The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-24 00:00:00

THEA.TAE ROYAL—This evening Miss Ellen Tree, the cleverest, lovliest, and most charming actress on the stage, takes her benefit, when " Much Ado about Y.othing," and " The Bride of Lammermoor" will be acted. Miss Tree's Beatrice is a most delicious impersonation with Mr. Ander son as Benedick, Mr. Mackay as Dogberry, and Mr. Stuart as Leonato, a treat may be expected. AMPHITHEATRE. — This Theatre has opened under the management of Mr. Beverly, Mr. Egerton being the lessee. The performances are extremely amusing and varied. The Carnival of Venice is well got up. _ _ - - MEETING OF THE DOCK CONIMITTEE. — Yesterday the usual meeting of the Dock Committee took place. There were ten members present, but no business of public interest was transacted. THE MELODICON.—LYCEUM-ROOMS.—This singular in strument, now that it is beginning to be known, is attracting many visitors. Herr Breunig's style of playing has delighted all who have heard him. As his stay is limited, we recom mend our readers to pay him a visit. The morning per formance commence at twelve o'clock, ending at one ; the evening from seven till eight. The admission being only one shilling, every one should hear this new instrument. FlRE.—This morning, at about a quarter before 1 o'clock, an alarm of fire was given from the brewery of Mr. Mellor, in Hunter-street. Mr. `Witty and Hewitt, of the fire-po• lice, with. the whole of the firemen, were speedily on the spot, with two engines and water-carts, and i❑ ten minutes the flames were subdued. It appeared that the fire had proceeded from some ashes from the engine furnace, and had ignited some of the timber in a lower apartment of the premises in Robert-street. The damage done was inconsiderable. Had the flames not been speedily arrested, much property would have been destroyed. . PICK-POCKETS. — Two young men, rather smartly dressed, named James Nelson and William Russell, and a little boy, Patrick Keenan, genteelly clad, were yesterday placed before Mr. Rushton, on a charge of attempting to pick the pockets of two ladies, at the bottom of Falkner-street. A police-officer said that he saw the prisoners following the two ladies and took notic.t of them. The younger prisoner got close up to one of them, touching her clothes, and the others closed up with hiM. The lady was questioned, but had not missed anything. The boy wore a Wellington cloak, which he put off when he entered the dock, with a view to puzzle the officer, and another who had gone up, in identify ing him. This, however, would not do, as he was recognised as a well-known pickpocket, who had been four times com mitted, and three times discharged. Neither were the others strangers to the police, they being known as suspicious cha racters. Mr. Rushton remarked that the younger prisoner was one of the moat accomplished pickpockets in the king dom, with a genteel and insinuating address, and a peculiarly small delicate hand, which he knew how to use when occasion offered, without the party robbed being sensible that his clothes were touched. The other two lived by his plunder. They were each committed to the House of Correction for three months. A gentleman in court afterwards remarked that he felt convinced that the boy was the individual who had recently picked his pocket of £lO. WOOLTON FLORALANDHORTICULTURAL SOCIETY On Tuesday last the meeting for the show of dahlias, plants, fruits, vegetables, &c., took place in a spacious mar quee, near the church, and, notwithstanding the gloominess of the weather, was numerously and fashionably attended. Amongst the company we observed —Henry Ashton, Esq., and family, Woolton Wood; Richard Alison, Esq., and fa mily, Woolton Heyes ; the Rev. S. J. Phillips, Woolton Priory ; the Rev. W. Shepherd, LL.D., Gateacre ; the Misses Lynch; Mr. and Mrs. Longton, of the Mills; Mrs. Foster, Mr. Barron, of Roby, and other individuals, patrons or friends of the society. The judges on this occasion were Mr. Nickson, of Hale, Mr. Morton, of Allerton, Mr. Har rison, of West Derby, and Mr. Smith, of Highfield. • The marquee was pitched within an enclosure, a little to the south of the church, and in the area behind was placed a small tent for the accommodation of Mr. Stubbs's Harmonic Band, who enlivened the proceedings by playing choice airs throughout the day. The present meeting was the fifth of the society, which has progressed rapidly from its commencement. Much credit is due to Mr. Lamb, the secretary, who has all along assiduously superintended the arrangements. Amongst the floral beauties, the dahlia (that prince of modern flowers) was conspicuous both in variety and excel lence •, and the stove, greenhouse. and garden plants were of the choicest description. In dahlias, Mr. Davies, nursery man of Wavertree, produced a pan, or stand. of twenty-four, which we do not remember to have seen excelled in beauty and variety at any former show in this neighbourhood. They were truly superb in size, symmetry, richness of colour and variety. The stove and greenhouse plants were arranged down the centre of the marquee, and comprised many rare and valuable-specimens. The most successful competitor in the former department, (as well as in several others), was Richard Alison, Esq. We observed a beautiful Ma r e ttia, in g eniously and carefully trained round a skeleton balloon of wire-work. The flowers, with which it was covered from the bottom to the terminating crown, are pendant, and somewhat resemble those of the Fuchsia. There was also (from the same gentleman's collection) another fine specimen of the same plant, (Marettia globae), trained in the form of a column with its capital, but flowering only at the top. A Nerium splendens, sent by Pattison Ellarnes Esq., of Aller ton-hall, was also much admired. The leaves are long, pointed, and of a dark evergreen hue, and the flower re sembles the blush rose. A Pimelia silvestris, from Mr. Davies's. attracted much attention. The collection of or chideous plants was fine, and one of them very curious—the flower being like a Scotch snuff mull with a large open lid. There were some fine pelargoniums, particularly a stand of six, (distinct varieties), sent by Ambrose Lace, Esq. In fruits the jargonel pears sent by T. Rawson, Esq. were very fine. The black grapes, sent by (N. Sinclair, Esq.) were good, and there were some excellent dishes of peaches, apricots, and nectarines. The prize for the best dish .of apples was won by a cottager. In the vegetable department the celery was the most worth y of notice, particularly the white, by T. Rawson, Esq., (John Green, gardener,) which was truly of gigantic size : though the season is yet early, eight heads weighed 801bs. Some fine cucumbers were also shown by Mr. T. Wainwright. The articles produced by the cottagers for competition, deservedly excited much in terest. They included useful vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, '&e. Amongst them (sent by J. Molyneux,) a de vice of a windmill, the base formed of herbs and the top of flowers, attracted great attention. The subscribers were admitted to the marquee from 12 to two o'clock, and the public generally, after the latter hour. But for the gloomy and threatening state of the weather, the attendance of the elite would have been much greater. Towards evening several parties joined in a country dance on the green, between the two tents, by way of a finale to the gratification of the day, amongst which may be noticed sub stantial repasts partaken of by the visitors from distant parts of the country at the two inns. The prizes (with the exception of the cup) were from Is. to 10s. They were awarded as follows : DAHLIAS. Best pair of 24 blooms, distinct va rieties, open to all grow ers, the subscription cup , valu e £s—Mr. T. Davies. Best stand of 12 blooms-Ist, Thomas Rawson, Esq. ; 2d, W. R. Preston, Esq. ; 3d, It. Alison, Esq. Best stand of 9 blooms-Ist, T. Rawson, Esq. ; 2d, W. R. Preston, Esq. ; 3d, Patteson Ellames, Esq. Best stand of 6 blooms — ls t, T. Rawson, Esq. ; 2d, W. R. Preston, Esq, ; 3d, P. Ellames, Esq. Best dahlia, of any colour (scarlet) —Richard Alison, Esq. „ seedling dahlia—lL Moss, Esq. „ stove plant-Ist, R. Alison, Esq. ; 2d, ditto. „ greenhouse plant— ditto ; 2d, ditto. „ stand of 6 pelargoniums, distinct varieties-Ist, Am. brose Lace, Esq. ; 2d, Mr. J. T. Lamb. Best basket of fruits, 6 kinds—R. Alison, Esq. „ basket of cut flowers— ditto. „ basket of plants— ditto. FRUITS „ pine — black grapes--N. Sinclair, Esq ~ white ditto—T. W. Ratlibione, Esq ~ peaches—W. R. Preston, Esq. ~ apricots—George Yates, E: q. „ nectarines—R. Preston, Esq. ~ pears (jargonels)—Thomas Rawson, Esq dish of apples—James Longford. ~ W. Rathbone, Esq. „ melon—Mrs. Foster. VEGETABLES. „ brace of cucumbers—Mr. T. Wainwright. „ ditto cabbages—R. Alison, Esq. „ carrots—W. J. Gandy, Esq. celery (red)-Ist, C. S. Parker, Esq. ; 2d, J. Shep pard, Esq. ; 3d, Mr. J. T. Lamb. Best celery (white)-Ist and 2d, Thomas Rawson, Esq. 3d, C. S. Parker, Esq. Best mushrooms —P. Ellames, Esq. A donation of XI for dahlias, given by Mr. Donking, Wa vertree Nook, was awarded as follows : Best stand of 10 dahlia blooms-Ist, T. Rawson, Esq. 2d, Mrs. Rigby, of Moss House ; 3d, T. Rawson, Esq. COTTAGERS ' PRIZES Ist, Best collection of useful common vegetables ; 2d, best assortment of cut flowers ; and, 3d, best window plant—all won by John Molyneux. The flowers were those in the form of a windmill. The window plant was a fine specimen of the rosa odorita. A SUBSTITUTE FOR MANURE TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stu,—lf you think the following statement of facts, rela tive to a substitute for manure, worthy of a place in your columns, I shall feel much obliged by its insertion. Although agriculture in many parts of both England and Scotland has now reached to a very high state of perfection, yet this improvement is mostly confined to fertile plains and the neighbourhood of large towns and seaports, where ma nure of all kinds can be had within a convenient distance ; ..... and the reason why the cultivation of land is not more widely extended in thinly-peopled districts, is owing to the great expense that would be incurred in conveying manure to such places. But the manure to which I wish to call attention, may be made on the ground. It is ashes produced from the sod, on or near the place where it is intended to be used. I h a ve now used it as a man ure f or th e l ast fif teen y ears , and in no case has it ever failed in producing crops equal to those raised by the manure produced from cattle • and it may be reduced to ashes for at least one-third of 'the expense of purchasing a . ny other manure. I first discovered its benefi cial effects in the year 1826. I had at that time just com menced a lease of affirm near . the Solway Frith, and a consi derable part of it . being uncultivated bog land, after I had tho roughly drained it, I allotted it into ridges of 12 feet broad by taking the ploug h and cutting two furrows o u t f ro m be tween every such ridge, and collecting them together to the side of the field. The object I had in view, in cutting these furrows and collecting them out of the way, was to make an opening for getting the rough land neatly ploughed. I next reduced these furrows to ashes, and laid them upon the land after ploughing, and before sowing the oats. The braird sprang up rapidly, and turned out a most tiundant crop. I afterwards tried the raising of tupips with ashes and its effect upon them was equally astonishing. I have used it as a manure ever since, and in no case has ever failed in pro ducing crops equal to any in the district. The reas . on, I think, that this manure is not more g.enerally used, ;busi the difficulty people imagine of reducing it to ashes the plan I recommend for that purpose may be easily acoir.l - during the summer or harvest, when the land is in its driest state. Take the plough, and turn over a Having of the grass land that is intended for crop next y. H let it dry a few days, a kiln may be commenced with moss turf or coal, or whatever is most convenient for the raising of a fire. After having got a sufficient strength, the grass furrows may be cut into small pieces, and laid round about it in the form of a kiln, always repeating the rows as the fire gets through, and always being careful in keeping the heat down by laying damp mould upon the top, and th e dry turf round the bottom. When the turf gets inconvenient, the ro ws may be discontinued , and loose mould may be laid upon the top until it gets too high to reach. By this method two men will produce 4 0 cubic yards in four d a y s, which is sufficient for one imperial acre, and that is nearly 65 cubic yards to the Lancashire acre. I trust the agriculturists in general, but more particularly the possessors of rough, uncultivated land, will try this ex periment, as I think it will be of considerable advantage to them. I decline at present publishing my name ; but if any .gentleman wishes for additional information on the subject, by addressing to H. 5.., at tke office of your paper, I shall feel happy in communicating privately on the subject. I am , sir, your obedient servant, Sept. 14th, 1841 AGRICOLA. REVISION OF THE BOROUGH LIST.