The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

Dec. 31, 1844. MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND. un Fr iday, a meeting of the masters and owners of ves.sels belonging to this port was held at the Under writers' C th e ommittee-room, pursuant to the act regulating ingMerchant Seamen's Fund, for the purpose of appoint teen persons as trustees of the monthly mom y pay alibeies a . t this port, and for the management of the S, aman's PottPeirtaL There was a considerable attendance, and W. AIR, was called to the chair. read „‘-' II MAN stated the object of the meeting, and j,„., ' , le account, from which it appeared that on the Ist tiVarY, 1844 thcre was a balance in hand of £642, and pawthe total receipts for the past year were £9,237. The p of £7,750 had been paid in pensions, and the other Payment arnuonted to £527, leaving a balance of £960. the a dmission of seamen, widows, and orphans, durieg ; 3 1 i i , .ast year had caused an increased expenditure of Were 18s' Lie then stated that thirteen of the trustees to t eligible for re-election, but two had to be appointed he Place sof Mr. Lyon and Mr. Willis. T he thirteen were re-appointed, and Mr. W. ' 4 !"ldbach an d M r. Bulley in place of the two named. The CHAIRMA N then called attention to other matters, brn oill h a d at the close of last session o f par li amen t b een th . , / f lg li t in for altering materially the administration of fund for the future, and the adoption of which would ,lririously affect the shipping interest of this port. The d . here was larger than that of any other port in pro t*ton to its extent. Liverpool, in fact, bad 2-7ths of h e Whole capital, while its shipping was in the proport io n bof aof that of the whole kingdom. This accumulation apen a risen from economical management, some casual to Lle, and chiefly from the better collection made, and ?e a great extent derived from ships employed in long men Who voyages. It was right that the Liverpool seamen a nd were exposed to the vicissitudes of foreign climates, „, d became sooner worn out, should have a higher rate of nilsions from their own accumulated contributions. The ~at the Parliament did not propose this, but the throwing Lue whole receipts and capital of all the trustees into 6; l e , and to make a scale of peusions,—for seamen under i n Years of age when worn out, £4 a-year,—and exceed nagd63, £ B . It also proposed so give a gratuity to widows ted er and over 45 years, but children were entirely o mit- Hef n and M r Atherton bad made a calculation , and ed that if this sca l e p r evailed (and had for the last t' ll wo Years) the interest of their capital of £2,000 would be l e tiffi cient to meet all the pensioners admitted in that time, tn a Thig their l arge rece ipt of £6,387 during the past year e ; s a astver all the previously granted pensions, which were t h,stant droping off. He believed that, supposing d istribut e d scale ly to be p prevailing now, two-thirds of the money istributed among the pensioners on the Liverpool list I te uld have to be dispensed in various parts of the coun rY• The ground for the alteration was that a seaman sailed frornvarious ports in his life, and that he probably Raid to the port which bad these accumulations during p i a early part of his life—that he then went to ports which w e a rs worse provided, and tnat his claim, being on the , e e where he last served, was made on a poor fund, b elieved he had been contributing to a rich one. He sou the contrary was the fact, for men sailing le fo reign voyages, where they were proved to have wo k than on shorter ones, very seldom left I ,:'erpool to go into coasting ports, and that the re grrse was r a th er th e case • and therefore this particular 3 ) . e ud did not exist. Beside, there was no port in lie lob the re was more employment for men disabled at po) but capable for other service on shore, than Liver keeping°l they all knew that the business of watching and abships was for the most part performed by dis b„e" seamen at this port. Now, the bill required that[a se u, before he bea claimant, should have paid the merchant tb ara , an's duties for not less than fifteen years, of which d it e t 2ast nine months should be within tee yars of the ai . ; of his application for a pension, whereas, in e the admi- Ir a r ation of the Liverpool fund, no such restriction was wolp d, se but if a man had been at sea and subsequently t i t 'ed on shore his claim was continued. tw e 7 a calculation made, in place of £5OO being paid in 36 Years to seamen admitted, under the new bill only T 4 'would have been paid, and the same results would h e e taken place in the case of women and children. ha fund fund h a d been humanely administered, yet the fund th e a dmitted of all the claimants being provided for to eei extent of about £7OOO a year. The increase of re- Of Pta this year was £6OO, and he thought the same rate adr.bsions might be continued, if they were allowed to elister their own funds as hitherto. He suggested tha t • Oet the shipowners and shipmasters of Liverpool should tacitly admit of the change, but make a remonstrance pa r g ,,? v ernment to have the fund of this port preserved se sh;,7• As the Liverpool shipping was equal to k of the g Ete '„P'ng of the whole kingdom, this would form a fair y e "nd for asking the government not to bare tbe Li 14)001 fund mixed up with the funds of all the other g eo e r• It seemed to him that the bill was opposed to th e , Policy, because a seaman, when abroad, knew that t was a fund in Liverpool for his wife and children; pmt fall upon in case of accident. This tended to keep the bai" steady, and attached him to the p toort and the ship ofl,the tendency of the bill would be throw overboard these considerations, and to deprive him of all ground preference. t a ,. 4 r. ROTHERHAM said, the difference in the expendi a.:e under the new bill (£ 5OOO . a year) , would become a D - e' h on the arish of Liverpool. The mode of giving the tb: ai lDns here tended to a ttach seamen to the port, and hi - Pension to his widow and childre n was a p remium on 8 Morality After further applications, Mr, J. N. Wood said some th at if they w ere deprived of this fund, it would make a 'Luere nee of 2d. in the pound in the rates of Liverpool. l k „After a long conversation, a committe consisting of a Me ssrs. Potter, Rotherham, Kendall, Gibb, Tomlinson, p e leY, Tyrer, Cotesworth, Chapman, and Dixon, was Sd po ln . w t ed t? place themselves in communication with the to w , re n s era Association, as well as the authorities . of the it is p ro b l ' e ,e,ting the provisions of the proposed bill, arid be th a u'e that a public meeting of the inhabitants will e re su l t. A CL, si I ' AS SIFICATION OF THE POPULATION OF p r ,'„ BARTHOLOMEW'S DISTRICT, LIVER. yealtle following classification was made in the present by the cura t e o f S t. B art h o l omew ' s district, with w re . v icvf to direct the atte n tion of the public to the Do ehe d and destitute condition of the population of that betrt'io nof the to wn o f Li ver pool. The district comprises „ r _ w een ten a n d eleven thousand inhabitants, half of whom ee ; Roman Catholics. The wretchedness and poverty, Itre e • cia llY of those that dwell in the courts and cellars, any In describable. It is only by actual inspection that oi e ,,, l dequate notion can be formed of their real state and gra e nstances. If, as all must acknowledge, it is a dis to ( I; I° any civilised community to allow human beings it i s a g out their existence in such filth and misery, surely 4 0 , 1: 9 11 01 mole so to a community like Liverpool, where p er i' I Mmense resources, arising from its corporate pro tera' ,are appropriated and expressly intended for the tie al good and improvement of the town. The pliy- St a nd moral deterioration of the population inhabiting far Bar tholomew's district, caused principally by the want th e P t ePer sewerage, drainage, and effectual cleansing of 4 t4t str eets and courts, as well as by the over-crowded e of thei r dwelling-houses, no fewer, in many instances, heub three or four distinct families living in the same tv e „ se, surpasses anything of the kind that the writer has h e ' w itnessed in any other part of Europe . except Italy. Of :ever deplorable their condition is, still a great deal POii3 t "d f might be done among them even in a religious wit h of were the clergymen of the district supplied tie e „ Pecuniary means to relieve their bodily wants and ltaytities. They very much regret to be compelled to Do t , t they have not at present any funds at their dis -444 to meet the numerous cases of distress that con distr,Y apply to them for relief, as spiritual pastors of the br oa et- No religious impressions can be expected to be of ZUced on the minds of a people living in such a state litteZiral degradation, except their bodily wan t s b e fi rs t I Peal tis 9 to. The present appeal, therefore, to the Poe,,ler classes of the community in behalf o f th e i r vai n er brethren, will not, it is to be hoped, be made in todiv'utta,, Rut especially is this appeal Tade to tho . se wealthy toed ; ls that carry on very extensive works in the im tailh`ate neighbourhood of the church, as soap-boile rs , bEtv'eera, ironfounders, and starch-manufacturers, and who Iloy th Pot hitherto. with one honourable exception, done tior i i ng to assist the ministers in their strenuous exer '4 to alleviate the crying distresses of the poor. tlit e , e compiler has d r a w n up his report with great mi. eacC e as, giving the returns under a separate head for Pi e , Street i n t h e di s t r i c t ; b ut as b y thi s me th o d it occu lt iweonsiderable space, we have taken the liberty to throw elet:l° t and, we believe, form, which shows re the result more rkY, with equal correctness : and, we believe, with equal correctness : . tilt ; jt'ii.2 • • - 7 , „•• ,: 4 v;2: . ;. t , 4 .1 te , . r, I . ,7, . -;', .1 , ~,, 11l . cn ij 4J C) ~; 0 ZII ' 6 Ft;t;" 1 . 