The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-28 00:00:00

1844.

PROGRESS OF THE IMPROVE-
MENTS AT BIRKENHEAD.
(From the Liverpool Times.)
On Saturday last we took a ramble through the
town and township of Birkenhead, in order to ascer-
tain, by personal inspection, whether the public works
commenced with so much spirit a couple of months
since were proce( d ng with equal vigour.
On landing at the Woodside slip, we found that the
first thing that engages the attention is a long double
row of solid piles, one row driven into the bed of the
river, and the other into the pier, forming a stage for
the laying of the blocks of stone for the addition to
the pier. The work is proceeding very expeditiously ;
it is now nearly half finished, and when completed
will add greatly to the comfort and safety of pas-
sengers, by furnishing a shelter from the wind and
waves in all kinds of weather, and from whatever
point the wind may blow.
To the north of the landing slip there are similar
evidences of activity. A great number of workmen
are employed in excavating the 16-acre basin and
beaching ground, in cutting the foundation of the
walls, and in excavating the new cut into Wallasey
Pool, so that vessels may have a temporary pas-
sage up and down until the low-water basin is
completed. To facilitate these operations, an enor-
mous embankment of clay and rubble-stone has been
thrown up. This keeps out the tide, and enables the
men to proceed with their work uninterruptedly,
The wharf walls en the west side of the 16-acre
basin are also building. Further north, and at the
termination of the embankment above alluded to, a
still larger, though only temporary work is in pro-
gress. This is the construction of an enormous cof-
fer-dam, which will inclose a space of about 7.5 acres,
within which the main body of the works will be
erected. This coffer-dam will run from the termi-
nation of the embankment down to low-water mark
in about an easterly direction, and in a northerly
line up to Wallasey Pool. The huge piles are
driven into the soft bed of the river by a steam-
engine ; the opposite piles are connected by an iron
rod ; on the piles are nailed strong planks, and within
the space thus formed, which is several yards in
breadth, clay from the adjoining land is thrown. This
clay, saturated every day by the inrushing waters,
as it is deposited, settles down into a solid mass,
which will, when sufficiently lofty, be impervious
to the waters of the Mersey, and enable the men to
carry on their operations undisturbed by the flow of
the river. Commencing at the south-west corner,
two lines of the coffer-dam, one running towards
the river and the other towards the pool, have already
been carried to a very great length, and the work
is conducted with all possible vigour and expedition.
Altogether, we believe, there are about 2,000 men
employed on the docks ; but it will be seen, from what
we have stated, that a large portion of the work now
going on is only temporary, and intended to enable the
contractor to finish the docks in the least possible space
of time. Mr. Tarner, son-in-law of Mr. Tomkinson,
the contractor, superintends the works. Admission here
is, of course, denied to those who are not on business ;
but even though this were not the case, we would not
advise any one who has not the habits and costume of
a " navigator" to plunge into this strange, but slip-
pery, sloppy, 'sad comfortless-looking place. It is,
no doubt, very interesting to watch the progress of
such vast works, and observe the means by which they
are accomplished ; but it is not very pleasant to walk
on sodden clay, or in the slimy bed of the river,
where nothing but a pair of navigator's boot will keep
out the water.
To the west of this scene of activity there is another
of a somewhat different character. Along the fields
lying between Corpration-road and Wall .sey P. 01.
and forming the site of the range ( f warehouses pro-
posed to be built by the Birkenhead Dock Warehous-
ing Company, about 200 men are employed in Egging
and preparing clay, wherewith to make the bricks for
the contemplated warehouses. Clay is found here in
great abundance, and close to the surface. In some
places the men have already cut to the de; th of about
seven feet, and still meet with solid clay. Huge hills
.f it, already excavated, lie scattered about, for an
immense distance up the road. In other parts of the
township, also, great preparationc for brick-making
are going on, and in some places large kilns are
burning.
In passing along Bridge-street, the visitor will see
on his right hand, nearly opposite the end of Lord-
street, what he will no doubt regard as a rather
singular structure. It is a large building, constructed
altogether of iron, and the men are now engaged in
fixing up the iron roof. The length of the building is
about 180 feet, and its breadth about forty feet. In
the west front there are two rows sf windows, thirty-
six in number, and part of the lower row are filled in
with iron strips, so as to form an imitation of
Venetian blinds. This structure, we believe, is
building by Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., of
Birmingham, for the Messrs. Sandbach, of this
town, and is intended as a sugar refinery and rum
manufactory.
Passing a little farther on, in the direction of the
Pool, the ears are saluted with the clang of a hundred
hammers. This noise proceeds from the iron ship-
building and boiler-making establishment of Mr.
John Laird—a most interesting place to visit even on
ordinary occasions, but at the present time particularly
so, as there is now in course of erection in the yard
a first-class iron steam-frigate, the frame-work of
which is fast approaching completion. The length of
this vessel is 210 feet, its breadth 37 feet 6 inches, and
its depth 23 feet. Viewed externally, its size is very
great, but on mounting the scaffolding that surrounds
it, and looking from its bow down into it (there
being nothing to intercept the view from stem to
stern), its magnitude seems surprisingly great. The
view, too, from this point is most interesting. In the
midst of this huge iron valley (for such it seems) a num-
ber of fires are blazing up, the blast being communicated
to them by an air tube carried through the vessel,
and worked by a stearnsengine in the yard; whilst
ever and anon white hot rivets are snatched from the
fire by the Cyclopean workmen, and inserted in the
rivet *holes of the plates, and then there is a ceaseless
clang of a hundred hammers, beating them in, making
altogether a din which, reverberated from the sides
of the iron vessel, is for a time nearly deafening.
What would our forefathers have thought at such an
enormous mass of iron floating on the seas ? and how
would they have marvelled had they been told that
such a vessel was lighteri than one constructed of
wood ? The frigate, above her water line, is built
flush, which, of course, adds to the elegance of her
appearance, and it does not deteriorate from her
strength, although it adds considerably to the amount
of the labour. Her engines, which will be the com-
mon beam engines, will be of 550-horse power.
They are being constructed by Mr. George For-
rester and Co., of this town, She is intended
to carry two enormous guns, 220-pounders, one
forward and ono aft. In the interior of this
establishment other processes are going on,
such as the preparation of plates for the frigate
by sinking and counter-sinking, &c., which is
done with astonishing facility by the means of power-
ful machinery—the construction of boilers, and of
iron boats for the shallow rivers of India, similar to
those which were built by Mr. Laird a short time
ago. An iron steamer for the South-Eastern Rail.
way Company intended to ply, in connexion with that
line, between Folkstone and Boulogne, is also about
to be built here. Her model shows that she will be
an extremely swift and beautiful boat. Her length
will be 150 feet, her breadth 22 feet, and her depth
11 feet. Her engines will be of 140-horse power.
Turning off from this establishment, where every
facility and information was cheerfully afforded to us
by the manager, we passed through several newly-
laid-out streets, well designed as to direction, of ample

