The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-03-23 00:00:00

March 23, 1847. Eoral Raps. MAIL Ton BRAZILS.—The Antelope, screw steam-ship. sails on Saturday next for Rio Janeiro. On Thursday, an apprentice, named Eaton, on board 'the Bess Grant, in Queen's Dock, fell into the hold upon stone ballast, and was frightfully injured. ST. MARK'S SCHOOLS.—A sermon was preached on Sunday at St. Mark's Church, on behalf of the above schools, by the Rev. Wm. Pollock, M.A., and a collec tion made amounting to upwards of £65. Several members of the congregation of St. James's Church have presented the Rev. C. A. Graham, curate o that church, with a gold watch and chain and a purse as an acknowledgement of his valuable services. The hatches of the Emily, from Shanghae, were opened at nine o'clock in the morning, in the Albert Dock, and 915 bales silk, 26 bales hemp, 1,168 chests tea, and 6 cases, contents unknown, were landed before two o'clock. GREAT MORTALITY IN LIVERPOOL.—SO great has been the mortality, in the neighbourhood of SCJames's street, that one night last week no less than eighteen " wakes" of dead bodies took place between Crosbie street and Lower Parliament-street. We understand that Messrs. Troutbeck and Son, Hano ver-street, have in the kindest manner intimated to the men in their employ that their day's wages shall be paid to them for. Wednesday next (the Fast-day), and that they 'expect them all to observe the day strictly in accordance with her Majesty's proclamation. SIR WM. STANLEY'S HOUNDS.—On Thursday, the last meeting of the season of Sir W. M. Stanley's hounds took place at Bidston. The day being remarkably fine, a large number of persons were present from Birkenhead and the neighbourhood, cars and horses being in great requisition. The run was considered one of the best of the season. The Sarah Sands brought over from New York a large barrel of oysters, alive, and in prime condition. They were supplied with salt water on the passage, and occa sionally regaled with a little oatmeal. She also brought several packages of eggs, a novelty in the exports from the United States, fifty barrels of potatoes, and an immense quantity of other provisions. THE LATE MR. C. S. ROWLAND.—It may not be ge nerally known that a subscription has been opened, at the Parish-office, for the benefit of the widow and five children of the late Mr. C. S. Rowland. This will, no doubt, be gratifying to a number of persons who enjoyed his ac quaintance when alive, and afford them an opportunity of expressing their friendship and esteem. Mr. Litherland, the cashier, we believe, receives subscriptions. PROPOSED NEW FERRY.—A plan has been prepared for a proposed new ferry at High Seacombe, between the present ferry at Seacombe, and Egremont. The slip, which will be 90 yards long from low water to high wa ter, will lead to an intended road from the shore, and passing to the north of Abbotsford Hotel to the road leading to Wallasey, Liscard, cutting directly through the land of Mr. J. R. Pim. WATER.—Mr. Thomas Rowlandson hasJaken the field for the purpose of proving that a sufficient supply of water can be obtained from the new sandstone rock in the neighbourhood of Liverpool, without going to the heart of North Wales or to the Rivington-hills. He thinks that not less than 23,733,000 gallons of water could be obtained daily from the red-stone rock, at a moderate cost. We understand that Mr. Clow, treasurer for the desti tute Highlanders, has received the following sums in aid of the relief fund :—Proceeds of collection in St. Luke's Church, £lO, per Rev. C. W. Lawrence • he Unita rian Chapel, Renshaw -street, per Rev. J. H. Thom. £5O ; £l5 15s. from H. M. Simpson, Theatres Royal Liverpool and Birmingham ; and £lO7 2s. 10d. from St. Andrew's Society, Savannah, being proceeds of 300 dollars, per Andrew Low, Esq. EASTIIAM FERRY.—It will be seen, from an adver tisement in another column, that this most delightful of the ferries will again become the favourite resort of the publi c on and after Wednesday next. A new pier is now adding, and in addition to the Royal Tar, (one of the stest steamers on the Mersey,) the spirited proprietors r„" s elpurchased a new and fast steamer, by which trips to -"; o'ons Easham may be made every hour. The grounds and gardens have also been very much altered and im- Proved. "lOU TIDE.—On Thursday there was the highest tide of the year, and the day being particularly fine, the pier heads on the margin of the river were densely crowded by fashionably dressed persons. The wind was from the south-east, and at tide time the water was as calm as that of a mill pond. Unfortunately, there was a haze at the entrance of the river, and the vessels, of which a large number went to sea, were lost to the spectators before they got far out ; but altogether the river presented a very picturesque appearance. ASSIZE DINNERS.--Yesterday evening, the High sheriff, the Mayor, and the Grand Jury were entertained to dinner by the Judges, at the lodgings, St. Anne-street ; and this evening the Judges, the High-Sheriff, the Grand Jury, and the leading members of the bar will be enter tained to dinner by the Mayor, at the Town-hall. It was Or iginally intended that the Mayor's dinner should, as usual, take place on Wednesday evening, the third day after the swearing in of the Grand Jury, but Wednesday being the day appointed for the national fast, Tuesday has been selected for the issuing of the invitations. AN ANTI-MATHEWTTE EXHIBITION.—On Saturday afternoon, as a sailor was conveying a couple-of gallons of brandy in a jar on board one of the 'vessels in the George's Dock, the jar. was•aecidentall7 -broken at the bottom of James-street. A number orlurnpers and others, young and old, were instantly at the spot, and they contrived, by going upon all-fours, to imbibe the ' tempting liquid by lapping it from the hollows in which it had collected. One very young girl, following the ex ample of others with older heads upon their shoulders, baled some of it with a spoon into her tin can, and, no doubt, took it home to regale her parents. By all who shared in the spoil the accident was held to be the best odsend that had occurred in the neighbourhood of the head-constable's residence for a long time. STREET ROBBERIES.—On Monday night, a letter-car rier, named Begs, had his hat and handkerchief stolen from his head, when passing along Whitechapel.—On Tuesday night, a man, named John Robinson, was knocked down in Byrom-street, by five men, and robbed of his watch.—Same night, a man was knocked down by five men, and robbed of his watch.—Same night, Mr. Callan was knocked down in Carpenter's-row, and robbed of his watch. And same night, a man, named M'Cartin, was stopped by three men in Whitechapel, and robbed of his watch. On Wednesday night, a gentleman, named Clarke, was knocked down by three men in Great Howard -street, and robbed of his watch. On recovering his feet, he pursued the villains, and called for the police, and, assisted by them, succeeded in capturing one of the thieves, who had the watch. DISGRACEFUL IMPUTATION ON THE CHARACTER '. A ROMN CATHOLIC PRIEST BY A WRTHLESS D RUNKARD, , WHOA SSUMED HIS 'NAME. —lt appears • that some drunken fellow, who was found in the streets brou g ht up o Frida, and fined by Sir Joshua Walrnsl r• a n d costs. n This fellow gave his name as the Rev.ey John James Murphy, who, as our readers know, is a briest of exemplary c h arac t er . M r . M urp h y a tt en d e d efore Mr. Rushton on Monday, in order to ascertain by !shor n this bad joke had been perpetrated, when Mr. Parkinson said that the prisoner's real name was Finne gan, but this had not been discovered until after his con viction.a M r . R us h ton sa id that the imputation could not tfect the r everen d gent l eman with any one, who knew him, and that the reporters would undoubtedly inform the public of the unjustifiable nature of the imputation. lorOPATIIY QUES TIONED.—On AT MONK'S PERRY Friday, an inquest was eilndfaanttthe Monk's n co o r f on tlr Ferry Hotel, on Thomas llillier , respected landlord of that establishment. The said he had received information from the authorities a t r Birkenhead that the child had been improperly treated, and therefore he thought it his duty to come over and investigate the matter. He asked who had attended the child, In reply it was stated, that the child had been ailing from his birth ; that he was taken worse on Wed nesday, and next day Dr. Norton, the homoeopathist, was called in, and administered medicines to him. Sub sequently Dr. Macrorie was called in. The medical evi dence did not notice any treatment pursued by Dr. Nor ton particularly censurable, except the fact of the child having been taken to New Brighton. The cause of death was stated to be acute bronchitis. The jury returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God." We understand that a concert will be-given at the Concert-hall shortly, at which Mr. Willoughby Weiss, of th e Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, and his wife, formerly kiss Barratt, will be amongst the principal vocalists. MR. D. C. BROWNE'S VOCAL ENTERTAINMENT.