The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-31 00:00:00

TAYLEUR RELIEF FUND.

TO' THZ COMMITTEE CONDUCTING THE SUBSCRIPTION
FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SUFFERERS BY THE WRECZ
OP THE TA.YLEUR.
Maritime Passengers' Assurance Company,
Chief Office, 4, Moorgate-street, London, Jan. 28th, 1854.
Gentlemen,—l have the pleasure of informing you that
the directors of this company have voted the sum of Z5O
as a contribution to the fund you are now raising for the
relief of the sufferers by the late melancholy wreck of the
Tayleur. The object of the company being to enable both
mariners and passengers, by payment of a small premium,
to insure their lives against accident at sea, the directors
feel peculiarly called on to contribute to a fund for the re-
lief of those wbo had, unfortunately for themselves or their
survivors, neglected to avail themselves of the advantages
'it offers. I trust I may be excused for observing that did
mariners and passengers more generally take the precau-
tion to insure their lives against accident at sea, the ap-
peals to private benevolence, which are now so frequently
made, would be unnecessary. Oar local manager, Mr.
Alfred Beazley, will hand yon a cheque for the above-
named amount, and I shall be obliged by your acknow-
ledgment of the same.—l have the honour to be, gentle-
men, yours faithfully,
JOHN GEARY, Resident Director.
[A meeting of the subscribers to the relief fund was held
yesterday.—Tne report will be found in our third page.]

ON SUNDAT night, a tide watcher, named Patrick
Lovell, 27 years of age, fell from the ship Falcon into the
George's-dock, and was drowned.

ROMAN CATHOLIC SornEE.—Last night the Music-
hall, in Bold-street, was the scene of what was professed
to be the first of a series of annual soirees on behalf of
a Romish Educational Institution, recently established in
Hope-street, called " The Catholic Institute." A number
of Popish magnates had been announced, and amongst
them Mr. Lucas, of the Tablet, but that gentleman
did not appear, although a priest had waited for him all
a previous night on the platform of the railway-station at
Chester, whilst another had gone off to Birmingham to
endeavour to secure his attendance. The place was half-
filled. Lord Camden (who is he ?) occupied the chair, and
amongst other distinguished guests was the Rev. Dr. Goss,
1 who is, it appears, "the Bishop of Liverpool," Mr. Blundell,
and a number of the Roman Catholic laity, whilst a swarm
of priests of various orders filled the platform and the
reserved seats. The chairman's speech was principally
a lament that Oxford and the other universities had passed
from Romish hands. He added, however, that they
might derive " some consolation from perceiving the
wonderful effect and power of faith, which had been able,
notwithstanding the absence of instruction, to preserve a
superiority in moral character, and which, notwithstanding
all that had been said against it by its adversaries, no one
could deny was manifest in the Irish people." This was
hailed with loud cheering.—The Rev. W. H. Anderson,
late vicar, it was paraded, of St. Margaret's, Leicester,
then delivered a discourse on " Catholic literature." He
spoke of the Reformation as that " schism" and " lament-
able event which had occurred in the history of England,"
and then proceeded curiously to contend that Romanists
had advantages as to literature which no one else possessed.
The first was that they belonged to a " universal, world-
wide church." He said their path of duty was in Eng-
land, but it was not inconsistent with that to say, that
their affections were in Rome. (Loud cheers.) He next
argued that the Romish church had always excelled
in the arts of design, drawing the inference that Roman-
ists must naturally excel both in painting and sculpture,
inasmuch as they felt spiritually what was visibly beautiful.
Dante was a superior poet to Milton, because his images
were based on distinct and definite designs. He thought
they would yet have possession again of the ancient seats of
learning in England, and they might also win back what
was more precious than stones and mortar they might
win back to the true faith the great palpitating heart of
England. (Cheers.)—The Rev. Mr. Nugent then apologised
for Mr. Lucas's absence.—Mr. A spinall pleaded that the
Institute was £5OO in debt ; and the company were after-
wards addressed by the " Bishop" and other parties, the
proceedings being protracted till a very late hour.
TIIE Livsaaroor. DISPENSARIES.—The annual meet-
ing was held on Friday, at the office in South Castle-
street. The chair was occupied by Mr. Charles Booth;
and amongst those present were the Revs. C. H. Burton
and Cyrus Morrell, Messrs. T. Bourne, F. W. Mill:
Payne, Hornby, W. Macgregor, Humble, Clarke, Fletcher,
Lowndes, P. M. Carson, Behrend, H. M. W. King, &c.
The Rev. C. H. Burton read the report for the past year.
The long standing debt, which, at the commencement of
the past year, amounted to £333 15s. 11d. has been
reduced to £159 17s. 11d. There is a diminution in the
expenditure, as compared with the previous year, of
£5l 7s. 5d., which has been effected by the exercise of
strict economy, wherever practicable, without impairing
the efficiency of the institution. The total nnmber of
patients during the past year at both dispensaries was
35,414 which, although a great number, was 3,935 less
than the previous year. Of this number 14,508 received
medicine at the North Dispensary, and 7,894 were visited
by its medical officers. At the South Dispensary, 10,335
patients received advice and medicine, and 2,657 were
visited at their own houses, making the total named.
Although the balance-sheet showed a better result than
last year, there was a decrease in the total receipts for the
year amounting to £642 2s. 9d., chiefly under the head of
donations and legacies ; and the committee, therefore,
urged the importance of having a regular income, which
would only be attained by an increase in the number of
annual subscribers. Judging from the present aspect of
things, the severity of the winter, the dearness of pro-
visions, and the already increased sickness in the town, the
committee anticipated that during the ensuing year the
beneficial operations of the institution would be more than
usually needed. The treasurer's report showed that the
total receipts for the year were £2,685 55., the total ex-
were adopted, and
Pie2ittir.►22,sl2..L7.s.m,..Thia euir2Erits also to
ust.umuon, and

