The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-07-27 00:00:00

BELFAST MAIL TO LIVERPOOL, via FLEETWOOD.-

GENERAL NEWS.

The council of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce report
that their representations to the post-office authorities
have not as yet beeneffectual in securing transmissionof the
mail bags to Liverpool, rid Fleetwood. either so regu-
larly or expeditiously as might readily be accomplished.
Passengers from Belfast to Liverpool, via Fleetwood, by
the North Lancashire line, arrive in Liverpool about ten
o'clock, whereas letters by the same boat are not deli-
vered until one o'clock, and very frequently not until four
o'clock. If letters by this route were delivered about
eleven o'clock in Liverpool, which could easily be effected,
this mail would be of great advantage but, while it re-
mains as at present from Belfast to Liverpool, it is of
little value.—Belfast Mercury.

The Kilmarnock Journal estimates the loss the town
has suffered by the late floods at £50,000.

THE COST of collecting the body of evidence brought
from abroad against Dr. Achilli, by the Nevvman party, is
estimated at £B,OOO.

THE " DIGGIN' MANIA.—The Clerk of the Swindon
County Court has thrown up his situation, and gone off
to the Australian " Digging.
THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA'S CUP at the Cronstadt
regatta was won by a British yacht, built on the banks of
the Clyde, and belonging to Mr. Campbell, of Blythswood.
AT A CRICKET MATCH at Copenhagen-house, near
London, on Wednesday, Mr. Dewdney, aged 60, who was
one of the players, in the act of making a run, suddenly
fell down, and in a few minutes expired.
AT THE WORSHIP•STREET POLICE•OFFICE, London,
on Tuesday, no less than three cases of attempted suicide
by women were investigated. They were all remanded for
a week, to afford them time for reflection.
A SCOTCH PAPER says that the weather is so warm in
Morayshire, that young gentlemen in kilts and in their
shirt sleeves, their coats over their arms, are to be found
walking from the church in the company of young ladies.
POTATO DISEASE.—The fields of potatoes in South
Essex present a picture of decay on all sides, and the
farmers are fast clearing theirs, to save what they can of
what they consider to be a lost crop.—Gardeners' Chron.
THERE ARE ABOUT 15,000 IDIOTS IN ENGLAND, a
larger number than that of lunatics, and this melancholy
fact has induced a number of benevolent persons to pro-
ject other asylums in addition to those at Highgate and
Colchester.

WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—A the usual weekly meet-

ing of this board, on Wednesday, the Rev. Mr. -Badnall
occupied the chair. Mr. Cleaver read a report on the sa-
laries of the medical officers of the union. The nature of
the change, as mentioned in the report, was that each
officer should have a fixed salary, which would include all
extra fees, with the exception of those for vaccination.
Several of the medical men were in attendance. Mr.

Fitzpatrick declined a salary of £lOO aiyear, which was

offered; Mr. Reid, rnedical..officer of Bootle, accepted
£7O; Mr. Johnson, of Kirkdale, r, fused £BO a.year,
which was offered ; Mr. Stephen, medical officer of Tox-
teth-park, was granted £2OO a-year ; and Messrs. Gil-
mour and Whittle refused £220 ; Mr. May's salary was
raised from £5O to £6O a-year. The board then resolved
that Ihe scheme regulating the salaries of the medical

officers should be sent to the poor-law board
miscellaneous business the board broke up.
SINGULAR CHASE IN THE CHANNEL.—CAUTION TO
EMIGRANT .—On Sunday evening week the Otillia sailed
from the Mersey for Australia, leaving behind no fewer
than 23 passengers who had the imprudence to come
ashore under the impression, it is believed, that the vessel
_ _

After some

would not take her 'departure before Monday. Early on
Monday morning they were thunderstruck at finding that
she had sailed, taking with her their outfit, necessaries,
extra stores, and money. In a state of the most frantic
excitement they repaired to the agent, who instantly tele-
graphed to his agent at Holyhead, directing him to put a
steamer in readiness to go in search of the runaway ship,
and despatched the whole of the passengers by first train.
Arrived at Holyhead, little time was lost in transferring
them to the steamer and putting to sea. After a cruise of

MRS. CHISHOLM has received numerous remittances
(amounting in one week alone to £3,000), from the emi-
grants sent out to Australia by her society, for the pur-
pose of providing passages for their relatives and friends
left in this country.

THE Globe states that the only Roman Catholic who
has been returned " in the whole length and breadth of
England, Scotland, end Wales, is the nominee of the Pro-
testant Duke of Norfolk, the husband of Miss Talbot,
Lord E. Howard."
PENSIONS.—On the recommendation of the Earl of
Rosse, President of the Royal Society, the following pen-
sions have been granted :—X2OO per annum to Mr. Hind;
£lOO per annum to Dr. Mantell ; and £75 to Mr. Ronalds
of the Kew Observatory.

some hours the Otillia w-as discovered at a considerable

distance to the westward ; but being on what is called in
nautical phrase " a wind," and being moreover a vessel of
first-rate sailing qualities, she gallantly pursued her
course. Every possible means of attracting the notice of
the vanishing vessel was put into requisition ; guns were
fired, and signals of true " distress" were hoisted, and not
a few of the agitated and harassed passengers exerted their
lungs with a vigorous hail—a remedy of somewhat doubt-
ful efficacy at four miles range—but to little effect. The
Otillia still held on her course, and continuing rapidly to
increase the distance between herself and the pursuing
steamer, the chase was finally given up in despair, after
an exciting trial of five hours. The passengers have since
returned to Liverpool, as may well be supposed, in a state
of the utmost despondency.

AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM, in Bethnal-green, yesterday
week, a pauper lunatic, named Cork, tripped up one of the
keepers, and was otherwise abusing him, when two other
of the lunatics interposed on his behalf, and, knocking
Cork down, kicked, and killed him.
THOMAS GISBORNE, Esq., who'but foithe state of his
health would have been brought forward by the Liberal
interest at the late election for Nottingham, has died this
week, from disease of the heart. having been for upwards
of twenty years an active reformer.

THE COUNTY OF BERWlCK.—it_is said that a vacancy

IMPORTANT TO CONIMISSION MERCHANTS AND
BROKERS.—In the County Court, Liverpool, on Wed-
nesday, before the judge, Joseph Pollock, Esq., a ques-
tion of very considerable importance to the mercantile
community of the port arose during the hearing of a
cause, in which Mr. Thomas Blissett, gun and pistol
manufacturer, South Castle-street, was the plaintiff, and
Messrs. Alexander and Christie, commission merchants,
in the same street, the defendants. It appeared that, last
year, by the order of the captains of the Raven and
Norman, lying in this port, arms and ammunition were
supplied by Mr. Blissett to those vessels ; and when he
inquired of the captains to whom the articles were to be
debited, they made the usual certificates in such cases,
giving the names of defendants. The invoice was
accordingly made out to " the captains and owners,"
and at the bottom addressed to " Messrs. Archibald and
Christie." The owners of the vessels, Messrs. Simms,
London, failed before the bill was settled ; and Mr.
Rymer, for the defence, argued that the defendants were
not liable, no primary authority to the captains to pledge
their credit being proved ; and that, although the invoice
was received by his clients, as the brokers for the owners,
it was not usual for them to pay demands or hold them-
selves responsible, unless they had funds for the ship in
hand. There was some contradictory evidence given as
to the subsequent adoption of the liability, but his
Honour felt that this was a question of so much impor-
tance here, that it would be better to reserve judgment
for the present. In the meantime he would refer to the
cases mentioned during the trial by Mr. Simon end Mr.
Rymer; and if he should feel any doubt as to the con-
struction to be put on the invoice, as worded, he would
allow time for the production of evidence as to the cus-
tom of brokers, and their liability in such cases, before
he determined so important a question. It was under-
stood his Honour would give Lis decision, in the first
place, this week.
HEALTH COMMITTEE.—On Thursday, at the weekly
meeting of this committee, Alderman Langsdale presided ;
and the other members present were Messrs. Lloyd, Fle-
ming, Godfrey, Nicholson, Johnson, Rogers, and Hen-
derson. The medical officer of health reported that the
hot weather, as usual, had caused an increased prevalence
of bowel complaints ; but that, in other respects, the
health of the town was quite equal to the average, the
general mortality, during last week, having been two loss
than in the previous week, and three below the average
of the same week of the preceding four years. The deaths
registered in the borough were 209, of which 154 were in
the parish and 53 in the extra-parochial wards. The
deaths from zymotic diseases were 'Bl, of which 39, or
nearly one-half, were from diarrhoea, &c., the number in
the week previous having been 14. Of these 34 were
children and five adults. Typhus caused 12 deaths, mea-
sles 15, scarlatina four (less than in any week of the pre-
vious twelve months), small pox two, and erysipelas, one.
From consumption the deaths were 28, and from other
diseases of the lungs 22, the latter being fewer than in
any week of the ten months preceding. A female, aged
26, died from delirium tremens.—During the quarter end-
ing the 26th June, the deaths in the borough (including
117 on which inquests were held) were '3,009, being 79
more than in the previous quarter, and 240 more than the
average of the same quarter of the four preceding years.
The deaths from the zvmotic class of diseases were 893,
against an average of 814 in the same quaater of previous
years. The mortality from measles, which became epide-
mic in the month of March, increased from 65 in the pre-
vious quarter to 289 in the last.; while that from scarla-
tina decreased from 233 to 181. Typhus caused 17 deaths,
small-pox only 13.
THE WEATHER AND TIM CROPS IN LANCASHIRE
AND CHESHIRE.—The showers of late have done much
good to our root and green crops, although they have
somewhat delayed the hay, the greater part of which has,
however, been housed. The late and water meadowing is
not all in yet. The clover is exceedingly light, which is
accounted for by the long-continued drought in the
spring ; the second is better looking than could be ex-
pected; the old meadowing is very late, most of it appears
rather heavy, and we are sorry to say there is a very great
deficiency in many places. The potatoes are rotting in a
very rapid manner, indeed faster than they have done
since the great failure of 1846, and thus it is accounted
for by the very low and unremunerating price paid at
nearly all our markets, so many farmers trying to get rid
of them before they are worse—the first loss being the
least. We are to have a good and plentiful crop of Swede
turnips, and also of mangel wurtnel. The former in some
cases has shown signs of the chib, and likewise of being
grub eaten, which of course tells greatly against their
growth and nutriment. With respect to the remaining
bean crop there is an awful blight in this and adjoining
counties, which will entail a serious loss to many farmers.
Several crops of oats which at one time promised to bid
defiance to all others in the immediate neighbourhood are
now affected with a description of black rot, and covered
with insects. Generally speaking oats are short, but will
be well fed. Wheat is exceedingly promising, and the
quantity growing is below the average usually sown. The
heads are on the whole pretty well filled, but as is common
there are scarcely any crops .but what are " more or less
smutted or grub eaten." We cannot account for the
deficiency in the quantity sown, except " that the price is
too low to compensate the farmer for its culture," and
the large amount of foreign-sown now brought into Lan-
cashire. There is not much left on hand at any farm ;
indeed at every market loud and numerous complaints are
made of the low prices now ranging. Nearly all farmers
are declaring, "that they will grow no more than they can
help in common rotation, for nothing pays worse." Barley
is not extensively sown, but to all appearance there will be
a bountiful crop. Fruit, flax, vetches, cabbage, &c., are
doing well, and upon the whole there is every reason to be
satisfied.

is likely to take place in the representation of this county
by the appointment of the Tory member, Hon. F. Scott,
Ni.P., to a colonial situation; and it is understood that
his successor is to be Sir Hugh Hume Campbell, a Con-
servative.

