The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-11 00:00:00

Am Houa TO SPAIM—Aye, run home to tea—railwar speed and up hill all the way • arrival at home, steam up, no so with the tea kettl e ! Wi fe asleep, so with the servant and puss burning her eyes out for very vexation at their in dolence. " Really didn't think it was so late—lost an hou —but tea will be ready instantly." Time's up and tea's h —but I'm out. Who would be a married reporter? LIVER THEATRE.—The two pieces which we announced as having been produced on Monday last have proved very attractive during the week. " Th e R u b y Ring" is the best drama of the two. The plot turns upon a ring, which gives warning of danger to the possessor of it. Mrs. Gordon, in the character of a country girl, played extremely well, and imparted much interest to the drama. Her rustic gaiety, in the early part of it, well contrasted with the serious portion at the close. Mrs. Barton, as the Lady Adeline, played gracefully and quietly. Mr. Bland was rather too boisterous. Mr. Marshall, as Merryman, made the " unskilful laugh." Mr. Barton did the Highwayman in a dashing, off-hand style. The Chiarini Family continue their amusing feats of dancing on the tight rope. The Coco dance always excites amusement. On Monday next a play called " The Cavalier" will be pro duced, in which Mr. Elton will make his appearance. The character assumed by him is that which he originally per formed in London with great success. We shall be much disappointed if Mr. Elton does not find admirers. It is a question whether he or Chas. Kean bear off the palm in many first-rate characters. His Richard we prefer to Mr. Kean's, while his Sir Giles Overreach is decidedly the best. The incidents of " The . Cavalier" are laid during the time of Cromwell. There are some scenes of deep interest in it ; and, if well played, as we expect they will be, we prophecy " The Cavalier" will run for some time. SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY, A special meeting of the Liverpool shareholders in this undertaking was held at the Clarendon-rooms, South John street, on Tuesday, for the purpose of hearing from Mr. Yeats, the secretary, an explanation of the present state of the works, and the progress making in them.. The meeting was numerously attended by the shareholders. Mr. Yeats, in commencing, said, he would state to them the reason why he called them together. All these kind of meetings were • only meetings of conversation, and not for the transaction of any business connected with the composition or affairs of the company ; this remained alone with the directors in London, but he felt it a duty to present himself at least once a year to the northern proprietors, in order to make them a report of the state of things at the present time. A report had been put into the hands of every proprietor of the general meeting held on the 26th ult. Accompanying that report was also a report of the engineer, upon the state of the works. In con nexion with those documents, he had to submit to the pre sent meeting a section of those parts of the line where the works were proceeding. . The.line at the -uppermost part of the sections on the table commenced in Godstone district, near that portion of it where it fell in from the Brighton Railway to the Redstone-hill. The Godstone district was 13 miles 8- -furlongs long, the whole of which was in course of operation in 8 distinct contracts. The time within which these contracts must be executed is the same period as on the Western side of the Bletchingley Tunnel. These circum stances, which the legislature had not thought proper to con cede, the length of time in the execution of that contract could not be reduced ; but inasmuch as the standing orders of both houses of parliament required that there should be no deviation ou any occasion whatever exceeding five feet, it was isseless to attempt it. The heaviest portion of the works below are in the neighbourhood of Leigh, within one mile and a half of Tudly. The excavation consists of 480,000 yards, of which 378,000 lards had been removed on the Ist Novem ber. There was also another below that, a large portion of which had been excavated, but it did not involve any ques tion of the opening of the line to Tunbridge. It might be a question whether these works should be pushed on, inasmuch as it would involve the question of opening the line to Staple hurst, which might be done at the same time as the opening to Tunbridge, provided the directors had, at their call, a much larger sum than they had at present. The shareholders would remember that the directors were limited by the act to calls of £5, which could not be made at less intervals than three' onths betveen each call. The work between God stone and Natfield has been performed for something less than £40,000. The works which are heaviest, and by which the merits of the line were to be tested, were between Dover and Folkstone. Upon this district, a sum not exceeding £BO,OOO had been the whole sum expended, and he might venture to say, that any person, possessing no knowledge whatever of the works, viewing that district could not be otherwise than satisfied that the proprietors had got their shilling's worth for their shilling, in the execution of them. The heaviest and most important of them was the Warren cutting ; it com prised one-fourth of the whole of the wood work of the line, and contained one million and a quarter yards of cutting, with the exception of one embankment. The nature of this work was such that the execution of the contract had been carried on without the assistance of a single horse, rail, or waggon. The opening into the sea, by cutting gullets at certain intervals, had afforded the means of throwing off the whole of the excavations into a soil where the company had the right of depositing them down at low water mark, and the consequence had been that the contract had been taken lower than the engineer's estimate for its completion of the 1,250,000 yards which had to be removed at an expense of 25 per cent. less than Mr. Cubit's estimate, while the works, which, as he had said before, between Dover and Folkstone, were the test of the line, were beyond the reach of impracticability. He had no doubt, that within twelve months after the opening of the line to Tunbridge, the whole of the line to Dover might be completed. It was, however, impracticable whilst the directors were prosecuting, as they were, with the utmost vigour, the opening of the works to Tunbridge, for the rea . son he had mentioned before, namely, that they were re stricted in their callinr , for some money, if they applied the whole means which their act gave them to all the parts, they might risk the completion of the whole within the required time. Mr. Cubitt had told them that to open it from the Brighton Railway to Ashford would cost X 600,000 ; this was more than the directors could raise in twelve months from this time if they made calls after their act of parliament. Mr. Cubitt also showed, that to complete it from the Brighton Railway to Tunbridge would require £369,000, and to open it to Stapleford, twelve miles beyond Tunbridge, would cost £500,000, or altogether £140,000 more than would be neces sary to open it to Tunbridge. In deduction, however, of these. costs, he admitted that the land down to Tunbridge was paid for ; but there would be a very large expenditure re quired for plans. It was obviously_ impossible to op e n th e line unless the pla ns werp. pravidad_ror, therefore the -cost of it must be added to the cost of the works. He mentioned this to show that if the directors were slow in prosecuting the works from Tunbridge, it was from the conviction pressing on their minds that they must not risk the completion of the other portion of the line. He was now ready to answer any questions which might be put to him, as, in his judgment, might be answered fairly, and consistently with his duty to the proprietors at large. Before sitting down, however, Mr. Yeats entered, into an explanation, of no public interest, respecting cartain araangements made with the Greenwich and the Croydon companies, relative to the use of a portion of their line. Many shareholders then proceeded to question, and, from Mr. Yeats's answers, it appeared that contracts for chains, rails, and sleepers, had been entered into, on very favourable terms ; that the company had lost by the sale of shares at a discount, and by the issue of forfeited shares in June and July last £181,394 ; that the forfeited shares had been dis tributed among the proprietors at reduced rates ; and that the prospect of a railway to Lisle and Calais would greatly promote the interest of this. In answer to one question, Mr. Yeats stated a branch to Canterbury would very likely be made, as the directors had deposited their notices. _ The shareholders then expressed their satisfaction at the explanations of Mr. Yeats, by a vote of thanks, and the meeting separated. THE LAUREL-STREET GANG OF ROBBERS. FURTHER IDENTIFICATION OF VALUABLE PROPERTY On Wednesday last, at the Police-office, several articles of plate and a watch being produced, the following additional informations were taken before Mr. Rushton, identifying a considerable portion of the property found. Mary Thompson said—l ant servant to Mr. Maples, Falkner-terrace. I am employed as nurse. About five weeks ago I missed a gold watch, between 11 and 12 o'clock at night. I had seen it safe at 6 o'clock when I went down to the kitchen to my tea. I was not in the kitchen between that time and half-past eleven or thereabouts. A child two years old was sleeping in the nursery. I mentioned the loss to my fellow-servant the same night. I did not tell my mistress, as I thought she might have taken it. Nothing was missed that I know of except the watch. The watch now produced is the same. _ _ _ Mr. George Maples said—l live at No. 12, Falkner terrace. The six plated candlesticks, snuffers and stand, the silver coffee-pot, silver gravy spoon, ten table spoons, four sauce ladles, eight dessert spoons, eighteen tea spoons, two egg spoons, two salt spoons, now produced, and the three cases containing a silver knife and fork, each now pro duced—are all my property. I missed it on Saturday last from a wardrobe in my bed-room, which adjoins the nursery on the same floor. On the 27th of October, some part of the property was in use, and the rest was then safe. We have not had occasion to use the plate since that time. I know the watch produced by Mr. Dowling. It is the same which was used in the nursery. Such was the evidence given on this occasion, and we learn that it is probable the prisoner will be i n di c t e d mainly on this case. We are informed that no suspicion of any loss arose in Mr. Maple's mind until last Saturday, when one of the young children inquired what had become of the watch that used to be iu the nursery. On its being searched for in vain, and the nurse being questioned, and having stated as above, the wardrobe was looked to, when the ap prehensions naturally excited were realized. The property was part of that found at the prisoner Evans's lodgings. It may be remarked, as creditable to the police, that had a week longer elapsed before the discovery of the gang, they would, no doubt, have all e,eripeil (it i, probable) to A merira —most of the articles having been packed up preparatory to removal. The more valuable portions of the plate, &c, have now been identified. Some small articles of jewellery yet remain to be claimed, but it is very questionable whether any of them can be sworn to, as the stones have been taken from the gold seals and brooches, and they have been otherwise disfigured by the depredators. We do not remember to have heard of the detection of a gang apparently so well and so artfully organized, so abundantly " found " with ingenious house-breaking implements, or so cunning and calculating in their proceedings. They seem to have defied locks, bolts, and bars, and to have arrived at such caution and even silence in their operations, that they could penetrate to the inner most chambers of. the dwellings of private, and naturally easily alarmed individuals, even when they were all awake, and carry off their valuables from secret recesses without being either seen or heard. The value of the property found is, we learn, estimated at little short of £2OOO. Flow much more had been otherwise disposed of, or for how long, is, of course, a matter of speculation. The detection of such a eang is a happy circumstance, not only as regards the ar restment of future robberies, but as respecting the character of innocent and faithful servants, many of whom, had the thieves gone on in their• secret career, might have been wrongfully suspected, and discharged under suspicion of con nivance or actual delinquency. RAILWAY SPEED.