The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-19 00:00:00

225 j: 1), ptaCiii i This ass es Ritchie, re i n C. Philip mi me :0 recover o_4 'raise of 0 ' 1 ? ach of • Pr ° ,° 3 ol nd a writ 01 0 1 0 of daroag,es:ss L Sir F. IP iii - 00 1 ed for the S P was iNir• ! 1 , tk er the P rt te le cd I t came 11 1 .40 Terms, wetrvi s worn Sir ,„; e 0 d on the CO d rose, a n b e sr. l ey w ould . oti o of the P lal ar oi ,n of her cb there was ,7 0 ) a s they wouiptr) ad by COt e / 500. fir. casel a t the disc from all an_i:ol d there b e ! he defendael.j c knowle4 l3 ll 7o l ? , r -Sherio the i sent, assesilisti Sir Henry,. ihyp, Images s t ied lave occelld ared to d r .1 T the io i , ction, of an 0 band 0 i c 0 a t the r! I r. proprieLfo iss Julia boo £4O for V it. She 0 , 11 onne, an" Ood week. f t 0 1 r the Pa r 0 1 ) d notice 0 (0 This 511,.e5t0! 0 ,. 351E 05/8 ,1 1 04 he defer,. ' h h e ka n d v ) c?; Hurelr' , oF)i other etp ad Pbse erf° fr had su in egi :hat 01'09 ter, an' a n el , g aged a s- „he m , racter if:lo6 part 0 ( ;6 e jury' 949 Lich e fr ber o r having h o leclare t11) 11 ,, gement ) minci; e / roars of. / 5 nuch, kee 'or /104 0 manly o4' posed, , h 0 1 : 1 0 's elf on r e d that 51 '0 1 :0 r rincess f L e d d i n tro" —" Thr ° O fF neither to 3 aWitreAooa DIUSIC4' were C - 00 , to PliBY 0 0 1 0 Mr• stre l4 o o-, [ dant' s ,r its of s O .c' he saPra noult jv eant m a dig' an d „to ;structiovileill r y glecl e t °o a i n tig Joh J. l ‘ 1- -I' • I); 6 si 8 41 ) 1 1 e te,4 ,Nr Tile E irkenh ----*--- otaj fatlts. , ekay, cad Dock Bill was read a second time on 4 trtanin Evans, jun., of Lancaster, has been appointed 'efli r. ".„°f St. aul's Church, Prince's Park, in the room the pot, resigned. "mots h°taltding Orders Committee of the House of Com lillPoup repo rted in favour of Lord Salisbury's bill for At theni the water of Childwall-valley. %sof r,. weeklY meeting to day of the London Institu lltesi4hVvil Engineers of which' W. Cubitt, Esq., is the IN st - ti; 11 , 1 r• R. Turner will read a paper on the iron ko n p .e Lime -street Station. ek ' ld a!, in the House of Commons, the Liverpool kio tt ' and !ben Liverpool, Crosb • and Southport (Devi , Seeeoci,f4argelnent of Stations, &c.) Bills were read a , tA t h a ,,,rt . le and committed. itan ed ...' Past ten o'clock on Thursday morning a sailor, i' 40, f":31,1t1 Thomas, belonging to the Liverpool scho l onef 1, 4, 1b ,_" from the vessel which was lying near the and Iltni.,l34,l,:d,robefore assistance ' could be afforded he tie% l t , G_ gr. wned.. ves Pries3ll.,lon, shipkeeper on board . the Ophelia, in :of se i , oa•r ne ilck, was found dead in the hold of that bold,' tad ;„ "ay morning. The deceased . was 56 years al t ' BoPPosed to have fallen accidentally into the ellghleittt Acktcturvat.—We perceive that the annual i 4t4 ene 6 il ' a tch and show of live stock of the Wirral 40411:11131e, diaper ei4h wi ty ll il ta l k take place on Thursday next. The th O ur t ara umA e evening. e place at the Monk's Ferry Hotel i mit ilDre l jiT a Y last, a young man, named Thos.. Quayle, w Y ' l iPpia- e ° to the Gas Company, met with his death, w _ iiuh Itend44.oov the roof of the Philharmonic-hall, 1 1,4 tl, n :it,h ice, in consequence of a hail shower chief of CHC,hme previously fallen. . t ik - l i e the Wettlit BURGLARIES.—It is stated that the . la,„ . tqi,„„e„oas changed a £2O note, and taken his tlithi'StnZiutleans. The house of Mr. Harrop, at I 3 ers rn ,,,' ° ' 3 t t‘ LI C hester -road, was attempted on Tuesday . it t ,7_e 01t,-4Tant girl sprang the rattle and the rob totl,ttp_nt 4 3 tkl nii,7 , fo r : 4 ell granted to Mr. W. Furness, Law 68illt-1' Pik; 31 Proveraents in machinery f i o n r g, cutting, morti ker'netilksei:g, moulding, dovetailing, ü b n cr ; d also, for tteldin to tint grooving, and sawing w Chtsteelbs grinding tools or surfaces ; and also, in lor e - . 4 11 '" east-iron ei n It ti FIELD•— • tr eat "l44 4441t e . ” - EA . Mr Gardner who . ''' the ace PurChased this church from Mr. Robert ßev. se.o., C4 pe nt ' ep her, h as presented the church WO, i n „, of Liverpool. The , w t9 ill th b e e con -001,,e8t2e course of a very short time, by the Bishop 40410-'.....'-'2Vanchester Co s zt h r e z 1 1,td t°4,3l:4leau cheese is now selling in 4d t . his market at 13 11 1 43 3 e per cwt. —a fraction over the pound ; IN nr eilei s . i P tv er " v t• ; and hams at 455. Several butchers Pt 4ebt- be e f 1 O St James's Mar_ ket, are selling_ . 14,, • at 51, ' qo . •,, hi ' 4 . ; and yet the price at St. John's is 4t ee ttea t b 1-, 411.., Itt e ,,, a s, -een the alarm created in Cheshire, by the who had klizee,,,ZPrs at burglary, that a gentleman in the tedrniVicoes to see a friend, was converted, „,e lecher, w .of a servant girl, into a la.,c t k o -fa e c u e s d . ,?tileft, orkinhw4..t.clied by the p . olice, and taken in !li lt? Illesene Identity was discovered. 1 1141 r 8 last week the prisoner Thomas Pritchard, N I katki. aving stol en a qnantity of h gold wire used hp e told ~, a cture of gold watches, toget er with a silver ttediterainiteb, from Mr. Ralph Samuel, who carries on riten ',ood-street, in this town, was found guilty ch nt 3 bi o , e t ed to twelve months' imprisonment. th ~e, rije Tuesday evening a select band of Liverpool Illet ti ell, aps ascended the tower of St Ni kipi,Pelil o f ra ng . , in a masterly style, true' and com ,tei vlAkthgri_ndsire cinques, consisting of 5148 changes, 44 1 ' 1 11. '''.,?ulY brought round in three hours and 39 I ; o l)3 ter,l is h e Peal was rung as a tribute of respect to 1114 3 TITHE ch urchwarden. . kt k - illet th e TRADE.—A deputation from the timber lof twat ....."° Sub- committee of the Dock Committee on k k4 r i lit " 1 " . tl l ll ' e c c ommittee promised every a h c u c t om it m w o a d s a .i t n i t o i n . At om that Present estate is concerned, N o 3 (1 4 tis Pe riZatlent accommodation could not be io °No south end The trade are to offer some lathe 43 to the committee on the plans for the north P kO tL e Co t ror n 4 red ti it t of Passage Mr. Shaw, joine r, claim of of Everton, of £25 18s. 3d. At th t he ey e full amount of his clai . deb. el 4o l , e3 .t 'Derby Board of Guardians for work done th 'el b 'l4l F ever-hospital, the amoun r t oo hav vr i a n s g been tt tb Y Som f given R th e c h ap eof the board excessive. P 13 to 5 b e° c oeei Was a fai r one , an d th e As sessor o bs erv ed ti 1 1. 4181 °n that it oug h t no t t o h ave b een b roug ht t A %z q , , l o Y ti t tl av e 0 f i.t.ikly ic . —The amount rea s li t s o e e d k, al e t . l , le of tlsr i e r e . 113 h.b .i olm e , ac furniture, carriage, lottleo":1(11-8Pw:ardvsaosfexamination. It is about £760. There are about thirty 4 let,, Yet to be brought in for exa £l3,2oo is now proved i t n o a bp deficient `nth, de n 3 te f ° bu r going on at the bank, nor is th or 80 . lif 'ltt k i ,ite time. The report as to Mr. Johnson's ki 04, kip time. is not true. Tb li n ' t tie e 6 n3 to direet the attention of our readers to the master. Mr. N ti 'Peo n e lit of Mr. Thompson, tiet„,lllLibgas been established fo w r r u g ards of twenty Ntsfal iherPool, and during that time pw has been most ..ile,tl4.looßh.-,_1,/llproving the handwriting of parties who " 4 0 . 1 1 11 1 , his assistance. We would recommend all or to Lweib b .," !rite a bad hand, and wish to improve r t t tl - r " c ome qualiked for a commercialsituation, ktrpeitilrtle in ap lyin. to Mr. Thomoson•neces iepi.:oll4-;l°X OF P THESEACOMBE SLIP.—The °Y tVee 0 - f nr. restoring the slip at this ferry, the incon kpide onVineh has, of course, been seriously i felt both oceed ng at a too nie titt e , '' v c and the proprietors, i'lt f 1, 4 is expected, we unde a r r s e ta p nd, h tl l i e a d t in the 4 (le,"Ild l :Jont a week passengers will be ena Weir so d i ld at the usual place during a portion of each Nelli t ile that in the course of another week, if all goes eept Ts t li t w ord e ZY Will be placed in a state of complete Ncl e ' l i ll th AT ' l ttt.—On Tuesday another alticerhathioeneaoroce tbn teld 1 character of the atmo . sphere, A 4 :P l tse‘ ll. A fall of snow in neFy Illi . s h e n n t su it ed w i a n s II 40,4 ( 1. °f the morning, mingled with rain , t6tlßlotilsPelled, and subsequently ' the weather assumedt_ in lie,,teta 4 aSpect. On Friday rain fell abundantly 1 41.,3e.4tercri• Saturday was beautifully fine ; h and Sunday 1 42A11 y hs aY the temperature of the atmosp ere became Ik 'r tl 7 t Ot t b nts "' s t i . d and agreeable, with a light breeze from S n t ,lat, % ,,°,,P THE CALEB GRIMSHAW.—It iS a curious r 7i itgarf°h;Lne night of the second day after . the Caleb h l'' L'co. e ,„ - 't Liverpo 1 and while in the British C an- Z4ti ll '‘,l4.''° ill collisi e on' with a schooner, which, bottom, 4. 4 n 4 1 d in. • "'ze and inferior strength, went to the S I eli t es - e lite red almost immediately after the 1 6.' 43 0' 43 6 : 4 . 4 °5e on board were heard as she 7ent s do t w h n e niNiti:4ttllihaTLAt is worthy of remark, that it was C i e t r B, tbac r canrlnt.o the a Cal i eb Grimshaw, striking her AIN vt:°Y ot he 7m a g rti t c w ul ay her bulwarks. Neither her rs could be ascertained about tile ko'l2A-,41."