A DEPUTATION FROM THE CORPORATION OF LONDON
waited on the French Ambassador, at the Embassy last
week, and presented to him for transmission to Paris the
emblazoned votes of thanks passed by the Corporation
some months since for the fe'lee, of Paris given in their
honour.

DIVINITY V. LAW.—At the present assizes of Bedford
a great number of the prisoners in succession pleaded
guilty to their respective charges, upon which one barris-
ter exclaimed to his colleague, " Confound it,—it would
seem the chaplain of the gaol has been at work here."—
Bedford Journal.

THE Whitehaven Herald says that there may now be
seen, in the parlour of the Miners' Arms public-house, in
Workington, the stem of a potato, which has grown
through a small crevicr in the hearthstone. This singular
production made its appearance about three weeks ago,
and at present measures 22 inches in height.

A " MODERATE 111 A N."—The Nonconformist of the
14th inst. contains the following advertisement :—" A
Baptist minister, thirty-seven years of age, of moderate
Calvanistic views, is anxious to meet with a destitute
church. A weak or declining interest, requiring sacrifice
and labour, would present a suitable sphere, as the adver-
tiser's object is usefulness. Amount of salary immaterial I'

TEE HUSBAND OF LOLA MONTES.—The Romlay
Telegraph, of June 5, says—" We regret to learn from a
northwest contemporary, that Captain James, of the
Knlah contingency, is so seriously ill that his life is des-
paired of. This gentleman is, we believe, the husband of
the celebrated Lola Montes, from whom he has never
been divorced."

A FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT has occurred at Tennent's
Chemical-works, St. Rollox, Glasgow. By an explosion
of a vessel, one of the workmen was blown into a quan-
tity of hot vitriol ; he was drawn out of the acid as soon
as possible, and plunged into a canal for his temporary
relief, but his perfect recovery was doubtful. Another
workman sustained a leg-fracture.

TAMWORTH STATUE TO THE LATE SIR ROBERT PEEL.
—On Friday, the statue recently erected to the memory
of the late Sir Robert Peel, by his former constituents,
was publicly inaugurated at Tamworth. A dejetmer took
place at the Town-hall after the ceremonial, Sir Charles
Clarke in the chair, when Sir Robert and Mr. F. Peel
addressed the company in appropriate terms.
THE BEAN Cuor.—" In the neighbourhood of Abing-
don," says the Reading Mercury, " many farmers are
ordering the feeding off their beans, the blight having
most unmistakeably shown itself. About Faringdon the
blight among the beans is very general. A great many
fields have been cut down and ploughed in, in order to
prepare the land for turnips, sweedes, and other roots."
THE WESTERN BAR.—No less than eight counsel who
do, or did, travel the Western Circuit, have been returned
to the present Parliament, and all for boroughs in the
counties of the circuit—namely, Mr. Crowd'r for Lis-
keard, Sir A. Cockburn for Southampton, Mr. Butt for
Weymouth, Mr. Massy for Newport, Mr. Collier for
Plymouth, Mr. Phlnn for Bath, and Mr. E. Carter for
Tavistock.

EXTENSION OF THE TELEGRAPH.—The extension of
the electric telegraph has just -been completed from
Bristol to Bridgewater, a distance of 33 miles, or a total
from London of 151 miles. The wires will be at work in
a few days to Taunton, and shortly to Exeter, where they
will join the existing telepraph, from Exeter to Plymouth,
completing the range of telegraphic communication for
the west of England, a distance of 246 miles.

LANiENTABLE COINCIDENCE.—On the evening of the
election day, at Westbury, Mr. Richard Bourne, of horse
Croft Farm. died suddenly through excessive excitement,
leaving a distracted wife and five little children to mourn
his untimely end. It is a singular and remarkable fact,
that, five years ago, a like distressing event happened to
his brother, who died snddenly through the same cause,
on the morning of the election day.—Wilts Independent.

MR. HECHT'S FARMING.—On Wednesday, according
to annual custom, the spirited owner of Tiptree-hall again
assembled his agricultural friends around him to examine
his farm operations and management, to see how his crops
looked as they whitened towards harvest, and to test and
talk over the merits of the latest novelties in the culture
of the soil. From 250 to 300 persons were present, and
partook of Mr. Mechi's hospitality. The proceedings of
the day were highly interesting.
GOING To THE DIGGINGS.—During the past week no
fewer than three cases of defalcation occurred. A youth,
aged 17, absconded from Seymour-street, Euston-square,
with a cash-box, containing £6O in gold and silver, a £lO
bank note, and a£s ditto. A person in a situation of
trust in Leeds, named Andrews, also disappeared with a
considerable sum, belonging to others; and an Irishman
from Dublin ran off with £65. All the fugitives, it appears,
have been traced to vessels sailing for California.—Sun.

AT THE DORSET SESSIONS, just ended, a notorious gang
of housebreakers, men and women, was broken up, and
six prisoners (three men and three women) received sen-
tence in court. The last sentence was on a woman, 22
years of age, and apparently very respectable and feeling
her situation. The chairman said, "It is my duty to
transport you for seven years," and pronounced the sen-
tence in the proper form ; when this amiable female tossed
up her head, and in n most impudent manner, in the dock,
said, •" And I am transported to hear it."
DEATH FROM THE BURSTING OF A SODA WATER
BOTTLE.—As the warehouseman at the White Hart,
Newmarket, named Catkin, was engaged in unpacking
some soda water, on Monday, one of thebottles suddenly
burst, and a quantity of glass struck hi cry severely in
the face and eyes. He was taken home, and some of
the glass extracted from his eyes, but after suffering the
most excruciating pain, from inflammation and mortifica-
tion, he died, delirious, on Thursday, leaving a wife and
three small children unprovided for.—lpswich Express.

