The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-28 00:00:00

17"P1T1P.7 the contract will be throWo
coin, We need not point out the advantage t.
merci Atininications which will result.—Gocernmen'-, --
The British Association for the Advancement of . .ce
has awarded £lOO for a completion of the level of tne-lines
between the Bristol and English Channels made by Mr.
Bunt under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Whewell; and
£lOO to the Rev. Mr. Whewell for discussions of the tides at
the port of Bristol...:_
SHARK IN THE FIRTH OF, FORTH.—On Wednesday last
week, the boat's crew of Mr. James Kelly, of Cantabay, (a
few miles east of North Berwick,) when fishing for herrings
in Dunbar bay, were much surprised in finding a shark of
great size entangled iu their nets, which they with great diffi-
culty succeeded in getting into their boat, where they accom-
plished his destruction; but not before one of the crew had
his arm slightly lacerated. The monster was upwards of
seven feet in length, three feet nine inches in circumference,
twenty-three inches across the tail, had three rows of formid-
able teeth, and was supposed to weigh (coin 10 to 12 cwt.
The fishing village of Cantabay has been in a slate of com-
motion ever since the monster was brought to land.
GREAT WESTERN COTTON WORKS.—The following no-
tice of these great works, will show that our neighbours at
Bristol are beginning to exert themselves in earnest. The
establishment is one of the most splendid in the kingdom.
The cotton mill contains five floors, each 60 feet in width,
and extending 300 feet iu length; the whole of which is fire-
proof. The machinery of the. mill will be wrought by two
steam-engines, of eighty-horse power each, having six fifty-
horse boilers. These engines are so constructed as to work
together. The fly-wheel of the engines weighs forty-live
tons. The weaving room is 250 feet by 350 feet: it will con-
tain 1000 power-looms, employing 500 hands, and producing
from 160,0(X) to 180,000 yards of coarse calico per week.
There are no fewer than 900 windows in these immense
buildings. It is said that this establishment will give em-
ployment to 4000 persons. There is also a building where a
part of the machinery necessary for the establishment is ma-
nufactured, and which combines five or six different trades.
An engine of 20-horse power is employed for this depart-
ment,—Gloucester Chronicle. ,

A CURIOUS METHOD OF FINDING THE OWNER OF STOLEN
PROPERTY.--A few nights since Sergeant Reeves, of the M
division of police, stopped a man carrying something bulky
in a Sack through Snow-fields. The sergeant questioned
the man as to the contents of the sack and where be was
taking it at that late hour of the night, when on a sudden
the fellow threw down his load and made a hasty retreat. In
Reeve's attempt to follow the fugitive he tell over the sack and
hurt himself seriously, and was unable to pursue him. Upon
opening the bag it was found to contain 57 live pigeons, which
the sergeant took to the Station in Southwark-bridge- road,
where in the morning a consultaton was held among the
police-officers about the readiest way of discovering the real
owner of the birds, when it was suggested that one should be
taken from the sack and sat at liberty, with a label attached
to its leg, informing the person owning it where the rest of
its companions were to be seen. This was accordingly done,
and in the course of a short time after the pigeon's depar-
ture, Mr. Brown, of Long-lane, Bermondsey, came to the
station and claimed the pigeons as his property, which had
been stolen on the night previous from his premises, and they
were delivered to him.
" 80-PREe."-.—There seems to have been more than one
instance lately of what may be called playing at "bo-peep"
with courts of justice. One gentleman walks into Newgare,
and tells the keeper that he is come to be tried. " Really,
sir," says the keeper, " I have not the pleasure of your ac-
quaintance; so pray go about your business," which the self-
devoted accordingly does ; and, like a man of gallantry,
gives place to a lady, who, having been acquitted, the gen-
tleman aforesaid re-surrenders, walks into the dock, bows to
the court and jury, and is acquitted also. Then comes
another gentleman, also accused of murder on the verdict of
a coroner's jury, and sends word to the Queen's judges at
the Old Bailey, by means of his counsel, politely informing
them that if they will only appoint a day for his trial he will
do them the honour of waiting upon them. The judges,
with the utmost urbanity, alter consulting the list of their
other engagements, name a day; but when it arrives the
gentleman in question sends an excuse, and declines keep-
ing. his own solicited appointment on the score of his coun-
sel being ill, Now all this is very polite and amusing, and
what not; but is it consistent with the dignity and respect
which ought to belong to a court of justice ? We think it is
not. It resembles rather too much a game at " bo-peep,"
which, on such an arena, would formerly have been consi-
dered very much like " playing with edged tools."—Morn-
ing Herald.
GOING AS FREIGHT:—AR Irishman, whose funds were ra-
ther low, had footed it all the way to Wheeling, and was still
desirous to get as far as Portsmouth, thence to proceed by
canal to a point not far distant from the latter place, where
work was to be obtained. Having worn his toes through his
boots, and the heels of a pair of old shoes quite low, he gave
up the idea of using " Shanks's mare" any longer. There
were plenty of steam-boats puffing and blowing at the landing,
and he became quite fascinated at the idea of such an easy
mode of conveyance. '• Captain, dear," said he. stepping on
board a beautiful craft, "Captain, dear, and what'll You charge
to take me to Portsmouth?" "Seven dollars in the cabin."
" Siven dollars ! arrah ! siven dollars ! Why, captain, dear,
I hav'nt the half of that sum." "Oh, never mind that, Pat,
I'll take you as a deck passenger for three dollars, if you'll
half work your passage, that is, help the hands to wood the
boat." Pat mused some minutes on this proposition, and
then put another question. "And captain, clear, what'll you
take about 1601bs. freight for ?" "I'll charge you 75 cents.
for that." "Then, captain, you see, I'm just the boy that
weighs that—so you can enter me as freight, and I'll stow
away snug enough, somewhere below stairs." A proposition
so novel pleased the captain highly, and, calling one of the
hands, he gave directions to have 'Pat stowed away in the
hold, and ordered the clerk to enter on the freight list:—" One
Irishman, weighing 1601b5." Pat kept snug until he reached
Portsmouth, a distance of 365 miles, having shown himself