---Neely) York Herald. k eh`t -Si W E , . ,ES —Mr. Buckingham, mtt to tal , ERLY .i4ECTI B. • t:60 4 11 1th tahlid American traveller, has made arrange et4lll4treet, P Committee of the Concert-hall, Lord the next two Thursday ttttietlbe, two le'otduerleisveorntherper, the e o s n ent state of the country, n 1 4 14 telitAZlotlieteing interests of the manufacturers h a ar d e 11.4400414,1, so-fiew,rtiiathgsa view to trace the causes wl i h of the laboring classes in each, and ^ ,14411 °P 4t ""e means by which justice can e ilitleklnt!oN4nenel:raders and Protectionists, as both include . kf t th el !ti on , k ., , T the wealth, intelligence, and enterprise 11 1 N ictieq 4 0, both are, therefore, equall entitled to "110 tb., which sound and equitable legislation can I.4lit`tretbsyr°, instead of sacrificing the one to advance 'te Ali t °f the other. p t ilo rt . r () cot, ther extraordinary affair Zel,elZWtrttclur,ls.e °Ro w itt o l 7cu E p •— yi A ng ra the attention of the gos blorhenkr 4 ,, A nice young man, holding a situation op t,, W as re , in the office of one of our respectable 111N., 31 1d, Ls, Introduced to the daughter of his em tad fascinated, proposed, was . accepted, ''t ties f,.; :fle had, however, the temerity to intro- St , r . ,, e ltd, of £7OO a-year, who was also smitten, 411 to far to supplant him. The attempt was ttie 4, ri as tile parents were concerned, andelt abe°o,Oliance. A as fix . ed for tl 0 , P, t iiii• 17 1 the happy hour arrived, it q d's ' c c overed 7‘ i s to l her first lliitf,N had flown, and been ilt. '!' , • Olt 11"c ' llti :- I ' g h onour and a cottage With nim . , r to the glit47t"ofulness and competence with . anothe another. 1 1e k, 41 'cilb °11 'NE RIVER.—On Tuesday night het eight ' l, l N 4 , 141 h e r left the landing-stage at half-past foul of h a t k i t tl ek t , ll ,. a vr .., I ,til h ". o I , t riP to Tranmere, when she ran \V e k 't Al th e° l . oPposite the stage. She was so useless, much 4,‘,3/tvtirte,e collision that her engines became ~311e'llgL3 ale s 4° P the river with the flood tide. The Nun, t _ e 'tit 3 't 3, followed, and took off some hf . h t t . 111 41 lit a , ik t , ill rea,„, numner remained on board, thinking ‘ 3 4 31 1 alle ,; : ' 4 her destination • but she continued to Soivittef/t the ac hed Garston, when she was run ashore. t 4 e, , o - „ chi,: Pass angers took an omnibus at Garston, ho;l l ,,t' , the landing-stage, where they arrived ikOLI•t I,_"c , c next morning : they went over in the 4 0 1 01% Tat to Woodside. Some of the passengers t , b,' 4 4.4 1 ' 4 4i. v e lard the steamer all night. The schooner kr. a some injury, her bowsprit and cutwater ' 0 04' 31 ,0, 1 1k N% - ' "VD,AWKnes.—Miss Susanna Hawkins, a Scot of'etess, in humble life, and who has attained te n e in her native land, is now in this town, r ;Iw. o lbf.,_° Vol of her writings, and pr . ocu - 4i. ill, 1-1 volume 0 0014 4 4 0 i 8 . fortha seventh volume of poetry now in the Ni t " , 0,1 3 94-01lative of Ecclefechan, in Dumfries-shire, hilt t • - `4 loomeo north to Edinburgh and Glas . gcw,.and !li t e bro iln _Ce i n - s t n , Y as far as Birmingham . , disposing of her 14114-444 tuewlaat advanced in life, and her itines -hee4 Dalb::.,,l,'Per to have been dictated by the feet -14, 1:,,,i4 'arraid, the able writer of Dumfries, me t ; A b ",,t sa psoc (motes, beginning, tff n .13 '+ hi, ve lived, I Nature love the 1 4 1 1 „ i ' l ls, l'e t:soo l7 ,1Old every zone and climeexplore." b 3 ti t `colt ".' great simplicity of character andher k3 b' k rii t°ll gh Imeccs, breathe an amiable and Christian A nt t ief tia or ,}o°,4°t•Th.We Blab her every success. esteemed Ark l' e 4 l . died .1'; WRIGHT, E au .—This much 846 N I r ot Ete e "'jun Saturday last, at his residence, Pr ince's kq4,41514 51, the 3d year of his age. Mr. Wright t kai o Ile h4 n ats an active part in local affairs, and fr n , ‘ le .1). sip 183,.0ur to fill the civic chair—once in 1816,. n +4; 4 1, 1 , 4 ineaa,u He had long ceased to take a part 1 t tOf t/ ide s e t t Pool , Rtld latterly he had been much absen ii 44111 Atone coo,t),u account of ill health. He was one of liD Of my Inagistrates ; and, till his health began . litgals lc, vint_Most active. His charities, both public and r int 7re ~,7_, ever on a most liberal scale, and few a of Onc e °, 11 1 •Z g e u t • to his benevolence in vain. As teihle f e tes of Bar good sense, excellent judgment, ilei t ql4 g ro`°*-to,4nd, raised hirn ' h . h in the estimation h -qt,,.. 4 ' ea 4 t l 4l ors, -,stnen, whilst his l a g greeable and enter .4414,.._ ek.edril, pin4setalinfet. cheerfulness, and kindness of "Kee i ll ,„;rn to all who had the pleasure of his lorY-b e ' csi s ° l e ans i ., c o , 01 )ortant ov to f urn :j Eilerd e, vliss Ara`„ The of iSedarlogt reeellt l 6 l o ? -oung J o 'l f se yen ' D a i$ epic"! " s ot' Gth lr/ Tbeit e ster: orar ria ti i .oto 5 4 :heshireissr is Art , . fie __ • Ti tr er ick e ie e firet , 8 r 1 „ rt, ia ri t he 0 7, 1 ;erioe en fee lON d e tte o the %let r ta ": a Stioti S ente red of _ uar tqlg l • in i o; 47, i s !,„ u s 9/1 11 n ccu -49 W 0 ,11 11 1 to r) 19, 6 . 1 e f t "tic" 5 g . 4 1 • I in ;s4B 5 49 ct" ( 441 , ,, J il 5 lotlfr e dec o lp „ d ed. G eo 4 Is e f J.: f Ls q i iooo o o. ral _ e , e p ; creo he t o eig' o o: 4 t lo , o t )ove s o.- i o tesl; `:511. riof t 6rj a l : 1 6, 74 11 [lions 50, inin il‘ bidrg de4r., s hav e visO ;• i .1a i sCple4 r e%s„l;ie°4 r - c ha ve _ THE " LIVORNO" SCREW STEAMER.—A beautiful iron vessel thus named has recently been built by Mr. Denny, of Dumbarton, for the trade between this port (Liverpool) and Italy. She is owned by merchants in Glasgow having business connexions with the Mediterranean, and she was expected to arrive in the Mersey yesterday. Her length is 160 feet ; beam 251, and depth 15 feet. Her engines are considered very fine, and embrace a novelty in princi ple, giving direct action to the cranks. The cabins are elegantly and commodiously fitted up. She is rigged as a three-masted schooner; has a yacht-like appearance, and, from a trial trip in the Clyde, proved herself to be one of the fastest vessels yet turned out. She arriued in the Mersey on Sunday. BIRKENHEAD FERRY.—The complaints about the management—if there is any —of this ferry are more numerous than ever. The corporation have secured an enterprising and obliging tenant for the hotel, but the mode in which the ferry has been conducted is likely to prove anything but advantageous to him. We happen to know that the ferry is preferred by a great number of persons over any o her on the river, and the, council have only themselves to blame that the establishment has not been highly remunerative. It is not too late, however, to change their policy. Let an active and experienced person be engaged as manager, with full powers to work the concern efficiently, and we feel persuaded that the accidents to the boats would be less frequent, and the receipts considerably increased. He should, however, be instructed to devote his whole time to the superintendence. DEPUTATION TO THE BOARD OF TRADE ON PILOT AGE.-A deputation from the Steam Shipowners' Asso ciation had an interview with the Right Hon. H. Labou chere, on Friday week, at the Board of Trade. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Anderson, M.P., chairman of the Association, who stated that their object was to obtain Mr. Labouchere's interposition for the pur pose of inducing those pilot boards which had not yet complied with the intentions of the legislature, as con tained in the Pilotage Act of last session, to grant certifi cates—exempting them from compulsory employment of, and payment for, pilots—to masters and mates of steamers who should have been found upon examination qualified to pilot their own vessels. Several local pilot boards had complied with the provisions of the act, but the pilot com mittees of Liverpool and Dublin bad declined. Mr. Wat son, director of the City of Dublin Steam-packet Com pany, detailed what he considered the grievance under which they laboured. The interview terminated in Mr. Labouchere admitting the justice of the claims advanced on the part of the Steam Shipowners' Association to the be nefits intended by the Pilotage Act of last session, and his suggesting that a letter should be addressed to the Board of Trade, embodying the statements which had been sub mitted to him by the deputation. FEARFUL .ACCIDENT.