Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-22 00:00:00

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We take the following from the Overland Friend of China, of the 30th of October : Upwards of half a year has passed since we had to recount the particulars of a ship tragedy in our vicinity ; —and the long interval has served to rob many of us of the caution which, now that our government has no intercourse with that of the province, it is so necessary to maintain. But again it is our painful task to recount the particulars of a murder of Europeans and piracy. The Clipper Schooner Neva on which it occurred (the Emperor of Russia's yacht captured is the Baltic during the war) was purchased here by the firm of Gibb. Livingston, and Co., in the spring of this year, and, for some menths, has been almost constantly running under tiro command of the now murdered master, Sinden (formerly of the Aligator) between this port and the River Min. In pursuance of such a voyage to Foochowfoo, she left this on Saturday last, with a cargo of Malwa, Specie, and sundries of the total value, we suppose, o f between thirty and forty thousand pounds sterling. The crew consisted of master and mate, Englishmen, gunner and ten able seamen, taghaliens, carpenter. two cooks, two cabin servants and Topaz, Chinese. There were two Chinese passengers also—one a servant sent up by the Coraprador of a leading firm here, the other sent by the owners' Comprador, both of them, it is be lieved, trustworthy men. The tide being adverse the schooner was brought up in the Ly-u-moon, and, as it was getting dusk, a boat came alongside with five Chinese bringing fifty-five dollars, which they tendered in part payment of passage money—offering to ply a balance of twenty dollars at Foochowfoo. They were accepted, and, with their baggage sent forward. The whole of the next day they kept below, saying they were sea sick. Tacking to a moderate monsoon, the Neva did not make much progress on Sunday—Single Island, one of the Tooniang Group a little to the eastward of the eastern shore of Mirs' Bsy, (a good mark for navigators, as it rises like a cone a thousand feet or so above the sea), at eleven o'clock p.m. bearing about north from the ship. At the hour mentioned the captain and mate were below, as were seven of the Manilla men crew. The gunner was leaning against the booby hatch keeping officer's watch and besides the Sucunny at the wheel, there were only two other seamen on deck, and they were looking out forward. The night was dark, when, before he was well aware of their approach , the carpenter and another Chinese came up, and without saying a word, fractured the gunner's skull at a blow. The Sucunny at the wheel, at the same time, was cut over the frontal bone, eye and cheek What was done with the two look outs time has not divulged—they are missing, and it is probable were thrown over board. Hearing the noise on deck the captain came up from the cabin, and the last words the gunner heard him utter were—" Oh ! Gunner, I'm done for ;" a cut with the carpenter's axe, as his head appeared above the hatch way, settling his fate ; nor has his body been found. The mate, Mr. Edwin Keen, as we have said, was below ; and awoke from sleep by the noises, he seized a rifle, unloaded as he found, and rushed on deck. The first object he st.s , was a man at a gun swivelled amidships just before the cabin companion, and he at once struck at him with the club end cf the piece. His next impulse was to make for the maintop, but, in doirg so, he received a blow on the right shoulder from a crow bar which almost disabled him. •He was able, however, to crawl up the rigging. where he remained for about throe hours and a half. During that period the murderers got the long-boat out, and placed in it the contents of three boxes of treasure, some clothing, and other plunder. But first they squared the fore-yard, and steered steadily up Mirs' Bay, to the same village, as described, whence the man who was hung for the murder of Mr. Markwick was taken, on the shore nearest Hong Kong, and ff om which it is distant about thirty miles ;—a snugly secluded spot —unseen by vessels bound up. There arrived, they attempted to let go an anchor, but were unable, or had some other reason for not doing so. They then lowered the mainsail, un shipped the tiller and left. Mr. Keen then came down the rigging, the lower rattlines of which had been cut away, and groped forward to find that a chain cable had been ranged over the forecastle hatchway, so barring the egress of the watch below. These obstacles were soon removed, and the vessel brought to the wind. Ono tack took her to the Nine Pin, and a little after nine o'clock oa Monday morning she was at anchor in Hong Kong. On inspecting the hold it was discovered that of all its valuable contents only three boxes of treasure e,BOO dollars had been taken, and that some 65,000 dollars in other boxes stowed abaft under the opium had not been touched. The intention of the scoundrels, no doubt, when going so far up the bay, was to anchor, and then take all the cargo out. When they found that by moving the chain cable to do so they would release the crew, they then made haste on shore to procure the necessary aid. Their disappointment afterwards, when the day broke and the bird had flown, must have been great. The two passengers who went on board before the vessel left the port, was the only Chinese that remained by the ship. They say strong inducements were held out to them to join in the piracy, but that they declined. In this they acted prudently, though, whether conscience or expe diency was the ruling motive, is best known to themselves. With the exception of the cooks, who were new hands, the other of the Chinese crew had been in the vessel from the day of her first equipment in the colonial trade. The carpenter, said to be a native of a Place some six miles in the interior from Macao, was strongly recommended from Mr. Lamont's yard when first shipped, though none of the Chinese are known by family name in such a way that they can be traced. It is not tho practice to sign articles on these short voyages it appears, and hence the absence of such clue. The gunner is likely to get over his wounds we hear ; but for the Sucunny there is little hope. Tho Neva was promptly visited by the Hon. Dr. Bridges and the Hon. Colonel Caine, but who the " pat ups" are was not then known, nor has success attended the scouring of the Mirs' bay villages that we • have THE NEW DOCK TRUST. At a special general meeting of the Liverpool Ship owners' Association, held yesterday (S. R. Graves, Esq., in; the chair), it:was resolved unanimously "that this association, having given its best consideration to the selection of a list of qualified ratepayers which it might recommend to the shipping interest of this port as suitable to be elected to the New Board, for the management of the Dock Estate, on the Ist of January next, approves of the following list of 19 names, out of which the ratepayers may select the required 18 : Mr. T. D. Anderson. ~ Wm. Barber. ~ Ralph Broklebank. „ Thomas Bold. „ Eyre Evans. „ Robertson Gladstone. „ S. R. Graves. „ Joseph Hubback. „ William Inman. „ John Laird. "That this association rest going list to the Dock Rat believing that, in the selecti( has been paid to the interest commerce in this:community. Mr. John Lockett. „ Joseph Mondel. „ Robert Rankin.! ~ Wm. Rathbone, jun. ~ J. K Rounthwaite.; „ Francis Shand.;; „ James Smith. „ Charles Turner.: „ J. A. Tobin." pectfully recommends the fore" tepayers for their approval, cn of the names, due regard s of all the great branches of a F AT AL ACCIDENT ON TIIE FURNESS RAILWAY.