Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-17 00:00:00

CONFLAGRATIONS IN COTTON LADEN
SHIPS.

,Thefollowing valuable report has been presented to
the committee of the Liverpool Underwriters' Associa-
tion by their secretary :
LIVERPOOL, 6th Dec., 1859.
UNDERWRITERS' ROOMS.

GENTLEMEN,—In conformity with the wish expressed
at your meeting on the 3rd November, I have to report,
that the origin of the conflagrations on board cotton
laden ships is attributable to various causes, all
more or less of a conjectural character, no means
having yet been found -of tracing any serious fire
to its origin. Fires of minor importance have
generally been found to be the result of carelessness.
It is worthy of observation, that in regard to those
vessels which have had to put into Milled States' ports
on their way to Liverpool, with cotton, the subsequent
loss from their taking fire has lately been very serious, as
evidenced in the cases of the Sultan, Fanny Fosdick, and
Helios, all of which must be fresh in the recollection of
committee. The causes to which these fires are attri-
butable may be stated as follows, namely:—
I.—Spontaneous Combustion.
1. Arising from the presence of oil_ or grnse.
2. Arising from moisture, after exposure to heavy
, rains in the streets of New Orleans.
. IL—Smoking of Labourers., .
lll.—Sparks from Steamers on the Mississippi.
IV.— Wilful Ignition of the Cargo by the, Crew.
V.—Lightning.
Vl.—Fires in Cotton .Presses.
Oi each of these a few obsezrations. may be considered
necessary.

, -
I. SPONTAEOUS COMBUSTION,-1.. From the pre-
sence of Oil or Grease.:—lnNew Otleans• the jack-screws
used in the stowage' of cotton are oiled in the ships' holds,
and the- drippings may frequently fall on the cargo ;
the strong affinity of oily substances. for' oxygen, and
the constantly increasing surface on• which this action
can take place; as the' oil spreads from: fibre to fibre, on
so inflammable w material as cotton, make it probable that
this is one of the chief causes of fire in. cotton-laden
ships. Grease. was formerly used in stowing these car-
goes, but it is understood to be now superseded by soap.

' 2. From Moisture, after- _Exposure to heavykri"ns.—
The heat evolved from damp vegetable fibre, when closely
packed together; is also known to be the effeet'of ar slow
kind of combustion which may possibly. at times
become so active as to cause the destruction of these
cargoes by fire.. .The progress of fire from this-cause is
much retarded- by the large quantity of heat: carried
away in the stead: which is given off. In consequence
of the' large accumulation of cotton last season at New.
Orleans, the covered places for 'storing it were insuffi-
cient, and several thousand bales were exposed.to the
heavy rains of the- winter of 1858-59. Unless farther
Spaces have since been.covered for the storage of cotton
in New Orleans, it is to' be feared that injury from..the
rains will Increase, as the cotton is-arriving at that.port
in. larger quantities this year than during the last.
11. SMOKING OF LAnotinEns.—So far as I can learn,
it is the universal practice for labourers among cotton
bales to smoke. Some parties affect to deny that there
.is•any danger from this habit. Where its, danger is
admitted, it must excite surprise that, with so prevalent
a custom, conflagrations .at sea are not more numerous.
In a bale of cotton recently imported into Liverpool, a
box of lucifer matches was found underneath the wrapper
of: the bale.

111. SPARKS FROM STEAMERS.—The use of wood as
fuel on board the Mississippi steamers causes numerous
sparks to be blown from their funnels, endanmoering
cotton lying on the' banks, and wharves, as well as that
stowed on the decks of steamers and flat boats.
• • IV. WILFUL IGNITION BY THE CRBW.—No such case
.having, been proved, fhe assertion is, as yet, Without
corroborative evidence. ,
V. Licurnallo.—When a ship takes fire from this•
MISS it is immediately known ; the most recent case is.
that of the Oakland, from Charleston' to Liverpool,
which was struck by.lightning on the 19th December,
1858, on the edge of soundings, and. entirely destroyed.
VI. FIRES IN Corms PRESSES.—Last season there
was a serious conflagration in the New Orleans presses, and
fire is supposed to have•broken out in some of the cotton
subsequently shipped from those presses,—l remain,
gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
Tuos. CoURT, ,Secretary.
To the Committee of the Underwriters' Association,
Liverpool.

