The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-02-26 00:00:00

MDCCCXXXIX.

-Manx Sun.

NEW MATERIAL FOR COVERING OR SHEATHING SHIPS'
BOTTOMS.—A few years !ago a patent was obtained for a
metal, wherewith to cover the bottoms of vessels, and which
promised all the advantages of copper, with at least equal du-
rability in any climate, and a considerable saving in cost.
It consists of an amalgamation of metals, copper itself being
the principal, and zinc probably (for we are not in the secret)
forming one of the ingredients. It is manufactured in sheets
in the same manner as copper, and from its resemblance to
a yellowish tinted brass, has obtained the name of " Yellow
Metal" Several vessels belonging to this port, and'others
to London, were plated with it some years ago ; but it was
found to be less ductile than copper, and therefore less suit-
able for being laid round angles, or into the grooves or hol-
lows of the stern-post and rudder, where the rudder irons (or
rather coppers) are attached. In some instances, too, when
it required renewing, it was found, on taking it off, that it
had, to a considerable degree, perished, having become so
brittle, and full of minute pores, that, to use the words of a
seaman, who examined it, " it broke in the fingers like a
piece of ginger-bread." This was, however, in the compara-
tive infancy of the invention, and before the proper propor-
tions of materials, of which the metal was composed, had
been proved by the test of experience ; and the friends of
science and of commerce will, doubtless, be gratified to learn
that such improvements have since been made, as will, in all
probability, ere long; render the use of the " yellow metal"
almost universal in our mercantile marine, as at once com-
bining economy with durability. The metal is now made
sufficiently ductile for sheathing ; several fine large ships
have been bottomed with it within these last few months, and
it is so rapidly gaining ground in the estimation of naviga-
tors, that we are informed, Messrs. Pascoe, Grenfell, and
Sons, copper dealers, have, during the last half-year, done
much more business in the article than in copper itself. The
captains who have latterly given it a trial, speak highly of its
good qualities ; and one vessel plated with it has made three
successive voyages from London to India without requiring
any renewal in that particular,—showing a durability consi-
derably beyond the copper generally used. The price is 1
per lb. cheaper than copper, and it is 6 per cent. lighter than
that metal. It is also found to retain its weight to a greater
extent, and the old metal is taken back in exchange by the
manufacturers. Another, and perhaps an equally important
use of this metal is, for the bolts or fastenings of ships.
From its hardness, when manufactured for this purpose, it is
vastly superior to copper, inasmuch as being nearly as hard
as iron, it can be driven into a much smaller augur-hole than
copper, and to a greater depth in dead. wood, forming, conse-
quently, a tighter and stronger fastening, and not so liable to
drop, on this account, as well as from the absence of verde-
gris. From all, indeed, that we can learn, the " yellow
metal" may be considered one of the most useful discoveries
of modern times in a commercial country like this.—Joernal.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.-" The manufacturers of
this State are progressing prodigiously, the cotton and wool-
len manufactures in particular. Here are 111 cotton facto-
ries, and 234 woollen oneo. Almost all goods composed of
cotton imported into the United States pay a tariff duty of
25 per cent., and almost all woollen goods a duty of 50 per
cent. ; and this system- your philosophers in England call
free trade. Fancy a piece of Manchester calico, made of
American cotton,, being sold at New York in competition
with a piece of American calico made from cotton grown in
America, and protected from a duty of 25 per cent. ! Why,
the mere statement of the naked fact must convince every

one that the manufacture of cotton goods at least will shortly
be monopolized by the Americans. Common sense must
also assure us, that the cotton packed in bales, and then car-
ried across the Atlantic, undergoes, like all other vegetable
matter, a fermentation, which ends in rottenness ; and for
this cause, no American woman thinks of buying an English
cotton gown, or an English pair of stockings. No ; all—yea,
all—do not mistake me—l say, all the cotton goods except
lace, and such like frippery, exported to the United States—
and nine-tenths of them are imported into New York—are
not bought by consumers in America, but merely gambled
with and re-exported by a set of swindlers, compared with
whom your dealers in marine stores, and those who keep the
" slaughter-houses" in London, are honest men. The modus
operandi is this :—A cargo of goods made at Manchester is
consigned to an auctioneer at New York., and this auction-
eer, as soon as he claps his fingers on the bill of lading, goes
to a joint-stock bank, of which he is a director, and discounts
his " bit of stuff," with which he buys an accommodation
bill, drawn upon some swindler in London, or Liverpool, or
Havre, as the case may be ; and this bill the auctioneer remits
the consigner, who instantly discounts this bill at some joint-
stock bank in England, of which he is a director ; and thus,
like a game at battledore, the shuttlecock moves backwards
The same thing in effect takes place with regard to the raw
material, the cotton itself. [There is some exaggerationhere :
but we believe the principle to be correct.]

