The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-08-31 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL gToloitl.

which they ought to pursue in the disposal of their
property. Like other people, however, we fancy
that we have had quite as many "bold movements"
in that locality as are likely to prove profitable
movements ; and we much doubt whether this is
likely to be a profitable one for the parties most
interested, viz., the ratepayers of Birkenhead. •It
may suit the owners of land, buildings, ware-
houses—especially Dock Warehouses—and rail-
ways, for the ratepayers to throw away, for their
exclusive benefit, the interest of the large amount
expended upon the construction of these Docks,
upon the purchase of the land, and upon the fur-
ther amount to be expended in their working, for
eighteen months or two years ; it may suit exceed-
ingly well the owners of plots of land abutting
upon the Pool, and a few tradesmen in the neigh-
bourhood; but we submit that it will not benefit
the holders of dock bonds to carry on an unprofit-
able trade. Such an imitation of Roman disin-
terestedness on the part of the Dock Commissioners
may excite temporary admiration, and earn for
these gettlemen a civic wreath ; but with the bulk
of mankind it will fail in earning respect for their
wisdom or their prudence. Like most bold move-
ments, we fear it is a hastily considered one:
One good, however, is deducible from its pro-
mulgation. It infers an admission that the Docks,
as worked by and in the hands of the Commissi-
oners of Birkenhead, "are not likely just now to be
a paying property. It admits, too, that gentlemen
on that side of the water have been getting on too
fast ; providing too soon and too largely for a trade
which has to be created, and a population which
has to be born. It contains, in short, all the ad-
missions
required to form a basis for the adoption
of the only prudent and wise course—and, we may
add, the only available course which the Commis-
sioners can pursue. The interests of the owners
of thirteen millions worth of property are stated to
hang upon the prompt completion and putting in
operation of the works in the neighbourhood of the
Pool. The conclusion is inevitable, that if this
desideratum cannot be achieved by the Commissi-
oners themselves, a consideration for theowners of
this large amount of capital, unwisely invested,
ought to urge the Commissioners to resign the re-
sponsibilities which they have undertaken, and to
hand over the task of completing their Docks to
those who alone possess the capability of so doing,
and of working them to the advantage of the inha-
bitants of Birkenhead, and of the public.

We offer these remarks for the Consideration of
our Birkenhead neighbours in the best spirit, We
never begrudged them their temporary prosperity,
and are guiltless of having deluded them as to its
permanency.. Forgetting the past, however, we
think that the time has now come in which the
differences which have existed between themselves
and us—the jealousies, the absurd spirit of rivalry,
the "Birkenhead versus Liverpool" kind of feeling
and talking—ought to be laid aside, and mutual
efforts used to make the best of the present state
of :things; to cement together the interests of the
population on both sides of the Mersey, and to
render our noble river, what it is destined to be,
the leading mart of the commerce of the greatest
commercial nation of the world. Nature assuredly
never meant that the advantages for the pursuits
of trade and induatry, which she conferred with
almost equal lavishness upon the Cheshire strand
and the Lancashire, should be pitted against each
other ; but on the contrary, they are expressly
fitted to be worked together. It was never in-
tended that the population on each side should be
antagonistic in interests and in feeling. On the
contrary,, both circumstances and science have been
working to render them one—to bring them toge-
ther within the pale of one community. Why.
should Liverpool and Birkenhead, with their steam-
boats for bridges, be in anything further apart
than London and. Southwark, Manchester' and
Salford, or Newcastle and Gateshead ?

To bring about this union of interests we do
not think would be at all difficult, if set about in a
proper spirit by both parties-both conceding a
point or two for peace's sake : and that it is the
interest of the people of Birkenhead so to concede
we shall briefly show. Let the Commissioners of
Birkenhead, who are in possession of the required
data, inform the public of the number of unte-
nanted houses and shops within the township, and
the value of the property thuslying unproductive
to its owners, and contributing no rates for the
maintenance of the poor and other parochial pur-
poses. Let them show us the amount expended by
them in paving, severing, flagging, the erection of
public buildings, &c.; the annual interest of which,
with the ordinary expenditure of a police force, and
staff of parish and other officers, has to be paid by
half the population for which it was to be designed.
The statement, we admit, will be a disheartening
one, sadly in contrast With the bright anticipations
made two years ago ; but it will bring all parties to
a sense of the magnitnde of the evil to be grap-
pled with, which is ,in a very great measure the in-
ability of the commissioners to complete those
docks and vast works which were to have brought
all this mass of property, now lying idle and in
course of rapid dilapidation, into profitable opera-
tion. Birkenhead can never be restored to pros-
perity until it has trade. Its present buildings can
never be occupied except by the class and the pur-
poses for which they were designed—a trading
class and trading purposes. And it is not the
mere completiOn of the docks which is required,
but the certainty, as well, of their being capable of
profitable working, both to the shipowner and
merchant, and.to those whose property they are.
The question, therefore, which will present itself
to the mind of every thoughtful man is this :—by
whom can the docks and property of the Birken-
head Commissioners be the most promptly com-
pleted and advantageously worked ? By whom, in'
short, can the current of commercial enterprise be
the most promptly and largely directed to the
neighbourhood of Wallasey Pool ? We submit
that this can be best effected by the Dock Com-
mittee of Liverpool. Let that body be induced to
take into their own hands the property of the pool,
with the existing dock. Let lem complete the
whole, with such alteration in the present plans as
may be required to work it in conjunction with,
and as a useful auxiliary to, their own estate ; and
the inhabitants of Birkenhead will speediy see
their property resuming its value and enterprise,
and population revisiting the lbcality.
As a matter of course, to induce the Liverpool
Dock Trust to enter upon this task, some little sa-
crifice must he made by the Birkenhead Commis-
sioners; and to reconcile them to this, we may re-
mind that they will be thus embracing the least of
two evils. If their dock schemes fail in their hands,
or are even seriously retarded, the loss accruing to
the owners of the mass of property embarked in the
township, and to the commissioners themselves
from its non-occupation, must be ruinous. Better
far, in a pecuniary view, for themselves, and infi-
nitely better for the community of Birkenhead, to
purchase the prosperity of the entire locality by the
abandonment of a portion of their pretensions as
Dock Commissioners. With Wallasey Pool as part
and parcel of the Liverpool Dock Estate, the ship-
ping entering it paying one uniform rate with Li-
verpool, one rate only whether using both sides of
the river or one side, the views professed by the
original projectors of thC Birkenhead Docks would
indeed be carried out, and we should see the form-
ation of what might then be appropriately termed
the Port of the Mersey, the population on both sides
of the river sharing a common prosperity.

