The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

1.45110 Ciry of GLASGOW steam-ship, Captain K. M9r-
11,
earge and sailed for Philadelphia on Wednesday, with a full
Slg three hundred passengers.
teeded is
GERARD, who died without heirs, is sue-
Oerardn his title and estates by his brother, Major
tarMit• /Cann, of this town, has designed and manufac-
gattted_ii elegant service of plate, which was presented, on
payday week, at Crewe, to Mr. Allen, late locomotive
er of the Crewe works of the London. and North-
au railway.
AT the Innis _ meeting of the dock committee on Thursday,
tlO u
94 I money, amounting in the aggregate to about
ae„'.-.-eo, were offered and accepted, at the rate of 4 per
of'4 interest : old bonds were also renewed to the extent
out 21000.
TuR
ter "Via Townn Thursday, entertained a party to at the thehall. The company included a number
ig4.entlemen connected with the railway interest at Liver-
aud other places, and amongst the e sts were the
• Col. Lowther and the Hon. C. Howard.
STEALING. THREE COPIES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
611 W; PridaY Thomas Douglas and John Jacobs were
-4,,ea of stealing three copies of the new Testament,
°II Packh e Previous day, from the shop of Mrs. Hughes, r
f 0 all.
in
TsB to ad• They were each sentenced to be imprisoned
te
en days.
134 '''T/u3i-sriiP GOLDEN AGE.-According to
that
the adAviees from the Cape of Good Hope, it appears
aftar-nmerican steamer Golden Age reached that place
been ,alim unprecedented passage, her running time having
tWIls daYs. She would be detained at the Cape some
hei,„-, but was expected not to occupy more than 22 days
:eell the Cape and Melbourne, in which case her pas-
tato Australia will have been effected, as regards
'Lug time, in a little over forty-eight days.
Ittb
11* Rat. IL H. HIGGINS delivered the first of his
the lectures on " The Sacred Localities of the East,,, at
eke'llegiate Institution, on Tuesday, to a large audi-
Ille The lectures are illustrated by dissolving views.
%Proceeds are to be devoted to the benefit of St. Chry-
tl Schools, Mill-road, Everton. The second lecture
1,.---unced for this evening.
tOit:B)3NTA.TION TO A CLERGYMAN.-A silver pocket
be D-4,44,1ii0n service inkstand, and gold pen are about to
tTes.,"l.-7nted to the Rev. Arthur H. Hughes, by the con-
s 7"011 of St. Mark's District Church. The plate bears
v,',ldable inscription, expressive of the high estimation in
Leg eh the rev. gentleman is held, especially for his kind-
A,tvrewards the rin the district. .
otb 7.Bl•Eva .`local" preacher, when discoursing the
astoe,rl Y a circuit not remarkable for hospitality,
hugsa 'ued the congregation by producing from. his pocket
af Bike of bread and meat, which he discussed with
• gusto, informing "the brethren" that local preachers
ei,,e1,11,,t angels as appeared to be the impression in. that
bit;',7°°Thood,,lout men of flesh and blood like the inha-
-4•5 themselves.
ka
• TNG II CHILDREN.-In the Standard of last week,
eea-h'e some particulars of the case against Ann Wilki n-
Aa'cr"arged with stealing a shawl from a little girl named
In or ant Richardson, and stated that she was remanded
ce,'er that an investigation might be made into other
0a °f a similar nature with which she was charged.
to 6-esduY, three other cases were brought clearly home
eithit• It appears that her victims were children from
beta) to eleven years of age, who had been sent with
they to
of clothes to the mangle, and that when she met
t41(0 gave them a halfpenny to spend, having first
went • the bundle from them, and then, as soon as they
the ~into a shop to purchase sweets, she walked of with
Sl,PertY and pawned it. She was committed for trial.
lac `4°Aias Council, FARK-LA.NE.-011 Sunday even-
-4(7):,t week, as the Rev. C. P. Hobbs, the curate, was
thes tg this church upon the prospect of affairs in
fbrt, al, fom Judges v., 31, "And the land had rest
selieyear' a woman in one of the galleries, who for
alit,,:,°lle had been conversing rather loudly, got up and
41,4v,'" nearer to the pulpit, and said she "should like to
S- a word with him," and that she " knew more about
4eili4r than he did," and expressed a wish to show him
afte?
