The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-10-27 00:00:00

Oct. 2 1 7, 1846. aw o rat anb tarobinrial Rtlus. The Birkenhead, steam-frigate, is reported to be ready at Sheerness for commission in three weeks. THE WIGAN CHIMNEY.--A chimney has lately been erected by a chemist at Wigan, which is 420 feet high and contains 3,000,000 bricks. - 0i; Wednesday, two publicans were fined by Mr. Rush ton 40s. each, for refusing to receive soldiers provided -with billets into their houses. We are glad to learn that a number of gentlemen of this town, have organised .themselves into a provisional committee to form an Anti-Tea-Tax League. The potato disease has caused an immense increase in the demand for milk, owing to the extensive use of rice, meal, &c. Many farmers along the railways about here have abandoned cheesemaking. Mr. Potter, Chairman of the Manchester Reform As socialion has resigned the Presidency, on the ground that he cannot concur in the nomination of Mr. Bright as M.P., for the borough. At the Lancaster quarter sessions, yesterday week, William Sharp, Esq., of Linden Hall, and James Garth Marshall, Esq., of Conisto❑ Water Head, qualified as magistrates for the county. CURIOUS FACT.—During the nights of Saturday and Sunday, sixteen prisoners were lodged in the Birkenhead Bridewell, out of which number there were no less than _ _ fifteen Irishmen. Samuel Woodhouse, Esq., of Liverpool, and Norley hall, Cheshire, at bis last rent day, returned all his Cheshire tenantry ten per cent. upon their resptctive rents, in consequence of the potato blight. At a meeting of the Manchester Town Council, on Wednesday, a memorial to government, praying for the immediate opening of the ports, was carried by a large majority. Mr. Reynolds, insolvent commissioner, will pay his autumnal visit to Lancaster on Nov. 11, Liverpool Nov. Weishpool Nov. 21, Carnarvon Nov. 26, Beaumaris Nov. 27, Ruthin Nov. 30, Mold Dec. 1, Chester Dec. 2. On Wednesday afternoon, a house in Pembroke-place, corner of Pembroke-street, fell with a tremendous crash. It belonged to Mr. Booth. No life was lost, the workmen engaged in converting it into three shops being at dinner. CANADIAN FLOUR.—A vessel, named the Belinda, arrived at the port of Liverpool from Quebec, has brought, in addition to a quantity of wood goods, the large number of 9540 barrels of flour, of Canadian produce. A society is being formed in this town on the model of the London Conversation Club, having for its object the bringing together, at stated times, all professional men ; artists, literateurs, &c. to converse freely on the matters studied by them. On Monday, at Knutsford sessions, siv'een gentlemen qualified as magistrates for the county of Chester. Among them were John Somerville Jackson, Esq., John Laird, Esq., of Birkenhead ; and Swann, Esq., of Back ford, in the hundred of Wirral. Mr. R. B. Bate, agent for the admiralty charts says, that " the admiralty has never published any charts whatever of Murray Firth. The chart used by Capt. Hoskens was a Liverpool publication, and though sold by my agent at Liverpool, has no authority on that accouno At the meeting of the Liverpool Literary and Philoso phical Society, last week, Mr. J. B. Yates resigned the presidents iip, and Dr. Booth was elected in his stead. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Yates for his long and valuable services: _ _ _ Messrs. Evans, Son and Co. of this town, have written a letter to a contemporary in which they state that " rough Epsom Salts, in a strong solution are an absolute preventative to the future progress of the disease in po tatoes, saving even those which are taken up with the surface quite rotten and offensive." BREAD STUFFS.—In the Sheridan, from New York, which arrived on Monday, there are : 1678 barrels flour, 335 barrels Indian corn meal, 10,400 bushels Indian corn, 9000 bushels wheat : and in the Wyoming, from Philadel phia, arrived some time, 1000 barrels flour, 563 barrels corn meal, 14,700 bushels Indian corn, 6400 bush. wheat. A MAN DROWNED.—On Tuesday, a man unknown jumped into the lock of the Prince's Dock. A grapnel was thrown to him, but he refused to take hold of it. A man afterwards jumped in to his assistance, but he re fused his aid, and sunk. He was taken out in about ten minutes, an i every effort was made to restore animation, but without effect. DEATH FROM A SCALD.—On Tuesday week, Daniel O'Neill, who is in the employ of Messrs. lime and Son, music-sellers, Church-street, was boiling some oil in a field in Myrtle-street ; on taking the pot off the fire he upset it, and the contents went over his face and body, scalding him severely. He was taken to the Infirmary, where he died on Tuesday. A statue of Shakespere for the Theatre Royal, Man chester, has arrived in that town. It has been chiselled from one immense and apparently very pure and perfect specimen of the white statuary marble at Carrara. It is a Copy of the celebrated statue of the poet in Westminster Abbey, which represents him as standing by the side of a round pillar or pedestal, on which his right arm rests. CHEAP SUGAR.—On the application of Messrs. Chris tian and Wilkinson, Commission Agents, Liverpool, through Dr. Brrwring M. P:, the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury have been pleased to permit the importation of slave grown sugar into this island, and at the same duty as free labour sugar, viz., ls. per cwt. — Manx Liberal. KAFFIRS IN LIVERPOOL.—A party of five Kaffirs, consisting of two males, two females, and an infant. born during the voyage to this country, arrived in the Mersey on Monday, in the ship Fanny, from the Cape of Good Hope. The position of affairs on the Cape frontier at this moment lends a considerable degree of interest to this arrival. SUGAR REFINERIES.—A large plot of land has been bought by Messrs. Fairie and Co., Greenock, on the Ca nal-bank, near Bury's foundry, and also a quantity of land near the Birkenhead Docks, by a joint stock company, to be under the superintendence of Mr. Behn, sugar-boiler in the late concern of Messrs. Brancker and Co. Messrs. Macfie and Sons' house is to be built fire-proof also. A commission from the Court of Chancery for the exa mination of witnesses in connexion with Lady Hewley's charity sat last week at the Adelphi Hotel. The suit, since its original institution, has changed its character. It is not an affair in which the Unitarian body is interested. The Kirk of Scotland and the Secession Church of that kingdorn,.have each asserted a right to the estates in question. On Thursday, the election of cn honorary surgeon to the Northern Hospital, took place at the Clarendon rooms. Thomas A. Ashcroft, Esq., M.D., physician to the Eastern Dispensary, was elected honorary physician. We congratulate Thomas Ashcroft on his appointment. A better selection could not have been made. Fcr the office of surgeon a poll took place, which resulted as follows :—Mr. Ellis Jones, 230 ; Mr. Chalmers, 190 ; Mr. Higginson, 102; and Mr. &amen, 45. DREADFUL SHIPPING DISASTER.--On Tuesday, the ship Wyoming, Captain Miercken, arrived in the Mersey from Philadelphia, with loss of maintopmast and a num ber of her crew. It appears that she encountered a dread ful., stor m i n t h e Atl a ntic, and that during the time 20 of the hands were on the yards, a heavy sea struck the ship, and knocked five of them overboard. No efforts could be Made to save them, and they were drowned. Three others were very seriously injured in the legs and various parts of the body. WATER.—The Council have decided on abandoning the Bala Lake water scheme, in consequence of being too late for next session. They have determined to adopt Mr. Hawkesley's plan, which is this :—ln the high lands above Norwich, at Rivington Pike, a few miles from Bol ton, there are half a dozen brooks—no rivers,—and these brooks he proposes to conduct into a valley, im pound the water, and form an artificial lake, the con tents of which are to be augmented, of course, by the drainage, when it rains, from the high lands around. From this pond a covered canal is to bring the water within twenty miles of Liverpool, and it is to flow along these twenty miles in a single pipe, of four feet diameter. The quantity is estimated at 10,000,000 gallons per day. MANCHESTER JUVENILE REFUGE AND SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY.—OnThursday,a meeting was held in the Town hall, Manchester, for the t urpose of promoting this insti tution, and was attended by the archbishop of Dublin and several distinguished visitors to the soirie. The chair was taken by W. B. Watkins, Esq., mayor, who opened the Proceedings briefly, and called on Dr. Whately to move the first resolution, which the most rev. prelate did in a feeling address. The resolution merely approved of the objects of the institution, which was to provide an asylum for the children of the destitute poor, in which they would be taught the principles of morality and industry. The Bev. Hugh Stowell seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Several other resolutions were adopted, and the meeting was addressed by Edwin Chad wick, Esq., the Rev. Canon Clifton, William Chambers, Esq., and several other gentlemen. MELANCHOLY DEATH.