We regret to state that Mr. Brocklebank, of the firm of
Peek, Brothers and Winch, died at Blackburn on Satur-
day, in an awfully sudden manner. He was found dead
in bed that morning, having expired in a fit during the
night.
- -

QUICK SAILING.—The ship Lydia, 477 tons, Captain
H. Jones, has made two voyages, out and home, from this
port to Antigua in six months and two days. She will
again sail for Antigua to-day. She belongs to the well
known respectable firm of Messrs. C. W. and F. Shand,
who are the owners of several other first-class smart
vessels.

DEATH FROM FEVER OF ANOTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC
CLERGYMAN.--We regret to have to state that another
victim to his earnestness in contributing to the
wants of his Roman Catholic brethren—theßev. Richard
Gillow, of Copperas-hill chapel, died yesterday. The
rev. gentleman was a member of a highly-respectable
family from the neighbourhood of Preston, and was
very much respected.
THE SCHOOLMASTER WANTED.—Our contemporary
the Journal, in an article addressed to speculators and
importers generally, warning them of the consequences to
be anticipated from over-trading, says :—" We presume
on no superiority of knowledge ; with commercial details
we profess no familiarity ; but we are sufficiently informed
generally to be aware that not one man in fifty knows his
own business As our contemporary is, of course, one
of the fiftieth men who know their own business, it would
be kind of him to impart to a few of the craft in our town
a little of the knowledge in question. There are some we
could point to who seem to know everybody else's business,
but not their own,

THE GREAT BRITAIN AGAIN AFLOAT.

The Great Britain'has, by the perseverance and skill of.
Mr. Bremner, been at length released from her rocky
prison in Dundrum Bay. On Monday her Majesty's
steamer Birkenhead returned from Kingstown to Dun-
drum Bay, and a steamer also arrived from Warrenpoint.
On Tuesday her Majesty's steamer Scourge arrived and
landed a number of men to assist in the operation. Two
large lighters were made fast to the Great Britain, one on
each side. On Friday night, when the highest tide of the
month occurred, the weather being calm and favourable,
and all the preparations complete, the great trial was
made, and was fully successful. The huge structure was
triumphantly drawn into deep water, and was towed by
the Birkenhead to Belfast, where she arrived at four
o'clock on. Saturday afternoon. She was rather leaky,
but, after some slight repairs, she was again taken in tow
and proceeded towards Liverpool at twelve at noon on
Sunday. We may observe that the Great Britain left
this port on the 22nd September last year, and got
ashore in Dundrum Bay at nine the same evening.

