The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-09-17 00:00:00

Sept. 17,1544. RALE FLORAL HORTICULTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this society for the exhibition of Fr uits, flowers, vegetables, farm produce, &c., was held on Thursday last, in a marquee erected in an open piece of ground i n th e m iddle of the village, and of no less than 180 feet in length by 38 in width. This immense apart /tent was decorated with numerous flags, devices of flowers, plants, and festoons of evergreens. At the front of the ground an arch was erected, and there were two av enues thence to the tent, one for entrance and the othe r for exit. In the centre of thetent outside, which was also festoon e d , was a handsome flag, painted for the occasion our townsman, Mr. G. H. Corless, representing the F o rtification of agriculture and horticulture—the plough ta the field, and the rose, &c., in the cottage garden, being P r ominent objects, and emblematicallyconveying the senti ment that the industrious husbandman might after the field l abours of the day err ploy his evenings in training the 'lowers and plants that ornament his neat and comfortable Q uelling. Here, too, was a flag emblazoned with the 1. 2/%1 arms, supported by Neptune and a Triton, and a ship in full sail—in compliment, we presume, to the town and trade of Liverpool. In the interior were nume rous elegant flags, and devices tastefully wrought ou t in flowers of brilliant shades. The show was considered the best that had yet taken place, and the articles were of a size 11 , 1. d quality highly creditable to the pro ducers, whether ~ t "" regards the wealthy proprietors who contributed them or the humble cottagers. The day was delightfully clear Lea fine and from an early hour hund reds of the g a y and , fas hionable from the neighbour hood, and man y from Liverpool and even more distant towns, crowded into the ' ll tage, which, with its neat white-washed cottages, each *ith its well-cultivated garden, fully maintained the high Character for rural beauty _which it has for years pro lerbially borne. By two o'clock—the time appointed for th e °inning of the show—it became literally thronged in thoroughfare ; and every available space in the l a n est* yards, and even fields in the immediate locality, / Pax crowded with private and other carriages of every de teriptio any also came on horseback including num :era of ladies of fashion. The tent was soon filled to 4":reess, notwithstanding its huge dimensions. At one time there were under its lofty roof not fewer than 1700 1 4 ,4-attired individuals ; and we believe we do not over rate the attendance in all, when we note it at double that °Umber during the day. In the centre of the marquee !Mx stationed, within an open circular alcove or temple, The Forrestera' Band" of Warrington, in military Uniform with Grecian helmets, and, under their able leader, Mr. Robert Thornelly, played a variety of pleasing airs throughout the day. John Ireland Blackburne, Esq., taila ,neH Hale H a ll , t h e p a tron of the society, and who the ladies of h truly pa i r s ental interest in its prosp e r it y , was, with family, s urrounded by vast numbers of fashionable friends, and all were gratified to reflect that from a small beginning a few years ago (when the school rOux was thought adequate for the meeting) the results of his exertions and those who acted with him had been to pleasingly manifested in the annually augmented at tendance, and the honourable competition, not only a mongst the neighbouring farmers, but amongst the t Pttagers, for whos benefit in the cleanliness and coin- Trt of their homes, e and the , good cultivation of their gar 'ens, the society was mainly originated. The increase in t h, e funds this year alone is about 30 per cent., and as ,sere remains in the hands of the treasurer a considerable ualance, it is in contemplation to extend the sphere of Operations to a wider circuit, the cottage and farmers' pr izes (exclusive of those to subscribers) being no w rafted to a distance of three miles from the village. The l aicitations for subscriptions were at first limited to the t t l o re wealthy few, but others having expressed ti? Mr. 4 f l 4l eitson, the chief originator, their desire to contribute, ,)! resolved to visit all, and, to his infinite satisfaction, ` 4l flot meet with a single denial. we have been favoured with a list of many of the tinsdie ished persons present, but as a considerable number m ust have escaped the notice even of several visito rs, am ongst so la rg e an assemblage, we refrain from publish rg them lest we should be deemed to make a partial se rtion than w hich nothing is further from our wishes. nb74„,( n the finer plants contributed to the show, we leda t a fine specimen of the Peresteria Elata, or Dove b e w e:r also the Eskianthus-grandifiora, (a parasite) sent ' '" l cilard. Alison, Esq. From Ha'e Hall , Mr. Black burne sent some splendid plants including a rich specimen ° , l . t he Garland flower, the Oncideum L anceanum, and s everal fi ne Orch id ceas . Messrs. Davis, of Wavertree, :I, B ° contributed some beautiful plants. T h e fruits were ab undant and excellent, especially the apples,pears, plums, I: l eaches &c. Many of them were from the cottage gar ens, and looked most tempting. Thelgardengstuffs were i knerior, and there were a number of giant cucumbers, cabbages, potatoes, &c. Some of the cucumbers mete 19 inches long. The mangel worzel, and turnips ;e re exceeding large and fine, showing that in the late re deeming weather they had entirely recovered from the c ects of the previous dryness of the season. The dahlias W ere very beautiful, as were many of the cottage and b ‘uer fiowers. There was some excellent wheat, oats, a lley, and beans. Amongst the' devices was a very accurate and pretty be of the H S House, ith its g shrub- de• g,fi pond and ale all appurtenancchooles, i w ncluding reen even small Br ookfield, disporting in the water. This was made by Miss h r °okfield, assisted by her father, one of the constabu - IT force of the village, and was much admired. The ;°,ho liia ol, an interesting building at the north end of the ge, and facing the main street, was built and endowed 'a 1739 be Mr William Part. The late H. Leyland was seho oltnaster for forty years ; and his son, his successor, has now held the situation for fifteen years. There W as beautiful device of " God save the Queen," in rues, also some splendid crowns , &c. &c. Robert to9?tied by nes, Esq gilded., sent columns, a beauti f topped ul mod by a gilded cupola and 1 4 - ' the motto below of " Esto sol testis." This which ° i l l' a fine landscape on one side, a coat of arms on the th e . vers e , and Grecian figures on the two others, was also ir e k 7l w ork of our talented townsman, Mr. Corless, orna - Painter, and excited much admiration. " The :al ein e: d Trumpet " the crest of the Blackburne family trhehe ,taeeinsto there, formed of heath and flowers. At the fur was a fine fountain jetting water to the top of , and imparting amongst the warm crowd a de ▪ "al sensation of coolness. This was brought by Mr. of Mill-street, in this town, who kindly gave titsservices in effectively fixing and working it. A large if solar basin was formed below, enclosed within a rail anstudded studded with dahlias. Amongst other "shows" was apple tree bearing a ponderous variety of fruit, from t ' o `,7 largest size below to the smallest Syberians on the t i P branches. The was also a similar device of pears. AZ.°. noticed some apples 8 inches in circumference. m ongst other pleasing matters was a fleet of four cutters, trneoebling a weather vane, and so contrived as to con e sail round and round a steam vessel fixed in the e entr e . Th ed .e hole show, and th size o the tent excited uch 'Titratwion. About four e o'clock, f Mr. Blackburne and t e cfte of his friends repaired to a stage in front, on which 1 2. 