—On Friday, an inquiry be fore the Borough Coroner took place, touching the death of James latlock, formerly a saddler in this town, but lately in destitute circumstances. It was stated that on Saturday afternoon the deceased was found by one of the p o lice -officers, at the upper end of the town, in a very distressed state, trying to get to the Infirmary, for which he had an order. When taken there the surgeon recom mended him to be taken to the workhouse; but on being conducted thither, the governor re used him admission without an order from the Pari,h-office, and stating that the disease under which the deceased laboured was more fitted for the Lockups, and the workhouse being quite full, he did not like to exercise any discretionary power. lie died on Monday morning. The jury brought in a verdict of delirium tremens, brought on by excessive INSURANCE ON THE GREAT BRITAIN.—A private meeting of some of the proprietors of the Great Western Steam-ship Company was held in Bristol, on Monday week, for the purpose of taking into consideration the course adopted by the directors of the company in not in suring the vessel. It appears that at a late meeting of the _company at their offices, in Princess-street , and before the Great Britain left Liverpool, a question was put to the chairman as to whether the ship was fully insured or not. The chairman, in reply, stated it was not, beyond the sum of £lB,OOO, to secure Mr. Mi,es's mortgage to that amount on th e vesse l, as t h ere was some difficulty or differenc e as to effecting the insurance. One of the pro prietors then observed, that if the insurance should not be effected before th e s hi p s t arte d f rom A mer ica, the pro prietors ought to be infor me d o f it, that each, :by a sepa rate insurance, mieht secure himself to the extent of his share from loss. The chairman concurred at once in the propriety of this course, and said that a minute should be made to that e ff ec t, an d th e proprietors furnished with the necessary information in good time. They received no intimation, however ; and the vessel, at the time she got aground, was only insured to the extent we have stated, £lB,OOO. Under these circumstances, some of the pro prietors conceive that they may hold th e : c h a i rman or di rectors responsibl e for their loss ; and we have heard that lr high legal opi n i on is about to procured on th e po i n t. On the merit s o f the case we prtehseum generaleto d but we believe we are pretty accurateonot in Ipent.—Bria of Jot.srnat, Tux GREAT BRITAIN.—SomeI hopes are still enter tained of the Great Britain being extricated from her perilous position. It is stated that, at a board meeting held at Bristol, on Tuesday last, the directors accepted a proposal from a scientific party to raise and float her ; that this party considers the leviathan steamer to be much less strained, and not near so deep in the sand, as is com monly supposed, and that she could scarcely be in a more favourable situation for being floated off, provided ade quate means and appliances be promptly and skilfully used. The operator left Bristol for Dundrum that same day. LICENSED VICTUALLERS PROTECTION SOCIETY.— On Wednesday the annual public meeting of the mem bers of this society . was held in the large room of Mr. Whiteman's Brunswick Hotel, Hanover-street. The chair was taken by Mr. Timothy Parkinson, who recom mended that an amalgamation should take place between this society and the Licensed Vicuallers' Society. Up on the motion of Mr. Luff, the two societies were amal gamated, and the members of the Protection Soeiety were strongly recommended to continue their subscriptions as before. _ _ SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL.—On Friday, a meeting of the trustees of this hospital was heed in the Clarendon Rooms. Jos. B. - Yates, Esq., occupied the chair. Mr. Yates explained that the object of the meeting was to consider the present state of the hospital, and the propriety of increasing the present accommodation. The new docks that are about to be made at the south end of the town would render this step imperatively necessary. To be enabled to do it, however, the committee must have funds. The regular annual expenses of the hospital were not less than £l6OO, to meet which the committee received per annum in subscriptions £1000; for the remaining £6OO they were dependent on contingent con tributions. The committee applied to Mr. Arthur Holme, the architect, and be estimated the cost at £l9OO. The funds which the committee had amounted only to £4OO. After a lengthened conversation, a resolution was unani mously agreed to, to appeal to the public for the means of relieving the charity from debt, and that the intention of extending the building be deferred till spring. WORKING SHORT TIME. — We regret, we have this week to extend our notice of the master spinners' deter mination to work t!teir mills short time, in consequence of the two-fold difficulties tLey have to encounter in the greatly enhanced price of cotton, and the diminished de mand for their goods. The following mills in this town and neighbourhood are already working short time, viz., Mr. John Cooper's (three mills) ; Mr. W. Eccles, Bom ber Bridge, (two) and the respective establishments of Mr. George Smith, Messrs. Spencer and Barton, and Mr. James Sleddon. Some of these work four full days per week, lighting up each night. and others run six days, but from light to dark only, which amounts to the same thing. Notice has also been given of the change at the following mills, viz., Mr. John Paleys, jun. ' • Mr. Postle thwaite's, Messrs. Gardner and Naylor's; Mr. Thomas Clayton's and Mr. W. Evans'. These commence, we believe, to-morrow or on Monday. Several other esta blishments are expected to resort to the short time expe dient next week. One weaving shop (Mr. Ralph Wor den's) has likewise been placed . upon short time.— Preston Guardian. _ _ _ DESPERATE OUTRAGE.—On Friday, at noonday, near the highroad between Knutsford and Northwich, as Mr. M`Gill, a tea-dealer, of Manchester, was passing Water less-brook, near the house of Mr. John Foster, at Tabley, he was met by a man who formerly travelled for him, who, having saluted and passed him, turned round, and fired a pistol at his head. Fortunately the ball did not precisely hit the mark aimed at, but struck Mr. M'Gill at the back of his neck, and immediately brought him motionless, but not senseless, to the ground. Ihe wretch hastily rifled his intended victim, robbing him of upwards of £BO, and leaving him for dead, immediately hastened to Northwich, where he made his appearance in the pub lic streets, and to many persons who knew him, in two hours after the commission of the crime. Mr. when found in the road, was able to give full particulars of the transaction, and to describe the assassin, whom lie well knew, and who, being well acquainted with the habits, route, and business transactions of his former employer, had no doubt premeditated the act. The assassin was taken into custody in the public room of the Crown Hotel, Northwich, in the presence of a large company. He denied the charge. Mr. M'Gill's friends removed him to his house hi Manchester. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday last a dreadful oc currence took place at Weston, in the quarry of John Tomkinson, Esq., of this town, the celebrated contrac tor. A number of men were engaged in cutting under a portion of rock, which suddenly fell, bringing with it the seam, or " back," that is the stratum intervening between the two strata of solid rock, and a portion of the adjacent upper surface, burying 6 individuals. The mass that fell might weigh 5 tons. The last brought out had died from suffocation, hut no injury was observed except a fracture of the cheek bone. An inquest was held on Thursday. It appeared that the men bad been instructed to fix an other beam against the breast to support it, but this they had somehow neglected. The verdict was, " Accidentally killed," with a recommendation that Mr. Tomkinson should adopt all practicable securities for the preservation of human life hereafter. The coroner said he knew Mr. Tomkinson had given such directions. Some dissatisfac tion has, however, been expressed at the fact that the foreman of the quarry, Mr. J. Shaw, was alfo made foreman of the jury, on which there were others of Mr. Tomkinson's men. The following were the other suf ferers and the extent of their injuries :—William Roden, a compound fracture of the leg, which, it is feared, will require amputation; George Hampton, fractured leg, but not very severely • William Parker, several severe contu sions on the shoulders and back ; James Norman, con tused wounds of the leg and back ; Fletcher Gay ter, fracture of the hip bone. Mr. Pye, surgeon, gave most assiduous gratuitous attention to the sufferers. CAPTURE EXTRAORDINARY.