The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-26 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 26, 18:56.] LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. N s B. HOESFALL, Esq., M.P., presented a petition on 1 evening, from the Liverpool Young Men's Christ ia n t, against the opening of places of amuse ment, &c., 44 ° 1 1 s-day, tLE BURGLAR AND HORSE-STEALER. -At the Petty sessions, on Wednesday, Mary Jones, who L' 4 t ll a Welsh accent, and is apparently about 26 years titi as committed for trial at the assizes on a charge of Cglariously entered the dwelling-house of Mrs. Eliza 'lueoake, a widow lady, residing at Low-side, and 6 0131 e bedding and other articles. She is also charged . ng into the stable at the house, and stealing a k L Ollthampton Chamber of Commerce have pronounced IV Local Dues on Shipping Bill to be bad in detail , Objectionable in principle, not being likely to relieve Ong interest from any burdensome taxation, while it neat, to a considerable extent, local improvements in ports and harbours, by removing local jurisdiction, eolg all power over to the routine and red-tapeism of vernment circumlocutioddePartment to be created { Board of Trade. iD SMOTHERED IN BED.—An inquest was held on 44 3', relative to the death of an infant, seven weeks old, ,John - Dacey, the son of a labourer residing in No. 8 Thomas-street, in this town. From the evidence of 'then it appeared that after getting up‘bn Wednesday , 41 t her husband's breakfast she placed the child in bed , 111 P his head and body with the bed-clothes. When 'et to him afterwards she found him dead. The jury 61 a verdict, " That the deceased was accidentally suf -1111 bed. 1!/ Caracu SCHOOLS. — Messrs. W. Barnes , J. D . q, and W. B. Jones, late pupil teachers at these schools, ! ° cceeded in passing the government examination at the and the former now holds a certificate of the l'islon of the second class, and the two latter third di of the second class. They have received appointments 3 following schools, viz.: W. Barnes, to Christ Church laiverpool ; J. D. Crosfield, to St. Thomas's Schools, Fli-street, Liverpool; and W. B. Jones, as assistant % the Wakefield Grammar School. ' l4l, ACCIDENT IN WATER-STREET. — An inquest was ~Tuesday, on the body. of Joseph Ashcroft, a labourer, who was-employed in pulling down the buildings at ' l %er of R um ford-street. Ou Saturday week, about st seven in the morning, he lad cut out some of the .at the bottom, to throw down the wall, which was six Ltifeet•high at that place, when the wall gave way and " 011 him. He had been told just before to leave off but continued until the wall fell. His legs were r T injured by the bricks falling upon them ; and he 1: 1110 ved to the N orthern Hospital, where he died on Y. Verdict, " Accidental death." 4 1 11 ' , Rom BURNE.—On Thursday, an inquest was held mg the death of Elizabeth, aged 42 years, wife of Paviei, carter, of No. 10 Court, Pall-mall. A fortnight i l l " deceased was' taken home in a state of intoxication, ° IIIY afterwards her clothes got on fire in her own ' When discovered by the neighbours she was in and had suffered severe burns. She was taken to the elf Hospital, and died there. The jury returned a h ' to the effect that -she died from the effects of burns, °IT her clothes caught fire there was no evidence to 41 D 4 ERBY GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting of the O'as held on Wednesday, the Rev. W. Badnall in the It , The Other members present were Siddeley, Medealf, kii ‘,sld, Batten, Pickup, Heyes, Pitts, Shaw, Roberts, twi`ra, Lunt, Edwards, Harrison, Whitby, J. Birch, „'es- The master of the hospital reported that the num- C , the establishment last week was 126; admitted, 6; ;',e'ged, 16 ; dead, 2 ; number this week, 114; correspond tn last year, 86. The governor of the workhouse reported Lye number in the house last week was 7 28 ; admitted, Oa, 2 ; discharged, 29 ; died, 1; number this week, 709 ; ,7Poiali ng week of last year. 785. The thanks of the I:27ere voted to Messrs. J. Baines and Co., for taking- a fed Lythgoe, in their ship the Donald, M'Kay, on the `alendation of -the governor. The governor was author- Purchase store pigs to the extent of £25. After the , ion of some routine business, the board adjourned. di t k. ti cilirrcrimar, AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—At the k, t Z. on Wednesday, in the Royal Institution, Colquitt- Or. Hay took the chair. Mr. Parker submitted some " 4 41 specimens of mahogany, and the Secretary handed , t (1, for inspection, panels of veneer work, exquisitely kpt, the property of Mr. Hausbarg, of Church-street. 15,a37 read a paper on a recent - trip to Scotland ; and sug -0 that the plans for the new building for the Library' P l 'anseuni to be erected on Shaw's-brow, should be judged ji t he,... competing architects, and that their decision should rt ''lng on the Tam Council. This suggestion led to con lvtipe discussion, and it was filially agreed that the matter. be submitted to a special committee, who would report next meeting of the society, and, if found agreeable to libers, a resolution would be forwarded to the Town t l t i requesting that dy to obtain the opinion of practical 'eta before they decided on any plan. ei„ --ca v. PILKINGTON AND ANOTHER.—This action was r .,on Wednesday, in the Court of - Exchequer, before the . Chief Baron and a special jury. The plaintiff sought to d e r damages from the owners-of the ship Shalimar, be 'lntg to the White Star line, for a breach of contract, by they undertook to convey the plaintiff, his wife, and from Melbourne to Liverpool. The breaches alleged by " , laintiff were neglecting to provide sufficient and whole tt!ood during the voyage, as advertised at Melbourne, for lag to employ a proper cook, and for a want of cleanli -01 the vessel. The defendants paid £l2 10s. into court ` l Pect of the first breach complained of, and traversed the ket 'breach as- to the second and third counts. After a of evidence had been adduced, from which it appeared e aad been a want of attention to the second and third ;,Passengers -on board the ship during the passage home, c ;' l '3' returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £37 10s., 4 4 1 the amount paid into court. 1 ' enRY-SOSTOM'.SWORKING-MEN'S ASSOCIATION.—About Arsons attended the tea-party in connexion with this as yion, on Tuesday, under the presidency of the Rev. J. aught, incumbent of St. Chrysostom's. The party was In the school-room, Mill-lane, Everton. Under the genial andthe rev. gentleman, aided by the performance of instrumental music, a few speeches from working to. and others, and poctie readings by the chairman, the 'ag' glided away harmoniously. In his opening ad tl, Mr. NNaught said that the sin of the people was not t t i heY had too much pleasure and enjoyment, but that they e things" pleasures and enjeyments which were not so at i i .4 ' ll t. cheysostom's Working-men's Association was este lipetld for the purpose of providing various amusement, com %4 With instruction, by. lectures, &c., for the working t ''' i . He was glad to see that there were a great many e 0 associations in the town, and that more were springing ~ a, all sides, and he heartily wished such institutions I , H nant success. '4 1 , 11 action brought 'by the Hon. F. H. F. Berkeley, M.P. ;,-,,,.„ 4 ..._e city of Bristol, to recover compensation in damages I' 4 Messrs: Beresford & Co., of Manchester, the publishers Il e • weekly temperance newspaper, called the Alliance, foe I,4'll,Bertion in that paper of a series of reflecting upon t e naractet of the plaintiff, came on fotrial in the Court of 4equer, on Tuesday. The plaintiff's case having been la 4 ed, Sir F. Thesiger, for the •defendants, said his clients doubtless exceeded the bounds of fair criticism, and had , ated to the plaintiff- improper , conduct, alleging that he °e gailty of collusion with the licensed victuallers, and ex -4t ,of partisanship in the discharge of his duty as a member I ltit ` a rliament. The defendants were not justified in making lA e assertions, and they felt bound to apologise for them, I I,Withde aw the imputations. The attorney-general, on be ef the plaintiff, accepted the apology, and the jury accord e7 returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages £5 ss. 1 -ver % - .. AGES or SEAMEN JOINING HER MAJESTY'S NAVY.— 1 e , 414. V. BAINES AND ANOTHER.— Dennis Hogan sued W hi g James Baines and Co., ship-owners, to recover iti, 'Ss. ld, wages due to him upon leaving the defendants' t, ? Lightning to join H. M. S. Fantome, at Port Phillip. the , ease until the return to this country of Captain Forbes, Ile,e Lightning, which was expected here in about two He said this could make no difference to the plain il:lnc, was not in this country himself at this time, and, as 1 / 4 kefence to the claim was that the men had been forcibly ket ' from the Lightning, by the captain of H.M.S. Fantome, f te l;ot that they had volunteered (as was stated in a similar th at before the court a short time since), his Honour thought the evidence of Captain Forbes would not enable the de test ats to support the case they set up, but he thought the t i „,ay would be for the defendants to pay the money into ter::, With liberty to apply for it to be paid over to the plain -1114,' be arrived before Captain Forbes, notice being given of k le aPplication. Mr. Forshaw consented to th and the t e u 7 ,, m as therefore allowed to stand over, subject to those -o ns . CI T • of kt 4 1 ' AND COME AGAIN.—A family residing at- the north g e r coi ki e O f Everton have been in the habit of keeping their sup :',7„,,, %i l l of " the staff of life" and " butcher's meat" in a small a„,.. 