The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-25 00:00:00

A NOTORIOUS CHARACTER.

Considerable interest was excited, during the past week,
at the police-court, by the appearance there of a person who
gave his name as the Rev. J. Berrington, and set it off with
the addition of LL.D., F.R.S., to prefer a charge of felony
and assault against Mr. Healy, butcher, whom, he alleged,
had stolen from him a round of prime beef. The complain-
ant had very recently distinguished himself at Birkenhead,
by assaulting Mr. Thomas Robinson, a resident at Liscard,
at whose house he had lodged, (and from whence was missed
two silver spoons, two penknives, and other articles,) for
having had the impertinence to ask him for payment for his
lodgings when he was about to make a clandestine exit; and
it was currently thought by many persons that the tables
would be in this instance turned upon the learned doctor.
It appeared from the evidence that the doctor had ho-
noured Mr. Healy with his patronage; and, on Thursday
morning, by the direction of Dr. Berrington, a round of beef
was sent to his residence. No money, however, being forth-
coming, and sufficient time having not yet been given to de-
molish the beef, Mr. Healy thought he might possibly get a
more profitable customer for his joint, and determined there-
fore at all hands tolransfer it from the custody of the Doctor
to his own shop counter. He accordingly went there and
demanded his beef; it was, of course, refused • but as it was
fortunately deposited within arm's length of its rightful
owner, he seized hold of it, and was about to carry it away,
when a struggle ensued, in the course of which it was alleged
that Mr. Healy had designedly struck the head of the doctor's
wife or sister-in-law against the door. This constituted the
alleged robbery and assault. During the proceedings it was
intimated by Mr. Hill (superintendent of police) that the
doctor was no honester than he ought to be, and that he had
illegally made away with property from a house in Paradise Row,
which he had taken ready furnished. The case against Mr.
Healy was therefore ordered to stand over till the following
day.

On Friday, Healey again appeared to answer the charge
which had been preferred against him, but on this occasion
the Doctor was•not forthcoming. It appeared, indeed, that
he had in the course of the morning looked into the Pentice
Court, but as the lady from whom he had taken his house
was there, he perhaps thought it would be more in accordance
with his own interest to be absent than present. There being
now no complainant, the charge against Mr. Healey was dis-
missed.

A lady named Miss Sproston, then stepped forward to
charge Doctor Berrington with having illegally pledged part
of her property. Miss Sproston deposed that she lived at
No. 14, Paradise Row, and on the Ist of November last,
Berrington took her well-furnished house for a period of six
months. She then left Chester, but a fortnight had not
elapsed, before she received a letter from a person who used
to work for her, and who then lived with Dr. Berrington,
intimating that her property was being pledged by order of
Mrs. Berrington, day after day, and that if she did not return
home, her house would soon be emptied of its furniture.
She accordingly, did return, and then discovered that sheets,
blankets, silver spoons, &c., belonging to herself, had been
pledged by order of Mrs. errington, to different persons,
and in different names.

Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Wakefield produced the pawn
tickets of the spoons, blankets, and sheets.
The Mayor expressed himself strongly upon the conduct of
the defendants, and issued warrants for their apprehension.
Several tradesmen with rueful faces were present during
the proceedings, on whose credulity Berrington has been
living since he has been in Chester, and who are consequently
swindled out of their property.
The defendant is a well known character. We learn from
the Carlisle Patriot that about Midsummer last the Doctor
made his debut in the neighbourhood of Carlisle. A classical
school had been established at Stanwix, near that city, for
some years, and on the resignation of the principal at Mid-
summer last, it was announced that after the vacation it
would be opened under the superintendence of the Rev. J.
Berrington, LL.D., F.R.A.S., F.L.S.. Circulars were
issued, and parents were informed that their sons would be
taught all the useful branches of knowledge, and " particular
attention paid to their religious and moral training. On the
arrival of the Doctor, the tradesmen of the neighbourhood
prepared to receive his orders. Cabinet-makers were sent
for, and furniture was ordered to the amount of between
£l5O and £2OO. Jewellers too were honoured with a call,
and gold watches, silver snuff-boxes, silver waiters, &c. were
poured into the Doctor's residence. Silks, satins, shawls,
&c. were provided for the ladies of the establishment in abun-
dance, and the liberality of the Doctor in making purchases
appeared to know no bounds. All went on very well for
some time. After a while, however, the tradesmen who had
been honoured with Dr. Berrington's calls began to whisper
with each other, and shake their heads very significantly.
The jeweller began to think that his gold watches and silver
trays would he quite as profitably employed on his own coun-
ter as in the custody of the Doctor ; the mercer, wine mer-
chant, and bookseller, were of the same opinion ; and as
none of them could get anything like payment for their
goods, forth they all sallied to the domicile of the learned
Doctor, and having by stratagem obtained an entrance, each
carried off what he first laid his hands upon, until the whole
of the Doctor's domestic paraphernalia had disappeared
with the rapidity of lightning. The Doctor and his lady
were therefore obliged to fly, and selected Gretna for their
abode. His tormentors, however, followed him thither and
being again compelled to abscond, he ultimately fled to Liver-
pool, and from thence to Chester, where we have now the
honour of his company.
On Saturday, the Doctor and his wife were again brought
up to the office, in custody of the police-officer. After the
charge of Miss Sproston had been heard, the Doctor was
liberated, on promising to give up possession of his house,
and leave the town ; and his wife was fined £1 55., or to be
committed to prison for a month. Where they will make
their next sojourn, of course we cannot say.—Chester
Courant.

