The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-12 00:00:00

PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.—Lord Calthorpe has accepted
the office of president of the Birmingham Association of the
Church Pastoral Aid Society, and has sent a donation of £2O
in aid of its funds.

The trustees of the late Earl of Dudley have forwarded to
the Rev. WI Dalton, in the name of Lord Ward, the sum of
X2OO, in aid of the fund for building two new churches in
Wolverhampton..

COURTS FOR TILE .RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS
will be held, March 15, Horsham, Carmarthen, Lincoln ;
17, Nottingham, Preston; 18, Liverpool ; 19, Cardiff, Derby;
20, Chester, I.‘,..icester.--.

COMMITMENT.—At the Police-court yesterday, Edward
Mud' was:cominitted to take his trial at the sessions, on a
charge of abstracting a cart load of manure, from the pre-
mises of Mr. Samuel- Barron, of Gordon-street, without
leave, and selling the same for 13s. to a person belonging to
a 'artn I a t Derby.

PORTRAIT OF THE REV. HUGH - will be
seen from an advertisement, that the portrait of the Rev.
Hugh M'Neile, by Mr. Robertson, will remain on view at
Mr. Crisp's office a few days longer. We recommend every
Protestant not only to view the painting, but also to place his
name as a subscriber to the engraving which will shortly be
issued, in. order that he may possess a striking likeness of
this eminent divine.
ST. HELEN'S PROTESTANT READING SOCIETY.—The
inhabitants of St. Helen's, under the guidance and spiritual
instruction of the worthy vicar and his curate, have long been
actively engaged in disseminating tracts and other publica-
tions inculcating sound Protestant principles, and in further-
ance of this laudable design have established a reading society,
the annual meeting of which will, we understand, be held on
:Monday evening next, in the Sunday school room. ' •

111`NEILF.

SOIRCES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.-11C last of
these interesting and fashionable meetings will take place at
the Royal Institution, on Tuesday next, when a lecture on
the dress, furniture, and implements of uncivilised nations,
will be delivered by the secretary of the St. Anne's-street
Literary Institution. The evening's entertainments will be
heightened by the performances of the Richardsons on the
celebrated Rock Harmonicon. •

ARRIVALS FROM AMERICA—During the present week we
have had two packet-ships from New York, both of which,
the .Westchestei- and England, have made extremely short
passages. The next packet due is the Rochester, which would
leave New York on the nth ult..; but, in all probability, be-
fore her arrival we shall receive intelligence of much later
dates by the Boston and Halifax steamer Columbia, which
would leave the former port on the Ist instant, and will, in
all probability, make her appearance on Sunday. She will
bring important news, skewing the feeling created by the
despatches of Lord Palmerston carried out by the President.

IRON STEAMER NEMESIS.—We have several times spoken
highly of the steam-packet Nemesis, built by Mr. John
Laird, of North Birkenhead, and we are glad to find our
opinion of her good qualities borne out by the following ac-
count of her appearance in China, just received by the over-
land mail :—" From private letters we learn that the alarm
which 28 men-of-war, sailing about in idle parade, had failed
to awaken, was at length aroused by the arrival of the Ne-
mesis, iron steamer, from England. The combination of
anomalies that this vessel seemed to present had struck them
with utter dismay. Here was a floating ship made of iron,
yet of such light draught of water as to cross shallows on
which their oWn cotton boats would have been in danger of
grounding! propelled, too, by the agency of fire against
wind and tide ! !—Morning Herald : India News, March 10.

The Great Liverpool performed the trip this time as fol-
lows :—lt left Southampton at 8 a.m. on the Ist of February,
with the mails of the 31st of January ; arrived at Falmouth
at half-past 2 a.m. on the 2d of February, and left at 3 p.m.
same day, with the mails of the 30th only (the Southampton
station enabling the .post-office to despatch the mail next after
that already sent to Falmouth) ;. arrived at Gibraltar, after a
bad passage, at 7 p.m. on the 9th of February, and sailed at
1 a.m. on the 10th, after six hours' stoppage ; arrived at
Malta at 2 a.m. on the 14th ; stayed 21 hours, and left at
11 p.m. on the same night, and arrived off Alexandria at 2
p.m. on the 19th February. The outworks of the paddle
boxes suffered something in the heavy weather off Gibraltar,
and the pasha's workmen executed the repairs with all the
aid which his arsenal could afford.

