The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-09-20 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

SOCIETY FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEMALE MUSICIANS.—
Miss Masson, the secretary, it is said, has just received a
communication from- the Queen, announcing her Majesty's
gracious consent to become the patroness of the society, with
a donation to the fund of 20 guineas.
A singular exhibition took place lately in the Rue Vivienne.
A woman from the country was standing in the midst of a
crowd, with about a hundred swallows in a cage, which she
was selling at one sous each, exclaiming from time to time,
—" Qui en vent a un sous your leer donner la liberte ?"
She soon disposed of her stock, for every one was anxious to
practise humanity at so cheap a rate, and the little prisoners
were let loose in time to skim their element in search of their
supper.—Letter from Paris.
ACCIDENT TO THE EARL OF RobEN.—We regret to state
that the Earl of Roden was prevented by a severe accident
from attending the first meeting of the Poor-law Guardians
of the Union of Kilkeel on Saturday last. About a week
since he was driving some ladies in his phaeton through the
demesne of Tollymore Park ; when near a high precipice,
one of the horses became unruly, and placed the carriage in
danger ; his lordship jumped out to lay hold of the horse's
head, which he effected, and prevented further mischief ; but
in doing so sprained his ancle violently, and has since been
confined to his bed. We are' happy to hear that his lordship
is better.—Saunders' News Letter.
THE GREAT WORCESTER DISTILLERY.—The sale of the
great Malt Distillery at Worcester, independently of the
Rectifying Distillery and the British Wine Trade, previously
announced in our Journal last week, has caused a great sen-
sation throughout the country. There is a feature connected
with this exchange of property that gives it a peculiar advan-
tage—during 110 years it has been in one family, throughout
this long period, up to the present time, the proprietors re-
tired with a fine independence. It may well be asked—
" Where is a corresponding case to be found ?"—beside
which, Mr. Robins promises to all those who have high tes-
timonials to their respectability, the opportunity to investi-
gate the books, and thus see upon record, a happy illustra-
tion of the character so imperfectly awarded to it in his an-
nouncement.

BRUSSELS, AUG. 13.—The Augsburg Gazette, contains
the following passage reapecting the marriage of the queen of
England :--" The speech of Queen Victoria on proroguing
the parliament makes no mention of her marriage. As some
journals have inferred that, the matrimonial alliance with the
Coburg family was still doubtful, we can affirm on good au-
thority that the meeting of several members of the house of
SainCoburg at London is for the purpose of settling the ne-
cessary preliminaries which must precede the marriage, that
is to say, every thing relative to the prerogative and the re-
venue of the intended husband. As for the question of the
marriage itself and the mutual affection of the parties, all this
has been some time decided. The Duchess of Kent and the
King of the Belgians have been the most zealous promoters
of the alliance."
GERMAN WOOL FAlRS.—According to the accounts from
the northern parts of Germany, the quantities of wool pur-
chased at the late fairs in those parts for English account
were very considerable, and those brought from the agricul-
tural districts for sale, of all qualities, much exceeded the
production of former years. The surplus stocks would have
been greatly superior this year in consequence, but for the
continued activity of the woollen manufacture, both on the
continent and in this country. The competition amongst
buyers, thus sustained by the demand, had operated to pre-
vent a larger reduction in the prices of wools than from 5 to
10 per cent. The extraordinary profits realised by the wool-
growers had had the natural effect of stimulating them to
apply all their means towards the increased growth of the
article and the multiplication of their flocks, so that the
quantities produced in the next and succeeding years may be
expected to be still more heavy than those of the present
season. An apprehension appeared to be entertained in some
quarters that the remunerating value of the produce thus so
largely increasing would hardly be maintained with new and
extraordinary channels of consumption. Silesia alone pos-
sessed stock equal to 3,000,000 of sheep, or tenfold the num-
ber existing there 20 years ago.—Times.