-TUESDAY Mr. Temple and Mr. Wilde took their seats this morning, in the Nisi Prius Court, and proceede d with the freemen ' s list. Comparatively few attended, those objected to being mostly deceased parties. The list is not to be called over again. At one o'clock Mr. Temple presided in the Nisi Prius Court, and Mr. Wilde proceeded to take a certain portion of the cases in the Grand Jury Room. The list was called over in alphabetical order as far as the letter M. Very few of the individuals called, answered ; and, in most instances, those who answered had the objections against their names withdrawn immediately. Several of the individuals who had been objected to by the conservatives, when questioned by Mr. Wright as to the amount of rent which they paid, replied £lO Bs. This ap peared to be a very usual rent charged to a certain class of voters, natives of the sister isle. In the parish books, how ever, they appeared assessed at only £B. In allusion to one of these cases, the party objected to having stated that his rent was £lO Bs. per annum, and Mr. Hart having shown that the assessment was £8 per annum, Mr. Temple ob served that if Mr. Wright could produce testimony that the house was over-rented, he would not allow the vote. Mr. Wright said the only ground of objection in this and other - cases was the assessment, which was under £3O Bs., which led to a belief that the rent might be so too. They did not, however, wish to take frivolous objections, and were willing, in all cases, to take the actual rent paid as sufficient evidence that the fair value was given by the tenant. Mr. Temple said, in the absence of any other evidence, he thought the fact of the assessment being below the rent was a good ground on which to found an objection, and such objections were therefore very properly served. WEDNESDAY. The court opened at ten o'clock. Mr. Wilde took his seat in the grand jury room, for the purpose of hearing the cases in the wards 8 and upwards. Mr. Temple took his seat in the Nisi Prius Court, when the cases in wards 1 to 7 inclu sive, were Called over in their alphebetical order. In many of the eases called the objections were at once withdrawn • in , others they were established after a few questions. In two of the cases which were brought forward, Mr. Fairclough, who attended in the room of Mr. Wright, raised objections on the ground of the parties having had their rates paid last year by the Protector Society. The first case re-opened the question, whether such a payment, so far as the Voter was concerned, was a good payment. Mr. Fairclough cited the case of the " Queen v. Bridgnorth," to show that the pay ment was bad, and that although the rates had been paid by the society in question, the voter was still liable for the ar rears. Mr. Snowball contended that the present case was distinguishable from that of the " Queen v. Bridgnorth," and, after a long argument, the vote was allowed, upon the ground that no proof had been given that the Protector So ciety was a political society, or that the money bad been ad vanced for political and particular purposes, and that there had been fraud, and fraud sufficient to vitiate the transac tion. Mr. Temple, in giving his decision, said he enter tained not a particle of doubt that a bona fide honest loan of money by one party to another made a payment with that money a payment by the borrower and not by the lender. Shortly after the decision in this case, another of a similar kind occurred, wiffn Mr. Fairclough went stringently into it, in order to show the real constitution of the society, that it was a political one, and had been established for political and particular purposes. The claimant was a man of the name of Patrick Toole, and it appeared that he had himself paid his rates this year, but last year they were paid by the Protector Society, and he was struck off. He appeared properly rated on the books of the parish. Mr. Fairclough grounded his objection as before, and examined the witness, a very shrewd, acute fellow, touching the properties of the society. The answers were briefly as follow :—The Protector Society is a society for benefit. It was for a man to draw out money, and pay it in by instal ments. No prospectus was issued that I am aware of. I learned its purposes from a neighbour. lam not aware that there were any rules. I paid 2s. 6d. when I entered. It was to remain there till I thought proper to draw it out. 1 expected that I should get it back when I wanted it. I dont know whether there was any conservative in the society ; I naturally think not. I first paid taxes in 1840. I paid £1 Ils. 4(1. I got that from the Protector Society. I bad, previous to that payment, which was made in July, 1840, paid in Bs. 6d. About four or six months afterwards, I got notice that I was in arrears. I had then been struck off. The arrears were demanded, and I went and paid them. I had expected to have to pay them back, but I did not pro mise to pay them at any particular time. I dont know, but I naturally think that the society was composed exclusively of reformers. I dont know that any but poor people beionged to it. 1 naturally think it was for the purpose of enabling poor people to pay their rates. By Mr. Snowball.—The society was one wherein the money was raised by subscription; it was to pay by instal ments what was drawn out at once. When I became in arrear they applied for the money. Mr. Fairclough thought they had got the fact of it being a political society. With regard to his having retnrned the money as he was struck off the list, they might have de manded it, because he had not fulfilled the condition on which it was given to him. He thought there was sufficient evidence to prove that it was for a political purpose, and that it came within the Queen v. the Mayor of Bridgenorth. Mr. Temple said, it appeared that a certain number of parties had clubbed together to raise a certain fund. Mr. Fairclough.—Entirely for a political purpose. Mr. Temple.—They were all of one political party it ap pears certainly. Does it make any alteration that they con fine the society entirely to one side in politics ? Mr. Fairclough.—Yes. When it is for paying the rates of poor people who could not otherwise pay them, and who thus got votes to give to that party. Mr. Temple.—lt seems, as the case stands, that this is a political society, of one side in politics, formed for the purpose of collecting a fund to pay poor people's rates to enable them to vote. The witness, in reply to a question, said, he had known instances where persons in distress had received sums of money by way of relief from the society. Mr. Temple then examined the witness at some length. He stated, amongst other things, that when he went to Mr. Bretherton's office for the money, the clerk told him that £1 11s. Gd. was the sum due by him to the parish. The vote was struck off by the Revising Barrister. He then left the society and had not belonged to it since. He did not know that it was in existence, but he naturally believed that it was not. Mr. Temple said the facts which he found were, that a certain number of political persons had associated themselves together for a political purpose and they called themselves a protector society. They invited poor people to become mem bers, and to pay small sums into their fund, which it was plain were mere colourable payments. The principal object of the society was to enable poor persons to pay their rates, in order that they might be entitled to a vote. The amount of their rates, it appeared, were known to the clerks of this society when they were not known to the people themselves. These clerks informed the poor people of the amount of money due by them to the parish, and that amount was paid over to them out of the funds of the society. They were never called upon to repay this money till there existed a reason, a political reason for such repayment. The name was struck off and then there was a ground that they should repay it, in order that they might qualify at the next revision. There was no political object till after the revision. As soon as the name was struck off they called upon him to repay, though if he had fulfilled the condition on which he received the money, in all probability he would not have been called upon. But then there was the fact of the money having really been paid back ; were they to consider that as a sufficient purgation of bribery ? Mr. Snowball contended that the man having paid the money back, had now in all respects paid all his rates and fulfilled the act of parliament. Mr. Temple believed that the money was given if the party voted right, and was to be claimed back it he voted wrong. Still, however, there certainly was the point that he had paid Lt back again. Mr. Fairclough thought that the repayment would not purge the bribery, any more than if he had stolen the money and paid it back again, it would have purged the felony. Mr. Temple said there could not be a doubt that this money was advanded for the express purpose of enabling the party to obtain a vote. He was called upon to repay it, iu order that he might not again lose his vote. The point which remained to be settled was, whether it was illegal in the par ties to buy him a vote. He would reserve the point for con sideration YESTERDAY The Revising Barristers opened their respective courts this morning at a few minutes after ten o'clock. It was expected that they would deliver their decision on the cases of parties who had, last year, paid their parish rates (many of them in arrear for some years) with money received from, or alleged to be lent by, the Protector Society,' but, as will hereafter appear, the learned barristers had not fully made up their minds on the subject. Mr. Temple, on taking his seat on the beneh in the Ses sions-house, addressed himself to the ease of a Hugh Burns. He stated the question hinged on the fact of the payment of the parish rates of that individual by his landlord. He (Burns) had stated that an agreement had been made be tween them that the landlord should pay the poor rates, and the question therefore arose whether any rates were due by the tenant? It was thought, that the act Geo. 111. chap. 12, would bear out the construction, that no rates were due from him ; but he, Mr. Temple, was of a different opinion. That act allowed the overseers to assess landlords of houses renting between £6 and £2O ; but required, before they could do so, that they should call a general meeting of the inhabitants in vestry, and obtain their sanction by a re solution being passed to empower them to do so. It was not until a resolution so assessing the landlord, that the parish officers could demand the rate from the landlord. No such meeting had in this case been held, and the name of the tenant only appeared on the books as the person assessed. He (Mr. Temple) was therefore of opinion that Burns was not entitled to vote, and his name must be struck out. As to the other cases (involving the legitimacy of rates being paid out of funds supplied by the Protector Society,) he and his colleague were not yet prepared to give their opinion. There