The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-24 00:00:00

Feb. 24, 1846. Korai alai larribincial Rtitls. Mr. Rushton, last week, fined several parties for using unprotected lights in warehouses. , Last w ee k two children were suffocated in this town by having been overlain by their parents. I tThe young man Braithwaite, whose body, we stated last week, was found in a pit at Wavertree, committed suicide. On Wednesday last, a child named Tallent, 18 months' old, livi ng in Alber t -street, Totteth-Park, su ff ocated itaslf whilst drinking a basin of broth. Thursday, the body of a new-born female child was found. in a box under some soil at tbe brick fields, near Great Howard -street. There were no marks of violence. As a p roo f of the fallen condition of hand-loom weav ing, it may be stated that at a sale by auction near Pres ton, a few days since, fourteen of the best looms were sold for as many shillings. On Friday wee k, Eli as Watson, a l a d a b out fif teen , was letting -street down the jig ger - ro p e a t a ware h ous e in Tithebarn , when he fell into the street, and received such in- Jury as to cause death on the following Monday. The ann ua l di nner of the Blue Coat Brother l y S oc i e t y took place on Tuesday, at the Adel hi Hotel, Mr. Foster, the excelle n t governor of the institution and president of sc 'cietY, occupied the chair, and was supported by a great number of clergymen and gentlemen. orb Potatoes are now selling at Ramsey, Isle of Man, at ePer boll of 4481bs , for export to the Liverpool and have r English markets ; and some choice descriptions ave been sold as high as 15s. per boll, as seed for home use. On Wednesday evening a lecture was delivered in St. Latrick's sc h oolroom, by' Sir A. J. Knight, on the sani -tall improv ement o f t h e town. M r. T inne , M r . H. G. aaarbord, and Mr. S. Holme, also added their valuable testi tacin37 on the occasion. A person named Green made an attempt on Wednes day ta • the' -- JumP on board the Woodside boat as it was leaving Pier, and not making good his footing, fell into the W a at er- He would have been drowned if a boatman named Thomas Roberts had not jumped in to save him. mate FROM DROWNING.—AS Thomas Dollman, of the Nonpareil, at present lying in the Canning vri dack, was i n t h e act o f gett i ng on b oar d th a t v e s sel, on Y night, he was tripped by a hawser and fell in. He es got out of the water as soon as possible, but all ef forts to restore animation were ineffectual. ,SUICIDE AT THE WORKHOUSE.—On Wednesday se'n t"gbt, Martin O'Neill, an inmate of one of the medical wards at the Liverpool Workhouse, threw hinwelf out of b the bed room window, and was so seriously injured that edie t' on Monday. It appeared he was a ffl icted with delirium tremens and of weak mind. at he only case assuming a very serious character, tried 1- the Lancaster assizes last week, was a charge of child Murder against a woman at Blackburn. The trial lasted I; lo ng n tim e on Thursday, and a verdict was eventually i a u -und of concealment, but acquitting the prisoner of t O mer e ur She was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. o Tr a boatman named Cornelius 6-teen, was :imitated for trial by Mr. Rushton, on a charge of obd a „ ot , fli ng money under false pretences. He had conveye d f or can to a b r i g ' w hi c h was lying off New Brighton, de nl and of 10s. a en he ws paid 45., and afterwards made a further 6d. fert wP uLty SUDDEN DEATH.—On Friday morning, a "'ale named Mary Llewellyn, aged 47, landlady of a Public -house in London-road, went out, in apparently 't,„ ti a - a ll ealth, into th e y ar d behind the premises to clean idea-a"u in about an h our a f terwa rds was found lying quite of th e hear cause of death was ossification of the valves we ° ll Tuesday, Phili p Bibby, a b o y, age d thi r teen, o f 8 committ e d b y M r . R us h ton t o th e ass i zes on a charge te sta bbing anoth e r b o y, L a ure n ce Murphy, in Back . ell-street, with a clasp knife. The wound was in the an inch deep, and two and-a half inches long ; and d eatt i l t been an inch higher, would have caused instant W E a LL EARNED.—There is a man living in Blackburn, O a k i leo Printer, who is employed at a calico-printing esta stas,utuent, near Clitheroe, and who has during the last o i,`,een weeks walked too and from his work, a distance a Oetween 500 and 600 miles and earned £4 9s. He has la:„ I i e and seven children. and any of the agricultural feo;__ t rs paid as badly, or worked so hard, as this poor T HE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—The stage spectacles this equestrian fetes produced by the double company at rue.theatre, continue very attractive—the audience nu tleallY being considerably above mediocrity. During tre e Past week " Tirnour the Tartar" has been played with d o X SUeeess, and last night the celebrated dog Emilie,a ne and intelligent creature, was, for the first time in 11verPcial, p ro d uce d in the drama of the " Dog of the Jrenn ees. , aI& Cib ENT FROM POWDER.—On Monday, Jas. Moon, Naas se vere ly injured by the explosion of some gun all°Pfdier The father of the boy is a coachman, and, du °lsms abs enc e, the boy, in a playful humour, took from aoh' l ,_ el f in the harness-room a quart bottle of powder, 'eu he began to pour into the fi the b ot t le when the powder faPloded, f or en cing the fragments of int , the un ottuteunate boys face and hands. Little other damage was FAILUR E .—A . very heavy failure in the soap aria of palm oil t ra a e, said to be to the extent o f a quarter a million, took place here on Wednesday, and has been aucceeded b Y four or five smaller ones. Some of these the less e rrest failures have been produced by the larger one, and . by plech destroys nearly the excessive pres , .ure on the money market, all the ' usual commercial facilities. futur e, failures, together with the uncertainty as to the ) 4re, have produced a very gloomy feeling on 'Change. th at I t tc JACKSON'S SALE OF LAND.—It will be perceived Axed h e long announced sale of Mr. Jackson's land is extent take place on the 17th March, when an immense build- Of roperty—say nearl one thousand lots f sal e lan P d, will be brought t o public competitiopn. Th is and ;Wino doubt, do much towards establishing a stand ship a t i ,_io of value on the property of this thriving town regard Mr. Jackson has, with his usual consistency and t o to the interests of those who have located in the ita etin c i which he is styled the founder, employed resident b oa ne ers to conduct this important sale. tead,,`./ COMMiTTEE —At the meeting on Thursday, the t incic - a r V Messrs Trout eck and Son, for colouring the l'isi o ,.;"`"nes, was . accepted.—lt was ordered that the pro tencle-,.%CneY for the crews of the light-ships and Liver a tead . s hould be increased, the masters to have 16s. in letter of 1 45., and the men 12s. instead of 10s.—A long b letiai h frc m Mr. Th omas R o binson, councillor, recom a"areh''g a syste m of management for the Albert Dock the,...°llses, the o ffi cers necessary to be appointed, and W at ." e a _ n ner of k eep i ng th e b oo k s , was re f erre d t o th e 13,";;Itse Sub -committee. eigt. ue B. ayt a seaman named Hodges, with seven or tr. & cither seamen, belonging to the William Botsford, kr: in ß g to the coast of Africa, preferred a claim before leitaa er u s,liton, for shoat provisions, against the corn mt th e ' Captain Calvert. They claimed £5 4s. Bd., being !v ide r ate Of Bd. per day for 157 days. It came out in 'am „ , e that the lime juice had run short, and the men loti o ,"c been properly supplied with it. Mr. Rushton ._bot i, - e ate d that parties were liable to a penalty of £2O for he lt 10 ! lime juice on board. As to the claim of the beheyt,isidered it a reasonable one, and should order %st y r "in ! deducting the 30s. each which they had pre prorn e.ceived. etiet , lhe report of the Liverpool Strangers' . Friend l a t iPtlr ea " t e learn that during the past year a bove eighteen t luivid n " iareilies had been visited, comprising near 8000 i . r ua ns. a t ' of whom 500 have been widows and 1000 or te'aeter; In consequence of destitution, arising from pro - l a " th e i l r e "e,ss, the visiters have been induced to ere ase , relief, and the committee therefore trust this eDp o ,..`i e ffi ciency of the society will be met by increased Z t t ' i ; ,s on the Part of the public': The treasurer's re fruws the receipts, which, including a balance of t,, x ,Perafi ° t 4l the previous year, amounted to £713. The o cowmen of the past year has left only £B3 balance tea se rethe present year. There is a frightful in croadSf sickness among the poor, owing to the over d. W t ' s u i !tate of their houses. ti l ans a l , -4 =oliv Uarroar.