HER ARRIVAL IN LIVERPOOL
A considerable sensation was excited yesterday morn-
ing by a telegraphic announcement to the effect that at
seven o'clock, A.M., there had appeared off the Orms-
heads a large steamer, with five masts, in tow of a steamer,
and that the former " appeared " to be the Great Britain.
The caution observed in this notice almost defeated itself.
What five-masted steamer was ever heard of or could be
expected but the Great Britain ? and it was known before
that she had been got off and, in due time, would be here
from Belfast, and necessarily in tow, as she had no steam
up ; but she was-not expected quite so soon, so that- the
strange announcement assumed, to many, the appearance
of a hoax. Others, however, were sanguine, and as the
vessels, if they came at all, might be expected about noon,
with the tide, or soon after, thousands of persons
hurried to the quays and the landing stage, anxious
to witness the re-arrival of the Great Leviathan, and
with the most kindly feelings towards her. Nor
were they to be disappointed. Our reporter pro-
ceeded by a river steamer, in which were a number
of gentlemen interested, to meet her, shortly after
twelve o'clock. At one o'clock she was seen looming
largely, yet indistinctly, in the distance (during a squall
with rain), as she came up the Victoria Channel, pre-
ceded by her Majesty's iron steam frigate Birkenhead,
(built at Birkenhead by Mr. Laird,) which had her in tow
with two hawsers. She very rapidly neared, until her
magnificent hull came into full view when she reached a
point off the Rock Battery, at half-past one o'clock. She
was gaily decorated with flags on all her five masts, and it
was a great delight to all who saw her, including several
nautical gentlemen, to remark, even by minutely examin-
ing her by the eye, to find that, notwithstanding all the
buifetings she has endured, over a hard winter in a wild
bay, her lines are yet perfectly symmetrical ; and her
sheer streaks above precisely in their original curviture,
showing that her frame has undergone no mutation in
form. There is no " hogging," or convex rise of the
decks, and there is no central or concave depression,
or anything indicating the slightest approach to a broken
I back." It is impossible to conceive, after the severe ordeal
to which she has been subjected, but that her plating and
rivetting must here and there be slightly injured, bnt
this can readily be renewed, and, in this point, under
similar circumstances, rests the superiority of an iron
over a wooden ship—that superiority being the toughness
and elasticity of the metal. We have to add—and we do
it to the satisfaction of the " Steam Navigation World,"
—that the Great Britain presents no more appearance of
corrosion than if she had been only on an ordinary voy-
age to sea. She is by no means weather-beaten, and,
with the exception of a little tarnished paint, looks as
" slick" as ever. On a near approach our reporter ob-
served some slight contusions and indentions in the
plates, but of no moment, as these little cutaneous in-
juries can speedily be remedied equal to new. 'She had
projecting from her stern a huge spar, (her main yard,
we believe,) acting as a temporary rudder, by means of
ropes, one on each side, leading to the steering wheel
through blocks affixed to the respective extremities of
a huge balk placed along the taffrail, and projecting
on either side, forming outriggers. This rudder appeared
to be hung at an angle of about thirty-five degrees of
declension from the higher deck, aud, under water, was
planked at the outward end, forming a perpendicuilar
blade or fin—moveable from side to side by the ropes—a
capital, yet simple, contrivance in lieu of the usual rudder,
which could not be attached, a portion of the after stern-
post,-astern of the "screw," being carried away in the
stranding of the ship in Dundrum Bay. The vessel's
deck appeared to be swarming with people.
As the Great Britain proceeded up the river, her re-
appearance, or rather somewhat unexpected "resuscita-
tion," was welcomed by firing of guns on the Cheshire
shore, beginning at New Brighton and ending at Sea-
combe. She was towed up, with a pilot-boat behind her,
by the Birkenhead, at a speed which could scarcely be
overcome by our smartest river steamers. The Birken-
head showed to great advantage, though thus employed
in a subordinate service. She is a noble and powerful
vessel, with a beautiful bow, but a rather unseemly-plain
round stern, which would be greatly improved by some
raised quarter-badges, or other decorations. She wore
the flag of the royal navy at the pique, and the long grace-
ful pendant, or " whip " of England, at her main.
It became immediately evident on seeing the Great
Britain, that she leaked much. The water was pouring
cut of three scupper or perforated holes on the port bow;
the other side we had no opportunity of seeing, but we
presume an equal number of holes were there for the
same purpose. We have since learned -that the vessel
had on board about 300 hands, and that much pumping
was required in crossing the Irish Sea. There were
pumps of many kinds kept agoing between decks inces-
santly by immense gangs of men, upwards of 100 (we
have been told) at a time. We learn from the respected
agents here that the vessel started quite dry from Belfast,
but by the time she was half across, she made a great
quantity of water. and there was great difficulty in keep-
ing her afloat. She was on the mud at Belfast, and this
probably stopped the leaks for a time. As she passed
the steamer in which our reporter was, and which was
sent to attend her by the consignees of the ship here, she
was loudly cheered by all on board. Steam-tug No. 3,
was alongside of her to assist her in steering. The "screw"
is still in the stern of the ship, disengaged from any ma-
chinery, and in its revolutions the tops of the huge blades
occasionally appeared over the surface of the water like
porpoises disporting and showing their backs. The mo-
tion, of the screw was, of course, produced by the mere
traction of the vessel through the water.
The dock quays, landing-stages, &c., were crowded
with spectators as she neared the town, as were also the
river steamers, all desirous to obtain a view of her, and
she looked well and rakish, though her topmasts were
struck. We observed four men at her wheel, and a
number of others assisting in the steering department, by
pulling at ropes connected with the temporary rudder.
She reached opposite the Old Church shortly after half-
past one o'clock, and was towed round soon after high
water, with her head to the northward, sheering alongside
the north end of the Prince's Pier. Thence, with some
difficulty, on account of her great length, she was taken
into the Prince's Dock basin, and as the tide fell secured
on the gridiron, where she will undergo a temporary
tightening repair. She will thence be taken into the Co-
burg Dock, to await further orders from the directors.
The ship was under the command of Captain Claxton,
R.N., one of the directors, and we must say that the
skill, tact, courage, and perseverance, which he has dis-
played in superintending the operations in Dundrum Bay
to save the noble ship, and in afterwards bringing her here
safely in a precarious, leaky, and somewhatunmanageable
state, are beyond all praise. We subjoin a copy of a
letter from this gallant officer, kindly handed to us by
the consignees, (Messrs. Gibb, Bright, and C 0.,) relative
to her escape from Dundrum, and her very leaky condi-
tion at Belfast, which will, we doubt not, be read with
interest. With respect to Mr. Bremner, through whose
practical talents she was got off, we need but say that his
success, in
engineer
uponanal a mosdtefsoerrlyoerdnly nd
hope, will
rin pfolaucnedahtiisofname as
an
Great Britain, Belfast, August 28th.
DEAR SIRS,—I have the pleasure to acquaint you that
last night saw the last of the Great Britain in Dundrum
Bay. It was intended after the morning's move to post-
pone that of the final quitting until this morning, but the
ship floating with the tide, the temptation was too strong,
so the signal was made as pre-arranged for fifty'men from
her Majesty's ships for pumping.
We were therefore put to our shifts, and the work re-
quired for anchors, cables, warps, boxes, and their appen-
dages, which were all cut adrift, by occupying our crew
allowed the pumps to get behind hand, aad the water,
which it was reputed required fewer pumps than before,
speedily got ahead and at four she was to all appearance a
water-logged ship, Fresh vigour was, however, infused,
and before we got off Strangford, where I thought it best
to go, a thick, a most dense fog came on, and obliged us
to go to Belfast ; where having kept the water under, we
arrived at about 4, p.m. lam now shipping labourers, and
hope to be able to start to-morrow. A dry ship.—Your's
truly, (Signed) C. C. CLAXTON.
To Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co.

