The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

SiNtAitY 15, 18.56.] LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. lor i & QUEEN ha s b een pl ease d to approve of Mr. John Nay "' consul at this port for the republic of Peru. th Tuesday, Mr. John Cropper was elected a member of iteth-park Burial-board. AT the Salford quarter sessions, on Monday, John Hickin tookam Chambers Esq., and Bertie Matthew Roberts, Esq., taw the oaths and qualified as deputy-lieutenants of Lan- RO T to,in_ciL COLLEGE OF SUEGEONS.—At a meeting of the li ee ,`;illeld on Friday, Mr. John Atcherley, of Liverpool, a to ls ,, ja te of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, of Glas ,s) "11 3 admitted, ad eundem, member of the college. ttot JT I T NEEDHAM PHILLIPPS, Esq., of the Park, near of l i l l uester, has been selected by her Majesty to fill the office ye at l gh-sheriff of the county of Lancaster for the current oar tol4 a nd tdo' rcao ti " and 0 7 . id,cie, SC I T R . au,. Captain mail clipper (" Black Ball" line) Oliver t'el e ° ,o -; „aPtain Mondell, sailed, on Tuesday, at half-past twelve for Melbourne, with a heavy mail, 130 passengers, and srd e of 1,200 tons of general cargo. six) ? So(, 'ICILN-LIN E MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. — This l kst, l celeb ra t e d it s fifth ann i versa ry on Wednesday evening 504: 1 a soiree, which took place in the large room of the ?s• ' 3 ' , in Limekiln-lane. The attendance was numerous and Retabl e 1 Lir 141 14 , - _,ell OF A. SCREW STuAaxEE. — On Thursday, there was liictn, from the shipbuilding yard of Mr. John Laird, at th es :anead, a splendid iron screw steamer of 1,000 tons bur the'', built for a Spanish company. She is a sister ship to e e ,, i lareelon a and the Cadiz, lately built by Mr. Laird, and le 51n g in the Sandou Dock. Her dimensions are 260 feet le and 36 feet in width. She is to be supplied with Co ' e s of 300-horse power, by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and "fth' t ls own. We re NiasoNre ALL B.—Upwards five hundred persons th e T Present at the annual masonic ball, which took place at qa ° w l l-ball, on Tuesday night. Mr. G. A. W. Phillipi's ille baud occupied the orchestra, and Mr. Lawton, of the b ai e l Rotel, provided the refreshments. The proceeds of the lbi r Sr , e ,to be apolied in aid of the funds of the West Lama- V e l e ,Alasonic Institution, for' the education and advancement "'Ten -of distressed Freemasons. p R ., oPOSED COUNTY Rt'2ORMATORY FOR LAN CAS Mondayly, at Salford hundred quarter sessions, Mr.-James 4t.d,. ° °c l , M.P., called the attention of the magistratesassem dh a motion of which notice had been given by Mr. San t°l' the adjourned annual county session in April, to the t that a committee be appointed to inquire and report as (line establishment of a-county reformatory. TheThairman tti 4 ; P. Foster) said he felt that the matter deserved , a nd scald no doubt receive, the fullest consideration. finest was By A .11.1KATER CARTER.—On Wednesday, an tC s - s -s ' was held on the body of Thomas Booth, of Bank serfNe, near Bootle, who committed suicide by hanging him -1,,w The deceased's wife stated that her husband:hid been very s e , i ' s s i llirited for about ax weeks, on account of his horses being to \ talltly out of woilr. He had attempted to hang himself h e " e w Year's-day. at the back of the kitchen door, but he ti e l3 revented by his wife. On Wednesday morning he left Myself about five *leek, went into the stable, and hanged I, by his neckcloth, to a peg in .the wall. A verdict of Rev insanity" was returned. th e :sn DERBY , ITNION.—At the meeting on Wednesday, Jere William Badnall in the chair, the'following cheques l, drown for out-door relief: S. Potts, scalfo; G. Olney, £2B ; of til L agoe, £lB. Samuel Smith, Esq., was appointed treasurer th e ,e Union, at-n salary of £5O per annum, in the place of p e „ late Joseph • Langton, Esq., deceased. The number of 14ers relievedin the Workhouse and Hospital during the t Week was: in-door, 818; out-door,-3.614; total, 4,432. te in g an increase of 26 in - door , and'4:7l out-door; total, ' when compared with the corresponding week in last.yeay . la, Sti LA : varea.—On Friday, a splendidmerchant vessel,the Oest oak ship -ever built at this port, was launched from the Ir e !, l ng•-,eard of Messrs. Thomas Royden and Co., Bl n-stmet. t ea 'uhnensions are as followsl—Lengfn over all, 206 feet ; ole' 3 6 feet; and depth of h01d, 4 28 feet; tonnage, 1,360t0ns measurement, and 1,176 tons new , measurement. She is 41 , 1 the Anne Royden, the ceremony-of naming beingsper fah, by Mrs. Royden, the ladyof theibuilder. The vessel is • 1 • . 3 5' -Mr. T. Royden and Mr. J.qyrer, and is to be. em tlZeu in the Calcutta trade. She is -classed at Lloyd's for t een years, and is in every respects. - very superior vear3l. at the HOSPITAL. — W. Brown, Esq., M.P., presided. 44 ;e annual meeting on Tuesday, when the report seas pre bee,,led- It showed that during the past year 3,422 caves had ks 'i admitted, of which 2,541 were accidents, 303 medical , e 5?4 , 72 surgical cases, and 106 on recommendations, 2,526 In "am had been discharged, 553 relieved, 84 irregitlar, 11 teett:rable, dial, 115 out-patients, 30 remaining in the hospital ; W l ,' 3 ,422. The total number of patients, 3,422, consisted of 2 f` , abonrors, 913 sailors, 259 mechanics, 417 womat, and Leiochildrcir; of whom 1,107 were natives of Liverpool, 413 t 0 eging,f to different parts of England, 1,052 to Ireland, 88 a otland;. - 0.3 to Wales, and 639 re foreigners. The state of of accounts showed that the receipts had beensepwards li a „,o 6 A, and that there was still a small balance in the ali' s 's'of the treasurer. The officers of the instittition were th e g nanireausly re-elected, and a vote of thanks was accorded them for the care and attention they had bestowed on the - ' a gcruent•of the institution. ST asa z 4 3.1 COMMUNICATION errru .AMERICA.—In and after 0 3 ' next :A.5 gigantic mail steam-packets will leave Europe r 1 ,111 1 - for the American continent, namely, soven English e et3, four United States, three Belgian, and -one Portu- Fourteen of these will start from or touch at England, the ertuguese packet being the -single exception; eight of r f ourteen steamers will start from Southampton, and the tC 4 ining six from Liverpool. These mail packets will cross 0 ,.e Atlantic by three different routes, which will terminate the Anaerican side at the Brazils, Central America, and the v U nited States. Rio de Janeiro will be the most sodthern point ?ached at 7oy them, and Halifax, in Nova Scotia, the most , il a rtb.ern„,point. I n connec ti on With these Atlantic packet i o ll es, there-will be nearly 20 tributary ones, some of them as thtg as theistlantie lines themselves. By these tlae whole of Ameritan continent, down solar south as the River Plate e athe eas t ern s id e o f t h e grea t -continent;ontinent, and from Peru to e 14411,fornia in the Pacific, also the whole of the adjacent islands, e t4 ling • those of the West Indies, will be supplied with r °Pean correspondence. va Tir g Coen TaADE. — From the published returns of the l eo 'ons kading branches of trade-during the past year, that in p rs ., ll seems to have been the most pnosperous of our native raw "Lattets, and that in coal to have been the snext. Large entities have been consumed for - home purposes, and the 7rt-has been proportionately large. The annual return of tiy7eknortectfrom the various outputs has not yet been made y o lso that the.amount sent out of , the country during the 1 0 7., Cannot be stated with any degree of certainty. That it have been very great will be obvious from the following c o "ftent of-exports during the month of November,-as taken r a the monthly export list of Messrs. W. and IL Laird. b: c al this source we learn that during the month of Novem ber there were. 312,771 tons of coal seat from Great Britain, qzhich 29,977 were shipped at Liverecol ; 6,562 from Hull, .01,„,,abY, and. Goole ; 177,504 from Neweastle, Shields, Blyth, 41 .1.4 e, Sunderland, Seaham, Hartlepool, Stockton,. and Mid -IPhoro'. 69,305 from Bristol, Cardiff., Swansea, 'Newport, i4nelly, Port Talbot, Neath ; while the Scotch ports - of Glas :lv, Port Glasgow, Greenock, Grangemouth, Alloa, Borrows exiles; Troon, sardressan, and Inverkeithing give total kl)ort of 29,33340.0. Liverpool, it Will thus be seen,-export es!,, 6 44 tons morehan all the Scotch ports put together, in of the month. From Liverpool it also appears the t e 'ost export has'been to America; 12;972 tons hating been l e l lt to N or th America, and 4,176 to South America. The :gest absolute amount of export has been from the northern Os, of what may-,he called the Tyne basin, which insNevem -7 sent 53,058 tons to France ; the next largest amounaeing 47' 23 8 tons from the same ports to Turkey. To Australia, tons were despatched, and these were all sent from 11erPool. , - Pn PLEA. KO INRANCY. — In the CountyCo 4 art, on -Wed tinluaar, Mr. George Bumby, a car proprietor, towbroght an ac- IC' against Itir. Henry Hornby, of Kirkdale, recovers:le i, ages for injury done to a" whitechapel," which the defendant A d hired of the plaintiff. The defendant pleaded " infancy." 4 ., e defendant ( who, although proved to be a minor), is,an athletic young fellow, in appearance about 30 years of age, t o t ae time ago hired a whitechapel and horse from the plaintiff, 1 0 go to Waterloo races. The horse, which had receivedin th?, was brought back in'tbe; evening by a man, who stated t the whitechapel wasat Walton. The plaintiff's man, the p es t day, called for the whitechapel, which he found so seri -I.- damaged as to incur the sum of between £7 said £8 for - g a its. The defendant nowAn answer to the claim, pleaded, e v ',,, °ll gh his attorney, " infancy," which was established by the 2•„.,_" - (ence of his mother, who showed that her son was only 19 ~,,""vs of' age. His Honour, in -adjudicating, said the action 41 1 . 