7. 4 ) "i 72. C a— 1 9 , .1. ‘..5. 2 0 .„q,',3 c li E c .J '. ii Ti -2":, , ) - 1"Fe., 2 : 1 - ,q .„..,,,`, zi, N, ~.6.-.:, . i✓ p:,,.„ Z vc..),n, E-. ,_ reh , n•ot eBt Of higland 46 2 59 1 47! 35064 97 70 173 0 529 "18tri ' ~,tSantse o f wo e whorship attend 28 1 3 0 0 21111 1 31 37 160 1 2(3 Ito er Atrik 8 28 0 0 6 1 610 14 35 : 38 0 138 ttn 4ters°es Cath li 0 0 0 0 0 0 t'o 0 0 0 1 11 4" Ina • ki t It Fringes, i. e , 4 .- 3 ? . ild h a n j r np ) o Catholics 039,8 5 5, 21 17 0 85 _.,..a ... e ...101in t - ri a te m st e ants. 9 o 0 0 1 i 411 6! 9 o 10 0 41 N o ler lt; notic e is taken in this report of the number of dis til .hg Lper,„_and Roman Catholic families that attend their ANP notice is taken in this report of the number of dis esppirig and Roman Catholic families that attend their ;rig Fetive places of worship. As regards the few dissent- Alitivlllcilies that live in the district, most of them regu oltttend their own places of worship ; but of the Ro n,',ttolic families, it may safely be asserted that no "ortiV il an one-third of them, if so many, attend public l'h e 'P ca the Sabbath day. 0 1 4 Fu rate of St. Bartholomew's (the Rev. Evan 1, 4 0 ) la deserving of much credit for the care and labour t tl r b estowed. in the preparation of this statement. t Nit, us t his example will induce others to take up the 4'4 s f ° that we may have similar returns for every dis • o 4 the town. A general view of the population of °t o t e r ,. P ° l , drawn up upon this plan, would be a document c onsiderable interest and value. ite .g ban t At b RY.—A public-house, No. 61, Walnut-street, t fr '''eai r j Miss Mary Williams, was robbed on Tuesday h t 't tpa" °f a cash box containing £32. The robbery was e use by two confederates. One of . them entered the ." 411 h at h alf-past five, took his station at the bar—the a ' n c , ), ( being then upon the counter—and called for _ ti B h"` ale. Whilst he was drinking it, the other entered, Ic-ali.l._?oln adjoining, from which the bar can be seen, Tor a quart of ale. Miss Williams incautiously t `' , 43 the cellar to serve the last customer, anddduer t, gitape,, aosence other had secured the bnx, an d "t ed,: wi tbnut emptyng his glass. His confederate fol gbci then the robbery was discovered. LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL NEWS, On Saturday, one of the Bootle omnibus drivers was fined £1 Gs. for furious driving. A new Baptist chapel was opened at Bootle on Thurs day last. The first lot of tea bonded in Manchester—a thousand chests—has been placed in one of the warehouses. Mr. Grose, superintendent of Pownall-square and St. Martin's markets, has resigned his situation. The Rev. F. R. Raines, incumbent of Milnrow, has been appointed a magistrate for the southern division of Lancashire. On Christmas day, James Lawrence, Esq., Mayor, pre sented to the debtors confined in the Borough Prison, a supply of beef, bread, plum pudding, and ale. A man named John Edgar fell from the paddle-box of the Nottingham steamer into the Clarence Dock, on Tues day, and was drowned. A new chapel, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, lately built at Upper Tranmere, was opened for divine worship on Christmas-day. Mr. WALKER'S CASE.—A petition to the Home Se cretary is being extensively signed in Liverpool at present, representing the whole of the circumstances of this case, and praying for a remission of the sentence. A sailor of the name of Henry Stevens, stated to belong to this town, fell from the mast of a ship at Glasgow, on Wednesday, and was so much injured that he is not ex pected to recover. EMBEZZLEMENT.—O❑ Friday Walter Blount, who, as we stated in our last, had been brought before Mr. Rush ton on a charge of embezzling money from Mr. Lane, was committed for trial. The ship Oxnard, Captain Hinckley, hence for Boston, yid the Cove of Cork, when two days out from the latter port, while lying to under a close-reefed maintopsail, was boarded by a tremendous sea, which killed one man out right and broke the leg of another. ROBBERY.—A middle-aged woman, named Janet Ben nett, housekeeper to Mr. Dismore, silversmith, Bold street, was on Friday committed to the sessions for having robbed her master of an immense quantity of property, in plate, linen, bedding, &c. CHRISTMAS BENEVOLENCE.—Sir W. Massey Stanley, Bart., of Hooton, distributed on Christmas-eve two fine oxen, and a large quantity of warm clothing, to the cot tagers and labourers resident in Hooton, Eastham, Stour ton, Thornton, &c. Five persons named Hargreaves, father, mother, and three sons, hitherto moving in a respectable sphere, were convicted of thefts last week at Preston, and sentenced to transportation ; their ruin is attributed to the drunken habits of the mother. DEFRAUDING THE CUSTOMS.—On Saturday. a young man, named Humphrey Jones, was brought before Mr. Rushton, on a bench warrant issued by Mr. Baron Gur ney, for conspiracy to defraud the customs. Mr. Rushton ordered him to find bail for his appearance at the proper time. CHILD KILLED BY ITS MOTHER.—On Friday a little girl, named Wirrall, about eleven years old, went to see her parents, who live in Wright-street, and, on opening the door, she discovered her mother on the floor in a state of helpless intoxication, and lying upon the body of her child, aged about six months, upon which she had fallen. The child was quite dead. INCREASE OF BUILDINGS AT PRESTON.—At one time almost every street in Preston exhibited a number of houses on which were posted notices "To Let." At the present time nearly all that are fit for occupation are in habited; and various parties are preparing to build rather extensively in the spring. This will provide employment for a considerable number of hands. IMPORTANT TO SHIPOWNERS AND UNDERWRITERS. —lt was resolved on Thursday, at a general meeting of the Underwriters' Association, to appoint a sub-commit tee " to confer with the committee of the Liverpool Re gistry of Shipping, for the purpose of forming a Board of Examiners to investigate the circumstances attending marine losses connected with this port." DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE DRINKING.—On Tuesday an inquest was held on the body of Catherine M'Keown, of Elizabeth-row, aged 36 years. It appeared that the evening before, she swallowed about half a pint of un adulterated rum, and that, in about an hour after, while in the act of going to bed, she fell down suddenly, became insensible, and speedily expired. WIGAN PARISH CHURCH.—At a meeting of the rate payers of Wigan, on Thursday, two reports were read respecting repairing:the church. One recommended the church to be rebuilt at a cost of £13,036, and the other recommended the repairs to be made at an expense of about £BOOO. The surveyors were directed to report again. INQUEST.—On Saturday an inquest was held before the borough coroner, on view of the body of John Wilson, a lodger in the house of William Davies, a sawyer, of 13, Edward-street. The deceased, who was 32 years of age, was brought home in a car, in a state of intoxication, on Friday night last, and wasimmediately taken to his room, and laid in bed. The following morning he was found dead. COFFEE FOR THE POLICE.—By an order from the Watch Committee, all the police constables on night duty, are allowed a bowl of coffee each at their respective stations, and this order will continue in force during the present intensely cold weather. With the coffee, a slice of bread is given them, and, about two o'clock in the morning, the poor fellows find it an extremely cheering refreshment. FREEMASONRY.