The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-04 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS

On the recommendation of the sub-committee for the
department of the Marine Surveyor, it was resolved, that
10s. a-week should be allowed for " subsistence money" to
the men in the light-ships, whether on shore or otherwise.
A model of the new beacon was submitted, and referred to
the Sub-committee of Works.

A letter from Messrs. Richard Harbord and Co. was read,
informing the committee that a claim had been made upon
them by Messrs. Bushby, Son, and Foster, on the part of
Messrs. Sandbach, Tinre, and Co., for compensation in re-
spect of certain damage done to 100 hogsheads of sugar which
had been lodged in their warehouses, by the tidal waters of
the Mersey having burst through the sewers into the ware-
house. Messrs. Harbord stated that they should hold the
Dock Committee liable for the damage on account of the in-
security of the sewers.

Mr. EVANS said this damage was a mere casualty, and the
committee were not responsible for it.
Mr.' HORSI, ALL suggested that the letter be referred to the
solicitor.

Mr. EVANS said he never would, for one instant, admit or
suppose a liability on the part of the Dock Committee in cases
of this sort.

Mr. HORSFALL said his own impression was that there
was no liability on the part of the committee, but at the
same time he thought it would be better to refer the letter to
the solicitor.

Mr. SANDBACII was about to ask the surveyor some
questions as to the state of the sewers at the time, when
Mr. ..4.txlN asked the chairman whether it would be judici-
ous to allow the surveyor to answer ?
The CHAIRMAN said he thought not.
The letter was then referred to the solicitor.
A memorial was read requesting an additional doorway to
be made at the east side of the Prince's Dock, opposite Upper
Queen-street, which, it was stated, would be a very great
convenience. On the motion of Mr. RIPLEY, seconded by
Mr. BARCLAY, the prayer of the memorial was granted.

CONSERVANCY

Mr. HottsrALL said he had observed by the proceedings
in the council yesterday, that the council had a bill before
parliament for the conservancy of the river. He wished to
ask the chairman whether there was any official communi-
cation on this subject before the committee?
The CHAIRMAN said he knew nothing in his official cha-
racter except that such a bill was before parliament.
Mr. HORSFALL said then he should wish to move that
this committee respectfully request the council to furnish
them with a copy of the bill or the particulars of it. As
many gentlemen were new members of the committee, he
might as well mention for their information that this was a
matter which had been twice before parliament, and that in
both cases this committee were r equested to co-operate with
the council in obtaining the bill. They did so, both as to
attending in London to promote the bill, and also in the ex-
pense; and he wished to know whether the council now
contemplated that the committee were to have no share in
the bill ? If they were be did not think it quite courteous
on the part of the council not to inform them of it, because
if they were to contribute towards it, in the proportion they
did upon former occasions, it was but right they should know

something about it. If. upon the other band, the coun-
cil meant to pay the whole expense, perhaps the committee
had not much right to call upon them for information ;
but at the same time it would have been only courteous in
the Council to have informed the committee why the plan
had been changed, and why the committee were no longer to
be a party to it. His view with regard to a conservancy
bill was somewhat altered from that he formerly held, hav-
ing witnessed what had taken place upon former occasions
when they were opposed by gentlemen from Cheshire and
even from Manchester, who insisted upon baying a com-
mission. Those parties then eve❑ went so far as to say they
had a perfect sight to the conservancy, 9.nd that Liverpool
was a place for nothing else than their convenience. Other
parties had an object contrary to the interests of the Do.ik
Estate, and that was to protect the river as far as Warring-
ton. It was, therefore, of great importance that the com-
mittee should know who were the conservators of the river.
In all cases it had been contemplated that the corporation or
the Dock Trust should pay the whole expense; and if the
corporation paid the whole expense, of course the inhabitants
were deeply interested in the hill.
Mr. EVANS 4sked Mr. Horstall v4”.thcr he had ten the
bill ?

Mr. HonsFALL said he had not, and that be knew nothing
of it, except from what bad appeared in the papers yesterday.
Mr. EVANS observed that the bill was not a conservancy
bill ; it was quite diflerent.
Mr. HonsFALL said then he should ask the corporation to
be so good as to inform the commi tee what bill it was. In
the former attempts, the gentlemen from Cheshire and Man-
chester insisted upon having powers which it was perfectly
unreasonable to concede. But the thing rested here—we
were in possession of the money, and they looked to the
Dock Estate or the corporation for all the money that had
to be laid out. He thought that under the bill of the Town-
council it was contemplated to spend from £3,000 to £5,000
a-vear.

