The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1854. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE Hox. H. T. LIDDELL, M.P.--During the past week the Hon. H. T. Liddell, M.P., has been on a visit in the midst of his constituents, having been the guest of our worthy chief magistrate, Mr. John Buck Lloyd. Mr. Liddell attended during three or four days in the Mayor's parlour, at the Town-hall, for the purpose of listening to the representations which any portion of the constituency of Liverpool might desire to make to him. Mr. Liddell, left Liverpool by an early train on Saturday. LIVERPOOL POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society took place on Monday last week. The following were elected for the ensuing year :—Presi dent, Mr. James Newlands ; vice-presidents, Messrs. Boult and Grantham; treasurer, Mr. F. Horner; secretary, Mr. C. F. Salt ; council, Messrs, Bennett, Dawson, Gardner, H. P. Horner, Hulme, E. Jones, Milner, McNichol, Woore, and Whinery. A paper from Mr. E. Jones, on Taylor's patent water meter, was read, and' was illustrated by a working model. The chairman said the experiment was a fair off-hand test, but thought it most desirable that a sub-committee of practical gentlemen should be appointed to report on the subject.—The measuring of water supplied to ships, and the efflux from springs, were also suggested as proper subjects for the application of a correct meter. —Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Grantham, and Mr. E. Jones, were appointed a sub-committee for the purpose recommended by the chairman, and the meeting separated. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the usual meeting of this committee on Thursday, the clerk read the minutes of an interview between a deputation of the House Owners' Association and the Parliamentary Sub-committee, when the new sanatory bill was debated clause by clause, and only a few trifling alterations had been made in it. The report was adopted. The medical officer reported that the deaths in the borough during the week ending Satur day last were 269, being eleven less than in the previous week, and twenty more than the average of the corres ponding week of the preceding six years. Of these, ten occurred in a German emigration lodging-house, since which five additional deaths have occurred, making fifteen in the same house within a period of six days, the whole being ascribed to exposure to cold during fourteen days, in consequence of the steamer being frozen up at the German port of embarkation. Nearly one-half of the deaths were caused by diseases of the lungs—the num ber being 133—while the average of the same week of previous years was not more than 90. Another letter was read from Mr. John Laird, renewing his complaint as to the deposite of night soil by Mr. Rose on lands near his shipyard. He said the deposite did not diminish, and would not do so long as fresh deposits were allowed. Mr. Fresh, the inspector of nuisances, said that the land, to the extent of about 30 yards, was staked out. Mr. Rose had been doing all he could to keep the deposits down, and a great portion of it was now removed. It had been known for some time that Mr. Laird wanted the land. It was stated that the deposit was very much reduced, and would be entirely removed by next Thursday, and the clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Laird to that effect. the watch Monday last week the men employed in " watch manufactory of Joseph Sewell, South Castle °t, held their annual dinner at the Belvidere Hotel. ...#BERCROMBY WARD.—There is no truth in the state "lite in the radical papers to the effect that Mr. Neill is about to retire from the representation of Abercromby o ard. BBBMONS were preached on Sunday week, in St. einiers Church, by the Rev. Henry Carpenter and the T. Joseph Bardsley, on behalf of the Church of England :•aool Society. The collections amounted to £l6. hRA.TITUDE.—On Wednesday, when the crew of the L I P_ Wallace, lately arrived at this port from San Fran were paid off, they assembled in the hall of the ;°rs' Hall, and presented Captain Kennedy with a day i t ,night spy-glass. inr.ur PROM VinuoL.—John Roberts, labourer, who e L i es in Preston-st r eet, met with a severe accident in ord-street, on Tuesday, by an explosion of vitriol, which °e( l , with other chemical substances, in inflating ginger- ,‘,,,EIitaRiTION TO AUSTRALIA. — Three first-class ships i..,....4th,0,e, Thursday from the Mersey for the gold regions, Indian Queen, Captain Mill, for Melbourne, be g to the Black Tall line, with 320 passengers; the tay s ' a erera waY, Captain Liston of the same line, with 360 . ent emigrants for Sydney ; and the Tayleur, geraul Noble, belonging to the White Star line, with pYaasengers for Melbourne. ii i ' ,',.. 141 . RESULT OF DRUNKENNESS.—On Tuesday even div labourer, named Patrick O'Neil, was picked up D1F`,,....k park-lane, and conveyed to bridewell for safety. - ',..telY he was taken home by his daughter to No. 4 • Aewsham-street, and in the morning he was found bed. - L.,,.• SlLis' Cannel' ScnooLs.—On Friday the children Z a ,_rat 400 in number—were treated to their annual tea Vi . `Y• The Rev. W. H. Duck presided. After tea, Mr. W. T. The 10 t h Thompson exhibited views of large . magic lanterns, te kh e peat delight of the juvenile audience, and their j,.," e rs and friends. sh' n l El " ll ANDERSON, steward of the American packet sothC Aenandoah, lying in the Stanley Dock, broke into st o j: drawers and boxes in the cabin the other night, and wa„ - L w earing apparel to the value of £lO, for which he f - urought up at the Police-court, and sent to prison ?riztwo months. " b , SONGS AND SAYINGS OF SAMUEL LOVER.—In our last, '''e briefly noticed that Mr. E. L. Hime is shortly to ap the in a n ew enterta i nment, wr i tten b y M r. L over , un d er above title, in the New Music-hall, Bold-street. Mr. "'tale has given the entertainment in London; and several ° I the z „„_, metropolitan journals, including the Daily News, ';' , ii: very favourably of his appearance__ and capabilities. l b q•, RBFORMATION. - The Mayor, J. B. Lloyd,. l iT' e :l- I _, has consented to call a meeting, in order to consider of oest course to be adopted to promote the establishment h e leformatory institutions for juvenile criminals. It is to held on Thursday next. The Earls of Derby, Sefton, „ a " tte nu n li d arrowby, and Lord Stanley have been invited to 8. 1 , 84 LE of CIIICORY.—The grocers of Manchester and h„,?_rd, have been brought into a state of much uneasiness e li'a the Prosecutions which the officers of the inland reven u ,t.vite _commenced against several of the trade, for the sale_ Pl tu h .c°rY• A meeting of grocers was held at the Spread q n -6 , C . Hotel, Manchester, on Monday, to discuss the s e ';2_, u3 n, and to arrange a Cbmbined mode of action. In ' I W eases, - penalties of £25 have been inflicted, II fid OITA!, LIABILITY.—The case of the Liverpool b elph; ' Loan Association v. Fairhurst and wife, was cl'ught before the Court of Exchequer, on Wednesday, on or f' V•roa the Passage Court of Liverpool on the follow g facts :--The female defendant, when unmarried, had pi e 2„ 141 .,, e a party to a promissory note, as surety to the toiffs on a loan to a third person. The loan being ut; to be renewed after her marriage, she was called on vp,,. 1 1 1,11 another note which she did in her maiden name, with the knowledge of her husband. This liability so ,;;:,raeted was void in law, and the fraud being discovered bpn ell t he note came to be enforced by the plaintiffs, they aglit this action in case for that fraudulent misrepre t7,/tation of the wifeagainst both husband and wife. The ge below having ; directed a verdict for the plaintiffs th e e ' re hhn, subject to this appeal, the Court, after hearing Im_argnments on both sides, took time to consider its ent. theof RECENT CoLLtsios Cass.—On Tuesday, the Judge ea ger County Court gave judgment in the late collision of ",..,..,• There were three cases to be adjudicated on, in each e" t ue s 11 ' his Honour gave a verdict, reading his judg -41 at of I,„„___.,• He recapitulated the evidence, and gay . e . a variety the ' 6ll / cases which had guided him in his decisions. In o wa e ase of the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks against the th e ,,, e 1, 8 of the Baltic, he said, in conclusion, Finding, la e'l l ' o re, upon the evidence before me, that the Baltic was sp em a rge of a duly-licensed pilot, by whose orders her ch.;'__atid crew were regulated; that no such extraordinary terf,, s tances are here found as to justify the master's in the L, i ng with the pilot in this his proper vocation ; that bro tn - Zers of the pilot were carefully transmitted and "'•--1 ii clothe executed by the captain and crew of the vessel; N t ,-t the owners exempt from the responsibility now ' e eat,`° be imposed upon them, and direct a verdict to et 'qa Is ed, for the defendant'? _this verdict was without A _and ii;" 11 1 the second case, the collision between the Vixen e ,,eizilig fe a. c i„ . _ .... % lir , an Ch d ari n e o s Napier, the verdict was given for the costs.—And - in the third case—the "reoN„ of the flat Albert, laden with salt, by the ship . for the then in tow of a steamer—the verdict was given 80 -* owne rs of the flat, costs being allowed. the a loor, P on TIrE DEAF AND . DUMB. —On Thursday 'was 17,11 11 a1 meeting of the subscribers to this institution oceo ; m4 at the school, in Oxford-street. The chair was all m . „ 1 / 4 11 by the president, the Rev. Rector Campbell ; and th e - "st other gentlemen who take a warm interest in 4,- s.,„lteces s of the institution were Mr. Harmood Banner, m e „' ", Banner, honorary secretary ; Mr. Arthur Thomp ., treasurer; hon• clel3,B,,crew.stAert, tasi l : /e l i f .r - ejq w - Al`Cracken ; the Revs. J. North a u n e r t s Mawdesley, Mr. R. R Rath secretary, Mr. E . 13 of the chairman, the honorary statement of the t re f a t s n ner, read the report. From the .or th e past arer it appeared that the receipts defra • Year amou nted to £3,176 18s. 10d. and after . 51 ng all e the institutionwasreelected of £l4, lls. sd. The Rev. Rector Campbell . president for the ensuing year. The pro pAlscßcLlsosed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. BY RAILWAY.--A decision on the long con - tested point of the liability of railway companies to carry That are called " packed parcels" was given on Wednes 't-T: in the Court of C ommon Pleas. Several years back -eviTain persons com mence d acting as agents for the col tlon of various small packages, which they made up t o a f ~,_ ew large ones, and forwarded to provincial towns, t ''_'_tere they caused the contents to be delivered to their tf,eCtive addresses. A great convenience to trade was ~Zas obtained, since the charge for each item was rendered s2rnall :that many things of the cheapest kind were al . nxiitted backward and forward for samples or for 'crations and repairs, which could not have been sent - t a ip, t all if the several owners had each had to pay for a dis fQet ParceL The London and North-western Company, 1 , - , l sing that the system deprived them of large profits, e h ,__ - 'eavoured, in the first instance, to make a higher de ,.._ _" 4 ad for all such parcels, but failed, because, as common th an ers they had no right to make one person pay more Zan another i for the same description of service, and they r„ald never enforce the restriction with uniformity, since, ',,,,that case, every box or parcel containing the slightest - - 4 '. 