—At the meeting of the guar on of auesday a motion of Mr. Smith for the aclop re•iv c n a_ drgt letter, which he produced, to the Poor eBsona'ntn?ssioners, was carried. The letter stated the rotn th w hich the majority of the board had for deviating e pl an r li ef o t e_ u ecommended by the Commissioners for di „:t. tr ue union into districts for dispensing out-door re tlivtlie;l;4•lßo.skell moved vean amendment—that the plan ei Isi on ‘,lmission t once proceeded with. On a h t !ht t o a ly- Smith's motion was carried by a majority of tiertl entered, After this had been disposed of, Mr. Har e th at and Mr. Roskell brought forward his MO 42Iti° tO 4 . o ne salary of the medical o ffi cer be increased from ah t o re per annum, with six shillings for each patient sa ciila h e n ' , erfept in some instances, where the amount te rg eon. 28. 6d., and that Mr. Harbord be appointed 1 4 that t , Mr. Parker seconded the mot . ion, but reg7t he nlnt:!ke salary had not been £lOO instead of £BO. j a 41, a 4c4 was carried by a majority of eight to six. at now bPORTRAIT OF SIR H. POTTINGER.—There a o e et, v ie,., at Mr. Grundy's repasitory, Church (v_Orabie LoNinal full-lengh portrait of the Right 110 - 1 ,:!e highrlaJor-General Sir Henry Pottinger, G.C.8., .tited s uccessful Minister Plenipotentiary to China,) aNcver na _"Y Francis Grant A.R.A. , for Her Majesty's ' lt cell "lent, and intende d Seepea eyas a national . present to His tap ern 'srY„ - Ing, Imperial Commissioner, &c. Sce. to havea fi ne . ?If China. We do not remember to have W ii se en ti ; nead than is here depicted, and those who 411 1 teadily"Lae gallant and gifted soldier and diplomatist, 100414; _eknowledge the likeness to be admirable in ed a . _ewaliether of face or of figure. He is repre ti-l'itte p a ;: rs ted at a table, on which are opened various Do s te lebr a t e ' d English and Chinese, holding in his hand t ne ed h e treaty with Nankin, which it is to be sup aa;°ed hi s 'ae Just been perusing, as be appears to have t oa itnat e d eyes from it in the tf d but uick and i„aan ce fne r li tati ac o eep q une on on its contents. The manly court -1411 : r nbrO -t eas' O t intell' dby the influence of a southern sun, fo r, iota of ta I genne, and (especially in the peculiar ex t oa ravid entla ue eyes) of generous but wary consideration s a ;ftd the honour and advantage, in the compact, iq' l 9g-...: 1 7a. The costume is diplomatic and unas •th °to y ale The coat, with white vest and trousers— ia)btth across th being I. 11 or dress b • the pink ribbon of the order of SirlY ri nd th e the breast. The foreshortening of the general perspective are managed in a mas aeVa , appe aranc e the figure from a proper point of a n ,* aed d o f endiairit.whllch°iltreoft statuary . The accessories are that meretricious elaboration and co tabietPal Ar in often the besetting sin of limners, h se rve 12 .. t °eject. to distract the attention from the ti n .. is it self an T he painting of the documents on the achievement of g b ein g to h, teas t h u enius,—one of them at th e P from the surface by the crease in fold ight fancy he could put his fin ;inßlttglincide_r it.:PTeChteatOlerVme Picture, we learn, will remain in lel te of *l ntl ' be engraved in the finest mezzotint° ers e art tt et 44 trr e t f he fine,aroja WBarnett, R.S A., F.S.A. Those e asar the to sh ukrhenoiegaahrPtlP, would yec late the services to the r impres d s o io w ns e to take . 11 ete P ll to e 1 LIVERPOOL GAS-LIGHT COMPANY.—The half-yearly meeting was held on Tuesday. The accounts are made up yearly to the 30th June, and the committee were therefore able to report gply generally on the company's affairs. The usual half-yearly dividend of £5 per share, less income tax, was declared, although the price of gas had been reduced to 4s. 6d. per 1000 feet. In conse quence of the great increase in the consumption of gas, the committee bad purchased land between Harrington. street and Grafton-street for a station at the south end of the town, and they had secured land to the north of the town in case the same should be required. After these plans are matured the committee say it will be for the proprietors to consider whether it will not be advisable to relinquish the station in Dale-street, and sell the compa ny's property in that and the adjoining streets. To pro vide funds for the south station it was agreed to create the 250 new shares authorised by the last act, to be is sued to the proprietors of original shares. By that act the company had power to create 500 new shares, one half to be sold by auction, and as soon as the money so raised had been expended, they were empowered to is sue the remaining 250, to be divided amongst the origi nal proprietors. £50,000 one-half being premium, had been realized by the sale by auction of the 250 shares, and it was all expended. The calls are to be made on the 31st March and on the 30th June. CHURCH OF ENGLAND YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION FOR AIDING MISSIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD.—A meeting was held on Tuesday evening, at the Commercial hall, Gloucester-street, for the purpose of forming a branch in this town of the above association, which has been found very useful in London—having for its object the diffusion of a missionary spirit among young men, and the collection of funds in aid of the various depart. ments of missionary exertion in connexion with the Church of England. Adam Hodgson, Esq.. was called to the chair. The chairman, in opening the business of the meeting, spoke at great length of the privileges and bene fits which would accrue to young men in joining this so ciety. The Rev. Mr. Ewbank moved the first resolution. In doing so, he argued that, although there were already many missionary societies in connexion with the Church of England, yet this association, it was intended, should be of an exclusive character, confined to young men from eighteen to thirty years of age ; and in its objects to bene fit the following missionary societies :—The Church Mis sionary Society, London Society for Promoting Christi anity among the Jews, Pastoral Aid Society, and the Colonial Church society. The Rev. F. Close, M A., of Cheltenham, in proposing the second resolution, spoke at great length on the working of the - system, and the great benfit an infusion of missionary zeal had been to many who had been in his own parish, and who were now in a foreign land, labouring in the good cause. He instanced many who, in humble life, had been impressed with a de-. sire to go out, and who had been sent out as teachers. He also remarked that this society, being in connexion with the other four societies now in existence, would offer ad vantages and afford facilities to young men going abroad, who might be called upon to remove to the vicinity of any of their stations, and particularly to young emigrants, The meeting was also addressed by the Revs. Messrs. Butler, Carpenter, Hunt, and Hampton. Subscriptions from Lord Sandon and Adam Hodgson, Esq., of £5 each towards the funds of the institution were announced. The officers, &c., of the association were appointed. HIGHWAY BOARD.—At the meeting on Thursday, a good deal of conversation took place, as to the public meeting of the inhabitants, to consider the water bill now before Parliament; several members being of opinion that the meeting should be held immediately.—Mr. Gladstone said, that with respect to the application of the Council, he considered that if they went to Parliament for the bill to supply water, the expense to the inhabitants would be diminished, as they could make their surplus fund available for the purpose. Whereas, if the other course were adopted, and the Highway Board were to have powers, they would have to lay a water rate at least sufficient to pay five per cent. on the cost of purchase; they could not shut their eyes to this fact, and he thought the parishioners would be mad if they consented to the course the Board were about to adopt, when the Council would give them the same for less than half the money.— Mr. Procter said the Corporation had requested them to go to Parliament for powers. The only way would be to settle the matter by the opinion of the public meeting. If the parishioners wished it in the hands of the Council, let them have it; but he had no wish 'he Council should go in the Board : he would rather they should join and go together. Both bodies might submit their bills to the meeting, and let the parishioners take their choice.—Mr. Tinne considered it would be better to get the long promised report of Mr. Simpson, in order that the inha bitants might have the subject fully before them. They were at present going on in the dark respecting the purchase of the Bootle Company's works, and the right of Lord Derby in those works. There ought to be some information as to the cost.