~tl4band's medal. She was quickly removed, and,
e°4l„st"l'der was restored, and the excitement amongst the
With egation subdued, the curate concluded his discourse
/414 further interruption.-Mail
1;.001111,!AL TREAT TO WORKMEN.-On Tuesday after-
,'"acks'„‘ne workmen in the employ of Messrs. William
11• and James Ronald, rope-manufacturers of this
'coined444 together at the house of Mr. Munday,. Edge-
beer; celebrate the completion of a new shed, which has
tio4 e.rected for the further convenience and accommoda-
lva, °' the spinners employed at their works. The chair
tives°celly, Pied by Mr. Henry Weatherall, one of the opera-
Of . no, after the usual loyal toasts, proposed the health
zsleir
qeri, that existed between their employers and them-
°Y 4' jhe toast was resonded to in a very able manner
tj• -ralward Hurst, thep superintendent.
With 1313111' nv A SERVINT.-Sarah Anne Peirce, charged
dinar rubbing her master, Mr., Pennington, Cleveland-
-Bilvere, of 29 sovereigns, a one pound note, and 13s. in
•It appeared, from the prosecutor s evict t
Sllnctrigoner was in his employ as servant,
.an'clac;at honv
• y.last she took the key of the drawer, which the
thsinevening she
caked is kept, out of his coat pocket.
t. In
nßom- an Catholic
044rosecutor's p
caned and as she-- edirmd not come egoinduring the night it
after b. some suspicion, and onprosecutor going to look
mat Money, he foun it gone.
.y gave in-
eti.nui to the proper and the Yee sue-
.authorities,
%tseje in arresting the prisoner in a house in Burlington-
N'e ' and found on her person two passage. tickets for
Priwo:°rk' at £4 10s. each, and some of the money. The
ve;ti,, confessed to having paid £2 for provisions for the
She was sent for trial to the next sessions.
/,,tue• ll,'",,Tisid TO OBTAIN GOODS ON FALSE PRE-
Friday two respectably attired females,
bk-,L,_°re the;,_s'
41turray and Jane Murray, were charged
under" magistrate with attempting to obtain
G-finiers (i the follo-wing. false pretences :-One of the
I,,vert th",',/e other remaining outside) went to Messrs.
4.17 and "r°,sulers, tea dealers, in Lime-street, on Thursday
f ;Tested to be supplied with groceries, to the
the 14'41. d desired them to be sent to the
otTe artil lan which Mr. Gilbert refused to send
unless the bill was discharged at the time.
(14- left, J°hnand watched her going to the shop
Edmonds, Renshaw-street, and thel,e, it
kr. red she ordered goods to amount of 125., and told
left,
onds to send them to the Adelphi, and she would
left, ri nay for them on the day following. After she
Ther. Gilbert came into the shop and told his opinion.
401,4.g00ds were, however, sent as directed, with instruc-
e,_not to deliver them up unless paid for. The pri-
44to,',?is , called at the Adelphi for the goods, but were
aaa
at hearing that they must be paid for. As they
into 'a the act of decamping, a police-officer took them
tile
..._clistody. The court discharged the prisoners, on
44,,e5r°4., unds of their not having received the goods, but
eg'"enl a severe caution.
th -"4I:tRATIONDAVID'S DIY IN LIVERPOOL.-
4: natives of the Principality, who reside in this town,
4tyleweek celebrated, in their usual hearty and genial
aid
„',.'he anniversary of St. David. The annual ball in
the local Welsh Charity Schools was held, as stated
To last Week's Standard, on Monday evening, in the
Vi•„4-hall, under the patronage of his worship the Mayor,
itsti Lloyd, Esq. The lady patroness was Lady W.
and the president Hugh R. Hughes, Esq., of
,(14a fte,Park. The annual examination of the Welsh
"ere:t-: 'chools took place on Tuesday. A peculiar in-
aAml9attied to the proceedings, from the fact that they
tia, 0, f the character of a jubilee, the foundation-stone
"%slesegools having been laid just fifty years ago. His
the flee Mayor presided. After a few appropriate
ts exahar°lll the Mayor, the children sang a.hymn, and
b:,,fron-ptions commenced by the girls reading a chap-
r,_4e New Testament, and their being questioned
4Phy `'uteen. Recitations and examinations in geo-
cb
.„`„
4.---aeeued. The boys came next. They read a
r°lll the Scriptures, and were questioned upon it ;
e▪ lsh-v4of the pupils afterwards recited a
,chapter in
Thews 4 O subsequent recitation, "To Wales ! ' given by
bo;:utisecoe, drew forth hearty and deserved applause
f,v_r,icid 7. re then questioned on geographical and his-
th b...ll°Jects Satisfactory progress was evinced by
"kellie-78 and girls;' and the Mayor, as well as other gen-
' ,AlC‘,,Present, pronounced high encomiums upon the
rkie4= tuition adopted. After the recitation by James
~,,%'°tiiimet',_"e of the pupils, of an address to the School
theTLee, written by Mr. Edwards, one of the masters
"tier school, the Rev. William Hughes delivered a
Ficit"'Auress to the children, characterised by much sim-
et'!eurnestness, and religious feeling. On Wednesday
hfLtdren of the Welsh School walked in procession,
Irg3„ and banners to St. David's Church. The Rev.
