The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-22 00:00:00

ANUARY 22, 1856.] THE usual mail from America, due on Sunday, did not ar tje, Owing to the re-arrangement of sailings consequent on ,L,.! return t o th e o ld sys t em o f d espa t c hi ng th e C o lli ns boats n,lyeekly, and the Cunard vessels every week. The next mail !pit be brought by the Arago, due at Southampton on Thurs 4a3r• 41 4 - limn., of Meltham, was conveying his cash-box home other night, when he suddenly came against a rope, and down, and, whilst in that position, he was struck on the ea t t bY a man. Mr. Hirst's hat broke the force of the blow, all s was able to get up and run away with his cash-box, pith u his assailant at his heels ; but Mr. Hirst, being the swift -1 e scaped. eru_ t aan HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The second grand concert nis society will take place in St. George's-hall, to-morrow ~'"a m g, The vocalists are well-known favourites, and as the `wrmance will consist of a new oratorio by Mr. Hackett, Tre is but little doubt of a full and fashionable attendance. halei oratorio is shortly to be produced in Loudon, at Exeter- Ta g i t • ion . , latish and North American mail steamer Arabia I,„`g for Boston on Saturday, with about 100 passengers, a t `ge mail, and a full cargo of dry Foods. The United States' biiei'mer Pacific, Nye, will sail for ' AS ew York to-morrow, when ters for her will be received at the Post-office up to 9 a.m., 111. late fee at 10 a.m., and at the landing-stage at 11 a.m. ;:lees Australian mail packet Sardinian will sail for Melbourne ( laY, the hours for receiving letters and papers being e same as above. Be4 A SAILOR DRUGGED AND BOBBED.— On Friday evening, a f o L a all, named John Campbell, fell into the hands of some 1 1 ,7e5, in Eldon-street, who drugged him into insensibility,, en , then robbed him of a twenty-dollar piece, four half-crowns, %b .' Pound in gold, a half-dollar, and other money. When his oh:eiousness returned, finding his money gone, he drew his a'th - knife, and threatened murder and destruction to all the Saler' in Liverpool. In this frantic humour he was found by t m o 'e Police, who, on ascertaining the facts of the case, proceeded 11, 4 house of ill-fame, in Eldon-street, where they apprehended tl lien Ri ley, with the half-dollar in her possession, and on Sa -441 morning they took two more women, Mary Flannigan t; Rosannah Grant, into custody, they having Davies,th 4OY-dollar piece that morning, at the shop of Mr. Vauxhall-road. They were committed to gaol for a month. C ap i IRMA.N OF THE KIRKDALE SESSIONS.—There was an esually numerous meeting of the county magistrates at the wh rk dale Court-house, on Tuesday, when a lengthy and some „.at angry discussion took place relative to the election of a 17Manent chairman in the place of the late Archdeacon 13,,, 1\5° ,k5• The candidates proposed were Sir Thomas Bernard ki; l e u , Bart., and Mr. Pollock, Judge of the County Court, th e ' th 3 ugh it was stated that Sir Thomas would not accept of ,a Ppointment, he was unanimously elected. A deputation meeting magistrates was appointed to convey the decision of the t a ,',lng to him, and to report his reply to the body of the liTstrates. We understand that Sir Thomas Birch .pos tie„elY refused to accept the chairmanship, when the deputa-- of the maoistrates waited on him. At the sitting of the Polrock, who presided, stated that, in the abseiree a, Permanent chairman, he had been unanimously requested brother magistrates to occupy the chair. T ter it t ADELPHI CAR- DRIVERS.—The fourth anniversary din -111 connexion with the above establishment, was held on Th ursday, at Mr. Whiteman's, New Brunswick Hotel, Clay aell-,scillare, The entertainment, which is always looked for ea to with great interest by the car-drivers and others in 4ettipoy of Jonathan Bell, the proprietor of the estab abonlent, was numerously attended, the party numbering tl t fifty. It appears that the meeting originates with the eras who bring together the gratuities they receive during the ersr fromvariens tradesmen having dealings with-their employ et',,a,Ml appropriate it for the purpose of a festivity. The laa, s vloYers, anxious to encourage. such an application of funds borderg exclusively to their servants, make aliberal addition, to encourage the festivity and promote that good feel eTwhich ought ever to exist between the employer and the t o lseYed. There was an excellent brass hand, which per- W a rm ed, at intervals, a variety of popular music. The chair tf„ s Occupied by Mr, Thomas Bell, and the vice - chair by `• C• Handles. lal,vtaroor, POULTRY SHOW.—The third annual Liverpool l o n rY Show commenced on Wednesday, in Messrs. Lucas's 4,1 , in Great Charlotte-street, which was fitted up with up -400 pens, containing about 1: 2 250 birds. The most taciiteeable feature was the general excellence of all the birds k i l bited, the committee having this year raised the entries, 4 1 ` 4 therefore made it much more seledt. The Spanish, Dork ill!, and Ha m b u r g fowls were the best we ever saw, but the y s ' ar of 'Cochin-Chinas was far inferior to those of former N t. " , proof that the mania for these birds is gradually dying „ The Rouen ducks of Mr. Henry Worrall were the finest le s :ue show, a pen of three (not far Competition) weighing no ° than 2 - lb- M G W Moss's fine breeds of Ban tam „ Avis r. . • were again far superior to tut' exhibited, while the sec "Y, Mr. W. C. Worrall, carried off the prizes for golden Cugled Hamburg fowls, one pen of which was declared by tof,iMiges, Mr. Bailey, of London, and Mr. Mount, of Bir torecam, to be the finest they ever saw. The only fancy 1 011 , 1 0 birds exhibited were SOlll'e Buenos Ayrean ducks, be lar,lng to Mr. Henry Worrall. The birds were sent from all kr,' of the kingdom, and on Wednesday, when the price of fk:t!ssion was 2s. 6d., the attendance, at once numerous and p o . o l onable attested most satisfactorily that, though the t ti dry mania has subsided somewhat, it still prevails largely t e ,°°,,,g all classes. The exhibition was kept open on Thursday to A rriday, rednced prices. GRAVE CHARGE.—A stoat young man, named Bartho ot ,e charg Cook, e w of ha n as brougg picked the at-the Po pocket of lice-court, on ThurscW, k e t , iMrs. Catherine aft; ll r l °de, of Gregory-place, Getard-street. On Wednesday j oh 1 ;eon the prosecutrix was attendin a funeral, in St. kr ll 8 Churchyard, and, whilst -standin g at the edge of the hot she felt a person pressing against her from behind, tud not entertain the remotest suspicion that any one, ti Weil er great a rogue, would commit a robbery at such a Die]: ,and on such an occaaion. The prisoner,. however, to,„ e ' 4 , her pocket of a purse containing a shilling, which was Tar 0 y several persons present, one of whom seized the q er soller and gave him in charge of the Police-officer. In ta a , s ea , ee, the prisoner said th&; he had been unable to obtain e o mYraent, was " hard up," and that hunger forced him to n ,,slrnit the offence, even at the brink of the grave. He glied that he would be very glad to enlist, and serve. his f a e s l l and country in the Crimea, or on board one of Her tat,stY's ships in the Baltic, in order to obtain an honest it,„'nood. He cared not for any danger ; his nerves Were ah`'°'4, courage nndoubted,:and heart in the right place. tl i 4 magistrate observed that news . . had just been received k r , b ßussi a had accepted thepropositions for peacethat, tio" a *, his services would-not now be required. However, tl vo uld give him a " trial7:and committed him accordingly. tri e e /taor, rou THE BLIND.—The annual meeting of the th e ,," of this old-established ,charity was held on Friday, in Wieramittee-roont of the school, in Hardman street, Mr. th • J ana Brown, M.P., president of the institution, in the th: l t ":, The treasurer read the annual report, which stated p reli t o be funds of the institution, comparing the past with the R 1, 15 u s Year, show an increase in the former amounting to Pit, 0 .. viz.: Sale of consols, £l,OOO ; from chapel wardens, Eg g increase in legacies, £.83 ; increase of subscriptions, of pupils, total, £1,319. Less for goods sold, £75 ; maintenance O £23 ; donations, £1.4,.; sundries, £53—X165, making th e . s -41. total of £1,154. Mr. Mills concluded by saying that accountshill were not all made up, as he had their solicitors' 1,1 1 .. receive yet, which would probably amount to rather a of sum as they had done V. great deal of work, and were talP e h service in pulling the institution through its diffi 114ties---Mr. Hull said he had the consent of his or th e `'ig that they would have very much pleasure inpresenting a mount of their bill for the benefit of the charity.—Mr. tot t pood Banner moved a vote of thanks to the president 41 1 ,„ Is attention and zeal. Mr: Brown's heart and pocket were toia B °Pen to the call of every charitable work. The resoln ttlie"ss carried by acclamation. Thanks were then passed to the th,,, e officers of the institution. Mr. James Aiken then proposed blotelection of Mr. William Brown, M. P., as president. The kr 1 ,1 11 Was carried unanimously, and the remaining officers Dr en the ensuing year were appointed. The churchwarden toeeitecl his accounts, from which it appeared that the total 1 241 4 r 1 4 of the chapel during the past year, including a the c e of £471 ss. 10d., were £1,4:5 2s. 2d.; after deducting tilti ~ — P enses there remained a balance of £431 14s. 7d. to be sed of. 4 13.4Z1C COMmITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held on Illt o a'an, Mr. F. Shand in the chair. The Stanley Dock dgo . ° l lse nub-committee reported the resignation of C. J. tlerke' CO managing clerk, and of R. E. Roberts, a landing Which they recommended to be accepted, with a month's 'td' The sub-committee recommended the appointment of hee' s Bean as a landing clerk. The sda-committee of finance !letc l aended the appointment of Charles Ashton, aged 49 , , 4,2 the warehouse department of the =stoma, as assistant Ni s t".