—Mr. Gladstone said that if the Council took up the matter, it would do away with the necessity of levying a rte. They had a public purse, and the board bad none. The law clerk said in the present position of the Parliamentary proceedings, he did not see any chance of a public meeting for three weeks. The matter dropped without any resolution being submitted. The feeling of the board seemed to be that if the council would take the matter up, levying a rate considerably less than that contemplated by the board, they should be left to complete the matter.—Mr. Aspinall moved that a com mittee be appointed to examine into the amount of wages now paid to each mason, pavier, and labourer, in the employ of the board, and whether any alteration, and what increase could be made to meet the views of the men. He stated that he did so in consequence of their having lost some of their best men, owing to the high rate of wages offered them by other parties. He thought the board ought to pay what other people did. They ought to have the best men, and pay them good wages. The resolution was adopted, and a committee was appointed. THE Loss Ow THE BENCOOLEN.—An inquest was held at Crosby, on Tuesday, before the county coroner, touch ing the death of George Ellis, steward of the Barque Bencoolen, which was lost on Saturday fortnight, on Taylor's Bank. Previous to the investigation, Mr. Ripley stated that he was the owner of the vessel, and he wished for a most searching investigation into the whole circum stances, so as, if possible, to ascertain the cause of the unfortunate disaster. It would, he believed, be proved in evidence that the loss of the vessel, the sacrifice of so many lives, and of so much property, had been occasirned by the usual course of events in such cases. It would be proved that the weather was moderate, that the atmos phere was clear, and that the ship was in good con dition; and if these pleadings were proved, it would, he believed, be incumbent that the inquiry should go further, and that they should look into the causes that had produced the disaster. It was of no consequence to the poor fellows whose lives were lost, or to him as the owner of the ship, what the result might be; but circum stances might arise in evidence to show the necessity of adopting measures to prevent in future such loss of lives and property.—One of the seamen then deposed to the way the vessel struck, —that the pilot was perfectly sober, and that the tiller ropes of the Bencoolen were in good order, and that the ship answered to the helm very well. David Lloyd, master of the Formby light-ship, said that the Bencoolen passed close to their buoys, and that the helm must have been put to starboard, whilst he heard them say on board, " Port the helm," " Hard up with the helm." If the helm had been put the right way, the vessel would have gone up the channel There was a deal of noise en board. The vessel had struck when the order to port the helm was given. Mr W. Lord, marine surveyor to the Dock Trustees, produced a chart of the different channels to Liverpool, and said that he had been, the day before, surveying the banks, and that there had I not been any alterations for the last seven years. The buoys were in the same position as laid down in the chart, and all the lights were in their proper positions. Ile should have preferred more head sail to the Bencoolen, and she would then have answered the helm better. He was of opinion that the helm had been put the wrong way, and that nothing could have brought her into the position ex cept putting the helm to starboard. lie said the Liverpool pilots were, taken collectively, a very skilful set of men. Mr. Rowland, secretary to the Pilots Committee, said that he had been instructed to give the fullest information as to the pilot in charge of the Bencoolen, James Greenwood Harding. He obtained his license, atter upwards of three years' previous service, on the 22nd June, 1830; from that time, up to the 16th of March, 1840, nearly ten years, no complaint was made against Ilan. On the latter day, a complaint was made against him of getting the ship Ceres on Hoylake bank. tie was severely reprimanded, On the 3rd February, 1842, he was again complained of grounding the barque Jackson on Burbo. On this occasion, he was re-examined, but found fully qualified. On the 12th May, 1845, his license was with drawn, for getting the barque Lady Constable on Burbo bank. On his petition his license was restored, but he was told that, if any further complaint was made against him, he would be dismissed. The verdict of the Jury was "Accidental death." EFFECTS OF RAILWAY SPECULATION.—A man, named Lambert, died this morning in the North Infir mary, of which he had been an inmate f,,r a few days, whose career affords a melancholy illustration of the ruin and disgrace in which many have involved themselves by the reckless practices arising out of the late railway mania. The unfortunate deceased was confidential clerk to an eminent mercantile house in Liverpool, and, having speculated to an immense extent in railways, he made use of money belonging to his employers to the amount of £9,000. Finding that the crush had ruined him, and that he lost all, he absconded from Liverpool, with the intention of getting off to America from Cork ; but on hs arrival here he was taken ill, and was sent to the North Infirmary. A police officer arrived yesterday from Liver pool, having traced him to Cork ; but the hand of death had been already laid on him, and, on searching his ef fects, all that was found in his possession was £7O, which, it is believed, was all that he had saved from the wreck of his disastrous fortunes.— Cork Reporter. MISS KEALE'S CONCERT. — This talented pianiste gave an exceedingly well-arranged concert of vocal and instru mental music, at the Concert-ball, Lord Nelson-street, on Friday evening last. The talent engaged was of the highest order, and the house, though not crowded, was sufficiently filled with a highly-fashionable audience. Mrs. Sunderland, who must now be classed as one of our first concert singers, was warmly applauded throughout. The scena, " I saw him on the mountain," was loudly and deservedly encored. Mrs. Sunderland's voice is full and mellow, and her upper notes particularly fine. Her modest and unassuming demeanour, and the taste she displays in every ballad, never fail to win the admira tion of the audience. Miss Keale played several difficult pieces on the piano, and was in others accompanied by Mr. Haydock, the violoncello-player, in all of which she fully maintained the high standing her great talent has gained her. She is a brilliant player. Mr. Jackson, a tenor, and Mr. Hornby, a bass singer, whose compass of voice is exceedingly great, also appeared. And last, though not least, Mr. John Parry—the inimitable John Parry—was at home; but as a thousand tongues have told his fame, we are not inclined to devote to his perfor mances that space their peculiar talent demands, knowing that he cannot further advance in public estimation. SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR IRELAND. On Tuesday evening the anniversary meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary of the Sunday School Society rottlre land, was held in Christ Church School-room, Chrislian street, and was numerously attended by a respectable as semblage, including many ladies who take a warm inter est in the prosperity of the institution. The Rev. Field ing Ould occupied the chair, and after a hymn bad been sung, opened the proceedings by an impressive and ap propriate prayer. The CHAIRMAN expressed his gratification at so strong an attendance, especially as there was that night another meeting of a somewhat kindred character in the neigh bourhood. During the ten years he had ministered among them, he had often told them how much be prized this society, and the regard he entertained for the secretary and all those who officially conducted it. He regretted that the multiplication of societies for the promotion of religious instruction tended considerably to embarrass their operations by increasing the calls upon them. Still he was not without hope of great good being done even by a few if they would undertake to collect for this insti tution. It had but £2,000 a year of income, yet it was the means of carrying on 3,000 schools, with upwards of 20,000 gratuitous teachers, and attended by 240,000 scho lars. It had circulated 750,000 copies of the Bible since its commencement; and if it had done nothing more, this itself was a powerful argument in its behalf. All reflect ing persons must be shocked to contemplate the horrid murders and crimes that were perpetrated in Ireland, most of them on the Lord's day, which showed the crying necessity for Sunday Schools amongst such a population. The society had been in existence since 1809, and it was cheering to remark that there was no instanee of any indi vidual, amongst the millions who had passed through its schools, who had so offended as to suffer the extreme pe nalty of the law. Nothing, he believed, could redeem the