but twice, and for only a few minutes at a time, during the
passage. There he paid his frieght of 75 cents. honourably;
and was next seen with his bundle, tramping it along the
tow-path of the canal for his desired destination.—Baltirnore
lit WC

nobility of radicalism and republicanism had a grand field-
day on Kersal-moor, Manchester, on Monday last. They
mustered an immense number of persons to hear the orators
in favour of universal suffrage, cote by ballot, -.vages for
members of parliament, and the abolition of the corn-laws.
The town was in a state of excitement from so early an hour
as five o'clock in the morning; processions of men marching
through the town to the place of meeting. It is said, that
nearly '250,000 people were present; a vast number of these
however, were indifferent to the object of the promoters of
the meeting. About 50,000 might he c,ngregated in the
neighbourhood of the hustings, and the remainder scattered
over the moor, some amusing themselves by playing at leap-
frog and other games, whilst vast multitudes were drinking
in the.booths. The speeches were of the same character as
those delivered here. The principal persons present were
Mr. Fielding, M.P.. chairman, Mr. W. G. Seed, Mr. J. W.
Hodgetts, Mr. Fearus O'Connor, Mr. M. Fletcher, (sur-
geon, of Bury,) Mr. Fitton, (of Royton,) Rev. J. R. Stephens,
(Ashton,) Mr. Whittle, (editor of the Champion, of London,)
Mr. Wroe, Mr. Nightingale, Mr. R. I. Richardson, Mr.
Richard Cobbett, Mr. Holladay, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Collins,
Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Cliffe, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Doherty, Mr.
Duffy, Mr. A. Taylor, Mr. Lowry, (of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne,) &c. Immediately in front of these, upon a lower
part of the hustings, with a temporary desk erected con-
veniently enough for their use, was the press, amongst whom
we observed Mr. Bean, editor of the Liverpool Albion, Mr.
Dignan, of the Literpool Chroniele, and others. The above
may be considered the representaves of the people of Eng-
land, and the architects of the national convention for the
protection of the people's rights !
LONDON, EDINISLIIIGH, AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—AII
the lines of this great national undertaking between York
and London are expected to be finished in the spring of 1840.
That portion of the line between York and Darlington will
be let to various contractors during the course of the present
month, and the line from Darlington to Newcastle will, it is
expected, soon be entered on. In refere.%ce to an extension
of the line northward, we find the owing remarks in the
Report read at the fifth half-yearly meeting of the Great
North of England Railway Company, which was recently
held at Darlington :—" Looking at the Great North of Eng-
land Railways, forming part of the national line of communi-
cation between the northern and southern caeals, the share-
holders will learn with satisfaction, that Mr. George Stephen-
son has recently been engaged, under the authority of an
influential committee in the north, in making a general in-
spection of the country between Edinburgh and Newcastle:
the opinion of that gentleman being, from his acquaintance
with the country, that the eastern side of the island presents
greater facilities for an excellent locomotive line into Scot-
land. An act for the formation of a railway between Edin-
burgh and Glasgow being already obtained, and there being
no doubt of the eastern line to Edinburgh being now prose-
cuted with energy, and the necessary steps taken to obtain.
parliamentary powers for its formation, this undertaking
cannot fail, by enhancing the revenue of the Great North of
England Railway, to promote its interests to a great extent."
—Newcastle Journal.

