The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-10-10 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Cbt 7Lthrrpool &tanbarb. TUESDAY MORNING, OCT. 10, 1848. MOST probably before these remarks shall have been submitted to our readels, the fate of the un fortunate gentleman, a few days ago upon his trial at Clonmel, on an issue of life or death, will have been decided. Whatever sentence may follow the verdict of guilty, which has just been found against him, we are confident will be submitted to by Mr. Smith O'Brien himself with manly resignation. But will the Government have added to their posi tion the slightest element of power, or prestige, by the success of their efforts to procure a conviction ? We answer, decidedly,—No. And we do not even hesitate to go further, and to express our convic tion that nothing could have been conceived more damaging to the honour of the British name, and more destructive of the moral strength of British rule in Ireland, than the policy of the Government throughout the whole of these unhappy proceed ings, from their commencement to their climax, in the ease of the gentleman in question. Let us briefly trace that policy. Twelve months ago—nay, long previously—it was evident to all the world that the agitation for a repeal of the union was culminating to the point of violent rebellion, and a savage internecine war. The moral force agitation of the O'Connells and of Conciliation Hall had proved itself a humbug of the first water, and a gigantic fraud besides. Pecu lation, hypocrisy, and sordid meanness stood con fessed as its leading attributes ; and it was jostled from its place, spit upon and trampled upon, and a bolder and a more in earnest set of men sprung up to take upon themselves the leadership of a struggle, towards which the promoters of that agi tation had only pointed, but durst not take a step in advance. Intemperate sedition was openly preached, in prose and in verse. Murder and mas sacre the most vile were advocated, and arming and training in arms carried on in every quarter of Ireland, without let or hindrance, directed and pro moted by incendiaries—rebels and "felons," by their own boastful admission—both lay and clerical. It is now clearly established that the Government of Lord John Russell was intimately cognisant of both the objects and of every detailed movement of these men. They had their spies in every club and in every midnight conclave. What would have been the conduct of a bold and manly Government in such a state of affairs ? Such a Government would have crushed the hatching treason in its nest. It would have trampled alike unhesitatingly upon the rebel editor in his workshop of treason and upon the priest preaching sedition and the holiness of bloodshed from the altar. It would, moreover, have studiously disconnected itself from every man known to have been the most slightly concerned in, or to have sympathised with the Traceedings of either Conciliation Hall or Burgh Quay ; from popish secretaries and popish advisers of the Crown. But this would not have been a Whiggish policy ! We must be " liberal" in an age of liberality; have Popish attorney-generals and Popish solicitors and secretaries ; and—strange fatuity !—we must allow treason to arm itself, to lay the plans of its cam paigns, and even take the field, before taking a step for its suppression. Vie must see the miserable dupes of scoundrel agitators led on to the noose of a halter, without issuing even a note of warning or deprecation. "Be satisfied"—was the Whig reply to every remonstrance by the loyal against their suicidal forbearance. "Be satisfied; Lord Claren don and his Castle officials know every secret move ment, and are prepared to meet and punish the se dition, when it has gained a head sufficient." The crisis came which every man foresaw; and that it was less dangerous and appalling in its re sults than it might have been is attributable only to the gross incapacity of those who had assumed its leadership. The slight effort required for its suppression only proved incontestibly with what ease it might have been strangled in its birth, be fore so much that was lofty in talent and in rank bad been allowed so fatally to commit their lives and fortunes. The time for administering punish ment followed; and we beg to point to the whole course of the trial of Mr. Smith O'Brien as exhibit ing the humiliating position of the Whig Govern ment. Who were the witnesses produced on the part of the Crown ? Informers and spies, or mi serable wretches, dragged to give their unwilling fore them of a future provision by the Government in some of our colonies, or reduced to perjure them selves, as their only protection from the hand of the midnight assassin. There was documentary evi dence, too, produced; but let us see how this was dealt with. it is well known that a trunk was seized, belong ing to Smith O'Brien, containing papers and cor respondence relative to the movement, which that gentleman, with a fatuity only conceivable on the supposition that he is either half an idiot, or in tended that the whole of his colleagues in crime should share with him its punishment, carried about with him in a part of his campaign, and finally gave up, unsolicited, into the hands of the officers of the Crown. Those documents implicated hundreds of persons, previously unsuspected; and amongst the rest, it is asserted, some of the Romish priesthood and hierarchy of Ireland. We are told, however, by a correspondent of the Dublin Evening Mail, writing from Clonmel, that they have been tampered with, for a purpose, and many of them suppressed. " Much indignat . on "he says, ' exists here among those well acquainted with the state of the country, at the course now adopted by the government and their Popish Attor ney-General, whose great object is to conceal the part taken by certain priests in organising and participating in the late movement. Everything is done to prevent their reverences conduct being made known to the people of England ; therefore, every document affecting the loyalty of the priests is submitted to a tribunal composed of Mr. O'Ferrall, Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, Mr. Redington, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Lynch, of the Leinster bar, Theobald M`Kenna, Sergeant O'Brien, and the At torney-General, all bitter and bigoted Roman Catholics who take very good care that no document to compromise the priests shall go beyond their conclave; and it is well known here, many a document sent up to government, clearly showing the views and intentions of the priests, is no more heard of, even though essential on the pending trials, as showing the extent and nature of the conspiracy. Documents, letters, papers of all descriptions, clearly and extensively establishing the guilt of the priests, have been seized in all directions, and forwarded to government ; but all suppressed, even when inquired for as corroborative testimony on other points. The great object is, not to injure, in any way the reputation of the priests, but to let them appear as having saved the country. Lord Clarendon fully adopts these views, and assists in this shameful fraud, though well knowing the extent to which his proteges are implicated in the rebellion—nay, he has actually written to the lord-lieutenant of the county, urging the appoint ment of the farmers to put down the rebel movement, and suggesting that he thinks the Roman Catholic priesthood may be called on to co-operate and assist in this organisa tion, which he well knows some of them fomented to the utmost extent in their power, not only assisting in the formation of the Jacobin clubs, but warmly aiding all the clans of the rebels." We can well believe the truth of this statement, damning as it is to the character of the Govern ment. We believe it from the evident anxiety evinced throughout the trial to stop any expression or fact which might have damaged the reputation of these priestly pets of Liberalism. And we coin cide heartily with Mr. O'Brien's most able counsel, when he says, with respect to the evidence produced of the Ballot for a War Directory— " If they expected juries to be the guardians of the liberties of the country, let them have an impartial admi nistration of the law. Let the Protestant be convicted, if guilty, but let not the Roman Catholic be screened from punishment. He appealed to their honest nature, whether one man was to be struck