—OD Toes ay afternoon last, the luggage train which leaves Furness A bbey Station at 2 25 p m. for Broughton, being rather a heavy cne, the inspector of trains, Mr. Edward Griffith Webb, ordered that an engine then at the abbey (with two goods trucks and a luggage van) should be attached to it, to assist the train up the incline towards the Millwood Junction. This was in process of being done, when Webb entered the van attached to the lag , gage train, and stood upon the lamp box in the hind part of the van, for the purpose of speaking to the guard on the assistant engine. The engine shutting off the steam, the coupling chairs of the train extended themselves, and the consequence was that there was a slight jerk by which Webb was thrown directly backwards out of the end of the van to the ground between the rails, pitching on the back of his head and shoulders, and the engine and tender, with the three attached car riages, ran over him as he lay between the rails, and caused tristant death. An inquest was held on Wednesday morn ing, when a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. There is not the slightest blame attributable to the engine driver, or any other person connected with the train, but the accident appears to have been the result of the deceased standing npoli the box at tbajastant of the jerk.— Ulver - 'eon Advertiser. THE NORTHERN TRIES.- LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1857. HOW THEY CARRY ON BUSINESS IN SCOTLAND. POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY. IRISH SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary of the Irish Society, for promoting ScripturaVeducation and reli gious instruction among Irish Roman Catholics, was held at half-past six o'cl-..ck last night, in the Collegiate Insti tution. There was a very limited audience present. Among those on the platform were—Rev. Hugh MdsTeile Rev. Mr. Laurence, Adam EL , dson, Esq., Rev. Mr. Warr, Rev. Joseph Bell, and Rev. Mr. Hackett, the deputation from the parent society; Rev. Mr. Moore, &c., Sze. The chair was taken, amidst lou I applause, by the R:v. Dr. 11.1 . NRILm. _ The usual monthly meeting of this society was held last night, at half-past seven o'clock, in the Royal Institution, Mr. Boult, president, in the chair. Mr. Arnott was first called upon, who illustrated by diagrams several means for economising the labour of discharging and loading vessels round our docks. The fret method proposed was by hydraulic power ingeniously contrived ; the others were steam and locomotive powers, any of which, he said, if adopted, would save a great deal of our dock expenses. Mr. Edge was next called on to exhibit and explain his improved dry gas meter. He then came forward and said : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—ln introducing to your notice an improved dry gas meter, I beg to be permitted to make a few preliminary remarks 02 the meters used by the Gas Company of Liverpool. When the wet gas meter was first invented by Mr. Samuel Clegg, upwards of forty years ago, it might be expected, like most other new in ventions, not to be quite perfect. In the first instance, such was the fact, for although the principle of the meter never has been, nor do I expect ever can be, improved, it was found that to insure a just and fair measurement of the gas, the water in the meter must be kept to a certain fixed line, if above that line the measure was unjust to the consumer, and if below that line, the gas company suffered loss. It was found in practice, that because an excess of water could be put in the meter, advantage might be taken of it to such a degree that there was almost a universal outcry by the consumes against the use of such meters, and in 1843, 14 years ego, a Mr. Flower published a pamphlet on the subject of which the secretary of your Institution has a copy ; et this time the ipublic papers openly charged Gas Companies with using dishonest meters, the great London Companies at once passed resolutions to the effect that, no meter should, in future, be used in connection with their works, which was susceptible of receiving an excess of water, so as to make the measure of the meter unjust to the consumer. Being an extensive meter manufacturer, I at once effected an improvement for the protection of the public, by cutting down the syphon pipe, which conveys the gas into the meter, so as to prevent more water being put therein than was required to ensure a correct measurement, but, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it will scarcely be believed by you—yet such is the fact —that although Mr. King, the company's engineer, was apprised of this improvement at the time, the company has continued to use the common unimproved meters, susceptible of eueh unjust measure, until the Corporation were driven to appoint an officer to compel the company to alter them, and make them act fairly towards the public. I beg also to mention, that the Liverpool Gas Company is the only company in the United Kingdom which has the immodes . y to make its own meters As well might the corn merchant make his own bushel, or the butcher his own scales. But it is far more discreditable to the elm pane, to have them made sueceptible of injustice. The Word of God says, " Thou, shalt not have in thine house divers measures—a great one and a small one—but a perfect measure shalt thou have." Wet gas meters, however, re quire continued attention to keep the weterfilled up, besides which, if they are fixed in a warm situation the water evaporates, and is deposited in the fittings, causing trouble with unsteady lights ; and if fixed in a cold place the water freezes, and stops the action thereof. Hence, the necessity for a dry meter, that is, a meter to work with out water, in fact a meter free from these objections, and that could be fixed in any situation. In the year 1833, the first dry meter was introduced by myself, but this, like the wet meter, was net perfect, arising principally from the slide valves which conduct the gas into the measuring chambers bee-mil:lg coated with impurities of the gas, from which, owing to their cove-s always sliding over the same path, they cannot free themselves, causing them to become unsound, and allow the gas to pass unregistered Mr. Dafries, Mr. Croll, and others, have sought to improve this mater, the valves, however, of all dry meters hitherto in use, being made on the same imperfect principle, are liable to the same objection, but the improved dry meter I have now the pleasure of introducing to your notice, has an entirely new valve recently invented, differ ing very materially from the slide valve. It is denomi nated the eccentric rotary valve, which, in its action, moves in an epicycloidal curve, producing a constant wiping effect, so to say, which will not only keep it free from deposit, but will effectually ensure its soundness. It has the approval of all gas engineers and mechanical persons who have seen it, and it is pronounced to be the most perfect valve ever yet invented. This improved dry meter has another important feature in the diaphragms being nearly solid plates, arranged so as to have as little flexible material as possible ; hence a true registration is effected. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, having now briefly explained my dry gas meter, and also having pointed out the susceptibility of the wet gas meter to be tampered with some 30,000 of which. I am informed, are still in use in Liverpool, I will conclude by observing that I have repeat edly called upon Mr. King during the last 14 years, offering to supply the Company with my improved wet gas meters, of which I have sent out upwards of 70,000, but he has always adhered to those which can be tampered with, and it is only now, as I before said, that the Company are compelled to it, that they are making a deceptive imita tion of my improvement. The public of Liverpool will be effectually protected against the liability of their meters being tampered with by using dry meters, which require no water ; they cm be fixed in places where wet meters cannot be —in a kitchen, shop, or even a sitting-room, they are not liable to be frozen in the winter, while consumers will avoid the continual visits of the persons from the Gis Works to fill the water up, which operation being usually performed by the gas man alone ; they do indeed fill it up with a vengeance, and, as before observed, to the cast of the consumer. It is but justice, however, to Mr. Kieg, to say, that on showing him my improved dry meter valve, he approved of it, and said he was highly pleased with it, but at present he would not order any, the company was well satisfied with the meters they had in use, but he would not oppose the sale of my dry meters if they passed the public officer. Mr. Edge then proceeded to explain the action of the meter ; after which, several gentlemen expressed their approbation of the invention. A conversation ensued, iu which it was broadly insinu ated that the Gas Company