The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-08 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL FEBRUARY SESSIONS

These sessions, for the trial of prisoners in the Borough
Gaol, commenced yesterday, before Gilbert Henderson, Esq.,
the recorder. The calendar contained the names of 88 priso-
ners charged with felony and 13 for misdemeanour. Of the
whole number, it is noted that, 32 can read and write imper-
fectly ; 18 can read imperfectly ; 43 can neither read nor write,
and only 8 can read and write well. The offences charged are
of the usual character, and few of them of a very grave charac-
ter. The following gentlemen were sworn in to constitute

- THE GRAND JURY.
Thos Crichlow Molyneux, iron merchant, New Quay, foreman,
William Armstrong, merchant, South Castle-street,
Gavin Brackenridge, corn merchant, Bedford-street South,
Samuel Marshall Bulley, cotton broker, South Chapel-street,
Thos. Duckworth Headlam, insurance broker, Dale-street,

Robt. Hutchinson, merchant, Old Churchyard
Timothy Bristow Hughes, broker, Royal Bank Buildings,

James Howell, cottoribriiker, -street,
John Harnett, corn broker, Fenwick-street,
William Imrie, merchant, Rumford-street,
Robt. Mason, cotton broker, Rumford-place,
James Stringer, merchant, Old Churchyard,
Chas. Robt. Simpson, merchant, Exchange-alley North,
Horatio John Webster, cotton broker, Rumford-street,
Harmood Walcot Banner, accountant, North John-street,

George Brown, rectifier, ireinon-street,
David Taylor, broker, Royal Bank Buildings,
James Houlbrook Smith, merchant, Rodney-street,
William Reynolds, broker, Clare-terrace, Edgehili,
William Mathew, lead and copper merchant, Goree,
Chas. Moore, merchant, Rumford-street.
The proclamation against vice and immorality having been
read by the Clerk of the Peace,
The RECORDER addressed the Grand Jury at same length.
He said in effect that he found from the returns before him
that there were no fewer than about one hundred prisoners for
trial on this occasion. These cases had all been sent for trial
within the short space of the forty-five days which had elapsed
since the last sitting of the court. Large, however, as was the
number of prisoners, it was not perhaps larger than might be
expected, from the severity of the season, the want of work.
and the distress that had prevailed amongst large portions of
the working and poorer classes of the community. The cha-
racter of the offences generally with which the prisoners were
charged was not very aggravated. He found but very few
artisans or mechanics amongst those to be tried; and from
this fact it appeared to him that many of the unemployed
workpeople had borne with exemplary patience and forbearance
many sufferings and privations. Still, from the nature of the
offences committed by those now in custody, it became natural
to inquire how those on whom devolved the administration of
the law for the prevaition of crime had executed their trust ;
and he thought that all those who watched the proceedings of
that court, would admit that every case that was brought be-
fore it underwent the fullest investigation, and that the offences
proved were visited with adequate punishment. But it should
be remembered that offences were committed which the law
could not suppress, or even sometimes reach. The law could
not of itself implant those true principles of morality and feeling.
which were the principal safeguard of society against vice and
aggression. These could alone be disseminated by religious and
moral instruction. He had lately seen a statistical table, show-
ing the deplorable condition of a large proportion of the in-
habitants in Vauxhall Ward, and he..had himself seen such
a want of instruction in religious and moral princi •
pies, amongst the poor in that quarter, as would be
scarcely credible were it not known. Other parts of the
town were no doubt nearly or perhaps as much debased. Again,
they had had a constant and great influx from Ireland of per-
sons in a state of destitution and ignorance which rendered
them quite unfit to mix with civilized society. He would ad-
vert to an instance in point. A young girl, whose name was in
the calendar, had left Ireland in quest of employment here ;
her parents had died of fever; her uncle had paid for her pas-
sage, and she arrived in this town with but one shilling and
sixpence in her pocket. On telling her story, she was fortu-
nate enough to get a place as a servant ; she was but a few days
there when she robbed her master. It was then found that she
was lamentably ignorant of all religious or moral principle.
She had never been to school, or at any church or chapel. It
was a difficult consideration how to deal with such culprits.
The law, however wielded, could not do all; neither could
courts of justice, orgaols. Punishment must of course be in-
flicted, but much was wanting beside in cases so deplorable,. in
order, if possible (as we understood him to imply), to bring
such offenders to a sense of rectitude of conduct, so that so-
ciety might not be affected by a continuance of their reckless
conduct. With regard to the manner in which the grand jury
should perform their duty, it would be superfluous in him to
offer any remark to so intelligent a body, and he should there-
fore dismiss them to consider the bills that would be laid be-
fore them. _ _

