The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-25 00:00:00

June 25, 1844 CORRESPONDENCE. BIRKENHEAD DOCKS. t .O THE EDITOR OF 'f 7E LIVERPOOL STANDARD. proposal for building docks and warehouses at Bir- Xenhead having been sent to me, 1 presume, to induce me to become a shareholder in the contemplated joint stock ss eura PanY. I have, as became me, given it due considera "n• The first observation I have to make is, that the Proposals contain no name of reference, nor any sponsors, but are cast forth on the world as an unknown foundling ; and another is, that if the scheme was a good one, I think Tour own townsmen possess both discrimination and , _Wealth enough to ra i se t h e sum o f £400,000, without it *tin g necessary to apply to the capitalists of London. I "eye taken some trouble to examine the plans and the evidence adduced before the committee of the Commons, VI hope I sha 1 be pardoned if I make a few observe ."'Ons Upon the extraordinary misstatements which I find !Wintered through the " proposals" which have been sent to me, f or I am now old enough to know that those who Live fish to se ll, are anx i ous to advertise its freshness. The Proposals commence by showing the want of dock acc ommodation at Liverpool ; and this fact is, I believe, are admitted. But the Dock Trustees of Liverpool now before parliament to obtain power for the con struction of 42 acres of additional dock accommodation; and I recollect reading the speeches of Messrs. Evans and some time ago, who declared most emphatically _that when the Albert Dock and warehouses were corn -P..41Q. there wou ld b e a b u ndant dock room for some resra to come, and on this ground they opposed any dock 41St eesion at all, as utterly needless. If, therefore. those gentlemen are to be believed, and parliament sanction the c onstruction of 42 acres in addition to the Albert Duck, I g ar that docks at Birkenhead may not prove a very pro table investment, in the face of superabundant accom- Ettodation at Liverpool, with a power in the hands of the Dock Committee to reduce their dock rates one shilling a v w,e,. when ever i t may su i t t h e i r p ur pose to do so ; and "'eh will prob a bly take place so soon as the £ 400,000 is Convertedinto mas onry, and a return for the capital ex- Plied is begun to be looked for. £640 t in add i ti on t o th e s um now stated for docks,o ' 100 • • s wanted to form a warehousing company , or , Us the whole, a million of money ! I should not object to Subscribing to the plan if I could see any prospect of getting a return, but 1 confess that I am obtuse enough lot to discover the 10 per cent. of which the prospectus Vaunts. lam told that the merchants of Liverpool set their faces against warehouses managed by companies, and insist upon doing their own business, and thus opposed a clause in the Fire Bill giving that power to others which they declared should not go out of their own hands, and the clause was obliged to be withdrawn. I do not say that they were right in doing so, but I mention a fact to illustrate my assertion. It may be the case that warehouses at Birkenhead may oblige the owners of warehouses at. Liverpool to reduce their rents so as to meet the competition; but that reduc tion would make an awful difference in the per centage at Birkenhead ; and it. is probable that instead of it being 10 Per cent., it may prove to be like a la d y 's fortune, a g iven amount first halved, and the remainder divided by four. Much stress is laid on the contiguity of Liverpool warehouses to other buildings. Nov, that danger has been diminished by the alterations made and to be made by the late Fire Prevention Act, and when that act is 6111 7 carried out in all its spirit, the ravages of fire will be very limited. The charge of such high premiums by the insurance companies is for two purposes. Firstly, as a Corrective of the present system ; and, secondly, to reco ver the prodigious sums which they have lost. It is not, M I :nY opinion, reasonable to anticipate that mercantile Produce will be insured at Birkenhead for Is. 6d. per cent. the prospectus asserts. I have it from the best author ial here that cotton, upon which so much stress is laid, Will be followed wherever it goes by a high rate of insu ; and in Manchester the rates upon the insurance of cotton stowed in detached and fire-proof buildings has been raised from 'is. to 205., and yet your prospectus as sumes io your differential charges, Is. 9d! A contrast is drawn between the advantages of Birkenhead and Liver pool in reference to the cartage. Now 1 understand it is V v ae_ti that the car tage of all the produce imported into cr " 0 1, and usually warehoused, never yet amounted 0 0,000 in any one year. Spread this sum over the e ine of the goods, and the fraction is so diminutive that Can hardly calcul ate' it. Even cotton, a bulky article, is none for 2d. a bale, worth from £8 to £lO, and in nine eases out of ten 10 per cent. is absolutely deducted even am the 2d. Now, if you set against the cartage of goods ~,"Pense that might be incurred by lighters for convey "rtions of goods across the Mersey, and which will ave to b e done in assorted cargoes, I think the extra ex- Penises connected with Birkenhead will be greater than the cartag e at Liverpool. Besides, it is assumed in the Char ges for 1,000 bales of cotton. in all instances, that the cartage is the third length. This is a gratuitous assump tion. I am assured on go od authority, tested by former experience, th a t th e first length only is paid by the im porter, and the additional lengths invariably by the ware let:Rise-keeper. Exposure of goods on the quays to wea ther is one of the alleged objections to the Liverpool docks. Will, it is notorious that all the dock quays are surround ed with sheds, and that there is no exposure of any thing 'except timber, to the weather. And it is also notorious, that the Woods and Forests have tied out the Birkenhead Commissioners from erecting any thing but sheds and huts vas the margin of the tidal basin and three-acre dock, 'Which the bill, if obtained, empowers them to make. One is almost tempted to exclaim with the Frenchman, in re ference to the generality of prospectuses, " They lie like epitaphs." Pilferage - is another alleged evil deprecated in Liver- Pool. I deprecate it everywhere, and sincerely wish that there may be neither chicanery nor pilferage at the Bir kenhead warehouses ; but the experience of a life has *hewn me, that we have in general more to fear from the pilferage of our own servants, than from the professional thief who breaks our locks and carries away our sugar and coffee. Ido believe that the charge of pilfering at Liverpool has been much exaggerated. I have had some knowledge of the state of things both in Liverpool and London, and I unhesitatingly assert that the loss in weight on cargoes has been in general much less in Liverpool than it has been in London. Some time back a public • meeting was held at the Commercial Sale-rooms, in Min cing -lane, London, to take into consideration the best mode of redressing the grievances under which the coffee trade laboured by the loss of weight in their goods while under the charge of the various dock companies. The account is so remarkable, that I copy it for your informa tion from a newspaper now in my possession : " FURTHER SERIOUS LOSS, FROM PILFERAGE, IN THE LONDON DOCK WAREHOUSES. tie colonial On Friday, the 2'th ult., a meeting of those interested in colonial and foreign coffee trade was held at the Commer cial Sale-rooms, Mincing-lane, for the purpose of receiving a report from the committee appointed to consider the best means ;fora be adopted t o re dress serious grievances, to which the trade a lone period has been subjected. The chair was taken by sus. Edwards. The Chairman said that the committee had had interviews with the directors of the principal docks, who had promised even assistance in remedying the evil complained of. He m oved that the re p o rt of the committee be read. 114 e Hon. Secretary then read the following report soh in pursuance of the desires of the trade, they have "'" and obtained interviews with the directors of the East and Com panies, West India. the London. and the St. Katharine D ck Com- V ni es, and have laid before them statements of the losses con k:intl.!, sustained, in consequence of the delivery weights of coffee n g seriously short of the landing weights, on which payme n ts are rnade both for co ff ee and duty. They have also drawn the ....;rition of the several directors to the great d i screpancies h rre shown in the delivery weights, and have ventured to T.rl i reaS doubts as to whether such discrepancies can be solely the effect of natural causes. That the directors of the several dock companies have dared their readiness to act in any manner which may be il Uggested, in order to prevent such losses, and to exercise the G r eatest care and vigilance, so that de fi ciencies may not be the result of want of attention, or any other