—On Monday week in formation was received by the Brighton police that two men who had absconded from Liverpool, and were charged wi'h fraud, had arrived at Brighton, and were about to sail by the Fame packet for Dieppe; but the police having no certain information of the men, and no particulars of the charge, suffered them to depart by the.steamer, which left the harbour on Tuesday morning. The packet had got half way over, and the men, no doubt, congratulated themselves on having effected their escape, when some accident occurred to the machinery. and the weather being boisterous, the captain determined on returning to England. On learning this fact, Mr. Chase, the chief officer of the polio., directed Superintendent White to pro ceed to Kingstown, and watch the men as they came ashore, so as to know where to find them if necessary. White proceeded to Kingstown accordingly, and about three o deck the packet came into the harbour. The passengers were forwarded to Brighton by an omnibus, and White, who was in plain clothes, placed himself in the vehicle near the two men in question, and came with them to Brighton. On the way he took occasion to recommend them to a public-house, and on their arrival here kindly showed them to the Jolly Fisherman. On Wednesday, Mr. Searle, of the firm of Reeve and Searle, solicitors, of Liverpool, accompanied by an officer, arrived with a warrant signed by Mr. Commissioner Perry, of the Bankruptcy Court, for the apprehension of James Maw and William Chapman, the names of the parties in question. White accompanied his brother officer to the Jolly Fisherman, and there found the two men, who were forthwith lodged in the Town-hall tor the night, and on Thursday White proceeded with them to Liverpool.— Brighton Guardian. SINGULAR CHARGE ow BIGAMY.—Mr. Wm. Witt, described as a surgeon dentist, was, on Friday week, at the Guildhall, charged with bavivig committed bigamy. It appeared that the prisoner married, in the year 1828, a female named Emma Matilday Murphy, with whom he lived about two years. He then got into difficulties, and into the Fleet. During his incarceration his wife, with whom it is said he had not lived on the best of terms, eloped with a gentleman named Earle, to America, since which time the prisoner and his wife had not seen each other. In June, 1841, he married another person, Miss Eliza Ann Hill, with whom he had £500; but, in conse quence of his ill treatment, she also left him, in about five months afterwards. Mr. Earle having lately visited this country on business, it came to the knowledge of the second wife's family that Witt's first wife was still alive, although he had represented her as dead, and hence the attempt at prosecution. After bearing the statement of Mr. Earle, who was subpcened on the occasion, the magistrates decided that they could not send the prisoner to trial upon such unsatisfactory evidence as that of the first wife's paramour. A local contemporary publishes the fol!owing particulars respecting this gentleman :—" Mr. Earle's life is romantic, and one chapter of it relates to Liverpool. Some two months since he arrived here in a packet-ship from New York, and, although not encum bered with superfluous luggage, he patronised Mr. Lynn, at the Waterloo. He had all the ease and elegant appe tite of an accomplished gentleman. and the cook was de lighted in having in the hotel so admirable a critic of the productions of his cuisine. He drank no wine but claret, save and except a pint bottle of champagne during the process of mastigatinn, and his habits were exceedingly regular. Like the Irish Dragoon of Washitigt in Irving, he gave the house a world of trouble, but every body was delighted with him. He talked so pleasantly, and pro mised so liberally, that the waiters were delighted to obey his orders. To us he described himself as being the agent of a great American land company ; the lessee of two theatres; the proprietor of one newspa per in New York, and the editor of another. His means were amf)le, and no one asked him for money. To the Mayor, on his arrival, he applied respecting the police, and he invited half the Town Council, from time to time, to dine with him ; almost every day a guest or two honoured him to dinner, and the resources of the Waterloo were sufficient to satisfy them all. Among other projects which brought him to England, was to ne gotiate with the Londonassurance-office to open an office in America, and, in the way of business, he appointed an advertising agent in the Goree. In his moments of lei sure he sauntered up and down Bold-street, and got quite familiar with several shopkeepers. To them he repre sented himself as a man of fortune ; and, by way of en couragement, be gave an order to one for a £l5O worth of ladies' stays, and from another he ordered a twenty gui nea shawl. He received them, but did not pay for them ! In due time, he announced his intention of departing, took his berth in the Halifax boat, and ordered his bill. He expressed his astonishment at the moderation of the charges, put the bill in his pocket, walked out, and did not return that day nor the next. He will no doubt re turn—for he is an honourable man—pay the bill fOr the stays, and for the shawl!" HOLLOWAY'S Pmts.—Coughs colds, asthtnas, and shortness of breath rad i c all y cured.—For some time past it has been known that hundreds of the most distressing cases of asthmas, of many years' standing, have been completely cured by Holloway's Pills. There is also no doubt but that they are a sovereign remedy when taken for any wheezing or shortness of breath, even of twenty years' standing ; and as to coughs and colds, however bad they be it need only be the work of a few da y s to get en tirely rid of them by tin paeans of this astonishing., me dicine. THE EIWERPOOL STANDARD. HEROIC Corrnucr--On Thursday the weather was exceedingly boisterous the whole day, but the evening set in with a tremendous gale from the north-west.. The river was much rougher than had been known for several years ; and indeed the waves ran so high that the Wood side ferry-boats could only ply between George's Pier and the Cheshire shore hourly, instead of half-hourly. The Birkenhead boats, however, whether from a better cinstruction, or from a greater skill of tbeir crews, or probably from the courage inspired by a spirit of compe tition against their rivals of Woodside, maintained, during the whole evening, their usual half-hourly communica tion with Liverpool. William Kane, one of the hands of the half-past eight Birkenhead boat, jumped into the river after a butcher of Birkenhead, named Goodall, and fastened a rope round him, by which he was hauled out. Kane has previously saved eight lives under similar cir cumstances. AN INCOMPETENT STEWARD. —On Wednesday Captain John Jennings, of the Swithamley, now lying in the Albert Dock, was summoned before Mr. Rushton, by William Hughes, for £lO 25., the balance of wages alleged to be due. The complainant stated that he had shipped as steward at Calcutta, on the 28th of May, at £4 a month; but was thrown off duty on the 30th, and appointed as cook's mate, at only £2 a month. The cap ta in stated that the complainant was found totally inca pable of discharging the duties of steward, and had caused him much annoyance in consequence. He had intended to return him to Calcutta with the pilot when he left, but be kept out of the way, and the pilot refused to take him. The complainant, in reply, said the inca pacity arose from sickness, and alleged various acts of cruelty against the captain. Of fitty-one passengers twenty-five died on the voyage. The mate strongly confirmed the captain's statement. Mr. 1? ushton said, if he bad been in the place of the captain, he would not have paid him any balance at all, and dismissed the com plaint. WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—On Tuesday, a letter was read from Mr. Austin, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, stating that he would attend the board on the 27th, for the purpose of conferring on the long-pending question of an increase of the number of guardians for certain of the townships of the union. A conversation took place upon the new act " to amend the laws relating to the removal of the poor," the general disposition being to treat the act as a dead letter, until explained and defined by some competent legal authority. An instructional letter was received from the Poor Law Commissioners, appri , ing the guardians of the duties devolving on them by the 9th and 10th Victoria, c. 96, for the removal of unwholesome filth and nuisances from the habitations of the people in their several localities. The medical officer of Toxteth- park reported that fever in general is now assuming a much more mitigated form. The medical officer of the temporary fever hospital in Smithdown-lane reported that he expected soon to be able to remove the whole of the patients. He also called the attention of the board to the fact that most of the patients came from Albert-street, Toxteth-park, and expressed an opinion that such quarter of the town ought to be visited. INQuesTs.