CAUTION TO LETTER WRITERS.—A gentleman in Barnard
Castle, who keep in his writing desk a few small seals, most
of them of glass, bearing some device or motto, having occa-
sion to write to Mr. Faircloth, an officer in the collection of
assessed taxes, who for some time past has resided at Stock-
ton, sealed his letter with one of the seals in question, having
a bird engraven upon it ; when he was immediately ordered
by that gentleman to insert in his assessed tax return, and
pay duty for "armorial bearing ! !" The gentleman ap-
pealed to the commissioners at their last meeting in Barnard
Castle, when Mr. Faircloth produced the impression upon the
letter, as the ground of the charge. The gentleman produced
all the seals, every one of which Mr. Faircloth contended was
an "Armorial bearing." The commissioners deemed the
charge frivolous, and one of them very properly asked
whether, if the gentleman sealed his letter with the button of
his coat, it would render him liable for the duty. Mr. Fair-
cloth seriously contended, that it would. The commission-
ers refused to charge the seal as an " armorial bearing ;" and
Mr. Faircloth has since, we hear, reported the case to the
" powers that be" in the office of stamps and taxes, who, of
course, " are of opinion," that the seal used is an armorial
bearing, but with official cautiousness decline giving any opi-
nion on the other seals. We understand that the same vio-
lence has been done to the spirit of the act of parliament in
several other places, and that the assessed tax officers are
14eePing a strict look-out for fresh cases Sunder/and Herald.

SOIREES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.—The fourth
and last soiree of this season was attended by an assemblage
of upwards of 500 of our townsmen; their families, and
friends ; and such was the demand for tickets for the admis-
sion of strangers, that upwards of one hundred were, as we
hear, refused, the committee having wisely determined that
no more should be admitted than the rooms could conveni-
ently accommodate. Mr. Samuel Turner, who took the
chair for the evening, in a short speech, alluded to the
recent progress of science generally, and among other
instances spoke of the arrival of the iron ship at her destina-
tion as a subject of congratulation, as doubts had been enter-
tained of her success from the effects of iron upon the com-
pass ; but this difficulty science has overcome. Mr. Turner
alluded to the effect of the soirees, and congratulated the
committee and the company upon the successful efforts of
the one, and the cordial and extended support afforded to
their efforts by the other. Mr. Turner then introduced the
author of the paper for the evening, the subject of which was
Painting in England, and more especially on the progress of
Water Colour Painting, by Mr. Charles Barber, who gave a
slight sketch of the early state of art in England previous
to the reign of Charles I. He noticed Wilson and Gainsbo-
rough as having given birth to landscape painting ; but the
truly British art of painting in water colours was first prac-
tised by Paul Sandly, Cousins, Rooker, and Hearne, yet made
very slow progress, until the great talents of a Teimer and
Girtin, taking their principles from John Smith, and their
practice from Dayes, produced the bright and brilliant
transcripts of Nature now to be found in the works
of Copley, Fielding, Prout, Cox, Haven., and many other
professional artists of the highest eminence. Mr. Barber
also mentioned the historical pictures of Cattermole and the
Misses Sharp, and stated the benefits that have arisen to the
naturalist, as well as the architect, from the use of water
colour painting. Mr. Barber controverted the opinion that
water-coloured pictures would lose their freshness, and assert .
ed that such was the perfection with which the colours were
now prepared, that with a small proportion of mechanical '
dexterity in the use of them, pictures so painted would be
as durable as those in oil. Mr. Barber was heard with
great attention, and his essay much admired and applauded.
—Mr, Turner then introduced Mr. Addams, a gentleman of
high professional talent, who is now giving a course of lec-
tures on Acoustics, at the Royal Institution, and who kindly
undertook to show some curious and interesting experiments
on Sound. These experiments gave much pleasure, and we
hope will induce many of the visitors of Wednesday even-
ing's soiree to attend Mr. Addam's lectures, which the com-
mittee of the Royal Institution have opened to the public on
the payment of one shilling each person. We do not see the
wisdom of this measure, but we hope that the public will take
advantage of such an opportunity.—ln the upper rooms,
several fine drawings were shown in illustration of Mr. Bar-
ber's observations ; a very fine collection of autographs,
from the ample collection of Dr. Raffles ; and other curiosi-
ties, of nature and art, were displayed for the amusement of
the company. Among the contributions we observed five
beautiful drawings from the collection of Edward Rodger,
