WEST BRITON and CORNWALL ADVERTISER - transcribed by Julia Symons Mosman . 9 JANUARY 1857 . ADVERTISEMENTS . FOR COQUIMBO, CHILI The splendid clipper ship "C O N Q U E R O R" A 1 - 12 years - 600 tons burthen, JOHN RICHARD WILLIAMS, Commander, will sail for Coquimbo on or about Saturday, the 7th of February. Has unequaled accommodation for cabin and steerage passengers. For terms of passage and other particulars, apply to the Captain on board, or to the Owners, RICHARDSON and CO., Copper Ore Wharves, Swansea .................................................... . JOHN R. DAVIES, Australian and American Commercial and Family Boarding House, No. 15, Earl Street, St. Paul's Square (Late of 14 Galton Street) LIVERPOOL . The Celebrated Clipper Ships and Steamers sail for Australia 1st, 5th, 15th, 20th, and 25th of each month. Carrying Mails and Passengers. The Vessels comprising the above Line are all new, and rank among the fastest, finest, and largest Ships in the world; while their fittings and general arrangements are unsurpassed by any other Ships afloat. . The Celebrated Steam Ships sail from Liverpool for New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, twice a month. . The regular Line of Packet Ships for New York, on the 1st, 6th, 12th, 16th, 20th, and 26th of each month. For Boston, 5th and 20th of each month. For Philadelphia, 12th of each month. For New Orleans and Quebec every ten days. . Every information given respecting the sailing of the different Lines of Australian and American Packet Ships and Steamers, and the most direct Routes to Liverpool. Rates of Passage, Scales of Provisions, &c., will be forwarded by return of Post, by enclosing a Postage Stamp. . Parties are requested to write to the above before leaving their homes, stating the way they intend to come, (by railway or steamboat) when they will be met on their arrival by J.D., thus doing away with the inconvenience of being led astray by unprincipled parties. . Good Stores for Luggage free of charge. .......................................... . LOCAL INTELLIGENCE . TRURO WORKING MAN'S INSTITUTION SQUARE - A very pleasing meeting took place on Friday last, in connexion with this institution, which was formed in the course of the past year for the benefit of the working men of Truro. The soiree took place at the Assembly-room, and included in its proceedings a tea-meeting, addresses, a vocal and instrumental concert, and a ball. . The Assembly-room was very gaily and tastefully decorated for the occasion, with wreaths and festoons of evergreens, an abundance of flags (including some emblematical of the trades of Truro, carried at the peace demonstration last year), and decorations of ribbons and rosettes adorning the evergreens, the whole having an elegant and striking appearance, whilst at the head of the room, over the platform, the words "Truro Working Man's Institute" were displayed. Great credit is due to the officers and committee of the society for the good taste they exhibited in these decorative arrangements, which when a very numerous company were seated at the tea-tables, and subsequently during the concert and ball, had quite a picturesque effect. The materials for the evergreen decorations were supplied from Mr. TWEEDY's grounds at Alverton. The tea commenced at five o'clock, the tables being quite full, and some obliged to wait for a second course; altogether, the number that took tea was about three hundred. Tea being concluded, a vocal concert took place, the president of the institute, Mr. STOKES, in the first place stating that one of the expected singers was unable to attend, and consequently some alteration had to be made in the programme. [The vocal part of the concert was under the direction of Mr. HEMPEL; it would be invidious to mention any particular singer, but two or three of the glees and choruses and one or two solos received the applause of the company.] . [Mr. EMIDY's quadrille band next mounted the platform, its number augmented by two other performers. . We should state that between the vocal and instrumental performances, the President, Mr. STOKES, addressed the numerous assemblage from the platform. He said the main object of this institution was not so much to entertain, as to instruct.] Still, they could not always be pouring over books; they must sometimes have a little entertainment. . ....After speaking of the beneficial influences of music, and to some extent of works of imagination, the President noticed the present condition of the institution. It numbered nearly 200 members, and they had on their shelves 350 volumes; 90 volumes had been added in the last month; and during November, 376 volumes were taken out for reading. When they remembered that in April last this institution did not exist, he thought they might congratulate themselves on their present position. Their success he attributed partly to the institute having nothing to do with politics. . The room was afterwards cleared for the ball, and