cause which such care and vigilance may prevent. That not any of the directors seem, however, to subscribe to the opinion that a n y o th er cause t h an t h at of a b sorpt i n by atmospheric influence has operated to produce the losses com plained of. " ' That, notwithstanding this conviction on the part of the directors, mctors, committee cannot b u t re t a i n th e i r f ormer op i n i on, cases usi show discretpaant the cies busin ess rite irreconcileable with lll M Uchc a o n) nc - n, andalso h of weighing and i tarring packages on l an di ng i s frequently carried through so hastily as not to ens ure proper security;o sufficient y s t rong to to the buyers ; and that many coffees are lauded i n p ac k ages bear further t rans it, and which the di rectors com panies state that th e y h ave no power t o of the dock t sanction of the importer s , which, as entailin g alter, b u t w i th the expense, i s rally withheld. gene- " ' EDWARD EDV7ARDS. Chairman. " ' JAMBS C. Qvlca, Hon. Sec. 21st Nov., 1842.' " Mr. Moffatt rose to move a resolution that the report be adopted. He expected no redress from the dock companies, and thought that government ought to be applied to, in order that the trade should not be charged on the landing weights. Re cently, in a parcel of fire bales of Mocha coffee, there was a loss of 531bs. One bale was deficient, in another purchase he had Made, of 271bs. " Mr. Chenery and other parties spoke of great deficiencies, that could not arise front natural causes. " The report was adopted. Condor had been thirty-two years in the trade, and in the last two or three years the decrease in the weight of bales Coffee had augmented. lie moved a resolution in favour of a pplying to the First Lord of the Treasury against the levying of the duty on coffee at th= landing weight. t t "T he resolution was carried. and the committee was strength tri seral parties of influence in te trade, to give weight P Ye P e r v esentation s to the governmen h t. sod t;i.kee Imeeting then adj." a n d d . : e n, therefore, you take for your model the docks e r f r ehouses of London, do not consider them to be tkeect. They are not, however, crammed with cotton, t ii .jours at Liverpool, nor as it is intended those at • `"ehhead should be : and yet such is the caution of the ins , ar a nee -offices, that they will only take a very limited ; and it is a fact the truth of which you may easily Eeertain, that a great part of the goods in the various ;Zion dock-warehouses is not covered at all. N r - ze,vg ant of classification at Liverpool is spoken of. M l am informed that the insurance regulations and ti _e Fire Prevention Bill are not only obliging classifica v.un• but actually compelling the alteration of existing -•ar e h ouses. acr e Prospectus holds out that the floating dock of 150 the tidal bason or harbour of 37 acres, and the of g e l! see., are to be constructed by the Commissioners te e .',Kenhead at an expense of £400,000. How the in % " of this outlay (which will probably be increase . d tv „ell the ork comes to be paid for) is to be raise , d, rated; nor is it for me to inquire. As the Crown 1 1 „'..tY takes all the land they make, and as the tidal d ' e [ r o,our will be non-productive, and will require a co u ag rle annual expense for sluicing and dredging, ma thaitn„ent, repairs of gates, locks, &c., I must assume t he interest will be paid by the ferry, the sale o f tv e VniP land, or by a tax upon the population. Which ever may be the case, it is clear that £20,000 a-year for ,_ta d o ust be su n k u pon forming a mere entrance to the a lg a 4 for it is a i bsurd to suppo dse that such a sum ce can d o l e ePea 150 acres of pool, an convert that spanto "• And yet the prospectus would lead one to sup- pose such was the case. This point ought certainly to be explained for the satisfaction of the public. The prospectus goes on to say, " that the land on the south side of the pool is admirably adapted for ware houses, and that the present possessors have given it up on terms exceedingly advantageous to the proposed com pany." I think those advantageous terms should be stated in figures, and I think also that it should be at a very low price, considering that the back land will be much " advantaged" by it. lam not a very good judge of the cost of building except by comparison, and I am amazed, I confess, at th' idea that 70,000 hales of cotton can be stowed for £70,000, including land, and the ex pense of a ship dock and railway in front, with canal in the rear, including all cranes and apparatus of every de scription. It takes a building covering 400 square yards, and 10 feet high, to hold 1,000 bales of cotton. The entire cost of such a building, including docks, canal, railway, cranes, ay., must only at the estimate cost £l,OOO, or £1 per bale. I have compared this with se veral buildings executed by public competition for some railway companies, and I find that (setting aside docks and canals) those buildings have cost a greater sum. On this head, however, I will not enlarge. 1 subjoin a table of the probable cost of warehousing 1,000 bales of cotton, at Liverpool, and also at Birkenhead, giving also the statement I find is the prospectus : " PROSPECTUS," AS PUT FORTH. " Expenses upon Looti bales American cotton from ship's side, including six montl:s' warehouse rent and fire insurance, and delivering same to carriers, with probable charges for doing the same work at Birkenhead. Liverpool. Birkenhead. £. s. d. X. s. d. 35 0 0 k xempt 12 10 0 Exempt 20 16 8 10 0 0 81 5 0 80 0 0 138 15 0 7 10 0* 37 10 0 37 10 0 25 0 0 10 0 0 350 16 St 145 0 0 s. d. Dock rates Cartage 3rd length Porterage, weighing, loading, and 1 ghting. sd. per bale W”rehouse r per bale per wk. Fire insurance, 6 mos. 275. gd. per ct. Canvas, twine, porterage, weighing, and mending, at gd. - Charges forwarding from warehouse to carriers, 6d. pa bale " Liverpool charges on I,AOO bales of cotton fcr six mon' hs, say Birkenhead charges, say '32 1 8 185 0 0 ;0 0 0 iD 0 0 " Saving 0f.... 8200 0 0 on every 1,000 bls. " The import of cotton in 1843 was 1.500,000 bales. " * The premium on goods in St. Katherine's Docks in ware houses not fireproof. is is. 6d. per cent. for 6 months, being at same rate as charged above. " t In addition t the above Liverpool charges of .e 350 16s. Ed., town dues are payable amounting to .e 8 6s. Bd. The Bir kenhead Bill has a clause seeking exemption from them." PROBABLE RELATIVE COST. Liverpool. Birkenhead. Dock rates on 1,000 bales of a. d. 35 0 0 7 1 8 Cartage Porterage, we'ghing, &c., (wages being the same on both sides of the river, the book of rates not being the Gospel) Warehouse rent, id. per bale per wk. Insurance in an altered or fireproof warehouse. where porterage is done by a warehouse-keeper, 20 per cent. on XB,OOO 10 0 0 8J 0 0 80 0 0 20 0 0 Forwarding charges s. d. Exempt (qy.) Do. ID 0 0 80 0 0 80 0 0 15 0 0 The difference being £47 Is. Bd., which is supposing full dock rates to be paid at Liverpool, and none at Birken head, and supposing too that there is no extra cost of transit at the latter place. If, however, there are to be no dock rates at Birkenhead, and no reduction of ware house rents in Liverpool, then it must be admitted that the contemplated scheme will be the cheapest by £47. But who is to guarantee such unlikely circumstances ? I have only to add, that if I could see that I was likely to obtain 10 per cent. (I throw the contemplated 164- per cent. to the winds), I would certainly have a slice of such a tempting dish. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, AN OLD MERCHANT. London, June 19th, 1844. WOOLTON FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL MEETING. We have had great pleasure in noticing—and that ex clusively—the meetings of the Wootton Floral and Hor ticultural Society since its commencement some years ago, and in marking its rapid advancement in utility, evinced by the increased number and beauty of the va. rious productions brought up on each successive anniver sary. The society—which gives encouragement not only to the surrounding wealthy cultivators, but to the cotta gers—originated in the praiseworthy exertions of several gentlemen of the village, whose names we have already recorded, and immediately obtained the patronage of the gentry, clergy, &c. of Wootton and the neighbouring townships, as well as of several of the promoters of the peculiar and higher branches of culture embraced in the rules in our own town and elsewhere; and it is gratifying to remark, that our early prediction that it would " go on and prosper" has this year been further verified by the additional extent and excellence of the exhibition, and the improved arrangements—alike creditable to the growers and to the " management." The show of the present season took place on Thursday afternoon last, in a spacious marquee, of double the di mensions of that used in former years—it being forty yards in length; and for this a new and much more ap• propriate site was chosen than