Esq., they were by Bonnington, Stanfield, Turner, and some
others of less note. Mr. Winstanley's collection, as usual,
contributed to the evening's entertainment. Mr. Lacey, of
Bold-street, sent his picture of the vessels which have so lately
been wrecked at the mouth of our harbour ; it possessed a
melancholy interest from the fidelity of the scene and the
judgment which the artist exhibited in selecting the time of
his action, viz. the moment when the vessels had struck,
when the waves were first breaking over their victims, and
before their awful power had been exhibited in the work of
destruction and death, which so soon after commenced. The
Victoria, steam ship is seen in the distance, gallantly hasten-
ing to the rescue, and the Mountaineer, is already alongside
the St. Andrew. We are glad to find that this sketch of one
of the most affecting incidents which is connected with our
port is about to be engraved, and we understand that books are
already opened to receive the names of persons who are desir-
ous of obtaining copies of the picture. The original is from
the pencil of Mr. Walters. The refreshments of tea, coffee, &c.
were abundant, and about ten o'clock the company began to
retire. It is long since we noticed so much beauty and fa-
shion assembled in Liverpool. The lecture-room afforded a
coup d'ceil at once pleasing and gratifying to those inte-
rested in the prosperity of the town, and we cordially hope
again to meet with so many of our fair townswomen and their
attendant protectors.--Chronick.
NEW LETTERING OF THE NAMES OF STREETS.—We are
always glad to observe any local improvement, that may in-
crease the convenience, or add to the architectural beauty of
the town ; and it is therefore with regret that we see a new
system of lettering the names of the streets in the course of
introduction, which we think is any thing but an amendment
upon that hitherto pursued. Some years ago the names of
the streets were cast in plates of cast iron (the letters being
indented in the casting), each forming a handsome panel,
with the corners curved out, and surrounded by a groove,
forming a simple but decorative border. The names, more-
over, were put in full words, and in bold, legible Egyptian
capitals. These plates, when clean, were really an ornament,
and the renewal of the painting in black and white, or in any
two colours, was easily accomplished ; for the surface in
ground-work of the panel being painted, the indented letters
were readily done with a small brush or tool. These sub-
stantial panels are, however, recently superseded, in various
parts of the town, by a new lettering of white upon black, on
thin separate plates of metal (one.for each letter, in typogra-
phical style !) huddled together in slender, narrow iron frames,
and varnished or (as it is called) japanned. The letters are
Roman capitals, wretchedly shaped, in dirty white paint.
The words are frequently separated, in distinct frames, be-
tween which the brick work is visible ; and, in the indul-
gence of a paltry economy, the Queen's English is mutilated,
the word "street" being crushed up into ST For instance, we
have CHURCH ST The old plate had
CHURCH STREET, in bold letters,
with a good border round it. We are told that the new plan
is adopted, first, because the letters will last for years with-
out requiring to be repainted ; secondly, because they are
more legible at night. Of both of these alleged advantages
we entertain great doubts. Some of the new letters are al-
ready damaged, and the plates out of shape ; and so far from
being more easily read by gas light, they appear to us to be
less so than the old ones. Indeed, when the light glances
upon the smooth surface or varnish, they are not legible at
all ! We rather suspect that some " Brummagem" tea-tray
manufacturer has got a job out of our raformed corporation, in
the making of these new letter plates. If japanning were
necessary, why not japan the old strong plates ?
His Highness the Prince Trutsmansdorf and Prince• Lic-
htenstein arrived from Melton Mowbray, yesterday, at the
Wellington Hotel, Dale-street.
Mr. Pearson, Mr. Cheesbrough, and Mr. liges, were
elected on Friday Honorary Surgeons to the Eastern Dis.
pensary.
COMMITMENTS FOR TRIAL AT THE SESSIONS.—On Fri-
day, three men, Wallace, Jones, and Mason, were committed
by Mr. Hall, on a charge of stealing from the premises of
Mr. Hughes, joiner, in Bedford-street, (Park), a quantity of
joiners' tools.—A. man named Williams was committed on a
charge of stealing a quantity of wearing apparel from a house
in Fontenoy-street.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—We regret to state that an accident,
which terminated fatally, occurred to Mr. Scott, of the Stan-
ley Arms, Seacombe, on Wednesday last. We understand
that a heavy piece of timber, which was reared up against the
wall of the house, was either blown down by the wind, or
moved by some other cause, and fell upon Mr. Scott, injur-
ing him so severely about the head that he lived only four
Lours after the accident.