. . _
width, macadamised in the centre, and having good
A correspondence between Mr. IL L. Morgan, the footways, and saw at nearly every step workmen
importer of a cask of cherry-juice, and the Government, occupied in the finishing or erection of houses—all,
has been printed and circulated at the request of several apparently, quite as neatly and substantially built
merchants. The article about which the question has as those of Liverpool—and, getting into Conway-
arisen is of small value, but the principle is held to be of street, entered the new park at the road leading
great importance. It appears that Mr, Morgan in Sep- from the corner of Park-street East. This is a work
tember last entered a cask, containing 46 gallons of
which, as much as any other undertaken by the
cherry-juice, paying thereon 20 per cent. on its value,
_a commissioners of Birkenhead, indicates a wise
considering it to come under the bead of " manufactured forethought and attention to the health and
goods not otherwise rated." It was stopped at the Cas-
tom-house on the plea that it must pay wine duty, which recreation of the inhabitants, and it is one
would be 12/. Os. Gd., instead of 8 l/. ss. Mr. Morgan whi will increase
in utility and be more highly
accordingly addressed himself to the Board of Trade, appreciated as building extends and population in-
,tating that in August, 1842, a cask of cherry-juice had creases. In the park, notwithstanding the frost, a large
been delivered on payment of 20 per cent., and meeting number of men still find abundance of occupation,
the objection tha Ole article contained spirit by offering chiefly in the formation of the ground, so as to give
to pay the duty as on spirits, the strength being ascer- to it a diversified and picturesque appearance, in the
tamed, The Board of Trade answer, that they have
directed the Commissioners of Ctistc.ma not '::: admit the making of carriage and cross roads, and in the lay-
article in question, unless upon payment of wine Out,y, ing of drains. The site was originally a gently rising
but to allow the article to be warehoused for exports- fiat, having scarcely a single undulation of any hold-
tion, provided Mr, Morgan declines to pay the wine ness in its whole extent 1 and the visitor who, remem-
duty, and to return the duty which he paid ily special bering this fact, plunges across the park, so as to
certificate. Upon this Mr. Morgan applies to the Tree- inclade in his course the two lakes, will have good
sury, and quoting the communication of the Board of reason to admire the skill which has been displayed in
Trade, observes that it makes the tariff w " dead letter," the laying out of the ground. When standing in the
as it implies that any duty may he levied contrary to Act bed or on the frozen water of the site of the great
of Pariiltment, and also that there is no security for the lake, the earth works in its neighbourhood appear to
importation of goods which are not specifically rated. be of Yatit; dimensions, and even when rambling
, The Treasury, however, decline complying with Mr, among what appear to be chains of hills, the height
Morgan's request, and in the mean time the cherry-juice
of some of them ears to be very considerable. The
has been deteriorated b the delly opeasinned by the
object sought has Pbeen obtained—that of making a
correspondenee considerable undulation of surface, so as, when
EAtTB AESPACTING Ma. Pout.—During a journey
in the Western and Southern States, last summer, WO trii, planted, to make a pleasant landscape—to afford plc-
yelled several days with a very 04041 and intelligent turesque views, and provide that churning variety of
c
gentleman f\-ofn which will entice even the most
the Hon. J. K. Polk, Preaideal elect of the United indolent to elert themselves, and the most listless to
States. He informed us, that in the walks of private asinaire the combination of artificial skill and natural
life Mr. Polk is highly respected ; that hn ia a slave- beauty. We could see, even in the depth of winter,
holder indeed, but nett as has been often stated in the and having within view nothing but heaps of bare
papers, nue of the richest and most extensive slave-
earth, spots that will be most lovely And attractive
owners in the State ; that he may be worth ,oc.)0
cents, a part only of which prorrty is invested in slaves,
His accomplished lady is a when grass has grown, when Mowers, and plants,
trees are springing up, and a glorious summer
Mr.. Vcak has oo children. and . .
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. The sun i shining above. Returning from the second or
gentleman also stated, that though different opinions are smaller lake to the central roe 4,_ whit* leads in a
honestly entertained A: to his filmes' for'the Presidency slightly cnyvini
11" " t.,* Mount Claughton,
ou ak;coi‘pt of his, political creed, yet so far as his private yoA 4Q,UAO 'f' another range of hills, which
1
lifeis concerned, he will do heeions to the eAII4-44 asa.... l'i-
tiO- -
.
n to Illikeh 4 heyaiagc itaasa oidipa_ "'—
tigrikilth. _ ...,e the road for a considerable distance
....lind I up, on the left-ha
--,. ew .erg
left-hand side. Some of these
are of considerable elevation ; others sink so as to