.14/44,111,e5, B.D read the service in the Welsh language,
the 'Rev. D. E. Jones M.A.; Mr. William
, the lessons ; and the ilev. Thomas Thomas,
_nit4,,car of Carnarvon, preached in the same language
)711. and very impressive sermon, from Proverbs
Than
• the evening the annual dinner of the Cam-
-1,-(l)4raa- was held in the Royal Hotel, Mr. H.
• Rte' president of the society, in the chair. Mr.
ari • ohnunes and Mr. John Jones were the vice-presidents.
(weri„. sPeeches, appropriate to the occasion, were de-
b Timot,,,,in the course of the evening.
-I,an;'`'.4-811-BOX ROBBERY IN STRAND-STREET.-David
„,_"v110 has been remanded from time to time for the
weeks, on a charge of stealing a cash-box, con-
' Alta 6 nearly £3OO in cash and bills, belonging to Mr._
._l4,t4holesale stationer, Strand-street, on the 26th of
4:114.1: last, was again brought up for examination o
Y. Mr. Pitt detailed the circumstance of the loss.
Perty, and Mr. Cooper, of No. 6, Lower M
den , with whom the prisoner was employed, gave evi-
ah ee
,zotbe,,-- to the prisoner and his wife, accompanied by
fiT. t; W°rnan, going to his premises, and giving him a
I,"geco„-",„.141 keep for safety, which he returned to him in
,_"eeltei,""'e of the following, week. He found the cash-box
leelt,T, °Pen in a room occupied by, the prisoner as a
°learr,:°P ;it was covered with shavings. There were two
4tr, ri''L him, the first of which was for stealing
ilktiri againstl,G 8 is„,,
dra.. -"°"-oox and the second for stealing a black
44te4r,et. --aaj ,libelongm'' g to Mrs. Julia Meldrun, in James-
J Meldrun, the wife of Robert Meldrun, pub-
*ere • arues-street, said that the prisoner and two women
'lnd la her house on the day the cash-box was stolen,
Ivera: satin dress was stolen. The prisoner and two
till'a cable into her house and asked for two glases of
th a- a, glass of rum hi h one of the females paid for
eloseuilling, and askedw toc be allowed to go to a water
biro which was on the first landing upstairs. About
atud e4,111,2,tes after they left the house she went upstairs,
t'ize -Q/eithat her dress which was a valuable one, had
Joseph Harding, keeper of a china and
Zi44..tawreli_o_us,e,. Penrith,.said
.the...priso.leedr whasimhilsn
iurith company with his woe, visit
When the detective
came Martinmas last.
*kg 84tin dress searchedand -
his house, witness gave him a
de at pen, , which his daughter had left when she
lial3csed 4_ rim- Mary Ann Lloyd, sister to the prisoner,
eowr coining to her and asking her to give him
el' a£s note. Detective-officer Carlisle said w
ePtroelLended the prisoner he stated that two. women,:in
for b‘Lu4 and asked him to open the box, giving '
,11°°Der trosafuetble, and a note, which he handed to Mr.
_l'sd that it Hodgson the magistrate, corm-
ia44 very st__was a case of great suspicion; besides, therehn
nth
clut7me• ssio7not.g tcihrecumstantial evidence that he had ee.
send bi Property, and he should deem it his
at.ealin In for trial. The prisoner was then charged
which
iv
heg the satin dress belonging to Mrs. Meldrun,
48 also committed for trial.

CAPTAIN T. LTA LL, of the Minerva, was presented with
a silver tea and coffee service, at a dinner held at Belfast,
on Tuesday.
A NUMBER OF LABOURERS are employed layino•' down
the mains for the conveyance of the gas through Castle-
town, Isle of Man, under the superintendence of a person
from the south of England.
FIRE IN CLA.TToN-STREET.—A fire broke out early on
Wednesday, in the workshops belonging to Mr. Smith,
turner, in Clayton-street. The fire brigade were promptly
in -attendance, and the flames were soon extinguished.
The loss is about £2O.