ignorant population of that country from the evil of their ways but the prevalence of Scriptural education. He al luded to the vast difference between the higher and lower classes of society in these times, in circumstances and feelings, and their consequent social disseverment ; and what, he asked, was better adapted to bring them toge ther in mutual good-will than these Sunday Schools. The president of the society, the Earl of Roden, showed a bright example in this respect, and reaped a grateful re ward. Peer of the realm though he was, he went him self every Lord's Day, and collected the children and their teachers from the neighbouring farms, whom he joined in the Sunday School ; and he was in no danger of agrarian aggression, or of being the victim of the prowling assas sin. No, he was beloved and respected by his tenantry, and by all around him. The society addressed itself to the accomplishment of three principal objects; —to disse minate Scriptural education ; to prevent the desecration of the Sabbath : and to bring about a kindly feeling be tween the rich and the poor. He did not expect a great deal from those he addressed, as they had other calls upon them ; but they might contribute what they could, or take collecting cards, and urge their friends and neighbours to give according to their means for the promotion of this good work. The society paid no rents of school-rooms ; their province was to supply Bibles, and to keep up agen cies for the working of the beautiful machinery of, at pre sent, 3,000 Sunday schools. He concluded by requesting that the report be read. Mr. GEORGE O'NEILE read that document, of which the following are the heads : The committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary present their annual report with mingled feelings r,f pleasure and pain. They had to congratulate their friends and subscribers on the enlarged sphere of Sunday School waerations in Ire. land, amidst the fiercest opposition from the Romish clergy. But the Roman Catholic population were not ex cluded from the schools in connexion with the society, and many children of the Roman Catholic persuasion at• tended them. It was gratifying, too, that the parents, when left to themselves, not only freely allowed them to attend, but frequently by their means procured -copies of the Word of God for perusal at home. The general re sults of the system amongst the Protestant population had been most satisfactory. The schools had spread over the country, and continued to collect together the youthful portion of the Protestant population on the Lord's Day, to imbue them with a knowledge of His blessed word, to secure their attendance at public worship, and to arm them against the insidious influence of error, especially of the corrupt doctrines of Romanism. The object of the society was to make known amongst the rising generation in particular, the saving truths of the gospel, and the means (simple and effective) were, the cooperation of vi siting agents, correspondence with the conductors of Sun day schools, and grants of Bibles, Testaments, Scripture reading books, and spelling-bookipthe reading lessons of which are selected from the Bible. During its 36 years existence it had distributed upwards of 700,000 Bibles, and it had at present a connection with about 3.000 schools, attended by 246,788 scholars, and 23,408 gratui tous teachers. The committee, however, regret to say that the society, which is supported by voluntary contri butions alone, experienced a falling off of about £6OO in its income for the year ending March, 1845. Although the amount received for the Liverpool Auxiliary of late years had been less than previously, owing to the number of demands constantly made upon the friends of scriptural education, the committee record with gratitude the obli gation of those attached friends who continue their sup port to the institution. Previous to the publication of the last report the Parent Society received— From the Liverpool Association .... £6l 6 11 „ the Ladies Branch Making a total of £lo2 10 11 The committee express a confidence that such en insti tion will not be suffered to languish and decline from the absence of support in Liverpool. They add, that past success and present symptoms encourage the friends of the sister land to go forward in their exertions on its be half, and that they may hope, at some distant time, per haps not so distant as some may suppose, the peace of Ireland may be established on a firm foundation, guaran teed by the improved character of the Irish people, influ enced by early Scriptural instruction. The Rev. Mr. CUTHBERT moved, in an eloquent ad dress, that the report be received, in the course of which he urged that we owed a debt to Ireland, for we had im posed a yoke upon her which we ought to redeem. Many bright and shining lights amongst them were from Ire land, and they could not do better than aid the cause of this society, which was calculated to bestow inestimable blessings on the fallen sons of men. The Rev. ROBERT GAGE, from the Parent Society, se conded the motion. He adduced many affecting instances that had fallen within his own experience in Ireland, of the great good that was effected by the efforts of the so ciety, and furnished some interesting statistics, as well as expositions of the deplorable errors and superstitions of the Roman Catholic population, and the hostility of the priesthood to Scriptural teaching, notwithstanding which many of the children of Romish parents availed them selves with gratitude of the benefits of the schools. Whole districts, indeed, in which Sabbath desecration, lawless. ness, ani riot, were common, had by their means been redeemed to religious observance, order, industry, and comparative domestic comfort and happiness. The reso lution was cordially passed. The Rev. Mr. IRVINE moved the appointment of the officer for the year, with the warmest acknowledgments to the friends and contributors to the society in Liver pool. He also related many instances and anecdotes re lating to his own ministry and Sunday School in Ireland. The Rev. Mr. ORMSBY seconded the resolution, and after an impressive statement of facts he had himself wit nessed, concluded by a feeling and energetic appeal to the meeting in behalf of the object under discussion. The resolution being passed, a doxology was sung, and the meeting separated. A collection was made at the door, and cards were distributed to those who undertook to raise subscriptions. ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE BIRKEN HEAD & CHESTER RAILWAY COMPANY. An adjourned meeting of this company was held on Tuesday, for the purpose of receiving a report of the corn mittee appointed to inquire into the present state of the affairs of the company, the report of the directors at the previous meeting not having been passed, and for other business. The meeting was most numerously attended. Mr. WM. JACKSON, Chairman of the Directors, took the Chair, and stated the object of the meeting. He then called upon Mr. Mallaby, who read the following REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED AT THE GE NERAL MEETING OF THE CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY COMPANY, HELD ON THE 29TH JANUARY, 1846, " To take into consideration the peculiar position of the Company, and Report thereon to an Adjourned Meeting of the Proprietors, to be held on the 17th Fe bruary, 1846." Your committee, in compliance with your requests, have instituted those inquiries and proceedings which appeared to them most likely to accomplish the object of their appointment. They have reviewed the reports of the directors and en gineers, and in this report have intimated their opinion or recommendation on such points as they have thought it needful to notice. They recommend, lst,—That the dividend be 14s. instead of 13s. per old £5O shares, and so in proportion on other shares, because there appears to be no sufficient reason, with an increas ing revenue, to provide for any greater outlay in earning it and keeping the stock in repair, than the large propor tion which, during the last half-year, was devoted to that purpose. 2d,—That the land at Grange-Iqm be not sold, 3d,—That the bill for the addiMnal tunnel to Monk's Ferry be not proceeded with. 4th,—That the construction of the extension line to the docks be proceeded with in the course of the ensuing sum mer, to the extent of making street communications across the line, and preparing the retaining walls and margin of it, so as to enable the company to sell their adjoining land. _ . sth,—Your committee are of opinion that the questions relating to a station at Bridge-end should be determined by the board of directors hereafter, as the Monks' Ferry terminus may be used for the present traffic if additional accommodation be provided there for carriages. 