The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-05 00:00:00

CORPORATE TOWNS.

On the motion of Mr. Fox MAULE, leave was also given
to bring in a bill for giving additional powers to the councils
of corporate towns. Under the present law, the town coun-
cils could only tax themselves for particular purposes ; and
there were many other purposes for which it was very desir-
able that power should be given to the towns to tax them-
selves, such, for instance, as the building of a town-hall, pro-
viding fire-engines, and other similar objects. This additional
power it was proposed to confer by the present measure.

BILLS OF EXCHEQUER BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that some
amendments had been made in the other house to this bill
which would render further alterations necessary ; and, as
the bill, after all these amendments, would be but an incom-
plete measure, he would ask leave to bring in a bill which
should carry out the intentions of both houses of parliament
in a perfect manner. In the meantime he would not discuss
the amendments made by the lords ; but when the house had
both bills before them, they would be able to determine which
was best.—Leave was accordingly given, and the bill, having
been introduced, was read a first time.
The house adjourned at a quarter before two.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.
JAMAICA ENACTMENTS RILL.
Their lordships having resolved into committee on the
Jamaica Enactments bill,
Lord LYNDHURST moved, as the wisest, most politic, and
most conciliatory course, the omission of the first clause,
that which empowers the " Governor and Council of Ja-
maica to make laws, ordinances," &c.
Lord GLENELG (who was again unusually animated and
energetic) supported the clause, contending that with the
present temper of the House of Assembly it was absolutely
requisite.
The Marquis of lc ORMANBY opposed such proposition,
and added that, though he had been charged with having
uttered unconciliato►y and not wisely-tempered sentiments,
after reflection on them he did not regret anything that he
had said on this subject. He would not say that the time
might never arrive when the House of Assembly could legis-
late on these matters, but he held that it had not yet come,
and that, therefore, the generous people of England would
not consent to leave the emancipated negroes in such hands.
A long discussion followed, in which the Earl of Harewood,
Lord Brougham, Lord Melbourne, Lord Seaford, and Vis-
count St. Vincent, took part.
The committee then divided. The numbers were—
Contents
Non-contents
Majority against the clause 69
The chairman returned the bill, with amendments, and the
report was ordered to be received on Thursday next
THY ECACATION FLAN.
The Bishop of LINCOLN, on behalf of his most reverend
friend the Archbishop of Canterbury, gave notice that, on
Friday, the most reverend prelate would move an humble ad-
press to her majesty on the subject of the government plan
of education, praying that a measure so deeply affecting the
highest interests of the people of these realms may not be
finally adopted without affording to their lordships' house
an opportunity to express its opinion.
Their lordships adjourned at eleven o'clock.

HOUSE 'OF COMMONS,—TITESDAY.
Some petitions having been presented, the house was
counted out.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNESDAY.
The House of Lords met, this day, but merely for the pur-
pose of reading the third time and passing the Sugar Duties
Bill, and forwarding some private bills a stage ; which being
done, their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
On the motion of Mr. BERNAL (!) a new writ was ordered
for Ipswich in the room of Thomas M. Gibson, Esq., who
had vacated his seat by accepting a Stewardship of the Chil-
tern Hundreds—a notification that was greeted with cries of
" hear, hear," by the opposition.
Mr. SHAW gave notice of a series of amendments that he
intended to move in the committee to night on the Municipal
Corporations (Ireland) Bill.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that he should this evening
first move the Canada government bill, and then the Munici-
pal Corporations (Ireland) bill ; and he proposed that the
house should proceed with public business at half after four
o'clock, and at the like time on each day of meeting during
the remainder of the session.
Mr. HUME said, that he should bring forward his motion
regarding the Bank of England (to meet which there appeared
to be an indisposition on the part of the government) on the
first supply day. He asked when the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's motion on the subject of the Bank of Ireland
would be brought forward ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he could not name a day.
Sir F. BuitnErr renewed the inquiry (made by Lord In-
gestrie on Monday) respecting alleged further outrage on
the British flag in the Mexican seas?
Mr. C. WOOD answered that there was not the slightest
foundation for the report on that subject.
The Prisons (Scotland) Bill was re-committed, and again
called forth considerable desultory discussion on its details.
The report was ordered to be received on Thursday.
The third reading of the Supreme Courts (Scotland) Bill
was opposed by Mr. GILLON, who moved, as an amendment,
that it be read a third time that day three months. After
much debate Mr. Gillon's amendment was negatived by 51
to 21—majority in favour of the bill, 30. The bill was then
read the third time, and (after disposing of Mr. Wallace's
amendments) passed.
The house afterwards adjourned.