THEATRE Rol-AL.—During the last week we have had
Shakspeare's finest plays pformed, and " shy houses" 'only
to see them. " King John" was played on W ednesday most
admirably. Mr. Elton's Kiny Jolla was truly an excellent
impersonation. Vandenholr's Fauleonbridge gave us an ex-
cellent idea of the bold, dashing, and spirited soldier, while
Hubert, in Mr. Stuart's hands, left us nothing to wish for.
Miss Chaplin's Prince Arthur wanted feeling ; in the beau-
tiful scene with Hubert, she appeared only repeating, par-
rot-like what she had learned by note. Mr. Bland's Dau-
phin was tame and insiped. Austria, in Mr. Horn-
castle's hands, was pretty much as usual. Miss Clea-
ver, as Lady Constance played with spirit. Knowles's
" Virginius" was magnificently done on Tuesday night.
It was never better represented out of London. We
can assure thosa who abstain from visiting the theatre at
present that they are losing some great treats. We perceive
that to-night Mr. Ball takes his benefit. So old a favourite.
and so first-rate an actor ought to be well supported.

EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM DROWN -
ING,--Tor some weeks past there has been the most intense
excitement relative to America and her relations with this
country, and the gentlemen of the London press, eager to
secure the earliest possible information, have, by authority.
spared-no pains or expense to obtain American papers, for
the purpose of forwarding to the metropolis. On Tuesday
night last, Mr. Revis (agent for the London Globe), Mr.
Bean (proprietor of the Liverpool Albion, engaged for the
London Times), together with other parties, took boats from
the pier-head at eleven p.m., when, after a strong pull, they
succeeded in nearing the ship England, off Egremont. The
night was unfavourable to the discovery of the vessel, but at
length the England was seen, and the boats 'made to her.
Oa coming alongside, Mr. Revis, in attempting to climb the
vessel, missed his footing, and was percipitated under the
ship's stern. Fully fifteen minutes elasped before a boat
from the England reached him, as be swain towards port.
The event happening at midnight precluded the possibility of
any assistance being procured.

ELECTION OF AN HONORARY SURGEON TO THE NORTH
DISPENSARY.—On Wednesday a general meeting of the

governors of the Liverpool Dispensaries was held in the
board room of the parish offices, Fenwick-street, for the pur-
pose of electing an honorary surgeon to the North Dispen-
sary, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Stubbs. W. P. Freme,
Esq. occupied the chair. There were four candidates, Mr.
Ferguson, Mr. Potter, Mr. Hutchinson, and Mr. Trench.
The election commenced at eleven and terminated at three.
Mr. Ferguson was proposed by Mr. James Bateson and se-
conded by Mr. William Fosberry ; Mr. Potter was proposed
by Mr. Wilmer and seconded by Mr. Ellis; Mr. Hutchin-
son was proposed by Mr. Robert Russell and seconded by
Mr.- Thomas Simpson; and Mr. Trench was proposed by
Mr. Edmund Molyneux and seconded by Mr. John Cropper.
At the olose of the poll, the numbers stood as follow :
For Mr. Ferguson 316
For Mr. Hutchinson
For Mr. Trench
For Mr. Potter
Mr. Ferguson was accordingly declared duly elected.

THE HIGHEST TIDE IN TIIE YEAR.—On Tuesday, at
noon, our river presented a beautiful and animated appear-
ance. The tide, which was the highest of the present year,
flowed to the height of 20 feet 6 inches. The day was bright
and beautiful as sunshine and balmy air could make it, and
the water scarcely rippled under the influence of the soft and
pleasant breeze that brushed over its bosom. The piers
were thronged with individuals who had wended their way to
the water side expecting to witness a sight at once novel and
extraordinary. In this anticipation, they were, however,
disappointed, for the view, though delightful, had nothing in
it that could, in these days, be termed wonderful. On Tues-
day, the " gentle Mersey" was in one of her best moods,
bright with sunshine, and calm, as if the tempests had never
ruffled her breast. Vessels of all sorts and sizes were seen
moving to and fro on every part of the river. Ships of large
tonnage, with their sails swelling to the breeze, passed slowly
towards the mouth of the port, the smaller craft, of every de-
nomination, the humble river boat which skimmed lightly as
a bird over the water, the ferry steamers with their paddles
tearing up the foaming stream, the yacht with her white sails
gleaming in the sun as she bent gracefully to the wind, and
cutters, pilot-boats, flats, and sloops innumerable, ever vary-
ing in
.relative positions,. gave a pleasing animation to the
prospect. •The steps on the piers were • for the time useless.
The steamers came up close to the parapet, and the passen-
gers were enabled to walk on board without hindrance. It
appeared that numerous parties had made up their minds for
short journeyings on the water, for not only were the packets
filled with groups of holiday makers, but many of the smaller
boats were in requisition, and the more ardent lovers of aqua-
tic excursions preferring wind to steam, launched into the
current to enjoy the pleasures of a sail-

