The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-10-30 00:00:00

THE LI VPRPOOL STANDARD.

•
Was. BROWN, Esq., M.P., has sent £lO as a donation in aid
of the funds of the Wigan Mechanics' Institution.
ON Monday morning,Mr. Thomas Lamb, auctioneer, and land-
lord of the Dog and Partridge Inn, Market-place, Wigan, was
found drowned in a boiler in the brewhouse on his own pre-
mises. It is not known how he got into the boiler.
THE Board of Trade, finding that masters of vessels do not
use the best exertions to procure mates when about to proceed
on foreign voyages, have resolved that no shipping master
shall clear any such vessel until the master and mate be pro-
vided with certificates agreeable to the act.
Ma. BIcRLEY, jun., son of the station superintendent of the
London and North-western station, has suddenly died at
Sherborue, Canada East, where be was manager in the goods
department of the Grand Trunk line. He was but 20 years
of age.
MR. JOSEPH LANGTON, the manager of the Bank of Liver-
pool, was taken ill whilst on a tour on the Continent, and died
at Paris on Thursday. No man connected with the commer-
cial or banking interest of Liverpool was better known, or
more generally respected.
SUDDEN DEATH.—On Tuesday morning, Mr. Robert
Richardson, tailor, of Lord-street, died rather suddenly on
board the King Ord', Isle of Man steamboat. e had come
from the island in the boat, and during_the passage he was
very ill, and it was supposed he had burst a blood-vessel. He
died just as the boat arrived in elle river.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday, an inquest was held on the
body of Ellen Harkey, 48 years of age, residing in 3 Court,
Upper Harrington-street, who died in the West Derby hos-
pital, on Wednesday night, from the effects of a fall on the 18th
instant. While passing along Wolff-street, Toxteth-park, she
trod on the coal-grid of No. 30, in the occupation of Mr. Wil-
liams. The grid not being fastened, it turned up, and the de-
ceased fell with her leg through.the hole. Her leg was severely
injured, and finally caused her death.
Local, WAR ITEMS.—The ship Culloden, lying in the
Bramley-Moore Dock, will leave here for Cork to-morrow, or
Thursday, with 24 officers and 420 men, the whole being drafts
from different regiments. At Cork the same ship will take
on board 12 officers and 450 men. These troops are destined
for Malta.—The transport Golconda will sail from Liverpool
for Malta to-morrow, with 60 officers and 600 men, being
drafts from various regiments.—On Thursday, 35 volunteers
for the Royal Navy were sent by Captain Bevis to her Majesty's
receiving ship Crocodile, lying in the Thames.
FLOODS NEAR MANCHESTER.—Heavy rains have fallen
ever since Tuesday in Lancashire and Cheshire. On Thursday,
and during Thursday night, the rain was almost continuous,
sometimes falling in torrents, and the rivers. Irwell : and
Mers-6y -bave "been swollen to overflowing. In Broughton,
near Manchester, the waters of the Irwell overflowed the left
bank of the river, and the inhabitants on Friday morning
were confined to their dwellings, in some of the most con-
tiguous streets, by a depth of several feet of water. The low
grounds adjoining the Mersey, far down into Cheshire, are
completely covered with floods.
TESTIMONIAL.—Some friends of William Cross, Esq., late
manager of the Borough Bank, recently presented him with a
bust, in marble, of Mrs. Cross. A deputation, consisting of
the following gentlemen:—J. Bramley-Moore, Esq., M. P.;
Frank Haywood, Esq. ,• John Laird, Esq. ; James Logan, Esq. ;
John Park, Esq. ; and A. E. Byrne, Esq., waited upon him at
his residence at Aigburth, when the pleasing duty was most
gracefully performed by J. Bramley-Moore, Esq., in the pre-
sence of the lady and her family, and feelingly responded to by
Mr. Cross. We understand Mr. Cross is leaving this town for
London, for the purpose of establishing a house there in con-
nexion with his present firm, Messrs. A. Dennistoun and Co.
VISITORS TO KNOWSLEY.—Amongst the guests assembled
at Knowsley to meet the Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess Mary, were the Duke and Duchess of Manchester,
the Ealairsl,arnyd Countess of Wilton and Lady Katherine Grey
Egerton, the Marquis of Bath, the Marquis and Marchioness
the
ethe
EarlE a Earl
dand
Countess Countess
Howe,of and
tLichfield,he the
Ladies Earl Ad-
elaide f
(ICarSbounna ry
and Emily Curzon, Viscount Valletort, Viscount Can-
terbury, Lord Otho Fitzgerald, Colonel the Hon. James
Macdonald, the Hon. Capt. Egerton, the Hon. Miss Montagu,
Mr. Lumley, Mr. G. Vivian, and Baron Knesebeck, were in
attlevnEdsarncDeEoßnßtyheGDuumlchDelsAsLf.C—ammbe ridge.
weekly meeting was held
on Wednesday, when the following guardians were present :
Kn*
tn.n Messrs.c
Le-ecdhgaer,
Rev. W.
r.
.Ba
Charlesnall, chairman,Batten,do .y
voiceserhal Harrison, vice-chair-
man,ir-
,
Lunt,
Pickup, Siddeley, Kidd, Mountfield, Birch,
Pitts, Roscoe, Abrahams, Roberts, Shaw, Wensley, and Calli s
rsThers
eo balanceresolved,
e,
fothatr r in
n the
rht
ianntl
tender
ea sMr. found
til he 2 to9t be ern 9s. 10 d. It was
Ellis,h
s Sept
totahteerr-,colusrsto,, Castle-
street, e-
cepted. The nu o .f paupers relieved in the workhousee
and hospital were out-door 3,256, being an increase of 61
in-door, and 228 out-door, when compared with the correspond-
big week in last year.
THE LATE ARCHDEACON.— At a recent special meeting of
the board of management of the Collegiate Institution, the
Rev. Rector Campbell, M.A., in the chair, it was moved by
Charles Turner, Esq., seconded by Josias Booker, Esq., and
rethsoomlvaeodlveuancaainilmodounsployn, 't`oTheaxtprtehsea
tmheemirbdeoresposfetnhises
of
fotahrde
lossfeel
sustained by the Collegiate Institution in the death of the
Venerable Archdeacon Brooks. In this great educational
establishment, liras ho mr nal atl,l
d rcombiningeligions
the archdeacona instructionnvaria literary
training,
manifested the liveliest interest, bringing to the counsels If
this board a patience of investigation, a soundness of judgment,
and a truly Christian temper and spirit, of which its members
entertain a most grateful recollection; and they hope that the
experience of his example may still be found to direct and
animate their proceedings."
LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION.—The second meeting
of the session was held on Thursday, in the Royal Institution,
Mr. Abraham, the president, in the chair. The memh.,....
visited the museum, which was opcnea rue tug nest time. The
' directors of the Royal Institution have liberally placed a room
at tne service of the society, and already more than 200 speci-
mens have been collected, and promises made of a large number
more. Mr. Mercer, the secretary, announced several dona-
tions to the library and museum. In the absence of Mr. H.
S. Evans, Mr. Mercer read a paper by that gentleman on
several important articles presented by Messrs. Evans and Co.,
in which their characteristics and properties were fully ex-
plained. Mr. Abraham exhibited specimens of the new metal
aluminum, and also some fine extract of senna, prepared in
vacuo. Mr. Mercer showed a spoon plated with aluminum by
Mr. Atkinson, and also a piece of moulded artificial stone,
lent by T. Chaffer, Esq. A conversation ensued on the several
articles exhibited, after which the proceedings terminated.
GREAT FIRE IN ROCHDALE.—A very destructive fire broke I
out in Rochdale on Wednesday night in the Vale Mills.