18 one really founded upon contract. The defendant pro 2ed that, if he hired the whitechapel at a reasonable com• iZsation, he would take care of and return it in good and V e et' condition ; but, instead of :that, the plaintiff, by his t l defendant's) negligence, had incurred damage to between fe ss 4 nd £B. On the action being brought against him, the de proves that he is under twenty-ene, and, therefore, re- he e d from the responsibility to which-otherwise he would be e b .,le; Here there was a great hardship imposed upon a man atenig on a car business; for any one, 'looking at the defend- Of 61. r would take him to be at least twenty-one. In the case o r b, uennings v. Rundell," 8 T. R., 330, it was distinctly held, :re a m an h a d damaged a mare by improperly riding her, t the def en dant was not liable, he being under the age of tti: 4 3 7 -one. In the case of a minor, where damage w as occa -1%(I through negligence, however gross that might be , if it couldirr not be shown that such damage had been caused by a ess .gi act, he was not liable. There must, therefore , be a "Ilet for the defendant.. Sn i „ kt i slim OF A SOLICITOR AT KENDAL. — A painful m et , °ll Was created in Kendal, on Wednesday, in consequence k' s .report that Mr. Eldred Harrison, of the firm of T. and bitarrison, solicitors, had committed suicide by hanging eZseelf that morning, at the Commercial Hotel. The de- Dr,„. (l , with several friends, had been attending a ball the tf a ',,,,," l °tta evening, at Abbot Hall, the residence of Henry V" s ° ll , Esq.; one of the newly-appointed magistrates of th es tmoreland. The deceased left the hall, near Kendal and about a minute from the Commercial Hotel, be tiVl two a n d three o'clock in the morning, and , in stead of e - g to his own house, on the Beast Bank, he went to the k et Tercial Hotel, where he subsequently r4ired, as wa,s sup , to bed; nothing peculiar either in his conversation or th l aanner being. observed. Not making bis appearance at easie'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, some little unto deg egg was experienced, and a female servant was sent to the h o n' r , ri . wed's bedroom. On entering the apartment, she was Port- u ed in finding the deceased suspended by the neck to a s io n ro ngiv yt the top of a bedstead by a rope. Her screams to the room some assistance, when he was cut down, motive w as quite extinct. Rumours a re various as to the the o ' e s which induced the deceased to terminate his existence ; that te which has gained the most extensive circulation being , d ece e had experienced disappointment in the ball-room. The Illtr ia t,9 was in the prime of life, with excellent prospects , and 1001 1 - s - '; 'ed, and a native of Peurith ; and bis family connec- I tad O r e of high repute in that town. He was a temperate Si d gustrious man, and much esteemed. An inquest was Te " Wednesda when the jury returned a verdict of 111 1)or • Y' ari insanity." piild u e u iTßllPElTs.—" No law (says the old adage) was ever 4,1..? at there was immediately made a way to evade it; "' and oath' oe added that no article of value was ever yet pro .urFd, Dal Was luedimmediately counterfeited. and the base imitation t :& tno s r. tile public is reaL oft spirited proprietors of one of tit i pidispensahle articles he toilet, have suffered so much p;', o aid o r from this speces of fraud, that they have call, din r eader rlnp of our most eminent engravers on steel, who, as lea d a 1:1 Wilt perceive by our advertising columns, have pro ki -LA N , ) el ea perfect, yet to minute, fr:r the protection of e4so ce, AIARAss4 r. OIL as to set all etAlaerfeits 0 - ectp . ally at LOCAL WAR ITEMS. The steam transport Cleopatra sailed from the Mersey on Thursday, with detachments of the 34th and 27th regiments. After calling at Cork, she proceeds direct to Malta. The steam-ship Cambria, which has been engaged in the Government service as a transport since April last, arrived here on Wednesday, after calling at Plymouth, on her return from the Crimea. During her employment by Government, the Cambria has steamed upwards of 22,000 miles. Amongst the passengers was Captain Brett, of the 15th Hussars. The Cambria brought home two horses belonging to Colonel Wilson Patten, M. P.,in command of the Duke of Lancaster's Own militia regiment, now stationed at Malta. THE HISTORIC SOCIETY.—tai meeting of the literary sec tion of this society was held on Thursday, at St. George's-hall. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. Danson. Mr. Percy M. Dove exhibited (partly in illustration of his own paper) two manuscript volumes, containing autograph letters from dis tinguished persons during the last 60 or 70 years. Amongst them were several original letters from Dr. Franklin, one of which anticipated the modern discoveries in magnetism and geology. There were other letters from Bloomfield, Rogers, Miss Edgeworth, &c. Mr. Sansome exhibited, on behalf of Mr. J. P. G. Smith, a series of twenty-eight photographs of the interior of Sebastopol, executed by Robertson, of Constan tinople. The most remarkable were a large view of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, the salient angle of the Redan, the interior of the Malakoff and the Redan, the docks, barracks, &c. Dr. Bell exhibited, through Mr. Mayer, an original edition of "Reynard the Fox," printed in 1660, writ ' ten in the tow German dialect. The work is illustrated with curious woodcuts, so applicable to the text, that they have served as types for most of the modern editions of that most renowned poem. Mr. Marsh exhibited a rude celt found among the Maiiris. Mr. Bloxham exhibited a copy of the translation of Cicero's De Senectute, printed and published in Philadelphia, in 1745, by Benjamin Franklin, interesting as a specimen of printing in the United States a centxtry ago, and as being the first translation of a classic made in America. It contained a characteristic preface of Franklin himself "to the reader." Mr. Jacob exhibited a large ring, taken off the finger of a Russian soldier who fell in the Redan ; also a helmet from the same !place. The Rev. Dr. Hume read the remainder of Mr. Percy M. Dove's paper on the unpublished letters of Franklin. 'After a brief discussion the meeting broke up. Dom ComitirtnE.—On Thursday, the weekly meeting of this committee was held, Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. The other members present were,—Messrs. Shand, Robinson, Palmer, Gregscrn, Chaloner, Holme, Rounthwaite, Barber, Mondel, Holden, Anderson, Hubback, W. Rathbone, jun., Rankin, Smith, Littledale, and Gladstone. —The sub-com mittee of works recommended that a. portion of the Harrington estate, to the eastward of Mr. Miller's shipbuilding yard, be let to him at the rate of 9d. per square yard, subject to the usual conditions.—The Stanley Dock warehouse sub-committee submitted'a plan of a residence for the superintendent : the estimated 'cost was £BOO. Adopted.—The marine sub-com mittee submitted the annual returns of the marine surveyor as to the casualties to life-ships and buoys, the consumption of oil -and wick, the number of ' . vessels passing through the channel in and out, and the services rendered by theelife boats. From the returns, it appeared that the number of ves sels that passed through the Rock Channel, inwards and out wards, in 1855, was 13,351; the total number in 1854, 14,513, showing a decrease in the .past year of 1,162 vessels. The number of vessels which had passed inwards through the Vic toria and other northern •thannels was 19,756; outwards, 20601, making the total intercourse to and from the port, through the northern channels, 40,356; in 1854 the number was 37,143. The numberrof vessels assisted by life-boats in 1855 was 10 ; the number of lives saved, 21; in 1854 the num ber of vessels assisted was -3 ; number of lives saved, 175. The returns were ordered to lie on the tables, for the inspection of the members.—Thomas Abernethy was appointed keeper of the Formby lightbouse;in the place of Thomas Lloyd, recently dead.—The harbour-masters' sub-committee recommended the appointment of James. - Steel, as assistant at the 'timber quays, Huskisson Dock. Confimed.—The usual advertisements were ordered to be inserted, soliciting tenders for supplying the usual clothing to the dock-gatemen and others.—Mr. W. Rathboue, jun., was-appointed a member of tkmaster porters, and works committee, in the place or Mr. Steele.—Mr. Mondel •gave notice that, on Thursday next, he would-bring forward a motion to the effeet that the electric telegraplrcommunication with Holyhead be carried out. A short conversation followed on the subject of the notice, and the general business of the committee concluded. HEALTH COMM/I - TER.—The weekly meeting was held on Thursday. Present—Messrs. Dover (in the'chair), M`Guffie, Beckwith, Crosthevaite, Shell, Johnson, Tinne, Flathead, Hay dock, Godfrey. The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspector of-mlisances reported various particulars of the operations in their several departments during the week, from which it appeared.that 543 houses in the unhealthiest districts, containing 1,772. apartments and 221 cellars, had been put under examination, with the view of improving their sanitary condition.—Theemedical officer reported that the returns for the week ending .Saturday last showed sedeerease'of 26 in the mortality of the borough, the deaths having been 218 against 244 in each of :thetwo months preeeding,.while the corrected average of the-same week of the previous eight years was 250. Of the deaths last week, 155 were in the parish, and 63 in the out-townships. The deaths from disease.of the lungs, in the last four weeks,' have been respectivelylo7., 92, 86, and last week - 14. , Corresponding with the decrease, there has been an increase of temperature ; the mean, which in the two previous weeks averaged raore than eight degrees below that of the same period Of - former years, was last. meek more than two degrees above it, having been 43 degrees.; 70 deaths were re corded of theezymotic class, and of these 21 were from hoop ineecaughetheeleergest weekly mortality•yet recorded of that disease; scarlatina, 21; typhus, 6; medeles, 57, less than in any week of the previous four months.; stnall-poir, 2. The deaths above -60 years of age were 21, the number in the previous week having been 32.