LICENSED VicruALLEns' ANNUAL. BALL.—The Liver-
pool licensed victuallers' annual charity.ball was held at the
Town-hall, on Tuesday evening, under the patronage of the
mayor and trustees of the society, consisting of John Bent,
James Aspivall, James Brancker, R. Woodward, and R.
Rims, Esqs. Between eight and nine hundred ladies and
gentlemen attended, who appeared to enjoy the festivities of
the evening with all that hilarity and enthusiasm which dis-
tinguish convivial parties. Among the company present we
noticed Sir Joshua Walinsley, several members of the town-
council, and various others of equal respectability. The
rooms for tea, coffee, and refreshments were opened soon
after nine o'clock, and remained open until half-past eleven,
when the general refreshment rooms were thrown open. Mr.
Horrebin s band attended in the two ball-rooms, and that of
Mr. Stubbs played at tile foot of the grand staircase. The
dancing coarinenced shortly after eight o'clock, and was con-
tinued until about half-past three with spirit and animation,
during which waltzes, quadrilles, ~,,allopades, and country
dances, were the order of the night. Mr. Aspinall kindly
undertook the direction of the dances, and by his urbanity
and attention, won for himself universal approbation and ap-
plause. The refreshments were provided by Mr. Towers, of
the Angel Hotel, and gave general satisfaction ; indeed, we
are fully warranted in saying, that there was an unanimous
expression of approbation at the manner in which Mr. Tow-
ers discharged the duty committed to his charge. Itwould
be an unpardonable omission not to state that Mr. Hamer, of
the York Hotel, (the chairman) and the committee, were de-
.serviaz of the highest meed of approbation for their
gratify
unremit-
ting attention during the evening to please and ratifythe
company; and it is a fact, highly creditable to the
i society,
that the proceeds of the ball will be added to the u
£lOOO already set apart for promoting its institu-
tions.charitablesof
The company separated at four o'clock, in the utmost
harmony and good fellowship,
. DENSE FOG ON THE MEasur.----On Wednesday, after a
fine, clear, sunny morning and forenoon, a fog set about
half-past three o'clock from the westward, with a cold, raw
atmosphere, and soon became so dense, that the passage across
the Mersey by the river steamers. to and from the several
ferries on the Cheshire shore, became difficult and even
hazardous. The compass became as necessary to the helms-
man, as on the darkest night _on oceans wide expanse."
The greatest caution was required to avoid collision, not only
with other vessels under sail or steam, but with the numer-
ous craft, large and small, at anchor in various parts of the
route. Vessels could be seen at only a very short distance,
and the optical effect of the mist was such that, when first
descried, they appeared to be a 'wig way off, so that they
neared with alarming rapidity ; it was either by " hard a-
port !" or " hard a-starboard I" as the case might be ; and
even then there were " hair-breadth 'smiles" from destruc-
tive contact. The passengers in some few instances became
a little alarmed ; but a good look-out was kept, and caution
used in the reduction of speed, so that happily no accident
occurred. After sunset the fog still continuing, bells and
trumpets were put in requisition, and the cpumingled tink-
ling of the former, and the braying of the later, from mouths
" all unused to the playing mood," had a novel and some-
what ludicrous effect. The gas-lights bn the quays were not
disguishable until pretty proximate ; and the shore and the
vessels near it not being easily recognised in making a land-
fall, the question of "What vessel is that?" or " What light
is that?" was frequent, and was responded to in the calmness
of the night, by voices here and there, so that the respective
captains were made aware of the precise spot they had
reached, and steamed on cautiously, or relaxed, till they
reached the landing-place in safety. Some of the steamers
overshot, or brought up short of their places of debarkation
on the Cheshire shore. No lights could be seen on either
side from a considerable breadth in the middle of the river, all
objects being as effectually hid in the mist, as if they were
enveloped in impenetrable darkness. In the outward channel
the danger to the mail steamers and other vessels must have
been still more imminent, but we have heard of no casu-
alty. Such fogs are very unusual at this early period of the
year. After midnight the whole began to disperse, and yes-
terday was beautifully clear and warm.