BLACKBURN NEW BARRACKS.—The plan, long in con-
templation by government, to make Blackburn an important
military station, is now about to be carried into effect. Land
for barracks has been purchased since 1830 ; the site is nearly
twenty statute acres in extent. The erections are to be of a
very handsome and commodious description, and sufficiently
capacious to accommodate an entire regiment of infantry and
a squadron of cavalry—the amount of military force which
it is intended shall be kept up in Blackburn for the future.
FLRETWOOD-ON-WYRE.--On the embankement from
Bainnage to the terminus at Fleetwood, at least 100 men are
employed ; Captain Denham, R.N., the marine surveyor to
the Wyre, has also a steamer and several barges at work in
deepening and straightening the river, also cutting away part
of the knott end sand-bank. The business-like appearance
which it now assumes leaves no doubt that the directors are
now determined to have the whole of the undertaking com-
pleted as early as possible, including three light-houses and a
boat-house.—Preston Chronicle.
DEATH or THE EARL OF LUCAN.—We regret to announce
the death of the Earl of Lucan. He was in his 74th year,
having been born in December, 1765. He was married in
May, 1794, to the Lady Elizabeth Bellaysis, third daughter
of Henry, second and last Earl of Falconbridge, whose former
marriage with Bernard Edward Howard, Esq., now Duke of
Norfolk, was dissolved in that year. She died in March,
1819, leaving issue the present peer, late Lord Bingham, who
is in his 40th year, and married to the Lady Anne Brudenell,
daughter of the Earl of Cardigan. His eldest son, now Lord
Bingham, was born in May 1830. By the death of the late
earl there is a vacancy in the Irish representative peerage.
THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.—What is the reason that the
young men of the present day are so heartless ? so irreligious ?
so profane ; so unfeeling ? so unacquainted with all the great
sympathies of God and of nature ? We verily believe it is
from banishing the Old and New Testaments from primary
schools, and supplying their places with the affected, cold,
artificial, unnatural school books of the present day. Our
first lessons in reading were in .the New Testament, and the
examples of feeling, virtue, and natural pathos, recorded in
the history of the beloved Saviour, have exercised an influ-
ence over the imagination that nothing can erase—nothing
destroy. On this have our character, resolution, and career
been founded. For God's sake—for the sake of nature and
humanity, take back the Bible to the early school room.—
New York Paper.
VALE GWYNANT.—High as my expectations had been,
they were at length more than realised ; for the sudden view
of Vale Gwynant, bursting full upon me in the radiant beauty
of a moonlight light was one of the most wildly picturesque
I had ever beheld. It seemed well denominated at the mo-
ment the Vale of Waters—the most lovely of all Snowdon—
comprehending within itself some or other charm peculiar to
all its less favoured sisters. As magnificent as beautiful, at
no hour could it have been seen under a more favourable
aspect—in its richest autumnal hues and softest touches of
the season's fall. The majestic calm and beauty of the hills
appeared mirrored in the waters at their feet, which glowed
with that mellow radiance never seen by day ; while afar off
the music of the flashing falls alone broke on the deep solitude
and silence of the night. Innumerable mild and variegated
hues, caught from the serene refulgent skies, contrasted with
the dusky shadows of the rocks, painting every object—now
bright, half hidden, or deeply obscured—some changing
feature continually surprising the eye. And soon, to the
eastward, where the mountain begins to recede, came a
bolder stream of light, through the opening which revealed
the distant peaks of Snowdon, arrayed in all the richness of
rainbow hues, from the deepest purple to those gray, brown,
and darkening masses which invest the foreground and the
bage....—EArtictafroris Roxoe'll EXCUMOI6B its Walet.

MISCELLANEOUS.

One Augusta Legault, a Lower Canadian habitan, was
lately murdered by his own wife, while on his knees, at
prayer, by a stroke with an axe.
The accounts from Naples to the 14th instant, state the
barley and oat crop to be very backward. It was also ex-

pectic' that wheat Would be late.
A Coot, PROPOSITION.—The editor of the Boston Atlas
who has been sued for a libel—damages 20,000 dollars—by
the managers of the late Chelsea Bank, offers to pay the
damages down, in advance of the trial, provided they will
take Chelsea Bank notes in pay. Very accommodating.
Advices from Oddessa, to the 28th instant, mention that
grain generally remained calm, although during the last few
days a number of vessels had arrived ; about 30 being wait-
ing for loading, among which were 13 Austrians. The wheat
crop wore a very favourable appearance, and -the arrivals
from the interior were abundant.

We understand a gentleman named Plitt, has come over to
this country as a special agent of the United States Post
Office, the object of his mission being to obtain such parti-
culars as he may be able from the Post Office in London,
with a view to the establishment of a uniform penny postage
throughout the States.—Morning Post.
THE PROJECTED COLLEGE AT BATH.—The plan for the
erection of the new Protestant College at Bath, to be called
Queen's College, has been decided on. It is a very beautiful
specimen of the Elizabethan style of architecture, with an
elegant square tower in the centre. Lord Powerscourt has
given another donation of £5O towards the erection.—Bath
Gazette.

DEATH OF THE HON. RICHARD BA.RRETT, SPEAKER

OF THE JAMAICA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.--TIIIS hOH. gen-
tleman paid the debt of nature at Mundego Bay, on Satur-
day the 18th May. He had been transacting business at the
stores of Messrs. Dewar, when he was taken suddenly ill,
and, being removed up stairs to the lodging-house of Miss
Catharine Shaw, shortly afterwards expired there, in conse-
quence of an attack of apoplexy.
THE GLASGOW BANKS.—We understand that the banks

of Glasgow have this week advanced the rate of interest
upon bills of four months and upwards to 5A per cent., and
have also intimated to some of their customers that there is

every probability of its being next week raised still further.
They have not, however, as yet announced any determina-
tion to give more than 3 per cent. on deposits.— Glasgow

Courier.

CONVERT FROM POPERY.—The Bishop; of London has

ordained, as a minister of the Church of Englaud, a gentle-
man who had been born and educated in the Church of
Rome, and who had been studying at Rome eight years to
qualify himself as a minister of that church. His residence
at Rome has led to conviction of the errors of Papacy, which
he has in consequence renounced, and is now a zealous de-
fender of the faith once delivered to the saints.—Windsor
and Eton Journal.

A SHERIFF RUN AWAY WITH.—On the 23d ult., Mr.
Brotherton, the sheriff of St. Lous, attached the steam boat
General Brady. On the night of the 24th, the deputy-sheriff,
Mr. Lacy, slept on board. About four o'clock in the morn-
ing, discovering that the boat was raising steam, he rushed
to the pilot-house, and took possession of the wheel ; but
the pilot and hands over-powered him, put off with the boat,
deputy-sheriff and all, for New Orleans. A considerable
distance below, Mr. Lady was put on shore.—American
paper.

RADICAL GRATITUDE.—The Radical town-council of
Birmingham, in consideration of Mr. Charles Maddock's
thirty years' services and martyrdom in the course of reform,
have appointed him door keeper to the corporation, at a sala.ry
of twenty shillings per week ! On the other hand, in consi-
deration of Mr. Douglas's services, as a hired writer in a news-
paper for two years and a half, be same town-council have
appointed him a snug and easy birth, which, upon a moderate
calculation, will be worth from three to four hundred per
annum ! Poor Mr. Boultbee, notwithstanding his eminent
services as a leader of a Political Union for nearly ten years,
is still worse off than Mr. Maddocks. He has been appointed
High Constable, at a salary of £0 0 0!! All the good
things are now prett y nigh disposed of.—Birmingham Ad-
vertiser.

