The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

SUDDEN DEmr.—On Friday morning, Mrs. Edge, of No.
18, Albion-terrace, Low-hill, fell down and expired while at
ber breakfast.

ON Thursday evening a tea-party, in celebration of the anni-
versary of the Canning-street Young Men's Association, was
held in the school-room, St. James's-road.
THE GREAT BRITAIN.—The Great Britain arrived in the
Mersey on Thursday, and en Friday went into dock. For the
present, she is discharged from the transport service.

THE Cork Examiner announces the intention of a company
of high mercantile position to establish a line of steam-vessels,
which will ply regularly between that port and New York.

Boy CHOKED BY A HORSE-BEAR--On Thursday, a youth
named James Dewhurst, residing at No. 10, Melville-place,
Oxford-street, was accidentally choked by a horse-bean.

A BAZAAB, in aid of the funds of the Everton Church
Missionary Society, was held during the Christmas holidays,
in the school-room, in Everton-valley, and realised upivards
of £lOO.

BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE RURAL DISTRICTS OF
TOXTETH PARK.—At their meeting on Tuesday last, this
body decided, by a majority, to admit reporters to their_
meetings.
Two MEN DROWNED.—Archibald Hosten, aged 41, a
watchman in the employ of Messrs. Maclver' was drowned on
Wednesday night in the Huskisson Dock. William Jones, a
fireman on board the steamer Vigo, in the Wellington Dock,
fell overboard on Thursday, and was drowned.

THE BOROUGH EXTENSION BILLS have been withdrawn.
The Coporation availed themselves of delay permitted by the
rules of parliament, and, on the last day (Monday) declined to
lodge the bills. The cause of this was some difficulty with
certain parties in Birkenhead.
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION.—A meeting of this
society was held on Thursday evening, at the Royal Institu-
tion, the president, Mr. Abraham, in the chair. Mr. Mercer
delivered a lecture on " Photography," dwelling more particu-
larly on the chemistry of the collodion process, and the de-
compositions which take place in its different stages.

ST. ANDREW'S SCOTCH CHURCH SABBATH SCHOOLS.—
On Thursday evening a soirée of the friends and supporters of
these schools took place in the Hope-hall, Hope-street. The
Rev. Mr. Forfar occupied the chair. After tea several
addresses were delivered upon the advantages of Sabbath-
school education, by the reverend gentlemen present. The
proceedings concluded with the exhibition of a magic lantern.

MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR. EDWARD GRAY.-With
the sanction of the Workhorse Committee of the Select
Vestry, it has been resolved to place in the new chapel at the
Workhouse a small tablet to the memory of the late Mr.
Edward Gray, who for a great number of years faithfully
served this parish. Donations towards this humble tribute
to the memory of a deserving parochial official will be
received by the churchwardens.
TRITE Lrmnemr.—We understand that Mr. Heywood,
senior partner of the banking firm of Heywood and Sons,
Brunswick-street, has, with a generosity which deserves the
highest commendation, bestowed the sum of 4,000 guineas
upon the clerks in his establishment, as a New-year's present.
Such a manifestation, on the part of the head of the house, of
his appreciation of the services of his assistants, will, we have
no doubt, call ford on their part a corresponding energy in
business.

ALTERATION IN THE SERVICES OP ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
—Some important alterations are about to take place in the
services of this church, with the view of making more ample
provision for the spiritual welfare of the poor,. An additional
curate has been appointed, entirely at the expense of the
present rector. It is also proposed to simplify the service,
first, by wit'ndrawing the opening hymn, and returning to
simple congregational psalm. tunes. The rector is also about
to erect, at his own expense, two additional stoves.