TESTIMONIAL TO A LIVERPOOL ARCHITECT.—On Sa-
turday evening a party of gentlemen assembled to dinner,
at Parry's Hotel, Seacombe, in order to present Mr. John
Hay, the eminent architect, of this town, a testimonial
from the inhabitants of Cockermouth. Amongst those
present were Mr. George Holmes, who presided, Mr.
Alex. Lowe, Mr. Bell, solicitor, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Bur-
ton Marshall, Mr. Humphries, and Messrs. John, James,
and W. Hay, architects. The circumstances which gave
rise to the testimonial may be briefly stated. Some time
since Cockermouth Church was burnt down, and subscrip-
tions were entered into to rebuild it. A committee was
formed, who advertised for plans, and offered £5O premium
for the best design. There were between thirty and forty
competitors, including some of the most eminent archi-
tects in the country ; and the committee, feeling them-
selves incompetent to decide as to the best plan, called in
Mr. Atkinson, architect, of York, who pronounced in
favour of Mr. Hay. This decision appeared for a time to
meet with general acquiescence ; the £5O premium was
paid, and Mr. Hay prepared for carrying out his design.
Subsequently, however, a difference arose amongst the
good people of Cockermouth, and the plan of an architect,
with considerable local influence, was put forward. The
town was divided into two parties, the result of which was
that a poll was demanded, when on two occasions the
majority of the ratepayers confirmed the decision of Mr.
Atkinson in favour of Mr. Hay, it being also considered
that they were bound in honour to adopt the design for
which the premium had been awarded. But the same
party who had refused to abide by the award of the
arbitrator still held out, and ultimately the dispute was
referred to Archdeacon Headlam, who gave judgment
against Mr. Hay, in consequence of the premium design
not having been submitted to the archdeacon. Several of
the leading inhabitants of the place, including General
Wyndham, M.P., Mr. Paitson, Mr. R. Bell, M.D., Mr.
W. Senhouse, Mr. W. Wood, and Mr. G. Cape, have
since come forward in order to testify their high opinion of
Mr. Hay's talent as an architect, and of his honourable
conduct throughout the whole transaction. The testi-
monial took the appropriate shape of a gold snuff-box,
with the inscription, " Presented to John Hay, Esq.,
architect, of Liverpool, as a token of his disinterested
conduct in reference to the rebuilding of Cockermouth
Church." Mr. George Holmes was deputed to make the
presentation, which he did on the occasion referred to.
The testimonial was suitably acknowledged in a brief
speech by Mr. Hay, who said the circumstances under
which the first premium was awarded to him would have
been envied by any man, and he was sure the most eminent
and distinguished gentleman of the profession of which he
was but an humble member would regard such an occasion
as this with feelings of honest pride which no wealth could
purchase, no influence take away. In the course of the
evening several toasts were proposed and responded to,
and the greatest harmony prevailed.

ROBBING A PARENT FOR EMIGRATION.—On Wednes-
day last, Mr. John Billineton, of the Aide-de-camp beer-
house, Lowerhead.row, Huddersfield, missed £5O from a
drawer up stairs. His eldest son, a youth about 17, had
been missing since the Monday previous, and suspicion
fell upon him. Information was immediately given to the
police, and from their inquiries it has been ascertained
that he sailed from Liverpool on Tuesday for America,
along with another young companion of his.—Leeds In-
telligencer.

A MURDERER'S CONFESSION.—Some months since the
body of George Bush, a quiet well-disposed man, was
found, with the head nearly severed, in some fields near
Bath. A young man, aged 22, Husley by name, recently
committed to Dorchester gaol, has confessed that he was
the murderer, and that a desire to possess some money
which the deceased had exhibited in a public-house,
tempted him to commit the crime. He followed Bush
across the fields, tripped him up from behind, and, taking
out his knife, buried it in the victim's throat. Husley is
in custody.

SUICIDE BY A CHILD.—On Saturday last a hoy, about
nine years of age, son of Thomas M'Kenzie, lodgaeeper,
Relugas, having refused to obey his mother's commands,
was very properly chastised by her, when he told his
mother that it would be the last time she would have it in
her power to beat him, and that he would go and drown
himself. He directly ran with all speed to the Findhorn,
and threw himself into one of the deepest pools in Sluie.
The mother, in distraction, ran after him, but too late
to save her child, being only in time to catch a glimpse of
the last struggle of her drowning boy. His body was re-
covered some time afterwards.—Elyin Courant.

A BRUTE.—On Saturday last, :Mary, wife of Henry Shaw
was charged before the Huddersfield magistrates with as:
swilling Jane Messenger, a girl of 4 years old. The parties
are neighbours and reside at. Lepton, and it appeared some
boys had been testing the defendant, and irritating her
when she ran out of her house with a shovel full of fire,
the whole of which she threw upon poor Jane, who hap-
pened to be sitting on the causeway, chalking figures. The
fire burnt the child very much on her arms, knees, and
neck, and she would have been very seriously, if not
dangerously, burnt had not some other neighbours run to
her rescue, and put out the fire. The magistrates repro.
bated the defendant's barbarous conduct, and convicted
her in the penalty of 15s. and 265. costs, and in default
of payment committed her to the House of Correction for
two months.

