The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-12-28 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS. THE LADIES' CHARITY BALL will take place this (Tuesday) evening at the Town-hall. THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' CHARITY BALL will take place on the 12th of next month. A PRINTER has just returned to Accrington with £2,000, the fruits of three years' labour in Australia. MR. COUNCILLOR THOMSON has just given the sum of £lB to be distributed among our various local charities and schools. THE IRON MERCHANTS OF LIVERPOOL have agreed to advance the wages of the extra iron porters from 3s. to 3s. 6d. a day. ISLE OF MAN.—A new court house is about to be built on the Hil's estate, opposite the gate leading to St. George's Church, Douglas. THE MANCHESTER BANQUET to the Hon. J. R. Inger soll, the American Minister, will be given at the Town hall, on Friday, the 7th of January. ROBBERY.—On Friday last, Mr. Desmond, poulterer, Eldon-street, lost from his pocket, whilst at his stall in St. John's Market, £2O in gold and silver. CORONER FOR THE AMOUNDERNESS DIVISION.—The high-sheriff has fixed Tuesday next for the election of a coroner in the place of the late Mr. Palmer, of Preston.g. GRAND MASONIC BALL.—We understand active arrangements are making for this festivity, which is ex pected to take place early in February, and will be carried out on the usual magnificent scale. THE LIVERPOOL NIGHT ASYLUM.—Mr. F. L. Haus burg, of Church-street, with his usual liberality, pre sented to this institution 150 lbs. of beef, and 150 lbs. of bread, to be distributed among the inmates on Christmas day. COUNTY MAGISTRATES.—R. Hopwood, jun., Esq., and John Livesev. Esq., of Blackburn, and the Rev. E. C. Monbrion, and James Brandwood, Esq., of Over Darwen, have been placed i❑ the commisaion of the peace for this county. LIVERAOL AND HOLYHEAD. — The Electric Telegraph Company have made a proposal to tike the Semaphore Telegraph from Liverpool to Holyhead. It has been laid before the Dock Committee, and referred to the Marine Board. l'AccrsAnoN.—ln consequence of the increased mor tality from small-pox, in the district of Warrington, the Poor-law Board have addressed a letter to the guardians there, urging them to use every effort to promote vacci nation. APOTHECARIES-BALL.—On Thursday, the following passed their examination, and received certificates to practise : Thomas Wild, Ramsbottom, Lancashire; James Sherwood Dodd ; John Augustus Sommers, Liver pool. ANNUAL DOLE OF ALMS. - On Tuesday last, St. Thomas's Day, the customary dole of bread was made at St. Thomas's Church, by the ministers and churchwardens, to sixty poor deserving persons. This charity was left by the late John Okill, Esq. " EXTRAORDINARY DEATH..--Last week a little boy was sent to purchase some beefsteak in Manchester. On his way home he was attempting to swallow some of the raw meat, when a piece about four inches in length stuck in his throat and suffocated him. COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH AMERICA.—At the meeting, on the 7th, of the New York Chamber of Com merce, the committee to which had been referred letters from the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce announced that they were not prepared to report. LIVERPOOL TOWN MISSION.—A juvenile bazaar was held on Tuesday last, by the young ladies attending the school conducted by Mrs. Lang and Miss Steele, Upper Stanhope-street, in aid of the funds of the Liverpool Town Mission. The sale realised £9 Is. 6d. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday last, William Pritchard, 14 years of age, who resided in Holland-street, died in the Southern Hospital, in consequence of having had his leg nearly torn from his body, he having got entangled in the machinery at Mr. Horsfall's foundry on the previous evening. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—lnformation was received at the Liverpool Police-office, yesterday, of the robbery of £4,500, consisting of notes for large amounts, from the person of a clerk of the London Joint-stock Bank. Princes street, London. A reward of £3OO is offered for the appre hension of the thieves. RAMSEY AND LIVERPOOL. STEAM-PACKET.—A con tract has been entered into with Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead, for a large and powerful steam-ship, to be ready for the Ramsey and Liverpool Station, early next season. She is to be about the length of the Tynwald, with an average speed of 16 knots per hour. CAPTAIN WILLIAM DOWNWARD.—The passengers of the Anna, one of the " Fox" line of Australian emigrant ships, on their arrival at Melbourne, addressed two com plimentary letters to Captain William Downward, son of Mr. T. Downward, of thistown, in which they speak most highly of his courteous kindness and seaman-like skill. MECHANICS' INSTITUTION SCHOOL.—At the breaking up of the evening school of the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution, before leaving their teacher, the pupils be longing to the senior French class presented their master, Mr. Louis Hubert, with a gold pencil-case, and an ad dress expressive of the high esteem they have for him. GARSTON TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.—On Christmas even ing the members of the above league held their usual weekly meeting in the National School-room, Mr. Richard Bates in the chair. Mr. George Williams, from Boston, U.S., and Mr. J. A. Bennett, of Liverpool, ad dressed the members of the newly-formed league, which is rapidly increasing. DEATII iv Ma. VINCENT.—The gallant conduct and exertions of this gentleman, during the destruction of the West ludia mail steam-ship Amazon, in which he was a midshipman, and his subsequent visit to Liverpool, ren dered him an object of interest here. He afterwards joined the Esk West India mail steam-ship, as second officer, and has now fallen a victim to the yellow fever. ACCIDENT ON SHIPBOARD.—On Wednesday night last, as the ship Isaac Wright was off the North-west light ship, the crew were taking in the main -sail, when, in con sequence of his foot slipping, one of the hands fell on the deck, a depth of about 20 feet, and fractured his skull so severely as to cause his death in about half an hour. The deceased's name was Robert Newman, who was 28 years old. ROBBERY or £7o.—While Mr. and Mrs. Cliffe, who occupy a grocer's shop, at the corner of Northgate and New Market-street, Blackburn, were at church on Sun day evening last, their house was broken open by thieves, and the sum of £7O in cash was stolen from the cash box kept in the bed-room. The streets at the time this dar ing burglary WPS committed are said to have been crowded with passengers. PARISH SURVEYOR.—The select vestry having deter mined upon appointing a permanent surveyor to the parish, offered by advertisement a salary of £4OO a-year. In reply to which twenty applications have been sent in. The sub-committee, on Friday last, reduced the names to three, which will be submitted for the ultimate selection of the general board. The three are—Messrs. Morgan, smith, and Graham. TESTIMONIAL TO DR. HYAMS.—This gentleman, on Tuesday last, was presented with a complimentary address by his medical colleagues, on resigning his appointment as one of the medical officers of the Liverpool Friendly So ciety, on account of ill-health, and his intention to pro ceed to Australia. He had held office in the society for sixteen years. The address was presented in the board room of the Savings'-bank, Bold-street, by Dr. Callon, of Islington. TESTIMONIAL TO THOS. WATSON, ESQ.—A party of between 30 and 40 friends of this gentleman took supper together at the house of Mr. Blundell, Scotland-road, on Tuesday last, when the chairman—Mr. Dumbell—pre sented Mr. Watson, in the name of the subscribers, with a handsome silver tankard, salver, and snuff-box, " as a token of esteem and regard for his high moral worth, his ability as a teacher, and kind and honourable conduct on all occasions." TEMPERANCE VESSEL.—The barque Jane of Beau marls, Richard Hughes, master, sailed from Liverpool for Savannah, yesterday week, with a general cargo. Mr. Hughes, late Captain of the barque Higginson, of Carnar von, has made no fewer than 25 voyages in that vessel and the Hindoo, to America, without losing a spar or aail, excepting one stenstal boom. With the exception of a small quantity for medicinal purposes, Mr. Hughes has invariably sailed without having ardent spirits on board. GOLD DIGGING IN ENGLAND.—The Mining Journal states, that about £l5OO have been realised from gold extracted from the gossan at the Britannia Mine. In consequence of this, further assays have been made by 111 r. Massey, in conjunction with Messrs. Johnson, and a yield - of upwards of 27 ounces of gold to a ton was esta blished from gossan in which the precious metal is not apparent to the naked eye. Of this gossan about 100 tons are now in course of preparation to be forwarded to Li verpool. DANGEROUS STATE OF A RESERVOIR.