The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-11-18 00:00:00

Noy. 18, 184 g. Korai anb probinriat getv,s. An illuminated clock is now being placed at each of the entrances to the Birkenhead Market. 01 1 Wednesday ( several persons were fined 5s for sell "I fireworks. .The full fine for the offence is £5. Jackson and J. Laird; Esqs., of Birkenhead, are 'lie placed on the commission of the peace for Cheshire. Manchester W e d nes d a y n o less than eleven fires took place in anchester within eleven hours. Mr. Alderman W. B. Watkins has been elected NI ayor rManchester, and Mr. Alderman Ray, Mayor of Sal ord, for the ensuing year. Mr. Edward Atkins has just returned from Bordeaux, with three beautiful African lions; •for the Zoological Gardens. A gamekeeper of Colonel Rawsthorne, at Penwot tham, "Wheaten in a brutal mannergast week by three poachers, and left in a state of insensibility.... • Meltham Mills Church was last week consecrated by te bishop of Ripon_ At a tea party afterwards , the Rev. • James, of Kirkdale, delivered a suitable address. A stone lighthouse, to be illuminated by ten lights, is li "c'huilding at the extremity of the pier recently erected at the Woodside slip. Mr. James Lawrence has been deservedly re-elected •ell • ...airman of the Watch Committee, and Mr. Procter 'ice-chairman. A line of packets, of 600 tons burden, is contemplated, 4 t taltimore. to sail, on the first of every month, between that port and Liverpool. Manchester public meetirg hasbeen convened by the M a y or of in compliance with .u-requsition, to be held t, ll Thursday, for the purpose of memorializing the Queen `e Open the ports for the free import of grain. In consequence of the Chartists having carried a mo t!en that the ratel for !lighting the town of Bury should ,'e £3OO instead of £6OO, the borough will be in utter qarkness every night until February. By the breaking of the rope-by which he ascend ed, a workman was left at the top of a tall chimney in Preston last week. He unravelled his stockings, lowered the length ° f worsted to the ground, and a piece of fine cord being attached, he was soon enabled to hoist the rope up again. Mr. W. B. Hodgson, principal of the Mechanics , ' Insti t Monday in this town, left Liverpool on the afternoon of AOnday by the four o'clock train, lectured upwards of 4 , ll Niur and a half at the Mechanics' Institution , Crewe, na was in his own house at Wavertree, before ten, after 'ravelling upwards of ninety miles. °n Wednesday, Mr. James Sweetman, of Byrom street, appeared before the magistrates, to complain of a e rious assault which had been committed upon him by a ' 7°4 4 man, named Robert Esdale. The case was dis missed. Mr. Rushton commented in strong terms on the idle and dissipated conduct of Sweetman. Tuesday last being the anniversary of " Liverpool fair , " t he wooden hand was, according to custom , displayed f rom the Town-hall, and the Mayor in his robes of office r ead the usual proclamation, offering protection to all wh o might attend the fair. Our readers are no doubt already aware that this is all a matter of form, no fair hav ing been held in this town for many years, but the form is tone through annually in order to preserve the right. A REMOVING SPIRITS WITHOUT A PERMIT.—On Tues 'saY, Mr. Woodruff, Import Surveyor, appeared before tte In • I; azistrates to prefer a complaint against Mr. Wil „el, Murray, for importing from Dublin 24. gallons of 'Ay, ond removing the same without a permit, as re !lttired by law. The offence was proved, and the penalty LectoTed, £lOO, but the defendant was liberated on pay 'aeot of £25. On Wednesday evening an old gentleman named Cro er, Nu living some in W vacant grounalnut-street,d adjoin in-hillg, the w Lock Hos d knocke de „- 'tai, and was beat about the head and face in a sbcckin g manner. His pockets were rifled, but the assailants es ‘taed before assistance could reach the unfortunate gen- R ,,__ ee lan. This is the second case of a like nature in the -""?, neighbourhood within a fortnight. p. w Ol a n d, Harmood Banner states, in a letter to Pool highway that there are 1,131 courts in Liver rooi and 414 in Toxteth-park supplied by a separate pipe maids each dwelling ; 299 courts in Liverpool and 29 in Xteth• •park supplied by stand-pipes outside •, and thirty- Yr courts in Liverpool and seven in Toxteth - park sup by by a general cistern for each court. He adds, that Le Harrington Company does not supply any water fore six o'clock in the morning. u°PERATIVE TAILORS.—A document, draw rs' n up with lltarently grzat care by the Operative Tailo Associa -I'n, sh ows th a t, in this town, 1187 men, 303 women, and th boys are employed in their own houses, which are for aft ; bloat part in a dirty and unhealthy state , while only :° men and 139 boys are employed in workshops on the 'aster s , premises. Of the dwellings used as workshops, e : T. ! are bed-rooms, and 127 are cellars ; while in 222 N, parties are working at home for shops. t n !esterday week, the first stone of a Temperance Hall, ien ee erected in Bond-street, was laid by Lawrence Hey 14,th, Esq„ far the Clarence Temperance Society. The t will be erected by shares of £1 each. In the lower tart it is proposed to build three houses and a temperance tqi. Lel fronting Titchfield-street, and two houses in Bond ti e ets on the e of h o ldi ng 1,0 top of which the hall will be erected, i cepa tnoo persons. The whole building s esti eted to cost £l, BOO. ELECTION la -s e ~ -CTION OF A D OCK COMMITTEE MAN.—On Wed to ay the election of a member of the Dock Committee, t '•naply the vacancy occasioned by the return of Mr. Eyre 14 . vans to the council took place. The Mayor presided. ';:r. Rankin was proposed by Mr. Alderman Horsfall, and entitled by Mr. C. S. Middleton. Mr. Alderman se conded him. proposed Mr. James Ritson, and Mr. Whitehead 1,. ) ,eonded him. Mr. Benn was proposed by Mr. Eyre r." 1,,,, and seconded by Mr. Bolton. At the oloao of the z3, tt ng the numbers were as follow :—For Mr. Rankin, . ; for Mr. Benn, 118 ; and for Mr. Ritson, 1 7. t t WALLASEY COURT- H OUSE.—On Tuesday, the case of tr rahner v. Reay was brought before the sitting magis seat's. It was an application fora warrant to obtain pos session of a cottage and garden in Liscard, in the occupa eZtl, of the defendant Reay. A number of witnesses were It ted to prove the terms of the tenancy, and the giving of i a l : r e,tice . to quit, dated the . 31st of July, 1844 ; Mr. Brab -1 that title was also put in, and the court were satisfied 1 t igt he was the owner of the property. It was agreed 1 h g e at the warrant should issue, but that execution should oe Stayed, on security being found in £lOO to defray the 88 Of a trial at the assizcs. l 1„ ACRIFICE OF CHILDREN.—CAUTION TO PARENTS.— ihutillests have been held, during the week, on the follow thg.ehildren, who were burnt to death in consequence of %k e n' c'etthes taking fire, generally during the temporary the m of the persons who ought to have taken care of k e n tn ;---Hartley Brookband, aged four years and four a t labs, at Preston ; Mary Ann Chipp, aged three years, I ,Landon ; the daughter of a labourer named Carrington , l e d four years, at Melton Mowbray ; Henry Jordan , c i ed six years, at Leicester : Edward Dunn, aged four ` e r% and six months, at the same place ; Sarah Ann eaters, aged two years, at Wadhurat ; Elizabeth Nuttel, eeel two years, at Darcy Lever. b lind TO THE BENEVOLENT. — We underst a nd t hat jo the man, calling himself James Thompson , has been `ne habit, for a considerable time past , of callin g u p on tt 4 ,ri. table persons in this town and neig hbourhood, and Idon-„ 4l4 ng that he had been an inmate of the Blind As y lum, road. It appears that he exhibits cha racters and e ' l l 1 iit4l " 4l lrnendations, purporting to have been signed by " J . a ll C Y, governor." His statements ar e false, and his do tnents forgeries. If the public would, instead of re -Bl.in him, send him, in charge of a police - officer , to the t t ,:ed ' Asylum, they will act in such a way as will best ICI to an exposure of his misconduct. It is said that ti n e te are other blind persons making similar representa -60,, in the town and that one of them states his name to ,atnes Wood. ' dr iv e Monday week a man named Henry Blackhurst, the th:er of one of the street sweeping machines, fell from !) 1 , shafts while proceeding along Upper Newington, and Ita e ef the wheels passed over his body. He was so much kiletl that he died the following day.