—On Tuesday, three inquests were held be fore the borough coroner. The first was on Thomas Spencer, 39 years of age, who accidentally fell off the plank of a vessel, and was drowned in the Trafalgar Dock. The second was on William Dale, who whilst lifting a plate of iron, about 15 cwt, at Mr. Horsfall's forge, in Tox teth-park, had his leg broken by the falling of the plate upon it. The third was on a new-born female child, who was found floating in a pit at Kirkdale. On Saturday. two inquests were held, the first on Michael Conley, aged 70 years. On Thursday evening, a labourer named Mur ray went down to the new North Docks, where he was engaged to work, and on going down to the shore outside the wall, he found the body of the deceased lying on the bank. He informed a police-officer, and the body was taken to the dead-house. A married female, named Fagan, recognized the body as that of her father. He had been missing for a fortnight. —On view of the body of Robert Blair, aged 21, a seaman on board the schooner Grimaldi. The mate stated in his evidence, that on Thursday forenoon, when the vessel was off Point Lynes, on her way to Glasgow, she shipped a sei, which nearly washed him overboard, and sent the boat which was over the hatchway against the rails. On recovering himself be found deceastd clinging to the rigging. but could not say that the boat was touching him. He (deceased) gave a loud cry, and put his hand to the side, but was unable to move himself. He was taken be low, and afterwards into the cabin. The vessel returned to this port, but before she came to anchor, deceased died. Witness thought deceased must have been jammed between the rails by the boat when it was washed out of its place. DOCK COMMITTEE, TIIURSDAY.—A conversation, as to the storing of saltpetre at the new Albert Docks, took place. during which it was mentioned that room had been provided at the north end of the dock for the purpose, a portion of that part being separated by a brick wall from any connexion with the other parts of the building. --A letter was read from Messrs. Cuthbert and Grindley, com plaining of having been overcharged the sum of £25 10s. Gd. It stated that the ship Lena, from Singapore, belonging to them, had entered the Albert Dock for the purpos e o f un loading with an understanding that 9d. per ton, registered measurement, was to be charged. In addition, however, the above sum was demanded. A discussion ensued, and it was stated that the vessel was laden with gambia, which, during the voyage. had gone into a deliqu escen t s t a t e , i n consequence of which, crowbars and hammers hall to be used to separate it, and some pieces when taken out weighed from six to seven tons, The extra sum was for the additional labour which was required. Mr. Horstall and several other members considered that as the discharg ing of the vessel was a contract, no extra charge could pro perly he made, and it was ultimately decided that the £25 104. Gd. be remitted. In the next rate-book excep tions will he made to this kind of merchandise.—The Harbour Masters' Committee reported that they ligd con sidered the application of Messrs. Langtry and Co. for compensation, in consequence of the damage the steamer Sea King bad sustained by coming into collision with some mud flats at the Clarence Basin, and they were of opinion hat no such compensation should be allowed.—A letter was read from Messrs. Hardman and Co. complaining of the exorbitant charges demanded by some of the master porters, and requesting the interference of the Commit tee. The Chairman said it was a matter with which they had nothing to do, as all persons were at liberty to put what value they chose upon their labour. A long conversation then took place as to who should have the appointment of the porters—the consignees of the cargo or of the vessel. It subsequently appeared that the committee had power to dismiss any porter for miscon duct, and the matter was referred to the Porters' Com mittee.—Mr- Sanders broutht before the committee the subject of lights being allowed on shipboard, or in the dockyards, and stated that it was of the greatest impor tance that upon some occasions lights be permitted. Several cases had come under his own observation where it was of the greatest importance that a light should he granted for a short time, but that privilege had been with held. The Chairman stated that the power was vested alone in himself, and it was only in cases of a very urgent nature indeed that he allowed any light to be on board— it was the exception to the rule. So long as that autho rity rested with him, he should cortinue to act in the same manner, but if the committee thought that Mr. San dare's suggestion ought to be acted upon, it would be ne cessary to frame some bye-laws on the subject. Several . members considered that the law might be a lithe re , lazed, and the matter was referred. MEETING OF THE BIRKENHEAD COMMIS SIONERS. A special meeting of the Commissioners of Birkenhead was held, at their rooms, on Friday evoking, " for the purpose of taking into consideration certain proposed ar rangements with the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, relative to the conveyance of goods across the Mersey." The chair was occupied by Wm. Potter, Esq., and there were present twelve other members. and the law-clerk. Mr. Mallaby read an extract from the mi nutes of the proceedings of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, at a special general meeting, held in Liverpool, on the 14th instant, W. Jackson in the chair. This compti-ed documents, containing heads of arrange ment proposed between the railway company named and the commissioners, as to the railway goods traffic between Liverpool and Birkenhead, namely, (in brief :) " That the railway company should be at liberty (subject to claims to protect the ferry rights of the commissioners) to carry their own goods, or contract with the Duke's Trustees to do so, releasing the commissioners from carrying them ; the railway goods' traffic to be carried on at Monk's Ferry, to pre vent confusion with the general ferry passengers; this agree ment to take effect as soon as the extension railway from Grange-lane to the docks should be opened, and deeds to that effect to be proposed and settled. This arrangement was ap proved by the meeting in question. It was also proposed, that the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company should proceed forthwith to make the line from Grange-lane to the docks, and that the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Com pany should agree to transfer one-half of the station land, near Bridge-end Dock, to the Chester and Birkenhead Company, on being paid the cost of the land, interest, and expenses: proper deeds also to be prepared and signed on this point. '1 he docu ments read further stated, that a committee had been appointed at that meeting to conclude a contract for the completion of the extension line, upon which contract being entered into the ar rangements to carry the goods' traffic for the Cheshire Junction Company might commence • and that, subject to this modifica tion, the arrangements with the Commissioners and the Bir kenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction railway should be confirmed." The CHAIRMAN said there had been some modification in the terms of the arrangement, the question having been subsequently discussed at a meeting of the Dock Commissioners, a body composed of the same persons as that board, when it was agreed to support the modifica tions proposed, nn condition that the plan came into operation when the extension line to the docks should be opened. This was objected to by the c,,mpany, and a committee was appointed consisting of two members of that board and three of the directors of the railway com pany, all anxious to have the arrangements carried out without delay, and it would be for the meeting to decide whether they would adopt the resolutions to be submitted to them. Since the meeting alluded to it had been agreed that the extension line should be proceeded with immedi ately. He concluded by proposing the following resolu tion : "That this board approves of the proposals now read, as mo dified by the meeting of the proprietors of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company, provided proper instruments be executed by both parties, whereby the ferry right shall be amply secured and protected, and the details of the existing ar rangements between the Commissioners and the Railway Company for the purchase of the Monks' Ferry property, and the arrangements for the conducting of the railway traffic as now modified, shall be at the same time stated and formally ratified; and that Messrs. tlrownrigg, Cole, Adamson, Hind, and W. Laird, be a committee for carrying this resolution into effect." Mr. John LAIRD denied that the delay in carrying out the arrangement (as had been rumoured) had arisen from obstacles thrown in the way of the Ferry Committee, and also positively denied that there hod' been any compro mise between the Commissioners and the Directors of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway. The resolutions were then passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned. ON