was on record a case of an outgoing tenant agreeing with the incoming tenant, that the latter should take certain fixtures, and pay the amount asked for them to the landlord in liquidation of rent due ; but it was held that this was not a sufficient compliance with the tenor of the sta tute to entitle the former tenant to a vote. It had also been ruled, that it was equally insufficient that rent should be paid out of the proceeds of a distraint by the landlord. He should, therefore, defer deciding on the cases alluded to till a future day. As, however, great interest had been excited respect ing them, not only amongst the public, but also amongst the profession, it would be exceedingly convenient for him and his colleague if the solicitors for the respective parties would, by mutual agreement, draw out a case for their decision. If so, be would furnish them with copies of the notes be had taken of each case bearing on the question. This was the more desirable, inasmuch as some portions of the evidence were merely circumstantial, and from which inferences alone could be drawn. Mr. Wright and Mr. Snowball agreed to the course re commended ; Mr. Wright to draw out the case, subject to Mr. Snowball's revision. Mr. Temple then said that he should adjourn the court, at its rising, to Saturday morning, when he hoped he and Mr. Wilde would be enabled to give their decision on the case prepared as proposed, and delivered to him that night, or in the morning. The Liverpool list was then proceeded with in the respec tive rooms, each barrister, as before, proceeding from letter A upwards, in the wards they had previously been going on with. No ease of interest took place through the day. Mr. Temple said, that as it had been agreed that the ob jections in the out townships should be heard on Saturday, and the parties interested had had such intimation, he was unwilling to disturb that arrangement. The claims should be commenced with on Monday morning. Both courts closed early, and stand adjourned to Saturday. On Tuesday the London and Brighton railway was opened to the publi c f or t h e f i rst t i me . We understand that the line is in a highly satisfactory state. An agonising affair, which has placed in jeopardy the life of a fine boy, took place near Bishop's Castle, on Wednes day. The infant son of Mr. G. Rhodes, of that place, had gone into a mead ow , nut gather i ng , when he was suddenly assailed by a saw, which pulled him down, and , befor e he could rescue himself, had torn and lacerated his flesh in a fearful manner. The little fellow contrived to raise himself, and ran off, when he was again seized by the brute in at tempting to scramble ov er a gate, hi s c l o thes torn from his body, and his thighs and face s ever ely torn. Fortunately his scream s were heard in time for assistance to arrive to sa v e him from being eaten piecemeal by the ravenous brute ; but he is so dreadfully injured as to give slight hopes of recovery. —Shrewsbury Chromic. THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY The first meeting of this interesting society since the summer vacation was held on Tuesday, at the Royal Insti tution, J. Grantham, Esq., president, in the chair. After the private business of the society was concluded, the PRESIDENT addressed the numerous body of members present, and congratulated them on the prospect which he saw of the society rising to a position of great interest and usefulness. He, however, wished to warn members against remaining satisfied with what had been accomplished, and urged them rather to consider the society still in its infancy, requiring their individual and united exertions, which, he felt confident, would be amply repaid. He then called on Mr. Brett to read the communication which had been announced for this evening : ON ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY, WITH REMARKS ON LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS Dr. BRETT fir;t 4 ,li7;iQ the attention of the society to the more remarkable mechanical effects of electricity, its power of causing the disruption of the particles of the most dense substances when imperfect or non-conductors, of raising the temperature of metallic conductors so as to cause in some instances their fusion or even volatalization, and its power of inflaming many combustibles. The electricity of the atmosphere during calm weather was stated to be of the positive kind, as determined by the best experiments; but the intensity of the atmospheric electric force was found' to vary in calm weather during different periods of the day, and at different seasons of the year. Experiments made in the summer season went to shew that the electric tension was greatest at or about noon, diminish ing until the commencement of dew deposit in the evening. at which time and during the deposition it again increased, and was at its minimum when the said deposition had en tirely or nearly ceased : the supposed causes of this varied electric tension were stated. The following experiment made by M. M. Becqueret and Breschet on the heights of St. Bernard, was detailed :—The experimenters placed a piece of varnished silk upon the ground so as to insulate the spot—a coil of silken cord covered with gold leaf was laid upon the insulated surface--one end of the cord, which was of se veral feet in length, was slightly attached to an instrument 'for noting the presence of free electricity—the other end of the cord was firmly attached to the iron head of an arrow= the latter was then projected high up into the atmosphere by means of a bow, and it was noticed that as the, arrow ascended, the divergence of the strains of the electroscope increased; when the arrow had attained its greatest altitude, the divergence was at its maximum—the electricity thus communicated to the electroscope was found to be of the positive kind. The attention of the society was directed to the electric condition of the clouds in stormy weather, and the remarkable experiment of Romas by means of a large kite and conducting iron wire was detailed as illustraitve of the enormous quantities of electricity present in, and capable of being drawn from, a highly-charged storm cloud. The opposite electric states of clouds, in order to admit of dis charge, were insisted upon, and the power of one highly charged cloud to induce an opposite electric state in an adjoining cloud previously in a state of neutrality was alluded to, and illustrated by, diagram. The phenomenon of the return shock was referred to, by which objectS on the earth's surface might be severely injured, independently of the direct action of electric discharge from the atmosphere. Allusion was then made to those objects which, from their isolated position, considerable elevation and the circumstance of their presenting points to the higher atmosphere, were most likely to be struck, as it is called, by lightning. The modes recommended for adapting lightning rods to the pro tection of buildings were mentioned, and the necessary pre cautions to be adopted for the purpose of ensuring efficiency pointed out. -- • EXHIBITION OF WORKS BY MODERN ARTISTS, POSTOFFICE-PLACE ROOMS As the exhibition of paintings by modern artists must ne cessarily attract just at present the attention of the connois seur, the amateur, the artist, and all who have any preten sionto taste, we shall occasionally devote a space in the columns of the STANDARD to draw public remark to such works as. we consider worthy. We have for many years taken much interest in fine art, and we cannot but admit that there is a taste springing up in Liverpool, which the painter, and the artist of.every denomination, ought to welcome with a joyous feeling. Let it be remembered how many persons are now visiting the admirable works of Mr. Martin, at the Union-rooms ; let it be borne in mind what numbers in spected the Three Caracci, " Adam and Eve," and Danby's glorious painting of the Opening of the Sixth Seal. If our townsmen were not fond .of art, they would not give en couragement to the dealers in pictures who frequently favour us with their presence, and who generally effect good sales, and leave excellent specimens of the various masters behind them. And then again, look at the establishment of a permanent Gallery of Art, does not that also show a taste for painting and sculpture? We say, when these matters and many others which exist are looked at, they show that a deci ded encouragement is given to the fine arts in this town. A word respecting the Permanent Gallery of Arts. The public is greatly indebted to the Committee of the Royal Institution for this establishment, and we believe that we shall not be verf far wrong in ascribing to Mr. Winstanley credit for great perseverance and exertion in bringing this matter to maturity. Mr. Winstanley is totally free from the petty jealousy and self-conceit that we regret to say is so predomi nant in the artist. Mr. Winstanley is a connoisseur, and looks upon fine arts with a liberal and a generous mind, and appears glad to impart that knowledge which he undoubtedly possesses—to all those who need it, and while he treads the path in search of knowledge, and gathers Rowers on the way, be does not scruple to scatter around him the results of his experience. We hope that those who can will come forward and assist the Permanent Gallery. Let our merchant princes —for princes they are in acts of benevolence—show them selves regal in support of the tine arts. But to return to the exhibition. We find this year that there are a great many pictures which possess talent : a few display genius, and au undoubted shadowing forth of future greatness. Of the bad ones we shall have little to say, no ticing only such as adorn, instead of disgracing, the walls. To begin at the beginning, the first picture we observe is the first in the catalogue, representing " A Scene before the Battle of the Lapitbre and Centaurs." R. JEFFRAY, London.—The scene is laid in some wild place where the Lapithm are celebrating the marriage of Pirithous and Hippodainia. The bride (we suppose) is seen struggling in the arms of the drunken centaur, while Pirithous (The seus or Nestor) stands in a commanding and threatening attitude, to rescue liippodamia from the rude hands into which she has fallen. The attitude of the man is extremely good, as is the figure of the centaur; but the female is clum sily drawn. The idea is excellent : if this is by a young artist, let him study Virgil and Ovid still. It is hardly fair to criticise the colouring, from the distance the picture is from the ground ; but we object to the fleshings—they want life and warmth. 2. " Tartare to patulm recubans sub tegmine fagi." ANSDELL, Liverpool.—Under this attempt at a classical title. our attention is drawn to a Landseerish-looking dog painting, beneath " a wide-spreading beech." Tartar is cleverly drawn, has life and vigour in him, and does the painter credit. 6. " The First Sketch." R. FARRIER, Chelsea.—Sotne thing in Wilkie's style : the colouring not equal to the idea in merit. The subject, a lad sketching on a wall Buonaparte seated on a chair. Around the young artist are anxious and delighted groups crowding to gaze upon the first effort of genius. 12. " Silvia comparing Herself to the Flowers." J. Ssi vEßN.—Raw in colour, and out of drawing. 13. " View of Stirling from the west Gate of the Castle." W. COLLINGWOOD, Liverpool.—A clever painting. The town in the foreground, and the broad champaign country at the back. is drawn very spiritedly. 16. " Portrait of Mr. Ward." J. C. WILSON, Liverpool. —Whoever has seen Mr. Ward will recognise this picture. It is a capital likeness, and well painted. 19. "The Last Days of a Condemned." J. VON HOLST, London.—This work represents a haggard-looking malefactor on his way to execution. Around him are " staring eyes" and faces exhibiting different emotions of sorrow, fear, and horror. The principal figure is painted in a free, bold, style, and may be termed a clever effort of art. 20. " The promenade of the Schravone, Venice, Evening." INSKIPP, London.