The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-20 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS.

Thomas Thornely, Esq., M.P. for Wol,erharnpton, who
has been paying a visit to the United States, arrived at this
Port on Wednesday last, in the packet-ship Roscius, from
New York.

ROBBING A GARDEN.—Yesterday, at the Police-court, a
taan named John Andrews was adjudged by Mr. Rushton to
two months imprisonment to hard labour in the borough gaol
for having stolen and destroyed a quantity of shrubs from the
garden opposite St. Jude's-terrace.
MONDAY NEXT A HOLIDAY.—We are glad to learn that
the Liverpool cotton-brokers, at their meeting on Friday,
uecided that Monday, the 26th instant, should be kept a
close holiday. This will give their clerks and apprentices
nu opportunity of enjoying themselves independently of
.Christmas day falling on a Sunday. We trust the same
feeling of liberality will be shown by the principals of every
other trade in the town.

ROBBERY BY A SHOPMAN.—A young man, respectably
dressed, named Joseph Smith, was placed at the bar of the
Police-court, yesterday, on a charge of having robbed his
employers, Messrs. Plumbe and Bright, drapers and mercers,
In Paradise-street. The prisoner, it appeared, had been in
the service of the prosecutors for about a week only. It was
Part of his duty every evening after the shop had been
Closed to turn-off the the gas meter ;e1 h
he was about to
Perform this service on Saturday night, when Mr. Plumbe,
Who was passing, observed a shawl apparently concealed in
the recess of the meter. He made no observation at the mo-
ment, but on looking for it when the prisoner was gone, he
found it had been taken away. A policeman was then called
In, who, on examination, found the shawl in the prisoner's
u°3c, and also a quantity of black silk velvet and satin, all of
Which Mr. Plumbe was able to identify, partly from private
/narks upon them, and partly from their correspondence with
the pieces from which they had been cut. The shawl, which
was quite new, was also identified. The value of the goods
found in the prisoner's possession was £7 l Os. He declined
°tiering any defence at present ; and he was committed to
take his trial at the next sessions.
TILE MAYOR'S SECOND GRAND DINNER.—The Mayor
Rave his second grand entertainment in the Town-hall on
Thursday night. The following gentlemen sere the guests
et his worship :—The Earl of Sefton, Sir John Tobin, the
Rev. Augustus Campbell, the Recorder, Mr. Commissioner
Phillips, Sir George Drinkwater, Sir Thomas Brancker, Mr.
~..Edward Rushton, Dr. Formby, Mr. John Moss, Mr. L. H.
-Thompson, Mr. Nicholas Roskill, Mr. Hardman Earle,
Nlr. Win. Potter, Mr. C. Horsfall, Mr. Samuel Sandbach,
Mr. C. S. Parker, Mr. Duncan Gibb, Mr. Samuel Turner,
Mr. I. 0. Bold, Mr. Jos. Langton, Mr. Wm. Langton,
Mr. Thos. Ripley, Mr. R. S. Henderson, Mr. Chas. Turner,
3.\'lr. Thomas 'robin, Mr. Samuel Staniforth, Mr. Richard
„I-eyland, Mr. Richard Edwards, Mr. Jos. Hornby, Mr.
Mr,
Stewart, Mr. Stanley Percival, Mr. J. P. Heywood,
-nr. R. H. Jones, Mr. Lawrence Gladstone, Mr. David
Gladstone, Mr. Thos. Stewart Gladstone, Mr. Geo. Grant,
Mr. Samuel,Bright, Mr. Daniel Neilson, Mr. Wm. Shand,
Mr. Daniel Willis, Mr. Daniel Willink, Mr. 11. C. Chap-
'll,M, Mr. Ambrose Lace, Mr. C. Bushell, and Mr. John
Puck Lloyd. At this dinner an entirely new feature was
Introduced, in the shape of a party of glee singers, composed
°t. Messrs. Andrews, Boothby, Gillow, and Holden. Mr.
George Holden presided at the piano.forte. A most agree-
able evening was spent.