—We Understand that Mr. D. C. Browne, professor of music, is about giving another vocal entertainment, at the Concert Hall, Lord Nelson-street, entitled, " The Life and Ad ventures of bold Robin Hood," in which he will introduce a set of new songs and new music, written expressly for the use of foresters. This is something new, and no doubt will take well. H. Burnett, Esq., of Brighton, Sussex, is the writer of the anecdotes, &c., all of which are des cr ipti ve o f th e p ran k s , & c . o f th e " Merry Men of • Sherwood Forest." • THE RESTORATIVE BALSAM.—This excellent prepara• tion for the hair, the receipt for which is now in the Possession of Mr. Coupland, chemist, is advertised in our paper to-dayhaving seen pers applications had failed, its powerfully restorative effects, we have no hesi tation in recommend i ng i t to those suffering from a loss of hair. If there is any preparation extant that will strengthen the hair, or restore it, that is E vans ' s B a l sam . BROWN' S .6 E seal S— An°val p called conduplicatE" P ed m etal envelopes,sece of envelopes, called s for e w n h v i e c l h o t e h s e , inventor has taken out a patent, has just been introduced into Liverpool. They a re very' ingenious , an d for those who wish to keep what they write about a sec ret between themselves and their correspondents, the most perfect contrivance we have seen. It would ' puzzle the prying propensity even of a late Minister of State, to peep into a letter enclosed in one of these impervious coverings, and against common seal and wafer-breakers they are a complete defence. The under fastening of what is called the seal is made of very thin and light but yet Army strong Metal, to which the corners of the envelope are riveted as it were, no paste or gum being employed ; from this a small nipple, not very unlike the nipple of a percussion gun lock, but flatter, projeets. On the external seal is What may be called the cap of the nipple, into which the nipple fits when the envelope is closed; a slight blow is then to be given on the seal, by which the nipple-cap is beat quite flat, and the upper and under part of the seal becom e so incorporated, or in a manner welded together, that to pull them asunder without completely tearing the envelope is impossible. Thus everybody can know whether or not his letter has been opened, inviolab.lity is secured, and the meanness of curiosity defeated. The invention is of great service, also, from the quickness with which the operation is performed, and the necessity for sealing wax or waters superseded. Messrs. Walmsley and Jones, of Smith Castle -street, are appointed the sole agents.. . ,4k A, the• i three ication )ard of n pos e been t never tion is In one ive his 1. enter• timer off the sh, for board, 5 work orking POPll hater pie of inspi tion if nt, or v ited ►tion. :ilia or for - Wed have to 15) out of 3lane, t Pink. .e write Lune- Pavilion , if not ►tor, 28 !Iced at , at 40 to ANOTHER EXPERIMENT WITH MR. M`DONALD'S FIRE PLUG.—Yesterday morning another most satisfac tory experiment was made by Mr. M`Donald, to shew the efficacy of his new plan for extinguishing fires without the aid of hand-worked engines. The place selected for this trial, (which is, we understand, the last he intends mak ing,) was the front and gable ends of the Adelphi Hotel. Mr. M 'Donald having got the apparatus of his plug at tached to the mains —which, by the bye, did not occupy him long—turned on the water into four different hose, when from each a powerful column of water was pro jected fully 30 feet above the coping stone of the building. Our attention has been directed to an account of some similar experiments given in the Manchester Guardian of Saturday last, where it is stated that a gentleman named Rose, late superintendent of the fire brigade of that town, claims to be the inventor of this exceedingly simple, highly useful, and moderately cheap apparatus. This, we are as sured, is not the fact, as it is to Mr. M`Donald's skill and ingenuity that the public are indebted for an improvement the necessity for which was so long and so severely felt by the public. Mr. Rose states that he had invented this plan long ago, and that it is so simple that any person might have done so. Granting him that both these state ments are correct, the entire story reminds us of Colum bus and the egg : any person could invent a machine when taught how to do so. FIRE IN BRUNSWICK GRAVING DOCK.—On Wed nesday, a smithy in the Brunswick Graving Dock was discovered on fire, caused by some bundles of oakum having ignited. It was speedily extinguished without the aid of the engines. ST. PATRICK'S DAY.—In opposition to the earnest entreaties of the Catholic Bishop of this district, and the clergymen of the town, St. Patrick's Day was celebrated on Wednesday last by a public procession. The proces sion, however, was but a miserable affair, consisting of only about one hundred and seventy persons, exclusive of four bands of music, numbering sixty-two performers in all. Most of the men were gaily dressed, with sashes, &c. Supposing that each of the musicians received 10s. for his day's performance, and th a t th e cos t o f the sashes, ribbons, loss of time, and other incidental expenses, amounted to one pound a man, here we have a wilful waste of £2OO. This calculation is "a very low one, and we believe it could be proved that nearly - X3OO have been wasted in this foolish and useless display. After the pro cession was formed, it moved up to the top of Falkner street, where the bands of music, banners, and other pa raphernalia were left while the members of the societies attended St. Anne's Church, Edge-hill, to hear high mass. The Rev. Dr. Moriarty officiated at the altar and preached. On Sunday evening last, some of the benefit societies at tended a meeting, and passed a resolution that they should not walk either to or from the church in procession. This being conveyed to the bishop, the use of the church was granted; but, whilst the strict letter of the resolu tion was not broken, the spirit of it was, and the persons who were instrumental in thus breaking faith with their bishop, in acting contrary to the express desire of their pastors, and in opposition to the wishes of the magistrates and the people of Liverpool, ought to be scouted by all the lovers of order and the friends of humanity.—Li verpool Journal. EXTRAORDINARY INQUESTS.—On Saturday last an in quest was held on the body of Michael Judge, a child belonging to one of those poor, almost destitute. Irish families who are thronging here from that unfortunate country. The circumstances attending the death of the child attached a peculiar interest, which otherwise it would .not possess. The child, it was alleged, died from thirst on board the Rover, steamer, during the last passage of that boat from Sligo to this port. The evidence of the child's mother, Mary Judge, was as follows :—I am the wife of John Judge, and I am lodging at present in a house in Upper Frederick-street. The deceased, whose name was Michael Judge, was our son. He was two years old. On Tuesday morning I and my husband, and three chil dren, (the deceased one of theni,) left Sligo as passengers on board the steam-packet Rover for Liverpool. During Tuesday night deceased became very cross, and cried for a drink of water. I then asked some of the hands for a little water ; but they positively refused to give me any without I paid for it. They were selling the water to the rassengers at the time. I had no money to purchase it with, and the deceased, therefore, only got a little that was given to him by one of the other passengers. He kept calling out all the time for a drink, even up to his death, which took place on Wednesday morning. We arrived here on Thursday, and went to where we are now lodging, taking our deceased child with us. Mr. George Wood, surgeon, deposed that the child died of a disease in its bowels, which disease, he stated, was the result of natural causes. Verdict accordingly.—An inquest was also held on the body of John M‘Gibney, an aged man, who resided for some time past in a cellar in Rose-place, and who died on Thursday morning last. The deceased was very weak for some time preiious, caused by want of food, and yet, strange to say, lie never applied to the Parish-office. His daughter deposed, that for some time past he was too weak in body to go out to earn any money to purchase food, and that they lived by parting with their little effects, and on the kindness of their neighbours. He gave her all the food he could afford, and went short himself. Death from natural causes. ARRIVAL OF TIIE SARAH SANDS.