The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-09 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL SECOND PRICE TO ALL PARTS OF THE HOUSE. THIS present FRIDAY EVENING, the 9th instant, the Tragedy of HAMLET. • After which, the New Farce, called LUCKY STARS. To conclude with THE IRISH TUTOR. TO CORRESPONDENTS We are requested to state that the organ at St. Silas' Church will not be opened on Sunday next, as the arrangements connected with it are not complete. The lines on " the Sabbath," in their present state, would not reflect much credit on our fair correspondent's poetical talents. The sabbath is not " the best—the richest gift to man," and such a verse as the following has neither " rhyme nor reason." 0 what a vision meets our gaze Beyond heaven's portals bright ; Soul ravished, with strange amaze, We view the wondrous sight. One of the lot" is rather too indiscriminate in his ani madversions, and we fear the insertion of his letter would do little good. The gentlemen of whom he speaks are not all of the character he describes. BY some unaccountable mistake, the parcel from Preston s, containing the proceedings of the Preston Guild on Ued nesday and Thursday, which ought to have reached us last night, did not arrive. ire Ribrrpool &tanZiatt. FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 9, 1542 The opinions brought before the Council at its last sitting, with respect to the illegality of any grant to the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, have settled the point that no similar institution. L--no institution which is not a Church of England institution—can be legally sup ported from the funds of the Corporation. The im pugners of this interpretation of the municipal act can have no reason to complain of the animus of the par ties by whom the question was put to the eminent local authorities who have pronounced upon their case. One barrister, Mr. Tinney, was selected by themselves. The whole case upon which his opinion was solicited was submitted to an eminent solicitor of their own choosing and of their own political sentiments, and by him approved. And yet the opinion of that barrister is more directly hostile to the claims of the Romish and dissenting party than that of Mr. Bacon, although the opinion of that gentleman is clear enough and suffi ciently corroboratory of all that the supporters of con servative rights have ever advanced.. " If it be legitimate," says Mr. Tinney, "to speculate on the policy of the acts as a medium for construing them, I should be inclined to say that any appropria tion for the exclusive benefit of a distinct Church or religious persuasion, other than the Established Church, would not be consonant to such policy." We have here a confirmation direct it is true, but not so strong as that of the Vice-Chancellor, upon which we re- marked some time ago. Mr. Tinney, as well as Mr. Bacon, lays it down that no sectarian institution can be endowed out of the funds of the Corporation. The former, indeed, by his exception, goes a little further. But the Vice-Chancellor's opinion goes to the full ex tent, and directly, to the maintenance of the broad question that a system of education, other than one in the doctrines and practice of the Church of England, cannot legally be supported at the expense of the Cor porate Estate. The recent opinions, given, of course, only upon the case put to Messrs. Bacon and Tinney, maintain that the estate cannot be diverted to the sup port of sectarian principles. The opinion of Mr. Knight Bruce, the Vice-Chancellor, was definitive that, upon the question of education, no expenditure could legally take place in the promulgation of any system which was not based upon the doctrines and practice of the esta blished religion of the land. We wonder little that such a gentleman as Mr. Thomas Bolton can scarcely trust his senses when he reads the opinion of his own selected authority ; that he imagines language, which to other men is decisive enough, to be of doubtful meaning. Mr. Thomas Bolton belongs to a sect which is peculiarly hard of belief. But other rnen, less warped in their opinions, have long ago given up their sectarian leanings upon this question; and with the present opinions before him, and a calm moment given to make up his deter mination, we incline to think that even Mr. Thomas Bolton will be inclined to admit that a further perse verance in his peculiar views, with respect to the lia bilities of the Corporate Estate, is hopeless and absurd. When a man has a bill to meet, and no funds at his banker's—a ship in dock, and no freight coming along side—a factory, and no money to buy cotton or to pay wages—the fashionable expedient in these days is to elongate his countenance, button his empty pockets, turn heavenward the pupils of his eyes, and go off in an explosion of vehement indignation against " the villainy of the corn-laws." The immediatelconnexion between the effect, which he feels, and the cause, which he alleges, is a matter with which a " liberal" philosopher is not called upon to trouble himself. It is sufficient to him that money comes not within the clutch of his ten digits—that his pockets are unfur nished, except, mayhap, with an anti-monopoly tract, or the manifesto of the sapient leaders of that sapient association—that orders come not, although the mai and the postman do, as do also the landlord, the tax collector, and returned bills ;—the inevitable conclu sion to be drawn_ from all these untoward circumstances is that " the corn-laws must be repealed." It matters little whether bread is cheap or dear, whether beef is eightpence or fivepence the pound, the only restorative to the trade, the currency, and the constitution of the country, and of our bilious philosopher, is a repeal of all protective laws and the free importation of all fo reign commodities ! But, unfortunately for the reputation for absolute wisdom of these very sage specimens of the human race, we have now and then furnished to us docu ments which are anything but confirmatory of their hasty conclusions. The trade of Great Britain, as the world well knows, is not confined to one country, one continent, or one quarter of the globe. Some coun tries, some continents, some quarters of the globe even, with which not many years ago we had a large and profitable commerce, have no corn to send us, and buy none from us ! With these, then, the question of corn ought not to create either difficulty or loss of trade. And yet with some of these it is that our com merce is at this moment in the most disastrous con dition. As a proof that this is the fact, let us just glance over the commercial intelligence, brought to us by the last mail from India and China. And first we beg to direct attention to the following statement of the condition and prospects of business in Bombay THE BOMBAY MARKET. - JULY 19 With the exception of Cotton shipments to China, there is an almost total suspension of business here at present. Cotton Piece Goods and Twist are entirely unsaleable—the warehouses are glutted with them, while the numerous ar rivals from England daily add to the accumulated stock. There is no prospect whatever of any improvement in prices after the monsoon. On the contrary, there is every proba bility that they will be considerably lower, unless some degree of firmness be given to the market frji the cessation of im ports ; and of that, judging from past experience, there is but little prospect. S uc h, h owever , i s th e quan tity o f goo d s n o w ' in store that the utmost that can be expected even from an entire cessation of imports for some months, is the mainten ance merely of the miserable prices ruling previous to the monsoon. It will be said, no doubt, that this miserable state of things—this gluttin g of the Indian market—arises from the necessity of the British manufacturer to ship off his stocks, no matter how hopeless the prospect of remuneration. But even this plea will not avail us. Our shipments during the past twelve months to these markets have not, we believe, exceeded, if they have even equalled those of preceding years ; and the cause, therefore, of their ruinous state must be looked for elsewhere. Perhaps it will be found in the impover ished condition to which Whig government in India has reduced the native population of that country. By referring further to the advices by the same mail, we learn, on the authority of the Bombay Times, that such 18 the case. We give the statement of the, Bombay ournalist— " The custom-house returns for the last quarter of the °M ehl' year 184] -42, confirm the worst anticipations we had en tertained of the depressed state of trade at this p ort during th e p er i od. From this document it appears that the decrease °f imports, as compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year, amounts to rupees. 51,06,026; and of ex- Por is to rupees 20,70,772, making, in the trade of the quarter a total apparent deficiency of rupees 71,76, 798 ." A deficiency in one quarter to the amount of 71,76,798 rupees in the commerce of the Presidency of Bombay alone ! But proceed to another quotation from the same authority— " It will be seen that the decline in our trade with Cutch and Scinde, as compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year, amounts to rupees 15,00,000, being four lacs in imports and eleven in iexports—a falling off to be attributed solely to the present .state of our relations with Scinde and Affghanistan. When the annual statement is prepared we shall be able to ascertain the total decrease during the year, and on what articles it principal .y falls; but we may mention that the decl.'ne in exports of British man4factures alone is estimated in the bazaar at 15 lacs during the season." We have here a decrease in the demand for British manufactures from one outlet of our Indian commerce which the best informed parties estimated at fifteen Lacs of rupees! Fifteen lacs of rupees lost to the British manufacturer by the Palmerston and Auckland Raid against the natives of Affghanistan ; and yet our com mercial embarrasments are the results of—the Corn laws. Examine the condition of our shipping in India, as described in the native journals brought by the recent mails. Take the following : " ire are sorry that we are unable to announce any im provement in freights by the present mail, either at Bombay or at any of the other Indian or eastern ports. Notwith standing the numerous departures of ships in ballast to Cal cutta and elsewhere, in search of employment, the arrivals at Bombay have been equally numerous, and a glance at the shipping list will show that our harbour is as crowded as ever. Freight to Liverpool has, since our last, been engaged at the unprecedented low rale of ten shillings per ton; and there is at present not sufficient produce in the place to load much more than half the unemployed tonnage." Again the Calcutta Star, July 4, says " Numerous and unexpected arrivals from New South Wales, the Mauritius, and Bombay have contributed to de press rates lOs to 15s per ton within the past month ; the prospects of this trade are at present most gloomy ; the Indian seas are swarming with British tonnage, and every port and harbour in India is reported full of shipping, much or most of which, it is apprehended, may come hither for employment. If these be added the usual shipping of the season, and the tonnage taken up at home to bring out the 10,000 troops intended for India, it is probable that the rates of tonnage may fall this season below any precedent." Nor are our prospects better at Madras. Such in fact is the depression in that presidency, that we learn from the Madras Spectator, " Should not some speedy improvement take place, it is feared many vessels will be under the necessity of proceeding to Calcutta, discharging their crews, and waiting unemployed for better times. Such in fact is, we are informed, the in tention of some of the vessels now in the roads, should not the forthcoming overland accounts promise an amendment of prospects." Perhaps our anti-monopoly wiseacres will be able shortly to spare half an hour of their valuable time, and explain to us the connexion of this disastrous state of things—this virtual annihilation of one of our best and most extensive markets—with their favourite bugbear—the Corn-laws ! The proceedings of the Dock Committee meeting of yesterday, with respect to the charge against the dock-surveyor, in which, from the circumstance of its having been made through our columns, we naturally feel an interest, will be found fully reported in our publication this day. It may be remembered that the charge in question was, that the surveyor had dis missed an old servant of the estate for an alleged error in the laying down of the railway from the new works at Salthouse Dock to the north end of the town. The sub-committee appointed to investigate the merits of the case appear disposed to exonerate Mr. Hartley : at all events, they deprecate further inquiry into the matter,—on the ground, however, that due subordina tion to the surveyor on the part of the servants of the estate cannot be preserved, unless such complaints as those of the man Brown be treated cavalierly. When we find, therefore, that such is the deliberate opinion of the committee,—that the surveyor is, in fact, to control absolutely those who ought either to be the servants of the public, or of some individual personally responsible for their blunders,—our business with the case, or with the proceedings of the Dock Committee at all, is at an end. For our own credit, however, we feel bound to say a few words before the matter is permitted to be for forgotten amidst the mass of Mr. Hartley's exploits as surveyor to the dock estate. We have no wish to impugn the decision of the committee. It may be that the dock surveyor is infallible. But we were cor rect nevertheless in stating that the working drawing furnished from the dock surveyor's office, for a com pliance with which, we presume, the man, Brown, was summarily dismissed from his employment, is egre giously and stupidly incorrect. The plan itself is now before us, and we are willing to submit it to the in spection of any competent anthority. It is, in fact, incorrect upon the face of it ! A common excavator — any man who even executed the most subordinate work upon a railway—would at once detect its incor rectness. The man dismissed—(we have his letter, received an hour ago, before us)—detected the error, and yet "the whole of one side of the longitudinal bearers was laid from the central police station to the Clarence Dock, and part of the other side, for one line of road was also laid opposite the Trafalgar and Victoria Docks ;" and not a word of any errcr was admitted by the surveyor to the man who had executed this portion of the work, or any error in the plan in his possession. The man " worked to the section given to him, with out making any further inquiries into the subject until the whole of one side of road was laid in, down to Canning Dock ;" and then, when a heavy expense had been fruitlessly incurred by the estate, he was dis missed ; and so, we presume, the matter must termi nate ! 'We know not of what description may have been the inquiry of which this is the result. This much, however, we are assured—the man himself, the accuser of Mr. Hartley, has never been examined before it; and the inquiry, therefore, is one based entirely upon the exparte statements of the surveyor, or himself and his subservient staff. We ask for no better evidence than this affair, and the arguments by which it is defended, present to convince the public of the radically erroneous system upon which the engineering department of the dock estate is con ducted. LOCAL NEWS. We understand that the Rev. W. Moriarty, of Carlisle, has been appointed minister of West Derby Chapel ; and from all that we have heard of the rev. gentleman, we can with pleasure congratulate the congregation upon so excellent an appointment. We are happy to announce that our worthy representative, Sir Howard Douglas, has become a patron of the Liverpool Protestant Benevolent Society. We can recommend this society to our operative brethren, who wish to provide against sickness, and for the interment of its members after death. A copy of the last annual report may be seen in our office window. PRESTON GUILD.—Those gentlemen and ladies who in tend being present at the bad costume, to-night, at Preston, if they leave by the half -past two train, may return, at the close of the proceedings, by the morning train. So conve nient will this mode of conveyance be found, that parties may leave here en costume. On Tuesday last, the select vestry appointed Mr. Lither land (of the late firm of Heyes, Litherland, and Co., in this town), their secretary, in the room of Mr. James Eckersley. There were three other candidates, and Mr. Litherland was appointed by a majority of 17 out of 26 members present. ROCK FERRY Clitruca.—This neat and ra th er e l egant s tructure was opened for public worship, for th e fi rst t i me, yesterday, by Chancellor Raikes. We described the church minutely at the time of laying the foundation-stone, in April, 1841, and do not, therefore, consider it necessary to repeat it now. The cost of the building, exclusive of the land, is about £3,000. Messrs. J. and W. Walker were the con tractors, and Messrs. Hurst and Moffatt, of Leeds, the ar chitects. SCOTCH CHURCH, OLDHAM -STREET.—We h ave muc h pleasure in following up the paragrap h which appeared i n our last, respecting this long-disputed s ettlement, b y stating that the Rev. J. R. Welsh, of Largs, was yesterday un an i mous l y elected the minister of Oldham - str eet Church, and it is ex pected will be inducted to the cha r g e as early as the fo rms of the church will permit. This settlement, it is universally allowed, gives the highest satisfaction to all concerned, and in the circumstances of the case must be particularly gratify ing to the minister elect. REV. DR. CooKE, or BELFAST. — It will be seen by advertisement that this distinguished clergyman of the Irish Presbyterian Church, is to officiate on Tuesday evening next, in Oldham-street Church, and to plead in behalf of Resley Chapel, lately restored to its original uses in connexion w ith the Presbytery of Lancashire. Vve have no doubt our readers will avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing the above eminent divine, and will, at the same time, be ready to contribute to the support of the Gospel in a locality which has long been destitute of a faithful exposition of the truth. " THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES." — The Westminster Review, after pointing out the difficulties experienced by conscientious clergymen in subscribing to these Articles of the Church of England, in the several senses in which it is contended they should be understood, viz. the " literal and grammatical" " the scriptural," and the sense in which the imposer reasonably interpreted" intended, and show ing the contradictions arising out of these several suggestions, puts forth th e following remedy :—" that subscription itself need not be quite abolished : the only change required would be to enact that subscription should be subsequent to ordi nation, instead of prior to it, and optional instead of com pulsory. SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR TRELAND.—The Hon. and Rev. Henry Ward, A.M., Rector. of Killinchy in Ire land, advocated the cause of this excellent Institution at St. Anne's Church (Aigburth) in the morning, and at St. Mark's Church (Liverpool) in the evening of Sunday last, the 4th inst. The collection at the former amounted' to £l9 125., and at the latter to £ll 10s. A meeting of the friends of scriptural education was held in Christ Church School-room, on Monday evening, when the Hon. and Rev. H. Ward, the Rev. Fielding Ould, and the Rev. Richard Hill, furnished some interesting details of Sunday-school operations in Ireland, from which it appeared that there are 241,046 scholars and 22,746 gratuitous teachers in the 3,002 schools connected with the society. The cause speaks for itself, and we only feel it to be necessary to call the atten tion of our townsmen to these important results. SUICIDE IN BRIDEWELL.—We regret to state that an act of suicide was committed in one of the cells of the main Bridewell, on Tuesday afternoon, by an Irish girl, named Ellen Mc Manus, who had just attained her sixteenth year. She had been put into the cell by herself at about two o'clock on the day in question, on a charge of having stripped a child of the name of Elizabeth Foden, in the street, of her neck lace, and on one of the turnkeys (Dawson) going up about five o'clock the same evening, he found her suspended from an iron bar in the wall by the ribbon of her bonnet, one end of which she had tied to the bar, and the other end made into a noose and placed it round her neck. She was quite dead at the time. An inquest was held on the body before the Borough Coroner on Wednesday, when a verdict was returned to the effect that she had committed the fatal act while labouring under a fit of temporary insanity. CHEESE FROM THE ANTIPODES.—We have had sub mitted to us a convincing proof of the goodnes of the pasturrs in South Australia, as well as the excellent dairy manage ment of some of the inhabitants, in a portion of a cheese for warded to Mr. Win. Hughes, master of the Liverpool, pilot boat No. 1, by Mr. T. N. Mitchell, of Port Adelaide. The cheese of which this is a sample gained the prize at the show of the Adelaide Agricultural and Horticultural Society, in February last, where Mr. Mitchell appears to have also gained the prize for the best seed oats. We can safely say, that the cheese is fully equal in richness to any English cheese that we have ever tasted, not excepting the far-famed Stilton. We understand that a second specimen has been sent to Netherby, as a present to Sir James Graham. GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL.—The inhabitants of Walton 'are about to present to Thomas Birkett, Esq. a very hand some silver waiter, kir his persevering labours in behalf of the rebuilding the parish church. The waiter is very mas sive, richly chased, and has a convolvulus border, chased bottom. and shell feet. It may be seen in the window of Mr. Dolce, in Lord-street. The following is the incription : " Presented to Thos. Birkett, Esq. by the Parishioners of Walton-on-the-Hill, as a sincere though inadequate expression of their gratitude for the great exertion used, and the superior taste displayed by him, while Churchwarden for three successive years, in rebuilding and beautifying their Parish Church, and thereby rendering it a more fitting temple for the worship of Almighty God. August, A.D. 1842.' TROTTING MATCH AT AINTREE.—A trotting match at Aintree is to come off on Saturday next, for £2OO a-side. Jersey Jerry, a brown horse, against Mr. Robinson's chesnut mare ; live miles distance ; betting on Jersey Jerry. After which, a match against time will take place for £5O. The undertaker of the match has to find a horse to go 20 miles i❑ the hour, and to ride himself, p.p. ; no betting. These matches are exciting great interest in the sporting circles. Mr. Burke, of trotting notoriety, will ride Jersey Jerry, carrying two stone, dead weight, extra. Mr. Robinson rides his own mare, carrying 13 stone. The Lintin, Captain Gillman, which arrived on Saturday night from Bombay, brought four tine young tigers, which, we understand, have been purchased by Mr. Atkins, of 'the Zoological Gardens. It will be seen from an advertisement, that the fetes on Monday and Friday evenings will be con tinued every week as usual; and as the Roman Festa may be seen on these occasions for the same price as is charged to the Gardens, no doubt numbers will be glad to avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing both. THE FUNDS—WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The funds, without any great amount of business, have kept steady all day, the dealings being principally for small investment. Consuls for money closed at 931 ; ditto, account, 93* to +; Exchequer-bills, 2d. issue, 495. to 51s. pm. ; ditto, 2td. issue, 51s. to 535. pm. ; and India Stock, 249 to 251. Spe culative transactions are what chiefly call for notice in the foreign market, but these have not been to any great extent, though prices of Spanish and Portuguese are quoted firmer and higher. Spanish Actives closed ex. coupons, 16/ to / ; ditto, Three per Cents., 218 to ; Portuguese Five per Cents., 351 to 36; ditto, Three per Cents., 21 to ; Mex ican, 351 to 4- ; ditto, Deferred, 91 to 10 ; Colombian, 208 to 14 ; Brazilian, 66 to 67 ; Dutch Two and a Half per Cents., 521 to 8; and Belgian, 102 to 103. RAPID GROWTH OF LIVERPOOL.—In St. Martin's Dis trict alone (which is a strip of land lying between New Scot land-road and the canal, bounded on the south by Burling ton-street, and on the north by Boundary-street), there have been three hundred houses built within the last fifteen months, containing, upon the most moderate computation, 2,100 souls ; and it is calculated that three hundred houses more will be built in the course of another year. The total population of the district at present is 10,000. In five or six years this will probably be doubled, and when the whole space is covered with buildings there will be not less than 40,000 inhabitants, all of the working classes. At pre sent there is no school within the limits of the district to sup ply sound religious instruction to the children of this rapidly increasing population. The nearest school, that in Bond street, being not only at an inconvenient distance from the greater part of St. Martin's district, but barly sufficient for the increasing wants of the district in which it is situated. INTERESTING OPERATION FOR THE REMOVAL OF CA TARACT.—We had an opportunity, on Tuesday, of witness ing this interesting operation performed at our Opthalmic Infirmary, Mount-pleasant, by its talented surgeon Mr. Neill. The patient was a young girl, of Irish extraction, about 18 years of age, who had been afflicted with Cataract and consequent blindness from the age of three years. By her answers to various questions, put to her previous to the operation being performed, she appeared to possess consi derable intelligence, and was evidently full of hope of the prospect of restored sight and usefulness resulting from the trial to which she was about to submit herself. Before being operated upon, it was evident that she possessed some glim mering of sight, the Cataract not entirely covering the pupil of the eye. She explained that by holding an object close to her face, she could tell whether it was a bright or a dark colour. A full glare of light too she could distinguish ; but for every useful and pleasurable object, she might be said to be entirely without vision. The operation consisted in the introduction of a sharp steel needle into the white part of the eye ball, which being passed through it, the operater directed towards the opaque skin which covered the pupil, and endeavoured to detach this, which composes the Cata ract. The adhesion of the sides of ,this substance appeared very strong, and the substance itself the operator explained to be much tougher than he had anticipated. He was suc cessful however in removing it, so far as it is generally re moved by human agency, nature invariably acting, by ab serption, in the removal of such portions as are not at first separated by the needle. When the operation, which occupied only a few moments, was concluded, the patient's first exclamation was—" Oh it is no thing"—alluding to the pain which she had felt ; and from her appearance throughout we should certainly not think that her sufferings were at all accute. It is not customary, in such cases, to test the vision of the patient who has been operated upon until the lapse of a week or two. A few experiments, however, were made by Mr. Neill, which satisfied us that the sight of this girl is at least increased ; and time, we have little doubt, will prove that it is permanently restored. At present, and until the inflam mation consequent upon such an operation is subdued, the eyes must remain closely bandaged. When this is removed —and we are politely promised an opportunity of being pre sent at its removal—we anticipate the pleasing sight of a human being introduced from darkness into the enjoyment of the full light and blessings of creation. We cannot con clude this brief notice without awarding our humble meed of praise to Mr. Neill for the skill, added to kindness, dis played towards his unfortunate—may we not now rather say fortunate f—patient during the entire operation. In his hands, we should say that the removal of cataract involves less bodily suffering than we readily endure for the removal of a wart or a corn ; and we ourselves should, if afflicted with a deprivation so calamitous, submit to it without a moment's tremour. We had the pleasure of seeing two in fants, patients of Mr. Neill, who had been operated upon a week previously, whose sight was evidently almost perfect. NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ST. PETER, SCOTLAND-ROAD We understand the Rev. John Ferries is to be ordained minister of the above church, now in course of erection, in Scotland-road, on Wednesday next, at two o'clock. The ordination is to take place in St. Andrew's Church, Rodney street, in consequence of the new church not being yet ready to receive the congregation for some time past attend ing the ministrations of Mr. Ferries. This will, doubtless, be an object of interest to many ; and as few, we imagine, in Liverpool, have had an opportunity of witnessing this very imposing and impressive ceremony in the sister Church of Scotland, we doubt not many will take advantage of the pre sent occasion. The Church of St. Peter itself, the founda tion-stone of which was laid in March last, by George Armstrong, Esq., promises to be one of the finest ornaments of the town, being a very perfect specimen of the Saxon style of architecture, and, through the liberality of our town council, is to have a clock of four sides, one side illuminated, on its very handsome spire, w hich will prove a mighty boon to that extensive and rapidly-increasing neighbourhood. GREIM.III,/ii.. , .. :2...3 CONCERT AT THE ROYAL ASSEMBLY ROOMS On Tuesday evening Signor Rubini gave a concert at the above handsome room, which was well filled with fashionable and elegant company. This room has been rendered as con venient as possible, and now presents to the eye a pleasing and tasteful appearance. The first part of the concert con sisted of Rossini's " Stabat Mater ;" the second part, of miscellaneous compositions by Mozart, Bellini, Negri, Puzzi, Mercadante, and Rossini. Of the "Stabat Mater," we still continue to hold the opinion we first entertained of it when we heard it performed at the Theatre Royal. It is not, as far as we have heard, taken altogether of a sacred cha racter; it is essentially dramatic, with the exception of the qnartetto, " Quando Corpus." We speak only of what we have had an opportunity of publicly hearing in Liverpool, and depend upon it, although it has been greatly cried up at home and abroad, and is at present the fashion, the " Stabat Mater" of Rossini will not take that hold of the public opinion his other works have done. It is a fine composition, full of melody and grandeur ; but it is more theatrical than sacred. " Cuijus Animam" was sung by Rubini splendidly, and loudly encored. There is no one can come up to him, either in taste, execution, or quality of voice. We only find one Shakspeare, one Byron, in an age; we only meet with one Rubini in the span of a man's recollection. tliubini astonishes while he delights. His execution is brilliant in the extreme ; and with what ease he appears to perform these florid ornaments which so distinguish the Italian school ; Rubini's voice, now swelling full of richness and volume, now sinking so subdued that it appears as if coming from a distance, must be heard, and heard only to be appreciated ; it cannot be described—not even imagined ; —it is more like " fairy music—dreamer's songs"—than anything else we can name. Quis est homo was charm ingly sung by Mdlle. Ostergaard and Signora Pacini. The " Stabat" was well done, and appeared to give great satisfaction. In the second_ part of the concert, Ru bini's grand aria from "Il Pirata," by Bellini, was sung in a magnificent manner. Such taste—such singing con amore never has been heard of fo r ma ny a day in Liverpool. It was encored. The " Terzetto" is a delightful composition of Mozart's : it went off very well. Madlle. Ostergaard sang " Schubert's Melodic" with much taste. The Cantabile from " Beatrice di Tenda," by Puzzi, and the French Horn was cleverly played. While this artist is performing th e ar i a, nothing can be sweeter or more delicious than the t ones h e produces ; but when he launches out into variations, he, a s well as all others on the same instrument, make what may be termed " a mess of it." The French Horn is not a fit instrument for astonishing people , by torturing a simpl e a i r into everything else but itself. Signor Negri sang an unpre tending Barcarole of his own composition. The duett o f rom Norma "Deli con te" was omitted, greatly, it seemed, t o t h e dissatisfaction of the audience. Why is a popular and at tractive composition put into a programme, and then with drawn ? The duett substituted was very well sung, and was a very good duett, as Signor Puzzi remarked to the audience when they grumbled. The concert was decidedly a good one, and reflects credit upon the manager of it. " THE HINDOSTAN" STEAM-SHIP (Frow our own Reporter.) The Hindostan, (which we noticed at some length on the 26th ultimo, as in every respect the finest, best equipped, and, we may add, the largest steam-ship afloat,) steamed for Dublin on Tuesday morning, and accomplished the passage, against a strong tide, in so short a time as to prove herself a remarkable fast vessel, which, indeed, she had shown herself to be on a previous trial-trip to Holyhead and Cork. As it was known that the Urgent Mail steam-ship was to leave Liverpool on the same morning, considerable interest was excited in the public mind with respect to the relative speed of the two vessels, and the race (if it may be so called) re sulted in the great success of the larger ship, contrary to an opinion entertained by many persons, including some nauti cal men, and founded on the comparative weight and relative power of the two ships. Both vessels were lying in the Sloyne. , The Urgent, with the London mails, via Chester, passed opposite the town at seven minutes past six o'clock. The Hindostan started from the same point at five minutes past seven o'clock. They would.have left simultaneously, but as the Hindostan drew upwards of 16 feet, and the tide was then at low ebb, she remained at her moorings until she could safely proceed down channel, without dodging down at a slow rate. In an hour and a half the Hindostan passed the Bell Buoy against a strong upcoming tide, which would rise at Liver pool little short of 21 feet at noon the same day. There was a most agreeable party of saloon passengers, who were highly delighted with the splendid accommodations on board, and also by the varied and beautiful marine prospects that ever and anon presented themselves, as she passed along off the Cheshire and Welsh coasts. The sea was studded with ves sels, even round the distant horizon, some beating outwards, and not a few reminding the beholder of the words of the song— " To England when, with favouring gales, The gallant ship up channel steers." The Urgent had the start of the Hindostan by about an hour, and, having made speedy progress, was not seen by the former for a considerable time. Her smoke, and finally her hull, were at length, however, discovered in " the far west." The Hindostan gained rapidly upon her, and at five minutes past twelve, (she having then been out six hours,) she passed her in gallant style, beating her thus far (about half the passage) by 58 minutes. The Urgent had also a number of passengers, and friendly cheers were exchanged between the ships. To the Ormsheads, and beyond them, the Hindostan made good probably nine knots an hour, by the land, or, in other words, progressed at that speed against a very strong tide, and, be it considered, with new engines, which are always stiffer than when some time in use. She passed abreast of Holyhead at 25 minutes past two, her speed (the tide not being now against her) having for a short time, as she ran past the Mouse Islands, been very great. The engines made nearly fifteen strokes a minute, which, however, is not the highest speed they will yet attain. The crossing of the Irish sea from Holyhead to port (a distance, we believe, of about 56 miles) was equally agree able, the water being comparatively smooth, with but a slight breeze from the W.N.W. When about midway across (the Irish shore being then distinctly visible) the passengers (amongst whom were several of the proprietors, some ladies, and also Mr. Shaw, the company's marine superintendent) sat down to an excellent substantial dinner ; immediately after which, the spacious spar-deck was again the general resort, as the vessel rapidly neared "the green isle of the ocean"—the hill of Howth, Ireland's Eye, and Lambay being fast approached and beautifully defined, as well as the coast and mountains of Wicklow. On passing the Kish Light-ship much interest was excited by observing the foundation frame work of the screw-pile lighthouse, imme diately to the southward, now in course of erection. The vessel rapidly neared her port, passing a number of small craft, including several fine yachts, which abound in this locality ; and having left the Urgent astern, almost hull down, at a few minutes past six the Hindostan entered Kingstown Harbour, having accomplished the passage, under the disadvantage stated, in 10 hours 584 minutes, beating the Urgent by an hour and a half. The southern pier, or em bankment of the harbour, at its point, was densely crowded with spectators, who loudly cheered the Hindostan as she passed. The interior of the harbour presented an additional demonstration of expectancy and welcome of the noble ship. The revenue brig Shamrock was fully decorated with flags, and every vessel (including a government transport ship) showed their colours. The quay opposite the town was crowded with thousands of spectators. Yachts and boats of all sizes, and crowded with well-dressed individuals of both sexes, moved about in every direction to gaze upon and give an Irish welcome to the noble ship. The gun-brig fired repeatedly, as did one of the companies steamers, the Nava rino, transport ship, and other large vessels, and the Hin dostan replied from her " long toms," till the welkin rang, and the Wicklow hills gave back the echo. The spectators who lined the shore also greeting her arrival, and loud cheers, comingled with music, were long continued. The evening was fine, and the scene exceedingly lively and amusing Owing to the lateness of the evening when the Hindostan arrived, a few visitors only, known to the proprietors, could be admitted on board that night. On Wednesday she was visited by the directors resident in Dublin, after which she was opened on that day, and would also be yesterday, for the inspection of the public, on payment of a small sum, to be appropriated to charitable p'urposes. She would sail from Kingstown last evening, (Thursday,) at four o'clock, for Southampton, whence she will proceed, on the 24th instant, to her destination in the Indian Seas. She will call, on her outward voyage, at Gibraltar, the Cape de Verde Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, the Mauritius, Madras, and Ceylon. Her appearance and equipment have excited great interest and gratification in " the sister isle" as well as in this port. Her commander is a gentleman who has seen much service, and we can ourselves testify, is a most agreeable and intelli gent companion. We learn that a large number of passengers have already engaged berths by her to proceed to India. WIGAN.-THURSDAY NIGHT BIRTH.—On Sunday last, at Springfield, Wigan, the lady of Edward Woodcock, Esq., of a daughter. OPERATIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.—The mem bers of this association held their monthly meeting at the Society's-room, in Ckapel-lane, on Monday ev en i ng l as t, and a considerable nu ber of the body were present. It is cheering to the conservatives of Wigan to know that the Operative Conservative Association is in a flourishing state, and that a fresh enrollment takes place regularly amongst them. When it is taken into consideration how much good has been effected by the body to titsconservatives of Wigan, and what support they were still able to render when the hour of contest shall arrive, it behoves the leaders of the party to adhere closely to them—to contribute cheerfully to the augmentation of the funds already in hand—and to hold out every encouragement to this band of good men and true, who are ever ready " With hearts resolved, and hands prepared, The blessings they enjoy to guard." - , . ODDFELLOWSHIP.—The members of the Loyal Victoria Lodge of the 1.0. F. of the M.U., held their annual dinner on Monday last, at the house of host Bailey, the Royal Oak Inn, in Standishgate. About 70 sat down to an exquisitely prepared repast. Mr. Thomas Lamb presiding as chairman, and Mr. Robert Halliwell fulfilling the duties of vice chairman, with his accustomed variety and mirth. A more pleasant evening was never spent, for the troubles which might be felt by any present, were alleviated, if not dispelled, and conviviality, and hilarious glee were the only character istics of the " brothers" assembled. NOBLE CONDUCT OF A BOY.--CHILD RESCUED FROM DROWNING.-0n Sunday evening last, as William Hemp son, a boy under 13 years of age, and who is employed in the factory of Messrs. Ryland, and Son, of this town, was pass ing over a bridge on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, he saw a little boy who had undressed with the intention of bathing, pushed headlong into deep water by a much bigger lad, who stood by—the little fellow immediately sunk; Hampson hastily threw off some of his clothes, and, saying to the elder lad, who stood looking on with his hands in his pockets, " Will you see him drown?" plunged into the canal, though he could not swim, and after several attempts succeeded in bringing the child to the surface, by the hair of his head, after lie had sunk the third time, happily he reached the bank with him in safety ; and, when the boy was sufficiently recovered, which he was in a little time, Hampson led him home. This is not the first time this generous boy has rescued a fellow creature from a watery grave. Such conduct deserves something more than mere commendation. EXAMINATION OF A CHARTIST LEADER Shortly after the magistrates had taken their seats on the bench at the Town-hall, on Monday, Thos. Gerard, the chartist who was remanded on Monday, was brought up for examination on a charge of being concerned in the proceed ings of the mob on the 15th of August last, and, as the chief . constable informed the magistrates, of reading certain papers of a seditious and inflammatory nature. The magistrates in attendance were—the Mayor, S. M'Clure, Esq., and James Eckersley, Esq., and the pri soner was defended by Mr. Scott, solicitor. The first witness called was a young man, named Wm. Pemberton, who said,-1 am a weaver, and