` t hla' the dock accounts, at a salary of £l5O per annum. rb t _lona' assistance being required in keeping the bonded meat e"'e ( „ ounts, the sub-committee also recommended that Mr. 'Aehi ' ) hackleton should assist Mr. R. Mason in that depart !itte,',aud that Mr. G. E. Motten should be.appointed to the 'to tt ,Zri held by Mr. Shackleton. A communication was read ttl/0 0 ,,a Ar• M`lver and Co. calling attention to the open and tY the state of the -sheds at ' the Clarence Dock basin, occupied • r.„..... "1 in the Sligo trade which was the cause of damage to 748 ender theircharge The boarding up of several bays, recommended as a remedy. The communication also 4 01 1 1,,wq that the eaves at the west side of the same shed ( lat b : , . be taken off, as at high tides they were frequently NT e 'l• Referred to the harbour-masters' committee. A roill\ltoication, also on the state of the Clarence Dock sheds, ll 'ett e ' r l B ", - Robert Lamont, was likewise referred to the ha_rbour ka committee. A communication was read from Messrs. kt es • te 'James and Co directing the earnest and immediate 41 44° nofnecessity of t . mast •ser e the committee to the 'al_ • r -n consequence of the increased size of masts, the thi lti' (3f Mast* _ ing and unmasting here was very great, and 10 d ;,e,rs' heavy expense. They were about to unmast the ha l „ -al Kay, and in a port like Liverpool they should expect fat i n s. ',different appliances to look to. Mr. Mondel observed 4 t;:. this case it would cost the owners one-half of the price ▪ tq l e of sheers that would lift 200 such masts. Referred )i.' l l a W i Orks committee. Messrs. Bonk, English, and Bran lalied for a permanent berth for a new line of vessels to I h. 'eans in the Waterloo or Vietoria Dock. Referred to Wi i plar masters' committee. A letter was read from Mr. ri an an ning, postmaster, requesting that on arrival of an a'slat i .7 4 or an Australian mail ship, the officers of the dock sfiLl'ee should immediately communicate the arrival to the all ` at k a th e in order that measures might be taken to collect kit", to 'reel's, so as to get the letters delivered.ui Liverpool, . ° Mard those for other places as expeditiously as pos -I:eptm4 Suitable payment would be made for the ta harbour ' . Mr n a mti ar t on the on the subject masters of the Holyhead sub-committee telegraph M was eked for a week, in consequence of the absence of the . ClC 't-ESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE. P REFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. , I ,ll ° l'ar ev e ,' - n• Bruce, D lVl l; A rii , m Peg t ep e ll r f l urate of Ferryhill, to an nit 11e I;ariuury IJilllelehurAc:,TlCkeridge, to the Incumbency of St. James's St. Sidwell's, Exeter. b.e4x rt c "• A. Cartledge, M.A., to the Perpetual Curacy of St. hey , kji i C4n Cromwell M , Principal of the Durham 4hi t thet cl lt r, te i v. r aining School, to , an HO norary Canonry in Durham l b" 4 * N. H. Curzon, to the Rectory of Kedleston, Derby t "t'o he . C . N. M t i e a, I L P. T. w an n , n to h t u he Rectory of Mawgan, Cornwall. 8.A., to the Incambency of St. i ‘ t° o t4 lih h t e t v. n jeYS4affordshire e . ' 1' With oft . li P e a l t e te rp ns e tL% l to c t u h r e ac ß y ector_y_ o n f St. Anne, Sutton Kingston-upon-Soar, gston-upon-Soar, Me r v ' lit :rt- 4 , l etia t 8 . Shedders. M.A., Vicar of A lfreton, Derbyshire, to tt he e w of Kilton orn line t i l t he . A", • 8 . Sturges, );. r eZ7, ts tu r r e ;te of St. si;nrDtevon j.sl.l;taßt Chaplain to the Garrison at j u m ev e o s n ' ig i te n'itCer. Vaux, M.A., to the Curacy of Holy Trinity, Lora; 4. Walker, to be Domestic Chaplain to the Right v Labley. GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. No CALENDAR, AND AN EMPTY GAOL.—At the Epiphany Quarter Sessions, held at Rye, on Thursday, there were no prisoners for trial. Jessop, the chief officer, also informed us (Sussex Advertiser) that the gaol was empty. TILE WAR, it appears, has eaten up all the spare bronze. To an application to Government for a contribution of metal for the proposed statue of Newton, an answer has been re ceived that all the bronze in the possession of Government is required for the casting of cannon. IT is stated, in a medical journal, that Dr. Marshall Hall has discovered that the hitherto inscrutable poison of strychnia may be discovered, on post mortem examination, by the aid of a frog, the fiftieth part of a grain of the acetate of strychnia, dissolved in water, being sufficient to kill a frog immersed therein. ATTEMPTED BANK RODBERY.—A desperate attempt was made, on Tuesday morning, to rob the bank of Messrs. P. and W. Hancock, of Wiveliscombe. The burglars effected an en trance, forced open a door, several drawers, and one iron safe, but found the strong room impenetrable. They only succeeded in stealing' between £3 and £4, left in a private till. It is be lieved that four persons were concerned in this robbery. ONE dark night last week, William Goulder, a labourer at Caversham, was driving his master's cart over a bridge of the Great Western Railway, near Sonning, when the wheel ran against a projecting stone, and jolted his whip out of his hand. In alighting to pick it up, he stepped on the parapet of the bridge ; thinking it was the step of the cart, he took another leap, and fell on the line of railway, a distance of full forty feet from the parapet. He died a quarter of an hour afterwards. THE statue of Charles 1., at Charing-cross, London, has just undergone some very necessary repairs. It has been raised one inch, and generally strengthened in its place; it having been found, on inspection, to have been only kept erect by an iron bolt, of the thickness of only half an inch by three-sixteenths of an inch (which was considerably corroded), inserted into the near hind leg of the horse. New spurs have been given to the King, and a bridle to his horse. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On the Great Northern Railway, on Wednesday, a tire of a wheel of a first-class carriage in the up mixed express train broke about two miles south of the Tal lington station. Before the train could be quite stopped, the carriage turned partly over, and two passengers were injured— Lady Harris, who had the small bone of her arm broken, and aon of Colonel Smythe, who was slightly hurt. They are at the hotel at Peterborough, and doing well. None of the other passengers were hurt, and all proceeded on their journey. Ma. FREDERICK SERGEANT, son of a farmer at Northill, went into a hovel where there was a bull, which had been in their possession five years, and had always been very quiet. The bull rushed at Mr. Frederick Sergeant, knocked him down, and gored him so frightfully that he died the same day. It was stated at the inquest that the deceased had just been assisting in killing a pig. - and went to the bull with hands covered with blood. Several jurymen remarked that bulls always evinced great irritation at the sight of blood. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. THE correctional police of Dijon last week punished a man, named Viennot, for selling his wife to a neighbour of the name of Saget, and this latter for being concerned in so immoral a bargain. The former declared before the court that the sale was only a fictitious one, devised by him to try the affection and virtue of his wife ; whilst, on the other hand, Saget assured the court that he had acted with perfect good faith, since, being lame, and earning his bread by the sale of ginger bread and sweetmeats in the open air, he considered that the wife of his neighbour would be a valuable assistance to him in his little business. The court condemned both the men to a year's imprisonment. ADVICES PROM IVIEMEL give the statistics for the past year of the Russian exports and imports carried on through that port, and demonstrate that the traffic, instead of being checked, is largely increasing. The quantity of flax exported was 47,000 tons against 32,230 tons in 1854, and of tallow, 25,140 tons against 15,500. Hemp shows a moderate diminution, the totals being 17,930 tons against 20,510 tons ni the preceding year. Ali kinds of munitions of war are stated to have been imported across the frontier with such perfect 'connivance on the put of the Prussian authorities as to have reduced the current prices for them. to a peint in many instances almost approaching those of times of peace. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES.—It is rumoured that the new net 'now in preparation by government for the incorporation and regulation of joint-stock companies contains a clause which will increase, by defining, the responsibilities of directors. It is said to declare that every director shall be held to be acquainted with all the acts of the board, and also that every director shall be responsible for the truth of the -statements which they put forth. If they say that a railway las made a profit, or that a bank has assets to meet its en gagements, they are to be held responsible to all parties -interested, for the truth of what they thus publish.—Times. FARMERS' PROSPECTS TOR 1856.—Seldom has a year , commenced with fairer prospects for the farmer. Though the prices of wheat and other agricultural produce have fallen ''considerably within the last month, they are still high. We never participated in the opinion that something like famine prices would occur, and have constantlylooked for a reaction in prices as has occurred. The supply of Christmas meat to the metropolis has so much exceeded the demand, that prime meat has been sold at very moderate rates. The wheat plant generally looks well. The worst effect of the high prices has been that landowners are drawing back from improvements, which they felt compelled to effect' when wheat sold for 40s. per quarter ; whilst farmers are again falling into their old error of neglecting to lisist on terms which they know to be essential to profitable farming.—Economist. BONA FIDE STARV'ATION.