The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-10-27 00:00:00

THE EIWERPOOL STANDARD.

HEROIC Corrnucr--On Thursday the weather was
exceedingly boisterous the whole day, but the evening set
in with a tremendous gale from the north-west.. The
river was much rougher than had been known for several
years ; and indeed the waves ran so high that the Wood-
side ferry-boats could only ply between George's Pier
and the Cheshire shore hourly, instead of half-hourly.
The Birkenhead boats, however, whether from a better
cinstruction, or from a greater skill of tbeir crews, or
probably from the courage inspired by a spirit of compe-
tition against their rivals of Woodside, maintained, during
the whole evening, their usual half-hourly communica-
tion with Liverpool. William Kane, one of the hands of
the half-past eight Birkenhead boat, jumped into the
river after a butcher of Birkenhead, named Goodall, and
fastened a rope round him, by which he was hauled out.
Kane has previously saved eight lives under similar cir-
cumstances.

AN INCOMPETENT STEWARD. —On Wednesday
Captain John Jennings, of the Swithamley, now lying in
the Albert Dock, was summoned before Mr. Rushton,
by William Hughes, for £lO 25., the balance of wages
alleged to be due. The complainant stated that he had
shipped as steward at Calcutta, on the 28th of May, at
£4 a month; but was thrown off duty on the 30th, and
appointed as cook's mate, at only £2 a month. The cap-
ta in stated that the complainant was found totally inca-
pable of discharging the duties of steward, and had
caused him much annoyance in consequence. He had
intended to return him to Calcutta with the pilot when
he left, but be kept out of the way, and the pilot refused
to take him. The complainant, in reply, said the inca-
pacity arose from sickness, and alleged various acts of
cruelty against the captain. Of fitty-one passengers
twenty-five died on the voyage. The mate strongly
confirmed the captain's statement. Mr. 1? ushton said,
if he bad been in the place of the captain, he would not
have paid him any balance at all, and dismissed the com-
plaint.
WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—On Tuesday,
a letter was read from Mr. Austin, Assistant Poor Law
Commissioner, stating that he would attend the board on
the 27th, for the purpose of conferring on the long-pending
question of an increase of the number of guardians for
certain of the townships of the union. A conversation
took place upon the new act " to amend the laws relating
to the removal of the poor," the general disposition being
to treat the act as a dead letter, until explained and defined
by some competent legal authority. An instructional
letter was received from the Poor Law Commissioners,
appri,ing the guardians of the duties devolving on them
by the 9th and 10th Victoria, c. 96, for the removal of
unwholesome filth and nuisances from the habitations of
the people in their several localities. The medical officer
of Toxteth- park reported that fever in general is now
assuming a much more mitigated form. The medical
officer of the temporary fever hospital in Smithdown-lane
reported that he expected soon to be able to remove the
whole of the patients. He also called the attention of the
board to the fact that most of the patients came from
Albert-street, Toxteth-park, and expressed an opinion
that such quarter of the town ought to be visited.
INQuesTs.—On Tuesday, three inquests were held be-
fore the borough coroner. The first was on Thomas
Spencer, 39 years of age, who accidentally fell off the
plank of a vessel, and was drowned in the Trafalgar Dock.
The second was on William Dale, who whilst lifting a
plate of iron, about 15 cwt, at Mr. Horsfall's forge, in Tox-
teth-park, had his leg broken by the falling of the plate
upon it. The third was on a new-born female child, who
was found floating in a pit at Kirkdale. On Saturday.
two inquests were held, the first on Michael Conley, aged
70 years. On Thursday evening, a labourer named Mur-
ray went down to the new North Docks, where he was
engaged to work, and on going down to the shore outside
the wall, he found the body of the deceased lying on the
bank. He informed a police-officer, and the body was
taken to the dead-house. A married female, named
Fagan, recognized the body as that of her father. He
had been missing for a fortnight. —On view of the body
of Robert Blair, aged 21, a seaman on board the schooner
Grimaldi. The mate stated in his evidence, that on
Thursday forenoon, when the vessel was off Point
Lynes, on her way to Glasgow, she shipped a sei,
which nearly washed him overboard, and sent the
boat which was over the hatchway against the rails. On
recovering himself be found deceastd clinging to the
rigging. but could not say that the boat was touching him.
He (deceased) gave a loud cry, and put his hand to the
side, but was unable to move himself. He was taken be-
low, and afterwards into the cabin. The vessel returned
to this port, but before she came to anchor, deceased
died. Witness thought deceased must have been jammed
between the rails by the boat when it was washed out of
its place.
DOCK COMMITTEE, TIIURSDAY.—A conversation, as
to the storing of saltpetre at the new Albert Docks, took
place. during which it was mentioned that room had been
provided at the north end of the dock for the purpose, a
portion of that part being separated by a brick wall from
any connexion with the other parts of the building.--A
letter was read from Messrs. Cuthbert and Grindley, com-
plaining of having been overcharged the sum of £25 10s. Gd.
It stated that the ship Lena, from Singapore, belonging to
them, had entered the Albert Dock for the purpose of un-
loading with an understanding that 9d. per ton, registered
measurement, was to be charged. In addition, however,
the above sum was demanded. A discussion ensued, and
it was stated that the vessel was laden with gambia, which,
during the voyage. had gone into a deliquescent state, in
consequence of which, crowbars and hammers hall to be
used to separate it, and some pieces when taken out
weighed from six to seven tons, The extra sum was for
the additional labour which was required. Mr. Horstall
and several other members considered that as the discharg-
ing of the vessel was a contract, no extra charge could pro-
perly he made, and it was ultimately decided that the
£25 104. Gd. be remitted. In the next rate-book excep-
tions will he made to this kind of merchandise.—The
Harbour Masters' Committee reported that they ligd con-
sidered the application of Messrs. Langtry and Co. for
compensation, in consequence of the damage the steamer
Sea King bad sustained by coming into collision with some
mud flats at the Clarence Basin, and they were of opinion
hat no such compensation should be allowed.—A letter
was read from Messrs. Hardman and Co. complaining
of the exorbitant charges demanded by some of the master
porters, and requesting the interference of the Commit-
tee. The Chairman said it was a matter with which
they had nothing to do, as all persons were at liberty
to put what value they chose upon their labour. A
long conversation then took place as to who should have
the appointment of the porters—the consignees of the
cargo or of the vessel. It subsequently appeared that the
committee had power to dismiss any porter for miscon-
duct, and the matter was referred to the Porters' Com-
mittee.—Mr- Sanders broutht before the committee the
subject of lights being allowed on shipboard, or in the
dockyards, and stated that it was of the greatest impor-
tance that upon some occasions lights be permitted.
Several cases had come under his own observation where
it was of the greatest importance that a light should he
granted for a short time, but that privilege had been with-
held. The Chairman stated that the power was vested
alone in himself, and it was only in cases of a very urgent
nature indeed that he allowed any light to be on board—
it was the exception to the rule. So long as that autho-
rity rested with him, he should cortinue to act in the
same manner, but if the committee thought that Mr. San-
dare's suggestion ought to be acted upon, it would be ne-
cessary to frame some bye-laws on the subject. Several
. members considered that the law might be a lithe re-
, lazed, and the matter was referred.