—The Right Hon. Lord Combermere, R. W. G. M. for Cheshire, held a Provincial Grand Meeting on Friday, at the Royal Hotel, Chester, when there was a numerous and highly respectable attendance, including many distinguished visiters from the adjacent counties and deputations from the various lodges of the Province. The P. G. Lodge was opened in due form, and, after some business, closed. The brethren after wards sat down to a sumptuous banquet. The usual loyal and appropriate toasts, with, in many instances, masonic honours, were drunk, and song and sentiment enlivened the entertainment, from which the brethren departed highly delighted. CURLING.—On Thursday last, the Caledonian and Thistle curling clubs of Liverpool and Manchester met on the "icy board" in the neighbourhood of Newton. The ice was in an excellent state for the slippery game. It was agreed on that the contest should be determined by shots. The respective combatants arranged themselves into three ranks, and set to in right earnest. After four hours of keen contest, on balancing advantages they found themselves at a dead set, each counting fifty-one shots. On leaving the scene of action, they adjourned to the Leigh Arms, where they were entertained with the best of curlers cheer, beef and greens, and other dainties of the season. On Thursday last the Soup Committee met in the office the Board of Highways, Mr. Rector Campbell in the chair. The object of the meeting was to discuss the pro priety of opening the soup kitchens during the present season. The evidence tendered by the parish authorities, and that derived from other sources, was greatly in fa vour of the present comfort of the poor, compared with the last and preceding winter ; and that, under the cir cumstances, they were glad to find it inexpedient to open the shops. It was, however, resolved to have all in readi ness to open, should a return of severe weather take place and throw the poor out of employment. The weather, since then, has increased in severi y, and the north shop in Pickup-street was opened on Thursday, and should it be found necessary, the others in the south and east will be available for the some purpose, as circumstances may require. ST. JAMES'S CONGREGATIONAL TEA PARTY.—The annual tea meeting of the congregation connected with St. James' Church, took place on Thursday evening, in the school-room, St. James'-road. The room was taste. fully fitted up for the occasion. About two hundred ladies and gentlemen were present, amongst whom were some of the principal members of the church, and the following clergymen :—the Rev. E. H. Hampton, Rev. John Jones, jun., Rev. J. H. Stewart, Rev. D. Stewart, Rev. H. Carpenter, Rev. G. Gibbon, Rev. J. Graham, &c., &c. At one end of the room was stationed an effi cient choir of singers, (Miss Blundell presiding at the piano forte,) who, by the performance of several of the most striking songs, choruses, &c., from the oratorio of the Messiah, contributed much to the gratification of the company. At the conclusion of the tea the Old Hundreth Pslarn was sung by the choir, in which the company joined. Sev ral speeches were afterwards delivered by various gentlemen present. The brethren of Lodge No. 17, of the Grand Protestant Association of Loyal Orangemen met on Monday even ing, 23d inst., to celebrate the third anniversary, at Bro ther Warburton's Temperance Hotel, 12, Scotland Road, when between 30 and 40 of the brethren partook of a most excellent supper, served up by the host in his best style. The following toasts were given and heartily responded to, and more especially the one of our respected fellow townsman, R. Harboard, Esq., and that of the Rev. T. D. Gregg and the Orangemen and Protestants of Ireland. Toasts—The Queen, may she ever hold fast the principles thatplaced the Houseof Hanover on the thron e; Th e W. G. M.; The glorious, pious, and immortal memory of William 111., Prince of Orange ; The W. D. G. M.; and other loyal toasts were given, after which the room was cleared for those of the brethren who thought p ro p er t o tr i p the " light fantastic toe," which was kept up to a late hour, when they separated, having enjoyed themselves and for warded the cause of brotherly love and benevolence. LIVERPOOL SAILORS' HOME.—The first meeting of the members of this institution, which was numerously attended, was held on Tuesday last. The chair was oc cupied by James Aikin, Esq., who stated that the success they had met with was evident from the statements that had already appeared in the newspapers, showing an amount of £12,000. He was happy to say that, withi n the last few days, that sum had been increased to £13,190. Amongst the donations they had received was one of £4OO, from Messrs. Brocklebank. Those gentlemen, too, had made an arrangement which rendered such amount the less necessary, as they had adopted a system which he should like to see more generally carried out, namely, that of training boys in their employ to become officers and masters, and continuing them in their service. He had no doubt additional sums would be forthcoming, and there was now, he conceived, no doubt that an institution would be brought into existence in every way worthy of the town. On the motion of Mr. Cotcsworth, seconded by Mr. Henderson, the following gentlemen were elected trustees : Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Mr. Ralph Brockle bank, Mr. Wm. Potter, M r . Duncan Gibb, and Mr. Ro bert Rankin. A list o f names, consisting of th i rty o f t h e most respectable gentlemen belonging to the town, among whom were eight shipmasters, was then read by the chair man, and, after some discussion, approved of. It was resolved to solicit the patronage of the Queen to the in stitution. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. We have been favoured by Messrs. Barton, Irlam, and Higginson with a file of papers brought from Charles ton by the ship Higginson, Captain Hogg, which made the passage from port to port in less than 27 days, and arrived at Liverpool on Thursday morning. The dates are to the 29th of November. They contain the gover nor's message to the state legislature, a rather long do cument, but, except in ew points, of no material interest on this side the Atlantic. WARRINGTON CLERGY DAUGHTERS SCHOOLS. --On Wednesday week, a meeting of the Board of Managers of this excellent institution was held at St. Elfin's, War rington, and which was very numerously attended. The Rev. Canon Slade was called to the chair, and some very important business was, in the course of the day, trans acted. The half-yearly report of the clerical superintend ent was laid before the board, and very interesiing and satisfactory it was. The school promises to be a great blessing to the daughters of the poorer clergy of this arch deaconry, and, also, by instructing governesses for our national girls' schools, to the whole archdeaconry. The election of chief governess was confirmed. RUNCORN TOWN MEETING.—On Tuesday last, a public meeting of the ratepayers was held in the Town hall, Runcorn, to determine whether the act (3d and 4th Win. IV.) for lighting and - watching should be adopted by the township—John Crippin, Esq., in the chair. It was moved, and carried nem. con., that the whole of the provisions of the act be adopted by the inhabitants, and that nine inspectors be appointed to carry it out. It was agreed that Richard Richardson, of Manchester, should be appointed head-constable. The sum of £320 was then granted to the inspectors for the ensuing year to carry out the provisions of the act. The inspectors' accounts were then examined, and passed, as were also the gas accounts. The remainder of the business was compli mentary to the inspectors and the respective chairmen. EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY.—Robert Hibbert was charged on Friday, with having stolen £ll7 10s. from Martha Mathews. It appeared, that the prosecutrix had been for many years in service, and that about twelve months ago she commenced keeping a public-house in Liverpool. For some reason or other, she sold her busi ness a few weeks since, and the money which had been stolen was the sum she had received for the fixtures and good-will. She was lodging at a house in Sweeting- street, and the prisoner also lived there. On the night of the 25th she retired to rest at twelve o'clock ; and her money, which consisted of a £lOO bank note and seventeen and a half sovereigns, was in a purse, in her pocket, and w hen she got into bed she plactd the pocket under her head. When she arose the next morning she found that the purse had been extracted from the pocket, although the latter did not appear to have been disturbed. There was no door to the place in which she slept, and any of the lodgers might ha ve come i n without being perceived. The prisoner was suspected of being the thief chiefly on account of his mysterious statements, and because he alone knew of the money being in the possession of the prosecutrix. No part of the cash had been discovered. The prisoner was remanded for a week. PAVING AND SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS.—At the weekly meeting on Thursday, Mr. John Holmes in the chair, tenders were accepted for the supply of flags at 2s. 9d. per square yard, from John Hoyle, Richard Chaf fers, and John Hargreaves. Mr. Aspinall said, that as a number of their men were out of employ, it would be de sirable to let them cleanse the channels in various parts of the town. The Chairman observed, that the plan had been acted upon during former years, and the Board would do all they could for them. A report was read from Mr. Simpson, relative to the new water-works, from which it appeared that another tunnel was to be made, but not to any great extent, as the rock was very open under the present depth (about 175 feet), and the water kept in creasing. The reservoir work, as well as the laying of the mains, had been proceeding rapidly. The law-clerk had been served with notices from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, of their intention to form a tunnel from Edge-hill to the north end of the town, and also to make alterations at the present station. The law clerk and surveyor were ordered to report. The name of the Mayor, which had been omitted from the list of the Water Committee on the supposition that he could not attend, was again added. Mr. Tinne gave notice of a motion for a return, commencing 1830, of the streets sewered, and the number yet to be done ; also the esti mated cost. Financial matters occupied Lie remainder of the meeting, MECHANISM.--At Hausburg's attractive establish ment in Church-street, may be seen a singularly-beauti ful piece of mechanism, illustrative of still and active life in the Swiss Alps. It is a sort of panorama, some three feet long by two feet high. In the back ground is a noble landscape of mountain scenery, from which rushes a pre cipitous and winding rivulet, spanned in the immediate foreground by a picturesque bridge of a single arch. On one side of the bridge is a strikingly handsome antique church, in the turret of which is a cluck, which strikes the hours and half-hours with cathedral-like solemnity of tone. In the immediate proximity of the church is a water-mill, which revolves with an air of incessant busi ness, and both these objects together go far to realise the ever-charming picture in the "Deserted Village," except that the church and mill are essentially foreign and not British. On the opposite side of the bridge is a forge, at the door of which is a horse in the act of being shod by brace of farriers. In the interior of the forge are two-other smiths, one blowing the bellows and the other fashioning a shoe on an anvil. The whole process apper taining to these pursuits is exhibited with extraordinary fidelity and minuteness—the blowing of the bellows being as methodically slow and regular, as the shoeing of the horse and the hammering of the iron on the anvil are rapid. While all these proceedings are going forward, carts laden with sacks of corn, diligences, and various other vehicles, are seen progressing hither and thither across the bridge; and the busy and bustling aspect thus im parted is greatly heightened by some excellent music, which is set in motion by a distinct set of machinery from that which propels the workmen, vehicles, &c. WELSH SERVICES AT ST. PAUL'S.—It is gratifying to learn that the Welsh services at this church are well attended, and the congregation is steadily increasing. On the morning of Christmas Day, conformably to the int sib the o'clock, Principality, and the e e b ll o lY d g y a o i Tth o e r matins,rac icobserved e were heldat church was literally crowded. An appropriate and truly evangelical discourse was delivered with great effect by the Rev. W. Hughes, from the 2d chapter of St. Mat thew, Bth verse, and the organist and singers performed their respective parts to admiration ; so that the crowded audience might well have exclaimed, " It is good for us to be here." This is one of the many proofs that where the gospel—the whole truth " as it is in Jesus "—is faith fully preached, as set forth in the homilies and works of the Reformers—in one word, where the doctrines of grace are promulgated, the Church of England will never want adherents to rally round her standard. The great doc trines of the depravity of human nature, justification by faith in a crucified Redeemer, and the regenerating in fluences of the blessed spirit in working conversion on the hearts of sinners, constitute some of the main pillars in the fabric of Christianity. Take away these, and what have we left which the morals of Seneca or Epictetus could not supply ? And it would be impious to suppose that the Almighty, who acts at all times with infinite wisdom, should have revealed a new religion from hea ven, and attested it by innumerable prodigies, mir tcles, and wonders, for no other purpose than to institute a system of morality which any mere human creature might have been instructed to impart. " Talk they of morals! Oh, thou bleeding love, Thou maker of new morals to mankind, The grand morality is love of thee." —From a Correspondent. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.-Mr. Moore occu pied the chair, and there were nineteen members present. The sub-committee of works recommended that a tender from Messrs. John Johnson and Sons, to supply one mil lion and a half of bricks for the dock works, at 345. per 1,000, be accepted. Another quantity of 300,000 was also agreed to be taken from Mr. Thomas Hughes at the same price. In reply to Mr. Tobin, it was stated that the for mer contract was 31s 6d. per 1,000 ; and Mr. Royden added that the committee was obliged to pay a little more because they were particular in selecting the best bricks. Application was directed to be made to the highway sur veyors for permission to lay down rails across the streets under their control to facilitate the works at the north and soutb. The Arslerton carrying company were ac cepted as tenants of the Harrington Docks—they under taking to leave it at six month's notice. The Harbour Master's Committee reported that they had again investi gated the case of the fiat Dido, damaged on 24th of Nov. and were still of opinion that the owner had no claim for damages against the dock estate.--A report was read relative to the transit sheds, by which it appeared that considerable quantities of goods had remained therein above 14 days in consequence of the want of room in the Queen's warehouse to take them in. Some remarks were made on additional facilities being given by the Customs in di,charging vessels more rapidly, but no motion was made on the report. Mr. Ripley recommended that the sheds should be converted into warehouses as soon as possible, which would obviate all complaints. A report was read from the solicitor of the different bills about to be applied for in Parliament. The further consideration of the subject was deferred. Messrs. Groom and Son were elected stationers, and Mr. Richardson printer, for the ensuing year. EXCISE INFORMATIONS. On Friday, Mr. W. C. Casey, soap manufacturer, Earle-street, summoned to the Police Court the collector of excise for a return of duties, but as Mr. James appeared as barrister in his behalf, and the collector of excise duties was not provided with a pro fessional man, at the request of the latter, it was agreed that the case should not be heard until this day. It is stated that there are some nice legal points connected with it, which have excited considerable interest among all parties having to do with the manufacture of soap.— There was an information laid against Morgan Radcliffe, carpenter, under sections 3 and 4, Geo. IV., for having had 131bs. of soap in his possession, on board the Iron Duke, Dublin steamer, for the purpose of bringing the same ashore, in contravention of the act, which directs that no packages of soap under 2241h5. shall be imported. The case having been proved, he was mulcted in the miti gated penalty of £2s.—An information was preferred against Morris Healey, steward of the Cork steamer, Nimrod, for having a quantity of illicit spirits (whiskey) in his possession in various parts of the cabin, in all 4-a gallons. He was fined £2s.—Michael Murrow and his wife, residing in Maguire-street, were charged with hav ing in their possession several gallons of ilicitly-distilled spirits, and the case being proved, were fined .Eloo. Michael and Ann White, and Patrick and Mary Trayner, were summoned for a like offence. It appeared that on the 30th August, the premises of the parties in Russell street South, was searched by warrant. In Trayner's house a still a , d several gallons of ilicit whiskey were found. Mrs. Trayner rushed out of the house with a bladder and two'jars full of spirits, and deposited her bur den in White's house, where the jars, &c. were afterwards found. It did not appear that the Whites knew of it, and they were acquitted. The other parties were fined £lOO. THE LIVERPOOL THEATRE ROYAL.