The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

MB. COUNCILLOR Jous Moss has retired from business in
Liverpool, and intends to live permanently in the Isle of
Man. His seat in the Council will be vacated in November
next.

SINGULAR SUICIDE.-011 Monday week, Wm. Friendly, a
labourer was found in a privy adjoining his house, at St.
Helen's, with a piece of cord round his neck, which he had
twisted with two pieces of stick so tightly as to effectually
strangle him. A verdict of temporary insantty was returned
at the coroner's inquest.
Mr. FRANCIS BOULT has received a reply from Prince Czar-
toryski to the address lately adopted at a pqblic meeting held
in this town. The Prince states that he is convinced " that
so much real sympathy and matured concern shown now in
England for the Polish cause must end sooner or later in an
effective interference in her favour."

PRIZES AT THE REV. W. C. GREENE'S SCHOOL, HOPE.
STREET.-ISt class, W. S. Shuttleworth ; 2nd class, E. H.
Robinson and H. S. Samuel (equal) ; 3rd class, J. Ellershaw
A. Mozley ; 4th class, W. Brown • sth class, J. L. Davenport:
J. Usborne ; lower sth class, G. Long ; 6th class, W. Mozley. .
lower 6th class, L. Mozley ; French prize, H. S. Samuel, J'
Marquis, F. Holme ; writing prize, W. Kilpatrick, R. Elliston.

, - -
THE STEAM-83IP GREAT BRITAIN.—This splendid vessel,
since she left Marseilles, after taking in more troops at Con-
stantinople, arrived safely in Kamiesch Bay, were she landed
her large freight of troops and horses. The commander,
Captain Gray, has again been presented with a testimonial
from his passengers. In this instance the memorial consists
of plate, the gift of the East Kent _Militia, which regiment
Captain Gray took out to Malta. He has, besides, been
honoured with letters from the French troops which he has
conveyed to the seat of war.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND LANCASHIRE AND
,YORKSHIRE.—On Tuesday the committee on this bill reported
that they had examined the allegations contained in the pre-
amble of the bill, and had amended the same so as only to
recite "the necessity for a station at Preston being improved,
and found the same, as amended, to be true, and they had
proceeded with the clauses of the bill as far as clause 3, when
the parties promoting the bill stated that, id consequence of
the clause being negatived by the committee, it was not their
intention to proceed with the bill.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO A CHILD.—On Tuesday evening,
John Fairclough, five-and-a-half years old, whose parents re-
side in 42 Court, Hornby-street, was accidentally killed in the
same street. Mr. Edward Davies, a cartowner, had an empty
float lying cicse to the court where the deceased lived, and the
latter was playing near it, when a vehicle, belonging to Mr.
Wainwright, and driven by James Aimesly, who is said to
have been under the influence of liquor, came down the street,
and running in contact with the empty float turned it round
on to the footpath; by this means the fore part of the float
jammed the deceased's head against the railing, in which
position he was litterally hanging until after the vehicle was
removed, when he dropped down apparently quite lifeless.
He died shortly after.
PRIZES AT THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The pupils
in the schools of the Mechanics' Institution were examined
on Wednesday before a crowded audience, and their relatives
and friends. Gn Thursday night the prizes were delivered
in the lecture-hall, Mr. Blackburn occupying the chair. The
prizes having been distributed, the pupils sang some holiday
eongs, after which Mr. Aspinall, at the request of the chair-
man, presented the principal (Mr. A. M'llvean) with a por-
trait himself, painted by one of the teachers in the schools.
The speaker, at considerable length, dwelt upon the exalted
literary attainments of the principal, his kind-heartedness,
and his extraordinary zeal in the cause of education; and said
that the utmost cordiality existed between that gentleman
and the teachers—a great desideratum in schools of such mag-
nitude as those of the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. Prin-
cipal M'llveen, in acknowledging the gift, said he shovld ever
look upon it, apart from its worth as a work of art, with feel-
ings of the greatert kindness and respect for those gentlemen
who assisted him in his daily labours, and without many of
whom the institution would probably not be in so efficient a
condition as it was. After other remarks complimentary to
the teachers, the principal sat down amid loud cheers. A vote
of thanks to the chairman, and some music from the juveniles,
terminated the proceedings.:
DOCK COMMITTER.—Mr. Brocklebank occupied the chair
at the weekly meeting on Thursday, when a report was pro-
duced from the surveyor in regard to the turn-tables at the
Birkenhead Railway-station. The surveyor stated that he did
not consider the mode there adopted was eligible for the
Stanley Dock quays. The sub-committee of works accordingly
recommended that the tenders of the Bankhall Foundry be
accepted. A report was laid before the committee, stating that
867 vessels had passed through the Queen's Channel, inwards
and outwards, during the past month of May. The chairman
said the Marine Sub-committee thought it desirable to bring
this matter before the committe, to show what a very im-
portant channel this had become. They made an attempt to
classify the ships, but found it extremely difficult. Mr. Smith
remarked that that channel was becoming more valuable
every day. A letter was received from the captain of the
Sierra Nevada, which was injured by grounding on the gate of
the Wellington Half-tide Dock, requesting that the Sandon
Graving-dock No. 1, where she was being repaired, might be
used during her repairs only for vessels requiring neaps, as he
was informed that otherwise the expense would be considerably
enhanced, a well as the work delayed. The letter was referred
to the Harbour-masters' Sub-committee.