—The laweelerk read a report of a epecial committee on the subject of the removal of the Cornwallis-street offices. The report-embodied a resolution to theeffecttleatithe surveyor and borough engineer report on the probable cost of the new buildings to be erected in Dale street, and thearsunint to be obtained for the site and mate rials in Cornwallis-street.—A resolution was read from the Watch •ComMittee, stating that Mr. Latham had attended that body, andesiihrnitted specimens astsined glass lamps on which the names of the streets were to be inscribed. The feeling of the-committee was, that they-could not, under pre sent circumstances, incur any expense in the matter, but if the Watch 'Cominittee chose to try any experiment such as that proposedellev were at liberty to de so.—This being the whole :of the business, the committee separated. ST. MATTREVs CHURCII, SCOTLAND R OAD.—At the County Court, on Friday, a cause was tried in which Mr. Geo. Philips e stationereSouth Castle-street, 'was plaintiff, and the Rev. Dr. Hillcoat,incumbent of St. Matthew's Church, Scot land-road, the defendant. The action arose out of the late disputes between the incumbent and aeformer curate of this church. The plaintiff appeared in person e and Mr. Tindal At kinson appeared far the Rev. Dr. Hillcoat, who was also in attendance. The plaintiff stated that the action was to re cover trelsfortooke, maps, &c., supplied to the schools of St. Matthew's Church, Scotland-road, upon the order of the Rev. Mr. Cooke, lately a curate of that church,- in 1854. Mr. At kinson :here contended, that there was nu ground of action whatever, as there was nothing to show any, -responsibility on the part-of Dr: Hillcoat. The plaintiff requested permission to examine Dr.. Hilleoat, which was granted. Plaintiff: You are quite satisfied that these goods were . supplied to the schools ? 'Dr. Hillcoat : Certainly. Plaintiff: Do you not hold yourself responsible for any orders the -Rev. Mr. Cooke gave at 'the time ? _Dr. Hillcoat : Certainly not. Plain tiff: Dr. Hillcoat told me that during the time of the Rev. Mr. Cooke's . curacy, lir. Cooke received several amounts 3f money which he did not account for, and Dr. Hillcoat thinks that before any debts are paid these amounts should be accounted for, therefore, eander these circumstances, I should like to have this case adjourned to a future nay, when, by making Mr. , Cooke the defendant, he might be , -compelled to account for these amounts. Mr. Atkinson : To ;ranking Mr. Cooke the defendant, we • have no objection at all. His Hon our explained that as he: ould not show a distinct authority from the incumbent to Mr.-Cooke or himself for the supply of the goods, the isresent action must fail to reach the Rev. Dr. Hillcoat. His Honour observed that he was informed some other actions were to come before the court, between Mr. Cooke and Dr. Hillcoatt. He had been given to understand that in one of the former. actions in that court hehad ex pressed an opinion• which might seem to refer to future eases. He begged to intimate that.any opinion he had expressed re ferred solely to thecircumstances of the case then before him, to which it was his duty to confine himself. Dr. Hillcoat stated that the Rev. Mr. Cooke held money in his henris, for which he gave no account. He understood the Rev.. Mr. Cooke received upwards of £3OO, or nearly £4OO, of which, up to that hour, he (Dr. Hillcoat) had been unable to receive any thing like a regular .or consistent account, except that ;the money had been received. The plaintiff said he had brought the present action partly out of kindness to Dr. Hillcoat, for whom he had a great respect, and .whom he considered had teen very basely used by the Rev. Mr. Cooke, in order that he might have an opportunity of clearing himself from the charges of that,gentleman. His Honour said Dr. Hillcoat's character was not in any way impugned in the present action, and therefore he could not allow any reference to be made to what occurred in other actions. The plaintiff was then non suited, with costs out of pocket.—His Honour then expressed a hope that no action between the Rev. Mr. Cooke and the Rev. Dr. Hillcoat would again some before that court. He could not but think that between two brother clergymen there must be another and a better tribunal for settling dis putes than an appeal to a court of that kind. COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL IN,,TURT.—In the Court of Passage, on Tuesday, an action was brought in behalf of a boy, named Green, nine years of age, the son of a labourer, against Messrs. Robinson and Co., St. James's-etrcet, to recover compensation for serious injuries, the result of negli gence on the 'defendants' part. Mr. Aspinall, for the plaintiff, gave a description of the premises occupied by the defendants, elucidating it by a reference to the plan. There were three doors to the premises, which doors projected beyond the windows, in front of which was an iron railing enclosing a small area, formed by the projection of doors beyond the windows. The defendants bad been for some time in the habit of making use of this small space between the wall and the railings for the storing of barrels, one end of which touched the wall, and the other projected over the railing into the street. On the night of the 2nd of October, the plaintiff was going along the street, when one of the barrels tumbled over, and, falling against him, broke his leg, which had to be amputated, and several operations performed, occa sioning much pain and suffering. The damages were laid at £5OO. Several witnesses were called to establish the danger ous way in which the barrels had been piled, and to the cause occasioning the injury to the boy ; also surgical testi mony to the great suffering occasioned to the plaintiff, and to the fact of amputation having been rendered necessary. Mr. Brett, for tbe defendants, contended that there was no negli gence, and that the accident was attributable to circumstances over which the defendants had no control, and for which they were not responsible. Mr. Wainwright, one of the firm of Messrs. Robinson and Co., deposed to the manner of piling the casks, and to the fact that; although they had been so piled for a number of years, they had. never before given way, neither had any accident ever previously occured. Se veral other witnesses were called to the same point. A man named Hardie, formerly a police-officer, said, when on duty, lie had observed•the barrels, and did not consider them in a dangerous position_; had he thought to the contrary, it would have been his duty to have laid an information. He had seen some boys that morning swing upon the barrels. In case of publicans or tradesmen placing articles to project over the street, it was his duty to lay informations. These barrels did project over the street, but he had not laid an information in the case. Other witnesses were called to establish that the barrels were not placed in a dangerous position. One witness, named Rogers, deposed that he saw some boys on the day. of the accident swinging on the rails, but not at the place where it occurred ; but he did see a boy ,• (assumed to be the plaintiff) swinging from a barrel where the accident did occur. The jury ultimately found for the plaintiA eyjtje £250 damages, hi s 10 our 1O 1 th hi rri t ;ol. e 0 04 f 0 b old °' ad so a Doti" 1 to 0 weir, ntiole,ll'cgr o' evt lo 0 Wre4' 16 56 tbe,, rnfortdo,° s an ci T G r yii f o ol ar iC , LshiPs°' ru rp it f ° duti e V itoro s ' o er the aP 3 the 2 aer'' THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD Two HUSBANDS. - At the Police-court, on Friday, Anne Lehoe, alias Anne Cline, a young woman, was brought up on remand, on a charge of bigamy. The prisoner was married in April, 1854, to a seaman, named Lehoe ; and in June last she married another seaman, named Cline. She was committed for trial. - - • --- BACHELORS' BALL.—This ball took place on Wednesday, at the Royal Assembly-rooms, Great George-street. It was nu merously and fashionably attended. Refreshments were pro vided by Mr. Oakes. We understand that it is the intention of the committee to give a series of balls next season. THE SHIP CONSTITUTION.—Messrs. •Sutherberry and Co. have purchased the hull of the ship Constitution, lately destroyed by fire, for £6lO, and, as the lower deck timbers are not much damaged, they expect to make a good bargain by rebuilding and refitting her. ROBBERY IN err 011171MM-0n Monday evening, Mr. Fergusson, of Pownall-square, entered an omnibus in Church street, proceeded to Edge-hill, and shortly, after alighting, discovered that he had been robbed of his purse, containing about £l2. including a £lO note. Information of the robbery was given to the detectives, who are on the alert. LIVERPOOL JUVENILE REFORMATORY.—The school frigate Akbar, now lying in the Great Float at Birkenhead, has been certified by the Secretary of State for the Home Department as a reformatory under the Youthful Offenders' Act. The vessel will be at once appropriated to the object for which it has been designed, and, in a few days, will be commenced the work of reformation. - - - - LIVERPOOL BANS DIVIDENDS. — The following half-yearly dividends have just been declared by the Liverpool banks : North and South Wales Bank, at the rate of six per cent. per annum; Borough Bank, seven per cent. per annum; Liverpool Commercial Bank, seven per cent. ; Union Bank, six per cent.; and the Royal Bank five per cent. per annum on the original shares. THE STILIEE AT MANCHESTEII.—About 100 of the work people on strike at Messrs. Birley's mill have resumed work on the terms offered by their employers. At some of the other mills, a few of the turnouts have resumed work also, at the terms originally offered. A large number of operatives have been thrown out of work at another mill, not it conse quence of reduction of prices, but through the entire stoppage of the-concern. THE SCOTT RUSSELL SHIP AND THE NEW LANDING STAGE.—The great ship is to be launched in June next, and her Majesty is to perform the ceremony of naming. This ship will come to Liverpool if she can get proper accommodation. 