The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-09-21 00:00:00

Sept. 21, 1847. ?Loral paus. Jenny Lind paid a visit to Birkenhead on Wednesday :week, and on Thursday morning she spent some time in 4118 Pecting the picturesque antiquities of Chester. MONSTE R LOBSTER.—A lobster, such as has seldom been__ seen in Europ e , was b roug ht o ver by the Cambria om Jlalifax. It weighed no less than twenty-six pounds. - On week William Hawes, living in Beau-lane, tell down stairs, and was so injured that he died on Tuesd ay. The members of the Liverpool Cricket Club have pre tented a silver inkstand, of exquisite workmanship, to Edward Morgan, Esq. This is the last week of the season at the Zoological Gard ens. Madame Rossini and the First King repeat their Ong achievements. eitA h , named Thomas Taylor, was, a few days since, Wing near the fire undressed, at his parents' house in ,b o n ' k i i,enhead,•when he fell backwards and upset a pan of * W i g Water on his body, which caused his death. Notw ithstanding the terrifie gale on Wednesday and Passage day last, the Iron Duke steamer made an excellent s. to Dublin. The Holyhead steamer, due at one ~ did hot arrive Until nine. `TrEANtan Surrx.—On Sunday week, the steam-tug -Edinburgh Castle, belonging to Messrs. Spinkes and Co. Sunk off the Toxteth Dock, supposed to be owing to some of the valves being left open. The captain and crew got Oh shore by the boat. , Yesterday week an infant, named Elizabeth King, liv ing in Upper Mann-street, being ill, was given by its mo ther several remedies, and among others one drop of lau danum. It died the same night, and the surgeon said that the death was occasioned by the administration of a narcotic poison. CAUTION TO PARENTS.—On Wednesday an inquest Was held on the body of an infant named John Jones, •residing with his parents in Campbell-terrace, Claughton road. The deceased had been for some time unwell, and an over-dose of syrup of poppies had been incautiously administered by the mother, which caused his death. PRESENTATION.—The friends of Mr. George Ellis, late resident engineer to the Chester and Birkenhead EXten sion Railway, who has retired in consequence of the amalgamation of the companies, have presented him witwith a handsome gold snuffbox and silver inkstand, es a testi mony of their high esteem. A few days Mr. F. A. J. Hargreaves, an inmate of the Charter House, died rather suddenly at the age of 68. He was a barrister and an elegant classical scholar, and was th Li ooevesropnolf the ce l e b rated Hargreaves, who was recorder of Trial B . man Y rears ago, and who edited the State THE GRE AT BRITAIN. —This leviathan ship is to be pit i lip for c w _a have sale by p u bli c auction. Mr. Brunel and Mr. Proceeded to Liverpool to survey her. —Herald. e understand that Mr. Patterson, of Bristol, and Mr. ' rantham, o f this town, are also employed to estimate the damage done to the hull and outfit of the ship.] An extraordinary piece of copper, which, in one block, .r_weighs nearly two tons, has been brought to Liverpool Oni Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. It is a most curious ' e ra' specimen, inasmuch as it is almost free from 'quartz, and ap e as fine as if it had been smelted, the crystal p izedcrust on the surface clearly betokens at it is a piece of mineral ore. The beautiful picture of " Settle," painted by our rwnstnan, Mr. W. G. Herdmelp, and exhibited at the ,Toni Academy, has been purnased by the Duke of '`-lrabridge. We are sure the friends of the artist and the erPool public will be pleased to hear of patronage so hope being extended to a Liverpool profess an we sincerely 'c'ke it will be of service to him in his ion. CHILD DESERTION.—An inquest was held on Friday, Birkenhead on the body of a child found deserted in a snigl,Park. Evidence was given to show that Ann Curtis, e woman was the mother; and it was further i oved th at an infant which was only fifteen weeks old v em; ied from exposure to the cold. The jury returned a r c t of " Wilful murder." sion°°D, IM PORTATIONS.—The import of foreign provi ra, q 7 is again heavy, and includes 4,824 quer -45,,..4 bushels, 32,618 bags wheat; 131,651 barrels barreLs i t 7 d ? quartrs, 9,822 bushels, 70,707 bags, 67 1 5 . 28 barrels 1; 0 1 corn; 9,633 barrels, 1,397 bags corn mea , bad" k ; 4,200 quarters, 361 bags beans ; 2,200 quarters 601 barley 7 1 ierces, 984 barrels pork ; 284 tierces beef ; Th A "s , 100 boxes bread; and 727 boxes cheese. si nce - case of cause of mentioned some weeks ;__ and then a cause of angry commentary against the p l u ve:P c ?ol Parish authorities, turns out no more than a thi d s tale. She complained to the Dublin guardians , despite oeig a native of Cork, the Liverpool authorities, her protestations, had sent her with her three tvaudren t o Dublin. It appears now, on consulting the ienver rds, that sh e never was under the disposition of the pool authorities at any time. GIBSON'S STATUE OF WILLIAM HUSICISSON. — ine granite,r Lin ee a fee Pedestal of thi s statue is now completed, and will rece i ve the figufewt square,d ays. It consists of a plain block of On the front, facing castle a_n s d tree ab t ou a t re i nv e e se f r e t zi t n he h w ei o g r h d t s . " William Huskisson " in relief copper letters, about two inches and a half in length. epillar rests upon an other flat block of maso g n ra ry n , stone and brick t e e rec w t h ed ich up i o s n s a us s ta ol i i n d e f d ou b n y da s t o i l o id n of concrete. It is understood that no public ceremony will accompany the inauguration. WEST INDIA PRODUCE.—A vessel, arrived at this port tro m Nassau, New Providence, has b roug ht, i n a ddi t i on to a variety of fancy and furniture woods, 68 live turtle, 11.1.4. between 200 and 330 dozens of pine apples, of West 11 Produce. A considerable number of pines and 1 , 1 1 ; of turtle were thrown overboard during the voyage. ay,,,J,An u se of so valuable a portion of the cao being cast the consequence of stress of weather experienced on „„2 Was most probably owing to the difficulty of ~..vmes„?„,7ves, to the more unwieldy portion, and the more ac being stowed away at the top of the hold and ..,PO / , fl e essibl e in the emergency. 441 terrINO.—An inquest was held on Wednesday, at who I,,, e ad, on the body of an infant named John Jones, Bed died f rom t h e e ff ects o f syrup o f popp i es . De inirse ,waa an illegitimate child, and had been sent to and i nn a'.T. a Woman of the same name. She fed it with bun. abotCL ; and as it became ill, gave it, on the advice of a fo rt „ e r f,emale, some of the drug named, every night for con v „Z, ll .o l t. The child was yesterday week seized with bliter,v t ° lls , and died on Tuesday. The surgeon te ed the cause of death to the syrup given in over doses, ovf7;,_i,stoh: being given without intention to destroy. - 40,-4;:t accordingly. The coroner very strongly nurse Lobe to be very careful in the administration pedieine to children. glik•coLtisioNs ON THE RIVER.—On Monday evening the slid e,, Woodside steamer, in turning round a steamer l ath nett, _ , g off the new landing-stage, ran against the ar s , -a ru Paddle -box of the Star, Rock Ferry boat, and tile alhed the wheel and paddle-box, and of course fright tow to Passengers. The disabled steamer was taken in W e Woodside, where she remains, and the passengers 0 - ,:v,sent by another conveyance to their destination. if.L` -eriday, the captain of the Alexander, Rock Ferry 741 n-boat, appeared before Mr. Booth, at the Police t;itrt, upon the Williams having damaged a boat belonging man named ,on the 28th of August. The .e.O•se having been clearly proved, the defendant was ordered PaY the amount of damage,—Mr. Hodgson to survey Kiel boat. LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—It will be seen by our advertising columns, th at t h e annual meet i ng and e xhibition of live stock &c., of this society, will be held on the 30th instant. The "hibition will be on the North Haymarket, where it was last society could not possibly havrr'lrd a better favourable, we expect there will be a place the merous attendance. As it is uncertain whel4i uncertain weather proves w and president of the society can be present, it the noble ranged that Lord Lilford shall take the chairs; at i tr e n a ar ; - nen. Mr. Smith, of Deanstone, (now resident in /,,n -don,) whose name is so well nown in connexion N v iic, a griculture, and particularly with that important depart talent, drainage, has been invited to attend ; and Mr. 3, ,_ b a„vr, editor of the Farmer's Magazine, it is said, i s . "eIY to be present. The committee are using every ex etrtion to secure a good attendance, and have got a special j!!!„ 11 granted them by the London and North Western ;rer li way Company to convey their friends home after clin k • Mr. Chalk, of the London Coffee-house, St. John's. e, whose catering last year gave general satisfaction, tt again undertaken to provide the dinner. -ANsi, Ar CASE.