The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

Jane 1, 1847. ?Loral fltlu9. Mr. William Fox has been elected Master of the Lyceum News-r , vice Mr. Hughes, who has disappeared. THSWORKHOITSE.—There are 1641 persons in our Workhouse, 557 of whom are down in fever. Since last December, 1,363,000 quarts of soup have been given out in Liverpool at the soup-shops. -Robert Woodward, Esq. of Liverpool, has purchased the , estate of P ers h ore , i n the vale of Irvesham, Worces tershire, for £17,000. The steam-ship Britannia arrived at Boston on the 16th ultimo, on her last outward voyage, having accomplished the passage in twelve days from this port. THE BATHS IN PAUL-STREET.—Last week upwards of 1500 persons bathed at this establishment, and the amount received was £l7. Cart-owners are seeking higher rates for cartage, and carters higher wages for driving, in consequence of the high price of provisions, &c. On Wednesday, the body of a child was found in a field in Tranmere. It was deposited in a sm a ll box, and a por tion of earth was thrown over it. An immense stalk of maize, grown in Louisiana, has been brought to Liverpool. The enormous stalk is 17 feet 9 inches in height, and bears six ears, each of which weighs a pound, and contains 880 grains upon an average. DEATH BY POISON.—On Monday last, William hiking ton, of Upper Mann-street, destroyed himself by taking poison. Whilst intoxicated he eat some white powder which had been got to poison cockroaches. On Sunday week, as Mary Roche, aged 50, living in Brick -street, was coming down stairs, assisted by her daughter, she fell, and died almost instantly. She had not had sufficient to eat, and was ill of fever. THE NEW LANDING STAGE.—This monstrous piece of workmanship is to be tugged to its place, opposite St. George's Pier, this day, (Tuesday,) about eleven o'clock, by seven steam tugs. Arrangements have been made in the Workhouse for the reception of such persons as may be found in the streets at night in a state of fever, instead of their being taken to bridewell, to the danger of casual prisoners, as has been the case recently. HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—About nine o'clock on Tues day night, a woman, servant to Mr. Langley, Russell street, was stopped by two men in Falkner-square, and robbed of 2s. 6d. One of the villains held her by the throat, whilst the other ransacked her pocket. NEW POTATOES.—Some remarkably fine new potatoes, which had been grown in the open air, were exhibited at the Woolton horticultural show on Thursday. It was stated that, in that neighbourhood, the disease had almost entirely disappeared. QUICK SAILING.—The schooner Byzantium, Captain Thurtell, one of the fine class of vessels belonging to William Carpenter, Esq., of Birkenhead, h as j us t com pleted the - voyage from Plymouth to Const an ti nop l e i n the unprecdented short space of twenty days. CART HORSES.—On Wednesday, two valuable cart horses were sold at Lucas's for £l4O, to the Earl of Bal carres and Mr. Cruikshank, the brewer. The cause of the great rise in the prices of draught horses is, that all the railway contractors are large buyers at present, and will •be until all railways are completed. They are forty per cent. dearer than twelve months ago. _ _ LYING-IN HOSPITAL. - An appeal was made on Sunday last, in behalf of this charity, at the Roman Catholic •chapel, Copperas-hill, when, after a sermon by the Rev. Dr: Gillow, the sum of £46 was collected. A similar ap peal was also made at the Crescent chapel, Everton, by the Rev. John Kelly, when the sum of £2O was collected on behalf of the same institution. The lamented death of Mr. Richard Houghton creates a vacancy in the representation of Scotland Ward in the Town Council, which will shortly have to be filled up. As Mr. Houghton's term of servitude did not expire till November, 1848, the gentleman about to be elected to the vacant office will have to serve till the expiration of that time. The election for the new member will take place on Thursday. The congregation of St. Michael's Church, Toxteth park, have presented their highly respected minister, the Rev. William Hesketh, with a full suit of canonicals as an . Oxford Master o f A r t s , i n test i mony of their deep ad miration of the soundness o f hi s t eac hi ng, the attention which he gives to his pastoral duties, and his excellent personal and private character. FEVER.—The Rev. Dr. Appleton, of Seel -street Roman Catholic Chapel in this town, died of typhus fever on Wednesday. Mr. Steele, the assistant'of the late Mr. Rowlands, one of our relieving officers, died of the same fatal disease on Friday morning; and on the same evening police-constable George Young, assistant relieving officer died of fever, caught in the discharge of their duties. ROCK FERRY FLOWER SHOW.—This exhibition, which will take place on Friday next, will, no doubt, be well at tended, as, independent of the well known taste and skill of the exhibition in the neighbourhood, the gardens at tached to the hotel are so well adapted for such a pair pose. The boats to the ferry will run continually throughout the day, and everybody knows the great im provements which have taken place there, and the excel lent accommodation at the hotel. On Thursday Mr. Edward Bryan, a shipwright, died under the following circumstances :—Three weeks ago he and another man were engaged in coating the bottom of a vessel in the Brunswick Dock, with a mixture of tar and arsenic, applied in a hot state. While working, the de ceased complained of being ill, and was very sick, throw ing up a quantity of white matter. He said he thought he had been e u.oned from the effects of the fumes or va )our which proceeded from the mixture. the rir ....6ers of Prescot rung on the bells of the parish church a true peal of " gransire triples," consisting of 1847 changes in one hour and six minutes, being the date of the present year, and likewise the fare well of one of their members. The ringers were stationed as follows :—Robert Clithrow, treble ; Thomas Hutches, 2d,.being his farewell; Henry Dagnall, 3d ; Manley D. Dumbill, 4th; Lawrence Wainwright, sth ; Thomas John Bullock, 7th ; James Rose, tenor.-- d conducted by John Bullock. HINT FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS TO THE COR PORATION OF LIVERPOOL by the Governor of Pahu o •A proclamation was issued its have been r of the 1 of Honolulu, and ihi d anrerous pray di,tributed to the custom of slaughter ing -the animals on or near the wharfs. This is forbidden for the future, and " all beef slaughtered in viol a ti on o f this prohibition shall, on proof of the same, be forfeited, ine-fotuth to the benefit of the informant, and three eovernment,.for the support of the police ROD 01 11111:'*- 6u _UNFOUNDED I ..UMOUR OF A CASE OF POISONING.—An Inquest was held before Mr. Curry, the borough coroner, on Saturd ay l ast, on view of the body of Patrick Hopper, agdd 42 years, who resided in Paul-street. About three weeks ago he complained of a pain in his side, but was otherwise well. Yesterday evening week he went to a druggists' shop, a n d asked for something to ease the pain. He was questioned as to his state by a man in the shop, who mixed up a powder for After taking th e powder atmh 11i b urning sensation i n hi s stomach of whit e an d y e ll ow e colo o urs a . an , d h b e w c o e rn la lalan.nd sickness an d great thirst. He kept gettingwoca l l ra s f e o a o l f i night, and next morning became speechless, in which state he remained until Wednesday, when he died. A 'rumour was put forth to the effect that he had been poisoned. Mr. Walton, surgeon, made a post mortem examination, and found the cause of death to be effusion in the brain, probably arising from fever ; an d h e cou ld riot detect the presence of poison of any description. Verdict, " Death from natural causes." Loss OF TIIE BOSTON PACKET-SIIIP ANGLO-SAXON.— By the steam-ship Caledonia advices have been received of the loss of the fine new packet-ship Anglo-Saxon, Cap tain Gordon, near Cape Sable. The non -arrival of this ship during the past week excited some surprise, the vessels of the line to which she belongs being noted for the rapi dity of their passages. The. Anglo-Saxon sailed from Boston, it appears, on the sth instant with a heavy cargo )f -corn and flour, and a considerable number of passen subsequently, encountered strong gales from the -st, -st, and, on the night of Saturday, the Bth instant, in a lalli storm from the southeast, drove on Shore on Duck Island, Shag Harbour, near Cape Sable. The passengers, - crew, and part of the carg o, the latter very much damaged, were saved; but the vessel was expected to be a total loss. The hull was broken to the floor-heads, fore and aft, on the starboard side. The Anglo-Saxon was a new vessel, of tons burthen, cost 56,000 dollars, and was launched only last summ er . Sh e was i nsure d f or t h at amount i n Boston; but, unfortunately, a simil ar p recau ti on h a d b een taken with regard to only half of the freight money, which amounted to 10,000 dollars. her cargo consisted prin cipally of breadstuffs, which, with 600 barrels pork, was on. English account and risk : namely 5,000 bushels Indian corn, 5,000 barrels bread, 350 barrels soda-biscuit, 5 00 barrels flour, 1,000 barrels turpentine, 400 barrels rosin, 600 barrels pork, 300 firkins lard, 22 barrels shoe Pegs, some leather, &c., valued, at a rough estimate, at more than 50,000 dollars; and 25 barrels and boxes pro visions for the relief of the Irish. THE CORPORATION WATER BILL.