down, and a Roman Catholic priest—nothing but a man—should be spared ? Was one man to suffer for his crimes, like the prisoner in the dock, and the other to be spared ? He acquitted the law officers of the Crown ; he made no charge against them. He acquitted the prosecutors, for they did not know and did not believe that Father Kenyon was a member of an ille gal confederation against the Queen, and therefore they did not prosecute him as a guilty man. Father Kenyon had eight votes. Mr. O'Brien had not one, and yet he was to be made responsible for that proceeding !" We see the same spirit exhibited, too, in the conduct of the Lord Lieutenant himself, in the case of the rev. gentleman, who dared to propose terms to him, and was permitted to negotiate for Mr. Meagher, at that time a rebel in arms against her Majesty. The law had attached the penalties of treason against all persons harbouring or con cealing the place of refuge of any of these men. There was a Government proclamation out against Mr. Meagher, and if any poor peasant or farmer had hinted any knowledge of his retreat, far less proposed terms for his surrender to the Lord Lieiitenant, we venture to assert that immurement in the deepest cell in Newgate would have been his reward. But a Romish priest is apparently above all law, when administered by Popish officials and a Whig Viceroy. The memory of the Lichfield House compact sticks about their skirts. The people of England undoubtedly will, and ought to, demand the fullest enquiry into this part of the proceedings of the Irish Government. Bri tish justice is outraged, and will stand forth a mockery before the eyes of the world, until punish ment is meted out with an equal hand to the clerical as well as the lay abettors of rebellion. But we do not even hope for such a consummation. Unplea sant revelations of past transactions between the Whigs and the priesthood might be consequences of any attack upon the persons of their reverences. Whig Governments have not themselves always trod strictly in the path of the Constitution and of order in their endeavours to promote the result of favourite measures. The examination of Major- General Sir W. Napier, touching certain passages between Mr. Thomas Young, secretary to Lord Melbourne, Mr. Parkes and himself, as to some contemplated proceedings of a similar character to those in which Smith O'Brien has been engaged, might have had an awkward effect upon the minds of.his jury had it been permitted to be given. It was suppressed, however. Lord John Russell's Popish Attorney-General—grateful man !—rushed at once to the rescue of his patrons, and the court threw its shield over the would-be Whig rebels of 1832. One of the letters, in the possession of the gallant Major-General, from Mr. Thos. Young, has since transpired, and we offer it here for the perusal of our readers. The address, H. 0., we may pre mise is Home-office : " H. 0., June 25, !32 " My dear Napier,—Sir H. Bunsbury told me of your wise determination not to become a ' Parliament men,' at least for the present. The offer was very tempting, and you have the more merit in declining. I refrained from writing to you while the matter was undecided, for I did not wish to obtrude my opinion, but I felt that reason was against your acceptance, as your health, your purse, and your comfort would all have suffered by your attendance in the House of Commons. The history must have been laid aside. You could not, moreover, have been a calm and silent member, but would have been exerting your self to push onward the movement faster than it probably will march, or than, perhaps, all things considered, it is desirable it should march. " Let us go back a moment. " The display of energy, and a readiness to act on the part of the people when the Duke of W— was on the eve of coming in, was greater far than I expected. I speak not of the Cockneys, but of the men in the north, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham. Are you aware that, in the event of a fight, you were to be invited to take the com mand at Birmingham. Parkes got a frank from me for you with that view, but had no occasion to send it. Had he written, I should have fired a despatch at you with my friendly and anxious counsel and entreaty to keep you quiet, and not to stir from Freshford. It is not well to enter early into revolutions ; the first fall victims. What do you think would have happened. " The Reformers (Place, &c.) talked big to me, and felt assured of success. The run upon the banks and the bar ricading of the populous country towns would have brought matters to a crisis ; and a week they (the Refor mers) thought would have finished the business. They meant so to agitate here that no soldiers could have been spared from London, and the army is too small elsewhere to have put down the rebels. In Scotland, I believe, the most effectual blow would have been struck, and it seems difficult to have resisted the popular movement. The tories, however, say the duke would have succeeded. No doubt the discipline under which soldiers live might have proved a stronger element than the public enthusiasm, i.e., unless the latter was universal or extensive, and then it would have carried all before it. The task would have been to bring society to its former quiet state ! Thank God we have been spared the trial; but, as a matter of speculation tell me what you think would have been the result ? Am I right in my conjecture that you would have refused the Birmingham invite, and kept your sword in its scabbard ?—Yours, ever truly, " T. Y. " Thanks for your first volume : Jones has come back better." The Dublin Freeman thus explains the circum stances under which this extraordinary letter has been laid before the public : " Before we place this remarkable document before the public it is due to the gallant, brave, and generous soldier to whom it was addressed to state how its existence became known, and the circumstances under which its contents have been divulged. The gallant Napier returned au in dignant reply to Mr. Young, stating that he received his sword from the hands of his Sovereign, and that against that Sovereign he would never unsheath it. The Whigs, through the secretary of their chief, applied to the loyal soldier, requesting that the letter should be returned, in order that this, written evidence of the 'conspiracy might be destroyed. Colonel Napier's reply was worthy his brave deeds and honoured name. He peremptorily re fused—stating, at the same time, that he would never divulge its contents, or allow it to be made public, until the Whigs should capitally prosecute a British subject for the offence of which they themselves were guilty. But the same soldier's honour that pledged him to secrecy under certain circumstances pledged him to render this letter and the conspiracy it disclosed matter of history whenever the Whigs should dare attempt to deprive of life a British subject, whose only imputed crime was to follow glc.nuak, Ocilla ads ilteSt, rators—has been made upon the life of Smith O'Brien, and the gallant General has kept his word." THE ALLEGED " FALLACIES OF RAILWAY INVESTMENT." We may fairly set down, as one of the causes of the de preciation in the prices of our leading lines of railway, a suspicion on the part of the public, fomented by the writ ings of opponents of the system, that it has been the practice of some boards of direction to pay dividends out of funds raised on account of capital. One of the boldest of the writers in question—Mr. Albert Smith, the author of a work entitled " The Bubble of the Age"—goes thelength of maintaining that our most extensive lines have never yet even paid their working expenses. Mr. Smith has just published an Appendix No 1, to the second edition of his work, in which he gives some statements, with respect to the London and North-Western line, of so startling a nature, that we feel bound to give their substance, in the hope that it will elicit from the company some expla nation which will be satisfactory to the public mind. Mr. Smith, in a table marked No. 2, shews from the company's own reports, that on the 31st of December, 1845, after the amalgamation by which the London and Birmingham, the Grand Junction. Warrington and New ton, Chester and Crewe, Bolton and Leigh, the Li verpool and Manchester and the Manchester and Birming ham, were amalgamated under the present title of the London and North-Western, the t0t9.1 amount credited of