4 • o f,. IA tv ?tise in the back-yard of the premises. At thezommence sl"lfi k er ‘ of the winter the consumption of food in the family le 7 itf e ased to such an extent that the head of the house inquired 4 'ijeii th e l' i s " better half" the cause. She, good soul, supposing c e , ,I. etz : , their appetites had become sharpened by the cold weather, I s t 1 ,1 4,1 a rked that she would rather have extra food to buy than 6a t 1 2.4 li• 4 doctors' . e I vs sl o bills to pay. Thus the good man" was for a , 1 0 ai ii ki t , e t !ilenced. The consumption, however, still increasing, ',f V; k a c L 'elon arose that all' was not right. The loaves were C lath 'ed, and the "chops" counted. This soon revealed that did. o ;9 l 14f e el : 3 than the family partook of the " good things" in th . e to %and the larger half of a good-sized loaf disappearing in l?' W night the neighbourhood was searched, when the matter ' o tl' , i s ttally explained. Some hungry lads had been in the habit ~ ,,".1 ; rte'Paci_ling the yard wall, and had judiciously helped themselves , : r , O( k o t . putties" daily, varying their feed by occasionally taking 1,',, l ee of beef or a chop. So well had they done this, that ".; "',,i tit„ robbery would not have been found out had their appe ioe; ~s, kept pace with their discretion. The safe is now -I°- ",i'l ie L lelY" secured, and no one laughs more heartily at the ' - 00r 4 1, T s` than the injured "head of the house." . cox? kt 4 4 ? WIGAN MiLnowaruns..--Hrexon r. ECKERSLEY.— We ,to ki d `ne Exchequer Chamber, .on Wednesday, Mr. Baron r e tee' l'ele r son delivered the judgment of the court in this case, (~ 11'; i tlo i,k l eh was a writ of error from the judgment of the Court of 4 0 il ; ttb eel fs Bench. The defendant, together with seventeen I 000' th ir et raillowners carrying on business at Wigan, in Lance fie (Vekh a e, entered into an obligation by bond, binding themselves 0- - ( " 0 ka h , a penalty of £5OO each not to open their mills for a , 3 ,1 froi r tqi was months from the date of the bond. This under -et,aifo iil i 'gagreed to by the obligators of the bond for the ' 3s l l `fr yae k °Se of defeating certain societies or combinations Which 1 50° IN been formed with the object of deterring . persons other °' tf ) . ., 11 ,tr 0 ! !iri . Iling to be employed, by fear of social persecution, D e' ll 'le hiring themselves to work in such establishments. The P'il' Itk eu dant Contrary t 3 the condition of the bond, had opened L a t o,. ~ ~,, , -- ..., . 0. 5 g 4 1 ,4, 11 ,'," 1 , for which, it was contended, he was liable to the , ~.e h iv%relt tY of £5OO, he having contravened the condition of the ; 1 11, 11 We a. ,'• The defendant, on the other hand, contended that he ~,,t 1 $ er not liable, and that the bond was illegal and void, being I(lffo ° ,,lr 4 ,, e atraint of trade. The case had come before the court be ril o ap el e ; i ti etici on a demurrer to a plea, when the majority of •the court P o o l oth, _ed that the defendant was entitled to judgment, and that l iter P f elli e 'gild was void. With that judgment he, together with 5 00 (0 0 to N I , other learned judges who formed this court, fully cp- Do 0 ° Ita a t, as combinations of such a nature as this obligation , co; is tv. I ntended' to effect were illegal, and contrary to public e f lie . io, , th e ,.s', being in restraint of trade. If they decided otherwisf, f°3;ce v i hke, would be giving encouragement to combinations of this ic of • fr"re, which would have the effect of preventing persons alit c st * wardrrying on their business to their own advantage, and P e oll tei,Veprive the industrious workman of the means of ob , o.'y y th.z,u;, L ß a livelihood. For these reasons they were of opinion 1 ,„.,' -t ka t f,Lne judgment of the Court of Qaeen's Bench was right, iv must therefore be affirmed. —Judgment accordingly. 1 i Mio ll l actil 1 • aor! D" in ' acid thei ernes' p~i~~ ~z~ti es tv: eto - !ese / ref' , st3t e ' , S iA , ui 5 ter° .elfr . • [OO, we ,RS jr t' rt J 1 )f the of t:' I+. A $Oll Le3 4l ' j • 104 :110,1 t n t ro V i tho 1 i fp PTV; THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. ON Saturday week, a deputation of ladies - of the congrega gation of St. Matthew's, Hill-street, Toxteth-park, waited upon the Rev. T. W. Moeran, at his residence, Percy-street, to present him with new robes for his untiring zeal and attention to the district and schools, and the high respect which they have for him. The order was beautifully executed by Mr. Mogford, of Castle-street. SITE OP THE OLD BOROUGH GAOL.—An adjourned meeting of the inhabitant's of the north end was held, on Tuesday, at Bunbury's Vaults, Oldhall-street, to consider the propriety of memorialising the town council to - build a market on the site of the old borough gaol, in Great Howard-street. Mr. Eddie bury took the chair. The meeting was very . numerously attended. Letters were read from Councillors M`Guffie and Halhead, stating that they could not attend, from illness. — Mr. John Bunbury moved the following resolution :—" That in the opinion of this meeting, an excellent opportunity now presented itself for building a commodious market on the site of the old borough gaol, which is already the property of the burgesses, such a market being an accommodation much re quired by the inhabitants of the north end."—Mr. John Jones seconded the resolution.—Mr. Councillor Woodruff quite agreed that the north .end required a market, but he was doubtful whether the site proposed by Mr. Bunbury would answer the anticipations of the gentlemen present, as it was too near the one at present existing at the north end of the town, and he was doubtful whether any markets in Liver pool could support themselves. He knew that Gill-street market did not pay above one per cent. upon the cost. But if it was at all requisite for the welfare of the community that a market should be established at this part of the town, he should propose that it be built farther north. The resolution proposed by Mr. Bunbury was put and carried by a small majority. Mr. Amer proposed the adoption of a memorial to the Town Council (a copy of which was read). The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. A committee of management was appointed. A HARD VERDICT.—Some attention has been excited among commercial persons by an extremely hard verdict in a recent action, brought by a person who had taken a passage for himself and his wife in a ship from Jamaica, the captain of which entirely broke his' contract. The vessel was adver tised to sail " iu all August"—the captain expected it would be about the 10th, and promised to g ive the complainant three days' notice. The complainant; who had paid his £37, sold his goods and went into lodgings to wait for the expected summons. The captain never gave him any, and after long delay, the complainant heard that he had sailed to England, on the 3rd October, .without him. The complainant then came to England by the Atrato, and on his arrival sued the owner of the vessel for his expenses, amounting to £lOO. The owner, however, repudiated the contract, throwing it upon the captain, who merely offered to return the £37. An action was accordingly brought against the owner, and the result was that the plaintiff was nonsuitod. Although it was proved that the owner received 20 per cent. of the passage-money, the Chief Baron expressed a strong opinion that there was no evi dence against him. Such, at least, are the particulars gathered from the published report. If this be law, the wrongs to which passengers are likely to be subjected will be innumer able. In a vast majority of cases the master of a ship would be found to possess no property to reader it safe to bring an action against him, and if his owner be not responsible, there is no redress whatever. DOCK COMMITTEE. — The weekly meeting of this committee was held on Thursday; Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. The other members' present were Messrs. Shand, Palmer, Robin son, Brocklebank, Gladstone, Barker, Rounthwaite, Holme, Langsdale, Anderson, Rankin, Smith, Mondel, Lockett. On the recommendation of the sub-committee of works, hydrants, to be available in cases of fire, were ordered to be placed in the dockyard, and new warehouses in Wapping, at a cost of £350. A communication was read from Mr. Melly, requesting per mission to place two fountains at the north and south ends of Salthouse Dock, and others at convenient distances further south. The Chairman said there. could be no difficulty in ac cepting Mr. Melly's offer. Mr. Holme did not think that Mr. Melly ought to be called upon out of his private pocket to erect those fountains. He had proved. their value, and the fountains ought to be erected at the expense of the committee. A brief conversation ensued, which resulted in the chairman being deputed to see Mr. Melly, and ascertain his pleasure on the subject.— On the recommendation of the sub-committee for the marine department, the tender of Messrs. Wainwright Brothers to repair the Bell-beacon was accepted.—The harbour masters' sub-committee recommended, on the report of the surveyor, that the practice of allowing steamers to try their engines in the docks be discontinued. The report stated that the entrance to the Sandon Dock was choked by the mud thrown up, and if the practice were continued the entrances to the Sandon Graving Docks would be choked up and ren dered useless. Mr. Holme said it was a serious matter to take a new steamer into the river without trying her engines. It was another step towards forcing the trade from the port. . The Chairman did not think it was; it was a choice of evils. Mr. Brocklebank said, it was a matter of cost taking vessels into the river. The recommendation was confirmed.—Richard Jones was appointed a keeper or weighing materials, on the /recommendation of the master porters' sub-committee.—On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the salary of Mr. Ewart, for paying wages, was raised from £5O to CIO per annum.—After the general business had concluded, the sub ject of purchasing Hiibre Island was brought under consi deration. Some discussion took place, and it was ultimately agreed to purchase the island for a sum of £1,500. The island belonged to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who , effered it in the first instance for £l,BOO, but ultimately agreed to ac cept the amount above named. The Dock Committee paid a rental of £2O per annum for the telegraph station, subject to a penalty of £5OO in ease of default. Several thousand pounds have also been spent upon it for the accommodation of the Trinity Board. The purchase of the island by the Dock Com mittee was considered a desirable thing as affecting the port of Liverpool, and the bargain must be considered a highly :advantageous one. CHAAIBERS v. OKLET.