The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

- FESTIVITIES AT BIRKENHEAD. We have already given, iir our last publication, such details Of the preparations and programme in anticipation, of the proceedings and festivities at Birkenhead, on occa- - siOn of laying the foundation stone of the new docks in that locality, that we do not deem it necessary, now that nearly a week has elapsed, to furnish more than a con densed sketch of the events of the great day, more espe cially as the very full accounts of our intermediate con temporaries, several of them accompanied by plans or illustrations, have already put nearly the whole read e ing community in possession of the princinal ' • sa c ' The day was one of the finest t . l- ,er co at this advanced net' • ulei be hoped- for eloudlee . -.we of the a'aininn, the sky being rg througlihitt, the sun bright, and the breeze just §tiffletait to produce a coolness highly grateful to ali en gaged in the - active movements of the occasion. Tl - 4e previous day having been also fine, and the nigh'h, dear ttnd inclined to frOst ) the streets and roads -were inprime der fur the procession, being ' - e'v once dry ) ara. the humidity of the previous dew, free front duet: Weather equally favourable could scarcely, indeed, have been found even in the middle of summer, itued its exhilarating effect was visible in the happy . oennee_leances and general good feeling and fellowship nf thse thousands who at tended. As curly as six o'clock in the morning the sound of cannonaclin, w . d. heard reverlerating for miles along both shores of the Mersey, rousing those of our citizens, not yet astir, from their slumbers, to prepare for the pleasures of a holiday, to which vast numbers had made arrangements to devote themselves. The OA.- head, froth an early hour, presented an unusual scene of bustle and 'animation. Crowds of well-dressed indivi duals of both sexes wended their way to embarking steps and slips. The Woodside, Monk's Ferry, and Birken head 'steamers, were galy decorated with flags, as were most of the ,vessels in.the river ; and the whole line of opposite shore from the Black Rock, north, to the Royal Rock Ferry on the south, was enlivened at every point by flags and evergreens, fluttering in the breeze from all the ferries, the new works along the shore, the public and many of the private - buildings, the roasts and yards of vessels, large and small, aril, in fine, from nearly every eminence whence they could he displayed. At Wood side ferry, and also round the site on which the founda tion stone was to he cielm•lted, long lines of flags of all kinds and colours were hung on ropes eaeending hori zontally irons spar to spar, forming immense wreaths or valances, at once gay and graceful in effect. From Gleave's and the Monks' Ferry tfotels, a profusion of flags Was also displayed. Her Majesty's steam ten der, Redwing, lay at her anchorage ground, and was literally covered with ensigns, union jacks, and signal flags.. - CMitraeleed with the previous day, though the shore even there presented Webeerful, busy, and interest ingappearanee, the result of the improvements and new works going on, the WhOle coast and town now assumed a different and more INely aspect ; it was peopled by 'thousands 'and thousands, and dressed up, if we may so 'express tureeltes, in new and profuse holiday attire. Many of the vessels in the Liverpool docks were also faily•oenamented with flags, indicative of the friendly 'feeling entertained by the owners or captains towards the 'new enterpriee on the opposite side . Seven steam boats plied regularly during the whole day between this town and the 'Woodside and Monks' Ferries, and their 'commanders Tad others on board paid eve' - y possible at tention to the comfort and safety, in landlne or ernbatk ling, of - the passengers, which the great re quieitiou these sconveYarieee were in would admit. The George's Pa rade - was so crowded, that it at in:ny periods of the day requiredtorne perseverance and nerve to obtain a place on boat. So extraordinary a rush was not eepected, -- and - there was at first a want of a sufficient police force to Maintain order and avert danger. This was after wards remedied, and, happily, no serious accident, so far as *c have heard, took place, thnegh on some occasions in the forenoon, females, from alarm, relinquished their "Intention of c ossing. •Vith regard to the interior ef the town and township of 'Birkenhead and its adjuncts, Tranmere, Otton, Claughton, Bidston, similar demonstrations eef rejoicing were everywhere -conspicuous. Irt Hamil ton-street, in the immediate vicinity of the Town-hall, i-the point whence the procession was to -evert, the scene 'was one of more than ordinary splendour and gaiety. Almost from every t.vindoar were displayed new and handsome flags, and each person seemed - to vie with his neighbour in enthusi ism. At the north-eastern corner of Hamilton-square, and also at the •entrance to the platform, triumphal l aure l arc h es were erected. - It would be an endless, if not an inch:sinus task - , to attempt, parti cularly, to enumerate the -various houses - from which ele gant devices and colours were displayed. Suffice it-to say, that the whets ef the `buildities in the town seemed to be decked in holiday -dress. The streets were lined with thousands, of the residents, and by perhaps treble thousands from this town, Chester; "&e., -all apparently resolved to be plea e(1 mid to please. The shops and markets were all -closed, ani there was a general cessa tion from labour, each man having not telly the privilege of a holiday, but tie boon of his day's wages. A - large body of the Liverpool police,-under the-command of Mr. Miller, was in attendanec. He was assisted by super intendents Leverett sad APDorild, and several inspec tors who bad the immediate -disposition-of the officers of the police force,- and the arrangements were such as, under the vircurnstanc.ts, reflected • great-credit-upon all parties -concerned. The ,out-door 75.-rangetnentp,' incluclings,the .cannon , the flags, Bc. 'were under the superintendence of Mr. Morti mer, to whom tile press are especially indebted for the readiness with .witieh he'furoished them with every possi ble information. ~~Z ~i TITE "PROCESSION. This was formed in Hamilton-street, opposite the pre sent Tovrnhill, ;zind in'Harditon-square and the streets adjoining. The bigh constable of the hundred, Mr. Palmer; Mr Miler, hea :constable Of Liverpool; Mr. Moss, general -superinten dent; and Mr43.mehey. pace inspector, i.eaded the procession on horseback. and sled as ronthictors. They were followed by a few-otber enema ouhorseba&r. 'Four Trtimreters, on horseback. The Champion, in complete •pOli , hed steel armour. arid monr,ted, astfleneschal ofite , Pri ry of:Birkenhead. 'Load 31 Assurance Tire Engine, , drawn by four horses, with postilions in scarlet. Firemen in uniform. with helmets. Norwich Union Fire Engine. late'y -Trresented to - the township, accompanied-by Mr. Hewitt, superidtendent of our fire police, and several of his brigade, in uniform. Printing Prees, from the office of Mr. *J. Law, r n a large waggon drawn by two hors?s. As the procession proceeded, cop!es of the Birkenhead coat of arms, with , the K 1 Ito " Homo rproponit,. Deus dieponit," a list of - the Dock Commi,sioners. and-a nctice.of the occasion which •tt •cemmemorated, were printed off, and hand2d to the crowd, who evinced the greate , t eagerness to obtain impres sions. Copies also of two songs —one written by Mr. Nter-ean, of the •Imperk: .1 Hotel. Liverpool, and-the other by MriG.eorge Cranmer--were printed and distributed. Xemperance Band, in handserre uniform. , Good Samatitan Lodge of 6.ldfellows, with - ffi.e Rigs and regalia. rincesi Ror.l Lodge. with a .splentld banne. - , representing Ater Majesty and the Princess frly.!.men were very neatly. -dressed, and decorated ,thes,rresettes...&e. - Mh - . - ; regalia was of the mest costly and I.m.utifUl description. •rte - s. ronun'ed on stout horses GraatlalnitnclOr , er of CACI )llc , r•thren, with regalia, &c. Band. in green, with tniiitary caps. Sand of the €t i Regiment of Toot. Loyal Liverp , 01 Lodge of Othifellows, raecompanied 17 a splendid banner. duchess of Lancaster Lodge. Loyal Stanley Lodge. loyal Perseverance Lodge. Band of the sth Dragoon Guards. Loyal George IV. Lodge. Loyal Afers-iy Lodge. - The Covenaht Lodge. Wriendly:Coelety of , Operative Masons. Reehahires. Star Tent. Pam] of. the Ctli Infantry. -Go:1 Samaritan Lodge. •Liverpom shipwrights. These carried a tine mock! of a. steara.vessel, and several ether i s fine models of arecsels, and were preceded by a large-Sag. They : .:were very respectably-dressed. A twee banner witil a figure of the Duke of Wellington,. and smother with a figure of Charles ;the Second, were carried:in this part of the processioa. Ancient Order of Toregters, -many of them in the full :costume of the order mounted. In -:the procession were a , hepherl and a shepherdess—theiformer ~with a fine clog catt;th Ant at tis feet. and the latter with a'lamb. Operative S iwyerS. Accgre.panied by a model shed at - al saw-pit, in which two •gro tesqpie-looking automaton :figures appeared in the act of sawing a bWic,of wood. Muth amusement was created by this ex./AL:el -Von. Pensioners* Band. ,Jr,eze Shipbuilders in the employ of John Laird, Esq., carrying beautiful twee's of iron vessels. Men employed in the Eazineer's Tug Yard, carrying waeis las their hands. Stubbs's Royal Harmonic Band. The Commissioners of Birkenhead:; .J.