The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

CHESHIRE AND WALES.

A Nsw FAIR, " for the sale of cattle, horses, pigs, &c.,
and for other general purposes," is appointed to be held
on the 4th of February next, at Carnarvon.
THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS have appointed a
superintendent, at 30s. a week, whose duty it will be to
inspect the boats, in order to see that the cabins are kept
in proper order, and the ventilation attended to, as well
as to regulate the arrivals and departures.
AN IRON CHURCH is about to be erected in Birken-
head for the accommodation of seafaring men. The
scheme has been originated mainly by the Rev. Mr.
Welsh, whose earnest and active ministrations in connec-
tion with the Emigrants' Home Chapel have been pro-
ductive of so much good.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the

week u ended January 1, 1854 :—Railway : Passengers,
parcels, &c., £3,028 4s. Od. ; goods, £1,530 3s. 3d. ;
Steam-boats £2BB Os. 11d. Total, £3,846 14s. 2d. In-
crease as compared with the corresponding week last year,

£329 ss. Gd. -
BIRKENHEAD FERRY RECEIPTS.—The total receipts

at the ferry, for the month of December, 1853, were
£1,581 4s. 7d. ; 1852, £1,390 Os. 2d. From the 24th of
April to the 31st December, 1853, £17,546 9s. 10d. ; for
the same period in 1852, £15,237 ls. Bd. Total expendi-
ture from the 24th of April to the 31st December, 1853,
including the cost of the new boat, £16,430 17s. sd.
MONK'S FERRY.—On Monday week, according to his
annual custom, Mr. Hilliar, of the Monk's Ferry Hotel,
provided two large rounds of beef, which were distributed
during the day, at the vaults, by Mr. Markey, amongst
the engineers, guards, firemen, porters, and others em-
ployed on the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Rail-
way ; each man also received a pint of ale. Nearly one
hundred partook of Mr. Hilliar's bounty.

ROBBEHY BY A WASTIERWOMAN.--1A young woman,

named Ann Jones, was on Thursday charged before the
magistrates, at Birkenhead, with stealing a sovereign and
some wearing apparel from the house of Mr. Thomas
Riddle, engineer, Holt-hill, Tranmere. The prisoner was
employed as charwoman by Mrs. Riddle, and some years
ago she abstracted the money from a dress, besides steal-
ing some articles of wearing apparel. Two dresses were
found in the house of the prisoner's father which were
identified. The girl was committed to trial.
CURLING MATCH.—On Thursday, a match at this
favourite Scottish game took place on the ice at Birken-
head-park, between six Liverpool gentlemen and six
Birkenhead gentlemen, all members of the Royal Mersey
Curling Club. After a close contest, in which both parties
exhibited some skilful play, the Birkenhead gentlemen
were victorious. The competitors afterwards sat down at
Woodside 'Vaults, to an excellent dinner. The evening
was spent in a convivial manner, and the company sepa-
rated in the hope to meet again.
HINDERTON AND BIRKENHEAD TURNPIKE TRUST.—
Lord Palmerston, in reply to the memorial respecting the
state and management of this trust, has officially com-
municated, to the gentlemen transmitting it, that the
already accumulated arrears of interest, amounting to

£3,200, which were attempted to be capitalized by the
trustees, have been entirely extinguished, and, by a pro-
visional order, the rate of interest at £5 per cent., which
lias been paid of late years upon the trust debt of 3,400,
has been reduced to £3. los., by which means the lia-
bilities of the trust, as well as the prospective burthens of
the ratepayers, will be greatly diminished. Lord Palmer-
ston also states that he has required the trustees to report
upon the other numerous and heavy complaints of the in-
habitants set forth in the memorial, and especially whether
the trustees contemplate any new arrangement of the toll-
gates, for the relief of the township of Tiranmere.
SINGULAR CIIARGE OF CRUELTY TO AN ANIMAL:—
At the Birkenhead police-court, on Thursday, a singular
charge of cruelty to an animal was preferred by Sir George
Stephen against a labouring man, named Robert Gould-
stone. There were seven other young men implicated in
the alleged cruelty, but the defendant was the only person
summoned, to try the legality of the proceeding. The
charge (which was for having fastened or tethered a drake
and repeatedly shot at it so as to cause its death) was
brought under the 12th and 13th Victoria, cap. 92, en-
titled "An act for the better prevention of cruelty to
animals." Mr. Greatley, for the defendant, contended
that the information could not be sustained under the
statute, for it was clear the legislature never intended it
to include birds. The evidence being gone into, the case
broke down, and was dismissed. Sir George then laid an
information against the following persons :—Thomas
Jones, Thomas Cottrell, John Thomas, Wm. Knowles,
Joseph Gouldson, Jas. Knowles, and Thos. Downham.

