The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-08 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS

DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.—We beg to refer our readers to
an advertisement in our paper of this day, announcing a sale
of Paisley manufactures by Charles Mackie and Co., whole-
sale merchants, No. 6, Lord-street. And we sincerely trust
that these gentlemen's exertions to afford employment to the
females of Paisley, by the speedy disposal of their handywork,
will be eagerly responded to.

CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.—In another column
is a short announcement of the annual meetings of the Liver-
pool Auxiliary to this society in May next. It is gratifying
to find that after all the malicious and groundless attacks on
this valuable society, it has continued to gain ground in the
affections and sympathies of the public, who have thus been
made acquainted with the animus of those who have wickedly
come forward to malign the principles and proceedings of
such a righteous institution, and all associated with it. The
names of the deputation will gratify the friends of the society,
as they ensure a full statement of its operations, and an
eloquent advocacy of its scriptural features and orthodox
foundation.

FREEMASONRY.—The Provincial Grand Lodge of Che-
shire held its annual meeting on Thursday last, at Chester,
in the apartments of the Cestrian Lodge. After the usual
business had been transacted, a splendid banquet was pre-
pared, to which about 100 of the brethren sat down. Many
ladies were admitted into the gallery, who all appeared de-
lighted with the proceedings. That most excellent man and
mason, the D.P.G.M. Brother Finchett-Maddock, presided.
A great number of the brethren of this province were pre-
sent, some of them favouring those assembled with " the
music of their most sweet voices." Many songs and glees
were sung, in admirable style, by Brothers Dodd (who par-
ticularly shone), Molineux, Thomson, Parry, Brown, &c.
Amongst the glees sung were " Hail, smiling morn "
Bishop's " Breathe, my harp "—Bishop's " Indian drum "
—George Hargreaves' new masonic glee, " Prosper the art,"
(the words by Mr. James Stonehouse, of the LIVERPOOL
STANDARD') which was enthusiastically encored, Brother
Dodd singing the solo in inimitable style—Parry's " Hail
to the craft," &c., &c. This meeting passed off in the most
delightful manner, and gratified every one who attended it.
. .