had been dealing unfairly with the public in charging them with gas which they never consumed, through the construction of their meters, which they were determined not to change. A member of the society pointed out an ingenious screw-pipe in their (the c impany's) improve 1 meter, which could be moved at will by the officers of the company to the expense of the consumer, after it had been sealed and passed as correct by the meter inspector. Mr. Edge, in answer to the Chairman, stated that his object in bringing forward the meter was to show, that by using a dry meter, the present practice of over charging the meters with water would be entirely obviated. Mr. Campbell was next called upon, and described the improved lightning conductors of Messrs. Lewis and Hibbett. The meeting shortly after separated. The Rev. Mr. Laurence opened the proceedings with prayer. The Chairman said the object of the society, upon whose behalf they were assembled that evening, was to promote the Scriptural education and religious instruction of Roman Catholics in Ireland , chiefly through the medium of their own language. That society came to some persons in Liverpool as an old friend re-appearing after a few years absence, and it would come to others as a stranger making its first appearance. The society was established in the year 1818, and proceeded for a few years qu'etly and usefully in Ireland, when, in the year 1823. an auxiliary to it was established in London. It was not called an auxiliary, because it had something more in view than simply to supply funds to that Society. It undertook missionary work among the poor Irish in London, and it sent half of the funds which it collected to aid the resources of the Society in Dublin It was called the Irish Society of London. Matters pro ceeded in this woy for a considerable number ef years— the results were deemed satisfactory by many : it attracted public attention in a few localities. particularly in the King's-cross district, where a considerable number of the teachers of the Irish Society, themselves Roman Catholics, put forth a manifesto declaring their right to read the Scriptures, and their determination to exercise that right. But, in the year 1849, the Irish Society in London determined no longer to confine their missionary labours to the Irish in London, but to organise an agency in Ireland, different from the agency of the Irish Society— more of a missionary, and less of an educational character. They did so, but there had sprung up another society, the Irish Church Missionary Society, whose object.was openly and avovedly missionary work. This at once absorbed the missionary work of the London Society in its own, but the number of appeals nettle by the Irish societies in Eng lan I for support, was felt to be inconvenient, and it was determined on all hands that it was desirable to reduce the number. In pursuance of that plan, in the year 1853, an alliance was entered into between the Irish Society and the Irish Church Missions, for three years. During that time, the Irish Society was what an old law called one ,femme converte. Her individuality was suck in her com panion, the Irish Church Missions, and during that time, instead of coming here and elsewhere in Great Britain to ask a dowry, she received pin-money, so to speak, from her husband. At the end of the three years, an amicable separation a 9nensa et those took place ; or, as he might with more truth say, the alliance, originally temporary, was not renewed. And now the old Irish Society was f:ce again. ant: renewed bar appeal to the English public. (Hear, hear.) The deputation who had come to address that meeting would lay before them her deserts, her activities, and all the o:her attractions on the strength of which she was now commended to their renewed support. One of these attractions was, that she addressed that portion of the Irish people who sill were unable to speak or understand the English tongue, and could receive religious instruction only through the medium of their native language. In a passage he had been reading that morning it was truly remarked by Mr. Wilberforce—" It is not greater political privileges, but it is moral and religious education which the Irish Romanists require." And Mr. Wilberforce also said in a letter written by him—" After all you could grant them politically, so much would still remain beyond as to prevent their being ever cordially attached to a Protestant Government, of which a Protestant Church Establishment should form a part. Our great endeavour ought to be to enlighten, and thereby, as I trust, to convert the Roman Catholics ; much, I verily believe, may be done in that way in twenty or thirty years ; and on the contrary, the College of Maynooth—a vote for doubling the foundation of which passed a few weeks ago, the most pernicious measure, in my judgment, which has b:en assented to for many years—will, if not checked, increase beyond measure the Roman Catholic body " The country did not feel with Mr. Wilberforce. Religious instruction was not imparted but by a few volant - try associations, while political privileges were conceded. The result had been what Mr. Wilberforce had p edicted. After all that had been granted, so much remained still that they refused to be loyal subjects of a Protestant Government of which a Protestant Church Establishment should be a part. (Hear, hear.) The country was, therefore. as regarded this subject, in the anomalous position which Mr. Wilberforce had sagacity enough to per ceive would be the inevitable result of poli ical concessions begun. Where were they to end ? Having, with osten sible liberality, conceded so much, why stop? Why maintain, in spite of them, after all the etFort to conciliate them, what they called a heretie priesthood, living upon the rifled domains, the plundered charters, and the in vaded cathedrals of the old establishment ? That was what the Roman Catholics asked. Why politically insult them, by still legislating to prevent any one of them from occupying the woolsack, from being a Lord Chancellor in England or in Ireland ? People might say there was good reasons for this. He knew there were—but where were the good rea sons, when so much had been granted to them ? Why refuse to allow the Sovereign to choose his or her own religion? At that very moment an agitation of that kind had commenced again in that country ; and he had read, only within the last few days, of a very animated debate on that very subject, wherein the Roman Catholic speakers complained of the hardship imposed upon the Sovereign of England that she was the only individual in the country who was not allowed to exercise the right of private judgment, and to become a Roman Catholic if she pleased. It was not that they were very fond of private judgment. It was not that they liked liberality, but it was because they knew very well that private judgment, exercised under the limitation of Holy Seripture, was fatal to their system, therefore they disparaged Holy Scripture, and spoke as if Protestants had no limitation at all to private judgment. It was, therefore, that under a Protestant Government, and in a Protestant country, they were the advocates of liberal measures, not because they loved liberality, bat because they loved to run private judgment to an excess, and to represent it as if it had no limitations. The moment one left Papal infallibility, they urged that there was no limitation between that and total license. The promul gation of Scriptural educ .tion he (the chairman), therefore, advocated, to check the spread of such errors, and to counteract the effect of education without religion, now am much encouraged by Government; and he concluded his address with a warm and eloquent appeal to the meeting on behalf of the Irish Society. The Rev. Mr. Moore read the Society's report. The Rev. Joseph Bell proposed the first resolution, which declared that the meeting rejoiced to hear of the continued disposition of the Irish-speaking population of the sis er island to receive Scriptural instruction in their native tongue, and believing that the lengthened experience of the Irish Society had proved it to be eminently suited to the circumstances of those to wham it addressed itself, were determined to give it their cordial support. The rev. gentleman enforced the resolution by many interesting details of the results of the society's lab )urs in Ireland. The Rev. W. Warr seconded the resolution, which was put and carried unanimously. The Rev. dr. Hackett proposed the second resolution, which re-appointed the Committee and officers, and expressed the thanks of the society to the lay and clerical friends in Liverpool and its neighbourhood, who had exerted themselves on its behalf. The resolution was seconded, and carried. The proceedings shortly after closed with a blessing. RUGBY SCHOOL —Dr. Goulburn, late heal master of Rugby School, has been presented, on his retirement, with twe very handsome pieces of plate, one by the old Reg beians, and the other by the Rugbeians of the present day. The first consisted of a magnificent contre-piece, and the other a very handsome clock. Each of the ser vices of plate had appropriate inscriptions in Latin. STATE OF TLIE ASHTON UNDELL-LYNE UNION.