ROBBERY ON BOARD SAIP.—Two sailors named Thomas
Gribbin and Michael Flynn, were charged at the Police-
court with having stolen a large quantity of tobacco from the
ship Oaklands, lying in Victoria Dock. The felony was com-
mitted on Sunday, whilst the vessel was in the charge of
Gribbin, as shipkeeper. Two hogsheads, containing tobacco,
had been stoved in, and 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 24 lb. taken therefrom.
The prisoner Flynn, and another man not in custody, locked
themselves in the forecabin, from which they had access to
the hogsheads, whilst Griffin kept watch. Flynn was stopped
by the policeman as he was about to convey the tobacco
away. In defence Flynn admitted having been down in the
forecastle, but said he had no hand in the robbery; and Grif-
fin said the other men committed it whilst he was away at
supper. The prisoners were committed for trial.

FINES ON PUBLICANS, BEERSELLERS, &c.—On Friday
about 25 individuals, chiefly publicans, were brought before
Mr. Rushton, charged, for the most part, with keeping open
house, or retailing liquors, at illegal hours on Sunday. One
or two were acquitted, the others being fined, several in 20s.
and costs, others in 405., 605., and two or three in £5 each.
Several cellar eating-house keepers were also fined for enter-
taining loose company in the night: One of them, Nicholas
Coil, keeper of a cellar in Lace-street, and who had twice
before been convicted within the last three months, was fined
£2O for selling spirituous liquors without a license. The
total fines amounted to £77 10s. One policeman (346) was
suspended for using improper language to a beerseller in the
Park, against whom lie appeared ; and the case remains for
further inquiry, he having wrongfully accused the landlord of
obstructing him, and then fastened the offence upon a brother
of the accused, who was not in court. The same officer also
accused two of the company of being reputed thieves, whereas
it appeared from the evidence adduced that they were decent
people. Mr. Rushton, in adverting to the -beneficial in-
fluence of the new act affecting keepers of public-houses and
beer-houses, said that in the last three months, during which
it had been in operation, the number of apprehensions had
been 1,100 less for cases of drunkenness than in the same
period before ; and he expected that the number in all next
year would be reduced by at least 5,000, as compared with
the previous twelve months.

DETENTION OF A PRISONER AFTER HIS TRIAL AND

ACQUITTAL AT THE SESSIONS.—The last case tried at the
Quarter Sessions (which concluded on Thursday) was that of
a youth who was charged with obtaining, by false pretences,
some articles of sea-clothing from, Messrs. Hague and Co.,
clothiers, St. James's-street. The prisoner was acquitted ;
but, in place of being discharged, the recorder, without
taking any new evidence against him, ordered him to be de-
tained and handed over to be dealt with by Mr. Rushton at
the police-court. On Friday morning, he was accordingly
brought before the stipendiary, but no evidence was brought
up. Mr. Counsellor Henderson had a private consultation
with Mr. Rushton on the bench, and the latter afterwards
stated the manner in which the prisoner had been again
given into custody, and said he should send word to the
recorder, whose court was yet virtually open, arid leave that
functionary to deal with him himself, as he was ex-officio a
magistrate, and would best know what charge was to be
brought forward. Mr. Henderson who (was the prosecuting
counsel at the sessions against the prisoner) then left the
court to communicate with the recorder, and, on his return
shortly afterwards, he communicated with Mr. Rushton,
who immediately discharged the prisoner. The cause for
this unusual proceeding on the part of the recorder did not
transpire, but, we presume, it had originated in some mis-
take.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION—MR. BENNETT'S LECTURE
ON PART AND SIG HT SINGING.—This gentleman, the
eminent vocalist, and Professor of Singing at the Royal
Academy of Music, delivered his first lecture on this popular
subject on Saturday evening, to a numerous audience, at the
Mechanics' Institution. Mr. B. patriotically diesclaims the
foreign system of teaching singing in classes, recently intro-
duced into this country : in the Elizabethan age, the art on
which he is lecturing was more universally diffused than it
is at present ; and it is only necessary to go back to the sys-
tem pursued by the celebrated chorus singers of country,
for the last two or three centuries, to discover the perfection
of the art of teaching part and sight singing. Our musical
readers will at once perceive that the union of the two tetra-
chords with the leading note, or 7th, and the use of four syl-
lables only for solmization, form the basis of Mr. Bennett's
system, for which he only claims the merit of producing it
in a tangible shape, in a well got up book containing nume-
rous exercises, at a moderate cost. This appears to be the
most scientific way of treating the subject, and its success for
centuries is well known ; and as many who have tried the
methods recently introduced will have discovered by this time
that there is no " royal road" to sight singing ; and many of
our first-rate masters will, no doubt, adopt Mr. B.'s book,
alike recommended by his eminence as a teacher, and the
long experience of the utility of his method. Mr. B. enli-
vened the lecture by two songs, given in his best mariner,
and a glee party attended. The concluding lecture will be
given to-morrow.