6 , lcle for any individual other than the person to whom `" was addressed must have been dealt with on the same 3 r inciple. They refused, however, even after this, to abandon their resistance, and to accept the liability with rod grace, as involving, for the moment, an apparent __°M, but ultimately, from the extension of business to which it would lead, a certain gain._ Accordingly, it by declining have been resolved to put obstacles in the way . mg to transmit the obnoxious parcels, or those . Which they chose to rega r d as such, beyond the limits of their own reston line, which terminates, as respects Glasgow, at . s h -,, waves respects Sheffield, at Rugby. It was °wed ' Ft r, that they continaed to book all ordinary , la to those towns in the usual manner, under an ;;Ifangement with the connecting lines ; and the point has tww _m ot beensettled that, as common carriers, they are not dtt e , ed in Making the fresh distinction they have de,...—gea. - They cannot," it was observed by the court, a.e a - , 4 ~._eY will carry for 99 persons to Sheffield, and as r a Particular person that they will only carry to ia tao . 79 As carriers to Sheffield for everybody else, they " % ill' in the same manner for the parties in question. , e0m,,„.,,_ ool in -- -- , AJAL OF A GANG OF COINERS.—On Thursday, ' Wor a ,Yenboa, Margaret Denboa his wife, and another trikr , named Ellen Casey or Burke, were committed for 'of ' °1 : 1 a charge of fabricating base coin. On the evidence .., enthwaite and Scott, two detective o ffi cers, it Lae h o that that they, in consequence of information, went to haul s of of the prisoners Denboa, in St. George's-place, "wily,:_ 4,ll -street, where, making search, they found five base liakra i n h ., 6 the ashes under the grate, a . quantity of metal '"etal -',.. Making the coins, and a crucible in . which the a nd 8 , 4 melted. They took the prisoners into custody, e °art - "secinently apprehended the prisoner Casey, in a 4 ,/ca' l l . , A.ddison-street, with a number of base coins and Delia in her possession. The daughter of the prisoner oad „„ a, a girl about twelve years of age, stated that Casey `tat ''' t , l3 ge to her parents'-house on the previous day, and ae t tc r ," coins, and when she left she promised to come the ,sald fi.," a3 r (Thursday), and make some half-crowns. She Ni x , `gat her parents had not assisted to make, her father ' of , I .oht at work. Casey had previously been convicted s e 'unilar offence. tii t .l l , ° °Ls is CONNEXION WITH Sr. C II RYSOSTOM'S litte u ,: 11 .:"011 Thursday evening, a meeting, which was St. 0, -- "nstY attended, of the congregation connected with kinrYsoatom's Church, was held in the national schools, transfer"'tie, for the purpose of considering an offer to eh those schools, and connect them with the St. kifi m s()s ,thua, district. The Everfon national schools, in 2Mth - g" f "" 4 ,-„ , nave hitherto been carried on in connexion la St "„„_" . eorge's Church, Everton. As the schools stand atio,- -- kmrYsostom's district, and as St. George's has aaellb_er similar institution of its own, called the Everton the I,'„„ ir k:,.dale School, it is now in contemplation to annex ton,"" 44 unle's in Mill-road to the' Church of St. Chrysos .r.t7', i Ta r d illiam Brown, Esq., M.P., was called to the amongst the other gentlemen present were— ruff_. rp• Macnaught, Mr. Maenaught, Messrs. J. W • "lali'4l, a-431 7, Shalleross, Morrison, Tristram, Brandreth, 1 11 '., Eaton, Crosthwaite, Arkle, Sharp, Corkhill, B,e -ttals_chalrman, at some length, explained the cir . cum d - Als o - 4 ,1? under which these schools had originated , an w , thnZese which had given rise to the erection of the new 1 ".• lie expressed his approval of the present pro -1 1 , 1 Ition, and commended the public spirit of those gentl eu ~ !. for'"uo had been mainly instrumental in bringing_it i .0 • 0 " r u• The meeting was addressed in favour of the bear„,, by Mr. Eaton, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Shallcross, Mr. ta ` l l 3 °R, Mr. Councillor Woodruff, the Rev. J. Mac retrut,..., Mr. Arkle, Mr. Tory, Mr. Tristram, Mr. Brand } N,rttrable to the objects of the meeting were unanimously , th a tto_. In course of the addresses, it became apparent i 0 0 ~,,,,,' ,kalrYsostom's schools re attended by upwards of r ritu - skolars, and that an effort is to be made to procure a cl ear ° , £lOOO by subscription, which will be necessary for a rt - ~si• the church from debt, and placing the schools in h as t:oe ent and satisfactory state. It appears that . 1940 tg oo "e l en already promised, on condition of the remaining ' exp eo u eing collected before the .Ist of July next. It is tai,,,`ed:that, by proper exertion, this amount will be poi within the period specified, A committee was ap tlitk„7 to Carry out the resolutions, and after a vote of 44 4 to the chairmam, the meeting separated. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. CHURCH of ENGLAND INSTITUTION.- THE annual meeting of the members of this institution was held on Tuesday evening, at the rooms, in Bold street. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Hubback, one of the vice-presidents, and amongst other friends of the institution present were Mr. Harmood Banner, the Rev. Dr. Hume, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Sears, &c. The CHAIRMAN, after a few remarks, expressive of his regret at the smallness of the meeting, and in commenda tion of the objects of the institution, called on The Rev. Mr. Moons, honorary secretary, who read the report, from which it appeared that the most marked feature since the last report, had been the bazaar in aid of the library fund. It had been found that the smallness of the library stood in the way the institution's prospects, and a committee appointed to consider the best means of supplying the defect, agreed on a bazaar, which was held in October last, under most distinguished patronage, and with very gratifying success. The committee feel bound, publicly to record their grateful thanks to those ladies, and other friends of the institution, both in Liverpool and elsewhere, who, by their valuable contributions and per sonal exertions, succeeded in producing the satisfactory result upon which they have now the pleasure to congratu late all the parties concerned. A sum of £lBO was realised, and by a judicious selection of books, nearly 300 volumes had been already added, though only two-thirds of the £5O voted as a first instalment have been expended. In conclusion, the committee express thankfulness for the amount of success which has attended their labours. They are of opinion that the institution is a most useful and important one ; that it requires only to be known in order to be duly appreciated, and its advantages fully deve loped, and turned to the profit of a far larger body of subscribers than have ever yet belonged to it. The recent additions to the library have greatly increased the advan tages it offers to ladies, and the committee are sanguine of obtaining an increase in this class of members. From the treasurer's account it appeared that the re ceipts for the year were £2lO Bs. 10d., and the expenditure exceeded the income, there being a balance due to the treasurer of £29. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Dr. HIINE, who moved the adoption of the report, and that it be printed and circulated. Mr. MITCHELL seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried ; as was also a vote of thanks to the honorary secretary, treasurer, and committee, on the motion of Mr. HARMOOD BA.ENER, seconded by Mr. SEARS. Several other gentlemen ad dressed the meeting; and after a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who lad originated, and so success fully conducted the bazaar, ant to the Chairman, the meeting separated. COMMISSIONS SIGNED DT TIER LORD LIEUTENANT OP LA.NCASRIRE.-4th Regiment of Royal Lancashire (Light Infantry) Militia.—To be Ensigns : T. F. Yeo, gent., H. Auchinleek, gent., A. Kent, gent., and T. Boyce, gent. CIVIC BANQUET.—On Wednesday, the Mayor enter tained a party to dinner at the Town-hall. The guests, which numbered about fifty, included the members for Liverpool, and the Mayor and Town-clerk of Manchester. SCOTLAND WARD.—A pulilii'meeting to adopt means for affording relief to thoseViho might be in distress in consequence of the inclemency of the season, was held on Monday, last week, Mr. Councillor Woodruff in' the chair. The sum of £55 was collected, and on the following morn ing, 120 gallons of soup, and two packs of flour, which had been made into bread, were dispensed to some of the. necessitous poor. THE CHATHAM SOCIETY.—The annual ball of this society, the proceeds of which are given to the Orphan Boys' Asylum, will take place at the Town-hall, on Thurs day. The charity sought to be benefited is one which must enlist the sympathies ,of all. A heavy debt still hangs over the institution, crippling the energies of its committee, and it is to assist in removing this incubus that the ball is to be given. , Tres ISLE OP MAlL—Large numbers of sheep were dug out of the snow on the mountains of this island, last week, and, in the greater number of instances, life was preserved. In one case, a blackbird was found by the side of a sheep under the snow and also lived.- In many districts, the : am in e as som to e fl i y us i ta nt n o ee t s h , e h d ow w e e v ll e i r n , g- t l h io e u:e c t ed of birds several werey parties . flew l into some houses in the parish of Maughold.— _ tame In the snow dorm of 1825-6, magpies Mona'# Herald. CONGREGATIONAL Muslce—On Wednesday, a lecture on " Congregational Music" was delivered in the Lecture hall of the Mechanics' Institution, by Mr. H. Ewer, to a numerous and very respectable audience. During the evening several specimens of ancient sacred music were sung in a very creditable manner by the members of the Musical Association, accompanied by the organ, which was presided over by Mr. Rogers. Frequently, during the delivery of the lecture, as well as at its close, the audience marked their approbation by bursts of applause. - - EDGE-HILL MISSIONARY TREE. —ln consequence of the recent death of the brother of the Rev. Mr. Barker, the minister of Edge-hill Church, the usual missionary Christmas tree and sale of fancy work on behalf of the Church Missionary Society and the Society for Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics were postponed until Friday. The boys' School-room presented a very gay appearance, from the mixture' of pictures, evergreens, fancy-work, stalls,- illuminated :trees, and pretty smiling faces. The attendance during the day had been very nu merous, £l3, perhaps, being received at the doors, by an admission charge of from 4d. to Bd. The exhibition was rather an extra one, the congregation having exerted itself, in sympathy for its respected pastor. About £7O. will be . thus realised. -- - WEST DERBY GITAIIDIAITS.