The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-10-16 00:00:00

A .+; vtt, 16, 1141. 5. , Th e Ad i GTmiralty have given notice for the sale of four of :Tontine vessels lying in the Mersey. Piis - AT GEORGE-STREET ACADEMY.— Dr. Fisher's i,„, were addresse d on Thursday last by the Reverend ilam Pollock. har e e tn a ,n_neal dinner of the Roscoe Club, which was to in cob - dten Place on Thursday, was postponed far a month, i,senuence of the death of a son of William Brown, s ( l ),' LP- for South Lancashire. tolt, ‘ , 4r mee a man named John Connor, who lived in sn-street, Edge-hill, died et the Infirmary from in kttle dayreceived by falling down stairs on the previous ' Gany " , } b ' i r l idue, Joseph Ch ar l eswor th. a labourer on the ati on waY, was run over by one o f the trains, near the is a few , G reat L Howa r d- s t ree t, an d so i n j ure d th a t he died hours. Rt`)rorl Saturday Mr. George Vandenhoff returned in the to gb ,?_a to the United States to reonen his professional th e b ri r ents in that country ; having previously declined '7„,s made to him by the manager of Drury-lane. li ,"ednesday night a man named William Thomas, torus- Grosvenor street, fell against a curb-stone in ilos e. s h ",street, whilst he was intoxicated. He was taken to cau se bridewell, where he died the next night. The I t,e t of death was epilepsy, the result of natural causes. PITNATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a meet -4,7,1)° the Board of Examiners, held on Saturday, Mr. IN, ett chief o ffi cer of the John Macvicar, of Liver alas,salut Captain Edward Stabb, late master of the class Her, of Brixham, were fouud qualified for second- Ti t - ,, as ters' certificates. klro a " P T PROM A FOREIGNER.—A few days ago Joseph to e a ii c a e , young Sicilian, who had been an adventurer °rnia, where he had collected a quantity of gold Newtuverted the same into coin and negotiable bills at v; i : °, ll i, arrived a t Li ver p oo l. O n Monday evening le likvi a ' s "ed Hodson's singing-room in Mersey-street, a t with him a 700-dollar note and various notes for al oents. Whilst there his pocket-book, containing %s o res Was st o l en f rom hi m . The book was subse ,, Y found, but minus its contents. st ir! PROCEEDING.—It will be remembered that, ,*eT e e l i t h i nle of the burning of the Ocean Monarch, two mete, ; boat were apprehended by Tuck and Bates, 4 5 4, Officers of this town, on a charge of murdering !tut toot Passengers of the Ocean Monarch. The.pas er4c,' s ubsequently turned up, but they were committed !,_ I IIre, - „,,, r° Phery of his trunk, tried at an assizes in Fliet •pth„-r,"e acquitted. Last week, they brought an action tor 'Ounty Court at Holywell, against the two officers, eaT s e I mprisonment, and recovered £2O damages from meaHat G REEN -LANE WATER WORKS.—Several gentle "ate west Derby, who have been deprived of the IS' et ,,,,"„f their wells, by the operations of the Green-lane - o r (Irks, have given notice to the corporation of an , ° .114 -1011 to prevent the application of the water to any Lltto e lurPose than was contemplated by the act of pp.- viz., the watering of the streets and the extin tl.aio-'•,,! of fires. Mr. Thomas Bold appears as the corn ,ulr, i', l -; Amongst others of the parties aggrieved a r e ,_°tott ° A t . ..ley, Mr. Toulmin, Mr. R. W. Preston, Mr. John o-ir. Brandice, Mr. Anthony, Mr. Alfred Woods, Tq Wen, Mr. Robert Higgin, and Mr. Barker. „‘-' O IINTY REGISTRATION.—The result of the I'ric b • ri .lor the Liverpool district, which terminated on Itadi,."., Is that the Tories have succeeded in erasing 268 Illo w ",„1 votes out of 302 objections, only 36 votes being c lai• Among st those struck out were 83 faggot votes, le • -44 i f g n conne ction' with the Prince Llewelyn Building e Radicals m ade 381 objections and sustained26B, lt allig 1 1 votes established. However, the Radicals had ai N heir own way, having struck off 250 Tory votes, t " , r e ° f rom the non-attendance of the parties objected mor e -48 shows the propriety of the landed gentry giving T ory att ention to the registration. The agents for the 1 9 art 37 were Mr. Henry Bremner, solicitor, assisted N s so e f a • tio t n u . ckmaste'r, of the Liverpool Constitutional Ov GAS SHARES.—On Wednesday five hundred °ra;r a ,res in the United Gas Company were offered ; 4 eC e nY auction The room was crowded, and from leli b st the bidding's were brisk and spirited. Mr. Branch 11 ,441 st ated the conditions of sale, which were in the \ • , 1 `, 1 4 ter ms, stated that it was his intention to offer the 1 1 lots of f our s h ar es each. He then put up Lot Fl9o'°r which there was a spirited contest till it reached ° !th' ° r £7O premium on the nominal value. The whole atom o ?t 1-70 her lots were th en disposed of at prices varying er a to to £lBO. If we therefore take £ 1 7 5 as the halkled Price of the lots, it will be seen that the sum by the company amounts to £21,875. The great s eat "I shares were purchased by a few of our most eini- Wolerchants. *4 9 i I „ a ,,AL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION. — A meeting et the Monks' Ferry Hotel, Birkenhead, the an LmaY, whe n it was unan imously resolved to establis establish !llti - b s natio n to be denominated "The Wirral Consti la to° -4. Associ'ation." The object of this patriotic society Aho protect the register from names being placed on it t ,"_ ) so'"„vo no constitutional or legal right to the franch i se, . taint po rt the true interests of the country, and to ma °se Principles which have raised the country to the lid! t+ it has attained in the scale of nations. W. W. b''der;; Esq of Holt-hill. was unanimously elected pre ,,°irke"bis th ' e association, and Robert Hughes, Esq., of h i'el' SeV,. e arl, vice-president ; and from the known loyalty, L r edi et -r an, ee talent and influence of thes gentlemen, we 'eet' 4 long career ' of success to the society. The next ,C 4 l , - "g of the society will be held on the sth November. Zeek l/1.10 2 , 1* TO LADIES.—An advertisement appeared last W ed In the Courier for a wife, and in the same paper of e ~I,e s day last appears another advertisement, in which w ' f luter says,—" As his object was simply to ascertain kis., ;; ,, ar advertisements of the class matrimonial received ‘litt ,`rs, and what was the character of the replies, with !le,;,,Y intention of making an advertisement the vehicle l tfo - er ,,Lering into the bonds of wedlock, he has attained his ,'l.ti,‘" a tion For obvious reasons, the result of the ad- Ne'ejnentis withheld from the public eye. The adv T . t' o ",?vrever, takes this opportunity to suggest to ladies are to advertisements for wives. In most cases, o , b p tl'Jen who seek wives by means of advertisements i'° gentlemen at all, but mere adventurers, who trust Lite. ° chapter of accidents to get money. A respectable dies r nan has no occasion to advertise for a wife. The to m re ill . take care . to get Mm some way,. and so far I 9 b i ns to solicit a sleeping partner in the columns llqt„ilel'sPaper, he will only need to take care that he is „,IV,„ ° ,,sPeedilv involved in the toils of Benedictinism." reAST 13 —The manner in which the fast was t':'' ae o 'st e( ' Liverp ool Air on Tuesday has been the theme of th niversal praise. The people readily responded r : Call of th e venerable Archdeacon, the clergy, and goo the shops were closed ; business, except the 'er e - Inent o ff i ces , was wholly suspended ; the churches hile,lnere crowded than even on Sundays, and the people 4 ,ti0 1 ; 411 1' most orderly. It was, indeed, a day of humili 9rei:,Llot only before God, but that we live under a , tssituiiwent which apparently sets itself above Almighty oW a ; °11 - Its conduct is everywhere spoken of in term s . indignation, as it has given cause to the enemies ° ° nu h r impug nits headship and unity. W hat . t rc o k t ave been so easy as for the Queen to have required n 7ler.., the observance of the day in the manner pro -713,..L40ugh0ut her dominions. The Dissenters' cha '''l•a(chere also op ene d an d well attended, and the only q°tat,"' who r e f use d t o p a y proper deference to the re ),‘4ll °f the constituted authorities were the Quakers.. ete °_,r nearly all, the places of worship, collections h,ns ltu a n c ,e in aid of the funds of the Dipensaries. 1, 4 e k'AIIL FORMES' CONCERT.—The lovers of music t ',(2,,„ ° Pnortunity of enjoying a rich treat this week at Ile c ert-hall, Lord Nelson-street. Of Miss Rafter t h ,`!'4l,s' s Lucy Rafter report speaks hihl Mr. Rafter ;e ate ,°oWn as a sweet and powerful t e no r ; and the sen ich Herr Carl Formes created on the occasion of he Festival will not readily be forgot tine ] .l, "0 following is an extract from the .Athenrnuni of 1.1 4 t which may give our readers some idea of the N I at await., them •—" Since the days of Handel ' a It' kl ° l 4 ° bass its has . always figured more or less 1, 4 musical specialties. During the last dozen years 11 1 ,01 e i v c e successively entertained Pock, Staudigl, and 110the,. 