—Mr. Simpson, the manager of the Theatre-royal, Birmingham, has be come the lessee of the Theatre-royal in this town. The rent is to be £7OO per annum, but we believe Mr. Simpson has only taken it for one year. Mr. Knowles, of Man chester, a liberal and spirited manager, was in treaty with the proprietors, but, as Mr. Simpson agreed to pay £7OO, and Mr. Knowles would not go beyond £6OO, the former had the preference. We understand the theatre is not to be opened till Easter. MACHINES FOR DRYING CLOTHES.—Machines for this purpose are used in the large cotton print works in the neighbourhood of Manchester. These machines, which are generally made of copper, somewhat resemble a large or deep washing-tub, with the sides perforated all over with holes about the size of those in a common cullender. The goods to be dried are placed in this machine, which is then made to revolve with great rapidity, causing the contents to fly to the sides, against which they are pressed by the centrifugal force, and the moisture they contain is thus sent off through the holes, leaving the cotton or whatever it may be in a few seconds nearly dry. Rom FERRY.—On Wednesday, the 18th instant, a meeting was held at the Royal Rock Ferry Hotel to take into consideration the feasibility of establishing a night and day police in that neighbourhood. There was a nu merous and respectable attendance, and most of the di rectors belonging to the Hock Ferry Company were pre sent. The chief difficulty to overcome was for all parties to agree in assessing themselves at a rate which would provide an adequate force for the protection of the neigh bourhood, it being entirely a voluntary tax. After some discussion, sixpence in the pound was deemed a sufficient rate for the purpose, and all parties most willingly assented to the proposition. The result was that £lOO was imme diately raised, with further assurance that this sum would be augmented. This amount appears exceedingly small, but when it is considered that the tax is a voluntary one, and the province of the force is limited, (extending only to the Rock Park and its vicinity,) funds that will support two policemen and one superintendent will, no doubt, be filly adequate to the limited wants of that retired villa. On Friday, most parties met for the furtherance of these objects, and at once collected the various amounts, to place the treasurer in a position to carry out the former resolutions. Every exertion will be used to light the township with gas. WARRINGTON.—On Thursday a public meeting was held in Warrington, for the purpose of taking into consi deration the best means to be adopted to avert the injury which would arise to the navig ation of the river Mersey and the inconvenienc e o f the i nhabitants of the neigh bourhood, if the contemplated diversion of the Grand Junction Railway, of which the company have given no. tice, be permitted. Amongst those present were J. W. Patten, Esq., M.P., J. Greenall, Esq., H. Stanton, Esq. William Hall, Esq., and many other influential persons. The first resolution was proposed by John Wilson Patten, Esq., and was as follows : That the proposed crossing of the river Mersey, at Marshgate, with a bridge of only 26 feet high, would be destructive of the navigation, and would deprive the inhabitants of this town and neighbour hood, as well as of the manufacturing districts connected therewith, of the advantages they now enjoy from the free trade of a navigable river." The motion was carried una nimously. The second resolution called upon the conser vators of the river to resist the contemplated injury by op posing the application. The third resolution put forth the great injury which the inhabitants would sustain by the proposed alteration. The fourth resolution stated that a line from Warrington to Huyton was proposed be fore a committee of the House of Commons, in 1838, and would, if carried into effect, avoid every injury and incon venience which would arise from the proposed diversion. A committee was appointed, to adopt vigorous opposition to the proposed scheme. SELECT VESTRY.—At the meeting on Tuesday last, the Rev. Rector Campbell presided; and Mr. Clements, the assistant poor-law commissioner, was present. It was stated that there were last week 1,856 inmates in the Workhouse, at a weekly cost of Is. 94d. per head. The outdoor cases relieved last fortnight were 7,080, at an ex pense of £834, being 204 cases less, although £27 in mo ney more, than within the same period last year, Christ mas day's expenditure being this year included. On the suggestion of Mr. Bright, it was resolved—" That, in future, inhabitant housekeepers of the town sending fever patients to the hospital shall be requested to pay a weekly charge, to be fixed by the Workhouse Committee, to meet the expenditure occasioned by their admission." A let ter from the poor-law commissioners was read, instructing the select vestry as to contracts, by which they might take articles if offered at a cheaper rate than by public tender, if it appeared that the public would be advantaged. A. report on the purchase of the land in front of the Indus trial School was presented by Mr. Bremner, and adopted. It recommended the acceptance of the Earl of Derby's offer to sell 12,000 yards of land at ss. 6d. a yard, and the thanks of the vestry were voted to his lordship for the li beral manner in which he had met their views. It was thought desirable that a church should be built on part of the site, but as Mr. Clements thought this could not be legally done, the subject was deferred. A notice was read to the effect that the intended tunnel would pass under the brick-field west of the Kirkdale Schools, and that the vestry would hereafter be applied to to assent. The intended alterations in the Workhouse will be taken into consideration at the next meeting. Mr. Bremner submitted the following names as a committee for the management of the Parochial Industrial Schools, which were approved of, viz. :—the Rectors, Churchwardens, Overseers, and Messrs. A. Henderson, Blackburn, Schol. field, Swainson, Ferguson, Bremner, Maynard, Briscoe, and Molvneux. THE COUNTY CONSTABULARY.—A meeting of rate p,.yers of the Woolton district was held on Friday at the Bear Inn, Gateacre, and was numerously attended by the seven townships in the neighbourhood of Woolton. It was called, by placard, in consequence of the recent op pressive charges made for the maintainance of the county constabulary force, which, for the townships of Huyton, Hale, Halewood, Speke, Torbock, and Wootton, (Much and Little,) had for the last quarter amounted to £4ll, while the poor rates for the same period amounted to only £230. Mr. Rodicic moved that Colonel Williams take the chair, which was met by a motion that Mr. Robert Neilson do take it. The last proposition was carried by a large majority, and Mr. Rodick and Colonel Williams soon after left the room. The chairman after lamenting their absence, read a note left by Mr. Rodick, from the the county treasurer, stating why the rate was so high. It appeared that, owing to there being police stations to be erected in the district, the rate was larger than it other wise would be. and that these stations were required to be built by the constabulary act. The Chairman then refer red to the 3 and 4 Viet., c. 88, and read a clause from it authorising the magistrates to borrow money for the pur pose of erecting police stations, to be repaid by yearly instalments of not less than one-twentieth the sum bor rowed. Now, it appeared to him either the magistrates were about to incur a most enormous outlay, or to pay for the whole of the police stations at once, which he con ceived to be very wrong. (Hear.)—Mr. Laverock thought the county constabulary a worse than useless body. In place of suppressing disturbances, they acted as spies and extorted from them enormous fine. Under the old system order was kept, and there were fewer robberies. (Cheers and cries of " order.")—The Chairman said that, inde pendently of the county police, there were in that district no less than 73 special constables, at a cost of about £22, and, according to the statement he held, it would appear that the cost of maintaining the force amounted to three times as much as the county rate. He shewed that if they t appointed their own const a bl es th ey wou ld save £ 1,300 a year. The county p o li ce were efficient near large to wns , but in rural district s th e y were no t to b e f oun d when most o — c A on motion feronth w e a ssubjth eeent with agreedthteo magistrates appoint a c . om i mt wa i t n t t e e e d. was stated that two paid constables would be enough for the whole district,—but how were they to be paid?