The Eastham regatta will take place to-day, and the
sports will be first rate.
A MAN FOUND DROWNED.—Art inquest was held
yesterday at the coroner's office on view of the body of a
man unknown, which was picked up in the river by one
of the Eastham ferry boats. The body was in a state of
decomposition, and the height was 5 feet 6 inches.
CRICKET MATCHES.—We understand that a match will
be played on Wednesday (to-morrow) morning between
the first eleven of the Edge-hill and the Olympus
Cricket Clubs, on the Edge-hill ground, Hall-lane. A
match will also be played on Saturday next, at noon, be-
tween the second eleven of the Edge-hill and the first
eleven of the Bark-hill Clubs, on the ground of the former.
CAUTION.—We have authority for informing the public
that a man who is going about the town and neighbour-
hood with a petition, apparently numerously and respect-
ably signed with donations for the widow and eight
children of the late Lieutenant C. Loftus Robinson, is an
impostor. He sends the petition into the house with a
note, purporting to be from a highly-respectable clergy-
man at Walton, who knows nothing of the case. The
same liberty is taken with the names of other clergymen ;
and we can only repeat the caution which we have fre-
quently given, that no person should be induced to con-
tribute to any such applicant, without previous inquiry
into the truth of his statement.
SMOKE CONSUMPTION.—Mr. Joseph Williams received
on Saturday a letter from Messrs. Jones, tobacco manu-
facturers, Chester, stating that " his smoke consuming
apparatus, after being in operation some months, answered
the purpose most effectually." Messrs. James Glover
and Co., brewers, of Russell-street, in this town, have
also written to Mr. Williams to say that his " apparatus
completely destroys the smoke, except for a short time
after making the first fire. We also find there is a saving
of about twenty per cent. in coals, with the additional ad-
vantage of a greater regularity in the heat and despatch
in boiling the worts : after being in constant use eight
months, we do not find any injury done either to the
coppers or steam boiler,"

FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

The state of the money market has undergone no mate-
rial change 'during the week, although the prices of stock
have shown a tendency towards an advance. Money has
been in great demand ; and 6 to 7 per cent was paid on
Friday for advances from the bank, a circumstance to
which is attributed the fact of that body not having re-
duced the rate of discounts as was anticipated. The con-
tinued occurrence of extensive failures amongst the specu-
lators in grain, and houses connected with them, is caus-
ing considerable uneasiness in the mercantile and monied
circles ; and, should confidence be further shaken, we
must look forward to an additional scarcity of money for
commercial purposes, by the withdrawal from circulation
of a portion of the paper which is ordinarily available.
The announcement of the refusal of Messrs. Gurney,
Overend, and Co., to accept the drafts upon them of the
extensive firm of Prime, Ward, and Co., (the same house
to protect whose honour Messrs. Barings recently stepped
forwird) until the arrival of the Hibernia, increased the
prevailing dissatisfaction.
Our cotton market has been dull throughout the week,
the total sale being 20,710 hales, of which 1,900 were on
speculation, and 1,680 for export, leaving only 17,000 for
the trade. Bowed and American are quoted j,- lower ;
Mobile at last week's rates. The accounts per Hibernia
did not affect the market on Saturday or yesterday.
From other causes, however, yesterday's market was a
little firmer.

The Manchester market for manufactured goods con-
tinues to decline, and a further reduction of the hours of
working at some mills is announced. The same remarks
apply to other branches of manufacture, some of which
are represented as being in a deplorable state. It is a
happy circumstance that the operative classes have the
prospect of food at reduced prices, to make up in part for
their reduced wages.
The Corn Trade during tle week has presented some
apparent anomalies. In the leading country markets
prices have receded, without any pressure of supply being
noticed ; but in Liverpool, notwithstanding the immense
importations which we have been weekly receiving, prices,
of Flour especially, were on Friday fully maintained.
This is attributable to its being drawn off as it arrives to
meet the consumption of the interior of the country,
which has been almost cleared of last year's wheat. This
will continue until the farmers have completed their field
and stacking operations and begin to market the new crop,
when we shall no doubt see prices come down with suffi-
cient alacrity. It is not thought that the stocks in Liver-
pool are so large as to excite any serious apprehension of
the result to those by whom they are held. The princi-
pal losses will arise from the cargoes on the voyage and
to come forward, and will in all probability fall upon the
foreign shippers, being it is believed chiefly on consign-
ment, possibly some further inconvenience may arise
from a portion of the bills drawn against them being re-
fused acceptance, as in the case of those of Messrs.
Prime, Ward, and Co.
A marked improvement occurred in the value of most
of the English Securities, just prior to the termination of
business on Fridays, the favourable adjustment of the ac-
count bringing forward buyers, who manifested an incli-
nation to close bargains for the October arrangement.
In consequence of these operations, the money price of
Consols went up to 87*, and the October price to 871,
leaving off at these quotations, with a firm appearance.
Three per Cents. Reduced closed 871 to ; Three-and-a-
Quarter per Cents., 88i to 89 ; Long Annuities, 9 1-16 ;
India Bonds, 7 to 2 dis. ; and Exchequer Bills, par. to
3 pm.
The English Funds still remained firm on Saturday,
and business was rather better, owing to the expectation
I entertained among some parties out of doors that a chance
exists of things generally taking an improving turn for
the next week or so. On what foundation this opinion
rests, more than the rumoured intention of the Bank to
reduce the rate of discount, we are wholly at a loss to
discover. Money was certainly tight, with every prospect
of so continuing, as far as present appearances indicate.
Bank Stock is 195 to 197 ; Three per Cents. Reduced,
87+ ; Consols for Money, 87k to +, for the Account,
87t to I.
According to the last advices from America, all parties
at New York were looking with the greatest anxiety for
• the accounts to be received during the next few weeks of
the state of the weather on this side. Throughout the
various states the crops (with the exception of Indian
corn) were all in, and had proved most abundant. Re-
specting the condition of the money and stock market at
the departure of Cie steamer, one of the papers remarks
as follows :

"Money is decidedly in better request since our last
notice, and the rates on all descriptions of loans may be
quoted at somewhat higher. The publication of the re-
ceipts and expenditure of the Government for the last
quarter has much strengthened the conviction which was
previously entertained by some individuals, that it would
be necessary for Congress at the ensuing session to au-
thorise large additional loans, and hence, in connexion
with other causes, the price of Government securities
has declined. They have been maintained from their first
issue rather by the facilities which the banks have ex-
tended to speculators than by any extensive demand-for
actual investment." _ _