• D. case, Esq., W. Jackson, Esq., sal John LaSid, Esq., taking the lead. , fieverallaurseieds of Men employed in making the aew Park, six abreast. Several carts ducked with laurel and evergreens, and tided with -Wonae4 and Children, brought yap the rear. The pcocessiov occupied about threequarters of-ac hour in passim throuzis Hamilton-square. At twelve o'clo4 a discharge of cannon announced the starting:of the proceasion. As it moved along, the streets were tbreuged , by enthusiastic spectators, and the win dows of the noble mansions in the square and ueiglthour ing streets -through ;witia the immense phalanx, with nu merous flogs and - banners including the Royal standard, &a. passed, were thronqn:tl by fair occupants, who waved flags, banners, and hanclk.erchiefs, in token of their ap probation ; while the roaring of the cannon, and the mar tial music of the eariouslymds, combined to produce an effect at once magnificent and heart-stirring. At the en trance to Hacciltun•street,.and4so in Church-street and other strPets on the rotate, triampbol arches of laurel were erected. On turnine. the Corner of the yartl of Birkenhead Church, and nassina• along Abbey-street, salutes were fired from time to time from pieces of_,o^,nnon planted on the new river-v:all en c l os i ng Tranmere Pool on the north. On passing the Wellington Hotel, a party. of Scolchmen , dressed in the natio na l costume, presented il,cmscives on a stage which bad been erected for the uurpOze,,atkite one end of •the building; one of then; struck up alive*/ ale, on their favourite instrument, the tagpipe, which i Nza zpil to excite much attention amongst the spectators. The route through the principal streets, given in Our last, was adhered to. The procession, in returning north ward, crossed Hamiiton-square, and along Conway. street to Parkfiebl, where a line of flags was placed. It thence passed along Caventlish-steeet to Corporation-road, where it haltedopposite Mr. Laiid'a iron shipbuilding yard, .' which was profusely decorated with flags. A triumphal arch had been erected at this part of the.road, and the usual manifestations, inclu ling salutes, &c., were again given. Tee whole line thence moved on to Woodside Ferry, and thence along the new road close to the beach, to the sr of where the stone was to be laid. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE. JUFt above the site where the stone was to he deposited, two platforms had been erected in steps rising to the shore, with wide board entrances to the top; and thes: 4, together with a square space round the stone, r..lie or:ws!! . e al guests, were railed in front, and fer , _A boards at the back and sides. Parties we .. 4 .0 l+ds"t'ttrl to the platforms by ticket, and they etle '`Yolt - i 'filled by a gaily-dresstd company. statilned the band ellarosed square were Foot Sixth Foo .pr` 4.t.h Dragoon .Guards, that of the L+vc, , . S'tubbs's Harm B onic and, who c l ikt air i‘ sin concert with a flue effect, also the nalienal einthenl i tlec., when the cttemony had concluded. The leading gtntemen having arrived on the I:,round, Ilreparations were immediately made for laying the .stine, by Mr. Rendell depositing a glass bottle, con taining a copy of the Liverpool newspaper of the day, a - plan of the works, and one of all the curt ent coins, in a cavity out of thy solid r.•ck. [This part of the pro ceedings was performed amidst much cheering.] Mr. Rendell then read the inscription on the brass-plate,. after which deposited it in the groove prepared for its recep tion, and then presented the beautiful silver trowel (which we have before described) to Sir Philip Egerton. The a one being lowered to its place and adjusted, the hon. baronet struck it with a rosewood malls t. Tits 11? v. ANDREW KNOX, incumbent of Birkenhead, then offered up a beautiful, deeply impressive, and appro. pria'e prayer. Sir PHILIP DR MAT.PAS Cti1:1( rdt.4lsii, dart., of Oulton-park, M.P., then tseetided the Stoil , , Wititl'lst nine times nine cheers, which having atbaided, ll'early as follows :—Ladies and gentlemen, it ,has been euatealiary from time immemorial, in this country, and I belit've also in other parts of the world, to cele brate with such" peMp and circumstance" as the occasion might require, the toinatericernent of works, either public or private, which, for magnitude or importance, are deemed of more than ordinary consequence. (Hear.) It is in compliance with ancient usage, and in obedience to the liberal invitation of the commis sioners, that we are assembled here this day to witness that magni ficent spectacle, which has been prepared with no ordinary care — to celebrate the inauguration of the foundation stone of the Birkein head Docks. (Cheers.) It has been my lot, ladies and gentlemen, frequently to be present upon ceremonials of this description, and I have a vivid and distinct recollection of most of those events which have occurred daring the last few years a for ceremonies such as this are not like the ordinary and passing events of the day, which make an impression for the moment and then pass into oblivion : they form epochs in our national history ; they are milestones, as it were, in the road of time ' • they constiiute a species of Inemoria echniel, enabling the mind, after the lapse of years, to recal not only the events themselves, but all the contemporaneous and con cemitant events of history. (Hear.). It is, therefore, I say I hav e a distinct recollection of most of those spectacles which have taken place during the last few years; and I can state, most distinctly, and in all sincerity, that 1 have failed to call to mind one which, either for its intrinsic worth or for the important results which are likely to follow- from it, can be compared for a moment with the undertaking which has, this day been commenced. (Cheers ) I am aware that I am reaping use of terms must comprehensive; I am aware that I may probably be subjected to the charge of allow. ing my partialities or my prejudices to bias my judgment; bat I trust I shall not have made use of terms of exaggeration, for I do not estimam the value of a work of this description by its superfictal acres, by the sum of money that may be expended upon it, but by the amount of advantages which are likely to accrue from it to mankind at large. (Hear.) A briage over ties Thames at London, a bridge across the Menai straits, mire works of great magnitude, and which reflect the highest honour upon the distinauished.engi neers who brought them to perfec!ion; but in their application they j nova be'consideree es purely local, as mere facilities fur intercourse between the banks of the streams. There are many other works of great magnitude and importance in this nation : take, for example, the Royal Exchange of London, which our gracious Sovereign is aheut to grace with her presence on Monday next. That is a work well worthy of the merchaneprinces who have erected it; it will be a lasting ornament to the greatest commercial community in the world, but its sphere of utility is limited as compared with the re sults I anticipate from the works which are this day here corn mcnced. (Hear.) I consider that the advantages which will follow from the erection of these docks will not be purely local; they will not be only national, but they will be universal. (Cheers ) They will be felt through the length and breadth of the land; they will circulate through the minutest fibres of the nettle and commerce of the country; they will be circumscribed only by the limits of civi lization in the habitable globe. (Renewed cheers.) The idea of converting Wallasey Pool into a series of decks, is by no means novel or of recent date. Nature has been so lavish in her adapta tion of this part of Cheshire, that every engineer who has visited the banks of the Mersey, for years past, has been struck with the great capability of this port to feed the local trade; and I believe the late Mr. Telford, one of the most distinguished men in th e annals of British sci ence , went so f ar as t o say that, in his opinion, Liverpool was built upon the wrong hide of the river. (Hear, ant same laughter.) The late Mr. Laird, many years ago, had a com plete survey made of the Pool, and I retnember having received and many others received also, I dare say—a very able plan for converting the Pool into a series of docks. It would be needless for me n o w to revert to historical facts connected with this place, li are probably we:l known to most of those I have the honour to address. -It will be needless for me to mention the obstac:cs and impediments which have appeared iu the way of the realization of those schemes. Suffice it to say, that those impediments and thos e obstacles have been.fortunately removed. The Pool has beer sur veyed by the talented engineer who has lately addressed you, fie has drawn out plans for converting the aool into a series of docks. These plans were embodied in an Act of Parliament, which was passed last session. That bill experienced most rigid, strict, and searching investigation in passing through both houses in the com mittees of both the Commons and the Lords; but so manifest were the advantages it held out, so ably was every clause in that bill supported by the evidence of the most scientific men in this coun try, and, above all, so disinterested appeared to be the motives of those who promoted the measure, that it passed triumphatttly through those ordeals, and came unscathed and unmutilated through parliament. and is now the law of the land. The works to be executed under that act are of a magnitude wholly tiara tia leled, I believe, in works of a similar nature. (Cheers.) They will comprise, in the first instance, a vest tidal harbour of nearly f.,rty acres, with sufficient water in it to admit of vessels at all times of tho titles, which can cross the Victoria bar. (Hear.) In additen to that harbour of refuge, convenience will be supplied of about acres in extent, with a beaching ground of four or five acres additioual,.which will be devoted to the use t f the trading craft of the river. (Hear) There