Mr. JAMES HEYWORTII, after expressing his gratification
at seeing the Mayor presiding, in a position which he consi-
dered more dignified than that conferred by his (the Mayor's)
fellow-townsmen, inasmuch as the cause of religion and cha-
rity was more dignified than civic honour, expressed his plea-
sure at seconding the resolution. His pleasure, however,
was mingled with regret, because the apathy which had
pervaded the community must have thrown a chill over the
gentlemen who had been so indefatigably employed in their
endeavours to do good. He was struck with regret that a
society so excellent should have so fallen into decline. He
hoped a different feeling would soon pervade the town in
regard to that valuable institution. He knew from experience
that the society was not less excellent as a detector of impo-
sition than as an administrator of charity, nor was the former
less valuable than the latter. He bud frequently asked par-
ties who were seeking relief to bring him a certificate from
some medical man or some other person to whom they were
known, that he might be convinced that the alleged distress
was not feigned. In numerous instances no such certificates
were brought, and be came to the conclusion, thereupon,
that no such distress had existed. Mr. Heyworth proceeded
to show that no such distinction was made where distress
was found to exist ; that a large proportion of those who re-

. . .
ceived relief from this society are Irish ; and, having urged
that it was more blessed to give than to receive, he pointed
to the example of Christ, and expressed a hope that all
would try to tread in his steps.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL, in moving the next resolution
spoke in the highest terms of the visitors, and expressed an
earnest desire to see their numbers increased. Without ac-
tive, zealous, discreet visitors they could do ❑othing, while
with a sufficient number of them, if backed by the town, the
miseries of poverty might be greatly alleviated. He could
not but lament, that the visitors should be so few, seeing that
they ought to have, at least, five times the number, but he
hoped this miserable deficiency would be remedied. The work
was a labour of love in all, which all should be anxious to
participate. To those who were engaged in it, it must be
highly satisfactory, for they were doing that which Christ had
done before them,—going about doing good. The reverend
rector coucluded by some well merited praises on the efforts
and services of the ladies.

The Rev. R. L. TOWNSIIEND seconded the motion, which
was adopted.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL said, the unfortunate absence
of the wealthy merchants of our town, who would have done
well, like Mr. Hepworth, to have been present, rendered it
necessary that he should move the next resolution. The rev.
rector said, if the resolution had recommended sermons and

collections in the church he could not have supported it, as
there were so many calls for peculiarly religious services, and
for thecharities connected with religious purposes. Rethought

they were not called upon to maliecolleCtionsprsuch

ties as this, and that they ought not to require it. It was most
deplorable anti astonishing to contemplate the slackness on
the part of the wealthy people of this town to support this
society, which would, if properly supplied with funds, go
further to the banishment of pauperism and the moral re-
generation of the town than any other means that could be
devised. It was, he repeated, surprising that a society like
this should be so miserably in want of support—that in such

a population as that of Liverpool they should not be able to
get £l,OOO in the year for an institution capable of doing such
a vast amount of good. No arguments were necessary to
prove its utility. He could not imagine that people would
not come forward most gladly, and confide to this society
that which they give away in indiscriminate charity. There
were multitudes of cases in which individuals appeared dis-
tressed who were really impostors. The officers of the so-

ciety were experienced hi such matters—they were well ac-

quainted with the frauds of poverty, and the attempts of
parties who were idle and indisposed to work ; and they could
discover such frauds when others, who were unpracticed,

could not. The rev. rector concluded by expressing a hope
that subscriptions would come in, not only from the wealthy,
who could subscribe one or five guineas, but from the
classes who could only afford to contribute as much as half-
a-crown.

The Rev. Mr. BOLD seconded the resolution, which was
carried.