INFANT SCHOOLS.—The inveterate blunder of regarding
education as mere instruction in reading and writing has
done more mischief in the case of infant schools than
could easily be calculated. The first and proper business of
these schools is not literary education, but physical; this
simple fact is so frequently neglected, that we have found
these schools established in damp 'and ill-ventilated rooms,
surrounded with an atmosphere which could not be breathed
without injury to health, and destitute of conveniences for
active play. We can well remember the stare of surprise
with which our questions respecting the provision made for
active sports were received, and the shout of laughter raised,
when we stated the self-evident proposition that a child's
play was part of a child's education. Within the last few
years the world has become more enlightened on this sub-
ject ; but there are still many who require to be taught that
the body requires education as well as the mind, and parti-
cularly in the case of those who must derive their means of
support from bodily exertions.—Foreign Monthly Review.
PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF Drssiasg.—The congregating of
large numbers of men into crowded cities—living in an
atmosphere loaded with impurities—ill-assorted and untimely
marriages—sedentary and unwholesome occupations—intem-
perance—the use of adulterated food, and of high-seasoned
and indigestible viands, taken, moreover, hastily in the short
intervals allowed by the hurry and turmoil of business—con-
stant and excessive mental excitement, kept up by luxurious
habits—great and intellectual exertion combined with bodily
inactivity—the violence of the passions, such as envy, ambi-
tion, love, covetousness, which are constantly stimulated by
intercourse with society—the delicacy and sensibility to ex-
ternal influences ca.u.sed by heated rooms, too warm clothing,
and other indulgences ;—all these are departures from man's
natural condition, and produce those morbid states of the
system which a more simple and uniform mode of living
would prevent.—Curtis on Health.
DISCOVERY OF A TESSELATED PAVEMENT. —ln a field
adjoining the road leading.from Rudston to Kilham, a tesse-
lated pavement, about six inches from the surface, was
uncovered—the tesserte differing in size from 11 inch to an
inch, colours white, red, and blue,—white prevailing; laid
in lines and forming diamonds—extending over a surface of
about four yards by three yards, walled round on three sides
with large rough stones, similar to the chalk stones of the
Wolds. A great part of the pavement had been destroyed
at a former period by some labourers, who had dug it up in
the hope of finding treasure, and the place filled up again
promiscuously ; it contained red bricks, of a square form,
9i inches by inches, 14 inch thick% pieces of plaster
smooth on one side. and painted,- some red all over, some in
lines, and sorriel with dashes of red and green, apparently
water colours. Below this, at about 31 feet from the surface,
were a number of tiles, in regular order, slightly curved, and
having a flank at each side. They were placed flank to flank
one with another, having the hollow side downward. The
top surface presented an indented half circle, extending from
one end to about one-third of the whole length. The size
of each tile is about 15 inches by 11, and about 4 of an
inch in thickness.: Immediately under these was another
layer of the same sort of tiles, laid in the same manner, but
traversely with the other. Below these was a small quantity
oflexceeslingly black ashes, and near were some pieces of a
ratherbony-like substance, porous, and having a great sem-
blance; to the incrusted moss from the Dropping Well at
Knaresborough. Still lower was a layer of fine rich earth,
a few, inches in thickness, and then a bed of fine natural red
clay,. probably the material similar to that of which the
bricks and tiles had been formed.—Hull Advertiser.
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY HOTELS.—One
of the splendid hotels recently erected in front of the grand
entrance . to. the London and Birmingham Railway, was
opened to the public on Monday.. Having since that time
had an opportunity of inspecting the arrangements of the
establishment, a short notice may not be without interest.
The building- thus opened is the Victoria Hotel, on the wes-
tern side of the railway entrance. It is appropriated exclu-
sively to dormitories, and to the supply of breakfast, tea, &c.
The other hotel, the Adelaide, will be opened in a short time
as a first-rate tavern, with a stock of wines, spirits, &c.
The Victoria is the largest establishment of the kind in the
metropolis. It contains 84 bedchambers, besides sitting,
dressing, and bathing rooms, and suites of private apart-
ments. To say that it has been fitted up with every atten-
tion to the comfort of those who may use it, would not be
saying enough ; it is furnished in a style of splendid elegance
not to be equalled in any public, nor surpassed in any pri-
vate, establishment in the kingdom. There is a most com-
modious coffee-room, so arranged as to confer all the advan-
tages of 'a private apartment. Attached to this is a spacious
reading-room, plentifully supplied with the newspapers and
periodicals of the day, with materials for writing, &c. There
are certain fixed charges for refreshments, beds, &c., printed
particulars of which may be seen in the coffee-room. These
charges are exceedingly reasonable, when the superior style
of accommodation is taken into account, and include all fees
to chambermaids, waiters, porters, &c., none of whom are
allowed on any pretence whatever to accept of a gratuity.