—The weekly board was held on Thursday : Mr. Wimpenny in the chair. During the week 2,165 persons had been relieved. The number of inmates of the workhouse was, --Men, 123 ; women, 156; children, 109 ; total, 388 : last year, 318. Various alterations in the workhouse, for increased and improved accommodation for children, involving an outlay of £4O, were agreed to. Mr. M'Cullock reported that much distress prevailed in several parts of his district, more especially at Broadbottom and Tintwistle ; at the latter place three mills being stopped. Hanghton was also suffering in consequence of the Gib raltar Mills being stopped since the last week in November, and they would not resume work till after Christmas. At Newton, near Hyde, matters were assuming a more serious aspect. The Messrs. Ashton's establishm ent, which up till the present had worked full time, have commenced working four days per week, and were stopped accordingly on Thursday, for the remainder of the week. At Hurst the whole of the mills of Messrs. Whittaker have been working full time without intermission. On Saturday last, however, the new mill belonging to Mr. Oldham Whittaker, was brought to a stand, through the b.eak:ng of the large wheel of the engine, which will take three weeks to I *place. MR. DOHERTY'S TRIAL. The following is a copy of a letter addressed to the Town Clerk of Liverpool, with reference to the trial of Mr. Doherty, late corn merchant in this town, for forgery : Borough Bank, Liverpool. 19th Dec., 1857. Sir,—Various reports have appeared in the news papers relative to Mr. John Doherty's trial, from which it wr uld seem as if there had been unwillingness, on the part of the Borough Bank and its officers, to assist in the judicial investigation auto matters and transactions between him and the Bank. I am, in consequence, instructed by the Directors to say, that I have asked for explanations from the prose cuting parties in Mr. Doherty's trial, and that the Directors have looked into these, and have examined the different officers and clerks connected with the Bank, in such wise as to bring out all the facts of the case. From these, it appears that there are only two circum. stances which could give any colour to the presumption of "unwillingness, on the part of the Bank, to appear against Mr. Doherty. First The assumed want of due attention, on the part of the Bank, to a verbal message alleged to have been given by Mr. Walter, in his office, to a clerk of the Bank, to be delivered to Mr. Smith. Second : The absence from town of Mr. Smith during the trial. With respect to the first, the clerk denies ever having been charged to deliver such a message, although he says he knew, from what he then heard, that Mr. Smith would be wanted. Mr. Smith save ho never received this in timation from the clerk. The Directors, and all others concerned in the management of the Bank, with the exception of one individual alluded to below, who only heard of it the day before the trial, declare that they never heard anything of Mr. Smith's being wanted till after the trial. With respect to the second point, Mr. Smith was absent in Wales on important business of the bank connected with failed houses there, and the directors aver their belief that the time for his leaving Liverpool was fixed without an;- reference whatever to Mr. anlerty's trial ; it was decided on several days before the prmeenting parties say they found Mr. Smith's evidence would be wanted. The Directors also find that the prosecuting parties introduced the bank's name as a party to the indictment. without informing the hank of it. The Directors:l nd all others concerned in the mansge ment of the bank, declare that, until the particulars of the trial appeared in the public papers, they did not know that Mr. Doherty was indicted for a fraud on the bank. They further declare that they have not now, and never had, any wish to hold back or conceal anything in Mr. Doherty's matters. and that they do not believe that the bank has any interest, direct or indirect, in anything being so concealed• They have also to say that, if the prosecuting parties had informed the bank of their wish to have Mr. Smith's evidence, the hank would have immediately recalled him from Wales for the purpose. These being the facts of the case, the Directors, azd others concertled in the management of the hank, consider that if there has been any want of due diligence in follow_ ing up the prosecution of Mr. Doherty, they stand acquit ted of it, and it roust be accounted for in some other way than by imputing it to the bank or those concerned in its management. There appears in the explanation made by the prosecut ing parties a statement that a sul3pccaa was left at Mr. Smith's private residence. The Directors arid others concerned In the management of the bank knew nothing of this fact until after the trial, except one individual above alluded to, who only heard of it incidentally from parties unconnected with the prosecution, the day pre vious to the trial, and four days after +he departure of Mr. S.nith.—•l remain, Sir, ycur ohedient servant, T. SELLAR, Manager. MERCHANT TAYLOR'S GI ANIMAR SCHOOL, GREAT CROSBY. A public distribution of prizes, awarded at the Christmai examina. tion by the Rev F. Snowl,fl'l, M.A , t - ok p'ace at the above rchool yesterday, at two o'clock. Notwithstanding the inclemercy of the weather, there ware a good many lanies present. The master, the Rev. John Bernard, rose to deliver a lecture to the audience, but More proceedinz lie said that, through a misunderstanding, the boys had not speeches ready for the occasion. They had formerly an examination on y once a year—at Midsummer—and they were not aware, until too late, that this distribution of prizes was to take place. The re, gen Imsan then went on to road his lecture, on the "Matners and Customs of the las` Centwy." and highly entertained the meeting with the arous'ng descriptions he gave of the habi's and customs of the people of that time. rhe Princ'pal then distributed to the pupils the prizes sill certificates—the former consisted of handsomely bound volumes, ebtaine I from Mr. Holden, Church street, and were highly creditable to that establishment. If we may judge from the questions in g,tography, arithmet e, history Sic., wi.ich the pupils ware required to answer, the prizes wero well deserved; and the sane may be said of writing and drawing. The pieces exhibited were indeed highly creditable to the pupils and their master. The Rev. Mr. Bernard then closed the weting by thanking the ladies fc r their attendance on the occasion, and wished the boys mer:y holidays. The fol:o .ving is the list of PRIZES. MONTEFIORE PRIZE.—Parr. CONDUCT.-19t Class : Parr. Shaw, certificate. Gatis, highly commended. DIVINITY.---15t Clas , : Parr. tad Class: Green. C. Stower, cer tificate. smitton highly commended. GHEEE.-19t Class: Parr, Thoma., commended. LATIN.—ISt Class: Parr. 2nd C!ass: Gitis. Thomas, highly commended. EUCLID AND ALGEER Is: Class Grzenhaus. 2nd Class: Parr. Gatis, certificate. ARITHMETIC. —lSt Class: Lees. 2ad Gat:s. Parr, c:rtifi cate. Brown, Quirk, commended. HISTORY.—Ist Class: Shaw. St)w 3', certificate GNOGRAPRT.-ISt Class': Parr. 2nd Clam: Gatis. Wills, highly commended. Be thaw, commended. • DaAwiNc.—lst Class: Lees. Christian, Greenham, highly cam mended. Parr. commended. WRITING,—ISt Class: Wills. 2nd Class: Brown, Quirk. Gatis, Lees, highly commea ird. Corder, R ymond, Gatis. cornmende Faciscn.