THE NIGER EXPEDITION.—Her Majesty's steamer Wil-
berforce, commanded by Lieutenant Webb, left the coast of
Africa about the 14th of October, touched at Madeira for
coal on the 31st, left there on the Gth inst., and arrived at
Plymouth on the 17th. She is principally manned by co-
loured people, there being only four or five Europeans, who
were taken from other government ships, and but three of
those who joined the expedition originally—viz., the com-
mander, carpenter, and engineer, It is said these three would
be willing to go out again, although they have all been at-
tacked by the fever. The commander and carpenter appear
in good health ; but the eireets of the climate, aggravated
perhaps by the nature of his occupation, have left melancholy
evidence on the person of the engineer. The Wilberforce is
gone up Hamoaze to receive some necessary repairs.
MR. COBDEN AND HIS FALLACIES.—We observe that the
Stockport Advertis-r has published a series of letters, ad-
dressed by "A' SHOPKEEPER," to Mr. Cobden, M. P„
which, for extent of information, originality of thought, vigour
of diction, and bold exposure of popular humbug, are among
the best specimens of political writing we have lately read.
As the series is now complete, it has been re-published in a
form, which will ensure for it a wider and more lasting cir-
culation than can possibly be given to it in the columns of a
provincial newspaper. Such a demolition of the delusions
of the Anti-Corn-Law League is much needed; and we sin-
cerely trust, that all who are anxious for the cause of truth,
and the maintenance of the best interests of the country, will
aid the distribution of this masterly refutation of the dange-
rous fallacies and mischevious propositions of the Anti-Corn
Law League.—Nottingham Journal.
MELANCHOLY EVENTS. —On Thursday se'nnight, as
Mr. Hunt, organist of Hereford Cathedral, was proceeding
at a quick pace along the cloisters, he stumbled over a hand-
barrow which bad been most carelessly left there in the dark,
and which had upon it a number of dishes and plates. The
violence of the fall was so great, that Mr. Hunt received a
deep wound in the front of the arm from a piece of broken
dish ; several tendons were divided, and numerous small
blood vessels, from which considerable hrecnorrhage took
place. Mr. Hunt went on well until Saturday week, when
some febrile excitement began to exhibit itself, and, on Sun-
day, and the following day, the constitutional irritability in-
creased ; and, notwithstanding the most prompt assistance
rendered, Mr. Hunt expired on Thursday last. On Sunday
evening, Mr. Hunt's nephew, an amiable youth, who was a
chorister in the Cathedral, and was under his uncle's tuition
and adoption, died from the effects of the shock which his
relative's death had occasioned to his sensitive frame; and
the two bodies have been consigned to the same tomb.
We regret to record the death of a serjeant of marines,
named Thomas Tatchell, under the following melancholy cir-
cumstances, offering another example of the fatal effects
arising from the incautious use of fire-arms. On Thursday
morning last, about 11 o'clock, the deceased, with two per-
sons, named Thomas Spuraway and James Kemp, the latter
a grocer, residing in William-street, Morice-town, who had
been sparrow shooting together, were returning to Morice-
town, Kemp carrying the gun, which was loaded with small
shot. Spuraway, observing it was cocked, said it was dan-
gerous to carry it in that state, took the gun from Kemp,
and after showing him the way to uncock it, Kemp not
knowing how to do it, this being the first time he had ever
fired a gun, returned it cocked into Kemp's hands that he
might do it himself. The deceased was then a short distance
ahead. In Kemp's attempt to uncock, the gun suddenly
exploded, and its contents entered the deceased's side, who
cried—" Oh ! oh ! you have killed me," and staggering
about fell to the ground. He was taken home, and almost
immediately after expired.—Plymouth paper.