shortly after ten o'clock, dancing commenced with much spirit. There was a crowded attendance, and quadrilles, waltzes, polkas, &c. were continued till after four the next morning, providing enjoyment and healthful exercise and recreation for a youthful and delighted company. Refreshments were provided in the card-room; and everything connected with the soiree passed off in the most agreeable manner. . PENRYN INSTITUTION - Miss Louisa Foote HAY gave a concert at the institution room on the 5th instant, when one of the largest audiences ever congregated in Penryn bore testimony to the well deserved popularity of that lady and of her clever sisters Alice and Florence. Mr. LODER late of Bath, accompanied on the piano-forte, and in some instances rendered valuable vocal assistance. The music which was chiefly composed of solos selected with excellent taste from many of our old ballads, received the hearty plaudits of the company, whilst many of the songs were encored. Miss Alice HAY also performed her portion of the entertainment with great credit. Mr. Hay's sketches of character elicited warm applause, and caused roars of laughter. . FALMOUTH - On Monday evening, the members of the Redruth Choral Society gave a concert of vocal and instrumental music in the Polytechnic Hall. The attendance was small, which may be partially attributed to the insufficient manner in which they made their intention known. . POOL LITERARY INSTITUTE - On Friday last, about one hundred and twenty persons sat down to an excellent tea, kindly provided by several ladies interested in the welfare of the above institution. The profits amounted to GBP 4. Immediately after the tea, Captain TONKIN, the vice-president of the society, took the chair, and after an opening speech called on Mr. John SERPELL, the secretary, to read the report. [Addresses were delivered by Messrs. TREGENZA, MINERS, and JAMES; valuable papers were read by Captain PROVIS, on Education, and by Master PEARSE, a youth of sixteen, on the simplest method of testing metals and minerals.] . TRESPASSING AND ASSAULT OF A GAMEKEEPER - On the 30th ult., at Lostwithiel, before Mr. SAWLE, M.P., Mr. KENDALL, M.P., Mr. R. FOSTER, and Mr. Nevil NORWAY, magistrates, THOMAS PHILLIPS and WILLIAM BAWDEN were charged with trespassing in search of game on the lands of Mr. RASHLEIGH, of Menabilly; and Phillips was also charged with assaulting Mr. Rashleigh's gamekeeper. . James BUDGE, the gamekeeper, stated that on the 26th of December, when on his rounds on a part called the Gribbon, he heard guns fired, about one o'clock in the afternoon; and going in the direction of the sound he saw two men on the Gribbon, where there are plenty of hares and pheasants, and another man some distance off. Witness and a man called Hick went under the cliff until coming to the plantation, and when they got to the opposite side they saw a man with a gun and a dog. . The gamekeeper said, I afterwards crossed the ground and caught the man. Whilst he was going towards the cliff I shot at his dog which was following him, and wounded it. Phillips then turned round and said he'd be d-----d if he wouldn't shoot me, and presented the gun at me. I then turned round, and the other prisoner, Bawden, was coming towards me; he had also a gun; I ran after him about forty yards, and caught him and held him for several minutes. I tried to take away his gun, but he held his hand away and would not let me. . I asked his name, and he said he was called RUNDLE, of Tywardreath, which I knew was false. Whilst I was holding him he called for assistance, and Phillips came back and held the gun up to my head, and said, "I'll shoot you for shooting my dog." He still held the gun close to my head, and said, "if you don't let that other man go, I'll shoot you." He afterwards turned ends with the gun, and the butt end came close to my head. He said he would beat my brains out. . Henry HICKS, the person who was out with me, gave me his stick, with which I knocked Phillips down; Bawden then ran off. When they were both about half way down the cliff I again fired at the dog and killed it; Phillips came back and picked it up. There was another person in a boat under the cliff, but I don't know who it was; both prisoners asked him to come up, but he refused. . Henry HICKS gave corroborative evidence, and said from every appearance Phillips was the man, but he could not undertake to swear to him; he could swear to Bawden. Both prisoners denied that they had ever seen the gamekeeper before. The magistrates retired to consider the case, and on their return fined Phillips and Bawden GBP 5 each and costs for poaching, or in default to be imprisoned for three months each with hard labour. They also fined Phillips GBP 5 for the assault, and in default to be further imprisoned for two months with hard labour. . FALMOUTH UNION - On Christmas-Day the inmates of the Falmouth Union were regaled with a plentiful supply of beef and plum pudding, and on New Year's