'One of two things will be necessary—either the dock-gates at Birkenhead must be made wide enough to admit a vessel of 1.26 feet wide, or the new landing-stage must be moored on the Cheshire side. The dock plans provide ;or a gate of 100 feet, but this will not do. SOUTTIPORT. — Robert :Rawlinson, Esq., 'superintending in spector under the board of health, has just presented his re port on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the town of Southport. The inquiry took place on the re presentation of a number of the inhabitants who desired the introduction of the , Public Health Act. The inspector recom mends that as the town is governed by commissioners holding large powers under , the local act, no further proceedings be taken by the board of health. It remains, therefore, with the local commissioners to exercise their powers as to remove cause for complaints of local nuisances, defective drainage, Zr.c. CAPTURE lA' 'A GANG OF COTISTRS.—On Wednesday-morn ing, three men and two women were captured by the detective police, after a desperate resistance, in a house in Eldonestreet, where one of the men, named Clark, was engaged at the time in the manufacture of base teein, the other prisoners being present. When Clark made the coins, the other prisoners examined them, and, on searching the room, seventeen lease half-crowns, a quantity of metal for making wins, moulds, and other apparatus were found. Clark is the husband of awoman who, a few (lays ago, was cemmitted for trial for having thirty base crown pieces in her possession. The prisoners were com mitted for trial, the Mint afethorities undertaking to prosecute. "To ;tvt - IL FORGETtVLNESS A PRBY."—At the Police court, on Friday, a well-dressed gentleman, who gaveliis name as John Hilton, was charged by two officers of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway with having ridden from 'Manchester in a second-class carriage without payingthe fareeen Thursday. Whensasked for his tioket he pretended to look for one, but could not find it, and when asked for the fare-45., he said he had no money. He was then taken ti-beidewell, when several pounds were found in phis pockets. The prisoner; who said he was and quite!Ublivious of the whole matter was fined ss. and costs, and tlx railway fare. SALE OF THE COUNTESS OF Eamunenne.—This favourite steamer, one of the fastest boats on the river; hasheen pur chased by a firm in Liverpool. She-is now being overhauled, in'the Birkenhead Dock, and, when teompletedovill be sent out to the Crimea, her present owners anticipating that she will be purchased there, either for a despatch boat or a gentle man's yacht. The screw-steamer Weaver, another boat be longing to the Bridgewater trust, has also been sold, and will shortly be sent out to Constantinople. A new and commodious -boat is being built for traffic between Liverpool and Runcorn, and it is expected it will be placed on the station bethe spring. in the meantime, the steamer Rival, under the cemmand of Captain Stred, late of the Countess ef Ellesmere, -Will' perform *he usual daily - trips to Runcorn. THE ROBBBRY OF COTTON BY"IIIIE MATE .OF_A SHIP. — At the Police-court, on Friday, John Barker, thechief mate , of the Zenobia, remanded from Thursday, was again brought up, and Owen M`Cabe,,Hugh Curran, and Thomas Leff were peso placed' in the dock for examination, having keen taken into custody at the office of Mr. Campbell, solicitorethat morn- Ileing, While giiing him instruetions'to defend them. it appeared that the ship had been consigned to Messrs. JaccVlaylor, and Tipper; that the cotton found was pickings from the ballast; that the consignee.; had made noelaim, although there was a -deficiency in:the cargo of two bales. The mate was:discharged. Mr. Clough - then directed informations to be laid against M`Cabe and Curran, for having , bought cotton , without pos sessing a license. The conduct of police-officer 643, for having permitted the cotton to pass the dock-gate, was then laid before the magistrate. The officer said that he had known Curran many years as an honest man, and expressed regret that he had not seen the consignee before allowing the cotton to pass. He had been before theoommittee on the subject on Thursday, and disrated. PICKING A LADY'S POCKET.—Mary Rourke,. a girl 13 years of age, was charged, at tbe:Police-court, on Friday, with having picked the pocket of , Mrs. Sophia Thomas,: under the following circumstances :—Theeprosecutrix said that, yester day afternoon, about two o'clotk, while walking up London roade she was accosted by a. boy, who inquired the way to Hope-street, and asked several minute questions, which occu pied perhaps two or three minutes. In the meantime the prisoner, came along, and asked the boy where he wanted to -go. He then informed her, and they both went off together. Prosecutrix at once discovered that her purse had been ab stracted from the pocket of her dress. She ran aftetethe boy and girl, overtook them, and saw that the prisoner-kept her hands behind her back. On inSisting that she should show what She 'had in her hand, she exhibited a 2s. piece e and the purse was dropped by her on the street. The purse contained a 2s. piece ,and some papers. Tbelatter were not disturbed. Mr. Mansfield said that this was one of the most &lever:and impudent pieces of pocket-picking he had ever heard of. No doubt the boy and girl had concocted the plan to rob thelady, in which they succeeded. The prisoner must go to gaol for three months, with hard labour. Wenn:two SANITARY INQUIXY.—On Wednesday, Alfred Lamert Dickens, one of the superintending inspectors under the general Board of Health, held a public inquiry, at the National Sehool-room, Waterloo, in reference to the proposed introduction of. the Health of Towns'.-Act into the townships of Great Crosby and Litherland. The inquiry was held in consequence of a report made to the. General Board of Health by Mr. Rawlinson, after holding a public inquiry last year, and from which report it appeared to the general board, that in case the act should be applied to; the two townships, the present township boundaries were not those which might be most advantageously adopted for the purposes of the act, and that it would be proper to form a new boundary. There were several ratepayers present, some in favour of, and others in opposition to, the :'ititroduction of the .act into the township. The evidence as regarded the township of.Litherland was first gone into. The 'inspector went to view , theland proposed to be included in thenew boundary. At one &clock the inquiry was resumed, when the case of the township of Crosby was proceeded with. After receiving evidence,-the inquiry ter minated, the inspector stating that he should; make his report to the general boardeshich would be communicated to the ratepayers. LYING-IN HOSPITAL.—The annual meeting ,of the sup porters of this institution was held on Thursday, in the Board-room, Pembroke-place. The Mayor, John Stewart, Esq., presided. The report contained the following statistics: —The admissions into hospital this year have been in excess of those of last. Last year there were only 142 interior cases; whereas, this year, there have been 199; while the ;total number of those who participated in the benefits con ferred by the hospital, in 1854, was 1,313. During the past &clue months the total number was I,sl2:—Labours., 182; special cases, 12 ; total, 194. Children born: Boyd, 100 ; girls, 85: total, 185. Twin cases, 3; still-born, 7.; Mother died, 1; dispensary cases, 958 e wet nurses' register, 115. Making a general total of 1,512. With respect to the .finan cial prospects of the institution, the committee had been much -crippled by the want of adequate funds, and by a de creasing revenue. They trusted that some efforts would be made by those who might secede from it by a variety of causes, to which all charitable institutions are liable. The treasurers report showed a balance of £35 9s. 60. Mr. Stitt was authorised to receive and to hand over to the treasurer a legacy of £loo,lately bequeathed to the institution. Thanks were voted to the committee, the officers of the in stitution, and to his Worship for presiding. Before retiring, his Worship placed in the hands of the secretary a donation of £5, in aid of the funds of the institution. ARCIIITECTURAL AND ARCILMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—At the fortnightly. meeting on Wednesday, Mr. John Hay pre sided, and a discussion took place upon the question, " Whe ther it was desirable or not for this society to co-operate with the London 'Architectural Association in endeavouring to ob tain the issue of a diploma." The subject having been intro duced in a paper read by the chairman, Mr. Boult insisted at length, and with great force. upon the necessity of a diploma. It was supposed that the spirit of the ago was opposed to the principle of a diploma. The contrary, he thought, was true. The mercantile marine had, within a few years, originated an examination, and issued a diploma. The East India service did the same ; the civil service do the same ; the military have also an examination, which' is about to be extended. Mr. Bouit -next dwelt upon the course of studies desirable for the profession. He characterised as absurd the idea, that because the profession had such men as William of Wyckham, Wren, and Stephenson without any diploma, they should not have any. Mr. Boult concluded by proposing a resolution in accordance with his views : " That a certain course of studies be authori tatively prescribed, and that a certificate of qualification be necessary to be given in every instance, and that the society remit the matter to the Royal Society of Architects." Mr. Thomas M. Rickman, of the council of the Royal Institution of British Architects, ,addressed the meeting in favour of the principle of certificate and examination, but was opposed to a diploma. Mr. Rimmer opposed the resolution submitted. He denied that the issue of a certificate. would give any advan tage to the party, afford any test of ability, or secure any con fidence from the public. He would, of course, support a pro per education, but not a certificate. Mr. James Hay sup ported Mr. Boult's resolution. Mr. Verelst was in favour of a specific education for young architects, and a certificate ; but he differed from many of the details of Mr. Boult. He regretted the haste in which buildings were now constructed, and the hurry with which young men entered on business, without proper study. So far as he had formed an opinion, it was opposed to Mr. Boult's proposition. Mr. Davies thought the meeting was so thin, the resolution should not be pressed. Mr. 