—At Todmorden, on the verge of this county, Redmyre's reservoir, which supplies water for the mills, &c., in the vicinity, has been filled to overflowing by the recent rains, and r few days ago it was discovered that a portion of the stonework had shrunk, so as to threaten a similar catastrophe to that which overwhelmed Holmfirth about ten months ago. The water has since been drained off, and every precaution used to prevent danger, and allay the apprehensions en tertained by the inhabitants of the valley. BANKRUPTCY COURT.—IN RE COME.—This bank rupt, late a shipbroker in this town, connected with the firm of Muir, Morton, and Co., appeared before Mr. Commission Perry, for his last examination, on Friday last. It was stated that an offer had been made to the creditors which had been acceded to, with the exception of one party, and that party was willing to take such a composition as in all probability the bankrupt's brothers would approve of. The case was then adjourned till the 13th of January, in order, if possible, to supersede the fiat. ESCAPE FROM THE BOROUGH GAOL. — John Smith, tried and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, at the late sessions, for stealing a cash-box from the Goat public-house, Peter's-lane, escaped from the Borough Gaol, between six and seven o'clock on Wednesday morn ing last. He is a joiner by trade, and having been at work in the yard adjoining his cell, he very adroitly attached pieces of timber to a long plank, which answered the purpose of steps, by means of which he ascended, and reached the top of the wall. He then let himself down outside, and effected his escape. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON THE RIVER.—A few minutes before eleven o'clock on Friday night last, a man made an attempt to terminate his career, by jumping into the river. He sprang clear over the guard-chains fronting the Landing-stage, and made a terrific plunge into the water. Fortunately, the Egremont steamer, James Atherton, was at hand, and her captain, George Briley, hearing the splash, and being hailed by the mate and officer No. 3, (James Fearon), of the Landing-stage, let go his ropes, and went to look for the unfortunate man. After some minutes' exertion, the would-be suicide was picked up, be having, it appeared, repented of his design, on feeling cold water, and swam for his life. He was conveyed by Fearon and police-officer 290 to the receiving -house, whgra the usual remedies were applied with success. The ?man staled his.oarne to be Fielding, of 46, Lime street. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 18.52. THE NEW BOROUGH GAOL.—This extensive building, at Walton, will, we understand, be completed and ready for the reception of prisoners by the close of the ensuing summer. The shell of the building is up, and the outer wall finished, so that the work remaining to be done is chiefly to put in the floors and fit up the cells branching on each side from the long corridor. When the gaol is ready for the purpose, debtors committed from the Borough will be sent there instead of to Lancaster Castle. EXTRAORDINARY BIRD.—Mr. Brennan, of St. John's Market, in this town, has a hen which appears like two birds, according to the side from which the spectator views it. The plumage and other peculiarities give ex ternal evidence of two distinct varieties. On one side she appears to the spectator a duckwing game hen, with small wattle and green leg : on the other she has the plumage of the dark-spotted China fowl, with long wattle and blue leg. On the leg last alluded to she has a large spur, on the other merely a small bud. By poultry fanciers she is considered a great curiosity. CHURCH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTION.—On Tuesday evening last, Joseph Hubback, Esq., one of the Vice presidents, delivered the third of the private course of lectures, addressed to the members in the rooms in Bold street. The subject was " Juvenile Delinquency," to which Mr. Hubback has so energetically devoted himself for years. The extent, the causes, and the remedies for this great evil were stated clearly and accurately, and the numerous attendance of members were much impressed by the important matters brought before their notice, and especially by the details of youthful vice as connected with the town of Liverpool. SCHOOL EXAMINATION.—On Thursday last, the public examination of the children attending St. Martin's schools took place. The answers of the children gave evidence of the pains bestowed upon them by Mr. U. J. Davis and Miss Tomlison. During the evening, the children sang several concerted pieces of music with admirable taste and precision. At the close of the examination, the Rev. C Wray addressed the parents ; and, in spoke of the zealous manner in which the teachers had discharged their duties. We are informed that the pupils privately presented their master with a valuable memento of their gratitude and esteem upon his leaving the school. THOMAS WRIGHT, THE PRISON PHILANTHROPIST. — The committee of gentlemen who took upon themselves the task of providing for Thomas Wright, of Manchester, whose peculiar claims upon the gratitude of the public are so widely known, have obtained, including £lOO from the Royal Bounty Fund, £3246, the larger portion of which has been thus disposed of :—£loo2 is. sunk in the pur chase of a Government annuity for Mr. Wright's life, producing £lO2 per annum ; and £2OOO to be invested immediately in Manchester Corporation bonds, producing £BO per annum. After deducting a small sum for ex penses, a balance of £lB6 remained, which has been paid over to Mr. 'Wright. BURGLARIES IN LIVERPOOL.—A gang of thieves ap pear to have taken up their quarters in this town, and have committed several depredations during the week. Yesternight week, in the absence of the inmates, the house of Mr. John Williams, No. 12, Bevington-bush, was entered by forcing in the back window, and wearing apparel to the value of £6 or £7 carried away.—On the same night, the house of Mr. Richard Briscombe, St. Paul's-terrace, Prince's-park, was entered through the coal-grid, but the thieves must have been disturbed, as nothing is missing. —On Monday night, also, a house in Peel-square, Cazneau-street. was entered by false keys, during the absence of the family, and a few articles of trifling value stolen. LIVERPOOL WELLINGTON TESTIMONIAL.—Amid the strife of contending factions, and the bitterness of party crimination and recrimination, it is gratifying to find that not only are the services of the late Duke of Wellington unforgotten, but that the public, of all shades of political opinion, willingly combine to testify their gratitude and appreciation of his integrity, both as a warrior and a statesman. In Liverpool, we are glad to perceive, the subscription opened for a substantial memorial of the duke has reached the sum of £5,250, which we hope, however, will be liberally increased, in order that it may be at once worthy the fame and merits of him whom it is meant to commemorate, and of the wealth and im portance of Liverpool, which must be regarded as the commercial capital of the British empire. COCKLE GATHERING IN MORECAMBE BAY.—The contemplated railway across the upper part of this picturesque arm of the sea will affect, it is said, more or less, the interest and livelihood of a numerous class of persons who obtain their living upon the sands ; and some idea may be formed of this feature of industry when we state that upwards of five hundred individuals are engaged upon the wharves and cockle skeers of Cartmel, in the daily pursuit of treading up cockles or other things. The sands whereon these marine shell-fish abound are only productive of the cockle for about two years, for when the sands have become hard, the cockles, not having atmospheric air, remove to another locality, and the cockle-gatherers are thus obliged to follow this law of nature, moving up and down the bay as the sands are indurated.—Preston Chronicle. MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SO CIETY.—The committee of management met at War rington, on the 16th instant, to decide on the puree of the annual meeting next year, and to revise the rules and list of prizes. R. Ledger, Esq. (agent to the Earl of Sefton) presided.—lt was unanimously resolved, that the next annual show of cattle and poultry, and the dinner should be at Warrington, on Wednesday, the 7th of September. The inspectors of farms and crops (Messrs. Rothwell and Dixon) reported the respective weights of the turnips and other green crops, grown this year and previously, entered for the society's prizes; and the committee decided to whom the prizes should be awarded, subject to the sanc tion of the annual meeting. The Journal of the society is expected to be in the hands of members in February. TRADE BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND NEW YORK.