THEFT OF COPPER SILEATING.—JOhn Canny, a watch-
man was on Friday, sentenced to three months' imprison-
ment fur stealing a quantity of copper sheeting from the
Banshee. He had, it appeared, been charged before the
court on a previous occasion.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA.—The
importance of regular and speedy communication with
Great Britain and Australia cannot be exaggerated. The
merchants of this town are, therefore, about to petition
parliament on the subject, praying that a fortnightly
despatch of mails may take place by the swiftest vessels.
The petition lies for signature in the Exchange newsroom.
DARING ROBBERY.—On Monday, last week, two men
entered the house of Mr. Delany, York-street, Hulme,
Manchester, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and
finding Mrs. Delany alone they tied her hands behind her,
tied her legs together, coiled a rope rather tightly round
her neck to stop her cries, and left her lying on her face
whilst they robbed the house. They obtained upwards of
£6 in money, and got safely away. Mrs. Delany was
found soon afterwards by some neighbours frothing at the
mouth, and nearly strangled.
MURDER OF A WIFE.—At the Manchester police-court,
on Wednesday, William White, a butcher, was charged
with having murdered his wife on the previous night,
about 12 o'clock. The fellow lived in Aspinall-court,
Spitalfields, Old-road. A police-officer saw them go into
the house, and subsequently he heard blows and kicks,
and the woman cried out, "Oh ! Billy, don't ill-use me."
He heard more kicks or blows, and then, all being quiet,
he went away. About half an hour after White accosted
him, and said he wanted him to witness the death of a
woman, and, on his going to his house, the officer found
the unfortunate woman lying in a pool of blood. The
prisoner, it appeared, had called in some neighbours after
he had given the fatal kicks, and he also went for a sur-
geon, but she was dead when medical aid arrived. The
man was remanded.
THREATENED STRIKE OF BRICKLAYERS.--At the
meeting of the Dock Committee, on Thursday, the chair-
man stated that a communication had been received from
the contractors for the new warehouses now being erected
at the Stanley dock. It was to the effect that the con-
tractors prayed for a fortnight's delay of the works, in
consequence of being threatened with a strike on the part
of the bricklayers. The men now receive 4s. Bd. per day,
and have demanded an advance to ss. It was stated that
the work was already twelve months in arrear. After
considerable discussion, it was decided that no delay could
be allowed, but that the contractors must be left to their
own resources. Mr. Hartley, the surveyor, was directed
to communicate the decision of the committee to the
contractors.
SERIOUS FlRE.—About six o'clock, on Wednesday
evening, a fire broke out in the model room of the foundry
occupied by a Mr. Edward Gee, of Widnes, near to the
Runcorn Gasworks, and adjoining the offices of the
Bridgewater Canal. The flames raged with great fury,
until the building, which was two stories in height, had
nothing but the bare walls standing. The building was
the property of Messrs. John and Thomas Johnson, of
Runcorn. The inhabitants of the locality were in a state
of great alarm, as the burning premises were only sepa-
rated from the gasworks by a narrow passage, about a
yard in width, b 4
the wind drifted the burning embers
from the gaswor , otherwise the fire would have been a
most disastrous o e. A watchman, Peter Harrison, be-
longing to the duke's employ, had one of his feet crushed
by the engine whilst working in the yard.
MILITIA FUNERAL.—The funeral of the orderly-room
sergeant of the Royal Lancashire Artillery Militia took
place on Thursday, at the Necropolis, Low-hill. As there
is no military detachment in Liverpool, the staff sergeants
of the Liverpool regiment of militia, anxious to pay respect
to their deceased brother of the Royal Militia Artillery,
formed the firing party. The arrangements were made
by Captain Campbell, of the Artillery Militia. The bands
of the two regiments were in front, and alternately played
the Dead March ; then came the firing party, composed of
the sergeants of the 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia ; then,
on a gun carriage, drawn by two black horses, the coffin,
covered with the " anion jack ;" and on tbe coffin lid the
cap, sword, and other trappings of the deceased. The
horses were on each side led by an artillery sergeant. Then
followed as mourners, two and two, the staff-sergeants of
the Militia Artillery, and the staff-officers, Capt. Campbell
and Dr. Ferguson, and Mr. Behrend, the assistant sur-
geon ; also, Captain Weir and Mr. Hugh Neill, of the 2nd
Royal Lancashire Militia. The funeral service was react
by the chaplain of the cemetery, and when the body was
lowered into the grave three volleys were fired, ;Ind all the
military honours were duly paid.