—The Manchester Guardian says,----" It should be explained, that the esti olt ate given in this paper of the probable cost of obtaining he water works bill which the corporation of Liverpool are now solicitin g was not made upon rash or vague 1 roun mina ds. It i nc l u d es, of course, the expense of the pre and ary -surveys, the va l ue of Mr. Hawksley's time, all the wide latitudedof parliamentary expenses. The contest - is to be res to rival in magnitude next week, and it bids fair aunTlecl arge the memorable battle between the adverse dock ' interests on the, banks of the M erse y. It is, therefore, with some confidence repeated, that it will cost the corporation at le st £30,000 before they can commence any part of the worksa whatever and that in all probability the bill will re q ire amen& l e v ii e t in 'the next session."—The Preston e Pituot says , Wirra haPpy to find that the hopes of our friends 'in are the neighbourhood with reference to this bill, iriava and lbebly be realised, and that there is a good chance'ofpthe :peat bubble, designated the Rivington ebu rs ti ng Vabefore the water is put into it. Still, however, the oppo tiotna,e must proceed with vigilance, and no t an inch of n ground must be thrown away, in ord er t h at the W ily a - tempts which have -hitherto been made, and are wow making, by interested parties in Liverpool, to obtain this measure, may be frustrated. Nor is Wigan the only Place where opponents to the bill exist, for even in Liver tool, the very place which, it is preten d e d , w i ll b e so much ne fitted by it, th ere are so b er - m i n ded and thi n ki ng eo, who are not only fully aware, but do not fail to ex- Press their opinions that the boasted advantages set forth cannot be calculated upon, after the enormous outlay that ust take place, and the dreadful havoc upon private Property which the passing of this measure must create. _ n the preamble was declared to have been proved, a Rostponement took place until Tuesday next, and during L' l ,?,reee a !s the compensation clauses were to be gone into, ;',go- view of estimating the claims of parties in opposi "a. The business has gone on slowly, and we trust that before it is concluded the bill will be annihilated by its t o t l t v ia n ponderousp weight ; and th ere i s just reason to torm opinion. [B4l. very deep jug stonegr on silk, to h used in Two very sometimes the waist, )arge,s have our toilet, undergoes those of arlowe re it is a white ambric, or e is rather s from the with rich de of tie ' of broad we, and a ments the are much athers, or materials orn, orna- of flowers. aside with ibbons, on INDARD. • Montrose, med at this ed unoceu rived at so .ment will ms may be arantine 346. Lrpets, &c rossesaiop, ; and it ie honour of antine (le ts as shall h the hon. ne occupy us impres lculated to ddress you 'er waiting 's views, CAVE. INDARD. Lders have lestimable ticle from " ourvene that oppo :tics from inscribing Seeley in [nfluenced falsehood nsert in a us clearly s in their p factious iderations as, though retention. the article hodomon, Babylon, possesses ss of reli; ds not the r Church, presumes :o step in l decency, a, and to e Church and little, nstances ! uplifted e .lives an rul parish a fold can ied modes provided eace, and If this fa- iple upon Id have a hose con e " abun- ach " fine • to each 1 extortion irely not, pions be nd,) what care not is agency 1 incubus , but sbe its of ha ovement ; ism, is to monster own con- roceed to parochial ers of the i temples, Le face of it ;—they Loly worli he citadel :omplete.cl fallen, 11 Lnd then was only spectacle ry system without " heart's by factiOn ch no one and " without ished, the ges contz- at in these m me any the means t they be ci, it mat s force to er marked ation, the In which I ) have nct ]odox and I,_ and the ' defended 3eptem ber here, iarist, the f England s, sir, be than Pa- N;;;e said bases the e former• represses had a spe- This prin: indeed it table and ns of ma - . ruction 01 n in Eng' be n, I O would also keeP upon the I should dread the nder mer !xit of th e •ch of our r agent, or estantistn . )f PoperY , effect the e full E . er• ans. h e a all guar: •oteet that I y, as t their h hi; e; a vigara u " of all or t lemy, ; but trait ndly r, they f'" it find oil% leratioa A naintsial; he eara e le ie . tg r e o ol ! which %Is rs' fac t 'ae 1 and Aecer sof e ss itablea n ae th but " „ r ite fon— t ; .ning ho lo ence Thig surPr i w s h , s B r olut Ti a ved , e ro we nd t- h. s" s terie s f tlifel tru ,einq q° olo o heY..:bly, ” aElgin sift Tiflan the h t I ,, r don- 4t h, al t he on inten t ' 11 t ; he 41,-Al3 assis' w bo one e bort Om SUDDEN DEATH.—On.Saturday, an inquest was held before Mr. Curry, on view of the body of James Lawless, 'aged 56, who resided in a cellar in Fontenoy-street. On Friday night deceased took his supper, and was then ap. parently in good health: Shortly afterwards he sat down, and while in the act of lighting his pipe, he suddenly fell from his chair, never spoke, and died in about two hours afterwards. He had never complained of any ailment until the previous week, when he said he had a pain in his heart and in his head. BURGLARY.—On Tuesday night, or early on Wednes day morning, the house of Mr. Gladstone, Clifton-park, was entered by thieves, and a quantity of property carried off; comprising a silver basin, sugar -tongs, with several teaspoons, forks, wine labels, &c. ; there was also about £4 or £5 in money. The burglars made free with two bottles of port wine. It appears that they effected their entrance by taking up the grating of the coal vault, and made their way from thence to the kitchen, and the other parts of the house. On Wednesday evening a man offered the silver basin for sale, and was apprehended. PREVALENCE OF FEVER.—At at inquiry before the coroner, on Tuesday, touching the death of a woman who died from the effects of a fall as she was coming down stairs in a house in Brick-street, it transpired that no less than seventeen persons had died of fever in that one house, in the space of a fortnight. At the time of the above in quiry there were ten cases of fever in one room. Mr. Curry attributed the great prevalence of the disease to the fact of the condemned cellars having been again brought into requisition as human dwellings. He des paired of any check being put to the infection until these were abandoned, and tents provided in their stead. DEATH OF MR. GEORGE GRAHAM.—We regret to re cord the death of Mr. George Graham, who has filled the situation of superintendent of St. John's Market upwards of sixteen years. The deceased was on his way to his mother's house, in G reen -street, on Saturday eveningweek, when he was taken suddenly ill. On reaching the house, a medical gentleman was sent for, who administered every remedy which the nature of the case demanded, but the deceased sank rapidly, and breathed his last the following day, about two o'clock. The disease, which terminated so fatally, was mortification of the intestines. Mr. Gra ham was in his forty-fifth year. THE NEW ORGAN FOR ST. GEORGE'S HALL, LIVER POOL.—A short time since, the corporation of Liverpool, at the recommendation of the building committee, passed a vote suspending all regulations respecting the erection of the contemplated great organ until the new hall was completed. We learn that Dr. Wesley has sent a me. morial complaining of this decision. The document has been forwarded to us for insertion, but is too lengthy. It is to be regretted that Dr. Wesley refused the co-opera tion of Dr. Mendelsshon, Dr. Walmsley, and others; and as the great organs of St. Denis and the Madeleine were built upon fixed and certain contracts, it is not the case that the contract for a large organ should be in any wise uncertain. The council intend considering Dr. Wesley's memorial, and we hope this great national work of art may not be confined to the consideration of any one professor, or be made a job of, but that the course adopted may follow in example that which has led to the erection of two such noble organs as the St. Denis and the Made leine. In these cases there was a committee of no less than fourteen distinguished characters. The matter now rests well, and delay in this case cannot be attended with danger.—Morning Chronicle THE ACQUITTAL OF THE SEVEN BISHOPS, IN WEST MINSTER HALL ; BY J. R. HERBERT, ESQ., R.A.—We have: been favoured with an opportunity of seeing the above splendid painting, which is now on view at No. 82, Bold-street, and which, this evening, will furnish the text for the eloquent lecture by the Rev. H. M'Neile, D.D. As a mere painting—a specimen of artistical skill in colouring, grouping, the management of light and shade, and for its general effectiveness—it is impossible to speak too highly of this work. One great additional merit, however, con sists in the fact that the principal figures are, as nearly as can be judged of from the original portraits extant, faith ful likenesses of the originals who figured in this mo mentous aad spirit-stirring scene. The moment chosen by the painter is that in which the foreman of the jury pron9unced the verdict of acquittal ; and the excitement produced amongst a portion of the assembly is forcibly given, the bishops themselves alone appearing to main tain the lofty dignity and calmness of conscious rectitude. The accessories, like the whole picture, indeed, are well managed. The painting is in course of engraving, and the speculation will, doubtless, be a successful one. COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION.-Mr. George Buckland, from London, is at present delivering a course of six lec tures at this institution, on the very attractive subject of " Musical c h arac t er i st i cs, " with vocal and instrumental illustrations by himself. The first lecture was given on Friday evening, and fully justified the flattering estimate which has been formed of Mr. Buckland's powers by the metropolitan , critics. O ne o f t h ese, in noticing a lecture delivered at the city of Westminster Literary and Sci entific Institution, says, " In his introductory observa tians, Mr. Buckland drew a comparison between the Ger man and Italian schools of music, and evinced an erudite and intimate acquaintance with their distinguishing cha racteristics. Ile then referred to modern ballad writers, and paid a high compliment to Lover, Burns, and other popular creators of song. ' Young England,' a buffalo song, by John Parry, he gave with much effect, bringing the efforts of that most successful artist to mind. The song was encored. Moore's beautiful melody, "Ile Meeting of the Waters,' Mr. Buckland warbled in a sweet manner, imparting to it all the pathos of which it is sus ceptible. The Gambler's Wife,' he gave with an effect that gained for it an encore ; and in Matrimony,' which he made his finale, he was completely and graphically successful, tickling the sides - of the ladies with laughter, and gaining for himself an additional leaf to the wreath of fame which he so successfully earned on his appear ance." The second lecture at the Collegiate Institution, will be delivered this evening, and we have no doubt will be still more numerously attended than the first. WOOLTON FLOWER SHOW.—The firct the season took place on Thursday, in a tent erected spe cially in the beautiful village of Woolton. The weather. throughout the day was lovely, and the attendance was tolerable in numbers and highly respectable. Among those present we noticed Samuel Staniforth, Esq., James Procter, Esq., James Parker, Esq., T. Warrington, Esq.. Miss Warrington, George Haram, Esq. R. Alison, Esq., and many of the elite of the neighbourhood. The gera niums and fuchsias were not very fine or numerous. Mrs. Ashton exhibited twelve beautiful cut roses, which ob tained the first prize. There were very few devices of flowers, and the most tasty, and in every respect the best arranged device, was that shown by W. Shand, Esq. It was in the spiral form, surmounted by a crown. There were several fine panzies, for which Pattison Ellames, Esq., took the first prize. We think this gentleman must have borne off one-half of the prizes, but he emi nently deserved them. Ambrose Lace, Esq., obtained the first prize for six immense sticks of rhubarb. The show of young potatoes, cucumbers, kidney beans, and parsley was extremely good •, there were also a few pods of peas exhibited. Pattison Ellames, Esq., obtained the first prize for a very fine dish of strawberries, perfectly ripe. There were several large baskets of beautiful vegetables. There were also three or rour baskets of cut flowers, very tastefully and showily a rrange d. Th a t s h own by R. Alison, Esq., obtained the first prize, on account, we presume, of its containing the most costly flowers, for that of Mr. Ellames, which received the second prize was certainly superior in arrangement to our taste. The bas kets of plants contained some very choice specimens. Stubbs' band was in attendance and contributed to the enlivenment of the gay scene. DEAF AND DUMB ScßooL.—On Thursday, the annual examination of the children of this school took place in the theatre of the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, be fore a numerous and highly respectable audience. Richard Rathbone, Esq., in the absence of the president of the institution, the Rev. Rector Campbell, occupied the chair. The Chairman stated that the number of boarders which could be received was thirty; they were now full of boy boarders, but there was room for ten more girls. There were no vacancies for private pupils at present, but a vacancy would occur in the course of six months. The younger pupils were then examined by the teacher, Mr. Rhind, with the view of showing their progress in the knowledge of objects. He afterwards took the interme-• diate classes, and these were examined as to the knowledge of manufactures, minerals, history, more particularly sacred history; and arithmetic. Several the informationestions eo put by the company to test the extent of h r all w . er ß e hi s n a d tis s f a a i c d to i ri t satisfactorily h a a i d lsw be e e r n ed a h o During ft_ i h . c h h e il e d : r a:m n examination, question 7 , i ‘ th_s2 i m . e h w n he b th d er it were I p ,, o f s_si ; b t le n to_ teach the several pupils who had been the object of his attention and instruction. The mode which he had adopted, he said, was to get the child to place one of its fingers on the wind-pipe of the speaker, by which means it could ascer tain the vibrations, extensions, and contractions of that endeavour, by 'aid of the motions of the lips, to produce similar sounds. Several children were produced who articulated, very closely, words which the teacher uttered. One pupil very satisfactorily repeated Dr. Watts's hymn of "flow doth the little busy bee," and elicited much ap 7 approbation.. The examination closed shortly after two. o'clock, all present being highly delighted with the pro gress of the pupils. DISCOVERY OF A CURIOUS TOMB-STONE.--The sexton of Wallasey, while last week digging a grave in the church yard of that ancient parish, discovered, soma; feet below the surface of the ground, a stone larger than those usually found at such a depth, and actuated by curiosity as well as convenience, he had it dug up. It turned out to be a tomb-stone, or great part of it, and evidently of great antiquity. It is of the ordinary hard freestone of the ridge of hill on which the church stands, and which ex tends a considerable distance in a north and south direc tion,, with a large quarry near the mill, from which are procured the stones for the proceeding immense embank ment along the Leasowe coast, towards floylake. The relic found is about five feet in length, and about five inches in thickness. It resembles in shape the top of a coffin, narrowing at the foot, but a portion of the head part is broken off in a diagonal direction. Its antiquity is indicated by the carving or chiseling on the top, the emblems and inscription being raised in relief. On one side, in a longitudinal direction, there is apparently a representation of a sword, with a sort of basket handle, and at the point a portion of the raised work resembles the head of a spear ; but whether this be a detached orna ment or a crest, or intended as finishing part to the weapon, does not yet clearly appear. On the other side, and t also runn i ng longitudinally, there is a raised inscrip tll r t eh o cie n ruisr n teo nsantiqueoen: weistudyti i c character, a n c r r e circular, s oe l ar i i r s c c ! c h hr , of t iul h l el o yn u g r g to h adv r e a i ne t h gy peurhpecorl upon a it,rx wne cut in the surface in a rather rude manner, was found near it ; but whether this and another stone which projected into another grave, and could not be removed without trespass, formed part of the original tomb, does not appear. The larger stone may possibly have been the lid of a stone coffin. We may be enabled to revert to the subject here after. From present appearances the principal stone marked the burial place of some warrior, or at. least " Armiger," of the olden tune. LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LOCAL MEETINGS. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.—At the monthly meeting of the Council tomorrow the proceedings of the health committee will comprise the appointment uf Mr. Thomas Duncan as assistant surveyor, at a salary, of £450 per annum. The proceedings of the gardens committee will comprise a recommendation that the herbarium at the Botanic Gardens be extended into a museum of foreign vegetable products, and that for this purpose the surveyor be requested to report as to the capability of the present building for affording such a museum, or-the necessity of any further erection for that purpose. Notice of the fol lowing motion has been given by Mr. Councillor Higgins, " That reporters be admitted to the weekly meetings of the health of the town committee, so far as regards public business - that a committee be appointed to inquire and report why the rate for the payment of the policemen employed to watch the property of the warehouse..owners has not been levied according to the provisions of the act." By Mr. Councilor Samuel Mame,- "That the resolution of the Council of the 3rd March last, con firming the recommendation of the law courts committee, ' not to proceed with the erection of the organ of St. George's Hall, until the interior of the hall is finished,' be rescinded ; and that the committee be requested to take such measures, subject to the confirmation of the Council, as may ensure the completion of an organ by the time that the edifice is ready to receive it." WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.