The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

IB4S. oopositions re are silf debt ; that is radiee ll l by routine ration eau he national ; and that their own desperate with a de- Lour to the • secure the writer s for trans .eform into ie it. Mr. two beads, the form!" be legiti le last war. :ent to the n existing )y the then therefore , T m illion!, i g ation, it. ii wa y per 18f miles, the Nor m severely ured. t Stephen - I, to cele r-piece of York at : had just fire-box re lost. erary Was t. When e the en )ublin by the bill .western► ies, has at Duncan) from the ment in- Tort. .y Court, )plication Sheffield n railway igs it ap d railway I sterling of traffic ;171,610, e 'of pas s, and ogether, f £2,185 mileage • eek were as Wm.- in sepa trains to, , he was .arriageS n injury In re r of the e alight ton sta- I neces- rhe fol ntly on porters - relessly e horse. )wn the dies an of this, by the 1 speed flri the engine, ine Was vithout e clown is line, the ex st one, FUSt r pro s bus- Lgainst for at Is Won 13100, ndian al pe anter ,erson article ► con al aica ations ch we imns, Tenn° perity Le ne s nom rtY is aban nedi- mrful )0 per ore, nit to .e the tions. olony Lee of pos -3 laws The round e the what unat- Lmber >land, )r an !d by caber, 't. for aided )reed, by corn' r into ucing ►t 0 0 ;ar 11° adon ; now tniart on of insol laY a. the' sting h the lition. , tu ber - irther hould" 'e not a this ies to e for o rt of esty'S o the et the Nay 2,1845, stinc prof- usive , nrisY itinu- ongs,t inch kvari- IT tho ng an have 0 , of 11 laY is de' ce of pub sunie TAW, TO ADVERTISERS. e eg resptetfully to call the attention of Merchants, Brokers, Auctioneers, and others, to the important fact that the LIVERPOOL STANDARD IS NOW THE ONLY NEWSPAPER • PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON TUESDAY, which can be read on that day by the thousands if Manufacturers and others attending THE TUESDAY'S MARKET IN MANCHESTER. The STANDARD is taken at all the Newsrooms and respectable Inns in that town and the surrounding manufacturing district. A SECOND EDITION is published at Half-past Two, in time for the North Mails, containing the MARKETS, and any news of importance that may arrive in the course of the morning. Ebt Ethrrpool &tanbarb. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1848. eiti vv i n gave, on their first proposal, very de expression to e xpression to our opinion of the inade e na ture of the measures of Government our meet the difficulties complained of by est Indian fellow-subjects. A peddling w_ e agernent to immigration is too late now. have let th e t i me go past w h en even th e mos t liberal measure of the kind would have been prac tically of use. We have beggared the planters ct our Colonies. We have mocked them with delusive hopes until, were they even willing to place confidence in our professions of a wish to aid them, they have no longer the power to wait for the reali zation of our professions—as will be seen from an article on the subject elsewhere. A supply of free labour might have done wonders some few years ago. It would have enabled the British planter to Protect himself against the competition, into which we have forced him, with the slave trader and the owner of slave labour. But to ask him now to .enter upon such a struggle is wantonly insulting. It is to ask him to start in a race, in which his chances of success must inevitably be l ust before he gets within sight of the winning Post. It is not with surprise, therefore, that we find S uch accounts coming by the last mail from our West Indian Colonies as the following from Trini dad :-..... andyt:eur letters o f th e 16th o f F e b r uary brought most unwelcome and unex p ec t e d news of y our sugar market, mount Malesf rehe proposed beep sellmis:frabi by her lvi • Mint ncient measures o tance. Sugars have eetY'srs are con . sidered here as tants b . an absolute refusal of assis the r b S rom . tioned u Yers nor B m 2 on s e O y t . o 'Ma7n; e b s u t t s t n e o s wa eh t e u r e b a e r e s b n a e u i : 1 ,,_ ~ even some that belong to merchants at home. 4,uere Is no use in taking off the crop, since it will not pay the expens e of making. The labourers, generally speak ...44g, are behavin g in the most kind and c o nsidera,. u t u e r m r a u u m ne i r s smaithede.tlanters, but without Government relief °l' the following, from Jamaica : ~ ,_ _ Nice the a rr i va l o f thep not acke to granttwiththaeuay reliefcco accounts of t e 4 e termination of Ministers ,et Promised aid in promoting is an actual "meang • supply of labour , _ e ,, i. .- granting us a gradualimmigration, and by this bi th - e -.er y ) a sad gloom is cast over everything here, and Planters are in utter despair. With few exceptions a estate in the island will be thrown up and übu. -oi led. P / in Demerara the same view is taken of the ineffi cient ..Policy of the Home Government. Our ad vices by the last packet say : . 14 14 It is a l most needless to say that is great distress exists R ai of an d th a t littl e or nothingdoing in the lli-1 of mercantile business any more t t h h e an agricultural ; odsetihe best proof of the ineffic t a u cy of measures pro n the 3d ult., is that the ari,,u,bY the Home Government b a ' of the packet which brought new u s u o s f h t s h s ei f r ai l l i e a d vin tu g I,—usubinitted to the House of comm 1 4 t the slightest additional spirit to trade o . f any kind." Such • u is the opinion of practical . men in our West e l i an Colonies. And what is the opinion of ttklists in our own country ? Why it is shewn I , , }le fact that during the past week, in the Bank tarilileY Court of our own town, two of the Bar rcii;°es Estates of Messrs. Barton, Irlam and Hig -4 8011 were handed over to the mortgagee for only -. 1 , bad h undred pounds over the amount which he ofot upon it as upon a first-class security. w u - jw,e may even go further ; for, although this there° he the conclusion of any party, in reading C0n,. 4 . 93°1 1 of the proceedings of our Bankruptcy in ''') the facts were more disastrous still, and L lo °r e clearly traceable to our recent legisla- I) ; Th e two estates referred to areht.hhose were purchased and Tates, in Barbadoes, r„.,urehased by Messrs. Barton, Irlam, w and ilvig lson, so recently as in 1846, subject to cer o ta o i o n . a nnuities or other incumbrance, for E 32, borrowed thousand pounds was the sum originally uorrowed upon them, as upon a first-class security ° f which £7,500 was repaid by the bankrupts, ioo l e • b .a. d lrin li the mortgage. .Adding the £5OO bid as b i- ) t erefore, the amount for which the estates - t ave been handed over to the mortgagee, is £7,000 tio be taken, subject to the same incumbrances with l, jell they were bought in 1846, by Messrs. Barton, - , 4 4 1 P, and Co., for £32,000 ? thus shewing a loss °a-rd,ne Purchase, within two years, and since the Pe -1. 4" 1 °0 Of foreign slave sugar, of £25,000, inde the en t of what may have been sunk in working estat es ' utt : ru li . av ls . nies..._ it . e ruined, then, these once splendid colo . - of no use to blink the truth as to their feet a 11°-- to gratify in the first instance an af ea: e't abhorrence of slavery, and to try, at the Wr eh nse of the British planter, an experiment, f or we had not virtue enough to persevere in ap i i a Moment after its result began to press pe . cuni- a - 3'- u P cm ourselves. We set about the creation of d ,rcoloniai Utopia, which was to be an example an ' °of to the world of the superior economy of free ov . er slave labour ; but we closed that Utopia 314.1.4anintesrttbe whole African race, whom we handed . ver t o the chains and the lash of the foreign estr — " i „„ upos We s urroun d e d t h e B r i t i s h p l an t er w i t h ei t , harassed him with unworthy suspi 4et t i n - ° II; beat back the tide which of immigration which was cours g in fr om the African Continent, and . poneong ere this have filled our West Indian _s with a free, a happy, and an industrious bli i- n ll ,l 4 ` t i°o; and when, as the natural result of so ch er ,j, a d Policy, we f oun d the i r productiveness 11 1 , - , and were made to pay dearer for tropical • of s i r 'es, our boasted virtue gave way, our horror th e 4 , v ,erY and slave products vanished, and we put our g,_ ° ;_toc to our folly and injustice by opening 'vato r 7,:cets to the foreign slave trader and cul rozina,rd thus riveted for another century the col oured eB u pon the limbs of millions of our th e r brethren. In proof that such has been 7a, race t, we ask of the pseudo philanthropist, who in th entlY babbled of imaginary negro sufferings 11e45 c British Colonies, and boasted of the happi cern and civilization to be established there, to of u P l are the condition of those colonies with that our foreigner whom we have