The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-10-30 00:00:00

Ott, 30,11849. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. itpORTANT PROCEEDINGS ON THE WATER QUESTION. Y s f, , Spec e h - , t `'' , Y , a special meeting of the Council was held . e g lowing purpose :—To consider the report of the i , al Water Committee, in reference to the negotiations filc h have recently taken place with the Parochial Corn 41...ittee to luestion. promote an amicable agreement of the waxer i t t f 4 e t the usual hour of meeting there was a very full u.d_eacid.anee of members. His Worship the Mayor pre- Iu GRAND EXHIBITION OF ARTS. ob c. penin g the proceedings of Council, his Worship V erve ` ' that he took that opportunity of announcing that r e cc e rtlad received a communication from the Prince Albert, 40 :rorm hi, (the Mayor) that a deputation will come i n nto Liverpool on the sth of November next, consist o,gp°f Henry Cole, Esq., and J. Scott Russell, Esq., to ,i t i c i et such information as they may be able to obtain held regard to the proped grand exhibition of Arts to be ill London in the year 1851, and to invite all persons ti c i° may be interested in the promotion of 'the Arts and t et rn s to m ee t th em i n the Town Hall on that occasion. a me ntioned this in order that the wishes of the co may be known previously to the arrival of the Potation. (Hear, hear.) PRIVILEGE OF MEMBERS. b ro rr he MAYOR then said that the next subject to be i,,eght before the Council was one of privilege. It had mentioned with regard to the absence of Mr. Josias l uoker, th a t h e was di squa lifi e d f rom t a king part in their 111;11°t a eeedi nge- He should, however, inform th e Council , medical certificate on the state of Mr. Bo oker's health been put into his hand, and that the Town s:" had informed him that that certificate was q uite hitsisfactory, and that therefore Mr. Booker might resume s eat. (Applause.) h THE WATER QUESTION. t o , s _ e MAYOR then said :—Before I call upon the chair top of the Special Water Committee to speak on the Oect of the water question, I must read a let ter which I f'ave received from Avison and Pritt, and a protest which h ave received from ' William Brown and James Collins. Tlm D EPUTY TOWN-CLERK then read the follow in g --i toutlications Cook-street, Oct. 29, 1849. Dear Sir, l'aro c h• We have been instructed by the Chairman of the c o _ .tal Water Committee to inform you that although the arfniittee have been Into best endeavours (since the t o g' ngem ent was entered between them and the WatT* thtOMittee) to discover a suitable gentleman to act as their creer in the proposed investigation, they have not yet been t i o to make their selection. They hope shortly to be able to go. We are, dear Sir, yours re sp ectfully M , AVISON AND ITT. To tb e Worshipful the Mayo of Lirpool. THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN r , AND M EMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF LIVERPOOL. .O ° iENTLEMEN,—We, the undersigned members of the Paro theal Watmmittee, sp reectfully beg to caution ou against 'p,,...agreem er cement said to be entered into by the Special Water mittee of the Council and the Parochial Water Committee. 1):,, B och agreement has been sanctioned by any meeting of the tr ,l)chi al Committee convened for that purpose, and it is con -0171'.. to the resolution of that committee unanimously adopted 'Lie 24th of October, 1849. The same day these resolutions Int altered to suit the views of Messrs. Rushton, Gladstone, ti u „?. Bold, in an illegal and irregular manner,. and without any k Vee or intimation being given to the committee. The agree tavO! said to have been come to, was under these circumstances ned bY a majority of one only. We, therefore . , enter our ._atest against the same being received as the decision of the 440 ehial Water Committee. (Signed) WM. BROWN, Overseer. JAS. COLLINS, M.D. October 29, 1549. or DRIFFIELD then read the reports and proceedings the Special Water Committee. The reports, as agreed • cY the committee, are already published, and their sub will be found in another part of our paper. The .Lan tes and proceedings of the committee, however , cm • c t, ed much valuable matter. They comprised reports (on Mr. Hawksley, informing the committee that he had "rough Mr. Jackson) completed the whole of the sur hen for the Rodleswork and Anglezark reservoirs ; that 41 ,e Was now ready, or would be so within a fortnight, to t ear into new contracts for the completion of this part of - 4ie works. He left it for the consideration of the coin- Inittee whether they would give the whole of the work to 4 contractor who was willing to take it at the estimated cost of the engineer, or whether they would let the earth- W ork t off, to be performed by the yard. He also reported o the committee, that if he were allowed to go on with the works now, the whole of the capital necessary would be i e g h tlirel within two years. He also reported that about lane} at Horwich and at Birkenhead. The engineer com- Plained that the contradictions and delays of the Council that becoming frightful to him. The committee reported land for the storage of pipes had been taken at Hor- Veil. The committee also reported that it be an instruc nn to th e t own - c l er k, to give the necessary notices for e nabling the Council to go to parliament for an amend /I,,,ent of the Rivington Water Act. The minutes of the rninaittee contained the whole of negotiations be t,,ween the Parochial Committee and the Special 'Water ,`"__Onlmittee. The committee also reported that the re ._'4inder of the necessary notices were now read to be 'red on the landowners. It appeared that Mr. Hawk they had been paid £l5OO on account, and that Mr. Jack tn was ordered to be paid for the surveys made by him. e ting the reading of these proceedings, BENNETT asked if these proceedings were not l edcon :til. whether the which had-bcenadopted would eat fall th rou gh ? He complained that these proceedings d not been long enough before the Council. It ap- P, Eared to him that the Rivington works were going on as if there was oil enough to grease all the wheels of that "pensive scheme.' Mr HORNBY observed that, as these proceedings had to ' „, Confirmed Mr. Bennett-would have a perfect opportu- AY of objecting to them. After a few words from Mr. Freme this course was 'agreed to. Mr. DRIFFIELD then commenced to read the remainder 9 1 . the proceedings of the Special Committee, from which " appeared that the amount paid on the Rivington account UP to September last was £33,167. and that. the debts 111301 1 the same amounted to about £54,600. It was resolved that a bond be given to Messrs. Heywood and ": I rli to the amount of £lO,OOO, on the security of the 'Water account. Mr. Hour then rose to move the confirmation of the Proceedings. He said that he bad now to move the rloption of the minutes and report which they had just hard read. The minutes divided themselves into two ap—one part related to the proceedings ial of the com 11;iee previous to the receipt of the memorial which they Z. 1 .1 knew had been presented from certain gentlemen in • t he town • and the other part to the conduct and proceed former of the committee subsequent to that date. The urnaer part of their proceeding would show that great rogress was being made with the Rivington works up to ee date of the memorial; but since that time all the Works h had been stopped, except those which were barely h 'ecessary, and which could not be avoided. Since the ' r es• entation of the memorial, and since this question be- Council the subject of a reference, he wished to give the 8 a full, perfect, and sincere assurance that the ,It ) ftial committee had entered into the proposed negoti ations in a fair and upright spirit, and that everything, on etr tart, had been carried out with the bona fide inten tion,iof bringing this matter to an amicable arrangement. _ ear, hear.) On the subject of the report by the special r.nimittee_, he wished to impress upon the Council the t 0 have that the committee must not be supposed in any way !lave changed its opinions on the subject of the of time, scheme ; on the contrary, perhaps the progress ‘ llll e, and fuller consideration than they had heretofore giv en p i the subject, had confirmed and strengthened their "loos opinions —(hear, hear, and applause)—with e and to the local supply. a t .G. H. LAWRENCE.