The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-30 00:00:00

NEW YEAR'S DAY.—In compliance with the Apostolic
Spirit,
to united prayer, for the:outpouring of the Holy
°Pirit, issued by the Rev. J. H. Stewart, we understand that
a VeCiai service will take place at St. Bride's, when, as
I!3Ual, the sacrament will be administered, and the other
directions recommended in the Invitation will be complied
with.

NARROW ESCAPE.—On Wednesday morning last, as
some workmen were engaged in sinking a cellar kitchen for
a house recently erected, in George's Road, near Newsham
liouse, the whole of the back exterior wall came down
with a tremendous crash. The men had just sufficient inti-
mation of their approaching danger to enable them to make
their escape. The remainder of the building is now kept
standing by means of props, but we fear the damage is very
considerabte.
„GRAND BALL IN AID OF THE LADIES' CHARITY.-
-the annual ball in aid of the funds of the Ladies' Charity
took place last evening, In the Town-hall. About SOO were
Present, amongst whom were comprised many of the first
families in the town and neighbourhood. Dancing com-
menced shortly after nine o'clock, to the lively strains of
tlorabin's quadrille band ; and at the period when we were
obliged to go to press, " the light, fantastic toe" was still
being tripped with unabated spirit. Joliffe's band was sta-
;toned in the vestibule, and performed many marches, over-
Lures, &c. as the company was introduced.

. -
DOCK COMMITTEE.—YESTERDAY.—Present : Messrs.
Sands, Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Smith, Moore,
141, olYneux, Nicol, Royden, Tobin, Shand, Bailey, Ripley,
-"ana, Moore. Wilson Dunlop, a dock-gateman, was ap-
Pointed to assist the dock•master in working Clarence
Graving-docks, at a salary of 235. per week. A letter from
the agent of the Mostyn steam-packet, complaining that only
twenty minutes are allowed for the loading and discharging
of the vessel at St. George's Pier-head, was directed to be
sent to the Town-clerk. The receipts at Runcorn during
the month were stated to be £36 15s. 3d. The chairman
said he had received a communication from the American
Consul, with regard to the plan of charging the tonnage of
American vessels. After some conversation on the subject,
the treasurer, Mr. Withers, was called in, and informed the
committee that precisely the same plan was adopted in mea-
suring foreign as in measuring British vessels.
SUSPICIOUS POSSESSION OF A BILL.—At the Police-
court, yesterday, a short thickset man, apparently a sailor,
named John Smith, was placed at the bar, on a charge of
having suspicious possession of a bill for £ll6 and odd, drawn
on the late highly respectable firm of Messrs Wildes, Pick-
eragill, and Co., of this town, who have been succeeded by
Messrs. Fielding Brothers. It appears that Messrs. Wilde
and Co.'s office had some time ago been broken open, and
amongst some other articles taken were several bills, including
the present one. The prisoner had on Wednesday gone to a
man who appeared as a witness and showing him the bill, had
got some directions to Messrs. Fielding's office, to which he
went in a state of intoxication, and peremptorily demanded
Payment. The bill, however, was of no value, as the amount
had been paid. He was given into custody with a view to
detect the robbery, but there was no evidence to show how he
had become possessed of it. Mr. Rushton fined him ss. for
being drunk, telling him he was bound to say where he got it.
sic said he had come from New York by the Garrick (which
was denied by Messrs. Fielding's clerk, who had made en-
floiry), and that he would tell who the man was from whom
he had got it. As, however, he was entitled to his release
°4 paying the fine, nothing more was seen of him in the
court.

SUNDAY TRADlNG.—Yesterday, at the Police-court, Mr.
Weaver, sexton of St. Matthias's Church, and a gentleman
named Mather, appeared before Mr. Rushton to prefer in-
formations against several parties for trading or selling
articles on Sunday—contrary (we believe) ;to an act known
as " The Sabbath Day Act." The first offender brought up
Was William Kehoe. who was charged with selling penny
papers. The defendant said that he had only sold a few
his
papers, and that it was useless in him to keep open
The
shop at all unless he were allowed to sell on that day.
ihe vending being proved, Mr. Rushton said that he had no
power to mitigate the penalty, and accordingly imposed a
fine of ss.—John Dunn was next called, for exposing fruit
and vegetables opposite his dwelling. Mr. Rushton enquired
of the informants whether they had seized the articles. The
reply was that they had not, but they had applied to Mr.
vhitty, was,
constable, from whom they produced a note
,n reply. Mr. Rushton read the note, which, he stated. was
to the effect that he (Mr. NV.) had not the power, in his own
?Pinion, to seize them without the authority of a magistrate ;
out, he (Mr. Rushton) knew that Mr. W. had such power;
and
if the goods had been brought into that court, they were
'able, on proof of exposure for sale on a Sunday, to be for-
feited, and sold for the benefit of the poor of the parish. He
(Mr. R.) was sorry that the goods of poor individuals should
e forfeited • but if they were so brought, he must administer
the law. No seizure having taken place, this case was dis-
missed.—Robt. Hampson and Patrick Scallon, small dealers,
were next charged with selling, on Sunday, various kinds of
goods. The sale being proved, they were each fined ss.—J.
84Pherd,Vauxhall-road, was then charged with selling books
tln aers of various description, and thele was d.
efenPdpant said he should like tos know then object ofprove these
information? Mr. Rushton said it was no doubt to put
down Sunday trading. The defendant enquired if it were
not for the share of ;the fine ; for as there were a great many
common informers abroad, people in business ought to look
about them. Mr. Rushton said that was not the case in the
'resent instance. One informant was a churchwarden and
the other a sexton. The defendant said that papers were
allowed by the government to be sold in London on Sunday.
or. Rushton replied that it was uo doubt the object of the
If?rtuants to put down that system, which they considered
be an infringement of the law. The defendant then said
he had carried on business for ten years, and it was strange
at he had never before been interfered with; besides, he
dealt
ill nothing that he conceived to be injurious to the
Farried on ;
lie morals. Mr. Rushton replied to this that the law as
it stood was that no Sunday trading whataver should be
and he thought it would be better that it should
carried out without 'partiality, as all would be then on a
itike footing, and no one would be individually injured. But
the Rectors or Churchwardens required their officers to
enforce the law, he was bound to abide by it, and if generally
enforced there would be an end of all Sunday trading. In
doing so, however, he was of opinion that the complaining
partiesj might be led further than they were aware of. The
Dublin,
said that he received Sunday papers from London,
and other towns, which he could sell on no other
illay with advantage. He had no objection to observe the
Ours of Divine service by closing his shop ; but he wasde-
termined to open on Sunday, summon him as they pleased.
ite added that he might as well pay another ss. for next
l'ul.v, as he was a rich man, and might as well save the
tune required in attending the court next week. Mr. Rush-
toof course met this improper tender by stating that he had
pPower to enforce or receive the fine prematurely. Another
f3eson
was then brought up for exposing fruit, &c. for sale ;
of the goods had not been seized (under the requirements
f
tne Act) the case was dismissed.