live in Bridge street. I saw Gerard in the Scholes Orchard, on Monday, the 15th of August last. There was a meeting of a large mob, and Gerard and another man stood on something which raised them above the crowd. It was between five and six o'clock in the morning. When I went first, Gerard sat down ; and I had been there about five minutes when the prisoner rose and said,—" Brothers, it has been proposed and seconded, that we should go and meet the mob at Leigh ; you that approve of the same will signify the same by holding u p your right hands." The mob then held up their right hands, and some of them held up both hands. There were several hundreds present; I should say 900 or 1000. Heard nothing more particular said, and the mob went immediately towards Leigh. I did not see Gerard after being at the meeting. I saw the mob come into Wigan about 12 o'clock. They were armed with sticks and other offensive weapons. They came from the direction of Leigh, and 'up the Mill gate. There were 9000 or more of the mob, and quite a sufficient number to alarm the inhabitants of the town. They came through the Market-place, and cried out " for a policeman," a n d brandished their bludgeons as they walked along. They cried aloud as they went along, in a threatening manner. Never saw either Gerard or the other man after the meeting in the morning. John Collison, sworn, said :—" I am an apprentice with Mr. Cook, draper, I went to the meeting in the Scholes Orchard on Monday the 15th of August. It was held about six o'clock in the morning. There was a crowd of persons consisting of several hundreds, and then appeared to be as sembled in the usual manner of a meeting. I saw Gerard reading a paper. He was elevated above the crowd, and he read from the paper he had in his band whilst addressing the people. The purport of what I heard him say was—that they were to leave off working, and work no more until they gained the people's charter. lam quite sure as to the pur port of what he said if not of the exact words. I did not heat all that was said, as I was talking to a person named Marsden who was with me. I heard some person in the crowd say they were to go to Leigh and meet the mob there. I remained there about three-quarters of an hour, and the mob set off in the direction of Leigh. I did not see Gerard afterwards that day. I saw the mob come through the Mar ket-place about noon. It consisted of 12 or 15,000 persons; they were armed with sticks and various other weapons. They huzzayed as they passed through the Market-place, and were a sufficient number to frighten the inhabitants of the town. They flourished their c l u b s i n a t h reaten i ng man ner, and the :shops were closed in consequence of them coming into the town. This being all the evidetee.prepared, Mr. Scott submitted to the bench that no case was made out against the defend ant, as they were quiet, and no distarbance took place. The Mayor contended that he was culpable, for he bad acted as spokesman, and had asked the people to commit an illegal act, and was quite as guilty as though he came with the mob. Mr. Scott observed that it was not an illegal act to request the people to leave off work, as they would not be compelled to do so ; and lie very much doubted the memory of the first witness, it being very improbable th at G erard shoul d sty l e a body of his friends as a "mob," a s th e w i tness ha d state d he did. After the magistrates had conferred with each other a short time, the Mayor observed that he thought it would be better not to commit the prisoner, but to remand him, as it was very likely that othe r p art ies might be found out who were implicated in the disturbance with Gerard. He was accordingly remanded until Monday. LEGAL CRITICISM.-Mr. M--____, the barrister, witnes sing the representation of Macbeth, on the wiches replying to the thane's inquiry, that they do " a d ee d w ith ou t a name ," " ! suddenly started up, and excla imed; A deed without a name Why, it's void ; it's not worth 6d ! '—Musicalße view. BIRKENHEAD POLICE COMMISSIONERS The Commissioners under the Birkenhead Police Act held a general meeting on Tuesday, for the despatch of business in the Town-hall, Birkenhead. The following gentlemen were present :—Messrs. J. S. Jackson, Cole, Laycock, Kerr, Gilbertson, Appleton, Stansfield, M`Nicol, Watson, Horner, Laird, Pritchard, Pim, Walker, Baynes, and two representatives of the corporation of Liverpool, Messrs. J. N. Wood and Parker. Mr. J. S. Jackson, Deputy Chair man of the Commissioners, presided. Mr. Mallaby, the law clerk, was not present, being, as we were informed, now on a visit to the city of Rome. _ _ MINUTES OF THE LAST GENERAL MEETING. Mr. HILMAR read the proceedings of the last general meeting, a report of which we gave at the time. DUTIES AND SALARY OF THE TOWN-CLERK The CHAIRMAN stated that the Finance Committee were not prepared to report to the present meeting the result of their inquiries into the salary and duties of the Town-clerk. This matter must therefore be postponed till the next gene ral meeting. LIGHTING AND WATCHING COMMITTEE The proceedings of the Lighting and Watching Com mittee were read; from which it appeared there had been a survey made of the situations of the street lights, and the committee recommended the general meeting to empower them to erect 25 additional lamps. Mr. WOOD asked what was the price per lamp paid to the Gas Company by the commissioners ? The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said, that whatever was the price paid in Liverpool was the price paid in Birkenhead, and he believed it was £4 7s. Bd. per lamp. Mr. WOOD said, the price in Liverpool was £4. Gs. per lamp : and he enquired further, whether whatever reduction was made by the gas companies of Liverpool through com petition, the same reduction was made in Birkenhead ? Mr. A YCOCK.—Yes for the street lamps. L ___ _ _ _ Mr. WOOD proceeded to say, that the Liverpool Gas Com panies had made a reduction of 45 per cent. in the price of gas last year, but it had not extended to the street lamps, the price of which was, as he had stated before, £4. 6s. per lamp. After some conversation upon the necessity of the streets being sufficiently lighted, especially in the winter season, a resolution was passed confirming the proceedings of the committee, and empowering them to erect thirty-five addi tional lamps, in such situations as they should deem proper. ROAD COAIMITTEI In the proceedings of this committee, the commissioners were recommeded to give permission to the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company to lay down a tra►nroad from Grange-lane to Monk's Ferry, and to close Ivy -street until the tunnel which is intended to be made between those points is completed. Mr. LAYCOCK asked how long the tunnel was expected to be in making ? The Cu AiumAN said, the tunnel would be made in eight or ten months ; but the use of Ivy-street would not be re quired so long. The application was only made with the view of facilitating the construction of the tunnel. .ir. GILBERTSON enquired whether no restrictions were to be imposed upon the railway company as to the time they would keep Ivy-street closed ? The CHAIRMAN observed that the commissioners were bound by their agreement with the directors, to render them all the assistance in their power. Mr. GILBERTSON suggested that they should be required to have a good carriage road across Chester-street. Mr. LAIRD.—Tbat they will do. Mr. WOOD wished to know whether the railway company could make this tunnel without going to parliament for power _ _ _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN said the directors were satisfied they had the power already ; but he did not know whether that was a question with which the commissioners were at all con cerned, and, therefore, he must be excused if he declined all discussion upon the subject. Mr. Woob intimated his conviction that some difficulty would arise on that point. Mr. LAYCOCK said it was understood that the railway direc tors would proceed at their own risk ; and that they were not to bring the commissioners of Birkenhead into a false posi- Mr. WOOD.-But, if we give them this permission we sanction their proceedings. Mr. LA.YCOCK had no doubt that the directors would act in concert with the road committee. Mr. Woon urged that the commissioners ought to be very cautious before they committed themselves to any act which might be called into question. Mr. LAIRD repeated that there was no intention to stop up Chester-street. There would be merely a tramroad across it like there was in Liverpool, from the new dock works to the north shore, from which no inconvenience could possibly arise. The reason why Ivy-street was required to be closed was that the tunnel would be so near the surface there that it would not be safe for the usual traffic to be going on there whilst it was being made. Mr. GILBERTSON said, his object was only to secure that no impediment was made to the passage along Chester street. Mr. LAIRD stated that that object would be accomplished. The CHAIRMAN observed, it was for the interest of the township that the recommendation of the committee should be confirmed. Mr. PIM said, the road committee would be very glad to meet Mr. Gilbertson, or any other inhabitant of the places affected by the proposed tunnel, in order to afford them any explanations. Mr. LAIRD showed that according to the plans laid before committee, by Mr. Yarrow, Chester-street would not be stopped ; but that it was necessary for Ivy-street to be closed. The CHAIRMAN thought it necessary to state, that having the honour to be a director of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, he had declined to attend all the meetings of the road committee which had been held on this subject. Mr. Woon, as a commissioner of Birkenhead, should ob ject to the breaking up of any of the streets of the township, because he believed the railway company had not power to make the tunnel ; and, therefore, so far as he was concerned, he should protest against the sanction of the general board being given to the appropriation of the railway company. The CHAIRMAN.