The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-03-04 00:00:00

!tareh 4, 1861. Rota Ratio. Proposals have been made for the organization of a 'ltem line from Liverpool to Preston. Amongst the passengers in the Asia, for New York, on :Saturday, wa3 the poet Martin Farquhar Tupper. Mr. Driver, of this town, arrived in England by the last Peninsular mail steamer, after a four months' visit to the Wine countries of Madeira, Portugal, and Spain. Mr. Ab ernet h y, C . E ., b e f ore l eav i ng Ab er d een f or Bir aenhead, was entertained at dinner by the harbour-mas ters and citizens of that place. The body of a newly-born infant, which had been born alive, was found in a midden at Bridge-street, Birkenhead, von Tuesday last. On Wednesday last, an old lady, named Sarah Innes, residing in Claughton-road, Birkenhead, dropped down 'dead in her parlour. On Wednesday Edward Turner, a man employed at -Messrs. Todd Naylor and Co.'s copper-ore works, fell in amongst the machinery, and was so dreadfully crushed, that he survived only six hours. On Thursday, as a carpenter, named Sawyer, was oe °Pied, at Sandon Dock, in raising a block of wood, the ,chain broke, and the block falling on him, inflicted such injuries that he died soon after. The Finance Committee have recommended that Mr. Archibald Tweedie, at present one of the very efficient ti tan' employed at Cornwallis-street establishment, be appointed chief clerk in the treasurer's office. M • Soyer h as or d ere d f rom M essrs . J e ff er y, M orr i s h, an d, Co., Compton-house, a table-cloth 100 yards long, Which is to cover the principal banqueting-table in Soyer's Universal Symposium, at Gore-house. On Tuesd a y hat, the body of a new-born female child leas di scovered b„ me - ga th erer in the ash-pit of No. 4 0"e, Bridge-sireet, Birkenhead. It was wrapped in ',roe% paper, and appeared to have been but recently de- Posited in the ashpit. V EGETARIAN BISCUITS.—Under this title, and at the !ellen price of 4d. per lb., Mr. Sharpe, confectioner, of rarker-street, has produced a new article. They are ma anfactured from pure unscreened wheat and must be con ducive to health. The Arpia, a Sardinian brig, is hourly expected in the 'Hersey, from' the Turkish capital, with 240 refugees, ,P r incipally Polish, the remnant of the valiant corps who 'aught under Bern in the Hungarian revolution. They are on their way to America, and will be lodged, during ~their s o j ourn i n Li ver p oo l, a t M r S a b e r s Emigration Home in Moorfields. The ste amer I ron D u k e, b e l ong i ng t o th e Cit y o f Dub lin Company, on Tuesday made her seventy-second voy age from Liverpool to Kingstown from the Ist of Septem ber last ; consequently she will have passed the Skerries Light-house 144 times within the six months, being the greatest number of trips ever made in so short a space of time by any vessel. The Trafalgar made sixty voyages, or 120 trips. G ALLANT CONDUCT.—On Wednesday evening, as the at Hercules was about starting from Clarence Dock tor N . - ew'rY, a cabin passenger, in coming on board, fellr het° the dock, when the captain, Mr. Lawrence Tallan, at ( P ee :lumped in off the quarter-deck, where he was standing .4 his heavy sea clothes, and saved the gentleman, who mould not swim. This is the third time Mr. Tallan has acted in the same spirited manner and with equal success. MIRACULOUS EscAPE.—On Sunday afternoon week, 4 , 8 r. Peleliu and Mr. Webster, of Kirkdale, were driving ag Bootle -lane in a whitechapel, the horse took fright, bq l aid ran into a pit close to the mill of Mr. Molyneux. t3' Were both thrown from the vehicle into the water, were providentially rescued from drowning by several the who were close at hand. The depth of water in c Pit was about six feet. f r o RREST OF THE PACKET- SHIPYORKSIIIRE.—Accounts •cl Holyhead state, that the New York packet-ship tOorkshire had been placed under arrest, at the instance of et o eitY of Dublin Packet and the Chester and Holyhead se City Companies; the former claiming £lO,OOO for said!vices rendered by the Prince of Wales in towing the fo vessel into the harbour, and the latter claiming £3OOO t Similar services rendered by the Anglia. T he screw steamer Grecian, hence at Gibraltar in five T a h l's and th ree-quarters, and left the same day for Malta. Ha passengers presented to the commander, Captain D. toin we, a letter, expressive of their admiration of the sea- El eat gpialities of this vessel, which made this unpreee also !" Passage against a heed wind and cross sea. They erholeender their thanks to him for his gentlemanly and eft c i e %:;induct, and to the crew for their smartness and t ie ;& 11 WE DNESDAY. —D ur i ng l ast S un d ay morn i ng ' s to e . t . le e e ' ,the Rev. Dr. M`Neile gave n o ti ce o f his intention Park:" a sermon to-morrow, in St. Paul's, Prince's and and to have the usual service for A s h W e dnesday, aesse?rnestly entreated our merchants and men of busi tovt.ar‘..° make it an opportunity for imploring God's mercy app ea l': oar land at this critical period. With such an eer ier "In the doctor, we doubt not, he will have a large at k t ",Z a a r t t iOn- We may add, the service will commence 110 er to eleven. ' wa s art -RTES AT THE STEEPLE-CHASE.—One young man thiezricked on the ground about eight o'clock ; some . - race, ' sadPPosed to be chloroform was passed over his it t coln a e u e - • h e was knocked down. Whilst lying on the was teice"la Pockets were emptied and his handkerchief w as att a ll e f rom his neck. In another case a gentleman !awl se eee ld on the road, as he was leaving the course, uael t , lai e l , l beaten His top-coat was taken from his enptirely elel a Mkerchief from his neck, and his pockets Bate e e ' of their contents. esraolishal S yq ".. . At ICST SHIP COMMANDERS.—Since the ° _, ec aited i n e— 9' the local marine board two cases have Zrnek eee which commanders have been charged with ehne, " e ss, Ca t. Ridley of the Cru.ader and Capt. -"'", of another vessel. the latter 'being also erged with falsifying the ship's log. The case of Capt, PlElley was fully reported at the time, and the facts hay t since been before the board of trade, he has been re instated in his position. Capt. Thomson has also been Most honourably acquitted of falsifying the log as well as °f the charge of drunkenness. eaeseereeioN.—On Tuesday last, at the Victoria a t', Waterloo, a very handsome splendid silver salver a rl two large silver ' goblets, value fifty guineas, were, as theivizt inscription stated, " Presented to Robert Stanley 'ye N, secretary and general manager of the Li tierP°ol, Crosby, and Southport Railway, by various con of peters, but chiefly by the different officers and servants r a a corne ae - , N y as a mark of their appreciation of his duties`'!ctr, and the manner in which he has fulfilled his in that capacity, and as a token of their individual a nd general esteem. Waterloo, Feb. 24, 1851." THE Exte rnerroee--As it is impossible to compute the revenuse otabtatetmwill visit the " world's fair," it would be asele s r t s pt an estimate of the increase in the postal tot er , •, It will no doubt be great; and thousands of bee n n eo n e l c,ations will be suggested that had never hitherto of n ot eulemplated. Many doubtless will feel the want /t ad sy s " t a e v al i a ll acquired the art of writing, now so easily einei er tha ically taught ; many, many have to return b light r . they intended to convey verbally what they elves f or ea e d i!Y have written had they placed them- Sla gle week under the able tuition of Messrs. e l kNer e „ ri a nd Sons. re har o -uvr tEs.—To-clay, Mr. Winstanley will submit to „"stine c i t i l r e r an interesting collection of curiosities, con -acciracenenY of weapons of ancient warfare. There are „l a s ed' great variety of the swords and daggers of all „las ed ' ;aea,nd..the .collection comprises some elaborately 'ae co; "o formidable battle-axes and halberd-heads. alle l e 'as and medals, which are in great variety and %ins umber are interesting and valuable, including many rare Pre ser " ancient Greece and Rome; a silver coin, in good Nine veh vat ion, which was discovered amongst the ruins of • ee l and a se r i es o f n i ne t y-n i ne me d als of the popes, 'Li e collection of the late Lord Guilford. tinge EMIGRANTS' H OME , M OORFIELDS. —W e some etitite7.o directed attention to this excellently-managed eonf e ;'l, and pointed out the great benefits which it was dles ri ng upon emigrantsgenerally, and especially upon each e Who having • in shipped vessels which stress or pe „ or accident has driven back to port, have been atte ,!ed to support themselves upon the legal allowance thi s a yener conveyances could be found for them. Upon I ,lteei e 'areance of a shilling each per day, Mr. Sabel has I ,4erd for, substantially and comfortably, upwards of r ecei ve " such passengers. He is now daily expecting to a e lei gra ander his roof a very interesting consignment of tleN a a ta, the survivors of the regiment of the celebrated 'a th e • t t. l i all, General Bem, who are about to seek a home car efe , sited States of America. We learn that, after a veeteosoliezarnination of all the arrangements by the Go -• 11 ane e „ t Emigration officers, the proprietor has received ,'oinenei",,aeent Lunde the Colonial Land and Emigration -c "aina - e l e ° ,, a cre have rtaken its supervision, and a A , 4t , ion of its adoption by intending emigrants. blew ' T a'ree 11 Tuesday evening last a a Ing t oo n b elet oo Place at the Elms, Toxteth-park, to present l° e Yea ts :ver watch, value £B, to Miss Harrison, a irl if Iv a to t o "' age. Upwards of two hundred persons sat . l e atris ee a• The chairman alluded to the ability of Miss ' 11 "g, i n e e and the good she had been the means of effect tPeeeee'au_linexioe with the temperance movement, by her teeeteeln recitations. Miss Harrison then addressed e t iati ne ng, and warned her young friends against the . 