The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-08 00:00:00

iept. 8, 1846. Loral aub Vrobinrial PCIUS. A sermon was preached in St. Mary's Church, Bean naafis, on Sunday week, by the Rev. C. Morrall, M.A., incumbent of St. Michael's, in this town, on behalf of the Beaumaris Clothing Club, when £l6 was collected. WEST DERBY Ustos.—At the meeting of guardians on Tuesday, the board was occupied en hour and three quarters in discussing a charge of neglect of duty made by Me. Pritchard, a rate-payer of Kirkdale, against Mr. Parnell, assistant-overseer and collector of poor-rates is that township. At the conclusion, a motion proposed by Mr. Mould and seconded by Mr. Peers, to the effect that the board was satisfied with the explanation given by Mr. Parnell of the circumstances out of which the L. - Large had at isen, and with his conduct in his office alto gether, was passed unanimously. NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL AT CHEADLE.— This chapel, which has been erected at the sole expense of the Earl of Shrewsbury, was consecrated on Tuesday. It is in the early pointed style, commonly known as the decorated, and is an edifice of the most magnificent de scription, having cost not less than £40,000. Cheadle is situated five miles from Aiton Towers, the seat of the Earl. The occasion was one of great pomp, several Ro man Catholic bishops being pre,ent, and upwards of one hundred beds were fitted up at the mansion of the earl for the reception of the company who had been honoured with invitations. STRANGE CIRCUMS TANCE.—One day last week, a pas senger-train, proceeding from Preston to Kirkham, ran through a covey of p artr i dges, one of which was caught in the cinder-box. As the train proceeded along a savoury odour arose from the fowl undergoing the process of roast ing as it lay in the cinder-box under the bars of the engine fire. Arrived at Kirkham the fireman stepped down to see how the par ridge wes going on, and finding that it was cooked on one side only, he turned it over. On ar rival at Poulton he again inspected the prize, and found it perfectly cooked. At Fleetwood the engine -driver and fireman sat down to a " sumptuous repast," consisting of the partridge roasted in its feathers, without the least dressing, and which they declare was really delicious.-- Preston Guardian. PAVING AND SEWERAGE.—At the meeting of the Commissioners on Thursday, a report from Mr. Duncan, as to the Green-lane Water-works, stated that the walls of the engine -house were now up to within three-and-a half feet of their finished height, and he anticipated the roof would be completed and ready for fixing by the time the walls were ready to receive it. A greater number of masons were employed, and there was now an appearance of energy, as respected the completion of the works. Since the last report, cocks, branches, and plugs, had been laid in a portion of Church-street, in College-Line, Paradise-street, Whitechapel, and Button-street. The length of branches laid since June 27 was 3400 yards, with 54 cocks, 226 plugs, and 8 hydrants. FIRE IN BOLO-STREET.-011 Tuesday night, about eight o'clock, a fire broke out on the premises occupied by Mr. Henry Dodd, paper-stainer, Bold-street. The fire first originated in the front cellar, and then so rapid was its progress, that in a few minutes it communicated with the back cellar and the manufactory at the extreme end of the building. When the alarm was first given the flames threatened total destruction to the whole of the premises, but, by the timely assistance of Mr. Dowling, and the superintendent of the fire-brigade, Mr. Hewitt, followed by the early arrival of the engines and water carts, it was got under before any very extensive damage was caused. The whole of the stock is insured in tii3 Li verpool Fire-office. CHESTER CHEESE FAIR.—The September fair is generally limited in supply, and not famed for quality. On Wednesday last less than one hundred tons were pitched. The quality was indifferent. No one prime dairy was in the yard. The attendance of country dealers, particularly from the manufacturing districts, was greater than usual, and all were exceedingly anxious to buy. The consequence was prices were at least £lO per ton better than at the corresponding fair of last year—equal to one penny per lb., and all was quickly disposed of. Three times the quantity would have found purchasers. Prices ranged from 58s. to 675. per cwt. long weight. The general impression is that cheese will be dear. We under stand that the yield of the year in butter, as well as -cheese, has not been near an average, and consequently unless the farmers get good prices, grazing will have been a losing game. Moderate prices, will not, in fact, fully remunerate. We think good dairies will be worth from 755. to 80s. CESSATION OF " SHORT TIME" WORKING. —We understand that it is pretty generally determined by the manufacturers in this town to cease forthwith working " short time," or four days a week. A meeting is to be held this day, when a resolution will be come to upon the - subject. We are assured that this return to fell work is not caused by any additional demand for cotton fabrics, or by the grospect of any increase in business; but prin cipally because the other towns in the county have hesi tated to adopt the plan recommended by the manufactu •rers of Blackburn, and the said manufacturers are unwil ling to stand alone in the matter. We have also been in formed that unless an improvement takes place in the market, a stoppage of the mills, or a great number of them, partly, if not altogether, will be inevitable before the winter is over. It is not anticipated that such stop page will be for any lengthened period, but only till the market shall recover a heal by tone.— BlackburnSlandard INQUESTS.—On Tuesday, on the body of Thomas Fa. ragher, aged 39, who lodged in King's -court, Brook -street. The deceased arrived in this port about a fort night ago, and was then suffering from the effects of a fe 'ter which he had while at sea. Yesterday week he was found in his bedroom in a state of insensibility, and died soon after. A post mortem examination was made, and death, it was ascertained, had been occasioned by thse pre sence of serum in the cavities of the lungs.—James Hen- Claw, who resides in Charter-street, was drinking in a Public,house, in Vauxhall-road, on Monday, when he sud denly fell and expired, The deceased was addicted to drinking, and had lately complained of a pain in the -cheat, which, at times, was so violent, that it appeared to have affected his mind. On a post mortem examina tion being made, it was found that death had been produced by congestion of the lungs.—On Tuesday, a man -whose name was unknown, was found dead in bed, at a. house in Gerard-street, where he lodged. The cause of death was pulmonary apoplexy.—On Tuesday night the body of a man was found by some fishermen at the en trance of the river, off the Rock. It was carried to the dead-house, where it was recognized as the bod y of Jas . Colbert, who accide n t a ll y fell overboard, whileworking' on board a vessel in the Slope, a week or two ag o.—On Friday, en view of th e b ody of an infant thirteen weeks' old, which lived with its parents in Gildart's-g ardens , was found dead, on W ednesday morning, from convulsions.— On Saturday, on the body of Elizabeth Smith, residing in Parr-street, who was found dead in bed beside her mo ther, having accidentally been overlain.—On a little girl, named Mary Anne Armstrong, who was knocked down nand run over by a cart in Greetham-street ; and on a young man, about 24 years of age, who lodged in an eat ing -house in Toxteth-park, and died suddenly in the course of Wednesday night. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.— A t the usual monthly meeting, on Tuesday evening, the following gentlemen were present :—Messrs. Potter (in the chair), Adamson, Appleton, Brownrigg, Barbour, Dobbs, Hind, J. Laird, W. Laird, Little, Pim, Pike, Prichard, Thompson, and Watson. From the proceedings of a special meeting, held on the 29 h ult., it had been determined to borrow £lOO,OOO. From the proceedings of the various com mittees, it appeared that the plan of the new bridewell and police court had been agreed upon. The Birkenhead Park Cricket Club disclaimed all knowledge of the mis creants who committed some wanton destruction in the park some time ago, and which had been falsely attri buted to some of their members. The extension of the railroad, from Grange-lane to the docks, was intended by the directors to cross Canning-street, on the level, instead of by a bridge, but the commissioners replied they would slot agree to any deviations from the plans sanctioned by parliament. Mr. James Hookey is appointed ferry manager in the place of Mr. Haselden, resigned; that extra boats will hereafter leave Woodside from half-past eight until ten in the morning, and Liverpool from four until six in the evening, at ten minutes before the usual times; from a recent survey, that the present value of the ferry-boats is £24,000 ; that the wages of the ferry collectors was increased from 30s. to 355. per week ; that the dispute between the commissioners and the rail Way company, as to the charge of conveying goods by the Monks' Ferry, had been under consideration, but it was agreed that the subject was of too much importance to be decided hastily. Tee ferry receipts for the past month were stated to be £2288, and those of the corresponding month of 1845, £22M. The receipts, from the 13th of April until the 31st of August, were stated to be £9913 4s. Id., and the payment £4690 2s. sd. Mr. Bind stated that he had received a letter from the Post master-General, acknowledging the receipt of the me morial lately sent from the commissioners respecting the Post -office arrangements of Birkenhead, stating that the matter was under consideration, and that steps would be immediately taken to redress the grievances complained of. WINE AND SPIRIT TRADE.