The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

MR. HENRY LOMAx GASKELL has qualified as a deputy-
lieutenant ; and Mr. Thos. Wrigley, of Timberhurst,
Bury, as a county magistrate, for Lancaster.
-Nwar COUNTY MAGISTRATE.—At the adjourned annual
sessions for the county, held at the Court-house, Preston,
on Wednesday, William Preston, Esq., of Rock House,
West Derby, took the oaths and qualified as a magis-
trate of the county.
TUB EARL AND COUNTESS or DERBY and the Lady
Emma Stanley have arrived in St. James's-square, from
ICnowsley-hall, Lancashire. The noble lord is in excellent
health.

TIIE
SARAH SANDS screw-steamer, Captain Insley,
arrived here on Tuesday from Portland, whence she sailed
on the 25th ult.
THE ATLANTIC.-The United States' mail-steamer, I
Captain West, sailed from the Mersey on Wednesday
morning, with the mails for New York, and a large num-
ber of passengers.
SA.3II7EL LOVER.-We hear that, early in February, a
new entertainment, written by this very popular author,
will be delivered in the Music-hall, Bold-street, by Mr. B.
L. Hime, for whom it is expressly written,
A SPECIAL VESTRY MEETING was held on Thursday in
the Public-office, Harper-street, Low-hill, to take into
consideration the basis or standard of the county rate. It
"was unanimously resolved that the assessment as returned
to the overseers by the clerks of the peace be agreed to.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE EAILWAY.-The direr-
ton of this company in the declaration of the estimated
cost to Parliament, for their proposed branches to the
Liverpool Doeks, increase of capital and provisions, as to
lands acquired by the East Lancashire, state that the
necessary outlay will be £280,000.
ulrnw ISLE OF MAN BANK.-Messrs. Dumbell and
1-1,-°ward made the first issue of their X 1 notes' on Friday.
$3-ae,_ll°te, which is longer and narrower than that of the
n' of Mona, has a neat appearance ; it bears a design
emblematical of Commerce and Agriculture on the face,
and vignettes of St. Mary's Tower and Peel Castle on the
reverse.
The style of the bank is the " Douglas and Isle
of Dian ,lan Rank." -Manx Sun.
4115 WRECK or THE MERMAID.-The Sea Nymph
(steamer), which arrived here on Tuesday brought the
'cat tPtain (Robinson) and crew of the ship Mermaid, from
1,."`"v!rPool for Philadelphia, which was ashore on the Cope-
, near Belfast, on the 7th instant. They report the
vessel a total wreck, being broken up ; and the cargo,
Which was a very valuable one, floating about in all
directions.
Tull LOST NOTE.-A £5O Bank of England note, which
7,aa lost on the 25th of July, 1850, by Mr. Charles C.
Deane, of this town, had not been heard of till a few days
ago,"', when it arrived at the Branch Bank of England in
is town, having been paid into the Bank of Ireland
about a month ago.
enimar OP ENGLAND INSTITUTION.-The Archhishop
of Dublin has presented to the library of the Church of
flgiand Institution a copy of each of his published
'works. The gift, together with one or two other valuable
works which his grace has added, comprises nearly forty
volumes. The Society for Propagating Christian Know-
ledge has also made a second grant of books to the same
institution.
STRANGER'S FRIEND SOCIETY.-The annual meeting
was held on Thursday, at the offices of Mr. Beloe, Bruns-
wick-street. Perhaps no society is more deserving of the
Public support than the one whose anniversary we now
list of claimants upon
reel:4'd. The late inclement season has added laely to the
its funds and the balargnce in the
usurer's hands was reduced to £l5, with a daily increas-
ing, demand. One satisfactory fact, however, was reported
Navin the meeting, viz., that the necessities of the society
g been made known, several handsome donations
were immediately forwarded to Mr. Beloe. In the list is
the name of Thomas B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P., as a donor of
and as a new subscriber of £2 2s. per annum:
Gllvnarool, AND GLASGOW.-A splendid new steamer,
the Elk, intended to ply between this port and
olasiapw, in conjunction with the other boats of the
sow steam-packet company, arrived in the Mersey on
on*. Her dimensions are: length of keel, 218 feet;
depth,B 16 feet 3 inches ; beam, 23 feet ; or 45 feet over all.
r has two side-lever engines of 150-horse power each, is
inegistered to hold 358 tons, or 600 tons builders' measure-
Alt, and will carry 499 deck passengers, for the comfort
convenience of whom commodious steerage accom-
'gt,...,..onation is provided. Another steamer, to be called the
1)7 11,0 w being built on the Clyde, for the same coin-
l'euanrue..Nvill be shortly ready for the station.