-It is confidently expected that the time of travelling from Devonport to London will be short ened several hours before Midsummer next. The directors of the Great Western are making liberal offers to some of the contractors to finish their work before the time specified in their contracts, in order to get the whole line completed by the Ist of June. The Bristol and Exeter will be opened, as far as Bridgewater, about the month of April or May, so that there will be only eighty-six miles by horse conveyance from London to Devonport.—Plymouth paper. SEVERE CRITICISM DEFENDED BY A FRASERIAN.—It is Seldom useful or wise for the critic to inflict a violent death on productions which, left to themselves, would soon perish and be forgotten, owing to their own internal seeds of decay. It is attracting crowds to witness the public execution of an Offender against the rules of grammar and literary propriety, Who, unnoticed, would have probably not even met with con tempt.. Yet at times it becomes a matter of principle, a species' of duty, from the discharge of which we would not feel justified in shrinking. Thus, in the present case, know ing that we have already conferred on the author of Sandron Mall sufficient notoriety to ensure him a few readers, we think ourselves answerable to the public for the nature of the stuff he may hereafter perpetrate, when trading on the noto riety so conferred. At the same time, viewing his efforts as the result of a young idea, which we have ourselves in a great measure " taught how to shoot," we are disposed to treat them paternally, according to the Scripture moral, and not _spare the rod," lest we may spoil the child.--From Fraser's 42 agazine for December. MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE The weekly meeting of the members of the committee took place yesterday at the committee room, Revenue-buildings ; Mr. Leathom occupied the chair. The proceedings of the last meeting were read by the Se cretary, and a list of accounts for payment was read and agreed to. A report of the sub-committee relative to Queen's graving dock, No. 2, referring to the charges against Mr. Hartley, recommending that (m accordance with Mr. Chapman's sug gestion), the upper walls should be taken down, and thrown back as far as the present steps, was then read. It was enquired how much narrower the quay would be made by the alteration recommended. The CHAIRMAN said—five feet on each quay. There would be about 25 feet of quay room left. The trade, he be lieved, would rather be deprived of the quay room, than have the upper walls of the dock in their present form. After a short conversation the report was adopted. DOCK SHEDS. The Secretary read a recommendation that the new dock sheds should be covered with slates - in - preference to ;Inc: They had carefully considered the comparative advantages of each. The CHAIRMAN said they had arrived at the conclusion that slates were the cheapest and most durable. A member enquired whether slates could be secured from being blown off in gales of wind ; and the reply was in the affirmative. CITY OF DUBLIN STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. An application from this company was read requesting the use of, one of the stone flats, with hoisting tackle, for the purpose of placing moorings in the Sloyne for the use of the steam packets employed by the post-office, for any reasona ble amount. The sub-committee recommended that the ap plication be granted for a small remuneration, and subject to the payment of any damage to the fiat that might arise. The committee concurred. DOCK IMPROVEMENTS. On the recommendation of the sub-committee, it was agreed that a crane should be placed on the east side of the Queen's Dock, near the south end. It was also agreed to have the proposed graving blocks on the north side (or basin) of the Prince's Dock, and that in accordance with the opinion of the harbour-masters whom the Surveyor had consulted on the subject, that they should be 300 feet in length from the east end, 3 feet further from the wall, and on an inclined plane rising 2 feet 6 inches from the west end. THE FORMBY LIFE-BOAT. • The crew of this boat having applied to the committee for some remuneration for saving - the crew and passengers of the ship " Scotland," lately stranded near Formby, the sub committee to whom the matter was referred recommended the parties to apply to the Humane Society. An extract was read from the log-book of the vessel, showing that she was in imminent danger when the life-boat came o ff, after being on the bank, and exposed to the fury of winds and waves over night; and that the captain of the Formby Light-boat, which came off at nine in the morning, stated to the captain that there was every probability of the gale continuing and freshening ; that he could not again reach the ship when the tide turned, and that the safety of those on board would be endangered by their longer remaining with the vessel. Under this persuasion the captain got his passengers and crew into the life-boat and his own long boat, and they were safely landed. After leaving the ship, the Magazine life-boat came up, and asked them if they wanted any assistance, and the reply was in the negative. The Magazine boat afterwards went to the ship, and with assistance which she subsequently procured, got the ship off and towed her to the Magazines. The CHAIRMAN said that considerable discussion bad taken place at the Humane Society, yesterday, on the sub ject, which ended in their awarding £2 per man to the crew of the Formby boat, and £3 to the captain. He thought the boatmen were deserving of some reward from their body. The other boatmen that towed the vessel to the Magazines had also made a claim ; but they were to receive £250 for towing her, bringing her into dock, and unloading her. He did not, therefore, think they had any claim upon the committee. Mr. CHAPMAN said men ought to be rewarded for doing their duty, in such cases, in the saving of life, not those who merely went to secure wrecked property. Mr. TOBIN said that there was an inclination amongst some to underrate the services of the life-boatmen. He thought the crew of the Formby boat should be rewarded. Mr. H ORSPALL moved that £3 be given to each of the men, and £5 to the captain. The primary duty of life-boatmen was to save life—not property. This motion was agreed to. A short conversation arose as to the Magazine boat, which resulted in the opinion that the men would receive amongst them the £250 for saving the property, and that their claim for saving life could not be entertained. LIGITT-SHIPS, LIGHT-HOUSES, &C. A report of the inspectors 'of light-ships, light-houses, telegraph stations, &c., was read. From this it appeared that the light-ships were visited on the 13th October, and were found to be in a most efficient and satisfactory state. The report noticed the light-houses respectively, and the re pairs which some of them required; and recommended an increase and equalization of the salaries of several of the keepers, which will. of course, become a matter of future con sideration. The committee adopted the report. DOCK GATEMEN._ _ _ The SECRETARY read a recommendation from the sub :ornmittee in favour of the appointment of several new Dock-gatemen. Mr. HORSFALL recommended that gatemen and persons employed at the docks ZOuicii)e prohibited from asking for Christmas boxes. It was agreed that a former order should to that effect be communicated to them by the harbour Laster and dock masters KING'S DOCK It was stated that the west quay of the King's Dock was not covered with a shed above half its length, and that it would be desirable that the whole should be covered. This was referred to the Committee of Works. CLARENCE DOCK A letter was read from Mr. James Brebner, to the effect, that the shed at the Clarence Dock, occupied by the Com pany for which he was agent, at the north end, was imperfect ; goods were damaged in stormy weather, notwithstanding the use •of tarpaulins. He submitted that some improvement should be made.—Referred to the same committee. QUEEN'S DOCK. A communication was read by the SECRETARY from Mr. Alexander Smith, jun., stating that many of the roads and paths about the Queen's Dock were in great want of im provement. The writer trusted that the fact need but be pointed out to the committee.—Referred. - CHARGES AGAINST THE DOCK SURVEYOR. The CHAIRMAN (as we understood him) said he had re ceived a letter from the surveyor, enclosing his reply to the charges that had been preferred against him, and requesting that the same might be read to the committee, in presence of the reporters, before Mr. Chapman brought forward the motion of which he had given notice. _ _ Mr. CHAPMAN said, that no doubt the surveyor might publish his reply in the newspapers. He bad certainly that mode of communication to the public open to him ; but he (Mr. C.) was not aware that such a communication could be received there as from a member of the Dock Committee. It was connected with the motion be had to make. He, too, was anxious that it should be laid before the public; but he conceived it could not affect his motion, to which it could have in that stage of the proceedings no legitimate reference. If were read, it should be read after his motion was made, and not before it. To what points did th e d ocuments re f er? The CHAIRMAN.—To all the charges that had been made against him. _ _ - After a short conversation, Mr. Chapman consented to the reading of the document, of which the following is a copy : " To THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE. " GENTLEMEN,I—I feel called upon, not only as a mark of respect to those various gentlemen who have composed the Dock Committee during the sixteen years I have had the honour to fill the situation of Dock Surveyor, but also in justification of myself, to make some remarks on the notice of a motion given by Mr. Chapman, at the last meeting of this Committee, as well as to the charges brought against me by him in so abundant and unqualified a manner, both previous and subsequent to his giving notice of that motion. " It was, I believe, and I do not wonder at it, a subject of surprise to many, that 1 did not say more in my defence. It was not, however, from a deficiency of matter, but from an overpowering feeling of astonishment at the sudden and un qualified torrent of assertions, charging me with incompe tency, incorrect statements, &c., with which I was assailed. " Had I only to reply to the individual member who made these charges, I might think it proper to take a diff eren t course, and should probably simply refer him to the books and resolutions of this committee ; but as his charges reflect not only upon me, but upon this Committee, upon those who composed the Committee before you, as well as upon those who elected me to the office I hold, I think I am bound to rehnt them ' in doing which I anticipate little diffi cu lty. " In the first place, I am charged with incompetency and ignorance of my profession, upon which is founded the mo tion That a first-rate engineer be appointed, to furnish de signs for new works, and superintend their construction.' " In answer to this charge, I will not refer you to the tes timonials which procured my appointment to this situation from amongst numerous candidates, without my having had any previous knowledge of any gentleman forming the then council ; but I will refer you to those important works which I have constructed since I have filled the situation I hold, from my practical knowledge as a civil engineer, and from the energies of my own mind alone, unaided by the designs, arrar b , ement,.or superintendence of any oth er c i v il eng i neer , and which, I may be allowed to say, so far from being con sidered evidences of incompetency, have elicited the admira tion of civil engineers of the highest standing, both of our own and foreign nations. I will also refer you to the pro ceedings of the Dock Committee since my appointment, and during the progress of those works, and I will ask the mem ber who has brought forward these charges, whether he has found in those proceedings (which, of course, he made him self master of before bringing such charges) any resolutions accusing me, in the most remote manner, with incompetency, or casting the slightest stain upon my character ? and I will ask him further, to mention an instance in which those in terested in the working of the different designs I have fur nll,lled and executed, have made a complaint of the ineffi ciency of those designs, or of their construction, to this com mittee, until his becoming a member of it, and bringing for ward objections against a work, the first of the kind yet executed here or elsewhere, which had been in progress for several months, which had received the approbation of the authority next to be consulted by me after the Committee (I allude to the Master of the Graving Docks), and in which, on the 31st July, when partly completed, one of the large steam ships was docked, shored, and the necessary work ef fected, without a complaint having been made, or an objec tion offered ?