—In the County Court,-on Thursday, Alexander Chambers claimed £l9 7s. 5d., wages due to him as an able seaman on board the ship War Cloud,nf which the defendant, J. B. Oxley, was the owner. The War Cloud, it appeared, had been in the transport service, and the plaintiff stated that on Saturday, the 29th of December last, while the vessel was in the Bosphorus, he obtained leave to go on shore for twenty-four hours, stating that he was going to buy some clothes which he should require for the voyage, but really having an intention to join her Majesty's naval service. Captain Fox, of the War Cloud, told him not to return to the vessel drunk, to which he replied that when he,came aboard again " he expected he should appear in a different aspect to that in which he stood then," meaning thereby to throw a hint of his intention to join the royal navy. H.M.S. London was then lying at the same place, and with a view of joining that ship, he stopped ashore till Monday. Having on that day joined the London, the captain's clerk applied to Captain Fox for the wages due to the plaintiff, but Captain Fox refused to pay the amount; upon which he was ordered to attend at Admiral Boxer's office, at Constantinople, at ten o'clock on the following morning, which he promised to do. On the following morning, however, he put to sea, and left the Bos phorus without calling at Admiral Boxer's office. Mr. For shaw, for the defendant, said the question involved a very im portant principle affecting the merchant service. The War Cloud was at the time in her Majesty's service as a transport, and was at the time• under sailing orders, and this .was known on board- The plaintiff applied for leave, and the captain gave him a limited leave, telling him he should sail the mo ment the wind changed. He applied only for a small sum of money for the purpose of providing himself with such clothes as he considered necessary for the homeward voyage. It was exceedingly improper for the captain of the London to take •the man under the circumstances. As the plaintiff had not .returned to the vessel atthe expiration of his notice, •Mr. For thaw contended that he had ipse facto deserted, and therfore forfeited the wages then due to him. His Honour saidthe ques tion was one of too much importance for him to decide upon his present impression, which 'was, that there' ust be no act of de sertion committed before the seaman joined her Majesty's ser vice, if he was to be free from the forfeiture of his wages. His impression was, too, that it was quite clear, upon the evidence 'before him, that there was a leaving of the vessel in the mer chant's service before the seaman entered her Majesty's ser vice. No doubt the words in the act were not that " the seaman shall leave and forthwith enter the naval service;" but 4 ` a -seaman leaving for the purpose of forthwith entering the naval service shall not be taken to have deserted." His Ho nour's impression was, too—and he only gave it as his im pression upon a matter of very considerable importance,: nd some difficulty—that the meaning of the act of Parliament must have been, not that men should go and commit the act of desertion, and then get out of it by going on board a vessel in her Majesty's service, but the carrying out of the intention, and before committing the act of -desertion relinquishing one service and entering another. That seemed to his Honour the meaning of the act of Parliament, but it was a matter of great importance to the merchant service, certainly. He would give the point his best consideration, and on that day week they could talk the matter over. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Wednesday, at Bury ; Mr. Thomas Dugdale in the. hair. The report stated that the receipts for the half-year showed an increase of £5,365 over the corres ponding period •of 1854, the mileage having increased from 811- to 93 miles, by the addition of the Clifton and Manchester and Southport railways. The gross receipts during the half year ending 31st of- December amounted to £158,111 ; the working expenses to £75,925; the interest on loans and pre ference shares to £40,216; leaving a balance ,of £41,969 avail able for dividend. The directors recommend a dividend at the rate of 3i per cent. per annum, leaving .£3 1 096 to be car ried to the reserve fund, which now amounted to £61,357. — The total expenditure of capital during the half-year amounted to £20,202. The capital account showed that £3,853,392 had been received, and £3,811,421 expended, leaving a balance of £41,970. The chairman said, although the conduct, charac ter, and morality of railway directors, as a body, had been openly impugned at public meetings, it was a source of plea sure to him to meet the proprietors of this railway, because he could confidently appeal to them for their approval of the policy of their board. He could not say that he had no dis appointment in not being able to present them with a larger dividend, The depresed state of trade in the East Lancashire district, and the dearness of food, had deprived them of a large revenue both in passengers and goods. The working expenses had increased during the last half-year by £7,604, as compared with the corresponding half of 1854. Locomotive charges bad increased by £2,045, principally through running 64,759 miles more than in 1854. Substantial repairs to locomotive engines had cost £1,187, and the price of coke, oil, and tallow had been raised, though the amount per train per mile was about the same. Coaching charges had been increased by £1,148. The accident at Summerseat had increased the claims for compensation ; but, notwithstanding the large goods traffic, the company had paid considerably less for compensation in this department than in the last half of 1854. Merchandise charges had increased by £1,035, because the goods traffic had increased by 12,559 tons, or £1,631, and the cost of materials and labour had augmented. The increase of a/o in the general charges was chiefly occasioned by advertising the Southport competition, and the increase in rates and taxes of £740 arose from the augmented poor-rates us the townships through which this line passed. In fixed charges there was a net increase of £1,337, the principal addition being the in terest on the new per cent. stock ; but since ,December, 1854, the fifths had been reduced from 6to 5 per cent. The loans on mortgage renewed during the last half-year amounted to £63,000, ra ther more than half being at 44 p er cent, and under, and in no case had more than 41 been paid, the average rate now paid by this company being £4 ss. ld., or VA. per cent. increase since June last. This company was now at peace, and had a friendly interchange of traffic wit h nil neigh bouring railways. Mr. Rosson expressed himself perfectly convinced that no railway had better prospects before it than this company. The resolution was then carried unanimously, the retiring directors and auditor were re-elected, dividends after the guaranteed rates were declared on the preferential stock, and after the rate of 3} per cent. per annum on the ordi nary stock, payable on the 4th of March, and £2OO was voted from the revenue of the current year, in aid of the company's benevolent fund. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and the directors. THE Ben Nevis has been chartered by Messrs. James Baines and Co., for the conveyance of about 300 government emigrants to Sydney. Mr. J. JONES, iron-ship builder, Sefton-street, has received orders for the construction of three large sailing vessels and a steamer from mercantile firms in this town. - - -- THE entrance to Birkdale Park,. from Southport, has been improved by a curved and elevated road over the river Nile, and a new church is projected near the railway station, for which nearly £BOO has been collected. KIRKDALE WORKING-31E103 READING-ROOM. — A lecture will be delivered this evening at St. Mary's School-room, Kirk. dale, by J. A. Picton, Esq., on " Paris, when the chair will be taken by Charles Turner, Esq. LONDON ARDNORTH-WESTERNRAILWAY. — Mr.Braithwaite Poole has been appointed General Traffic Manager by the Lon don and North-western Company. Mr. Carter, of Huddersfield, succeeds Mr. Poole in the superintendence of the business centreing in the Waterloo goods station at this port. ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH AGAIN.---COOKE V. HILLCOAT. —Another case, involving a claim for £2O 7s. 9d., by the Rev. Henry Cooke against the Rev. Dr. Hillcoat, incumbent of St. Matthew's Church, Scotland-road, was entered for trial on Thursday, at the Liverpool County Court; but a writ of certiorari, came down to remove it to the Court of Common Pleas. WRECK or A LIVERPOOL SHIP.--Information has been received, dated Lisbon, Feb. 9th, that the Maria, Captain J. H. Russell, of Liverpool, has been wrecked on the coast of Algarva, near Lagos, where she now lies. The hull still holds together, although the timbers are somewhat strained and open. In two or three days, should the weather continue fine, the whole of the cargo will, perhaps, be discharged, and there is a probability of the vessel being saved, and sent to Villa Nova de Portimao. - - - VILLAGE LECTURES AT WAVERTREE.—On Wednesday, the fourth of this interesting course was delivered at the Assem bly-room, Coffee-house, Wavertree. The subject was the " Arctic Regions and the North-west Passage, including some account of the expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin," by Mr. Edward Wevill, broker, of Wavertree. The assembly was numerous, and included many females, youths, and' working-men, for whose special interest the lectures were chiefly intended, admission being free. FREE LIBRARY MUSEUM.