the timber-yard immedi ately below the church, formerly resorted to ; namely, the upper part of a fine enclosed grass-field, higher up the road. on its opposite (and east) side, nearly opposite the mill, and commanding a fine prospect of Gateacre v a ll ey' and the richly wooded country towards Prescot. Ihe en trance to the ground was decorated by an arch formed of evergreens. The interior of the tent was handsomely or namented with evergreens and flowers in devices and festoons. The company, though numerous, was not nearly so great as it would have been had the weather been more propi tious. The forenoon, and, indeed, up to about three o'clock, was showery, with an appearance of continued rain, which deterred considerable numbers from attend ing. Among those present were—Henry Ashton, Esq., Woolton Wood, and family ; the Rev. R. Leicester, incumhent of the parish, and family ; the Rev. Dr. Shep perd, Gateacre ; William Gilgeous, Esq., Belle Vale, and family ; Robert Proctor, Esq., and family ; Mrs. Foster ; Thomas Rodick, Esq., and two daughters; Robert Ro dick, Esq. • Thos. Rodick, jun., Esq. ; Edw ard Jones, Esq. ; Richard Alison, Esq., &c., &c. The exhibition, consisting of choice plants, fruits, vege tables, &c. was admitted by all to be superior to any one of the society's that had preceded it, in the number of ex cellent well-grown plants. Amongst those from the stove-house, " in flower," was a fine specimen of the Stepanotus Flora-bunda, with laurel-looking leaves, and fine wax-like star-shaped white flowers—trained round circular wire-work, and about three feet in height. A. lily, " Lilia Excilia," with beautiful large flowers, sent by R. Alison, Esq., was much admired. There was also a fine Zebra plant, with large leaves variegated in stripes of light and dark shades of green. A greenhouse plant, in flower, the " Clematis Leibaltii," produced by H. Ashton, Esq., was a fine specimen. A " Tripiola Tri colora"' a species of nasturtium, trained on a flat circle of wirework, and bearing numerous flowers of three colours, attracted much admiration. Amongst the " curiosities" of the collection, was a branch in a pot of the " Aristolo chia Hyperboria," a twining plant, (native of the Hyma laya mountains,) with sea-green leaves, (folia cordalus glaucus) and bearing a number of remarkably-shaped spreckled flowers—a modification of the leaf. This plant, which grows to a length of twenty-five or thirty feet, is curious and rare, and from the brightness and transpa rency of the stems and foliage, is highly ornamental; but it constantly emits a gaseous effluvium, by no means grateful to the n 'sal organs, and in contrast with the de lightful aroma of the stands of roses amongst which it was placed, in joke or by accident, excited considerable mer riment amongst those who closely approached it. A slight alteration of the Scottish motto under the thistle would be an appropriate warning in this instance—" Nemo me impune propinquet." It was sent by Mr. Nickson, from the gardens of John Blackbume, Esq., Hale Hall, and considerable anxiety was evinced to obtain cuttings for propagation. The same gentleman sent the best or chideous plant, a very fine specimen. There was a goodly show of pelargoniums. One, in full rich flower, from Ambrose Lace, Esq., Beaconsfield, was at least four feet across at the top. Some of those sent by the cottagers were also highly creditable to their skill and industry. The roses, both cut and in pots, were fair : of the former, a stand of eight, sent—but not for competition—by Mr. H. Moss, of Aigburtb, (gardener , Mr . Manly,) was d r cidedly thb richest in bloom. Mr. Moss is a highly success ful cultivator of this queen of British flowers; and though we observed no moss-roses amongst them, they were all his own " Moss"-roses. We saw some fine Cape Heaths, but cannot particularize. The fuschias were more than commonly splendid and numerous, particularly some of those sent by Mr. Gilgeous, (who was peculiarly success ful in many departments,) and Mr. Ashton, (amongst which shone the " Venus Vintrix. ) The calceolarias were the finest grown and most beautiful we have ever seen in this locality, especially those sent by Messrs. Davies and Co. ' of Wavertree Nursery. The whole col lection was much admired. Of the baskets of miscellane ous plants, and baskets and devices of cut flowers, we can but say that all were rich, beautiful, and most tastefully arranged—referring to the list below. The show of pan sies was limited but good. Some of the finest were sent by Mr. R. W. Preston, and Mr. Manly, but not for com petition. The fruits shown were not towing to the early season of the year) in large quantity, but excellent of their kinds, particularly the strawberries, each of which would have been a mouthful for an alderman. The grapes, (black, sent by Mr. Phythian,) were also good, as were the pine apples and the melons. A dish of fine apples, and another of pears, were sent by Mr. Ambrose Lace. T he gosaidose berries were superb in size, and the same may of the currants. The vegetables were all of prime quality, particularly the early potatoes (kidneys, &c.), the rhubarb (of giant size), the peas ' and the autumn-sown onions, which l ast presented large firm bulbs like those of the superior spring sown. There was no lack of fine lettuce. The articles sent by the cottagers evinced much im provement in the cultivation of useful vegetables, flowers, and window plants ; and the whole exhibition, which was enlivened by numerous airs throughout by Mr. Fileen's much-improved " Woolton band," gave the greatest sa tisfaction to all who witnessed it, amongst whom were many of the working classes, admitted after five o'clock at. half price. We owe our best acknowledgments to Messrs. Rim mer, Richardson, Wainwright, Smith, Hamer, Dr. Lamb, and others of the committee, and also to the judges, for their attention in furnishing us with every possible information. The following is a corrected list of the prizes : PLANTS AND FLOWERS.—Stove Plant, in flower-1, Mrs. Fos ter ; 2, H. Ashton, Esq. ; 3, Mrs. Foster. Greenhouse Plant 1, H. Ashton, Esq.; 2, Mrs. Foster; 3, Messrs. Davies : 4, Mrs. Jos. Ashton. Pelargoniums—i, Ambrose Lace. Esq. ; 2. Mrs. Foster ; 3, Mrs. J. A shton. Cut Roses—l, Messrs. Davies ; 2. R. Procter, Esq. Roses in Pots—Mrs. Foster. Ericas—Messrs. Davies. Device of Flowers—H. Ashton. Esq. Basket of Cut Flowers-1, H. Ashton, Esq.; 2, R. Alison, Esq. Basket of Plants-1, Mrs. Foster; 2, R. Procter, Esq. Calceolarias 1, Messrs. Davies; 2, D Pansies -1, Mr. John Molyneux ; 2, Do. Orchidenus Plant —l. Mr. Nickson. Hale; 2, Pattison Ellames, Esq. Fuchsias—i, W. Gilgeons, Esq.; 2. H. Ash on, Esq. Hardy Shrub in Flower-1, H. Ashton, Esq.; 2, Do. Herbaceous Plant-1, H. Ashton. Esq. • 2, Do. FRUITS.—Best Fine - 1, 8.. Alison, Esq. 2, P. Ellames, Esq. Black Grapes-1, Mr. T. Phythian ; 2, Do. Cherries—Do. strawberries-1, Do. ; 2, T, Rawson. Esq. Apples—A. Lace, Esq. Pears—Do. Gooseberries-1, T. Rawson, Esq • 2, W. Gilgeous, Esq. Currants-1, Mr. T. Phythi an ;2, W. Gilgeous, Esq. VEGETABLES.—Cauliflowers -1, W. Gilgeous, Esq.; 2. Henry Ashton, Esq Cabbages—A. Dunlop, Esq. Turnips—Mr. Geo. Toogood. Carrots—K. Alison, Esq. Cucumbers-1, Mr. John Molyneux ;2, Do.; 3, Do. Lettuce—H. Ashton, Esq. Early Peas-1, R. Alison, Esq, ; 2, Mr. J. Mohneux. Beans—Thos. Rawson, Esq. Early Potatoes-1, W. Gilgeous. Esq.; 2, Do. Mushrooms-1, J. Crostnwaite, Esq.; 2, Mr. H. Blunt. Rhu barb-1, T. Rawson, Esq ; 2, Do.; 3, Mrs. Foster. Autumn sown Onions-1, J. Crosthwaite, Esq. ; 2,.W. Gilgeous, Esq. . . EXTRA Pumas —Greenhouse Plants—Mrs. Foster and Rd. Alison, Esq. Stove Plants—R. Alison, Esq., and Mrs. Joseph Ashton. Baskets of P ants—H. Ashton, Esq., and Mrs. Joseph Ashton Calceolarias—H. Ashton, Esq. Strawberries—Mrs. Joseph Ashton. Celery—W. Gilgeous, Esq. Cabbage—Mr. H. Blunt. COTTAGERS' PRTzES.—Window Plant in Flower-1, William Hill; 2, Samuel Thorpe. The following are the names of the gardeners of the principal successful competitors (not seedsmen) Henry Ashton, Esq., James Daniels; Mrs. Foster, John Reid; Mrs. Joseph Ashton, John Hislop; Ambrose Lace, Esq., John Houlgrace ; R. Procter, Esq., Thomas Makinson ; Richard Alison, Esq., Joseph Hill ; P. Ellames, Esq., Thomas Wilson ; W. Gilgeous, Esq., John Leech ; F. Rawson. Esq., John Green ; and J. Crossthwaite, Esq., Daniel Hodgett. Mr. John Molyneux, who bore away all the prizes for cucumbers, as well as several others, is a cottager. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. TARVIN HALL SCHOOL. The public examination of the pupils educated at Tar vin Hall Schools, under the superintendence of Mr. John Brindley, took place on Thursday week, in the presence of a most respectable company of ladies and gentlemen; amongst whom we observed the Rev. T. S. Bowstead, Vicar of Tarvin, and Prebendary of Lichfield ; the Rev. S. Cragg, M.A. of Oxford, now resident in Liverpool, and formerly clergyman of the parish in which Mr. Brindley held the appointment of Head Master of the Oldswinford Hospital Endowed School ; and many of the parents and relatives of the scholars. The examination papers both in classics and mathema tics, were of a very high order—resembling rather those of a College in the Universities, than such as are in general use at less pretending educational institutions—and had been worked up by the pupils in a manner which did great credit to their own abilities and industry, as well as to the attainments and capabilities of their masters. On this occasion the proficiency of the young gentlemen was tested by questions proposed by their tutors—each master conducting his own department—and by some of the visitors present ; when the facility and accuracy with which passages from the Greek of Homer, Thucydides, and Eu ripides, and from the Latin of Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Livy, and Ctesar's Commentaries, were read and trans lated, excited general admiration. An examination in the Greek Testament, St. Mathew xxvi. was after wards conducted by the Rev. S. Cragg, M.A. and the result was highly gratifying. An English examination, to illustrate the degree of attention which is given to Scrip tural instruction, was conducted by Mr. Brindley, the subjects being the parables of our Saviour, as narrated in the Gospels of St. Mathew and St. Luke. The pupils then adjourned to the spacious play-ground, where they went through their drill exercises ; after which both visitors and scholars sat down to a cool col lation, which was served up in the Lecture Hall, with the most hospitable liberality. "The health of Mr. and Mrs. Brindley, and prosperity to the Tarvin Hall School, " having been proposed as a toast, was duly honoured ; the enthusiastic cheers of the boys giving a pleasing assurance of the cordiality of their attachment to the Principal and his amiable wife. _ _ The dormitwies and all the school premises were then inspected by the visitors, who were unanimous in their ex pressions of approval to the regard of health, cleanliness, and comf, rt, with the whole of the arrangements exhibited. The examinations were again resumed, when recitations in Greek, Latin, French, and German, were respectively spoken by the pupils, with marked "emphasis and discre tion, " evincing an evident appreciation of the beauties of the several compositions, from the Medea of Euripides, the /Eneid of Virgil, La Fontaine's "Le paysan du Danube," the poems of Schiller, and other German author s. Ex aminations in Geography and English History followed ; Arithmetical and Mathematical problems, worked by the scholars, were submitted to the notice of the company, with every facility for testing the acquirements of the pupils : the mode of Book-keeping taught in the establish ment was explained and illustrated by sets of mercantile books and correspondence, which the boys are instructed to manage; and the specimens of which, as well as those of Writing and Drawing, were highly creditable; some of them. indeed, were admirably executed. Medd, of Stockport, was again at the head of the Clas sical and French departments; Sprague, of London, was first in Mathematics; Silvester, of West Bromwich, and Gaussen, of Magherafelt, Ireland, in German; P. Moore, Birmingham, in drawing; and Vernon, Willington, in book-keeping and surveying. It was stated that 500 marks had been fixed upon as the greatest number that could be obtained for the principal mathematical paper. Sprague obtained the full marks, having worked out every proposition without an error. Vernon's set of books, by double entry, and the ground plan of Tarvin Hall, with the outbuildings, gardens, &c., surveyed and drawn on a scale of the twentieth of an inch to a foot, were most creditable performances. The examination being ended, Mr. Brindley delivered an address with much eloquence and feeling, during which he described the progress of his establishment, his method of management, the qualifications of the different masters engaged, the nature of the studies pursued, and the domestic economy by which the institution was regu lated. He thanked his friends for the support which he had already received; and stated that he was now in a state to carry out, in every particular, the course of in struction detailed in his original prospectus. _ . . In the course of the afternoon, George Harrison, Esq., visiting surgeon to the establishment, made a viva voce report to the visitors assembled in the Lecture Hall, of the sanatory condition of the Institution, which he described as having been remarkably free from disease; a circumstance which he attributed to the domestic trea - merit of the boys, and the salubrious locality of the school. The company and pupils, at the close of the examina tions, re-assembled at the tea-tables, and having partaken of the social repast, the natonal anthem was sung ; after which the party separated, expressing their warmest ap probation of the proceedings in which they had been en gage 1, and their decided satisfaction at the manner in which the educational and domestic arrangements at Tar vin Hall are carried into effect. Tarvin, our more dis tant readers may not be aware, is a pleasant village, about five miles from Chester. The Hall has a front elevation 113 feet in length. The School buildings, which are de tached, are 130 feet in length, and consist of a Lecture Hal! and Refectory, 40 feet by thirty, and 30 feet high ; four class rooms, each 20 feet square, communicating with each other; and a Gymnasium about 40 feet by 30. These apartments open into a spacious play-ground which has a southern aspect, commanding an uninterupted view of Beeston Castle and the picturesque scenery of the Cheshire and the Welsh hills. There are also fields and gardens attached, to which the pupils have free access, a swimming bath, and every other convenience suited to a large educational establishment.—Chester Courant. EXHIBITION AT THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION. The third polytechnic exhibition that has been got up by the active managers of the Mechanics' Institution in this town is already on view, although little more than a week has elapsed since the examination of the pupils of the schools took place in the rooms, prior to their being " let loose" for the summer holidays. When the great accumulation of works of art and science, curiosities, mechanical and other models, and wonders of various kinds, arranged within the walls within so brief a period, , is taken into account, the meed of extreme industry and celerity of movement is due to tile directors and to the men under them, who mu s t h ave t o il e d n i g ht an d d ay to pour done.ng in, Additional ao d pro . b übiy wilwill continue contributions o f t m o ü b c r h in h g a t s ho ye w t h t o o lo be w d o o rk ne to in oo t in he . i eit e sn a shi l tgiw d hl l e ht p dat a ato r i l t ciy m so m e n e t P letiOn ; the catalogues, too, (which cou ld not well b e v a fmo c a U c o oh e t l af are prepared sooner) have yet to be printed, so that to at tempt a detailed account at the present time would be somewhat premature. We have not ourselves, moreover, yet had an opportunity of taking more than a cursory glance at some of the more attractive portions of the ex tensive exhibition, but from what we have seen we can confidently recommend it to the public as furnishing a most interesting lounge for a few hours, and that too at a comparatively moderate expense. We shall institute no comparisons between its general merits and those of the previous exhibitions at the same place ; for this is a ( p eg . tion which, according to the various opinions of individu a l s and their peculiar turn of mind or of study, will resolve itself into a matter of taste. Suffice it to say that a sight of the multitudinous works, artistic and mechanical, is worth far more than the money , a nd we doubt not but many even of those who do not avail themselves o f sea son tickets, will soon, through themselves and friends, make up the difference to the treasury by repeated visits. In one room we noticed a great number of beautiful models of engines, machinery, ships, &c., and also a su perb papier male bed-stead—the head and foot-boards beautifully painted and varnished like the finest modem specimens of tea trays. We thence found our way into the Egyptian and Eastern curiosity room, in the centre of which stands a splendid Burmese carriage, or coach of state, captured, we believe, from a prince, and which in gorgeous and quaint decorations leaves far behind the state carriage of our metropolitan Lord Mayor. It is surmounted by a gilded erection resembling the top of a Chinese temple ; is panelled and glazed all round ; studded with knobs of bright metal; has very light well made wheels, and is extremely curious in all its details. The walls of the same room are covered with the veritable casts in plaster of Paris of Egyptian pictures and por traits, the figures raised in basso relievo, and coloured, taken by the celebrated Belzoni himself from the