THE CROPS.—Some solicitude begins to be felt at the
present state of the weather, and not without reason. The
heavy rains of the past week have put an entire stop to the
hay harvest ; and in some districts the barley plant has as-
sumed an unfavorable appearance from their effects, especi-

allly on the cold lands. The wheats happily, although in the
critical state of their blossoming, do not appear at present to

have sustained any injury, but Tor the inaiining cif all des-
criptions of grain, as well at the getting in of the hay harvest
dry sunny weather is now anxiously looked for. In some of
the situations, the brooks have overflowed their banks, and
flooded the adjacent meadows.— Worcester Herald.
LOVE AND LEARNING.-7-It is announced in the Irish pa-
pers, that " the junior fellows of Trinity College, Dublin,
have drawn up a petition to the Queen, praying that her Ma-
jesty would be graciously pleased to repeal the statute of
celibacy, which prevents them from marrying. The petition
will be presented to her Majesty by D_ ,r Lefroy, one of the
members for the university." Her Majesty will scarcely
be so ill-advised as to grant the prayer of this petition.
Imagine the consequences !—grave divines jostled by children
riding cock-horse in college cloisters, balls flying through the
painted windows and pelting the pates of professors, infants
squalling, nurses scolding—all the hubbub and distraction of
a 'line family," in recesses intended for lonely contempla-
tion, discussion ou the folic aigamma, and the philosophy
of Aristotle !
A letter from Perigueux, of the 20th ult. given by the Nou-
velliste, says—" Probably no department has snflered more
from the storm than ours ; nearly one hundred communes
have been ravaged by the hail. In the memory of man no
similar disaster has been known. We have seen hailstones
weighing 71bs. each. A miller who was driving two mules
on road to l3rantome, had his arm broken by a hailstone
and his two mules were killed. The hailstones actually en-
tered the bodies of the mules ! The form of the stones was
that of wedges with which wood is split. Entire roofs have
have been destroyed, and tha morning after the storm the
hail was lying on the earth two feet thick. The vines and
crops are ail cut up, the trees are bare, and we have all-the
appearance of winter in a temperature of suffocating heat."

"THE DUKEAND THE MINISTRY.—The patience of
Englishmen is proverbial, but it is certainly not inexhaust-
ible ; and if ever there was a time when it drew near a close,
the time is now at hand. A succession of measures, equally
crafty in their origin and mischievous in their practice, have
characterised the existing ministry. Tile country grows
more alarmed, indignant, and astonished hour by hoar.—
Yet the leaders of the opposition, the chosen and able indi-

viduals to whom the British empire has virtually given the
national guardianship, can see no danger, and adopt no de-
fence! The boldest, most decided, and most sagacious man
of living Europe, sits on the height, amusing himself with
the game in which kingdoms are the stake ; and, like Homer's
thunderer, looking down on the struggle that covers the
plains below, lets ;the bolt grow cold at his feet, and suffers
the havoc to go on, in the easy consciousness that when it
shall be his pleasure, a shake of his sovereign curls can de-
cide the day. Let the Duke of Wellington but pronounce
the word, and the Melbourne minstry is at an end.—The
Britannia.
The American Fur Company has just sent a trade expe-
dition (with a dozen clerks, and some 110 artizans) up the
Misouri river. This is done every two years or so. What
makes the present voyage unusually interesting, is the con-
nection of science with it. In this expedition are M. Nico-
let, of the Academy of Sciences of Paris, some of our
topographical engineers, &c. This looks well. The party
will mount far above the mouth of the Yellow Stone—say
2,000 miles of the Missouri—by steam ?—Correspondent of
Athenaeum.
A letter from Carlsbad, June 20, says " The season has
commenced very early at this place. Divine service is now
performed for the first time in the English language, by the
Rev. Mr. Mackie, of Oxford. Several American, Swiss,
and Prussian Protestants attended the opening of the rooms
for that purpose on Sunday last. There is a report this
morning that we are to be visited early in August by his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who is coining here
with his duchess to meet Prince George, who returns from
the east through Triest and Vienna."
PAWNBROKERS' PROFITS.—At an inquest held on Sa-
turday, on the body of an unknown infant that had been
found dead at a pawnbroker's shop in Tottenham-court-
road, Mr. Wakley observed, in the course of conversation
with the jury on pawnbrokers' profits, that he had read in a
" Report" of a committee of the House of Commons, that
one blanket had been pawned 285 times in one year. It was
regularly pawned in the morning, and redeemed in the even-
ing. The parties pledging it had paid, it was calculated, on
all the moneys obtained on it, at the rate of £2,000 per cent.
STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE IRON TRADE.—We learn
from a very elaborate paper read by Mr. J. Johnson before
the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, that there are at this
time in Scotland 5.0 furnaces in blast, five out, seven build-
ing, and 91 contemplated. In 1740 the annual produce of
the kingdom was 17,350 tons cast iron. Mr. Johnson thinks
it probable, from the above data, that in 1842 Scotland alone
will produce upwards of 360,000 tons, and• that within five
years 1,000,000 tons will he produced annually in South
Wales.

SOMEWHAT PERSONAL TO THE HON. E. J. STANLEY

The Spectator of Saturday, in noticing the recent debate on
the colonial waste lands question, says :—" Of Mr- La-
bouchere's speech, the best that can be said is, that it dis-
played modesty, becoming, but rare in an under secretary—
usually a personage whose flippancy is on a par with his igno-
rance." Odds, guns, and blunderbusses," exclaimed the
Hon. E. J. Stanley on reading this passage ; " the writer
deserves to be pickled or laid in the abbey. Bullets and
triggers, but I'll have satisfaction, or I'm no loner member
for North Cheshire and whipper in of the whigsl
Have we not been reformed? If any doubt, let them read
the following advertisement, which appeared in a London
paper of last week :—" Parliament. An eligible opportunity
presents itself for a gentleman of liberal politics to secure a
permanent political ipterest in a borough within less than 100
miles of London, by a safe purchase, or by lending money
upon mortgage, upon ample security. The sum of money
necessary for this object will not be large in amount.
Mind, reader, this is addressed to gentlemen of " liberal
politics." Wherever there is any dirty work to be per-
formed, your liberal, with his purse well lined, is the man
against all the world.—Morning Herald.
CAPTURE OF HANSON., A NOTORIOUS HIGHWAYMAZ•I.

