The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-03-16 00:00:00

, 1847. NT lON, 1839, all the s of education s of two sod and Foreign nd afforded a lucation to be of the Stater Mardi 16, 1847. total Reps. lore, and that se to unloose so that their e two Institu en to Roman which it may Is is contem lowing letter, journal INSTITUTE. cati on, Feb. 5 1847. had under his iLing the claims Parliamentary ritain. t he will bring mind' on Edu luisite particu the erection of • Their Lord lination of the r, under their 'TLEWORTH. is evident g forward at :onducted by a first of Dr. d by the final hat ,the, sums )kly through the British ad thus some rated by the idolatry or be departed complaint, made with- in the Corn the Lords, g the whole ;ommittee of i Address to t Committee vas defeated majority of ►op carried a votes. Committee Ly because it ,eful duty of the Church But if it to promote be but that in 1839 will attention of their influ nts for edn le facilities sources can ication may Low prefers he Govern d Socinian st an outcry ction of the —Record. oor" at the ag week, an .est and ro fictions as Marriage," ips in con- Irtue, which Lnd give the have been Bich can be s follow : he play was actresses of we need not s the whole Iterested,— be pit, was es, to gaze ed his fixed during the • imself with around, he " My wife, cause of this )geared at a nest. See sober, and merriment a no degree ;s who had nd required notvdth; -to si t marked Miller, the the gentle unlooked- e evening's or the ex ," said the we not seen and during her dead t," said the Miller re sat he had a corps dra her reputed as he felt well as for ompany, ho ake a state ' exclamied ad'! But I vife." Mr. said, "My ome direct service with six feet two what doubt er inquired said the` !se interro ' Scene to resentation , ictress, who And now uch a meet fter loving which the three years lated, which 'then parties ene the time, a Iricar com union was a and in vain im his lov to go with hvour, their to accom a, lapse of 19 ‘, the one be remarkable in the army f a lieuten sy, had not leparture of ely informed aid she was nit eighteen nitful story t told. Oa iccompanied sir, both be re the Rev. ulars, again chances of er, that ran eeple Chase, ,000 guineas. Lemen of the a greyhound when, they and twenty men hunting Esq., invited It of Ilooton • speech, pre foxhunters, a two original 4,1,--the cry, )f the chase ; pace between ncised a suit- On Wedneg g was held at ankes, Esq. , occasion the revions year, r the varioug Lchester ; and agdom. The inners:—The won by Mr. , running uP won by Mr. ress being se ach, was won running' of 10s. each , - aw's Careless ; and the ar able credit 0 0 eceived throe" le-fourth. :~~ Notwithstanding all the warnings that have been given, two more children were burnt to death, last week, in this town, during the absence of their parents. The government surveying officers have reported against the bill of the Birkenhead Commissioners, for the pur chase of the Birkenhead and Claughton Water Works. On Sunday week, £360 were collected at the Unitarian Chapel, Renshaw-street, after a sermon by the Rev. J. Thom, for the distressed Irish and Scotch. Several outrageous street robberies took place in this town last week. Parties, whether male or female, cannot be too cautious while in the:outskirts of the town after dark. The Rev. James Lister has resigned the office of pastor 'of the Baptist Chapel, in Myrtle-street, on account of a decline of bodily health. He has ministered to the con gregation for-forty-four year. Sir Wm. Stanley has given directions for having a plan of his lands at Eastham drawn up by Mr. Rampling, in order to their appropriation for the erection of villas. A new slip is also to be erected at the ferry. Mail TIDES.—On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next, our noble river will present an interesting appearance each day, at noon, from the very full state of the tides, that of Thursday being the highest of the year. On Wednesday, a vessel in the Queen's Graving Dock was discovered to be on fire, but the flames were speedily subdued by .a jet of water, which was directed on the burning ship from the Harrington Company's mains. THE LIVERPOOL CORPORATION WATERWORKS. —The petition of the inhabitants of Wigan, setting forth the serious injury the scheme is likely to inflict on the town -and trade of Wigan and the neighbourhood, has been numerously signed. The South Eastern Company's steamer Princess Cle mentine recently arrived at Ostend, in little more than lour hours from Ramsgate. She was built by Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead, and her engines were supplied from the Vauxhall Foundery. On Wednesday morning, the body of a male child was found in Brook's-street, wrapped up in a bundle, and on the same morning the body of another child was discovered in a privy in Bridgewater-street. On a post mortem ex amination it appeared that they were still born. We perceive that the annual sermons in aid of St. Mark's schools will be preached on Sunday next. The recent changes in the church have, we are informed, kept the schools in a state of depression during the last year. We therefore trust that Christian liberality will not suffer the present appeal to be in vain.— See adv. An important appointment was- made on Friday, by the Dock Committee, namely, that of Mr. George Worthing ton, as permanent, instead of occasional, solicitor to the dock estate, at a salary of £l4OO per annum, with offices on the premises. This, we understand, will be an advan tageous arrangement for the trust. GLASGOW STEAMERS.—We understand that the freight of all bale and box goods by these fine steamers to and from Glasgow, hitherto charged 41-d. per foot, with Clyde dues in addition, is reduced to 4d. per foot, including these dues. This is a great boon to the public, and we believe could be still further extended, were the abominable im post of light dues abolished, as it ought to be. The Rev. W. Carus Wilson has taken into his schools at Casterton seventeen Irish girls free, where they will be boarded, lodged, clothed, and educated without a farthing cost to their friends. Seven of them are daughters of -clergymen. It is right to say that the Dublin Steam Packet Company and the Liverpool Railway conveyed them free to Casterton, in the county of Westmorland. ANOTHER MONEYED BEGGAR.—A wretched looking Irishwoman was brought up on Wednesday, charged with applying to the relieving-officer for relief, she at the time having seven soup tickets and 6s. in her pocket. It was also proved that she received 2s. 6d. a week from the parish. Mr. Rushton ordered her to be imprisoned a month, and the money found upon her to be appropriated -to her maintenance in gaol. PLATE ROBBERIES.—WhiIst the family were at church on Sunday evening last, the house of Mr. Johnson, Church -street, Park, was entered by thieves, and ran sacked of a considerable quantity of plate and other valuables.—On Monday, about noon, some thieves got Elizabeth -street, the midden at the back of Mrs. Gregson's house, .ealizabeth-street, and stole from the dining-room, by en tering in at the window, £2O worth of plate.—On Thurs day week last, about noon, the house of Mr. Peter Warren, Bedford-street South, was entered in the same manner, and £25 worth of plate stolen. In the year 1846, forty-six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-six poor persons were supplied with medicines and received medical aid at the North and South Dispen saries, a fact which proves the vast importance of these institutions as a means of arresting the misery and dis ease which prevail in the town of Liverpool. Last year the income from all sources was less than the expenditure by £723 ; a great increase of subscriptions is therefore absolutely necessary to carry on the operations of the charity. Not another word need be said to induce the public liberally to respond to the appeal of the Committee for additional assistance. OXTON.—We understand that the Rev. Rector King, of Woodchurch, entertained a select party of the elite of this neighbourhood at dinner, on Saturday last, when he took the opportunity of thanking them for their valuable assistance in procuring a site from the Earl of Shrewsbury for the erection of a church. Amongst the visiters were Messrs. Ashlin, Fairclough, Godwin, and Ellis, who had rendered every assistance to the worthy rector for carrying out this praiseworthy object. We hope the inhabitants • generally will co-operate with the above-named gentle men ; and as they will shortly be called upon by them for donations, they will cheerfully respond, and, according to - their means, give freely. The church is much required, and the sooner it is completed the better. EXTENSIVE BOBBERY AT THE UNION BANK.—About one o'clock on Saturday, a gentleman went into the Union Bank, Brunswick-street, for the purpose of de positing notes to the amount of £750. 