aggrandized by th e i ina d Policy. The following is an extract from latest advices from Havannah : erOp o l le Production of sugar continues to increase, and the 11 W est lB 46-7 has been the largest ever gathered.. Many r ich au ats are coming into cultivation, there is much 'Nt, 2 1 °Ial soil on the very coast not yet broken up, Plariirailegroes have been turned over from coffee to sug_ar tno re or °P, and the present prices, which seem likely to be c o re !PS Maintained, are still sufficiently high to en tc.,11,6-; the Production. The only check it could receive abl e a , e occasioned by plantation labour not being attain seek i" as moderate terms as formerly ; but this planters Of ni k ° ll '..eoledy by the adoption of tbe most perfect classes re s-ult s Ine rY, some of which have given the most brilliant de ctio _. It is not surprisin g that with the enormous pro rul ed Ina, coupled with the extraordinary high prices which 10 .1 25 ,r:ip s sr t odYeuacre, several r e oftlieestates have yielded net 20 tuba i' e r cent. of their actual value, and some have cer viliel slave cultivation prospers; and the only check, eff ort e are told it can receive, arises from our w ork ' Y) Prevent an increased supply of slaves to be ea u . )i an i ne _ i nto coffee and sugar. We have given ont _ re.ased bonus to man stealing ; and although 'Misers may rend r t I , ‘ trade more difficult and hazardous, the sure result will be to impel the foreign planter to double the tasks of the wretched labourers whom he holds already in his toils. "The most perfect classes of machinery" which we have encouraged him to adopt will be found in nine cases out of ten to consist of a whip or a goad of increased severity. The congregation of St. Luke's Church in this town has presented the Rev. B. A. Marshall, M. A., with a purse, containing 100 sovereigns, as a token of their esteem. On Wednesday night, James O'Neill, 54 years old, was found to have died in bed of apoplexy. The Rev. Dr. M`Neile is announced to attend the an nual meeting of the British Reformation Society, at the Hanover-square Rooms, on Thursday, the 11th instant. PUBLIC BATHS.—On Thursday, it was agreed that Mr. Parker and Mr. Bennett should, in conjunction with the engineer, proceed to London, to view the baths and wash houses there, which the engineer has strongly recom mended. _ _ _ _ _ ________ A woman, named Catherine Gorman, is in custody at Birkenhead, charged by Dr. Vaughan with kicking ano ther female, named Eliza Cochrane, so seriously in the abdomen that she is not expected to recover. The parties lived in Gilbertson-court, Albion-street, and the brutal violence originated in a quarrel. DEATH FROM BURNING. — On the 26th March, Eliza beth Benson, aged 16, living in Lower Mersey View, North Shore, was found in the road, all in flames. The fire was extinguished, but deceased was much burnt. She died from the injuries on Thursday in the Northern Hos pitol. She was of weak intellect. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, PRINCE'S PARK.—An ex'ten sive building, in Mill-street, Toxteth-park, capable of accommodating between 200 and 300 children, is being fitted up as a temporary school, in connexion with this church. The premises, which possess a convenient access, are well lighted, and will be neatly finished inside and out in a Gothic style. NEW MAGISTRATES. — On Tuesday, at Kirkdale ses sions, Ralph A. Thicknesse, Esq., M.P., of Beech-hill, ' Wigan • William Gillibrand Unsworth, Esq., of the Manor House, Maghull ; and James Culshaw, Esq., of Frenchfield, Ormskirk, qualified as justices of the peace for the county. On Thursday, W. Brown, Esq., M.P., of Richmond-hill, Liverpool, also qualified.. On Friday, the Rev. John Atherton Kershaw. of Ormskirk, Qualified. IRISH PIKES.—On Thursday,two specimens of the pikes recommended for use by the physical force Repealers of Ireland were shownlin the Fachange News-room. One of them is a blade about a foot long, apparently made of well-tempered steel. The other is of a similar shape, with the addition of a hook, which might be applied in certain cases where a thrust from the pike would not be available. Both are dangerous-looking weapons, and much more likely to do injury than the bid. cutlasses of the Chartist ironmonger. _ . _ HIGGI'NSON v. SHAND.—In this case the plaintiff has obtained an injunction ex parte to restrain the Royal bank from proceeding against him upon a guarantee, for advances made by the bank to the firm of Messrs. Barton, Irlam, and Higginson, merchants at Liverpool. The plaintiff, being the brother of one of the partners, dis puted his liability, after the transactions which had taken place between the firm and the bank. The Vice-Chan cellor was of opinion that the injunction ought to be con tinued, but reserved the consideration of the costs until the hearing of the cause. INQUESTS.—On Tuesday, William Rutter came down from Birmingham in one of the trains to the Lime-street station. On getting out of the carriage be complained of indisposition, when a surgeon was sent for immediately. The deceased became gradually worse, and died shortly afterwards.—On Tuesday, Charles Beresford, a child ten years old, living in Eldon-street, was found drowned in a pond near Victoria-road. The deceased went out on Sun day afternoon to angle for small fish, and nothing was heard of him until he was found, after a long search, as above stated.—About three weeks ago, a young man, named Peter Hunt, a painter, was working at two new houses in West Derby, when he fell from a ladder, and received a compound fracture of the left leg and right foot. He died of his injuries on Wednesday. DEFEATING THE LEVY OF A COUNTY COURT.—On Saturday, Cecilia Slinger, a middle-aged woman was charged with having stolen a considerable quantity cif fish. That morning, it appeared, Patrick Maher, one of the officers of the county court, had made a levy, in the fish market, upon the stall of Mr. John Wheaton. He had given Wheaton a short time to make up the amount due, and left the fish on the stall in the charge of an assistant, when the prisoner came and carried off a considerable number of soles, which formed the chief part of the stock. The prisoner, who appeared much agitated, stated that she was a servant of Mr. John Bird, who keeps a stall in St. John's Market. Mr. Wheaton had that morning, in Mrs. Bird's absence, obtained thirty dozen of soles, but, as a former order had not been paid for, she had been sent to bring back the fish. She knew nothing of any levy whatever. Mr. Bird corroborated the prisoner's state ment, and she was discharged. INCREASED RATES.—From estimates submitted by the engineer and surveyor, the sub-committee of the Health Committee recommend that the rates for 1848-9, under the sanatory act, shall be :—Liverpool paving rate ls. in the pound, sewerage Id., water ld., general 5d., total ls. 7d. The paving rate is increased 2d., and the general rate ld. as compared with last year.—The Kirkdale pav ing rate is to be ls. Bd. in the pound, sewerage 2d., water ld., general 10d., total 2s. 9d. These rates are double those of last year.—The Everton paving rate is to be ls. 7d. sewerage Id., water ld., general Bd., total 2s. 6d.—West Derby, paving is. Bd., sewerage 2d., water Id., general 9d., total 2s. Bd.—The Toxteth-park paving rate is to be ls. 5d., sewerage 3d., water id., general ls. Id., total 2s. 10. In all these districts the rates exhibit a consider able increase. Surely we cannot afford to go on with the Rivington Pike scheme with such a prospect as this before us. BARTON, IRLAM, AND HIGGINSON'S AFFAIRS.—On Wednesday, the case of these bankrupts again came be fore Mr. Sergeant Ludlow, at the Bankruptcy Court. Several new proofs of debts were tendered, amongst others one for 600 dollars, stated to be due upon the property of the bankrupts' estate. Mr. Lowndes, for the assignees, objected to the debt being allowed • and, after a somewhat lengthy argument, this claim, and others of a similar character, were not allowed.—lt was expected that the bankrupts' balance sheet would have been ready for this meeting ; but it was not yet Wed. The commissioner said he understood the balance sheet was to be filed on Saturday ; but, from the size which it would neces necessarily be, he suggested that a sufficient time should be taken for its examination. Two sugar plantations in the West Indies, belonging to the estate of the bankrupts were put up by auction under an order of the court. Sir Semuel Osborne Gibbes, Bart., the mortgagee, who was present, offered £5OO for the property; and there being no other bidder, it was knocked down to him for that sum. STREET ACCIDENT.