EFFECTS OF GAMBLING IN AMERICA.—The reckless
sporting with fortune as well as lives on the great rivers of
the west has become alarmingly important, and too often
leads to assassination and murder. The Grafton Backwoods-
man has an article on the prevalence of gambling on board
of the steameis on the western river. It records the deaths
of several individuals in an unaccountable manner, and the
following extract shows a state of morals almost too degraded
for belief :—" Numbers have come to the west, taken passage
on board a boat, and never been heard of again. In re-
peated instances, witbin the last few years, letters have been
addressed to us from a distance, with anxious inquiries for a
friend from whom no tidings had come since he was on the
point of embarkingon board of a boat. It was feared that
he had fallen overboard or died on the passage, and we
were implored in the most affecting terms to seek intelli-
gence of his fate. Our earnest endeavours, in most in-
stances, have proved unavailing. Could the deep and turgid
waters of our rivers reveal their secrets, they would hut ex-
plain but too often the long silence of those absent friends.
The midnight gambling, the fierce quarrel, the dirk, and the
sudden plunge of the ghastly corpse, with heavy weights
attached, all follow each other in quick succession, and with
the unerring certainty with which effect follows cause."—
New York Paper.
SWINDLING IN THE COMMERCIAL. WORLD.—A system of
swindling almost unprecedented has recently been brought
to light—a system the most organised and complete and
carried on with a success which has hitherto been unparalleled.
Not less than eight or nine individuals in different parts of
the town and country have constituted the iniquitous gang.
The principal lived in Botolph-lane, to whom references for
the respectability of the other parties were made. Upon in-
quiry about either party, the ledger of the Botulph-laue con-
cern was opened and freely shown to the inquiring dupe.
Debits and credits to large amounts appeared, and the cus-
tomers appeared most desirable ones, and not the least sus-
picion was therefore entertained. Goods were bought, taken
to Botolph-lane, and disposed of at an immense sacrifice.
Such goods have been traced to the neighbourhood of Tower-
hill. Not content with this system of fleecing, they had re-
course to the manufacturing of fictitious bills—a large
amount of which has got into circulation both among the
bankers and discount brokers of this city. It is supposed that
the Fra Diavolo of this banditti is now on his way to America
in the Great Western.—Morning paper.
HUMAN INCUBATION.—Mr. B. Wetherall, of Lincoln,
(the father of a lady of high rank in Guernsey) has been for
many years an invalid, and spent the last thirty years of his
life chiefly on his sofa. His disease kept him awake night
and day, and, being a man of placid temper, and devoted
to animals of every kind, he spent much of his time in rear-
ing them. Amongst those that he particularly patronised
wete to be found the finest specimens of monkeys, hedge-
hogs, and the various breed of birds. It happened one year
that one of his cropper pigeons during incubation rejected
one of its eggs; bat, determining that no part of the pro-
geny of his favourite Fanny should be frustrated, he resolved
to rear the egg himself. He accordingly took it into his own
bosom, wrapped it up in flannel, and turned it night and day,
watching over it with a mother's care. At length the event-
ful period arrived when the feathery wonder was fo be
ushered into the world. It tapped at first lightly.at the shell,
and its beak was soon peeping through the opening which it
made. It was fed at first by Mr. Wetherall with bread and
water from his mouth, and it throve famously. The only
peculiarity of the little animal was that its legs were a little
bowed, so that its claws was turned inward.—Guernsey Sun.