8 a rustic seat, and here, as chairman, after congratu lating the vast assemblage on the fineness of the show and os e iti r a rects of the society, he deputed R. Neilson, Esq., e :" 3 ", to announce the prizes to the successful Competitors,er who were requested to come forward, and e each and all warmly received. He also highly corn rented Mr. Nickson, and also a lady (Miss Green) l oc c i' e bad first sugges t e d to the latter the formation of the tbit. NE ILSON th en sa id, I have been deputed to beropriate the prizes to the successful competitors in oe_ beautiful ex hibiti on we have just witnessed, and fwever inadequate I may be to express the full meed r a „ Pae so ju s tly d u e to them, I feel assured I ; roestt.on your concurrence, laies and gentlemen, e acknowledgement of the high gratification we e or l all experienced, and in the offer of our most i s dual thanks to those of whose exertions this exhibition le x '!eresult. The varied beauty of th o e flwers, the rich 4reuriance of the fruit, and solid size of the vegetables, el k , equally entitled to the highest merit in their several tte4ea, as well as affording a plain proof of the successful ter,:eation of skill, care, and attention. Nor do they less t e : s ce the e x i s tence of qualities of a hi g h e r range and of k id " more importance in domestic life, namely, industry soh n eatness, for no weeds could be allowed to flourish tutilre these were produced ; of sobriety, for no one with sPe o ,, a . delightful occupation for his time could afford to led lt at the alehouse; and let us also hope of religion, boe o l rateful hearts from the contemplation of nature's it Y g to nature's God. *till : 111 3 1 creditable, however, as these appear, there is loci et t tother subject, for the encouragement of which this te tttle, was principally formed, and which cannot be so are exhibited to your notice : I mean the prizes which ft k ard ec e o for neatness and cleanliness of the cottages and .ue gr: ° f this village. This may fairly be considered of - atest importance to the class whom it most mate tfal eo c neerns, both as being productive in itself of much 01„ve ash,'"rt and happiness, by making home more attrac „t the . alehouse, and also as laying the foundation to▪ r e tactical system of education well calculated to im- Z.taer at • e morals and establish the character of the rising 1:41 4 ,, 1 „, ° °- To those who are acquainted with the beau f,°,d ta e arance of the village in which we are now assem "' oei n re needs no comment of mine to establish its claim ;Ple atin g c onsidered one of the neatest in England, and, I t tlhe bit n eh, if another could easily be found whose e r tbe led a n t t: of the same class could have so. materially con c the support of such an exhibition as this. The Zded , competition for the prizes to which I have just al /sue:l(4lg n ti the difficulty I understand the judges found in th i tog of let r award is a proof not only of the good moral the .ntthe cottagers, but also of their grateful sense of f ati i; erest taken in their welfare and happiness by The t h lL e Y;_of their worthy landlord, by whose personal re soi ;r emulation has been thus so pleasingly excited. thu s id ea s een t s c raks for itself. It is evidenced in what we w - % ide nt - - day- To the habits of neatness and industry e._ltig th e lued matt the progress of the infant mind is sonpe frnroottre red exertions by which that tent has ell h gracefully decorated IIY and adorned ; and we may such a commencement that the reflections Of life • • all., will look back upon a more extended career i tletne worthy of ed the lessons thus early and practically ,lea s es Neil s ati 1, 2 0 3 0 then proceeded to distribute the prizes in ...tew e a nc ..nors ' ge 'sa n yin t g a few appropriate words of praise enurnerat d o each successful cultivator, and Mr. ng prizes. e the names of the winners of the re f. uom e h Mr. Neilson then spoke as follows : , n m_rrna ~n y., 1 , 8 not the intention of this Society that the t ,ard s miu not as gat b Tet wh en .largely as the gardens in its tire eaut f observe over the entrance of the tent ee o l h t e l d und'eurintaegbwbere Horticulture arid Agriculture are cenontinoenc Connected • point my the tat o e tr. , for banner, e andr, I s f a e y el in a g uthorized in taking its so n e e ) ' di.. a few words on one or with the latter occupation, in urging ea t a th n . c oo e f ow o h f hj ccht ploughing oln thni ka d v, deep al ey a s and d d e ata tc Pl clea n . Th e e rem pa orherot ;against the form I,, are en einfate.d. The first f is the fear of bringing poor and deep for the ace' - -ere to the g the second the burying of ma roots of the plants to reach it. A winter fallow and a small quantity of manure, well mixed with the soil, effectually cures the first, and I think it stands to reason that a plant will thrive better and have a better chance of withstanding a heavy gale of wind in a foot depth of soil, with a small quantity of manure well mixed with it, than in the same quantity of manure on that soil. With regard to the second objection, depend upon it, no ploughing ever yet attempted,—no burying, short of the sexton's. will place manure (if not in water) too deep for the roots of wheat. Wherever you place the manure fermentation must ensue; the gasses created by that fer mentation, will rise through the crevices of the soil towards the surface ; they will there meet the roots of the plants, which, finding in these gasses the food best adapted for their nourishment, will force themselves down towards the manure, to a depth equal to the length of their stem above ground. The second point I wish to impress upon your minds is the necessity of thoroughly eradicating the weeds, the injury of whose presence to your crops (if I may judge from appearances,) you do not seem fully to appreciate. On this head I will mention a simple fact : the average weight of a full grown common sized dock, ragwort, or thistle, is about Boz., equal to the weight of about 60 stems of ripe wheat, and, consequently, appropri ating an equal quantity of nutriment. Now 1 find, on a field of wheat, drilled at 8 inches, and well weeded, which yielded 45 bushels to the statute acre, there were rather less than 300 stems to the square yard, so that the presence of only two full grown weeds, such as I have mentioned, in each square yard, would have absorbed weight of nu triment equal to the supply of as many stems of wheat as would yield upwards of 15 bushels, while the price of about one bushel would have eradicated them. Besides this, the weeds, by being allowed to seed, engender a fruit ful source of future trouble and expense. Look at the splendid specimens of cultivation exhibited to day; do you think they could have attained to such a pitch of perfec tion without good manuring, deep delving, and clean weeding? But you may, perhaps, say that they are the produce of a garden. Believe me, a farm ought only to be a garden on a larger scale, and would be equally as productive as a garden if equally well cultivated, for there is no debtor so honest as the soil and none who pays abetter interest for the outlay of industry and care. The great practical error in farming appears to me to be having more land than capital, an anxiety to possess a greater extent than there are means of properly cultivating. You may rest assured that a small farm highly cultivated, will yield a far larger produce than double the quantity of land in poor cultivation; and it is far easier and cheaper to raise good crops from land in good order than poor crops from neglected land. I have now, ladies,and gentlemen, to call your attention, and request the expression of your thanks, to one without whose kind patronage, and liberal assist ance, we should not have enjoyed the pleasure we have experienced this day—the proprietor of the village where this gay scene has been rendered gayer still by the approv ing assemblage I have now the honour of addressing. It is not to his well-known character as an English gentle man, a liberal landlord, or kind friend, that I now advert, but as patron of a society which commenced its career under his kind auspices, and brief as is the period since that commencement, has not only beenproductive of much cxisting good, but has also laid the foundation of a per manent increase of comfort and happiness to all over whom its influence extends. In alluding more particularly to the prizes for neatness and cleanliness of cottages, I find from the inspector's report that the improvement has been most marked and rapid, not only in the appearance of the cottages and gardens, but also in the habits and morals of the cottagers themselves. Whatever portion of this improvement may be owing to the kind influence of the patron, more, much more, is attributable to the personal interest taken in its progress by the ladies of his family, whose constant exercise of the offices of christian charity, in administering consolation to the afflicted, comfort to the sick, relief to the poor, and kindness to all within their sphere of action, fully entitles their names to be mingled in the cheer with which I trust you will receive that of Mr. Ireland Blackburne, the Patron of the Society. Mr. BLACKBURNE responded, amidst the loudest expressions of applause, and proposed the name of the President, who briefly returned thanks, stating that he would draw their attention to a much worthier object, and, in introducing the Incumbent of Hale, the Rev. Mr. Stewart, spoke as follows :—" As a minister of the gospel his benevolent heart, and amiable character, are too well known, and too truly appreciated, throughout the circle over which his care presides, to use word or comment of mine, but I cannot omit to state that I find the same un wearied zeal, the same constant care, which so eminently distinguishes his clerical character, equally stimulating him, as Vice-president of this Society, to promote its in terests, extend its influence, and increase its usefulness. To this object he has devoted much time and anxiety, and with what success you will yourselves be able to judge when 1 tell you that, at its commencement, only four years ago the issue of tickets was under 700, and that this year they have increased to upwards of 3000. I feel as sured you will need no exhortations of mine to induce you to offer