capital was £12,457,341. The whole of the lines, in length 288 miles, were then open and working ; and might have been conceived to have been so far complete that repairs, &c., would be met out of the ordinary in come. On the 30th June, however, the capital expended had been increased to £13,090,000 ; on the 31st Decem ber, 1846, it was £13,456,198; on the 30th June, 1847, it was £13,951,244 ; and on the 30th December, 1847, it had risen to its present amount of £14,440,813. In a note, he states, that this amount credited to main lines does not include the £2,202,262 of fictitious capital, created under the arrangement for amalgamating the companies, the improvements at the Euston station, the extension into Liverpool, or the improvement of the Liverpool station. Hence, there has been an outlay of nearly a million a year going on since 1845 upon the main lines, irrespective of new projects. whilst the directors have been dividing from 10 to 8 per cent. amongst the shareholders as nett profits earned. In addition to this capital the company has expended upon subsidiary lines. opened £3,504,303 ; lines in course of construction, £3,568,348 ; making a total capital of £21,513,464. The capital of the whole of the lines, with which the company has connected itself by purchases, branches, extensions, and subscriptions to wards the cost of construction, amounts to £59,632,274; and the length is 1684 miles. Whilst this addition of nearly a million per annum, to the capital of the main line, has been going on, the nett profits of the company from all their sources of income, and upon the length opened of 3491 miles, has been, for the half-year ending June 30th, 1846, £534,929; for the following half-year £653,911 • for the first half-year of 1847, £514,697 ; and for the last half-year of 1847, £647,855. The table No. 4 gives a summary of the ex penditure on capital account, and the profits of the two years, by which we find that the amount credited to ca pital, as additional sums expended on opened lines, after such lines had been working, and not including £562,789 expended on stations, is £2,491,629, whilst the total re presented profits of the two years have been only £2,351,392, or £140,237 short of the amount which the works have required. It must be borne in mind that this extraordinary expenditure has not been for maintenance of way, locomotive power, and other ordinary expenses incurred in carrying, police, &c., which are charged in each half-yearly account against the gross receipts. Whilst we cannot go the length of the writer in his conclusions that the concern is not a paying one, and that the same additions to capital are likely to go on, we can not but suspect that the company has a little too early treated it as a completed one. They have, no doubt, in the first instance underrated the cost of the means and conveniences required for the accommodation of an in creased traffic; and it would probably have been better if they had devoted a portion of their earnings to the pay ment of these claims upon them. At all events, it would be highly advisable, in the present temper of the public mind, that some better explanation should be given of this large yearly expenditure than that which is afforded by the bare publication of their ordinary debtor and cre ditor accounts. The public would thus be enabled to as certain when it might be expected to terminate. The extensive contract for water pipes for Liverpool, which will amount to about £130,000, has been secured by the founders of Glasgow, the contract having been taken up by four firms. _ _ ._.. AN IRISH WITNESS'S IDEA OF A DISGUISE.—The driver of the mail in which Meagher, Dillon, and others of the Confederates travelled on their way to the scene of the great Irish rebellion, was asked, in his examination at the recent trial, if they were disguised at all ; and his answer was, " No ; they were only disguised as gentle men." The question is whether he meant that being dressed like gentlemen, or behaving like gentlemen, is a disguise to Confederate Irishmen, or that the " gentle , men" were disguised in liquor. WHEN WILL FREE TRADE HAVE HAD A FAIR TRIAL ? The boasted system of Free Trade, which was to have effected such wonders, reminds us of the Irish gorsoon, who was " the illigant scholar intirely," the pride of his doting parents, but who could never get hold of a pen that could spell, or paper that was fit for a " gintleman" to write upon. It has always to be spoken of apologeti cally. It would have done all that its friends predicted of it; but it didn't because up according to the ingenuity of the commentator. We have one of its apologies before us in the following paragraph from the " Notices to Correspondents" of the Liverpool Mercury. " FREE TRADE.— Indirect Taxation' knows very well that Free Trade has not yet had any trial but in keeping the poor of this kingdom from starving, which it has done in spite of lin gering monopolies. When we have had two average harvests, potatoes included, then judge of Free Trade, if, indeed, it be allowed to become really free. The exports of goods to the United States have increased in consequence of its progress so far." --- 111;s is really amusing. Free Trade,—and particularly free imports of Bread Stuffs upon the largest scale—has kept the poor from starving.—(Qy. Has it even done this ?) ; and, concurrently with our experience of its working thus far, we have witnessed one of the most dis astrous commercial crises on record, and seen bankruptcy, stagnation and want of employment pervading all classes. There is hope for us, however. " When we have had two average harvests, potatoes included," then we are to see what this grand system will do for us. Id est, when we can do without the foreigner's corn, and in proportion to the extent that we can rely upon our own resources, we are to be prosperous once more ! Verily, a Daniel come to judgment ! But then, good Mercury, what will become of the increase of our exports of goods to the United States ? If Free Trade has had anything to do in creating this increase, it has been by enabling America to take our goods in part payment of the immense quantity of breadstuffs she has supplied us with. When we no longer need those breadstuffs, America, by our contem porary's own shewing, will have no inducement to in crease her purchases from us. The prosperity of the native agriculturist is, after all, admitted to be the sheet anchor of the national prosperity ; but it was not so in the palmy days of Anti-Corn-Law agitation. Then, we were told to turn our corn lands into grazing ; our ploughmen into spinners and weavers and to buy all from the foreigner. THE GOLDEN DISCOVERY OF BROTHER JONATHAN The New York Morning Herald of the 27th ult., received yesterday by the steamer, under the triple head ing " Interesting from our new Territory in the Pacific" —" Continuance of the gold excitement"—" Extraordi nary condition of affairs," with a supplementary line of " &c., &c., &c.," gives a letter from San Francisco, of June Ist, containing the following singular disclosures : "The whole of this part of California is in the highest state of excitement (and the southern part will soon become so) rela tive to the Placera, or gold regions, recently discovered on the branches of the Sacramento river. Three-fourths of the houses in San Francisco are actually vacated ; even lawyers have closed their nooks, and taken passage, with a spade and wooden dish, to make fortunes by washing out gold from the sands on the Sacremento. Cooks and stewards have refused fifty dollars a month to remain under their former employers. Clerks' wages have risen to a thousand a year. Carpenters, blacksmiths, and teamsters, who in April received three dollars a day, now refuse ten ; a few still remain, making shovels, spades, and pick-axes, and turning wooden bowls, who are making upwards of twenty dollars a day. lam informed that one blacksmith makes ten to fifteen small picks, and sells them as a favour at 36 each. English spades and shovels will command $lO each, and by taking them to the gold regions, yield a heavy profit by selling again. There is not in town one new shovel for sale, perhaps not a tin cup or pan. A boat requires four days to go from here to Sutter's Fort. The fare has risen from at to Al 2, each pas senger carrying his own provisions. Wooden bowls, worth in New York 10 to 15 cents, will sell here now for A 5. The quantity of gold is said to