— The following is a statement of the tonnage cleared out from the port of Liverpool to New York, from January Ist to December 4th, 1852, with the American as com pared with the British tonnage : AMERICAN. BRITISH. Sailing vesselscleared } mom Sailin ut g vessels cleared} 35,714 out Steam ditto 1(1,597 356,221 I 39,144 Balance in favour of the American, 317,077 tons, or more than eight times the British. The greater portion of the British clearances are of vessels belonging to the timber trade, which went on to the St. Lawrence, after landing passengers at New York. Loading Loading CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The annual sale of articles, contributed gratuitously to the Everton Church Missionary Repository, in aid of the funds of the Society, commenced on Tuesday, and closed on Friday last, at the School-room, Mill-lane, Everton-road. The sale was superintended by Mrs. Ewbank. Among the articles for sale was a table well-stocked with clothing for the poor, which sold readily, in order to be given away to the de serving. There were a large number of cushions, of anti macassars,' and many other kinds of knitting, netting, and crochet work, wax flowers, dolls, drawings, screens, and " The Children's Tree," hung with the labours of juvenile promoters of the missionary cause. The sale occupied two of the school-rooms, and a third apartment was ap propriated to the sale of refreshments. At the close the total receipts were £lO5. DOCK COMMITTEE.—At the weekly meeting, on Thurs day last, Mr. Turner in the chair, several tenders for felt, sail, canvas, &c., were accepted. With respect to the work required at the Wapping Dock, it was decided that Mr. Hartley should furnish a schedule of prices, in order that the weekly bills might be examined before being signed, and the matter was left to the committee to be carried out. Mr. H. B. Hornbv, landing clerk at the Albert Dock warehouses, tendered his resignation on the ground of illness, and it was accepted. A letter was read from Messrs. T. Pearson and Co., iron -founders, asking for an increase in their contract for work at the Stanley Dock warehouses, on account of a large rise in the price of iron ; but the committee declined to comply. A letter from Mr. S. Mott, relative to a plan for forming a har bour of refuge between the Great and Little Ormsheads, was referred to the marine committee. OBSEQUIES OF THE LATE DUKE.—Under the title of "Obsequies of the late Field Marshal the Duke of Wel lington," a very elegant portfolio of lithograph engravings has just been published by Messrs. Maclure, Macdonald and Macgregor, of this town and of London, lithographers to her Majesty. It contains a portrait of the departed hero from the bust by Baron Marochetti, which was modelled from life for the equestrian statue at Glasgow, and a series of seven views of the ceremonies at the late funeral. The subjects depicted are as follows :—" Lying in State at Chelsea Hospital," "Departure of the Funeral Cortege from the Horse Guards," " Procession as seen from the top of the Triumphal Arch at Ansley House," " View at Trafalgar Square," "Arrival at St. Paul's," and " Interior of St. Paul's." They are executed with the fidelity of photography by Mr. Andrew Maclure, and each of them presents a finished picture of a scene of which it would be difficult to find a parallel. The many who are anxious for a memento of the Duke's Funeral cannot do better than obtain this exquisite portfolio. LIVERPOOL RAGGED SCHOOL SOCIETY.—The sixth annual meeting of this society was held at the Mission house, Bedford-street, on Wednesday evening last, at which George Holt, Esq., presided. The report of the committee spoke favourably of the present condition of the schoo?s, and hopefully as to the future. It urged the necessity of some national and systematic measure of education, to provide for the wants of the lowest classes, and for the safety and best interests of society at large. The average attendance during the last three months had been—boys' school between 60 and 70 ; girls 40 to 50. The number of boys now actually attending is from 80 to 90. In allusion to the new building contemplated in con nexion with the Liverpool domestic mission, the com mittee expressed a hope that it would be so arranged as that the two schools may be held under the same roof, and be placed under more complete superintendence. The report was approved and ordered to be printed. A committee for the ensuing year was then appointed, and the customary votes of thanks to the officers and the chairmen were passed unanimously. WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS. -At the weekly meeting on Wednesday last, the Rev. W. Badnall in the chair, Mr. Latham, relieving officer, called the attention of the board to a frightful case of depravity in Wright-street, Toxteth-park. A woman named Greig, the wife of a sailmaker, by her drunken and depraved habits, had reduced her husband and three children to the utmost state of destitution. The woman was confined a fortnight ago, on a bare mattress, and on Saturday last the husband gave her £2, after which she pawned his shirt ; and the children were naked and in a state of absolute starvation. On the officer visiting the house on Sunday, he did not find a single particle of meat. Several members expressed their indignation at the conduct of the woman, and an order was granted to take the children into the workhouse, on the condition that the father should pay for their board. It was subsequently ordered that a bill of £54 for rates due to Everton be paid, and that payment be insisted upon from the Everton overseers of the arrears of the last call made upon them. A com plaint was made against Mr. M`Govern, the out-door contractor for supplying bread to the poor, who it was alleged had not kept up to his contract of furnishing bread at a penny a pound. Several instances were cited in which he had been required to deliver 6d. and Is. loaves, when the farmer was found to weigh little rnore than albs, and the latter about 7lbs only. The ,clerk was Inured to write to the .Vo9.r-law Board.on the gai*ct, TESTIMONIAL TO MRS. H. B. STOWE.—At a meeting of ladies, held in the Institution-house, Slater-street, it was resolved to set on foot a subscription for a testi monial to be presented to Mrs. Stowe, the authoress of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," as a token of admiration for her genius, and of high esteem for her philanthropy and Christian feeling. The treasurers of the fund are Mrs. M'Neile, Mrs. Adam Hodgson, Mrs. Rawdon, and Mrs. Cropper. The trustees for it s t ransm i ss i on , & c. are Mr. Wm. Rathbone, Mr. Adam Hodgson, and Mr. John Cropper. A committee of ladies has been formed, which meets weekly to promote the object in view, at the Insti tution. house. HEALTH COMMITTEE.-At the weekly meeting of this board, on Thursday last, Mr. Langsdale in the chair, it was reported that the mortality of the borough for the past week was 173, of which 48 were in the extra-paro chial wards, being an increase of 25 on the previous week, and of 35 as compared with the average of the four pre ceding years. The decrease had been chiefly in diseases of the lungs—the deaths from which were 67 against 84 in the previous week. One death had occurred from delirium tremens ; and a boy of four years old had died from rheu matism. Plans, &c., were produced by a deputation from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, who sought permission to cross Boundary-street, Black stock-street, and Regent-road, by a railway at the north ern docks,—no locomotives to be used on the crossings. The plans were ordered to be submitted to the borough engineer, after which the matter would go before the committee for consideration. SPEED OF AN IRON STEAMER.—The Countess of Elles mere, iron steam-vessel, performed an unprecedented feat on Christmas day, by making two trips to Runcorn and back in one tide. She left George's Pierhead at S 30, a.m., (high water being at 10 45, a.m.,) and got back on her second trip at 1 30, p.m., thus occupying only five hours, including stoppages, in running a distance of about seventy miles. Allowing three-quarters of an hour for the various stoppages at Runcorn and Liverpool, and, con sidering that two of the trips were made with, and two against, the tide, her actual speed through the water must have been sixteen to seventeen miles an hour ; a great result from a vessel only eighty horse-power, when the strong gale of wind that blew during the greater part of the morning is taken into account, and that she was loaded with passengers. The Countess of Ellesmere was built by Mr. Laird for the trustees of the Duke of Bridgewater, for improving the passenger transit between Liverpool and Runcorn, and her performance on Saturday last proves not only that she has accomplished that object, but that she is the fastest steamer sailing from the Mersey. THE CORPORATION OF LIVERPPOOL V. THE CHORLEY Waranwonics COMPANY.