'l t t lep s Z e cfreets of the drinking system. Mr. Hugh far r 9 ' said some time ago he chanced to hear Miss "ti • toake f o alqui e a speech in connexion with teetotalism. ,_r te aee Y, he found that her father had been a publican Oat Years lk this town and Birkenhead, but, by the Oat trapertions of the child, had been led to abandon 17a, i n _ e • After the watch was presented, Miss Harri ;ter the suitable reply, said she had done no more than 24 4 1 7 e , 0 but she would cherish the gift, and when she of a 0 i n it it would remind her of the rapid flight of ' the vvreer duty to seek her own improvement and that sk eelt ul human race. (Applause.) ; aYli s °Nsr ESCAPE FROM POISON.—On Saturday Mr. h 'tl e qi,tia,,,eeintlemae who formerly kept a druggist's shop „adace,ev-tane, Birkenhead, being afflicted with severe e went to the shop of Mr, Johnson, Argyle-street pod twei bottles of mixtures made up; one, a deadly s e. e ?/,lg for external application, the other to be le i ;„euce were of the same size, but properly labelled. t 7led e s " 2: then proceeded to the St. George Inn, where he o r_ glass of warm ale, in which he poured the con aseeeuelle of the bottles and drank it off. Afterwards afi7etli en eelor the newspaper, and was left by the landlord eld iT i !ee l _t i .. About a quarter of an hour. later Mr. Wing vony:"Lned to the room and found Mr. Baylis in dreadful be e e eed l ol l a i . c? s ul a d e say no more than, " I am done for. )4,', 6 ,Ne r. T ee t n k_ '', pointing to the two bottles on the l iket m3 r, found took up the emty bottle, and to ,eried for it labelled " Poison." Mr. Wingfield l assistance, and in a few minutes had ti:l' - el e e sesimeili atth_a,yn :even surgeons in attendance, Mr. Downing dministered a strong emetic, and with other ibueilaus fiumio,ceeded in causing the stomach to eject the ta t i e rnoe ed " c l ,, Mr. Baylis so far recovered as to se We e to his residence in the course of the evening, atrpr. The mixture whi c h M r. Baylis had taken bees tr op solution of veratria, and had he taken a eatntity, i nct befora all .human probability life would have e assistance could have been procured. THE WELSH CHARITY SCHOOLS. These schools, which have been long operating most usefully in this town, were aided on Tuesday evening by the proceeds of a ball held in the Town-hall, under the patronage of the Mayor, the Dowager Lady Erskine, and Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., M.P. The attend ance was very numerous and fashionable ; amongst those present being Sir Watkin W. Wynn, the Dowager Lady Erskine and daughters ; his Worship the Mayor, with his lady, son, and daughter ; the whole of the committee, Mr. Forster, Mr. Alderman Parker, Mr. Littledale, Mr. Councillor Lloyd, Mr. Sandbach, Mr. Councillor Gard ner, Mr. Alderman Procter, and Mr. Alderman Turner. The affair was rendered more national and characteristic than are balls usually, by the presence of several Welsh harpers. The other musical performances devolved upon Gribbin's quadrille band and the band of the 91st Regt. The refreshments were elegantly served. The ball realised nearly £5OO for the charity. EXAMINATION OF THE PUPILS Contingent on the ball, in order to secure the attend ance of Lady Erskine, Sir Watkin Wynn, and other dis tinguished personages, the annual examination of the pupils in the schools, which has hitherto taken place on the anniversary day of the patron saint of Wales, the Ist of March, took place in the school-room, Russell-street, on Wednesday. The company was tolerably numerous. Sir W. Wynn presided, and there were present Lady Erskine and the two Misses Erskine, Mrs. H. bandbach, (Havodnos, Denbigshire), Mrs. Clough and the Misses Clough, Miss Roose, Miss Jones, Miss H. Jones. Miss Morehead, Mrs. Owen Williams, Miss Williams Thomas Hughes, Esq., (high-sheriff of Denbighshire,) Owen Wil liams, Esq., 11. Sandbach, Esq., R. E. Griffiths, Esq., R. Griffiths, Esq., William Ellis Jones, Esq., Rev. Mr. Hughes, Rev. Mr. Morgan, R. Raikes, Esq., William Jones, John Casson, Esq., William Casson, Esq., H. Arbuthnot, Esq., J. B. Lloyd, Esq., W. Wood, Esq., J. C. Jones, Esq., Jonathan Roose, Esq., &c. The proceedings throughout were most interesting. The girls read portions from Scripture, and were then questioned on them, and also in reference to the Church Catechism, geography, &c., and their ready and appro priate answers drew forth the approbation of Lady Ers kine and the whole of the audience. After the routine examination bad been gone through, as a test of their general proficiency, the president asked several questions, as they suggested themselves to his mind, in the different branches of education in which the pupils had just been examined. The boys next went through a routine examination in Scripture, history, geography, arithmetic, &c., and ac quitted themselves most admirably, and in a style re flecting the highest credit upon their teacher, Mr. Ed wards. _ _ _ Sir WATKIN WYNN expressed the high gratification he felt at the proficiency evinced, and in order to test their general information, Mr. SANDBACII proceeded to pro pound to them questions in different branches of educa tion, for which they had not been tutored on the occasion. These had reference to arithmetic, history, geography, &e. Sir Watkin playfully asked whether the pupils had any idea where California was. " I have no doubt, Sir Watkin," was the reply of the teacher, " any one of them would take you there most readily." Intimation of this was given, and a little intellectual-looking fellow stepped forth, and steered his passage by the most direct route in a style not to be surpassed by any captain con nected with the port of Liverpool. Another little fel low, at request, proceeded direct to Calcutta, with the greatest facility. A boy named Francis Watson then presented himself arid, in a clear and distinct manner, delivered an address prepared for the occasion, to the president and directors. The number of children at present in the schools is 450, namely, 220 boys, 110 girls, and 120 infants. MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.—In the eloquent speech of the Rev. Chancellor Raikes, at the Amphitheatre, when moving a vote of thanks to the Rev. Hugh M'Neile for his admirable lecture on the Canon Law, he remarked that we were supplying the funds for scattering hundreds of priests throughout the kingdom, and this appears to be the literal fact ; for we learn from a parliamentary report that in December last there were no fewer than 500 students in attendance, and that " the new buildings in the college comprise 215 rooms for students, with a li brary, seven lecture halls, a kitchen, refectory, &c. These, however, remain unprovided with any furniture; and we presume that if a Peelite Government comes into power we shall have a proposal for another " grant" to obtain the requisite fixtures. HOW THE VERY Poort LlVE.—Acorrespondent.writing to one of our contemporaries, details the following parti culars with regard to the condition and earnings of a lucifer-matchbox-maker :—Amelia Wright, aged 28, living at No. 3, Dance-street, Copperas-hill, was deserted by her husband, four years ago, leaving her with one child, now six years old. She supports herself and child, without parochial aid, by making lucifer matchboxes. At this employment she earns 71(.1. per day, for which sun► she has to make three gross. When in full work she makes eighteen gross per week, which amounts to 3s. 9d. Of this sum, one shilling goes for rent ; she uses half a cwt. of coal in cold weather, and a quarter of a cwt. when warmer. Meat and vegetables she never tastes, except when her sister (a very little better off) gives her a dinner on the Sabbath. The child stands all day at the table, pasting the labels on the boxes, at which she is very handy. Their united labour gains but lid. The child has not been, and cannot get, to school, nor the mother to a place of worship. She says she never goes out of doors, except once a week to the shop with their work. She will not go to the 'Workhouse, as she would be there separated from her child. INTERESTING LECTURE.