MESMERISM IN JAMAlCA.—Mesmerism has for some time
been making a noise in Jamaica, the expounder of its myste-
ries there being a Mr. Garrison. Latterly it has been put to
a practical test, a lady having had a tooth extracted while
under its influence. The dental operator was a Mr. J. T.
Dias, not a believer in the mesmeric theory, and he says in
his report of the case,—" During the few moments which Mr.
Garrison occupied in placing the lady under mesmeric influ-
ence, I kept myself aloof from the patient, and not until I
was informed all was ready would I approach her. In doing
So, such part of the room was selected to enable all the by-
standers to witness this very singular exhibition. Mr. Gar-
rison then manipulated, to produce a relaxation of those
muscles which kept the mouth slut, and gradually effected
extension : the head was somewhat elevated, the eyes per-
fectly closed. I immediately applied the scariticator, and not
the slightest wince, not a movement of the most minute de-
scription, could I detect. In the act of introducing the for-
ceps, the mouth partly closed, and (forgetting the situation of
the patient) I requested her to extend the mouth, with which
she immediately complied. The tooth was instantaneously
removed—the mouth remained extended—the eyes were still
closed—not a shrink did I observe—not a muscle did I see

move—and myself and all present were left to form our own
opinions. The tooth has three fangs connected together,
forming one large root in a somewhat conical form ; the length
somewhat better than three quarters of an inch. What ap-
peared to me, however, most inexplic .ble, was the circum-
stance of the mouth retaining its original position, still ex-
tended after the removal of the tooth, which is perfectly un-
natural, and which has never been witnessed by me during a
practice of twenty-one years; and not until the mesmeric
operator manipulated the jaws to cause contraction, did the
patient attempt to eject the blood from her mouth."
FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLENHEIM.—The following account
of this unfortunate affair is sent us by a correspondent :—On
Thursday Morning I was going through the park, when I
heard the report of a gun, and passing through Coombe
Lodge, was told that Eliott, the park and game keeper, had
shot a young woman- It appears that Eliott was shooting
at a doe, and the poor girl was wooding at a distance of
551 yards ; the keeper missed the doe, but unfortunately shot
the poor girl through the chest ; it was purely accidental, and
Eliott is very much distressed at the occurrence. The poor
girl, whose name I believe is Oldacres, was conveyed to the
George public-house at Hamborough, and a coroner's in-
quest was to sit yesterday morning. It is a curious circum-
stance that this poor girl's brother was killed about twelve
months since on the railroad. Since we received the above,
we have obtained the particulars of the inquest which was
held before James Westall, Esq., coroner for the county,
from which it appears that when the melancholy accident
took place the keeper was near the High Lodge, shooting deer
with a rifle, and that the poor girl, who is only thirteen years
of age and was picking up wood near Spring Lock-gate,
a distance of 555 yards, 330 of which are very thickly inter-
spersed with trees, which prevented the keeper seeing the
deceased, when she was struck by a ball, which entered her
left breast, and caused instant death. It appeared, on ex-
amination, that the ball must have glanced off some hard
substance. Some men passing at the time, attracted by the
screams of children, picked her up, but found she was quite
dead. After a long investigation the jury returned a verdict
of " Homicide by misadventure," accompanied by an ex-
pression of their opinion, that the keeper had not used due cau-
tion when shooting in the park at the time of picking up wood ;
it being stated that the Duke of Marlborough had given`posi-
five orders that no deer be shot on what are called " wood.
ing days." We are pleased to hear that the duke and duchess
on hearing of the sad accident sent over to the family, and
did what they could to alleviate their misery by liberally ad-
ministering to their aid.-01/ord Herald.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR,—As our letter to you, simply countermanding the in-
sertion of the advertisment of Me commissioners of Birken-
head, is made the ground for announcing to the public, in
your paper of yesterday, that the commissioners had aban-
doned the measures mentioned in their notice, we deem it
right to say, that saving the expense of inserting two adver-
tisements, when by the standing orders of parliament one
was sufficient, was the only reason for requesting you not to
repeat the insertion. Our mode of communicating that
request to you, we never conjectured would have been the
subject of a leading article. quoting the authority of the clerk
of the commissioners for the assertion, that their measures
were abandoned.

We are, sir,
Yours most obedient y,
MALLABY and TOWNSEND.

