The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

~"' eld 011 ale and uo det• repo' DUO of lived to direr' IcaAire Lan C3' nig a g e A . nY, aa Llend , di" ; e sa me Ire and ill rae3' a rea P °5 ,, 01 5 7; i rd fal l / lt dee d ' „opal frog of 11th of ti l d e e, 1855, did AO!, Of ted, Au" educted 'tied this was t he coul" iirectc!ri Inpa nies e sub s e; ,ire an u fl3r (I°- ,genle r ' t rc.E. ierstooer C umber' ~:, }e-Afo~ n, to art ton, nz°'• icl:o lailMber, ;an, r °C it. peter argaretl of SOO' Distr ic untsforde rw, uabrin e r ey, to tt herinel Varrriel‘" raniPt °lif StOkeSlif. n e• stlce:' It. JOOl • ci• OaK O stershir- n , Ber' 4 . s ' oul, t° ton-CO ' Jazre B.lt on, G!otl: t Tail°° y Grp fr° near Dr bridge , T PoPrlt' FEBRUARY 19, 1856.] LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. ,T2I3IGBAPH TO TUB ISLE OF MAIC—It is understood that tie Magnetic Telegraph Company have under c onsideration the Propriety of extending their wires to the Isle of Man, by ItaY of Burrow-head, Wigtownshire. • ,J3LuE-Coer HOSPITAL.—At a meeting of governors of !'lls institution, on Tuesday, Mr. A. B. Steele was elected honor honorary surgeon, in the room of Mr. Charles Coates, whose change of residence rendered his resignation necessary. FIRE IN UNION-STILKET.—On Thursday night, about nine tfelock a fire broke out in a bedroom in the house of D. P , ichards, beerseller, Union-street. The fire brigade were Boon in attendance, but the fire had been extinguished before their arrival. The damage sustained was only trifling. LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWIY.—At a meeting 61 directors, held on Wednesday, it was decided to recom %tend to the proprietors, at their next meeting, to declare a dividend for the past half-year at the rate of per cent. per annu m . - - - AT a meeting of the Bolton bnriabboard, on Monday, a Alan was presented for laying ont the intended ne w cemeter y , Mr. Henderson, of Birlenhead, landscape - gardener and nurseryman, and it being approved of, he was appointed to wry it into effect. iIIST OH THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.—Mr. J. Branson, !culptor, m of Norton-street, has just completed an admirable w(lst inmarble of the present Emperor of France, Napoleon ~, It is considered a very faithful likeness, and most artisti cally and carefully finished in all its details. Viewed even as t_Tvork of art, it claims attpntion. The bust may be seen at Air. Mayer ' s, silversmith, Lord-street. DOUGLAS HARBOUR, ISLR or Mezi.—The Harbour Com missioners have resolved to improve the harbour of Douglas, so that passengers may be landed at all stages of the tide with out the use of small boats. This will be done by means of a jetty from the little head, or two-gun battery, extending in a north-easterly direction about 200 yards, with 23 feet at low- Water neaps. STEAMER ON THE ROCKS AT MAUGROLD HEAD.—The steamer Enniskillen, of Londonderry, got on the rocks at Latlghold-head, on Monday night week, about ten o'clock, during a dense fog, on her passage from Liverpool. The great est consternation prevailed amongst the passengers. On the Mowing of the tide she was backed off, with the pumps going, 4id succeeded in making Ramsey-harbour. She now lies alongside the pierhead, with her fore hold full of water, a large hole in her bow, and stern broken in pieces ; and is expected to get into harbour next tide. The Derry steamers have re cently been unfortunate at Maughold-head, as this steamer struck near the place where the Maiden City was wrecked so very lately. It is time the aut horities should p lace a light on this promontory, as it is right on the track of the Liverpool arid Northern traders.—Mona's Herald. STABBING AT Sr. HELEN'S.—On Wednesday, Christopher ~1 3r adley, of Eccleston, tailor, was brought before Richard Pil- Elngton, Esq., charged with stabbing William Makin, of Parr. The prisoner, on Saturday night, was in Oldfield's Mlle-house, Barrow-street, and being expelled by the land lord for drunkenness, he created a disturbance in the street. Makin, who was in the public-house, came out shortly after the prisoner had been expelled, when • the latter ran at him and stabbed him three times with a pocket knife. The Wounds were of a serious nature. The parties were strangers to each other, and it is supposed that the prisoner must have mistaken his victim. • The prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes.—ln the case of Joseph Kearns, charged with embezzlement, the magistrate again refused an application for - - CAPTAIN WILI/1A.31&S SCREW PROPELLER.—A new descrip tion of screw-propeller, the invention of Captain William Williams,, commander of the City of Dublin Company's s teamer Windsor, will in a few days be practically tested. One of the se propellers has been made at Scott's foundry, Tranmere, and is to be attached to the steamer Semaphore , belongiug to the Belfast Company. The power of the propeller is not ob tained as in the ordinary screw, bat by direct action, and while reducing the revolutions of the engines on an average from 1 8 to 63, the speed of the vessel is increased. The screw, Which is now on view at the foundry, has been inspected by several nautical gentlemen, who speak of the invention in the Most favourable terms. The experiment to be made must, however, decide its practical application to the purposes of steam navigation. SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN LONDON-ROAD.—On Wednesday forenoon a rather alarming accident took place in London-road, by the collision of a carriage drawn by two horses with one of the Wavertree omnibuses. The vehicle of Mr. W. T. Callan, surgeon, of Islington-terrace, was left for a moment by the coachman in front of the stables, when the horses took fright and galloped down Islington, along Camden-street, into Lon don -road, where they cattle into collision with the leading horses in Mr. Mattison's Wavertree omnibus, which was coining into town. The result was that the leaders in the omnibus were thrown down, and one of the anima ls, havin g been violently struck in the side by the carriage, died almost immediately afterwards. The other horse also sustained some injury. After the collision the animals in the carriage dashed oil towards Pudsey-street, and when at the corner one of them fell down, and was dragged about a dozen yards. The vehicle was then stopped, and the horses taken to the stables of Mr. Wilson, in Lime-street. The carriage was considerably da - /paged, and one of Mr. Callan's horses was so much injured that it was thought it would have to be destroyed. There Were a number of passengers in the omnibus, but none of them sustained any injury. HISTORIC SOCIETY.—A meeting of the statistical section of this society was held on Thursday, in St. George's-hall, J. T. Damson Ein the chair. Amongst the donatio n s announced by Dr. Hume, the secretary, was a copy of Thomas Shadwell's comedy, " The Humourist," dated 1671, dedicated to her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle, and containing the auto graph of the duke. Dr. Thom mentioned that he had re ceived a letter from Mr. •James Thompson, of the Chronicle- Office, Leicester, respecting the celebration of the Preston Guild every 20 years. His ancestors were natives of Preston some eenturies ago, and bore a prominent part iu some of their celebrations. Dr. Hume drew the attention of the society to some beautiful maps which are in coarse of publi cation. They are accurate in detail, and around them are grouped pictorial and ethnological illustrations. The-secre tary announced that the Bth volume of the Transactions of the Society was in the press, and would soon be ready for the members. Dr. Thom having taken the chair, Mr. Danson then proceeded to read a portion of the paper for the evening, entitled " The Manchester District." The paper was a con tinuation of a former one on " Liverpool and the surrounding townships—their growth of population during the last fifty Years." It contained a great amount of statistical informa tion respecting the progressive increase in the population of Manchester and the surrounding district since 1801, and ex planations of the causes which have operated in varying the rate of increase in the different localities. Mr. Danson ob served that the paper would be published in extenso. Thanks Were voted to Mr. Dawson, and after a short conversation the meeting separated. DOCK COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting of this committee *as held on Thursday, Mr. F. Shand in the chair. The other Members present were Messrs. Rankin, Gregson, Monde], Barber, J. Holme, Gladstone, Palmer, Hubback, Anderson, Robinson, Brocklebank, Rounthwaite, Rathbone, Lockett, and Evans. The sub-committee of works and the sub-committee for warehouse management had nothing to report. The Marine sub-committee submitted a report from the marine surveyor, to the effect that the Bell-beacon was run foul of and carried away by the screw-steamer Semaphore, on Sunday ; and a sum of £3 10s. had been paid to the boatmen who re covered the beacon. The sub-committee were directed to have the necessary repairs executed, and to apply to the owners of the, Semaphore to make good the damage done. The sub committee submitted a diagram of the diurnal fall and rise of the tide,according to the self-regulating tide-guages at Hilbre .island and 'George's-pier. It appeared that in 1855 there were 224 tides plus, 95 ditto minus, and 15 which agreed with Holden's tables. The greatest rise of tide was on the 25th October ; the height was 29 feet, wind west, and the horizon tal motion 620. The least rise of tide was on the 26th April ; the height was 11 feet 4 inches; and the horizontal motion, 194 ; wind variable. A letter was rend from Messrs. James Baines and Co., requesting the dock committee to grant their Australian mail ships a priority in entering the graving docks. The vessels were obliged to be examined by the government _Surveyor before each sailing; and as very few of the graving docks were wide enough to admit their ships, they would be Put to great delay and expense if obliged to wait.