MEETING OF THE BIRKENHEAD COMMIS-
SIONERS.

A special meeting of the Commissioners of Birkenhead
was held, at their rooms, on Friday evoking, " for the
purpose of taking into consideration certain proposed ar-
rangements with the Chester and Birkenhead Railway
Company, relative to the conveyance of goods across the
Mersey." The chair was occupied by Wm. Potter, Esq.,
and there were present twelve other members. and the
law-clerk. Mr. Mallaby read an extract from the mi-
nutes of the proceedings of the Chester and Birkenhead
Railway Company, at a special general meeting, held in
Liverpool, on the 14th instant, W. Jackson in the chair.
This compti-ed documents, containing heads of arrange-
ment proposed between the railway company named and
the commissioners, as to the railway goods traffic between
Liverpool and Birkenhead, namely, (in brief :)
" That the railway company should be at liberty (subject to
claims to protect the ferry rights of the commissioners) to
carry their own goods, or contract with the Duke's Trustees to
do so, releasing the commissioners from carrying them ; the
railway goods' traffic to be carried on at Monk's Ferry, to pre-
vent confusion with the general ferry passengers; this agree-
ment to take effect as soon as the extension railway from
Grange-lane to the docks should be opened, and deeds to that
effect to be proposed and settled. This arrangement was ap-
proved by the meeting in question. It was also proposed, that
the Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company should proceed
forthwith to make the line from Grange-lane to the docks, and
that the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Com-
pany should agree to transfer one-half of the station land, near
Bridge-end Dock, to the Chester and Birkenhead Company, on
being paid the cost of the land, interest, and expenses: proper
deeds also to be prepared and signed on this point. '1 he docu-
ments read further stated, that a committee had been appointed
at that meeting to conclude a contract for the completion of the
extension line, upon which contract being entered into the ar-
rangements to carry the goods' traffic for the Cheshire Junction
Company might commence • and that, subject to this modifica-
tion, the arrangements with the Commissioners and the Bir-
kenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction railway should be
confirmed."

The CHAIRMAN said there had been some modification
in the terms of the arrangement, the question having
been subsequently discussed at a meeting of the Dock
Commissioners, a body composed of the same persons as
that board, when it was agreed to support the modifica-
tions proposed, nn condition that the plan came into
operation when the extension line to the docks should be
opened. This was objected to by the c,,mpany, and a
committee was appointed consisting of two members of
that board and three of the directors of the railway com-
pany, all anxious to have the arrangements carried out
without delay, and it would be for the meeting to decide
whether they would adopt the resolutions to be submitted
to them. Since the meeting alluded to it had been agreed
that the extension line should be proceeded with immedi-
ately. He concluded by proposing the following resolu-
tion :

"That this board approves of the proposals now read, as mo-
dified by the meeting of the proprietors of the Chester and
Birkenhead Railway Company, provided proper instruments be
executed by both parties, whereby the ferry right shall be
amply secured and protected, and the details of the existing ar-
rangements between the Commissioners and the Railway
Company for the purchase of the Monks' Ferry property, and
the arrangements for the conducting of the railway traffic as
now modified, shall be at the same time stated and formally
ratified; and that Messrs. tlrownrigg, Cole, Adamson, Hind,
and W. Laird, be a committee for carrying this resolution into
effect."
Mr. John LAIRD denied that the delay in carrying out
the arrangement (as had been rumoured) had arisen from
obstacles thrown in the way of the Ferry Committee, and
also positively denied that there hod' been any compro-
mise between the Commissioners and the Directors of
the Chester and Birkenhead Railway.
The resolutions were then passed unanimously, and
the meeting adjourned.