—The Sarah Sands arrived in the Mersey on Wednesday last. We subjoin a copy of her log :—The Sarah Sands, screw steamer, Thompson, left New York on the 24th of February, at three p.m., light wind from S.W. On the 25th, at four p.m., one of the air-pumps levers broke short off, discon nected, and run under canvas for the next four days, but the winds being light ahead, made little progress. On the 2d of March got up steam, which carried the vessel to long. 48, when she encountered a succession of heavy gales from S.S.E. to E.S.E. On the 7th, during a gale from the south-east, lost bowsprit and foretopmast, and being afterwards set to the north-east by the currents, bore away for the North Channel ; previous to entering which, finding the port air-pump lever cracking in the same place where the other broke, disconnected for twenty four hours, and put two preventer plates on it. On Sunday, off Inistrahill, was in company with a fleet of inward bound vessels, and since then beat down channel against a strong gale of wind from the south. Spoke the Achilles, from New Orleans to Liverpool, in lat. 45 39, long. 57 22. The following is a list of the passengers : William Glasgow, St. Louis, Missouri ; Francis Leland. Samuel Ibbotson, Thomas W. Cook, New York ; Francis Guazzesi, London ; Lazarus Arnold, Philadelphia ; Jose A. Bentiz, Valparaiso ; J. E. Wittereen, Antwerp • Adrian Caire, Paris ; Antonio G. Buiz, Santander ; P. L. B. Leniz, New York ; Thomas and Mrs. Ferguson, Belfast ; Elizabeth Bishops, Coventry •, Edward Hope, Providence, N.S. ; and Richard Long, Manchester. The following are the captain's observations on the vessel :—The Sarah Sands, which left this port on the 20th January, and New York on the 24th ult., arrived this (Wednesday) morning at ten o'clock. bringing a good freight. This being the first voyage of this vessel, great interest has been excited to see the result. The outward voyage was very severe, and the wind adverse. The machinery was new, and the principle untried. She also had occasion to stop the engines for about thirty hours to adjust thelp. But with these disadvantages she accomplished the voyage in twenty days and ten hours. On her homeward passage also the weather proved most boisterous, and prevailed from the eastward. When only one day out the air-pump lever broke, which detained her four days, and the same cause also detained her again, when near home, being nearly six days without steam altogether ; but with these disad vantages, she performed the voyage within twenty-one days. Her consumption of fuel is very small, and the machinery, with the above exceptions, worked admirably. Her experienced commander, Captain Viompson, speaks in the most glowing language of the success of the experi ment ; he says that at the highest speed the machinery always worked steadily. The ship is perfectly easy, and could carry any amount of canvas and stays in the worst weather. The success of this vessel, which combines large:c. k a n• ai y ,7 i r n ee g ast p a powers aw revolutioni d tl s i t wn h i e ml ad l ditisailon oaul o .nr f msftooersatmNi New iwps importantt immediately. _________,___........,..... LIVERPOOL POLICE INTELLIGENCE. On Monday, Matthew Keegan was committed for trial on a charge of having stolen a watch, a gold pin, and a pair of trousers, the property of Mr. Thomas Rest, the landlord of the Robert Burns public-house, in Hanover street. _ - On Friday, Mary White, a woman who keeps a stall in St. James's Market, was fined 10s. and costs for having exposed 171bs. of meat, unfit for human food, for sale. Theinforalation.waa -laid• by. Thomp.son t ono of the mar-- ket inspectors. There were no licensed victuallers summoned before the magistrates on Friday.- The three following beer sellers were fined :—Thotrias Murphy, of Chisenhale street, was fined £2 4s. ; John Jones, of Summer street, was fined 14s. 6d. ; and Elizabeth Bradshaw, of Eaton-street, was fined 14s. 6d. ROBBERY IN A PUBLIC-HOUSE.-On Tuesday, a young man named John Bell was, with three others, charged with stealing £1 18s. 6d. from Mr. John Egan, of Thomas-street, in Ilarwood's public-house, Scotland road. He was sent to trial, and the other prisoners were discharged. ___ STEALING WARING APPAREL.—On Tuesday, a Mar ried female, named Catherine Elizabeth Roberts, with a child in.her hand, was brought up, charged with illegally pledging a great variety of wearing apparel. Two or three cases were substantiaed , and she was sent to prison for three months. The pawnbrokers who had taken in the goods were ordered to restore them, without remunera tion, to their owners. ROBBERY.—On Wednesday', a young man named John Fitzpatrick. was brought up charged with stealing ss. Gd. from a labourer named Peter Mackey. The parties were together on Tuesday night, in the Mitre Tap, Dale-street, when the prisoner sparred up to the complainant and snatched ss. Gd. out of his pocket. A person who wit nessed the theft went for a policeman, , and the complain ant held the prisoner till he came. He was committed for two months. MENDICANT IMPOSTORS. — On Wednesday, a beggar woman, named Margaret May, was brought before Mr. Rushton. She had applied for relief at one of the relief offices, when 14s. 1 lid. was found upon her. She was committed to prison far a month ; and the money found upon her was ordered to be appropriated to her mainte nance there.—On the same day, a boy was brought up for begging, with 3s. 4d. in his pocket. He was com mitted for seven days under a like condition as to the money found. STEALING JEWEL HOLE3.—On Wednesday, James Mills, watehmakei with Mr. Thomas Romer, of Tarlton street, wa s b roug h t before Mr. Rushton, charged with stealing from his employer an indefinite number of jewel holes. These articles, it appeared, had been for some time missed. Two months ago the prisoner had offered some to Mr. Barrow, a watch-finisher, who declined • and on Saturday he s o ld some to Mr. Howard for £2 4 s s. The prisoner was asked what he had to say to the charge ? He answered with the utmost nonchalance, "Why they decidedly belonged to Mr. Romer." He was committed for trial. LIVPAPOOL STANDARD. ROBBER? MY A LUNITIC.—On Wednesday, Ann Moss was brought up, charged with stealing a pig's cheek and some eggs from St. Martin's Market. One of the market lookers witnessed the theft. On arresting her he found a turkey, which had been stolen from a stand, in St. John's Market, occupied by Mrs. Bean, who had, however, re fused to appear to prosecute. The prisoner's husband handed in a certificate from Mr. Ellis, medical parochial officer, to the effect that she was insane; and Mr. Rush ton intimated that she should be taken care of. EXTENSIVE SMUGGLING OF CIGARS.—On Wednesday, two Spanish sailors were brought up on a charge of smug gling. They' were second mate and cook of the Oscar, from Matanzas, Isle of Cuba, which arrived in port on Tuesday. On being rummaged by the excise -officer, 55 boxes of cigars were found concealed in the cabin. The second mate, it was alleged, had acknowledged 41 of them to be his property, and the cook seven. They could not talk English, and when the officer was questioned as to the nature of the acknowledgment, he said, they laid their hands upon their breasts, and uttered something like " mine." This Mr. Rushton deemed insufficient, and ordered their discharge. UNWHOLESOME FISH AND MEAT.—On Thursday John Wheaton, fishmonger, appeared before Sir Joshua Walmsley, having been summoned on information from Andrew Tyrrell, inspector of fish, for having exposed for sale, in St. John's Market. 101bs. of haddocks unfit for human food : fined 14s. 6d. On Saturday Thomas Jones appeared before the same magistrate, having been sum.. moned by George Read, inspector of meat, for having ex posed for sale, in St. John's Market, 101bs. of mutton unfit for numan food : fined ss. and costs. On the same day Owen Jones, on information from the same officer, was fined 10s. and costs, for having exposed for sale, in St. John's Market, 2571b5. of pork unfit for human food. ILLICIT DISTILLATION.—On Saturday an old offender., of the name of Mary Delany, who had come out of the Borough Gaol that day week on a similar charge, was brought up for having been found working an illicit still, at the top of Scotland-road. Mr. John Walker, supervi sor of Excise, stated, that, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock on the morning of that day, (Saturday,) he went into a cellar in one of the streets off the top of Scot land-road and found the prisoner attending a still at full work, running off low wines. All the apparatus were there, and all the materials for distillation, and there was no one else in the place beside herself. Sir J. Walmsley said he had no discretion in the matter, and that she must either pay a fine of £35 or be imprisoned three months. POCKET-PICKING OF A SERMON.