'Boult replied, after which a division was taken, and the resolution declared carried by a majority of five to three. Loss OP THE BRITISH BRIG MESSENGER, AT SEA.—The ship Adriana, Captain Preble, from Liverpool, arrived at New York, reports—Nov. 26, lat. 62 deg. lon. 36 deg, 30 min., fell in with the British brig Messenger, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Captain Howard Van Norden, from Glasgow for Bos ton, 21 days out, in a sinking condition. Took from her Capt. Van Norden, six seamen, and two boys. Towx i3IPEOVEMENTS.—The extensive range of buildings extending from Exchange-street East to High-street are nearly enclosed by hoarding, and the demolition of the pile will speedily follow, to make way for the erection of commercial chambers. The houses in Dale-street, from Sir Thomas's buildings to Crosshall-street, present a dilapidated appearance, and they will be razed shortly, when that portion of Dale street will be widened and improved. Another block of premises at the top of Bold-street are doomed, when the dangerous corner leading into Berry-street is intended to be rounded and made more commodious. TOX.TETII-PARE BURIAL BOARD.--A meeting of this board was held on Tuesday, at the Public-office, Park-place, Mr. Halhead presiding, for the purpose of electing a member in the place of Mr Richard Mellor, resigned. There were pre sent Messrs. Craig, Grinrod, Kidd, Alpass, and J. Jones. On the motion of Mr. Allpass, seconded by Mr. Craig, Mr. John Cropper was elected without opposition. The meeting was also called to consider the provisions of the bill intended to be introduced into parliament, relative to the extension of the boundaries of the borough of Liverpool. It having been stated that the bill had been withdrawn, the subject was not gone it, A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. PRAISEWORTHY COXDIXT OF A. POLICE-OFFICES.—On Friday, the borough coroner held an inquest on the body of Mary Markey, seven years of age, whose parents reside at 25, Eldon-street. On the 26th December, she was boiling some rice, when her pianafore caught fire. Hearing her screams, Michael Aldridge, a police-officer, (202), who lived on the op posite side of the street, rushed into the house, and tore the burning clothes from the child, who was, however, so severely burnt about the head and shoulders, that she died on Wed nesday. The jury, in their verdict, desired the coroner to bring the gallant behaviour of the officer (who was off duty at the time of the accident) under the notice of Major Greig. The coroner said that he had often had occasion to speak in high terms of different members of the police force of the town, and, in the present case, he would have great pleasure in for warding the recommendation of the latter to the officer's superiors. DUCKING A BARTER.—At the Coroner's Court, on Friday, an inquest was held on the body of Anthony Stephens, a barber, residing in 18 court, Chisenhale-street. On New Year's night, the deceased, who was of very intemperate habits, was drinking in a beerhouse in Chisenhale-street, when he offered for a wager to swim in the canal. His wife, 'who was present, vexed at his making so foolish an offer, said she would give the party present half a gallon of ale if "they would make him swim. The whole company then ,adjourned to the canal banks, but the deceased refused to swim in the canal, on which his companions threw him in. He was, however, got out safely, but shivering with cold. He was drunk from that time to Thursday morning last, when he was found dead in the yard. FREDERICK-STREET SOROOLS.—A meeting of the subscri bers was held on Tuesday, at the new building, Frederick street, to receive the treasurer's accounts, and the report of the building fund, -&c. Amongst those present were Mr. Alderman Robinson, the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, Messrs. W. P. Jeffreys, J. Rigby, Wilson, West, Southward, Gough, Thomp son, &c. The chair was occupied by the Rev. T. L. Pain. The report gave a highly satisfaetoryaccount of the progress of the schools, and announced that the average attendance of children had considerably increased. From the treasurer's account it appeared that the amount received was £1;541 3s. 4d., and, after defraying all -expenses, there remained a balance to the credit of the schools of £2 4s. Bd. The schools are now , free from , debt. The report having been received and adopted, and the committee for the ensuing year appointed, the Rev. Dr. M`Neile moved a resolution expres sive of thankfulness to the Almighty for having blessed the efforts of those -engaged in the establishment and , conduct of the schools, 'and that they would trust in Him to raise up friends to assist them in the work. The resolution was agreed to, and'the meeting shortly afterwards broke•up. PE.ESPI;TATT3'S TO A CLtaGYMIN. — On Wednesday, •the inhabitants of Little Brighton and Waterloo, desirous of show ing their regard and esteem for the Rev. George Troughton, and their gratitude for the services he has rendered them in establishing and conducting, for a period of upwards of twelve months, - a cottage lecture in the school-room of the former place, presented him with a.testimonial, consisting of a hand some .gold . pencil-case and pen, with a suitable inscription, together Wlth a beautifully illustrated • copy of Herbert's poetical wmirs. After an address by Thomas Eccles, :Esq., Mr: Dorley presented the -testimonial, expressing the feelings of the subscribers in the following terms:—" In behalf of the inhabitatts of Little Brighton and vicinity, who have been in the habit of attending the evening lecture, I present you , with small teken of their esteem and affection for..y.enr gratuitous services , among them, and may the Lord .give you health and sfrength long to minister to the spiritual welfare- of ,your fellow;creatures." The reverend gentleman returned an ap propriatoresponse, and the meeting separated. • PRERTON AND NOZINST LANCASIIIRE POULTRY STEOW.-011 Wednesday and- Thursdocy; a grand poultry show took place in the Exchange-buildings, Preston, whennearly 3,000 birds were - brought together, the-exhibitors consisting of some.4f the most -celebrated breeders from all parts of the country, in addition to those - residing in the more immediate district. Among3t the exhibitors from Liverpool and the neighbourhood were Captain Hamby, of Knowsley, who carried away the silvercup, and the extra silver cup, for the best pen of Spanish chickens of 1855. The Cochin Chinas-shown by Mr. Stretch, of Bootle, were highlykcommended, es also the coloured Dork ings;hy Mr. Joseph Hindson, of Barton-house, Evertor.. Mr. W. C: , Worrall, of Knotty Ash, took the second prize 'for the golden-spangled Ilainburghs, and the other pens of golden and I silver-spangled Hamburghs, exhibited -by him, were allquarked " highly commended." The other exhibitors from this neigh bourhood included Mr. Robert Horsfall, Everton ; Mrs. Col bourne. New Brighton; Mr. C. Jones, Birkenhead; Miss Musgrove, Seafortir; - .Mr. Richard Moss, Old - Swan ; • and Mr. John ',Williamson, of Whitfield-house, Walton-on-the-Hill. There ,were no less.than twenty-two silvereups given in prizes, the -first prize in each class being a silver cup. The attendance sin Wednesday, the charge of admission being high, was not so goad, hat on Thursday the rooms weretrowded. The show rilloselon `Thursday night, having been highly succeiski. (GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. TILE Summar; OF TVSKET has ordered•tbat ten young offi cers should be sent to raris, to study •engineering. DrZING the last few•days a petition has been prepareiLand signed by upwards of 300 of the leading.men of Hull, tainake Ramis pay for all the cost of the war. - - - Due Morning. Advertiser states that Mr. Milner Gibson will, soon after the Ivassembling of peliament, move for leave to bring in a bill far the repeal of the Qath of Abjuration. LADY riaiLENBOROITGr.—The reported death of Lady Ellenberough has been contradicted, the family having received letters fromler ladyship, dated Damascus,Xtec. 10. - - THE proposal for an amalgamation of the Protestant Asso ciation with the Protestant Alliance has been negatived by the Committee of the Protestant Association. THE Paris torrespondents of the Independance Beige revive the story thatthe Emperor Napoleon intends .placing himself at the head of one of the expeditions of the ooming campaign. Tan auditors of the county of Durham, in presenting ;the accounts the,other day, mentioned that the late prosecu tion in the great Burdon poisoning case had cast the county no less than £512. — Gateshead Observer. - THE Senates Academicus of the Edinburgh University !hare voted Dr. Alison £260• a year, as a retiring, allowance. The learned Professor is the elder brother of Sir Archibald ,Alison, Bart., the celebrated. historian. Mx. MACAULA.Y'S HEALTII is: by no means good. A gentle manowho saw him a few weeks age, states that he experiences greatdifficulty in conversing even:for a short time.—Dum. fries -Standard. CURIOUS FACT.—Dr. Lusbington stated in the Admiralty Court, last week, that forty years ago he was counsel in a cause relating to the very ship whichinought L11..t0 this country. Tern much celebrated intenty-five thousand copies of Ma ea.ulay are said to hang a little in the trade—but then money is scarce, and the season has not been „one in which people have been at:all prone to spend much ,on books.