The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-12 00:00:00

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Ptigttft;

r to tho poriovto4 tr4iite fit Li.

proont generation,

to reap ire better divh the rewa):4

which is denied them in these; and we cannot, them-
fore, deny to Lord Mahon and his supporters our
fervent thanks for the measure of protection which
they are about to afford to the only really deserving
and valuable literature of their country.

LIVERPOOL EASTER SESSIONS.

The Easter Sessions of the peace for the borough of Li-
verpool commenced yesterday, at ten o'clock, before James
Clarke, Esq., Recorder. The calendar is extremely heavy.

It contains the names of 155 prisoners for trial, on charges
of felony, and 16 for misdemeanours and assaults—total
171.

The following gentlemen were sworn the Grand Jury
Henry Harrison, Esq., merchant, George's Dock-gates,
foreman; William Ashley, merchant, Everton-road ; Simon
Crossfield, manufacturing chemist, West Derby-street; Ed-
ward Chailoner, timber merchant, Sefton-street ; John
Campbell, merchant, Tithebarn-street ; William Byrom
Corrie, merchant, Rumford-street; Hugh Duckworth, cot-
ton broker, Everton ; Thomas Phillip Danspn, merchant,
Covent-garden ; Kenneth Dowie, merchant, Old Church-
yard ; Robert Heyworth, merchant, Everton-crescent ;
Charles Humberston, merchant, George's Dock-gates ;
Richard Jones, merchant, Everton ; Robert Ledson, ware-
house-keeper, Netherfield-road ; Thomas Lightfoot, broker,
York-terrace ; Joshua Rawdon, gentleman, Shaw-street ;
Joseph Ridgway, cotton-broker, Everton ; Jon. Robinson,
merchant, Chapel-street ; Thomas Stavert, wine-merchant,
South-hill ; Thomas Stockdale, soap-boiler, Roscommon-
street ; James Holbrook Smith, merchant, Rodney-street ;
William Holbrook Tayleure, merchant, Abercromby-square;
Robert Wilson, merchant, Shaw-street ; Mr. James Currie
Duncan, and Mr. Robert Livingstone, who did not appear
when called upon, were fined ten pounds each.
The RECORDER, in delivering his charge to the grand
jury, said, that in consequence of the excellent am angements
made by the gentlemen to whom the management of the
criminal business of this town was entrusted, he had been
enabled to look over all the depositions in the several cases
which would come before them. He was happy to tell them,
that although the calendar was very numerous indeed, still
the great bulk of the cases were not very heavy. At the
same time, however, he was compelled to make some ex-
ception. He was sorry to say that there was a large portion
of offenders, whose cases would come before them, who had
filled confidential situations, such as domestic servants,
clerks, and in different father ways. This was a class of of-
tenders who could not urge in mitigation the pressure of hard
times, or the force of necessity ; on the contrary, they were
in the receipt of good wages, and with means quite ample
enough to make provision for the ordinary wants of life.
Notwithstanding they were in good and comfortable situa-
tions, they had, from time to time, pilfered the property of
their employers. Now he was determined to watch this class
of offenders, and certainly not to spare them with regard to
punishment, because as a very learned judge, one of the very
best criminal judges which this country had ever seen, Sir
Mathew Hale, had said, "There are two kinds of mercy :
there is a mercy to the criminal, and there is a mercy to the
public." He (the Recorder) was inclined to shew mercy to
both as far as he could consistently with his duty, but mercy
to the public would be his great principle in the adminstra-
tion of the law, because property in the hands of these
persons must be carefully protected. There was an im-
portant case, No. 17 in the calendar, of this description ; it
was a prosecution against a man of the name of John Barber
Love. The amount of property taken in this case was very
large indeed. He believed the silk, which was the subject
of the robbery, was in a bonded warehouse, and the prisoner
was charged with stealing a large quantity of the silk, a
quantity amounting to many bales. The way to guide the
jury to a safe conclusion in this case, because there were
many circumstances in it, would be to look at the dates of
the different circumstances, for a knowledge of dates very
often lead to a discovery of the truth. All the property was
in a bonded warehouse, and this robbery showed the
necessity of more frequently examining the property de-
posited therein. This was on the 22nd of February. The
bulk of it was at that time perfectly safe ; all the bales were
correct and proper ; and the packages were right and correct.
In a short time after that, without knowing the precise day,
all this property was found traced to the prisoner,—no less
than thirteen or fourteen bales of silk, exceeding in value
£lOOO. It was traced to him that he had been very active in
the removal of it by railway to Manchester ; and when the
packages were discovered in Manchester, it was seen that
they had been opened, that the original covering on them had
been removed, and new canvas substituted. It did so hap-
pen that when the officers went to the prisener's place in
Liverpool, they found in his house a piece of canvass, com-
pletely corresponding with the new canvass found on the
bales, and ingredients for marking them. These were strong
facts; and though they were circumstantial evidence, yet if
the circumstances were brought home to the prisoner, he
thought that upon both grounds—namely, the very early
possession of the stolen property, and the circumstance of
new canvass being found in his place similar to that which
was put upon the bales, and ingredients for marking it
also, together with the other facts that would come out in
the course of the evidence, would lead the jury to the opi-
nion that the prisoner was the party who had stolen the
property. The law said that the earlier the possession the
stronger the case against the party who was found in pos-
session ; and in this case early possession was traced to
the prisoner. As he had before said, the cases in the ca-
lendar, though numerous, were not heavy : they were
more questions of . fact than of law ; nevertheless, if the
grand jury found themselves embarrassed, he would en-
deavour to do all he could to remove the difficulty.—The
grand jury then retired.
True bills were soon afterwards sent in against several
offenders charged with felonies of trifling importance, and
the trials commenced ; but none occurred during the day
worth reporting.