—Mr. Harrison presided at the weekly meeting of this board on Wednesday. The other members present were eie Rev. W. Hadnall, and Messrs. Alpass, Heyes, G. Harrison, Abraham, Mount field, Roskell, Miller, James Birch, Jeffries, Shaw, Lunt, and Kirkus. The balance in the hands of the treasurer was stated to be £1,943 158. ld., and the number of paupers in the 'Workhouse 717, against 708 in the corres ponding week of last year. There were, also, 88 patients -in the hospital. The visiting committee having made a report, it was resolved that it be received, with the excep tion of a portion relating to the erection of a shed for the employment- of able-bodied paupers in the Workhouse. The vaccination committee recommended that, as the late Vaccination Act could not be carried into satisfactory I operation, and must be repealed or amended in the ensuing session of Parliament, the existing contracts for vaccina tion in the union remain as at present, until the intention of the Legislature were ascertained. Mrs. E. Elizabeth Bird was elected mistress of the Workhouse Girl's School, at a salary of £3O a.-year and rations ; and Mr. Kirkus gave notice that at the next meeting, (which will take place in the new board-room,) he should move that a vaccinator be appointed to reside in the rural district of the township of West Derby, near West Derby LIVERPOOL AND BRAZIL STBAJAERS. -- A memorial from the merchants of this town is in the course of sig nature, at the Exchange-rooms, urging upon governmen., the desirability of making such arrangements with the South American and General Steam Navigation Company as will insure to the commercial community the advantage of a half-monthly mail between this country and the Brazils and River Plate, both out and home. The memo rialists state that this company start their vessels from this port on the 24th of each month, at intermediate dates, with the present mail packets; but that their departure from the other side being regulated by their own con venience, they start about the same dates as the mail steamers, the expected advantage of a bi-monthly mail being thus nullified. They further state that the local company have placed upon the station a line of powerful screw-steamers, the speed of which has now been proved to be at least equal to the present mail packets. EXTENSIVE FAILURE IN MANCTIESTBR. — We regret to announce the failure of au old-established and highly respectable calico printing concern, Messrs. Thomson, Brothers, and Sons, of this city and Primrose, near Clitheroe. The failure was rumoured on Tuesday, and has since been confirmed. A meeting of creditors was held to-day, at the Palatine Hotel, Hunt's Bank, at which between thirty and forty gentlemen were present. The total liabilities, it appears, amount to about £122,000, consisting of £50,000 advanced on mortgage security, and £72,000 in current liabilities. The assets were not very clearly stated, but it appeared that the property mortgaged would not realize the full amount of the advances upon it, and on that account the general creditors would suffer a diminution in the probable assets to meet their claims. The mortgaged property was the works at Primrose, with the fixtures. The assets for the general creditors are the goods in stock, materials,, machinery, &c., and about £20,000 good debts. Four gentlemen were appointed to investigate the affairs of the concern, with the assistance of accountants, to prepare a balance sheet, and report at a meeting to be held as soon as possible. In the meantime, to take such steps as may be deemed advisable.—Man chester Courier. DOCK COMMITTBB.—Mr. Charles Turner presided at the usual weekly meeting of this committee on Thursday, when, after the transaction of some routine business, a letter was read from Messrs. Taylor, Potter, and Co., com plaining of the want of proper arrangements for the berth ing of ships, and the filthy state of the dock quays. On the motion of Mr. Smith, the following gentlemen were appointed as a committee to investigate the arrangements of the finance department; and the mode of keeping the accounts :—Messrs. Turner, Molyneux, Rankin, Healing, Bigham, Gladstone, and Chaloner • and Messrs. Shand, Evans, Barber, and Smith. The following gentlemen were then introduced as a deputation from the timber trade, who had requested an interview to represent the opposition to the resolution recently adopted by the com mittee to increase the rental of land on the Harrington Dock property :—Messrs. Halhead, M`Nicoll, Anthony, Fazakerley, Fleming, and Bland, and Mr. Stewart, who attended to explain some obServations he had made at the Council meeting. Mr. Halhead stated that, looking to the revenue derived from the timber trade, he thought it was the duty of the Dock Committee to render every possible facility to the importers for storing their timber, in the event of prices being such that they did not feel justified in selling. He reminded the committee of what had taken place in the Council, when the general feeling of the Council was in. favour of the view taken upon the question by Mr. MaSTicoll and himself—that the rates pro posed to be charged by the committee were too high. The deputation had not come there to dictate to the com mittee, but merely to state their sentiments, and leave the matter in their hands • but he thought that when such men as Mr. Stewart, Mr. Bramley-Moore, Mr. Saml. Holme, Mr. Picton, and others, all agreed that the rates' were too high ; and when they coupled tith that the fact that the sub-committee, in coming to the resolution com plained of, was not at all unanimous, as Mr. Rankin and Mr. Smith were both opposed to it, their representations would be admitted to be deserving of some consideration. Personally, he had no direct interest in the matter, as he did not require to make use of the land ; but looking at it as au important branch of commerce, he thought it was the duty of the committee to encourage the cheap im portation of timber. When they looked at the revenue which that trade brought to the port, he thought a course of liberal dealing with them would not be thrown away ; and, besides that, he believed that there was no land at all contiguous to that belonging to the committee which let at any such rate. Mr. Stewart also addressed the committee at some length, in favour of a reduction. Mr. Holme contended that the sub-committee of works, in adopting the resolution complained of, was only asking a fair and legitimate price. After some further desultory conversation, the deputation. withdrew. The matter NY 04 then referred to the sub-committee of works, who, were tc) report ts , 4 futqa auttiou of the Zawalittse. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN AFRICAN CAPTAIN. On Friday a lengthy investigation took place before the coroner, respecting the death of William Thompson, a sailor, who arrived on the previous Saturday from Bonny, on the coast of Africa, in the ship Ensign, commanded by Capt. Walker. Frederick Miller, a seaman in the same ship, said the deceased was laid up nine months on the coast of Africa with the coast sickness, and took a great quantity of mercury. When he got to sea he was still in a very weak state. He kept about the decks until about three weeks before the vessel arrived in Liverpool. He was taken from the forecastle, and put into the sail-room, which was used as an hospital. The deceased continued very ill until he was brought ashore. "We were," said the wit ness, " half starved on our passage home, and very little attention was paid to us. Further evidence went to prove that lime juice and other necessary articles had not been served out to the sick. At the request of the captain, the investigation was adjourned till this day (Tuesday.) EMIGRATION is 1853.—The emigration returns for the year 1853 show that 318,680 persons left the ports of the United Kingdom at which there are government emigration officers. As compared with 1852, this num ber shows a diminution of 50,084; but it is above the average of the last six years. To the United States the stream of emigration flowed steadily, the number of persons who went thither being 225,258, against 224,000 in 1852. To the North American colonies there went 30,563 (above half of whom sailed from Ireland), against 33,000 in the previous year. To Australia the number is 59,931, against 87,781 in the preceding year. Of the whole number of persons who emigrated to the United States in 1853, 203,661 sailed from England : of this number, 186,657 sailed from Liverpool, but, as is always the case, a large proportion of the emigrants were Irish. The total who left Ireland for the United States by the direct route was 14,558. The American returns show best to what nationalities the bulk of the emigrants belonged. The total number entering the port of New York in 1853 was 284,639—0 f which there were from Ireland, 113,164; England, 27,039; Scotland, 6,456 ; Wales, 1,182. The only places that can compete with these are Germany, 119,474 ; France, 7,462 ; Switzerland, 4,563 ; Holland, 1,085; Sweden, 1,630. MASONRY.—At the regular monthly meeting of the Ancient Union Lodge, held at the Royal Hotel, Dale street, on Thursday, the 15th December, an address was read by the W. M. Brother Charles Hand, upon the prin ciples and practice of freemasonry, and the unanimous thanks of the lodge were voted for his services as W. M. during the year 1851. The first meeting for 1854 was held on Thursday, the 19th instant, when Brother Slack was solemnly installed as W. M. for the year, and the fol lowing officers appointed :—Brother Buckmaster, S. W. ; Brother Room, jun., J. W. ; Brother Meugedaht, S. D.; Brother Nicholas Marsh, J. D. ; and Brother Waring, J. G. The first degree was then conferred upon Brothers W. W. Lloyd and James Newall, in a manner which re flected much credit upon the W. M. After this the an nual banquet took place, and was very numerously and re spectably attended. Amongst others we noticed, on the right of the W. M., Brothers Henderson, Walmsley, John Fenton, S. 8., Brabner, Coupland, Holbrooke, Thomas Clarke, Mason, Legge, Foster, &c. ; on the left, Brothers Allpass, Warburton, John Hulton, Hand, Armstrong, Molyneux, George, Haswell, and Berry. Letters were read from Brothers Thomas Littledale and Charles Verelst, re gretting their unavoidable absence. The usual masonic toasts were given, supported by the talent of the musical brethren. The duties of the chair were very well con ducted, and, after some very able speeches upon the pro gress of the order, and the West Lancashire Masonic In stitution in particular, the brethren retired, highly grati fied by the entertainment. THR KIRKDALE SESSIONS.