6th,—Your committee, having considered what took place at and before the last general meeting on the sub ject of leasing the line to the Chester and Holyhead Com pany, and that the terms proposed were reasonable, de termined to resume negociations with the Chester and Holyhead board so far as to ascertain whether that com pany were willing to lease the line on those terms. if you finally approved of them ; but your committee having found, on a discussion with them, that there were impedi ments to arriving at an arrangement, abstained from any further communication. 7tb,—Your committee deeming it within their province to review the proposed terms of arrangements with the Grand Junction Company, are of opinion that it is not desirable for the company to conclude the agreement with them in its present form, but that this company should afford every facility to the Grand Junction Company for working their traffic over )our line, by charging the most THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. reasonable rates, and supplying all needful accommoda tion to that company. Bth.—Your committee have thought it their duty to in quire into the statements made in reference to the traffic of this line, and feel warranted in expressing their decide d conviction that the prospects of the company are in the highest degree satisfactory. 9th,—Your committee think that the directors should be fully authorised to make whatever arrangements they may think proper to meet the demand for accommodation which will shortly arise from increased trafic. 10th, —Although your committee desire not to interfere with the duties and discretion of the directors in reference to calls, they yet feel bound to recommend that the call of £2 10s. on the new shares announ,e L ed to be paid on the 23d March be not enforced until the Ist July, until after which period there does not appear to be the least proba bility of the amount being required. WM. POTTER, Chairman, Dissenting individually from the 7th clause regarding the proposed agreement with the Grand Junction. It was agreed that the report be passed, printed, and circulated amongst the proprietors. Mr. MALLABY then submitted several resolutions, which resulted from the adoption of the report—to the ef fect that the dividends should be as follows: On Old £5O shares.. „ New Do. (the dfference being for interest) 12s. 6d. „ £25 shares , £lO shares . . which ' would leave a balance of £4lB ss. sd. (Cheers.) Mr. BROWNRIGG said, at the last meeting some impu tations were cast upon a portion of the directors, and he put it to the committee whether they had found any cause to justify the unmeasured terms in which those imputa tions had been conveyed. He appealed for a reply, parti cularly to Mr. Cochrane, who had moved for the appoint. ment of the committee. Mr. COCHRANE wished to hear the expressions alleged repeated. Mr. BROWNRIGG replied, "an undeviating hostility to the interests of the company." Mr. BENTHAM intimated that such were not the pre cise expressions used by him. What he had said was, that with reference to the negociations of the Birkenhead and Chester Company with the Chester and Holyhead Company, a great and grievous error had been committed. Mr. Buowsutt GG then alluded to an alleged expression by Sir Joshua Walmsley, to the effect that there were parties on the board with whom he could not sit. Sir J. WALMSLEY said he was not aware of having said anything more than.was justified. All that they had done for the good of the company had been undone and thrown aside. What be and Mr. Jackson had done in London, was merely in the nature of propositions to be afterwards submitted to the board for approval or rejection. He was not aware he had said anything offensive, and meant no personal reflection. Mr. BROWNRIGG urged his question, whether the com mittee in the course of their inquiries had found cause to justify the imputations stated. So far from the Che shire Junctionhaving acted against the interests of the Birkenhead and Chester Company, they had done from first to last quite the contrary to forward their interests, and to preserve their own. Mr. COCHRANE said the committee did not go generally into the subject involving these charges. They met a de putation of the Ches. Junc., who were most accommoda ting, and had no objection to the leasing of the line. The interests of both line. indeed, were to be fully respected reciprocally. It was not owing to any obstacle therefore thrown in the way by the Cheshire Junction that the leasing did not take place, but to other causes. Mr. BROWNRIGG said he was quite satisfied with the explanation given. The CHAIRMAN said, that supposing the lease bad taken place, the interests of the Cheshire Junction would have been fully respected. Mr. WANKLYN complained, at some length, that his name had been used by the chairman, in connection with a letter he (the chairman) had received from Mr. Paxton, to the effect that parties connected with the Cheshire Junction had been bearing the market with the Birken head and Chester stock, in order to effect a purchase of that line. The CHAIRMAN said the letter had been read at a meeting of the Birkenhead and Chester board. What he heard was, that negociations were going on, not with the directors, but with certain proprietors, for the leasing of the Birkenhead and Chester Railway to the Cheshire Junction. He had said he thought Mr. Wanklyn was one of the party, for he had heard so ; but he was sure he never wanted to charge Mr. Wanklyn personally with bearing the shares, and that his expressions on that occa sion must have been qualified, and therefore not liable to the interpretation put upon them by Mr. Wanklyn. Mr. PAXTON said he had not mentioned Mr. Wank lyn's name in the letter. Mr. WANKLYN said he was satisfied with Mr. Paxton's explanation. Mr. WGREGOR LAIRD here wished to draw the meet ing into a discussion relative to the purchase and sale of the land in Grange lane ; but the meeting being a special one to hear the report, declined entertaining the question, the law-clerk baring given it as his opinion, that no discussion should take place on a question which he found from ea letter just handed to him, was to become the object of a chancery suit, at the instance of Mr. Laird. The matter was one for the consideration of the Directors only. The business being concluded, Mr. JACKSON said that at the last meeting he had inti mated his intention to resign the office of chairman, but he now begged permission, under the circumstances, to withdraw that intention. (Loud cheers.) He defied those parties who had made unfounded charges against him to substantiate them, and declared that so long as he pos sessed the confidence of the shareholders be would not desert them. (Applause.) • The meeting then broke up.- ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. On Tuesday afternoon, at about ten minutes to one o'clock, fire was discovered to have broken out in the eight-story bonded warehouse, known as " Sill's, " No. 369, on the east side of Back Goree, and forming a centre one of a pile of four lofty and valuably filled buildings of the same elevation. The warehouse runs a long way back to wards Drury lane, and the smoke was, we learn, first ob served to issue forth from the back part by a man, who gave the alarm. Thomas Brown, the warehouseman, soon after, without knowing this, went to the front in:Back Goree, and observed that fire was going on in room No. 3, (the third from the ground,) where some men, who had gone to dinner, had been taking in cotton during the forenoon. He attempted to get up stairs to the room, but was driven back by the dense smoke, and hastened to his employers, Messrs. J. Heap and Co., to give information. The alarm was then speedily given to the police, and a large force, with engines, water-carts, &C. were speedily at the spot, both back and front. The building was principally filled with grain (chiefly wheat) and cotton,tthe latter belonging to Messrs. John Heap and Co., Kilo, it is said, had 1,200 bales in two of the rooms, Nos. 1 and 2. The fire was most furious in the upper rooms, and the l i mes burst forth from the top part from two tiers of doors nearly contiguous, and which are from the top to the bottom of the building. The doors were of iron, re cently put in on the new principle, but they speedily warped or broke off from their fastenings in the walls, and most of them fell out, being probably secured to timber in the brick-work, the warehouse being an old one, though very substantial of the kind. We noti:ed early on the ground the Mayor and several gentlemen of the Corporation ; Mr. Dowling, hear!. constable; Chief-Superintendents Quick and Reding; Superintendents Clough, Ride, and Anders ; the whole of the fire brigade, and a great number of the police. Mr. James Lawrence, chairman of the Watch Commit tee, was indefatigable throughout. The services of Lieut. Maxwell and Mr. Hewitt were also extremely valuable. The crowds that gathered at each