The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-11 00:00:00

i 5 c essiwe pbtaine d , o lll the 10 71 0 us to1; 15 '"` d all °t t° u ers into " ii t iv, 25 °4 ,d, f thiS ,4 will be th w i Birken be , a !.1 she , sents. SETQMBER 11, 155.] TILE GAS INQUIPr. Ta t i, sPetial . , 14 ite i,, conlnuttee appointed by the Town Council to iria. "''' the I; Mr, Jose s aPPIY of gas met in the council-chamber, on t Tile fo Pil Kitchen in the chair. 4 lto r ' 44l lye • , t ott„ - i l aroin e g I%ml abstract of the evidence of the wit flts%-"s`te't,,e4 a di : 1 7: 4 r,- Salnuel Yates Hess stated that he had e. th e ,natiot neon in the quality of the gas supplied.. e g , Past hs.if.power was not so great as formerly. His bill hae r f, r t l e eti of ig 4 l l e,at was £5 2s. 7d., and for the correspond- Dt,rioe ihl' hemp n t , ,It,was only £4 ss. 6d. No additional lights been an - i t , i er e e pr e ' s t" ti l l t u he had not used the gas for a longer a red N of , Year than in former years. There had 'lr. J o l n etlos i.. 4 s. 6d. in his gas bill, although there had 2 ea.. e s 4Reii rer s the price of gas. 5 2 % ,;',, 10 (1 ! L 'llloe 1 1 : 3710 r, surgeon, stated that for the half ` une? '4 erea ' ''°4't with four burners, his gas bill was . t . 4l eter r . e t's, it ~8 f or the half-year ending June, 1865, with fo r i g qt f or 2111,01Inted to 335. 5d., and deducting 3s. for a dclit7% kid t ` °4 half for firlll.ll i, 0 ao s .. - Year, it would bring it to 19s. 10d. thes b,sr ser ~,d. for 1855. Adding one-fourth for the 14 456 - , sers i i ' l ?nob would be 4s. lid., it would be 245. 9d. Poolei / u l l les tj 4 , against 30s. sd. for the same number ti .. ti ,li fr at w o ,, i 'llg the reduction of price . at 2s. 6d. in ilc - i off .., e l'ete e ~",:q bring it to 21s. Bd. against 31s. sd-, 1 -11, 4 ti it "lo Ra "t 8 8. 9d., or about 40 per cent. He had rubl e ioettliattist at the meter, or he should have burned et!t a tle 1.11tgo,,I• Ris consumption of gas had not been il t. A,r l 3° e lls , e ter than in another. The pressure of the IL A °Pe i , ' lee,,,erY great. I 'e s ' r eet th° o stated that he had two shops, one in k*4 a' "al . ' e °th New Ile ~' eitf le ,, I , l , l er ess er at the corner of Bird-street. y r Or r e , b t11.4 - 0 the Itlipon, both shops, and he had not burned Laeli ''aan,„`rs , - 'es l onger in the evening, neither had ng. s eats t'7l, of ge, c ), ,-; l l ' ° Pr,. eter of the Refreshment-rooms on the fc l : l l B tsi ee 'l t e Ga s ettailled of inattention on the part of the 4e 4 , 4l glit s ° t he om t ln PanY. He had to send on severaloccar lr of gas tl , l th e La..e!,.and they had been without lights fo hkil: J e h a Is exces s l e ng-stage. At the was made e the f g r that. ik.l .4 . ere ase ik s, of , e ,and no allowance was t ts:l ii d Ile'hi,k,,,Sl es? th rfield-road, stated that his gas bill 41 -‘el loti ee no reason in June, 1854sJune, ks t ,otie s , Ersteoci the to believe he had consumed more 14 jz, st,,t-ztt, of , b ue meter rent was extravagant. 1 , - )'2.1 1 e ,3 . 1e5,- 11 ,is bill No. 72 , Williamson-square, oyster-room ' is, 0 , it li .„ 2 0 June, 1854, was £2 2s. Ild., and Te l tter„, B bill s v ,„' s 2 Os. 8d•, and from June to October, , 1 1'n ,)1 ,,RQ 41 t1i0u:15 1 , 4 10 s. 10d . lie was compelled to pay '' " 'eiVe co t '" ne wanted to show the company he ,l'ati, ; ,, 1 is „, ste,-,,,,, s .`q h,'" bill 'LL Roe " so lunch gas. VaAt 'ge l for t s_ gerson, chemist St. James's-street, stated E e eo oe uar ,;ftit s ,,,rres pelid . ter ending March, 1854, was £4 35.. , ell' 2l() ,V r ,,,gas ee „ ln g quarter of 1855, it was £4 9s. 11F. ' , l ll l q t: q a tk i , ttelielariii i . h tt airepsuezned in 1854 was 180,000 feet, and . in aced to him rather odd, as for a portion 5,,,' 1 , , 1 ,,,h e0 ~, sent year they closed two hours earlier, % h,,,lost h ,,,,i'llitt y u4.,,tbe Chemists' Association. 1 8 ,S 6t toet: aiei '24l',.aP,er, Prices -street, Mr. Gelling, 120, ' ti " sll l' 4. e si • " ‘'ox, chandelier manufacturer, Ren ttt e (1- 1) .ah 1 ., 4nlr evidence. Mr. Gladstone, 3f Bath e i lti o - m e o ' - ii th a t 'lt 11 Iv te r ,„ when they wanted to get work done Dtr5,,,,41ai, 14 eag'll37, they (could not get it ,done, and no v s k ieil 5.,:: i, ef ,'t to their complaints. Sometimes a fort osiklist li t i:ltieZ e a c omplaint was attended to, and where a, l ' t l p v,7 li ll g e(i tili t lasis hint upon a supply of gas, this was inc.on had rather increased, notw :?tile er e el,, t hat b, 44111 3' had gone out of town. He also ~,4, 1 1,tEt Crecei ?,,s 'ere employed in doing men's . work, h -l(1 1 0 , - ', 4 e, ° /, 8 at s ;. the rate of 2s. 6d. per day, whilst he fla, '‘ at '''teci # l , -s • Per week. These boys only held the 1 E Ire Nob, the lead. Three or four men would come IN Ile IN a and , bin - ,.cuarge of 6d. each was made for those t a taille th e s tee, -.A for £3 45., for repairs which could not 1 11 ,te t i,tlopk t e Tre, I leY had also charged for the candle u `oli s '‘'svio 110 check on their bill. They warn you 7 1 I,' 11 E , si clO4. other tradesmen Pk, '°t'e 'ter they . when work was NI lil 4 ,of , would not do h and L li i , ~,tilk t .4, am - ' 4O/I don-road, Mr. John Lowdo . n, of . No. mg ha d " Arr. Mili an , we re also examined, and 1 tl4'l ,, 'l .tt ~1.A,, pre sent y • their gas bills had increased. , t.k'o ll s. , t1,,,"te,,- - a lker, - ' ea e l addition to stating that his gas - 0 "ge f ros t Pr 1. in th i la t quarter above the correspond te4444teple e i t tl l: l 4 l e tis e ye e ar, h s stated that during the winter, , was charged 6d. by the com a. il rA / Se s . 2le ),§ r ae v r e i re putt e ing a jug of boiling water into rel 44 lb„ ll 'est,', l llll ,self Supplied the boiling water.—Mr. • ~,,P l ieeati,;" ne should have charged 6d. for the water. ' that,1,.,,'11,t0 4, 4 was read, from Mr. Barlow, gas-engineer. 1 ., 4 y 4is 4"4"0 evidence Of Mr. Flintoff, Mr. Barlow get ass e ,.,.lne had been introduced unfairly, as con- Nb y ~ erie, .pons recede by Mr. Flintoff, relative to an ttehe tieation in the illuminatin power of the gas slip , •ii t'aet 'pool United Gas Coingny,atid with a view : ,pt,,,i,ethe impression conveyerr. byylluthteeffrhepeodrt;.elflLr... sup ,lt i,,,,,ti a the report to whichM t3L'a be seen, (said -Mr. Barlow,) refer ;, ' 4l, feet , west illuminating power I ~pr N the /o • when using_ wax was 20. 011 Perusing this . ,sl2O ot.irner, 4,3 o 4 b ee ta n in d e le d s, f e r e o u i! , 4 , 4 rksotrains per hour, a lu,„ l 'e ne r m` le ,l was 221.09 wnadx the ' ,cand m ie e s , n i o f f a t n h y e t c w on o fi e rm xp a e . - ixore than of the accuracy of tl,'" he -1411 refer to my experiments, I need Je, t 'Plal tt4t es t ,nr. Clegg's report of the 24th ult., „, 44k51 , , . Jo I,, hat he found four feet of the gas to give i ,14,hiels i s ,_'w ,?ernz candles, consuming 144 grains , t nif, r. iieur. _equisalent th 21.46 candles, consuming 120 ,i,4,ll,i'tll_%protk.l, taking into consideration the superior ti, : hot e s dee• i i4i i tl y cs of s permaeetiover wax, his experiments' 18 „ R ks read fro s Porior 'to aline. ; 4 , 1 ttivill;litt wide Mr Hedley offering his services L t '' ' e li i : l e %,:41,2e Town-clerk Was directed to inform „ 1 11 t. ' ear il ,,,„.,:i be written to if his services were re l';'',' i ' , 4 1 11 . 1 .4i t .,_ - "' t e...e then adjourned to Monday. hone ad - `, 4 t a e „ ; x ESTERDAY. ted,,,; 10 4 , % X'n met yesterday ; Mr. Kitchen, chair to' to h 151'dill e were also present Messrs. Hornby, , k aa - P40 3 , e, ,ar tr ? . ,Y, and Crossthwaite. The com . mittee L. 4 4 stlp i'• 'Neff l uence as to the complaints againt the .13 . j. kl ed. ~,y with reference to increased charges for 7,444 ,A 01,...1 -be first witness examined was kit, the u row nio 'rn, liaker, in ow-hill, and also in Myrtle tt4it 40,1..1,1 w-hill, who stated that for several years ill 3 °IQ ' of his gas bills had been on the it. the .notwitbstanding the professed diminu- It, s h ,, i-s ee of gas, his account for his' Low-hill k.,4lols.ttompa'nreredeaswedithdutrinh eg Previous gearing ,from £lO Year end i n June ' . ,I,' 12155. Bd.; he is sure he does not burn more N1441,14;1, j'lll,s4ltleth,,,dld, then. In point of fact, he thinks he con- A , o r the _ .orrnerlygthaseirsen,ebwecause he has given up k,hI,T weioethlic, and no 1,1:,1,,,1, kio,,,e This witness has tvr used in the bake-house t4 4 ' 9, 0t0,ty .. n d e same the shops, each of tibllit,s4,ll4te' s-'egill tide same g len th f tu ber of burners, which tt, pq f tne t wo Is g 0 time; yet the amount vq,ket et ° l ' th3 s i s „ s u°Ps. The only way in which he I: 9l Ei , k 4 4 , 1 _ he fact, tliat in one he has a three-light ! ' r ,'ll lit ' r l. il!hOp s i tlB other one suited for two lights. In e,4IsI,IN'N, to ad fo r charge fon gas-during the last quarter 0 as t o vor the other £l.Bs. On making a re tql( t:I r 1 4 11 t s,': trealtB inn other to the servants of the Gas lk,' l N ll lsl, llB t. 4 4 Lne matter in • a haughty manner, and s,,,rs i ti s,e. "(4,,0 i n ui 9 elsewhere for redress. No alteration ki.Z r to` l . ° t-11 4 ,,.,t re e L t niniber of his burners or in his hours 1 1 \44 1' 1 ''' 1 0 c7ti, e tt - I„,inspector called occasionally and put that:, k s .. - eo t 4tioj Do . ~.711, en called upon to look after wa th y e s ott• Il sviil' l '' C l4t tly 'ion of the apparatus, the officers al 11, , al kP e, Ir li Ni , unable to t '4 4;l lle - 4) :- r e p -, lumpton-terrace, Everton-road, said, le.Aes il t f,-, 4 •15(1 enti Grp. Ire f '4. 