11e had the bundle of notes in his hand when he entered the bank, and, while he took up a pen to write a note upon the counter, lie placed them in the outside pocket of his top coat. When, in a minute or two after, he put down his hand to feel for them, they were gone, and no trace of them has since been discovered. It is believed that the thief was one of the London swell mob. The numbers of the notes stolen at the bank are known, and bills have been printed, offering a reward of £5O for the apprehen sion of the thief and recovery of the property. The notes consisted of six £lOO and three £5O notes, all of the Bank of England. ACCIDENT TO MR. SAMUEL HOLME.—We regret to state that an accident, attended with rather serious conse quences, occurred to our highly respected townsman on Saturday last. It appears that Mr. Samuel Holme hav ing had a brace of double-barrelled pistols for protection during the winter months, and being desirous of discharg blg them, took them to the end of the terrace surrounding his residence, to fire them off across the fields; Instead of having the charge drawn, as the pistols had been loaded between three and four months, he inadvertently. fired, Placing his left hand on the barrels of the pistol, which ' was a long one, to steady it. There was considerable rust inside the barrels, and both of them instantly burst with a tremendous shock, lacerating the fleshy part of his left hand and fingers in a serious manner. Medical aid was procured, and we are glad to state that none of the bones have received material injury. Mr. Holme, though suf fering great pain, is progressing favourably, and no dan ger at present is apprehended beyond a few weeks' con finement. gliTmipiese of wintryWeArnen.—Since our last we have had another weather. On Wednesday the wind was exceedingly keen, from the north-east, and during the night there was a slight fall of snow. On Thursday, about o ne o'cl oc k tbere was another slight fall, but it soon disappear e d ; fell. In I3irmingliam tfinsillwn and again in the evening a little more fell during the greater doi6 n thy r c was a rather part of Wednesday, and ida somewhat the wind heavy fall of snow on that day. changed to the N.W., the weather became cold, and a thaw succeeded the previous slight Sunday was a lovely spring day, but yesterday was cold and stormy. The cold to the eastward appears to have been more severe than in this neighbourhood. The Don caster Gazette states, that on Wednesday night the thermometer stood at 191 degrees, being the lowest tem perature since the 27th of December, when it was 10 degrees. From the Stamford Mercury we learn, that on Thursday morning the temperature in that town was three degrees lower than it had been during the winter, the thermometer marking 14 degrees below the freezing point. THE SARAH SANDS.—The Sarah Sands left Liverpool ' on the afternoon of the 20th ult., on her trial trip across the Atlantic. The wind was blowing strong from the southeast, with a violent snow storm. At night a favour able wind induced Captain Thompson to take the northern passage. At 8 30, p.m., on the 21st, the Innistrahal light bore S.W. by S. 1 S. from which the captain took his departure. During nearly the whole voyage she encoun tered head winds, squally weather, or heavy gales. Yet, taking into consideration these serious obstacles, the ves sel proved herself a superior craft. The machinery was new, and during one entire slay it was useless, owing to an accident. She completed her voyage, however, in less than twenty-one days. She has proved that the screw is an invaluable aid in propelling ships across the Atlantic. There would be a much more favourable result if she were to make a trip during the spring months, but -she has already done enough to prove the great value of the screw. With the screw alone, all sails being furled, she steamed during twenty-four hours, in a heavy head sea, 132 miles, and without the screw she went, with all sail set, during twenty-four hours, 261 miles ; with all sail set, and with the screw, she went 270 miles in twenty-four hours.— , -1:- f rew York Journal. The passengers, on the completion abltetvsrage' presented Captain Thompson with a vain gratifying testimonial. The Sarah Sands may be expected here on her return daily. She was built from the designs of Mr. John Grantham, and is furnished with that gentleman's patent engine . ROMANTIC ADVENTURE, OF A LIVERPOOL CHILD. — John Duncan, the son of a respectable working man in Liverpool, having been in Scotland for a few weeks last summer, with his mother and the rest of the family, con tracted a strong. attachment for the locality and the friends with whom he resided. Upon his return home he frequently requested his parents to consent to his return , and latterly became so importunate that he had to he chastised in order to drive the notion from his mind of going to Scotland. Within the last few weeks, unknown to his family, he had accumulated a small stock of bread and money ; and on Monday last, he might have been seen with two companions, directing their course towards the Clarence Dock, inquiring in the langyage of our hero for the " Stot-land boat." Upon their arrival at the Place of embarkation all the glowing pictures of the land of cakes failed to induce his less courageous companions to go on board, but undaunted, went alone, without com- Panion or guardian, a child seven years of age, with the Commodore, bound for Glasgow and Greenock. From the last-mentioned port he had a further sea voyage to perform of twenty miles. In a lonely and mountainous district in the Island of Bute, upwards of two hundred and fifty miles from the gas-lighted streets of his native Liverpool, our little voyager in the grey of evening ap- proached the object of all his longings, a small farm-house, the inmates of which were gathering round the cheerful fire-side, when a knock was heard at the door. When opened, they found to their astonishment their little Saxon favourite of the previous summer, cold, wearied, and hungry ; he received a truly Highland welcome, and soon forgot the toils and dangers of his perilous journey. He breakfasted on the banks of the Mersey on Monday morning, and on Tuesday night he slumbered in the land of the Celt. Such is the romance of steam. DREADFUL MURDER.—An inquest was held on Wed nesday on the body of Thomas Cearnes, aged 44 years, who was the proprietor of a house of ill-fame in West moreland-street. From the evidence it appeared that deceased was stabbed the day before by a sailor named John Thomas Williams, alias Jack Hynes, a lad about 18 years of age, (who was in custody in the court.) He went to the house of the deceased with an improper female, remained up stairs some time, came down, and was asked by deceased, would he stop all night ? To this Williams replied, "No." The deceased then said, "Will you go away, then ?" " No." After this he asked de ceased to open the door, which he did, and the prisoner Williams left. He returned in about five or ten minutes after and kicked at the door. Deceased opened the door, on which the prisoner, who was standing upon the top step, struck at the deceased's throat—one of the witnesses swore three times and then ran away. Another sailor, who was in the house, ran down stairs, and supporting the wounded man in his arms, brought him up to bed, and assistance was sent for. Doctor Mathew Lynch, of the Nolthern Hospital, examined the wound ; it appeared a superficial cut at the base of the throat over the sternum ; there was scarcely any external hemorrage ; the deceased was perfectly pulseless. On further examination, he found a piece of a knife, (which was here produced—it was about two inches long) ; it had penetrated into the pericardium, and it and the chest were filled with blood ; the superior vena cava was slightly cut through. Death was the result of the wound inflicted. Verdict, •` Wilful Murder." LOAN SOCIETIES.—On Wednesday, Richard Tisdale, a respectable-looking young man, was brought up, charged by the officers of the loan society, held at 56, Brownlow hill, with forging the name of a person named Nelson, to a bond upon which £5 had been advanced. The defence was, that the prisoner was innocently brought into the transaction, and that he had signed the name of Nelson, at the request of Mrs. Nelson. In the course of investi gating the case, it appeared that the other surety to the same bond had signed O'Brien ' whereas her name was Kelly, and that she did so with the consent and by the advice of one of the officers of the society, named Smith. It also appeared that after the money was obtained, Smith went with the borrower and his friends to a public-house, and drank till two-oclock in the morning. Mr. Rushton said the case was a mass of fraud altogether. There were at least two forgeries in it. It was a practical illustration of the abuse of these societies, and the evil tendencies of them when carried beyond a certain extent. At a later period of the same day, during the hearing of a number of summonses against the borrowers from the Imperial Loan Office, and their sureties, it appeared that a girl, in order to get a loan of £5 for her mother, had been in duced to say that she was twenty-one years of age, al though she was only in her nineteenth year. Upon this, Mr. Rushton remarked that he did not believe there was in all the world any greater cause of demoralization than these societies. On Thursday, Richaid Tisdale was again brought up, when it was stated that Mrs. Nelson had shut up her house and could not be found. Mr. Rushton said