—The Epiphany Quarter Sessions for the hundred of West Derby, commenced on Tuesday, at the Court-house, Kirkdale, the Venerable Archdeacon Brooks presiding. The calendar was un usually light, containing the names of only 37 persons for trial. The number of prisoners in the gaol were, males 275 ; females 80 ; total 335. The sum of £l3O was granted for the repair of the bridges during the next quarter. Captain Woodford, superintendent of the con stabulary, submitted his report, from which it appeared that the total number of cases for the quarter were-2,105 taken into custody by the police ; 1,954 summoned by ditto ; 2,447 summoned by the parish authorities ; total 6,506, as compared with 6,526 in the corresponding quarter of last year. In reply to the bench, Capt. Wood ford stated that all the colliers in the neighbourhood of Wigan and Bury were now at work again, and the dis tricts quite quiet. The question of refreshments at the sessions occasioned a warm discussion, Mr. Tinne pro posing that all who partook should pay for what they called for ; eventually, however, it was agreed that the lunch be continued as heretofore. On Thursday, the criminal business commenced. One feature of interest in the proceedings of which was the introduction of a new barrister—Mr. B. C. Aspinall—brother to the gentleman of that name who has for some years been a respected member of our local bar. On that day the court was occupied for upwards of four hours in hearing a charge brought against three young men for cutting the wires of the electric telegragh on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, near Wigan. The Rev. Archdeacon Brooks, in passing sentence, commented strongly upon the " enor mity" and " absurdity" of any persons being irrational enough to frustrate a means of communication which was beneficial to all. The prisoners were sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour.—On Thursday, an appeal by Matthew Atkinson was heard. The appel lant had applied for a license for a house at Garston, in August last, which had been refused on the ground that the house was unfinished at the time. The same objection being still in operation, the appeal was dismissed. On Friday, an appeal by James Berry, publican, Vauxhall road, whose license had been suspended, was heard, and after three hours' discussion, the license was renewed. William Henry Spencer, publican, Peter-street, appealed against a decision of the borough magistrates refusing to renew his license. The appeal was dismissed, and the decision of the borough magistrates confirmed. A LEASE ON LivEs.—On Friday, before Vice-Chancel lor Sir J. Stuart, Mr; Cairns moved, under the 6th Anne, chap. 18, entitled " An Act for the more effectual DiSco very of the Death of Persons pretended to be alive, to the prejudice of those who claim Estates after their Deaths," to compel a lessee pur autre vie to produce the ceatuique vie to the reversioner. The facts were as follow :—On the 4th of June, 1849, Mr. William Johnson, of Liverpool, haberdasher, became the purchaser, at a sale by public auction at Parkgate, in the county of Chester, of a house and offices situate at Parkgate, the description of which was, that they were occupied by Miss Storer, and " were claimed to be in lease for one life, then 60 years of age or thereabouts, but no evidence of such lease was in the possession of the vendor ;" and the house and offices were conveyed to Johnson, subject to the existence of the said lease, dated the 30th of November, 1791 (if any). On the 27th of July, 1852, Johnson gave notice to Thomas Whitehead, who was the tenant then in possession of the house and offices, to pay to him (Johnson) the future rent to become due in respect of the same, as he had requested Mr. William Byrne, of Shoe-lane, Dublin, bone-merchant, who claimed the life interest, subject to which he had purchased the house and offices, to prove to him that such life was still in existence, and Byrne had made no reply to such request. Under a threat of distress, however, at the instance of Byrne, Whitehead had paid the rent due on the Ist of October, 1852, to Byrne's agent. Johnson, thereupon, on the sth of August, 1853, gave Byrne notice, requiring to know from him whether the person for whose life he held the house and offices was then still alive, and, if alive, he required to know his or her address within one month. On the 3rd of November, 1853, Byrne wrote to Johnson's solicitor to the effect that he believed the lives for which he held the Parkgate premises were then exist ing, and that they were resident in England, but that if satisfactory proof could be given to convince him to the contrary, he would give the property up. In October, 1863, Whitehead paid to Byrne's agent the rent then due in respect of the Parkgate premises. Johnson, in support of the present application, deposed to the effect that he believed that the persons for whose lives the said lease w as granted were now dead. The motion was, that William Byrne should be ordered, on the Ist of February next, provided the order of the court for that purpose should be served upon him ten clear days previously, to produce and show at a time and place therein mentioned, to two parties therein named, Elizabeth Clossey, widow, Jane Anne Galway, & Elizabeth Anne Galway,the persons named in the lease of the 30th of November, 1791, or any one or more of such persons. In support of the application, the first section of the 6th of Anne, chap. 18, was read, and " In. Re Lingers," 12 Sim., 104, was cited. The Vice- Chancellor made an order in the way mentioned in the case of "In Re Lingo," 12 Sim., Wit Jelin CHAMBERS, a watchmaker, residing in Luke street, Toxteth-park, committed suicide on Monday by cutting his throat. LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.—The general annual meeting of the proprietors of the Philharmonic hall was held on Thursday, at the Cotton Sale-rooms, Hardman Earle, Esq., in the chair. It was announced that the society was in the most prosperous condition. After the usual routine of business, a vote of thanks was passed to William Sudlow, Esq., honorary secretary, for his very efficient services to the society during the past year. LORD STANLEY AT ST. HBLEN'S.—A public 'meeting for the purpose of increasing the usefulness of the library of the Mechanics' Institution, St. Helen's, was held in the Town-hall, on Monday week last. Lord Stanley was pre sent, and the audience was numerous and respectable. Gilbert Greenall, Esq., M.P., presided. Lord Stanley advocated the establishment of such institutions as a means of promoting sobriety among the people ; and if they obtained no other result, the diminutiih of vice and poverty, and the elevation of the general intellectual con dition of the country, would be an ample return for theft• outlay. A resolution in favour of increasing the library of the institution having been adopted, and a sub-com mittee appointed to carry it out, the proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks to the chairman. GALLANT RESCUE OP A CREW.—The Rev. Charles K. Gubble, M.A., chaplain of the London Sailors' Home, who was a passenger by the Mona's Queen, has given the fol lowing account of an heroic action : 1 11e Mona's Queen, Captain John R Grier, left Greenock for Liverpool at five, p.m. on Thursday, and had to contend with a heavy head gale. About one, p.m., on Friday, when about half-way between the Black Comb and the Isle of Man, a small sloop was seen at some distance evidently in great distress. The commander of the Mona's Queen, although anxious to save his tide, and already delayed by the head wind and heavy sea, immediately steered towards the vessel, which presented a deplorable spectacle, being water-logged, and utterly unmanageable, with the sea washing over her. Her sails and rigging were in ribbons, and her only boat gone. Six men manned the steamer's boat, while the cap tain cleverly so laid his vessel as to bring the boat on the lee side. The boat was then smartly lowered into the heavy sea, and away she went towards the wreck. In a short time she returned with three men, the crew of the sinking vessel; and, with her living freight, was safely hoisted on board the steamer, which then resumed her voyage. The poor fellows, who were very much exhausted, were taken care of by the steward, and treated in the kindest manner possible. Their vessel, the flat Rover, of Conway, had left the Black and Blue Quarry at two, p.m., on Thursday, and at ten o'clock sprang a leak. All night the poor fellows were at the pumps, and the water had got above the cabin seats when they were rescued. SELECT VESTRY. — The Rev. Rector Campbell presided at the meeting on Tuesday. A report was read from Mr. Weightman, the surveyor, describing the various works executed at the Workhouse, which would be completed in about three months. The sum paid to contractors on account of the building was £8,200, exclusive of various amounts paid to other parties for fixtures and fittings of various descriptions. Some discussion followed as to the advisability of establishing soup-houses for the relief of the distressed poor. Mr. Denton strongly recommended their establishment, but it was opposed by other members, on the ground that the extra applications for out-door relief did not warrant the step, and that the distress would cease with the east winds. The Workhouse Com mittee reported that the admissions to the Vagrant-sheds during the week bad been 232 males, 248 females, and 16 children : total, 496. The number of inmates in the house on the 11th instant was reported to be 2,411. Mr. Hart submitted the usual annual return to the Poor-law Board of the salaries paid to medical officers, schoolmasters and mistresses, for the last half year of 1853. The total amount for doctors which the parish claimed to have re imbursed was £462 Bs. 11d.; for schoolmasters and mis tresses, £317 16s. 10d. There was a further claim for drugs of £275 13s. ld. Mr. Denton then brought forward the motion—That the churchwardens and overseers be requested to take into consideration the propriety of as sisting, by petition and otherwise, the various unions throughout the country, for the purpose of opposing a renewal of the powers of the Poor-law Board in the next session. The Chairman spoke against the motion. He never found the board interfering unless they were justified in interfering. Some further discussion ensued, but ultimately an amendment of Mr. Carne's, that a sub committee be appointed to watch the bill for the re-con stitution of the Poor-law Board on its appearance in Par liament, was carried nem dis. ScnooL FOS TILE BLIND.