—On Tuesday, a meeting of the members of the trade was held at the Clarendon rooms, for the purpose of taking into consideration the rates for landing and bonding wines and spirits at the Albert Dock, and the proposed new system of porterage at the other docks. William Dixon, Esq., presided. The chairman stated that he had received a communica tion from Mr. Moore, chairman of the Bristol association, complaining of the present unprotected state of the li censed wine dealers. As the law now stood, parties were permitted to import and sell from bond any quantity of foreign wine, however small, to the manifest injury of the legitimate wine merchant, who paid ten guineas for his license; and the Ch ancellor of the Exchequer stated that there was no r emedy but by legislative enactment. The chairman had applied that the retailer's stock might be kefu pt in the same manner as foreign sed. He h a d wr i tten to themembers for the borough with the view of getting a clause into some act of Parlia ment, exempting all spirits and wines from the natural wastage and evaporation while under her Majesty's locks, as had been granted to colonial spirits ; in reply to which the Chancell or o f t h e Exchequer said he had no intention of making any alteration in the law affecting wines and spirits. It bad been represented that delays bad taken place on account of the limited number ofgaugers ; but the Customs h a d now increased theirnumb er , and more were in t ra i n i ng. He had felt it his duty t o address the chairman of th e D ock Committee on the high charges with regard to wines and spirits bonded in the Alber t Dock; and now it was arranged that a deputat ion t)er from the trade sh ou ld have an interview withtheAl t sub committee to discuss the various items of charge. He concluded by stating that at present there was no help for the trade in not being permitted to send their own porters , or to interfere in any respect with their own property,, The Dock Committ ee , b y an act passed in Jun were empowered t o emp l oy their own porters. last ,The annual subscription was t h en raised from half a guinea to a guinea; and after a vote of thanks to the chairman for his exertions on behalf of the trade, the meeting implicated. ROYAL MERSEY YACHT CLUB.—The monthly meet ing of this club for September, was held on Tuesday even ing last. The captain presided in the absence of the commodore. Nicholas Blundell, Esq., of Crosby-hall, was elected a member, and several names were proposed on th n'mination list. The captain proposed, seconded by the honorary secretary, " That the closing cruise of the season, for the yachts to sail in company, take place on Tuesday, the 15th instant ; the yachts to assem ble off New Brighton, at 12 A.M." The captain gave no tice of a motion, " That the entry of yachts for the club matches close at the monthly meeting previous to the match." CHARGE AGAINST A POLICEMAN.—George Willock, one of the Liverpool police, no 184, was brought up, c'narged with sealing a gold watch from the person of Mr. Hugh M`Kune, a builder, residing in Upper Par liament-street. Mr. Richardson, pawnbroker, Manches ter, stated that the prisoner brought the watch to his of fice to pawn on Thursday, stating that it was his own, and that he was compelled to pledge it by his necessities. Mr. Richardson had received a police notice describing the watch, and stating that it was stolen ; he accordingly detained the prisoner and sent for a policeman. Mr. M'Kune deposed that about two o'clock in the morning of the 20th ult., he was going home rather the worse for liquor, and when near St. Luke's Church he met the prisoner, who very officiously persisted in seeing him home. Witness told the prisoner he was quite capable of going alone, but he would go with him until near his own house. lie had on at the time his policeman's uniform, but witness did not observe his number. On prosecutor entering his house, his wife missed his guard-chain, and it was at once discovered that his watch had been stolen. He swore positively to the prisoner, who was proved to be on that beat on the night in question. Mr. Rushton committed the prisoner for trial, and it appeared inciden tally that he had only been four months in the force. DOCK COMMITTEE THURSDAY.—The N. W. light ship, Prince, was ordered to be brought into dock, to have her lanterns repaired. Fifteen police officers were ordered to be appointed for Albert Dock, and all ex cess on deposits over the actual rates actually fixed upon, will be returned to the respectiue parties. The New Dock Bill was referred to the Committee of Works, for the purpose of having the notices served on the owners of proper ty, io order that the railway scheme may he put in motion. The subject which occupied the attention of the committee for the greatest length of time, was rather a singular one. One of the dock gatemen, who had been 30 years in the service of the trust, and had arrived at the age of sixty-nine, was recommended as a fit object for a superannuated allowance of fifteen shillings per week, but the Sub-committee, who recommended this, also sug gested that a new suit of clothes which the old man had but lately received should be returned, and also the lace and buttons for the old suit which he had been wearing for some time. Some discussion took place as to the latter point, some of the board thinking that no man should go about with their livery, whilst not in the service of the trust, and others recommending that as the allowance was subject periodically to revision, and they could withhold it if they thought proper, the man might continue his badge of office. At length it was decided by a majority of 10 to 4 that the old man should retain all Isis honours. THE SALT TRADE.—A general nieet•ng of the salt trade of England, was held at the Angel Inn, Northwich, on Monday last, to consider the best means of abolishing the virtual monopoly of the East India Company in sup plying the markets of India. The meeting was attended by nearly all the salt proprietors in Cheshire. W. Wor thington, Esq., presided, ar,d, after addresses from Mr. Aylwin, author of a pamphlet on the subject, Mr. Green shields, of Worcester, and several other gentlemen, reso lutions to the following efEct were unanimously adopted : "That the present system of virtual monopoly of the salt trade by the East India Company, being most unjust and oppressive to millions of our fellow-subjects in India, by compelling them to surrender the product of from one to four months of their labour for the purchase of a first necessary of life, and being also most injurious to the manufacturing as well as to the shipping and commercial interests of this country, it is advisable that a thorough knowledge of the working and effects of the salt mono poly should be disseminated through the country; and that the committee be requested to take such immediate steps as they may deem best calculated to give publicity to a monopoly as monstrous and oppressive to those un der its influence as it is baneful and injurious to the c mercial interests of the country. That the committee be requested to arrange a fresh deputation to the Board of Control in conjunction with the Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Gloucester, and Glasgow Chambers of Com merce, as well as the Shipowners' Associations in London and Liverpool, and such other public bodies as may be desirous of co-operating with them." A subscription was then opened to meet contingent expenses. WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—The usual monthly meeting of this body took place on Thursday, J. C. Ev art, Esq., in the chair. The most important feature in the proceedings of the Finance Committee, was in re ference to the refusal of the Rev. Dr. Byrth, to pay the improvement rate in lieu of tithes, which had been before the magistrates, and referred by the bench to the general