—a practical p roo f of its not being unsafe for life or properly. " With reference to the several assertions made by the member concerning this graving dock, which have gone through the newspapers before the public—` That if the large steam-boats, for which this dock was expressly constructed, went into it, their paddle-boxes rested on the quays, and their keels did not touch the quays by fourteen inches, and also, ` that the sill had been broken up'—l would beg, in the first place, to observe, that the extreme width of the largest steam-ship that has yet come to this port, (the President,) is, according to the dimensions furnished me, 66 feet 8 inches from outside to outside of paddle-boxes, —whereas the width of the graving dock, from the edge of one quay to that of the other, is 71 feet 6 inches, which proves that the paddle boxes could not touch the quay by 2feet 5 inches on each side, and secondly, that the sill of the dock has not been altered. The alterations alluded to by the member, which caused the taking up of the masonry, was an improvement in the original design, but no error, and was totally unco nnec t e d w i t h t h e sill, and partly composed of the original masonry of the former graving dock which had not previously been touched. " From the blame of having neglected to procure the di mensions of the largest steamers until the work was so far ad vanced, I think the chairman of this committee can fully excul pate me. With regard to the allusions made by the member, to the south graving docks and Coburg Dock, I have to ob serve that those matters have been previously canvassed, — but it may be as well to state here, for the information of all, that what the member blames me for, concerning the south graving docks, is what was expressly contemplated in their construction—viz., the increased depth of their sills to allow of the admission of the heaviest ships coining to the port, at a lower tide than the old graving docks would permit ; but if vessels are allowed to be taken in by the carpenters at all tides, it cannot be expected by any who have paid attention to the tides here, that a sill lying 9 feet 6 inches below the level of the old dock sill, can be laid dry at a low neap tide, which does not ebb within a foot of the level of that datum, unless recourse be had to mechanical assistance. And as to my desire to put reverse gates to the passage leading into the Coburg Dock, that was an addition to,. but certainly not an alteration of, or error in, my original design ; neither did I report ` that the dock was complete, after which it was found that it required deepening,' as asserted by the mem ber, my report to the committee being as follows :—' The Coburg Dock has been completed, excepting a portion of its bed which is not yet efficiently deepened, but is expected to be finished in all September, chiefly with dredging machines,' and that report would have been borne out, had it not been from the desire to afford the earliest accommodation to the large steamers which have since almost continually occupied the dock, often greatly to the hindrance of the dredging machines. " I will also beg leave to mention, that so far from my hav ing been considered incompetent by others, I have at various times been requested to exercise my profession in similar and other works, both here and in several other parts of the kingdom ; and I may also remark, in noticing the second portion of this motion, that although the terms of my ap pointment gave me full liberty to exercise my profession elsewhere, yet so closely have I devoted my time to the dock works as not to allow myself any leisure to accept other en gagements, excepting such as my son's assistance enabled me to do, without requiring any lengthened absence from the duties of my situation; and I would wish the member to name any instance in which I have heretofore been accused of non-attendance to, or neglect of those duties ; indeed, so far has the contrary been the case, that during the last three years I have not been in the whole more than fifteen days absent on private business, and the most of those days I have been but partially absent. In concluding my notice of these charges, I would beg leave to call to your remem brance the circumstance of my having been presented with the freedom of this town as a mark of the Council's appro bation of my conduct as Dock Surveyor. " The other charges made against me by the member, and the implication contained in the first part of the motion given notice of, backed as it was by many assertions of impropriety in the expenditure of my department, need not, I think, re quire any lengthened refutation. With regard to the first of these, personal attacks of this description are easily made on any one filling a public situation, and however unjust they may be, cause great annoyance to those unfortunately subjected to them. In the present case the effect ceases there. I have been too long a public servant here and else where, too long open to the scrutiny of all, to feel afraid of my character suffering from any assertion or observation the member can, or has made ; and I shall content myself with simply assuring this committee, that in all my statements to them I have invariably adhered to what I have believed to be the truth. " As respects that part of the motion, stating an increased vigilance in the superintendence of the expenditure in my de partment to be necessary, taken in the abstract, I have no thing to say against it; on the contrary, too great a vigi lance cannot be had to please me, as it will consequently, in like proportion, relieve me from care and responsibility. But taking this part of the motion in the spirit in which it is brought forward, and coupling it with the personal allusions made in bringing it before you, I should have considered it the most serious part of the attack upon me, and should have felt great anxiety to have disproved it most fully, had it been made by any gentleman of experience in the proceed ings of the Dock Committee; but when I recollect that it is made by a member who has but recently joined the com mittee, and who has not yet given himself any opportunity of enquiring into the manner in which the expenditure he alludes to, in my department, is made, never having yet been to my otfiet, to ask any explanation or information as to our accounts or method of business, I think it best to refer it to your own judgment, what foundation he has for his asser tion, that at I,.ast a saving of £lO,OOO a-year may be made in my department, by a different method of carrying on the work.' I feel, therefore, very easy in leaving my character in your hands, to most of whom I have been known so long, and under whom, until now, I have filled my situation free from all ungenerous attacks or uncourteous treatment. In concluding, I beg leave to quote the following extract from the printed copy of the Inquiry into the affairs of the Cot potation of Liverpool, before the Parliamentary Commis sioners—' Twelfth day. Mr. Alderman Lawrence said, he was glad to find it was not considered necessary to put any questions to Mr. Hartley, the Dock Surveyor ; as an expen diture of £1,400,000 or £1,500,000 had passed through that gentleman's hands, he deemed that circumstance highly complimentary. Mr. Duncan said, he did not know a more deserving officer than Mr. Hartley; the rate-payers were perfectly satisfied with him,' &c.—and to remark, that that opinion, unqualified, uncontradicted, and expressed at such a time, is not exactly in accordance with the member's state ment, That you will find you have spent as much money in rectifying my errors as_the docks themselves have cost.' " Finally, I n take the liberty of calling your attention to a resolution of the Dock Committee of the 31st October, 1836, come to on the reading of my report to them of the 2,5 th of the same month, and to that report I would beg especially to refer the member bringing forward the motion : • " ' At a meeting of the Dock Committee, 31st Oct., 1836 ; present, Charles Lawrence, Esq., chairman, &c., &c., &c. ; a printed copy of . the S urve y or ' s re p or t having been laid. upon the table, in compliance with the directions of the last committee,— " Resolved,—That the committee have read with much satisfaction the able report of the Surveyor upon the state of the works, and regret that, from the shortness of the time since which this report has been delivered, they are not able to enter into any minute investigation of its various details. They feel it quite unnecessary to express any encomium upon those magnificent works which will speak for them selves, and remain a lasting memorial of the great talents of Mr. Hartley. The major part of this committee being about to be removed by an act of the legislature, cannot relinquish their trust without availing themselves of their last meeting to record their high sense of the indefatigable zeal and great ability with which that gentleman has for more than twelve years executed the very important duties of his office, and they beg him to accept their sincere acknowledgments and thanks. " Extracted from the proceedings. (Signed) " CHARLES LAWRENCE, Chairman.' " Having thus disposed of such of the charges and asser ions made by the member as I think it necessary to notice, [ feel that it would be an act of injustice to this committee to court a stricter investigation of the various details of my department than they have already received ; and the unim portance of the charges which have been made ought, "ima gine, to have been a sufficient protection against such an attack as I have been subjected to. If not, the further de fence must rest with the committee, not with me. " It now only remains for me most respectfully to request this committee to do me the justice of calling upon the member to prove his assertions, so serious in their nature, and to hope that this defence may meet with the same pub licity as was given to the charges against me. " I have the honour to be, gentlemen, " JESSE HARTLEY, Dock Surveyor. " Dockyard, Liverpool, 10th Dec., 1840." The SECRETARY then read the notice of Mr. Chapman's motion : " Ist. That the increase of the Liverpool Dock Estate has been such, and the expenditure so enormous in the Survey or's department, as imperatively to call for a corresponding increase of vigilance and superintendence. " 2dly. That it is incompatible with the interests of the Dock Estate any longer to allow the Surveyor to undertake other works, and that his time and talents for the future must be exclusively devoted to the superintendence of the works belonging to the Dock Estate. " 3dly. That - a first-rate engineer shall be engaged to de sign and arrange the proposed works, and that from hence forth all works shall be let and executed by contract. The progress of the works to be superintended by the Dock Sur veyor, and as occasion may require by the Superintendent Engineer." Mr. CHAPMAN said, that in introducing this motion to he committee, he should av o id a ll no ti ce of the document which had just been read, as one which he ought to ac knowledge as a member of that committee. The writer of it was the paid officer of that body, and