The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-29 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER INVESTMENT COMPANY,

On Wednesday there was a strong muster at Guildhall of
the sufferers by the failure of the Westminster Investment
Company, of Adam-street, Adelphi.
Sir Peter Laurie said he had received a letter from Messrs.

' Lucas, the agents at Liverpool, for the Westminster-In:
vestment Company, fully explaining their transactions, and
he understood from the City solicitor that Mr. Lucas was a
respectable man. He was solicited by Williams to under-
take the agency, and did not do so without sending his son
lo London to see that it was a straightforward concern. He
took a list of shareholders, and some of the shareholders
were called on to go over the hooks, and show the extent of
their business. He took a list of the deposits to the amount
of about £12,000, which he had also enclosed in his letter.
Mr. Lucas particularly denied that his letter vaunted the se-
curity of the company. It was not intended for publication,
but was addressed to the directors, and when it was printed
and circulated he remonstrated against it. Mr. Nicholls had
asked for such a letter for the satisfaction of the directors.
Sir Peter Laurie read some passages from a report of a
meeting of the shareholders held on the 3d of April, 1841,
circulated as a prospectus by the company. It represented
that the board-room was crowded, and that a letter was read
from Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, M.P., stating that he had read
the managers' report, which he considered most satisfactory,
and regretted he was unable to attend the meeting ; other
letters from the Hon. E. Byng and Mr. Bridgman, express-
ing warm approbation of the concern were also read. Sir
Peter said it was no wonder that people were deceived when
the scheme was sanctioned by such names.
Mr. Dawes, the solicitor, denied that he had ever written ;
such a letter.

Sir Peter Laurie appealed to Mr. Nicholls for an explana-
tion.

Mr. Nicholls produced and read the letter, which was of
the laudatory nature Mr. N. had described.

Sir P. Laiirie read and commented on some other portions
of the report of the meeting, at which a vote., of thanks was
carried to Mr. Nicholls for his skill, laboriousness,
dis-
cretion. Some of the speakers declared that there wasad
monetary establishment in the world whose funds were soo
well secured, and that the distinguished gentlemen m
by supporting this institution for the benefit of the ed,indus-
trious classes, would bind the latter more closely to the -
stitutions of their country. This was followed by what is
called a collection of the opinions of the press on the advan-
tages, which Sir Peter supposed was first sent to the papers
and then quoted from them. Sir Peter remarked that the
Westminster Investment, like the West Middlesex Company,
seemed to have been got rnd worked out by two individuals.
When any company held out very superior advantages to
others, the public ought to make particular inquiry into the
character of the promoters, their wealth, and the length of
time they had borne a good reputation.
Mr. Steele, the friend of O'Connell, stated that he had
led Mr. O'Brien into his present position. He (Mr. S.)
bad occasion to do some business with Mr. Nicholls, and
was so impressed by his manner that he introduced him to
Mr. O'Brien.
Mr. Steele, cross-examined by Mr. Wells—Had received
accommodation from Mr. Nicholls, but at high interest.
Owed him money still.
, e Mr. Dawes, on behalf of Mr. O'Brien, represented that
he i ,at.ronised the institution from benevolence, when it was
society to make loans to distressed tradesmen. In its
Present shape, as a joint-stock company, he had bad no con-
nection with it whatever. He knew nothing of their taking
NP°lis-i.t\siTells askedwhy Mr. O'Brien did not, upon seeing
de.
come forward and s
Sir Peter Laurie
his name printed a
s a trustee to the concern in its new shape,
with the responsibilit
atYtt he had done with it ?
ought Mr. O'Brien's letter fixed him
the lion. E. Byng ? Y* Ha asked if anybody represented
any money as a trustee, and,
Mr. Nicholls said he did.
therefore Tr B y n, g
couldhad not
tt
he received
called
upon to pay any.
Sir Peter Laurie asked who
ilz.lis behalf.
appeared for Mr. Bridgman?
Mr. Nicholls suggested that, perhapsNi'chos.
, his friend Steele did.
Mr. Steele, however, said nothitog
n-rg.beetalf of Mr.
Mr. Nicholls retorted on Mr. Steel?
which he expressed the highest opinion oYi. reading a letter in
A solicitor addressed the alderman o
Lucas, to show that he had acted as an a
fide believing it to be a safe concern •; and that titlecirlily, bond
had written to the directors did not vouch for its solidityetter he
and
advantages.
Sir Peter Laurie said be believed Mr. Lucas to be an