LIVERPOOL, CROSBY, AND SOTJTIIPORT RAILWAY.-
The half-yearly meeting was held on Tuesday, in the
Clarendon-rooms, Mr. William Earle in the chair. The
statement of accounts for the half-year showed a gross
increase of receipts from passengers and goods of £B5B
9s. 21d. as compared with the corresponding period of
1852. The sum applicable for dividend was £4,751 ls. 911,
which would yield a dividend of two per cent. for the
half-year, subject to income-tax, and leave £271 is. 911
to carry 'forward ; but, in the peculiar circumstances of
the company, the directors left it to the shareholders to
determine whether it would not be prudent to retain a
larger surplus to meet probable contingencies. The
chairman moved the adoption of the report. A long and
irregular discussion took place as to the position of the
company. At length a motion of Mr. Roundell's was car-
ried, that the dividend be at the rate of 31 per cent. per
annum clear of income-tax. The election of directors in
the place of those retiring being the next business, Mr.-
Samuel R. Healey was chosen in the room of Mr. T. B.
Barclay, and Messrs. William Earle and Jacques Myers
were re-elected. Mr. Gray was elected auditor in the
place of Mr. Duckworth resigned. The meeting was then
made special for the consideration of the policy of pro-
ceeding to parliament for a new bill to obtain relief from
the large payments to the Lancashire and Yorkshire and
East Lancashire Companies, by deducting the amount of.
working expenses before making an apportionment of the
receipts for toll. An animated discussion took place, but
at length the proprietors consented to sanction an appli-
cation to parliament ; it being arranged that, in the
meantime, the chairman, deputy-chairman, and 31r. Garnett
should obtain an interview with the board of the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire, in order to make, if possible, some
amicable arrangement.
THE WARRINGTON AND STOCKPORT RAILWAY.—The
half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Tuesday,
at the joint station in Warrington, Gilbert Greenall, Esq.,
M.P., in the chair. From the report it appeared that
there was raised on capital account up to the 31st of
December, 1853, including Stockport shares and loans on
debenture, £158,709, and expended in the same period
£176,579, leaving a balance of £17,869. The traffic up to
December, 1853, was £5Ol 4s. Bd. The engineer stated
that it was the Bank Quay Company who were to blame
for the delay which had occurred in building the iron
bridges over the Mersey at Warrington and the Duke's
canal at Altrincham, by which the opening of the line
throughout bad been retarded, and the consequent con-
nection with the St. Helen's and Garston Railway at the
Warrington end, and with the Manchester South Junc-
tion and Altrincham Railway at the Altrincham end, had
been delayed. The real cause of the delay was, that the
price of iron rose considerably immediately after the con-
tract was entered into. In reply to a question, the chair-
man stated that the gross amount of share capital and
loans was about £233,000. The report was adopted, and
the auditors and other officers elected for the ensuing year.
LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWIT.—The half-
yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company was
held on Friday, at the Lime-street station of the London
and North-western Railway, E. W. Hasell, Esq., chairman,
presiding. The meeting was numerously attended. The
report recommended a dividend of st per cent. per annum.
It also stated that the net balance remaining to this com-
pany on account of the Scottish central traffic has not been
ascertained, and it expressed regret that some dispute
between the Caledonian Company and this had not yet
been settled. Reference was likewise made to the fact
that no payment has been made to the company for per-
forming the Post-office service between Lancaster and
Carlisle for about twelve months. The revenue account
showed that the receipts for the past half-year (including
balance brought forward) amounted to £168,661 128. 114 d.,
and the disbursements to £67,808 7s. 60., leaving a
balance of £98,853 ss. sd. applicable to the payment of
interest and dividends, and additions to the renewal fund.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
recapitulated its main features, and after a brief discussion
the motion was agreed to; after whioh the Chairman
formally moved a resolution that a dividend at the rate of
81 per cent. on the different classes of shares be declared.
The resolution was seconded and carried unanimously,
and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the proceedings
terminated.
FREE VOCAL Scnom—Vocal music has, hitherto, been
comparatively neglected in England, yet there is sufficient
evidence that the natural genius of the people would re-
ward a careful cultivation. Wherever the people are
taught to prefer the pleasures of intellect, and even of
taste, to the gratification of the senses, a great and favour-
able change takes place in their character. They are no
longer driven, by mere vacuity of mind, to improper in-
dulgences : and sentiments are awakened which make
them love their families and their homes. One principal
argument in favour of the general cultivation of vocal
music is the improvement of congregational singing.