it could not be re ceived as from one of their number. It contained, more over, much of personal observation, which had better have been omitted. With regard to the charges made respecting Queen's Graving Dock No. 2, they were proved by the sub committee having ordered the wall in question to be pulled down and thrown back. Two questions were involved—the widening of the dock in a safe manner, and the contraction of the quay. The plan of the upp er walls as now constructed was one evil, and the reduction of the quay was another, but not so great an evil. Mr. Hartley had chosen the greater evil. A person of common sense would have chosen the other alternative. With respect to the increase of the dock estate, no question could, he believed, arise. The expendi ture, which had last year amounted to £91,130, fully proved this fact. The accounts had, he contended, not been suffi ciently checked by that committee for many years. They were received from the trustees with the words " errors excepted " at the bottom, and had since 1823 been passed without due examination. The accounts were, in fact, taken out of their hands by the trustees. He did not complain of the character of individuals in this respect : he complained of the system only._ It was the continuance of that system to which'he objected. He disclaimed all imputation on the character of Mr. Hartley : he believed him to be an honest, well-meaning man, and a good practical engineer; but he th ught they should have th advantage of the first talent in works of such magnitude. Besides, his proposition involved nothing new in principle or practice. It was but carrying out a system which had long been admitted in other departments connected with the port. In the Marine Surveyor's office, so far back as 1825, the increase of the port rendered it ne cessary to adopt a different system from that previously pur sued, and a professional gentleman was appointed to assist the Harbour-master, to whom the entire duties were too onerous. All he (Mr. C.) only asked for some similar in creased assistance in the Dock Surveyor's department. His second proposition was that the Surveyor should be re- ("aired to giTve his time and talents exclusively to the Dock estate. He (Mr. C.) found that Mr. Hartley had since 1824 been originally engaged as assistant surveyor, at a salary of £6OO. In 1825 that salary was raised to £l,OOO, and in 1828, as surveyor, to X] ,500 . per annum. It was stated in the repre- sentaiion made by the Surveyor, that he had not been ab;ent from his office for some years more than one day in four teen. But he (Mr. Chapman) could not think that a paid officer with £1,500 a year, was right in absenting himself at all. This absence either showed that the duties were not sufficient to occupy the whole of his time, or that his salary was not enough, and ought to be increased. He contended, however, that in either case the whole of his time should be devoted to their service. He the more especially urged this point, inasmuch as the Harbour-master was required to give his whole time to the duties of his office, and was under a bond of £5OO not to undertake any other service, without con sent of the committee. He was not to absent himself from his duty, and was required, in sickness to send a report of the fact. The principle he contended for being thus carried out in one department, and they ought to be carried out in others. His next proposition was that a first rate engineer should be en gaged to design and arrange the proposed works, and that all works shall hereafter be let by contract. Now he thought that in all professions there must be higher and subordinate parties. What would they think of a country practitioner in law being elevated to the woolsack ? or of a Liverpool apothecary being appointed physician to the infirmary ? Let them look at the Clarence dock, and the numerous altera tions required in other docks. These alterations caused a great waste of public money. The CHAIRMAN enquired of the speaker whether he was prepared with any proof of the waste alluded to, and its amount. Mr. CHAPMAN said he left that to be investigated by the committee : he confined himself to facts. With regard to Coburg dock, the facts were too glaring to be refuted. The expenditure was very great ; and where was their store keeper. All, he urged, ought to be done by contract, and then they would know what surplus they would have to lay out in sheds and other dock improvements. He re peated that he objected to the system ; and concluded by ex pressing his trust that there was sufficient spirit amongst the committee to go fairly into an investigation of the subject he had brought before them._ Mr. MELIOR recommended Mr. Chapman to alter his motion, and refer the question to a special committee, or to the board of works. Mr. Chapman had stated much in which he (Mr. M.) concurred. lie agreed that the whole of the surveyor's time should be devoted to their service. Other points mooted required, he thought, mature consi deration. If Mr. Chapman would refer the matter to a sub committee, he should second the motion, which he should like to extend to an inquiry into the efficiency of the dock yard, and whether one man, whatever his talents, could unite the offices of smith, carpenter, engineer, and contractor. He would also wish an inquiry into the policy of working a quarry at a great distance, and whether doing so were'more expensive than if by contract. He instanced the London and St. Catharine's Docks as being nearly all constructed and maintained by contract. Mr. G. HOLT thought a special committee would be pre ferable to the Board of Works for the investigation, and that they should have specified in writing what they were to in quire into. _ ' -- The Dom( SURVEYOR being called in and questioned, said that he contracted for masonry by measurement. All was done bycontract.._ Mr. 'AMIN did"not altogether concur in the sweeping charge made against the Surveyor ; but was certainly of opinion, that, from the great increase of the port, they should have his exclusive time. With regard to the proposal to work only by contract, he thought that a separate matter, and worthy of attention. If they were unanimous that Mr. Hart ley's whole time and attention were necessary, be should beg to move a resolution. Mr. ATKIN moved a resolution to the effect that; in taking into consideration the increase of the port, the whole time of Mr. Hartley should be devoted to his duties as surveyor; that the contracts should be entered into ; and that eminent engineers be in future consulted, except in cases in which their professional assistance was not required. Mr. CHAPMAN said this meant that the surveyor was to design new plans, but to consult eminent engineers upon them ; that, in fine, he should have the first advice. Science was now so much advanced, that this could easily be accom plished. He begged to ask Mr. Hartley a question, and that was, whether he had not been employed on the Bolton and Bury railway, for which he received an additional £l5OO a-year ? The SURVEYOR said he did not know that Mr. Chapman had any right to question on such a subject, or to enquire into his emoluments. Mr. CHAPMAN modified his question to enquiry, whether the Surveyor had not been employed in other works. The SURVEYOR said he had been employed in building the Chester bridge, and on several railways. After considerable conversation and several propositions being submitted, a motion was unanimously carried, to the effect that, from the increase of the port, the whole time and attention of the Surveyor was required, which ended in the following motion proposed by Mr. Mellor, being carried : " That a special committee be appointed, to examine and report whether it would not be practicable, and with regard to the public interest advisable, to adopt the following reso lutions : " First—To give up the establishment at the Dock-yard, and instead of making numerous articles in iron and wood, to contract for or purchase them when required. " Second—Not only to contract for all new works and al terations but for repairs also, either at a fixed §um per an num or separately, as may be required. " Third—to give up the Kirkmaybrick Quarry, even sup posing that the rent to be paid during the remainder of the lease, without working it, and sacrificing all the property which has been laid out upon it, which cannot be sold or brought away for the use of the Dock Estate." The committee then separated. IRON SHIPS BUILT AT LIVERPOOL Deeply interested as we are in the progress of navigation, whether by steam or sail, by wooden or by iron vessels, we rejoice tor state that the greatest success has hitherto at tended two fine iron ships, built by our talented townsman, Mr. John Laird, whose works are in North Birkenhead. The Phlegethon, intended for sea and river service, and upwards of 500 tons burthen, was launched on the 30th of May last. She carried two long guns on pivots, one at the bow and another at the stern. She is calculated either to sail or to steam, her paddle-wheels being so contrived that they can be thrown out of gear when it is required to put her under canvas only. Her engines are by Messrs. Forrester and Co. of this town. This vessel is reported as having called at the Cape de Verde Islands for coal. She ran from Madeira to those islands in less than six days, (the distance is about 1,050 miles,) and consumed only 30 tons of coal, the greater part of the run having been made under canvas alone, thus proving, by making an average of 175 miles a day, what may be accomplished by combining steam and sailing qualities in one vessel. The iron war-steamer Nemesis, of still larger dimensions, built by the same gentleman, has, we learn by the India mail, arrived at Cape de Galle, all well. Her destination is supposed to be some part of the coast of China, where, should the war be prolonged, she will prove of great service, from her length, her light draught of water, and her being fitted with two long 32-pounder guns. The Nemesis is the first iron steamer that has rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived in India. This vessel is so admirably described in an article in the United Service Journal of May last, by Mr. Augustin F. B. Creuze, of her Majesty's Dock-yard, Portsmouth—a gentle man of the highest standing as a naval architect—that we make no apology for submitting his description of the struc ture and dimensions of the vessel, with the omission of some subsequent details that would be interesting only to scien tific individuals. The article is "On the Nemesis private armed Steamer, and the comparative efficiency of iron-built and timber-built ships." We quote the commencement of the article, the whole of which is well worthy of perusal : " Most persons (says Mr. Creuze) who take any interest in naval affairs, will have observed, for some years past, oc casional notices in the newspapers of boats and vessels built of iron. It appears to be very probable that this material may eventually supersede timber in the construction of boats, barges, steam, and the smaller class of sailing vessels; and therefore any information as to the manlier of building such craft or their qualities; and the comparative increase either of safety or danger by the substitution of iron for timber, must be worthy of notice. The Nemesis, a steam vessel of nearly 700 tons burden, and built wholly of iron, has been lately docked at her Majesty' s yard at Portsmouth, for the purpose of having damages repaired which she sus tained by striking on a rock off Scilly, in thick weather, when on her passage from Liverpool to Odessa. This af forded a most favourable opportunity for obtaining consider able insight into the details of an iron vessel, while the courteous anxiety displayed by the gentleman who built her, Mr. Laird, of the Birkenhead Iron works, at Liverpool, and by the officer, Mr. Hall, a master in the Royal Navy, who commands her, to give every information that was in their power, removed all the difficulties that generally attend such a task. The following particulars, as far as facts are concerned, may therefore be relied on as correct. The di mensions of the Nemesis are as follow : Length between the perpendicular Length over all Length from stein to taffrail Breadth Depth Burthen in tons (old measurement) The keel plate was laid in August of last year; the vessel was launched in November ' • her engines put on board, an d she herself tried, in December; and finally, she was ready for sea by the middle of January. 