The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-24 00:00:00

91 E'rgz NGS, ind of :lock, ool,— ccell hoice ONE ration lock, sub f the NG reet, 1g to JSBS %len, DU of outh and, Ben ace. , at uild four rises tted, iver- jC osv,- ach UR and Ros- Six ase, sold and ?ail eds, s of ney, ,ter, reen I of )les, F.asy CE AL )yal exi t i fled Tki fired ows it', DUBLIN EXHIBITION. LADIES' & GENTLEMEN'S SEASON TICKETS are ON SALE at the following places:— Messrs. MILNER and Sox, Lord-street. Messrs. JONES and Sox. Castle-street. Mr. DISMORE, Bold-street. Gentlemen, Two Guineas; Ladies, One Guinea. LOCAL SECRETARI4S. Mr. JNO. GRANTHAM, 9, Orange-court. Mr. T. C. ARCHER, 54, Lord-street. TO CORRESPONDENTS. b We shall be happy, at all times, to receive communications on subjects of local or general interest ; and if onrfriends Will be good enough to authenticate the same by their signa tures, for our own satisfaction, we shall feel obliged. THE MEETING IN CIRCT'S-STREET.—We have received nu- Iterous letters on this subject. Those which we have selected Will be found in another column, and are, we think, quite sufficient for every purpose. E . D. has no ground of complaint against us for his name not tie ing mentioned among the Liverpool exhibitors in our re port of the Great Industrial Exhibition at Dublin. No eat aingne has yet been published to form a guide, and those Who desired to be specially alluded to, should have furnished tistvith the particulars of their respective contributions. Xiberpoot #ptaaarb, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 24, 1853. THE VOTE FOR MAYNOOTH COLLEGE : DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY. WE begin to bare some hopes of the present House of Ccernmons, despite the erroneous conclu sions to which they sometimes come, when party, not principle, is the prevailing motive. OnThursday last, in th e ordinary SesQional business of voting the Supplies, an operation so much a matter of course, 'that it rarely commands more than a small attendance, a vote of :€45,000 for public buildings in Ireland was opposed by Mr. SPOON'EII, on the ground that it contained an item of £1,235 13s. for repairing and maintaining the Romish College ! f lisynooth, and he moved that the vote should be reduced by that sum. In vain did Lord JOHN ItBSELL utter some of his absurdities in defence of the grant,'—for he has a mania on this subject, Ivilioh experienced such a violent re-action in the notorious Durham letter, that he has ever since be en more ar d ent in his Romanist tendencies than e was bef ore . In vain did 'the firebrand LUCAS, With Sir JAME S G RAHAM an d M r . S IDNEY x• ."I 3 ERT, com e to t h e rescue : the Dissenters t ine d with th e Conservatives, and the vote for za l a ay ds,ug notrohlas refused by a majority o f 76 to 56. I hut an instalment of justice to Eng ' th il at ', l , B tt step in the right direction, and shows ) 0 di Lne voice of the people, which has been so - , 11 0 " 1 expressed in condemnation of the mainte tbe-bee°! this hotbed di superstition, is beginning t ext e c.. n earcl through their' representatives. The th e ;r 1) must be to repeal the Endowment which Ho n of Commons was induced to grant PEEthrou, " the plausibility of the late Sir RORERT L ' a nd we shall then only have made small towards rescuing our unhappy Irish fellow tieBJects from that spiritual thraldom and priestly meP°tilvfn 'w '' Bich keeps- them i n i gnorance o f th e )„ 83 ell truth s of Christianity, in social misery, and Politic a l insubordination. STRIKES AMONG THE LABOURING CLASSES. T H . E/re seems to b e an insuperable obstacle to °llecess ful legislati on for the great mass -of the Ipopulation, 'however skilful the design or plillan toPhic the intention. When the hirelings of the !'o4- "i'CornLaw-Leag ue were agitating the country !hr the repeal of the Corn-laws, they indulged in e rnostmagntlonueut promises of the great bless- Illgs which were to he enj Free-trade poli o oyed unde r a s y s t em o f talent ' was to be '. 'Food was to be cheap, employ universal, and wages were to be mi ght knPka 'so that every working man an d hi s f am il y - enjoy 'the comforts which were previously 11.°11filledto•the classes a b ove them. Englarid would i'lllelv.no want, the pri sons were to b e empty, and the Wor-khouses useless. Such was the day-dream pict ured in gl o wing colours before the unreflecting i ;:assesen :Years the treachery of a Consfrvativel, inis- . i r assisted to put the realisation to the . thettes -even have since rolled by, and thouga Xtraordinary discoveries of gold in California h and b listr alia, w v.? iith the mania for emigration to -ch bo ld Y }l ave given rise, 'have fill e d up th e ou tlines so -IY drawn by e Free-trade enthusiasts, the l atter the Dr , Claim all t h e resu l ts as t h e f ul fil ment o f t h e i r -4-e,"lietions. The last year-a n d- a -h a lf h as w it nesse d state o f commercial- ac ti v ity an d prosper i ty a l mos t 4 " Pa talleled, food has been comparatively abundant, tzeld ll wh eMplooyment has been at th e comman d o f every tb a e was willing t o l a b our . B ut w h ere. are ."Proofs`that suc h a coveted state of things are productive of the blessings which were anticipated? itat.rnigration h , : _,-ae taken off the portion of the popu tol" \v `yn Was said to be redundant, and added be come demands ,upon industry, but the truth is 4 e"li g otrikingly apparent that the happiness of tha p t eople deco is beyond the control of legislation, and ar e 3 meB Pite the most favourable circumstances, men Ivii . endowed with human passions and impulses tlie l o c ! s t e t at nctiht all the calculations of political t ime s The working man complains of hard ca i :?' of dear food, and of ruinous competition his 3 ,,,, 14 g 1 °1v Yeager and uncertain employment. All kik-'lllPlaints are redressed. Tree-trade has given thin abundance of cheap food, emigration has e t i . l , l ; e the ranks of his competitors, commercial does Lt Y has found him full employment ; and how 10 1 h e ,receive the boon ? From manufacturing t ti ' llB , r o. b usy s „p or t k , and even from rural f dis cl d e et e the ,reports are multiplied of workmen o for i teriPtione joining in strikes and turn outs or f il r erease d waves, or for reduced hours of labour,. is theadditional advantages ; and in some places i t hat. • high rate of owing to the present wages, days a men refus e to work f or more t h an -three a ea to ok, content to remain i n t h e i r present sta t e , o r 4 : 0 4 1 to descend lower in the scale of social position, This they may enjoy the luxury of idleness. Inro tni i : a melancholy reverse of a picture which Izight Z i a , 5 ° fair; but, after all, it is no more than of • --., been expecte d. Necessity is the parent indllStry, aR the latter Which i • -4e latter is the parent I , l4)ver tY ; and a Producea indolence, which leads to 'NI tbp in Was only the constant demand 14 4) - ener g i es o e 1 Englishmen, the fertile source 14 pitellanY ,complaints, which raised this country to eoa l b i ° I national greatness, Circumstances have I ltire c i ll b ed 443 mitigate much of the grievances en to an Y our industrious classes—we have laboured atm ,g4l ent their means of physical enjoyment— directln. modern legislation has been all in the same 4 1 le n, by e -, removin g the burden of taxation from gre at 'Doti ~ m ass of the consumers, and