A COMPLETE RIG-OUT, OR OUT-REACHING AN OUT-
FITTER.—Thos. Johnson, who looked like one of the better
class of seamen, was placed before Mr. Rushton on Satur-
day, charged with having stolen five pounds worth of pro-
perty belonging to Mr. George Godber, tailor and draper,
100, Park-lane. Mr. Godber stated, that about nine o'clock
on Thursday morning, the prisoner went into the shop and
said, " Can you make me a suit of clothes ? But if you have
any ready made up, I would rather you would let me have a
suit now." Mr. Godber told him that he could be readily
suited if he would pay cash for the goods. He replied that
he would pay cash if Mr. Godber would go with him. The
prisoner proceeded to make his selections. He chose a cloth
jacket, a pair of black trousers, a silk waistcoat, a pair of
woollen drawers, a black silk cravat, a pair of boots, a pair
of braces, a hat, stockings, and a cotton pocket handker-
chief. He said he was the second mate of the ship Joseph
Porter, lying in the Brunswick Dock. Mr. Godber went out
with the determination of making enquiry at the vessel. He
left his brother and prisoner in the shop, with strict injunc-
tions to the former not to allow the prisoner to take the
goods. The clothes, with the exception of the hat and boots,
had been tied into a bundle and left on the counter. Soon
after Mr. Godber's departure, the prisoner asked the brother
to lend him five shillings. The latter replied that he had no
instructions to let him have money or any thing else. The
young man turned his back to attend to some affairs, when
the prisoner took the clothes from the counter and walked
off with them. Mr. Godber's brother went to the door, but
the prisoner had disappeared. Meanwhile, Mr. Godber had
ascertained, at the Joseph Porter, that the prisoner did not
belong to that vessel. He immediately commenced inquiries
for the prisoner, whom he at length heard of, and taking
with him police-officer Lancaster to a house in Shaw's-alley,
he found him and gave him into custody: The prisoner was
committed for trial.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF FIRING A MUSKET FROM A
WINDOW, WHILE THE CHIEF CONSTABLE WAS AT TILE
Dooa.—On Friday morning a gentleman, named John Quirk,
appeared by warrant, to answer this charge, which rumour,
with her thousand tongues, had magnified into the disloyal
delinquency of actually shooting at our respected Head Con-
stable. Mr. Whitty being sworn, said that, on Thursday
morning last, he received information that he was wanted in
Virgil-street. He found a number of persons collected
round the door of the house where the prisoner resided, and
was told that a lady within (his mother) was there detained
by him against her will, and that he ought to interfere. He
replied that he should not do so unless he learned the fact
stated from herself; and, wishing to act with as much deli-
cacy as possible, he went himself and knocked at the door,
with a view merely to ask the gentleman, or whoever might
appear, if any occurrence had taken place which tended to a
breach of the peace, or in which his services might be re-
quired. The prisoner looked out at the top window of the
house, and protruded a gun or fowling piece from it, asking
who was there, and witness said he was a police-officer.
Upon this the piece was fired. The prisoner afterwards said
he had done it merely to frighten the parties about the door.
Witness said he believed some disagreement had taken place
amongst the inmates of the house; but on seeing the prison-
er's mother she expressed herself perfectly satisfied. In reply
to questions by Mr. Rushton, witness said that he was of
opinion that the prisoner who was very much excited, and,
as he thought, intoxicated, did not attend to hurt him or any
one else. It was not levelled at him (witness,) but horizon-
tally across the street. The prisoner was so much excited
that he kept talking to himself, and he (witness) was not cer-
tain, such was the noise and confusion in the street, whether
the prisoner heard him say he belonged to the police or not.
As the gun was fired in a horizontal position, he could not
have been hurt by it, as he was under it at the door. The
prisoner denied that he had detained his mother, or put auy
restraint upon her as alleged, and which he had witnesses to
prove. He added that he did not intend to hurt any one,
but merely to deter parties below from breaking in the door;
and that in using the gun (which was loaded before) for such
a purpose, he was not aware that he was committing an of-
fence. Mr. Rushton said that the act was a most dangerous
one, and but for the evidence of Mr. Whitty he should send
the prisoner for trial. Mr. Inspector M'Donald, who was
present, was then called, and also stated that he did not be-
lieve that the gun was aimed at Mr. Whitty, or at anv one of
the parties in the street. It might have been fired to frighten
them away. The prisoner repeated that it was solely to pre-
vent the parties collected from breaking into the house, which
was apprehended. A gentleman, the owner of the house,
said lie had seen the lady in question, and that she expressed
herself perfectly satisfied. Another witness also spoke in
the prisoner's behalf. Mr. Rushton said he hoped the pri-
soner's statement was a true one, but he must, nevertheless,
fine him 40s. and costs, for wantonly discharging fire-arms
within the borough. The fine was paid, and the parties left
the court.