EVANS said there would be no expenditure of the
sort.

Mr. IIonsFALL said there would be some expense what-
ever it might be • but if the bill was of a different character
to that which he apprehended, he hoped the corporation
would inform the committee what it was, that they might
see what was going on.
Mr. EVANS repeated that the bill was of a different kind
to what Mr. Horsfall contemplated, but at the same time
there was sufficient justification for his remarks, because the
bill did involve expense of which the committee would he
called upon to bear their share. It would, however, be an
extremely small expense, for it was only the expense charged
by the clerk of the peace for the county.
Mr. SHAND thought the bill was not called the conser-
vancy bill.

The CHAIRMAN said the title was, "The Mersey Con-
servancy Bill."

Mr. EVANS said the object of the bill was merely to sup-
press nuisances in the river, and to prescribe the mode of

doing so.
Mr. HORSFALL expressed his intention of moving that
the chairman be requested to desire the town council to
furnish the committee with a copy of the bill, and also with
such information as the council might think it needful to
give to the committee.
Mr. AIKIN said that Mr. Horsfall was quite right in con-
tending that a copy of the bill should be sent to the com-
mittee in due form ; but when he saw the bill he would say
that it deserved any other name better than that of a con-
servancy bill; for Liverpool, by it, stood in no better a
position than any common carrier upon the estuary, yet the
bill said that the Corporation of Liverpool should pay the
expenses.

The CHAIRMAN said he would write to the town-clerk on
the subject, and with this assurance the conversation dropped.
The committee then separated.

CORRESPONDENCE

ANTI-CORN-LAW LADIES,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

think it my duty to address, through your co-
lumns, a caution to the public, with respect to the proceed-
ings of two females, in the dress of ladies, who, under the
pretence of calling upon the female portion of the inhabitants
to sign petitions against the corn-laws, have, during the past
week, been levying contributions upon the unwary. In se-
veral places where these impostors have called, small articles
have been immediately afterwards missed ; and, in one in-
stance, a number of silver spoons, which were previously
noticed upon the table, disappeared, and have not since been
found. The parties are respectable in appearance, and of
rather plausible manners. There is no doubt, however, 1
believe, that they have not the slightest pretensions to the
character in which they appear, and that they are not in the
least connected with the petitions emanating from the Anti-
Monopoly Association.—l am, sir,
A CONSTANT READER.
Upper Parliament-street, Toxteth-park,
Ist March, 1842.

NORTHERN MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Having heard so much of the Saturday evenings'
amusements that have taken place in this institution for some
time past, my curiosity led me to take a peep on the evening
of Saturday last. Before my arrival I was impressed with
the idea that perhaps I might have a description of some
nice piece of machinery, or some improvement on engines,
or that probably there would be some diversion by experi-
ments on the laughing gas, or some other chemical experi-
ment ; but I was sadly disappointed. On my entrance my
attention was drawn to the south end of the room, where
was erected a stage, on which was placed a piano. In a short
time a gentleman made his appearance, and commenced
singing, and playing on the piano. After some time had
been spent in vocal music, accompanied by the piano and
the guitar, an Italian made his appearance, assuming the
character of a chimney-sweep, per the vid of ventriloquism,
which apparently amused the company very much. Part 2,
the performance recommenced by singing, &c., accompanied
by the guitar and piano, as before, and at intervals the amu-
sing ventriloquism of the artful Italian, which at once de-
lighted and amused the female mechanics and children. The
whole concluded with " Rule, Britannia!"
Mechanics of Liyerpooll are you to be gulled this way ?
Is it for this purpose that you erect institutions, and get up
buildings? Have theatrical amusements anything to do with
mechanical institutions? -No, certainly not. This is a new
way of instructing your apprentices in the construction and
use of machines and engines. These entertainments, you
are well aware, belong to theatres, public-houses, and sing-
ing-rooms, and not to scientific institutions. Can you con-
scientiously allow your apprentices to attend such amuse-
ments as these? This should be a place where your children
should receive instructions on mechanism and the sciences.
For that purpose, have you handed in your contributions,
instructed,
that you might have those you sent amused, and
enlightened in the beauty of the sciences. Is it a matter of
surprise that they received notice from the council to remove
from these premises? For my part I would be far more sur-
prised if they had not got notice. But t has been stated
that this performance was only carried on for the amusement
of the mechanics of the north end of Liverpool. Now let me
say that the majority of the mechanics of the north end are
disgusted at such amusements being carried on. These Sa-
turday nights' amusements are the subject of their conversa-
tion on the next day ; and not only then, but on the Monday,
when they meet together, instead of attending to some sub-
ject which might have a tendency to improve them in their
vocations, their whole time is taken up with imitations of
ventriloquism, &c., &c.—Yours, &c.,
A AIECHANIC.

