The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-28 00:00:00

INQIJESTS.

DEATH OF AN OLD MAN FROM STARVATION.—An in-
quest was held before the coroner, on Saturday, touching
the death of Peter Talbot, a man eighty years of age, who
resided in a house in Nelson's-court, Gladstone street. Mary
Kendrick, a next door neighbour of the deceased, deposed
that the old man lived by himself. He had been rather un-
well lately, and his daughters occasionally went to visit him.
On Wednesday last, witness went into the house to see the
deceased; both daughters were then present. On Thursday
morning she again went to see him ; and in the evening,
when one of the daughters was in the house, she again called
in for the same purpose. The daughter said that her father
was then asleep, but that she would call in Mrs. K. when he
awoke. On Friday a dispensary surgeon called at the house
of the witness, and said that it was a very great shame that a
man like Talbot should be locked up, and no one in the
house to give him a drink of water. The door was ascer-
tained to be fast; and the neighbours, thinking it a very singu-
lar thing, got a key which would unlock the doer, and went in
—The old man was found dead, and laid out. Witness saw
the daughters on Friday evening, and, at the request of the
surgeon, told them that they must either give information of
their father's death to the beadle or coroner. They said that
they neither cared for the coroner nor the doctor—that the
deceased was their own father, and that they could do as they
liked with him, and that be had not been neglected.—Mr.
Grant, surgeon, proved that he had been attending the de-
ceased in consequence of a bruise which he had received
from a fall. He (witness) saw Talbot last on Wednesday
evening, when he did not consider him in danger. On Fri-
day, when he called, the door was locked. He went again
the same evening, and then ascertained that the old man
was dead. He could not tell what was the cause of death, as
tbere was nothing in the case to lead him to suppose he
would die so soon, or at ail from any thing that was the matter
with him when witness last saw him alive The inquest was
in consequence adjourned until Monday, to allow time for a
post mortem examination of the body. Mr. Grant then said,
"I have made a post mortem examination of the body of the
deceased, in the presence of Dr. Vose and another surgeon.
The brain, liver, lungs, and all the other v scera were quite
healthy. There was not anything in the stomach, and lam
quite satisfied that the deceased died from want of the com-
mon necessaries of life. The stomach was healthy; and it
was evident that he bad not bad anything of a solid nature
for several hours before death. For his time of life, the de-
ceased was a particularly muscular and healthy man. There
was a slight contusion on the hip, but of no consequence."
Alice Talbot, a daughter of the deceased, said that she had
not lived with her father for the last thirty years. She bad
not called upon the old wan for several weeks, as he worked
in Mr. Lunt's soapery in the nighttime, and she did not
wish to disturb him by calling upon him in the day-time
She was never aware that he was in want of anything•
Having heard that he was unwell, she went on the Wednes-
day to see him, and staid with bim until ten at night. She gave
him some tea, a bun, and part of an apple. The next day
she went again, and he then appeared much the same. She
went out to try to get him admitted into the Infirmary, and
soon after her return he appeared to be dying. He expired
at four o'clock in the afternoon. She then went for her sis-
ter, and they laid him out. The deceased said that he had 15
sovereigns and a half in a drawer in a chest down stairs;
but they could not find the money anywhere. They found
20s. in one of his drawers. She did not tell the neighbours
of her father's death, as she was afraid of their taking things
out of the house. The jury returned a verdict to the follow-
ing effect, " that the deceased died through want of the
common necessaries of life."

CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.—Within the ast week there
have been four inquests held on the bodies of persons who
have been burnt to death. On Monday an inquest was held
' on a daughter of Mr. Curtis, plumber, of Renshaw-street.
The child was six years of age. On Friday evening her
clothes caught fire, and she was so severely burnt that she
died on Sunday night.—Verdict, accidental death.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held on Monday, re-
specting the death of a labouring man named Edwd. G'Don-
nell, who was in the employ of Mr. Threlfall, brewer, Crosbie-
street. On the 3d instant, O'Donnell, with others, was en-
gaged in taking out ale from the cellar. The men were
hoisting it out by means of a crane. The deceased was at the
handle. A cask had been raised, and on a person outside
calling out, as usual, "lower," O'Donnell, instead of doing
so, let go the handle, which, in its revolution, struck him
upon the temple. The wound was a very dangerous one.
Erysipelas came on, and spread over the whole of the body,
terminating in the mortification of the right arm, which caused
the death of the man. A verdict of accidental death was re-
turned by the jury.
DEATH OF A CA R PENTER.—On Wednesday last an in-
quest was held touching the death of Edward Vatkinson, a
carpenter, in the employ of Messrs. Wilson, ship-builders.
About five or six weeks ago, the deceased was engaged ma-
king a stage to work upon, at the cutwater of a vessel that was
being built in the yard. He drove in one nail into the bearer,
and he then took off the rope that it was slung by. As soon
as he had taken off the rope, he stood upon the bearer, the
nail came out, and the deceased fell to the ground, from a
height of about 25 feet. He was severely injured by the fall,
and was taken to the Northern Hospital. His left arm was
severely lacerated; the bones were dislocated; and the ar-
tery was torn across; and amputation was considered neces-
sary. The man, however, died on Monday, from the shock
which his constitution had received from the accident. Ver-
dict, " Accidental Death."