—Mr. Lockett aaid those ships were always accommodated when possible. — The Chairman : You will give them every facility which you can ? Mr. Lockett: Yes.—Mr. Brocklebank thought those ships ought to have no undue advantage. The Chairman : -:-To ; but he fancied every accommodation would be given as far as it possibly • could. Referred to the harbour-masters' sub-committee.—A letter from Messrs. R. W. Preston and Co., complaining of the excessive charges on rum in the tran sit sheds, was referred to the warehouse sub-committee. A letter was also read from Messrs. Wilson, Son, and Church, as .tei the charges on mineral waters lying in the Albert-dock. • The consideration of this subject was before the warehouse Committee, and the letter was referred to that body. A balance of £607 Bs. Bd., due to the watch committee on account of the dock police, was ordered to be paid. The business of the com mittee then concluded. . SINGULA.R. CASS OF FRAirD.—A young woman, named -Mary Williams, has just been apprehended in Liverpool, on the charge of having obtained the sum of £2o,hy false pre tences, from Mr. Slane, formerly M.P. for Shrewsbury. It . 1 1:lpears that Mrs. Williams, the wife of a warehouseman living in Everton, before her marriage, was one of the favourite ser vants of the late Mrs. Mucklestoue, of Walford-hall, near Shrewsbury, who bequeathed to her an annuity of £lO per annum. Soon after the death of her mistress, Mrs. Williams came to Liverpool, and was subsequently married. She re ceived the annuity for some time, but being in tolerably com fortable circumstances, she requested that it might be for warded to her every two years. When she received the last X2CP, she resided in Hotham-street, but she subsequently re moved to Everton, where she now resides. Shortly afterwards, - Mr. Slane addressed a letter to her at her former residence, and the letter was received by the prisoner Mary Williams. She opened it, and ascertained from its contents that the per- Son for whom the letter was intended was entitled to the an • unity above referred to. She kept the letter, and opened a • correspondence with Mr. Slane, in the course of which she - ascertained the nature of the annuity and the mode of pay rnent. She ultimately informed Mr. Slane that he must in future address his communications to her at No. 3, Finch-place, • Whither she bad removed. Letters were addressed to her 'there accordingly; and the first result was, that in February, 1855, having written to Mr. S l ane to the effect that she was desirous of altering the arrangement of receiving her annuity at the expiration of two years, she received a cheque for .£lO. This cheque was cashed at the bank of Messrs Heywood and Sons. In August of the same year, Mary Williams again wrote to Mr. Slane, saying that she was placed in unforeseen Pecuniary difficulties, and asking, that gentleman to remit her 4 6 out of the next yearly annuity. This request was com- Plied with, and the money drawn on the 25th of that month. In December last, the girl once more communicated with Mr. Slane, stating that she was near her confinement, and soliciting the favour of his remitting her the balance of the year's an nuity- He replied that it was not due before February, 1856, but that, nevertheless, if she were really pressed for the money, she should be accommodated. The application was accordingly renewed in the most pathetic terms, and the result was the remittance and receipt of the £5. A few days ago, the time having arrived for Mrs. Williams to receiveher annuity for the Past two years, she addressed a letter to Mr. Shane requesting that he would kindly forward the full amount. The fraud was! immediately discovered, and inquiries were instituted, 'inch resulted in the apprehension of the prisoner, on Monday lest, in a house at the back of Blake-street. Being near her confinement, she was removed to the Workhouse, where she will remain until she is able to appear before the magistrates 1 to answer the charge made against her. THE LIVERPCOL STANDARD. EDWARD Swouns, charged with entering the house of John Hopking, of Ormakirk, breaking open a chest, and stealing £7 10s. in gold therefrom, has been committed for trial at the Kirkdale sessions. - - THE SPIRIT OF THE DEEP, of Liverpool, Hewitt, from Canton, has arrived in the Downs, having made the voyage hence to Calcutta, China, and London, in seven months and twenty days, exclusive of detention in port. Lin swift boats from Runcorn to Manchester, via Lymm, in consequence of the Bridgewater canal having been taken on lease by the North Staffordshire railway company, ceased to run on Saturday. - -•- Mr. SEPTIMVS TEBAY, twenty-seventh wrangler in the last Cambridge list of honours, was originally a labourer in a mechanics' shop at Preston, and had received scarcely more than the ordinary education of that class. THE Liverpool and Philadelphia line of steamships which were chartered for the French transport service on outbreak of hostilities with Russia, will presently resume their old station, and one of them, the city of Baltimore, Captain Leitch, is expected to leave Liverpool for Philadelphia in the course of another month. RAPID PAssAcas.—The new iron ship Ellen Bates, of this port, arrived here on Friday morning , with a cargo of cotton from New Orleans, after a remarkably rapid passage of 25 days 10 hours, having left the bar at New Orleans at 5 p.m. on the 20th ult.—The screw-steamer Edinburgh arrived at Greenock on Friday morning, in 11 days 22 hours, from New York. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH CANADA. — The first of six new screw steamers to run between Canada and Liverpool will commence operations on the 23rd of April, when the North America will leave Montreal for Liverpool, returning from this port on the 24th of May. When all the steamers of the line are built, the communication by them will be semi- monthly. ST. GEORGE'S HALL AND THE PRESS.—A memorial is being distributed amongst the newspaper proprietors of Liverpool, by the Press Association, soliciting their co-operation in a representation to the town council relative to the seats for the reporters in the law courts of St. George's-hall. Appended to the memorial are a number of letters, setting forth the incon veniences and annoyances to which reporters have been sub- jetted. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. — The London and North-western Company conveyed in and out of the Lime-street station, in this town, in the month of December, the large number of 2800 troops, 300 officers, and above 600 followers, without accident or interruption to their ordinary public service, ,and many hundreds being conveyed at one time and without prior notice, under the management of Mr. Palmer, the superin tendent, and of Mr. Brooks, of Euston-station. OPENING or THE ASSIZES. — The Deputy Prothonotary has issued the usual circular, which states :—ln pursuance of the rule of court of March assizes, 1842, the causes intended to be tried at Liverpool will be entered in the following order :- Ist list, Salford hundred. 2nd list, West Derby hundred, or elsewhere. The entry of causes at Lancaster will close at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning the 19th instant, and at Liierpool at twelve o'clock at noon, on Monday, the 24th of March. The causes in the 2nd list will not be called on for trial before Wednesday, the 26th of March. The business of the public offices will be transacted at Preston during the assizes, as usual. LIVERPOOL GUARDIAN SOCIETY. — The thirty-third anni versary of this society was celebrated on Thursday, by a dinner at the Angel Hotel, Dale-street ; J. Wrenn, Esq., the president, in the chair. Amongst the other gentlemen present were the vice-president, Mr. Upton, Messrs. Steel, Crossley, Pemberton, D. Evans, Kitchen, Jos. Thompson, Lillyman, Dooley, S. Moss, James Evans, H. E. Brown, G. Jones, E. Jones, J. Reay, J. B. Reay, J. Smith, Johnson, (Leeds,) and Cottam, (Manchester.) The dinner, which embraced every delicacy of the season, was served up in the most admirable manner, and, as well as the wines, gave the greatest satis faction. KDIRDALR READING-ROOM. — The fifth lecture in connec tion with this institution was delivered on Tuesday, by Pro fessor G. Calvert, of Manchester. The subject was "The Ocean," which he treated in a most interesting and practical manner, illustrating hiS various points by experiments. He treated of iodine, the formation of coral, the various salts con tained in sea-water, &c. The lecture was listened to through out with the greatest attention, the assembly every now and then manifesting their pleasure by applause. Mr. Alderman Dover was in the chair. lavEßrooL REFORM ASSOCIA.TION. — The annual meeting of this body was held on Wednesday, at the rooms of the association ; Mr. Thomas Brocklebank in the chair. The proceedings comprehended little more than the reading and adoption of the annual report, and the election of officers for the ensuing year. The report here testimony to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Ewart, M.P., who, it appeared from the treasurer's statement, had given a donation of £l5O to the association funds. Mr. Thomas Brocklebank was re elected president, and after a variety of complimentary votes, the proceedings closed. CRUELTY TO SEAMEN. — Captain Isbester, and the mate, Louis Buchanan, of the ship Kedjeree, were summoned before Mr. Mansfield, by George Morris, a seaman of the same ship, who charged them with putting him in irons, lashing his hands, and gagging him without provocation. The captain and mate called several witnesses who proved that the crew had been very insubordinate during the voyage, and that the complainant was one of the chief movers in it. Mr. Mans field fined each £2 and costs, as the captain had received great provocation ; but still they were not justified in using such great violence. THE MANCHESTER STRIKE.