The receipts down the Hudson, from the opeliing of
river navigation to the 14th instant, are—
Wheat flour barrels 1,79-1,147
Corn mea 1....
Export from Ist to 10th August.
Wheat flour
Exports from the United States to Great Britain and
Ireland, to the latest dates since the Ist of September
last—
Wheat flour barrels 2,992,319
Corn meal 826,536
Wheat
Indian corn
Rye
Oats 436,881
Barley 308,324
The private letters prom Rio de Janeiro of the 23rd of
July quoted the rate of exchange upon London as firmer
at 271. Upon Paris the rate was 348 to 350, and upon
Hamburg 645. The local six per cent stock under the
pressure of sales, had declined to 83.
The following is the report of Messrs. Holt, of Liver-
pool, of the cotton-market for the week :—" The pro-
ceedings in our cotton-market during the past week have
brought about little or no change in prices of American
descriptions, nor has there been any relief to the dulness
and depression which have been so long in existence.
Brazils, on account of their great scarcity, are rather
higher."
What matters of interest have occurred as bearing
upon our market have been external to the cotton ques-
tion itself, such as the failures in London, and here also
to a smaller extent, connected with the corn trade, and
the often repeated difficulties of discount and dear money.
Had we not been overlaid by questions of this kind, it can
hardly be doubted that the firm tone of our holders,
founded upon a light stock, would have given prices an
upward tendency rather than th# reverse. As it is, our
quotations remain very much as before, everything about
us continuing very dull, and the spinners pursuing a pro-
fitless or losing business, the result of which is likely to
drive them to a still more contracted consumption."

ABUNDANCE .OF THE HARVESTS IN

GERMANY.

We have been favoured with a perusal of a letter ad-
dressed to a gentleman in this town from Bunder, in Ost
Friesland, in the kingdom of Hanover, dated 23rd instant,
the writer of which states that the price of Bibs. of bread
(rye), which was a few months ago selling at equal to
ls. 3d. of our money, is now (iid. ; and that potatoes and
all other articles of food are similarly reduced. The har-
vest was all got in, and the crop was nearly double the
average of past seasons. When it is borne in mind that
the weekly pay of the artizan in that country ranges from
6s. to Bs., such a difference in the cost of living must be
important indeed.

ASSAULT.—Yesterday, a cripple, named Andrew Kelly
was fined £5 for an assault on Henry Mistairn. The pri•
soner, without any provocation, struck the complainant a
very violent blow on the head with his crutch. He was
committed to gaol for a month in default of paying the
penalty.
ROBBING A CAR DRlVER.—Yesterday, Thos. Parkin-
son was brought before the magistrates. charged with
stealing a horse-cloth and whip from John Jones, a car
driver. The complainant was at a house in Skelhorne-
street, on Saturday, taking up a fare, when the prisoner
took away the horse-cloth and whip and was in the act of
making off when he was taken into custody. He was an
old offender. The magistrate ordered him to be commit-
ted for trial.
INQUEST.—Yesterday, on view of the body of John
Rourke, aged 55. He resided in a cellar in Stade-street,
lay down before the fire on Wednesday night to sleep,
and was found dead next morning. The surgeon attri-
buted death to disease of the lungs, and a verdict of
" natural death" was accordingly returned. The only
important fact elicited was that there were three persons
sick of fever in the cellar at the time, and that six per-
sons lived in the same wretched place. The health com-
mittee will, no doubt, look to this.
A DEATH UNACCOUNTED FOR.—Yesterday an inquest
was held at the Coroner's office on view of the body of
Susan Kelly, aged 24, who lived with her husband in a
cellar in Brick-street. It appeared from the evidence so
far that she did not often drink, but that when she did
so, as on Saturday last, she was extremely violent, and in
a quarrel with her husband and others she fell down, or
was thrown down the cellar stairs, but whether by her own
act in struggling with her husband did not clearly appear,
and the evidence being inconclusive the inquiry was ad-
journed.
DEATH FROM DRINKING.—At the Coroner's office yes-
terday, an inquest was held on the body of Kilmer Gre-
gory, a seaman, who lodged in Simpson-street. On
Wednesday evening he became stupified with drink, and
staggered to bed. Soon after a noise was heard, and he
was found on the landing of the stair with his feet up.
He complained of his shoulder being stiff, and got worse
until Saturday. when a doctor was sent for, but he died
the same evening. He had been in the habit of drinking
much. The surgeon ascribed his death to congestive
apoplexy, arising from excessive drinking.
STEALING WEARING APPAREL.--Yesterday, an elderly
woman named Margaret Burke, was brought before the
magistrates on a charge of robbing Mary Bennett of some
clothes. The complainant, a poor woman, residing in a
court in Norfolk-street, left her home for a few moments
to go to the grocers, on Saturday evening. • On her return
she saw the prisoner at the bottom of the staircase with a
candle, and on being asked what she was doing, replied
that she had taken a pair of trowsers and a vest (which
were in her possession), because she was hungry. In-
formation was given to the police, and the prisoner, who
did not make any resistance, was taken into custody. She
stated to the magistrates in her defence, that she was
' driven to the commission, of the crime by starvation. The
prisoner was committed for trial.

EXHIBITION OF THE LARGE PICTURES, BY
MR. WM. ETTY, R. A., ILLUSTRATING THE
MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF
JOAN OF ARC, MAID OF ORLEANS.