—The annual meeting, of this valuable institution was held on Friday, Mr. Wm. Brown, M.P., presiding. There were also present, the Rev. Augustus Campbell, rector, the Rev. Edward Hull, Mr. John Drinkwater, Mr. Wm. Earle, Mr. Jas. Lister, Mr. Edward Moon, Mr. W. F. Macgregor, Mr. F. S. Hull, Mr. Harmood Banner, Mr. Maccrackan, Dr. 3r/caught, Mr. Minshull, Mr. Mills, Mr. John Smith, &c. Mr. Mills, the treasurer, said that during the past year, the funds of the institution had been augmented by several legacies, amounting to £1,224, and donations to £156 ;.that the sale of goods had exceeded the sales of the previous year by £l4O. Owing to these circumstances, the finances were in a more favourable state than for some years past ; but, owing to it being found necessary to make alterations and to erect some new buildings, combined with the ad vanced price of provisions, coals, &c., the expenses of last year have been.increased about £420. He calculated there would be a defitiency in the hands of - the treasurer of about £2OO. Mr. Mills also remarked that, owing to deaths and other causes there is a blank in the subscribers every year, and it was highly desirable that the committee and the friends of the blind should endeavour to get fresh sub scribers. The rkinufacture of goods is steadily increasing, and in value exceeds the previous year by £165. There were 87 pupils in the school, of whom 39 were females and 48 were males, and he had great pleasure in stating, in the name of the visitors, that there had been hardly a complaint of a serious nature against the pupils,—a fact which proved their conduct was most exemplary. Mr. Wm. Brown, M.P., was elected president for the ensuing year, and the vice-president, treasurer, and committee were also appointed ; and, after a vote of thanks to the president, the meeting separated. TIIE STRIKES IN THE NORTH.:-011 Wednesday, a wardrobe, valued at £25, was raffled for in the Assembly rooms, Liverpool, the proceeds of which were to be devoted to the relief of the factory operatives now out on strike at Preston and Wigan. The wardrobe had been presented by a number of cabinet-makers, who sympathised with the sufferings of the " turn-outs." The number of tickets issued was 2048, and the number sold amounted to 1,242, which, at is. a ticket, would realise the handsome sum of £62 2s. The prize was won by the holder of No. 1,507. — All the mills in Wigan have been running this week, although two or three have a small number of hands. The card-room operatives of the mills of Messrs. John Acton and Co. and Mr. Tipping have again struck work. It appears that thep went to their employment, at the be ginning of last week, under an impression that they were to receive the advance they sought, and, not obtaining it on Saturday, they would not go on Monday. The colliers of Wigan and the neighbourhood are apparently about to make another effort to obtain an advance of wages. A private meeting of delegates from the different lodges of the Miners' Society was held at Scholes on Monday, when resolutions, having that object in view were passed. STEAM BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND DUBLIN.—Among the gossip of the week has been the formation of a now steam company between Dublin and Liverpool by Mr. Dargan. The parties who have appeared are the great contractor, and Mr. Joseph Cowper, and Mr. James Stir ling, directors of the Midland Railway. It is stated, and we believe it to be the case, that they have purchased the twoscrew boats hitherto plying between the twoports;called the Times and Mail, and also Mr. Dargan's interest in the Newry and Liverpool line. Mr. King, the present agent here, is to go to Liverpool, and Mr. Cowper, jun., is to act as agent here ; and it is said that the new line is to run at a very low rate of freights, and to be worked with vigour. On the other hand, however, it is conjectured that the parties have acted in the interests of the City of Dublin Company to get rid of the opposition. This derives some colour from Mr. Dargan being chairman of the Steam Association, avowedly set on foot to ensure each company's monopoly of their own line, and also from the other two gentlemen being directors of the British and Irish Company, who, it will be remembered, lavished enormous sums in an unsuccessful attempt to maintain their sole possession (with the City of Dublin Company) of the London line against Messrs. Malcomson. The City of Dublin Company, however, we believe, affirm that they have no connexion with the enterprise, which has made a little stir this week.—Freeman's Journal. LIVERPOOL POULTRY Snow.—The first annual ex hibition of poultry was held at Lucas's Repository, ou Wednesday and Thursday. The birds were placed in double tiers, securing an avenue for promenade. There were 1,300 fowls entered for show, contributed from all parts of the country, amongst which may be mentioned Captain Hornby's black Spanish fowls, Mr. Gilbert W. Moss's bantams, Mr. Worrall's celebrated Rouen ducks (which have obtained seven first-class medals), and the equally celebrated Cochin fowls of Messrs. Stowe and C. Ransom. The judges of the fowls were Mr. Bailey, of Mount-street, London, and Mr. Hewitt, of Birmingham, who are stated to be the first judges in England of this peculiar branch. The show, after having been visited by upwards of five thousand persons, was followed on Friday by a sale by auction, of upwards of four hundred specimens of different kinds of birds, which had formed a part of the exhibition. The stock offered for sale consisted of Cochin Chinas black Spanish, Dorkings, gold and silver pheasants, white and black crested Poland fowls Norfolk turkeys, peacocks, peahens, &c. Amongst them were many of the mosevaluable of the birds exhibited at the show ; and were respectively the property of A. M`Nichol, Esq., of Birkenhead •E. Allison, Esq., of Park-hall, near Chorley ; R. Maxfield, Esq., of Cheshire ; Charles Wilson, Esq., of Allerton ; T. M. Keyworth, Esq., of Lincoln ; Mr. Wm. Copple, of Knowsley ; Edward Lifter, Esq., of Cassia Lodge, Cheshire, and other noted breeders. There was a numerous and highly-respectable attendance of purchasers, and the sale excited considerable interest. The lots first sold were the property of Mr. M`Nichol, of Birkenhead. The highest price which any of these lots fetched was thirty-five shillings for a cinnamon and buff Cochin pullet, six months old. The other lots consisted of a cockerel and a pullet each, and realised, on an average, about one guinea. The stock of Mr. Maxfield, consisting of Cochin Chinas, were next offered, and realised some what higher prices, as much as £3 being given for a cockerel and two pullets. The lots belonging to C. Wilson, Esq., of Allerton, were next submitted to competition. These lots were decidedly the most attractive feature in the sale. They consisted of twenty-four lots of splendid cinnamon and buff Cochin Chinas, the original stock from which they were bred having been imported by the breeder direct from Shanghai. Each lot consisted of a cockerel and one pullet, and realised from 20s. to £3. A fine black Spanish cockerel and four pullets, the property of Mr. Charles Jones, of Liverpool, realised £3 es. The other lots of Cochin Chinas, belonging to E. Lister, Esq., of Cassia lodge, Chesire, Mrs. Coulbourn, of New Brighton, T. M. Keyworth, Esq., of Lincoln, and other gentlemen, realised about the same prices. A cockerel and two pullets (prize birds), the property of Mr. Keywo rth, sold for 26 The whole of the Cochin having been disposed of, some very fine lots of Dorking's were next offered, and sad at capital prices, as much as V. and C. ss. being given for a cockerel and pullet, six months old. The conclucl;:rig lots offered were a fow peacocks, peahens, turkeys, wind white crested Poland hens. Altogether the procee4 'of the sale amounted to betweou NOW and £7OO. GEIVE.R.A.L INTELLIGENCE. TILE PRESENT TRUST capital of the Corporation of Queen Anne's Bounty is. £2,400,000. POSTA.GE.-1,230,000 letters passed through the London district post on Saturday week. This is the largest number ever known, even upon St. Valentine's Day. SUNDAY EMPLOYMENT ON OMNIBUSES.—It is esti mated by the census tables that the number of men en gaged in London alone upon omnibuses, on the Sunday, is as many as six thousand. RARE AND PLEASING GIFT.—At the re-opening of Harrington Church, Evesham, Worcester, a few days since, Mrs. Wyld, formerly a poor girl of the village, con tributed £l,OOO to the collection.—Eddows' Journal. SIR AuCnIBALD .A.LisoN wishes to inform the detrac tors of Glasgow that, although there are 2000 spirit shops in that city, there is also a sum of £646,000 at the credit of the working classes in the Savings' Bank. THE FORTHCOMING SESSION OP PARLIAMENT.—There are already, as appears by a parliamentary document, 38 notices of motions in the order book of the House of Commons for the ensuing session. A JUVENILE SUICIDE.—On Wednesday night, Jacob Da.venport, aged 13 years, a tenter of power-looms, hung himself to the door of an out-house, near his parents' re sidence, at Kearsley. Miss ROSE SOANE, granddaughter of the late Sir John Soane, the celebrated architect, is now the leading tragic actress at the Exeter Theatre. Her performances have created quite a sensation. IN NEW YORK there were no fewer than 2,589 coro ner's inquests held during the past year, which certainly exhibits a fearful loss of life by accidents and sudden deaths. A MARITIME SCHOOL is about to be established in. Belfast, in connection with the National Board of Educa tion, and with the co-operation of the mercantile com munity. AN INCORRIGIBLE.—A young woman, aged nineteen, who was sentenced at the Middlesex Sessions to six months' imprisonment, has been in prison no less than twenty-one times, for frequenting houses with intent to steal. DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—We understand the Hon. E. P. Bouverie, MP., is likely to be the Deputy-Speaker of the House of Commons to be cre ated by virtue of the act of parliament of last session.— Sunday Times. THE NUMBER or FIRES in London, from the Ist of January to the 31st of December, 1853, was as follows : Fires at which the premises were totally destroyed and considerably damaged, 261 ; ditto, slightly ditto, 639 : making a total of 900. A DONKEY has just died at Fornham, All Saints, hav ing attained the venerable age of 70 years and upwards. It formerly belonged to the Cornwallis family, and lat terly had been fed on bran and soft food, in consequence of its inability to eat grass, the teeth being completely worn away. CHEAP COALS. — The Great Western Railway have com menced a coal-traffic from the Forest of Dean and South Wales. The broad waggons of this line will hold-a large quantity Orcpals. It is expected that London and the towns on the railway will be supplied with coals at a great reduction on the prices they have paid for fuel from other sources. THE 'METROPOLITAN' POULTRY Snow.—The winter slow of the Metropolitan Poultry Club took place last week, at the Baker-street Bazaar. The show contained • 1,800 pens of birds, &c. The Queen availed herself of the regulation that any pen of birds may be claimed at the price-affixed to them after one o'clock on the day of the show, by claiming, at the price affixed to them, viz., £lO, the beautiful pen of gold-laced (Seabright) bantams, bred by Mr. Uriah Spurey, Dunstable, hatched in 1853. Prince Albert also claimed the splendid Dorking cock, bred by Mr. Fisher Hobbs, which obtained the first prize in class 7. Prince Albert's pen of Brahmalipootra fowls, and to which his Royal Highness had affixed a price of £25, were claimed, although they had received no prize, by Mr. Fox, of Skinner-street, Snow-hill. Lord Robert Grosvenor claimed, at £l5, a Dorking cock and two pullets, which obtained the second prize in the class, bred by Mr. Edward Terry, of Aylesbury. NEW RAILWAY BREAK.