We inserted in the Standard of Tuesday a paragraph from
the Newcastle Journal, announcing the ordination of Mr.
Blythe Hurst, by the Bishop of Durham, and stated that the
reverend gentleman had previously been for some time a
working blacksmith, in the village of Winlaton. How this
once humble artisan has come to be an ordained clergyman
of the church of England will be best understood by the
perusal of an extract from the Gateshead Observer of last
Saturday. Our contemporary reports the proceedings of a
dinner given at Stells, on the 12th instant, to M. W. Dunn,
Esq., of Hedgefield, on his resignation of the office of agent
to Peregrine Towneley, Esq. (both gentlemen being members
of the Roman Catholic church), and in the report we tied
the following
Mr. JOSEPH LAYCOCK, of Winlaton, received a warm
welcome on rising to propose ' The Bishop and Clergy of
the Diocese of Durham.' Many of them, he said, might
conscientiously differ on the subject of bishops and their large
incomes, but he was sure they were all agreed that the
stewardship ; and however much some of them might dis-
pute the propricty of a system which placed great weath in
the hands of church of England prelates, there was not one
of them but would admit that Dr. Maltby used his princely
revenues as a sacred trust, to be applied in works of charity
and religion—(applause). His desire, his sole desire, was to
do good. There was now in the village of Winlaton a
striking and interesting proof of the bishop's benevolence—a
man, whom the right reverend prelate bad raised from the
lowest ranks of the workmen of Winlaton, to the station of
an ordained clergyman of the church of England—(applause.)
The individual to whom he referred was a native of Winlaton,
and was put to the trade of a blacksmith at the early age of
seven years. At that time he had received little education.
He could read the Scriptures, but could write only inaper-
;ectly. After he went to trade he attended a Sunday school
(Archdeacon Thorp's), where he made some progress.
Writing, however, was not taught in the school. When he
had entered his teens his mind was directed to the study of
languages, beginning with his own. Afterwards he acquired
six others—viz., Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Syriac, and

French. A few years ago a missionary made his appearance
in the village, to disseminate the damnable doctrines of So-
cialism, trusting, no doubt, to the well-known readiness of
the villagers to patronise whatever was new and good—
(laughter). The friends of the learned blacksmith, Mr.
Blythe Hurst, pressed him to deliver lectures in reply to the
Socialist. This he declined, but he wrote a book, entitled
Christianity no Priestcraft,' and had it printed and publish-
ed. The worthy rector of Winlaton, Mr. Wardell, enclosed
a copy of the pamphlet to the Bishop of Durham, as the work
of a common man, a labourinc, blacksmith. The bishop
wrote back, expressing the great satisfaction with which he
had read the book, and observing that it might be written by

a common man, but it was the production ofdpo common
mind, and he was anxious to receive some furthe? particulars
of the author's life. These were not mere words of compli-
ment. The bishop was in earnest, and wrote to Air. Douglas,
the rector of Wickham, wishing him to see Mr. Hurst, and
ascertain his ability to make a ready application of his ac-
quirements. Mr. Douglas visited him, and found him toil-
ing the whole day long to support his family. He pursued
his studies while at work, having his lessons on his " flame-
stone"—(a stone suspended before the eyes of the workman
to protect them from the flames). Mr. Douglas conversed
with him, and subsequently made a report to the bishop.
His lordship next wrote to Mr. Davies, the rector of Gates-
head, on the subject of Mr. Hurst. Mr. Davies visited Mr.
H. at Winlaton, and stated the the result in a letter to the
bishop. Dr. Maltby afterwards corresponded with Mr.
Hurst, and advised him as to his course of reading, recom-
mending to his attention the most suitable books. His lord-
ship (mark his liberality!) did more than this : he enclosed
Mr. Hurst the means of following out his recommendations
—(loud applause). He also wrote to Mr. Collinson, the late
rector of Gateshead, who, like the Good Samaritan,' as he
had always been, invited Mr. Hurst to his house, and also
Mr. Hurst's daughter. Mr. Collinson saw that the black-
smith was about to rise from his obscure station, and he was
kindly anxious to prepare both him and his family for the
new sphere of life on which they were shortly to enter. Some
time afterwards, the bishop having occasion to visit New-
castle, he had a personal interview with Mr. Hurst, and
arrangements were then made for his ordination. When the
time for this ceremony was at hand, Mr. Hurst received a
kind letter from Auckland Castle, intimating that apartments
had been provided for his accommodation. His lordship
also presented him with a silk gown, through Mr. Wardell.
On Thursday, the 9th instant, Mr. Hurst proceeded to
Auckland ; and he (Mr. Laycock) had received a letter, com-
municating some particulars of his reception. From this
letter he would read an extract