—The committee are proceeding vigorously in their endeavours to forward the erection of the new building at the top of Shaw's-brow. They have offered a premium of £l5O for the best, and £lOO for the second best design, the committee reserving to themselves the right to choose whichever design they may consider the best calculated to subserve the objects of the institution. The designs are to be deposited previous to the Ist of June, and artists are invited to compete from all parts of the world. MANCHESTER CHAMBER or COMMERCE.—A few days be fore the departure of Lord Clarendon for Paris, the directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce sent a memorial to his lordship, in which they-.referred to the neglect of the interests of commerce at the Vienna Conference of 1815, and expressed a hope that, during the coming negotiations at Paris, advantage would be taken by his lordship of any opportunity that might arise to increase the number of outlets for British ; commerce, and promote its interests in any other way. A reply promising most careful consideration to the suggestion has been received. LIVERPOOL SuiPowsrEns' ASSOCIATION.—A numerous meeting of the members of this association was held on Thurs day, at the offices of the secretary, Mr. Carson, Fenwick street. Mr. Graves, the deputy-chairman, presided, and, after some discussion, the association unanimously adopted a peti tion to parliament against Mr. Lowe's bill. The petitioners deny that the town-dues is a tax upon the shipping interest of this port, and point out the various works designed and ex ecuted by the corporate authorities, such as widening the dock approaches, building a landing stage, maintaining the em bankment at Wallasey, &c., which have, they say, contributed most materially to diminish the local port charges. LIVERPOOL CORPORATION ACCOUNTS.—An abstract of the receipts and disbursements on the Liverpool water account for the year 1855 has just been printed. From it we learn that 'the total income for the year was £73,373 7s. 2d., and the ex penditure £78,028 15s. 4d. In 1851, the expenditure also ex ceeded the income, but for the eight years, during which time the waterworks have been in the hands of the Corporation, the estimated income has been £520,863 16s. 10d., and the expendi ture £476,832 2s. 4d., leaving a balance in favour of the Cor poration of £44,024 14s. 6d. ; but after deducting £29,000, amounts owing to date, the nett balance of income over ex penditure for eight years is £15,024145. 6d. INSTITUTION FOR DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN. — The annual meeting was held on Thursday, at the Savings Bank, Bold-street, a great number of 'the most influential ladies of the town being present The Rev. Rector Campbell occupied the chair, and gave a detailed report of the operations of the society for the past year ; and appealed earnestly to the public to aid the committee in their anxious endeavours to find em ployment for these helpless females. It was stated that the class of applicants who have sought for employment at the institution have included the wives, widows, and orphans, not merely of artisans, labourers, seamen, and tradesmen, but of professional men of various grades and denominations, and even of the families of those formerly occupying the position of wealthy merchants in this town. The report was adopted; votes- of thanks were passed to the ladies' committee, and to the Rev. Rector 'Campbell for the services he had rendered to the society ; and, the chairman having briefly responded, the proceedings' terminated. RESIGNATION POI? THE LIVERPOOL Local MARINE BOARD. —The Local Marine Board last week resigned en masse. The causes which led to this event, which is likely to be productive of considerable hindrance to the business of the port, were pro duced, we believe, by the overbearing behaviour of the officials of the Board , of Trade, who refused to sanction the recom mendations of the local board relative to the salaries of some of their officers. At the same time that these ungracious refusals are conveyed to the elite of our mercantile body, the Board of Trade make no scruple to receive from them upwards of £3,000 a-year, not one sixpence of which is expended for the benefit of the port. A few months since the Board of Trade refused to ratify a recommendation of the Local Marine Board, till Professor Playfair, who was sent down at an expense which would have paid one year's salary of a local official, had made a special report on their application. Such official " fantastic tricks" will afford our readers an idea of what will occur if the town dues should ever be collected by the Board of Trade. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held on Thursday, when the medical officer reported that, in conse quence partly of the milder weather which prevailed from the 6th to the 16th instant inclusive, there -was a decrease of mor tality ending on the latter day. The:total deaths registered, which in theprevions week were 240, fell last week to 205, or 34 less than the corrected average of the same week of the pre ceding eight ; years. The deaths in the parish were 151, and in the out-townships 54. The law-clerk submitted a report of the sub-committee in reference to contracts for the removal of the refuse. The borough engineer had drawn up a report upon the subject, in which he stated that the present system did not work well in practice, and he recommended that the street sweepings and refuse be by separate-contracts, and that the committee have .a certain number of , carts, to be brought into requisition wherever the contractor fails in his duty ; also that the borough be arranged in divisions north and south. As to the removal of the night soil, he suggested that the con tract be in future for five years. The sub-committee made a recommendation founded on a report of the borough engineer, and that the tenders be advertised for accordingly. EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CASHIER.—A few days ago a reward of £2OO was offered for the apprehension of Mr. Robert Wilson, the cashier of Messrs. Brocklebank, merchants and shipowners, of Rumford-street, who has embezzled a very. large amount of money, the property of that firm. Mr. Wilson resided at Oxton, in Cheshire; he has a wife and ten children, and has been twenty-seven years in Messrs. Brocklebank's service. At the Police-court, on Wednesday, detective-inspector Murphy stated that he and •detective Kehoe went to No. 22, Plant street, Brunswick-road, where he apprehended Mr. Wilson in the front parlour. He found on his person one £6OO note, six £lOO notes, four L5O notes, twenty-seven £lO notes, forty-one £5 notes, three bills for £1,171, a bond for £905 (the value of some hemp lying in ewe of the warehouses of Messrs. Green and Taylor, which Mr. Wilson acknowledged having bought out of the money he had taken from Messrs. Brocklebank ); £209 10s. in gold, and-2s. 10d. in silver; in all amounting to £3,207 2s. 10d. Kehoe stated that he accompanied Murphy, and that when apprehended Mr .Wilson said "he was happier now than he had been for the last ten years, as he had con stantly expected to be captured and transported." Mr. Thos. Brocklebank applied for a remand, as he had not had time to look over his books to ascertain the amount of the prisoner's defalcations. A case was proved against Wilson ty Mr. Edwards, of Messrs. Littledale's, who had paid the prisoner £l,OOO on the 19th January last, and held his receipt. That money was not entered in the prisoner's books. He was remanded for seven days. LIVERPOOL DISTRICT PROVIDENT SOCIETY.—The annual meeting was held on Thursday, at the Savings Bank, Bold street. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Rector Campbell. Amongst those present were the Rev. Mr; Appleton, Rev, I. B. Monk, Rev. T. C. Cowan, Major Greig, Mr. R. A. Payne, Mr. J. Wagstaff, &c. The Chairman expressed his willingness to promote the interests of a society which had always had his warmest sympathies. He could only repeat his stereo typed lamentation that the society did such a small amount of good compared with what it might do if properly supported by the town. The object of the society was to place the whole town under the direction of visitors who live in the vicinity of the poor, and who might take charge of their tem poral interests and promote their temporal comforts. They found out their wants and contributed to both their comforts and moral interests by encouraging saving and industrious habits, and exercising a kind and charitable supervision over them. To carry that out perfectly they required from 1000 to 1200 visitors, and he did not suppose they had more than 300. The rev. chairman then alluded to the mischievous and unwise system of giving alms to beggars in the public streets, and strongly recommended the relief of the poor by means of the society's tickets, which procured for them provisions, and did away with the temptation of spending money in spirituous liquors. From the report which was read it appeared that there had been a sum £3,382 17s. Bd. expended during the year. A resolution having been adopted recording the grateful, feelings of the meeting for the active services of the visitors, the proceedings terminated with the usual compli ment to the chairman. THOMAS-STREET INFANT RAGGED SCHOOL.—The Commit tee, in their third annual report, just published, congratulate th e s ubscribers on the continued success of this school, and on the active, affectionate, and self-denying labours of the teachers. "An entry made in the visitors book, by a member of the London Ragged School Union, lately on a visit of inspection here, is especially satisfactory. It is to this effect— 1 have examined the children, and find they have a good knowledge of scripture facts and scripture doctrine ; their conduct also is good.' It is an encouraging fact that during' the year, ten of the children have been induced to attend one of our national schools ; this is working in the' right direction, and shows that education is valued both by the parents and children. The number of names on the books at the date of this report is 130, and the average attendance for each day during the year has been 114. The children came to the school with great regularity and pleasure, and we have only to regret our inability to take in more by reason of want of accommodation. There have been only 26 admis sions during the year, and 30 suitable cases have been reluc tantly refused, the school being full. The children continue to receive their one simple meal at mid - day ; and this meal is chiefly composed of rice, meat, bread, and vegetables. For the providing of this, the committee are responsible. A friend has raised a small separate fund for procuring a piece of bread for the children in the milling ; many of them doubtless come to school hungry. 