be almost incalculable in extent, the district in which it is found covering a large area, which " can be worked by thousands for years to come," each man being able to , obtain from 8 to la dol lars per day. As the present result, partly of the with drawal of the population from their ordinary industrial and commercial pursuits, and partly of the plethora of gold, every article of food or use is enormously enhanced in price. Flour and meal, for instance, being quoted , at 8 to 12 dollars per barrel, the same quality being barely worth 5.50 c. to 5.671 c. in the New York market. _ _ As a suggestion to the advocates of gold at a fixed price as the basis of a currency, we may ask whether it is not probable that this large increase of the stock of that commodity is not likely to diminish its actual market value per ounce ? It is the law, with respect to all other commodities, that increased supply diminishes prices. If diamonds could be picked up as easily as Scotch peb bles, or manufactured as freely as plate glass, we imagine that they would cease to be worth so large a sum per carat as they are valued at now; and when our Yankee brethren in California begin to have their dish covers and spoons of gold, the British sovereign will scarcely bring quite so much as £3 17s. 10d. per ounce. THE CHOLERA TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—Now that cholera is amongst us with all its viru lent character, I am sure you will coincide with me in people properly instructed how to act when attacked by the disease. For this purpose printed instructions should be circulated through the local papers of a practical na ture for the guidance of the people. These should come from the authorities, in order that they might be re garded with. confidence. Being myself a clergyman of the Church of England, I have an opportunity of judging of the peoples feelings on this important subject. All with whom I am acquainted complain extensively of the great apathy of our local authorities at this fearful crisis ;. they feel as if they were left entirely unprotected to the attack of this fearful pestilence. I myself feel that we are in no way better provided against its approach than on the last visitation,. when it decimated our population to such a fearful degree. There is a work on cholera s by Dr.. Haw thorne of this town ; obtaining extensive circulation a mong those able to purchase it ; and I am told by my friends that they intend to be entirely guided by its directions in case it happened they should be attacked. Now, I feel concerned for the safety of my friends,and not being a medical man myself, I am unable to judge of the work in question. It may be very meritorious and good, for aught I know, but the authorities should, with out delay, either sanction or condemn it, when it is known to have such extensive sale. If the work be correct, the more confidence that accompanies it the better.;: but, if it is not, the sooner it is condemned the better. The im portance of this step must be apparent to all at a time like the present, when every one is obtaining it, and especially when it is the only work of the kind which is.to be bad.. Trusting that our worthy Mayor will take the matter up, and himself take the lead in a subject where the lives of the people are concerned, I am,—Your's, &c., A CLERGYMAN. EXHIBITION OF THE LIVERPOOL ACADEMY We were prevented last week from devoting the space we intended to this interesting exhibition. We shall,. however, endeavour to make up for the omission in the length of our present and future notices. It was our in tention, last week, to have directed attention to one of the most deserving paintings in the Exhibition — No. 361. Scotch Fair, by J. Philip. There is a great deal of character in this picture, and the grouping is. very good. The substantial-looking farmer in the centre of the foreground is a life-like sketch, for which the verita ble Dandie Dinmont might have stood ; and his steed, only that it is a bay instead of grey, realizes our notions of his " little hoss, Dumpling." There are several very c haracteristic pieces of bye-play introduced into the pic ture very cleverly, 359. Portrait of a Nun of the Order of Mercy, by J. Smetkana, is a very talented picture, and reminds us of the force of Herbert's style. The nun is, in counte nance, not ene of the maudlin sentimental sort, such as we are led to look for from the description of the class which we meet with in our circulating-library novels, but a masculine sort of character, qualified to carry out the views of the modern disciples of Loyola. There are appa rently few human affections in her composition. 360. Interior Part of the Ruined Abbey of Holy Cross, County Tipperary, Ireland, by H. M. Anthony, is a very meritorious interior. The misty light is well managed, and the details are in excellent keeping with the charac ter of the subject. _ 345. Durhiim Cathedral, from Calvert Church-yard — Evening. W. G. Herdnzan. This artist has four excel lent specimens in the exhibition ; and in selecting No. 345 for our first notice, it is perhaps because the object— Durham Cathedral—is endeared to us by many recollec tions. The painting is, however, very clever in itself, and the object of the artist very finely brought out. We may remark, by the way, in compliment to the taste of St. Cuthbert, that Durham Abbey, in all its aspects, seems to be a very favourite subject for artists. There are five or six paintings of it in this exhibition. 237. Vesseli in a Breeze off Burlington Pier, York. C. Fielding. A very pretty marine piece, of which there are many in the exhibition. The water is painted with great skill, and is most natural in effect. The most ta lented marine piece, however, in our humble estimation, is 438. Dordt, from the Ferry. A. Montague. The water is beautifully transparent, and the picture itself a perfect gem. 439. T. Ahsolon, is a water-colour drawing, represent ing in three compartments a passage from " Tristram Shandy." It is a most spirited composition, displaying a fine appreciation of the genius and meaning of the author, and, withal, very beautifully painted. It is very pleasing, in an exhibition like the present, and amongst the works of professional artists, to notice a few, and those not the least talented, the production of an amateur. In Room No. I. we have three very nice little bits of painting, the work of Mr. James Ward, of the York Hotel ; and we give our hearty meed of praise to the Hanging Committee for the consideration and judgment displayed in so dealing with the pictures in question. Mr. Ward would, we have no doubt, feel in sulted if it were even hinted that he was favoured on any other ground than that of merit, or if it was to be sup posed that his efforts were valued from the fact of the uncongenial nature of his early avocations. We ourselves do, however, value them the more on that account. They afford to us a proof that a high sense of the beauty of nature, and a love of the fine arts, may be maintained under circumstances the most unpromising ; and the cir cumstance of their being deemed worthy of a place in the first room ought to operate as an encouragement to non professional men generally. Mr. Ward's pictures—we do not particularise theca—show great talent, and shame the productions of many older and more strictly profes sional hands. 374. The Tomb of Shakspeare, R. S. Lander, R.S.A., might more properly have been styled " Sir Walter Scott at the Tomb," &c. ; for no one can mistake the reveren tial visitor, who stands in the centre of the picture, gazing upon the sculptured bust of a kindred spirit. There is a fine and deeply poetical feeling thrown over the whole scene, combined with some exquisite painting. The em bowered window, with the light struggling through, is especially clever. 373. Fishing Boats off Dieppe, by C. Bentley, is ano ther very pleasing marine picture. The sea is very trans parent. 