MEETING OF MASTER MARINERS.-011 Friday, a meeting
of the Master Mariners of this port was held at the Royal
Assembly Rooms, Great George-street, fcr the purpose of
forming an association under the title of " The Master Mari-
ners' Mutual Benevolent and Protection Society." The chair
was taken by Captain Mason, who said it appeared highly
desirable that in so large p, seaport as Liverpool the master
mariners thould combine for their mutual benefit and protec-
tion, and under those circumstances the gentlemen who had
originated the matter had drawn up a series of rules and reso-
lutions, which would be laid before them for adoption.—The
Secretary read the rules, which were to the effect that the
society should protect all captains in their difficulties, not
occasioned by misconduct ; that the funds should be raised by
subscriptions and entrance fees ; that the society should insure
the effects of the members from losses by shipwreck and acci-
dent, and that in certain cases annuities should be granted to
members and their widows and children. It was also pro-
posed that the profits of Cho insurance department of the
society should be devoted to the general benefit of the body;
that the rules should be enrolled by act of parliament ; that
all members should be master mariners, nut that landsmen
should, on payment of the subscription, be received as honor-
ary members, but without participationin the pecuniary bene-
fits of the association ; that all cases taken up by the associa-
tion should be published in a nautical publication, and that a
yearly report should be drawn up and distributed amongst the
membm's.—The rules were debated eenialim and adopted,
with a few amendments, the proceedings terminating with
thanks to the chairman.

HEALTH COMMITTEE.—Mr. Alderman Langsdale presided
at the weekly meeting of this committee, on Thursday, when
the medical officer reported that the health of the town was
in a very satisfactory state, the mortality of last week having
been 1$ per cent. below the average of the same week of the
seven preceding years. The total deaths were 186, of which
127 were in the parish and 59 in the out,townships. The
mortality from each class of disease was below the average.
From the Zymotic class there were 39 deaths, including 12
from measles, 6 from typhus, 2 from small pox (unvaccinated),
2 scarlatina. The deaths from diseases of the lungs, including
consumption, were 62. The mean temperature of the week
was 67 140 degrees, beig degrees lower than the average.
Rain fell on every day of the week, the total amount being
1 61-1000ths inch. The chairman stated that, by a letter
which Mr. Fresh had received from the Crimea, it appeared
that Mr. Newlands left Balaklava on the 30th May, and
might be expected here about the end of the present month.
Mr. Newlands would be detained, however, officially at Scu-
tari. The town-clerk was instructed to write to the dock
committee, :acquainting that body that the comraitteee had
had under ,consideration the proposed new plans, which
removed the:flagging at the south-west angle of the Custom-
house, at Canning-place, 61 feet back, leaving a clear roadway
of 69 feet 3 inches, reducing the roadway 20 feet;' and that
the committee must enforce the necessity of adherence to the
original plans. The deputy town-clerk then reported then
the results of the prosecutions which the committee had
directed under the Smoke Prenvention Act, and said there
was a conviction and fine inflicted in every case.