—On Tuesday, John Macdonald, Joseph Brown, and James Brown, were brought before Mr. Rushton, charged with picking the pocket of the Rev. Wm. Jones, of Crickhowel, in Breck nockshire, who was sojourning a few days in Liverpool. Mr. Jones, it appears, was on the previous evening, among a crowd who had been attracted to a fire in Whitechapel. Constables Toole and Grisenthwaite, of the detective force, observed the prisoners jostling him, and watched their proceedings. They heard Macdonald say to Joseph Brown, Have you got it ?" He said, " No, his bi g over was buttoned up." Soon afterwards they went away. Gri sentwaite arrested Brown, and Toole arrested Macdonald. James Browne made his escape, but was afterwards taken at a public house in Gloucester-street. On Macdonald was found a memorandum book, (containing the heads of a sermon in Welsh,) which Mr. Jones had lost. They were sent for trial at the present sessions. CONCEALING BIRTH.—On Tuesday evening, a middle aged woman named Margery Green, who resides in Cir cus-street, was brought before Mr. Rushton, on a charge of concealing the birth of a child. On Saturday morning, the body of a mew-born infant was found wrapped up in an old dress, in an entry near Ben Jonson-street. The prisoner, who was a charwoman, had been several times taxed with being in the family way, which she always de nied. The evidence which was called went to prove that on Tuesday week, when she had been shut up in this cellar, she must have delivered herself of an infant ; but a woman who slept with her on Monday night, anAknew her to be ill, either was, or affected to be, entirely ignorant of the cause. From the surgeon's evidence, it appeared that the child had been born alive, but it probably expired imme diately afterwards. On Friday night she crime out of her bed-room with a bundle ; when two of her neighbours, suspecting her motives, watched her proceedings, and saw her make a circuit of the neighbourhood where the child was found. She came home in an hour, but the bundle had been disposed of. The old dress in which the infant was wrapped was traced to be the property of the prisoner, who was committed for trial on the charge of concealment. EMBEZZLEMENT AT THE NEW GAS AND COKE OFFICE. —On Friday, Edwin Cox, who has been acting as clerk in the service of the New Gas and Coke Company for the last twelve years, was brought before Sir J. Walmsley, at the Police-court, on a charge of having embezzled various sums of money. Mr. Dowling conducted the case on the part of the prosecution ; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Davenport. It appeared from the evidence that it was part of his duty every week to pay certain labourers and others connected with the works of the company, and that a list, containing the names of the parties, the time they had worked, and the amount owing to them, was regularly handed him. Upon this last being shown to the cashier, a certain sum, not the exact sum, but one approximating to it, was handed him for the purpose of paying the wages. It recently transpired that he had in various cases altered the items in the list, representing men to be in the eni ploynient a longer time than was absolutely the case. He • had, in other ways, succeeded in defrauding the company systematically, and, it was supposed, for some considerable length of time. A number of witnesses were examined to prove the case, which was principally confined to the in sertions of payments made in the last month. In one case it appeared, that where a man was marked " sick," the prisoner blotched the word over with ink, and that, in another, he had erased it with a knife. He was com mitted for trial. . A REWARD FOR THIEVERY. — On Saturday an Irish lumper, of the name of Thomas Maguire, was brought up udder the fo4lowing singular circumstances :—lt appeared that he had been employed with a number of others to discharge a .quantity of rum from a vessel called the Ro ver. After they had been engaged in the hold for some days, it was discovered by Mr. Shaw, the shipping-clerk, that two of the puncheons had been broached, and that somebody had been drinking pretty freely of the contents. When the porters came to be paid their wages, Mr. Shaw offered a reward of ten shillings to any one who would tell him, in confidence, who the thief was. The prisoner as soon as the backs of all his comrades were turned, ap proached Mr. Shaw, and, in a subdued tone of voice, whispered with great gravity of countenance, " If you give me the 10s. you shall know the thief." Mr. Shaw immediately began to count out 10s. ; but, before giving it, and in order to make " assurance doubly sure," he asked, in another whisper, " You're certain, of course, that you know the right man ? " "Oh ! begor, I am as- certain of it," was the reply, "as I am of my own existence; I know him better than I know my brother!" Mr. Shaw was satisfied ; and in less than a minute the half-crowns were jingling in Maguire's pocket. Mr. Shaw then listened for the grand revelation, and Maguire speedily satisfied and astounded him, by exclaiming, "You see the thief afore you. I am the man. Me own four bones broached the casks and drank the rum ; and faix, betune you and me and the wall, blow the betther gallon of it I had for the last twelve months ! It's not my saying alone ; all the neighbours in the sthreet will tell you the same thing, for they all had a nip." Mr. Shaw called a policeman and the fellow was given in charge; and on being brought to bridwell, the turnkey booked him as being drunk. Sir Joshn a Walmsley said he had never heard of a more barefaced act in his life, and ordered him to pay a fine of five shillings and costs. The fellow was about to pay the nine shillings and sixpence out of the ten shillings lie had received from Mr. Shaw, when the latter claimed the money as his property, Sir Joshua said that he had no power to order it to be refunded ; and Maguire having paid the fine out of the reward, he was discharged. CORRESPONDENCE. ST. MARY'S CEMETERY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—Will you allow me, through the medium of your widely-circulated paper, to draw attention to a dan gerous nuisance that has been too long tolerated. The nuisance I have to complain of is, St. Mary's Cemetery, (or what is mostly termed the " Parish Burial-ground,") for it is a nuisance of an alarming character, and forms an important ingredient in the unhealthy state of our Town. Those persons residing in the immediate vicinity are subjected to a horrible stench at times, one beyond description, which arises from opening fresh graves amongst the old interments ; and yet within a few yards of this Cemetery, reside some of our most eminent men, indeed, the very elite of onr Liverpool aristocracy, whose apathy will, I am afraid, permit this evil to continue until death has shown the necessity of self-preservation. Why does the Select Vestry defer closing the Cemetery and . purchasing ground for a new one ? Does it arise from a principle of cheese-paring economy, or a shrinking from the expense ? Whatever be the cause the evil day is fast arriving, which will prove, with fearful effect, that delays are dangerous," and narrow-minded men are not the the wisest. If a person complains of an evil he should point out a remedy ; and I think it requires no great genius to do so. Let an extensive lot of Land be purchased, and divided, one portion for free interments, and the other for those who can afford to pay. Let it be laid out on a correct principle, and the ground purchased will eventually pay for that required for pauper interments. Probably a well conducted Cemetery, upon an extensive scale, might be made a source of profit to the Rate-payers. Moreover, the inhabitants would be anticipating a pro vision which the Legislature will shortly compel to be made, and if they do not, depend upon it, some Joint Stock Company will be formed to take advantage of the opportunity. In conclusion, I will add, for the purpose of preventing any surmising as to the motive that actuates me on this occasion, that the evil I complain of is rather a source of profit than otherwise to me, for many of the parties at tending funerals at St. Mary's Cemetery, fine a trifle to spend with me, so that closing it would be a pecuniary loss to myself, but it will confer a benefit on the public ; and I am one of those who think individual loss should not dictate opposition to public