George-street, occupied by Messrs. J. and S. Jennings, cotton
and woollen manufacturers. The owner is Mr. S. Lomas. The
premises are four storeys high. The fire was first discovered
in the basement storey, but in less than 20 minutes the pre-
mises were enveloped in flames, and the roof had fallen in.
Mr. Eccles, fire-brigade superintendent, seeing it was hopeless
to attempt to save the buildings, directed his exertions to pre-
vent the fire from spreading to the mill of Messrs. Paigen and
Co., which runs parallel with the rear of the burning pre-
mises, separated from them by a passage only 18 feet wide. In
this undertaking they were successful. The damage done is
estimated at £25,000, which will be covered by insurances.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. This is the third time
these mills have been burned down, the first occasion being
on New-Year's-day, 1852 ; the second on the 31st December,
1853.
HEALTH Comemera.—The weekly meeting was held on
Thursday, Mr. Langsdale in the chair. The medical officer
reported that the mortality of the borough for the week end-
ing Saturday last was greater than for several weeks previous
213 l y.
in
The deaths registered being 243, against an average of
the same week of former years. 95 deaths were true diseases
of the zymotic class, and of these 42 were from scarlatina (20
in Toxteth-park), 10 from typhus, 10 from hooping-cough, 9
from measles, 12 from diarrhoea, 4 from syphilis. A female
aged 18 died of small-pox, having been vaccinated in infancy.
From diseases of the lungs the deaths were 45. Of the total
243 deaths, 150 were below the age of five. The Town-clerk
into
read a report of the sub-committee appointed to inquire
the subject of an extension of the boundaries of the borough.
The, sub-committee, after an interview with the committee of
the council, had inspected the various districts, and recom-
mended generally au extension of the boundaries, the details
of which were not yet completed. In reply to a question, the
Chairman said that at present the production of the report
was only a matter of form, no power to decide upon any plan
being in the hands of the committee. After the despatch of
some other business, thanks were voted to the chairman and
deputy chairman
past Lansdale and Dover), for their ser-
vices during the year, this being the last meeting of the
committee.
Tem CHURCHES or THE EAST.—On Wednesday,Dr. Wolff,
Deco LLD„ delivered his second lecture on the above inte-
resting eubject, in the upper room of the Teutonic-hall,
.Lime-
street. The attendance was numerous, and in addon to
several of our own clergymen, the Rev. Mr. Nicolaides, a
Greek ecclesiastic, was present, accompanied. by a number of
his countrymen, who were evidently deeply, interested by the
reverend doctor's observations. Resuming his descrip-
tion of the Greek' Church, Dr. Wolff alluded, in warm
terms, to his reception by the Greeks, both clergy and laity,
and entered into a defence of that much-maligned nation.
The persecution of the Greek Christians, and the tortures
practised upon them by the Turks, were vividly portrayed.
After again reverting, in terms of strong censure, to the in-
jurious influence of the Jerusalem bishopric, he proceeded to
detail the working system of the Russian Church, and his
sojourn at Sebastopol, Simpheropol, and I3akshi-Serai, and
after pronouncing himself an advocate of civil and religious
liberty, and appealing to the generous tolerance of his au-
dience, he entered into a truthful dissertation of the religions
observances of Russia, their lights as well as their shades. The
lecturer was loudly applauded throughout the whole of his
observations, and those who were present derived a large fund
of useful information.
THE NEW MARKET AT WARRINGTON.—LAYING THE
FOUNDATION STONE.—This event took place on Thursday I
afternoon. Unfortunately, throughout the day, the weather
was unfavourable, but before the hour appointed a large num-
ber of persons were in attendance to witness the ceremony.
The corporation and their officers left the Council Chamber
about half-past three o'clock, and proceeded, accompanied by
market.ug The
band, in procession to the site of the intended
arrangements for the accommodation of the
ladies, to shelter them from the rain, as well as the other
arrangements, were very satisfactory. The ex-mayor, P.
Rylands, Esq., chairman of the market committee, in an
eloquent speech, requested the mayor to lay the foundation
stone, as the most proper person to perform the ceremony.—
The Mayor thanked Mr. Rylands for the kind manner in which
he had been pleased to speak of his services, and the market
committee and corporation, for honouring him by selecting
him to discharge the duty of laying the foundation stone of
their new market. During his fifteen or sixteen years' resi-
dence in Warrington, and nearly thirty years in the neighbour-
hood, he had frequently regretted that persons who attended
the market to dispose of their agricultural produce were
exposed to the pelting rain and scorching sun, and without
a covering to protect them ; but he now felt delighted to tell
his agricultural friends and neighbours that they would shortly
be well and sufficiently protected in a good market. He
trusted that amongst the many other benefits which would
result from the present undertaking, it would have the effect
of bringing the working classes into the market at an earlier
hour on the Saturday night. There was not, he felt convinced,
the slightest reason for delaying their marketing until eleven
o'clock and later on the Saturday night, and he hoped the
practice would be discontinued.—The Town-clerk explained
the contents of the bottle placed under the foundation stone,
and the ceremony having been performed, the Rev. Mr. Lowe,
rector of St Paul's, offered a prayer, and the proceedings con-
eluded with cheers for the mayor and others.—On Thursday
the mayor entertained to dinner, at the Lion Hotel, the mem-
bers of the corporation, and several gentlemen residing in the
neis,^hboarbood.—Manchester Courier.

THE British and North American Royal mail steamship
Asia took her departure hence for Boston, on Saturday, with
170 passengers, a large cargo of dry goods, and the usual mails.
COMMISSION signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County
Palatine of Lancaster.—Rear-Admiral Wilson Braddyll Big-
land to be deputy-lieutenant.
ROYAL MERSEY YACIIT CLUB.—The annual ball by the
members of this club is fixed for Wednesday, the 21st of Nov.
This year the Royal Infirmary is to be the institution benefited.
Last year the club handed over upwards of f. 380 to the Pa-
triotic Fund, but we must not expect so much from this ball,
as on that occasion the supper and music were given. The
lady patronesses are the Countess of Ellesmere, Mrs. Little-
dale, and Mrs. B. Heywood Jones.
THE promoters of the association recently formed in this
town for improving the dwellings of the poor, have chosen
very eligible sites for building purposes, situated in Northum-
berland-street, rather more than a quarter-of-a-mile from the
South Docks, and near to a populous district. Designs, ap-
proved by the Health Committee, have been adopted, as con-
venient and economical, arranged for about forty cottages, in
three separate stories, with an infant school adjoining, a wash-
house in the basement, and a drying-room in the attics, for the
tenants.
FALSE IMPRISONMENT.—At the Court of Passage, last
week, before Mr. Edward James, the assessor, Martha Glaister,
a young girl, brought an action against John Johnson, green-
grocer, Mill-street, Toxtetb-park, for the recovery of money
illegally withheld, and as damages for assault and false im-
prisonment. The plaintiff, who was a dressmaker, formerly
assisted the defendant at one of his shops. In July last a
friend of the plaintiff's placed in her hands the sum of £l9,
which was found in her pocket by the defendant's wife. The
defendant accused her of having stolen the money from his
shop, and, without paying heed to her explanations, struck
her, and then gave her into custody. On the facts of the
case being satisfactorily explained to the police, she was dis-
charged. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the
£l9 which had been taken from her, and £l2 10s. for the
slander and false imprisonment.

THE NEW EMIGRATION ACT.—An important case was
heard before Mr. James Stitt and Mr. Thomas Sands, at the
Police-court, on Wednesday, being the first information laid
in this town under the provisions of the new emigration act.