—The strike of spinners at Man chester, which has now lasted nearly thirteen weeks, has not yet been brought to a close. There was a meeting of about _ 300 only on Wednesday night, at which it was complained that while on the one hand the spinners in work did not sup port those on strike so liberally as they ought, unauthorised persons, on the other hand, were waiting on shopkeepers and getting money iii the name of the turnouts. Great dissatis faction was expressed by the meeting with the committee managing the strike, and a metion was made for its dissolution. Much confusion and recrimination between parties present at the meeting followed, and the meeting was ultimately dis solved by the platform lights being extinguished before a vote could be taken. - - SUSPICIOUS CASE.—At the Police-court, on Friday, Ber nard Carney, marine store dealer, in Chisenhall-street, and William Hayes, dock porter, were charged by detectives Astic and Thompson, under the following circumstances:—The two detectives having received information of a number of rob beries of copper nails and bolts, went iu search of the property. In a cellar in Titchfield-street, occupied by Carney, a large quantity of copper and brass bolts were found. Carney could not account for the possession of that property in his books, which a marine store dealer is bound to keep. He was taken into custody, and lodged in the bridewell. The two detectives went back to watch his house, to see if any person brought any goods there ; while watching, about ten o'clock on Friday morning, they saw the prisoner Hayes going towards the house; they stopped Lim, and upon being searched, 291bs. of copper nails were found in a handkerchief in one of his pockets. He could not account for having the nails in his possession. Hayes was sent to gaol for two months, and Carney was remanded. LADIES' CHARITT.—On Thursday, the annual meeting of the friends of the above charity was held at the Blue Coat Hospital. Mr. G. W. Moss took the chair. The secretary, Mr. C. J. Smith, read the report. It referred with plersure to the present condition of the institution. It was true that the amount of annual subscriptions was smaller than it had been since 1832, yet, upon the whale, the year bad been a favour able one, as the funds received from casual sources, including the ball, had increased, and there was a handsome balance in favour of the charity. The number of patients relieved during the year was 1369, being an increase of 131 over the preceding year. The treasurer's report enumerated the yearly subscrip tions as £431 2s. 6d., receipts from ball £237, and the total amount, including a balance from last year, at £1,248 ls. 10d. The expenditure left a balance of £384 9s. 10d. in the hands of their banker. Resolutions of thanks to the various officers and committees having been adopted, and the commit. tees and officers for the ensuing year appointed, the meeting next agreed to appoint Mr. Batty consulting-surgeon of the institution, in consideration of his valuable services as visit ing-surgeon for a period of 30 years. It was also agreed to fund £3OO of the money iu hand, for the benefit of the charity. THE HIBERNIAN SCHOOLS.—On Thursday, the annual meeting of the friends and supporters of these schools was held in the school-room, Pleasant-street, William Rathbone, Esq., in the chair. The Committee of the Hibernian Schools, having superintended their operations for another year, pre sented a report to the subscribers, from which it appeared that the number of scholars on the books at the end of 1855 was 449—viz , in the upper school 97 boys and 41 girls, total, 138 ; middle school 90 boys and 72 girls, total, 162 ; infant school 83 boys and 66 girls, total, 149. Grand total, 449. This is about the same number that the school has contained for seve ral years past. Mr. Davis, late of Staleybridge, entered on his duties as master of the high school at midsummer, and since then he has taken the degree of BA., of the London Uni versity. The committee express great confidence in Mr. Davis's labours. During the year improvements had been effected in the school, at a - cost of £l3O, which would have to be raised by special donations. The treasurer's account showed a deficiency in the income, as compared with the regular ex penditure, during the past year, of £166 16s. 9d. A NEW MATERIAL.—Mr. F. J. Eaton, of Exchange chambers, has received a sample of a vegetable product which is calculated to become an important article of commerce, inas much as while its price is trifling and the supply abundant, it is adapted to the manufacture of articles, the material for which has hitherto been comparatively dear and scarce. The product in question grows wild in Mexico, and is called by the natives of that country " Pita." It is extracted from the Maguay plant by the beating process, similar to that adopted with flax, and it resembles much the best quality of horse-hair. It is beautifully white,clear, and tenacious, and is adapted to the manufacture of brushes, as well as to all the purposes for which horse-hair is used, while the price is infinitely less, and the quantity in which it can be procured infinitely larger than those of the materials of which brushes and hair fabrics are usually made. We understand that the "Pita" first found its way to the United States, but its value there not being appreciated, it was exported to this country, where there is now an eager demand for it. When manufactured, into brushes particularly, the material is found to be exceedingly durable. HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting of this com mittee was held on Thursday, at the Town-hall. Mr. Alder man Langsdale presided. The sub-committee recommended that proceedings be taken against Mr. Mellor, as to houses in Brancker-street. It appeared that Mr. Mellor had built on one side of the street, and had encroached upon the street so as to leave it only 20 feet 5 inches wide, whereas the law requires that no street shall be of less width than 30 feet. The Town-clerk was instructed to carry out the recommenda tion of the sub-committee. Mr. Gladstone moved—" That the following members form a sub-committee to take into consideration the unhealthiness of the present Town Council room, and to suggest a remedy, to be submitted to the Town Council for their approval :—Messrs. James Holme, Sheil, Halhead, Tinne, Crosthwaite, and M`Guffie." Mr. Halhead seconded the motion, and Mr. Tinne supported it. Mr. Gladstone's name having been added to the proposed sub committee, the resolution was unanimously agreed to, and the meeting shortly afterwards broke up. The medical officer reported that, in the week ending the 9th instant, there was an increase in the mortality of the borough in consequence of the cold weather which prevailed from the 29th January to the sth instant inclusive. The deaths from all causes were 240, being 36 more than in the preceding week, but six less than the corrected average of the same week of the preceding eight years. The increased mortality arose almost entirely from diseases of the lungs, which caused 98 deaths, against 75 in the previous week. The deaths from fever during the week were lower than were ever previously recorded. The temperature during the early portion of the week was 6 deg. below the average. The horizontal motion of the air averaged 426 miles dairy. Mr. WILSON Gums, who has resigned the appointment as shipwright surveyor for this port, has- received the following gratifying letter from the Board of Trade :—"Sir,—l am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter resigning your appoint ment as shipwright surveyor for the port of Liverpool. Their lordships desire me to express to you their approbation of the manner in which you have at all times discharged the duties of the office which you now resign. My lords, however, hope that you will continue your services until the appointment of your successor.—l am, sir, yours, &c., JAlsss Boont." " CIIEMISTS' AssocuTrors.—The fortnightly meeting of this , society was held on Thursday, at the Royal. Institution, the president, Mr. Abraham, in the chair.—The secretary ex hibited a comb and brush, each containing a small galvanic battery, for applying a galvanic current of air to the skin of the head.—Mr. H. S. Evans, F.C.S., read an interesting and important paper on the " Natural History ,of the Cinchona Barks," which was illustrated by a series of barks authenti cated by J. E. Howard, Esq., and presented to the museum by J. Evans, Esq., of London.—Mr. Rowland exhibited and explained his micro-photographic and enlarging apparatus, (adjourned from last meeting), and practically showed its mode of working. The thanks of the meeting were passed to Messrs. Evans and Rowlands, for their communications, and , also to the donors to the museum. SEAMEN REFUSING TO WORK.—At the Police-court, on Friday, thirty-two seamen, of the Donald Wiley, were charged by Captain Warner, of that ship, with refusing to do duty. Detective Wilson said, having received information that a number of seamen belonging to the Donald M'Kay were refusing to work, he, in company with twenty police-officers, proceeded to the ship and apprehended them. Captain Warner stated that nine of his crew refused to do work on Thursday morning before breakfast, and the rest of the ac cused joined them after breakfast. He added that he sailed on the 13th instant, for Mobile, and put back on the 14th, owing to the bad weather ; and as he was putting back the crew refused to work. As he intended to sail again on Sun day, it would be a great hindrance to him if he had to find another crew. He thought it was a trick of the seamen to obtain the advance money, which some bad obtained for one and others for two months. When.the seamen were asked the reason of their " turn-out," they all replied that the ship was too lightly manned. This the captain denied, observing that she had a larger crew than ever she had before. Mr. Mansfield asked them if they were willing to go back to their ship. They all refused. Mr. Mansfield committed them for twelve weeks. LIVERPOOL INDUSTRIAL RAGGED SCHOOLB.