The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-13 00:00:00

Jan. 13, 1846. ?Loral anb probintial eb3s. There was £13,580 subscribed at the free-trade meeting in this town, on Friday, towards the great League Fund. • On Wednesday, Captain MiGowan, of the barque Pa ragon, was fined £6 for assaulting his steward, a coloured twin named Williamson. Captain Johnstone of the Tory is too ill to take his trial for the murders on board that ship. It is doubtful if he Will survive till next sessions. The Swordfish arrived here on Thursday morning from Pernambuco, after the shortest passage on record— twenty -two days. David Reed was committed for trial on Tuesday, on a ••charge of fraudulently obtaining goods from Mr. Murray, draper, Paradise-street. Lord John Manners and the Rev. T. P. Outram, rec tor of Bedmile, were, a few days since, igtiated into the order of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows We understand that the captain of the ship Robert Isaac refunded the passage money paid to him, to all the emigrants who chose to return to their homes. A central public meeting, for the purpose of explaining the principles and objects of the proposed Evangelical Alliance, will be held in Manchester on the 16th instant. Last week a boy named Rimmer, fifteen years of age, fell through an opening at the mill in Myers'-place, Lime kiln-lane, to the bottom of the building, a height of be tween fifty and sixty feet, and was killed. A tea party was held on the evening of Thursday in the girls' school connected with Christ Church. Upwards of -300 were present. Speeches were made by the Rev. F• Ould, the Rev. Mr. Cowan, and others. A fire was discovered on Saturday night last in the house of a man named Hardman, Red Bank, Manchester, and his wife, a woman of weak intellect, was burned to death. FINANCES OF THE CORPORATION.—At the meeting of the Town council on Wednesday, the Finance Committee reported their estimate that the nett income for the en -tilling year would be £142,000, and the obligatory expen diture £114,256, leaving a surplus of £27,944. LIVERPOOL FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.—THE REV. THOMAS MACGILL.—On Sunday evening last, a farewell sermon was preached in the church of St. John the Evan gelist, Hope-street, by the Rev. Thomas Macgill, on be half of this charity, previous to his leaving Liverpool fur the curacy of Clapham, in Surrey, to which he has been appointed. The collection after the sermon amounted to 12s. At the end of the evening service, a member of th e congration presented an affectionate address to the reverend gentleman. INCENDIARY FlRES.—Government have offered £5O reward, and a free pardon, to any person or persons, ex cepting to the parry who atrociously set fire to the farm buildi ng of John Shand, Esq. at Pew y Bryn Hall, near Ruabo n , to which the landlord , has added another sum of 5(.), and John Shand Esq., whose property has been destroyed, has given £lOO, making the reward £2OO, Which it is expected will be the means of discovering the Party or parties, as it is the third time that gentleman's 'Property has been on fire, the first hfiving been discovered sufficiently early to put it out without any mischief being done. COLLISION ON THE RIVER.—On Tuesday, the Captain of the ship Prompt! appeared to answer to a summons, ~eharged with refusing to pay for damage done to the ship <Ante packet. It appeared that on the 11th of December last, the Prompt, in consequence of a high wind, dragged her anchor, and, after drifting from the Magazines to the Quarantine-ground, she ran foul of the Zante packet, While she was at anchor off Rock Ferry, and carried away her figure-head, besides doing other damage. It was Proved that negligence was shown on the part of the crew of the Prompt, and the captain was ordered to pay the damages. . ST. PAUL'S CHURCH SCHOOLS, H ACRIN ' S - HE Y.—A t ea-party, for the benefit of the funds of these schools, Was held yesterday evening week, when the handsome soth of £l4 was handed to the treasurer. The Rev. R. Davies presided, and the meeting was addressed by the rev. chairman. the. Rev. Dr. Tattershall, and the Rev. H. Iliegins. The attendance was numerous and respectable, the roorn tastefully decorated with banners, evergreens, e., and the entertainment passed off satisfactorily. Great credit is due to the Sunday-school teachers for their exertions on this occasion, and we sincerely hope t he debt whi c h has s o l o n g e n cu m bered their schools may ° e soon removed. SALE OF SHIPS IN LIVERPOOL.—Meisrs. D. Tonge and Sons have favoured us with the following rtatement respecting the sake of vessels at this port during the last eZtxt preceding year BritishSOLD 1844. .. New Brunswick Quebec lB --217 Remaining unsold Ist January, 1845. SOLD 1845. British...... New Brunswick 97 Quebec --236 Remaining unsold Ist January, 1846. British l6 New Brunswick 25 Quebec .. British . _ 15 New Brunswick 25 Quebec 5 -- 45 -- 46 TRANMERE IMPROVEMENT BILL.—A public meeting of the ratepayers of the township of Tranmere was held On Friday last, at the Queen's Arms, in Lower Tran mere, called by the overseers, " to take into considera tion the expediency of opposing the intended application to parliament f o r an Impr o vement Bill for the said town -111111)." The meeting was called in consequence of a re quisition, signed by between thirty and forty landowners and ratepayers in the township. Mr. J. A. Rhodes was Called to the chair, and Mr. Perry entered into a long and elaborate -taternent of thereasons why the ratepayers should o Pnose the Improvement Bill, which had been agreed to at a former meeting. The several resolutions, as they will be found in our advertising columns, were then moved, se- Conde& and carried unanimously, after which thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated. PERSONS LIABLE TO BE DRAWN FOR THE MILITIA. --As it is now certain that a ballot, after the usual man ner, will ere long be taken for persons to serve in the militia, we briefly state the leading circumstances which render persons liable and non-liable to be drawn :-1. No Person under the age of 18, or over the age of 45, is liable Whether he has property or not. 2. Ary party who has once been drawn cannot be drawn a second time. 3. Any Person having two children is exempt, provided he is not Worth £lOO. 4. Any individual having £lOO, however large his family may be, is liable to be drawn. If disqua lified by lameness, or otherwise, he must find a substi 'tnte- 5. Personal disqualifications on the part of indivi duals not worth £lOO, will render them non-liable, if cer tified to by the sergeant. A number of persons in diffe rent parts of the country are taking the wise precaution Of enrolling themselves in clubs for the purpose of mutual assistance in the providing of substitutes. INQUESTS BEFORE THE BOROUGH CORONER YES 'taDAF.—On view of the body of Mary Birkley, aged hies ears, who resided with her friends in Great Howard ret. On Friday night, being left in the house with a little boy Only, her clothes took fire, and she was dread ' t ir LY burnt all over her body. She was taken to the 'fnithern Hospital, where she died next morning. Ver ulnt---" Died from the injuries, but how her clothes took Are no evidence."—On the body of a boy named Griffith Williams, who lived in Gildart's-gardens. About six Weeks ago deceased threw out from a cellar into the street tpiece of coal, which happened to strike a boy named Andove, who was passing, and who gave him - a l eis on the back. Deceased afterwards became gradually ill, and died on Thursday. Andove was taken into cus ,,ndy on suspicion of having caused his death; but it ap- Feared, on a post mortem examination, that he had died 1 2 10 Y from inflamma ion of the pericordium, arising from natural causes. Verdict accordingly, and the prisoner w as discharged. thisOf institution commenced on Friday last, with the first - la very attractive course of lectures, by Dr. Rimbault, no the Progress of Melody from the earliest ages to the Present time. The subject was handled in a very mas ber,4 manner, the leading points in the history of the art being selected with great judgment, and the elucidations its Principles and properties marked with much clear ness and simplicity. In treating of the structure of me 'nnY and the m de of analyzing it, the lecturer took oc casion,, to re mar k on the m i s t a k e s f req uently made in pro 'noticing a melody original or otherwise, and strongly re 'c'tornended the habit of analyzing in the mind the in rue tire of a piece of music as it was being played or sung, : I . s a mean- o f f orm i ng th e j u d gmen t, an d as a sourc e o f 'ugh gratification. In connexion with the early progress Of the art amonest the ancient Greeks, the Arabians, the Persians, a n d o th er na ti ons , d own t o th e ti mes o f the Troubadours and Crusaders, he related many interesting Particulars, and touched in a very striking and effective manner the characteristics of each particular style. The i llustrations, which were extremely numerous, were given With admirable precision and effect upon the vocalists. ToxTETH PARK.