—In the storm of the night of Tuesday, the 18th ult., at about ten •o'clock, the schooner Ellen, of Wisbeach, was cast ashore at the entrance of the Tay. At the moment she struck a poor boy Was washed away and perished, and after a time the:master, the mate, and two hands succeeded in gaining the inhospitable shore, and made for the lights on the railway. Unfortunately, it was past eleven o'clock before they were able to claim admittance at the door of an inn, where they were refused shelter, and, on appli cation at other houses of so-called entertainment, these un profitable customers were " not heard." In fact, in Car noustie the law is so rigorously observed that it was three hours before these poor, half-drowned, perishing strangers re ceived that shelter they thought they 'had a right to expect in a Christian land. At last, it appears, they fell into the hands of one who considered them to be both " bontifide travellers and bong fide fellow-creatures," and, regardless of the law, took them in, and made them as comfortable as his circumstances would allow.—North Briiieh Daily Mail. EXTENSIVE ROBBERIES.—Two daring and successful rob beries have just been committed in Devonshire. On Monday night the premises of Mr. Burrington, of lligh-street, Exeter, were entered, and from 60 to 70 gold and silver watches, 30 to 40 gold chains, the same number of Albert c h a i ns , an d a number of second-hand silver watches, estimated to be worth in the aggregate upwards of £l,OOO, were stolen. The thieves effected the robbery in a most ingenious manner. They en tered at the back of :the premises, cut a piece of glass out of the kitchen window, carefully removed some hyacinth glasses, and, having lifted the sash, they thus obtained entrance into the house. They then went through a sitting-room into the shop, and took away the property named, without disturbing the owner, who slept in a room above the kitchen, where they first entered, and madeoff with their booty. The police are on the alert, but as yet :no clue has been obtained to the rob bers. On Sunday night the premises of Mr. French, a gentle man residing at Crediton, were entered, and a large quantity of silver plate was carried off. In this instruce also no clue has yet been obtained to the perpetrators of the robbery. TILE KING OF PRUSSIA. AND RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. — Our readers will remember that Sir Culling Eardley and others, as representatives of different countries, waited on the King of Prussia some weeks ago; at Cologne, as a deputation from the Paris Evangelical Alliance Conference. His Majesty's answer is published in eaxtenso in the Post Zeitung, of Frankfort. It is dated the 11th of December, 1855, and :signed by his Excellency M..de Bernsdorff. The sepresenta tive of the king reiterates at 'the outset, in the name of his august sovereign, the assurances of hearty goodwill given by the king himself to the deputation at Cologne ; he then informs Sir Culling Eardley that his majesty has ordered a searching inquiry with respect to the acts .of intolerance which had been notified to him by the deputation as having been committed in his own dominions ; and that he has, moreover, instructed his representatives at the courts of Electoral Hesse, I.lledlen burg-Schwerin, Saxe-Meiningen, and Schaumburg-Lippe, to call the attention of those governments to the acts of perse cution committed in these several states, as set forth also by the deputation—and to urge an inquiry and the adoption .of measures for insuring religious liberty to Baptist Christians. In conclusion, his majesty request Sir Culling Eardley to communicate this reply to the members of the deputation. A Wursis Os.—We take the following from the Perthshire Advertiser I—An ox belonging to Mr. Thompson, a farmer of Eleho, broke look, and when next heard of was in a perfectly wild state, and ravaging the country around. Various tactics were adopted to capture or shoot it, bnt the animal seemed to know the real range of a rifle-shot—even its scent appeared to have become as acute as that of a red deer—so that it was impossible to surprise it at its favourite repast in the barnyard. A few days ago, we quote the Advertiser) the obnoxious brute was seen sumptuously feasting itself in a stackyard. Suddenly it seemed to know that preparation was being made for its capture, and went off with its tail in the air as usual, clearing hedges and ditches with as much ease as if it had been a thorough-bred hunter. In a short time the country got awakened to what was going on. Every one grasped a fork, a spade, or something else ; whiz went the bullets in wonderfully rapid succession, and past rushed the wild chase like a whirlwind. Over height, over hollow, through moss, and through moor—dykes, ditches, wilds, and woodlands were cleared with a celerity that mocked at space. Four balls had now taken effect, but the animal unflaggingly pressed on, and, leaving the hill range, thundered away among the woods of Bacgowan. About 9 miles had already been gone over ; and, altboughthe horse wasbegin ning to flag, the ox appeared vigorous as ever. Gaining by a double, another shot was fired, which, taking effect, rendered it defiant in return, and, wheeling upon its pursuers, the tide of war had every appearance of showing a melancholy reverse, and in all probability would have done so had the infuriated beast, in its eagerness, not slipped a foot and tumbled into the Pow, where another shot rendered it lifeless. BRANDY FROM CoAL.—Brandy distilled from coal is one of the proposed applications of chemical science to support the wants of man, which is just now creating some sensation. Hitherto brandy has been made indifferently from potatoes, wine, beet-root, and other vegetable sources ; but from coal— villauous black mineral, mirabile dictu ! The experiments of Berthelot, which demonstrated the possibility of producing alcohol from common coal, have so seized upon the imagina tion of some French Yankees, that it is seriously proposed to distil alcohol first from coal, and after dilution to give it the colour and taste of the best yin cognac. I have no doubt that the thing will be tried, for brandies have risen enormously. Possibly it may succeed, for Frenchmen are not only inge nious, patient, and persevering, but very enterprising. For the information, probably amusement of your readers, I may state that the modes operandi, is as follows :—Coal gas is first distilled in the ordinary way, and conducted into a re ceiver. It contains about eight per cent. of hydrogenous bi carbon in a gaseous state, which is separated therefrom (ra ther a complicated affair), and introduced into a close vessel, containing sulphuric acid ; the vessel is agitated until the acid absorbs the gas. Water is then mixed with it, and the whole distilled for alcohol, which is brought over. Good news this for the Londonderrys and Lambtons, if the chemical experi ment should prove capable of being applied to a manufacturing purpose. Our coal districts transformed into brandy-producing countries, rivalling with Angouleme itself,, will be one of the curiosities of the nineteenth century, although, probably, our children may find nothing unusual in asking for a drop of the best old Northumberland, or a glass of Durham water, hot, with a slice of lemon, and not too much sugar.—Mining Journal. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. — The directors have decided upon recommending the payment of a dividend for the half year of £2 18s. per cent. on the con solidated stock of , the company, making the total dividend for the year 1855 amount to five per cent THE LETTER-CARRIERS IN LEEDS.—Several meetings of the sub-sorters, stampers, messengers, and letter-carriers in the employ of the Post-office have lately been held, for the purpose of taking into consideration (consequent upon a late reduction which has been made in the rate of wages) their present position and prospects. A strike was at first pro posed, but ultimately a committee was appointed, with orders to report to a future meeting, and the proceedings closed. THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE AT DUMBARTON.—The strike among the joiners in the yard of Messrs. William Denny Bro thers have now extended to nearly every yard in the burgh, and includes all departments connected' with shipbuilding in which Unionists were employed. Some hundreds of labourers, too, who had no connection with unions, have also been thrown out of employment in consequence of the absence of the other workmen from the yards.—.Dumbarton Herald. IN the Court of Queen's Bench, last week, Lord Campbell granted a rule, calling upon the publishers of the Stockton and Hartlepool Mercury to show cause why a criminal in formation should not be filed against them for the publication of a libel imputing to Mr. Joseph Ratcliffe Wilson, the town clerk of Stockton-upon-Tees, misconduct and corrupt motives in the discharge of his duties at the annual election of town councillors for that borough in November last. POPULATION OF ROME.—The General Vicariate of Rome has just published an official census of the population of Rome for the year 1855. In all, there are 177,461 inhabi tants; among whom there are 36 bishops, 1226 secular priests, 2213 monks and other religions, 1919 nuns, and 687 seminarists. At Rome, therefore, there are, in all, five thou sand and eighty-one priests, monks, nuns, or seminarists— that is to say, one to every 35 inhabitants. AN AMAZON. Among the slain in the engagement at Mohoumdpore (Oude) was found the body of a woman, dressed in a garment dyed black ; she was armed like the rest of her tribe, with a pair of pistols and a sword, and must have been killed by a grape shot. It is said she was a very religious woman, and was much venerated in consequence of having made a pilgrimage to Mecca.—Calcutta Englishman. AT the meeting of the London Joint Stock Bank, on th 18th, it was stated that the net profits for the half-year and the balance of £35,724 brought forward on the 30th Jnne last, amount to £80,355. The directors are thus enabled to declare a dividend at the rate at 122 per cent. per annum, and a bonus of 14s. 3d. per share. The remaining £lO5 is carried to the reserve fund, which now amounts to £160,853. AMERICAN RAILWATS.