--An inquest was held on Wed besda_ °TITER eared that Of before the borough coroner, on view of the body de e ;i lo Towers, a sailmaker, aged 33. It appeared that ch th a sed and others in the trade were members of a_l2 rial str eet and had met together at their club-room, in t Hood -0 oeovedn c 'elo c k (~)° the previous Monday evening. A 0 %4, ,ueceased and others left the room, and went to a 14 AV 401 18e opposite, where they remained drinking ptsseciabout one o'clock in the morning. Some words c eased' more at first in joke than in quarrel, between de iiiaker "d a powerful man, George Smith, also a sail pay, ,Wh o, was taken into custody.) Deceased woas Ile ney had s ome wres tling together and deceased th afterwards expressed a wish to fight Smith, most did no t Present dissuading deceased. Smith (the stronger) ce ased se em to wish to fight, and shook hands with dc- L o ttah J.,o,kbut. when they got into Church-street another ‘° th If not quarrel, took place between being 4 Lra c k e witnesses sailmakers) swore to a blow am I at deceased by Smith, which knocked him down, "e fell i t • • ;e w as eavily with his head against the curb-stone. rr le assisted home, became insensible, and died the f ,, r ° l 4 ( 1 4 ,,,, °11 ,ing. The question was whether deceased fell -15 n1 tC riK eeness and hurt his head, or whether he fell L'eto rt „ . ? alleged blow given by the prisoner. 'I he jury tie 4. 1 `,; - ' a verdict of manslaughter against George Smith. 'r u estigation lasted for upwards of seven hours. 1 14.„. FRIGATE. — DISASTROUS COLLI -014 II e steam-frigate Birkenhead arrived at Plymouth li stiogtuaY from this port, after being employed in as hen og float the Great Britain. On Wednesday night, %he At 't the Lizard Point, the wind blowing very strong, b • hfo rig 11 nanatelv ran down a brig, name unknown. The off r=oad her starboard tacks on board, and was reachi ng t ad re the weetwLizard, with the wind from the southward spri re c l eari ; she went under the frigate's bows, and kt, ng her knocked away her foremast and bow juarter Lazed the steamer's starboard broadside and gate 4 ne brig was observed from the deck of the kid effo rts to the collision ; her speed was shortened, assi st r g made to avoid the contact. With an intention that afte r "e brig, the frigate got out her boat immedi ,r the accident, but the sea was so tempestuous ;tee 81174:oat was instantly swamped. The frigate kept siachAd vessel in sight for about two hours, when • rz oY stZ t i es c bsaPPeared, and it is feared that from the f the weather and the darkness which pre ile4tttiletlaht,bart the ill-fated vessel must have gone down, and !'e. crew have unhappily perished. The Birken saidwle2gine Was damaged, her starboard, paddle-box, F. l ,ti li _ial ! acre smashed, the cook's galley carried away, Se veral be.! ,hains broken, and starboard quarter injured. neted 4 0 , of the brig's sail canvass h ave been *Re ex- Sou n d , ' the frigate's paddle-box since she came into fidniled we have and Co. sated at sing up lective of tance of !ctors of is to be ed their !nsion of of their weight Asa than. :ate, and dies. ; shown, is an or use pos there is brought aal cha in pro t brings of the nal sur rdly be estates, is said . various ey were ight to a enor- Spa it John. Ind go- Mar ; how Is for n the avery COM.. ress. trail_ $ Of ineS; ten -6d., THE GREAT BRITAIN.—MOSSPS. Fawcett, Preston, and Co., with Mr. Ross. Mr. Baker, and Mr. Furlong, engineers, and two foremen boiler-makers, at the request of Captain Claxton, visited that vessel, to examine the means adopted by the foreman boiler-maker, Mr. John Crew, for stopping the leaks at the bottom of that vessel whilst lying in Dundrum Bay, and expressed their admi ration of the ingenuity displayed. The method adopted by Mr. Crew for this purpose, was as follows :—A plate of sufficient size was passed edgeways through each hole from the inside, having a screwed bolt attatched to it as nearly in the centre as possible. This plate was then adapted to cover the hole on the outside, and was drawn tight up by a screwed nut and cross-bar from the inside, being packed with felt to prevent leakage as much as possible. NEW MUSIC HALL, HOPE-STREET.—TIIiS building is situated at the junction of Hope-street with Myrtle-street, on the south-east side of the town, having a front to each of these leading thoroughfares. The site is excellent, be ing on a gentle eminence. The Hall is to be of an oblong shape, the longest side of which will front Hope-street, is to be a house of 175 feet by 110, that is, the area of ground enclosed by the foundations ; but outside of this there is to be a margin or yard of about 28 feet, enclosed, not by rails or walls, as is generally the custom, but by large massive chains suspended from bronzed highly-orna mented cast-iron pillaretts. The effect of this judicious arrangement will be, we are convinced, to give the build ing a clean, neat, and elegant appearance. The edifice is now in course of erection, and is raised to the elevation of about 25 feet all round. The style is Italian—plain and simple in its ornaments, but at the same time imposing in its appearance ; and from what we have seen of the plans, through the kindness of the talented architect (Mr. Cun ningham), it promises to be one of the chastest and most elegant edifices which he has ever designed. The entrance will be by six doors in each of the two principal fronts, at each of which there will be ample room for one, and, on an emergency, two carriages at once. These entrances are in the form of arches, and they are surrounded by a bold and imposing.architrave which terminates at the crown of each arch in a highly-ornamented centre-piece. The main pillars of the front constitute the sides of these en trances, and they are also ornamented with appropriate cap and base mouldings, the former of which is sur mounted by a bold string moulding or cornice. And be tween this cornice and the windows there is - a panelled band, filled in with consoles moulded and highly enriched, supporting as it were the bases of the architraves of the windows above. The upper half of three sides of the building—the south, west, and north—are to be filled in with a row of large windows, 13 feet by G; each of which is to be ornamented with moulded architraves, frieze, cor nice, and pediment, above the top of which the building will finish by a bold moulded cornice, surmounted by an enriched frieze of consoles, moulded trusses, and patterie. Projecting from and above the centre of this cornice, which is itself a sweet design, there will be a shield, supported by two ornamental scrolls, bearing a design emblematic of the purposes to which this splendid edifice is to be de voted ; and at each corner of the building there is to be an enriched vase, having similar emblematical devices carved upon it. The subject of ventilation has, to a great extent, occupied the minds of the most eminent builders of the present day, and various methods have been in vented for heating and ventilating such places of public resort. We are happy to state that. in this particular Mr. Cunningham has made ample provision, and that the whole house will be thoroughly ventilated and well heated. From the centre of the eastern end there will be one large handsome tower for that purpose, all the necessary flues of the building merging into it. By the adaptation of this plan, the whole line of the roof remains perfect and unbroken. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. EXTRAORDINARY EMBEZZLEMENT AT GLASGOW.—On Friday, Mr. Thomas Ramsay, described'as a merchant in Glasgow, was brought up at the Police-court under a warrant charging him with embezzlement at Glasgow. The extent of his deficiencies is stated to be £lB,OOO. Mr. Wilson, of the firm of M`Leod and Wilson, is the party at whose instance the prisoner was apprehended, and an application to have the prisoner sent to Glasgow was granted. CELLARS. — On Tuesday, forty-two persons residing in, Grafton-street, Hurst-street, Mann-street, Upper Freder ick-street, and Lower Harrington, appeared at the Police court, to answer informations charging them with per mitting their cellars to be occupied as dwellings, after having been served with notices from the Health Com mittee as to their illegal construction. In most cases the parties were fined twenty shillings, and four and sixpence costs. Many attempts were made by the parties to obtain a mitigation of the fine, but the magistrate invariably refused. CONSEQUENCES OF FAVOURITISM.—On Tuesday last, a Mrs. Heaton appeared at the Police court to prefer a charge of assault against her neighbour, Mrs. Robinson, who had on two several occasions broken open her door, threatened to rip her up with a knife, and used other dreadful threats towards her. The ladies were tenants of one landlord, who had looked upon them with unequal eyes, for he painted Mrs. Heaton's house, but only slap dashed Mrs. Robinson's. This was an unpardonable offence, and Mrs. Robinson showed her indignation by assaulting Mrs. Heaton's door and threatening to assault herself. The assault was not denied, and, in consequence, a fine of 10s. and costs was awarded. --- EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF MONEY.