— On Saturday, an inquest was held before the Borough Coroner, on view of the body of Eleanor Batty Quince, aged 3 years, and daughter of a pilot. On Friday afternoon, deceased was run over by a spring cart in Fazakerley-street. One of the wheels passed over her head, and she died almost instantly. The cart was going at rather a rapid rate, according to one witness; but merely walking, according to some other evidence. The coroner explained that there was no rate of driving defined by law. If a party were driving along the North Shore, to wit, he might go as fast as he pleased provided he did not endanger human life ; but if driving in a narrow, crowded thoroughfare, a snail's pace might be illegal. If the person in charge of a vehicle displayed gross negligence, or gross want of caution, and death ensued, he was clearly guilty of manslaughter. The street in this case was very narrow; there was no direct evidence to shew how the accident actually occurred ; and if they did not deem it a case of manslaughter, it would come within the category of accidents. Verdict—" Acci dental death." The coroner admonished the driver, Simpson, who was in custody, to be more cautious in future. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—ENGAGEMENT OF MISS CusnmArr.—The announcement of the appearance of this talented actress, in some of the most admired characters, has attracted excellent houses, during the week, notwith standing the numerous other attractions provided for the festive season. On Monday,Wednesday, and Saturday the musicalplay of "Guy Marinering" was performed, the great feature being, of course, the striking delineation of the gipsy Meg Merrilies, by Miss Cushman herself. In ad dition, however, the last was a very good one, developing the very considerable accession of talent with which the manager has commenced the season. In particular, we cannot but point to Mr. C. Rice's Dandie Dinmont which, though a little overdone, perhaps, assures that, of this line of characters, the amphitheatre possesses an able repre sentative. The Bailie Mueklethrift of Mr. T. Taylor is clever ; and Mr. Gilbeigh, who played Cabriel, possesses an excellent voice, and will be an excellent actor. Two Ldies, also, Miss Connor and Miss Phillips, we do not re member to have seen before. Their execution of the parts allotted to them—Lucy Bertram and Julia Manneriny— was very meritorious. In the Dominic), Mr. James Brown was very happy; and at times most affecting. The calls for the favourites were many and enthusiastic after each performance. On Tuesday " The Stranger" was played ; and on Thursday and Friday " Henry the Eighth," in which Miss Cushman's Queen Katharine was a most striking impersonation. The production of the " Scornful Lady" was postponed until Wednesday (to-morrow) night, in order to afford time for ample rehearsal. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS,—The week ending this day has been characterized chiefly by extremely cold frosty winds—particularly on the few first days. The winds were variable, ranging round and back from S.E. to N.W. Friday—with the wind from the latter quarter — was a bitter cold day, more piercing indeed than any, but one or two, which we remember since Christmas, such not being expected, especially aftet the sultry atmosphere pre ceding and during the thunder storm in March. Satur day, Sunday, and yesterday, were fine and clear, but the air, in the shade, was still cold ; and in the country slight frosts were experienced before daybreak each day. The Carnarvonshire mountains are still partially covered with snow, and no doubt mucli snow has fallen in the moun tainous districts in the north of England and in Scotland. The effect of the cold wind alluded to, superadded to an unusually wet spring, has had, in the districts surround ing us, an effect on the field crops, especially wheats and grasses, which is to be deplored. In some fields the for mer has assumed a yellowish tint, and the latter is much retarded, and less vividly green than it was three weeks ago. Congenial weather henceforth would, however, re deem much of, if not all the damage. The early potatoes have also suffered from the frosty winds, which have bordered the leaf with a yellow tinge. Fruit trees not being forward, have been but little affected. It is proba ble that we shall have an early and favourable change, for at Wallasey, a rather exposed situation, the Cuckoo was frequently heard and seen on Sunday evening on the sand-hills; and at the same time three swallows were observed in the same locality. Generally, however, vegetation is backward for the season, in this county and in Cheshire. TILE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LOCAL MEETINGS. DOCK COMMITTEE.-THURSDAY. The Sub-committee of Works reported against the opening of a boundary wall at the east side of the Prince's Dock, in consequence of the expense and inconvenience which would be entailed by the adoption of any of the plans proposed by those applying for the alteration. A letter was read from Mr. M. D. Lowndes, enclosing a copy of the resolution, to be found in another column, passed at the General Vestry respecting the dock bill. The CHAIRMAN said there appeared to be a great mis understanding about this matter, and he had seen it as serted that there was a want of confidence in the Dock Committee, as to their sincerity in trying to get in the rating clause. Every diligence had, however, been used. No noise or clamour had been made about it, but it was solely on account of the rating clause that the Dock Bill was at that moment kept in abeyance. The committee had adjourned till after the recess, solely with the view of getting through the standing orders as to the rating clause. The Dock Bill, with that exception had passed, and would have been completed that afternoon, it it had not been for the anxious desire of the deputation to use their best endeavours to get in the rating clause. The matter was now going on, and every diligence was used. He did not know, and he did not apprehend there was any doubt of the clause being got in. There was, in fact, every pro bability of the difficulty being got over, though, in that particular, they had met with every opposition. They were opposed before the examiners by their friends over the water, on the ground that the rating clause would be a tax on commerce, and so forth. In the event of the rating clause not being in compliance with the standing orders of the House of Commons, and if they could net get the standing orders suspended, then it was proposed that the proviso be put in preventing the warehouses from being used until they obtained rating Rowers. The parish, it appeared, were opposed to that, but there could be no doubt whatever that the parish would be amply and fairly protected by such a proviso. Mr. ROBINSON said, if they did not get the rating clause now, there might be a doubt of their getting it afterwards. The committee, however, were pledged to the Council to go back to them again provided they could not get in the rating clause. The CHAIRMAN.—ExactIy so. Mr. HENDERSON said the Council only determined to take the bill with the rating clause, and he thought it desir able they should know the opinion of the town on the ' subject. 1 Mr. nom. said the Dock Committee had to do with the Council. It appeared that, in the face of the declared opinion of Mr. Lowndes, the law-clerk of the Vestry, that the proviso was satisfactory, the parishioners came to a resolution that it was not satisfactory, and that the bill should be withdrawn if the rating clause was not inserted. He really believed, and he thought he had a right to say, that the anxiety was to defeat the bill, in order that a clause might be compulsorily put in next year to rate the whole dock estate. The CHAIRMAN said such a resolution would have been in time when they found the rating clause rejected. He added something, which was indistinctly heard, as to the whole of the clauses of the bill having been discussed one by one. Some conversation then took place as to what was to be done with the resolution. At length the CHAIRMAN discovered that the resolution called upon the "dock trustees" to withdraw, and this ended the difficulty, the trustees of the docks being the Town Council, to which body it was supposed another copy of the resolution had been sent. Mr. MANN.—I don't think the Dock Committee have been fairly dealt with in this matter. The CHAIRMAN.—It will come right by and bye : give it time: truth will come to the surface by and bye. At a meeting of the overseers, guardians, and parish ioners of Toxteth-park, held at the Public-office, on Mon day-evening week, it was resolved to levy a poor -rate at the rate of 3s. in the pound. A watch rate of 31d. in the pound and the museum rate of lid. in the pound were also agreed to. WEST DERBY GUARDIANS. - On Wednesday the usual weekly meeting was held. Mr. Shearson said he had to complain of a nuisance arising from the premises of Mr. Poole, of Walton. The clerk was ordered to write re specting it.