Surely, so long as music forms a part of sacred worship, it
ought to be of the best possible kind ; and that we have
the highest authority for its use cannot be for a moment
doubted. In the reign of David, we find no fewer than
three thousand Levites devoted exclusively to the choral
service of the temple ; and almost in every part of the
il evel aotfi otnhse e
church
t d
tr
ihau h
au s
ni ct is the
rddeilni gght
ot f theem
testa-
menty
mp
mony of Bishop Jewell, there were often, during the short
reign of Edward the Sixth, not less than tree tPau h
'soCross usand
people singing psalms by the pulpit of Sth. l.
Who can think of the sublime effect produced by that
chorus of voices, and compare it with the meagre, dis-
cordant singing of the present day, without feelings of
the deepest regret ? There are sonic who regard music
as a pastime, fit only for the occasional employment of
idle hours : can that, however, be unimportant which con-
tributes to the harmless gratification of thousands ? can
that be &important which is inseparably connected with
religion ? "Of all the fine arts," says Madame de Steel,
" music only can be considered purely religious, since it is
incapable of expressing a vice. ' On the continent we
generally find the executiv government aiding its culti-
vation ; and where such is not the case, we frequently
find large schools, supported by voluntary contributions,
where the working classes are gratuitously instructed in
the science. At Berlin there is a school of this descrip-
tion, where upwards of three hundred singers are enabled
to perform the most difficult and finest works of the great
masters. The vocal school established by the Sacred Har-
monic Society of Liverpool is calculated to produce the
most beneficial results. Already upwards of 400 young
persons of both sexes have availed themselves of the gra-
tuitous instruction afforded .The classes. are, we under-
stand, attended with the greatest punctuality, a significant
f of the interest felt by the pupils.
proof

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday, an accident of a
very extraordinary nature took place on the London and
North-Western Railway, at Sutton, to Joseph Yates,
farmer, Eccleston. He was going from St. Helen's to
Liverpool, by the 2 15 train, and when he arrived at the
St. Helen's Junction, where the passengers change, in-
stead of crossing the line to pass over to the Liverpool
train, he jumped on to the buffer of the last carriage of the
Manchester train which was about departing. It started,
and he remained on, the buffer, and on bemg observed,
several persons shouted to him, advising him to remain
still until the engineer could stop the train;. he, however,
disregarded them, and in jumping off was dashed to the
ground, receiving very serious injuries on his head and
body. He is considered to have been in a state of intoxi-
cation. He was immediately conveyed to Mr. Blundell's,
surgeon, and it is probable it may not terminate fatally.
A NEW LIFE - PRESERVER. A trial was made
last week, on the river, in the neighbourhood of
the Landing-stage, of Johnson's life-preserver, or safety
pillow, designed principally to aid in the preservation of
life in cases of shipwreck. The patentee, who exhibited
the apparatus, engaged one of the watermen's boats about
two o'clock, and, after divesting himself of all clothing
except a pair of white duck trousers, and a Guernsey
shirt, he went into the water with the preserver attached
to his person, and performed a number of evolutions, such
as lying on his back and side, and moving about in other
positions, for a period of nearly twenty minutes, when he
came out and redressed himself, the extreme coldness of
the water not rendering it prudent to remain longer im-
mersed. The " safety pillow" consists of two small pil-
lows constructed of cork shavings, lined with horse hair,
—one fitting on the back and the other on the chest of
the person using it, and attached by straps fitting round
the thighs and shoulders. It was put on or taken off
with the greatest ease and rapidity, the time occupied
being only a few moments. The experiment seemed quite
successful, for the exhibitor, besides assuming any posi-
tion at pleasure, was enabled to make progress through
the water at will in any direction. The patentee is Mr.
Joseph Johnson, of Manchester.
Ax ANXIOUS HUSDAND.—On Saturday, when the
steamer Commodore was lying at the quay, previous to
her departure for Liverpool, the wife of a passenger went
ashore to make some purchases, leaving her husband with
two children, a little boy and an infant, on board. As she
had not returned when the boat was on the eve of start-
ing,, the husband left the infant in the care of a brother
passenger and went ash Ore with his son to search for his
missing spouse, and thus lost both wife, infant, and
steamer, for the former could not be found, and when he
returned from his search, the latter had started, carrying
away the child. To add to his grief, his wife had posses-
sion of the cash-box, and he was thus, like Lord Ullin,
left upon the shore, wifeless, childless, and moneyless. A
gentleman belonging to town, with a generosity which
does him honour, seeing his distress, gave him 20s. to take
him per train to Liverpool, trusting to the man's sense of
honour for repayment. Mr. M'Culloch, agent of the com-
pany, also kindly returned him his passage-money, 10s.,
and, with 30s. in his pocket, the man set off to Liverpool,
where it is to be hoped he will recover wife, infant, arid
purse.—Greenock Advertiser.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—At the weekly meeting on Thurs-
day, Mr. Charles Turner presided. The sub-committee of
works recommended that the offer of the Haigli Foundry
Company, for the supply of cast iron cylinders for the
Wapping works, should be accepted. Mr. Hartley, the
surveyor, in reply to a question, said the cylinders were,
for the south side of the Queen's basin, to bring the water.