—The seventh annual meeting of these schools was held on Wednesday, in the schoolroom, Soho-street. From the report it appears that since the schools were opened, in March, 1849, 1358 children have been admitted, of whom 341 have been sent to situations. The treasurer's account shows that the net earn ings of the children were £127 3s. 3d. • and independent of this, the girls had made 188 shirts, 15 8 chemises, 63 petticoats, 19 pairs of sheets, 60 frocks, 147 aprons 33 pinafores, 48 hand kerchiefs, 30 bed-ticks, 104 blouses, and 48 towels, which, if paid for at a very low price, would amount to £ll 13s. Bd. The total number of children admitted during the year 1855 was 362, of whom 242 were boys and 120 girls. The average number who have slept in the house was 26, of whom 11 were girls and 16 boys. The number of boys employed in various occupations on the premises is 112, and girls 58. Amongst the children admitted 62 have gone to situations, 6 sent to their own parish, 6 gone to other schools (their condition hav ing been improved), 8 left Liverpool, 114 left school of their own accord, 1 died, 6 left sick ; making a total of 192, of whom 62 were girls and 130 boys. The total amount of subscriptions and donatibns received during the last year has been'£7l4 175.; received from children's parents, £7 6s. The whole amount received by the treasurer has been £1,299115. 5d.; the balance due to the treasurer is £174195. 10d. Among the donors are Thomas D. Anderson, Esq., £100; Mr. George Arkie, £10; Mrs. D. Bourne, £5; and Mr. John Drinkwater, £5. WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.—A return has just been printed of the wrecks and casualties on or near the coasts of the United Kingdom, in 1855. The result is deplorable. The total number of wrecks and casualties were 1,141, of 176,544 tons. Of the vessels, 963 were British, 11 colonial, and 116. foreign ; of .which number were totally wrecked 272, stranded and recovered 246, stranded (but whether totally or partial loss not reported) 167, totally lost in collision 55, seriously damaged in collision 178, slightly damaged in collision 14, leaky and foundered 49, leaky and put back to discharge and repair 47, destroyed by fire 14, found " derelict" 19, dis masted and otherwise damaged 49, abandoned 20, capsized and sunk 9, seriously damaged by spontaneous combustion of cargo 2. Of these 676 occurred on the east coast, 251 on the west coast, and 117 on the south coast, of Great Britain ; 127 on the Irish coast ; 10 off the Scilly Islands ; 6 off the Channel Islands 34 off the Northern Islands, viz., Orkneys, Shetland, and Hebrides ; 13 off the Isle of Man ; and 7 off the Lundy Island. In 1855, the total number of lives lost was 469 ; in 1854, 1,549 ;in 1853, 689 ;in 1852, 920. The number of collisions reported is greatly on the increase, being 247 against 94 registered in 1854, 73 in 1853, and 57 in 1852. This increase is, perhaps, attributable, in part at anv rate, to the same cause as that of the number of wrecks above nientioned. Total amount paid to life-boats during the year £582 3s. Bd.; total amount as rewards for saving life, £655 3s' WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—Mr. Harrison presided at the weekly meeting of the guardians on Wednesday, when the balance in the hands of the treasurer was found to be £491 18s. 4d. The guardians having considered the letter from the Poor-law Board, dated the 12th instant, on the sub ject of the dietary table proposed by the guardians for the idle and refractory inmates of the workhouse, make the following reply:-Ist. That the Poor-law Board is not asked to sanction a difference. in the diet for a particular class of paupers in the workhouse, when such difference is made to depend upon the moral character of the paupers, or their conduct, previous to their becoming inmates of the workhouse ; but, on the con trary, intend such proposed dietary for that class only who are idle and refractory in the workhouse. 2nd. That the guardians are of opinion that workhouses should be so conducted as to provide a suitable asylum for the aged and deserving, but un fortunate poor, who are destitute of home and friend, and whose only crime is their poverty ; wilke, at the same time, it sup plies a test for the able-bodied, idle, and profligate; and the guardians of this union will never sanction, or assist in carry ing out, a system which treats upon an equality two classes so widely different in character. COLONEL WILSON PATTEN.—The following General Order has been issued, dated Horse Guards, Feb. 91—The Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has great pleasure in com municating - to the army the following garrison order, issued by Lieutenant-General Sir James Fergusson, Governor of Gibraltar :—Gibraltar, Jan. 16. The Lieutenant-General Commanding cannot allow the departure of Colonel Wilson Patten without expressing his regret at losing his services and assistance. Colonel Wilson Patten has devoted his time and energies so unceasingly to the training of his officers and men, and has shown so good an example in coming out with his regi ment, when, from other duties, it could not have been expected from him, that the Lieutenant-General Commanding feels it incumbent on him to express his high sense of the service he has rendered to his Queen and country, and he will not fail to notify to the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief the favour able opinion he has formed of Colonel Wilson Patten and the 3rd Royal Lancashire Regiment.—J. FIIRGIISSON, Lieut.- General.—The valuable services of Colonel Wilson Patten, and the zeal and exertion he has evinced in bringing his regi ment to its present high state of discipline and efficiency have been, on other occasions, most favourably brought to the notice of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and his lordship feels that he can in no way better mark his approval than by thus promulgating Lieutenant-General Sir James Fergusson's order, so creditable to Colonel Patten and the militia service. By command, &c. LIVERPOOL INSTITUTION FOR THE TRAINING- AND EM PLOYMENT OF NURSES. —The first annual meting of the sup porters of this institution was held at the Slater-street Insti tution-house, on Friday ; Mr. Edward Cropper in the chair. The report stated that a large number of applicants for admis sion to the institution had been found quite unfit for the duties of nurses, and that the period of two months probation was found most necessary and useful, many nurses who came with high testimonials having during that period been found quite unqualified. Six nurses now in the house had passed their pro bation, and two others had been engaged to enter it. A con siderable number of patients had been assisted gratuitously, and the number attended for small fees was as large as could be expected, the nurses being scarcely at home two days to gether. The demand, in fact, had been greater than the in stitution could supply. But the current expenses of clothes, salaries, &c., were so heavy., that unless the subscriptions came in more freely the establishment could not be maintained. An urgent appeal was made by the committee for increased sup port, and the document closed with a number of testimonials to the efficiency of various nurses supplied by the establish ment. The treasurer, Mr. J. Cropper, read the statement of accounts, which showed that the expenses during the year had been upwards of £2OO. The furnishing of the house had cost £141; housekeeping, £B5 18s. Bd. ; salaries, £5O 11s. Bd. ; rent and taxes, £26 13s. 9d. • printing, £lO 4s. 9d. The donations had been £226 ; the subscriptions, £4B ; nurses' earnings during eight, months, £4B 6s. The treasurer re marked that, if they could maintain nine good nurses, the institution would be self-supporting: The Rev. J. S. Howson moved the adoption of the report, which it was agreed should be as extensively circulated as passible. • The motion was seconded and adopted. The Rev. Dr. M`Neile moved a reso lution declaratory of the value and importance of the institu tion, and urging its claims to support. He particularly dwelt upon the advantages of having nurses of Christian character, and upon the usefulness of their ministrations to the very poor. Mr. Bickersteth seconded the resolution, which was cordially adopted, as were also a few others of a routine character. INSURANCE LOSSES BY THE RECENT GALE.—The insurance clubs in the north-east ports are likely to be severe sufferers by the gales of Wednesday and Thursday week. The oldest sea men never experienced a more violent hurricane of wind, during the time it blew, and scarcely a day elapses but intelli gence is received of one disaster or other occasioned by the gale. Several ships went bodily down about forty miles off the land, their crews fortunately escaping on board of other vessels : others had their masts blown over their sides, or their sails stripped from the yards, and became thus disabled and unmanageable. The following are amongst some of the disas ters that have been reported daring the week :—ln the midst of the gale, the brig George Glen, when about fifty miles off the Durham coast, became so leaky, that her crew could not keep her afloat, and they escaped on board the St. Martin, of Caen. They had not been long on board that vessel when a Sunderlar.d brig, the William Henry, ran into her, and the. crews of the two vessels had just time to. escape on board the William Henry, when the St. Martin sunk: • A brig, the Maria, has been brought into Scarborough, abandoned by her crew ; she is laden with oak timber. The master, his wife, and the crew of the Odenburg, of Amster dam, have been brought into Scarborough, having abandoned that vessel off Tynemouth point, in a sinking state. The Henry King, of Hastings, has also been brought into Hartle pool, with her mainmast gone, having been abandoned by her crew, who got on board a Stockton vessel. The Sea Bird, of Shields, also sank in the gale. Her crew, when they appeared to be in the last extremity, were fortunately rescued by the crew of the Alice, of Exeter. The Kitty Wake, of Scar borough, was also abandoned by her crew off the Scotch coast, and the Stockton and London trader Darlington was run down by the Margaret, of Sunderland, and sunk, with a valuable cargo. A brig, the Sultan, belonging to Shields, which was proceeding from the Tyne on a voyage to Lisbon, was overtaken by the oak. During the course of Friday she was fallen in with by a Sandwich schooner, and from some unexplained reason, the master and crew of the brig went on board of the. schooner, and part of the schooner's crew pro ceeded on board , the brig. They have managed to get her into the Tyne, and will be entitled to handsome salvage. Such - are some of the disasters that have occurred. With the mis chief done to Vessels in the Tyne—in itself falling not far short of £2o,ooo—the loss of shipping property on the north east coast, occasioned by the late gale, will approach £OO,OOO. GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. IT is rather surprising that so many of the population die not in their own homes." , For every five persons, or rather aaore, who died in London last year, one died in a wcrkhouse, lospiial, or other public institution. THOMAS RALPH COLLINSON, commission agent in Bank treet, Leeds, has been committed for trial, charged with torging the name of a referee to a bond of " The Times Fire Ind Lift; Assurance and Guarantee Association," which has gees in London and Liverpool. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—An accident attended with a seri ins loss of life occurred at Bowtheck Slate Quarries,near Camel brd, a few days ago. Upwards of 100 fathoms of rock at the lack of the quarry suddenly gave way, and three men, named basso Hoskin, John Masters, and Youlton, were crushed to Leath. Several others narrowly escaped ; and if all the men imployed at the quarry had been in their usual places a large lumber would in all probability have lost their lives. Tun Illustrated News recently had an engraving entitled Sunday Morning Prayers." In Saturday's number we find tie following correction:—" We are requested by Mr. Carmi chael to correct a mistake made in the title of the illustra ton, ' Sunday Morning Prayers.' It should have been the `Daily Morning Prayers on board H.M.S. the Blenheim.' be people of England and the world ought to know (adds air artist) that British sailors attend prayers every day in the veek." THE bankers Strahan, Paul, and Bates, were brought up it custody, on Tuesday, to an examination-meeting in bank riptcy, before Mr. Commissioner Evans. It was stated that adividend of ls. 9d. is in course of payment, under the joint qtate, and a further dividend is expected to be paid in June Ibxt. A dividend of 9d. in the pound is also payable, under 9.ch of the separate estates of Strahan and Paul, and of ld. tbder the separate estate of Bates. JOHN THOMAS, a black man, has been repeatedly before the Worship• street (London) police-magistrate, lately, for uttering hoe sixpences; recently, he has been taken, upon an average, twice a-week. The Mint, however, refuses to prosecute, on the gound•of the base sixpences not closely resembling the real gin, which would, probably, owing to the wording of the statute, allow the fellow to escape. On his being once more bought up on Thursday, the magistrate said he would remand urn to see what could be done ; " the prisoner clearly laughed the powerlessness of the law." Mr. SAMUEL BAKER and Mr. Ric►hard Potter have resigned tieir seats as directors of the Great-western Railway Com- xiiy, because, after considerable experience and mucli consi deration, they came to the conclusion that the duties imposed spon Mr. Saunders were greater than any man could execute, pith justice to himself and advantage to the company. He is tie secretary and general superintendent ; and on him, alone, !evolves nearly all the responsible duties which, in other com pnies, are shared by directors." The board had previously resolved, by eight to six, to continue Mr. Saunders in his office. CHARITABLE USES BILL.—A bill of Mr. Atherton and Mr. Butt amends the law relating to the conveyance of lands for charitable uses. It provides, after a preamble of enormous length, that no past or future deed for charitable uses upon valuable consideration shall he void if enrolled in the Court of Chancery within six months from the date of the act. No past deed is to be void by reason of non-compliance with the formalities in the 9th of George H., chap. 36 ; and no future deed is to be void by reason of specified stipulations for the (donor's benefit or (as to copyholds) for want of deed indented. The act will not affect deeds already avoided or pending suits. A DEPUTATION from the fire insurance offices waited, on Tuesday, on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to explain the danger of ruin they were placed in by the announced compe tition of a French company, La France, prepared to take English policies in Paris. This company will receive policies at 2s. per cent., whilst the English companies have to pay a duty of 3s. per cent., from which our allies are exempt. Of course, under such terms, the whole business of fire insurance must speedily cross the Channel. The Chancellor of the Ex chequer promised that he would consider what should be done to protect the English companies and the revenue • but thought, notwithstanding the opinions given to the contrary, that their best protection would be the want of public confi- dente in foreig,ti companies. TmERE was a " row " lately at a lecture by M. Nisard, at the Sarbonne in Paris. Police agents in plain clothes were „..., present; they made a mark with chalk on the backs of the most uproarious, of the students, so that they might be known ard, arrested when they left the hall ; the students detected tle manoeuvre, and chalked the police agents : when the (Akers left the place, the Sergens de Ville arrested them, lolged them in prison, and kept them there for a day and a n4ht ! The real delinquents, two professors and twelve students of the Schools of Law aud Medicine, have been tried bythe Correctional Court of Paris, for participation in the ribs. One of them was acquitted; the two professors were seitented to six months' imprisonment, five of the students to tkee months, four. to one month, and the others to 100 f. fine. DUtING a storm which prevailed last week, a remarkable eloctric phenomenon occurred at a tavern near Bristol. The bA• front of the place is a shop window of considerable height aid width, glazed with a thick quality of glass. Across the riddle of this window, on the inside, was a shelf, on which were several decanters and glasses ; and further in was a crim son curtain, working with brass rings upon a brass pole. The inmates observed an unusual degree of darkness, when all of a Paden a noise was heard like the firing of a small cannon, I nd immediately the brass pole on which the curtain worked. vas torn to pieces, and the entire window front, with the ;hell, decanters, and glasses, shattered to atoms and driven. mit into the street. The toot' of the house was afterwards axarained, and it was found that the chimney-pot was so much affected by the electricity, that on being touched it fell to pieces. POLICE (COUNTIES AND BOROUGH) BILL.—A bill to render more effectual the police in counties and boroughs in England and Wales has been brought in by Sir G. Grey, Lord Palmerston, and Mr. Massey. It empowers the Court of Quarter Sessions to establish a sufficient police force for the whole of a county, when such has not already been formed, or, otherwise, for the residue of the said county. The Queen may, by order in Council, require separate police districts to be constituted in counties, and, on representations from boroughs, may arrange the terms of their consolidation with counties. On a certificate of the Secretary of State that an efficient police force has been established in any county or borough, one-fourth of the charge for pay and clothing will be defrayed by the Treasury, but no payment is to be made towards the expense of the police force of any borough the population of which is under 6,000, not consolidated with the county force. This act does not extend to the metropolitan district of police. A NOVELTY IN TunKny.—The Viscountess Stratford de Redcliffe gave a children's fancy dress ball on the 22nd ultimo, at the residence of the British Embassy in Pera. The 200 little creatures present included little Turks, little Greeks, Albanians, Armenians, and Syrians of every race. All were in their richest costumes, chattering each in their own tongue, and dancing after their own fashion. And there were the children of diplomatists, and of the Frank colony, dressed in every variety of picturesque costume, and speaking among them every language in Europe. At midnight the gay little crowd were led away to their homes, some across the Golden Horn to Stamboul, others to villa's on the Bosphorus, and ethers to the labyrinths of .Pera. The evening then began for she rest of the brilliant society, and dancing was kept up till laybreak. A little after midnight the banqueting-room was Thrown open, where every delicacy was offered in profusion to she guests. Among those present were many names well known to the fashionable world in London. Mr. ALEXANDER M'ConscrisnaLi, a gentle Man who has twice visited Natal, is now again on his way there, with the intention of cultivating sugar, cotton, and coffee, for the pro duction of which the soil and climate are well suited. He.has purchased (says Aris's Birmingham Gazette) about 3,000 wres, and having completed his arrangements in this country, he has chartered a vessel of 300 tons burden. The crew and passengers consist of about ninety persons, including Mr. fTorkindale, his wife and sister, an efficient schoolmistress, asurgeon, labourers, blacksmiths, carpenters, and twenty - two' toys from reformatory schools, seven of them being from Seltley, thirteen from Redhill, and two from Miss Carpenter's school, at Bristol. The boys are apprenticed to Mr. M'Cork isdale for three and a-half years, during which period he will provide therawith food, clothing, and lodging, and pay them sages. At the expiration of the term , if thy resolve to re main in his service six months longer, he has agreed to pay them the current wages of the colony, and to present each of them with £l5 and fifty acres of land. CHARGE AGAINST A CLERGYMAN.