" Mr. Hurst passed his examination with great credit to
himself, and much to the satisfaction of his examiner.
" The bishop was particularly kind, and took especial
notice of Mr. Hurst. On Saturday, as is customary, all
those to be ordained dined with the bishop. The bishop,
on looking round the drawing-room for Mr. Hurst, found
that he was at the opposite end. He asked him to come to
him, and went and met him—took his arm—and introduced
him to Mrs. Maltby and all the ladies. When they met in
the dining-room, he said, ' you must come and sit beside
me.' Then he was set with the bishop on one side, and
Archdeacon Raymond on the other ; and the same way on
Sunday, at lunch.'
" Thus honourably and pleasantly did Mr. Hurst pass his
examination, and the bishop's kindness extended also to
paying the fees. (Applause.) On this very day (Tuesday)
Mr. Hurst had returned to his native village an ordained
clergyman of the Church of England ; and he would shortly,
through the bishop's patronage, enter upon his ministerial
duties as curate of Garrigill, near Alston. (Cheers.) The
villagers, as a farewell token of their esteem and respect,
were now providing a purse of gold, to be presented to Mr.
Hurst on his removal to his curacy. (Applause.) Ile had
not intended to name this circumstance, but a friend at his
elbow suggested to him that he ought to do so. lie would
now conclude, having already, he feared, detained the com-
pany too long. (Cries of No, no.') He had been led to
relate the rise of Mr. Hurst, not so much by the way of ex-
hibiting the Bishop of Durham as a patron of genius and
learning, in however humble a station of lite they might be
found, but to show the kindness, the liberality, and the ami-
ability of his disposition. (Applause.) This was sufficiently
shown by the facts which he had related, and it was mani-
fested in every action of his lordship's life. He had there-
fore great pleasure in proposing ' The Bishop of Durham
and the Clergy of the Diocese.' (Loud cheers.)"

TfiE STEAMER INDlA.—Advices from Alexandria, dated
July 6, state, that on the 25th June the steamer India at
length made her appearance at Suez from Calcutta, which
place she left on the Bth of May. She had to contend with
very unfavourable weather during the whole of the passage.
She stopped 14 hours at Madras, and three days and a half
at Point de Galle to coal. The monsoon blew in full force
against her all the way between Ceylon and Aden, at which
latter place she had also to stay four days to take in fuel, the
sea there being so boisterous that it was with great difficulty
they took in what she required. She was to leave again for
Calcutta on the 4th or sth instant. Thus, the second voyage
of this fine steamer has been by far not so fortunate as the
first, when she came over the whole way in 30 days ; but this
is the worst season of the year, owing to the monsoons pre-
vailing. The news by this steamer has been already preceded
by the overland mail of June, and the only letters she has
brought are duplicates of those previously sent by Bombay.
gseranaAinsustee.sn:‘.riTnntioielsr;theft was lately committed in the wood of Vin-
pi
olCap—,,acwe
ebu et i aNnvgirtichchhohsimes
naf,naimadnialdcytautlorlettrialkeoefdt
preparationshi
ueueFra uobuout
the
the Picnic completed, the party joyously arranged themselves
ground
w thingsatsheh ecallordt
fh,o,trheaentndh
ao commencedmse.
(t
d e vigorousu attack on the
c ()Au
dl I
andon a a stuiii
after,. two young men rushed past cryridng, ,
one
silver,eatables,
udiitv, ~ violente a tabiexplo-
sione s
immediately,i,hoy
are
fighting ! they are fighting , Fly for your lives." The whole
of the party were in a moment on foot, and precipitately took
entle
the head of the family,
to flight. A short time after, however,
, to return to the place
not hearing any more noise, ventured
of festivity, and there found—nothing!
,h
uampiii)iouitni
ot appointed
Linen,
all had disappeared, The worthy g•
and lodged a complaint, but hithertogwithomuatn went at once
effect.
FAST DAY.—The General Assembly havingany
Thursday to be observed as a day of solemn
public worship took place in the churches of the establishment
There was a good attendance on the part of the different con-
gregations. The dissenters having declined the invitation
made to them through the Moderator of the General Assem-
blye with the Established Church on this to co-operate occa-
sion, the observance of the day was almost entirely confined
to the latter. The shops were shut as generally as on ordi-
nary fast days ; and as the weather was beautiful, great
numbers availed themselves of the opportunity to take a trip
to the most interesting localities in the neighbourhood, by
railway, steamer, and coach. The number of passengers
entered at the Edinburgh station of the Glasgow railway
amounted, we understand, to 5,600, being more than three
times the number booked on the occasion of the sacramental
fast in April last. The numbers who travelled on the various
branches of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith railway, including
children, was about 7;000. The number who paid was 6,861 ;
and we learn on good authority that these were chiefly of the
respectable classes in middle and lower life, and that not a
drunken or disorderly person was seen on any part of the
lines.—Caledonion Mercury.