STEAM NAVIGATION.—On Thursday last the steam-boat
Pernambucana, lately launched from the yard of Mr. Thos.
Boyden, and intended to ply on the coast of Brazil, made an
experimental trip, and we understand gave great satisfaction
to several scientific gentlemen on hoard. They were espe-
cially loud in their praises of the performance of the engines,
which do great credit to the makers, Messrs. Rigby & Son,
of Hawarden.

GAS LIGHTS.—We are requested to state that the defi
ciency in the supply of gas, in some parts of the town on
Thursday 'night, was caused by the breaking of the gas and
water pipes, in Vauxhall-road. An extensive excavation has
been made in that street, for the purpose of forming one of
the new sewers, and the earth having settled, the pipes were
broken, and the water flowing into the gas main, all the lights
supplied by that pipe were immediately extinguished. From
a similar cause in Russell-street, on Wednesday last, the in-
habitants in that neighbourhood experienced great incon-
venience for the want of light, and the company (the Liver-
pool Gas-light Company, Dale-street) lost 50,000 cubic feet
of gas.—Mercury.
THE CHASE.—The Cheshire hounds will meet on Wed-
nesday, Feb. 27, at Withington Hall; Thursday, 28, at
Booth'wObelisk ; Saturday, March 2, at Somerford Park ;
Monday, 4, at Sandiway Head; Wednesday, 6, at Duddon
Heath • Thursday, 7, at Minshull Village • Saturday, 9, at
High I.: 'egh, at half-past ten o'clock.—Mr. Leche's fox hounds
will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Overton Bridge ; Fri.:
day, March 1, at Wynnstay at half-past ten o'clock.
THE DOCK LAWS RELATIVE TO GOODS REMAINING ON
THE QUAYS.-A number of the merchants, shipowners, and
brokers belonging to the port have prepared for presentation
to the dock committee a memorial complaining of the vexa-
tious operations of the dock laws, and of the inadequacy of
the existing accomodation for the loading and discharging, of
ships. The memorial set forth that the trade of the port is
greatly impeded by the rigour of these laws, and the manner
in which they are enforced, the breach of them being partly
attributed to the want of accommodation complained of. By
the present law a heavy penalty is enforced if goods are al-
lowed to remain on the dock quays more than forty-eight
hours ; and the memorialists complain that this penalty is
enforced without regard either to the necessity of the case,
or the fact that no inconvenience has been caused to other
parties. The memorialists express their belief that, in nine
cases out of ten, the infringement of the law is unavoidable,
from the vast increase of trade, the new custom-house regu-
lations, the state of the weather, the want of quay berths,
stages, proper cranes, &c. The memorialists conceive the
evils complained of to be remediable by a mitigated adminis-
tration of the law, and by providing better sheds and greater
facilities for the loading and discharging of vessels, having
regard more particularly to the present defective accommo-
dation for sailing vessels as compared with steamers.
CLOSING SHOPS ON THE SABBATH BY THE HAIR-DRESS-
ERS.—We regret to find that a few of the hair-dressers of
the town continue to set the law at defiance, by refusing to
comply with the regulation recently adopted by the •great,
majority of their brethren. We are very well aware that
no respectable member of the trade would feel himself ,at
liberty thus to infringe upon the liberty of those who follow
the same avocation, by seeking to deprive them of the privi-
lege of making the Sabbath " a day of rest" from their
worldly toil. It is only the dissolute who patronize the Sab-
bath-breaking hair-dressers. The latter, by accepting such
patronage, to the detriment of their fellow-tradesmen, entitle
themselves to the contempt of the community. The law
should be enforced against them.
WARRINGTON LECTURE SOCIETY.—This society has
commenced its labours under most auspicious circum-
stances. Professor Partington has already delivered four lec-
tures in the New Lecture Hall, and the audiences have more
than doubled those in attendance at any previous scientic
course. The application of the steam-engine in the useful
arts is the primary object with the lecturer, and those already
delivered relate to the improvements in that gigantic prime-
mover and its usefulness in building, printing, and paper-
making. Seven models of as many different forms of the
steam-engine have already been in operation; and at the
fourth lecture, which was delivered on Tuesday last, an en-
gine was made to actuate a printing-press, so that specimens
of the work were executed in the Lecture Hall. Our space
will not permit of any lengthened report of these lectures,
which have been exceedingly well received, and it may be
enough to furnish a single specimen of the professor's style.
It formed the close of his last lecture ; and after exhibiting
practically the various improvements in printing, he said—
" When we consider that a book which formerly cost the in-
defatigable monkish scribe the labour of years may now be
printed and elaborately embellished in as many moments by
the powers of this wonderful press, it must be obvious that
we possess advantages for the attainment of good literature,
of which the middle ages scarcely entertained an idea, and
compared with which the brightest eras of Greece and Rome
are but periods of utter darkness. Hence the duty we owe
to ourselves and fellow-men to diffuse these advantages, of
which the greatest is obviously that arising from the increased
facility of spreading abroad religious and moral knowledge.
The Bible, that well-spring of life, is now as accessible to the
the humblest cottager as to the denizen of the palace, and
thanks to the facility with which our typographical arrange-
ments are effected, it may be sent to every clime and read in
every tongue—carrying with it the harbingers of peace and
good-will to our fellow-men—so that now knowledge cannot
be in a state of quiescence—the march of improvement can-
not stop,—and if I were asked what machine had done most
good to the whole family of the human race, ,I should as-
suredly say the one whose improvements we have this even-,
ing been praetically illustrating.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO JOHN LEAD-
BETTER, ESQ.,
Chairman of the Edinburgkand Glasgow Railway Company.

On Monday last, after the half-yearly general meeting of
the shareholders of this company, the directors entertained
their chairman, and a numerous assemblage of guests, at
dinner, in the Tontine Hotel, on the occasion of presentinc,
to Mr. Leadbetter the service of plate voted to him at the
general meeting of shareholders in August last. Amongst
the guests were the Lord Provost, the Dean of Guild, and
other civic functionaries, the Sheriff of the County, Mr.
Smith, of Jordanhill, Mr. Menteath, of Closeburn, the Di-
rectors of the Ayrshire and other Railway Companies, &c. &c.
Mr. Learmonth, of the Dean ; the Deputy-Chairman of the
Railway Company in the Chair. After the usual routine
toasts had been given, the service of plate, all of massive
silver, was placed on the table. It consisted, [as we stated
some time ago,] of an epergne, composed of three female
figures, standing on a circular pedestal, and supporting a
light and elegant silver wreath of flowers, in which rested a
richly-cut crystal dish. The rest of the plate consisted of
two soup tureens and four corner dishes, all richly chased.
The tout ensemble was extremely beautiful, and was greatly
admired. The Chairman then. proposed Mr. Leadbetter's
health, and passed a eulogium at once just and eloquent on
the eminent services which he had rendered to the company,
and expressing the deep sense of the obligations which they
lay under to him for the great sacrifice he had made of his
valuable time, as well as for his unwearied energy and per-
severance, and the labour, both mental and bodily, which he
had undergone from first to last, during the life and death
struggle of their bill through the sessions of parliament.
Mr. L. concluded by presenting the plate, which, he said,
was to be viewed not as a measure of Mr. Leadbetter's ser-
vices, but as a mark of their gratitude and respect for him ;
and, as such, he hoped it might be considered not unworthy
of his acceptance. The toast was received with the greatest
cordiality, and responded to by the company with all the
honours.