ON THE SANITARY STATE OF SOME PARTS
OF LIVERPOOL.

LETTER XVII.

CEMETERY NUISANCE-FOUR CASES.

Two young ladies, a short time ago, took a walk into
one of our cemeteries; they saw three or four graves
open, one of which was supposed to be a parish grave,
kept open for receiving the mortality of paupers. These
individuals were relatives of some patients of mine. I
have the facts from their own bps. They passed out at,
the gate, when, just as they were crossing the road, they
perceived a most disgusting stench for several yards of
walking, and whilst passing the grating of a sewer ; they
set off and ran to get away as fast as possible from the
annoyance. They felt overcome with the odour, and bad
about a quarter of a mile to go before reaching home,
when they both felt sick and both vomited. One of them
fell down, and cut her face in several places ; she was
rallied, and fainted again and again; in fact, it was with
difficulty she could be prevented from fainting away. The
other did not stop with her friend, but walked on some
streets further to call upon a relative she was anxious to
see. On the road, and when passing along Hope street,
she frlt dizzy, and did not know where she was, or what
she did—in fact, was " insensible," until she found her-
self at the bottom of Duke-street. When she arrived at
her relative's house, she was seized with vomiting, which
partly relieved her. She was able to return back to her
companion, when she learnt that they both had been
similarly made sick. They could take no food the re-
mainder of that day ; they passed a disturbed night, and
could eat nothing at breakfast the next morning. They
took a little medicine, and gradually regained their
usual health. They were both in good health when they
entered the cemetery, and the fact of both sickening
together gives a great weight to the conclusion that the
effluvia they encountered was the cause. Either the
graves they had passed, or the sewerage, was naturally
accused. The drain, the stench from which was so re-
pugnant, passes near to the front of the cemetery ; and I
reel no doubt but that its waters may have some partial
source from the drainage of the burial-place. One of the
parties had once in Manchester attended the funeral of a
friend in the Rusholme Cemetery, and was made ill for a
whole night afterwards from the odour of the grave.
Another party, then in delicate health, told me about
that time that she bad been walking in the same cemetery,
and had distinctly perceived an offensive heavy odour
from the ground, and did not feel as well as usual after.
I forbade her ever going there again, under ordinary cir-
cumstances. _ _

The fourth instance occurred to a member of my own
family, who had been walking round St. Mary's Ceme-
tery, at Kirkdale, and telt the odour op: ressive, so as
hardly to be able to reach my house, from sudden languor
and headache.

I will not say these are demonstrations of cause and
effect in a rigorous philosophical sense, but, for the prac-
tical purposes of life, they are, I think, nevertheless,
sufficiently convincing ; and the impression upon the
minds of all is so strong, that all three parties declared
they would be very cautious how they perambulated
grave-yards again. I put the fourth case out of the
question, because my own opinion was added in the
shape of a veto.
The husband of the patient just mentioned, whilt at-
tending the funeral of a sister in St. James's Cemetery,
standing close to the borders of the grave, suddenly per-
ceived such an offensive odour rising up from the ground
as almost to overpower him. He hardly could remain
throughout the service, and felt distinctly the horrible
odour in his nostrils for four or five days after. He was
nauseated for a long time after, and states that he would
have been very glad on that night or the following morn-
ing if he could have actually vomitted for relief. A ne-
phew at the same funeral was also similarly affected with
the smell, which he had perceived before he reached the
grave :" it left a bad pain in his chest for an hour or two
afterwards," as if from a sense of constriction or opposi-
tion to the foul air remaining in,the lungs. He was a tee-
totaller, and would have been compelled to break the
pledge if he had not struggled hard with the nuisance,
aided by copious draughts of cold water. Of course he
would have been fully justified in departing from the rule
self-imposed, in " using a little wine for his stomach's
sake." In fact, every party forming the funeral company
complained of the stench on the ground, with one excep-
tion, for whose hardihood of the faculty of smell, &c. there
were some adequate reas.us. A friend, Mr. G., tells me
that three weeks ago he had crossed the river early from
the Seacombe ferry, and passed through St. Nicholas's
churchyard as he was wont. One part of this old, crowded
burial-ground of the mother church of Liverpool is lower
than the rest. The reader will recollect that this lowest
part is towards the docks; perhaps it is a yard or more
below the remainder. Three stone steps mark the dif-
ference at the north end of the burial ground. The
rain had been very plentiful for some days previous,
end whilst crossing this lower part to gain the steps, Mr.
G— perceived a most disgusting smell coming off the
higher ground, which gave him an immediate headache,
lasting the whole of that day and night. Ile has felt
since uneasiness at the stomach, which he attributes to
this source. lie called the attention of a companion who
was along with him to the fact, and who assured him that
such, in his daily expel' ence, was no novelty, especially
early in the morning, and that he had encountered more
intolerable grave salutes than in the present case on the
same site. This churchyard is a common thoroughfare,
without a common beaten path ! What would a Turk,
or any other heathen, think of the decencies of life in
Christendom, where the hurrying footsteps of the busy
crowd re-echo through the desecrated roofs of the other-
wise silent halls of the dead? In the name of health to
the living, decent respect towards the departed—" Ought
these things so to be ?" Chapel-street bounds this church-
yard on the north, many yards below the level of the
burial-ground, and here the passers along frequently
detect the noxious odours of the spot. Moreover, this
perpendicular side of the churchyard was once the unhap-
pily selected locality for planting a receptacle for the
chance dead—a morgue, as the French term it—presenting
through its gloomy and loathsome grated portal the pain-
ful and disgusting spectacles within to every passer-by.
most unsuitably—nay, barbarously. There was no venti-
lation, save through the grilled gate itself, for the stagnant
horrors entombed therein; the light scarcely discovered
the dark blank walls or their unconscious tenants. To
what purpose, tben. such publicity, unless the seal of
darkness could be lifted off, or the horrid effluvia miti-
gated ? How could the claiming recognition of the found
dead be accomplished adequately to counterbalance the
inevitable evils of such exhibition of the frequently putrid
arid irrecognisable wrecks of humanity ? For this slight
chance of difficult recognition, the footpath was contami-
nated by unseen dangers planted in ambush, or the sus-
ceptibilities of expecting maternity liable to be startled
and hideously impressed. In ancient Persia, Greece, or
Rome, this refinement of civilised Britain would have
been a stronger argument against our claims to reputation,
than anything short of cannibalism itself can be now
urged against those nations we choose to denominate
savages.
I remember this black bole—have endeavoured to re-
cognise human shape in its blackened tenants, but have
been repulsed as often by the intolerable stench, repent-
ing an exercise of otherwise objectless pursuit, than mere
medical curiosity arresting my attention in passing. The
same curiosity, in common with thousands of my class
and of the public at large, foreign and native, has led me
to the Morgue in Paris, where the dead (mostly the
drowned victims of the Seine) are suitably disposed on
benches, within a large, lofty, light, and ventilated hall
or chamber, having an access from the street, but not
obtruded upon the passers by. Those who have any
business, or object, or even mere curiosity, to inspect the
victims of chance or self destruction, must deviate from
the path, and then do as they list—receiving impressions
of horror which frequently are never erased from their
memories. Yet the risk to health, in spite of ventilation,
was not always slight; but they had only themselves to
blame for whatever moral lesson or physical annoyance
they might reap there. The authorities were not in fault.
In our own morgue, until removed, the public outrage
was an authorised sin against society. Happily, however,
this is now a matter of the past history of Liverpool Im-
_

