The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-18 00:00:00

victorious besiegers was still playing on the place, the whole
of the Karabelnaia suburb was suddenly blown up by the
Russians, who had also set fire to the town in many places,
and were busily engaged in destroying all that remained of
their boasted fleet of war-ships—so formidable at Sinope—
objects of such anxious care and• punctilious solicitude at
Vienna. The work of destruction being thus hurriedly
pushed forward by some, others were marching by a bridge
of rafts from the south to the north shore of the harbour.
This latter operation was executed with such great celerity
as to make Prince GORTSCIIAITHOFF claim for it the character
of " an extraordinary success," because he only lost a hundred
men in the operation ! More singular still, the happy dis-
positioned gentlemen who indite the Russian columns
of La Nord designate this nocturnal flight as indicative of
the " energy of a great commander." "It saves Russia," they
say, " from an inextricable position into which a false interpre-
tation of the point of honour would have thrust her." 'What
advantage Russia may derive from such a " success," it is not
easy to conjecture ; and many will be equally at a loss to
understand the beneficial " energy" displayed by the great
commander in effecting that manceuvre, in the execution of
which he confesses with regret he was compelled to abandon
five hundred of his wounded soldiery !
The conquest of Sebastopol effected—for, according to most
accounts, there appears little doubt in any quarter that the
events of Saturday se'nnight must inevitably lead to that
result at no distant day—the important question remains,
What is to come out of it ? Already there seems reason to
apprehend that the Russian portion of our statesmen and di-
plomatists will once more seize the opportunity of endeavouring
to let Russia down as gently as possible. The non-humiliating
doctrine of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Sir JAMES GRAHAM, Mr.
GLADSTONE, and other members of the " new political union,"
have made their appearance in divers forms through the me-
dium of the press. The Times having provided itself with a
" peace column," treats its readers to very gently-spiced pota-
tions of frothy sentiment, in which the plan of waiting a
" little longer " for the " good time coming" in Russian politi-
cal morals is deftly recommended. "We can now rest awhile,"
and watch the effects of the chastisement already bestowed on
the "naughty boy," who having attempted to rob his neigh-
bour's orchard was put back and whipped; and this course the
Thunderer vouchsafes to recommend. Experience has long
ago proved that the most dangerous period for a victor to re-
pose is the moment of victory. The allied arms have been so
far crowned with success, as to put it in the power of their
armies to achieve a signal and decisivevictory—a victory which,
by humiliating and crippling the foe, will for the future render
him both harmless and obedient. To leave off short of having
accomplished this object now, is not to display magnanimity,
but to exhibit weakness. The object of the war is still far
from being achieved. Dismantling Sebastopol and the destruc-
tion of the Black Sea fleet, although in themselves in the
right direction, are far, very far from being a consummation of
the objects intended to be achieved by a successful prosecution
of the war. These, if conceded at the beginning, would have
been admitted as ample, because they would have shown that
Russia had no aggressive designs against Turkey or other
nations in the southern portions of Europe. The war when
undertaken, however, had a larger object in view than preserv-
ing the integrity of the Turkish empire. The war was un-
dertaken because Russia was making inroads on civilization,
and building herself up in such a manner as to make her
dangerous to Europe. It was to repress these inroads and to
diminish that dangerous strength that the allies espoused the
cause of Turkey, and the object of the combination was to
weaken and humiliate Russia. Till these have been compassed
the objects of the war cannot have been attained, and if they
are not achieved the next generation will not see the termina-

tion of the struggle which must yet ensue. This feeling ap-
pears to be the guiding one in the councils of our French
allies. In proof of which a rumour is current in Paris to the
effect that Marshal PELISSIEB telegraphed for instructions to
guide him, if Prince GORTSCHAICHOFF should capitulate, an
event which the Marshal thinks far from improbable, as the
Russian army is understood to have but fifteen days' provi-
sions, and to be very short of ammunition. The import of
the Emperor's answer is said to have been : " Our conditions
are that the Russians must surrender at discretion, lay down
their arms, and give up to the allies all the fortified
places in the Crimea, including Odessa, with all the
munitions of war contained in them, and without any
damage being previously done, either to the towns or the
fortifications." This bold and resolute course of policy is
undoubtedly the true one ; and so far as reliance can be placed
upon anything so futile as the declaration of our own Minister,
a similar policy seems to animate the British cabinet, as it