67 of the poor children are living without the aid of an earthly father. It is blessed to believe that it is not the will of our Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish." The report appeals for in creased pecuniary support, and for donations of provisions and other useful articles. THE Cunard mail-steamer Africa, Captain Shannon, sailed for New York, about noon on Saturday, with the usual mails and fifty passengers. TUE annual examination of the children educated at the Welsh Charity Schools, Russell-street, takes place on Saturday next, St. David's-day. STABBING.—Two girls of bad character were quarrelling in Banastre-street, on Friday night, when one of them, Betsy Crawford, stabbed the other, Mary Anne Hunt , in the arm. The former was committed for trial, after an investigation, at the Police-court, on Saturday. - - • TnE 17th annual meeting of the Manchester Law Associa tion was held on Friday, when about 40 members dined to gether at the Palatine Hotel. Mr. William Beaumont, of Warrington, the president for the year, presided. 11r. Edward Banner, president of the Liverpool Law Association, and Mr. W. Radcliffe, honorary secretary, were present as a deputation. Sr. AIDAN'S Cuuncri, erecting on the Bootle-road, near to the North Docks, is fast approaching completion. It is a plain unassuming structure, of red sandstone, and, although so modest in outward display, will be found eminently useful to that thriving neighbourhood, where the want of a church is much felt by the inhabitants. -• DEPARTURE OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL.—The White Star ship Spray of the Ocean, 996 tons, Captain Slaughter, sailed on Friday, with the semi-monthly mails, for all parts of Aus tralia. She had On board a full cargo, and about 120 pas sengers —a full complement. The next mail will be despatched on the 7th proximo, in the Black Ball clipper Champion of the Seas, Captain M`Kirdy. FEMALE SH4LIFTERS.—Anne Mack, Jane Dagnall, Mary Williams, and Mary Killick, four notorious female shoplifters, who go prowling about the streets with baskets, were brought up at the Police-court, on Saturday, on a charge of stealing flannel from a draper's shop, in Mill-street. In spite of the energetic protestations of the prisoners, they were committed to prison for two months. OF the numerous petitions presented last week in the House of Commons, against government sanctioning the opening of museums and such like places of public amusement on the Lord's-day, was one signed by 293 persons engaged in the work of public instruction in the Liverpool day-schools, thereby representing many thousands of the rising generation. Lex:well OF AN IRON SCREW COLLIEII. — On Saturday, Messrs. Thomas Vernon and Son launched from their yard at the Brunswick Dock, the third of the fleet of screw colliers they are building for the Iron Screw Collier Company. On the present occasion the new vessel was named the Annie Vernon, by Mrs. John Vernon. She is about 600 tons burthen, and will be fitted with engines made by Mr.' Jack. IN the Vice-Chancellor's Court, .on Friday, the case of Mather v. Fraser came on for bearing. The plaintiff in this case was a mortgagee, and the defendant one of the assignees in bankruptcy of Messrs. John and William Barton, of Liver pool. The bill prayed for a foreclosure, and the question was what passed under the mortgage deed. A decision was given in favour of the plaintiff. . SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS. — We have pleasure in drawing attention to the collection of first-class engravings to be sub mitted by Mr. Branch for sale by public auction, at his gallery, Hanover-street, this evening. The engravings comprise an extensive number of subjects, from which choice selections may be made. There are also a number of beautifully-illus trated books to be submitted at the same time. INGRATITUDE. — At the Police-court, on Saturday, two elderly females, Mary Anne Hindle and Mary Keenan, were charged with stealing and pawning a watch, the property of Mr. James Riding, of Vauxhall-road. The prisoner Hindle, who had been employed, from charitable motives, by Mrs.. Riding, stole the watch from Mr. Riding's house, the other prisoner pledging it at Mr. Fairhurst's. The prisoners, who said that the watch was given them to pledge, were committed to gaol for one month each. ADDRESS TO CAPTAIN STONE.—Towards the close of the voyage home of the royal mail steam-ship Arabia, from Bos ton, a testimonial, numerously signed by the passengers, was presented to Captain Stone, expressive of their high apprecia tion of his talents as a commander, and stating their admi ration at his prudence and foresight in taking a more southerly course than usual to avoid the ice reported to be on the banks, a prudence especially displayed ou the 17th instant, when, in lat. 44 5, lon. 48 40, on encountering fogs and large fields of ice, he put about, regarding only the safety of his ship and passengers. •. 'TEE TEA DUTY. — Mr. Macartney has given notice for to day for a select committee to inquire into the circumstances attending the payment of the very large amount of duties paid upon teas, on the 10th day of April, 1855, by certain parties trading in the ports of London and Liverpool, and thereby evading the increased duties proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the budget the same evening, in order to ascer tain whether such parties were enabled to do so in consequence of previoui information, communicated by some person con nected with the revenue department of the treasury, and thus obtaining an undue advantage over others engaged in the same trade, and depriving the revenue of the increased duty. ON Friday, deputations from King's Lynn, the Hull Dock Company, Hull Trinity House, Newcastle, Liverpool, Dover, and the City of Dublin, had an interview with Viscount Pal merston. The deputation from Liverpool comprised Mr. Hornby, Mr. Tobin, Mr. Earle, Mr. C. Turner, Mr. Shand, Mr. Bold, and the Town-clerk. Mr. John Bramley-Moore, M.P., Mr. Horsfall, M.P., and Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P., and a number of the members of the house, accompanied the depu tation. Deputations from Sunderland, Bristol, South Shields, and North Shields, had interviews with Lord Stanley of Al derley and Mr. Lowe. Deputations from Dundee and Beverley had also interviews with the latter gentleman. LAUNCH or GUNBOATS. — On Saturday, Mr. John Laird launched, from his shipbuilding-yard in Sefton-street, two more of the steam gunboats he is building for the Government. These vessels resemble in every respect the Beacon and the Brave, lately launched at Birken head. The present vessels are named the Brazen and the Blazer. They are of 233 tons burthen, are built of wood, and are fitted with engines of sixty-horse power. The Brazen was named by Mrs. Schomberg, and the Blazer by, the lady of Admiral Grenfell. It is expected that they will get their steaurup to-day, and afterwards be towed round to Portsmouth. Mr. Laird launched yesterday, from his Birken head yard, another gunboat, and he has also two iron mortar tessels almost ready for launching. STRANGERS' FRIEND SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of this society was held at Mr. Beloe's offices, on Saturday. The accounts proved the gratifying fact, that whenever this ex cellent institution feels it needful to put forth a special ap peal, as in the early part of 1855, the public cheerfully and bountifully respond to the call, and enable the committee to distribute to the needy articles of food and fuel. If the dis tress in the town was almost unparalleled, so also was the liberality of the inhabitants, and, although the society has claims on its aid greater than the means at its command, the 'committee, 'confidently relying upon the liberality of their fellow-townsmen, do not hesitate to carry on their good work, wen the cases introduced will bear that investigation of the >visitors which is the peculiar characteristic of this society. LOCAL Ws.o ITEMS.—Her Majesty's steamer Hecla ar rived in the Mersey on Saturday week, and on Tuesday Her Majesty's war-steamer Geyser also arrived here. We believe that both vessels brought stores for the new gunboats which 'have been launched from Mr. Laird's building-yard. No fewer than five transports, representing nearly 10,000 tons, are being fitted out with all speed at this port, under the direction of Captain Bevis, the cleyer and energetic Admiralty agent. The vessels are H.M.S. Resolute and screw-steamers Jura; Oneida, Sarah Sands, and Bahiana. On Friday, a number of naval volunteers were sent up to London. On Saturday, the screw steamer transport Emperor arrived here from Glasgow. She will be fitted up, under the superintendence of Captain Bevis, for the conveyance of horses. The steamer Kangaroo is daily expected here from the Crimea. huitunsTs.—The following inquests were held before the Borough-coroner, 'on Saturday :—On the body of Duncan Cameron, a fireman, who died on Thursday morning, after drinking incessantly for a fortnight. He lodged with John M`Douald, a ship-carpenter, in Barmouth-street.—William Williams, 134 years of years, fell from the steps of Mrs. Evans' public-house on• Tuesday, and was carried to the Northern Hospital, where be died on Friday.—William Taylor, a ship keeper, fell from the Ellen Bates into the Stanley Dock, on Friday night, and, though immediately pulled oat and taken to the Dispensary, he died early on Saturday morning.— Catherine Ganghan, a child 22 months old, whose parents reside in Crosbic-street, was scalded by a pan of water Mir , over her on Friday. Though Dr. Bradshaw was in immediate attendance, she died on Saturday morning.