-Ist Class: Stower. 2nd Class: Gatis. Wills, highly commended. LOSS OF THREE LIVES BY FIRE. On Saturday morning between three and four o'clock, a fire, attended with serious loss of property, and fatal consequences to three persons, happened in Anchor-street, SpitalAelds, London. The house in question belonsed to a Mr. J. A. Harman, silk manufacturer, and the unfortunate persons who lost their lives wore soundly sleeping when the police•constahlo first perceived the smoke issniog through the shutters. Before they cold be awakened the flames had taken possession of the staircase, and made escape by that means impossible. Under these circumstances the inmates made for the second floor windows, whence they called loudly for help. Police sergeants Egerton and Purchase endeavoured to enter the top of the house, but to intense was th, heat, and so strong the smoke, that it was found impossible. At tide moment the flee escape conductor from Shoreditch siation iitrivial with the parish engine and fire escape, both of which 115 had charge of. He pitched his machine against the wrong house while he was getting the parish engine t) work— hence the loss of three lives. With as little delay as possible several other engines which arrived got to work, but by the time the hose were fully ctiiirged, the shop and tower part of the hours were wrapped in flames. By dint of great exertions however. by six o'clock the fire was extinguished. As soon as the ruins were cooled, Engineer Cole, the firem n, went in search of the persons who were eueposed to have perished, when the bodies of John Metcalf, aged 42, Ann Metcalf, aged 0, and Julia Metcalf, aged 11, were found all huddled together. The unfortunate family had been sutricated. Every means were resorted to to restore anis matiozi, but without oneness. Shells having been procured, the bodies were rem - ,ved to Bethnal-green Workhouse, to await a coroner's inqaest. A most searching investigation is being insti tuted as to t origin of the fire, but nothine satisfactory can be ascertained. The premlses ware insured for £3OO. New Qcxee's COUNSEL,—Eight gentlemen of the Chancery bar are, it is believed, to be raised to the rank of Queen's Counsel. The promotion is to fall on Mr. Shapter, Mr. Greer, Mr. Amphlett, Mr. Bazelgett, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Bird, Mr. Goldsmid, and one other who is not yet certainly known. These announcements, appearing every now and then, must give unlearned laymen an idea either that her Majesty is perpetually involved in an increasing number of actions and suits, or that the change from a junior barrister to a Q C. imports little else than doffing the stuff gown and robing with tie silk, with some undefined increase of rank of no consequence to any one but the owner. But there is a working difference. The junior in a cause frames the written pleadings, hunts up the law, advises on the evidence, and so co-operates in his department with the solicitor in his, to make the cause ready for the judge. In this stage the papers are furnished to the Q.C., or " leader," as he is practically termed, with the endorsement, " With yon, Mr. Brief full." On the eve the morning of hearing, a consultation ialheld at the leader's chambers, when the junior andlthe solicitor attend The plaintiff's or defendant's case, as it may happen, is passed in review, and the attack or defence in its strong and weak points is discussed, and concerted. In Court the leader takes upon himself the conduct of the cause; opine it, presents it in the most favourable light, with a greater or less supply, and perhaps rectification, from time to time, as need requires, facts and authorities from his junior, who sits behind him. The junior, who reads the evidence, follows his leader, picking up such crumbs and fragments of arguments as may be left for him ; or displaying his oratory on his own private account, so as to say one word for his client and two for his own advancement. The change, then, from stuff to silk—from the back benches to what may be called the stalls of the court—is a crisis in a barrister's practice. Many a junior —perhaps a grey-haired junior—distin guished for cever pleading, sound law, and unwearied in dustry, fails in the peculiar tact necessary to put his case in the best and strongest light, according to the constitution of the judge's mind ; or, what would often be of more avail, he cannot mould himself to the temper of the bench. Thus sometimes a lucrative business, with a room full of pupils, is exchanged for the empty honour of " silk ;" for silks do not take pupils, Queen's counsel must not be employed in any cause against the Crown without special license : but as a license may be obtained, as a matter of course, for about £9, the public are not deprived, through a Crown monopoly, of the services of the moat eminent advocates. The first of the order seems to have been Sir Francis North, afterwards Lord weeper of the Great Seal to Charles IT TE(E MANUFACIURE OF ACCOMMODATION BILLS: The examination of Mr. Macdonald, before the Sheriff 'm Glasgow revealed the following rather startling facts:—air. D. Macdonald said, " We first found it necessary to resort to accommodation bills in 1e45. The business was then increasing, and we needed additional capital to carry it on. At that period our accommodation blls were to alimited extent, not exceeding, in 1845, £8,003 or £lO,OOO. The party from whom we chiefly had that accommodation was our father. Our capital, or sum at era lit of steels in 1845, was £13,800. At that time we had no current bank account—that is, a credit account on bond. Onr increasing business obliged us to find caeital in this way. Besides onr father, the parties on whom we drew at first, were our :meats—we drew against goods when they had them. Until the year 1853, we did not keep our books so as to distinguish exactly between accommodation bills and trade bills— although all the bills wore entered in our bill-book. Our acoommodat en paper as at Jane, 1849, had reached the amount o £16,003 or thereby; at July, 1850, to £39,030; October, 1851, to £48,003; October, 1853, to £63,003 ; at October 1853 and 1854, it we' on each occasion about £BO 000 ; at October, 1555, £85,03 ; at October, 1855, £iBB,o 0. lam able to speak with more certainty to tbese two lost years, because from 1855, onward, the ac 7otal nolation Lilts mere classified in o'er books. With reference to the former years, I wish it nederstood that the sums mentioned are merely approxima tions. At the tine of our suspension in October latt, our total a .com modatioa pep ir liel reached £383 000, of which the proportion for our behoof was £359,000. This is exclusive of the accommodation parer current between us and Ross, Mitchell, ant Co., amounting to £60,000, and which was wholly for their acconernedarioa, with the exception of XII 000. The progressive increase in the amount of accommodation from 1849 to 1653 is accounted for by the cor responding increase in the extent of our business, and our system of having very few lens payable. because ae made our disbursements chiefly in cash. In 1853 the Hawser. street building was commencee, but, as ee gave the tradesmen bills for their instalments, the increase of accommodation paper occasioned by that undertakine does not ap sear use it 1856, when the trades men's bills an[ balances were paid off: and our accommodation increased from £B5 009 in 1855, to £lBB,OOO in 1856. This increase, however, is in part attributable to extension of business f hoeing our taking possession of our new promises. The heritable loins which, of com=e, re laced our accommodation, amounted to £51,c09. The charge upon our business lecrersed with the increase of our accommodation bills. Taking the sear 1849, the discounts on all bills that year, or rather the balance of interest, was £2,500, but I cannot give the pr: portion applicable to accommodation bills. After a lapse of five years, taking the year 1854, the belan:e of interest on all bills had increased to £l4OOO. In 1856, it was 009, and in October. 