your hearty congratulations to the worthy vice president on so auspicious a result to his exertions. (Cheers.) The Rev. Mr. STEWART then came forward and said in effect—An ancient poet has observed that " he is not a very unfortunate man who has been enabled to slip through life without attracting notice;" and I can almost sub scribe to his opinion, for, from the quiet and retired life I lead in this place, I feel a reluctance to be drawn out into public. I cannot, however, but acknowledge with grati tude the flattering manner in which you have received the announcement of my name. It has been my object dur ing my long residence in this place (now on the verge of one-third of a century) to contribUte all in my power to the comfort and happiness of those around me, not only in my official capacity es clergyman, but as a neighbour and friend, and this comfort and happiness is very much promoted by a society like this. If there be one object in nature more gratifying than another, it is the sight of a neat country cottage, and a tasteful and well-cultivated garden around it. It is the subject of the poet's song, and it is equally the aim of that busied portion of man kind (the working classes) to attain, as the reward of their toilsome labours, the summit of their earthly happiness. The cultivation of flowers also, as well as of useful vege tables, is an innocent and healthy recreation, especially for those who are engaged in sedentary occupations ; and besides being a source of profit, is also one of moral in struction. The mind is thereby led to reflect on the organization and different properties of plants, their various modes of nutriment and powers of reproduction, and through these to admire the power and wisdom of that beneficent Being who has garnished the earth with such loveliness and beauty, and who, in the simple petals of a diminutive flower, teaches us " To rise through nature up to nature's God." Flowers are teachers of no mean character; their silent yet impressive lessons; their "still small voice," whisper to us much that regards the duties and destinies of man. Their opening buds, their ex panded blossoms, and their fading leaves, remind us of our beginning, continuance, and end. They are emblems of the morning, noon, and evening of life ; of our feeble infancy, our vigorous manhood, and decrepit age. But the moral good and domestic virtues these societies pro mote, are their chief recommendation. The labouring man who delights in ornamenting his cottage and culti vating his garden, and the thrifty housewife who takes a pleasure in keeping the inside neat and clean, will find substantial comfort and happiness within themselves in their own " sweet home," and will not seek for delusive pleasures abroad. Home will be rendered attractive, and will not be abandoned for the alehouse, or scenes of revelry and dissipation. The mind will become en amoured of domestic enjoyments, and find its solace and delight in studying the works of the great Creator. In many retired districts, by the aid of these societies, these blessed effects have been attained. In our own vil- lage and the country around, we cannot but remark the great improvements that have taken place on these points since the institution of this society, which is still in its infancy, being now cnly in the fourth year of its age. In deed, this sequestered and rural village receives the com mendation of all strangers for its order and regularity, the neatness of its cottages, and the comforts of their inmates. (Cheers.) The rev. gentleman then recited some very pretty and appropriate verses, composed by an inhabitant of the place for the occasion, but we must defer their pub lication till a future day. He concluded by proposing a name which he felt sure they would cheer with heart and hand,—a promising scion of a worthy stock,—the heir of Hale, —Captain Blackburne. (Loud cheers followed the proposition.) Mr. NEILSON again came forward and said :—Having now, ladies and gentlemen, disposed of the honorary de partment of this society, permit me to introduce the orna•• mental, by drawing your attention to the flags by which the tent has been decorated, more particularly the one over the entrance to which I have already alluded, and for the whole of which the society is indebted to the liberal taste of Mr. Corless. To Mr. Gregson they are also in debted for the Fountain—and to Mr. Brookfield for the Model of Hale School. These, and many other equally liberal contributions from strangers to the district, evince the increasing interest which this society is creating be yond its own immediate precincts. There is still another and a most important department of this society to which 1 have to allude, namely, the use ful one, and I will venture to solicit your warmest thanks for the Committee, and their very able and efficient Secre tary, Mr. Nickson. by whose exertions the component parts of this exhibition have been brought together, and by whose taste and skill they have formed so beautiful a whole. I am well aware that no encomium I can pay will be half so gratifying to them as the conviction that their exertions have tended, in the first place, to increase the comfort and happiness of those around them, a result which, I sincerely trust, may be rendered more and more apparent each succeeding year; and in the second place, that you, ladies and gentlemen, do not consider your visit here as time misspent, which will be best evinced by your determining to repeat it on the next occasion, and on this awarding your warmest thanks to the Committee and their Secretary, for those exertions of which this exhibi tion has been so gratifying a result. Mr. ROSE briefly and feelingly returned thanks, ascrib ing the chief merit of forming and advancing the Society to Mr. Nickson, Mr. NICKSON, being then called upon, said that if any exertions of his had contributed to the success of the So ciety, he was amply repaid by the kind and flattering com pliment paid to him. As one of its originators, and feel ing a warm interest in ita welfare, he felt exceedingly proud to see at the exhibition this day such a host of friends and supporters, and from the applause with which he had been received, he was led to hope not only that his services had given satisfaction, but that all present were inclined to continue the support they had already so li berally given to these meetings. He was happy to say that the Society was in a most flourishing condition, and that, like the snow ball, each annual roll added to its ex tent and prosperity. He might appeal to all who had wit nessed the exhibition, and compared it with those of former years, that much had been added to its usefulness also. He cougratulated the successful competitors, and said that even should the Society cease to exist, the stimulus which it had given to industry and skill would continue so long as they had gardens to cultivate. It frequently, or too often, occurred that meetings of that description were considered as merely a day's amusement ; but he trusted all present would return home with the pleasing satisfaction that they had been promoting a useful and harmless enjoyment, and one also of profit and instruc tion, thereby leading the mind to the contemplation of the bounties of nature; and, as their worthy vice-presi dent had remarked, " adoring that Being who had gar nished the earth with such beauty." It might excite sur prise that in so secluded a village such a company should assemble. For this they were indebted to the Committee, who had given their hearts and hands to the cause, and who knew of no rivalry but in the doing of the greatest amount of good. He would not he doing justice if he did not mention an individual of the Committee who had been connected with the Society since its commencement, who had greatly exerted himself in collecting the crowns and half-crowns, which were so useful in paying the numer ous prizes on such a day as this—he meant his fellow villager Mr. Shaw. (Loud cheers.) He thanked the meeting for himself, and the other members of the Com mittee not present; and concluded by expressing a hope that he should often meet so goodly a company on similar future occasions. (Cheers.) The company then diverged, some to return to the tent, others to saunter through the village, and many to visit the beautiful grounds and gardens of Hale Hall, to which all were freely admitted, and expressed themselves not less delighted than with the show. We need scarcely say that Mrs. Allen's Child of Hale Inn was crowded to excess during the day as were also the pleasure grounds behind. Though an extra number of waiters was engaged, it be came difficult to obtain a supply of the good things ade quate to the demand, so great was the concourse, though every possible attention was paid to her guests by the worthy hostess. A fire-balloon, the same which had made so many successful excursions on former like occa sions, was put up in the evening, and several rounds of cannon were fired as a feu de joie. The band, after leav ing the tent, marched to the Rev. Mr. Stewart's, where a large party were hospitably entertained in a spacious tent in the garden in front of the house. The whole con cluded with a rural dance under the marquee there,—clos ing by the band playing the national anthem. The visitors to the village then took their several homeward ways, chiefly in vehicles, acknowledging that they had never spent a day of more unalloyed gratification. is lat e on for at also o pa 131 mn,er• Posed , :culent of the and 1 an ar- iger S t 3r. A antzic , .se added . ei natt, O que ll icked , t, 0 ° d luo" tattle o fidoo be ) war"' step. 