The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-25 00:00:00

THE LATE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT DUNDEE.

(Front the Dundee Courier of Tuesday).
In the present state of the case we have no desire to ex-
tend our remarks, as our authorities are taking the utmost
pains to bring out the true bearings of the case. We may
~weirsu „vim:anion that Mr. David Cobb, acting as Sheriff in
the absence of SherifrHenderson, took down the deposition
of Mr. Duff on Friday, at Baldragon ; and that since then
the Sheriff, who was necessarily absent at the Perth circuit,
visited Mr. Duff, and brought Mackenzie and himself face to
face, when the former, notwithstanding the great weakness
of his body, instantly identified Mackenzie as the person who
had fired the pistol at him. We have already said that we
are cognizant of many particulars connected with this deplo-
rable affair, which we do not think it at the present moment
proper to detail. Mr. Mackison, our active and intelligent
Superintendent, has been indefatigable in his exertions to
trace out the various circumstances which can strengthen the
direct proof against the prisoner. Mackison and his subor-
dinate officers deserve great praise.
Mackenzie is a married man, with a numerous family. He
is apparently about fifty years of age ; his countenance is ra-
ther forbidding than otherwise; he has two large buck teeth
in front, and his general appearance repulsive. Mr. Duff,
we understand, is a man of little stature, and mild expres-
sion of countenance. Since the occurrence, Mr. Duff has
lingered in the house which he first reached, and little, if any
hope has been entertained of his recovery—indeed, the latest
reports lead us to believe that it is almost impossible his life
can be preserved.

(From the Dundee Warder.)
Considerable exertions have been made, since the horrid
event happened, to endeavour to discover the pistol with
which it was perpetrated, but hitherto, we believe, with no
effect. The first thing the officer did when he apprehended
Mackenzie, was to put his hands into his pockets to see if
there were any weapons, but nothing of the kind was on him.
Lord Duncan, who has done everything in his power in in-
vestigating the case, succeeded on Monday in discovering
Duff's hat, which was found near the place where the unfor-
tunate man says he was compelled to throw it away. On the
discovery his lordship came posting in himself for Captain
Mackison, who proceeded out to the place. There is one
very strong point in the chain of evidence, which will go far
to bring home the deed. The shoes of both the parties were
taken out to the place. Mackenzie's are remarkably large,
while Duff's are quite the reverse. At the break in the wall,
where they entered the wood, and for some distance before,
the marks in the potatoe field distinctly correspond with the
size of the shoes of both parties, both marks pointing in one
direction ; the impress of the large shoes is then reversed,
pointing backwards, the distances increased, as if the indivi-
dual had been running home and taking long strides.
On Sabbath evening Mackenzie was taken out to the cot-
tage, in order to be identified by Duff. Sheriff Henderson,
Lord Duncan, and other officials, as also the medical gentle-
men attending him, were present. On Duff being asked if
that was the man who shot at him, he distinctly said it was.
Mackenzie was proceeding to enter into conversation with
Duff, but he was stopped by order of the sheriff. The only
question he got put to him was, "James, do you say that I
shot at you?" when he was taken from the cottage.

