The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-04 00:00:00

WATCH COMMITTEE

The proceedings of the Watch Committee were next read.
It appeared from the annual report that the offences of the
constabulary had diminished during the year, and that not a
single burglary bad been committed in consequence of any
neglect on the part of the police. In 1840 two hundred and
thirty-three burglaries had been perpetrated within the bo-
rough, while in 1841 there were only one hundred and eighty-
three. The conviction Of persons apprehended was greater
last year than the one preceding. In 1840 they were 41, and
in 1841 they were 47 per cent. Drunkenness had increased,
and though the brothels had been diminished one-fourth in
amount, the number of immoral characters had not been
lessened. In 1840 one hundred and twenty.nine fires had
taken place, while in 1841 only one hundred and nine had
occurred, occasioning a loss of property to the amount of
£6,128.

THE FIRE POLICE.
The following letter was also read in the proceedings :
" Liverpool Fire and Lifelnsurance Co.,
Water-alreet, 7th Feb., 1842.

" Sir,—l have pleasure in informing you that the attention
of the Directors of this Company having been called to the
efficient services rendered by the foreman, Mr. John Hewitt,
and the men acting under him, at the fire in Thomas's ware-
house, Frederick-street, they expressed their strong sense of
the value and importance of that body, and, with a desire to
encourage a continuance of the exertions which on that oc-
casion was so signally made, they have instructed me to
transmit to you the sum of £2O 2s. 6d., which they will be
obliged by your distributing as follows :
" To Mr. John Hewitt, £5 ; 13 firemen, each lOs ; 7 fire-
men, each 7s. 6d. ' • 40 firemen, each 3s.
" It is the wish of the Directors to mark their apprecia-
tion of the energy and success with which the excellent ar-
rangements of the Fire Police are now carried out, and at the
same time specially to acknowledge and reward the efforts
and determination of those men who were present on the oc-
casion in question.
" I have the honour to be, sir, with much respect, your
very obedient servant,
(Signed) " SWINTON BOULT, Secretary.
" To James Lawrence, Esq., Chairman of the Watch
Committee of the Liverpool Town Council."
Mr. PROCTER moved that tho proceedings of the Watch
Committee be confirmed, with the exception of the publicans'
clause,
the
report of the Watch Committee on the police establish-
ment and the state of crime in the borough, with the tabular
returns, be printed, and that a copy bp sent to each member

of the council and the magistrates for the borough or county,
and that the Mayor be requested to transmit a copy to the
Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Mr. THORNHILL seconded the motion

The proceedings were confirmed, with the exception Of the
clause respecting the publicans, upon which the council had
previously determined.

MARKETS' COMMITTEE

The proceedings of the Markets' Committee, comprising
the increase of the salary of the superintendent of St. James's
Market, from £l5O to £l7O per annum, the consideration of
which had been postponed at the council, on the sth January
last, pursuant to the standing orders, were next read.
Mr. JOHN SMITH moved their confirmation.

-Mr. TOULMIN moved, as an amendment, that the salary
of Mr. Luya, the superintendent, be continued at its present
amount, £l5O.
Mr. PARKER seconded the amendment. He said he was
prepared to prove that considerable perquisites were attached
to the office of superintendent. (Cries of " Name.") He
wished those gentlemen who cried " name" would answer
him the question, whether the sweepings of the markets went
to the corporate fund ?
Mr. HENRY HOLMES said that the sweepings had been a
perquisite ever since the establishment of the market.
Mr. PARKER said the sweepings of St. John's Market had
been to the amount of £3O or £4O per year.
Mr. EARLE said the council had just heard a splendid
speech on a heap of muck. (Laughter.) They had heard a
vast deal of bombastic language on a heap of muck. (Con-
tinued laughter.)
Mr. PARKER.—If it be a heap of muck, and you get on
it, you will be the cock of the midden. (Great laughter.)
Mr. EARLE said he was very sorry if he bad touched a

tender part.
Mr. SMITH said no reason had been shown why Mr. Luya's
salary should not be advanced.

The council divided, when there appeared—
For the motion ...

Against it

Majority
The increase of the salary from £l5O to £l7O per annum
was accordingly agreed to, and the proceedings were con-

firmed. TheYolkiwing members voted for the division :
For the motion—Messrs. I. Holmes, R. Houghton, Thorn.
hill, Preston, Sandbach, Edwards, Barton, Blundell, H.
Holmes, Mellor, J. Holmes, Bolton, Aikin, Bright, Priestley,
Yates' Rigby, J. Smith, G. H. Lawrence, Jordan, Platt, A.
Smith, jun., Mather, Holt, Bulley, Freme, Evans, Barclay,
_ _

Earle. Moor', Houghton, Turner, and the Mayor.
Against it—Messrs. Shaw, Shand, Copeland, Toulmin,
Robinson, Wood, Birkett, Parker, Molyneux, and Crook.

'OWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE

The proceedings of the Town-hall Establishment Com-
mittee, comprising the appointments of David Morris, as
messenger, vice Robert
Hurley,
resigned, and of Robert
Hurley, as porter, in the vestibule of the Town-hall, the
consideration of which stood postponed at the council on the
sth January last, pursuant to the standing orders, were next
read and confirmed.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The proceedings of the Education Committee, comprising
the appointments of Mr. Robert Stone, as superintendent of
the corporation schools, and Mr. James Lees, as second
master, were read.

Mr. .MOLYNEUX, chairman of the committee, moved the
confirmation of the proceedings.
M r. EARLE said he was not so squeamish as some others in
objecting to the proceedings of committees. He regretted
that more of the members of the Education Committee were

not in their places, because he wished to make some remarks
on their proceedings, in the hope that the council would see
the necessity of not confirming a portion of them. The main
objection to the schools formerly was, that they had not given
a strictly Scriptural education. So far as the Catholics were
concerned it might be doubtful whether such an education
had been given; but to the Protestant children he maintained
that they had given an excellent and deep-rooted Scriptural
education. It appeared from the proceedings that the com-
mittee were determined not to have any more apprentices,
and the Town-clerk was of opinion the present apprentices
could be transferred to the head masters.

The TOWN-CLERK.---I say they are bound to do so by the
terms of the indentures.