—The clerk complained strongly of the con duct of the Parish of Liverpool ; they had entered eleven appeals against the Union at Kirkdale, which were all of precisely a similar nature. It was ordered that the clerk should write to the Vestry respecting the appeals.—Mr. Arrowsmith, assistant-overseer for Crosby and Bootle, ap peared before the Board, to explain the complaint made against him for having demanded the poor-rates twice. It appeared to have arisen in consequence of the collector having lost some of his checks. On the motion of Mr. Williams, seconded by Mr. Shaw, a resolution was unani mously passed, exonerating Mr. Arrowsmith from any fraudulent intention. _ MEETING OF REPEALERS. — On Tuesday, Messrs. Mitchel and Doheny, two of the most physical force agita tors of the sister country, arrived in this town, and conve ned a meeting to be held in the Portico, Newington. The room however would not hold the vast numbers who assembled, and the meeting was adjourned to Queen square. Mr. George Smyth occupied the chair. Doheny, in his speech, called upon the people to arm. Dr. Rey nolds subsequently addressed the meeting, in a somewhat moderated strain. Mitchel was not present at the meet ing, having been obliged to return to Dublin that after noon, to put in an appearance at the Four Courts, in pursuance of a legal plea which he had urged. Oxrow.—A special vestry meeting of the ratepayers of this township was held on Thursday, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken in reference to the refusal of the justices to sign the verification of the sur veyors' accounts for the past year. Mr. Churchwarden Godwin having been voted to the chair. Mr. John Parry, one of the surveyors of the highways, stated that in conse quence of the illness of his colleagv.e, (Mr. William Ellis) he alone attended before the justices, at a special sessions holden at Neston, on Thursday last, for the purpose of verifying the last year's accounts of the surveyors of high ways, and that the justices refused to sign the same on the alleged grounds that rates to the amount of £B4 ss. lid. were remaining uncollected, being only shout one-fourth of the total amount levied during the last year, although they (the justices) signed the accounts for the township of Tranmere, with a much larger amount of arrears un collected, being equal to one-half of the entire rate. The meeting resolved to apply to the Queen's Bench, or take such other proceedings as may be necessary to compel the justices to sign. - - - - - THE ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING.—On Tuesday the Annual General Vestry meeting was held in St. Nicho las's Church, the Rev. Rector Brooks in the chair. A summary of the accounts was read, and, together with the resolutions passed, will be found advertised elsewhere. Mr. John Smith said, with allusion to the election of pa rochial officers for the year, there were no party objects now to be gained. He spoke in favour of the neutrality that had recently been observed by the vestry ; and next adverted to the masses of property which, from town im provements, was withdrawn, or to be withdrawn, from being rateable to the parishes, concluding by calling the attention of the vestry to the necessity of getting the dock estate rated, and, to a variety of other matters. Mr. Poole concurred with Mr. Smith with regard to the docks. A similar state of things did not exist in any other port in Great Britain ; and the matter had now become one of se rious moment to the ratepayers. It would be a waste of time to enter into any argument to show the great and grievous burthens which the non-rating of the docks im posed upon the parishioners—they would be admitted on all hands ; on the other hand, the extra charge upon mer chandize, if the docks were rated, would be so trifling, that the strongest opponents of the measure would be unable to show on what grounds it would be injurious to the trade of Liverpool. He moved a voluntary rate of Id. in the pound to meet the expense of applying to parliament to rate the docks. This was agreed to. The parochial officers were then chosen for the year, and the other mo tions for laying rates, &c. were agreed to after some unin teresting discussion. One of the most important motions agreed to, was to the effect that the proviso in the dock bill by the dock trustees was not satisfactory, and the said trustees be required to withdraw the bill as originally agreed upon, if the rating clause were not introduced. Another motion agreed to related to the merchant sea man's fund, with a view to ascertain whether portions of that fund could not be applied to the relief of families of deceased seamen who were now maintained ont of the poor rates. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated. FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. —A meeting of this useful and important society took place on Friday, which was presided over by Robertson Gladstone, Esq., and was comprised of the following, among other gentle men :—Mr. R. Shiel, Mr. T. lleyworth, Mr. Mellor, Mr. Mather, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Holland, Mr. C. Robertson, and Mr. James Mulleneux. A letter was read from Sir Joshua Walmsley, in approval of their project ; and a si milar one from William Ewart, Esq., M.P. A note en closing a subscription from Colonel Williams was read, as well as many communications from persons at a distance. —lt appears that parties connected with the National Con federation, as well as some connected with this associa tion, had anticipated some clashing on the part of the two institutions, as their objects were so similar, and a meet ing bad been arranged by deputation from the two par ties, which took place on Thursday morning, when an amalgamation was proposed, but some little disputes arose relative to the constitution of the different associations, the last established having for its object the reduction and equalization of national taxation solely, while the National Confederation embraced the questions of reduction, both national and local. Mr. C. Robertson, one of the depu tation from the Financial Reform Association. read a ra ther lengthy report of their conference with the Confede ration. It expressed, among other things, the willingness on their part to amalgamate, provided the new association would take up the question of local taxation. Some dis cussion ensued, and among other remarks it was objected that the present name of the association operated against it, inasmuch as the word "reform" savoured of party dis tinction. It was also urged, and the success of the anti corn law campaign was adduced in support of the argu ment, that the cause must be divested of political consi derations to ensure its prosperity. On the other hand. it was said that no progress could be made without enlisting politics, as before an equalised system of taxation could be gained, the House of Commons must be remodelled ; but it was agreed that this result would be arrived at when the present house should have rejected their demand,. made unbiassed by party feeling.—Mr. Holland proposed a resolution, by which an immediate amalgamation with the association now in operation, was advised, leaving the question of local taxation open.—The resolution was se condeded by Mr. L. Heywortb, who read a paper from one of the midland counties papers, by which it seemed that a feeling was making wide progress that there was an immediate necessity for a thorough revision of the taxa tion. He expressed himself strongly in favour of the sub stitution of direct for indirect taxation.—Seveaal matters of minor importance were deferred till Tuesday (o,4lity), when. another meeting will 1 )e held. QUALITY OF LI•VERPOOL WATER. Mr. Thomas Spencer, of this town, has sent us a letter for publication on this question ; of the quantity and quality of the water we are likely to obtain from the sand stone in this neighbourhood. With respect to the quan tity, Mr. Spencer argues that from, the nature of the sandstone formations, they are incapable of giving a large or continued supply of water, and as regards the quality, he says :—" None deny that the Liverpool water is emi nently hard, while all agree that hardness of water is caused by the presence of certain chemical salts, which rain, or distilled water, is free from. It is, therefore, an undoubted fact, that it acquires those salts from the sub stances it comes into contact with, after falling as rain. On these points there is no difference of opinion. Is not the rain which falls on those parts of the surface, much covered with dwellings, likely to imbibe an increased quantity of such chemical substances, as compared with that which falls on parts of the district less thickly popu lated ?