—A belladonna taking her evening promenade, followed at a respectful distanceby two Cavalieri, who appear watching her progress. The dress and figure of the lady are charmingly painted, and in this artist's best manner. _ 22. " Bonnington Falls." Miss NASMYTH, Manchester A charming landscape, with wood, water, sock, and road the lights cleverly distributed. 35. " Subject from Midsummer Night's Dream." J. G MIDDLETON, London. The face of " Amorous Phillida" ii very fair. that of Corin is too womanish. A great deal of bad drawing evident. Who ever saw, except in a vulgar market wench, such an arm as that of Phillidas ? 36. " Venice." R. WINNEs, London. An extremely clever picture, representing carnival time at Venice. Here a mother with her babe—a sweet figure—there a pair of lovers ; there a gondolier ;an old man—a clever study—a servant girl : and other objects. The table is loaded with wine flasks and fruit. The arrangement of the figures, the drapery, and costume are all excellent—the faces of the females most lovely. This picture has a sunnyness about it which renders it most pleasing, while the composition is highly interesting and clever. 42. " Sunset on the River Stour." T. S. COOPER, Lon don. One of Cooper's sweet landscapes, with an exquisitely drawn and painted group of cattle. The atmosphere clear — the river smiling and placid. This gem we perceive is sold. We envy the purchaser 50. " Convent of Cosimato Roma." HAVELL, London. Havell's works may be be known everywhere and any where. There is a warmth and richness in his lights, and a depth in his shadows, that give great effect to his charming pictures. There is another of his pictures, No. 85, a brilliant specimen of colouring. The sky is most glowing and rich, and the light beautifully distributed. 52. " Britain's Glory." W. KIDD, London.—Two pen sioners celebrating perhaps the anniversary of a naval victory. A good picture, displaying much humour. 57. " The Unrelenting Lord." J. R. HERBERT, Lon don.—The subject is a warrior in a stern attitude waving aloft his cap, while a girl droops at his feet apparently struck , with horror. Why his lordship should be unrelenting;" the deponent sayeth not. It is cleverly painted, has great expression, and the drapery is well thrown. 65. Warriors Aroused by the Sound of the Trumpet." W. ETTY. R.A., London. This is Mr. Etty's only picture in the gallery. The artist has lavished great skill on the prin cipal female figure ; the fleshing is most delicate. The war rior is muscular and firm. There is much vigour in drawing, and brilliancy in the tone of colouring in this picture. 71. " Mynheer Vandunck." CHARLES STEEDMAN, Lon don. Painted with much humour : it has a good deal of the Dutch masters about it. Mynheer is seen in bis glory en joying his draught, "as deep as the Zuyder Zee." 75. " The Stolen Interview of Charles 1., when Prince of Wales, with the Infanta of Spain." F. STONE, London. — A well painted historical picture, for explanation of which see catalogue. The costume appears to have been attended to with great care. The figure of Charles is very capitally drawn. The group of affrighted females are gracefully placed, while the dark dress of the old marquis on his knees con trasts well with the light dresses in his vicinity. 83. " Portrait of James Aspinall." J. H. ILLIDGE, Li verpocl.—A most excellent likeness—there is "no mis take" about this picture. It is admirably painted. 81. " A Loek on the Thames near Windsor." VICKER S, London. A pleasant landscape well drawn, but raw in colour—age will greatly improve this artist's pictures. 86. " Aston, Warwickshire." T. H. HENSHAW, Lon don.—Mr. Henshaw is a clever artist. His works have all great merit. There is a warmth in his landscapes that render them pleasant things to look at. . 88. "Gleaning in Kent." WITHERINGTON, R.A., Lon don. —A broadly painted, bright picture, with clear atmos phere. 90. " Fisherman's Family looking out after a Storm." H. P. PARKER, Sheffield. A good picture possessing much in terest. The fishermen's families are anxiously gazing sea ward, sweeping the horizon with their straining eyes, and watching the fragments of wreck hurried by the pier whereon they stand, with fearful gaze. The group is well arranged, the sea and distance well painted. 91. " Portrait of William Fawcett". G. PATTEN, A.RA., London.—An admirable likeness. This painting has been engraved, and privately circulated. This excellent work of art is intended to adorn the walls of the Mechanics' Institu tion. 93. " The Crater of Vesuvius at the Summit". HAVELL —An interesting subject, cleverly painted. 94. "The Boy andmany Friends'. G. WEBSTER, A.R. A.. Kensington.—One of the most humourous pictures in the room, and well painted. It represents a lad at school, hav ing received a basket from home, has emptied it of its con tents, while his companions cluster round him, apparently proffering their friendship in `! this time of prosperity". He is loaded with cakes, pots of preserves, and oranges, while his schoolfellows are still diving into the basket, one of whom fishes up a bottle, and the other a book. " A big boy" is bullying another, who appears too pressing in his attentions ; another looks on with eager and longing eyes ; a noisy crowd are bursting into the room, while the poor usher leans against his desk as if wishful to forget that he has no home—no friends to bear him in their most sweet memories. This is a most capital picture, drawn with great ability and truth, and c leverly painted. " 96. Port Stewart". W. G. HEADMAN, Liverpool.— Mr. Herdman has great talent : many of his works adorn the exhibition this year. The present, without being one of his best, is clever, and has good effects. 98. " Belem Castle, with Lisbon in the distance". C. H. Siaforth, Merton.—A Vanderveldish-looking view of this interesting seaport and fortress. Atmosphere pure and sunny. The shipping well painted. 99. " River, by Moonlight". J. B. CROME, Great Yar mouth.—Mr. Crome's style is original and peculiar—deep shadows and mellow lights give a pleasing but sombre effect to his pictures. There is much talent shownin this and the other works by the artist. We must must now break off, and continue our notice in our next publication. Walnuts are very plentiful this season : they are selling in and near Hereford, at from , Id. to 6d. per 100. SUDDEN DEATII.—On Wednesday night, about ten o'clock, a respectably dressed elderly gentleman, about 60 years of age, called at the private box entrance of Drury-lane Theatre, and begged to be allowi3d to sit down for a few mi nutes, as he felt very HI. He had scarcely entered the door and taken a seat, before he fell back and expired. A. WOMAN KILLED BY A BULL.—On Wednesday, at noon, Mrs. Hunter, in Laigh Thornyflat, near Whitletts, a widow of advanced age, having gone out to assist the herd boy in driving the cattle from a field of wheat into which they had broken, was attacked by th e b u l l, and so d rea df u lly gored and bruised that she died in an hour and a half after wards.— Caledonian Mercury. HORRIBLE 14,1vaDER.—On T ues d ay n i g h t, at a b ou t t en minutes past ten o'clock, a horrible murder was committed at the King's Head public house, Eastcheap, London, on the person of Mr. Bourden, the landlord of the above house, as well as an attempt made on the lives of two other persons, the sister of Mr. Bourden and his wife. The particulars of the case are as follow :—At about three o'clock on Tuesday morning, a person of the name of Blakeley accosted Serjeant Bradley, 503 of the city police, and inquired of him how he could obtain possession of his wife, whom he stated was staying at the above house, but, after being advised to call in the afternoon, h e went away. At a b out ten o ' c l oc k t h e sam e night, he (Blakesley) went to the King's Head, with every appearance of extreme agitation, and going behind the bar, where the deceased was sitting on a chair, dosing, and his (Blakesley's) wife attending to the customers, he drew from his pocket a butcher's knife, and made a desperate thrust at his wife, wounding her in a dreadful manner. Her screams awoke Mr. Bourden, who, while in the act of rising from his seat, was stabbed in the stomach by Blakesley, the knife penetrating to the handle. lie fell at the bar door, and Blakesley, after making an attempt to strike Mrs. Bourden, escaped. Mr. Smith, of Gracechurch-street, was sent for, and lost no time in attending, but ere he arrived, Mr. Bour den had expired. His attention was then directed to the un fortunate woman, who, it is stated, is mortally wounded. Blakesley is state d to be rat her a fine looking man, about five feet ten inches in height, round face, dark hair, large whiskers, and about thirty-five years of age. At the time of committing the murder he wore a brown frock coat, dark spotted waistcoat, and dark trousers.—Morning Herald. THE LATE THUNDER STORM Mr. SMITH, being then called on by the President, gave an interesting account of an examination he had made of the steeple of St. Martin's Church. From his observations we concluded that the electric fluid had passed down the centre of the steeple, attracted by the large bolt which secures the upper stones, and at the abrupt termination of which an ex plosion had taken place. He then traced its subtle and ca pricious course down the tower, describing many extraor dinary effects which it had produced, especially in the lead piping. In this it had caused a very curious indent at every joint, but did not appear to have otherwise injured it. A very interesting discussion then took place, in which many valuable suggestions were made. It was remarked as an extraordinary circumstance, that the costly buildings such as had lately been impaired by lightning in this town, should be left without conductors—an omission which in one night had caused a serious expense to the town. Thanks having been given to Messrs. Brett and Smith, the members adjourned to the committee-room of the institution, where coffee and tea are always provided. OUR PORTFOLIO.—No. 2 " And nothing is, but what is not." We have poems on the Pleasures of Hope, the Pleasures of Memory, and the Pleasures of Imagination; the last by Akenside, a London physician—an affair in three books, and in blank verse. 'We attempted to read this celebrated pro ductioncpluodeteodetshaptatiitesn t r s e . ade l r t s is m r u e s e t or c d h e ie d fl o y f hut not being able to get through with it, con lit h a v i se learned a m p o o e n t g t h t the he was haughty and conceited in an extreme degree, and so dogmatical in his conversation as to be constantly involved in one scrape or another. From this we would infer that his imagination was too lively—too active, and that he indulged too much in its pleasures to be easily reconciled to the flat realities of life. The pleasures of the imagination are. doubt less, very great ; but, like most other pleasures, they are, with relation to ourselves, very easily convertible into sources of pain, unless they be moderately and discreetly indulged in. This, imaginative power is truly the most wonderful of all our faculties. It has been remarked that the future is the only portion of time that we can properly call our own ; that the past is no longer ours—the present flying from us even while we speak ; and so it may be said of the thoughts and the happiness of the imagination ; they alone are ours ; eter nal objects cannot deprive us of them • external objects can not communicate them ; here mari walks, or sits, alone in a liberty and an enjoyment of which no tyranny can deprive him. It is wisely ordained by Providence that this faculty shall begin to be exercised at a very early period of life. Yon little fellow who has got astride upon our cane, and rides about the room so happily, is not as he seems to be, nor. where he seems ' • imagination has converted that bit of Indian reed into a sleek and beautiful pony—this apartment into an open country—and these chairs and tables into a numerous company. The things present no longer have any charm except as they are suggestive of things that are not. It is the same with that little group of girls who dress their dolls ; while they seem intent only on these inanimate trifles, imagi nation is busy, and the comedy or tragedy of life is rehearsed. Thus early does fancy antidkate, and