165 feet 181 „ 173 „ , - The vessel is built al mos t en tirely of iron ; the exceptions being the plank shear or gunwale, which is of oak, four inches thick and ten inches broad, brought upon and secured to a plank shear or gunwale of Angle iron ; tbejtal, the deck, which is of three-inch fir, and four beams under the deck, nine inches square. These are forward, and support the car rick bitts, paul bitts. and the foremast gun. The remainder of the beams, with the exception of the paddle beams, which are of oak, twelve-inch sided, and fourteen-inch moulded, are of iron. The knee of the head, the rudder, the paddle boxes, and a light berthing above the gunwale, about 2 feet 8 inches high, are of wood. The seamings and fittings upon deck are generally of wood, although for that purpose more iron is used in the Nemesis than in timber-built vessels. The cabins and fittings for the officers, passengers, and crew, are of wood, and are very neat and handsome. The mean launching draught of water, with masts, yards, rigging, anchor, cable, and the cabin fittings in a forward state, was, according to the information afforded by Mr. Laird, 2 feet 41 inches. The mean load draught, with twelve days full supply of coals, water ' and provisions for a crew of forty men for four month s, and three years ship's stores of all sorts, with duplicate and extra machinery, is also stated to have been six feet. The engines were made at Liverpool, by Messrs. Forrester and Co. The diameter of the cylinder is 44 inches, and the length of the stroke 4 feet. The estimate in horse power for the engines is 120. The framings, or supports, for the en gines, are of wrought iron. It is usual to have them of cast iron. The greater strength of wrought iron enables them to be made of much less size and weight, and their appearance is also necessarily lighter. The boilers may be worked either separately or together. The paddle wheels are 17 feet 6 inches diameter to the inner edge of the rim. The floats, which are 16 in number, are 6 feet 9 inches long, and 141 inches broad. The paddle shaft is 78 feet abaft the fore end of the water line. The vessel carries two 32-pounder medium guns, one forward and the other aft, on pivot carriages, to fire over all. And it is this which constitutes one of the chief points of interest in the Nemesis. The guns are reported to have been fired several times, with an extra charge of powder, and double shotted. The concussion has left no visible traces on the vessel, and the experiment, as far as it has yet been carried, certainly does not militate against the adoption of iron in the construction of ships of war." Mr. Creuze next describes minutely the spars of the vessel, and then proceeds to the method adopted of connecting the various parts of the hull, showing that by peculiar and inge nious contrivances, the builder had arrived at the grand desi deratum of strength combined with comparative lightness. " The sheets of iron which form the planking' are gene rally about 8 feet long, and 2 feet 6 inches broad. The whole of the fastenings are of a superior description. The curved seams and the buts of both clinker and curved strokes are secured by bringing the edges of the plates in contact, and rivetting each edge to a strip of plate-iron, lying onand lining the inside of the joint. The seams are caulked by closing the edges of the two plates together with blows of a c ,, ld chisel. The whole of the rivets are flush on the outside of the vessel. The keel-plates are 7-16ths of an inch in thick ness. The clinker-worked plates covering the bottom of the vessel, are 3-Bths of an inch in thickness, and the curve worked plates, covering the top sides, are from 5-16ths to 4- of an inch in thickness. The iron work is first painted with several coats of red lead, and then varnished with a patent varnish. This covering to the iron did not appear to be at all disturbed on any part of the bottom, excepting where it was rubbed off by the rocks on which she had grounded. There are some peculiarities in the build of the vessel. The whole internal space is separated into seven water-tight compart ments by six iron athwartships bulkheads. A leak which may spring in any part of the bottom can, therefore, only affect that compartment between the bulkheads of which it happens. Thus the damage caused by the rock on which she struck, admitted four feet of water into the compartment in which it occurred before the leak could be stopped, but there was none in any other part of the vessel. There is a small hand-pump fitted to each department, the pipe of which leads into the hollow of the keel plate. Large pumps are not ne cessary, as the compartment can only fill to the level of the external water; or, if the leak be greater than the discharge of the pump, may remain filled until a part is reached." It was found that the damage sustained by the Nemesis was very trifling, though she was running, when she struck, at the rate of nearly nine knots an hour. It was proved by the split made by the pointed rock, that the injury, in such case, affects the part struck only, for the rivets round it held as tight as before. The damage was readily and easily re paired. Mr. Creuze expresses a light opinion of iron as a material for vessels not of very large size. He says, " The question of the durability of iron vessels, of their little liabi lity to accident, and of the ease with which damage done to them may be repaired, appearsto be very clearly proved from the experience which has already been obtained on these points ; and this is no little, for there are boats built by Mr. Laird in both North and South America —in all parts of India, and on the Euphrates and the Indus--in Egypt, on the Nile, and in the Mediterranean —on the Vistula, on the Shannon, and on the Thames. One of these boats, the Savannah, has been constantly at work for these last six years, without any repair, which is a great test, if we con sider the frequent caulkings required to preserve a timber built ship." The material is equally applicable to sailing vessels, which may be made of any mo d el. Mr. Creuze concludes by some able remarks on the effect of the iron on the compass, with the means of counteracting it ;—but we must refer to the article itself, as our notice has extended beyond our intended limits. To the account of the Phlegethon and Nemesis we may add, that the iron vessels, also built by Mr. Laird, for the government expedition up the Niger, have been tried on the river, and have given the greatest satisfaction. They will be ready for sea in a few days, when we shall furnish an ac count of their build and equipments, together with some particulars of the intended plan of operations. 11TH LIGHT DRAGOONS.—The 14th Light Dragoons wil shortly be embarked for India, where cavalry regiments are much wanted. The 3d and 4th Light Dragoons, the ISth Hussars, and the 16th Lancers are the only mounted corps belonging to the Queen's service at present on duty in that extensive territory, and one of these regiments (the 4th Dra goons) is to return home. The 14th Light Dragoons have had a very long tour of home duty, not having been out of the mother country since their return from America (where they were employed but a few months), i n th e United Service Gazette. year 1815. Her Majesty's service has lost a most valuable officer in Colonel Oglander, C. 8., of the 26th (Cameronian) regiment, whose death is mentioned as having taken place on the 23d of Juno last, on board of one of the vessels forming the ex pedition to Chusan, while on the voyage thither from Macao. The late Colonel Oglander had seen a great deal of service, and had commanded the 26th regiment for 23 years. PUBLIC PARKS IN LIVERPOOL Last evening an extraordinary general meeting of members of the Liverpool Guardian Society was held in large room of the Adelphi Hotel, for the purpose of cot dering the propriety of memorializing the Town Council favour of public walks or parks, for the recreation of the habitants. The meeting was very numerously attended. Mr. GEORGE SUMNER, president of the society,. havi taken the chair, after a few appropriate introductory remarks proceeded to say that no doubt could exist in the mind e any reflecting individual, connected with Liverpool, of th necessity for public walks and parks being provided for th recreation of the inhabitants. If we looked at the enormou population immured in cellars, courts, and garrets, we shoulu there find the most ample proofs of the necessity for some places of recreation. Not only were the places he had men. tioned filled with disease and filth, but they actually invited them, the population so immured having nothing to attract them from their homes. After the labours of the day, they spent the hours which should be passed in rational recreatior sitting in their polluted houses, breathing a contaminated at. mosphere ; and there was no public place open to them, even if they felt inclined to go, for they were now forbidden from those which had been once given to them. The great in crease of the town had precluded them from the enjoyment of recreation and amusements in those places. The places once eligible for the purpose were now built upon. The poor man must therefore either go down to the pier, or across the water, at some expense : but even there he must confine himself to the road, for on one side as well as on the other he beheld the silent monitor of the owner—" if you come here you shall be prosecuted as the law directs." It there fore became a question of great importance, and one which for some months had attracted the attention of the Town Council, namely, the propriety of establishing some place for the recreation and amusement of the inhabitants. Its hav ing been brought before the committee of the Guardian So ciety was caused by the present situation of the parks' com mittee of the council. The meeting was aware that the subject had, some months ago, obtained the attention of the council, and a committee was appointed for the furtherance of the object. That committee proceeded to obtain the necessary information until the late municipal election, after which a part of it was removed, and other members substituted. It appeared that some members of the committee were very lukewarm upon the subject, whilst those who were desirous of carrying it out had not the power to act. Whilst upon the one hand some thought there would be nothing for them to do this year, others with different impressions thought they should be pretty well occupied. Those gentlemen, who were desirous of carrying the thing out, desired to have the aid and assistance of the inhabitants. . To call a general meeting of the inhabitants was out of the province of this society, but the subject having been discussed in the committee, a vote was unanimously carried, that a public meeting of the members of this society should be convened, in order to take their sense upon the subject. This brought him to the pre sent position of the society ; and it would now be for them to consider, whether they would give their assistance to the Parks Cominittee by a demonstration of their feeling. The meeting would be aware that the -society now maintained a very important position in the town ; it was greatly aug mented in numbers; in composed a nucleus of the trading classes of this community. Not only were the members nu merous, but he trusted they were res p ec t a bl e f rom t h e b an k er or merchant, down to the humblest tradesman, and he had no doubt, in a great measure, that they were the class most deeply interested in the proposed measure. As tradesmen they had long felt the want of such places as a park or public walks. Spaces of land fit for the purpose were still left, but they were valuable ; however, they would be brought before the town-council by the Parks Commiltee, and it would be for them to determine upon the precise site. It was the bu siness of the meeting to give its feeling upon the subject to the Parks Committee, knowing that they, as a society form ing a respectable, intelligent, and influential part of the com munity, were desirous that these parks or places should be obtained for the recreation of the inhabitants. He trusted that as other parts of the