Mr. EARLE was of opinion that, under such circumstances,
efficient masters ought to be employed. The committee had
clearly told them, however, that the apprentices who did not
wish to be transferred, might take their indentures ; and was
this justice? The apprentices had been heretofore bound to
people who were capable of instructing them in the art of
teaching, and if the committee employed incapable persons
they could not bind the apprentices over to them. He flat-
tered himself he should be able to show that the individual
now appointed bad great need of instruction himself, and
that he was not fit for the situation. Then, what was to be
done with the Catholic apprentices, who had been bound to
people not compelled- to oblige them to read the author-
ised version of the Scriptures? Could the committee bind
them to masters or mistresses who would usurp this power?
He should be glad to get an answer on this point. lie
charged the committee with appointing inferior persons to the
vacant situations. They had appointed Mr. Lees the school-
master of St. Michael's Church. He supposed the funds there
were rather low, for Mr. Lees had brought all his scholars with
him en masse to the corporation schools, and St. Michael's
was given up. This was what the committee called extend-
ing education. The most serious charge he had to bring
against the committee was the appointment of Mr. Stone.
He understood that this individual had passed some of his
later years in an attorney's office, and that he had the expe-
rience of teaching children at Mr. M`Neile's Sunday school.
He had formerly been with the Rev. C. W. Richards, who
was formerly at Edge-hill, and who took him as a sort of an
apprentice. The indentures did not say what he was, but
simply that he had conducted himself with propriety. They
also spoke of his having learned the higher branches of lite-
rature at Lichfield. lie (Mr. Earle) believed that Lees had
been brought up at the Blue COLA Hospital. Mr. Earle went
on to say that no fewer than 95 candidates had applied for
the situation, and that Lees had been appointed in preference
to any of them. He said he had written to nine of them,
and procured their testimonials, in order that the council
should know what their qualifications were. Mr. Earle here
quoted from a memorandum, containing marks opposite the
names of the candidates, which was said to be the private
memorandum of a member of the Education Committee.

He also quoted a letter written by Mr. Stone to the Educa-
cation Committee, enclosing testimonials from Dr. Tatter-
shall and the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, and said that it contained
ungrammatical expressions. In continuation, he said, he
should be glad to know the reason why the Education Com-
mittee had come to the resolution of excluding the Northern
Mechanics' Institution from the corporation schools, and
concluded by moving as an amendment, " That Mr. Stone's
appointment be not confirmed."
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY seconded the amendment. _ _

Mr. PARKER said it would be perfectly impossible for him
to follow Mr. Earle through his long and rambling address ;
and if Mr. Earle had used language less strong than that
which he had, he (Mr. Parker), knowing his character in this
respect, should have been much disappointed. It should be
recollected that Mr. Earle stood pledged to the public and to
the council, that so long as he had a seat in that chamber, he
would oppose the proceedings of the Education Committee,
—no matter what they might be—and every thing they brought
forward. Ile, therefore, was not surprised at the course Mr.
Earle had thought proper to take on this occasion, nor at his
having, on his own statement of facts drawn the conclusions
from them which he had just laid before the council. The
Education Committee consisted of fifteen gentlemen ; and no
proceeding could be passed but by a majority of those fifteen ;
consequently, there must have been a majority of eight to
have adopted the recommendation which had been read. (A
VOICE—" No, no, five.") Well, suppose it was five, then
Mr. Earle stood in the position of putting forward his
individual opinion in contradiction to that of the majority of
the committee upon a subject which they had most maturely
considered.

Mr. EARLE.—But there are the testimonials, you know.
Mr. PARKER was aware of the testimonials, and of the
manner in which Mr. Earle had obtained possession of those
private memoranda which he had read.
•
Mr. EARLE.—Prodigious!
Mr. PARKER, in continuation, said that Mr. Earle had a
habit of very often finding fault with gentlemen for not
having the best way of expressing themselves; but in his
opinion the manner in which the good taste of Mr. Earle
had led him to express himself on this occasion, clearly
showed that at least he was not wanting in " modest as-
surance." It was no trifling thing for the gentlemen who
had been selected for the purpose to carry out the wishes of
the council with regard to the education of the poor; and it
was no modest assertion, and no modest act to bring those
gentlemen forward before the council with an accusation.
Mr. Alderman FREME here made some reference to the
Market Committee, which was not heard at the reporters'
table.
Mr. PARKER said he would not be interrupted by Mr.
Freme or any one else whilst he was addressing the council.
Whenever he addressed the council they might depend he
would treat the chair with proper respect, and he should like
to see Mr. Freme always doing the same. If Mr. Freme had
any remark to make now, he (Mr. Parker) would listen toit.
Mr. FREME said all that he wanted to say was this, that
Mr. Parker had just now opposed the proceedings of the
Market Committee in their proposal to increase Mr. Luya's
salary ; and that Mr. Earle had an equal right to oppose the
proceedings of the Education Committee.
Mr. PARKER, in reply said that he spoke for the chairman

of the Market Committee who was against the proposal,
and if he had not been in ill health, he would himself have
expressed his opinion. But Mr. Earle attacked the Educa-
tion Committee one time after another without the slightest
reason for it. If there were anything bad or wrong in their
conduct, let him or any other gentleman move for an
enquiry, but it was most unfair for any one to be continually
attacking a body of gentlemen in the way Mr. Earle had
attacked the Education Committee. He (Mr. Parker)
should not go through the qualifications of the candidates,
but he would go into the general question. Mr. Parker
then contended that the principle of the schools was to give
a solid and useful education. and an education based upon
sound scriptural principles ; and in conclusion he warmly
defended the system pursued in the Blue Coat School. He
should vote for the confirmation of the proceedings.
Mr. Bit LLEY thought it his duty to set himself right before
the public, by stating that he had been no party to the pro-
ceedings of the Education Committee which were just read,
and that he bad not been present at the time of Mr. Stones

appointment,
Mr. EVANS considered that Mr. Earle had established the
clearest case of the Committee of Education having preferred
the inferior to the superior candidate.
Mr. PRIESTLEY said that as he had been passive in the
committee upon the subject of Mr. Stone's appointment, he
should refrain from voting in the council on the question.
Mr. SANDBACII, as a member of the Education Committee,
was quite prepared to take his full share of responsibility,
and to justify the recommendations which that committee had
made to the council. Perhaps that might sound rather bold
in the ears of his friend Mr. Earle.
Mr. EARLE.—lndeed it does.
Mr. SANDBActr, in continuation, said the Education Com-
mittee felt conscious they had pursued a proper course, and
he thanked Mr. Earle for the pains that gentleman had taken
to acquaint himself of their procee'dings, and for the labour
he had been at in writing to no fewer than nine individuals,
besides prying into the private memoranda of one of the com-
mittee. He thanked him for all this, because the more their
conduct was sifted the more would the proceedings of the
Education Committee appear right to the council. Mr.
Earle had found fault with four points specially, although he
concluded his amendment by referring to one only—
Mr. EARLE.—OnIy one at present.
Mr. SANDBACH could not pretend to follow Mr. Earle in
all that he had chosen to say, but he would endeavour to
enter a little upon the merits of each of the points that he
had raised. The first was, that' the apprenticeship system
had been discontinued, and Mr. Earle objected to that. Now
he (Mr. Sandbach) begged the council to judge the question
on its own merits, and not be led away by the impression
which seemed to have been raised that the apprenticeship
system had been abolished because it had been established
by a former committee. It was no such thing. The system
had been adopted only as an experiment ; and he had been
told that even the members of the committee who introduced
it were not agreed upon it. It was always a question in com-
mittee whether monitors or apprentices were best, and, there-
fore, they put both systems in practice. The present com-
mittee were called upon to decide whether one or two chil-
dren, who were in the schools upon trial, should be made
apprentices or not; and, therefore, the committee had to
decide the question whether the apprenticeship system should
be continued or not. They took every pains to inform them-
selves upon the question ; they consulted those in authority,
namely, the masters and mistresses. He did not know what
was the opinion of the masters who were leaving on this sub-
ject—and he did not think their opinion of much importance,
because they were leaving—but he could tell the council, that
the mistresses were decidedly of opinion that the apprentice-
ship system was a great evil. He would tell the council