The grand jury then retired, and in a short time- several true
bills were found. The trials were then proceeded with, but
none of the details were of peculiar interest.
The following was the result of the principal cases yesterday :
Richard Colefield, 17, for stealing wearing apparel from Win.
Williams, in Liverpool, ten years transportation ; Ann Mack,
15, Wm. Handley, 16, for stealing boots from R. Davies, and
John Jones, for repeated thefts, ten years transportation.

COURT OF PASSAGE.—YESTERDAY.
(Before C. CROMPTON, ESQ., Assessor.)
There were ninety-three issues, and in addition, three writs
of trial.

RYAN V. STOREY

The plaintiff in this case was a cooper, and the defendant an
ironfounder, both resident in Liverpool. The action was
brought to recover a balance of .£27 12s. 6d., for casks sup-
plied to the defendant, for which the latter contended he had
paid, except a balance of .el 6 14s. 4d. paid into. court. Ver-
dict for defendant.

GARDNER V. PENSON.
This action was brought for an alleged breach of contract.
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The plaintiff was a young mSeptember
last entered into the service of the defendant, a grocer, in Great
Homer-street, at a salary of -t'3o per annum, with board and
lodgings. On the 12th of November, the plaintiff gave the de-
fendant notice to leave in a month, and on the 22d of Novem-
ber the plaintiff left his master's service for three hours,
having previously received, as was averred, the defendant's
permission. The morning afterwards the defendant, in the
presence of a police-officer, tendered him his wages up to that
date, and requested him at once to leave his service. The
plaintiff refused the tender, stating that he was willing to re-
main in defendant's service until the expiration of the notice,
on which the defendant stated that if he did not leave he would
compel him to do so, and the plaintiff then left the premises.
Two master grocers were placed in the box, who stated that a
month's notice on either side was the custom of the trade.
Mr. BLAIR, for the defence, contended that the plaintiff,
without permission. absented himself from the defendant's
service on the 22nd November. and that, in conecggencc,-hc at liberty at once to discharge him.
The jury found a verdict for the defendant. •
HUBERT V. WELLS.

This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a teacher of
French, to recover the sum of £22145. 6d. from the defendant,
a schoolmaster, at Bootle. Verdict for the plaintiff.

THE NEW GAS BILL

The surveying officers appointed by her Majesty's Woods,
Forests, and Land Revenues (G. H. Walley, Esq., barrister, and
Samuel Clegg, Esq., civil engineer), to make preliminary en-
quiries with reference to the bill now before the House of
Commons, having for its object the amalgamation of the two
gas companies, attended yesterday in the parish-office, Fen-
wick-street. _ .

Air. Carson and Mr. .1. B. Lloyd, solicitors, appeared as pro-
moters of the bill. The Town-Clerk appeared to watch the
proceedings on behalf of the Town Council of the borough.
Mr. Reay appeared on behalf of the gas consumers of Liverpool,
as a consumer himself, and alsO on the part of the Liverpool
Guardian Society for the protection of trade.
Mr. CARSON then read a statement of the objects of the bill.
A long discussion then took place as to the mode of pro-
ceeding; after which,
Mr. CARSON proceeded to open the case on behalf of the
promoters. He entered into a concise and luminous history of
the progress of the companies, the nature of the opposition
they had met with, and the reasons which had induced the two
companies to seek the present amalgamation—a suggestion
Which had emanated from theTown-Council—indeed, he might
add that it was in accordance with their request; for they were
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grounds, and also prevent the too frequent breaking up of the
streets. He added, that in addition to the advantages to be
derived to the public, the proposed system wo aid have the effect
of placing gas property on a more secure foundation, as it was
only reasonable to suppose that the Town-Council would stre-
nuously oppose the establishment of a third company.
After a short address from Mr. Lloyd,
The Engineering Barrister proceeded to propound the first
requirement :
. .