'lent ° f color x 1794 hirab le distao t )ni the u mber I, Der" ;halter linute g One 0 the ed in- ved at froU ;by b 5 ba rd w ets' le fil 4 board► ir Ste that a years to lo 0.,a that will be to the eke of ociety, ensu le best The of that M.P.,- offere d Annua l be bei! Ago" - al ow polo"' , n tity ° e seer' n or he, THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. PRIZES.—COTTAGE TENANTS, &c. Premiums to cottage tenants solely dependant on labour, paying not more than ten pounds rent, and residing within three miles of Hale :—For the cleanest and neatest Cottage, with the best kept and cultivated Garden-Ist prize, Richard Mason; 2nd, Martha Hosker; 3rd, William Hitchmough. For the cleanest and neatest Cottage, with the best kept and cultivated Garden, by the labourer in constant employment under one master,—lst prize, John Leadbetter ; 2nd, Thomas Faulkner; 3rd, John Hitchmough. Amongst the other most successful cottage competitors for garden-stuffs, flowers, fruit, &e. were Richard and Timothy Mason, Betty Winstaoley, Martha Hosker, William Hitch mough, Rre. For the best model of a Cottage and Garden, T. Brookfield obtained the Ist prize. SUBSCRIBERS. Premiums to subscribers of not less than 2s. 6d. each,—lst denoting the best specimen, 2nd the second best, &c : White Wheat (in Stem)--Ist prize, Samuel Kelsall ; 2nd, Rich ard Dwerryhouse ; 3rd, Robert Turton. Red Wheat—lst, Thomas Dramall ; 2nd, Richard Dwerry house ; 3rd, Robert Turton. Oats —lst, William Fazackerley ; 2nd, Samuel Kelsall ; 3rd, Ralph Taylor. Barley-Ist, Thomas Bramall ; 2nd, Thomas Langshaw; 3rd, William Beyes. Beans—ist, Thomas Lawrence; 2nd, Robert Turton; 3rd Joseph Grace. Smiedish Turnips-Ist, James Wilsby; 2nd, James Knowles ; 3rd, Edward Sefton. Beet, or Mangel-wurzel—lst Thomas Rowson ; 2nd, William Gilgeous; 3rd William Atherton. Collection of Fruits-Ist William Gilgeous; 2nd, John Dobson; Srd, Levi Ilitchmough. _ . Best collection of Vegetables—lst, William Gilgeous; 2nd John Molyneux ; 3rd, William Lloyd. Apples-Ist, George Etches; 2nd, William Gilgeous; 3rd, Timothy Mason. Stove or Greenhouse Plants—lst, Mr. Richard Alison; 2nd, Messrs. Davies • 3rd John Molyneux. Dahlias ( eighteen varieties)-Ist, John Green; 2nd, John Case ; 3rd, Richard Tyrer. Roses (twelve varieties)-Ist. Richard Mason; and, Joseph Warburton; 2rd, Richard Alison. Pansies (eighteen varieties)-Ist, Richard Mason; and, Henry Moss, Esq.: aid, Mr. Richard Tyrer. Device of Flowers-Ist, Mr. Dutton; 2nd, George Fleetwood; 3rd, Betty Winstanley. Celery-Ist, Mr Gilgeous; and, Mr. Gilgeous; 3rd, G. Fleet wood. Brace of Field Cabbage—lst, Levi Hitchmough ; 2nd, Mr. Gilgeous ; 3rd, Edward Sefton. Brace of Cucumbers—lst, John Molyneux ; 2nd, Levi Hitch mough ; 2rd, John Shepherd. EXTRA PRIZES.—W heat, two sorts, T. Harrison, 10s.—M an gel-wurzel, T. Harrison, 7s. 6d.—Colne Wheat, R. Taylor, as.— Red Cabbage, Thomas Lea, ss.—The best Divice, Betty Win stanley, 55,-2nd ditto, George Etches, 3s. 6d.—Best collection of Apples, George Toogood. THE FATAL COLLISION BETWEEN THE " ee RON DUKE " STEAM-SHIP AND THE BRIG " PARANA." The following account of this lamentable occurrence appeared in our Third Edition of last week : We deeply regret to state that this morning shortly after two o'clock, the Dublin mail Iron steam-ship " Iron Duke" (-600 tons burthen,) came into collision with the brig " Parana," (200 tons,) outward bound from this port for Montreal, about three leagues to the eastward of Point Lynas Light, by which the latter vessel was nearly cut in two, and so sudden was the accident that six of her crew, including her commander, (out of eleven on board in all,) were thrown into the water, and perished ! The brig, it appears, had a light on her poop, and her mate also elevated the binnacle light in his hand, and shouted towards the steamer when he saw her coming rapidly into dangerous proximity ; but, as he conjectures, he was not heard, owing probably to the noise of the en gines, and the steamer, before the brig could effectually alter her course, ran into her abreast of the fore hatch. The night was thick, or what seamen term " dirty," and it were improper to attribute blame to either party, from the information we have yet received, though it is derived from both parties. The following is a copy of a report from Lieut. Parsons, R.N., with which we have been kindly favoured : "At 2 15 p.m. on the 10th Sept., struck the Parana, a brig of about 250 tons, with general cargo, from Liver pool to Montreal, out one day. Her captain and five of her people went down, three jumped on board the Iron Duke, and two were saved by the boats which were launched for that purpose. Capt. Wilson , who perished, is stated to be the principal owner, and has left a wife and family. Lynas Light bearing W. 3 leagues when the collision took place. GEORGE PARSONS." Another report states, in addition to the above, that the night was dark, and that the engines of the Duke were stopped at the time of the accident. We accompanied the mate, an exceedingly intelligent seaman, and three of the crew, to their residences, and from them we learn the following particulars :—The brig Parana, Captain Wilson, a vessel of 200 tons burthen, sailed from Liverpool yesterday, with a general cargo, for Montreal. About two o clock this morning, when about six miles to the eastward of Point Lynes Light, made a vessel that proved to be the Dublin mail steam-ship the Iron Duke. Saw her bearing down upon them, but was no way alarmed. The brig had no light forward, but had a poop or high quarter deck, and no bulwarks on the qua rter, (merely a rail,) and a towering skylight about three feet above the deck, in which a light was fixed. As the steamer neared the mate hailed her, (but the noise of the engines was so great that he conjectures he was not heard,) and immediately took the light from the binacle and held it up, but without effect. The brig was on the starboard tack, steering about S.W. W. when the steamer struck her a little abaft the fore rigging, between the fore rigging and the fore topmast-backstay—and went through the starboard coorn ings of the fore hatch, and reached the larboard ones, thus nearly cutting her in too. In this situation four of the crew managed to get on board the Iron Duke, by the bow sprit ; and the mate, who ran aft to call the captain, who was lying on the lockers, got entangled with some of the wreck, and was severely, though not dangerously, hurt. He was eventually saved by the boats of the steamer, but how he has not the least recollection. The mate, as well as all the seamen we have seen, positively state that the engines were not stopped until after the collision took place—but that the night was exceedingly " nasty." The names of those saved from the brig were—William Hichell, mate, (badly hurt); William Cover, and John Martin, seamen ; John Craig, cook and steward. Ano ther man, whose name we could not learn, was also saved. Those drowned were— Wilson, the captain ; Alexander Stewart, second mate ; George Coates, sea man ; also the carpenter and an ordinary seaman. The captain was, it is stated, a married man, and has left Ws wife and five children in this town to deplore his loss. A subscription was immediately entered into on board the steamer, on behalf of the survivors, and, we learn, very soon amoun'ed to about £4O. The only damage sustained by the Iron Duke was the carrying away of her bowsprit, and a slight but not dan• gerous leak. In addition to these particulars, which are substantially correct, the following facts have since transpired : The seaman whose name we could not learn (one of the six who perished) was White. The ill-fated brig disap peared at once, and a few floating spars and cordage were all that remained above water, with the exception of the heads of the six individuals saved. Immediately after the boats of the steamer were launched to save those still afloat, and every exertion was made to effect this object. The commander of the steam-ship is Captain Williams ; but the vessels (being then within pilot-water) was under the direction of one of the Liverpool pilots at the time. She was much damaged by the collision ; her bowsprit, figure-head, &c., were shivered to pieces, and she was much bulged about the bow. As her name imports, she is an iron vessel, and has only been a few weeks on the station. She is divided into three water-tight compart ments, and the fore one shipped so much water, that she settled down considerably by the head; and, but for her construction in three separate compartments, she would in all probability have gone down. The confusion and dismay consequent