he could not disguise from himself that this was a very bad case on the part of the prisoner at the bar ; but however bad against him, it was as bad against Smith, the officer of the society, and showed how cautious people ought to be of having any thing to do with the officers of loan societies, poor people particularly. It was a mass of fraud and roguery altogether. ntstrfrt PAW. Five men were so seriously injured by an explosion of fire damp at Messrs. Price's colliery at Platt Bridge, near Wigan, on Saturday week, that three of them died soon after. A good deal of land is in course of draining about New ton ; and drains are also in course of formation on Chat Moss, for the purpose of carrying off the water on the Astley estate. They will drain about 700 acres of land. At Rochdale sessions, on Tuesday last, John Rider, aged fourteen years, was committed for trial at the next Liverpool assizes, for having, with a file, stabbed in the abdomen, another boy seventeen years of age, named Edmund Chadwick. The directors of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows have appealed to the various districts throughout the country, on behalf of our starving fellow-creatures in Ireland and Scotland, and the sum of £6OO has already been subscribed for that purpose. THE UNEMPLOYED. — Another large open air meeting of the unemployed was held on Monday, at Manchester, in Stevenson-square. A petition to the House of Com mons was adopted, denouncing the foreign trade, the sys tem of trading in corn, and praying that the act of Queen Elizabeth against forestalling should be put in force, and that the people should be allowed to go upon the land. COLLISION.—On Wednesdzy evening, as the five o'clock passenger-train from Manchester to Leeds was passing near the Blue Pits station, between Manchester and Rochdale, a pilot-engine came up behind the train at great speed, and a violent collision was the consequence. The two last carriages, both first class, were considerably smashed, and the majority of the passengers were more or less stunned, and several of them had their faces cut with glass. After a delay of about ten minutes the train was enabled to proceed. FORGERY OF A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.—CURIOUS CASE.—At the Salford Town Hall, on Thursday, a let terpress printer, named John Heywood, was charged with uttering a marriage certificate, knowing it to have been forged. The facts appear to be as follow :—About six years since, the prisoner formed an intimacy with a young woman named Burrows, who, in order to impre ss h er father with the belief that she was married to the prisoner, borrowed a certificate of marriage from an acquaintance, the printed form of which the prisoner printed, and filled up with fictitious names. Three children were the result of this intimacy, but a few months since they quarrelled and separated. The prisoner became connected with ano ther woman, and, in revenge, Burrowes gave information to the police about the false certificate, in consequence of which the prisoner was apprehended. Mr. Trafford de cided upon committing the prisoner for trial at the ap proaching assizes. The woman, on hearing this, cried bitterly, and begged very hard for the prisoner's libera tion, but the magistrate was inexorable, and even refused bail the amount of £2OO, which was offered for the prisoner's appearance at the assizes. _ _ _ ST. HELEN'S COURT OF REQUESTS.—On Wednesday, the final meeting of the St. Helen's Local Court was held in the Court-room, Town Hall, before Henry Leigh Traf ford, Esq., barrister-at-law, who has acted as judge since its establishment in 1841. The necessity for such a court was fully exemplified on Wednesday last, there being up wards of 180 cases tried and disposed of. About four years ago a guardian or protection society was established, for the purpose of punishing refractory debtors, as well as to protect shopkeepers and others from fraudulent persons, which society, through Mr. Silver Marsh, soli citor, delivered an address to the respected judge, at the closing of the court, and previously to retiring from his labours in St. Helen's. The importance of this neigh bourhood, together with its increasing population, is such that government has selected St. Helen's as the court town for the district, which includes the towns of Prescot, Rainford, Knowsley, Huyton, Roby, Cronton, Ditton, Widnes, Garston, Speke, Hale, Farnworth, Bold, Sut ton, Parr, Windle, Eccleston, &c. The new county court for the recovery of debts not exceeding £2O, and for ob taMing possession of houses, &c. from refractory tenants Ai at i sreeilnt W. qA i t a E u l sq. r £5O, will be open at least once a month. It is supp ose d th e fi rst court w i ll b e i n Apr i l. The new judge m il:l o l%o . n s , fi E ll s e q d ., a a s n im d il tarhe offi la c w e - i c n le t r i k ie , C J o o ur hn t of Requests for the last sixyears, with much cr edit t o himself, and great satisfaction to the public. THE COLLEGIATE CLERGY OF MANCHESTER, We find in the Manchester Courier of Saturday last a copy of a correspondence between the D ean (of Man chester) and Bishop of the diocese, the subject of whi c h has recently excited much interest in the public mind in that locality. It appears by a letter from the Rev. W. Herbert, the Dean of Manchester, to the Bishop, that a petition to parliament has recently been preferred by three of the churchwardens against the, Chapter of Manchester, containing statements which the dean alleges to be quite unfounded, as to the conduct of the head clergy of the Manchester Collegiate Church. On the 23rd of last month, the dean of the college wrote a letter to the bishop, stating that he and the (superior) clergy under him had been grossly misrepresented as non-residents ; as having been violators of moral duty ; and of having " starved" the chaplains, who, by charter, have the exclusive cure of souls. The bishop, in his reply,. states that the cure is vested in the chaplains ; that the chapter have been gifilty of no moral wrong ; that the corn plaint of want of church accommodation for the whole of the town was not to be thrown upon the collegiate clergy, inasmuch as their jurisdiction was limited .by law to the district of the Collegiate Church. With regard to the complaint of " starvation" of the chaplains, his lordship states that this is incorrect, as they receive from £5OO to £6OO per annum. His lordship con iudes by saying :—• " I have much pleasure in bearing this testimony to the conduct of the dean and canons; and I especially regret that at the moment when you were taxing your recovered strength in promoting education and mitigating the suf ferings of a severe season, your mind should have been harassed by the circumstances which have occasioned this appeal to my opinion." A public meeting was held on Friday last in the Town ? hall, to consider and decide upon the steps which it may be desirable to adopt in reference to the ecclesiastical revenues of the parish, and with a view to promote the object of the churchwardens in their recent petition to the House of Lords. Mr. Henry Houldsworth was, called to the chair. The meeting was, on the whole; not unfriendly to the collegiate clergy, nor did the speakers attribute to them dereliction of duty. -A petition to Parliament, brought forward by Mr. Heelis, was unani mously agreed to, nearly to the same effect as that pre viously sent up by the churchwardens. The main paragraph in this document is : " That'ioUrPetitiOners understand that a measure is to be submitted to your right honourable house in relation to the p ropose d bi s h opr i c of M anc h ester, an d t h ey respect fully urge t h at in any bill which may be introduced f or that Purpose, provision should be made for securing, in such manner as shall be deemed expedielit, the whole income and revenues of the rectory to the efficient pastoral and ecclesiastical superintendence of the parish of Man chester, devoliing and expressly imposing upon the reci• pients of such income the cure of souls, and subjecting them to all the obligations and penalties against and for enforcing residence, applicable to benefices with the cure of souls." THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LOCAL MEETINGS. On Thursday, a public meeting of the various bodies of Evangelical Dissenters opposed to all government inter ference with the education of the people, was held in . Great George-street Chapel, for the purpose of deter mining the best measures to be adopted for carrying out their opposition to the proposed scheme of government. The chapel was about three parts filled. On the platform were the following gentlemen :—The Rev. J. Kelly, Rev. W. Bevan, Rev. D. Loxton, Rev. W. Graham, Rev. Walton, Mr. T. Blackburn, Mr. D. Rowlands, Mr. C. Robertson, Rev. Dr. Raffles, Rev. W. Appleford, Rev. J. Lancaster, Rev. J. Ward, Rev. T. Hacking, the Rev. J. Dunstan, Mr. Crossfield, Mr. S. Stitt, &c. MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The annual meeting of the members of this institution was held on Wednesday, Thomas Bolton, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Hogg, the sec retary, read the report, which was an exceedingly lengthy document ; of which we cannot find room for an outline. It appeared that the mortgage debt had been decreased to £670. The report also contained a gratifying state of the classes. It was recommended that the name of the insti tution should be changed to " The Liverpool Commercial College, and the Mechanics' Institution." This latter proposition led to a discussion; and it was ultimately re solved that this question should be referred to the new committee, who should report to a special general meeting of the members to be convened for that purpose. Several gentlemen briefly addressed the meeting, and votes of thanks having been given to the late committee and teachers, the officers for the ensuing year were appointed, after which the proceedings terminated. LIVERPOOL COMMERCIAL BANK.