DOCTOR SMITII or OXTON.-Our readers will recol-
lect a person named Smith appearing in some of the London
and Liverpool papers as a gentleman wishing to take charge
of some pauper children, and who styled himself Dr. Smith,
of some place the name of which he had forgetten, but that
it was situated across the water, about two miles from this
town. This individual appeared yesterday before J. Deane
Case, Esq., at the Birkenhead police-court, to prefer a charge
of felony against his housekeeper, her daughter, and a re-
spectable-looking young man, a tradesman of this town.
The doctor, on being asked the nature of the charge, entered
into a long and incoherent statement respecting what had
occurred at his house at Oxton during the last four months,
which in substance was, that he left his house about four
months ago, which then contained furniture to the value of
£l3O at least, in the care of the elder female, as his house-
keeper ; that he had regularly transmitted home what would
amount to £1 per week; that on his return home at the end
of last week, he found his house empty, the landlord having
sold under a distress for rent for £36, although only £7 was
due. That matter, however, he should remedy by law, as
the distress had been made in consequence of the misrepre-
sentations of the prisoners, who had set out reports that—
The magistrate here interposed, and said he had nothing to
do with anything which had been said of him ; and if Mr.
Smith would confine himself to the charge of felony, he
(Mr. Case) was ready to hear it. Mr. Smith replied,
that part of his property had been pawned by the elder
female, who had afterwards sold the tickets ; and that
with regard to a quantity of plate produced, it belonged
to himself, and had been found in the possession of
the male defendant. Other portions of his property had also
been secreted by the females. He, therefore, charged the
one of thaemales with unlawfully pawning his property, and
the other two with receiving,—The elder female stated that
the articles she had pawned she had done so by the request
of the wife of Mr. Smith, in order to procure food for the fa-
mily.—The male defendant said the plate belonged originally
to a young man named, Spilling, and had been pledged by
Mr. Smith, although the latter had received large sums of
money for taking care of him. Spilling had afterwards sold
the tickets to him at the request of Mr. Smith himself, and
that the young man would prove if he was produced, but
Mr. Smith had kept both him and his wife out of the way
purposely. Mr. Smith.—The young man is a lunatic and
cannot be examined. The fact is, I placed the plate in the
hands of a pawnbrokerforsafety.—One of the Liverpool po-
lice stated that the plate had Mr. Spilling's name on, and the
young man was found in the streets of Liverpool, and, being
found insane, had been sent to the workhouse ; subsequently,
Mr. Smith stated that he was under his care, and he was
delivered up to him.—Mr. Smith stated that the pawnbro-
kers would give a different account of the transaction to that
given by the accused. Smith said he was ready to acknow-
ledge that his wife, who was young and inexperienced, had
consented to part of the property being pledged, but not the
whole.—Mr. Case said the case must be remanded for the
attendance of the pawnbrokers.—The officer stated that some
expense would be incurred in bringing over the pawnbrokers
and other witnesses.—Mr. Case said he could make no order
regarding expenses, the officer must look to Mr. Smith. Mr.
Smith (with great vehemence) : I charge these people with
felony, sir—with a conspiracy to rob me, and I demand that
the ease shall be heard—it's a hard thing if one cannot get
law without paying for it. I'll stand to the charge.—Mr.
Case expressed his willingness to investigate the matter when
the witnesses were forthcoming, and held the parties to bail
to answer the charge.

EISENSTETN'S COFFEE I-NUSE.—The lovers of an ex-
quisite cup of chocolate, coffee, or cocoa, should pay a visit
to Eisenstein's Coffee-house, in Hackin's-hey. The German
and French papers are taken in by Mr. Eisenstein, as well as
many other publications, for the convenience of the frequent-
ers of his house. The attention and politeness of Mr. Eisen-
stein will be appreciated by those who give hint a trial. His
mode of making coffee, &c., is far superior to any other we
have met with.