-011 Monday night one of the most frightful accidents of the kind which has for some time occurred in this neighbourhood happened at the cor ner of Erskine-street, Moss-street, to a ceAveyance which was on its way from Croxteth-hall, the seat of the Earl of Sefton, to this town, and in which were seated Mr. Charles and Lady Caroline Townley. About half-way down Brunswick-road the horses became restive, and, on arriv ing opposite Miss Green's house, at the bottom of Ers kine-street, the postilion lost all control over them. At this point they suddenly swerved from the road, and ran with great force on the footpath opposite to Miss Green's house, the horse on which the postilion sat striking the iron palisading in front of the house, and breaking it in several pieces, along with the stone work in which it was fixed, to a length of about a yard and a half. The palisad ing fell into the area beneath, and the horse along with it, the latter being suspended for some time by the traces, during which time it plunged tremendously against the wall, and caused great alarm to the inhabitants inside. The postilion was, at the same moment, thrown off the horse against the iron palisading, with his back leaning against them, and for some time it was thought he was impaled. The traces being cut, the animal fell down to the bottom of the area, fortunately alighting on his legs. He was ultimately taken through the kitchen, a door which opened into the area, and conveyed through the lower part of the house leading into the street, having re ceived very serious injuries. A short time after the acci dent, another carriage from Croxteth, containing the Earl of Sefton and another gentleman, drove up to the scene where the accident had happened, when Lady Townley and the party proceeded to the Catholic ladies' charity ball, at the Town-hall, Lady Townley being the lady pa troness. CORRESPONDENCE. BOOTLE FERRY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SlR,—Allow me, as one of the million who have been deprived of the outlet afforded to this large town by the invigorating breezes of the North Shore, in consequence of the extension of the North Docks, to solicit your power ful aid in obtaining from the Dock Trustees a good land ing-slip at the furthermost point of the North Docks. By so doing they would give another opening to this large population, and a great facility to the inhabitants of Li therland, Crosby, and Bootle, at a very light expense. Should your efforts succeed, there is a party who would at once put on the station a boat to run the whole line of docks, say from the South Slip to Bootle; or the Corpo ration might profitably employ their own boats in running them on this station.—Yours, &c., ENTERPRISE [We will gladly do all in our power to forward the car rying out of our correspondent's suggestion, and perhaps we ought not to omit offering to our readers the assurance that the writer of the preceding letter is known to us, and is not likely to make a proposal unless quite convinced of its utility, and fully prepared to give practical effect to it.] POLICE INTELLIGENCE. On Wednesday a number of persons were fined 10s. and costs for letting off cellars unfitted for human habitation. On Thursday a youth was committed for theft who had been previously seventeen times committed and five fillies discharged. On Wednesday a large number of occupants of shops in Fontenoy-street, were fined ss. and costs each, for exposing goods for sale outside their premises, and to the inconvenience of the public. _ _ CRUEL ROBBERY:-At the wreck of the Portia, of Sunderland, off Blackpool, the mate, Henry Buban, with difficulty contrived to save his chest, which he brought here and left at the railway station, when it was stolen. It was subsequently traced to the possession of a black man named Henry Thornton, who was on Wednesday committed for two months. CHARGE AGAINST A CUSTOMS LOCKER.—Henry Grey, a locker in the tobacco warehouses in this port, was brought before Mr. Rushton. on Tuesday, charged with stealing 5001bs. of tobacco, which was alleged to have been stolen in 1848. The charge was supported by witnesses of very questionable character ; and though the felony was positively sworn to, Mr. Rushton declined to commit Gray, but ordered him to be remanded, to see whether any corroborative evidence could be produced. SMOKE INFORMATIONS.—At the police-court, on Wed nesday, Jonathan Robinson, the master of the corporation steam-boat Vernon, was summoned before Mr. Rushton for not consuming smoke, and fined £5 and costs.—Mi chael Neville, ironfounder, Lime-street, was also fined £5 for a nuisance caused by the smoke issuing from his chim ney. Mr. Rushton intimated that a fine of £5 per day would be levied until the nuisance was abated. In the case of Mr. Milward Storer, proprietor of the rice mill in White-street, who was summoned for a similar offence, the case was postponed for a month, Mr. Storer under taking to raise his chimney, and make other necessary alterations to remedy the nuisance. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS V. THE CORPORATION OF LIVERPOOL.—At the Birkenhead police-court, on Fri day, Mr. Conway, barrister, assisted by Mr. Rudd, the manager of Woodside ferry , applied, on behalf of the Birkenhead commissioners, for compensation from the Corporation of Liverpool to the amount of £l9, for inju ries sustained by the Queen, Woodside steamer, in conse quence of having been run into by the Fanny, Birkenhead (Corporation) steamer, on the 15th ult. Mr, Blair, bar rister, assisted by Mr. Venn, appeared on behalf of the Corporation, in opposition to the claim. The magistrates decided generally in favour of the Birkenhead Commis sioners. Mr. Blair then raised the question of costs, and ultimately it was agreed that they should be taxed by Mr. Townshend, clerk to the magistrates. Another case of collision was head on Saturday, between the same parties, in which the Commissioners were again victorious. A SMALL BOAT IN TROUBLE.—Henry Phillips, owner of a river boat, on Wednesday summoned the captain of the Express steamer, for running down his boat, and en dangering the lives of the three men that were in it. He claimed £l4 as the value of the boat. From the evidence it appeared that the complainant and two men went out " on speculation" to the Crosby channel; but during their excursion one of the oars broke, and they had to scull with the other against the tide. In this disabled state they proceeded towards the Jenny Lind steamer, but the crew refused to tow them. They then made towards the Express, but (as alleged by complainant) in consequence of there being no look-out at the bows of the steamer, the boat was run down, and the three men were with difficulty saved. For the defence it was proved that there was a proper look-out on board the steamer, and that the acci dent arose in consequence of the boat's crew coming too near the steamer, with the view of hooking on, to be towed into the river. The case was accordingly dismissed. A PUBLIC HANDICAPPER.—Since the Ist of January, 1850, Mr. E. W. Tapham, of Chester, has handicapped upwards of 1,400 horses for different engagements. SISTERS OF MERCY.--tAt the recent anniversary of the German Hospital in London, the healths of the Lord Bishop of Manchester, and of the other English clergy who supported the institution, having been drunk, the Right Rev. Prelate, in returning thanks for himself and the clergy, spoke with great force, and with a sincere con viction, on the benefits which were likely to accrue to English charitable institutions b 7 the introduction into them of Protestant Sisters of Mercy. He had often admired the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy. He was free to confess—widely though he differed from the fol lowers of that persuasion—he honoured and respected a Roman Catholic, if he was sincere in his religion. That women should devote themselves to the Christian duty of visiting and comforting the sick was originally and genu inely Christian. It was not enough to tend the diseased and afflicted, to assuage the sufferings of their bodies, and to smooth the dying pillow under their drooping heads. Those who watched beside the bed of suffering and death had a higher,. a more important, a more sacred duty to perform. They ought to enlighten, to comfort, and to speak words of love and peace. This the Roman Catholics had understood ; and ought we, who owned the same obligations, but to whom our religion held out a higher and a purer hope, to turn away from the sufferings of the soli, and confine our care and attention to the body? Such, a course of action would be unworthy of the princi i plea of Protestantism,. TII LIFIRPOSI STANDARD., LOCAL MEETINGS. LIVERPOOL CHESS-CUM.—The tenth annual dinner of this club was held at the Adelphi Hotel on Wednesday. Mr. Schwabe occupied the chair, supported by Mr. James Lister as vice chairman. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—At the first meeting of the council. held on Tuesday, T. B. Horsfall, Esq., was una nimously elected president ; Hugh Hornby, Esq., vice president ;-and Jos. Stitt, Esq., treasurer. Mr. Heath continues his services as honorary secretary. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROSCOE CLUB.