180. Cardinal Pole exhorting Henry VIII. against the Divorce of Catherine of Arragon, by W. L. Windus, is a very spirited picture by a clever artist. The face of the voluptuous monarch is expressive of his character, and of the struggle which is going on within his breast. The best figure, however, is that of the cardinal. The fine old chamber in which the interview is being held is very cleverly painted. We are glad to observe that this work has received the best tribute which can be paid to excellence by being " sold." 193. Christian about to Turn Back for Fear of the Lions, 87c., by W. Huggins, is one of those peculiar subjects in which this artist delights, and in which none that we know excel him. We cannot say that we altoge ther like his peculiar colouring. His treatment of the subject, however, is very fine • and there is some excel lent painting throughout. The lions are splendid animals. Mr. Huggins has two other pictures in the exhibition — one a landscape, which is hung so high that we can only perceive that, in its composition, he has supported his high standard of talent as an animal painter. A cow ru minating in the foreground, and some ducks at the pond, are beautifully given. Loral P.eius. Dr. Byrth is one of the candidates for the Regius Pro fessorship of Modern History at Oxford. On Sunday the Rev. R. Spence was ordained minister of the Independent chapel at Newington. The keeper of the Leeds and Liverpool canal weighing machine, was fined £lO for the offences detailed in our last. One of the bridges of the new landing stage was thrown open to the public on Wednesday, and tie other will be ready in a few days. . All vessels corning from Hamburgh are to be placed under quarantine, in consequence of several cases of cho lera having occurred on board vessels coming from thence. On Friday a little girl, daughter of Mr. Spurr, of Wil liamson-square, died in consequence of injuries received through having pulled a jug of boiling water over itself. The old parish-offices in Fenwick-street have been pur chased by Mr. Councillor Stewart for the sum of £7,700, and are now undergoing the necessary alterations to adapt them for merchants' offices. On Monday a female, named Watkins, a nurse in the infirmary, was observed to fall whilst walking alone Rodney-street. She was promptly attended to, but died soon after of apoplexy. At the sessions, last week, Mr. G. P. Steains, the parish tax tax collector, and Mr. John Evans, solicitor of Swift's court, Castle-street, both convicted of embezzlement, wer_q i each sentenced to six months' imprisonment. EMIGRATION.—The William Penn, which , sailed Liverpool this morning, had on board more nespectab d country persons destined for America than we have seen in the midst of spring— Waterford paper. SHIPWRECK.—The brig Penang, Captain Hawkins, from Cronstadt for this port, was totally wrecked on Stouse Head, Orkney Islands, on the night of the Ist inst. The crew were saved. The vessel was insured for £3,600, and the freight for £BOO. At a numerous meeting of the electors of North and South Toxteth Wards, on Tuesday, Mr. Hindley and Mr. Fisher, the candidates for the forthcoming municipal e'ection, attended, and their addresses gave the greatest satisfaction. SOUTH SHORE CHURCH.—On Sunday last, the Rev. C. Dean preached his farewell sermon at this churcll, Blackpool. A piece of plate will shortly be presented to him by the congregation. The Rev. Mr. Banner, of Liverpool, it is said, will be his successor. ADULT BAPTISM.—On Wednesday evening last, at St. Silas' Church, Pembroke-place, two young females were admitted into the church by the solemn ordinance of bap tism, in the presence of the congregation ; after which, a very vefeeling address was delivered to them by the Rev. John Cordeaux, the incumbent. FEMALE EDUCATION.—We perceive that Mrs. Thomp son has made arrangements for giving evening lessons to females engaged in business during the day. This is an important feature in the establishment, and will, no doubt, be duly estimated by those for whose benefit it is intended. THE WIRRAL FERRY-BOAT.—In the Court of Admi ralty, on Wednesday, Dr. Robinson applied, on behalf of the owners of the Flambeau, for leave to sell the Wirral, Woodside ferry-boat; held as bail for having run down the former vessel. The application was refused, on the ground that the owners had sufficient security for the present. INQUESTS ON SATURDAY.—OR view of the body of Joseph Murphy, an infant of seven weeks old, son of a sailor living in Ford-street. Deceased, it was shown, died from disease of the bowels.—On view of the body of Elizabeth Brockbank, aged 11. She died from congestion of the bowels.—On view of the body of James Garrety, aged 15 days ;—cause of death inflammation in the bowels. taauKay. TkamSONABLE DOCUMENTS ROUND AT LIVERPOOL.— We learn that several of the Liverpool police-force are at Clonmel, in waiting to give evidence on the State trials there. They have to produce, we believe, several letters from, the rebel chiefs, and other documents of a treasona ble character, seized on a search in:the confederate club rooms here. It was Javatt, police-constable 112, who fol lowed M•Manus from Liverpool to-<Dublin. SUICIDE AT BIRKENHEAD.—OM Friday night a young man named George Argent, the son of a pensioner resid ing in Albion-street, Birkenhead,. committed suicide by cutting his throat. He went to the closet, and took with him a looking-glass, as if to observe minutely the part on which to inflict a wound. He was discovered soon after wards, but he did not long survive. The unfortunate de ceased was never of strong intellect, and was a character well known in Birkenhead. He- was best known by the name of Napoleon." FALSE ALARM.—A Halifax (Nova Scotia) paper, of Sept. 18th, says —" We learn from Keefler's reading room, that a sealed bottle, containing a slip of paper, upon which the following names were written, was picked up, a few days ago, by a fisherman, near Ragged Isles : " Thomas Duff, Kilcock, Ireland, on the ill-fated E.Z." Below follow the names of " John Rooney, James Hickey, James King—All lost—God have mercy on their souls."— [The E.Z. was in the Liverpool Docks when the sealed bottle was picked up by the fisherman.] . THE ROSCOE Civa.—The new premises in Clayton square, intended for the future use of the members of this literary and social club, were opened on Monday. The premises are admirably adapted for the purposes of such an institute, and comprise a handsome and commodious dining-room, an office and library, coffee-room or news room, and a spacious room for the accommodation of the discussion class, and for the various public meetings of the club. Convenient kitchens, numerous sitting-rooms, a gymnasium, and a bath-room, are amongst the accessions. ST. PAUL'S WARD.—We are happy to state that there is at length no doubt whatever that the Town Council will be delivered from the presence of that pugnacious crotchetty old gentleman, Mr. Eyre Evans. We are much more happy in being enabled to state that our friend, Mr. Briscoe, of Oldhall-street,, whose constitutional principles are so well known, will be returned by a triumphant ma jority. It appears that the Evans party objected to 69 Tory votes, but as the Radical objector-general had failed in complying with the requisites of the law, this circum stance will give Mr. Briscoe a decided majority. CHINESE COLLECTLON.—Every evening this week a grand spectacle will be presented, entitled the "Feast of Lanterns." The Times, in speaking of it, says,—" The scene surpasses in brilliancy of effect every exhibition of this nature we have witnessed. It reminds us of the Ma hommedan Paradise of the Palaces of Genii;, and as, in short, the realisation of that Eastern splendour with which we have hitherto been only verbally familiar. The count less numbers of variegated lanterns throw streams of gor geously coloured light upon the scene with an enchanting effect, which, added to the softness of the music, renders any description perfectly inadequate. The delight of these `realms of glory' must be experienced to be understood." NEWSROOM SUBSCRIPTIONS PAYABLE LN ADVANCE. — Mr. J. L. Butler, coal merchant, Dale-street, was sued on Tuesday in the County Court, for two years' subscrip tion to the Exchange Newsroom, for 1847 and 1848, dur ing both of which Mr. Warburton, the master of the rooms, proved that Mr. Butler had exercised the privileges of a subscriber. Mr. Smith, one of the keepers of the room, proved that he had made several fruitless applica tions for the amount. An offer was made in court of one year's subscription, on the ground that the second was not yet due, the year not having expired • but the offer was rejected.