The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-05-27 00:00:00

LIABILITIES

To amount of General Bond £297,367 15 0
„ due on account of Monk's Ferry 14,286 11 8
„ Bankers 824 9 8
~ Sundries 724 7 8

£313,203 4 0

ILL-TREATMENT OF A SHIP'S CREW.—On Friday
last, five of the crew of the ship Charlotte, lately arrived
from Bonny River, appeared to prefer a charge of gross ill
usage against Thos. Lyon, the supercargo, and James
Henry Black, the mate. It rppeared from the evidence
of the men, whose names are Robert Brown, Isaac Ryan,
John Neville, John Bowker, and Charles Fisher, that
during the time the vessel was lying in Bonny River, they
were repeatedly struck and abused by the defendants,
some of them flogged with a lash soaked in pickle, kept
in irons on the deck for hours together exposed to heavy
rain, chained to the masts almost in a state of nudity,
struck with a cutlass, and then, after such treatment, sent
to scrub the outside of the ship. The defence was, that
the crew bad been guilty of gross insubordination—that
they were constantly in a state of intoxication—that they
had stolen the rum belonging to the ship's cargo—anti
that they only received such punishment as their mis-
conduct merited. Mr. Rushton ordered Black and Lyon
to pay a fine of £5 each for the assault on Ryan, and
Black to pay 50s. in addition, for the assault on Neville.
The three other cases brought against them by Brown,
Bowker, and Fisher, be dismissed.

PAVING AND SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS.—A report
was read from Mr. Simpson, relative to the New Water
Works, from which it appeared, that notwithstanding
some trivial obstructions had occurred, the work was pro-
gressing satisfactorily. Mr. Gladstone complained of the
danger arising to parties passing in vehicles near the ex-
cavations going on there, owing to the frequent blasting
of the rock—it was a great nuisance to the neighbourhood
as well, and the inhabitants had expressed their dissatis-
faction. Mr. Duncan, the superintendent of the opera-
tions, was called in, and after some discussion, he was re-
quested to use his utmost efforts to abate the nuisance,
which he promised to do.—A report had been drawn up as
to the collection of the whole of the rates by one set of
collectors, a plan which had been suggested by the Select
Vestry ; the report recommended that the proposed plan
be not adopted, the committee being of opinion that it
would not be beneficial to the parish. The deputation,
which was to have waited on the Board at twelve o'clock,
not having appeared, Mr. Procter, after the report had
been adopted by the Board, moved that a copy of it be
sent to the Select Vestry. It was ordered to be entered
on the minutes.

MRS. H. BEALE'S CONCERT.—On Tuesday evening
Mrs. H. Beale made her appeal to a Liverpool audience
in the Royal Assembly Room, Great George-street, which
was numerously and fashionably attended, the leading at-
traction being Miss Birch, who was to make her first ap-
pearance in the provinces since her return from the Con-
tinent, where she had been going through a course of tui-
tion. The instrumental department was very effective,
being aided by Mr. Geo. Eyton, Mr. J. Hermann, and
several other local performers of ability. Mr. G. Holden
presided at the pianoforte. In the first part, Mr. Ryalls
sung a ballad, by Knight, and " The Sea has its Pearls,"
w th a violoncello oblieato, in his usual correct and pleas-
ing manner. In a duet with Miss Birch he was not appa-
rently so much at ease. A concerto, from Mendelsohn,
on the pianoforte, by Mrs. H. Beale, was brilliantly played,
and of itself was sufficient to establish that lady as a mis-
tress of the instrument. In a duet with Mr. Haddock on
the violoncello she was equally successful. The singing
of Miss Birch was delightful, and proved her to have infi-
nitely improved in style and finish since her residence
abroad, although we can scarcely say that she pleases more
than when she trusted to her less cultivated powers and
her natural and expressive manner. In the second part a
solo on the violoncello, by Haddock, elicited rapturous
applause. On this difficult, though fine instrument, Mr.
Haddock need fear no rivalry. A grand trio (pianoforte,
violin, and violoncello) again brought out the powers of
Mrs. Beale as a pianiste, and was deservedly admired.
Miss Birch sung an aria, and a Scotch air—" Come off to
the Moors"—very finely, the latter especially ; and a duet,
" Flow gently, Deva," with Mr. Ryalls, elicited warm
commendatio❑ for both performers. As a whole, this
concert was one of the most pleasing which we have had
the pleasure of attending, and reflects great credit upon
all parties concerned.
MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.—A seaman, named
Michael Moore, was brought up at the Police-court, on
Friday, charged with the murder of John Campbell, boat-
swain of the English ship Mountaineer. Captain Isaac
Bogart, which arrived at this port, from New Orleans, on
Thursday. The prisoner, who is by birth an Irishman,
shipped on board the Mountaineer, at New Orleans, in
the name of Michael Murphy. On the 14th ult. when
the vessel was about 16 days from New Orleans, he went
upon deck, and, quietly putting his arm round the neck
of the boatswain, stabbed him in the abdomen with his
knife. He then flung away the weapon, ran up to the
mate (Mr. Barrow), and attempted to push him overboard,
but failed to do so, and was almost immediately secured.
The subsequent conduct of the man convinced the crew
that he was insane, and his statements and conduct in
court certainly indicated an unsound state of mind. He
had been a seaman on board of American vessels ; but,
with all the excitability and suspicion of incipient mad.
ness, he fancied that the crews were all hostile to him,
and ;that to prevent him from obtaining a berth, they
published his name in the papers. He then resolved to
leave the American, and to enter the English service, and
with this view he shipped on board the Mountaineer. His
malady, however, did not leave him. He fancied that the
crew were conspiring to throw hi:n overboard, and as-
serted that he once heard the whole of them enter into an
oath on the Bible to accomplish their deadly purpose. One
night, in his terror of the fancied conspirators, he secreted
himself in the long boat, and fancied that he had been
there for three days. The crew did not at first regard the
wound inflicted on the boatswain as dangerous; but he
assured them that his death was nigh at hand, and, speak-
ing of his murderer, said. " Don't hurt him ; I forgive
him, and I hope God will." The unfortunate man died
in about five hours after being wounded. The prisoner
closed the last of his statements by saying, " I don't re-
co:lect that I killed the man ; but I do say that I would
kill every man, if I saw him swear to take my life."--Mr.
Rushton ordered that two surgeons should be sent for to
examine the prisoner, and intimated that he should com-
mit him for trial.