unquestionably does the nation. On Friday lass, the noble

PREMIER being on a visit to his estate of Melbourne, in Derby-
shire, was waited on by a deputation of the influential in-
habitants of that beautiful little town and neighbourhood,
who presented to him an address of congratulation in which
the fall of Sebastopol cut a conspicuous figure. In reply,
Lord PALMERSTOX said in allusion to that circumstance,
„ _

"It is impossible to believe that the war can be brought
to any other conclusion than that which will secure to
Europe safety against the future aggressions of Russia."
These few words have created a great sensation in metropolitan
circles, and their effect has been equally magical all over
the kingdom. The people are from them taught to believe

that the flimsiness and sham of pretended hostility, but real
friendship for Russia have been banished from the Cabinet,
and succeeded by a sentiment akin to that which animates the
nation. Possession of Sebastopol has entirely removed the pres-
tige of the Russian military prowess—it has dispirited and
demoralized their army—has despoiled them of mighty war-
like resources—has relieved the besieging army of great and
exhausting and dangerous toil—has placed them in a position
to avail themselves of their numerical, physical, and moral
superiority. The conflict may still be a sharp, but it can
scarcely now be a long one. True the advantage has been
gained by a sad and sorrowful amount of sacrifice.. Thousands
of our brave countrymen, and of their equally brave allies,
have been immolated on the altar of stern duty; but to the

survivors who sorrowfully mourn over the mangled victim s---Of
the ruthless onslaught, it must be some consolation at least to

know that the sacrifice was not made in vain—that the blood

so profusely shed upon the ramparts of Sebastopol has in it;

crimson tide washed out the foot-marks, and swept away the

_ -
resting-places of aggressive slavery.
So completely absorbed has the mind of every one been with
the magnitude and importance of the victory achieved in the

Crimea, that every other topic seems forgotten, and it is with

difficulty that listeners can be found for conversation on any
subject foreign to the war. Even amidst this all-engrossing
appetite for war, some few are found to grumble and protest

against an abuse of patronage just perpetrated by our pure,

kelf-denying, and merit-loving Government. Some time ago
it was announced that Government was prepared to expend
£5,000 on a marble statue to the Duke of IVELLINGToN, to

be erected in St. Paul's. In pursuance of this resolution, four
distinguished sculptors, viz., Messrs. BAILEY, FOLEY, GIBSON,

and the Baron MAROCIIETTI, were invited to send in com-
peting models. Two of them—GissoN, in compliance with a
rule he has laid down for his own guidance, and MA.ROCIIETTI
—declined to compete ; FOLEY and BAILEY produced
models—whether meritorious or not would seem to matter

little ; the mind of Government was made up in a direction.
opposite to them, and its patronage was bestowed upon the -
lucky Italian Baron. The term " lucky" may with truth be
applied to this artist in its most legitimate sense. His first

public appearance in this country was at Glasgow, where, as
in the present instance, without competing, and in defiance of
competition, he was thrust over the heads of all British sculp-

tors, and complimented with the commission to con-
struct the " Wellington Testimonial" for that city.. Again

his knot of Glaswegian patrons secured for him the
equestrian statue of HER MAJESTY, which has been
recently erected there. Of the last it is. impossible
for me to speak, as I have not seen it ; in regardto the former
no such ground for silence exists. As a piece of carefully-
laboured statuary it is admirable : as a specimen of tastefully
and skilfully-elaborated moddelling it is excellent ; but as a
work of art it is nought. Common-place in design, it does
not rise in any degree above the level of very ordinary
portrait sculpture, conveys no idea of dignity or grace,
and but for its magnitude would offer no salient point to
distinguish it from the herd of everyday equestrians. Yet,
such has been the good fortune of the Baron, that he has been
preferred to the execution of numerous public statues in this
country, while native artists have sighed for opportunity and
languished for lack of employment to celebrate their country's
heroes, and to enrich the country with the creations of their
intellect.