THE SANITARY STATE OF SOME PARTS OF LIVERPOOL. LETTER XVII. CEMETERY NUISANCE-FOUR CASES. Two young ladies, a short time ago, took a walk into one of our cemeteries; they saw three or four graves open, one of which was supposed to be a parish grave, kept open for receiving the mortality of paupers. These individuals were relatives of some patients of mine. I have the facts from their own bps. They passed out at, the gate, when, just as they were crossing the road, they perceived a most disgusting stench for several yards of walking, and whilst passing the grating of a sewer ; they set off and ran to get away as fast as possible from the annoyance. They felt overcome with the odour, and bad about a quarter of a mile to go before reaching home, when they both felt sick and both vomited. One of them fell down, and cut her face in several places ; she was rallied, and fainted again and again; in fact, it was with difficulty she could be prevented from fainting away. The other did not stop with her friend, but walked on some streets further to call upon a relative she was anxious to see. On the road, and when passing along Hope street, she frlt dizzy, and did not know where she was, or what she did—in fact, was " insensible," until she found her self at the bottom of Duke-street. When she arrived at her relative's house, she was seized with vomiting, which partly relieved her. She was able to return back to her companion, when she learnt that they both had been similarly made sick. They could take no food the re mainder of that day ; they passed a disturbed night, and could eat nothing at breakfast the next morning. They took a little medicine, and gradually regained their usual health. They were both in good health when they entered the cemetery, and the fact of both sickening together gives a great weight to the conclusion that the effluvia they encountered was the cause. Either the graves they had passed, or the sewerage, was naturally accused. The drain, the stench from which was so re pugnant, passes near to the front of the cemetery ; and I reel no doubt but that its waters may have some partial source from the drainage of the burial-place. One of the parties had once in Manchester attended the funeral of a friend in the Rusholme Cemetery, and was made ill for a whole night afterwards from the odour of the grave. Another party, then in delicate health, told me about that time that she bad been walking in the same cemetery, and had distinctly perceived an offensive heavy odour from the ground, and did not feel as well as usual after. I forbade her ever going there again, under ordinary cir cumstances. _ _ The fourth instance occurred to a member of my own family, who had been walking round St. Mary's Ceme tery, at Kirkdale, and telt the odour op: ressive, so as hardly to be able to reach my house, from sudden languor and headache. I will not say these are demonstrations of cause and effect in a rigorous philosophical sense, but, for the prac tical purposes of life, they are, I think, nevertheless, sufficiently convincing ; and the impression upon the minds of all is so strong, that all three parties declared they would be very cautious how they perambulated grave-yards again. I put the fourth case out of the question, because my own opinion was added in the shape of a veto. The husband of the patient just mentioned, whilt at tending the funeral of a sister in St. James's Cemetery, standing close to the borders of the grave, suddenly per ceived such an offensive odour rising up from the ground as almost to overpower him. He hardly could remain throughout the service, and felt distinctly the horrible odour in his nostrils for four or five days after. He was nauseated for a long time after, and states that he would have been very glad on that night or the following morn ing if he could have actually vomitted for relief. A ne phew at the same funeral was also similarly affected with the smell, which he had perceived before he reached the grave :" it left a bad pain in his chest for an hour or two afterwards," as if from a sense of constriction or opposi tion to the foul air remaining in,the lungs. He was a tee totaller, and would have been compelled to break the pledge if he had not struggled hard with the nuisance, aided by copious draughts of cold water. Of course he would have been fully justified in departing from the rule self-imposed, in " using a little wine for his stomach's sake." In fact, every party forming the funeral company complained of the stench on the ground, with one excep tion, for whose hardihood of the faculty of smell, &c. there were some adequate reas.us. A friend, Mr. G., tells me that three weeks ago he had crossed the river early from the Seacombe ferry, and passed through St. Nicholas's churchyard as he was wont. One part of this old, crowded burial-ground of the mother church of Liverpool is lower than the rest. The reader will recollect that this lowest part is towards the docks; perhaps it is a yard or more below the remainder. Three stone steps mark the dif ference at the north end of the burial ground. The rain had been very plentiful for some days previous, end whilst crossing this lower part to gain the steps, Mr. G— perceived a most disgusting smell coming off the higher ground, which gave him an immediate headache, lasting the whole of that day and night. Ile has felt since uneasiness at the stomach, which he attributes to this source. lie called the attention of a companion who was along with him to the fact, and who assured him that such, in his daily expel' ence, was no novelty, especially early in the morning, and that he had encountered more intolerable grave salutes than in the present case on the same site. This churchyard is a common thoroughfare, without a common beaten path ! What would a Turk, or any other heathen, think of the decencies of life in Christendom, where the hurrying footsteps of the busy crowd re-echo through the desecrated roofs of the other wise silent halls of the dead? In the name of health to the living, decent respect towards the departed—" Ought these things so to be ?" Chapel-street bounds this church yard on the north, many yards below the level of the burial-ground, and here the passers along frequently detect the noxious odours of the spot. Moreover, this perpendicular side of the churchyard was once the unhap pily selected locality for planting a receptacle for the chance dead—a morgue, as the French term it—presenting through its gloomy and loathsome grated portal the pain ful and disgusting spectacles within to every passer-by. most unsuitably—nay, barbarously. There was no venti lation, save through the grilled gate itself, for the stagnant horrors entombed therein; the light scarcely discovered the dark blank walls or their unconscious tenants. To what purpose, tben. such publicity, unless the seal of darkness could be lifted off, or the horrid effluvia miti gated ? How could the claiming recognition of the found dead be accomplished adequately to counterbalance the inevitable evils of such exhibition of the frequently putrid arid irrecognisable wrecks of humanity ? For this slight chance of difficult recognition, the footpath was contami nated by unseen dangers planted in ambush, or the sus ceptibilities of expecting maternity liable to be startled and hideously impressed. In ancient Persia, Greece, or Rome, this refinement of civilised Britain would have been a stronger argument against our claims to reputation, than anything short of cannibalism itself can be now urged against those nations we choose to denominate savages. I remember this black bole—have endeavoured to re cognise human shape in its blackened tenants, but have been repulsed as often by the intolerable stench, repent ing an exercise of otherwise objectless pursuit, than mere medical curiosity arresting my attention in passing. The same curiosity, in common with thousands of my class and of the public at large, foreign and native, has led me to the Morgue in Paris, where the dead (mostly the drowned victims of the Seine) are suitably disposed on benches, within a large, lofty, light, and ventilated hall or chamber, having an access from the street, but not obtruded upon the passers by. Those who have any business, or object, or even mere curiosity, to inspect the victims of chance or self destruction, must deviate from the path, and then do as they list—receiving impressions of horror which frequently are never erased from their memories. Yet the risk to health, in spite of ventilation, was not always slight; but they had only themselves to blame for whatever moral lesson or physical annoyance they might reap there. The authorities were not in fault. In our own morgue, until removed, the public outrage was an authorised sin against society. Happily, however, this is now a matter of the past history of Liverpool Im _ proper. An appropriate building has been provided, every way most suitable and convenient; the stigma has been removed, and the authorities deserve great credit for the improvement. Ventilation, light, public convenience and decency, have been attended to. To return to the eruptive fever cases. The public will now be able to comprehend what relation such will hold to the grand archetype of fever—the plague, and will re cognise in the milder form the same essential features of poisoning of the blood with the less diluted poison cases. The difference is one of degree then, not in kind, and the shadings down even of these degrees to the smallest dis turbance of the harmony of the functions of our complex framework, constituting deviations from health. 