THE MURDER OE THE IRISH GIRL.
In the early part of the mouth of December, 1839. a cir-
cumstance transpired at Merthyr which brought Dick Tamar
more prominently before the public than heretofore. The
facts of the case, which excited intense interest at the time,
are these :—A girl of the town, named Ellen Murphy, who
is said to have but recently commenced a depraved course of
life, and who possessed, as the phrase is, considerable per-
sonal attractions, was found dead in the parish pound. She
was lying in some ordure, cattle having been lately placed
there. In her left hand, which was under her head, was
found a sixpence, and her dress was much disordered. On
enquiry it was elicited that she had been drinking with some
other poor degraded woman on the night previous, and had
left the house with a mau. A person living near heard cries
of murder from the direction of the pound in the night, but
he was laid up by sickness and could not rise. Soon after
that time, however, Dick Tamar was seen coming out of the
pound and proceeding homewards. This was about twelve
or one o'clock. The facts having become known, Dick was
arrested by Milward, the constable, at his mother's house,
on the following evening, whilst at supper. An inquest was
held on the body of the murdered girl, who appeared to have
died from strangulation. On examining the prisoner's
olothca, thcro wore fauna wanks of vu LL olitisb. and
on other parts of his dress, exactly corresponding with the
litter and filth in the pound. These facts, taken in con-
nection with the prisoner's habits,—with his having been
seen with the deceased,—and with the damning fact of his
coming out of the pound late at night, and after the girl had
left the public-house. induced the jury to bring in a verdict
of Wilful Murder against him ; and on the coroner's warrant
he was committed to Cardiffgoal on the 20th of December,
1839. At the Swansea Assize, however, the judge, after
aecllaed sending the case before the
reading the depositions,
grand jury, and Dick was a tree man.
The release of Dick Tamar was a matter of much surprise
at the time. The .rFason was this. His mother, Tamar
Edwards, swore ely
positiv that her son had never been out
of her house on the night of the murder. So determined
was she in this statement, that the judge himself was induced
to believe her testimony, although twelve jurymen did not.
A singular, and, as it turns out, prophetic remark was made
to the old woman on Dick .
being freed. A gentleman, who
chanced to be present, said to the mother, "Ah Tamar,'
Dick has managed to get off now ; but he'll serve you out
next." That Dick has verified the prediction, the twelve
jurymen who returned a verdict of guilty against the unhappy
man last Wednesday week will testify.
So determined was Dick Tamar to his acquaintance
with crime, that before he was out of prison a week, and
whilst the halter, in perspective, could hardly have faded
from his imagination, he assaulted a woman on the tram
road, near Merthyr, and grossly ill-treated her. Dick was
discovered : but the affair was compromised, and once more
he escaped.

Cardiff gaol, however, was doomed to be familiar to him.
lie was sent there again in default of paying a fine for break-
ing his father-in-law's windows. This was, however, a
trifling matter, and would be scarcely worth mentioning in
this catalogue of crime, did it not, in some measure, throw
light on his wild and lawless habits.
And now comes the last fearful offence. Hurried on by
his ferocity—ferocity which had almost quenched human
feelings—he consummated his crimes by the murder of 'his
mother. Poor, miserable, wretched, and debased creature,
as she undoubtedly, according to concurrent testimony, was
—she was his mother. Murder itself wears a more horrible
aspect in the person of the matricide.
The particulars of this case, which might be ranked among
the English Gause's Celebres, must be fresh in the recollec-
tion of our numerous readers, from our report of the trial,
which an unprecedented demand for has stamped as the most
faithful record of this interesting case. That trial, as all
trials do. embodied the stern realities of the matter. All the
tales of the witnesses were told out in an open, quiet, crowded
court, in broad daylight. Judge, jury, barristers, lawyers,
spectators, idlers, and the curious, all were there, listening
to details of facts. But the romance was the out-of-door
work. Dickens never told us anything more horribly true
than the account we had (m? re Bill Sykes) of Dick Tamar's
stolen looks through the window, to ascertain if his mother's
body had been discovered. The guilty man had been wan-
dering amongst levels, and furnaces, and cinder heaps ; beg-
ging for bread and water; giving false names, and incohe-
rent answers ; lying one night in the ashes, and prowling
about by day, yet never venturing far from the spot where
his last great crime was committed. Ile moved, as it were,
in a circle—a vortex, whose current irresistibly drew him to
the centre, and that centre his birth-place, and the ,iome of
his murdered mother.