—On Monday last, t e mtget Carrigan, a child two months old, residing in ca me lane with her parents, was taken unwell, and be aCe cross and restive, when the mother was induced to a e :, - "inister a little laudanum, a pennyworth of which she a en 'eured, A third laudanum was given with two It_ s Pnonfuls of hot water,after which the child fell t e ;el 3 , and continued so til four o'clock on Tuesday af ti tl enn when she died From a roost mortem examina tall -. , . • . e on IL was ascertained that death had been caused by a e ,Pstion of the brain, most probably the result of some entic oison Verdict, " Chance medley." x ' I 0 „ C HARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—An inquest was held, ,e Saturday last, before Mr. Curry, on view of the body t i jtobert Fitten, who was a miller, and lived in went home On Saturday week last, the deceased w e l t home in a state of intoxication, about eight ati th ee i k in the evening, and he had some angry words at his landlady, with whom he lodged. He was in bed t he t' I At,. time, and called her a " drunken faggot." Upon t 4 t .i• the landlady, Mary Phythian, took up a pan of hot ttr id e e• which was on the hob, containing about two quarts, hid threw it over the deceased. This severely scalded tm c ; Over the head, face. chest, and both hands. He was wh e n to the Northern Hospital on the following morning, 'th e r e he lingered up to Friday morning, when he died. lign.Drisoner acknowledged that she had thrown the hot th e l ti on the deceased—Verdict, " Manslaughter," and he l tisoner was committed to Kirkdale for trial at the assizes. 's v "lions PARCEL.—On Saturday, as a porter was tak tiq'rte hamper to one of the carriages, at the Bolton Sta. ttli n of the Bolton and Liverpool Railway, he heard some too„g,scream, and on the hamper being opened, it was a• et ` t 'fi to contain a fine child, about a fortnight old. It 11 ,et t ' ef t by a boy shortly before, and was directed to " Mr. ri gh i,ppraiser, Hospital-street, Nantwich. With speed. se nt ~ Mr. Harris, superintendent of the police, was Oteh 'Or, and got such information as enabled him to ap tor t e i nd the mother in Liverpool, where she has resided tti o ,,(!ree or four months. Her name is Eliza Power, a to i l 'ed woman, aged 26 years. It appears that she cam e INolton to visit a woman, who recommended her to flied the child to its father ; and the poor infant was, eto ti efore, bundled into a hamper; and sent to the railway Oes° ll . Both the women are in custody.—Leeds Intelli- ti sM 441: h tADEITI, A CCID ENT. — On Monday evening, John Itt t ,..g, a fireman at Mr. White's fl our mill, Faulkner -I', went to the mill to attend the engine, which be Ih o 'LLY did after the engineer had gone home, and, in a by tnt time after he arrived, a loud explosion was heard t hat l ying Persons around, The deceased was afterwards NC lYing on his face, dreadfully scalded. It appeared b ee °n Monday morninv last, one of the boilers had ;tit,' cleared by the engineer, water was put into it in the ki t r Part of the day, and a fire kindled, the ste a m b ein g Pte r t° generate without any means of escape. The engi whose duty it was to turn the stop, had gone home .4 "ate of intoxication. The deceased coming there, 'be 1 1 ) 11 1t being aware of this, replenished the fire, when leraiVer went off with a loud explosion, bursting in se `4l,l"ces. The deceased was conveyed to the Infir titet', where he died half an hour after his arrival. Ver " Accidental death." A man of the name of John Taylor, weaver, Leigh, has been committed, but admitted to bail, for trial at the next Liverpool Assizes, on a charge of having personated a voter at the recent municipal election for Bo ton; and John Lyons, John Ratcliffe, James Greenwood, John Halliwell, and James Badder, have also been committed for trial at the same Assizes, charged with " bottling," or trying to keep a voter away from voting at the same municipal election. SALE OF AMERICAN CHEESE, LARD, AND BUTTER. —There were offered for sale, at the Commercial Sale Room, Temple-court, on Thursday last, about 125 tons of American cheese, 937 kegs of lard, and 55 kegs of Canadian butter. About two-thirds of the cheese were sold at prices ranging from 51s to 56s per cwt. A few very prime samples fetched from 57s to 595. The great est weight were sold from 50s to 545. Most of the lard was sold, prices ranging from 49s 6d. to 51s. The but ter fetched 71s, but part of it was withdrawn, the holders not being willing to sell except at an advance upon that. DENSE FOG.—On Thursday morning last our town and river were obscured by a fog which equalled in density the celebrated fogs of London. It was so thick that, early in the morning, the keenest vision could not penetrate more than a few yards. The passengers who had to cross from the opposite side of the river to their business in this town, were naturally apprehensive for their safety , and the bells which were heard sounding from every station and vessel did not tend to allay their fears, as those warn ings told the imminent danger of collision. This state of things continued till midday, and fortunately no accident of any consequence took place. Several slight collisions took place on the river, but no material damage was done. SHIPS' STORES.—The Board of Customs having had under their consideration an order received by them from the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, sanctioning the increased allowance of bonded stores to vessels engaged in the African trade, and under the special circumstances of that trade authorizing the allowance of such stores to vessels of not less burden than fifty tons, orders have been issued, that vessels of fifty tons or up wards, proceeding to the coast of Africa, on coasting voyages, be allowed to receive on board bonded stores from the warehouses of the docks, &c., under the usual regulations as to quantities; the duration of such voyages out and home being estimated at 330 days; and the offi cers of the revenue at this port, and at the several out ports of the United Kingdom, have received instructions to govern themselves in future accordingly. INQUESTS ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE BOROUGH CORONER.—On view of the body of John Brown, aged 35. Deceased was a boatman, and on Thursday night last, while he was in a boat with another man, assisting to dock a vessel in the Waterloo Dock, the boat in which they were was upset by getting against a rope, and both were thrown into the water. The boat went down, and the deceased was not seen for some four minutes after, when he was found afloat. and not quite dead ; but, though every means was used for his revival, he expired before being taken to the Receiving House.—On the body of John Banks, aged 55, who lived in Cartwright place, Byrom-street. Deceased had complained for a fortnight back of pain in his chest, and on Thursday morning was much wore. At six o'clock he was found dead. Verdict, after examination of the body. " death from serious apoplexy." DOCK COMMITTEE, TnonsDAY.—The election of Mr. Rankin, as a trustee, was formally announced. The sub committee of Works were authorised to extend the shed on the south-west quay of Clarence basin at an estimated expense of £270. Mr. Sandbach represented that the graving blocks in Prince's basin required renewal, and the surveyor promised to examine them. The sub-committee of Works recommended that authority be given to the surveyor to purchase timber for the construction of the new landing-stage, and to request Mr. Cubitt to furnish the working plans. The chairman, in reply to several questions stated that the wood-work of the stage would be done by the Dock estate, according to Mr. Cubitt's desire. but that the pontoons would be contracted for. The Warehouse Committee reported that Mr. R. T. Austin entered on his duties at the Albert Dock ware houses on the 3rd instant. An application from the offi cers of the customs to enclose part of the transit sheds, for the better examination of goods, was referred. A Cow us A TAVERN.—AII have heard of the story of a bull in the china shop. They shall now hear of the wild freaks of a cow in a tavern. On Friday, a man named J. Hull, of Greenalgh, bought a heifer cow at the fair, in this town, and put her up in a stable at the Corporation Arms. When he went to remove her, for the purpose of taking her home, she rushed out on his opening the door, in an infuriated state, and knocked him down. She then ran up the yard, and entering the house through the back door. which was left open, made right into the spirit vault, but thence retreated, and forced her way into the bar. There the animal got her head under the table, and down went the glasses which were standing upon it. The noise occasioned by their fall so much added to the alarm of the beast, that she fled out of the bar with precipitate haste, carrying away, on the top of her bead, the table and one of the folding doors. Having dropped its burden in the lobby, (the door, we may here state, was smashed to pieces,) it made its egress into the street, and ran, pell mell, through the town.—Preston Paper. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—On Tuesday an inquiry took place into the circumstances attending the death of John Ratcliffe, of Union-place, Howarth-street, Everton. It appeared that the deceased had had criminal intercourse with a young woman named Mary Charnock, who resided with her father, William Charnock, at Upholland. On Sunday, the 23d of October, the deceased, who was then in liquor, went over to Upholland, and called at Char nock's house. William Charnock was then up stairs, and the daughter, knowing the hatred which her father had to the deceased, advised him to leave the house, fearing some evil consequences might ensue. He refused, and just at that moment the father came down stairs, and having told the deceased several times to quit the house without effect, he took the poker from the fireside, and in his endeavour to put the deceased out, a struggle ensued. Which of them struck could not be ascertained with cer tainty, but the deceased fell, and the floor was sprinkled with blood. The deceased was afterwards conveyed to Liverpool, and lingered in great agony until Sunday week, when he died. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Charnock. HEALTH OF TOWNS' ASSOCIATION.—The monthly meeting of the committee, held on Thursday, in the Town-hall, was numerously attended. An important re port was read from a sub-committee appointed at the last meeting to consider the subject of the smoke nuisance, in which it was stated that, from a personal inspection of thirteen furnaces in Liverpool, where smoke-consuming apparatus are employed, the members have satisfied them selves that the burning of smoke can be, and is, effectually accomplished, and that the general adoption of similar plans would at once put an end to the nuisance, and pro duce a saving to the proprietors in the expense of fuel, in some cases of 25 per cent., or even more. The sub-com mittee had ascertained that in Manchester, since the Ist of January last, when a local act enforcing a penalty of £2 per week came into operation, the nuisance had been considerably diminished. A long discussion took place on the subject of Lord Lincoln's bill, when a resolution was unanimously come to to the effect, that the whole sub ject of the various matters affecting the health of towns would be most efficiently carried on by their being com mitted into the hands of one controlling and managing power. MILNER'S FIRE-RESISTING SAFES. We have 50 frequently been induced, by a sense of public duty, to recommend the safes of our townsmen, Messrs. Milner, from what we have ourselves witnessed, and heard from others, of their efficiency on numerous trying occasions, that all further comment on our part were superfluous, saving as a reminiscence to those who in the wealthy and commercial community, may be in possession of books, documents. or other valuable articles, for 1.1,e secure depo sit of which they may not vet have provided themselves. In our last publication we noticed the fire in the premises of Messrs. Garniss, clothiers, in Park-lane, in which a costly stock was completely destroyed, the bare walls being alone left; the books contained in one of these safes were alone saved, although the box was ex posed to the hottest of a furious fire. Messrs. Garniss have since publicly acknowledged their " surprise and gratitude" on finding, " instead of ashes as they expected. the whole of their books as perfect as when they left them." Mr. Leveratt, superintendent of police, who was present during the whole of the destructive conflagration, als testifies to the fire being one of the hottest he had ever witnessed," especially in the shop where the safe was placed. The box may be seen at the office of this paper, and an examination of it will convince the most sceptical. that though much defaced by the devouring element, it presented impenetrable obstacles to its ingress. It will be remembered, that last summer a fire took place in the offices of Messrs. J. and W. Walker, the extensive buil ders, of Birkenhead, that the premises were entirely gutted ; but that the books deposited in one of these safes were found to be uninjured, whilst valuable plans and papers in a strong iron safe, of the common construction, standing beside it, and exposed to the same degree of com bustion, were reduced to tinder. We could adduce mans other instances, both in this neighbourhood and throughout the kingdom, of books and papers being similarly pre served in these safes, the principle of which, by evolving internal steam in equal progress with the intensity of the heat to which they are exposed, is, thcugh simple in itself when understood, an effectual and most valuable protec tive. So strongly indeed, and so frequently has the fact been established, by practice and experiment, with papers, combustible valuables, and even gunpowder itself, that a 1 further eulogium of its merits were superfluous. Messrs. Milner have, in fine, conferred a lasting benefit on society by their scientific and admirable invention; and we may venture to say, that persons possessed of valuable docu ments or other property, who neglect to furnish themselves with these neat, portable, and comparatively cheap depo sitories, will find,vn arriving at a serious loss, but a small amount of sympathy from the considerate portion of the community. PROTESTANT ORPHAN SOCIETY ,-IRELAND On Monday evening, 10th instant, a meeting was held at Birkenhead of the friends and subscribers to this excellent Institution. The Rev. Andrew Knox took the chair, and was supported by the Rev. Charles Hamilton, Rev. Fielding Ouid, Rev. Bell, Rev, G. Cuthbert, Rev. Joseph Baylee, and Dr. Orpen. The Rev. Thomas Gregg, secretary to the society, attended as a deputation from Ireland, and addressed the meeting, giving full and satisfactory details of the Society's operations. The Rev. J. Baylee and Rev. G. Cuthbert spoke in commendation of the Society. A collection was made in the room, and several collecting cards were taken, from which it is ex pected much increase will be derived to the Society's funds. On the following evening, a similar Meeting was held in the large schoolroom in Christian-street.—The Rev. F. Ould presided, and addressed the meeting in an inter esting and powerful speech, which must have told well for the interests of the Society. The Rev. Thomas Gregg went into large details showing the extensive operations of the Society, and the necessity that exists in Ireland for the benefits and blessing which the Society confers.— . The Rev. G. Cuthbert next addressed the meeting in the THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. most earnest and impressive manner ; after which a col lection was taken up, and cards distributed to those friends who kindly undertook thus to add to the funds. On Wednesday evening a sermon was preached in Christ Church, by the Rev. Thomas Gregg, by whom the claims of the orphan were fully stated and enforced. An other meeting for the same purpose was held on Thursday evening, in the school-house, St. James's-road. The Rev. J. Hampton presided, and was supported by the Rev. Messrs. Parry, Graham, and Cuthbert. The meeting was addressed by the chairman in a most impressive manner, as also by the Rev. Messrs. Parry and Cuthbert. The Rev. Thomas Gregg, as on the previous occasions, de tailed at length the nature and operations of the society. It was clearly shown that much good has resulted from the labours of the committee ; and when it was stated that for the sum of £3 10s. Od. a poor orphan child can receive diet and lodging for a whole year, the smallness of the sum manifestly created surprise, but it was clearly proved by the speaker that that sum is found sufficient in Ireland, where the children are located in the farmers' houses, in the county of Wicklow. They are placed un der the care of ten parochial clergymen, and every thing provided for them to meet their temporal and spiritual wants. It was mentioned, with much satisfaction, that a friend to the society, in this town, had presented to the secretary the munificent donation of £5O. On one occa sion the note so liberally bestowed was held before the meeting, when the speaker remarked on the quantity of clothing and comfort with which it would surround many of the 335 orphans under the society's care. All the meetings were opened and closed with singing and prayer. HIGHWAY 80A1113.