—On Tuesday evening, Dr. Fisher, of Great George-street, delivered a lecture on astronomy, in the Church of England Schools, Cornwal lis-street, for the benefit of the schools. The audience was very numerous, many being compelled to stand in the passages between the seats. All appeared much gra tified with the instructive lecture delivered by Dr. Fisher, and the beautiful representations which, with the help of his valuable diagrams, were given of the heavenly bodies. Saturn with his rings and seven moons (or rather eight, another, as the lecturer informed his auditors, having been lately discovered by Wm. Lassell, Esq., of Liverpool), Jupiter and his satellites, and Venus in all her phases, were particularly admired. But what was peculiarly inte resting was Dr. Fisher's account of the newly-discovered planet Neptune. He first gave a clear and succinct ac count of the calculations and reasonings of LeVerrier and Adams, leading them to conjecture the existence of a planet in a particular locality in the immensity of space, and then announced the singular fact of the discovery at Berlin of the actual existence of a new planet in that very region of the heavens in which the calculations of science led these two eminent men to look for it. After the close of the lecture several splendid views of remarkable places in different parts of the world were exhibited, and several chromatropes of great brilliancy and variety of colour, to the great entertainment of the young. The public are certainly much indebted to Dr. Fisher for his benevolence in aiding, gratuitously, so many of the religious institu tions of Liverpool, by giving lectures on their behalf. RAPID PASSAGE.—The screw-steamer Arno, of which we gave a description some short time back, has returned to this port, after making a very fine voyage, giving a further proof of the success of the screw as a propeller. It will be recollected that the Arno sailed from this port during the very severe weather about the middle of January, against which she steamed gallantly, and arrived at Gibraltar unscathed, whilst the Dumbarton Youth, and several other vessels that sailed about the same time, had to put back from stress of weather. Whilst in the Medi terranean the Arno made some extraordinary runs, particulars of some of which we subjoin :—Passage from Leghorn to Messina, 47 hours ; Palermo to Marseilles, 48 hours (the quickest on record); from Marseilles to Liverpool, including detention of seven hours at Gibraltar to coal, and land and receive cargo, 81 days. Her com mander has received the following gratifying testimonials from passengers to the different ports on his route home:— Gibraltar Bay, 22nd February, 1851. We, the undersigned passengers from Marseilles toGibraltar by the Arno screw -steamer, commander G. Haram, cannot leave the vessel without previously testifying to the com modious arrangements of this elegant and fast going steamer (which, after a tine run of 72 hours, has brought us into port), as well as to the kindness and attention we have received at the hands of her commander, to whom we take this opportunity of expressing our thanks. On behalf of the passengers, W. D. S. ALEXANDER. We, the undersigned, were passengers on board the ship Arno, on her first return trip from Gibraltar to Liverpool, and have to speak in the highest praise of her as a pt.ssenger vessel. Her state cabins are roomy, comfortable, and well ventilated ; her table everything that could be wished, and the attendance very good, and the passage was the shortest and most pleasant one we ever made, _ It. A. LONGNIORE. Arno, Liverpool, February 28, 1851. CT. §CIIIY SANITARY STATE OF WAVERTREE.—We have received a copy of the report furnished to the General Board of Health, by Robert Rawlinson, Esq., engineer, on the sanitary state of Wavertree. The recommendations made by the learned gentleman may be briefly indicated in the following paragraphs :—" Having duly conducted the in quiry intrusted to me by your honourable board, and having considered the several peculiarities of the township and the requirements of the ratepayers, I beg respectfully to present the following recommendations for considera tion:-1. That Wavertree is a ' place' (a township) having a known and defined boundary. 2. That there are local Acts of Parliament in force, but the government of the township is imperfectly carried on under the general acts of the country ; that it is the wish of the landowners and ratepayers, as named in their petition, that the powers of the Public Health Act should be granted, that a local board may be formed for the purposes contemplated and provided for in that act. 3. That the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water are at present imperfect. 4. That the parish burial ground is situated at an inconvenient distance, that it is unduly'overcrowded ; that there is no township burial ground adequate to the requirements of the place ; and that a new cemetery is much needed. 5. That power is required to form new roads and streets, to pave courts, to regulate slaughter-houses, to prevent over crowding in common lodging-houses, and to remove all means of nuisance at short intervals. 6. That many cess pools have been formed, and that wells and pumps have been sunk in the same porous subsoil, a state of things most improper, and likely to be highly injurious if con tinued. That to remedy these evils, power to construct house-drains is required, as also to obtain a full supply of pure water, to the superseding of all local wells, pumps, and house-cisterns. Th a t th e supp l y may b e a t cons t ant service, high pressure, abundant, pure, and cheap. 7. That power to enclose land out of use is required, as also to drain all stagnant water from open pits and ditches, to remove all solid refuse at short intervals, and to cleanse and regulate the township generally ; and that much benefit will arise to the ratepayers if they are enabled to construct the necessary works of outlet drai na ge j o i n tly with the adjoining townships.lllr. Rawlinson recom mends the extension of the Public Health Act (except sect. 50) to Wavertree. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF EMIGRANTS' HOMES, TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE FUNDS OF THE DOCK ESTATE. It seems almost like a mockery to canvass a proposed legislative enactment, at a time when we have neither a government nor a parliament which represents the voice of the people, or which may not be dissolved at any mo ment. We nevertheless take the liberty of directing the attention of our readers to one feature of the bill origi nated by the American Chamber of Commerce, purport ing to be a bill to alter the constitution of the Dock Trust of Liverpool, which appears to us to be so monstrous and impolitic as to deserve consideration, even in the present unsettled state of our legislative system. The bill in question, upon whose main features we have previously remarked, is, we may remind our readers, put forth by a dissatisfied or a piqued minority of this com munity, and has for its object to snatch from the bur gesses of Liverpool their legitimate control over the ma nagement of the dock estate. That portion of it, to which we now proceed to direct our observations, appears to us to be a sop offered to gratify the centralising pro pensities of the modern race of statesmen, who have grown wonderfully considerate of late of the interests of their humbler fellow-beings—or rather of the power and pay to be derived from the attempt to take care of them— as is testified by all their recent legislation. For some time past a hankering has been manifested in official quarters to gain a complete control over the emigration taking place from Great Britain and Ireland. To forward this object, every accident which has taken place —every case of fraud upon emigrants which has occurred—(and in some ports these have been legion, whilst, to the cre dit of Liverpool be it spoken, such has been the first-rate character of the ships engaged in the trade, and such the respectability of the emigration agents, that both acci dents and frauds have been rare)—and every irregularity, however unavoidable, have been magnified and distorted to create a pretext for further government meddling, such as that which for the last month has paralysed the ship ping trade of every port in the kingdom, and driven our hardy seamen to the verge of open mutiny against esta blished law and order. The proposition contained in this bill to open emigrant homes at such of our docks as the new Dock Trust may select, is a sop thrown down to propitiate government, and a few sentimental theorists, in favour of a measure which we have already designated as impudent through out. The would-be new rulers of the dock estate are not content with being permitted to compete, with the public funds, against the private enterprise of our