The prosecutor was commander Higgins, R.N., assistant
emigration officer at this port, and the defendant Louis
Redlich, keeper of an emigrant lodging-house, No. 11, Slater-
street, which he calls the Black Ball Hotel. He was sum-
moned for acting as a passenger broker without a license, but
the circumstances embraced a charge of a far more serious
nature. John Murray, an Irishman, stated that he engaged
second-cabin passages for himself and his wife, from Mr. A.
Alexander, Leman-street, Whitechapel, London, in the ship
Aurora, of the Swallow-tail line, from Liverpool to New York,
for which he was charged £25. He paid £l3 on account, but
£2 was returned to him. It was arranged that he was to pay
the balance of £l5 to the defendant, Louis Redlich, in Liver-
pool. He arrived here on Saturday and paid the balance to
the defendant, also giving him £lO for railway and.steamboat
passages from New York to San Francisco. Here he learnt
that he had been swindled, as the price of such passages as he
had obtained (second-class) was only £4 each. He was advised
to lay his case before the government officials, and he did so,
the result being the present information. Mr. George Percival,
passenger-broker, 134, Waterloo-road, deposed that Redlich
obtained the two passages from him, paying him £8 for them.
The magistrates convicted the defendant in the lowest penalty,
namely £2O, ordering him to be kept in custody until the
money should be paid. The bench also advised the prosecutor
to come to some arrangement relative to the money out of
which he had been swindled. Mr. Percival provided Murray
with passages in another ship, in order that he might stay
here to prosecute the defendant. In default of payment, Red-
lich will have to undergo three months' imprisonment,
LIVERPOOL FREE LIBRARY.—The third annual report of
the Liverpool Free Library was issued on Thursday.
100,507
ap-
pears that during the last year, ending August 31,
books have been issued and returned, and in addition there
have been on an average 110 readers a day of periodicals,
making an average total of 462 works perused per day. The
daily average of novel readers was 187; of miscellaneous
literature, 155; of history and biography, 36; of geography,
voyages, and travels, 16; of science and arts, 111 ; la
classical
wssical
and
politics, 2 ; commerce and political economy, ;
literature, 1. During the last twelve months 88 new
the total books
have been added by donation, and 3,285 by purchase,
number in the library being 18,112. This number is exclusive
of 1,200 volumes and 490 parts, duplicates of parliamentary
papers. Upwards of 360 volumes have been transferred to
the lending libraries. The report also states that during the
last session of parliament an act was passed authorising the
council to purchase land between Shaw's-brow and Clayton-
' street, as a site for a new library and museum. With respect
to the lending libraries the committee
persons select
from 8,054 volumes, the present weekly circulation being
3,014 volumes. The care taken of the books lent may be
estimated from the fact, that out of a circulation of
number 140,000
volumes only one has been lost to the library. The
of readers last year included 3,879 males and 365-females; of
these- 2,689 were boys and 102 above 50 years of age. During
the last e year 2,050 catalogues of the books were sold. The
number y
of visitors to the Derby Museum during the year was
111,931.
FATAL AFERAT WITH POACHERS NEAR TRENTHAM.—AII
'under-gamekeeper, named Goss, and an assistant or "watcher,"
named Salt, were, between 10 and 11 o'clock on Friday night,
on land
e Farm,
discoveredi t the ethoe cacrurrpoaaprtteiyro
tnyoof
of
faMtthrie.s Johnb Dukeelie
believed
sesune
tpvhoe
er tnr)i
acpna
poachers.
la, et
when
het
rehsne.
Wt
h ea3e,
Goss and Salt, after concealing themselves for a time and
watching the operations of the poachers, advanced towards
them, and finding one man at a distance from his comrades,
Goss captured him and handed him over to Salt. After
a snort struggle an tue wayners our, -a--.„d
Goss, with his stick, was keeping up an unequal and desultory
contest with them, when Salt carne up to him. He then
struck one of the men he was fighting with about the
shoulder with his stick and knocked him down. He gave
that man also in charge to Salt, and went after the others,
but could not find them. On returning to the place where
he left them, he saw Salt pursuing his prisoner down a long
field. Salt overtook the man, and both fell, but the man got
away a second time and ran, and Goss caught him. When
he came up Goss struck the man on the back with his hand,
and he fell. The man, while on the ground, said, " Oh,
Lord ! Joe, I shall die ; feel my face, it is all of a cold sweat."
The keeper did feel his face, and found it in the state he
described ; also that his hands were cold. The man then
complained of his leg, and Goss, on looking at it, discovered a
serious wound on the,upper part of the calf of the leg, which
was bleeding copiously. It was found that the keeper's dog
had been killed by some sharp instrument, and a large bowie
knife, with hairs on the blade, believed to belong to the de-
ceased, was found near the place. It is supposed that in
stabbing the dog the deceased cut his leg, and the wound
severing a main artery produced hiemOrhage, which caused
death. The name of the deceased was Charles Lees. He was
. a hatter in Langton, in the regular receipt of good wages. He
has left a widow and three children.—Manchester Guardian.
LlvEnrom, Towx Corxcm.—The following subjects will
be taken into consideration at the closing meeting of the
Council, to be held at the Town-hall to-day :—The proceedings
of the Finance Committee, comprising recommendation to
advance the several sums of £4,309, and £4,208, for the erec-
• tion of permanent buildings required by Messrs. Clover and
:Boyle, and Messrs. Clayton and WEeverigan, on land leased
to them at Birkenhead, and recommendation to appoint Mr.
Hutton assistant-bookkeeper in the treasurer's office, at the
-salary of £l2O per annum ; the proceedings of the Improve-
ment Committee, comprising recommendation that all neces-
sary steps be taken for acquiring the property between Shaw's-
brow and Clayton-street, from Mill-lane down to Byrom-
street, as a site for a public library and museum, under the
provisions of the Liverpool Improvement Act, 1855 ; the pro-
ceedings of the Education Committee, comprising appoint-
ments of James Ellis as second master of the South School, in
the place of Mr. Rigby, resigned, at the salary of £6O per
annum • of John Dalziel as third master, in the place of Jas.
Ellis, at the salary of £6O per annum, and recommendation
to increase the salaries of William Owens from £3O to £4O
per annum, and of Thomas Robinson from £lB 4s. to £3O per
annum ; resolution recommending payment of the expenses
incurred in carrying into effect the resolutions of the Council
of the .25th of September last, for illuminating the public
buildings of the Corporation, and providing amusements for
the inhabitants on occasion of the successes of the allied armies
in the Crimea ; the Mayor's communications, comprising
letter from the Rev. Henry Brooks, conveying the thanks of
himself and family for the sympathy expresseel by the Council
on the death of the late Archdeacon Brooks ; letter from Mr.
J. Hopkins, Great Grimsby, requesting an impression of the
Corporation seal ,• and a letter from Mr. Win. Brown, M.P.,
relative to his gift of £6,000 towards the erection of a build-
ing for the Library and Museum ; the following motion, of
which due notice has been given, by Mr-Councillor Wood-
ruff :—That it is expedient that the public be admitted to the
meetings q the Council, under suitable regulations ; and that
it be au instruction to the Law Courts and St. George's-hall
Committee to report whether the concert-room, or some other
room in St. George's-hall, can be made available for such
meetings, and what accommodation can be provided for the
public.