By the kindness of Messrs. Collis and Wass, of No. 8,
Adam-street, Adelphi, London, the proprietors of the
above splendid pictures, painted for them by Mr. Etty,
the royal academician, at a cost of 2,500 guineas, we have
been favoured with a private view, preparatory to their
being engraved in the highest style of line and mezzotint
by Mr. C. W. Wass, engraver to H. R. H. the Duke of
Cambridge. The subjects chosen—the most important
events in the life of one of the greatest heroines of modern
history, Joan of Arc—are peculiarly fitted for the ge-
nius of the distinguished artist employed, and are well
worked out in three large pictures— a centre piece, and
two side pieces—the whole measuring in length, exclusive
of the frames, from thirty to thirty-one feet. In height•
they are, as near as we can guess, about fifteen to sixteen
feet, or perhaps more.
The left-hand picture—they are ranged alongside in the
form of a large screen—represents Joan after she found
the sword of which she had dreamt, in the Church of St.
Catherine de Furbois, at the tomb of a knight. She is in
a kneeling posture, and is represented as devoting herself
and it to the task of rescuing her country. The figure of
the young enthusiast is finely painted, and is of the cha-
racter, so far as regards strength and capability of enduring
bodily exertion, which we naturally attribute to her. The
face is fine, not unfeminine, but expressive of determina-
tion. The light is well managed, and the accessories of
the picture most artistically executed. The colouring, we
need not say, is in Mr. Etty's most gorgeous style.
The centre picture, which is of larger size than the side
pictures, is, in the words of the artist's own description,
" an attempt to delineate her ( Joan of Arc) under the in-
fluence of inspiration riding on to victory ; she may be
suppbsed to be breathing a short prayer.; her eyes cast
down, believing herself imbued with inspiration from on
high, she accomplishes more by that inspiration than the
vulgar expression of those human passions which actuate
more ordinary characters. She does nothing of herself;
her arm is wielded by a power of which her very self is
scarcely conscious. She had started from a short sleep on
her couch, imagining that she heard her sacred vows
urging her to combat ; she called for her armour, her
banner, and her steed : ' then darting at full speed through
the streets, until she reached the scene of action, Joan
plunged headlong into the thickest of the fight : far from
being daunted by danger when closely viewed, she seems
invigorated, nay, almost inspired, by its presence, as one
conscious of support from on high. Waving aloft the
white banner, and calling aloud to those around her, she
urged her countrymen to courage like her own. She had
found them driven back and retreating—she at once led
them on to a second onset.' The incident of carrying off
Cie wounded man near the gate is the recollection of an
incident witnessed by the painter in the late revolution in
France, 1830, and accords with a similar incident which
happened as she was passing the gate, when a wounded
man being brought in, Ha!' she exclaimed, I never see
the blood of a Frenchman, but my own boils with indigna-
tion.'

The gate and cathedral are from the best authority that
could be procured—by a visit to Orleans for the purpose,
where the house in which Joan lived is still in existence,
as well as the houses at Rouen, in the old market-place,
existing at the time of her death."
This picture is painted with a breadth and vigour of
style which we have rarely seen exceeded. The horse
upon which Joan rides is a splendid animal, beautifully
painted, and the expression of her own countenance, be-
traying neither fear nor passion, but expressive of a con-
viction that she is fulfilling only a divine mission, is very
fine. The composition throughout is worthy of the
master.

The third picture represents the tragic scene in her his-
tory—Joan herself at the stake—deserted by those who
ought to have aided her, and surrounded only by craven
hearts, or by her enemies.* The soldiers and officers of
Henry the Sixth, of England, are seen in the balconies of
the houses opposite the burning pile, watching the agony
of her whom they have condemned as a sorceress. The
figure and features of the enthusiastic girl are still noble,
but the, expression of the latter is changed, and the
dreamy air which it formerly wore has given place to one
expressive of the sad reality Gf her condition. The figure
of a monk in the fore-ground, holding up a crucifix, is a
picture in itself. The series, engraved, as they are in-
tenled to be, in the first style art and upon a large
scale—the centre plate 30 inches by 21, and the side plates
21 inches by 15—will be such as few lovers of historical
painting would not be glad to be possessed of. The pic-
ture is on view at the gallery, 52, Bold-street.

DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday, three young
gentlemen, Richard and John Long, (aged respectively 27
and 21 years, sons of George Long, Esq., Aghadown,) and
Mr. M'Swiney, aged 22, went out sailing in a small boat
in Roaring Water Bay, when, owing to some cause not
yet known, the boat was upset, and all on board perished.
the accident occurred within a short distance of the shore.

The younger Mr. Long seized an oar, and drifted on it
for more than two hours, when he was seen by a man on
the beach, who went to rescue him. Unfortunately, how-
ever, instead of taking hold of Mr. L., he caught the oar,
and, pulling it with too much violence, Mr. Long fell off
and sunk. He was quickly got up, but life was extinct.—
Cork Constitution.
BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IN LLANELLY CHURCH.—
On Sunday last, the parish church was the scene of a
most interesting ceremony—the baptism by immersion of
an adult. After the reading of the second lesson, the
Rev. E. Morris, the vicar of the parish, and rural dean
for the Deanery of Kidwelly, conducted the young per-
son to be baptised, to a font, specially provided for the
purpose, and in his usual most impressive and solemn
manner rehd the service proper for the occasion. The
revival of this form of baptism, which was, in former
years, generally adopted by the Church of England, and
is still authorised by the Rubric, was an object of interest,
and attracted many to witness the ceremony. The whole
proceedings were devoutly conducted in the prescribed
decency and order.—Carmarthen Journal.