warehouse owners, porters, coopers, and other ratepayers of the town ; but must become boarding-house-keepers on a large scale. What system of management they may have in view—how they propose to keep in order and in good humour the unruly elements which form the emigrating community—whether they will become their own slop dealers, their own chandlers, their own tinmen, and their own provision -dealers—we do not know. But confident we are that the whole project is crude and ill-considered ; that it will result disastrously to its authors and the estate under their management, to the parish of Liverpool. and to the emigrants themselves. The very fact of the esta blishment of public asylums for emigrants will attract hordes of paupers to the port, seeking and expecting to be sent forward at the public expense. Every parish in Ireland will contribute its quota of penniless beings, who must either be sheltered within the new " homes," until they can be sent back, or turned into our streets to beg or to do worse. In the meantime the respectable class of emigrants will sturdily refuse to enter such lazar houses. All who are acquainted with these people know that they like above all things to lay out their own money, and to be the masters of their own actions ; and although they do often act foolishly, they will prefer risking the conse quences to being controlled by any system of manage ment, however excellent. We object, however, to the establishment of emigrants' homes, as being an unjust and uncalled-for interference with the enterprise of individuals, and calculated seriously to depreciate the value of a certain class of property in the town. We have, especially in the neighbourhood of the north docks, considerable masses of household pro perty, fitted up as boarding-houses for the emigrants sailing from this port, and kept generally by men of sub stance and good character, practically acquainted with the emigration trade, and capable of pointing out to the emi grant the best mode of procuring the necessaries for his voyage. But for such men, the bulk of whom are known to the government emigration officers, and to the various charterers of vessels, as conducting their business honestly and well, a much larger portion than at present of the emigrants arriving in our port would be caught hold of and fleeced by the vagabond crimps and runners on our quays, with whom the boarding-house-keepers are too often and too hastily confounded. The Dock Committee have no right, we consider, to take the livelihood of these men—who are householders and large ratepayers—out of their fingers, merely to gratify a maudlin sentimentality, and a longing for power in high places. The Committee and our local magistracy might indeed effect something highly beneficial to the emigrant, if they would consent to proceed in a common-sense and prac tical course. Let the respectable boarding-house-keepers in the town be licensed, giving previous notice of their intention to apply for licenses, and security if required ; then close the steam docks of the port against the hordes of mancatchers and crimps, whose importunities and ruf fianism, on the arrival of every packet conveying emi grants, is a disgrace to the port. A policeman or two, stationed at each dock-gate, with instructions to admit only the respectable holders of such licenses, would very shortly render systematic roguery towards emigrants an unprofitable trade, and add greatly to th e reputation of Liverpool as an emigration port. LOCAL MEETINGS. BIRKENHEAD OPERATIVE PROTESTANT AHSOCIATION. —A meeting was held on Tuesday evening, at. the Craven Rooms, for the purpose of adopting measures• to carry out the objects of the association. The chair was occu pied by the Rev. Andrew Knox. After some remarks from the Chairman on the necessity of earnestness in the cause of Protestantism, the Rev. T. F. Redhead moved, " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the recent encroachments and aggressions of the Church of Rome, and the strenuous exertions now making by that church to regain her lost ascendancy in these realms, call aloud for the active exertions of all who desire the continuance of pure religion and civil liberty in our land." The resolution was adopted unanimously. A second resolu tion, expressing approval of the association, which would be a safeguard to the church, was also adopted, turd rules for the government of the association approved. HARRINGTON BUILDING SOCIETY.—The members of this successful building society dined together at the Brunswick Hotel on Wednesday, to celebrate the success ful termination of its labours. The advantages conferred by its means on the members furnish undeniable testimony to the importance of building associations, and to the great advantages that may be derived from them. After dinner, which was served in Mr. Whiteman's usual style, some interesting speeches were delivered by the chair man, Mr. Condon, the vice-chairman, Mr. F. G. Har bord, Mr. William Holt, the solicitor of the society, and other gentlemen.. The hilarity of the evening was assisted by the musical contributions of Messrs. Gleave, Taylor, and Radcliffe. This society is one of a number brought to a most successful issue through the instrumentality of Mr. William Priest, the secretary, who has been most fortunate in his superintendence over associations of this character. The members are so satisfied with the opera tions and progress of the society just wound up that they have come to the determination to commence a new one under the same auspices. WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—On Wednesday, at the weekly meeting, Mr. Roskell presided. After consi derable discussion, it was resolved that a list of the pau pers receiving out-door relief in each township should be printed, provided the cost did not exceed £lO. After some minor business, Ms. Fisher, in conformity with previous notice, brought forward his motion for an annual donation of £lOO to be paid to the Southern and Toxteth Hospital.—Mr. Jones thought £7O would be sufficient; but, on a division the original motion was carried.—Mr. Thomas Smith moved a committee of inquiry into some alleged irregularities in the administration of out-door relief in Mr. Allan's district, West Derby township.—A long, stormy, and acrimonious conversation then took place, in which it appeared to be the general feeling of the board that Mr. Smith was bound to bring forward some specfic charge, or admit that he had nothing to urge against Mr. Allan.—lt was ultimately proposed that the whole of the guardians of Mr. Allan's district should be appointed a committee of investigation.—Mr. Smith : It is my duty to say we cannot bring the case before such a committee. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—On Thursday, at the usual weekly meeting, Alderman Parker presided. Mr. Cul shaw was appointed to value the new property in the borough, with a view to the assessment of the rates for the ensuing year. Upwards of £l,OOO was reported to be owing by the United Gas Company ; and several appli cations having been unsuccessfully made for payment, the outstanding accounts sub-committee had agreed to recommend the Watch Committee to deduct the amount from the sum which would be due in March for lighting the public lamps.—The report of the inspector of nui sances was next read.—Dr. Duncan, the medical officer of health, reported that the deaths in the borough, last week, were 208, of which 168 were in the parish, and 40 in the extra-parochial wards—being four less than in the previous week. Zymotic diseases had caused 54 deaths. —Several streets having been recommended for pavement, some conversation took place as to the letting them by contract. It was agreed that the tenders should be adver tised for, instead of selecting particular parties for the work ; but there are, it appears. only five paviours in Liverpool.—lt was agreed that a list of the streets nomi nally adopted within the last few years should be pub lished, with a view to their formal adoption.—The Town clerk recommended that the dispute with the Dock Com mittee as to the paving, &c., of Sefton-street, and of the new road after Regent-street, in the north, should be referred to arbitration. Agreed to.—The Chairman ex pressed a hope that the Council would be unanimous in regard to the re-building of George's Baths, for mere alterations or repairs would cause a useless expenditure of money. The matter was referred, on Mr. Hornby's sug gestion, to the FinanceCommittee.—Mr.Fernihough called attention to the act of a gentleman who was the owner of two houses in Burlington-stree'. He had altered a tax paper from the assessment of £lB, as it stood, to £l5. BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.—The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, at the London Tavern. The Baron J. L. Goldsmid presided. The statement of accounts showed the total receipts up to the 31st Decem ber to be £950,695 17s. 3d. ; the expenditure £943,162 ss. 3d. ; and a balance of £7,533 12s.