—It is estimated that the aggregate length of railways in the United States was, in December, 1855, 20,260 miles open for traffic ; and at the corresponding period of 1854, about 17,810 miles, showing an increase in the mileage during last year of 2,450 miles. The length of line in course of construction and in abeyance is estimated at 14,000 miles, of which about 3000 miles are in active progress. THE GREAT GOLD FREIGHT.—The expense of bringing to England and lodging in the Bank of England the monster freight of specie brought home in the West India steamer Tyne amounted to about £7,000. The expense of conveying it to London by railway after it was landed at Southampton was £225. There were 75 tons, and the charge per ton was £3. When specie is brought to Spithead in any of the Cctieen's ships, one-eight per cent. is - paid for conveying it from Spithead to the Bank of England. ASSASSINATION IN LONDON.-31r. George Waugh, a soli citor, of Great James-street, Bedford-row, was assassinated, on Wednesday morning, by a client, named Charles Bradford Westron, aged 25 years, of Newland-street, Kensington, who fired a pistol at his victim, and shot him dead upon the spot, near Hand-court. The murderer was immediately secured, and, after undergoing an examination at the Police-court, was committed for trial. The cause of the murder was a dispute about some property, the deceased being married to Westron's aunt. _ _ _ Roman. Sum.—Early on Sunday, the private watchman on the premises of Messrs. George Crowther and Co., cloth merchants, Churwdl-lane-side, near Morley, having gone off his post, the works were entered by thieves. Vhe robbers appear to have been armed, and the watchers at the manufactory were also provided with fire-arms. Several shotswere interchanged, and, the neighbourhood having boen alarmed, a regular com bat ensued, in which the robbers were worsted. Five robbers were captured. In the encounter, or rather as one of the rob bers (a man named Steel, a carter in the service of Messrs. Crowther) was attempting to run away, he wes shot in the right thigh,and was subsequently removed to the Leeds Gen eral Infirmary, in which institution he expired on Wednesday morning, of the wound he had received. THE SULTAN AS PATER PAMILI4S.—We find the following curious bit of gossip in the Paris =letters of the Globe : According 'to the letter from Constantinople, it seems that the Sultan has brought up the ladies of his family in extrava gant habits, which, it seems, lead their august father into difficulties. One of his highness's daughters, whose marriage with a son.ef Reschid Pasha, was not long since recorded, is, it -seems, in debt to the amount of 10,000 piastres, and Alide Sultana is down' in the books of - Stamboul tradesmen for a larger sum. It seems rather hard to a Western mind that the Sultan should be made responsible for the little 'accounts' of his married daughters ; but this, it appears, is the case, as the Pattie gives us to understand that in conse quence of these drains upon his - purse the Padischah's allow ance has been increased by several thousand piastres." PRINCELY BEQUESTS.—The late John Ferguson, Esq., of Cairnbrook, who died at Irvine on the Bth of January, was born in that burgh on the 28th March, 1787. At his death he ha:el:amassed a fortune estimated at about a million and a quarter, vested in British, Continental, and American SJ curities, with small landed estates in Ayrshire and Wigton shire. Besides recently distributing among certain of his re- ' latione sums and properties varying from £l,OOO to £30,000, and contributing largely to charitable and educational insti tutions, he has left legacies amounting to £681,000 to and amongst his known relations by the father's and mother's side---.the degree of relationship varying from cousins-german to -cousins in the third degree 'once removed; the legadies being 'from £5OO to £50,000, and the legatees upwards of 100 in number. There are also 'bequests to the amount of £20,000 among twenty-four personal friends. THE SOUND DUES.—A privatedetter from Altona mentions thatthe Danish government has now lost all hope of bringing anything like a conference together on the subject of the Sound dues. The government is-described in this letter as in i the greatest embarrassment and disunion as to the course to be pursued towards the flag of the United States, on its first attempting to pass Kronborg duty free after the expiration of the present treaty. It is naturally enough feared that the attempt, if successful, will be imitated by other nations, and the example become widely contagious. It is even affirmed that the Danish authorities have at last deliberated upon the plan of letting the Americans through unmolested, but of keeping an account against them for presentation when the subject of the Sound dues shall :have been adjusted. The Cross =journal announces that the -United States government has declared to that of Copenhagen that it is disposed to pay a sum of 40, 000 dollars, and not more, in lieu of all demands for Sound ues, and further, a given sum as equivalent for maintaining lighthouses, buoys, land-marks, &c. TAGLIONI'S HUSBAND.— A Paris correspondent says—"An anecdote much talked of just now proves the sort of morality of some part of society in this country. A short time since, a very highly-famed personage, Count Gilbert Desvoisins by name, the son of a peer of France, and husband of the famous Taglioni, the dancer, was caught in the act of cheat- , ing at cards, and consequently cut , hy all his acquaintance. Last week Dr.' Voron, meeting a man whom I will not name—his name is no matter—a manwery much known and liked, as .essentially a man about town'—said to him,— ' Why, so and so, how is this ? I 'hear you shook hands with that rascal Gilbert the other -day. How can you do such a thing ?' The other looked embarrassed, and at last replied, Why, look you here •, I shook hands with him because I felt that, if I did not do so, Gilbert would have a right to say that I had for twenty years taken him for an honest man, and only found out now that he was a rogue ; and I thought avhat a fool he must hold me for in that case, which is more than I can stand. This speeehhas an immense success." PITCAIRN'S IseAND.—An interesting communication has been received from this place. The inhabitants were all well on the 14th of September, 1855, the date of the chaplain's letter to the Rev. T. B. Murray. They had heard of the death of the Czar Nicholas; but, as no newspaper was on board the vessel which conveyed the intelligence, they were still in the dark. Though they had suffered some anxiety from a poor yam harvest, they had a good stock of sweet potatoes to turn to, and the "pinch of the year" was past. They were await ing the measures of government for their transfer to Norfolk Island, some having relinquished house-building in expecta tion of this important change. It appears, by accounts from Sydney, that Sir W. Denison, Governor of New South Wales, had, in September last, under instructions from home, de spatched a vessel to Pitcairn's Island, with a view of making arrangements. It was intended that, on her return to Syd ney, a transport should be fitted out, for the purpose of con veying the islanders to their new and beautiful abode. All care would be taken in the manner of accomplishing the ob ject which they themselves have sought to attain, and every respect paid to their admirable principles and exemplary ways. Mr. Nobbs stated that the church and school were well at tended,. His eldest son; Reuben, had died of an attack on the lungs, the youth having returned from Valparaiso, where he had held :a mercantile situation, to die among his family, and be buried on his native island. Mach unanimity prevailed among the people. C. J. MARE'S BANKRUPTCY.—An examination meeting was held on Wednesday, but owing to the accounts not being ready it was adjourned. The works in progress at Mr. Mare's yard, for the government and other parties, are being prose cuted with great vigour by the assignees for the benefit of the estate ; and, recently, several large additional orders have been received. About the beginning of the present month an order was given by the government for twenty mortar vessels, of 100 tons each, to be completed for £2200 each. Six of these are to be delivered in the present month, six in Febru ary, and the remainder by the 10th of March. Since the last meeting, two of the gunboats then in course of construction have been launched; the remaining four, as well as four despatch boats, will be lauched some time next month. There are also in hand for the Admiralty two mortar vessels of an extraordinary description, which are expected to be able to throw shells of a ton weight three miles. Should this be effected, we may easily conceive the destruction which will be effected in the Baltic ports next summer. Three weeks ago an order was received from the South Western Railway Com pany for an iron steamer to ply between Southampton and Havre ; the vessel is to be of 580 tons, and is to be completed by the sth of April. Though this order has been so recently given, the vessel is already in the cradle. There are also in progress two large iron ships, of 1880 tons each, for the Genoese government. The works at Westminster-bridge, the contract for which was taken by Mr. Mare, are going on as favourably as possible. In the foundry also very heavy works are in progress; and the operations in this department are stated to have been doubled since the bankruptcy. The wages paid in different departments average about £3,5® a week. All these works are being carried out under the direction of Mr. Lee, the official assignee, and Mr. James Johnson, the messenger of the court. In a failure to so enormous an amount, the liabilities being supposed to exceed £200,000 (already upwards of £lOO,OOO has been proved against the estate) the creditors are naturally anxious as to the prospects of a dividend. At present we understand the assignees have nothing in hand which can be made available for a dividend. About £13,000 has been realised by the sale of the bankrupt's splendid esta blishments Hyde-park gardens and in Cheshire (about £BOOO from the former, and £5OOO from the latter); but these sums have been disbursed in the payment of wages and other ex penses incidental to the carrying out of the contracts. When these are completed a pretty considerable amount will be re ceivable by the estate; and the assignees anticipate being able to declare a first dividend in March or April. Ultimately, it is thought probable that a dividend of 10.3, in the pound will be realised. MELANCHOLY AFFAIR AT MARLEE LOCH.