why. When the indentures were once signed, the appren-
tices were subject to no controut ; they went and came just.
when they pleased; and, in short, there was no power to
oblige them to come.
Mr. BARCLAY said that was a strange thing. What were
the terms of the indentures? (Cries of " Chair.")
Mr. SANDBACH repeated that it was so. When they were
there, the master set them to instruct a class ; but they could
go and come when they pleased. Sometimes they were ill,
and made all sorts of excuses ; so that they really were not
efficient. Now the view of the education committee was,
that the monitorial system had all the advantages of the ap-
prenticeship system without its disadvantages. It brought
up poor boys and girls to be teachers, and to render all the
assistance in the schools that apprentices could. The only
objection to the monitorial system was this—that as soon as
the monitors had made a certain progress in their studies,
they could obtain a certain salary in other schools, and there-
fore they were apt to leave. But all who made this objection
admitted that if you gave to monitors the same wages that
you gave to apprentices, they would not think of leaving.

, .
The apprentices had a rate of wages paid to them, varying
three shillings to seven shillings per week, whilst the
moniiors were paid in quite a different manner : they
were paid only 3d. or 4d., or something of that sort, the
exact amount he did not know, but, at all events, every one
admitted, that if the monitors were paid the same rate of
wages as the apprentices, there would be no danger of their
leaving. The Education Committee therefore concluded,
that the monitorial system was better than the apprentice-
ship system, aini upon that account, they recommended the
council not to continue the apprenticeship system beyond
the time which they were obliged to do. With regard to
the transfer of the appretices from the old masters to
the new ones, that was a matter of course, when the recent
changes were made, and the resolution of the committee
was, that if the parent of any apprentice objected to the
transfer, the committee would be willing to cancel the in-
dentures ; and this course was meant to meet the point which
Mr. Earle complained of, that the committee were going to
compel Catholic apprentices to serve Protestant masters.
The committee had no wish to do anything of the kind, and
therefore, they said to parents, " if you object to this trans-
fer, we are ready to cancel the indentures." With regard to
Mr. Stone, he would say a few words, Mr. Earle had stated,
that Mr. Stone was in the school at the time when he be-
came a candidate. True, he was ; he had been appointed a
temporary master; and the council must bear in mind
the difficulties of the position in which the Education
Committee were placed. They were left with masters
who refused to work the schools on the principles which
the council had adopteA. What were they to do then
in such a case? He wished to avoid saying anything that
might appear harsh or personal, but he must state that those
masters were not likely to conduct the schools satisfactorily
to the committee ; and the committee resolved that they
would, until they could make their permanent arrangements,
obtain the best temporary assistance that they could.- They
obtained Mr. Stone and Mr. Jones—one for each school—
until their arrangements could be made ; but their arrange-
ments were not yet made—they were only in progress—and
it was rather unusual, he thought, to be told that the system
which the Education Committee had established, was not
successful before it had been tried. lie made this explana-
tion only to account for Mr. Stone being in the school at the
time he applied for the situation of superintendent. For that
office it was
,a fact that a vast number of applications had
been sent in ; there were not less than ninety-five, which
showed that the advertisement had been sufficiently pub-
lished.
_He supposed Mr. Earle would admit that ?

Mr. EARLE.-Aye.
Mr. SANDBACH.—And when all these applications were
sent in, a sub-committeewas appointed to read them.
Mr. EARLE.—And they weeded out all the best.
Mr. SA NDBACH : that however was done. The best, pos-
sibly all those to whom Mr. Earle had referred, were selected
to choose t'rom, and finally the committee wrote to a certain
number of those whom they thought most likely, in order to
see them personally. They did see them, and they ap-
pointed Mr. Stone unanimously. He (Mr. Sandbach) was
not present upon that occasion, but he should have voted
for Mr. Stone had he been there, for he thought his testi-
monials, notwithstanding the slur which Mr. Earle had
attempted to throw upon them, strong ones for the purpose
the committee wanted. But • Mr. Earle, in discussing this
matter, had raised a question as to the precise sort of person
that the committee wanted. Many of those whose testimo-
nials Mr. Earle had got were clergymen of the Church of
England
Mr. EARLE : And many not.

Mr. SAN DBACH would like to know whether the corpora-
tion of Liverpool would like to have seen a clergyman of
the Church of England, or a wan of very high attainments,
in a situation like that the committee had offered? This,
therefore, excluded at once a certain number—four or
five

Mr. EVANS.—Admitting what you wanted, you could not
have done better than have a clergyman of the Church of
England.

Mr. SANDBACH continued. Mr. Evans, in his address to
the council, had intimated that Mr. Stone had been ap-
pointed because he had a flock of scholars to come with him ;
but the fact was he had no scholars, therefore that argument
was not in point. He wished the council to understand that
he fully concurred in the appointment of Mr. Stone, and he
had every confidence that he would give a fair trial to the
system of having one head-master over the whole, which had
been adopted in order to obviate some difficulties that there
were in the old system. from there being no uniformity. He
left to others the duty of justifying that, and he should pro-
ceed to the next point upon which Mr. Earle had touched,
namely, the appointment of third masters. Mr. Earle had
spoken of their handwriting; he would request gentlemen to
look at this (producing some specimens.) His own opinion
was that it was a great deal better than Mr. Earle himself
could write. (Laughter.)

Mr. EARLE.—'That I know.
Mr. SANDBACII would be quite content if the children in
the schools were able to write as well as that. The schools
which had been alluded to as being now closed, were schools
that had been established at the time a reform corporation
altered the system of education. They were opened at the
time by private charity,
and they had been maintained by
private charity for the benefit of the children who had been
excluded from the corporation "schools; the necessity for
more schools having now ceased, the source from whence
they were maintained ceased to flow. Whether the children
who had gone to those schools now came to corporation
schools or not, he knew not ; but he believed that some went
to the Church of England schools, and some to the Corpo-
ration schools. With regard to the fitness cf the mas-
ters, that question must be settled by considering what
kind of education was to be given, and probably on
at issue with Mr. Earle.
that subject he should be
lie did not think that the children educated in the
corporation schools should be taught the higher branches
of classics or mathernaties;'a plain education, he thought,
was the best. He wished to have produced the rules
for the government of the schools under the reformed
corporation and to have them read, for some specimens of
English in them might perhaps amuse Mr. Earle, as he was
somewhat choice on that subject. Among them it would he
found that provision was to he made for teaching things which
were quite unsuited to the nature of such an institution, such
as the higher branches of mathematics, the classics, the de-
rivation of words, and so on. Now the Education Committee
conceived that a man capable of teaching systematically large
numbers of scholars, and of giving a plain education, was the
man whom they wanted. Then with regard to Mr. Earle's
last objection—namely, the exclusion of mechanics from the
Northern School, he would ask the Town-clerk to read the
resolution which first gave permission for them to Occupy
that school. _ _