originals. These we understand were recently redeemed from ob seurity and decay, having been found amongst the lum ber of a cellar in London. They are considered very valuable, and they are certa"nly curious as conveying the pictorial taste of the remarkable people who produced them. We thence, moving on, found ourselves within the mazes of a labyrinthine grotto and cavern, snowing at several points, right and left, as we proceeded, a series of wonderful pictorial illusions, formed in recesses, — namely, a mountainous view of the Tyrot ; the basaltic caverns of Fingal, in the Western Islands of Scotland ; an excavated Indian Temple ; the Isle of Elephanta ; the Catacombs of Egypt, a blue cave ; the Isle of Capri ; and coral islands and grottos in the Sou'h S •as. These are all very beautiful, and, apparently, faithful resemblances of the wonders and beautiful scenes they reprosent. The light (gas) is admitted from the roof, but the flame is in visible to the spectator, and thus favours the illusion. In one of them the sun is shining forth, and sparkles brightly on the gently rippling waves. The basaltic co lumns, and rocks of the caverns are admirably thrown out ; and the views above ground are painted in a de licate and masterly style. The pictorial part is the work of Mr. Johnson and Mr. Parker, of the Theatre Royal, and the mechanical part by Mr. Wilmore. Descending from this curious labyrinth (the whole of which, together with the views, though intricate, and ap parently of great extent in the perspective, is constructed within a room only 28 feet long !) we reached a still more extraordinary and unexpected scene uhicn occupies the whole of the lower preparatory school—a Glaciarium, or Alpine Winter Scene, surrounded on three sides by pines and other trees, coated with apparently real snow, and with a frozen lake of artificial ice, on which numerous skaters were busily and rapidly moving in all the evolu tions of their art, while some were here and there gather ing themselves up after a fall—the whole forming a most amusing mele, in no respect different from what may be witnessed during a severe frost on St. Domingo though in an apparently more northern latitude. The pond is surrounded on one side and at the ends by fir trees and palings " of the same," with a walk for the spectators, which was much crowded ; and in the distance at the further side rise in pictoral illu&ion piqued and snow-clad mountains, with straggling and stunted fir trees in the hollows. One could scarcely believe but he was in a frigid region in the depth of winter, but for the high temperature of the place, the exuding drops on the fore heads of many present. convincing them that they were at home in the warmth of June. There is an inclined plane covered with the same glassy material, and down which several of the more adventurous skaters " precipitated" themselveawith great velocity, making,with the impetus ac quired in the descent, nearly the whole circle of the pond. Not a few, however, fell heavily at the bottom, and in their pain probably exclaimed, (if they were scholastic.) " facilis eat descensus ad-." The ice is, we learn, formed of bisulphate of soda, or salts; is very hard, and when first laid down was smoothed with joiners' planes. It cuts with skate irons precisely like common ice, and a man is employed to sweep off the snowy particles. The surface is renewed every morning with a slight moist coat ing of the material, and then again presents all the ap pearance of the real thing itself, and has apparently all its slippery properties. From " the Alps" we visited the 12 Cartoons in a " higher latitude." These were selected as of superior met it, from the recent exhibition at West minster Hall. They are very large, and embrace a variety of historical subjects—British and Foreign. The Plague in London; the Execution of Wallace; King Alfred re ceiving prisoners; St. Augustine (we believe) impressing upon King Alfred the beauties of Christianity ; Boadicea ; and Nos. 6 and 7 (the subjects of which we could not re cognise) are amongst the best, but we have not yet eat, mined the whole with attention. They are certainly one of the greatest attractions in the exhibition. At the top of the staircase are some beautiful carvings of game, fish, fruit, foliage, &c., in box-wood and apple-tree, by a London artist, so finely and minutely cut that they appear to be exquisite castings. In the picture gallery there are some good specimens, though the collection in this and the drawing department is scarcely equal to that of the last exhibition. Amongst them are M'Clise's fine pic ture of "Snap-apple, Night," which, though an early production of that artist, is quite Hogarthian in character and humour ; and Beard's celebrated Slavery picture. When we add that there is an egg-hatching apparatus, a model of a coal-mine, numerous models of locomotives, &c., a vast collection of curiosities and antiquities, auto graphs, dissolving views, a powerful galvanic and electric apparatus, statuary, processes of various manufactures, a fine diorama, a series of concerts, and in the yard a diving-bell (in which visitors may descend to the depths of a large reserioir), &c., &c., we need say no more to induce a visit to the exhibition. LOCAL NEWS, DOUGLAS REGATTA (ISLE OF MAN).—This regatta, fixed for the 26th and 27th, is attracting great aitention. The Isle of Man Steam-packet Company very handsomely take all row-boats free of freight. NEW FERRY BOAT. —On Sunday week, a beautiful new steamer, called ' The Prince," commenced to ply on the Woodside Ferry. She is constructed on the improved principle of having a rudder at each end. - - BAZAAR.—It is stated that the receipts at the bazaar for the Roman Catholic Magdalene Asylum at Wootton considerably exceed £l,OOO. The bazaar was held, last week, at Lucas's rooms. IMPORTATION OF AMERICAN ICE.—A large vessel ar rived in the Mersey, on Sunday, with a cargo of ice from Boston, intended, we understand, for Lynn's Waterloo Hotel. An ice-bonse, built on the American plan, has been constructed for its reception. DESPATCH.—The packet-ship Ohio, Captain Lyons, from New York, with a cargo of cotton, docked on Tues day last. The lumpers commenced discharging the cargo on Wednesday, and finished their task on Thursday, hav ing discharged 2555 and 20 tons of ballast in the short space of 23 hours. ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.—On Tuesday morning, about half-past twelve o'clock, as three men were warp ing a vessel, called the Yorkshire, into Coburg Dock, the vessel came in contact with the boat, and smashed it into pieces against the pierhead. The men were thrown into the river, but providentially saved by some men who were on the pier at the time the accident occurred. FOREIGN FRUlT.—During the last few days there has been a very large importation of cherries from France, which has been the cause of much plenty in the London markets. They are of quality quite equal to the English, and realize 4d. to 6d. per lb. The present season is most redundant of gooseberries, and there was, on Wednesday, a large supply from the east and from the Isle of Ely, which sold at 2s. per bushel, out of which is. was paid for carriage, besides commission, &c. THE OTHER £lOO NOTE ROBBERY.—Edward Atkin son, of whose previous remands we spoke in our last, on suspicion of stealing a £lOO note from Mrs. Heywood, of this town, and which he alleges to have received from a gentleman at Doncaster, was brought up again, on Tues day, and remanded to Thursday. On the latter day he was discharged, and immediately after apprehended on a warrant at Manchester, charging him with a conspiracy. He was taken to that town on the charge in question, and set at liberty, we believe, on bail. SEVEN-IN-HAND.—On Sunday afternoon the Waver , tree omnibus was driven through Castle-street, Lord street, &c., on its way to Wavertree, with seven horses in hand. The turn-out had a gay and somewhat singular ap pearance, in consequence of the reins being of broad scar let binding. This material, being very light and easily affected by the wind, frequently got tangled, and the driver bad some difficulty in keeping the heads of his horses in the right direction. The machine consequently proceeded slowly. On Wednesday last, at the Court of Bankruptcy, Mr. Sergeant Ludlow threatened to commit William Page Ward, grocer, of Byrom-street, unless he produced cer tain deficient leaves in his account-books. The case was adjourned until the following day, to allow the bankrupt to do so; but, instead of complying, he sent a letter to the Commissioner, stating that he did not attend to ap pear. The Commissioner had no alternative but to issue a warrant for his apprehension. The bankrupt has ren dered himself liable to transportation. HEROIC CONDUCT OF A. BOY.