The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-09-10 00:00:00

;41. Sept. 10,1844 eeds exan 3 v has been the next betwe en .wsburl, ichester, he union onaPa n f r with ny, le c entre ling new ind fortl abitantt be route "ticturing , .ests iveePo° l ' ~wsbury, Clear . id wine . hire are e 300) £15 0 ) 10) reelyl 3i tO 1 t 47 vouritcs: roams ift Last • Vale ) 10, &c., aid and ers to re- the 104 and er o t) rth (t) , to I 0 e Leg er; pill• l , VeltS s i e le eas. l'owa' j „ e l y e iverlW" i s retur ° brOYea be l' e s e It of t ave be CAPTAIN WARNER'S INVENTIONS. ' For years past it has been a question of no little doubt amongst scientific and nautical men, whether the alleged inventions offered for purchase to Government by Capt. Warner —(who, it will be seen, has recently charged our r epresentative, Sir Howard Douglas, with unfairness in his conduct as on e of the Commissioners appointed by u▪ nrernment to investigate the value of those inventions) --- were what they were represented by him to be, or the mere creations of a mad enthusiast's fancy. There was something apparently so outrageous in the sum demanded for them in case of a successful trial of the ir p owers, (X 400,000 in all, or £200,000 for the invisible shells, and the same amoun t f or w hat was styled " the long range,") that sensibl e an d cautious men were indisposed to believe that, in the present advanced state of science, any de structive agent could exist, or any mode of applying I'aawn agents could be discovered, worthy of a remunera uon so great as that named. The professions of Cap tain warner, therefore, as to the tremendous powers of the engines at his disposal, were, somewhat too readily per rPs, treated as gasconade, and, especially by professional men, looked upon as illusory and fraudulent in character and d es i gn. The recent publicly-made experiment off Brighton, w hen a vessel (the John o'Gaunt, furnished for the pur pose of trial by private munificence) was destroyed most signally and effectually at the will of the operator, con ced all but the obstinately incredulous that Ca p tain Ratner did possess the knowledge of some secret agent of tremendous and irresistible power, or some mode, pre viously undeveloped, of using known agents, which was calculated to effect a vast change in naval tactics, and ,g l 7e a terrific preponderance to that nation wh o first used t ; 1 1 1 warfare. But even that experiment , publicly. made was, afforded no solution of the q uestion so Indus ri°uslY canvassed by the public, as to what was the nature , 3 f he agent or t h e mo d e o f it s a pplication. Capt. Warner olew up the John o'Gaunt at a signal given, he being in a '' BB e l at some distance from her ; but it was not seen 'Whether the agency employed was a proj ectile, or in what other way the destruction was effected. It was even sur mised that collusion might have been practised—that t ik i malaustibles might have been previously placed on board b ue vessel estroyed. The experiment was admitted to „ a a wonder d ful operation ; but it was not admitted to be " n e which could be repeated un der circumstances adverse t o 6 the operator, or made prac t ic all y useful in warfare. ~,"Ptain Warner kept his secre t too closel y to allow the rqblic either to pirate it, or sufficiently to satisfy them aelvea _ of its real value. 2 , copy of the correspondence which has taken plac e between her Alajesty's Government and Captain Warner 4aw before us, which throws considerable light upon nature of the inventions, and the treatment experi enced by their owner in his endeavours to render them available by the Government of his native country. We have already already mentioned s ru twofold , consisting fi rs t of a shell of a that the inventions in question t etron and adaptation,peculiar con struction• shell," by which called by the captain his " invi secondly, of some be destroyed with vessels, fleets at sea, or forts, can tremendous celerity and efficiency; and destruction, with peculiar means of projecting engines of a certainty of aim hitherto unknown, by which objects can be destroyed at a distance from the operators of five to six miles. This the captain styles his " long ran ge ! , With a view of affording to our readers a closer insight into the nature of both these engines of destruction than perhaps they at present possess, we shall give Captain Warner's description of them, contained in a letter under date of the 2nd November, 18-11, addressed to the Earl of Hardwicke ; and, for the sake of perspi uity, we shall describe them separately. First, there fore, we take the " invisible shell," of which Captain Varner thus speaks : • '' I will first, my lord, enumerate some of, the effects which I U ndertake to produce by means of my .p p ati l o g hr efly, as Itheir practical Invisible Shells, antici !laseability as will probably goalong, occursuch to the minds of seamen, and su ch„ a as, I am informed, havebeenurged against against their use by () ulcers n' t intimately acquainted with their mode of operation, b olt o eration, hor aware of the perfect control I can exercise over them. By th eir means, th e mou th s o f r i ver s, harbours, and roadsteadsrnaY be blo c k a d e d ; ari d any channel, where the usual sound ings can b e o bt a i ne d , may be rendered impervious to ships, 'Without 'destruction. By usual soundings, I Incurring certain mean vwhere a ship under ordinary circumstances will bring .. up. or example, any part of the Downs I could easily and speedily ?ender impassable , and accomplish this without running any r ,,, ~-K of detection, even in the face of an enemy's fleet. If need- MI, in a case of European emergency, the entire Straits r . St of Dover b, ght be rendered impassable, and the whole of the ordinary % hie track to the South Foreland, tra up-channel, from Dungeness . I beg your r any channel of similar depth. With this in view, lordship to ports, harbours, and road steads examine a chart of the of the Mediterranean; and your lordship will, at a glance, tnertereainvoeeby the soundings laid down, that the Dardanelles, the Toadports and to Toulon harbour, and all the principal steads throi possible gho t that sea, are liable to the same interruption whi 3 ch I could u cause iu the more stormy and tide- Mersey,ledEnglish Channel. The mouths of the Thames. the a, the Humber, the access to Portsmouth, either by the .n •iseedles or St. Helen's, Plymouth S und, and all other ports 1 the United Kingdom, might be severally blockaded, and ingress and egress effectually prevented in the space of a night] have any Provided for all fluctuations of tide and alterations from too; and .ailse of the depth of water, for the set of currents b te the force of Lazne does not deteriorate the efficiency or abate a * these implements. . * * ' MY system i s qu it e a p a rt from any accu stomed system of !la va! tactics, and entirely novel i butso simple, that it would if possible, to look in ee a dvisab:e an enemy should be induced , 4 diametrically o pposite quarter foi . danger to that whence it expression, it is desi- Wi ll really strike him to usea colloquial t. !able to put him on a false scent , which can only be done by the uarded discretion. I assure your ' lo, est secresy and mos f these Invisible Shells, I could so en ,ordship, that by means o l ir oU and shut in a fleet brought . up, that it could not get under destruction; and I `ea without involving itself in certain sail, N ' hatever might be ` e a d ensure it the same fate if under . the e and number of the -,.e state of the sea, the weather, the sa . 4'lll's c omposing =ls fleet, or the rate at which they may be „,„._, s t r I may add too, adhering most - ,, s ?'!! l _g . through the wa e . btained so perfect a mastery over ahe"vl,/waaertruth, that I have o it with facility and cer ' taint i n question, that I can apply Y on the lar est or most portable scale as occasion may r tl e aa q , My inte g ntion, and I believe your lordship's wish, was, ea" ' ahould principally state the efficiency of the invention t s ne l 2 er to Government in maritime warfare ; but I will take abert ' trop / of subjoining. that I can apply them on shore against ifficut a o ', 3 'l 3 's or forts with equal destructiveness. The mostd i , arla l' ili passes might be maintained by meansot this or defended yci th a , forts, however lofty their site, be attacked or ea very small body of men, and without an battering train, ~,,,,,. stly Yet perishable stores of ammunition. any will not, how- Nei en large on the land applicatio n of my inventions, ' but ral of theOrd .nats,.Z.tlit!r lordship to the present Istaster- t Ge ,s ne iend.,. 1 ' YOll desire further satisfaction on h. 1 its . 1 the will at once be seen that the has e xtracts above it r is not a projectile, as ~..a s th e 41 ell of Captain Warne even after the experi *Pent ~g t tl erally received opinion, Ls 4 13 • d e ocuments now pub lied, • righton. From oth je o It w• they are calculated to rate ill be seen in what way Depot, Woolwich, "th \ ' In a letter, dated " Grand 4 a nd j a rch,lB A. 13," and signed by J• A. Chalmer, R.A. • • ' C ffi R N prescribing the expert * ments W hich ti , • a n, • •, de to enable them to report to g" "eY require to be ma . 