prepare us for what is to follow ; and from the very first, we are beings only of the future, and the fanciful. It happens, fortunately for the great mass of mankind, that they are not permitted over. much time for the cultiva tion of this faculty • there would be a danger else that the family of poets and dreamers, already sufficiently large, would become intolerably numerous and superabundant. The lives of men of genius, in instances innumerable, show that circumstances in early life which have favoured their solitary musings, have proved the cradle of their extraordinary men tal powers, and given them that direction, in following which they have afterwards contributed so much to awaken the interest of others, if not always to promote their own happi ness. Byron and Scott are both instances in point ; both being men separated by early circumstances from the ordinary bustle of life, and thrown into those which would inevitably lead them to converse much with their own spirits. The faculty previously existed, but circumstances developed its powers and called them into exercise. The question has often been mooted, whether this imagi native faculty, in what we would call a high degree of deve lopement, is a source of greater happiness or misery to its possessor ? Now, there cannot be a doubt that, in point of fact, it has proved the latter. As man is " born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward", a teeming imagination is just a sure way of adding to his disquietudes. More than half our troubles are imaginary—imaginary in their causes, but real enough in their effects ; what then can a restless imagination, ever on the wing, do, in ordinary cases, but increase our troubles ? Many persons are exceedingly imaginative, who are commonly thought not at all so. A miser is supposed to have no idea beyond his gold, as he seems to love nothing else, and to be the least given to light fantastic dreams of all men ; but the man is imaginative in a high degree—abso lutely tormented by his ideality. Why did the Roman Api emus destroy himself, on finding that he had but 100,000 crowns left ; or the merchant, spoken of by Forestus ? Both feared that they should be starved, and took this effectual precaution against so dire a contingency. The miser accu mulates either through fear of poverty, or from admiration of those things which money can procure him—till habit has so trained him to the way, that he gets on without need of any renewed impulse ; but an unhappy imaginativeness has first led him to the pursuit, and continues long to haunt him in it. The miser is a decidedly fanciful person—a monetary hypochondriac. Imagination presents to him the horrors of poverty—great as they are in reality—and the pleasures of wealth, painted in excess. The picture captivates or terrifies him as the bright or the dark side is disclosed, and he hugs his dearly beloved gold as the instrument that can secure him against the evil, or possess him of the good ; it is ima gination, therefore, that makes him not only a miser, but miserable in every sense of the word. Imagination has the tendency to increase unhappiness, be cause it increases the sources of unhappiness. The fault, however, is not in the power itself, but in the use which is made of it. The faculty is in itself a noble one—the true divinee particulam aurce, or particle of divinity. By it, while the material body moves not, the whole world is brought under review—and man looks through nature up to nature's God. It allies us with the changeful spirits of the air—with Heaven itself. Whence our " longing after immortality ,if imagination, having exhausted worlds, had not immediately proceeded to search for new ? It is instinct of a new being and an eternal existence in another and a better world ; and it is rightly and worthily employed when it is used to coun terbalance the evils and miseries of the present, by the bright hopes and glories, and enduring felicities of the future. But those who thus subordinate its exercise to the dictates of sound wisdom, are comparatively few, and that which might be a blessing is converted, for the most part, into a curse. When the apprentice tailor throws down his goose, and flings the thimble at his master's head, swearing'profanely that he has a " soul above buttons" ; or the young apothecary vows, with histrionic action, that his genius shall not be " cramped over a pestle and mortar", and suits the action to the word — we just see how the great majority of mankind permit them selves to be run away with by the misguidings of fancy. Instead of using the power, according to the instructions of the wise, to reconcile them to their lot, and make them, what few are inclined to be, content with it, they use it, or permit it to be used, which comes to the same thing, to the very opposite end. Hence the sighings and murmurs of discon tent at all sides—and the longings unceasing for things unat tainable. King David, who was favoured with many earthly enjoyments, was well aware of the evils of this roving dispo position of the imagination, and prayed that his eyes might be ' turned away from beholding vanity". The christian pre cept is, to " keep the heart—or the thoughts of the soul — with all diligence". Under such direction there is great liberty, and ample scope for the exercises of the faculty, without danger. Christianity has in no degree clipt the muse's wing, or curtailed the harmless mirth of nations. Christianity has purified, not weakened—raised and exalted, not contracted—the excursive powers of the mind. We put Milton against Homer, Tasso against Virgil, Shakspeare against Plautus, and for every ancient can produce a modern ,to contest the palm of imaginative excellence ; but this would utterly fail to show an intellectual parallel between the pre sent christian age generally, and the most refined of ancient times. What then was rare, is now common. Now every man is imaginative, and writes. Scribimus omnes duti in doetique. From an essay to a novel, from a paragraph to a poem, from a song to a sermon, we all write—and there is "no end of the making of many books". The ancients had nothing like this. They had no leaden types, no printing press, no periodicals, no newspapers, nor—no penny post. The fact is, there is too much mental activity in our day. The brain is over-worked ; and all that we are astonished at is, how the world goes on so well amid such a teeming mul titude of strange thoughts and wild fantasies. POPULATION OF BELFAST. —We understand that the po pulation of the borough of Belfast, according to the present census, is about 100,000 By the census of 1831, it was under 62.000 (including Ballymacarrett.) Consequently, the increase has been in the ratio of upwards of 63 per cent. At this rate, Belfast is now above Limerick in population, and within about 7,000 of Cork ; and, in two or three years, we shall be able to boast of being the second town in Ireland ; whereas, withing less than twenty years, we held only the fourth place. ST. MICHAEL'S SPIRE.-VIEW FROM THE TOP. The scaffolding erected preparatory to the pulling down of the spire surmounting the tower of St. Michael's Church, which was shattered by the lightning on the morning of Tuesday the 31st ultimo, having been completed up to the ball and cross, we were last week induced to ascend to the summit, in company with a friend, to obtain a bird's-eye view of the town and the surrounding country. The day was fine, and though the prospect was slightly dimmed by the smoke that hung over the dense masses of buildings, and the exhalation from the suburban fields evolved by the ardent beams of the sun, the panoramic prospect, bounded by the distant circle of the horizon, amply repaid the slight toil of attaining an elevation to which we had never before aspired. The ascent was somewhat difficult, and, it may be added, occasionally perilous, for those who, like ourselves, are " all unused to the climbing mood" ; and a short previous ap prenticeship to a slater would be no indiscreet preliminary to the uninitiated who may undertake a timilar adventure. We mounted by two flights of pretty long ladders to the roof of the church at its south-east corner, an intermediate plat form being formed by the leaded top of the vestry-room. A walk along the leads withi❑ the blocking, and thence to the middle of the roof at the west end of the church, brought us to another long ladder reaching to one of the large lower windows of the tower over the clock ; and another, inside, led us into the bell-loft. Successive ladders, with temporary small scaffolds between them, took us to the height of the lower tier of oval loop-boles above the base of the spire. In our progress we marked the apparent direction and destructive effects of the electric fluid, which appears to have first struck the spire, which is octagonal, near its top, on one of the mouldings at the south-west angle, and probably passed down it in a somewhat spiral direction, shattering much of the stone, breaking large fragments out of it in several places,and leaving irregular rents and several large holes freely admitting the light. The largest of these apertures is close to the spring of the spire, on the north-west side. Se veral large pieces of stone " shot " from their position near the top, fell upon the framework of the large bell, dis lodging it on one side from the socket or step on which it swung, so that its lip on the south side rests on the floor. The lightning, after passing down through the steeple, here and there abrasing the stonework in its impetuous progress, appears to have passed out through the thick wall, between the ridge of the church-roof and clock-face, on the east side of the tower, bursting away exteriorly considerable portions of the large blocks of stone. It is worthy of remark, as ex emplary of the extraordinary freaks of lightning, that one of the large stones about half way up the spire is split in two, in a vertical direction, in the centre of the wall, and one-half of it forced out an inch or two at one end, and the other equally projected interiorly, in the form of the letter C re clined, or rather a more acute angle. Neither of the halves is otherwise broken, so that an angular cavity is left between Emerging from the interior by creeping out on our hands and knees through one of the lower loop-holes above the base of the spire we got upon the first or lower floor of the exterior scaffolding, which ri.s.es to the top in the conical . . Form of the building, encircling it in eight successive stories Jr heights, each of a little above two feet wide, and railed and stayed exteriorly. The work of erecting these was. I.otri the shattered and insecure state of thiit part of the building, a work of considerable difficulty and danger; but it was happily accomplished without accident, under the im mediate superintendence of Mr. Shadrach, foreman of Messrs. 