It will he recollected that on the 26th of April last a person,
named Hanson, was taken into custody at Lincoln on suspi-
cion of committing a highway robbery upon the person of a
cattle-dealer, named Queenborough, at llowden, in York-
shire, from whom he succeeded in getting between £4OO and
£5OO. Hanson was put into the station house in Lincoln
for security, previous to his removal to Howden, but about
five o'clock in the afternoon he effected his escape by break-
ing through the skylight. Nothing was heard of him from
that time until information was was received at Lincoln from
the police authorities of Northampton, who suspected that a
person in custody on a charge of highway robbery at the
above-named town answered the description of the individual
who had escaped from the Lincoln station house. On re-
ceiving the intelligence Mr. Ashton, the inspector of police
for Lincoln, went and recognised Hanson, who gave his
name Brown- —he is called the captain of the gang, and has
twice attempted to escape from the gaols at Northampton.
Hanson is the same individual who was convicted of a rob-
bery on board a packet, for which offence he was sentenced
to six months' imprisonment in Kirton Bridewell. He is
also well known at Hull and its neighbourhood.—Doncaster,
Nottingham, and Lincoln Gazette.
STATE OF THE CROPS.—The late rains have had the most
beneficial effects on every description of produce. Even the
clover fields, which were at one time considered to be be-
yond 'all hopes of improvement, have changed their ap-
pearance. It will be deficient ; but when submitted to the
scythe will not prove near so light as anticipated. Wheat is
strong, and so far advanced, that dry weather can now do it
little injury. The same may be said of beans, which have
seldom exhibited a more promising appearance than at the
present moment. Oats and barley promise fair, and even in
cold exposed situations have lost that stinted sickly appearance
so much complained of some time ago. But none of the
crops have benefited more from the warm weather and the
late soft growing showers than potatoes. The same remark
applies to turnips, which are now a most important part of
the farmer's produce, and of which a great breadth has been
planted. The breadth of potatoes is also considered to be
beyond an average. The accounts agree in representing the
shaws to have sprung up with a degree of health and vigour
that cannot fail to become strong productive plants, with even
ordinary weather. It is gratifying to find, that not only are
the accounts throughout the kingdom equally favourable with
the above, but that the accounts from Ireland, and• even
different parts of. the Continent, and from America, are-of a
most cheering description.—Stirling Journal., ~

• 111/4
,

HOBART Toww, FEB. 3.—Lord Glenelg has announced to
Sir George Gipps that in future no ecclesiastic is to have a
seat in the council.—Austraksiatic Review.

The public may judge of the destitution amongst the po-
pulation of Ennis by the fact, that seven hundred and fifty-
seven persons we're fed iu the House of Industry on Thus-

day last.—Limoick Standard.

ATTENTION TO THE SIGHT YOUTH.—III order to see
well, it is necessary to begin early in life to take care of the
eyes. Many children have their sight permanently weakened
by the carelessneas of nurses, in exposing them soon after
birth to a strong light, or to the bright glare of a fire, &c.
These cannot, therefore, be too stronglyimpressed on nurses
and servants by those who regard the welfare of their off-
spring. The eyes of infants should be gradually accustomed
to exercise themselves in scrutinising distant objects ; but
this should be done in the most careful manner, without in-

ducing them to strain their tender sight on such things as are
too remote or dazzling for them to see without causing a for-

cible contraction of their immature organs, which May lay
the foundation of permanent or irremediable debility.—Curtis

on the Preservation of Sight.
SINGULAR ARREST OF A COUNTY TIPPERARY MUR-

DERER.-Ou last Friday, a man, calling himself Peter Bolton,

was arrested for riot anClaffray in the streets of Belfast. On
being brought before the bench of magistrates, he underwent
an examination, the result of which'was, he was fined two
pounds or two months' confinement. On leaving the court
he gave a leap, uttered a yell, and shouted, " Here's sweet
Tipperary and the sky over it." Our active and intelligent
chief constable, who was by during the trial, thought that he
recognised in the prisoner's features, figure, and form, a per-
son not unfamiliar to him, but he could not bring to his re-

collection any connecting circumstances of identification. The magic exclamation "Sweet Tipperary" operated on the
chief's memory like the touch of lthuriel's spear ; he sent

for the ' Gazette.' for there it was he became acquainted with

the particulars of Peter Bolton's appearance, but then the
name attached was John Quin, who stood charged with the
murder of Michael Grace, near Nenagh, 26th of May. The

chief followed Peter Bolton to the cell, and calling out, "are
you there, John Quin ?" Bolton answered " here I am"—
" why do you call yourself Bolton?" said he " that's my
travelling name, your honour," returned the prisoner. John
Quin, alias Bolton, having undergone additional examination,
matters transpired corroborative of his havingbeen concerned
in the crying crime. He is to he transmitted back again to
" sweet sweet Tipperary," to take his trial at the coming as-
sizes.—Northern Paper. •
To MAKE A HOLY MEMBER OF THE " CHURCH UNI-
VERSAL,"—Take the herbs of bigotry and the root of pride,

•
of each two ounces ; bruise them in the mortar of contention
and discord ; take as many drops of the spirit of Satan as he
permitted to give, and one ounce of extreme unction •, boil
these in three quarts of holy water, put them over the fire of
seditipu, until you perceive the scum of falsehood, and schn
it with the cup of blindness ; strain all through the cloth of
rebellion, put it into the bottle of envy, and stop it up with
the cork of malice ; take three drops of it before going to bed;
stay an hour grunting and grow ling, until it begins to operate,
then lie down in the sleep of darkness—it will have such an
effect on you, that you will raise the rent, curse the church,
despise the authority of bishops, behead kings, and set up
knaves to rule the nation. This valuable recipe was found
amongst the papers of a late Titular Bishop.—Warder.