—On Monday week, two young women belonging to Perth, and two lads, said to be either from Dundee or its neighbourhood, had been spending Hansel Monday, were drowned. They had ventured upon Marlee Loch, near Blairgowrie, the ice of which was not sufficiently strong to bear their weight. One of the young women was in the service of a respectable family in Perth, and the other lived with her mother.—Scotsman. THE CIIRRENCY.—The rumour that Ministers are discuss ing the propriety of an issue of one-pound notes has been current in numerous circles during the last fortnight. The object is the withdrawal of an equal amount of gold coin. By this plan it is suggested the metallic reserve of the Bank might be increased, and after making due provision for the convertibility of the new one-pound notes, a portion of the gold thus obtained might be rendered available for the exigencies of the war. We must repeat, however, that no authoritative information of any description has been put forward.—Daily News. SALE OF PALMER'S RACING STIID.—The brood mares, horses in training, and yearlings belonging to the notorious William Palmer, were put up by auction, by the Messrs. Tattersall, on Monday, last week. Many of the leading patrons of the turf, and most of the trainers from the north and south of England, were present. Major Grove, Her Majesty's commissioner from the royal paddocks, bought Trickstress for 230 guineas; but, although he appeared to bid anxiously for Nettle—a decidedly superior animal—he at last let her go, Mr. F. L. Popham purchasing her for 430 guineas. Nettle was first favourite for the Oaks last year, but she fell over the chains soon after starting, and her jockey had his thigh fractured. The Chicken was knocked down" for 800 guineas ; the first bid was 300, and Mr. H. Hill spiritedly advanced the price until he reached 780 guineas, when he stopped. The horse was ultimately sold to Mr. Harlock, who, it was understood, bought him for "a noble lord." For the three-year-old filly, by Melbourne, out of Seaweed, Mr. Sargent gave 590 guineas. Staffordshire Nan was purchased for 300 guineas. Ax UNHAPPY MISTAKE.--A melancholy accident hap pened on Sunday night in the cemetery of Montmartre, near Paris. In consequence of numerous thefts which had lately been committed in the tombs, orders had been given to the guards to exercise the greatest vigilance; during the night time they were armed with carbines, and were instructed to fire even after a single challenge, if unanswered. On the night in question, M. Vaulabelle, the director of the ceme tery, being desirous of ascertaining by personal inspection whether his orders had been executed, proceeded to visit the different parts of the cemetery alone. Having reached a part of the wall which had been particularly noticed as bearing marks of a recent escalade, one of the guards stationed there, named Mabille, challenged him three times, and, most unaccountably, receiving -no answer, fired. A groan convinced him that his shot had taken effect, and calling to his com panions, he hastened with them to the spot, where they found, not the nocturnal thief they expected, but their own chief, weltering in his blood. They instantly conveyed him to his room and procured surgical aid, but in vain. The ball had penetrated through the body not far from the heart, at the same time fracturing two fingers of his right hand, which the victim had thrust between his coat, when buttoned up, and his waistcoat. M. Vaulabelle has left a widow and two young children. Notwithstanding the excellent character of Mabille, he has been provisionally placed under arrest.— Galignani's Messenger. ENTRY OF A. NUNNERY.—At the Leeds Court-house, on Monday, three respectable young men were charged with burglariously entering the convent of the Sisters of Mercy, in Cross-green-lane, York-road, Leeds, early on Sunday. The; charge was instituted by Sister Mary St. Joseph. In defence, it was urged that there was no felonious intention in the matter; that they had all been drinking together at the Queen, in Roimdhay-road ; that at midnight they left that house considerably excited by liquor; that on their way home one of them proposed to his companions to go and have a lark at the nunnery ; that they all agreed, and went down to the nunnery, and obtained admittance into the garden by climbing a wall ; that they had then no intention of entering the house, but finding the sash of the library window un fastened, they had entered that room and thrown about several articles found upon the tables; that they had also thrown several devotional books and other articles out of the window into the garden ; that when they were alarmed by the police. man's rattle, they did not offer any resistance, but gave themselves into custody • and that there was no felonious intent. After a brief deliberation, Joseph Richardson, Esq., chairman, intimated that the bench were willing to take a merciful view of this case; and if the prisoners would pay £5 each to the Leeds Infirmary, they would be discharged. The money was immediately paid, and they were discharged from tugtody. AFFECTING INSTANCE -GE SUDDEN DEATH.—On Tues 'day night, Mr. John Burgess, shoemaker, of Lowestoft, was 'expecting his son home from a sea voyage of between three and four years' duration. He had, we believe, been disap pointed in meeting him two or three nights,.and on Tuesday 'was again on his way down to the station to meet the ten, p.m., train. It appears that the train had arrived, and, when against the Crown Hotel, the son, on his way up, met the father, but neither appeared fully to recognise -each other. The son walked on and the father overtook him, looked at him, and passed ahead of him, not even then identifying his son, until the latter said, " Hold hard, father, don't be in a hurry," when he stopped and said, "Is that you, John !" They walked on together, when the son went into Water's beershop, and wished the father to go forward and break the news of his arrival to his mother. "Observing that . he looked pale and excited, the son wished him to take something, but he did not, and proceeded to inform his wife of the son's arrival, in tending to go back and return with him. The son, finding he did not come, feared that his mother had been upset, went home, and found his lather a corpse on the floor. On re turning he bad opened the door and exclaimed, " Maria, John !"—and fell down dead before finishing the sentence. He was a most affectionate father, and, no doubt, the joy he experienced on the return of his son was more than his frame could bear.—Norfolk Chronicle. TILE BALTIC TRADE OF RusslA.—Letters from Elsinore, of the Bth instant, state that the weather continued mild, and that a number of vessels with coals and salt had proceeded to Riga and Revel. An American ship and two fruit ships from Messina had arrived at Revel in five days from Copenhagen. Another American vessel, the Telegraph, from London for Revel, was reported in the Cattegat. The apathy of the Allied governments in having taken no precautions against the pro babilities of a mild season, and the consequent continuance of open water, is a subject of general remark. Advices from .Memel give the statistics for the past year of the Russian exports and imports carried on through that port, and demon strate that the traffic, the profits of which , constitute one of the inducements for the complicity of Prussia in the prolonga tion of the war, instead of being checked, is largely increasing. The quantity of flax exported was 47,000 tons against 32,230 tons in 1854, and of tallow 25,140 tons against 15,500 tons. Hemp shows a moderate diminution, the totals being 17,930 tons against 20,510 tons in the preceding year; but this is attributed to the amount of the supplies already on the market. With regard to the goods sent into Russia, the totals last year were 6,466 tons of cotton', 4,821 of sugar, 376 of indigo, 4,216 of oil, 2,093 of coffee, and 532 of rice. In addition to these, all kinds of munitions of war are stated to havebeen forwarded across the frontier with such perfect connivance on the part of the Prussian authorities as to have reduced the current prices for them to a point in many instances almost approach ing those in times of peace. The port of Konigsberg has like 'wise, in its degree, been characterised by corresponding Activity. The stocks of goods in bond at Memel on the 31st -of last month are stated to have been :—Hardware, 117 tons; wine, 52 tons; fruit, 40 tons; spices, 64 tons; coffee, 45 tons; rice, 98 tons ; tea, 108 tons; sugar, 6 tons ; oil, 28 tons ; salt, 26,500 tons ; and herrings, 5,020 casks. ATTEMPT TO POISON A WlFE.