THE RIVINGTON WATER WORKS.

VISIT OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY last was one of the marked days in the history
of the extensive and interesting works, situated at and near
Rivington, for the purpose of supplying Liverpool with an
adequate quantity of pure water for sanitary and domestic
purposes, and also for the use of the shipping and other
branches of its rapidly increasing trade. Some doubts having
arisen in the public mind, and having also found expression in
the Town Council, as well as out of doors, as to the progress
made in the construction of these works and the probability
of their being made available for the purposes of a water
supply for a long time yet to come, the Water Committee
deemed the present a fair opportunity for ascertaining the
condition of the works, their gigantic magnitude and impor-
tance, and the existing state of their progress, from actual
inspection. Proceeding on this conviction, the Chairman of
the Water Committee, at the last meeting of Council, invited
the members to visit and inspect the works, and Wednesday

last was fixed on as the day on which they should proceed.
In accordance with this resolution, invitations were likewise
issued to members of the Dock Committee, of the Pilots'
Committee, and of some other public bodies, interested in the
ultimate success or failure of the Rivington water scheme ;
and, as representative of the public interests in general,
members of the newspaper press were also freely invited to
attend.
A special train was provided to convey the party, seventy-
one in number, from the Tithebarn•street station to Bolton,
and precisely at a quarter before eight o'clock (the hour fixed
in the programme) the train started. The morning was most
auspicious, the weather being beautifully fine; and the com-
pany, elated by the aspect of the charming scenery through
which they sped, and animated by the anticipations of a day
of unmixed pleasure, arrived at the Bolton station precisely
at nine o'clock. A substantial as well as elegant breakfast
was provided in the refreshment rooms, and to this the party
did ample justice. Having partaken of the necessary refresh-
ment, the company took their places in five omnibuses, each
drawn by four horses, provided by Mr. Greenwood, postmaster,
and headed by that containing Mr. George Holt, chairman of
the 'Water Committee, they started for the upper section of
the water-works operations, near Withnall.
Shortly after leaving Bolton, the route lay through a dis-
trict undulating in outline, and lovely in its indications of
fertility and good culture, heightened by the manifestations
of an abundant and generally well-secured harvest the
only drawback upon this pleasant prospect being found in the
unmistakeable evidence of "potato disease," afforded in the
numerous fields and patches of this invaluable root which skirt
the roadside, and which, in nearly every instance, showed
traces, more or less marked, of the ravages of the "disease."
In passing from Bolton towards the higher districts of the
county, the picturesque and wild beauty of the scenery at-
tracted general attention; the heathery hill-sides and deep
intersecting ravines, together with the rugged peaks and
feathery clumps of woodland, enriched with the brilliant glow
of the mountain ash berry, and the deep green of the larch
and sycamore, lending a peculiar charm to a landscape inte-
resting alike from its appearance and associations. About half-
way between Bolton and the picturesque town of Belmont
the party, in passing by, scanned with curious interest the'
reservoir for supplying Bolton with water. This reservoir
presents to such a body of excursionists features of more than
merely visual importance. It has been for a long period in
existence, and, as such, furnishes valuable data as to the
quality of the storage water to be collected in the district,
and in that respect has been referred to by all parties advo-
cating or opposing the Rivington scheme. Further, at this
reservoir, or in connexion with it, has been constructed a rain-
gauge, which has been in operation since 1842, and which has
been referred to by all parties in the dispute, as furnishing
the best data as to the absolute rain-fall of the district in
which the Rivington water-works are situated.