—T beg your pardon ; but '[ '▪ Plt there is a letter which has not been read, and with- N;7, Which I think you cannot discuss this question. I The ask the Town-Clerk to read it, if you please. "e TOWN-CLERK then read the following letter : IN, Cook-street, October 27, 1849. Sp:AR SIR—We observe in this day's papers a report of the /„', 4 , 1 Water Committee, a copy of which we enclose. W , ois report, the committee have attached to the terms of e W as arrangement entered into between them and the Parochial li tti ' n 'er Committee various conditions, restrictions, and stipu• thitt \ i, l _ ll B which form no part of that agreement. therefore, protest on behalf of the Parochial Water Corn the g against such a statement heing received as the terms for \\ T Z tlement of the water question. ari ce ` also observe that your committee have made no refer ent," to the re p or t o f Messrs. Haigh and Newland upon the W h i r , e et of the contracts, norto the resolution of the Parochial thouir belleittee thereon. If a suspension of the contracts eon• irnittee require that they shall be suspended for six months rv eers to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. Co 9 eSe variances would not have occurred had you sent us a th e i o of the proposed terms for our approval before adopting s Part of your report, as we consider we had a right to be co " , seeing that the Parochial Water Committee are said to Josenti ng parties. of up We beg the favour of your communicating the contents tl e ,,,is.lette r to the Council at its meeting on Monday.—We are, V'r, yours truly, AVISON AND PRITT. e Shuttleworth, Esq. he Town-Clerk) received this letter at half-past ten r eque ca that morning, and he wrote to them in reply, to ttri e jt them to point out " the various conditions, re to t hat he l ens, and stipulations" to which they alluded, and bad received since the annexed reply : Cook-street, October 29, 1849. 11 1) ,, A R Stu —We nr t e h i e n 2 r 7 e t f i elg s t t o a f n iour note of tthis morning erns to' ours of arid -▪ must decline to enter so hurriedly into our objections, With fe el again called upon to state, that had you conferred klii ttri ,s Previous to the publication of your report, this irre trukLY would have been avoided.—We are, AND PRITT. dear sir, yours AVISON B huttleworth, Esq., Town-Clerk. der ic l h man H ODGsON said that there was another letter, read ought to be produced. No reference had been kn i e et oAleisrs. H a i g h and Newland's report, but they wi n d that to reference had been made in the letter to which he „,th Th e ne stipulations which it would be necessary to make Aro n to of Glasgow. He hoped this letter would be d ou ll,and read then, for. from what he could judge, he had I'l.el l , 4e ",; l lt c.. that they would see it :would add greatly to the '",111 th of la,,h e they must incur in making any arrangement •r e i e he T ow r l !!!_gcrw peo . ple. Ai rred was alluded to, lila not let out in the proceedings. aft continuation, said that he was at a loss how to they had just heard read. (Hear, hear, :1 13 o • l a ffi u b t a • l ; r 7T ha hinking that they were dealing with tangible 3 ,21 lo s , ,cl. no ! pties, and that all hadbeen settled, he was now rich vv what to grapple with. Here was the docu- Tb o e el lai peo had bee n l a id b e f ore th em . s i gne d M r . J e ff er y in w n „ Cl 4, (Hear re , ad bea it r, from Mr. S. Holme.) Perhaps, the will for (La ught• H er. okisorc —Oh Have they changed their minds.— ) • in e Tow te tfr om th N e -Grua then read a series of propositions, emanat ',rt of ParOchial committee, and which differed from the the sgecuil committee, in only one ortwo particulars, (Continued on page 8..) PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. We have taken little part hitherto in the movement which has been set on foot for the establishment of a general Chamber of Commerce, to be formed inj Liver pool ; and for this reason, that we have not as yet been able to see how such a body could be constituted so as to steer clear of party bias, and leanings towards the self-in terest of particular trades and classes. Our attention is now drawn to the question by. a pamphlet, advocating the establishment of such a body, just published by Mr. Leone Levi, upon whose views we shall proceed to offer a few remarks. It would be well, we admit, that we should have some general source, under whose sanction should be collected and issued the statistics of the trade of our port. It might also be desirable that we should have some central body, under whose auspices should be rallied the voices of com mercial Liverpool, in support of, or in protest against, measures affecting the commercial interests and conve nience of the town. We have missed the services of such a body on several occasions. For example, should we, if we had been able to make a general and powerful protest by all the commercial classes of Liverpool, have been doomed to see our present fleet of West India steamers despatched from such a port as Southampton, with Liver pool.and Manchester, the manufacturing districts of Lan cashire and Yorkshire, and the port of Glasgow, so deeply interested in the trade with these possessions ? Should we even have seen the removal of the Irish mails to Holyhead ? Upon such questions as these our present system of separate associations has proved defective. We have suffered from a want of concert in these bodies. An East India association is cold in a matter which concerns only Western India. An American Chamber of Com merce does not care to stir in a matter which affects only Mexican or Brazilian trade. Each have their especial in terests; but the general interest of the port has no com mercial exponent and advocate. So far as regards the supply of these wants, we go with the writer of the pam phlet before us. But we stumble upon a difficulty when we come to the action of such a body upon a question of a political or economical nature. We will take, for an instance, that pointed to by Mr. Levi—the Navigation-laws question. Upon that question, he says, a Chamber of Commerce, composed of representatives of all the various branches of the trade of the port, could have expressed the sentiments of the community better than the community itself, through the constitutional form of petition. We doubt it. The working man would have had no voice in such a body. Upon all such questions the constitutional mode of giving expression to opinion is the best. Mr. Levi seems to imagine that the vote of a Chamber of Com merce established upon his pattern, would have been for the abolition of the Navigation-laws. A poll of the con stituency of all classes would have been against the mea sure. Many other questions might arise, in which the voice of such a body would not be a fair exponent of the voice of the whole community, or even of the local opi nions and wishes of the people of Liverpool. Take, as one such, the question of dock-rating. Here we should, in all probability, have a few representatives of the mer cantile interests expressing an opinion in complete anta gonism of the mass of their fellow-townsmen. Mr. Levi lays great stress upon the use of a Chamber of Commerce in " diffusing a knowledge of economic principles;" and points to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce as a triumphant instance of the success of the principle. We can remember, however, a time when that body; and its representative in Parliament and chair man, the late Geo. Wm. Wood, were the laughing-stocks of the political world. More recently, so completely par tizan did that chamber become, that another body was compelled to be formed. The commercial opinion of Manchester is now sectional. The legislature would be puzzled to know whether the Chamber of Commerce or the Commercial Association were its most influential exponent. With respect to the uses of such a body, if it could be guarded from an improper exercise of its functions, we hold many of the opinions put forth in the pamphlet be fore us. As a statistical authority it might be rendered invaluable, as a check both to the interested statements of individual trades, and the distorted and doctored state ments of the Colonial and Board of Trade officials. We say, with respect to the former, that it might be such a check ; for we have never yet known a breath of suspicion urged against the returns of our Cotton Brokers' Asso ciation, or of any of our local bodies' circulars. Such a body might also afford the materials for the settlement of commercial disputes by arbitration. One of its uses, however—the establishment of Liverpool as a place of exchange, in which foreign bills may be made payable — we place little reliance upon. The metropolis will always be the great mart of exchange, so long as the Bank of England is the sole issuer of money, and the great regu lator of the rate of discounts. Upon the whole, we should hail the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce; but we are fully alive to the difficulties to be met with in its constitution and operation. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. We have referred in another column to the merits of the respective candidates for the representation of the various wards in the Town Council, and shall here record merely the rneetincrs which have been held since our last. for the purpose of 'forwarding the interests of the several candidates. The friends of Mr. T. Chalmer, jun., met on Tuesday evening, and passed a resolution pledging themselves to support his claims, after hearing the candidate again ex plain his opinions. On Tuesday the electors of Lime-street Ward heard from Mr. Picton an exposition of his views, which are in accordance with the popular opinions on the two great questions which at present agitate the public mind. A resolution approving of Mr. Picton as a candidate was then proposed by Mr. Haigh, seconded by Mr. Gleave, and carried unanimously. Mr. Picton will in all probabi lity be returned without opposition. Mr. Arthur Henderson again met the electors of West Derby Ward on Tuesday, and, after declaring his unal tered determination to oppose the Pike scheme, said that with regard to the dock-rating question, it must be re membered that the principle had been admitted by the Dock Committee themselves. In two years they had paid £4,000 towards the parish rates ; it was generally admit ted that the remaining portion might be rated with no detriment to the interests of the port. He thought that if the Newsham-house estate had been converted into a public park, the expense would have been better bestowed than in carrying people over to Cheshire. Mr. Whatham pr9posed a resolution to the effect that they had heard with satisfaction the sentiments just expressed by Mr. Henderson, and pledged themselves to use every exertion to secure his triumphant return. Mr. Hardy seconded the resolution, and it was supported by Mr. Robert Hen derson, brother of the candidate, and unanimously car ried.—On the following evening another meeting was held to promote the return of Mr. Mather, but as that gentle man seems personally unconcerned about the result, Mr. Henderson is justly the more popular of the two; and as his votes will generally be given from considerations of relieving the ratepayers, they will doubtless see the policy of recording their suffrages in his favour. A meeting of the friends of Mr. Clarke took place in St. Peter's Ward on Wednesday. We are glad to see that Mr. Tinne has been nominated, and we hope he will be triumphantly returned. There is not a more useful gentleman in the Council than Mr. Tinne : his exertions on every committee with which his name was associated have been always most active and persevering, although he has not often figured as a speaker at the Council meet ings. We understand that he will return very shortly from abroad. On Wednesday a meeting was held in Vauxhall Ward, to secure the return of Mr. Atkinson. Mr. W. Rathbone has been put forward in opposition, but there is scarcely a ward in the town where that gentleman is more unpo pular, and Mr. Atkinson will therefore most likely obtain an easy triumph. THE COTTON TRADE. We think such of our readers as have perused the different articles on the cotton trade which have appeared in the STANDARD from time to time during the last six months, will give us credit for having evinced a little fore sight. and that they will admit that our remarks have been fully borne out by what has transpired the last few weeks. We advanced that the consumption of cotton wss overtaking the supply ; that from a variety of causes the trade of this country was sound and healthy; that prices, as a natural consequence, must advance materially, and that the prospects of the coming crop in America are that it will be both a short and a late one. With regard to the consump tion, what is the fact ? The enormous crop of 1848-9 in America, the largest ever grown, estimated at 2,700,000 bales, has not only been consumed, but the stock of cotton in this port is 100,000 bales less than it was this time last year, and considerably reduced in the States. Strange to say—but it is nevertheless a startling fact, well worthy the calm consideration of spinners and others—the stock of American cotton in this port is reduced to 280,000 bales, half of which is held by half-a-dozen firms. Were we not justified in stating that the position of our manu facturers was healthy, and that in having to pay higher prices for cotton they would be able to obtain a relative advance for their yarns and manufactures ? Have not the accounts from Germany and the Continent generally, from India, South America, and the United States, been everything which could be desired ? And have not ex porters shewn a willingness to operate, even on the terms demanded by spinners? Have not prices of raw cotton advanced considerably during the last few months, on an average of descriptions three-halfpence per lb., and have not spinners, from their tardiness in purchasing to the extent of their wants, been forced to pay the whole of this advance in the last three or four weeks, while by pursuing a more " liberal" or "free-trade" mode of action, void of combination, they might have saved themselves much ? It must now be evident to all reasonable persons that the crop in America is late, and that the out-turn will be below an average, certainly not over 2 4 million bales, but ' more probably 2 million. For our argument we will take the large estimate, and then analyse what our supply is likely to be : America, in all probability, willrequire 700,000 bales. France and the continent.. 750.000 Leaving for this country BOO,OOO Now we ask this question, will 800,000 bales be ample far our wants ? Last year (that is for the season just closed) we received in this country, of the American crop, 1,520,000 bales ; so that there is every prospect we shall not receive more than half of our former supply. But further, the stock of American cotton in this port on the 31st December next will, in all probability, not exceed 1 150,000 bales against 374,000 bales, the average of the last six years. The disastrous news, relative to the cotton crop in China, is confirmed by the last advices, and prices had risen considerably. This circumstance, as we have before stated, will direct a portion of the cotton at Bom bay to that quarter, which otherwise would have found its way to this country. The steamer which left this on the 4th of this month, will already have informed our Ame rican friends of the advance of the first halfpenny per lb. in the week, and when they hear of the further rise in price and excitement in this market, doubtless it must have a corresponding influence there ; and what, let us ask, may be the effect upon this market when we receive the advices by the steamer which will leave America on the Ist of the coming month ? We should be sorry to see prices advance either too high or too rapidly ; but, with the small stock of cotton in this country, the precarious ness of either an early or an ample supply, our trade con tinuing good, an easy money market, and cheap food, the man would be bold indeed who should prophecy that cot ton will not be dearer. Supply and demand, however, will adjust the question. P.S.—The American steamer, Canada, arrived on Sunday evening. The weather continued fine, but in the north they had experienced a sharp frost. Prices had further advanced, and the estimete of the crop remained the same, from 1,800 to 2,200,000 bales. The receipts were only one-half of the previous year, and the ship ments 5,000 bales for the month, and 1,450 for the week. TUE LiTERPOOL STANDARD. Korai 9.elus. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean have been engaged to ap pear at the Theatre Royal next week. Mr. Vernon has contracted for ten more iron dwelling houses, to be shipped for California within two months. The concert at the Philharmonic Hall this evening will be a brilliant affair, and no wonder, when the galaxy of talent to appear on the occasion is remembered. The Leeds Times warns the public against speculating in certain " property distributions" in that locality. We may warn our readers against similar speculations here. On Monday evening a man was observed to walk deli berately into the Collingwood Dock, and before any as sistance could be rendered he was drowned. His body was recovered shortly afterwards, but was not recognised. On Thursday, about dusk, seven young partridges were observed flying about in Hill-street, Toxteth-park. One of them was caught by the son of Mr. E. B. Cook, 60, Hill-street ; and two other boys caught one each. On Thursday the Mayor entertained a party of gentle men to dinner at the Town-hall. Amongst the guests were the Recorder, and a number of the barristers at present attending the borough sessions. On Monday night Mary Ann Hughes, a female who lodged in Leeds-street, was found drowned in the canal, near the bridge in Great Howard-street. The deceased left home, on Saturday night, in a state of intoxication. - Cholera has now ceased as an epidemic in this town, there being only three deaths from that disease for the week ending Saturday last. The general mortality of the town is now 18 per cent. below the usual average of the season. The committee of the new church to be erected in Islington, London, have selected the design of Mr. Hay, architect, Liverpool, from several submitted by metropo litan architects. This is creditable to the architectural talent of the provinces. During a recent trip of the steam-ship Orion, from Liverpool to the Clyde, in a fierce gale of wind a poor man, unknown to the crew or passengers, crept into one of the coalbunkers. Part of the coals were pitched upon him, and after the ship's arrival he was found dead. EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a meet ing of a Board of Examiners, held on Friday, the 26th inst., Captain John Stewart, late Master of the Sterling shire, of Liverpool, and Richard Frannack, Master of the Mary Holland, of Liverpool, were found duly quali fied for first-class masters certificates. ROYAL INSTITUTION SCHOOL.