the Lis. -° VICTUALLERS' BALL.--The annual ball of
nesda -used Victuallers' Association, took place on Wed-
Y in the Town-hall. Upwards of 900 persons were
tesent.Amongst the company were J. B. Lloyd, Esq.,
Mayor, and several members of the Town Council, in-
41r. T. Bold, Mr. M`Guffie, Mr. Hodson, Mr.
na— 11, and others. Enaidy's band was in attendance,
uscoursed some excellent music, the sax-horns being
introduced
with telling effect. The ball was opened about
tine o'clock, and it was nearly four ere the gay revellers
dispersed to their homes. The proceeds are devoted to
the completion of the new Licensed Victuallers' Institution.
Poisox.-Miss Samuels, a respectable female, who is
'll the habit of attending auctions, was at a sale in Parker-
street. Amongst the articles offered was a bottle, the con-
tents of which she was anxious to ascertain' and, with this
view, she poured a little on the palm of her hand, and
taped. The result was almost an immediate deprivation
of consciousness, and an exhibition of those symptoms
which are felt from the effects of poison. She was.
tiatelY conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, and continued in
~mmet-
t above state until about eight o'clock on Tuesday night,
thei,4s ,Vealns of returning consciousness began to manifest
'Oll f 'VeS• It was ascertained that the bottle contained
0 bitter 1
Q
,__ztr MOTH S.
taking an op Tonacco.-As detective-officer Scaife was
a stroll down Chisenhale-street, on Tuesday even-
mg, he observed two men carrying a sack, evidently filled
With something we ht
and procuring the assts
Soon
suspiciousy. gin were aroused,
he followed the men,t.ance of Laycock, another officer,
street, where they a house in No. 1 court, Eldon-
subject was tubaeee. Th observed that the "weighty "
out of the house, but ey were, however?" forciblythan driven
soon ?turning with increased forces,
30 lbs. of tobacco, which two
excisemen decided to be "foreign manufactured." One of
the men who had been
decam d ellgaged in carrying the sack had
who Pe after the onslaught on the officers, but the other
_remained, Patrick Sweeney was taken into custody,
brought up at the Police-court on Wednesday, and re-
manded till Saturday.
Cuttious CASE.--A little girl named Mary Powell,
whose parents reside at No. 2 court, Collingvvood-street,
was attracted by a lady, whom she saw seated on some
B,te, Ps, nearly opposite the Monument, London-road.
The child's attention was still further excited by the
presence of a female, who affected to feel sorrow for her.
Mary Powell, who is only eleven years of age, lingered
about the scene till the lady, whose money had fallen,
then
dragged towards the channel by her associate, who
‘lien left, and proceeded to her house, 2 court, Prudoe-
street, followed by the child, who gave information to
Officer 152, who took the lady to bridewell, and who, it
tas stated, is a Mrs. Neville, residing atßupert-lane,
Everton. The officer subsequently proceeded, accom-
panied by the child, to the residence of Elizabeth Smith,
and arrested her. The case came before Mr. Chaloner, in
the ma; trates'-room, on Tuesday, when the lady ap-
peared. Magistrates'-room,
stated that she had left her house on Monday
evening, and met the prisoner, with whom she had no
Previous acquaintance, near St. John's Market. She
asked her if she would take her somewhere to get a glass
°f de, its she did not like to go by herself. They were
then joined- by an acquaintance of the prisoner's, and they
Proceeded to a public-house, where they each took a glass
Of We fOr which Mrs. Neville paid. Its effects soon began
heZanifest themselves, and she was unable to proceed
of the NYbile seated on the steps and in the company
additioPrisoner, she was observed byte child, who, -in
Elizabeth Smith
n to what we have detailed, stated that s.he. saw
glove.take up the money, and put it into a
The Ponce-officer found it iny'a little tea-chest in
the PMsoner's d
brid -we-alg, 135., and on her person, while in
. ewell, there were found 3s. She was ordered to be
linPrlsoned for 21 days.