THE LTVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1852

A GOVERNMENT OFFICER FOUND IN THE THAMES.—
On Friday morning, about three o'clock, as Inspector
William Bridges, of the Thames police, was proceeding
up the river Thames with his galley and men, he noticed
the body of a man (about 28 years of age, and about six
days in the water) floating on the surface of the water.
With the assistance of all hands the body was got into the
boat, and taken to the dead house of St. John's, Horsley-
down. Mr. Bridges, who took charge of some papers
found in the deceased's pockets, has no doubt the deceased
belonged to the Inland Revenue Office.
A DETERMINED SUICIDE has recently taken place
opposite Bishop's Wood House, 'Monmouth, the residence
of J. Partridge, Esq. A girl, named Esther Taylor, had
been dismissed from Mr. Partridge's service for drinking
wine. She wrote a note to her mother, stating that " she
was bound to do it," left her purse at a friend's house,
and then made to the river. When the boatman came,
she wrung her hands and said, " Take care and put me
over safe, lam so timid and afraid of water." After
walking some distance on the opposite side, she leaped
into the stream and was drowned.
ROYAL FREEMASONS' GIRLS' SCHOOL.—The friends
of this excellent charity will be gratified to learn that the
new school-house is to be opened with all the pomp and
ceremony of glorious peace on the 2d of next menth.
The children of this and the boys' schools are to attend
divine service at Wandsworth Church, at twelve, and will
afterwards sit down to an excellent dinner. At two
Grand Lodge will be opened, after which the dedication of
the institution will take place in a room prepared for the
purpose, which the ladies of the brethren are invited to
attend. At a later period of the day an elegant dejeuner
will take place, presided over by the Right Hon. the
Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland.—Morning Herald.

London and North-Western

Midland

Lancasi

hire and Yorkshire.

London and S )uth-

London and Bright,

EFFECTS OF CHEAP JUSTICE.—The effects of the
County Courts are not more remarkable in the diminution
of the number of cases in Westminster Hall, than in the
diminution of the number of inmates in the Queen's
Bench prison. Till the operation of the County Courts
Act, the average number of prisoners wrs upwards of three
hundred ; at present there is scarcely a third of that
number, and a full half of these have been in confinement
from a period antecedent to the passing of the act referred
to. One man has been in prison for the space of forty
years. He entered a hale and strong man of thirty-five;
he is now in his dotage. Two have been there for thirty-
one years ; four for twenty years ; and a considerable
number for upwards of ten years.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Saturday evening week, an ac-
cident occurred at Standen-house, near Hungerford,
Berkshire, seat of the Rev. J. P. Mitchell. The youngest
son of Mr. Mitchell, who had been rabbit shooting,
returned home about nine o'clock in the evening.
He was called by his two youngest sisters from
the nursery window ; and, in turning round to
answer them, the gun, which happened to be loaded,
went off, and unhappily lodged the contents in the fore-
head of the youngest, a fine little girl between nine and
ten years of age, who survived only a few minutes. The
children, at the time of the melancholy occurrence, had
their arms round each others' neck, but, strange to say,
not a shot touched the other.

Great Western

South-Eastern

York and North-Midland...
Manchester, Sheti. and Lind

Bristol and Exeter
_ _

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO TWO OF THE MARQUESS OF
BLANDFORD'S COMMITTEE.—On Monday evening, an
accident occurred to Mr. Benjamin Watts, landlord of the
Admiral Keppel Tavern, in the Fulham-road, London,
at whose house a committee sat in the interest of the
Marquess of Blandford, and to Mr. Hewit, an active sup-
porter of the noble candidate. Mr. Watts, it appears,
was out with his horse and chaise., canvassing the Chelsea
publicans, and in turning the corner of Jubilee-place.
King's-road, the vehicle turned over, and pitched Mr.
Watts and his companion, Mr. Hewit, out. Both the
unfortunate comrnitt emen were picked up insensible, and
upon medical aid arriving it was found that Mr. Hewit's
leg was frightfully broken, and that three of Mr. Watts's
ribs were fractured ; both had also sustained other severe
injuries.

York, Newcastle, and Berwick

Shrewsbury and Chester,

Eastern Counties and Norfolk

A REPTILE SWALLOWED BY A LITTLE GlRL.—Last
Summer a little girl, between 11 and 12 years of age,
daughter of a labouring man, named Watson, living at
Blaxton, whilst engaged in the harvest field drank some
water out of a ditch, and, it appears, swallowed some kind
of reptile in it. Since then the poor child has periodically
experienced incredible pain in her chest, from the increas-
ing bulk and movements of the reptile, at which time as-
cends her throat in quest of food, causing intense agony.
On these occasions, warm milk and water is poured down
her throat, and, when the reptile has imbibed this nourish-
ment, it descends to its place of lodgment, just above the
diaphram. That a poor child should be left to endure
such excruciating torture is a reflection on the science
and benevolence of the age in which we live.—Doncaster
Gazette.

Great Northern

Chester and Holyhead

North Staffordshire
Leeds Northern ..
South Devon ..

CHLOROFORM AS A MOTIVE POWER.—The French
Government have ordered steam-engines for the Galilee.
man-of-war, and other two vessels, in which a saving of
fuel and heat is to be attempted by help of choloform,
which is to abstract the heat from the steam, and there-
with constitute a motive power in aid of that of the steam,
to be employed in separate cylinders, after which the
heat of the chloroform is to be extracted by means of cold
water, which, as well as the condensed steam, are to sup-
ply the boiler, while the condensed vapour of the chloro-
form is returned for use as before. A saving of 50 per
cent. in fuel is thus calculated on. The invention is a
modification br M. La Fond, a French naval officer, of
one by M. Du Tremblay, a French eivil engineer, in
which ether was used, but found to be highly dangerous
from its combustibility.—The Builder.