throwing it t "le l andand tit, i n teal et. do ing this, we have also removed the only 41 4 I mulus to industry, and the fruits are begin -4,, 6 t o b , .a rit _ e apparent in the general tendency to take It i i Zge of the increased demand for its exercise. c4pitsitua commencement of a struggle between in tere ` and labour, in which, though the former Illti nl : t m ay he the first sufferers, the latter must be Vai n , t e l Y the worst ; and though it may be in Vai n raise a warning voice where duty has to Illi t h ti w ith inclin a ti on, we shall at least have done coi l n a rt in ca lli ng attention to the subject. The the e for a ti me b e stayed by the concessions to d e It ea - iands f or higher wages, whi c h seems pretty a , etreetsrotillY to have been adopted, but the ultimate it i s dust be to increase the mischief ; and though h m'iteult to suggest a remedy where the only ; ° lle of : 'll - its realisation is the good sense of unthink ; l4 4 e n, We must not forget that to be forewarned to e we forearmed, MR. GLADSTONE'S FINANCIAL POLICY. THE consents to accept the new stocks devised by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER for the reduction of the interest on the National Debt, have come in day by day in such infinitesimal doses, —in such ridiculous disproportion to the magni tude of the sum proposed to be dealt with,—that even the partisans of the patchwork Cabinet cannot help pronouncing the scheme a decided failure. Notwithstanding the immense advantage which was anticipated from the adhesion of the PEELITE sec tion to the used-up RussaLL faction, finance seems likely to prove as dangerous a stumbling-block as ever. This first essay of Mr. GLADSTONE'S financial skill ought not, however, to be without its uses. It should make men more cautious how they accept that ingenious scheme known as the Budget, and cause them to hesitate before they adopt statements on the mere faith of a reputa tion which nothing has yet occurred to justify. One of the vaunted items of the conversion scheme was the proposed Exchequer Bonds, which were to form such eligible securities for investment ; but the returns of acceptance on several days have been entered " nil," and the whole amount agreed to be taken is no more than many a Liverpool merchant could conveniently do with his spare cash. But the failure has not been for want of advocacy, for the Times has studiously endeavoured to earn its bribe of £26,000 a year by recommending the ac ceptance of these Exchequer Bonds in every pos sible variety of seductive recommendation, though all apparently without effect. The total amount of stock for compulsory conversion is about ten mil lions ; and, as the whole of the assents at the South Sea House, up to the close of last week, realised only £125,815 Bs. lid., there is a heavy de ficit of dissentients to be paid off. No provision has I been made for the creation of new stock to provide for the -deficit ; and, as the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, when questioned on this subject, alluded with seeming confidence in their not being wanted to the balances in the Treasury, we pre sume that they will have to be devoted to this ob ject, or an application made to Parliament for powers to amend the defects of the previous ar rangement. Some Conservatives lamented the de fection of the PEELITES, but in Mr. GLADSTONE we have lost no great amount of financial ability. The following is the return of the total amount accepted up to Saturday night at the Bank of Eng land, and at the South Sea House, distinguishing the several kinds of new stock : BAN - K OF ENGLAND. Three and a half per cents £ 120,1788 8 6 Two and a half per cents 1,301,479 11 0 Exchequer bonds T0ta1.... . SOUTH SEA HOUSE. Three and a half per cents £30,824 3 6 Two and a half per cents Exchequer bonds 6;935 0 0 Total. £125,815 8 11 TRANSFER OF LAND. AMONG the many grievances which have from time to time been brought before the attention of the Legislature, the one which has appeared the most hopelees of a remedy is that of the difficulty and great expense attending the transfer of landed property. To acquire an ownership in the soil seems to be an ambition almost universal ; but the transfer has -become so loaded with accumulated legal requirements, that the cost of transfer in minor cases is almost as great as the value of the property to•be conveyed ; so that land, instead of being a marketable commodity, is in reality in the hands of but•few owners, because those who would willingly become small proprietors, are debarred from investing their limited capital in this direc tion, through-fear of incurring the heavy legal ex penses which are inevitable. This is an evil which has not only- been seriously felt, but proposals for a remedy have' been anxiously discussed both in and out of Parliament. No sooner, however, has one great legal authority suggested a simple form of conveyance, which shall apply to all cases, and be comparatively inexpensive, than another luminary equally renowned for his legal experience discovers grave objections, which he deems fatal to the pro posed alteration. It may be that he casts a long ing lingering look behind on the ample bills of costs which gave some substantial value to his pro fession, and views with regret any attempt to dimi nish them for the future ; or it may be that he really foresees in the stern simplicity stigested a fertile source of future litigation on disputed titles. Such was the course of argument in the discussion on the Registration of Assurances Bill, which pro posed to establish. a register of each man's title to his landed possessions ; and the caution of the ex- Lord Chancellor, -who raised the objection, has ,met with a cordial .response from many a sage,at -torney long practised in legal technicalities, and-the :glorious uncertainty which is said to be the charac teristic of English jurisvudence. It is far easier, however, to raise objections than to remove them..; And, white lawyers dispute as to the practicability of a remedy, the evil remains unremedied. It was so in Ireland to a far more ruinous extent than in our own country ; but Parliament cut the Gordian knot,which it could not unravel, and established an Ineumbered Estates Court, which superseded all previous axioms of law, and "selling property thus transferred to the highest bidder gave the purchaser an Act of Parliament title„---the best, because the simplest. A bill with a similar object in view has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. WINCE-KT SCULLY, and now waits for discus sion. It is,entitled "A Bill to facilitate the Trans fer of Land in Ireland ;" and it proposes to super sede and virtually continue the expiring powers of the Commissioners under the Incumbered Estates Act, by establishing a Land Tribunal, to _consist of three judges, before whom any land in Ireland may be brought by . application of the owners. It is to constitute a court of registration of titles and in cumbrances ; and one of its main features is the power to issue debentures on estates brought within its jurisdiction, not to exceed ten years' net annual value, and to be repayable within the same period. These debentures are to be granted under the authority of the proposed Land Tribunal to the owner, and form negotiable instruments similar to bills an 3 promissory notes. It remains to be seen whether the Legislature will sanction this plan of raising money on landed property made easy ; but it has seriously been debated whether the time is far distant when some such a system will be wanted for England as well as Ireland. The discussion on the Registration of Assurances Bill shows that the legal difficulties attending disputed titles are almost insurmountable. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM fell a sacrifice to the law expenses on mortgages and similar proceedings eating up princely possessions ; and the active operations of Freehold Land Societies, though avowedly with a political object, go to prove the intensity of the desire for the acquisition of this species of investment, and the bar which exists to its realisation. It is a subject which well deserves the serious attention of the Legislature ; and it is to be hoped that some of our legal luminaries will, ere long, introduce into Parliament a bill to facili tate the transfer of land in the United Kingdom. THE SECOND ROYAL LANCASHIRE MILITIA assem bled yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, at the depot, Everton, for a month's training, under the command of Col. Sir Thos. Geo. Hesketh, Bart. When the roll was called over the greater proportion of the men were present. The day was occupied in preliminaries, and it is not ex pected that the regular exercises of the corps will com mence before to-morrow. THE BIRKENHEAD DOCK QUESTION ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS. THE exciting contest which is now going on in Birkenhead, for the election of Commissioners, out of which body are chosen four Dock Trustees, tends to justify the remarks which we offered last week, as to the advantage and necessity of trans ferring the Birkenhead Docks to the Liverpool Dock Trustees, so that this description of property, on both sides of the Mersey, may be under one efficient management, and the public, as well as the proprietors, be spared the mischief and expense of useless litigation and senseless disputes. For the eight vacancies in the Board of Commissioners, there are as many candidates on each side, ranged under the respective colours of blue and red, and long addresses from the opposing partisans are issued almost every day, with all the ardour of a Parliamentary contest. It must not be supposed, however, that the colours which have been adopted are in any way indicative of political bias, as the Blue, which, in Liverpool would enlist much Ra dical sympathy, is here adopted by a party of can didates who are nearly all Conservative, whereas the Red list, which, on our side of the Mersey would be a Constitutional symbol, contains in Birken head many of Radical politics. Party politics are therefore altogether eschewed, and the votes of the rate-payers, who number about two thousand, are solicited upon grounds which solely apply to the unhappy disputes about the Dock property. On behalf of the Red party, Mr. CARMICHAEL, who is one of the candidates, has put forth an address, in which, as a shareholder of the Dock and Ware house Company, he complains of the obstructive course which he says has been adopted towards that company by the Birkenhead Dock Trustees, in which the Blue interest at present predominates. They have lately made, he says, great exertions to let their land on the margin of the Float to manu facturers, shipbuilders, and others, and he cannot conceal his indignation at the Dock Trustees coming forward on the threshold of improvement to contest the right of the Dock Company to a free control of their property, and threatening a suit in Chancery if they remove a stone from their own walls, which he states were built at the sole expense of the Dock Company ; and further, that it was entirely owing to the money ad. vanced by the Company to the Dock Trus tees to excavate the Great Float, that the walls have been made accessible. He professes his desire to afford every inducement to shipbuilders and others to locate themselves on the margin of the Float, and adds an expression of his anxiety to have the contract with Messrs. BRASSEY and M'Conmrox, for the completion of the outerworks, carried out as early as possible, which, however, he says, must take several years to accomplish. In reply to this, Mr. A. W. POWLES, the chairman of the Dock Trustees, has published a letter, in which he says that the Company set up a claim to deal with more than a mile in length of the Dock walls, the conservancy of which rested with the Trustees, whO have simply resisted an invasion of their rights—rights in which the township of Bir kenhead is deeply interested, and which, so far from being now asserted for the - first time, have been equally asserted by their predecessors in the Dock Trust for years past. He asserts that, so far from being influenced by feelings .of hostility, the Dock Trustees have on two occasions--the 23rd of last month, and the I4th of this - month—written to the Dock Company, proposing a meeting for an amica ble arrangement of the matters in dispute, but to neither have they received any reply. He denies that the Dock Trustees are opposed to the estab lishment of manufactories on the banks of the Pool, and contrasts the course of policy pursued by the present Trust with that of their predecessors, refer ring to the one great fact accomplished—the re sumption of the works; and he expresses his con fident expectation that, before their term of office shall have expired, they will have entered into contracts for the entire completion of the works, unless -the result of the forthcoming election—by which be means the success of the Red party—shall have the effect of restoring to the Board the same elements of dissension which before rendered them a byeword. He states that in four months from this time the dam will be across the entrance of the low-water basin, and the outer works will be finished by October, 1 555. He concludes by affirming that the interests of the Dock Trustees, the Dock and Warehouse Company, and the Township of Birken• head are identical ; and expresses his regret if the Company should continue to resist a friendly settlement. This difference between two influential bodies, thus brought to the issue of a popular contest, does but confirm the opinion we have previously ex pressed, that it would be advantageous to all par ties if such an important property were removed from the arena of rivalry, and placed.under the same efficient management which has rendered the Liver pool Docks the wonder and admiration of the com mercial world. There is no real ground of anta gonism, and the rapid increase of trade to the port will fully require the occupation of both sides of the Mersey. For the present, however, the question is left to the ratepayers of Birkenhead, many of whom will, no doubt, be ,guided in their votes by the ,chnple fact that to the blue party who have at present the ascendancy in the Dock Trust is owing .the progress which is -now being made to render the dock property more available by completing the outer works. We can quite agree with Mr. POWLES that the interests of all parties are identical, and it is to be hoped that this feeling will not be kept out of view in the forthcoming election. WORKING MEN'S CHURCH ASSOCIATION, - THE object of this association is to provide additional Curates for Liverpool and the neighbourhood, whose week-day labours are to be limited to ,pastoral