THE YOUNG MEN'S ESTABLISHED CHURCH
SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST3NDARD

Snt,—l take the liberty of applying to you, as the recog-
nised organ of the evangelical party in this town, to know
what has become of the Liverpool Young Men's Established
Church Society. Its last meeting was held at the Amphi-
theatre. about a year and a half ago ; on which occasion we
were addressed by Dr. Byrth, Mr. M`Neile, and several
other gentlemen ; our respected representative, Cresswell
Cresswell, Esq., being chairman. A resolution was at that
time proposed, and carried unanimously, to the effect that
for the future the meetings of the association should be half-
yearly ; and it was stated in the report that arrangements
were pending with a view to the continuance, on the part of
various evangelical clergy of the town, of a course of lectures,
four of which had already been delivered by Mr. Baylee, Dr.
Byrth, Dr. Tattershall, and Mr. M`Neile.
Now, Mr. Editor, although loth to judge or speak harshly
of a society, the obvious tendency of whose principles, if
fairly and consistently carried out, is towards good, I feel
constrained in the present instance to observe, that it is one
thing to applaud resolutions at a public meeting, and another
to carry them into practical operation ; and to ask, how it
happens that so truly appalling a deadness has recently come
over the spirits of our Protestant young men? Is it that,
having at length seen the helm of government assigned once
more to the guidance of conservative hands, they deem that
there is no longer scope for that exertion a necessity for
which they all formerly admitted to exist? Or is it that
their enthusiasm, fanned into a temporary flame by the
powerful influence of platform eloquence and political ex-
citement, has, in consequence of the very brightness mani-
fested at its dawn, and unable eventually to support its own
intensity, emitted its last flash, and then mournfully expired ?
The statement of Holy Writ, as regards " putting one's hand
to the plough, and turning back," will most forcibly apply
as regards either of the suppositions I have hazarded respect-
ing the lamentable defection upon which I have now animad-
verted.
These hurried remarks are made more in sorrow than in
anger, and with a friendly feeling towards the respectable
parties they refer to. Relying, therefore, on your compli-
ance with my request for their insertion in your next num-
ber, I would conclude with the expression of a fervent -hope
that the prediction of the accomplished Roman satirist may
be realised in reference to the subject of this communica-
tion—

" Non, t; i male nunc, et olim
Sic erit."
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
VIGILANS.
[The above was in type on Monday, and ought to have ap-
peared in the STANDARD of Tuesday. We cannot give any
satisfactory reply to our correspondent's question.]

POPISH BRUTALITY,

TO THE EDITORS OF TILE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

GENTLEMEN,—One of the most outrageous, as well as un-
manly actions, was committed yesterday, the. Ist March, on
the person of a poor Irish woman, who, with a child at her
breast, was applying for relief to a Roman Catholic priest,
not one mile from Key-street. The poor woman is one of
ignorance,
are many deluded individuals who, through
are bound down by the iron fetters of Popery. Not long after
she had made her appearance in the yard, Father
came up and spoke to her. What passed between the poor
woman and his reverence in the commencement of the con-
versation I was unable to hear ; but in a few seconds the
priest burst out in a most violent manner, giving utterance
to the most disgusting language ; and, not satisfied with call-
ing her all the foul names he could devise, he actually had
the audacity to follow, and continued kicking her until she
had placed her feet outside of the yard door, which leads to a
back street. And may I ask if this be a specimen of the
charity of the Romish priesthood? and, if they are allowed
to tyrannise thus far in Protestant England, what \\ill be-
come of the poor slaves in Ireland ?—lf the said priest should
happen to read this, I am determined (if he does not take
this warning, and act with more charity for the future) to
bring stronger accusations than the above against him.
I remain

A REAL FRIEND TO THE POOR.
Oldhall-street, March 2d, 1842.

Sir Howard Douglas was one of the honoured guests at the
Premier's second parliamentary dinner, on Saturday last.