y • •
, II4SH NATIONAL EDUCATION.—It is rumoured that
Mr. Cardivell has transmitted to Dr. Cullen and his
colleagues the decision of government upon their dethand
of a grant for separate educational purposes. The Chief
Secretary, it is diced, states that government will not
depart from the national system of education, but, that
it will entertainany suggestions for its •more efficient
application to, the circumstances of the • country.
Expriss.
TAB' COLLIES OF THE WEST Itintivo. —The' colliers
of the Gildersome, Adwalton, and Drighlingtom dis-:
triets, between Bradford and Leeds; numbering perhaps
1,000 employed at the various pits, have made another,
demand upon the colliery masters- for an advance of
wages to the extent of 10 per cent. Notice was given
to the .masters'by the men themselves about a fortnight
ago and on Wednesday evening last; each colliery,
master received an " official" notice, . duly signed and
sealed, from the "Board" of the Gildersome and Drigh-
lington Miner's' Association, to- the' effect that if this
demand be not yielded,' the men will close working 'at
the piti after • Friday evening. The masters, who are
not combined; feel that • they :have, it is. stated, no
alternative but to yield the advance demanded. A similar
advance was sonfiht and given some time; ago, and, the
present advance, if yielded, Will make the: total adiance
'made in the district at various. times since 18'50, not less
than from 35 to 40 per cent. '
THE. EFFECTS OF SPECUL4ITION • IN PARl§.—The.
effects of the change had also teen- rendered !painfully
apparent by the sacrifice of'wealthy individuals, who,
connected with the " Credit Mobilier," had operated
upon the Bourse, and who, when unable to complete
their 'engagements, sought- a refige in Anierica, 'to
avoid 'the responsibility of liibihties not reekoned
by thousands, or tens. of thousands, but by hundreds'
of thousands of 'pounds. High and respected: finan,
cial names were : sallied: by these transactions, arid'
though at the Instant endeavoars were made to con-
coal the masnitude. of the transactions, and the as-'
creditable circumstances by Wrhieh they were attended,,
revelations speeiNly follolted which established most
.conclusively, the- nature •anol character, of the. several
defalcations. • The, special features of the Thurnoyssen
delinquency, the abstraetion and appropriation, of he
Great Northern, of -France shares, and the irregularitties
indicated in the organisation of the scheme for-the con-
struction of the Napoleon Docks, all. more (glees Illus-
trated the evils resulting from excessive adventure,
encouraged, stimulated, and fostered as it,had beeikbY
the most , exalted Government authorities, who were
even alleged to hare participated large?). in the first.
fruits, which, in the shape' of profits, the 'various enter.
prises presented.—History of Ow. Cosnmeracil fix. esis,
1851r-58.
Tfii.E DECLINE OF PAUPERISM lii IRELAN/X7--The
marked decrease in the amount of Irish paiiperiairc
which has been recorded from time to time for several
.years past . hai at. length attraeted the attentio'a of!
Government, and it now seenia that the whole viestion
of the roor4aw• will be submitted as 800 E as- prtieable
to the • consideration of Parliament, with a view of
effecting such retrenchments in the wo,:iting of the
system as may suit the altered ofr.cumstances of
the country. The ,following min
ouraceraent appears
in Saunders' s Newsletter :—" The, office rendered
:Vatitint, by the death of Mt: G: Waddell r'*ill
slot be filled up. This course vitas determined upon at
a' meeting of the Commisaionrrs 'Of Poor_ Laws, at -the,
Castle, on Thursday. MP, course_ iyalitk,,haklnen
adopted in this case , has been- eansect.byi the gieat
decrease which has taken 'owe in 'the number of paupers
in-receipt' T•w
of relief in eland, and the.' Conseknent clti-
'nution which has
°warred in the duties of 'almost every
,offieer in :the
uctga
"etnient: The abolition of; this office
is, it is rill" 1 but the commencement of a general
system of retror.ichinent in the. expenditure, of the whole
department,-which will take place on th 9 Pasciiii"&,Of
new Poor Law Act early in the 'forthcoming session of
Parlianwct,
and which measure is at present under the
ougid'aation of the Chief Secretary for Ireland."