—lllustrated New. MITEIRICENT LITERARY PROVISION. , ---Her Majesty has been pleased.togrant a pension of £25 a year to Mr. Joseph Haydn, author ,of the well-known "Dictionary of Dates." There is nothing in the warrant about f` distressed circum stances." THE convict Abraham Baker underwent the extreme pe nalty of the law on Tuesday morning, at Winchester, for the murder of Naomi Kingswell, at Soutbanapton,,on the 14th of October last. Since his committal to prison, awl especially since his sentence, Baker has been most earnest in making preparation for the change that awaited him. lie fully ad mitted the " wickedness of his crime." ACCORDING to a correspondent of the Nord, the Emperor of the French preserves in all its integrity, at the Palace of the Elys6e, the famous cabinet in which the coup d'Rat of Dee. 2, 1851, was prepared. Here is the secret drawer con taining the bundle of papers, orders of arrest, proclamations, &c., tied together, the wrapper bearing the one word— " Rubicon." - - - ONE OF THE DEFENDERS OF ICARS.—Dr. Sandwith, one of the gallant defenders of Kars, has reached London, after undergoing extraordinary privations on his journey from Kars to Batoum. Dr. Sandwith was set free by General Mouravicff in consideration of the great attention he had bestowed ou the Russians wounded in their unsuccessful attack of September 29. LIBERALITY OP EMPLOYEES. — Among the several banking firms who have presented to their clerks £l,OOO for distribu tion since the commencement of the new year, are—Messrs. Heywood and Co., London ; Messrs. Heywood and Co., Man.: chester ; Messrs. Prescott and Co., Messrs. Hankey and Co., 'andlhe London and Westminster Bank. In addition to these gift& it is understood advanced salaries have in some cases been granted. COUNTY COURT JUDGES. — There have been no less than nine vacancies among the County Court Judges in four years ; five have died, and four have resigned. There have died. Messrs. Chilton, Carrow, Hildyard, Wing, and Barnaby ; and there have resigned • Messrs. Amos, Wilkinson, Palmer, and Elsley. To succeed these, Lord St. Leonards appointed two, namely, Messrs. Adolphus and Taylor ; and Lord Cran worth has appointed Messrs. Losh, Cooke, Lonsdale, Willmore, Temple, Sir E. Wilmot, and Mr. Miller. A FEARFUL CASE OF DOUBLE SUICIDE was perpetrated on the railway near Antwerp. A man and woman, well attired, and supposed to have resided at Brussels, placed themselves across the line and were cut to pieces by the train. The en gine driver having perceived a smart shock on passing the spot.reported the circumstance at Malines, whence a telegra phic notice was immediately sent back to Vieux Dieu, and upon examining the line the two bodies were discovered. - _ M. SCOTT RUSSELL'S MONSTER STEAMER.—The Portland (Main) correspondent of the New York Express, writing from that port on the 14th ult., states that an examination of that Arbour had been made by Captain Harrison, R. N., (recently in the service of the Cunard Company, and who has been appointed to command Mr. Scott Russell's monster steamer), and that he is satisfied that the water is quite deep enough to receive that vessel, And allow her to perform all necessary nautical operations. She expected to make her• first trip to ,Portland in May next. THE CHILD STARVATION CASE.—At the Central Criminal Court, London, on Thursday, Charles Butler, aged 30, musician, and Sarah Butler, aged 23, his wife, were indicted for the manslaughter of Emma Butler, their child. The prisoners lived in Bermondsey-street, and the child, who was bet Ween two and three years old, had been much neglected and ill-treated, especially by the woman. The prisoners were in the most abject state of poverty, the man being a street musician. The medical evidence proved the child to have suffered much from disease and want, but did not clearly establish death to have resulted. from any specific act of neg lect or violence. The jury acquitted the prisoners. BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—A meeting of the Council of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday. The meeting was made special for the purpose of taking into consideration the present state of the monetary laws, and, after considerable discussion, the follow ing resolution was passed, viz.:—" That it is the opinion of this Council that it will be found impossible, without great injury to every interest, to carry on the war to an issue, con sistent with the honour and safety of the country; under the preSent monetary system, and that it is the incumbent duty of parliament to take into consideration the effects produced by the acts of 1819 and 1844, with the view of calling out the energy and power of the nation." EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT IN COVENT GARDEN THEATRE. —On Wednesday, during the performances of the Wizard of the North at Covent Garden Theatre, London, a well-dressed man suddenly stood up in the balcony of the boxes, having a pistol in his hand, which he appeared to be about to raise, when his arm was seized by a gentleman who sat next to him. An altercation and scuffle ensued between several occupants of the balcony and the individual who had behaved so strangely, and great alarm and excitement Were created in the theatre. The lunatic, for such lie seemed , was c om p elled to resign the pistol, and Mr. Anderson, the lessee, caused him to be placed in the hands of the police, who removed him from the theatre. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE RUGELEY POSTMASTER. --Samuel Chesshire, master of the Rugeley post-office, was on Friday charged before the magistrates, at Rug ele y , with open ing a letter from Professor Taylor, addressed to Mr. Gardiner, solicitor, Rugeley. Mr. Phillips, from the General post-office, attended - for the prosecution. The letter in question contained a reporot of the analysis on Mr. John Parsons Cook, and its contents were communicated to William Palmer, his alleged murderer, in a very mysterious manner, as was seen from a report of a discussion on the subject at the last adjourned inquest. The accused was held to bail to appear next Thurs day. The prisoner has adMitted the offence, and is discharged from his office. EXTRAORDINARY STORY.—A correspondent of The Times says :—I have recently received, on good authority, the follow ing extraordinary account of an act of cruelty perpetrated by an ambassador from the Court of Persia now resident in Rus sia. It appears that during the stay of the ambassador in Moscow, a fire of charcoal, lighted by his servant in a stove of the room where his son and the servant slept, caused the death of the former by suffocation, while the latter narrowly escaped with his life. The ambassador, in order to avenge the death of his son, commanded the servant, to whose careless ness the accident was attributed, to . be flayed alive. The Russian police, however, interfered, alleging that such a pun ishment could not be allowed in their country. Accordingly his Excellency ordered a box with air-holes to be made, for the purpose of transporting his unfortunate servant to Persia, there to suffer the fearful death which even Russian civiliza tion prohibited! The poor man is probably now on his way to Persia. THE EDUCATION OF THE ROYAL CHILDREN (observes the Court Journal) being a matter in which all must feel interested, a few details of the manner in which the day of the royal scholars is divided may perhaps be entertaining to our readers. A primary regard is paid to moral and religious duties. They rise early, breakfast at eight, and dine at one. Their various occupations are allotted out with almost mili tary exactness. One hour finds them engaged in the study of - the ancient, another of the modern, authors ; their acquaint anceship with languages being first founded on a thorough knowledge of their grammatical construction, and afterwards 'familiarised and perfected by conversation. Next they are trained in those military exercises which give dignity and bearing. Another hour is agreeably filled up with the lighter accomplishments of music and dancing. Again the happy little party assemble in the riding school, where they may be seen deeply interested in the various evolutions of the menage. Thence—while drawing and the further exercise of music and the lighter accomplishments call off the attention of their sis ters—the younger princes proceed to busily engage them selves in a carpenter's shop, fitted up expressly for them, at the wish of the Royal Consort, with a turning lathe and other tools essential to a perfect knowledge of the craft. Thus they early become, not only theoretically, but practically, acquainted with the useful arts of life. A small laboratory is occasionally brought into requisition, at the instance also of their royal father; and the minds of the children are thus led up from a contemplation of the curiosities of chemical science and the wonders of nature to an inquiry into their causes. This done, the _young carpenters and students throw down their saws and axes, unbuckle their philosophy, and shoulder their miniature percussion guns—which they handle with the I dexterity of practised sportsmen—for a shooting stroll through the royal gardens. The evening meal, the preparation for the morning's lessons, and brief religious instruction, close the day. ALARMING OUTRAGE NEAR SIIEFFIELD.—OnIy the other day it was recorded that an outrage of the most diabolical character had taken place at Dronfield, namely, an attempt to blow up the workshops of Mr. George Ward, and now we have to narrate an act of a daring and murderous nature. The scene of outrage was the premises of Mr. E. France, surgeon, of Dronfield. On Saturday night, Mr. France's servant girl entered the drawing-room, and announced that there were thieves •in the garden, having a light with them. Mr. W. Henry France, (who is on a visit to his brother,) at once rose to see after the depredators, but declined the offer of the servant girl to accompany him with a light. He opened the door, and was taking a survey before entering the grounds, which are in front of his brother's house, when a miscreant, fired a gun at him. A portion of the contents struck Mr. France on the forehead, whilst the remainder, a large portion, struck and shattered the windows in front of the house. It is said that Mr. France's wounds are not of a very serious nature. Had he taken the light with him, he would have presented a better mark to the assassin, whose intention, it can scarcely be doubted, was to murder. Only a night or two previously, while this gentleman was sitting in his brother's drawing-room, he was alarmed, on raising his head, by seeing a man, disguised, push the door open, and look in. Mr. France seized a gun, which stood by, and discharged it at the intruder. The piece, however, was loaded with powder only, the charge of shot having just previously been drawn to pre-_ vent accidents ; and before Mr. France quite recovered from the surprise and excitement of the moment, the man made off, leaving not a trace behind. A reward of £2O has been offered for the apprehension of the offender.