Tuesday being Christmas-day, the Worshipful the Mayor
presented the debtors confined in the Borough Gaol with a
nod substantial dinner. Each person had an allowance of
2 lbs. of bread, 2 lbs. of beef, 2 lbs. of potatoes, and a quart
of ale. The prisoners on the criminal side also partook of
the Mayor's bounty, in a plentiful supply of bread, beef, and
potatoes.

CHlNA.—Extract of a letter received by Mr. Court from
the agents for Lloyd's at China, dated 29th July, 1838:
" Her Britannic Majesty's superintendent of trade, Captain
Elliot, returned to Canton, and hoisted his flag on the 27th
instant; but it is understood his stay will be only for a few
days, having come on special business, probably to serve as
an organ of communication between the government and
Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland, who remains outside."

Lord and Lady Skelmersdale are seeing company at La-
tham House, Ormskirk, during the week.
The mess of the Roth have just purchased a costly set of
plate to the tune of £3,000.—Limerick Chronicle.

Lord and Lady Delamere intend giving a series of theatri-
cal fetes and bul masq es, at Vale Royal, their seat in
Cheshire, the second week in the ensuing month.

The Earl of Stamford and Warring!On is displaying the
same old English hospitality as has been usual during the
last quarter of a century, at Dunham Hall, in Cheshire, and
Enville Hall, in Staffordshire.

Mr. W. Egerton, M. P., and Lady Charlotte Egerton are
ervertaining a party at Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Lord Cautilupe had a severe fall whilst hunting with Lord
Suffield's hounds last week, by which his collar-bone was
broken. Sir David Baird has also been seriously injured by
a fall in hunting.

PRICE OF POTATOES.—The material reduction in the
price of potatoes at Liverpool, and generally throughout
England, has had a corresponding effect on the pota►o mar-
ket of Douglas, where they have already fallen to 7s. the
boll, or 35d. a stone, and are expected to be still lower, from
the large stocks remaining in the bands of farmers.—Manx
Liberal.

Isis OF MAN.—Douglas market continues to be abund-
antly supplied with fish by the trawl boats, but the most sale-
able portion of their captures is invariably shipped for Li-
verpool by the steam-packet, while the consumers here are
kindly allowed the refuse, which the forestallers take care to
enhance much above its real value.—Manx Liberal.

GERMAN MINES.—The mining company of the Grand
Duchy of Baden has recently discovered several veins of co-
balt and silver. The produce of the cobalt has been so con-
siderable, that the company has been induced to establish on
the spot a fabric of small, which article, by its quantity and
excellent quality, becomes now the object of a lucrative
commerce.

The erection of an immense range of batteries, in the shape
of a half-moon, is contemplated by government at the en-
trance of the Thames and Medway, on the isles of Grain and
Sheppy. This will include Sheerness dock-yard, which is
now quite unprotected ! The estimated expense is nearly a
million and a half.

GOUT AND RHEUMATISNI.—We beg to refer our readers to
Dr. Barker's advertisement, in which they will perceive that
a cure for Gout and Rheumatism, discovered and prepared
by him, has proved wonderfully successful. We, from our
own personal knowledge, can vouch for its efficacy, and we
would recommend it to all persons labouring under these
painful complaints."—Edinburgh (Y.:server, January 28, 1834.
OLIVE OlL.—The merchants, importers, and dealers in-
terested in the trade of olive oil, in Liverpool, have addressed
a memorial to the Right Hon. Charles Poulett Thomson,
president of her Majesty's board of trade—" Respectfully re-
presenting the hardship and intonvenience to which they
have long been subjected, by the continuance of the differ-
ential duty of four guineas per tun on the oil imported into
the kingdom from the dominions of the King of the Two Si-
cilies. This difference of duty operates, they say, equally to
the disadvantage of the manufacturer as to the various in-
terests which the memorialists represent, by causing him to
use an article of inferior quality, or to pay an additional
price for oil of the best quality, either imported direct, or ob-
tained circuitously at an enhanced value, and frequently
with false certificates. The liberal policy pursued with re-
spect to some other branches of commercial imposts, on
which, during successive years, reductions of duties have
been made, as well as the insignificant sum raised from the
present existing duties upon olive oil, appear to the memo-
rialists to call for an equalization, at least, of the duty on
olive oil; but they are of opinion that little or no diminution
of revenue would be occasioned by a general reduction of
duty, at this particular period, would tend greatly to increase
the consumption of olive oil, since the articles of tallow,
palm oil, and cocoa-nut oil, are now, and seem likely to con-
tinue, at unusually high relative value ; and they therefore
conclude that a great benefit would be conferred on our
woollen manufacturers and others, by furnishing them with
the cheaper substitute of olive oil, for a variety of uses. They,
therefore, earnestly pray that the board of trade will recom-
mend to her Majesty's government either to equalize the
duty on the oil which may hereafter be imported from the
kingdom of the Two Sicilies, or that a considerable reduc-
_ .