The TOWN-CLERK then read the resolution of the council,
of the 7th August, 1839, upon the memorial of certain me-
chanics, engineers, and others, for the use of the North
School as a Mechanics' Institution, and also the memorial.
It appeared that the council gave power to the Education
Committee to comply with this memorial upon such condi-
tions and for such time as might be convenient.
Mr. SANDBACH in continuation said, the use of the pre-
mises had been granted subject to the limitations which the
Council had heard read, namely, so long as it was found con-
venient, and the committee were empowered when it was
found inconvenient to put an end to the grant. Now the
convenience of it depended very much upon the number of
the mechanics, and the time required, also upon another cir-
cumstance, of which perhaps the Council were not aware.
The masters of the north school were masters of the Me-
chanics' Institution ; but that was no longer the case ; it
was a circumstance that could not occur again, because the
present committee had taken care to stipulate that for the
whole services of the master, considering that it was impos-
sible for any man to do justice to the school unless he de-
voted his whole energy to it. The committee had continned
that school under great disadvantage, on account of the en-
gagements of Messrs. Nelson and Taafe, in teaching classes
in the evening. And what compelled the decision of the
committee was the advertisements and the bills which Mr.
Earle had just held up, from which it would be seen that the
Mechanics' Institution had quite deviated from the original
intention for which the use of the school was granted to them.
Instead of teaching mechanics and young men science and all
kinds of knowledge, the object now was amusement, dances
and masquerades.
Mr. EARLE.—Dances and masquerades !
Mr. SANDBACH.—If you will read those bills, I think you
will find something of that kind.
Mr. EARLE.—I do not think I shall find that.
Mr. SANDBACH.—At any rate they have deviated from
the terms upon what the original grant was made.
Mr. EARLE.—That may be.
Mr. SANDBACH said it was because the committee consi-
dered it inconsistent with the character of the corporation
schools, and quite unsuitable in itself to permit such pro-
ceedings, that they had decided it was inexpedient to con-

tinue the use of the school to the mechanics' institution

Mr. AIKIN warmly defended the objects of the Northern
Mechanics' Institution, and said that all the entertainments
there were, eminently calculated to elevate the minds and
improve the habits of the poor in that district.
Mr. PLATT said that Mr. Hodgson 'and Mr. Molyneux
had taken the pains of examining the testimonials of the 93
candidates, and reducing them to eight or ten. From that
selection the committee had reduced them to five. Great
regard was paid to the situations which several of the appli-
cants filled in other places, and the committee wished not to
bring them to Liverpool and to elect them to offices where
their remuneration would not be equal to what they were re-
ceiving elsewhere. The fact was they had misunderstood
the advertisement in the paper. Whan it came to the elec-
tion of the masters, he (Mr. Platt) looked over the testimo-
nials of the five, and he proposed Mr. Stone, a proposition
which was unanimously carried. (Heary hear.) He had
also proposed Mr. Lees, who had very strong testimonials,
and who was also elected. He, therefore, took his share of
the responsibility so far as it went. He concluded by saying
that at the next meeting of the council he would propose
that two other schools be founded, one at the north and the
other at the south end of the town, where the children of
the lower classes would receive a good secular and moral
education, but no religious instruction. He thought the
Northern Mechanics' Institution ought to have asked per-
, mission before they proceeded to the lengths they had.
(Hear.)
Mr. SANDBACH begged to sa that y lie was under a mis-
take when he said that dances and masquerades were carried
on in the Northern Mechanics Institution.
Mr. BIRKETT looked upon this as a question of confidence
or no confidence in the committee. The council had re-
solved, in consequence of the feeling throughout the town on
the subject, to alter the system of education, and a commit-
tee had been empowered to carry their wishes out. Now,
that committee ought to have fair play. One day they were
attacked because there were no subscribers in the schools,
and another day they were attacked because the schools were
becoming too full ; so that empty or full they could not hope
to please the gentlemen on the adverse side. He would con-
trast the conduct of the present majority in the council when
they were a minority, with the conduct of the preeent
minority when they were a majority. No man was more
opposed to the system of education which then prevailed than
he was, but the conservative party contented themselves by
protesting against it, without attempting to interrupt the
carrying of it out. But what was the conduct of the present
minority ? Here they were attacking the new system time
after time, and indeed not losing the slightest opportunity of
doing so, although the result was the same, for the council,
as he hoped they would on this occasion, confirmed the pro-
ceedings. Mr. Evans, in his speech, had expressed an
opinion that the constituency should take this matter into
their own hands, and make a change on the very next oc-
casion. He (Mr. Birkett) could only say, for his part, that
if there was any one upon the side with hom he generally
acted who would shirk this question, or make it a party or
political question, he hoped the constituency would tura
them out. He had never made it one himself, for it was a
question, in his mind, of far greater moment. The Educa-
tion Committee, he repeated, had not had fair play, but the
more they were attacked the more would he extend to them
( his confidence, and if the rest of the conservative members

in the council would adopt his line of conduct the present
system of opposition would speedily cease. He felt con-
vinced that the radical party had been encouraged to carry
on•their systematic attacks by lukewarm friends; but if the
conservatives acted as the town at large had expressed, the
warfare would be at an end.

Mr. BOLTON condemned the appointment of Mr. Stone
in strong terms, and urged that the Saturday night amuse-
ments at the Northern Mechanics' Institution were of a most
innocent and instructive character.
Mr. TURNER wished to be informed whether any of the
candidates had made inquiries as to the nature of the duties,
or whether the chairman had taken the trouble to write to
those who were of a superior character, and who had mis-
taken the nature of the situation for which they applied. In
most charitable institutions it was always customary to do
so. It appeared to him that the superintendent of the schools
ought to he a person of abilities superior to the masters. Mr.
Stone might be a very good candidate for the situation of one
of the masters, but still he was less eligible for the office of
superintendent than others who had applied for it.
Mr. YATES and Mr. BRIGHT supported the amendment.
_ .

Mr. HARBORD said lie was one oYthe Education Commit-
tee, and willing to take his share of the blame if there was
any in this matter. With regard to the conduct of the com-
mittee relative to the north school they had taken the opi-
nion of the Town-clerk, whether the school was used by the
committee of the Mechanics' Institution for legitimate pur-
poses. The Town-clerk, after referring to the placards which
had been issued, stated that the committee were not justi-
fied in sanctioning or permitting anything of the sort, and
that they were empowered to prevent the use of the school as
a Mechanics' Institution, if it interfered with the education
to be imparted to children by the servants of the council.
Now there could be no doubt that, so long as a Mechanics'
Institution was held in the North School, it was a disadvan-
tage to the children. There was every disposition, as far as
the committee could see, in Mr. Nelson to thwart their in-
tentions ; therefore, in order to prevent coming into contact
with him, they deemed it prudent and right to get rid of that
establishment. With regard to Mr. Stone, he (Mr. Har-
bord) could not say that he was present when the appoint-
ment was made ; but he had since shewn such assiduity,
willingness, and zeal, in complying with the requests of the
committee, that he trusted his qualifications would give sa-
tisfaction.