INFORMATION UNDER THE PASSENGER ACT.—thl Wed-
nesday an investigation took place at the Police-court, before
Messrs Aikin and Crosthwaite, relative to complaints preferred
against the owners of the Marco Polo, by some of the third-
class passengers, on her homeward voyage from Melbourne to
this port. The witnesses were Frederick Augustus Ingles, of
sekoefilirthoerevnivdicoekyn,agceaew7enchman ; and James Sharp, a drug-
Dublin, linen-draper ; Alexander Leith, of Aberdeen, a miller ;
ut the e
was e ffseocut
rt, that
d, dtuhraitn,
grF
oirsecetd.ieornmi
gondiffoneereonct.
the t flo o
casion, the beef and pork were uneatable. They also com-
plained that, for forty-eight hours, a portion of the provisions
were withheld from them, on their refusing to sign a book ac-
knowledging the receipt of their provisions. The main facts
were not disputed, but, on cross examination, Mr. Forshaw
elicited that the flour was only sour at intervals, that the other
provisions were unexceptionable in quantity and quality, and
that, when complaints were made to the captain as to the
withholding bouilli by the purser, he ordered some to be given
to them immediately. It was also proved that substitutes
were given at times for provisions not in store, and that a
portion of the provisions only were withheld for forty-eight
hours. An extract was read from the official log, in which it
was stated that the captain only required the passengers to
sign for the provisions they actually received on board the ship.
Mr. James Aikin said that it appeared to them that there had
been very unfounded complaints about the provisions on the
voyage. From the evidence of the complainants, it appeared
that the vessel was exceedingly express sulied, with the excep-
tions described. They would not any opinion whether
the plan was a good one that the passengers should be called
upon to sign for the provisions received, but if it was a
mutual arrangement entered into by both sides, no doubt it
would be very beneficial for all parties. It did not appear that
the captain required them to sign, but they began to do so at
the commencement of the voyage, and continued to do so for
some time. Then, for some reason not very well defined, they
(the passengers) refused to sign. Upon this the captain
stopped the issue of the provisions, and said to them, You
have been signing all these times, and if you continue to sign,
here are the stores for you." They (the magistrates) thought
that the only error the captain had committed was in sus-
pending the issue of a portion of the provisions for the one day.
For that fault they were inclined to think that he had sub-
jected himself to a penalty under the act of Parliament. They
were quite disposed, under the circumstances, and considering
the very few complaints that had been made to the captain
during the voyage, to believe that the well-thinking portion of
the passengers would have been more inclined to have given
praise to the captain for the manner in which he had acted
than to take part in such a proceeding. They thought that
the captain had incurred a penalty, but they were also clearly
of opinion that that penalty ought to be the smallest which the
law allowed them to inflict, namely, £5.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE HOTEL at Sydenham was offered at
auction last week, under the bankruptcy of Mr. Masters. It
was bought in at £9,000.
THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH promises that -a part of
the cannon taken at Sebastopol shall be employed in casting
the colossal statue of the Virgin to be erected on the Corneille
Rock, in the Puy-de-Daae. _
A DIVIDEND-MEETING was held in the Leeds Bankruptcy
Court, last week, in the estate of Seaton, Brook, and Co., of
Huddersfield, bankers, who failed in 1810, owing to losses
arising out of the French Revolution of 1798.
ELIZABETH HOLLAND, the wife of a brass-founder at
Sheffield, was accustomed to drop a few drops of aquafortis
into her tooth to cure its aching. She did so a few days ago,
after drinking a quantity of spirits, and, as a consequence,
died from inflammation of the bowels the same evening.
ELLIOT CRAIG, wood forester to the Earl of Galloway, was
on Wednesday cutting up a cheese with a common clasp-knife,
when the blade slipped and entered his thigh with such force
as to cut the femoral artery, and In the course of an hour and
a half he bled to death.
THE SMOKE NITISINCE.—Leeds, in public meeting as-
sembled, has resolved upon a subscription-of £l2O per annum
for three years, for the purpose of abating the nuisance arising
from smoke; and a subscription of £l2O per annum, for three
years, for" giving premiums to those enginemen who shall,
' under difficult circumstances, consume their smoke in the
most effective manner."
AT DEwsaURY, a bell is tolled on Christmas-eve, as at a
funeral, or in the manner of a passing bell ; and any one ask-
ing whose bell it was, would be told that it was the devil's
knell. The moral of this is, that the devil died when Christ
was born. The custom was discontinued for many years,
but was revived by the vicar in 1828. Amongst the sweet
bells of Dewsbury is the famous " Black Tom of Tothill,"
which is said to have been an expiatory gift for a murder.—
Gloucestershire Chronicle.
HUNTINGDONSHIRE ELECTION.—OH Tuesday, a special
court was held for the purpose of electing a member for the
county of Huntingdon, in the room of Viscount Mandeville,
M.P., who has succeeded to the peerage as Duke of Man-
chester. It was thought that Mr. G. Game Day would have
been put in nomination, but Mr. James Rust, of Alconbury-
house, was returned without opposition. The new member is
a Conservative.
- - -

WORKHOUSE MANAGEMENT. —An inquest was held
last week at Camden-town, London, on the body of Char-
lotte Young, aged sixty-six, who had died in St. Pancras
workhouse. It appeared that the deceased, not beings
considered dangerously ill, was suddenly found to be,
as the nurses supposed, dead; but no medical man
was called to ascertain if she really were dead, or might be in
a fit ;• that the deceased's son had been refused admission to
see his mother, and roughly pushed out of the gate because
his name was not down on the porter's slate ; that half the
nurses were old and decrepid, and (as Mr. Waldegrave, assist-
ant parochial surgeon deposed), that " there was not a sober
woman amongst the number."
WHOLESALE MURDERER.—John (alias Rocky) Whelan, a
criminal recently executed in Tasmania, confessed, the day
before his execution, to the following murders committed in
the space of two months :—" 1. An elderly man, between
Brown's River and North-west Bay. I shot him in the head,
and robbed him. 2. A young man (I learned afterwards his
name was Dunn), on the Huon track. 3. An elderly man at
Bagdad, six on seven weeks ago. 4. A young man, on the
Westbury-road, about a week after the last murder. I shot
him in the head, and took away a few shillings. 5. A hawker,
near Cleveland, about three days before I was taken." The
bodies of his victims were afterwards found where indicated.
ECONOMICAL COOKERY.—M. Soyer writes home to the
papers an account of his " Field Kitchen," invented for the
army in the Crimea. He says of it, that each apparatus will
contain a cauldron holding twelve gallons and a half. Two
will easily cook for a company of 100, and even more, if re-
quired ; and both stoves can be carried by one mule, and loaded
inside with sufficient dry wood for two days' consumption for
a full company, whereas an additional quantity of fuel• for one
day's further consumption may be carried outside between the
apparatus on the animal's back. The weight would then be
sixty pounds, under the entire charge of a mule. The saving
of fuel is remarkable, being above eight-ninths. The stoves
will also burn any kind of fuel, and are entirely free from
smoke. The cooks employed in each company will have but a
few pounds of fuel to saw and split, instead of several hun-
dreds, and the food will be much more nutritious by cooking
in large quantities. When a regiment is stationary, four men
with six assistant cooks may cook with ease for 1,000 persons."
THE Leeds Intelligencer contains a report of a lecture to
the working-classes of Bradford, by the Rev. J. P. Chown, the
subject being "Jack the Giant-Killer." The curious title ex-
cited such interest, that long before the hour of commencement
the Temperance Hall was crammed to overflowing :—The well-
known story of " Jack the Giant-Killer" was told in an ad-
mirable and amusing manner by the lecturer, and he then
made the story a sort of moral through whi h
cto enforce the a
duty and wisdom of obtaining knowledge in abundance, as
means of removing giant evils and giant difficulties in the
world—personal, social, and moral—eloquently enforcing his
' appeal by varied illustration. The lecture was, as usual in all
Mr. Chown's efforts, received with great favour by the au-
dience, and is to be repeated.