A A block plan, on a scale of not less than thirty
to the mile, showing the site of the gas works, the mains and
branch pipes, the position of each public lamp or burner, the
oil lamps distinguished by the letter 0, and the gas lights by
the letter G." inches
Mr. Carson, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. King, and the Town.clerk, al?
replied that there was no such plan in existence; and Mr.
Carson said such a plan would cost several thousand pounds,
and would take at least twelve months to make it. •
In answer to several of the other requirements, Mr. Carson
handed in a report of the last year's commissioners, and also a
printed copy of the evidence then taken ; but this did not seem
entirely to satisfy the commissioners, who proceeded to examine
several witnesses on the subject; but as their evidence did not
exhibit any facts beyond those so fully reported at the last en-
quiry, we do not think it necessary to repeat it. At four o'clock
the enquiry was adjourned until this day. The commissioners
propose to survey the works in the course of the morning, and
to resume the enquiry at two o'clock.

COTTON MARKET.—YESTERDAY.
We really regret to have occasion to report a gradually ad-
vancing cotton market, knowing, as we well do, that the posi-
tion of the trade is such that it cannot be responded to in the
manufacturing districts. Low and ordinary American is selling
at 4i(l.—which is id. per lb. higher than it was six weeks since.
Sales to-day 6,000 bales—all trade. Amongst a fleet of foreign
arrivals, yesterday and to-day, we have only three vessels cot-
tonladen. The stock is now in few hands—the bulk of it held
for much higher rates than those now current. Consumers
-friraid 4....41-4e-ettsalt for st faucwitataks____ _ _

James Ryan, aged 36, who lived near Mr. Muspratt's works,
was found drowned in the canal, on Saturday. He had been
drinking freely on the day it is supposed he fell into the water.
Yesterday, the Assessor in the Court of Passage, in directing
the jury in a case which involved the alleged conversion of a
winch worth only a few shillings, made some strong remarks
as to the impropriety of occupying the court with such a tri-
fling dispute. Such a case, lie said, should be taken to the
County Court, and some compulsory provision with that view
should be adopted by the legislature.
DEATH IN THE NEW RAILWAY TUNNEL.—Yesterday morn-
ing, George Allsop, aged 40, and another man (a miner), were
working in the new tunnel for the North Western Railway, t
Pembroke-street. The former was engaged in drilling a hole
in a piece of stone, to prepare It for blasting, when his co et
panion observed the rock giving way, and called to him to g
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THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER.—At the Police-court, yester-
eor}re good-
looking and smiling young dame, !lamed Eliza Wallburn, with
coming to the lodging-house which she keeps,. on Saturday,
and making a disturbance. The defendant said that he had
come from Newton on Saturday ; that he had previously lodged
had now found that she had a sweetheart. Mr. Rushton in-
quired what he meant Y b the mention of a sweetheart made him .Defen-
dant said that complainant had a promise ofmar-
riage,d a new sweetheart in the house; and now she had a considerable time in the complainant's house
and he
I
looked most ludicrously do e f I u when he delivered himself of
the (to him) painful fact. Thefairo
neiwith a pleasant careless
laugh? denied the soft impeachment
But did the Young man alluded
to being a sweetheart. . . you promise the '
marriage?". " Yea ke
, said she, still laughing,
ep me !" The risoner
"I did; but it
was provided he could defendant said she had
even sent the new sweetheart for the police-offcer who took
d
him into custody. The lady admitted she ha sent her new
lodger. Mr. Rushton said to the prisoner, ~
yu
there again: it is evident she won't have o. must not go
lady, " -You have made him jealous, and henceyou the disturbance."
," and to the
The prisoner was then discharged, and h
gaiety of the fair one,
his pitiable looks con-
trasted strangely with the nonchalant i
who left the court smiling and laughing
It will be seen, on reference to an ad that Mr.
alternately.
advertisement
Reeves has commenced three sweeps o,
prin-
ciple, which is more liberal than that n the metropolitan
of the provinces.