COAL PIT EXPLOSION AT SOUTH SHIELDS—FIFTY LIVES
LOST.—A most dreadful explosion, attended with a vast sa-
crifice of human life, occurred at St. Hilda's colliery, the pro-
perty of Messrs. J. and W. Brandling (from which are pro-
cured the coals known by the name of the " St Hilda's Wall-
send," on Friday morning. The first notice of the explosion
given at the mouth of the pit was about a quarter to nine
o'clock, when the banksmen were alarmed by seeing the
smoke from the pit furnace, mixed with fragments of small
coals, ascending the down cast shaft. A short time after,
the men and boys to the number of about 100 were brought
to the mouth of the pit ; but the only thing they could tell
was that an explosion had taken place, in what is called the
west working of the pit. Many of these were nearly ex-
hausted from the effects of the choke damp, but those who
were sufficiently well, again in a short time descended the pit,
accompanied by some other of the men who had not been
down, for the purpose of making what exertions they pos-
sibly could for the rescue of the men and boys who were left
behind. However, none were found alive ; and about eleven
o'clock the bodies of the sufferers began to be brought to the
bank. As the pit is situated almost in the centre of ;the
town, the inhabitants felt the full force of the dreadful event,
and the groups and crowd that were collected together, and
gathered about the scene of the explosion, seemed deeply to
feel this sudden and awful stroke of death occurring at their
own doors, and coming hoine to the firesides and families of
some of them. The spectacle was extremely affecting and
solemn. Mothers waiting for their children, children for
their parents, relatives for those who should no more appear
in life before them. All this presented a scene which no
words can portray, but which no eye that beheld it could see
without tears. One by one the lifeless bodies of the sufferers,
to the amount of fifty at least, were brought out from the
shaft, and as they were carried by their comrades down to the
carts which were waiting to receive and convey them away,
they were recognised by a father, a mother, a brother, a sis-
ter, a wife, or a child, and the air was rent with their ago-
nising shrieks.—Abridged from the Tyne Mercury.
SEIZURE OF FIRE-ARMS AT ASIITON.—In consequence
of information received by the Ashton police, Robert New-
ton, jun., the deputy-constable, accompanied by Ashworth
an,: Keyes, the officers, and other constables, proceeded,
about half-past one o'clock on Sunday morning, to the house
of Timothy Higgings, secretary to the Ashton chartists, in
Portland-street, in that town. On knocking at the door, a
lodger opened the chainber windOw, and, at the request of
the officers, opened the door and admitted them. On pro-
ceeding up stairs, they found Higgins and his wife in bed,
and, in the same room, perceived two long narrow chests,
one of which was open. On examining the contents of these
boxes, the officers found seventeen muskets, with bayonets,
and a spare bayonet ; four double-barrel guns, a rifle, one
large horse pistol; four common-sized pistols, besides a quan-
tity of bullets and cases. The fire-locks were placed in
layers, with thin pieces of board between, and were apparenly
quite new, hearing the name of Thompson, the maker.—
Upon asking how he became possessed of these fire-arms,
Higgins told the officers that he had them from the manu-
facturer for the purpose of sale. He was desired to get up,
and, having done so, was taken to the police-office; and, a
cart having been procured, the chests and their contents
were taken there likewise. It having been reported that
Higgins had been taken, a large mob assembled in the streets
on Monday morning, in the neighbourhood of the court-
house, where the prisoner was brought up before James
Jowett, Abel Buckley, James Lord, and William Wright,
Esqrs. Mr. Richard Cobbett, attended as solicitor for
Higgins. Newton, the constable, having stated the facts
of the capture, and the finding of the fire-arms, Mr. Cobbett
wanted to know what authority he had for entering Higgins's
house, and whether he had a search warrant or not.—Newton
replied that he certainly had not a search warrant ; but, hav-
ing reason to believe that a disturbance was contemplated.
and that these arms were intended to be used in that disturb-
ance, he thought himself justified in taking possession of
them, in order to preserve the peace.—Mr. Cobbett submitted
to the magistrates that there had been no ground stated
which would justify the conduct of the constables in entering
the prisoner's house, and seizing the arms. Higgins did not
give any account of the way in which he had become pos-
sessed of the arms, The magistrates, after deliberating a few
minutes, said, they would adjourn their decisionuntil 'S'atur-
eay week ; but, if sufficient bail were offered in the mean
time for the prisoner's appearance on that day, it would be
taken. In reply to a question from Mr. Cobbett, the magis-
trates said, the securites they would require were, Higgins
himself in £lOO, and two sureties in £5O each. William
Aitkin, schoolmaster, who is in the habit of speaking at the
different •meetings of the chartists, and John Williamson, of
Stamford-street, a cotton spinner, who has latterly followed
the printing business, entered into the required sureties ; and
the prisoner was discharged. Higgins is by trade, we be-
lieve, a cotton spinner, who has for some time past acted as
secretary to the chartist association ; and his conduct has in
j some wa or other fallen under the censure of one (the Ste-
phensite portion of his former friends in the cause of chart-
ism. e has frequently been employed as a delegate to re-
present the Ashton chartists at meetings of those worthies in
the neighbouring towns—perhaps finding it more profitable
to do so than to follow his legitimate business.
NEWSPAPERS.—A newspaper taken in a family seems to
shed a glance of intelligence around. It gives the children
a taste for reading—it ,ommunicates all the important events
in the busy world b;
it is a never-failing source of amusement,
and furnishes a fund of instruction which will never be ex-
hausted. Every family, however poor, if they wish to hold
a place in the rank of intelligent beings, should take at least
one newspaper ; and the man who, possessed of property
sufficient to make himself easy for life, and surrounded by
children eager for knowledge, is instigated by the vile spirit
of cupidity, in neglecting to subscribe to a newspaper, is
deficient of the duties of a parent or a good citizen, and is
deserving of the censure of his intelligent neighbours.—
American Paper.