—Last week, an experiment for the purpose of testing the efficiency of a self-act ing break, invented by Major Robins, took place on the South-Western Apd Windsor line. The merit of this invention consists in its being able to effect a stoppage of the train, without manual labour, within the short space of from 15 to 20 yards, the break being self-acting, said worked entirely by the engine-driver. The experit on this occasion- was witnessed by several officials con nected with the different railways out of London, who travelled by the train, which consisted of 16 carriages, drawn by a powerful engine. H. R. H. Prince Albert came expressly from the castle to see the result of the experiment, which proved completely successful, and elicited unqualified expressions of approval. THE WATER-WORKS AT THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE. —The water-works of Versailles have been hitherto the finest in the world. They are but rarely put in motion, the cost being, it is said, 2500 each time. From an in teresting article in Fraser's Magazine, it appears that the waterworks at Sydenham will be five times as exten sive, and will play fifty times in the year. The water will be brought through an artesian well from a depth of 500 • feet. While the spectator is gazing, the unseen flood will be driven upwards of 900 feet to the reservoirs. At a given signal the fountains will play, and the grand ter race, for two thousand feet, will let fall a living fringe of silver from dolphins' mouths into the long drawn basin at their feet. The central fountain will shoot up 230 feet, and its 1,000 jets are contrived to form a moving constant pyramid, like some Arctic glittering peak of ice. So ex traordinary will be the circulating system of this magic garden, and such the force of - the pressure, that 2,000 tons of water will be forced _through its entire frame every minute. A QtlA-cs named Joseph Gray, alias Walter Marshall, Esq., M.D., C. Morris, M.D., &c., was brought up at Lambeth Police-court, on Friday, charged with a whole sale system of fraud in obtaining money from different persons at a distanee,'on pretence of curing thenfof their various disorders. The prisoner had been in the habit, for many months past, of presenting post-office orders at the Norwood post-office, from his victims, and was arrested in the act by the police. A vast quantity of advertise ments had been inserted by "Doctor Marshall" in country newspapers, only too ready to make a show in their ad vertising columns, without inquiry as to the ability of the advertiser to pay for his puff. Cures of everything and everybody for the trifling remuneration of 7s. 6d., by post office order to Dr. Marshall, M.D., M.R.C.S., forty-five years consulting physician to various hospitals. Deafness, singing noises in the ears, &c., were to be cured, as thousands had been cured, by Dr. Marshall, fifteen years physician aurist to the Ear Infirmary. Send Is. 6d. in postage stamps to Dr. Marshall, M.D., F.R.C.S., professor of surgery, and lecturer on anatomy, and receive in return the means of the most speedy and certain self-cure. Johanna Bennett, aunt of the prisoner's wife, deposed that he was connected with insurance offices ; he had never graduated as a surgeon or physician, or practised as an aurist, to her knowledge. The case was remanded for further inquiry. MOIL Lirs BELOW STAIRS. — AnnPage, formerly house maid in the service of Miss Spence a Royal-crescent, Addi son-i oad, London, sued that lady in the Marylebone County Court, on Saturday, for wages in lieu of warning. Plaintiff said she supposed she must tell his lordship why she left. On Christmas-eve a friend called to see her, and, as they had a party up stairs, she thought there was no harm in keeping her friend down stairs :—" Well, about half-past twelve o'clock, Miss Spence actually came down stairs into the kitchen, and found my friend, and made a great piece of work ; and in the morning cook and me were discharged without warning."-" Miss Spence : Now tell the judge how many policemen you had in our house to supper."- " Ann Page : I only had one ; the other policeman was the cook's, not mine." (Laughter.)-" Miss Spence : Were not two policemen supping off our mutton in the middle of the night P" (Laughter.)-" Ann Page : Cook asked them to have a little mutton, and they are not the men to refuse."-Miss Spence then gave her version of the rencontre :-" On Christmas-eve, your honour, I had a party of friends, and by mere chance, about twelve o'clock, I left the drawing-room, and on getting down stairs I saw two men at supper in the front kitchen, and as soon as my footsteps were heard, out went the lights, and I heard a great scuffle, caused by their hiding them selves in the back kitchen. (Laughter.) I called for lights, and whilst I was groping about in the dark I caught hold of one of the policemen's buttons. The man then called out, ' Don't be alarmed, Miss ; I am here to protect you. Don't shriek out, for I'm a policeman.' (Shouts of laughter.) The other man then said, ' No, no, there's no fear, Miss, for I am another policeman, and will protect you too.' (Continued laughter.) They each begged me to forgive them ; admitted having had supper, and said they were very sorry that the girls should have `overcome their sense of duty.' (Increased merriment.) The dis covery quite upset our merry party, I assure you, sir. We took the policemen's numbers, and reported them to the Commissioners of Police, and Sir Richard Mayne fined each of them 2s. 6d., and severely reprimanded them. We instantly discharged the cook and the plaintiff."- " The Judge I think enough has been said to satisfy me that the plaintiff as well as the police grossly misconducted themselves. I shall only make an order for 19s. 6d., without any costs." THE TRADE WITH TILE EAST.-The East India and China Association have published their usual comparative statement of the number of ships, both British and foreign with their aggregate tonnage, entered inward and cleared outward with cargo from and to places within the limits of the East India Company's charter in the years 1852 and 1853. According to the statistics of vessels entered Inward, the increase in the case of the port of London has been 7 vessels and 27,909 tonnage-the difference between 711 vessels, with 384,531 tonnage, in 1853, and 704 vessels, with 356,622 tonnage, in 1852. The return for Liverpool shows an increase of 52 vessels and 46,672 tonnage-the difference between 255 vessels, with 155,741 tonnage, and 203 vessels, with 109,069 tonnage. There is also an in crease in the case of Bristol and Hull of 6 vessels and 2,356 tonnage, the arrivals in 1852 having been 30 vessels, with 11,813 tonnage, and in 1853 38 vessels, with 13,969 tonnage. The return for the Clyde exhibits a decrease of 7 vessels and 3,281 tonnage-the difference between 39 vessels, with 14,577 tonnage, and 46 vessels, with 17,858 tonnage. The increase on the whole statement is 58 vessels and 53,656 tonnage-the difference between 1,041 vessels, with '568,818 tonnage in 1853, and; 983 vessels, with 495,162 tonnage, in 1852. Of this increase the prin cipal consists of. arrivals from Sydney, Bombay, Madras, and Ceylon, The statistics of vessels cleared outward show the large increase in the ease of the port of London of 312 vessels and 143,412 tonnage-the difference between 954 vessels, with 485,972 tonnage, in 1853, and 642 vessels, with 342,560 tonnage, in 1852. The return for Liverpool shows an increase of 139 vessels and 62,498 tonnage-the difference between 515 vessels, with 2 . 80,054 tonnage, and 376 vessels, with 227,556 tonnage. Bristol and Hull figure for, an increase of 18 vessels and 2,894 tonnage, the clear ances in 1853 having been 21 vessels, with 4,888 tonnage, while in 1852 they only comprised 3 vessels, with 1,994 tonnage. The return for the Clyde exhibits an increase of 103 vessels and 20,138 tonnage-the difference between 188 vess els, with 61,552 tonnage, and 85 vessels, with 41,414 tonnage. The increase on the whole statement is 572 vessels and 218,942 tonnage-the difference between 1,678 ves sels, with 832,466 tonnage, and 1,106 vessels, with 613,524 tonnage. Of this increase, nearly the entire =pat arises from au augments tra,4 with the Auatra ligt Enid New.zealand, STATIONERY Rasa/am—ln the eleven months end ing- the sth ult., the value of stationery exported was £572868 against £375,996 in the previous year. REWARRABLE CONJUGAL LIFE AND DELTII.--On Wednesday was interred, at Bowdon, John and Fanny Sumner,. of Hale. John died on Sunday, and Fanny on the Tuesday following. They were each born in August, 1772, had each attained the age of 81 last August, and have been man and wife 56 years. REWARD OF CIVILITY.—A resident of Goole, formerly of Leeds, not long ago received a letter from the executors of Mr. —, informing him that that gentleman had left him £lOO, for having some years ago left his place of business to show the said Mr. the way to a warehouse he was in search of. A BRONZE MEDAL—At the late annual meeting of the Brighton Branch of the Royal Humane Society, the secre tary stated that the society's bronze medal had been awarded to Thomas Atherell, a fisherman, for having, on the Ist of November, rescued a person named Richard Stainforth, of Clapton, from drowning in a rough sea. Atherell was called in, and the medal was tendered to him. He refused, however, to accept, stating that it was only copper, and that he could get a better at the top of North street for a penny. He would prefer wearing a scollop shell round his- neck to a piece of copper like that. DR. Cnnaca's BREECH -LOADING CANNON.—A final trial was made on Friday week of two cannons that have been prepared to send to Woolwich. They were fired 50 times with heavy charges of powder and ball with perfect success. No detect in any respect could be pointed out by the best judges. Upon this plan heavy ship guns can be loaded and fired, and brought into position, by two men, five times in a minute, and a field piece eight times in a minute. The gun heats very little. Birmingham Journal. MANNING THE NAVY.—On Tuesday, by command of the lords of the admiralty, placards were extensively cir culated throughout the metropolis inviting landsmen to enter for the royal navy. The description of men to be entered is as follows :—They must be between 19 and 24, active, stout, and able bodied, 5 feet 7 inches in height, and in all respects healthy and fit for the naval service, the preference being given to those young men who have been used to boats. In addition to the royal naval ren dezvous on Tower-hill, and the Crocodile receiving ship off the Tower, men will be received and entered by their making application on board the flag ships at any of the naval ports, or at the rendezvous at Liverpool and Bristol, and to the agents for transports at Leith. GREAT FLOOD AT DONCASTER..—OR Wednesday Don caster was visited by one of the greatest floods which have occurred in that town during the last sixty years. Owing to the rapid melting of the snow, the river began to rise on Tuesday night, and long before daylight on Wednesday morning many of the houses in the lower part of the town were inundated ; and by eleven in the forenoon every house in Marshgate was flooded, and the water continued to rise throughout the day. During the night the water began to diminish, and by nine on Thursday morning it had fallen a foot in height; and by the evening of that day the streets were almost relieved of its pressure. Great damage had been sustained in several portions of the town, and large quantities of farm produce were carried away in the neighbourhood. SENTENCE OF DIVORCE.