1857, it was £40,00. As only one interest account was km it, 1 cannot tell the proportion beiween the trade and accommodation bills, but I consider that two thistle of the amount might be a fair approximation (for the latter). The number of parties from whom we got accommodation grew with the amount of the accommodation received. In 1853 the number of parties greeting accommodation was s ill limited, being cro felled to seven individuals. These seven included our agea's, James Show at London, Alexander Mackenzie at Manchester, and William Lock at Belfast. The other four were MeWilliam Johnston at London, Michael Baines at London, and It. and G. Wilson, New York. These agents, particularly Lock of Belfast, had eenerally goods in their heeds to cover in part the hills drawl upon then, but the other parties had nothing. In 1854, the parties giving an cornmoilatioa had increased to 10 ; in 1853, to 13 ; in 1856, to 20; and in 185 e, to 75. , Many of them hal ne commission; but the greater part had a commission varying from 1 to le per cent. The statement in the appendix of tie trustee's statement, headed " Accommodation bills," contains the names and residences of the parties fcc n whom we had a commefation in 1857, and tee smennts we held from each. With 20 out of these 75 we had business other than for accommodation, but not so with the remaining 55. Some of them we dai not know at all. About 31, or thereby, we di I not know, unless by their names on the bills, and from tee in 'orenstion of those who oetained them, who certified them to be respectable parties. Five of these parties were obtained by Michael Baines, of oadon. These five were—Wagstaff and Ce., London, W. Crowe, J. Payton, and J. Popham. Mr. Baines also got for us the names of A. Howell and E. liosquet. I understood teat these parties were all in business in Loedm as drapers, and the two lasenarned were females, and milliners. We hal transactions •in business with James Cappell, of Gutter-lane, London. He got for us thirteen names by way of accommodeton. These were--Joseph Brown, L. Collins and Co., J. Gruger and Co., Hollins and Co., J. Johnson and Co,. G. Rodgers and Co., Joseph Ranger, J. Roe, T. Stock, 'sS. Stable, Waters and Co., /tinware, Brown, and Co., and G. Spencer—all of London. These were all represented to me to be drapers er outfitters in London. We had transactions with Messrs. Francis and Alston. and they obteinrd eight names for us, there are—G. Chin chill, Fletcher and lion'ds worth, 11. Ford aid Co., Ford and Co., G. H. Fletcher, H. Hine, W. H. Truss and Co., R. Francis and Co , all of London, with the exception of R. Francis and Co., who were of Ipswich. They were all represented t) us as being in a respee'able way as drapers or shopkeepers. I observe the names of six parties in the statement described as J. Howard, WelharJarnes E. V. Manners, J. Sutton, H. Hine, Whitehall and Co., got by Josiah Huntford and S. H. Brigs, both of Nottingham. The last two got all the six. We did not directly pay any commission to the parties whose names have been mentioned as procured for us. Any allowance that they had mast have been paid out of the commission given to these parties, which wee, as before mentioned, 1 and le per cent. In every instance my firm Wes flat drawer of the bills upon these parties. This system of procuring names commenced in March of the present year, and was intended to be temporary. At the close of 1556, it was intended there should be a large reduction of accommodation paper from the spr ng sales of onr stock, whiten was sufficiently large to have effected that reduction if it had found a remunerating market. It was with this view that we opened a house in London and one in New York, so ins to help off the sale of our stock, but trade was dull, and goo:13 del not sell freely. Expecting each month might bring a favourable chaege, we proposed to Francis and Alston and J. Compel, to cm as agents in disposing of our goods, and that they should sop n credits on parties purchasing such goods, whom we would protect by handing them the goods which we ware not able to dispose of. This was accordingly arranged. I was introduced to some of the parties who were to accept on these intended credits, and others were got. Goods were not pat in the possession of the prrties so drawn, pr ncipally because they were not mike I for. Had they asked for them we stem i hare supplied them. That stock now forms the principal asset of our estate. Had we succeeded hi disposing of that stock it was our intention to have limited onr business to a manageable compass. It was chiefly at the Western Bank that these accommodation bids were discounted We experienced no soffit:silty in gettine t:.em discounted until last snmmer, when the de.lre was expressed by the hank that we should reduce our disc lent account on the aggregate. lam not aware that tee Wester.s Bank charged snore than its ordinary rates of discount. We never directly or indirectiy gave intro than the ordinary rate of interest. lam no': aware, and was not a party to any practice, if such was resorted to, to give the parties on whom those accommodation bills were drawn a repute t r which tsey were not °untied. The im mediate cause of suspending pa ments arose out of the inve,tigation which the Western Bank set about snaking into several of their ac counts in September la t. Up to that time my firm was in its usual good credit. Our name having been mentioned as one of the parties whose accounts were being so investizated, we found oar discounts restrieted at the Commercial and City Banks. I com plained of teis to Mr. Taylor and Mr. Fleming, of the Western Bonk, and mentioned that we would require temporary enlereemeats of our discounts at the Western. owing to the restriction placed on our discounts at the other banks. This was declined by the Weotern Bank, and they put themselves in communication with the other banks, tsith the view, as 1 understood, to take a fair share of our discounts. 'i he result of that interview was that though the City Bank was wiling to take its share, the Commercial, on learning the state of our account at the Western, stopped our account entire'y." BURSTI'SiG OF TfIE UPPER POOL, NEAR BIRMINGHAM. A'mui half-pl , t nine o'clock on Thursday morning, o le of the most disastrous occurrences that has f a. some time happened in the neigh bourhood of Birmingham, though fortunately anat. - traded with loss of life, or injury t person, took plat' at Upper Witten Pool, in which locality the new works for the water supply of r irntirytilam have for some time been in progress. From inquiries made on the spat, it appears that the pool in question, now ombracine an area of sour a 12 or 13 acres, and containing an aver,rge depth of from eight to nine feet of water, had boon considerably enlarged, and every precaTion which engineering skill could suggest, and workmanship carry out, had been taken to render the embankments sufficiently secure to re sist the extra pressure of the water. 'the works at this pool war • completed some seven montes since, and the water was then run into it ; and, until Wednesday night, there was not the srghtest indication of anything wrong. On that niok', however, a slight leakage was observed by a watchman. He caused information to be at once for warded to Mr. note, the engineer to the Waterworks Company, and aiso to Mess - s. Branson & Gwyther, the contractors for the works. A body of workmen were at once dear:ale:fel to the spot, and were em ployed during the whoie night in endeavouring to avert the threatened c slamity. The embaorkment where the leakage was observed had been greatly strengthen d, and measured aeou f 70 feet in thickness by about 15 feet in height, besides being paddled with &ay, a deep sheeting of the some material being also carried into the bed of the pee'. These precautions, which at a moderate calculation had increased the resist ance of this embankment to three times its original strength, seemed ample, but the mbseqaent event has, unfortunate y. proved the con trary, for on Thurs ray morning the emliankmiint yielded to the pressure against it, and in an locredibly short space of time, with a noise resembling the roar of a park of heavy art Very, the mighty body of water buret from its bends, a d rushed, with tee impetuosity of a milt race, over the adjacent roads and country, boiling, foaming, and eddyinr, like a raging sea. Much destruction of property of course ensued, the rushing waters spreading on all sides, and speedily over flowing the only outlet, a small rivulet intended to carry off the superfluous water of the pool. Laden