—On Saturday, the fourteenth annual meeting of the shareholders in the above-named bank was held in the Clarendon-rooms. Mr. Robert Angus, the manager, read the report. The paid-up capital of the bank and its reserved surplus fund remain, the former at £338,600, and the latter at £200,721 13s. 7d. The nett profits of the year 1846 were £38,178 Os. 9d. The dividend of 10 per cent. for the year, (exclu sive of income-tax,) has been paid to the proprietors in two half-yearly payments of 5 per cent. each, amounting to £33,860, leaving a surplus gain in the year of £4,318 Os. 9d. The surplus profits of the year 1845 and 1846, amounting to £17,210 15s. 10d., the report said had been divided amongst the proprietors at the commencement of the present year in the shape of a bonus of 10s. per share. The directors regretted that more progress had not been made with the new buildings on the bank property in • Castle-street. The long strike of the workmen in summer and the severe winter had occasioned much delay; but the contractor has made every exertion to fulfil his en gagement, Thanks were voted to the chairman and to Mr. Angus, the manager, whose services were very highly spoken of. Mr. Angus returned thanks, and acknow ledged great obligations to Mr. MacGregor, with whom he is in constant communication, for the important ad vice and assistance which he receives from him. DOCK COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held on Thursday, Mr. Moore in the chair. After some other business, the question of the appoint ment of solicitor to the dock trustees was brought forward. The Chairman said he had long been convinced that it would be much better to put the dock solicitor on a salary. When the subject was brought forward last week, it was the opinion of the committee that it should be referred to a special sub-conmittee to inquire into. The committee had taken the subject into consideration, and they were of opinion that the dock estate would be much benefited. and be a very large gainer, by the dock solicitor having apartments in that building, and the whole of his time secured to the trust. They recommended that his salary should be £l4OO per annum ; but in doing so, wished it to be understood that this was to form no precedent as to the salary of any person who is to succeed him. He had now been an officer to the estate for some years, and was in the receipt of a much larger sum than that proposed. It was, in fact, reducing his emoluments ; but he agreed to the arrangement, although a sufferer by it. After a short discussion, upon the motion of Mr. Molyneux, it was agreed " that, in consideration of the dock solicitor devoting the whole of his time, and giving his entire pro fessional services to the interests of the dock estate, he should receive a salary of £l4oo—such salary to date from the 25th instant." WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meet ing of the board was held on Tuesday. A letter was read from the Poor-Law Commissioners, relative to the in crease of salary to Mr. Chalmer, medical officer of the township of Everton, from £l5 to £BO per annum. The Commissioners wished to be informed whether the amount to which it is proposed to raise the 'salary of the medical officer was correctly stated in the letter from the Board, respecting the decision which had been come to on the subject. After some discussion, it was agreed to postpone the consideration of the subject until the next meeting. The report of the medical officer to the fever house was as follows :—Remaining in the house last week, 13 ; ad mitted during the week, 3 ; discharged cured 2 ; dead, 3 ; remaining in the house, 11. The attention of the Board was called by the medical officer to the necessity of hav ing some place set apart into which the bodies of those who die in the hospital may be removed, and a suggestion was made by which the inconvenience might be obviated. The report stated that the patients in the house were going on favourably, and it was hoped, that in a few 'days, se veral of them would be able to leave. In consequence of a letter received from Mr. Greatrex, to the effect that he wished to withdraw his resignation of the office of medical officer to the West Derby district, some discussion took place as to that gentleman's qualification, and the ap pointment of Mr. Taylor at the previous meeting. Ulti mately it was agreed, that the clerk should write to the commissioners stating the facts of the case as they oc curred at the Board when Mr. Taylor's appointment took place, and obtain their opinion as to such appointment. LIVERPOOL ROYAL ASSURANCE COMPANY.—An ex traordinary general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held on Wednesday last at their own offices. The secretary read a most gratifying report, from which it appeared that there was a large surplus in favour of the shareholders, and that means were about to be adopted to obtain for the company a permanent standing and position in the - metropolis. A rapid improvement had also taken place in the life business. The amount to the credit of profit and loss to the close of last Christmas was no less than £61,139. The premiums on fire insurance received from the commencement of the company (about eighteen months) was £54,129, while the losses amounted to but £16,161. The number of shares issued amounted to 83,070, producing a paid-up capital of £166,140, whilst the premium received on shares issued since the estab lishment of the company now reaches £14,265. The life department had greatly improved during the last three months. Up to the 31st December 103 lives had been accepted for assurance, the sum assured being £70,160, and the premium £2,957 19s. sd. No death had occur red. Resolutions, adopting the report, &c., were unani mously agreed to, and the meeting separated. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and also to Mr. Dove, the able manager, through whose industry and intelli gence, as the chairman justly observed, the success of the company was in a great measure to be attributed. Mr. Dove, in returning thanks, said that there was perhaps no instance on record of any company established only eighteen months meeting with the same successful results. The fire insurance department had been amply supported ; but with respect to the life business, it had not received all that assistance which it possibly might if the share holders•knew its advantages. • SELECT VESTRY. - At the meeting, on Tuesday, Messrs. Inman, Burgess, Gee, Higginson, Bradshaw, and Hymns were appointed assistant district medical officers. The Irish immigration still continues, and upon an increased ratio, as the following return will show :—On the Ist of March, the arrivals were 1296 ; on' the 2d, 1698 on the 3d, 1778 ; on the 4th, 1081 ; on the sth, 2036 ; on the 6th, 888 ; on the 7th, 3100 ; on the Sth, 1270 ; being a total in eight days of 13,147. • The cost to the parish for the relief of those whose necessities are roost urgent con tinues at about the average of £5OO per week. The reports of the medical officers show that mortality is fear fully on the increase, in consequence of the over-crowding of the miserable cellars to which these poor wretches flock for shelter. In numerous instances recorded by the inspecting policemen, as many as 35 to 40 adults, of both b_ilo se en : rtesi e t, s ihdi , ,eagi h lfity a o.o e been found herded together in these holes :(Iho Everythingn g p sinc e r eva condemned diseases,do e r, n e ied which,by wh i c h under local c c.l :aorr l e a ct tc. er o r f parliament), lying uari,, cover i e f n e lt, t he h re e nsb o ua s it t i .tp fi bo l e t x h ,r y a: a ys n s e d anbt l oe ) brutal t a t l ah ne s id t r a , t e,aswl eipersons.tsh circumstances, m' off st g a r n e c a 'e t s, n um possible to do, to prevent death from absolute starvation; but what system of parochial relief, at such a time as this, can prevent the spread of disease among those already reduced to the verge of starvation ? Amongst a certain number of individuals in a cellar in Bent-street m i p t ela w lsc as e. e. Thirty-six reported that four were lying down in one li ed , with fever; - that twenty-four grown ur youvg• men and their sisters were sleeping in a filthy state in one room ; and that fourteen persoir persons w w e e r r e e sleeping huddled in to g a e n t e t another a filthy r 0 where ; and eight had died of fever in one house. Fever, though of a mild diaract6r, was again reported upon the increase, and a large majority of the patients who bad had the Fever Hospital offered to them declined to go there. Fever and small-pox were spreading amongst the children recently imported ; and these diseases were likely to be generated by the children of the paupers being, carried about from door to door, soliciting alms. MEETING OF MAGISTRATES; The magistrates of this borough- held a meeting on Friday, in a private room in the Police -court, to con sider the • expediency of forming a second court for the transaction of public business, hi connection With the present one. There were present the mayor ' and twenty 'other magistrates.