--The weekly meeting was held on Wednesday, Mr. Sheppard in the chair. A letter was read from the Poor-law Commissioners, recommend.. ing that, on accou n t o f th e hi g h pr i ce of wheat and other grain at the present time, the diet of the paupers and the out-door relief afforded in the shape of bread, should be made of a somewhat inferior description to the finer qua lity of the same article now used, and that in the unions where the habits of the labouring classes admit of it, as in Wales and the north of England, oatcake or stirabout should be occasionally substituted for bread. The com missioners also state that they will be willing tumake any alteration of the dietary which may be found necessary to enable the guardians to carry out their suggestions. Mr. Shaw, in accordance with his notice of last week, moved that £lO4 a-year be added to the salary of the assistant overseer of Everton, to enable him to keep a rate book and office clerk for the township. Mr. Parker seconded the motion, which, after some discussion as to the pap priety of the overseer appointing his own clerk, was car ried. The Rev. Mr. Badnall hoped that the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of erecting a hospital in connexion with the workhouse, would appoint an early day for meeting. Mr. Peers said that something must be done, as the present hospital was in avery crowded state ; many of the patients were lying two in a bed. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—It was reported that the north stack of warehouses, No. 8, at the Albert Dock, would be completed and ready for the reception of goods on the Ist of June, and that the new offices would be ready about the same time. A letter was read from Mr. Elias Mosley, complaining of impediments in the de livery of bullion from a ship in the Albert Dock. Letters were read, showing the delay occurred with the Custom house officers, and not with the dock estate. It was re commended that an iron barge of forty tons burthen, should be provided for transporting goods from one part of the Albert Dock to another. Mr. Royden thought that a wooden barge would be better than, an iron one. Wood would be more likely to stand the wear and tear than iron.—The Chairman ; I'm afraid you did not see the iron buoys which came in the other day. The iron ones stood double the tear and wear of the wooden ones. —Mr. Royden : They can put stays into the buoys, but you cannot do so in a barge. It is, however, a matter of opinion. —In compliance with a recommendation from the Shipwrights' Association, a bye-law was submitted and passed, for regulating the graving. docks. It provides that no vessel shall be admitted into the graving dock unless blocks have been duly prepared for its reception, and lines stretched across the docks, and in the event of the owner, consignee, or captain of any vessel entered for the graving docks neglecting to provide those things, he shall be liable to a penalty of £lo.—The receipts at Run corn for the month ending the 26th instant, were stated to be £B2 12s. 9d. on 310 vessels 15,768 tons, being an increase of 60 vessels, 1971 tons, and £8 19s. 9d. receipts, as compared with the corresponding period of last year.— Toxteth Dock was ordered to be let dry after the evening tide of Sunday, for the purpose of repairing the gates. — A letter was read from Messrs. Wilson and Sons, agent to the Cork Steam Packet Company, requesting permis sion to use lock-up lanterns on board the Minerva in the dock. The application stated that they understood other vessels had this privilege.—The Chairman : No such pri vilege was ever given to any vessel, nor have we the slightest power to give such permission. —Mr. Henderson : The ships are allowed to have fides on board in the Birkenhead docks.—The Chairman : That is no reason we should fol low a bad example.—Mr. Henderson : Mr. Mann says there-is no great danger of fire in the Birkenhead docks. (Laughter.)—The Chairman : You are positively inhi bited by your acts. I had such applications daily during the winter, but they never were in one instance complied with.—The Chairman stated that the new landing stage would be removed on Tuesday, the Ist of June, (this day.) Seven steamers had been engaged to tow it, and it would be launched about an hour before high water. Mr. Hart ley, jun., said she was completely ready. They had no thing to do but to pull down the embankment.—The Chairman said there was an inquiry from behind (the re porters) as to whether there was to be any festivity on the occasion.—Mr. Rankin : It is not a matter for rejoicing —The Chairman : No, it is a very great imposition on tl istrut. .rb3s. CLITHEROE. - -Matthew Wilson, Esq., of Eaton-hall, issued an address on Saturday night to the electors of Clitheroe, offering himself as a candidate for the borough. The address alludes to Mr. Wilson's being elected six years ago. DISTRESS IN MANCHESTER.—ThE condition of the poor in this town is daily becoming worse, and the de mands upon the poor-rate are fearfully increasing. From 16,000 to 20,000 persons are now relieved weekly, at a cost of nearly £l,OOO. How long this state of things will continue it is difficult to say. On Friday, when the Blue-school boys at Chester were taking a walk along the river side, some of them, in the absence of their master, would bathe, notwithstanding the repeated remonstrances of the person under whose care they were placed. The stream being strong, one of the bathers sunk to rise no more. THUNDER STORM.—During the progress of the thunder storm that occurred in Lancashire on Friday the 14th inst., an oak tree in Knowsley Park, the seat of the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, was shivered to pieces by light ning, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. At the bottom of the tree the electric fluid passed into the ground, and tore up the surface, to the depth of four or six inches, as if it had been forced by a rude plough, the furrows extending about four feet on each side of the trunk, towards the south-west and north-east. FATAL FIGHTS.—On Wednesday week, two navi gators, one known as " Bristol Jack," the other's name being Paul Price, entered into a pugilistic contest at Daf ford Green, near Worcester. At the end of the fifth round, one of the men, " Bristol Jack," was so severely injured that he could not continue the fight, and the next day he died.—On Monday last, two men, named Marsden and Hyde, quarrelled at Darwen, when the latter chal lenged the other to fight. They accordingly went into a field, and during their contest Hyde frequently kicked his opponent ; and before the fight was over, Hyde felt back, and died instantly. MYSTERIOUS MURDER AT WALTON-LE-DALE .—On or about Saturday week, the murder of a child, under myste rious circumstances, was, it is believed this quiet village, near Freston. The bod IscovereC on the followiiig . Monday. A woman, - on the previous Friday, went to the house of an innkeeper there; to whom she was a stranger, with .a child in her arms, who she said was poorly, and she gave it a little gin. She went away towards Darwen, saying she was going to search for her husband. She passed the same inn next day without the child. She appeared too old to be the mother, but said she was so. The body was found by two little boys in Gregson's Brook, near the bridge, with the face in the water. The same woman had been seen before carrying the child, and was also seen coming from the direction of the brook without the child. The surgeon who examined it said death was caused by submersion in water. Verdict, wilful murder against a woman unknown. THE CHEAP TRIPS.—We gather from the Manchester papers, that during last week, the number of scholars and teachers who were _conveyed to various beautiful localities dock estate, anc one it has no business to bear. MEETING OF THE RATE -PAYERS OF BIRKENHEAD. ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS.-A meeting of the rate-payers of the township of Birkenhead was held on Thursday, for the purpose of considering the best course to be adopted at the ensuing election of commissioners in the present position of the affairs of Birkenhead. shire Railway, up to Friday_ evening, was number conveyed on the London and Birmingham lint was somewhere about 9,000. The cheap trains to Liver pool took, on' Monday 184 persons, on Tuesday 413, on Wednesday 668, on Thursday 748, on Friday 845, being a total of 2,858. The number of passengers who went by the ordinary trains from the Victor' room was crowded, and oh the platform were William Jackson, Esq., Joseph Mallaby, Esq., C. Bentham, Esq., John Hicklin, Esq., Mortimer, Esq., &c., &c. Wm Jackson, Esq., was called to the chair ;• the announce ment being received with loud c tion was moved by Mr. Hicklin —ia station was, on Monday 2,019, on Tuesday 1,779, on Wednesday 1,630, on Thursdhy 3,160, being an aggregate for the four days of 8,588. To Newton races there was a much smaller _ _ peers. T It was— resolu- sions, owing to the fact that they were held on the same 4-1,—;" num Thorn men* 1-11;41,m. 117-A sequence of the present condition of the township affairs of Birkenhead, and acknowledged want of public confi dence, it is essential to the interests of the town and the restoration of credit, that a change should be effected by the election of commissioners, who are totally independent of the party now predominant at the board . " Mr. Hick lin went to show that in consequence of a want of unity amongst the commissioners, and the expulsion from it of some of the master spirits, who had contributed so much to the rise and progress of the township, there was a want of confidence, injurious to the interests of the commu nity. He referred to the course pursued by the commis sioners in reference to the Gas and Water Bills, which he deprecated in the strongest terms. They had expended the township money in going to Parliament for bills which would not only be- no advantage to the people, but a po sitive disadvantage, as difficulties had been thrown in the way of the present company, who were prevented by the unsettled state of the question, from making those reduc tions to the community which they might otherwise have don( nesday 70, on Thursday 447, and on" Friday 78. ATTEMPTED MURDER.—On Thursday morning, a most extraordinary attempt at murder was made by an aged female in Caton : st7q, Hulme, Manchester, the life of the person sought being a young man named Thomas Royle, a shoemaker, a son-in-law of the would-be mur deress. The name of the woman is Elizabeth Jackson, and her daughter and son-in-law Thomas Royle lived with her, at No. 43, Caton-street, Hulme. Jackson is a married woman, but has been separated from her husband about eight years. She slept in the same room with her son-in-law and daughter, and at an early hour on Thurs day morning went to the bed side of the young couple, who have only been married nine months, and leaning over the body of the daughter, with a large common table knife cut the throat of Royle, who lay next to the wall, and who, as wail as his wife was fast asleep. Fortunately the knife was not very sharp, and the young man was awoke by its passing across his throat before a sufficiently deep incision had been effected to prove fatal. He put out his hand to save himself, when the end of one of his fingers was nearly cut off, and he then sprang out of bed, and ran into an adjoining house for help. The female has, it appears, a little property of her own, consisting of four cottages, recently built in Hulme, and an attempt, as she alleges, to get hold of it by the son-in-law was the main cause of the horrid deed she attempted. FR EEMASONRY.— On Wednesday, the annual provincial grand meeting of ancient, free, and accepted Masons, of the It had been said they must sup - port the docks, and he agreed with those parties who said so. He wished the docks to be supported, as they were for the benefit of the town, but that was no reason they were to uphold a par ticular section, who did not study the interest of the people at large, but their own private ends. He urged the meet ing to come forward on the day of election, and vote for those men, a list of which he submitted to them—men who would do all they could to relieve the township trom its embarrassments in the present crisis, and be the means was held a was esse future and permanent progress. The resolution was se conded by Mr. C. Bentham, who observed that if he should be elected a commissioner, as he understood his name was on the list. he would serve the township to the best of his ability. Mr. Appleton made some remarks in condemnation of the conduct pursued by Mr. Mallaby at the Board of Commissioners, to which that rc replied in an energetic and well-timed s lution was ti Le Gentre N. Starlcie, Esq., of Huntroyd. The Craft brethren assembled at eleven o'clock, in the large room, which was elegantly furnished with the various insignia of Masonry, when the c stomary cere Shortly after the approach of the Provincial Grand Lodge was announced; the doors were thrown open, and during The reso .i. organist, lowing waS-lethnepnutparon p d o c s a e r d r , ie a d s U a na l n is i t m o o f us p ly ers . proper to ser ve th e township effectually in the present emergency :;—Mr. Jos ep h M a ll a b y, Mr. C. Bentham, Mr. o n T s h fi e t f a o n l d J. H. Green, Mr. William Pike, Mr. 11. Fox, Mr. John Hieklin, Mr. Henry J. Nicholls. The list was proposed by Mr. Willoughby, and seconded by Mr. Robert Hughes, who observed that, when it was known there were 3,600 ' houses in the township, and 1,200 of them _ . _ empty, there must be Something-- .. tx rand Lodge entered, and the throne was taken by the D.R. G.M., brother Drinkwater, prayers being said by the P.G. chaplain. The usual business of the province was wuuweu. uy solemn prayer. At two o'clock, the . brethren walked in procession to the beautiful parish church, where an eloquent discourse was preached by the P.G. chaplain, brother Gilmore Robinson, incumbent of Tocklioles from the Bth P sa l m , verse, an d a collection made in aid of the Lancaster Dispensary. Prayers were read by brother Rowley, who, for the last 53 years, has been the chaplain to the Brethren in this town ; brother Miller officiating as clerk. During the absence of the Brethren at the church, the regalia was removed from the Jodge-room, and a transverse table, upon a raised platform, and two longitudinal tables were fixed, upon which was spread a mist sumptuous entertainment, provided by brother,Tagot, in his usual style of profusion and good taste, comprising every delicacy the most fastidious could desire:- Additional effect was given to the piles of good " • wrono-, and it was high time that a change should take place. list was car ried by acclamation. Mr. Bentham prziposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, when the latter, after acknow ledging the' compliment, referred to the history of the township, the interest he had taken in its affairs, and his expulsion from the Board of Commissioners, he justified the course he had pursued, observing that in consequence of the measures taken with respect to the gas and water bills, he could not remain in the Board as the capacity of buyer and seller, and there was no alternative left, but to resign his trust. He administered several severe reproofs to 111 i; Appleton for some remarks he had made in refer ence to him (the chairman) having a great part of his pro perty out of the township. In reply to that, he said there was not one sixtieth part out of the boundary of Birken head ; he asked Mr. Appleton how much money had been lent them since he left. (Hear.) After a short pause Mr. Appleton replied—" When you left, the money poured in till the fountains of money were dried up throughout the country." (Laughter.) The Chairman thought the flowing in was similar to the last drop from a pipe. (Laughter.) After much cheering for the chairman, and some groaning and hissing for Mr. Appleton, the meeting broke up at a quarter past ten. Great activity prevails in canvassing the rate-payers, and a strong contest may be expected ; various placards calling on the electors to come forward are posted on flie walls, amongst which we observe the following squib :—" In the press, and will speedily be published, a new edition of that popular work The Last of the Lairds.' " things,. by the introduction of a great variety of silken banners, upon which the various emblems were beautifully painted by brother J. Shrigley. At foui o'clock, the D.P.G.M., brother Drinkwater, was conducted to the chair by the P.G. officers, the P.G. organist performing a grand march (Handel.) APPALLING MURDER NEAR MASBROUGII.—The locality of Masbrough was yesterday (Friday) the scene of one of the most revolting and fearful murders that ever fell to our lot to record. The atrocious deed was perpetrated on the public highway, at a spot which is very much frequented, and in the open face of day. Th#victim is an inoffensive, peaceably-disposed woman, named Susanna Jagger, who resided with her husband, Benjamin Jagger, at the top of Masbrough-common, where they kept a small shop for the sale of provisions. Her murderer is a man about 45 years of age, named Samuel Linley, who was in the employ of Messrs. Schofield and Co., of the New Park-gate Iron Works, near Masbrough. The hapless woman was on her way to Rawmarsh, between eleven and twelve in the fore noon, for the purpose of collecting her little accounts amongst her customers. The village of Rawmarsh lies along the turnpike road from Rotherham to Barnsley, about two miles from the former place. Near the road to Rawmarsh is the extensive establishment, called the New Park-gate Iron Works, and some distance beyond this the toll bar, known as the Four-lane-ends Bar. It was in the direction of the latter place that the deceased was proceed ing ; and when about one hundred and fifty yards front the bar, she met the man coming in the opposite direction. A number of women, who were standing near to their dwellings, a little on the Park-gate side of the bar, had just before seen Linley pass, and they observed him to turn off the footpath to the woman, who was in the middle of the road,. and knock her down with his fist. He conti nued to beat her violently on the head while prostrated on the ground. Her loud cries for help excited considerable alarm among the women, one of whom instantly called of a man, named Joshua Hewiud. She continued to scream for assistance. Her bonnet and cap were torn off, and lying by her side, and the man was striking her violently. on the head with his fists, holding her the while between `his knees.. The man Ileward came up just as the murderer. been making upon the subject, that all the districts, with was about to strike a knife in the throat of his victim, and the exception of those ocoupied by the Irish, were at pre- tried to prevent him, but the murderer was too strong for sent in an exceedingly healthy state. (Hear, hear.) him, and s-aoh a frightful wound was made in the poor Mr. CAFFEEATA. — Have you got another lazaretto yet ? woman's neck that she did not survive more than three or Mr. FERGUSON.