-SUIirLY OF WATER. After the transaction of some routine business, at the meeting of the Highway Board on Thursday, Mr. PROCTER said they would hear from the law-clerk that full notice had been given to apply to parliament at the ensuing session for a bill to enable the board to supply the town with water. He wished it to be understood that he should move for a parliamentary committee, in con formity with that notice, at their annual meeting for the election of commissioners, on that day week. His object was to inform the public especially, so that they might have an opportunity of coming to the meeting, to move any instruction they might consider necessary to that committee in reference to the proposed measure. The committee should be a most impartial one, and no political feeling should be allowed to step in. He should propose five members of the board ; and when he stated that Mr. Tinne and Mr. Birkett were to serve on that committee, be thought there could be- no fear en that ground. The public had only to come forward and move any instructions they considered necessary for that committee. The CHAIRMAN stated that many persons had stated if an arrangement had been come to with the companies, there would have been no necessity for laying down pipes. When, however, they went to parliament they found the pipes were not f sufficient capacity, and being laid ac cording to the levels of the streets, did not admit of the requisite force being applied, so as to obtain the required supply, and pipes must have been laid down under any circumstances. The board had also gone to expense in forcing the water up into warehouses, and had given an additional supply of water to the town. The land was obtained under very favourable circumstances, and the erections were necessary to bring the supply of water to the town for the benefit of the inhabitants generally, and must have been proceeded with whoever had taken the matter in hand. He should, however, like to know what the council meant to do, inasmuch as the board was going to parliament, and they (the council) were doing the same ; and he understood, since he had come into the room, that the Toxteth-park people were going to parliament also. It had been suggested that they should keep the thing in their own hands, and he should like to know what the council intended to do, as the inhabitants ought to be in formed on the subject. In reply to a question, as to whether it had been ascer tained that a continuous supply could be bad from wells, The CHAIRMAN said he believed it bad not been de cided with certainty. It had been mentioned to him that an arrangement was being made at Edinburgh to bring a supply by one of the railway companies, and they might adopt some such measure if necessary. Mr. PROCTER observed that he bad suggested a mode which had been under consideration by Mr. Weightman and Mr. Simpson, and for which plans and sections would be completed by the 39th instant, of bringing water from the river Alt, near Sephton Meadows, by means of pipes laid along the banks of the canal. If it were the opinion of Messrs. Simpson and Weightman that a supply could be obtained by that means, and Mr. Simpson's opinion was, he believed, that if they could not get a continuous supply in Liverpool, such a plan would be desirable, Be sides, if they were to get sufficient in the town, they would have all the parties from Wavertree, the Old Swan, &c. coming to complain of their water being taken away. The bill for which the notices had been given would, however, give them ample powers to draw water from the Alt or any other source. The CHAIRMAN said be had received a copy of several resolutions passed at a meeting of the committee of the Bootle Water Company, held on the 12th instant, at which Mr. B. S. Riley presided. He then read as follows: "The committee having perused the printed evidence taken before the committee of the Highway Board, and their report thereon touching the supply of water, have come to the following resolutions : " Ist,—That the committee do not consider it necessary at the pri sent late stage of the proceeding to point out and controvert some inaccuracies and misstatements in the evidence, and have had no hesitation in at once ad mitting the broad principle, that the supply of water is not so abundant and frequent es is desirable. " 2(l,—That many of the evils complained of might and would have been, to a great extent, remedied, if the wa ter-works had felt themselves warranted in increasing their outlay, by an extension of their works, and by adopting some of the various improvements which have, from time to time, been discussed by the board. " 3d,—That the expenditure has been mainly checked by the public excitement on this question, by the obloquy so freely thrown upon the Water Company, and by nu merous threats against what has been termed their mono poly and their existence as a public company. " 4th,—That concluding there is now little prospect of the present Water Works, with the strong feeling against them, giving satisfaction to the public, whatever extension and improvement they might, by an increased outlay of capital, adopt, this committee have every reason to believe that this company will have no objection to meet the ge nerally-expressed wish, that the Water Works should be under the control of the corporation, and that they will be ready to treat either with the authorities:of the borough, or the commissioners, under any general act that may be obtained, for the transfer of their interests on fair and equitable terms." Mr. BIRKETT remarked that, as regarded who was to supply the town with water, it made no difference whether the supply proceeded from the town council or the com missioners. As to the continuous supply, he thought it better that the supply for domestic purposes and that to be used in cases of fire should not be supplied from the same source. Mr. TINNE thought there was no reason for coming into collision with the council, as to going to parliament— they had only one interest to serve, and that was the pub lic interest. He believed the object of the council was to get Lord Lincoln's bill transferred to them. By that bill the powers of the Highway Board were swamped and taken away. The object of the council was to avoid, if possible, the very large machinery for carrying out those things which could be accomplished by a smaller body, and thereby save expense. He hoped that board would also go to parliament to get the powers of Lord Lincoln's bill transferred to the authorities of the town. He agreed in opinion with other gentlemen that it mattered little as to who supplied the water, but they mi g ht rest assured the power of doing so would be given only to one trust. He conceived the water was not the only thing they ought to go for; and that, without efficient sewerage, it would be impossible for them to do what they wished. He quoted from a letter written by a medical gentleman in New York. containing some valuable suggestions in reference to the subject. The LAw-CLERK then read the notices referred to by Mr. Procter, which were to the effect that the proposed bill wz.s to enable the board to supply water for the general purposes of the town, to purchase the rights of the water companies, and to obtain a supply from the river Alt or any other source. Mr. LAWRENCE said he was not then prepared to give his consent to taking the powers mentioned in the notices, and should object to the board taking such powers with out a public meeting being called. Mr. PROCTER explained that it was necessary, as he had stated, that a public meeting should be called to con sider the matter. Mr. COOPER said the owners of property and inhabi tants generally were determined to have such a measure, and the pressure from without would compel either one party or another to proceed for it. He did not think the council was the body likely to carry it out, for when they came to the matters of pounds, shillings, and pence, they would stop. He considered that the inhabitants ought to have a voice in it, as it would be impossible without their co-operation to carry the measure out. Several of the members also expressed themselves as to the necessity of getting the public sanction. Some conversation then took place as to the operations now going on in connexion with the new water works, when Mr. Simpson was called in, and he stated that they were getting 900 gallons per day ; he believed there was more water, but the present engines would be inadequate to perform the work required. Mr. BIRKETT and several other members thought thit if there were grounds for supposing that by going further more water could be obtained it would be better to do so. Several questions were then put to Mr. Simpson as to whether he considered a continuous supply of water could be obtained from wells in this locality for 300,000 inhabi tants, and whether any regular supply might be depended upon from the river Alt ; also, whether any large town that he knew of was provided with, water by means of wells alone. His opinion did not seem favourable as re garded a supply from the Alt, it being a rapid river, vary ing with the state of the weather, and not affording con venience for the erection of reservoirs. Glasgow, he be lieved, was the only large city that had received its supply from wells, and there the inhabitants were proposing a plan for going to one of the lochs. He was not prepared, however, to give a decided opinion on those points, and it was agreed that he should consider them, and prepare plans, &c. for the consideration of the board, in connexion with the application about to be made to parliament. The LAW-CLERK declared the names of the retiring commissioners previously to the annual election on Thursday next. It appeared that Mr. James Brancker was disqualified by non-attendance, and that Mr. Tyrer did not qualify as a member. Besides those gentlemen, the following will retire :—Messrs. R. Houghton, Plump ton, and Tinne, elected by the council; Messrs. Birkett, Aspinall, Kaye, Hornby, and Cooper, elected by the rate payers. The board then adjourned. FORTHCOMING RETURN OF CAPITAL BY THE COMPETING COMPANIES OF FRENCH RAILWAYS. The Journal des Debals calculates that the following will be the result of the restitution to the shareholders of the deposits paid to the several companies competing for the grant of Railways from Paris to Strasburg, from Toms to Nantes, from Creil to St. Quentin, from Paris to Lyons, and from Lyons to Avignon Estimating the ten per cent to be all paid up, there will be for 19 Companies, competing for Paris and Lyons line.... ..... 