—We are glad to an nounce the election of another of the young gentlemen of this school at Cambridge. On Tuesday last the exa mination for the open Sizarship at St. Peter's College terminated ; and Mr. Albert Glynn, the last Canning scholar of this school, was the successful candidate. CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS, CORNWALLIS STREET.—On Sunday evening next, the Rev. Dr. M`Neile will advocate the claims of these schools in St. Michael's Church, and as the institution has not by any means hitherto received that support to which it is entitled, we hope a liberal—a very liberal collection will be made on the occasion. NONSENSE.—We have little doubt that the execution of Rush led to the frightful murders in Liverpool—and the hanging of Gleeson to the murder of Patrick O'Connor by the Mannings.—Hull Advertiser.—[Did our readers ever peruse such thoughtless trifling The case of the advocates of the abolition of capital punishment must be bad indeed when they have to resort to such reasoning.] REFRESHMENIS FOR JURIES.—On Tuesday, the jury engaged at the sessions complained of the refreshment for them formerly provided in the building being now withheld. The Recorder referred them to the Council. On Thursday, a number of the gentlemen waited upon the Mayor, by whom they were very courteously received. His worship expressed his willingness to bring the matter, before the Council, if a memorial were presented. This was, of course, agreed to. DFATHS FROM FALLS ON BOARD SHIPS.—On Thurs day, Isaac Wadman, aged 19, one of the hands on board the barque " Kelly," lying in the Victoria Dock, was engaged with others in bending the main-topsail, when his foot slipped from the stirrup, and be fell down upon deck. He was picked up, but life had become extinct. — On Saturday morning, at nine o'clock, a man named Jas. , M`Caig, who was working on board the ship "Kalamazoo," lying in Prince's Dock, accidentally fell into the hold and was killed on the spot. MECHANICAL INGENUITY. —Mr. William Preston, a second hand-maker at Mr. Tobias's, watchmaker, Lord street, has succeeded in drilling a hole through a sixpence edgeways. The skill and ingenuity displayed in this ex traordinary task may be conceived, when we state that the diameter of the hole in the coin is the 4-thousandth part of an inch in size, and barely sufficient to admit a fine hair. The length of the hole is the seven hundred and sixty-fifth part of an inch. The instrument with which the hole was drilled is as fine as a small bristle, and quite as pliable. LIVERPOOL ADVANTAGES FOR COMMERCE.—At the Dock Committee meeting, last week, an important letter was read from the secretary of the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. It stated that, having a large and in c:easing trade in Shropshire, and the west districts to Liverpool, and as the transit via Birkenhead, was found to be expensive and inconvenient, the directors contem plated conveying part of the traffic by sea, embarking it on the Dee, in steamers from the company's station at Saltney. He wished to know, in case the scheme were carried out, what quay accommodation could be had in Liverpool : they would like it, of course, to be as central as possible. The letter was referred to the committee of works. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last, as one of the luggage trains belonging to the London and North-Wes tern Railway was coming down the tunnel from Edge hill to the Waterloo Dock, in consequence of the damp state of the rails, a gas-fitter, named William Jones, in the employ of the company, who was upon one of the carriages, was thrown off and crushed in the most fright-, ful manner, one of his thighs being broken in two places, and one of his lungs ruptured. He died on Thursday. An inquest was held on Friday, when Mr. Brown, a bar rister, attended for the purpose of eliciting evidence to enable the representatives of the deceased to recover compensation from the railway company. In this, how: ever, he failed. The jury returned a verdict of " Acci dental death." THE MISHAPS OF THE BIRKENHEAD FERRY. Within the last few weeks the disasters attending the management of the Birkenhead ferry have been more numerous than agreeable to the public who use the boats, or profitable to the proprietors. On Sunday last the Ver non, a new boat, left the Landing-stage, at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, and just upon arriving at the slip on the opposite side, sustained considerable injury to her boiler, owing to a deficiency in the supply of water. The bottom of the boiler was burned so as to require a considerable expenditure for repairs, but from the fact of being stationary no injury to life or limb occurred ; had the accident happened on the transit it might have been otherwise. We have heard the accident accounted for in this way—the engines attached to some of the ferry boats are so adopted as to pump their own supply of water, but owing to the speed at which they perform the trip, sufficient time is not afforded to take in the proper supply of water, and while stationary the water is being consumed to waste. SCOTTISH MELODIES AT THE CONCERT HALL.—Mr. Milne and the Misses Smith have been giving some of the most popular of the national melodies of our northern brothers at the Concert Hall, during the past week. Mr. Milne has appeared just at a time when his peculiar talents are likely to be appreciated. The removal from the " busy scene of life" of the universally lamented Wilson has left a blank which will, we foretell, be sun.. plied by the vocalist referred to above. Mr. Milne pos sesses a voice melodious and powerful, vet capable of the softest intonation : he sings his native songs, too, with exquisite truth and feeling, but ere he reaches the emi nence attained by his loved and respected countryman, he must infuse a little more animation and dramatic art into his execution. The Misses Smith are highly accom plished vocalists, and, with their coadjutor, have been warmly received by, we are sorry to say, rather " small houses." ' It would be well if the rage for Italian artistes were a little curbed, and scope given to domestic genius ; we should stand higher than we do were this the case. THE JEWS' SOCIETY.—THE REV. T. NOLAN.—We were unable to give in our last publication the remarks of the Bishop, in his closing address, at the meeting of the Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, owing to the late hour to which the proceedings were protracted. We new, however, supply the omission. His lordship, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, touched briefly and eloquently on the conflicting opinions held by many divines of deep piety and profound learn. ing, as to the future restoration of the Jews to Palestine,. and the personal reign of the Messiah ; and enumerated the several important topics connected with the Jewish question on which all were agreed, and which formed a strong bond of union among the supporters of the soci ety, and a common ground for cordial co-operation. The right rev. prelate said that he would not close his remarks without observing, that the thanks of the meeting were due to the gentleman on his right [the Rev. T. Nolan/ ',applause), for the admirable arrangements which he ha made to give effect to the proceedings of that anniversary, and for the benefits conferred by him on the society as Secretary of the Liverpool Association. And his lordship felt sure, that in giving utterance to his own feelings lie was only expressing those of the meeting at large, that in leaving Liverpool to occupy what properly appeared to him a more important sphere elsewhere, Mr. Nolan would carry with him the sincere good wishes of all, (hear, hear, and applause,) and their prayers that his labours might prove as useful and as afceptable in London as they bad been. in Liverpool. (Load applause.) A WARNING TO THE Tows COUNCIL.