5t1..,,, er ntnent with respect to their value, we find it was „lie i, es I ate d as the first experiment, that , invisible shells be placed by Mr. Warner . along the coast, so .1,,,,11 Prevent a ship lying at anchor from putting to sea, the tide -,x wa.ter.'' Ihe tb ov second experiment was to be "the same as the 1100 d. r I e. but with the tide either strong ebb or strong With _ respect to the third it is stated— hi.siri.n'arrner is to suppose himself chased, and to throw overboard .is Waskca • visible shells, and to destroy the ships following in his From Prom these and other particulars be tween government an d t h e of the neg ociation - ca p t ain it will be readily sur loaised that these " invisible shells" are to .e th .be sunk in -water, secured by grapnels, and attached togeth in such a ma nner as to operate by vessel s er by lines striking them in their course. An under-water cordon, it is said, can be formed round any port, or round any fleet, which will in sure the destruction of vessels attempting to escape through It: At the same time, the party using this defence can 'with safety r emove them when required. They are s a id ' l se to be p er f ect l y safe in when on board ship; the Pn l cu ty which mi g ht b e suppose d to ar i se i n th e case of enzine of destruction submerged, or from the rise a nd fall of tid es, i s capable of being provided for; and the eit Aer ation of arranging the instruments round works to be tn ' tr oYed can be performed without interruption, or an th e, er nY perceivin g f rom w h at quarter t h ey are menace d by The by r, Power styled " the long range" is thus described alr eady Warner in the same letter from which we have . .',',',iY quoted : ti, e :a, next topic to which I solicit your lordship's attention is to Th e ~e ° , hd inventions which I have designated my Longe Valise. akediaoarlike advantages secured by it are, an extent of range ex earth! ~„by far that of any ordnance now in use by ally nation on tre e 1- 0 this pre-minent advantage may be added, rapidity et' : e s4l a rt t!TY of aim,freedom from recoil, and perfect safety to the - ,„ e „aapri:" . ;en carries , and the crew which handles, the implements - ''''cl,'''' tinder my general title of Long Range. I need only b a '44 ,, v 't s t c . i t a lle frequent and fatal accidents which have occurred on i °- 0., v lar' ships late from the shells now in use . , to impress upo_ti , '*-- ti, i l-4.13 mind the desirableness of obtaining weapons f oi e .„,;hase:rrible liability to explode spontaneously. I v o r lop as eat ae . s witnessed by a single shell of my fabriati j o i n th a . a l . &lc), I beg to ,4 ii. rra D and 'other competent judges ni l ioi; - e ' r with the one the You 3 4 straat I can project 100 of . equa I flight, and repeat re, °Per atio r ,,.°e capabilities you saw, in a sing le what ship ' or fort- Pi; 3 coa l(' sa, with rapidity. Against such a tire re . ,o,lit,ed, thatahial? It has been falsely, and I fear maliciously,th,hock of 8 1/4 4 a ll ar: -/ " have boasted of my ability to blow up 1 " ' t brtr" . I h, l ' e ver gave utterance to so ribsura and i ridiculous a upon any la st, ess a , save said that I could bring such a fire to bear man te 41,1 be lef t[Br °ng as Gibraltar, that in a few hours not a i ' - i2saect. to alive alive in it, and I do not withdraw these words. la it s , t "'triti o : , the third adva, and Ido not withdraw these words. With sqs m adeaute I have mentioned as incident to my too m4og eeztaitity of aim, I can in the highest sea ensure my aim s ay h° -r eYond any distance hitherto attained by any battery . y h ow pour lora sh • • . I k ws how difficult it is, I may s aa , 5 1,__ . ip practical y no sea viva), , e a la' t.. !..so a , to"sL Impossible it is, in a heavy sea v! a), to obtain a leeable ae,,,"ihty o f I Paint Sriun on a fixed carriage wills any to ..„ , t ah Ud ' as in li s tfin g object whose position alters . nearly € } ta i , ther efor 4 t be the case with a pitching and rolling ship, and ao a diffsc a p e UnlY appreciate the importance of rmn . I A ; trig n3 , 'S. I wish not to disparage the efforts which have for •• high]4 gun ears been made to improve the theory and practice of lii,y Dmie_rY, but I plainly assert, that while the efforts have be If 1a k ,, 4 1 ! p,,,, z 7 e ;forthy, the success has been very in . considerable.l 45 "e 8 0 tr'°" moment to dwell upon the Eau! of Acre, which . *te h Use of a . nitaPhantly quoted as a proof of our unprovelvent in Ivh,.: serviens, I needsurely only remind a naval officer who has alt o , se al . " Your lordship has,' that the water was . smooth from . a iiretlier ale,,e„,,ille cannonade was directed, the garrison assailed 1 (4.4 1 . ra c k - aineient, and the object of aim was a huge fortress on rea4 hies „„'.... n ?t a fluctuating ship But 1 will appeal to your nit hies 1 .. R.nowledge whether, if I had been employed tc? , Britishe po,i!a wi thi eauld not have prevented the approach of the t a s ' i l i lt ray se li f . gunshot of its shores; and on the other hand, sup iriferaeoa,„ .„!°, be engaged against it I will refer vour lordship ha - gatia,r " i urray, Lord In esti. and Lieutenant Webster, for 0 e baka whether I Id g e• ' f • Long Ramp, tit W . ' , varded Ac cou not, by means o in) . mte tint ae ~,_ , o _re from a single vessel, placed in security l q 1 om,": a 4 e u s e . z,l . f the garrison artillery. I will here, my . tes t .' Will ,a;1 on I may reasonably an any experienced a ea rt ttie use,Can any ordinary ship's company be easily et 4 p• / tin of these implementsmost easily and . the ' re ' ccl ristia, 3. , Y t e further and properly demanded,—Whethar the tain.en,itipelling pala?enrand animating principle, if I may so designate l' ea : Y .R u nters or" these different implements, can be ascer 1, to aid ed , y n . seamen employed in handling them ? I an 'asp giv e this not and I feel no common satisfaction in being i.t.,,ree4t-ever will ttsstitrance, for in every crew spies may be, and I And n di'eover,' ourid, who for a reward will reveal any secret th es in, earlfir • to e u •eStr •rnation of the opinions of the inventors of Lord uctive aents, we may give a let Me lbourneter addressed by Lieutenant Webster, an officer of experience, selected to test some experiments made with them. "28 13, Manchester-street, Manchester.square, " loth October, 1839. "My Lord,—l beg to inform your lordship that the principle and practice of the various projects of which Captain Warner is the in ventor, having been fully shown and explained to me by that gen tleman, and that being most thoroughly satisfied of their effective ness, an outline of the same projects was, on Monday, the lfith of September last, duly reported by me to Sir William I'arker, with an urgent request on my part, that, seeing the extreme importance of the matter, not a moment's delay might be incurred in laying the whole before your lordship, together with my distinctly ex pressed opinion, that their merits are so extraordinary as to vest the absolute sovereignty of the seas in the hands of the first power that shall adopt them. lam fully convinced that it is utterly im possible for any thing that floats to resist them for a single moment, either at close quarters or any given distance, even to a range of five or six miles. " The strongest fortifications in Europe could not withstand these extraordinary powers for a single hour. In river ways, and against stockades, as in India, the largest armies would be annihi lated without a chance of escape ; and the most difficult mountain passes would be utterly untenable against their operation. "The country would thus be rendered impregnable, for 100 sail of the line would be useless against a single vessel so constructed ; and whenever it should be necessary to call this power into action, its effects could be attained by a trifling expense, and at the short est notice. " I submit, however, to your lordship, that the inventions should lie dormant until a case of emergency, and that the secret should be confined to the projector, the crown, and your lordship's breast, and a whisper of its existence should not be suffered to get abroad. " I solemnly declare to your lordship that I consider the whole country deeply indebted to Captain Warner for these inventions, were they to cost the nation five times what he asks for them ; and not less gratitude is due to him for the patience, forbearance, and self-denial he has shown, when, with so mighty a secret in his 1 o som, his own interest would have been estabiished in any other land b t t : . i e e fo d r i : closure earnestly entreat your lordship no longer to neglect a man upon whom the existence of the country depends. " I have the honour, &c., (signed) "WILLIAM WEBSTER, " The Right Honourable Lieutenant A.R. N. Lord Viscount Melbourne." Of the mode of the projection of the latter of these pow ers we have no information given. It is asserted, how ever, by Captain Warner, and an opportunity of testing his assertions eagerly claimed and only refused on the score of expense, that the effect is unerring, and that at six miles distance lie can hit any object of sufficient size —a ten-gun brig is named—to be feared as a vessel o war. Such are the powers offered by Captain Warner for the purchase of government—offered too with every apparent