Mr. SANDS said, that, though his name was upon the
Education Committee, he had not had an opportunity of
attending it, having had other public duties to discharge as
chairman of the Dock Committee; but, from the recom-
mendation he had had of Mr. Stone, he should most likely
have voted for him. He would, however, give him a fair
trial; and if he were found not competent to discharge the
duties entrusted to him, then let him be removed.
Mr. MOLYNEUX then replied, and recapitulated all the
circumstances under which the Education Committee had
made the recommendation, and defended Mr. Stones' ap-
pointment, on the ground that, for the purpose the commit-
tee had in view, he was the most suitable man they could
find.

The council divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Aagainst it

Majority
The amendment was consequently lost. The following
members voted in the division :
For theramendment—Messrs. Thornhill, Preston, H.
Holmes, Mellor, J. Holmes, Bolton, Aikin, Bright, Yates,
Jordan, Mather, Holt, Bulley, Freme, Evans, Barclay,
Earle, Moon, and Turner.
Against it—Messrs. Shaw, Shand, R. Houghton, Sand-
bach, Copeland, Barton, Blundell, Sands, Toulmin, Cooper,
Wood, Birkett, Gladstone, Proctor, Rigby, Parker, G. H.
Lawrence, Platt, A. Smith, jun., Harboard, Houghton,
Nicol, Chilton, Molyneux, Crook, and the Mayor.
Mr. EARLE then moved another amendment, to the effect
that the appointment of Mr. Lees be not confirmed, and in
support of it, he delivered one of his usual orations. He
said it was evident from the speech of Mr. Platt, that that'
gentleman had been gulled. He hoped Mr. Platt Would in
future sleep with his eye open. If he (Mr. Earle) made use
of bombastic language, he hoped it would not be on a heap
of manure. He found that Mr. Birkett had been throwing
his shield over the Education Committee.

Mr. BIRKETT said he had the honour of representing some
ward of the town, at all events. He was not, like Mr. Earle,
a rejected alderman.

Mr. EARLE said that was a very good and clever reply.
He then praised Mr. Turner's conduct on this question.
Mr. To ULMIN.—Keep to the question.
Mr. EARLE.—Who calls " question." It seems as if Mr.
Toulmin had been sent in here to cry "question."
Mr. TOULMIN.-4 have cried "question" because you were
speaking nonsense." (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. EARLE.—Then do you call " sense," Mr. Harbord—

Mr. HARBORD.—I rise 'to order. If Mr. Earle chooses
to make himself a laughingstock for the members within
doors, and for light-minded people out of doors, he has no
right to endeavour by every possible means to make others as
ridiculous and as ludicrous as himself. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. TOULMIN rose to order, and after again the Mayor
had interfered, Mr. EARLE concluded by proposing his
amendment. _ . . . .

Mr. AIKIN hoped Mr. Earle would withdraw his amend-
ment in favour of the following one, which he (Mr. Aikin)
begged to move—namely, that the Education Committee
were not warranted in depriving the Northern Mechanics'
Institution of accommodation, and that that part of their
proceedings be not confirmed.
Mr. EARLE accordingly withdrew his amendment in favour
of the foregoing one.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE confessed that he did not approve
of twopenny concerts.
Mr. Paoc•rEn. asked whether there was any resolution of
the council authorising the school to be held as a concert-
room ? _ .

.----- -
The TOWN-CLERK replied in the negative.
Mr. AIKIN, with a view to bring about unanimity, con-
sented to withdraw the word " warranted" in his amendment.
He therefore worded it as follows :—" That that part of the
proceedings of the Education Committee depriving the North-
ern Mechanics' Institution of the use of the school-room, be
not confirmed."
Mr. MELLon. seconded the amendment.
The council then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment l5
Against it..
Majority
The amendment was consequently lost. The following
members voted in the division :
For the amendment—Messrs. Thornhill, Preston, H.
Holmes, Mellor, Bolton,
,Aikin, Bright, Yates, Jordan,
Bulley, Freme, Evans, Barclay, Earle, and Turner.
Against it—Messrs. Shaw, Shand, R. Houghton, Sand-
bach , Copeland, Barton, Blundell, Toulmin, Cooper, Wood,
Birkett, Gladstone, Procter, Rigby, Parker, G. H. Lawrence,
Platt, A. Smith, jun., Harbord, Houghton, Nicol, Chilton,
Molyneux, Crook, and the Mayor.
Mr. EVANS then moved the following amendment .—"That
the proceedings with respect to the Mechanics' Institution
be referred back to the committee, with instructions that they
are to take into consideration the propriety of continuing per-
mission to use the school as heretofore, for the purpose of
lectures and instruction only."

HOLMES seconded this amendment, and it was
unanimously
.adopted.

The council adjourned at five o'clock, to Wednesday nest,
for the despatch of the remaining business.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held
yesterday. The following members were present. Messrs.
Sands, Horsfa.ll, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Middleton, Smith,
Nicol, Mellor, Bold, Moon, Martin, Ripley, Molyneux,
Evans, Aikin, Bulley, Shand, and Sandbach. Mr. SANDS,
chairman of the committee, presided.

ADDITIONAL GRAVING DOCKS.
The SECRETARY read the following report from the Sur-
veyor, on the subject of additional Graving Dock accommo-
dation :

" I beg, in compliance with your instructions of Thursday
last, that I should consider, and report to you, what I con-
sider the most eligible situation for the construction of
Graving Dock accommodation upon the Dock estate,' to
state to you, that commencing with the south docks, I
know of no site whereon a graving dock can, with propriety,
be constructed, except upon the space of ground on the
north side of Coburg Dock, whereon one might be made,
entering either from the Queen's Dock, or in continuation
of the present Queen's Graving Docks, or a steam Graving
Dock might be placed upon the same land, opening out of
the Coburg Dock, which would, in some respects, be exceed-
ingly convenient. There could, however, be only a sufficient
length for one large ship.

The next site is the spare ground on the west side of
George's Dock, upon which a graving dock of considerable
capacity might be constructed, to be entered from George's
Basin. Against this site, however, there may be objections
brought, which I think cannot be overcome.
" The third and last situation, and which I think the
least objectionable, is the ground occupied as slate yards, on
the east side of the Prince's Basin. On this site, two graving
docks might be constructed, of the same capacity as those
north of the Clarence Dock. Two designs, for thus laying out
the ground, are herewith produced, the one showing the
graving decks opening directly from the Prince's Basin, and
laying east and west, the other opening from out of an inter-
mediate wet basin, connecting both with the Prince's Basin
and Prince's Dock. In this the graving docks lay north and
south. This intermediate basin may, at any time, be run
dry, and having graving docks laid along three of its sic*,
would, in a great degree answer the purpose of a third
graving dock."
Some desultory conversation on subject of tbis report took
place between Messrs. Evans, Mellor, Ripley, Shand, and
others, after which, the matter was referred, for a report
thereon, to the sub-committee of works.

MISCELLANEOUS,

On the recommendation of the' sub-committee for the
department of the Marine Surveyor, it was resolved,' that
10s. a-week should be allowed for " subsistence money" to
the men in the light-ships, whether on shore or otherwise.
A model of the new beacon was submitted, and referred to
the Sub-committee of Works.