—The Prophet Raphael informs us that in August next, when there will be a conjunction of the three planets, Mars, Venus, and .Pupiter, in the celestial sign Virgo, " " the magistrates or town council of Liverpool will fall into disrepute, or per form some rash act, and in these events a female appears to figure" ! Our representatives, we trust, will be on their guard, and avoid the blandishments of the fair sex during this dangerous month. The rash act spoken of cannot surely be connected with the Pike scheme, and the female the respectable old lady whose weekly scoldings emanate from Lord-street ! ... GREAT QUOITING AND THROWING MATCHES.—TWO interesting matches are announced to take place on the afternoons of Wednesday and Thursday next, on the green of Messrs. Parry, Seacombe Hotel. On Wednesday a friendly match at quoits will be played between the cele brated Glasgow players, D. Weir and Jefferies, and Messrs. John Parry and J. Barnes, of Seacombe. On Thursday a match at throwing the jack will be played be tween Mr. J. Henderson, of Liverpool, and a man from Manchester, for £lO a side. Both matches are expected to be closely contested, and if the weather be propitious, there will be a strong muster of spectators. THE THOUSANDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF KING ALFRED.—In accordance with the views of the distinguished parties who originated the festivities at Wantage, in commemoration of this event, our worthy Mayor has consented to preside at a dinner to be held for the same purpose on Friday next, which will no doubt be attended by all the elite of the town. To Alfred the Great are we indebted for the first germs of our British Constitution ; for a code of enactments which yet form the foundation of our common law, and for his division of the country into counties and hundreds, for effectual government, and for his formation of a navy for the na tional defences, which has gone on ever since increasing in strength, and in glorious achievement ; and for his pater nal and Christian demeanour as a monarch.—A prelimi nary celebration took place on Thursday last at Wantage, to arrange the great national celebration which is shortly to take place in London. After divine service, and ap propriate addresses at the town-hall, the whole town walked to Alfred's Well, situated in a field, once the principal court-yard of the Anglo-Saxon castle in which Alfred was born, but of which no other vestiges whatever remain, although tradition indicates the leading direction of the structure. There a lecture on the character and life of King Alfred was delivered by Dr. Giles, and ano ther by the Rev. F. Reyroux, B.D. Next the roasted ox was distributed to the population with infinite satisfaction alike to the recipients and the spectators. A hundred gentlemen afterwards dined together. After the repast, the celebrated Pusey horn, presented to the ancestor of the present member for the county, P. Pusey, Esq., by the hands of King Canute himself, was placed on the table, and excited much interest. It was agreed by those present that the old grammar-school of Wantage be re vived under the title of King Alfred's School; and that, for this purpose, all Anglo-Saxons who reverence the me mory of that monarch should be invited to subscribe. It was also agreed that for the same purpose, and also to present to subscribers, an edition of Al fred's works should be published in one folio volume, splendidly illu minated, and to be entitled " Jubilee edition of the works of King Alfred the Great." MEMORY. — UNIVERSAL HISTORY.—On Tuesday Mons. N. F. Zaba, a Polish emigrant, delivered, at the Royal Institution, a gratuitous lecture on the science of " Mnemonics." The Rev. Dr. M`Neile occupied the chair. There was a large and respectable attendance. The Rev. Canon, in opening, said, that M. Zaba had come to him introduced and recommended by Lord Har rowby. He had given his attention to a peculiar system of mnemonics, by which he produced, or thought he pro duced, the most extraordinary high-pressure result which he (the Rev. Chairman) had ever heard of. All that steam does faded into insignificance compared to it, for he had the universal history of the world in a little pocket book, (laughter and applause,) which any one, might carry about without the consciousness that he had a book on his person. It was the most portable encyclopaedia, which he had ever heard of. (Applause.) M. Zaba then delivered his lecture. After a metaphysical discourse on memory, he stated that his own plan in aid of it had met with the approval of the Educational Board and Univer sity in Paris, and was now being introduced into all the colleges in France. Before explaining its peculiarities, the lecturer showed its efficacy in the instance of two boys—one from London, and the other who had only been six days under his tuition in this town. He put to the former a multitude of questions as to the date of various events in the world's history, and was answered with remarkable readiness and precision. Localities were told, on cross-questioning, with the same correctness as to dates. M. Zaba said he did not profess, as many others did, that those who learned it could apply his sys tem to every subject; but, as soon as the requisite men tal habits were formed upon one subject, they could be brought to bear with the greatest success on the study of every subject. His pupils, he said, though learning the strictest chronological details, never thought of number; • that came without effort, as the natural result of the arrangement. M. Zaba then entered at length into the outlines of his plan. To give an idea of it, the reader may suppose a large square drawn ; this divided into ten compartments each way, and each of these subdivided into ten more. One of these secondary divisions repre sents a century, the minuter squares particular years, so that, supposing the first division to represent the first century of the Christian era, for example, the eye with out effort selects any subsequent year. Then each square or year is made to typify the greatest historical event or events, which may have marked it, the character of the occurrence being shown by a peculiar symbol or rpeuliar colour. The beauty of this general arrangement was Much admired, especially with the proofs of its efficacy, which the examination of the pupils had revealed. M. Zaba, however, forbore entering much into details, and, announced his determination to form classes here for the study of the art. A second lecture, on the same subject, under the presidency of Adam Hodgson, Esq., was deli vered on Wednesday evening, and was equally well received by a very numerous and respectable audience. The Rev. principal of the Collegiate Institution was present, and sat on the chairman's right hand. During the proceed ings, the rev. gentleman put a number of additional ques tions to the London boy, which were replied to with very creditable accuracy and quickness. We believe that M. Zaha repeated his lecture last evening in the lecture-hall of the Collegiate Institution to the masters of that estab lishment, and of the principal private schools in the town. We are informed that the first meeting of the class of ladies and gentlemen to be further initiated in the system will take place this (Tuesday) evening, in the Royal Assembly-rooms, Great George-street. LOCAL MEETINGS. SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE.—The third annual meet ing of the friends of this institution was held on Tuesday in Pembroke Chapel. R. A. Macfie, Esq., president of the institute, occupied the chair. A meeting was held on Wednesday, at the Old Swan, under the presidency of the Rev. T. Gardner, to form a branch there of the Christian Mutual Provident Society. A number of persons enrolled themselves as members. SPECIAL VESTRY.—A special vestry meeting was held on Tuesday, the Rev. Rector Campbell in the chair, to consider a motion for rescinding a former resolution of the board, relative to the salary of the Governor of the Workhouse ; whether tie should be allowed the same salary as he received during the lifetime of his wife, on whose account chiefly the appointment was made. A. motion was submitted by Mr. Fairhurst—that the gover nor should have £250 clear, and the matron £lOO, and allow any extra expense to fall upon the parish. Mr. Willmer moved an amendment that the motion carried at the previous meeting be not rescinded. On a division, the amendment was carried by a majority of 11 to 9. The salary of the governor is now reduced to £2OO a-year, and the salary of the mistress is £lOO. WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meet ing was held on Wednesday. During the last week there had been only six cases of cholera throughout the whole union, not one of which had proved fatal. The law-clerk was directed to take proceedings against all persons against whom the guardians have claims for expenses incurred by them in the removal of nuisances. The Fever Hospital report stated that there were remaining in the house, last week, 21 ; admitted (luring the week, 5 ; dismissed cured, 4 ; died, none ; remaining in the house, 22. A letter was read from Mr. Chalmers, of Everton, stating that, in *consequence of the abatement of the cholera, the domici liary visitors of that township could now be dispensed with. Proceedings were ordered to be taken against all' the townships in arrear of calls. VESTRY MEETING AT BIRKENHEAD.