board. A warm discussion ensued on the subject. The amount claimed of Dr. Byrth was £l2. It was moved by Mr. Ilalliday, seconded by Mr. Meadows, that Dr. Byrth be relieved from the payment of rates on the rent charge. Several members thought if he was liable to the highway rate, he should not be exempt from the improve ment rate. Mr. Mawdsley regretted being compelled to adopt such a course, but a sense of duty obliged him. He conceived that the Doctor was liable. An amend. meat was then moved for the opinion of counsel. The Law-clerk said they might also apply for a writ of manda mus in the court of Queen's Bench. Dr. Byrth might also appeal to the Quarter Sessions. The amendment was put—five for it and five against it. The chairman gave the casting vote in favour of the amendment. A. list of byelaws was read relative to the regulating of bath ing machines, but being too stringent, were modified to admit of persons who cannot afford to engage the ma chines, to bathe before nine o'clock in the morning. Mr. Goldsmith moved for a reduction in the salary of the Clerk to the Board, which was put and lost. Mr. Gold smith then moved for the dismissal of Mr. West, the surgeon, and the appointment of a road surveyor, on the ground that Mr. West had neglected his duty, and been guilty of intoxication. The chairman and several gentle men thought such proceedings were arbitrary, and ap pointed a committee to investigate the subject. BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.---The parent establish- Ment in Frederick-street has now been in operation some years, with increasing benefit to the poorer classes, and with some additional remuneration to the corporation upon the original outlay. The following is a comparative return of the quarters ending August 27, 1846, and Aug. 28, 18.15 : Baths . 8481. . 6026. Receipts. £145 2 5 131 4 6 Increase in 1816 .. 2455. . The more extensive establishment in Paul-street is not yet in operation, but will be shortly, when, from the locality, it may be. expected to be attended with much greater ad vantage to those for whom it is intended than that in Fre derick-street. The subject of erecting an additional num ber of these buildings, was brought before the corporation, at a meeting of the council on Wednesday, by Mr. Thine, who moved the following resolution :—" That it is desira ble to proceed with the erection of an additional number of fresh-water baths and wash-houses ; and that it be an instruction to the Health Committee to consider the num ber and the most suitable sites." The resolution was unanimously carried. In the course of the discussion, a suggestion was incidentally made, which, if acted upon, of which there at present seems to be no reasonable doubt, will continue to Liverpool the prominent position she has hitherto taken in this branch of the physical ame lioration of the condition of the poor. The suggestion was, that the borough should take advantage of the new act, recently passed, to promote the establishment of these places, and erect one in each of the sixteen wards which comprise the municipal boundaries. The sugges tion was most favourable received. It obtained the appa rently willing support of the chairman of the Finance Committee, (Mr. G. H. Lawrence,) who, on almost all subjects of a permanent pecuniary outlay, is an able and ready objector-general. We expect, therefore, to see these undertakings commenced some time next year, on an unprecedented scale. LEAKAGE 'mom ASHPITS, &c. - A medical friend was very much annoyed occasionally when using a sitting room, the window of which opened into a small garden, by the stench which filled the room, the window open or shut. Often he had to abandon the room altogether, very much puzzled as to the source of so disgusting an intruder. He was led to accuse a drain whicli ran down the garden as the possible cause. Ile had it examined thoroughly by workmen, and fonnd the drain clear and unaccusable. He remained for some time ignorant of the cause, until chance made him acquainted with the fact that on the other side of the partition garden wall, his neighbour's privy was placed close to the houses. Still the thing seemed hardly adequate to explain the fact of his being so especially annoyed. and that too more than his neighbour, who ought to have been equally obnoxious to the nuisance smell. On stooping down over his ground, he parceived the soil itself to be impregnated under his window with the same smell with that in the room. lie had the soil dug into ; and on removing a quantity of its superficial layer, they found the subsoil charged beyond saturation with filthy drainage, forming a current actually running into the hole which was dug, from the adjoining ashpit, the leakage from which taking place through the foundation of the wail, satisfactorily explained the cause, and pointed out the remedy. Had this not been discovered, it is very probable that ill health might have resulted in time, from which, of course, to as sign a:probable cause, would have been difficult ; and if the true one had been guessed, it would have been consi dered by most people purely chimerical. I shall mention one or two similar kind of cases, in order that from se veral facts the convictio n ma y be irresistible, and I hope a useful warning to the public. Mr. Harris mentioned to me a case out of Fox-street, where a poor woman rented a cottage, and after living in it only a few weeks, bad to encounter a change from previous good health to declining strength and spirits. He discovered the wall of her " house-place" to be in a constantly damp state, which turned out to be a leakage from his neighbour's aslipit. There can be no doubt that this is only one of hundreds of cases where several causes operate injuriously upon health. The depressing nature of the volatile poisons liberated constantly from privies and ash places is !lOW too well known to need comment. I have received some notes acquainting me with nuisances from anony mous parties. I do not rely upon anonymous letters, and do not quote them therefore, unless where I happen to have made myself personally acquainted with the facts. Some of the nuisances I have referred to, as the parties will see. A party enquires of me, if a nuisance described near Finch-street, " can be represented," as families are suffering. The remedy is for them and all others at once to lodge a complaint with Mr. Rusb'ton; or to report to the Health Committee of the Town Council. and it will be immediately attended to.—Letter from Dr. Watson. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. • On Wednesday, the usual monthly meeting of the Council, was held at the Town-hall. FINANCE CONIMITTEE. - THE ST. GEORGE'S HALL. The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised a report on the proposed embellishment of the south portico of St. George's-hall, referred from the last Council on financial considerations, and an application to allow, under special circumstances, the enrolment of the indentures of apprenticeship of Courtenay Crutenden, Nathaniel Bethel Thomas, 'William Clough Borris, and Samuel Wilson, after the expiration of the period speci fied by the bye-law. The treasurer was authorised to pay the Mayor a sum of £3OOO, being the amount of ex penses incurred at the time of Prince Albert's recent visit to Liverpool. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the proceedings, and, in doing so, availed himself of the op portunity of saying just a few words with reference to the report of the Finance Committee, touching Mr. Cocker ell's proposed embellishment of the south portico of St. George's-ball. He was glad of having this opportunity, because at one time he believed that the surplus fund of the Corporation would not bear the expense of making that embellishment; and he should now explain the grounds upon which the committee had arrived at the conclusion that they could bear it, lest, by. not explaining it they should encourage other well-meaning proposals which would be likely to be embarrassing. The Council were aware that the surplus income of the year, and that the income and expenditure of the Corporation were estimated annually on the first of January. If there was a surplus, the burgesses were entitled to it ; if there was a deficiency, they were called upon to make good that de ficiency. by bearing the burden of a borough rate; and while it was only fair that they should be called upon to make good any deficiency, it was equally fair that they should be entitled to the entire of the surplus, whenever a surplus arose. It was well to bear in mind that the Council could not infringe on the surplus of future years. In January last, it was shown that the Corporation would have an income this year of £142,000, and that the obligatory expenditure would be £114,000, leaving a balance of 4:28,000. Then it was not easy to say with accuracy what the increase and expenditure of the present year might