'weeen his present an is dh . former rates . 1 ,, f,,, , I . p .4 6--,,Ly removed, he was `I tI N e e W IY IN • at mpression 41 eNI c4111)1 '''' ' 1 before the reduction of 4 e lioN kab y 41 4 ed er now than • however, was, that the 41P t' " " P t' of general incivility on the part of the 44 , t't. kl ll i t ; llo o 3 , til e,94 -1 early when . compared with what was I t te ts .e . at, 0 his miy,„lPanys time. A L I,\TM Oar,. c airtr a n, painter and plumber, 45, Duke ma(ll.t,l44,e fo, th e had been very regular ; but the L h 4 1 j'Ati , tbe r„, i ge Atlanta consumed had been greatly ~,, 1 44, 1 ' e' N i t j o 'e a r .s hi s il r e n t in_n of Y priee . had taken place. For 040 1 ,, nt, alli titin ..kes of burning had been regulated, e 'see laths said g had never varied tlts4l,4e4; /4 1 1 , 4 e ol ' ifi u s.. t hat the inspectors of meters ,qu A a s nt a it pra hould l l 'l ir til e 11, 40 4 ow n "ed to estimating the y s of gas ' e lls Ivat e ase, he had always carefully suppf . ied 441, Ste S for * When he observed the increasing , ~ 'hut 1 4.43 he he of the circumstance 4 4 .1 NW .c'otained•no redress nor any sort of satis t. t oOs t'cl H. i,. . ' l, 4t i ll 4 4 4the°teand te t ' 1 ,1) 14 ,of ti p , ~ grocer . a-dea . ler,l6, Elliot e t: . ~..st,,oe,r., he ia.,, largeness and increasing -tendency. 1 1,,,,k - t `tt E ,h‘pson ~,,",i,not the means at present-of making 4 4, 11 410 1 Cli a ,,„_" l former bills ; but as he is in his t ie ‘t biat billf ;V ic 'with -the consumption of exactly ki'k4 il e re dliet has t ot i 'ee.t now as in 1863, he feels 5ur .,,,, ,e,,t04 44 10 in i n tx, diminished in its money amount it'ttiSi' s Par ly not t c , 1 ,7 Price of gas. On one occasion his I,t4if, b„, ,olpitr correctly and the servants of 1 1,7; 4 } 1. 41111,ardS'areittohC tutsab,Toeumption, which he did not 'e.. 4 tf . ' Steft,, v 4 .e 4 by oharged. The meter was 1 k 4 "8 L a gradual'— orea; te •Gas.company. , . ',,,' lih ll lS. but " T rouser-street, said he ',ma t } u ~ , ,, ; c il , , was For ti„ iv; ' gr° ' 4 V :incese in the amonn r-enee .in ! I ' l 4/,'N''kt, l'h 12 s- 4d . qtl P'ter ending with Septetnber, 4ti ti ere le ' , this ~ t,' 4, t 111 1 t o as no A.,.. Year,-for the same period . ,-it '' /M ' t he the numb er ' 4ue ' l l I tl Si r e Was rir ,7 l , of his b rs ; and, so far as his time of burning, 4.,,Niltit4la M e ssed. "'wig to cause.any increase in the ' t o ~ , c ,. ei, toi l os ilt hi %r In s ---,, on us's -buildings, on account citth , 1 40,1 i NI. t t ; gas hills, and a trustworthy- per- E.p ci: of , rott these '4- 4 ' 't‘ te'ke or ' pr o . 1 - aPpeareu that Mr. Henry ,p .4 -.,% u _ i, th e _ Rressive increase in-the amount of ~;1fti1,11,47;,a-pil,,jug,Perioci [ extending from the end of litirll4)l,\;444:llllilthere:f ecember, 1854, he h besn . 4 ati 4 44 tied ; a s it now amounts to £7 is. 4d r ... t t ;: t 4 , s e e lip . 1, Nt e. c otriParison gave the same propo l, IN t 'tit 4 ‘ The gas had been kept at the same y l l e l' t 4 Ikkt, L. Ja ye • -el l 11 II! Park -road also complained of a sys- N'ty 48,,4,11q amount of his gas bills, while no in- N't:,4 4 . 4 i 11 00 N e.tg . in the hours of his burning, or the 141t kit 4 : 14t tet ki lts . si 4 4' a lso - tion' 8, Cable-street, complained of in -04 Ike, , eot o ,. the part of the gas company's t 1 'll i $ vtanied of the high rates exacted for 11446 t 4 fl' lt -A t , t h , t t '';'" k i ll ' th e e l4 b e ; cha r y' t eau-street stated that on one %k ti. 8 },. e o • °teed with a quarter's gas, .although ?"' ,! 4 t b ql b li ttr y , the occasion referred to, his family . te •° ) .e, e h e ll us about five months, during which k 'ttitil 'ik i'sllin — ,l 4, ; but the inspector of meters ob sNcltyt i n '3' t o itlon, was registered, computed what I : 1 r i , tt Nl lll4 ,k e r , °r resi 3o -4 ' . ,,e peen consumed in the time, and I,l),'N'the4 (44 k a re,nruence with that computation. On '10, ,e0 tik,,rel !lot wVsentation of the case the charge I l 1 P . 447 , 440, 14 Would 14 a good deal of trouble. The orci eg. 'l. ", m a - Lie very desirable to have meter lerN ,i-e,, ° should stand between the public N4'4tt°Pl9 tits IN ry a . at it jot, th e and Sons, sugar-refiners, said that lir ha4Z.4g.-411kItt t;epurPose of giving information, in t i ka s Ittst ot ilst th,, ~,Seful, and without any intention , 11 1, r,i t ic et L 114: b.e the CoMpany. Since this inquiry ti l., ,r, if e tai., !vilicii'l been. induced to look over some ,h ,t4,,,,,0 0„,..141,,,,...,_ were very large, and in the kiN'le Of RIC f ee r of u !t he. found that on one bill, in 'it l l, 4 4 0 . t °,0 00 r e ,' ,9 : 4 8 Is charged, there appeared to e e lati l ,k4i l ,,,, prepare% which might be an overcharge, ~0 e ' l 4t i"' th e e ed to say it was nor to make any ' 4 O O O 11 the. °ll'l3auY In . I k , l t t r e „N y . ir prenli •truth, he said,. it must •t. N' "lar ' still h s es gas was used without any e l i t i ile,reci o ,and t „. O e considered it singular that the d rtoti i n 'eviating, and that there were no - Nr i et o any i t lii et t ,e to reek e .. ils ance. Ile was not, as he et o , o . e Q,2nak e guY complaint against the corn 'e% " 4 dian L e° . l nPlaint at all, it would be s bee ci. ~oeletY• That complaint should kne sodety insisting on a uniform rate of charge on large and small consumers, instead of a dif ferential one in favour of the former. Mr. Robertston Gladstone said he thought the Guardian Society was right in the principle of insisting that all con sumers should be charged alike for the quantities they rela tively consumed. Any discount in favour of the large con sumer could only be made at the expense of the poor. Mr. Reay explained that the differential system, alluded to by Mr. Mac Fie, had been found inconvenient and unjust, and had accordingly been given up. Mr. Mac Fie next explained his conviction that great incon venience and no small amount of danger was incurred through the rash and inconsiderate way in which the pressure was put upon the gas at the principal reservoirs. He then repeated his disinclination to make any charge against the Gas Company. Mr. Henry Thredder, tobacconist, 14, Paradise-street, stated his conviction that the illuminating power of the gas had been much deteriorated within the last few years up to about three weeks ago. He complained of having experienced incivility from the servants of the Gas Company. He also considered the charges made for fittings and repairs by the company were exorbitant. The exaction of deposits for meters he considered iniquitous. In his own case, the company had exacted £3 155., as a deposit, and it was years before he could obtain restitution for it ; which he was only able to accomplish by deducting £1 from his gas payments quarterly. Mr. John Rumsay, tin-plate-worker, 7, Derby-street, stated that besides the premises he occupied in Derby-street, he had two shops in the bazaar; in one of the latter he did not burn gas, and had paid for the other. Notwithstanding this, the company demanded a quarter's gas-rent of him, and threat. ened, if he did not pay it, to cut off the supply from his Derby-street premises. This demand he refused to comply with, and the matter remained in abeyance. Mr. Thomas Green, druggist, Wavertree-road, complained that although he had not increased his rate or time of burn ing, his gas bills had materially increased in amount since the nominal reduction of the gas. For a period during which he had to pay 13s. 2d. he was now charged £1 12s. 4d. He also complained of the overcharges made by the Gas Com pany for the services of their fitters. He was of opinion that the publicwould receive benefit by a separation of the fitting department from the gas supply. Mr. Thomas Corkhill, upholsterer, of Brunswick-road, com plained that the gas had deteriorated in quality since the amalgamation of the two companies. He likewise complained of the exorbitant charges made for the rent of meters, and also of neglect on the part of the company in attending to complaints. In his own case he had experienced this diffi culty. When his gas apparatus was out of order, he had sent to the company's offices to get the matter set right, which they had omitted to do, and his men were consequently thrown idle, to his loss and inconvenience. If permitted to give an opinion, he should state that the arbitrary demand of the company of a deposit of from Bs. to 10s. for each meter, was a great hardship on the poor. He