SINGULAR CHARGE.—The Rev. Dr. Vaughan, incumbentSlNGULAßof St. Matthew's, Brixton, is charged by a printed and circu-
lated report drawn up by a committee, and adopted by a meet-
ing of his parishioners, with permitting burials in the church-
yardexacting,
dreferencees. double
Theo th
ibelfwee same,s f oar
and
sdb uotrnoi a le
yard, in opposition to the Metropolitan Burial booksA egally
mgr,obuunrdiedfee
Cd
loauPbhale
buried, and accounting only for the single fee to the church-
toslifetfal:ssimsifydeinesngc eitist:o:fti:toheal.pe;swio;n:s
inb June, 1855
single
e;
fdeoeu:balse feesonly chargedented byi
Ithee
committee's report :—"Jane vv euo, r ara-
ut
n
Rev. Mr. Vaughan and paid to him, including 12s. for the
rough-book, and the moiety of that sum, 3s. paid to the
churchwardens ; the entry in the registry-book, in Dr. Vau-
ghan's handwriting, falsely described the place of residence of
the deceased as of Acre-lane, which is in St. Matthew's dis-
trict." There has been for some time great ill-feeling amongst
the parishioners against the rev. doctor, and the grounds of
the present charges have been found out at the suggestion of
a disappointed.candidate for the office of clerk. At the meet-
ing which came together to hear the report, a Mr. Prior
stated that there were many cases of a similar nature which
had been brought to the attention of the committee, and he
observed that by the act of parliament the making of a false
entry in the registry-book was a felony, punishable by trans-
portation for fourteen years. " This intimation of the possible
fate of their pastor," says the report in the Daily News,
" seemed to delight the majority of the audience, who received
it with vociferous cheering!' Resolutions were also carried
authorising the coon mmi r
that ttee to take legal proceedings, and to
get up a subscripti fo purpose.
A SIEGE IN YORKSHIRE.—An extraordinary and disgrace-
ful scene has been enacted at Millhouses, a village near
Sheffield. There are two rival owners of a house, one being
a surgeon named Whitehead, who had been absent' for a long
time in America, the other a silversmith, named Oldale. The
latter gentleman, immediately on the tenant quitting last
week, sent a dozen men to the house, who took possession in
his name. Next day Mr. Whitehead sent a party of men, and
between them and those in the house a contest took place, Mr.
Oldale's party being victorious. The men in possession armed
themselves with guns, pistols, daggers, knives, and bludgeons ;
and at night the doors were barricaded inside, while heaps of
missiles, such as bricks and large stones, were placed near the
up-stairs windows, ready to be thrown on the expected be-
siegers. The second assault took place at two o'clock on Friday
morning. The attacking party, about twenty men, armed
principally with heavy sticks, proceeded en masse to the house,
and began forcing their way into the premises. The besieged
party seemed to have been lulled into carelessness by delay in
the attack, and being well supplied with drink, were most of
them fast buried in drunken slumber. The number that was
opposed to the besiegers was, therefore, small.; but these few
opposed the entrance of the besiegers with all the weapons and
-missiles they could collect, and a hand-to-hand fight took
place. Guns were fired ; one among the besieging party had
-his head severely cut by a treepot which was thrown from the
window above, and another belonging to the party in pos-
session also had his head cut. The battle ended in the triumph
-of-the invaders. Meanwhile, the men who were asleep woke
up, and set fire to the straw in which they had been sleeping.
The fire was put out before it had done any serious damage,
and-the besieged party having been utterly routed, the in-
vaders triumphantly took possession. " Their numbers,"
says the local paper, "have been largely reinforced, and the
house is now occupied by a party of from forty to fifty as
rough and reckless fellows as can be found in Sheffield. Half-
rough policemen have been -sent to the spot, to prevent a
breach of the peace ; but if another fight were to be com-
menced, these constables would be utterly incapable of taking
any effectual measures to stop it."
SCARCITY OF SAILORS IN TEE UNITED STATES.—One
of the greatest impediments to our commercial prosperity and
supremacy is a lack of seamen to navigate our ships. This
want is always felt with peculiar severity whenever there is
an extraordinary demand for shipping, such as exists at the
present time, and no successful plan has yet been conceived
by our Government or merchants to obviate it. The appren-
tieaens
ce sstem has not been tri to any extent but some
my can be discovered fored making boys willing tounless serve as
apprentices, and then to make them satisfied to go to sea,
when they could better themselves by remaining on shore, the
apprentice system could never be of any service. At the pre-
sent time sailors are very difficult to be obtained at any price,
and one of the Liverpool packets lay in the stream three days
this week, waiting for a complement of men to navigate her.
The wages paid are very high, at the rate of sixty dollars
a-month ; for, although the nominal wages are but twenty
dollars a-month, yet, as the sailors demand two months' pay
in advance, and desert as soon as they
d arrive in
a month. it make The
s
the wages amount to fifty to, sixty ollars
Baltimore Board of Trade have recently publishe lid
shme n their anin
-
nual report, in which they recommend the establishment
that city of a " Floating School," in which boys can be in-
structed in the art of seamanship, and a nursery for sailors
created. But this plan is only a modification of the several
naval apprentice systems which have been heretofore sug-
gested, but none of which have a
natural inclindtion ever been carrie into
to effrun
ect.
As nearly all healthy boys have a
away from school and become Robinson Crusoes, it may seem
somewhat remarkable that sailors should be so scarce in
a country like ours, where all labour is honourable, and the
paths of promotion are free to all competitors. The great
difficulty, we believe, lies in the fact that sailors are an excep-
tionable class ; their occupation is not, in its lower stages, an
honourable one, and hence it is shunned by the well-behaved
and ambitious youths of the country. The fault of this lies,
in a great measure, with the system on which our navy is
conducted. England found it necessary in war time to man
her fleet by the iniquitous system of impressment, and France
applies the conscription to her marine as well as to her land
forces. But in this country we cannot avail ourselves of
either of these systems, and we have had to resort to the
temptations of bounties and high wages, which England has
had to resort to in manning the Baltic fleet. But the only
plan by which we can ever hope to man our national ships
with American sailors, ands o provide a surplus of seamen for
our merchant ships, is by trowing open the line of promotion
from the ranks, infusing an esprit du corps into the
service which shall pervade the entire crews, and make the
occupation of the sailor an honourable o
difficulty about procuring
seamen, and our ships would be as superior in their manage-
ment to those of other nations as they are now in their build.
The recent action of the " Retiring Board" shows that, under
the present system of officering our navy, a contingent of
useless drones and pensioned incapables is the result. No-
thing worse could be anticipated from the democratic plan of
opening the line of promotion in the navy as it exists in the
civil service.--. New York Daily Times.

THE Edinburgh Review, in an article on the "Results of
the Campaign,"Lrecommends an early dissolution cf Parlia-
ment.
A SUN•PISH, measuring sft. 4in. by sft. Bin., and weighing
540 lbs., was caught last week by a revenue-cutter, off Dun-
bar.

Ma. HUDSON, M.P., intends, it is said, shortly to retire
from the representation of Sunderland. Mr. Digby Seymour,
Mr. Hartley, and Mr. Charles Alcock, have been named as
probable candidates.
ON the 17th, the King of Prussia gave a dinner at which
A. von. Humboldt, the statuary Rauch, the artist Schadow,
and Dr. Barth were present.
CHARLES SIMPSON, a postman, was sentenced to six years'
penal servitude on Wednesday, at the London Central
Criminal Court, for letter-stealing.
A BILL-STICKER in London has been fined £5, or three
months' imprisonment, for selling the bills given to him to
post, as waste paper. It appears the offence is not uncommon.