is also a dock which will be appliel to the present uses and purpose's of the ton - n of Biriienheld. If theso were the only objects sought by this bill, they are sufficient to lay clui:n to your most favourabLeconsidcration ; but beyond this there will be an - opening to the tidal harbour, by gates, of' vast extent ; there will also he a fkating pool of about one hundred and thirty acres in extent, throughout the whole of which the water will be maintained at such a level that the banks of the pool, continued for nearly eight thousand lineal yards, will be applicable for the,pur poses of (plays and jetties, of landintoplaces and gravingdocks, and warehouses, and all the other necessary accommodations required in a great znercantile harbour. (Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen, when I contemplate the extent of these works,—when I consider the important ulterior consequences which may result from this first initiatory measure,—above till, when I look at the extent of the buildings which now clothe the banks of this pool avowal me, and compare them with the state in which Birkenhead -formerly was, I can scarcely believe myself to be in the land of reality. (Hear.) I have been told, upon very good authority, that not above half a century ago, at the time when my respected gran e lsire inha bited the mansion now so ably occupied by your neighbour, Sir Edward Cast,—in that period, I am told, it was proved in a court of law that Birkeahead was not entitled to be considered a town ship, village, or hamlet, inssmuch as it did not contain three inha bited houses. (Hear.) Whether this be true or not, this Ido know, from the returns of the census presented decennially to parliament, that in 1801 the number cf houses in the township only amounted to sixteen ; at the next census, in 1811. the number was increased by only one; in 1821 the number was increased by only three; the next ten years, from 1831, the increase was to 400; while in 1841 the last census gave the number of its houses at nearly 1300 ; and I ara told that now, in the few years that have elapsed since the last census, it numbers nearly 2300 houses, occupying en extent cf street exceeding thirty miles. (Cheers ) This I look- upon as a case wholly unparalleled in the annals of this country.; and if, among those whom I now address, I should chance to find a citizen of the United States of America—that country so famous for the rapid growth of twits, and (Atka, and communities,-1 would al -most challenge him to bring an analogous instance to this from the annals of his own country. (Cheers.) I say then—it is with jus tice I say it—l can scarcely believe the evidence of my senses when I contemplate the vast and rapid increase exhibited in this district. (Hear.) It appears more as if some mighty magician, with a flou rish of his wand, had conjured up a meta! e and flourishing com munity from the bcivels of the. earth, or the hos - )m of the sea, in the full panoply of commercial prosperity, of wealth, and of intelli attics, as Minerva sprang fully armed from the head of Jupiter. If, then, the mind can scarcely contemplate without wonder and astonishment the progress made in the last few years in this loca lity, how shall we dare to gaze into the.magie spectrum of futurity, or attempt to divine what may be the onward progress of Birken head's prosperity? The astronomer is enabled to calculate the ve locities, and to measure the orbits, of the heavenly bodice ; the engi neer is enabled to make his surveys, and, from his knowledge of the laws which govern matter, is enabled to carry out his designs • for there are certain fixed laws and philosophical data which the have given (heel; tr. who shall a t tempt _ to def i ne w h at may be the rate of increase, or the rate of extension of human enterprise ? (Cheers.) Upon thet alone must depend the extent of prosperity of a commercial community such as this. I can fancy to myself, I can, picture a: forest of masts of ve-sels of all nations, crowding th:•se docks ; I can fancy to myself quays and docks, and ware h Rises, clothing these banks as far as the eye can reach ; I can }tear. I think, the busy hum of men engaged in all she operations of merchandise; I can see the locomotive engine in attendance at the back of the warehouses, prepared to convey the raw material by railways in esse, and railways in posse—(cheers)—to the very parts where it as wanted. (Renewed cheers.) I can fancy I can trace streets and squares, houses and palaces, and churches and theatres, and market-halls anti town-halls, and lord mayors, and aldermen and counci.lors, and beadle's and maces, et.nd all the paraphernalia of municipal dignity (cheers) ;—I can almost trace in the distance, I vas almost fancy that I can see in the distance the faint shadow of a popular member .addressing the borough constituency from the city htraings. (Cheers and laughter.) But to return from the fer tile regions of fancy to those of stern reality, I state it here to beany firm couviction that I stand at this moment upon the Rusicon of Birkenhead's prosperity. (Cheers.) As the Roman general of old, in his progress towards Rome, gained fresh laurels and fresh achievements, Birkenhead will go on in the path cf prosperity until she beconw in the first rank . among the great commercial commu nities of the world. • (Cheers I in the wards of a Liverpool paper, which are remarkab'e enough for the truth of "heir applications, " she has dee:full tide of comment al prosperity to start with ; she has a cheap market to borrow money in, and has cheap materials tp build with; she has the san c ti on o f a ll th e G overnment depart 'Rents • . she has the aperobation of Mc c onserva t ors o f t h e M ersey; and she has the aupport of the whole trading and manufacturing ; interests of the seauntry." With these great and important advan :;tages to atart with,sl trust she will go en and prosper, and from the . bottom of my Wait e t wish her God speed k (Tremendous cheers.) Air. WILLIAM JACKSON then said, in effecr, that he was.deputed by the public of Birkenhead to ask the favour of,the hon. baronet to permit his likeness to be•taken, to graceeze -walls of the intended new Town-hall, in order that it .might never be forgotten whoa was that had laid the foundation stone of ;Birkenhead prosperity. Sir Pr i sia.„,ip .EGER.Tom said he was proud of this addi tion to their former favours, and should Le most happy to accede 4o their wishes, Cannon -were then fired in ,salutes..and tb4 immense as semblage (inehtding great part of the procession) dig. persed from the whore. and * - ,oured through the various streets, some to their inns, others to their homes for re freshments, and malty (visiters) , to the houses oe their ac quaintances. The streets, however, remained .crowded throughout the whoile day and mening, no fewcr than about 105,000 persons been ituded at the ferries from this town alone. Tfift DINNER, Took place at five o'clock in the n3agnitieent banqueting hall, which we have already described. The display. in, eluding plate, surpassed anything of the kind ever seen in this neighbourhood. The dinner was .everything that could be desired, and added in no small degree to the already well-earned fame of Mr. Horne, of the Mersey Hotel. On the right of the Chairmin, the following distinguished guests were seated ;—Sir Philip de INlalpa Grey Egerton, The Earl of Esser, Lord Ba'emtm, the Hon. Lloyd Kenyon, Sir .L)shua Walmsley, C. IC. Main waring. Rev. Andrew Kttox, J. D. Case, Esq., P. Green -14.1, C o l. Cl e g g Col, Mitch ' Mitchell, J. IL Shaw, J. C. j. W. Harden, Esq., Col. Challiner, Chmainßest, ILN. Thomas /4 . cimsrlitcli, Esq. M.P., Josep:r I3rotherten, ks q . 1;. P,, James Mainwaring, XI, de Taa,S'ord. Esq., H. Winch,..P , s.q., C. Potts, Esq. cht the!eft of s.l l e chair were se a ta lorra Iki. . , THE LiVERPOUL §TANbAttii, Tatton Egerton, Esq., P M. ettu lion. E. S. Stanley, the • Ci „ns Sir . Edward Cost, Warre, Sir W. e — ti . eral Sir. W. the Symonds, the R ev . ..a s Tno Wrin. Ewae. eOlotleacon Claike, Joseph Bailey, Thoma It. M. F: r ''{¢l, Esa e ., M.P., J. B. Cl egg , Esq., Rev. ra.tn, M.P., Richard Congreve, E.sq., Nlassey ,e4.1e0, George C. Legh, Esq., Sir. William m s , Iftivrt!e`e, Cap. Gerrard, John Stanley, Esq., Js .ast‘Saiarini.g, Esq., the Rev. °add, Capt. Greig, &c. eec. Trtit list of invited guests ineiekd three hundred noble ?Atli, gentlemen, members of ,ar!iament, merchants, railway directors, professional mess, respectable trades men, and others, from Birkenhead acrd this town, and, indeed, from all parts of the kingd - Ota. The greatest novelty of the evening, and one which added much to the amusement of the company was the introduction of Mr. T. W. Toole, the celebrated toast maser, from the East India-house, London. Quite au fait in his. business, he succeeded admirably in thretliffi cult and important task allotted to him. With "an ex quisite and finished air," he gave out the toasts, com manded silence, and seemed to think himself the very life and soul of the meeting. Grace having been said by the Rev. A Knox, the feast commenced, and the enjoyment of the multitudinous luxuries was protracted till twenty minutes past six o'clock. Thanks basing been returned, and the tables cleared, The CHAIRMAN rote and said —I beg, without any remark, to propose the first toast of the evening, " Her Majesty, the Queen". (Three times three, and loud ap plause). Air, " God save the Queen." The CHAIRMAN then gave " Her Majesty the Queen Dowager," (Three times three.) The CHAIRMAN-1 beg now to give you " His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Earl of Chester, and the rest of the royal family." (Three times three.) The CHAIRMAN next called upon the company to join with him in drinking to " The army and navy ; ' and he