Caledonian .
South Wales

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A YOUNG LADY
or FORTUNE.—During the past few days, an intense
degree of excitement has prevailed in the vicinity of
Hanover-square, London, in consequence of the sudden
disappearance of a young lady of fortune, residing with
her parents in the above locality. The lady in question
is about 21 years of age, of prepossessing appearance,
middle stature, clear complexion, dark hair, blue eyes,
and small mouth. When last seen she was dressed in a
chocolate and white muslin dress, a short silk mantle
trimmed with fringe, a white straw bonnet without
trimming, and light Adelaide boots. Information has
been forwarded to the various metropolitan police stations,
and several active officers have been employed to discover
her whereabouts; but up to the present time their exer-
tions have been unavailing, and the affair still remains
shrouded in mystery.

LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS FOR CHURCHCS.—Trite
and familiar proverbs still require to be frequently repeated.
One of the best known is also one of the most neglected,
viz. " Prevention is better than cure." Applying this
maxim to lightning conductors for church steeples or
towers, allow me to make a suggestion which, if carried
out, would occasion but a trifling cost whilst churches are
being built, and save a great future expense, which must
sooner or later be incurred where the proper precaution is
neglected. As many of the new churches are built by the
help of grants from " The Incorporated Society for Build.
ing Churches," it would be very easy for the society to
stipulate that every church aided by their funds should
have a lightning conductor, and this rule would, no doubt
be followed by the local societies and committees through-
out the land. It may also be added that architects them-
selves should always impress upon their employers the
necessity of lightning conductors being attached to the
churches under their supervision as a matter of primary
consideration.—Correspondent of The Builder.

THE CARD CHEATING CASE AT BRIGHTON.—On
Friday morning the trial of John Broome, the pugilist,
and two other persons, named Staden and James, for a
conspiracy to cheat a young gentleman named Hamp of a
large sum of money by fraudulent play at cards, came on
at Brighton. It will be remembered that at the last
assizes the prosecutor did not appear to give evidence, and
his recognizances, in the sum of £5OO, were ordered to be
estreated, and the trial was ordered to be postponed to
the present assizes. The defendants, having been now
called upon to surrender, did not appear, when their
recognizances were ordered to be estreated. Staden and
James, however, subsequently surrendered, and a warrant
was ordered to be issued for the apprehension of Broome.
The trial of the other two defendants was then proceeded
with. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against both
the defendants, when his lordship (who said there was no
doubt that they had been guilty of a most wicked and
deliberate fraud) sentenced them to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for two years.—Mr. Hemp again
entered into his recognizances of £5OO to appear against
Broome.

STATISTICS OF LABOUR, &C., AT MELBOURNE.—The
following is an extract from the letter of a young man who
emigrated to Melbourne from Glasgow ; and the Ross-
shire Observer vouches for the accuracy of his statements :
—" With this gold business everything is more than
doubled in price. Bread, 41b. loaf, Is. 2d., short weight
included; butter, 2s per lb.: cheese, 2s Gd per lb. ; eggs,
3s 6d a dozen ; potatoes, Ss per cwt. ; tobacco, 44d an
ounce, and very bad—but most people smoke cigars at 2d
each ; tea, common black, is Gd per lb. ; good moist
sugar at 4d per lb. Now for wages. A charwoman going
out at sever, in the morning till six evening gets 5s and
her meat. The charge of a washerwoman is Gs a dozen
for shirts ; a dressmaker, for making a gown, 8s ; a car-
penter or joiner, per day, 15s ; some £l, and some £1 las
for particular work ; a tailor, 10s, some 12s, per day ; a
labourer, Ss per day, and some lOs ; blacksmiths, from
£3 to £5 weekly ; tinmen I cannot say ; they seem to me
as if they were making their fortunes. They set up shop
in neuk or corner, and thrive, so much tin work being
required for the diggings. Are all fortunate that go to
the diggings ? No. Many come back with empty
pockets, and some with very bad eyes. Others rheu-
matics, especially those subject to that complaint.
Bread at Alexander is 3s. to 4s. the 41b. loaf,—
everything in proportion. There is no starvation or beg-
gary in this country. Every one cannot make a fortune,
but many will in a very short time. Merchants, specula-
tors, &c., often make one in an incredibly brief space ;
and publicans can do it in three years and less. The
i
greatest inconvenience here s want of houses, more espe-
cially to those who have families."

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—At the Cardiff
Assizes, on Wednesday, a case (Davies v. Rees) was tried
brfore Mr. Justice Crompton, for breach of promise of
marriage. The plaintiff is 22 years of age, and the daugh-
ter of Mr. J. Davies, formerly of the Great House, Bed-
was, He was till recently a farmer, moving in a respect-
able sphere of life. hut was ruined by the failure of the
Monmouth and Glamorgan Bank, of which lie was a
shareholder. The defendant is a substantial farmer and
freeholder of Monmouthshire, residing at Tyrenel, near
Caerphilly. He is 40 years of age. He was introduced
to the plaintiff in 1850, and by May, 1851, according to
the lady's witnesses, the acquaintance had ripened into
affection. They went together on pleasure excursions,
and behaved to each other "as lovers." The young lady,
NVIIO it appears posseseed some personal attractions, how-
ever, soon began to show symptoms that the intimacy had
been too close, and it appears that she had yielded her
virtue to the solicitations of her admirer, and, according
to her statement, under a pledge of marriage. After her
confinement her brother-in-law, Mr. Roberts, reproved
the defendant for his conduct, and he then promised to
marry her shortly, but never redeemed his promise. No
letters had passed between the parties, who, it appears,
lived near to each other.—For the defence, Mr. Pulling
addressed tLe jury, contending that the action was the
result of conspiracy got up to ruin the defendant ; thEt
there was no substantial courtship ; and that the defen-
dant was only one of the numerous followers of the plain-
tiff, who, after many changes, had at last fixed upon a
man from whom she expected to get something.—The
learned judge thought there were no grounds for these
imputations,—Verdict for the plaintiff, damages, £4OO.