—On Wednes day a vestry meeting was held for the purpose of electing a person to fill the office of assistant-overseer, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Harwood. The Rev. A. Knox presided. Before the testimonials of the various candi , dates were read over, it was moved by Mr. Craven, se conded by Mr. Thompson, and resolved, that no publican or beerhouse-keeper should be appointed to the office. The vestry-clerk then read the testimonials of the follow ing gentlemen, who were candidates for the office,—viz., Messrs. Taylor, W. Jackson, Martin, Bell, and Evans. These gentlemen having been proposed and seconded by their friends, a show of hands was taken, when the chair man decided that Mr. Taylor had the largest number. A poll was demanded, and at the final close the numbers were, for Mr. Taylor 264, Martin 21, Bell 12. LIVERPOOL CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY. —On Thursday a meeting of the friends of the above so ciety was held at the Savings' Bank, Bold-street, the Venerable Archdeacon Brooks in the chair. The com mittee regretted to notice a further diminution in several of the sources whence the society derived its means. The church collections had this year fallen short by £lOO. The donations, although exceeding the average of former years, amounted to nearly £l7O less than those of last year. The circumstance most likely to affect the perma nent interests of the society was the falling off in the annual subscriptions to the extent of £3O. The pence collected at the schools have considerably increased. The schools were in a well-conducted and flourishing state. The government inspector of schools had expressed him self perfectly satisfied with the whole arrangements. HEALTH COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The medical offi cer of health reported that for the week ending the 18th, the deaths in the borough had been 183, being 16 fewer than during the previous week. From cholera there had been only three deaths, against 19 on the previous week. A proposition was agreed to to construct a large sewer in Smithdown-lane, by which that locality would be drained, and the sewers from the docks might be ventilated. The inspector of nuisances made his usual report as to their removal. This being the last meeting for the municipal year, on the motion of Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. Walthew, the thanks of the committee were voted to Mr. Hugh Hornby, for his services as chairman and deputy chairman during the year. The following is a list of the attendance of the various members during the year : William Walthew, 50 times; T. Rimmer, 46; John A. Tinne (chairman), 45; William Bennett, 44; Hugh Hornby (deputy-chairman), 43; James Parker, 39; H. G. Harbord, 36 ; James Tyrer, 36 ; Thomas L. Hodgson, 33; John Bent, 30; John Neill, 29; Edward C. Hindley, 26 ; John Ferguson, 22 ; James Stitt, 21 ; James Holme, 20 . ; and John G. Morris, 19. SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE.-011 Tuesday, a public meeting was held in the Amphitheatre, to urge upon government to devise other means to remedy any ex isting grievances in the delivery of letters, without infring ing on the sanctity of the Sabbath, and also to impress upon them the practicability of closing the Post-office on the Lord's day throughout the country. The meeting was numerously attended. Mr. Adam Hodgson presided, and in opening the proceedings, read several letters which had been received from parties unable to attend the meet ing, among others, from John Moss, Esq., and Samuel Holme, Esq., expressive of their approval of the objects of the meeting, and their wish that the cost-office should be entirely closed on the Lord's day. He then proceeded at some length to explain the changes contemplated by Government, and showed how they would necessitate a larger amount of Sabbath labour than existed at present. Mr. C. Bushell then proposed, in an admirable address, a resolution, which was as follows :—" That this meeting have heard, with deep regret, thatalterations are projected in in the arrangements of the General Post-office in Lon don which will have the effect of depriving a portion of that establishment of the full privilege of the weekly day of rest, as now enjoyed." The Rev. Dr. M'Neile seconded the resolution in an eloquent speech, and the resolution was unanimously carried. The second resolu tion was proposed by Alderman Hodgson, and was as fol lows :—" That while this meeting acknowledges the in tention of the Post office authorities to make the change subservient to the convenience of the mercantile towns, they confidently hope that other means may be devised to remedy any existing grievance, without infringing on the sanctity of the Sabbath." Mr. R. Macfie seconded the resolution which was also carried unanimously. Mr. John Cropper proposed—" That this meeting earnestly desires to press upon the attention of the Lords Com missioners of her Majesty's Treasury the practicability of closing the Post-offices throughout the country on the Lord's day, as in London, a measure which this meeting is convinced would be acceptable to the community at large." The Rev. Donald Ferguson seconded the reso lution, and it was agreed to. A memorial was then re solved on, praying for a total suspension of postal com munications on Sundays. It received several thousand signatures, and would have been much more numerously signed had reasonable time been allowed for the ex pression of public feeling in the matter. DOCK COMMITTEE.—A statement was submitted of the cost of constructing the cut between the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Docks. A large balance was shown to be due to the dock trust. The account was ordered to be sent to the company. A memorial was read from the water carriers, showing how detrimentally the removal of the timber trade to the north-end of the town would affect their interests. Mr. Nicol said there was no movement, on the part of the Dock Committee, to com pel a removal of the timber trade to the north end. Mr. Rankin said the accommodation at the south end was inadequate both in water and quay space.—lt having been stated that there was great want of accommodation for timber ships in the Brunswick Dock, the Harbour Master's sub-committee were requested to attend to their better accommodation.—Mr. Bold said there was a charge of £l2OO hanging over the committee for water supplied to the Albert Docks. He had been looking into the Act of Parliament, and he found the Water Com mittee were not empowered to make any charge for water supplied from the Green-lane works • and he, therefore, suggested that the opinion of the solicitor be requested on the subject. The Chairman.—Have we a right to use the water without paying for it ? Mr. Bold.-1 have not gone into that yet. Mr. Bent.—You do not wish to avoid payment ? Mr. Bold.—Not if justly due. Mr. Nicol asked if there would have been any question as to the charge if the water had been from anywhere else ? Mr. Bold.—No. Mr. Nicol explained that the water was taken from the Green-lane mains, because the other works did not give a suffibient supply to the town, and the Town-clerk considered the Water Committee, under such circumstances, had a right to charge for the water from Green-lane. It was merely a temporary expedient, until the water could be got from Rivington. Mr. Bold.— having a legal adviser, I suppose there is no objection to take his opinion. Mr. Aikin.—There can be no ob jection to that ; but if they cannot make you pay, you cannot make them supply ; and what can be the difference whether the water comes from Green-lane or from the Harrington works ? I should be sorry to see a question raised that would create anything like abed feeling. Mr. Robinson said it would not become the Dock Committee to dispute the account if the water had been supplied •, they must look at the equity of the case. Mr. Nicol said they could either make the committee pay for the pipes or the water. The matter was referred to the solicitor and the sub-committee. Eistrirt pelvs. The formation of penny banks is in contemplation in Manchester. _ The Church of Nerquis, near Mold, has been broken into, and several of the parish books, about 335. in silver, and an old silver cup and lid, with the letters " E. H." on each side of the cup, were stolen from the, chest. The Morning Chronicle has despatched a " commis sioner" to the manufacturing districts, who has com menced his labours at Manchester, and written an account of his visits to various mills. TRUE TO THEIR BIBLE—THE LEDGER.