1 ,* We hope that Herr Formes will not ove like ip is tth,„" ° °(l's hermit, ' the last of his race ; ' but a ssuredly C s t , if not altogether, the best who has appea red .. 114,1 1 i t ''e• We do not remember so grand a voice , in "eeds but be heard for its owner to create the , . eft 1 4 1 P,er e d ee.t. Further, Herr Formes . appears to have del? l , l l 's magnificent gifts with t m e usical o s . k sa il ra l, str w o hi h c i h s eration and polish. 1n the p a rt n t t(i N s l arge and dignified, without bet g ponderous ; k et 'nob expression deep without caricature. His de . - in i -r e • e too, is noble and impressive. It is long, in N we have been so struck by a new comer." Ut t tTil AMPRICAN STEAM SHIP COMPANY.— ttjttj ers m r aet for the Halifax or Cunard steamers Nvas first November, 1838. Upon that occasion two '4041 1v -e re received—one from the Great Western atiie t o Provide three vessels of 350-horse power, for ?4,, 4 _41.,„rTr annum • the other from the St. George's hO rk Cn - I"et Com an' y who proposed to go once a month ,; r t , to H a lifax for £45,000 (or for £65,000 if New Ak,tng:te included) with vessels of 240-horse power, 4 ) ,'l,lcpj, e ,Tnent to be for seven years. Neither of these the(Ced, and subsequently a proposition was made ‘I)tl /v bol' na rd • He submitted that by going once a week re r- the letters would be carried by the steamers, 'nerican own rs would cease to take them, and 4 ~i ad e e I N • ° 0 this at less than half the sum per voyage v,i tl ' ‘ n either of the tenders. An agreement was t or H allf a him in the first instance to go twice a month k e :4o, ( j` nA alid Boston with vessels of 300-horse power 4h.iced d uly This contract was for seven slt com ;'°4l'l4 toTg% 4, 1 840 ; and the terms were afterwards ex ''tinalrgop-"..5,000 in consequence of additional yessels . Ind that slze being nuked Subsequently it . was N ev'' York - Co re m'panies . were establishing lines. No°''lgi.," 4l , 'lard then pressed the Government to fulfil 14) fi ,`‘iii e et Plan of once a week. His existing contract 4 h ' lll ' r a clause that upon an extension of the service tie b ,, l 4 ;les theont the same rate in proportion should 4 1(j‘ko li .14 Government considered £60,000 a soffi t() Ye a n t Years;addition to the £85,000 already payable, and del ay t'4:iveejontract was accordingly entered into in 1846 . bed 'ZIT_ mail for £145 000 ; not, however, until a f orre',l l ,7" Place, during which American lines had fi n e h e, b ot ` h " , which will now increase and divide the o bs r t st irgards passengers and letters. From k e at o ge a zation of this line Government got back a 4 1, 1 ;/' i ncr n much as they paid, and the receipts have n d V r otti l' as ed• The service is now performed every tllll:44,lls;tovnesaisivetee:rpnoaotelito Halifax, and thence to New York Y, the average' speed being 11 knots izil,_ft)liii.,,,,,,titp:tessneisosfiarn3cuse being 1, 850 tons and 700-horse as in the origin . al contract. Ad t,t7rtyntns, and at present building which company arc b a o t Nou-h?rse power. The compan N'11(1,1'11,1,141°R go to u ew York without going to Halifax, and, err the fir, Cunard, they will probably do so as ork .I',l°werful opposition vessels now preparing at shall have Commenced running. Korai ftettw EXHIBITION OF THE LIVERPOOL ACADEMY. THIRD NOTICE. No. 115. The ,Merry Wives of Windsor commenting upon the letters sent by Falstaff. D. Pasmore.—The point selected by the artist is the following portion of the dialogue :-- Mrs. Ford—Did you ever see the like?. Mrs. Page—Letter for Letter. There is some good pailiting in this little picture. The interior of the chamber is well managed, as are the dra peries of the two merry ladies. The artist has not been happy in filling up our ideas of their persons. Mrs. Ford's laugh is too obstreporous. Her features should convey some little wonder at the amazing impudence of the fat knight. Mrs. Page's countenance, and whole de meanour, is in the opposite extreme. The former is as demure as a Quakeress at meeting, and possesses none of the archness of Shakspere's protrait. She is dumpy too in figure ; and not at all the attractive personage which the great dramatist had in his mind's eye. 116. The Entrance to the Mersey, from the Alt flood gates. Thunder storm clearing away. C. Barber. — This is a very nice landscape, with a few faults however. Tile foreground is well balanced, and full of nature. The little hamlet in the centre of the picture, seen through the half-screen of trees, is a very picturesque bit, and nicely painted. The effect of the sun breaking through the storm clouds, and lightening the landscape and water, with its shipping, in the distance, is cleverly managed. But we object to the lurid tinge thrown upon the body of the retiring clouds. There is also a hardness, here and there, in the sky colouring. 117. Distant view of Windsor Castle, from Widmore Heath, Buckinghamshire. F. H. Henshaw.—The fore ground here is broad and open, and gives an excellent effect to the very finely painted landscape and castle in the distance. _ _ 129. Lochleven, Arqyleshire. C. Fielding.— Is a pretty little landscape. The placid lake in the foreground is nicely painted ; and the vista of hilly scenery, running towards the background, is painted with the artist's peculiar ability. Perhaps a little less of blue, however, would have improved the picture. 190. Brig on Shore, at St. Leonard's, Hastings. W. C. Smith.—ls very clever. 47, The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, is another and larger of Mr. Henshaw's contributions. It is nicely painted, especially the foreground, which is bold and vigourous. The light too is cleverly thrown down upon the knotted bolls of the monarchs of the forest, and intro duced, at intervals, into the thickly wooded distance. 7. The First Pair of Trews. R. M`lnnes.—The subject of this graphic picture is the application of the measuring tape to a youthful Scottish lad, by a country snip, possessed evidently of no mean opinion of his dis cernment and capability to fit 3 " the human form divine." The worthy tailor is holding up his tape, with his thumb at the proper division, exclaiming with triumph, as plainly as the production of the painter's brush could exclaim, " aughteen inches—aw tell't ye it wad be !" On the left of the picture the plaided sire of the youth is seated on a " three leggit stool," with mull in hand, as proud evi dently of Jock's proportions, and as full of the important event transacting, as a sire well could be. The wife of the worthy operator behind is examining the whiskey bot tle, in preparation of a dram for their customer, and is her self also full of the occasion. The little corner cupboard behind her, with its well arranged best china, &c., is very nicely painted. The gem of the picture, however, is the cross-legged urchin at the window, who is threading his needle, and by the sarcastic pout of his lip, is clearly arro gating for himself the position of a future Stultze—as dif ferent to his old master as a regular student of Chambers' Journal can be supposed to become. This figure is a most happily painted piece of life. As a whole the picture is very clever. 229. A Parisian Market, with the Church of St. Eustache. W. Parrott.—ls very creditable to the artist. The picture is full of life. 274. Falling in with Wreck. J. Danby.—The artist here has given us a fine effect, in the red sunset falling upon the rolling waters, with the wreck and boats tinged by its dying beams. The wrecked brig mid boats are well painted ; but the barque coming to the rescue is not so ; her hull is more of the yacht build than comports with the very tall spars which she carries. 275. Morning. G. F. Watts.—ls a sweet composition. The colouring almost leads us to suppose that it is an old painting. At all events it is a painting which might be mistaken for that of an old master. 282. " So sweet the blush of bashfulness, e'en pity scarce can make it less.—Byron. R. Clothier. —A pleas ing study. The countenance is softly expressive of the sentiment of the poet ; and the drapery, &c., is artistically painted. Mr. Clothier has two other pictures in the exhi bition—portraits—one of which, 565. TV. J. Clement, Esq., is very striking and clever. The figure, face, &c.