TIER Russ
.leatroyed two
lAN WAR-STEAMER..FRUTH which recently
Turkish villages by firing red-hOt balls,
i_ras built by Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead. She is an iron
el, 155 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, 400 tons old
ii_e_gaseur. en:lent, and is fitted with a pair of engines 110 la
e Power. She is built on Mr. Laird's patent, having
Which at each end, and carries four 32-pounders, two of
the „L'' ean be fired forward or aft, on the line of keel, at
ller dame ,
is
great desideratum in naval matters.
only sixupit of water, with six days' coals and stores, s
trip of set, and she hid a speed, loaded, on her trial
pla,
this' eleven
to twelve knots. The great advantage of
Place of vessel is, that they can advance to attack any
, without exposing their broadside to the enemy's
lkir Co -:"luently, in a vessel like the Pruth, exposing
width of 23 feet,- instead of a length of 155, the
Wotdr ,are that shot, hitting a sharp-built steamer,
On til,giallee off without damage. Vessels constructed
on the plan have been successfully at work many years
fiats the ,eraeY, Thames, and other rivers, and for gun-
Wzirr T,advantages can be clearly shown.
Presided DERBY GUARDIANS. - Mr. Joseph Harrison
other at the weekly meeting on Wednesday. The
Di members Present were the Rev. W. Baduall, and
hanas,-/ZA,e?res, Lunt, Wensley, Craig, Mountfiel,d, Abroa-
Rarrisen Roskell, Roberts, Medcalf, M Gee, G.
her of Jeffries, Miller, Carter, and Shaw. The num-
agat' 41Pera in the Workhouse was stated to be 699,
There., wea°lll corresponding week of last year.
in the hai.743"Lso 8.) patients in the hospital. The balance
adi • th
future motion of
Of the treasurer was found to be £273 lls.
Mr. Kirkus, it was resolved that
;lett-4, oor labe, Pl?Pers should be paid a shilling a day for
‘8 arid ur inste lobe ghtpence, and that Messrs.
week, dur. rn,ett
sho allowed twenty shillings a
WHery. Latham, who wire isweeks, for discharging the duties of
Abra alter, sick. Messrs. Alpass, J. Harrison,
hunts, Jeffriesnsiey, Roskell, 3l'Ghee, Shaw,
to report to the and' Lunt were appointed a committee
resolved that Mr. anda,,,c on vaccination. It was also
se:_ll°obnistressshouldb'ure• Reed, the schoolmaster and
ins mistress, d ' u aid their salaries up to the 21st
T wan Ordered to give
RR ....onTrfEt,
th up their situations forth.w_
thetrustees , HOSPITAL.--The annual meeting of
he ba- 'l:4 the Liverpool Northern Hospital was held
Brew, room of the institution on Tuesday, William
dwas. read' __TtOigetterP.' in
the chair. The account current
uring the last with the report of the number of cases
accidents. „„ Year. These numbered 3,220; 2,287 were
That the
zaoualy The following resolutions were Passed una
With the report account current be adopted, and,
printed a of the cases and the list of subscribers,
delivered to the trustees. That the thanks
of
the ding are due,
the meof
their and hereby presented, to the donors
t Year, to the honorary physicians and surFeps
ospital, for their very zealous and unremitting
suilunuon, as also to the chaplain and honorary and con;
the Nos surgeon. That the honorary physicians of th
anpital be now re-elected : namely, Drs. Scott, Dun
Zrd _l_-.Jfinaan; and Messrs. Bainbrigge, Jones, Chalmers,
millet Davis, surgeons. meeting b given That the thanks of the
the AI g e to the committee, and that his worship
ayor, John B. Lloyd, Esq„ as the president, and the
them of last year, with James M. Wood, Esq., form
vice
for the present year. That the best thanks
sins meeting be vicepresi given to 31r. R. B. Anderson, the
to t dent, for his constant and indefatigable attention
he best interests of this hospital." The thanks of the
meeting werethe presented to Mr. Brown for presiding on
°°e"ion, and the proceedings of the day were brought
to a close.

THE HONEYHOON.—Ou Tuesday, Maria Jones and
John Jones, who were only united by the bonds of ma-
trimony on the previous Sunday, were charged, at the
Police-court, with stealing some chairs and other articles
of furniture, belonging to Mrs. Molyneux, 22, Hope-street,
in whose service the female prisoner had lived for the
last five months. The prosecutrix had sold her a set of
bedsteads, and the newly constituted "lord" of the latter
was ordered to remove them, when the "happy couple"
in the imprudent ardour of their zeal to furnish " the
house," carried away considerably more than they bar-
gained for, the blushing bride coolly remarking that she
should be just as well thought of. It was attempted to
be proved that the articles in question had been purchased,
and that the prisoners were of good character, but the
effort was rebutted in both instances, and the loving
couple were ordered to spend their honeymoon within the
precincts of the prison, the female to be confined for two
months, and the liege lord, who said he had unconsciously
been entrapped by his " missis," will have opportunities
for reflecting on the prospects of the match during the
next six weeks.