—At the Consistory Court, on Wednesday, Dr. Lushington gave judgment in the extra ordinary case, " Ciocci v. Ciocci." The learned judge said the case had been fully discussed at the bar. The veracity of many of the witnesses had been questioned, and the evidence was very contradictory. The marriage took place on the 15th of January, 1851. The plaintiff was an Italian refugee, who resided at Brighton, and taught lan guages. The lady was older than the husband, and as the lady was possessed of a large fortune, it was manifest that the marriage would-not prove a happy one, and in a very short time a separation took place, and the wife charged the husband with cruelty and adultery. With respect to the count of cruelty, he was obliged to come to the deci sion that it had not been made out. He then went over the evidence, which was very voluminous, in support of the charge of adultery. The learned judge said, that after looking carefully at the evidence, he must pronounce sentence of divorce on account of adultery. AN INSTRUCTIVE LzssoN.—The celebrated strike at the New Houses of Parliament lasted eight months, and cost the union, it is said, £5,000 in sterling money, and the men £lO,OOO in lost labour, and was productive of no good whatever, but, on the contrary, an incalculable amount of evil. Such a strike, we hope, will never occur again in London. It opened a breach between employers and workmen, and especially between foremen and jour neymen, which ten years of uninterrupted prosperity have been scarcely sufficient to heal. We wish the working classes in the north of England, who are now pursuing a similar course with much greater recklessness of conse quences, would take a lesson from the history of this un happy feud. And let us give them another note of warn ing. During the twenty years of its existence, the Masons' Union, we are credibly informed, has spe n t up wards of £100, 000; but their wages have remained at the same uninterrupted level.—Builder. A CHANCERY SUlT.—About twenty years ago a retired tradesman at Bedminster died, leaving various legacies to his family, but the bulk of his property to his niece, Elizabeth Waters. Disputes, however arose, and a suite in Chancery was instituted, which is not yet terminated. Meanwhile the large house, of which the neice retained possession, without any income to keep it in repair, fell rapidly to decay ; the furniture, by degrees, was disposed of to meet the necessities of the occupant, till at last nothing remained but an old sofa, a chair, and a table, in the one room which was still habitable. Lately the woman, who gained a precarious sustenance in the decayed mansion by taking in needlework, began to complain much of hav ing no food or fire, and for more than a week she was lost sight of, till a few days ago she managed to crawl to the house of a neighbour in a dying state, and beg for a morsel of food. Something was immediately given her, and fire provided for her, but she died shortly after. THE PAPER DrTY. — The exportation of many sorts of goods from England is rendered impossible by the cost of the paper it would require to wrap them in ; and in these branches of trade the Americans have completely cut us out, owing to the cheapness of paper in the United States. Paper is rapidly getting dearer in England, and it is ap prehended that the entire profits of some rising popular publications will be cut off by the advance. Paper for printing must be dried at great expense and trouble by the manufacturer, for the purpose of being weighed by the excise, and then with equal trouble re-damped for the printing press, owing to the existence of the paper duties. English paper is deteriorating in quality through the op pressive operation of the tax ; compare it with French paper—the one is either so rough as to spoil every pen used upon it, or, if smooth, invariably greasy ; the other is smooth as ivory, and " thirsty for ink." DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—On Monday afternoon, the in habitants of Old Broad-street, London, were alarmed by a noise resembling the discharge of artillery, repeated three times in rapid succession, and found that a great portion of the Old Excise-office, contiguous to premises forty feet high, running parallel with Broad-street, had fallen down, 200 workmen being at the time employed upon it. As soon as the immense cloud of dust had somewhat subsided, it was found that nearly a dozen of the workmen were buried in the debris. Owen Daley, a man who had only just left the hospital from the effects of a similar accident at the same place, 'a few months ago, was first extricated, dreadfully injured, and taken back to the institution he had so recently left. Another man was extricated bleeding at the nose, mouth, and ears, and died immediately. A third was frightfully mutilated, and a fourth again was quite dead. Several others were removed in the course of the evening to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where an extra, ward had to be fitted up for their reception. The catas trophe is supposed to have arisen from overloading the top floor with bricks taken from the walls, as that floor fell first, and afterwards the two beneath it, causing the three successive reports. OPERATION OP THE SUCCESSION DliTY.—Aris's Bir mingham Gazette furnishes the subjoined example of the practical operation of the Succession Duty Act upon the poorer classes of freeholders :—The following case, in the parish of Rowley Regis, in the county of Stafford, is among the first that have occurred since the passing of the above-named act :—E. W., a labouring man, died in June last, possessed of seven freehold cottages, which he bequeathed (subject to a payment of four shillings per week to the widow) to his three infant children, a mort gage of £220 being on the property. The amount of Suc cession Duty levied and paid by the executor at the rate of one per cent. only, is no less than £5 Os. 10N . over and above the usual heavy charges upon the probate of the will. Certainly no very strong inducement is now held out to the poor man to make any provision for his family. In the present case, when £ll have been paid for interest upon the mortgage, £lO Bs. for the widow's annuity, £5 Os. laid for Succession Duty, and the usual extor tionate charges - for the probate, a noble balance truly will remain for the orphan children. But how will it be where a testator leaves no children, and the Succession Duty is levied at the rate of ten instead of one per cent P Had it been so in the present case, £5O 8s : 9d. would have been the sant required, and only by a ruinous sacrifice of the property could the amount have been raised. Let the small freeholder just reflect what must be the effect of this admirable equivalent given him by Mr. Gladstone for the present low price of bread, and the comfortable prospect of the annihilation of our foreign trade by a general war. CANINE FIDELITY.—on Wednesday, the 3rd inst., Mr. Collinson, farmer, of Grainside Beck, in Teesdale, left home with the intention of driving a flock of sheep over the fell to Dutton. Not having arrived at his destination the following day, and a violent snow storm having raged the whole of Wednesday night, the greatest anxiety was felt for his safety, and a number of men started in search of him. They prosecuted their arduous task ineffectually for three days, but on Monday morning his body was discovered in the snow by means of his faithful dog. The searchers had passed the place where the deceased was lying, when they were attracted by the actions of a dog, which started up from among the snow. The dog they recognised as having belonged to Mr. Collinson, and it by degrees led them to its master's corpse. They found, by the man's track through the snow, that he had several times fallen, but had battled manfully for life, until at length, having become exhausted, he had fallen for the last time, and died. The poor dog had scraped away the snow from his master's face, and then nestled in his breast, and had never forsaken him until he heard the voices of men in search.—Durham Advertiser. ARIEL'S GIRDLE-. 4 TWO-CABLE ACROSS THE ATLAS. TIC.—We like to see the speculative faculties at work among the multitude, even though the efflorescence be somewhat barren—not very likely to bear available or practical fruit—or even a little wild in its luxuriance. A correspondent, " Revile," proposes " an entirely new sys tem of navigation upon the great ocean routes,' on " the advantages" of which we need not enlarge. " I propose," he says, "that upon some convenient coast point of the United Kingdom—say upon the coast of Donegal—a winding-machine be erected su f ficiently firm (aye, there's the rub !) and turned by an engine of five thousand horse power, a similar one being erected, for example, at New York. The next element of the apparatus would be a cable of the best material, 8,000 miles in length [!], to act as an endless band, passing over the two machines. It next being mutually arranged by those directing to despatch their vessels in regular succession, they would be attached to the moving cable at intervals of one mile or less, according to the state of trade, of course, by some simple apparatus capable of detaching the cable, if neces sary. Being so disposed, the vessels would sustain tlei_ l cable, while the trifling deflection would allow any veee. sailing across the route to pass." The cooleese of this proposal is iuimitabler--Buikler, SPraiors GOLD-in-sr.—Persons are attempting to dis pose of spurious gold-dust by offering it to money-changers in London. It consists of small pieces of some kind of earth, electrotyped so as not to be discoverable by chemical tests. A parcel was brought on Tuesday t o M essrs . Spielman, in Lombard-street, which was completely un distinguishable from genuine gold dust, except by its fria bility and want of weight. A REPORT has been prevalent that the French govern ment have purchased six vessels belonging to the fleet of the General Screw Steam Navigation Company and three of the Australian Mail Company, but it is incorrect. A purchase of the kind is however, understood to be in ne gotiation by the French company for establishing a Tran satlantic line of mail steamers. "AWE REGRET to announce the severe indisposition of the Marquis of Londonderry. His lordship has been suffering for some days from neuralgia, in a very bad form. The latest accounts describe the noble marquis to be in a state of great exhaustion from the continued palm. consequent on his malady. LONDON AND WESTMINSTER RINK. -At the half. yearly meeting of the proprietors of this bank, held on Wednesday, it was agreed to allow out of the net profits of the last half-year, amounting to £61,617 4s. 9d., a divi dend for the half-year, at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and a bonus of four per cent., declared payable on the 23d instant. THE HOUSE OF Commoss.--Since the general election there have been forty-seven changes in the House of Commons, three of which have been caused by elevations to the Upper House, three by elevations to the judicial bench, twelve by death, four by retirement, three by acceptance of office, and twenty-two by the decisions of election committees. OLD Age.