—Henry Airey and Ellen Wilson were brought up before Mr. Rushton, at the police-court, on Thursday, on a charge of robbing Mr. Green of £B4O. Police-officer Grisenwaithe stated that on Wednesday week a gentleman named Green was rob bed of a large sum of money, in Islington, consisting of bank-notes and bills. From private information he re ceived, he went to the house of the prisoners, and told them the charge, saying he would search the house. The male prisoner then produced a purse containing £B9 in gold, which the officer took into his possession. Both prisoners wers taken into custody. Mr. Green said he was robbed in Islington, on the evening of Wednesday week, but he had no knowledge of the thieves, and could not identify any person. The evidence being insufficient to convict the prisoners with the robbery, they were dis charged. CAUTION TO BUILDERS.—On Tuesday, Mr. Duckworth was summoned before Mr. Rushton, at the instance of the Health Committee, for having erected four privies in Scot land-road, in a manner contrary to the terms of the building act. The doors were of wood instead of wrought iron. The size of the opening door was also different from that prescribed by the act of parliament, and the bands for the doors were fastened with nails instead of screws ; and instead of Yorkshire stone, freestone had been used. The magistrate said he should fine Mr. Duckworth £5. Mr. Duckworth said he had resisted because he wished to know whether the "recommendation" of the Health Committee were binding upon him or not. The stone he had used was hard Park stone, got about forty years ago, and was quite equal to Yorkshire stone. Mr. Rushton said it was necessary to clear this case from all doubt. He wanted to show to all builders that he was determined to enforce the law, whether it respected smoke, buildings, or health. ROBBERY.—On Wednesday, at the Police-court, a young man, named Thomas Horton, assistant to Mr. Ga letti, of Castle-street, was charg ed by that gentleman with robbing him of money, jewelery, &c., to a consi derable amount. Mr. G. said that he had for some time suspected the prisoner of making free with his money, as he had missed a sovereign at a time. On Tuesday, he counted out twenty sovereigns, and having marked the whole of them, put them (in paper) into a small drawer in the shop in which he was in the habit of occasionally putting money and small valuables. He locked the drawer and took out the key. On again opening it he found but nineteen sovereigns in the paper, and gave the prisoner in charge. He was searched, the missing coin was not on his person, but a comb was found in his pocket, part of the missing stock. Some keys were also found upon him. The house where the prisoner lived, in Salisbury-street, was searched by the officer, and in his box, which one of the keys opened, were found many ar ticles, small boxes, a writing desk, brooches, shells, &c:, all taken from the shop. Six pawntickets were also found, and some of the pawnbrokers having been called upon, they produced several gold rings and watch guards, a gold seal, a pair of gold spectacles, and other valuable portable articles, and which Mr. Galetti identified as his. The prisoner had admitted to the officer that he had taken the articles found in the box from the shop, but intended to take them back. He was committed for trial at the sessions. Cusuous AFFAIR.—On Saturday morning week, in formation was given at the Police-office that a robbery had been committed at the tea warehouse of Mr. Smith, St. James's-street. It was stated that a cash-box, con taining £5OO, had been stolen from his bed-room. Bills were immediately printed, offering a large reward, and every exertion was made to discover the supposed depre dator, but without effect. On a more minute examination, the police were of opinion that no robbery had taken place, notwithstanding the cash-box was ultimately found bearing marks of having been forcibly broken open. Mr. Smith, being closely questioned on Monday, acknow ledged that he had sent the money to a distance, by one of his shopmen, and consented to accompany an officer for the recovery of the property. The motive for this strange conduct may perhaps be guessed at by some per sons. On Wednesday, Mr. E. Roberts applied to the magistrates for a warrant to go and search for the cash book in the possession of Mr. W. Smith, St, James's street, who lately put forth a placard stating that he had been robbed of £5OO. Mr. Rushton asked the nature of the case, when he was informed, by Mr. Superintendent Brown, that the person who had given the information as to the robbery sent the money to Heyworth, in order to defraud his creditors. The money had, however, since been given up. Mr. Rushton said he had no jurisdiction, as there was no act of bankruptcy committed ; the appli cant must go, as petitioning creditor, to the Court of Bankruptcy. Mr. Superintendent Brown said he under stood the book had been destroyed. Mr. Rushton said he could not interfere. At a meeting of the creditors which took place on Monday, Mr. Ed. Roberts, account ant, and Mr. Ashton, accompanied by one of the credi tors, and Mr. Smith were despatched by the train to Heywood, near Rochdale. On arriving there Mr. Roberts and Mr. Smith went to the residenee of the party who had been searched, and he was compelled to admit that he had a sum of £552 in his possession, and, after a little delay, he gave it up. On examining his book Mr. Roberts found that goods had been sent out from the shop without being entered, and he has been tracing them, by the carriers' books, to their destination. LOCAL MEETINGS. WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meeting of this body was held on Wednesday. The number of patients in the fever hospital during the week were 119 ; admitted, 52 ; discharged, 36 ; died, 9 ; remaining in the house, 136. The cheques for relief for the week ending the 14th instant were, Mr. Laytham, £290 ; Mr. Allen, X 150; Mr. Shearson, £2O ; the inci- Till LI Trit POOL S TT-NlVAitt. dental expenses of the township X 1824 "sg. sd. A finance committee.was -appointed to examine ~the accounts, and pass theta for the-board, consisting of the following gen tlemen :—Messrs. Roberts, Mountfield; Jeffries, Leather barrow, Edwardg; Appleby, and Parker. Carried.—A long discussion ensued relative to the immediate payment of the parochiarrate of Toxteth-park. A resolution, that the immediate payment of the rates be not• demanded, was lost. A call'of:l2i per cent. on the average of the various townships was agreed upon, to be paid on Tuesday, and a similar per centage for the following Tuesday..—A long conservation took place relative to two letters which were read, from Messrs. Gilmour and Stephens, surgeons, of TOxteth-park, agreeing to comply with the request of the guardians to administer wines and spirits for 3D. per week, but complaining, at the same time, of the insufficiency of the sum. Ultimately the two letters were referred to the medical committee for the purpose of inquiring into. the medical relief given, and the amount of wines and spirits administered. SELECT VESTRY.—At the meeting on Tuesday, Rector Campbell was in the chair. The proceedings of the Fi nance Committee were read. They recommended—at the instance of the warehouse owners, who declared that from their premises having been for some time past empty and profitless, they were unable now to comply with the payment of their rates—that an application should be made to the Poor Law Commissioners and the Govern ment for a loan of money on the security of the parish rates. From what occurred at the board, the exact sum to be borrowed did not transpire ; but it was stated that £30,000 would be the probable amount required. The committee also recommended that the salary of Mr. Evans, the parish officer, should be advanced £4O per. annum. A lengthy discussion ensued on each of these recommendations, and amendments were put to the effect that the recommendations be not entertained. The amendments were, however, agreed to in both instances without a division.—Th e Workhouse Committee reported that during the past fortnight the fever in the Workhouse had decreased 45 cases. The proceedings of the Indus trial Schools Committee were then read and confirmed. There are at present in these schools 1122.—The Irish Relief Committee reported that the fever in the lazaret toes had so much decreased, the Newcastle being now empty, that the use of that vessel would be discontinued for the future. The committee also recommended that the salaries of Messrs. Steel and M'Clelland be continued as at present, as the committee hoped soon to be able to dispense with their services altogether. The committee recommended that several porters and other officers, who were employed on board the lazarettoes, be discharged. The proceedings were confirmed. The number of Irish paupers imported for the week ending the 13th August was 3284 ; for the week ending 4th September, 2244 ; and for that ending 11th September, 2615. The number of paupers returned to Ireland from this port, from the 29th August to the 11th September, was 19,048. The cost of relief to the Irish in money, for the week ending 11th instant, was £199. There was nothing given in kind. The total amount of out-door relief for the week ending the 11th of September, 1847, was £638 159. ; for the cor responding week of last year it was £378 ; making an in crease for this year of £260. The weekly relief has been so high as £l2OO. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—The Chairman said the committee would be glad to hear that notwithstanding the reduction of dock dues, there had been an increase since the 24th of June over the corresponding period of last year. The receipts for the period between the 24th of June and 15th September, were as follows :—For 1846, £62,785. and for 1847, £63,586 • excess over last year £BOl. The Sub-committee of Works recommended that two hydraulic cranes be obtained for the south stack of the Albert Dock warehouses, (Mr. Armstrong's patent,) the cost of which would be £lOO. Confirmed.—lt was also recommended that an insurance, to the extent of £lOO,OOO, be effected on the Albert Dock, at ss. per cent., in the following offices :—Royal Insurance, £35,000 ; Liverpool and London, £35,000 ; Yorkshire, £30,000. The Chairmain said it was thought they might obtain a reduction of the premiums, but there was no possibility of it at present : 3s. 9d. had been proposed, but it was de clined. Confirmed.—The Sub-committee of Works re commended that in consequence of the tenders for eight more iron mud boats being so nearly alike, two be made by each of the parties ; the cost to be £B5O each. Con firmed.—lt was ordered that the Bidston Lighthouse be painted. The Marine Surveyor reported that the new Crosby Lighthouse would be ready in a fortnight. It was agreed that it should be lighted on the 2d of November, and that notice be advertised in the London, Liverpool, Scotch, and Irish papers. The Sub-committee of Works proposed that the General Committee should make their annual visit to inspect the lighthouses and lightships on Monday next. Mr. Henderson thought it would be ad visable to postpone it till the weather was more settled, and after some conversation this course was agreed to. It was reported that no final arrangements had been made for working the new landing-stage, and it was suggested that the necessary steps be taken to appoint persons for the purpose forthwith. At the suggestion of Mr. Hen derson, the matter was referred to the sub-committee.— The Chairman said the Parliamentary Committee wished to have some information as to the mode in which they were to apply to Parliament for extended dock accommo dation, and also as to warehouses. They could go as a matter of course, but they must first o bt a i n general powers. It was further recommended that the committee, as regarded applying for specific warehouse plans and sections, and power to borrow money, should limit such power to the proposed dock at Wapping ; and in addition, that the transit sheds at the Prince's Dock should be raised two stories, which Mr. Hartley stated they would carry ; and one reason why the transit sheds were named was that at present they were unproductive, and by such an alteration they would be brought into play and made to bring a revenue, besides extending the warehouse system. At present it was the opinion of the Parlia mentary Committee that they should not apply for more than he had mentioned ; they (the Trust) had to deal with it, and must say what they would have included in the bill, in addition to the general power, as, if carried out, plans and sections would have to be given. —Mr. Aikin did not see any reason why they should take a limited power.—The Chairman explained that they took a general power, but it was necessary to have plans and estimates before they borrowed money ; their circum stances were changing from year to year which would make it impossible to construct the warehouses all round the docks, as some would admit them and others would not. They must enter plans before borrowing the money. Mr. Aikin observed that a special power appeared too limited, and it would be better to go for the whole at once without having to go again. They should look round and see whether they could obtain the best positions, and the greatest advantages. The chairman remarked that the committee thought it better to call attention to the mat ter, so that the public might know their opinion, and let public opinion be expressed ; they were desirous of get ting information and instruction from the General Com mittee. After some further conversation it was considered desirable to postpone the subject till this week, and this course was agreed to. Mr. Porrnx seconded the motion ; but the Chairman moved as an amendment to the effect that it was injudicious to put forth suchlart intimation, .until a definite proposal was made to them 'by the parties-whose consent was ne cessary to such an-arrangement. This amendment -was carried by a.majority of six,. and the business of the day terminated:. BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMMISSIONERS. A special meeting was held by adjournment on Thurs day, to consider the proposal recently made to them by the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Rail way Company, relative to the free working of the Bir kenhead Docks. Mr. Joseph Mallaby presided, and there were fifteen other commissioners present. The CHAIRMAN remarked that it had been admitted by all at the last meeting, that it would be advisable to communicate with the crown and the bondholders on the subject of the proposal made by the railway company, in order, if possible, to obtain their consent. They had re ceived an answer from Mr. Pemberton, the crown soli citor, and also from Messrs. Crowder and Maynor, repre senting only Baron Goldsmidt (of the bondholders), and from no others of the bondholders. These letters were read, and were to the effect, that if the proposed arrange ment could be made, and the interests of the bondholders be fully secured, no serious objection would be offered by theaqtuitvhoecsael t to wo pe p r ar mi t t ie t s he re c a o ll rn y mapispsrioonveersd of to thethose parties ; but on th e w h o l e the letters were too positively vague ands a y proposition. Mr. PorrEn thought that if these parties said they were willing to accede, there would be no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory arrangement. He meant if the railway company and the commissioners were willing to do do so, the boldholders, for whose interest alone the commissioners were willing to accede to it, could offer no opposition. The CHAIRMAN said it was certain that the commis sioners would not consent to reduce their rates unless the railway company guaranteed the £2,000, taking all the risks of the legality of using the docks upon them selves. Mr. POTTER said that without such guarantee to use the docks were given to the railway company they (the commissioners) could not expect the £2OOO. The CHAIRMAN said that if they reduced the rates in anticipation of the arrangement being come to, they could not well raise them again, and if the use of the docks was interfered with, they would be losers. He should like, however, to have the consent of those parties who were essentially interested in the matter, before they took any definite steps. He did not know why the bondholders did not come forward with their assent. Mr. THOMPSON said he did not think their assent ne cessary. Mr. PorrEß thought that they had received ample time to reply, and it was for the commissioners to proceed to do what was best for the trust. Mr. THOMPSON then put a motion approving of the proposition of the company, and formally accepting it in principle, so far as they could legally do so leaving the details to be arranged by the committee of works and the directors of the railway. The motion was agreed to. A discussion then arose on the reduction of the rates. Mr. WM. LAIRD moved the following resolution : " That the tonnage rates, to be levied on foreign vessels. be reduced to 6d. per ton : and, on coasting vessels, to Id. per ton from the present date." This was seconded, but being considered premature until the preliminary arrangements were made between the Committee of Works, and the Directors of the Rail way, the motion was superseded by adjourning the con sideration of Mr. Laird's motion until Thursday next. Mr. BRYAN rose to move a motion similar to that at the last meeting, which had been withdrawn relative to the disposition of the board to treat with any responsible party who might be willing and competent to undertake the fulfilment of their engagements, and to secure them a fair remuneration for what they had already expended on the works. He was glad to find ahat most of the news paper press of Liverpool took the same view of the matter which he did—viz., that they should transfer their powers to such a body as the Liverpool Corporation or the Dock Trust, who, if they undertook to carry out the designs of the company, would be fully able to proceed with them. This was the view taken by the Courier, the Standard, and the Times, and he thought that it was quite correct. He proposed a motion to the effect stated. HE_ 14TH OF THE TOWN. We are gratified to be able to state, that the returns of fever cases show the malady to be decidedly on the decline, and that the town is fast returning to its ordinary state of health. Since the first week in August the number has been gradually decreasing, and during the week ending on Saturday last, the mortality from all causes was lower by 51 than during the week' preceding. The aggregate num ber of deaths for the latter period was 405, and the former 354. Of these, there were from This week. Last week. Fever 128- 144 Diarrhoea, Ste 75 80 Smallpox . 