The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-05 00:00:00

SHIPPING RETURNS

A return lately printed, of the shipping and tonnage
of the United Kingdom, furnishes a complete account
of the progress of British and colonial shipbuilding,
from the year 1814 to the present time. One of the
most remarkable facts presented by this statement, is
the constant tendency shown to increase the size of
vessels. In 1814, the average capacity of all the ships
constructed in Great Britain during that year, was 122
tons, while in 1852 it was 235 tons. Hence, although
the aggregate of new tonnage per annum has nearly
doubled, the figures have been 86,075 tons in 1815,
against 167,491 last year; the number of vessels built
each year has remained nearly stationary, the total
having been 706 in 1815, and 712 in 1852. In colonial
built ships this tendency is observable to a still greater
extent, their average capacity having been only 84 tons
in 1815, while in 1851 it had risen to 207 tons. At the
same time the advance of the colonies has been such
that, notwithstanding the vast increase in the average
capacity of their ships, the number constructed like-
wise shows an extraordinary augmentation. In 1815
they built 131 vessels, with a total capacity of 11,069
tons, and in 1851 the number was 680 vessels, with a
capacity of 141,116 tons. In the face of all the appre-
hensions on account of the repeal of the navigation
laws, a total tonnage of English vessels annually con-
structed since that event, has shown a steady increase,
and last year it was larger than at any former time,
with the exception of 1840 and 1841, when an unusual
addition was made in consequence of a speculative
mania that had prevailed for some time at Sunderland.
In the colonies, the years 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1848
were the most active ever known ; and, although after
the latter year, during which a great stimulus had been
imparted by the demand for freight, occasioned by the
famine which had just been experienced on this side, a
reaction took place, there has subsequently been a
steady recovery, until in 1851 the figures again rapidly
approached the total from which they had receded.
For 1852, the colonial returns are not yet complete, but
they will probably show a considerable further advance.

The same document gives an account of the number
of vessels belonging to the several ports of the British
empire in each year, from 1814 to 1852 inclusive. From
this it appears that, in 1814 the total of vessels was
24,418, with an aggregate capacity of 2,615,965 tons,
employing 172,786 men and boys. Last year, the num-
ber wus 34,402 vessels, with a tonnage of 4,424,392 tons,
employing 243,512 men and boys. During the interval
of 39 years, therefore, the increase of vessels was equal
to 41 per cent., of tonnage to 72 per cent., and of men
to 40 per cent., the augmentation of capacity and the
improvements in construction causing a comparative
economy in the number of persons employed.

A return is likewise given of the number of foreign
ships purchased by British owners since the repeal of
the navigation laws, viz. :—in 1850, 1851, and 1852.
From this it appears, that the totals were-57, with a
capacity of 10,499 tons, in 1850 ; 26, with a capacity
of 6,049 tons, in 1851 ; and 28, with a capacity of
6,724 tons, in 1852. It is evident, therefore, from the
decline which occurred after the first year of experience,
that British builders have nothing to dread from the
superior ability or cheapness of foreign competitors.
Shipping Gazette.

ROBBERY Of £l75.—A gentleman named John Darkin.
who resides at No. 55, Marshall-street, Manchester, was
robbed of £175 in a railway carriage, whilst travelling from
Manchester to Liverpool during the present week, under the
following circumstances : It would appear that Mr. Darkin had
induced a young lady, who is described as remarkably well look-
ing, and who was the barmaid at a respectable public house, in
Manchester, to accompany him to Liverpool. Whilst on the
way a series of little endearments passed between them ; the
lady " clipping " as it is termed Mr. Darkin in a very loving
manner, and easing him at the same time of a purse containing
£175 in hetes and gold. Mr. Darkin did not discover his
his until some time after his arrival in Liverpool, and when
lossfair companion had been for some time missing.
THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT BLACKBURN--Since
the publication of our account of the frightful explosion
at Blackburn, on Wednesday morning, it has been ascer-
tained that in addition to the five persons who lost their lives,
sixteen others were more or less injured ; the following is a
list of the persons killed :—James Clegg, aged 40, weaver,
Grimshaw-park, who was found against the wall in the weaving
shop, with the back of his skull knocked in, and quite dead;
Thomas Brotherton, 40, weaver, John-street ; Thomas
Sharpies, son of the engineer ; William Bean, painter, Swin-
don ; and a child a few months old belonging to a person
named Robinson, the tenant of the cottage that was blown
entirely down, and with whom Benn, the painter was lodging.
The persons injured, were James Cowell, shuttle-maker's
apprentice ; Edward Sharpies, the engineer, who had ono arm
and one leg broken, and the other arm much scalded, besides
being otherwise burnt and bruised ; James Howarth, alias
Walmsley, the fireman, scalded and bruised ; Edward Ingham,
painter, who was struck by a stone as he was passing up the
street, and had his leg broken ; Ann Waugh, aged 15, weaver ;
Alice Duckworts, weaver, Richton-bridge, bruised and scalded;
Ann Duckworth, 22, and Abel Duckworth, her husband,
slightly hurt ; Aim Sharrocks, weaver, slightly hurt ; James
Coup, 21, weaver, who fell ffora the upper weaving-room into
the place where the boiler had been, and had to scramble out
over the hot ashes, sustaining several bruises and burns ; Wil-

ham Coupe, brother-of the last; who was ,bruised about the
legs by the falling materials ; Betty Shorrocks, weaver,.brnised
about the head; Ephriana Shorrocks, the o'verlooker, living in
BlacliWater:street, cut over the head by the falling materials;
Alice Ainsworth, weaver, Moor-street, a good, deal hurt;
Elizabeth Chew,lifoor-street, and' Jane Biddy, both weavers.
These two women Were found under their looms, their arms,
round each- other's- becks, and their hands clasped together.
'Howarth, the fireman, who was ,struck on the head by -some, of
the falling bricks, was,carried,hoMe TayilitCl:4.ld,,ll44.Fpcut.ired
lOvemi- men to hold 'hed:""-rtis—recovery, with that of
Sharpies, the engineer, is very doubtful.