begged also to couple with this toast, the names of General Warre and Captain Bevis. (With three times three.) Major-general Sir WILLIAM WARRE acknowledged the toast. He begged to return his sincere thanks for the kind and feeling manner in which his name had been coupled with the toast of the army. Ile could not but feel deeply gratified for the manner in which this toast had been received, coupled as it had been with that ser vice to which had been for many years his pride and glory to belong. Next to the approbation of their beloved Queen, whose approbation was their highest stimulus and their best reward, the approbation of their fellow-countrymen was their best stimulus to exertion; and also the greatest reward which they could receive, next to that of Her Majesty. (Loud cheers.) It was impossible for him to witness that morning the imposing ceremony of laying the first stone of those magnificent works projected at Wallasey without feeling that a new stimulus was imparted to the army to protect —a new object of love and devo tion to their country was suggested to his "mind. (Ap plause ) Whether the army was serving in distant parts —be would not speak of the navy, because a gefitlesnan was much better able to advocate the cause of his profession than he could presume to be—but so far as his own profession was concerned, he could only say it would always be the delight and pride of the army in foreign parts to maintain that commerce, the trade of which was so widely diffused over the globe from both banks of this river. (Hear, hear, and applause.) When abroad, it was their duty to protect their trade, and when they returned home he trusted that every soldier would feel it was his duty to maintain the laws of his country, and protect those institutions which for centuries had been the pride arid the glory of every Englishman—those institutions under which this country had prospered, and had risen to the high position which she now held among the nations of the World. A small island it might be— a small island in the ocean—but it was the most powerfel among the nations. It might be the envy of really, but it was respected by all. (Hear.) Ile was not in the habit of addressing public meetings, and therefore he craved the indulgence of the company, and begged to return them, in .the name of the profession to which he belonged, his best thanks for the honour done to them. (Applause.) Captain BEVIS, R.N., also acknowledged the compli ment, but being seated in the vicinity of the vice presie . dent, and speaking in a low tone of voice, his re.v ober ssrvations were not heard. The CHAIRMAN ti en gave " The Bishop and Clergy of the diocese." lie said he had seen his Lordship on Monday last, and he expressed his great regr:•t that his official duCes in a distant part of the county would pre vent him from being there that day, because he wished to sanction by his presence the great undertaking of that day. He (the Chairman) wished t) join with this toast the name of a gentleman who had been resident in Bir kenhead for the last 17 years, and who, every day of those 17 years, had grown in the respect of the people of Birken head, he meant the Rev. A. Knox. (Three times three and and one cheer more. The Rev. Mr. KNOX returned thanks in a suitable address. The CHAIRMAN, in giving Sir P. Fgerton's health, ex pressed the obligations which he and all other parties in any way interested in the public business pertaining to this locality were under to that bon. gentleman. He alluded at some l•ngth to the exertions referred to in connexion with the park, public improvements, and other local bills, the whole of which he had advanced, not because of their local or individual hearing, but because of their utility end efficiency as contributory to the general good and ad va icement of the interests of the public at large. The to tit was received with vehement applause. Sir P EGERTON said,—l would take this opportunity, although F er,iaps not quite in the right line, of retur g my warmest and sincerest thanks to the commissioners of Birkenhead, for the distinguished honour which the' ' , have this day conferred on me, in requestirg rue to take the first part in that most interesting ceremony which ydu have witnessed. I could have wished that that duty lad been entrusted to one mote distinguished for rank, station, or talent. I could have wished that the ceremonial of this day had been graced by the presence of Royalty (hear, hear) ; but 1 take this opportunity of stating, and I am happy to have the pleasure of doing it, that the refusal of Prince Albert to attend has been dictated by that ni •e delicacy and that great discretion of feeling which have guided every action of his since we had she pleasure of hailing him as the consort of our beloved So vereign. (Cheers.) I have ever considered it as one of the proudest features of my Parliamentary career, that I should have been called on to represent the county of Chester during that period in which Birkenhead has made the greatest progress in the path of civilization. (Much cheering ) I can say most sincerely that the interests of Livepoool. are near and dear to me, as they must be to every Cheshire man. If ever I have been . accused of taking a part adverse to th e i r i n t eres t s , it can only have been in instances where I have imagined that the whole some and just rivalry which ought to exist between two communities has been supplanted by a jealousy which I might have thought rather unfair to those on this side of the river, and rather unworthy of the i n h a bit an t s o n th e other. (Much cheering.) I hope most sincerely that all those feelings of jealousy are now at an end, and that we shall go on bind in hand, attempting only to rival one another in one thing, namely, which can most promote the commercial interests of the port of Liverpool. (Great cheering.) I alluded to-day to the advantages which this locality possesses for the - construction of docks and other works. (Cheers.) Now I may say that it is my positive conviction that these capabiliti es wou ld l ong have re mained dormant had you not had amongst you some of those distinguished and en•erprising individuals to whom you are indebted for ail those great works that surround you. • ((leers.) It has been my fortune to transact bu siness w.th the commissioners of Birkenhead for some years, and I never in my life transacted business with a set of men so public.spirited, so disinterested, and so en terprising as the commissioners of Birkenhead : to whom we owe a step of at least a _century in advance of the or dinary progre,sion of communities. The VICEXTIAIRMAN (Mr. Jackson) said, 14 years aeo, when the individeal whose likeness was then before them (Mr. John Laird, sen.) first propagated the great teleme which they were now likely to carry out, he was treated as a wild enthusiast and seeculevor—nay,•he was denounced as a fool; but his eons had lived to carry out, not only the project of the docks, but they had also lived to see the very plan originally suggested by their father's mind carried into full -effect. (Hear, hear.) They had but one object in forming these docks, and that object was, to benefit the pert of Liverpool —to take a fair share of the trade which was increasing —to endeavour to aid and assist the port of Liverpool, in giving additional ac commodation to commerce—to give the ships, as they arrived, ample accommodation—to reduce the charges, if possible, upon merchandise, and, by such reductions, to enable the poor man to get his calico shirt, if it was only 3d., at less than at present. (Hear.) Let them hope that when times in which they could net expect to exist presented to the readers of a future age the page - of his tory. the name of Birkenhead might be therein recorded, and that, when read, she might be lauded for her honesty and purity, and that her sons might go Coati from that port—t.) the east and to the west, the spicy islands of the south, and frozen regions of the norte—,ind take with them ithe character of honest men. (Loud cheers.) Such was their hope, such was their intention ; and let them hope that they might not be deetived even by their descendants. Bot should they have been in their p ent proud position had it not been for those who had the charge of the county interests in their hands ? No. If there was one representative more than another who had gtined the esteem and regard of his constituents at Birkenhead, that man was Sir Philip Egerton (great applause); who was indeed the cock of Cheshire. (Hear, anti a laugh.) He proposed the healthy of the members for the county. (The toast was drunk with ail the honours.) Mr. T. EosaroN, 17. P, sad, I always looked forward to the time when the docks of Liverpool would be scarcely sufficient for the rapidly increasing commerce of this country—when the river Mersey would he only the high way for nations between the—not titre', but sister ports of Liverpool and Birkenhead. But, gentlemen, so gigantic a protect as that of which we have this day laid the trn. dation stone never entered my imagination—a project which does reflect the higheret credit on the brad that con ceived it, And those public-spirited and disinterested indi viduals who have followed it up.; and that not with a view to their own interests, as in thew present days we see too commonly the case, but for the .benefit of their fellow_ townsmen, their county, and their country at large. (Cheers.) In travelling in foreign countries I have often 'b-an strmck with the singular contrast between that pre sented by this country and theirs with respect to pulAie weeks, There everything is the work of Government ; here, everything is the work of individuals. (Continued applause.) In that we see a perfect example of the unti riegenergy, perseverance. ;earl industry of England, which