—Doncaster Gazette. A SOLDIER FLOGGED TO DEATIL—The correspondent of the Morning Herald, in his letter from the Crimea, dated December 24, says-:—A private of the English Artillery has this week died under the lash at Balaklava. I believe his offence was drunkenness. Be it so. Are there no roads to be made or mended ? Are there no stones to be broken ? Are there no round shot to be polished ? Is it not better to stop grog than to stop life ? Let your readers answer. My opinion is, that though in many cases, such as mutiny or desertion, flogging is admissable, it (now that the enemy does not harass us, now that men can well be spared for sentries over prisoners) is not the best punishment for drunkenness. I shall not argue this question out now. I shall simply say that this private was made fast to the usual limber-wheel, that his state was apparently not one of health, that he was sentenced to receive, and did receive in full, fifty lashes, at the hands of the sergeant-farrier of the left siege-train at Balaklava Heights, and that on being cast loose he fell to the ground like a log, there remained a short time, was carried to hos pital, and there died. I am told that this private belonged -to the Bth company of the 7th battalion (Royal Artillery), but :1 have failed as yet to learn his name. He died on Sunday morning (yesterday), having been flogged on Saturday, after the departure of the last mail from Balaklava; and I think that the War-office authorities ought to investigate the case. Men are men, and must not be treated as beasts, for which Latter, we have at least, a" Martin's Act." EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.— On Sunday evening, the 23rd of December, at ten o'clock, a man in the prime of life, but whose appearance betokened poverty and misery, entered the Grantham Arms, Dyer-street, Leeds, and, having called for a pipe, -sat down .moodily by the fire. Two or three persons were-sitting in the room, but the stranger was not heard to speak a word. After sitting thus for ten minutes, the man put a poker into the fire, and,. when it had become red hot, took itout .and knocked it against the floor, to remove any excrescence on it ; he then deliberately put the red hot end of the poker down his throat. The persons present caught hold of him, and, having removed the poker from his possession, bathed his mouth with warm water. The man was ultimately removed to the Mendicity-office, where every attention was shown him; and, in answer to inquiries as to the cause of the rash act, he only replied that it was a very foolish act, and he did not know what he was doing. His tongue, throat, and under lip were very much burnt, from the effects of which he died last Friday. The only information that can be gained about the deceased is, that his name is Thomas Barker, and that he came from Bolton, in Lancashire. An inquest was held on the body, at the Court-house, last Saturday, before Mr. John Blackburn, when a verdict was returned—" That Thcimas•Barker died from the effect of the burns which he had wilfully inflicted on himself ; but there was no evidence to satisfy the jury as to the state of his mind." — Leeds Mercury. THE LADY, THE LOVER, AND THE HORSES.—The following story is told by Gatignani :—Although Count Maison is only 25, and Made F. de Nujac, a Parisian lady of some celebrity, is nearly 40, he some time ago became captivated with her, and made an arrangement by which he was to allow her 150 f. a-week for household expenses, exclusive of petty disburse ments and presents. Some time after Madame de Nujac, who lived in grand style, being in debt, found it necessary to sell her horses; and the Count approved her doing so, but gal lantly said that as he bad several horses of his own, and ex pected others, he would not allow her to go on foot. A few days later Madame de Nujac announced to the Count that she had heard of a pair of fine horses to be sold marvel lously cheap, and hinted that he would do well to pur chase them. The day after she wrote him this letter : " Tell me, my dear love, how you are this morning, and receive the assurance of my warmest affection. IYou will come this evening, will you not P—FELICITE. P.S.—As regards the horses, Joseph tells me that he has seen them in harness, and that they are magnificent—much better than mine. They are to be had for 5,000 f., and you would do well to see them. The owner is to leave this week, and Joseph says they will soon he sold." The Count saw the horses, tried them, and bought them for 5,000 f., taking a receipt for them in his own name. He then offered the use of them to Madame de Nujac; but he did not give them to her, and the proof of this was that he did not send them to her stables, but to a private one belonging to her 'coachman, which lie hired for 30f. a-month ; and he, besides, undertook to pay for their keep. The very next day, however, he learnt, to his surprise, that Madame de Nujac had caused the horses to be removed to her own stables. He immediately wrote to her to request that she would write him a few lines, just to say that she did ifot consider the horses her property; but, instead of writing,. she sent him a message to go to her. When he went, she pretended to fly into a passion at the. idea of his suspecting her of being capable of doing a mean thing, and she made him beg her pardon. The Count, however, determined to regain his horses, sold them, and sent a servant for them. They were refused. The Count himself then went to Madame de Nujac, but the servants refused him admission ; he, however, insisted on seeing her, and found. her breakfasting with another gentleman. She then formally declared that 'she Would not give up the horsee, and that if lie thought fit to go to raw about them he might do so. The Count did go to law, and the case was tried in Paris on Tuesday. The advo cate. of Madame de Nujac, after complaining that Count Maison had needlessly revealed her age, contended that the horses had been not lent,but given; but - thg TritnPo Ordered the horses to be restored to the Count. ~~ LONGEVITY.—There is now living at Dyrham and Hinton a widow, named Anne Ball, in the.99th year of her age, who attnally tapes in washing, and does it herself.--Bails Chro-4 At the request of the Spanish government, the authorities at Bayonne have taken the liberty of transferring to England (after a month's imprisonment) a man who had been arrested at Urrugue for having arms, ammunition, and Carlist letters in his house. --- ORDERS have been issued to the commanding ()Meet's of proVisional battalions and depots to held in readiness for im mediate embarkation the whole of the disciplined men belong ing to the service in the East. The drafts of infantry regi ments will proceed to the entrepot at Malta, whence they will be conveyed as occasion may require to the aeat of war,.and the drafts for the cavalry will join the cavalry reserve at Scutari. About 450 rank and file, belonging to the household infantry brigade, will proceed to Malta and join the reserve battalion. The number of troops under orders exceeds 4,600. FOUR TEACHERS DEVOURED BY CANNIBALS IN ONE OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.—The missionary ship John Wil liams, named after the heroic martyr of Eromanga, has re cently completed a voyage among. the New Heb:ides and other westerly groups. Among the news she brings are someitems of encouragement, and others of great sorrow. The journal of the voyage says :—" On reaching the Island of Fate, the distressing news was brought on board that some of the teachers who, with their wives, left there on the last voyage, had been barbarously murdered. Only nineteen days after they were landed, under the most cheering, circumstances, the two Raratonguan teachers and their wives were murdered to furnish materials for a horrible cannibal banquet. THE CASE OF PALMER, THE SURGEON OF REGELEY.— On Wednesday last, in the Birmingham District Court of Bankruptcy, Palmer, the surgeon charged with the murder at Rugeley, of Mr. Cooke, by the administration of slow poison, was declared a bankrupt. The petitioning creditor upon • whose application the fiat was issued, is Mr. Spittle, of West bromwieh, his claim being for money lent. Mr. Brown, of Bilston, is the solicitor for the bankruptcy. The adjudication will be disputed, and the bankruptcy in no way interfere with the sale of the. bankrupt's stud, appointed to take place at Tattersall's' yesterday. On inquiry, it is ascertained that no attorney of _Birmingham was ever employed as an agent for the Midland Counties Assurance-office: RUMOURED SECRET TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA.-11 communication from the Vienna correspondent of the Daily News contains the following :—" Within the last few days the report of a secret understanding, confirmed by a treaty, between Russia and Prussia, is again brought forward, and gains some degree of credit. It is affirmed that this secret treaty has been only very lately concldded by the present Emperor of Russia, and that it was brought to Berlin by Count Munster, who could never induce the Emperor Ni cholas to sign it. This treaty is one of offensive and defen sive alliance between the two states, under certain possible contingencies ; but whether the King of Prussia will be able to Illy on the co-operation of his army in such a case is a question that has given rise to great doubt and discussion." A NOVEL PROJECT. The prospectus is issued of the " Patent Jointed Ship Company," with a capital of £50,000 in £lO shares, on which the deposit is to be dal. • The object proposed is a novel one, being the construction and working of vessels composed of several sections, jointed each into the other, and admitting of being readily disconnected. One engine, it is stated, would suffice to work three sets of sec tions one set loading at one port, a second discharging at another port, while a third is performing the voyage between the ports of loading and discharge. The promoters contend that this system would be of peculiar value to the London coal trade, especially if applied to jointed steam colliers, con structed to bring 1,000 tons of coal at a trip, in four sections, — loading 250 tons each, and drawing only 5 feet 6 inches of water, so as to float over bars and shallows. The company is brought out under the new Limited Liability Act. GOLDSMITH ON RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. Goldsmith's "Citizen of the World" is an interesting evidence of the long standing apprehensions of Russia as an encroaching power : "I cannot avoid beholding the Russian empire as the natural enemy of the more western parts of Europe—as an enemy already possessed of great strength, and, from the nature of the government, every day threatening to become more powerful. It was long the wish of Peter, their great monarch, to have a foot in some of the western parts of Europe ; many of his schemes and treaties were directed to this end ; but, happily for Europe, he failed in them all. A fort in the power of this people would be like the possession of a floodgate; and whenever ambition entered, or necessity prompted, they might then be able to deluge the whole western world with a bar barous inundation. Believe me, my friend, I cannot sufficiently condemn the polities of Europe, who eras snake this powerful people arbitrators in their quarrel. RELICS or THE PAST.—A variety of relics of the past, descending from 70 A.D. to the present century, have been turned up in digging the foundations for the new model lodging-houses in Copenhagen-street. One is a small copper coin of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, who reigned from 6.D. 69 to A.D. 79. It bears on the obverse the head of the Em peror, with the legend—" Vespasian Aug. Cos.," the first part, probably, " Imp. Cass.," is undecipherable ; the reverse is obliterated. A silver penny of one of the Edwards, some small copper and latter coins, foreign, English, and Irish, the latter dropped here, perhaps, by Cromwell's soldiers who had served in Ireland ; a small copper medal, bearing on one side the bead of King George lii. and Queen Charlotte, and a ship on the other, apparently struck in commemoration of some naval triumph, have also been found, as well as portions of skeletons, including the under jaw and thigh bones of a person of gigantic proportions, a prodigious quantity of goats' horns and other exuvice. Mr. Bowen, of Copenhagen-street, who has preserved several of these relics, has also in his possession an ancient Roman patera or saucer of red clay, with a greenish mottled glaze upon it, obtained from a depth of 17 or 18 feet below the surface.— Worcester Chronicle. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—A Stockholm journal contains the following :—ln Sweden, females never by any chance enter a coffee-house to take refreshment ; though, singular to relate, in nearly all such places, females are employed to wait. Great, consequently, was the astonishment felt by the fre quenters of the coffee-house of the Bazaar of the Pord-Nord, in this city, to see, in the evening of the 28th of December, a young lady, dressed with extreme elegance, and whose bear ing showed that she belonged to the higher classes of society, enter unaccompanied, and, quietly taking a seat at a table, call for a cup of coffee. Many of the persons were so struck at the extraordinary visit, that they could not refrain from rising from their seats to gaze at the lady ; but she took up a news paper and began to read with apparent attention. After a while, when the curiosity had somewhat subsided, she rose hastily, and advancing towards another table, as if to take a newspaper, pulled a pistol from her muff and prepared to dis charge it; but at that moment an officer who happened to be near seized her by the arm. The pistol, a double-barreled one, went off, and the balls striking a chandelier, broke it, and then lodged in the ceiling. The lady was immediately arrested, taken before a magistrate, and after being interroga ted, was placed imsccret confinement. She is said to be the widow of a saperior officerin the army, but what she meant to do with the pistol is a profound mystery. The affair has created,intense sensation bere.? • SINKING OP :AN EXPERIMENTAL' 'MORTAR VESSEL.—A serious accident occurred at Portsmouth on Friday, in the trial of the new indiarubber mortar raft, the intention of the Rev. Mr. Berthon, of Fareham. This raft, bed, e lagen tried several times with every success, and Friday was appointed for a final trial, the raft being ordered out to sea, off- Seuthsea Castle, and there to fire 150 rounds of shell. She was accordingly towed out at an early hour by beats belonging to the Excel lent, gunnery-ship, the mortar being a 13-inch mortar, and the charge of powder 201 b., the usual charge for such a piece. A party of seamen, gunners from the Excellent, under the command of Lieut. Lethbridge, of that ship, went out with the raft, as did also Mr. Berthon, the inventor. Everything went on well till the 15th shell was fired, and the concussion at this discharge was so great as to cause the sides of the raft to fly apart, and she sank immediately. Lieut. Lethbridge and the seamen gunners were immersed in the sea, but all were picked up, with the exception of ono of the men, who 4 must have sunk immediately after the disaster, as his body was not afterwards seen. Mr. Berthon was on the raft during ' most of the practice, but he had got into a waterman's boat to ascertain the effect of the recoil of the mortar from a short distance. The mortar was slung on Capt. Julius Roberts's principle, which deprives it of a large amount of recoil at its discharge. RAILWAY IN BRAZIL.—The prospectus has been issued of a Brazilian railway, with a capital of £1,200,000, to bear a guaranteed interest of 7 per cent. The line is from the city and port of Pernambuco, which have a population of 120,000, to the town of Agua Preta, in the interior—a distance of 78 miles. Of the 7 per cent. guarantee 5 per cent. is from the Imperial Government, while the remaining 2 per cent. is from the province of Pernambuco. The road will pass through the cotton and sugar districts, and the shareholders are ultimate ly to have the privilege of continuing it to the river San Fran cisco, at the point where its waters become navigible, through the heart of the country for nearly 1,000 miles. They are likewise to enjoy the right to all minerals within 20 miles on either side, and to be allowed the free importation of their machinery and coal. This enterprise furnishes another illus tration of the calls on English capital which are likely to be made under the principle of large guarantees from foreign Go vernments desirous of improving the condition of their terri tories. For States in good repute like Brazil the system is available even in war time, and it promises to become indig criminate whenever peace shall be attained. Among the rea sons given in the present instance in mitigation of the objec tions against a withdrawal of capital, it is urged that Brazil is one of the best customers of England; that a free communica tion with the interior is essential to the colonization plans of the Government, with a view to supplant slave by free labour ; that £240,000 of the required amount will be subscribed in Brazil; that a large proportion of the remainder will be dis bursed in England for plant, rails, locomotives, &sc.; ands, finally, that the expenditure will be spread over several years. SINGULAR SCENE AT AMELESIDE.—The new church at Ambleside has recently been warmed by means of flues lead ing from a coke fire. Owing to some imperfection in the flues a deleterious gas issued into the body of the church during the morning service last Sunday. Young children, being nearest the floor, were first affected, and about 20'of them followed one another out before the adults took the alarm. - At about the middle of the sermon the congregation rose in a body and went out, te the apparent astonishment of the preacher, who, in his elevated pulpit, was unaware of the mis chief. He was left entirely alone in the church ; and it is the opinion of the medical men, that if the congregation had re mained a quarter of an hour longer, no one would have been able to help himself or his neighbour, and many, or all, mus t have perished. The scene in the churchyard was singular for a day in January • numbers of persons we re l a id on the grass, fainting, convulsed, and moaning. None altogether escaped injury. In the lane leading from the church to the village persons dropped as they walked, and lay quivering, or as if dead. Some who believed themselves able to reach their homes fell at a short distance from their own doors, and one at least was actually unable to reach home till the next day. Fortu nately, one of the surgeons of the place, on his way to church, was called to a patient, and thereby left in a condition to give prompt 'assistance. During the afternoon the druggist's shop was crowded with applicants for stimulant medicines—debility, and headache prostrating the population like a plague. None of the cases have terminated fatally, but the danger to several must have been imminent. It may be supposed that there will be no future carelessness as to the mode of warming the church, which, however, had been found by experience intolerably cold before the present experiment was tried. Repeated warnings had been given to the authorities for weeks past by the ringers and others who had suffered from the fumes of the coke, but no notice was taken, and on Sundaylast the doors were shut, and kept shut, by the churchwardens, whose practice is to go to the inns during prayers to see whether any drinking is going forward, and who will allow no admission of air during their absence, or on their return. By the latest accounts some of the invalids were rather worse than better, while ethers had nearly recovered.—Express. nicle,