—The members of this club held their annual meeting on Thurs day evening, Mr. Edward Estill in the chair. Mr. Leigh ton, the secretary, read the report from which we derive the following particulars :—The average number of mem bers during the year, paying subscriptions, was 706 ; of associate members 107, and of life members an accession of 12, making 825, to which may be added 33 previous life members ; total, 858, contributing £lO3O 10s. 4d. The amount of donations for the year have been £65 12s. Od. The refreshment department contributed £l7 ss. 3d ; the baths, &c., £l3O 17s. 3d., making a total income of £1217 4s. 10d. The expenditure has been £ll9B lls. Od. so that there is a balance in favour of the club of £lB 13s. 10d. The report refers to the proprietary scheme for liquidating the debt incurred in establishing the club, including the Ragged Schools, the ball for which will take place at the Town Hall, on Easter Tuesday. The Chair man in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the members on the good results of the year's proceedings, showing that for the trifling subscription now paid, not amounting to more than a penny a day, the members could enjoy all the benefits of the club. When the debt was got rid of the advantages enjoyed would be yet more extended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Horne and adopted. The usual thanks to officers and friends were voted, and the remaining business related to negotiations with the new proprietary. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the meeting on Thursday Mr. Parker presided.—The medical officer of health re ported that the ,mortality last week was unusually low, the deaths being 40 fewer than in the previous week, and 63 fewer than during the corresponding week of 1849. Amongst the deaths 65 were from diseases of the lungs. —The master of the school in Vauxhall district having applied for liberty for the pupils to bathe in Paul-street baths, the subject was postponed until the committee had obtained St. George's baths into their own hands, by which time the Cornwallis-street baths would be ready.— The borough engineer received instructions to brick up the doorway made by Mrs. Cooper, of the Everton toffee shop, in a wall belonging to the Corporation, leaving to Mrs. Cooper the opportunity of commencing an action at law if she thinks she has a legal claim to the land in dis pute in that locality.—The inspector of nuisances gave in his usual report.—Mr. Fernihough proposed the appoint ment of a sub-committee to enquire into the various rates laid by the Health Committee, the amounts expended, &c., with a view to reduce the rates for next year. These rates bore most oppressively on those whose business compelled them to live in the town, and if they could possibly contrive to give some relief next year, it would be very gratifying to the ratepayers, and be the means of doing great good to the town. The chairman highly approved of the motion, and after some conversa tion, Messrs. Fernihough, Godfrey, Langsdale, Lloyd, and Thomson were appointed to form the committee. LONDON AND LIVERPOOL FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.—On Wednesday, at the annual meeting of this company, William Nicol, Esq., chairman of the board of directors, occupied the chair, and there was a numerous attendance of proprietors. Mr, Swinton Boult read the report, which stated that the fire business of the company had largely increased during the year, and exceeded by a million that of 1848. The premiums also were more than last year. The losses, though heavier than usual, and rendering the general result less favourable, were not greater than, with the extensive business of the company, must be expected from time to time. The life business had steadily increased. The number of policies issued was 236, the amount insured, .Z 132,883 ; the new pre miums received, £4,262 Is. 2d. ; and at the same time, notwithstanding the terrible mortality with which this country was visited, the claims were only eight per cent. greater than those of 1848. After a great many questions had been put to the chairman with reference to the de preciated securities, the report was unanimously adopted, as was also a resolution fixing the dividend at is. 6d. per share, less the income tax, and 5 per cent. on such portion of the shares as had not yet been called up. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the directors. Messrs. Wm. Dixon, Thomas Stewart Gladstone, Harold Littledale, and John Marriott were then re-elected directors; and Messrs. Alexander 111`Gregor, Joseph Shipley, and John Swainson were appointed directors, in the room of Messrs. Thomas Booth, William Brown, M,P., and John Pennington. £BOO were voted to the directors for the ensuing year. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—PIans of sheds for the accommodation of the Glasgow traders in Canning half tide basin were approved. The dock solicitor reported that in the action for debt brought against the committee by Mr. 'Waring, the arbitrator had given a verdict for £963 Os. Id. ; but that in the action for damage, in which Mr. Waring claimed £7,937 16s. 4d. for loss occasioned by interruptions and obstacles interposed by the survey ors, in the excavation of the Albert Dock, the decision was wholly against Mr. 'Waring. An extra day's pay was ordered to be given to the master and crew of the Point of Ayr life-boat, for their services in rescuing the crew of the Mary ashore on West Hoyle. A petition against the bill promoted by the operative porters was presented, and Mr. Nicol moved that the seal of the trust be affixed thereto. Mr. Jones spoke highly in favour of the porters, and hoped the committee would not spend any money to oppose them. A short conversation ensued, but Mr. Jones said he was hardly experienced enough to oppose the petition, and it was adopted, Mr. Nicol remarking that the Committee had a more friendly feeling towards the por ters than those who advised them to go to parliament. A petition against the Birkenhead Dock Bill was also car ried, Mr. Nicol expressing a hope that by the exclusion of one or two clauses there would be no necessity to carry the opposition further. As the bill at present stood, by a side wind they would be exempted from dock dues on goods discharged in the river. The treasurer reported the receipt of £B,BOO from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal proprietors, being the third instalment of the £50,000 for the construction of the navigable gut into the docks. LIVERPOOL PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION.—A general meeting of the members was held on Tuesday last, at the offices, in North John-street, for the purpose of electing six additional directors, pursuant to the new rules, and also for the election of an auditor in the room of Mr. Hughes, who had qualified as a director. The names of the candidates for directorship (eight in num ber) having been read, and each candidate having addressed the meeting, and stated his determination to devote as much time and attention to the interests of the institution as possible, the ballot was proceeded with ; after which the chairman (Mr. Davenport) announced that the choice of the meeting had fallen on Messrs. Burrows, Hughes, A. M`Gregor, Martyn, O'Doherty, and Oyler, and he declared those gentlemen duly elected accordingly. The secretary reminded the meeting that the election was only for the remainder of the year ; ending 27th July, when three of the directors would go out by rotation, and that the two candidates who had not been elected would, with others who might qualify in the interim, have their chance of being elected. It was then carried that Mr. J. E. Richards be auditor in the place of Mr. Hughes. The business of the evening being concluded, the chairman congratulated the meeting upon the gradual augmentation of the number of members, and the harmony and good feeling which prevailed amongst them ; and after point ing out the advantages offered to clerks by the institution, urged each member to use his personal influence in get ting clerks to join. After the meeting, the board sat for the transaction of preliminary business. Mr. W. M`Gregor was chosen vice-chairman, and deputations from the board, for the purpose of soliciting donations and annual subscriptions, distributing the new rules, and canvassing clerks to become members, were formed. We have been furnished by the secretary with a copy of the amended rules and tables, and are pleased to find that everything has been done to render the institution popu lar and beneficial. Every clerk should join it. ANNUAL SOIREE OF THE LIVERPOOL CHATHAM SO CIETY.—This soiree took place in the Assembly Room of the Adelphi Hotel, on Tuesday evening, his worship the Mayor presiding. The lady patronesses were Mrs. T. A. Bushby, Mrs. H. C. Chapman, Mrs. Paulet, and Mrs. H. Royds, to whose exertions the success of the fete was mainly attributable. The Mayor opened the proceedings, and the meeting was ably addressed by Mr.W. Rathbone, Mr. Edward Lawrence, Dr. French, Mr. Alfred Lafone, Mr. Richard E. Griffith, and others. In the course of his address, Mr. Lawrence gave the following gratifying account of the rise and progress of the society:—" It has been in existence, as at present constituted, upwards of five years, and was formed out of two existing societies, neither of which could boast of any great numerical strength, and both of which were dragging along a very precarious existence. I cannot say exactly upon the ruins, but out of the crude materials of these two societies the present was formed ; and with, for our motto, " Qui stadium currit miti debet ut vincet," we determined, if possible, to work out an institution which should be a credit to its members, and no disgrace to our town.