STOLEN PROPERTY.—Anthony Kelly, an old Irishman,
who is well known to the police, was charged, on Wednes-
day, with receiving a quantity of stolen property. A de-
tective officer stated, that, on Tuesday morning, about six
o'clock, he was on duty in Addison-street, when he ob-
served a number of children taking various bundles to the
residence of the prisoner. He went into his house, and
found the prisoner's daughter with a bundle in her posses-
sion, containing some towels, shoebrushes, and other
articles, which she acknowledged to have stolen, "not
knowing it was any harm." The prisoner, in his defence,
spoke with amazing volubility, in a queer jumble of Irish
and English, but could not deny the facts stated by the
officer. He was fined 10s. and costs ; and, on being re-
moved, he suddenly assaulted the officers who had charge
of him, at the same time raising an Irish howl, which was
heard all through the Sessions-house.
A BEGGAIOE Worm—A few days since an old beggar-
man died in tt street leading out of Scotland-road. The
closing moments of his life had apparently been embit-
tered by want, and he was indebted to a poor woman in
the neighbourhood for the scanty supply of food which he
received during his last illness. Death at last put a period
to his sufferings ; his benefactress made application to the
parish for a coffin, and made arrangements for the inter-
ment of the body at the burial-ground attached to a
Romanist meeting-house. The poor woman was deter-
mined also that a "wake" should take place over the dead
body; but as the absence of spiritual consolation under
such circumstances makes a wake a really dead affair, it
was resolved to tear up the inexpressible garments of the
deceased and sell the fragments for old rags, in the hope of
thus obtaining a supply, however small, of genuine
" potteen." On proceeding to tear up the trousers, 20
real gold sovereigns were found neatly quilted in the seat,
and with this windfall the mourners were able to " wake"
the beggarman in first-rate style.
NEW BUILDINGS IN Livearoors—The following is a
return, prepared by Mr. William Rishton, the building
surveyor, of the dwelling houses and warehouses erected,
or in course of erection, within the municipal borough of
Liverpool, during the year 1853 :—Under £l2 per annum,
52 ; from £l2 to £25, 754 ; from £25 to £35, 79 ; from
£35 upwards, 39 ; tota, 924. Warehouses, 3.—Compara-
tive statement of the number of dwelling-houses erected
within each year since 1838: —lB3B, 1,052 ; 1839, 997 ;
1840, 1,576 ; 1841,1,761'; 1842, 2,027 ; 1843, 1,390 • 1844,
2,450; 1845, 3,728 ; 1846, 3,460; 1847, 1,220 ; 1848, 656;
1849, 446 ; 1850, 420 ; 1851, 837; 1852, 1,130 ; 1853, 924.,
Total, 21,080. Buildings (but not dwelling-houses)
erected, alterations made, and dangerous buildings taken
down or secured, during the year 1863: Buildings, such as
stables, smithies, &c., 90 ; buildings, such as manufac-
tories, offices, &c., 83; alterations and additions of an
extensive character, 110; alterations and additions of an
inferior character, such as shop fronts, &c., 356; dan-
gerous buildings taken down or secured, 234.—Dilapidated
privies and ashpits, and privies converted into water-
closets, 1853: Reported as nuisances, 1,235 ; inspections
made, 7,275 ; notices served, 562 ; repaired and rebuilt
by the council, 3 ; by the owners, 998 ; total number
repaired and rebuilt, 1,001; privies converted into water-
closets, 104.
THE RIVER NIGER.—At the meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, on Monday the 9th, a letter was
read from Mr. Macgregor Laird, stating that the screw
steamer to ascend the Niger and Chadda will be shortly
ready. " The vessel intended for the exploration of the
Chadda," says Mr. Laird, " will be ready in March. and
is intended to leave the month of the main branch of the
Niger on the Ist July. Accompanying her will be three
metallic sectional boats, 50 feet long and 8 feet beam each,
manned by natives, to explore the upper part of the
river, and secure a safe return to Fernando Po, if any
serious accident occurs to the steamer. I propose that
the officers appointed by the admiralty (three in number)
shall proceed in the contract mail packet on the 24th May,
and join the rivet steamer at Fernando Po. The number
of Europeans in the steamer will not exceed ten or twelve
(including the three admiralty passengers), and those all
men of education and resources. The steamer's crew and
the boats' crews will be negroes, the total number em-
ployed from 80 to 90 men. The steamer will have a speed
of ten knots, be propelled by the screw, and leave the
coast with 25 or 30 days' coal (twelve hours per day),
which I trust will be sufficient to carry her to the head of
the navigable waters of the Chadda, without the delay of
cutting wood. From the Ist of July, I calculate upon 75
days' rising waters in the rivers, and it will depend upon
the orders of the admiralty whether the vessel remains
beyond that time. I believe you are aware lam only the
contractor, finding the steamer and paying the charges,
and that the admiralty decide upon the course to be
followed, and their orders I am bound to carry out."