1 shall give two or three brief examples—fresh facts 'around our own homesteads, producing more conviction than others more remote, though better told. lam inclined to view this form as a species of typhoid fever hitherto very im perfectly described, and which perhaps may hereafter, in honour of Liverpool, be denoroinaied the eloaeinal va- riety, or species; I was called upon to attend proles sionally a family where, from the dense packing of the buildings in the heart of the town, there was no option scarcely but to plant an ashpit and privy close to a hack kitchen, the access to which was through the kitchens. The consequence was that the house was always more or less obnoxious to the effluvia from a source so proximate. v own attention was called to it from the fact of my having to prescribe for a bowel complaint which both heads of the house complained of. When I realhed the house, I had to complain of the intolerable smell. I tracked it to the source above described. I told them that little physic was wanted if they would only do away with the nuisance, which, as I was peremptory, was forthwith done. I amused them by saying that the only prescription I should write would be the Latin terms for bricks and mortar, to form a blockade. The thing was done imme diately : they were peop!' of sense; they saw it when Pointed out. I ruse add that upon ibis discovery another tale hangs—that of the death of an infant in convulsions. which I attended in the same house only a few months Previously, the rightful and probable cause of which I could now accuse , and which they felt constrained to ad mit as most probable. The infant was in a fair and pro mising condition at first, until the health of the mother began to deteriorate from the close atmosphere of the house, aid the child suddenly sank after three or four con vulsive attacks. The atmosphere I used to point out at the time as oppressive and bad. The rooms were dark, from tall blocks of warehouses, &c., so as to compel them in winter to burn gas on the stairs all day long, and half the daytime in the chamber. Children do die in shoals from convulsions, in Liverpool more than in other places, at the epoch of teething, but this infant was not six weeks old, and there were no .signs of dentition as yet,-so that that the case in my mind stands out in clear relief, as an effect pure and unambiguous of gaseous poisoning . . In another instance of Cloacina, unpropitiated, I was requested by a surgeon to see a patient of his suffering from an accession of nervous disorders, occuring in a journeyman painter. Re. bad every few minutes -sudden, flushes and twitchings of the muscles of the face and neck. He bad lately come to a small house. On my first or second visit, I perceived such a disagreeable odour in the house, that I set to investigate the order of things. I loon found,.that ever since they had occupied the house, they had been annoyed by these foul smells, and that-they proceeded from the.sink-hole of the front kitchen, which had a very short communication_ with the drain from .several houses. This drain was not stink. trapped as it ought to have been, and therefore the un restrained - effluvia escaped up through every. connecting orifice. Any one knowing what use the smaller cottages often, nay systematically, make use of these outlets, will not be apt •to underrate the quality of the odour. The wife stated that this sink-stone always stunk, more espe daily in any change of the weather. At such times the whole house would become absolutely. unbearable.. The only expedient they had adopted, and which she admitted had proved very inefficient, was the covering over the sink eye with a wet cloth, in order to arrest the volatile nuisance.. She had never been free from headache since she had lived there.. (Taylor alludes to these headaches.) The tracery of the causation was a demonstration of facts for them both, in which they fully concurred. The fur ther medical details I reserve for more fitting place and judges. I congratulate the town.upon the present prospect of municipal improvement. The new candidates, wanting a " cry," are now in seeming earnestness pledging them selves, to use their utmost endeavours to carry out the mush needed sanitary requirements of our domestic state, It is surprising to mark how soon a subject but very lately absolutely so unpopular, is now the universal theme of all classes ; so soon are the tables turned. that comparatively a few months witne s s its full acknowledgment by all can didates for future office ; nay, insomuch has this obtained, that it proves a better "cry" than Toryism or Wbiggism, or ultra politics. Why so? Because the majority of the reflecting portion of society are alive to the need of sani tary provisions and regulations. Public opinion has dic tated the " cry" in reality, in which the convictions of the candidates must coincide, in order that they, may be al one with the public mind. Hence, then, a day of " new life" is dawning over Liverpool, and this municipal elec tion witnesses nothing short of a great- moral regenera tion, greater, as far as it extends, than-any political pre cedent. The janglings of party strife, in reality object less, for good ; fruitful but in evil strifes ; discord and heartburniegs are found out at last to be but quicksands for the-real feudal age of political nicknaming, are yielding irrecoverably before the advancing footsteps of an en lightened and enlightening political economy ; so that the strife henceforward will lie between old parties, as to who can best wield the shepherd's crook, for folding, instruct ing, and cheering the flock. The crook is no bad emblem of sanitary police; it is a manifold weapon in skilful hands ; it is more useful than the sword of justice itself; for it would greatly monish the wayward member of society, ,and often thereb; wisely anticipate les prone • neas to crime; or it could persuade with kind words and sympathies to better purposes and prudential cares. It is an eloquent missile, in trained hands, to recover the straying, prompt th , laggard, and regulate the whole flock. Increase of knowledge developes new sources of power and influence; and for penalty, there comes in prevention —kind encouragement, for frowns and stern reproaches— and all the mighty leverage of sound motives, which sym pathy with the poor man struggling in his own ignorance and infirmities, will bring into play. What has ever mere Toryism done for him ? What Whiggism or Radicalism ? All these ridiculous old-fashioned disputes were above the heads of the degraded masses—narrow abstractions of political economy, which the poor man could not com prehend, but yet which often scathed the hopes of his honest industry, unless, like a parrot, he would learn off by rote some party watchword—his freedom of vote only a mockery, because the worst principles of human nature were set to work, by both sides, to warp his judgment and steal his reluctant, or perhaps his besotted, suffrage. The light of heaven was filched from him in his home, and no path left smooth for his feet, but that of yielding himself and his a prey to dirt, disease, and to a degrada tion moral as well as physical. The Liberals have done the thing well all along, as far as the handsomest promises can effect the welfare of the people. Their opponents have not been, as a class, "fortes in tabteas,"—to borrow a term of olden time; but it can scarcely be questioned that they have, though too timid of changes, generally occupied themselves labo riously and steadily in fulfilling " liberal" promises, pro phetic of their actions, by the eloquent party ! However, let all who have the town's welfare really at heart, rejoice that a nobler grasp of public duty is recognised, and must not only be promised, but performed. Our municipal parliament meets in the heart of its constituency ; its de bates and decisions are open to public scrutiny ;—their praise will be commensurate with their labours. I remain, Sir, yours, truly, GEO. C. WATSON, M.D. Bedford-street, Oct. 24. THE PROTESTANT ORPHAN SOCIETY OF IRELAND. The annual public meetings in behalf of this society were held, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings last, — the first that of CHRIST CHURCH AUXILIARY, in the School-house, Christian-street, the Rev. Fielding Ould in the chair. The weather being unfavourable, the at tendance, though respectable, was not so numerous as on the last anniversary, the room being'but about two-thirds filled. A deputation from the society was in attendance. After an appropriate prayer, The Rev. CHAIRMAN proceeded to give some