THE RAILWAY ROBBERIES.—The Preston bench was
occupied during a considerable portion of Wednesdayin inves-
tigating the extensive railway robberies. There were six
accused persons in custody, viz., John Butler, Joseph Birrell,
sen., Joseph Birrell, jun., William Birrell, Edward Caton, and
John Parkinson. The last two named had been apprehended
since the former hearing. Caton, late a breakeman in the
employ of the Lancashire and Carlisle Railway Company, is
the man who absconded on hearing that the police. had
searched his house and seized a quantity of goods ; after a
short absence he returned home, and was found concealed
under the stairs. Parkinson (brother-in-law to the prisoner
Butler) was a warehouseman in the employ of a Preston
grocer, and, when he was apprehended, had in his pos-
session a quantity of jewellery, including a valuable
diamond pin, answering the description of one stolen
from Dr. Jardine, who., having seen an account of the
robberies, wrote to the railway authorities respecting his
loss. This gentleman's portmanteau had been forced open
between London and Carlisle, and the diamond pin and other
articles abstracted. John Butler, Joseph Birrell, sell., and
William Birrell, were charged with stealing 360 silk handker-
chiefs, consigned by Messrs. Macaulay and Co., of Glasgow, to
Messrs. Brunell and Co., of this town. Numerous witnesses
were called to trace the box in which the goods were packed
along the various lines of railway. Handkerchiefs found at
each of the prisoners' houses were produced and identified as
part of the stolen property. No fewer than 70 were found in
the possession of Joseph Birrell, sen. The prisoners were
committed for trial at the ensuing Lancaster assizes. Edward.
Caton, charged with stealing 11-1- yards of moire antique, con-
signed by Messrs. Campbell and Co., of Fribay-street, Cheap-
side, London, to Messrs. Macgregor and Co., of this town, was
also committed to the assizes. John Parkinson, charged with
stealing a diamond pin, a silver watch, a gold chain, four sets
of gold studs, &c., was remanded for a week. Joseph Birrell,
jun., was discharged, none of the articles found in his posses-
sion having been identified. Almost a cartload of valuable
property, taken from the prisoners, was produced in court.
The cases excited great interest, the justice-room being
crowded throughout the inquiry.
SMOKE PREVENTION. —The patent smokeless furnace, in-
vented by Mr. John Lee Stevens, of London, which has been
adapted by Messrs. Morton and Co., of James-street, to the
steam-boiler on their premises in Cherry-lane, has been found
to answer completely in the prevention of smoke and the
saving of fuel. The main feature of this system is the intro-
duction of a current of heated air at the extreme inner end of
the fire-place, which, whilst extending from side to side of the
furnace in an ascending stream, intercepts and mingles with
the carbonaceous gases from the coal fire, or the assimilated
gases of other sorts of fuel ; thus supplying them with the
requisite quantity of oxygen in a proper state, converts them,
by more perfect combustion, to the required purposes, instead,
of allowing them to escape in the form of smoke, and thereby
causes an economy of fuel at an average of 20 per cent. Each
application, modified to meet any particular requirement, in-
cludes the use of caloric plates, made of cast iron, sometimes
protected in front by fire-bricks ; which plates rest against
and extend the whole width and to within a short distance of
the top of the bridge over which the flame passes from the
furnace into the flue, in such a manner as to admit under-
neath them and between their surfaces and the front of the
bridge, the proper quantity of air. In proportion to the in-
tensity of combustion is the increased rapidity with which the
air ascends, the rushing onward of the flame itself acting by
way of exhaustion, and the greater heat of the parts surround.
ing the current of air adding to its velocity. Mr. Stevens's
invention has been applied with great success at the famous
blacking mart of Day and Martin, the sweatmeat factory of
Hill and Jones, and many brewers, iron works, and other
establishments in London and elsewhere.