Liverpool, 23d November. 1842.
[We are really sorry to find that we were in error in con-
cluding that the proposed magnificent projects of the com-
missioners of Birkenhead are abandoned. For the sake of
the inhabitants of Birkenhead we are sorry. We do think,
however, notwithstanding the explanation of Messrs. Mal-
laby and Townsend, that we had a perfect right to build upon
their note the conclusion of which they complain. If the
standing orders of parliament require only one publication of
their notice—and we rather think the orders in question did
not insist upon any notice at all in Lancashire—they might
be presumed to know that, when they favoured as with an
order for its publication three tunes. They might have been
presumed to know that, on the morning of the day upon
which the countermand in question was written. Apparent-
ly, however, they did not ; and we come to that judgment
from the circumstance of their clerk having called upon us,
on that morning, to conflux' the order for the continued in-
sertion of the notice. ThP necessity for economising must,
therefore, have suggested itself somewhat suddenly.]

ORDINATIONS APPOINTED.

Bishop of Ely
77 Winchester .
Archbishop of York
Bishop of Durham
tI Oxford
7t 'Worcester
t Chichester
Gloucester and Bristol
)1 Lincoln
tf Hereford
Norfolk

November 27
December 11
.. 18

... lB
18
18
18
18

18
18
(1813) January 29

SOCIALIST MARRIAGES.

At the Borough Court of Requests, London, Peter Shep-
herd was summoned by Hyppolite Jasmin, a French friseur,
for the sum of 14s. 6d., alleged to be due by the former for
sundry dressings of his wife's hair.
FA Defendant pleaded that the person calling herself Charlotte
Corday Roland de la Platierre Shepherd, was not his lawful
wife, but his social, or St. Simonian one, and that latterly he
had discarded her because she had become. a " she" Chartist,
or a rights-of-woman wife. The latter was the most intoler-
able species of spouse of all.
M. Jasmin, in sound French and broken English, stated
that he was a private friseur des dames, and lodged in the
Surrey Circus. He received no ladies at home, but a:tended
them a leur propre domicile. His reputation was great
among the Surrey (theatre) beauties. 11 avait arrange la
belle chevelure de la dame Shepherd depuis 9 ans, et le sieur
Pierre Shepherd, l'avait toujours paye. Latterly he refused
to do so, and I summoned him for twenty-nine dressings of
madam's hair a douze sons chaque, ce qui fait selon ce grand
mathematicien Anglais Cockeye quartorze shellings et demi.
That is my declaration of facts, M. le Commissionaire.
The Commissioner.—Clearly stated, and short enough.
Why refuse the Frenchman's demand, Mr. Shepherd?
Mr. Shepherd.—Charlotte Corday Roland de la Platierre
Tourterelle (for that's her right name) is no wife of mine.
In 1833-4 I met her at the Burton-crescent Rooms, at a
ecture on St. Simonianism, delivered by one Signor Fon-
tuna, and as we both relished the doctrines delivered by that
foreign priest and apostle of socialism, we, after an hour's
courtship, got married by him according to tha rights of St.
Simoniad. I lived happily enough with Mademoiselle Thar-
lotte until she became a disciple of Miss Mary Ann Walker
and Miss Susanna Cleopatra Inge, ever since which fatal
epoch she has been trying to display such physical superi-
ority over me, that I have resolved to teach her a practical
esson—to show her to all intents and purposes that she was
a femme sole, and that she was equal to man in thihgs
physical, she must be also equal to him in things pecuniary,
and pay her own debts.
The Commissioner (to plaintiff).--Do you know whether
defendant is the lawful husband of Charlotte Corday, &c. ?
M. Jasmiu.—l'm afeared que non. C'etait, a ce qu'on me
dit un marriage de gueux—what you other English call a
hedge marriage.

Tie Comrnissioner.—Was the lady living with defendant
during these 29 dressings of the hair with which you charge
him ?

M. Jasmin.—Non, Monsieur. Depuis six semaines elle
est domiciliee chez M. Cato, petit homme bien laid et bein
mal propre et mal mis, qni tient un cafe miserable dans le
Old Bailey ou se reunissent les Chartists.
The Commissioner.-1 regret that I cannot assist you, M.
Jasmin. Ido not think that Socialist husbands are liable for
the debts of Socialist wives. You had better take out a fresh
summons against Mdlle. Charlotte, &c., who, no doubt, will
show her title to the rights of man by paying, as honest men
do, her honest debts.
M. Jasmin.—Merci Bien. Je suivrai votre bon conseil et
citerai devant vous la Demoiselle Charlotte Corday Roland de
la Platierre Touterelle.

DODDRIDGE, WILBERFORCE, AND
LEGH RICHMOND.

(From the London Record.)