—The Commissioner remarked, that the de fendant was clearly liable to the payment of the last year's subscription in advance ; and ordered him to pay the amount of both, with costs. THE REV. J. CONYBEARE. The following address, signed by all the masters of the Collegiate Schools, was pre. sented to the retiring Principal. It affords a pleasing testimony to the esteem in which he was held by those who had the best means of knowing his worth. " We feel that we should be omitting a duty to you and to our selves, were we to allow you to take leave of this institu tion, without expressing our unfeigned regret at the loss of one who, as Principal, has so ably and zealously super intended our schools, from their foundation, until the present time. We gratefully acknowledge the unceasing care with which you have watched over our interests, and are deeply sensible that in you we lose a sincere and considerate friend. We notice with pleasure the success of your pupils at the universities, as a prcof of the effici ency with which your attainments have been applied to the prosecution of your labours in this place ; and though your care of the spiritual welfare' of those entrusted to your charge, is perhaps less marked by the public than their intellectual improvement ; it is not less appreciated by us who have been acting in more immediate connec tion with you. Whilst, however, regretting our own loss, we cannot but rejoice at your removal to a more genial climate, and a less laborious, though equally responsible, cphere of action ; and we humbly trust and pray that the Almighty Giver of all good may bless the change to the establishment of your health, and give you grace to dis charge your new duties, to the promotion of His glory, the good of His church, and the eternal welfare of your self, and the flock committed to your care." FUNERAL OF MRS. BOLTON, OF STORRS-HALL.—The remains of Elizabeth, the relict of the late John Bolton, Esq., of Storrs-hall, on the banks of Windermere, and formerly of Liverpool, were interred on Saturday, the 30th ultimo, in the vault, at Bowness. She was born on the 12th day of November, 1768, and died on the 22nd day of September, 1848, consequently she was in her 80th year. Her late husband was formerly one of the most eminent merchants of Liverpool, and for several years colonel of a regiment of volunteers in that town. Mrs. Bolton had been gradually declining without any decided illness for some time ; and though medical advice was requisite on Thursday, the 21st ultimo, she remained tranquil, and, indeed, in a cheerful condition till eleven o'clock on Fri day evening, when she expired without any apparent suffering. Her loss will be greatly felt by the poor in the surrounding neighbourhood ; in truth it may be said she was kind to all : she never sent any empty away from her door. The mutes on foot led the procession ; next the late Mrs. Bolton's land-agent, Mr. R. Logan ; head gar dener, Mr. Higham, and head butler, Mr. Rogers. The hearse, drawn by four black horses, was followed by four mourning coaches, drawn by two black horses each, con taining the relatives of deceased. Her own carriage fol lowed, and another containing her attorney and medical attendants. The work people and tenants wound up the procession. All the shops in Bowness were closed during the interment. The deceased was the last surviving sister of Judge Littledale, formerly of Whitehaven.—Lancaster paper. DANGEROUS STATE OF SOME OF THE FOOTWALKS.— A correspondent states, with a view to call the attention of the authorities to the fact,—of which we are ourselves aware—that the footwalks in some parts of the town, and especially those surrounding the markets, are frequently in a dangerous state from the quantity of of orange-peel, cabbage-leaves, and other slippy vegetable matter, left to accumulate upon them. He instances the footwalk at the north end of St. John's Market, which is never free from such substances on the flags, and in passing along which, on a decline, parties frequently fall to the ground, to the danger of limb, if not life. \%hy not employ a poor man to keep it constantly swept ? Great Charlotte street is equally objectionable, and the street itself, even in the middle, is so much obstructed by stalls or stand ings, that it cannot, on a market day particularly, be available as a clear thoroughfare for any kind of carriage. Our correspondent enquires whether the market com mittee have any legal right to monopolize that or any other street for market purposes. If more land be requi red for the extension of the market, the corporation ought to buy and enclose it. Our correspondent is of opinion that if any other party or parties were so to obstruct a street, they would instantly be brought before the police magistrate, and fined.—We have also heard complaints from time to time, of partiality in the paving or repairing of streets, the greatest expenditure being upon such thoroughfares as the gentry mostly frequent ; while other streets, in which the inhabitants are equally assisted for the rates, are in part, or totally neglected. The bottom part of Harrington-street, in our own neighbourhood is one example amongst hundreds. The top, next Castle-street, has been carefully repaired. The bottom has remained in statu quo for many years, and it is dificult to'walk along it, and many other streets, without danger of dislocating an ancle, or breaking a leg. The fashionable thorough fares are torn up and re-laid, often, when there is no real cause, for incurring such an expense. The humbler streets are left for years as nimbly, and as full of " hills and hews" as the weather and the passage of heavy vehicles can render them. Even in a sanatory point of view, the question ought to be entertained in the proper quarter. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. . 14 1)n Saturday several drapers were fined £1 each, and costs, for having tempted theft by exposing their goods for sale at their respective doorways.- On Saturday a man was sent for trial by Mr. Rushton for stealing books worth £2 10s. from the Methodist Chapel, Pleasant-street. ROBBING AN EMIGRANT.—Francis Dudon Was charged before Mr. Rushton on Thursday with robbing John Wilkinson of £23. The prosecutor and prisoner arrived from America on Wednesday in the Waterloo packet ship and slept together the same evening. The money was secreted by Wilkins in a purse about his person, but in the morning his cash and bedfellow had disappeared. Dudon was afterwards apprehended with money upon him, which answered to , the description of that which bad been stolen. The prisoner was committed. AN EXPENSIVE CUSTOMER.—An old pensioner was brought up at the Police-office on Monday, charged with breaking a window and being drunk. He had appeared before the magistrates a hundred times for drunkenness, on an average twice a week, and has cost the borough fund, in one way and another, about £lOO. Mr. Rushton de clined to see him again for some time, and to ensure that gratificrtion, ordered him to pay Ss. and costs for break ing the window, and to find two sureties in .ZIO' each to keep the peace, or to be imprisoned three months in de fault. THE RIGHT OF SLAUGHTERING CATTLE IN THRTOWN. —On Wednesday, John Doherty, of Cable-street, and Wm. Mossford, of Harrington-street, were summoned before the Magistrates on au information charging them with slaughtering cattle in the town, contrary to the provisions of a clause contained in the Sana tory Act. The case was adjourned, to permit the de fendants to prepare their defence. There were twenty seven other cases of a similar kind, and Mr. Rushton di rected that informations should be laid against all the offenders, in order that the whole question might be raised at one time. EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF SMUGGLED TOBACCO.— On Tuesday, a man, named Jacob Smith, was charged before Mr.. Rushton with smuggling an immense quantity of unmanufactured tobacco. Jas. Luke Lee, a landing-waiter in her Majesty's Customs, deposed that, on Saturday last, .., tanueu num tne oarque Archelaus, from Charleston, and conveyed to the Excise depot. On examination, four of the bales were found to contain 1,206 lbs. of unmanufactured leaf tobacco, which was ascertained to be the property of the prisoner. Smith, however, denied being the owner, and after a subsequent hearing on Friday, the prisoner was fined £lOO. KIDNAPPING.