—lime and common salt being main ingredients of hardness, to say nothing of the organic substances which are known to abound in the drainage water from dwellings. Again, with respect to our highly cultivated fields, most of the improvements recently introduced into agriculture, apart from draining, have been mainly in manures, the most of which are strictly chemical. I need only name nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, phosphate of lime, lime alone, common salt, and guano, all used as circum stances dictate, but the whole of which are soluble in water. With these facts in view, ought there to be any doubt that rain, falling on a highly-cultivated field, im bibes a greater degree of chemical impurity than that falling, say, on the sandhills of Bootle ?—the underlaying rock in both cases being the same. An opinion seems to prevail that the filtering process which the water is sup posed to undergo in its passage through the rock, does much to improve it of chemical impurity. Where such an opinion is allowed to obtain, the schoolmaster must, in deed, have been abroad, as most of the boys at either of our institutions know that the most perfect process of fil tration deprives water of mechanical impurities only—that is, those substances that aie not really dissolved in it, but which, like mud, are only held in suspension. Were it possible by extreme pressure to filter muddy rain water that had been kept in an old barrel for only a week, through six feet of our compactest sandstone, it would then be cleared of its mud only, while the taste of the decayed wood would still be evident ; but, in addition to which, from being soft water, it will have become hard, which property it would acquire by dissolving the salts of lime and magnesiaencountered in its passage through the filter; nor need I add that the thicker the filter is in such a case, the harder the water is likely to become. This is not said in the way of an opinion given at hazard ; on the con trary, every one, however slightly versed in practical che mistry, knows that water holding substances in solution, even to saturation, is not deprived of one atom of them by the most recondite filtering process ever invented. Indeed, boiling water for a few minutes will do more. "The case just put with respect to filtration is purely hypothetical, as water will not permeate large masses of our sandstone. Where the rock happens to be left solid and more laminated, the numerous beds of clay that occur so frequently, act just as so many sheets of lead, in preventing the water from percolating farther in that di. rection. It is only then, in virtue of the numerous cracks or faults, which abound in the rock, that any water finds its way to the wells at all, and even those are being gradually filled up by a deposition of the clay which is held in suspension by the water. " Were our rock as porous as some would have us believe, we should not have a dry vault in Liverpool ; or if it be so porous, how is it that the waters of the Mersey do not percolate through it, and impregnate all our wells with salt water ? Such a body of water constantly exerting its pressure over a porous material would dc this. It is true, however, that I do know of a well near the river where salt water is sometimes found ; but it is quite evident that it finds its way through a slight fissure, which doubtless will be scol f lied up. ACCIDENT AT BIRKENHEAD. — About half-past ten o'clock on Saturday forenoon, as two bricklayers, Walter Stewart and Edward Askew, with another man, name unknown, were at work at the railway bridge, in Grange lane, a large quantity of clay from one side of the cutting gave way, and fell with a great violence upon them. They were conveyed to the Infirmary, and are found to be so seriously injured that two of them are scarcely expected to recover. Dr. REYNOLD'S IRONMONGERY ESTABLISHMENT.— The premises selected by this notable doctor, for the pur pose of vending his cheap weapons, sire situatesin the nar rowest part of Leeds-street, a few doors from Vauxhall road, and nearly opposite the Dispensary. They consist of a three-storeyed cottage, the windows and floors of which appear to have been long strangers to mop or broom. The lower storey is the sale-room, and through the murky street window a goodly array of cutlasses and pikes are exhibited, without order or classification. The furniture of the shop consists of a joiner's bench, at which a man is at work, preparing handles, or long ash poles, suitable either for bakers' shovels or pike shafts ; about a dozen of these lay in a rough state in a small back room, and one of them, in a finished state, appeared to be extremely elastic, but, with the pike head attached, must prove a heavy and most inconvenient implement. MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A CAPTAIN.—On Friday an inquest was held on view of the body of James Benn, cap tam of the ship Gemini, now lying in the Albert Dock. The deceased was 33 years of age. He was lodging at Mr. Waring's public-house, in Oldhall-street. About nine o'clock on Friday morning, Mr. Rigg, a merchant interested in the vessel, called upon deceased, and'they went together to the Albert Dock. He appeared depressed in spirits. We give the sequel in Mr. Rigg's own words : —He went on board his ship while I remained on shore, and in about a quarter of an hour he came back to me. He told me that a sailmaker on board wanted a character from him, and asked if there was any place we could go to, to get a sheet of paper, as he had none on board. He said he was very nervous, and that he thought a glass of whis key would do him good. We went into Pilkington's pub lic-house, in Irwell-street. He called for a sheet of paper and two glasses of whiskey hot. We wen t up s t a i rs an d sat down. He then dictated the character for the sail maker, while I wrote it. While-writing it I saw him put down an empty glass. When I had done the certificate I looked round, and asked him to sign it. He got up to do so, and I saw that something was the matter with hi m . I said, " Good G—, what is to do with you ?" and he replied, " Oh, Jack, I have swallowed half a tumbler of laudanum, out of the medicine chest." He then fell down on the sofa, and never afterwards spoke. I went down, and sent for a surgeon directly. Two came, and applied the sto mach pump, and used such means as they thought proper. He never rallied, but died in two hours. Deceased had lost some of the ship's papers, and could not make up his accounts. He stated that he took the laudanum on board the ship. ALL SAINTS' DISTRICT. — It must be truly gratifying to the sul scribers and the friends of the Liverpool Church Building Society, to know that their efforts to provide for the spiritual wants of this too long-neglected district are hailed with gratitude and thankfulness by all classes living within its boundaries. For several weeks past many of the poor have been complaining of the present insuffi ciency of their temporary church in Beau-street, on ac count of their being unable to obtain accommodation, and expressing their longing desire for the completion of the new church in Great Nelson-street, which we are happy to say is progressing. in a highly satisfactory manner. I n order to gain admission, the people flock around the doors• long before service, and for the last few Sundays so great was the attendance in the morning, that after the girls' school was provided for, but few of the boys of the Sun day School could gain admission, and still f ur the r tempo rar3, provision is now needed to accom mo d a t e th e c hild ren until the completion of the church, and to diffuse still more widely the benefits of that religious instruction which the inhabitants of the district seem so anxious to avail themselves of. Under the fostering care of the Rev. H. Marlen, the minister of the district, assisted by the indefatigable exertions of the superintendents and teach ers, the schools, which but a short time since numbered only from 90 to 100 children, have gone on increasing until now there are about 200 children brought under re ligious instruction every Sabbath Day. But notwith standing the success which has already attended the la bours of the minister of this district since his appointment, he has much to discourage him, from his not receiving that assistance from the wealthier classes of Liverpool which is so necessary to enable him to carry out his plans, for the furtherance of the gospel amongst the large popu lation which has been committed to his care. Though an appeal was made some few months since for no greater sum than £l3O, to alter and fit up the building, now used as a temporary church for the district, and to provide for the wants of an increasing school, and the work was com