CALCUTTA.—Commercial accounts from Calcutta to the
middle of April state that no rain had fallen since January,
and that on the Ist of April intense heat had set in. If this
weather continued it was calculated that the indigo crop
would fall very short, the most favourable accounts estimat-
ing it at 115,000 in. In Benares the plant had likewise
suffered much, and Tirhoot, Lower Bengal, the drought had
been excessive. Not more than 22,000 maunds remained in
store, and these were 'of a very ordinary description. The
letters from Loquipoor complain much of the draught, and
the weather at Decca had been extremely prejudical. Little
business had been doing in cotton, and the price was lower
by one rupee'per maund compared with the last year. The
exports of indigo from the Ist November, 1838, to the 31st
March, 1839, were 33,013 maunds to England, 25,3% to
France,- 2,537 to the United States, and 6,909 to Bombay
and the .Gulf--a total of 67,855, maunds.
ANTICIPATED OUTBREAK IN LlMERlCK.—Provisions rate
so high at present—poverty and misery—destitution and dis-
tress—are so lamentably prevalent, that very serious apprehen-
sions were entertained on Saturday that the lower classes
would rise en masse, and break open the.stores in search of
something to appease their feelings of hungti. It was, there-
fore, thought advisable to have the military in garrison under
arms during the day, and this very necessary order having
been issued, other preparations were made to subdue the
outbreak, should it be commenced. However, no disposition
was evinced by the people to create hostilities, and for the
present the alarm has subsided. How long peace may con-
tinue no one can tell, but the authorities should he in mo-
tion, as the people are loud in complaining of their suffer-
ings.—Limerick Standard.
NATIONAL CONVENTION, BIRMINGHAM. Monday,
being the day appointed by the manifesto for the delegates
re-assembling in Birmingham, the people looked with some
anxiety or, curiosity to witness their return. At eleven
o'clock a small crowd assembled in front of Laurence-street
Chapel ; but the doors not having been opened, and not a
delegate making his appearance, they separated. Between
twelve and one o'clock, about half a dozen of delegates,
including Messrs. Lovett, Hartwell. Moir, Neesom, Deane,
and Browne, met at the YellowT Lion, Aston-street. After
much time occupied in very uninteresting, but somewhat
recriminary discourse, it was resolved that they should
adjourn to four o'clock, for the purpose of giving an oppor-
tunity-to the absent delegates to make their appearance. Mr.
O'Connor arrived at two o'clock, and appeared greatly cha-
grined at the little interest excited by the pompous announce-
ment of their intended re-assemblage. It is the general
opinion of all delegates, that their departure from London
was a most " untoward event." There were only three
visitors in the room at, the Golden Lion. Money is said to
be the subject matter of quarrel. Morning Chronicle.
AWFUL CATASTROPHE,—About four o'clock on the
morning of Monday, the 24th instant, a little girl, fourteen
years of age, the daughter of William M'Elroy, a labourer
residing in the neighbourhood of Loughbbrickland Lake,
went in company with her brother to take fish from a net
which unfortunately had been placed in a bog hole on the verge
of, and covered by, the lake ; and, having incautiously ven-
tured in, became entangled in the net. The lad ran for his
mother to come to her assistance, who, when she came to
the spot, immediately plunged in to relieve her daughter.
This melancholy scene was witnessed by M'Elroy himself,
who was then in a field convenient, moulding his potatoes
previous to commencing his day's work ; he instantly ran to
the spot for the purpose of extricating his wife and child
from their perilous situation ; he plunged in, and being una-
ble to swim, went down also. The wife, after struggling a
short time in the water,, gained the edge of the pit, when,
seeing her husband lying in the water, she went to his assist-
ance, and being unable to afford him relief, sunk to the
bottom. The three persons, after remaining not more than
five minutes in the water, were drawn out by Mr. James
Cupples and his servants, at the peril of their lives. Some
time having elapsed before surgical aid could be procured,
means were used for their resuscitation, but unhappily the
vital s~arSc was extinct—Newry Telegraph.

A type-founder of Clermont, named Colson, has obtained
a patent for a new material for printing types, which is harder,
capable of more resistance, and yet less expensive, than the
ordinary composition of lead.and antimony. It is well known
that types cast from the latter soon become worn, especially
since the introduction of machine printing. Colson asserts
that the material is so hard that the types themselves will
serve for punches in striking matrices, and that it will last 10

years without being more worn than the usual composition
in one year.—Foreign Monthly Review.
WHITE BAIT IN SCOTLAND.—We hear that white bait
have now begun to make their appearance for the season in
the Firth of Forth ; if warm weather continue, there will soon
be abundance of them. The apathy of the gourmands of
Edinburgh is to be wondered at in not taking measures for

having this delicate article of food supplied in large quantities.
A young naturalist of our acquaintance last summer, with no
better means than a small silk net, which he carried in the

crown of his hat, took on several occasions draughts of se-
veral pounds meight. Some persons for .a time affected to
doubt that the genuine Clupia alba had been, caught, and
founded their opinion on some attempts which were made in
the market to pass off other species for them ; but no point
in natural history has been more strictly investigated and set-
tled by competent judges, than the identity of the white bait
of the Forth with that of the Thames.—Scotsman.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.—We know no more substantial proof

of confidence in the prosperity of South Australia, and of the
value of her soil, than that which is exhibited by the payment,
in hard cash, of a sum o' £4OOO for as many acres of land.
Yet within these last two weeks no less than five special sur-
veys have been demanded, and £20,000 paid into the colo-
nial treasury as their stipulated price. The survey taken
during the past week by Mr. Robert Cock, land agent, on
behalf of Matthew Smillie, Esq., has been selected to the
northward of Mount Barker, and in one of the most fertile

of the many fertile.tracts of that rich neighbourhood ; and a
second, special, demanded by Mr. J. B. liack, one of our
oldest and most enterprising colonists, includes a singularly
beautiful tract south of Mount Barker. We learn that his
excellency the resident commissioner has determined to offer
certain surveys to public contract; and we rejoice very sin-
cerely at this trial of a system which' cannot fail to be less
expensive and more expeditious than that hitherto followed.
•—}South Australian Gazette.