day with tea and cake. They all appeared to enjoy the treat and expressed a desire that their best and most grateful acknowledgments be presented to the Rev. Mr. SCRIVENER and other friends who aided in contributing so bountifully towards their enjoyment, and also to the master and matron who showed themselves desirous to do everything that would add to their comfort. . TRURO POLICE - On the 8th instant, before the Mayor, Mr. PADDON, and Mr. CHAPPEL, Sarah MARTIN was charged with being drunk and disorderly and making use of obscene language in Calenick-street, on Wednesday last, she was found guilty and committed to the house of correction for fourteen days. . CAUTION TO MARINE STORE DEALERS - On Monday last, before Mr. E. MICHELL, Mayor of Truro, Capt. KEMPE, and Messrs. STOKES, NANKIVELL, CHAPPEL, and PADDON, magistrates. SIMON RICHARDS, marine store dealer, Truro, was summoned for neglecting to make proper entries of certain articles he had purchased, used in the printing business. . It appeared from the evidence that James SHOLL, a boy of thirteen years of age, apprentice to Mrs. HEARD and Sons, Truro, on Friday last, went to Mr. Heard and told him that he had something on his mind, and his mind was not easy, because he had several times taken things from the printing office and sold at Richards's marine store shop. On hearing this confession Mr. Heard communicated with Mr. NASH, police superintendent, who went to several marine store shops in town, and amongst them to Richards's where he found a quantity of brass and copper. The brass consisted of rules of different lengths, column and imprint rules, and a brass composing stick. The weight of the brass found was 5 ¾ lbs., and Mrs. Richards had purchased it of this little boy for 6d. a lb., whereas it was stated by Mr. Heard that the articles had cost at rates varying from 2s.6d. to 8s per lb. . Simon Richards goes out to daily work, and the business is carried on in his absence by his wife, who acknowledged that she had purchased of the boy four times. On examining the book of entries of purchases (required to be kept by Act of Parliament) it was found that she had made only two entries of 1 ½ lb. each time. The first sale by the boy was in the beginning of December, when he gave the name of William Williams, St. Clement-street. The boy confessed that he sold the articles produced in court, and some of them were identified by Mr. Jas. WILLIAMS, from the printing office. Considering the temptations held out by marine store dealers carrying on business in this way, and the neglect to make proper entries, the magistrates inflicted the low fine of GBP 5 on Richards, besides 11s. expenses. . FAT PIG - Mr. Henry THOMAS of Treswithan, in the parish of Veryan, killed a pig on Monday last which weighed 703 lbs. . HELSTON – It appears that a report has been circulated for some time past, that this borough has been of late in an unhealthy state. In contradiction of this Mr. WEARNE writes us to state that the mortality of that borough has not at all exceeded its ordinary rate, and especially with respect to fever; that within the sub-district of Helston, comprising a population of 5,000, only one fatal case of fever has occurred during the last six months. . EARLY LAMBING - A ewe belonging to Mr. HODGE, of Veryan, had two lambs on Friday last. . APPOINTMENT - Mr. C.J. KINSMAN, son of Lieutenant KINSMAN, R.N., has obtained a commission in the Marines, and been selected for the Artillery company, within six months of his admission, instead of the usual two years. In his first examination, we understand he answered every paper, and obtained the maximum number of marks within half the time allowed each day. Mr. Kinsman was prepared by Dr. DRAKE, of St. Austell. . TESTIMONIAL - The friends of the temperance cause, residing in Truro, have recently presented to Mr. James UREN, of that town, a handsomely bound quarto volume of the Holy Scriptures, as a testimony of their appreciating of his untiring zeal for nearly twenty years, to promote the principles of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as beverages. . PENZANCE QUARTER SESSIONS - The Winter Quarter Sessions for this borough were held on Friday last, before Mr. BEVAN, recorder. The following magistrates were also on the bench; The Mayor (Mr. T. COULSON), Mr. W. BORLASE, and Mr. J. BATTEN. There was no prisoner for trial, a circumstance which has occurred thrice since January, 1856. The gaol, too, has been empty for a considerable time during the past three months. The Mayor, as is customary on such occasions, presented the Recorder with a pair of white kid gloves. . St. WENN - An accident of a very serious nature occurred at Treganetha, in this parish, to Henry BRENTON, the blacksmith residing in the village. It appears that the poor fellow was engaged in his workshop on the evening of the 30th ult., putting some hoops on a cask, a person named Thomas BEST assisting him. Some horses were standing in the shop