—This case, which was an ap peal motion from a decision of Vice-Chancellor Kinders ley, and was argued a few days ago, stood on the paper of the Court of Chancery for judgment on Wednesday last. Lord Justice Cranworth delivered the judgment of the court in the case. His lordship said that the question in this case was the right, or the extent of the right, of the defendants to appropriate the water of a certain stream flowing down from the Anglesart-moor. By the Chorley Waterworks Act, in 1846, the defendants were made a company, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of Chorley with water, and powers were given them for that purpose. In the year 1847, the plaintiffs got their act, which enabled them to supply the town of Liverpool with water, by means of the purchase of old works and the construction of new works. It was said that the defend ants were diverting the water lower down the stream than they were entitled to do. The Vice-Chancellor Kinders ley, when applied to for an injunction in the terms of the bill, refused it except as to the diversion of the water. The plaintiffs, being dissatisfied, appealed. As to the diversion of the water, it was clear that the defendants were exceeding their powers, and the injunction as to that would be made perpetual. With regard to the com plaint that the defendants were using a covered culvert instead of an open one :—it was necessary that any party applying to compel the observance of the terms of an act of parliament should show an interest. In the present case the plaintiffs showed no interest, and the court, therefore, would not be justified in interfering. The unauthorised acts of the defendants, assuming it for this purpose, and for this purpose only, to be unauthorised, did not injure the plaintiffs. If, however, the defendants, in carrying on their works, did anything having this effect, the present decision would not prejudice the plaintiffs from coming again to the court by a fresh suit. The pre sent bill would be therefore dismissed, except as to the injunction against the diversion of the water, and there would be no costs on either side. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-WESTERN RAIL WAY.—On Wednesday night last a shocking accident occurred to the express train, which left the Lime-street station, in this town, for London, at 5. 15, p.m. The accident took place near Harrow ; and a guard, named John Bartholomew, was unfortunately killed. As is the usual practice, the engine from Liverpool was changed at Rugby, and another engine (No. 289), with the Midland train, comprising four carriages and a van, were attached in front o the Liverpool express train, making 16 carriages in all. A London and Birmingham guard was in charge of the Midland train. At eleven o'clock, having passed Rugby station about three quarters of a mile (travelling at its ordinary rate of about 40 miles an hour), the tire of the leading wheel of the engine suddenly broke, and came off, by which the engine, the van, and three of the Midland carriages were entirely disconnected from the Liverpool train. The fourth carriage of the Midland train, although not detached, was thrown off the up line, and projected over upon the down line. The engine itself was thrown upon its side, the van was smashed to atoms, and two of the carriages were driven upon the top of it. The guard of the train was found lying on the line in a shockingly mutilated condition, and life quite extinct. George Grace, the driver of the ex press engine, was found on his back in a field on the left- Inked side of the line, but, owing to the soft ne ss o f th e soil from the heavy rains, he was uninjured. Tits Stoker jumped on to the line, and also fell on his back, and had a narrow escape, as he states that the whole train of carriages passed over him. The alarm produced amongst the passengers (all of whom miraculously escaped unhurt) was very great; but before they had time to recover from the effects of the shock, and even before the passengers were released from the damaged carriages, a down goods train from London, consisting of 40 or 50 vans, came at a rapid rate, and not being aware of the accident, drove into the Midland carriage that projected on the rails, sending it with violence across the line. There were trio passengers in this carriage, but they sustained no injury by the collision, being able to escape through the window. The engine of the goods train and four waggons were, however, ejected from the line ; but in this case, also. the persons in charge of the train luckily escaped from injury. The driver of the goods-train, it is believed, jumped off, and it is stated that the only signal he had of the express being near was one of the passengers whistling to him with his fingers. He shut off his steam and re versed his lever, but was too close to stop the impetus on so heavy a goods-train. By the accident the line was completely blocked up, and a telegraphic message was sent to Mr. Bruyeres, the superintendent at Euston square, who promptly sent an engine and carriages to the spot, for the purpose of conveying the passengers and luggage to London. The passengers were accordingly transferred to the fresh carriages, and they left the scene of the accident at 3 30 on Thursday morning, and arrived safely in London at 4 12. LIVERPOOL WATER-WORKS.—The 36-inch Rivington mains are already laid the whole distance from Green lane to the Kensington Reservoir, and an additional line of pipes, 18 inches in diameter, are about to be extended to the foot of Prescot-street. The tunnel, we understand, will be so enlarged as not only to admit the laying of the larger pipes, but afford also a passage of sufficient size for a man to walk alongside of them and make any r equ i s it e repairs. The levels are such that it has been necessary to sink 40 feet on the crown of the hill. A more im portant work, however, is in progress—the covering in of the present reservoir at Kensington, and the formation of a second covered reservoir, of still larger capacity, on the land adjoining to it, and situated between that and the public road. The advantages of covered over open reservoirs are manifest. The water will be kept pure and cool ; and that vegetation which forms so rapidly in any fresh water lake exposed to the action of a summer sun will be entirely prevented. The two reservoirs, when completed, will cover six acres of ground, and will have capacity of storing not less than 18,000,000 gallons of water. The whole of the works are being carried out ac cording to the plans of Mr. Duncan, the local water engineer. They will not be finished till about this time next year. The sole contractors are Messrs. George Thompson and Co. ; and the cost, we understand, will be about £25,000. Messrs. Thompson are also the con tractors for the enlargement of the tunnel. It is likewise intended to commence immediately with the construction of another reservoir on the land at the head of High Park -street, in Toxteth-park. INQUESTS.—On Tuesday last seven inquests were held before P. F. Curry, Esq., coroner. On the body of John Allen, residing in No. 5, Emma Ann-street, who was found in the kitchen with his throat cut and a razor in his hand, yesterday week. He had for some time been in a very excited state.—On Thomas Haddocks, 53, Jordan street, who was taken suddenly ill on Friday week, and died about 5 o'clock the following morning, from natural causes.—On the body of a child named Ellen Donnell, 15 months old, residing with her parents in Midghall-st., who was taken ill with a very bad cough on Saturday night week, and died early on Sunday morning.—On Alice Richmond. 62 years old, a widow, residing with her daughter in Bispham-street, who died suddenly on Friday night. A post mortem examination was made by Mr. Kemp. surgeon, who found that she had died from con gestion of the lungs.—On one woman unknown, who was found in a state of insensibility on some waste ground near Raymond-street, on Monday morning, by a police officer, who conveyed her to the Northern Hospital, where she died soon after admission. The surgeon's opinion was that she had died from exposure.—On the body of George Brooks, a carter, residing in Upper Mann-street, who was driving a cart along the east side of the Queen's Dock, when he fell from the shafts, and the wheels passed over his breast, inflicting injuries of which he died in a few hours after at the Southern Hospital.—On the body of Rosannah M`Cabe, aged 40, who was run over by a cart in Great Howard-street, on the 15th instant. Verdicts in accordance with the evidence were returned in each case. On Friday an inquest was held on the body of William Rendell, aged 78 years, residing at 101, Limekiln-lane, corner of Oxford-street. A few hours previous to his death, deceased possessed the average character of health of a man of advanced years. There was little doubt that his exit was the natural result of the decay of nature; consequently the jury returned a verdict of " Death by the visitation of God."—Also, on the body of an unknown man, who was taken ont of the river, at Prince's pier head, on Tuesday evening. On his person was £1 is 8d ; his apparel bespoke him as having been a rigger. There were no papers or any little items that tended to lead to his recognition. Verdict, " Found drowned."—Also, on William Pritchard, 14 years of age, who met with a most fearful accident on last Tuesday evening, about five o'clock, at the Mersey Steel and Iron Company's Works, in Selton street. The poor lad was extracting some grease out of the crank-hole of a machine, when he slipped in ; and, becoming entangled in the " race" of the fly-wheel, was so frightfully lacerated that his existence was almost rendered hopeless. Verdict, " Accidental deal h." The jury appealed to the coroner, loudly complaining of the loss of time, sacrifice of business, and pecuniary expenses they have to incur without receiving any remuneration. The coroner sympathised with them, but stated, in his official capacity, he could not move in the matter. GENERAL NEWS. A PONY travelled in harness from Oxford to London and back, on Tuesday last within twenty hours. A MORMONITE female preacher, named Hendren, is in Nottingham gaol, for killing her illegitimate child. LADIES' ORNAMENTS, made of fish scales, by a family at Brussels, are offered for sale in a shop at Birmingham. THE LADY FLORA arrived in the Thames on Tuesday, from Port Philip, whence she sailed the 4th August, with 77,559 ounces of gold, valued at £310,000. AT THE YORK ASSIZES, Alfred Waddington, aged 20, who, at Sheffield murdered his illegitimate child, by cutting its head off with a sharp knife, was convicted and sentenced to be hanged. EDINBURGH REVIEW.