THE Moniteur Algerien, of the 15th instant, announces
that the wandering tribes are now beginning to build and
plant, and that they have entered into an arrangement with
some contractors for the construction of houses at the price of
3,500 f. each.
NUMEROUS robberies have of late been perpetrated at the
British` Museum, and other places of public resort, by an
elegantly-attired woman, aided by male accomplices, who act
as foils, and receive the produce of their dexterity.
THE trial of Isabella Mary Jolley, for the alleged murder of
her mother, at Knightsbridge, on the 15th of August, took
place at the Central Criminal Court, London, on Wednesday,
and resulted in the acquittal of the prisoner, the judge (Mr.
Baron Alderson) expressing his concurrence in the verdict.
BAD NEWS OP THE WHALE FISHERY.—A telegraphic des-
patch has been received in Dundee, stating that a ship had
passed Aberdeen with the intelligence that all the ships that
had gone to Davis' Straits were clean on the 19th Sept., except
the Abram of Kirkcaldy, which had two fish.—Dundee Ad-
vertiser.
- -

Jolts Lemi, aged 15, of Gwennap, Cornwall, shot his
brother, a child three years of age, a few days ago. It seems
that a loaded gun had been carelessly left in the kitchen; the
boy, not knowing it was loaded, took it up and pulled the
trigger, when the charge went off and entered the child's
breast. Death took place within a quarter-of-an-hour after-
wards. - -

SACRILEGE.—Some sacrilegous ruffians have entered the
parish church at Seaham, taking away in mere wantonness the
large iron chest containing the parish records, and tumbling it
into the Dene. The only booty of which the thieves possessed
themselves was half a bottle of sacramental wine, which they
appear to have drunk on the spot. The sacramental plate—
no doubt the chief object of their search—was not kept in the
church.
THE Observer, speaking on official authority, estimates the
number of British troops now in the Crimea at 50,000 ; men,
namely, 33,000 infantry, 9,000 artillery, 6,000 cavalry, and the
Engineers, Sappers, Transport Corps, and other exceptional
bodies. To these must be added 80,000 French, 15,000 Sar-
dinians, 35,000 Turks, and 20,000 of the Turkish Contingent.
This gives a total of 200,000 men, without counting the Bashi-
Bazouks, or the German Legion now on its way to the Crimea.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE. —Two swindlers, who gave their
names John and Alfred Jones, were apprehended and commit-
ted to Maidstone gaol, last week, on a charge of conspiring to
defraud. Here, however, it was discovered that one is a
woman ; she declares herself to be the other prisoner's wife,
and, if so, the charge in its present form must fal? to the
ground, a " conspiracy" being legally impossible between man
and wife. There are, however, other charges against them.
OLD ALMANACS As GOOD AS NEW.—By a strange coinci-
dence, which will not occur again for a long time, the new
year of 1855 commenced on the same day as in 1849, and
consequently all through the year the date will be on the
same day. But what is more singular is, that all the moveable
holydays, from Septuagesima to Advent, fall on the same
dates and the sautes days. The almanacs of 1849 might,
therefore, serve for the present year.—New York Journal of
Commerce.
FRIGTITFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A dreadful accident
occurred on Sunday morning at four o'clock, on the Lyons
railway, between Thomery and Moret. The express train,
which left Lyons the evening before at seven o'clock, overtook
a cattle train that preceded it. The collision was terrible ; the
three last carriages of the cattle train, one of which (the
second last) contained the drovers to the number of 26, were
completely smashed; 16 persons were killed; three danger-
ously wounded ; and three others received contusions.
SUICIDE IN A BRIDAL CHAMBER.—Miss Clara Haskins
was found dead in her bridal dress and chamber near Natchez,
Mississippi, on the 2nd ult. After being dressed by her
bridesmaids she requested them to retire for a short time, and
when they returned they found her lying lifeless upon her
couch, with an empty vial which had contained prussic acid,
still_clasped in her. hand. She had adopted the desperate
alternative of self-destruction rather than marry a man she
could not love, in obedience to parental authority.— Washing-
ton Intelligencer.
ALICE GREY.—A pretty and artless-looking girl, who has
assumed a variety of names, but is chiefly known as " Alice
Grey," is in custody, at Wolverhampton, on a charge of
swindling. Her mode of operations,—a novel and ingenious
one,—consists in charging some person with having robbed
her, and, though she generally loses her cause, she contrives
to work upon the sympathies of the magistrates and other
judicial officials so as in most instances to secure a liberal sum
for her " expenses." She has frequently visited Liverpool in
the course of her professional rambles.
HORSE-RACING AT ALGiEsts.—The annual horse-races at
Algiers came off about ten days ago at that city, and excited
considerable interest amongst the native population. Not
fewer than 510 horses rai fr,.. 4.aa an Brent stakes, and paid
....4.,..„ MU" 1..,,,,,..3 TV, "ended emery ~.. ,a-oa., ----- ~
cheikhs. The result of the races was to prove the superiority
of the southern breeds of horses: thuo, horses for the sub-
division of Medeah won 18 stakes; from that of Illilianah,
16 ; and from that of Amnale, 10; whilst the horses of Or-
leansville only won 3, and those of Algiers 2.
A Mom AT LARGE.—The population of the Croix-Rousse
at Lyons, assembled in the Grand Place, a few days ago, for
the annualfite, were astonished to see a huge lion, which had
escaped from a travelling menagerie, advance calmly towards
them. They fled in every direction ; but the lion, taking no
notice, continued his promenade to a place called Les Tapis,
and there suddenly leaped on to a poor donkey, which was tied
to a post, and, with one grip of his teeth, killed him. The king
of the forest then calmly placed himself on the ground near his
victim, and, after a while, allowed himself to be conveyed back
to the menagerie by his keepers.— Galignani.
MUD AT A PREMIUM.—The Stamford Mercury, advert
ing to the cleansing out of the river Brayford, says:—" Th
men get out 200 tons of rich soil daily, or 1,200 tons weekly
and it is turned into the diggings to fill up the swamp. One
person has offered ls. per ton for 4,000 tons, another the same
price for 1,000, and another the same price for 700—all to put
on land, as it forms very superior manure. A farmer who
put 2,000 tons on some land some years since, states that the
land has not yet forgotten it. This is the same person who
now wants 4,000 tons. The cost of getting the stuff out is
£25 weekly, and 1,200 tons at ls. per ton would 'realise £6o—
profit of £35 weekly. After this demonstration it is to be
hoped that rivers will be kept constantly cleansed of mud."
Two recent extraordinary aceidents to infants may be men'
tioned. Dorothy Taylor, at Pelton Fell, near Durham, pu
her child to sleep in a cradle, and some time after found i
dead. A cat belonging to the family brought forth a litter of
kittens in the cradle, and, from the marks on the child's night-
dress, had evidently lain across its throat and mouth, pro-
ducing suffocation. Harriet Tovey, of Elmstone, Hardwicke,
was spending a day at a relation's in Cheltenham, and took
her child with her. She slept downstairs in a turn-up bed-
stead with the child, and got up the following morning, leaving
her child in bed. Some other person happening to come
into the room in the absence of the mother, turned up
the bedstead. When the mother returned she pulled the bed
down, and found the child quite dead.
TRADE or PARIS.—The trade of Paris continues to suffer
from the restrictive measures adopted by the Bank of France.
The refusal of that establishment to rescind its resolution
respecting bills above seventy-five days, has created consider-
able discontent, particularly in the departments. The diffi-
culty of making returns induces merchants to operate with
extreme prudence. The restrictions of the Bank might have
occasioned a very serious crisis at the end of the year, had not
the merchants observed a great reserve amid the important
transactions produced by the Universal Exhibition. Manu-
facturers fortunately limited their credit as much as possible,
and there is no danger that the increase in the rate of dis-
count will be attended with any extensive catastrophes.