A. letter from Messrs. Richard Harbord and Co. was read,
informing the committee that a claim had been made upon
them by Messrs. Bushby, Son, and. Foster, on the part of
Messrs. Sandbach, Tinne, and Co., for compensation in re-
spect of certain damage done to 100 hogsheads of sugar which
had been lodged in their warehouses, by the tidal waters of
the Mersey having burst through the sewers into the ware-
house. Messrs. Harbord stated that they should hold the
Dock Committee liable for the damage on account of the in-
security of the sewers.

Mr. EVANS said this damage was a mere casualty, and the
committee were not responsible for it.
Mr. HORSFALL suggested that the letter be referred to the
solicitor.

Mr. EVANS said he never would, for one instant, admit or
suppose a liability on the part of the Dock Committee in cases
of this sort.

Mr. HORSFALL said his own impression was that there
was no liability on the part of the committee, but at the
same time he thought it would be better to refer the letter to
the solicitor.

Mr. SANDBACH was about to ask the surveyor some
questions as to the state of the sewers at the time, when
Mr. AIKIN asked the chairman whether it would be judici-
ous to allow the surveyor to answer ? ,

The CHAIRMAN said he thought not

The letter was then referred to the solicitor,

A memorial was read requesting an additional doorway to
be made at the east side of the Prince's Dock, opposite Upper
Queen-street, which, it was static!, would be a very great
convenience. On the motion of Mr. RIPLEY, seconded by
Mr. BARCLAY, the prayer of the memorial was granted.
CONSERVANCY BILL.

Mr. IlonsrALL said he bad observed by the proceedings
in the council yesterday, that the council had a bill before
parliament for the conservancy of the river. He wished to
ask the chairman whether there was any official communi-
cation on this subject before the committee?
The CHAIRMAN said be knew nothing in his official cha-
racter except that such a bill was before parliament.
Mr. H ORSF ALL said then he should wish to move that
this committee respectfully request the council to furnish
them with a copy of the bill or the particulars of it. As
many gentlemen were new members of the committee, he
might as well mention for their information that this was a
matter which had been twice before parliament, and that in
both cases this committee were requested to co-operate with
the council in obtaining the bill. They did so, both as to
attending in London to promote the bill, and also in the ex-
pense; and he wished to know whether the council now
contemplated that the committee were to have no share in
the bill ? If they were he did not think it quite courteous
on the part of the council not to inform them of it, because
if they were to contribute towards it, in the proportion they
did upon former occasions, it was but right they should know

something about it. lf, upon the othei• hand, the coun-
cil meant to pay the whole expense, pertaps.the committee
had not much right to call upon them for information ;
but at the same time it would have been only courteous in
the Council to have informed the committee why the plan
had been changed, and why the committee were no longer to
be a party to it. His view with regard to a conservancy
bill was somewhat altered from that he formerly held, hav-
ing witnessed what had taken place upon former occasions
when they were opposed by gentlemen from Cheshire and
even from Manchester, who insisted upon baring a com-
mission. Those parties then even went so far as to say they
had a nerfect right to the conservancy, qnd that Liverpool
was a place for nothing else than their convenience. Other
parties had an object cilntrary to the interests of the Dail
Estate, and that was to protect the riser as far as Warring-
ton. It was, therefore, of great importance that the com-
mittee should know who were the conservators of the river.
In all eases it had been contemplated that the corporation or
the Dock Trust should pay the whole expense; and if the
corporation paid the whole expense, of course the inhabitants
were deeply interested in the bill.
Mr. EVANS •tsked Mr. Horsfall v.-1.-thee he had ten the
bill?

Mr. HORSF ALL said he had not, and that be knew nothing
of it, except from what had appeared in the papers yesterday.
Mr. EVANS observed that the bill was not a conservancy
bill ; it was quite different.
Mr. HORSFALL said then he should ask the corporation to
be so good as to inform the commi tee what bill it was. In
the former attempts, the gentlemen from Cheshire and Man-
chester insisted upon having powers which it was perfectly
unreasonable to concede. But the thing rested here—we

were in possession► of the money, and they looked to the
.Dock Estate or the corporation for all the money that had
to be laid out. He thought that under the bill of the Town-
council it was contemplated to spend from £3,000 to £5,000
a-year.

111 r. EVANS said there would be no expenditure of the
sort.

Mr. fIoasFALL said there would be some expense what-
ever it might be ; but it' the bill was of a different character
to that which he apprehended, he hoped the corporation
would inform the committee what it was, that they might
see what was going on.
Mr. EVANS repeated that the bill was of a different kind
to what Mr. Horsfall contemplated, but at the same time
there was sufficient justification for his remarks, because the
bill did involie expense of which the committee would be
called upon to bear their share. It would, however, be an
extremely small expense, for it was only the expense charged
by the clerk of the peace for the county.
Mr. SHAND thought the bill was not called the conser-
vancy bill. _ _

The CHAIRMAN said the title was,
servancy Bill."

" The Mersey Con.

Mr. EVANS said the object of the bill was merely to sup-
press nuisances in the river, and to prescribe the mode of

doing so.
Mr. lIoRSFALL expressed his intention of moving that
the chairman be requested to desire the town council to
furnish the committee with a copy of the bill, and also with
such information as the council might think it needful to
give to the committee.
Mr. AIKIN said that Mr. Horsfall was quite right in con-
tending that a copy of the bill should be sent to the com-
mittee in due form ; but when he saw the bill he would say
that it deserved any other name better than that of a con-
servancy bill; for Liverpool, by it, stood in no better a
position than any common carrier upon the estuary, yet the
bill said that the Corporation of Liverpool should pay the
expenses.

The CHAIRMAN said he would write to the town-clerk on
the subject, and with this assurance the conversation dropped.
The committee then separated.

CORRESPONDENCE,

ANTI-CORN-LAW LADIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—I think it my duty to address, through your co-
lumns, a caution to the public, with respect to the proceed-
ings of two females, in the dress of ladies, who, under the
pretence of calling upon the female portion of the inhabitants
to sign petitions against the corn-laws, have, during the past
week, been levying contributions upon the unwary. In se-
veral places where these impostors have called, small articles
have been immediately afterwards missed; and, in one in-
stance, a number of silver spoons, which were previously
noticed upon the table, disappeared, and have not since been
found. The parties are respectable in appearance, and of
rather plausible manners. There is no doubt, however, 1
believe, that they have not the slightest pretensions to the
character in which they appear, and that they are not in the
least connected with the petitions emanating from the Anti-
Monopoly Association.—l am, sir,
A CONSTANT READER.
Upper Parliament-street, Toxteth-park,