Mr. Leadbetter said it was impossible for him to express,
in adequate terms, what he felt op this occasion, Whilst he
had, he said, undoubtedly given up many months of histime,
and devoted his thoughts to the means of carrying through
their bill, he, at the same time, spoke in warm terms of the
valuable services of his brother directors ; and added, in the
best possible feeling, that the only alloy to the pleasure he
now felt was, that they could not share in the honour thus
conferred upon him.—Mr. Sheriff Alison spoke in eloquent
terms in proposing the toast, " May British science, enter-
prise, and capital, ever contribute to maintain the moral pre-
eminence of this country over surrounding nations."—ln the
course of the evening Mr. Smith, Jordanhill, after some ap-
propriate observations, gave " The Glasgow, Paisley, and
Greenock Railway Company." Amongst the other toasts
were, " Success to the Great North British Railway."

" Steam navigation and steam locomotion, two of the most
powerful instruments of social and moral improvement."
Success to the proposed railway from Carlisle to Ayrshire,"
&c. &c. Many excellent speeches were delivered during the
evening, and Mr. Leadbetter and other gentlemen commu-
nicated several statistical facts connected with railways, of a
highly interesting nature, all tending to show the great social,
economical, and moral benefits to be derived by the commu-
nity at large, from the increased facility of intercourse which
railway communication afforded. Thomson's excellent band
added greatly to the pleasure of the evening, and the 'whole
entertainment went off with the greatest hilarity.—Glasgow
Courier, Feb. 21.

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Leeds Intelligencer.)

LEEDS.—The demand for manufactured goods on Saturday
was rather better than it had been during the previous week,
but on Tuesday last, the market again ruled very dull, and
the transactions in the Piece Halls were again limited. Pur-
chases of goods not required for immediate use, are made
very sparingly, an opinion being pretty generally prevalent,
we know not how well founded, that present prices will not
be maintained throughout the spring. There is no material
augmentation of the stocks of balk goods, the clothiers being
unable to buy wool on terms likely to afford a moderate profit
if there should.be any decline in the present prices.
HUDDERSFIELD MARKET.—There was an average quantity
of business done here on Tuesday, in both plain cloths and
fancy woollens. Tweeds of super qualities and novel patterns,
and light fancy waistcoatings, were principally in demand,
the supply of the former being unequal to the wants of the
merchants. Prices were generally firm, and the wool market
was steady, with a tendency upwards.
BRADFORD MARKET.—There was a larger number of buyers
at this market on Thursday than we have seen for some weeks
past, and more piece goods were sold, chiefly on former terms.
In the yarn market there was a fair busifiess done considering
the lightness of the stocks held by the spinners; though the
manufacturers appeared reluctant to buy beyond their pre-
sent wants. In the wool market there was nothing particular
to report ;, a moderate business was transacted.
WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, FEB. 20.—We do not re-
port any material alteration in the trade ; the demand is
dull, and though in the few sales made prices are rather in
favour of the buyer, there is not a quotable difference from
last week.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, FEB 18.—There is not
much change to report in the market to-day ; the demandl
has been very limited, and the prices a shade lower. Wool
still continues heavy of sale, and the manufacturers buy only

for immediate use, ihough the dealers are willing to sell at a
reduced price.
BARNSLEY LINEN TRADE.—Edward Tee. Jun., Esq., 0
Pinder Oaks, Barnsley, has invented an ingenious loom for
the weaving of five linens for which he is now taking out a
patent, and it will shortly be brought into general use: Great
praise is due to the inventor, for his endavours to raise the
staple trade of this town to a scale of importance. The home
trade at present remains moderately good, and all hands have
a pretty fair share of employment.
SILK TRADE,—Within the last few day the silk manufac-

turers at Leigh have advanced the weavers' wages one half-
penny per yard upon all sorts of plain sarsenets. During
the last ten days the silk dyers in Manchester and the neigh-
bourhood have had considerably more work, and there ap-
pears to be cheering prospects of a brisk trade in the manu-
facture of silks. _ _ _ _

EXETER.—YoIk wool, lid lb, but dull ; Redwashed Knott
Wool, 15/d. to 16d. ; Dorset, 171 d. to 18d. ; Fell Lamb,
131 d. to 14d. ; Fell Combing, 15d. to 151 d. ; Cornish Stripe,
15d. ; N.. Devon Stripe, 14d. to 20d. ; Red and Pinions,
Md. to 11d. Other sorts same as last week. -
The Bristol wool fair will commence on the first Wednes-
day in March.