HOUSEBREAKING.—About three o'clock on the morning
of Saturday the house of a glass and hardware hawker, named
Enoch Hardy, in York-place, Copperas-hill, was broken,
open, and from the window fourteen tumbler glasses,. a num-
ber of spoons, and other property were taken. In the course
of the morning a police-officer, who was on duty near White-
chapel, met a suspicious-looking character, named Thomas
Brown, with a large bundle in h►s possession, and as his re-
plies to the questions put were extremely unsatisfactory he
was conveyed to bridewell. On being searched the articles
taken from Hardy's were found upon him, and he then said
he had bought them in Fontenoy-street. Yesterday the pri-
soner was examined at the Police-court, before Mr. Rushton,
and committed for trial at the next sessions.
BURGLARY.—About four o'clock on Sunday morning, as
Inspector Macdonald was passing the Eagle Vaults, in Falk-
land-street, Windsor, kept hy Mr. Hughes, his attention was
attracted by the noise of a dog, which was loudly barking in
the inside. He called Forshaw, No. 166, the officer on the
beat, to enquire whether this was a usual noise, and having
received a negative answer, he concluded that some robber
had obtained access, and was carrying on his work of plunder.
Forshaw was then stationed at the back of the premises,
whilst the inspector himself kept watch at the front, and in
the meantime he knocked loud at the door in order to rouse
Mr. Hughes. In a few minutes a man jumped through a
back window, and was immediately pursued and apprehended
by Forshaw. On examination, it appeared that the prisoner
had obtained an entry into the house by breaking a pane of
glass, by which he was enabled to open one of the windows
at the back. A drawer was found broken open, from which
he had taken a pair of spectacles and a penny token ; and on
his person a skeleton key was discovered. Yesterday the
prisoner was brought up at the Police-court, when Mr. Par-
kinson stated that his nerve wn. Burnes. and that he
had only very recently been discharged from the borough
gaol, where he bad been imprisoned for twelve months for
felony. Mr. Hughes identified his property, and the prisoner,
who said he would say nothing till he was on his trial, was
committed to the sessions.
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SMUGGLING.—The captain and second mate of a ship in
the Victoria Dock were, on Saturday, placed before Mr.
Rushton, charged with having carried on shore certain wine
and spirits which had not paid duty. Police-officer 77 de-
posed, that he was that morning on duty at the Victoria Dock
gate, when he saw the prisoners coming towards him. The
mate carried a ham'and a jar. He asked what was in the
jar, when the captain said " It's all right." He desired,
however, to examine it, when he discovered a bottle of wine
and a bottle of brandy. Mr. Owen, who attended for the
prisoners, said the captain was sending the ham home to boil.
As to the wine, he merely desired the mate to carry it to his
(the captain's) lodgings. The captain, in reply to a question
from Mr. Rushton, said, the ham and the liquor had been
taken from the ship's stores. It appeared that the mate had
acted under the orders of the captain ; he was, therefore,
discharged. Mr. Rushton said it was surprising that re-
spectable men would do these foolish things. Had the liquor
amounted to a certain quantity, the captain would have
forfeited £lOO. It was strange that such serious risks should
be run for trifles. The captain said he had sailed fourteen
years out of this port. Mr. Rushton thought he ought, then,
to have known better than to have put himself in jeopardy for
the sake of a shilling or two. He was fined 20s. and costs.
THE CASE OF ALLEGED STARVATION ON SHIPBOARD.
—Peter M'Minn and Robert Smith, the master and the
mate of the schooner Sealby, were, on Friday, placed at the
bar of the Central Criminal Court, and indicted for having
killed and slain John Jones, a sailor, a boy on board the
above vessel, during her voyage from Tampico to this port.
The evidence in this case was fully detailed when the accused
parties were examined before Mr. Rushton a few weeks ago.
The counsel for the mate contended that, under the circum-
stances, the course adopted was a necessary one for the
safety of the whole crew and the ship. The crew were in a
state of sickness, and, if cessation of labour had been al-
lowed, the ship and all on board must have been sacrificed.
The deceased was put to the easiest work, that of scraping
the decks, and even for this the mate was not answerable,
inasmuch as he was acting under the orders of the captain.
Several witnesses were called, who gave the prisoner Smith a
good character for humanity and mildness. Witnesses were
called who gave the prisoner M`Minn a good character for
humanity. The learned Judge having summed up the evi-
dence, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty, expressing
their belief that great blame rested on the prisoners. The
captain and the mate were again indicted for killing and
slaying another boy, named John Popham. Mr. Clarkson,
who conducted the prosecution, said, after the decision the
jury had come to as to the former case, he would not press
the second indictment, as the evidence upon which it rested
was precisely the same as that already adduced. The pri-
soners were, consequently, acquitted.

Tut POLYTP:CSINIC SOCIEM—Ure learn that the Mayer,
the chairman of the Dock Committee, and other gentlemen
having expressed their intention of being present at the next
meeting of the Polytechnic Society, but being engaged on
the usual evening, the second Tuesday in the month, the
committee have determined to postpone the meeting till
Thursday next, when those gentlemen will be,enabled to at-
tend. The subject announced for the evening is a com-
munication by Mr. Grantham, the president of the society,
on iron vessels, and which, we anticipate, will be of a highly
interesting nature.

THE LATE CHARLES BIRCH, ESQ.—In a notice of the
death of the above estimable gentleman, the Albion of yester-
day remarks, that " in 1839, from a high, but, as we thought
then and think still, mistaken, sense of honour, Mr. Birch
resigned, to the universal regret of his constituents and the
town, his seat in the town council." The circumstances
under which the resignation in question took place, and which
are suppressed by the Albion, are so honourable to the de-
ceased that we cannot resist bringing them before the notice
of thosei of our readers by whom his conduct, as a member of
the council, is not remembered. Mr. Birch, although a libe-
ral in politics, was a firm and ardent advocate of scriptural
education for the children of the poor, and opposed most stre-
nuously the anti-scriptural system introduced into the cor-
poration schools by the late whig education committee. Upon
this question he differed from the majority of the constituency
of the ward which he represented, (Castle-street,) and on the
ground that he could not conscienciously support their opi-
nions in the council, he decided upon the step of resigning
the seat which he held as their representative, thus display-
ing, as our contemporary admits, " a high," but by no means,
as he thinks, a " mistaken, sense of honour." It must have
been an object of sincere pleasure td Mr. Birch that, before
bidding farewell to this terrestrial scene, he was enabled to
witness the establishment of those sound principles, in the
management of the corporation schools, for which he had
himself so zealously contended.