might also mention that, in some instances which he knew of, the company refused to give a supply of gas to a new tenant; because the former one had run away in their debt, unless the new corner paid the arrears due by his defaulting predecessor. Mr. Wm. Jones, 19, Berry-street, said he complained of the charges for men's time. They came and went when they liked, and referred all enquiries to the -gas office, where little satis factory information was to be had. Mr. Thomas Quayle, 46, Mill-street, complained that since the reduction in price his bills had increased. From April to July, 1854, his bill was £1 2s. Bd.; ditto, 1855, £lss. ld. From July to April, 1854, £2 Is. sd. ; same period, 1855, £2 '6d. He also complained of his wife having been insulted by the company's officers when she called to make complaint. • Mr. William Aikin, 41, Great Charlotte-street, said he bad felt satisfied that he was paying for more gas than he consumed. His quarterly bills had Increased. In December, 1848, it was £1 13s. 3d.; in December, 1854, it was £3 Ils. 3d., with gas at the same price, namely 4s. 6d. His yearly bills had gradually imcreased. For 1852 they amounted to £5 95...5d.; in 1853, £6 15s. Bd.; and 1854, £7 Bs. 6d. But the greatest 'discrepancy of all was this I—ln the six months ending June, 1854, his bill was £2 19s. Bd.; same time, 1855, £3 16s. 7d. In reply to Mr. Evans, he said the gas had been of a better quality during the last month. Mr. James R. Jeffery, (Jeffery, Morrish, and Co., Compton House,) said, he had been a consmer for the last twenty years. Complained of an increase in his bills since the reduction in price. From the 11th of January to the 17th April, 1854, the amount at 4s. 6d. per thousand feet was £67 9s. 2d. From the 26th December, 1854, to the 4th April, 1855, £7B 6s. 11d.. His bill for the quarter ending July 4th, 1854, was £3B 18s. sd. ; same period 1855, £44 16s. 4d. He did not see why the company should be allowed to charge for meters. Every other tradesman who sold by measure had to provide -his own measure. He complained that the meter testers of the company did not agree in their results, when testing meters in their (Messrs. Jeffery and Co.'s) establish ment. He thought the ;proposed supervisor should be per fectly independent of the company. He had found the com pany's officers attentive and courteous, except on one occasion. He thought the charges of the company for fittings were ex cessively high ; the result of the monopoly which the com pany secured by being gas fitters. .1f - they continued to be so, he thought that a separate account of profits should be "kept for that department, as apart from the profits they derived simply as manufacturers of gas. He had been much struck with the remarkable increase in the illuminating power of the gas simultaneous with the appearance of the gentle. man brought to town by the Corp - oration (Mr. Clegg) to test the gas meters. It was quite a Mistake, he thought, to sup pose that a second company would be any competition at all. He thought the present company might supply gas to the borough at 3s. per thousand with profit to themselves and ad vantage to the consumer. 'When getting up the Guardian Gas Company, they had calculated that, even with the less , consumption which they profit. could 'have hoped to secure, they would be able t o supply gas at 3s. - 2d with a good margin for Mr. Evans here made a few remarks, to the effect that ho -considered the poi n t s proved were that, although there had been an apparent re d uc ti on i n the price o f gas, t h e c h arge to the consumer had considerably increased —that irregularity in the meters had been shown to exist, and that it had proved that the present company could be worked more economically. Mr. Jeffery made some observations with a view of showing 'that it was advisable to move at once in the matter, for what might be advisable to the consumers to do now, might not be advisable in twelve months hence, if the:company laid out any 'further amount of capital. Mr. John Carter, 26, Redcress-street, complained that the -,quality of the gas had deteriorated, and increase of the bills. His bill for June 1854 had been £1 Is. Bd.; June 1855, al .though there had been a reduction in price, and no more burners employed, £1 3s. He :had always found that other 'people put up fittings quite as _good, and much cheaper than the company. Mr. John Richmond, 3, Paradise-street, complained of a -deficient suply, and increaseotcharges. His bills from March to June, 1854, charged him for ar consumption of 168,000 feet of gas ; for the same period of 1655, 198,000 feet, an increase -of 15 per cent., although he had in the meantime reduced 'many of his bnrners in size from twelves to fours. His bills , from December to March, 1854, were £ l3 Os. 2d. ; 1850, Zl3 18s. 6d. Mr. Henry Hook, 24, London-road, complained of a defi reient supply, especially on Saturday evenings. Mr. John Cripps, of Bold-sireet, sent a statement, according to which, his bills for the secondquarter (ending July) of 1854 were £2 2s. Bd. ; 1855, £3 10s. Od., an increase which he was totally at a loss to account for.—Mr. J. Mackenzie sent a commehication to show that the increase in his gas charges had been 32 per cent.—Mr. Charles' Inman, of Everton, wrote -to:the committee, that the quality.of the gas was much dete riorated of late, and that he was compelled to have his ceilings newly coloured every year in consequence. The supply he had found sufficient. For the yearllB42, with gas at 7s. per thousand feet, his bill was £5 7s. 5d.; for 1852, with gas at 4s. 6d., it was £9 ls. 6d., to his great astonishment, for he was,not aware of any change in his consumption. He was in favour of an inspector of meters being appointed. This was the last witness examined, and the chairman said that he had received the following letter from Mr. Flintoff in reply 'to a letter read from Mr. Barlow-at the last meeting : TO JOSZPH KITCHEN, ESQ., CNAIRMAN OF THE GAS COM- MITTEE, TOWN-HALL, LIVERPOOL. Sir,—ln the report of the proceedings of the gas committee of the Town Council, printed in the newspapers of this day, a letter appears troml r.T p . ri G nie ß d a o r n lo t w h . e c 2 a l lc st ul u a i t ti e m d t o o , a m n i d sl l ea a d s k tl , ie in p c u o h m lic . as to my evidence, mon fairness, to be allowed to give the following explanation : I stated that, since the amalgamation of the two gas companies, in 1848, Hiegel; in Liverpool had been reduced in ub ral t ity about cronrvoinsd this 12i per cent., and that the loss sustained by-the source alone amounted to about .t '02,803 ifis. 2. I from the observations of Mr. Barlow, in the company's printed report of 1854, and the evidence of Mr. King, its Jigin o e w er n , on the Guardian Gas Bills, in 1847. I beg respectfully to refer your committee to these documents, which prove the truth of my assertions as•to the illuminating power of :he Liverpool gas. In 1847, Mr. Zing states, that the gas supplied by a burner consuming 4 feet per hour produced lights equatto2o and 10-12ths of a wax candle.cansuming 143 grains per hour.. In 1854, Mr. Barlow's observations show that the light from a similar burner was equal to 20 and 10 decimals of.a candle con suming only 120 grains per hour, or 23 grains per candle less than those used by Mr. King; so that the burner in 1854 pro duced light equal to 2,653 grains of wax, while a similar burner in 1847 gave light equal to 2,979 grains of war, or, as r stated in evidence, about 1241 per cent. more light than we get mow. I feel sorry that 1 .should be driven, through Mr. Barlow's attempt to impugn my evidence, to trouble the committee with these explanations, and hope that the motives of that gentleman will be rightly understood, when I state that he is the editor of a monthly publication, issued to gloss over the defects of misting gas companies, against ,whom I have an action for libel now 'Pending. - I much regret that my evidence, as furnished to the newspa .pers, on the 21st ult.., was so incomplete ; and still more, that a series of questions calculated to elucidate all the facts known-in connection with lighting Liverpool with gas, placed in the hands of Mr. Reny, were, for some reason unknown to myself and dhe committee, omitted altogether.-4 am, sir, yours E most respT OFF. ectfully, GO. FLIN Gas Enginee Septring ember-office, 4CI . ayton-square, 8, 185-A. Mr. Reay said he must deny the assertion contained in the last paragraph of the letter, as he only received " the lot of evidence " referred to, ten minutes before he entered the room, and as he had not read it, it was not likely that he was going to examine Mr. Fliutoff on it. The Court adjourned at a quarter to five o'clock, after making four hours' sitting. The attendance was very meagre throughout the afternoon, and for the last hour and a half consisted only of the chairman (Mr. Kitchen) and one mem ber, Mr. Crosthwaite. It was understood that the Committee would meet again on Thursday. THE GIPSEY BRIDE AND THE RoYAL AMPHITHEATRE. — We understand that arrangements hare been made by the passengers and crew of the Australian packet Gipsey Bride, about to proceed on her second voyage, to patronise the Royal Amphitheatre to-morrow night. As the idea is quite new to Liverpool, or indeed to any other town in the kingdom, and as a meeting of this kind between passengers and crew is cal culated to raise a kind feeling among them in the course of the voyage, we have no doubt that there will be a crowded house. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A Fooargg OLD MAN.—Mary Lambert, a widow with two young children, was brought up at the Police-court yesterday, charged with being concerned in a robbery of £3O. William Jones, an old man, who stated that he was a rigger employed on the Australian ship Gipsey Bride, said he went into a grocery cellar kept by the prisoner in Slate-street, out of Great Howard-street, on Sunday afternoon. He had £3O in gold with him when he went in, and, at the request of the prisoner and another woman not in custody, he sent for " three noggins" of whiskey. The drink took effect on him, he fell asleep in the chair, and when lie awoke, he was alone in the cellar, and all his money gone. Information was given to the police, and an officer went in, but found the place deserted and all in darkness. He waited for some time, obtained the assistance of another officer, and then went again, when they apprehended the prisoner and her children, and found a sovereign on the floor, under a bed. No other money l was found, and at the request of Superintendent Clough the cas e was a dj ourne d f or a wee k. The officer stated that a person was robbed of Xii 3 in the same den a fortnight ago, THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. • I EXTENSIVE COTTON ROBBERIES. Jortx CRAIG, a cotton porter, was brought up at the Police court yesterday, charged by detective officer Laycock with stealing 60 lbs. of clean cotton from a cart in Macviccar street, Great Howard-street. The prisoner said that if he was allowed he could go with the officer, and find him the carter that gave him the cotton in ten minutes. He was ac cordingly remanded until to-day, to allow him the opportunity of clearing himself. James Westhead, cotton porter, and Michael Dunne, who has a cotton store in Macviccar-street, and also keeps a beer house in Portland-street, were charged with stealing a quantity of cotton from the office of Messrs. T. Poitlethwaite and Co., Exchange-chambers, Tithebarn-street. Mr. Martin (Messrs. Postlethwaite's warehouseman) stated that he locked up the premises securely on Friday evening. On the following morn ing he came down at 20 minutes past seven, and found every thing, as he at first supposed, in the same condition. On going through the sale-room, however, a little boy drew attention to men's feet on the counter. On searching further, he found that about one and a half cwt. to two cwt. of cotton samples had been stolen. They were what are termed " used samples, " and were evidently taken by some persons who knew the place well; for some samples in front had not been disturbed. Entrance had been obtained by means of a ladder raised against a window. Some few weeks ago a precisely similar robbery had been com mitted. Mr. Martin. with detective officers Scott and Patricks, had searched Dunne's store in Macviccar-street yes terday morning, and thrust in amongst some rotten Surat pickings they had discovered similar samples to those stolen. Upwards of 2 cwt. of cotton of various kinds were found thus carefully concealed. John Williams, an elderly man, a cotton porter, stated that between six and seven o'clock on Saturday morninc , he saw a cart standing at the end of the court leading to Achange chambers ; watched it loaded with packages of cotton, and then followed it to Macviccar-street, where it was unloaded. He saw Westhead come out of Exchange-chambers and put something into the cart. John Cairns, the carter, stated that he was going down Tottenham-street at the time mentioned, when Westhead ran across from Exchange-chambers, and asked him if he would cart five bags of cotton waste to Macviccar-street for ls. He (Cairns) agreed, and Westhead brought two packages to the cart ; another man (not in custody) brought three more pack ages, paid him is,, and told him to drive:to Macviccar-street. He drove there, but no one accompanying him, he was about to turn back to look for Westhead, when the other man called out to him from what he had since learned was Dunne's store, and he then backed his cart up and unloaded there, seeing no ) one but the "other man." The officers apprehended Westhead at Dunne's beer-house on Saturday afternoon. They heard he was there, and sent a person in to say he was " wanted outside." Dunne was stand ing in the window at this time; but when they went in to take him also, they found that he had "flown," and he was "out of the way," until between five and six o'clock yester day morning, when they knocked him up. When the charge was explained to him, he said he had no cotton in Macviccar stree, but some " old Surat." Mr. Roby, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution. Mr. Snowball, who defended Dunne, argued that there was no evidence to implicate him in the robbery, and that the "other man," so often referred to might have had the cotton in his warehouse—even supposing it to be that which had been stolen—without his consent. Mr. Black, who appeared for Westhead, made a similar ap peal on behalf of his client, maintaining that Westhead was not proved to have taken any leading part in the affair suffi cient to implicate him as a principal. On the application of Mr. Roby, the case was remanded for a week to obtain further evidence. COMMERCIAL and MONETARY NEWS. MONDAY NIGHT. The steadiness of the public Funds, which has pre vailed for several weeks past, has not been affected even by the raising of the minimum rate of discount by the Bank of England from 31 to 4 per cent., a step which was in some measure anticipated from the re cent progressive decline in the stock of Bullion, and the amounts to be provided for the instalments coming due of the several English Turkish and French loans. It may be, however, that the effect of these payments is over-estimated, as the amount of free capital is still very large, and the decline but small, notwith standing that the drain for the purposes of the army l has been going on for some time past. By the Bank returns of Friday, % it appears that there is a decrease on 'the Bullion stock of Buon of £6,06,869, and in the reserve of notes unemployed to about the same amount ; but the imports of specie have lately been comparatively small, and the renewed activity in %several important markets, may account for this, without allowing any serious apprehensions as to the future. It must not be forgotten that the Bank surplus is not always a test (if monetary resources, •as excess ' may be caused by dulness in trade as well as by plethora of capital, and a decrease of Bullion in the Bankcoffers may be caused by a demand for home - trade, as well as by exports to -other countries. Both circumstances should be taken -into account ; and, as further supplies are known to be on their way, and foreign exchanges are still favour able, the requirements of the loans will most probably be met without any serious derangement of monetary affairs. We eopy Lhe following general remaeks from Llie circular of Messrs. T. and H. LITTLEDALE and Co, published on Friday last:--- As usually the case at this period, the probable result of the harvest has been the most anxiously watched event of the month, and though from the lateness of the season it is too early to assert that all danger is past, yet most parts of the country have, during the last fortnight, fortunately been favoured with, if not - the brilliant-sun-of last autumn, at least a fair run of dry harvest weather, which has rapidly matured the crops, and enabled the farmers - to make good progress in the reaping, and over a large breadth of country carrying their grain, in such condition as may fairly lead us to assume that an average harvest at least will be secured. Rice, it will be observed, maintains its price, notwithstanding the heavy arrivals, and the increased export demand seems to keep-our cleaners fully employed. Sugar and Saltpetre have each had a remarkable rise, with apparently no prospect of an imme diate reaction, indeed the advance on each seems warranted by the law of supply and demand. We think we may reasonably anticipate the continuance of a fair demand for most leading articles of import. Our SHARE MARKET has been very flat and inactive all week, with the tendency of prices decidedly down wards. A momentary rally took place this morning, but this not being supported by the public, prices have again relapsed - to-those of last week. Foreign shares are firm and improving. We annex prices :--- Caledonians, 311 ; East Lancashire, 181 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 88* 2 11 ; London -Stock, 941 4 4 ; Sheffield Stock, 251 5.; Midland. Stock, 681 1 1 ; South Eastern, 181 ; East Lancashire Pref. Fifths, 51 ; .Dutch Rhenish, lip.; Great Western ,of Canada new ,shares, ; Luxembourg constituted, 91d; Bank of Liverpool, 231 ; Liverpool and London Fire and Life tinsurance, 6p. COTTON.