have at all, times and in all parts of the world carried its people through .every difficulty. I wish some of those in foreign climes ,could have seen the ceremony which we have this day witreeesed. If they had been told that township which, as my werlby colleeieeee told you. time few years ago numbeued but a few itilar:hitante, shank: t e o a v , y aft er t rn h le ic.:;el”conodfeartafkewim)s.e-e3rlasin put forward and he ri , esn:„.ll in the world, they uti wottbi cettal.dy have eisiWe 1:94 . FPOSkre We, in that corner of ihb 63Onty—in that corner where no docks, but tail chimneys are the order of the day—let me tell you that we feel no slight interest in the- progress and success of this undertaking. We have been told, on high authority, that " we are all for ourselves in this world" (a cry of " Alderman Brooks," and shouts of " hear") but, gentlemen, the individuals who projected tWs great na tional work look upon it as one of the greatest advantages to the rapidly increasing commerce of this country, and on motives of self-interest alone we look with anxiety to the success and rapid execution of these measures. Be lieve me, gentlemen, it is a matter of no slight interest to our master manufacturers, and to the great masses we see in our corner of Cheshire—many of whose representatives I am happy to see around me to-day—it is to them a mat ter of no slight importance to see the delay of their vessels in the Mersey for a period of from Ito 14 days. We are told thatputictuality is the soul of business, and our ma nufacturers know that it will not answer for them, when they receive orders—ay, and when they have executed them—not to be able to forward them to their correspond ents. I say, then, that upon national grounds, and upon every other ground, we look with great interest on the un dprtaklog. As one more particularly connected' with this district, I bid you God speed. I sincerely trust that tie work which we have to-day commeneed so auspiciously will be auspiciously finished. I see scarcely any limit, looking into futurity, to the growing greatness and pros perity of this t own . You have seen what your neightlotirs have done on the other side of the water. I cart onlf say, as one who has had long dealings with the authorities of Liverpool, that I sincerely trust—that I wish—they would hold out to you the right hand of fellowship—that all dis cords will be forgotten—that you will try to rival them, and only in that, in your punctuality, in the extent of your commerce, and the accommodation of your docks and I can assure you, as one of the reprerentatives of this endeavour of ct the c lt o y u , n a t s r yt c o. t a i c e nod 7 on b r o oetr h ao a tfe s tib t ne ri a e cto d i to ny nt ey b a, e s,itti t h rse c h ta ap t,a r l e v ie lily n t ps a tive ro be at in ote the prosperity of this town. (Long nndprotracted cheer- Cu T hethen rose to propose another toast. 13 e Proposed the " Health of the Eail of Eisei, Lord Lilford, Lord Bateman, and of the other distinguished guests who had that day honoured Birkenhead with their presence." The Earl of EssLx.-1. have been most deeply gratified by the interesting ceremony which we have witnessed. It has given me a most exalted idea—but that, indeed, I did not want—of the energy and the power of those connected Witia the commerce of this country ; end when I consider the talent and foresight that were necessary to conceive this great enterprise, the wealth and energy necessary to carry it into execution, and the extraordinary results to follow from its success, I cannot but think that the men of Birkenhead are. richly deserving of that noble title which was borne by the first merchants of the world — those of Tyre—which then descended to the equally cele brated merchant of Venice, and now so worthily devolves on your shoulders,—" the merchant princes"- of Great Britain. (Much cheering.) lam sure 1 most heartily hope and pray that success may attend your noble under taking—that It may conduce in every respect to the hap piness and welfare of yourselves and your fellow-towns men—that it may spread still further and wider your al ready great name and the great commerce of this country, and that, though last, not least, she may, with this assist ance and God's blessing, carry into the very remotest part of the world the b'essings of civilization and of Chris tianity. (Loud and long-continued applause.) The Hon. E. J. STAN LEY said, they had laid the foun dation of the great civilization of the town by preparing a system of drainna—by preparing that system which, he believed, would do more to banish vice and misery from the walls of a town than almost anything they could have undertaken. (Hear, hear.) He would speak also of that which redounded to their honour—he meant the noble at tempt they had made in setting apart a great space for the recreation of their poorer and humbler brethren (hear, hear), and that, not in some obscure corner of their vi cinity, but in the very heart and centre of that great town —land worth in value, by the inch and yard, they had given by the acre for the recreation of all the poorer in habitants. (Loud cheers.) And while he mentioned this as a great means, he believed, for the civilization and im provement of the community, he mentioned it alsO as one which would materially tend to lighten the labours of the magistracy. (Hear, While he praised them for this, he would add, that in this, as in other cases, the best, the most honest, and the most merciful and humane policy was also to be witnessed ; and lie believed that the inhabitants of the township would experience tvi advan tage from what had been effected. not only in the superior moral character of the people, but in the real additional value they would find-conferred on all the property in the neighbourhood. (" Hear, hear," and loud cheers.) Mr. POTTER said, the Liverpool merchants Could not be the opponents of the Birkenhead dock measure, for they had felt too severely all the risks attending the former state of affairs, and the losses attending the delay to which their trade was subjected, partly from physical circum stances, and partly from the trade of the country having increased to a degree beyond what any ordinary foresight could be e,pected to provide for. Therefore, while aaso ciated in the Birkenhead measure, he wos not only doing that which would advance the trade of Liverpool and the trade of the world, bat he was also doing that which would meet with the encouragement and approbation of some of the most eminent merchants in Liverpool—so many, that to name them would be quite invidious. (Hear, hear.) They had felt that the measure was due to the trade and commerce which was rapidly exceeding all the provisions made for its coneenience, and that it was also due to that great hive of manufacturing industry on the other side, knowing that the 'extension of commerce was the true basis of the prosperity of the estuary of the Mersey. (Mar, hear.) He bogged to propose, " The town and trade of Liverpool." (The toast was very warmly received.) DUNCAN Gina responded to it. The Hon. Sir E. Cus - r in proposing the health of the Commissioners of Birkenhead seid.—l stet I very shortly indeed repeat those two or three creutostances which have been mentioned already—these, for instance. named by the Hon. Mr. Stanley,—and which certainly display a most remarkable example of the wisdom, sagacity, and fJees . g:it of these who took the lead in this town,• in lay ing out the suburbs of the town for the benefit of the poorer population. I believe that this is an instance of feeling towards the poorer reputation wholly unexampled in any town in this or the other hemisphere; for enor mous streets have been projected and duly sewefed, pre pared for water, and all the luxuries that modern refine ment could conceive,being all prepared before a single house had been erected on the land. This is an instance of sagacity very unusual indeed in any public undertaking, and it is also an instance of activity which is very rare in any public functionaries—qualities which must, to a re markable extent, exalt the character of the commissioners of Birkeuhead. The noble market now in course of erec tion, the various and numberless works every day pro jected, and, last, though not least, that mighty work which we have seen to-day commenced, are all works in themselves so unusually great, that they would very justly entitle any set of men to a high place in public estimation for their individual acts; but, when uni!ed, they really form a very considerable deign on the public gratitude. The toast was received with rapturous acclamations, and Mr. J. D. CASE responded to it. Mr. W. POTTER said, they ought nut to forget him from whom the plan of the docks proceeded. (Hear, hear.) They were indebted to the genius of that gentleman, as well for his readiness to answer all obj , ctions, to undergo the rigorous cross-examination of numerous counsel, and to corroborate all his assertions, as to the capabilities of the pool for all commercial purposes. He would not be considered to have trespassed unfairly when he begged to propose the " Healrh of Mr. Rendel, the engineer." (The toast was rapturously received.) Mr. RENnEn was perfectly satisfied of thi4, that the dec`cs of which they had been lay v 4 the foundation-stone that day were not designed, neither would they be, in a spirit of rivalry to those very magnificent works which thy saw- so gloriously across the river on the very fine day a ith which they were .blessed for their ceremony. He.was quite certain that they were altogether of a ferent description from a rival establishment. (Hear, hear.) They are intended to propose additional accom modation in the port of the Mersey, which, favoured as Liverpool was, it did not afford facilities for the conqrue tion of. (Hear, hear.) If the late Mr. Laird had lived till 1844, and seen the numerous steamers which traversed the Atlantic with the regularity almost of a locomotive, he would have said " Let me have a low-water basin for those vessels ;" and this was really the only difference between Mr. Laird's conception and the shadowine of that conception which he (Mr. Rendel) had been fortu nate enough to be called upon to carry out. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. HARDEN then proposed "The Press." Mr. J. SMITH returned thanks. The last toast on the list was " The Cheshire Witches," .which was entbthicstically drunk. THE BALL. The.appearance of tlr! bail-room, which was opened at ten o'clock, was unprec,dentedly magnificent, whether as regarded the decorations or the display of beauty and fashion that adorned it. Amongst the ladies present were—Lady Grey Egerton, Lady Charlotte I - gerton, Lady Cust, Mrs. Lloyd Kenyon, Mrs. Ch,rles Stanley, Mrs. E. J. Stanley, Mrs. W. Patten, Mrs. Co!. Glegg, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. J. G. Jackson, Mra. W. Laird, Mrs. Mallaby, Mrs. Winch, Mrs. J. B. Hughes, Lady B tteman and her two daughters, &e., &c. Mr. W. Laird led off with Lady Grey Egerton, arid Mr. J. S. Jackson with Mrs. Charles Stanley. The whole of the arrangements, which were admirable, exclusively devolved on Mr. J. S. Jackson and Mr. W. Laird. At half-past twelve, the supper room (which had been the dining room) was thrown open. A beautiful embroidered ban ner emblematic of the occasion was here rrescnted by Mr. J. S. Jackson and Mr. Cole to Lady Egerton, who graciously accepted it, remarking on the Veauty of the needlework. Dancing was then recommenced, and was kept up with spirit until about four o'clock. FZSTIVITIES AND AML' SEMENTB. In accordance with the liberality of the whole proceedings, a supper, with jellies. wines, fruit, &c., WIIS given by William Jack-on, Esq.. in the large room of the Town-hail to about aito persons, chiefly bolding situations connected with the town or its public wotks, and respectable master tradesmen and A band was provided, and the greatest erjoyment prevailed. Mr. John I aird also presented a handsome large 0 edal struck for the occasion to each of his men, to commemorate the day, and a new dress to each of their wives. Eve., the poor in the Workhouse were not forgotten. all receiving a sum,!: through the guardians, to enable them to share in the festivities. The poor of the town were al o supplied with food by ticket, in ac cordance with preview, arranee, ents. About sixty gentlemen, of Liverpool and Birkenhead, srt down to an excellent dinner. at Mr. Gleave's, Adelphi Hotel. The viands and wines were of the anima kinds, and the whole arrangements highly credit bie to the worthy hoot. 'Several exeCient Fpeeches referring to the prmpetity of the townst - iip were d elivered, and the evening was spent in the most agreea lye manner. A large party cf gentlemen sat down at Mr. La French's, Wa -0400 Hotel. to an excellent and ‘veli...serre.t dinner given by Itobtrt I inglies, who ably presided. The usual toasts were inyen by the Ch a i rman , Mr Ku:tinier, :itfr, Wort, ant other gen thetne,ri: The hp • ith of the Members for ti..c i, , outheru Division ,s.4 : qpil much cheering. L.p pri;posii4, it, .dr. Mortimer remarked, that opportunities had been afforded him of closely watching the conduct of hose gentlemen in connex ion with the interests of the town and trade of Birkenhead, and lie was glad to hear testimony to the indefatigable exertions which they brought to bear on every thing that could promote thjr well-ire. During thy' unparalleled contest that had taken place on the Dock Bill, their time, talent, and influence had ever been extended to obtain that happy termination which Bir kenhead this day with :ssed. but if any thing con d add to the pleasure of proposing the healths of the Members of the County, it was the fact of being enabled to do so in the house of the man that, upwards of a quarter of a century since, had endeavoured to establish that system of communication by which that day one hundred thousand persons had been able to cross the Mer sey without any accident. (Loud cheering.) Mr. KNAPPEIt. of the Cottage Owners' Association, begged to confirm all that had been stated in commendation of Sir Philip Egerton, and John Tollemache, Esq On a recent occasion he had applied to them on the proposed iniquitous assessment of cottage-owners, in place of the occupiers cf cottage property and they both, unsolicited. came down to enquire into the pro ceedings, and, by their influent.', the obnoxious measure was withdrawn. (Loud cheers.) The proceedings throughout were highly gratifying, and in proposing the health of Mr. La French, the worthy landlord, wh ch was received with loud cheers, the company was reminded, that that gentleman was the first who practically introdueen, many years ago, steam navigation on the waters of the Mersey. Mn. ToMTINsON'S bixicuit TO Ili§ WORKMEN. One of the Meg pleasing of the festivities of the day Was the en tertainment given by this gentleman to his workpeople, which took place in a temporary building erected fur the purpose on the grOund adjoining Mr.. 'Willoughby's Bowling-green. At about half past four o'clock, we found the whole party assembled, to the 'amber of about 400, with their respected 'ernPloyer 'voiding, to a substantial hot dinner, provided by it *rnoqtthy, with his usual attention to quantity and quality, n‘.iiiaber of gentlemen being pl a c e d a t th e diflbrent tables b5W34t ill the office of carving and see to the corn. fort of the guests, Amongst the gentlemen who kindly volunteered this task ii Vat noticed 11. - Melling, Esq„ Secretary to the Royal Merseyraclit Club, R. 13. Barton, Esq., Dr, Grindrod, Dr. Gouth %olio, E. Fletcher, Esq., John Wood, Esq., Cabbage-hall. Edward Griffin, Esq., C. Parsonage, Esq , Lower-hall, near Wrexham, John Hoit, Esq., B. A. Mould, Esq., H L. Ehnes, Esq„ architect of St. George's-hall, James Harrison, Esq , W.. B. Conon, Esq. The vice-chair was filled by J. A. Tamer, Esq., son-in-law to Mr. Tomkinson. The dinner having been removed, and the men supplied with ale and tobacco, for the latter of which the demand was extensive, the usual toasts were given, alter which the Chair man proposed " Prosperity to Birkenhead," which was received with hearty cheering. Mr. R. A. Mould responded in a neat speech, and concluded by giving the health of the founder of the feast, who, he rema,ked, had on that day, which was the anni versary both of his birthday and of his wedding, entered upon one of the largest undo takings of his life. The whole company rose in enthusiastic response to the t .ast ; and, after the cheer ing had subsided, Mr. Tomkinson briefly, hut most feelingly. replied, thanking his fellow tradesmen" for thei , kindness, assuring them of his ardent desire for the happiness of all around him. and expressing a hope that the great undertaking upon which they hid just entered would fill the pockets of the work men as well as benefit himself. lie was about to r.tire to another place where his duty called him, but he trusted they would continu, to enjoy themselves both with pipe and cup. The Chairman then retired, and Mr. Tartlet took the chair; and, after the remainder of the toasts had been drun , r, and several songs sung, the company began t retire about ten o'clock, having enjoyed, in a manner creditable to all, a happy and a merry evening. The principal street , , particularly in the neighbourhood of Market-street, were crowded throughout the day artd evening; one street preienting the appearance of a race-course, with all the usual co: comitants for amusement. Rockets were sent up from various points, bands of music played up and down, many of the shops and houses presented fine transparencies, and all was a scence of good humour and erjoyment. A huge bonfire blazed on Flaybrick, and two others were lighted at Mr. 011is's lime-woi ks, at Tranmere Pool, which brightly illumin ated the whole neighbourhood. At about half-past six, a splendid display of fireworks commenced in a field adjoining Argyle street, and attracted man•: thousands, all of whom obtained a good view, the street beng . higher than the ground. These were provided by Mr. Atkins, of the Liverpool Zoological Gar dens, and did him great honour as a pyrotechnic artist. Amongst the most attractive pieces was a large steamer moving in a stormy sea of green fire ; also, an immense temrde of fire, in honour of the principal Commissioners, whose names were dis played in coloured fires. The whole concluded with a beautiful device. in which " The Ladies of Birkenhead " was emblazoned in variegated fires. Three hearty cheers were given at the con clusion. After the fireworks were concluded, which was about eight o'clock, numbers of persons began to move off—those who lived on this side the w -ter to the ferries—and, towards half past nine o'clock, the streets were con-iderably thinned, those who were still engaged in the festivities of the day being occu pied principally within doors, parti&ipating in the pleasures of social harmony, or "tripping on the lltht fantastic toe" to the strains of joyous music. The late i oats, however, continued to be densely crowded by - parties r turning to Liverpool. In conclusion, it is highly gratifying to state that, notwith stand ng the immense 'crowds. and the embarking and disem barking, during the whole day and night, the whose passed withoW any accident of consequence. The above speaks valumes as to the arrangements made, and the judicious manner in which they were carried out. LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL NEWS. The shipments of potatoes from the Isle of Man have commenced, and large cargoes are leaving that island for Liverpool. Thomas Sidney, Esq., Sheri of London, tea•deiler, is brother to Mr. George Sidney, boot and shoe warehouse, Paradis e- et reet. On Friday we!lc, a dinner was given to Alexander Kay, Esq., Mayor of Manchester, as a mark of their respect for him, by Aldermen Potter, Neild, and Kershaw, the first, second, and third mayors of Manchester. The Rev. Mr. Murphy, formerly of St. Patrick's Chapel,•in Liverpool, has been appointed Rornish Bis')op of Australia. He had been previously Vicar-General of New South Wales. On Saturday week the clerks and subordinate officers of the Manchester Corporation were entertained at an excellent dinner provided for them by the three past Mayors of that town. On Saturday week the flat Express arriver: at Manches ter, with forty tons of wines and Writs, for Mr. Gila), of that town. This is the first. arrival in the " Port" of Manchester of a cargo of gocds for bond.. We beg leave to call the attention of our reitle.rs, par ticularly of thy maritime elt.'s, to the advertisement of the Mariners' and General Life Insurance Company in our columns of this day, which appears to offer advantages to seafaring persons seldom to he met with. GUANO.