—At a special petty session of the county magistrates, held at .odiham, on Mon day, two informations were laid against the Rev. Alfred Lush, the curate of Greywell, who induced a man and his wife, who had been previously married at the Dissenting meeting-house, to be re-married by him in the Church. " One of thtinforma ticas charged him with solemnising such marriage - Without a due publication of the banns ; and the other with making false entries in the marriage registry, by describing the parties as bachelor and spinster, and marrying the woman again in her maiden name. The witnesses called were the man and his wife, "the Rev. J. Gwynne Hughes," who originally married them, the registrar, who was present at both the marriages, and the parish clerk. The knowledge of the first marriage by 3.17. Lush was proved, and also that he paid all the expenses of the re-marriage. Mr. Lush's legal advisers raised several points of law, but the magistrates considered both the charges proved, and committed the curate to take his trial for felony, at the next Winchester assizes. Bail was accepted, himself in £2OO, and one surety in £2OO, for his appearance. - THE REVENUE DEPARTMENTS.—.-The estimates for the Year 1866, ending the 31st of March, 1867, show that the amount required for the Revenue Departments of the Customs, Inland Revenue, and Excise, is £4,588,744, against £4,386,951 in the year 1856-56, thus exhibiting an increase of £202,793. The Customs' Department entails a charge of £840,001 for salaries and expenses, and £486,028 for the Coast-guard ; the Department of Inland Revenue, one of £1,459,207 for salaries, and £63,025 for the Revenue Police, Ireland. The Postnffice entails a charge of £1,740,483, being an increase of £101,622 over last year. The gross total charge of these three depart ments, including the superannuation allowance, is £5,082,927. The Post-office items of expense are, as follows, viz.:—£418,506 for the chief offices in the three capital cities ; £42,786 for surveyors ; £385,528 for the provincial establishments in England; £45,456- for those .in Ireland ; and £60,380 for those in Scotland ; £18,184 for colonial establishments ; £707,118 for the conveyance of snails ; £32,700 for buildings and repairs ; and £29,736 for manufacture of postage stamps. FORMATION OF PARISHES BILL.—The Marquis of Bland ford's new bill empowers the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to constitute new parishes (whether they contain a church or not), to modify the endowment according to the 6th and 7th of Victoria, chap. 37, to appropriate lands for sites of churches, and to make other arrangements. The right to pews in the old parish church will lapse after the occupation of sittings , in the new. Portions of pew-rents, not exceeding one-fourth, ber of sittings will be declared free, or the scale of rents apce c r u m m a u n l e a n te t d ei t id o o w w a ni rd e s a pe o r f n a sa n n y e e n h t ap e e n ta on c - er m t e a n i t n s, nu a m nd .. sav ing the rights of existing incumbents , who, however, may " consent " to any. n ew arrangement affecting their incomes. umrepadoyuncbedthe.e The scale of pew rents may be altered at an y time, The incumbent will appoint the clerk and sexton, and receive. the burial fees and the profits accruing from the sale of vaults. 1 o grave must be dug within 20 feet of the chu rch walls. \ The freeholds of churches and graveyards will be vested in the incumbents. Districts may become new parishes on the ap plication of the incumbent, his wardens, and two-thirds of the inhabitants (ad valorem). Patronage may be conferred upon Parties permanently endowing churches with a.sum of £l5O, or building a church and endowing it with £4O a-year, or en dowing a church with £lOO a-year and building a parsonage. Such patronage may not be vended. When there are several contributors the patronage may be vested in trustees. Other arrangements of detail follow. Mr. JACOB CHRISTIANSEN, an extensive commission mer chant and shipbroker at Leith, has been committed for trial on three charges of forgery. A BULL-DOG belonging to Mr. Warriner, who trains race horses for Mrs. Osbaldeston, worried fifty-six sheep at Blew bury, Berkshire, a few days ago. The mischief done amounted to £9O. THE PAVILION TIIEATRE, Whitechapel-road, London, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning. The damage is estimated at £20,000. The flames broke out in the scene- • painting room. • THE Lincolnshire Times relates that several hams, which were stolen about a fortnight ago from some premises at Barnetby-le-Wold, have been discovered beneath the top flagstone of a tomb in the village churchyard. ON Thursday, the American steamer Ericsson (the steamer on which the famous experiment was made in the United States of propelling a ship by hot air) arrived at Southampton, towing a Dutch brig, which she had met in distress. The Ericsson left on the same evening for Havre. MUNIFICENT OFFER. - At a meeting of the Royal Geogra phical Society, on Monday, Admiral W. F. Beechey in the chair, Count Strzelecki stated that, in the City, so much im portance was attached to the occupation and settlement of North Australia, that a member of the society, M. had placed £lO,OOO at his disposal, for the prosecution of the ex ploring expedition, in the event of the government refusing to send one out. - - LONDOr AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—OR Thursday, the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company was held at the Waterloo station. The report was adopted, and a dividend was declared at the rate of £5 12s. 6d. per cent. per annum, amounting, on £6,890,250 of paid-up capital, to £194,041, leaving a balance of £11,606. It will be payable on Thursday next, the 21st. instant. THE committee for the erection of a statue of the late Edward Baines, Esq., at Leeds, have decided upon appoint in g Mr. Behnes the sculptor of the statue. The statue is to cost 700 guineas ; to be eight feet in height ; and to stand upon a pedestal of Sicilian marble, at the east or right-hand side of the vestibule of the town-hall. The second prize of £3O has been awarded to Mr. Noble. A WOMAN SWIMMING THE MISSISSIPPL — When the ill fated Ben Sherrod was in flames on the Mississippi river, and the lady passengers who had thrown themselves into the water were drowning around the boat, the wife of Captain Castleman jumped into the river, with her infant in her arms, and swam ashore, a distance o► half a mile, being the only woman saved out of 16. She had learnt to swim when a girl.—American paper. TIIE BRITISH ASEOCIATIOIV. — The annual country meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science is fixed to be held at Cheltenham, in the week commencing August 6, and preparations are being made in the county of Gloucester, in order to give a fitting reception to this learned body. Lord John Russell, who has lately taken up his resi dence in the county, aids the committee, and a subscription has been entered into to defray the necessary expenses. A FEMALE RECEIIIT.—On Friday, the Bth, a young woman, about 17 years of age, enlisted into the 97th Regiment, a re cruiting party of which corps is stationed at Windsor. Al though she slept that evening in a room where there were several beds occupied by men, her sex was not discovered till next morning, when, being taken before the medical officer for examination, and ordered to strip, as is usual on such occa sions, she was obliged to confess that she was a woman. She was then taken before the magistrates, charged with obtaining the Queen's money under false pretences, and remanded. It is said that she enlisted in order to be enabled to join her sweet heart, who is in a cavalry regiment in the Crimea. A sub scription has been commenced for her in Windsor. THE following horrible accident occurred on the river between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges, London, last week. A lighterman, named Hosier, was out with his barge on the river, and attached to his vessel was a small wherry. By some means or other tho smaller vessel got adrift, when the unfortunate man made an attempt to regain it by jumping off his barge, but instead of alighting, as he intended, in his boat, he fell into the river. Just at that moment a sailing barge came alongside of the other vessel, and crushed the poor fellow so tightly as to break his collar-bone, one of his arms, both thighs, several ribs, and at the same time the anchor of the sailing barge, which was hanging over the stem, caught the man in the lower part of the abdomen ; the sharp flukes of the anchor penetrated the flesh ; and, owing to the speed at which the barge was passing, the body of the man was ripped open, and his bowels and heart completely exposed. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. The general half-yearly meeting was held on Friday, at Paddington station, the Right Hon. Spencer Walpole, M. P., in the chair. The special report of the committee and the reports of the directors were seve rally taken as read. The chairman showed that there was an increase of £BG,OOO in the receipts, as compared with the half year ending in 1854. He concluded by moving that the reports be received and adopted, which was done after two amend ments had been negatived. The four retiring directors were re-elected. The dividend was declared, and much conversation followed on putting a resolution which had reference to mat ters carried at a former meeting. The chairman signified his intention to resign, in consequence of his health not permitting him conscientiously to retain a post of so much responsibility. . , MYSTERIOI7B "MURDER NEAR BATA.—An inquest nas just been concluded on the body of Mr. Thomas Spiller, of Bath, whose body was found last week near the mill-head of the Swinford Copper Works, bearing upon it marks of consider able violence. The deceased, who was extensively known and much respected, occupied the' office of librarian to the Bath Athenwum, and he was also engaged at the Sun Fire-office in that city. He was last seen alive on the 7th of January, at which time he was known to have about him a large amount in gold and silver, and various papers, &c. When the body was found in the river it had nothing upon it but an old handkerchief and some keys, while the head exhibited marks of great violence. Some shirt studs had also evidently been roughly torn from his shirt front. The jury returned a ver dict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown." THE WRECK OF THE JOSEPHINE WILLIE.