RUSSIAN ABSENTEES.—Measures of great severity have
just been ordered by the Czar against those who continue to
reside abroad. In Livonia, the estates of several noblemen
who reside abroad have been placed under guardianship,
although their term of permission has not expired. Accord-
ing to a communication lately made to the authorities, the
Emperor is determined to put an end to the mania of ab-
senteeism on the part of the Russian nobles. In-case of any
landowner remaining abroad without leave, the tribunals will
manage the estates, and render_an account of the revenues 1
to the owners for one year, at the expiration of which term
the estates, if the owners still remain abroad, will be con-
fiscated, unless particular circumstances can be brought
forward to justify a longer delay being granted.
NEARLY BURIED ALIVE.—The danger of too rapid inter-
ment was exemplified in a very extraordinary manner in this
town during the last week. A young man, who had been suf-
fering from malignant fever, to all appearance, died on Tues-
day morning. To avoid the danger of infection which might
arise from a corpse remaining in the house all night, a coffin
was immediately commenced, the certificate of death sent for,
and urgent application was made to the incumbent of a church
in one of our suburbs to allow the corpse to be interred the
same evening. This, however, he declined, considering the
proceeding too hasty, but consented to the interment taking
place on the following morning. The result proved the pro-
priety of the delay ; the grave was dug, and the coffin ready,
but the dead man in the course of the night gave signs of re-
turning animation, and at the hour fixed for his burial was in
the comfortable enjoyment of a cup of coffee, which he had
asked for, with every prospect of recovery.— Wakefield Journal
RUSSIAN POLITENESS.—The following is a letter from the'
Grand Duke Constantine to Lieutenant -Maury. We learn that
the Russian minister yesterday waited on Lieutenant Maury,
v..t, the National Observatory, to deliver, by command of his
government, an autograph letter from the Grand Duke Con-
stantine, who, it will be remembered, is the Commander-in-
Chief of the Russian navy. This letter is written in French ;
but, under the belief that many of our readers will derive as
much pleasure from its perusal as we have done, we give pub-
licity to a translation of it :—" St. Petersburgh, Dec. 10 (22),
1854.—T0 LieutenantMaury.—Sir,—lt is now a long time since
the eminent scientific works for which navigators of every
nation are indebted to your zeal and your talents attracted my
attention. Recently again the imperial delegates to the
Brussels conference have rendered me a complete report, in
which I have taken the most lively interest. I should rejoice,
sir, to present you with a testimonial of my esteem; but,
knowing the laws of your country, which do not permit you
to accept any thing from foreign princes, I must confine my-
self to the expression of my sentiments. They are as exalted
as your own merits ; and in my official capacity I must say to
you that you do honour to the profession to which you belong,
as well as to the great nation which you have the honour to
serve. Receive, sir, the assurance of my goodwill and esteem.
--CONSTANTINE."—This is a high but deserved compliment
to Lieutenant Maury, who, we feel well convinced, has been
relieved from active duty in the navy that he may be perma-
nently retained in his present exalted and responsible position
as chief of the National Observatory, where his services in the
cause of science and nautical improvement will be more im-
portant and valuable to his country and the world than they
would probably prove, however eminent they might be, in any
other position.—Washington National Intelligencer.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT is sending out to the Criame
many casks of fresh meats, preserved in their own juice, with-
out desiccation, by a process newly submitted to that Govern-
ment.

Ix consequence of the large number of prisoners in Win-
chester gaol, it is expected that there will be an extra assize
held in that city in the first week in December. The South-
ampton murder will be then tried.
GOLD IN THE WEST INDIES.—The Journal des Debate
gives the following extract from the West Indian paper Les
Antilles, which, if true, promises another Australia or Cali-
fornia, and that near the supposed site of Sir Walter Ra-
leigh's El Dorado :—" There has just been discovered in
Cayenne, on the banks of the river Appronague, a gold mine
of almost fabulous richness, which does not yield in anything
to those of California. According to the specimens now lying
before us,— que nous ovens sous les yeux.,—we cannot doubt
this important discovery, which promises to revolutionize our
poor Cayenne."
ExPLosiox Ix WOOLWICH ARSENAL.—On Thursday, at
half-past one, p.m., an explosion took place in the fusee de-
partment of the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, but no loss of
life resulted. A considerable quantity of prepared fuses had
been collected, and deposited in the drying-house. The men
and boys employed there had not returned from dinner when
the explosion occurred. The only person injured was a police-
man, whose beat was on that spot, and who was suddenly em-
bedded in a portion of the ruins. His injuries, although
severe, are not of a dangerous nature. The drying-room, it
appears, was heated by steam conveyed through the building
by means of various pipes, but how the accident occurred has
not been discovered. The fire was speedily quenched, and the
amount of damage was very light, considering the amount of
combustible matter collected there.
HER MAJESTT'S JUDGES IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS.—
The anniversary of the Broadhembury Agricultural Association
was celebrated on Monday last week, and the interest of the
proceedings was enhanced by the presence of Mr. Baron
Alderson (who was spending the vacation with his relative, Mr.
Drewe, of the Grange), and Mr. Justice Pattison, who resides
in the locality. The learned baron had the toast of " The
Judges of Ploughing" confided to him, and he proposed it in
a facetious speech, in the course of which he alluded to a
portly agriculturist named Pyle, who was one of the judges,
and said that that worthy gentleman had a particular claim
on him, inasmuch as he had told him (the learned baron) that
he had become a " judge of the land" 25 years ago, at the
same time that Mr. Baron Alderson had commenced his judi-
cial duties. Farmer Pyle, in responding, rejoiced at the fra-
ternising spirit of the learned baron, but said there was a
difference between the two, " and that difference," exclaimed
the sturdy farmer, slapping his breeches' pocket, "is here."
This amusing retort excited considerable laughter.
MURDER IN BELGIUM.—A mysterious murder, to which no
clue has been obtained, was perpetrated a few days ago, on the
person of Madame d'Ennetieres, wife of the marquis of the
same name, from whom she lived separated, at her country
mansion of Sommerghem, near Ghent. The unfortunate lady,
whose only daughter, an immensely rich heiress, is married to
Count Octave d'Outrelmont, and allied, through the wealthy
marquis, to many of the first noble families, appears to have
been assassinated with some blunt instrument during the brief
interval that her demoiselle de eompagnie quitted her apart-
ment. On the return of the latter she saw an individual in
the act of committing the crime, but, being overcome with
terror, she flew to an upper storey, where she opened a window,
and called to the watchmen of the mansion for assistance.
Upon their arrival the crime had been consummated, and the
perpetrator had disappeared. According to the accounts given
by the local journals, the marchioness bad no other domestics
or attendants with her at her country mansion than the

demoiselle de compagnie. As no robbery was committed, the
murderer is supposed to have been actuated by revenge, and
suspicion has therefore fallen upon discharged servants.