SE-ACOMBE FERBY.—At a meeting of the Wallasey
Commissioners, on Thursday, a reportt was read from the
ferry committee, detailing the steps they had taken to
obtain the opinion of counsel as to the leasing of the ferry,
and recapitulating the opinions of Mr. Cowling and Mr.
Weisby on the subject. Considering the conflicting na-
ture of these opinions, the committee deemed it desirable
to take the opinion of the Attorney-General, who gave it
as his opinion that money borrowed under the provisions
of the Public Health Act could not be applied in the pur-
chase of steam-boats or other property which was not of a
permanent nature, nor did he consider that they could
have steamers. The committee, therefore, felt that they
would not be justified in recommending any other course
than to decline the contract entered into by the late board
with Mr. Smith for the lease of Seacombe Ferry, or to
press the inquiry respecting New Brighton or Egremont
ferries.—A letter was read from Mr. John Grantham, ask-
ing whether the committee intended to take up the three
ferries, and if they did, whether they would be disposed
to lease to parties who would engage to give more fre-
quent communications than were at present enjoyed, and
to place on the ferries a class of vessels superior to any
that had yet sailed on the Mersey. Mr. Pooley said he
had given a verbal answer, advising Mr. Grantham to
apply to the parties who now had the power to lease the
ferries without its coming through the board.
NEW MUSIC-HALL FOB CHESTER.—We are informed
that the project, which we lately noticed, for converting
the present theatre of this city into a spacious and hand-
some hall for musical and other public purposes, is so far
matured that a prospectus will be issued In a few days.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have offered the old
building and the adjacent premises upon very advantage-
ous terms ; and an influential committee has been formed
for carrying the scheme into effect. The sum of £3,000
will be required for the necessary alterations and the IT-
chase of an organ ; and that amount it is proposed to raise
in £5 shares, for which several applications have already
been received. The hall, when completed, will seat 1,400
persons, with room also for an orchestra of 300 performers.
The want of such a building has long been felt and re-
gretted in Chester ; and from the facilities which the
erection of so commodious an edifice will afford for extend-
ing intellectual and social recreations, and for promoting
means of moral enjoyment and instruction, it is thought
that a fair rate of interest on the outlay will be realised.
The theatre has been, thoroughly examined in all its parts
by practical builders, who have made a most satisfactory
report as to its stability, and its capacity for adaptation to
the required purposes. We trust, therefore, that Chester
will soon possess a musie-hall capable of affording the
accommodation so often desired in this city.—Chester
Courant.
CHESHIRE SESSIONS.—The annual sessions were held
on Monday, at Chester. The estimated receipts and
demands at the January and adjourned sessions and
spring assizes were thus set down :—Receipts: Balance in
hand, £2,934; police rate, part received, £877; county
rate, ditto, £Bl4 ; arrear of last quarter, £77 ; ditto of
county rate, £317 ; repayment by gaoler, £5OO ; fines,
prisoners' earnings, &c., £4OO ; from Parr, Lyon, and Co.,
balance of river Weaver cheque last quarter, £2,000; river
Weaver, £4,000 ; total, £ll,o22.—Demands : New build-
ing at house of correction, £5OO ; house of correction and
Chester Castle, £2,872 ; balance of contract for alterations
at nisi prius court, £l5O ; prosecutions at sessions, £2,102 ;
at assizes, £3,146; police, including deductions for super-
annuation fund, £1,790 ; general payments, £1,900;
bridges, £350 ; lock-ups, £560 ; advanced to goalers, £5OO ;
total, £13,870 ; leaving a balance of £1,347 against the
county on this quarter. The estimated demands and
receipts for the Easter sessions and adjournments were—
Receipts : From lords of treasury for expenses of prose-
cutions for half year ending 31st December last, £6,995 ;
repayment by gaolers, £5OO ; fines, &c., £4OO ; river
Weaver (uncertain if bad weather continues) say £4,000 ;
constabulary rate, £2,008; total, £l3,9o4.—Demands:
Balance as per former estimate, £1,947 ; Chester Castle
and house of correction, £2,807 ; advance to goalers, £5OO ;
general payments, £2,760 ; prosecutions, £2,376 ; bridges,
£5BB ; lock-ups, £220; police, say £1,790 ; new buildings
at house of correction, £500; total, £13,481, being a
balance of £432 in favour of the county on the quarter.
A county rate of id. would produce £1,738, leaving a
probable future balance of £2,162. A county rate of id.
was then ordered.—On the motion of Mr. Case, the
salaries of two petit constables in the hundred of Wirrall
' were ordered to be increased from X 52 to £65 per annum.