—The inquiry before the Folkestone coroner respecting the death of the three sufferers in the wreck of the Josephine Willis termi nated on Tuesday, when the jury gave the following verdict : " We come to a unanimous conclusion that George Summers and others came by their deaths in consequence of a collision between the ship Josephine Willis and the steamer Man gerton, owing to an error in judgment on the part of the chief officer of the ship, mistaking the light of the steamer for Dungeness Light, and starboarding the helm. We also agree that if a proper look-out bad been kept on board of the steamer the collision might have been avoided. We feel it our duty also to state that there appears to have been a great want of humanity on the part of the crew of both ships in not sending assistance to the passengers of the ship whilst they had it in their power to do so ; and we believe that if proper efforts had been made many more lives would have been saved." MYSTERIOUS MURDER.—On Tuesday, an inquest was held at Swan Village, near West Bromwich, South Staffordshire, on the body of a young man named Robert Grubbit, which was found in the canal on Saturday afternoon last. The throat was cut, and two large stones were in the pocket of the jacket. A young woman, named Harper, stated that the deceased had been her fellow-servant at Mr. Beddard's, who resides at Dixon's-green, near Dudley. On Thursday, the 17th January last, a friend of the deceased called upon him about noon. The deceased went out ; and it was proved that he was at a public-house in the company of his friend. On his returning to Mr. Beddard's, his fellow-servant said some thing to him about his remaining out so long. He appeared offended, went out, and never returned. A woman states that a few nights before the body was found she heard a great noise about the spot where it was discovered, and on looking out she saw three or four men standing near the canal, and she heard what she fancied was the report of a pistol, and one shouted " Shall I shoot the —?" Mr. Kite, surgeon, of West Bromwich, had made•a post mortem examination of the body. He found a wound on the throat, five inches long, which had evidently been inflicted with a sharp instrument, and one on the forehead, half an inch long, of a similar character. He also discovered several external bruises on the skull. He was of opinion that the deceased was first stun ned, and thrown into the water after his throat had been cut. He did not think the deceased could have himself inflicted the wounds on the throat. The inquest was adjourned for further inquiries. • RUSSIAN INTRIGUES AGAINST ENGLAND.—A :Brussels letter of the 11th says Not a doubt exists that every art, cajolery, and intrigue, • is on foot, and should peace•be con cluded,. will be redoubled, in ,order to enfeeble the Anglo- French alliance. This has been the paramount object of the Russian Cabinet, of its agents and its partisans, during the whole course of the war ; and, although they have signally failed under belligerent auspices, they feel confident they shall succeed under the shadow of the olive branch. This being an indubitable and undisguised project, it is the duty of Englishmen to be the more watchful and stringent as regards the conditions of peace. Indiscreet Russiansand philq-Russians in all parts of Europe do not scruple to announce Uftiture crusade against England. No means are spared to augment or create universal hatred against us, and to bring our powers, our resources, and our acts and objects, into contempt. Not a day passes without my being told by persons more frank than cautious, that England is universally unpopular ; that all men's hearts are against us ; that France herself would rejoice in a rupture, and in the revival of those accursed feuds and conflicts which cost both nations such torrents of blood and mines of treasure, and caused disasters to the one which were better effaced from the annals of her history. The wishes of these persons may be fathers to their thoughts,. as regards France ; but there cannot be a doubt of our unpopu larity elsewhere. The majesty of our free institutions are sores in the eyes of all despotic and semi-despotic villas _,on the other side of the Rhine and Alps. Our devotion to our monarchical and aristocratic organisation is a blasphemy in the thoughts of demagogues. Our inexhaustible wealth and re sources, our wonderful commercial,euterprise, and our com mand of the seas, which Bacon says is an " abridgment of ,empire" for all others, are gall and wormwood to jealous and 'inferior millions." SIR CHARLES BARRY AND THE TREASURY.—From copies of Treasury minutes, dated the 6th of February, 1854, and 29th of January, 1856, in regard to the claims of Sir Charles Barry for services connected with the building of the New Palace at Westminster, issued the 14th, it appears that on the 26th. of May last the following offer was made by Mr. White, as acting for Sir C. Barry, with a view finally to settle all question's as to commission, measurement, and all other claims, up to Oct. 2, 1853, to which date t he closed accounts extended, Sir C. Barry, it should be said, having put in various claims for extra .payment over and above his commission That a commis. aeon of three per cent. should be allowed on the entire outlay 'of £1,50 6 ,84 5 , up to the 2nd October, 1.853. 2. That a ' re muneration for measurement upon the whole of the works in cluded .in that outlay should be paid at the rate of one per cent. 3. That these commissions should cover all demands of every kind whatsoever for the past, the services for warming, lighting, and ventilating alone excepted, which should be dealt ' with separately, and upon their own merits. 4. That the re muneration of Sir Charles Barry for the future should be fixed at three per cent. commission on the outlay as architect, and one per cent. for measurement upon all works. to which measurement applies ; and that no furniture, .Le., should-in future be furnished by Sir C. Barry, except by the special order of the Treasury. After numerous further interviews and dis cussions with Mr. White, that gentleman, on the part of Sir Charles Barry, declined the terms of settlement thus offered, and pressed again the claims for the extra services performed. The Treasury continuing to be of opinion that the terms herein stated are not only fair but liberal, that they include all re muneration to which Sir C. Barry is justly entitled for the services he has performed, have resolved to abide by them, and direct that no further payment be made on account, until a I final settlement of the past, and an agreement as to the future, are concluded. THE BISHOPRIC OF CARLISLE.—The vacancy on the epis copal bench, caused by the death of Dr. Percy, will be filled by the Hon. and Rev. 11. Montague Villiers, Canork of St. Paul's, and Rector of St. George's, Bloomsbury. London. He is a brother of Lord Clarendon, the Foreign Secretary, and married a daughterof Mr. Halton, of Hulton Park, Lancashire. THE SHIPOWNERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.—The ship owners of the North are taking active measures to resist the Government in passing the bill brought into the House of Commons by Mr. Lowe, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, for the abolition of local burdens upon shipping, the bill being in accordance with the recommendations of the royal commissioners appointed to inquire into the harbour dues. The Shields shipowners' societies have met and adopted peti tions to Parliament, and have appointed deputies to meet similar bodies from the outports and the manufacturing towns, in London. The South Shields Corporation have also adopted a petition to a similar effect, and have deputed the mayor to proceed to London to support the deputies. The Corporation of Newcastle, which receives £lO,OOO a-year from the funds of the River Tyne, applied for town purposes, met on Wednesday, and appointed a committee to co-operate with other towns interested in maintaining those dues, which they consider to be "vested rights." Mr. Alderman Ingleden read a letter from Mr. H. G. Liddell, the Conservative member for South- Northumberland, who, in a great measure, owes his seat to the shipowners of North Shields, who stated that he would doall in his power to oppose the Government measure , and asking for information. Mr. Headlam, M. P., and the new member, Mr. G. Ridley, are pledged to support the Corporation. At the same time, meetings will be held in all the seaports, to adopt petitions in favour of the Government measure, which has given great satisfaction to the shipowners. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA. By the British and North American royal mail steam-ship Africa, Capatin Shannon, which arrived yesterday forenoon, we have intelligence from New York to the 6th instant. The Africa brought $303,941 in specie, and thirty-five passengers, viz. :—Miss Jane Hope, Oscar Kingston, Robert Rait and son, Win. Moore, John Rusyite,.R. M. Heneker, Jas. Brandry, E. M. Merrell, H. Lodge, Leopold Sarbach, John Sharpies, H. E. Visser, T. M. Drey, Macrouste, Thos. Hope, William H. Woods, Jas. Gillespie, Wm. Southwell, J. L. Van Wart, Relit. K. Johnston, a Holdsworth, Adrian Sein, Thos. W. Har court, R. Pasquel, Deigo Lopez Parodi, R. Bois, G. Noble, L. C. Clements, Mrs. Clements, Bell, C. Bellaire, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar, and J. Hall. Neither the Persia nor Pacific steam-ships had arrived out. Congress was organised on the 2d by the election of Banks. The final ballot stood,—Banks, 103; Aiken, 100; Scattering, 11. Subsequent to the declaration of the result and the an nouncement by the tellers that Mr. Banks was chosen speaker, objections were started by the Know-Nothings as to the lega lity of the whole proceeding, whereupon a resolution, endor sing the action of the house, was offered and adopted. The lobbies of the house were crowded to suffocation, and the excitement was increased by the startling cry that a boy was being crushed to death by the pressure in the galleries. Some of the members shouted out, " Fall back," "Fall back," and others, " Hand him over the rail." The boy was at length released from his imminent danger. Deafening shouts of applause from the republican side and other quarters of the horse greeted the announcement of Mr. Banks' election. The ladies waved their handkerchiefs in the galleries. For several minutes the disorder was beyond description. On the 4th the. formality of swearing in the member took place. Speaking of the election of Mr. Banks, the government organ says : " Although the result is one that every national man must regret, yet, as the republicans have a known majority in the house, and therefore are entitled to a speaker—there is reason for acquiescing, inasmuch as it enables the machinery of government once more to move on." On the sth the House of Representation was besieged with office seekers. A Washington correspondent describes , the scene as follows :—" Mr. Glosbreener, after a severe and ex citing struggle, to-day was re-elected sergeant-at-arms. This was a sad disappointment to the Black Republicans. Nathan Darling was elected door-keeper. Johnston, the post master was oyerslaughed. The contest for printer waxes hotter; the excitement this evening is intense. Wendle says his chance is sure : while, on the other hand, the opposition say they will lead him twenty . votes. The respective friends of several clergymen are pressing with great earnestness their peculiar qualifications for the chaplaincy. The contest for printer and chaplain comes off to-morrow. Quite a number of decapitations took place to-day. There is to be a general slaughter about the Capitol in a few days. Ira Goodnow, Lieut. of Police in New York, was appointed assistant door keeper. The pressure for appointments is awful. The area• around the Hall of Representatives was crowded this after noon with hundreds of office seekers, while others sought refuge in the rotundo of the capitol. Members before and even during the session of the House, were constantly signing applicants' papers. No sooner had Captain Darling qualified as doorkeeper, than he removed a messenger and appointed his successor. This served as a signal for the crowd inside to rush upon him with importunities, and the scene of excite- . ment was heightened, on the adjournment of the house by the rushing in of the office-seeking forces outside." There was some talk about a difference with France re specting the illegal transference of Russian vessels to citizens of the United States. The Washington correspondent of the Herald says :—lt has leaked out of the State department that the French Government has assumed a'position in relation to certain Russian vessels, that have been transferred since the commencement of the Eastern war, to citizens of the United States, being, at the time of the transfer, in American ports, which it is likely will make difficulty, unless the President faints. A list of the vessels has been furnished to Mr. Mason, our Minister at' Paris, and the determination avowed on the part of the French and English Governments to hold them as lawful prizes of war if they are captured. Mr. Mason, it is reported, exhibits some apprehension on the subject. The correspondence will probably be called for in a few days." The following, says the Herald, is General Cass' opinion of Lord Palmerston. " The veriest of monarchists, and a rabid hater of American institutions ; and although liberal in many respects, yet on all questions touching our Government as stubborn as a mule. So long as Palmerston presides over the Foreign-office there is no prospect for any amicable adjustmint of our difficulties with England." The Herald states that Lord Carlisle is in correspondence with the Abolitionists of the United States. Advices from Havana, of the Ist instant, report that two French frigates were in the harbour, but no English. The United States frigate Potomac had left for Key West. The stock of sugar iu market was smaller than usual, owing to the unpropitious state of the weather for harvesting and trans porting. The market was dull. Destructive fires had occurred at Syracuse, Manchester, N.H., and Chicago. The Irishman charged at Cincinnati with an intention to invade Ireland had been acquitted. On the sth the Central American question was again de bated in the senate, Mr. Foote denying the claims of England on Central America, &c. The idea of yielding to her preten sions was not to be thought of. If England did not give way, he would have her removed by force of arms. " Let England," said the member, "understand that we are in earnest about this, and that it is not a second edition of 64, 50, or fight,' and then backing down to 49. If, after such forbearance, war comes, let it come—we shall be justified both by God and man." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, February 6, The Money-market, (says the New York Shipping and Commercial List, of the Oth inst.,) is well supplied with capital, and mercantile paper of a high grade meets with a freer currency at 8 to 10 per cent. for short, and 12 per cent. for long dates. On call, 6to 7 percent. are the rates. The business community, generally, are easy in their finances, and from the stagnation of trade for some time past, but a com paratively small amount of new notes have recently been made, which, in connection with the moderate specie ship ments to Europe, augurs prospective ease in the money market. A variety of opinions are expressed in Wall-street, With regard to the late political intelligence from Europe. Some argue that the war is to go on, while others urge that a peaceful solution of the vexed Eastern question will be the issue of the proposed conferences. Sterling exchange had been comparatively scarce, produce shipments having fallen off, and large qua,ntities of ice forming a barrier to loading and departure of vessels. The irregularity of the arrival of the Southern mail has also contributed to reduce the supply of bills. Rates had in consequence slightly advanced--81 per cent. now being the top rate for bankers. Continental ex change is plenty. The rates being f. 5.211 to f. 5.25. . Ex change : Bus►ness for the Africa was very moderate. Sterling is firm on account of the small supply of bills in the market. We quote bills on London 81- to 8 per cent. prem. COTTON.—Cotton had advanced on the Arabia's news to the extent in all of te. per lb. The market previously having been very firm at the rates current on the 20th instant. There was a fair demand at this improvement for shipment, both to England and to the North of Europe. The sales for the week are estimated at 16,000 bales. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND. STOCKS OF COTTON. Exports Total Exports Stocks on Receipts to to Hand and • Great Britain. Foreign Ports Shipped. 1856 1,901,017 712,913 1,121,032 141,629 1855 1,243,974 611,832 844,532 127,285 Increase 657,043 101,111 276,500 14,344 - Messrs. Talcott and Co., in their circular of the sth instant, state, " The sales for the week we estimate at 24,000 bales, of which 14,000 are in transit. Prices have advanced ic., making the full advance on the Arabia's advices tc. to lc. In transit cotton we notice an advance of ic., the closing rates being 9c. to 94c. for middling Mobile and New Orleans ; lower grades in proportion. The Arabia's mail came to hand yesterday morning, and an advance of id. to :id. per pound in cotton took place. Very little cotton offering. Southern markets have all materially advanced since the receipt of the advices referred to. With regard to the crop, we fully confirm the views we have advised on this subject, and our figures; 3,300,000, are now being generally adopted." BREA.DSTUFFS.—We had a tame market for Flour, without change in prices. Subsequently, however, after the receipt of the letters per Arabia, to the 19th ult., confidence was partially restored, and several thousand barrels were taken for the home trade and for shipment to England, at a decline from our. quotations of this day week of 250, to 374 c. per barrel in all qualities. At this decline, however, it is now difficult to purchase in quantity ; although in some cases even lower rates have been accepted. Wheat is held firmly at a decline of sc. per bushel. Indian Corn is 3c. to 4c. per bushel lower. Pnovisforzs.—The market for pork was 25c. to 50c. lower, the demand moderate, and the supply large, with fair receipts for the season, the market closing unsettled. Beef was in and with a limited demand, and an increased part of some holders to realise, the market was a dh g ler ai r n ees°n easier. l'Ptle lYl' Bacon is quiet, and the market is rather heavy. Lard was again lower, with a moderate business at the decline. Butter steady, and the demand fair. Cheese was firm for good, and dull for inferior. Prices range from 9c. to 10:}c. Inorf.—The market for Scotch pig was quiet, at $32 to $32,50. Bars remained unchanged ; indifferent common Welsh at '560,50 to $6l, six months, and refined at $66 to $67,50. CoAL.—Foreign remained very dull, and sales were effected with difficulty, Hard was steady at $6, cash. SALT.—There had been no receipts, and the market re mained quiet. An invoice (the only one afloat) of 650 sacks Ashton's and 750 ditto Jeffreys and Darcey's Liverpool Fine sold at $1,50 for the former, and $1,40, four months, for the latter. FREIGHTS. —To Liverpool : For Cotton, 3-16 d to 7.32 d per - lb. • Flour, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per barrel; Grain, 7d. to 71d. per bushel To London : Flour, 3a. 9d. to 46. per barrel ; Grain, 11d. to 12d. per bushel. NEW ORLEANS, FEB.. l—Cotton ilrin ; sales to-day, 3,0100 bales, at 9ie. to 91c. for mid. Mess Pork, $16,75 to $l7. Freights : Cotton to Liverpool, 9.36 d. ORS' Pu ff?/' / r I l I I 1