—The gentleman who is to re place Mr. Empson in the editorship of the Edinburgh Review is, Mr. George Cornewall Lewis,—long the Whig financial secretary at the Treasury. THE LATE DUKE.—Prince Albert has given out Weimer Castle as the prize subject of an English poem to the under-graduates of Cambridge for next year :—the poem to he not more than 200 lines in length. TOBACCO.—In 1851, the total consumption of tobacco in Great Britain was 28,062,9781b5, being on an average more than one lb per head for each of the population. The revenue received from this source was £4,485,768. THE DUKE OF ATHOL, at a masonic meeting held last week, said it never was his intention to close Glentilt to any one ; but his rights being challenged, it became his duty, as life renter, to ascertain and defend them. THE ADELAIDE STEAMER..—This vessel, with the Aus tralian mails on board, is rapidly undergoing repair. It was expected that she would be ready for sea yesterday, and was to sail as early as possible afterwards. LUNATIC WITNESSES.-At the Middlesex Sessions it was decided that lunatics might be called in evidence, if it were first proved by the medical officer that they were capable of remembering facts that occurred before their lunacy. THE TELEGRAPHIC WIRES now being put up on the Caledonian and other railways, are erected at a cost of less than£s a-mile ; whereas the older telegraph on the North British and Edinburgh and Glasgow lines cost nearly £2OO a mile. SHIPPING.—There are at present fitting out in Sun derland twenty new vessels, the aggregate tonnage of which amounts to 8,661 tons, and upon the stocks in the building yards nearly a similar amount of vessels of an aggregate tonnage. A MR. GROVES was killed about a year ago by a rail way accident at Arundel, resulting from negligence. His relatives sued the Brighton and South Coast Railway for compensation ; and on Wednesday a special jury in the Court of Common Pleas awarded them £2,000. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. A few days since, the daughter of a tinsmith, at St. Andrew's, threw herself from a fourth storey, and fell at the feet of her father, who was taking off his shop shutters. Her skull was fractured, and she died in an hour afterwards. THE GERMAN FLEET.--Six steamers of the late Ger man fleet, which have long been lying in the Weser, have been sold to the English General Steam Navigation Com. pany for £30,700, and have been delivered to the crews sent from England to navigate them to England. LARGE CABBAGES.—On Tuesday last 50 cabbages, of the Scotch species, were cut out of a field at Nah, the property of Mr. James Horncastle, Lane, Holmfirth, averaging upwards of 321bs. each. Several of the num ber varied from 40 to 451bs. each.—Halifax Guardian. HAYNAU AND HIS PROTECTRESS.—A very handsome bracelet, set with diamonds, has been forwarded by a society of Viennese to the Austrian Embassy in London. It was intended for Mrs. Benfield, the landlady in Bank side, who saved General Haynau from the mob, but she has disappeared. COLLECTING THIS REVENUE.—By a parliamentnry re turn just issued, it appears that the cost of collecting the revenue, deducted from the gross receipts, and not paid into the Exchequer, for the year 1851, was £5,622,257, and that the total amount expended in 1850, which never reached the Exchequer, was £6,072,151. LEEDS is becoming notorious for highway robberies, committed with brutal circumstances. Many persons have suffered from thieves adopting the " garotte" system of overpowering them ; and now two cases are reported of men being pounced upon by a number of ruffians,knocked down, beaten and kicked, and then robbed. THE POTATO DISEASE.—M. Bayard recently commu nicated to the French Academy of Sciences a method of preventing the potato disease. Before planting the slices of potato he inserts into each a pea or more, according to the size of the piece. He then plants the slices, and the resulting crop is altogether free from disease. THE LATE DUKE'S speeches in Parliament are about to be published, uniformly with the Wellington Despatches. The collection was commenced by the late Colonel Gurwood,—continued by the Colonel's widow,—and actually corrected in many places by the Duke himself. The Speeches will appear with the imprint of Albemarle street, and the imprimatur of the present Duke. THE NEW SANITARY BILL.—It is stated that the clause of this bill charging the owners of land adjoining the proposed outlet sewers with a proportion of the cost of sewerage, as agreed upon two years ago, has now been withdrawn from the measure, from dread of the opposi tion of the great landowners. Should the bill pass in this state, the whole burden will fall upon the ratepayers. A HINT TO OYSTER-EATERS.—When too many oysters have been eaten, and are felt lying cold and heavy on the stomach, we have an infallible and immediate remedy in hot milk, of which half a pint may be drunk, and it will quickly dissolve the oysters into a bland, creamy jelly. e n d conumptive persons s h ou ld a l ways take this after their meat s of oysters. --/Jr. Avans. HIGHLAND EMIGRATION.—The steamer Celt has con veyed all the inhabitants of what was known as the " Perth Settlement," numbering 450 in all, from the island of Uist, to Campbelton, for the purpose of embark ing in a government vessel, about to sail for Australia. The Celt has left Campbelton for 400 more emigrants from Skye; and altogether 900 destitute Highland emigrants will be removed to Australia. CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.—The cele bration of the 500th anniversary of the foundation of this Society took place on Thursday, and was characterized by the festivities usual on similar occasions. Of these (as far as Cambridge is concerned) I here have only been three precedents in the present generation, namely, Pembroke, Coins, and Trinity Hall. The next in order of precedence is King's College, founded 1441. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Thursday, as a carter named Edwards was at work on the line now in the course of con struction from Maidenhead to Wycombe, he suddenly fell to the bottom of a deep cutting, and was taken home in a state which left no hopes of his recovery. He had quar relled and fought with a companion on the previous day, and it is supposed that dizziness, arising from injuries then received, caused him to fall. How TO MAKE OLD OAK.—The appearance of old oak may be obtained by exposing any article of new oak to the vapours of ammonia. Every variety of tint may be procured, according to the duration and temperature of the volatile compounds. A new oak carved arm chair, exposed to the vapours of ammonia, will, in about twelve hours, have all the appearance of having been made 200 years before.—Kidd's Own Journal. NEW LETTER RECEIVERS.—Letter receiving boxes are now placed in the middle of the streets in Jersey. They are in cast-iron pillars, which are hexagonal in shape, and about four feet high. Three sides bear the royal arms ; on two the words " Poet-office" are printed ; and on the other side the words " Letter-box." The letter-collector unlocks a sliding cover to take out the letters. The pil lars are painted red ; they are fixed in solid granite blocks 2 feet deep, and raised 4 inches from the ground. WHO SUPPLIED ARMS FOR THE KAEFIRS ?—lt has been often asked how the Kaffirs get supplied with arms and ammunition. The following account may throw some light on the matter :—A large French barque was driven ashore at Fleet, on the Chesil Bank, near Weymouth, on the night of Wednesday last, laden with muskets and gunpowder ; out of fifteen souls who composed the crew only six were saved ; upon being asked were the vessel was bound, it was answered, " The Cape of Good Hope." FATAL SHIPWRECK.—On Thursday the weather Was very boisterous at Bideford, North Devon. In the after noon a French brig of 200 tons burden was seen in the bay in distress. The weather was so rough that it was impossible to render her any assistance. About two o'clock on Friday morning aloe struck on Bideford-bar, where she remained until daylight, when she went to pieces. Eight persons were on board, six of whom met with a watery grave. The captain and one of the crew were washed ashore in a senseless state. The vessel was laden with coals from Cardiff to the coast of Africa. MATRIMONY.