statistics relative to the income, expenditure, and operations of the society for the year 1845, as set forth in detail in the Seventeenth Report, adopted at the annual meeting in Dublin, in April last, and now published, with an appen dix containing a list of the subscribers' and donors' names, and the amounts given by each, &c. From this it appears that, as compared with the preceding year, the income of the past shews an increase of £625, including all sources. The increase in the ordinary sources—sub scriptions, donations, and collections—was about the same as in the year preceding—something over £lOO ; and for the increase in legacies the society was indebted to the trustees of Cave's Charity, who had vested the sum of £l,OOO, the interest of which only was to be ap plied in aid of the fund for the fees of apprentices, and which (£32 10s.) would but meet the fees of three or four apurentices. The total income for the year was £4361, including interest of the apprentice-fee fund. Of this the auxiliaries had by their united exertions produced 12157, and amongst them St. Mary's (Birkenhead) bad raised £3O Ils., Christ Church (Liverpool) £29 19s. Bd., and St. Jude's (Liverpool) £l4 Is. 7d. The speaker proceeded to say that those whom he addressed had been accustomed to do something for this excellent society, and it had this year more than ordinary claims upon their attention. A gentleman who had been accustomed to address them on these occasions, and who had always left a delightful impression upon their minds, had since their last meeting been called from his earthly labours. He alluded to the Rev. Thomas Gregg, late honorary secretary of the society, who, after a few days' illness, died deeply lamented by a large circle of friends, and, what would have affected him still more, amidst the tears of the orphan, of whom he had long been the affectionate and unwavering friend. That valued person possessed considerable property, a large proportion of which he expended in acts of charity and benevolence. He (the chairnian) related several instances of the devotedness of the deceased to acts of disinterested kindness, amongst others his refusing all professional advancement, through an influential member of the government, and preferring in lieu that one orphan boy should be supported and educated through-this member of parliament, which was done. Mr. Gregg had visited them from their commence ment as an auxiliary, and had left them a legacy in the orphans, whose welfare he had so warmly at heart. The society had increasing claims upon them, by the position of Ireland, the encroachments of popery, and the cala mity which had visited that country—half of the popula tion being in want of food, and almost solely dependent upon government for the necessaries of life. The orphans were as much the objects of God's protection as before. There were 338 orphans (male and feniale) to be sup ported, religiously taught, and fitted for suitable stations in life by the society. The funds, without the aid of England,. could not accomplish this desirable object ; and they should remember that " be that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." He called on one of the gentlemen of the deputation to address the meeting. The Rev. B. CLARKE, in a speech of considerable length, called upon then to sympathise with their Pro testant brethren in the sister country, and considered it a privilege granted them to be enabled to give their mite towards the object in view. It was an honour to form a Protestant onion with their fellow-Christians in that ill fated land. Like the daughter of Pharaoh, who drew to land the infant Moses, and provided a nurse for it, the society drew the Protestant orphan from danger and moral death, and procured him a nurse, thus rescuing him from the destructive influences of Popery, Socinian ism, and vice. The Rev. RICHARD CONNOLLY, of St. James's, Dirb- • tin, impressed upon his hearers that there' was no work more acceptable to God than the care of orphans, and their nurture in the saving truths of the gospel. He ad duced instances in which the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylums insidiously took up Protestant orphans. even in prefetenee to their own, and instilled into their minds all the pein;c:ous and debasing doctrine's and superstitions of Popery. The society had originated in the discovery of this prautice. A Protestant widow left with two children, and without means to support them, was induced to give up her son to one of these Popish societies, which were found to be numerous in Dublin, and which zealously strive to withdraw destitute children from the faith of their fathers. To meet this evil the Protestant Orphan Society was instituted, the originators of which were in very humble stations in life, and commenced with a fund of only a few pence; but'hy perseverance the society now bad 338 children under their care, all with their respec tive nurses, which, with 197.ah0 had been apprenticed, 40 who died, and 84 who were given up to their friends or otherwise provided for, made a total of €56. to whom the society had siForded an asylum. There was no society that did more goo] upon. such small means. The average expense of mainaining a child was but ls. 10d. a week, or £3 10s. a year,—a smaller sum than they could he supported for in the workhouse, wt ere they would be in contact with a degraded class, and moreover exposed to the machinations of Popery, for seven-eighths of the offi cers of poorhouses in Ireland were Roman Catholics. In these places 69 Protestant children had been converted to Popery in two years. The Romish missal was constantly in their bedrooms. He explained the regulations of the society—the manner in which•proper nurses were selected in the different counties ; the apprenticing of the boys to tradesmen, and sending the' girls to service, both with fees ; the premiums given to the orphans for good conduct and attention ; the superiority of the clothing given to them ; their being ; •zegularly . visited and looked after in 'the different counties-, by the Protestant clergymen ; the finish they receivevlsat the Dublin Asylum before being bent into the worlds, &c. He coneltuled by relating sere ral interesting anecdotes, and making astrong appeal its . behalf of the society. The Rev. Mr. CRAW also ably advocated the aanse of the orphans, and dwelt upon the circumstance that not only were the children,-rescued from misery and error, and made good members .of society, but that it had fre— quently been found that they had been the means of bringing other children and even adults, before lost its the darkness of Popery, to the light of true religion, by the example and scriptural expositions of these interest— ing juveniles. He stated that he had received an orphan boy from his dying father, and had promised to get him into the Protestant school of the society on his responsi— bility, which he could ill afford without their assistance, as the cost would be five guineas. He added that last year the applications for the admission of orphans were 28, and, from the limited amount of the funds, only 10 of these could be admitted, though most of the other cases, were almost equally urgent. [The rev. gentleman had: the gratificati. n.to receive, before he left the room, the five guineas far which he had pleaded. for.his protege', from several benevolent ladies who were present.] Carda.were thera.distributed to those who undertook to. collect amongst their friends, the doxology was sung, and. the meeting separated. A collection was made at. the door. The meeting at ST. June's Scßum., on Wednesday, was but thinly attended, the night being wet and stormy. The Rev. D. Anderson presided, and o p ene d the business.. in a feeling end argumentative address. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Connolly and the Rev. Mr. Craig, wh o adduced other instances of. the excellent effects of the society, and the necessity for its support, fur the preser— vation of the Protestant religion in Ireland, against the insidious • inroads of Popery and Arianism. A further claim was urged on behalf of the society, on the ground that the present high price of provisions in Ireland ren— dered it impossible for the nurses to support the chP.drets without an additional sum of £l, each this year. Both. gentlemen were listened to with profound attention. The meeting, closed with prayer, and, a collection was made. On Friday. a meeting of the Birkenhead branch of. the society took place, the Rev. A. Knox in the chair. MANCHESTER ATHEN/EUM SOIREE. The fourth annual soiree of this literary and educa- tinnal institution took place on Tharsday last, and passed off with great eclat. The entertainments were this year prefaced by a public breakfast at. the Albion Hotel. About eighty gentlemen sat down, Mark Philips, Esq„ M P., in the :hair, supported by t he ~ Mayor, his . Grace the Archbishop of Dublin the Right Hon. M. Gibson,, M.P., Wm. Brown, Esq., Dr. West, John Potter, Esq., M.P.. aril a number of, other distinguished teem-. hers of Parliament and literary gentlemen, including W. H. Ainsworth, Esq., W. Chalmers, Esq„ of Edinburgh,, C. Mackay, Esq., LL.D., &c. The Chairman remarked that the institution had been threatened with destruction, but it was now based on a rock, and was supported by the united efforts of its members.