improvement. If, Sir, you will oblige one of your subscribers with the insertion of this letter, you will at least give him the op portunity of trying to arouse the slumbering apathy of his neighbours, and perhaps their energetic action may prove self - preservation is yet a prominent feature in the human character. • I am, Sir, yours respectfully, A PUBLICAN IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. Mulberry Street, March, 22; 1847. PROPOSED HARBOUR OF REFUGE AT HOLYHEAD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR, — Having had an opportunity of examining the plan of a proposed harbour of refuge at Holyhead, pre-. sented with your pater, I beg leave to trouble you with a few observations, relative to the selection of such an ex posed site for purposes fraught with so much importance to the public. In the first place, by reference to the chart of St. George's Channel, I find the site of the harbour would be quite exposed from W.N.W. to N. by E., with a roll of sea from 50 to 90 miles, and a gale of wind from N.E. would range direct into the harbour. Then the nature of the bottom, which is nearly all rock, would render it hazardous in the extreme for a vessel to run for shelter in a gale of wind. I know by experience, if anchorage with rocky bottom such as this proposed harbour has is ever so well sheltered, before sail could be taken off a vessel she would be on shore, either on the rocks bounding the harbour, or else on the breakwater, because no an chor could possibly have time to take hold of such bottom with the pressure of a gale of wind acting on her mast and rigging, not to say a word about the canvass she had set to bring her in. For my own part, I would prefer taking my chance in beating about in the channel, than run for such dangerous anchorage. I can compare it to nothing but a person attempting to run from comparative safety into the very chaos of destruction. I think it certainly behoves the underwriters one and all to protest against the Government constructing a har bour of refuge in such an exposed situation, as ultimately (if the plan is carried out) they will be amongst the prin cipal sufferers. A COMMANDER OF A STEAM-SHIP. Liverpool, March 12th, 1847. SCRAPS FROM THE MERCURY. THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—I have just received the Index to the Liverpool Mercury for the year 1846, and it has afforded me much amusement. The egotism -is perfect and inimitable. I could have culled many samples to show that little minds like little things, but must content myself with a few. In one line I find " Museum of the Mercury," and under this title I will give the following items, taken from various parts of the Index, as worthy of being placed in its-- • ." Retrospective View of Adam and Eve," "Nest of ants in a gooseberry," " How to destroy bugs," " Long carrots,' " Cat baked in an oven," and "The number of stitches in a shirt." Yours, &c., GEORGIUS. PROSPECTS OF EMIGRATION TO CANADA. From a return of papers relative to emigration, presen ted to both Houses of Parliament, we find that the work ing of the present system of emigration to that country has tended greatly to the advantage of the emigrant. The districts reports of Canada West. Mr. Buchanan. chief agent of the emigration commissioners for the superin tendence of Canada, says, that " They concur in representing that there is little, if any, distress among the emigrants of last year, unless the con sequence of their own fatuity, Employment } s_ generally to be•pronted at remunerative wages, and provisions and necessaries are plentiful. _ _ " Without desiring to raise unreasonable expectationi, I may conclude by repeating Mr. Hawkes' remarks, that the province is steadily advancing in wealth and popula tion, and is capable of sustaining, in comfort, a large annual accession of labourers, provided they be trans ported to the places where their services will be required. " Employment has been very plenty so far, and labour ers are . receiving 3s. to 3s. Gd. pit day ; masons, stone cutters, &c., Gs. to 7s. Gd. per day." Mr. Hawkes, the chief agent for Kingston, Upper Canada, says : • " Duiing my visit to the western agencies, late in Sep tember last, I was agreeably surprised to gnd very few emigrants unemployed, nor do I apprehend any difficulty in finding work for a much greater number next year, if the means to scatter them is placed at the disposal of the agent ; for the province is steadily advancing in wealth and population, and is capable of sustaining in comfort almost any 'lumber of labourers, provided they can be transported to the places where their services are required!" Extracts from Earl Grey's despatch to the Earl of Elgi n , dated Downing-street, 29th January, 1847, in alluding to Mr. Hawkes' report, part of which is quoted above:— " This opinion (Lord Grey states) is confirmed by Mr. Buchanan, the chief agent at Quebec; and it is a most material fact in corroboration of it, that it is well known that very many of those who have emigrated in the last, or some preceding years, have been enabled to do so by remittances received from friends or relations who have gone out before them, and who, on their arrival in Ame rica, were as completely destitute of means as those whom they are now enabled to assist with the savings they have made from their earnings : thus showing how great must be the demand, and how ample the remuneration, for labour in America. Upon the whole, the information before me leaves upon my mind a decieed conviction that all that is necessary to do, in order to provide for the un usually large emigration which may be expected in the present year, is to persevere in the system which has now been acted upon with so much advantage, and to assist the emigrants, by affording• them information as to the places where they may hope to find work; furnishing them also, when necessary, with the means of conveyance. In this manner, at a comparatively small expense, the whole of the emigrants who have hitherto reached the province have been satisfactorily provided for; and by extending the means employed, in proportion to the ex pected increase• in the number of emigrants, I see no reason whatever to doubt that a similar result may be hoped for bathe ensuing session,." JERRY BUILDING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR, — Having in your last paper observed a letter touching the nefarious system pursued by certain indivi duals in this locality, whose sole object seems to be to cover the largest possible space of land with fragile mate rials, constructed at the least possible expense, and at the same time endeavouring to obtain as much money as possible on mortgage, or like the articles ve n d e d b y Pindar's razor-seller, vilt for sale, which mortgagees or theist solicitors have experienced to their cost,—l per fectly coincide with your correspondent, that the only plan to check this growing evil is to make small property con tribute to the local rates, for " to this complexion we must come at last, in order to obviate the vast influx of a pau per population, to the great detriment of the parish funds, and for the protection of substantial ratepayers, whose property will otherwise eventually be wholly ab sorbed, if a reasonable restraint be not placed on the cu pidity of land speculators and builders. The idea of a company of joint proprietors to carry out the intention of the Corporation relative to providing more comfortable and convenient domiciles for the working classes is worthy of support ,and encouragement, both in a pecuniary point of view as a safe and profitable employ ment of capital, and likewise for bettering the moral and physical condition of the labouring poor.—l am, sir, &c. EPHRAIM. Liverpool, 18th March, 1847. PORTERS WAGES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—The Editor of the Mercury has inserted a letter in his paper to-day, in which he says the Dock Committee should follow the example of Messrs. Sandars and Claxton and Mr. Mathew Gregson, and raise the rate of wages for their labourers from 18s. to 21s. a week. Now, I con sider myself as able as the majority of the porters at the Albert Dock warehouses to do my work as a porter, and right content should I be if I could get constant work there at 18s. a week. Some people think it accords with their interest to make the labouring part of the commu nity dissatisfied ; but I am convinced that many of the well-disposed of the porters of Liverpool would be quite content with 18s. a week.