—The following advertisement appeared in the Morning Post of Friday. " A gentleman (by birth, education, and profession), aged 36, is desirous of uniting himself to a lady of like age, or thereabouts, in the posses sion of an income of from £2OO to £3OO a-year, and of an amiable disposition—personal beauty not so much desired as mental endowments. The advertiser, who can offer no other riches than the wealth of a heart's devotion, is tall, dark, and of gentlemanly appearance and address. Un exceptionable references as to respectability and character will be given, and the strictest honour and secrecy with respect to communications will be observed.—Address " Juvenis, &c." LORD FRANKFORT IN GAOL.—Since the committal of Lord Frankfort to the House of Correction, Coldbath fields, he has conformed himself to the rules of the prison, and appears q uite reconciled to his punishment. He wears the prison dress, and in every respect is placed on the same footing as the other prisoners. His diet consists of meat three days a-week, and soup the other days, with cocoa for breakfast and gruel for supper. He goes to bed every night at six o'clock, and is unlocked at half-past six in the morning. By the payment of 5s per week he is excused from labour, and he spends his time principally in reading. It is supposed that a petition will be presented for a mitigation of his sentence, as many are of opinion that he is of unsound mind. DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE.—On Wednesday, a woman named Sandon, who resides in Pyo-street, London, passed through the Horse Guards on her way home, accompanied by three young children, and having reached the Parade in the Park, the youngest, a girl four years and a half old, left to obey a call of nature, placed herself over the hori zontal railings immediately beneath one of the windows of the War-office. The poor child had scarcely been there a moment when she gave a loud scream and ran to her mother, who found that blood was flowing profusely from the infant's body down her legs to the ground; upon which she was instantly taken by her mother to Charing cross Hospital, where she lies with scarcely any hopes of recovery. Mr. J. A. Adkins, the house surgeon, found that she had been injured by a deep incised wound in flicted by some sharp instrument, and which had evidently passed from the dorsal vertebrae, extending towards the navel, and in its course cutting through the most delicate portions of the body. Such a horrid case has never yet come under the notice of the officers of the hospital. Inquiries were made at the War-office, but no intelligence could be gained as to the perpetrator of this diabolical outrage. Since then, the most indefatigable exertions have been used, but without effect, to elucidate that mys tery in which, at present, this extraordinary circumstance is involyed. !MR. STEWART M`GLAsHAN, sculptor, has invented an ingenious machine for raising and transplanting trees. I It consists of two semi-cylindrical spades, hooked and eyed together at one part, but capable of being distended by lever power, so as to move the plant and its earth-ball. The larger forest-tree apparatus is just the extension of this principle, with the addition of beams and distended screws. SIGNATURES OF BANK NOTES.—An Act to amend a former act for preventing the forgery of bank notes, has just been printed. In consequence of doubts which have arisen, it is now enacted that the signatures of the cashiers of the Bank of England may be impressed by machinery instead of being written, and that the notes shall be as good and valid as if they had been subscribed in the handwriting of the cashiers, and shall be deemed to be bank notes, &c., and may be so described in all criminal proceedings. ROYAL CHRISTMAS BEEF.—Mr. Minton, butcher to the Queen, has slaughtered the fine Devon ox, exhibited by Prince Albert at the Smithfield Club Show, and has since forwarded the rump and loins to the kings of Prussia and Belgium, while another portion of the beef was supplied for the use of the queen, at Windsor Castle. The intention is, that portions of the prince's ox should grace the sideboards of the King of Prussia, the King of the Belgians, and the Queen of England, simultaneously on New Year's Day. RAIN IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.—The following quan tities of rain fell in Keswick during the week before last:— Dec. 11th, 1.579 in.; 12th, 3.520 in. ; 13th, .370 in. ; 14th, .360 in. ; 15th, .497 in. ; 16th, .452 in. ; 17th, 1.680 in. ; total, 8.458 in. There was no service at Crosthwaite church on Sunday, the 12th inst., in consequence of the flood, which rendered it impossible to get there, except by going a considerable distance round, and then only on horseback. Such a circumstance never occurred before in the parish in the memory of the oldest person living. THE BURGLARS ABROAD AGAIN.—A daring burglary was committed at a farm house, near Burnley, a few days ago, by six men, armed with bludgeons, who entered as early as seven o'clock in the evening. A little girl, who observed them corning, run to the nearest house and gave the alarm. Several neighbours came, and a constable. A desperate conflict ensued, and, ultimately, two of the gang were secured. They were colliers from Gloucester shire.—Another extensive farmer (Mr. Geo. Stephenson), near Ponteland, Northumberland, has also been pillaged by burglars, between £6OO and £7OO in notes and about 40 sovereigns being abstracted from his house. THE DUKE'S BENEVOLENCE.—The son of a Scotch minister, about 21 years ago, was very anxious to obtain a commission in the army. - He left his mother's house, on the south side of Edinburgh, and walked to London, resolved, if possible, to see the Duke and obtain the object of his ambition. He was admitted to an audience, and told his simple story—that his father had been a minister, that his mother was a widow. The Duke said very little, but asked the young man's address. The youth walked back to Edinburgh, uncertain if he had made any impression upon his Grace, and on reaching his home, found his commission, signed and sealed, on his mother's table.—Glasoow Constitutional. DARING GAROTTE ROBBERY.—A very daring garotte robbery was perpetrated in the neighbourhood of Notting ham on Wednesday night. Mr. Dearden, who resides in Villa-road, about three quarters of a mile from the town, was returning to his residence about half-past 9 o'clock, and had proceeded up the Mansfield-road, near to his own house, when he was suddenly seized by a man behind him, who grasped his throat, while another ruffian, who rushed up at the time, rifled his pockets. When the robbers had obtained their booty, one of them exclaimed, " Give him a punch in the guts," and they then pitched him down, and before Mr. Dearden had recovered from the effects of his alarm, the robbers had escaped up the New Walk. CHURCH STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.—On Thursday night a terrible storm of wind, rain, and hail, accompanied by thunder and lightning, passed over Denby. About ten o'clock, when the storm was at the wildest, a violent peal of thunder burst over the church, the lightning strik ing and shattering the upper portion of the spire, and throwing down the masonry in fragments all around. The electric fluid appears to have, in the first instance, struck the vane, a portion of which was completely fused. It then descended the tower on one side, and, breaking one of the window-sills, forced a large stone out of the tower ; on the other side it appears to have traversed the stone staircase, the cupola on the top of which it forced completely off, as it did also the lock of the belfry door. — Derby Mercury. MURDER OF AN INFANT AT CHORLTON.—On Thursday night week, a recently born male infant was discovered in an ash-pit in Stott -street, Chorlton-upon-Medlock, still alive, but with marks of violence upon its throat, as if made by the thumb in attempting to strangle it. The child was naked, and was bleeding from the mouth. It was at once removed to the Chorlton Workhouse, where every attention was paid to it, but it died on Wednesday night last. An inquest was subsequently held upon the body, when a verdict was returned of " Wilful murder against some person cr persons unknown." The police have been making strict inquiries to find out the mother of the child, but their exertions hitherto have not been attended with success. THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE.--A letter has been received from Baron Von Klenze of Munich, who under took to intercede with King Louis of Bavaria for per mission to mould some of the chief works of sculpture belonging to the public galleries and monuments. He reports that the interest which his Majesty feels in the Sydenham undertaking is so great, that he has granted in its favour the permission which he has hitherto refused even to the Governments of Europe. The works which will be thus for the first time brought under the knowledge of the English public, are •• Schwanthaler's Victories ;" a colossal figure from the monument of Kelliain, by Hal. o , the Aneat fintioue sculptures of the Glyptothek, the private property or the King. TAKE MY HORSES TAKE MY MEN.