EXAMINATION OF SIIIPMASTERS.—We have elsewhere
noticed a bill introduced into parliament, for the purpose of
subjecting the masters of vessels and others to the test of an
examination, prior to their being placed in posts of such
great responsibility. We are informed that Lieut. Tracey,
R.N., of this town, is a candidate for the situation of head
examiner, and as we feel confident he is well qualified for the
duties, we hope his claims will not be lost sight of in making
the appointment. He has been mainly instrumental in the
establishment of the Mates' Association in this town, which,
we believe, has been already very beneficial to that hitherto
much neglected class of men.

SECOND EDITION.

Standard-office, Eleven o'clock

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—LAsT NIGHT
THE EXCHEQUER-BILL FRAUD. _

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose, and, after a
'few introductory observations, said,—An extensive fraud
has been committed by means of a forgery of public securi-
ties to a very considerable amount. That forgery was com-
mitted by a bleach of confidence on the part of a public offi-
cer, and by one of those gross violations of duty, which
happily are rare in the annals of this country, but which,
in proportion as they are rare, create, when they do occur,
general sensation and considerable alarm. The mode in
which the fraud was committed was simply this :—an indivi-
dual in the department having had reposed in him the confi
dence of his superiors ; having been iu that department for 28
years ; being connected with parties -who had distinguished
themselves, both in the civil and military service of the coun-
try—an individual who had enjoyed the uninterrupted con-
fidence of a series of auditors and comptrollers in his de-
partment—who had received the strongest testimonies as to
his abilities and honesty from Lord Grenville, Lord Auck-
land, Sir J. Newport, and until of late of the present Comp-
troller of the Exchequer, had been guilty of the deplorable
crime of violating a most sacred duty, and abusing the
powers which he possessed to defraud the public, in
whose service he had been so long employed, and to
whom he was under the strongest obligation of duty,
to serve with honour and good faith. The mode in which
he committed the fraud was by possessing himself of papers
entrusted to him in his official capacity, and having so pos-
sessed himself of those papers, by taking them from the office
in which he served, in order to forge the name of the noble
lord, whose signature Exchequer Bills were by law bound to
bear. He then availed himself of these forged bills as nego-
tiable instruments. But this was an offence which if it had
not been committed guardedly and with great precaution
would have admitted of easy detection. The course this in-
dividual pursued, assisted by agents, whose crime, perhaps,
did not equal, but certainly approached near to that of the
principal in the transaction—the mode in which he conducted
the fraud was to give those Exchequer Bills so forged as de-
posits for loans of money on condition that the very bills so
deposited should be returned to him on payment of the mo-
ney, or on other Exchequer-bills being given in the room of
these which had been originally deposited. Thus by con-
stantly at each successive change of Exchequer-bills forging
new bills, with a view to replace those forged bills already
outstanding, he contrived effectually to prevent the pre-
sentation of the forged bills at the Exchequer-office, and
to hinder their general circulation among the commercial
community of the metropolis. Thus, he committed in
the first instance a breach of every honourable obliga-
tion; and- afterwards, by an artful concealment of the
forged instruments issued, he succeeded in escaping
the detection to which a different course would have
certainly exposed him. On the 20th of October last an in-
dividual called upon me at my office, and informed me that
an offer had been made to him of Exchequer bills in depo-
sit in return for a loan of money, and told me that the
rate of interest offered to him upon the loan bad so far
exceeded the market rate of interest, that he suspected
the bills had been stolen, or that they were the property of
some other person. Upon that information having been
communicated to me I felt it was my duty and I lost no time
to inquire into the matter. (Hear, hear.) In consequence
of the information given to me, as I already stated on the
20th of October, the result was, that, on the 25th of the same
month, in consequence of the inquiry which was instituted,
the guilty author was taken into custody. (Ministerial
cheers.) Five days only had been occupied in bringing to'
light a fraud which had been so long perpetrating. (Cheers.)
Let it not be supposed that I mention that fact to gain any
credit for the government, or for their activity. Far from it.
But I do it for this reason :—it is surprising that when so
many persons had been engaged in the fraud—amongst the
many persons who must have been cognizant of it, there
was not one public officer who had given any information
whatever on the subject ; and the result of the immediate
inquiry instituted was, that this fraud, which was carried
on from April, 1836, till October, 1841, had been detected in
the short space of time I have already mentioned. (Cheers.)
The right lion. gent. then took a glance at the conduct which
the government pursued in the matter which is already well
known to the public, and continued, I say, Sir, and I say it
advisedly, that this offence could not have been committed
in the midst of the intelligent community which inhabits the
metropolis without the person being in communication of
some persons, I will not say who were conscious of the guilty,
but I will say who must have had some knowledge of the
transaction going on, and whose duty it was to have
given information. Why, Sir, we gave the result of the
first detection of the offence. No sooner were the pro-
ceedings taken against the individual Smith, than I re-
ceived from various quarters details of suspicious circum-
stances that had occurred. I understood from one gentleman
that he had been offered Exchequer Bills for a loan, hut he
rejected them, as they were suspicious, and this gentleman
gave me to understand that the same parties had a quantity
of Exchequer Bills—these individuals devoid of character—
that they were all ready for signature. These are circum-
stances, on the part of the public, which require to be en-
tered into, that we may properly understand the real nature
of the subject. It is, therefore, with this view that I shall
call upon parliament to institute a specific inquiry—kloud
clieers)—not to be conducted by a committee of this
house—(hear, hear)—or by a mere commission appointed
by the crown, but, sir, by a commission appointed by par-
liament to investigate the real nature of these several
transactions, to see how business was transacted by these se-
veral persons, to know whether they were men of such sus-
picious characters that honest men would hardly be connected
with them ; whether the money advanced on the bills
received in return an interest beyond-the market rate. (Hear.)
These and a variety of other circumstances require to be
rigidly and strictly investigated before the house can be cal-
led on to come to any final decision on the question ; nay,
before we can be called on to understand the nature of
the case with which we have to deal. _ (Hear, hear.) Sir,
_ .