RESIGNATION OF Ma. SADLIER.—The Dublin Even-
ing Mail, of Friday, says, " We are enabled to state that
Mr. John Sadlier has sent in his resignation to Lord
Aberdeen as a Lord of the Treasury.
AN ACCIDENT occurred on the Waterford and Limerick
Railway, near Clonmel, on Saturday. The carriages ran
off the lines, the engine driver was killed, the stoker's
arm broken, and the guard and some passengers slightly
bruised.
DEATH FROM WHISKEY DRINKING.—A large farmer
named Crothers, living near Poyntzpass, expired, after a
week's drinking, on Thursday last ; and a half-witted man
named Hunt, who followed a wedding party to Magherry,
got so much whiskey to drink from them that he expired
on his way home.
CONVICT DEPOTS.—Sir John Young, Chief Secretary,
Major Larcom, Captain Kingle, and Mr. C. Connellan are
at present engaged at Dublin Castle, in an investigation
into the working of the convict department in Ireland.
The commissioners have already visited Spike Island,
Philipstown, and Mountjoy Prisons ; and it is said to be
proposed that Clare Island, off the coast off Mayo, shall be
taken as a general depot for convicts in Ireland.
CULTIVATION OF WHEAT.—Accounts from Tipperary
state that all the lands in the south riding of that county
.which were under potatoes last year are now sown with
wheat, and that scarcely any land remains unfilled, ex-
cept that which is lying under the late turnips. The
farmers, it would seem from this, are at length tired of
the repeated failures of the potato, and hence the prepara-
tion for the wheat crop as the most profitable substitute
for the old and favourite esculent.
How TO SAVE £2,000 a YEAR.—It is stated that Lord
Waterford has increased his income £2,000 a year under
the following circumstances :—A gentleman possessed of
large funded property, finding the funds decreasing so
rapidly, became alarmed, and applied to Lord Waterford
to know if he would take all his capital at three and a
half per cent. This Lord Waterford has done, and
cleared off his old incumbrances, which were at a higher
rate of interest. The negociations were closed on Friday.
We understand that Lord Waterford will clear £2,000 a
year by the alteration.—Clare Journal.
DEATH IN THE OVEN.—The town and neighbourhood
of Roscrea were thrown into consternation, on Christmas-
day, during Divine service, by intelligence that several
families had been poisoned by whole-meal bread at break-
fast. Medical assistance was immediately rendered the
sufferers, when it was ascertained that they laboured to
an intense degree under the violent symptoms produced
by the seeds (flour) of the bearded darnel rye-grass, com-
monly called ryley, which was mixed with the whole-meaL
Over thirty persons received medical aid, and presented
symptoms as if from intoxication. Remedies having been
applied, on the following morning all the sufferers were
found convalescent, but much debilitated.—Leinster
Express.
MARITIME PROGRESS OF BELFAST.—The maritime
history of Ulster's capital is quite as illustrative of pro-
gress as that of its manufactures. Little more than sixty
years have passed away since the chief mercantile marine
of Belfast consisted of four brigs, averaging 160 tons each,
and as many sloops of 80 tons each, with some smaller
craft. At the end of 1803 the number of vessels was 67,
and the registered tonnage was about 6,000. Fifty years
afterwards, that is, 1853, we have 453 vessels, with a ton-
nage of 78,231 registered at the port of Belfast; and 25
steamers, trading with sixteen ports. According to the
last returns, the value of the exports from Belfast was
nearly £8,000,000; and that of the imports upwards of
£7,000,000. Revenue collected, £387,200. In 1851 our
exports amounted to £5,000,000,, and the imports to
£8,000,000. Revenue collected, £369,ooo.—Belfast
Mercury.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR. IRELAND.—We have
seen an " Occasional Paper," lately published by this
old and valuable institution, and we are glad to perceive
by it that the work of scriptural instruction and the sab-
bath cause continue to make decided progress amongst
the masses of the Irish population, and that new and im-
portant openings are now being afforded for emancipating
them from.the spiritual gloom and darkness in which for
centuries they have been involved. We hope that the
friends of the Bible in England will support with increased
liberality a cause involving such important consequences
to the social, intellectual, and spiritual condition of Ire-
land. The paper to which we have referred states that
there are upon the list of this society 3008 schools, con-
taining 224,504 children and adults, who are instructed
by 19,817 gratuitous teachers. In asking for aid the
committee say :—" They would appeal to the friends of
Scriptural instruction for their co-operation and support,
principally upon the following grounds :—Although the
society's influence is spreading widely amongst the Pro-
testant population, yet it is estimated that one-half of
the Protestants between the ages of six and fifteen do
not attend Sunday Schools, the greater portion of whom
are of the humbler classes. The enlarging demands upon
this society in consequence of the spread of Divine truth
amongst the Roman Catholic population. The peculiarly
important position which this society occupies, in con-
tributing its aid to the Scriptural instruction of upwards
of 100,000 children and adults, who do not attend week-
day Schools." This excellent society is presided over by
the Right Hon. the Earl of Roden, and the Rev. Fielding
Ould, of this town, is the recipient of contributions to its
funds.