—Thomas Robson, alias William Wilson, was brought before the magistrates at New eastle-on-Tyne, on Monday, on remand, charged with attempt ing to poison his wife, Elizabeth, and her fellow-servant, on the Ist of December last. The prisoner was a deserter from the Coldstream Guards, and was separated from his wife. On the Ist of December he had gone to see her at Mr. Foster's. His wife and her fellow-servant, Frances Dobson, sat with him in the kitchen three hours, and he appeared to be kind and affectionate to his wife. His wife saw him to the door, and, as they were parting, he pulled a lemonade bottle out of his pocket, and said that it contained whisky. He told his wife that he had brought it from Scotland for her—that she had to take one-half of it when she went to bed, and give the other half to her fellow-servant, and that it would do them good. On returning to the kitchen, Mrs. Robson showed the bottle to her fellow-servant, and took a mouthful of its contents. It tasted in her mouth like alum water, and shortly after swal lowing it she became violently cramped in her stomach. Her fellow-servant also drank a small quantity. She shortly after became sick, and felt other unpleasant symptoms ' • both women were ill all night, and next morning they found a quantity of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Upon submitting the sediment to a chemical test, Dr. Richardson discovered it to be impregnated with sugar of lead ( a poison), in the proportion of twenty grains of sugar of lead to each ounce of liquid. Twenty grains of sugar of lead are sufficient to poison one person, so that, after the sediment had been drained off, there had been sufficient poison left in the bottle to kill five persons. When apprehended, at Acomb, the prisoner had denied that he was a married man, that his name was Robson, or that he had been at Newcastle on the Ist of December. He was again remanded. DEPUTATION FROM THE GREAT DESERT OF SA.UARA.— The Akhbar gives the following interesting account of a deputation which has just arrived at Algiers from the Desert beyond the French possessions in Africa :—A considerable sensation was created on the 6th, at Algiers, by the arrival there of a deputation of four Arabs belonging to a tribe in habiting the Great Desert, and known under the name of Tooaregs. Since the conquest of the country bordering on the Great Sahara has been effected by the French troops, it has become a matter of interest to the French government to establish a friendly intercourse with the tribes inhabiting the Desert itself,—a space measuring upwards of 400 leagues from north to south; that is, from Onargia, the last oasis oc cupied by the French, to Timbuctoo. The tribe above men tioned is divided into eight different branches,—the Azguer, bordering on the regency of Tunis; the Hoggar, inhabiting the mountainous range of that name; the Ahir, living south of R'at ; the Ennebigh or Lemden, in the vicinity of Tim buctoo ; and the Kelooel, the Boodal , the Kelgueres, and the Itissa tribes, occupy the country between the black population of the Soodan and the far whiter race inhabiting the north of Africa. The Tooaregs are very nearly white. They inhabit tents made of tanned hides, and live chiefly on the produce of the chase, their camels, and a kind of fleeceless sheep called demman, of which they possess immense flocks. In the south they cultivate rice and maize ; those of the north have but lately turned their attention to agriculture. The men wear two large gowns, a white and a blue, of Soodan manufacture, a kind of woollen or silk caftan reaching to the ground, and wide trousers, closing at the ankles, with a gaudy trimming all round. They wear no stockings, but red leather sandals, of good workmanship. On their heads they wear a red skull cap, covered by a kind of turban, from which a blue veil descends to as far as their mouths, while a kind of cravat, be ginning from the occiput, covers the lower part of their faces, thus quite hidden from view, while their women, on the con trary, wear no kind of veil, and enjoy the greatest liberty. Their weapons consist of a long poinard, called derala, and a double-edged sabre; a lance, a musket, and a shield made out of an elephant's ear. The deputation above-mentioned was received in the most friendly manner by the Governor- General of Algiers, their own behaviour being respectful and dignified in the extreme. "You possess," said they, " cloth, silk, cotton stuffs, and pipes; bring us those manufactures of yours, and others too, and we will exchange for them ivory, skins, perfumes, wax, gum, and gold-dust. We shall on both sides derive considerable profit from this traffic, which will also cement our friendship." The Governor- General intends, it is said, shortly to test their triendly feeling by sending a caravan into their country—an expedition which, if crowned with success, may re-open the commerce Which was aucioutly carric4 CO with the centre of Africa, ALL ships preparing at Plymouth for service in the Baltic are ordered to be ready by the Ist of March. THE London, 90, from the Mediterranean, arrived at Ply mouth on Saturday. She is to be fitted with all speed to con- Fey shot and shell to the Baltic. TIIE railway between Cairo and Alexandria is now open to general traffic, and passengers come down in seven hours, the only break on the line being on the Rosetta branch of the Nile, where the ferry is not yet completed. THE Lord Chancellor has been solicited to sanction the half holiday movement on Saturday, and the interests of 10,000 persons in the law have been urged on his lordship, who has promised to give the subject his anxious consideration. THE first sod of the Fife and Kinross Railway was cut on Monday. This line will leave the Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Railway at the Ladybank station, and will pass through the towns of Auchtermuchty and Strathmiglo. MEETING OF PAEmAmENT.—An official announcement that Parliament will meet on Thursday, the 31st instant, and that "public business of great importance will be brought forward without delay," has been forwarded to the ministerial members of the House of Commons. THE SUEZ CANAL. — The commission for the piercing of the Isthmus of Suez has arrived at Alexandria from its ex ploring journey. The results hitherto ascertained are favourable. The commission considers that it will be easy to pierce the isthmus from Suez to Peluse direct. A LADY is likely to succeed Count Ouveroff as President of the Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh. Two male can didates are in the field,—M. Noraff, Minister of Public In struction, and Baron Modeste de Korff. But the chances are said to be in favour of the Grand Duchess Helen. A NEw PLANET was disdovered on Saturday 12th inst., by M. Chacornac, at the Observatory of Paris. Its brilliancy is equal to that of a star of the ninth or tenth magnitude. It is situate in the constellation of Cancer, some few degrees to the south-east of the nebulous Praesepe. ABOUT thirty years ago a new city gaol was built at Norwich. A gallows was made by a man of the name of Stratford, to be used when required, over the gateway. Within a few years this Stratford was hung on it for poison ing, and there has never been any occasion to use it since. He thus became his own first and last victim. ON Wednesday mornine the West India steamer arrived in Southampton Water in the midst of a thick fog. Although she continually fired guns and sent up rockets, none of the boats which went off to her could find her, and the persons in them were obliged to return to land for compasses to enable them to steer their course to the West India moorings. AT the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Toronto, on the 27th Dec., the youngest daughter of Mr. Cooke, musical director, met with a painful and untimely death. The deceased was attired in a fancy costume, when the light fabric forming the skirt of her dress caught fire, and, the injuries she suffered in con sequence were so severe that she died next morning. TILE MILITARY SPIRIT.—A few days ago a crowd of ragged schools-boys gathered round an empty house in Greenock, and, having resolved to recognise it as the Redan battery, boldly penetrated it. They set to work tearing down fire places, smashing all the windows, and otherwise sacking their prize. Two of them were brought before the police-court, but were dismissed with an admonition not to allow their patriot ism to run to such extremes in future. ENGLAND'S DECLINE. — Those who talk about England's decline, and fix her position as a third or fourth-rate power, because she has lost 30,000 men before Sebastopol, talk twaddle. The loss of ten such armies would only serve to un veil her resources, and bring out the indomitable energy of her people. She is a maritime power. Her commerce estab lishes her rank among nations, and her navy is strong enough to foster, guard, and watch over that commerce in every quar ter of the globe. When the first shows symptoms of decay, or the latter is powerless to protect, then, and not till then, will Great Britain lose her prestige, and fall from the lofty po sition she has for centuries occupied. Her successor, as mis tress of the seas, is even now at her side, moving along with rapid strides ; but that successor is neither France nor Russia, nor any of the worn-out nations of the Old World.—New York Times. FEARFUL BOILER ExPLosiorr.—An occurrence of a fright ful character took place between seven and eight o'clock on Monday morning, last week, at the New Inn Works, in the occupation of Messrs. George and Alfred Hickman, at Lea brook, near Wednesbury. At these extensive works there are five boilers in operation. Two of these (oblong-shaped) were under the charge of a man, named Thomas Stackhouse, and it was through the explosion of one of them that the catastrophe occurred. It appears that the puddlers were about to make their first " draw" in the morning, when without any pre liminary alarm, the boiler exploded with a terrific crash which was heard for a considerable distance. The effects were most destructive. The roofs of the mill and other buildings belong ing to the works were shattered by pieces of the exploded boiler, which were sent with irresistible force in all directions ; a high-pressure engine of 20-horse power was broken; broken pieces of iron and bricks were projected into the adjoining premises of Messrs. Bagnall, showering down upon the roofs, which were thereby damaged, and the roof of the Bush Inn, at some distance, was driven in. The damage done to the works and machinery is estimated at upwards of £5OO. But, great as is the loss of property, a serious destruction of human life attended the explosion. Three men at work on the spot at the time were instantaneously killed, and it was found that no - fewer than eight of the workmen had been injured. They were lying about the works, prostrated in all directions. The cause of this sad affair is involved in some mystery. WASN'T SIZE DROP'T ox.