ion may be made of the duty of all olive oils without di.t-
inction."

COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WALLSEND.—It IS OUT painful
duty this week to record one of those fatal colliery explosions
which too frequently occur in the mines of this district, and
which are not only attended with such serious consequences
to human life, but so suddenly throw so many families into
a state of utter destitution and distress. The pit at which
this accident occurred is the G Church Pit, Wallsend, and
the same which exploded about three years and a half ago,
when 101 lives were lost. The explosion took place on Wed-
nesday, about half-past eight o'clock, the time when the
"night shift" was on, in the seam so well known as the
"Bensham Seam;" and we regret to add that the whole of
the men, eleven in number, perished. The accident was
not known for some time after by those engaged at the hank
of the pit, the report of the explosion not having been beard,
and the fire being confined in the pit; it being first dis-
covered by the lamp-keepers of the B pit, about a trile dis-
tant, from the foul air coming with great force upon the fur-
nace. Thealarm was then given to the C pit, which is close
adjoining, when it was immediately made known to those at
the pit which had fired. Several of the sinkers, with great
readiness, volunteered their services to go down to the aid of
their unfortunate fellow-workmen, but after pdoceeding a
little way were obliged to return, in consequence of the aftei-
damp. After a short time, however, another attempt was
made, when they succeeded in finding four of the bodies,
ehich were dreadfully burnt and mutilated; but up to the
time our reporter left, no more bodies had been brought to
the bank. It is remarkable that out of a number of horses
down the pit, only one was killed. Previous to the time of
the accident, the pit was never considered to be in a better
or safer condition in the "broken ;" and it is conjectured,
at present, that the explosion must have been occasioned by
one of the Davy lamps having gone wrong, or fallen down,
as two had been found much bulged and broken.—Newcastle
paper.
TERRIBLE STEAM.BOAT DISASTER.—The steamer Tiber,
which arrived on Tuesday morning from Louisville, reports
that she passed the wreck of the steam-boat Gen. Brown, at
St. Helena, where the latter bad collapsed a flue. The cap-
tain, pilot, one of the engineers, and thirty other persons on
board the Gen. Brown, lost their lives by this calamity. The
following comprises the list of killed, as far as was ascer-
tained when the Tiber passed. Killed—the captain and se-.
vetal of the crew, and the following passengers:—Messrs.
C. Liblev, D. L. Davis, N. A Miller, George Dr. Price, H.
M. Blanchard, E. Hubbard, Johnson, J. K. Garthwaite,
T. D. Lewis. Keane, T. D. Levey, and one other, name
unknown. The Tiber also reports the steamer Comanche to
be sunic below Salt River, and the Ozatd hard aground at
Cumlltritukd Islatid.—drAtrkan

This is, as the title-page informs us, " A Mono-Dramatico
Political Poem," by "Lynch Lawdon Sharpe," and the con-
tents bear out the promise. The characters are the Lord
High Commissioner; Gibbon and Turtle, gentlemen in svai'
ing on his Viceroyship; Sptaxh, a domestic artist ; Apparit'
of Lords Brougham and Melbourne; Physician, Delegates.
and others; Servants, 4-c. The scene is laid in the Vice-regal
residence in Quebec; time, the arrival of the indemnity act,
and the disallowance of the (in)-famous ordinances.
We extract the opening and closing scenes; and it will be
seen that the author, whoever he may be, has combined with
his poetical vein all the tact of a practised writer.

'4ll'
- THE VICEROY'S DREAM;
Or, The CANADIAN GOVERNMENT " WIDE AWAKE.
YORK, BELLERBY ; LONDON, WHITTAKER AND CO.,
LEEDS, CROSS AND HARRISON.