—On Wednesday. a public meeting of the rate-payers of Toxteth-park, was held to take into Consideration certain matters relative to the Aigburth toll-bar. Mr. Matthew Gregson, who presided, said the • meeting was aware that, at a public meeting held last year, it Was decided unanimously that an action be commenced to test the right which the present holders of the Aighurth toll-bar had in maintaining it. That action was now P e nding. Since instituting the action, they had received I nformation to the effect that the Earl of Sefton had the ?ovv Qr of taking down the gate. His lordship was ready to decide on the matter if the action was withdrawn. Mr. h PPlehy said his lordship had the entire right of taking down,„ ft . and entered into an explanation of the whole h ave In 1839 an application made to Parliament, to Leave the gate taken down, was opposed by Mr. ''Moss. . was given to bring it before the sessions ; but pre p.,s to this, Mr. Moss verbally promised £250 a year 9r the repair of the road, and e matter as withdan. A fter the sessions he refused to th pay, and w had not e sn w ce Paid one penny. While one of the collectors was with Mr. ~°B B , the other day, he requested him to tell the com olleaioners that if they would water the road, he, with d: l era, would give up the right of the gate.. After a long "Tussion, in which Messrs. Inman, Harrison, Lloyd, Apra L r‘e.Y, and Ryan, were the principal speakers, a motion i l :a made y r. Harrison to the eect that a memorial With drawn b up, M stating the whole of the facts connected the m a tt er , an d p r esented to his lordship. Mr. A ppleby moved an amendment, that the offer of Mr. M oss, Withti the sanc ti on o f th e E ar l o f Sefton, be accepted. P° ll a show of hands the amendment was carried by a .. •aajority of five. I .NCLEMENT WEATHER.—Ladies who suffer from the Painful infliction of a chapped-skin, lips, and chilblains, ai r ,. 6 , l ,milar results of damp and frosty weather, will find h ."'oestimable production " ROWLAND'S KALTDOR"— Zeuliarly grateful in preventing and healing all such in " rations. This truly happy discovery at once allays all so w f a . r tio.g irritability, reduces inflammation, and soothes, co te as, and restores a warranted brilliancy of tint to the r an to—Piezion—to which it an unfang conserve- • It is fortunate that becomes modern ingenuity ili and persever hee have discovered a remedy for these evils, and that a 'ifie has b een discovered, composed of choice exotics Bull e d by the hand of science and skill, which affords a a4 f . eguard against the dreaded result.—See advt. WALLASEY COMMISSIONERS.—CASES OF APPEAL. — On Thursday morning, the above commissioners met at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Liscard, for the purpose of hearing several cases of appeal against the taxes levied. Dr. Byrth, rector of Wallasey, and Mr. Colburn, occu pier of the New Brighton Slip, were the only appellants worthy of notice. The Doctor, in a speech of two hours' duration, contended against the improvement rate being laid upon the tithes; but the meeting was of opinion, from the wording of the act, that the rate should be con firmed. Mr. Colburn contended, in his case, that the slip was not a part of the public highway, and was dis connected from the laud by the river. In his case the meeting were of opinion they could not maintain the rate, as it was not in the parish. DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—A tender for sperm oil was accepted from Messrs. Bancroft and Co. A va cancy was reported in the mastership of Crosby Light ship, the late master, Thomas Chaplin, having been ap pointed master of George's Dock. A notice from the Trent Valley Continuation Railway Company, referring to the Vorydd telegraph stations on the coast of Wales, was referred. The salary of the superintendent of the transit sheds, in consideration of his increased duties, was increased from £lOO to £l5O per annum. A list of the articles required for the Albert Dock warehouses was produced and ordered ; and the sub-committees reported that the applications sent in for appointments to clerk ships would be taken into consideration on Tuesday. Two gentlerneh were ordered to be appointed to atend to the Albert Dock gates. An application was made by Messrs. R, and J. Telo for payment of certain damage done to the New York ship, John P. Howard, in Bruns wick Dock Basin; but, from a report from Mr. Askew, it appeared the blame rested with the officers of the ship. The committee decided accordingly. GREAT GEORGE-STREET ACADEMY•—We direct the attention of parents to the announcement of the re-open ing of this academy. Mr. Fisher, the esteemed principal, possesses a caorough knowledge of the structure and beauties of the English language, as well as the French, Latin, and Greek classics. His high attainments in ma thematics and general science have been frequently tested and admitted on public occasions. He is ever ardent in his vocation, and is a great favourite with his pupils. The establishment is in a healthy condition, with an airy lec ture-room, a gymnasium, excellent philosophical appara tus, &c. We have seen several testimonials to the merits of Mr. F. In one of them, from the Rev. H. Carpenter, that gentleman says—" It is his (Mr. F.'s) object to im part a sound, solid, useful, and religious education, for which bis own acquirements and energy of character particularly qualify him." Dr. Raffles, in a long eulo glum, writes :—" By his varied and accurate scholarship, his kind and affectionate treatment of his pupils, and his long and constant practice in tuition, he has acquired a happy and successful mode of communicating instruction in all the branches of a solid and liberal education." The writer adds—" All his classes have the advantage of a sound scriptural training." WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—At the sitting on Tues day, a letter, announcing the concurrence of the com missioners in the proposed increase of salary, to the amount of £5O per annum, to the Clerk of the Board, instead of the £BO proposed, was read. The second letter of the commissioners referred to the ownership in the old Workhouse. After a lengthened discussion, it was agreed that the clerk should communicate with Mr. Falkner on the object proposed. There was also read a letter from Mr. Austin, assistant commissioner, urging the propriety of re-appointing Mr. Harbord. The Rev. Mr. Badnall then, in conformity with a notice, brought before the board the subject of the interment of paupers. In a very grave and impressive address, he urged on the board the duty of giving to the poor the full right, con ferred on them by a recent enactment, of being buried, except when otherwise required by themselves or their relatives, in consecrated ground. After some discussion, in which the best feelings were evinced on all sides, it was ordered that the requisite instructions be given to the overseers of the union, requiring them to see to the due carrying out of the law on the subject into effect. In answer to a later from the board, as named in last week's pro ceedings, the overseers of the Park say that they have made proper arrangements for having their accounts ready in due time for the auditor. THE SELECT VESTRY.—The usual meeting took place on Tuesday, Mr. Churchwarden Scholefield in the chair. The salary of the Rev. Mr. Wilson was ordered to be paid. Mr. Samuel Horne was appointed deputy-registrar of the Mount-pleasant district, and Mr. John Summers of the Dale-street district.—Mr. Urquhart moved, pursuant to notice, that the house erected in Lime-street, for Mr. J. Eckersley, superintendent registrar, be sold. He said the house was an elegant Grecian white-stone building, which occupied 430 square yards. The cost of the land for 75 years was £1,658. He detailed the several splendid apartments it contained, and said that this magnificent so-called Register-office had cost the enormous sum of £4,100. This, he contended, was an extravagant outlay of money collected for the maintenance of the poor. The sale of the house would enable the vestry to pay back £1,200 taken from the poor-rates ; to pay a balance due to the contractors, and also the £1,658, the value of the land, to the corporation. Ile then, with reference to Warbrick's charity, intimated that there had been a mis appropriation of the funds.—Mr. Riding concurred as to the misapplication of the public money in the erection of the house in question.