---There has been a very fair amount of business done during the week, and prices have re mained without alteration. The Manchester market has been very firm, and, as the weather has been very favourable for getting inthe harvest,there is little doubt that the supply of cotton will fall short of the demand, and the market experience a consequent advance. The sales for the week up to Friday amounted to 56,300 bales, of which 7,020 were -taken on speculation, and 5,720 for export, leaving 43,560 for the trade. To- DAV, the sales were 8,000 bales, including 2,000 for speculation and export, and the market closed firmly, prices being slightly higher. The following is a com parison of present rates with those of the correspond ing period last year :--- 1854 1855 NewiOrleans, middling . -6/ fair Upland, middling .......... ........ 6 „ fair 6 6,1 PRopue.E.---The Sugar market .has been very firm, and full prices readily obtained for the small quantity offered. Coffee in improved demand for export. Not so much doing in Tea. Rice firm. Saltpetre scarce. For Palm Oil an increased demand. Tallow improving. TO-DAY, the inquiry for sugar has again increased, resulting in the sale of 400 hhds. Antigua at 415., 145 hhds. Barbadoes from 40s. to 445. ed., 170 hhds. Jamaica at 41s. 3d. to 435. 9d., 50 hhds. Porto Rico at 435. 3d., 500 bags Dates at 425. 6d., and 1900 bags Pernams at 395. to 40s. per cwt., being generally ex treme prices to 6d. per cwt. advance. Nothing has taken place in Molasses or Rum. There has been a good demand for Coffee, 1600 bags Rio being reported at 375. to 40s. for unwashed, and at 48s. to 545, per cwt. for washed. The chief weight of the two last arrivals of Tea having teen placed, our market has relapsed into its former quiet position ; common Congou ranges from nd. to 9d. per lb. Upwards of 5500 bags Larong Rice have found purchasers, at previous prices, 1800 bags Arracan, all faults, at lie. 9d. for first class damaged, and 100 tons Bengal, to arrive, at 15s. 3d. ; a large business has also been done in Sago Flour, 3250 bags for arrival being reported at 255., and 250 bags on the spot at 30s. per cwt. 90 cases Cutch have brought 235. per cwt. WooL.---A very active demand continues to be manifest for ail good, clean, low and middle qualities of Wool, from the Levant and Mediterranean; stocks of all descriptions are unusually light, and prices very firm. Egyptian and the finer classes of Turkey and Smyrna Wool are much in request and very scarce, present stocks chiefly consisting of the lower sorts, which are not good enough, and conseqently not so much in request for the Army orders now in progress. InDonskoi fleece some few sales have been made during the week at full quotations. Market generally firm, and prospects favourable. The imports for the week are 2729 bales Peruvian ; 105 Mediterranean ; 34 Scotch 46 Irish ; and 19 Coastwise. Total, 2933 bales. METALS.---The market looks in a very healthy state. It is anticipated that at the coming quarterly meet ing an advance of £2 per ton on manufactured Iron will be declared. Scotch Pig Iron is steadily ad vancing in price, 83s. being the closing price yester day for store counts f.o.b. Glasgow. Other metals fiirm, and in good demand, but without change in price. FRUIT.---Messrs. FLETCHER and FIRTH, in their circular of Saturday, say :--- CIJRRANTS ; The unfavourable reports from the Currant LATEST NEWS. THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. DESTRUCTION OF A RUSSIAN MAN-OF-WAR WAR DEPARTMENT, Sept. 7. Lord Panmure has this day received the following intelligence from General Simpson : CRIMEA, Sept. 5. Our batteries opened fire at daylight this morning. Sept. 6, 5 p.m. The bombardment goes on steadily and favourably, with few casualties on our side. A Russian frigate, supposed to have been set on fire by our rockets, was burnt last night in the Great Harbour. The Moniteur of Saturday announces that the Minister of War has received the following despatch from General Pelissier :--- CRIMEA, Sept. 6, 8 o'clock. A vast conflagration destroyed last night the Russian two-decker Marian, anchored in the roads of Sebastopol. A shell fired from one of our right lines of attack caused this conflagration, the flames of which lit up all our camps. __ _ CRIMEA, Sept. 6, 10 p.m. Our fire against the place continues under favourable conditions. Our losses are very small. Nothing new has occurred on the lines of the Tchernaya. The enemy is not preparing any movement there. CRIMEA, Sept. 7, 10 p.m. The fire of -our artillery has been kept up for the last 24 hours. A French shell set fire to-day to a Russian frigate, which is burning at the present moment. CAPTURE OF THE MALAKHOFF. WAR DEPARMENT, Sept. 9. Lord Panmure has received the following intelli gence from General Simpson, dated the Crimea, Sept. 8, 1855, 11 35 p.m. : The Allied forces attacked the defences of Sebasto pol this day at 12 o'clock. The assault on the Malakhoff has been successful, and :the work is in possession of the French. The attack of the English against the Redan did not succeed. TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES. The Sii;i,;hlUl 7 ;left Constantinople on the 30th of August, arrived at Marseilles on Saturday. The advices from the Crimea are to the 28th of August. _ . _ She has brought 150 invalids. Despatches leave at 9 a.m. The White Falcon has arrived. The Mentor has left for Constantinople. A telegraphic despatch, dated Saturday morning, says : " A treaty of alliance and of commerce was con cluded on the 12th of July between France and Persia, and the ratifications were given to the Minister of France: on the 14th." THE SEA OF A ZOFF. The Moniteur of Sunday publishes the following despatch from Admiral Bruat _ CRIMEA,Sepp. 6. " The captain of frigate Huchet de Cintr - 6, com manding. the Milan, has informed me that the Milan and Caton have destroyed in the Sea of Azoff, from Temriank to Dolga, 43 fisheries, 127 boats, some thousand nets, tar, salt, and an immense quantity of casks. Four fisheries only have escaped destruction ; - the shallowness of the water did not allow our vessels to approach them.. The damage done to the enemy may be estimated at some millions. The fishery trade in the Sea of Azoff gives rise to a considerable export trade, which extends to Poland, The destruction which has been done will render it impossible for this year. " Commander Clone, of the Brandon, on his part joined Captain Osborne, of the Vesuvius, to send their boats up the gulf of Oukliouk, and to burn the pro vender collected there on the coast. All the corn manders of our vessels congratulate themselves on being on so friendly a footing with Captain Osborne." THE„FRiNCH EMPEROR SHOT AT. The Ironiteur of Sunday publishes the following : His Majesty the Emperor attended a representatio n at the Italian Opera last night. . . At+the moment the carriage in which were the Ladies of Honour of Her Majesty the Empress stopped in front of the theatre an individual standing on the foot pavement opposite fired, without taking aim, two small pocket-pistols at the carriage. No one was hit. This person, who appears to be a maniac rather than an assassin, was immediately ar rested. (FURTHER PARTICULARS.) The name of the individual arrested is Bellemarre. He is about twenty-two years of age, and was born at Rouen. When he was sixteen he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for swindling. At the expiration of two months the Emperor, then President of the Republic, commuted his sentence. He pretends to have afterwards taken an active part in the events of the 2d of December---to have fought behind one of the barricades of the Rue Rarn buteau. At .that time placards, having in large characters, " Motives for the Condemnation to Death of LouiS Napoleon," were seized by the police. During the examination Bellemarre declared him self to be the author of those placards. He was sentenced by default to two years' im prisonment, and was transferred to Belle Isle. Since he left prison s in February last, he lived at Paris, under a false name, and had accepted an ap pointment as clerk to M. Jeanne, constable. Bellemarre is a man of delicate constitution and of vulgar appearance. His antecedents, his language, his attitude after his arrest, and during the examination, show that he is really a maniac. He had taken up a position at the entrance of the Rue Marsollier, on the foot pavement opposite to the entrance of the theatre, and he fired his two pistols at the moment when the cries of " Vive l'Empereur " made him fancy that the carriage which conveyed the Ladies of Honour of the Empress was that of His Majesty. A city policeman on duty at this point instantly pulled down the assassin's arm and captured him at once. Bellemarre was first taken to the police-office at the Italian Theatre, and at once, M. Pietri, Prefect of Police, presiding, a first statement was drawn up by the Commissary of Police of the district. The assassin is locked up in a cell at the Concier genie, where he is undergoing an examination. The investigation continues. His Majesty the Emperor, on his entrace into the theatre, where the news of this criminal attempt was immediately blown, was greeted with shouts of " Vive l'Empereur ! and by rounds of applause, which were renewed at intervals. His Majesty only remained about one hour at the theatre, and then proceeded to the Palace of the Tuileries. PRINCE. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. His Imperial Majesty's yacht Ariel, Capt. De Beaulieu, which left Cherbourg at three o'c l ock on Sunday morning, arrived in Plymouth Sound at seven that evening, having on board Prince Napoleon and suite, consisting of Colonel De Marest, Captain De Laroucherrs, R.N., Colonel Cypriani, of the Piedmon tese army, Dr. Yran, and Commander Fery Pisanv. The yacht proceeded into ilarooaze, and his Highness Islands, alluded to in oar last circular, have been more than realized, for, by recent advices, we find the production falls much short of what was anticipated, and that prices have been paid for finest quality of fruit which will stand the importers in 925. to 945. per cwt. here, duty paid, without anything in the shape of profit. These accounts have produced excitement both here and in London, and 10s. to 15s. per cwt. advance upon previous rates has been demanded, and, at yesterday's sales in London, has actually been realized, the finest 1851 fruit having sold at 105 s. per cwt. by auction. If these high prices do not materially check the consumption, we cannot at present conjecture to what extent prices may-go up, for it is evident we shall not have anything like a sufficiency of stock and imports of fine fruit to carry us on even beyond March or April next, the inferior qualities are said to be scarcely useable, so that they will not be likely to interfere much in keeping prices down. Our present stock in bond is now brought down to about 250 tons; and in this small stock we must have more than one-third of a quality not worth the duty, and must be destroyed or exported. In Raisins, at this season of the year, just on the eve of first importations, we naturally expect very little doing, and it would only tend to mislead our friends to give any positive quotation of Muscatels or Valencias, prices being quite nominal. Black Raisins, which we noticed in our last circular as being scarcely inquired for, and might be bought upon lower terms, have again revived, and within the last few days we have sold upwards of 650 barrels, at advancing prices, and for the few that are remaining unsold 275. 6d. to 28s. per cwt. is again demanded. Sultanas are scarcely saleable, and, as new are arriving, holders of old fruit will have to submit to lower rates to force sales. New Valencias have already arrived, and have sold in London at 425., which, considering the prices abroad, is exceedingly moderate, and unless we hear of the growers accepting lass prices, we may consider this price will be maintained, when further supplies come in, which may be daily looked for. Barcelona Nuts are in steady demand at oar quotations, and the same may be said as regards Turkey Nuts, but parties only take them as wanted, in limited quantities. No Oranges at present in the market. Lemons continue to come in, and fine ready sale at our quo tations. landed immediately, and went to the Government house, Mount Wise, where he was received by Port Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.B. It is stated to be the intention of the Prince to visit several English ports. The yacht , was to be ready for departure yesterday. LETTERS FROM THE CRIMEA. (Fnom THE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT.) CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Aug. 27. The state -of tension in which we were kept during the greater part of last week, in daily and almost hourly expecta tion of an attack, has somewhat relaxed during the last twenty-four hours, although every precaution continues to be taken. On the night from Friday to Saturday our com manders seem to have felt very confident that something serious would occur; everybody was afoot, cr in readiness to turn out at an instant's notice, and dusty and disgusted enough looked some of the staff after knocking about all night in anticipation of a fight that came not. It was doubtless in con sequence of the severe extra duty thus entailed on officers as well as men, that the ceremony of the investiture of the Order of the Bath was postponed until two o'clock to-day, when it is to take place with due pomp at General Simpson's head quarters. The Highlanders having been countermanded from trench duty on Friday evening, and marched over to Kamara at two o'clock in the morning to support the Sardinians, the Guards alone went to the trenches, and consequently the Light Division remained there thirty-six hours, instead of twenty-four. The Guards had two casualties among the officers—Colonel Francis Seymour, wounded, not seriously, and Captain Drummond shot through the lungs. Hopes are entertained of saving the latter officer's life. The Highland Division came back to camp on Saturday, and returned to Karnara at night, to remain there, as they expect, about a week. The 56th Regiment, about 700 strong, having arrived at Balaklava, were detained a day or two on board ship, until their destination should be decided upon. It had been in , tended to send them to Kertch ; on Saturday it was said they would go to Kamara, but they have finally been annexed to the First Division. The army continues to get under arms before daybreak, cavalry and all. Yesterday the latter arm turned out 2,950 British sabres and lances, and, had needs been, 500 or COO more could have been brought into the field. Although many here have been dieposed to treat as idle rumour and even to turn into ridicule the reports that the Russians meditated an attack on Balaklava, it would appear this danger has not been disregarded at head-quarters, where information has doubtless been received on the subject. The Leander and Diamond frigates have been lying moored by a single cable, and Lieut. Fletcher, commanding the Triton war-steamer,' has directions to be in readiness to get his steam up at brief notice, and tow them out of Balaklava harbour to a position whence their guns would bear on the Marine Heights. Notwithstanding all these preparations for action, I repeat that people seem less confident, or, at any rate talk less of that which two or three days ago every one declared to be immi nent: and last evening some sanguine spirits, who doubtless, with good reason, would prefer a day on the moors to a night in the trenches, were heard confidently to predict approaching peace. The Russians, they declared, could sustain the con test no longer, owing to the want of water and the difficulty of obtaining supplies ; their final attempt had been made at the action of the 16th, and, finding themselves totally repulsed with heavy loss at the point they had selected as offering most chances of success , they would not risk another attack, but would yield, tre a t for peace, make the necessary conces sions, and in a couple of months the British army would go home again. The hopefulness of youth and a certain vivacity of imagination may doubtless qualify a man to produce rose tinted sketches of this kind, and there certainly can be no manner of question as to the immense superiority of a merry Christmas in England to a muddy one on Balaklava's heights any more than of that of the smoking sirloin and tenderly fed turkey over Crimea's lean kine and fowls that refuse to be fattened. But there is no magic in wishes any more than in words, and it is to be feared that these prophets of peace underrate the Russian's tenacity and endurance. It is certain that his position is a difficult one, if, as is now the growing belief, he runs short of water and cannot get up supplies fast enough for the number of men necessary to hold his position. That such is the case we have evidence worthy of consideration, but which yet must not be unhesita tingly received, since it is chiefly that of deserters. Accepting it, for argument's sake, as trustworthy and positive, the enemy's only alternative is to attack or to give in. To get them to attack is just what is most to be desired. Setting aside the idea of a siege, we have two powerful armies, each occupying a line of extremely strong positions, not