—You are then only prOtesting against the acts and deeds of the general body of commissioners. Mr. WALKER said that all the company asked for was permission to lay down rails on the surface of the streets, just to facilitate the excavation of the tunnel. Mr. WATSON called for the letter from Mr. Yarrow, to the road committee, making the application. Mr. HORNER said it had been mislaid and could not be produced, but the plans might be laid upon the table. The plans were then produced and examined. After an examination, Mr. Gilbertson expressed himself satisfied with Mr. Woon begged to ask for information respecting the powers of the railway company to make this tunnel. He knew that according to the original act of parliament a tram road was to be guaranteed to Tranmere, as well as Woodside ; but that had been abandoned. Under all the circumstances, he could not, as a commissioner, consent to the public streets of the township to be stopped up until he knew the powers of the railway company to do so. The CHAIRMAN was sorry that Mr. Case was not in the chair to reply to Mr. Wood's observstions ; because, as he (the Chairman) was deputy-chairman of the commissioners as well as a director of the railway, he would have preferred that an answer should come from Mr. Case instead of him self. He did not think the commissioners ought to refer at all to the powers possessed by the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, or to their act of parliament. That was not a question for them to consider. They had no right to consider the interests of Tranmere ; nor had they any right to consider the interests of the Corporation of Liverpool, as connected with the Birkenhead Ferry. They had but a short and simple duty to fulfil, namely, to see how far the inter ests of the town could be advanced by the tunnel being con structed, and that was a question which had been already discussed and determined; the commissioners had already bound themselves by deed as strongly as law could bind them, on condition of the railway company selling them the ferry, to use all the powers they possessed to enable them, both above ground and under ground to construct the tun nel. It was but following out an agreement to which the commissioners had bound themselves. Mr. Woos disagreed with the Chairman. He thought the interests of Birkenhead :would be promoted by a tram road to Tranmere as well as to Woodside. The CH AIRMAN had no doubt of it, and when the owners of property in Tranmere brought forward that request, he was sure the commissioners would:give it due consideration. , After a few words from Mr. Laycock, Mr. M'lNicol, the Chairman, and others, the proceedings of the Road Com mittee were confirmed. MARKETS ' COMMITTEr ••• The proceedings of this committee having been read, The CHAIRMAN, before entering upon the consideration of them, suggested that each month's receipts and expenditure of the market should be given. Mr. LAY COCK said this could be done, and the information should be given. _ Mr. WOODinquired whether all the stalls were let ? The CHAIRMAN said, nearly so; but that there was very great inconvenience from want of room, and an extension of the market had been suggested so as to enable the committee to make a better use of the property than they could now. He recommended the meeting to pass a resolution in some thing like this form :—" That a committee be formed of the whole board, to take into consideration the wants and accom modation required in the market, with power to offer a pre mium of twenty guineas for the best plan of increasing the same, embracing an estimate of the cost." The suggestion of the Chairman was adopted ; and on the motion of Mr. WATSON, seconded by Mr. HORNER, the proceedings were confirmed. THE CORPORATION ROAD Mr. WOOD inquired whether any communication had been received from the Corporation of Liverpool as to the adop tion of their road ? • The CHAIRMAN.—None whatever. Mr. WOOD.—It was before the Finance Committee on Friday last, and an answer was to be referred to you to-day. The CHAIRMAN.—I called upon the Town-Clerk, and saw the Surveyor with him ; they suggested the propriety of taking the opinion of the Finance Committee, and said they would let us know the decision of the committee before to day ; but we have had no communication from them. Mr. WooD.—The decision was come to on Friday last The CHAIRMAN.— -We have not heard it Mr. M‘Nlcot said, perhaps it would not be sent till Thursday next (yesterday), when the Road Committee met. The CHAIRMAN.-But I told the Town-Clerk that the general board would meet to-night. It is not our fault. FINANCE COMMITTEE.-NEW RATES The Finance Committee, in their proceedings, recom mended that a rate of ninepence in the pound be laid for the purpose of the improvement of the township, and that another rate of ninepence in the pound for the lighting and watching of the township, be laid for the ensuing year. It further appeared, that three several sums had been lent to the com missioners, on the security of the rates, of £lO,OOO, £lO,OOO, and £7,500, making in the whole £27,500, at 5 per cent., per annum interest ; and the committee also recommended, that a special meeting of the commissioners be called at an early period, for the purpose of obtaining authority to borrow £5,000 more. The CHAIRMAN begged to call particular attention to the important business contained in the proceedings of the Finance Committee. The first matter to be taken into con sideration, was the recommendation of the Committee, that a rate of 9d in the pound be laid for the improvement, and another of 9d in the pound for lighting and watching, of the township. It would save considerable expense if these rates were collected at the same time as the poor-rate, which the overseers had just ordered to be paid. At the same time, the Finance Committee were unanimously of opinion, from the state of the receipts of the ferry, that this would be the last improvement rate which the Commissioners would have to lay. Mr. APPLETON said, the impression had gone abroad, east, west, north and south ; that the improvement rate was done away with for ever and ever; yet now another was actually proposed! He begged to say too, that that im pression had been created by the expressions which had emanated from the chairman's own lips. The CHAIRMAN begged to be excused for interruption. There were plenty of persons present to bear him witness that what he had stated was this—that after another im provement rate had been laid, no more would be necessary. And now he repeated his c onfidence that the commissioners would never be called upon to lay another. Mr. reason why the proposed r a te A c r ii p A L l E ß T l, o t A N N — O saidh !The o t h h e ! had to be laid was, that when Mr. Appleton and his friends were in office, three or four years ago, they had neglected to lay a rate, the consequence of which was, that the commis sioners became involved in an amount which would take y ppLr p T r o O lid s e e n d ie ra d te th t a o t p t a h y e t o e ff. had been any neg l ec t. chairmanTP:Mecirs.eAltheproposed had himself stated that no more rates for improvement would be required. Mr. 'Wool) asked what were the present rates of the township ? The CHAIRMAN said the proposed improvement rate would be ' 9d. • the lighting and watching ra t e , 9d . ; an d the , . . , was 4d. ; making a s. 10d. against 3s. 3d. in Liverpool Mr. HORNER observed that the improvement rate w only 8d last year. The CHAIRMAN mentioned that if the rate were granted, there would be abundant funds to provide 40 additional lights, and nine watchmen, or 30 additional lights, and ten watchm Mr. APPLETON admitted that the improvement rate was the only charge the ratepayers could be eased of, by virtue of • • the ferry ,receipts. Now, after the impression had gone abroad, of the great achievements of the ferry, and yet another improvement rate was proposed, how would they look in the eyes of the public ? How would they appear before ratepayers, if after all that had been said of the abolition of tl mprovement rates, they almost immediately proceeded to lay another. If difficulties were experienced in this and the forthcoming year, he thought means might be found of meeting the emergency. without resorting to it rate, especially as the ferry was likely to be so very pro- The CHAIRMAN would reply to those 'observations by asking Mr. Appleton a question. Was it just to postpone the payment of a debt to another generation ? Was it right that the rate-payers of next year should pay the expences of keeping up the roads this year? Several commissioners said to 't - - ',ltch your bird. ~,m at tne last meeting, " first caL.. before you cook it." Now, he had no hesitation in saying, that the profits of the ferry for the present year, judging by those of last year, which had gone to form a reserved fund, would . . but, as he had said, then first let those profits come to . hand. The proposed rate therefore was to enable the com missioners to go on, and to repay that portion of the debt which they had borrowed from the bank, and then they would begin fair with the public. He should be the last man in the world to advocate the laying of a rate, seeing what a prospect there was of doing away with it altogether ; but he did not think it right that the present ratepayers should tax those who were to follow. Mr. APPLETON was confident, from the statements made respecting the well-being of the ferry, that it would be en abled to meet any emergency. The CHAIRMAN.—What - before you get the profits? Mr. APPLETON.—Yes, before we get them. After a few more words, Mr. AppTeton's amendment fell to the ground for want of a seconder; and the motion for the two rates was carried. SIGNATURES TO BONDS The CHAIRMAN said, the next business was the signing of three bonds for the amounts he had named. They must be signed this evening, and the money was ready at any moment. Mr. `Noon.—You have got ;.C27,500, have you? The CHAIRMAN.—Yes. Woon.—Does that make up all you want? The CHAIRMAN.—We are a little short; we have £29,500, but the Finance Committee are of opinion, that in order to put the township into the positidn that it ought to be, it will be highly advisable to make the sum £35,000 instead of £30,000. Mr. Woon.—That is £5,000 more than was originally contemplated ? The CIIAIRMAN.—Yes. We always knew we should want about £3.1,000, but we advertised for only £30,000, that being a round sum. Mr. WOOD.—There will be £1,700 a year interest The CHAIRMAN.—Yes. I do not think we shall have any difficulty in getting any money, we are in such excellent Mr. M`Nicor —Do you think, Mr. Chairman, there is any the other £3,000 at less than five per prospect of gettin cent ? The CHAIRMAN.—I do not think there is. Mr. M`NicoL.—As our credit is so very good, I think we ought to have it at little less. The CHAIRMAN.—I do not think we should be able to get it. Mr. PARKER.—You are compelled to pay five per cent for your money— The CHAIRMAN.—I hope we shall have to raise a sum almost as large as the corporation of Liverpool. We shall have occasion for it. Mr. Woon—The corporation of Liverpool pay only four per - - , and they can have money to any amount. They have something more tangible to rest upon than mere ferry profits. Mr. LAYCOCK.—One portion of their income arises from ferry property—that of Birkenhead. M r. WooD.—That is a mere bagatelle. The CHAIRMAN.—But every little helps, Mr. Wood. Mr. Woon.—How do the finances of the commissioners of Birkenhead stand at present? What is the debt? The CHAIRMAN.—If we take the £35,000, it will be £43,150, and £14,000 for the fee simple of the ferry to Mr. Price, making a total of £77,150, a considerable portion of which is at four per cent. The whole of Mr. Price's is. Mr. Woos.