HONESTY IN A PORTER.—A porter attached to the office
of the Grand Junction Railway Company, on the morning of
Tuesday last, while passing through the station at Lime-
street, saw a,small parcel lying on the ground, which, on
taking up, he discovered contained bank notes to the amount
of £305. The worthy fellow, although filling one of the most
humble situations as regards emolument attached to the
Company, brought the parcel and its valuable contents to the
treasurer, in whose hands be placed it. We trust that honesty
so striking in such a functionary will not go unrewarded.
THE SECOND LIVERPOOL EISTEDDFOD.—WC are glad to
find that the arrangements for holding the Second Liverpool
Bardic Congress, in the Music-hall, Bold-street, on Friday
next, have been satisfactorily completed. The lovers of Welsh
literature will enjoy, we doubt not, a rich treat on the inter•
esting occasion of this meeting, wl&en various poetical com-
positions will be recited, and competitors of skill will con-
tend for the superiority on the harp. Long may our Welsh
friends in this town continue to enjoy these periodical festi-
vals, which are well calculated to keep alive their attachment
to ieir land, as well as to foster and encourage a taste for
literature. No true Cymro should neglect to avail himself of
the approaching opportunity for showing his " Cariad. at
Wlad ei Dadau."

DOUBLE MAIL TO DUBLIN.—We announced on Tuesday
last, that the Government had come to the determination to
despatch two mails to and from Liverpool and Dublin every
day. The new arrangement will, we understand, come into
operation on the first of May. The present plan is, that the
Queen's steamers shall start from Liverpool for Dublin at 8
o'clock in the morning, carrying the London correspondence
and newspapers of the preceding day ; and that the City of
Dublin Company's steamers shall start at 8 o'clock at night,
carrying the London letters and newspapers of the :same morn-
ing, as well as all the correspondence of Liverpool and the
interior. In order to ensure the departure of the, steamers at
the hours named, the rate of travelling from London to Liver-
pool on the Railroad willbe so accelerated, as tobring the mails
down in about ten hours from station to station, so that pas-
sengers may have an interval of half-an-hour or three quar-
ters between their arrival at the Lime-street station and their
embarkation on board the steamers. When this arrangement
shall he completed and in full operation, the distance between
London and Dublin will be travelled, in ordinary weather,
within the twenty-four hours, and many parts of Ireland,
particularly the northern districts of the island, will receive
their English letters and English newspapers twenty-four
hours earlier than they receive them at present.

THE " WIGAN RAGGED RADICALS" afforded the idlers
of Lamberhead-green a tine treat on Monday last, by one of
their mountebank eXhibitionS. The paraphernalia consisted
Of one Cracked lire, played of course by a cracked fifer, for
no sound man would waste his breath in such company ; one
slack-laced drum, which 'sent forth a sound dismal as the
faces who followed ; and two shabby colours, every way
worthy the occasion. Previous to the commencement of
business, a few kind-hearted Tories (working men), assem-
bled at the " Black Bull," taking compassion of the forlorn
appearance of the squad, clubbe their pence; and sent the
spaykers a gallon of Tory ate, which they bolted in quick
style. This, no doubt, raised their courage, for one of the
performers soon began to exhibit, with Bible in hand, and
held forth for some time. An attempt was made at a collec-
tion, for the benefit of the actors, but it was no go—the
" Greeners" were not green enough to be gul .—Corres-
pondent of the Wiga2z Gazette.
BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON AND SPORTI G CHRONICLE,
of Sunday, March 3, will contain ample de ails of the Grand
National Steeple Chase, at Liverpool, a full and correct
particulars of the Great Waterloo Coursi g Meeting, also the
,Bath Steeple Chase, of Friday; Marc 1 all of which will be
written, exclusively' by the Gentlem ngaged on the Esta.-
hlishment of this 3ournal. The price of Bell's Life in Lon-
dvn is Published regularly in time to send of by
~theitsvn. o'clock Saturday afternoon Birmingham Railway.
The sale of Bell's Life in London exceeds twenty thousand
copies, and is the most desirable channel for Advertisements
relating to Sporting Matters.

WORCUSTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.-It has been deter-
mined that our ensuing Musical Festival shall extend Over a
period of four days, namely, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday, the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of September
next. We believe that the gaieties of the week will close
with a grand fancy dress ball on Friday night, at the County
Hall. Since our last publication the Hon. Gen. Lygon, M.P.,
has put his name down to the Guarantee Fund for £20.,
Lord Fortescue, £lO., W. Lea, Esq., of Arelcy, for £lO.,
and W. Dent, Esq., for £2O. We understand many persons
who are desirous of to the. Guarantee Fund are
at present deterred from seeing no sum less. than £5 yet an-
nounced ; now there is no regulation as to the amount of any
guarantee, the only object being to interest as many as pos-
sible in the success of the Festival.—Worcester Journal

HIGHWAY ACT.—Under the provisions of the: Highway
Act persons may be compelled to prune any hedge which
shall prejudice a highway, at any time before the last day of
March naxt, and to cut down ash, elm, or other trees, (ex-
cept oak trees) growing in hedges near highways ordered to
be widened or enlarged, also to that day.
GLOUCESTER AND HEREFORD CANAL.—About £30,000
has been subscribed towards the estimated sum for the com-
pletion of the Canal froni Ledhury to Hereford. We regret
that by the conditions of the Prospectus, the whole amount
of the estimate must be .Subscribed before any call can' be
made, Which will most pr6babl v prevent application to Parlia-
ment this Session. This will odly occasion a year's delay,
as there can be no doubt that the importance of the under-
taking will ensure its final corapletion.—Hereford Journal.