visitation, and who are to be engaged on Sundays in forming new congregations amongst the working classes. So successful have been the operations of this association, that it has already more than thirteen hundred families of the work ing classes who are subscribers, and two new districts have been formed in Liverpool—one at the North Docks, entitled St. Aidan's, after the College at Birkenhead, of which the Rev. Dr. Baylee, the director of the associa tion, is the principal, and another out of the districts of -St. James's and St. Bride's, under the joint superinten dence of the Rev. fi. Hampton and the Rev. W. Falloon. Exertions have also been made to extend the working of the association to the district of Birkenhead, and with such success that the income of £lOO a-year, required to be raised by weekly subscriptions not exceed ing 2d. each, in order to secure a prior claim to an ap. pointment , is very nearly accomplished, At the ordina tion held by the Lord Bishop of Chester, on Sunday, at Chester Cathedral, four students—one from St. Bees' College, and three from St. Aidan's College, Birken. head—were admitted to holy orders, for the work of this association, three of them, for Liverpool and one for Birkenhead. The success of this association reflects the greatest credit on the working classes of Liverpool and the neighbourhood, who have raised the pecuniary means for the spiritual instruction of themselves, and we recur to the fact in order that it may stimulate those who have the means to assist in the good work. GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL TO AN OVERSEER OF THE POOR.—On Monday evening, the 16th instant, the inhabitants of Newton-in-Mackerfield testified their respect to Mr. Richard Owen, overseer of the poor of that parish, by presenting him with a superb silver teapot, together with a silver goblet and a purse of gold, as a mark of their esteem. The teapot bears the following inscrip tion, a similar one is also engraven upon the goblet:— " Presented to Mr. Richard Owen a silver teapot, together with a silver goblet and a purse of sovereigns, (by the ratepayers of Newton and friends,) for his faithful and efficient services as assistant overseer and collector of rates in the parish of Newtoo-iP4loaerAeltl for pearly thirty yore." nit LTVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MAY '24, 1853. LIVERPOOL ELECTION COMMITTEE. THE ballot for a select committee, to investigate the allegations in the petition against the return of Messrs. CHARLES TURNER and WILLIAM FORBES MACKENZIE, as Rrepresentatives of Liverpool, and complaining of bribery and treating at the last election for this borough, took place yesterday (Monday) afternoon, when the follow ing members were chosen. Mr. ROBERT INGHAM, Chairman. Mr. JAMES WILLIAM FRESHFIELD, The HOD. JAMES PIERCE MAXWELL, Mr. JOHN BALL, Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS. In enquiries of this kind, so much depends on the poli tical bias of the members constituting the committee, that our readers will be interested in speculating on pro bable results, by understanding the peculiar opinions of those to whom this petition is entrusted. We therefore subjoin the following brief particulars, as given in Dodd's Parliamentary Companion MR. ROBERT INGRAM, the chairman, is member for South Shields, and a Queen's Counsel. He is a Whig, and formerly voted in favour of the Corn Laws, and against the Ballot. He supported the Conservative Administration, on several occasions, in 1835 ; but now "holds it would be both unwise and unjust to reimpose any duty on Foreign corn." He is in favour of the May nooth Grant, and of Parliamentary Reform. MR. JAMES WILLIAM PAESI-MELD, the member for Penryn and Falmouth, is a Conservative, in favour of Protection to Native Industry, and of " Protestant prin ciples ;" but considers " that no attempt can be made for the re-enactment of the Corn-laws." The Hon. JAMES PIERCE MAXWELL, the member for Cavan, is a Conservative, and voted for Agricultural Pro tection, in 1846. MR. JOHN BALL, the member for Carlow county, is a Liberal, in favour of Vote by Ballot, and of " complete equality for all religious denominations." He was called to the bar in 1843, but has not practised. He is the author of various essays on mathematics and natural his tory, and of a political pamphlet, entitled, " What is to be done for Ireland ?" MR. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, the member for Lambeth, is a Radical Reformer, an advocate of the strictest eco nomy and retrenchment in the expenditure of the public money, and is in favour of the repeal of the " Income-tax." He is the author of two pamphlets on the state of Education in Wales ; and also a pamphlet on the defective state of the representative system. He is known in the House by the soubriquet of " Smollett," as being a bad continuation of Hume. WOODSIDE FERRY. The passenger traffic by the various ferries across the Mersey, during the past week, has been unprecedented for its extent and duration. The following are the num bers which passed through the toll-gate of the Woodside Ferry, in addition to the passengers who contract : Sunday, May 15tb.... Monday, ~ 16th 37,30 Tuasday „ 17th... Wednesday, „ 1Bth .. Thursday, „ 19th... ....... 16,592 Friday, ~ 20th. Saturday, ,► 21st Total for the Week.... It has been suggested that it would be a considerable improvement to the Landing Pier, at Woodside, if a chain and posts were placed down the centre, so as to -separate the passengers landing from those about to embark. Such an arrangement would help to secure the Commissioners from fraud, and also promote the con venience of the public. COMMERCIAL EDUCATION AND TRADE MUSEUMS. To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR, —May I request the favour of your inserting the following letter ? I am, Sir. Your obedient servant, J. S. HOWSON. Liverpool, May 23, 1653. TO SAMUEL HOLME, ESQ. DEAR MR. MAYOR,—No one will be surprised that I should address you on the subject of commexcial educa tion. My business in life is the practical work of educa tion in the second commercial town in the world. You are the chief magistrate in that town, and you have always been known for your lively interest in all branches of industry, and your sympathy in every effort to improve and elevate the condition of your fellow-townsmen. It is quite evident that this country is in a critical posi tion as regards industrial instruction. The Exhibition of - 1851 showed us very clearly that there is some danger of our being outstripped in the race of competition. The value of our local advantages has been in a great measure neutralised by increased facilities of locomotion ; and it is generally agreed that the success of our efforts to main tain our pre-eminence in the practical arts will hereafter depend mare on intellectual than physical causes. .Under the influence of these convictions, the Govern ment Department of practical Art and Science has been organized in connection with the Board of Trade, and, as it seems to me, very wisely organized, on the principle of giving aid to local institutions without interfering with local self-government. In these circumstances, the large towns of England are practically asked what response they are disposed to give to the well-known sentence in the Queen's Speech on the 11th of November, and haw far they are prepared to avail