Having passed Belmont, and still pursuing a devious route

through a hilly and thing country, the party reached the fire of

the works connected with the Rivington system of water supply.
This consists of a culvert bridge for carrying the public' road,
which has been diverted to some extent, across the Rake
Brook. From this bridge the cortege passed rapidly for Ward
to the Hare and Hounds Inn, where the carriages were left,
and at which point the visitors were met by the gentlemen
having charge of the upper portion of the works, and by Mr.
Statham,. general superintendent on behalf of Mr. Hawksley.
The company now assembled comprised—His Worship' the
Mayor, Councillors Anderson, Crosthwaite, Woodruff, g C.
Stewart, Moss, Nicholson, Godfrey, Bradley, C. Turner,
Littledale, Avison, Holt, Fernihough, James Holme, Banner,
Mann, Jeffreys, John Gladstone, jun., Alex. Shand, Wagstaff,
Fleming, Johnson, Hodson, Kitchen, Clint, Beckwith,
Robertson, Halhead-, Hall—Aldermen Lane, Bennett,
Robinson, Cooper, Shand; and Sr. Moline:
Among the borough officials present were Messrs; W. Shut
tleworth, Town-clerk; James- Newlands;,Borough Engineer
Lieut. Lord ; Thomas Duncan, Water Engineer-; Ik Mason
G. V. Tanton, Thomas Venni Alfred Quick, and W. Statham.-
-nod.. Committee : J. 1 Rounthwaite; Smith, Rankin,
Barber, Monde% and Lockett.—Pi/otsr Cammift'er":' Messrs.
Wm. Potter, George Kendall, Blythe, Rowlands; and Cooke.—
There were also present Messrs: IL C. Beloe, P: B McQuis;-W.-
Blackstone, and several other gentlemen.
Immediately on arriving at the Hare .andltimuids; the'corn-
pany, leaving the vehicles, proceeded to inspect the' works;-
commencing.at the Rake Brook, embankment. The' woe*
which are very extensive, were generally adinited by the'
visitors, as judiciously planned, and carried;: out- in'a,spirit.
of corresponding energy. They will be-understood by a care.
ful perusal of the' annexed report; drawn up by Mr. Statham
The collecting-and storage works -of"the Rivingten. scheme.
of the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks, commence- in the
valley of the river Roddlesworth, about nina, miles from,
Rolton, on the ^older' or more direct turnpike-re.d.between
Bolton and Pteston,-and eTtona thence to liornielz,, a istanee
of eight miles; where the main pipe commences. Near-tiv
commencement: of the works the river Boddlesworth takes its
rise, and runs down a precipitous valley, having lofty hills on
each side towards -Moulden water.-.

There is also upon this river, and entering it at the point
before mentioned, a stream called the Rake Brookl :and, at a
few hundred yards above the junction of the ricer Roddles-
worth and the Rake Brook, the first important engineering
works of the Rivington scheme; for supplying the• town of
Liverpool with water, are visible.- These consist of: two large
enibankments, carried each across, the valleys of .the river
Roddlesworth and the Rake Brook,b3r which the •deseending
waters of these two streams will be impounded and connected
together by a goit, or canal, of about twenty feet wide at the
bottom, and about ten feet below the top-water level of each
of these reservoirs; thus always preserving their waters to a
uniform level to the depth of ten feet berow•theirihighest, or
top-water mark..