—Then for £77,000 this township is answera ble for? The CHAIRMAN.—Yes. Mr. LAYCOCK.—It is a very large sum for an infant com munity. Mr. Woon.—And the payment of the interest, and the reduction of the improvement rate is to come out of the pro fits of the ferry? The CHAIRMAN.--I have no hesitation in saying that not only will the ferry pay the interest of the X 77,000, but that it will be found equal to the present improvement rate, or more than that. Mr. PARKER.—I suppose, Mr. Chairman, you have data for all that ? The CHAIRM AN.—Yes. Mr. PARKER said, it struck him as most extraordinary that those who had the ferry before could not make it pay, whilst the present owners found in it such a mine of wealth that they could make all these improvements. The CHAIRMAN said that men began well who did not go on in the same way. This was the case with the Woodside Mr. WOOD said the Woodside ferry paid 25 per cent. the first year it was established, but what had it done since? The CHAIIINIAN.—Go on ! Anything more ? (Hear.) PINFOLD COMMITTEI The proceedings of the Pinfold Committee were next read. It appeared, that since the last meeting. £2 2s. had been re ceived for cattle impounded, of which £1 3s had been re turned, leaving I9s to the township. FERRY COMMITTEE. The CHAIRMAN read the following report from the Ferry Committee The Ferry Committee have much pleasure in laying before the general board, the statements of the last months' (Au gust) receipts and expenditure, from which it will appear, that there has been an increase in the receipts as compared with the corresponding month in last year of £139 19s 2d at Pay-gate, £6 17s Contractors, £39 16s id freight, and £B2 17s Monks Ferry, making a total of £267 12s 10d. The Helensburgh has undergone a complete repair, and is now fit for service, and in a state likely to last for a very conside rable period. The other packets are in good order. The whole of the arrangements for the management of the ferry are now nearly complete, and so far your committee find that they work well. They are unanimously of opinion, that the system will produce most beneficial results. Not the slightest accident is reported, nor has a single charge been brought against any one employed. Copies of the future bye-laws have been lodged with the Clerk of the Peace in in accordance with the Act of Parlia ment, and when sanctioned will be put in force. Receipts, 1841. Receipts, 1842. Increase. Gate £877 3s 7d £lOl7 2s 9d £139 19s 2d Monk's Ferry 93 0 0 175 17 0 82 17 0 Contracts 85 6 11 91 1 6 6 1 7 Freight 39 9 0 52 5 1 19 16 1 Miscellaneous. 00 0 18 19 0 18 19 0 £1094 19 6 £1362 12 4 £267 12 10 Mr. PARKER contended that the disbursements for the month, including the insurance and risk should be inserted, should be debited against the ferry, otherwise it could not be said to be a true account. _ The CHAIRMAN said all the disbursements would come into the half yearly account. This was only a statement of the condition of the ferry for the last month. Mr. PARKER said, then this account shouuld not profess to make the difference into profits. The CHAIRMAN Contended that the report made no such profession. It merely showed the increase in the receipts of the ferry. Mr. PARKER repeated that the expenditure should have been given, otherwise the report did not give a true account. The CHAIRMAN said the casual expenses could be given, but not the coal. Mr. PARKER characterised the report as not founded upon fact ? The CHAIRMAN declared that it was based upon fact. Mr. Parker had called for particulars, and they had been given to him. The report shewed how much money had been received, and how it had been expended. The ferry was progressing well ; and it was to that fact that the com mittee in their report confined themselves. A very long discussion followed, in which the chairman reiterated his conviction of the success of the ferry ; at the end of which, the proceedings of the committee were con firmed. The proceedings of the Survey Committee were next read .fter which the commissioners separated. REPORTED DEATH OF THE KING OF HANOVER The following appeared in a second edition of the Standard of Wednesday evening. The paragraph is, however, so loosely worded, that we are not disposed to attach any credit to the report : " We have just received the melancholy intelligence of the death pf the King of Hanover, from a gentleman who reached London this afternoon direct from Dusseldorf. " His Majesty attended a review on Saturday last at tha place, and appeared in perfect health during the day; but having taken some ice, of other refreshment, was suddenli seized with illness, and died on Saturday night or early or Sunday morning. " The melancholy fact was matter of common conversatior at Cologne," Nothing further appears in the morning papers of yester day. James Stuart, Esq., the American and European legacy agent, of Philadelphia, was a passenger on board the Great Western, which sailed on Saturday last. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Saturday last, two young men, carters, had a dispute about some trifling matter, in a yardin this town, which ended in one of them striking his companion on the head with a stone, from the effects of which he died on the following morning.—Ulster Times. It may not be generally known that the time for which the colonial bishoprics are granted is ten years, with liberty to retire at the end of that period on pension, if preferred. Dr. Coleridge having held the see of B arbados for that time, now resigns ; and thus only four of the five are newly-created sees. ENORMOUS SACRIFICE OF LIFE BY :THE SLAVE TRAFFIC IN TRIPOLI. —A correspondent of this month informs us that some of the caravans which bring slaves across the Great Desert (the Middle passage of the North) lose out of 2,000 (two thousand) SOO (eight hundred)—that is nearly c en t per cent ! ! l —Malta Times. THE CHASE.—On Wednesday the Marquis of Waterford had a brilliant run of thirteen miles, after a sporting fox, in his:own demesne. Reynard thought to baffle his pursuers by making for the Cummera Mountains, but failed to " throw dust in the eyes" of the gallant pack, end was ran into, after a long and trying run, in fine style. In a few days the hunt ing establishment of the noble Marquis will remove to Rock well, in this county.—Tipperary Coustitution. TARIFF, properly tarif, s ignfies a list of certain merchan dises ; also a list list of duties on imports and exports. The verf arf, in Arabic,. signifies to kn ow , an d th i s in the second form becomes tar i f, i.e. to make known ; the substantive derived from the verb, therefore, signifies notification. Tarif is also Persian. We h ave a d opted the corrupt Italian word tariff a, in preference to the original.—Colonial Magazine. Chester Training College was opened on Thursday, after Divine service at the Cathedral. The sermon was preached., by the Rev. Canon Slade, from Luke vi., 39. The discourse is to be printed. A cold collation was given in the . Lecture room. room. The young students sung the 100th Psalind lyn .l l : e i : building committee was represented by Sir Step h en the Hon. and Rev. Horace Powys, and the from the Raikes. They delivered the key to a deput a tion Slade, Rev.. general committee, consistingße Chancellor of the Rev- CanonoHodgson, d on, Esq., nt J. J. Hornby, Rector of Winwick, Adam Hon. .E. Glad- Liverpool, accompanied by the R ight Glad stone, Vice-President of the Boa!d..__T d ra . de, and other gen tlemen. Several speeches were deIM" WILHEWS METHOD OF . SINGING, The Committee of the North Church of England School having kindly granted to Mr. Crowe the use of the room in Bond-street, for the purpose of opening a singing class for artisar.s and mechanics, (after the plan of one in Lon don,) as preparatory to this on Monday evening, Mr. Crowe delivered a lecture (illustrating the system) to a crowded audience, comprising not only many of the higher classes, but a goodly array of our operative friends, who will them selves, ere long, be able to take part in such performances as then were delighted to hear. The chair was kindly occupied by ADAM HODGSON,Esq., who on t hi s, as on every other occas i on, showed himself ready by his presence and - support to farther any plan for the moral and spiritual improvement, or innocent gratification of the humbler of his fellow-townsmen. He commenced the busin ess o f the evening by observing that b e was himself unacquainted with this system, except from report, and came, like themselves, for the purpose of gaining informa tion as to its na t ure and working. He congratulate d t h e meeting on the prospect of a parliamentary grant being allowed next session, for the purpose of encouraging the spread of class singing am ong th e l ower or d ers . He thought this a likely means of withdrawing them from scenes of drunkenne ss an d di ssipation, and giving them a greater relish for the comforts of home. In his opinion the happiest scene on earth was that of a man seated by his own fireside, enjoying the society o f th e partner o f hi s j oys and sorrows, and listening with delight t o th e p ra ttli ng of his little ones. This is a happiness within the reach of all, for which thanks are due to that all-bounteous Providence who strews our path with so many blessings, and places in the power of all, sources of the highest gratification. This is a blessing which is not to be purchased by money, but may be enjoyed as well by the inhabitant of a cellar in Whitechapel, as by the nobleman in his hall. After a few more animated and suitable observations, he introduced Mr. Crowe to the meeting, who very clearly and fully explained the Wilhem system, which his pupils illus trated by several songs, simple in words, and sound in sen timent. We were much struck with the progress made by the gentlemen of the Edge-hill Class since we last heard them, and their proficiency speaks much for the ability of the teacher, as well as th e perseverance of the pupils. The lecture terminated shortly before ten o'clock, and, after a few words from Mr. Hodgson, expressive of the great gratification which he had experienced, the company sepa rated, baring previously shewn their concurrence in the sen timents of the chairman. DARING BURGLXRY. (From the Blackburn Standard.) On Tuesday last a most atrocious burglary was committed in the house of Mr. Thomas Lund, at Prettyfoot Bridge. One of the prisoners is earning 255. a week, and the other £1 a week, and it is therefore evident that poverty cannot be pleaded as a perpetration for the offence. The prisoners must have made themselves perfectly acquainted with Mr. Lund's house, for the room into which they entered through the window is generally unoccupied, being set apart for Mr. Lund, as an occasional bed• room for a weary traveller. It would appear, therefore, from