About a century since there lived an honest oilman in
London, who left behind him an orphan of such promise,
that a noble lady offered him an university education for the
church, with her patronage afterwards. This offer, which
set before him a certain provision forlife, the youth declined,
casting in his lot with the Independent Dissenters, among
whom he lived and died, the minister of one of their meet-
ing-houses in a country town. He left behind him a little
volume, entitled " The Rise and Progress of Religion in the
Soul," of which it is but moderate praise to say that it has
been the means of conferring "the gift of the Holy Ghost"
on more souls than any bishop since the apostles' times can
hope to welcome as his spiritual children. Just fifty years
after, a copy of this little book fell into the hands of a young
gentleman of guy and worldly habits, immersed in pleasure
and public business, and who, though baptised and confirmed
in the church, and educated at one of our universities, was
an utter stranger to the very first rudiments of spiritual reli-
gion, It was read, and thought over, and, in his case, as in
thonsands of others, it was made the means of "changing
his heart." He became a " new man ;" he received " the
gift of the Holy Ghost ;" and the medium by which this en-
tire change was effected, was that little volume, the work of
a Dissenting Minister—" The Rise and Progress of Religion
in the Soul." But the change became manifest by its fruits.
The young gentleman himself, though only a layman, felt in-
wardly moved to become a teacher of religion. He writes
and publishes a book, called " A. Practical View of Chris-
tianity,"—of which it may, perhaps, be said with truth, that
the good wrought by it emulated that done by the volume to
which its author owed his conversion. We pass on a few
more years, and we behold a volatile young clergyman, who
has just taken orders, without any just or serious views of
his responsibilities, and without any personal knowledge of
that Christianity which he has undertaken to teach. A copy
of the " Practical View of Christianity" is put into his hand.
He opens it ; is arrested by the power of the Holy Spirit ;
the night passes on, but he is unable to lay down the book
until its perusal is completed ; and he rises up " a changed
man." And the fruits of this change, even if we only think
of what has already past, have probably exceeded either of
the former. But when we add together the three works,
" the Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul," " The
Practical View of Christianity," and " The Annals of the
Poor," and contemplate their united effects on the Church
of Christ,—not in England only, nor merely in Europe, but
throughout the world,—how do these squabbles about
apostolical succession" fade into insignificance, or only ex-
cite a feeling of indignation, that men's minds should be
drawn aside from realities, to dispute about external forms
and points of order. When we trace up the " Annals of the
Poor" to its providential cause, and find it to spring out of
the " Priactical View of Christianity ;" and then follow that
work upwards to its source, the " Rise and Progress of Reli-
gion in the Soul," and find its author a Dissenting minister,
we call to mind from whom " all holy desires, all good
counsels, and all just works do proceed," and we see, in the
evidence of undeniable fact, that it is not true that " the gift
of the Holy Ghost" is limited to any external lineage of so-
called " apostolical succession."

In the course of a recent pastoral visit, the Bishop of
Evreux stopped at the Chateau de Dangu, where he per-
formed a mass. At the close of the service he presented to
those who were present, as is done on such occasions. his
ring-finger for them to kiss the ring, but a labouring man,
who was ignorant of the nature of the ceremony, thinking
the bishop wished to shake hands with him, caught the hand
firmly in his own, and, shaking it heartily, said, amidst the
laughter of all who were present, and which they were un-
able to restrain, "Merci, monsigneur, ca va biers, el vows.'"