—Mr. Bremner and Mr. Lowndes said that there was no foundation for Mr. Urquhart's charge relative to Warbrick's charity. Rector Campbell also was of tie same opinion. —Mr. Thornely and others agreed that the building in Lime-street was a misappro priation of the public money.—Mr. Henderson moved the appointment of a committee to dispose of the house to the best advantage, which, upon a division, was carried by 13 to 5. It was then agreed that the New Offices Committee should sell the house on the most advantage ous terms for the parish.—Adjourned. THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday evening. Fourteen mem bers were present : William Jackson, Esq., in the chair. The proceedings of the Lighting and Watching Commit tee, and of the Road and Improvement Committee were read and confirmed. The latter reported that Mr. W. Laird and J. F. Clay had offered to give as much land as would make Market-street 45 yards wide, which would be a most desirable improvement, if the commissioners would be at the expense of making the improvement. From the prouedings of the Ferry Committee, that the tender of Messrs. Forrester and Co., for the building of a new steamboat had been agreed to, the vessel to be ready by the Ist of July. The chairman expressed his surprise that the minutes did not contain an account of the receipts of the ferry, (the most valuable property in the township,) as well as-the expenditure. It being understood that the receipts should be included in the minutes, the subject dropped. Mr. Wood regretted that the commissioners had deputed a committee to confer with the Ferries' Com mittee of the Town Council with respect to the landing stage accommodation on the other side of the water, as that committee had nothing to do with it. The Dock Committee were the parties, and their chairman and vice chairman would receive any deputation with cordiality and good feeling. The chairman said he gave the Dock Committee credit for sincerity in desiring to carry out the plan of their great landin--stage, and he was glad to ob serve a growing desire that harmony should exist between parties on both sides of the Mersey. He would, however, tell them that they had another subj 'ct to broach which would much astonish the Dock Committee. He recom mended them to prepare themselves for a little astonish ment • and, in the meantime, he hoped they would go on with feelings of good fellowship. He then moved that the proceedings of the Ferry Committee be confirmed, with a strong recommendation that they would take into im mediate consideration the best means of running boats every hourbetween midnight and fiveo'clock, a.m., and he trusted that-before the next month the boats would be running all night. Proceedings confirmed.—The chairman moved that the board be adjourned until the 25th in tent, in order to receive the report of the parliamentary committee, and to give final instructions as to what measures they should go to parliament for. Agreed to.—Mr. Wood said he was very glad to find the accounts of the township were likely soon to be laid before the public. (A laugh.) SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS' MEETING ON THURS DAY.—The Chairman (Mr. J. Holmes) said the funds of the commissioners were last week reduced to £4, and that next week they would owe their bankers upwards of £l,OOO, so that they were limited as to means for sewer age. The board had been designated a nuisance, but he would remind those who thought so that the old corpora tion had refused to make sewers, leaving the whole duty upon this board ; and that it was at the express request of the present town-council that they went to parliament for powers to supply water to extinguish fires.—Mr. Hig gins intimated some dissent, and said he should submit something on the subject at a future meeting.—After the ordinary business, the motion of Mr. Cooper for rescind ing the order of the board appropriating £lO,OOO from the paving and sewerage rate to the sewerage works, came on, and an opinion of Mr. Crompton was produced, to the effect that to rescind the order would he illegal, and that if transferred back to the paving fund, it would be a misappropriation. Mr. Cooper considered it unjust to tax the occupiers for the benefit of the owners of pro perty, and moved that the resolution be rescinded, and that the money stand as a loan to tee sewerage account. —Mr. Denton seconded the motion.—The Chairman ad verteti to the clauses enabling the commissioners to trans fer money from one fund to general purposes, and ex pressed a strong opinion that if • the motion were carried, two years would elapse before a single additional sewer could be made.—Mr. Birkett and Mr. Tinne opposed the motion.—Mr Aspinall thought the beard were in -a fix. They might have, appropriated the money according to law, but it was not according _to justice ; but at the same time he should hesitate before he acted in opposition to an opinion given by Mr. Crompton.—Mr. Procter took a view exactly similar, and recommended Mr. Cooper not to press the motion.—Mr. Denton remarked that it was a most strange thing they should have a law for doing what was wrong in principle.—Mr. Leyland contended that, as they had a right to apply the eight-penny rate to general purposes, this appropriation for sewerage was perfectly legal.--Mr. II iggins referred to the spirit of the act, and argued that it was to make the owners pay three fourths of the sewerage, but by this appropriation they were made to pay only one-half. The spirit of the act had, therefore, been departed from. The application of the eight-penny rate was for keeping the sewers in repair, not to make new ones. Accot ding to the spirit of the act, therefore, an act of injustice had been done to the extent of £lO,OOO. The opinion of Mr. Crompton might be correct as to the letter of the law, but it was the first duty of this board to act upon equitable principles, and by going to the town for further powers they would get out of the difficulty. — Mr. Lawrence said he was sure such an appropriation was not the intention of the act.—Mr. Deane said the appropriation had reference to the general account.—On a division, there appeared for Mr. Cooper's motion 7, against it 8 ; so that it was lost.—lt was then resolved, " That the sum of three hundred guineas be placed at the disposal of the parliamentary committee, for the purpose of obtaining engineering evidence on the , plans, works, &c., relative to a better supply of water to this town."—Adjourned. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. We, the undersigned clergymen, being members of the Manchester Clerical Society, and invited to take part in " The• Evangelical Alliance," having, at our recent monthly meeting, calmly, candidly, and prayerfully de liberated upon the invitation which had been addressed to us, and having unanimously come to the conclusion that we could not accept that invifation, deem it right, in faithfulness, but in all charity, to place in the hands of our respective congregations, for their information and satisfaction, the following statement of the chief reasons which determined our decision : We arrived at our conclusion, 1. Because we cannot, as we conceive, in consistency with our duty to the Church of which we are ministers, identify ourselves with an association which appears to regard all the unhappy separations from our Church as comparatively unimportant, and to take it for granted that such separations must, and indeed ought to, continue. 2. Because having already subscribed articles of faith and union, we do not feel ourselves called upon to sub scribe others of a vague and general character. 3. Because whilst we hold that tender consideration is due to the feelings and scruples of Christian men without the pale of our Church, we hol.l that still greater consideration is due from us to the feelings and scruples of Christian men within the pele of our Church, to many of whom we know we should occasion much perplexity and distress were we to join " the pro jected alliance." 4. Because, solemnly pledged as we are to uphold the principle of a national establishment, we do not see how we can consistently strengthen the hands of wen who declare, on the vesy platform of " The Alliance," that they consider " the anti-state-church principle as amongst the essentials of their Christianity." 5. Because, although deeply anxious to cherish bro- therly kindness and fellowship with true believers, how ever separated from us, we entirely concur in the lan guage of one of the speakers at the " Liverpool Confer. ence," that unless the society be composed of none but real believers, " it will be fraught with danger and dis appointment,"—" there will he seeds of disunion sown, which will constantly spring up ;" and concurring in these sentiments, we see no sufficient guarantee that tne projected Alliance shall consist exclusively, even in the judgment of charity, of the living members of Christ. 