kingdom had been favoured with such places, and as there was a general feeling throughout the town in favour of them, some.individuals will be ready to to come forward like Mr. Strutt of Derby, and assist in giv ing to Liverpool an establishment so conducive to the health and to the recreation of the inhabitants. The SECRETARY read the minutes of the proceedings of several meetings of the committee upon the subject of parks, also their correspondence with Mr. Sandbach and with Mr. Slaney, M.P. Mr. FERGUSON said he had been requested to move the first resolution, which was to the effect that the members of this society, in common with the majority of the inhabitants of Liverpool, have long experienced the want of open spaces for parks, for the promotion of the health of the inhabitants. This was a question in which they, as tradesmen, were most deeply interested. No class of men required so much as they did public parks or open spaces, in which they might take exercise and recreation—in which they might breathe the fresh air, of which they were in a measure deprived whilst pursuing their occupations, especially as they lived in the midst of a dense population, surrounded by the most conta minating ingredients, and breathing the most unwholesome air. He would state, as a fact known to many, if not to all of them, that it had been proved that in Liverpool fewer tradesmen reached old age than in any other town in the kingdom. The coincidence was worth their notice, that in no other town in the kingdom, Manchester excepted, were the inhabitants so badly off for public walks as we were. We required them for our families and our children, and, might he not say, for our assistants anour serants? (Hear, hear.) For, did we not know that exercise v and recreation gave health and spirits, without which they could not per form their duties as they ought. But with regard to our selves, tradesmen had to encounter many difficulties in rearing their children. Many were obliged, at a very great expense, to send their children to live in the country, a step which they would have no occasion to take if we had public walks in the town, where they might play their favourite games. How many parents were obliged to keep their children within doors, rather than allow them to run in the streets? Where, indeed, could they send them ? Would they send them to the pier head ? Why, that was no place for them, Would they send them to the cemetery ? Why, that was no place for them. That was a place to make very suitable reflections upon death ; but no sensible man would send his children to romp about in a burying ground. In fact, in Liverpool, with a population approaching three hundred thousand souls, there was neither park, open space, nor public walk. He was anxious to'ealf attention to - irfew lants, - ahtl he ShOurcl - ShOw the meeting the difference—how much more advantage the persons residing in rural districts possessed over those living in towns. By comparing the bills of mortality with Dr. Cowan's statistics, Alison on population, and the parlia mentary reports, it appeared that the mortally of different kinds, in years when there was no epidemic, there died in the rural districts one out of 51, in small villages one in 45, in middling towns one in 31, in large towns, taking the average, one in - 28, which was nearly double the figures given in the rural districts. (Hear.) Now, as to the mortality amongst children, he was sorry to inform the meeting that the morta lity amongst children in Liverpool was truly frightful. Ac cording to the report of the registrar-general, published by authority of the parliament, it appeared that in Liverpool one half of all the children born died before they arrived at four years of age; from the age of 4 to 10 they died in the same proportion. This called, for serious consideration. (Hear.) Another thing frequently happened in tradesmen's families. He alluded to the practice, of servants taking their employers' children to the dwellings of their friends and ac quaintances. A servant was sent out by her mistress in charge of the infant, and as there were no public walks, she was directed to walk in the street. Here was the advantage of having public walks for servants ; they could sit down and rest themselves. There being none, however, they went to the dwelling of a friend, perhaps a cellar or some close room, in which rages a malignant fever, or the atmosphere is infected with disease. The consequence was that the child died ; father and mother mourned its loss ; and no one knew how disease had got into the house. He repeated that this was a frequent occurrence, and he had no doubt that there were gentlemen - present who could give facts similar to this. About ten days ago he met a young girl, about 14 years of age, suffering from disease, caught when she was an infant by being placed upon the bed of some diseased person in some cellar. It appeared, according to parliamentary re turns, that we had 40,000 persons in Liverpool living in 7,862 cellars. The number of close courts was 2,400, and there were living in them no fewer than 86,000 persons. The re port was very voluminous and exceedingly interesting, and he would request them to read it. They would be astonished, and well they might, to find so many of our fellow-country.. men living in the midst of want and in the midst of abomina tions too offensive to mention. They knew that the filthiest habits induced the filthiest vices. The fact was, that Liver pool was the most unhealthy town in the kingdom. I t h a d been proved to be so by the registrar-general's reports. Was it owing to climate? Certainly not. Was it owing to the situation of Liverpool ? No ! for it was admirably adapted for health as well as for commerce. It was from the want of sanatory regulations ; though, taking all these things into consideration, we must be thankful for being in such a healthy climate ; for storms and tempests which par ticularly purified the atmosphere, and preserved us from greater evils than at present exist. In these reports there were frequent allusions made to the vast expenses of sup porting dispensaries, hospitals, and infirmaries. We were now frequently called upon to contribute our funds towards the support of those institutions. But if we remove the cause of disease—if we improve the moral condition of the people, the necessity for supporting such institutions will cease. It would, however, be absurd to say that public parks or walks were the only remedy for existing evils. They were not. But he knew that the interests of all classes were inseparably joined, and a benefit conferred upon one was conferred upon all. It was a fact, that the longer they delayed the greater would be the difficulty. This ar gument applied to the purchase of land for this purpose ; therefore, it proved that at the present time, when there was a disposition on the part of the Town-council to assist them, they as tradesmen should come forward and assist that ob ject. After a few further observations, Mr. Ferguson con cluded by moving the first resolution. Mr. TURNER seconded the resolution. All the servants of tradesmen, he observed, were connected more or less with the poorer inhabitants of the town. Even their shop boys were children belonging to parents living in situations where they were liable to disease. Mr. Turner here mentioned two facts which confirmed this statement, and he urged that they showed the necessity that the society should interfere. They came into contact with their servants daily and hourly, whilst merchants, and other rich persons, came in contact with them in another way. This would show them how very liable they were to take contagious diseases, which, it had been proved, never left Liverpool for years. Mr. DODGSON said that in his opinion the society could not take up this matter, as he apprehended it was contrary to their rules to interfere except for the protection of trade. The SECRETARY referred to the rules, and found that Mr. Dodgson's objection did not apply. • The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried, only two hands being held up against it. Mr. JEFFREYS, in a very able address, in which he took a review of the whole question of the public parks, and their effects upon the health of the inhabitants, moved the second resolution, as follows :—" That this society is of opinion that the state of the great majority amongst the inhabitants of Liverpool, as compared with other large towns, is such as to awaken our :deepest sympathy, and excite serious appre hensions for the future." Mr. PRINGLE seconded the resolution in a very masterly speech. The resolution was then put and carried, there being only one dissentient. Mr. HASTINGS, vice-president of the society, moved the next resolution, which expressed the satisfaction with which the secretary had heard that a public park was now contem plated, and authorising an urgent memorial to be sent to the town council in favour of the same. Mr. URQUHART having seconded the motion, it was car ried The memorial to the town council was also adopted. After a few observations from Mr. Stout, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Jeffreys, the remaining resolutions were moved and seconded by Mr. Radley, Mr. Whitley, Mr. Hutton, and Mr. G. Walker, the meeting then separated. It is said to be in contemplation to create the province of New Brunswick into an independent episcopal see. — Globe (Ministerial paper.) - - LACONIC DISPATCH.-The following dispatch from Com modore Napier, announcing the taking of Sidon, almost ri vals the brevity and terseness of Cwsar's celebrated phrase —" Veni, vidi, vici."--Jt was written on a small scrap of paper, in the following words :—" Dear Sir, I have taken Sidon and 2,000 prisoners. lam very tired and very hun gry.—Yours, &c, C. Napier." CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.-15th October, 1815, Napoleon landed at St. Helena ; 15th October, 1840, his body was embarked for Europe, after a lapse of twenty-five years. CORRESPONDENCE, MEDICAL REFORM IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AT EXETER HALL (From our own Correspondent.) The subject of a reform in the administration of the various medical corporations throughout the kingdom, has for many years occupied the attention of the respectable portion of the profession. For the attainment of this object, together with an amendment of the laws—by the evasion or inefficiency of which the community has been inundated by a race of quacks, and the public health endangered by the administering of medicines by incompetent persons,—the British Medical As sociation was originally formed, about four years ago, and has since that period directed its labours. The parliamentary committee, which sat lately to investi gate this subject, has resulted in the preparation of two dif ferent bills—the one by its chairman, Mr. Warburton, and the other by Mr. Hawes—both of which are proposed to be introduced in the House of Commons during the approaching session. Neither of these measures, however, finds favour with the profession generally,—Mr. Warburton's being the most distasteful :—and on Wednesday the Council of the British Medical Association met at Exeter Hall to draw up the substance and, discuss the clauses of another bill, to be introduced by Mr. Wakley, which shall embrace fully the views of the great portion of the medical body and may be termed " the bill of the profession." As the meeting was, of course, from its nature, not open to the public, we cannot at present give a detailed statement of the proceedings. We may, however, venture to state what are the general features of the bill resolved upon ; and hope to be able, on an early occasion, to furnish our readers with an abstract of its provisions. The bill proposes, in the first place, to unite all the legally qualified members of the medical profession into one faculty or body, which shall consist of three divisions or colleges— one for England and Wales, to be situated in London, one for Scotland in Edinburgh, and one for Ireland in Dublin. These three bodies are there to be empowered to elect a council or senate to manage the business of the faculty in each division ; and a general council, composed of members chosen out of the three divisional councils, are to regulate the qualifications, admission into and government of the pro fession, subject to the