give glimpses of those in the vicinity of the larger
lake. About half-way up this fine broad road, it. is
croiised by paths winding to the right and left. To
the right there is an extended champaign view, and to
the left a view of the whole of the artificial hills,
which now assume an amphitheatrical form, and
which, when planted, will no duubt look extremely
beautiful.

At the head of this road, and seated on the height
of the rising ground, is Claughton Hall—a mansion
now in course of erection by Mr. William Jackson.
It is large, built of fine white free-stone, and is alto-
gether a beautiful structure.
Even at this distance from the town of Birken-
head, there is a good deal of building going on, the
houses erected consisting chiefly of large and
handsome ones in rows or of detached villas. In
Grosvenor-road, two blocks of fifteen neat, stone-
fronted, and substantial dwellings, are just on the eve
of completion. In the front, they have a good-sized
garden-plot, and they command an extensive and
varied prospect, in the foreground of which is the new
park. The aspect of the latter from this point is no',
as might be anticipated, as yet very prepossessing ;
but when the black mounds are planted, and the work
of the gardener has been finished, it will be wonder-
fully improved.
Skirting the township along the road, you come
to a point where there are ways leading to Clif-
ton-park, Holt-hill, and Oxton-hill ; but we kept
to the left, and entered Grange-lane. Here
two good-sized hotels and a considerable number
of dwelling-houses and shops have been erected.
One of the hotels has as its landlord Mr.
Smith, who for many years kept a himse
just above the Woodside Ferry. An old-fashioned
farm-house just below, which was a short time ago
isolated and rural looking, now looks completely out
of place, and presents a curious contrast to the new
and modern-built erection in its vicinity.