JOE AT THE PUMP; OR THE BIRD-DYER OUTWITTED.—
The following highly amusing farce was enacted a few days
ago, at the residence of 'a nobleman in this neighbourhood,
which evinces an instance of that summary justice once re-
sorted to by the " good old English gentleman of the olden
time." Joe, a jolly-nosed fellow, got a bird dyed and pre-
pared for his lordship, which he had the effrontery to present
for his Lordship's purchase as a rara avis, a bird from some
unknown island. The same worthy had made sundry visits
before, and had not only been kindly treated by the steward
with meat and drink, but he and his associate had received
sums of money for curiosities. On this occasion, however,
he was ordered to the pump trough, where he was most un-
mercifully soused, amidst roars of laughter from the de-
lighted domestics, who carried the sentence into the most
satisfactory effect.
GRAND PROTESTANT CONFEDERATION SOCIETY OF
LOYAL ORANGEMEN.—The first general quarterly meeting
(Lodge 148) of the aboyis `soCtety, was held at-Host-liar-
greaves, Gilbert-street, on Saturday evening last—the Wor-
shipful Master, Thomas Whitehead, in the chair. The Lodge
opened with prayer, and after the termination of the busi-
ness was closed in like manner, the members each time
standing, and joining the officiating officer in the rehearsal
thereof. The Worshipful Master rose, and proposed suc-
cessively the healths of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the
Queen Dowager, the Princess Royal, Prince Albert, and the
rest of the Royal Family; Sir R. Peel and her Majesty's
Ministers, coupled with the Conservative Members of the
House of Commons, the Duke and the House of Lords,
Lord Sandon and Sir Howard Douglas, the Bishop and
Clergy of the Diocese, the town and trade of Liverpool—
all of which were received with loud applause. The Deputy
Master then proposed the charter toast, " The glorious and
immortal memory of the great and good King William, who
freed us from Popery, tyranny, and arbitrary power"—drunk
in solemn silence. The Deputy Master theu proposed, in a
constitutional address, " Church and Stare, and no surren-
der," when the whole company rose, and before the master
could announce the honours to be paid to the toast, gave
three hearty cheers, after which the Master stood on the
chair and acted as fugleman in the Kentish fire, which went
off in the same good style as the previous rounds. Several
other toasts were given, but we cannot find room for the
speeches which were delivered, several of which were of a
very high order; and all breathed the principles of religion,
order, and good fellowship.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH ON BOARD OF A STEAM-VESSEL.—
An inquisition was -held yesterday, before Mr. Statham,
deputy coroner for the borough, touching the death of John
Fisher, who was killed on Saturday, on board her Majesty's
steam-vessel Redwing. Michael Killeen, a fireman belong-
ing to the vessel, said, that on Saturday last the Redwing
was lying at her moorings between Woodside and Monk's
Ferry. The deceased was also a fireman on board, but, the
regular engineer being ill, he had the management of the en-
gines at the time. About a qnarter-past eight o'clock on the
morning of the day stated, deceased and witness were em-
ployed in wiping down the engines. Deceased was wiping
down the after-part of the cylinder, and witness was similarly
engaged at the opposite side of it. Deceased was kneeling
on the platform that goes] round the cylinder, while so em-
ployed. The engine was stationary when they began work,
and witness had finished and gone away for a short time.
Before the deceased finished, the tide, which was running
strong at the time, turned the paddle-wheels round, which
brought clown the piston-rod. The deceased, at the time,
was on his belly, between the cross-head (attached to the
piston-rod), and the cover of the cylinder ; and the cross-
piece came upon the deceased, and dreadfully crushed the
back of his head. Witness did not, at first, know what had
happened, and on his return to the engine-room called to the
deceased—" What is the matter ?"—and receiving no an-
swer, went up to him, and pulled him, and he fell into wit-
ness's arms. He was then quite dead. There was no fur-