SETTLEMENT OF AN ILLEGrTIMATE CHILD.—In answer
to a question respecting the settlement of an illegitimate child,
born since the passing of. the Poor Law Amendment Act,
whose mother has married subsequently to that period, her
husband being now deceased, the Poor Law Commissioners
have stated, that " The 71st section of the Poor Law Amend-
ment Act declares, that bastards born since the passing of
that act shall have and follow the settlement of their mother
until they attain the age of 16, or acquire a settlement in
their own right. The Commissioners have had occasion
to take the opinion of counsel as to the construction of that
section, and they are advised that the case where the mother
marries is not an exception, and that the settlement acquired
by such marriage would be communicated to her illegitimate
children.

*e•

WILT THOU THINK OF ME ?

FROM, THE NEW MONTHLY BELLE ASSEMBLER.)

Wilt thou think of m7som4iines,
When the billows heave around thee,
And the broad, blue, restless sea
Like a mighty zone hath bound thee ?
When thy gallant ship flies on,
O'er the waves, all life and gladness,
Wilt thou give a thought to me ?
Wilt thou heave a sigh of sadness?
When thou thinkest of thy friends,
And strange forms and faces meet thee ;
When the words that reach thine ear
In another language greet thee ;
When besides a joyless hearth
Thou art sitting, sad and lonely,
Think of one who loves thee well,
Think of one who loves thee only !

Wilt thou think of me sometimes,
When thou tread'st the halls of pleasure,
And bright eyes beam smiles on thee,
In the dance's joyous measure ?
If thou Nearest some old song
I have sung, in days departed,
Let it whisper to the soul
Of the true and constant-hearted.

If the world looks cold on thee,
And thy joy is turn'd to sorrow ;
If the friends thou thoughtest true
Smile to-day, but frown to-morrow ;
Turn thee proudly from them all,
And the bands that held thee sever ;
Come back to thine own bright home,
And the heart that changes never !

STRAY LEAVES FROM A ROYAL DIARY.

(PICKED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF CONSTITUTION-HILL,

MONDAY.—Melbourne had an interview
And a lunch at half-past two ;
Called in haste at half-past five—
Snacked again, as I'm alive ;
Then returned at half-past seven—
Dined, and dawdled till eleven.
State affairs surprise me quite,
They so whet his appetite !
TIIESDAY.—" Grandpapa" popped in at one,
Begged I d hurry luncheon on,
As in Downing-street, at two,
He must confab with the crew.
Six o'clock, antther call,
To say they'd nothing done at all.
Dinnerless he went away,
And I hurried to the play.

WEDNESDAY.--" True as dial to the sun,
Although it be not shone upon,"
Melbourne, at the usual hour,
Came my " tiffin" to devour ;
Mumbling, muttering, while he ate,
O'er the cares-and toils of state ;
_ Yet as a mere trifle treating
His still greater toil of eating.
TWORSDAY.—Just the same routine gone o'er—
Can't he feel that he's a bore ?
Or, if he must each day prate
To me about affairs of state,
Need he, as he always doth,
Walk in only with the cloth?
Economical repaster,
Talking fast, but eating faster !
nun AY.—Lunch, snack, dinner o'er again !
But 'tis useless to complain.
With but five thousand pounds a year,
He can ne'er keep house, 'tis clear ;
And I own it does me good
To see him gloating o'er the food,
Greedily devouring all
The crumbs that from my table fall.

THE CORN LAWS.

(From the Morning Herald of Friday.)
In the House of Lords, last night, several petitions
were presented, on the subject of the corn laws—the
vast majority of those petitions being in favour of the
existing system. Lord Fitzwilliam's threatened motion
for a free trade in corn was not, however, brought for-
ward, in consequence of his lordship's necessary ab-
sence from Parliament. Lord Radnor, in Lord Fitz-
william's name, gave renewed notice of the motion in
question, for the 14th of March.
The anti-corn-law conspirators seem, in fact, to be
somewhat paralysed at the present moment. The ut-
ter failure of their plot to enlist the manufacturing
operatives in their ranks—and the crushing overthrow
in Parliament, and in the press, of all their attempts to
mystify the great points at issue—have, undoubtedly,
disconcerted, for the moment, " our exporting manu-
facturers," and their choice mouthpieces. On Wed-
nesday, for instance, the anti-corn-law delegates met,
but shrank from the responsibility of deciding on any
course of action. The consciousness of defeat and of
exposure sat heavy upon them. The testiness, with
which they seem to have disputed Lord Brougham's
claim to their unqualified thanks for his long-winded
harangue of Monday, proves, that the overpowering
replies of the Duke of Buckingham' of Earl Stan-
hope, and of the Dukes of Richmond and Wellington
had produced on the anti-corn-law delegates, the same
painful impressions, which Sir Robert Peel's exposition
on the first night of the session, of the true character
of the statements hazarded by the late President of the
Manchester Chamber of Commerc2 produced on the
little trading senate of Manchester. The anti-corn-
law gentlemen are, in fact, out of humour with them-
selvs§„. and with all the world. They have threatened
to rend the luckless Mr. G. W. Wood—because Mr.
G. W. Wood failed to palm falsehood for truth upon
Sir• Robert Peel. They tender a grudging measure of
thaiii's to Lord Brougham—because his loquacious
lordship, with all truth against him, happened to make
a poor figure in comparison with his noble opponents
in the upper house !
These things are exceedingly natural, we are willing
to admit, in the case of baffled men. We note them,
for a double purpose ;—for the purpose, in the first in-
stance, of
,proving that the opponents of the corn laws
are, up to the present moment, in their own estimation,
beaten at every point—and for the purpose, in the se-
cond place, of warning the friends of English agricul-
ture not to trust too much to the effect of the victory,
which they have already achieved. Cunning and per-
severance, on the part of conspirators, not more cun-
ning nor more persevering than the present enemies of
the corn laws, have often retrieved the consequences of
defeats, quite as ignominious as those which " our
exporting manufacturers" have, up to the present mo-
ment, sustained.