ELECYTTON OP A MEMBrft OP TIE IlkiCIC COMMITTEE.—
The-election of a member of the Dock Committee, to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the retirement of Mr. Steele in conse-
quence'of ill-health, took place at the Dock-offices on Friday.
Three'candidates offered themselves—Mr. W. Rathbone, jun.,
Mr. Charles Saunders and Mr. T. M. Blythe. Mr. Rathbone
kept at the head of the poll during :the whole of the day, and
at the close the numbers stood as fellows :—Wm. Rathbone
the younger, 344 ; Chas. Saunders, 288 ; Thomas Martin
Blythe, 138.
LOCAL WAR ITEMS.—The screw steamer Cleopatra, after
'being in the transport service for about a twelvemonth, has
been entirely refitted under the superintendence of Captain
Bevis, R.N.—ln a day or two -she will leave here for Malta
with detachments of the 34th, -97th, 30th, 33rd, 49th, 60th
68th, and 82nd regiments, comprising altogether 560 men and
24 officers.—The transport steamer Oneida is expected at this
port in a few days.—On Thursday evening upwards of 40
men, volunteers for the royal navy; were despatched hence to
London, to be drafted amongst-various ships in the service.
LIVERPOOL ART-UNION.---at the annual distribution of
prizes in connection with the Liverpool Art-Union; which took
place in the Exhibition-rooms, Old Post-office-place, on Tues-
day, Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P., presided. The report-showed
that after deducting £365 9s. for expenses, the sulnleft in the
hands of the treasurer is .f.. 505, which has been .ellotted in
prizes as follows :—One of £50:; one of £4O ; two 6f £3O; two
of £25; five of £2O; five of £l5; nine of £10; an eight of £5.
The first prize, valued at.£so, was won by Mr. C. Atkinson,
Lark-lane, Toxteth-park.
LITERAMY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.—On Friday evening
this society gave an entertainment in the Claytonaall, which
was tastefully fitted up as a theatre on the occasion. The
audience,was select as well as-numerous, and the performances
elicited the warmest approbation. The performances being
by unprofessional parties, 'the reward of those who sustained
a part in them will be more consistently supplied in the
gratification of their friends, than by public eulogium ; we
shall, therefore, content ourselves with backing the applauses,
which on the whole were liberally and judiciously bestowed.
Ltvanroon MARINE SOCIETY.—This society, ,formed for
the purpose of affording relief to poor captains, seamen, and
their families, held their annual meeting on Teesday, at the
Clarendon-rooms, when a report was read, from• which it ap-
peared ,that the " stock" or -capital account amounted to
£13,799 125.; the annuity fund, to £612 '7s. 10d;; the relief
fund, to £92 6s. 7d. The claimants on the fundsofthe society
consist of three captains, 27 widows, and 33 orphans. The
captains received annuities of either £l7 or £l4; the widows,
£l3 or Cll ; and the orphans, £3 each. The accounts were
passed' without remark, and Mr, James Aikin was appointed a
trustee,-in place of the late Mr. Mhomas Booth.
MARITIME DISASTERS.—The-ship Empire State, which ar-
rived here from New York on Tuesday, was struck by a heavy
sea on the 22nd of December, on' the starboard quarter, which
stove in the front of the poop cabin, and did great injury on
deck. The vessel leaked very badly during the red of the
passage, And it was found necessary to throw between two
hundred and three hundred- tons of cargo overboard.—The
John Howell, hence at Savannah, on the Bth December, re-
ported having been in contact with the George L. Abbott,
from New Orleans. The latter, it is supposed, sunk soon
afterwards, but the crew, with one., exception, were saved by
the John Howell.—The James Steward, which arrived at
Newfoundland on the 12th December, reported passing a. full-
rigged ship on fire, apparently deserted, a few days previously.
DANGEROUS ACCIDENT.—Between one and two o'clock on
Thursday afternoon, a horse and a ~phaeton which was pro-
ceeding down Bold-street, took fright and ran off at a great
speed along Church-street, which was much crowded by
vehicles at the time. Every effort ,on the part of the
driver, to arrest the tremendous pace at which the animal
rushed along proved ineffectual. Fortunately, however, it
was turned into Church-lane, where its career was impeded:
by coming in.contact with a cart which was standing there,
and the horse wee, secured by a police &Dna-table and some
spectators. The phaeton was not upset. A lady who was in
the vehicle was much terrified, but fortunately was not hurt.
She was lifted oat in a state of great agitation, from which,
however, she recovered in a short time. Neither the driver