on the catastrophe were continued for some time, owing to the uncertainty that prevailed as to the nature and extent of the damage she had sustained, which was not fully ascertained till about six o'clock. The steamer hoisted the signal of distress (the union jack reversed); and, this signal being conveyed to the floating light, a life-boat was despatched to the steamer. However, the services of this boat were fortunately not required ; and the steamer, after remaining about an hour off the place where she ran down the brig, reached Liver pool in safeiy about ten minutes after seven o'clock the same morning. A meeting of the passengers was called in the saloon of the steamer at four in the morning, and a subscription was entered into for the relief of the families of the unhappy sufferers. The sum of £4B was collected. Treasurers were appointed to superintend its distribution. Before separating the passengers discussed their own perilous situation, and the inadequacy of the boat-room for their preservation, in case the steamer had foundered, and, in reference to these circumstances, passed the following resolution, which was moved by the Rev. Mr. Johnston, and seconded by the Hon. Mr. French : " That, without expressing any opinion as to the parties to whom blame is to be attached (in either vessel), we feel, perhaps erroneously, that if a better look-out had been kept, the danger might have been in part averted. We also feel it our duty to remark, that two small boats (neither being a lite-boat) are not sufficient in case of accident to afford relief, when the number of passengers (independent of the crew) amount to as many as seventy three persons." It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr. Michael Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Francis Chalmers— " That we are read; to state, that, when the accident did occur, every assistance was afforded by the captain and crew to save, if possible, the lives of the unfortunate persons who were on board the lost vessel, of whom five were saved out of a crew of eleven." The Iron Duke is a remarkably fine iron ship of great strength, and, from her fine model and powerful engines, has proved herself one of the fastest, if not the very fast est, steamer yet afloat. It will be remembered that she was built by our talented townsmen, Messrs. T. Wilson and Co., and been but recently launched and attached to the mail-packet service between this port and Dublin. She is now in the Queen's Graving Dock undergoing the repairs rendered necessary by the late fatal collision. The damage done to her was somewhat greater than was at first conjectured. Her larboard bow was partly stove in, and her bowsprit broken off. The repairs, however, have been nearly completed, and she will soon be again upon the water. LOCAL AM) PROVINCIAL NEWS. On Tuesday last, at Manchester, an inquest was held on the body of an infant, killed by its nurse, who gave it thirteen drops of Godfrey's cordial. SMUGGLING.-At the Police-court, on Friday, a sailor, named Daniel M`Cavery, was fined 40s. for having 5i lbs. of foreign tobacco in his possession, and Edward Stoker 205., for having 2 lbs. in his possession. The proprietors of the late Theatre Royal, in Manches ter, have come to the decision not to build another theatre but to dispose of the site of the old one in lots to suit purchasers. The patent is to be offered for sale. A house has been taken in Manchester for the purpose of a temporary Custom-house. It is to be in readiness by the 10th of October next, for the commencement of bonding in Manchester. ADVANCE OF WAGES.—Messrs. Ainsworth and Co., Mr. John Cooper, and other firms, in Preston, have in timated to their bands their intention to raise their wages about seven per cent. It is probable the advance will be general. PAVING AND Sul:van...GE Commisszownits.—At the meeting of this board, held on Thursday, Mr. John Holmes presided, and the attendance of members was good, but the business transacted was of no public im portance. EXPOSING UNWHOLESOME MEAT FOR SALE.—At the Police-court, on Friday, a butcher, named Robert Cock roft, was convicte d in the penalty of 20s. and costs, on the complaint of one of the inspectors of meat, for having exposed for public sale 24 lbs. of unwholesome lamb, un fit for human food. FATAL ACCIDENT. About ten minutes to twelve o'clock on Saturday a boy, about eight years of age, named Thomas Jones, was run over by a float on the bridge at the north end of George's Dock. He was immediately conveyed to the Northern Hospital. whcre he expired, in great agony, the same afternoon. No blame is attachable to the driver. QUICK PASSAGE OUT AND HOME.—TbD James Ma theson, Captain Cushing, which arrived here on Friday from China, has made an unusually quick passage out and home. She has accomplished the task under ten months and a half—both ways against the monsoons—thus proving herself a crack ship, and one of the fastest sailers out of this port. ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon, as Gregson and Co's. cart was proceeding down Renshaw-street, the horse ran off, and coming in contact with the iron railing, opposite the Unitarian chapel, completely smashed four or five yards of the rails. Fortunately, no person was hurt, and, we believe, the horse sustained little or no injury. THE Loss OF THE PARANA.—A subscription having been opened for the families of the unfortunate men who perished by the sinking of the Parana on Tuesday morn ing last, and also to render some assistance to the desti tute survivors, books have been left at the various news rooms and newspaper offices to receive the names of those benevolent individuals who are desirous of contributing to the temporary relief of these unfortnnate and bereaved persons. We shall be glad to receive subscriptions. GREEK CHURCH IN MANCHESTER.—The number of Greeks in Manchester is very considerable, and as their numbers appear daily to increase, some of the most wealthy of that sect, if sect it can be called, are now contemplating, or rather nriking the necessary arrangements, (including a handsome sum of cash,) for the purpose of erecting a public place of worship. We have heard it stated, that Cheetbam Hill road will be most probably selected as a convenient site for the purpose. This will be the first, indeed the only place of worship for the professors of the Greek religion, in Manchester or its vicinity. THE POLICE FORCE.—We understand that the newly appointed head constable, Mr. Miller, has prepared a re port upon the present state of the police of this borough, with the view of suggesting a great variety of alterations and modifications in the system of management, which, if adopted by the Watch Committee, would considerably affect the position of the superior officers in the force. It was expected that the report and suggestion would have been taken into consideration by the Watch Committee at their general meeting last Saturday, but they have ad journed the subject sine die.—Mercury. A WIFE THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW BY HER HUSBAND.—On Tuesday a surly looking fellow, named Henry Oxton, residing in a court in Upper Harrington street, Toxteth-park, was brought up charged with hav ing, on Monday evening, thrown his wife out of the gar ret window of his house, a height of about 30 feet, and broken both her thighs. She was taken to the Southern Hospital. The evidence against the prisoner was pointed, but he denied the charge, alleging that he found his wife drunk in bed,Land that upon hearing one of her children crying in the yard, she jumped out of the window. The woman being in a dangerous state the prisoner was re manded. - - • CAUTION.— The public is cautioned against some person giving his name as Wilson, and representing him self to be engaged by Hollis, Walford and Co., as light porter, but, previous to their employing him, he states he must obtain better clothes, and being very poor, he is unable to procure them, thereby obtaining relief through the plausibility of his story. H. W. and Co. have en gaged no such person, nor has he authority to make use of their names to obtain relief. The impostor has a lame arm, and he states it was injured in Messrs. Stewart and Foster s, and his story seems to be told with such confidence and such plausibility, that he has obtained an immense quantity of wearing apparel under false preten ces. SCOTCH CHURCH, OLDHAM-STREET.—In consequence of the recently delivered opinion of Vice-Chancellor Wi gram, in the case of the Scotch Church, Oldham-street, a meeting of the congregation took place on Wednesday evening last, when, after an able and lucid address by the Rev. Mr. Welsh, the following resolutions were respec tively and unanimously agreed to :-1. That this meeting have heard with surprise and astonishment the opinion propounded by the Vice-Chancellor in the case of Old ham-street Church, and lament that that opinion does en tail the necessity on this congregation to abandon this place of worship, and do hereby resolve to provide a place of worship for this congregation and their respected pas tor, Mr. Welsh. 