FREE TRADE IN CORN.—England has now had nearly
a twelvemonth's experience in the "benefits" to be derived
from the admission of corn free of duty. What is the result?
Has bread been cheaper? Have foreigners "taken our ma-
nufactures in exchange for their corn ? ' We answer these
inquiries with the simple negative—No. We have had to
pay a high price to foreigners in gold (and not in goods) to
such an alarming extent, that the Bank of England has been
under the necessity, in consequence of the great scarcity of
money in the country, to advance the amount of interest to
the high rate of 51 per cent per annum ! Thoughtful Eng-
lishnien will deduce from this simple fact what anti-corn-law
theorists will in vain attempt to gainsay. They will
,require
no further illustration to convince them of the obvious fact,
that if either Providence were in succession to inflict upon
this nation two.more unproductive harvests, or the shallow
anti-corn-law liberals were to succeed in subjecting it to five
years' experience of the effects of a free trade in corn, Eng-
land would become a nation of bankrupts.—Ten Towns'
Messenger.
RE-DISCOVERY OF THE AURORA ISLANDS.—From a let-
ter, communicated by Colonel Cohen, United States, dated
Rio de Janeiro, 9th March, 1839, it appears that two vessels,
the Medina and Mary Jane, belonging to Mr. Burrows, of
New York, had, during their recent voyage to the South At-
lantic, re-discovered the Aurora Islands, six in number, and
of which Mr. Burrows had made drawings. These islands,
which lie about half way between the Falkland Islands and
South Georgia, were discovered about 80 years since by the
ship San Miguel ; 40 years afterwards the Spanish govern-
ment sent the Atrevida to search for and examine them.

Since this time many persons, and amongst others Weddel,
the well-known antarctic navigator, have sought for them in
vain, and they have been generally erased from out charts.
Mr. Burrows describes these islands as six in number, about
300 feet high, extending north and south for a distance of 21
miles, without any ship passage between them, and 26 miles
to the southward lie some rocks called the Shag Rocks. The
Aurora Islands are stated to be in lat. 53 deg. 22 min. S.
long. 44 deg. 18 min. W. The longitude usually assigned to
them in our charts is 48 deg. W. of Greenwich.

FAILURE OF THE FRUIT CROP.--:-The sharp frost and the
heavy fall of snow which occurred in the middle of May last,
has, as we feared, produced an almost total destruction of the
fruit crops. Gooseberries, currants, cherries, plumbs, and
pears, are almost a total failure, and apples are very nearly
as bad. One gardener in the vicinity, who usually brings to
market 5000 pints, does not think his garden will this year
produce forti. A great many bushes have not one solitary
berry on them, and even the best of them have a mere
gleaning. An individual, who has been a gardener for twenty-
five years states, that there was never a year during that
long period in which he had not seen some years, but this
year he had not got his eye on one. The only exception to
this failure is the strawberry crop, and that to all appear-
ance will be luxuriant. We understand that at Donoon,
Rothsay, Largs, and other places on the coast within the
range of the sea air, there has been no failure.—Paisley
Advertiser.

THE LORD MELVILLE PACKET.—We have hitherto re-
frained from any allusion to the supposed fate of this Packet.
Now, however, there can be unfortunately no doubt upon
the subject. Another heavy sacrifice has been made to the
disastrous voyage to Halifax. The Melville sailed from this
port with the American Mail, on the 9th of February, but
she never reached her destination. It is supposed that she
foundered in consequence of falling in with an iceberg. No
one could be more generally or more deservedly esteemed,
than her Commander, Lieut. Webbe. By this disaster
.

twelve wives and forty children were deprived of their means
of support. There were also five young men on board who
contributed to the maintenance of their aged parents. The
liberality of the inhabitants of this neighbourhood, has un-
happily been often appealed to under similar melancholy cir-
cumstances, and we are sure they will not be wanting now.
A committee has been formed for obtaining subscriptions
towards the relief of the widows and orphans of the ill-fated
crew, under the auspices of Captain Plumridge, who has him-
self given a liberal donation. We beg most earnestly to ap-
peal to our readers to assist, both by their own contributions,
and by mentioning the subject among their friends.—Pal-
mouth Express.

EARL OF DURHAM'S GRATUITOUS SERVICES.—Sir Strat-
ford Canning has, by a careful examination of returns, ascer-
tained that the gratuitous—mark gratuitous—services of the
.lActator Earl of Durham are to cost the country at the rate
offifty thousand pounds per annum for his Highness's " per-
sonal expenses,"—Shakespeare says there is nothing in a
name—surely he is in error. The name is every where mo-
ney is concerned. Father Foigard has well defined the dis-
tinction between " bribe" and a "gratification." So Lord
Durham marks the just difference between " salary" and
" personal expenses." " Salary"—" a fico for the phrase"—
it sounds almost as low as wages,—but " personal expenses"
rings on the ear almost with the dignity of " a civil list."—
Then there is another difference, and one not to be despised,
between the tradesmanlike " consideration," " salary,' and
the quasi royal honorarium ",personal expenses." The first
must be definite and moderate. Thus Sir Francis Head's
salary for saving the provinces was £2,800 per annum—the
Dictator's " personal expenses" were £50,000!!! a year—the
Baronet too, was no better than any poor drudge working for
wages ; while the Peer, who went near to lose the same pro-
vinces, had all the glory of giving to the ;country his unre-
quited services. The preference is all to nothing to be a-
warded to " personal expenses" which one may enlarge ad
libitum, and play benefactor all the while.—Oxford Herald.