THE MEDEA, whose narrow escape from total loss, on
the Lincolnshire coast, was lately reported, was, at the
time of her running aground, in charge of the pilot, who
will be brought to a court-martial. The Medea is ordered
round to Portsmouth to be docked.

- -
AN EXTENSIVE WET DOCK, of 23 acres, in connexion
with the various railways converging at Newcastle, is pro-
posed to be constructed on the north bank of the Tyne,
with a deep water entrance of 23 feet. A similar wet dock
is also proposed to be established in connexion with the
railways of Maryport.
THE CIIILENA, a new barque, was launched from the
building-yard of Mr. Thomas Royden,Queen's Dock, Liver-
pool, on Saturday week. She is owned by Messrs. Hoyden
and James Tyrer, is intended for the west coast trade, and
will be commanded by Captain Thomas Wakeham, late of
the Geraldine.
THE MURDER AT GUERNSEY.—The trial of John Chas.
Tapner, a clerk in the Ordnance Office, for the murder of
Mrs. Sanjon, and for the subsequent attempt to burn the
body by setting fire to the house, which came on before
the Royal Court at Guernsey, on the 20th ult., has, at
length, been brought to a conclusion, aft& lasting thirteen
days. The jurats were some time in consultation, and
then unanimously returned a verdict of guilty. The bailiff
then, in a most impressive address, passed sentence of
death on the prisoner in the usual form.
THE SARAH SANDS, as the pioneer of the Portland line
of steamers, was received with the heartiest welcome at
Portland, on the 17th ult. She quitted the Birkenhead
Dock, on Monday, November the 28th, and made the pas-
sage in eighteen days ten hours. She encountered very
rough weather, but under the able management of Captain
Insley, she did her duty well. The inhabitants hailed her
arrival by the ringing of bells and the firing of guns,
while Captain Insley was entertained in brilliant style by
his fellow-townsmen on landing,
MUTINY ON BOARD A MAN OF WAR IN CHINA.-.
The Overland China Mail of the 11th November con-
tains the following paragraph :—" We hear there has been
a mutiny on board the flag-ship. It seems that on Tues-
day last the men, who have not had liberty for eighteen
months, sent in a petition on the subject to Admiral Pel-
lew, who immediately ordered the ship to be got ready
for sea. In the evening there was a noise below, when
the drum was beat to quarters, and some of the men re-
fused to come on deck, upon which the officers were
ordered to compel them at the point of the sword, and
in doing so several of the men were severely wounded."
EXTRAORDINARY PUNISHMENT OF A CAPTAIN.—We
have published some and received several other letters on
the subject of the treatment the passengers on board
Messrs. Hall's ship Asia received during their passage
from England to this colony. That the complaints on this
subject are but too well founded there can be but little