CHARGE OF SWINDLING.—On Thursday last, Ralph
Cantrell (brother of the young man who, as we stated in
our last, was committed for trial for fraudulently obtain-
ing goods from various tradesmen) was brought before
Mr. Rushton, charged with obtaining, by false pretences,
a quantity of cigars from Mr. Webster, of Lime-street.
The prisoner had represented himself as the keeper of the
White Lion Hotel, in Chester, and ordered 41b. of cigars
for the house, and 51b. for a booth at Chester races. Mr.
W. at first refused to let the goods leave his shop unless
paid for, but subsequently let the prisoner take them on
his paying £2, and promising to send the balance by a
post-office order. In a day or two after, it was found
that the statement about the hotel and booth was false.
After hearing the evidence, Mr. Rushton said this ap-
peared to him to be nothing but a naked lie, which com-
mon prudence ought to have guarded against. He was
of opinion that the charge of false pretences would not do;
it was a very bad case, no doubt, and a great imposition
on this man ; but, in the present state of the law, it would
not do.—Mr. Evans, solicitor, who attended for the
Guardian Society, said there were several other cases in
which similar orders were given.—Mr. Rushton said, " I
have no'doubt this is only a part of a very serious combi-
nation on the part of some individuals to rob the trades-
men of Liverpool to a large extent, and in which they
have succeeded in some degree. The whole circumstances
of this case ought to be published. Here is this man
holding himself out to be the proprietor of Burlington-
street Foundry. Here are cards and copper-plates `Ralph
Cantrell and Co., Burlington-street Foundry ;" Ralph
Cantrell and Co., merchants and general dealers, Church-
lane;' Ralph Cantrell and Co., oil and carpet dealers,
Lower Tranmere. Cheshire.' "—Mr. Rushton, addressing
the prisoner, said that unfortunate lad, his younger bro-
ther, who had no doubt been led into this by him, had
been committed to take his trial at the assizes ; and if
this case had not failed in a legal form, he (the prisoner)
would also have been committed. There was no moral
doubt of the matter, or of the nature of the occupation
which he had been following for some time. He had
various cards, with various occupations, at various places
in the town ; and he might depend upon it, that it he
continued to pursue the same course, he would come to
an untimely end.—The prisoner was the❑ discharged.