—Ou Wednesday, a woman was seen to take a child out of Grosvenor-street; she contrived to elude pursuit, but the child was afterwards found in Gar den-lane, stripped of its clothes. On Friday, an old wo man, of the name of Mary Talbot, was brought up charged with having taken a pair of shoes from the feet of a child named Gardner. The hag was seen in the act of depriv ing the child of the shoes in Windsor-street ; she was pursued by a boy and eventually taken. The police state that there are innumerable cases of children being robbed in this manner, and doubtless many are to be attributed to this woman. Mr. Rushton committed her for a month. ROBBERY AT KNOWSLORY-HALL.—Peter Lyon and Mary Smith were charged before Mr. Rushton on Thurs day with stealing two silver spoons, and offering them for sale to Mr. Upton, silversmith. Mr. W. F. Newbury, house-steward to the Earl of Derby, stated that the pri soner Lyon was a shoemaker, and had constant access to Knowsley-hall for twenty years. The whole establish ment employed him, and he had frequently received acts of kindness from the family. For some time past a sys tem of plundering had been carried on at the hall, and about three weeks ago tha two spoons were missed. Mr. Rushton directed that the two prisoners should be handed over to the county justices. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF LACE.— On Saturday, at the Police-court, three men, Jeffreys, Eagan, and Derby shire, where charged with having stolen, from the Rail way Station, at Wapping, two bales of lace—value £350. The bales had been sent from the manufactory of Messrs. Watson and Co., of Macclesfield, and were addressed to Messrs. Ironside and Ca., of this town, for shipment to the Brazils. The robbery was discovered through the active exertions of constable Kehoe. The robbery was committed on the 2nd of September. The goods were in thirty boxes, some of tin and others of copper, and these were made up into two packages. Kehoe visited, several of the large towns,, and finally, with assistance, found twenty-two boxes of the lace in question, at Messrs. Samuel and James Watts, Fountain-street, Manchester, who had brought them from Mr. W. Otty, of Longton, Staffordshire. Mr. Otty was called upon, and he imme diately, on a sample of the lace being produced, said that he had had similar lace, and showed a bill of parcels for 22 boxes. He also stated that Mr. Jackson, of the same town, had made a similar purchase. This gentleman was called upon, and he showed them a bill for six boxes for which he had given £22 6s. Bd. Thus, 28:oat of the 30 were recovered. This was signed by the prisoner Eagan. Kehoe, accompanied by the two gentlemen named, went to Warrington,, and found and arrested Eagan, and his brother-in-law, Jeffreys. It was proved, by Kehoe that Eagan was a receiver of stolen goods, and had been tried at the sessions in this town six months ago. The other prisoner was afterwards apprehended ;; and Eagan stated, on being taken, that he had bought the lace from him. In reply, to a question put by Mr. Rushton ' it appeared that Mr. Otty bad bought the 22 boxes of lace for less than one-third of their value. The other two boxes were found at Mr. Brown's, publican, Scotland-road, where they were left to be taken care of. A female afterwards called, and wished him not to say that any parcel was left there. This excited his suspicions, and he informed the police. The prisoners were remanded until Wednesday.. LOCAL MEETINGS. WEST DERBY.—At the weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians, on Wednesday, Mr. Roskell was appointed chairman, in the place of Mr. Sheppard, who had re signed. Mr. Appleby gave notice that he should, next week, move that the township of Toxteth-park be di vided into three districts, and a relieving officer appointed for eech. The report a the Fever Hospital stated that there were remaining in the hospital, last week, 11 ; ad mitted during the week, 5 ; died, 1 ; remaining in the house, 15. The Rev. Mr. Badnall called the attention of the board to the necessity of a chaplain to the Fever Hospital. TITHE REDEMPTION TRUST.—A preliminary meeting was held at the Savings Bank on Friday, for the purpose of forming a branch association to co-operate with the central board of the tithe redemption trust. The chair was taken by the Rev. the Archdeacon of Liverpool. Many of the clergy and influential gentry of the town and neighbourhood were present. After a prefatory state ment by the Rev. William Pollock, in which the objects of the trust were explained, resolutions adopting the general principle, and nominating a local committee, were moved and seconded by the Rev. Rector Campbell, Mr. Edmund Molyneux ; Rev. John Stewart, Rector of "West Derby, Mr. Castellain ; Rev. Thomas Nolan, and Mr. H. C. Chapman. The important question agitated, involved the sacred character of tithes, and the possi bility of redeeming them for the holy purposes for which they were originally bestowed. Meanwhile, we can but wish God speed to the movement commenced. Lord John Manners is the chairman of the board in London, and three of our local clergy, viz., Rev. John Jones, the Rev. William Pollock, and the Rev. J. Baylee, were lately elected to the trust. THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday evening, and there were present thirteen members, including Mr. Bryans, the Chairman, It was agreed that in consequence of the ex, petted resumption of a:to Dock Werl4.3, the police force Oct. 10, 1848. should not be reduced. It was also agreed that the Rail way Company should be urged to complete the bridges in Canning-street and Bridge-street. The proceedings of the Finance Committee recommended that the services of Mr. Gregory be dispensed with ; but, from the high character given of that gentleman, it was agreed that he should have three months' notice. The Ferry Com mittee reported that the receipts were as follows :-1848, £1306 ss. 9d. ; 1847, £1635 16s. sd. From the 23d April to the 30th September, 1848, £BOl9 lbs. sd. ; 1847, £10,631 2s. 6d• Expenditure from the 20th April to the 30th September, £7346 13s. 3d.—Confirmed. A motion by Mr. Hughes, was agreed to as follows :—" That the Finance Committee and Treasurer be authorized to make an allowance of one-third of the rates to the owners of all cottage property who pay them within three months after the said rates are laid." SELECT VESTRY.—On Tuesday the usual fortnightly meeting was held. The Rev. Rector Campbell presided. In reply to a question from Mr. Earle, Mr. Poole stated that the report relative to the propriety of erecting a new workhouse out of the parish would be submitted the next hoard day. Mr. Charles Pemberton, solicitor, applied by letter to the Finance Committee for the amount of salary owing to Mr. Chubb, the late registrar of Great Howard street district, and in this letter he expressed a hope that the money would be paid in the course of the present week, to prevent unpleasant proceedings being taken against the parish. The committee ordered Mr. Pemberton's letter to lie on the table. In reply to a question from the chair man, Mr. Hart stated that no official sanction for the pro motion of Mr. Gurdon to the registrarship of Great Howard-street district had yet been received from the Registrar-general, and that, therefore, the election of a registrar for St. George's district must, for the present, be postponed. The following were declared to be the parish contractors :—For the supply of coffins, Mr. M`Donald ; for the supply of timber, Mr. Kilshaw ; for the supply of shoes, Mr. Capey ; for the supply of smallwares and ho siery, Mr. Bingham, of Brownlow-hill; and for the sup ply of linen and woollen drapery, Messrs. Adamson and Tapley. The contractors for the supply of brushes, iron mongery, and tinware, were not declared, as the board resolved upon seeing samples, in the first instance, of these several articles. Messrs. Lowndes, Robinson, and Bate son, wrote to request that a letter f credit for upwards of lip £4OOO, due to a Mr. Myers. as an award upon a gen lease, might be immediately transmitted by the p to the London bankers. Mr. Daniel Mason, secretary the Dock Committee, wrote to say that the names of of the boys at the Industrial Schools as were willing to go as apprentices in merchant vessels (and several of theta have volunteered to go) would be posted in the Telegraph rooms, for the information of captains. The gratuity of £5 was lowered to £3, to be given in future with such of the boys vs leave the schools and become apprentices. THE ROYAL MERSEY YACHT CLUB.