—Yours, &c. Friday, March 19, 1847. A PORTER. THE MERCURY AND ITS ADVERTISERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stn,—As a tradesman of Liverpool, compelled to keep my name and business pretensions before the world, have long been annoyed, and heavily taxed too, by the number of papers necessary to be advertised in for the purpose of informing all classes of the public with respect to the business lam carrying on. This difficulty, I find, is about to be increased by the grasping spirit of one of the dearest of your contemporaries—the dearest to the pockets, not to the affections, of most of those who have to do with him. I refer to the announced intention of the Mercuny to publish his paper twice a week,—viz:, on Tuesday and Friday. Now, this is the predicament in which I am placed by the Mercury's rather late acknow ledgment of the principle upon which you and others have acted, that newspapers; like other articles of sale, ought to be cheapened. I have advertised for years in the Mercury, under the idea that it was the most extensively circulated paper in Liverpool. Of late I have felt that other papers were fast creeping upon the heels of that fn question, and that some (amongst them your own valued publication) were superior in influence, and nearly equal in circulation. Still I kept to the Mercury, convinced that its columns were the proper medium of appeal to my low customers. For the future, however, I feel undeter mined how to act. I have sufficient knowledge of the world to know that the kind of subscribers which the Mercury has hitherto had are not likely to take both Tuesday's and Friday's papers. Barbers' shops and jerry shops, little country public-houses, and some private families, cannot afford to take in two papers, and will no t take one containing only half a week's news. If, there fore, I choose the Friday's Mercury as most likely o f t h e two to have a decent circulation, I cannot assure myself that I am getting the same value for my money as for merly ; indeed, I am sure of this fact. On the other hand, if I give my support to respectable papers, I think I shall derive increased value from my advertisements, and I can supply the want of the Mercury by a slightly increased liberality in circulars, &c. My object, sir, in writing to you, is to ask of advertisers like myself to pause before committing themselves to the support of what is obviously an attempt to extend a monopoly. If the truth could be known , the Mercury's circulation is at present a very inferior one to some of the papers in the town. I dare say your own bona fide sale exceeds it. The fact, sir, is, that in these times trades men cannot afford to advertise in half the papers they are solicited by ; and my own resolution is, that a half Mercury's circulation I shall nop pay for at double price. —I, am, sir, your obedient servant, AN ADVERTISER. Bold-street. 20th. March. LAUNCH OF THE GAUDALQUIVIR. There was launched, on Saturday last, from the yard of Messrs. Thomas Vernon and Co., South Shore, a beau tiful iron steam-ship, (the Gaudalquivir,) of peculiar construction, to suit her for her destination, and of such elegance of model and finish in workmanship, that, though the site is at a considerable distance from the town, the rumours, originating with the few who had casually seen her, attracted a goodly number of spectators to the spot. The day was fine, and the spectacle afforded the greatest gratification to all who were present. The following are the dimensions, &c., of the vessel ; Length between perpendiculars Length over all 220 Beam, between paddle-boxes Depth of hold Burthen 25 12 600 Tons. She has remarkably large sponsons, fore and aft the paddle-boxes, making the deck, throughout a consider able length amidships, 43 feet wide. This is intended to afford accommodation for a large number of passengers, somewhat on the principle of our river steamers, not alto gether suitable for ocean navigation, but for " a summer sea." The vessel was built for some spirited Spanish gentleman to run from island to island in the West Indies, chiefly with passengers, and is the first of a series con structed in England, by the proprietors, to prosecute steam navigation in the Carribeean Sea. When we say the first built in England, we must state we have learned that the company, at the commencement, had a vessel built in the United States, and ran her for some time ; but from defects and weakness in her hull and engines, an accident (a blow-up) occurred ; and they came to the wise resolve to resort for the next to " the old country," in which skill and experience have, in iron shipbuilding and the construction of engines, attained a decided pre-emi nence. The ship will be propelled by engines of 220 horses power, with common flue boilers. The paddle-wheel is 27 feet in diameter. The engines, on the side-lever prin ciple, are in course of completion by our celebrated towns men, Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and Co., and great speed is expected. From the peculiar form of the vessel—required for the service—innch ingenuity was taxed to turn her into what may be termed "ship-shape" appearance ; but the builders, who are also the modellers or designers, have overcome all difficulties and disadvantages, and produced a specimen of naval architectufe which hides the otherwise unseemly tlanches or sponsons, and gives the vessel, viewed laterally, the appearance of a sharp and elegant ship, having no such protuberances. She is, in fact, (taking her hull inde pendently of her sponsons,) a crack ship as a steamer, of light draught of water. It is expected that she will not, with her engines, fuel, &c., on board. draw more than six feet. Her floorings are flat and long, giving bilges that will counteract rolling ; and her extremities are beautifully fine. A section of her, outwardly, including the sponson, forms an ogee, amidships, from the bulwark to the keel. Without the sponsons she is a regular ship, with entire sides, the former being an outwork, so ingeniously attached to the hull on each side, that if one or both of them were to be carried away in a storm, she would still be a safe and perfect vessel. The manner in which the sponsons, which form air-tight casements, are amalgamated or harmonised with the hull, particu larly at the bow and stern, is a masterpiece in iron build ing which could not be approached In wood. But we must reserve details on this point for a future occasion, when the next vessel of the series is launched. She has Vernon's patent iron deck beams, and side frames in the engine-room, of great strength, but light. She has also stringers, judiciously disposed, giving great strength with little weight. The boo, is truly handsome. Surmounting the stem is a lion rampant, finely executed, and the trail board—for we must so term it, though it is of iron—is enriched by foliated ornaments, in relief. Above thi s there is a belt or ribbon, inscribed with the name of the ship, and a heraldic shield. The stern, which is round, is in corresponding taste, with (we believe) the royal arms of Spain as a centre-piece. The workm ans hip through out is first-rate, the riveting being so fine th a t th e vesse l appears to he of one sheet of smooth metal. The Cabins will be of magnificient construction, simi lar to the American river boats. There will be three tiers above the main deck, the wood-work of which is now being made in New York, and the furniture for them, of the best kind, in London. It is remarkable in the annals of skill and industry, in the art of iron ship-building, that the keel-plate was laid only in October last, and that a vessel of so large a tonnage, was on the 19th instant, although there was snow for a month, finished for launch ing, and fully rigged as a schooner while on the stocks. The launch, (about noon,) was beautiful. The vessel " hung fire" a short time after the daggers were struck down, but then moved majestically and sublimely into the bosom of Old Mersey—the level of that element in which she is destined to float—amidst shouts of admira tion. She was named by Mrs. Parry. Her appearance when afloat in the river was fine and "rakish." She ap peared to draw little more than 4 feet. After the launch, a number of ladies and gentlemen partook of a cold collation, served up in the most liberal style by Mr. • Lawton, of the Clayton Arms, Clayton square. The chair was occupied by Mr. Vernon, senior, and at his right sat Mr. Alderman B. Moore, Mr. Alder man Sands, and several other influential gentlemen of the town ; also Don Tellino Testas di Moras, and Rowland Cox, Esq. After the loyal toasts, Mr. Sands proposed the health of Mrs. Parry, who had performed the ceremony of naming the vessel. Mr. Parry replied, and proposed, " Success to the Guadalquiver, and may she be as profit able to the owners as she is creditable to the builders." Mr. HENRY DOWNING, of Havannah, acknowledged the compliment paid to the owners, and observed that the noble vessel just launched would be the first of a line to be built for the service in the West Indies. The CHAIRMAN, in complimentary terms, proposed, " The Dock Committee," which (as well as the toasts,) was drunk with the usual honours. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said he felt gratiffed in express ing his obligations on behalf of the Committee, for the manner in which the toast had been received, and more especially as it came from a gentleman who, of all others, was under the least obligation to that body, as they had driven him vie et armis from the north to the south end of the town. It was, however, requisite for the advantage of the docks and the tr a d e o f th e port that the Dock Committee should do what appeared at the time to be a very harsh proceeding towards Mr. Vernon ; but he was delighted to find that such proceeding had not left one bad trace on the mind of that gentleman. They would all agree with him, that it was a matter of necessity which obliged them to drive Mr. V. from his present position. The influence of the Dock Committee was not confined to Liverpool; for they endeavoured to bring trade from all parts of the world ; and the whole of their energies were directed to one object—the prosperity and increase of the town and trade of Liverpool. He concluded by proposing " The builders of the Gaudalquivir," to whom the kingdom at large was indebted for the spirit and talent they had displayed in iron shipbuilding. Every steamer that went from this country to those places where slavery still existed would do more, by bringing such parts in communication with the civilised nations of Europe, to wipe away the foul stain of slavery, than anything that could be done. (Applause.) He proposed the health of Messrs. Vernon and Co., which was drunk with enthusiasm. The CHAIRMAN observed that he rose on the occasion under peculiar emotions—commingled emotions—emo tions mingled with pleasure and pain. He was exceed ingly obliged and gratified at the handsome manner in which his 'health had been proposed by his friend Mr. Moore, and regretted his inability to explain himself as he would wish to do. With regard to iron ves sels he would make a few remarks. In the first place, they would all recollect that since the adoption of iron as a material for building vessels, much had been done on the subject, and many important objections were raised at the commencement. Those objections had, however, vanished into nothing. (Hear, hear.) One objection was that iron was a material subject to corrosion ; that its capabilities would be destroyed, Now, he asked, what corrosion had done ?—that objection was never named. Many who once spoke about it were silent. Another ob jection was that vessels built of iron would not be safe in taking the ground or coming on a rock. What did wooden vessels do when they went upon rocks ? why, they went to pieces. (Laughter.) They did not build vessels to go upon rocks, but to keep clear of rocks; and when such was the state of the weather that vessels were driven on rocks, they were likely to be broken up. He felt sure, however, that in •ea.ses where steamers had met with such accidents, they had been got off more frequently in safety than timber built vessels ; therefore such an objection amounted to nothing. ' He might adduce, as an instance, the Great Britain and many other vessels under similar circumstances, to substantiate his position. The first objections were imaginary ; they had all vanished away, and the adoption of iron for ship building was now being recognised. There were however immense difficulties which still remained unsurmounted before the material of iron could be brought more exten sively into operation. He considered the question as a natural one, in consequence of the bearing which it had as to our relation with other countries, and that whatever objection there was to the use of iron ships should be overcome. First, as to the prevention of fouling in some waters, and that objection did not apply to all waters, for when a vessel was employed conveying goods up the Bal tic it did not foul, but in the West Indies, the East Indies, and all tropical climates, the fouling of the vessel was a mighty objection. For his own part, he thought there were plans about to be brought into operation by which. in a short time, that difficulty wwuld be fully met and overcome. There was another point to which be would refer, and that was as to the maturity of the screw :—a great deal depended on it, especially with •reference to sailing vessels, but there were merits in the screw not yet brought out—which would come out by-and-by. (Hear, hear.) The screw was not sufficiently matured, and its construction and plan in connexion with the engine were not yet sufficiently understood. The other day, his son was on board the Sarah Sands, and had an interview with Captain Thompson, who appeared to be coming to a right view of the matter, and if he persevered he would be the first man to arrive at the point by which they were to obtain the greatest advantage from the screw. (Hear, hear.) There were some other objections to the use of iron vessels which required notice. Recently some expe riments had been made by one of the admiralty, for the purpose of testing the capabilities of iron vessels to resist the action of cannon ball. -He had seen the report on that experiment, and the retult was, that iron vessels had been condemned for the purposes of war. It was all nonsense as to the result they had arrived at, and he would tell them way. First of all, the vessel on which they tried the experiment was a small thing, in which no one would have ventured scarcely to cross the river, the plates of which she was constructed being n o t more th an one - e i g h t h o f an inch in thickness. Was such a vessel fit to try an ex periment by the British Government ? The experiment amounted to nothing, and the Admiralty ought to have been ashamed of themselves for putting it forward under such circumstances. (Hear, hear.) The trial could not be considered a fair one at all, and had not firnished any proof at all that iron tra,..7els could not be used for the purposes of war. Th e y bear in mind that ves se l s num f or w ar , but for rneramtile purposes were 734. his opinion was that an ir on vessel ttfigitt ma d e safer, and better calculated to resi s t th e i mpeeus of cannon balls than if constructed of w oo d, H e would ~avpa vessel similar to the one they had seen that day glide into 11. 14, water, on the sides of which should be introduced a net- . work of iron plates placed on edge, so near together as to prevent the possibility of any cannon ball ever passing through. (Hear, hear.) Such a vessel might be made so as to be invulnerable. Another plan was to construct ono iron vessel within another, leaving an intermediate space which should be filled up with same invulnerable material to stop the progress of cannon balls. [Mr. Wade, cotton for instance; (laughter.)] [Mr. B. Moore, not gun-cot ton ; (renewed laughter)] Mr. Vernon concluded by thanking the company for the honour they had done to the firm to which he belonged, and the patience with which they had listened to his remarks. Mr. Garston proposed the health of the ladies, which was responded to in suitable terms by Mr. M`Nichol. Several other toasts were then proposed, amongst which were, " Messrs. Fawcett, Preston and C 0.," who are to supply the engines for the Guadalquivir, and " The Press," th e l a tt er o f w hi ch was responded' to in appro priate and truly eloquent terms by Mr. Martin, of the Li verpool Mail. We need scarcely add that they were drunk, as were all those that preceded them, with the greatest enthusiasm. The proceedings terminated at two o'clock, all present being highly gratified at the event which had brought them together, and the liberality and kindness displayed by Messrs. Vernon and Co. on the interesting occasion. LOCAL MEETINGS. WALTON VESTRY. —An adjourned meeting of the Walton Vestry was held in the Parish Church, on Thurs day, the Vicar in the chair. The resolution of the last meeting having been read, it was resolved, " That the offer made by Mr. Rigg, Principal of the Training College, Chester, of a temporary master, be accepted, with a view of obtaining from the same institution a suitable person to fill the office permanently." HEALTH OF TOWNS ASSOCIATION.—On Tuesday last, a district meeting was held in the upper room of the South Church of England School, Cornwallis-street. Mr. H. G. Harbord, surgeon, delivered the lecture. The room was well filled by an attentive auditory ; the Rev. H. H. Higgins occupied the chair; and the meeting was afterwards addressed by Dr. Sutherland and the Rev. W. Bevan. A petition was adopted, and signed by the chair man on beheld of the meeting, praying the legislature to adopt measures for the improvement of the sanatory con dition of the working classes throughout the kingdom. MEETING OF RATE-PAYERS AT LISCARD.