an inquiry of this kind requires the highest moral considera-
tion ; it is essential that the public of the country should
know how business is conducted. To the claims for com-
pensation brought before me, I have, as I conceived it my
duty to do, given the most decided refusal. The granting of
claims for compensation, in a case of this kind, is to take
away from the public the greatest security they have against
the repetition of such offences, and is to do all in your power
to render such practices of more frequent occurrence. For if I
were once to give my opinion that a man tnking these Bills
were to be compensated for any loss he might undergo,
what could Ido more, to remove all blame from him ? Or
what could I do more effectual, to encourage a criminal
individual to seduce a public servant—being sure that
the termination of the affair must be that he should
receive any money that he had expended. I, therefore,
sir, have chosen to given the least encouragement to propo-
sitions of this kind, and I do most decidedly advise the house
and parliament to weigh well all the considerations of this
case, before they are led away by any statements of party or
individual hardship, or individual suffering, before they yield
to claims of this nature. The hon. gentleman then argued
that there was no distinction as regarded the claim of com-
pensation between the law as applied to forgery on indivi-
duals or the public, and briefly alluded to the amendment
which an hon. member had given notice of.

MURDER FROM POISONING IN NOTTINGHAM

NOTTINGHAM, Matter' 2.—A dreadful case of murder
has just been inquired into and adjudicated upon by a coro-
ner's jury in Nottingham. It appears that a coal higgler,
named Robinson, living about two miles from Nottingham,
was in the constant habit of attending the market, and as
constantly was he intoxicated. In his drunken sprees he
would visit houses of ill-fame, and on Saturday week he
was decoyed into a notorious house in Bellfounders'-
yard, while he was drunk. He there produced about
twenty-five shillings in money, which the man and his wife
who kept the house determined to get, and they there-
fOre sent the servant girl out for some laudanum to mix
with his liquor, and send him to sleep. Twopennyworth was
administered, bat it did not have the desired effect, and more
was fetched and given to him, which completely stupitied
him, and he was then robbed by these harpies, and turned
into the street, where he lay for some time, till some passers-
by found him, and laid him in a stable, from whence on being,
removed he died almost immediately.

An inquest was held on the body, which was adjeirned
three different times, but the final conclusion was a verdict
of " Wilful murder" against Benjamin Hurd and his wife,
and the servant who fetched the laudanum. The guilty par-
ties, immediately on hearing of the death of Robinson, packed
up their household effects and hastily decamped ; and al-
though the police have been very vigilant after them, they
have not as yet been able to detect them. It is clearly proved
by the surgeons that the laudanum had been the cause of
death, while a wilful and bad intent was likewise proved
against the parties. They cannot long escape justice.