The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL CONFEDERATION AGAIN.

In connexion with a report of a meeting held in Pitt-
street Ward last week for the purpose of considering the
steps to be taken for procuring a reduction of the local.
taxation of the town, which report will be found in an-
other part of our paper, we have to announce to our
readers the fact, that the National Confederation, or par-
ties acting under the sanction of their name, are adopting
a course which will defeat, unless strenuously resisted,.
the rightful claims of the rate-payers. We demand, in
behalf of the rate-payers, that property, whatever its de-
scription, should contribute, according to its value, to the
burthens of the town. The movement making is on behalf
of the cottage-owners, who seek to have their property
exonerated from the rates paid by the owners of other de-
scriptions of property ; and we arc informed, upon testi-
mony which we can believe, that subscriptions are being
raised for the purpose of enabling the parties in question
to carry out their views at the Easter Vestry. Let the
parishioners be on their guard. We shall have, however,
a few words to say to them on this and other subjects in
our next publication.

The accounts received from the agricultural districts
speak in the most satisfactory manner of the general

ppearance of the cereal crops; whi

continue as favourably as it has commenced, will doubt-
less yield a large return to the agriculturist.
A piece of ground at the corner of Francis-street,
Edgbaston, has been purchased by the Rev. John New-
man and the Fathers of the Oratory, in Alcester-street,
Birmingham, upon which it is intended to erect a Roman
Catholic Church.

THE BRUNSWICK CLUB.-It will be seen by an ad-
vertisement in our paper to-day, that Mr. Whiteman is-
making considerable improvements for the comfort of the
members of this club. Alterations that will tend to make
it still more popular are on the lapis.
John Alfred Langford, a chair-maker, residing in
Cheapside, Birmingham, has received £5 for the third
best prize essay on " the tendency of mental cultivation
to promote the social and personal happiness of mankind,"
given by R. Padmore, Esq., of Worcester.
INJURY TO THE THOMAS WILSON STEAM-BOAT.—An
aecident happened on Wednesday evening to the Thomas
Wilson Seacombe boat. The Thomas Wilson and the
Fairy Egremont steamer, on the evening in question, had
been moored alongside of each other as usual at the
Landing Stage; and on the bell ringing at nine o'clock
both prepared for getting under way. The Thomas Wil-
son, being a boat which steers only from her stern, whilst
the Fairy steers at both ends, did not, it is said, get
ahead sufficiently quickly for the Fairy, which came into
collision with her, and carried away her paddle-box, and
seriously damaged her machinery.

A handsome silver inkstand, •i;vith a purse of £lOO, has
been presented by the congregation of St. Philip's, Bir-
mingham, and other friends to the Rev. G. Pettit, (who
lately has been curate of that church,) on returning to
resume his missionary labours in the East. The rev. gen-
tleman has also been presented with a bible and about
thirty other books, from Sunday School teachers of the
Church of England; and "an English Hexapla, with sixty-
three other volumes calculated to explain and enforce the
sacred text," from his brethren of the clergy. The last
was accompanied by Baxter's miniature quarto bible, pre-
sented to Mrs. Pettit by the wives of her husband's
clerical brethren.

EFFECT OF JEALOUSY.—On Friday evening, a young-
man named Lee fired a pistol loaded with shot at Miss-
Ellen Grindal, daughter of the landlord of the Bell Inn,
Birmingham. A portion of the contents lodged in her
arm. chest, and neck. They were extracted as soon as
possible, and the poor girl is now out of danger. When
he was apprehended another pistol, which was loaded to
the muzzle, was found on the prisoner, which he declared
wa3 int nded for himself, had he not been immediately
seized on firing the first pistol by a companion of his who
was present. The prisoner was jealous of a young man,
with whom at the time of the occurrence the unfortunate
girl was talking : she, however, does not appear to have
been aware of his affections being placed on her. _

REFRESHMENT TO JURORS.I—our worthy Recorder
took occasion yesterday to pass his opinions on the recent

measure of the Town Council, withdr
to jurors for refreshment during the sessions, a custom
which has been observed from time immemorial, until the
enforcement of the order above referred to. In the course
of the morning the Recorder wished to retire from the
bench for a short time : he was about following out this
design, when the Clerk of the Peace informed the learned
gentleman that, should he leave the bench, the jury must
be locked up, and if locked up they would be denied re..
freshment, in accordance with a regulation of the Town
Council. The Recorder expressed his surprise and strong
disapprobation of any such restriction. He said that
" the withholding of refreshment was very shabby, dis-
graceful, and discreditable. I say it, and I care not who
knows it, and the Corporation are ill-advised in refusing
it." The Recorder then directed that refreshment should
be served to the jury; and if the expense f 0 incurred
were not paid by the Council be (the Recorder) would
pay the amount from his own purse. On the return of
the Recorder into Court, he remarked that on the pre-
sent occasion the cost of the provisions supplied to the
jurors would be defrayed by the Council.

the allowance

CONVICTION AT THE SESSIONS YESTERDAY.—Robert
Jope Kinsman, formerly a barrister, was placed in the
dock, before the recorder, charged with having obtained
goods under false pretences, from the firm of Silver
Hayter and Wren, outfitters and clothi

George