be, but the committee had estimated the pro bable income very fairly and correctly ; neither had the expenditure differed materially from the estimate ; for, though there bad been one or two items of expenditure not calculated upon, yet, the receipts and outlays were about the same as were expected. There was one increase of expenditure, for instance, in the matter of cleansing the courts of the inhabitants, to the amount of £4OOO or £5OOO, and they had also had to incur an expense, which none of them would grudge, consequent on the visit of Prince Albert to the town, and that had amounted to I £3OOO. But, making these deductions, the surplus was pretty much what the committee estimated it at ; and here he should observe that some of the sums voted at the commencement of the year had not been called for. For instance, a sum of £lOOO for the Observatory had been voted and not .been paid. For the Baths in Paul-street, which were expected to be completed, a sum of £3500 was voted, but they had cost less by £1000; and he was sorry to say that the contemplated improvements in Water-street had not taken place, so that the sum voted for these improvements had not been paid. Of the large sum of £23,1100 voted for the Assize Courts, only £lB,OOO had been expended ; and, on the whole, it did appear that there was a surplus now at the disposal of the Council, amounting to between £3OOO and £4OOO, which the Council could lay out in the embellishment of the portico if they pleased. If they chose to place their bands on their breast, and vote away the money in this manner, they could do so. The money ought, really and truly, to be paid away ; because, if it became merged in the borough fund, difficulties might at i,e, and he had doubts whether any future Council could deal with it. But, be this as it might, he would not throw any difficulties in the way. He still entertained the opinion he had before expressed in the Council. He thought, where so many pressing things were claiming attention, it was hardly a wise expenditure to incur in the share of embellishment ; but, however, he would give way and congratulate Mr. Cockerell on the opportunity which was now afforded him for carrying his beautiful design into execution. It would he a monument of the good taste of the Council, rather than a monument of the extravagance of the Finance Committee. The vote could not be carried or entertained, had it not been for the delay which had oc curred in the erection of the Assize Courts and St. George's-hall ; and here he could not help expressing his regret that greater progress in those buildings was not being made. There had been no report from the Courts of Law Committee for two months. When the charities were suff:ring, and when so much had been realised by the great musical festival at Birmingham, he thought no time ought to be lost in finishing St. George's-hall. At Birmingham, the sum of £llOO, from the proceeds of the festival, had been given to the public hospital of the town. A large sum had been voted for the organ for the hall, but nothing was done ; and it ought to be proceeded with at once, for the expense would not be thrown away, as be had before shown, for they should then have the means of giving the people recreation at a cheap rate. Mr. lIUGII lIORNBY thought it unfair to charge the committee with the delay which had taken place, because it was well known to the whole town, that the circum stances under which the builders were placed, when the work-people struck for wages, had occasioned that delay. He differed entirely from the chairman, in the remarks which had fallen from him, relative to the disposition of the surplus, Mr. PARKER perfectly agreed with Mr. Hornby, that they ought not to be cutting it very tine. If they were like other corporations who had to adopt artificial means for raising the wind. it might be all very right to adopt Mr. Lawrence's suggestions, but when the Corporation of Liverpool were concerned, the richest and the most im portant in the kingdom, with the exception of the metro polis, was it to be supposed that they could not anticipate such a sum as £3OOO for Mr. Cockerell's design ? He asked why the Finance Committee were not making those improvements on the other side of the river, f,,r that most spirited tenant, Mr. Willoughby, which had been promised him ? Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the committee were anxious to carry out the improvements; and, indeed, the surveyors had had the plans for some time in their pos session ; but the committee were negociating with the Woods and Forests for the purchase of the Crown rights opposite Mr. Willoughby's property, and, before they commenced, they wanted those arrangements to be per. fected. The TOWN-CLERK said the negociation had terminated, but the conveyances could not, as yet, be obtained. Mr. HIGGINS asked for an explanation of the circum stances under which the indentures of the apprentices came now to be enrolled ? The TOWN-CLERK replied that the parties had come forward years a. o, and that the Council were under a sort of pledge to permit the enrolment. Mr. ROBERTSON asked whether the outlay of .£3.5r0 for the embellishment of the portico was now confirmed ? The TOWN-CLERK said it had been voted already, and that it was merely referred to the Finance Committee to ascertain whether they had the money. Mr. ROBERTSON asked whether the Council were bound to Mr. Cockerell's plan ? The TOWN-CLERK replied in the affirmative; and the proceedings were confirmed. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARbc WATCH COMMITTEE The Watch Committee recommended that 100 first class constables be appointed at 20s. a week, the consta bles to be selected from the general body of the police. The committee passed a resolution of thanks to Mr. Dowling and the police for the excellent arrangements made at the time of the Prince's visit. The proceedings were confirmed. DOCK COMMITTEE.-THE ALBERT DOCK The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been read, Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE moved their confirmation. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE asked how the Albert Dock warehouses were answering? He was aware that there was a feeling of dissatisfaction out of doors on the subject. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE said that a good deal of the dissatisfaction had arisen with regard to some points in the management, but that might reasonably have been expectea in a work so entirely new in this part of the country, and so totally different to anything in practice heretofore in Liverpool. He might state that the ship ping were well pleased and contented, and that they, both owners and shipmasters, had expressed their approbation of the despatch and the reasonable amount of charges. So far it had answered well. With regard to the charges which the sub•committee had fixed for the regulation of merchandize, some of them were found too high, but an immediate revision would be made, and such rates would be settled upon as would induce persons to send their merchandize there. The Warehouse Committee had sat for a long time on Tuesday ; they would meet different commercial parties on Friday; and an alteration would unquestionably be made. In the meantime, be believed that a return of the difference between the high and low charges would be handed over to those who might send their vessels to the dock within the next fortnight, three weeks, or a month. The committee bad only one desire, and that was, to afford every facility to the trade of the port. It was said that parties frequenting the dock were required to give up the bills of lading. Now, it was no such thing. They were required to exhibit their bills of lading in order to show their right of ownership, and there could be no objection to that. It was practised in Lcndon, and it was one of the best modes of security for property to the owners that could be adopted. Another point which had excited a good deal of discussion, and upon which a motion would be brought before the cotton brokers to-morrow (Thursday), respected the sampling of cotton. Now, the mode adopted was, that the cotton eas sampled by the persons in the pay of the Albert Dock. It was presumed that they were indifferent par ties, and that their sampling would be satisfactory; but in the re-sampling for the buyers, the cotton brokers requested permission to send their own men to do it themselves. Now, although there was an objection on the part of the committee to their sending their own men, lest a difficulty in the working of the warehouses might be created, yet they might send a person to superintend and be present the whole time that the servants of the docks were taking the samples. The sub-committee were now discovering what the cost would be of passing mer chandize across the quay; and now that they had disco vered it, they would reduce the charges so low as not to make it a losing business. He hoped shortly that a line of dock railway and water conveyance would be under the management of the Dock Committee. Mr. TURNER asked how many vessels had as yet entered the dock ? h i e n th e er there was any obj ec ti on M m r r T M u o R o N R E E R r replied--Nine. e e d d — v‘ N . on the part of the insurance offices ? Mr. MOORE said they had not come to any determina tion, but a meeting was to be held in London, and after that it would be known. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE asked whether parties wishing to take goods from the Albert Warehouses to their oa n warehouses could do so at all hours ? Mr. MooltE replied that they could get them at any hour they pleased. Mr. Arms said the fact was, that although the Albert Dock and Warehouses might be of use hereafter, .et until the rates were made conformable to the wishes of the public, both were remaining unoccupied ; for the other day in that fine, large dock, there were only two vessels. He had urged in committee that the rules and rates were not conformable to the feelings of the buyers ; he had said that they were contradictory, and a mass of absurdity, discreditable to the Dock Committee; and he suggested that the associated bodies of the town ought to have been consulted prior to their adoption. Mr. MANN said it was very easy to find fault, hut when there were upwards of 500 articles brought before the committee, upon each of which there were four de scriptions of rates, and upon each three or four different descriptions of weight and size and quantity, the Council would have some idea of the difficulty under which that committee had laboured. He wished the rates to be as low as possible to cover the expenses; but he hoped the merchants would bear in mina that there must be a charge over and above the mere porterage rate, for there was an expensive staff to be kept up, in the shape of landing clerks, wharfingers, &c. . _ Mr. - H ORSFALL said he had transmitted to the Dock Committee the unanimous opinion of the African Asso ciation, that the charge on palm oil was cent. per cent. higher at the Albert Dock than elsewhere ; and that rate had excluded vessels altogether, The original rate set down was 3d. per ton, but it had been altered to 4d. Mr. AIKIN was prepared to show that the rates for rent were 100 per cent. as compared with other ware houses. _ _ Mr. I - tanonn considered the list of rates very fair. For the last 20 years he never charged less than 3d. a ton for palm oil in his warehouses, acd he had received so much as sd. and Gd. for the deposit of oil in bis vaults. He defied any one to prove that 3d. a ton would be remu nerative for depositing oil in vaults. He advised them to pause before they proceeded much further in their new undertaking, because the two millions of warehouse pro perty in Liverpool could always go lower than them in rates and charges. Mr. Amts was not in favour of high charges at the Albert Dock ; neither was he an advocate for having them too low. Mr. EVANS was unable to give an opinion as to the rates, because he had not seen the book, but he felt con fident that if the up-town warehouses offered to take cotton for nothing, the Albert warehouses would get the article at a charge of a penny. He had no fear of the competition of the warehouse owners. Mr. TYRER stated that one of the vessels, of 400 tons, which had already entered the Albert Dock, had saved £lOO by the saving of about 20 days in the time of her discharge. Mr. Moons replied; and after Mr. Horsfall had an nounced that from and after the 26th instant dock porters would be employed by the committee on all the dock quays, the proceedings were confirmed. George Williamson was appointed messenger at the Town-hall, in the room of John Loader, dismissed. The Special Committee, appointed on the 19th of May last, to make the necessary preparations and arrange ments for the reception and entertainment of Prince Al bert, on the occasion of his honouring the town with a visit, reported that £3500 would cover the whole of the expenses of that visit. Mr. TINNE moved, pursuant to notice, that it is desi rable to proceed with the erection of a❑ additional num ber of fresh water baths and warehouses, and that s an instruction to the Heaith Committee to consider the number and the most suitable sites. The motion was carried unanimously. SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES NISI PRIUS COURT.-TUESDAY The trial of GERARD v. MUSPRATT, for an alleged nuisance, was resumed this morning. Mr. Samuel Curtis was called and examined.—He said he had been engaged in the nursery business for 50 years, during a large portion of which time he had been with the Duke of Newcastle. Had nearly 4,000 acres of woodland under his management, and of meadow, wood, and arable land altogether about 20,000. Was now engaged in lay ing out the Victoria Park, London. Surveyed the woods on plaintiff's estate last week. Examined the Haydock boundary plantation. That part towards .the works was very healthy. The woods in the neighbourhood of New hall seem in good health. The foliage on each side of the canal was very good. Saw some trees which were rather bare about the roots, which were unhealthy. The gar den, as seen from the terrace, seemed healthy. The woods were not sufficiently drained. There were some portions of dry land also where the woods did not flou rish, from the arid nature of the soil. The roots bad penetrated as far as the soil was good, and then the tree decayed. Thought the causes of such decay as he saw were quite natural. The trees in that part of the country have a list in one direction. Those on the New-hall estate incline towards the works, and the most luxuriant foliage is on that side. Many of the trees along the boundary wall were ripe. They were full grown, and would never be better. There were insects upon the leaves of the oaks, which changed their colour. Syca more leaves have generally a blotched appearance. There is a clover field just outside the boundary wall, on the side next the works. It looked very well, and had no appearance of ill health. In the more recent plantations the trees have been put down when too far advanced in growth. The young plantations are very foul. There seemed never to have been a tool used among them. The game on the estate seemed to be well preserved. The Scotch firs are usually doing well. On the average of the last few years would think they had grown on the average a foot each, and in some cases two feet. CrOss-examined.—Did not see much injury done by game. The crop of clover seemed a second crop. The country was not a rich country. It was chiefly a coal formation. Did not inquire as to the precise age of the trees in the new plantation when nut down. Should think they had been planted when nine or ten years old. After the examination of a nutnher of witnesses who held land in the neighbourhood, who stated they per ceived no ill effects from the vapour, Mr. Miller, M.D., was galled, who stated that he, with Dr. Brett and Sir Robert Kane, of Dublin, had made a series of experiments at the works. Muriatic acid gas is evolved in the process ; part of it is condensed, and part escapes into the air. There is what is called a decomposing chamber, the gas from which passes into a tower filled with pieces of coke, and through which, from the top, a stream of water is constantly flowing. The gas is thus absorbed by the water. No gas escapes from the flue at the top of that tower. There are besides six re verberatory furnaces on the old plan. Connected with these was a long horizontal flue, communicating with the main chimney. A stream of water flowed through it, which would condense a great portion of the gas. Tested the air as it passed out of that flue into the main chimney at two different periods in the process. The muriatic acid gas, when in the greatest quantity, was in the pro portion of 1 to 1,866 parts of atmospheric air ; in the second experiment, Ito 6,500 parts. The vapour has the greatest tendency to fall in moist weather. It would pass to a greater distance in dry. Thought the gas would be diluted 50 times in half a mile, and that it would not be appreciable at the distance of two miles. In cross-examination he stated, that if the gas was sufficiently powerful, at the distance of two miles, to make the eyes smart, it was certainly appreciable. In answer to some further questions by his LORDSHIP, the witness said the gas was very pungent, and would be perceptible to the smell in extremely minute quantities. White vapour might arise from steam ; that, however, would be dispersed in a distance of 100 or 200 yards. Dr. Brett gave evidence not differing materially from that of the last witness. Mr. Martin replied, and the Judge having summed up, the jury, after considerable deliberation, returned a ver dict for the plaintiff—damages £l,OOO. ANOTHER ALLEGED INJURY FROM AN ALKALI MANUFACTORY. GERARD, BART., V. _CROSSFIELD