— (Applause.) Our task has been a hard one—our path has been steep and rugged, and beset with innumerable obstacles. Our members were long few, and our speak ers fewer still, and the whole burden of supporting the society lay with a few who worked zealously for the cause they had espoused. Our object, which will readily sug gest itself to you, was the investigation of truth, the ac quisition of knowledge, and to acquire an aptitude for ex pressing with fluency and arranging in order, our thoughts and ideas ;—and in order that our debates might be con ducted with harmony and concord, all questions border ing on that subject in the discussion of which ill-feelings are so soon engendered, were excluded. Politics are not prohibited ; but I wish it to be distinctly understood that we are not a political society.—(Applause.) I make this remark because I have heard it said that we are a conser vative society. We repudiate all such distinctive names. In our ranks ultra-protectionist, Peelite, Russellite, ay, and even red republican, meet on the ground of a common friendship ; and if further proof be wanting of our political neutrality as a body, it is afforded by the presence, last year, of the noble lord who did us the honor to preside over us, and this year, of yourself, Mr. Mayor, and the gentleman who has just addressed us.—(Applause.) Our success, though comparatively small,. is progressive—our numbers are increasing —more spirit is infused amongst us, and I do not despair of fully attaining: that ob ject we originally had in view." Thanks were voted to the Mayor for his attendance, and the room was then cleared for the ball, which was even more numerously attended.than the previous proceedings, and was kept up with great spirit till a late hour. The refreshments were. of the best description. The band was provided by Mr. Peter Stubbs, and the whole entertainment passed off..de lightfully.... A FREE TRADE__LESSON _TO THE AGRI- CULTURISTS; The writer of the commercial article in the Albion (Whig paper) thus remarked yesterday , on the subject of the prices against which the British farmer will have to compete. After attributing the present- lbw prices to " the very large production of wheat last season on our own soil"—nothing is said about the scarcity of the pre ceding two years, and the operation which the failure of the potato crop would have in increasingAhe consumption of bread stuffs as a substitute I—he proceeds— " Comparing present prices with those which usually existed before the introduction of free trade, they are unques tionable low ; yet the opinion of those best acquainted with the trade leans to the idea that under the new law the present averages may be considered high. This is the period of the year most susceptible of improvement in the corn market, and a little temporary rally may fairly be expected'; but the re sumption of activity in the ports of the Baltic and Black Seas, which may be expected shortly from the breaking up of the ice and the opening of the inland navigation in America, will in all probability again reduce prices from augmented foreign im ports. There is no blinking the question I Our farmers must be prepared to compete with the foreigners at bower prices even than are at present current." Not very consoling this ; yet it is very true. It is absurd for the farmer to bewilder himself about growing wheat at 40s. a quarter. He will have to grow it for much less ; probably for 30s. By the advices received yesterday from New York per mail steamer, the American markets were represented as dull and declining ; and we have been assured by a friend from that city that vast stocks of last year's crop are stored up in the interior of the country, ready, on the breaking up of the ice on the rivers, to be poured upon us like a fibod. Similar heavy stocks are destined for this country from the grain mar kets of Europe. Thus, between his European and his transatlantic competitors, the British farmer is about to be placed in what the latter would call a rather awkward I fix. ,, The writer in the Albion concludes— " In the meanwhile all parties, without reference to political opinion, heartily desire that the farmers may succeed in the contest; the latter, however, must bear in mind that the first step towards success is that of putting their own shoulders to the wheel, instead of contenting themselves with invoking the aid of Jupiter; and should they then fail, English justice will be aroused to their distress, and provide a remedy, no matter what party may be in power." _ _ We wish he may be right. The agriculturists bad better, however, adopt the Alb ion's suggestion, and " put their own shoulders to the wheel" to obtain the protec tion which is due to them. " English justice" is rather a frail reed to lean upon. THE CHASE. The CHESHIRI HOUNDS will meat on Wednesday (to. morrow) at Appleton ; Thursday, 21st, at Tatton Park ; Saturday, 23rd, at Vale Royal ; Monday, 25th, at Morley Hall ; Wednesday, 27th, at Shipbrook Bridge ; Thursday, 28th, at Poole Hall; Saturday, March 2nd, at High Legh. Sir W. WYNN'S HOUNDS will meet on Tuesday (to. day) at Aston; Friday, 22nd, at Penley Hall; Saturday, 23rd, at Farndon. At half-past ten each day. i B istrut geths. ----.411..- The theatre of 'Warrington, after having been closed to all theatrical performances for upwards of ten years, is about to be re-opened. A meeting was held in Manchester on Tuesday evening, to take into consideration the desirability of forming a People's College, similar to those at Sheffield, Norwich, and Nottingham. DISGRACEFUL SCENE.—On Wednesday, as we were proceeding down King-street, a gentleman called our at tention to a fire which he said was blazing in the parish church-yard, the fuel being—the coffins of the dead.— Preston Guardian. It is said that the only daughter of the Rev. P. Bronte, incumbent of Haworth, near Bradford, is the authoress of " Jane Eyre" and " Shirley," two of the most popular novels of the day, which have appeared under the name of " Currier Bell." A very gratifying scene took place, on Tuesday evening se'nnight, at Cheetham-hill, Manchester, where the con gregation of St. Mark's Church assembled in their school room, for the purpose of presenting their pastor, the Rev. Hart Ethelston, with the title-deeds of a handsome resi dence, costing nearly a thousand pounds, which they had built for him, as a testimonial for twenty years' services among them. THE FIRE AT ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, MANCHESTER. —Last week a meeting was held in the Town Hall, Man chester, to provide for the restoration of All Saints' Church. Among those present were Archdeacon Rush ton and the Rev. C. Burton, (of St. Philip's Church, Liverpool,) son of Dr. Burton, incumbent of the church. About £5OO were subscribed, and many donations have been subsequently received. All the speakers dwelt for cibly upon the faithful and painstaking ministrations of Dr. Burton, and on his scriptural teaching. There were four hundred free sittings in the church, which were always crowded. The receipts from the church during the thirty years of its existence have never equalled the usual amount of interest on the original capital, and Dr. Burton has been therefore working efficiently in the parish for thirty years for literally nothing. EXPLOSION OF FIRE DAMP.—An accident of an alarm ing nature occurred at the Lower Patricroft Colliery (Arley Mine), belonging to the Ince Hall Coal and Cannel Company, on Tuesday evening, by which five unfortunate human beings met with an untimely death. Tt appears that on Tuesday evening two men went down the mine, as usual, for the purpose of commencing work, and on one of them (a young man, called " Prinny,") reaching his " working," the damp immediately fired, shattering everything around, and instantly killing the person who fired it. The other man was dreadfully burnt, and died on Thursday. At the time of the melan choly occurrence, three men named George Broadhurst, John Anders, and Peter Till, were engaged in wedging the conducting rods in the mine, and stood on a scaffold ing which had been erected about fifty yards from the surface. The scaffolding was blown to pieces by the vio lence of the explosion, and the men being thrown to the bottom, a distance of about 150 yards, they were killed on the spot. The flame was visible at the mouth of the pit. THE TEN HOURS' BILL—REVIVAL OF THE AGITA TION.—The result of the decision of the Court of Exche quer has created great excitement amongst the operatives of the manufacturing districts. Meetings are being held nightly in the various inns in which they assemble, at which the most firm and determined resolution is expressed that the hours of labour shall be ten consecutive hours. Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, Preston, Ashton, Bury, Oldham ; in short, every manufacturing town in Lanca shire is in the same state of excitement on this question. On Sunday, a very large assemblage of overlookers and managers took place at the White Horse Tavern, Bolton, at which the annexed, amongst other resolutions, was adopted unanimously :—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is of the utmost advantage to masters and men that a uniform working of ten hours per day be enforced by act of parliament, and that we pledge ourselves never to rest satisfied until it be made universal." On Monday the Lancashire Central Short-time Committee held its third meeting since the decision, at which it was agreed to call a delegate meeting from every town in the king dom. On the same night the committee of the Manches ter overlookers held a meeting, and have issued a circular calling a general meeting of the whole body. The carders, the power-loom overlookers and managers, and several other bodies, are holding similar meetings, and the forth coming delegate meeting will be the most numerous and important ever held. IGNORANCE, INTEMPERANCE, AND CRIME.—Fron, the report for 1849, just published, of the Rev. John Clay, the excellent chaplain of the Preston House of Correction, it appears,—that of 1,949 persons committed to the House of Correction during the past year, 936 persons were un able to read ; 533 could read only ; 441 could read, but wrote very imperfectly ; 26 could read and write well ; and 13, or under one per cent. were of superior education ! With regard to religious knowledge, 781 were ignorant of the Saviour's name, and unable to repeat the Lord's Prayer; 956 had heard of the Saviour's name, and could repeat the Lord's Prayer imperfectly; 204 were acquainted with the elementary truths of rergion; only two persons, much under one per cent. were familiar with the scrip tures and well instructed. An idea of the density of the mass of ignorance which exists among our criminals may be formed from the following facts :—Of the total num ber, 1,312 persons, or about 67 per cent, wese unable to name the months ; 1,198 were ignorant of the words " vir tue," "vice," &c. ; 1,173 were ignorant of the name of the reining sovereign; and 367 were unable to count 100. 767 of the prisoners had read or had heard read books about "Jack Sheppard" and t` Dick Turpin." Mr. Clay gives the following as the prominent features in " character and condition " of the prisoners : profligacy, 853, ignorance, 955 ; distress, 30 ; comparative respecta ability, 82 ; uncertain, 20. Mr. Clay gives the following as the proximate or direct causes of crime .—Drunkenness of the offending or the injured party, 722; temptation, 259 ; profligacy, 798 ; other causes, 306. The rev. gen tleman states that drunkenness, which, as a direct cause of offence, had considerably diminished last year, has again become very prominent, and states his belief that four fifths of the recorded offences spring from habitual drinking. PHYSICAL VERSUS MORAL.—Whether the physical wants should be remedied through the moral, or the moral through the physical, has been a question which has occupied the attention of philosophers and philanthro pists for centuries. Without attempting to decide the question, there can be no doubt that when the physical condition is impaired it-demands the first attention. For instance; a person•whilst suffering from an acute attack of Gout would ~ he unable to appreciate the sublimest lessons of philosophy, even though enunciated by the divine Plato: How much more welcome to the sufferer would be et'box of Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills, so efficacions in eradicating this distressing malady. QUACKS AND THEIR QUACKERIES.—The legislature having left the public much at the mercy of those igno rant compounders of useless or dangerous nostrums for which their authors claim such astonishing virtues, it becomes a duty of the press, the natural guardian of society, to sift the tares from the wheat, and warn off the unwary from those deceptive appearances, which, if they do not altogether invite to destroy, care little what the consequences may be, so long-as they dispose of commo dities made only "to sell!" Were we to judge, then, merely by pretensions how many infallible remedies should we have to stiginatise as barefaced impostures on the public.. But .amidst this host of frauds, as manifest to the wary age as they have been proved to be dele terious in fact—still there are some wholesome and relia ble remedies, which accomplish all they pretend amongst these—the "rare avis" of patent medicines—is Coetut's PILLS : what they promise they perform, while it is cer tain that they are a safe medicine; a character which cannot be accorded to nine-tenths of the. comjounds that perform so many, astounding miracloci—in print—John agrinatural anb Ilortietilturat COLUMN, The prospects- of improvement in horticulture in this neighbourhood during the present year, are more pro mising than usual: The " practica/s" are rapidly, open ing their eyes to the real importance of their position ; instead of mere labouring dependants, they‘now feel that they are artisans practising a profession,. which, if not fully entitled to rank as a science, is so nearly allied to se veral of the physical sciences that the exact •points of con nexion cannot •be defined. We are led to these remarks by the expressions of delight and satisfaction which have reached us from most of those who were-present at the last meeting of the Liverpool Horticultural Society, when Dr. Inman gave his interesting lecture upon the physio logy of the elementary vegetable structures. Nothing can be more pleasing to men of liberal minds than the diffu sion of pleasing and useful knowledge amongst a class of men thirsting for it, but almost debarred from the means: of attaining it. No less than four gentlemen of high lo cal standing_ and medical attainments --Drs. Inman,. Nevins, Brett, and Dickenson—have this year given their valuable aid to promote the interests of this society, which has for its chief objects the information of practical hard. culturists, and the collection of their experience. Hitherto they have been isolated, and acting merely,from the sug gestions of their individual minds ; and the want of some means by which they could compare notes, and benefit by each others-experiments, was much, felt until the este,- blishment of the Society at the Clarendon Rooms, which has, doubtless, effected much good ; and with such power. ful assistance as that now afforded,, it; cannot fail to be highly beneficial. Of course, the improved tone of feel ing and thinking thus created amongst the practical men will manifest itself in the floral exhibitions, which we ear nestly desire to see improved. It is quite true that they are gay enough for that por tion of the public which visits them as-an agreeable lounge; but something else is wanting by those whose tastes lead them to contemplate the objects exhibited, and these per sons now form the majority. Our exhibitions have hitherto possessed too much the character of collections of flowering plants, rather than a. choice assortment of highly-cultivated specimens, exciting a spirited competi tion. Flowers are always abundant on the stands, and happy, smiling faces are not wanting to admire thrm ; but those examples of fine tut, which excite-astonishment and admiration at the metropolitan exhibitions, are but rarely seen at our flower shows. The reasons for this are twofold ; in the first place, the employers of gardeners have not given that encouragement which is needed to stimulate the energies of the cultivator and the gardeners, until lately, have had no opportunity of seeing better specimens than those they have cultivated for years past. Now the spirit of emulation is assisted by the knowledge of what can be accomplished, and, with a fair amount of liberal patronage, will soon produce a decided improve ment. These remarks do not apply so much to the suburban exhibitions as to those which are held in town, and are supposed to be the exhibitions of talent. At Childwall, Woolton, Hale, and other places, the flower shows are delightful gala days, to which the neighbouring gardeners contribute all they can to give interest to the scene. At those places we look upon the competition as secondary only ; the primary object is the healthy stimulus afforded, by an innocent amusement, to the population of those places, and especially to this gardeners themselves. During the present year, the gentlemen of the Woollen Committee, in consequence of holding surplus funds, have determined upon devoting the proceeds of the present year's exhibitions to the various charities of the township, irrespective of creed or party. Such disinterestedness is highly deserving of encouragement. At Childwall the surplus is considerable, and will enable the committee to proceed vigorously in continuing these delightful fetes. Several other exhibitions, in more distant places, are spoken of, but we are not yet furnished with particulars. PAPERS ON AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY NO. XIX Lime is an important inorganic manure, but its opera tion as a fertiliser is not clearly understood, for it is found that certain plants will take up as much lime from a soil poor in that material as from one much richer ; neverthe less these plants thrive much better in the latter. There is an evident complexity of action in this manure, because, if a plant can, like water, only absorb a specific