—A report (the whole truth of which we do not warrant) has been widely circulated in this neighbourhood for the last few days, and which we give as follows :—A certain woman, living in a village on the summit of the hill between Halifax and Bradford, who, it is stated, felt somewhat desirous of getting rid of what she thought to be a clog to her joys—viz., her husband—hit upon the following plan, in order to quit, in a quiet way, the incumbrance. She applied, one day this week, to the druggist of the village for six pennyworth of "poison," (arsenic), and on being questioned as to what purpose she intended to apply it, she refused to give an answer,and so the "poison" was not supplied. The druggist having had his curiosity a little excited, sent for the woman's husband, and informed him of the fact, asking him if he knew want she could want with it, after which the man made an answer by very jocosely saying he could not tell, unless she wanted to poison him. At last it was agreed that if she went a second time something harmless should be sold to her, and the man informed of the fact. This was done, and a small por tion of magnesia was exchanged for the sixpence. The husband was informed how the "bull was running," and went home at noon to a meat pie for dinner, but, unfortunately for the " wo man trap-layer," he had lost his appetite, and so he freely invited his " better half " (?) to partake of the good pie she had made. Seeing, however, that she also was without an appetite, he found himself an appetite, and, as the phrase goes, he set to and "pitched" into it. The "gude wife" would, doubt less, then imagine that everything was going on nicely, and so all was. After dinner, of course a little rest, and during rest came on sickness, then thirst, the kind wife furnishing water to drink. After water the man became still worse, when the "sharer of his sorrows" pretended to be much alarmed indeed. Ultimately the poisoned man died. The woman's fears and cares, now that he was dead, all left her, and she went up stairs and put a strong cord through a hole in the floor, going down again to adjust it nicely round the dead man's neck ; after which she again went up the stair and began to pull away at the rope. In the mean time the cord was put round the table leg, and that useful domestic article was suspended in place of the other one. John, having now seen the "move," stole up quietly to see the rope rightly fastened. On the feel ings of the perfidious woman, on seeing her dead husband so suddenly come to life again, we cannot enlarge. Suffice it to say, that, in addition to her internal feelings of dismay, she very shortly had her external feelings also, for we are told that the tragic scene ended in the man giving her " a right good walloping."—Leeds Intelligencer. THE AMERICANS AS PAINTED BY THEMSELVES. — There is not much doubt that in point of morals at the north and east we are retrograding. We build great clippers and astonish ing bridges, but in the arts we are behind the old Greeks; in the graces we sadly need missionaries; a wild Indian is more polite, more generous, more civilized than many a New York politician; in morals we have examples of deformity almost as gross as those of the lowest South Sea Islanders ; and future historians will write that we are more superstitious and bigotted than the most insane worshipper of Brahma, the most profound devotee of Johanna Southcote, or the most ardent disciple of witch-hanging, Quaker -whipping Cotton Mather. The criminal calendar of 1855 will substantiate a great deal of what we have said. The Mormons at Utah—the Free Lovers in New York and Winconsin—the insane asylums filled with maniacs on the subject of spiritualism—the general tendency on the part of a large portion of our infatuated people to run after anything that is new, however absurd it may be, and the readiness of certain papers to sustain novel doctrines without any regard to their foundation or tendency, is further evidence that, although we may be "smart people" in the making of revolvers and patent pitchforks, we are in some respects the greatest mass of fools that ever lived in any age of the world. There is not so much talk now-a-days about the spiritual humbug, but we hear of it frequently through its effects. (Some incidents are here given.) 'We have thrown together these facts to show that, while we are boasting of our elightenment and our greatness and our learn ing, we are still, in some respects, little better than savages. The spiritual delusion has spread into all ranks of society, from the highest to the lowest ; the free love and affinity humbug has grown out of it, and the tone of public morals has been much lowered. The home circle has been dese crated wives have left their husbands children have disowned their parents. The victims of all these delusions have been swindled and humbugged and murdered right and left. And the end is not yet.—New York Herald. VALDE OF IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA.—We have estimated in a previous article the moneyed loss sustained by the country in this year's decrease of immigration. We drew the estimate merely from two palpable sources of profit which would be cut off by cessation of immigration, leaving others less appa rent, though equally real ; these two, namely, the direct per sonal property imported by each immigrant, and the value of his labour. The first we estimated at $13,600,000, that is, the amount which would have been imported by the 170,000 immigrants who this year have stayed at home. The second, reckoning the value of the labour as at least equal to the cost of living—namely, $2 per week to each person, we made $17,000,000. The total loss, then, for the coming year to the country would be, on this estimate, $30,000,000. Such esti mates are, of course, only approximate. We designedly un derstand them. The value of labour is its profit. In a new country like this there can be very little doubt that wages would double without immigration—that is, the mechanic would receive $3 instead of $1 50 per day for his work ; the farm-labourer $2 instead of $1; the laundress $1 50 instead of 75e. This amount is now in effect gained by the producers of the country who employ hired labour, and would be lost by the withdrawal of this labour. On a broad statement each immigrant is worth—is a profit—to the nation of at least $2 per week, or what he consumes over and above the expenses of his labour ; some, of course, will be worth more, some less ; but this would be an average and moderate valuation. It should be remembered in this are included two sources of individual profit—the gain to the employer in the labour and the gain to the producer in the articles consumed. These to gether would swell up the profits of the foreign labour, now lost, we believe, considerably above our estimate. The first gain mentioned, the import of personal property, is, of course, a pure gain, even more than the same amount drawn from some gold or silver mine in America. No labour, even, is given in exchange for it. Foreign capital lent us on interest is, of course, no such permanent value. Its worth is the pre sent profit of using it. The interest we pay for it goes to other countries, and the principal must eventually be with drawn. Such moneyed estimates of the value of men as these seem low and selfish, and yet there are some who can be affected by nothing else. It is desirable to show to them that in this case humanity and property lie in the same path. — New Pirk Daily Times', TIIE second daughter of Queen Christina is engaged to be married to Prince del Drago. THE Roman finances show a deficit of a million of crowns in a revenue of twelve millions. IT is announced that the Commissioners of Customs have granted permission to fortify foreign wines in bond with British spirit. MR. BODKIN having declined to accept the office of assistant judge of the Middlesex Sessions, Mr. Pashley will be appointed without delay. IT is said that Sir John Dean Paul, Bart., and Mr. Strahan, the convict bankers, are busily employed in prison, the former at tailoring, and the latter at chairmaking. SWITZERLAND still continues to be visted by shocks of earthquake. On the afternoon of the sth, sharp shock's were felt at Briggs, in the Upper Valais, at Aarau, and at Inter lacken ; and, in the night of the 7th, a shock was felt at Lode. AT an influential meeting, held on Saturday, at Cambridge, of members of the Senate, it was announced that Mr. Walpole had consented to be put in nomination as a candidate to represent the University. The Hon. G. Denman is also in the field. LAWTON, a clerk in the bankrupt banking firm of Palmer and Green, of Lichfield, has voluntarily given information, convicting himself of being a defaulter to the amount of £7,300. He was in the habit of re-issuing notes which had been already cancelled. He states that the money was used for the purpose of enabling a lady to prosecute a chancery suit, and that it is not improbable the money will be repaid. THE NAVAL OFFICER SENTENCED TO BE HANGED FOR CowAnDlen.—lt is said a letter has been received from an authority high in the Admiralty, in reference to the case of Lieut. Dennehy, which states that the entire facts of the case were not before the public; however, the Lords of the Admi ralty had commuted the extreme punishment to transporta tion for life, which the unfortunate officer will have to under go. His father, a veteran officer of the navy, who is well known and highly respected, is connected with the packet service on the Cork station. ONE of the principal officials of the Office of Works is missing, having left the office on Monday evening about six o'clock, and arrived at home at ten, and left his house again at two o'clock in the morning, from which time to the pre sent no trace of him has been entertained. A letter was re ceived by his mother without date or address, merely stating that he was well, but without giving any clue to his where abouts or his reason for absenting himself. From the state ments of his friends, it appears that he has for some time been in a very excited and nervous state, and they are very appre hensive that his mind has become affected. CONVENTION wurr JAPAN.