The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-23 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS.

TAE THEATRE ROYAL—Last evening Mr and Mrs,
Wood commenced the first night of a brief engagement, in
the opera of " Love in a Village," and played to an excel-
lent house. Mrs. Wood—the Queen of English song, is au
universal favourite, and almost ensures good houses; and
during her stay we therefore look for a double treat, delight-
ful melody, and boxes the very opposite to what Shakspeare
ter ms " a pitiful account of empty benches," brilliant with
the beauty and fashion of the town.
ENGLISH VOCAL. Music.—A course of lectures is now
being delivered at the theatre of the Royal Institution, by
Thomas Phillips, Esq., on English Vocal Music, assisted by
the three Misses Brandon. In this course the lecturer freely
scans the whole art and science, and natural qualifications
and defects of English singing. Our avocations have been
so numerous that we have not been able to attend the lectures
hitherto, but we have heard them highly spoken of. His
third morning lecture is announced for to-morrow.
MR. SLEIGH'S LECTURES ON THE UNITED STATES.—Last
evening Mr. Sleigh gave the first of a course of lectures at
the Music-hall, on the United States and the state of religi-
ous instruction therein. Mr. Sleigh obtained considerable
reputation in the United States for defending in a long con-
troversy against infidel sophists, the authenticity of the
sacred scriptures. The American papers speak highly re-
specting his talents as a logician and eloquent speaker. We
were not able to attend the lecture, but understand he had a
highly respectable auditory.
STEAM BOAT ACCIDENTS.—We perceive from the Sunder-
land Beacun, that the inhabitants of Sunderland, with the
dreadful tragedy of the wreck of the For farshire steam vessel,
on their coasts, fresh in remembrance, have had a numerous
and highly respectable meeting, at which resolutions and a
petition were adopted, eepresst ve of their opinion of the clan-
gers to which life and property are exposed from steam navi-
gation, and that the best means for obviating these, appeared
to them to be that the crown or legislative authoritiesshould
appoint inspectors for certain districts in which steam vessels
are used, to survey such vessels and their engines, and grant
certificates or licenses of their general seaworthiness ; and
also as to the competency of the engineers; legal, penalties
to lie imposed on the owners of any steamers not having such
certificates; and ffnally praying her Majesty in council, to
order the appointment of such inspectors. With the fearful
catastrophy of the blowing up of the Victoria at Hull, by
which sonic 20 lives were lost owing to careless engineers or
bad [milers, with the heart-rending wreck of the iForfarshire
at Sunderland, and of the Rothsay Castle at Liverpool, owing
principally to those vessels not being seaworthy, with numer-
ous other instances of calamities, arising from similar causes,
which might he mentioned before us, we hope that all mari-
time communities, (and especially Liverpool, where such an
immense traffic is carried on by steam navigation,) will join
in the prayer to her Majesty. Let us for once prevent the
evil, rather than wait fur another calamity affecting ourselves,
and then only make exertions to cure it.
Ft E.-0O Saturday night, about six o'clock, a fire, which,
at ffrst, was very alarming, broke out on the premises at the
corner of St. John's-lane and Hood-street, occupied, on the
ground floor, by Mr. Houghton, and above, by several in-
dividuals, for workshops of various descriptions. We under-
stand, a boy, who was boiling oil in the second floor, occupied