—About four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, as a boy, named Herman Theo •dore Hintz, about thirteen years of age, was fishing from the steps at the Brunswick pierhead, he accidentally over balanced himself, and fell into the river. A young sailor boy jumped into the river, and made a rope fast round Hintes body, by which be was hauled on board a boat, He was then taken to the South Dock Station, and with the assistance of Drs. Cameron and Harbord, he soon recovered. DEATH FROM TAKING LAUDANUM.—On Saturday last, an inquest was held by H. Churton, Esq., at Bebing ton, on the body of a child fourteen weeks old, named Charles Turner, and who had died from the effects of an over dose of laudanum. It appeared that a day or two previous the child had been taken ill, when the mother sent to a neighbour, who is in the habit of taking lauda num, for a dose. The neighbour, not knowing it was for an infant, sent a dose sufficient for a grown person. This was administered to the child, and it fell asleep imme diately afterwards, from which it never awoke. Verdict accordingly. BURGLARY IN CLIFTON-PARK.---On Friday morning, at an early hour, it was discovered that the house of Mr. J. M`Murdo, timber merchant, of Liverpool, who resides at a villa in Clifton-park, had been robbed of a gold watch with its appendages, a time-piece, a gold brooch, a purse containing five sovereigns, and a set of gold shirt studs. It appears that the party had entered the house in the early part of the evening, during the absence of the family, and concealed himself until after they had retired. The gold watch was taken from a pocket over Mr. M'Murdo's head, and the other articles from the bed- MOM. SAVAGE ASSAULT.—On Thursday, Ellen Pentony, whose face bore evident marks of violent ill usage, ap peared at the Police-court to prefer a charge against Louisa Shephard and Richard Lilley for a violent assault committed on her person on Wednesday last. Complain ant stated that she went to the house of the female prisoner to ask for some money she owed to her, when some alter cation took place, and she (Pentony) was struck both by Shephard and Lilley in a most brutal manner, having received five or six cuts on the head, and two on the cheek. They were each fined £5, and in default of payment to be committed for two months. BIRKENHEAD JUVENILE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.— This society was formed three years ago, for the purpose of affording temporary relief to the deserving poor, by supplying them with food and clothing. Small sums of money, amounting to £4O, were collected, and placed in the hands of the treasurer, £36 of this had been dis tributed in relieving the poor, and defraying the necessary expenses of the society, leaving a balance of £4 in the hands of the treasurer. Since April, 1843, the sum of £l3. 10s. 7d. has been received, and, during the same period, 248 applicants have been relieved, at a cost to the society of £l3. 6s. 6d. ,bout EP eleven SLEEP o'clock, NTO a CHANGE aAb D o DEEP dogia,, man, On Sunday n, on duty at George's Dock Basin heard some heavy sA stance fall into the water, and on looking to ascertaio what it was, found a poor flatman, named Wakefield, struzgline, for his life. He immediately threw f in one o the life-buoys kept at the bridge fur the purpose, which the poor fellow seized and held fast till lifted out by the rest of the crew on board. It appears he was keeping the tide watch, had fallen asleep, and in that state rolled from the dock into the water. THE ATLANTIC STEAMERS.—The royal mail steam ship Britannia, Captain J. Hewitt, sailed for Halifax and Boston on Wednesday, with the mails and her full com plement of passengers. She had then been in port but five days. Ttie Hibernia is undergoing repairs. She sails on the 4th of July, and has already a large propor tion of her berths engaged. The Great Western, Captain Matthews. sailed, on Saturday, for New York. and took out thirty-five passengers, and a large quantity of fine goods. The smallness of the number is to be attributed to the uncertainty which prevailed until a few days pre vious to her departure whether she would sail at all for that city. The steam-ship Caledonia, Captain Lott, which would leave Boston and Halifax on the 16th and 18th ult., may be ex;,ected to arrive here early on Saturday morning. IRON STEAM-SHIP BUILDING.—The progress of build ing steam-ships of iron is making way in the most influen tial quarters. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Com pany have resolved in laying down a series of iron steam ers of the first class for their Mediterranean service. We trust Liverpool will have her share of this expenditure. Hitherto that company have confined themselves to tim ber-builtships, and it is highly creditable to our old tows that their best vessels are of Liverpool build, viz., the Oriental, tire Hindostan, the Great Liverpool, and the Bentinek. The town and its trade. owe much in this re spect to the father of steam navigation on the high seas Mr. C. W. Withams, the managing director of the Dub lin Company, and to Mr. Carleton, formerly a director of that company, and now one of the directors of the Penin sular Company. PUBLICANS AND BEERSELLERS FlNED.—Huntington, publican, Standish-street, 605., Phillips, Key-street, publican, 605., Quayle, Mersey-street, publican, 80s., Wright. New Quay, publican, 605., Sumner, Crown street, publican, 605., Watson, Gilbert-street, publican, £5„ Dickinson, Jackson-street, publican, 50s. Barton, Crump-street, publican, £5, Mitchell, Circus-street, beerseller. 80s. Scott, Limekiln-lane, beerseller, £5., Owens, Dale-street, Windsor, beerseller, 405., Fazakerly, Carruthers-street. beerseller, 405.. Connor. Downe-street, beerseller, £5.. Chadwick, Carpenters-row, beerseller, 505., Skane. Waterloo-road, publican, 405., Aspinall, Lower Harrington. publican, 405., Segar, Scotland-road, publican, acquitted; Jvmes Thompson, Denison-street, publican, acquitted. The fines imposed amounted in the whole to £53, exclusive of the costs, which are 4s 6d in each case. GREAT WESTERN STEAM-SHIP.—On the application of the Great Western Steam Co. the injunction which had been obtained at the instance of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Co. against the sailing of the ship, the " Great Western," for New York, has been dissolved. The Vice-Chancellor observed, that he did not see how he could continue the injunction, as, on looking into the terms of the contract for the sale of the ship, he found great uncertainty and contradiction. He did not, there fore, see how he could frame a decree which could recon cile such discrepancies. He could not, therefore, avoid dissolving the injunction. On the question of costs, the Vice-Chancellor observed, that as the suggestions ap peared merely to be made by the ingenuity of counsel, and seeing that there was so much pinching and scraping, he must refuse to allow them. The Great Western sailed from this port on Saturday. CAUTION TO OMNIBUS-DRIVERS.—On Saturday, the driver of Lawrence's omnibus to Aigburth appeared be fore Mr. Rushton, to answer two complaints lodged against him by officer 234, for having, on the 13th and 16th instant, in going to and returning from Liverpool, been on the wrong side of the road. The defence was, that the driver had no recollection of having infringed the rules on the first day mentioned, and that he was obliged to cross to the wrong side on the second occasion, in order to let down Mr. Kearsley, a passenger. Mr. Rushton said that complaints against omnibus drivers were of every day occurrence, and that, with their lumbering machines and reckless driing, they were constantly upsetting gigs and other light vehicles in the streets. He thought a bye law would have to be passed with the view of meeting such an intolerable nuisance. He then ordered the de fendant to pay a fine of 10s. and costs for each offence; and said that, if complaints continued to be made, the fine would be increased to 40s. CASE OF STABBING. — On Thursday, Friday, and again on Saturday, a foreign sailor, of the name of Ed mund Tell, was brought up on a charge of having severely assaulted and stabbed one of his companions, named Thornton. It appeared, that a number of men, amongst whom were the prosecutor and prisoner, were drinking at the Queen's Head, near Brunswick Dock, and that, a scuffle having arisen among the carousers, the prisoner followed Thornton out and stabbed him with a knife, which, upon being shown in court, was asserted, by the surgeon, to be incapable of giving the severe wounds his patient had received. A host of witnesses were examined in corroboration of the charge; and eventually the pri soner was remanded until Monday.—Yesterday, in con sequence of the absence, from indisposition, of Mr. Rushton, who had previously heard the evidence, the reading of the depositions was postponed until this day or to-morrow, when it is hoped that magistrate may be enabled to resume his official duties. ATTEMPT TO POISON.