proper. An appropriate building has been provided,
every way most suitable and convenient; the stigma has
been removed, and the authorities deserve great credit for
the improvement. Ventilation, light, public convenience
and decency, have been attended to.
To return to the eruptive fever cases. The public will
now be able to comprehend what relation such will hold
to the grand archetype of fever—the plague, and will re-
cognise in the milder form the same essential features of
poisoning of the blood with the less diluted poison cases.
The difference is one of degree then, not in kind, and the
shadings down even of these degrees to the smallest dis-
turbance of the harmony of the functions of our complex
framework, constituting deviations from health. 1 shall
give two or three brief examples—fresh facts 'around our
own homesteads, producing more conviction than others
more remote, though better told. lam inclined to view
this form as a species of typhoid fever hitherto very im-
perfectly described, and which perhaps may hereafter, in

honour of Liverpool, be denoroinaied the eloaeinal va-

riety, or species; I was called upon to attend proles-
sionally a family where, from the dense packing of the
buildings in the heart of the town, there was no option
scarcely but to plant an ashpit and privy close to a hack
kitchen, the access to which was through the kitchens.
The consequence was that the house was always more or
less obnoxious to the effluvia from a source so proximate.
v own attention was called to it from the fact of my
having to prescribe for a bowel complaint which both
heads of the house complained of. When I realhed the
house, I had to complain of the intolerable smell. I
tracked it to the source above described. I told them that
little physic was wanted if they would only do away with
the nuisance, which, as I was peremptory, was forthwith
done. I amused them by saying that the only prescription
I should write would be the Latin terms for bricks and
mortar, to form a blockade. The thing was done imme-
diately : they were peop!' of sense; they saw it when
Pointed out. I ruse add that upon ibis discovery another
tale hangs—that of the death of an infant in convulsions.
which I attended in the same house only a few months
Previously, the rightful and probable cause of which I
could now accuse, and which they felt constrained to ad-
mit as most probable. The infant was in a fair and pro-
mising condition at first, until the health of the mother
began to deteriorate from the close atmosphere of the
house, aid the child suddenly sank after three or four con-
vulsive attacks. The atmosphere I used to point out at
the time as oppressive and bad. The rooms were dark,
from tall blocks of warehouses, &c., so as to compel them
in winter to burn gas on the stairs all day long, and half
the daytime in the chamber. Children do die in shoals
from convulsions, in Liverpool more than in other places,
at the epoch of teething, but this infant was not six weeks
old, and there were no .signs of dentition as yet,-so that
that the case in my mind stands out in clear relief, as an
effect pure and unambiguous of gaseous poisoning..
In another instance of Cloacina, unpropitiated, I was
requested by a surgeon to see a patient of his suffering
from an accession of nervous disorders, occuring in a
journeyman painter. Re. bad every few minutes -sudden,