—William Kirby, a plasterer, fell from, the roof of a house in Leeds-street, on Friday afternoon, and he was killed on the spot. He was taken to the Northern Hospital, when it was discovered that life was extinct. MURDER OF.A. SEAMAN.—About half-past four o'clock on Wednesday morning, the dead body of a sailor, named James House, from Bristol, apparently from 40 to 45 years of age, was found in a passage called " Baggin's-entry," running from Clement-street to Chiseuhale-street, in this town. The body was nearly naked, and there was a small " muffler" twisted tightly, round the neck. There were marks on the neck which left no doubt that death had been caused by strangulation. The body was removed to the dead-house, and the police, appre hended two men, named James Carr and Philip Wall,*on sus picion. Both the prisoners are described as duffers," who lire by defrauding strangers and others by sellng them goods in the streets and in the neighbourhood of the docks, under the pretence that the articles are smuggled. Both the men were dressed like sailors, and Wall is said to be an American. A woman, named Sarah Brennan, saw the deceased sitting on the steps of a house in Chisenhale-street, on Tuesday, about midnight. He was then intoxicated, and she tried to get him up, but failed. Just at this moment, two persons, dressed as sailors, came up, and, after looking a moment at the man, took him under each arm, saying, " Hallo, shipmate, come along." The:, then took him into a passage called Knight's-buildings. She did not follow them, as she then imagined they were comrades. The deceased was dressed when taken into the passage, but when his body was found he had on his trousers and shirt only. The prisoners were searched, and articles of wearing apparel, which were known to belong to the deceased, were found in their possession. A coat and vest which the deceased wore on Tuesday night were discovered to have been pledged 6n Wednesday, by the prisoner Wall, who Nk'as in the company of a woman at the time of pledging ; an ,d it was ascertained that the muffler which was tied round the neck of deceased, and with which he had evidently been strangled, was one that had been worn by the prisoner Carr. Other circumstances came to light tending to fix the guilt of murder as well as of robbery upon the two prisoners. The deceased, it appeared, boarded at the house of Mr. Bold, Denison-street, and left that place on Monday night, at eleven o'clock, well clothed. He was a seaman on board the ship Charles Napier, and was to have sailed on Wednesday morning for Hartlepool. A lengthy investigation took place before the coroner, on Thursday, when James Carr and Philip Wall were committed for trial on a charge of " wilful murder." FOREIGN ENGRAVERS. -- The admirable • productions of British professors in this department of art, have long been con sidered to surpass those of all continental artists, and to present specimens of perfect and inimitable beauty. A reference to our advertising columns will show, that Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. have produced, in a label, a specimen of engraving so beautiful and perfect, as totally to prevent counterfeit, and set the public on their guard against FRAUD and imposition as regards that indispensale appendage of the toilet—" ROWLANDS' MACASSAR 010 , RAPID CUER OF.COUGII AND DIFFICULTY OF BREATEING By D R . LOCOCK'S PULMONIC WAFERS.—Extract of a Letter from Mr. J. Haynes, of lisle, near Liverpool:—" was so much oppressed at my chest, liat when I lay down a coughing fit came on with such violence, that I have often thought I should not live to see the morning; but now I can sleep a whole night without coughing, after having taken only two boxes of Wafers."—Dr. Locock's Wafers give instant relief, and a rapid cure of asthma , cough, and all disorders of the breath and lungs. To singers and public speakers they are invaluable for clearing and strengthen ing the voice. They have a most pleasant taste. Price ls. lid., 2s. 9d., and 115. per box. Sold by all Medicine Vendors. , GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. CONSIDERABLE excitement was created at the sitting, on the 9th, of the Piedmontese Chamber of Deputies, by the pre sence of General de la Marmora, who was loudly cheered, and for several minutes surrounded by a dense crowd of personal friends eager to speak to him. HENRY CARVER, a carpenter, of Southwick, Wilts, attended a funeral at Road, on the 28th ult., and was returning home in the evening, in a state of intoxication, accompanied by a fellow-workman, named Smith, who offered him assistance. Carver refused, and the next morning was found.dead in a ditch. THE GREEK LOAN.—The amount of money paid out of the consolidated fond in 1855, for the interest and sinking fund of that part of the Greek loan which is guaranteed by England, amounted to £47,494, making a grand total of £698,734 since 1844. The Greek government has repaid £31,084, so that £567,649 remain due. SARDINIAN LOAN.—The total sums issued up to the 31 st of December, 1856, out of the consolidated fund, and advanced to his Majesty the King of Sardinia, by virtue of the act of the 18th of Vic., chap. 17, amount to £1,000,000, of which half was advanced in May, and the other half in November, 1855. The sum of £2,500 has been received from Sardinia on account of the sinking fund, at the rate of one per cent. per annum, leaving £997,600 to be discharged. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.—At the last meeting of the Farmers' Club, the following amendment upon a resolution less emphatic on the same subject, was adopted by a majority of two to one : —" That a system of agricultural statistics, car ried out on broad and equitable principles, would be of general advantage to the country; and that the present plan of taking the average price of corn is conducted in a manner so careless and inefficient as to imperatively demand some alteration." A FARM-LABORER at Hadnock, near Monmouth, has been committed to take his trial for wilful murder in putting a quantity of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol) into the cider-jar of a fellow-labourer named Tomkins, with whom he had some previous misunderstanding. Tomkins was very ill, but is now likely to recover ; immediately after swallowing some of the poisoned cider, he suspected the prisoner, and, on being searched, the latter was found to have a quantity of the poison still in his pocket. A VERY HANDSOME TABLE has been fitted up at the Foreign-office, for the plenipotentiaries to sit at during the Paris Cmiferences. It is covered with rich crimson velvet, and, together with the chairs, forms a handsome piece of fur niture. It was at first only large enough to accommodate eight persons ; but then Sardinia and Turkey had only one plenipotentiary each.' Since the decision iu favour of two, it has had to be lengthened, and now is large enough for twelve. A TRAIN left Doncaster for Lincoln at 6.20 p.m. on Friday. On approaching the Decoy-crossing, one mile from Doncaster, the driver perceived something on the line, which, on getting nearer, he found was a child, and at the same moment he saw its mother, Mrs. Gibbons, the gate-keepei's wife, cross over and run after it. The steam was turned off and the engine reversed as quickly as possible, but it was too • late. The mother had just seized hold of the child when the buffer struck them both, killed the child on the spot, and the woman was knocked down and injured so severely that there is no hope of her recovery. THE TITHE COMMISSION.—The report of the Tithe Com missioners for the year 1855 shows that they received 7,070 agreements, and confirmed 6,778 ; that 7,035 notices for mak ing awards were issued ; and that 5,625 draughts of compul sory awards were received, and 6,418 confirmed ; that in 12,196 districts the tithes were commuted by confirmed agreements or awards ; that 11,764 apportionments were received, and 11,754 confirmed ; that 628 applications were received for ex change of glebe lands, and 591 confirmed ; and that at the close of the year 14,007 distinct mergers of tithes or rent charges had been confirmed. MURDER IN PARIS. — On Tuesday morning, the Countess Caumont Laforce was murdered by her groom, who stabbed her with a pitchfork, in consequence of a violent quarrel he had with her. The countess was 40 years of age, somewhat encentric, and resided in the Avenue des Champs Elysees. The assassin made no attempt to escape, and gave himself up to the commissary of police. Another account, however, states that the countess was found strangled in bed. The discre pancy probably arises from the police refusing to give any information. Mr. FREDERICK ROBERT CHESHIRE, a schoolmaster, re siding at No. 5, Albert-terrace, Camden-town, was summoned before Mr. Tyrwhitt, on Thursday, charged with unlawfully beating a little'boy named Edward Walford, one of his scho lars. The beating complained of had been inflicted for some breach of the rules of the school. Mr. Tyrwhitt said there could be no doubt that the boy was beaten a great deal more than there could be any justification for. He should fine the defendant 20s. and costs. At the suggestion of the aomplain ant, the fine was mitigated to ss. and costs. AT the Court of Aldermen, last week, it was announced that the Lord Mayor's trumpeter was dead, and a question arose as to the appointment of a successor. Alderman Wire could not see that there was any occasion for filling up the place, and submitted a motion to that effect. Alderman Carter looked upon the office as one which made the civic processions more conspicuously and noisily ridiculous. Alderman Sidney said that to his knowledge the office of trumpeter was one of considerable cost to the Lord Mayor. Alderman Fairbrother said that, perhaps, it would be advisable not to throw up the office, insignificant as it was, without some little consideration. It was then determined that the office should not be filled up for the present. THE NEW LOAN. —According to the amended notice issued by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the payments on the new loan of £5,000,000 will be as follows :- 10 per cent. deposit, Tuesday, February 26. 