AFFECTATION of SUAVITY.—There are some who affec
a want of affectation, and flatter themselves that they are
above flattery ; they are proud of being thought extremely,
humble, and would go round the world to punish those who
thought them capable of revenge; they are so satisfied of the
sauvity of their own temper that they would quarrel with
their dearest benefactor only for doubting it. And yet so
very blind are all their acquaintance to these their numerous
qualifications and merits, that the possessor of them invaria-
bly discovers, when it is too late, that they have lived in the
world without a single friend, and are about to leave it with-
out a single mourner.
FRANKLIN'S SPECTACLES.— Dr. Franklin describes a
curious pair of spectacles which he used occasionally to wear :
—`• The same convexity of glass (says he) through which a
man sees clearest and best at the distance proper for reading,
is not the best for greater distances. I, therefore, had for-
merly two pair of spectacles, which I shifted occasionally;
as in travelling I sometimes read, and often wanted to regard
the prospects. Finding this change troublesome, and not
always sufficiently ready, I had the glasses cut out, and half
of each kind associated in the same circle ; the same convex
for viewing distant objects, in the upper part of the circle ;
and the most convex, proper for reading, in the lower half of
the frame. By this means, as I wear my spectacles constantly,
I have only to move my eyes up or down, as I wants to see
distinctly ; the proper glasses being always ready. Alhough
I cannot distinguish a letter, even of large print, by the naked
eye, with the assistance of this invention my
eyes are as use-
ful to me as ever they were ; and if all the
other defects of
old age could be as easily and cheaply remedies, it would be
worth while to live a good deal longer.
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.--(From the Obserrer.),lt
will be in the recollection of our readers that the Treasury
had some time back issued a commission of inquiry into the
mode and expense of collecting the public revenue of the
country, and that Lord Grenville Somerset had been placed
at the head of this commission. Differing widely as we do
in politics from this noble lord, we feel nevertheless bound
to say that he possesses great aptitude for such a mission.
His acknowledged sagacity, and intimate acquaintance with
the transactions of public business, render the selection of
him peculiarly appropriate. Mr. Courtney, a gentleman of
experience in the Treasury, was appointed secretary to the
commission, the members of which made the port of Liver-
pool the first scene of th
investigation. It is now under-
stood that the commission is about to resume more active
labours, for the purpose of taking into its consideration the
late disclosures of malversation in the customs department
of London ; and we are confident that in this investigation
they will derive every possible assistance from the commis-
sioners of customs. Lord Granville Somerset and the other
members of the commission met on Monday, at Gwydyr
House, Whitehall, for the purpose above mentioned, and
they have already requested the attendance of two officers of
the customs, who are confessedly deeply implicated in the
frauds, and ten gentlemen who are no longer in the service,
they having undergone the severest punishment which the
censure of the board could inflict. We sincerely trust that,
for the satisfaction of the public mind, Lord Granville
Somerset will not hurry in his course, and that ere long
we shall be enabled to announce the result to our readers.

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has engrafted on this contract a condition that eithittr.!M7b- gg' k Z .itg S beg—.
may put an end to the service by a month's warning" gffs•qz.--.:4, z77:llai.tvg-7 O'.l
hiring a domestic servant, therefore, if the month's walittljgg -o to, . k' ... ~.,0;-, tr •L`
is to be dispensed with, or any other tube adopted, it shotritE.4. ,ee V'tz g.. 4',..5 o ...^ t-' •
be so expressed in writing, as there might be a difficulty in ''''"ofil.47-g"
proving the precise terms of the hiring, and then the general Alcku‘g z'" g
custom would prevail. . - •
VugZi
A book should be kept to enter the terms of hiring every
servant, and which he should he required to sign, and also to
write a receipt for his wages every time they are paid; if the
servant requires a stamp, that precaution should be taken.
It frequently happens that a discharged servant makes a
claim for wages already paid, and if they have been paid by i
the master personally, without a proper receipt, he could not
defeat the claim.

The term of a month's warning or a month's wages does
not entitle the servant to a month's wages when he is dis-
missed for improper conduct. It may be difficult to give
an accurate definition of the nature of such misconduct as
would justify the discharge without the month's wages; but
there can be no doubt that insolence, disobedience of legiti-
mate orders, drunkenness, dishonesty, immoral conduct,
gross neglect of duty, or violent temper, would disentitle the
servant to the claim to a month's wages; on the other hand,
occasional carelessness, forgetfulness, inattention, untidi-
ness, ill health, indifferent or disobliging temper, would not
be a forfeiture of the wages.

A servant discharged for such gross misconduct, strictly
speaking, not only forfeits the month's wages, but also his
accruing wages ; but it is usual to pay him, pro raid, for the
actual time of service.

A servant has no right to his livery on his dismissal, either
by warning or otherwise; if, however, he has been permitted
to keep his old livery when his new one becomes due, this
would he considered as evidence of an agreement to that
effect, and the master could not compel the servant to give
up an old livery in his possession at the time of his discharge,
although he might that of the current half year.
The custom of giving the mouth's warning or the month's
wages only applies to the hiring menial or domestic servants,
so that when the hiring of a clerk, tutor, governess, traveller,
bailiff, &c., is by the year, without any stipulation as to the
mode of putting an end to the contract, the party hired has
a right to continue in the service for the whole current year,
provided he conducts himself properly ; and if discharged
without reasonable cause, might claim the whole year's
salary, although dismissed before the termination of it; and
on the other hand, if he leaves the service without reasonable
cause, he would forfeit all claim to remuneration for such
portion of the year as he may have been actually in service.
The same principle would apply when the salary is payable
half-yearly or quarterly, so far as regards the right to, or the
forfeiture of, the current salary. In such cases it is very
important to reduce to writing the express terms of the con-
tract, to enable either party to put an end to the service on a
reasonable notice.