The object of these two reservoirs, is to impound the waters
from the watershed or gathering:ground in theirvioinity, and
to distribute so much of the szrplus water as is-above the ten
feet level, before mentioned, down to the larger -storage re-
servoirs of Anglemrk and Rivington, retaining the remain-
der in store for compensation, to be given out down the river
Roddlesworth, as required by the act of Parliament.. The
surface capacity of these two reservoirs is about fifty acres,
and holds about 200 millions of aIO4IS. The embankmenta
forming them. are about 90 feet high, constructed of. earth,
with a watertight puddle -wall_ in the centre, of- clay properly
worked and tempered. The Roddlesworth embankment has
been entirely completed, as far as the earthworks are con-
cerned, and the Rake Brook embankment is very-nearly so
[The process of formation at the Rake Brook . embank 7
went is being pushed forward with all the rapidity possibly
applicable -to such a work... It wants now about four feet of
material laid on before it is, completed to its full height
The difficulties .to be overcome in the formation of such a
structure may to some extent be guessed from the annexed
details,. gathered from personal inspection. To secure the
embankment from the possibility of leakage, a solid wall of
well-pwldled clay is constructed, stretchinglongitudinally
from.one extremity of the embankment to the other. This,
puddle wall is carriednp from a well-secured foundation on
water-tight strata, to obtain which,. a.trench has been ax--
mated across the valley, till the solidrockor the immoveable
and impervious clay of the district-has been reached.. In
the instance before 113 this excavatim was carried 20feet
below the surface. at the bottom, of the valley. The.clay
wall is.then carried up, commencing with a thickness, of 14
feet, and gradually diminishing, in, thickness till. it ter-
minutes 6 feet thick at the upper surface of the•embank-
ment. This puddle wall, is a feature common to all the
embankments.; the only variety in its character being tole
found in the. greater or less,degree of depth requiredin the
foundation.. Exterior to the.puddle wall, on both sides, the
embankment is strengthened by the deposit of earth and
stone, sloping upwards- on, the next to the water, at an
angle of three-feet to-one-foot of height; and on the outer
side at an angle of two feet to one foot of height, and
finishing on thetop,with a width of 18 feet. In thecon-
struetion of the Rakeßrook embankment alone, not less. than
180,000 cubic yairds. of material have been used ; these have
been chiefly derived from the excavation of the goit which
connects the. Roddlesworth and Rake. Brook reservoirs with
the lower works, and from side cuttings.]

From the western end of the Rake Brook embankment, near
to the Hare and Hounds Inn, on to the old. Bolton and Preston
turnpike-road, a goit, or canal, has been excavated, and is now
in process of completion. This goit, or canal, is about twenty
feet wide at the bottom, and six feet deep,and perfectly water-
tight throughout. It extends from the Rake Brook reservoir
to the top or northern end of the large Anglezark reservoir, a
distance of about 31 miles. The bottom of the goit has, of
course, a regular fall or inclination, all the way from the Rake
Brook reservoir to the Anglezark reservoir.
This goit will enable the Corporation to draw off all the
flood and surplus water from the Roddlesworth and Rake
Brook reservoirs into the large storage reservoirs of Anglezark
and Rivington. It will also intercept and collect in its pas.
sage all the rainfall between these two localities, which may
descend into it, and which comprise several thousand acres.
The goit passes through or near the villages and hamlets of
Withnall, Brinscall, White Coppice, &c., at which places there
are weaving, bleaching, and spinning manufactories, which
have been established here for many years, on account of the
plentiful supply of pure water which they will receive in fu-
ture from the Corporation works at regular and convenient
times, and not as heretofore in large quantities, and at uncer-
tain periods, whereby they could not very frequently be re-
tained and made available for the purposes required.
[ln this instance, Mr. Statham must mean that the manu-
factories to which he refers were attracted to the spot by the
excellence and abundance of the water to be met with in the
neighbourhood. This water being taken possession of by
the Liverpool Corporation, the manufacturers will, in future,
receive their supply from the Liverpool Water Works, which
supply will be delivered in regulated quantities instead of in
the intermittent and irregular manner in which it has
hitherto been received.]
The scenery along the goit is of a wild and in some places
rugged and precipitous character. The goat runs for some
distance along the valley adjoining the Withnall and Angle.
zark moors, where grouse are plentiful, and whence the towns
of Chorley, Preston, and the whole Fylde district, including
Blackpool, Lytham, and Southport, and the sea beyond, can
oftentimes be distinctly seen.
The engineering works upon the goit consist of earthworks,