menced, on the faith that an adequate sum would be promptly subscribed to meet the expense, it is with regret we learn, that not nearly sufficient has yet been raised to meet the outlay and carry on the schools. We trust this burden will not be left long to press upon the minister, but that a generous public will speedily come forward to his help. Coming amongst us as a stranger, he stands in the greater need of countenance and support. Let him not then be left to mourn that the sympathy professed by many formerly connected with this district, partakes of that morbid character which wastes itself in unavailing sighs, instead of extending the helping hand. It should be remembered, that until the erection of a church, a district has not within itself those self-supporting means which otherwise would be at command : and if the mem bers of other churches withhold their contributions from such districts, under the pretence of having no connection with them, then it is obvious the poor must be deprived of that relief which they need, their ministers weighed down by the burdens they have to bear, while theinha bitants of more opulent neighbourhoods deny themselves that greatest of all luxuries—the luxury of doing good. It would be well if the condition of such distress was brought prominently before the wealthier congregations by their own ministers, so that pecuniary assistance might be rendered, as in some other populous towns, to thos e whose labours are chiefly among the poor, to aid them in the carrying on of their work, and the relieving of the sick and destitute. Perhaps in no district have the effects of the late commercial depression been more severely felt than in All Saints. Hundreds who, until the last winter, were able to support themselves by honest industry, from being thrown out of employ for several months, are now reduced to the greatest straits. And we were surprised to learn that the chief means at the minister's disposal, for the relief of these unfortunate persons, who have borne their privations with the greatest resignation, have been provided by the industrious poor who have been kept in work, contributed by them weekly to the poorssbox at the door of their temporary church. This ceittainly speaks well for a people who thus manifest their attachment to their minister, and their readiness to de, all, they can to lessen his difficulties ;, and it is hoped their praiseworthy conduct may operate as a stimuhzs on others in more affluent circumstances, to assist in. bearinK the burdens of their, fellow-men. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. NISH PA.UPERS.—On Thursday, several Irish people, or various ages. were brought before Mr..l2ustiton, on charges of pilfering about the docks. The option of being returned to their homes was put as usual, and as surely rejected, with the remark that they had no homes to go to." In consequence of their refusal to comply with the offer, they were committed to prison for brief periods. A REASON FOR BREAKINGAVINDOWS.—On Thursday, a girl was brought up charged with breaking windows in Richmond-row. It appeared she deliberately thrust her liana, without any apparent cause, through a square of glass in a shop window. The prisoner admitted the of fence, and said she did it because a boy in the shop "made unbecoming signs to her." She was ordered to pay for the damage, or go to gaol for three days. OVERCHARGE BY A PAWNBROKER.—On Wednesday, Mr. John Little, pawnbroker, of 55, Brownlow-hill, was summoned at the instance of Wm. L. Ralph, for charging Eid. more than the interest allowed by act of parliament on some goods which had been pledged at his establish ment. There were two distinct informations for over charge. When the evidence had been gone through and sifted, Mr. Rushton said he should convict in the full penalty of £lO in each case. ROBBERY OF PLATE.—On Wednesday, two boys, named John Millen and Henry Williams, were placed at the bar of the police-court, on a charge of robbing the house of Mr. S. J. Storey, St. James's-road, of several articles of silver plate. The prisoners entered Mr. Storey's kitchen, whilst the servant was absent up-stairs, and took away a toast-rack, some forks, and spoons. The prisoners were apprehended in the neighbourhood with the stolen pro perty upon them. They were committed for trial. BURGLARY.—On Tuesday, W. Metcalfe was brought before Mr. Rushton, charged with breaking into the dwelling-house of Thomas Milburn, shipwright, Upper Frederick-street, and stealing a quantity of wearing ap parel. The prisoner was stopped by a police-officer with a bundle in his possession, and answered evasively the officer's questions. The prisoner was taken into custody, and it was subsequently ascertained that the prisoner had broken the window of Mr. Milburn's house, and stolen the property. _ He was committed for trial. CHARTIST LAw.—Two rough.looking fellows, named James White and James Carney, were brought before the magistrates on Wednesday, charged with disorderly con duct and assaulting persons in the street. An officer of police stated that the prisoners belonged to a gang of about fifty fellows who had been for several days going about the streets in the neighbourhood of Vauxhall-road,, crying out for repeal, and threatening violence to all who resisted them. On the previous day they met him (the officer) and struck him, and also another person who was standing near, and ultimately got into custody. They said the time had come when they had laws of their own, and they were determined to show it to the police and those who resisted them. Mr. Rushton remarked, that if such fellows as the prisoners would commit outrages upon the peaceable and orderly inhabitants, they must be severely punished. The prisoners were fined £5, and in default of payment to be committed to gaol for two months, at the end of which period they are to find bail for their good behaviour, or be further imprisoned four months. CHARGE OF FORGERY.—On Friday a charge of forgery against a young man named Parsons was heard before Mr. Rushton. A number of witnesses were examined, and their evidence went to show that the prisoner had committed a forgery on the post-office, to the amount of £2 17s. 9d., under the following circumstances :—ln the month of February last he was lodging at the house of Mr. James Jones, engineer, Burlington-street, and it being known to Mrs. Jones that he was " a kind of an attorney," she referred to him a matter of a debt of £5 15s. 6d., for lodgings owed to her by a gentleman named Bremner, who had removed to London, for which she had kept his trunk in pledge. Parsons wrote a legal note to Mr. Bremner, to which Mrs. Jones received an answer. He offered to pay half the sum immediately, and the remainder soon after. This offer was agreed to, but till three weeks after that Mrs. Jones heard nothing about the matter, and then a note from Mr. Bremner ap prised her that he had sent the money, in the shape of a post-office order for £2 17s. 9d. An inquiry at the post office led to the suspicion that Parsons had received the order, and got it cashed, signing " Samuel Jones" in receipt. Two of the clerks knew him well, and remem bered him being in the money-order office on the 15th February, with a money-order. One of them, Corduroy, swore positively that he saw Parsons on that day, writ ing on a paper and receiving money for it from another clerk, named Tyson. After the case had been gone into at considerable length, Mr. Rushton expressed his opinion that the presence of Mr. Bremner was absolutely necessary, in order to show thaVis order was the one that the pri soner got cashed. In the mean time he adjourned the case for a week. 'tfitrirt THE ADLINGTON MURDER.—WEIMSIey is to be trans ported for life. There seems now no doubt that he and Bates were the men who attacked and robbed the Rev. Mr. Germon and his daughter near Manchester. _ _ On Monday, Mr. Edmund Peel Thompson, one of the partners of the eminent firm of Thompson Brothers and Son, calico-printers, of 1, Mosley-street, Manchester, committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor, at his residence Legh-lodge, Ardwick. A LARGE EGG.—Mr. Law, solicitor, of Stockport, has an egg, laid the other day by a black Spanish hen, which measures 7 inches in circumference round its length, and 6 inches round its widest part, and weighed 34 ounces. The hen is about two years ,old, and never hatched an egg. NEWTON MACES.—These races will come off on the 31st of May and two following days. The stewards are the Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Stanley, W. J. Standish, Esq., and Thomas Legh, Esq. The race for the Borough Cup is fixed for Thursday, the Ist of June, and the entry for the plates closes on the Monday previous to the races. THE FIRST ARFIVAL AT PRESTON OF COTTON DIRECT FROM AMERICA.