2. That this meeting do resolve that the church which they shall build shall, in all time coming, be for the accommodation of a congregation holding the standards of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. 3. That this meeting do appoint a committee to carry out the two preceding resolutions. LIVERPOOL IN TIME OF WAR.—A late number of the ' Shipping Gazette,' in an article on the Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks, urging the propriety of having the dock accommodation in the Mersey always somewhat in advance of the wants of commerce, ment►ons the follow ing as one of the reasons :—" It was customary with the West Indiamen, in the war, when they arrived at the entrance of the channel with an easterly wind, to adopt Liverpool as a port of discharge instead of London—by which circumstance they were sometimes able to unload and to get ready to sail on a second voyage by the time London ships, which arrived on the same day with them in the channel, could make their way to the Thames. It is probable, therefore, that the same plan will be resorted to again, and by a greater number of vessels, whenever a dispute shall arise between us and our neighbours ; and this is the more likely, because, in the event of hostility, the power of steam, and the natural advantages described by the Duke of Wellington to exist in favour of attack ing vessels suddenly from the opposite coast, in navigating the British channel, will render the passage towards the Thames and Medway more precarious than it was be fore." INQUESTS BEFORE THE BOROUGH CORONER, MR. CURRT.—On Tuesday, on the body of Susannah Stott, aged 14, daughter of Mr. Stott, 13, Pellew-street. On the 15th of May deceased went across the water to the Cheshire shore, and whilst gathering wild flowers in a field she fell down and hurt her head, and since the acci dent, continued to complain of pains in the head. On Saturday last, a drowsiness came over her, and she con tinued in that state for several hours, when she died. Mr. Cartell, surgeon, who examined the body, stated the cause of death to be apoplexy, arising from natural causes. Verdict accordingly.—On Wednesday morning last, as a man, named Barber, was angling in the river, near Water loo Dock Pierhead, he observed something lying on the sand-bank, partially covered by water, which, upon ex amination, turned out to be the body of a female, of ap parently about 50 years of age. The body was taken to the dead-house, and was identified as that of Elizabeth Stevenson, of Porter's-buildings, Norman-street, London road, An inquest was held on the body, and a verdict of found drowned was returned. On Friday last an inquest was held, at the inn, in Lark-lane, Toxteth-park, before John Heyes. Esq., coroner, on the body of Thomas Hampson, about eighteen years of age, who was in the employment of Messrs. John Bouch and Son, of this town. The deceased was drowned in a pond, near Lark lane. It appeared, from the evidence of his young com panions, that he had long had occasional fits of suicidal in sanity, yet had so conducted himself that both his parents and his employers were ignorant of the fact. Even the young persons with whom he frequently conversed on the subject always thought it mere idle talk. It was clear, however, from the evidence, that he had thrown himself into the pond and drowned himself in a fit of temporary derangement. The deceased was kind, and affectionate, and dutiful to his parents and employers, and bore an ex cellent character. Verdicts accordant with the evidence , were returned in all the above cases. LIST OF NEW PATENTS FOR LANCASHIRE. GRANTED IN AUGUST.—Joseph Bentley, of Liverpool, gun-maker, for certain improvements in fire arms ; sealed 30th July —6 months for inrolment.—Thomas Heaton, of Chorley, colliery agent, for certain improvements in hydraulic machinery, which are also applicable to raising other liquids. Sealed 15th August-6 months for inrolment. —John Whitehead, jun., of Elton, near} , Bury, dyer and finisher, for certain improvements in the process of finishing fustains and beaverteens, " satin tops," and other similar cotton fabrics. Sealed 15th August-6 months inrolment. EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.—The railway train which left Liverpool at half-past eleven o'clock on the morning of yesterday week, was attended in its course to Birming ham by one of the most providential escapes ever recorded. When the train approached within about five miles of Crewe, a piercing shriek from a lady passenger told of some sad catastrophe, and on stopping the train it was found that the door of a first-class carriage had opened, and a child of two years old had fallen out. The engineer decided to go on to Crewe, thence an engine and a car riage were sent back express to the scene of the accident, and, wonderful to relate, the agonized mother found her child uninjured. The express engine overtook the train at Birmingham, and the lady proceeded to London with the child so mercifully restored to her. _ COMMISSIONERS GE BIRKENII E AD.—On Tuesday evening a special meeting was held at the Town-hall. J. Case, Esq., presided.—Upon the motion of Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. M`Nicol, a series of bylaws to regulate the hackney-coaches, cars chariots, and cabriolets plying for hire within Birkenhead and eight miles therefrom and the rates and fares for distances were adopted. It was understood that the bylaws and fares were arranged in accordance with those in operation in Liverpool. Mr. Pim thought the scale of charges 10 per cent. too high ; but bis objection was overruled.—Mr, Moss then read a code of bylaws for the regulation of slaughter-houses, the prevention of nuisances, and for promoting the general health and cleanliness of the township, which, after a slight revision, were also adopted, and it was arranged that the said bylaws should commence and take effect on and after the 21st of next month. The Board then de spatched some general business, and shortly after ad journed. THE STEAM-SHIP BENTINCK.—The character of this splendid steam-ship, of course identified with that of her gallant commander, Captain Kellock, is established throughout England and India, and we are gratified to say, justifies our recorded anticipations with respect to both ship and officer. Her extraordinary performance to the Cape, a run of 4000 miles, against baffling winds, will not easily be forgotten, but will only be superseded by some more distinguished accomplishment. Capt. Kellock arrived at Suez on the 17th of August, at 2 p.m., with 90 passengers and a full cargo, the whole time occupied on her voyage from Calcutta to Suez being 26 days 11A hours, and this too against the monsoon, which she severely felt in the Arabian Sea, and which was too powerful for the Hon. East India Company's steamers to make head against. The Bentinck's passengers were equally de lighted with the performances of this noble ship, and the skill, perseverance, and gallantry of her commander. The Bentinck returned from Suez to Calcutta on the 26th of August. EXTRAORDINARY CROP OF WHEAT.—William Tay lor, market-gardener, of Bootle-cum-Linacre, has just reaped a most extraordinary crop of wheat, off a piece of land in that township, measuring seventy yards less than half of a Cheshire acre. It is a beautiful sample of yellow wheat the seed of which was grown in Kirby. The pro duce of this small lot of land was, delivered at the mill, fifty- three bushels, of seventy pounds each, andwarehoused for his own use eleven heaped-up imperial bushels. We believe the annals of agriculture do not record such a crop under any circumstances ; and, when the droughty season is considered, in conjunction with the hot sandy nature of the soil, it is wonderful. This produce speaks volumes in favour of small farms and the allotment system, for, although the ploughing and harrowing of this piece of land was in the ordinary manner, yet, there is no doubt that the large crop may be ascribed to the cultivation of the land previously. The year before it had been planted with potatoes and cabbages, and had been trenched to the depth of four feet. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY: Present, Messrs. Nicol, (in the chair,) Holt, Chilton, Smith, Trotman, Bulley, Royden, Tobin, Bold, Sandbach, and Middleton. —The recommendation of the Sub-committee to lease the land on the west side of the Brunswick Dock, at the rate of ls. per yard per annum, to Mr. Thomas Wilson, for the purpose of ship-building, having been again intro duced, letters were read from the British North American Asssociation and Shipowners' Association, urging that it would be highly inexpedient so to dispose of the land, which they considered ought to be made available, as soon as possible, for quay-room for the landing of cotton and timber. Letters were read from Humble and Mil crest, George Forester and Co., Thomas Vernon and Co., and James Hodgson and Co., tenants of the ship-building yards at the north end of the town, who have received notice to quit in six months, requesting permission to be allowed longer time on various grounds, to be provided with a suitable site for their yards further north, and to be compensated for the loss and inconvenience which will necessarily attend their removal. Mr. Hartley, in reply to questions, said it would be highly desirable to have possession of all the land to-morrow, and that the river wall must be made upon the present site of the yardsibefore land could be made for the ship-builders' yard. After some conversation, the entire question was referred to the Sub-committee of Works to confer with the parties, Upon the recommendation of the Harbour-master's Sub committee, it was ordered that one quay and one stage berth in the south-west corner of George's Dock should be appropriated to vessels trading regularly to Portugal and the Mediterranean, and that two stage and two quay berths in the north-east corner of the King's Dock should be appropriated to vessels trading to Genoa, Gibraltar, Trieste, and Leghorn.