11 Ditto for Paris and Strasburg 9 Ditto for Lyons and Avignon 9 Ditto for Toms and Nantes 9 Ditto, Creil to St. Quentin Total, £15,200,000 5,500,000 3,960,000 1,260,000 1,260,000 £27,180,000 Taking, however, the more probable case, that the ten per cent. is not all paid up, the Debats thinks that we may state the amount safely at £20,000,000 ; and as only one company will be established for each route, and con sequently only ten per cent. of the deposit retained, the large amount of £18,000,000 sterling will be returned to the various shareholders, English and French. The Railways are to be conceded within a month, hnd the re turn of this money into active circulation must be a sen sible relief to the market. A. NICE APPOINTMENT.-THE GODLESS EDU- CATION SCHEME SWAMPED Our " Conservative " ministry are certainly taking every pains to prove to the world that Ireland is their " chief difficulty." Blunder after blunder is the result of their wretched attempts to conciliate the anti-English feelings of the disaffected agitators and priesthood of that land : and the very boons which they confer only add to the contempt with which their truckling is regarded by their recipients. Their last move—the appointment of Dean Kirwan, whose only claim is his being a bitter pa pist, as president of the godless university of Galway—has lost them the countenance of the only journal of character in Ireland which has advocated their measures—the Dublin Evening Packet. We give our contemporary's descrip tion of the instrument selected to raise the character and advance the attainments of the priesthood of Ireland : " The appointment of Joseph Kirwan has, we own, com pletely dispelled all our h - pes. It has actually filled us with dismay. It is now 28 years, we grieve to say, since the writer of these remarks fir-t knew Mr. Kirwan. He was then a se cond-rate assistant in about a third-rate school iu the town of Galway. Yet, even that s tuation, humble as it was, he was scarcely competent to fill. Through the bounty, however, of the late Roman Catholic warden, he was transferred per saltum to Maynooth, where he was never able to obtain the slightest dis tinction in any branch of literature. Indeed, we greatly doubt if, at the present moment, he knows the difference between a plane and a solid angle, or can translate two consecutive sen tences in any Greek author. It is our firm conviction that in two years, let him work with all the industry of which he is capa ble, he could not qualify himself for entrance into the Irish uni versity. And this is the man selected to be president, no less, of a college. Oh shame, everlasting shame, on a Government which could thus insult the feelings and understanding of an entire nation. But we are told, perhaps, that he is a clever preacher. Yes, but a preacher of what? Why a preacher of in tolerance, of hatred, and a bitter animosity to everything Pro testant; with all the virulence of Father Thomas Maguire, without one tithe of his ability or learning. To this work have his labours been chiefly confined since he became a clergyman. Such is the Rev. JLseph Kirwan, the honoured choice of Lord Heytesbury. Now, we tell the government that this single ap pointment will have done more to injure them in the estimation of the Protestants of Ireland than any other act of theirs since Sir Robert Peel's re-accession to office. There is not a man with whom we have held any conversation on the subject who has not cried out against so gross a violation of all public de cency. It is a piece of enormity that has absolutely filled us with indignation. Who, in the name of all that is marvelous, could have advised Lord Heytesbury to sanction such a suicidal ap pointment? What enemy in disguise could have thus imposed on his Excellency, for none but an enemy could have done the deed?" There's a character to be selected by a ministry which has at its head a prizeman of the first university ! The president of an Irish university so mere a dunce that an Eton boy of nine years old would pluck him in three minutes! NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS, AFTER THE MANNER GF A DISTINGUISHED MASTER (From Punch in Liverpool.) A. Z. is right. " Expansive force" is the power which produces expansion. As applied to literature, it is syno nomous with the power of " spinning ;" and enables our selves to spread over a " paper and a half for sixpence" the same amount of information which we used to sell for fivepence. The frog in the fable, like ourselves, was gifted with a large amount of expansive force. P. Our very intelligent correspondent is in error, in imagining that the line, " Tityre to patulse recubans sub tegmine fagi" is from Virgil. It is to be found in the works of an old grammatical writer named Guiielmi Lilii. An Advertiser has hit exactly the cause which renders the Mercury the best advertising medium extant. The prolix stupidity of our leaders, and the generally uninte resting character of our miscellaneous matter, impel our readers to resort to our advertising columns for amuse ment ; and thus publicity is given to all advertisements with which we are favoured. An additional cause of the superior advantage which we offer to advertisers is the re gularity with which the Mercury of Friday gets into the bands of greengrocers, cheesemongers, and others, on Sa turdays, by which every pound of butter or pennyworth of cheese sold becomes an advertising medium on a small scale. ' ' " . Philosophus. We never remarked the singular fact mentioned by our correspondent, that when the first of February falls on a Monday the first of March falls also on a Monday, leap year only excepted. We have, how ever, gone o'er our Mu of the Mercury from its -com mencement, and find that Phiiosophus is strictly correct. Didasculus. The best copy-books are those of Smith and Dolier. They may be had at the Mercury-office. Mrs. Caudle's Lectures. These inimitable lectures having now been announced to be concluded, we purpose commencing a series of our own, which, to distinguish them from those of Punch, we shall style the Coddle, or the Molly Coddle Lectures. We have not decided yet which. Each lecture will be recited by the writer in cos tume, and with appropriate scenery, night-dresses, and ap purtenances, at the Saturday Evening Concerts, Lord Nelson-street. The subject of the first lecture will be " Coddle (or Molly Coddle) has had his portrait taken again." _ . CORRLSPONDENCE. TORY DUPES.-THE VICTUALLERS THROWN OVERBOARD BY THE NEWLY-ELECTED COUNCILMEN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR, The man who hails you Tom or Jack, And proves by blows upon your back How he esteems your merit, Is such a friend that one had need Be very much his friend indeed, To pardon or to bear it Some tory publicans, last municipal election, either voted for or supported radical candidates. By some cu rious process of reasoning they consider a sleek and wa ter-gruel radical a better friend to the " trade" than a well-fed tory. The Committee of Publicans appointed to beat up for candidates were supposed to be uninfluenced by politics, and were merely required to find suitable per sons to represent the licensed victuallers of this town. Let us consider the result of this movement, and see if the tory section have not been led to do radical work ; and that they have not only been gulled by their radical brethren, but duped by their supposed representative friends. The victuallers, in the first place, proposed to contest four wards,—St. Paul's, Lime-street, Vauxhall, and St. Anne's ; two of these were supposed safe to the tories, and two to the radicals; surely this was fair enough in design ; what was it in execution ? The two radical can didates walked in unopposed, and the two tory representa tives were thrown out of their respective wards, through a junction of simple tory publicans, with the whole strength of radicalism, thus the tory victuallers were the tools of the radicals, although they could not thin see it. Again, the bustle of the election being over, and the boasts of the radicals being exhausted at this (what they call) triumph of party, not of publicans, whom, by the bye, they never notice, let us see how these friends of the victuallers evince their gratitude. At the first meeting of council, where these publicans friends appear. one of them, Mr. Earle, moved a standing order of council ; and what think you was its purport,— to pass a vote of confidence to the spirit merchants and brewers in the council and on the watch committee for seeing justice done to the victuallers ? No such thing. Was it to propose that all the brewers and spirit mer chants should be placed on the watch committee to assist in protecting the victuallers? Not in the least. What, then ? 