PASSENGERS' BAGGAGE.—The Board of Customs
have issued the following new regulations relative to the
admission of small quantities of cigars brought to this
country in baggage of parties from abroad for private use, it
appearing thatcigars are now frequently imported in baggage
unaccompanied by the owner, viz. :—" That when cigars
are accompanied by the proprietor, 3lbs. be allowed to
passengers arriving from the Continent or other short
voyages, and 7lbs. to passengers from the East and West
Indies or other distant voyages without fine or special
application made to the board in each case, provided they
shall appear to be unc,nsumed stores ; but, should the
quantities exceed those stated, application must be made
to the board for their directions as to the amount of fine
to be levied ; that when the cigars are not accompanied by

the proprietor any portion of the voyage, a fine to be
levied on the whole quantity on application to the board
in the usual manner; and when a passenger proceeds over-
land from India' accompanying his baggage and effects as
far as Malta, and then forwards the same to this country
in another vessel, the board will decide as to the remis-
sion of the fine or otherwise, according to the circumstances
of each case." These regulations are to be made general
and acted upon at all ports in the United Kingdom for
the future.

TRAFFIC RETURNS.—The traffic returns for the week
ending July 18th, on the undermentioned English lines of
railway, are as follows : 1852. 1851.

52,087
22,776

63,279

1,9,264
14,335
15,05 S
20,437
17,264

1.743
16,288
10,664
4,580
4,741
1,502
2,129
8,871
2,093

22,261
17,192
21,262
13,542
30,070

19,611
8,782
7,248
5,511
13,983
1,633

17,751
14,139
4,068

The total receipts on the above lines being £248,478,
against £278,256 in the corresponding week of last year;
the decrease is shown to be £29,778. The number of miles
open on the above, was, in 1852 4,433, and in 1851,
4,3044, showing an increase of 129 miles.
SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENTS AND Loss OF LIFE.—
A terrible accident occurred at the Midland Railway Sta-
tion, Leeds, on Wednesday afternoon, The fmir o'clock
train was just leaving the station for Derby, when a man
attempted to gain a place in the moving train. His
foot unfortunately slipped, and he fell with his head be-
tween the carriages and the edge of the platform, and
was instantly crushed to death. His head was so dis-
figured that it was at first impossible to identify him.
He has since been discovered to be Mr. Stephenson, a
tailor, from Rotherham.—On Wednesday night a young
man named Cooke, Chesterfield-road, Mansfield, died
from wounds he had received the day previous. It appears
that Cooke, who was employed in the Mansfield station,
was on the line when a number of carriages were being
joined together, and unfortunately got entangled between
the buffers. The poor fellow was fri4htfully crushed, and
lingered in great agony until the following night, when he
expired.—On Tuesday a railway cattle train from Goole
to Wakefield caught fire, a spark from the funnel, it is
supposed, having fallen from some loose straw in one of
the trucks, and before the flames could be extinguished
no less than thirteen sheep were so severely burnt as to
render their immediate slaughter an act of necessity, whilst
seven or eight others were half roasted.—A serious colli-
sion took place at the Leeds Northern Railway, near
Stockton-on-Tees on 'Wednesday evening, by which, it is
said, three ladies, passengers by the mail train, had their
legs broken, and Mr. Grainger, of Edinburgh, the engi-
neer of the line, was so seriously injured that amputation
of one of his legs is deemed necessary. No lives were lost,
but ten or twelve passengers have suffered contusions of a
serious character. The accident arose from a luggage-
trein, in attempting to shunt, having come into violent
contact with the passenger-train while passing the points.

ABDUCTION.-At the Cambridge Assizes, on Thursday
Peter Taylor, aged 20, was indicted for the abduction of
Isabella Prime, on the 23d of July, she then being under
sixteen years of age. It appeared from the evidence,
that Isabella Prime was living with her grandfather, who
was a farm-bailiff, residing at Little Wilbraham, and the
prisoner was employed as a shepherd upon the same pro-
perty. The prisoner and the granddaughter had been in
the habit of going to and returning from chapel together,
and it appeared from the cross-examination of some of
the witnesses for the prosecution that, upon one occasion,
at Ensham, they sat upon the same chair, and drank out
of the same cup, and that he had received many and
many a loveletter from her. However, the addresses of
the prisoner were not acceptable to the " old people,"
and one Sunday, after chapel, the prisoner and the grand-
daughter went away together, and did not return until
some days after, when they were brought home by the
police, who had traced them to a village in Hertfordshire,
where they were found living together as man and wife.
After that, this prosecution was instituted, and the young
!sdy returned to her home, while her swain was consigned
to durance vile. In support of the prosecution, evidence
was offered to show that the girl was under the statutable
age at the period of the elopement, and for this purpose
the family Bible was produced. On inspection, however,
of this document, it appeared that the figure 7, in the
year 1837, had been tampered with, and on the produc-
tion of the girl herself in the witness-box, her personal
appearance was such as certainly to warrant the notion
that she was a full-grown woman of seventeen or more,
as well as to justify the love of the prisoner, who greeted
the sight of her with a smile of pleasurable recognition.
Mr. Baron Parke summed up the case to the jury, who,
after some consideration, returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