—The barque Isabella, of this port, with a cargo of cotton and corn, direct from New Orleans, (now in Lytham dock,) is expected to arrive at the Victoria Quay on Wednesday next. She will be the largest vessel that has ever brought a cargo up to Preston. She is 375 tons register, new measurement, and is the property of Messrs. W. Humber and Sons, of this town.—Preston Chronicle. A DANGEROUS SEIZURE.—In the County Court at Mold, last week, two innkeepers of llolywell obtained judgment, for 30s. each, from Mr. George Wombwell, pro prietor of a travelling managerie, for breach of contract. The defendant sent to engage stabling and provender for his horses,underan idea ofgoing to Holywell for a few days, but he afterwards altered his route, and went to Mold in stead. Mr. Wombwell told the plaintiffs that, if they sued out executions, the officers might take a lion or a tiger, if they could. SUDDEN DEATHS IN A FAMILY.—Miss Ann Riding, of the Dove Cote farm, in Claughton near this town, died last week. This female was first attacked with ill ness on Friday se'nnight, and lied on the following day. About twelve months ago a sister left the house in ap parent good health, to go and milk the cows, and whilst so engaged, died. A short time previously to the latter occurrence, a brother was snatched out of time into eter nity in a somewhat like sudden manner; and at an earlier period, the father of the three died at a time when such an event was quite unexpected.—Preston Pilot. CHURCH REFORM IN MANCHESTER.—Monday last being the day for the appointment of the new church wardens, a sharp contest was expected to take place be. tween the Cathedral clergy and the Church Reform Association. This was happily avoided by the friendly intervention of the corporate authorities. Mr. Brooks, one of the retiring wardens, stated to the meeting that the retiring churchwardens had made an arrangement by which the stipend of the present dean and canons of Manchester would be limited to their present amount, £6,000 per annum, and all monies hereafter accruing above that amount, appropriated for increasing the salaries of the poorer district clergy of the parish. The dean and chapter would in future be bound to constant residence in the parish, and to visit the sick. EMPLOYMENT IN MANCHESTER.—It appears from the usual tables of the state of the working classes at Man chester, that during the last week, two of the cotton mills have gone from full to short time. Of the hands employed in the cotton mills, 672 previously working full time, are now working short time ; and 582, working full time,' are out of employment. Of the total works included in the table, eight previously working full time, have gone on short time; and three more have stopped altogether. Of the total number of hands included in the table, 2,288 have gone from full to short time; and 792, previously working full time, are now out of employment. The re turn, therefore, is of a most unfavourable character. Of the total number of hands included in this table, 24,756 are working full time, 10,630 short time, and 9,303 are wholly out of employment. " LORD MAYOR OF TARLETON."—Monday last being the day fixed for electing the Mayor of Tarleton for the ensuing year, and the annual fair being held on the same day, the quiet village of Tarleton showed unusual bustle. At . two o'clock, the mayor, Mr. Charles Utley, of this town, and the corporation. went in procession from Mr. Howard's, the Ram's Head Inn, through the village, halting on their return at the Cock and Bottle. On their arrival back several new members of the corporation were elected, after which they sat down to a sumptuous dinner, got up in the best style by Mrs. Howard. Mr. Charles Utley, the mayor pre:iided ; Mr. 11. Armstrong was the vice-president. About thirty-three sat down. After the usual routine of toasts, Mr. G. Dandy, of Tarleton, pro posed Mr. H. Armstrong as mayor for the ensuing year ; Mr. George Parker proposed Mr. Halfey, jun., of South port; and Mr. W. 'Wilkins proposed Mr. Harpey, of Li verpool. After the voting, which was open, the town clerk, Mr. T. Ambler, of Preston, announced the votes as follows : Mr. H. Armstrong, 12; Mr. Halfey, jun., 11 ; Mr. Harpey, 10. Mr. Armstrong was, thereupon, duly elected, and immediately took the chair. MANSLAUGHTER AT PRESTON.—Great excitement was last week caused in Preston, by the death of James Duck worth, who was well known in Lancashire and other counties as a bone dealer and livery stable keeper. He had been leading a rough and irregular life for the last 20 years. An inquest was held on Thursday last, in Preston, before Mr. Palmer. It appeared that deceased and two men, Catterall and Townley, were on Tuesday last drinking at a spirit vault belonging to the Golden Cross. A dispute arose between Townley and dece sed, about money, when deceased challenged Townley to fight , and they went out for that purpose. Catterall came up and said he would fight deceased. He at last consented, when Catterall flew at him. seized him by the thigh and dashed him furiously against a butcher's shambles and a wall. Deceased said that was not fair fighting, and when he got up he said " Oh ! I am killed." Deceased's side had struck a projecting stone in the wall. He was car ried to the Golden Lion where he soon afterwards died. Four ribs were broken internally, two of which had lacerated the liver. Blood had run into the abdomen, causing death. Verdict—" Manslaughter" against Cat tezall, who was sent t Lancaster for trial at the assizes. THE MAY MEETINGS AND THE OBSERVANCE OF THE: SABBATH. These meetings are approaching, and great preparations are being made. They will emereise a mighty influence. Three or four leading ideas or opics will pervade the whole of them. The-more prominent will be France, its revo lution; the European continent, its sudden convulsion; Switzerland, its persecuting edicts against the evangelical religion ; Ireland', its difficulties to statesmen ; and ever and anon, in grateful relief to- the dark picture, England will appear, andits peace amidst the storm, its constitu tional loyalty, and religious privileges will call forth hearty and unanimous homage to the distinguishing grace of our God. 'I he downfall of Papery will be:predicated with joy, but the practical despotism and spiritual darkness of the watchwords, " Liberty, Equality," &c., must be noted with sorrow. Some of our own statesmen have in Paris held soirees from Sabbath eve until the first day of the week. Railway operations have also made wholesale de secration of - the Sabbath. Chartist and Socialist meet ings have also been held on that day; and if speakers be faithful, they must proclaim a worse evil than these—the criminal supineness upon this point of many ministers of the Gospel, whose anxiety to repudiate law is helping the godless infidel in his crusade against the Gospel. In December last, a gentleman deeply interested in the progress of religion and morality announced three prizes of £25, £l5, and XIO', for the best essays, in rotation, on " The temporal advantages of the Sabbath to the Labouring Classes, and the consequent importance of preserving its rest from all encroachments of unnecessary labour"— the competitors to be working men,"—" the essays to be short," - and to have each two mottoes, and to hear also the name of the author. Tha competitors were very numerous, an& it is stated that from the essays sent in much valuable. material may be collected, bearing upon other subjects than those espe cially contemplated by the proposer of the prizes, and which, if arranged, would possess a truly national inte rest. In less than three months, though, the season was winter, and many of the competitors did' not hear of it over ore month, and were engaged in manual labour from early in the morning until late at night, upwards of 950 essays were received. The editor of the Universe who takes the subject up with Christian ardour says he has examined many of the Essays, and that "it is not too much. to affirm that this collection assumes the character of a national treasure, indicating the true source of Britni2's greatness and sta bility—the religion and morality of the industrial masses of her mighty empire ; and the necessity of preserving the Sabbath, if we would preserve our distinguished but un deserved place among the nations." Ibe essayists clearly point oat the best way of pro moting their interests and securing their gratitude, viz., by maintaining their cause—and especially their SAB BATH-RlGHT—against the rapidly-aggressive inroads of a hard, temporary policy; basing and defending this in. alienable right, not upon the dry and crafty policy of a mere human system, whose parts are ever at the fingers' ends of its routine advocate, but upon the broad, gener ous, and