The recent speech of Sir Robert Peel has, naturally,
induced the anti-agricultural journals to indulge their
readers, with a, large mass of very feeble and captious
criticism, on the merits of that magnificent refutation
of the statements, on which the enemies of native in-
dustry were content to rest their case. The Morning
Chr,oniqe has taken the lead in this business ;—and,
douthess, our ministerial contemporary attaches no
small value, to the following mimicry of the old logical
dilemma :

wAinongst other argumentative make-weights, Sir Robert
alludes to the peculiar pressure on the land of the land-tax,
the triklt-tax, and the poor laws and county rates. He dis-
tinctly assumes that these items enter into the price of
cont His argument is, that they prevent itsbeing so cheaply
groWn aS in other countries. But without inquiring how far
theYfdotor do not enter into the price of corn, it is plain, on
eithirr supposition, that the sophist is caught in his own web.
If thiry do not affect the cost, and thereby the price, then the
burden on land, of which he complains, does not exist ; and
if thfoudo, enhance the price, then the burden is borne by the
consumer. In either case, and in whatever proportion the
pressure may fall, they form a good reason for inquiry, but a
very paltry one for quashing it altogether. Sir Robert de-
clares his own opinion to be that " taxation is the cause of
the excess of price of corn." If so, the people pay the tax-
ation, and not the agriculturists ; the people pay it in the in-
creased price in addition to their own burdens, and that is
surely a sore grievance, and a fit topic of investigation."

If the land tax, and the other taxes specified by Sir
Robert Peel, "do not," argues the Chronicle, "affect
the cost; and thereby the price, then the burden upon
land, of which he complains, does not exist ; and if
they do enhance the price, then the burden is borne by
the consumer."

The Chronicle's imaginary dilemma does not com-
prehend the whole case. The answer, therefore, to
our:Ontemporary's antithetical positions may he easily
supplied.
the land tax, the county rate, the highway rate, the
poor rate do, undoubtedly, " affect the cost, and,
therefore, the price" of English agricultural produce ;
but these taxes do not raise the price sufficiently to
place on the same level, the English agriculturist, and.
the English manufacturer, in their respective charac-
ters, as producers. If the taxes in questiOn did not
enter at air into the price of English agricultural pro-
duce, then English wheat Would not, perhaps, be higher
priced than wheat grown abroad. The differences be-
tween the prices of English and of continental, wheat,
measures the extent, to which the fiscal imposts spe-
cified do enter into the price of English grain. But
that difference in price does not, by any means, com-
pensate the English agricultural capitalist for the heavy
taxes. to which his capital is subjected. The English
agriculturist is not enabled, by means of the higher
prices adverted to by the Chronicle, to transfer to the
consumers of agricultural produce, any but a small
portion of the burdens which press upon him. Where,
it may be demanded, is to be found the proof of our
position ? That proof is supplied by the differing rates
of profit upon agricultural and upon manufacturing ca-
pital ! Upon the aggregate manufacturing capital of
England, the net returns are upwards of 30 per cent.
Upon the aggregate farming capital of England, the
net returns are less than 10 per cent. If, however, the
agricultural producer in England could transfer the
taxes that affect his capital, to the consumers of agri-
cultural produce, the net returns upon manufacturing
and upon agricultural capital would speedily tend to
the same level.

We have often pointed out the influences, in virtue
of which the profits on agricultural capital are thus
injupgusiy, affected. Those ' influences proceed from
the bilschielious exemption from taxation enjoyed by
manufacturing capital in all its varieties. If manufac-
turing capital were taxed, as agricultural capital is
taxed-tken, all the burdens which press on English
agricultural producers would be transferred (as most
assuredly they ought to be) to the consumers of Eng-
lish agricultural produce. In consequence, however,
of the exemption from taxation of all capital applied
to mintifactures, there is perpetually in operation a
-fearful bounty, the effect of which is to divert capital
from thelind, and, at the same time, (through the
agency of untaxed machinery,) to lessen, to a terrible
extent, the general wages of If. and, by copse.

_..._ ~._