by Mr. Metcalf, carver and gilder, suffered the fluid to rise
over the surface of the vessel. This buy, unable to check the
flame thus created, ran out and gave the alarm. The blazing
oil quickly ignited the materials in the room, and in a short
time the flames were seen bursting from the windows with a
fury that cleated the strongest apprehensions for the safety
of the premises. Intelligence was carried to the Fire-police
station, and Mr. Hewitt, with three engines and a comple-
ment of firemen, was quickly on the spot. Two engines were
immediately got into play. A fireman, named Little, backed
by Hewitt, carried the hose up the staircase leading from
Hood-street. Here Little, whose intrepidity entitles him to
high commendation, lay upon his belly, playing into the room.
while the flames were waving over his head. 13y dint of great
exertion, the lire was completely subdued in less than twenty
minutes. All of the materials most easily consumable in Mr.
Metcalf's room were destroyed. The importance of a speedy
and sufficient supply of water in cases of ffre has, recently,
been made particularly evident. When sufficient water could
not be quickly procured, the devastation has been great.
Where the fire has not been so extensive as to require a
greater supply than could he given by the carts, it has been
immediately got under. We drew attention, a short time
since, to a proposition of Mr. Moore to carry mains, from the
Leeds and Liverpool Canal, through the streets of the town.
Of course, it would be understood, that we alluded to so much
of the town as is below the level of the canal. Such a plan
would ensure a constant and plentiful supply of eater on oc-
casions when it might be needed.
On Sunday the packet-ship Siddons, which had been de-
tained beyond her appointed day of sailing, by contrary winds,
sailed for New York. She had, notwithstanding the de-
parture of the steam-ship Liverpool on the preceding day, a
fair number of passengers on board. Among the passengers
are Wm. Brown, Esq., of the house of Wm. and Jas. Brown
and Co., and lady. who have gone on a visit to their relations
in the United States.
We understand that Mr. William Turner, upholsterer and
cabinet manufacturer, of Islington, who recently fitted up
the splendid new steam vessel, the Reindeer, is engaged to do
the cabinet and upholstery work of her Majesty's too magni-
ficent new steam-vessels. the Merlin and Medusa, for the
Liverpool and Dublin mail-packet service.—.dl/ion.
Passengers by the packet-ship Columbus, Cropper, from
New Yolk, arrived on Friday :—Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton,
and Mr. and Mrs. Leath, of Scotland; Mr. and Mrs. Low-
ther' of England; Mr. Axminton and Captain Tallmarch,
of the British army ; Mr. Crewe, of New York ; Mr. Gir-
vin, of Jamaica; and Mr. Bradley, of Manchester.
Deese IN TSIE BOROUGH GAOL—On Thursday an in-
quest was held, belOre P. F. Curry, Esq., on the body of John
M 'Kenna, whir died in the Borough Gaol. It appeared,
from the evidence of Mr. Batchelder, the governor, that the
deceased was committed, on the 31st of July, on a charge of
forgery. About a week after his committal be complained
of a pain in his chest, followed by a spitting of blood. He
was sent to the hospital, where every attention was paid to
his case by the officiating surgeon ; but he continued to sink
until Wednesday, when he expired. II e was 28 years old,
as appeared by the entry on the calendar. From the evi-
dence of Mr. Archer, the visiting surgeon, the deceased, at
the time of his committal, was itt the last stage of a con-
sumption. A verdict in conturtnity with the evidence was
returned.