ACCIDENTS.—On Tuesday, a sailor named Peter Hilde-
brand, belonging to the ship Louisa Otte Yerlallo, was
working on board the vessel, when the straps of the blocks
gave way, and the blocks fell upon his head, causing a
scalp wound and concussion of the brain.—On the same
day, a boy named George Haslitt was assisting to remove
the window-plate from the shop window of Mr. John
Holt, Hill-street, when the plate fell upon his hand
and fractured his finger, and otherwise injured his hand.—
On Thursday, Carl Storl was working on board the ship
Samuel, in the Brunswick Dock, when a log fell upon his
foot and produced a severe contusion. The above cases
were received at the Southern Hospital.—On Tuesday,
Catherine Smith, a married woman, living in Portland-
street, was walking across the room of her residence, when
the floor gave way, and she received a very severe wound
on the knee joint.—On the same evening, Wm. Fulton, a
boatman, residing in 33 court, St. Andrew-street, was
loading a flat with flour at the George's Dock basin,
when his foot slipped, and he fell from the quay on to the
side of the flat, and afterwards into the basin. As he had
a sack of flour on his shoulder it served to check the fall,
otherwise his injuries would have been far more serious.
When taken out of the water, it was found that he had
fractured his nose and received general contusions.—On
Wednesday, John Dixon, a sailor on board the American
ship Marmion, was received at the hospital, suffering
from a fractured leg, the result of an accident during a
gale whilst the vessel was at sea a few days ago.—Another
sailor, named Thomas Alam' was also received at the same
institution, with a fractured thigh, caused by falling from
a yard of the ship while she was at sea about a week since.
On Wednesday, Maria Lowry, a married woman, residing
in Salthouse-place, Saltney-street, lay down by the kitchen
fire whilst in a state of intoxication, and her clothes be-
coming ignited, she was severely burnt. —A German sailor,
belonging to the American packet-ship States Right, was
brought to the hospital, suffering from a fractured arm
and severe bruises in various parts of the body, which, he
states, are the result of a series of ill-treatment by the
captain and officers of the ship. The captain, however,
states that the man was suffering from delirium daring
the passage, and produced the injuries himself.—On
Thursday, John Mlntyre, a labourer, residing in Ray-
mond-street, fell from the stage of the ship Eagle, Col-
lingwood Dock, on to the deck of the vessel, and received
a severe concussion of the brain.—The above were received
at the Northern Hospital.
ST. Bessmus's ScuooLs.—On Tuesday evening last,
the members and friends of the congregation of St.
Barnabas's Church, Parliament-street, held their annual
tea party in aid of the schools connected with the church,
in the Royal Assembly-rooms, Great George-street. There
was a very large and respectable audience, the room being
completely filled: The Rev. D. T. Barry, the incumbent
of the church, occupied the chair, and the following gen-
tlemen were also present :—The Rev. D. Major Lester,
Rev. S. Minton, Rev. J. R. Conor, Rev. J. Lucas Moore,
Rev. F. Parry, 8.D., Rev Edward Gabriel, Mr. Wolsey,
Mr. Roger Lyon Jones, Dr. Whittle, &c., &c. After tea,
the rev. chairman expressed great satisfaction at seeing
such a large number present, and congratulated the
members of the congregation upon the present prosperous
condition of the schools, after which the Rev. F. Parry
briefly addressed the meeting, urging the laity to co-
operate with the clergy. He sympathised with Mr. Barry,
and he would call upon all present to rally around and as-
sist their worthily respected pastor. He made a few re-
marks upon the necessity of education, and concluded by
calling upon the members to do all that lay in their power
to assist their new pastor. He could not say how it was in
the district of St. Barnabas, but he knew that in poor dis-
tricts they had large debts to collect and great difficulties
to contend with ; and though they might not afford to
give much by way of contribution, they could greatly as-
sist Mr. Barry by their prayers. The Rev. Edward Ga-
briel, the curate of St. Barnabas's, called upon the laity to
give the clergy all the assistance in their power. He
knew the working men did much, and he had much to
thank them for. He had first to thank them for his sti-
pend; 230 working men raised his stipend of £lOO a-year,
by weelciy contributions of 2d. each. In addition to this,
from 150 to 200 were weekly paying the same sum for the
purpose of building a new church. The Rev. Samuel
Minton, incumbent of St. Silas's, next addressed the meet-
ing at considerable length. He expressed his sympathy
with the working men : he, too, was a working man in
every sense of the word, for there were different ways of