THE LAW OF STORMS. The labours of Colonel Reid
have so directed and riveted general attention to the momen-
tous questions involved in the law of storms, that every con-
tribution of facts connected with the phenomena has become
of public value. In this light the following may he received:
" On March 30th, 1836, at 4 p. m., being in the brig Matilda,
of St. John, New Brunswik, off the. Bay of Naples, the
island of Ischia bearing east, and distant ten leagues, it
blowing hard N.W.and thick weather, I observed a very
curious appearance in the N.W. It seemed columnar, and
like a lighthouse, enveloped in a white blaze of fire, and con-
tinued so for 15 or 20 minutes, and then disappeared, Im-
mediately after, the wind fell to a moderate breeze, and the
weather cleared up, when we hada fine pleasant day." This
is authenticated by the signature of John Buckley, mate of
the barque Barlow, and was recently sent to Colonel Reid,
the recipient of a number of similar communications respect-
ing remarkable waterspouts. The gallant and intelligene
officer, we are happy to state, has arrived in safety at his
goyernment in Bermuda; and we may add, that the men
posted at the signal stations there are ordered to observe the
mode of action of waterspouts, which are of frequent occur-
rence in these latitudes, and to describe them in their own
manner, which descriptions will be published in the news-
papers: The example ought to be followed wherever an
opportunity is offered. There was an instance lately seen
at Bermuda, which is described as having appeared of a
reddish colour in the middle, although the sun was not shin-
ing at the time. A collection of data is likely to lead to
very curious and very interesting discoveries in this new and
important branch of science.—Literary Gazette.
SMITHFIELD PREACHING. During the last few weeks,
an addition has been made to the polemics exhibited in
Smithfield on Sunday evenings, which, by the utmost tole-
ration, cannot be considered creditable to the city. The
toleration of religious preaching there led to what the actors
in it called political preaching • and the toleration of the
latter has led to what, by a stidfurther strain upon the term,
is denominated social preaching. The doctrine of the Smith-
field socialists is not, like that of the mistaken 0 wenite,
that men might live in common, but they ought to do so,
and that the inferior should compel the superior to it by for-
cibly taking from him just so much as would render them
equal. "No man' has a right to have too much while
another has too little ; and you meet with a man who has
more than he wants while you have less than you want, help
yourself without asking him, and if he resists knock him
down." This is verbatim the exposition given by one of
these new levellers in Smithfield last evening, and the strain
in which he enforced it to'll -numerous crowd was of a still
more disgusting and outrageous character. To add to the

offensiveness of the exhibition; while outpouring every sort
of blasphemy and filth against everything connected with
religion, declaring that if a poor man ever thought about any
religion except giving as much as he could to eat and drink
he deserved to starve in a ditch, he held .a f3ibie in his haild
in ridicuie, taking a text from it as the ground of his " dis-
course," and even going further lengths, which it would be
as revolting to read as it was to hear., That such wretches
will ever do any harm there is no fear ; but that is not the
question. Every civilized community has higher and better
reasons for repressing open indecency, blasphemy, &c., than
the danger to arise from them. The city authorities, how-
ever, do not seem to understand these sort of refinements.—
Correspondent of the Morning Herald.
AWFUL VISITATION.—On Wednesday morning, Hertford
and its vicinity were visited by one of the most terrific thun-
der storms we have known' for several years, and we regret
to add, that it has been attended, if not with loss of life, at
least with very serious consequences. Between eleven and
twelve o'clock Mr. W. Cannon, a respectable farmer re-
siding at Tewin, about four miles from Hertford, was in a
field at the back of the mill, in company with his son Henry,
a lad about eleven years old, a ploughman named W. Han-
chett, of the age of twenty-one, and three other individuals.
Perceiving the approaching storm the former three very ink-
imprudently repaired to an ash tree for sheltei. They had
not, however, been in the situation many moments before
the electric fluid slightly grazed the bark of the tree, and
Struck each of them, 'throwing Hanchett to the ',ground in a
state of insensibility. Mr. Dickens, a surgeon, residing at
Hertford, was immediately called in, and on examination of
the sufferers, found that, with the exception of the boy; they
had received great injury. A wound was discovered in the
right foot of the ploughman, and he was also burnt down the
left side in a frightful manner, his countenance bearing a pur-
ple hue, as though blasted by gunpowder. The case of Mr.
Cannon was of an equally alarming and singular nature.—
The whole of the upperleather of the left shoe was left on the
foot, with the exception of a small oval piece near the ankle,
but the sole was completely removed, and was found at a
considerable distance in the field. A nail had been driven
out of the shoe into the heel of the sufferer, and about the
middle of the sole of the foot was a dreadful laceration, suffi-
ciently large to admit the hand, nearly separating the foot,
and exactly corresponding with the incision in the sole of the
shoe ; there was also a wound under the toe. He was se-
verely burnt down the right side, and there was a laceration
below the calf. The boy was severely scorched down the
back, but we are happy to understand that he is rapidly re-
covering. Four horses were also struck, but escaped without
material injury. We understand that hopes are entertained
of the recovery of Hanchett; but that little or no encourage-
ment is given in the case of Mr. Cannon.--Hertford County
Pt am.

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The usual monthly meeting of the Town Council was held
on Wednesday, at eleven o'clock, in the Council Chamber,
Town-hall.

The proceedings of the Finance Committee having been
read,
Mr. BOOTH said he believed there was an order standing
from the Council to the Finance Committee to watch the pro-
gress of the Inland Bonding Bill. He believed Mr. Poulett
Thomson was proceeding with the measure, and he wished to
know whether any steps were contemplated.
The MAYOR said he had received, a communication on the
subject, and he would suggest to Mr. Booth the propriety of
reserving any thing which he might have to say on the sub-
ject till that was brought forward.
Mr. BOOTH acquiesced.

PLANS OF TEE ASSIZE COURTS.

On the motion, that the proceedings of the Finance Com-
mittee should be confirmed, having been put,
Alderman EARLE rose to ask whether it was understood
that the plans of the assize courts were to be advertised for,
or left to the selection of the Finance Committee ?
Mr, W. W. CURRIE replied that they must be advertised

for.
Alderman EARLE said that he was sorry for it, as very
great inconvenience would result from so doing, as they had
found out in advertising for plans for St. George's Hall.
More than seventy plans had been sent in, and it would he
very difficult for the committee to select the best. The plan
of advertising was very good in theory, but very bad in
practice.
Mr. T. CASE was surprised to hear such an opinion, and
particularly from such a quarter. Advertising was resorted
to for the purpose of preventing anything like monopoly,
against which there had been so much said. As to the diffi-
culty under which the St. George's Hall Committee were
said to labour, from having a multitude of plans, he could not
see it. Plenty of plans had been sent in, and, no doubt,
many good ones ; and if the committee did not select the
best, they would doubtless select a good one.
Alderman EARLE did not care a farthing whether Mr. Case
was surprised or not at the opinions he had put forth. He
had often been surprised himself at the opinions of Mr. Case.
The opinion he had expressed was the result of experience.
The proceedings of the Finance Committee was then con-
firmed.