Then, again, his searching for his wife, and (mark his
former cruelty to her) almost coaxing her to go home with
him—to the home where old Tamar was lying a hidden
corpse. He never ventared into the house alone; and after
he did, with his wife, go into the room, he never left it, not
for a moment. By day he was there, watchful, restless, and
miserable ; at night he slept on the bed whose sacking must
have been so near the floor as to have almost been propped
by the corpse of old Tamar Edwards.
We were not present when Dick was brought to the sta-
tion house, but a talented inhabitant of Merthyr informed us
that he heard the shouts of the coming crowds afar off.
Nearer and nearer it came. and " Dick is taken—Dick is
got," flew like wild-fire through the town. An universal
tremor of joy prevailed when Dick was taken ; and down he
came, collared, and pressed on, and jeered ; looking worn,
jaded, unshaven, and, in one word, miserable. Now his bat
would be beaten down over his eyes, and Dick would kick in
return. Now a yell would arise—but on they went, cap-
turers and captured, through the densely thronged streets.
So bent were the crowd on executing summary vengeance
on the wretched creature that they proposed a frightful pun-
ishment ; and had there not been a powerful and efficient
police force that punishment would have been inflicted.
Merthyr Lynching would be no joke. But Dick was reserved
for legal jurisdiction. Dick's murdered parent had been
buried that day, and a cry was raised—" Walk the murderer
over his mother's grave, and hang him in the pound where
the Irish girl was found dead.
It would be useless now to proceed with further particulars
of the late Merthyr tragedy, they are familiar enough to
every one. We, however, by accident, learned the following
particulars, which did not come out on the trial; and which,
if correct, throw some light on the late transaction, inasmuch
as an indirect clue is afforded to the presumed quarrel be-
which might have occasioned
tween Dick and his mother,
-- -

the murder. It is, at least, curious :
A man, named A—n
(we give the relation nearly
in his own words), says—"
Dick went to Newbridge, I be-
lieve, in the course of the week, precious to the committal of
the murder on old Tamar Edwards, and raised the old wo-
man's parish money (eleven shillings) for his mother, at
Lanvabon (a part of Newbridge is in Lanvabon parish). in
coming back he went into a public-house; near Navigation
House (I think it was called the Travellers Rest) on his way
to Aberdare. In the Travellers' Rest Dick saw a man who,
he thought, had been too familiar
,with his wife before he,
married her. Dick said to the man If I thought it wasn't'
true, I'd spend all the money I got with you.' I'lle man said,
Don't be foolish ; there's nothing of the sort.' Dick said
he was very glad of it ; and the man should have a share of
and then went to the Colliers'
drink. They drank a little,
Arms, when Dick spent all the. money. Dick. went home
penniless, and the old woman inquired. of him what he had
done with the parish money. He reylied, Oh, G—d d—n
what't that to you ; I spent it all. After that old Tamar
wished to get rid of him ; and the neighbours used often to
hear her cry murder when Dick was ill-using her."

More hearts pine away in secret anguish for unkindness
from those who should be their comforters, than for any other
calamity in life.

VESSELS ENTERED FOR LOADING.

(SINCE OUR LAST PUIILICATION.)

•
EAST INDIES, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, Sec.
Elizabeth Moore, W Mossop, 241 Cape of Good Hope, Imrie & C
Robert Henderson, J W Hayward, 368 Calcutta, Bolds & Starke:

WEST INDIES AND MADEIRA.
Kelsick Wood, J Brown, 234 Berbice, J N Wood & Co
Mary, T Hawkins, 336 Demerara, J Girvin
John Harrocks, J Bond, 249 Madeira and Berbice, J Booker
SOUTH AMERICA.

Vitula, G Fielding, 295 Buenos Ayres, Watson & Co
Helen, C Noel, 156 Valparaiso, Guaquil, Istapa and Mazatlan,

Jeffryes & Meek
Isabella Thompson, W Powell, 208 Laguira and Puerto Cabello,
Jeffryes & Meek

UNITED STATES,

Scotland, W Robinson, 640 New York, Brown, Shipley & Co
England, B L Waite, 731 New York, Baring Bes & Co
Octorara; J H Smith, 650 Philadelphia, Ingleby & Co
Nonantum, .1 B King. 735 Boston, T Dixon & Co
BRITISH AMERICA.
Agitator, J Henry, 417 Miramichi, Cram, Smith &Co
Crescent, G Rider, 92 Newfoundland and Labrador,
J Glynn & Son