ENGRAVING OF THE STEAM-SHIP LIVERPOOL—A very
beautiful engraving, 21 by 14 inches, of the transatlantic
steam-ship Liverpool, has just been published by Mr. Lacey,
ot• Bold street. it is from a painting by S. Walters, who
has succeeded in presenting a tine portrait of the vesseland
a strikingly effe, rive picture. The steamer is represented in
a brisk gale, heaving on a rough sea on her first voyage to
New York. The style of the rigging, the very character, as
we may say, of the vessel, as she dashes gracefully through
the billows, ate faithfully depicted. fler dimensions, power,
tonnage, &e. are given at the foot of the picture.
DEATH By DItOWNING.—On Friday an inquest was held
on the body of Esther Sidebotham, who was found dead i❑
a pit of water near the Potteries. The body was seen ou the
preceeding morning by a persou that was passing, who
directed the attention of an officer to it, The deceased
lived in Comberinere•street, and took iu washing; she was
67 years of age. On Tuesday night she took home souse
clothes to a person who keeps a shop iu Itos-street, but
never returned. As the pit lay in her way hack, it was pro-
bable she had fallen in and was suffocated. Verdict accord-
ingly.

STEAM 'rem's WIND.—The packet ship Sheridan, De
Payster, which sailed from New York on the 25th ult. arrived
at this port on Friday, after a passage of 25 days; the packet-
ship Columbus, Cropper, which sailed from New York on
the let instant, arrived at this port on Friday also, after a
passage of 18 days. The Great Western, steam-ship, which
sailed from New York three days after the Columbus, reached
Bristol on Wednesday morning, after a brilliant run of
days. Now, if we allow one day for the difference between
au arrival at Bristol and Liverpool, the advantage of steam
over wind will, in the case of the Great 'Western and the
Columbus, be nearly five days in favour of the steamer.
Passengers by the packet-.ship Sheridan, De Peyster,
which arrived on Pridty, from New York :—Charge D'Af-
faires to the Court of Belgium ; V. Maxey. Esq., lady, and
servant, Washington; Mrs. Markoe, daughter, and servant,
ditto; Mr. Surma!), lady, and servant, Baltimore; Miss
Swan, ditto; Captain Oliver, R.N., lady, and sun, Canada;
Mr. Thornton, lady, and sun, Manchester; Miss Briscoe,
Massachussets •' Miss Kimble, ditto; Mrs. Itolout, two sons,
and servant, Canada ; Mr. Higson and lady, Mexico; Mr.
Schwartz, Nova Scotia ; Mr. Bogsange, Paris; Mr. Peltier
and Mr. Pleasant, Philadelphia; Mr. Foster, ditto ; Mr.
Oxley, Lima; Major Wingfield, 32d regiment; Major Birk-
whistle, ditto; Mr. George Lumeden, Scotland.
' Ronne.nlES.—On Thursday morniug, about half-past five,
Inspector B. Smith observed the door of Mr. Thomas Crain's
house,- 11, Burlington-street, to be open, and, on entering,
found a quantity of clothes packed up, a writing-desk broken
open; and every thing prepared the thieves for decamping
wills the property. The entry had been effected by a back
window, which had beets carelessly left open. A silver de.
serf knife and some small articles of jewellery were missing.
--The same ni;.Tht, about half-past ten, Mr. Connor, shoe-
maker, Great Howard-street, having left his shop for a few
minutes, secured a young rascal just as lie was running off
with six pair of shoes.—Ou Friday morning a rubbery was
effected, on the premises of Mr. Ralph Ellis, publican, Lower
Stanhope-street. The entry had been effected, as usual in
similar cases, by climbing a back wall, and then getting
through a back window. Among the ankles carried off were
two sovereigns, a silver snuff-box, and a number of spoons,
and other small articles of plate.—The same morning, the
office of Mr. 11. Steele, Waterloo-road, was forcibly entered
through the window, and some trifling articles earliest off.
BOBBING CH ILDItEN.—A system of robbery has lately
become extremely prevalent in this town, and which, sinless
checked by superior vigilance on the part of the police, will
render it dangerous to allow children, with anything valua-
ble upon them, to be for even a few minutes out of the sight
of their friends. It consists in tobbingchildren of necklaces,
handkerchiefs, or any other articles which are available.
Two instances of this kind occurred last week in the neigh-
bourhood of London-road, besides several others which have
conic to the writer's knowledge. One ease was that of a little
girl, who was enticed down a back alley by a young woman,
under pretence of having something handsome put round her
neck. The little creature complied, when an old Victoria
medal was exchanged fur a double coral necklace, which
(the clasp being out of order) was tied, and, of course, the
string must have been cut or broken. The thief appears to
be about sixtet 0 or eighteen years of age, stout made, with a
downcast look, and wore a white shawl and while straw bon-
net.—Chronicle.

ATLANTIC STEAMERS.—Manypersong supposing, that the
difference of distance between Bristol and New York. and
Liverpool and New York, is fully a day in favour of the
former, we take the opportunity of correcting so erroneous
an opinion. Two steamers, of equal speed, sailing in com-
pany from New York for Bristol and Liverpool, and sepa-
rating on the edge of soundings to bear up tor their respec-
tive ports, the Liverpool steamer will be off Holyhead at the
time the Bristol steamer drops anchor in King Road; the
latter vessel having to send her passengers trom King Road
to Bristol in small steamers, by the time they are ►anded at
Bristol the steamer for Liverpool will be on this side of
Point IA nas, and the passengers will be landed in four or
five hours afterwards. The correctness of this statement can
be easily tested by a reference to the chart, and the applica-
tion of the rule and compasses--Albion.

FIRE INSURANCES.—An official account of the Stamp
Duties paid to government by the following Fire Insurance
Companies for the year 1837, being the last official return.
Sun..
Alliance
Atlas
British .. 17.446
County
Globe
Guardian 32,620
(land in Iland. 10,617
Imperial
Independent and West Middlesex BO9
Licensed Victuallers.
Leeds and Yorkshire.. 10,326
London . 11,420
Liverpool • 4,315
Manchester .. 19.541
.• Newcastle. 5,246
Norwich Union 66,722
Phcenix
Royal Exchange . .... 61,653
Scottish Union 19,827
Union .. 11,047
Westroinister.
West of England 29,661
Yorkshire . 8,935
York and North of England • • - 10,470