A FAITHLESS FA i K.-Charles Gray, a well-dressed
young man, was charged on Saturday, ai the ClerL•enwell
police court, on a warrant, before Mr. Corrie, with as-
saulting his wife, a fashionably-attired woman, 25 years
old. The complainant stated that, while in company of
a friend, the fellow (pointing to her husband) interrupted
them, and, because she desired him to leave the room, he
struck het violently on the side of her head. She had
sought the advice and protection of her friend, in whose
apartment she was when her husband impudently inter-
rupted them. (A laugh.)—Mr. Corrie : Pray, is the friend
a male or female ?—Complainant : a man, sir. A gentle-
man, sir. (Laughter.)—Mr. Corrie asked the defendant
the cause of the disagreement between him and his wife.
—Defendant : Oh, sir, it is no fault of mine. I doat on
her. I do, indeed, your worship.—Wife: Tush, tusk,
you fool. (A laugh.)—Defendant : Well, you know it,
Susan, you do, and you know I would not hurt a hair of
your bead. I did not strike you.—Wife : You did. you
brute.—Mr. Corrie: Come, come, have you anything
else to say, defendant, or any witnesses to call ?—Defend-
ant.: Forgive me, your worship. I'm a little excited.
My feelings are wounded, and my fond hopes are blasted.
—Mr. Corrie told him to compose himself, and proceed
with the defence.—Defendant, after a pause, said : Oh,
sir, we've been married only a short time, and she tells
me she don't like me, and that she likes the friend she
was with better than me; and that's not all, your worship,
for once I found her with him and another man, who said
he was her brother. [The defendant, cfter another sob,
resumed] : Still, I believe she's pure. Yes, I do, on my
honour and soul, believe she is unspotted and pure to me ;
and I would gladly embrace her and take her home.—
The wife looking scornfully at her spouse, said : That
opportunity you will never have, I grant you.—Mr. Corrie
here said it was high time to put an end to the disgraceful
exhibition, and dismissed the warrant. He would advise
the defendant to act more manfully, and think no more
of such a worthless character ; the law would not make
him maintain her.—The husband thanked the worthy
magistrate, and said he would endeavour to act upon his
recommendation.—The wife bounced out of court and
joined her friend, a little, ugly, baldpated tailor, who, as
he left the precincts of the office, arm-in-arm with the
wife, was hissed and hooted.

A POLITICAL FRACAS.—The new member for Sunder-
land, Mr. Digby Seymour, having been accused of dis-
honesty in his political opinions by his antagonist, Mr.
Fenwick, during the late election, which personal asper-
sions were indignantly repelled, Mr. Fenwick resorted to
the expedient of writing to members of the northern bar
for their opinion as to Mr. Seymour's politics, and
obtained answers from Mr. Pollock, Mr. Baxter, Mr.
Otter, Mr. Price, and Mr. Campbell Foster, which letters
he published, in some instances at least, without the con-
sent of the writers. Thereupon Mr. .Seymour was very
indignant, and in a speech, delivered by him at Sunder-
land, he accused Mr. Campbell Foster of having, from
personal resentment, been a party to this imputation on
his political integrity, and entered at some length into the
grounds on which he arrived at this conclusion. The
speech was reported in the Sunderland News of the 10th
instant, and on the same day the commission for the
York Assizes was opened. Mr. Campbell Foster, on the
Monday following, addressed a letter to Mr. Seymour,
demanding to know whether the report of this speech
was correct, and Mr. Seymour sent a reply, which has
not been published ; its purport, however, may be gathered
from the subsequent correspondence. Mr. Dearsley, a
member of the northern bar, on Wednesday, the 14th
instant, wrote to Mr. Seymour, as from Mr. C. Foster,
professing to be their mutual friend, and requesting him
" to express his unqualified regret that, in a moment of
great difficulty and excitement, be (Mr. Seymour) was
betrayed into expressions and matter of which his better
judgment disapproved." Mr. Seymour replied, comply-
ing with the request of Mr. Dearsley, and expressing his
regret that under great excitement he felt compelled to
make observations and introduce matters relating to Mr.
Foster which his cooler judgment and the subsequent
perusal of his letter satisfied him had been better
omitted." Mr. Dearsley rejoined that, on the part of
Mr. Foster, he was satisfied with his apology, and in one
of the -York papers, of Saturday, this correspondence
was published by Mr. C. Foster, (omitting, however, Mr.
Seymour's reply to his first letter). It was imagined that,
with this publication, would end " this war of words,"
but Monday brought Mr. Seymour and Mr. Foster to an
tinetrewrvais to b
ewwietli
deemedeehiother,
difference had occurred as to whether Mr. Seymour's.n the
let-
robing-room, at York Castle, and, after some words, Mr.
in
Foster, who had a cane his hand, struck Mr, Seymour
a a n apology. and
it
would
The
parties
appear
met that
some
three or four smart blows across the shoulders.
Seymour resented this violence, and a set-to"
" com-
menced. in the course of which both the learned gen-
tlemen" came to the ground. Mr. Knowles, Q.C., and
other barristers, who were present, then interposed, and
ultimately the belligerents were separated. Mr. Knowles,
as one of the Commissioners of the Assize, felt it his duty
to apprize the Judges, Lord Campbell and Mr. Justice
Wightman, and they summoned Mr. C. Foster and Mr.
Seymour before them in their room. The facts being
there stated, the learned Judges required Mr. Foster and
Mr. Seymour to enter into their own recognizances, in
£5OO each, to keep the ;Tice and be of good behaviour' to
each other for the next six months. The learned gentle-
men were also admonished on the great impropriety of
their conduct. Thus the matter at present stands.—[i'lr.
Thomas Cambell Foster is well known in Liverpool hav-
ing formerly been reporter for the Liverpool Standard,
and having afterwards distinguished himself as "the
hnea Commissioner."l