—The directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce have unani mously agreed upuu a wewurial W I ltu Luids of Liae sury, in support of the changes proposed to be introduced into the post-office regulations ! FREEMASONRY.—The Rev. Gilmour Robinson, Pro vincial Grand Chaplain, has been nominated Right Wor shipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the western division of the county of Lancaster, vice John Drinkwater, Esq., resigned through ill health. Wednesday was a day of fasting in Manchester, and was very becomingly observed. The cathedral and churches were literally crammed. At Chester, Neston, &c., a day has been similarly set apart and observed with equal pro priety. Whilst Mr. Trafford, stipendiary magistrate at the Salford borough court, was hearing a disputed case of wages on Thursday, he received a letter stating that if he gave judgment against the defendant he would be shot. He however did not shrink from deciding upon the case. About a year ago a cotton-mill in Angel-meadow, Man chester, was burnt down ; the bare walls remained. Early on Sunday morning a high wind blew down the end of one . of the walls, and it fell upon an adjacent house in a wretched court, crushing the tenement. About twenty persons were in bed at the time; but, though covered with the ruins, not one was killed, five were cut and bruised, and that was all. The inhabitants of Wigan have presented John Lord, Esq., seven times mayor of that borough, with a magnifi cent silver epergne, valued at fifty guineas, as a mark of esteem and as a testimonial of his public services. The epergne was designed and made by Mr. Mayer, of this town, and is of most elegant and elaborate workmanship, having a richly moulded pedestal, from which spring six ornamental branches, the receptacles for fruit and flowers being composed of richly cut glass. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday, the 22d instant, when the hounds of Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., were hunting, the fox took to the river, and the whipper-in (Mr. James Shaw) who with his horse plunged into the river Dee, near Nant-y-bellan Tower, at New Bridge, for the pur pose of crossing, the hounds being then in full cry, was drowned. The horse jumped upon a large stone, and fell over into a very deep part of the river, throwing the rider. The body was soon after recovered. A SALT SPRING IN A COAL MINE.—The miners em ployed in sinking down to the Arley Mine, at what is commonly called the Patricroft Colliery, Ince, have cut through a white stone rock of fifteen yards thick, in the centre of which, at 410 yards from the surface, they found a spring of salt water, which, according to their account, yields about 20 gallons per hour. The water is clear and bright, and on a temporary analyzation is found to con tain about 14 grains troy of the different kinds of salts to one ounce of water. It now remains a question as to how . far this excellent alkaline spring might be rendered avail able for baths, &c. Below this rock the miners cut through various metals for about 15 yards, when they came to the mine, which is four feet six inches thick, exclusive of what is called the " buzzard" coal on the top. The miners bare frequently found salt water in the mines at Ince; but we believe that this is the first dis covery of the source from whence it emanated. TIIE BOLTON CLAIRVOYANT AND SIR JOHN FRANK LIN.—The Manchester Guardian of Wednesday, publishes a revelation which the Bolton clairvoyant professes to have had, on the 16th ult. She states that, while lying in the mesmeric state at Bolton, on that day, she had another interview with Sir John Franklin and Sir James Ross in the polar regions. It was after tea with the clairvoyant. On recovering from the mesmeric condition she related what she had seen and heard. She said she had had some refreshment with Sir John Franklin, who had his provi sions in thick tin boxes. He had also some hard meat in a big tub. Sir John, she said, would be out of the ice in less than nine months ; that it was ten minutes past eleven by Sir John's time; and a quarter past ten—a good while [less than an hour] after Sir James Ross's time ; that she went a good way further than Sir James Rosa, where it was very dark, and the stars went round and did not twin kle, but she was sure it was quite ridiculous to attempt to find a road for ships over there; that she found Sir John in a house, made of large blocks of ice, about nine yards from the ship ; that Sir John had been a great way over the country, but had returned to his ships ; that Sir John Franklin had seen the natives, but' not Sir James Ross ; and that there were two ships on their way home which would bring good news. BEERSHOPS AND CRIME.—In the annual report of the Chaplain of Chester Castle, we find the following state ment, which, corroborated as it can be by the experience of every magistrate in the country, ought to command immediate reform attention of government, and lead to an reform :—" In my former reports I have stated that I consider the chief and immediate cause of crime to be drunkenness—not the want of employment. Very few, I feel convinced, are driven to crime by destitution. I have long felt it my bounden duty, as a Christian minister, solemnly to protest against the profanation of the Sabbath Day, and my experiences in the Castle strengthen those impressions. By admitting of public-hours being opened, even after morning and afternoon services of . the day, great temptations are held out to the labouring classes, and more crime is committed and concocted than on any other day in the week. If all other shops are compelled by law to be closed on this day, why not compel the pub lican to keep his house closed as well ? For it is in the beer-shop where most of the crimes are planned. Ido earnestly hope that a bold and solemn protest will be entered into against this awful crime, and with the help of God, we shall soon find an act in full operation to cause all ale-houses and jerry-shops to be closed entirely on the Lord's Day; for not until then can we expect any dimi nution of crime in this our highly favoured country." THE gigrfruiturat anb 30ortiruitural C 0 I. U M N: The hyacinth is deservedly popular amongst those lovers of flowers who, living in town, are limited to window gar dening ; and doubtless it furnishes a large amount of pleasure, from the first moment its white rootlets begin to shew themselves in the water, until the richly-scented blossoms display their brilliant colours. But although the practice of placing the bulbs in glasses is most gene ral, it is not the best if fine blooms are required. The better mode of bringing them to perfection is to plant them in long cylindrical earthenware pots,. which are made for the purpose, and are obtainable at the nurseries and seed-sheps. In these pots the bulbs are planted in soil, and upon the nature of the soil much of the success depends. This too is best obtained at the nurseries, where sixpence or a shilling will purchase an abundant stock for the window-gardener, who has very rarely the opportunities for forming the necessary compost. In planting them in the pots the bulb should not be entirely covered, and water should be very sparingly given until the leaves have made some progress. They are much the better for being plunged (with the pots), immediately they are planted, in rotted bark or any other plunging material; but tan, and such like things, are not to be had in a town house ; however, an admirable substitute will be found in the half-decayed sawdust of the wine -cellar, in which place they might be kept plunged until the shoot is an inch-and-a-half or two inches in length ; they should then be removed from the sawdust, and gradually brought into daylight. This little extra trouble will well repay the grower, provid'd he has been careful to select good bulbs. This is of more importance than is generally imagined, because an enormous number of indifferent bulbs are annually imported from the Continent, and ticketed with fine names. The only way to guard against imposition is to trust a respectable seedsman, and not try to obtain good bulbs at half their value. In buying bulbs pay most particular attention to their soundness, as the slightest tendency to softness or decay will often insure the destruction of the root. When fairly started on their growth, a small quantity of weak liquid manure, such as guano and water, at the rate of two ounces to the gallon, may be given from time to time. We never recollect seeing a finer assortment of hyacinths than those im ported this year. _ _ Several other bulbs may be cultivated in the same way, such as jonquils, narcissuses, and early or Van Thol tulips. Thus the town florist may adorn his