The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-26 00:00:00

lit, eft i. ' ~i 0 I. Ped, finperiai parilamtnt. HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY. The Bishop of BANGOR presented various petitions against the union of the see of Bangor with St. Asaph. Lord DENMAN called attention to the recent capital conviction in Louisiana, At the time that conviction took place he believed the general impression, not in England alone, but elsewhere, was that the sentence of death recorded against the individual in question for aiding the escape of a slave, would not be carried into effect. He regretted, however, to find from the public prints that sentence was to be carried into execution on the 25th April next. Louisiana was, under Mr. Livingston.s ad vice, the fi rs t o f th e St a t es t o ame li ora t e it s co d e o f laws, and he sincerely trusted that, in the present case, such a severe sentence, would not be inflicted for such a teic;mearativelv venial offence True, he had been told by agitating the question . in this country, he might Probably render the fate of the accused party more certain. He Was of opinion that this would not be the case ; at all events, he had snatched a few hours from the business of the circuit, in order, if possible, he might be the means of assisting in averting the sentence. _ The Earl of Ittrox moved the second reading of the Three-anda-Half per Cent. Annuities Bill. Lord BROUGHAM said it was gratifying to find that the s atisfactory state of the finances of this country arose mainly from the fact, that faith had been religiously kept with the public creditor. Lord NIONTEAGLE said a few words in favour of the measure, and especially he was happy in being able to ex press his conviction, that among a number of £lO an nuities, a mount i ng to upwards of 80,000 persons, not the slightest alarm existed. He deplored that any country should not maintain public faith—most of all did he de plore that the country so breaking public faith was so nearly allied to ourselves (hear.) After a few words from the Earl of RIPON and Lord MON. TEAGLY. in explanation, the bill was read a second time, and committed. Ordered to be read a third time to-m orrow . Tne Con solidated Fund Bill (£8,000,000) passed th Ero u arfhrtine same s t ages. prayinrationg t hTaz WILLIAM presented a petition from Glasgow, ide t th e state of Ireland might be taken into con- The petition was laid upon the table. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The debate on Lord Ashley's amendment to the second clause of the Factories Bill was resumed. Mr. WARBURTON contended, that a legislated attempt to shorten labour was an interference with the freedom of capital so essential to commercial transactions, and must lead to the reduction of wages. It would, in his opinion, be far better to open our ports, and by free trade and com merce provide a remedy for the evils of our social conditi on much more rational and beneficial than any bill such as that of the noble lord. Mr. BECKETT was of opinion that the proposition of Lord Ashley, while avoiding all unnecessary interference with the rights of industry, was calculate d to obviate m any of the evils to which the operatives in factories were !Illosed; but though opposed to imposing twelve hours' tabou r on the factory population, he the was not prepared for immediate adoption of a ten-hours' bill. The object ' h °nlcl. be app roac h e d gra d ua lly, and he therefore propos d the adoption of an eleven-hours' bill, as the first step towards its attainment. Sir G. GREY felt all the difficulties of the case—on the one hand, the difficulty of interfering with the rights of tia oo p nt: ttailtuatnidolilaour ; and on the other, the ft that lve hors' labourb w for omen and children was adverse to e the cosnriic j in at g iO p n ri of th e h uman f ram e. He should therefore consifdeor L or d Ashley's amendment, leaving it to future t n o ci d p e i v e i s s . e some means for reconciling these d one r JA mEs GRAH AM gave a sketch of all that had been nian in the "3' of factory legislation, and entered into ten Y details i n or d er to prove that the.difference between twelve ho urs ' l a b our wou ld crea t e a diminution, if the e s fo rmer were adopt e d, of twenty-five per cent. in lengeBAs a me re mat t er o f f ee li ng , h e wou ld g o the whole lfgeeinsafgattil;e with Lord A s hl ey i n w i s hi ng th a t henceforth no ia !n ight enter a factory, but it was impossible to le wholeon feeling ; and in the highly artcial state of our sYatem, resembling a house of cards, not to be ,taotiched without destruction to the fabric, any extensive Peting with es t a bli s h e d usages m i g ht b e a tt en d e d w ith nen Maerous consequences. :Mr. LABROUCHERE opposed the amendment, on the firntind that th e limitation of labour to ten hours would chiefly affect those manufactures of which our export trade chiefly consisted, and which could not be tampered with without the greatest danger. b 1 r• r• FI ELDEN a l so su pported the amendment, and 17) even have p re ferred an eight hours' to a ten hours' Sir R. PEEL said that the proposition of LorddAsh r ley went to li m it nom inally the labour of women and children e o n f to ten h ours , b u t its effect would be to limit t l c hildren, and it Male ad u lt s as w ell as that of women ao would therefore become so very injurious tothembeaneuofeacld turing and labouring part of the population that tot support it, although aware that many of the adherents of the Government had come to a conclusion upon the subject different toe manufactories own. The reduction of the work ingth hours of all ctories in the kingdom to the extent of seven weeks in the year, would tend to raise the prices of the manufactured article, and thus give an addi tional advantage to the foreign manufacturer. It was im possible to consider it altogether as a question of human ity—it was impossible to shut out the commercial view of the matter; and in this view, however injurious it might be to females and children to work more than ten hours a day, it would be still more injurious to have no work to do at all, if our rivals were enabled to undersell us in foreign markets. Believing that the proposal of the G overnment, was all that could be safely attempted, con sistently with the publie interest, be could not acquiesce in the a mendment of his noble friend. vvorki Lord j RUSSELL denied that the limitation of the lead ° ‘lraof women and children would necessarily t o r itn ,„ but even i i t tlog the hours of adult male labourers also ; argument for sac the case, it would not be a tenable e erPosed -r the rifice of those who were too young to eff ect of the to o re b i :a n i Such continuous labour. He believed the that m i e aulendment would tend to reduce wages, but got be remedied by a more free admission of fo- PeoPi e c Z n • The great evil of this country was, that the b ere exposed to an excess of toil, and were able to correctsan insufficiency of food, and this evil might be After ban an alteration of the corn law. and r some farther discussion, Lord ASHLEY replied, 11 ,,, said he had no objection to adopt the suggestion of 4 r : Beckett, of resorting to eleven hours a day for the first and en hours afterwards. oe committee then divided, and Lord Ashley's amend- Luept was carried by a majority of 179 to 170. e l:, second division took place while reporters were ex- Died from the gallery, affirming the ten hours uncondi "T,liallY bY a majority of 161 to 153. J A Es - E GRAHAM then said, that on the Bth clause ,o "tatnittee would have an opportunity of reconsider their decision, and untill that clause was decided upon jourilnea:u persevere with the bill, and the house after ad- HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. 