INSALUBRITY OF Towsrs.—On Wednesday evening,
R. D. Grainger, Esq., Lecturer on Physiology at St.
Thomas's Hospital, London, delivered a lecture on the
above subject, at the Royal Institution, under the sanc-
tion of the Metropolitan and Liverpool Health of Towns
Association, to a very numerous and respectable auditory.
Mr. Grainger commenced by some prefatory remarks on
the importance of an acquaintance with the human frame
and its functions, and showed the manner in which im-
pure air acted upon the lungs, and vitiated the blood.
Nothing was more to be regretted than the apathy dis-
played by all classes of the community on this subject,
arising from a total ignorance of our moral and physical
constitution. Undoubtedly the most potential agent in
the production of disease was the vitiated state of the
atmosphere. The offspring of the effluvia resulting from
decomposed animal and vegetable matter—or, in other
words, matter in a state of putrefaction—was fever, and,
more particularly, typhus, which caused in England and
Wales a slaughter of human beings exceeding that on the
field of Waterloo. The causes of this atmospheric dete-
rioration were the imperfect or non-drainage of fluids
and other impurities, the defective ventilation of habita-
tions, the existence of confined courts and cellars, dwell-
ing-houses without proper conveniences, and an insuffi-
cient supply of water. The drainage and sewerage at
present employed, not being constructed on scientific
principles, failed to answer the intended purpose. Mr.
Grainger here exhibited diagrams and plans of sewers,
water-closets, and ventilators, recommended by the Me-
tropolitan Health of Towns Association. Many of the
sewers now in use being flat-bottomed, the impregnated
water running through them left a deposit of solid mat-
ter, whereas the improved plans being of an oval shape,
the impure liquid, confined in a narrower current, must
run off with much greater force; thereby preventing any
deposit. Mr. Grainger concluded by expressing his con-
viction that public attention was now roused to this all-
important subject, and that the inquiry into the notorious
insalubrity of Liverpool would not cease until its causes
were completely removed.
ADJOURNED COUNTY SESSIONS.—The adjourned an-
nual general session of the peace for the county palatine,
was held on Thursday last, in the Court- house, at Preston,
for the purpose of considering the report of the committee
on county expenditure, which was presented on the 9th
of April last. Mr. T. B. Addison occupied the chair,
and there were about thirty other magistrates present.
The principal business was the adoption of a series_of
motions for earring out the recommendations in the re-
port, embodying the appointment of a general finance
committee, to have the expenditure of the whole county
in review, and sub-finance committees for the several
districts attached to each quarter sessions, who are to
have the examination and control of the accounts per-
taining to those districts. The chief officers of the
county are to report periodically to these committees the
amounts which will be required in their respective depart-
ments : and the treasurer of the county is to keep his
accounts in a given form, for which purpose be was au-
thorised to engage an additional clerk, at the annual
salary of £lOO. The design of all these alterations is to
lessen the expenditure of the county, which, on the
average of the last four years, amounts to upwards of
£BB,OOO per annum. All the resolutions for introducing
the new system, which is to commence on the 24th June
next, were carried. It was also`agreed to present a me-
morial to the Home Secretary, and to the Chancellor of
the Duchy, praying that the asssize business of the
county may be more equally distributed, as a means of
reducing the expense of criminal prosecutions, and pro-
moting the public convenience. In the course of the dis-
cussion on this subject, the chairman mentioned that the
average expense of a criminal prosecution at the Liver-
pool assizes was £37, at Lancaster assizes £l7, and at
quarter and intermediate sessions £B. The difference
arose from the length to which the assizes here were pro-
tracted ; whilst the chairman averred that the cases would
be much better tried at sessions. The court also unani-
mously resolved to memorialize the Home Secretary for
the transfer of the duties of inspectors and examiners of
weights and measures to the superintendents of the rural
police, by which a saving of £l6OO per annum would be
effected, whilst the incomes from fines would be increased.
The remaining part of the business was destitute of
public interest, and the court adjourned after sitting
nearly five hours.

DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The sub-committee
reported that there was no foundation for the charges
brought against the keeper of the Point of Ayr life-boat,
in reference to rendering assistance to the Mermaid. The
Harbour-Masters' Committee reported that an error had
been committed by Mr. Askew in signing an order for the
entrance of the ship Emily into doc, to the exclusion of
the Waterloo. The report was confirmed, and a copy was
ordered to be sent to Mr. Askew. The Secretary read
the opinion of Mr. Sergeant Wilde, which had been taken
on the subject of a grant of money to the Northern and
Southern Hospitals. It went to show that the contribu-
tions to the building in question would be an illegal ap-
plication of the funds—that the money which the Dock
Trustees were authorised to give was not applicable to the
public benefit generally, but only to persons in their own
employment,—that the extent of relief afforded by each
party should be the rule to regulate the amount, and that
the increase of subscription must depend on the number
of dock workmen receiving relief. Some remarks were
made by several members on this subject, in the course of
which Mr. Tobin opposed the grant, as being illegal, and
said it would be much better for the Committee to put
their hands into their own pockets and pay the money
themselves. [This course was suggested by the chair-
man at the previous meeting.] The Chairman said,
in allusion to some statements he was reported to have
made in the House of Commons as to the inspection of
the plans for landing stages, that he had one or two re-
marks to make. It had been said by Mr. Mallaby, at a
meeting of the Birkenhead Commissioners, as reported
in a paper which he held in his hand, that he (Mr. Moore)
having solemnly declared, in his examination in chief, that
he was not aware any gentleman from the commissioners
of Birkenhead had attended to inspect those plans, he was
bound to admit, on cross-examination, that he had seen
them, but had received no official information on the sub-
ject. As that charged him with seeing them, it only re-
quired one word from him,—it was perfectly untrue, as
he never saw them, and had no communication with them,
and never knew any thing about them, except from hear-
say. He heard that they had been there, but that was
some time afterwards. What he stated was, that he did
not know, and, on cross-examination, that he did not
know from his own knowledge, but he had heard of it.
Mr. Mason, the secretary, was then referred to, who
stated that the chairman (Mr. Moore) was not present,
and did not know of their coming. They came on a
Thursday, when he (the Secretary) was engaged in an ad-
joining room, and he had no notice of their intention to
come. Some one came and told him that Mr. Jackson
and other gentlemen were waiting, and that they wanted
something. On going across the stairs he met them, and,
having stated their object, they examined the models. The
Chairman said it was too contemptible a thing to take any
notice of, but he thought it due to the committee that
they should know the truth. The Secretary then read the
letter he addressed to the Commissioners, dated the 16th
Dec., enclosing the correspondence between Messrs.
Hartley and Rendell, to which no answer had ever been
returned. Mr. Wood said he put the question to them as
to the letter, and they did not know any thing about it.
The proceedings soon after terminated.

CORRESPONDENCE.

CHURCH EXTENSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SlR,—The effort now about to be made by the congre-
gation assembling at St. Simon's, for the rebuilding and
enlargement of their church, will, it is hoped, stimulate
all faithful churchmen to contribute cheerfully their mite
to carry into effect so desirable an object; and whilst
their attention is directed to the spiritual destitution of
this particular district, let it not for a moment be for-
gotten that an equally loud and urgent appeal is made to
their liberality to supply the want of All Saints' Church,
now in possession of the Roman Catholics. At the pre-
sent time there is not a church that can accommodate the
poorer classes in this densely-crowded locality, which, I
may observe, is daily increasing by the erection of cottage
tenements. In all probability, ere long it will be requi-
site to remove St. Ann's Church for the purpose of open-
ing a thoroughfare : this will still further diminish the
means of attending a place of worship under the esta-
blishment. Let us take a lesson from the Romanists,
and emulate their zeal for proselytism, which, to appear-
ance, far exceeds the lukewarmness of professing Protes-
tants. Whatever may be the errors of their creed, their
conduct in this respect is deserving of all praise, the fruits
of which are visible in the number of chapels, &c., now
in progress in this town and suburbs.

CLERICUS

HEALTH OF TOWNS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sin,—The excitement now manifested on this very
important subject, will, it may be presumed, lead to be-
neficial results. The great desiderata to be obtained are,
a more plentiful supply of pure water, and an improved
ventilation of the over-populous districts of our town. I
rather think the council would satisfy the public mind, by
going to parliament, at an early period, for an extension
of the powers now possessed by them. The corporate
estate is in a flourishing condition, and the revenue stea-
dily increasing. The other day we noticed the excellent
prices obtained for land in Lime-street, &c., which fur-
nishes a strong argument for an additional outlay of the
funds at their disposal, in the purchase of old, dilapidated
premises for opening new or widening old streets, thereby
not only paying the cost, but bringing a surplus to their
coffers, as also keeping the reversion in their own hands,
substituting a lease of 75 years for a freehold title. We
may consider this system in the light of a perpetual spring,
which will ultimately confer an almost unlimited income
by the renewal of leases, &c., from which premises I argue
that their true line of policy is to go on in the same path
without deviat'on, both for their own interest and that of

the public generally.
Liverpool, 22nd May, 1845

TOWNSMAN.

THE MERCURY AT FAULT AGAIN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SlR,—The Mercury of last Friday states that nearly
two hundred persons applied for the situations recently
inserted in all the Liverpool papers by the select vestry,
and infers, that it free trade were granted to us by the
legislature, these persons would not have applied for the
situations thus advertised. It is well known to many—
and if the select vestry were applied to, they could con-
firm the fact—that nine-tenths of the parties applying
were either in regular employment or in business for
themselves ; and if the editor of the Mercury will inquire,
he will find that the persons elected to fill these situations
are still in their usual employment, the Poor-law Com-
missioners not having as yet confirmed these appoint-
ments. TRUTH.