—of course we cannot speak to the accuracy of the likeness—are well painted ; and the an tique furniture in the room, the draperies, &c., with the management of the light thrown upon them, display great ability. Perhaps, however, the light is thrown too broadly upon the costume of the figure itself, which is thus made to appear a little bald. THE COAL TRADE OF LIVERPOOL. A most interesting report on the coal traffic of the United Kingdom, and the importance of its further de velopment in Liverpool, has just been published by Mr. Braithwaite Poole, the able manager of the goods' depart ment of the London and North Western Railway. Mr. Poole says : " There are upwards of 3000 coal mines in Great Britain, which employ nearly 250,000 men, women, and bays, under ground and above, termed hewers, putters, trappers, over lookers, bankmen, &c., &c. The capital invested in working stock, tramways, staiths, and harbours, altogether exceeds £30,000,000 in value ! and the get of coal,' as it is techni cally termed, amounts to 34,000,000 tons annually; the esti mated value of which, at the Pit's Mouth,' is £10,000,0001 " Of this enormous quantity of coal, one-third is raised in the Northumberland and Durham districts, from whence the chief exports of the kingdom are made by the rivers Tyne, Wear, and Tees, both foreign and coastways." The preference given to these districts is partly on ac count of the quality of the coal, but mainly caused by the railway and other facilities afforded for loading, without undue breakage. The Lancashire coal field produces about 4,000,000 tons per annum : viz., in Wigan district, 2,000,000 tons ; Bol ton, 1,000,000; and St. Helen's, 1,000,000 tons. Of this amount, in 1847 the exports were from Liverpool, 121,587 tons only, and in 1848, 131,947 tons. This small export Mr. Braithwaite Poole attributes to the want of proper staiths and other facilities for loading. The bulk of the supply for Liverpool comes by the Leeds Canal, and the St. Helen's Canal and Railway-630,000 and 480,000 tons respectively. The London and North Western Railway brings us 180,000 tons, which has increased from 80,000 tons in 18t2. The charges by both canal and rail have been very greatly reduced lately—to the amount of 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. per ton. Mr. Poole considers, however, that the public have not had the full advantage of the reduc tion. The total cost of the best house coal at Crown street he considers to be about 103. per ton. By sending their own carts and paying ready money, the public might have it of full weight, and unmixed. Mr. Poole recommends to the London and North Western Company, that they should afford every possible accommodation to this trade, by which at least one-half per cent. increase of dividend might be secured. The charges should be by full train load. The Crown-street yards should be altered in their arrangements, and other modifications of the traffic carried into execution. The most important desideratum recommended, however, is the appropriation by the Dock Committee of one of the north docks for coal traffic expressly, and the formation at such dock, by the railway company, of proper branches, drops, staiths, &c., by which he considers that the town, dock estate, railways, and canals, would all be benefitted together, which, in our opinion, would unquestionably be the case. On Thursday morning, when the steamer Admiral, from Liverpool to Glasgow, was off Corsal Point, one of the cabin passengers leapt over the side, and was never seen again. The unfortunate man is said to have been Mr. Greig, master of a Dundee and Liverpool trader. He re sided in Dundee. ALARMING ACCIDENT.—On Saturday morning the " King Orrey," after having undergone a complete repair, started from Douglas for this port with a full complement of passengers, and a very heavy cargo. She had not pro ceeded more than two miles before it was discovered that something was wrong with her machinery, and she was unable to proceed. Captain Quayle signalised to shore for assistance, and the Mona's Isle, which was in the har bour, and had steam up, proceeded to her assistance, and towed her safely into port, when it was discovered that the stoppage of her machinery was caused by a carpen ter's wedge nearly 12 inches long having got into one of the valves. It was of course immediately removed, and, after a detention of about four hours, the King Orrey pro ceeded to sea, and arrived here early on Sunday morning. THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY.—Messrs. Willmer and Smith have published a long letter, from which we get an insight into the extortionate charges made by the company. They say, '• For this message, which occupied about ninety-eight lines in the Morning Herald, we paid the Telegraph Company about £2l, and were, nowithstanding, thrown off the wires for more than half an hour, to satisfy the monopolising spirit of the company." In another paragraph, they observe, " We must not omit to state that parliament granted to the Electrie Telegraph Company an act to communicate intel ligence at uniform rates, and without preference to any party. Their present price from Liverpool to London is over 6d. per word. It is reported that to some papers they charge is. for every nine words; others ls. per line, and others 6d. per line. To the Glasgow Daily M ail they supply more than a column of news per day for £2OO a-year. The North British Mail for tne same intelli gence £3OO. The Hull news room is supplied with all intelligence for £l5O per annum ; whilst the Liverpool Exchange do not get much more than half the quantity given to the Glasgow papers. although they pay £3OO a year." Sooner or later there must be a radical change in the matter of telegraphic messages. CURIOUS INQUEST.—On Wednesday, an inquest was held on the body of a child a year old, named Patrick Morris, the son of parents residing in Prophet-street, Toxteth-park. The coroner had been induced to hold the inquest in consequence of the following certificate of the child's death having been sent t o the registrar of the dis trict :—" I certify Patrick Morris has died from culpable neglect, together with exposure to the cold, on the part of his own mother. G. Manley, M.D." The mother of the deceased, stated that the child was lately taken ill, and seen professionally at Dr. Whittle's surgery, by Mr. Bickerton, who administered medicines which gave relief. A few days after this, witness took the child to Dr. Whit tle's surgery, when she saw Dr, Manley, who gave her some medicine, which she gave deceased as directed. The deceased kept getting worse. She went to Dr. Whittle's surgery several times, but was unable to see any one. She always kept him well wrapped up. He died on Saturday. Mary Kirkham, a neighbour, stared that after the child's death she called on Dr. Manley for a certificate. He asked her if it was for the person who had said that his medicine had killed the child, and giving the certificate we have quoted above, hoped the mother of the child would have some trouble about the matter. She also stated that he had only seen the child once, and that was on Friday. The coroner strongly censured the conduct of Dr. Manley in giving such a certificate. Dr. Manley said that he had not given the certificate with the intention that a coroner's inquest should be held. The jury immediately returned a verdict of died from natural causes. On Thursday, Dr. Manley applied to the coroner for his expenses, but the coroner refused to allow him the usual fee. THE LIVIRPOOL STANDARD. LOCAL MEETINGS. CAR PROPRIETORS.—The car proprietors held a meet ing on Monday, at the house of Mr. Jones, Hunter-street, to oppose the recent inroads of the Council. Mr. Lyon, Mr. Busby, and others, complained strongly of the re duction in price, and more especially of the change pro posed in the s;ze in cars, which will throw many now run ning out of use. A conversation rose as to what would be the best proposition to submit to the Finance Com mittee, and several proposed to work in a circle, charging one shilling for a mile within a given circumference, but the majority were in favour of proposing to the authori ties one uniform rate of one shilling for the first mile, one shilling and sixpence for a mile and a half, and so on for the distance, and on the proposition of Mr. Boothby this was unanimously carried, at the same time allowing four passengers and 200Ibs. of luggage. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Busby, Boothby, T. Loyd, Shuffile bottom, Lyon, Thornley, Austin, Hamer, and Fletcher, was then appointed, to consider the best course to pur sue in representing the feelings of that meeting to the Finance Committee of the Council, and to introduce the subject by a deputation to that body. Docx COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The secretary read a report from the marine surveyor of his annual survey of Liverpool Bay, for 1849, accompanied by two charts, which were laid on the table for the inspection of the committee. The charts showed the alterations which had taken place between 1840, 1846, and 1849. Since the survey of 1646, the Little Burbo Bank had advanced into the Victoria Channel, in a westerly direction, about a quarter of a mile ; and the West Middle had also advanced a quarter of a mile to the northward, overlapping the lights, and rendering it necessary to open the lights first to the southward and then to the northward, to avoid the Little Burbo and West Middle. There also appeared to be a narrowing of the deep-water channel abreast of the Formby Lightship. The outer part of the Victoria Channel, since 1846, appeared to have been freed out to the north- west a quarter of a mile, the depth of water continuing the same ; in the half-tide swash-way the depth bad increased slightly. The swash-way between the Jordan Swash and Taylor's Bank had become filled up, so as to form a continuous sand bank, dry at springs, of about 2 1 miles in length, having risen 13 feet during the last few years. The western entrance to Hoylake was filled up, and had risen ten feet, a long tongue of sand being formed at the easterly entrance of Hoyle. The Horse Channel, the Rock Channel, and Hilbre Swash continue as heretofore. The report was adopted, several members expressing their satisfaction that the great en trances to the channel had not been interfered with.— The tenders of Conway and Co., and Silver and Co., to supply the required clothing for the dock-gatemen, were accepted.—A letter was read from Mr. B. Poole, manager of the goods department of the London and North-Wes tern Railway Company, calling the attention of the com mittee to the desirability of affording greater facilities at the docks for the export and general encouragement of the coal trade. The letter was accompanied with copies of a report on the subject. After a short conversation, the matter was referred to the Sub-committee of Works. —A letter was read from Mr. Cyrus Morrell, of Beau marls, calling the attention of the committee to the desi rability of stationing a person on Puffin Island, who should sound a gong in foggy weather, to warn vessels of their nearness to the coast. The letter was referred, with thanks to Mr. Morrell for his suggestion. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the weekly meeting. held on Thursday, Mr. Hugh Hornby in the chair, Mr. Har bord called attention to a notice of injunction which the Water Committee had received from Mr. T. Bold, of West Derby, to restrain them from applying the water from the Kensington reservoir to other than sanitory purposes and the extinction of fires. He (Mr. Harbord) thought it better for the Water Committee to give in structions to the borough engineer to obey the notice; that had been done, and he thought the Health Commit tee ought to do the same. He mentioned the circumstance in order that, if the inhabitants complained of a deficient supply of water, they would know who to thank for it. The subject was disposed of by the opinion of the Town clerk, that the Health Committee had nothing to do with the distribution of the water, they were only required to get it for public purposes. The Medical Officer for Health reported that the state of the public health con tinued favourable. During the weekending the 6th inst., the deaths from all causes were 278, and in the previous week 348. There had been 96 deaths from cholera, against 139 in the previous week ; of bowel complaints 29, against 49 in the preceding week. In Vauxhall Ward the mor tality fell below the average, 16 deaths only being regis tered, including 4 from cholera. The whole maximum mortality during the previous quarter was 113, including 89 deaths from cholera. In Scotland Ward the deaths registered were 63 from all causes, including 33 from cho lera, the maximum mortality having been 203, including 146 from cholera. The epidemic was rapidly declining, and the new cases reported during the first four days of the present week, were 47 against 149 in the same period of the preceding week. From the weekly register at the Observatory it appeared that the mean temperature of the last week was 51 degrees below that of the corresponding week for the last four years. In connexion with that fact, there was, last week, an increase of 30 per cent. in the mortality from diseases of the lungs. More than 21-3 inches of rain had fallen during the week, being about three times the weekly average. During the quarter end ing the 30th September last, the deaths registered were 7,648, exclusive of cases on which inquests were held. The number for the previous quarter was 3,432, and in the corresponding quarter of last year 2,805. The cholera carried off 4,455 during the months from June to Septem ber last, and 821 died from diarrhoea and dysentery. The medical officer stated that he had not received a report of one case of cholera on Wednesday last,—a circumstance which had not taken place since the prevalence of the epidemic. A letter was read from rector Campbell to Dr. Duncan, relative to reporting the proceedings of the Vestry, which thus concluded,—" If every thing that is said in Vestry should go forth to the public, the only policy for a wise man to adopt will be for him to hold his tongue."—At which the Board of health laughed heartily. A resolution proposed by Mr. Walthew was carried,— " that the rate of interest paid for loans on the sewer rates, after the Ist November next, be reduced from £4 10s. to £4 ss. per cent. per annum." He supported his resolution on the ground that the Dock Committee and the Finance Committee only paid that rate of interest. WARD MEETINGS. VAUXHALL WARD.—Mr. Jonathan Atkinson, soap boiler, of Edgar-street, is the candidate for this ward. He is a truly respectable man, a Conservative, holding the popular opinion on the water and rating questions. WEST DERBY WARD.—A meeting of burgesses in this ward was held on Thursday, for the purpose of selecting a candidate. A committee was appointed to wait upon se veral gentlemen who were named, and to report to a sub sequent meeting. ST. ANNE'S WARD.—The electors of this ward passed a unanimous resolution, at a meeting on Wednesday night, to support their present excellent member, Mr. W. Bennett. Several speakers passed handsome eulogies on the services and industry of Mr. Bennett. SCOTLAND WARH.—The electors of this ward met en Friday night, but they have not met with any candidate to oppose Mr. James Holme, except Mr. Bigham ; and so unpopular is the latter gentleman, that he seems to meet with little favour, and Mr. Holme wili probably go in un oposed. I.VERTON WARD.—On Wednesday the electors of the Kirkdale division of this ward determined upon nomi nating Mr. T. Chalmers, jun. The chair was filled by Mr. E. Langsdale. Mr. Chalmers stated that he had spent his life in the ward, and that his interests were hound up in the locality. If he were chosen as the re presentative, he would not let politics interfere with his duty. With regard to the monstrous, horrible, dread ful pike," as he termed it, he would not consent to the carrying out that scheme until the supply of the town had been tested ; and then, if the Pike was the best scheme, it would be for future consideration whether he should vote for it. He was in favour of rating the docks, and he thought every description of property should be rated. A committee was appointed to conduct his election. ST. PAUL'S WARD.—On Friday two meetings were held in this ward, to nominate candidates for the office of councillor at the ensuing municipal election. A meeting of the Conservative electors, called by placard, was held at the house of Mr. Hughes, in Earl-street. Mr. Briscoe, one of the members for the ward, was called to the chair, and, after some discussion, Mr. Games, surgeon, was unanimously chosen as the candidate. Mr. Games was then introduced to the meeting, and, in the course of his observations, expressed himself decidedly opposed to the Pike scheme, and in favour of rating the dock and corpo rate estates. A resolution, pledging the meeting to sup port Mr. Games's election, was then passed.