Most people are very indulgent in giving the characters of
servants; we are unwilling to deprive them of that on which
their livelihood depends ; we recollect they may have many
trials and temptations, that fault may be corrected; that they
have no means of compelling their masters to give a cha-
racter at all; we should, therefore, certainly not exaggerate
their feelings, while at the same time the truth should
not be concealed. If we do err on this point, we err on the
right side.
" It is, however, an ill-judged lenity to overlook too often
a fault that, if repeated leads to a habit. Take, for instance,
drunkenness, certainly not an uncomm9n and decidedly one
of the most difficult habits to overcome. It is surely a greater
act of kindness to discharge the servant on the first or second
accusation, than allow the habit to be formed, by which the
character of sobriety is lost.
No action will lie against the master for giving a bad cha-
racter of a servant, even although it be a false one, unless ex-
press malice be proved. The giving a character to one who
asks for it, is in the nature of a privileged communication.
It is both sought for and given for a legitimate purpose ; it is
intended to be confidential and will be assumed to be given
bona fide, and without malice. Few would venture to give
the true character of a bad servant, if lie might be called
upon in court to prove his statement. It is only when
the character is false and maliciously given, that the party
is liable to an action. It is to be hoped few such instances
exist.
It would be extremely difficult to prove express malice ;
but the giving a bad character of a servant to a person about
to engage him, who has not applied for any character at all,
might be considered as sufficient prod of malice. Such 'a
voluntary and uncalled-for interference would certainly, un-
less explained, justify such an inference.
If any person make it a rule never to take a written cha-
racter, or to give a second character of the same servant. It
is easy to lay down general rules, when a strict adherence to
them does not affect ourselves ; but there may be many in-
stances where the refusal to give a second character might be
highly prejudicial to a good servant, and the objection to
take a written character, when its truth and authenticity are
undoubted, would be equally absurd.
A written character should certainly not be given to the
servant himself, unless under very peculiar circumstances, as
it might be misapplied, and in general the same object is ob-
tained by sending the written character to the person apply-
ing; but a strict adherence to this rule would sometimes be
a hardship, as, for instance, when a master is going abroad
or a long period, and discharges a good servant for no fault.

THE LIABILITY OF MASTERS FOR THE ACTS OF THEIR

SERVANTS.

The master is liable for any damage occasioned by the neg-
ligence or misconduct of his servant, provided the negligence
or misconduct arises in the course of the servant's employ-
ment. Thus, if a servant, by negligently driving his master's
carriage, or riding his horse, occasion an injury, the master
is liable for the damage arising from such negligence.
But the master is not liable for the wilful or malicious act
of his servant, not done in the execution of his master's
orders, as where a servant wilfully strikes another person's
horses, and thereby causes an accident, the master would not
be liable: as also when a servant has no business with his
master's horses, or who, contrary to his orders, uses them,
and in so doing causes an injury to another, the master would
not be liable.
Neither can a master be made liable for the acts of a person
who is only under his temporary control and employment,
and who is not strictly speaking his servant ; thus a person
who hires a carriage and horses by the day with a driver, the
hirer would not be responsible for any damage occasioned by
the negligence of the driver ; for although he may be under
the temporary control of the hirer, he is not so completely
his servant as to render him liable for his acts. The jobman
in this case, whose servant the driver is, would be the party
liable.
Even where a driver and horses have been hired from a
jobman for a longer period, as for a month, and the hirer
found a livery for the driver, the hirer has been held not to
be liable. So also the postmaster, and not the hirer, is
responsible for the neglect of the postboy.
This principle of liability may be applied to other cases
where a damage or injury arises from the negligence or mis-
conduct of a servant, and it may be laid down as a general
rule that whenever the servant (being strictly speaking the
servant of the master) is under his control, and acting under
his orders, the master is liable for his acts.
The servant himself will be responsible whenever the act
amounts to a misleazance or tort, (or in other words not a
mere act of omission), but it rarely happens that a person
who seeks a pecuniary compensation for an injury would ap-
ply for redress to the servant when the master is liable.
SERVANTS' PERQUISITES.