Ist March, 1812

NORTHERN MECHANICS' INSTITUTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SlR,—Having heard so much of the Saturday evenings'
amusements that have taken place in this institution for some
time past, my curiosity led me to take a peep on the ever.ing
of Saturday last. Before my arrival I was impressed with
the idea that perhaps I might have a ckscription of some
nice piece of machinery, or some improvement on engines,
or that probably there would he some diversion by experi-
ments on the laughing gas, or some other chemical experi-
ment; but I was sadly disappointed. On my entrance my
attention was drawn to the south end of the room, where
was erected a stage, on which was placed a piano. In a short
time a gentleman made his appearance, and commenced
singing, and playing on the piano. After some time had
been spent in vocal music, accompanied by the piano and
the guitar, an Italian made his appearance, assuming the
character of a chimney-sweep, per the vid of ventriloquism,
which apparently amused, the company very much. Part 2,
the performance recommenced by singing. &c., accompanied
by the guitar and piano, as before, and at intervals the amu-
sing ventriloquism of the artful Italian, which at once de-
lighted and amused the female mechanics and children. The
whole concluded with " Itule, Britannia!"
Mechanics of Liverpool! are you to be gulled this way ?
Is iZ for this purpose that you erect institutions, and get up
buildings? Have theatrical amusements anything to do with
mechanical institutions? No, certainly not. This is a new
way of instructing your apprentices in the construction and
use of machines and engines. .These entertainments, you
are well aware, belong to theatres, public-houses, and sing-
ing-rooms, and not to scientific institutions. Can you con-
scientiously allow your apprentices to attend such amuse-
ments as these ? This should be a place where your children
should receive instructions on mechanism and the sciences.
For that purpose have you handed in your contributions,
that you might have those you sent amused, instructed, and
enlightened in the beauty of the sciences. Is it a matter of
surprise that they received notice from the council to remove
from these premises? For my part 1 would be far more sur-
prised if they had not got notice. But it has been stated
that this performance was only carried on for the amusement
of the mechanics of the north end of Liverpool. Now let me
say that the majority of the mechanics of the north end are
disgusted at such amusements being carried on. These Sa-
turday nights' amusements are the subject of their conversa-
tion on the next day ; and not only then, but on the Monday,
when they meet together, instead of attending to some sub-
ject which might have a tendency to improve them in their
vocations, their whole time is taken up with imitations of
ventriloquism, &c., &c.—Yours, &c.,
A MECHANIC.

THE YOUNG MEN'S ESTABLISHED CHURCH
SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Slll,—l take the liberty of applying to you, as the recog-
nised organ of the evangelical party in this town, to know
what has become of the Liverpool Young Men's Established
Church Society. Its last meeting was held at the Amphi-
theatre, about a year and a half ago ; on which occasion we
were addressed by Dr. Byrth, Mr. M'Neile, and several
other gentlemen ; our respected representative, Cresswell
Cresswell, Esq., being chairman. A resolution was at that
time proposed, and carried unanimously, to the effect that
for the future the meetings of the association should be half-
yearly ; and it was stated in the report that arrangements
were pending with a view to the continuance, on the part of
various evangelical clergy of the town, of a course of lectures,
four of which had already been delivered by Mr. Baylee, Dr.
Byrth, Dr. Tattershall, and Mr. M'Neile.
Now, Mr. Editor, although loth to judge or speak harshly
of a society, the obvious tendency of whose principles, if
fairly and consistently carried out, is towards good, I feel
constrained in the present instance to observe, that it is one
thing to applaud resolutions at a public meeting, and another
to carry them into practical operation ; and to ask, how it
happens that so truly appalling a deadness has recently come
over the spirits of our Protestant young men ? Is it that,
having at length seen the helm of government assigned once
more to the guidance of conservative hands, they deem that
there is no longer scope for that exertion a necessity for
which they all formerly admitted to exist? Or is it that
their enthusiasm, fanned into a temporary flame by the
powerful influence of platform eloquence and political ex-
citement, has, in consequence of the very brightness mani-
fested at its dawn, and unable eventually to support its own
intensity, emitted its last flash, and then mournfully expired ?
1 The statement of Holy "Writ, as regards " putting one's hand
to the plough, and turning back," will most forcibly apply
as regards either of the suppositions I have hazarded respect-
ing the lamentable defection upon which I have now animad-
verted.
These hurried remarks are made more in sorrow than in
anger, and with a friendly feeling towards the respectable
parties they refer to. Relying, therefore, on your compli-
ance with my request for their insertion in your next num-
ber, I would conclude with the expression of a fervent hope
that the prediction of the accomplished Roman satirist may
be realised in reference to the subject of this communica-
tion—

" Non, si male nunc, et olim
Sic erit."
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
VIGILANS.
[The above was in type on Monday, and ought to have ap-
peared in the STANDARD of Tuesday. We cannot give any
satisfactory reply to our correspondent's question.]

POPISH BRUTALITY.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

GENTLEMEN.—One of the most outrageous, as well as un-
manly actions, was committed yesterday, the Ist March, on
the person of a poor Irish woman, who, with a child at her
breast, was applying for relief to a Roman Catholic priest,
not one mile from Key-street. The poor woman is one of
the many deluded individuals who, through ignorance,
are bound down by the iron fetters of Popery. Not long after
she had made her appearance in the yard, Father
came up and spoke to her. What passed between the poor
woman and his reserence.in the commencement of the con-
versation I was unable to hear ; but in a few seconds the
priest burst out in a most violent manner, giving utterance
to the most disgusting language ; and, not satisfied with call-
ing her all the foul names he could devise, he actually had
the audacity to follow, and continued kicking her until she
had placed her feet outside of the yard door, which leads to a
back street. And may I ask if this be a specimen of the
charity of the Romish priesthood? and, if they are allowed
to tyrannise thus far in Protestant England, what will be-
come of the poor slaves in Ireland ?—lf the said priest should
happen to read this, I am determined (if he does not take
this warning, and act with more charity for the future) to
bring stronger accusations than the above against him.
I remain
A REAL FRIEND TO THE POOR.
Oldhall-street, March 2d, 1842.

Sir Howard Douglas was one of the honoured guests at the
Premier's second parliamentary dinner, on Saturday last.
EXAMINATION OF SHIPMASTERS.—We have elsewhere
noticed a bill introduced into parliament, for the purpose of
subjecting the masters of vessels and others to the test of an
examination, prior to their being placed is posts of such
great responsibility. We are informed that Lient. Tracey,
R.N., of this town, is a candidate for the situation of head
examiner, and as we feel confident he is well qualified for the
duties, we hope his claims will not be lost sight of in making
the appointment. He has been mainly instrumental in the
establishment of the Mates' Association in this town, which,
we believe, has been already very beneficial to that hitherto
much neglected class of men.

SECOND *EDITION.