self-denying axioms of the Word of God—only the ends,' or parts, of whose ways are discerned talc us, because the scope and extent of his policy is infinite and eternal." The writer adds of these essays that " the brilliancy. the force, the argumentative power, the logical acuteness —the pathos and the simplicity scattered over those which we perused, was very striking; but the unanimity of sen timent on many leading points still more remarkable." Some months must, of course, elapse before the adjudica tors can announce their decision, arid in the mean time arrangements have been made to retain all the essays. The Universe proposes —lst, petitions to the three estates of the realm, based on the voluntary principle, and accompanied by selections from the essays—to be called " Sabbath Reports : being the Evidence of the Industrial Classes in defence of their inalienable right to the benefits of the Sabbath ;"-2ndly, the issuing of tracts selected from the essays ;—and, 3rdly, the binding of the entire M.SS., and presenting them to the British Museum, as a monument to the moral and intellectual character of our industrial population. LORD PALMERSTON'S INTERFERENCE. Tuesday gave to the English public a publication of diplomatic correspondence relating to a matter of great interest, namely, the interference of Lord Palmerston► ii Spanish affairs. It caused great excitement at Madrid. Nor will our readers wonder at the rejoinder of the Duke de Sotomayor after they have perused the instructions contained in the following despacch,,addressed by the Se cretary of Foreign Affairs to Mr. L. Bulwer. It is dated Foreign-office, March 16, 1803: " have to recommend you to advise the Spanish Government to adopt a legal and constitutional system. The recent downfall of the King of the French and his family, and the expulsion of his ministers, ought to indi cate to the Spanish Court and Go vernmen t the danger to which they expose themselves in endeavouring to govern a country in a manner opposed to the sentiments and opinions of the nation ; and the catastrophe which has just occurred in France is sufficient to show that even a numerous and well disciplined army offers only an insuffi cient defence to the Crown when the system followed by it is not in harmony with the general system of the coun try. The Queen of Spain would act wisely in the present critical state of affairs if she were to strengthen her exe cutive government, by widening the basis on which the administration reposes, and in calling to her councils some of the men in whom the liberal party reposes confi dence. —I have the honour to be, &c., PALMERSTON." The above letter is enclosed on the ith of April to the Duke de Sotoinayor, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, in another from Mr. Bulwer, who developes the ideas it contains by suggesting that the Cortes should be immedi ately convened, and explanations given.— " Calculated to efface the impression occasioned both in the kingdom and abroad by the arrest and apparent intention to banish several citizens (amongst whom are to be found some of the most distinguished members of the Cortes), who up to the present moment have neither been tried nor accused of any offence." He then reminds the Duke " that it was certainly the promise of constitutionaliberty," as distinguished from her royal competitor, that powerfully contributed to her obtaining the support of Great Britain ; and concludes— " Your Excellency cannot be surprised at the senti ments which I express here, supposing even that the gene ral situation of Europe and the universal tendency of public opinion did not prove most clearly that at present the firmest guarantees of a throne are to be found in the national liberty and in the enlightened justice which are dispensed under its autharity." The Duke de Sotomayor acknowledges the receipt of both letters, the first of which he had previously became acquainted with by its publication in the Clanza Publico, an opposition journal, which, judging from th;s fact, pos sessed the advantage of being made acquainted with his Excellency's despatches before they reached their desti nation. As the Cortes were sitting, the press free, and the government had adopted a line of conduct and conci liation (admitted so by its enemies) at the very time of the date of Lord Palmerston's despatch, the Duke is still more surprised at the presumption of his interference. The conclusion of the despatch is too admirable a rebuke to the noble lord to be given otherwise than entire. After declaring the present government to possess the confidence of the nation, the Spanish minister continues : " The Cabinet, I say, cannot see without the most ex treme surprise the extraordinary pretension of Lord Pal merston, which leads him to interfere in this manner with the internal affairs of Spain, and to support himself on inexact and equivocal data, and the qualification and ap preciation of which cannot in any case come within his province. The government would have much to say to completely justify its past and present conduct; but it does not consider itself called on to do it with regard to its Sovereign and the Cortes, and in no way at the instiga tion of a foreign influence, which in itself would be to commit an offence against the dignity of the government, and the independence of the nation. All the legal parties in Spain unanimously reject such a humiliating pretension ; and the Spanish government, in now doing it, is no doubt the legitimate representative of the general opinion of the country. What would Lord Palmerston—what would your Excellency yourself—say if the Spanish government were to interfere and pass an opinion on the administrative acts of the British Cabinet, and recommend a modifica tion in the regime of the State, or if it were to advise it to adopt more efficacious or more liberal measures to allevi ate the frightful condition of Ireland ? What would he say if the Spanish government were to demand, in the name of humanity, more consideration and more justice on behalf of the unfortunate people in Asia? What, in fine, would he say if we were to remind him that the late event on the Continent gave a salutary lesson to all govern ments, not excepting Greatßritain, and that consequently the administration of the State should be given up to the Illustrious Peel : to the skilful man who, after having con ciliated the general opinion of his country, has known how to merit the sympathies and esteem of all the governments of Europe ? He would say—what the Spanish govern ment has now a right to say—that he does not recognise the right of any power, which be rejects as offensive to the dignity of a free and independent , nation. Animated by sentiments suitable to Spanish digtity, and to every go vernment which respects itself, the Cabinet of her Catholic Majesty cannot avoid protesting, in the most energetic manner, against the contents of the despatches of Lord Palmerston and your Excellency ; and, considering t hat it cannot retain them without being wanting in dignity, it returns them enclosed, and at the same time declares, that if your Excellency should at any other time in your official communications on points of international rights, go be yond the bounds of your mission, and interfere in the par ticular and private affairs of the Spanish government, I shall consider myself under the painful necessity of re turning your despatches without further remark." We are not surprised to read that Senor Isturitz has been instructed to apply to Lord Palmerston for the re call of Mr. Bulwer, the British Minister to the Court of Spain. NEW STEAMER.—THE FOYLE. This beautiful iron steamer, which is intended for the Derry and Liverpool trade, arrived here this week, and is now . lving at the An drossan Wharf. She was built by Messrs. Caird and Co., of Greenock, and does great credit to these eminent ship builders. The following are the dimensions of the vessel : —Extreme length, 197 feet ; breadth 26 feet ; depth, 17 feet. Tonnage per regiscer, 535 tons. The engines are of the newest and most approved construction. Sheds understood to be a fast sailer, and is beautifully fitted up with first and second cabins, and a very spacious steerage for deck passengers. The saloon and sleeping apartments for ladies and gentlemen, are beautiful and elegant in every respect. To the left of the saloon are also a couple of state rooms for ladies, each having accommoda tion for four persons, and communicating with the ladies' cabin, which accommodates 10 persons in a very superior manner. The steward's pantry, at the landing, is of a beautiful description. The plate and other articles under his charge, are of the best and costliest kinds. In the second cabin there are accommodations for 12 males and 8 female passengers.—Derry Sentinel.