nor the horse sustained any injury ; but an old woman had
her foot injured by the wheel of the vehicle passing over it.
Sr. SIMON'S Ganges Sesoons.—The annual :tea party in
connexion with these schools took place on Thursday evening,
at the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street. The Rev. J. R.
Conor occupied the,ehair • and the Rev. S. Minton, the Rev.
R. V. Sheldon, the Rev. Henry Marlen, the Rev. T. D. Barry,
the Rev. Jos. Bardsley, and the Rev. Dr. Hume were also on
the platform. The audience was large and respectable. The hall
was gaily decorated with alliance banners, and others bearing
scriptaral and other maxims and devices. After -tea, the
rev. chairman addressed the meeting upon the object of their
meeting, remarking that last year the money raised on behalf
of :the new schools which -they proposed establishing in con-
nection with St. Simon's parish church was £419, and now
he was able to tell them that it amounted to £5OO. They
would see by their programmes that the cost of the schools
would be £3,000. They would remember that he had told
them of the society which was being formed by Mr. Torr, a
merchant of this town, for the purpose of establishing schools.
He (111.r...C0n0r) had applied to Mr. 'Torr for assistance towards
their schools, and that gentleman bad promised to give them
£l,OOO as soon as the society got into a position to enable it
to do so. Well, then, with that sum and £l,OOO which they
expected to get from government, they would have £2,500
towards £3,009, This being the state of things, if they could
but get Mr. Tory's society into active operation they would
soon be able to "go ahead," and he would be the last person
to call out " hold hard." With respect to their present
schools, they had worked during the past year in the most
satisfactory manner, and on the previous night they were only
£2O in debt.
WAR CONTRACTS II( LIVERPOOL—The ingenuity and re-
sources of Liverpool have been called freely into requisition in
respect to; furnishing war materiel. The Government has
formed contracts with several of our most eminent foundry
and engineering establishments for the supply of ordnance
and war-munitions • and the ship-building capabilities of the
port are also taxed. Mr. John. Laird, the well-known ship-
builder, has, in his yards at Birkenhead and Liverpool,
fourteen wooden screw gunboats, already far advanced in
construction, of 240 tons and about sixty-horse-power each.
They are to be armed with two heavy guns apiece. It is said
that Government are so well satisfied with the progress
already made, that they last week doubled Mr. Laird's order,
so that he will now have twenty-eight vessels of war on hand.
At the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, in addition to the
monster wrought-iron gun which the proprietors are going
to present to Government, and which is to be 15 feet long, 13
inch bore, 25 tons weight, and capable of throwing a ball of
3001bs. a distance of five miles, they have been commissioned
to make two enormous wrought-iron mortars, which will be
charged with nearly two cwt. of powder for each charge, and
throw shells of 36 inches diameter. This size and description
of mortar is unparalleled, but great confidence is felt as tc
the result of the experiment. At Messrs. Forrester and
"..4. (Vauxhall Foundry), between 7,000 and 8,000 tons of 8,
10, at..'4 13-inch shells have been turned out during the last
six montll.'
S. Indeed, 1,400 tons of these projectiles have been
shipped off ,41 Woolwich during the last ten days, besides
some two orsth'ree dozen of the 10-inch and 13-inch mortars
for sea and land 4mrvice. There are two immense east-iron
mortars in process of;`instruction at this establishment which
are to throw 18-inch shells. This is 5 inches more in diameter
than any shells previously :wide in this c
utounry, but the
Russian `Whistling Dick" at St. 'hastopol wa l5-inch shell.
The first of these large mortars w.:l taken out of mould last
week, and the mass of metal of which' it is composed weighs
25 tons. The workmen have borrowed' _Punch's idea, and
humorously nickname it the "Palmerston 23acifica"
Messrs. Fawcett, Preston and Co's. the same act:4 At
vi.ty is going
on. They are manufacturing, it is understood, al,')ut
90 of
the largest class (13-inch) mortars, 50 for sea an for
land service. Although the same bore, the difference in- the
size of land and sea service mortars is far greater than mo:It
persons would imagine. For instance, the land service mortar,
when finished and ready for delivery, weighs about 33 cwt. ;
the sea service mortar about 103 cwt., or upwards of 5 tons !
This difference is necessary in order to deaden the force of the
recoil on ship-board.