working, and a man could work as hard with his brains as
his hands. He illustrated this view by
an anecdote
which he said lie had heard the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, of
Mairchester, once deliver, when making a public speech,
in which the rev. doctor showed the grey
men extent to which
men of their class had to work with their brains, compar-
ing the action of the mind to the movement of a machine
in a factory, and saying that a ten hours' bill would make
gentlemen of them. He then the
detailed circumstances
of his delivering the first lecture upon religious state
of Ireland which had ever been delivered in the town of
Chorley. The Romanist priests, as if to ward off the con-
sequences, had held what is termed " a retreat," on the
previous week, and that, instead of serving its purpose, so
prepared the people for his lecture, that when he got to
• the school-room in which the address was to be delivered,
the building was so completely filled that it was with very
great difficulty he was enabled to get in. With very few
exceptions, all present were working men, and by the col-
lection which was afterwards made, in aid of the Irish
missions, £l3, in copper, was raised, and it had to be
carried out in a coal scuttle. He then spoke at some
length about the great missionary exertions which the
Rev. Dr. Armstrong, of Bermondsey, was making, in
whose church he said, 1,200 persons had, during the last
two years, publicly renounced the errors of popery. More
conversions had taken place in Dr. Armstrong's district
than in any parish throughout Ireland. After a few
further remarks in reference to the labours of Dr. Arm-
strong, he concluded by urging all protestants to increased
exertions. The Rev. Mr. Conor then related a few humo-
rous but pointed anecdotes, after which the company were
amused by a variety of dissolving views, Chinese fireworks,
&c., &C.

REscus.—The mate of the Commodore, Liverpool and
Glasgow steamer, rescued a woman from a watery grave
on Tuesday night ; she was, shaking: hands with her hus-
band just as the vessel was moving off from the quay at
Greenock, when she overbalanced and fell into the water.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—About six o'clock, on Wednesday
evening last, a man, named Hall, the son of a farmer
residing at Wavertree, was returning home with a cart
laden with manure from Liverpool; when in Wavertree-
road, he went to take hold of the horse's head, and, being
somewhat under the influence of liquor, his foot slipped,
and he fell before the cart, the wheel of which passed over
his bead and killed him on the spot.
MASKS AND FACEs.--Such of our readers as have not
yet visited the New Music Hall to witness Mr. Coleman's
highly interesting peformance of masks and faces, have
deprived themselves of a great intellectual treat. In giving
this series of living pictures, Mr. Colman displays wonder-
ful powers of physical adaptation, combined with graceful
and acute mental perception. Hisimitations of celebrated
characters are true and vivid, while their marking points
or eccentricities are touched off with delicacy and skill.
They abound in truthful delineation, and yet are void
of offence. An hour could not well be more amusingly
spent than in witnessing the very clever performance of
masks and faces.

INFORMATION AGAINST VIE TIMBER TRADR.-At
the Police-court, on Wednesday, several of the leading
firms in connection with the timber trade, including
Messrs. Jones, Bland, and Co., Messrs. Rankin, Gilmour,
and Co., and Messrs. John Rimmer and Co., were
variously summoned to answer charges of having allowed
timber to remain on the dock quays beyond the time
allowed by the local act. The information against Messrs.
Jones, Bland, and Co., was the first taken, and the par-
ticulars of the charge being heard, a representative from
the firm explained to the bench that, m consequence of
the extreme severity of the weather, they had been utterly
prevented from removing the timber. The magistrates
held the explanation to be sufficient, and dismissed the
information, at the same time applying it to the rest of
the firms summoned on the same charge.

HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.
—The third meeting of the present session of this society
was held on Thursday in the Collegiate Institution, John
Poole, Esq., in the chair. Some valuable donations were
announced, consisting of prints, the proceedings of various
learned societies, old and rare books, and manuscripts
containing information of the most interesting nature to
the antiquary and lover of historical lore. Several inte-
resting drawings and engravings were exhibited. Amongst
other interesting papers read was one by Mr. Stonehouse,
illustrative of the life of Mr. John Holt, who resided at
Walton seventy or eighty years ago, and who died in 1801.