themselves of the facilities which may be placed at their disposal by the Government. Liverpool, among other places, will presently be called upon to answer this question. One answer which will probably be given by Liverpool, in common with other towns, will be the more general introduction into schools of some courses of instruction which have a direct bearing on the utilities of life, and the gradual adoption of such apparatus as the government may be able to place on cheap terms within their reach. All this is evidently within the power of managers of schools ; and their judgment will be shown by maintaining the due balance among different studies, and by holding a right course between too ready a compliance with a prevailing movement, end too strict an adherence to of-der prece dents. Any attempt to turn schools into workshops will lead to disappointment ; and, if the highest purposes of education are sacrificed to mere utility, nothing but harm will be the result. When, however, I look beyond the walls of our schools, and think of industrial instruction in its widest bearing on our whole population, I cannot but feel that this re sponse would be inadequate and unworthy of Liverpool. Among the results of the Great Exhibition, it seems to be now understood that we are to look for the formation of a great Central Museum of Art and Manufactures, which of course will be situate in the metropolis. The usefulness of such an institution will hardly be disputed ; but in order that its benefits may be fully diffused over the conntry similar museums must be called into ex istence in all our great centres of industry. And it ap pears tome that such collections ought net to be mere copies on a small scale of the collection in London., not miniature repetitions of every portion of the metropolitan institution, but rather full and detailed representations of whatever department of the Central Museum has special reference to the prevailing industry of the place where the Provincial Museum is situated. It would be easy, for instance, to define the nature of the collections which would be appropriate to Manchester, to Birmingham, and the Potteries. The great business of Liverpool is Commerce : and, without entering into details which would only encumber this letter, I will just say that it would be worthy of- he enterprise end public spirit of this place, if it were resolved that the Trade Museum of „Liverpool should be grander and more complete than the Trade Department of the Central Museum at Kensington Gore. Yet even a museum of this kind, •useful and impressive as it would be, would be comparatively valueless, if no active courses of instruction were connected with it and based upon it. And this leads me to mention another subject, which, in my judgment, is well worthy of the at tention of the merchants of Liverpool. Nothing is more painful to a schoolmaster, who wishes to do his duty, than the early age at which boys are taken from school and sent to business. They are frequently removed at the very time when their improvement is just beginning ; and, from the nature of the occupations into which they are thrown, their education is too often practically arrested in early boyhood. I am very well aware of the difficulties with which this subject is beset ; and I do not doubt that many parents would be glad to see a higher education combined with the experience which must be required in an office. Is it not possible that these difficulties might in some measure be overcome, and these wishes partly accom plished, if higher courses of instruction could be organised, which mightsucceedtbe rez,ular school-training,and have a direct reference to the requirements of Liverpool ? Might not many parents thns be induced to continue the educe. tion of their sons to a later point of that critical period which extends from fourteen to twenty years of age ? I am suggesting what, in fact, would be a Commercial Col lege, or a section of some great Industrial University. It would not be difficult to define the proper courses of in struction, which, as in the case of the Museum, should have a strictly local reference. Physical geography, natural history, chemistry, the history of commerce, mer cantile statistics, international law, are among the topics which immediately occur to the mind. I could easily write at much greater length ; but my simple object has been, by the aid of your name, to in vite general attention to this subject. If this letter should meet with favourable attention, I shall be glad hereafter to lay before the public some suggestions in more minute detail. I have the honour to be. dear Mr. Mayor, your very faithful servant, J. S. HOWSON, M.A., Principal of the Collegiate Institution. Collegiate Institution, May 23, 1853. THE business of the Liverpool Borough Quarter Sessions was brought to a close on Saturday afternoon shortly after four o'clock. The recorder, in discharging the jury, thanked them for their attendance. THE NEW FORT AT THE NORTH SHORE.—The Board of Ordnance has issued a notice calling for tenders for the erection of the new fort on the north shore, the tenders to be delivered by the Ist of June. It will thus be seen that the fort will be commenced forthwith, and its erec tion will more than double the existing defences of the UtrieY in efficiency. MURDEROUS ASSAULT WITH HE KNIFE IN LIVERPOOL.--COMMITTAL OF THE PRISONER. At the police office, yesterday, (Monday,) a black sea man, of most repulsive aspect, was placed in the dock, on a charge of a very heinous character, and which of late has been of frequent occurrence at this port. The name of the prisoner was John Dowden, and the circumstances of the case, as brought out on examination, were briefly these. On the 11th of April last, Dowden entered the boarding house kept•by Mrs. Thompson, at No. 19, Queen-street, and demanded some supper. Thomas Lloyd, a man of colour, who was cook at the house in question, (which is chiefly frequented by coloured seamen,) told Dowden that he could not have any supper there, and demanded of him why he came there so often for the purpose of raising a row. Dowden replied insultingly, that it was not to him (the cook) that he had addressed himself, but to the girl, Mary Kilhooley, who was close by at the time. He added, with evident anger, that he (Lloyd) appeared to be possessed of the notion that he was master of the house, and then sprang upon the poor fellow, who was lying upon a bench in the kitchen. Before the unfortunate cook knew what the wretched Dowden was doing, he felt the warm blood flowing from his side. The girl distinctly saw D evden take an immense clasp knife from his pocket, deliberately open it, and then plunge it in the side of the cook. A copious stream of blood and air rushed from the wound, and it was afterwards discovered, that in addi ton to other severe injuries, one of the poor fallow's ribs had been cut in two. Lloyd was soon conveyed to the Northern Hospital, where he lay till yesterday, down to which time he was unable to appear; and, so far was he re moved from a state of safety, it appeared that he was at the close of the investigation conveyed again to the hospital. The medical evidence was to the effect that the wounds are of such a nature as may even yet cause death ; and it is not likely, if Lloyd survives, that he will ever enjoy his former state of health. It further came out in the evidence against the prisoner, that when police-officer 640 was called into Thompson's hoarding-house at the time of the assault, he found Dowden brandishing his huge knife, which he held in his left hand, and threaten ing to plunge it into any one who offered to interfere with him. When called upon to make his statement, the prisoner said he had nothing to say in pallation of the offence save this, that at the time he committed it he was in a state of intoxication. The magistrates committed the prisoner to take his trial at the next ensuing assizes, when he will probably be brought up charged with intent to commit the capital offence. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS. The town of Birkenhead is now in the heat of a con tested election for eight vacancies in the Board of Com missioners, to be filled up on the 7th of June. There are two lists of candidates named respecting the Blue and the Red list, but colours do not represent political opinions, inasmuch as there are Conservatives and Radicals on both sides. I. Ist week we gave the address of the chairman of the Blue party, and we now subjoin an extract from the appeal of the Red candidates. They say : "We conceive that, independently of a prosecution of the Dock Works, it ought to be the policy of the representa tives of Biikenhead to encourage, by every possible means, the settlement of trades and manufactures of a permaaent character, in order to improve the value of property, and to augment the number of the ratepayers. "The recent proceedings of the Dock Trustees, whereby they have claimed to interfere with the private property of the Dock Warehouse Company (having served them with a legal notice, the effect of which is, to prevent par ties who have already taken leases of land from commen cing their works, sad to deter others who had arranged to do so), are in our opinion most detrimental to every in terest at Birkenhead. So far from any such obstructive policy being sanctioned by Birkenhead representatives on the Dock Trust, it is their duty to give every encou ragement to trades and manufactures. " No desire has been evinced since the present Dock Trustees came into office to interfere with their plans and arrangements for prosecuting the outer works ; and it will be our earnest desire to urge forward, by every possi ble means, the contracts entered into with Messrs. Brassey and M'Cormick. We cannot, however, view without alarm, the attempts covertly making to defeat the object that every well-wisher of Birkenhead must have at heart, namely, to induce trade at the earliest possible period." POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY. ASSAULT ON A FEMALE.—JACK AsnoftE.—Patrick Bruton, a seaman, was charred with what at first ap peared to have been a most brutal assault, committed upon the person of a woman, residing in the vicinity of the prisoner', brother's, who keeps a boarding-house in Liverpool. It was alleged that the assault had been com mitted with a rope, twisted double, and the somewhat formidable piece of hemp was produced in evidence, to intensify the sense of horror with which the crime was regarded. In a plain, straightforward style, however, Jack related the circumstances of the case, which made it appear in quite a new light. His brother, Mr. Bruton, and that gentleman's wife had gone out to make their markets, and during the absence of the worthy couple a large number of the women and children in the neighbour hood assembled in front of the boarding-house, and raised a regular row, whereupon, sundry pa ne s of g l ass having been smashed, and other damage done, Jack deemed it his bounden duty to quell the display, and it was in the exercise of this conscientious belief that he keelhauled the prosecutor, who was a leader in the Ama zonian strife. In these circumstances, Bruton was dismissed. BRUTAL ASSAULTS ON THE POLloE.—Edward M'Gill, William Heavers, Mathew Martin, Catherine M`Cartney, and an old woman named Mary Farmes, were placed in the dock charged with committing a brutal assault upon police-officers 733 and 606 on the evening of Saturday, after eleven o'clock, and likewise with aiding in the rescue of a prisoner whom the said officers were then in the act of having conveyed to the police station, and against whom a warrant had been out for six months. Mar tin was represented by Mr. Chilton, who produced several female witnesses to prove an alibi in favour of his client. The row, it appeared, took place in Islay street, the mob, was very numerous, numbering not less than four or five hundred ; and the police-officers were not only severely wounded and their apparel torn, but their prisoner was liberated, and he has not yet been found. M•Gill was ordered to pay a fine of 20s. and costs, or be imprisoned for one month,—the other three to pay ss. and costs, or seven days ; Martin. receiving the benefit of the doubt, was discharged.—William Mooney, for having at twelve o'clock, on Sunday evening, assaulted police-officer 8, while he was being conveyed to prison, was ordered to pay a fine of 55., in default of payment to be imprisoned for seven days.—Another gang of " roughs," named respectively Andrew Coyne, Owen Rodgers, James Dogherty, Patrick Toole, and Martin Rowan, were charged with having, on Saturday night, assaulted police officers 658 and 710, in Brick-street. It seems that the very refuse of the population in that quarter of Liverpool are in the habit of assembling at a corner of Brick-street, at all sorts of unseasonable hours, for the purpose of en joying themselves. On Saturday they assembled towards midnight, as was their wont, when the policeman on the beat politely hinted to them the propriety of moving on. " it," ejaculated Rowan, the leader of the squad, " pitch into tile —1" Another policeman came up to the rescue ; but the mob did not disperse to their se veral homes before they had kicked and abused the guardians of the peace in a most shocking manner. No. 710 was kienei on the lip, and had to be conveyed to the hospital, while poor 658 was not without his share of wounds and bruises. Dogherty and Toole swore in the most positive manner that they were not there, and all their companions likewise strove to establish an alibi. The magistrates ultimately decided that Rowan be fined in 15s. and costs, in default of payment, to go to gaol for fourteen days ; Coyne to have the benefit of the doubt, and be discharged ; and the others to be fined each in 10s., or to go to prison for seven days.. THEFT or Btyxs.—John Carroll, for stealing two buns from the shop of Mr. Davis, Burlington-street, was sent to gaol for two months. - - AN OLD THlEF.—Margaret Francis, an incorrigible thief far advanced in years, was sent to prison for three months for stealing a bundle of cotton from some bales in Slater-street on Saturday, PICKPOCKETS.—Two young men, named Thomas Kelly and John Helon, for attempting to pick pockets in Byrom street, on Saturday night, at 7 o'clock. were sentenced to two months' imprison men t.— Thomas Caffney and Thomas Connor. who were conducting their operations in St. John's iii irket on Saturday evening, were committed for twenty-one days. THEFT BY A. PROSTITUTE.—Mary Smith, for'stealing a mantle from a frail sister on Sunday morning, at three o'clock, while loitering in Bannastre-street, was ordered to pay a fine of 55., or go to gaol for seven days. ROBBERY OF A WATCH.