—An additional dock-gateman was ordered to be appointed for Harrington Dock.—A letter from Mr. Joseph Steele was referred to the Harbour master's Sub-committee. COLLEGIATE INSTITUTIOK.—Mr. Hicklin's course of lectures on the history and art of printing terminated on Friday evening, when the history of the newspaper press was given, elucidated by a practical display of the man ner in which the newspaper press have been enabled to bring reporting to such perfection. This Mr. Hicklin explained by means of an efficient corps of reporters, compositors, and pressmen, by whose aid a portion of his lecture was printed and distributed among his audience before the conclusion of his discourse. Mr. Hicklin's lectures have been deservedly popular for the excellent matter and manner of the lecturer. This evening (Tues day) the great and only Kemble of the present day will appear at this institution, and we feel that the town is much indebted to the spirit of the directors in securing, at a great expense, the services of such an eminent man. The first play which he will read is Romeo and Juliet, in which be likewise made his first appearance in Manchester, and as Mr. Kemble was one of the most popular Romeos of his day, it is no wonder that he has succeeded in this play perhaps better than in any other. We find that both in London and Manchester, in both of which towns he has been attended by numerous and fashionable audiences, the press has spoken of his efforts in an extraordinary strain of eulogium. The Literary Gazette says " That every line and every word of his readings are perfectly studied and delivered with excellent judgment and feeling, sa as to unfold the most recondite beauties of the immor tal bard, in a manner not to be forgotten, and to leave impressions on every hearer, which would improve their taste and judgement in the pleasing task of following his example in the social circle." The London Athenmum is no less proud in Mr. Kemble's praise, and says, " In these days of dramatic discouragement it is curious to find that a numerous audience of rank and fashion can be congregated in a public lecture room to hear Shakspeare exhibited in a manner only calculated to bring out the poetical beauties of his plays,—when they will not enter the theatre, where those same beauties are jostled out of place, as well by stage gew-gaw and glare, as by noisy and boisterous declamation and acting. We are relieved at such a reading from all the physical exaggerations and contortions which some actors think it necessary to use on the stage, for embodiment of great passions and suf ferings to the vulgar sense, and we have instead their intellectual and moral expression, which leaves the grosser form to the imagination." These readings are from two hours to two hours and a half long, relieved by an interval of a quarter of an hour in the middle, during which, we understand, a duet on the organ will be performed this evening by Messrs. Edmund and Thomas Platt. DOMESTIC. The recent rains will prove very beneficial to the crops of late potatoes and to the growing turnips. In the hill country of Radnorshire, &c., there is still a large breadth of oats and barley outstanding, which must have suffered in some degree, but the benefit in other respects will ex ceed the damage. Hop-picking has partially commenced in this county, and will soon be general. The produce is considerable, and much of it good in quality.—Hereford Journal. INTERESTING RELIC.—A gentleman residing at Wo . )l wich has recently become possessed of a manuscript of extraordinary interest—the rough draught of Bonaparte's celebrated letter to the Prince Regent on his surrender to the English, in 1815. In this manuscript there are two or three verbal alterations : in the sentence " M'as3eoir sur la cendre Britannique," the words "la cendre" are erased, and "le foyer" substituted; and in the last s3ll - " the most powerful, the most constant, and the most generous of my enemies, the words " the most con stant" are interlined, being probably an a terthought of the Emperor. In a i note appended to it, G enera l Gor gaud states that it s the " rough draught of the letter which the Emperor sent me to carry from the Isle of Aix to the Prince Regent of England on the 14th of July, 1815." The present possessor of the m anus c r ipt contem plated forwarding it to one of the museums in Paris, but on second consideration he has deferred doing so for the present. SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—As William Turner, Esq., of Flax moss House, near Haslingden, was returning in his carriage. from the Annual Sessions at Preston, and when descending the steep hill at Hud-hey, near Hashngden, the pole of the carriage broke, and the horses, both fine and spirited animals, commenced kicking in ahighly dangerous manner; and having broken the splinter-bar completely away, set off at full gallop down the lull with the pole and bar dangling after them. When the horses parted from the carriage, it twisted round and was dashed with great force against the wall on the roadside. Mr. Turner was thrown with considerable violence against the s:de of the carriage, and had his hands cut with the win dow glass, and forehead bruised. The coachman was uninjured, and followed the horses. He found one lying in the road, and the other down in the field at the un fenced place below the Hudrake Toll-bar. The traces, &c., were cut, and the horses released; but both were much hurt. Mr. Turner was able to walk home, and was, we are happy to say, on the Haslingden bench, as usual, the following day.—Blackburn Standard. GILT AND JEWELLERY WORK.-At a meeting of operatives and others interested in the gold, gilt, and black jewellery trades, held on Tuesday evening, in this town, it was resolved to present to his Royal Highness Prince Albert specimens of the above trades, humbly re questing him to patronise the sarne.—Birminfiham Ad vertiser. SUCCESSFUL VILLAINY.----A bold fraud has been committed on the Bank of England by Mr. Burgess, a clerk with the aid of a confederate. Mr. Burgess first took steps to have it believed in the Transfer-office (where he was known as being employed in another part of the establishment) that a Air. Oxenford, the holder of stock to the value of £B,OOO, was a friend of his and meant to sell out. Then, having obtained leave of absence for a few days, to facilitate his scheme, he procured a man to personate Mr. Oxenford; vouched for his identity when he went to the Transfer-office to effect a fraudulent sale of the stock ; and they were paid in gold for the whole amount, and have made off with it. MACADAMIZING ON A NEW PRINCIPLE.—The veyors of the highways in Manchester have now for a few weeks past been introducing a new mode of macadamizing the streets of that town. In addition to the laying of broken stone, the surveyors have also introducd a profuse mixture of gas tar therewith, with the object to cause a quicker consolidation to the granite, as well as to prevent the top water from penetrating the surface of the road, and thus ensuring, it is thought, a lon g e r d ura ti on o f th e ordinary material. It will require a little time, no doubt, for the trial of this novel experiment, before any positive opinion can with confidence be given, as to its durability, as compared with the common method; still, judging from appearances, it is highly probable that the experi ment will prove a successful one ; if so it should be, there will be an extensive demand for this kind of tar, and may prove a considerable item in favour of our extensive gas works. WONDERFUL PRESERVATION.—On Tuesday week a young woman, of weak intellect, aged twenty-two years, residing at Bonsall, lost her handkerchief down the shaft of a coal-pit, twenty-two yards deep. The loss effected her in an extraordinory degree, and it appears that, in attempting to descend the shaft, she fell to the bottom. As she did not return to her home, her distracted mother sought her in every direction. At length, on Monday last, nearly a week after sbe fell down the shaft, her mo ther was passing the spot, when, remembering the loss of the handkerchief, she called down the pit, and her daugh ter immediately answered. Assistance was procured, and the miners descended the shaft and found the girl; she was naked to the waist and nearly dead from exhaustion. They soon hoisted her to the surface. She would give but little account of her mishap, save that she believed the shaft to be but a few yards deep, that a rotten peg had broken, and that she had found her handkerchief. She had suffered greatly from thirst, and had eaten part of her under garment. She was put to bed, and, light nourish ment having been administered to her, she is doing well. Wooncocks.