and empty waggons, carts, wheelbarrows, workmen's tools, planks, and, in fact, everything used in the furtherance of the works, were carrie i away in an universal debris, some to the distance of half a mile. Workmen and horses employed in the neighbourhood escaped with much difficulty, and had hardly time to get out of the course taken by the water. For fully three quarters of an hour, and until the pool was completely drained, the water continued to flew through the aperture, which, although of such great thickness and height, now presents an ap pearance as though it had been purposely cut away, and an inex perienced pars m can scarcely understand how such a vast amount of earth could be forced from its position Fortunately, there was only one house standing immediately in the direction taken by the restless current, viz., that of Mr. Dugard, of Birmingham. It was speedily surrounded by water, and the lo wer apartments flooded to the depth cf four feet, the fu•nitnre, &c., being tumbled about in the utmost confusion, the floor of one of the rooms being blown up. Ths family, consisting of Mr. Dagard, his wife, and five children, were luckily enabled to effect their esrap s up stairs; and for some time so great was the rub of water against the house, that fetes were entertained that it, too, would be swept away, the water rolling against one side of it to the depth of seven or eight feet. The cries for aid were gallantly responded to by a workman, named Gardner, and he praiseworthily, and at much personal risk, endeavoured to convey succour to those in the house. The effort was, however, unsuccessful, and nearly cost the poor fellow his life. He was swept away by the current for more than 150 yards, and was saved by clinging to the trunk of an elm tree, where, for more than twenty minutes, he remained without help. At length, another workm .n, named Taylor, volunteered with a rope to his assistance, and thus saved the peer fellows life. The buildings near Aston School were aso flooded, as were some farm buildings, and in the latter a number of pigs were set floating, but none were drowned. By the foresight of Mr. liofe, the valve at the lower pool, now in coarse of coestraction, was closed, and the greater portion of the water finding its way into this pool, further damage was prevented. This pool is about 20 acres la extent, and the seater now lies therein to the depth of about three feet, together with a number of waggons, &c., swept down from the neighbourhood of the upper pool. Had not this valve been closed, the water must have found its way into the canal, and the moat direful consequences must have followed had such been the case. A tramway, used for the purpose of the excavations, was in some parts almost entirely destroyed, the iron rails and sleepers being broken up and carried great distances ; and part of a new horse road, with a large heap of sifted gravel upon it, was swept away to tee depth of about seven feet. The traces of the flood are perceptible throughout its entire course ; and, altogether, such a scene of devastation is presented that has seldom resulted from a similar occurrence. Not the slightest blame can attach to any one, for every endeavour had been made to render the works permanent and secure. It is expected that a week will be required for the clearance of the wreck before the work, can be resumed.— linfaingham Doily Port. TWO RAILWAY COLLISIONS. A. collision has taken place on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, between two passenger trains. The engine of an express train had broken down, and, while stationary, was run into. No lives lost, but many persons seriously injured. The other occurred at Dadleyport, Staffordshire, when a passenger train came in collision with a coal train, which was half an hour before its time. Serious injuries inflicted to a number of persons. The Suffolk, from Melbourne, has been at sea 77 days, with £450,000 in gold. The Commander-in-chief has issued the regulations for the new Staff College, at Sandhurst. The Daily News says that they aro eminently satisfactory. The papers announce the death, at the age of fifty-five, Mr. James Coppock, the well-known Parliamentary agent of the Reform Club, who died on Saturday night, of bron chittie. FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.—The Times says, it is understood the East India Company have received formal notice that it is the intention of Government to bring in a bill for the abolition of the double government. MARSEILLES, Saturday.—The Neapolitan government has declared the Cagliari to be fair prize of war. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has published a justificatory paper sup porting this view. The EngliEh prisoners are included in the impeachment, and to be tried immediately. BERLIN, Saturday.—The Zeie states that a diplomatic mission is to be sent by the French Government to all the Northern States interested in the affairs of Denmark and Holstein. This mission will devote its attention to the concessions which Denmark may be expected to make. DISGRACEFUL RIOT IN T. GILES'S, LONDON.—On Sunday evening, an affray, which has been renewed on each Sunday evening for several weeks between two factions of lads residing in Dudley-street and the Rookery, was again resumed by the pelting of each other with stones and pieces of brick. Two of the lads, named Johnson, residing in High-street, and George Irving, son of a hatter, living at 3 Crown-street, got into personal conflict, when Johnson drew a large clasp knife and cut his opponent through the cheek, inflicting a frightful gash and nearly severing the tongue. Johnson at once made his escape, and up to a late hour last night had not been apprehended. The wounded lad, Irving, was taken to Charing-cross Hospital. ATTEMPTED ROBBERY OF UPWARDS OF:L'lnlttl«,. Daring Friday night week, a daring robbery anise attempted at Roscoe Place, the extensive stove grate =zip-- factury of Messrs. Stuart and Smith The firm pay warm, on Saturdays, and it has been their customs to draw realer for that purpose on Fridays, leaving it secured at 17. 7 .tera one of Chubb's rates. On Friday night, npwarda le e-n.OOO in cash was so left in the office safe. Next merle - ing it was discovered that an attempt kad been mada• ta carry off the safe and its contests entire. The thievee Imo' for this purpose dragged a hand truck and wheeillaamotre front the yard up a ladder to the second floor, on veLtleak. the office is situate. and had entered b y forcing open 'ester door. They had succeeded, by the use of bars of irceaaalter removing the safe from its position and turning it n port edge, so as to slide it upon the truck, when it seeximetae have overbalanced or fallen forward with such force Sheet: the upper back edge teem° so severely wedged irate tniesta wood framework above, that all the etTeets of the thieraaa to remove it were furthet baffled. In this state of efiziems the thieves, as is evident from the marks of violence erre the sefe,attempted to break it open with a sledge 'lemma:ea but faired. Two desks were broken open in the but their contents (inclnding about £6 in loose cash veves not removed. The sledge hemmer and bar of irere Lad," been taken from one of the workshops, and the truck areE barrow from the yard. No other property about the Tree— misea had been ei-aurbed. A variety of eireamstencees= point to the attempt at robbery having been made bar nose' persons thorougly acquainted with the premises, and va'aka. the fact of the lerge sum of morey being in the safe. Ease satiefied was Mr. John Smith of this, that he celled alea werkanen together, and, offering a reward of £5O, appeal:el , to them to aid him to bring the guilty persons to jaatriera The workmen share in the opinion of their employer e aexeit each is their indignation at the daring and atrocious azea„ that hopes are entertained that evidence will he fored, earning, which will lead to the detection of the offraiceer BRITISH ANT) FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.—At the aurizza ex , raination of stu:lcus and pnpil. teachers just terminates. nearly 300 young persons of both sexes were cauditktes;: either for certificates of merit or for Queen's scholarshirsi. Of this total 32 are already occupying echoola of Portance in various localities,' while nearly 100 haxas received antY , intrnen!s to schools in different parts of t?Crs• country. The increasing and pressing dematid for realm efficient teachers is a happy omen for the educatioraA. prospects of the land, a^.d. it is one which the committxk' of this society is doing all in its p riser to meet. THE ST. PANCRA3 TR kGEDV.