flushes and twitchings of the muscles of the face and
neck. He bad lately come to a small house. On my
first or second visit, I perceived such a disagreeable
odour in the house, that I set to investigate the order of
things. I loon found,.that ever since they had occupied
the house, they had been annoyed by these foul smells,
and that-they proceeded from the.sink-hole of the front
kitchen, which had a very short communication_ with the
drain from .several houses. This drain was not stink.
trapped as it ought to have been, and therefore the un-
restrained -effluvia escaped up through every. connecting
orifice. Any one knowing what use the smaller cottages
often, nay systematically, make use of these outlets, will
not be apt •to underrate the quality of the odour. The
wife stated that this sink-stone always stunk, more espe-
daily in any change of the weather. At such times the
whole house would become absolutely. unbearable.. The
only expedient they had adopted, and which she admitted
had proved very inefficient, was the covering over the
sink eye with a wet cloth, in order to arrest the volatile
nuisance.. She had never been free from headache since
she had lived there.. (Taylor alludes to these headaches.)
The tracery of the causation was a demonstration of facts
for them both, in which they fully concurred. The fur-
ther medical details I reserve for more fitting place and
judges.
I congratulate the town.upon the present prospect of
municipal improvement. The new candidates, wanting a
" cry," are now in seeming earnestness pledging them-
selves, to use their utmost endeavours to carry out the
mush needed sanitary requirements of our domestic state,
It is surprising to mark how soon a subject but very lately
absolutely so unpopular, is now the universal theme of all
classes ; so soon are the tables turned. that comparatively
a few months witness its full acknowledgment by all can-
didates for future office ; nay, insomuch has this obtained,
that it proves a better "cry" than Toryism or Wbiggism,
or ultra politics. Why so? Because the majority of the
reflecting portion of society are alive to the need of sani-
tary provisions and regulations. Public opinion has dic-
tated the " cry" in reality, in which the convictions of the
candidates must coincide, in order that they, may be al
one with the public mind. Hence, then, a day of " new
life" is dawning over Liverpool, and this municipal elec-
tion witnesses nothing short of a great- moral regenera-
tion, greater, as far as it extends, than-any political pre-
cedent. The janglings of party strife, in reality object-
less, for good ; fruitful but in evil strifes ; discord and
heartburniegs are found out at last to be but quicksands
for the-real feudal age of political nicknaming, are yielding
irrecoverably before the advancing footsteps of an en-
lightened and enlightening political economy ; so that the
strife henceforward will lie between old parties, as to who
can best wield the shepherd's crook, for folding, instruct-
ing, and cheering the flock. The crook is no bad emblem
of sanitary police; it is a manifold weapon in skilful
hands ; it is more useful than the sword of justice itself;
for it would greatly monish the wayward member of
society, ,and often thereb; wisely anticipate les prone-
• neas to crime; or it could persuade with kind words and
sympathies to better purposes and prudential cares. It
is an eloquent missile, in trained hands, to recover the
straying, prompt th, laggard, and regulate the whole flock.
Increase of knowledge developes new sources of power
and influence; and for penalty, there comes in prevention
—kind encouragement, for frowns and stern reproaches—
and all the mighty leverage of sound motives, which sym-
pathy with the poor man struggling in his own ignorance
and infirmities, will bring into play. What has ever mere
Toryism done for him ? What Whiggism or Radicalism ?
All these ridiculous old-fashioned disputes were above the
heads of the degraded masses—narrow abstractions of
political economy, which the poor man could not com-
prehend, but yet which often scathed the hopes of his
honest industry, unless, like a parrot, he would learn off
by rote some party watchword—his freedom of vote only
a mockery, because the worst principles of human nature
were set to work, by both sides, to warp his judgment
and steal his reluctant, or perhaps his besotted, suffrage.
The light of heaven was filched from him in his home,
and no path left smooth for his feet, but that of yielding
himself and his a prey to dirt, disease, and to a degrada-
tion moral as well as physical.
The Liberals have done the thing well all along, as far
as the handsomest promises can effect the welfare of the
people. Their opponents have not been, as a class,
"fortes in tabteas,"—to borrow a term of olden time;
but it can scarcely be questioned that they have, though
too timid of changes, generally occupied themselves labo-
riously and steadily in fulfilling " liberal" promises, pro-
phetic of their actions, by the eloquent party ! However,
let all who have the town's welfare really at heart, rejoice
that a nobler grasp of public duty is recognised, and must
not only be promised, but performed. Our municipal
parliament meets in the heart of its constituency ; its de-
bates and decisions are open to public scrutiny ;—their
praise will be commensurate with their labours.

I remain, Sir, yours, truly,
GEO. C. WATSON, M.D.
Bedford-street, Oct. 24.

THE PROTESTANT ORPHAN SOCIETY OF

IRELAND.