quantity of lime, of what benefit can a surplus be ? In all proba bility it exerts a chemical and mechanical action upon the soil, especially the latter. Lime may increase the absor bant power of the soil, the texture of which it will also alter, rendering it more tenacious—a good quality, too often overlooked. Litre is a most ancient manure, and was extensively used by the Romans. Palladius, Pliny, and even Cato, thought it of sufficient importance to en gage their attention. Palladius speaks of a dove-coloured variety of river -stone, called tiburtine. This, in all pro bability, was a species of talc-tufa, formed in the volcanic districts; it is abundant in the neighbourhood of Vesu vius, and being easily calcined, would form a most valua ble manure; it is deposited from the calcareous springs on the banks of the Tiber, and various other localities, in im. mense quantities. The Romans not only used this ma nure for their crops, but also used it for the cultivation of individual plants, especially cherry trees. In Britain it was doubtless used during the Roman occupancy ; but it was soon after discontinued, or all record of it has been lost up to about 1788, when Dickson, a miter of that time, mentions it; but his remarks upon the subject are valua ble only as far as they serve to illustrate the profound ignorance which then prevailed upon the qualities of this material ; its stimulating effects upon certain crops had been noticed, but these observations had not been reduced to any practical shape, nor is this to be wondered at when the complex action of lime is considered. One of the most valuable qualities of lime is the property it has of making a light soil tenacious, and lessening the tenacity of clayey ones. In its action upon crops, it improves a greater number of plants than most other manures. It is of great importance to the grasses, and the corn crops de rive great benefit from its use, especially in improving the quality of the corn ; and it is extraordinary in its effect upon clover. We will enter upon some other properties of lime in our next. UISCELLANEA We have just ascertained that several plants of a yellow camellia were, some twelve months or more ago, pur chased by an English lady then in China, but about to return home ; and that the plants were sent or brought to England. Whether they reached this country alive or dead there appears to be no positive information. Should this fall, therefore, into the hands of any person who may happen to know anything of the matter, we shall esteem any information on the subject as a favour. The flowers are described to us as anemone-shaped—that is, the cen tre of the flower is filled with small petals, and surrounded by single prominent outer petals ; or, in other words, like the common Waratah. The outer petals are said to be " peach-white," and the small petals in the centre " prim rose-yellow." It would also appear—we refer to the Gardeners' Chronicle—that Mr. Fortune has also met with a similar variety during his travels in China ; and doubtless it will in due time find its way to this country. That camellias travel safely has been very satisfactorily proved. We learn from a gentleman who has recently made some large consignments of camellias to distant parts of the globe, that in one instance, in which he had dispatched a large cargo, they were five months on the voyage; and, notwithstanding, only one in twenty died. We understand that the system adopted in packing was the following :—The plants were taken out of the pots, the balls made wet, and then plunged in earth made into puddle, tied down with moss, and put into very stout packing-cases—not glazed cases. We are glad to find that the scheme, which we were the first to communicate to the public [?], of sending a Botanical Collector to obtain the seeds of hardy trees and plants from those regions of North-West America, hitherto imperfectly explored, but rich in plants suited to the climate of Scotland, is making favourable progress. At a meeting of gentlemen interested in this undertaking, held yesterday at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Professor Balfour in the chair, a committee was appointed to adopt active measures for completing the subscription lists, and for taking the necessary steps for carrying the project into effect. For reasons, which we may bye-and-by have an opportunity of fully explaining, it is of the utmost im portance that the lists should be closed within the nex three weeks. We need not say how heartily we wish th project success. Mr. Murray, of Conland, W.S., and Mr. Charles M'lntosh, of Dalkeith Park, have under taken the duty of secretaries.—North British Journal of Agriculture. The various species of the orange tribe are almost all natives of the East Indies and China, from whence they have been transported into other countries within or near the tropics. Most of the oranges and lemons intended for transportation to a distance are gathered while they are green ; and it is remarkable that the trees from which the fruit has been gathered green bear plentifully every year, whilst those upon which the fruit is suffered to ripen afford abundant crops only in alternate years. The oranges of St. Michael are the best known in Europe. The tree was introduced there by the Portuguese, as it was by the Spaniards into the New World. It is exten sively cultivated in Spain and Portugal, where it was early introduced by the Moors. Near Cordova there are trees which are considered to be 600 or 700 years old. And in Andulasia there are extensive orchards, which have formed the principal revenue for ages. In the south-east of France, also in the north of Italy, the orange is cultivated with success.—J.M'lNTosH, Milton Abbey.—Gardeners' Journal. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Stove Conservatory, Sec.—The plant stove should not much exceed 60 deg. by fire heat, but may be allowed a few more in sunshine, and a few less at night. Many minor matters, such as the top pressing and cutting in of climbers, and other hard wood plants ; and the potting of Gesnerias and Achimenes may be proceeded with, and will much relieve the labours of the potting bench, when the approaching busy season arrives. _ _ w Floer Garden.—The surface of the flower borders may now be raked over, which will improve the appear ance, and show off to better advantage the few spring flowers ; and remove any suckers that may have grown from the stem or roots. Give a liberal supply of strong manure to both dwarfs and standards. Kitchen. Garden.—Sow peas and beans, and get the ground ready for other crops; complete the pruning of fruit trees as soon as possible. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. T. Teesdale.—The application of manure to your bed of Lilies of the Valley, will increase the evil of their not flowering : top-dress them with some peaty soil. In their wild state, at Bidston, they are growing in peat and sand. Rose Amateur.—All judges agree that the merits of the new rose, Leant de Battailes, are first-rate ; we cannot say. mon, not having seen It in blown. TILE SHIPPING INTEREST. The fabulous statements put forth as to• the prosperity of the shipping interest,. and the great increase of ship building at Sunderland-. are completely exposed by an examination of the real facts of the case. Mr. Labouchere asserted in the House of Commons that there never were so many ships building at Sunderland as on the 31st of Dbe.., 1849. He compared the number sold Dee. 31st, 1849, with the number sold Dec. 31st, 1847, but omitted to state anything as to the number sold Dec., 1843. In the comparison of the two former years, there is an in crease of 8, or fifty per cent., but if 1849 be compared with 1848 then there is shown a decrease of 12, or fifty per cent., in the number sold in 1849; The same return which con tained the one contained the other : VESSELS BUILDING AT SUNDERLAND, DEC. 31. f which sold 16. unsold 59 In 1847 , 1848 1849. From this it appears, that there were three more ships building in 1849 than in 1848 ; that there were twelve more sold in 1848 than in 1849 ; but fifteen less unsold or in the market in 1842 than in 1849. But Mr. Labouchere said, never was Sunderland in so prosperous a state as in. December, 1849 —never were so many ships building.. Now, in 1839 and /340 there were nearer one hundred and fifty ships on the stocks than ninety : many yards now vacant were then occupied, and the wages were 275. and 30s. per week, against 21s. and 24 , 5. at present. Com parative statements bear out this assertion : SHIPS LAUNCHED AT SUNDEHLAND IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS :,- In 1838.. 233emounting in reg.. 1839 .. 1840 .. 263' 1847.. 148 1848 .. 142.., 1849.. 