waiting to be shod near where Brenton was at work about the cask, and when in a stooping position he received a violent kick on the head from one of them. The kick was so sudden and unexpected, that it was not until the poor man was laid prostate and insensible, that his companion Best was aware of the accident. . Mr. Moorman, surgeon, of St. Columb, was soon on the spot, when it was found that Brenton had received a frightful fracture of the skull and scarcely any hope was entertained of his surviving the accident. But under the skilful treatment of Mr. Moorman, we are glad to find he is progressing favourably. . ACCIDENT – On Tuesday last, as Captain COOPE, son of the Rev. W.J. COOPE, of Falmouth, was driving along Dunstanville Terrace, with a friend in a dog-cart, the horse shied and pitched them out, when Capt. Coope had his leg broken in two places. He was immediately taken home and was attended by Mr. Bullmore, and we hear is progressing well. . DEATH FROM BURNING - On Saturday the 27th ult., Catherine WILLCOCKS, daughter of Mr. James WILLCOCKS, of Callington, aged six and a half years, caught her clothes on fire and ran into the street, Mr. MATTHEWS, office of excise who was passing at the time, immediately took off a loose overcoat which he was wearing and wrapped tightly around the child and extinguished the flames, but the injury sustained was so great that death terminated her sufferings on Monday the 5th instant. A coroner's inquest was held on the same day and a verdict in accordance with the circumstance returned. . CORONER’S INQUESTS - On Wednesday an inquest was held at the Railway Inn, Truro, before Mr. John CARLYON, county coroner, on the body of John PHILLIPS, labourer, aged sixty-seven years, who was found dead in a hayloft near the viaduct at Carvedras, on Tuesday morning, by the ostler of the Globe Inn, who went there to throw down some fodder for his master's cattle. The deceased had formerly been in good service, but of late he had sunk into idle drunken habits, and had no place that he could call his home. He was consequently in the habit of sleeping in outhouses. He had evidently gone into the loft in question on Monday night for that purpose, and it being a very cold night, and the doors of the loft being wide open, it was clear that he had died from want and exposure to the weather. Verdict accordingly. . An inquest was held by Mr. Gilbert HAMLEY, county coroner, on Friday last, at Bodmin, on the body of Jane CLEMES, who was found dead in her bed on the preceding morning. Deceased had been unwell for some time, but showed no appearance of increased illness up to the usual bed time of her family on the previous evening. Verdict, "died from natural causes." . Letter to the Editor . Sir - Convinced that it is not your desire that the West Briton should be the means of giving to the public false information, or conveying wrong impressions, I take the liberty of setting you and them right on the matter of one of your paragraphs, contained in your last Friday's number, and headed "Clerical Oppression." . I begin my explanation by saying that there is scarcely a single word of truth in the whole paragraph. Philip HAWKE was not summoned for "absenting himself from the parish church" nor "for neglecting to appear at the complainant's dinner table in the kitchen." Strange times ours would be indeed if the law made a man amenable for such trifles! . He was summoned as the complainant's hind for absenting himself from his work on three several occasions, (former delinquencies of a similar kind having been overlooked and forgiven) and on those occasions neglecting the duties which attached to his situation as hind. . The bench did not "hear both parties" - the defendant was never called on for his defense and never uttered a word in the court for the case was dismissed before his defence was needed - and for this reason - not, as your paragraph has it, "because the bench were of opinion that the proceeding was one which ought never to have been brought before them" but on a legal point. Hawke was the complainant's groom as well as hind, and not being solely a servant employed in husbandry the case did not come within the cognisance of the bench. . The circumstances of the defendant "being the son of a respectable farmer," as to his being "applied to by Mr. Barton," as to the "amount of his wages," and the "motive he had for entering Mr. Barton's service" "his giving notice to leave it", or his "master's chagrin," not one syllable of this was "communicated to the bench". The whole details are evidently communicated to you by a prejudiced correspondent. Perhaps I should be justified in saying, by one who has no respect for truth. In confirmation of what I have written I place my name in your hands to be used according to discretion. So far as the public are concerned, it will be sufficient to subscribe myself, . Sir, your obedient servant, . One of the Magistrates on the Bench at St. Columb January 3rd, 1857