13 e Lord A SHLEY stated that on Friday his object would shou ld commen ce from next October • that the hours of l abour should b e restr i cte d to e l even 'hours per diem for two Years from that period, and subsequently to ten hours Per diem, thus affording ample time for preparation. Sir J. GRAHAM intimated a persevering opposition on the part of Government. Sir R. PEEL, in reply to a question from Captain Rous, said he knew of no ground for the rumour that it was the Intention of her Majesty to pay a visit to the King of Prussia at Berlin. Mr. RICARDO moved an address to the Crown, pray ing that directions might be given to its ministers not to enter into any negociations with foreign powers, making contemplated alterations in the tariff of the United King dom contingent on the alterations of the tariffs of other countries; a and expressive of the opinion of the house choutrstehe,o great object of relieving the commercial inter injurious trweseternotthis country and foreign nations from all ing our own cus tomi lon s d w o o ti u e l s d a b s e m b o e y s best promoted m ost s o suitable f o e g t u o l t a h t ; financial and commercial interests of this country, with out reference to the am o u nt powers may think it ex h whichen interest to pieot ni or d t ut e y r: foreign levy on British goods. Mr. EWART seconded the motion. Mr. GLADSTONE opposed the m otion, on th o e ut r i o t ti e n n d d that such abstract propositions if conceded to w to embarrass the Government in its neg o doctrine c w o ith other countries. He could not agree to the n. tained in the resolution, for there might be instances in which a reduction of duties in one country might be made an ind ucemen t to another to make similar reduc tions in favour of that from which it was to receive a Positive benefit. Such a motion could not be acceded to unless the house made up its mind that all commercial treaties were utterly useless. Lord HOWICK supported the motion, contending that all commercial restrictions were impolitic, and that we had,, no occasion to punish ourselves because other na tions thought proper to act absurdly. Imports and not Zoilrts, he contended, were the true measure of a na got and n s P r osperity, which should be estimated by what we . pot by what we gave, and true policy would there- Lolre dictate that we should increase our trade and corn other countries. erce b y holding out inducements to import largely from that Bir JOHN HANNIER opposed the motion, and insisted it Was most impolitic to undervalue the advantages of M commer c i a l treaties. r- HUME then addressed the house, but while yet sPeakin g it was counted out. HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY. tt s i lle LORD CHANCELLOR moved the second reading of E cclesiastical Courts Bill, stating its provisions, the le f of which were th e un ion of the Court of Arches and s t et Prerogative Court, so as to save the expense of one of df fficers—the amalgamation of the Provincial Courts of --anterbury and York, and the . abolition of the Courts reculiars throughout the kingdom. The noble and 'Med lord did not tbink it requisite to abolish the dio be...ll courts, although such a course was recommended by t he ecclesiastical commission. :I"et' several noble lords had spoken both in favor and pposon to the bill, it was read a second time without a ' vi sion, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY. thM CRAIG moved that the order made on Friday, ‘u i nstant,—that it be an instruction to the tee of of Selection to refer the Edinburgh and Glasgow, .rP OOl ' f war veniqg maul" ion the m orons t noble for re opera" al' bu t on an d truW be 18th .ctfullr , Lord ber fo r as. bscrir oat to nsio )e , l aibeta, ;ions to th e , auglth' yeste,r; wove ' clause ' denies , in ittea ,'s Pro.: ty, itentio 3 the ,y , in rsion to ighne° )f E` g' I state d )00. cease r 0( ,t Yea r ' ) FRO uch a!: d to uw he ar° le en for Ln pie r ' T 4500 p.— resseS A ,hurch' healti l ' 'e intr re, t he Geode node X, tonal' notioO' oth „ nig!'" mom'" ergo ° We :.Pe e street . 311; 0 -Staos (7 2 / 1 ,1,7,,e, A - ~~,..~ ,~,k~rQ SUPPLEMENT TO ,1 )7 "`- ebb. tir 0.0 r AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. GRATIS.] the Slamannan, and the Edinburgh, Leith, and Newhaven Railway Bills to the same committee,—be discharged, in so far as relates to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Bill, and that the committee on the said bill have leave to sit and proceed on Wednesday next, without further no tice. On a division, the numbers were—For the motion 65; against it 66 ; majority 1. A petition was presented by Mr. WYSE, from the mem bers of the Repeal Association of Ireland, signed by 821,000 persons, praying for inquiry into the late state prosecutions. The hon. member gave notice that he would call the attention of the house to the allegations of the petition on an early day. Mr. EWART brought forward his motion respecting the repeal of duties on the raw material of manufactures, and the reduction of those duties which press on articles of interchange in return for our manufactures ; but while the hon. gentleman was yet speaking the house was counted out. 13.630 of the Ma. LOCAL. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BOLD-STREET. THREE PERSONS SERIOUSLY INJURED. On Wednesday morning, about a quarter to five o'clock, a fire was discovered in the back part of the house occupied by Mr. Robert Clay, chemist and drug gist, situated at the upper end of Bold-street, on the right-hand side, contiguous to Colquitt-street. There were only three persons sleeping on the premises, namely, Mr. Keane, Mr. Smith, an assistant in the shop, and a servant maid. Mr. Clay resides at Everton, and knew nothing of the catastrophe . for an hour or two after it had taken place. The discovery of the fire seems to have been made by Mr. Keane, Mr. Smith, and the servant almost at the same time ; for Mr. Keane, hearing a noise and finding his bed-room filled with smoke, rushed down stairs and found Mr. Smith on the staircase endeavouring to effect his escape. The lower part of the premises was so densely filled with smoke and flame that Mr. Keane became dreadfully alarmed, and returned up stairs to the two-pair front room, where he was speedily joined by the servant maid. Just at this time some gentlemen, who lodged in a house nearly opposite, were taking some re freshment after having returned from a ball, and hearing the alarm they ran into the street, as did also a young man in the employ of Mrs. Brown, a milliner, next door. While they were standing opposite Mr. Clay's premises, Mr. Keane and the servant were observed at the window, Mr. Keane endeavouring to prevent her from jumping out. She succeeded, after a struggle, in releasing her self, and, the moment she was free, she jumped into the street, a height of between 30 and 40 feet. One of the gentlemen opposite, a Mr. Todd, seeing the frightful descent, endeavoured to catch her, and succeeded in lay ing hold of her arm, by which means he broke her fall, otherwise her brains would, in all probability, have been dashed out. Her arm was found to be severely burned, and she was otherwise so seriously injured, that at first her life was despaired of. She was immediately removed to the house in which Mr. Todd lodges, where she lay for several hours in a delirious state, but at the expira tion of that time she rallied considerably, and was taken to the Infirmary, where she remains at present. Mr. Keane, almost immediately, followed her rash example, by jumping out of the window upon the cluster of gen tlemen who were standing round the girl at the time. He fell upon one of them—the young man from Mrs. Brown's establishment, whom he pressed to the ground, and who was considerably contused, though not to any very serious extent, by the fall and pressure. Mr. Keane himself was dreadfully injured, to such an extent indeed, that his life at first was considered