disposition to have them fairly tested previously to such purchase. The difficulty, however, which has prevented any thing like an approach to the agreement is a little perplexing. Captain Warner refuses to give up any por tion of his secret without some guarantee of remunera tion in case of its value being recognised. Government, on the other hand, want a trial, leaving its own hands un fettered ; and when this demand is conceded by Captain Warner, negociations are broken off on the score of ex pence. The inventor, who has expended, as he says, a fortune in pursuit of his secret, is to display the powers acquired by him, and perhaps peril the keeping of his se cret, at his own expense, or to be set down as something very like an imposter or a maniac. We cannot certainly recognize the justice of this course. If government ima gine that there is sufficient prima facie probability of these powers being actually existent in the hands of Cap tain Warner, or any other man, to warrant one-half the trouble of investigation already taken, they ought really not to grudge the paltry amount (truly paltry in a national view) demanded, with every guarantee offered against ex travagance or collusion, for the purpose of testing them properly and settling the question at issue. Captain War ner is either a madman, a quack, or an ill-used, or under valued man. He has, however, already effected quite sufficient to render it imperative for his country's interests that his character should not be determined upon without his powers being properly tested, even at the expense set down. The subject of the amount of remuneration, we leave as he leaves it, for after consideration. The British nation would not be unjust to a proved benefactor. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. On Wednesday the usual monthly meeting of the Town Council was held at the Town-hall. THE WATERLOO HOTEL. The proceedings of the Finance Committee having been read, Mr. Nicol, said he observed by those proceedings, that the Waterloo Hotel, Ranelagh-street, had been offered for sale to the committee, and that the offer was rejected. He wished to know whether that rejection had arisen from the price asked being unreasonable, or whether be cause of any legal or financial objection being in the way. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied, that the question as to any unreasonableness in price had not been considered, as the committee did not think it one of those purchases which they could recommend the council to adopt. Mr. Nicol, said his reason for asking was, not to in quire the price, but to ascertain whether it was an under stood thing on the part of the committee that they were to decide against the purchase generally of buildings in the town which might be required for the widening of streets, or whether it was the unreasonableness of price which de terred them from accepting the present offer. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the committee had not at tempted to dictate to the council on the subject. He ad mitted that here and there there might be purchases most eligible for the council to make ' • but the present was not one of them. It had, however, been put on the proceed ings, in order that any member who pleased might make his own observations on the subject. The committee had declined to purchase, because they were of opinion that a sufficient extent of improvement would not be thereby gained. The council were aware that the Waterloo Hotel was in a valuable situation, and that its purchase would cost a large sum of money. The proceedings were confirmed. ORANGEI3M, THE WATCH COMMITTEE, AND THE MAGISTRACY. The proceedings of the Watch Committee contained a report from the Town-clerk, toeether with the case and opinion of counsel, touching the powers of the Watch Committee and Magistracy respectively, as to orangeism in the borough constabulary force. The following was TICE REPORT OF THE TOWN-CLERK. The Town-Clerk reports to the Watch Committee that he has obtained the joint opinion of Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Cowling, and Mr. Cardwell, upon the questions ari sing out of the proceedings of the justices with regard to to the dismissal by them of constables, members of Orange lodges, which opinion is herewith laid before the committee. The Town-Clerk also lays before the corn mittee the case submitted by him to the counsel ; and he feels it his duty to state that it was carefully prepared with an anxious view to raise the questions impartially, and that, in his opinion, it is impossible for the fairness of the statement to be impugned. (Signed) RICHARD RADCLIFFE. Towit-lall, - August 28th, 1841. The case is then set forth by the Town-clerk. The questions it involves are stated to be, what are the powers of the justices with regard to constables ? After reciting the statutes under which both those authorities act,it re fers to the printed laws and ordinances of, and the evi dence taken before a committee of the House of Com mons, in 1835, on the Orange institutions of Great Bri tain and the Colonies. It then states that there were seven constables known to belong to the Orange body in Liverpool, and that, in consequence of the recent proceed ings by the magistrates, those seven men had resigned their connexion with that body. It says that all the se rious disturbances of the peace which have arisen in Li verpool for the last ten years have proceeded from the lower classes of Irish on the one side, and of the lower classes politically and religiously opposed to them on t h e other; that on some occasions within the last few years these disturbances have required the full strength of the police force, amounting to about 600 men, to maint a i n t h e peace of the town; that on e v ery occasion within the last eight years the peace has been maintained by the poli ce , without the actual aid of the military ; and that of late years the mayor and magistrates have found it proper,- in due regard to the public peace, anxiously to discounte nance processions with flags and colours calculated to ex cite a breach of the peace, and to effect this to dissuade societies from processions of any descript i o n . It then goes on to state that the Watch Committee contend that, not only the appointment of the constabulary, but th e ma nagement and dismissal of them on general grounds, be longs to that body ; and that the justices i ns i s t th a t th e i r authority in dismissing is the same as that of the Watch Committee. The opinion of counsel was, therefore, asked upon the following points :—" First, supposing that the seven constables, instead of resigning the Orange Institu tion, had refused to do so, could the justices in such case, acting in all respects with due regularity in point of form, have proceeded, in the exercise of their discretion, to dis miss such constables from the force ? Secondly, have the proceedings of the justices, as far as they have gone, been regular, and particularly in regard to the office and powers of the Watch Committee ; if not, please to state in what respects they have been irregular ? And, generally, you are requested, for the future government of both bodies, and of the council of the borough, acting indifferently be tween the two bodies, to advise what are the powers of the Watch Committee, and what are the powers of the justices, with reference to the appointment, regulation, management, and dismissal of the constables ?" OPINION OF COUNSEL. Liverpool Justices and Watch Committee. 1. We think the Justices could not regularly . or lawfully have proceeded to dismiss from the police force the con stables in question, if they had re fused to resign their membership of the Orange Society, however objectionable it might be, that persons charged with th e preservation of the peace should continue members. 2. We think that, by passing Mr. Bolton's resolution, and communicating it through the head constable to the parties, the Justices have acted in an irregular manner, and have claimed to exercise a power not vested in them by law. 'We think the statute 5 and 6 Wm. IV., c. 76, has placed the Watch Committee in the situation of Court Leet at Common Law, in regard to the appointment and dismissal of constables, 2 Str, 798, and T. Jones, 212, and that these powers, except so far as may be otherwise ex pressly provided by the act, are vested exclusively in them. We think that, under S S, 77 and 80, the Justices have a power of adjudicaeion upon the conduct of constables in the discharge of their duty, one part of whi, h duty is a compliance with the regulations directed in S. 77, to be framed by the Watch Committee, and that, after such ad judication only (Str. 1050) have the Justices the power of dismissal mentioned in these sections. We think that, as no prohibition against belonging to an Orange Society is included in those regulations, and as the tendency to oc casional breaches of the peace is too remote to be the sub ject of legal complaint. the being a member of such a so ciety constitutes no default in the duty of a constable, cognizable by the Justices under the act, but is a consi deration, properly falling within the province of the Watch Committee, to whom the general regulation and management of the force belongs. (Signed,) FITZROY KELLY, J. COWLING, EDWARD CARDWELL. Liverpool Assizes, 23d August, 1844. Resolved,—That a copy of the report and opinion be transmitted to the Mayor as Chief Magistrate, by the Chairma❑ of this committee, with a request that he will be pleased to lay the same before the magistrates. Upon the motion of Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE, the pro ceedings were confirmed ; so also were the proceedings of the Dock, Improvement, Markets, and Fire Committees. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. EDUCATION COMMITTEE. From the proceedings of the Education Committee, it appeared that the following was the average attendance at the schools during the past month : Boys Girls . Infants The numbers on the books are—North. 731 ; South, 586. A letter had been received from Mrs. Jane Postlethwaite, one of the head mistresses, resigning her situation on ac count of ill health. The committee expressed their regret at the circumstance, and recommended that she be paid a quarter's salary as a gratuity. The committee had agreed to consider the propriety of appointing a third master to the North School, at a salary not exceeding £3O per an num. The proceedings were confirmed. CHURCH EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE. the committee recommended, without reference to any legal doubt, that the bells of St. Luke's Church be rung, and the expense paid by the corporation, that expense, in their opinion, being justifiable out of sm plus income. The recommendation was adopted. HEALTH COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Health Committee, comprising a recommendation of the appointment of Inspector Fresch to the Town-hall duty, under the Mayor, the Health and Finance Committee, and the Town clerk and Prosecuting Solicitor, (not comprising constable's duty,) at a salary increased from about £9O to £lOO, besides clothing, were adopted. CORONER ' S ACCOUNTS. The coroner's accounts, amounting to £72 175., were referred to the Finance Committee for payment. THE MAYOR ' S COMMUNICATIONS. The MAYOR announced that the communications with which he had been favoured consisted of two letters from Colonel Williams. Sir THOMAS BRANCKErt.—OH what subject, sir? The MAYOR.—On the subject of temperance. Sir THOMAS BRANCKER (In astonishment.)—Tempe ranee ! (Laughter.) The MAYOR. — Yes ; he thinks that if we could induce the people of this town to be temperate, we should have no occasion to build a new gaol; that if we could get them to be so, there would be no necessity for any outlay for that purpose. Mr. SHEPPARD.—Better send for Father Matthew. (Laughter.) Mr. ASPINALL.—Better let his letters be referred to the Church Expenditure Committee. (Laughter.) Mr. BRAMLEY.MOORE.—He has got an excellent neighbourhood himself to operate upon. • The MAYOR.—I believe he does so successfully in his own neighbourhood. Mr. BRAMLEY-5100RE.—I should think not so suc cessfully. The letters were not referred to any committee, and the council having disposed of all the business, adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock. BEBINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The third and last meeting of tb.c season, for the exhibi- I tion of plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables, was held on Wednesday last, in the fine marquee, pitched for the oc casion, in the fine pleasure grounds of the Royal Rock Ferry Hotel. The attendance was fashionable and nu merous, consisting of the principal gentry of the neigh bourhood and several distinguished strangers, amongst whom we noticed Lady Cook and party, Mr. and Mrs. Fielden, J. W. Harden and friends, R. L. Carr, Esq. and daughter, J. S. Jackson, Esq. and party, J. T. Raynes, Esq., Archdeacon Clarke, James Naylor, Esq. and family, C. Woodward, Esq., Mrs. Mallaby and party, C. Stan ley, Esq., Stephen Venue, Esq., Wm. Chamley, Esq. and family, Mrs. Gilbert and party, the Rev. Willett, J. B. Brancker, Esq., Joseph Atkinson, Esq., Mrs. and Miss Richardson, and others. Mr. Parker's excellent band was stationed on the bowling-green, and played throughout the afternoon a variety of pleasing airs and pieces—portions of the company promenading the pleasant winding walks around. The exhibition was extremely good in the quality of the several specimens, though (owing to the advanced season of the year) not quite so abundant in quantity as on the last occasion. The fruits were very fine, especially the peaches, pines, apples, and pears, of which there were gorgeous specimens. Some of the grapes were very fair, but scarcely extra. The flowers (for the season) were splendid, including some fine dahlias, fuschias, geraniums, and panseys. Our townsmen, Messrs. J. and C. Whal ley, exli bited (not for competition) a good stand of plants and flowers, amongst which was a beautiful specimen of fuschia, " Kellockaha," a tricolour ; Messrs. Davies showed a fine plant, resembling a salvia, called the " Ges neria Splendens ' " also a handsome " Lilium Speciosnm." The ericas (or Cape heaths) were but few, but very fine, particularly a rich plant, the " Erica Hartnelli," or fly catcher, sent by Sir W. Stanley, the flowers glossed with a natural varnish, to which insects adhere, affording, it i s said (?) nourishment to the plant. We noticed a drooping fuschia of great beauty, a yard in height, and richly flowered even to the lower branches, hanging below the rim of the pot—the " Oxoniensis." This, as well as the " Eppsii" and " Paragon," all beautiful, were sent by Mr. Raynes. The dahlias were, on the whole, very per fect and beautiful. Besides those that obtained prizes, J. O'Grady, Esq. sent a stand of very fine sorts, nearly matched, including fine specimens of the " Sulfur," or yellow, which are, we learn, delicate of growth. The panseys were many of them fine. Some of the best were shown by Mr. Raynes, who is rapidly distinguishinglitn self as a florist. The baskets of plants and flowers were all good, and tastefully arranged. Amongst the devices of flowers we noticed a lyre, a harp, a flower garden, with a glazed greenhouse, a giant butterfly, with extended wings, and a vase filled with flowers, rising in a spiral form, and entwined with nasturtiums, much resembling the celebrated Warwick vase. The last two were particu larly good. The prizes were awarded as follows (Ist and 2d signifying best and second best) : PLANTS AND FLOWERS• ORCHID/E.—(Prirnier Prizes,) Oncidium Altissimum, H. Winch, Esq , M.. J. Young, gardener. ll.l;%tivi,--g-Let}neres Peduncubata, G. J. Wainwright, Esq., GREENHOUSE PLANT.—Oleander, G. J. Wainwright. DAHLIAS. —Twenty Distinct Blooms, Ist, Sir W. M. Stanley, Drei, itt, gardener; Twelve Blooms, Ist, ditto ; 2nd, A Steins, Esq,; Nine Ditto, Ist, H. Garnett, Esq., Buckley, gardener ; 2d, Rev. J. Mainwaring; Six Blooms, :st, H. Garnett, Esq.; 2d, W. Robinson, Esq. ; of any colour, Ist, H. Garnett, Esq.; 2d, Sir W. Stanley. GREENHOUSE PLANTS.-Ist, Lilium Lancefolum, &c , Sir W. Stanley ; • 2d, (a variety,) G. J. Wainwright, Esq. PELARGONIUMS, &c.—Stand of six, Ist, H. Littledaie. Esq. 2d, Sir W. M. Stanley; stand of four, Ist, Sir W, M. Stanley; 2d, Rev. J. Mainwaring; stand of four, Ist, G. J. Wainwright, Esq.; 2d, J. T. Itapies, Esq. ; Best Fusehia, G. J Wainwright, Esq. VERBENAS.—Six varieties, Ist, Rev. J. Mainwaring ; 2d, G. J. Wainwright, Esq. • PAN ziEs.—Best twenty (varieties,) Ist, J. T. Raynes, Esq. twelve ditto, Gott, &c. BASKETS OF PLANTS.-ISt, H. Winch, Esq.; 2d, Sir W. M Stanley. CUT FLOWERS.—Ist, T. Aspinall, Esq.; 2d, Wm. Sharp, Esq. Device of flowers, Rev. It. M. Fielden. FRUIT. GEAPES,—BIack, Ist, 11. Winch, Esq. ; 2d, Sir W. M. Stanley. SEACIIEI„ APRICOT. s, and NECTARINES.—II. Littleda le, Esq. PINES —lst, Sir W. Stanley; 2d, Rev. J. Mainwaring. MELONS. —lst, C. Stanley, Esq.; 2d, W. Sharp, Esq. APPLES.—Ist, Sir W. Stanley; 2d, Rev. It. N. Fielden. I't:Ans.-Ist, S. Vertue, Esq. ; 2d, Rev. J. Mainwaring. BASKET of Ent7fr.—lst. Rev. J. Mainwaring; 2d. W. Welch, Esq. VEGETABLEs.—Cucumbers, Ist, G. V. Tanton, Esq. ; 2d, Sir W. Stanley. Cauliflowers, Ist, sir W. Stanley ; 241, H. Garnett, Esq. Cabbages, Rev. J. Mainwaring. Celery, Ist, Sir W. Stanley; W. Welch, Esq. Onions, Carrots, and Turnips, Rev. J. Mainwa ring. EXTRA PRIZES. Device of Flowers, G. J. Wainwright; ditto, Miss Fiehlen ; Deaths, Sir W. Stanley; Pair of Thu n b urg i as , Ibiscus, and Cox combs, Rev. J. Mainwaring.— Crimani Gigantium, Sir Wm. Stan. ley.—Basket of Plants, J. T. Baynes, Esq.; ditto, Charles Stanley, Esq.—Basket of Fruit, S. Vertue.—Figs, Sir Wrn. Stanley.— Peaches, ditto ; Plums, S. Vertue.