As we have stated above, the calendar contains the names
of 171 prisoners. Of these, 70 can read and write imper-
fectly ; 41 can read imperfectly ; eight can read and write
well ; and 48 can neither read nor write at all.

THAMES HAVEN DOCK AND RAILWAY
COMPANY.

Yesterday an adjourned meeting was held in the Claren-
don-rooms, South John-street, at the request of Lieut. Am-
sinck, for the purpose of receiving the reply of the directors
of the Eastern Counties Railway Company, relative to the
toll which they would charge for the traffic of the Thames
Haven Dock and Railway Company, upon their line from
Rumford to London ; and also to afford to Lieut. Amsinck
an opportunity of giving additional information regarding
the merits of the Thames Haven Company, so as to fill the
share list, and complete the works, as well as to the manner
in which it is proposed the share list should be filled.
Lieut. AUSINCK commenced by reading the resolution
agreed to at the last meeting, which was moved by Mr.
Swift, and seconded by Mr. 'Willett, to the effect that the
directors of the Eastern Counties Railway, be requested to
inform the meeting upon what conditions they would accept
the traffic of the Thames Haven Railway. This resolution
he said, was immediately transmitted to London ; and at the
monthly meeting of the full board, the directors of the East-
ern Counties passed a resolution to the effect, that with every
good wish for the success of the Thames Haven Company,
the Eastern Counties had so much upon their hands at pre-
sent that they could not do more than say they were willing
to accede to the terms proposed in their resolution of the
9th October, 1840, provided the Thames Haven Company
were in a position to close with them upon those terms.
This resolution in itself said nothing ; nor did it hold out
any expectation or anxiety on the part of the Eastern Coun-
ties directors, that they would support the Thames Haven
Company, but he believed, from what he had beard, that the
personal feelings to do so was as strong as it could be. They
said, however, that the position in which they were would
not enable them as directors to ask their shareholders to give
assistance to any except their own undertaking, and they
could not venture upon the responsibility of diverting money
from strictly their own channel. Of course, until the
traffic of the Eastern Counties developed itself, there must
naturally be some difficulty on the part of the directors to
make that profitable which would afterwards make a profit
of itself. Since he had received this resolution, he had had
a note from Mr. Theodore Rathbone, deputy chairman of the
Eastern Counties, who expressed a warm interest in the
Thames Haven, and a desire to see it taken up. So that Mr.
Rathbone had completely done away with the feeling which
he (Mr. Amsinck) had before, that there was a disinclination
on the part of the board, and led him to view this resolution
rather in the light of declining to pledge themselves.
Some discussion took place on the merits of the Thames
Haven Railway, and its prospects of yielding a return for the
capital invested. Lieut. Amsinck entered into some long
details on these subjects, explaining that his object was to
induce the Liverpool people to take it up, because in that
case it would be taken up in London, the coal districts in the
North, and many other places, which declined doing any-
thing in the first instance. He entered into some statements
to shew that it would be a most profitable concern, and said
there was this further advantage in joining it, tnat those who
took shares would receive interest upon their payments which
would: be invested in the three per cents, so that, if nothing
were done, they would receive their money back. The toll
of the directors of the Eastern Companies, as stated in their
report for 1840, was eighteenpence per passenger ; but they
had not stated the rate at which they would carry merchan-
dise.
After much conversation, in the course of which numer-
ous questions were put to Mr. Amsinck, it was suggested
that a requisition be presented to the directors of the Eastern
Counties Railway resident in Liverpool, requesting them to
call a meeting of their shareholders here, with a view of as-
certaining how far it is possible for that company to extend
its support to the Thames Haven Company.
A requisition was immediately drawn up, and it received
the Signature of every shareholder in the Eastern Counties
who was present.
The meeting then separated.