in great jeopardy : He was also removed to Mr. Todd's lodgings, where he was placed in a separate bed, and where he continued for some hours in such an excited state that it was deemed advisable not to ask him any questions, or to allow any others but the medical men near him. As the day ad vanced he became calmer, and, to all appearance, out of danger. The greatest possible care was taken of the patients by the inmates of the house. They were, in the first instance, visited, but only for a short time, by Mr. Bickersteth, surgeon, who happened to be passing in his carriage ; and subsequently by Mr. Archer, surgeon of the Borough Gaol, who fortunately resided in Renshaw street, in the immediate neighbourhood, and who was unceasing in his exertions to administer relief. With respect to the fire, we have only to say that its ravages were wholly confined to the manufacturing part of the premises, to the staircase, and also to the front and rear of the second or upper floor, and that neither the drawing room nor the shop (which is one of the handsomest druggists' shops in the town) has been burned. Three engines from the Fire Station, with the large tank and several water-carts, were upon the spot in the course of a quarter of an hour after the alarm had been given. They were accompanied by Mr. Hewitt, and very shortly after were followed by Mr. Commissioner Dowling, Mr. Maxwell, inspector of salvage, and Mr. Alderman Law rence, the chairman of the Watch Committee. For the first half-hour the engines were supplied with water from the tank and water-carts, and at the expiration of that time, but not before, a plentiful supply was obtained from the street. The flames continued for about two hours to burst forth with great fury, but in about an hour after the engines had arrived, the roof fell in with a tremendous crash, and from that time the fire might be said to have been mastered. The joists of the house next door, Mrs. Hodgkins, the brushmaker's, caught fire at one period, but, by judicious management, it was pre vented from extending. How the fire originated is in volved in mystery. Damage to house and property to the extent of £l,OOO or £1,2.00 was effected ; but we are happy to learn that no pecuniary loss will fall upon Mr. Clay, as he was insured to the amount of £2,000 in the Liverpool Office. There was a steam-engine of five horse power on the premises, upon which the flames took little or no effect. It was supposed for a long while that Smith had been buried in the ruins ; and when the smoke had in some degree been cleared away, Mr. Dowling ordered some of the men to ascend the staircase for the purpose of ascertaining his fate. While they were en gaged in this manner, tidings were brought that the young man had effected his escape at an early period of the conflagration, and that he had lied to the house of his uncle in Preeson's-row, in a state of alarm scarcely to be imagined. It was said that he had got out of the premises by the front door ; but, whether this were so or not, he was, at all events, uninjured. About eight o'clock the fire was completely subdued. —Gore's Advertiser. INQUESTS. (Before P. F. CURRY, Esq., Borough Coroner.) CASE or MANSLAUGHTER.—An inquest was held on Tuesday, (and by adjournment on Wednesday,) on view of the body of Mary Bran - thin, a married woman, aged 26. Owing to the circumstances that transpired on the preliminary inquiry, the husband of the deceased was brought up in custody. The deceased and her husband and family occupied rooms in the house of Wm. M`Lean, No. 3, Crosby-street. On new year's night last a female in the house beard the deceased call to her, and on going to her met her coming out of the kitchen, in a stooping position, witb.one hand up to her head. Witness took hold of her, as she appeared to be falling, and then found a small cut on the left side of deceased's forehead, which was bleeding. She said her husband, John Bramhill, had struck her; but did not say when, or whether she had been knocked down or not. Her husband at the time was sitting by the fire with the children. He was quite sober ; but the deceased was in liquor. Witness dressed her head, and she soon after went out to a public-hour, where witness went for her and brought her home. Wit ness did not complain of anything ailing her until about a fortnight ago, when she was informed she was ill and con fined to her bed. On visiting her, witness found her insensible. A surgeon attended her from that time, but she continued in the same state until Sunday evening last, when she died. Witness had heard that deceased had fallen down the steps of the coal cellar ; but deceased did not complain to witness of having hurt herself, though the witness frequently saw her •, nor did she say she had fallen down the steps. The landlady of the house heard that deceased and her husband had been quarrelling on the night in question, and that he had struck her, and she had fallen. Witness heard the husband say, that deceased had better leave him altogether, as she was so much given to drinking. Next day deceased disposed of all her hus band's goods, and left, and was away for a week. Witness persuaded the husband to take her hack, which he did. She did not then complain of ailing anything, w an ds sen t about her work as usual, up to about three weeks ago, when she complained of pains in her head. In about a week she became worse, and insensible, and died as stated. When in drink she used to aggravate her husband very much, but was kind to him when she was sober. Mr. John Ashcroft, surgeon, said he was called to deceased on the 14th, and found her insensible, and labouring under symptoms of concussion of the brain. From the remedies used she partially rallied, but died on Sunday evening. On a post mortem examination he found a fracture of the skull on the left side, and a large abscess of the brain, which was the cause of death. The fracture was the cause of t m he n a j b a s in ce e s s s, K a e n il d y must have been produced by viole nce. againstahn thatceo c rt account ;v u he n aren t ytd o hh f eta hd h c aeotcrr agreeableosns e hme l erf surgeon, come home who had attended the decease d from the 4th insta n t, sa id, s h e cou ld n ever give a correct s; thf tu T oahmm h at bteae table, a h e lodeusaebbnaudnnt quarreldgt fell, of ensued at f d ata e nhn c e ds a d s; t foundeart d nph cpta struck nh d hdeeee w dcr i struckest ha n oes e mea s dde s weeks before. Another witness heard the husband tell TUESDAY, M Mr. Kelly that he had found his wife drunk ; that she threw a jug or basin at him ' • and that he had struck her with his hand, an d s h e f e ll against the table. The pri soner, on being cautioned, declined to say anything in his defence. The Coroner summed up with great care, and the jury brought in a verdict amounting to " Manslaugh ter." The Coroner remarked that the case was certainly a slight one of that kind, though the jury could not, be thought, have arrived at any other finding. He regretted that the law did not permit him to receive bail, which he would otherwise certainly do. CONVULSIONS.—Same day, on Mary Ann Heywood, aged ten weeks, who, it appeared, died from convulsions. Verdict accordingly.—Same day, on Moses Lindsay, aged seven weeks, who died on Sunday morning from convul sions. Verdict accordingly. BODY FOTTND IN THE CANAL.—Same day, on the body of George Osborne, a dyer, 28 years old, who had been missing from his house in Highfield-street since the 29th ult. On Monday, a youth, named Henry Jones, while raking up some mud in the canal, to stop the water from coming through the gates of the graving -dock there, found the body. On the night of the 29th he was seen in a court in Ray-street, much intoxicated, and bleeding at the nose. He afterwards turned towards Plumbe street. When he left his home he had with him a pocket book, containing about forty duplicate pawn-tickets, and five shillings and tenpence in money. Some of the tickets were afterwards picked up at the corner of Edmund -street. The pocket-book has not since been recovered. The jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned." DISEASE OF THE HEART, &c.