—Frol4 the census table on religious worship,' it appears that the number of persons in England and Wales, in 1851, aged 70 years and upwards was 503,305, aged 75 and upw ar d s th ere were 253,143, aged 80 and up wards 107,041, aged 80 and upwards 107,041, aged 85 and upwards 33,201, upwards of 90 there were 7,796, above 95 there were 1,545, and 216 were upwards of 100. LEMON DIIMPLINGS.—With ten ounces of fine bread crumbs mix half a pound of beef suet, chopped extremely fine, one large tablespoonful of flour, the grated rind of two small lemons, four ounces of pounded sugar, three large eggs, beaten and strained, and last of all, the juice of the lemons, also strained. Divide these into four equal parts, tie in well-floured cloths, and boil them an hour. More sugar may be added if they are liked very sweet. A RIVAL TO TEL.—The Singapore Free Press recom mends the use of the coffee leaf as a substitute for the berry. The writer appears to be an English planter of the Dutch settlement of Padang, in Sumatra, where the coffee plant has been cultivated for several generations, and where it is now produced in larger quantity and better quality than in any country of the Malayan islands, Java excepted. The coffee plant is an evergreen large bush, which yields a profusion of leaves, and bears fruit for about twenty years. The leaf and even the twigs, have, in a miner degree, the same stimulating and exhilerating, pro perty as the berry ; and its habitual use by the natives of the country, agricultural Malays of very simple habits and little amenable to innovation, shows that they at least find the coffee leaf to make a wholesome and agreeable beverage. _ NIGHT TELEGRAPH TO THE CONTINENT.—In reference to the statement which has appeared in some of the metropolitan journals, to the effect that the Governments on the continent have not extended to this country the advantages of the night service which they had established with each other, it appears that the Submarine and Euro pean Telegraph Companies have already concluded arralige ments with the continental Governments for a night service between the various countries and • England. All the most important towns of France, Belgium, and Germany, will in future be open both by day and night for the transmission of despatches, and henceforth conti nental messages will be received at the Submarine and European Telegraph Companies' office, in Cornhill, at all hours, including the entire Sunday, for direct transmission to their destination. NATIONAL SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CONFEBENCB.—The conference of this body was held in Manchester on Wed nesday, at the Town-hall, and was largely attended. The Hight Hon. T. M. Gibson , M.P., was present, and addressed the audience, as did also Mr. Cobden and others. Resolutions were passed recognizing the necessity of pro viding primary instruction for every child ; that the pre sent number of institutions are inadequate for this pur pose : that the funds necessary for the purpose should be raised by local rates, the control of such rates, and the management of the schools to be supported thereby, being vested in committees elected for that purpose by the ratepayers ; that no system of schools which confers sectarian advantages, or invades the rights of conscience, can prove permanently satisfactory to the country ; that no system of public instruction can be complete without provision for the establishment of industrial schools where required by the exigencies of the population ; that the National Public School Association should take steps for the introduction of a permissive bill into parliament at the earliest possible period of the ensuing session, and that they should employ their utmost efforts in pressing it forward ; that the conference recognises the necessity of embracing existing schools in any system of national instruction, and approves the provison made by the bill of the National Public School Association, to include such schools, by which the conscientious convictions of the managers and of the ratepayers are fully protected. SINGULAR 'HEROISM UNDER THE PROMPTINGS ow HumeaciTy.—The following heart-stirring narrative is communicated from Rio Janeiro :—The Pernambucana, one of the vessels of the Brazilian Steam-packet Company, was wrecked near St. Katherine's on the 11th of October, and upwards of forty of her passengers were drowned. This disaster afforded an opportunity for a display of heroism and bravery rarely equalled. A black sailor, be 'longing to the vessel, succeeded, with many others, in reaching the shore ; numbers had perished in the attempt, and but few of the passengers remained upon the wreck. All these, including a mother and six children, did Simao save. Twelve times had this noble fellow swam through the furious breakers on the coast, and each time returned bringing a victim from destruction ; then wearied, as he well might be, from his almost superhuman efforts, he threw himself exhausted upon the sands, when a cry was raised that one human being still remained upon the wreck. No one was hardy enough to attempt the rescue of the poor passenger, a blind man, whose piteous cries for succour were faintly heard on shore. But Simao, the brave Simao, again dived into the furious surf, reached the vessel, and brought the poor blind man safely to land, thus saving, by his noble and unaided exertions, no less than thirteen lives. SIB ARCHIBA.LD ALISON AND THE WORKING CLASSES. —At the annual meeting of the National Securities Sav ings, held in Glasgow last week, the above gentleman remarked that "it was now eighteen years since he was first present at its commencement, and he then ventured to express a hope that he himself, or at least many of those who were present, might live to see a million of money deposited ; and the prospect they now had of that hope being realised fully justified its expression. Not many years had elapsed since the country had been gene rally plunged into distress, and the depositors, among the humbler . classes in this bank, felt the effects of frugality and provident habits. lie was happy that the excess this year was greater than formerly. We had heard much in different quarters of the inte m p erance and drunken and N dir w r , d h er e ly wis con n d o u t c o t ne of of t t h h e ose vvh working ,o classes o f Gl asgow . ever attempted to dis guise what was well known to be the fact ; but he was equally well aware that the report of this institution afforded a memorable and gratifying proof of the fact th a t if there were classes who brought discredit on the city. there were also those—more numerous, more intelliFent„ and far more active—who reflected the .highest credit on the community. If the detractors of Glasgow told the world that there were 2,000 spirit-shops, he hoped it would also be mentioned that there £646,000 to the credit of the working classes deposited in the savings-bank." SITGili-XIIEING MACHINERY POR THE BRAZILIIIC GOVERNMENT. The machinery consists of a 30-horse power high-pressure steam-engine, with steam boilers of 60-horse power ; the engine works the cane-grinding mill, which is made of extra strength, so as to express at least 75 per cent. of juice from the canes. It also works pump's for exhausting two large vacuum pans for finishing the sugar. The heating and boiling operations on the cane juice will be entirely done by steam in vessels of a peculiar construction and arrangement. The cane juice, on passing from the grinding mill, goes through a series of copper pipes fixed in chambers, which form the conducting chan nel for the latent vapour drawn by the engine pumps front the vacuum pans. The cold juice, passing through these pipes, is thus partially heated before entering a battery of defacating pans, which are heated by steam direct from the boilers. In these defacating pans, the syrup is boiled to the proper density, and then passed through filters filled with animal charcoal, from which it runs into re ceivers to supply the vacuum pans. The exhaust steam of the engine boils the first vacuum pan, and the exceri of engine exhaust, along with the latent vapour raised in the first pan, is used for boiling the second pan. These pans have a much greater amount of pipe-heating surface than usual, and the pipes are fixed vertically. .Ve learn from Brazil that great operations in the manufacture of, sugar are now being in progress, and the gentleman who ordered this machinery, which is now about ready for shipment, says, in a recent letter, that orders will soon follow the present one to an exten t may frighten our engineers by their oppressive magnitude.—North Brills& Mail. AN ICEHOUSE BURNT.—One of the most singular fires ever recorded happened on Saturday evening at our rail way terminus, when a large building, used as an icehouse, was entirely destroyed. The building was about 120 feet long by 40 or 60 wide, and 26 feet in height, with a thatched roof. It was divided into four compartments, three for stowing ice, and one for packing fish. In the interior supporters were placed at about eight inches fronl the brick wall, covered with boarding all round the house) from the floor to the roof, the space between the brick work and the boarding being filled with sawdust. The house was let to Mr. Coates, who had 800 tons of ice housed, the building when full containing 1,800 tons. mir ing Saturday some men were packing ice, working with 4 candles near the roof, and ea r ly i n th e d a y som e tallow:.; appears, had run on the woodwork, and caught fir o e , ; ; :. the flame was extinguished, and the house was CI apparent safety about 4 o'clock in the aftern s clon.. laily after 5 o'clock a lurid glare was seen in the in Kr , 1 ' tbe north indicating the existence of a fire somewherey 1 sent for the part of the town. Messengers were sper e l ad engines, and the alarm was at once 5P through the ems' ress ed as to the town, but considerable doubts were „., on fire, but few truth of the report that the icehous e hat any amount of ` c aity. An engine was in so cold i b hundreds of people, the quickly on the spot, followed Y p w eo ar p m le th gi eiis ving w credence to th e a P e inc!' ard , marshes, and every bit of eased to thousands, who lined r ik of of w th h e elli rh s •el, n tr f 3 was n tsht u ane m bdi t ng room. then blazing furiously at ea r oof blowing from the west by n were vainly endeavouring to get the north. The firel l , l i f t could not from its frozen state, and it engine to the west side, b e fore any supply of water could be ob tained.was some time roof had fallen in and the flara go w al opinion was that th es - • 'en gi n eth oP e fire would be to the lee, but the melting of the ice produced no other extinguished , that of occasioning effect than __, d ense clouds of suffocating ke and steam. B 9 with y o clock the most dangerous period s mo of the fire wa s over,bnt the facto r y engine continued play ing for several hours afterwards, the fire continuing to blaze till the middle of the night The amount of d done is about £7OO fo r th e loss of the househouseami:Aral 500 for the iet — Norfoik Neve •