end of Back Goree, and other points of view, were immense. It became manifest almost from the first that it would be fortunate if the fire could be confined to the premises in which it broke out, and every possible exertion was made to attain this object. While some of the town en gines (all being upon the ground) played back and front into the burning building, firemen and others ascended to the top stories and roofs of the two adjoining warehouses, to which hose were hoisted up, and, notwithstanding the great height, the engines that supplied these worked well, and did great service, by enabling the branch men to throw down columns of water upon the roof and burning materials. The supply of water was, on the whole, good, though not at first sufficient from the mains. Fire-engines were stationed under the shed. at George's Dock, and gave a gond supply to those near the building. All the smaller water carts were also out, and brought up loads in rapid succession. About two o'clock the roof and upper floors gave way, but not with any extraordinary crash, and the front of the warehouse, from the falling of which danger was appre hended, still stood perpendicular. Flakes and large tufts of burning cotton continued to fly about in all directions. endangering the neighbouring property. One of these stuck to and lighted a jigger rope of one of the adjoining warehouses, but it was lowered to the street before any mischief was done. The wind at the time was blow t ing rather freshly from the north, and as the pile of ware houses lies north and south, those on the south side were the more liable to ignition. The flames at times rose many feet over the top of the burning building, but at no rime was the fire of so furious a nature as many as we have seen in our locality. By three o'clock, the top rooms, down to No. 3 might be said to be nearly burnt out. The beams of the floor, which were massive had given way, and such por tions of them as stuck to the wall, hung down, attenuated to long, slender, and blazing pieces of char coal. After this, things looked rather more favourable, and it was confidently hoped that all further danger was at an end. The engines, which were worked vigorously throughout, were kept playing during the night. At a late hour Mr. James Lawrence, and several of the super intendents of police, left for their respective homes. We regret to say, however, that the fire broke out in the adjoining warehouse to the south, called " Rawlin son's," and destroyed property to a very considerable amount. It appears that about half-past twelve on Tuesday night, when the progress of the flames was sup posed to be completely checked, the floor of the top room in the warehouse in question was seen to be on fire. The engines were at once brought to bear upon the spot, and by great exertions, though with a deficient force, (the greater number of persons who had been present having dispersed,) the flames were again subdued. At seven o'clock on Wednesday morning, however, they burst out with still greater fury in the middle of the warehouse, contiguous to where the great body of the previous fire had been ; and so rapidly did the destructive element spread, that several men, who were in the room with a hose at the time, were obliged to snake a precipitate re treat. The warehouse, we understand, is tenanted by Messrs. Hallowes and Son. It was stored with general produce, principally sugar, with the exception of the three upper rooms, which were occupied with grain be longing to Messrs. Woodward, Mr. Kirkpatrick, and Mr. Bold. _ _ Vigorous combustion went on in the premises during the greater part of Wednesday. Up to one o'clock it continued very doubtful as to whether the fire brigade would succeed in mastering the devouring element. The adjacent streets were filled with smoke from the burning materials. The supply of water from the mains became diminished, and in consequence a hose had to be passed from the George's Dock through the front Goree ware houses. The engines were worked vigorously ; and about three o'clock, the roofs and floors of the second warehouse having fallen in, the fire night be said to be completely subdued. _ _ It was pretty generally asserted in town on Wednesday, that the second warehouse might have been saved had timely precautions been taken. But this was a great mis take. Every possible precaution was used; but as the beams had taken fire, and as that fire continued to smoul der up to three o'clock on Wednesday morning unob served by any of the fire-brigade, it gained considerable head before the engines began to play upon the second warehouse. The engine belonging to the West of Eng land office rendered good service. We regret to say that these have been the most exten sive fires we have had in Liver pool for the last two years. The destruction of property is estimated at about £65,000. The first warehouse burned is insured in the Imperial office for £2,500. The goods lost therein are estimated at £23,500. The owners are insured in the Royal, Liver pool, Sun, Pbcenix, Alliance, North British, Leeds and Yorkshire. Manchester, London Union, and London Assurance offices. The second warehouse burned is insured in the Royal for £3,700. Tho goods lost therein are estimated at £35,000. The owners are insured in all the foregoing offices, with the addition of the Guardian, and others not yet known. The Royal Insurance Office is the heaviest sufferer by these fires. Their loss will be about £lB,OOO. The Li verpool Office is next on the list of sufferers ; their loss will be about £15,000. It is said, but we cannot vouch for the truth of the statement, that the other offices will suffer in the following proportions :—the Phoenix £9,000 ; the Alliance £6,500 ; the North British £5,000 ; the Atlas £4,000 ; the Imperial £3,000; the London £3,000; the Union £2,000 ; and the Leeds and Yorkshire £l,OOO. Smaller sums are insured in other offices. The property destroyed consists of coffee, rum, sugar, cotton, tallow, Indian corn, wheat, flour, currants, &c. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. At the Blackwall meeting, a dividend was declared of 2s. 6d. per share. The Grand Junction Company contemplate erecting 180 cottages at Crewe this year. The founddtions of 80 were commenced last week. The Lytham Branch of the Wyre Railway was opened on Tuesday for the conveyance of passengers between Preston and Lytham. At the half-yearly meeting of the Blackburn and Pres ton Railway Company, on Thursday, it was agreed to amalgamate with the East Lancashire. The deposits for Ireland are found to be just £940,000, and those for Scotland £2,500,000, which, with the £11,492,000 for England, make the total clos,ly to ap proximate to £15,000,000. The report of the North British states that several of the contracts on the main line are all but completed, and the others in so forward a state as to afford hopes that the railway will be opened in May. The West Riding Union Railway Company has been decided not to have complied with standing orders. A select committee has, however, yet to adjudicate on the matter, and the decision may then be reversed. The directors of the Eastern Counties Railway have presented their late 'chairman, M r. Bosanquet, on his re tirement from ten years official servitude, with a massive silser candelabrum. The number of petitions last session for railway bills was 217, 67 were re rred to the standing orders commit tee, and 52 were allowed to proceed. There were 171 railway bills read a second, and 115 a third time. At the Whitehaven and Furness meeting, it was stated that nearly the whole of the line was now staked out, and that the contractors would soon be in active operation. The receipts to 29th September, 1F45, were £44,966 ; the expenditure, .I:3,ooB,—balance, £41,058. The Great Grimsby and Sheffield have abandoned the intended branch to Horncastle, and also the scheme for a pier and landing place at Hull. Resolutions were passed at their meeting approving the amalgamation with Grimsby Dock, Sheffield and Manchester, Huddersfield and Manchester, and Sheffield and Lincolnshire. CARRIAGE BY RAILWAY.—The Chairman of the Lon don and Birmingham Railway meeting, stated that when that railway and the Grand Junction were opened, a ton of goods (by carrier) from Manchester to London, cost £4 10s., but that the cost now of carrying a similar quan tity from Manchester, through London, to China, was only £3 10s. The Lancaster and Preston Company had a special meeting on Wednesday, when a report from the directors was read, which stated the terms of an amalgamation with the Lancaster and Carlisle Company. The meeting unani mously refused to sanction the amalgamation, and in the course of the day the directors, with one exception, re signed, as did also the secretary. A conditional agreement has be'n entered into for the sale, to the London and Birmingham Company, of that portion of the Trent Valley Line which does not now be long either to that company or the Grand J unction. It is stated the price will be £2B per share, or £33 premium, cash next April, with interest from the day named in the agreement. A meeting of the proprietors to confirm the sale takes place in Manchester on the 9th of March. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.—The operations on this line are proceeding with unexpected rapidity. In this way the deductions for lost time have been very small, and the navies have been generally making their guinea a week each. The guagers receive ss. per day, wet or dry. About 30 navies from Penrith, who had been discharged from the Lancaster and Carlisle line, on account of their riots there, were taken on at Lockerby.—Durnfries Courier. RAILWAY CASE.—On Saturday John Southgate, of London, appeared at the Mansion-house to answer a charge of having promoted a railway called the Grand Junction, Great Western, and Southwestern Junction Company, without having previously registered the same, whereby he had become liable to the penalty of £2O. Counsel were retained on both rides, numerous points of law wereladvanced, and the case lasted till late on Saturday night. Ultimately in consequence of the intricacy of the act, it was adjourned for a week THE SHROPSHIRE MINERAL RAILWAY.—A meeting of the shareholders of this scheme took place on Friday. It was given out in evidence that £37,737 i,aa iken re ceived, and that no less a sum than £21,321 15s. bad been drawn out to purchase shares at £2 premium —shares, the holders of which were Directors 1 The actual deficit in the accounts-of the company at the present moment is about £3,000, but when this £21,000 is replaced in the bankers' hands there will then be the £lB,OOO to divide among the scripholders, should they think it desirable to dissolve the company. LIABILITIES OF SHAREBROKERS. — A case of some importance to the railway pubiic was decided in the Court of Queen's Bench on Friday. The question debated was simply this, whether a broker, having purchased a certain number of shares for a client, and having tailed absolutely to deliver them, was not liable to the client for any da mage which ensued. In England the liability of the bro ker, under similar circumstances, would never be dispu ted. Here, it seems, we must go through the routine process to determine the law, and determined it has been I to the cost of Messts. Curtis and Power, sharebrokers, who were mulcted to the tune of £523, besides costs. — Dublin Paper. MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON, AND POOLE RAIL WAY.—(LACY'S .LINE.)—The provisional committee of this defunct scheme have issued a statement, which sets forth that all the shares, viz., £64,000, were allotted at one and the same time; that not more than 200 shares were allotted to any one person, and that none were re served under any pretence whatever; that the deposits on 9,620 shares only had been paid, producing the sum of £23,677 10s., and that the bills already discharged, and the unsatisfi 41 claims upon the company, amount toge ther to £17,345 Os. 3d. ; and that the list of e. efaulters includes some members of the provisional committee, to whom shares, amounting in number to 3,841, were at their own request allotted. A committee has been ap pointed to " stir up" the defaulters. RAILWAYS.-THE GAUGES. • The long-expected report of Sir Frederic Smith and Professors Barlow and Airey, the Commissioners appoint ed to enquire into the merits of the gauge question, made its appearance after six months' labourious incubation. Short of Royal imprimatur, it settles the vexed question occasioned by the introduction into the railway economy of this country of an evil unknown to the commerce and locomotion of the Continent, the evil of a diversity of gauge, by pronouncing itself in terms not to be misunder stood, and which will doubtless be startling to many, in favour of a grand national and uniform gauge, on the nar row and not on the broad gauge basis. Though not en tirely condemnatory of the broad gauge, originally plan ned and planted in the west by Brunel, the Corumisioners regardless of its admittedly superior speed and power, ap parently throw it overboard, as of no weight in the mag nitude of the object proposed, that of the attainment of uniformity of transport. Perhaps one of the most satis factory features in the report is, that the Commissioners have not, as by some it was imagined they would, com promised the question in any respect, but have boldly de clared in favour of the uniformity, without reference either to the expediency of a drawn decision or to given lines of demarcation. The practical evil of a diversity of gauge in the geography of railways, affecting as it acknow ledgedly does free interchangeof transit upon lines co-alliel in one common interest, and working into one another, has been taken as the great cardinal point to be solved, and as a great evil that under the present wide-spreading influence of railways should no longer remain unremedied- Though the Commissioners were appointed to consider this subject with reference to the railways of Great Britain, the report may be presumed to apply in its recommenda tions to both Scotch and Irish lines. Henceforth, there fore, should the recommendations of the Commission be carried out, the public may look forward to the establish ment of one uniform surface of gauge for transportation and travel, ramifying throughout the country, uniting by unbroken links of line, ports and places, cities and sub urbs, unembarrassed by those commercial inconveniences, drawbacks, and delays which originally gave rise to the appointment of this Commission, and which the results of their labours and researches are so well tended to mitigate and remove. The following are the conclusions and recommenda tions CONCLO SIONS. "1. That as regards the safety, accommodation, and convenience of the passengers, no decided preference is due to eitber gauge, but that on the broad gauge the mo tion is generally more easy at high velocities. " 2. That in respect of speed, we consider the advanta ges are with the broad gauge, but we think the public safety would be endangered in employing the greater ca pabilities of the broad gauge much beyond their present use, except on roads more consolid.ited, and more sub stantially and perfectly formed, than those of the existing lines. "3. That in the commercial case of the transport of goods, we believe the narrow gauge to possess the greater convenience, and to be more suited to the general traffic of the country. "4. That the broad gauge involves the greater outlay, and that we have not been able to discover either in the maintenance of way, in the cost of locomotive power, or in the other annual expenses, any adequate reduction to compensate for the additional first cost." RECOMMENDATIONS. "1. That the gauge of four feet eight inches and a-half be declared by the legislature to be the gauge to be used in all public railways now under construction, or hereafter to be constructed, in Great Britain. " 2. That unless by the consent of the legislature, it should not be permitted to the directors of any railway company to alter the gauge of such railway. "3. That in order to complete the t ene ral chain of narrow gauge communication fr,•m the north of England to the southern coast, any suitable measure should be promoted to form a narrow gauge link from Oxford to Reading, and thence to Basingstoke, or by any shorter route connecting the proposed Rugby and Oxford line with the South-Western Railway. "4. That as any junction to be formed with a broad gauge line would involve a bre'ak of gauge, provided our first recommendation be adopted, great commercial con venience would be obtained by reducing the gauge of the present broad gauge lines to the narrow gauge of four feet eight inches and a-half ; and we therefore think it desirable that some equitable means should be found of producing such entire uniformity of gauge, or of adopting such other course as would admit of the narrow gauge carriages passing, without interruption or danger, along the broad gauge lines." It will be seen from the above, that the commissioners, while testifying to the superior speed and power of the broad gauge, offer apparently no alternative, but that of either assimilating it to the narrow gauge, unless, which at the best is problematical, some other course be adopted, " such as would admit of the narrow gauge carriages passing,: without interruption or danger, along the broad gauge lines." This, unless some mechanical contrivance, hitherto unknown to locomotion, is introduced, may be looked on as a furlorn hope, and likely to render the re commendation impracticable. FORMATION OF JEWISH COLONIES IN PALESTINE. Colonel G. Gaulor, who justly considers himself " one of the roost successful founders of the finest colony, in pro portion to its