—The Chairman said he supposed by the district, but there would be a difficulty in this as they had no power to lay a rate on all the district.—Finally, a motion was unanimously car ried to the effect that each parish should appoint their own constables, undertaking to have one or more, as re quired. It was then agreed that full discretion should be left to the committee to propose such measures as they thought best to the magistrates, provided the resolution of the meeting could not be carried into effect. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. TESTIMONIAL OF RESPECT TO MR MCNCASTER.—We know of no individual more upright and straightforward in principle, or more active and unwavering i promoting the best interests not only of his own ward, but of the town at large, than our worthy fellow-citizen Thomas Muncaster. He has for years manfully and fairly fought the good battle of conservatism, and that, too, with a feeling of forbearance and consideration to its opponents whirls can alone emanate from a generous mind. His only reward hitherto has been an innate consciousness of rectitude ; and we are, therefore, the more gratified to find that the members of the Abercromby 'Ward Conser vative Association Dave at length come forward evince towards him a simple but genuine feeling of their grati tude and esteem. A few evenings ago these gentlemen met at the house of Mr. Thomas Griffith, of the Phoenix Inn, Mount Pleasant, for the purpose of placing a por trait of Mr. Muncaster in the committee room of the association. A very numerous party having assembled, Mr. Smith called upon Mr. Alderman Griffith to takethe chair, and then stated to Mr. Muncaster, (who was pre sent, but had not been informed of the nature of the bu siness), that a portrait of himself, which had been painted by a young artist for the Collegiate exhibition, had been purchased by the committee, who were anxious to show their respect by placing it in the room in which the com mittee held their meetings.—Mr. Muncaster, in assenting to this proposition, stated that he was quite taken by sur prise. His friends, he was sure, would give him credit for feeling deeply the honour they intended him. He had for some years devoted a good deal of his attention to the affairs of the ward ; but he was now getting into " the sear and yellow leaf," and he hoped that when his health or any other circumstances should prevent his attending their meetings, there would be no lack of younger and abler hands to take his place.—The company then ad journed to the large room, where an excellent supper had been provided—Alderman Griffith in the chair. After the loyal toasts, the chairman proposed the health of Mr. Muncaster in a highly complimentary speech, and the toast was responded to in the warmest and most heartfelt manner.—Mr. Muncaster referred to the many contests which they had had in the ward from the first municipal election, when the Radical party carried all before them, to the present time, when the same party can scarcely be said to esist in the ward, and said he felt quite con vinced that if the Conservatives generally would be true to the cause, and exert themselves as they ought to do, every ward in the town might be won —not only at the next, but at every succeeding election ; and that he hoped the day was not far off, when Conservative principles would be as triumphant in every corner of the kingdom as they now were in Abercromby Ward. A number of other toasts were given, including the healths of the chairman and vice-chairman and the meeting separated at an early hour, highly gratified with the proceedings:of the evening. COMMITMENTS, &c.—At the Police -court yesterday. the cases were comparatively few, there being but -16 prisoners in all. A boy named Williams, was charg-d with stealing a mat from a ship, and was committed for seven days to the House of Correction.—A boy, Robert Rigg, for stealing a carpet bag from a hat shop in Berry street, and who had before been in custody, was commit ted for two months.—A girl, Rebecca Travis, was charged by a Maltese seaman, Frank Merchoker, with robbing him of I ls. in Albion-street, on Saturday night. The prisoner said she had paid him the money and she had given it to the servant, from whom the police-officer, it appeared, received it. She was committed to gaol for two months.—A boy named Dibdin, was charged wi'li stealing ' j ib. of indigo, which was found in his berth in the forecastle of the vessel to which be belonged, in George's Dock.. As 1 Jibs. of the article were missing, and it ap peared probable chat other parties were also concerned, he was remanded. Romrsn PROSELYTISM.-At the case of appeal before the Recorder, on Saturday week, which we reported in our last, one of the witnesses said " She was a member of the Church of England. The nuns at Low Hill wanted her to turn Roman Catholic, and they gave her some relief She went one or two nights to the 'convent to receive instruction. She never told Sarah Morris that she was going to become a Roman Catholic. The nuns gave her coppers several times. They also gave her flan nel petticoats for herself and her children, two bedgowns, and two chemises. She never got a cloak from the nuns. She went to the convent with one of the blue bedgowns on, and the nuns said they should like to see her wear the other clothes they had given her. She had never pledged the articles she had received from the nuns, nor did she ever tell Morris that she had received a cloak at the nunnery under pretence of turning Roman Catholic." The Mercury confesses " that the practice of these nuns in thus making mere bread and butter converts is un questionably a bad one and that the converts thus ob tained are not worth the catching or the keeping." HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—Two young men, James Shan non and John Fenton, were, yesterday, charged, at the Police -court, with this offence. The prosecutor, a res pectable-looking man, named Whitstone, said that on Saturday night after leaving St. John's Market on his way home, with £5 Ns. in gold, and bis watch upon him, he observed the prisoners following him in Manchester street. They had hold of each other and reeled about as if they were drunk, but he was afterwards convinced that this was a mere sham. They kept following him until he got into a part of Hatton-garden where there are no houses on either side, when one of them struck him a blow on the head with some instrument which broke his hat. Fenton then took his purse, containing his money, out of his pocket and made off. Shannon afterwards seized his watch-guard and pulled out his watch, but wit ness turned smartly upon him and snatched it out of his hand. Shannon at first ran off, but a police-officer coming he all at once walked slowly as if nothing had happened, and was apprehended. The other prisoner was not taken until next day, and the money was not found. Two little girls, daughters of the complainant, who were with him, and a boy who had also witnessed the assault, corroborated the principal facts.—The prisoners were committed for trial. THE CONVICTS EVANS AND STEW.—These unfortu nate beings will, in all probability, be executed on Satur day next. From all that can be learned of Stew's early life, at Nantwich and in Manchester, he appears to have been a hardened character, passionate in the extreme, and remarkable for peevishness and moroseness of dispo sition. That he entertained a sincere affection for the unfortunate woman in whose blood be imbrued his bands, there is no reason to doubt ; but it is extremely question able that he was insane at the time he perpetrated the deed. Within the last few days, he seems to have become fully conscious of his impending fate, though he has not, up to the present time, evinced that penitent frame of mind which it is so desirabie to witness in a man standing on the very threshold of eternity. He has not made any admissions with respect to the crime. Evans is the son of very decent working people, resident at Bristol. He was brought up morally and religiously, and though he has made the worst possible use of his Scriptural know ledge, the lessons be imbibed in his early youth have never been forgotten, for to this hour he can repeat whole chapters from the Bible by rote, though he has been a most profligate character. The culprit can read and write well. He, like Stew, has neither admitted nor denied his guilt, and is beginning to be conscious of the shortness of the time allowed him for repentance in this world. Both the convicts have been confined in the same room since their trials took place, and will remain there until their removal to the condemned cell, a day or two prior to their execution. Evans sleeps soundly, but Stew is apt to talk in his sleep, and occasionally to speak of the fitful visions which are constantly presenting them selves to his agitated mind. The Rev. Mr. Appleton, the estimable chaplain of the gaol, is unremitting in his attendance, both Stew and Evans being members of the Church of England. LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.