1 give the words of the resolution. Mr. Earls moved that no brewer, spirit dealer, or other person selling wines and spirits to publicans, should be a mem ber of the Watch Committee 1!" Now this was pretty fair as a beginning, and for Mr. Earle it was not surpri sing that his nobility was affected by sitting with persons " selling spirits ;" but then Mr. Vincent Higgins, the knight errant of the victuallers, was present, and surely he would break a lance in favour of his new tory friends, the new reform voters, and for the publicans generally. Alas! he did not ! He and his party had tied themselves hand and foot to vote for a dealer in spirits next election for Lime-street Ward, and surely he would not presume to say in the council that he changed his opinion of men " selling spirits," when he had once got the votes of the good-natured easy landlords.—yes, he did , " 'tis true, and pity 'tis, 'tis true , "—Mr. Vincent Higgins voted for the te,Antion that brewers and spirit dealers should not be on t-ie Watch Committee! Now, tory victuallers of Lime-street Ward, put that in your pipes and —. It was for this Mr. Higgins that you left an old friend. Have you mended your market through deserting your principles ? Ido not press for an answer. Mr. Lloyd, North Toxteth, was equally thankful to the one hundred conservatives who either voted for, or remained neutral, according to his address. He payed the tory victuallers off by voting the same thing, namely, that a spirit seller or brewer was not fit to sit upon the Watch Committee. Indeed the whole radical faction slapped the faces of the publicans in the same off-hand manner, and it is worth while printing the names of those who supported Mr. Earle's resolutions, that the parties may be held in last ing remembrance by the duped individuals who placed them where they are. The names are W. Thornhill, W. Rathbone, T. Chalmer, W. Preston, E. Evans, H. Hornby, J. Aikin, Vincent Higgins, W. Earle, J. Horn by, and T. Lloyd,—Messrs. Glazebrook, Parker, and Lawrence, being tories charged as interested in the mat ter, voted for the resolution, as a matter of course; and these were the only tories. Thus the tories to a man de fended the sellers of spirits by their votes in the council room, and would not allow the absurd and unjust stigma to be cast upon the licensed victuallers, spirit merchants, and brewers of Liverpool, that brewers or persons selling wine and spirits were incapable of giving an honest and impartial vote in the Watch Committee. I hope our tory friends will be wise for the future, and not allow their noses to be ground in a mill of their own making. "For of all ill, good Heaven, thy wrath could send, Save, save, 0, save me, from the faithless friend." I am, Sir, yours, &c., DICKEY SAM. Liverpool, Nov. 14, 1845. --dew-. THE POTATOE QUESTION To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sta,—On seeing a placard on the walls announcing that a requisition was laying for signature for the mayor to call a public meeting respecting the failure of the po tatoe crop, the following thoughts arose in my mind: — I thought the motives by which the parties endeavoured to get up the requisition were not quite honest and straight forward, and that those parties were the League and their radical friends and supporters here; so that they might have an opportunity of spouting their oft-refuted fallacies on the corn question, and the radicals might have an op portunity of getting rid of some of their venom by endea vouring to place the mayor in an uncharitable light before the people of this town, in refusing to call the meeting, which he certainly will, for the reasons embodied in the following thoughts:— I think he ought to so refuse, because the Government Commissioners have not yet made their report upon the potatoe question. I think he ought, because the Government have not taken any steps or adopted any measures of relief. I think he ought, because in Ireland herself—not even in her capital—has there been an example set. I think he ought to refuse, because Ireland's leaders sav they would not ask England for a subscription. See O'Brien's speech in Conciliation Hall on Monday last. I think he or any one else ought to refuse until the Re peal fund had been spent for the purpose of relief; En glishmen will very properly inquire why they should give money for Ireland's relief whilst her priests and dema gogues are collecting from her starving population £3OO to £5OO weekly for the Repeal fund. Yours respectfully, ANTI-HUMBUG. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SIR,—In the cemplete burning of the whole of our pre mises on Monday last, the only things saved out of the stock and property were- our books, which we feel that we owe entirely to Milner's Fire-resisting Safe,-in which we kept them. The safe bears evidence . 9f -the intense fire it had resisted, and it was with as much surprise as grati tude that, on breaking it open eftir the fire, we found, in stead of ashes as we expected, our books perfect as we left them. We think it due to this invaluable invention, and to the public, t9-roake this declaration through your columns.—We9ersir, ;our obedient servants, GARNISS & CO., Late of 97, Park-lane. Queen's Dock-master's House,l2th Nov. 1845. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SIR,—You will much oblige your correspondent, by in serting in your valuable paper, a short account of a tea party which the workmen of the Crown-streetworks were entertained at, on Saturday last, by their generous and indulgent employer, Mr. C. Ritchie, and to which I also was kindly envited. _ The entertainment took place in one of the spacious workshops, which was beautifully decorated with ever greens, and numerous banners, one of which bore the full length portrait of our gracious Queen. There was also a fine-toned seraphin, upon which sacred music was per formed, at intervals, by Mr. Finny, organist, of St. Clement's: The number of workmen that sat down was about two hundred. After blessing had been asked by the Rev. F. Parry, who favoured them with his presence, the men partook of that which was bountifully provided for them. After several pieces had been performed, their kind entertainer delivered a short address, showing, that the object he had in view, in calling them together, was to strengthen the cords of friendship and unity it has always been his object to promote. Then the whole party, after singing the evening hymn, separated, at half-past eight, highly delighted with their evening's enjoyment. Sir, my reasons for requesting you to make this public is, that it may set an example to other employers, in Liverpool, for I can safely testify, that there is not a workshop in this town, with the same number in it, could assemble such an orderly and respectable set of men. They do, indeed, attach great credit to their employer.— Yours, respectfully, Windsor, Nov. 17, ]845. A SUBSCRIBER The proposed sale of Heaton Park, Lord Wiltou's seat, near Manchester, has been broken off. TRIPE SUPPERS AT THE GEORGE HOTEL, FENWICK STREET.—The tripe suppers of Mr. Latham, George Hotel, Fenwick-street, which were so popular last winter, are about being renewed. They will commence on Thurs day next, at the usual hour; and at one o'clock on that day a splendid haunch of venison will be ready at the same respectable and well-conducted establishment.—See adv. The members of the Mechanic's Institution were, on Saturday night last, highly delighted with Mr. S. Lover's Irish entertainment. A similar treat is offered to -the public, on Tuesday evening next, at the Concert Hall, Lord Nelson-street, when he will give his entertainment entitled Illustrations of Ireland, when we expect to see the good taste of the public of Liverpool displayed by a full room ~ COMPARATIVE HEALTH OF MANCHESTER AND Lr vEßPOOL.