Professional Gentlemen and Stran ersattending the Assizes
are respectfully informed that y description of BATH,
Warm, Shower, Sulphur, Va r, and Medicated, as used so
generally in London and o he Continent, may be obtained
on the shortest notice, the Victoria Baths' Cases. street,
three doors from Cl on-square, near the Itailway Offices
and St. John's Market.
FLY FISHING.—The lover of what Isaac Walton calls
" the gentle craft," should inspect a stock of flies manufac-
tured by Mr. Blacker, whose address will he found elsewhere.
The specimens we have seen are really beautiful, and appear
likely to attract and deceive the " cunning'st fish" that
swims. The angler ought now to be preparing for the
streams ; and he cannot fill his pocket-book with any better
than the flies made by this skilful tier.
MECHANICS INSTITUTION.—On Wednesday evening last,
Mr. Hodson commenced a course of lectures on education,
which promises to be a very interesting one. The various
influences which operate in the production of human cha-
racter, were enumerated and illustrated with great fecility
and effect ; the principal object in view being to ascertain
the place which direct or special education occupies among
them. Mr. Hodgson assigned it to the highest place, and
justified his doing so on two grounds : first, as education,
including that of home and school, was one of the earliest,
and therefore most :permanent,' causes in the production of
character ' • and second, because, from attention to it, we
must look to the proper direction for the other influences.
From the well-known general abilities of Mr. Hodgson, and
still more from the special opportunities he has had, to mas-
ter this subject, we cannot doubt that the course will be very
interesting to all who recognize in education the chief cause
of individual and social advancement.
- -

GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL.—The congregation of Laura
Chapel, Bath, where the Rev. Dr. Tottenham officiates as
pastor, having learnt that the church was on sale, and being
desirous of continuing his useful ministrations among them,
entered into a private subscription for the purpose of raising
a fund to present to the rev. gentleman, to enable him to
become the purchaser of the church. This fund, amounting
to the unusually large sum of £2,560, was presented to Dr.
Tottenham, last week, through the medium of Lieutenant-
General Innes, and the amount will enable him, with a slight
addition from his own purse, to buy the entirety of the chapel,
and thus give him a permanent interest in the place. The
rev. gentleman was announced to have delivered the fifth of
the series of lectures on the Creed of Pope Pins, on Friday
last, but was prevented doing so through illness, and the
Rev. Mr. Baylee fulfilled the task, an abridgment of whose
powerful address we hope to find room for on Friday.