—Same day, on the body of Michael Carney, aged 64, who resided in Arley-street. He had for some time laboured under asthma. On Sun day night he went to bed in his usual health, but com plained of a difficulty of breathing. About five in the i morning - he was heard to moan, and on his wife attending to him he could not answer her. A surgeon was called, but he died before he reached him. Mr. Arnott, surgeon at the Dispensary, (who had before prescribed for the de ceased for bronchitas,) found, on an examination of the body, that death had been caused by an extensive disease of the heart. Verdict accordingly. DEATH FROM A FALL.—On Wednesday, on view of the body of Elizabeth Lawson, a woman of 80 years old, who resided in Watkinson-street. A fortnight ago de ceased had unloosed her clothes to go up stairs to bed, and just as she was stepping on the first stair, her clothes tripped her, and she fell backwards, and struck her head with great force against the floor, which is flagged. When picked up she was quite insensible, and so continued until Saturday night, when she died. The deceased was the mother, by her first husband, of Mr. James Stevenson, now residing, out of business, at Birkenhead. Mr. John Johnson, surgeon, was called to deceased on the 9th inst., and found her labouring under concussion of the brain, which was the cause of death. Verdict, " Accidental death." DEATH FROM BuRNING. — Same day, on view of the body of Mary Leddy, a child six years old, daughter of a poor pensioner in Shand-street, who keeps a small fruit stall in the street. On Tuesday afternoon, the deceased, who was a cripple, was left in a room sitting by the fire. On her father returning, he found deceased lying on her face on the floor, all in flames, which he extinguished. She was severely burnt all over, and blood flowed from her mouth. She was unable to speak, and died about five minutes after being found. Verdict, " Died from the burning, but how her clothes became ignited there was no evidence to show." SUDDEN DEATFI.—Same day, on view of the body of Edward Upton, a poor man, aged 58 years. On Monday morning deceased was found sitting on the steps of the house of Mrs. Taylor, publican, Williamson-square. He was carried in and placed on a form, but, becoming worse and unable to speak, was conveyed to the Workhouse, where wine and gruel were given to him, but he gradually sunk, and died in about three hours after. Mr. George Woods, surgecn, on a post-mortem examination, found the liver, bowels, and lungs diseased. The disease of the lungs was the cause of death, and had been of some stand ing. Verdict, " Death from natural causes." APOPLEXY.—Same day, on the body of Wm. Thorpe, aged 34. He resided in Preston-street, and was taken ill in the night of Monday, with a pain in his chest, and vomiting and purging. He was apparently well when he went to bed. He went out in the morning and got six pennyworth of brandy. He soon afterwards fell from where he was sitting, and was unable to speak. A doctor was afterwards brought. but he was found to be dead. Mr. P. Macintyre, surgeon, examined the body, and found the cause of death to be apoplexy, and, from the contents of the stomach, and absorption in the head, probably the result of excessive drinking. Verdict, " Died from apoplexy." DISEASE OF THE HEART.—Same day, on view of the body of Sarah Tomlinson, aged 71. Six or seven months ago, on a Sunday, deceased was found in Scotland-road, sitting on the steps of a house, bespattered all over with mud, and bleeding from two cuts on the head. She said she had fallen on coming out of chapel. She was taken to Tenterden-street, where she lived. It appeared she had been taken with a giddiness when she fell. She had kept complaining ever since, and got worse until Monday last, when she died. Mr. George Woods, surgeon, made a post-mortem examination, and found the cause of death to have been a rupture of a blood-vessel in the region of the heart. Verdict accordingly, " Natural causes." RCH 26, 1844. will form no obstruction to visitors to either or to both. It is intended that the trees and shrubs should not be such as will attain a high stature, but the most likely to thrive in such proximity to the town, without interrupting the prospect, but, at the same time, affording sufficient shade and shelter to the numerous winding walks, and grass and flower plots that will be interspersed. We learn, too, that Mr. Zwilchenbart purposes to erect a beautiful fountain on the ground opposite his house—when the water can be spared—from the grand reservoir of the corporation, about to be formed at Edge-hill, under the new act, for the extinguighment of fires, the watering of the streets, &c. Mr. Zwilchenbart has already, we learn, in antici pation of obtaining water from this source, sent to Lon don for approved plans for a jet at his own expense. The rough wall on the west side of Shaw-street is to be re placed by a low wall of hewn stone, to be surmounted by handsome iron railings to correspond with those enclosing the ground onapich stands St. Augustine's. IMPROVEMENT IN FRONT OF THE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION. In common with many of our townsmen we have all along had to regret, that from some oversight, or from the want of sufficient land behind, that noble pile, " The Collegiate Ins'i u t ion," was placed with a frontage lineable 1. with Shaw-street, in place of being thrown back, or re icessed,—so that if that street be completed on the original plan, (with a straight line of houses on the west side, op posite to the building,) the large and magnificent front elevation can be but inadequately embraced by the eye of the passenger even from the most distant point in that ,thoroughfare. Various plans have naturally arisen in the ,minds of many individuals well affected to the institution, as not only admirable in its object, but ornamental to the town, to obviate, as far as that can be now accomplished, this obvious defect,—all of them having reference to the appropriation of a portion of the yet almost entirely vacant ground on the opposite side of the street. Some have sug gested a square, or quadrangle, built on three sides, which would certainly be the most effective ; but the great ex pense, at a period when the funds of the institution are unfortunately very limited to meet even the educational expenditure, presents, we fear, an insuperable bar to the project so extensive. Others have proposed that a crescent should be formed immediately opposite, leaving the space between in street. We ourselves suggested this to some private friends upwards of twelve months ago, and it has since, we learn, occurred to others ; but on rather too small and inadequate a scale—the convex line of houses being proposed to extend between the two sectional points of the street formed by lines drawn across from the north and south sides of the building—which, unless the seg meat approached to a semicircle, causing considerable di version of line of street, would cause a waste of ground, as little or none of it would be available for ornamental pur poses. Others have proposed the opposite line of Shaw street to be built straight as originally intended, but to form a good street, running east and west, immediately in front of the grand entrance. This street, however, what ever width it might be, would afford only a partial view of the centre of the structure. Having recently learned that a large breadth of the land on the east side of Shaw-street, north of the institution and St. Augustine's Church, is in progress (as described in another column) of being converted into pleasure grounds as far as Everton-brow,—which will greatly im prove the neighbourhood of the college on that side,—our attention has been more fully drawn to the consequently still greater necessity, as a matter of taste, of justice being done, ere it be too late, to that pleasing specimen of the Tudor style of architecture, which it were a pity should be comparatively hid from public view by the proximity of houses erected opposite to it in a straight line. After some little consideration we have come to the conclusion that, considering all the circumstances, the most:feasible plan would be to form a crescent of a gentle curve, greater in extent between its extreme points than the full length of the building, and which would admit of an ornamental shrubbery within a segment of a large circle described from the same point, and immediately in front of the building. The following diagram (which we do not assume to be precisely drawn to a scale) will be sufficient to enable our readers to comprehend our suggestion, without requiring us to enter into minute details : ~ ; I __l , , 0 . F --- w E 5 , -.