—NO; but the fault is not with the four minutes. It is said that the murderer had never vestry ;it lies with the owners- of cotton, who are not die- before seen the poor woman • and the only way in which charging it as quickly as we could wish. the horrid deed - is accounte d is on the supposition that Mr. CAFFERATA. — The sooner you see the entire six of the man was a maniac, labouring under delirium t r e mens , the lazarettoes the better. from excessive drinking.—Sheffield Sercury. The committee reported that there were 1641 persons in the workhouse at present, and that 557 of the inmates . were lying down in fever. The committee passed a resolution to the effect that money should not be borrowed for the relief of the poor under any circumstances, and' that any relieving officer The scene of the a cc id en t i s t h e no bl e b r i dge over-the h money for- such a purpose would b e river De e , c l ose to the race-course. The river is there instantly w o might d i s borrow dismissed. d . I crossed by an i ron b r idg e of three spans. Each span 100 The arrivals of paupers for the week ending the 24th feet in width, and is composed of massive iron girders, instant, were reported to be 6,392. supported by stone of the most firm and durable eon- The total amount of relief given during the week was struction. There are four of these girders in each span, £645 6s. 6d. ; and the total cost of relieving the Irish and one on each side of the up and down lines of rails. Strong the poor legitimately-belonging to the parish had exceeded wooden beams were fixed across the girders, and along the cost of the corresponding week of last year by the sum these the lines- were laid. The girders themselves were of £763 16s. 3d. formed of two pieces of iron firmly riveted in the centre, The CHAIRMAN informed the board that the large num- and seemed well adapted to sustain an immense weight. ber of 1,363,000 quarts of soup had been given out in The train which left Chester at a quarter-past six on Mon- Liverpool since last December. day evening consisted of one first-class carriage, two se not more than two d ozen passengers. The train was pro- Mr. RIDING said, that in remarking at a former me e t- cond-class carria g e s , an d a l uggage van ; but there were coming as usua l along t h e l i ne, had already crossed two of t i b ng e p u e p t o ie n e t t h e e e q f u th an e t Le ity ek of .w wi e n rd e , a t n h d e m bra re n rk d h y e g h i e v e ei c l e to m t e w li o tte o e f had not the slightest intention of impugning the conduct the arches, and was in the act of crossing the third, when of the medical officers. The inconvenient practices which all the carriages were precipitated into the river, a depth had been going on there were made apparent upon an i n - of about 120 f ee t ; th e eng i ne and tender, which had vestigation before Mr. Austin, whose report had been crossed the bridge, pursuing the course along the line. transmitted to the magistrates-;- and with the opinions The consternation of the passengers at this time must have been frightful ; and som e individuals who witnessed the tided. then entertained by the committee Mr. Austin fully coin accident from the Roodee, d escr ib e t h e i r s h r i eks as b eing Mr. FERGUSON gave notice of motion for the next day most heart-rending. But ev en thi s t error was mere l y mo that an efficient medical staff' be appointed. mentary ; for the sudden shock and con cuss i on ren d ere d Mr. almost all the perso ns i n th e carriages totally insensible of begged their situation. O ne man, i n d eed, named Proud, reco- Te Poor o O resign Hwrote e le f t t tr ie r, s i e n lee w t h v ic e h etr h y e . vered himself alm os t i mme di ate l y ; he found himself in a in consequence of the high price of provisions, and the carriage turned upside d own i n the river, and being fully JOHN eN Lawgn PATES,hc is e office m i uiem j un . , .' membe a r e i a s nem begged to suggest that, probability of esculents continuing dear until the harvest, sensible of the ho rrors o f hi s s i tuat i on, he exerted himself to the utmost, and succee d e d i n getting through the car it was desirable that bread should be supplied to the par- to and swam as h ore . Th e crash was heard at a great r pers of a somewhat inferior description to fi n e w h ea t. riage window, w h ence h e prec i p i tated himself into the The letter was referred, and its receipt was ordered to be distance, and assistance was promptly on th e s p o t. F our acknowledged with gratitude. dead bodies were taken out of the river, John Matthews and Knyvett, both coachmen, passengers, and the guard and stoke r o f th e t ra i n ; one man is still missing. Thirteen passengers were more or less injured Mr. Towns has a severe concussion on the brain, and his sister slightly injured : Mrs. Evison a fracture of the hip-bone ; Mr. Isaac Jones his skull fractured; Mr. John Jones a severe contusion on his head, and his wife her thigh frac tured ; Ann Evans, a servant-girl, her thigh and collar bone fractured, besides internal injuries ; Mr. David Evans his thigh fractured, his wife seriously bruised ; a boy, named Stevens, concussion on the brain ; a boy, named M`Grego r , hi s skull fractured ; Mr. J. B. Ford a cut on the head and some slight injuries ; a married fe male, name unknown, severe concussion on the brain. The rest, happily, escaped uninjured. Upon examining the beam as it lay in the river, we could perceive two fractures in it,—one of which, in the middle length, had to all appearance been the result of the fall, and anterior to it. The other, doubtless the immediate cause of this I frightful accident, v-s from 17 t- 1 f--- .. I THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT CHESTER, ~as to 20 teet distant from the south pier of the bridge ; and as the engine driver said he felt the giving way beneath him, allowing for the length of the tender, there can be no doubt that this was the fracture which caused the calamity. The fracture was directly across the beam, from its upper to its lower flange; and connected with this, the flat side of the beam striking against the rock or other hard substance. The trusses, or tension rods, so far as we could see them, ap peared to be entire. Until this massive girder is got .out of the water, which in part conceals it, it is impossible to say what may have been the cause of its fracture. So far as it could be seen, it did not appear to be from any flaw or defect in the metal. The single line of rails on the bridge remaining entire, will be made secure for the work ing of both up and down trains over it in a few days. For the present, however, and till it is so re-opened, pas sengers are conveyed from Chester to Saltney, a distance of about a mile and a half, by the high road, in omnibus or coach. On Thursday, the remains of Roberts, the guard, and Anderson, the stoker, were interred at Chester. The fu nerals were , attended by a great number of persons. Mr Nivitt, the coach driver, was interred in the same afternoon On Friday, an inquest was held on view of the bodic before John Hostage, Esq.. ad ournec been severely hurt, breathed his last. John Taylor, the engineer, detailed the facts given :—He felt the bridge sinking, put on all the steam, and cleared the bridge, but the carriages fell over. He had never had any fear of the bridge. The station -master said that the train in ques tion consisted of the three first-class ~ sa mune° Frith, who was fishing a t th e ti me , saw a us,asaanz, girder fall into the river, and immediately after the carriage fell, the last one first. They fell in different directions, together with a quantity of timber and rubbish. On the same morning, while bathing under the bridge, when a train passed over, he observed the inside girder of the part that gave way bend downwards about four inches. Robert Barlow, I fisherman, saw the bridge fall, and he and his father rowe, up to the spot. They first picked up a lady in Mae' alive, and then helped to get the others out. The r stone of the bridge was lying above one of the - The bodies were identified. The foreman. S air E. Walker, id that several eminent engineers would be called in for examination as to the accident. Mr. Yarrow, C.E., said he bad been an engineer for twenty years, and had studied the building of bridges. He had found the bridge on surveying'it by request, to be apparently sound with the exception of the part that had given way. He con- sidered the work good, but found one displaced stone forming the acute angle of the river pier, and upon which one end of