the circumstance of the rob bers making an entrance into the house by this room, that they must have been well aware that there was no lodger in it at the time. It happened, however, that two little chil dren were sleeping in this room when the burglary was com mitted. But had there been no one in the room it would have made little difference, as Mr. Lund heard the breaking of the glass, although being in another room at the time, and instantly sprang out of bed to see what was wrong. He was perfectly unarmed, and had not, as has been stated in an account already published, a constable's staff in his hand. Preferring to meet the villains as they came out of the first room, he prudently remained in the adjoin ing room, instead of rushing into the room where the entrance had been effected. The moment they saw him they ordered him to be silent, and successively present ed each a pistol at him, and did their best to shoot him ; but, fortunately, it would appear, by some special interference of Divine Providence, both pistols missed fire, and one of them even a second time. Mr. Land then rushed upon the villains, and being, although considerably ad vanced in life, a most powerful man, overpowered them both, and held them for some time, until getting a little ex hausted they succeeded in pulling him in the struggle to wards the window, through which they managed to make a temporary escape. There was a third person, but he does not appear to have entered the house, and he made off the moment he saw his friends defeated. Lund, and Whalley his neighbour, who was aroused by Mrs. Lund, immediately ran in pursuit, and the latter observed the robbers to leap into the little strip of plantation on the right side of the road leading from the Bull's Head towards Pretty-foot Bridge, just beside the large culvert which passes under the Whalley road. Whalley instead of attempting to molest his prey by himself, having outstripped his friend Lund in the race, went on past the plantation to the h ous e o f J o h n Sh orroc k , who lives a little beyond the Bull's Head. Sorrock was awake, and looking ont of the casement when Whalley came up, and cried out, " Giles, what art thou after, there is a man just gone past towards Blackburn running with something under his arm." Whalley told Sherroek that there were two men in the plantation who had broken into Thomas Lund's house, and bade him rouse up a young man who lives in the house with him, named Thomas Bannister, and come down to the plantation. Several other neighbours were got toge ther and the plantation was completely surrounded. It cer tainly must have been an extraordinary scene in that quiet and retired place, at the dead hour of the night, none of the persons who had thus been aroused out of their beds having had time to dress themselves. They must have looked like " Whiteboys." Their preparationsforcapturingthe burglars being now completed, every inch of the fences surrounding the plantation being carefully guarded, Thos. Bannister, and Thos. Higginson, a blacksanith,who lives opposite Shorrock's, dashed into the plantation. The prisoner Thompson first attempted to run the gauntlet, but, being seized by the foot by Bannister he tumbled and was instantly secured by Giles Whallev On Whalley getting a hold of him, he exclaimed " Be quiet, I will give - it - up." - Bannister, Higginson, and William Aspden then commenced a search for the other robber. He was found by Aspden who sprang upon bins . and in a struggle threw him down, when he will; seized by John Shorrock, a fine old athletic man of 75 years of age, but of Herculean frame, who held his head to the ground by the ears, which we have no doubt were severely pinched, and put to him the very pertinent inquiry " Let us see who thou art." The prisoners being both thus secured, they were conveyed to the Bull's Head, and thence to the police station. They were both committed to Lancaster Castle, to take their trials at the next assizes. ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE. (From the Preston Pilot.) The historical annals of the last century furnish various instances of great change in the fortunes of females, such as the elevation of Miss Farren to the Countess of Derby; Miss Mellon to the Duchess of St. Alban's ; and Miss Foote to the Countess of Harrington, each of whom has in turn " walked the stage" of a Preston theatre ; but there are few if any instances on record, of ladies of high aristocratic birth, numbering among their immediate connexions dukes, earls, and lords, who have formed alliances in the middle ranks of life, and become the wives of humble tradesmen. One such instance, however, has taken place ; and as the lady was for many years an inhabitant of Preston, and her ashes are now commingling with their mother earth in St. John's church-yard, her history may not prove uninteresting to our readers. The Hon. Francis North, subsequently cre ated Earl of Guilford, was several times married, and had rather a numerous family. Lord Frederick North, many years Prime Minister to George the Third, was his eldest son, and the subject of our memoir his eldest daughter. Both were deprived of maternal care when they most required it, and both were consigned to the same foster-mother dur their infancy. Of the life, public and private, of the former, Lord Brougham has furnished ample details in his " States men of George the Third." Of the eventful history of the latter, the pen has been as silent as the grave which entombs her remains. Be it, then, the task of the writer of this unvarnished narrative to rescue her memory from obscurity. Of her early days it may suffice to say, that they were spent under the roof of her mother's immediate relatives, near Grosvenor square, London, where she received an education suitable to the position in society she appeared destined to fill. At 12 or 14 years of age she became an inmate of Bushey-house, Middlesex, then residence of the Earl of Halifax, whose daughters, the Ladies Montague, watched over her young womanhood with anxious solicitude. The Earl of Halifax being at that time (1748) one of the Lords of the Admiralty, was in the habit of being waited upon in matters appertain ing to his office by a young man named Brett, nephew of Sir W. Smith, a London merchant' who offered her his hand. Mr. Brett, though respectably connected, and having good worldly prospects before him, was nevertheless not con sidered of suitable station to espouse the daughter of an earl, and she was therefore sent down to Preston to break off the acquaintance. After remaining here for some weeks, under the care of two ladies named Astley, whose father was Mayor at the time, and lived at the entrance to Chapel-walk, Fishergate, she received an intimation that Mr. Brett, supposing she had gone to France, had set out in quest of her, and had been drowned in crossing from Dover to Calais. Believing the statement, and much distressed in her mind at the supposed sad event, she immediately returned to Lon don, and related her troubles to her foster-mother ; observin g at the same time, that as her friend s had de p riv ed her of the object of her warmest affections, she would accept the first offer that was made to her. Her foster-mother having a nephew then lodging with her from Preston, with a view to improvement in his business, she communicated to him what the unhappy lady had stated. He made her an offer accord ingly, and in three days they were married at Keith's Chapel, May-fair. A few months afterwards the young couple quitted London, and she became the mistress of the identical house in Fisher gate now occupied by Mr. Taylor, seedsman, which descended to her husband on the death of his father, and where she gale within the last ten years, and one still survives, an i d 'a l v i e ve d s ie in d (daughters) birth to twelve children, five from lihoemr certainly Preston. Harsh and unforgiving as it may a p p it is yet the fact, appear, ar Lder the circum quaintances, not one of whom Rogerever tsitiaantcetsh)is marriageev cu t her' (imprudentfro former friends and ac with her afterwards, except Si r h er particular friend Lady exchanged a single word Frances Montague, and who acci dentally met her in London become a resident in Preston. 'dd " He c repre sented the county, and resided Lord Strange, who then repr.e mansion m Church-street also recognised her after she had her when a girl living with her r elatives s near his own residence i n Lon don, becoming a customer to her husband, and recom n i s m io d n kn all o y w a n t the . fa Tily nowf ri friends d a s n follow dtotheiiympathy at her altered Pe_e_ din _ his a small present sent p e. i , his exam I With these exce7rolun;,llsanbdy she was completely severed f rom brugh own noble, high-minded relatives; hand, and neg lected by her an unknown about the y ear 1790, at the age o f 62, having about five years an before l ost h er husband by death, a nd sunk into the g r ave d subsequently become so reduced in circumstances as to be compelled to part with her jewellery, among which was a valuable ring, given to her by Charles Spencer, Duke of Marlborough, who married her cousin. Me. Brett, her " first love, it may be added, rose to eminence in point of position ; havingo t:i)ee become member for Sandwich, and also one of the Lords the coalition ministry of Lord North and M r. Fox in 1783 ; whomasnh a aff d e d c e t p i o r i n v a e t d e I x; i e m g a r o d f, o o n w t i h n e g partpart his of t h h e e n r but, it is understood , d ied unmarried, probably out of res p ect for the lady ' well-meaning file" inferior station in life. of late Marquis o on H ertford has n u a r l i d P e r r °P x er ; t o Y o,ooo, the and the duty which will a b m e T e o n h a e a sw P° tt e :510,000. It is stated, on the best authority, that the executors being about t o commence a civil :t ° g r ain t st Suisse is totally with ou t f oundation. It was at th e action oner re port P time thought that a dispute would arise with respect to the prop e rty left by some of the co di c i ls, in consequence of their being without a date ; but all has been amicably ar ranged. The executors are allowed by law twelve months from the death of the late Marquis to pay all or any of the respective bequests to the several personsth a er p e r in iv n il a e m ge ed i : i but the w hether they will avail thems e l ves of such case of Suisse is Hot at present known. It is said that he in tends leaving a power of attorney in this country to receive the amount, and that he intends shortly leaving England to join his wife. We have it from good authority, although we cannot actually vouch f of Suisse was not wi i c:r the fa c t, t h at th e recent prosecut i on the consent or wish o f th e p resen t Marquis of Hertford, and that many extraordinary facts in reference this singular case were kept from the public eye. o f int re, Jot g as rhe ° cu r to ; .10 0