LADY- LONDONDERRY AT SEAHAM
HARBOUR: ' •

The ceremony of laying the first stone of a series of
extensive iron blast furnaces, about to be erected by
Lady Londonderry in the neighbourhood of Sealiam
Harbour, took place on Monday last. The works will
consist of four large blast furnaces, capable of smelting
200 tons each per week, 120 coke ovens, calcining kilns,
and all the necessary adjuncts of works of this nature.
Two lines of railway—one to bring in the materials at
a high level, the other to take out the manufactured
produce at a lower level—will join the Bradyll line on
the south side of the harbour, and traversing it join the
Seaham and Londonderry Railway to Sunderland. The
whole of the works are expected to be completed in
about ten months. - -

Her ,ladyship, accompanied by a large number of
friends, including the Mayor of Sunderland, and the
leading gentlemen connected with the district, was
present on the occasion, and took a Prominent part in
the ceremonial.

J. Vandeleur Stewart, Esq.,' in the absence of Lord
Vane, who was prevented by illness from being present,
opened the business of the day by some appropriate re-
marks on the enormous productive capabilities of the
district in -iron-stone and coal, and which were capable
of such admirable- development.
Mr. Wight, in offering to her ladyship, in the name
of his father, an elegant silver trowel, also remarked in
terms of the highest eulogy on the spirit of enterprise
evinced by Lady Londonderry in carrying- out the
project.

Her Ladyship, on receiving the trowel, spoke•in the
Mowing terms receive with pleasure and gratitude
your father's beautiful gift,. and I beg you will express
to him my thanks, and at" the same time my deep regret
that he, who first so largely embarked his capital in
great iron works at Seaham,-should have been prevented
by illness from witnessing what I. well know Would have
given him such unfeigned satlifaction.' In commencing.
this great work, which I have not done without deep
reflection, and most anxious consultation, my first object-
has been. the advancement of this place, and although I
naturally hope it will succeed as a spedulation, bars.
had higher and better motives•_ than_ mere-,commercial
gain. Memory recalled a dark November day, 31 years
ago, when the first stone of that harbour was laid
on a rude, wild shore, by one whose indomitable courage
and energy succeeded in proportion to the difficulties
that were to le met. I thought of that example, and I
contemplate the reward of that gigantic -undertaking,
when I see a large and prosperous town daily increasing
in wealth, trade, and importance. I:felt it was my duty
to do all in mypower to aid that progress, and with that
view I continued and finished the railway that now links
,this place to Sunderland. I anticipate most satisfactory
results from the union of the two towns, but I also felt
the necessity ferric:me great exertion being made further
to develop the resources and advance the trade of Sea-
ham ; and I conscientiously believe that the establish-
ment of these blast furnaces will be of incalculable ad-
vantage to a place that is endeared to .me
.by every tie,
and was bequeathed to me as a sacred charge to foster
and watch over. With these feelings-I commence the
work, and I thank you for the kind interest shown on
the occasion.
,

On concluding,. her ladyship stepped off the raised
dais and proceeded to lay the stone,. assisted by her
ladyship's agent, Mr. Ravenshaw, and Mr. Thorman,
the contractor for the works.

The Rev. A. Bethune having offered up a prayer,
Mr. Hugh Tayter made some observations on the
importance`of the work about to be undertaken.

The luncheon given—in -honour of the occasion took
place in the splendid ball-rooms at Seaham, where Lady
Londonderry has 'lately expended upwards of £15,000
in additions and improvenients. The usual loyal toasts
having been proposed and responded to, the health of
the. n,ohle hostess was given, by Mr. Hedworth William-
son, in terms of the warmest praise, on account of- the
energy she had displayed in devoting her wealth and
resources to securing the happiness and comfort of those
around. her. Prolonged cheeering followed the toast.