The waiters are dressed in livery similar to that worn by the
attendants at the west-end club-houses, and are enjoined to
observe the strictest civility and attention towards the guests.
The whole arrangements are under the personal superinten-
dence of Mr. Bacon, late steward of the Athenwum. Pall
Mall, whose experience and general ability eminently qualify
him for the office. The establishment is open for the recep-
tion of travellers by the late and early trains, who have only
to walk across the road from the spot where the trains stop,
to find themselves more comfortably located than they could
be, had they the choice of the metropolitan hotels. Our
readers are doubtless aware, that these hotels were built at
the cost of a company, whose object is not so much to make
money by the speculation, as to provide suitable accommo-
dation for parties using the railway. No person can hold
shares in the hotel company who is not connected in a simi-
lar,manner with the railway ; and the directors of the hotel
company must be also directors of the railway. This pro-
vision has been made to prevent the possibility of the hotels
passing, at any future time, under the control of parties
whose interests might not he identical with those of the rail-
way company.—Railway Times.'
UNION PLATE GLASS WORKS.—DOLIER'S ENAMEL
SLATES AND SLABS.—The other day we again visited the
extensive works of the Union Plate Glass Company, near St.
Helen's, and were much pleased to observe the progress
made; both, in the erection of the buildings, and the extension
and completion of the apparatus for the various processes,
since our former visit in June last. The large furnaces are
now in active operation, and we saw six large and splendid
plates cast in quick succession, and with a precision, regu-
larity, and steadiness, which say much for the skill' of all
concerned in this singular operation. They were all con-
signed to one of the spacious annealing-arches or ovens in
the casting hall. This hall, when completed, will be within
four inches of 400 feet in length.. After seeing the other
processes of grinding, smoothing, and polishing, with the
preparation of the emery used in the. two last, we examined
some fine specimens of the new substance which attracted
so much attention amongst numbers of the scientific and
aristocratic visitors, at the late meeting of the British Asso-
ciation at Birmingham. It is a species of enamel which may
be of an opaque white colour, or semi-opaque, of an opal
tinge ; or with a deeper hue, like a peach or plum, or even
black. In its white opaque hue, it is already well known in
Dolier's patent tablets, for memoranda, which consist of thin
plates of this material ; but in its thicker slabs, from three
quarters of an inch upwards, it is not yet fully before the
public. Specimens of this new article of manufacture—all of
which were made at the Union Plate Glass Works—were
exhibited in the chemical section of the British Association
at its late meeting, by' Mr. Dolier, the patentee, who has
given to them the name of " Patent Victoria Slates and
Tablets." These specimens excited general attention, es-
pecially amongst the ladies, for their colour and elegance ;
and Mr. Dolier was requested by the chairman of the section
to explain the nature and properties of this invention, which
he did in a manner that gave great satisfaction. Indeed, the
tablets, which were bound together in a, pocket-book form
attracted 'so much attention, that Mr. Dolier, we believe,, quite unwittingly transgressed a rule of the association, and
was teazed into the sale of the specimens which had been
brought merely for inspection. On receiving an intimation
that this was contrary to the rules, he declined to sell any
more ; but a nobleman, taking one per force, threw the mo-
ney down, and left Mr. Dolier to get out of the scrape as he
could. The slabs, when white, are fpr use in the place of
white marble slabs, than which they are much more pure and
free from the slightest variation of colour, or the smallest
:Speck or blemish: This sAstance is also harder and heavier
than marble, and when inlaid in the tops of sideboards,
ladies' work tables, dressing tables, &c. it has a very beautiful
appearance. Of the tablets we have had some large ones in
use for two or three months past, and must say, that the
smoothness 'of the surface, and the readiness with which it
takes the slightest mark of a good lead pencil, makes writing
or drawing upon them much more pleasant, and the taking
of short-hand notes much more easy and expeditious, than
upon any other substance with which we are acquainted.—
Manchester Guardian.