to be taken without severe loss and some risk of defeat. Evidently the disadvantage is with the army which is first compelled to as sume the offensive. The result of the action on the Tchernaya is sufficient proof of this. Since it occurred the defences of the point then assailed have been greatly improved by the French, who laugh at the idea of a similar attempt being made with even a shadow of success. An attempt on Balaklava or a general attack on our lines would be a strong indication that the statements of the straitened condition of the Russians are well founded, and that they are driven to a desperate effort. Such an attack, if our generals prove as able as we know our soldiers to be brave, ought to recoil with terrible force upon the heads of the assailants, occasioning them heavy losses of men, and giving us solid proofs of success in the shape of newly-acquired positions. Besides the reports current of approaching famine and actual drought in the Russian camp, there are others of the plague being in Sebastopol and of a mutiny having broken out, in I t,ion consequencethese as o m f e n r l e h y an flying hundredrumours, m h h i c a i l;e l b h e a e e s ho t. been I u n m a e b i le to trace to any trustworthy source. W,-tr..y, the left ...thane to advance. Several new batteries—one of 15 mortars —have been constructed in front of what were recently our most advanced positions on that part of the line. The Greenhill Battery, lately so prominent, now appears retiring into the rear. There was a heavy fire before daybreak this morning. The Russians showed them selves outside the Redan, but it was too hot to hold, and they promptly retired. To-day the batteries have been very quiet. MONDAY NIGHT. The ceremony of the Investiture of the Order of the Bath came off to-day between one and two o'clock. Sir Harry Jones was ill and unable to attend, and Lord Stratford de Redcliffe went to his quarters and invested him there. Lord Stratford, I think I mentioned in my last, arrived here two days ago, accompanied by Lord Napier, M. Pisani, Mr. Moore, Mr. Brodie, Mr. Allison, and by Dr. Tice, staff surgeon, as medical attendant. The place where to-day's ceremony came off was a square court in front of General Simpson's quarters. One side of the court is formed by the long, low building occupied by the English commander-in-chief, two others by stables and out buildings, while the fourth is open to the downs. This square, over which, a year ago, Crimean pigs and poultry grunted and crowed, glittered to-day with British and French uniforms, gilding, and embroidery. At the entrance to the house a sort of tent was formed of flags. Above waved the standard of England, flanked by the British ensign and French tricolour, and by the Sardinian and Turkish colours. The square of buildings was lined by another of troops—de tachments of Guards, Rifles, Line, Artillery, Cavalry, and Naval Brigade. From the side facing the house there ex tended a double line pf lancer sentries along a gentle slope, at the extremity of which guns were in readiness to fire the sa lute. Inside the square assembled a number of officers in full dress. Outside were other officers and a few civilians, among whom some ladies' riding habits were to be observed. Gen. Pelissier came in his carriage, with his staff, and other French generals were there. The corpulent person and dark com plexion of the French commander contrasted strikingly with General Simpson's tall, slender figure and white hair. When all were assembled the ceremony was proceeded with. Lord Stratford made a dignified speech, which acquired additional interest from the circumstances. He remarked on the unpre cedented nature of the investiture, occurring, as it did, almost on the ground where the services had been rendered and the exploits achieved for which the honour was conferred, and al most under fire of the enemy's guns. As he spoke the words a loud boom from the batteries gave peculiar appropriateness to his expressions and a dramatic interest to the scene. Sir Colin Campbell and Sir Edmund Lyons each spoke a few words in reply. The troops presented arms, the band played " God Save the Queen," the artillery fired a Royal salute, and then the force assembled, which was about 1,000 men, filed off, and the numerous groups of officers shortly left the ground. The pageant was favoured by a brilliant sunshine, tempered by a pleasant breeze, and could not have gone of better. Later in the afternoon we had a spectacle of a different kind, but, in its humble way, of a not less interesting nature. Soyer, the Regenerator, now the camp cook par excellence, opened his kitchens on the esplanade in front of the Guards' camp. A row of huge iron boilers supplied each one its dif ferent soup or stew, concocted entirely from the rations daily furnished to the troops. From the summit of a large marquee fluttered the French and English colours ; smaller flags waved gaily over the enclosure, which was formed by garlands of foliage. The guests, who were very numerous, paid due homage to the savoury cauldrons, the depth of which alone saved them from speedy exhaustion. There was no denying the excellence of the cookery. 5 o'clock is a hungry hour in the Crimea ; and I can answer for it that few of the guests contented them selves with merely tasting. General Simpson smiled approba tion of the skill of the French artiste, and General Pelissier seemed highly to enjoy his countryman's potage. A great number of persons were present. There were rice pudding and Cossack plumpudding (all rations), snug tents, with cham pagne, and the most crystalline of ice (not rations), and Soyer was voted, nem. con., the worthy chef of the army in the Crimea. To speak seriously, he will render real service if he teaches the soldier, as I understand he proposes to do, to make the most of the very excellent materials now supplied to him, and which hitherto have unquestionably been more or less wasted through ignorance of a few of the simplest laws of the gastronomic science. IBY ELECTRIC & INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPHS.,) LONDON, Monday Night. DESPATCH FROM GENERAL SIMPSON. The London Gazette contains a despatch from Genera Simpson, dated August 28th. He writes,—No new attempt had been made to force the Tchernaya. General Sir C. Campbell, with the 42nd, 71st, 79th, and 93rd Regiments now reinforce our extreme right. Fifty guns and the Cavalry are also in service. The 56th Regt. has arrived. The siege opera tions progress favourably. The enemy have completed the bridge from the north to the south shore, and use it. A considerable increase of troops is observed in the town. The weekly medical report shows a decided improvement in the health of the army. The investure of the Bath took place yesterday. Casualties from 24th to 26th August, inclusive :—Killed. 24 rank and file. Wounded : Brevet-Major R. Warden, slightly; Lieut. T. Bigge, 23rd, slightly . Major C. Higginbotham, 63rd, severely ; Capt. J. Brown, Royal Engineers, severely ; Capt. Hon. R. Drummond, Coldstream Guards, dangerously; Lieut.- Col. Seymour, Scots Fusilier Guards, severely ; Lieut. J. Laurie, 34th, slightly . Lieut. W. %us, 90th, severely; Capt. C. Arbuthnot, Royal Artillery, severely ; 6 sergeants and 137 rank and file. Missing, 2 rank and file. THE BALTIC. D, St. On Sund a y l as t , t h e Imperieuse and Colossus were h anch ep ored some seven or eight miles off Tolboukin Lighthouse, and, on a dense fog clearing off, they saw a Russian squadron, consisting of a 90-gun steam line of battle-ship, a frigate, two steamers, and some gun-boats almost close to them. They immediately pushed in to meet the enemy, when the Russian squadron ran into port. Th e t wo English vessels chased them right Snside Tolbollkin as close as they could go to the batteries, GLORIOUS TRIUMPH. THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL. OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM GENERAL SIMPSON. Lord Panmure has received the following tele graphic despatch, dated :--- " CRIMEA, 9th September. "Sebastopol is in possession of the Allies. The enemy during the night and this morning have evacuated the south side, after exploding their magazines and setting fire to the whole of the town. "All the Men-of-War were burned during the night, with the exception of three steamers which are plying about the harbour. " The bridge communicating with the north side is broken." The Admiralty have received the following tele graphic despatch from Sir E. Lyons :--- "During the night, the Russians have sunk all the remainder of the Line of Battle Ships in Sebastopol larbour." Lord Panmure has favoured the Electric Telegraph Company with the following telegraphic despatch, dated :--- " CRIMEA, 10th September. "The casualties, I regret to say, are somewhat heavy No General Officer killed. " The names shall be sent as soon as possible." CAPTURE OF THE MALAKHOFF. The Moniteur contains the