AND ANOTHER This was another special jury cause, similar to the last, in which Sir John Gerard, Bart., was plaintiff, and Simon and James Crossfield were the defendants. The declara tion stated that the defendants carried on an alkali manu factory at St. Helens, and that certain noxious gases and vapours were emitted therefrom which damaged the plain tiff's trees. The defendants pleaded not guilty. Mr. MARTIN stated the case, which he said was ex actly of the same character as the last. Sir John Gerard was the owner of considerable property in the neighbour hood of St. Helens, and amongst other places he was the proprietor of Garswood estate, which was the old pro perty of the Gerard family, and from which they removed some time ago to New-hall. Garswood faced to the west, where the works of the defendants were situated, and by those works, it would be proved, damage to the extent of £4,000 had been done to the estate. In 1838 and 1839 the defendants erected their chimney, and immediately after so much damage was done that they agreed to allow compensation to the amount of £l,OOO ; but the works had since been continued, and, of course, the damage was constantly going on, so that either Sir John must aban don his property altogether, or he must come into court, and seek for damages from a jury of his country. It would be proved that, although some efforts towards con densation might have been made by them, yet that as entire condensation was impracticable, destruction to Sir John's timber had followed. In the event he trusted the jury would give such compensating damages as the plain tiff was entitled to recover. WEDNESDAY. SIR JOHN GERARD, BART.. V. CROSSFIELD The further hearing of this cause occupied the court nearly the whole of the day. The jury, after an absence from court for one hour, returned a verdict for the plain tiff—Damages £4OO. SIR JOHN GERARD, BART., V. GAMBLE This was a similar action to the last for the recovery of damages for injuries caused by the alkali works of the de fendant. The case was referred. THURSDAY. A SHARE TRANSACTION. - LUCAS V. HOATSON. Henry Walker Lucas, sharebroker, of Liverpool, was the plaintiff, and Joseph Cocking Hoatson, sharebroker, of Halifax, the defendant. The action was brought to recover the balance of an account arising out of a share transaction, amounting to £9Bl 10s., bought by plaintiff for defendant. It appeared that in August, 1841, the de fendant ordered the plaintiff to purchase for him 100 shares in the London and Croydon Railway ; the shares were obtained from a gentleman named Langdon, and paid for by the plaintiff, but the defendant afterwards re fused payment. Verdict for the plaintiff for the amount sought. ALLEGED DETENTION or A WILL..-THOMPSON V. HEIRS AND ANOTHER. James Thompson, of Thingwall Farm, was the plain tiff, and Messrs. rernhezton and ileyes, solicitors, of Prescot, defendants. The action was one of detenu, brought by the plaintiff to recover possession of a will made by his sister, Jenny Thompson, under which lie was entitled to three houses in Ben Johnson-street. The defendants held the will as attorneys for a person named Sally Lythgoe, who alleged that the will was made i❑ her favour. The Attorney-General opened the case for the plaintiff, remarking that it would be much better to have the matter settled without proceeding to trial, otherwise the parties rnit;ht find shemselves in the positio❑ of the litigants described in the fable, who each of them got an oyster shell, while the oyster itself went somewhere else. A consultation then took place, and it was agreed to withdraw a juror, subject to a rule. ACTION ON A BILL OF EXCHANGE. - ROBEIITS V. FAIRHURST Richard Roberts was the plaintiff, and John Fairhurst the defendant. The action was brought to recover the sum of £2B lls. 6d., being the amount of a bill of ex change drawn by David Cooke, and ac( epted by the de fendant. Verdict for the plaintiff for the amount of the bill. This concluded the evil business, and his Lordship, after congratulating the jury on the conclusion of their labours, adjourned the Court at half-past ten o'clock. lie shortly afterwards left town for London. THE REV. HUGH AVNEILE'S REPLY TO HIS CRITICS. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION OF THE SERMON ON OCCASION OF PRINCE ALBERT ' S VISIT The author heard with astonishment that exception had been taken against the title of his sermon, on the ground of irreverence, and even blasphemy. He was wholly at a loss to conjecture by what appearance of argument such an objection could be sustained, till his attention was called to the rol:owing paragraph in a Tractarian journal. After transcribing the title page of the sera - ion, the writer continues thus : " The fearful irreverence, to use the very mildest term, of seeming to apply to the visit of an earthly prince, words wh ch the Holy Ghost has used to describe the awful coming of the Prince of [leaven and earth to judgment, must be apparent to every reverend mind." The word seeming is certainly a saving word: but under cover of it, this writer has contrived to accuse me of do ing what I never thought of, and never did. It never en tered into my mind, nor into my sermon, nor on my title page, to apply or even to seem to apply, to the visit of an earthly prince, words which are used in Scripture to de scribe the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The charge is purely fictitious. I am no further concerned with the motives which have dictated this and other simi lar attacks, than to pray for my " slanderers," that it may please God " to turn their hearts." The title of my sermon is, " Every eye shall see Him." The words are applied to the coming of Christ, and to nothing else. What follows on the title-page is a descrip tion of the contents of the sermon—" Prince Albert's visit to Liverpool used in illustration of the second coming of Christ." And where, I asv, is the blasphemy, or the ir reverence, or even. I am bold to say, the bad taste of such an illustration ? It is of the very ❑ature of illustrations., that comparatively low, common, familiar things, with which men are acquainted, are used to convey instruction concerning higher and more important things, with which it is desirable to make them acquainted. This is the con stant practice of the sacred writers. Thus, to take one book of Scripture for example, a sower sowing corn illus trates in detail the Son of man dispersing the good seed of the word of God. (St. Matt. xiii.) A vineyard let to successive bodies of husbandmen, illustrates Jehovah's dealings with Jews and Gentiles through successive ge nerations. (St. Matt. xxi.) A marriage feast, the oxen and fatlings killed, and the invitations sent to the guests, illustrate the atonement and the preaching of the gospel. (St. Matt. xxii.) The arrival of a Jewish bridegroom at midnight illustrates the sudden coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (St. Matt. xxv.) The list may be swelled to a volume. In strict conformity with this practice, the visit of an earthly prince to a provincial town, creating universal interest, putting a stop to all the ordinary avo cations of life, and gathering the entire population into one congregated mass of eager listeners and spectators, illustrates, in some very important particulars, the coming of the Prince of Heaven and earth to judgment. To accuse such an illustration of blasphemy or irreve rence, betrays either a gross ignorance of Scripture, or a wilful malevolence against the accused. Suppose a treatise written on the subject of the creation, and published under the following title : " Now, WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY ;" CO. Xiii. 12;) Or, Lord Rosse's Telescope, USED IN ILLUSTRATION of the Immensity of the Universe. Who, I ask, would accuse the author of applying, or seeming to apply, the words of the apostle to Lord Rosse's trlescove ? . . [The reverend gentleman uses one or two other similar illustrations.] In every such case, would it not be obvious to every candid reader, that the enlarged description had reference, not to the primary title, but to an illustration promi ❑ently made use of in the body of the treatise ? Ilad I entitled this sermon, "THE KING IN ins BEAUTY ;" (Isa. xxxiii. 