ther evidence of the accident. The coroner, in addressing
the jury, said, that the death was, no doubt, accidental, but
they might, if they thought proper, impose a deodand on the
engine, which moved towards the death of the deceased. A
gentleman, he added, was
present, connected with the go-
vernment steam-service at the port, who was of opinion that
if a representation were made from the coroner and jury, re-
commending to Captain Bevis, R.N., that a general regula-
tion should be made that, while the head-engineer or his
men were employed in cleaning or adjusting the engine, a
stop-bolt, or bar, should be put on the paddle-wheels, or a
stopper under the cross-head of the piston-rod, to pi.event it
coming down. Two of the officers of the vessel, who wei e
also present, concurred in the propriety of such a recom-
mendation, which they felt assured would be attended to,—
more particularly as another accident precisely similar had
occurred within the last tW9 years. By the means stated,
the recurrence of such fatalities might easily be averted. In
the present case, he (the coroner) did not see that any one
was to blame. The deceased was well aware of the nature of
the engine, but persons of that class were generally very care-
less of their own safety. The jury, after. making several very
proper inquiries, returned a verdict of Accidental Death,
appending thereto a recommendation to Captain Bevis, to
the effect stated, which the coroner said he would by letter
communicate to that gentleman.
DEATH FROM FIGHTING.—On Sunday last, a labouring
man, named William Riding, died suddenly after a pugilistic
encounter with Joseph Boothrovd, a stonemason. The lat-
ter was apprehended, and was yesterday brought before Mr.
Rushton at the police-court, but the case was referred to the
coroner, and in consequence of the necessity for a tedious
post mortem examination of the body of the deceased, will
not be brought to a close till this day. The prisoner and the
deceased, who were related by marriage, had, it appears, a
quarrel on family matters on Saturday night and early on
Sunday morning. Both went that morning, about one
o'clock, to the house of the deceased's father, (who is also
father-in-law of the prisoner,) and who lives in Wrexham-
court, Lower Park-street, Mill-street, the deceased taking a
friend with him. They there continued to quarrel, and pri-
soner struck deceased's friend. Deceased said lie had rather
be struck himself, or words to the effect that to strike his
friend was to strike him. The quarrel continued, and they
fought in the house and both fell on the floor. Peace was
then partially restored, till about eight in the morning, when
the prisoner said to deceased " Are you agreeable to have it
out now ?" Deceased said he was, and against the will of
prisoner's wife and the father of the deceased, they went out
to fight at a piece of ground at the top of Hill-street. A
sister of the deceased told her mother where they had gone,
and she ran out and found them in a hollow piece of ground,
the prisoner standing up. and the deceased lying in a dying
state. In a few moments the deceased breathed his last. It
does not appear that any one saw a blow struck. Mr. Hodg-
son, surgeon, was called, but no marks of external violence
were observed, beyond a slight mark on one ear. Some per-
sons and a police-officer came up, and the prisoner was taken
into custody. The body of the deceased was carried to his
father's house. The hearing of the case by the jury was post-
poned until ten o'clock this day, when the result of the post
modem examination will be laid before them.
Mr. J. S. THORBURNE.—Mr. Thorburne's benefit, on
Friday last, at the Theatre-royal, was extremely well attend-
ed. The entertainments were Knowles' play of " The Wife,"
" Turning the Tables," and the " Pantomime." In the first,
Mr. Thorburne sustained the character of St. Pierre; in the
second, Jeremiah Bumps. Mr. Thorburne's St. Pierre was
a most meritorious performance. He made some excellent
points, and delivered the text with great accuracy and judg-
ment. The scene with the Duke Ferrardo, at the portico of
the ducal palace, was cleverly, very cleverly played. It drew
forth marked applause. The eloquent description of Swit-
zerland, beginning
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