6. Because Holy Scripture charges Christians to be "perfectly joined together in one mind and one judg ment." so that they may "with one mind and one mouth, ; glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; ' but on the face of The Evangelical Alliance, we find all attempt at such unanimity openly dis claimed. 7. Because we conceive tbat th - e-sulviaof union a ought to precede the manifestation and that instead of Christians saying to the world—" see how we Cbristians love one another," they ought rather, by their quiet example, to compel the world to exclaim, as in primitive times—" see how these Christians love one another." 8. Because we perceive no likelihood of any practical and important measure emanating from a combination which is embarassed and crippled by so many conflict ing peculiarities of sentiment and opinion. 9. Because even irrespectively of all beside, we do not think it would be wise to commit ourselves to a movement the principles of which are avowedly so par tially developed, and its plans so faintly indicated. In submitting these considerations to the devout and charitable attention of those for whose souls we watch, we would solemnly assure them that we do so with the kindest feelings towards those who do not see eye to eye with us in this matter; and that, instead of courting con troversy, we shall not, collectively at least, notic e a n y strictures which may possibly be made on this statement of our views. IluGn STOWELL, M.A., Chairman ; HENRY W. WGRATH, M.A. ; ROBERT FROST, M.A. ; WM. HUNTINGTON, M.A.; JNO. HOLLIST; ARTHUR W. ARCHER, M.A.; JOHN BYWATER, M.A.; HENRY DECK, M.A.; HENRY MARLEN ; ED.. WARD BIRCH. M.A.; P. J. O'LEARY ; CHAS. CAMERON, M.A. ; EPHRAIM HARPER, A,B. ; JOHN HERON MACGUIRE, S.C.L. ; RICHARD HILL, A.B. ; J. G. VANCE, A. 8.; JOHN HAYES, M.A ; WILLIAM FELLING, M.A. ; WILLIAM BEAD, B.A.;THOS. FARTHING, 8.A.; WILEI AM VERDON, A.B. ; J. A. BODDY, M.A.; A P. IR WINE, M.A. ; STEPHEN RICHARD WALLER, M.A.; WILLIAM BURNS ; P. THOMPSON, B.A. Manchester, January 2, 1846. BURSTING OF THE TANK AT THE WATER WORKS.-VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. On Tuesday last an enquiry commenced in the Nisi Prins Court, before the Coroner, into the circumstances connected with the death of Ann Deveney, (wife of Joseph Deveney,) another of the unfortunate sufferers by the bursting of the tank at the Harrington Water Works. The following gentlemen were sworn on the jury : William Hutton, Francis Eaglesfield, Charles Pain, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Patrick Thompson, Daniel Turner, James Lloyd, John Thompson, John Satterthwaite Swith enbank, William Hetherington, Daniel Cross Sudlow, George Nickson, Thomas Neale, Peter Marsh, Joshua Powell, George Brown, John Chadwick, George Phillips, Benjamin Smith, Joseph M`Cartin, Joseph Burrows, Joseph Ritson, and Robert Wilson. Mr. Jamieson, prosecuting solicitor for the Corporation, was in attendance. Mr. Stanistreet, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the Water Works, and Mr. Miller, solicitor, for the Hawarden Company. The Coroner said he had been induced to summon the full number of twenty-three, not for the pu-pose solely of inquiring into the cause of the death of the deceased Ann Deveney, but from having heard observations made — remarks made, to say the least of them, injudiciously, after a previous inquiry of thirteen hours' duration—to show that the, facts gone into and the verdict come to upon those facts, were not satisfactory to the public. It was his duty, and their duty, to dismiss from their minds every thing but the facts which would be brought before them at the present inquest, and upon those facts to determine their verdict. . _ Witnesses having been examined as to the nature of the accident ,the following scientific gentlemen were examined. Mr. John Grantham called, and examined by the Town clerk.—His evidence: was substantially the same as that he had given at the former inquest, namely, that the foundation of the tank was solid and undisturbed, the quality of the iron good,and the side plates strong enough for the pressure, if they had been well stayed. He ex plained the mode in which the tank was staved, illustra ting his observations by reference to a model. The mean pressure on the sides with 16 feet water would be nibs. to the square inch ; and the outward pressure 255 tons. He objected to the mode of placing the stays, and considered if they had been properly placed they were of sufficient thickness. The principal defect was, that when the pres sure came on the horizontal or diagonal stays there would be a leverage exerted tending to break the bolts which se cured the binder to the side plates. The bolts he exam ined did not fit well in the bolt holes, which would have a tendency to produce danger when the strain came on them. The diagonal stays would have been much better had they gone directly across, and been fastened to the sides,instead of with the intervention of a binder, and the stays should have been more numerous, and more evenly divided over the surface of the sides. The greatest pressure on the tank would be at the bottom, and a few feet from the bot tom the stays should have been the most numerous, but that precaution had not been adopted to the extent de sirable. He attributed the accident to one of two causes, either one or more of the horizontal stays breaking off at the nuts. or the bolts in the flanges breaking, leaving the side plates without support. He considered there was no want of care in the construction of the tank, but there was a slight want of skill. By the Coroner.—Knew Mr. Howell, and considered him a person of great experience in such matters. The mode of construction, in matters of detail as to a tank, was a matter of opinion amongst engineers, upon which there would be a difference. _ _ _ Mr. Samuel Holme called.—He had examined the place in which the tank was erected, and his attention was directed to the foundation, which he examined, and which appeared to have been constructed . carefully. He could not find the slightest subsidence or fracture in any part of it, not even in the arches, which would have been the first to show if it had occurred. He agreed with Mr. Grantham, that the method adopted for fastening the stays was not the best, as there was a probability of the bolts being drawn out by a wrench, or unless the whole of the nuts and screws had been equally tight, an unusual strain might be thrown upon them, and break them off. He had observed that the plates were broken in front of the bolt holes, and many of the bolts wrenched, but with one or two exceptions there was not much to complain of as regarded the bolt holes. He attributed the bursting to the wrenching out of the bolts. He considered there had been a want of skill, or an error in judgment, in regard to the construction of the tank, but it was in the quantity or quality of the materials. In this opinion Mr. Kennedy, of the firm of Messrs. Bury, Curtis, and Co., Mr. Macgregor, of the firm of Messrs. Forrester and Co., Mr. Alfred King, of the Gas Works, Mr. Pooley, ironfounder, and Mr. Franklin, Cor poration Surveyor, coincided. Mr. Miller then called Mr. James Beaumont, builder, Mr. Barnes, bricklayer, Mr. Clarke Rampling, Mr. Samuel Siddon, pattern-maker, and Mr. Robert M`Kean, ironfounder, to show that the foundation, oy giving way, had caused the accident. The Coroner proceeded to sum up the case to the jury. Their business was to deal with the evidence as it appeared before them. A case of manslaughter might be the result of commission or omission. If a person did a work in an improper manner, and death ensued therefrom, the party might be guilty of manslaughter ; and if a person had a work to do, and failed to do it, and death resulted in con sequence, be was equally guilty of the crime of man slaughter. He then went over the evidence with great care, calling the attention of the jury, as be proceeded, to those parts of it which would require their more serious consideration. The jury retired at twenty minutes to nine, and re mained locked up about half an hour, when they returned, bringing a verdict of manslaughter against Joseph Howell, the manager of the Hawarden Iron-works, with a deodand of £lOO on the tank. The Coroner informed them that a deodand could not be levied for two reasons,—first, because in'a case of man slaughter no deodand was admissible; and, second, that the tank was an appurtenant to the freehold. The foreman of the jury stated that nineteen of the jury were unanimous in returning the verdict which they bad brought in. The Coroner—l take this opportunity of stating that I quite agree with the dissentients. TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. The