—When Messrs. Smith, the London distillers, were requested to lend the twelve horses from their stud to draw the funeral car of the late Duke of Wellington, they at once consented, but added, " You must have our men with them." " No," was the reply. " Well," said Messrs. Smith, " see what you can do with the horses before you take them." Ac cordingly the men who were to take them away did their utmost, but the horses knew nothing about the noises which were expected to have effect upon them ; whereupon their own drivers came forward, and showed that the monstrous steeds would do just what they told them. So the carmen received a new suit of clothes and two guineas per man to attend the horses that day. RECENT FALL OF RAIN AT KESWICK.—The following quantities of rain felt here during the days enumerated : Inches Inches Dec. 11 „ 12 „ 13 „ 14 /I 15 as measured in the gauge, kept at Crosthwaite's museum. There was no service at Crosthwaite Church on Sunday, the 12th instant, in consequence of the flood, which ren dered it impossible to get there, except by going a consi derable distance round, and then only on horseback. Such a circumstance never occurred before in the parish, in the memory of the oldest person living. There were three services in St. John's Church, in consequence. A MONSTER EEL.—On Monday, a little mudlark named D-vid Muggeridge, while wandering around the oozy quagmire on the Thames, known by the name of Cuckold's Point, beheld an extraordinary commotion near the centre of it. The mud flew up in clouds, and falling backwards, the whole place exhibited the appearance of a boiling cauldron, while it was shaken as if by an earth quake. With great courage, under the circumstances, the little fellow approached near enough to see some immense reptile writhing and twisting in manifold con tortions and sinuosities. In a short time a number of persons assembled, armed with a variety of weapons, who, after a sharp but short conflict, succeeding in despatching the monster. Many of the assailants were overthrown and terribly besplashed with mud. It proved to be a conger-eel, 13 feet in length, and of proportionate girth. THE SEA OF ARAL.—At a recent meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, Mr. Shaw, the secretary, read an interesting paper, communicated by Captain Butakof, of the Imperial Russian navy, on his survey of the sea of Aral. commenced in 1848. This great inland sea has never been accurately surveyed before, and the existence of some islands on it, which at times have been put in and at times left out by different geographers, have by it been definitively settled. While wintering on the coast during the survey in 1849, Captain Butakof, accompanied by 25 men of the garrison, sallied forth and killed a real royal Bengal tiger, which, notwithstanding the distance it must have strayed from its natural haunts, is reported by him to have been very fat and a fine specimen. This interesting animal had devoured three cows belonging to the fishermen of the village, and then, to prove on the shores of the Aral his right to the Indian title of " man eater," had devoured three of the inhabitants. Captain Butakof reports that three or four of these animals are killed every year in those parts. FOREIGN SCAMPS.—Several foreigners have been making their appearance at the police-courts, and the Middlesex Sessions. On Monday Charles Felix Lascard, a Frenchman, who pleaded guilty to stealing five rings be longing to Mary Ann Thompson, a prostitute, and a watch, belonging to her companion, was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. Immediately afterwards Gustave Julius Getti, a German, was charged with attempting to obtail jewellery valued at £245 from a jeweller in Oxford street. He first went to Christie's Hotel and secured rooms for Count Beckendorff, and then ordered the jewel lery to be sent. The man sent with it was on his guard, and declined to allow the prisoner to take the articles, consisting of bracelets, diamond rings, &c., " into the next room for the lady to see ;" the German finding his object defeated, put on his hat and great coat, and was making the best of his way out, but was stopped by the porter and given into custody. On being searched, 2id. was found in his pocket. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months' hard labour. One of the ma gistrates observed that there were no less than twenty-five German scamps then in the House of Correction. AN HONOURABLE M.P.—The following amusing letter, in reference to the Wellington Testimonial Fund, appeared in The Times, of Tuesday :—" Sir,—Being an admirer of the late Duke, I spell over every name in the subscription lists to the 'Wellington Testimonial Fund, and each name, as I read it, receives from me a sympathetic tribute of respect; for, as admirers of the same, we may be said to stand in parallel relation to one another. But I have come to one name which has disturbed all harmony of feeling —that of a gallant colonel and M.P. who subscribes £2O. Now, sir, this very colonel and M.P. ow e s me money, some £l5O or £200; and, at the risk of being thought a hard man, I will confess to you, although the act might not be justified before a committee at Stafford -hous e , th at I endeavoured, after all other means had failed, to obtain payment by putting an execution into the M.P.'s house. The execution produced exactly £2 3s, 4d. ! The sofas which he pressed, the plate he used, the horses he rode, were all hired, and his person was of course protected ; but the sheriff ingeniously contrived to seize a few books, including The Whole Duty of M an , whi c h the M.P. had overlooked in his general a rrangements . Now, sir, can you not rectify your list by i nsert i ng m y name for the I balance of the £2O, afte r g i v i ng cre di t f or £2 3s. 4d., In stead of the name of my ga ll ant an d honourable debtor.' and thus oblige y our o b e di ent serva nt,—The Execution Creditor ?" A CASE OF FEMALE OBESITY, of an extraordinary nature, is reported connected with the death of Adele Le tournem, a French lady's-maid, aged forty-six, residing in North -street. Lisson-grove, Loneon. Deceased, who had a very masculine appearance, and weighed upwards of seventeen stone, and endured for a long time such extreme bodily pain that her groans and screams disturbed the neighbourhood, and frequently attracted the attention of the police, who imagined they arose from the perpetration of some dark deed. She was found dead in her bed. On examination, her body was found enveloped in fat, four inches thick round her stomach. She died from disease of the heart. THE MURDER AT SHEFFIELD.-At the York assize, on Tuesday, James Barbour, aged 21, was tried for the wilful murder of Alexander Robison, at Sheffield, on the 3rd of September last. The prisoner, who was dressed in a suit of black, and who is a young man of respectable appear ance, pleaded " Not guilty." The facts, as disclosed on the investigation before the coroner's jury and the magis trates, have already appeared. The jury retired to con sider the verdict on Wednesday, at five minutes to three, and after an absence of a quarter of an hour they returned into court with a verdict of " Guilty." Mr. Justice Tal fourd thereupon sentenced the prisoner to be hanged. The prisoner, with great coolness, remarked, "Thank you, my lord ; I'm innocent." SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—A terrific accident occurred on Tuesday week, at Messrs. Creswick's grinding wheel in Paternoster-row, London, in a room which with steam power is sub-let to a Mrs. Rose, a silver burnisher and buffer. The victim was Amelia Beaumont, 33 years of age, in Mrs. Rose's employ. In an adjoining room, which is occupied by some comb buffers, a horizontal shaft was fitted up on Monday about a foot from the floor, and was to be boxed off on the following day. On Tuesday morn ing, while the shaft was yet uncovered, and was revolving with great rapidity, the deceased went into the room and strode over the shaft without any misfortune, when leav ing, she again stepped over it, but with the most disastrous result. The back part of her garments trailed along the shaft and . beganto wrap round it.. In another moment she was dragged backwards, and was carried round with the shaft at a frightful velocity, and dashed upon the floor with destructive violence at every evolution. After she had been whirled round about thirty times, the shaft got out of gear and gradually slackened speed. The mangled form was then detached, and presented a frightful aspect, the skull at the back part being destroyed by violent con tact with the floor, one of her arms being broken in several places, and other parts of her person being dreadfully injured. She was taken to the infirmary, and there died on the following evening. SUFFOCATION By CHARCOAL.