-it ..vs.-- tit E. ---, p -.0 0 , : °gs • it li t tz L , - • ,), 1.- „ -• si, , _ ov 0 sz , s e t, If , FA G W 9 u: c.) -C . e)5, P g 1 • ,-a 41 ;" ~.4 0 .4 1 I MI 8 C.' F p 0 i X ; , 1 cll V , 6D ?3 3 2 , 0 z t s U n .') 1 E; • PA • ' 4 p T . ; a 4 g .1 Z E. ) cn ;.. v 41 E. V A K. ; ›. b 0 r ' - C w Xo P. , 0 4 -1 41 CT gr 4 )g P g ' 1 ;Li E. '1 T 0 0 wcd A C. ) 0 • W.- 4 Al ") ct, R? A, FL. Zil - C X) .' ; u: Ea 4 i , ' 141 E. ci) .4 P O 0 Z E 4 ~ J E. __, 1 0 0 FL, On the left is represented a plan of the frontage of the Itistitution at its ground level, with its projecting wings, grand entrance in the centre, and buttresses. Close to this we propose a broad flagged or asphalturn foot-path, extending in width about nine feet beyond the wings, and with a small gate at each end. Lineable with this is a carriage-way of sufficient width to admit of vehicles, (on high days and holydays,) setting down or taking up with the horses heads one way respectively. This is approached by an iron gate at each end. Opposite the grand entrance this road forms a small segment, which will allow a wider landing place on the foot-path, here also forming a cor responding segment. Directly opposite, and extending from its points, is a segmental space with its chord, enclosed within railings, and a central gate leading into it from op posite the grand entrance—which may he planted with shrubs, evergreens, holyhocks, flowers, and other pro ductions of the shrubbery, of low stature, so as not to interrupt the view or the circulation of air north and south. Beyond this, within parallel curves, and a foot-walk on each side, is Shaw-street—here bounded on the west by the crescent of new houses, within railings, continued from those now in the street, and about 110 yards from point to point. The depth of the shrubbery would be about 57 or 58 feet in the middle, and its length from point to point precisely that of the front of the building, or 92 yards. Taking this space as so much gained—at least for adorn ment —very little land, if any, would be sacrificed ; the street, from the great span of the crescent, would be but little diverted from its original line, and being about 26 yards wide on the west foot-walk, opposite the grand entrance, would be about 45 yards from the building, and would show it to advantage. Both shrubbery and street would form an open space or area of their united width, w hi c h would form a pleasing prospect from the windows; and by free circulation of air, as well as better admitting the rays of the sun from thew est, would conduce to the health and cheerfulness of the teachers and pupils. A street may also be formed through the centre of the crescent, (atter the manner of Lord-street, in St. George's Crescent;) but if this would be attended with much ad ditional expense, it need not be attempted, especially as the crescent would be more perfect without such inter section. There is an isolated house on the south side already built, (marked Ain the plan,) part of which would have to be removed, as it abutts on the crescent, and partly I faces the south wing of the Institution ; but the front of [POSTAGE FREE. PLEASURE GROUNDS IN SHAW-STREET. pro gress, have great pleasure in stating that t we in and near spirit public of a number of gentlemen residing . Amongst the several town improvements no h vv e the pleasantly situated determina tion to convert a large breadth of the north side of St. fields extending from tt'e back and Collegiate Institution,) in Shaw-street has recently manifested itself in a Augustine's Church, (and the Sh a w-street, tland t Everton facing the original to nearly the ancient and humble dwell i ng known as northward, ~toff ae to shthnep,T,acaannd risingia n that end " Prince Rupert's Cottage,"—into a continuous pleasure ground, for the exercise and recreation of the inhabitants and their friends in that quarter. This will prove a great adornment to that part of the eastern boundary of our " citie," which may be said to be verging on the country in air and in aspect, and within which (or nearer to the Exchange) vegetation would scarcely approach to luxuri ance. Not only have the wealthy dwellers in Shaw-street greatly to congratulate themselves on the advantages they will thus derive, but all who feel interested in the advance ment of that noble seminary of education, the Collegiate Institution, and even the inhabitants of the town at large ; for the space to be inclosed—to be devoted to sylvan scenery, and open to the refreshing; breeze, in place of being planted with confined and smoky streets—will form (as does every park in the metropolis) an additional " lobe to the lungs" of Liverpool. The originator of this praiseworthy project was Mr. Edward Langsdale, who, having property in Shaw-street, (already one house and land for five others,) contributed £6OO towards purchasing the lease of that portion of the land (about half of the whole) extending from the back and side of the church to the hollow, (in which there is a small run of water,) which now sectionally divides the whole strip, nearly in a line from opposite the end of William Henry-street to Plumpton-street, running into Everton-road. On representing his views to his neigh bours of Shaw-street, several of them cheerfully " se. conded the motion." Mr. Zwilchenbart took a warm inte rest in it; and he, Mr. Sudlow, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Joseph King, and Mr. Crook, (each having a house in the street,) contributed respectively £lOO. Others who have been applied to, have given their approval ; and though they , yet " hang fire," as to supplying " the sinews of war,' there seems to be little doubt but that an amicable co-operation of nearly all the proprietors will ere long be effected, when the advantages to be derived become more obvious. Sufficient encouragement was, however, given, almost as soon as the scheme was proposed, to induce Mr. Langsdale and those who joined him to negotiate for the purchase of the land ; and they have succeeded in ob taining it, on a favourable lease, from Mr. Thomas Shaw, for a term of 26 years, with an understanding, or something like an assurance, that it may be re-purchased, or the lease renewed, at the expiration of that period •, so that the probability is, that it will remain " in the family" ad perpe Manz, and that Shaw-street, which throughout will l nearly its unfop: awtpahetheiraoi Operations hollow oo e rlin x . lnoos t ur w e ti: ad t ovpa i lei s nipoas b oilpls u rsia i et l eea t t fdow ,t o ynr i: ic l tlio t, i ' litmea o hm n i ne eastwardetiliiiel e cenene N d v lr e oyi s s-n t ifsnnt s lgrre i e d vae e egtl , :l fips to cnsntrol enjoy lremriepntealagit. walls, The unseemly stone side,to nea and odff