usual meeting of the Council was held on Wed nesday. The Finance Committee presented their annual report on the probable income and expenditure of the year, be tween the Ist of September last and the 31st of August next. They stated that the net income of the Corpora tion for the current year could not be estimated at more than £142,200, and the expenditure for the same period at not less than 114,256, leaving .a surplus of £27,944. A continuation of branches of; discretionary expenditure might be set down at £2,042, thereby reducing the sur plus to £25,902. Out of this surplus the observatory would have to be maintained, and the new baths in Paul street completed ; and thus the surplus would be further reduced to £21,202. Out of the remaining surplus, the bottom of Water-street would have to be opened at an ex pense of £1,600. The committee went to report that the whole of the sum of £67,000, appropriated to the erection of St. George's Hall, was exhausted, and that the re mainder of the money required to complete that building would have to be taken out of the surplus income. The time for the completion of Mr. Tomkinson's contract would probably expire in the course of the present finan cial year; and then the Corporation would be required to pay a sum of £43,000. The surplus income, therefore, for years to come, would be completely absorbed by the building of the hall; and it was by the observance of rigid economy alone that the Corporation could meet its liabilities until after the expiration of that period. The committee reported that they bad made arrangements re lative to Mr. Bailey's premises in Water-street, and also for the sale of land in Great Howard-street to the Grand Junction Railway Company ; and they recommended the payment of the following subscriptions and gratuities : The Dispensaries £157 los., the Northern Hospital £lOO, the Southern Hospital £lOO, the Ophthalmic Institution £3O, the Refuge for the Destitute £25, the Botanic Gar dens £lOO, the Royal Institution £lOO, and the Ladies' Charity £3O. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the proceedings, and that the Treasurer be authorised to pay the subscriptions. He considered it unnecessary for him to say any thing relative to the claims which the charities, just mentioned, had upon public sympathy and support; but, at the same time, he felt well convinced that money given to them by the corporation did not tend to induce the public generally to act with that liberality which was to be expected at their hands, and that it often checked and prevented the public from doing what they ought. He was the more induced to make this remark because be saw from the summons paper that an attempt would be made by Mr. Bramley-Moore to induce the council to in crease the amount of their subscriptions to the Dispensa ries. He would oppose that attempt on financial grounds, and he had only to hope that the Council would not be considered niggardly if they voted the sums now proposed and no more. (Hear.) He then proceeded to say that Mr. Gladstone was willing to surrender such portions of his property at the corner of Mount-pleasant and Hope street as the Council might require for the improvement purposes, on the value being settled by arbitration. He hoped the Council would come to an early decision upon the point, and that notice of motion to that effect would be given. For his own part he saw no great advantage to be gained by making the improvement ; and should such a motion be submitted, he would vote against it Mr. ROBINSON moved, as an amendment, that the sub scription to the Dispensaries be increased to £3OO, and that £lOO of this sum be granted to the Northern, £lOO to the Southern, arid £lOO to the Eastern Dispensary. He said they were most excellent institutions. the first places to which the poor man repaired when sickness and disease overtook his family. and at which he received ad vice and medicine " without money and without price." The subscriptions, which dwindled down in 1844 from £2,000 to £1,366, had, through the active exertions of Mr. Williams, the secretary, been raised up to £1,800; the difference between that and £3,000. the annual expen diture, was solely dependent upon the liberality of the public in forwarding donations. He regretted to find that out of the 64 members of the council, only 34 were sub scribers to the Dispensaries. He expressed a wish to have the subscriptions to the Ladie's' Charity raised from £3O to £5O, but he did not submit any motion to this effect. Mr. THOMAS LLOYD seconded the amendment Mr. RRAMLEY-MOORE said he should support the amendment, with this addition to it—that the sum of 200 guineas be given to the Infirmary, an institution well known and justly appreciated. Mr. ROBINSON expressed his willingness to make the proposed addition to the amendment ; but ms SLY ; Meade said the committee of the Infirmary were not desirous of getting any subscription from the corporation, the addi tion was not made, and the amendment stood as it was originally proposed. Mr. liuun HORNBY had not the slightest doubt but that the surplus income this year would not be able to meet all the demands made upon it, and that the council would be acting illegally if they were to do more for the charities than was proposed by the Finance Committee. They could not discontinue the discretionary payments hi therto made, but they could not do any more. If parties would wait patiently for two or three years more until the St. George's Hall was completed, there would be a very large surplus remaining, which the council could apply in various ways. Mr. RATUBONE complained that strangers in the town, and others who were amassing wealth here, did not sup port the public charities in the way in which they only. He believed the sums voted by the council acted more in juriously for charitable institutions than many were aware of; and he was afraid that if the subscription now sought for were granted, it would be used as a salve for the con sciences of those 30 members of the council who were not subscribers to the Dispensaries. (Bear, and a laugh.) Mr, EVA.NS said that a great many years ago he had opposed all charitable gifts, on the ground so ably and conclusively stated by the gentlemen who preceded him in the debate. The corporate income was given for other purposes. If he bad his will, be would not give a farthing to the charities, which ought to appeal to private sympa thy, but much less would he consent to any augmentation of what they at present received. . . . Mr. HORSFALL, as a general principle, agreed in what had fallen from Mr. Evans, but, as the council had re cognised the principle of contributing to the charities un der ordinary circumstances, be hoped that, in the extra ordinary circumstances in which the Northern and Southern Dispensaries were now placed, the grant which Mr. Bramley-Moore was about to propose wou►d not be rejected. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied, and in doing so, re called to the attention of the council some of the heavy items of expenditure which they had to meet in the course of the past year. Having got the dry-rot among them (a laugh), they had to expend £7,000 in beautifying and im proving the Town-hall. Upon a division there appeared—for the amendment, 22; against it, 25. The amendment was consequently lost. Mr. BRAMLEY-N.TOORE then moved, pursuant to notice, "That the sum of five hundred guineas be granted out of the surplus income at the disposal of the council, in aid of the funds of the Liverpool Dispensaries." He thought he could submit a plan by which there was not an institu tion in the town worthy of support that would owe a shil ling in the course of a month. (Hear, and laughter.) His plan was this : that every alderman should consult with his colleagues ; that meetings should be held in every ward, and a committee for eacb appointed ; and that every street and house sh•Euld be canvassed for subscriptions, because he believed that many did not subscribe now, and for this plain reason, that they were never solicited. He proposed, as a sort of commencement, that every mem ber of the council should subscribe 20 guineas. This would raise a sum of 1280 guineas to begin with ; and if the plan were spiritedly taken up, ample funds would be raised. He intended to submit the plan to his colleagues in Lime-street Ward, and he beleived that, so far as that ward was concerned, it would be carried out. Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion. The TOWN-CLERK was of opinion that, in a legal point of view, the motion could not be passed, and, after consi derable discussion, it was negatived by a majority or 28 to 18. SALE OF LAND TO THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY. Mr. PARKER. said he found by the proceedings that the land in Great Howard-street was recommended to be sold to the Grand Junction Railway Company, at the rate of £3 ss. per equare yard. He was informed by competent judges that it was worth four guineas a yard. Who, he asked, were the sellers in this case ? The burgesses. And who were the buyers? The Grand Junction Company. He contended th t any shareholder in that company, who was a member of the Finance Committee, was out of his place when he became a seller of the land in question. Understanding, as he did, that from £lO,OOO to £15,000 more could be made of the property than the Finance Committee were about to sell it for, he moved that that part of the proceedings be referred back for further consi deration. Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion. Mr. G. ti. LAWRENCE said that, being a shareholder and also a director in the Grand Juricti , n, he had taken no part in the carrying on of the negotiation. The Fi nance Committee asked £4 10s. a yard for the land in the first instance. To that price the Grand Junction demur red: and eventually the sum of £3 ss. was fixed upon as a sufficient and satisfactory amount. Mr. STEWART said the land consisted of 18,000 yards, and that in his opinion, a very judicious bargain had been made. Mr. KILSIIAW thought that, in asking £4 10s. a-yard, the Corporation had asked no more than the land was worth. Mr. LEIGH had sold more valuable land at £3, and con siderrd £3 ss. a very fair price. After some further discussion, Mr. Parker withdrew his motion. An addition of £5O was ordered to be made to the sa lary of Mr. Tasker ; and the proceedings of the Finance Committee were confirmed. WATCH COMMITTEE. The proceedings of this committee to the 20th Decem ber were confirmed; and they were ordered to report the reason why their subsequent proceedings had not been in serted in the books sent to the council. Tbey recom mended the council to obtain compulsory powers, in the next act of parliament, to remove the ashes and night soil from all premises within the borough ; and the recom mendation was adopted. THE PROPOSED DOCKS AT WAPPING. The proceedings of the Dock Committee having been read, Mr. BatonEv-MooRE moved their confirmation. Mr. EVANS remarked upon the increase to the sum of £lOOO in the salary of the secretary of the committee ; he also remarked upon other increases which had been made, amounting altogether, within q very short period, to £5OOO a year. But what concerned the council most were, the proceedings relative to the proposed docks at Wap ping,—proceedings enacted in the name of the Dock Com mittee, without the Dock Committee having either dis cussed or sanctioned them. The proceedings were not c ontained in the dock books, and, consequently they had n etcome before the council, as the trustees of the docks, for approval or disapproval. His information upon the subject was derived upon the 29th of November last from the public papers; and, he believed, the great majority of the Dock Committee had had their information from the same quarter. On that day there were plans deposited with the Clerk of the Peace, of very great magnitude and involving impossible consequences, which he would not go into then. If ever the plans came before the coun cil he would have an opportunity of speaking to their me rits or demerits; but he might say now that they were of great magnitude, and bore the same proportion to the pre sent dock bill as Great Britain bore to the Isle of Man. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE rose to order. Mr. Evans was anticipating the question. In due time the plans would be brought before the council, and the fullest explanations would be given. The MAYOR intimated that Mr. Evans must confine himself to the proceedings of the committee as read by the clerk of the council. Mr. EVANS asked whether in a case of emergency like the present his hands were to be tied and he was to be re strained ? He contended that unauthorized acts had been done in the name of the council,—that the constitution of the Dock Committee had been violated, and that the su premacy of the Council over the Dock Committee had been altogether set aside. Mr. BRAMLEY -MOORE denied that the constitution of the committee had been violated, or that any assumption of power had been taken. The plans had been before the committee, and they were at present in abeyance until the estimates had first been completed. So soon as they were completed they would be laid before the Dock Committee, and then they would be submitted for the sanction of the Council, a special meeting of which would, he believed, be convened for the purpose. But authorities had been asked for and granted by the council, in order that certain steps might be taken to comply with the standing orders of the House of Commons. Those stens did not, however, com mit the council to anything. The bill was not as yet be fore the Dcck Committee, because it could not be drawn up until the estimates and other information had first been obtained. Those estimates were obtained yesterday, and the recommendations of the sub-committee would come before the general committee to-morrow. Mr. AIKIN said it bad been determined that the com mittee should go to Parliament for a bill for certain pur poses, those purposes being of a minor character, such, for instance, as the taking of angles off streets, and the wi dening of approaches ; but there was not a hint given in the committee about the making of docks in the centre of the town. The first intimation many of the members had of that important step was learned from the public prints. When:he noticed the fact in the Dock Committee, it was then stated that they were authorised to go to parliament. Certainly they were authorised to go for a certain purpose, but they had gone for a totally different purpose ; and they had done so not only without the sanction of the council, but without the sanction of the committee. After stating the case at some length, Mr. Aikin concluded by saying, that it was for the Cffuncil to deal with the matter as they thought best, either in the shape of a protest or a censure. Mr. NICOL said that Mr. Aikin had been told that the whole of this proceeding would be laid before the Dock Committee, and subsequently before the council, he ques tioned the good taste of the present discussion—a discus. sion originated, as be believed, for the purpose of over awing the independent proceedings of the Dock Commit tee. He contended that it would have been au exceed ingly imprudent thing for the Dock Committee to discuss what land might or might not be wanted, as fictitious sales and purchases might be made out of doors, under the very doubtful circumstance as to whether the pro perty so disposed of ,vould ever be required. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE complained that the Dock Committee had taken possession of a piece of land near the slate yards which was the properly of the public, and to which the committee had no claim whatever. It was a wilful and gross attack upon the property of the council. He knew of no aggression equal to it. If the committee had done it openly, he would have been glad to have dealt with them in a fair and candid manner; but, instead of that, they went stealthily, and in the night, and put r.,il ings round it, without any communication or notice what ever to the Council. It was really a very serious matter. Mr. BRAMLEY-MOORE observed that any discussion about the land at the slate-yards was irregular and impro per, inasmuch as there was not a word on the subject in the. proceedings. But he was prepared to show that the Dock Committee had some claim to the land—that they had not only a right, but a good right to it also. Mr. EVANS moved a resolution - to the e►3'ect that the notices to parliament having been given without the sanc tion of the Council or the Dock Committee, were irregu lar and illegal. The MAYOR said that, according to the op:Ilion of the Town-Clerk, this motion could not be entertained, as it referred to matters not recorded in the proceedings. Mr. BRAMLBY-MOORE replied. He courted inquiry into the whole of the proceedings of the Dock Committee, satisfied that nothing of an illegal character had been transacted. He concluded, by showing the propriety of increasing the salaries of the Dock 'officers, and said that the only thing to complain of was, the niggardliness of the Dock Committee in this respect. _ The proceedings were then, confirmed. The council adjourned at twenty minutes to four, to Monday (yesterday), the proceedings of which meeting will be found elsewhere. GENERAL MISCELLANY. The number of fires in London in 1845 was 707. The League Fund now amounts to £BB,OOO. Mr. Lewis Goldsmith, father of Lady Lyndhurst, died in Paris on Tuesday last. 1 he quantity of port wine imported into Great Britain in 1844 was 25,913 pipes. A market boat which left Falmouth on Saturday after noon last, unfortunately went down in a squall, and the three men in it were drowned. J. Bailey, Esq., M. P. for Worcester, regaled two thou sand poor families in that city with substantial food on Christmas-day. Miss Martineau has published a letter announcing her unshaken faith in Mesmerism, and her wonderful success in Practising it on others. PRESENTATION OF PLATE BY PAUPERS.