—The Gazette of Tuesday evening contains a copy of the convention between Her Ma jesty and the Emperor of Japan. The ports of Nagaski and Ha kendale shall be open to British ships for the purposes of effecting repairs and obtaining fresh water, provisions, and other supplies of any sort they may absolutely want for the use of the ship. Only ships in distress from weather or un manageable will be permitted to enter other ports. In the ports of Japan, either now open or which may hereafter be opened to the ships or subjects of any foreign nation, British ships and subjects shall be entitled to admission, and to the enjoyment of an equality of advantages with those of the most favoured nation, always excepting the advantages accruing to the Dutch and Chinese from their existing relations with Japan. A MAN ROLLED TO DEATIL—A fearful accident occurred at Aberdare, in Glamorganshire, last week, resulting in the instantaneous death of a young man, named Robert Thomas, who was employed at the Gadlys ironworks. The deceased was engaged in the forge; and the rollers, which are used in the making of bar iron, had been changed for a fresh set, and were just started, when the deceased, for the purpose of adjusting a portion of the machinery, stepped too near, and his garments being caught by the revolving machinery, he was dragged between the rollers and whirled round and round through a space of but a few inches in diameter. Before the machinery could be stopped he had been carried round at least 20 times, and his remains were so fearfully mangled as to be almost undistinguishable. He uttered but one exclama tion as he was drawn in, and the next instant he was dead. He was a promising man of about 20 years of age, and bore an excellent character. ESCAPE OF CONVICTS FROM DARTMOOR.—Ou Thursday week, a convict, named Stewart, who bad made his escape from the Prince Town prisons, broke into the dwelling-house at Horsey-hill, belonging to the Rev. Thomas Kitson, of Shiphay. After making his escape, he broke into and robbed a cottage at Spitchwick. He then prcceeded to Horsey-hill, got into the barn in the evening, and lay there until the next morning, when he broke into the dwelling-house, and stole about £7 in cash, coats, hats, two silver saltspoons, and other articles, the chief part of which belonged to the Rev. M. Morton, who is living at Horsey-hill. The inmates were aroused by the noise he made, but he fled before they were enabled to get down stairs. He left his prison dress, marked "D. P.," at Horsey hill. Another convict, named William Dixon, escaped from Dartmoor on Saturday evening last, with the prison dress on. It is reported that Stewart has been captured at Ottery St. Mary, where he offered some of the silver spoons for sale.— Dorset County Chronicle. FILLIBUSTERING EXPEDITION AGAINST TIGERS.—A Cali fornia paper states that a company of disappointed filibusters were about to proceed to Singapore to offer their services to the authorities there in destroying tigers. " A full supply of Mexican saddles, Sharpe's rifles, the largest size of Colt's re volvers and bowie knives, and some strong hand-nets have been procured. A store of strychnine has also been provided. The party, which is to consist of twenty persons, (nearly now complete, six only being still wanted to make up the comple ment,) will leave here by an early opportunity for Hongkong, from whence they will proceed to their destination. Two of the party (Englishmen) have been resident in India some years, and are familiar with tiger hunting. They are reputed to have killed between them about fifty-seven royal Bengal tigers. The celebrated Striped Bob, the glory and terror of Wombwell's Menagerie, in England, was captured by them on the Sunderbunds, at the mouth of the Gauges. Three more of the party are Frenchmen, who have been accustomed to the chase of wild beasts in Algiers. The remaining members of the company are Americans, most of whom have had encoun ters with grizzlies in their time. The party are all compara tively youthful." NEW PREMIUM ON ENLISTMENT.—Lord Panmure has ob tained the sanction of the Crown to a measure of vital importance to the success of recruiting for the army. A warrant will immediately be issued, granting to soldiers the bounty money without the deduction of a single shilling on account of necessaries. An entire kit will be given to the soldier at the public expense. On the s‘sore of expediency this is commendable, but the measure merits the higher praise of being fair and just to the soldier. A very consider able number of men embrace the service in the conviction that they are to receive the bounty in full. Accordingly, when they are enlisted and come to be paid, they find, to their consternation, they are to be mulct a third, and often one-half the amount, to supply them with under clothing, and certain other articles of equipment. This naturally creates discontent—a feeling at all times to be avoided, and especially at the commencement of a soldier's career. He may have entered the service expressly to maks certain home uses of the immediate price of his sacrifice of his freedom, and, when he finds that that object is unattainable by the heavy deduction to which he has been subjected, he is naturally soured, and his whole career becomes coloured by his early dissatisfaction.— United Service Gazette. THE EMPEROR AND THE CIIILD.—The following incident marked the review of Tuesday :—" At the moment when the Emperor was passing in front of the Zouaves of the Guard, the son of the cantiniere of the regiment, a boy of about seven years of age, and already wearinn , the Zouave uniform, dr ew near the Emperor and presented to him a fine bouquet of violets. His Majesty bent down from his horse, and touching the child with his hand on the cheek, he said, Thank you, my little friend ; go and take your bouquet to the Empress,' pointing to the balcony where her Majesty was seated with her ladies, and then proceeded with his inspection. But how am I to get to the Empress ?' said the little messenger, in great embarrassment. ' I will show you the way, my little man,' said a deep voice near him ; and the boy, looking up, perceived that it was the tall drum-major of the Zouaves who had volunteered to serve him as guide. The tall man then took the boy gravely by the hand, and in a few minutes, thanks to the imperturbable repetition of By order of the Emperor, a bouquet for the Empress,' they soon arrived near her Majesty. The Empress accepted the flowers, embraced the little boy on each cheek, and asked him his name and those of his parents, and appeared delighted with his present. At last the child, after having been caressed and kissed by the ladies, returned with his tall comrade to the court below. It may be imagined that he was asked a thousand questions when he came down, but all his faculties seemed to be concen trated in the one fact of his interview, as his constant reply was, ' the Empress embraced me.' "—Galignani. SIIIPBUILDING IN NEW Yous.—The statistics of last year's shipbuilding may be readily comprehended in a brief space. Owing to the unfavourable state of trade and other adverse circumstances, the department of shipbuilding has languished, so that the business of the shipyards, always a faithful index to the general prosperity of the country, affords but a poor show, in comparison with former years. The total tonnage, both launched and on the stocks, is 53,775, against 97,553 last year, a material falling off. The year 1854 was unprecedented in the extent of shipbuilding at this port, while the year 1855 shows a smaller business than any of the last eight years. The juxtaposition of two such extremes renders the diminu tion of business the more apparent. The sudden and entire cessation which has taken place in the construction of clipper ships is quite noticeable, not one having been built during the . past year. Only six full freighting ships have been launched, against 26 in the year 1854, mostly of the sharpest description. For some months past there has been an over supply of clip pers, as the ordinary freighting ship, having greater capacity, (speed being a secondary consideration,) could be employed with better advantage. The same influences which led to the creation of clippers (they arose from the gold discoveries) gave birth to a considerable number of large and expensive steamers, which are now withdrawn from service, as not adapted to the wants of trade at present. 'On the East River side several of these steamers, each of which cost hardly less than half a million of dollars, may be seen moored to the wharves, unused, and in the same position as for months past. A smaller class of steamers now receive the preference, owing to the increased cost of running larger vessels. The saving effected, chiefly in fuel, by substituting the former for the latter, is said to equal nearly $lO,OOO per month in some in stances. The aggregate value of vessels launched during the year just closed, estimated at $O5 per ton, is 82,024,760. The prospect for an early improvement in shipbuilding is regarded as very dubious.—New York Journal of Commerce. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE CHASE. The CHESHIRE HOUNDS will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 23 Capesthorne Thursday, 24 . Appleton Hall Saturday, 26 Each day at Half-past Ten o'clock. Sir W. W. Wrznes HOUNDS will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 22 . ........ Twemlowes Wednesday, 23 ...Chick Castle Friday, 25 ... ...... New Bridge Saturday, 26 ........ .......Penley Hall Every day at Half-Past Ten o'clock. „ OUSTER AND HOLYIIEAD I tAILWAY.—The traffic for the week ended January 13th, 1856, was as follows:—Passengers, parcels, &c., £1,893 lls. 6d. • steam-boats, £286 10s. Bd. , goods, £2,076 ls. Bd. ; total, including Carnarvon traffic, £4,256 3s. 10d. Corresponding week last year —Pass e n gers; parcels, &c., £1,913 ss. 6d.; steam-boats, £2lO 9s. 5d.; goods, £1,728 Cs. 10d; total, including Carnarvon traffic, £3,882 is. 9d. Increase, £374 2s. he A