The annual public meetings in behalf of this society
were held, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings last,—
the first that of CHRIST CHURCH AUXILIARY, in the
School-house, Christian-street, the Rev. Fielding Ould
in the chair. The weather being unfavourable, the at-
tendance, though respectable, was not so numerous as on
the last anniversary, the room being'but about two-thirds
filled. A deputation from the society was in attendance.
After an appropriate prayer,
The Rev. CHAIRMAN proceeded to give some statistics
relative to the income, expenditure, and operations of the
society for the year 1845, as set forth in detail in the
Seventeenth Report, adopted at the annual meeting in
Dublin, in April last, and now published, with an appen-
dix containing a list of the subscribers' and donors'
names, and the amounts given by each, &c. From this
it appears that, as compared with the preceding year, the
income of the past shews an increase of £625, including
all sources. The increase in the ordinary sources—sub-
scriptions, donations, and collections—was about the
same as in the year preceding—something over £lOO ;
and for the increase in legacies the society was indebted
to the trustees of Cave's Charity, who had vested the
sum of £l,OOO, the interest of which only was to be ap-
plied in aid of the fund for the fees of apprentices, and
which (£32 10s.) would but meet the fees of three or
four apurentices. The total income for the year was
£4361, including interest of the apprentice-fee fund. Of
this the auxiliaries had by their united exertions produced
12157, and amongst them St. Mary's (Birkenhead) bad
raised £3O Ils., Christ Church (Liverpool) £29 19s. Bd.,
and St. Jude's (Liverpool) £l4 Is. 7d. The speaker
proceeded to say that those whom he addressed had been
accustomed to do something for this excellent society,
and it had this year more than ordinary claims upon
their attention. A gentleman who had been accustomed
to address them on these occasions, and who had always
left a delightful impression upon their minds, had since
their last meeting been called from his earthly labours.
He alluded to the Rev. Thomas Gregg, late honorary
secretary of the society, who, after a few days' illness,
died deeply lamented by a large circle of friends, and,
what would have affected him still more, amidst the tears
of the orphan, of whom he had long been the affectionate
and unwavering friend. That valued person possessed
considerable property, a large proportion of which he
expended in acts of charity and benevolence. He (the
chairnian) related several instances of the devotedness of
the deceased to acts of disinterested kindness, amongst
others his refusing all professional advancement, through
an influential member of the government, and preferring
in lieu that one orphan boy should be supported and
educated through-this member of parliament, which was
done. Mr. Gregg had visited them from their commence-
ment as an auxiliary, and had left them a legacy in the
orphans, whose welfare he had so warmly at heart. The
society had increasing claims upon them, by the position
of Ireland, the encroachments of popery, and the cala-
mity which had visited that country—half of the popula-
tion being in want of food, and almost solely dependent
upon government for the necessaries of life. The orphans
were as much the objects of God's protection as before.
There were 338 orphans (male and feniale) to be sup-
ported, religiously taught, and fitted for suitable stations
in life by the society. The funds, without the aid of
England,. could not accomplish this desirable object ;
and they should remember that " be that giveth to the
poor lendeth to the Lord." He called on one of the

gentlemen of the deputation to address the meeting.
The Rev. B. CLARKE, in a speech of considerable
length, called upon then to sympathise with their Pro-
testant brethren in the sister country, and considered it a
privilege granted them to be enabled to give their mite
towards the object in view. It was an honour to form a
Protestant onion with their fellow-Christians in that ill-
fated land. Like the daughter of Pharaoh, who drew to
land the infant Moses, and provided a nurse for it, the
society drew the Protestant orphan from danger and
moral death, and procured him a nurse, thus rescuing
him from the destructive influences of Popery, Socinian-
ism, and vice.
The Rev. RICHARD CONNOLLY, of St. James's, Dirb-

•
tin, impressed upon his hearers that there' was no work
more acceptable to God than the care of orphans, and
their nurture in the saving truths of the gospel. He ad-
duced instances in which the Roman Catholic Orphan
Asylums insidiously took up Protestant orphans. even in
prefetenee to their own, and instilled into their minds all
the pein;c:ous and debasing doctrine's and superstitions of
Popery. The society had originated in the discovery of
this prautice. A Protestant widow left with two children,
and without means to support them, was induced to give
up her son to one of these Popish societies, which were
found to be numerous in Dublin, and which zealously
strive to withdraw destitute children from the faith of
their fathers. To meet this evil the Protestant Orphan
Society was instituted, the originators of which were in
very humble stations in life, and commenced with a fund
of only a few pence; but'hy perseverance the society now
bad 338 children under their care, all with their respec-
tive nurses, which, with 197.ah0 had been apprenticed,
40 who died, and 84 who were given up to their friends
or otherwise provided for, made a total of €56. to whom
the society had siForded an asylum. There was no society
that did more goo] upon. such small means. The average
expense of mainaining a child was but ls. 10d. a week,
or £3 10s. a year,—a smaller sum than they could he
supported for in the workhouse, wt ere they would be in
contact with a degraded class, and moreover exposed to
the machinations of Popery, for seven-eighths of the offi-
cers of poorhouses in Ireland were Roman Catholics. In
these places 69 Protestant children had been converted to
Popery in two years. The Romish missal was constantly
in their bedrooms. He explained the regulations of the
society—the manner in which•proper nurses were selected
in the different counties ; the apprenticing of the boys to
tradesmen, and sending the' girls to service, both with
fees ; the premiums given to the orphans for good conduct
and attention ; the superiority of the clothing given to
them ; their being; •zegularly. visited and looked after in
'the different counties-, by the Protestant clergymen ; the
finish they receivevlsat the Dublin Asylum before being
bent into the worlds, &c. He coneltuled by relating sere-