—Three young men, assistants to Mr. Elliott, of Portland-place, Edgware-road, London, met their deaths on Sunday last week by suffoca tion. The family of Mr. Elliott increasing so as to re quire the occupation of the whole of his house, he had recently had a small building erected at the rear of, and detached from the premises, in which a room was appro priated as the sleeping apartment of the deceased persons, there being no fireplace, but an opening in the skylight to allow of ventilation. On taking possession, a stove was placed there, in which charcoal was daily burnt ; but about three weeks ago, the young men complaining of dizziness and languor, a surgeon was sent for, who pro nounced them to be labouring under the effects of carbon from the stove, and the use of it was discontinued. In its place, however, a brazier was used to consume the char. coal, and was removed early every evening, but this was neglected, and the deceased did not retire to rest till 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, when, not making their ap pearance as usual at half-past 9 o'clock, Mrs. Elliott went to see the cause. After knocking several times at the room door, and receiving no answer, she opened it and discovered the deceased lying i❑ their beds, apparently lifeless, with the brazier in the room. Raising an alarm, two surgeons were sent for, who pronounced Martin and Sheen to be dead, but Burton was still living. They tried every means to restore him till 7 o'clock on Sunday even ing, prior to which he occasionally rallied but was never conscious, and then ceased to exist. A LONG IMPRISONMENT.—In the Insolvent Debtors' Court, a few days since, a meeting was held in the matter of Richard Candlin, for a proof of debts, in order to divide some money in court. The prisoner was first com mitted to Montgomery gaol in 1817 (now 35 years ago), and was brought up to London by order of the Court of Chancery, and committed to the Fleet Prison in 1831, and on the abolition of that prison he was removed to the Queen's Prison in 1842, where he still remains. In 1841, a vesting order was made against him by this Court on a creditor's petition, and au order made on him to file his schedule, which he had refused to obey. There were several Chancery proceedings against him, and efforts had been made to obtain his discharge. It was stated that the present Lord Chancellor before his elevation had been consulted on the subject, and a difficulty arose in the matter. The parties who had Candlin in prison were willing to discharge him, looking to his property for pay ment, but it was found that as he was in execution, a discharge would extinguish the debts, and therefore it could not be given. A gentleman named Gray attended for the principal creditor, and said it would be a boon to the keeper of the Queen's Prison to get the man out of the place; he would turn him out of the prison if the execution could be satisfied. One execution had been got rid of, and the others, except for contempt of the Court of Chancery, were not large. The Chief Clerk suggested that if the parties who had proceeded to execu tion could not be found, the keeper would perhaps turn the man out, if the money was lodged in this court to satisfy the debts. Mr. Gray said he would do anything to get him out of prison. There is £261 in court for creditors who could prove. THE QUAKER TOSSED IN A BLANKET.—When the Bromsirove scholars had tossed Mr. Dell till he was nearly insensible, they carried him to the study where he bad been first attacked, and explained that his offence consisted in his having kept his shop open on the day of wiper in his wlndow his reasons for so doing, and orde re d h im o remove it. This he firmly refused to do, and finding both threats and persuasion vain, they unbound him, and gave him at part ing three cheers for being, as they said, " a Christian and a brick to his principles." In maintenance of what Mr. Dell deems Christian and pacific principles, he has pre ferred to accept the following apology to the alternative of proceeding at law for damages : ` TO MR. DELL, BROMSGROVE." " Sir,—ln our own names, and in behalf of our school fellows, we beg to offer the fullest apology in our power for the unwarrantable outrage committed on your person on Tuesday, the 30th of November. It was unjustifiable as an interference with your sentiments, which you had a full right to express, and as offending aeainst the personal security which the law demands of every one. We can assure [you] that it was far from our intention to wound your feelings, or insult your opinions, and we had no idea at the time that what we looked upon as a youthful joke would have been viewed in so serious a light. We sin cerely hope that your acceptance of this apology at our hands will at once obliterate a remembrance of the past in a renewal of t good feeling for the future. "A. AL ALINGTON. " G. H. BONNOR. " C. D. CROSSMAN. " G. DAY. " R. GRICE. "WILLIA M KER C. MASON. " Bromsgrove Grammar-school, Tuesday, Dec. 14." POPISH TACTICS AND PROTESTANT TACT.—IO reli gious respects England, and especially the Church of England, is the great antagonist of Rome. And now the Church of Rome in France, and elsewhere, looks with confident hope and eager longing towards England. She hears of conversions, too numerous, alas ! but exaggerated beyond their true number and importance, and she regards a handful of perverts as the first fruits of an abundant harvest. For a striking proof of the interest she takes in the work of " our reconciliation to Rome," as she would call it, let us look at the thousands of names of Frenchmen and Frenchwomen, who have shown their sympathy with Dr. Newman, as " the Apostle of Eng land," by contributing to the expenses of his trial. The Church of France feels a strong sympathy with the Celts and Romanists of Ireland. She regards their cause as her own, as the cause of the Church Universal, and of its Divine Head. She is therefore read yto invoke the bene dictions of Heaven on what she would calla religious war, and to offer sacrifice of masses, and to chant religious litanies, in behalf of the legions of France, which would avenge the wrongs of Roman Catholiclreland,and advance the cause of the Church, as well as the glory of France, by an assault on Protestant England. We have thus given expression to feelings which we doubt not are in the minds of many of our readers. The position of our affairs is indeed critical, and it is time that all within the limits of our shores should awake to a due sense of what is before us. Under the influence of the Divine Spirit, public dangers excite national courage, inspire national wisdom, and promote national unity. So may it be with us ! Let the conflicting parties, political and religious, by which we have been distracted, abate their asperity towards each other, and combine" for the defence of what is dear to all.—English Churchman. FRIGHTFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. — ShortIy after one o'clock on Wednesday, a dreadful explosion, which has re sulted in a fearful loss of life, took place at the Elsecar Low Colliery, in Yorkshire, belonging to Earl Fitzwilliam. The mine is 157 yards deep; and about 140 men and boys were down in the pit, pursuing their labour. The first intimation of the explosion was signified by a sharp buzzing sound, and shortly afterwards came a loud report. Its import was not to be mistaken, and shortly afterwards the scene immediately around the mouth of the pit be came one of the most grievous and heart-rending descrip tion. Wives and mothers who had rushed to the spot, were wringing their hands and utttering the loudest lamentations of grief and the wailings of despair, while their feelings were further deepened by the impossibility, for some time after, of correctly ascertaining the extent of the calamity, and the inevitable delay which occured before a descent could be made. At length a number of men resolved to descend, the first attempt to relieve the sufferers being to throw a volume of water down the shaft in order to assist the circulation of the air, and to force out the foul gases which had been generated in the pit. As soon as the men were descending, they found that the fan worked by steam power to promote cil culation had been deranged. The explosion had broken down the stop pings, and destroyed some of the machinery, and also had blown a portion of materials to the mouth of the pit, from which a quantity of steam continued to issue for some time. There are tw o di v i s i ons i n th e pit, whi c h are k nown as the north and sout h s id es; and while th e men w h o were workin g i n th e former part were almost t o a s i ng l e man more or less injured, those in the latter escaped without any comparative injury. It was ascertained by four o'clock, that several dead bodies had been got out, and that several others were alive, but seriously injured. Later, the whole of the sufferers were got out, dead or injur e d. The former amounted to nine, and the latter to thirteen. There is said to have been no want of ventila tion in the pit, and the accident is ascril to some ne g ligence on the part of the miners themselves HOLLOWAY'S PILLS, A WONDERFUL REMEDY FOR INDIGESTION, BILIOUS COMPLAINTS, AND SICK I 3 ; - ACHES.—Thomas Goodman, Esq., of Baker-street; Port man-square, London, bad for many year tiff t ered from indigestion and frequent biiious att , and was very seldom free from severe sick head es. He had con sulted the frost eminent physicrans and surgeons of the metropolis, but could der no permanent relief from their remedies; at last red out by their ill success, he resorted to the use olloway's Pills, which so reno vated his system strengthened his constitution, that he neither suff from bile, indigestion, or headache, but enjoys the st of health.