THE WEATHER.—CANTERBURY, SATURDAY, AUGUST
28TH.—The late heavy rains have been succeeded by fine
sunny weather, and the face of the country looks quite
refreshed. A considerable quantity of corn has been
housed in an inferior condition, and what little is now
standing will speedily be ready for the granary. Wheat
is more than an average crop, and all other descriptions of
grain are abundant. The Markets are still going down.
Very far best red wheat was sold at to-day's market for
50s. per quarter, 555. being a top price. Hops will be
abundant. Within a fortnight picking will commence :
where the line is strong the hops hang in luxuriant
clusters. The accounts from all the districts are generally
favourable, and a much higher duty than was expected
is talked of. The quantity of walnuts and filberts this
year is unusually large, and the quality excellent.
- MELANCHOLY TRUTHS.—We have seen a nation with-
out the fear of God—a king without principle—a govern-
-ment without good faith—a people without loyalty.
Those corner-stones, religion, honesty, justice, obedience,
have long ceased to adorn the figurative edifice of France.
Still, we hoped we had seen the worst, and that the crisis
might end happily. In the midst of our hopes falls, like
a bomb, the Praslin murder to crush them. The great
crime was born of vice—a crime, too ; but both are crimes
of a sort to which the filthy and infidel portion of the
French press and French literature generally have given
the name of virtues ! Where the stage and the novelists
encourage lust and murder, and Where the law looks upon
adultery and bloodshcdding as amiable weaknesses, no
wonder that God is outraged, and hearths desolated, by
such social crimes as that which has so lately awoke the
public horror.—Church Gazette.
FURTHER FALL IN THE PRICE OF CORN. —The
highest price realized for wheat in Berks and the neigh-
bouring counties at the time it had reached its maximum,
during the "scarcity," was £32 per load. Wheat of the
same quality was offered in Windsor market on Saturday
last, and only very small sales effected, the general im-
pression amongst the buyers being that in the course of
another month it would be down to £l2 or £l3 per load.
The following are the last prices of wheat per load at the
market towns alluded to : —Reading, £l2 10s. to £l7 10s. ;
Newbury, £l4 to £l7 ; Bicester, £l4 to £l4 10s. ; Ayles-
bury, £l4 to £l6 ; Thame, £l3 10s. to £l5 15s. ; Abing-
don, £l5 to £l6 ; Wallingford, £l3 to £l4 10s. ; and
Maidenhead, £l3 10s. to £l7. There appears to be a
general complaining throughout the provincial districts
that the price of bread to the public has not been reduced
in anything like proportion to the great fall in wheat and
flour.

EFFECTS OP FREE-TRADE.—ALARMING INCREASE OF
PAUPERISM IN LANCASHIRE.—On this subject, says a
free-trade journal of Saturday, such an alarm has been
taken in Bolton, that the Mayor has convened a special
meeting to consult as to what is best to be done. In
Preston the increase upon the poors' rates has been very
great. In the June quarter, 1846, the number of poor
relieved in that town was 3,687, the cost being £1,130.
In the June quarter of the present year the number re-
lieved has been 12,615, and the cost £3,795. The Preston
Guardian in drawing attention to these facts, says :—" It
will be ruinous to go on at the rate of fifteen thousand a-
year for poor-taxes alone ; and if the forebodings respect-
ing trade be realized, we may have that sum very greatly
increased in the winter, frqm the vast numbers who are
expected to be out of work. In addition to which, the
county rates, instead of diminishing, are likely to increase
upon us. What is done should be done instantly."
MORE ABOUT POTATOES.—Of the state of the potato
crops abroad, the editor of the Gardener's Chronicle, who
has been at much pains to obtain authentic information,
says, in that paper of Saturday,—" The season.is now so
far advanced as to justify us in believing that the danger
is over, and that the principal part of the European har-
vest of' this root is sate ; and thus again are confirmed the
opinions which we have this season ventured to express,
that the symptoms were more favourable, and that the
disease had lost its virulence. It is the same on the con-
tinent. Our Paris letter of last week will have removed
all doubts as to the French crop ; potatoes at ls. 6d. a
bushel, while the 41b. loaf
is 10d.,indicate an enormous
supply of the former, and a confidence that the supply
will not diminish. We have similar information from
Holland, and affairs appear to be equally satisfactory in
Belgium.. There is nothing in the Belgian potatoe crop
which can lead to a suspicion that it has been attacked by
the disease of previous years. hi light land or heavy,
clay, marl, or bog, ( the Polders,) the crops are universally
safe, and promise twice as large a return as in common
years."
THEATRE ROYAL, LIVER. This favourite theatre
opened last night under a new management, with the play
of Rid/lieu, the leading character being sustained by a
young tragedian—Mr. George Owen, of whom high ex-
pectations had been raised, from notices of his acting in
various provincial theatres. We have not had, upon the
eve of a publication, a fair opportunity of forming a judg-
ment of his abilities ; and must, therefore, refrain from
saying more at present than that many passages of his
acting elicited hearty applause, and that some evinced
great merit. The company generally is good. Thu house
was moderately well filled.

Aug. 31, 1847.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(BY EXPRESS.

LONDON CORN MARKET.—YESTERDAY.
Our market was moderately supplied with English Wheat this
morning, by land-carriage samples from the near counties,
which met a slow demand, at a decline of from ss. to 6s. per
quarter upon the quotations of Monday last. Good qualities
of foreign Wheat were saleable, in a retail way, at a reduction
of from 4s. to ss. per quarter upon that day's rates. Barrel
Flour must be quoted is. cheaper. English Barley did not
realise within 28. per quarter of its previous value. Oats were
in better request than of late, at an abatement of Is. to 2s. per
quarter. Peas of all sorts, being scarce, brought Is. to 28.
more money. Beans were unaltered in value.
-
SMITHFIELD CATTLE MARKET.-YESTERDAY.
The supply of beasts is again large, and trade is not quite sCr
good; the average price of the best qualities must be quoted
2d. per Sibs. lower, although some few of the choicest descrip-
tions make about the same as last week. From Leicester and
Northampton we have about 1,600, from Lincolnshire 520,
Holland and Germany nearly 700, and Ireland 100. A large
proportion are of inferior quality ; this description makes less
money. The number of Sheep is also increLsed, but we are not
over-supplied with the best qualities, these, therefore, realised
about the same price as on Monday last, but inferior are rather
lower. A few good Lambs still make a good price, lint mid-
dling ones are very unsaleable. Trade is heavy for Calves, at
reduced prices. Pigs are scarce and dear. From Holland and
Germany there are 3,320 Sheep, and 176 Calves.

MONEY MARKgr -YESTERDAY.