ral interesting anecdotes, and making astrong appeal its .
behalf of the society.
The Rev. Mr. CRAW also ably advocated the aanse of
the orphans, and dwelt upon the circumstance that not
only were the children,-rescued from misery and error,
and made good members .of society, but that it had fre—
quently been found that they had been the means of
bringing other children and even adults, before lost its
the darkness of Popery, to the light of true religion, by
the example and scriptural expositions of these interest—
ing juveniles. He stated that he had received an orphan
boy from his dying father, and had promised to get him
into the Protestant school of the society on his responsi—
bility, which he could ill afford without their assistance,
as the cost would be five guineas. He added that last
year the applications for the admission of orphans were
28, and, from the limited amount of the funds, only 10 of
these could be admitted, though most of the other cases,
were almost equally urgent. [The rev. gentleman had:
the gratificati. n.to receive, before he left the room, the
five guineas far which he had pleaded. for.his protege',
from several benevolent ladies who were present.]
Carda.were thera.distributed to those who undertook to.
collect amongst their friends, the doxology was sung, and.
the meeting separated. A collection was made at. the
door.

The meeting at ST. June's Scßum., on Wednesday,
was but thinly attended, the night being wet and stormy.
The Rev. D. Anderson presided, and opened the business..
in a feeling end argumentative address. He was followed
by the Rev. Mr. Connolly and the Rev. Mr. Craig, who
adduced other instances of. the excellent effects of the
society, and the necessity for its support, fur the preser—
vation of the Protestant religion in Ireland, against the
insidious • inroads of Popery and Arianism. A further
claim was urged on behalf of the society, on the ground
that the present high price of provisions in Ireland ren—
dered it impossible for the nurses to support the chP.drets
without an additional sum of £l, each this year. Both.
gentlemen were listened to with profound attention. The
meeting, closed with prayer, and, a collection was made.
On Friday. a meeting of the Birkenhead branch of. the
society took place, the Rev. A. Knox in the chair.

MANCHESTER ATHEN/EUM SOIREE.

The fourth annual soiree of this literary and educa-

tinnal institution took place on Tharsday last, and passed
off with great eclat. The entertainments were this year
prefaced by a public breakfast at. the Albion Hotel.
About eighty gentlemen sat down, Mark Philips, Esq„
M P., in the :hair, supported by the ~
Mayor, his. Grace
the Archbishop of Dublin the Right Hon. M. Gibson,,
M.P., Wm. Brown, Esq., Dr. West, John Potter,
Esq., M.P.. aril a number of, other distinguished teem-.
hers of Parliament and literary gentlemen, including W.
H. Ainsworth, Esq., W. Chalmers, Esq„ of Edinburgh,,
C. Mackay, Esq., LL.D., &c. The Chairman remarked
that the institution had been threatened with destruction,
but it was now based on a rock, and was supported by the
united efforts of its members.—The Archbishop of
Dublin said he had left numerous and pressing calls in
Dublin to attend, thinking it incumbent upon him to
show the interest he had in every thing which concerned
the dinsion of knowledge, and with that view he had
great pleasure in attending the present proceedings ; and
ho must say, that from every thing he had seen, and every
thing he had heard in the inquiries he had made, be had no
reason to repent ; for every thing had come up to the
opinion he had formed of their institution. He need not
say aoy thing about his anxiety to promote education,
because his life had been occupied in official or non-
official efforts of that kind. .
The soiree. followed by a ball, took place in the Free
Trade Hall, and the vast building was crowded, upwards
of 5000 persons being present. The Right Hon. Viscount
Morpeth, M.P., presided, and the Archbishop of Dublin,
and many distinguished parties from far and near, were
present, including the leading merchants and manufac,
turers of the town and neighbourhood.
The Chairman addressed the meeting in a strain of
manly eloquence worthy of the occasion. He paid well
deserved compliments to the literary men who had
preceded him in taking the chair on the former anni-
versaries. He said—" It would be at best an imper-
tinence to inculcate that knowledge in any community
will he a dangerous thing ; that commerce, which ori-
ginally formed, and which still ennobles, such a corn-.
munity as this, is the national ally of literature and art.
I rejoice that English commerce seems, in these our days,
to be rising to the real height of its position, and to feel
the true dignity of its calling. (Cheers.) But this the
Tuscan, the Genoese, the Venetian may have done ; the
worthies of eur English commerce are content to be men.
chants, without being princes. If we have our princes,
they are not intent upon seeking alliances with the thrones
of Europe. But they feel that it ought to be now their
sale aim to raise to the same level of knowledge, of happi-
ness, of virtue with themselves, the whole body of the
people. (Cheers.) I rejoice that in Manchester, beyond
all dispute the first city in the ancient or the modern
world for manufacturing enterprise and mechanical skill,
you have not been content with that display of wealth
which may jostle in the street, or may be piled in your
warehouses. You have not thought it sufficient to raise
factories tier upon tier, or magazines that will accommo-
date the traffic of the world, but you have thought it your
business, too, to build and set apart a house and a hunt
for innocent enjoyment, for useful instruction, for grace-
ful accomplishments, for lofty thought." His lordship
subsequently alluded to the industrial schools of Man-
chester, the weekly half-holiday at the warehouses, the
early closing movement, the public parks, baths, and
washhouses, and proceeded to urge upon the assembly
the necessity for self-culture, and to exhibit the advan-
tages accruing from the improvement and exercise of the
intellect.