the broken girder rested, to be totally inade quate, in . its form and bearing, for its important situation. MEETING OF THE SELECT VESTRY On Tuesday the second of the weekly meetings of the Select Vestry was held at the Parish-office. The Rev. Rector Brooks presided. Mr. BENNETT - asked whether any answer had been re ceived from the Town Council relative to the filling up of the cellars occupied by the Irish? The CHAIRMAN replied that, on leaving the vestry on Tuesday last, he had seen the Mayor and mentioned the matter to him. It appeared, however, in the course of conversation, that Mr. Rushton had told the mayor that the cellars could not be legally filled up. He (the chair man) asked whether they might not be filled up with the consent of the owners, and the Mayor then asked how they, could go and fill up the cellars until some other pl a ces were provided for the people. Certain it was that the people could not be • turned into the streets ; but if other places were provided for them, and if both parties consented, then the cellars could be filled up. Mr. FERGUSON thought it well to state for tba.inform ation.of.the town, and as the result of inquixies. he. had a u imu unrixell leeL 0v - - was not connected with cramps or hanging as a cornice masonry of the pier. The railway over the~whole brid was curved, this broken girder supporting the outer sic nd being subject to a greater lateral force than the g the inside radius of the curve. He con dered, in conclusion, that this lateral force acting duri ders forming ssage of each train, must have—s-O-1 inefficient masonry, as to cause a displacement of the girder itself, and its consequent tracture. The part that had given way was the weakest. The masonry was deci dedly defective, and the girder was not set far enough upon the pier, and there were no iron bolts to hold it down. It was an experimental bridge of a novel construction. It was stated that the girders were made at the Gusely iron works, and had all been tested. There had been 'nearly 100 bridges erected with similar girders, and this was the first that had given way. The coroners and others said that a rumour had prevailed that the bridge was unsafe. Major Robe said he had witnessed the progress of the building of the bridge, and had expressed to Mr. Munt at the time that one part of it was insufficient. He con sidered the breaking of the girder the cause of the acci dent. Mr. Lee, engineer, who superintended the build ing of the bridge, said, he thought it had fallen from a lateral blow, but how or by what given he could not tell. He had never heard any complaints as to the state of the bridge. The deflection of the bridge both before and since the accident was la to la inch. He had seen the three engines and three tenders linked passed over it, and their weight would be about 120 tons. The Rev. Arthur Rigg, principal of the Chester Training College said —first, defective masonry, especially in the;1311;;i; secondly, a peculiar vibration ; and third, the horizontal motion of the bridge. He saw no objection to the prin ciple, but could give no opinion as t o the strength of the materials. At four o'clock the inquest was adjourned till Wedne day morning, at ten o'clock, to allow time for the attei dance of several government officials. At the close of the sitting, the jury proceeded to the bridge to witness some experiments to show the amount of deflection caused by the passing of a train. THE REV. G. GILFILLAN'S LECTURES, On Wednesday evening last, the'Rev. George Gilfillan, of Glasgow, delivered the first of a course of six lectures on " Modern British Literature," at the Mechanics' Institution. There was a very respectable audience. He ocaa La ect was or considerable importance, as pos sessing certain broad and general views of that very remarkable phenomenon which was called "modern British literature." lie might simply notice that the- French revolution has precedence among the causes, as having deposited that ground from which the more cha racteristic portions of the future literature have arisen. He would name nationality as the first characteristic of our literature. In 'the 18th c,entorv_ Lucy. WOUII.I 1111 a little distinct nationality among the higher minds ; but in Scotland, such men as Robertson, David Hume, Ferguson, and Lowth, all lived among the flihabitants of Scot land—lived in, Edinburgh as if th e y did not . b elong t o -it. But there was wanted a man to spring from the Scottish people—to be the interpreter between the lanes heart and the intellect. Such a man was Burns. He would at present simply point to him as the first specimen of- that nationality which is the character of our litera ture. Various causes besides the influence of Burns contributed to give our literature an air of nationality. Just then there arose a man who, even more than Burns, was the national spirit personified, who was fully qualified to be the solis solenden of his country. In time for Scot land, Scott arose ; but the nationality of Scott did more than revive the memory of our old Scottish glory. It communicated to• every part of Scotland an interest not before known. Scott not only produced a set of characters who outvie others, but bas extended his influence to Ire land, England, and Wales,—created and strengthened all in national literature. He has invested the whole land with a reflective glory. His influences were at present at work, and are melting down the nations of Europe, and especially. Great Britain, into one ; indeed, as his influence proceeds onwards, national peculiarities must disappear : such he would compare to the cities of Pompeii and Herculeneum, which had detailed not only the story of a dead age, but even the manifest details of the manners and customs of the people of that day,—strange, terrible, and instructive lessons. The genius of Scott extended itself throughout Ireland, England, and Scotland. There was another characteristic of literature, and that was its breadth, or rather cosmopolitanism. The literature of Greece was proud, exclusive, contemptuous ; it gave the name of barbarism to all which was not written in its own language. The literature of Rome was disdainful of all nations of its own high degree. The French literature much resembled that of Greece ;—it treated all others with qual scorn. It has always been the distinction of the German that, while preserving a warm regard for its own countrymen, it holds out open arms to every influence and importation. He remarked again that simplicity is anotker_ characteristic of modern British literature, not simplicity of style. Towards the close of the last century simplicity of style had - almost abandoned our literature was capable of expressing the highest thought, and sub serving the loftiest purposes. This style had expired, and before another arose to supply its place, there was an interregnum, in which prevailed in poetry as well as prose, a variety of turgid and bad language. Dr. Johnson, with all his intellect fell into the fault himself, and not only so, but drew the people with him. That style has gradu ally died out of the age, and they foe_nd in general, that the style of present writing is distinguished by its beautiful simplicity, as well as by its profound depth. There were, however, several exceptions, and those of Roman mark, since they include the names of Chalmers, Hall, Carlyle, Burns, and Scott. Such men, like the great changes of the luminaries of the day, speak a language, and climb a path peculiarly their own. Earnestness is the last charac teristic of the age of literature which he would mention. It was a certain intensity of purpose—a reverence and respect , Cor the religious principles around them. An earnest man might be known in his very laugh ; an earnest clown might be detected in his very jests. Think of that weekly periodical called Punch : many read it to be amused, and he must say the people of the age were the better for it ; but that was only supposition. There was something in its matter calculated to make them reflect afterwards ; he spoke not of the political, but of its moral power and purpose. That was to expose the giant hum bugs of the age, who strive to evade its pompous nothings. The authors of the French encyclopedias had thrown down a throne ; shook off the head of a king, but the mirth of that periodical is milder, and under the guidance of better principles ; it had a distinct moral purpose, —a noble resolution. In higher places, its in fluence was beginning to be felt; and resuscitations ma nifest then]selves. Science, Literature, and Religion, were closely connected together ; they figured themselves as three sisters. The first was attired with simplicity ; her eyes were piercing ; her hair was plain.; one hand rested upon a terrestrial globe, the other pointed a telescope to the stars ;—her name is Science. The second is more gaily and gorgeously attired; her chin was radiant with a sweeter dimple; her cheeks were coloured with a deeper blush than her sister—one hand rested upon the open pages of Shakspeare, the other holds an open book which seemed to be written in sentences of gold—her name was Literature. The third, a more matured and matronly form,— "Grace is in all her steps ; heaven in her eye ; In every gesture dignity and love." One hand rested upon the open book of God; and the other, raised