8 7 Measles 4 5 Of the deaths from fever, 54•t00k place in the public hospitals, and 74 at the patients' dwellings. The last in cludes the cases of a medical practitioner, of a gentleman and his wife resident in St. Anne-street, and of several others in good circumstances. Twenty-three out of the 74 occurred in Vauxhall Ward, 18 in Scotland Ward, 10 in Exchange Ward, 8 in Exchange Ward, Bin Great George Ward, and 15 in the remaining eight wards of the parish. In the extra-parochial wards the mortality appears to have been somewhat higher than during the former week ; but in the worst district of Toxteth-park the new cases of fever have been fever than before. The deaths in the four wards have been This week. Last week. From all causes „ fever ~ diarrhoea Sac 34 25 An interesting table, or chart, has been prepared by Dr. Duncan, exhibiting in a very clear and compendious manner the progressive rate of mortality, both from fever raid from ordinary causes, since the commencement of the year. From this it appears, that starting from first week in January, when the number of cases was under half a dozen, the epidemic made but little progress till the end of March, when the weekly deaths were from 25 to 30. During the next two months the mortality rapidly in creased, the deaths during the last week in May amounting to nearly 150. The following week showed a slight de crease, the numoer being somewhat under 140: but from that period to the third week in June the disease seems to have raged with its greatest violence, the weekly number of deaths having risen from 140 to 215. This was the climax of the disorder. In the first week of July there was a considerable abatement, the number of deaths being 190. Subsequent returns were various, but on the whole favourable, until the first week in August, when the num ber of deaths was 200. Since that time there has been a rapid and progressive decrease, the number of deaths during the last week, as already stated, having been 128. The general mortality has, on the whole, kept much the same course as that from fever. Contrary to the pre vailing notion, which makes the winter months the most fatal period of the year, it reached its highest point in August, when the weekly number of deaths, exclusive of those from fever, amounted to 320, whereas, during the first week in January, it did not exceed 140. In the month of June, when the mortality from fever was at its maximum, the general mortality was less by eighty than during the second week in August. THE LATE DR. ANDREW COMBE ON THE MORTALITY IN EMIGRANT VESSELS, ITS CAUSES, AND MODE OF PREVENTION. The excessive mortality which has assailed our emigrant pauper population in their efforts to escape destitution and fever at home, for the abundance and salubrity which they have been taught to believe was to be found in trans atlantic climes, has excited the sympathy of the British people ; and has called forth the efforts of the legislature to provide a remedy. Grants have been ordered to be made to the poor people on their landing in the British colonies ; fever sheds have been provided for the sick, and arrangements liberally made for forwarding into the in terior, in search of employment, all those capable of tra velling. Lord Grey and Mr. Hawes have further pro mised to prepare a bill for the next session of parliament, to consolidate and amend the present emigration regula lations ; to provide (if practicable) that every e m i gran t ship should be provided with a surgeon on board, a n d t o insure in future that additional means should be taken to relieve the sufferings of emigrants arriving in a state of sickness. As far as they go, these efforts are valuable in their character ; but they do not reach the evil ; and they do not affect at all the case of emigrants to the United States, amongst whom, although the regulations insisted upon by the American government, with respect to emigrants ar riving in American ships, are infinitely better than our own, disease has nevertheless prevailed to a distressing extent during the past season. An interesting letter—in teresting not only from the information and sound views of our shortcomings of this matter which it contains, but as well, and especially from its being the last production of an eminent man, Dr. Combe, of Edinburgh, lately de ceased, prepared in his last hours and committed to the charge of his nephew, Mr. Robert Cox, for revision and publication in the columns of the London Times, has just appeared. Dr. Combe has brought to the elucidation of the subject, his experience derived from a recent voy age to New York in a Liverpool packet ship, in which were, in addition to cabin passengers, 360 emigrants, chiefly Irish, as well as the fruits of extensive inquiries made during a short stay in New York. The cause of the mortality which has been so rife amongst the emigrant passengers on board ship—called ship fever—is first treated of by the doctor. This disease, he says, is a variety of typhus • and like that fever springs from the combined influence of imperfect nutrition, viti ated air, filth, and moral depression. To meet the effect of these causes, instead of adopting means only for miti gating the sufferings of emigrants on their arrival in Canada, should be the chief objects of government. The most influential causes of ship fever are the low physical condition of the emigrants when going on board, and their inadequate sustenance during the voyage. Of the low physical condition of the Irish Dr. Combe speaks from personal observation of the passengers mustered on deck before his ship left the Mersey ; the inadequate sustenance he proceeds to explain : "By the usual agreement for a steerage passage in an emi grant ship, the passenger undertakes, er at least is expected, to furnish his own provisions for the voyage, the ship supplying only fuel for cooking and three quarts of water daily. In ordinary seasons, when food is plentiful and cheap, the emi grants embark in good plight, and bring along with them a considerable supply of potatoes or oatmeal ; though, as the captain has no means of compelling them to lay in a sufficient store for even a voyage of average length, the supply is generally below what is necessary. In order to guard, therefore, against their actual starvation, either from their own improvidence or from a very protracted voyage, the ship is bound to turnish daily to each steerage passenger (besides at least three quarts of water) llb of bread, flour, rice, or oatmeal—it being pro vided that at least one-half of the quantity , of these provisions shall consist of bread or biscuit, and that potatoes may be given to the extent of one-half the supply, gibs. of potatoes being computed as equal to ilb of the other articles. Every ship is compelled by law to lay in provisions for 10 weeks, (the average passage to New York or the St. Lawrence being about six or seven); and, I believe, it is not till the emigrant's own store is exhausted, that he is entitled to demand a supply from the captain. Hence, in ordinary years, the average mortality on the passage, according to Mr. Hawes, is only one half per cent. This season, however, when food has been scarce, and the price of both meal and potatoes so high as to put them vir tually beyond reach, most of the emigrants have embarked without supplies of any description, and consequently have from the first been thrown on the stinted allowance which the Government kindly intend to be merely a resource in an emer gency against actual starvation. That this destitution was the case with almost all the poor Irish on board the ship in which I crossed the Atlantic, I was positively assured, and I have every reason to believe ; and no one who considers that the miserable allowance above mentioned is the sole support of men reduced by previous want to a state but ill calculated to resist the additional unwholesome influences which they en counter at sea, can be much suprised at the excessive mortality which is now occurring." As a remedy for this state of things he maintains that the ship should be compelled to furnish larger and better and tin only be preserved that supplies of food ; and that the p assengers s h ou ld not b e under shouldat the ship the most be allowed to be sent t o sea on an a ll owance, under which health favourable circumst ances . W e are d i sposed, however, to contend h a t lifet is ca