—The chairman having proposed the adoption of the report, Mr. Bailey said he understood there was to be a meeting of the com mittee of the dock trustees and the dock bondholders ; and he trusted they would then agree to adopt a certain bill. The dock trustees had much alarm at the bill as it was now introduced into the House of Commons, and therefore they were anxious to have a conference which should terminate in the adoption of a bill that would be agreed upon by both parties. If that was not accom plished, the dock trustees would oppose the present bill to the utmost of their power. The plan which he hoped would be adopted was one which had been submitted to the dock trustees, and which had met with the approval of many competent judges. if that should be agreed to, the dock trustees had every expectation of getting the water into the floats, to the extent of fifty acres, in addi tion to the two small docks ; and he had no doubt that, if that were done by the commencement of next April, they would have a connexion which would produce in the two next years at least £25,000 ; and the dock trus tees would receive as much.—Mr. Poynder said there was now a much greater chance of seeing the satisfactory completion of the works than there had been at any for mer period ; and ho would leave the room with the strong hope that he should in a short time see the docks and warehouses realising the expectations which had from the first been entertained with regard to them. All that was necessary to ensure success was cordiality and unanimity between the two boards.—The report was then unani mously adopted.—Mr. Lace, Mr. Winch, and Mr. Ben del were re-elected directors of the company. ASYLUM FOR ORPHAN Boys.—On Wednesday, the first general meeting of the subscribers to the institution was held in the Clarendon-rooms, J. Bent, Esq., (the Mayor,) in the chair. M r . H armoo d B anner read the report, which stated that the attempt to establish the institution had met with the encouragement anticipated. The donations, thus far, amount to upwards of £2OOO, the greater portion of which is received and in bank. The annual subscriptions amount to about £4OO. Included in the list of donations will be found £163 ls. 6d., being the handsome result of the oratorio of the " Creation," gratuitously performed by the Liverpool Philharmonic Auxiliary Society, on the 14th of January, for the benefit of this society; and about £lOO presented by the mem bers of the Chatham Society, as the proceeds of a ball at the Town-hall, given by them in aid of the building fund. Twenty-two boys have been admitted into the dwelling, and under the industrious tuition of Mr. Devlini, are making favourable progress in their education. Applica tions for admission are certain to multiply as the institu tion becomes more known. The statement of accounts was next read. The total subscriptions and donations had amounted to £1524 4s. 3d. ; the expenditure was £356 16s. 10d. ; leaving a balance in the bank of £1167 7s. sd. The Venerable Archdeacon Brooks, Mr. Tobin, jun., the Rev. Mr. Higgins, Mr. Edmund Molyneux, and various other gentlemen addressed the meeting in behalf of the institution, and it was agree d t o make a strong appeal to the public for support, Mr. Banner remarking that, on the establishment of the Female Orphan Asylum, upwards of £lOOO formed the result of the collections at the respective churches. Thanks were voted to Mr. Banner and the provisional committee. A subsequent resolution was adopted, constituting officers and a com mittee : the president being Mr, H. Banner, the vice presidents Mr. R. W. Preston and Mr. W. Bates, and the treasurer Mr. John Bibby. Mr. H. Banner intimated, at the close, that the Mayor had placed a handsome donation at the disposal of the committee. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The Sub-committee of Works recommended the purchase of a large warehouse in Nova Scotia, the lease of which would not expire fur sixteen years.—A communication was read from the marine surveyor, stating that in consequence of the breaking down of the embankment at Leasowe in October last, and the subsequent subsidence of the bank, there was no access at present to the lighthouse for coals, stores, &c. The sub ject was referred for the legal opinion of the law-clerk.— The Warehouse Committee reported that the Albert Warehouses were as full as they had ever been since the dock was opened.—An application was made by Messrs. Duncan, Squiry, and Duncan, solicitors to the bill for altering the constitution of the dock trust, and the erec tion of an emigrants' home ; for the plans, &c., of the Tiome projected by the surveyors of the Dock Estate. The application was refused.—A communication was read from Mr. James Freme, offering to dispose of the Park hill Estate at the south end of the town for the purposes of shipbuilding. Referred.—ln pursuance of notice of motion, Mr. Langsdale moved that a committee be ap pointed to inquire into the dockyard and office establish ments, with power to examine books, clerks, &c. On bringing this motion before the committee, he did not intend to cast a reflection upon any person ; but he con sidered it a duty on the part of that committee to institute inquiries into the working of those establishments every five or seven years. Mr. Bold stated there was a similar committee moved for in 1841, and the result of their deliberations was before the committee. The secretary then read the report alluded to, which recommended that no reduction be made in the dockyard staff; and the reso lution was passed on that report by the general committee, who stated they entertained the highest opinion of Mr. Hartley's services, and that they continued to place the fullest confidence in his zeal and ability in the discharge of the duties of his office. Mr. Hartley said that was the first time he had ever heard that resolution. There was no discharged clerk or any other person for whom ho cared. He did not care who went into the dockyard, or saw the works that he had ever done ; but people came into the yard and into his office without saying " By your leave," and unknown to him (Mr. Hartley),. and in a way that he would not like to act to another. At the same time he did not care who came there. Mr. Langs dale : I am obliged to you, Mr. Hartley, for your insult. Mr. Hartley : I don't care for any man living. Mr. Langsdale : What do I care about you ; I went into your dock ; I never went into your office. Mr. Hartley : You were welcome to go. into my office. Mr. Saunders : Do Mr. Hartley's observations apply to Mr. Langsdale ? Mr. Langsdale : Yes ; for I went round the dock-yard at a quarter-past eight o'clock the other morning. A sh or t discussion, followed, after which Mr. Langsdale withdrew Ms motion, it being understood that the Cornmittm of, WoritS would consider. the matter and teport.. CELEBRATION OF ST. DAVID'S DAY. Saturday last being bt. David's Day, was celebrated in this town with great enthusiasm. The children walked in procession, with flags and banners, to St. David's Church, headed by Mr. Owen Williams, the Reverends W. Hughes, W. Williams (the preacher for the day), T. W. Jones, of St. Paul's, &c. &c. We noticed Mr. Robert Wynne, Mr. E. P. Jones, Mr. Richards, &c. &c., in the church. The Rev. W. Hughes read the service, and the Rev. W. Williams, rector of Llanddyfnan, Anglesey, preached a ve►y impressive and appropriate sermon from I. Tim. vi. 17, 18. THE LIVERPOOL CAMBRIAN SOCIETY The forty-fourth anniversary of the Cambrian Society was celebrated on Saturday, St. David's Day, by a din ner at the Wellington-hotel, Dale-street. It is unneces sary to observe that Mr. Ford's arrangements were in the highest degree efficient ; the abundance was worthy of the national hospitality of the members of a Welsh so ciety, and the cuisine reflected credit on the purveyor; and though it was evident that the principal object had been to provide a good substantial repast, the delicacies common to the season were not omitted : the wines were also of excellent quality. The only part of the arrange ments to which we can take exception arose from a want of punctuality on the part of the guests, as dinner was announced for four o'clock, and it was precisely five before operations commenced. Upwards of 100 gentle men were seated on the removal of the covers. The chair was occupied by W. M. Wynne, Esq., of Birkenhead ; Mr. John Jones, of Waterloo-road, was vice-president ; at the principal table were,—Robert Wynne, Esq., (of the firm of Cotesworth, Wynne, and Lyne,) R. E. Grif fiths, Esq., (of the firm of Priestley, Griffiths, and Cox,) the Rev. W. Hughes, the Rev. W. Williams (the minis ter of the day), Mr. Briscoe (town councillor), Mr. W. P. Jeffreys (town councillor), and Mr. Hall (of the firm of Hall and Jones) ; there were also Dr. N. S. Marsh, Mr. Games, surgeon, Mr. E. P. Jones (the treasurer of the society), Mr. H. E. Jones, Mr. Rees Jeffreys, Mr. T. Hughes (the secretary), Mr. S. Gibson, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Edward Hughes, the celebrated Welsh harper, en livened the gustative operations by playing several national airs on the ancient instrument he fingers so admirably ; the subsequent proceedings were varied by the assistance of Messrs. Roberts, Radcliffe, Mellor, and Geo. Holden, jun., the well-known glee singers. The cloth having been withdrawn, the chairman rose to announce the first toast,—" Her Gracious Majesty the Queen," who has endeared herself to her attached subjects quite as much by the virtues of the woman as those of the queen. (The national anthem.)