—Owing to the easterly winds, the arrivals of the past week from Ichaboe do not exceed 300 'tons. Sales have been made to the extent of 100 or 120 tont, at 4:5. 17s. 6d. to £6. An entire cargo, on the spot, is re ported to be sold at the latter price. For forward delivery there is no business doing. on CA T U h T ii l r O sci N cy TO las S t, l7 , N a D s A c l ha T ng ß e A d V b E e L f t. or r e No m — r. .Nt it r u . sh ß t o o w n, et a t t , the Police Court, with driving in his gig past St. Georg:-!'s Church, on Sunday last, during the hour of divine ser dice, contrary to a bye-law passed on the 15th of Sep tember, 1812, and fined five shillings. LORD TEYNHAM.—A letter in the Morning Chronicle from a son of this nobleman states that though his father did preach in a Baptist Chapel in this town he "does not belong to that or any other dissenting denomination." His lordship preached in the Scotch Church, Dublin, on . Sunday week, and at two other places of worship the same day. TRACY PERRAOF..—James Tracy, Esq., the claimmt to the Tracy peerage, is at present in this city, and that he has overcome ail the difficult part of his ease—namely, that of identifying William Tracy, his treat-grandfather, who married Mary, (laughter of James O'Brien, a vv0011,13 merchant in Francis-street, as the son of the lion. Mr. Justice Tracy, of England.—Dublin paper.—{ the son of Mr. Tracy was recently in the Liverpool police.] RODN Y-STREET \VARn.—A large and influential meeting cf the electors of this ward took place on Tues day. for the purpose of introducing John Pemberton, Esq. to the electors, The meeting was u!!animous in their de tern ination to support Mr, Pemberton ; and from the fa vourable state of the registry in this ward, and the great influence of the gentlemtn who attended the meeting, there is no doubt of Mr. Pemberton's triumphant return. FREICMASONRY.—The Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for this province, was held at the Adelphi Iletel, on Thursday morning, at eleven o'clock. The Croft Lodge was opened in the Three Degrees by Brother He , s, V.W.P.G. junior war den, assisted by the represencatives of Loges No. 130, 173, 245, 263. 267. and 291. The gramd officers baring taken their several chairs, the lodge was opened in due form, when the reports from the several lodges in the province, on the prognss of Alasonry, were received. They were most gratifying; end the charitable contri butions exceeded in amount these of any previous year. At four o'clock the brethren sat down to a most sumptuous banquet, served up in brother Radley's:best style. cane evert in G A i neboot i.o t g t t e; d rs t ,t t lr s , e k re . c ; n ewm F ae r s i n d bi a lle y g lcia A, as N ARTFUL iid.r getni!ri ß de n t , E G :( l,l,la . his calh, While servir , him Mr. Bird put his purse into his coat pocket. As his cu.itomer was going out an alarm was given that a man had dropped down dead. On being brought in, (of course many persons wi.h him,)and placed on the floor, Mr. Bird took the usual means, as he ap. peared to be in a fit, and in a few urinates he was able to speak and depart. On resuming his employment (the cir cumstance selreely taking three minutes,) end putting his hand into his pocket for his purse, Mr. 137 rd Lund that it was gone. It instantly struck him that the whole scene was a trick, the man in fits and his party having watched his doings, and the opportunity taken advantage of, and that successfully. The money extracted amounted to X2O. MR. R. USIITON AND MR. SHUTTLEWORTII.—OD dis missing the grand jury after their labours at the sessions last week, the learned Recorder paid a deserved compli ment to our stipendiary macistrateond prosecuting soli citor, Mt. Shuttleworth. The learned gentleman sa id, " It is a most gratifying circumstance to know, that i n every case, after the careful scrutiny you have instituted, yen have affirmed the propriety of the prosecution. It is a rare occurrence, and most clearly indicates the care and diseriminatien which arc exere'sed in those pre liminary proceedings which take place before th e cases appear in this court." This opinion of the learned Re corder received a most expressive confirmation from the feet, that fully one-halt of the prisioners, arraigned during the last sessions, pleaded guilty, arid thud, by fhtir own ecrifesiens, acknowledged the justness of the proceedings which had Leen taken against themselves. MURDEROUS ArrweK.—On Friday afternoon as Capt. Wo:;dhouse was leaving the Queen of the West, New York Packet-ship, of w hich veAs.l he is commander, in the Prince's Dock, when passing through the gate he • was assailed by a tal powerful man, in sailor's dress, who, without a word, s!ruck him a tremendous blow, with an iron ball or ston,, clung in a p ock et - hanilke , chief. The blow took effect on the fore part of the tenip!e, near to the eve, and laid him bt (;nC: 81 : 1 1Se!th'S on the I:avtinent. He was picked up and carried to the Norhera 11 suit el, where it was asecraine.l that the injary, cith ugh of a serious nature, did not extend t 1 frieture of the skull. The assailant, on suing Captaio NV.' f a il , took t o hi s i tee !, and, in the confu,ion, ore of cr a i l ii i V to i l gi:h e d a 4;, d l ; l o :e fri u t x;i ; e : e t ' l B . e sr :; „ : a :d at n: e : sere: : b r t " ce ti ;: b l : ' 3 : 4, :e i, b ,zl ::::):g ,c i t e l il l :Nft their•t Yi Ihe vc, I t . threat ha been had fAtf. thr t they also would be attacked. Oct. 29, 1841• the Police-court, on a charge of having sold a couple tt! . SUSPENSION, OF A MARKET-CONSTABLE. -00 hares in St. John's market without a license. Th e casts day a Mrs. Roberts was brought - before Mr . Ruallt S ell t,par i against her was proved by a market-constable, of the „r s , of Woodfall ; but, upon cross-examination by 51e. that he had received 2s. from a person named Shaw and handed the mone to a butcher ? with request thato,ll dle, Woodfalt, evidently with much reluctance, stat a e°4 would go aird purchaCh the hares. Mr. Wardle conte . cl e c o d . that the coastable, Under those circumstances, d ba ok the trapped the unfortunate woman. Mr. Bushton to same view of the case; reprimanded the fellow for . his, misconduct, and ordered his suspension and the die . s!! of the charge against Mrs. Roberts.—[How can :(lari. Rushton reconcile his condemnation of this man s duct with the fact that he, some little time since, all u n ce rised police-constables to go in plain clothes and 'n u e.? publicans to sell ale orspirits after the prescribed holt:10 If the market-constable were •so -far wrong in the recorded above, as to justif the dismiss'al of the c'"'" ?? then ought none of the cases against the publicans to faro been proceeded with on the unsupported testiratali spying policemen.] mg - of TOWN Pito6thniNG§.—A. apecialareet this beldY Was held on. Wednesday last, at the usual bo or , to determine upon laying of the annual fire aolice 8:e. Mr. Alderman Lawrence stated that the fire P.° 1 , 8 that ut a rate last year, produced £2,135 19s. lido and expenditure was £1,725 2s. 4.1., leaving a balance::: 4410 17s. 7d,, out'Of which the sum of £209 had alreil ~ been expended for water-carts. He thought that, be the balance, a rate of a halfpenny in the pour.d woulttrt, quite sufficient, end moved a resolution to that tne `O/ which was adopted. A resolution as to the closit tee markets and shops, with a report of the market conics red on the same subject, Was' then read, but it was r es3 t .o. that the council could not e n t er t a i re th e comentinle, 3 i d to The Mayor produced the reply whi c h ho had reeelvf ata • a memorial to the Treasury, on the subject of Mr• kissoll's statue. After some conversation, in the no of which it was repeatedly stated !ha' Mrs. Huskisscr i at, very decided objections to placing the statue ins ° t a George's Hall, the following resolution, proposed by o t os 0). Alderman Turner, and seconded by Mr. Agpinall then agreed to :—" esolv C 1? eeiThat as the Lards gthe missioners of tie Treasury have decli n ed to sanction es placing of the statute of Mr. Iluskisson on the site s ec r ed mended by Mr. Gibson, the artist, the Mayor be reclu!tos to express to Mrs. Iluskiason, the deep regret omit Council th fn it eat e s t at wi s h t the h a t theim difficulties jcrsui.)otetnyeutecioeodi r w lnif h ebba i yrye Steiktb eep; e RailwaylhaveurLeprbenign, Companies to a oet eni r mtpd i s po e ae: n ni. rrom of the Custom-house, as originally intended. .d the course of the discussion, Mr. G. H. Lawrence ° Ai • might be satisfectory to the Council to k no w that t i' sa r. l and se c G ie l G i i