Lady Londonderry,. in • acknowledging the compli-
' ment, rose and said—Gentlemen;—l feel myself quite
unable to thank you ae-r -ought for the. cordial reception
you have given my health. It is, encouraging and
pleasing to meet with so muoh kindness; -and-I am very
grateful for'all the courtesy and friendly :attention that
has been extended to me this day. I cannot attribute it
to any merit of my own, but I fancy that perhaps the
unusual circumstance of a lady being so largely em-
barked in trade has inspired -an interest, and has pro-
_cured ~from me, on. this particular occasion,: the
honour and pleasure of being so numerously. lux- -
rounded by gentlemen,—representing great own- -
mercial interests in this rich and mercantile
county: 'regret the abSence of the Lord
Bishop of Durham, who I know: fully' intended to haYe
been here, but especially to-dey, when I myself am
hardly recovered from a severe illness, and when, =for-
tunately, I am unexpectedly deprived of the hitherto
Unfailing. Siiiport of my dean and excellent my
eldeSt haiing been prevented by sudden indisposition
from arriving in time, and my second being gayriiid for
'his health -before 'resuming: his • parliamentary, duties.
Their unavoidable absence to-daY his bebn a groit'soirow:
to me,.and the:kind feeling.shoirnnie tlidgreziest solace
I canhave. Our respeotWthairman of the coal trade,.
Mr. Tingh Taylor, has eipiekied hiniielf in most flattering
-and:gratifying terine, for. which. -I-am .deeply gratiful,
anl beg to. offer him, my congratulations onAheireatire
suceess of his great winning, of which I hear such won-
derfuraceduntS have td Morrisoii for his
:good Wishes, which, seem to go, far ,to :prove :that two
of trade may agree.,: (Laughter and, applause.) For
as I explained this morning (arid I will not
weary you with. a. repetition), my great object in this
work, commenced: to-day; -is-the weal and advancement
of Seahami. where I am 'gratified. to' find s 6 much right
- feelitig exists 4; and it is, but just-to the inhabitants to
, say that ithey: have-yielded-to none of-thn large towns in
zealously and eagerly coming forward for, the defence:of
their country; and I have no doubt a very efficient
Yolunteen.artillery dempany:VillsObn be formed.
.*lt is
!pleasing to see that this military movement, so Inerito-
rielwini does not in any war interfere with the
_great; mining:. and commercial enterprises, which :never
were
_more: nuMetows, and satisfactory. than at .present.
lier ladyakuip concluded. -by proposing—" Prosperity to
the coal trade,.andisliccess to the mining and commercial
• il4erer.its of ,the- county of _Durham."
116;r.
Ilugh. Taylor responded to the toast, and Mr.
.A.%dersonand-Mrs §tewaq replied to, the toasts which
'were subsequently proposed.

A Goon -•=-A 'story. is :told by": the Chicago ~
- Times about thivappointment- of, postmasters .in that
One unlucky appointee was compelled to-decline
for the reason set forth-below : "Dear Sir,—Although.,
• I acknowledge the honour:of my, appointment, I regret
to say. that I have yet an., waexpged term "of five years-1
to serve in the Penitentiary, which compels me to de-1
cline your flattering, offer." '
S4cimprtp Stiiicuirn .ON T,li 5-1-,kiliA.T,, iSto4T.}lßN'll
RAI,NiTAY.—A distressing suicide took plaee cni Wediies-..
,day night,, the 14th inst., ott,4o;Great 'Northern line,
near l3inghant,Station,betw.eCii Orantliani and •gbaing
ham. The deceased was named tleakey, and •was
observed on the line by the Bingham•lithtien.indster
for money
about four. o'clock, die down train being expected im-
mediately..'..Thelstation;lnaiter.ordiiiinim off the line,
and_ the expected train soon afterwards arFiveo, and
passed over-the deceased, who hid contrived to ;emain,
on the line when the etationrina.ster's back was t4t'ned.
Oloakey was an
His remains preseiitea A shocking ,spectacle, • Ilia
trehasato-nthase raj'
l'i.elderly' actin;
sidgeeneedasefodr 'hathde
hpaderpeatrawtirrt
soefrt)ledis.
, .
whichinan,wheell wkasnowunnabi
0.1 e
Nottingham.t .to p ay.