duration, that has ever yet appeared in the world," recently published a highly interesting pamphlet on the tranquillization of Syria and the East, by the t sta blishment of Jewish Colonies in Palestine," which has been distributed among the highest authorities in this coun try, and has already excited much interest in behalf of the wise and philanthropic object of the writer. A highly favourable notice of that work, which appeared in "The Voice of Jacob," a clever metropolitan publication of the Anglo-Jewish periodical press, has called forth some ad ditional remarks on the subject, which appear in the co lumns of that paper, in the torm of a letter addressed to the editor, from which (in the absence of the pamphlet itself,) we abstract some of the leading facts and argu ments adduced in favour of the scheme. The planting of Jewish colonies in Palestine, the writer believes to be one of the most important political objects of our day, and to those who, like himself, hold a conviction that the revelation which Jews and Christians equally revere, is indeed the words of the great Crea tor, he deems it unnecessary to apologize for enter taining such an opinion. That the human race ge nerally are in a lamentable state of degradation and mi sery no one of observation can doubt, or holding the truth of the sacred volume, ought to doubt, but that the Jews are the instruments appointed for raising the species to its proper elevation; or that their exertions to be ef fectual should be directed from their ancient land. He has held these opinions for twenty-five years, and is ready to embrace every opportunity of giving them effect; and there is, he urges a manifest preparedness of the times for the commencement of it,—a voice, in providential events, now speaking to the points at issue, through three channels,—first, the immense vacuity which has been formed in the population of Palestine; second, through the breaking down everywhere of the harriers which kept Gentiles in opposition to the Jews ; and thirdly, through the raising of the Jewish nation, through out the world, to a sense of its proper standing and duties. These are, he states, "great and sober facts." The question is not as to the event—this evidently must be—the vacuum is forming. the barriers are breaking down, and go the Jewish people will; already too many are rressing in, for safety under existing circum stances. The question therefore now is, as to the mode by which the movement ?nay be brought about with the least danger, and tie highest honour, to humanity." Even the barrier of the Mohammedan power and pre judice is already gone. The governors of Constantinople and Cairo see the immense advantages to their terri tories respectively from the . establishment of energe tic civilived colonies in Palestine ; and even if this measure at a future day were to be followed by the establishment of the whole Jewish nation in that country, Turkey and Egypt would have reason to rejoice. " Turkey requires a barrier against Egypt, and the elevation of the charac ter and habits of her population in the immense neigh bouring districts of Assyria and Asia Minor; and Egypt, which would ever b e prevente d b y European po li cy an d power from layi ng h o ld o f P a l est i ne, requ i res also fir her population that s t i mu l us t o tra d e , commerce, an d im provement, which Jews, in Palestine, would comma nicate." In these remarks, our author refers not merely to Russia Polish Jews, but the Hebrew nation at large, and he points out th e h onour wh i ch the empire . of Russia would do to hi s name , b y allowing ap furtherortton ofthe Jewish subjects t o d epart f or Palestine, and their journey and settlement as commercial and agricultural co lonists,—for it his in his exp er i ence t h at previous oppo site habits of life do not unfit me n f or agricultural d pastoral colonization, and is persuaded that an admirable colony might be formed in Palestine of Jews from West ern Europe alone, if none others could be found to join it. Our author here Punishes a highly interesting statis tical account of the rapid growth and prosperity of the colony of Adelaide, in South Australia, of which he was, neaer Providence, the successful founder ; which in two years advanced from 4,000 to 15,000 inhabitants; and has now, in the tenth year of its existence, attained a popula tion of 20,000 souls, with a vast extent of arable land, and an immense live stock, is flourishing, without assist ance from the parent state, in a manner that excites the wonder of all who consider it. He urges as a principle of paramount importance "that the one great object, the colonisation of Palestine by the Jews, should be most honourably and exclusively upheld, unencumbered by any other consideration." Whatever may be his connexion with this movement, the movement itself. he thinks, must and will go on ; and be will in no wise infringe upon any doctrinal opinions, which are not common to himself and the Jewish nation at large. There are, he has the hap piness to know, great principles of eternal truth upon which they and he stand in perfect agreement. Upon these he may sometimes glance in moderation, but not beyond them in public or in private, and those of the Hebrew nation who have been acquainted with his pro ceedings in South Australia, will, he trusts, do him the justice to acknowledge that bad faith never formed a por tion of his public policy. Copies of the pamphlet have been presented to the Queen and Prince Albert, and from the gracious manner in which they were received and acknowledged, our au thor hopes there exists on the throne of Great Britain a spirit similar to that which, on an occasion of high im portance and glory to the Jewish nation, animated the sovereign of these realms, the father of our sovereign, who in an especial manner deserved the title of a " friend to Israel." It was now time to work by further measures, one of which ought to be a formal movement amongst the Jews themselves, showing that they are ready to coalesce with Gentiles in their efforts to promote the object in view. He calls upon them, therefore, to come forward with the formal evidence of Jewish names in support of addresses in advocacy of the object of the forreiation of a Jewish co lony in Palestine, to the throne, to the government, or to the legi,lature. At the close of his letter, Colonel Gawlor quotes a pamphlet, published last year, by Mr. Barker, son of, and formerly secretary to the Consul General of Egypt, as an inducement to the Hebrew nation to be up and doing. Mr. Barker says :-- " During the last two years, numer ous European families have settled in Syria as well as in Greece. Schools are being established ; medical men have been sent out ; inns have been opened ; and the intelligent European is everywhere welcomed as a friend and p!otee tor. This is a happy change ; it is delightful to contem plate; and I trust that the time is not far distant, when our countrymen, who are known to be the best colonizers in the world, will follow the example of the French and to Germans, and take up their abode on the shores of this en chanting and luxuriant territory. Were I to write vo lumes, it is impossible I could give anything like an ade quate idea of the riches and beauty of this terrestial Para dise." Col. G. remarks on this passage, that surely such prac tical views in reference to a country from which, as a cen tral point, the blessings of civilization might be expected to radiate through the degraded East, are certainly, in these times,.loud appeals upon public attention ; and he laments that when the object is so inviting to Gentile eyes and desires, Jewish pens should propose Ihe forma tion of Jewish colonies in " America, Australia, or the Islands of the Southern Sea." The letter is followed by a mass of " practical details" for the colonization in question, including valuable sug gestions on localities, security, numbers for each colony, government and laws, general description of the settlers, and bf the mode of their location ; the distribution of land to settlers by rental, financial regulations, &c. These suggestions appear to be well digestei and feasible ; but we have not space to particularise. It is stated in the extract that " an immense proportion of the land in Palistine lies waste and unprofitable." The conclusion to which we are led by this rapid review of Colonel Gawlor's scheme is, that it is not only prac ticable and highly desirable, but that if Great Britain, so by herself, or in conjunction with other governments , fe h n Z undertake the object in question, - ' cone , pioneer and auxiliary in the work of a colonization moreeze ... -- -- 751;1 - .: -- not be found than the zealous and enlightened advoca • A- k r k. 4., who has thus set forth its ad vantages. „,,,..., ,1c.:7 . . ... i .:,.: ..>!' 1. --- - • ' . ,--.-. 4' , , ( ~,,, !- / ~,,, ` i,11 .1`..1, 1 € :rei NA (;) _, 1