The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.4IVD.IRD.

5112,--I venture to throw out the following hints for the
consideration of the committee appointed yesterday at the
Underwriters' Rooms:—

Ist. New life-boats, o❑ the newest and most approved prin-
ciples, should be built.

2nd. The remuneration for services put upon a proper foot-
.ng.

3rd. A life-boat and crew to he stationed on board the
Floating Ligbt, so as always to be to windward, and thus be
efficient, instead of being, as at 'present, to leeward, and use-
less.

4th. A guarantee fund, or insurance, equal to the value of
any of the steam tug-boats that may be sent out, in case of
loss or damage.
Application to be made to GOVernment for a guard-ship in
the river.

I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
NAUTICUS.

TO THE EDITOR OF TILE LIYERPOOL ST4NDARD.

•
Ste,—Having noticed a few very able and judicious ob-
servations of " Vignola" in your paper of Tuesday last on
the total absence of true taste evinced by the amateur writers
in the Albion on the decorative part of Architecture,. I have,
since the late disastrous hurricane, had my opinions con-
firmed of the lamentable inefficiency of our Practical Archi-
tecture in this town and neighbourhood, especially in the
construction of roofs: •
Many of these roofs are composed of the most flimsy ma-
terials, such as American timber, and of the .most improper
scantlings. Rafters, 3 by 2,1 inches, laid on.purlins scarcely
sufficient to bear their own weight, upon which all the other
materials'of the roof depend,—these purlins, in most cases,
have only a bearing of .11 inches at each end, and even not
that when a stack of shinnies come in the way,--and are
much too weak, which is obvious from the sunken appearance
of nineteen out of twenty of the roofs executed in this man-
ner; the rafters are nailed to the purlins, and to a ridge, or
first piece, at the top, (likewise too weak,) the feet, or other
end of the rafters, are laid on the top of the brick wall, or
edge of the gutter stone, without further communication
than their own weight. The slates are hung, or nailed, to
laths similar to those fixed to wood partitions for, plastering
• upon, and are quite unfit for the purpose. •
Were builders to cut their rafters out, 3,41-. by 2 inches, in-
stead of 3 by 2i, the sectional area being the same, the for-
mer would support a weight from a one-fourth to a one-fifth
more than the latter, and to tie the rafter; by collars, 'or
cieling joists, alibi, fix them at- the ends to plates, or bond-
timbers, secured on the tip of the walls; but .the timbers
(rafters especially) ought to be of larger scantlings,.: or of a
stronger quality than American pine, and we should have
fewer chimney pots falling into,our bedrooms.,
The scantlings of fl, or are, in general, not deep
enough ; and, if an inch Or two were added to the depth of
these, and placed a little more asunder, as an equivalent for
such, we should have less elasticity in the floors of ouraliart-
mews, and fewer walls bulging into the streets. .
• Builders, in general, are not. so much to blame, as the
inefficiency of the act of parliament for enforcing, and pro-
viding a stricter surveillance over houses in the course of
erection, both as regards construction,, sizes, and dualities
of materials.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
A CAR.P.ENTER:
Liverpool, 9th January, 1839.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE.—Orders arrived from Brighton on
Monday night, to prepare the palace for the reception of the
Queen, on Tuesday next, the Bth instant.—Mornbig Po§t.
Earl Fitzwilliain had a fall from his noise while hunting
last week, which confined him for a day or two. It was nut
of a serious nature, and his lordship is much better.
THE LAST OF THE CHEROKEES.—The 117a4hvillc Banner •
of the 7th inst., says—" The last cletachMent or the Cherokee
Indians passed through this place on Sunday. They'were in
number about eighteen hundred.
CI:fME OF SUCCESS.—If a man would commit an
inexpiable offence against any society, large or small, let bins
be successful. They will forgive him any crimefiut.,that.—,
Nicholas Nickleby.

SACRILEGE.—On the night of the 31st December last, the
parish church of Mitcham, Surrey, was broken open, and
the following articles were stolen :—AbonCten yards .91 Ve-
netian stair carpet, ami 14 brass rods; and from the vestry
room, three black bombazine • gowns, new. linen Surplice,
worked collar and letters, " 1.H.5." two black scarfs.,
black crape ditto, pair of With brass candlestiliks,Awo old
Crimson- velvet pulpit cushions, with gold laCe tas4efs., difth
nearly new with ditto, crimson velvet cover for.the commu-
nion table, with gold trimmings and deep flounce, small look 7
ing glass in a walnut tree frame.—Palice Gazette.