—ThnMAtOa, in opening the business, said that some gentlemen had suggested a second court, to be held in Toxteth-park ; or, another gentleman had proposed to determine upon the borough Magistrates sitting daily in succession in another room of the sam e court to relieve Mr. Rushton, whose duties, they were aware, had been stated to be at present too burdensome. After some further conversation, Mr. D. IlonGsoN denied that it was ever alleged that the duties of, the' sti pendiary magistrate were, too burthensome for one ; but that h o h a d brought great talent to the bench, and that from the increase of his duties he was not suffi ciently remunerated. Mr. D. Hodgson said he enter tained no feeling against Mr. Rushton • but he was, not withstanding, prep are d t o s h ow that himself and others as magistrates were willing to take upon themselves the duties incumbent on the magisterial office. Mr. BOLTON thought there was no necessity for any alteration in the present mode of conducting the business of the court, in which he believed justice was well and ably administered. The MAYOR thought the magistrates might, by sitting in another room, relieve Mr. Rushton of a geed deal of business—as, for instance, dock informations. He stated a case in which Mr. Samuel Holme had been detained in the court beyond a reasonable time ; lint this. (in the course of the meeting) was explained, another case, in which the parties were going to see that day, ha*ing u e _ cessarily taken precedence. Mr. D. HODGSON endeavoured to show, atsome length, that the magisterial functions were of a lighter character th an they were generally supposed to be. After some in terruption, he maintained that if gentlemen accepted the bonour of being placed on the commission of the peace, they ought to be equal to the discharge of the duties which attended the appointment. The magistrates ought to have a court to preside over, and if this were not con ceded them, they.would find an opportunity of effecting their object. Mr. HORNBY said that by the municipal reform act a great change was 'effected in the duties of the borough magistrates, who were appointed to act only in connexion with the stipendiary magistrate. He thought that if they had another court, a stipendiary magistrate ought to - be appointed to preside. Mr. A. HODGSON was of opinion that there was nolac casion for a second court. The MAYOR. also considered that there was no necessity for a change at present; but if, at a future time, a change were deemed necessary. the Council would, he felt as-. sured, give the subject the best consideration. Mr. RUSHTON replied to some of the statements made, and urged the amount of the duties he had to perform. There were not (he said) less than eleven thousand dock and town cases heard by him last year ; the dock cases generally demanded an hour, and the town half an hour daily; therefore it was absurd to say that mercantile in terests had suffered. With respect to a second court, he begged to tell them it would be impracticable in that build ing during twenty weeks in the year ; to carry out such an intention another court must be erected. Moreover, in the present state of the local law, he would defy any man not a lawyer to act as magistrate. His advice was to con solidate every one of the local acts and to have them ar ranged alphabetically ; this might be done with a good. law-clerk, and they had two • than whom there were not better attached to any court in the kingdom, one trained and the other in training. If a second court was opened, the gentleman sitting there would always have his expe rience and assistance. _ _ _ After some remarks, not in the best taste, by Mr. Earle, the meeting broke up. LIVERPOOL POLICE INTELLIGENCE. On Thursday, Mr. Rushton fined an inhabitant of this town 40s. for keeping a ferocious dog, which had bitten several persons. BASE ColN.—On Tuesday. John Johnston was brought up at the police-court, and committed for trial, on the charge of passing bad money. It appeared he paid a base half-crown to Mr. Levi, tobacconist, Great George-street, on Saturday evening, and a shilling of a similar descrip tion to Miss Bootle, confectioner, Limo-street, several days previously. ILLICIT DISTILLATION.—During the present week no less than half a dozen individuals have been brought up at the police-court, charged with the offence of illicit dis tillation. In five cases the parties were convicted in the usual penalty of £2OO, mitigable to £5O : and in the sixth case the prisoner was discharged, the offence not having been clearly made out. CAUTION TO POLICEMEN.—On Saturday, two unfortu nate females were brought before the court on a charge of having been in company together in Pembroke-place the night before, and refusing to leave when directed. The prisoners alleged that the officer who had taken them into custody (547) had given them a blow upon the neck, and another officer who had witnessed the arrest corroborated the allegation that a push had certainly been given. Mr. Rushton ordered the prisoners to be discharged, and read 547 a very severe lecture. RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.—On Wednesday, William Hamilton, keeper of a store in Prince William-street, was brought up before Mr. Rushton, at the Police-court, charged with having in his possession 721bs. weight of lead piping, supposed to have been stolen. Three vagabond looking fellows were observed to carry the lead in a bag into the store, but when the police-officer went to search the place. the prisoner denied that any person had been there. The case was adjourned till Thursday, when it was proved that the lead had been stripped from a house in Wellington-place, Wellington-road, and Hamilton was committed for trial. IMPOSITION UPON THE RELIEVING OFFICERS.--On Thursday, three persons, two men and a woman, were brought up at the Police-court, by the district relieving officers, charged, the men with having for three weeks obtained relief daily from two offices, and the woman with having done the same for five weeks. The men appeared to be well fed and well clothed, and it was stated in court that one of them had seventeen lodgers in his house. The woman had five soup-tickets in her possession when she applied for relief on Thursday. Mr. Rushton said these cases showed the necessity for great vigilance, but he could do nothing with the prisoners, and they were ac cordingly discharged. STABBING A POLICE OFFICER.—On Tuesday, a youth, named Alexander M'Coy, was brought at the Police court, charged with stabbing Police Constable Doyle with a knife. The officer stated that on the previous evening he took the prisoner into custody, in consequence of his being found on board a vessel in the Salthouse Dock (the Eliza Killick) under suspicious circumstances, and while conveying him to bridewell he drew a knife, and struck at him on the neck and head, and also across the bands. Assistance being at hand, the prisoner was secured, and ultimately lodged in bridewell. The officer's .hat and gloves were cut completely through, but though the wounds he received were severe, they are not dangerous. The prisoner was committed for trial. ATTEMPTED FRAUD ON THE PARISH.—On Saturday, an Irish female, with a child in her arms, was ordered by Mr. Rushton to be imprisoned for a month, for having gone to the Bevington-bush relieving-office, and said that she had just arrived from Ireland, and was in the most abject distress, while it was discovered, on sending to her husband to ascertain if her story were true, that he had in his pocket £4. 7s. 6d. The prisoner said she did not know her husband had the money; but Mr. Rushton asked why her husband had not stated at the relieving office that his wife had no occasion to solicit parish relief. Mr. Rushton gave directions that the prisoner's husband, who was in court, should be taken to every relieving-office in Liverpool, and that it should be notified to all the parish-officers that he was possessed of means sufficient to sustain himself. INFRINGEMENT OF MARKET REGULATIONS.—A case of some interest to dealers attending the markets was heard before Mr. Rushton on Tuesday. Mr. S. Cowan was summoned for exposing for sale, on the 3d instant, a cart load of turnips without applying to the market in spectors, or complying with the necessary conditions. The defendant pleaded that he had purchased them on the preceding Saturday, from a farmer, who had paid 9d. toll. They were not all sold that day, and he brought the re mainder on the 3d. He contended that 9d. should serve as dues until the whole were sold. Mr. Rushton went at some length into a consideration of the market regula tions, and sent for an inspector, who proved that the regulations required hucksters to become weekly or regu lar tenants, and the 9d. chafged for dues covered only one day's sale. The defendant was convicted in the mitigated penalty of a shilling. STREET ROBBERIES.