—Another meeting of the burgesses was held at the house of Mr. Taylor, in Earl-street, Mr. Estlin in the chair. Mr. Thomas Godfrey and Mr. Molyneux were proposed, and on a show of hands the meeting decided in favour of Mr. Godfrey. A deputation was thsn appointed to wait upon Mr. Godfrey. CORRESPONDENCE. PROTESTANT ASCENDANCY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD SlR,—Having for some years, as you know, been a member of the Loyal Orange Institution of Gi eat Britain, and having also held a responsible office in that order, I am induced to draw public attention to its principles, and to the conduct of government connected with it, and with regard to Protestantism in general. Eighteen months have scarcely passed over our heads since the government of England and Ireland generally, and the local authorities in particular, sought the aid and assistance of Orangemen. The powers of order and rule were then shaken—the demon of discord, secretly en couraged by Romish priests, was then :abroad, both in this country and Ireland—men in power trembled for the consequence, but it would appear that the ministry of the day i",)Test rather have feared for the loaves and fishes than for principle, else why their present conduct. They knew that Orangemen were true to their principles—they knew that obedience to constituted authority was the very basis of their order, and they knew likewise that Orange men had never been linked on the side of rebellion, or hi any attempt to change the constitution of the country— though under the shade of that constitution men in power had not only discouraged but actually persecuted them, and placed in office those who are inimical to the compact by which the sovereign holds her crown, and swings the sceptre of these realms. Now, what are the principles upon which the order is founded ? I quote from the qualification requisite for an orangeman to possess before he can be admitted, and I take the liberty of leaving with you a copy of the laws and ordinances, in order that any who desire to learn further for themselves may do so on application to you. The qualification commences with these words :—" Every member of this institution should have a sincere love and veneration for his Almighty Maker, a firm and stedfast faith in the Saviour of the World, and a fell reliance on the influence of the Holy Spirit," and it concludes with this,—" Wisdom and prudence should guide his actions ; temperance and sobriety, honesty and integrity, direct his conduct; and the honour and welfare of his Sovereign and country be the motives of his exertions." Further, on admission, a solemn pledge is exacted that the signs and pass-words of admission into the order shall be kept secret ; and that they will observe the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration. The first oath her Majesty took on coming to the throne was to support the Pro testant religion, as now established in Scotland ; the second was to maintain and support the Protestant religion according to the creed and profession of the United Church of England and Ireland ; and because these men are bound together for the purpose of support ing her Majesty in the principles she has solemnly, at God's altar, sworn to maintain, therefore they are to be discouraged and persecuted. Any other objection applies with equal force to Odd fellows, Druids, Foresters, and all other secret societies, includieg freemasons, of which her Majesty's father, uncles, and the two last sovereigns were at the head—a society which exists in all countries, and has existed be yond the period of any written record. The Liverpool papers, under the partial or entire con trol of Romanists, however, appear to fear the effect of the conduct of the government with respect to Lord Roden • and one (the Mercury) confesses that it is likely to produce the old cry of " PROTESTANT ASCENDANCY!" I have no doubt of it. " 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished." And, when once raised, I predict it will roll on with such force as the enemies of truth, even though leagued with false-hearted and pretended liberals, who assume, hypo critically. the Protestant name, will not be able to resist. Men like the present Master of the Mint, a rank Papist, will no longer be permitted to insult the feelings of the nation by erasing from the coins the divine acknowledg ment by which kings reign, or to trample under foot the most sacred pledges of fidelity.—l am, sir. yours, truly, AN ORANGEMAN. THE NATIONAL CONFEDERATION AND THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,-1 have been a reader of your paper for some years, and I now write to you respecting your hostility to the National Confederation ; I hope you will allow me a space in your next publication. Having been a member of the Council of the Confede ration for two years, I am pretty well acquainted with all its doings, and I hope you will excuse me if I try to put you right on some matters. First, I deny that the Confederation dictate to the ward committees. It is the duty of the Council to see that there is a branch committee formed in every ward ; that having been done, it is left to manage its own business. Every ward has its members on the Central Board, and they would not allow the central body to dictate, even if such was attempted, which to my knowledge has never yet been done. The ward committees are, or should be, composed of an equal number of Conservatives and Re formers ; and if such a committee should select a candi date, and that candidate receives the support of the Confederation, it ought not—it cannot be called dictation. Does not the Constitutional Society support its own friends ?—and are there not branch committees in several wards ?—and is it not reasonable to suppose that its influence was at work in favour of Mr. Horsfall ? Then why attack the Confederation, and not it? The one is composed of Conservatives only ; the other of men of both parties, who can put politics on one side, and meet together as rational men, who have business to transact affecting their pockets. You are very wrong respecting the Confederation and Exchange Ward. It is not the case that the Confedera tion staked the prestige of their influence in other wards upon the success of Exchange Ward. We are all aware that the contest was not an equal one, the ward never canvassed, &c., &c., &c. Mr. M`Donald will write you respecting the part you say he took. With respect to St. Peter's Ward, I was present at the meeting which carried Mr. Harbord., and was not sum moned again till Mr. Fernihough had been brought out. have expressed my strong indignation on the conduct of one or two men who caused the mischief, but it was not the Confederation committee, neither must you blame the Reformers as a body, for some of them have expressed themselves as strongly as I did, and the nomi nation of Mr. Harbord was seconded by one of the oldest Reformers in the ward, whose name I hand you privately. Having seen Dr. Harbord, who stated his brother was coming out for the Park, and who advised me not to disturb the peace of the ward through the conduct of one or two men, I did express myself satisfied with Mr. Fer nihough, after having heard his address. At the same time, my opinion of the conduct of the parties is the same. _ _ _ Now with respect to Rodney-street Ward. Mr. Jones was first mentioned by an out-and-out Tory. and the requisition was headed by some of Mr. Holme's best supporters ; and is this man to be cried down, because the Confederation can discern between the qualities of Mr. Jones and Mr. Holme, and give Mr. Jones the pre ference ? If Mr. Johnson bad only had such a requisi tion presented to him as Mr. Jones has had, he would now have occupied Mr. Horsfall's place as member for Exchange Ward. Mr. Holme is disliked : his conduct with respect to raising Mr. Rushton's salary, his conduct on the Pike scheme, his conduct at the parish meeting and demanding a poll, are sufficient reasons why he should no longer be retained by the electors as their member. I joined the Confederation on account of local matters, and do not and have not identified myself with the na tional part. It is ever my object more and more to get them to attend to local abuses; and if that was properly done, we should not have the corporate funds wasted as they are in the management of the Birkenhead Ferry, &c. It is a pleasure to act with honourable men of both par ties, whose only object is a sincere desire to serve the interests of the town; and I hope I may never be found but so acting. I will stick by the Confederation while I can do good, but' if it should commit itself I would leave it at once. The Reformers of our committee (Pitt-street) on the last occasion supported Mr. Robinson, and this year we are united for Mr. Toulmin ; I find Mr. Jeffery supporting Mr. Richard Harbord ; and T hope I shall conduct myself in such a way as to be worthy such com pany. As a Conservative, I will not yield, in point of loyalty to my Queen or attachment to the Church, to either Mr. Horsfall or any one else ; and at the general elections I may be (as last) found in the company of Mr. Holme, Mr. Horsfall, and others, whom on local matters I will oppose with all my might. Your faithful servant, CHARLES CALLIS. 