window with gay and lovely flowers at an early season of the year. MAGNOLIA CONSPICUA. It is surprising this elegant early flowering plant is not more extensively cultivated. Its profusion of white blossoms, large as tulips and rich in perfume, coming, as they do, almost in spite of spring frost, make it a most desirable plant for a south wall, upon which it will produce its noble flowers in rich profusion. It is the finest flower which can be made to bloom in our spring ; and being easily obtainable, it is remarkable that so few persons possess it. It deserves the most general cultivation. PAPERS ON AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. NO. V. Before we proceed further, we must refer to a substance called humus, which exists in the soil, and is supposed by many writers and experimentalists to be the real food of plants. This substance is the result of vegetable decom position, or the action of oxygen upon dead woody fibre, accelerated by the presence of water ; and unquestionably vegetation is always most luxuriant in soils, which are rich in humus. This has led the agricultural chemists of the Continent to attach much importance to the humic salts, which many suppose to be the direct food of plants, and to furnish, by combination with carbon, most of the constituent parts of plants. This is unquestionably a great error. The experiments of Milder, Sheikund, and others, have demonstrated that this chemical, which is composed of 40C 12H 120 + 4HO (or water), is the result of 'putrefaction in vegetable matter; of the action of acids on starch, gum, and sugar, and of heat upon soot ;—that is, putrefaction or decomposition will produce humus from wood, acids will produce it from starch, &c., and the same substance is produced in soot by the action of caloric. The existence, then, of humus, or any of its combinations, must result from the pre-existence of vege tation ; therefore the question naturally arises, Whence did the first plants receive their humus ? But there are other considerations which cannot be stronglyhumus m by ili n ta o te me a a g n a s in e s a t s t y h o e f h s u o m hl ie . nci: before shewn that no solid food is easy of solution, all of them requiring somewhere about' tantthiokeneo passedr;ya u . bn p yd b F, y wiarns p edt ;a lwi n tali t hy s eei , neither are its saline compounds mo re 2500 times their weight of water to dissolve them. Again, humus is found to increase instead of diminish in land where plants are growing; whereas other s u b s t ances , well known to afford nutrition to vegetables, are speedily exhausted, and require renewing from time to time. Humus is found in large quantities in the soil of pine woods, where the dense foliage and porous nature of the soil would effectually prevent the possibility of sufficient rain-water falling round the trees to dissolve the humates. These and many other considerations lead us to the conclusion, that although it is highly probable that hu mus, in some or all of its combinations, exercises an im portant influence on vegetable life, it is by no means the chief nutriment of plants. Nay, more : leaf mould, peat, and the soil of woods, which probably contain the hu mates in greatest abundance, are by no means the ma nures which experience has taught are best to produce a luxuriant vegetation. REVIEWS. A Century of Orchidaceous Plants, selected from Cur tis's Botanical Magazine, consisting of a hundred of those most worthy of cultivation. The descrip tions by Sir William Hooker, R.H., D.C.L., &c., director of the royal gardens at Kew. Accompanied by an introduction on the culture and general management of Orchidaceous Plants. London : Reeve, Benham, and Reeve. (Continued.) Plate 43. Catasetum roseo-akum. This curiously pretty orchid is also a native of Brazil. It has a singular appearance, owing to the lip being fringed on both sides with long red cilia:; the lip itself is hollow, and the flower more resembles an insect than a plant. Plate 44. Catasetum cristatum var. spinigerum.—This flower, in its general appearance, resembles a gongora more than anything : its sepals are patent, or spread out, and are dark green, beautifully mottled with brown ; while the lip is white, and most beautifully fringed. MISCELLANEA. In a paper recently read to the Literary and Philosophi cal Society of Liverpool, by our talented townsman, Dr. Inman, the causes which determine the fall of leaves were admirable elucidated, and the history of the pheno menon may now be considered complete. No business can be properly conducted without some system ; but in agriculture it must be expansive, so as to allow of considerable variations, without deviating from certain fixed principles. These should be such as to equalise the work, and, as far as practicable, the produce also, by having a regular quantum of fallow or fallow crop, of grain, and of grass seeds, each year.—Gardener's Journal. ABRONIA UMBELLATA.—As a bedding plant this novelty has, generally speaking, afforded as yet but little satisfaction to those who have planted it out ; but we are inclined to hope that the disappointing results of its em ployment for garden purposes must be attributed to the circumstance of its succulent stems being permitted to repose in contact with the soil, and by that means become susceptible of " damping off" during a very humid state of the atmosphere and the ground. When trained erect, however, its succulence is no barrier to its employment, and, if protected somewhat, it will succeed very well in the open ground • and there is also every probability of its doing so by the provision of rockwork, flints, or scoria for it to recline upon. But apparently it is too delicate a plant for full exposure to rough weather, where the sweep ing breezes of early autumn can pass over it unbroken and unprotected by artificial precautions; hence, if its culture in the open air be attempted at all, a sheltered site must be allotted it, and although this cannot well be accom plished in the fully exposed parterre where the gay Vervain and its more sturdy compeers will flourish, heedless of the breeze that rushes over or plays around them, a situation might be found in some sheltered nook of the flower garden to shield this pretty plant from the brisk western gales we not unfrequently experience in the midst of summer. The best specimen we have yet seen of it, and the best state we have yet met with it in, is at the Pine apple Place Nursery, where a plant that has been growing out of doors the greater part of summer, has become a branching specimen four feet high, and displaying its very pretty corymbs of ruddy lilac blossoms in tolerable pro fusion.—Paxt. Mag. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Stove, Conservatory, Src.—During the prevalence of wet or damp weather, a free ventilation should be kept up in all the glass structures, and fire heat should be occa sionally used in the greenhouse and conservatory, to expel the damp. Pits and frames, in which half hardy plants are stored, should have the glasses raised as much as pos sible without admitting rain. Climbers on trellises and rafters should have all superfluous growth removed, and the remaining shoots neatly trained in, so as to offer no obstruction to the transmission of light. Flower-garden.—Where alterations are required, this is the best time to commence them ; also for planting shrubs and herbaceous plants. Hardy bulbs should now be put in. Kitchen-garden.—Clean asparagus beds, and give them a top dressing of well-rotted manure. Plant coleworts for spring use. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " N. Healey."—Place the roses you intend to force in a cold frame, and protect them from rain, but allow a free circulation of air. You should have done this earlier. " Alpinus."—All the plants in your list are hardy, if planted in a well-drained soil. Miss Cushman has had a brilliant reception on her re appearance at the theatre, Broadway, New York. The house has been crammed, and the gifted lady is over whelmed with demonstrations of applause. IRON BEDSTEADS.—The general adoption of iron bed steads has not only prompted improvements in design, but has tended much to the reduction of their costs, as will be seen by the advertisement of Mr. Wignall in our first page. FASHIONS.—The principal of the winter fashio PO( ladies' dress is being exhibited this week; and so NDA I I we are able to judge, the novelties presented are not on elegant, but more than usually suited to coming IxtbitiylA-g Furs will be almost universally worn ; and we ara.teda tgge., see, from the stock of Mr. Ireland, that those ty•sx 6l s4%;-: 4 to comfort—muffs—are again " the order of the ill4P q SM o 14, 1 * 5, 915 00 63 ' • er ''l4t' 6 5° SC ° Of En t ° 31 0 ° 00 oe 4 ' re seo !,11536°P , Te e 'or tl,O , 'gold Co.or muli c ) f ir oe oil ti ll! coo, rio l , l ° .311 evoi are sW stet fac tOt , ,1 tbe ,r 1 the