notsufficient compelled to find a supply of food to be made available when the private supplies of the passengers fail. The latter ought to be compelled to be larger in quantity and should be more strictly examined; for we know that, in many instances, such passengers are rather disposed to enconomize their means to the starvation point rather than pay the ship for an allowance sufficient to sustain health. e b t been saysr Ps first ir! The second cause of disease which Dr. Combe notices is the noxious atmosphere which the emigrants are com pelled to breathe between decks, caused by the effluvia created by human beings when in a confined state, and neglectful of cleanliness. This is especially a strong in ducing cause of disease, where passengers are dirty in their habits, and are compelled to keep much below by bad weather. In addition to physical inducements of disease, in such cases a moral apathy is created, which renders the sufferers indifferent, both to their own comfort and p f lai t em h e e i, t a s o i s r tti m ill a r nt y loe b sr e e s p t o r ,o, t, m h To e ht i own e r erde ianre emigrants twoa safety. Dr. y q a uantity of impurities be : s t e —y n t o o s air re maynum bbeercoofnspuanisseedngaTdaallsomwaletro given out. The proportion of passengers to tonnage allowed by the existing law (namely, 60 for every 100 tons, deducting the crew), may not be too great for most voyages, or for per sons in sound health ; but when the system is enfeebled, atmo spheric purity becomes more and more indispensable for the preservation of health; and hence, when, as is now the case. most of the emigrants are impaired in constitution and prone to disease, a larger space ought to be assigned to each than would be sufficient in better circumstances. But as some ships are much better constructed and more easily ventilated than ashDTprw.s.Chi°cThmh others a discretionary power on this point might safely be en trusted to a well constituted board of health, provided cer t a i n limits were laid down, which must in no instance b e trans gressed. Even under favourable circumstances, however, the number of passengers now allowed by law might with great advantage be reduced." It may be remarked that, as we diminish the number of passengers in proportion to tonnage which a vessel is allowed to carry, we add to the cost of the passage, and thus impose a bar against emigration. How far the state, in interposing to prevent overcrowding, and thus increas ing the cost of emigration, may be justified in taxing the country for such extra cost, we shall not venture an opinion. Compulsory ventilation of emigration is the doctors' third specific. This he considers :would not be difficult. We admit that an approach to thorough ventilation might be achieved ; but in rough weather no material improve ment is possible. When the hatches are kept down, through stress of weather, any other kind of ventilation would he difficult, inasmuch as air is a fluid not less pene trating than water. Undoubtedly, however, in ordinary weather, ventilation is quite practicable. The steerage might be kept thoroughly ventilated for passengers who, ' from sickness or apathy, cannot come on - deck ;: and here a vast good would be realized. A third cause-of disease on board ship.Dr..Combe finds to be the gross personal uncleanliness; of - the Irish, poor especially. This is increased by the apathy arising from want of physicaretrength and of proper food. Tile latter inducement is undoubtedly remediable,-if we could insist that every emigrant should be well fed fdr. a month, be fore sailing. The uncleanliness compliined of is, how ever, constitutional. Irish servants even, in our own country seem to have an instinctive abhorrence of personal ablution and of change of clothing. Irish paupers—lrish reapers, who are semi-paupers—some everr of that people who visit our shores, not fairly entitled to the term neces sitous, seem to cling with a feeling of Ttne to their old and filthy clothing. Witness the patched attire. of thoiwands whom we see in onr streets—the coats which seem to have descended from sire to son—the nether garments fastened on by all manner of skewers, pegs and other fastenings, as if never meant to he-relingnished until they-drop off from the effects of age. It would indeed require " a firm hand, directed by much benevolence and sound sense to enable the master of an emigrant ship to keep the nuisance within bounds." But in addition to these aidswhich Dr. Combe thinks would be sufficient, we are confident that some thing more would be required. A little schooling of the Irish peasant in habits of cleanliness at home would not be amiss. Dr. Combe says : "A fourth and far from inactive cause, also in' a great mea sure removable, is the moral depression and want of e'asticity of intellect and feeling almost inseparable from long continued physical deterioration, and which renders it difficult to with stand the inroads of disease. The Irishman may net become gloomy or despondent, but he loses his boundiiq hilarity: the spring of life is weakened, and he falls a victim to disease, where in happier circumstances he would have escaped unin jured. To restore him he must be fed ; and to allow him to go to sea with food only sufficient to keep soul and body together under favourable circumstances, is to leave him exposed to the inroads of disease, whenever bad weather, crowding, or neglect may chance to add its adverse influence to the many other evils under which he is already suffering. Iu the navy all this is well understood, and it only requires the vigorous applica tion of the same pi inciples to the protection of emigrants, to ensure for them the same safety which is enjoyed in her Majesty's ships." The subject is well worthy of the attention of govern ment ; and, although we are afraid that it will be found impossible to effect all that the benevolent doctor has propounded as desirable, we feel convinced that something very beneficial to our poor emigrant fellow-countrymen may be achieved, and at all events oug3itto be attempted. TO A WRITER IN THE LIVERPOOL MERCURY, SIGNING " A CATHOLIC." LETTER 11. SlR,—Your remark about the many divisions in the Church of England is a stale one, and to boast of your own Church in such a comparison, unequalled effrontery. You know, sir, were I to number up the divisions, the turmoils, the factions, that have distracted the Church of Rome—popes against priests, and priests against popes— aye, and even popes against popes, when three fought for the precedency, and three heads ruled, or tried to rule, over the Church of Rome ; the heresies encouraged and set on foot by popes themselves, and the uncertainty to which they have been consigned ever since they deserted the anchor of the faith—the Bible—and went in spite of the laws and judgments and creeds of Catholic antiquity ; you know I should number up such a black catalogue as should for ever frighten a reasonable being into silence about Romish unity, and the peace resulting from Romish infallibility; I am glad to be able to disbelieve your assertion that the Church of England totters to her fall, for I believe that never stood she on a prouder pedestal—never did she evince more signs of life and health and 'vigour, whilst she is strengthening her cords, striking her roots, spread ing her arms, and marching forth, with true catholic and apostolic spirit and determination, over the whole civilised and uncivilised globe. Your remark concerning celibacy and marriage is of a piece with your other perverse attempts at reasoning and argument. Dr. M'Neile affirms his belief that it is un lawful, unscriptural, and highly injurious, to require celi bacy from bishops, priests, and deacons. You accuse him of contradicting our Saviour, when, say you, he commends those who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake ; and also St. Paul, who, " whilst advising those who cannot contain themselves to marry, nevertheless expresses a wish that all were like himself—that is, unmarried." I ask, where is the con nection here—where the point of application ? How does Dr. M'Neile contradict the Saviour and his Apostle? Does the Saviour, does the Apostle sanction the imposing of celibacy upon the Christian ministry ? On the con trary, the former sanctions marriage, and the latter boasted of his power to lead about a wife, whilst many of the Apostolic college availed themselves of the privi lege. No, sir; the Saviour commends, and St. Paul commends him who, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, forewent a privilege which he undoubtedly had; and Dr. M`Neile and the Church of England do not dare to rob any one of this commendation. Nor, sir, does the Church of England dare to rob bishops, priests, and dea cons of that undoubted right which God conferred upon them, and God has never taken away. To assume such a power would indeed be in the highest degree tyrannical and unjust, and, let me say most solemnly, blasphe mously defying the authority of the God that instituted marriage. She commends the consideration of such a momentous point to every