—Best Dahlias, S. Whalley. MISS WHITNALL'S CONCERT. The expectations which the public had formed of the attractive character of this concert have certainly not been in any degree disappointed. A more magnificent audience never before met within the walls of our patent theatre than assembled on this occasion, to listen once more, and with unabated interest and admiration, to the unrivalled vocalists engaged, and to greet the young lady whose spirit and liberality had provided for her friends a treat seldom within the reach of the Liverpool public. Ac cording to the original plan, the entire pit and boxes had been thrown into a dress-circle, for which places were advertised to be taken on Tuesday and Wednesday, at Messrs. Hime's, in Church-street, and on Friday morn ing at the box-office of the theatre; the remaining portions of the house being left to be occupied by those who might fortunately be in time to secure sitting room. So great, ing, by b ~l id a lb f .e p e a n s te ne la e g v e e d n , o n : i c d l o l c ni k u , b tl e i r e s whole of ap l o i( t ,a t t l i i t e s were left unyrovided with pl aces . I n this emergehowe!er, was the eagerness of the public that, on Tuesday applicants were left unroeided with places. In this emergency,ncy, it m w dr a oe s rsns suggested at one time that the upper boxes might be occupied at dress-circle prices, but this suggestion was rejected as unfair to the public; and, by the judicious and spirited efforts of the managers of the Theatre-Royal and the heneficiare, the whole of the stage itself, with the ex ;eption of a small space in front for the singers, was laid out in stalk, elegantly fitted up and beautifully lighted, and made to accommodate three hundred additional per sons. By this arrangement, an increased splendour w as given to the house, the singers an d o rchestra being thus placed between two audiences, comprising a large portion of the beauty and fashion of the town. As a mere spec tacle, without a note of music bei n g added to heighten the charm, there were, we are sure, few present who would have begrudged the cost of admission to see an assemblage which, possibly , they might never again be privileged to look upon, and which, by the eminent vocalists whom they had met to hear , must have been infinitere garded pride and gratificatio n , as than was ever paid th em a tribute w ittoh their f,eli feelingstalents ggreater in any theatre in Europe. The opening Overture Illfassaniello) was played with great correctness by the orchestra , under the leadership of Mr. Aldridge, who certainly made the most of it w i t h Signor as did the Paltoni Aria o r the limited means at his disposal, which . were not at a ll compatible with the extended space of the house. Th e enthusiasm of the audience ha d not as y et bee n excited, anclth , ' Pro isfinepcompositionen worthy i fell was ti: t uupont b h y e e s a i The Romanza " Or la cull onda,' magnificently sung by Favanti, completely dispelled the coldness of her h earers , working them up from absolute impassiveness to a height of enthusiasm rarely witnessed. A tumultuous encore followed, which was responded to on the part of the singer I by the substitution for the piece called for of her favourite " Non pip mesta," which she gave in a style such as to stamp her as the unchallenged occupant of the very first rank amongst the professors of her divine art. Ihe Duett " Venti Scude," was splendidly. sung by Signors Mario and F. Lablache, after which, the house was again en raptured by the Cavatina " Qui it voce sua Soave," which was given by Madame Grisi with a power and sustained beauty which none save that unrivalled song stress could have imparted to it, and which called down a unanimous encore. The excitement scarcely had time to subside when Miss Christiana Weller came on to give her beautiful performance of the " Grand Concert Stick," in which she has created such a sensation in musical circles. We have already spoken in favourable terms of the abilities of this young lady ; and certainly, whatever may have been the amount of praise bestowed, it will be unequal to her merits as displayed on Friday. We may explain to those of our readers who were not present that Miss Weller plays this most difficult composition from memory, and with partial accompaniment from the orchestra. On the present occasion, she displayed a little natural timidity at first, and was, perhaps, on that account, not sufficiently audible in some of the opening passages, allowing the effect of her beautiful taste and execution to be injured by the too boisterous orchestral accompaniment. As this feeling wore off, however, she shone forth- the almost un rivalled pianiste which she is now recognised to be, and, towards the close of the composition, displayed a vigour of tone and a brilliancy and facility of execution which gained for her the hearty applause and admiration of an enthusiastic audience. We must direct our further remarks, beyond a few brief ones, to a notice of the new ballad by Lover, " The Chain of Gold," which was assigned to Miss Whitnall, and sung by her with a chasteness and correctness of style which, with the addition of a fine voice, are the characteristics of this lady's singing. Of the substance of the song itself we cannot say much, its principal merit being its adapta tion to the tine old music to which it is set. By those who can appreciate the peculiar beauty of the ancient melodies of the sister country, it will no doubt be admired and sung; but it fell coldly, on this occasion, upon an English audience, although rewarded with the honour of an encore. The favourite ballad "Bonnie Prince Charlie" however, giver, most beautifully by the same lady, was re ceived with an enthusiasm which fully made up for the comparative coldness which greeted her first effort. We never heard this noble song more finely and tastefully delivered. The leading features of the second part of the concert were a Duett between Madame Grisi and Mario, which was unexceptionably beautiful. The Aria "Se amarlo solobeve," wassung by Favanti, with an exuberance of spirit which was at once delightful and surprising. The singer absolutely revelled amidst the difficulties which she created and solved at will, her fine voice display ing its whole and wonderful compass to a delighted audience. The song alone would have sufficed to estab lish the fame of the singer. The fine Cavatina "In terra ci divisiro " was sung by Mario very beautifully ; but the I'olacca " La Fidelta," by Grisi, was the performance of the evening. It was splendidly sung, in the very best style, and with all the power and brilliancy of this un rivalled artiste. As a whole we cannot but regard this concert as credit able to all parties engaged in it, amongst whom we must not overlook the claims of the management of the Theatre- Royal for their efforts to provide for the accommodation of the public, and of 111 r. Cook, the attentive box-keeper, for the excellent arrangements made by him, and the un deviating politeness displayed in providing for the con venience and comfort of all in his portion of the house. In an audience so great we never saw regularity so com plete, and every arrangement so faultless. The following impromptus upon the leading stars at this concert have been sent to us, and we have much pleasure in giving them insertion. The originals are from the pen of Signor Zandotti, professor of Italian in the Collegiate Institution; the translations were made, cur rente calarno, by Miss Christiana Weller— Per la Viitaosa Damigella M. WHITNALL. Fra quegli Astri, to luci piU bella, Come luce, tra gli astri una stella, E la luce the ottieni da lor, La rimandi con doppio splendor ! 'Midst proudest stars we catch thy rays, And love thy light the more; Through thee, those orbs enchant our gaze. Reflected o'er and o'er ! GRISI. Se la Grisi dagli Elisi, Sia discesa io non lo so ; So the un astro in lei ravoisi, Che la terra illuminJ ! Was Grisi from Elysium sent? A h ! none may tell from whence her flight; But through the boundless firmament, No radiant star That beams afar O'er earth can shed diviner light AL DIVO MARIO. Mario col canto Diletta tanto, Che un Nume sembrami Sceso dal ciel, O Spirto angelico, Che voglia alquanta Da not celarsi Con mortal vel ! Oh, Mario ! thy soul-inspiring song Must surely to a brighter world belong; Thyself a god descended from the sky, Or wandering spirit of celestial birth, Disguised in mortal shape to charm the earth, With deathless strains of heaven-born melody ! LIVERPOOL SUMMER ASSIZES. NISI PRIUS COURT..-TUESDAY. ECCLES AND'ANOTHER V. HARPER. This was an action brought by Thomas and Richard Eccles, of Lower Darwen, near Blackburn, against the defendant, Samuel Harper, to recover the amount of a policy of insurance for £l2OO, effected on 220 bales of cotton on board the ship Caledonia, on her voyage from Savannah to Liverpool. The declaration stated the total loss of that vessel ; and the defendant pleaded that the policy had been obtained under circumstances of fraud and misrepresentation. It appeared that the plaintiffs had long been in the habit of ordering cotton from the house of Andrew Lowe and Co. of Savannah—a respec table firm connected with the house of Isaac Lowe, and Co., of Liverpool ; and they had been ordering cotton from that house a considerable time. Savannah was a port in South Carolina, whence cotton was sent in large quantities to Liverpool; and the well.known rates of in surance for that voyage varied from 12s. 6d. to 15s. The average length of the voyage was twenty-five, thirty, and thirty-five days ; and at the time the policy was effected in the present instance, the ships were performing the voyage in the ordinary time. The order for the insurance by the Caledonia was given on the Ist of May, to Cunliffe aryl Co., and through them to Cunard and Co. ; it arrived in London on the 2,1, about three o'clock p.m., and the order was a simple one to insure £l2OO on 