from the graving docks. The recommendation was agreed
to. The harbour masters' sub-committee having taken
into consideration the application of the dock gatemen for
an increase of wages, recommended that one shilling per
week be added to their wages, and to the wages of the
landing-stage men, during the continuance of the present
high prices of provisions. The recommendation was con-
firmed. The sub-committee recommended that a person
be appointed, at a salary of £BO per annum, to take charge
of the storing of timber on the east side of the Huskisson
dock. Agreed to. The sub-committee produced a report
from the harbour masters of the number of stages for
loading and discharging ships at the several docks, with
rates recommended to be charged for the use of the same.
It appeared, from the report, that there are 670 working
berths ; that there are 149 stages on the dock quays at
present; and that 352 stages are required in addition, for
the whole of the docks. The charges recommended to be
made for them were the following :—Foreign-going ves-
sels under 300 tons, 10s. ; 300 to 600 tons, 12s. 6d. ; 600
to 000 tons, 155.; above 900 tons, 20s. All coasting ves-
sels, 2s. 6d. each. The chairman said the cost of the 352
new stages would be £5,000. Of course there were the 149
besides. The total cost might be taken at £7,000. After
some conversation, the recommendations contained in the
report were agreed to. A letter from Messrs. Whitehead
and Meyer was read, setting forth, that in consequence of
of the quay on the west side of the Brunswick dock being
taken up by timber merthants on rental, the writers had
had to pay demurrages amounting to £7 25., for three
timber-laden vessels which had been detaine; and they
asked that the rents of the ground might be distributed
amongst the parties who had suffered by its being occupied
with timber. The committee declined to entertain the ap-
plication.
ENGLISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH COM-
PANY.—Mr. J. C. Ewart took the chair at the annual
meeting, in the Clarendon-rooms, on Tuesday.. The ac-
counts presented by Mr. Bright, secretary, showed that,
up to December 31st, the total expenditure was £180,524
12s. 2d., of which £4,603 2s. sd. had been incurred on ac-
count of preliminary working of lines, travelling expenses,
and salaries during the past two years ; rents and taxes,
£1,148 Os. 2d. ; stationery and printing, £323 ss. sd. ;- in
the construction of lines, stores, instruments, and patents,
£173,790 3s. sd. ' • the law expenses being £659 12s. The
nett profit on traffic to the end of the year (the London
line having been opened only in November) was £1,264
is. sd. The engineer, Mr. Charles Bright, reported the
completion of the following works :—" The underground
trunk line of ten wires from London to Manchester and
Liverpool was finished at the end of October, and has since
continued in efficient operation. The underground line
of six wires from Liverpool to Carlisle, and thence to Port-
patrick, was opened lately, and is working satisfactorily.
The submarine cable of six wires between Great Britain
and Ireland was successfully laid from Portpatrick, in
Wigtonshire, to Donaghadee, in May, and maintains the
same perfect condition as I then reported to yon. The
underground line from Donaghadee to Belfast-has been
finished a few days since, and Belfast is now connected
in direct circuit with Liverpool. The underground line
from Cork to Queenstown has been in operation since the
commencement of the present year. The line of pole tele-
graph from Belfast to Dublin, with branches to Armagh,
Kells, Nowtonards, and Holy wood, along the county
Down, Ulster, Belfast Junction, and Dublin and Drogheda
Railways, has been open for commercial business in con-
nexion with the cable since the beginning of January.