21, Mersey-street, Oct. 10th, 1849. - NATIONAL CONEDERATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—In your last publication there is the following statement in an article having reference to the Confedera tion : "The Confederation put forth all their energies to ensure a triumph. The printed circular, calling the meeting, at which Mr. Johnson was selected as a canditate, was dated from the Central Rooms, and signed by the Secretary of the body." Do me the favor to state in your next number that there is not a word of truth in the history of the circular as given above. It was not dated from the Central Rooms, nor was it signed by the Secretary of the Confederation. Permit me further to add that all your assertions in the same article, with reference to the Confederation, are equally without foundation, and to suggest that it is due to that body to disabuse the public mind of the impres sions which such misstatements are calculated to create. There is not a man connected with the Confederation but could have informed you that the Confederation in no way interferes in the choice of candidates, and that the " party bias" of which you speak has really no existence but in the minds of those who are at a loss for a better point of abuse. If you will refer to the list of candidates already named you can have any doubts you may entertain fully satisfied. The local objects of the Confederation are known to be, the subjecting the Corporate and Dock Estates to local rates, and ensuring economy and retrenchment in the management and disposal of all local funds. The question of supply of water has also occupied their attention ; and 1 am sure that you will allow that they are bound, in justice to the ratepayers, who in fact form the Association, to keep these objects in view; and they intend doing so, regardless of all the misrepresentations which may be in dulged in at their expense, whether by professed friends, or by more open enemies. The Council of the Confederation will feel obliged by your insertion of this correction of your mis-statements in your next number.—Yours, &c., J. M. MACDONALD, Secretary. Confederation Rooms, Oct. 13th, 1849. THE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Slit,-I am very sorry to know that the two letters which you favoured me by publishing in your influential columns, about four or five months ago, have, so far, been fruitless. I regret this the more, as I believe the propo sitions I submitted would invest the educational routine of this magnificent establishment with a relief and an attraction ; which, whilst it would make the institution more popular, would also make the advantages it confers more beneficial. I will not trouble you by enlarging on the topic I then, brought forward—the importance of elocutionary instruc tion—further than by observing that education should be as popular as is compatible with the maintenance of inde. feasible principles, .and the unflinching superiority of righteous and religious laws. Let the directors an d principal of our institution take this for their standard— the invincible maintenance of the blessings of a sound scriptural education, applied and aieeitinnodated, without violation or infringment, to temporal hecessities and moral wants—and they will then discover that what I have pro posed to them is simply. and of necessity, an imperative and paramount duty. If this meets the eye of any direc tors, I trust it will find an echo in their hearts and actions. The depressed state of mechanics' institutes in this and the neighbouring counties, proves that popular foundations, without abiding permanent principles, will not sustain an educational establishment ; and if the Collegiate Institu tion directors wish (as I believe they do) to maintain the prosperity and usefulness of it, they will, by a judicious introduction of attractive and beneficial features, prove the sinoerity of their dnxiety, and the practicability of their wishes, and establish (as an earnest and a proof) a class for the practise of elocution within its walls. They will doubtless thus distance the secular establishments of the town, in the value of the education and the peculiarity of the privileges which that institution might, and I trust will, offer to the " rising generation" in Liverpool. It was during the vacation that I addressed you last, rendering it possible that the matter might not have come under the notice of any of the officials of the establish ment, most of whom would then be out of town. Ido most sincerely trust that now, having patiently waited so long to see the issue,l may be excused for trespassing on your space again, if by any means I may at least be satisfied that my suggestion has not escaped the conside ration and attention which I think it most certainly merits. Though I write under the protection of an anonymous signature, no one is more anxious for the welfare of the institution than I am. Yours. &c., " RATIO JUSTIFICA SUASORIA." October, 11, 1849. Distrirt Rei►s. The Bishop of Manchester has appointed Wednesday, the 24th, inst., as a day of fasting for that town.. The Bishop has fixed Friday, the 19th instrnt, as a day of fasting and humiliation in Chester, at the solicitation of the clergy. The alleged murder at Preston has resulted in a verdict of manslaughter against Henry Glover, who has been liberated on bail. Captain Lane, of Bury, has been appointed governor of the new borough gaol, Manchester, and the Rev. P. J. O'Leary, late incambent of St. Jude's, has been ap pointed chaplain. On Thursday, Mr. Harrwitz, the distinguished chess player, defeated four players of the Manchester Athenaeum Club in a double game after the style of those played in Liverpool. One of the unfinished arches of the viaduct on the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitheroe, and West Yorkshire Rail way, which crosses the Calder, near Whalley, fell on Saturday last, when three men lost their lives, and one man was seriously injured. Considerable damage was done in the neighbourhood of Oldham by the storm which prevailed during Sunday. A new mill, erected by Mr. Jerry Whitehead, ol North Moor, ten windows long and three storeys high, which was just ready to be slated, was blown down, the roof taking the walls to the ground floor, the whole being a complete ruin. CHESTER CHEESE FAIR.—At the fair on Wednesday a very large quantity of cheese was pitched. The attendance of dealers was numerous. The low prices which had ruled at some of the neighbouring tares created apprehensions that prices would be low here, which were realised. Ne vertheless sales were brisk. Cheese of inferior make ranged from 40s. to 48s. The best dairies realised about 565. Not much was unsold. A woman at Wigan has been dangerously burnt by an explosion of gas in her cupboard : she went to the place with a lighted candle, and a violent explosion ensued. The first medical man at hand was a gentleman from Liverpool ; he was rather incredulous about gas having accumulated in the cupboard ; to convince him, the wo man's husband took a piece of lighted paper to the place, another explosion occurred, and his nose was burnt : the incredulous doctor kept at a safe distance. It appears that the house is built over a coal-mine. BANK OF MANCHESTER.—At the meeting, on Wed nesday of the Bank of Manchester, whose unfortunate affairs have been in process of liquidation for about seven years, it was announced that owing to the general im provement in property at Manchester, the remaining as sets of the bank had been increased in value about £3OOO over the estimate presented at the last meeting, and that the probable surplus beyond the return of Bs. per share lately made to the shareholders was £47,891. it was also mentioned that the various law entanglements of the company had been brought to an end. DEATH OF ALEXANDER BROWN, ESQ.—We have this week to record the death of Alexander Brown, Esq., of Beilby-grange, near Wetherby, who expired very sud denly, at Lancaster, on Sunday last, aged thirty-two. He was one of the magistrates for the West Riding, and last surviving child of William Brown, Esq., M.P. for South Lancashire, and the tenth child whom that respected and revered gentleman has followed to the grave. The inter ment, which was strictly private, took place at Colling wood Church, on Thursday. Most of the inhabitants of Wetherby spontaneously manifested their regard for the memory of the deceased by accompanying the funeral procession.