17 ;) or, Ilezekiali's Triumph on the Destruction of Sennacherib, USED IN ILLUSTRA TION of the Second Coming of Christ, no exception, I presume, could have been taken against it —none, at least, on the ground of irreverence or blasphemy. And if He zekiah, o❑ a special occasion full of interest to the in habitants of Jerusalem, might be so used as an illustra tion, why not Prince Albert, on a special occasion full of interest to the inhabitants of Liverpool ? Is there any thing more earthly about Prince Albert than there was about Hezekiih ? But, further. It has ever been the practice of the most successful religious teachers, to avail themselves of passing occurrences, in which the minds of men were already engaged, and on them, by illustration of contrast, to ground spiritual instruction. This gives a reality to re ligion, connecting it with present facts, as well as with past history ' • with England, as we ll as w ith th e c h urc h ; — an d this is the real secret of the hostility of those who would confine religion, with sanctimonious hypocrisy, to canoni cal hours and consecrated places. Hence the outcry against " popular Protestantism," which is but another name for true religion, present.'d intelligibly and practi cally to the people ; neither disguised by heathenism in the garb of classical refinement, nor mystified by mediae val superstitions. Alas! for the affectation of pious hor ror at the irreverence of such a title as this sermon bears, combined with soft commendations of " Sister" Rome, with all her real antichrist'an impieties !* There was a generation who strained at gnats and swallowed camels ! and it is not )et extinct ! I have the satisfaction to inform these critics that this sermon is selling rapidly and circulating widely, urged forward, doubtless, by their attacks, which, by the reli gious portion of the community, are considered eulo giums. Within three weeks it has reached a third edi tion. In conclusion, I ask, will the journal which first printed my title-page, or any of its contemporaries which have since given currency to that accusation, have the fairness, the common honesty, boldly to meet the ques tion by printing and answering this preface? Or, if they see that-they have been hastily guilty of a mistake, will they candidly acknowledge it ? * Take the following as a specimen. It is fresh. While I write, there is a great concourse of nobility, gentry, &c , &c., assembled in Birmingham, in attendance upon the Triennial Musical Festival, which has been got tip upon a very magnifi cent scale. The object is ostensibly a very charitable one—to aid the funds of the general hospital, The president is Lord Wrottesley. 0,,e of the hymns to be sung on the occasion, classified among the '• select.on," contains the following piece of real blasphemy, in the shape of an appeal for protection in the day of judgment made directly to a woman : Inflammf,tus et accenstis. Per Te, Virgo. sim defeusus In die judicii : Pac me cruce custodiri Aforte Christi prxmuniri Confoveri gratia " This is very pardonable. It is only idolatry I It is quite free from the vulgarity and irreverence of " popular Protestantism !" It will occasion no outcry! It Will provoke no condemnation I " Woe, w. e, unto them that call evil good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness !" LIVERPOOL BOROUGH SESSIONS The intermediate sessions for the borough, which are usually held in August, but which had been adjourned until the close of the assizes, commenced on Friday, be fore GILBERT HENDERSON, Esq.. Recorder. The calen dar contained 91 prisoners for felonies, and 15 for misde meanors. Of these, 46 could not read at all ;40 could read and write imperfectly ; 17 could read imperfectly ; and 3 only could read and write well. 15 other prisoners had been committed since the calendar was printed. The usual, proclamation against vice and immorality having been read, the following gentlemen were sworn on THE GRAND JURY. • Joseph Langton, banker, Great George-square, foreman Ellis Martin Brodie, merchant, Exchange-buildings. Samuel Bulley, cotton-broker. Exchange-buildings James Bent, brewer, Mount Vernon-road. Nicholas Ciook, merchant, Brunswick-sheet. William Clare, cotton-broker, Exchange-buildings. Thomas Oldfield Cooper, merchant, Rumford-street H enry Cram, ship-broker, South John-street. John Eason. broker, Tithebarn-street. Samuel Taylor Hobson, merchant, Catherine-street Michael Humble, ship-builder, Waterloo-road. Charles Wilding Jones, merchant, Vernon-street. Gerrard Lynch, merchant, James-street. Francis Maxwell, merchant, Water-street Henry Newman, merchant, 13, Canning-place John Jackson Starkie, ship-broker, Vim. Pearce, merchant, Derby-buildings, Fenwickistreet Alfred Bower, cotton-broker, Dingle-road. Thomas Tomlinson. merchant, St. Anne-street. Mr. Macviccar, cotton-broker, Shaw-street, was fined £5 for non-attendance. sessions, ss :hoaGn Learned vsee,n atbnl eedem RECORDER dieunsr, einnsgti x thatfor 0 wr t e h ets e krh n i sao delivered acrt pvheear riog period charged elapsed s etwith than charge hn ac since lt variousoha oes pl follows a es T rts le o l offences. I mention this not merely to apprise yoll of the extent of the business which will have to come before you, but to make the fact generally known, that members of the community, especially those in chief stations of influence, may sec the importance of exercising all the means they possess to repress the progress of crime in this borough, which seems at the present time to be making such fearful strides. The most serious cases,, as to the amount of property stolen, are two, in one of which a man is accused of robbing his brother - in-law of a ..)(21 note; and in the other the party is charged with stealing 300 barrels of flour, being part of a cargo of 1200 barrels entrusted to the Prisoner to despatch to various places. In both these cases the stolen property has been reco vered. Although the cases are more than usually nu merous, I am happy to add that they are generally of a lighter character. I regret to see several rather seriou s charges of assault which seem to have arisen from a dis position to deter men who have served an apprenticeship to the business of shipwright in other towns from exer cising their callings, and so gaining a livelihood, here. I am confident the great body of shipwrights are too intelligent, too well affected towards the laws of their I country, and too hi g h s pi r it e d to resort to illegal or op pressive intimidation. If, however, on the part Lf any individuals such attempts should be mode, tly7 may de pend upon it, th at most assuredly t' , e authorities !rill put down such attempts, ant the offenders will be visited by the most exempl ar y pun i s h ment. I know the great ex perience of some of the grand jury too writ to say a word as to the manner i n which you should discharge your duties in the grand jury room ; but if any doubt or difficulty should arise on any point of law, I shall be happy to render you eve ry ass i stance. The grand jury then r e ti re d , and shortly after several bilolsnwecarelliborgoucttrinti,e common jury list, m any excuses were made for non-attendance, principally on toe ground of sickness. Mr. W right, the clerk of the peace, stated that he had summoned eighty persons, and he did not think there were above forty able to attend. DOMESTIC The Ford Abbey Estate. together with the splendid monastery, was sold on Thursday at tke Auction Mart, by Mr. George Robins, for 50,100 guineas; and Messrs. Osborne and Ward, of Bristol, it is believed, the leading bankers of that city, are the purchasers. MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN. —On Tues day morning, a man named Bailey, in the employ of Mr. Cubitt, of Thames-bank, in going to Lis work, discovered the body of a gentleman lying on the shore, at Th ames _ bank. The deceased was a gentleman of independent property, and highly respectably connected ; his name was William Johnson, aged fifty-two, of Belvoir-terrace, Vauxhall-bridge -road. He had left home after dinner with the intention of taking a walk. He had been in a low and depressed state of mind for some days past. The late Sir Charles Wetherell died intestate. Search for a will has been made without success at the residences of the deceased in Berkeley -square, Stone-buildings, Lincoln's-inn, and Old House, Sussex. The personal funded property is estimated at upwards of .:£210,000, Principally invested in Venezuelan, Chilian, and other foreign stock ; and there being no surviving children, one-half of the same will be Lady Wetherell's share. The remainder will be equally divided amongst the brothers and sisters of the deceased. The landed and other pro perty is valuable, and goes to the heir-at-law, the Rev. R. Wetherell. It consists of the mansion in Berkeley_ square, a leasehold investment, purchased, for several thousand pounds, from the Earl of Abergavenny, the residence and chambers in Stone-buildings, where he entertained the King of Hanover on two occas'ons during his last visit to this country, and lands in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent; the litter about 1500 acres. The property in Sussex is situate near East Grinstead, and in Surrey, near Chertsey. SINGULAR AccrnENT.