—On Friday evening the fifth annual meeting of this seciety was held at the Collegiate Institution, when upwards of one hundred gentlemen assembled. Mr. John B. Brancker, the pre sident, submitted the committee's report, which stated that every means had been used to secure an efficient or chestra and talented performers. Crowded audiences bad testified their warm approbation. The receipts of the year had been fully equal to the expenditure, but the debt had not been lessened, in consequence of several payments on account of the new, powerful, and splendid organ which had been purchased, and of additions to their fur niture ; but at the same time the property of the society had been much increased in value, and they were now in possession of a most excellent musical library. With re gard to the erection of a new concert had, so large an amount of money had been already subscribed that the committee were of opinion there would be no difficulty in carrying out the project. The committee would not, however, proceed to take any responsible steps until a certain fund was subscribed and in their banker's hands, and they called upon members to exert themselves to ob tain additional subscriptions. After alluding to some slight alterations in the laws, the committee, in the ab sence of Mr. W. Sudlow, (who is on the continent,) ex pressed their sense of his zeal, talents, and affability, and declared that theyconsidered the society was indebted chiefly to his exertions for its present prosperous condition. The Treasurer then read the cash accounts, by which it ap peared that the balance now due to the bank was £471. The report was then received, the treasurer's accounts passed, and the officers and committee for the ensuing year re-elected, by the unanimous voice of the meeting. Mr. D. M`Viccar proposed the presentation of a piece of plate to Mr. Sudlow, the secretary; and this was carried by acclamation. Mr. Jones thought a salary should also be attached to the setretaryship. The Chairman said, Mr. Sudlow had declined to receive anything, unless it was to go to the improvement of the organ ; and they were indebted to him for the new organ. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Herrmann, the talented conductor. Mr. Turner proposed a ballot for places at the concerts, but it was opposed, and the subject dropped. Votes of thanks were then passed to the committee and to the pre sident, and the meeting separated. TARVIN HALL SCHOOL.—The half-yearly public ex amination of the pupils at Mr. Brindley's establishment at Tarvin Hall, took place on the 16th inst., in the pre sence of a large number of clergymen and gentlemen. The pupils acquitted themselves in a most satisfactory manner, and proved that the judicious and persevering labours of their teachers have been abundantly rewarded. Among those of the boys who were foremost in their ac quirements, we may mention Sprague of London, who was first, as usual, in mathematics, and whose translation from Virgil was highly commended ; W. Brown, of Lon don, for his proficiency in Greek, in the Scriptures, General history, and uniform good conduct; W. Gaus sen, of Magherafelt, Ireland, for French, German, an d English; Blake , sen. of Liverpool, for German ; T. Smith, of Chester, for Latin and arithmetic : Vernon ! of Wellington, for scale-drawing, book-keeping, and arith metic; and Okell, of Barrow, who was equal with Ver non in arithmetic; Bird, of Beeston, being at the head of the writing department. The whole of the very exten sive and convenient premises were inspected by the visi tors, and met in every department with the warmest ap proval. The reports of the visiting physician and surgeon stated that the whole of the pupils (65 in number) had en joyed uninterupted good health, which, in a great mea sure were to be attributed to the general arrangements and locality of the school." The gymnastic and drill ex ercises at Tarvin Hall are much approved of, as contri butory to health, and as tending not only to improve the deportment, but to develope the physical energies. On Wednesday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Brindley gave a most liberal and gratifying entertainment to a party of about 200 ladies and gentlemen. At six o'clock, the visitors having assembled in the spacious Lecture Hall, which was handsomely decorated for the occasion, an excellent instrumental band played a popular overture ; after which tne scholars commenced the recitation cf Shakes pere's noble historical tragedy of "Julius Caesar;" Mr. Brindley having previously explained that it had been se lected, not with the slightest idea of anything like scenic or theatrical display, but merely as an elocutionary exer cise, for the purpose of training the young gentlemen to those habits of public speaking, which might enable them to address a company with fluency and grace. The prin cipal p ar t s were spo k en w ith "good emphasis and discre tion;" th a t o f B ru t u s was assigned to Blake of Liverpool, Cassius to R. Topham, of Chester, Marc Antony to Sprague of London, Jultus Caesar to Middleton of Li verpool, and Casca to Unsworth of Liverpool; where all acquitted themselves in a most praiseworthy manner, i t i s almost invidious to particularize, but we cannot resist the temptation to award espec al commendation to Brutus and Cassius ; of the minor characters too, we must notice the little fellows Owen of Shrewsbury, and M a d e l ey o f Birmingham, who gave so much spirit to the speeches of Octavius Ccesar and Pindarus ; there was a good deal of quiet propriety too about the Lucius of Smith of Chester. Between the " acts " some favourite glees were beauti fully given by several members of the Chester Cathedral Choir; arid at the close of the recitations, the national anthem was sung by the pupils. About nine o'clock, the party adjourned to the spacious dining room, where an elegant supper was provided. T. L. Lowten, Esq., in proposing " Success to Tarvin Hall School " said, in reference to the examination, that he had never witnessed a similar occasion, which was so thoroughly satisfactory in its sesults, both as regarded the scholars and their in structors. Mr. Brindley acknowledged the compliment. Blake, sen. also berged, on behalf of himself and school fellows, to thank Mr. and Mrs. Brindley for their kind attentions at all times, and to express their gratitude for the very excellent and complete education they were re ceiving at Tarvin Hall, and hoped they would continue to be prosperous and happy. This sentiment was received by the boys with the most deafening applause. After supper, the visitors and pupils re-assembled in the Lec ture Hall, where the recreations of " the merry mingling dance " were enjoyed with the most lively delight; and between the Quadrilles, a selection of popular songs and glees was introduced by the above -named Choristers, till •` God save the Queen brought to a close a most inter esting evening's entertainment. LOSS OF THE FIREFLY. The Dumfries Courier contains a painfully interesting narrative of the circumstances connected with this sad event. After noticing the crash of the collision with the Britannia steamer, the narrative proceeds :—After orders had been given to launch the boat, in the hope of at tracting the attention of the steamer that slackened not her pace, she after a little time was discovered returning with two lights on her starboard quarter, and then for the first time the commander inquired whether the brig had been damaged by the c ,, llision ; but when answered in the affirmative, in place of despatching his boat to the wreck. he requested those on board to send theirs to the steamer. Although this appeared strange, the boat was launched as speedily as possible, and when the men sent to guide it were about to put off, the word was given that not a rowing-pin was forthcoming. After some little delay a piece of wood was found, fitted, if split, for the purpose required ; but, unfortunately, every exe was missing. In this way half an hour elapsed, the steamer in the mean time plying round the Fireflv, going off perhaps, out of sight, and again returning, recalled by the outcries of the sinking crew, and the lights exhibited on the starboard of the wreck. Such indeed were the panic and confusion, heightened by the darkness which brooded around, that every oar for a time was missing, until the surgeon picked up one among the crew's feet. Calls were again made for the Firefly's boat, and an answer returned that it was out of order. By this time the carpenter had announced