—A few days ago the proprietor of Gully hill, C. D. Airston, Esq., received by an Edinburgh coach, from his estate in Stirlingshire, a boa of game, and upon the top of it, what is exceedingly rare in August, a beautiful woodcock, the best of the three varieties de scribed by Latham. The stranger so early in the season must either have returned to Scotland prematurely, or have been of a brood that remained at home over winter. In the books it is stated truly enough that the woodcock is migratory, and during the cycle of the seasons visits a vast variety of climates. Generally, it leaves the coun tries bordering on the Baltic, late in autumn, on the ap pearance of winter—arriving not in flocks, but dropping in singly, but at most in pairs, from the middle of October till the end of December. It is a great mistake, however, to suppose, as Bewick does, "that they do not remain near the shores to take rest longer than a day, but com monly find themselves sufficiently recruited to proceed inland to the same haunts they left the preceding season." So far from this, woodcocks in the first instance betake themselves to the hill and moors, where we have repeat edly seen them in so exhausted a state that it would be easy to seize one by placing a hat over its seat. Tor pidity, or an approach to it after so long a flight conti tinues nearly a week ; rest is then the great requirement, although something may be got from picking heather bushes ; and it is not until after this period of probation that woodcocks wing their way to the marshes and bosky dells below, situated at some ten or twenty miles distance, —Dumfries Courier. ANTIQUE CURIOSITY.—Last week, while some work men were engaged in cutting a main drain through a marshy or boggy piece of land in the parish of New Monkland, they dug up, at eight feet below the surface, a metal jug or drinking vessel, which is evidently of great antiquity. The vessel is a very handsome one; stands upon three feet, with a taper neck and handle and spout— the latter resembling the bend of a serpent's head. It is of bell metal, weighs Gibs. 60z., and has capacity for three English pints. Around the body of the vessel are two lines containing an inscription, believed to be in rude Saso-Norman, and giving it a date, of course, posterior to the conquest. So near as can be deciphered and ren dered in Roman characters, the words are as follows : IE : RVI : AP ELLIE IS : SERF : TWT : PAR: _ _ : LAWR AMVRCF . . A gentleman of this city, of considerable experience and success in deciphering these rude legends, thinks that the Saxo-Norman inscription may be rendered thus : Je suis appellae Lawr. Je serf to (or tut) par amour. Or in English— I am named Lawr. I serve all (or you) for love. If this interpretation be correct, it must be assumed that the jug was honoured with the name of Lawr; but whe ther it was employed to replenish the wassail cups of the barons of old, or was used by the priesthood of the ancient faith in their religious observances, there is nothing left upon which to hang a conjecture.—Glasgote Mail. STATISTICS OF EMPLOYMENT. There is an immense number of important facts to be gathered from the " Occupation Abstract" of the popu lation commissioners as given in the census returns of 1841. With respect to the comparative numbers of the popu lation engaged in manufactures (properly so called) and agriculture respectively, it will be found that the former constitute something more than one-sixteenth, the latter something more than one-twelfth, of the whole popula tion of great Britain. Of the whole number of paupers (100,529) within the walls of workhouses on the night of the 6th of June, 1841, the agricultural labourers (3,555) form something more than 1-28th part. The largest class of paupers in workhouses was " servants (domestic)" 5,401, of whom the principal part were women. The whole number under the head " servant (domestic)" in Great Britain is 1,143,007. We have noticed the imper fection of the returns in some points ; as, for instance, the return of seven oculists and four aurists for all Great Britain. In some points of arrangement they are equally deficient. Thus there is no head of cook nor of confec tioner, nor of drover : then we have " cupper and den tist," "corn cutter," and "scrivener," under the general division of " professional persons." By the way, some people will scarcely believe that there are only 279 match makers in Great Britain. Again, under the general di vision of " educated persons," we have " aeronaut" and " ventriloquist." If you want to find the head " post boy," you discover it clubbed with " coachman" and " coach-guard." Some of the heads want explanation. What is a " portioner ," Probably, however, these faults are mostly attributable to the caprice of the parties making the returns and answers, rather than to want of diligence in the enumerators. There are no fewer than 1,097 persons employed in the destruction of vermin in Great Britain. The subject is too ticklish to admit of remark. It is manifest, we think, from the tables, that there are sundry occupations enumerated in which people have an inclination to shirk returning themselves as engaged, their return being made under some more eligible or high-sounding denomination, but this ambition does not appear to go the length of disclaiming all occupation. The head of persons returned as of independent means is only 511,440, or somewhat over two per cent. of the whole population—a strikingly small proportion in so rich a country as this, and showing conclusively that in dustry is the rule of English society, and idleness the exception. The fact stands out still more clearly on ob serving that of the above number 373,633 are females. The Commissioners have gone out of their way to obtain an account of the previous occupations of the inmates of gaols, hospitals, workhouses, and lunatic asylums, on the night of the 6tk of June, 1841. It is creditable that of 22,330 prisoners in gao's, only 340 belonged to the army, 17 to the navy. On the other hand, there were under the head " attorney, solicitor, and law-student," 49 ; " banker," 10 ; " barrister," 7 ; "surgeon," 20. It is to be observed, however, the tables include debtors as well criminals. There were 11,218 persons confined in lunatic asylums. The following are some of the heads:—" army,c, 232; " navy," 46 ; " barrister," 10 ; " attorney, solicitor, and law-student," 50 ; " clergyman," 39 ; " servant" 4.do mestic). 864—the largest denomination. 288 were returned as of independent means. This part of the tables we regard as the least satisfactory of the whole. For every 10,000 persons throughout the population, the following are the proportions of the inmates of the above four institutions ; —ln workhouses, 62 ; hospitals, 5 ; gaols, 11; lunatic asylums, 6. $o ne arithmetical results of the tables may be worth notice. In England, Wales, and the isles of the British Seas, there are 252,192 farmers and graziers ; in Scotland, 54,873 ; together, 307,065. There are 1,127,115 agricul tural labourers in Great Britain, which gives an average of nearly four labourers to each master agriculturist. In England and Wales there are 13,255 nurses returned, w hi c h gives one nurse for every 1,210 of the population., In Scotland, according to the returns, there are no nurses. There are in Great Britain 4.283,247 males, 4,301,300, females returned as under 20 years of age ; together, 8.584,547 ; but there are, it seems, only 59,745 persons occupied as educators, including " all branches" and either sex, which gives one teacher for every 143 young persons —a suspicious result, which becomes more sus picious when we remember that, in addition to the above numbers, nearly 11,000,000 persons, classed as " residue of the population," being unreturned, contain about 31 per cent. males, and 33 per cent, females, under 20. The principle of shirking seems to have been al work here. Few men like to write themselves down school masters. So in the metropolis, to a population of 1,873,676, only 7,138 persons place themselves under the very com prehensive head, " schoolmaster, mistress, or assistant, tutor or governess." The number of domestic servants for the metropolis (of whom 39,300 are males) gives about one for every 47 of the inhabitants ; the proportion throughout Great Britain is one for every 16 persons; that of the county of Westmoreland one for every three. In the metropolis there are 834 clergymen, or one for every 2,246 persons ; the proportion throughout Great Britain is one for every 12,892; the proportion for Westmoreland (the pattern county in many respects) is one far every 262.