—The Archbishop of Dublin said he had left numerous and pressing calls in Dublin to attend, thinking it incumbent upon him to show the interest he had in every thing which concerned the dinsion of knowledge, and with that view he had great pleasure in attending the present proceedings ; and ho must say, that from every thing he had seen, and every thing he had heard in the inquiries he had made, be had no reason to repent ; for every thing had come up to the opinion he had formed of their institution. He need not say aoy thing about his anxiety to promote education, because his life had been occupied in official or non official efforts of that kind. . The soiree. followed by a ball, took place in the Free Trade Hall, and the vast building was crowded, upwards of 5000 persons being present. The Right Hon. Viscount Morpeth, M.P., presided, and the Archbishop of Dublin, and many distinguished parties from far and near, were present, including the leading merchants and manufac, turers of the town and neighbourhood. The Chairman addressed the meeting in a strain of manly eloquence worthy of the occasion. He paid well deserved compliments to the literary men who had preceded him in taking the chair on the former anni versaries. He said—" It would be at best an imper tinence to inculcate that knowledge in any community will he a dangerous thing ; that commerce, which ori ginally formed, and which still ennobles, such a corn-. munity as this, is the national ally of literature and art. I rejoice that English commerce seems, in these our days, to be rising to the real height of its position, and to feel the true dignity of its calling. (Cheers.) But this the Tuscan, the Genoese, the Venetian may have done ; the worthies of eur English commerce are content to be men. chants, without being princes. If we have our princes, they are not intent upon seeking alliances with the thrones of Europe. But they feel that it ought to be now their sale aim to raise to the same level of knowledge, of happi ness, of virtue with themselves, the whole body of the people. (Cheers.) I rejoice that in Manchester, beyond all dispute the first city in the ancient or the modern world for manufacturing enterprise and mechanical skill, you have not been content with that display of wealth which may jostle in the street, or may be piled in your warehouses. You have not thought it sufficient to raise factories tier upon tier, or magazines that will accommo date the traffic of the world, but you have thought it your business, too, to build and set apart a house and a hunt for innocent enjoyment, for useful instruction, for grace ful accomplishments, for lofty thought." His lordship subsequently alluded to the industrial schools of Man chester, the weekly half-holiday at the warehouses, the early closing movement, the public parks, baths, and washhouses, and proceeded to urge upon the assembly the necessity for self-culture, and to exhibit the advan tages accruing from the improvement and exercise of the intellect. The Archbishop of Dublin next addressed the meeting on the advantages to he derived from the Athenaeum as an educational institution. He stated that he had been connected with instruction in the schools and colleges of the kingdom for thirty-eight years, and he knew that it was i vipossible by keeping men in darkness to keep them from temptation. It would not be possible to do that if they were to shut them up in the cell of a hermit, for they were certain to be tempted in some way. A knowledge of letters could not make a man unfit for his lot as a labouring man, and perhaps a little more knowledge would make the man fit f or somet hi ng e l se. If a man o f cultivated intellect was a bad man, he was of course more dangerous than he was before his intellect was cultivated —a man who had the use of his limbs would be more dangerous than a cripple, and a man who had eyes would be more dangerous than one who was blind, or a deaf mute. He wished to be distinguished from those persons who thought that the mere diffusion of knowledge consti tuted the whole of education. He did say that it was a good thing, but he did not say that it was the whole of educa tion. He warned them against the dangers of ill-balanced knowledge ; for if a person devoted himself to the culti vation of his intellect and neglected his morals, that was an injudicious and hurtful education. It was not the knowledge of come things that did the harm, but the ig norance of others. He had had difficulties to encounter during the fourteen years that he had been engaged in the work of education. They would understand that he al luded to the introduction of national education in Ireland; bat he was happy to say that in spite of all the storms th a t had arisen, they were advancing towards the right path ; and be believed that under the blessing of Divine Providence, the national system of education in Ireland, when it should have had time to be felt throughout the country, and when a new generation should have felt its beneficial tendency, would prove one of the greatest bles sings to the whole empire. The other speakers were G. Dawson, Esq., Lord Ebrington, W. Chalmers, Esq., John M'Gregor, Esq., of the Board of Trade, and W. Brown, Esq. A vote of thanks was passed to Lord Morpeth. The ball that followed, and for which the Hall was cleared, was numerously attended by the elite, of the free and the fair, and was altogether a delightful entertain ment. For the further accommodation of the guests, the theatre was also thrown open. HIGHWAY BOARD.—A letter was ordered to be sent to the parties who are building the premises in North John-street, ordering them immediately to repair Prin ces-street, otherwise proceedings will be commenced against them. The Chairman stated that the wall in Boundary-street had fallen in consequence of the late heavy rains. Orders for repairing the same were given. L lt was also ordered that the alteration recommended by Mr. Kaye at the previous meeting to be made at the top of Dutton-street by Oldhall-street be made, and that the work be immediately proceeded with. A letter was read frcm W. Duncan, stating the progress of the works at Green-lane. The roof of the boiler-house waa not yet on ; another eight days will be required to complete the iron work.. The letter also stated that 250 yards of the 9-inch main had been laid down along Byrom-street, to the baths in Paul-street, and through Messrs. Tinne and Kaye negotiations had been entered into with the Har rington Works for supplying the water. The baths were expected to be opened in eight days. Great delay had been occasioned by the recent bad weather, SELECT VESTRY.—There was a full attendance at the weekly meeting on Tuesday last, ell the members but two or three being present. The Wm khouse Committee pre sented a quarterly summary, ended Michaelmas of the present year, of the number admitted into and discharged from the house. At the beginning of the quarter (mid summer) the inmates were 1142, and there were admitted during the quarter 1947, making NW. ; of these 1936 were discharged ; leaving, on 26th September, 1153. Some statistics follow, showing the number of those who re spectively (admitted in the quarter) could read and write (677) •, who could only read (389) ; and who could not read (821). The greater number' had before received parochial relief, and a considerable, number were children. Out of the 969 females admitted, 170 were under 15 years of age, and 799 above. On comparing these numbers with the corresponding period of last year, it would appear that the number of single pregnant women has been, relatively to the entire number of females admitted, 4early 34 per cent. less this quarter than that; whilst the number of prostitutes exhibits an increase both numeri cally and relatively. The number of women confined ia the house bad been 41-30 single and 11 who said they were married; being, compared with the sarre quarter last year, 32 per cent. less. Fifteen deserted children were received, two of them sucklings—an unusually large number. The deaths during the quarter were 156. The whore number in the house at present is 1220. Mr. Riding mentioned that a house had been temporarily engaged in Soho-street, at' the rate of £4 per week, for the reception of fever case!, and that a nurse had been appointed at a salary cf £2O per annum. A letter was read from the medical officers, alluding to the great excess of duty which they had to perform during the prevailing epidemic, and soliciting some pecuniary aid, in order that they might engage assistants. It was stated by Mr. Scholfield that more money was paid for medical relief in Liverpool than in any other town in the kingdom. It was ultimately decided that a letter should be sent to the medical officers, informing them tbat the subject had been considered,. and requesting them to wait some time longer.