The expense of an establishment is so much influenced by
servants, particularly in London, that some general observa-
tions on this head may not be deemed misplaced, although it
must be confessed it is much easier to point out the evil than
suggest a remedy.
The days certainly have gone by when the perquisites of
servants were such that a gentleman could not dine out with-
out paying an extravagant price for his dinner, but it is to be
feared that some still exist which are as severely felt by the
heads of houses.
One of the most prominent evils in London that affect the
economy of an establishment, is the custom among trades-
people of paying the servants a per centage or allowance on
the amount of their bills. This is considered a fair perqnsite,
and almost claimed as a matter of right, when in fact it is
nothing less than a fraud, either upon the master or trades-
man.
It is a custom not confined to the inferior tradesman only,
but notoriously extends even to the most resnectable and best
established houses ; the former submit willingly to gain a
connexion, the latter are reluctantly obliged to do so, to keep
their custom. The master is in fact the sufferer, for allowing
the honest tradesman a fair profit only, he cannot afford to
deduct so large a per centage (seldom so little as five per
cent.) from his bill, and therefore the employer must
eventually pay the charge. But this is not the only evil, or
by any means the least ; the servant is directly interested in
the amount of the bill; he may not be sufficiently hardened
to allow false charges to be made, but he will not sufficiently
scrutinise, as he ought to do, weights and quantities, and,
above all, waste is encouraged to a great extent. It would
surprise many country gentlemen to hear that this practice
in London extends to butchers, bakers, fishmongers, oilmen,
buttermen, green-grocers, &c., and that the housekeeper or
cook claim their allowance from one set of tradesmen, the
butler or footman from another.
Such being the fact, what is the remedy, and in whose
hands does it lie? The respectable tradesman will tell his
customer that be is equally anxious to put an end to the evil,
but that he is compelled to submit to it; to preserve his cus-
tom, he may consent in that particular case to discontinue it,
but he will warn his customer of the consequences—he must
be prepared to hear daily complaints of the article supplied.
Meat, fish, and vegetables can easily be spoilt in the kitchen;
the oil can be made to burn badly in the lamp, discontent-
ment will prevail. What is the master to do? He should
employ the most respectable tradesmen in his neighbourhood,
and let his servants know that he is determined to part with
every one of them rather than discard a single honest trades-
man ; if he is proof against the complaints of his servants,
and, what is more difficult to bear, the badness of his dinners,
and can put up with the inconvenience of changing some of
patiencehis serva servants,
s
'hemay succeed, but he must expect that his
resolution will be severely tried. Should he
gain his point, he will find it worth the time and trouble.
It may be suggested that putting
the servants on board
wages would be a more desirable, and as effectual a remedy,
but it would not strike at the root of the evil, as the same
number of tradesmen must still be employed, though not
perhaps to the same extent.
There are many other perquisites which may occur to the
reader, some of which partake of fraud, such as feasting
frierids at the expense of the master. Then again, many
servants consider tea and sugar as fair plunder, and would
be surprised to hear this was cheating their master • to these
may be added the practice of selling broken meat, Cut as this
is generally authorised by the master,
though not to the ex-
tent to which it is really carried on, it is not so great an evil
as that first alluded to; it would not be bad economy to add
something to the cook's wages, and give the meat to the
poor. It would certainly do more good, and the difference
of the wages would probably
be saved by the diminution in
the consumption, as the temptation to waste would cease to
exist.

-------
THE QUEEN AND HER PEOPLE.—Throughout the reai
deuce of the Court at Walrner Castle, the Queen and Prince-
Albert have enjoyed in privacy their early walks, great y to
the credit of the visiters and inhabitants of Deal, whose
con-
with the course pursued during the
duct in forbearing to intrude on the august visiters contrasts
most advantageously
Queen's last visit to Brightorf, in which the Sovereign's
walks were subject to intrusion when in private, by --e
ail i
It is to
parties
Stile august
whose over zealous loyalty, however well intentioned, might,
dveimsito'nstrations of
for the convenience and pleasure of the illustrious parties,
have been wisely deferred to more public occasion
pbaeirhompaeyd,
btehafrteaet
frtohme approachingsimi miatrimoye'adl
attachment.
STRANGE AFFAIR.—A. rumour reached us yesterday—too
late, however, for us to make all requisite inquiries that a
woman in Brimington, who has died this week, confessed
to having murdered her husband about 14 years ago. He was
found_dead with his throat cut from ear to ear, and a razor
in
his
eu t litaned ; and
unfortunateshe
just before death, that
throat, and then placed the
she h
razor in his hand. tier motive was, that sbe might live with
"another man, with whom she had continued to cohabit till
death,; and suspicion was
~,L ith which she betook excited at the time by the haste
herself to the dwelling of her paramow.
We are.further informed that the latter has been apprehended ;
but how far that, or an
other part of the horrible narrative
is correct, we are unable to say at present. Next week we
shall, it is probable, be able either to confirm or contradict
the above stat‘ment
our ears.—Derby
thireCourier.
which,v.e give precisely as it reached