—LateIy, the inmates of the Honiton . Union presented a silver table-spoon to the master and matron, who have resigned. It is satisfactory to notice the extreme steadiness of the foreign exchanges, the rates in most cases being favour able to this country. _ _ The Earl of Liverpool was invested by her Majesty, on Saturday, at Windsor, with the insignia of a Civil Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. On Friday, the authorities of several of the London parishes commenced serving the notices , to be filled up , at the houses of the inhabitants, for the militia ballot. Circulars have been issued requesting the early attend ance of the ministerial members on the meeting of Parlia ment. . . _______ Mr. Berkeley, M.P. for Cheltenham. has apologlzed for his rude remarks to the Rev. Mr. Close, at the late meeting at Cheltenham. _ _ _ The Rattler, screw steam-sloop, is again in dock at Portsmouth, to have her propellers, which are fitted so as to be raised out of the water from the deck through a well, put in place. On Saturday, at Covent Garden market, there was a good show of new potatoes and cucumbers, and amongst the flowers were camellias, roses, hydrangeas, azalias, pelargoniums, heartsease, and violets. There is now exhibiting in London a " miniature John Bull," who is in his sixteenth year, and has not grown an inch since he was four years old. He was born at Kittes ford, near Taunton. The Duke of Buccleucb, the Lord President elect of the Council, is understood to have obtained an accession of £25,000 per annum to his grace's large rent-roll, by the recent demise of bis uncle, Lord Montagu : s. - On Saturday last, the premises occupied by Mrs. Pryer, a laundress in Paddingtcn, were destroyed by fire, and a man and his wife who were sleeping in one of the apartments were burnt to death. The lighthouse fixed by Mr. Bush on the Goodwood Sands has disappeared. The exact time of its sinking in the sand is not known, as the fog prevented observation for two or three days. Her Majesty's fleet at present consists of twelve sail of the line, thirty-four frigates, three first-cl as steamers, nine second-class steamers, forty-seven corvettes and brigs, and twenty-two small craft, in all, 143 effective men of war. Not only did the Quarterly review Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors before the book saw the light, but Mr. Murray was able to quote the opinion of the Quarterly upon an unpublished work before the review itself apeeared. Tae GUN TRADR.—Not long since an order for 40,000 stand of arms was received at Birmingham from govern ment, in consequence of which, and other orders of a si mi IKr character, the gun trade there is in a state of high prosperity. - The Earl of Carlisle, the father of Lord Morpeth, is the only peer now living %, hose name appears appended to the Grenville " protest," which stands on the minutes of the House of Lords against the passing of the Corn law of 1315. T. A. Yarrow, Esq., C.E., and surveyor of the county of Cbester, has been presented with a splendid tea and coffee service, consisting of a heautifully•chased and mas sive salver, tea-por., coffee-pot, and cream ewer, all of silver. _ _ _ On Friday last, a young man, at London, was lifting a bottle of vitriol from a shelf, when he slipped and fell, and' the bottle was broken on his bead, the burning liquor flowing over him. His face is dreadfully injured, and it is believed he will lose the sight of both his eyes. The Hon. Mr. Everett, the late minister of this coun try, from the United States, will shortly quit the arena of politics for the peaceful paths of learning. He has con sented to receive the appointment of Professor of the Haward University at Boston. SCARCITY OF MASONS.-It iS said that at Merthyr. and the district of the iron works, it is almost impossible to get masons, even at high wages ; and that many more houses would be built if carpenters and other workmen could be procured.—Builder. Mr. Thomas Hutton, a respectable surgeon of Kirk oswald, was found lying dead by the road side, on Satur day fortnight. His horse had trotted home, a distance of eight miles, without him. It is supposed that he fell from his saddle in a fit, and died. PRODUCE OF IRON IN GREAT BRITAIN.-Of the quantity of iron, South Wales produces 2791 thOusand tons, Staffordshire 2191, Shropshir3 Bli, Scotland 374., Yorkshire 33, Derbyshire 221, and North Vales 25. The quantity has increased 100,000 tons per annum. — Salt's Statistics. _ INCENDIARY FIRE.—CONFESSION..—A. fire took place at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, a few days since, at a farm house, when 130 quarters of wheat, two joints of beans, part of a hay rick, and a straw stack, were consumed. A maid servant of the tenant has confessed to having set fire to the premises, in consequence of a quarrel with her master. The house was burned down, and the children were turned out, shivering in their night-dresses. The restoration of the Marquis of Londonderry's splendid seat at Wynyard Park, is rapidly approaching completion. A magnificent conservatory is now erecting on a large scale, and when finished will be one of the most elegant structures of the kind in the kingdom. CONVERSION TO ROME.—M r. Henry Mills, of Trinity College, Cambridge, has been received into the Catholic Church, at St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. Mr. Mills is son to a late fellow of Trinity, and is related to Dr. Chapman, the present head of Caius College.—Post. The Cambridge Independent says, "Just as we were going to press we received a communication from a quarter most likely to be well informed, stating that it is Sir Robert Peel's intention to raise the income-tax to seven per cent., to repeal the corn-laws, the malt-tax, and con siderably re:luce other burthens upon land." In refutation of the statement of the Times, that the clergy took no part in the agitation for the maintenance or the present corn-laws, the Wilts Independent gives the names of twelve incumbents, some of them high in influence, who are at this moment members of the Protection Society for that county. EXTRAORDINARY SLEEP.—A young woman, residing at Mrs.. Coopers, Vine Inn, West Stock with, has been in a sound sleep for no less than six days and nights, and as yet there are not the least symptoms of her waking. Num bers of the inhabitants have vit.ited the house to see this strange phenomenon. A watch which was supposed to have been stolen from a lady at Bath, three years ago, was last week returned, without any clue being given as to the party who had so long kept possession of it, but with a request that the reward offered for the recovery of it might be given to the Church Missionary Association. A singular but fatal accident occurred at Teddington Lock on Wednesday. A carter, named Henwood, was driving his master's barge team, being cn the first horse which, opposite Strawberry Hill, fell from the gravel path into a deep unprotected clay-pit. The other horses followed • and the man, with two of the h orses , p er i s h e d. The iarl of Granville has just expired in the thirty third year of his age. The bullet which struck Spencer Percival dead was intended for the earl, who h'ad interfered with some of Bellinghain's projects in Russia. he seat for Lichfield is now vacant by Lord Leveson's succession to the earldom. A letter from Rome, of the 26th ult., says that the chestnuts, which in that country are, like potatoes in the north of Europe, the principal food of the lower classes, have suffered from the same disease as the potatoes, and that scarcely one is eatable. The grapes also have be come already rotten, instead of remaining dry and fit for food, until the end of February, as in ordinary times. On Tuesday week, a private in the 60th Rifles, stationed in Dumbarton Castle, attempted to kill himself, by placing the muzzle of his gun to his head, and then dis charging it. The ball entered at the lower part of the face, but in place of going up through his head, as be had intended, it came out above the nose, leaving the brain untouched. ANOTHER TESTIMONIALTO 1 - IYDROPATHY.