200 bales of cotton on board the Caledonia for the plaintiffs, stating nothing more than that the ship was coming in the ordi nary way with the cotton. Under these circumstances the policy was effected at Lloyd's, at the customary pre mium of 12s. Gd. ; and upon the 2d of May this insurance was effected as if it had been on a ship likely to leave Sa vannah a fortnight or a week before, when the underwriter discovered in the early part of the month of June, that the vessel he had insured on the 2d of May had sailed from Savannah on the 17th of March, being a period of 44 days after the time she had sailed, and ten days beyond the ordinary risk of the voyage ; he instantly made appli cation to the brokers as to why they should have sought to effect an insurance under the circumstances mentioned. Several witnesses having been examined for the defen dant, Mr. KNOWLES contended that the average period of the voyages from Savannah to Liverpool was understated, and that a ship, under the circumstances of the Caledonia, would probably occupy somewhere about forty days en the voyage. lie observed that if seven guineas had been asked for effecting the policy, it would have been willingly paid, and that the plaintiffs were wholly ignorant of the time the vessel sailed. The jury retired, and, after an absence from court of several hours, returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £3OO. HARGREAVES V. PARSONS. This was a special jury case, in which the plaintiff, George Hargreaves. was a commis&on merchant in Li verpool, and the defendant was George Parsons, a share broker, also of this town ; and the object of the action was to recover a sum of between £4OO and £5OO for an alleged breach of a contract which the defendant entered into with the plaintiff in November - last. It appeared that in the course of last year a gentleman, named Parker, who speculates-in foreign railway shares to a considerable extent, entered into some contract with the defendant, and out of that contract had arisen a contract with the plaintiff and the defendant, which had been the cause of this action coming into court. After the case had been gone into at some length, a verdict was returned fur the plaintiff for £437 10s., sub ject to a motion for a nonsuit. GOSLING V. BIDDER. This was a speci3l jury case, brought by James Gosling to recover a considerable amount of money lent to the defendant, Samuel Parker Bidder ; and after the case had been opened, a verdict was returned for the plaintiff, by consent, subject to a reference. PEARSON V. CORD. In this case, which was the last on the list, a verdict was returned for the defendant. The assizes then terminated ; and Mr. Justice Cress well left for London the following morning, we believe greatly fatigued after the harassing labours of the circuit. LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL NEWS• The subscription for the public walks, itlanchester, has now nearly reached £15,000. The British and North American royal mail steam-ship Acadia may be expected to arrive here ou Friday night next. LORD STANLEY.—His lordship has left London for Lathom-house, the seat of Lord Skelmersdale, where Lady Stanley and family are at . present staying. hi s lord ship is expected, shortly , at Knowsley. The steam -ship British Queen, which used to run be tween this port and New York, and now bel ong i ng t o t h e Belgian government, is advertised to be sold by auction at Antwerp, with all her stores. PUBLICANS, &c.—At the . Police-court, on F r id ay , t wo public-house cases were dismissed, others we re f oun d 80 s , 505., 605., and 40 s. Beersellers tined : two 405., and one 60s. In the case of Mrs. Bickeistaff, one of the cases dismissed, Mr. Rushton announced it as hi s i n t ent i on t h a t he would take away the license of the Victoria Theatre. INCIVBST.—On Saturday an inquest was held on the body of a child, found in a pit, in Birtle,treet-fields, Tosteth-park. A verdict to the effect was returned. Mr. Thomas Galloway, who, for the last three years, has filled the situation of superintendent of the Liver pool Workhouse, has been appointed governor of the Union Workhouse, at Wrexham. BIRKENHEAD DOCKS.—The ceremony of laving the first stone of these docks has beer further postponed to the 9th October, in order to accommodate several gentle men who wish to be present. FATAL BATIIING ACCIDENTS.---On Saturday week a boy, seventeen years of age, was drowned whilst bathing in a pit near Chorley. On Sunday week a young man, twenty years of age, was drowned while bathing in the Ribble, near Preston. - • STUFFING MEAT.—On Wednesday, John Frith, a butcher, in St. John's Market, was fined ss. and costs, for having beef on his standing which had been stuffed with suet.—On Thursday, Robert Youde, a butcher, in St. John's Market, was fined in the like sum for having stuffed veal on his stall. A match was played on Thursday between the Edge hill and Knowsley Clubs, on the ground of the Liverpool Club, which was kindly lent for the occasion, and which terminated in. favour of the Edge-hill by a majority of 27. The scores were as follows ; Edge-hill, first innings, 54 ; second innings, 86. Knowsley, first innings, 65 ; second innings, 48. • • - - - CHEAP TRAIN.—A cheap special train to Liverpool left Hull early on Wednesday morning. It consisted of seventy-six carriages, drawn by two engines, and con veyed nearly two thousand passengers, all of whom were provided with seats. The train reached this town about three o'clock, p.m.. and left on its return about the same hour next day. SOUTH LANCASHIRE REVISION.—The following is the route of the barristers appointed to revise the list of voters for this division of the county ;—Mr. Brandreth— Newton, Monday, Sept. 16th; Ormskirk, Friday, 20th Wigan, Wednesday, 25th ; Great Bolton, Monday, 30th ; Liverpool, Monday, Oct. 7th.—Mr. Mathews—Ashton, Sept. 16th ; Oldham, 19th ; Bury, 24th ; Rochdale, 30th ; Manchester, Oct. 4th. FILTRATION.—We are happy to find that the system of filtering vast bodies of water, by Mr. Stackey's invention, is likely to be largely adopted in Lancashire. When such men as Lords Brougham and Radnor, and Mr. Professor Phillips, in England, and Arago, in France, speak confi dently of the great value of any invention, little more evi dence is required ; some, however, will not be content without personal inspection and continued trial; in this case, we believe, they can have both. littsx AFFAIRS.—On Thursday, several districts of the town, which are principally inhabited by the friends and supporters of Mr. O'Connell, were illuminated, in celebration of the decision of the House of Lords. In one street, tar barrels were fired ; and altogether the re joicings were of a tumultuous and boisterous character: The arrivals from Ireland are sought with intense inter est. Our local repealers intend to make a grand demon stration, at an early period, to which Mr. O'Connell will be invited to attend. FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.—The following distinguished persons arrived in Liverpool dur.: ing the past week. and, after a brief stay at the Adelnbi Hotel, took their departure for various places ;—The Marquis of Headfort, ;the Earl of Fingal, the Earl of Charleville, Lord Carberry, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, Lord Clements, the Hon. Mr. Plunket, General Reddie, Governor of the Isle of Man, Major General Sir Thomas Whitehead, Sir Hesketh Fleetwood, Bart., Sir Burgess Carnac, and Alderman Hughes, of London. A COAT STOLEN FROM, AND PLEDGED AT, TIIE SAME SHOP ON THE SAME DAY.—At the usual hour, on Mon day morning, Mr. Vickers, assistant to Mr. Wilson. pawnbroker, Bolton, hung out, among other goods exposed for sale in front of tne shop, a coat of plumb colored cloth. At noon, the same day, it was pledged to Mr. Wilson, in his own shop, in the absence of Mr. Vickers, by a woman named Ann Seddon. In the afternoon, about five o'clock, it was missed from the place at which it had hung, and inquiries being made, the second pawning was discovered. The woman who pledged it was apprehended and com mitted for two months. COMMISSIONERS OF PAVING AND SEWERAGE.—The members met on Friday—Mr. John Holmes in the chair. The paving in front of the Welsh Methodist chapel, Pall mall, was ordered to be taken up and the streets to he macadamized to prevent noise. An application to allow the refuse of the piggeries of the Abbatoir Company in St. Andrew-street to be turned into the sewer was re fused ; as was an application to project some steps from houses in Skelhorne-street. A complaint was lodged by two police-officers against a driver of a water-cart, for improper interference with their duties, and it was agreed that he should not again be employed. There was no other business of public importance. DEFRAUDING AN EMPLOYER.