155 The amount of tonnage launched i n 1849 is, theefore, 22,443 tons less than in , 1840, and there are 108 fewer ships built in 1849 than in 1840. Now the quantity of cora imported into Great Britain in 1838, '39, and '4O, was not one-fourth , of that imported in 1847, '4B, and '49 ; and. every shipowner knows what an effect this must have had. on shipping, , unless the. means of employment in other trades had fallen off enormously. Every one connected. with Sunderland is aware of the immense works going on during the last few years in the construction of docks and. railways, and would naturally look for a great increase of the-trade of the port ; but no, there is year by year a decrease. The following is a tabular statement of the clearance of ships,. both in the coasting and foreign trade of Sunderland and Seaham -ter tonnage to 57,708 63,594 66,776 46.90/ 37,873 44,333 In 1837; number of clearances_ ... .. foreign Seaham. Sunderland. Total: . _ 566 .... 2,015 .. 2,582„ coasting.. 3,439 .. .. 6,495 17 nn 1848, clearances, foreign .. 697 1,852 coasting.. 3,460 .. 6,739 .. 10;199 In 1849, cKarances, foreign .. 652 .. .. 1,634 .. 2,286 ~ coasting.. 3,292 .... 6,177 .. 9,469 showing a falling off in the clearances of 1849, as compared with those of 1848, of no less than 263 ships in the foreign, and of 730 in the coasting trade—a total decrease in one year of 993 ships. Against this state of things is put the in crease of ships registered at the port of Sunderland in 184 k, by 16 in number—of between 1500 and 1600 tons. _ Now, when it is borne in mind that the s f Sunderland is valued at from one million and a • half to two millions sterling; that the number of ships is nearly 1000, and amount of tonnage nearly 200,000 tons, such increase can only excite surprise that it is so small—amounting to one and-a-half per cent. on the number of ships, and about three-quartersper cent. on the tonnage—and this in face of the fact that the years 1846, '47, and '4B have been amongst the most prosperous to the ship-owner; and coupled with the fact that, in Sunderland, not merely every slip builder and ship-owner, but every tradesman, from the butcher and baker, the barber that crops your hair, and the cobbler that soles your shoes, invests his sur plus earnings in the shipping—proving that the trade of Sunderland, the greatest ship-building port in the world, is not in that prosperous state which Mr. Labouchere states. Some may say the trade goes to other ports. Let us look at Newcastle—not one-third of the ships building that were in 1840 ; and there has been a most serious fal ling off in the number of clearances from this port in 1849, amounting to no less a decrease than 2,192 ships. Such is the state of trade in the two ports which rank second and third in ships, and third and fourth in tonnage, in the United Kingdom. But it will be said they are earning better freights—not at all. Within the last three years the coasting freights on some goods have fallen twenty, in others twenty-five, and in some instances thirty per cent. ; and this year it is thought will be one of the worst known for shipping. It may be said that railways have carried off the coasting trade. So they have; but aro not their diminished weekly receipts a proof that the internal trade of the empire is going back ? The ship-owners and ship builders at every port in Great Britain should sign and send up to the House of Commons memorials in contra diction of the glaring assertions so fearlessly propounded by the man of all others who should have acted otherwise —the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, the president of the Board of Trade. THE MANHATTAN, The island of Manhattan, on which stands the pros; perous city of New York, has given birth to the title of another magnificent liner packet. Her name is certainly appropriate, for she is one of that class of vessels, which in size and accommodation present not only space but capacity to entitle them to the appellation of Floating Islands. Old legends say one " Ben Bowers" built ships by the mile, cutting them off, and turning is the ends to suit them to the rig of brig, barque, or schooner; but while in the western world " Uncle Sam" seems to ains at the dimensions of the carpenter of old, he is evidently studying the great essentials of naval architecture, the combination of bearing and capacity with speed. We had the pleasure on Saturday of a cursory glance at the Man hattan, and cannot withhold our admiration of her pro portions ; indeed, they would, we judge, meet the approval of those whose perceptions form the climax of the beau tiful. She is a fine stately looking ship, of enormous length and breadth, but still particularly clean fore and aft. Her lines are easy, graceful, and well rounded. Her stem is ornamented with a billet head, and her counter decorated by a boldly carved bust of Washington, sup ported by the British and American flag s, gracefully fold ing amidst trophies of war, and symbos of commerce— unwer—and—peace. She is neatl) sparred, and tautly rigged. The fore and mainmast are built, but the mizen, which is " no small stick," is grown. The Manhattan is by measurement, in Length over a 11...... „ between perpendiculars 180 „ on main deck Beam . Depth of hold .. Tonnage (carpenter's) .. 1500 tons. (register) She was built at New York, for C W. Marshall, Esq.; as one of the Old Black Line of Liverpool packets (the first line of vessels permanently stationed in the trade), by Mr. W. H. Webb, whose celebrity in the nautical world is established by the Yorkshire, the Fidelia, the Guy Mannering, the Ivanhoe, the Marmion, the Al bert Gallatin, and other clipper transatlantic traders of his drafting and construction. As no expense has been spared, there is no scarcity of timber or fastening in the Manhat tan. Her deck beams are complete balks ; the lodging knees being long in the shanks, are overlapped and bolted through ; the hanging knees under every beam, are " mon sters.” and would certainly d o cre dit t o th e nava l y ar d o f her Britannic majesty. They are from 22 to 24 inches its the throat, and average 12 inches in thickness, and each is fastened with no less than 16 bolts. The stem framework of the Manhattan, and the dead wood fore and aft, are of live oak. The keel and kelsons are 8 feet in thickness, and as an addition she has sister kelsons and heavy bilge pieces, running the full length of the craft, and thoroughly bolted through. Breast hooks are plentifully used, and are well formed and lengthy. The waterways of yellow pine are 18 inches thick, and the clamps of white oak, 8 inches. The floor timbers are 22 inches up and down. The plank-, ing is ofJersey•oak, commencing with the guardboard shark at 8 inches. The floorings are 51 inches, varying up to the bends, where it is 7 inches in thickness. The ceiling of the lower hold is heavy planking of white oak, the be tween decks Georgia pine. All her minor timbering is proportionately great in size, and from the manner its which she is fastened, she is one of the strongest ships that ever entered the Mersey, and could vie in strength and quality with a seventy-four. The Manhattan was constructed expressly for the transit of passengers, and in her is combined all the improve ments that past experience has suggested. She is a three decker. The lower deck is, with the exception of a store room, classed as a steerage. The main or middle deck is so arranged as to form a second cabin, an intermediate cabin, in which permanent private rooms are formed, and the captain's cabin, the latter being ".chock aft." The height between decks is nearly 8 feet, and she is ven tilated fore and aft, as well as between the inner and outer skin. In a sanatory point, she will present to the emigrant no small desiderata. On the upper deck there are eight hatchways, which aro either covered to form skylights or used as entrances to the lower decks. In the houses there is excellent accommodation for culinary pur poses. There is a hospital, so as to separate the sick from the bulk of passengers. An extensive wheel-house, in which the officers of the ship have rooms, forms a capital entrance to the cabin. The capacity of the Manhattan is as follows : Superficial feet. Passengers. On the lower deck 5367.. which a110w5.... 383 , „ upper deck...— 4827.. 111 •• •• 3 44 State-rooms on poop 136.. ~ •••• 8 Deck-houses .... 211.. ~ •••• 15 The number of passengers she willthough iacarry is . s . u . b 7 s st 0 a The cabin of the Manhattan, tially fitted up in beautiful mahogany, is not decorated in the gorgeous style of some, for there has been evidently more 'attention paid to substanti al comfort than pleas-. ing ornaments. The state-rooms are very large and well lighted. The Manhattan is commanded by Capt. W. G. Hack staff, who, since the year 1824, has commanded one or other of the liners from this port to New York, and whose urbanity of manner, and knowledge of the trade in which he is engaged, have gained for him an apprecia tion that he richly deserves. She is consigned to Messrs. Baring Brothers, and Co.: Messrs. Harnden and Co. managing the passenger department. IRON V. WOOD.—It is worthy of remark that the stea mer Diana, of Waterford, an iron vessel, after striking on the Great Bu r b o -b an k on Wednesday morning, in tke i late severe gale, rode through it., till Saturday, whifri4 she was towed off, and escaped from her perilous posit*" with comparatively little injury; whilst the J. P. Whit ney, having unfortunately on the same morning, stria* upon the bank at the entrance of the 'Victoria Charatc% to pieces.