—Leeds Mercury. HAIGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. — The annual meet ing of the above society took place at Haigh, near Wigan, on Wednesday. The show was excellent, both of stock, agricultural produce, fruit, flowers, &c., and manifested considerable improvement, not only amongt the farmers, but also amongst the cottage tenants generally. The so ciety has now existed seven or eight years, under the pa tronage of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, the noble owner of the estate, and the presidency of the Hon. Colin Lindsay, and continues yearly to prosper. The active managers of it have been Joseph Glover and W. Ormandy, Esqrs., and by their judicious conduct the improvements on the estate far surpass any thing which could have been anticipated. The inspectors of the farms, who are ex experienced agriculturists from some distance, reported most favourably of the state of the farms, and the vast im provements which the farmers had made upon them, and threw out some valuable hints as to future management of crops, especially recommending a larger and more exten sive cultivation of the turnip crop. After the show, about 150 farmers and gentry of the neighbourhood sat down to a substantial dinner, in the spacious school-room at Haigh. In the absence of the Hon. Colin Lindsay, the president of the society, the Hon. Colonel Lindsay, M.P. for Wigan, occupied the chair. MANCHESTER WATERWORKS--BURSTING OF THE WEIR.—A violent snow and thunder storm occurred on Friday week at Glossop, at the foot of some of the York shire and Derbyshire hills. Since that occurrence ex ceedingly heavy and continuous rain and snow has fallen. The Manchester corporation has commenced a series of works for the collection of the five streams that flow from these hills through the Longdendale Valley, with a view to supplying Manchester with this water. The cost of the works will probably not be much less than a million of money. On Sunday the flood down the Eden-brook so completely overtopped the new weir which the com pany had erected across that stream as to completely carry off the coping of the immense barrier of stone-work. In consequence of the breaking down of this weir, the new river course, for the purpose of carrying off the floods, was rendered useless, and the water, consequently, im pounded into the valley behind the embankments of the river, (which had been raised to about 24 feet above the pipes,) and collected there, until, at half-past five on Sun day evening, it flowed over the top, and cut down and swept away the embankment itself. The immense volume of water, thus liberated from all controul, burst down the vale of the Etheron with fearful violence, sweeping every thing before it. The lower story of the mills of Messrs. Hobbs and Sidebottom was flooded in an instant. From two to three thousand pieces of printing cloths and shirt ings were entirely destroyed in this mill, besides a quan tity of yarns, and the flood washed down the day and Sunday-school attached to the premises, and part of a warehouse. It also washed down a great number of yard walls, and the fences of the surrounding fields. A bridge for carriages across the river Etheron at this point was partly swept away, and will have to be re-erected, several of the piers being destroyed. Other buildings and pro perty of various kinds fell a prey to the overwhelming flood, and it is supposed that the loss altogether will be about £3OOO. MESMERISM.—A HOAX.—On Friday a number of gentlemen assembled, by appointment, at a private room in this town, for the purpose of witnessing the marvel lous powers of a disciple of Mesmer, from Bolton. The soi disant discoverer—through the renowned clairvoyant —of the very identical pistol used by the murderers of O'Connor was, of course, looked for by the sceptics with anxiety, and by the disciples with a smile of triumph. A little after nine in the evening this " Great Wizard of the North" made his appearance, accompanied by two patients, one a boy, about 14, the other (an " old uu") might be 20. Breathless silence reigned around, and in walked the wizard with the boy on his back. After placing him on his legs, proceedings commenced, but the youth, who, it was stated, had not been mesmerized for six months, could not be brought up to the mark, and was therefore permitted by his indulgent tutor to luxuriate in a blessed state of apparent stupidity until he forgot him self and the state he should have been in by quietly sip ping some gin and water. But the time had now arrived for the star of the evening to come on the stage, and certainly a more cool and collected specimen of humanity could not have been chosen. " Art thou a goin' to mes merize me ?" says the " old un." " Yea, David !" mildly remarked the wizard. "Then Ton mon do it as I sits," says David. " Very well, David ; now for it." David opened his saucer eyes, and into them the wizard peeped, passed his magic hand twice over the purple visage of the patient, and lo 1 David was mesmerized ! The organs, as shown on a phrenological cast, were severally touched, and David (" give the d—l his due") danced, tried to sing, swore, and quoted Shakspere all at one and the same time, greatly to the admiration of some, and much to the disgust of others. After David had bawled him self hoarse by murdering the sublime sentiments in Ham let, a gentleman present requested to be put into the "ecstatic delirium." To this the wizard reluctantly con sented, provided the patient would accompany. himinto another room. This done, the company waited impa tiently the result, and in a few minutes the wizard re appeared, and in extacies declared to the astonished assemblage that he had succeeded to perfection. The patient was asleep. " Now, what you think of it ?" shouted the disciples. The sceptics looked aghast. There indeed sat their friend with paralyzed frame and askant phiz, and, to give coup de grace to the picture, the wizard was busily poking the nasal organ of his inani mate subject with a pin, and exultingly, though solemnly, exclaiming, " Oh, prodigy of wonders ! He cannot feel it ! Now, gentlemen, are you one and all convinced ?" In the midst of a pause of triumph, wonder, doubt, and incredulity, up jumped the gentleman with the pricked nose, and insinuatingly enquired if they had been " hum bugged sufficiently ?" The ruse was seen, the wizard discomfited, and he with David voted " humbug and col lusion."—Blackbrit ft Standard. THE Igrintitural altb )ortirulturai COLUMN. Like all other fashionable amusements, or tastes, gar dening has the fault of being carried to ridiculous ex tremes ; in nothing is this more apparent than in the cul tivation of florists' flowers ; every cultivator becomes more or less touched with the mania, and rushes after novelty, as if all the gold of the Sacramento was hidden in some new variety of his favourite flower. We hardly know whether this is to be regretted or not; it is true that the science is lowered by the infinite multi plicity of varieties which exhaust even the florist's ingenuity tofind them names, it alsoinvolves the enthusia:tic amateur in a bewildering labyrinth in which he scarcely knows how to turn. Let him be fond of roses, what a hetero geneous mass of names beset him, and render anything like a satisfactory choice impossible ! He has no sooner selected a dozen, than thousands more, by their highly extolled beauties, upbraid him with the preference. The dahlia, the pansy, the verbena, and many others are increasing with equal rapidity, and there appears to be no limit to their kaleidescopical variations ; the calceo laria has beaten the florticultural nomenclature, and so infinite is the number of its varieties which are raised every season, that but few acquire the honour of a name ; other species, we think less fortunate, obtain names so meaningless, or vulgar, that they really detract from the satisfaction of possessing the plants. Indeed the naming of florist's flowers is one of the worst managed matters connected with horticulture. It really seems that names are chosen which may offer the greatest contrast to the beauty of the plant. The only remedy we can see for this is to establish a Horticultural Society in all large towns, or at least one in every county, to whose committee every novelty should be submitted for name and approval. But the multiplication of varieties if it puzzles the amateur, has one advantage, it shews the wondrous capabilities of the floral world, and after satiat ing the florist with variety, he can turn back with fresh zest to the point from which he started, and commence a new series. This is exemplified in the history of the pelargonium, many lovely species of which were brought from the Cape, and became favourites with our forefathers; hybrid varieties were raised, one after another, in such immense