sand-stone rannm te w indifferentsi I t l , sidec q lo u sae? quality yo which,itlhaes c f 0 1 ru closes rc o h m o et the o tmh the b th e e en rri te q f u u a sen e s d, is in edinfi filling g id rouppugierehsnsilnowf sb.eiAngslterevaeltlendr,tannadd is also being formed between the church and the Colle giate Institution, where there is also a deep quarry of sound red stone, which will be filled up with the waste be erected a handsomateassmtiailllgerreeastceerndtios.f the ground at the east end of the church, be hind it. This, road will form one of the southern entrances to the "park," and at the terminat,ionßoefy shrubberies ior. G between, regson,w i t t h h a that l i s t o will but formone ( be a street on the eahanosdutswpeaasrtfla;cwfinailgeling Shaw-street, but so far removed from ll t h n e ot p rht r eh o rw s e p aw e r prospect, Shaw-street from William divide, u the latter, with a r ted ; for, in addition eastward frontage,a a rn p o s t l nu e w en a a d s f r i r d n b g i n a te o n b lo d o stn u hh gneaidnwwaersysShaw-street,) r t o. extending e o a Crossing Henry-street, the line of the latter street will be continued to Pl umpton . the entire eastward, lsetnr eg atth. ofT p a bl n ies d a stuhree streetngc ground willun n o di dnotcueorbnstte,enimtn, time, contemplated; to the land secured by Mr. Langsdale, Mr. Gregson the proprietor of the remainder of the broad strip, (reaching to the Everton bridewell,) has entered into the views of the originator of the improvement, and the ground in that quarter has also been given on favorable terms. The work of preparing it for planting, &C., is only delayed until the deeds be completed. This portion, tog, will be laid out under the management and superintendence of Mr. Langs• dale. The whole space to be laid out in pleasure -grounds is about 7or 8 statute acres. Convenient entrances will b e made from the north to the south portions, so that the in tersecting street, continued from Henry Edward -street, it might, we think, be thrown back without incurring any very heavy cost. The houses in the crescent would cer tainly command better rents than if built i n th e stra i g h t line of the present comparatively narrow st ree t ; an d t h e only difficulty in adopting this or som e s i m il ar improve ment is the want of sufficient funds in the hands of the trustees of the Institution. A few hundreds o f poun d s only are, we are informed , required ; and we i n d u l ge a hope that this humble atte m p t to bring the subje c t b e f ore the public will induce our enlightened and wealthi er townsmen to come forward with a liberal hand, and re deem from comparative obscurity, while the opportunity offers, one of the noblest modern structures in the town. MR. WHITTY.—The Mercury states that the magis trates of the borough intend presenting this gentleman with a substantial mark of their approbation of his con duct during the period he has been in the service of the town. --- - - THE HEAD CoNSTABLE.—It is expected that Mr. Miller, the newly-appointed superintendent of the police force in this town, will enter upon the duties of his office about the beginning of April, certainly not later than the 10th of that month. MR. RUSHTON.—We understand that a gratifying compliment is about to be paid to this gentleman by his brother magistrates, who have entered into a subscription for the purpose of having his full-length portrait taken, and placed in the magistrates' room, at the Sessions House. Il? ISII PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LIVERPOOL.—This congregation at present assembling in the Commercial Hall, Gloucester-street, have presented Mr. W. Spence with a splendid copy of the Rev. Mathew Henry's Com mentaries on the Holy Bible in 6 volumes in testimony of their approbation of his services as precentor, since their commencement in December last. Tun FIRE IN 01L-STREET. —The following, is a state ment of the loss sustained by the various insurance offices by this fire :—The Liverpool £6OOO, Manchester £2OOO, Alliance £l3OO, London Union £lOOO, Globe £l2OO, Phoenix £6OO, County £5OO. Sun £lOO, Imperial £2OO, Royal Exchange £l5O, West of England £lOO. Another part of the property was uninsured. THE WOODSIDE FERRY.—We understand that a pro position will he made at the next meeting of the Birken head Commissioners to reduce the fares for crossing the river by the Woodside boats, from twopence to a penny per head, on and after the Ist of July next, from which date it is also intended to run the boats all night, and, should the bill for the purchase of the Monk's Ferry be passed, to have boats crossing every quarter of an hour. SOUTHERN AND TOXTETII HOSPITAL.—The second Annual Report of this institution has just been delivered to the subscribers. From it we learn that, during the year, relief has been afforded to 1225 out-door, and 431 in-door patients. Of the in-door patients, 376 were dis charged cured or relieved, 29 died, and the remainder were in the hospital when the report was drawn up. No other proof is required to show the necessity of a hospi tal in this locality. FORTUNE TELLING.—On Wednesday, Grace Evans, I an old and well-known gipsy, was brought up before Mr. Rushton, charged with obtaining money from a poor woman under pretence of telling her fortune. It appeared that the prisoner first obtained 4d. from her dupe, and afterwards perceiving that she had more money, induced her to give Is. 6d. ' under pretence of " ruling her planet." The husband of the woman having learned the fraud, had the fortune-teller apprehended. The prisoner, when asked what she had to say, acknowledged the charge, when Mr. Rushton said " I will rule your planet for you ; you must go to gaol for three months." DOCK COMMITTEE, TIIIIRSDAY.—Mr. Molyneux took the chair, in the absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman. Plans of a double-road bridge for the north end of George's dock were produced, and the estimated cost of erection was stated to be £2300. The sui)-com mittee recommended the adoption of the plan. Mr. Bold thought the passengers by the Egremont and Seacombe boats would not be satisfied unless similiar alterations were made at the south end of Prince's dock. Mr. Aikin thought they would be spending a deal of money which would be of no advantage to the Dock Estate, and the matter was allowed to stand over. A day's wages was ordered to be paid to the captain and crew of the Magazine life-boat, who, on the Ist of this month, went to the assistance of a vessel sunk on the North Bank. Ten shillings each were also ordered to be paid to four of the crew of the same boat, who rescued the hands belong ing to the flat Ellen, which sunk at New Brighton on the 9ch instant. EXCISE INFORMATIONS.—There were four excise In formations heard on Tuesday. In the first. Owen M'Manus, of Dover-street, was convicted in the penalty of £lOO, for having two bottles of private distilled spirits in his possession; in the second, Patrick Kehoe, of Smithfield-street, was fined £5O, for having sold spirits without a license ; in the third, Francis Townley pleaded guilty to having sent out two gallons of brandy without a permit, and was ordered to pay a penalty of £5O ; and in the fourth, John Nolan of Sir Thomas's-buildings, was convicted in the penalty of £2O, for having sold ale without license. In all probability, those heavy penalties will be considerably mitigated in three, at least, out of the four cases, as memorials by the parties themselves, as well as by the justices, if they should think fit, will be forwarded to the Board of Customs. Three informations were heard at the same time against pawnbrokers, for having charged twopence each, instead of a penny, for pawn-tickets : but the parties were acquitted. CHARGE OF CONCEALING THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. —On Wednesday, Catharine Connolly was brought up at the Police-court, charged with concealing the birth of her child. The prisoner had, it appeared. denied being in the family way to the persons with whom she lodged, when the parties thought it advisable to have her removed to the Workhouse, to which she consented. On their way thither she ran up a court in Stanley-street, and remained away about twenty minutes, and in consequence of what took place afterwards it was suspecteu that she had given birth to a child. The prisoner was taken to the Lying in-Hospital, and information having been given, she was apprehended. The body of the child was found, and a coroner's inquest held at the time of the occurrence. Mr. Rushton said she had been guilty of a grave offence, but in consequence of the wording of the law, which re quired that the party must have endeavoured to conceal the birth by doing something with the body of the child, he could not send her to prison. She was ordered back to the Workhouse. BURGLARY.