The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-15 00:00:00

ITHE B OILER EXPLOSION AT
BLACKBURN.

ME adjourned inquest was resumed on Saturday, and
Mr. Fairbairn, engineer, of Manchester, gave his opinion
as to the cause of the explosion. He said : •
In tracing the causes of this accident I am'relieved from
anything approaching to uncertainty, by the fact that the
boiler was totally inadequate to the work it had to perform.
First. It was 16 feet lone., 6 feet 6 inches deep, 5 feet
2 inches wide, and composed of plates *ths of an inch thick
on the sides and top, and inch thick over part of the
bottom.
Secondly. It was old, of the waggon shape, and the
worst possible form to sustain severe pressure.
Thirdly. It was improperly and injudiciously stayed,
reposinc, large flat surface to internal pressure.
Fourthly. It had an exceedingly defective safety valve,
and generally, it was totally unsuited in strength and form
to work a non:condensing and high pressure steam engine.

After explaining the -operation Of steam pressure on
such a boiler, he said,—With things in this state, with
the force applied on the one hand, and the powers of re-
sistance on the other in direct antagonism, (if I may use
the expression,) it appears that the lives of every one em-
ployed in the walls, or within reach of the influence of
this explosive vessel, were, and had been for years, sus-
pended by a thread, which the least change of pressure
might in a moment cut asunder. That moment arrived
on the morning of the 2d instant, and fortunate it was
that the catastrophe occurred at a time when the people
were at breakfast, or a greatly increased number of suffer-
ers might have been added to the list.
Looking at the ruins, and the position in which the
boiler was found after the explosion, I am of opinion that
the end next the steam-engine was the first to give way ;
that an active fire was under the boiler when the engine
was standing, and the only escape for the steam was
through a valve 11 inches diameter. Now, this valve was
totally insufficient to relieve the boiler from the rapidly
increasing pressure which, for some time previous to the
rupture, had been taking place iu the boiler.
After some other witnesses had been examined, the in-
quiry was again adjourned till this day (Tuesday.)

HANDEL'S " SAMSON. "—Our readers will feel obliged
tons for remindingthem that this magnificent production of
the prince of composers will be given on Tuesday next, in
the Philharmonic-hall, by the full strength of the Phil-
harmonic Society. Such an attraction cannot fail to
outrival the celebrated Grisi concerts, when ticket 4 for
admission were at a premium days before the performance.
NEW MAYORS. Manchester, Benjamin Nicholls
Birmingham, Alderman Baldwin ; Salford, William Ross;
Leeds, John Wilson ; Oxford, Richard James Spiers ;
Bristol, J. G. Shaw ;. Rochester, William Manclack ; Hull,
Henry Cooper, M.D.; Scarborough, J. F. Sharpin ;
Wigan. Joseph Acton, Esq.; Newcastle-on-Tyne, Ralph
Dodds ; Gateshead, David Hoggie ; Stockport, William
Raynor, M.D.
ENCYCLORAMA. OF AMERICA.—The panoramic views of
the course of the Mississippi, the greatest of North Ameri-
can rivers, is now open for inspection in the Queen's Hall,
Bold-street. The panorama is painted with much atten-
tion to accuracy, on a very large scale. It embraces scenes
representative of the peculiarities and perils which attend
the navigation of that mighty river. Scenes illustrative
of the different climates to be met with in the course of
the river's flow are introduced. A lecture, descriptive of
the scenes and incidents occurring in the picture, is de-
livered with much effect by Mr. Hamilton, and the exhi-
bition is diversified by well-adapted vocal performances.
TILE BRISTOL MEETING HOUSE CASE.—On Tuesday
Vice-Chancellor Wood gave judgment in the case of the
Attorney-General v. Clapham. This judgment was, in
substance, in favour of the Conference party. It is re-
served to a further hearing to determine how it shall be
applied to the circumstances of the particular case; but
the decision is such as to secure in the future management
of the Bristol trusts a large majority of trustees who
are members of the Wesleyan society. The proportion
will be fourteen to five. In two other instances, both
arisinc, in the Louth Circuit, it has been necessary during
the last week to resort to legal proceedings, for the pro-
tection of connexional property.
AN M.P. CHAPEL CLERK.—Tne Leeds Times is full
of admiration of the humility of Frank Crossley, Esq.,
M.P., who, it appears, having brought a London preacher
down with him, acted as clerk by giving out the Psalm in
the absence of the regular official. Actually, however
incredible such wonderful condescension may be, " the
congregation had the pleasure of hearing an hon. M.P.
give out, ' Let us sing to the praise and glory of God, the
hymn.' It is not every day," our contemporary adds,
"that an hon. M.P. so humbles himself,"—nor, if he will
forgive us for saying so, that an editor makes such an ass
of himself.—Stockport Advertiser.

RESIGNATION OE THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND.
•It is now known that it is the intention of his excellency

the governor to proceed to England, on leave of absence
for a period of twelve months. Sir George Grey has now
been eight years the governor of this colony, during a pe-
riod of unexampled difficulty, in which questions of all
sorts, affecting the well-being and even the very existence
of the colony, were continually arising, in which he has
had not merely to frame a policy and lay the foundation
of the future stability and prosperity of the country, but
by his prudence and sagacity to. repair the disasters oc-
casioned by the grievous errors and misgovernment of his
predecessors, as well as those mischiefs arising out of the
folly and misconduct of the New Zealand Company.—Aus-
tralian and New Zealand Gazette.