following despatch, dated. Varna, Sept. 9th, 3.35 a.m.:— " The assault on the Malakhoff was made yesterday, at noon. Its redoubts and the Redan of Careening Bay were carried by storm by our brave soldiers with admirable intrepidity. We immediately occupied ourselves in lodging - ourselves there ; we succeeded in doing so at the Malakhoff. The Redan of Careening Bay was not tenable, owing to the heavy fire of artillery, which poured upon the first occupiers of that work. Our solid installation cannot fail soon to make • it surrender, as also the Redan, of which our b rave Alli es carried the' salie n t w ith their usual vigour, but, as was the case at the Redan of Careening Bay, they were obliged to give way before the enemy's artillery and powerful reserves. On ' beholding our eagles floating on the Malakhoff, General de Salles made two attacks on the Central Bastion. They did not succeed. Our troops returned to their trenches. Our - losses are serious, and I cannot yet send a precise return. They are amply compensated for, as the capture of the Malakhoff is a success the consequences of which are immense. The Globe says no further intelligence of the progress of the assault has been received, but news of the capture of the Redan is momentarily expected. The Central Bastion men tioned by General Pelissier is on the left attack in the direction of the Quarantine Battery. It would thus appear that Sebas topol was assaulted on four points, namely, in the Redan of Careening Bay on the right, the Malakhoff, the Great Redan, and the Central Bastion, and that on the second and most important of those points the assault was comparatively suc cessful. The advantage renders the fall of the Redan on each side a matter of comparative certainty. THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR. The Times' Paris correspondent writes that, before the ser vant had time to open the door of the carriage, an individual, who had been observed standing on the same spot for some time, advanced and presented two small pistols, but before he had time to discharge them into the carriage the police agents struck down his arm and caused the bullets to pass under the vehicle. THE FUNDS, STOCK, AND SHARE MARKET. In consequence of the announcement this morning of the capture of the Malakoff, English funds opened at an advance of is per cent., but, from the extreme paucity of business, fell during the day ; prices gradually receded, and close only * per cent. higher than on Saturday. Railway market tolerably active, and quotations show an upward tendency. Land. Bank, and Foreign Stocks generally supported. Canada Land done at 150 49; Great Western of Canada, 244- CLOSING PRICES. Consols, Account 9Ol 1 Bank Stock Do. Money 9O 1 &qr. Bills, L. & 5... 10 14 pm Three per Cents — Omnium FOREIGN STOCKS. Mexicans 2ll 2 Turkish (new) l# Peruvian Turkish RAILWAY SHARES. A calLorhnta,Vnttingliarn. and E. Junction t_nnao. ..ttripcheon, arid 44 South Coast 97 9 Caledonian Do. Preference Eastern Counties East Lancashire 72 3 Lincolnshire 24i 5 Edinburgh & Glasgow.. 53 5 Midland Stock Great Northern B7 8 North British 25 7 Do. A. 7l 3 Do. Preference 9B 102 Do. B. 124 6 North Staffordshire 7 64 Great Western Lanc.and Yorkshire Bl4 4 York, Newcastle, and Do. Fifths — Berwick Leeds Northern l2i 131 York and N. Midland.. 47 8 LAND SHARES. Australian Agricultural Peel River S. Australian Invest.... S out h A ustralian Crystal Palace On 'Change, Tallow, 58s. ; Spelter, £24; Linseed Oil, 445. 9d Sales of Cotton, 2,000 bales, at previous terms. LONDON Coax MARKET.—(From Kingsford and Lay's Circular.)—The supply of English Wheat was moderate, and met a quick sale at 2s. to 3s. advance on the rates of this day week. Owing to the indifference of holders to realise and the high prices insisted on, sales of Foreign were very limited, but upon the business done an improvement of 3s. upon Monday last was obtained. Barley ls., White Peas 2s. dearer. Beans and Grey Peas bring fully late rates. Oats met a quick sale at the prices of this day week. Top price of Flour 725. per sack, and Spanish brings an advance of 2s. to 3s. Nearly 1,000 quarters of White Mustardseed at market, and manufacturers not being disposed to pay the prices demanded, no sales were effected. ARRIVALS. English. Irish. Scotch. Fore:gn. 7342 15108 Barley Malt 9858 Oats 1289 Beans Peas Flour METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARRET.—Supplies large trade dull at reduced prices. Beef, 3s. 3d. to 4s. 10d ; Mutton, ; 3s. Bd. to ss. ; Veal, 4s. to ss. 2d.; Pork, 4s. 2d. to ss. ; Lamb, 4s. Bd. to ss. Beasts, 5,655 ; Sheep and Lambs, 29,760 ; Calves, 256 ; Pigs, 540. Arrivals :—Holland Beasts, 2,099; Ditto Sheep, 3,490; Ditto, Calves, 213; Ditto Pigs, 100, Spanish Beasts, 900 ; Scotch Beasts, 70 ; Cambridge, Leicester, Lincolnshire, and Northampton Beasts, 210. LONDON PRODUCE MARKET.—There is little business in colonial produce, but full prices are obtained for Coffee, Tea, Spices, and Rum ; also Sugar, which is held f or an a d vance. Rice active and rising. Cotton : sales are small, but there is no decline. Tallow firm, P.Y.C. 575. 6d. to 58s. on the spot : —Stock, 34,153 casks, against 30,826 last year; deliveries, 3,193 casks, against 1,250 casks last year. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE—MidIands, 68g. LEEDS STOCK EXCHANGE.—North British, 6k; Leeds Northern, ex No. 1, 3 prem. ; Midlands, 681 ; Eastern Coun ties, 10 7-16. - - 403 51446 AT THE BANKRUPTC Y COURT , yesterday, Messrs. C r ippi n and Forster, i. Commsszone r of the unsati s f ac t ory state of the balance sheet consequence geeq tle' case lvas further adj ourne d f or fi ve weeks. The other business possessed no p u bli c i nterest. th s e te,,e late nso lens,see on lessees of Rock adj ou F rn e e r d iy ias ca t z e n x e am up ination. before No NOVELTY.—At the Police-court, yesterday, Catherine h l el a u l l. twicei c n r gd o o ibs n ce e iel y na , r ca l a v eu l eg, o hwt as i had n s ae nt been warehousegt h a o i thirteen te onceienn Harrington-streettimes moref o c rotmhmreiettmedonathnsd, terday morning, ste a li ng corn. — John Mackenzie, who had been ten time s comm i tted and twice discharged, was also sent , , yes to gaol for three months, for stealing a coat from a cart going along Waterloo-road. "THE RUSSIAN WAR AND ITS RELIGIOUS ASPECT.'—Such was a portion of the title of a lecture delivered last night at the Hope-hall to a very meagre audience by a gentleman styling himself " George Bird, late rector of Cumberworth." Mr. Bird some time ago left the communion of the Church of England, on account of some peculiar doubts of his own respecting her religious tenets, and now does not profess to be anything in particular, having dropped even the accustomed garb of a clergyman. In his discourse last night, he com menced by saying that secularists maintained that the present war arose from religious views in respect to the Holy Places, and was influenced by the predictions of the Gospel. In con tradiction to this, he maintained that the " true" Gospel had nod o connection with s theuch matters of di s p ute as " Holy Places, " a that nof presenurches—Romanism Mor monism, Mahommedanism, Pratetantism, the Church of England, or any of the religious denominations —constituted a " pure" church. Further reference to Mr. Bird's views are unnecessary. INQUESTS YESTERDAY. —The following inquests were held before the borough coroner yesterday :---Upon the body of William James Haythornthwaite, seven years old, son of a wood hoop maker, residing in 18, Court, Uppe r M who, on Satu r d ay, th e Ist instant, was ed ann-street, by a com panion, when he f e ll. T he other fell over him, and when he got up, his arm was broken ; it was set by Dr. Bickerton, but inflammation of the brain set in, and the boy died on Saturday. Verdict : Accidentally killed.--On the body of John Thomas, a japanner and chess -table maker, who lodged with John Boddington, at 20, Finch -street. He had been drinking for a week, and was found dead in bed yesterdaz morning, according to medical testimony, from a P on f apoplexy, brought on by drink. Verdict accordingY; — i n l in Saturday Stanley Dock, who, while drunk about midnight .ng alongside, the body of Robert Creighton, of the ship Fairfield, on lying night, fell into the hold of the brig Diary, Y died o n t h e l way to the and was so much injured that a suspicion had been quarrelling, Northern Hospital. There was mate, Alexander Thorn, with whom he and he was taken into cuS had knocked him into the hold, deciding that there was no evidence to he that the second show tody, but the jury feeble oldwho lived e ' • a body of Martha Craig, .. MeWilham, a widow, in Duckinfield-street, her daughter, Ann . ks ago, in a fit of terror, she tried to run out of About five wee ~ of a shandy, in Brownlow-hill, and fell down and hurt the way herself so severely that she died on Saturday. Verdict : Acci dental death. tla.