On approaching the town, the evidences of pro-
gression multiply amazingly ; and it is not a litt'e
startling to see on every hand houses which, but a
brief time ago, were supposed to be country residences,
with their garden plots and green-houses, now form -
ing a portion of a long and unbroken line of street,
and perhaps having in proximity to them a handsome
shop, with plate-glass windows, and so brilliantly
lighted that the plants in the adjoining green-house
may at least have artificial light, if they have been
in some measure deprived of that of the sun.
In the principal streets of Birkenhead the shops are
extremely good ; many of them would now be con-
sidered very handsome here, and the occupiers seem
determined, in fitting up and stocking thew, not to be
surpassed even on this side of the Mersey.
The new market is fast approaching completion.
With the exception of the cornice, the outer walls
are complete; the interior, which is fitted up
with iron, will shortly be finished, and men are
now engaged in laying the iron roof. Notwithstand-
ing the doubt recently expressed, the walls seemed
to us abundantly strong. The total cost of con-
structing this handsome building will be from 17,000 P.
to 20,0001., and the Commissioners have already let
a sufficient quantity of stalls to produce a rental of
1,6001. a year.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE, IF TRITE.—On Wednes-
day night, about ten, Mr. Barry, a gentleman residing
at 67, Lower Gardiner-street, discovered an interesting-
looking young woman on the steps of his 'hall-door,
nearly naked, and almost dead with cold. lie, in the.
most humane manner, procured her clothes, and had her
taken to Sackville-place station-house, where every at-
tention was paid to her, and, after some time, she reco-
vered, and told the following story :—She said her name
was Anne Reilly, and that she came from a place called
Thornville, near Dundalk, in the county of Louth, and
that she was on her way to see her brother, who is a
cabinet-maker at Kingstown ; that about four o'clock in
the evening she arrived by one of the Swords' cars, eras.
set down near a bridge, adjoining the city, and met a
respectable-looking young woman, from whom she in-
quired could she recommend her to a decent lodging.
The young woman, in reply, said she could, and 'nought
her to a house where there were three young girls, and
a middle-aged woman, with a dark mark on her face.
About six o'clock she partook of tea. She then became
quite stupid, as she alleges, from the effect of some drug,
and went to bed, where She immediately fell asleep.
About nine o'clock, when she awoke, she found herself
standing in a lane, with her back against a wall, almost
naked. She afterwards made her way to the steps of
Mr. Barry's hall-door, where she was found by that gen-
tleman. When she went into the house, she had in her
possession a thirty-shilling note, a sovereign, and three
half-crowns, beside a blue cloth cloak, large cape, a white
straw bonnet, a blue cashmere new frock, two petticoats,
a pair of black cloth boots, a pair of shoes (single tie),
a pair of gray worsted stockings, a pair of white ditto, &
pair of stays, a yard of white muslin, tied round tha
bonnet ; all of which were taken from her. She gate sl
very minute description of the parties alluded to, but
could hot tell the locality of the house. The police were
in search of the parties all day on Thursday ; but up to
a late hour they were not successful in diseeivering any
of them.—Freeman.
Between eight and nine o'clock on Monday night,
a stack of wood, of very large dimensions, containing
several thousand faggots, situate by the road-side near
Sawbridgeworth, in Hens, was discovered to be on fire ;
and after a short time it was completely destroyed.
The stack was the property of Mr. Barnard, maltster,
and there is little doubt it was wilfully set on fire. Tho
conflagration was distinctly observed here.— Chelmsford
Chronicle.

EXTRAORDINARY SUIPWRECX.—The Esk trader,
Captain Stokes, left Newcastle on Saturday afternoon,
shortly before high-water, on her ♦oyage to London,
with a valuable general cargo. She was towed by two
powerful steamers from the usual berth at Newcastle-
quay down the river, and on rounding the Whitehill-
point, near Shields, she grounded, in consequence of
taking the point too closely, on a rocky bank, which ex•
tends some distance into the river. She heeled round and
was towed off, as was supposed, with little damige. The
steamers towed her slowly down the river and across
the bar, without any leak being discovered. She
being supposed all light, went to sea. The wind blowing
from the east, it was desirable to give her what is called
" a good offing," and she was towed out about seven
miles. The steamers then left her, and in about an hour
afterwards it was discovered that she was making water
rapidly. The pumps were entirely useless against the
rapid progress of water, and the long-boat was launched,
into which the crew had just time to get when
the Esk went down. The crew were unable to save
anything, and had they not been prompt in launch-
ing and getting into the boat, all -hands would have
suffered. It was broad daylight, and several other ves-
sels were near, into one of which the crew was taken.
It is supposed the vessel was strained by getting on the
bank, sad the heaving of the sea caused her to spring a
" bulk-head." It is somewhat remarkable that a vessel
belonging to the same company, also called the Esk,
likewise foundered at sea, when all hands perished, in.
her voyage from Newcastle to London, some years ago,
and the vessel which foundered on Saturday was built
to supply her placo.—Doncaster Gazette.
CHANNEL ISLAND SPIRITS.—The Commissioners of