THE INFANT SAPPHO.—It will be seen by the advertise-
ment that the Infant Sappho—" the inspired child," as the
advertisement terms her—will again appear here on Friday
next; and on tile Tuesday and Friday in the following week.
also on Saturday, the 24th, and Saturday, the 31st, in the
morning. A very great deal of pleasure was expressed
in Manchester by those who heard little Miss Vinning sing.
It will be observed also, that a Mr. Cohan will perform two
fantasias on the piano-forte on these occasions. A very full
attendance may be expected.
ARTISTS' FUND.—Our readers, who take an interest in
the arts, will not, we trust, forget that the distribution of
prizes will take place to-morrow, at the Exhibition-rooms.
Although somewhat late, the committee have announced
their intention of giving to each subscriber an engraving of
Wilkie's charming picture of the " Blind Fiddler." Subscri-
bers of any number of shares to five, will have each an en-
graving given to them of different subjects. The engraving
of the Blind Fiddler is admirably executed, and will adorn
ony collection.
POLICE-OFFICERS OBTAINING ADMISSION- INTO PUBLIC-
HOUSES IN DISGUISE.—On Friday last, just before the
publicans summoned for breaches of the new local act were
called upon, Mr. Rushton said he had, last week, promised
to make an inquiry into a complaint made by a Mrs. Chis-
nall against two police-officers, who, it was stated, had gone
out in plain clothes, and had availed themselves of the order
so given to obtain admission, he would not say " forced
themselves," into the complainant's house. He had made
the promised inquiry, and had to say that these men had
grossly exceeded their duty. No person belonging to the
force had a right, without a badge of their office—no inspec-
tor or member of the force—to enter a house in such a way,
unless they received previous information of a felony. They
must go in their clothes as officers. At the same time, it
was the duty of the Head Constable, and the officers imme-
diately under him, to employ occasionally a detective force;
but this was only in special cases of strong suspicion of
crime, and such force was but rarely required. That expla-
nation was, he thought, due to the public, and he should
take care that instances such as that complained of should
not again occur. But, he repeated, there were cases in which
a detective force, in plain clothes, must be employed.
ASSAULT IN THE NORTHERN HOSPITAL.—Mr. Parker,
house-surgeon at the Northern Hospital, appeared at the
police-court yesterday, with a complaint of assault against a pa-
tient in that institution, named Wm. Smith. He stated that on
Saturday evening one of the nurses came to him and reported
that the prisoner was so violent that it was impossible to con-
trol him. On going to him he observed that the prisoner
was drunk : he attempted to remonstrate with him on the
impropriety of his conduct, and in return he received several
severe blows on the face. A patient corroborated this state-
ment ; adding that the prisoner had leave to go out in thc af-
ternoon, and when he came back he was quite intoxicated.
The prisoner made no defence. Mr. Parker said the prisoner
had been in the hospital for six weeks, during the whole of
which time he had conducted himself very well ; on this ac-
count he entreated the court to deal leniently with him. Mr.
Rushton replied, that Mr. Parker did not know the prisoner
so well as lie was known in that court; he had been many
times there for assaults in the workhouse and other places.
In fact, he was a pauper, living upon the public, and in re-
turn for all the kindness shewn to him he committed these
offences. He must pay a penalty of 60s, or be imprisoned
two months. The prisoner, who appeared very unwell, was
then removed.

TESTIMONIAL OF RESPECT TO CAPTAIN FAYREIL.—We
have much pleasure in giving insertion to the following
tribute of respect to our gallant townsman :
" Royal Mail Steam-packet Forth, off St. Thomas's,
" October 21, 18.12.