Parer OF BREAD.—Government, it is said, contemplate a
measure for securing a uniform stated price of bread ; and it
is said that the inspectors of corn returns, in their various
localities, have been making inquiries as to its price. in con-
sequence of orders issued from the Excise and Board of
Trade officers, requiring " an account of the price of tl e
m,rtern loaf (or the four pound, as the case may be), and a
fine flo.ir, during the week to which the last return applies."
—Stamford Mercury.
IMPORTANT APPLICATION OF MESMERISM.—The effi-
cacy of this agent in important surgical operations has at last
been tested in a case of amputation of the leg, performed last
Saturday week, by Mr. Ward, surgeon, 011erton, near
Worksop, and with the most successful result. The patient,
a man, had previously been mesmerised by a gentleman
from York, of high standing in the legal profession, whose
humanity on this occasion entitles him to the highest credit;
and he succeeded in rendering him perfectly insensible to the
pain of perhaps one of the severest operations to which man-
kind can be subjected. On being questioned afterwards, he
stated that all the sensation he had was an indistinct recol-
lection of having heard a crash ; but he felt no pain or in-
convenience. He was mesmerised and kept in a state of
somnolence during the night; and when roused next morn-
ing, seemed quite refreshed, and going on very well. At the
first dressing he was again mesmerised, and was perfectly
unconscious during the course of it, and, by the last accounts,
was going on very favourably. The case has naturally excited
great interest in that part of the country, as it has opened
quite a new era in the medical profession.—Sheffield Iris.
CHANCERY REFORMS.—It is understood that the Lord
chancellor and the other judges of the court of chancery have
had it in contemplation for some time past in addition to the
extensive alterations which will come into operation on the
28th instant, to remodel many of the subordinate branches
of their respective courts with a view of placing them on such
a footing as cannot fail to insure their practical utility. The
functions of the six clerks and sworn clerks, or in common
language the clerks in court, will cease on the day in question,
and their successors are to be officers designated clerks of the
records, and taxing masters, who will perform the duties at,
it is said, one-third of the cost at present charged to the
suitors. Amongst the departments expected to be improved
are the accountant-general's and registrar's offices. These
offices are to be kept open from ten to four o'clock, instead
of from eleven to two o'clock, as at present, and which has
been a source of complaint in the profession. The mode now
adopted of taking the depositions of witnesses, which is open
to serious objection, will be thoroughly investigated. The
masters' offices and the affidavit-office are likewise to undergo
very considerable alteration, in order to curtail the charges
and to facilitate the operations of the practitioners.—Cor-
respondent of Toe Times.
INCENDIARISM.—BECCLES. Incendiarism appears to •
have again commenced its awful and destructive effects in
our neighbourhood. A few days since, a lad in the employ-
ment of Mr. J. Ling, farmer, of North Cove, near this
town, was apprehended on suspicion of attempting to set fire
to his employer's premises, which was most fortunately dis-
covered in time to save the property. Had this not taken
place, little doubt rests but the destruction of property would
have been considerable. It appears some animosity had
arisen in the lad's mind against his master ; and this dread-
ful step of revenge was about taking place, when it was for-
tunately discovered. An examination took place before the
authorities. and the result was that sufficient evidence was
produced to place the boy on his trial at the coming Bury
assizes. Fire at Gillingham.—On Friday morning last, be-
tween the hours of two and three o'clock, the inhabitants of
our town were aroused by the terrible cry of fire, and in a
very short period the atmosphere round was one mass of
light. It was soon ascertained, that a most alarming and de-
structive fire was raging on the premises in the occupation of
Mr. Benjamin Brundle, farmer, of Gillingham, near
OUT
town. So rapid was the fire, that in about tovo hours the
dwelling-house, barn, (containing corn of various kinds),
stables, waggon and cart lodges, and various other buildings,
covering a large extent of ground, were one mass of ruins.
The corn and other stacks, and a very small portion of the
furniture, was, by extraordinary exertions, saved from de_
struction. This truly painful occurrence is the more heart-
rending, as there is no doubt the fire was the act of some
daring incendiary, whose aim has been partially frustrated
by the principal part of the destroyed property being insured.
—lpswich paper.
WORCESTER EPISCOPAL FLOATING CHAPEL.—This place
of worship, set apart for the accommodation of the men em-
ployed on the river Severn and the "Worcester and Birming-
ham Canal, was opened under the license of the Lord Bishop
of Worcester on Sunday last, by the Rev. John Davies,
Rector of St. Clements, the honorary chaplain, who preached
from St. Mathaw xi., 28, 29, 30
The attendance of the
watermen with their wives and children was numerous be-
•ond all expectation. It was a most gratifying sight to
witness so orderly and attentive a congregation in a chapel
provided for a body of men hitherto placed under such dis-
advantageous circumstances as to moral and religious im-
provement. Fathers and mothers of large families were
present, who seldom or ever enter a place of worship. One
honest boatman brought his little son in his arms; another,
a young man, was observed to be particularly attentive, and
to join in the responses. Upon inquiry it was found he had
been brought up in a Sunday school in Gloucestershire; and
being informed that men of his class might, when on their
voyage, meet in their working dress for public worship, he
gladly availed himself of the privilege thus afforded him.
There is reason to believe that such instances will continue
to occur, and that many of this class will be induced per-
manently to exchange attendance at the bgreat hinge for
for at
to-
de
tendance at the house of prayer. The
the improvement of this body of men is Sunday traffic. It
has been found that reformed boatmen, who had obtained
cessation from Sunday labour, and for a time conducted
themselves well, when they have throuuguldiaay b
change of h
maaysetersor other circumstances returned to s
re-
turned also to their vicious courses. But it is hoped that a
beneficial change as to Sunday traffic will ere long take place
through the exertions of benevolent individuals in the com-
mercial world, anxious to promote the welfare of a degraded
class of their countrymen. On some navigations an ameliora-
tion has been introduced in this respect, preparatory to further
improvements. On the Bridgewater Canal, the Mersey and
Irwell, the Trent and Mersey, the Oxford, the River Weaver,
and a few others, pains have been successfully taken for the
religious instruction of the watermen. A communication
recently made to a clergyman in this city by a gentleman
holding a responsible situation in one of the abovenamed
navigations is gratifying and encouraging : he states that the
conduct of the boatmen during the riots which occurred in
the vicinity was in the highest degree exemplary ; that there
was not one of them who took any part in the riots or the
strike, but on the contrary one and all expressed a firm de-
termination to resist every attempt to induce or compel them
to join in the agitation. This conduct speaks volumes as to
the benefit derived from instruction and kind treatment. We
cannot but rejoice in hearing of the improvement of a class
of men so long proverbial for immorality of character, and
we cordially wish success to the Worcester Episcopal
Floating Chapel, and all similar undertakings of Christian
benevolence.

S