10 per cent. instalment, Monday, March 3. 25 „ „ 37 Thursday, March 13. 25 „ „ 17 Saturday, March 29. 15 „ „ 77 Thursday, April 10. 15 „ „ „ April 24 On the funding of £3,000,000 Exchequer-bills they will be as follows 10 per cent. deposit, Tuesday, February 26. 10 per cent.. instalment, Monday, March 3. 20 „ „ • 77 Thursday, March 13. 30 ~ „ 77 Saturday, March 29. 20 „ „ 77 Thursday, April 10. 10 „ „ „ ft April 24. CHILD MURDER.—Mary Ann Jarrard, aged 21 years, had been for some short time in the service of Mr. Williams, 6, Beliuda-cottages, Canonbury-square, Islington, London, with out the slightest suspicion being excited that she was enceinte. Ou Tuesday evening, as usual, she went upstairs to dress, but, being a much longer time than was considered necessary, she was called by one of the family, who received for answer that she would be down presently ; but, not making her appear ance, another messenger was sent up, who, receiving no answer, and finding the door fastened, the family became alarmed, and had the door forced open, when a frightful spectacle met the view. A newly-born infant, of which she had recently been delivered, was 'found with its head nearly severed from the body, by a jagged gash extending from ear to ear round the back of the neck, and the unfortunate mother lay extended in a pool of blood, apparently lifeless. Mr. Clifton, surgeon, of Cross-street, Islington, was presently in attendance, and pro nounced life to be extinct in both cases. The opinion is that the unnatural parent died from exhaustion, consequent on the excitement caused by murdering her offspring, and having had no person at hand to render assistance in her weak state. The weapon with which it is supposed the dreadful act was com mitted has been found. It is a small penknife, which was open, and was discoloured with blood. A FORTUNATE MEETING.—A letter dated Malta, Feb. 13, says an act of great heroism was performed last week by the Rev. Mr. Robinson, chaplain to the forces. A Mr. and Mrs. Evans, with their son, a fine boy about eight years old, now staying here, on their return from Upper Egypt, were cross ing in a boat from Valetta to Vittoriosa, when the little fellow, in endeavouring to catch hold of a piece of stick, overbalanced himself, and instantly sank before the eyes of his parents. Mr. Robinson, who was following in another boat, seeing what had occurred, immediately jumped into the sea, and succeeded in:bringing him, apparently dead, into his boat. It was very rough and windy, and, as he did not take off his coat, he was completely exhausted. Mr. Evans, the father of the boy, feeling much gratified for what the rev. gentleman had done, sent him a check for £5OO, which was at once returned. But what makes the story the more romantic, but not less true, is, the two gentlemen who have so unexpectedly become acquainted with each other are rela tives and members, of branches of the same family, but, in consequence of differences which took place many years ago, they had not seen each other since their boyhood, and each was ignorant of the other's residence in the island until this angular introduction. Mr. Robinson will be satisfied with a medal from the Royal Humane Society ; and, if they make inquiries into the circumstances, they will find such an act of bravery as this deserves a good one. BURN'S COMMERCIAL GLANCE for 1855 has just been issued, and shows•the quantity of yarns and manufactured goods ex ported during the past year, as compared with the four pre ceding years. It appears that there has been an increase of 226,107,872 yards in the shipments of plain and printed calicoes over 1854. To the Hanse Towns there was an increase of 15,145,399 yards, to Egypt 13,235,123 yards, and to Turkey and the Levant 166,665,367 yards. Brazil, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, likewise took augmented qualities, while Buenos Ayres and Monte Video show a great decrease. India also shows a decrease, chiefly to Bombay, but China is ou the favourable side, owing to an improvement at Shanghai. To the coast of Africa generally there has been an increase, but the quantity to the Cape presents a slight falling off. 'With regard to the United States and Canada the custom-house returns are de ceptive, and prevent an accurate estimate from being formed. According to the figures, the British provinces again exhibit a decrease, and the United States a large increase, but a great quantity of the goods shipped from England to Canada go to Boston or Portland in Maine, to be forwarded thence by rail way, and are consequently entered at our custom-houses as for the United States. This practice should be remedied, since it completely destroys the value of the official returns. Mr. Burn mentions that some months ago the United States government sent instructions to their consuls in this country, that in the shipment of goods from the United Kingdom to the United States, it should be specified in the bill of landing whether they are actually for the United States, or for Canada "in transit," and there could be no difficulty in our custom-houses adopting a similar plan. TnE DANGER OF SUING AMBASSADORS.—On Saturday, at the Bloomsbury County Court, London, before Mr. D. D. Heath, judge, Henry Hammond, a discharged servant, formerly in the establishment of his Excellency the Ambassador from the Emperor of the Brazils, sued the Secretary of the Embassy for £2 10s., for wages alleged to be due. The plaintiff having stated his case, a messenger from the Embassy informed his honour that he had been discharged for - gross misconduct. The messenger then claimed the privilege allowed to ambassa dors and their attach 4, to which plaintiff demurred. The learned judge asked him if he was aware of the position in which he had placed himself by suing the representative of a foreign power in this country ? Plaintiff 'MS not aware of having done wrong, upon which his honour read to him the Act of Parliament, 6 and 7, Anne, wherein it is enacted, that if any party shall sue any ambassador or any attache - to an Embassy, duly accredited to the Court of the Sovereign of these realms, the Lord Chancellor has the power to order such plaintiff to be severely whipped. Plaintiff appeared horror struck at this unexpected piece of legal information, and, amidst much merriment in court, turned himself round in the witness-box like a tortured eel, looking as though he felt the first scratch of the Chancellor's " cat" on his back. He then_ muttered something in the shape of an apology, when his honour told him to go about his business, and kindly ordered the hearing fees, amounting to 6s. 6d., to be returned to him. Plaintiff, amid great laughter, skipped out of court to receive the money from the clerk's office, and expressed himself highly pleased at the termination of the case, and that the statute of Qinen Anne was not put in force. A TREASURY MINUTE, upon the subject of postal communi cation between England and the Australian colonies, has been published. The plan pr)posed is on au extensive scale, and contracts for five years are directed to be made. The com munication each way is to be monthly. A MEETING of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company was held on the 19th instant, and the report of the directors was adopted. The chairman said that he had every reason to hope that their vessel would be launched by August next, as Mr. Russell's friends would enable him to complete the contract. OCCUPATION OF TURKEY.—A telegraphic despatch from Berlin intimates that the allied powers and Austria are stated to have determined on a temporary occupation of the Turkish territory after the conclusion of the peace. This will be done with a view to guarantee the tranquillity of Turkey whilst the reforms in favour of the Christians are carried out. The Danubian principalities, Constantinople, Gallipoli, Adrianople, Varna, Trebizond, and Erzeronm, are named as points of oc cupation. Russia is to take no part in this measure of pre- caution. NOVEL BrEGLARY.—A singular burglary was committed at Genoa, on the night of the 11th, when a gang of thieves got into the sewers running underneath the streets, and following their intricate windings for some distance, at length reached a point just below the floor of a goldsmith's shop. Here they made an aperture through the arched roof of the sewer, and then in the floor above, and got access to the interior of the shop. Unfortunately for them, their ingenuity and perseve rance, worthy of a better cause, did not meet with an adequate reward, for everything of real value had been stowed away in another part of the house, and only a few gilt trinkets left in the shop. THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.—A small blue book, just published, contains further papers relative to the discovery of gold in Australia, in continuation of papers presented last July. These include Sir C. Hotham's despatches on the dis turbances at the goldfields, and returns from the goldfields. On the 23rd of July, 1855, the estimated population in the various goldfields of Victoria amounted to 102,644 men, 28,855 women, and 27,185 children—in all, 161,684. The amount of gold received at the gold-office, Melbourne, was, in May, 1855, 126,978 ounces; and in June, 236,327 ounces. The quantity of gold exported from the colony in May, 1855, was 132,715 ounces ; and in June, 235,213 ounces. THE CZAR'S HORSES.—A Hamburg correspondent, writing on the 17th instant, says :—At the annual horse fair.held here - last week, the principal purchaser was a stallmeister of the Emperor of Russia, who bought up all the serviceable carriage and riding horses, of the better descriptions, for the imperial stables at St. Petersburg and Moscow. He states that the usual complement of horses belonging to the Emperor is 1,500, but that, owing to disease and the severe work exacted from them during the last two years, the number has fallen off to nearly one half. He further states that, if peace is concluded, the ceremony of the coronation of the Czar will be performed at Moscow in the month of May. THE LATE MR. JO3lll SADLEIR, M.P.