" Dear Sir.—Our voyage in this vessel, under your com-
mand, being about to terminate, we, the undersigned
passengers on board, avail ourselves of this medium of ex-
pressing to you our sincere thanks for the kind attention you
have extended towards us, and also for the urbanity of man-
ner you have invariably evinced towards us individually
during our agreeable passage from Europe; and, in taking
leave of you, we beg you will please to accept our warmest
wishes for your health and happiness.—We have the honour
to be, dear sir,
" P. Perez Pareja, John Shaw, Votre de Voil Antonie da
Manzanos Petre, S. H. Barnett, Charles Naghten, F. E.
James, Ulric Lellweger, Thomas T. Ryan, J. Noble Harvey,
R. C. Thomson, A. M. Stoner, Arequestin de Varona, Geo.
F. F. Boughey, Captain 59th Regiment; Baron Wagner,J.
Robertson, M.E. ; Jesse Jones, Juan Hugera, J. F. Cooke,
W. J. Weech, Robert Stansfield, George Urtelequi, Edward
Lucas, H. Y. Pareja, B. de Sola, J. M. Plancarte, Gillarde
Laubenqua File.
" To Robert John Fayrer, Esq., Lieut. R.N."

CHARGE OF DESERTION AGAINST A SERGEANT-MAJOR.
esterday, Sergeant-Major Charles Whitebread, attached
to the District Recruiting-office, Soho-street, was placed at
the bar of the Police-court, before Mr. Rushton, on a charge
of desertion.—Sergeant Christian stated that the prisoner
had surrendered to him on Saturday last; and Sergeant
Sloan deposed, that he had been absent without leave from
the previous Saturday, the 10th instant. Absence without
leave for four days constituted desertion.—Sergeant Christian
said, the prisoner was involved in difficulties, having been
treated by Adjutant Hope, to whom he was clerk. The
Adjutant had appropriated the money he had to pay the re-
cruits to his own purposes, and the prisoner had been absent
in order to procure a sufficient sum to replace it.—Mr.
Rushton inquired where Adjutant Hope was ; and Sergeant
Christian replied that he was now in Lancaster Castle for
debt. The prisoner had been upwards of thirty years in the
service, during the whole of which time he had always borne
the best of characters. He had served at 'Waterloo, where
he was wounded.—The prisoner here stated that he had gone
away to collect the money for the adjutant, but had been ill
five of the days, and he had leave from the adjutant to go.—
Acting Adjutant Lieutenant Burslam, in reply to Mr.
Wardle, who appeared for the prisoner, stated that the adju-
tant had no power to grant leave of absence ; if he had done
so, it would have been at his own peril ; it would have been
irregular and improper, so much so, that he would be imme-
diately reported for it. He had not the power to grant leave
to any non-commissioned officer. He might, however, have
given him authority to get the money, at his own peril; and
probably he had, for the Sergeant-Major had been completely
in his power.—The prisoner said that Adjutant Hope had been
in difficulties for some time, and he had been endeavouring all
along to extricate him from them. He had been arrested se-
veral times; and some time ago he had applied to the adju-
tant for leave to go away, in the presence of the colonel.
When he (the prisoner) found the money which was wanted
was not forthcoming, he asked the adjutant for leave to go
away to get what he (the prisoner) wanted, in order to extri-
cate himself from difficulty. The adjutant told him he had
better write for it, but he had not the least objection to him
going away if he thought he could succeed.—Lieut. Burslam
said that if everything bad been perfectly regular there could
have been no cause for desertion on the part of the prisoner ;
he blamed him only for the desertion; if any difficulties ex-
isted, he should have repented the circumstances to the
colonel, and an investigation would have been immediately
made.—Mr. Rushton said that, under the strict provisions
of military law, the prisoner appeared to have deserted, in-
asmuch as he had been absent for more than four days; he
had himself no doubt that the prisoner had been absent
from the town, and that he had left the town in order
to seek the money.—The prisoner said he went. from
Liverpool to Birmingham, and from Birmingham to
Warwick, where he had been taken ill. He had a friend
also at Brecon ; and between his friends at the two
places he expected to have been able to make good the de-
ficiency of Adjutant Hope. Mr. Rushton said he would
strongly advise the prisoner to report all the circumstances,
and to conceal nothing from the military authorities, who would
have to adjudge his case : they would probably take the view
of it which he (Mr. Rushton) did ; that having served his
country for a series of years with great honour, he had un-
fortunately fallen into this error from the impropriety of the
person in command over him. He advised him to tell the
whole truth to the men of honour who would afterwards in-
vestigate his case. He could do nothing but commit him as
a deserter. The prisoner here expressed a hope that the
magistrate would communicate his opinion to the command-
ing officer ? Mr. Rushton said he would make such a repre-
sentation of the case as it appeared to him ; and the acting
adjutant would also state the circumstances. Lieut. Burslam
said he would, because he had no doubt that it was only in
this case the prisoner had done wrong. The depositions were
then taken, and the prisoner was committed. •
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE ELECTORS OF SOUTH TOX-
TETH WARD, TO CONSIDER THE RECENT VOTE OF MR.
AMBROSE LACE ON THE EDUCATION QUESTION.—Last
evening a meeting of the burgesses of South Toxteth Ward
was held in the Toxteth Hall, Mill-street, for the purpose
of considering the propriety of calling upon Ambrose Lace,
Esq., to resign his seat in the Town Council, as a member
for that ward, in consequence of his late vote in favour• of
Mr. G. H. Lawrence's amendment upon the " Manifesto"
of the Education Committee.—Mr. Simon Lee Trotman,
one of the representatives of the ward, was called to the
chair. He said he regretted the cause which had brought
them together, but having been placed in the chair, he should
endeavour to act impartially.—Mr. Harbord, surgeon, then
read the " Manifesto" of the Education Committee and the
amendment thereon ; and he contended that Mr. Lace's
vote in favour of the latter was in direct opposition to a
speech made in that ball previous to the late election, and
reported in the Standard of the 18th October last, in which
he insisted upon the Bible being taught without mutilation
in the corporation schools.—Mr. King next addressed the
meeting, and contended that, by his vote for the amend-
ment, Mr. Lace said, substantially, that he would teach
either Socinianism, Popery, or Socialism.—Mr. Samson
then moved that the following requisition be presented to
Mr. Lace :
" To Ambrose Lace, Esq.