In the course of his paper Mr. Stonehouse startled the
meeting with a tale of "diablerie," worthy of a German
story-teller. A print of Mr:Holt was exhibited, and, after
a short conversation, the proceedings terminated.
THE CABMAN AND THE CARTER.-Ou Tuesday after-
noon a carman was driving along Regent-road, when he
attempted in vain to pass a cart which was leisurely pro-
ceeding in an opposite direction. To remove the stolid
cart horse out of his way, cabby touched it with his whip,
when he was personally saluted most vigorously, in a
similar style, by William Morley, the driver of the team,
whose physical resources were so far superior to his own
that he was forced to call in the assistance of officer 68, to
rescue him from his burly antagonist. Morley said he
was attending to his horses, and that the cabman, who
was drunk, struck them most brutally. " Cab" denied
the soft impeachment, stoutly asserting that Morley had
one horse in his cart, and that he was far away from it at
the time he touched it with his
_whip. How to sift the
truth from these opposing statements seemed to puzzle
the magistrates, who, however, fined Morley 2s. 6d. and
2s. 6d. costs. _

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SANITARY REGULATIONS.—At the weekly meeting of
the Health Committee, on Thursday, Mr. Fresh, the in-
spector of nuisances, stated that in the published report of
the government inspector, who lately visited Liverpool, a
passage occurs which, as it affects the efficiency of the
night soil arrangements of the Health Committee, the
inspector of nuisances trusts that he will be justified in
correcting it, by the following statement of facts :—Mr.
Lee, in his report, states that " the public arrangements
are inadequate as to extent, but the inhabitants are
required to give notice when the privies require emptying,
and they are in numerous instances too degraded to take
the trouble, Stc." Now, Mr. Lee is quite right when he
says that the Health Committee require parties whose
middens want emptying to give notice thereof at the
nuisance office, but he is entirely wrong in surmising that
this is the only arrangement made to effect this object,
for former experience having shown the committee that
the inhabitants of close • and confined courts are liable to
much annoyance from accumulations of night soil in the
middens of these places, they several years ago deemed it
advisable to make arrangements for their relief from these
evils by causing the outdoor staff of the inspector of nuis-
ances, the inspectors of scavengers, and the police, to co-
operate in reporting all such middens found in their rounds
in a full and offensive state. The results of this plan have
been generally satisfactory, and several thousand middens
have been yearly discharged through these agencies, over
and above those noticed by inhabitants ; and in proof
thereof it may be 'mentioned, that during the year which
has just expired, 19,613 middens were so reported and dis-
charged.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LIVERPOOL, MAN-
CHESTER, AND BLA.CSBURN. —At the request- of the
leading mercantile firins in this town (says the Blackburn
Standard), Thomas Crooke Ainsworth, Esq., drew up a
memorial to the Postmaster-General relating to the eom-
municatibn between Blackburn, Liverpool, and Manches-
ter, praying that all letters posted should be despatched
from Liverpool by the ordinary train leaving that town at
4.4 e, p.m., and not at 2, p.m., as at present ; and from
Manchester by the ordinary train leaving that city at 5,
p.m., instead of 2.55, p.m., in order that they might be
delivered in Blackburn at 6.30, p.m., thus giving the
merchants and manufacturers of Blackburn full two
hours' later intelligence each day from those important
markets than by the present arrangements. The memorial
was numerously signed and forwarded to James Pilking-
ton, Esq., on the 6th of November last, for the presenta-
tion to Viscount Canning, the Postmaster-General. During
last week, the following letter has been received in reply :
" General Post-office, 3d January, 1854.—Sin,—Having
laid before the Postmaster-General the memorial from
Blackburn, which accompanied your letter of the 6th of
November last, I am directed to acquaint you that ar-
rangements have been sanctioned by his lordship, which,
it is hoped, will remove the inconvenience complained of
by the memorialists, and which will be carried out as soon
as the necessary preparations are complete.—l have the
honour to be your obedient and humble servant, J. TITLEY,
Assistant Secretary. James Pilkington, Esq., M. P.,
Blackburn."