Standard-office, Eleven o'clock

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—LAST NIGHT
THE EXCHEQUER-BILL FRAUD.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose, and, after a
few introductory observations, said,—An extensive fraud
has been committed by means of a forgery of public securi-
ties to a very considerable amowit. That forgery was com-
mitted by a breach of confidence on the part of a public offi-
cer, and by one of those gross violations of duty, which
happily are rare in the annals of this country, but which,
in proportion as they are rare, create, when they do occur,
general sensation and considerable alarm. The mode in
which the fraud was committed was simply this :—an indivi-
dual in the department having had reposed in him the confi •
deuce of his superiors ; having been in that department for 28
years ; being connected with parties who had distinguished
themselves, both in the civil and military service of the coun-
try—an individual who had enjoyed the uninterrupted con-
fidence of a series of auditors and comptrollers in his de-
partment—who had received the strongest testimonies as to
his abilities and honesty from Lord Grenville, Lord Auck-
land, Sir J. Newport, and until of late of the present Comp-
troller of the Exchequer, had been guilty of the deplorable
crime of violating a most sacred duty, and abusing the
powers which he possessed to defraud the put
whose service he had been so long employed, ______ _-
whom he , was under the strongest obligation of duty,
to serve with honour and good faith. The mode in which
he committed the fraud was by possessing himself of papers
entrusted to him in his official capacity, and having so pos-
sessed himself of those papers, by taking them from the office
in which he served, in order to forge the name of the noble
lord, whose signature'Exchequer Bills were by law bound to
bear. Ile then availed himself of these forged bills as r.ego-
ciable instruments. But this was an offence which if it had
not been committed guardedly and with great precaution
would have admitted of easy detection. The course this in-
dividual pursued, assisted by agents, whose crime, perhaps,
did not equal, but certainly approached near to that of the
principal in the transaction—the mode in which he conducted
the fraud was to give those Exchequer Bills so forged as de-
posits for loans of money on condition that the very bills so
deposited should be returned to him on payment of the mo-
ney, or on other Exchequer-bills being given in the room of
these which had been originally deposited. Thus by con-
stantly at each successive change of Exchequer-bills forging
new bills, with a view to replace those forged bills already
outstanding, he contrived effectually to prevent the pre-
sentation of the forged bills at the Exchequer-office, and
"to hinder their general circulation among the commercial
community of the metropolis. Thus, he committed in
the first instance a breach of every honourable obliga-
tion ; and afterwards, by an artful concealment of the
forged instruments issued, he succeeded in Escaping
the detection to which a different course would have
certainly exposed him. On the 20th of October last an in-
dividual called upon me at my office, and informed me that
an offer had been made to him of Exchequer bills in depo-
sit in return for a loan of money, and told me that the
rate of interest offered to him upon the loan had so far
exceeded the market rate of interest, that he suspected
the bills had been stolen, or that they were the property of
some other person. Upon that information having been
communicated to me I felt it was my duty and I lost no time
to inquire into the matter. (Hear, hear.) In consequence
of the information given to me, as I already stated on the
_ _

.nd to

20th of October, the result was, that, on the 25th of the same
month, in consequence of the inquiry which was instituted,
the guilty author was taken into custody. (Ministerial
cheers.) Five days only had been occupied in bringing to
light a fraud which had been so long perpetrating. (Cheers.)
Let it not be supposed that I mention that fact to gain any
credit for the government, or for their activity. Far from it.
But I do it for this reason :—it is surprising that when so
many persons had been engaged in the fraud—amongst the
many persons who must have been cognizant of it, there
was not one public officer who had given any information
whatever on the subject ; and the result of the immediate
inquiry instituted was, that this fraud, which was carried
on from April, 1836, till October, 1841, had been detected in
the short space of time I have already mentioned. (Cheers.)
The right hon. gent. then took a glance at the conduct which
the government pursued in the matter which is already well
known to the public, and continued, I say, Sir, and I say it
advisedly, that this offence could not have been committed
in the midst of the intelligent community which inhabits the
metropolis without the person being in communication of
some persons, I will not say who were conscious of the guilty,
but I will say who must have had some knowledge of the
transaction going on, and whose duty it was to have
given information. Why, Sir, we gave the result of the
first detection of the offence. No sooner were the pro-
ceedings taken against the individual Smith, than I re-
ceived from various quarters details of suspicious circum-
stances that had occurred. 1 understood from one gentleman
that be had been offered Exchequer Bills for a loan, but he
rejected them, as they were suspicious, and this gentleman
gave me to understand that the same parties had a quantity
of Exchequer Bills—these individuals devoid of character—
that they were all ready for signature. These are circum-
stances, on the part of the public, which require to be en-
tered into, that we may properly understand the real nature
of the subject. It is, therefore, with this view that I shall
call upon parliament to institute a specific inquiry—Ooud
cheers)—not to be conducted by a committee of this
house—(hear, hear)—or by a mere commission appointed
by the crown, but, sir, by a commission appointed by par-
liament to investigate the real nature of these several
transactions, to see how business was transacted by these se-
veral persons, to know whether they were men of such sus-
picious characters that honest men would hardly be connected
with them ; whether the money advanced on the bills
received in return an interest beyond the market rate. (Hear.)
These and a variety of other circumstances require to be
rigidly and strictly investigated before the house can be cal-
led on to come to any final decision on the question ; nay,
before we can be called on to understand the nature of
the case with which we have to deal. (hear, hear.) Sir,
an inquiry of this kind requires the highest moral considera-
tion ; it is essential that the public of the country should
know how business is conducted. To the claims for com-
pensation brought before me, I have, as I conceived it my
duty to do, given the most decided refusal. The granting of
claims for compensation, in a case of this kind, is to take
away from the public the greatest security they have against
the repetition of such offences, and is to do all in your power
to render such practices of more frequent occurrence. For if I
were once to give my opinion that a man tracing these Bills
were to be compensated for any loss he might undergo,
what could Ido more, to remove all blame from him ? Or
what could I do more effectual, to encourage a criminid
individual to seduce a public servant—being sure that
the termination of the affair must be that he should
receive any money that he had expended. I, therefore,
sir, have chosen to given the least encouragement to propo-
sitions of this kind, and I do most decidedly advise the house
and parliament to weigh well all the considerations of this
case, before they are led away by any statements of party or
individual hardship, or individual suffering, before they yield
to claims of this nature. The hon. gentleman then argued
that there was no distinction as regarded the claim of com-
pensation between the law as applied to forgery on indivi-
duals or the public, and briefly alluded to the amendment
which an hon. member had given notice of.

MURDER FROM POISONING IN NOTTINGHAM

NOTTINGHAM, MARCH 2.—A dreadful case of murder
has just been inquired into and adjudicated upon by a coro-
ner's jury in Nottingham. It appears that a coal higgler,
named Robinson, living about two miles from Nottingham,
was in the constant habit of attending the market, and as
constantly was he intoxicated. In his drunken sprees he
would visit houses of ill-tame, and on Saturday week lie
was decoyed into a notorious house in Bellfounders'-
...

yard, while he was drunk. He there produced about
twenty-five shillings in money, which the man and his wife
who kept the house determined to get, and they there-
fore sent the servant girl out for some laudanum to mix
with his liquor, and send him to sleep. Twopennyworth was
administered, but it did not have the desired effect, and more
was fetched and given to him, which completely stupified
him, and he was then robbed by these harpies, and turned
into the street, where he lay for some time, till some passers-
by found him, and laid him in a stable, from whence on being
removed he died almost immediately.
An inquest was held on the body, which was adjourned
three different times, but the final conclusion was a verdict
of" Wilful murder" against Benjamin Hurd and his wife,
and the servant who fetched the laudanum. The guilty par-
ties, immediately on hearing of the death of Robinson, packed
up their household effects and hastily decamped ; and al-
though the police have been very vigilant after them, they
have not as yet been able to detect them. It is clearly proved
by the surgeons that the laudanum had been the cause of
death, while a wilful and bad intent was likewise proved
against the parties. They cannot long escape justice.