—On Tuesday last, two well-known thieves, named Edward Roberts and Charles Simpson, were brought up before Mr. RUshton, at the Police-court, on a charge of robbing an aged female, named Williams. It appeared from the complainant's statement that, on Saturday night, she was passing along Oakes-street, when two men, whom she identified as the prisoners, came be - hind her. One of them put his hand over her mouth to ' prevent her from calling out, while the other cut off her pocket, which contained Bs. 6d., and they both ran away. Miss Golding also stated that she had been robbed the same day, in Boundary-place, of a watch, but she could not swear positively to the prisoners, though the men who attacked her were similar in appearance. The fellows came up behind her, struck her on the back, and tore the watch from the hook at her side. The prisoners were re manded till Wednesday, when they were committed to gaol for three months, with hard labour. EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR.—On Friday, a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood of Marybone, made an ap plication to Mr. Rushton for assistance, under the follow ing circumstances :—A few days ago some tenants left a house in Addison-street, Marybone, and an Irish family took forcible possession of the place. There had previ ously been some deaths by fever in the place, and now there were the bodies of two children, who had died from fever, in the house, and the mother was also lying ill of fever. An order bad been got for the removal and. inter ment of the bodies, but she positively refused to allow the bodies to be removed. The applicant wished to imow what could be done, and wished for the assistance of the police, as he was afraid that the contagion might spread. Mr. Rushton sent for Superintendent Towerson; and stated the circumstances to him, giving him directions to go to the Roman Catholic priest of the district, and get him to use his influence in reconciling the parents to the', removal of the bodies. The bodies must be placed in coffins hi the presence of the surgeon of the district and , removed. A LUNATIC AT THE POLICE COURT.—On Saturday an Irishman, between forty and fifty years of age, attired in a suit of black, and a faded old macintosh, was brought up 'at the police-court, on a charge of having caused a disturb ance in Upper Duke-street. It appeared that on Thurs day evening he assembled a lar g e crowd of persons in that street, whom he harangued at some length, and with great vehemence of manner. He told them that he was Elijah the Prophet ; that he was sent down specially from Heaven to warn the people of Liverpool of the errors of Popery ; that he was come to sound the trumpet of the Millenium, and to blow the horn in Zion. Superinten dent Ride cut short the' ddress, which, no doubt, would have been prolonged, much to the edification of the gaping thousands assembled from all the surrounding streets, by. taking him into custody, and lodging him in' bridewell.. The doctor who examined him pronounced him insane. Mr. Parkinson, the bridewell-keeper, said there was no doubt, whatever of his insanity, and that Mr. Rushton would have to sign an order for his committal to an asylum: Mr. Rushton, prior to signing the order, asked the man what he did for a living ? The lunatic replied, "Itis 34 years back since I received the Holy Ghost, and I am now going from town to town, and city to city, preaching repentance to the people, and teaching them that they are a generation of vipers, and warning them to flee from the wrath to come.' They want the repeal of the union. What for ? I was here last night, and there was nothing amongst them, but cursing and swearing, drinking, revel ling, and card-playing, That is, the work the rich are at in my town ; and they struck me when they could get no good out of me, and knocked blood out of my nose. I was here fourteen years ago. I planted one foot on the sea, and another on the land. I then came to sound the trumpet of the Millenium, and blow the horn in Zion •, but the dead bodies are floating on the waves, and now I am coming to make up the breach, and to link all into one. The year of a jubilee is come !" Of course Mr. Rushton's doubts, if he had any, were immediately re moved by delivery of this rambling oration, and the order was signed for the unfortunate man's committal to an asylum. CORRESPONDENCE. SABBATH OBSERVANCE. THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, MY DEAR am sure you are quite aware of the influence for good or evil exercised by the Press in this country; and I trust your sense of responsibility may long enable you to maintain that high standard of morals and Christian principles for-which you are already distin guished : and there seems greater reason than ever for steadfastness in the cause, by reason of the sad departure of some of your contemporaries, from the safest and most generally acknowledged principles of right : you are aware perhaps, or if not, let me now inform you, that the Li verpool Mail claims for itself pre-eminence as an adver tising medium, and ventures to press its claims for acceptance on the heads of families, on this ground, amongst others, viz., the purity of its advertisements and its freedom from all contaminating or corrupting matter ; so much so, that it recommends itself to fathers and mothers as the only safe journal for the hands and heads and hearts of their sons and daughters Would that this claim were made good by the contents of the paper itself! but, as the head of a family, and having the deepest concern for the moral training of very young people, I am forced to say, that principles such as those set forth in the Mail of Saturday last, are dangerous and corrupting alike to the heads and hearts of such young persons as have been taught to reverse the revelation of God, and to regard the Almighty One as wiser than man in his best estate. For instance, in a leading article it openly advocates Sabbath desecration, denouncing that company of men who are earnest to maintain for Scot land her peaceful Sabbaths, as "an organized hypo crisy," and styling the spirit of such defenders of di vine law, as " narrow and puritanical," and intolerant ; and turning with a sneer upon those who have not yet had their religious principles " brayed" out of them in the "mortar' of infidel liberalism, but who, despite the scorn of the utilitarian, and the laugh of the sceptic, are still bold enough to be "on the Lord's side." It thus treats with derision two of their foundation principles. " It is religious duty," say some ; " The Sabbath is of divine institution," say others, " and must be strictly kept. This, we assert, is mere cant and ignorance !" Is this, sir, safe teaching for ourselves and daughters ? Are we already so utterly abandoned, so entirely reckless, as tamely to admit such blasphemy as this into the minds of those upon whose young hearts we wish to see engraved the enduring eommandment of Crod_ " Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy ?" I trust every Christian father and mother will protest against such pollution, and drive the contaminating medium from their doors. We should rather instruct our young people to revere the con duct of these worthies who are making such a noblestandfor God for his holy law and holy day, and straininc , every nerve to prevent Scotland from being robbed of this day of double blessing. On this subject, a saintly son of Scot land, who has fallen asleep, thus wrote ere he went home wards for his crown :—" Unhappy men, you would wrest from our dear countrymen the day when God opens the windows of heaven and pours down a blessing. You want to make the heaven over Scotland like brass, and the hearts of our people like iron. Is it the sound of the golden bells of our ever-living High Priest on the moun tains of our land, and the breathing of his Holy Spirit over so many of our parishes, that has roused up your satanic exertions to drown the sweet sound of mercy by the deafening roar of your railway carriages ? Have your own withered souls no need of a drop from heaven ? Is it not possible that some of you may remember with tears of anguish, in hell, the exertions which you are now making, against light and against warning, to bring down a with ering blight on your own souls, and on the religion of Scotland ? " Thus wrote a departed Christian ; and he, being dead; yet speaketh. With feelings such as his, I would desire the minds of my children to be imbued, and therefore would protect them against such truth-sapping principles as those set forth in the Mail. There is one other passage in the same paper which, however, would account for such latitudinarian assertions, and go far to prove that the editor has lost the key of knowledge—it is this—" We retain our oft expressed con viction, that as twilight is preferable to thi c k d ar k ne s s , so any religion is better than none !!" Is this safe teaching for the heads and hearts of our children. Had he said that all false religions were alike dangerous, we might have understood him ; but to say, that, of false religious systems, one is better than another—is like saying that arsenic is better than prussic acid, or that hanging is better than drowning : I hold them to be all alike deadly : twi light and darkness have respect to man's body—and reli gion has respect to man's soul—and to convey to the minds of our young people that religion is a matter left to their own selection, and that any religion is better than none, is to treat truth with a licentiousness such as would have gratified Voltaire or Rousseau—it is to unhinge and un dermine their principles, and it tends to promote scepti cism concerning truth altogether. Quack and obscene advertisements may be carefully excluded from a paper, and yet in the same journal principles fatal to truth may be widely propagated. The absence of a surplice from the pulpit does not ne cessarily secure the presence of true doctrine. Yours, Sir, &c., CA./sIDIDUS CENSOR. March 15th, 1847. NATIONAL FAST. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—Will you allow me, through the medium of your widely-circulated newspaper, to take the liberty of sugges ting to the clergy and the ministers of all denominations in Liverpool, that collections be made in the various churches, on Wednesday, the 24th, being the day appoin ted by our gracious Queen for humiliation before God for "the removal of those heavy judgments which our manifold sins and provocations have most justly deserved, and under which we, at this present time, labour ; " and that .the sums so collected be placed in the hands of the clergy or the ministers of their respective congregations, to be by them administered to the relief of those persons they know to stand in need of assistance. I am induced to offer this suggestion under the persua sion that there are very many, with large families, who have been, and still are, suffering great privations, whose cases are known only to their ministers, and who can only be relieved through their instrumentality. Many feel all the bitterness of poverty and distress at the present time, who, from motives of delicacy, shrink from making their wants known; and who can only be reached through the channel I have pointed out. Generous contributions have been (and I hope will still be) made for the relief of our suffering fellow-countrymen in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. It has been well done, but let not the other be left undone. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 15th March, 1847. *lc* IRISH DESTITUTION. March 12th, Newtown, Saville Glebe, Augher, County Tyrone, Ireland. MY DEAR Mn. GROVES, — Feeling ashamed to tres pass further on the kind and Christian liberality of my Liverpool friends, I have for a long time refrained from addressing you, but I now feel it incumbent upon me to give you a brief account of the present circumstances of our poor, lest my continued silence should be attributed to ingratitude or neglect. I have now to report to you, that the funds hitherto supplied have been expended in the purchase of food, medicines, and materials for employing the female Poor in their own houses, and in some cases in providing the attendance of a medical man on the sick. Our mode of operation (now tested by three months' ex perience) continues unchanged. Our great principle being to see that none perish for want of food, and that the men employed on the public works have sufficient food to enable them to labour without entailing disease or death. This is a troublesome and expensive undertaking, as it often requires that their houses should be visited, the number of each family accurately ascertained, and a close and accurate calculation made of how much meal is es sential to support life, in addition to what they can pay for with their weekly earnings, which in no case exceeds tenpence per day. Now, at the present price of meal, (2s. 3d. per peck for oat, and ls. Ild. Indian,) this sum is little more than sufficient to feed the working man him self, and hence it arises that the rata engaged at the various public works of drainage going on in this locality, have the appearance of being half fed, or rather half starved. They cannot let their wives and children perish with hunger. They share their scanty pittance with them, and the result is too plainly to be seen in the tottering steps and haggard faces, as also in the numbers who leave their work to lie down on a bed of sickness and suffering. Dysentery and fever are sadly on the increase, and in se veral cases have proved fatal. As far as lam enabled, I endeavour to stay the plague, by affording food beyo n d what they are able to pay for, commensurate to their wants. Those who are unable for labour we feed gra tuitously ; while those unable to find - employment else where receive sufficient food weekly for the supply of their families, while from those capable of working, I take labour in return. Their occupation hitherto has been re claiming waste land, and draining on this glebe. I am now about to employ and pay them for planting beans, and peas, and sowing parsnip seed, and in some cases, oats, in their own gardens, having purchased a supply of seed for that object, trusting that the Lord in mercy will furnish me, from whatever source, with the means of carrying on this work of charity. I also contemplate cut ting their turf by the same means. You no doubt desire to know of our prospects respecting seed corn. They arc dismal in the extreme. There are a large class of holders of from 2to 8 acres of land. These have long consumed their corn, and are now supported by daily labour afforded them by the landlord. Ile has•about 300 men employed, and to give so much employment, and also to supply seed, is quite beyond his ability, I dread to think what will become of these poor men, if not from some source sup. plieduitli seed. Many have ploughed their land in vain hope ; many _not yet` commenced to plough ; but if aid could be procured to supply them with seed, the land could yet be prepared in time, and the country around saved from a second year of famine. To supply seed to all these small holders would take fully £2OO, but thank ful should I be could I obtain a sum of even £5O, which would enable me to crop the land of many poor industrious Protestants, members of my own flock, and thereby raise them from wretchedness and despair. I dare not hOwever, hope to obtain this lesser sum for that important object, while compelled at the same time to use my pen to pro cure food food for present sustenance. Could I even ob tain it by way of loan, in sums of £5 or £lO, the poor farmers would pledge themselves to repay it in harvest. I would not, of course, bind myself to see it repaid ; but I do think, in many cases it would be done—in all, if in their power to do so. God alone can tell how all these trials may end. Excuse this hasty and ill-digested letter, from your's faithfully, CHARLES MAGINNESS. C. Groves, Esq. Rumford-place. •- [Mr. Groves, we understand, will gladly take charge of any contributions.] THE RIVAL WATER SCHEMES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—It has, I think, been fully demonstrated in your editorial remarks, that a sufficient supply of this necessary element of existence may be obtained at our own doors without incurring an extra expense of some hundreds of thousands of pounds in a chimerical scheme, ,at a time when our councillors are complaining of the exhausted state of the funds at their disposal. If there "is any sur plus, let it be expended in useful loc a l i mprovements, which are much required by the increase of population. Mr. Harmood Banner, in the evidence - given before the Government Commissioners: on the recent investigation, fully corroborated the opinion you expressed, of having an ample supply procurable by the existing water com panies, •at a comparatively trifling expense. It is to be feared that from the conflicting circumstances which have arisen in our municipal body on this and other public questions, as well as the want of cordiality in the Birken head Commissioners, that Government will be induced, ere long, to take the management of these matters into their own hands, which should be avoided if possible. Our local authorities are surely competent td conduct their own affairs, without having occasion to be placed under the surveillance of Parliament. Yours, &c ., March 13, 1847. PROTEUS. INEFFICIENCY OF THE POLICE IN TOXTETH PARK. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stn.,—l beg most respectfully to call the attention of the gentlemen constituting the Watch Committee to the disgraceful outrages which are so frequently committed with impunity in Toxteth-park, and I hope and trust this announcement, through the medium of your JeArno], will have the effect of the above gentlemen grantino. that pro tection to the public of Toxteth-park whi c h has so long been required. When the increasing population is consi dered, and the influx of juvenile and adult offenders of all denominations who are now infesting the various' localities of respectability, it is high time to call on the authorities to adopt some decisive measures to abolish the abominable scenes which are so impiously presented to hundreds of respectable persons, on the Sabbath especially even last night, the inhabitants of Park-st. and Bedford-st. were disturbed by some brutal fellows fighting, and no police man to be got, which is frequently the case, and if you question one of them, they tell you their beats are so extensive that it is impossible they can be at one place ortener than once every hour, but that is a rare thing, as there was a person a short time ago calling out police in the night for ten minutes without any avail; add another was knocked down and robbed in the neighbourhood of Warwick-street, and no assistance could be procured. The cases are too numerous to notice in detail, as more officers must be placed in the district of Toxteth-park. Hoping this may stimulate the representatives of Toxteth park to a sense of sympathy with the peaceable portion of society. I remain, sir, your most obdt. servant, A SUFFERER. HEALTH OF THE TOWN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR, — Resuming this subject, and in reference to the observations made by " Spondoeus " in your last publica tion, I would further remark that there is not a doubt of both speculations proving highly remunerative, provided they are placed under able management, and the mem bers of committees selected be of active business habits. What I allude to is the formation of a joint-stock com pany for erecting or rebuilding a superior description of cottages for the working classes, in lieu of the .miserable hovels now occupied by the poor of this town and suburbs, and likewise the incorporation of a company to provide a capacious cemetery or cemeteries, beyond the'precincts of the borough, that the plague-spot of having interments made in the midst of a dense population may be for ever removed. Liverpool will then stand preeminent for being a pleasant healthy residence, and the stigma of .being the most unhealthy town in England will be obliterated, or remembered only as a past event of our local history. Whilst on this subject, I would notice the vast number of houses in the outskirts now in progress, which are of a very inferior class, both in regard to size, and also the want of proper conveniences and accommodation : more over, bad materials are used in the construction. This ought not to be permitted by the Town Council, unless their motto is " Esto perpetua"—that is, " Jerry build ing." In self-defence, therefore, the owners of respecta ble premises should unite, and take an interest in the scheme recommended for their adoption, and encourage it by their countenance and support, as it would to a certainty enhance considerably the value of property in Liverpool, which would soon be evident by the augmented rental produced in consequence. In conclusion, I will briefly urge upon the considera tion of the authorities, the necessity for making proprie tors of this inferior sort of property liable for the parish or borough rates ; otherwise I fear that the funds at their disposal will ere long be very small, and " beautifully less," at the same time that the demands upon them are hourly on the increase ; most probably they will ulti mately be left with an empty exchequer ;—the Conversion of large residences into small tenements having a tendency to drive the ratepaying portion of the inhabitants beyond the limits of the parish, and in their place subs'tituting a class many of whom are recipients of parish relief,—in other words, introducing a mass of pauperbm,—or, to use a vulgarism, completely turning the tables. To counteract this evil, and to prevent the most direful con sequences to the parish and corporation funds, the only plan is the one I have suggested. 10th March, 1847. DACTYLUS. HARBOUR OF REFUGE AT HOLYHEAD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. London, Victoria Hotel, March 13th, 1847. Sin,—ln acknowledging your valuable services in oppo sition to the bill of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, and particularly your prompt issue of an excellent typo graphical plan of the proposed harbour of refuge at Holy head, I beg to notice some errors into which you have in advertently fallen, in your excellent editorial comments in the Standard of the 9th instant. You observe as follows :—" We are not favourable to monopoly of any kind ; but though the City of Dublin Steam Company have enjoyed a monopoly for upwards of half a century, or nearly so, of the carrying trade, we can not but admit that they have deserved it." &c.—So far from the company having enjoyed a monopoly, the reverse is the fact—that company have, during the last fifteen years had to contend with the most powerful opposition, and in no instance has competition been more active, and I will add, more effective. To that very competition, and its influences, the Dublin company were always exposed, and who can tell to what extent that company ~ l ike other companies, might not have fallen into abuse of their trust, and either by exorbitant rates, or neglect of the conve nience of the public, have merited censure, hid they not constantly pressed upon their attention the necessity of performing the service of carriers, on the lowest terms, and in the most efficient manner, under the certainty that if they failed, competition would do their duty to the public. That the Dublin Company have so long, and to so large an extent carried on the trade with Dublin, is solely attributable to the fact, that no other party found they could conduct it more effectually or on better terms. I have also to observe that this Company has been in existence since 1824, and not for " half a century." I am, sir, yours, &c., C. W. WILLIAMS. THE TRADE OF JAMAICA IN 1846. The commercial reports which reach us froin this co lony concur in representing the trade of the past year as a very disastrous one. The drought which set in towards the end of 1845 produced great loss to the agriculturists and labourers, whose power to consume imports was con sequently lessened. At the same time, an injudicious liberality on the part of the banks, in lending money to speculators and men of limited means, led to overtrading, which, combined with the distress of the agricultural popu lation, tended to produce a glut in most articleS. A great part of the exporting and importing trade, moreover, has been conducted direct from and to the outpqrts, which circumstance has tended to increase the over-Supply, and the gloom under which the merchants of Kingston have been labouring. The imports of all the leading articles during the whole year have yet, under these circumstances, exceeded those of 1845, although that year excOeded 1844; and no efforts or advice on the part of the merchants have been found adequate to keep back the supply. The dry goods business, which used to be an impor tant one, appears to be fast leaving the island, owing to the heavy local imposts to which it is exposed, and the high freights as compared with th ose of other islands. The exports of British goods of this class to Columbia and Cuba, during the whole of last year, barely equalled half of those shipped from Jamaica in 1845. The prospects for 1847 are regarded as flattering, the crops being expected greatly to exceed those of last year. The probability, too, that the Assembly may be induced to remove the protecting duties under the British statute, for which permission has been granted by the home go vernment, will give rise to increased commercial activity. It is, however, strongly urged that shippers'of goods to Jamaica should limit their operations to something like the scale of supply which so small a population can con sume. LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The ploughing matches of this society, whim, for many years - had been discontinued, have been resumed, and the match for the present year came off on Thurday last on the farm of Mr. Thomas Webster, at Roby. There was some frost on the ground, which was rather against the ploughing. The contest lasted from eleven o'clock until half-past four, amidst a numerous attendance. The as sembled rustics were in a state of great excitement, all anxious that their friends might win. The plbughing was considered " a fair average in quality," and the whole af fair was very interesting. Fifteen ploughs were employed in all ; and the first prize of £6 was awarded to the plough belonging to Mr. J. Glassford, of Lestock Gru lam : George Glassford, ploughman. The 'second !lest £4 10s. to the plough belonging to Mr. W . Signing , Walton ; D. Macintire, ploughman. The third ditto of £2 to the plough belonging to Mr. John Ellis, o f Hale wood ; Andrew Bell, ploughman. The first money _ was given to the plough belonging to Mrs. TinsleY , o! odby . t James Hunter, ploughboy. The second w as aNvarde the plough belonging to M _ Mr. Webster, of Ro b y ; w renceson, ploughboy. About fifty gentlemen afterward s sat down to an excel_ lent dinner at the Rose and Cr own Inn, in Huy ton, Leger presiding. All the usual toasts, s,including the health of "The Earl of Derby, were given, and enthu siastically entertained by a Mr. Webster, and the late hour reatest . mirth and Jollity prevailed i n aevillageploughmen until ~, _-•-~