TUB CHURCH SCHOOLS IN MOORFIRLDS.—OH Friday
evening, Twelfth Night, the children of these schools were
assembled, to the number of about two hundred, for the
enjoyment of a little rational amusement at Christmas
time. The rector, churchwarden, and several members
of the congregation had contributed for the decoration of
a very elegant Christmas tree, and many of them added
to their tokens of goodwill by coming to see the distribu-
tion of the presents. Tea was prepared for about 70 per-
sons, members of the choir and the friends who had
assisted in the arrangements. The children each received
a bun and an orange ; and, when the tree was lighted up,
each boy received from it a bag of marbles, or some other
suitable toy, and each of the girls a bag containing the
requisites for sewing. The Rev. A. J. Tomlin then told
them that the object of their meeting was not merely the
amusement of a few hours, but the revival of the good old
custom of an interchange of presents between the differ-
ent members of families, a means of promoting kindly
feeling no less useful in our rank of society than in ano-
ther. In Germany the Christmas tree and its tokens of
affection are to be found in the poorest cottage, and since
the actions of solid charity are found in English cottages,
the introduction of acts of gentle consideration at this
season of goodwill might do much to soften some of the
ruggedness supposed to belong to a life of toil. A few
glees were sung, and everybody received some trifling pre-
sent off the tree ; and, after singing the National Anthem,
the party dispersed, evidently well pleased with the even-
ing's amusement.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—Mr. Charles Turner presided at
the monthly meeting on Thursday, and read a letter from
Mr. Halhead upon behalf of the timber trade, requesting
to know when it would be convenient to the committee
to receive a deputation from the trade. After a few words
from Mr. Evans, it was agreed that the deputation should
be received at half-past one next Thursday. Mr. Smith
brought forward the motion of which he had given notice,
for the appointment of a committee to consider the sub-
ject of dock extension, first stating that he was the more
impressed with the necessity of taking up the matter
from the returns which had been published by the com-
mittee, showing the amount of tonnage which had entered
the port. To go back as far as 1830, he found that the
tonnage of the port, upon an annual average of five years,
was 1,312,000 tons; in the next five years, 1,600,000 tons,
or an increase of 24i- per cent. • for the five years ending
1840 it had increased to 2,100,000, or 24 per cent.; in
the next five years, ending 1845, it was 2,600,000 tons,
or an increase of 221 per cent.; for the five years ending
1850 it was 3,300,000 tons, or 301 per cent. increase; and
taking the three years ending June, 1853, the increase
had been going on, giving an actual increase on 1850 of
465,000 tons, or 131 per cent. Even during the last six
months there had been a large increase over the previous
half-year. The returns showed that the coasting trade in
sailing vessels had been nearly stationary, while the in-
crease had taken place in the sea-going vessels and
steamers, and these were the two branches of trade for
which more dock accommodation was required. From
1830 to 1853 the increase in sea-going vessels engaged in
the foreign trade was 2171 per cent., and in the same
period the increase in steamers was 413 per cent. With
reference to the steam trade particularly, as a member of
the harbour masters' committee, he could state that they
had received application after application during the.short
time he had sat there, showing that an increase in sea-
going steamers might be anticipated to an extent which
could scarcely be imagined. New lines of steamers were
also in course of formation, and a larger amount of dock
space would be required. There was another point of
view on which he wished to put the question. In 1830
there were 71 acres of water space to work y 12,932 tons,
or about 130,000 tons to every seven acres; in 1840 there
were 112 acres of water space to work 2,107,440 tons, or
about 138,000 tons to seven; acres ; in 1853 there were
207 acres of water space to work 4,008,953 tons, or about
131,000 to seven acres. Mr. Smith concluded by moving
for the appointment of a committee. After a lengthy dis-
cussion, in which Mr. Malcolmson, Mr. Barber, Mr.
Holme, and Mr. Evans took part, the chairman put the
amendment of Mr. Malcolmson for the appointment of
the whole committee to consider the question, which was
rejected by nine to eight. For the amendment, Messrs.
Royden, Gregson, Robinson, Steele, Malcomson, Evans,
and Barber. Against it, Messrs. Langsdale, Holme,
Tobin, Rounthwaite, Smith, Rankin, Lockett, Shand, and
the chairman. Mr. Barber said the motion was grounded
chiefly on the want of water space, and though some
statistics had been brought forward to show the necessity
for the measure, still a great deal might be said as to the
working of docks in connexion with warehouses on the'
quays. Mr. Tobin thought that docks with warehouses
round them must form a great element in the plan. Mr.
Evans agreed with Mr. Barber. From a statement by
Mr. Cowan, the Albert Doek showed an increase of 125,000
tons. The Prince's Dock a decrease of 50,000 tons. Mr.
Smith's motion was adopted by a majority of 10 to 0.