candidate for her orders, in the sight of God ; and, following St. Paul's precept, leaves it open to them as they, imploring the guidance of the Holy Spirit, shall judge best for their own spiritual welfare and the welfare of God's Church, " over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers." "If they cannot con tain themselves, let them marry." It may be for the welfare of the Church and the individual, in many cases, that he should marry; and the Church of England does not presume to enter a man's heart, or to ascertain his hidden nature. If it be necessary, perhaps I may bring history to attest to the crime and the infamy with which this unjust Romish regulation has deluged the world and the R.omish Church. And now, sir, I think I have followed you pretty closely through the sinuosities of your wiry course. Some idle remarks upon the 39 Articles and Oaths contain no argu ment, and therefore need no refutation ; no charge bearing the appearance of respectability, and therefore are unworthy notice. You again harp on the old theme of the novelty of the Church of England ; but this T have already refuted, and you might as well tell us of the no velty of Christianity itself. I grant that the " blasphe mous fables and dangerous deceits " of Popery were im posed upon the faithful, and confided in by the deluded, before Luther was born, as Luther was God's instrument in beginning the work of sweeping the holy place of those unscriptural, uncatholic, and therefore heretical abomina tions ; but the Church of England—l glory in the bold confession I am about to make—flourished in this the country of my fathers, in apostolic purity, ages before Rome corrupted and defiled the faith once delivered to the saints. Founded by an Apostle of Christ, blest with the guidance of heaven-directed ministers, and endowed with the graces communicated to " all churches of the saints," for many ages she stood an unflinching wit ness for the truth, and a " shining light to lighten the Gentiles" ; her brightness undimmed, her splendour un sullied, her purity untarnished, her fidelity incorrupt, she nobly won for herself the commendations of a good and faithful servant, and claimed the title bestowed by inspi ration—" The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." But it was your Church, the Church of Rome, the infallible, the indefectible, that, after heaping upon the faith heresies, fables, and deceits, touched with he r co n t ag i ous h an d t h e Church of this country, and made it almost like herself— a sink of Pagan abominations and heathen corruption. But—" I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him"—it pleased the Head of the Church that within this once faithful Church a revivifying power should burst forth, and that she should again, by casting down the idols set up in her temples, and rooting out the corruptions grown within her, emerge in splendour and purity, and throw from off her the shackles of foreign bondage, and the tyranny of her adulterous sister, and would-be mistress, of Rome. And now she exists in all the essential features which characterised her in the primitive ages I have alluded to : she has indeed gone through the fire and the contagion, and surely it is " the Lord's work and marvellous in our eyes," that she should have come out so little impaired and so little in fected. With haste, sir, I must conclude. I know not whether Dr. 111`Neile has to be thankful to you for your forbear ance, or whether he and I, and all good Protestants, should have wished you to have employed at least a co lumn more in evincing your inability to overthrow his positions, and the impotence of casuistry and sophistry when opposed to reason and truth ; that you had still pro ceeded after the manner of those victims of the writing furor, who, we are told, " Plunged for their sense, but found no bottom there; Then wrote and floundered on in mere despair." Believe me, sir, one sentence of argument would have more weight than many tirades of abuse, and an attempt to prove your charges than multiplied insinuations and uncharitable inference. How can you hope that your precepts should have a beneficial effect upon Dr. M`Neile, after the example you have set him ? or that he should be induced to mend in charity, by your bitterness and virulence. Yours, &c., September 10th, 1847. NIGEL. THE LATEs TEMPESTUOUS WEATHER. During the last seven days the weather in this district and its neighbourhood has been unusually severeand stormy for the season of the year, giving us, in truth, a premature atitepast of the approaching winter, Tuesday and Wed nesday were rather rough ; and, on the evening of the latter day, a very strong breeze blew from the north-west, accompanied by heavy occasional rains, continuing par tially throughout the night. Thursday forenoon set in with a still more boisterous and unsettled state of the at mosphere, squall following squall in rapid succession, the wind amounting at times to a strong gale, or almost a hurricane, with heavy downfalls of rain. Similar wea ther continued, with little abatement, next day, and during Friday night we had the addition of hail, flashes of forked lightning, and peals of thund er . Th e quantity of water that has llen must be great, for the fields and roads not on acclivites, or imperfectly drained, were in some parts flooded. The wind varied from N.W.to about W.N.W. and sometimes W. Saturday was precarious, with gloomy clouds and flying heavy showers, interspersed with occasional gleams of cheerful and warmish sunshine ; but the autumnal heat we before experienced has been considerably reduced. Sunday was also showery and in clined to cold—wind to the southward of west and mo derate. The effect of the storm has been to give a some what prematurely wintry appearance to the general face of the country,—trees, shrubs, and flowers, of tender texture, or in exposed situations, being nearly stripped of their leaves, or nipped and blackened by the continuous wind and rain, or the action (near the coast) of the saline spray borne inland—a " sore decayer" of verdure. The grain crops here having, happily, been nearly all secured, but little damage has, we trust, been occasioned in an agricuitural point off view, the green crops in• the ground not being obnoxious to considerable moisture. Field and other outdoor operations have, of course, been almost suspended during the week. The Mersey has been unusually rough throughout, and landing and embarking rendered difficult, and sometimes dangerous. Seldom have we seen its waters more crowded with vessels, including many of large size, the whole pre senting the appearance of a. numerous fleet at anchor, from the Rock Point to the Sloyne, tossing.and tumbling about in a very animated manner. This has arisen from the circumstance of many vessels being obliged to put back, being unable to weather-the-gale and the heavy sea way in the outward-channels, and from many others, ready for sea, deeming it prudent not to weigh anchor. To this may be added the difficulty of docking. The casualties- to , shipping near the port have not, happily, been great, thank to the efficient light ing and buoying of- the channels, otherwise wrecks would undoubtedly. have been rife. The barque Henry Ewbank, Cooper master, parted one of her cables abreast of'th Roek on Thursday, and dragging the other anchor, went ashore in Bootle Bay. She is laden with cotton and oil-cake, which will be partially damaged by leakage. Two small sloops and a large schooner got :-.shore same day, a little to the wastward of Leasowe Castle, on the northern extremity of the Wirral peninsula. The schooner was bound to Mostym, in Wales, and was quite empty. Shortly before one o'clock, p.m., she dropped anchor, but, being in danger of capsizing by heavy rolling, slipped her cable and took to the shore, where she grounded on the stone embankment, still rolling heavily. She was lefthigh and dry when the water fell, and but little damaged. Luckily for these vessels the tide was a low one that day, (17 ft. 7 in.,) so that all of them, if the weather become any way moderate, will be got off by Friday (if not before), when we shall have a twenty feet tide. A barque got ashore at Southport ; and (as is elsewhere noticed) another large vessel on the Horse Bank, with a subsequent loss-of six of the crew. The Maguire, which sailed from New Orleans with the Mamaluke• (the latter lost some time agp), was towed into port on Thursday with loss of topgallant-masts and other spars. She has been on her beam ends,,and six feet of water in ben hold. Another ship was- brought in totally dismasted. having been on Great Burbp Bank ; and another, which, had left a few days before, returned, after having been. on shore at Dundalk, with, the loss of great part of her•canvas. The Ben-ma-Chree, Isle of Man steamer, was detained in Douglas Bay, on Thursday morning, an hour and a-half beyond her time of sailing, but arrived safely at the Prince's pier at six o'clock in the evening. The pas sengers, on leading, complimented her worthy captain Mr. Kermode, by giving him three cheers for the able seamanship he had displayed during the tempestuous voyage. Several of the Dublin mail ships were detained in port by the gale same day, as also the King Orry, Isle of Man steamer•. The Merlin, Royal Dublin mail ship, which left Dublin on Thursday morning, did not arrive till noon next day, it being deemed advisable to put into Maelfra Roads, where she lay all night. The mail steamer Princess, Captain Christie, gallantly faced the gale, Dad reached her port in safety, after a dreadfully rough pas sage. Yesterday morning, after a comparative lull throughout Sunday, strong breezes again set in from the N.W., which continued throughout the day, with occasional showers ; a,nd the probability is that the weather will not be settled until full moon—on Friday next. Distritt Rapti% On Sunday week, George Evans, the post-boy who carries the letter-bag between the Sutton station and the Eastham post-office, was found lying dead in the road, not far from his own house. He died of apoplexy, but was quite well when he left home. SHORT TIME IN MANCHESTER.