—An Irishman named Richard Johnson, was brought before Mr. Rushton, at the police-court on Tuesday, on a charge of having committed a burglary in the house of Mr. Lewis Heyman, pawnbroker, of White chapel, last night. It appeared that the prosecutor went to bed about twelve o'clock ; and that, in a short time after, he heard the rattling of a door in a room overhead, in which the pledges are kept, and the voices of two per sons. He immediately opened his bedroom window, sprang a rattle, obtained the assistance of a policemen, and proceeded to the room in question where the prisoner was found covered over with a bed and two pillows. There was a quantity of property on his person with which he would, but for the discovery, have decamped. He had effected an entrance by making a hole in the roof sufficiently large to admitt of his passing through. He had a razor in his pocket. After the examination of the prosecutor and the policeman, the fellow was fully committed for trial to the assizes on the charge of bur glary. LIVERPOOL PE ACE SOCIETY.—On Tuesday evening the annual meeting of the Peace Society was held at the Charitable Institution-house, Slater-street, Richard Rath bone, Esq., in the chair. The meeting was numerously and respectably attended. Mr. J. P. Cooke, the secre tary, read the annual report, from which it appeared, that the society had been formed into an independent body recently, and that sixteen new subscribers had been added , to its numbers, and that its income had been to some ex tent increased during the past year. Its exertions were becoming vigorous ; many thousands of tracts had been distributed; large anti-war placards had been posted on the walls of the town at intervals ; a lecture had been delivered at the Portico in January ; and a deputation, with a remittance of £lO, had been sent to the Peace Convention in London. It appeared, from the state ment of accounts, that there was a balance in favour of the society of £7 17s. Upon the motion of Wylie, se conded by Mr. L. Heyworth, the report was adopted. Mr. William Rathbone moved the second resolution, to the effect, that it was desirable the combined efforts of all Christians should be exerted to sitread a more earnest feeling in favour of universal peace, and of the abolition of war between nations. Mr. J. B. Cooke seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHANT Boox.--Our columns of this week contain an advertisement of a work enti tled " Congregational Chant Book, by Mr. R. Andrews, of Manchester, and will be published in about three weeks. It will appear as a companion to " The Congre gational Psalmist," arranged by the same author and published last year, and is intended t o f orm, as in days o f yore, a sort of. Musical Hand-Book f or t h e Church. Of the qualifications of Mr. Andrews for such an under taking, it is unnecessary , to speak : his a d ap t a ti on o f Mozart's Cantata , Davidde Penitente," bein g of itself an all-suffi c ient recommendation of his merits, whilst his Sacred nst r u m Songs, e n tal 11 Psalmody, &c., h armon i zed for vocal and alone point him out as a musician i of considerable celebrity. The musical public of Man chester have recently had an interesting Concert given them by Master Andrews, a tale n t e d yout h , 12 years o f a ge, under the superintendence of hi s f at h er, M r . R. A n d r ews, on which occasion he performed on the concer tina, harp, and piano-forte in admi ra bl e s t y l e , execu ti ng moreov er, on the latter instrument, an elaborate and difficult piece, entirely his own composition. His sisters also sang two or three duetts in a pleasing manner, and were most rapturously encored. The result of the Con cert-proceeds have been most handsomely presented to the funds of the various charitable institutions in his native town of Manchester. f 1/2 /- / 2 0,- /74 472 ~/ /./"' GENERAL. At the late assizes of Limerick it was decided that a marriage between a Catholic and a Protestant, celebrated by a Catholic priest, was invalid; and a person charged with bigamy escaped punishment under this E lea. Two or three of the Biirds, against whom Lord Brougham obtained a verdict at the last Summer Assizes, at Appleby, for trespass, have been arrested and commit ted to prison for non-payment of the taxed costs of the action. The Morning Herald contradicts the report that the Prince Consort intends to visit the reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg during the Easter recess, as re ported. Prescot Cattle Fair on Tuesday last was well attended. There was a brisk demand for good cows and calvers, but very few sales were effected for inferior stock, of which there was a great abundance. A builder of Taunton, baying some ground to let, has stuck up a board with the following:—" This good and desirable land to be let on a lease one hundred and twenty five yards long." On Saturday, a motion for voting in the Chamber of Deputies by division, as in England, was rejected by a majority of only seven ; there being 174 for the motion, and 181 against it. FACTORY BILL.—Mr. Raikes Currie left the House without voting; his name is inaccurately inserted in the list of the majority in favour of Lord Ashley's amend ment. FACTORY CASK.-At the Rochdale petty sessions, on Wednesday last, Edmund Rhodes, woollen manufacturer, was convicted in the penalty of 20s. and costs, for em ploying a girl named Elizabeth Shaw, under 10 years of age, to work in his mill and not attend a day school. The 39th Regiment, which was foremost in the late victory under Sir Hugh Gough, was the first British regiment that landed in India. Among the ninny dis tinctions which it bears upon its colours, is Primus in Indis. THE BRIGHTON MURDER. —On Wednesday last, John Lawrence, charged with the wilful murder of Henry So lomon, the chief officer of the Brighton police, ~ as tried at the Lewes Assizes, before Lord Denman, found and sentenced to be hanged. The New Zealand Company has been compelled to sus pend its operations ; as, after having expended upwards of £500,000, its title to land, notwithstanding the compact entered into three years ago by Government, is yet unse cured by the grant of a single acre from the Crown. ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.—.—On Wednesday the Fellows of this College met at their house in Trafal gar-square, for the purpose of choosing a President in the room of the late Sir Henry Halford, when John Ayrton Paris, M.D., F.R.S., was elected, by ballot, to fill that important office. At ten minutes past three o'clock on Tuesday after noon Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, left Claremont in a carriage and four for town. The Royal party arrived at Buckingham Palace, escorted by a party of Light Dra goons, at twenty minutes before five o'clock. A "MONSTER" PETITION.