—John Gaffen was convicted in the crime of illegally pawning a patent silver lever watch, the property of a boon companion, with whom he had been on the " fly" during the latter part of the pre vious week. He was ordered to pay 305., the sum for which the article was pledged, and a fine of £5 for Hie gaily pawning ; or, in default of payment, to go to prison for one month. ALLEGED ROBBERY BY A PROSTITUTE.—A girl named Elizabeth Howe was charged with stealing £2O from the. person of an elderly man named Thomas Wilson, on Sa turday night last. The prosecutor alleged that he had not spoken to the girl, who came up to him in the street, and filched the money from his pocket before he had time to lay hold of her. The prisoner was not apprehended till the following night, and then none of the cash was found in her possession. She positive!y denied having ever seen the prosecutor before she was introduced to him in the Police-court that morning. As there was no evidence to substantiate the charge, she was dismissed. Eliza Holmes, one of the frail sisterhood. accused of stealing four sovereigns from the person of John Risley, a married man, from Manchester, late on Saturday night, was sent to gaol for three months. It appeared that the foolish man had made his disgraceful acquaintanceship while in a state of intoxication, and that the robbery was committed in Quakers'-alley, off Tithebarn-street. COMMITTAL.-- A miserable old woman, named Ann Corcoran, who is quite incorrigible, was committed to take her trial at the sessions for stealing twenty-five yards of cloth from the shop of Richard Archerley. St. George's street, late on the night of Saturday. The prisoner is a widow, with four children, all of thew dependant for their support upon the parish.—A miserable old thief, named Henry Williams, against whom two cases of petty theft were proved, was sent to jail for three months.—Watkin Sefton, a man advanced in years, was charged with being concerned in an extensive robbery of tools, supposed to have been committed by a companion, from the manufac tory of Mr. Thomas Barton, file manufacturer, Fleet street. Thecase was remanded till Wednesday. FIRE, YESTERDAY. — :About one o' c l oc k yesterday afternoon, a fire broke out in one of the cellars belonging to the sugar works of 31(.ssrs. All`Vicar, in bachelor-street.Fortunatel Fortunately, however, it was immediately discovered by some of the men on the premises, and extinguished before any material damage Was done. , 0 LAUNCH OF THE AFRICAN MAIL STEAM-SHIP CHARITY. Yesterday forenoon, a little before eleven o'clock, the fine screw steam-sh p Charity, one of the fleet now build. ing for the African Royal Mail Steam-ship Company, was launched from the yard of Mr. John Laird, Sefton-street, near the Dingle, in the presence of a numerous and highly respectable company of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom we noticed Sir John Campbell, chairman of the company ; J. Ireland Blackburne, Eq. ; J. A. Tinne, Esq., &c. &c. All preparations having been made, the sig nal was given, and in a few moments the noble ship moved gracefully into the water amid the enthusiastic cheering of the spectators, and the firing of cannon. The procesa of " christening" was performed by Miss Blackburn , daughter° of J. Ireland Blackburne, E:nri. The Charity is the sister-ship to the Faith and Hope, also built by Mr. Laird, and launched some time ago from his building yard at Birkenhead. She is 240 feet long (being 40 feet longer than the Faith and the Hope), 30 feet beam, and 1,100 tons register. From the fineness of her lines it is expected she will attain great speed. Instead of a deck_ house, the Charity will have a spar deck, which will give her more the appearance of a ship. She will have three iron roasts, like the other vessels built for this line. She will carry about a hundred first and second-class passen gers, and will take a large cargo in addition. The Nor thern Light, for the same company, is now in an advanced state ; and the frame, keel, &c., of the Bahiana, of 1,600 tons, are getting ready to be put up. After the launch a select party of ladies and gentle men sat down to a cold collation. in one of the rooms adjacent to the building yard, Mr. Laird presiding. Several appropriate speeches were made on the occasion. Amongst other toasts The CHAIRMAN proposed " Success to the African Mail Steam-ship line," and with the toast he would in clude the ❑ame of Sir John Campbell, the Chairman of the Company. The toast having been drunk with the usual honours' Sir Jolts CAMPBELL, in acknowledging the compli ment, said that both himself and his colleagues took the deepest interest in the African Mail Steam-ship Company. They believed that it involved, the happi ness of millions in the African dominions. (Hear, hear, end Cheers.) It was identified with our national pros perity, and was another of those great lines of oceanic communication which was at the present. time so characteristic of this country. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) After showing how the power of steam was promoting intercourse with several parts of the globe, the speaker observed that the African Company was yet still in its infancy, and its merits were unknown, hut he was glad to say that the exertions of himself and colleagues were going on under the influence of government support. (Cheers.) The company was promoted by Mr. Macgregor Laird, the brother of their worthy host, in a spirit of philanthropy and benevolence towards the African race; it was liberally supported by government patronage, and would, he be lieved, be 1.-.llelal by the British public in a true spirit of nationality. (Loud cheers.) He hoped the company would be one means of ameliorating the condition of the people on the African coast, who with minds like them selves, and with hearts equally susceptible, were living in a state of degradation, shrouded by the veil of superstition. were the unhappy victims of despotism and slavery. (Hear, hear.) The development of the resources of the African Mail Company would have a tendency to enable government to suppress, and ultimately abolish, that horrid traffic in human flesh, which was so repre hensible to the laws of God and man. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of Miss Blackburne, which was acknowledged by her father, J. IRELAND BLACKBURNE, Esq., who proposed the health of the chairman in a highly eulogistic speech. The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the toast, and assured the company that he should endeavour to do justice to the Charity by seeing that good machinery was placed in her. He proposed the health of Mr. George Forrester, whose firm were supplying the engines to the vessel. Sir JOHN CAMPBELL having proposed " The Ladies,' in an appropriate speech, The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Captain Ryrie, who was one of the oldest captains in connexion with the Cunard company. He was glad to see Captain Ryrie present, and congratulated him on having recovered his health. (Loud cheers.) Captain RYRIE returned thanks, and said it was true, as the chairman had stated, that be was now becoming an old captain ; it was not, however, from years, but from ill health. The service of the Cunard Company was associated with hard work, but he rejoiced that it had been prosperous; and he sincerely hoped that the African Company might be equally successful. (Cheers). Tee company separated about twelve o'clock. A MEETING OF THE JOURNEYMEN PILOTS was held last night, at half-past seven o'clock, in the Brunswick Hotel, " respecting their memorial to the Pilot Com mittee, and other business of importance!' Our reporter attended, but was informed that the meeting was of a private nature. COMING LAUNCHES AT LIVERPOOL.