AGE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—The fourth annual meeting
of the shareholders of this company was held last week, at
their offices in Chancery-lane, London, the Rev. Geo. Roberts
in the chair. The report, which was of a very satisfactory
character, stated that during the past year the premium ac-
count, exclusive of half-yearly and quarterly premiums accru-
ing, amounted to £6,325 14s. tid. ; and the income derivable
from polices actually in force, to £7,629 7s. 3d. The directors,
in order to bring to a close, as nearly as possible, the expenditure
arising from the formation of branches, and the ageney ma-
chinery of the company, had thought it advisable to clear off
all outstanding accounts connected with those subjects; and
although the liquidation thus accomplished would necessarily
make the outlay of the year in appearance heavier than usual,
yet the fact was, a large reduction had been effected in the
working of the chief office, while the cost, now defrayed, of
placing the branches throughout the country upon a firm foot-
ing might be considered in the light of capital permanently
invested for profitable returns. The directors bad the satis-
faction of assuring the shareholders that no company of equal
standing could show a better foundation for progressive and
complete success. The outlay, on the whole, might seem to
be considerable, but it had secured the formation of an estab-
lishment wherein all materials had been provided, and every
facility afforded, for tarrying out the most enlarged plans for
obtaining an extensive and lucrative business.
CONCORDAT BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND THE POPE OF
ROME.—The articles of the concordat between Rome and
Austria have been published. They accord, amongst other
things, the right of full and unrestrained liberty of commu-
nication, in things spiritual and ecclesiastical, between Rome
and the prelates and clergy of Austria. To the latter they
grant the right of issuing such ordinances and instructions
on ecclesiastical matters as seems suitable to them ; to the
bishops to name their vicars-general, to grant or refuse the
collection of orders, erect benefices, change parishes, prescribe
pilgrimages, funeral ceremonies, convoke and publish the
acts of synods, &c. The bishops are to direct the reli-
gious instruction in all schools, and an ecclesiastical inspector
is to be appointed to each. They have also the right to
prohibit books contrary to religion any morals, and the civil
t -,lfirontummises to lend them main forte 'U.) prevent the
Pu b Ultly LI ,Clo,o
are to be judged before civil tribunals, as also criminal cases ;
but in the latter case previous notice is to be given to the
bishop. The government has the right'-to present bishops to
the Pope for institution ; but for the choice he must previ-
ously take the advice of the bishop of the province. In
cathedral churches tile Pope nominates the first dignitary,
the Emperor the others. The conventual bodies may com-
municate freely with their superiors at Rome, and the latter
may visit all religious houses. The reception of novices, and
the formation of new convents by the bishops is allowed, with
the consent of government. The Roman Catholic Univers
appears highly satisfied with the result obtained, and declares
the news to be the " preoccupation of all Germany and the
joy of Catholics." " The words," it continues, " with which
the concordat opens—` rhe Holy See accords to his Majesty
the right; &c.—exalt in the eyes of angels and men the
apostolical empire and the young Emperor. Here, again, we
have an evidence of the labours of Mary the Immaculate for
the pacification of a people who always venerated, with a
peculiar predilection, the august privilege of the Mother of
God. May the example of the Emperor Francis Joseph not
be lost upon other kings and governments?'
MANSLAUGHTER BY A. PIT-OWNER.—The locality of Ketley
has presented a scene of great excitement for several days, in
consequence of the death of a pitman, named Samuel Rigley,
through the violence of a chartermaster, of the name of
William Vaughan. Some of the men below refused to work ;
Vaughan, who was above, then came to the mouth of the pit
and shouted down the shaft to know if the men intended to
work or net. They answered " No." He then asked them if
they were coming up. They answered "Yes." He said,
" Then, if you do, I'll kill yore The men at this time seem
to have entered the doubles, ready to be drawn up. Reiterat-
ing his inquiry whether they were going to remain in the pit
or not, and receiving the same rejoinder as before, Vaughan
now became unconquerably furious with passion, and, seizing
an immense "slab" of timber, hurled it down the pit shaft.
The men below heard the slab coming thundering down the
shaft, and five of them succeeded in making their escape ; but
one man, named Rigley, could not disentangle himself from
the chains and get clear of the basket at the bottom of the
shaft before the immense piece of timber reached him, striking
him on the back, and inflicting the most frightful injuries.
The men shouted up to Vaughan that he had killed a man.
Vaughan seems to have been immediately seized with a
paroxysm of fear and remorse, dancing about, tearing his hair
and clothes in a frantic manner. He then ran away. The
deceased was a young married man, aged 24, and his first child
is only five months old. The coroner's jury returned a ver-
dict of " Manslaughter" against Vaughan, and he was com-
mitted for trial at Salop Assizes.—Wolverhampton Chronicle.
REPRESENTATION OF SOUTRWARK.—At a late hour on
Tuesday, the following address from Admiral Sir Charles
Napier was extensively circulated, and posted throughout the
borough :—" To the electors of Southwark. Thelamented
death of your late representative, Sir William Molesworth,
has again caused a vacancy in the representation of South-
wark ; at the late election I abstained from going to the poll,
the time for preparation having being so short. I have again
been solicited to allow myself to become a candidate, which I
cheerfully accede to, and announce my intention of this time
going to the poll, feeling satisfied that the electors of the large
and important borough of Southwark, to whom my sentiments
are so well known, will on this occasion do me the honour of
electing ine as their representative. I object to a personal
canvass, thinking that every elector should exercise his right
of voting unswayed and unbiassed, and the only expenses I
will be put to will be those necessary to the poll. I shall,
however, have pleasure in attending any district meeting
where my presence may be required, and if the electors ap-
prove of my sentiments they will send me to parliament; if
not, they will choose a better man. This is the way, in my
opinion, elections should be conducted, especially in the me-
tropolis." Mr. Scovell, of Scovell's Wharf, is also a can-
didate. Sir S. M. Peto has declined to be put in nomination
for this borough, and a requisition is to be presented to Alder-
man and Sheriff Kennedy, who, it is thought, will at once
consent to come forward. It is also in contemplation to pre-
sent a requisition to Mr. John Thwaites, a woollen-draper, of
High-street, Southwark, who is very popular in the borough.
On Thursday, Sir C. Napier addressed a meeting of the elec-
tors, and was enthusiastically received. The contest will
most probably be between Sir C. Napier and Mr. Scovell.
SERIOUS MUTINY.—A serious outbreak has occurred at the
Horfield Barracks, near Bristol. These barracks are occupied
partly as the depot of the Land Transport Corps, and partly
by a portion of the Royal Artillery. Owing to the system
recently adopted of recruiting from the different regiments of
Militia into the Land Transport service, a number of fresh
men have been constantly arriving. On Wednesday morning
a number of recruits came by steam-packet from the Galvray
militia, and were marched from the Hotwells, where they
landed; to the barracks. When they came to asklei-the-pro-
mised bounty of £5, they were told that their outfit would
have to be deducted from it. At this they became dissatisfied,
and insisted that £5 they had enlisted for, and £5 they would
have. The sergeant remonstrated and threatened them with
the guard-room, upon which they commenced an attack upon
him, and, it is said, knocked him down. The officers then
came from their quarters and attempted to restore discipline,
but without effect, as the insubordinate recruits attacked
them, tore the ornaments from their coats, and arming them-
selves with stones from the great exercise yard, threw them
in thick volleys at the officers, who, seeing the position 41
which they 'were placed, and apprehending a serious outbreak,
'called upon the artillery officers for assistance. Messengers
were immediately despatched to Colonel Patton, the com-
mandant of the district, and in the meantime the commander
of the artillery got his men under arms, and had achowitzer
a ton being
still broughtm a noiuf
et s
tanded bpylaced on the parade.
eabrdteilsliered leVecwtello.ey
ordered to load, an operation wr
Between twenty and thirty
,a the itLbs
restoring something like
eer.e then arrested and placed iny
leeldoctrlgiers. were sent into the city.
of the principal ring
the guard-house, Whil
the noirdalconbticelil
It is
understood that Colonel Patton has ordered court-martials to
be held on the principal offenders. A general feeling is ex-
pressed by, the citizens that the government do wrong in offer-
, nig a nominal bounty, and then reducing it by deductions to
some other sum.