—On Wednesday, John Craig Taylor, a genteel-looking youth, was brought up, charged with defrauding his employers, Messrs. Irving and Jones, merchants, of North John - street. The pri soner was their clerk, and was in the habit of attending the Custom-house, to pay the duties on bonded goods, for which he received advances of money, which were paid him from time to time. When these payments were made to him, he produced what was supposed to be a copy of the entry containing the charges for duty, in which he had added to the amount of the articles, and thus ob tained more than was legally due. Several cases were mentioned by Mr. Jones ; one on the 31st July, in which he had charged duty on 25 bags pepper, instead of 20 bags, being £7 7s. above the Custom-house entry accounts ; another on the 12th August ; and a third on the 16th, of a similar kind. Several other instances were also adduced, and the amount obtained by the prisoner in that way, since May last, was said to be upwards of £7O. He was committed to take his trial at the sessions. APPREHENSION OP Mn. J. K. WINTERBOTTOM.—It will be probably be romembered that this individual, who once occupied a prominent position in Stockport, in August, 1839, created great consternation by absconding with large sums of money not his own, after, as was al leged, committing forgeries to a great extent. Until re cently he was lost sight of, but on Thursday last he was apprehended. A man named Paine, a singer in public houses, who had known him at Stockport, recognized him in Great Howard-street, in this town, and knowing that t. 200 was offered for his apprehension, he and a com panion (after he had taken to his heels on being observed) went in search of him, and with the assistance of police officer Lawton, No. 372, they at length found him in a farm : house in the vicinity, and took him before Mr. Com missioner Dowling. The three, with the prisoner in cus tody, were sent to Stockport, where the latter was received in custody at the police-office. On Friday the prisoner was taken before Mr. Baker, the magistrate, and, upon the general understanding that a warrant for his appre hension on a charge of forgery, issued by a London house at the time of his absconding, was still outstanding against him, he was remanded to six o'clock next Friday evening. Mr. Winterbottom, we understand, has been in Liverpool ever since the South Lancashire election, coming here from France. He is now in the custody of Mr. Barratt, at the county lockups. REPRESENTATION OF NORTH LANCASIIIRE. - -The Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday says that "it is not im probable that George Grenville Francis Egerton, Esq., the eldest son of Lord Francis Egerton, who recently attained his majority, may succeed to the vacant seat for North Lancashire." This however is no doubt a mis take as J. Talbot Clifton, Esq., of Lytham Hall, has issued an address soliciting the honor of the representa tion, and he will it is expected be returned unopposed. In his address he says " For the Agriculturist 1 desire most undoubtedly to secure that full protection to his capital, his industry, and his enterprise, to which the burdens he has to sustain justly entitle him. I feel that it is almost unnecessary for me to say that in aspiring to the representation of the Northern Division of Lanca shire, I fully appreciate the great importance of its com mercial and manufacturing interests, and that I shall always be ready to promote them to the utmost of my power. I trust that by a constant attention to the duties which they impose upon a representative, I shall acquire that confidence at your hands to which it might be con sidered presumption in me at the present moment to lay claim. Not less important than the above to which I have already alluded, as demanding the care of your rep resentative, I feel to be the welfare of the poor. I should consider myself bound to regard them equally with their wealthier neighbours. I consider it a paramount duty to maintain our institutions in Church and State mid r the conviction of the inestimable blessings whirls they have conferred upon the nation, and I believe I shall best secure a continuance of those blessings by giving general support to a conservative government." A NN UAL. GENERAL SESSIONS AT PRESTON.—This session was held on Thursday. Forty-eight magistrates were present—the Rev. Jon. Brooks in the chair. The annual accounts were first passed. Those of the county treasurer were for this year £37,891 Is. and for last year £16,402 lls. For prosecutions of felons the sum was this year £15,558, IGs 6d. Law expenses £I,OGI. — Mr. Rodick inquired why the charges for prosecuting felons in Liverpool was so much greater than at Lancas ter. Mr. Addison replied, because the number was much greater. Mr. Rodick also called attention to the fact that having got the list of county voters done by contract they had saved £l2O. In the Lunatic Asylum accounts the receipts were £4,652. To Mr. Walker £3,800 were paid, and to Mr. Sharp, the architect, £52. A long discussion took place on the County Asylum. The inmates were 800, the curable only 50 ! Colonel Rawer ' thorn, Mr. Addison, and Mr. Brotherton, contended that ' alterations should be made as recommended by the Com missioners of Lunacy Inquiry. Those who had a chance of recovery ought to be separated from those who had not. A better system was recommended by which the lunatics would cost only 3s 6d a-head per week, in place of 6s 6d as at present.—The Bridges accounts showed four rolls, that had produced in the year £7,so6.—The maintenance of the Constabulary Force had cost X 23,216. The House of Correction at Prescot had cost X 9,176; Kirkdale £8,392 ; Salford £25,525.—The rolls were granted, namely—County Treasurer, general purposes Id ; Lunatic Asylum ; County Bridges 1-16th ; County Constabulary (local) Manchester 2d ; Rochdale 21t1 ; Ormskirk 3d; Present 31d; Warrington 2d. Tl:t fol lowing appropriation of toe County Treasurers Fund ; —Salary of Governor of Lancaster Castle, £600; ditto Deputy ditto, £lOO ; ditto Chaplain ditto, £350; ditto Surgeon ditto, £lOO ' • ditto County Treasurer, £4OO. Mr. Ashton Cross and Mr. Hugh Hornby were added to the Preston House of Correction Committee, and Mr. James Bourne was added as a Vestry Justice at Kirk dale. The Surgeon's salary at Kirkdale was raised to £lBO, and at Preston to £6O. Mr. Amos applied for an increase to his pension. There were seventeen for, and seventeen against it. It was resolved to convert certain rooms in Kirkdale Gaol into solitary cells. Mr. Addison said the system had been productive of immense good. A committee was then appointed to revise the county , rates ,&c., —an inquiry admitted by all to be much wanted. The return mate!, between the Edge-hill and Breck Clubs came off on Saturday last, on the ground of the latter, when the Edge-hill was again victorious, heating their opponents in one innings. The Breck scored, first innings, 4G ; second innings, 38 ; Edge-hill, first innings, 88. THE CASE OF THE METOKA EMIGRANT SHIP.—In our paper of last week we reported the ship Metoka, with emigrants, for New York, as being under examination as to her fitness to proceed to sea. The surv.eyors again met on Saturday week, and added to their number tsvo of the most experienced and respectable ship-masters that fre qiient this port. The survey was quite satisfactory to themselves and Lieutenant Henry, the government agent, as to the fitness of the ship to proceed to. Sea. By the directions of Mr. Rushton, the stipendiary magistrate for the borough, the whole of the passengers had been offered passages, by Messrs. Grimshaw and Co., in another first class American ship, to sail on Tuesday last, and of the 225 only 41 availed themselves of the offer of transfer, the rest declaring to Lieutenant Henry they would go in no other ship than the Met.,ka, and said that the few who were so clamorous at the police-court only represented a small portion of , the original number. Mr. Rushton stated that not the slightest imputation rested upon Messrs. Grimshaw and Co., as to the selection of thaship Metoka, and that they bad acted with great propriety throughout. The Metoka is a first-class American ship, only two years old, and was loaded to a very moderate draft of water. She sailed on Monday. CRUELTY TO-A CIIII.D.—A case of a disgraceful nature came on for hearing yesterday week before the magistrates of Hull. The defendants were a man and his wife, named Harman, residing in Snuff-mill-entry, Wincolmlee. Mr. M`Manus stated, that from information he had re ceived that the defendants ill-treated a son of theirs, a bay about fourteen years of age, named Joseph, he proceeded to the house. and found the boy in bed in a room up stairs, the stench from which was so suffocating that he was obliged to hurry down stairs almost immediately. The boys back seemed 'very red. Two police-officers after wards called, and found him in a small closet lying on some wet straw. The smell was dreadful. The closet was about a yard in length and only two feet in height, so that he could neither stand up nor lay his full length. His intellect seemed greatly impaired, and he was subject to fits. Other witnesses gave other painful particulars. Some had seen him repeatedly beaten by his mother, and it was said that both parents frequently went out for a whole day, leaving him fastened up in the dark closet without meat or drink. One woman had occasionally given him food in their absence, and he ate with great avidity. About a month before he was a fine stout boy, but not so sharp as other boys of his age. When in court he stared about him like an idiot. The magistrates said that a more disgraceful case had never been heard before. and immediately committed the prisoners for trial at the ensuing sessions, and gave the police directions to take care of the children. - CHARGE OF EMBE ' iiLiiitENT.