doubt, and we should have given full vent to our corre-
spondent's indignation thereupon, but that all that can be
done, and a good deal more than ought to be done, in the
way of punishing the captain, has already been done.
Captain Howes, being convicted of divers breaches of the
Passenger Act, at the Williamstown Police-court, was
fined for them in the aggregate amount of £l,BOO. In
default of payment of the enormous fine imposed upon him,
Captain Howes has been condemned to a series of terms
of imprisonment, amounting altogether to nearly thirty
years. This tremendous sentence has begun to take effect.
We shall certainly take care that Captain Howes is not so
lost sight of; but now that the council is sitting we would.
urge upon some philanthropic member publicly to question
the government as to what has been done and what is to
be done with regard to this very extraordinary case.-•
Melbourne Morning Herald, Sept. 10.
AN EXCITING SCENE.—On Saturday evening, Mr.
Driesbach, the Lion King, while exhibiting his feats in a
den which contained several wild animals, at the Broad-
way Menagerie, was attacked by one of them (a large
Brazilian tiger), which sprang upon him, knocked hint
down, and fastened his teeth in his breast. A lioness
sprang to, the assistance of her master, but, unfortu-
nately, struck him a powerful blow in the chest which
she intended for the tiger, and thus made the matter
worse. One of the keepers then opened the door of the
cage and dragged Mr. Driesbach out. He was imme-
diately attended by a physician, who found that only
flesh wounds had been inflicted, and those not of a dan-
gerous character. The audience were highly excited
during the time the scene was enacting. This is the first
time in two months that the tiger has been exhibited,
and it is probable that the glare of the gaslights rendered
him confused and excited. He was always looked upon
by Mt. Driesbach as one of his pet animals, and as ex-..
tremely tame and docile.—New York Paper.
THE COURT AND CABINET.—A great outcry hag
been raised within the last few days, by several of our
contemporaries, especially those of the Radical school,
against an alleged unconstitutional influence over the
foreign policy of this country, which is, in terms not to
be misunderstood, attributed to the illustrious Prince who
stands nearest to the throne. Whether the insinuationse
question have their origin in the instinctive desire of t:
re
Radicals to damage the Monarchy, or whether they
case we doubt In either _
designed to divert public indignation from a Minisntrfor
anxious,
the maintenance of which Radicals are naturallY
because they are not likely to get one more favourablex to
Radical views, it is difficult to say. upon the
not that the mischievous attempt to bring odium
people in Queen Victoria herself, will be appreciated Prince Consort, and indirectly to impair
as 1
th_e__confiidaetendcebofy
the
t deserves to be.
good sense of the English people
f he Bri
actipgthpart t:b
h E • mpire, and to
with the foreign policy a° • te
of Chet Sovereign, and the
invade at once the Prer°-tiv
responsible advisers, is a sumo.,
That Prince Albert should take uponhimself to interfere
province of the Queentio'd' Still less is the insinuation- - -
even to the length of betraying the
t i
et i
endured,o n not tto
attributed to him, _ _ ,
under the influence, and in the interest,
. courts and specifically of the Russian Court,
of foreign , ,
and British Cabinet to the Courts of the Conti-
nent. Conduct so palpably unconstitutional—nay,
—nay, so' that he proceeds
trea-
sonable—is not thus lightly to be imputed to a Prince
who, ever since he has been amongst us, has given ample
proof of his being attached, heart and soul, to the inte-
rests of his adopted country ; and if we have summed up
the charges against his Royal Highness, as we find them
variously set forth in the columns of our contemporaries,
we have done so for the purpose of denouncing them gli
deserving of utter reprobation.—John Bull,

OLD WINTER IS COME.