Mr. RICHARD RATHDONE moved the next resolution,
and read an address, of which the following is the principal
portion :—This meeting has been called for a very important

object, no less than to decide whether this society, the Dis-
trict Provident Society of Liverpool, shall continue its bene-
ficent operations, or whether it shall be extinguished, by
want of support, and cease to exist. lam well aware that
this alternative may not, at first sight, appear evident to
those who are only acquainted with the working of the so-

ciety from its annual reports or its annual meetings. They
will probably allege—and they would do so very correctly—
that the principal value and chief duty of this society consist
in the collection of small deposits, and of the promotion
. . .

thereby of economical habits among the poor. But that the
society cannot perform this duty, nor be of this value, with-

out visiters, will at once be adMitted ; and tben we initnedi.

ately arrive at the difficulties which we are this day specially

convened to meet, to discuss, and to endeavour, if possible,
to remove. The first great difficulty is the fact—sodisgface-_

ful to the town of Liverpool !—that, in a population of
250,000 persons, there have not yet been found 1,000 indivi-
duals to meet the requirements of this society as visiters.

The town was, in the first instance, divided into about 25
districts, which were again subdivided into about 1,000 coin-
partments, intended each to contain about 25 families. Let
me mention, en passant, that when such a subdivision has

been organised, and the depositors are expecting their visiter
on an appointed day, at an appointed hour, (the importance
of the regular attention to which cannot he overrated,)
Monday morning, always the best in towns; half to three-
quarters of an hour will, in general, be sufficient for the pur-
pose. As the town has increased in size, the subdivisions
have, of course, also increased in number, and they now
amount to nearly 1,300 sub-divisions, of which about 530
are provided with visiters, the remaining 700 sub-divisions
having none, and being therefore wholly neglected. And to
perform the whole of din; duty there can only be found, in
the 250,000 inhabitants of Liverpool, after the experience of
14 years has demonstrated the exceeding value of the work,
and the undeniable success of its working, 315 persons! In
strong contrast to this, I will now, sir, take the liberty of
reading a few extracts, giving some account of a society esta-
blished in Paris, with objects in many respects similar to our
own, and which will, 1 think, confirm the old adage, that
where there is a will there is a way, or, in other words, that
where the spirit is its manifestations will not he wanting. M r.
Rathbone here read some abstracts, giving an account of the
originparis. and I
wlirirlog
onlyress
soafy,the
le
t u Society a
li of St. Vincent de Paul, at "
go and do likewise," in
" our own country." The next great difficulty, sir, to that
of procuring a sufficient number of visiters, is that of pro-
obfegth of you, for a mo-
ment,e visiters, " the
arryu
pro-
curing a sufficient amount of funds to enable the society to
Look,then
consequencesl
its
noble few," being deprived of the power of giving orders for
carry
at t objects.
probable
relief in any case, to the
persons whom they visit ! Of the
315 visiters now upon our books, 232 are women. We have
frequently appealed, and in vain,
eelin to the community ; let me
now appeal, distinctly, to the feelings of the men of Liver-
pool, and ask how they can expect these excellent sisters of
charity to dive (in the course of their unwearied applications
for deposits) into the most wretched of Liverpool's cellars
for the poor, to see cases of distress of which those who live
delicately in king's houses know absolutely nothing, without
the means of giving even to the worst of such cases the
smallest assistance ? Is it not enough that they give so much
of their time, their patience, their counsel, their sympathy
in every week, and in all seasons of the year—that they are
exposed to so much that may be clangorous to their health,
and disgusting to their feelings—that they see, in every weekly
visiting, more or less of disease, suffering, actual destitution ?
Are they, also, expected to witness all this, and to be utterly

powerless to relieve—powerless to feed the hungry, to
clothe the naked, to keep hope in the hearts of the sick and
the unemployed, who would gladly work for their bread,
until the one may regain strength, and the other obtain em-
ployment? It cannot be! We cannot hope, and we ought
not to wish, that the visiters, and particularly the female
part of them, should, under some circumstances, persevere
in their ministrations of mercy, in their truly " angel visits."
I repeat, therefore, sir, that if the inhabitants of Liverpool
shall remain insensible to the immense power for good which
they possess in the action of this society, it must go out, and
cease to be; and I will not entrust myself, sir, to state the
character of the epitaph which will be inscribed upon its
tomb !

The Rev. Mr. MoNK seconded the resolution, and spoke
in the highest terms of the society and its objects. _

Mr. THEODORE RATHBONE moved the next resolution

Mr. CHARLES COLE, a visiter, seconded the resolution,
and gave instances, within his own experience as a visiter, of
the benefits conferred by the society.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL moved a vote of thanks to
the Mayor, which was carried, and the meeting separated at
a quarter-past two o'clock.