" We, the electors of South Toxteth Ward, beg to state,
that in consequence of your vote on the education question,
on Wednesday the 14th instant, we have no confidence in
you as our representative, and, therefore, would wish you to
consider the propriety of immediately resigning, in order
that some gentleman may be elected in your stead, who will
more fully maintain the character of a sound Protestant re-
presentative."
Mr. King seconded the motion.—Mr. Inman said, he should
move an amendment. Amidst some interruption and con-
fusion, he contended that no proper intimation of the pre-
sent meeting being intended to be held had been conveyed
to Mr. Lace, so that he might understand who were the pro-
moters of it. He would, before moving the amendment,
deliver a letter which Mr. Lace bad addressed to Mr. Robert
Cottier, who had sent him a circular, in which he named
neither the day nor hour of holding the meeting.—The
Chairman then read the following letter from Mr. Lace :
Liverpool, 19th December, 1842.
Stn,—l have received a note from you to-day, stating
that a meeting of my constituents will be held in Toxteth-
hall, at half-past seven o'clock—this evening, I presume,
though no day is mentioned. I fully recognize the right of
constituents to call upon their representatives to meet them ;
and in my own case I am most ready to do so : but I must
request that they may be called together for that purpose,
and I shall be glad to see a deputation to make the necessary
arrangements.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

AMBROSE LACE.

To Mr. Robert Cottier, Chairman proieinT--- ---
After strongly urging that there was no real inconsistency
between Mr. Lace's vote and his speech in October. Mr.
Inman moved the amendment as follows ,—Resolved,—That
this meeting deeply regrets the view taken of the Education
question by our respected representative Ambrose- Lace,
Esq. ; but as his vote upon that question compromises no
principle, or is at all opposed to the sentiments expressed
by him to the electors previous to the late election,
we take leave to express our unabated confidence in
him, feeling fully persuaded he will advocate no mea-
sure which is at all opposed to the true interests of
Protestantism." Mr. George Thistleton seconded the
amendment; after which the meeting was addressed by
Mr. Richard Harbord, Mr. King, and Mr. Robert Maclay,
in opposition to the amendment. The chairman then put
the question. Four
hands only were held up for the amend-
ment; the original motion was consequently carried by a
great majority. Some discussion followed upon the mode
of communicating the wishes of the meeting to Mr. Lace, as
the chairman declined to forward the resolution himself. It
was eventually resolved that the resolution should be for-
warded by Mr. Robert Cottier. Mr. Trotman was thanked
for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting separated.

A FEW THOUGHTS ON WEDNESDAY'S

COUNCIL.