OLD Winter is come in earnest—slack!
How icy and cold is he!
He cares not a pin for a shiverin; back,
He's a saucy old chap to white and black,
He whistles his chills with a wonderful knack,
For a jolly old fellow is het

A witty old fellow this Winter is,
A mighty Old fellow of glee!
He cracks his jokes on the sweet pretty miss,
The wrinkly old maiden unfit to kiss,
And freezes the dew of their lips—for this
Is the way with such fellows as he.
Old Winter's a frolicsome blade I wot—
He is wild in his humour and free—
He'll whistle along for the" want of thought,"
And set aU the warmth of furs at nought,
And ruffle the laces the pretty girls bought ;
For a frolicsome fellow is he!

Old Winter is:blowing his gusts along,
And merrily shaking the tree:
From morning to night he will sing his song;
Now moaning and short—now howling and long ;
His voice is loud, for his lungs are strong—
A merry old fellow is he.

Old Winter 's a wicked old chap I ween—
As wicked as ever you'll see—
He withers the flowers so fresh and green,
And he bites the pert nose of the miss of sixteen,
As she flippantly walks in maidenly sheen—
A wicked old fellow is he.

Old Winter's a tough old fellow for blows,

As tough as ever you'll see ;
He'll trip up our trotters and rend our clothes,
And stiffen our limbs from fingers to toes,
He minds not the cry of his friends or his foes—
A driving old fellow is he I

A cunning old fellow is Winter, they say,
A cunning old fellow is he;
He peeps in the crevices day by day,
To see how we're passing our time away,
At.d marks all our doings from grave to gay,
I'm afraid he is peeping at me.

REVIEJVS OF BOOKS.

Blackwood's Magazine. Edinburgh: Black-woods
The commencement of a new year is usually the
time for making some advance in periodical litera-
ture, new magazines being started, and old ones
coming out with promises of increased attraction.
" Blackwood," however, maintains the lead in defi-
ance of all rivalry ; and, with nearly forty years on
its head, displays all the freshness of juvenile
vigour. The number for this month opens with a
paper descriptive of Persia, a country rendered
more than ordinarily interesting by recent events,
and which may occupy a somewhat prominent
position in the coming struggle. The particulars
are taken from a narrative of two attache's of the
French embassage in Persia. The quiet story of
" The Quiet Heart" is continued in a second part,
which gives goodly promise of its further progress.
" The English at Home—by a Frenchman Abroad"
is a very amusing review of a work by 31. Wey, an
intelligent Frenchman, who spends seven weeks in
England, and gives a really fair description of what
he saw and heard, and his opinions of a people
whom he describes as " a large class of old scholars
competing for the prize of good conduct." From
" The Past and Future of-China," we learn that so
far from the present rebellion in the flowery land
being an extraordinary event, such revolutions have
often occurred, more so indeed than in any other
nation, there having been a succession of twenty-
two dynasties, and, consequently, as many great
revolutions in the period of four thousand years,
comprised in the annals of that empire. Following
the series on " the narcotics we indulge in," is an
article on " the beverages we infuse," descriptive of
Tea, Coffee, Szc. The magazine concludes with an
ably written political essay on " the Aberdeen
Cabinet," showing the mischief which has been
committed by the vacillating policy in the earlier
part of the Eastern affair, and predicting serious
consequences from the evident determination of
Russia to set at defiance the lukewarm resistance 1
given by the Western Powers. The article is well
worthy of perusal, though we cannot coincide with
the writer in all his views. We subjoin two
extracts :