—We are authorised (says the Daily News) by the directors of the London and. County Bank to state that the late Mr. John Sadleir's trans action with the bank had ceased for some months past, and that no loss will therefore accrue to the establishment from his connexion with it. Considerable excitement has prevailed to-day amongst the shareholders of the Royal Swedish Railway Company, in connexion with the over-issue of shares, recently brought to light. An investigation into the company's affairs has been commenced by some highly respectable shareholders largely interested in the undertaking. A statement of its po sition will, we believe, be drawn up as speedily as possible, and laid before the proprietors at a public meeting. It seems to be placed beyond doubt that an extensive over-issue of the com pany's securities was fraudulently made by the late chairman, Mr. John Sadleir, M.P. IN the case of Croft v. Lumley, judgment was delivered in the Court of Error on Wednesday. There were two questions —whether there had been a forfeiture of the lease of the Opera house ; and, secondly, if there had been a forfeiture, whether there had been a waiver of it by the acceptance of rent. The court were of opinion that the three grounds set out as breaches of the covenant operated as a forfeiture; but the Queen's Bench had considered that the warrants of attorney which had been given by the defendant amounted to a for feiture, though afterwards waived. This court did not, how ever, consider that the executing warrants of attorney under the circumstances were encumbering the property so as to warrant a forfeiture ; they were given under compulsion, and were not voluntary, being given only to save expense and gain time. Therefore the judgment for the defendant Lumley must be affirmed. This decision will, doubtless, lead to the re opening of the Opera-house. THE RUGELET PoiSONING CASES.—Since the termination of the inquiries into the circumstances attendant upon the death of the persons for the murder of whom Mr. William Palmer has been committed for trial on the coroner's inquisi tions, much additional information, we are informed, has been obtained, and will be produced at the trial of the prisoner. In order that he may have every opportunity of knowing the na ture of this additional evidence, it is intended that the exami nation of the prisoner shall take place before the magistrates, on a day yet to be fixed, when the whole of the evidence will be gone into and the cases completed, for presentation of bills to the grand jury. The hearing will take place, we believe, in the county prison. We believe that the bill introduced into parliament for the purpose of removing such trials to the Cen tral Criminal Court, London, prepared with a special view to ' this case, has passed several of its stages in the House of Lords, without opposition.—Staffordshire Advertiser. THE LOCAL DUES ON SHIPPING.--On Tuesday, a special court of the Common Council was held in London, for the purpose of receiving and acting upon the report of the Con solidated Committee on the Local Dues on Shipping Bill in Parliament. Although the notice was extremely short, there was a large attendance of members. Mr. Woodthorpe, the clerk of the court, read the report. Mr. Wood said there was never an occasion on which it was more necessary to call the members together for the purpose of opposing au injurious principle. It was not because the Corporation of London was touched by the obnoxious measure, but he thought they were called upon to act for their brethren in Dover and Liverpool, and other towns which would be affected by its operation, The committee looked at the bill calmly and dispassionately, and they found that the non-compensating principle was its prominent feature, and then came to the unanimous conclu sion that it should receive the most vigorous opposition. THE ARmY ESTIMATES for the year ending the 31st of March, 1857, have just been issued. The grand total amount that will be required for the financial year ensuing is stated to be £34,998,504, against the sum of £28,670,497, in 1855-56, thus exhibiting an increase of £6,328,007. The sum of £32,758,280 is required for the effective, and £2,240,224 for the non-effective service. The items are thus distributed : viz., £10,950,398 for the land forces (246,716 in number) ; £3,150,129 for the embodied militia; £BB,OOO for volunteer corps ; £408,595 for the army works corps ; £169,026 for the war department; £22,791 for "head-quarters, military de partments ;" £514,141 for civil establishments ; £915,301 for artificers' wages ; £9,886,261 for clothing, barrack-furniture, &c., provisions, forage, fuel, and light • £4,371,165 for land and sea stores ; £ 2 , 044 , 069 for works andbuildings • £238,404 for the educational and scientific br anches ; £25,400 for re wards for military services ; £67,000 for the army pay of general officers ; £519,094 for the pay of reduced or retired officers ; £220,420 for widows' pensions ; £83,558 for pensions, &c. to wounded officers ; £ 32,096 for " in - pe nsions ;" £1,168,392 for " out-pensions ;" and £124,264 for superan nuation allowances. Of the sum voted last year, £13,718,678 was under the head of " army," £9,990,165 under " ordnance," and £4,961,654 under that of " commissariat." Miss P. HORTON'S ENTERTAINMENT.—Miss P. Horton's entertainment, "Illustrative Gatherings," which gave us so much pleasure at the Theatre-Royal a few months ago, is now attracting crowds to the " Gallery of Illustration," in Regent street, London. The Times, in noticing this entertainment, says—" At the mere indication of peace, Messrs. Grieve and Telbin have rolled up the beautiful series of views which, in creasing from time to time, formed a perpetual chronicle of the war, and have left the `Gallery of Illustration' to Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Reed (late Miss. P. Horton,) who repeat the well known entertainment entitled Illustrative Gatherings' in a region more western than has been hitherto attempted. A private performance took place on Saturday night, as a sort of prelude to the opening on this present Monday ; and the two old countrywomen played at once, the fal-lal young lady, who likes nothing, and who, by the way, takes part in a new duet, and the exquisite gentleman, with his faultless whiskers, and the perpetual simper that accompanies Win through the whole of a sentimental song, are found as amusing as ever. However, Messrs. Grieve and Telbin have not quitted the gallery with out leaving behind them a worthy mark of their talent. The accomplished lady is provided with a drawing-room scene, which is a luxury to look upon, even in an age accustomed to decorative elegance." Two of the most agreeable songs in this entertainment—" Under a hedge," and " The fairest of the fair "—have been published by Messrs. Cramer, Beale, and Co. MURDER OP A GlRL.—Last week, there was another murder in London. On Sunday afternoon, in consequence of, private information given, two police-officers were despatched to No. 18, Linton-street, New North-road, Islington. The officers were met by a young woman ascending to the passage, and a man, who came from a back parlour, whence, an instant beforq, the tones of a piano-forte were heard. The woman evinced a determination to oppose their progress, while the man stood by in apparent surprise. Finally, the inspector and his sergeant, having opened the door of a cellar, entered, and discovered, lying on her back, a young girl, about 14 years of age, her head nearly severed from the trunk, which lay in a pool of blood. The body was cold, and apparently had been dead some hours. When arrested, the parties gave the names of Celestine Som mer, 25, and Carl Sommer, 29. The female is an exceedingly pretty woman. She asserted herself to be a singer at St. Martin's-hall. The man is a German, and by trade an en graver. The prisoners were brought up at Clerkenwell on Monday, the principal witness being Rachel Mont, the servant, a girl 14 years of age. She stated that her mistress went out on Saturday night, and told her to go to bed. She, however, sat up making an apron. Shortly before her mistress returned home she put out the candle, and when her mistress came in she said, " Are you in bed, Rachel ?" She made no answer. Her mistress then went upstairs, and came down with a little girl. Mistress went into the cellar, and the little. girl stopped at the kitchen door. She said, "I am not afraid, but it is a strange place to me. I have not been here before." When they were in the cellar, the little girl said, " Oh, you want to murder me !" and called out " Murder !" several times. She afterwards said, "The devil will take you ; the devil will take you. You will kill me ! you will kill me ! lam dying ! lam " dying !" Mistress said,Hush," and I then heard a noise as if she was breathing hard. Mistress then put out the candle, came into the kitchen walked about, and said , " I will kill you. She came and lit the candle, and went into the cellar again, but I never heard the girl speak again. Master was out at the time, arid did not return until one o clock. She had seen the little girl once, and only once before, at her mistress's house. The police gave evidence that under a bed in the house had been found an old black gown with blood stains partly washed out; also a pair of stockings with spots of blood, marked with the initials of the female prisoner's maiden name, Celestine Christmas. The petticoat which the woman had on at her apprehension was produced. It was covered with blood. The magistrate said there was no evidence against the man, and he must be discharged. The female would be remanded for a week. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE CHASE. The CHESHIRE HOIINDS Will meet on ...• v .......- ____ Tuesday, Feb. 26.. Thursday, 28 . . Crewe Hall Saturday, Mar. 1 Each day at Half-past Ten o'clock. Sir W. W. WYNN'S HOUNDS will meet 011 Tuesday, Feb. 26 __Wood Gate Thursday, 28 .. . Friday, 29 Each day at Half-Fast Ten o'clock. "~