—TO our last paper we noticed the case of a young man named Neill IVl'Viecar, who, yesterday week,:wAs charged before Mr. Rushton with having embez4l,o,tertain sums from his employer, M r. H. R ose , w i n e4i*rehant. and who, after one charge was sworn to, (to thblniount of 10s. 6d.,) was remanded until further evidence of other alleged defaults to a larger amount could be procured. He was again brought up on Tuesday last, when three charges were preferred against him, but the prisoner having stated that he could prove the payment of the money he had received from the 12th of August, (since which date there had been no entry made by him in the books of money received,) he was re manded till Wednesday, to enable him to do so. On Wednesday, Rose staled that he had been with the pri soner, and that the accounts were balanced up to the 26th of August, leaving a balance against the prisoner of £9 lfis. ; but it having appeared from a statement of Mr. Parkinson that something like a compromise had been offered on the previous day, the prisoner was again re manded f‘r a day. On Thursday the enquiry was re sumed, and Mr. Wardle proceeded to prove the payment of ss. 4d. that had not been entered in the books. Mr. Rushton said that was not the charge upon which the prisoner had been remandei, but a grave one of embezzle ment ? Mr. Wardle said that upon further examination of the accounts, it had been found that the money alleged to have been embezzled had been entered by the prisoner in the cash book, but not in the proper place.—Mr. Rushton said that was a very improper way in which to deal with the court. A grave charge of embezzlement had been made, and it was then found that the money had been entered. Mr. Rushton asked if the case was to be proceeded with. Mr. Wardle said he would proceed with the case of the ss. 4d.—This case having been proved, Mr. Rushton said lie would not commit the prisoner to trial upon it under the circumstances. There had been such gross negligence in the keeping of the accounts, that he felt persuaded no jury would convict upon it. The whole affair was in amass of confu -ion, probably occasioned by the master's illnes but principally in consequence of making a partner, by allowing a per tentage, of one acting in the capacity of clerk. He should only call upon the prisoner to enter into his own recognizance in £5O to ap pear to answer any indictment that might be preferred against him, Mr. Wardle applied to have Mr. Rose bound over to prosecute, so that his expenses might be paid out of the borough fund, Mr. Rushton refused, and the case dropped. SELECT VESTRY PROCEEDINGS.—The fortnightly meeting took place on Tuesday, and all the members were present but four. The visitors reported favourably of the state of the Workhouse. It appeared by the returns that ti;ere were 1,617 inmates, at a cost of 2s. lid. a head, an increase as compared with the same period last year of 46 paupers, and of , qd. in cost per head. The out-door ex penditure was about the same as last year, 6,537 cases being relieved within the last fortnight, at an expense of £733. The furnishing committee for the Industrial School reported that the successful competitors were Messrs. Anderson, Bold-street for ticking, sheeting, and under-blankets ; Messrs. Ralph, Church-street, for upper-blankets and counterpanes; Mr. Woodnorth, for window-blinds; Mr. F. Hand, for iron bedsteads, and Mr. Swallow, Bold-street, for a steam-engine. It was announced that the Lords of the Treasury, had in compliance with the memorial sent. reduced the interest on the loan obtained from the Works Loan Office to four per. cent. Mr. Bright brought forward his motion, to the effect that all supplies required for the poor's establish ment, exceeding £lO in value per month, or £5O in a single item, should be advertised for and purchased by tender, and that contracts for the same should be entered into. Mr. Thornly seconded the proposition, but it was negatived—only the mover and seconder voting for it. Mr. Bright said he should communicate the result to the Poor-law Commissioners. Mr. Overseer Kilshaw stated t ia li n a d, tthe corporation offered to the parish three lots of comprising about 400 square yards situate on the west side of Lime-street, at £4 per yard, when it was re solved to purchase the same for the purpose of erecting a registration- office, the site being very central and suitable, and the price was considered moderate.—Steps it was stated had been taken for the early completion of the building at Kirkdale.—The Rev. Rector Brooks,asa member of the de putation,entered into a long, interesting, and minute detail of their proceedings in search of a superintendent for the Industrial School, when, in company with .Mr. they visited Norwood, Battersea, and other similar esta blishments, and obtained much useful and valuable infor mation. The thanks of the vestry were voted to the rev. gentleman and his colleagues of the deputation, and also to Mr. Tufuell, for their valuable services. The Rev. Wm. Bannister, at present curate of Ardwick-green, was. on the recommendation of the Rev. Rectors, appointed to the situation of chaplain to the Workhouse, at a salary of £250 per annum, in the room of the Rev. Mr. Cragg, re signed. The Rev. Rector Brooks stated, that it would be a convenience to the poor if interments were permitted at St. Mary s Cemetery on Sundays, when power was given to him and his co-rector to make such a regulation, and any other that would be likely to conduce to the conveni ence of the parishioners.—The sanction of the board was given to bind, as apprentices, a number of boys from the Workhouse, who are going out to Newfoundland, and to their being provided with suitable clothing.—The Board then adjourned to the 17th instant. . MEETING OF THE COMP4ISSIONERS OF BIRKENHEAD. —On Tuesday evening, the usual monthly meeting of the Commissioners of Birkenhead was held at the Town-hall. The chair was occupied by John S. Jackson, Esq.—Mr. Wm. Jackson complained of the increasing cost of the extras for the new market, and said that the erection of that building under present circumstances, was becoming a ‘ serious matter.. it was then arranged that the Town clerk should meet the committee, and consult as to the most advisable course to pursue.—The Ferry Committee reported that the receipts for the past month continued to manifest an improvement, and that as the time was now drawing nigh, when the Monk's Ferry must be made available, an additional boat would be required to enable them to continue their operations. They, therefore, re quested the sanction of the board to order a new boat ; and they concluded by stating, that, during the past month, a memorial had been presented to them. request ing that all smoking might be discontinued on board the river steamers, and that they thought the prayer of the SEM?, ought to be complied with.—Mr. Wm. Jackson asked for a report on the present conditioi of all the packets.—The Chairman replied, that there had lately been two new boats. The Nun was in perfectly good condition ; and in the course of three weeks or a month the Cleveland and the Eliza Price would be equal to new. The King. Fisher would also .be equal to new. Their boats, therefore, consisted of six, omitting the Helens burgh,. which ,they had determined to dismantle. lie contended that, a new boat was, required, and said, that for the last four. months,—nsmely, from the 22nd of April to the 31st of August. the ferry receipts had increased upwards of £lBOO. Their contracts too, although con siderably lowered, had amounted nearly to the sum of their original receipts; there was a daily increase; the Monk's Ferry increased ; and everything appeared to prosper.—Mr. W. Jackson moved that the ordering of the new boat be postponed for a week ; but, upon a divi sion, the motion was lost by a majority of 9 to 7.—Mr. Pim moved that the Ferry Committee be requested not to repair the Helensburgh ; and the motion was adopted.-- The parliamentary committee on the Monk's Ferry Bill reported that great pssetl inconveniences inge wo u ld ar i se un l ess of ficesaer were n tar, established ex pens e s a t of the Monk's for bFerry ,ook I and ng thata passengers m bill had amounted to £936 18s. Bd.—Mr. W. Jackson said, that as the Chester and Birkenhead terminus to Monk's Ferry would be op ene d nex t mont h, it wou ld b e necessary to increase the accommodation, by enlarging the Monk's Ferry Hotel, at which a fixed tariff of charges for families might he placed upon a smaller scale than that of the Euston Hotel. He moved that a committee b . e appoint e d t o ta k e t h e su bj ect o f en l arg i ng t h e H o t e l into consideration, and to report to the next meeting.— The motion was adopted, and the following committee were appointed for the purpose :—Messrs. Watson, Hind, Cole, Stansfield, and Gilbertson.—The Finance Commit tee recommended that another collector be appointed for the township, at a salary of £lOO a year ; and it was or dered that he be advertised for, and the testimonials read and reported upon. The Board then adjourned.