number that even their variety tired, and we now go back to the originals and their more immediate hybrids with avidity. But this will not be the case in all instances, for example the dahlia, because the beauty of the original species is by co means very attractive; there is, however, a limit beyond which no great accession of beauty will be gained, and the florist will do well to keep his eye on good sorts in preference to mere novelties. Time will shew the truth of what we have advanced—the dahlia is at, or very near, the point of perfection, and nothing startling will again be seen in that beautiful flower. We believe, however, that in some points it may still he improved. There are no good orange coloured varieties, and yet there appears no reason why such should not be raised ; a dahlia of the same bright tint as Eryssimum Peroffskianum would be a great acquisition. PAPERS ON AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. NO. 111. All vegetable life, as far as we can trace it, commences with a few elementary granules, the nature of which is still one of the mysteries of science; these elementary bodies form themselves into the primary cells mentioned in our last, and as soon as these cells are formed in a situa tion suitable to their development, they increase with extraordinary rapidity, which may be wonderfully acce lerated by the application of certain substances, either in organic or organic, in a state of decomposition ; or, in other words, plants can be made to grow more rapidly by the application of mineral, or animal and vegetable manures. With the formation of cells, in the commencement of a plant's growth, other functions are generated and per formed by fresh cells, originating in the same manner as the first, but assuming other modifications as the growth of the plant, and its progress towards perfect develop ment, requires the elimination of new secretions. This point in vegetable physiology is of the utmost im portance to the agricultural chemist, by whom it may be considered the first step ; having established the existence of cells possessing secreting powers, he has next to learn what simple substances afford the greatest stimulus and nutriment to these simple organs, and also what is the best pabulum in which to exhibit these nutritive sub stances, for, as we stated in the first of these papers, con centrated nutriment is not necessarily the best either in the animal or vegetable economy. After the plant has once commenced growing, and stem leaves and other parts are developed they all assume pe culiar functions, upon the due performance of which the perfection of the vegetable growth depends ; thus the spanaioles of the roots absorb moisture and elementary matter from the soil, the spiral vessels of the stem elabo rate the cambium and other substances necessary to the formation of the wood, while peculiar organs on the leaves. called stomates, absorb oxygen from the atmosphere and emit carbon at night, and rice versa by day. But these particular functions are not confined to the parts men tioned ; roots absorb nutriment from the atmosphere, and leaves procure moisture and other gaseous substances than those mentioned. No solid food is taken up by plants—it is either in the liquid or gaseous form ; and the principal substances taken up are alkalies and alkaline salts, held in solution by the water contained in the soil, which from time to time requires replenishing. (To be continued.) MISCELLANEA. A patent has been taken out by Mr. John Smith, factor to Lord Douglas of Douglas, for the preparation of oat flour by a new method, which is said to render it equal, both in appearance and quality, to the finest wheaten bread. The many friends of Dr. Joseph Hooker will rejoice to know that the last Indian mall has brought intelligence of his perfect safety amidst the dangers of his adventurous journey. On the sth of July he was encamped in a fine country, in the Sikkim Himmalaya, where the ground was carpeted with splendid plants. The rains were incessant, food scarce, and the Bhoteeas troublesome ; the bridges between his camp and the Darjeeling had been swept away by the floods, and communications could only be maintained by a most circuitous route. His collections will prove:of the highest interest. Among other things, his rhododendrons amounted to at least thirty species, many of which are much finer than those already pub lished ; no botanist had previously ventured to attempt the examination of the rhododendron region east of Kamaon, an operation surrounded with most serious difficulties, for these plants can only be studied during the rains. He had also found a magnificent rose, with scarlet flowers larger than the palm of a man's hand, and crowds of other re markable species.—Gardeners' Chronicle. DOCKS AND NETTLES FOR PIGS. - Mr. John Lamb, correspondent of a Belfast paper, writes as follows :—" In a former number of my notes, I stated that a person in the west had an acre of land under garden cultivation, planted with the common dock as a trial to fatten pigs. This experiment has been, I am told, eminently success ful, and a most intelligent practical farmer assures me that his pigs have thriven well this season on boiled net tles, docks, and a little bean-meal ; sometimes he would add a head of cabbage, but the pigs would toss it out of the trough, and not touch it so long as they could get a bit of dock or nettle to eat. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. FLOWER GARDEN.—Many of the summer-bedding plants, such as Cupheas, calceolarias, scarlet geraniums, &c., may be lifted from the beds and potted. They may then be stored in frames, or in some convenient part of the greenhouse, and will make useful plants for the bor ders next season. Plant crocuses, snowdrops, anemonies, snowflakes, scillas, dog-tooth violets, and other spring flowering bulbs. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Proceed with the routine opera tions of digging and trenching vacant ground, which should be left in ridges for the frost to act upon. Com mence the selection of young fruit-trees, if any new planting is intended. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "J. Wysely."— When you place your hyacinth bulbs in the glasses, set them in a place entirely dark until the roots have well filled the glass, by doing which you will have much stronger plants. An early selection is very advisable. REVIEWS. Maund's Botanic Garden, and Fruitist. London : R. Groombridge and Sons, Paternoster-row. This is an exceedingly useful and elegant publication, and at the same time it is the cheapest coloured work, the plates of which can be depended upon. In the number for the present unnth, a beautiful hybrid pelargonium, called quercifolium coccinea, is well figured ; also a fine hybrid Mahonia, erroneously called Berberis repens fascicularis • Primula integrifolia ; a New Holland plant, called Schlhammera milltiflora ; and the fine variety of pear, called the " Perfumed Swan's Egg." Sowerby's English Botany, or the Plants of Great Britain. London : Judith Sowerby, 3, Mead-place, Lambeth. This is a re-issue of the well-known work by the late Mr. Sowerby, which is one of the most complete floras ever published of this or any other kingdom. The re issue is, if possible, better coloured than the original, and is offered at less than half-price. It is decidedly the greatest boon ever offered to the botanical student. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. A great number of persons were fined, last week, for driving on the wrong side of the road. On Saturday George M 4 Guffie was sent to gaol for three months for attempting to break into the office of Mr. Johnson, joiner, Stafford-street. On Wednesday a number of persons were fined 10s. and costs for exposing goods outside of their premises, and obstructing the foot-road. A great number of carters and others were also fined sa. and costs for driving on the wrong side of the road. On Saturday, a man, named William Coward, was fined 40s. and costs for assaulting Police-officer Walmsley. The defendant was intoxicated, and, becoming disorderly, was taken into custody, when he threw the officer down, kicked him, and bit one of his fingers. ROBBERY AND EMBEZZLEMENT.—On Wednesday T. Robinson was charged with these two offences. The prisoner was in the employ of Mr. Fletcher Pearson, paper-hanger, Great George-street. It was shown that he bad received money on his master's account, and ap propriated it to his own use. On being taken into cus tody, a quantity of room-papers were found at his lodg ings. These were identified by Mr. Pearson ; as havin g been stolen from his establishment. The prisoner was committed. the the ri 4 fl