approval of the Home Office and the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench. No future can didates are to be licensed to practise, unless, in addition to the examination prescribed by the present medical corpora tions, they have passed through an examination and had their qualifications tested by a board elected under regulations agreed to by the general senate ; the present regular practi tioners being recognised, however, as entitled to enjoy all the privileges of those to be creat-under the new system. The bill then proceeds to sep a entirely the practise of medicine from the business of a druggist. Apothecaries duly licensed may not dispense medicines or sell drugs, except prescribed by themselves, unless in rural districts ; and even then, by special permission from the senates. In considera tion of this sacrifice of emolument, by a portion of the medi cal profession, the druggist is forbidden to prescribe or advise in medical cases, under a penalty recoverable by summary process before two magistrates. To ensure that all persons practising the business of a_ druggist shall be possessed of competent information to fulfil his with due regard to the safety of the public, it is provided that all persons pro posing to exercise that calling shall undergo a suitable exa mination as to their knowledge of chemistry and pharmacy, before a board appointed by the general senate, and receive a license accordingly. Assistants to druggists must also be similarly tested as to their competency. To protect the public against imposition by the profession generally, a system of registration, to be renewed yearly, is provided ' • and that no person may as s ume a d en o m i n ation as a medical practitioner, to which he is not legally entitled, a power of conviction before one or more magistrates, and the punishment of imprisonment for each offence, is declared against parties found guilty of thus practising illegally. That a measure, of which this is a brief and necessarily an imperfect abstract, would, with some few modifications perhaps, be of infinite advantage to the profession, there can be no question. Besides, the public safety requires a mea sure of this description. We dare say that some of its pro visions will be distasteful to a few. The drug g i s t, w h o with a smattering of medical knowledge, undertakes to cure all ailments " which flesh is heir to ;" and who possesses his little circle of admirers in every village or in every street, will kick up his heels no doubt at this fancied invasion of his privileges. But in its general features the bill will be of in calculable value even to him. The medical practitioner and the compounder of medicines ought, in the nature of their respective professions, to be brethren. The one has no right to usurp the business of the other ; and if the man of drugs throws aside his little recipes and abates a little of his old world wisdom, the man of prescriptions will no doubt be in duced to lay by his mortar and put away his gailipots. The most important feature of the bill, however, is the protection which it is calculated to afford th e p u bli c ag ainst the present abounding quackery in the medical art. The number of lives sacrificed by the injudicious use of the nostrums of these kill or cure gentry is sufficiently appalling, if we take merely the evidence furnished by the various coroners' inquests through out the country ; but are these in reality one hundredth part of the victims who are yearly dying " slow deaths" under the mistaken treatment of these ignorant and wicked pretenders? We fear they are not. THE MERCURY AND THE PROTESTANT ALMANACK. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR, — May. I again crave a corner in your paper to thank the Editor of the Mercury also, for his kind notice of my Almanack, and to inform him that I alone am responsible for whatever has appeared in it, and that I could not have wished for a higher commendation of its usefulness, than to have it described' as a mischievous publication by our Mer curial friend. Let the Editor of the Mercury give all his valuable assistance and profound research to his papist friends, and I defy him to publish such an historical list of atrocious facts as those recorded against the papists. Nay, further, I defy him to find any case of martyrdom for con science sake of papists, by Protestants. I vrcrutdnooor den,- that Protestants have committed crimes, and crimes which the present generation would not attempt to justify. But I call upon the most bigotted Romanist in Liverpool to prove that the Protestants have ever committed a crime, even the slightest, which they have cast a medal to commemorate, as his present Holiness of Rome has done within the last 12 months. No, sir, it is time to look out, and to have in mind the back and the thumb screws, when the present Pope can recast a medal to commemorate so vile and bloody a mas sacre ; and when a papist barrister in our own town has, within the last few weeks, publicly advocated a legislative enactment to abridge the liberty of speech. lam not sur prised that the Editor of the Mercury cannot reconcile it to his conscience, how any honest man can keep alive the me mory of such events ; and the reason is so apparent that I need scarcely explain. I never held in high estimation a radical's notion of honesty ; but with what force must these remarks of the Mercury's recoil upon my brother bigot, his holiness the Pope, who has, as I have before stated, recast the medal in commemoration of the St. Bartholomew slaughter of Protestants, so lately as December last year : and on this subject our " esteemed contemporaries" maintain a dignified silence. I should just apologise to my friend of the Mercury for not adopting his kind suggestion respecting a conservative no-popery -tide-table ; but the fact is, the conservative tide-table, published by corporation authority on the Ist November, was so satisfactory in its results that I did not wish to interfere with it. Although the popish saints were not left out of the same, as suggested by our friend, most of the radical oracles have disappeared from the list ; and tills is so satisfactory that I am willing to wait patiently for other improvements. I beg to remain, sir, your obedient servant, _ JOSEPH CRISP. I sent to the Editor of the Mercury a copy of the Alma nack ; but as he had mislaid it, I am obliged to my friend Jessie for kindly attracting his notice to it. THE QUEEN v. QUAYLE TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIRS I understand the defendant's attorney is Mr. Har vey, and if so, it is somewhat surprising Mr. Quayle should continue to retain his seat, as Mr. Harvey so readily aban doned his, after the decision of the court in London ; but perhaps he still resists, for time's sake, as I am informed, that if through any circumstances the case is not heard at the nest March assizes, it is necessarily postponed until the August assizes, and then no final decision can be come to until the following November term, by which time be will have been in the council two years out of the three. The boast of purity and honour does not come well from the reformers, as we have already had two instances in Liver pool of their seats in the council being successfully disputed, while we have no instance of a conservative usurping the rights of others by taking possession of place belonging to another; and if ever a conservative election should be dis puted, I hope he will not be so indecent as to sit and vote in the council pendente lite. The coincidence between Mr. Quayle and that of Mr. Harvey is remarkable—both sit and vote in the council twelve months before their case is heard in the Queen's Bench— both take the Attorney-General for counsel—both raise technical objections, thereby trying to prevent the case being fairly heard. The objections of both are quickly over-ruled by the court. Both set up a defence which is no answer to the question in dispute. In both cases the court think it unnecessary to hear Sir William Follett in reply, and in both cases the court make the rule absolute ; but here the simi larity ends; for, in the one case Mr. Harvey very wisely gives up the dispute and retires from the council, but in the other Mr. Quayle very tenaciously holds his seat • but I almost think it is something like a pe rson , th roug h the aid of his attorney, postpouing a cause until the assizes, for the benefit of the time he thereby gains to pay the money, and most likely at the nearer approach of March we shall find Mr. Quayle crying out peccavi.—Yours, A LOOKER-ON [We hope our correspondent's concluding surmise tray be correct, but it will be something new to wring from a radical a confession of guilt, though he may be compelled practically to acknowledge his error.]—En. L. S. THE FLYING STATIONERS' NUISANCE TO THE ' EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SIR,-It has for some time been a matter of surprise to me that so many paper criers, or what some call " flying stationers," have been and are now allowed to infest the streets of Liverpool, and shout out for sale the most immoral songs and profligate lies with impunity. Only a few days past some of these idle and low vagabonds were crying papers describing a person who holds an official situation in this town as guilty of the most vile conduct ; and the day previous to the arrival of the steam-ship Presi dent the same parties were bawling out " The loss of that fine vessel with all hands on board," which, you may judge, was the cause of much pain and unhappiness to those who had friends or relatives on board that ship. One instance I know of a female who suffered so much from the shock that she is not yet recovered. The placards which they exhibited, too, about Mr. Hart and Mrs. Gordon were disgraceful ; and the improper language they made use of in recommending the sale of the particulars of that transaction was truly disgusting. It is high time a check should be put to such degrading and immoral proceedings ; by allowing these fellows to follow their calling the authorities are encouraging the very worst of characters, who are too lazy to work, and of countenancing the printer, who, I am given to understand, is the keeper of a shaving shop. Trusting these remarks will meet the eye of those who are in power, and have the means to order the nuisance to be corrected, I am, your obedient Servant, A. LOVER OF GOOD ORDER. Whitechapel, , -_...„.....i5p,..,.-..-. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD , beg leave to trouble you to insert in your paper of to-morrow, the full particulars and truth relating to my sudden dismissal from my s ituation, as Master of the " Liver" Buoy _tender f or neglect of duty, as stated by the public prints. I am not aware of any neglect of duty I have committed to cause my dismissal without ever having a hearing. On th e eve ning of November 28th, 1840, Mr. Lord requested me to call at his lodgings on the following morning at 7, a.m. • I turned out in the morning, about a quarter past six ; being then quite dark, I considered it better for me to go down to the dock to see how the weather was before I called upon him ; while I was there I heard the hutch clock strike seven; then I proceeded as fast as I could to Mr. Lord's lodgings, when I arrived there I found he was gone. I went immediately back to the cutter - by the time I got down they were hauling the vessel dock, when Mr. Lord told me that he had to get other men to do my duty. I answered him, that I never wanted any man to do my duty, for I was quite time enough down to haul the vessel to the Pier-head before high water, and have every thing ready in time for sea, for after we got to the Pier, we laid one hour and twenty minutes before sailing ; so I did not consider I had neglected my duty in any way, ex cept it was that of not being at Mr. Lord's house at the time, and that was not exactly my duty, for that is a mes senger's duty. The next thing named that I was incompe tent. That charge lat once deny, for I can bring forward testimonials of character and ability that will at once quash that. I have been in command of that tender for nearly two years, and have gone out and in this port at all hours of the night and in all sorts of weather, and she never received any damage whatever through any mismanagement or incompe tency, as they have stated, during the time I was in com mand of her. I have frequently, after they had employed steamers to take out buoys, been obliged to go after to - them in their proper places when the weather per which my logs will prove. I declare the above tc out of tted, of ...... statement, which led to my dismissal, without a minute notice. I have a large family to provide for, and I a anxious to vindicate my character By inserting the above in your paper you will much obl your humble servant, JOHN WILLIAMS Liverpool, Dec. 7, 1840. MR. SMITH AND THE BOROUGH MAGISTRATES TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVER) SlR,—Does it not appear somewhat surprising, that the same magistrates who were so significantly dumb when charged by Mr. Bushell with subscribing funds which were devoted to carry out the illegal objects of an illegal society, should be so extremely sensitive, when, in the report of an electioneering speech, they are mildly rebuked for conduct of which the public still entertain their own opinion, notwith standing that the parties have been so honourably self acquitted.