six feet of water in the hold, and, the steamer being then at some distance, Mr. Dick jumped into the longboat to essay whether it could not be got afloat ; but in vain, from want of an axe to cut the fastenings. At length the steamer's red lights were perceived at the distance of 400 or 500 yards, twinkling dimly through the haze, and bear ing down on the Firefly. At this juncture the men had abandoned the pumps in despair, on finding the vessel filling so fast, while the helmsman, who had similarly deserted his wheel, was seen under the dim light of the binnacle tearing his hair, and exclaiming unceasingly, " Lost, lost, lost !" By persua sion, however, he vas wiled back to his post, and then the Kroomen, six in number, resumed operations, in all pro bability at the most critical moment since the collision. It is astonishing what willing arms applied to pumping can effect in the case of an accidentally disabled ship, and again there was a momentary gleam of hope when the steamer reappeared within 40 or 50 yards, and at length alongside, although not until the main deck was level with the water. Thus favoured at the eleventh hour, or rather beyond, the boat was got round ; but, when at length afloat, from the want of gearing, seemed to be little, if at all, under the control of the crew. Never can the writer who communicates this forget the heart-rending cries simultaneously raised when the steamer for the last time stopped short at a distance of about 15 yards, as if those who manned her dreaded the consequences of a second collision, and durst not risk it for their own safety. The steamer at length came within grappling distance, the surgeon lost no time in springing into her rigging; and then commenced a fearful struggle to get over her bulwarks, rendered the more difficult from so many clinging to the same points, and the terror of cattle close at hand, threatening amidst the darkness to toss every adventurer overboard. The horned animals cleared, Mr. Dick immediately made for the quarterdeck to survey the wreck ; at that awful moment not a sound was ut tered, although shortly after the wail of wo was distinctly heard. Again all was still for a few moments, when a gurgling sound again smote the ear ; and though the gulf between the two vessels was then 50 or 60 yards, a rope was instantly thrown overboard. As near as may be at the same time, the commander of the steamer exclaimed, " I'll go no nearer at so great risk, for the sake of a sin gle individual." On this Captain Kerr said the surgeon should take a note of this determination ; surely even one life was precious, and a life-buoy in consequence was thrown overboard, the steamer's master remarking that to approach nearer might risk the foundering of both vessels. The cries of distress had now became fainter, although gurgling sounds were still audible, as if proceeding from some persons struggling in the water. Cessation, however, quickly followed, and then the commander of the Brit tannia steamer, of Dublin, inquired of Captain Kerr and his friend whether there was any necessity for tarrying longer ? To this question Captain Kerr having made no answer, the surgeon said he feared all hope was lost, but expressed, in the same breath, his conviction that a boat might have been despatched in time to save them all. To this the ready answer was, thatno sooner had the collision occurred than they became all masters on board ; that his crew refused to obey their head officer, and that one man in particular averred that if they ventured to go alongside the wreck, every soul on beard would jump into the boat, and infallibly swamp her ; and not only this, but that his venturing to return in the first instance was contrary to the wish of all on board—a circumstance which accounted for the numerous returns and departures of the steamer. Out of 23 individuals that embarked in the Firefly all were eventually saved except the chief-mate, the individual who was heard struggling in the water. But he had been somewhat wilful, as was afterwards ascertained, by main taining that his vessel was not much damaged; that she would still float ; and that in place of a boat, it would be better to crave a tug from the steamer into Beaumaris harbour. SPO R TING INTELLIGENCE. MANCHESTER, FRIDAY EVENING. DERBY. 13 to 1 agst Dawson's lot—taken. 20 to 1 .. The Irish lot—offered. 10 to 1 .. Mr. Greville's Alarm—take 12 to 1. 16 to 1 .. Lord Stradbroke's Idas—offered. 18 to 1 .. Colonel Anson's Kedger. 18 to 1 .. Lord Chesterfield's Pam. 20 to 1 .. Colonel Peel's Cobweb colt—offered. 25 to 1 .. Mr. Jaques' Anti-Repealer. 33 to 1 .. Mr. Johnstone's Rebecca colt—offered. 33 to 1.. Mr. St. Paul's Calypso's dam colt—take 35 to 1. 35 to 1 .. Mr. Coleman's Young Eclipse—offered. 35 to 1 .. Mr. Mostvn's Pantasa—take 40 to I. 35 to 1 .. Mr. Gully's Old England—take 40 to 1. 40 to 1 .. Duke of Richmond's Laird o' Cockpen— offered. 40 to 1 .. Mr. Hesseltine's Fitz Allen—offered. 40 to 1 .. Mr. Gully's Weatherbit. 50 to 1 .. Mr. Lintott's Cabin Boy—taken. 50 to 1 .. Mr. S. Stanley's Minikin colt. 50 to 1 .. Mr. A. H. Hill's Ironmaster—offered. 60 to 1 .. Mr. Irwin's Connaught Ranger—offered. 66 to 1 .. Mr. Ferguson's Clear-the-Way. 66 to 1 .. Lord Milltown's Flahowlagh. The above list of quotations gives the market prices, so far as we are able to judge from the little business done. There has been but a limited amount of betting transacted during the week, the only one of the first-rank favourites in request being Pam. To-day 13 to 1, in fifties, w as taken about Da wson ' s l ot, and 50 to 1 agst Cabin Boy. There was a disposition to take 6 to 4 that Idas beat Alarm ; 35 to 1, in fifties, about the Calypse's dam colt ; 40 to 1 each about Pantasa, Old England, and Young Eclipse ; 66 to 1 about Ironmaster, " all in," or 30 to 1 with a qualification ; and 10 to 1 about Pam and Kedger, coupled. Two or three small bets were laid at evens that Ironmaster receives a qualification. 1,000 to 45 was twice laid against Pam. and 3,000 to 66 agst Connaught Ranger on Saturday last. On Tuesday Old England was backed to a good amount at 33 and 35 to 1 ; Rebecca colt and Young Eclipse, several times, at 35 to 1 each ; and 40 and 50 to 1, to a good amount, agst the Minikin colt. Yes terday 20 to 1 to 50 was accepted agst Pam, and 4,000 to 60 agst Clear-the-Way; 500 to 30 agst the colt out of Calypso's dam and the Rebecca colt, coupled. For the Oaks, to-day, 30 to 20 was laid on Lancashire Witch agst Maid of Orleans. TATTE RSALL'S.—THURSDAY. There were just enough subscribers present to " make a house," and just enough business to admit of a short quotation. The p r i nc i pa l b ets were-1,300 to 200 agst Scott's lot; 16 to 100 against Idas ; 1,000 to 30 three times, and 1,750 to 50 once, agst Old England ; 1,000 to 25 agst Pantasa ; 2,000 to 30 agst Lycurgus ; 1,250 to 25 agst Cabin Boy ; and 2,030 to 20 agst Fuzbos. CHESTER CUP. 1,000 to 30 agst. \Vinesour (taken.) 30 1 The Era (taken.) DERBY. 13 to 2 agst. Scott's lot (taken to £200.) 14 1 Mr. Greville's Alarm (take 12 to 1.) 16 1 Lord Stradbroke's Idas (taken to £100.) 18 1 Colonel Anson's Kedger (take 20 to 1.) 18— 1 Lord Chesterfield's Pam (take 20 to 1.) 30— 1 Mr. A. Johnstone's Rebecca colt. 33 1 Mr. Gully's Old England. 35 1 Duke of Richmond's Laird o' Cockpen (take 40 to 1.) 40 I Mr. Mostyn's Pantasa (taken.) 2,000 30 Lord Eglinton's Lycurgus (taken.) 1,000 10 Mr. Coleman's Fuzbos (taken.) 1,000 —2O Cobweb colt winning Tuesday's Riddle woi th, 2,000 Guineas Stakes, and Derby (taken.) COURSING MEETINGS TO COME. CLUB. JUDGE. __ Chapel Bank. Mr. A. Dalzell. Morpeth (North Seaton).., Mr. A. Dalzell 6 & 7 Union (Southport) .. . • ..Mr. M`George 9 & 10 Morpeth (Longhirst).... Mr. A. Dalzell 9 & 10 Spelthorne Hornby Park Mr. M'George not fixed. Curragh JAN. THE CHASE The CHESHIRE HOUNDS Will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at Thursday, 2, at . ..................... Stamford Bridge Saturday, 4, at •••• • At Half-p as t T en o ' clock. Sir W. W. WYNN'S HouNos will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at ...... Friday, 3, at .... . . Saturday, 4, at. ...... Whittington At Half-past Tolo'clock. On Tuesday the six-mile walking match between Pierce and Hall, for £25, came off near th e D og an d Par tridge publi c -h ous e, lledfont. Pierce won by eighty yards. The six miles of road were walked over (fair toe and heel,) by the winner, in fifty-three minutes. On Tuesday, the long-pending running match for between Stewart, of London, and Robinson, of castle, came off at Putney-heath, in the pres large concourse of spectators. The dista yards. When within thirty yards of thg li tit l t ' 4it,, , 4 ) , Stewart passed his adversary, and ran ite ga , * ‘ l l\ l, A of four yards. . -. '-A - I- w `r0.,.., .- 4.". 6 -i% •;et --,,i+ , It- Sic-fN . ‘ 4 \ li ' S'o Nt 4I N 1146