n e b nt s s e t f o e: a r o ' m i s a ' t n a ha d d te ur Grand e r e o a l n f n ,i d l A c e been directed to wait on her Majesty to receive a cooly% ty to twelve. , MEETING OF TIIE COUNC IL . —A special. raeeana ff been called for to-morrow, to wind up the affairs o ft " municipal year. The proceedings of the Finance CT, mittee, will comprise a recommendation f or the-sale ° l ,, piece of land, containing about 2,200 yard s , i n Char c ,, street, Birkenhead. The proceedings of the Watch Cl t mittee will contain a report of a sub-committee of that body respecting the efficiency of the borough constabul s y, li r s force, the accepted resignati o n of M r . Mill er , the r constable, the appointmentpro-fern, of Mr. Commissia b e e Dowling to the latter office. The proceedings of t to Gardens. Committee will comprise a recommendatio n erect an iron-fence railing on the east side of St. Jan' es „ o walk. The Mayor's com m unicati ons w ill compris ea , application, on behalf of the Birkenh e ad Dock. CornPa r . ) '; to purchase the reversion of the Corporation in a porn of the Wallasey estate. A similar appli ca ti o n it il l , remembered, has been already made by individual 1 35 :„; - chasers of the Wallasey estste and declined by the Fin Committee. The present one is made by the Dock C o- 'ts,, — pany on the other side, and, should it be refused, o'r, o ` — t o deratand it is the intention of that company to aPP.' o f Parliament for compulsory powers to obtain poseesslon oe the fee simple of the estate, upo n th e groun d, that ait o having erected immense docks and ware h ouses upon l ' r , property, it would be an injusti c e. t o c ompe l th e m to I r u render , them to the Liverpool Corp ora ti on a t the exP a tion of a lease for seventy-five years. waS DOCK COMMITTEE.—On Thursday an application, - made by Messrs. Forester and C o . t o h ave l ease d to D' e f for the term of twenty-o ne y ears , 8360 square yards I ° o land, in the neighbourh o od o f th e nort h d oc k s , at tli annual rate of one shilling per square yard. The cation was allowed. Two lett e r s were rea d having' sea rence to the use of galvanised i ron , w hi c h bad ut offered to be supplied to the committee for budding l'f oa , poses. One of the letters was fro m a fi rm in Lon" to and stated the iron so offe re d was p repare d acc ording, a system for which they held a p a t en t, an d it c cntaine ° B9 caution to the committee a g ain s t us i ng the iron , • actions at law were pending against p ersons for infring e ol mcnt of their right of patent. The other letter was ff ° i d a party who had made tt.e offer to supply the iron , el le ceutaiued an assurance from the writ e r to indenitrilY t . committee in the result of legal proceedings being lih' s . l ta o toted, as the patent alluded to could not opplY t° -so kind of iron he had offered. The letters were referred o the committee's solicitor. The tender of Messrs. Ogc le d , p fo e r r t m b i e s s i i r o o n n w sa a s s h g e ; s:: I f te t Brunswick pier for the Buncorn steamers. Mr. Ift 4 tr d he t A o lb e e r r e t c w t a a re n h , o o u r s e c ti s b w le as h ae ut c , e } p n t r e tbile Evans was unanimously elected to be sap e rintendent °, Anglesey Lighthouse. Some suspicion had been excit eu as terMr. Evans' habits of temp. niece, butt he completely cleared his character. A boy, named Johnson, was or pointed a , .istant to the telegraph at Vorydd. at a weekly salary of Bs. An application having, been made by the committee. to Mr. Thomas Carte to inspect the vccabulatir a letter was read from that gentleman, stating that he had made the required examination, and his opinion was that it had been complete=d with much labour, and that it was of great simplicity. Ile thought that the only addition' that could tie made to it was that the shipowriera s if it were practicable, should send in the names of their elaiPe and their private signals for insertion. We understoo d it to be the opinion of the committee that this wasitty" practicable. Messr& Paton and Co. made an a pplication for a return of rent for the use .of the shed at Waterl oo Dock, which rent they were of opinion was at too high a rate. A letter was read from the Trinity Board sanction ing the removal of the Bell Buoy further outto sea, wh ich removal the committee ordered to be made. PUBLIC BATHS.--At the meeting in London for the promotion of these useful establishments the Bishop ( ( f e .. London thus spoke of the baths in this town. His 1° r te ship said, he lately, while in the north of England, an opportunity of visiting the town of Liverpool. for t es • purpose of irisnecting the public baths and wash-110 0 0 that had there been established for two years. lie woo o f state a few details, and he begged to say lie now spoke 0 . the advantages of bathing. He found that as wiall tha 220 labourers had bathed on a S a t ur dsy afternoon in public baths at Liverpocl, where, he should just 0 5 '74 the baths were rather on a c on t rac t e d sca l e , there be. o , 83 separate baths only. In conversing with the suPe r i l ia 'a tendent of those baths, that p erson -t o ld hi m that he „- overheard this remark from one of the labouring me n : a n Addressing a companion by his Christian name, the said, -" I feel as if I could do another week's work n" w ), have been ire the'Wth." (Hear, hear, and loud che er ,g o Suppose this to take place on a Saturday, the mecttth wooll be pleaSed to remember Curet the effects of the bi oa . would not be confined to the sensation of physical c o ar t b, city but be more lit for the due cbservance of the Sah nB oa d (Hear, hear.) The baths were separate, and be, f° ,7 fi td this highly estimated at Liverpool—having as meth or Warm clatvr as he (the poor man) Wisliel to turn fur there was no limit in this respect at the ha ths a o o Liverpool. The baths at that town were freqtrentar, id e l . g n e t s e e n :Of p :a . r h ' s i o r e t n h e a cels only by working men, but by some of a supericr eir' t biS life, who paid a small sum fur private baths, which 1 ° ea l .se p au e r r rd s person al ° } F goi r cr , case became a cheap luxury to them. He used the sc rA i t w t v% ) hich, v e wh s iet e ns n o s ou e nt o c, f eb a eu n ,,t jo i a n y d etd , disiamee with. (Hear.) He had himself asked the P j ., e , people at Liverpool if they did n rt think it an advantl;e d a great advantage, to hove public wash-houses, and t ,be said they felt them to be so; aed he bad inquired of l og superintendent if any ev il s had arisen from t h e nitsof families rand he said he had never vcrerrveo or n e k las of any. If th e p eop l e so employed did t a lk over th a t, grievances, th en h e ( t h e r i ght rev. prelate) knew no tied, harm in that. (Ch eers. ) T he resolutions were P";'ste the society formed ? god the Bi s h op o f L oudon ap po e p sidnr, r CHAttOI OF SETTING FIRE TO A SHIP.—The 'l - e Hermes, belonging to Messrs. T a yl eur an d Co. ° 11e• chants, of this town, sailed on Friday week with a talu es: cargo of manufactured and other goods for Buenos M' o m e o t and on Tuesday s h e arr i ve d i n t h e r i ver again, hasi"l_s back in censequ ee of an attempt t o se t fi re to the s sel on Sunday morning, off Holyhead. One of the in e 'd Swede, named Henry Brown, was placed in custody' a tb the circumstances were investigated at very great let i l a p before Mr. Rusht on et the polic e - cour t on Ttles"e - Air apprentice, named John Parry, stated that, h et i ° aaf sot and seven o' c l oc k on S unday morning, he was 'Y t be in his hammock in the forecastle, ill, when he 53vi n att prisoner go t o th e c h est of a seaman, n umed rrom which he took a box of matches ; thea he went ',`'aca l'artn 's) chest, t oo k th ere f rom a leaf out of a b oo k, ' "and it up, th en h e took off the scuttle, lighted a matehp be went down i n t o th e f orepea k . A f ter he came ba ck ' id stood over th e scut tl e i n a k neeling posture. a nd t ee n 'By —, I will eith er s i n k h er or burn her;" "n" be' he put on the scuttle care f u ll y , w i t h t h e b ar ov er it g ",, be. fore. Sho r tly afterwards, the ship was discovered tvversi col fire; about t wo gallons of tar in a barrel, an d '.!wer e pounds of oakum, being cons=umed ; but the flame' Coe 'ortunately exti ngu i s h e d b e f ore t h ey atta i ne d airy tb ese siderah wle rower. It appear e d th a t no one haf see,' e bo d proceedings of tae prisoner but Parry ; and that t i _h e ' cr eal• been no disput e bet ween th e cap t a i n an d an y of %%PP The case was even t ua ily a dj ourne d . On W",e-as Brown wars again. placed at the b a r. Lamont "- ichr , arnertitl, and deserib : d th e p os iti on ef the boxes din° So in his chest, but nothing material, ccuOl b • cdOe d ' dsl it addressing the caotain of the H er mes, s' re' ,was a diffic u lt case t o ge t a t . th e b ottom o f. II e then d cc n• capitulated the priucipal points of the evidence , a d th e ended by &airing hi.; cauvictioo of the innocettee, } ;;. g ed' prisoner - Brown, tallow' he ordered to -be ( 11 ' 3 INfr From the auspicious character of the boy p a rots o be Res hton ordered him r,o be taken iota custodaa n n ~,e t ilYr be, tiabt up again en the following day. On In? ota rie l Parry was brou g ht before the magi s trates —in 11 1 ' 1 mice a very minute inquiry having b een i ns t i tuted hsr i ll t f)fficer Greaves. Mr. Rushton said, to his mi n ", asee. clear, from the result of the exam i na ti on which 1 0 . i- t o, .ease, that Parry Ind been the person who had atle'" 0 . 4 0 , t the diat;olieal act, which lie hod endeavoured ' lace e P slis • the charge of an innocent man ; end '• , e t there was no direct evidence felt Nay an if e e 1 , a, 0 sending hint for that. c to jos° a at°' ae CAS .s aeCt discharged. ' prisoner