The same system from London to Cork, with branches to
Killarney and Carlow, on the Great Southern and Western
and Killarney Junction Railways, was completed and
opened for public use at the same time. Tenders have
been accepted from responsible and experienced con-
tractors for the erection of a line of telegraph upon the
Waterford and Limerick Railway, and for six additional
wires between Dublin and Belfast. Agreements have also
been entered into with the Londonderry and Enniskillen
and Coleraine Railways, for the supply of telegraphs to
those lines. One hundred and three new instruments,
and various machinery necessary to the proper working of
the additional stations and increased business, have been
provided during the year, and the apparatus of the com-
pany is in good and efficient condition." The chairman
congratulated the proprietors upon the excellent prospects
of the undertaking, and paid a high compliment to the
zeal and efficiency of the company's officers. The report
was adopted ; and, a resolution having been passed for an
allowance to the directors for their services, the retiring
directors, Mr. James Holme, Mr. Christopher H. Jones,
and Mr. Henry Harrison, were re-elected. The auditors,
Messrs. Bewley, were also re-appointed.
- -

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN MANCHESTER.—A fire took
place on Wednesday night in the large warehouse of
Messrs. Ryland and Sons, New Market-street, Manchester,
which destroyed that establishment, and caused great
damage and loss of property at several other warehouses.
Messrs. Ryland and Sons are dealers in Manchester goods
generally, and their warehouse occupied the whole of the
pile of buildings between New High-street and Bread-
street, and extending from High-street to Tib-street, being
300 feet 1011, 42 feet wide, and partly three and partly
four stories in height, exclusive of cellars under the whole
range. There was a stock of goods in the warehouse
worth rather more than £lOO,OOO, the greater portion of
which was destroyed.' About £20,000 worth of goods
were out in the hands of finishers, and escaped. The
flames reached the warehouse of Messrs. Hammond and
Turner; then that of Messrs. Richard Guest and Co.
caught fire. The warehouse of Mr. A. Eichholz also took
fire, and the flames took the direction of a court partly
under the warehouse of Messrs. Hammond and Turner,
and partly under that of Mr. Eichholz, into Bridgewater-
place, setting on fire several warehouses in that street.
The immense warehouse of Messrs. Kershaw, Leese, and
Sidebottom, on the north side of Bridgewater-place, also
caught fire several times, from the sparks thrown up, but
was fortunately saved, with some slight damage to the
roof. The capacious premises of Messrs. Ryland and Sons
were entirely destroyed. A crowd of people, estimated at
upwards of 20,000, gathered near the spot soon after mid-
night, and the police would hive found it impossible to
keep a sufficient space clear for the firemen but for the aid
of Colonel Yorke, with his regiment of Ist Royal Dra-
goon Guards. Messrs. Ryland and Sons are insured to
the extent of £73,000. Of the warehouses on the north
side of Bread-street, those which have suffered most are
that of Messrs. Hammond and Turner, and that of Messrs.
Guest and Co. Messrs. Hammond and Turner, 17, Bread-
street, are button and silk manufacturers, and the whole
of their warehouse was gutted, inflicting a loss of £B,OOO
in stock, and, probably, of £2,000 to £3,000 in the build-
ing, which is insured. Messrs. Richard Guest and Co.,
19, Bread-street, and 18 A, Bridgewater-place, spinners
and manufacturers, had a large stock of goods in the
warehouse, which were nearly all destroyed. Their loss
will be about £12,000, covered partly by insurances. The
loss on the building will also be several thousand pounds.
Mr. Joseph Gill, of 21, Bread-street, fustian manufacturer,
had about £9OO of damage done, covered by an insurance
of £1,250. Mr. Eichholz, exporter of Manchester goods,
10 A, Bridgewater-Place, had suffered about £5OO in
damage to his stock, but is insured for £BOO, which will
cover the loss. Messrs. Piddock, Waters, and Co., N 0.12,
suffered a loss of several hundreds, covered by insurance.
Messrs. T. Pearson and Son, No. 16, manufacturers of
Marseilles quilts and counterpanes, had property destroyed
to the extent of £6,000, covered by insurance. Messrs.
Barlow and Frith, No. 18, had stock burnt, and other
damage done, to the extent of £750, covered by insurance.
The extensive warehouses of Messrs. Bradbury and Don-
caster, merchants, and Messrs. Richardson, Tee, and Rye-
croft, cotton and linen manufacturers, in Tib-street, were
on fire several times, and great difficulty was experienced
in saving them. The latter suffered to the amount of
about £l,OOO, but are covered by insurance. These esti-
mates of damage do not include the buildings in Bridge-
water-place, which will amount to several thousand pounds.
The total damage caused by this fire will therefore exceed
£160,000. The origin of the fire is supposed to have been
a want of care on the part of the packers at work in thet
informatio
lower part of the warehouse, but no certain n.
on this point has yet been obtained. Great expense. had
also, it appears, been incurred in fitting Messrs. Mandl
any
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trained to use it. ,7inurliOne_inhgatekel'einf