WAD. AND WEATIIER.—In order to understand in
smile slight, measure the present aspect of affairs in the
East, it has become necessary to abandon the shifting and
deceptive scenes of diplomacy for the realities of a military
campaign. One of the most powerful arguments of the be-
lievers in a pacific settlement by ambassadors or plenipoten -
tiaries was, that the climate and the soil of the Danubian
Principalities would preclude the possibility of immediate
hostilities between the Russians and the Turks. Moldavia
and Wallachia are visited in the autumn by violent
storms of rain, which soak the loose and heavy ground,
and render it impracticable for carts, artillery, or men.
The rivers, swollen by these autumn falls, become im-
passable, and the marshy grounds of the Lower Danube
are in lakes of muddy water. By a curious turn of sea-
sons, the autumn rains have not come down this year,
the provinces are dry, and the Danube is so low that the
ordinary mouths are closed to every sort of traffic. The
warlike spirit of the Turks has thus been served by Pro-
vidential droughts, and diplomacy been worsted by the
weather.—Leeds Times. _ _ _

PROTESTANT BURIAL GROUND IN MADRID.— The
Paris correspondent of the Times writes, on theauthority of
private letters from Madrid :—" You have been already
informed that the:burial-ground question was definitively,
and so far satisfactorily, arranged between the English
Charge d'Affaires and the Spanish Government. The form
of arrangement is, it appears, as concisely drawn up as
possible ; this is of little importance, as the principal
points have been conceded. The proposition which was
considered by the Spanish government the most obnoxious
of all—namely, the celebration of funeral obsequies with
a certain display of religious pomp—has been set aside ;
but the bodies of protestants will be borne to the grave in
the same manner as Roman Catholics are, in a hearse
with carriages following. There is no permission for
religious processions, and no clergyman is to follow in the
streets dressed in his canonicals ; but once in the ceme-

tery, which will be enclosed, the religious ceremony may
be performed in any manner the attendants may think
proper. When we remember the propositions contained
in the letter of General Lersundi, and the sort of insulting
concessions which his government would only consent to,
the present arrangement, should it turn out to be of the
nature I refer to, may on the whole be considered satis-
factory ; and it is but just to admit that the Sartorius
cabinet has, in this respect at least, shown itself far more
liberal, more humane, and more tolerant than the one
which preceded it."
THE SLAVE V. THE MASTER. A case of great in-
terest was decided in the Covington Circuit Court recently.
We have been at some difficulty in obtaining the facts,
which are as follows : Sam Norris, a coloured man,
has been living in Covington about five years, has married
a free coloured woman, and has had by her several children.
He belongs to a Mr. J. N. Patton, of Virginia, who per-
mitted him to come to Covington and engage in whatever
services he thought proper, on condition that Sam would pay
him, out of his earnings, a stipulated sum per annum—we
believe $lOO dollars. The surplus, whatever it might be,
was to belong to the slave. Sam was pulictual for several
years. He was sober and industrious in his way, and very
prosperous. About two years ago Mr. Patton came west on
a visit, and agreed with Sam that if he would pay him the
sum of $4OO within four years he would give him his
freedom. Sam gratefully accepted the proposal, and at
once paid down, out of his hard earnings, $135, and has
since given his master some $4O or $5O more. Patton now
comes forward to rescind the contract, and claim his slave.
The case was yesterday decided by the Hon. Judge Pryor
in favour of Patton. In delivering his decision, his Honour
stated the following facts :-1. That the laws of Kentucky
recognize but two modes of liberating slaves—by will, and
by deeds of emancipation. 2. That a slave cannot make a
contract. 3. That the contract was executory, and
the time fixed for the negro's freedom future and
contingent. 4. That so long as Sam was a slave,
the master was entitled to his services, and the
money he (Patten) had received was, in law his
own. The opinion was able and elaborate, and the
authorities numerous and decided. His Honour charac-
terized the case as one of great hardship and cruelty, and
every one in the court-room seemed to sympathize deeply
with the poor negro. The case, we understand, has been
appealed to the Supreme Court of the State.— Cincinnati
Corn.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIBE.—The Galway Vindicator
of Saturday says—" The barque Clarence yet remains in
the Roads, wind bound. She carries over 100 emigrant
passengers for New York. On Thursday, a remarkable
and interesting scene took place on board, which is worth
recording. It appears that a young man and woman, of
the peasant order, had for some time past entertained
a tender feeling for each other. Both are represented
as being fine specimens of the class to which they belong
--the woman comely, and the man tall and athletic. Some
family circumstances having forbidden their union, an
elopement took place. But the elopement only reached the
length of the pair going to a friend's house at some distance,
where the bride that was to be was given in charge to
the wife of the young man's friend. It subsequently
turned out that the seemingly fickle swain refused to
marry the girl, owing to the persuasions of his relations ;
and her friends, indignant at the slight cast upon her,
fitted her out for a higher matrimonial market across the
Atlantic. Her passage was paid for New York, her
luggage on board, the vessel only waiting for a fa-
vourable breeze, and the comely lass herself had taken
leave of her friends
_and was sitting tearful on the
deck of the emigrant ship, when a change came over
the spirit of the gallant Lothario. Groups were
clustered at the side of the vessel taking a last view of the
shores they might never again behold, when a small boat
was seen approaching, containing a single passenger and
the oarsman. She soon neared the Clarence, when he
sprang on deck, and before the surprise of the young
woman and passengers was over she was clasped in his
arms. •A
jar of whisky was hoisted on board from the
boat, and in a few moments there was a change from
showers to sunshine—from depression to festivity, every
passenger drinking to the healths of those who had re-
newed their love at the last moment. The pair were
married the same evening, and thu.; some naturalised
Irishman in New York has hOcil deprived Of a lovely and
loving wife."