—On Thursday last John Mur phy, an old man, was committed by one of the magis trates of Salford, to take his trial at the next assizes in this town, on a charge of having attempted to poison his daughter-in-law. It appeared, from the evidence, that the prisoner's son had recently brought home a young wife, at which the old man was much displeased, as, being dependant on his son, he feared he should be turned out. He quarrelled with the young woman, and more than once threatened her with vengeance. The son, a short time since, placed some oxalic acid, which he uses in his busi ness, in a cupboard. On Thursday morning the young woman, after a temporary absence, discovered an extra ordinary appearance in the teapot, from which she was about to take her breakfast. The contents of the pot were examined, when the discovery was made that a large quan tity of oxalic acid had been mixed with the tea. As no person had entered the house save.the prisoner from the time when the tea was put in till the discovery that ano ther ingredient had been mingled therewith, the circum stances were deemed sufficiently strong to warrant his committal. Loss OF THE MANCHESTER, STEAM VESSEL—A communication from Hamburgh, via Hull, dated Tuesday, the 18th instant, reached Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, which left little doubt that the Manchester, steam-vessel, with all hands and passengers on board had been lost at the mouth of the Elbe. She was a regular trader between Hull and Hamburgh, and left Hull on Friday week. She had six or seven passengers on board. On Saturday and Sunday there was an awful storm : a vessel from Cadiz perished near the month of the Elbe, and it was believed in Hamburgh that the Manchester shared the same fate at the same time. Nothing had been heard of her except that property said to have belonged to her had been washed ashore. This, however, might have been from off the deck ; but the letter from Hambrugh gives no hopes of her safety. It was generally believed that she had gone down. The Manchester had been in Liverpool, a short time since, getting in her engines, manufactured by Messrs. Fawcett and Co. The following is stated to be a correct list of the passengers :—Mr. Phillips, of Bir mingham • Mr. Richmond, of Paisley • Mr. Rothery, of Leeds; Airs. Smith, her daughter, dim Emily Smith. 21 years of age, and Mr. St. George Smith, her son, 27 years of age. This family came from Drogheda, in Ire land, and were going to Graaffenburg, in Silesia, for the benefit of their health. WARRINGTON BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meeting of the board took place on Wednesday last, in the Boardroom at the Workhouse. There were five guardians present, and Mr. West was called upon to preside. From the returns it appears that the total num ber of cases relieved throughout the union during the previous week was 921, and the total expense incurred £B7 15s. 4d. The number of cases relieved by Mr. Cruikshank in the house was 453, and the amount ex pended £4l 17s. 7d, ; of this sum £25 10s. ids. was in money, and £l6 7s. in kind. In the corresponding week last year, the number of cases relieved was four hundred and fifty-eight, and the amount expended, £49 Bs. 2d. 4l6nt, and theruralhe am districts, the expended, x enum be 4 r s 7s o l fca d s , es . ; relievedufthis sum was 8 £lO 17s. 9d. was in money, and the balance in kind. The number of inmates in the workhouse at Warrington \ was 78, and in the one at Newton, SA ; total in both NI Balance in the treasurer's hands, due to the union, , £219 4s. 10d. The clerk called the attention of the meet ing to the subject of the appointment of a superintendent of pauper labour, in conformity with the orders of the poor-law commissioners, but no steps were taken ; two or three cases which came before the board for relief, it was agreed, should be forwarded to the commissioners for their instructions, there being many of a s imilar nature in this district. No other business of importance was transacted. but i t oa‘‘us. believe in ntfdoui wunt li-dvfaartlautmehel INCENDIARY FIRES AT BIRKENHEAD.—Tsvo fires broke out at Birkenhead on Monday night week, both of which are supposed to be the work of an incendiary. About eleven o'clock the first alarm was given, and it was soon ascertained that flames were issuing from the win dows of some new houses, which are being erected by Mr. Michael Raynes, near the finger-post, in Grange-lane. Owing to the prompt exertions of two of the neighbours, Mr. Boydell and Mr. Walker, the burning materials were thrown out of the premises and the buildings saved. The damage, which was trifling in amount, was principally confined to some loose timber. There was a strong smell of turpentine about the place : and, from the inquiries since made, it is supposed that a joiner's bench and some of the wood-work must have been previously covered with turpentine, the better to accomplish the wicked designs of the incendiary. In about an hour after the fire was subdued, the inhabitants were again roused from their slumbers by the renewed ringing of the fire-bell. Flames were then found to issue from the sheds and saw-pits be longing to Mr. James Taylor, timber merchant, which g p f lie the Therer is t h y s o a t f m h i the are connected with a range of new houses in course of impossible was,w a was ddt the est o ti :rNeo, extinguish destroyed. dr i n oo. erection by that gentleman, at the back of Grange Farm. The engine belonging to the township was speedily on the spot ; flames, and the consequence was, that the whole of the intended wood-work for the new range of houses, con sistingcincendiaryeveryonconsiderable de reasonorfabl Vi e doors, h at o om had previously fired Mr. Rayner's pre mises, the two concerns being not more than ten minutes' walk from each other, and on the same line of road. A man of suspicious character, who was found lurking near the second fire, was taken into custody. OVERLOADING OMNIBUSES.--On Tuesday Philip Condon, driver of John Bradley's Bootle omnibus, was fined 40s. and costs for carrying twelve passengers out side, the legal number being eight.—Francis Priest and Leversage Bradley, both drivers of omnibuses belonging to Mr. William Jones, of Bootle, were mulcted in the same amotint for similar offences. Mr. Rushton stated, that although a vehicle was licensed to carry twenty, if the owner painted the number eight on the outside, he was bound by the number adopted. He also said, that the overloading of omnibuses was a growing evil, and in future he would put on the full fine of £5. RUMOURED MURDER. — On Tuesday last a report was current at the north end of the town, that a boy had died in Scotland-road, in consequence of being struck by a woman. On Wednesday Catherine Connor, the party in and d p the matter, to the effect ter,was broughteet thatbef hotree prisonerMrhad Rushton, evidence struck the lad, whose name is John Riley, though it did not appear that he was materially injured. The prisoner denied that she had struck Riley at all, and said that he had merely fallen down in a fit, having 1 .boured under a complaint of that nature for some time. Immediately after the circumstance took place, he was removed to the Northern Hospital. The case was adjourned to Thursday, when the hog was able to attend but not being able to comprehend the nature of an oath was not allowed to give evidence. The prisoner was discharged, as the testimony of the witnesses on the whole was unsatisfactory. COMPLAINT OF AN EMIGRANT.—On Wednesday last, Lieutenant Henry, inspector of emigrant vessels, appeared before Mr. Rushton, to prefer a complaint against Mr. Holmes, for a violation of the act of parliament, in having taken passage-money without being duly licensed to act as passenger broker. It appeared that an emigrant, named Thomas Bowley, had paid over to Mr. Holmes £5, for the passage of himself and wife to the United States, but that after the vessel had been out a short time, she sprung a leak, and they were obliged to return. Lieutenant Henry stated that he called at Mr. Hohnes's office, and was informed that the passage-money should be returned, tob butarii igthe e a+ it was not immediately before Mr. Rushton. paidhe Mr. B had thoughtadrpsirel rope i r . who appeared for the defendant, said he (the defendant) bad acted in ignorance of the act of parliament, and bad taken the money merely to oblige the passengers, as the vessel was about to proceed to sea. Lieutenant Henry said the vessel would be unfit to be sent to sea for eight or ten weeks ; that she was almost rotten, being nearly 33 years old. Another emigrant, who had embarked by the said vessel, but who bad been shipped by the passenger brokers, Messrs. Byrnes and Co., also complained that he had been kept back for several weeks at great expense to himself. Mr. Rushton censured the parties, and or dered the money to be paid over, observing that if there was any further difficulty in the matter, the passenger brokers must be summoned. The passage-money was then returned to Bowley—namely £7—the sum of Li having been previously allowed for bread. INQUESTS.