The Archbishop of Dublin next addressed the meeting
on the advantages to he derived from the Athenaeum as
an educational institution. He stated that he had been
connected with instruction in the schools and colleges of
the kingdom for thirty-eight years, and he knew that it
was i vipossible by keeping men in darkness to keep them
from temptation. It would not be possible to do that if
they were to shut them up in the cell of a hermit, for they
were certain to be tempted in some way. A knowledge
of letters could not make a man unfit for his lot as a
labouring man, and perhaps a little more knowledge
would make the man fit for something else. If a man of
cultivated intellect was a bad man, he was of course more
dangerous than he was before his intellect was cultivated
—a man who had the use of his limbs would be more
dangerous than a cripple, and a man who had eyes would
be more dangerous than one who was blind, or a deaf
mute. He wished to be distinguished from those persons
who thought that the mere diffusion of knowledge consti-
tuted the whole of education. He did say that it was a good
thing, but he did not say that it was the whole of educa-
tion. He warned them against the dangers of ill-balanced
knowledge ; for if a person devoted himself to the culti-
vation of his intellect and neglected his morals, that was
an injudicious and hurtful education. It was not the
knowledge of come things that did the harm, but the ig-
norance of others. He had had difficulties to encounter
during the fourteen years that he had been engaged in the
work of education. They would understand that he al-
luded to the introduction of national education in Ireland;
bat he was happy to say that in spite of all the storms
that had arisen, they were advancing towards the right
path ; and be believed that under the blessing of Divine
Providence, the national system of education in Ireland,
when it should have had time to be felt throughout the
country, and when a new generation should have felt its
beneficial tendency, would prove one of the greatest bles-
sings to the whole empire.
The other speakers were G. Dawson, Esq., Lord
Ebrington, W. Chalmers, Esq., John M'Gregor, Esq.,
of the Board of Trade, and W. Brown, Esq. A vote of
thanks was passed to Lord Morpeth.
The ball that followed, and for which the Hall was
cleared, was numerously attended by the elite, of the free
and the fair, and was altogether a delightful entertain-
ment. For the further accommodation of the guests,
the theatre was also thrown open.

HIGHWAY BOARD.—A letter was ordered to be sent
to the parties who are building the premises in North
John-street, ordering them immediately to repair Prin-
ces-street, otherwise proceedings will be commenced
against them. The Chairman stated that the wall in
Boundary-street had fallen in consequence of the late
heavy rains. Orders for repairing the same were given.
L lt was also ordered that the alteration recommended by
Mr. Kaye at the previous meeting to be made at the top
of Dutton-street by Oldhall-street be made, and that the
work be immediately proceeded with. A letter was read
frcm W. Duncan, stating the progress of the works at
Green-lane. The roof of the boiler-house waa not yet on ;
another eight days will be required to complete the iron-
work.. The letter also stated that 250 yards of the 9-inch
main had been laid down along Byrom-street, to the
baths in Paul-street, and through Messrs. Tinne and
Kaye negotiations had been entered into with the Har-
rington Works for supplying the water. The baths were
expected to be opened in eight days. Great delay had
been occasioned by the recent bad weather,
SELECT VESTRY.—There was a full attendance at the
weekly meeting on Tuesday last, ell the members but two
or three being present. The Wm khouse Committee pre-
sented a quarterly summary, ended Michaelmas of the
present year, of the number admitted into and discharged
from the house. At the beginning of the quarter (mid-
summer) the inmates were 1142, and there were admitted
during the quarter 1947, making NW.; of these 1936 were
discharged ; leaving, on 26th September, 1153. Some
statistics follow, showing the number of those who re-
spectively (admitted in the quarter) could read and write
(677) •, who could only read (389) ; and who could not
read (821). The greater number' had before received
parochial relief, and a considerable, number were children.
Out of the 969 females admitted, 170 were under 15 years
of age, and 799 above. On comparing these numbers
with the corresponding period of last year, it would appear
that the number of single pregnant women has been,
relatively to the entire number of females admitted,
4early 34 per cent. less this quarter than that; whilst the
number of prostitutes exhibits an increase both numeri-
cally and relatively. The number of women confined ia
the house bad been 41-30 single and 11 who said they
were married; being, compared with the sarre quarter
last year, 32 per cent. less. Fifteen deserted children
were received, two of them sucklings—an unusually large
number. The deaths during the quarter were 156. The
whore number in the house at present is 1220. Mr.
Riding mentioned that a house had been temporarily
engaged in Soho-street, at' the rate of £4 per week, for
the reception of fever case!, and that a nurse had been
appointed at a salary cf £2O per annum. A letter was
read from the medical officers, alluding to the great excess
of duty which they had to perform during the prevailing
epidemic, and soliciting some pecuniary aid, in order that
they might engage assistants. It was stated by Mr.
Scholfield that more money was paid for medical relief in
Liverpool than in any other town in the kingdom. It was
ultimately decided that a letter should be sent to the
medical officers, informing them tbat the subject had
been considered,. and requesting them to wait some time
longer.

having areeloter
^+"
Ase 4

."

ON, JAL

.
,

Novern6er

iIOOTNSON

21st Nov

26th Nov
26th Dec.
. 26th Jan.
26th Feb.