—We understand that an acci dent of a very singular descrip.ion occurred to one of our fellow-citizens, when recently bathing at Ardeatinny. The gentleman in question, while swimming at some distance from the shore, was suddenly attacked by a large medusa or galley-fish, which so clogged his movements, that he was in imminent danger of being drowned, and it was with dffiiculty he disencumbered himself so far as to admit of his diving, by which i.e freed himself for the moment from his unwonted assailant. Unfortunately, however, on rising to the surface, he again came in contact with the animal, which, this time, began to sink along with him, and, bad it not been for the assistance of a fisherman, who, attracted by his cries, rowed hastily to the resc ue , the result might very possibly have been fatal. As it is. he was some time confined to bed, and is still suffering from the feverish effect produced by the stings received is his stro.ge encounter. This accident is the more worthy worthy of notice from the s'ze of tt.e medusa, which is rarely found so large in these latitudes, being, so far as the observer's agitation would permit him to indulge, at leastsix feet in circumferec ne.—Glaßgow Courier. SINGULAR BEQUESTS.—The will of Mary Anne John son, late of Well-walk, Hampstead, spinster, who died on the 6th ult., passed the seal of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, on the ]st inst. The personal estate of the testatrix is sworn under £25,000. The will contains, ac cording to a statement of a correspondent of the Church and State Gazette, the following b=quests :—" I give to my black do , Carlo an annuity of £3O a y e ar during the do;age}, Jemmy,'skl,ife , to be andbepaid Tom,y early.halfl give Unto an annuity ntocacllo of x f tlreclao a cats, year; £3O a year for the three cats, to be pail half , Blacky, m a y n d " c t a b t e s. r' ' s ' Query.—What 'Ain the authorities at the Legacy Duty Office do? As it respects Legacy duty," the leg a t ees a re t P a o k t e s o n charge and o r f ri Harriet H e o d l l o y g , old year r. servants, to t are certainly " strangers in blood" to the deceased, and in that capacity are liable to a duty of ten per cent, on the value of their life interest ; but the Legacy Duty Act, on the other hand, says nothing about duty payable on legacies bequeathed to dogs and cats. Asit is nothing uncommon "to pass an act to amend an act," we would certainly suggest that it be done in the next session ; for we do not see why children should pay one per cent. upon property they derive from their parents, and Master Carlo, and Messrs. Blacky, Jemmy, and Tom, pay nothing. THE ATTENTIVE GOVERNMENT. —Various govern ments have had various nicknames fastened upon them. Beyond all question the present one is entitled to be called " The Attentive Government." To every enquiry that is made, to every suggestion that is offered, to every plan that is recommended, to every abuse that is pointed out, to every deficiency that is mentioned, they have hut one answer—" they will direct their attention to it." The. inquiry they cannot answer—the suggestion they do not undo rstand—t he plan they never heard of—the abuse they are unable to remedy—the deficiency they cannot supply —but—" they will direct their attention to them." What a set of inefficient, unprovided, ignorant, unbusiness-like, unprepared dolts they must be ! They know nothing. can do nothinz, have no resources at hand, and can only a d r e i re s t t t s h fi e e i d r t e t e s n p t e i a o k n i t t o h i w n h c a o t m e v p e a r s s i w m h e enn early a h un d re d subjects are now waiting for wt p i r oe o ns m ead i y s . et that laoit n 7e " their " attention" during the recess ; and if they fulfil their promises, their time will be so fully occupied, that the current business of the country must of necessity be neglected. That will beallowed to accumulate and become subjects for " attention" during the recess of 1847, if Providence should continue to inflict upon us the " At tentive Government" for another year. The meaning of all this is. that they are wholly unfit for their offices at present, but intend to work hard and qua li ty themselves before Parliament meets again. With s uc h an awkward squad we shall soon witness some glori o u s bl un d ers.— John Bull. FREE TRADE CELEBRATION AT SHEFFIELD.—The Sheffield free traders celebrated the passing of the free trade measures on Wednesday. Lord Morpeth, M.P., addressed the assembly in a speech which was character ised by his usual elegance of expression, but which con tained nothing new or startling, being, in fact, a clever lecture on the benefits in prospect from free trade. Hav ing alluded to the failure of the potato crop as endanger ing famine in Ireland, and as seeming "to bring some thing in the spirit of a solemn rebuke to those who, in the earlier discussions of the present session, indulged in sarcastic refetences to the malady in the potatoes, his lordship said, " The most inveterate protectionist will tell you that he is as ready as any one to meet the pressure of any immediate evil, and that if the natural operations of their loved sliding scale bad not of itself reduced prices, in such a state of affairs they would have been ready in the face of famine to throw all the ports open. But we tell them that that is not enough—small thanks to you, that the sharp cry of a people's famine will be strong enough to sweep away every obstacle; but what we want to proclaim is that in every year, in every season, in every state of the weather, the ports of Britain shall be open. (Loud cheers.) Therefore plough ❑ow your fields, and wastes, and prairies; cut down your forests; grub up the roots of your trees ; sow wheat, and maize, and barley, and oats, and beans, and peas,--load all your boats and barges on Your seas and rivers—the Baltic, the Don, the Hudson, the Mississippi, —come when they may, and from whence they may, for the ports of England shall be open to them, and no man shall stop them. ( Loud cheers.) The manufacturers and workmen of busy England shall open their mouths wide for all this abundance, and no man shall stay it. (Cheers.) And this it is mainly which makes me rejoice, that the people and parliament of my country h,ve given a complete, an irresistible, an. eternal sanction to the principles of free trade, and to re verse which I believe will be a far harder task than to re move the pyramids or to stop the downfall of Niagara. (Cheers.) And I have the sanction of your chairman and of this meeting, that if such an attempt be made, the free traders of Sheffield will do their best to put it down. (Hear, hear.)" The company was afterwards addressed by John Parker, Esq., M.P., G. Ward, Esq., M.P., Col. Thompson, and others. DERBY ELECTION.—An unexpected vacancy in the re presentation of this borough has been occasioned by the appointment of Mr. Strutt to the office of President of the new Railway Board. The writ was moved for and issued on Friday week, and was received the same night by the Mayor (Mr. E. Mousley), who, as returning officer, ap pointed the nomination to take place on Wednesday morning. The Mayor's proclamation, and an address from Mr. Strutt, appeared almost simultaneously on Sa turday morning, and great was the astonishment of the electors et an announcement for which they were wholly unprepared. In fact, if Mr. Strutt's acceptance to office was known to any oue in the town before the receipt of the writ, the knowledge was confined to some of that gen tleman's confidential friends, by whom the secret was most carefully kept. Mr. Strutt arrived at Derby at a late hour on Friday night, and on Saturday morning fol lowed his address. In the course of Saturday a placard appeared, intimating that Sir Digby Mackworth (Con servative) had been requested to come forward in opposi tion to Mr. Strutt, and cautioning the electors against promising their votes. Sir Digby arrived at the Royal Hotel about midnight on Saturday, and on Monday morn ing he published an address to the electors, in which he said—"Gentlemen,—Though personally a s t ranger to most of you, I have been invited by a large and influential body from among yourselves to stand forward didate for the horioUr of being one of the representatives of your ancient borough in parliament. I come forward, Gentlemen, simply as a supporter of the great funda mental Constitution of England—the palladium of our liberties—the real cause of our prosperity—and the best gift of Divine Providence to our fathers —our Protestant religion. My principles have ever been Conservative — unconnected with any political party ; but my anxious de sire is to see Protestants of every persuasion rally roi_n r d . the standard of Protestantism.' It appears that 1 Strutt gave treat umbrage to many of the conduct with dis senters who formerly sported him by c ct hireferenceelection mp oelni ttt hoi t neoo took Sirhuem place numbers towne. r Peels sonw Ttehrher uo_r A uss f adT a ht ra y hyn n et,t o hti l o e,dn t Be h ddfiesatayle. Bill t fA s a o re wet f sicatis l wrh B oe 4 gDr s rete . ihl goa,bsts T eye6 h xol e :f. Majority for Strutt, 28 4. for i m n owing tl. pledge o many Strati. ntio. t o t f the D issenters, ea a t this election, w ho givingh tcl given the a r im pliednvo te