—On Thurs day evening, a meeting of the rate-p a y ers o f thi s townsh i p was held at the Queen's Arms, for the purpose of electing overseers, &c. A letter was read from Mr. T. Bell, w h o had served the office of deputy overseer for the last six teen years, tendering his resignation on account of ill health. It was accepted, and a vote of thanks and con dolence passed to him. Mr. W. Peers also tendered his resignation as overseer. The names of ten persons were then proposed to the meeting, and it was agreed that they should be submitted for the approval of the magistrates in the usual form. Thanks were voted to Mr. Reeves for the very efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of overseer for so long a period. WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meet ing of the board was held on Wednesday at the Union Workhouse. A letter was read from the Poor-law Com missioners, sanctioning the increase of Mr. Parnell's sa lary, the assistant overseer for Kirkdale, from £7O to £lOO per annum. A third letter was also submitted, in which it was stated that the commissioners had no objection to the appointment of T. W. Christie, as vaccinating sur geon for the rural district of the township of West Derby, but they requested that the draft of the contract between that gentleman and the guardians might be forwarded to them for inspection, as well as the other draft contracts with the vaccinators for Toxteth-park. Mr. Smith moved the re-appointment of Mr. Greatrex as one of the district medical officers of the municipal district of West Derby, and after some discussion it was agreed to defer the mat ter for a week. A letter having been received from the Poor-law Commissioners, (read at the previous meeting,) requiring the reasons for an increase in the salary of Mr. Chalmers, medical officer for the township of Everton, Mr. Shaw proposed a resolution embodying the grounds for such advance, which he wished to be included in a letter about to be forwarded by the clerk, giving informa tion on the subject. The grounds stated by Mr. Shaw were the increase of population in the Everton township, and also that Mr. Chalmers was not paid proportionately with the officers holding similar officers in Toxteth-park. MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE.—On Thursday, the usual weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held at Revenue-buildings. Mr. Bramley-Moore occupied the chair. The following members were present Messrs. Nicol, Molyneux, Middleton, Chilton, Wood, Mann, Aikin, Lockett, Rankin, Royden, Tabin, Kendall, and Sanders. A shed was ordered to be erected on the west quay of Salthouse Dock at the estimated cost of £2,000. John Richards, the gatemen at the Albert Dock, was ordered to be dismissed, he having been absent a week, and reported drunk, and taken to bridewell. A letter was read from the surveyor about producing gas at the graving dock, and giving it :as his opinion that the production of the gas would be more expensive, and less effective than torches. The agent for the Dundee traders complained of a want of protection to the goods landed on the quay when the wind is from E. and S.E. The complaint was referred to the committee of works. A • letter was read from Mr. Worthington, the dock solicitor, in which he acknowledged the honour of having been ap pointed a permanent officer of the dock trust, and pro mised that he would devote his time exclusively to the dock business. He promised to do so zealously and with unremitting assiduity, as long as his state of health would permit. A letter of complaint from Messrs. Hugh Moll roy and Co. was referred to the harbour masters' com mittee. A letter from Mr. John Grantham was referred to the committee of works. It had reference to the run ning of steamers along the line of docks and across to Cheshire, and suggesting that a flight of steps for this accommodation be made at the north end of the docks. The financial businesS was then transacted, and the com mittee adjourned. DISTRICT NEWS. Mrs. Butler will perform at the Chester theatre on Saturday night next. The subscription for the erection of an Athenaeum at Bolton now amounts to nearly £5OOO. ENGLISH AND IRISH BENEVOLENCE.-A Preston cot ton-spinner, with not a fraction of pecuniary interest in Ireland, has subscribed £lOO to the Irish Relief Fund. An amateur performance, in aid of the charitable fund, took place at the Ormskirk Theatre, on Monday evening, when the tragedy of " Othello" was performed in a cre ditable manner. NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL AT THURNHAM, NEAR LANCASTER.-011 Thursday last the foundation stone of a chapel was laid by the Rev. Dr. Brown, vicar apostolic of Lancashire. £lOOO was raised in twenty years among the congregation, and £2OOO was given by Miss Dalton, of Thurnhain Hall, towards its erection. EXPORTATION OF GRAIN AND POTATOES TO IRELAND, FROM PRESTON.—In ordinary years, very considerable quantities of wheat and all descriptions of grain are im ported into Preston from Ireland ; indeed this trade em ploys the greater part of the shipping business in connec tion with the Ribble up to Preston. Since the prevailing scarcity in Ireland, however, several of the vessels have had to leave that country without cargoes, and for some time back a considerable export trade of these articles from iPreston has been carried on. During the present week, considerable quantities of grain of all sorts, includ ing wheat, oats, barley flour, American barrel flour, be sides heavy freights of seed potatoes, have gone to the sister country. _ _ _ A fatal accident occurred at Manchester on Monday morning, by the fall of a portion of Messrs. Grey's cotton mill, Pollard-street. It consisted of a boiler-house, 40 feet by 32, on the ground-floor, and above it a room filled with jack-frames, the whole being surmounted by a water cistern. The accident occurred about ten in the morning, when about a dozen men were at work in the upper storey. One half of the floor, with its machinery, and the corres ponding half of the cistern, were at once, and without the slightest warning, precipitated into the boiler-house. Three young men were afterwards taken out of the ruins, from amongst the broken machinery, two of whom, being found to be alive, were taken to the infirmary. The third was dead. There was about £6OO worth of machinery in the room, which is destroyed ; and altogether Messrs. Gray will be losers to the amount of about £lOOO by the accident. BLOCKADE OF OPORTO. " Portuguese Consulate, London, March 18, 1847. " Sir,—l beg to inform you that in consequence of the port of Oporto being in a state of blockade, I have re ceived orders from the Portuguese government not to grant bills of health or clearances for that port. I com municate this for your government, in case you may think it necessary to make it public. " I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) " F. J. VAN ZELLER. " To W. Dobson, Esq., Secretary, Lloyd's." The following copy of a letter from her Majesty's go vernment, relative to the recent seizure of the Lusitania by the Portuguese squadron blockading Oporto, has been forwarded to Lloyd's : " Foreign Office, March 18, 1847. " Sir,—l am directed by Viscount Palmerston to ac knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, respecting the capture of your vessel, the Lusitania, with her cargo, which had cleared out of Oporto before the 20th of February, but which had been unable to put to sea until after that date, in consequence of the state of the weather and the high sea on the bar, and I am to state to you in reply that her Majesty's minister at Lisbon has been instructed to demand from the Portuguese govern ment that all vessels captured under such circumstances shall be forthwith liberated, together with their cargoes. " I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant i "To W. Gibbons, Esq." " E. J. STANLEY. WESLEYAN CONFERENCE FOR 1847.—The Wesleyan Methodist Conference will be held in Liverpool this year, in June or July. The meetings will take place, as on former occasions of a similar kind, at the Brunswick Chapel, Moss-street, and will be attended by Wesleyan ministers from all parts of the kingdom. To some of the conference meetings the ministersyear biaelteoelnerngeiwuncgdhtaionntedthat. de nomination only are Admitted ; to otihsertshetnheaspeueb:ain,geedas: nerally are admissible. We need scarcely observe that these annual conferences always excite int eres t, a s the financial position of the society the president for the ensuing mouse mass of general business is transacted: i ~~ [ s ' R;4 I 1 - ; I