—The chairman in giving the second toast said, it was also one that had reference to royalty, but was more especially connected with them as Welsh men,—" The Prince of Wales." Though that prince did not wear a crown glittering with jewels, but only a cap and phnne, they would not exchange it for the crown of an empire. (Cheers.) "The Prince of 'Wales." (Three times three.)—The chairman : Harper, give us " The noble race of Sbenkin."—" Prince Albert and the royal family" elicited the same enthusiastic compliment. (Hunting chorus.) The next toast was that of the " Lord Bishop and the clergy of the diocese." The chairman said he thought they would agree with him in opinion, that the clergy of this diocese were an ornament to Chris tianity ; he begged to couple with this toast the name of the Rev. W. Hughes, of St. David's. The Rev. W. HUGHES, incumbent of St. David's, responded, and said,—When it was necessary for their church to stand in a defensive attitude, none of the Right Rev. Prelates pointed more plainly to the only weapon they could effectually wield against the encroachment of Popery, than the Lord Bishop of Chester. Such words as the following, said he, showed that their boloved bishop was a staunch and an unflinching Protestant. In one of his late answers to an address from his clergy, " Let there," said his lordship, " be no dubious silence, no disengenuous concealment, no hollow compromise, no fantastical approximation to Popery." Their church would be a scriptural church as long as the sixth article was retained ; that article directed them to the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. As that was a society of Welshmen, he took the liberty of alluding to their noble ancestors, and that ancient language which was so dear to them. St. David, whose anniversary they were that day celebrating, was likewise a bishop, and he was one that loved and fought for his country, and obtained a glorious victory. The leek which he saw there that even ing was not to be easily forgotten ; it brought their recol lection back to the sixth century, and proclaimed the valour of the Briton. Their past history, anterior to the sixth century, showed that their forefathers were brave. The Romans, with all their military gallantry, found the Briton an enemy difficult to contend with, and it was a matter of doubt whether the Briton would ever have been reconciled to the dominion of the Romans had it not been for the clemency, kindness, and humanity of the wise and merciful Agricola. They might boast of princes who in their chains could astonish and confound emperors ; warriors, who, had they a Homer to sing their praises era Virgil and a Livy to render their names gloriaus,.might not only be classed with the warriors of Greece,and Rome, but would have totally eclipsed them. Hu, ventured to say that Thermopylae,. and. Marathon, that the. Punic and the Peloponesian war,, could Scarcely, produce, puck in.. stances of bravery and courage, as were seen in those nobler exploits, which the magnanimous sons-of Cambria have been engaged in. As inheritors of such a glorious name, he would entreat them not to tarnish it by being guilty of any mean action or indecorous conduct. Let their motto be— " Hand ulli veterum virtute secundus.'" Their language, he said, was more independent than any other in Europe. A missionary, writing from the East, said that the Welsh was a twin sister of the Sanscrit, and that both were derived from the original language of man kind, and, very likely, at one time, were the one and the same language. Their language was capable of such a torrent of irresistible eloquence, yea, such a stream of descriptive and energetic oratory, that it would have done honour to the tongue of a Cicero or a Demosthenes. He was glad that the advantages of the Welsh were on the increase, schools were multiplying in the principality, the clouds were dispersing and the sun seemed to shine more brightly upon the romantic hills and quiet vales of Cam bria. In conclusion he ventured to predict that Wales, shielded as it was, under the blessing of God, by a pre eminent acquaintance with the scriptures, would defy the missiles of the Vatican, for many a generation to come, whether those missiles would be aimed at it in the shape of Vicars Apostolical, in a Hierarchical, in a Cardinalitial, in a Synodical, or some other Jesuitical form. He took up the language, applied to the Greeks, with reference to the development of any scheme originated in the College of Cardinals,— _ _ " Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes." (Loud cheers.) The Mayor and Town Council of Liverpool was then given. The chairman had much pleasure in proposing the toast, he thought it was a toast well worthy of being given, not only in that society, but by every society in Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) He would not say anything about the magnificence and extent of their docks, but merely observe that if the accommodation. of the trade of the port did not extend on this side of the Mersey, in the same proportion as that trade increased, he was afraid it would go to the other side (laughter), the toast was drunk with three times three, and one cheer more. — (Willie brew'd a peck o'Malt.) Mr. COUNCILLOR BRISCOE briefly responded; he would not detain them long with his remarks, as there was another member of the council present, Mr. W. P. Jeffreys, who was a more thorough Welshman than him self, and who, no doubt, would occnpy some of their time. (Hear, hear.) The opinion just expressed by their worthy chairman, in reference to the dock question, lie did not doubt embodied the sentiments of the town at large. He (Mr. B.) must say that he could not agree with the majo rity of the Town Council in some of the measures recently passed by that body. (Hear, hear.) Welsh energy made its way, whether in London or Liverpool (hear), and be was glad to see that some of them had made their way into the Town Council. Mr. COUNCILLOR JEFFREYS said that probably nine teen out of every twenty in the room were Welshmen, and he felt very happy in being there again to spend St. David's day amongst his own countrymen, to celebrate the only day in the year which they could call their own, in harmony and social festivity. As well as a municipal representative, he was an honorary overseer of the parish of Liverpool, and in that capacity he had an opportunity of seeing the relation which existed between the different amounts disbursed from the poor rates to the support of the people from the different parts of the United Kingdom from this fact he was enabled to state that five-sixths of the recipients of parish relief were Irish paupers. One day during the past week 150 cases of appeal against paying the poor rates were beard before the magistrates ; very many of these appeals were made by Irish persons, and one reason for their refusal to pay was because the rate was partly a church rate, although five-sixths of the recipients of that rate were their own countrymen. He compared this proneness to become burthenson.e on the parochial funds on the part of the Irish with the horror entertained by Welshmen of becoming paupers, in illus tration of which national trait he repeated a Welsh proverb, the meaning of which is, that " If you will do that I should not be surprised if you come to receive parish relief." Out of 1700 persons resident in the Work house, only six were countrymen of theirs. This was highly creditable to their nation and to the Cambrian Society. At this point of the proceedings Mr. E. S. Jones sang a translation into Welsh of the sweet song, "The Ivy Green ;" the tune was idet.tical with the original, and the melody seemed to have lost nothing in the translation. Mr. Jones possesses a very musical voice, and his amateur contributions were the gems of the evening. Mr. E. P. JONES, of Paradise-street, the treasurer of the society, in proposing " the honorary members and strangers present," said that, had it not been from respect to the honorary members and their friends who had come amongst them that evening they (the ordinary members of the society) could very well have dispensed with the dainties of which they had just partaken. He hoped and trusted the Cambrian Society would never be allowed to decay. (Cheers.) He felt both pleasure and pride in having