I have spent many hours in central library in recent weeks going through old newspapers for another project I am working on, and the Liverpool Mercury from that period is by far my favourite, it makes the Daily Mail look communist!
Here's a few gems I've picked out:-
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4th March 1836 ON FORMATION OF LIVERPOOL BOROUGH POLICE
"We doubt not that we shall now for the first time have the benefit of an efficient day and night police force. We allude to the difficulty experienced frequently in finding a policeman at the precise moment his services are required. The difficulty might be alleviated by requiring every constable, when off duty, to affix to the door of his dwelling house a notice of his being employed in the police force, by which means the public would at all times know where to apply for assistance. This plan has been adopted by the municipal authorities in Bath"
23rd February 1839 RE THE 1ST GRAND NATIONAL
"We have heard with alarm and regret that it is in contemplation to establish steeplechasing annually or periodically in this neighbourhood. If any such design is seriously entertained we trust that some means will be adopted to defeat it!”
30th January 1872 - THE DRUNKARDS LIST
"there was an improvement slight it is true, but still an improvement in the state of affairs at the police court yesterday morning. The drunk and disorderly cases which the previous Monday numbered 130 now only reached 115; and as a few months ago before inebriates were threatened with exposure as well as heavy penalties it was common enough to hear nearly 200 drunken cases brought before the bench every Monday morning. It may be reasonably inferred that some good has resulted from the severe measures adopted"
3rd February 1879 - RE A DOCKS STRIKE
“groups of idle men could be seen lounging about the docks of Liverpool and Birkenhead. Even those who assisted them on a former occasion to procure an increase stand aloof from this movement which under the circumstances they regard as little less than suicidal. A reduction of 6d per day has just come into effect as regard the wages of corn porters, weighers etc”
4th March 1884 - RE CROWD OUTISDE PRISON FOR HIGGINS/FLANNAGAN EXECUTION
"Despite the inclement state of the weather a crowd began to assemble outside the wall of the prison. By eight o’clock the crowd numbered fully a thousand, nearly all of whom were of the lower class, whose morbid curiosity made them utterly reckless of the sleet and wind. Both women wore an appearance of resignation. They vainly attempted to utter responses to Father Bonte’s prayers. During the fearful ordeal they never looked at one another. At the given signal the bolt was drawn, death being evidently instantaneous"
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