—This flourishing nautical association held their monthly meeting on Tues day evening, at the club-house, in Duke-street. In the absence of the Commodore, in consequence of the death of a relative, the cup-bearer, Mr. Fletcher, was called to the chair. Five members were ballotted for, and all dub' elected. Mr. Councillor Parker then introduced the motion relative to the worthy commodore, T. Littledale, Esq. He stated that the commodore and his crew, had, on the occasion of the burning of the Ocean Monarch, exhibited an equal degree of gallantry and humanity in the saving of lives at the imminent hazard of their own. The club felt proud that one of their little vessels was the first to be at the scene of the distressing calamity. (Hear.) The commodore had, by his humane and fearless conduct on that occasion, combined the character of the true English gentleman with that of the British tar. (Cheers.) It was a characteristic of our seamen never to trample upon a fallen foe, but to succour all who were vanquished or distressed. The modest and retiring manner in which the commodore received the laurels and the honours which the public had awarded to him, added to his high merits. He might add that in the Council, the same gen tleman manifested the warmest interest in the welfare and good local regulation of the borough. He had exhibited in several of his speeches excellent abilities, and acute powers of observation, He was already, indeed, as a member of the Council, a valuable acquisition to the town; and he (Mr. P.) hoped that the time would not be far distant whon the Commodore of the Yacht Club would become the chief magistrate of the borough. (Cheers.) He:moved aresolution to theeffect that the club should invite the commodore to a dinner at their rooms, and there pre sent to him some substantial token of their esteem and regard for his gallant and generous conduct, and also , for the warm interest he had over taken in promoting the prosperity of the club. This was enthusiastically carried, and the dinner was appointed to take place on the 25th instant. A subscription paper was opened for the pur chase of the testimonial, an& was liberally signed by the members present. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS On Wednesday the usual monthly meeting of the Council was•held at the Town-hall. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised' a recommendation to authorize the Committee to nego tiate with the Birkenhead Dock Company relative to the abandonment of any claim on the part of the company to the reversionary interest of the Corporation in land at Birkenhead, demised to Messrs. Potter, Jackson, Laird, and Brownrigg, and any obligation on the Corporation to• sell such reversionary interest ;, and also as to the terms on which a new lease or new leases shall, if thought fit,. be granted to the company ; and also a recommendation to purchase, for the sum of £9OO, certain documents, papers, and manuscripts; relative to the Corporation title to certain property, from the representatives of the late Mr. Charles Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the proceedings, and said that the Corporation would occupy the original position they had always wished to occupy if they adopted the present recommendation to negociate with the Birkenhead Dock Company. The Corporation had been twitted for parting with their Birkenhead pro perty, out the circumstances which had since transpired had shown the wisdom of the Corporation, The rever sion would now be restored, and he was satisfied, that, as a rival to the Liverpool docks' estate on the other side of the river, could never flourish. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE was glad to hear the observa tions of Mr. Lawrence, and he hoped, that in the present negociations, the Corporation would protect themselves, and take care to have themselves indemnified for the los ses they had sustained by the property at Wallasey Pool. Mr. MANN confessed that he looked upon the proposed change with a little jealousy. The MAYOR said that difficulties certainly surrounded the question, but that the negociations now pending would have to be submitted to the Council before any , - thing final was determined upon. Mr. EvAss said the Council had not evinced that wil lingness to assist the Dock Committee in their several undertakings, which, ought reasonably to have been ex,- pected. He thought the Council had made a ruinously unjust bargain with the Birkenhead Dock Committee, when they attempted to exact the immense sum of £llO,OOO for the reversion. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied, and said that, in offer ing the Birkenhead property on lease, the Finance Com mittee never intended that property to be converted into a rival, but they certainly did think that various trades and occupations might be carried on there with advantage to both sides of the river. The proceedings were confirmed. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE then explained the propriety of purchasing the Corpoiation, manuscripts from the repre sentatives of the late Mr. Men. He said that in-cases of law suits, particularly with reference to the town dues, these manuscripts would be found of considerable advan tage. Mr. EvANs,said that Mr. Okell had been paid enor mous salaries by the Corporation, and that if he he had any valuable documents in his possession, they, of right, belonged to the Corporation. After a long debate, the Council agreed to purchase the documents for the £BOO. THE BIRKENHEAD FERRY. Mr. THOMSON moved that it be an instruction to the Finance Committee to close the contract and pay off the present steamers now plying between Liverpool and Bir kenhead ; that the Corporation cease to work the ferry ; that the ferry be kept open for all steam or other boats to land passengers at the Birkenhead slip until the ferry can be either let or sold. He alluded to the weekly los ses sustained by the maintenance of this ferry, and ex pressed a hope that it would be abandoned with all possi ble speed. He observed that a very remarkable collision had lately taken place on this ferry. Prince Albert, for instance, had bounced into the Queen, (loud laughter), and the Queen, in return, had broken Prince Albert s back. (Roars of laughter). Mr. WOOD seconded the motion. Mr. DANSON supported it, and said it was unjust on the part of the. Corporation to be sustaining a competition against Mr. Willoughby and other parties. The MAYOR denied that any competition was being sustained. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE opposed the motion, and said that the late collision between, the Queen and Prince Albert involved no loss whatever to the Corporation. He urged upon the Council to keep good boats, and then, he was certain, that public patronage would be extended to them. He hoped the Council would not stultify them selves, for at the last meeting they had authorised the Finance Cimmittee to obtain tenders for the supply of iron steamers. The Council divided, when there appeared,—For the motion, 23 ; against it, 23. The Mayor gave his casting vote against the motion, which was consequently decla red lost. TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE. • _ _ It appeared from the proceedings of this committee that Mr. Mould had sent in a sample of his sherry wine, and that the committee having tasted it, he was ordered to ship a butt for the Mayor's table. THE DOCK COMMITTEE The proceedings having been read, Mr. MooRE moved their confirmation, and said, that from the 14th of August to the 12th of September, no fewer than 110 flats, of 1600 tons, had entered the new north docks from' the Leeds and Liverpool canal, and that these flats had been:laden with coal, lime, and other produce from the country districts. This, he was sure was a small instalment of what the traffic would be from the interior in the course of a little time. The proceedings were confirmed. WATER COMMITTEE. It appeared from the proceedings of this Committee that Mr. David Rowlands, who was about to be appoin to a situation of £2OO a year, had declined it, and that Mr. Macdonald, late manager of Harrington Company would, in all probability, be appointed to the situation. It further appeared that the parliamentary expenses atten dant upon the passing of the Rivington Pike scheme had amounted to £24,000, in addition to £7OOO for money compensation to the proprietors of the mills upon the streams ; but in addition, also, there will have to be paid the expenses of Mr. Hawkesley. These proceedings were adopted. The Council adjourned _ to, Monday. 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