—Accordigps to ifielast table of mortality, pub- lished by the regiiter-general, the deaths in the Live rpool district (population, 223,054 in 1841,) were 1,962 in the quarter; the quarterly average of five years being 1,926, and the quarterly average of five September quar ter, 1,910. In the Manchester district (population 192,408 in 1841,) the deaths of the quarter were 1,366; the quarterly average of the five years being 1,531, and the quarterly average of five September quarters, 1,529. While the:deaths of the quarter are above the average at Liverpool, they are nearly 200 below the average at Man chester. HOUSEBREAKING, IN ROSE-HILL.—On Saturday two girls, named Sarah Barton and Charlotte Seaburn, were committed, by Mr. Rushton, for trial, on a charge of hav ing stolen a considerable quantity of property belonging to Mr. Nathaniel Adams, watchmaker, of Great Rich mond-place, Rose-hill. It appeared, that, on that night week, his father and aunt went to market. and that he himself also went out, and fastened up the premises. During his absence the house was entered, and robbed of several coats, vests, and handkerchiefs, of the value of £25, and the drawers were forced open. It was subse quently ascertained that portions of the stolen property had been pledged, by the prisoners, with Mr. Moss, pawnbroker, Fontenoy-street. INQUESTS YESTERDAY BEFORE THE BOROUGH CO RONER.—On view of the body of Elizabeth Camm, a child twenty months old, daughter of a tailor in Park lane. On Saturday week, deceased was running across the floor, and fell over the fender. In falling, she put up her hands, and caught the handle of a frying pan which was on the fire, when the hot fat it contained went over her neck and right arm, and severely scalded her. She was attended by a surgeon, but died from the injuries yes terday morning. Vernict, "Accidental."—On the body of Mary Barnett, aged fifty six years, wife of an iron moulder residing in Clayton-street." On Saturday week, the clothes of the deceased caught fire from a can dle which she had been carrying, and before the accident a.l was discovered, she was so severely burnt, that though at tended to, she died on Friday last. "Accidental."—On view of the body of Robert Whitty, a labourer, aged twenty-six, who lodged in Peter-street. He had coin plained of a pain in his chest for some weeks, and on Snnclay last went to bed in the afternoon and died soon afterwards. From a post mortem examination, it ap peared that death was the result of disease of the heart. "Natural causes." INTERESTING LECTURES AT THE COLLEGIATE INSTI TUTION.—The most interesting course of lectures ever delivered in the hall of the Collegiate Institution will be commenced this evening. The subject is " The pro gress of secular and vocal music at home and abroad, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries ;" and when we state that the author of the discourses is that eminent composer, Sir Henry Bishop, who will himself preside at the piano-forte, and superintend the illustrations of his disquisitions, we think we have said enough to justify us in our opening assertion. Every arrangement has been made to render the exemplifications as effective as possi ble, eminent vocalists and a numerous chorus having been obtained for the puepore. A glance at the syllabus twill at once show the pleasing and instructive character of he lectures. Sir Henry R. Bishop attended the rehear sal on Saturday evening, and expressed himself more than satisfied with the performance. There were 70 vocalists on the platform, comprising the best voices and readers in the town, and it was the general remark, that, excepting on festival occasions, a greater massiveness and solidity of tone has never been heard in Liverpool. Indeed, the musical lectures delivered at this institution have always had every care taken with them, and the musical public ere therefore prepared to expect that the ideas of the composers shall be realized. We imagine that the at tendance this evening will be much greater than upon any previous occasion. WEST DERBY UNION.—?it the weekly meeting on Tuesday reporters were admitted for the first time. A letter was read from the clerk of the peace, requesting that the county rate for the quarter ending December, 1845, comprising twenty-one townships, and amounting to £1935 9s. 9d., should be collected forthwith, and paid in by the 23rd instant. A letter was also read from the poor-law guardians, sanctioning the increase in the salary of Mr. Johnson, medical officer, from £l2 to £2O per annum. At the same time they requested to be informed whether the guardians were aware of any special circum stance which has occasioned the increase of pauper sm in the township of Kirkdale. A pauper in the Workhouse named James Murphy, who had attempted to commit suicide, by hanging himself with his handkerchief, which fortunately gave way,and not succeeding, bad endeavoured to strangle a person who slept with him in the same ward, was ordered to be sent to the county asylum. The Rev. Mr. Badnall gave notice of a motion to have the bodies of paupers interred in consecrated burial ground, and not, as formerly, in the Necropolis. A communication was read from the overseers of Toxteth-park, wishing to know from the board whether Mr. Surgeon Harbord bad the power to appoint a deputy during his absence or illness. The guardians were of opinion that the appointment was le gally correct, as Mr. Drawbridge was appointed deputy at the time Mr. Harbord was elected. Some conversation took place as to an alleged discourteous movement to ' wards the chairman, in consequence of his conduct at the ' election of a districtauditor ; but it was the opinion of the I board that his general behaviour was gentlemanly and courteous. NEW MINISTERIAL FAILURE In a report of the ceremony of turning the first sod upon the Tient Valley Railway, recently performed by Sir Robert Peel, the Times of Friday has the following " Sit' Robert, then taking the spa , e, proceeded to dig some of the turf and throw it into the barrow. The turf had previously been loosened for the purpose, but the trampling of the crowd had made it firm again, and the right hon. hart found that it pressure upon the spade than his right foot •anged almost immediately to the use of the ng about four spadefels into the barrow, roceeded, amids .nuch cheetinz, to wheel it along a line of planks placed upon the grass. The crowd retired in front to enable this to be done, but the throng was too great for him to proceed more than four or five yards, and for the same reason he was unable to empty the barrow. He set it down, and re turned to his former place." With all his ability as a Minister it is clear Sir Robert will never make a navey. The change from the right foot to the left quite in character will all his policy ; and his failure in the attempt to perform his favorite evolu tion,—wheeling— we can only account for by the fact that the " line of planks" was a straight line. A curve be would have managed better. By the way, we wonder at Sir Robert's recommendation of " direct" lines. We should have thought, from his character, that a circum bendibus would have been more to his taste. required a gre could afford; he c left, and after thrc I HINT TO RAILWAY COMPANIES FROM A HIGH 4UARTER A few days ago Sir Robert Peel turned the first sod, in commencing the formation of the Trent Valley Railway, in a field near Tamworth, and took occasion to address the following advice to the directors, which we quote as applicable to some companies that we know of in this locality : " The way in which the directors of this railway must esta blish their claim to the continuance of the privileges they pos sess, is by being enabled to show that they combine the greatest degree of velocity in travelling with the greatest degree of safety to the traveller; they must show that they have neglected no precaution that can have a tendency to diminish tne risk of those accidents, the frequent occurrence of which L.hakls confi dence in railway travelling. (Hear, hear.) They must make sacrifices of pecuniary gain for the purpose of taking those precautions. They must be enabled to state that they have consulted t he comfort of all classes of railway travellers—of the poor as well as of the rich. (Hear, hear.) They must be ena bled to show that their carriages are suitably provided with comfort and accommodationfor the third class as well as for the first; and if they are wise they will, by moderate fares and com fortable accommodation, increase that love of locomotion upon which, after all, the permanent prosperity of railways must de pend. Now I advise them to take this course upon the compre hensive view of their own permanent interests, as well as of the interests of the public; and if they do that, then I shall, in turning the first sod this day, not only be commencing a line of railway through the Trent Valley, but I shall be laying the foundation of a permanent and pros....er_.us company, which can establish a claim to parliament try support more powerful than the union of great companies, more powerful than the canvass ing of members of