to say that he had been a member of the society eighteen or nineteen years. It was the duty of every one who might he blessed with prosperity to contribute to the support of his poorer fellow-creatures. lie knew Welsh men generally practised this philanthropic axiom ; and the comparative prosperity of the Cambrian Society proved this, but though they were favoured with the support of so many respectable men as he saw there, he could assure them that the society had as much as it could do to keep its head above water. They had now ten or twelve pen sioners, who had for five or six years been receiving a weekly allowance. and consequently occasioning a constant drain on the funds. Mr. Jones went on to illustrate the beneficial operations of the society, and showed that such an institution could not fail to do much to prevent the spread of pauperism, but in pronouncing the last word he experienced some difficulty from a temporary impediment, and it came out popery, at which a loud and continued burst of applause and laughter ensued. At the first pause the chairman humorously ejaculated the word "both," Mr. Jones, in good humour, remarked that a Welshman ought to be allowed to speak three times before be could be understood. He was like a barrel in the hands of a cooper, of no use until it was confined by three hoops. (Laughter.) Mr. Jones went on to show the good such societies as the Cambrian were capable of effecting by reducing the aggre gate amount of pauperism. This society especially aimed at assisting the working-man when visited by sickness. If a working-man were confined to his bed for three months, by the aid of that society, when he recovered, be found himself free from the demands both of surgeon and baker, and with his little furniture about Lim'. If the working-man once parted with his furniture, he was com pelled to go into lodgings, and perhaps he became a pau per; he never recovered his position ,—he was like a maiden once seduced,—he was lost for ever. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, Mr. Jones expressed the gratification he felt in proposing the health of the honorary members and the strangers then present. R. WYNNE, Esq., of the firm of Cotesworth, Wynne, and Fyne, responded. lle said he was taken by surprise, inasmuch as when he came there he had no intention of addressing them. He referred to the previous observa tions that had been made relative to de Welsh character as contrasted with the Irish, and observed that at a recent meeting of the Roman Catholics in this town a leading merchant had charged the Welsh with being the most bigoted of people. What lie asked was this but saying that they were the most protestant people. (Hear.) He considered this as the highest compliment that could have been paid to them. R. GRIFFITH, Esq., of the firm of Priestley, Griffith, and Cox, proposed, " The President, and success to the Cambrian Society." W. M. WYNNE, Esq., responded in a brief but grace ful speech. W. HALL, Esq., of the firm of Hall and Jones, pro posed the " Principality." Ho entertained so high an opinion of the Welsh character that he regretted he was not a Welshman. J. GAMES, Esq., responded. lie vindicated the natu tural intelligence of t, e Welsh people, but admitted that hitherto education had been restricted amongst them ; if this advantage were extended to the Welsh they would rival either the English or the Scotch. The subsequent toasts were " The Vice-president," " The fair Daughters of Cambria," " The Treasurer," " The Secretary and the Officers of the Society," and " The Press." Our limited space, however, forbids fur ther details of the proceedings. Btstrf a Peths, The Lord-Lieutenant of the county palatine of Lan caster has appointed Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie, jun., to he Deputy-Lieutenant. On Sunday week Mr. Jas. Griffiths, of Flookersbrook, Chester, committed suicide by hanging himself in the summer-house in his garden. The deceased was 63 years of age, and possessed of considerable property. Sir W. W. Wynn, M.P., is applying to Parliament for an act to repeal the act, passed in 1827, which empowers the Ellesmere and Chester Canal Company to use the water in Bala Lake to any extent, and without reference to the rights of any other parties. The commissioners of Ormskirk have elected Mr. John M`Manus, an assistant in the office of Mr. Newlands, bo rough engineer, to the office of inspector of Nuisances and Surveyor for the township of Ormskirk, under the Public Health Act, at a salary of £75 per annum. FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. Shortly after six o'clock on the morning of Monday last a fatal explosion of fire damp took place at Messrs. Cardwell and Holgate's colliery, near Turf Moor, Burnley, by which three persons lost their lives instantaneously, and two others were so seriously injured that one of them at least exhibits no hopes of recovery. The catastrophe was caused by Thos. Stevenson, one of the victims, using a lighted candle, in stead of the usual lamp, although repeatedly cautioned. Last week a fire broke out in the house of Mr. Edwards, hatter, Golden-square, Warrington, and after it was re duced, it was discovered that Mrs. Edwards, an old wo man, nearly 80 years of age, was lying senseless and much scorched on the floor. She never rallied, and died imme diately afterwards. The origin of the fire cannot be as certained ; but it is supposed that the old woman, who had only been left a few minutes before, had incautiously placed the candle too near the bed. THE REV. DR. TAIGHAN'S FIRST GUINEA.—At the annual meeting of the Oldham Lyceum, last week, the Rev. D. Vaughan (Independent), gave the following inte resting incident of his own history :—He well remembered, when a little boy, becoming very affluent when possessed of his first guinea. He turned out into the streets of Bristol, looking into all the shops, and turning over and over his guinea, putting it first in one pocket and then in another ; then again looking at it ; at last he turned into a book auction, where the " History of the World," in two volumes, was standing at seven shillings. Eight was bid. " Going, going." He bid nine shillings, with his chin scarcely higher dam the table. Noboby bid against the boy, and he gfA the whole world for nine shillings, which he carried eraltingly home on his shoulders. He sat reading till raidnight,_ and those books were read through and thro'agh many a time; and they bad formed the taste and created that passion for reading which he wauld.not loeQ for the wezdth.of.tho CORRESPONDENCE. THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE. TO TDB EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD_ regret to see in the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette of lass week, that Mr. Labouchere is advised to remain quiescent during the seamen's strike, because doubtless the turbulent crew will give in, and the vessel will go steadily before the breeze. Now, sir, I would ask the editor of the Gazette, whether the law, which he seems so much to admire, is not calculated to destroy the strength of the merchant navy of this country. Not only the able seamen, but master mariners loudly protest against such unwarrantable interference, on the part of the Government, in the domestic management of their affairs,—the expedience and competency I strongly ques tion. You, sir, are doubtless well acquainted, (or at least the editor of the Shipping Gazelle is), with the affairs of the Merchant Seaman's Fund, and the mal appropriation of those funds, so that it would be super fluous for me to dwell on this subject. Eleven years since, the first Select Committee sat respecting that mea sure, and gave a most unfavourable report. Then in 1844, the second Committee gave in another unfa vourable report. It is now 1851, and no steps whatever have been taken to remedy the crying evils of this dis graceful law, thus proving the incompetency of the Government to legislate, or at least a want of inclination to do justice to the mariner. With respect to these new rules, as set forth by Mr. Labouchere and the Board of Trade, no language can be sufficiently strong or condemnatory. The long-experienced master of a vessel, whose practical knowledge never be fore has been disputed, must undergo a fresh examination from a naval officer, or perhaps from a tyro stripling, the whole of whose knowledge is built upon his reading of Norie. Theoretical knowledge is all very well ; but the art of navigation can only be acquired by long experience at sea, which all the books and theories in the world can never teach. The new code of laws, with its fines and penalties, will most assuredly drive the British seamen to seek on the other side of the Atlantic a market for his labour, where he will be unrestricted by the cruelties of registration, or penal enactments. Registration has already produced a series of evils. For a venial offence, the mariner may have his register ticket withdrawn, and be