'oster and Steward The carpentry is ingeniously contrived : each scaffold is se cure in itself, forming as it were_a hoop round the spire, tightly fitted, so that if the wood below any one of them were removed, it would still securely stand, the weight being almost solely on the spire itself. It became necessary, how- ;ver, for the workmen to secure the stone work where it was dilapidated, by upright planks laid flat upon it here and there. These form as it were, huge staves, and the scaffolds being the hoops that secure them ; the shattered fabric may be said to be " coopered up," in a manner sufficiently secure for the purpose of taking it gradually down. We observed also that for additional security several of the rents and holes in the masonry are temporarily - made good with brick and Roman cement The view from any of the scaffolds is fine, but that from the top, which we reached by a succession of small ladders and little hatchways at the top of each, is of course; from its elevation, the most extensive. The height of the tower is 157 feet 8 inches, and that of the spire 54 feet 10 inches, ex clusive of the cap and cross, which are 9 feet 6, making the entire height of the building to the cross 222 feet from the street. We mounted to the ball, and finally sat and stood on the arms of the cross, which though it appeared small from below, (for it is since removed) was three feet eight inches in height over the ball, and three feet five inches across. The diameter of the ball was one foot nine inches. Both were supported, though in rather a fragile manner, by a vertical copper rod, 1 inch in diameter, and wormed so as to screw them down from the interior. This rod penetrates the crow❑ stone, and the solid stone work which is 15 feet in height. _ . We may here remark that the spire is to be rebuilt pre cisely of its original height, and in the same form, but of su perior material and workmanship. The masonry, indeed, of the steeple, (as we noticed at the time of the accident that befel it) was defective from the first, the stone being poor and soft, and withal insufficiently finished and jointed for a work so much exposed to the weather. The ashler wall of the spiral part is nine inches thick, and is but roughly dressed inside with the pick. It was built by contract, with out being subjected to the wholesome surveillance of a com petent surveyor, as our present buildings properly are. Since there appears to be a difficulty in securing the top part of our spires, we do not see why light bronze castings might not be substituted for stone for 15 or twenty feet of the attenuated part, secured by an upight strong rod, sockettee into a beam of timber reaching down to the tower, and stayed in teriorly to the walls. The top could not then be unsettled by gales of wind unless the tower itself gave way, which is improbable ; and we might then have the advantage of a weather-cock, that best and most useful finish to a spire, which our modern ecclesiastical architects appear to be afraid to affix. Considerable vibration of the cross and the slender stone work below was caused by our movement upon it. Indeed the whole to a considerable distance down could be sensibly put in vibratory motion by the hand ; and our companion— very wisely we must say—declined ascending to the " tip top." We were here reminded of our excellent townsman Mr. Samuel Hohne, who ascended the spire of St. George's sows years ago, when it was undergoing repairs. Mr. Holme had only ascended about half the height, when he suddenly be came unnerved and tremulous, and it was with great diffi culty Mr. H. was landed in Castle-ditch. It is very evident that Mr. H. would not then do for a high churchman—low church and no Puseyism suits him better. It is not a little remarkable that one of the men who assisted Mr. H. down the spire of St. George's, is employed on that of St. Michael's : he is now upwards of seventy years of age. But to return to the cross of St. Michaal's. We are unable to do justice to the splendour and extent of the prospects that presented themselves on every side, form ing an uninterrupted panorama, in which the beauties of na ture, and the achievements of art, were brilliantly blended, producing an harmonious whole, the contemplation of which gave rise to indescribable feelings of delight, and conjured up a thousand reminiscences of the olden times, and the pro - gress of human science and perseverance. Our first sensa tions were those of surprise and admiration of the extent and diversity of the world of land and water, plain and mount.:in, field and grove, hamlet and town that surrounded us. The whole of Liverpool appeared to be spread out under our eye like a map, or rather a finely chiselled model, over which hung here and there a thin veil of smoke. Other portions were clearly definable, but individual objects lost their ap pearance of magnitude, and partook of miniature neatness. The streets immediately below became long, narrow, smooth walks ; the proud lords of the creation who traversed them, (how humbling to their vanity) ! appeared no bigger than Lilliputions creeping about ; the more distant public edifices, and rows of stately mansions on elevated sites resembled chimney ornaments. The public squares showed like little parterres or children's gardens, yet the whole town occupied an immense area that impressed the mind with a sort of tri umphant sense of its magnitude. The sun gleamed on the house tops, and on dome and tower and spire, throwing the latter into bolder relief; and rows of windows in peculiar positions gave back his evening rays like burnished gold. The broad expanse of Old Mersey, seen from its mouth to the Helsby hills, also glittered in the gladdening beam, and the gallant ships merely spotted his bosom. Che shire looked like a beautifully-coloured crumpled map, and the 'Welsh mountains rose majestically behind. The fields and enclosures in Flintshire were less distinctly yet pleasingly developed, for as the poet sings " 'tis distance lends enchantment to the view." Had the atmosphere been a little clearer, the Isle of Man, and the sea, far to the north west would have also met . the eye, On the Lancashire side, the land, with every promenent object, was distinctly defined from Speke in the south, round to the north beyond the ex tremity of the heights of Everton. The houses and buildings of the town had a clean, lively, and we may add, splendid appearence ; and when we gazed upon its wide extent and palacial buildings ; heard the loud hum of commerce that ascended from its busy streets and quays, and beheld its noble river—we could not but inwardly exclaim, with a feeling of pride and gratification, " This is what was but a few centuries ago a little fishing village, and more recently her Majestic's poor decayed towne of Lerpole,' as it was denominated by ' Good Queen Bess,' when in consideration of the poverty of the inhabitants, she remitted the small amount of taxes that had previously been levied upon them !" But we must here conclude. Having gratified our curiosity and given three cheers for the future prosperiety of the " good old town," we descended from our airy height, and with less difficulty than we accomplished the ascent, safely reached terra firma, again to mingle with the forked bipeds of the nether world. LIVERPOOL AUTUMN MEETING THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23 The ST. LEGER STAKES of 25 sovs. each, £5O added, fo thug., yrs old. Colts Bst 71b, fillies Bstslb. One mile am three-quarters. Mr. Bell's gr c The Squire Mr. Ogden's b c Brother to Harpurhey The PALATINE STAKES, a Handicap Sweepstakes of 2 sovs each, 10 ft, with a Gold Cup or 100 Sovs added by the members of the Palatine Club. Two miles Mr. Graydon's ch la Clinker, 5 yrs Mr. Vansittart's ch g Smollett, 6 yrs Mr. Bell's b c Thirsk, 3 yrs The SELLING STAKES of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 sovs added. Three yrs old 7st 21b, four Bst 71b. five Bst 121 b. six and aged 9st 21b ; mares and geldings allowed 31b Mr. Bell's b m La Sage Femme, 5 yrs .. (Conolly) 0 4 1 1 Mr. Wilkins' ch g Clem-o'th'-Clough, 5 yr 5...... 0 1 5 2 Mr. Buckley's ch c by Laurel, 3 yrs Lord Eglinton's br c Assagai, 3 yrs Mr. Worthington's b h Northenden, 6 yrs.... Mr. J. Osborne's ch g the Emperor, 3 yrs. 0 2 d Mr. Goodman's b f Sister to Glencoe, 3 yrs 0 3 d (Conolly) (Noble) The first a dead heat THURSDAY. The ORMSRIRK PURSE added to a Handicap of sovs each, for three yrs old. One mile Sir R. W. Bulkeley's b f Cerrito Mr. Vansittert's b c Galaor The WILTON STAKES of 30 sovs each, 20 ft, with 50 adde Lord Eglinton's br c by Velocipede, 2 yrs (Oates) Mr. J. Osborne's br f The Gipsey Queen, 2 yrs Mr. Jacques's b c Playfellow, 2 yrs Lord Stanley's blk f The Lady of the Lune, 2 yrs Mr. Ogden's br c Brother to Harpurhey, 3 yrs The STEWARDS' CUP, or 100 sovs in specie, added to a su scription of 20 sovs each. Two miles and a half. Three yrs old 7st, four Bst 71b. five Bst 131 b, six and aged 9st 21b Mr. Bell's gr c The Squire, 3 yrs Mr. Wreford's b c Warden, 4 yrs Mr. Mostyn's b c Prince Caradoc, 3 yrs Mr. Wreford's br h Roscius, 5 yrs Mr. Goodman's b m Orelia, 5 yrs ... A PLATE of 50 sovs, for three years old 7st, four Bst 51b, fiv Bst 121 b, six and aged 9st 21b ; mares and geldings allow 21b. Heats, once round. Mr Graydon's ch h Clinker, 5 yrs ..... Mr Heywood's gr c Mr Whippy, 3 yrs Mr vansittart's ch g Smollett, 6 yrs . • Lord Eglinton's br c Assagai, 3 yrs.. • . Lord Stanley's blk f Nightshade, 3 yrs. Mr J, Taylor's br m Margaret, 5 yrs Seven drawn. (Stagg) Conolly 1 0 1 5 1 2 6 0 d 3 d 4 d PJtlDE.—Pride_ is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece ; but it is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it. Franklin, SALE OF THE LATE SIR THOMAS STANLEY'S STUD, AT HOOTON. The following were the prices at which the horses of this capital stud were sold by Messrs. Lucas and Co., on Tuesday last : • BROOD MARES.—Rabbitcatcher's dam, a Brown Mare, 33 ; Augustina, 20 ; Blue Bell, a Bay Mare, 76 ; Bay Mare, 75 ; Violet, a Gray Mare, 26 guineas. FOALS.--Bay Colt, by Bildcatcher, 10; Bay Filly, 42 guineas. YEARLINGS. — Brown Filly, 28; Bay Filly. 9; Bay Colt, 46 ; Bay Colt, 28 guineas. --- HORSES IN TRAlNlNG.—Apothecary, 82; Chesnut Colt, 54; Chesnut Colt, 40; Brown Filly, 31; Bay Colt, 150 • I Chesnut Colt, 55 guineas. HUNTERS.—Gray Mare, a well-known first-rate hunter, 113 ; Warwick, a Bay Gelding, 110 ; Scampering Dick, 90 ; Bay Mare, 46; Gray Mare, 61 ; The Count, a Chesnut Gelding, 37; Captain, a Black Ditto 25 ; Chesnut Gelding, 40 ; Glasgow, a Bay Gelding, 44 ; Button, a Bay Ditto, 23 guineas. CARRIAGE HORSES.—Lawrie Todd, 19 ; Bay Gelding, 26 ; Bay Ditto, 18 ; Piccadilly, 35 ; Gasparoni, 28 guineas. HACKS.—Bay Mare, 21; Bay Cob Pony, 20; Bay Cob Pony, 24; Bay Gelding, 18; Chesnut Mare , (Hanoverian , ) 18 ; Bay Gelding, 37 ; Gray Pony, 24 ; Gray Gelding, 28 guineas. HALF-BRED STOCK.—STALLION.—Jack Palmer, 66 gui neas. BROOD MARES.—Bay Mare, 27 • Brown Mare, It ; Brown Mare, 12 ; Chesnut Mare, 17 •, Lady Fanny, Gray Mare, 17 ; Bay Mare, 22 ; Black Mare, 18 guineas. YOUNG H ALF-BRED STOCK.—Bay Gelding, five years old, 14 ; Brown Gelding, 23 ; Bay Gelding, 36 ; Bay Filly, 13 ; Black Gelding, 25 •, Chesnut Filly, 29 ; Irown Filly, 21 ; Gray Filly, 24 • Chesnut Filly, 20 ; Gray Filly, 1 6 ; Bay Gelding, 8 ; irown Gelding, 14 ; Gray Filly, 10 ; Bay Gelding, 9 guineas. The following are the prices procured at the sale of thorough-bred stock, by Mr. Lucas, on Wednesday : Charley, 37 ; Gilbert, 240; a Chesnut Colt, 170 ; David, 180; Bessy, 52 ; a Chesnut Mare, 11 ; a Bay Filly, 14 ; a Chesnut Mare, 14 ; a Bay Gelding, 11; a Bay Gelding, 28 a Chesnut Gelding, 35 ; a Brown Gelding, 16 ; a Bay Geld ing, 35; a Chesnut Colt, 38; Piccaroon, 38 ; a Brown Filly, 24; Pye-annot, 27; a dark Brown Horse, 54 ; Lady Middle ton, 30 ; a black Gelding, 22 ; tho Stallion Bay Conqueror, 50 ; a Bay Mare, 31 : a Brown Filly, 37; a Gray Horse, 44 ; a Slay Gelding, 21 ' • a Pair of Phaeton Horses, 52 ; a Bay Mare, 21; a Brown Gelding, 32 ; a Bay Carriage Colt, 38 ; the Baron, 17 ; a Bay Mare, 36 ; a Bay Gelding, 46 ; a Bay Gelding, 13 guineas. DETECTION AND APPREHENSION OF SMUGGLERS. A very extensive seizure of smuggled brandy was made by the inspector of the Bedminster division of the Bristol police and the collector and officers of Excise on Monday last, in the neighbourhood of Bridgewater. For some time past the excise authorities have had reason to suspect that contraband spirits were " run " on the Somersetshire coast, in the neigh bourhood of Uphill and Bridgewater, and efforts have been made to detect the smugglers and bring them to justice. A few days since, Inspector Bosworth received information that there were two waggons laden with brandy stationed at a beer-house at Cong:esbury, a village of Somerset shire. The inspector upon receiving this intimation imme diately waited on Mr. Amy, the collector of excise for the Bristol district, accompanied by whom, Mr. Bishop, the collector's clerk, and Messrs. Bowsher, Frailey, Kent, and Walton, excise-officers, he went in search of the smugglers. On arriving at Congresbury, on Sunday, it was found that the waggons had been driven away at seven o'clock that morning. They next traced them to Churchill, from Churchill to Cross, from Cross to Bridgewater, and from Bridgewater to North Petherton, at which village the pursuers arrived at 3 o'clock on Monday morning, and found the wag gons containing the contraband spirits standing in the street in front of an inn. In one of the waggons they found a man, and a boy named Charles Baulch, from whom they learned that their companions were in the inn. They then went into the inn and called up the landlord, and there found a man named George Tucker Kirtain, a resident of Plymouth, who was pointed out as the principal, a man named Richard Baulch, father of the boy, and a lad named Charles Edwards. On examining the waggons, they were found to contain 133 kegs, each of which contained about four and a half gallons of spirits of brandy, of very high strength. The men were immediately taken into custody, and the waggons, with their lading, and six horses by which they were drawn, seized and duly branded with the Queen's mark. The prisoners were then conveyed to Bristol by the railroad, and, by direction of the Excise authorities, taken before Captain Edwards, of Brislington, a magistrate of the county of Somerset, by whom they were remanded till Tues day. On that day they were again brought up before Captain Edwards and Mr. H. Ricketts, who, after hearing the case, were of opinion that it could only be adjudicated upon by the magistrates of the district in which the offence was commit ted. The prisoners were then-taken back to Bridgewater, and charged bofore Mr. George Brown, a magistrate, with having the spirits in their possession without having a regular permit. Aftor hearing the case, Mr. Brown ordered Kirtain to pay a tine of £lOO to the Queen, or in default to be impri soned for four months in Wilton gaol, and there kept to hard labour; Richard Baulch to pay a fine of £3O to the Queen, or be imprisoned for three months ; and Charles Baulch and Charles Edwards, against whom the evidence was not consi dered conclusive, were discharged. MISCELLANEOUS THE EARLDOM or ROSCOMMON.