TOWS Co id pttocgnniring

'me EsAjouracil megthig or tho towt► dutateli vog helei
Vkiday
Tate Mayor commtmlcated the following reply from hf2e
Majesty to the address of the council on the birth of a son.
" The sentiments expressed to the Queen by this gratify ing
address are worthy of the patriotism and loyalty of the
council of Liverpool, and their kindly feeling to myself I
acknowledge with emotions of the truest gratitude."

)ROUGH GAOL.

The MAYOR read certain resolutions of the magistrates
respecting the borough gaol, but as it appeared that the
alterations suggested by them would cost from £12,010 to
£15,000 the resolutions were referred to the Finance Com-
mitttee.

THE NEW GALLERY OT

A letter was read from Mr. Joseph B. Yates, the president
of the Royal Institution, applying for the splendid painting
of the Crucifixion, by Hilton, in the Town-hall, to he de-
posited in the new gallery of art, for which facilities to the
public to visit the institution were promised.
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY moved that permission be granted,
and was seconded by Mr. Alderman Turner, who stated that
Mr. Aspinall was ill or he would have attended to make the
proposition.
Some conversation arose as to the exact nature of the ap-
plication, and whether the loan of the picture might not be
granted for a year or two, but ultimately it was referred to
the Finance Committee.
HEALTH OF TOWN AND BUILDING REGULATIONS BILL.
The MAYOR read a long memorial from the owners of
cottage property in Liverpool, regarding certain clauses in
this bill, remarking that it did seem strange that, after they
had agreed to the bill, they should come, at the eleventh
hour, with this complaint against the council.
The council determined, after a little discussion, not to
entertain the memorial, as the cottage owners had had an
opportunity of examining the bill and expressed themselves
satisfied with it.

FREEMEN'S APPRENTICES.
The TOWN-CLERK read his report on the enrolment of
indenture of apprenticeship for the freedom of the borough :
" The Town-clerk begs to draw the attention of the coun-
cil to the by-law, passed many years since, for requiring the
enrolment of indentures of apprenticeship within three
calendar months after their execution, in order to entitle the
apprentice to the freedom of the borough ; and to the many
applications that have been made to the council to allow
such indentures to be enrolled after the expiration of the
three months, on the ground that the parties had been
ignorant that apprenticeship to a freeman for seven years
still have a right to the freedom to the extent of the par-

liamentary franchise.
" The Town-clerk submits that the frequency of these in-
dulgencies on applications on the ground of ignorance, which
must mainly depend on, the assertion of the party, goes
materially to affect the object of the by-law, which was to
prevent the fradulent ante-dating of the indentures ' • and the
Town-clerk therefore suggests that notice of the law as to
the parliamentary franchise should be publicly given ; and,
that after six months from such notice being published, no

apprentices, on the ground of ignorance of the law, should be
admitted to have their indentures enrolled.

" Town-hall, April 6, 1842."
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE stated that a general opinion pre

vailed that, by the passing of the reform-bill, the freemen of
the town were abridged of many of their former privileges
which they would now have if they were to pursue the proper
course. The only privilege which they had lost was that
which enabled their descendants to claim immunities from
town dues.

Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved that notice should be given
of the by-law.
Mr. BOLTON objected, and said that many wise and influ-
ential men were of opinion with him, that there was no rea-
son in these privileges. They gave no notice to county vo-
ters, and he did not see why they should do so to those within
the borough.
The TOWN-CLERK said an apprenticeship to a freeeman
gave a parliamentary vote, but not a municipal vote, nor ex-
emption from town -dues. The young freemen might claim
by birth, whose fathers were freemen at the time of the pass-
ing of the reform bill.
Mr. COOPER thought two months' notice was insufficient,
and recommended that it should be extended to six months.
Agreed to, and directed to be inserted once in every paper.
THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Mr. Alderman-iiVANS, after a few preliminary remarks,
proceeded to bring forward the motion of which he had given
notice—" That the inspectors appointed by the council of
education, acting under government authority, be invited, at
their own convenience, to inspect the schools of the corpo-
ration." He said this motion was a perfectly independent
one, and quite unconnected with any other that had been or
might be brought before the council. He would remind them
that a council of education existed under the crown, which

had appointed inspectors over the whole country, whose
business it was to arrange the buildings and the management
of those schools for public instruction which were carried on
by government aid. These inspectors had received orders not
to confine the exercise of their experienee and conduct
merely to one class of schools, but, when required by schools
of independent character to give them the benefit of their
knowledge and experience. They had made many reports to
the council and bad acquired a most prodigious quantity of
information regarding general education in this and other
countries. By calling in their aid and advice, the council
would by no means compromise the high character or inde-
pendence of Liverpool, themselves, or the schools. They
had directions to render their assistance whenever required,
and on no account, by word or deed, to do anything to im-
pair the authority of trustees, governors, parents, or school-
masters. In their capacity general officers were sometimes
called upon to review regiments without having any autho-
rity over them, and in some provincial schools it was the
practise for university fellows to examine the pupils. At the
school where he (Alderman Evans) was educated, a fellow of
the College of Dublin regularly came down to their examina-
tions. It was quite obvious that periodical visits from men
of their knowledge and position would have a beneficial effect
over the governors, masters, and scholars of every school.
Nothing could be more calculated to arouse attention and
alarm, sensibility as to blame or praise—nothing more likely
to stimulate zeal and incite to new efforts. It might be ob-
served that no time had been given for the trial of the new
system ; but he maintained that in the progress of change,
when they came to such a crisis as the present, they were
bound to call in the best qualified to give advice, and put
them in the right way. One of his friends, the member for
West Derby, at the close of the discussion on Wed-
nesday, had made a pathetic, appeal to the other side,
to abstain in any way from agitating further the school
question. He would ask, who were the real agita-
tors ? They had schools in which the children of all deno-
minations of professing Christians received a good, moral,
sound, and religious education. Whence came, then, all
the disorder now observable? Children were flitting from
the schools ; their parents were alarmed ; the masters and
mistresses were in difficulty ; and now the council was asked
to forbear observations, when every week brought acts of a
still further agressive nature. •Recently the town had reason
to be proud of the schools. Liverpool was looked up to for
a model throughout the country for schools uniting religion,
morality, and secular education ; and if inspection was re-
fused, it could be looked on in no other light than as a con-
fession that those schools wers deteriorating. It might be
asked, "Why was there not a demand for inspection before ?"
In point of fact there was no apparent necessity for it ; yet
the former committee invited evrybody to come to the
schools ; and if it had occurred to them they would, no doubt,
have been glad of this inspection. They had nothing to con-
ceal, but were anxious that all persons should view their pro-
ceedings. He could not conceive upon what ground the pre•
sent committee could object to inspection, but should thin's
they would desire it above all things; and therefore, he hac
brought forward this motion. He produced the printed re-
ports of the inspectors, which he recommended to the perusa
of the new committee, as containing a mass of valuable infor•
rnation. No committee seeking to subvert one system anc
establish another would be justified in rejecting it ; and tin
necessity for it was more evident when two parties so widely
differed.
Mr. Alderman BULLEY, after a few remarks condemna,
tory of the present system of the Education Committee, and
betraying an evident opinion that the proposition to call in