—Yours, &c. CENSOR pec._9lh,lB4o [Such conduct would appear surprising from those whose principles were unknown to us, but there is an inseparable connection between whiggism and inconsistency.]—En. L. S. Among the melancholy results of the late banking fan was the case of two young people about to be married, w respective parents had each agreed to advance £5OO their children up in business, but not having quite done i arc now prevented fora while, or perhaps altogether, fulfillin, such a very agreeable duty, for one kept cash at Wright's and the other at Hammersley's. THE WEATHER IN IRELAND—THE STORM.—On Sun day night we were visited by a most terrific storm. The wind in the early part of the evening began to blow from the south with considerable force. Towards midnight it became tre mendously violent —amounting to a hurricane. It continued in this state the whole night, blowing off the slates from the different houses in the neighbourhood of our office. The rain began to fall yesterday about twelve o'clock, and shortly after the gale subsided. We have not heard of any houses having fallen, or the loss of life or property as yet; but it is very much to be dreaded that some melancholy accidents must have happened at sea. We hope and trust our fears are groundless.—Limerick Reporter. The oldest existing version of the Old and New Testament is in the Vatican, written in the fourth or fifth century, and published in 1587. The next in age is in the Alexandrian MSS. in the British Museum, presented to Charles I. by the Greek patriarch, and said to be copied by Thecla, an Egyp tian lady of the fourth century. The New Testament part was published in 1786. ROYAL SELF -POSSESSION.—Daring the first interview that Prince Albert had with the Queen, immediately after her Majesty's accouchement, his Royal Highness, with great delicacy of feeling, expressed a fear lest the nation might ex perience some disappointment when it should become known that the royal infant was not a prince. Her Majesty, not withstanding the necessary exhaustion under which she must have laboured, replied with great naivete, " Never mind, Albert; the next shall be a boy!"—Morning Post. We are glad to hear, that Messrs. H. and J. Johnston and . Co., who lately suspended payments, have issued a circular to their creditors, stating that they will be prepared, on Saturday next, to pay a second instalment of 10s. in the pound, and thus liquidate in full all outstanding claims against them. Afterwards the firm will continue their business upon the old footing. The business of Wright and Co., the bank ers, has been taken up by the London Joint-stock Bank, and it will he conducted by two of the partners in Wright's house, Messrs. Jerningham and Robinson, as joint managers, on the old premises in Henrietta-street. All the other rumours of an unpleasant nature have died away again. —Globe. The eminent house of Fox and Co., wire -drawers, of Bir mingham, stopped payment on Wednesday. Their liabilities are said to exceed £130,000 ; but it is hoped eventually there will be 20s. in the pound for all the creditors. By this un looked-for event upwards of five hundred pair of hands will be thrown out of employment in Birmingham alone, besides a great number in Wales.— Worcester Herald. The Globe of last night contradicts the " rumour" of a fatal accident which it was the first to disseminate, in the following terms :—" We are glad to learn that there is no truth in the statement of a fatal accident having occurred on the Birmingham and Gloucester Railroad, and that the authority on which it was rumoured was not the guard of one of the Cheltenham coaches. We cannot too strongly deprecate the propagation of these rumours, at a time when the public mind is so sensitive on the subject of railway ac cidents." The "sensitiveness" of the Globe is extremely praiseworthy.—Morning Herald. REPORTED TREATY WITH SPAIN. have published, perhaps not with the best intention, British Government is about to conclude a corn treaty with Spain. Though the report is in no way off nor can it be inferred that any disadvanta s .. try would follow the execution of such a compact, SL.—, cordance with truth, we are authorised to declare that r question of the kind is under consideration between t+ governments, nor would the regency ent stipulations with any country whatove, the constitutional Mentalities, and employing which might secure a result useful for the interests of Sp, and conformable to public opinion —the only course vc+ a law can become a reality.-111adrid Gazette. —Some periodic to either cou gency enter into cot NOTTINGIIAM MORE ATTEMPTED POISONING AT Wednesday evening, a stocking-maker, named Samuel Erg land, aged 41, living in what is called Rose's-barracks, in Maiden-lane, returned home after his work, and found that his wife had gone out, leaving the key with a neighbour ; he warmed for his supper some mutton broth that had been left from dinner, and soon after eating it he felt a burning pain at his stomach ; he drank some hot water, and • good deal, and on looking in the basin he saw a semment that looked whitish and felt gritty. His neighbours fetched medical aid from the dispensary, and it was ascertained that a quantity of arsenic had been mixed with the broth. For some time he was considered to be in extreme danger ; the wife did not return home that night, but came back the next forenoon, and was soon afterwards given into custody. She had frequently before remained out all night, and she is seve ral years younger than the husband. On exami— considerable quantity of arsenic was found in the sauce in which the broth had been warmed.—Chesterfie' - Derbyshire Courier. vomited a WILL OF THE LATE JAMES WOOD, ESQ.—A dec. this most important and protracted case may now be reas ably expected in the course, perhaps, of a fortnight, as t, appeal on the part of the executors against the decision the Prerogative Court must, in a few days, come before th Privy Council. Should the executors succeed in reversin Sir Herbert Jenner's judgment, they will then become th joint possessors of Mr. Wood's great wealth under the will the validity of which they are now attempting to establish The executors are, Sir Matthew Wood, Bart., Mr. John Surman, Mr. Jacob Osborne, and the representatives of th late Mr. John Chadborn. Should the decision be adverse t these parties, the next of kin, Mrs. Goodlake and Mr. Hit chins, will probably inherit it. There is still another ques tion—namely, the validity of the codicil, so mysterious' brought to light. Could that document be substantiated this city would be benefited to a most important extent, an several individuals, relatives and acquaintances of deceaseC would acquire large legacies.—Gloucester Journal. sum iii Some foolish Scotch chartists have actually started an a: tation for the insane project of a repeal of the Scottish Unio This is more visionary than even the wretched O'Conuel mad scheme. We suppose we shall hear by and by of t Welsh people demanding a repeal of their union. and nv as example is contagious, the chartists of the no r th an d of England, requiring the division of the country into rate states, as in the days of the Saxon Heptarchy. ERROR IN BOILING EGGS.—A. lady, having for mornings had reason to complain of the state in w eggs were boiled to breakfast, had more than one the servant to be more careful, and to boil th glass. One morning, when there was every • lieve that this had been neglected, the sere- to receive a scolding for her negligence. not boiled with the glass, Mary ?" "So they we. but the glass fl ew a ' to p i eces w h enever t h e pan cam ' a . said the poor girl, who had too literally obeyed btr L tress's instructions.—Dundee Constitutional. BIVOUAC IN THE DESERT.—Assuredly ours was a v it was called in bivouac. In every direction the watch-fires shot their vivid gleames athwart the dark figures that flitted ever and anon between the eye and them. Groups of Turkish and Egyr tian soldiers, mingled with the Bedouins clad in the flow: garb and turbans of their tribe, formed rings around various fires ; at most of which some one was busy in recd' ing his various exploits during the day, whils. eyes and animated gestures rendered him the much interest to us as to his auditors. sharp sound of a rifle was heard from the distant fired, perhaps, in the drunken wantonness of victory skulking fugitive ; whilst at times, high above the of the war-steeds and the tumult of an extensive E went, rose the " Ullah-ullah-hee!" or wail of the t nate captives, shrill and clear, like the " keen" of ;1 funeral in the mountains, and anon dying on the night that floated the ill-omened sound off, far into the deset by one these sounds were stilled, and a solitary sentry paced by each fire. The wail of the captives had sub the steeds no longer neighed ; and all was at last bus the profound of night's silent bosom.—From Fraser' tine for December. OccasiC LEADING ARTICLE.—We remember hearing Lord Lynd hurst state at a public dinner that it was only those tried to write leading articles who knew the difficult ducing any that would be read. Lord Lyndhurst most every other prominent public man, has doubt ventured in this field ; and if his great talen path, who can travel itwithout sometimes halting cording to the general opinion, nothing is easier ti off, currente calamo, a newspaper article or a pot Those who think this. have either never tried it, o of pro- blindly partial to their own bantlings. Every ouen the story of that American gentleman who conceived that, in his then present circumstances, the plan of a popular preacher was the best that he could ad careers arc more inviting, and our friend from t built himself a log conventicle, and reared in the a very lofty and respectable pulpit. The day of rived, and his new building was crowded. more successful. He climbed his pulpit, and first time, it suggested itself to him that it was p, man not to be quite au fait at an exte m p oraneot. He kept his congregation i n anxious suspense fol long minute. He cleared his throat, and got three ti the middle of an opening sentence ; but finding the € prise was desperate, he at last addressed hit ditors thus :---" If any one of y ou d own ther the easiest thing in the world to preach, let him just co here and try." So say we as to the less grave task of p cal instruction. But the newspaper writer is worse off this gentleman was, for he had a multitude of texts open him; and the vices of mankind afforded him an infinite va riety of subjects for instructive exhortation. He was not compelled to be ne w , or smart , or e l o quent; lie was not obliged to interest or excite. His auditors were before him, and they were bound to listen. Not so the unhappy pur bveeyoervetor t e h m e a p r zbli w e it a ty p r ptuitnegfeon, arzumentative, interesting, and, pabulum. He mu s t and, alas! his subjects also must be ever new. If any one thinks this easy, let him see the listless contempt with which papers are just now taken up, glanced at for a moment, and thrown down upon the table. If anyone thinks it a common capacity, let him look at the dulness of some papers, even when topics are frequent, and let him mark the uninterest ing dreariness of even the best of our journals at this dull pe riod of the year.—Atlas Nothing cou thinks that it's