upwards, points out to all brighter worlds, and shows the way ;—her name was Religion. These were daughters in one family, and should yet be dwellers in one home. Science shall stoop her cottage, and drop her telescope before the throne of the Eternal ; Literature shall there appear in all her majestic forms before the creation of the heavens ; and Religion shall take her two younger sisters by the hands, and clothe them with the majestic robe of a superior nature, introduce them to the presence chamber of the King of Kings, and the three fold cord which was not easily broken, would be united with them for ever. SECOND LECTVR I come now to take a glance at the efforts of our modern British literature. Its leading primciples—its laws —have ever been the same, but in form it i s part i ally changed, and have, in time, been instrumental in passing to the surface those forms of literature which were found most desirable for their purpose. But even more remarkable than these changes, or the causes from which they sprung, is this fact, , that in almost every age you find all the principal forms of literature existing more or less distinctly marked. There is the drama, which may be traced to that principle in the human mind by which we desire to make ourselves a participator in whatever comes before our eyes. The reaction brings from it that fine spirit by which, in every thinking mind, that passes, or rather blossoms, into poetry. The sacred poem, on the other hand, springs from that principle within us which recognises our Supreme Creator without ; it puts us in the situation of the blind man. The essay contains in it parts chiefly devoted to lighter, and every-day aspects of things. The ode transposes the track which leading men have made. But I must notice the principal efforts of literature, and race theth to individual principles in the f man. mind o. ne fact is that the form of literature may often change, they are never altogether lost. My object in speaking of the efforts of British literature, is rather to give a sort of scale of the degrees of influence and power exerted by each of the principal forms of literature in our day. And in forming such a scale, I will only have in fact to reverse that which might have been drawn of the various forms of -attire, with their influence and power, about a century Then ti scale consisted of the poem, the transla - Ind, lastly. tion, the historic, ti the newspaper. T 1 opposite way, in point of respectability and pow( first effort I would mention, in point of influence, is prose f ale may nor rranged in tlie The his was, in °wale, mute else than a record of home gossip and foreign war ; in the days of Cowper, it was a little folio of four pages, quite enough for critics. Now what is it ?—what is it not ? We see it a Proteus of power ; a politician, a draconis, a barrister, a judge, a critic, an historian, a poet, a painter, a sculptor, often a buffoon, sometimes a calumniator and a liar, a promoter of happiness, now a lullaby to peace, and now a trumpet of war,—everythii by turns and nothing long. It I s dray Poe every other :ry and steam [el urod ous literature of its o is but literature con )er is pursuing, with traded, and yet still the old newspa l , unabated vigour, its career, multiply adding to its resources, exposing its sails to every breath, and flying with a power that we cannot follow far, or compute as to its future progress to rush into its favourite aaaa a livwnig sea. Next in point of influence or power is prose fiction. In connexion with this the supremacy of a man like Charles Dickens, in one particular deparment of our literature, is to me one of the most remarkable liana ‘,4' _ ti ith no vast or profound intellect -Inch beyond that of a gohnnl_hnw with no learning no very great or creative imagination, he has attained a popularity and influ ence which not even Shakspeare, nor Byron, nor perhaps, He is ever ruling over us like Prince Prettyman." Strong men as well Scott, ever acquired as weak, young as well as old bow to the magic of his tiny rod. Many of the admirers of Dickens, (and I rank myself among his warm admirers, though not approving of his style), having been seduced by the grace and ele gance of his notions,—by the very grace an d b eau t y o f his pictures, and by the simple, sweet-smiling which plays about his tiny mouth—have compared him with Shakspere and Scott. Ido not say that he may be compared, but they have fallen into a most egregious mistake. Now he has never trod out of the path of the octave—the note which nature gave him, which is littly else than that of a chirruping little " Cricket on the Hearth." Once, indeed, he attempted to describe Niagara, but would have been far more successful in describing the next pump. Yet no music of literature can ever invade our heart, or more lift up a moral lesson than his own dear " Tim "—dressed in almost as dandified a style as his own " Lord Terence Verysoft,"—he is as full of the milk of human kindness as his own " Brothers Cheryble,"—and you cannot re cognise a man who does this, and not find something to pity in his " Nicholas Nickleby,"—and while wandering to the length of his books for scenes, or to see the " Red Letters ; '.' and while expressing our opinions as to the greatness or pre-eminence of our author, let us own it is_upoi. the score of gentility, and unite in wishing lone life and prosperity to bonny Prince Charley The ilea who resembles an historian more than bard, though he is ever singing of whatever of the heroic he can find. We find in these degenerate days the writings of Macrie, Akenside, and your _ own illustrious townsman Roscoe. But the nobility of history expired in Dr. Arnold. In Arnold there dwelt a sympathy with real imazeiv and sense. This had never forsook him in the deepest tragedies, or in the severest trials. History will peal the loss of his services ; and we are tempted to cry out, " Spare him, spare him—destroy not a thing so beautiful !" Who could say, with Arnold, " How I thirst for Austerlitz, Agincourt, Poictiers, and Waterloo !" After having wound up the business of the session, and made arrangements for going to his house in Cumberland, and inscribed in the pages of his diary his last prayer— and a most affecting one it is—he went to rest. He awoke in the morning with the death-rattle in his throat, and in a short time he was no more. We take up die language of Scripture, and say, " He was not, for God took him." The next form in the descending scale is the translation, which has been productive of some exquisite specimens of translated prose and verse, from the great German, Grecian, and Italian authors. There is, for example, Schiller's story of the " Diver." The translation may not be true to the original of Schiller, but it preserves in it a spirit of reality. Ido not know if any critic or com mentator has preceded me in this remark, but he could not b-" ---- "b 'chill . Jut nave seen that __ d e r intended a strong moral in this tale of the " Diver ;" and the moral is—great deeds may be done for fashion, but the greatest of all can only be done in the fear of God. I pass lastly to say a word or two on what has been called the decline and fall of the poem. It has been asked, "is poetry extinguished ?" It is extinct at present. What is called poetry has fairly died away, and to be published and proclaimed " poet' has become one of the shabbiest of the literary retinue. The public taste is depraved by the sale of worthless poetry, and it has become a distinct branch of public imposition. - But still we are far from believing that poetry is dead. We know not the age in which poetry was dead. Where are the " dark ages poetic a l," is it asked ? Yes. For then, as now, there. was the passion, the brief, the dark religion, and there was danger, despair. But we would be told that this is a mechanical age, and the conclusion is, that no true poetry can be written in it. The man who says so lies !—lies under a mistake. Mechanical machines contain a sort of poetry, machines having an emotion which nothing else can give. I can never hear the shriek of a railway train without thinking that that train is shrieking for the commencing of. its poetry, and shall not always shriek in vain. But we are told the present age would not read the best of poetry, though it was presented. " Why throw pearls before swine ?" has been asked. I say this is rather an odd Compliment to the 19th century. Try it—throw down the pearls, and then you may call the men of the age " swine." The age will not, indeed, read everything that passes for poetry; it will not read 10th-rate imitations of 10th-rate productions of great authors. It wants poetry to be poetry, and try the description of a poet by his works: it wants making, and when the maker comes he ls w arrival. e have will find his audience again ready, and awaitingl The truth is, the age will not read poetry , because poetryf few o r no of poets. all f 0 n n T s h e of s e poe humant s u t; i s i c n o g m , p y o o s u i t w i o o n u 1 a d ppr findapproaches e that he s nearest to the Divine messengers—to the prophets ; first, to the awful utterances which have come to us from the hand of God ; so the poet would stand in the character of teacher to the age_; and then the good old time would arrive again when the terms of poet and prophet Werethe same.