—On Tuesday two inquests were held before the borough coroner. The first was on the body of Wm. Poland, a man 77 years of age, who acted as watchman on board the ship Rappahannock, at present lying in the Victoria Dock. On Friday evening week he was going on board that vessel, when he fell headforemost on the deck, and injured himself so severely that he died on the follow ing day.—The second was on the body of Mary Ann Morris, a child two years old, who, whilst endeavouring to stand on the lower part of a table, drew down a teapot filled with hot tea and scalded herself so dreadfully over the shoulders, head, and arms, that she died on Saturday.—Three inquests were held, before the Bo rough Coroner, on Saturday. The first was on the body of John Davidson, a man in the employ of Mr. Joseph Betteley, anchor-manufacturer. It appeared that the deceased was found, in an insensible state, in a field near Park-road, on Thursday morning la-t, and that he had evidently fallen down a declivity, near where he was lying. He was immediately removed to his house in Windsor-street, where he died on Friday of effusion of blood on the surface of the brain, the result of external violence, such as a fall.—The second was on the body of William Kendall, an apprentice on board the ship Helena, at present lying in the Prince's Dock. On Monday evening ast he took hold of the combings of the main hatch, for the purpose of going below to get a broom, and having put his foot on some goods in the hold, one of the bales canted over, and he was thrown with great violence to the bottom. On Tuesday he became delirious, and on Friday he died of concussion of the brain, the result of the fall.—The third inquest was held on an elderly man, named William Collett. On Tuesday morniug he went up to Eliza Tweedle, a servant in the employ of Mrs. Curzon, who resides in Wellington-road, and after talking to her for a short time he put his hand behind him, leaned against the wall, fell down, and, after groaning three times, expired. The surgeon was of opinion that death had been caused by a rupture of the hea. t. Verdicts in accordance with the evidence were returned. CHARGE OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST TWO POUCH. OFFICERS.—On Thursday. John Robinson preferred a complaint against Police-officers, Stee e and Guy, for using violence towards him, and also ill language in committing him to Bridewell. The complaint was brought up on Wednesday before Mr. Rushton, (having been found in Marybone the previous evening, and booked by the officers as a suspicious character) and discharged. Robinson stated that the officers accosted him on h:s way home, about twelve o'clock, and one of them called him a d—d thief, they then searched his pockets, and took out his pocket-book, observing at the same time that they would do as they liked, for he was a notorious thief. On arriv ing at the Bridewell, in Vauxhall-road, one of them gave him a poke in the back and used the most insulting and threatening language. The Bridewell keeper, (Ramage) remonstrated with them, and said, if they had a charge, they had better let him know, but they had no right to use such language. They were then observed to whisper together, and one of them said, " Book him as a suspici cious character." The statement of the complaint was corroborated by the Bridewell keeper, who said they used the most aggravating language in reference to the prisoner : so much so, that be found it necessary to call them to order : they also came at five o'clock in the morning, and used abusive language, because be (Ramage) had reported the case to Inspector Bibby. Steele and Guy, on being called, denied the charge made against them ; and the former said that be knew the complainant, and had seen him in bad company. Mr. Rushton remark ed that the case was not one affecting the character of Robinson, who, it appeared, had been convicted of a crime six years ago, and once or twice brought into court and discharged ; there might be some justification for suspicion against a man living as he had formerly lived, but from the time the man was brought into Bridewell until he was put down their conduct had been marked by great impropriety ; taking their whole conduct into consideration, the magistrates were of opinion that they must be suspended. DOCK COMMITTEE, THunsnAy.—Present, Messrs. Moore, Holmes, Chilton, Trotman, Bulley, Roydon, Bold, Sandhach, Shand, Ripley, and Aikin. The Surveyor presented an estimate of the cost of coping the river wall with sandstone and granite. The expence of the sand stone was estimated at £36o—of granite at £630. Granite was ordered to be used.—A letter was read from the Finance Committee, stating that in consequence of there being 100 vessels now lying in the river for want of dock room, the river craft dock had been placed at the disposal of the Dock Committee for a fortnight. Some conversa tion arose as to the payment to be made to the Corpora tion for the accommodation, but it was decided to allow a charge to be made first by the Council, and then the com mittee would discus the subject.—An account, inclosed in a l A ettelerufromletter from H a r ri s e i y r a j n o d h F n a t il e o a n l w a a s s to o r d t e h r e e d m to a n b c e he p s a t i e d. r Bonding Bill, having been read, Mr. Ripley said he was it g ne l ramed in nn h cla this ess the t, r comm w matter. oul d i t be e e e e d b h e ec a li d last ideevl dy w eek that bonded decided advantageous ntoot warehousest t h o inter fere e r mer chants of Liverpool. Here there was a lack of middle men as dealers, and if they infused new blood they would have a new set of dealers, and new capital introduced. If properly understood, he thought the merchants of Liver pool would support the question.—The Chairman said he understood it was a government measure so far as the principle was concerted, and any opposition would be unavailing.—Mr. Ripley asked if there was anything new with regard to the new dock bill?—The Chairman said it was waiting for the committee.—Mr. Ripley said he understood that Lord Haddington never intended to sit on the committee.—The Chairman said Mr. Nicol had made a mistake in stating that Lord Haddington had con sented to sit on the committee. It was supposed that he would, inasmuch as Lord Granville Somerset suggested that he ought to be asked to sit upon it.—Mr. Ripley said the matter had been stated by Mr. Nicol in a way that would lead to a supposition that his Lordship was unfa vourable to the Wallasey Bill, whereas, so far as could be ascertained, he was favourable to it. A short conversation ensued, and the committee proceeded to matters of finance. THE CHARGE OF MURDER.—The inquest on the body of Thomas Spinks, found dead in Limekiln-lane yester day morning week, as noticed in our last, was commenced on Tuesday and continued until Thursday. A great num ber of witnesses were examined, and amongst them Jane Rainford, o ne o f t h e part i es in custody (the two others being Charles Doyle and John Dumford, with whom the deceased had been last seen in company) was also ad mitted, which was to the effect that she, in company with Dumford and his wife, Doyle, and the deceased, visited various public-houses on Sunday evening, and eventually adjourned, about twelve o'clock , to Dumford, a cellar, taking with them some liquor, which they drank ; that after being there a short time, she went out along with the deceased, but observing a man coming down the e minutes afterwards, Dumford's wife, having occasion to to street,the whom cellar, she , idnigd Spinks w o keish in to th e se s e t r , e s e h t e . r e l t o u r e n h e o d ut again fiv go out, found the deceased lying in the manner described by the police-office ; and during the time which elapsed from his leaving the cellar to his being found in the street, a period of about five minutes, no noise was heard, nor alarm given of any disturbance calculated to excite suspi cion. Both Dumford an d D oy l e were seen apparent ly assisting the deceased about the time of the event, but the former, when requested by the officer to accompany them to the station, appeared unwilling to do so, as he went a few yards and then returned. The statements of Doyle and Dumford corroborated that of the witness Rainford, and did not throw any further light on the matter; some other parties were also called, amongst others Dumford's wife, who detailed the proceedings that took place in the cellar, but with the addition, that when Jane Rainford came in, after being out with Spinks, she said—" qg God s my chap has just come, and caught me with Tom Spinks." Mr. Edwards, surgeon to the Eastern Dispensary, who injury, d 0 the te dmeaccleeasaedpohsatd-mdorietdemfroexmamanineaxttioranvaosfattitoien of blood o s a i d brain, the result of external violence and which might have been produced by a blunt instrument, such as a stick or poker, or by falling against stones or steps. The jury found a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. The parties in custody were released. der ers A et- led 03 - Fe d OU S 0 A ona eC ich ice, ,el3 t ;004