—There are two or three vessels on the stocks, of Mr. Laird, at the South End, which, it is contemplated, will be ready to be launched in Jun: , and July. The expenditure of so much money weekly in Toxteth. park is most beneficial to the shopkeepers and other tradesmen of that locality. PUBLIC-HOUSE BRAWL. George Clyne, a public house brawler, was brought up at the police-court on Monday (yesterday), charged with a most unprovoked assault on Mr. Reed, the landlord of a public-house in the Old Haymarket, and also with behaving in a most dis orderly way in the same house. He was fined in 20s. and costs, failing payment to be committed to gaol for a month. THE LOVERS OF HORTICULTURE will perceive, from our advertising columns, that on Thursday next the first exhibition for the season of the Woolton Floral, Horti cultural, and Agricultural Society will take place under the most auspicious patronage, and with prospects of great success. That the exhibition will be a rich and useful one, and that the company will be large and dis tinguished, we doubt not, from the spirit with which the preliminary atrangements have been made. A " BOLD" ASSAILANT OF THE POLICE.—A man named Robert Bald, accused of a gross assault upon police officers 618 and 680, was brought before the bench yesterday. It aepeared that he had Leen found in a state of di graceful intoxication ; and while being kindly taken to the bridewell for the purpose of being " booked for safety," he assaulted police officer No. 680 several times. Bold expressed his penitence, and was liberated on payment of a fine of ss. and costs. REBELLION IN THE BAKEHOUSE.—The workhouse at Brownlow-hill was, a few days ago, the scene of a rebel lion among the boys, which might have been attended with the most disastrous results to an extensive batch of loaves, had it not been for the prompt remedial measures adopted by those in authority. It appears that ten youths had been told to go into the bakehouse, that in this they at first acquiesced, although, with wicked intent, they afterwards left off work just at the critical moment when the bread was in the oven and most liable to be spoiled. The four ringleaders in the revolutionary measure, named respectively Mumley, Reynolds, Carlton, and Hughes, were each sentenced, at the Police -court, yesterday, to be imprisoned for twenty-one days, the remainder being dismissed with a caution by the presiding magistrates. DEPARTURE OF THE LOCHIEL.—LESt night, that fine ship, the Lochiel, one of Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson's White Star Line, left the Mersey for Australia, with large complement of passengers on board, many of whom, we observed, on a visit to the ship a few hours previous to her leaving the river, are fine sturdy young fellows, who have evidently been used to outdoor labour at home, and who are, therefore, likely to prove more acceptable acquisitions to our golden colony at the antipodes, than the hosts of sickly clerks and drapers lads who have gone thither, either to earn a precarious pittance at occupa tions for which they are wholly unfitted ; or to return discontented to the mother country, if they have the requisite cash; or, as has been too often the case, to lie down and die in the midst of trials with which they could not cope. DOUBLE ASSAULT.—AN OLD POLICEMAN.—George Tindall, who stated that he was formerly a policeman, was yesterday placed at the bar of the P o li ce - o ffi ce, charred with having committed a severe assault on a pre sentmember of the police force, in Marybone, on Sunday morning, at the unseasonable hour of one o'clock. It apveared that on the road homewards, with his wife and a basket of provisions for the ensuing week, a row arose between the inharmonious couple, in the course of which Tindall sorely abused his wife and lost the basket. When the policeman on the beat came up and interfered, Tin dall instantly turned from his better half, and directed all his pugilistic science at the cranium and face of the mid night guardian —an event, of course, which, in the peace loving regions of Marybone, did not tend to lessen the number of the onlookers or the loudness of the disturb ance. The magistrates fined Tindall in 10s. and costs, in default of payment to go to prison for seven days. LAUNCH OF THE ARGENTINE.—On Saturday morning, Mr. Laird launched the first paddle steamer built in his yard at the Dingle. This vessel is built for the South American and General Steam Navigation Company, and is 180 feet long, 21 feet beam, 12 feet deep ; draft of water, in light trim for passengers and mails, 6 feet ; with a cargo 7 feet 6 inches. Tonnage, 400 tons. She is 'to be pro pelled by a pair of oscillating engines, each of 60 horse power, manufactured by . Messrs. Fawcett and Preston, of thi3 town. She will be fitted with patent feathering wheels, and all practical improvements that experience has suggested. The ceremony of christening was performed by Mrs. Hadfield, the lady of the respected secretary to the company. The Argentine is intended to ply as a mail steamer between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video. Im mediately after the launch, the Argentine was conveyed into the Sandon Dock, where her boilers , which w e re in , O ino n b . o 2 l o rd i the \r. Marco Polo, readiness, were placed on board her during the day. H er engines will be fitted up The following letter, from Capt. as quickly as practicable. THE MARCO POLO. — Polo, Bth April. Forbes, will interest ou . r L re e a t a . 1853. 5 tr —We have s er .3 : o — N " our destination. • • We have had nothing but calms and left Liv Baines, Esq. Dear. adverse winds since we er1 3 031. I was tour days in Channel; and from 5 N. - ,rth to 2 North I have had s i x days : nothing but calms, and li g ht , air from the so uthward. All our passengers are well and in hi h spirits. We have board e d several vessels fr om London with passengers; but my passen gers rather be on bo ar d the isl a say they would rc° Palo than any of them. My passage will be made when I g et south of the line, which I expe c t w ill b e to- morrow,* when I will get wind, which I have not had north of the line. We have had one death, a child seven months old, and one birth, which makes our number good. I have got about forty of the expertest thieves on board from London; and, what is worse, two or three of them in the first cabin. 1 will only add I have not had one word of complaint against ship, provisions, master, or officers, which is a great thing to say ; and they are all going to write home to their friends to come out in your new ship. Last voyage we had twenty deaths before those number of days out ; but then we were under Gevernrnent orders. The jib made by Messrs. Dixon and Co. is the finest cut sail and stand ing one I ever saw.—JAMES PORRES. - " [* The Marco Polo, on the previous voyage, sailed the 4th of July, and c r ossed the line on the 4th of August, being thirty. days. On the present voyage she would cross the line In twenty six dgys.