—The mill returns for the present week show that work has decreased, there being 200 hands less on full time than last week, while both those on short time and those stopped altogether are also increased:—Full time, 28,261; short time, 4682; stopped 7959. RAILWAY BRIDGES IN MANCHESTER.—We believe that the gen eral purposes co mm itt ee o f t h e town counc i l are determined not t o sanct i on any flat-beam girder bridge for railways, within the borough of Manchester, and to submit to the council a plan for arched bridges of which they recommend the council to approve. The millowners association has decided on not resort ng to a temporary cessation of work by closing the mills entirely. The step was considered by the meeting not only impracticable, but in the highest degree undesirable, and likely only to lead to very severe privations among the factory population. The coroners' jury on the late suicide at Chester, have brought in a verdict to the effect that there was not suffi cient evidence to show the state of mind of Mr. Jones at the moment he committed the fatal act. At the adjourned inquest several of the deceased's friends deposed to their being of opinion that many months ago he was subject to fits of insanity. AWFUL ACCIDENT.—On Thursday, a fatal accident oc curred during the storm at Christleton, near Chester. A female named Margaret Ellis, aged 78, and a girl named Ellen Pleven, aged 12 years, were engaged gathering sticks under a large tree, when the violence of the storm broke off nearly the whole top of the tree ; three large boughs of which fell, and struck the females on the head, fracturing their skulls, and killing them on the spot. They were found shortly after with their heads in pools of blood. REDUCTION OF WAGES.—Messrs. T. Ainsworth and Co., spinners at Preston, have given notice of a reduction on their spinners wages of five per cent., and the Preston Chronicle says, that other firms are likely to adopt the same course. The notice which the master manufacturers of Mossley gave their hands of a reduction of ten per cent. expired on Friday. The masters are determined to per severe, and have so info rme d th e men , w h o at a meeting on Thursday resolved to turn out ; but as some of the mills were unrepresented, the meeting was adjourned, but it is expected the resolution to turn out will be confirmed. THE LANCASHIRE ANNUAL GENERAL SESSION—TO our notice of this session at Preston in our last, we may add, that with reference to the motion for the erection of a residence for the chaplain of the county asylturnt Lan caster, it was met by an amendment postponing the con sideration of the subject to that day twelve months. After some discussion, the amendment was carried by 14 to 13. Mr. Greene, M.P. moved that " the finance committee's report be adopted and carried out, respect ing the improvement in the manner of keeping the ac count." This being agreed to, the court adjourned at five o'clock, after a sitting ofseven hours ! CHILD DROWNED IN A MUG OF WATER.—A little girl of about a year and a quarter old, daughter of William Bibby, labourer, Croston, near Ormskirk, having been left by its mother for a few minutes, on Saturday, fell into a mug that had been placed upon the house floor, and which only contained about a quart of water, and before it was discovered the accident had caused the loss of life. Acting upon the advice of some neighbours who came in, recourse was had to making trial of an old remedy, (which properly belonged to the dark ages) that of making a hole in some earth soil, and putting the child's face into it, which, as a matter of course, produced the only effect which persons of common sense would have anticipated —none at all. SINGULAR AND UNTOWARD ACCIDENT.-011 Wednes day, a singular accident occurred in the farm yard of Mr. Thornton, the steward of the Earl of Stamford and War rington, for the Dunham estate. He resides at Dunham, and being about to kill a bullock, it was attempted to drive it from the farm yard into the slaughter-house. The beast being wild, it was found impossible to do this, and a loaded rifle was then brought, with which the bullock was shot; the ball, however, striking on the skull or the root of the horns glanced off, and, entering the open door or window of a stable beyond, passed through the body of a valuable chesnut mare, a hunter, and killed this animal instantly. The mare was valued at 160 guineas, and was a very fine and favourite hunter. SELLING THE " LEAGUE."—Last week the portraits of distinguised members of the Anti-Corn Law League, painted in water colours by Mr. Duval (being the originals from which the well-known engravings are taken), were cold by auction at the sale of Mr. Agnew's stock, in Manchester. The following were some of the prices re alised :—Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P., 26 guineas ; George Wilson, Esq., 8 ; William Rawson, Esq., 61 ; Milner Gibson Esq., M.P., 6; John Bright, Es q ., M.P., 6; i Josh. isrotherton, Esq., M.P., 51; Henry Ashworth, Esq., 51; John Bright, Esq., (second portrait), 5 ; John Brooks, Esq., 41; Colonel Thompson, M.P., 4/ ; C. P. Villiers, Esq., 4 ; the Earl of Ducie, 31; Dr. Bowring, M.P., 31; William Brown, Esq., M.P., 3; and the Rev. Dr. Massie, 2 guineas. THE WEATHER AND CROPS IN CHESHIRE.—Sept. 16. —We have had abundance of rain during the last three days, which we fear may prove somewhat injurious to the late potato , crop. Being now blackened in the haulm, all increase is completely at an end. Complaint still exists of decay in the root ; we trust, however, that it may not proceed much further. People around here are now stu diously avoiding fermentation by every means in their power ; this is indeed a step in the right direction. Swedes are looking tolerably well in this (the southern) district ; we have, however, heard complaints from Broxton and the neighbourhood, both as to green crops and pasturage. Some farmers from the latter neighbourhood affirm that cheese making has been below the usual average. Swedes have indeed had a disease of some kind in some parts. A. letter from a friend in the neighbourhood of Colne, (an excellent judge) states that the turnips there have been affected in a similar way to the potatoes. The disease amongst the cattle is on the wane here, and we hear few complaints now. Some straggling corn is still out in places ; the amount, however, is of small importance. In the northern division of the county the farmers are very busy getting up their potatoes, and the reports respecting the disease are rather more favourable. Green crops and pasturage are looking better.—Manchester Courier. THE LATE GALES.—LOSS OF LlFE.—Preston and its neighbourhood were, on Thursday, visited by a violent storm of wind and rain. On Wednesday evening a gale set in from the north-west, and was severely felt in that town, and in Lytham, Blackpool, and Fleetwood. At Preston several chimnies were blown down, and slates were dislodged and blown about " like feathers." At Fleet wood the storm approached to a hurricane. The Isle of Man and Bardsea steamers could not venture out, and the ' Ardrossan packet did not leave the port until Friday morn ing. The commanders of the Orion and Prince Consort, from Douglas, and Ardrossan, declared they had never been out on such a night as that of Thursday. The gabel end of the new chapel now being built at Fleetwood was blown down, and other damage done to the structure, es timated at from £l5O to £2OO. At Blackpool the sea was terrifically wild and mountainous, dashing with fearful vio lence against the cliffs. Amongst the fatalities yet known the Preston Chronicle records that the barque Hillsbo rough, Capt. Lamb, was stranded on the horse bank near the mouth of the Ribble, and adds—" On her striking all hands took to the boats, which grounded. The captain, pilot, and six men then set off t o walk to Lytham, and got safe over the sands. Five of the men stuck to the boat, and they were consequently saved.,l ;user rices Ha rs in I me- If of" sere. wnig slue not and cap' Per