—It is rumoured in Falmouth, that a seaman called John Dillon, of the Linnet packet, is likely to obtain the title and estates of the earldom of Roscommon. His claim was urged some eighteen years ago, and he is now gone to London, having been summoned thither by a letter from the Court of Chancery.—Plymouth Jouinal. SUDDEN DEATIL—On Tuesday last a young man, named Isaac Beeton, groom to Mr. T. Topham, was married, and next morning was found dead in bed by the side of his bride. —Chester• Courant Be abstemious—in eating and drinking , at your own ex pense ; but when you feed at another person's, consume as much as you can possibly digest. --Punch. The price of corn advanced during the last week in almost all the markets from which Paris derives its supplies. Flour had also increased by lf. per sack ; and at the Paris market, on Monday, the middling quality sold for 57f. at the lowest, The sale amounted, on that day, to 1,800 sacks. In the de partments the price of wheat had fallen at Bordeaux, Brisac, Orleans, Pont 1 'Abbe, and St. Malo. MARRIAGES IN HIGH LIFE.—Sir M. White Ridley, Bart., at Heaton and Blagdon, Northumberland, married, on Tuesday last, at Ampthill Church, Bedfordshire, Miss Cecilia Anne Parke, eldest daughter of the Right Hon. Baron Parke. The venerable Archdeacon Bayley officiated at the ceremony. Baron and Lady Parke gave an elegant dijeuner at Ampthill Park, to a select circle. The happy bride and bridegroom shortly after two, started for Worthing, to pass the honeymoon.—The Hon. Miss Harriet Elizabeth Pitt, only daughter of the late, and sister of the present Lord Rivers, recently a maid of honour to the Queen, was mar ried, on Saturday last, to Mr. Charles D. Bruce, nephew of the Earl of Elgin: ' 6 DEATH FROM STARVATION.—Great excitement has pre vailed in the neighbourhood of Buxton-street during the past week, in consequence of the death of a stonemason named John Hanley, who was said to have died from want. Mr. Rutter consequently held an inquest on Thursday last, the details of which are truly heart-rending. It appeared that the deceased was in the 39th year of his age, and had a family of six children. About last Christmas he was ren dered incapable of work by an asthmatic complaint, and be came an out-patient of the infirmary. He applied to the overseers for relief, and they ordered him 4s. a-week, which was paid for a fortnight and then discontinued. He was offered work by the parish or required to go into the work house. He refused the latter, and was unable to work ;he said he would starve rather than be separated from his chil dren. During the last 11 months he had only done a fort night's work ; his eldest son gaining 5s 6d a-week at a factory, out of which 2s 2d was paid for rent. Upon this miserable pittance the whole family had lived, and were kindly assisted by the neighbours. On Sunday night last he expired, having made two substantial meals of potato-pie ;he had had no solid food for a long time before, the family living on potato hash, without meat, and sometimes going without food for two days together. 'Mr. Goddard, one of the jury, corrobo rated these statements, and many neighbours spoke of the same facts, adding, that the deceased had expressed his de termination not to be separated from his family by going into the workhouse. The ju r y re t urne d a verdict of " Died of disease of the lungs, accelerated by the want of the ordinary necessaries of life." --Manchester Chronicle. RAILWAY EXCURSION EXTRAORDINARY.—The London going mania is growing on us. For the last three weeks many of the inhabitants of the towns of Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Cirencester, have been busily employed in getting up a party to London. We understand some individuals in Chel. tenham agreed with the directors of the Great Western Com pany that they should take 800 or 1000 persons up to London and back again for £5OO. Accordingly, on Monday last, coaches, cabs, omnibuses, carts, &c. poured their contents into the good old town of Cirencester from various parts — some to go to London, and others to watch them off. " The way to the railway" was the inquiry of the morning, and the banks on each side of the cutting was lined with young and old, great and small, for two miles up the line, all anxious to take one " longing lingering loak" of those dear souls who were about leaving them for the tine sights of Lon don city. At about half-past 10 o'clock the special train started with about 850 persons. The arrangements of the company were most excellent, and effectually prevented the chance of any accident. The day was very hot, and the train stopped at most of the principal stations in order that the passengsrs might refresh themselves. The train arrived at Paddington at about three o'clock. Wednesday was the dap fixed for the return of the train, in expecta tion of which many persons assembled to welcome their friends round the station and on the first and second bridges over the line. The train left Paddington at six o'clock, and arrived at this station at about twelve o'clock at night. Coaches, omnibuses, carts, &c., were again put in requisition, but many were still obliged to see the refreshment of " downy rest" in the good old town of Cirencester that night. The party was taken up by the Stromboli, and brought down by the Heels, two of the most powerful en gines the company possess. 13s. 6d. was the price of the tickets, and which cleared the passenger to London and back. W e understand that the projectors of the trip would have suffered a loss of about £lO or £2O, but that they made a subscription in the carriages, and many of the passengers subscribed ls. each towards the liquidation of the loss. The receipt of the Great Western for this week is £14,501 13s. 9d. —Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. NORTH AMERICAN ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS.—In ano ther column we have noticed the arrival at Liverpool, on Tuesday night, from Halifax, of the royal mail steamer Co lumbia, under the command of Captain Judkins, after a splendid run across the Atlantic of somewhat less than ele ven days. In again noticing the regularity with which the Boston and Halifax line of steamers arrive, we may take oc casion to state—and we do so on the authority of some of our English contemporaries—that Messrs. Cunard, of Halifax. George Burns, Esq., of this city, and David M'lver, Esq., of Liverpool, have lately entered into a new con tract with government, whereby, in consequence of the in troduction of certain extra stipulations, they are to h_ ave their allowance increased to £ BO,OOO a- y ear, instead of £56,000 as formerly, with a corresponding advance for a weekly sailing. In consequence of this opportune assistance, and in conformity with the terms of the contract, the con tractors and their copartners in Glasgow will, we learn', proceed immediately to build another large and powerful steamer for the communication across the Atlantic. In fact, but for this timely aid of govern ment the old contra c t must have been abandoned, so far had the actual expense of navi gating the Atlantic by thesesteam-vesasnelds exceeded nteedceodtrlaiceteoars.l culations of both the government Neither party was possessed at the time of sufficient experi ence to guide them , and the additional sum th us a c q uired was only obtained after a long and rigid investigation of the facts of the case by the Admiralty. When it is remembered how essential it is that a regular communication, and parti cularly at this time, should be kept up with our North Ame rican possessions, and how well the present contractors have proved themselves qualified to perform their work, we think we may safely say that it would have been wrong to let so important a line drop for want of the necessary ;support. We have, moreover, reason to know that the government complimented the contractors, not only for having acted up to the terms of their previous contract, but also for having far exceeded them.—Glasgow Courier. 1-. :` The Hon. Octavius Duncombe, brother to theilitrtbil• member, has been elected for the North Riding of Yorkshire. On Sunday week the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells at tained his 80th year. His lordship is in excellent health. CURRENCY. — Since July, 1839, the currency has been ex tremely limited in amount. In July, 1840, it did not exceed £36,000,000 for the United Kingdom, and in July, 1841, it was only £35,444,783. The Right Hon. J. C. Herries has come forward as a candidate for Ripon, in the room of Sir E. Sugden, who has accepted the Chancellorship of Ireland. OLD AGE.—Selezza do Pedraida praising an old lady for her beauty, she answered that " beauty was incompatible with old age." To which Selezza replied, "We say, beau tiful as an angel,' and yet the angels of all creatures are the most ancient." THE REV. H. E. HEAD.—The Bishop of Exeter has at length thought it necessary to institute proceedings against the Rev. H. F. Head, rector of Feniton. This gentleman has frequently attracted the attention of the public, but the last cause of complaint arises from some remarks which Mr. Head has thought proper to make in a pamphlet which he has recently published, and the purport of which may be gathered from the title, "a view of the duplicity of the present system of episcopal ministration." Among the extraordinary anomalies of the present day is that of the authors of the reform act vehemently protesting that the reformed house does not represent the people or public opinion. If this were true, what would it amount to but an acknowledgement that their own much vaunted act has been a failure and a cheat ? The truth however is, that as long as the constituency under the reform act produced a Whig-radical majority, the measure was all perfection ; but now that the reverse is the case, its very authors are driven to the shabby recourse of "crying stinking fish." INTENDED STEAMERS ON WINDERMERE LAKE. — (From a Correspondent.)