the government inspectors was calculated to obstruct the
working of that system seconded the motion of Mr. Evans.
Mr. Alderman Nicol. observed that when he saw the
notice of motion on the paper, he was not only much sur-
prised at its nature, but that it should have been placed there
by Alderman Evans. Both in the Council and in the Dock
Committee he had seen him standing up for the pre-eminence
of Liverpool, had heard him speak of its intelligence and the
wonders it had performed, and knowing how unwilling and
incapable he always had professed himself to be to bring for-
ward any question from factious motives, he was surprised
to find him proposing a motion which left an inference that
a town, capable of such wonders, with a council so discrimi-
nating, intelligent, and well informed, should be unable to
do what almost any schoolmaster might do—to teach a child
to read and write, and say its prayers. (Hear, hear.) He
thought at first that the worthy alderman had brought the
question forward as a good joke, and that when he found that
he was serious, he would have shown some great incapacity
on the part of the committee to conduct the schools, but he
had riot given a single satisfactory reason why the motion
should be carried. Alderman Evans talked largely of the
change that had been made. It was not for him (Mr. N.) to
say whether that change was advantageous or otherwise. It
was sufficient that the counsel had over and over again re-
solved that the new system should be pursued, and the com-
mittee bad carried forward their intentions in the most up-
right manner. These schools had no governmentr
thegr ant,and
it would be quite supererogatory, therefore, fo
inspec-
tors to report to the council, and no other body had a right
to require any report. No longer ago than Wednesday last,
the council had confirmed the determination which they had
so often previously expressed. If Alderman Evans would
take a survey of the works at the new docks, he would find
that there was some disorder while the improvements were
going on there, as there would of necessity be at the schools
in consequence of the alterations. He was not suffered,
though on the Dock Committee of Works, to see them until
they were completed, and until the schools were ready for
inspection neither government, nor any other, inspdctors
would have any right there.
Mr. Alderman Bu LLEY remarked that they were ready.
Mr. Alderman EAULE.—Yes ; but there's nothing worth
seeing in them.
Mr. Alderman Nicol. went on to contend that this was
nothing more nor less than a continuance of those discus-
sions with which the council had been treated during the last
six months; and which were not only annoying to indivi-
duals, but discreditable to that chamber, and to the town of
Liverpool. Looking on Alderman Evans's motion as in-
tended to renew them, and considering that it was due to the
Education Committee to permit them to carry the repeated
resolutions of the council into effect, he should move as an
amendment, " That this council cannot entertain any pro-
position which has for its object avowed opposition to the
system now in operation in the corporation schools, until the
Education Committee shall have reported the completion of
their arrangements, and announced to this council that the
new system is in full practical working operation in the
schools."
Mr. BusitELL rose to second the amendment. He had
just taken the opportunity to put down upon paper three
reasons why the committee should not submit to the proposed
inspection. In the first place, he deemed the motives which
induced the motion exceedingly questionable. However
plausibly it might have been brought forward, looking at the
party from whom it had come, it was evidently intended to
throw difficulties in the way of carrying out the views of the
council. Secondly, there were clergymen and laymen in Li-
Nerpool sufficiently numerous, and quite capable and willing
to undertake the duty of inspection. And, thirdly, the in-
spectors appointed by the council of education were wedded
to a particular system, which this was intended to supersede.
But why did Alderman Evans now come forward with the
motion according to his own account; He said he thought
inspection was desirable now there had been a change in the
system. There had been a change before, and he was a
strong party to it ; but he never called for inspection till the
change was from a system which he approved, to one he did
not like. He thought it would get a condemnation of the
present plan from the government inspectors, and in some
measure overthrow it. Was the council, six weeks after it
had appointed a new head master, going to stultify them-
selves by entertaining this proposition before the forms were
arranged? Were they going to invite condemnation while
the schools were in disorder? All these motions had the
same origin and one object—to throw impediments in the
way of the new system. He (Mr. B.) for one, never would
consent to an alteration, until he was satisfied that the new
system was not as good as the old one, and many months
must elapse before this could be discovered. He would be a
party to holding out a premium to agitation. He spoke for
himself and his friends, that they would not date the" practi-
cal working of the new system until their opponents ceased
their opposition.