reduced to the condition of art outcast or a vagabond, whom no one dares to employ, no matter how long he has been to sea, nor what his previous character may have been. It is like placing a brand upon a man, the mark of Cain, ren dering the unfortunate mariner a hopeless and forlorn. member of society. This Mercantile Marine Act has been smuggled through Parliament • and there are b u t t oo f ew f r i en d s to stan d up to defend the rights of the seaman. The condition of the sailor is very little understood by the landsman, and. least of all by such men as Labouchere, and those with whom he is associated in his unholy crusade against the rights and liberties of the seaman. Let these hateful pro visions be kept in force, and thousands of desertions will take place —nay, have already taken place. In the event of a war with America, or any other great power, our legislators may find to their sorrow that they have driven the ablest, truest, and best men to seek an asylum in other lands, and perchance to fight against the country which gave them birth. In conclusion I have only to observe, that the appro priation of these fines is a matter for very serious con sideration. Into whose po c k e t d o th e y go y ? Of course it will be to the interest of the officials to take coznizance of as many faults and offences as they probably can, because, doubtless, thence will arise to them a rich har vest and revenue. It may not be out of place to ask, To whom have gone the thousands of pounds levied out the sailor, during the last few years, for register tickets in this port alone. When legislators and their tools pro fess to sympathise with any set of men, they should first prove their sincerity by acts of benevolence, and not by making a demand from those whom they profess to assist. I have the honor to be, Sir. Yours very obediently. JAMES FILDES. Liverpool, Feb. 28, 1851 TILE PEELITES AND TIIE MINISTERIAL CRISIS TO THE EDITOR OF TILE LIVERPOOL STANDARI7. SlR,—The history of passing events will form a not un interesting or unimportant portion of the history of this country. It will be the task of the historian to trace to the right causes and authors the existence of this jungle of difficulties in the government of Great Britain. Most of us have our own opinions upon the matter now ; hut we are too nearly—too directly—concerned in the drama to be able to pass a fair and unbiassed judgment. But the most careless individual cannot fail to be inter ested, and perhaps surprised. at the part which the Peelitcs are playing on the political platform. It appears that overtures have been made to different individuals in that clique, by both the great parties in the state; but they resolutely refuse to yield any one of their petty crotchets for their country's good, notwithstanding the wholesale manner in which they have before done violence to the principles they professed, without even the plea of urgent necessity or constraining necessity. All this, doubtless, is part of one great design, and the speech of Sir James Graham on Friday night—forming, as it does, an important part of their project—goes far to explain whlt their ardently cherished intentions are. When Sir James Graham claims " friendship" with a political opponent, or recognizes and acknowledges the " great abilities" of a political rival, it is a sure and un erring indication who is the individual he is going to trip up, to criticise, and to condemn. The illustrations of this are too numerous, too salient, and too recent to need addue!ng,'• On Friday night he begged, amidst the satirical cheer of the house, that he might be again allowed to call Lord John RussCn " I '_'.° 11aht honourable friend." If such were the character of all Lord John Ituggell's friends, from them he may fervently pray to be delivered. After making his request, Sir James proceeded to stabi his reasons why he could not join his lordship in the re construction of his cabinet. Lord John, it seems, made many concessions to effect an union, and even promised to omit Ireland from the operations of his anti-papal bill; but Hr James would yield nothing, simply answering no! And why was this ? Sir James Graham has no party, but wants one! Lord John Russell had one, but seems al most to have lost it ; and so the right honourable (! !) baronet outbids his lordship in liberal professions for the leadership of the so-called liberal party ! and there ap pears to be a probability of this contemptible and dastardly plot succeeding. Sir James promised an extension of the suffrage ! and no resistance to the Pope ! as an induce ment to Democrats and Romanists to follow his leader ship ! Both Democrats and Romanists responded to his appeal ; and so I believe he thinks that, with these con ciliated, he and his fellow- ministerialists can govern this great, this Protestant, this imperial kingdom. • The consistent professors of this characteristic policy have only to open their eyes, and they will see " breakers a-head !" They may consider this trimming conduct nicely calculated to evade " the Irish difficulty ;" but they seem to ignore what is far more important—the crushing, English, Protestant hostility which their weak minded and unprincipled plans will induce. The rule of proportion teaches us to state the case in some such way as this :—lf an " Irish vote" of 20 could only shatter, though not defeat Lord John Russell's weak administra tion. what strength of government would it take to resist an English vote of 380 ? The fact is, sir, let the future ministry be what it may in other things, in this—its Protestantism and anti-papal intentions—it must be un mistakeable and decided, or else the scorching censure of an indignant and insulted nation will soon hurl them from those places of power and distinction, for which, in such a crisis in our country's history, they will thereby have proved themselves so utterly incompetent and unworthy. I am, sir, &c. A PROTECTIONIST. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD- SIR,—In your abstract of the proceedings at the Fi nancial Reform meeting last Monday evening, I am re ported to have " defended the window tax," and several of your contemporaries have copied the paragraph. It is, however, entirely a mistake • I fully concur in the neces sity for the repeal of the window tax, as a tax on the pub lic health ; but I contend that being also a tax on the property, and ultimately paid by the owner, and not by the tenant, it ought to be exchanged for an equitably levied house tax, in order that the produce may be em ployed in repealing some of the most injurious excise and customs' duties, to the relief of industry, instead of pro perty.—l remain, sir, _ Yours respectfully, FRANCIS BOULT. Rumford-place, Ist March, 1851 TIIE REMEDY FOR THE EXISTING CRISIS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sin,—lt is very seldom 1 trouble the newspapers with any lucubrations of mine ; but it has occurred to me that there is one way, and only one, in which Lord John Rus sell, (who, after all, I look upon as an honest man), can extricate the country and his own party from the dilemma in which they are now placed. I take it for granted that the real difficulty in the way of forming an Administra tion is—the question of Papal Aggression. Now, one of two courses remains yet open on that question—Does the country demand any legislation on that subject ? The reply to this question is given in a warning voice by the, whole of England, Scotland, Wales. and even a consider able part of Ireland, which has spoken out in a tone that can neither be mistaken nor resisted. Can Lord John Russell throw overboard, or even greatly modify, his measure against the Papal Aggression ? I say NO. Then if I were in the position of the noble duke, I should.. counsel her Majesty something after the following man ner :—" T humbly represent to your Majesty that theonly means left oven to the head of your Majesty's Govern ment is forthwith to pass the measure (or a measure) against the Papal Aggression—and both Houses of Par liament will stand by Lord John on the question—and then all the difficult?, is ever! My Lord John can then take to his councils any of those leading personages who are ready to join him on nearly all other subjects. The country would then, at least far a time, have an effective, should l though it might be a coalition, Administration, and the business of the United Kingdom would be no longer at a. stand still." Such is the advice I yet hope the noble likeduke t to see e tender e t r o n m b e e n r t f M a r a m j Majesty y u ; n d a e n r d t h b t a h t o a ug i h e I statesman sh Lord Stanley, vet I think "the pear is not yet ripe" for that display of his splendid talents, which I hope et no distant period will be seen to still greater advantage at the head of the Government in this country. I throw off this hasty sketch for insertion in the STANDARD, should you think it worth a corner, and I am, Sir, yours respectfully, Liverpool, 3rd March, 185 L