-The state prosecution petition contains upwards of eight hundred and twelve thousand signatures —measures more than nine thousand two hundred feet in length—nearly two English miles !! This monster petition was to be forwarded last night to En gland.—Dublin Evening Freeman. The Aberystwith mail-coach was stopped by the snow on Saturday last; Nobbs, the guard, was obliged to pro ceed across the fields with the bags into the nearest post town, and another coach baring been procured proceeded on his journey. The snow on some parts of the Welsh mountains had drifted to the depth of ten and twelve feet. DONATION FROM THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—Iier Ma jesty the Queen Dowager has, with her accustomed kind ness and liberality, sent to the Rev. W. Withers Ewbank the sum of £lO towards the building of an additional infant school in connexion with St. George's Church, in Everton. Alli ',WAY INTELLIGENCE.—A general expectation gains ground amongst railroad directors and speculators, that the present session of parliament will relieve third class class carriages from the tax of five per cent., and will regulate and enforce the principle on which railways ought to be assessed to the relief of the poor.—Herald. The Queen held a levee on Wednesday afternoon, at St. James's Palace, which was numerously attended. Iler Majesty and Prince Albert and the Royal suite ar rived from Buckingham Palace at two o'clock, in four of the Royal carriages, escorted by a party of the Royal Re giment of Horse Guards. ITALIAN BANDlrTr.—.—Rome, Feb. 2G.—lntelligence has just been received, that an English family of distinc tion, en route for that city, had been robbed by banditti more I tris of all their luggage ; and what r e nde rs th e a ff a i r more unfortunate is, that some of the servants, in de fending the property, came in conflict with the robbers and were severely wounded.—Standard, At the levee en Wednesday, ,a petition was presented to her Majesty, by Lord Kenyon, from the Bath Church of England Lay Association, praying her Majesty to con sider the religious, moral, and social importance of ap pointing a Bishop for Manchester and its densely popu lous neighbourhood without delay ; but deprecating, as highly injurious to the best interests of our holy religion, the destruction of either of the North Welsh bishoprics. LARGE CONSUMPTION OF PLATE ULASS.—In the construction of the immense iron roof at the Manchester and Leeds terminus in Manchester, there has been about at least 12,000 superficial feet of rough plate glass used ; and it is probable, that before the Liverpool and Man chester and Manchester and Bolton Companies have completed their arrangements on the Salford side of the terminus, that some thousands of additional feet of glass will be required. VISIT OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS TO ENGLAND.—A letter dated Ostend, March 16, says His Majesty the King of the Belgians and su:te are ex pected at that port on the 2Gth instant, en route on a visit to Her Majesty the Queen of England and his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Princess Alice steam vessel, one of the Dover mail packets, it is expected will embark his Majesty and suite on that day, and convey them to Woolwich. VISIT OF PRINCE ALBERT TO THE ISLE Or WIGHT. —His Royal Highness Prince Albert visited the Isle of Wight on Monday last, for the purpose of inspecting Osborne House, which is to be fitted up for a marine resi dence for her Majesty. The following arrangements are stated to have been made with respect to the purchaser of the property. It has been agreed to give £28,000, for the freehold estate outright, providing her Majesty is satisfied with the accommodation the house affords. In any event the mansion is taken for one year certain, at a rental of £lOOO. THE POST-OFFICE A DISPENSARY.—Many remark able things have been mentioned as having passed through the post-office, since the establishment of the penny post age ; but we do not recollect anything more singular than a whole cargo of physic. No less than 190 bottles of castor oil, enclosed in tin cases, were sent through the General Post-office, on Friday evening, addressed to nearly all parts of the country. The postage on each bot tle was 4d. making on the whole £3 3s. 4d. The post office has thus been made a medium of dispensing physic for the million. DANGEROUS EXPLOIT.—On Monday, numerous per sons were attracted at St. Paul's Church yard, watching anxiously the movements of a man placed on the extreme summit of the cross which completes the height of St. Paul's, whilst re-gilding the ball and cross. The dange rous undertaking was performed, we believe, in pursuance of a contract lately entered into to keep that part of the venerable pile in a state of good condition. From the extreme height, the man was scarcely perceptible, marked only as it were a dark moving object, which the brightness of the cross reflecting the sun served to make visible.— London paper. FATAL ACCIDENT TO LORD WILLIAM HlLL.—About one o'clock on Monday, while following the stag-hounds in the Neighbourhood of Whitton, near Ipswich, a fatal accident occurred to Lord William Hill. The horse which the unfortunate nobleman was riding fell and rolled over him, and before be could be removed to the barracks, he was dead. The accident threw a deep gloom over Ip swich and the regiment to which the deceased nobleman belonged. Lord William Hill was the third son of the present Marquis of Downshire, and was only in his 28th year. He had entered the Scotch Greys in 1834, and his commission as lieutenant is dated October 21, 1836. RANK OF ENGLAND.—The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, Sir William Cotton, governor, in the chair. The Governor said, the cow t of directors were of opinion that a dividend of 3A per cent. for the half-year might be made out of the interest and profits. He considered it right to state, that to pay the dividend, £10,603. 12s. Cid. must be taken from the Rest, as the net profits for the half-year were short of that amount. He also stated, in answer to questions from proprietors, that the present amount of Rest, independent of the buildings in possession of the bank, was £3,159,966 Bs. 5d., and that the branch banks are a source of profit. He said, moreover, that he bad nothing to communicate with reference to the charter. The attendance of pro prietors was very numerous. MONASTERIES.—On the 12th instant, at Cambridge, the second adjourned debate on the subject of monasteries, took place at the Union. The question proposed was, "That the dissolution of monasteries by Henry VIII has been highly injurious to this country ; and that the cir cumstance of the times imperatively demand the restora tion of similar institutions." The numbers were, — For the motion Against it. Majority The great interest the question excited in the University may be gathered from the fact of the discussion extending over three evenings, on the last of which (Tuesday), the 12th, there was a larger house than has been assembled for many months.—Weekly paper (Tractarian). SACRIFICE OF CIIILDREN.—CAUTION TO PARENTS, —Coroners' inquests have recently been held on the fol. lowing children, who were burnt to death in consequence of their clothes taking fire, generally during the tempo rary absence of the persons who ought to have taken cars of them :—Elizabeth Young, aged four years, at Leeds; James Shaw, aged four years, at Preston ; John Jones. aged two years, at Abertrynant ' • Frederick Jones, aged six years, at Mothfey ; Charles Moore, aged five years, at Bawtry • Hannah Jones, aged seven years, at Salford I Elizabeth 'Crook, aged six years, at Preston ; a boy five years of age, at Hensall ; Alfred Netherwood, aged three years, at Hopton, near Dewsbury; John Atkinson, aged sc l v e n pe a rs , yea r s , seven years, at Holcombe; Ellen a g ed ßa tes, at Manchester ; and Sidebottom Hill, ag ed at Stalybridge. ...... S 0' I