parliament—a claim to public sup; ort which will be founded on the proof that the privilege conferred on the company is exercised for public advantage." LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAM-SHIP On Saturday, a fine iron steamer, called " The Ros common," was launched from the yard of the builder, Mr. Peter Cato, (south end of the Brunswick Dock,) the first iron steam-vessel constructed by that enterprising gentleman, who, following the current of modern science and novelty, has, like others in his useful vocation, been induced to become "blacksmith," as well as shipwright. This specimen of handycraft itself is sufficient to esta blish his character in the new branch of the business, as at once an anxious and skilful man. The Roscommon is in length (over all) about 175 feet ; she has 24 feet of beam ; 14 feet depth of hold ; and admeasures about 560 tons. She is intended for a cargo vessel for the city of Dublin Steam Company, to be propelled by the sc r e w ; and for such a purpose he appears to be extremely well adapted in every point, combining great carrying with sailing powers. Mr. John Grantham, the marine engineer of the company, and who has lately turned out some of the fastest iron vessels of the port, supplied the entire plans and superintended the work throughout. Though the day was rather unravourable, and prevented many from at tending who would have otherwise been present, the as semblage of ladies and gentlemen was considerable; and the launch was one of the most beautiful and interesting we have ever witnessed. The vessel is of great strength in her ribs and plating, more than the usual quantity of material being employed. After the launch, the company sat down to an elegant and sumptuous collation and wines, at which Mr. Cato presided with his accustomed good humour and urbanity. Success to the vessel was proposed, and drunk with great :cheering, and amongst other toasts the health of the builder, to which he replied in feeling and appropriate terms. He remarked with gta tification that in compliance with his instructions, he had supplied in the vessel an ample weight of iron, and that during the building Mr. Grantham and himself had en tirely accorded in opinion, and worked cordially together. On his health being drunk, Mr. Grantham expressed his approval, der;ved from experience of iron as a material for ship building, and adduced several instances of its superiority over wood in cases of stranding, &c. He also responded to the health of C. W. Williams, Esq., the managing and enterprising Director of the Dublin Com pany, to whom he should communicate the ardent man ner in which the toast had been received. Not only were Liverpool and Dublin greatly indebted to that gentleman as a skilful promoter of steam navigation, but the world at large ; and such was his untiring energy, that in addi tion to what he had done for Ireland in her interior navi gation, , he was now labouring assiduously to promote her commerce and elicit her abundant resources by the esta blishment of railways, &c. Amongst other healths, that of Mr. Audley, the talented foreman of the yard, to whom the gratifying results of the day were in a great measure to be attributed, was received with enthusiasm, and mo clootly and feelingly replied to. Numerous other appro priate toasts passed off with equal eclat, and the company, including a number of ladies, after enjoying themselves for a considerable time, separated, all highly delighted with the proceedings of the day. Mr. Cato has on the stocks two beautiful sister iron schooners, also from the models of Mr. Grantham, and which, though destined for the merchant service, appear to us to be such as will turn out to be regular " clippers." We have since seen se veral splendid models by the same gentleman, from one of which (about to be built) the vessel will probably prove to be one of the fastest craft afloat. propelled by the screw, which we rather opine will henceforth take prece dence of the paddle-wheel. It is said that there are not half a dozen wooden steam ships building throughout all England, so generally is iron adopted for those vessels. We should state that, in the course of the addresses made at the entertainment, Mr. Pope, surveyor Lloyd's, remarked that he and Mr. Creuse, the celebrated naval architect, and also a surveyor for the underwriters, had minutely inspected the Roscommon, and that both con curred in opinion, that they had not before seen a vessel more strong in her ribs and plates, or more faithfully put together by the builder. SELECT VESTRY.-TIIESDAY After some discussion, the bill for £75 10s., sent in by Mons. Huguenin for fitting up a gymnasium at the In dustrial Schools, was ordered to be paid. James Martindale was appointed to the situation of re lieving officer, at a salary of £lO5, he giving a bond to the amount of £2OO. A letter from the poor-law commissioners, approving of the recent appointment of relieving officers, was read; so also was a letter from Mr. Twistleton, assistant poor law commissioner, announcing that William Rees had been elected to the office of auditor for this district. Mr. Walker, the late auditor, sent in an abstract of the parochial accounts for the last half-year, and stated, that the additional collectors appointed some time since tad well succeeded in getting in the rates, and that an improved system of keeping the accounts had been matured. Mr. HENDERSON called attention to an edict issued by the poor-law commissioners, to the effect that, in inden tures of apprenticeship, the circumstances attending the life of the party bound should be stated at length ; for instance, whether he had been imprisoned or transported, or whether he was illegitimate. Mr. H. strongly de nounced the edict, said it was infamous, and that, without doing any good whatever, it might inflict a serious injury on the apprentice through after life. Mr. BREMNER said the filling up of the indentures seemed at present to be a vexata questio throughout the kingdom. At the suggestion of Mr. EARLF,, it was agreed that the board should remonstrate with the poor-law commis sioners on the subject, and either ascertain their reasons for having the insertion made, or procure some alteration. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, master and mistress of Nor wood School, were appointed to the infant-school at Kirkdale, at a salary of £lOO per annum, with board and lodzing. Mr. BREMNER brought forward his motion, of which he had given notice, on the necessity of an alteration in the mode of administering relief to the poor. He entered at great length into the subject, contending that a change bad lately been introduced—that the sick cases were not kept in a separate book, and that the relieving officer bad power to stop a card on his own responsibility, a power which ought to be in the hands of the board. He con cluded by submitting a resolution embracing the follow ing points :—That the sick cases be kept in a separate book, and be not granted cards, but on'_y relief from week to week ;—that in those cases the relieving officer's book and the medical certificate be received weekly ;—that no relieving officer should stop any card or relief on his own responsibility ;—that a report of such cases as he thought ought to be stopped be laid before the quorum ;—and that it be an instruction to the Financ e Committee to inquire and report as to the necessity of increasing the number of relieving officers. Mr. HENDERSON seconded the motion. Mr. FERGUSON complained that the board had b een taken completely by surprise, and suggested that the con sideration of the matter be allowed to stand over for a week. Mr. URQUHART contended that the present plan was a decided improvement upon the former one, and that unless Mr. Bremner could show some evil had arisen out of it, he was trifling with the time of the board. _. • Mr. IT ART said that Mr. Bremner had totally misap prehended the subject. The relieving o fficer was the agent of the quorum. He did as they desired. If the quorum thought a party should only have relief for a week, at the end of that time they were at liberty to have the party brought before them again. The relieving officer to r did not stop relief in any case without bringing it again before the quorum ; and it was quite a mistake t OM that be could stop it without authority. . .tk . ,,, \ ••,:-- Mr. BRIGHT eulogised the working of , . e ioebenV and said that a system less creditable t ....., 4 c. wdi than the old one could not possibly have . I",tz,“, .- ) 41A:, Mr. EARLE characterised the motion vie 1 !!•:',: i. 17 - -4 4 ,,,ii ,- struggle—a dying kick at the poor-law T i p ... :,, , ~, r 7,. and nothing else. (A laugh.) :/. ~, - .:•N: 1 After a few further observations , the f ; . i don of the subject was postponed until t n. ''4lllle4,'l At*z..... 4. - , 0 •••••••,... iN ~i r eel bat r ed ere t ' (37 an d lig li i i d 0