We have a quiet market this morning in the funds, and
prices ruling as equably and stationary as business is inactiVe.
We quote Consols and stock values generally rather bettet
than Saturday's closing rates. Consols 874 to -a money, 87;
to 8 for account. Reduced Threes, at sn to 2. Three-and-a
Quarter per Cents. 894 to f. Exchequer Bills, 2s. to ss. pre--
mium. Bank Stock, 195 to 7.
Although Dutch stocks come lower from Amsterdam on the
27th instant, the Two-and-a-half per Cents. being down there
to 56/, owing probably to the news received of their decline
here, they have recovered partially this morning. The Two-
and-Half per Cents. are now quoted 56 to /; the Fours 89 to /.
Spanish Fives, 192 to 204 ; the Threes 29/ to. 30; Passive, 41
to /. Portuguese 24 to 6. Mexican have receded to 181 to 191.
Peruvian, 33 to 5. The transactions have been few and unim-
portant.

The reports of the evacuation of the town' of Ferrara by
the Austrians has not been confirmed ; on the contrary,
letters from that town state that reinforcements were
expected.

A man named John Hutchings, a cooper, recently em-
ployed in her Majesty's victualling yard,Deptford, has
been committed for trial, charged with the wilful murder
of his wife by giving her arsenic.
Intelligence has been received at Lloyd's of the loss of
the East Indiaman Robarts, of London, 1000 tons, by
fire. The loss of the vessel and cargo is said to exceed
£30,000, and there are suspicions existing that the ship
was wilfully set on fire by some of the crew, who'were
principally Lascars.

The Pi;slin butchery is the last of a long and repulsive
narrative of individual and national crimes. Of all hu-
man murder this is, perhaps, the worst ; and, in all pro-
bability, the proudest man of the proudest race upon
earth, le old aristocracy of France, is the criminal and
bloody actor.

The duty payments on sugar at the five principal
ports, up to the 21st instant, have exceeded those of last
year by 31,200 tons.
The London share market, on Saturday, was rather
brisker, and this, coupled with the more favourable ap-
pearance of the consol market, caused prices to show an
upward tendency.
Her Majesty, and her royal suite will remain in Scot-
land for a fortnight or three weeks longer. Lord Palmer-
ston, who is now in town, will leave on Thursday to join
the royal party, as Secretary of State in attendance, in
succession to- Lord Grey. Sir George Grey is expected
to arrive in London from the north on Thursday.
THE IRISH CONFEDRATION.—Conciliation Hall bad
better look sharply at its already tarnished laurels. Its
rival establishment is doing a rapidly thriving business•
Among the members enrolled in the latter body last week
were Lord Wallscourt, and Mr. Chisholm Anstey, the
member for Youghal.
CommirrAL FOR ARSON.—On Saturday, Mr. Payne,
the London coroner, and a jury were engaged in inquiring
into the case of the late destructive fire at Beech-street,
London, and the result was that the jury returned a ver-
dict " That the house was wilfully set on fire by the ten-
ant, Leopold Hail." The accused was at once commit-
ted by the coroner for trial.

We regret to have to announce that at a meeting of the
creditors of Messrs. Lesley Alexander and Co., held to- •
day, it appeared that the liabilities of the firm are mud,
larger than was anticipated (the amount being £573,000,
instead of £400,000), and that the assets, which at the
date of the failure it was hoped would realize 20s. in the
pound, will not yield more than Bs.—London Times. e
IMPROVEMENTS' IN WATCHES.—Mr. Summersgill,
Preston, has lately registered under the Copyright De-
signs Act, a.very valuable improvement in lever watches,
which consists in so arranging the works, that the chain
and fuzee connected with the going barrel, or main-spring
box, are entirely dispensed with—motion being imparted
to the wheels and pinions direct, which are arranged ill
such a way that the watch requires winding up only once
in eight days.
SUICIDE OF PROFESSOR ROGERS.—An inquest los
held on Friday at the Marylebone workhouse, on Mr'
Alexander Rogers, aged 40, profe.socrr of elocution in the
Collegiate Institution of Liverpool. He had taken a bed
at the Somerset Coffee-house, Marylebone-lane, and on
the following morning
blieeenwaloswdisspcoirviteeredd
frtoomhadvne:o7
mitted suicide in bed, having first stabbed himself in the
side with a Spanish knife, and then destroyed himegif
with a razo'r. He had
troubles. The jury returned a verdict of temporary in'
sanity.—Morning Herald of yesterday.
RAILWAY AFFAIRS,---A. company called the. Nosit
County Association, for promoting the formation of a di-
_I
rect North Kent Railway from London to Dover, has
been formed. The real object is opposition to the South
Eastern Company, and it proposes to get up a concern in
£lO shares. The attempt, we think, will fail, as no one
with any fairness could oppose a company that has made
such sacrifices, and spent such an immense sum for the
convenience of the population of that district as the South
Eastern Company, and they have expressed their desire
still further to provide for the wants of the county.
NORTH WALES : HALF-YEARLY.—A rather extract'''
dinary scene occurred, in consequence of Messrs. Archer
and Mott being anxious that the line should be made,
while the directors were of opinion that it would be better 3
under present circumstances, to husband their resources;
and, should they not be enabled to enter into engagements
with other companies, to obtain a short act, and wind uP
the company. After a long discussion, the recommenda-
tions of the directors were adopted, Mr. Archer only dis-
senting.
NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION : HALF-YEARLY MEET:
ING.—The directors' report Stated that the deviation bill
had received the Royal assent, and by it the capital was
reduced to £2;625,000, being a diminution of £375,000, or
£6 ss. per share. An agreement had been entered into
with the Stockton and Darlington Company for a gun:
rantee on the expenditure from Bishop Auckland to 'Wes'
Mill, and the meeting was made special for the purpose.
The Chairman stated he believed there would be no fur'
ther call during 1847, as they had sufficient funds to go on
to the end of the year ; only half the last call had been
received, some parties were willing to pay the 5 per cent.
interest, rather than raise the money immediately. The
number of directors was reduce,d from 18 to 12, and the
report was unanimously adopted.