the Customs have received a letter from Mr. Trevelyan,
one of the Secretaries to the Lords of the Treasury,
signifying that, having laid before their Lordships the
Board's report on a memorial praying that the duty on
certain Channel Island spirits may be paid according to
the quantity ascertained after vatting, instead of that
ascertained at the time of importation, he (Mr. Trevelyan)
was commanded to communicate to the Board their
Lordship's concurrence in the course recommended by
them, and to desire that they would cause information to
that effect to be given to the parties interested.
And the Commissioners, adverting to the course
recommended by them, alluded to by their Lordships—
viz., that duty should be charged upon all deficiencies of
Guernsey and Jersey spirits ascertained to have arisen
between the period of importation and that of the re-
gauge, prior to their reduction in strength, under the
Excise regulations, for home use, but that no duty shall
be charged on any deficiency arising from such process,
orders have been issued that the memorialist, and others
by whom applications have been addressed to their
Lordships, be apprised accordingly, and copies of this
order have been furnished to the revenue officers at the
several docks and other stations, for their information
and future government.
A PUBLIC THANKSGIVING DAT IN AMERICA.—
A Boston paper makes the following estimate of the good
things consumed by the people of Massachusetts on
Thanksgiving Day, viz. :—" 5,000 ducks, 130,000 chick-
ens, 20,000 geese, 35,000 turkeys, 50,0001b5. of beef, pork,
and other meats, 25,000 bushels of potatoes, 28,000 bush-
els of turnips, 8,000 beets, 10,000 bushels of onions,
20,0001b5. of cheese, 25,000 galloas of apple sauce, 2,000
gallons of cranberry sauce, 737,699 pumpkin pies.
100,000 apple pies, mince pies 25,000, other pies, 75,000,
and eggs 1,000,000. In the preparation of the above
there would be used, at a rough estimate, 80 hhds. of mo-
lasses, 100 boxes of Havannah sugar, 100,0001bs of all-
spice, ginger, cloves, nutmegs, and other spices, 900 bar-
rels of tlour, 90,0001b5. of butter and lard, and 600 hhds. of
milk." A New York paper says—" It' the 'carnal Yan-
kees gormandise at this rate, it is worthy of considera-
tion whether New York ought not, in self-defence, to
hold her Thanksgiving earlier. As the case now stands,
we are a fortnight later than Massachusetts, Connec-
ticut, &e., and have to take our chance out of what they
have left."

HORRIELE OCCURRENCE.—On Saturday week the
wife of a person named David Monteath, one of the cot-
tars on the farm of Ingleston, in the parish of Irongray,
went to the farm mansion, nearly a quarter of a mile
distant, without the proper precaution of shutting the
door, leaving within a child from three to four years of
age, and an infant, two months old, in the cradle.
During her absence a brood sow, the property of one of
the adjoining cotters, entered the dwelling, when the
child left with the infant ran out from a sense of danger.
as we presume. Its cries soon attracted the notice of the
person to whom the sow belonged, who immediately
made towards the scene ; but, shocking to mention,
upon reaching the door of the cottage she found the sow
shaking and tearing the little innocent. No time was
lost in rescuing the infant from the savage beast, butt
before this could be done its cheeks, neck, and arms
were sadly lacerated. A medical gentleman was pro-
cured assoon as possible, and 'Tor first inspection he
thought the little one would not tong survive. We under-
stand, however, that it l 3 still living, though in a very
procarioss state. Even should the accident not prove
fatal, the disfigurement that must follow the severe in-
juries it has received will prove very distressing. Such
an occurrence should serve as a caution to mothers not to.
leave their little ones unprotected. The poor child is
still alive, but suffers•very much.—Dumfries Couricr.