FROM A CORRESPONDENT. '
We congratulate the town, in the first place, on the average
of the council being improved by the last election, for al-
though three rads out of the sixteen wards were returned,
yet on the whole the quality was better, and would have been
matter of further gratulation, but for the introduction of that
vain person, known by the cognomen of "Jesuits bark."
We propose to offer strictures on Wednesday's adjourned
council, and shall do so in a spirit of fairness and candour.
Mr. Bushell opened the ball, and we regret to say, did not
add to his former well-:earned laurels; we were particularly
puzzled to reconcile former declarations with one made on
this occasion, that " the Roman Catholics were as much ex-
cluded from the schools, as if they had been thrust out l"
We were less pleased with Mr. Bushell on this than on any
former occasion. Thanks, however, his vote stands recorded
on the right side.

We have the honour, and feel proud to usher in our
columns, and introduce to our readers the new member for
Exchange Ward—John North. This gentleman made on
the occasiop his maiden speech, and a more uncompromising,
manly statement, or clothed in purer language, it has rarely
been our lot to listen to. It was delivered in the mildest
and most unassuming manner, yet it was a two-edged sword.
Its withering effects were but too apparent on Mr. G. H.
Lawrence and Mr. Turner, both of whom, stung to the quick,
sprang up from their seats to justify themselves from the
outpourings of Mr. North on their devoted heads. It was
well hit off.

" Oh ! what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive !"
Mr. Alderman Evans followed Mr. North, but he was evi-
dently labouring under the withering influence 'of the last
speaker ; the worthy alderman did not at all come up to his
usual standard ; his remarks were pointless, and fell to the
ground like " molten lead." We are willing to allow to him
a degree of talent, but on this occasion, it was like calling the
" mighty spirits from the vasty deep"—they could not be
conjured up.

Next followed Mr. Blackburn, and a more complete failure
we never witnessed ; the impatience of the council was re-
peatedly manifested during his wearisome and laboured ad-
dress, repeating, as he did, several portions of it five or six
times over ; our readers will believe we do not exaggerate in
stating this, when we inform them be spoke for an hour and
three quarters, and the general opinion entertained was, that
the object of this address, or more properly rigmarole oration,
was spun out to an inordinate length purposely to deprive
several Conservative members of the opportunity of address-
ing the council. A more presumptuous and anti-religious
speech we never heard ; and our heart yearned with pity for
a man, who with such lofty pretensions to rank amongst the
holiest of holies, could quote and wrest the scriptures to his
own probable destruction. Such holy horror of the Roman
Catholic religion, and in the same breath to laud, extol, and
exalt the advantages of secular education ! And as to per-
sonalities, there was nothing be abhorred so much—nothing
so sure and certain a test of a low vulgar mind ! Yet, before
the echo of these fine sentiments has died away, he makes a
loathsome personal attack upon Mr. D. Hodgson, a man, as
incomparably Mr. Blackburn's superior in gentlemanly bear-
ing, as the monkey is to the sloth in activity and cunning.
Well was he brought to his bearings, after so much sickly
sentimentality about personalities, by Mr. Samuel Holme,
who read extracts from some published letters of Mr. Black-
burn's, containing some of the most scurrilous remarks upon
several members of the Town Council, who happen to see
things through a different and clearer focus than himself ; in
the same letters he speaks thus of our revered church, which
is the shield and protector of all honest and religious dis-
senters.

" From time immemorial the drunken, the profligate, the
profane, have always been the main bulwarks and buttresses
of that worldly corporation of,priests which glorifieth itself
in all christian lands (except America) under the name, style,
and title of THE CHURCH.

Why does not Mr. Blackburn go to America, where he will
be free from the oppression of the church ?

We detest your political dissenters, who make religion a
cloak to further their own dark and selfish ends. Not a trait
of the meek and lowly Saviour can you trace beyond the
words which fall from their lips and blister their tongues.
Mr. Blackburn's speech was nothing more than a rehearsal
of his published letters above referred to, without a single
original idea.
Here we leave him for the present.
Mr. Samuel Holrne followed, and closed the debate. Mr.
Holme has long been before the public as a sound, healthy
conservative, and it would be quite a work of supererogation
on our part to say one word in praise of his admirable and
manly speech on this occasion. It is replete with sound,
wholesome argument, urged with good temper and good taste,
and will repay such of our readers well to peruse it who have
not already had this pleasure.
We like the joke of the Chronicle that all the talent and
moral influence on the conservative side voted for Mr. Law-
rence's amendment in favour of secular education !
Rejoice in the truth, say we, and maintain it.
" Hypocritical piety is double iniquity."