—Mr. Cay ley, whose letters to Lord John Russell have attracted much notice, is a practical disciple of the cold-water cure. His complaint ari-es from the stomach, heart, and liver; but he states that by this mode, and by shunning crowded assemblies in the House of Commons, he has been able to add a stone to his weight. Mr. Cayley, being of feeble constitution, is sparing of his ablutions in winter. The Council General of Commerce, &c., sitting at Paris, has recommended the French Government to ad mit foreign iron for ship-building purposes into France, free of duty. There is no doubt that the government will propose a law to bring this recommendation into practice ; and if the Chambers give their sanction, which it is most probable they will, it will considerably increase the ex portation of English iron to France. A THIEF OUTDONE.—Last night a man went into a pawnbroker's shop, and offered a metal tea pot in pledge. The broker, upon opening the lid of the tea pot to examine it, discovered a quantity of bank-notes. Neither did their appearance escape the notice of the thief, who immediately snatched the pot from the pawnbroker's hand, and en deavoured to make his escape, but was followed by the broker, and given into custody ; and upon being taken to the Polies-office, there appeared to be sixteen notes of £1 each. which had never been observed by the ptisoner until he off-red it in pledge. The prisoner stated that he had stolen the article from his mother.—Edinburgh Paper. THE SEASON.— EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF THE BA- , ROMETER.—The steady rise that has taken place during the present week, in the Barometer, is extremely re markable at this season of the year, and with the existing weather. The temperature has been very mild, under the influence of a south-westerly wind, during the last few days ; these are influences which in winter usually depress the mercury ; but, as we have indicated, i: has been steadily rising, until it has attained a higher point than has been recollected in this neighbourhood, at any period of the year—with two or three exceptions—for the last seven years. The late gales have been followed by a calm. Is a great frost at hand I—Gloucester Paper. THE POTATOE TRADE.—The dreaded 31st of Decem ber has passed, and, notwithstanding• Lord Kinnaird's confident prediction to the Manchester League, January continues to witness as numerous shipments of sound po tatoes as any of its predecessors. A fleet of ten sailed last stream, and more are now loading. Prices keep steady at 13s. a boll—nearly double last 3ear's average, with a stock on hand many growers allow fully equal to that at the same period last year. The tainted parcels are mostly re tailed in town, and the classes least able to bear it suffer the loss. It has been suggested that a fund should be raised to purcha-e a few hundred bolls of a good quality, and to retail them at cost price to poor families, on the same principle as was done some winters back with coals. We hope the suggestion will be acted upon, as there is great mixture in the quality generally exposed to retail, and which alone are accessible to the poorer classes. — Perthshire Courter. EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE BY A YOUTH.—On Fri day, Mr. Vv - akley, M.P.. held an inquest on George Beaseley, aged sixteen. From the evidence, it appeared that the deceased was of a sullen disposition and fond of reading the accounts of executions and other tragical oc currences. His parents left him at home at six o'clock last Tuesday evening, and upon their return at eight o'clock found him suspended by a silk handkerchief from the bed rail, and qui e dead. Previous to hanging him self he took off his coat and shoes, and on a table near him was " Joe Miller's Hieroglyphic Almanack for 1846," which he had been reading. The frontispiece of the al manack represented several eminent public characters hanging from a common gibbet, under which was in scribed "The Atmospheric Line ;" and also a caution in the words, " The Atmospheric Line ;" and also a caution in the words, " Beware of January." Verdict, " De ceased hanged himself, but there was no evidence of hiti state of mind when he did so." THE AFRICAN TRADE.-- - A few weeks ago, the smallest vessel that every cleared out of the Clyd e for an Atlantic voyage, measuring only twelve tons, new measurement, left the river with a general cargo for Cape Coast Castle. This yacht was built at Port Bannatyne, in Buteshire, and was intended for pleasure excursions alone, but she attracted the attention of an African merchant who was in this country last summer, and was purchased for the river trade in that country. He determined on sending her out with goods; and so confident is he in the capabilities of his little ship that be has arranged to join ber at Madeira. The gentleman to whom she now belongs has given her the name of the Ocean Queen ; and when she has reached Cape Coast Castle in safety the name will have been earned ; for never, surely, previously has a smaller craft navigated a sea so wide and dangerous. We do not know what the underwriters may say to this risk, but the crew and the owner are confident of success.—Greenock Ad vertiser. THE IRON MASTERS' MEETINGS.—On Wednesday, pursuant to notice, the iron masters met at Wolverhamp ton, but many of the merchants and factors who consi dered themselves entitled to an extension of time did not attend, and there was comparatively little business done. On Thursday the masters a'sembled at the Town-hall, Birmingham, and, although the principal _houses in the trade were represented, the attendance was not so nume rous as on former occasions. The meeting was neverthe less numerous and. important, and indicated a buoyancy and firmness which could hardly have been expected after the varied and rather cheerless events of the last quarter. ' Everything betokened renewed confidence. There was an abundance of orders in the market, every house being in possession of more than their works can conveniently execute. In this state of demand, it is needless to say, there was no reduction, but a full confirmation of the last quarter's prices—namely, £lO a ton for bar iron. and all other iron of that description in proportion. There was an advance of lOs per ton upon Shropshire pig iron, and it now stands at £5 10s. There was no advance upon Staffordshire pig iron, and the price may be quoted at from £5 to £5 5s per ton. Although the advance was confined to Shropshire pig iron, there was evidently a tendency to advance on other articles, inasmuch as some respectable houses would not take a single order for sheets or plates at the present prices. This healthy state of the trade is attributable to the impetus it has received from railway consumption. THE LONDON AND DUBLIN . ADDRESSES. —There were two Lord Mayors in Windsor on Saturday week with addresses from London and Dublin. The following is her Majesty's answer to the London address :—" The motives which have induced you to present this address are duly appreciated by me. The wants and sufferings of my people at all times command my warmest sym pathy ; and I deeply regret the failure, in the present year, of a full supply of an article of food on which so many of my subjects are accustomed to subsist. I have directed Parliament to meet on an early day, and I skull gladly sanction any measure which the wisdom of the legislature may suggest as conducive to the alleviating of this tem porary distress, and to 14e permanent welfare of all classes of my people." In the answer to the Irish address, the Queen says :—" I have heard with pain the statement which you have thought it necessary. to address to me respecting the extreme poverty of a portion of my • Irish subjects, and the aggravation of their distress which you anticipate from a de ficiency of food in the present year. The welfare and prosperity of Ireland are objects of my constant care and earnest solicitude ; and the failure of the last potato crop, and its apprehended consequences, have not escaped my attention. I have directed pre cautions to be taken which may, I trust, alleviate the evils unavoidably attendant on this calamity; and I have summoned Parliament to meet on an early day. I look with confidence to the advice which I shall receive from the united council of the realm ; and I shall rejoice if measures can be devised, which. under Divine Providence, may relieve the wants of my Irish people, may improve their condition, and insure their future happiness and contentment." The Standard says that the construction put on the answer given by her Majesty to the City address is, that whatever may be the ultimate measures submitted to Parliament for regulating the corn trade, the ports will be thrown open for the present year for the im portation of grain, either entirely free or only at a nominal duty. It is at the same time reported in the monied circles that as a measure of safety the Bank Directors will, after the payment of the dividends, increase the rata of discount and interest on loans to 4 per cent.