—Since the inquest, tlac police have been using the most active exertions to vnd'ea.l--. your to trace the relatiyesof the man aid woman ni•'s were found under such tragic circnniganc,.s at Mr. II Arr.zek. coff,e house, Drummond-srreet, London. There is somr little mystery attached to the visit of the female who, om. Weineslay morning last, called at Mr. flarpsi 's to see thae,- holy of the female, and who described as a remarkabie lulus nature in the deec-i_sel female thas she had the grect and first toes of her right foot webbed. She looked hagrk at the deceased, and was overcome by her f,!elings. she recovered, she was asked to look at the body of ten min, bat this she refused to do, and lef ,pr mein ~7f return the same evening with her husband, but she hasauk been since seen. After she left, the man in charge of tom. body looked at the ' , deceased female's foot and found it s.*i. described. The supposition is, therefore, that there is , 15... relationship between the females, and that from some en:es do not wish their connection with the deceased femalf, be known, as it was also stated by the pe. son who ce..l;e:-.4. that her sister (the supposed deceasei), a few years was on tertus of peculiar intimacy with a Frenchman ate` large property in Parie. Tao female alluded to abovs'saaii she saw her sister about five weeks ago is Paris, but shik , made no further communication. TIT E OLDHAM CORP iIIATION WA TERWORKS.—Arocy— TRATIoN CASE —T'he arbitration between the .01assan:i Cul:oration and John Skelton, Esq., for the purpose as? - determining the amount to be paid for the purchase z certain land required by the corporation in the construetiesn of their reservoirs at Pictborne, was lately held in Mr.r.i ch ster, the arbitrators being J. G. Blsckburne, A5 a ;.,,.. F.G.S., of Oldham, on behalf of the corporation, areiLf George Branson, Esq., of Manchester, on behalf of Skelton, and J. W. Leather, Esq , C.E., of Leeds, was fitse• umpire. The amount claimed by Me. Sielton was .1-,;&,01$1t bat a hint was thrown cm': that £6,000 might be accent 4,.. but no less. One of the hi4'iest valuations of the lam. was by one of Mr. Skelton's witnesses, Mr. T. If. Fish/m u of Mancin.ster, who valued it at £9,057 19s. _ and the lowest, on behalf of the corporation was by - l„ C. E. Cawley ' CE, of Manchester, namely, £2,475. The Corporation offered Mr. Skel'.on £3,300, which he deelimaelE to accept. The award of the umpire has just been receiree by the town-clerk, and the sum to be paid by the corpora— tion is £3,2G5. If theaward had be.n anything mom- than the amount offered by the corporation, they33 - 03TM'; have been liable to the whole expenses-of the arbitratlern ; but as it is, Mr. Skelton wilt have to pay his own enste, which, it is understood, will amount to nearly ..EL,Nri. Mr. Blackburne's original valuation of the land, before corpora ion applied for power to coestruot tin works, Tr.a., £3,126 14s. SALE OF STOCK AT WE NTWORTH WOODROUSE.--Zn consequence of Earl Fitz eilliam being about to reside iecii his Irish estates for soma time, his large lord exeeltemit stock of cattle, horses, Sze., at Wentworth Woodhoua comprising upwards of 550 lots, was on Thursday alle Friday sold by aueien, bj Mr. Tilburn, of Dines - item. The silo attrictel a very large company e ich dey, includ— ing Tautly ex eusive dealers and farmers from distant part e,' of the country. The fat sheep fetched from 353 to 5s each, and the fat beasts from £l3 to £25, being the fuli. market prices. Tee highest sum obtained for a half-reed..> horse was 47 guineas, and only one et the thorough-breZ horses fetched as much as 60 guineas, but this woe osvissg to his lordship having selected the best animals to pharlse 'in his stud elsewhere. The prices on the second day were :—Ewe lambs, 25s to 283 a head ; wethor larase about 21s; Leicester ewes, in lamb, 533 to 54e; &reit South Ddwns, 443 to 465. The store beasts fetched go e 4 prices, one fine Alderney cow and calf realising £23, rtsr several others £2O each. Two short-horns cud Io . ;eiTAR stock were knocked down at low ptice3, bulls realising onleyF £3O, which were said to have cost more than double that amount. This result was attributable to the stock havitse been visited by disease during the summer. The bifirliage for the agricultural horses was very spirited ; several need animals realising upwards of 63 guineas each, and the pigs sold well, the highest figure obtained being £lO MSLANCHOLY Loss or Six SE&ME v.—WO (Ayr Adm.- , tiser) are very sorry fo learn, from a private letter, th six men of the barque Mary Anne, Captain George Aiemsfie andre, belonging to Jersey, which sailed from Troonttau. Buenos Ayres, in August las`, were drowned while floe. vessel lay off the latter port, on the sth October. appears from the master's statement, that on that day 'lit:. had gone ashore in the gig, accoapaniel by David Wh ; l3-4., seeped mate, Joseph Ross, Alexander Patterst-zo i , A. 8., William Warren, James Queen, ordinary searee'x.„,, Daniel M'Ciallan, cook, and Henry Curran, boy. Aisdime they had had four hours' leave, the men all returned at- 5 o'clock, p.m , to rejoin the ship. Captain Alex:anal rac. having further business, did not accompany them, buz. gave the boat in charge to White, the second mite. The' men were never heard of again, and after the lapse of thaw• days, the boat was discovered three miles below the ataig.„, head uppermost, and without oars, sails ; rudder, &c., low the misfortune happened is unaccountable, as those was perfectly calm at the time, and for some days act:easel— lag. With the exception of Warren, all the lads belong da to Ayr, and it may be some consolation to their relatiree. tau know, that in the opinion of the captain, a better cream. never stepped. Their chests were delivered up to *a, British Consul ; and although at first some difficulty was: experienced in getting psi-mission from the Spanish autae— ritiec to inter them in the English burying ground, it difficulty was ultimately overcome, and on Sunday, the . I*4: November, the poor fellows were decently consignee ars the grave by the captain and the remaining portion of tht: crew, in presence of many strangers. A WOMAN SAID TO BE 109 YEARS OLD.—The-e is an a lady, now living at Sutton•oa-Trent,naiesel Ann Hardwilit who is stated to be in the 110th year of her age. .1-74- maiden name was Eaton, and she was bore at Soutwar•. CAlinghim, near Newark, in the year 1747. She la lived in the same house she now occupies for 93 yezrz having entered it as a maid servant at the age of 17, ale. she was afterwards married to her employer, Mr. Willi - az*. Hardwick, farmer. Her husband's death took place years ago (he being then much her senior), at the age ap. 83. Her youngest son, Mr. William Hardwick, as— a,t., Sutton, and is 67 years of age, and the eldest daughter 85 years of or, and resides at Balderton, near Newark...- The daughter visited her aged parent during last sprier and the old lady met her and walked with one stick, the daughter hobbled with a couple. The first exclametinar. Mrs. Hardwick gave was, "Eh! my lass ! Pm glad to sew you." M-s. Hardwick'a furniture, and the dwelling, ;.s 4 complete unison with the age when she first entered :nes-- domicile. She has been able to attend to her business her lifetime, and is in the enjoyment of good health noaai, and even protests against any assistance in makin g hie own bed at the present time. Up to within the last taws:, years she was able to knit and sew without spfctacice a can still see to pick a pin off the floor. Old Sill Steaks aged 82 years, was, u ntil lately, Mrs. Hardwick's wait Jar. maid ; but the old lady thought she could dispense witta her services, and in 1856 declined being attended to by Inv and h as meat strenuously resisted any assistance. Sla-1 ,- hea properly cared for and looked after by her frierals, rime relatives in the village. On speaking with the centmaa.."tAgg , she now and then ejaculated, " I think Gad has forget - Wit , sae," and alluded to her long pilgrimage on earth, — Doncaster Gaut*.