—lt is rumoured that the Fort Fleetwood. Company, together with several individuals at Ulverston, are getting up a project which, if carried into effect, will cause a greater influx of company to the lakes of Westmorland and Cumberland, through Fleetwood and tiverston, and which, it is expected, will rival, if not eclipse, the present line of road through Kendal and Penrith northward. Their plan is to cut a ship canal from Bardsea, through Ulverston, to the foot of Windermere Lake, at Newby-hridge. and p!y the steamers direct from Fleetwood to Ambleside Waterhead. It is also intended to spend £20,000 in making a good road over Kirkstone to Patterdale, on which omnibuses and coaches may run to Penrith, and thence to Carlisle, Scotland, &c. AWFUL OCCURRENCE. — On Friday week five pilots en barked in a six-oared gig from Guernsey, in search of vessels. Three of them successively boarded and were engaged by as many vessels ; the other two were overtaken on their return homeward by a tremendous hurricane, accompanied with tor rents of rain, vivid lightning, and heavy thunder. It has since been ascertained that they were driven on the coast of France, as the pilot-boat was found by one 4> guard off Flamanville, with the two men dead. 'I doubtless, been struck by the electric fluid, since the the boat was rent to pieces, the mast was standing, and the two men were in a sitting posture at the foot of it, having se veral livid marks about their heads and other parts of their bodies. The boat had shipped no water, and the provisions were not exhausted. A few evenings ago, a well-dressed man, whose name and person were unknown, having enveloped his head in a hand kerchief, laid it upon the railway between Brussels and Ma lines, in order that it might be crushed by the first train. This took place, and the unfortunate man, in whose pockets no money of any kind was found, was buried at Ever. SHOOTING EXTRAORDINARY.—On the 9th of September, James Capp, gamekeeper to R. C. Vaughan, Esq., Burlton Hall, Salop, found a covey of partridges, consisting of eleven birds, in a small field of standing rye, at Sleape ; with the first barrel he killed nine, and with the second he killed one, and wounded one, which flew to the end of the field, when it rose, and Capp killed it, being the last of the eleven. DR. MARSHAL HALL ON MEDICAL REFORM.—This ably physician has addressed a small pamphlet of some 16 pages to the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., on the subject of medical reform. The doctor says—" It is no part of the ob jects of the sincere medical reformer to injure existing in stitutions ; his object is rather to introduce a perfect and just reform in them, whilst he would legislate on just and gene rous principles for the whole profession, and for the public at large." He then proceeds, to develope his plan for re form, which is based on a general incorporation of all the members of the medical profession, doing away entirely with all needless and invidious distinctions among prac titioners, making it incumbent upon every individual to be come a member of " the faculty," which act is to entitle him to practise with eqal rights, in all parts of the empire; but honours must be sought for from the existing reformed institutions. The present medical and surgical schools, with the universities, are to be unaffected, " the faculty being an institution for examination and licensing only." Druggists are to be incorporated among themselves ; are to be pre vented from practising ; but are to be protected in the sale of drugs. The doctor's plan is further developed in " Obser vations addressed to the Provincial Medical Association. " which are added in an appendix.—Times. SKETCHES BY "H. B."—" Beginning in Good Old English Style," is the title of one of the last of this amusing artist's productions. It represents a pugilistic contest about to take place between the late Secretary for the Colonies and the present First Lord of the Treasury. The Duke of Wel lington acts as bottle-holder to the baronet, and the Lords Melbourne and Palmerston are to "pick up" the little man, whom his adversary is about to "floor." An Irish bully is exclaiming, " Now, Johnny, mind your hits," and a stout gentleman urges the combatants to proceed to business. There is not much humour in this sketch, but the likenesses are good. Two others are better. " The Fox and the Crow " represents the little pugilist of the above-mentioned sketch as a fox cajoling the crow, who is his antagonist, to sing. The crow has opened his mouth to emit his notes, and in so doing lets slip a piece of cheese, on which is written " Sliding Scale." This sketch is spirited and humorous. The third exhibits " A Pair of Sad Boys "—viz., Lords Melbourne and J. Russell walking arm-in-arm. They frown in grim resentment at a butcher's boy, who puts the homely but very pertinent question, " Does your mother know you're out ?" SLAVERY IN BRITISH INDIA.—A numerous deputation from the committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, accompanied by several members of Parliament, had an interview on 'Wednesday, with the right hon. Sir R. Peel,:Bart., to present a memorial on slavery in British India. The deputation was most courteously received, and they were informed by the right hon. baronet that previous to the intimation of the committee of their desire of an in terview, he had directed the attention of the noble lord the President of the Board of Control to the subject of the me morial, as deserving the most serious attention of the go vernment. Luring the time that Sir John Campbell was Attorney- General he was ordered by the House of Commons to prosecute a Dr. Webster for alleged bribery, on the occasion of the St. Alban's election. Has anything yet been done in the matter ? One can easily understand that the whigs would, in all probability, wish to stifle further proceedings, but that is no reason why the order of the house should not be acted upon by the conservatives.—Correspondent of the Morning Post. INCREASE OF THE ROYAL NAVY.—Thursday, the Ad miralty had quite a warlike appearance in consequence of the number of bills stuck up at the gateway of the names of ships put in commission for foreign service, and notice to petty officers, able-bodied seamen, and seamen, lads, and musicians wanted to join them. At Woolwich, Sheerness, Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth dockyards, the great est activity prevails in getting them ready for service ; but some difficulty is experienced in obtaining able seamen at those ports, and at the general rendezvous, Queen's Head, Tower-hill, as there is a great demand at present for the merchant-service and American.—Nornikist Chronicle. SUICIDE OF A CHlLD.—Yesterday afternoon the following determined act of sell-destruction was committed by a girl about 13 years of age, named Mary Cattle, or Callow, residing with her parents, in Glocester-cottage, William-street, Mai den-lane:--In the morning, the deceased having accidentally broken a window, her mother threatened to tell her father, a vender,of catsmeat, on his return home. and also threatened to give her a beating herself. The girl said nothing, but watching an opportunity, opened the street door, and ran away. She was not missed for some time, but the mother wanting her, called her several times, but receiving no answer, she began to search about the place, and went to several of the neighbours' houses, inquiring if they had seen her. No tidings could be learned of her until about one o'clock, when some boys who were playing on some dust hills, near the Maiden-lane basin of the Regent's Canal, saw her deli berately plunge into the water, and almost immediately dis appear. They informed some men who were at the Albion public-house of the circumstance, who procured the drags from that house, and -after using them for some time, suc ceeded in getting the body out. It was taken to the above house, but all attempts at resuscitation were fruitless. The deceased, no doubt, committed the act under the fear of the ill-treatment of her father, who, the neighbours state, is in the habit of beating his children in a very unmerciful man ner, so much so that a short time since one of his boys was beat in so cruel a manner that he ran away, and was absent for three week. On the fact of her daughter having com mitted suicide being communicated to the mother, she be came greatly excited, attributing to herself the cause of de ceased's death.—Times of Thursday. PEEL POLICY.—The speech of Mr. Yates Peel, at Tarn worth election, affords satisfactory evidence to those who look for literal explanations of the policy about to be pursued by Sir Robert Peel's government towards Ireland, that it is de signed to be, in the strictest sense of the words, impartial and even-handed. The following passage is from Mr. Yates Peel's address :—All men might not be agreed as to what Justice to Ireland meant. If Justice to Ireland meant the dealing of ' heavy blows and great discouragements' to the Protestant Church,—if it meant that the Established church was to be robbed of its revenue—if it meant that Irish pro testant noblemen and their agents were to be murdered in open day, that the assassinations were to be witnessed by many, and that the assassins were to be suffered to escape —no man interfering; that no persons were to dare to point outthe murderer—if it meant that when a tenant gave a vote to a Protestant landlord, his house was to be marked with a death's head and cross-bones,' and himself pointed out to popular execration; if this were what it meant, he did not know that he should himself be any great advocate for ' Justice to Ireland.' But, if it meant that no man should suffer on account of his religious opinions, whether Protes tant or Catholic,—if it meant that the rights of the Catholic should be respected,—if it meant that the mansion of an Irish nobleman, or the cabin of an Irish peasant, should be as sacred as the residence of an English nobleman, or the cottage of an English labourer,—if it meant that the provi sions of any acts of parliament beneficial to Great Britain should be extended to Ireland,—then he should raise his voice in favour of ' Justice to Ireland as loudly as any per son."—Which party can desire more than justice ? Not the Protestants of Ireland, certainly ; and should Mr. O'Con nell's deluded followers clamour for more, they will find they will not succeed in extorting it. SLIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.--Sir Walter Scott, walking one day along the banks of the Yarrow, where Mungo Park was born, saw the traveller throwing stones into the water, and anxiously watching the bubbles that succeeded. Scott inquired the object of his occupation. " I was thinking, answered Park, " how often 1 had thus tried to sound the rivers in Africa, by calculating how long a time had elapsed before the bubbles rose to the surface." It was a slight cir cumstance, but the traveller's safety frequently depended tio portion upon it. In a watch, the main spring forms a small ipor So of the works, but it propels and governs the whole._sli, ht it is in the machinery of human life e : Ruler to to cir cumstancede- range is permitted by the Divine a small peb ble or to alter it; a giant falls b y public inn changes the ; a girl at the door of fortune of an empire. If the n a oseof and brilliant shorter, said Pascal, in his epigrammatic Cleopatra had been The Mahomedans have a tradition, man ner, the condition of the worldwotnliladt havene h their i prophet . , his pursuers were deceived concealed himself in Mount S e hu might have been a lawyert Erfurt ; Scotland had wanted by a spider's web which covered hdatdhemisnofruitehodofatnhde Lu therecoamvep;anionescaped the thunder-storm of A t n h d e r e p w r %a Castleh ha ;d and t i C u b a carried, in 1764, his memorable her startled stern him reformer fohriintehre if f diency of charging " certain to the exPe . America , resolution as if Mr. Grenville bad thaepeaalpopfeaslt. stamp duties".lolitatvhee hpolawnetdattioonthsemßritishScep sceptre. western eowley world might st i ll have been a poet, if he had not found the Fairy might have perished in mother's parlour Opie f lie had not looked over the shoulder of mute 0 companion, Mark Otes, while he wak drawing a hi s young ~ b u tterfly; Giotto, one of the early Florentine painters, might hays continued a rude shepherd boy, if a sheep drawn by him upon a stone had not attracted the notice of Ciwabire as Zitfehetaniie,svceuris. . rity, i he went that wa,..---/Ixiat;c Jouriad rih• Septembe,',