the honorary medical officers. In moving the latter, Mr.
Burton said that, in the course of his visits to the poor,
he heard them bear voluntary testimony to the kindness
displayed towards them by the officers of tho institution.
Mr. llornby, in moving a vote of thanks to the clergymen
of the Established Church who had preached sermons on
behalf of the charities of the town, suggested that minis-
ters of other denominations should do so also—for instance,
Roman Catholics ; for of those who received the benefit of
the institution, at least two-thirds were of that persuasion.
Mr. Macgregor moved an especial vote of thanks to the
Rev. C. H. Burton, for his exertions in promoting the
annual collection, which was carried unanimously. The
rev. gentleman in acknowledging the compliment, re-
marked that they had not had collections from as many
churches this time as usual, as several clergymen stated
they did not like to ask their congregation too often.
Now, he thought that, if the lay gentlemen of the town,
when they knew that the collection was about to take
place, would intimate to their ministers their willingness
to subscribe to such useful charities, it would be the means
of securing a much larger sum annually for distribution
amongst them. A number of routine resolutions (which
will be found in our advertising columns) were then
passed, and the meeting separated.

GOOD NEWSPAPERS are the only paper currency that is
worth more than gold or silver.—Eliza Cook.
THERE ARE Now 270 associated curling clubs in
Scotland, numbering 12,000 members.
AMONG THE LECTURERS announced for the year at the
Manchester Athenaeum, are the following members of
Parliament :—Lord Stanley, Mr. Napier, Mr. Walter,
Mr. Keogh, Lord Goderich, Mr. Isaac Butt, and Mr.
Blonckton Milnes.

THE WEATHER ABROAD.—Mr. HaViland, a Queen's
messenger, who arrived at Berlin on the 14th from St.
Petersburgh, encountered on his journey snow six feet
deep, while the temperature had been as low as 249,
below zero of Fahrenheit.
TPE SPHINX FOUND OUT AT LAST.--The Frenchman
Marlette has at last succeeded in discovering the long-
sought for entrance into the Sphynx. The entrance leads
into beautiful marble rooms, supposed to be connected by
subterranean passages with similar chambers in the adja-
cent pyramid.
A BALL EXTRACTED APIER TWENTY-FILE YEAS —•
There was extracted, the other day, by a talented medical
gentleman in Aberdeen, a small ball, from the arm of
Mr. M'Nicol, principal keeper to the Duke of Buckingham,
and residing. in Glenbucket, after it had been snugly de-
posited in his arm for the period of twenty-five years.
USEFUL INVENTION FOR DRAUGHT HOReES:—Mr.
W. Rice, of Boston, Lincolnshire, has patented an inven-
tion which will tend greatly to decrease the labour of
draught horses. It consists of a spring link, formed of
steel or India rubber, attached to the traces, hame chains,
or any part of the harness ; so that, instead of a horse
taking a dead pull at starting and frequently coming
down, the load is gradually admitted to the shoulder, by
which means the collar forms a complete cushion, and
prevents both sore shoulders and broken knees.
A Lovas' once wrote to a lady who had rejected him,'
saying that he intended to " retire to some secluded spot
and breathe away his life in sighs !" to which the lady
replied, by inquiring whether they were to be medium or
large size. The man has not since been heard from.

MR BARRISTER'S Bia.—About fifty years ago no
junior barrister presumed to carry a bag in the Court of
Chancery, unless one had been presented to him by a
King's Counsel, who,. when a junior was advancing in
practice, took an opportunity of complimenting him oil
his increase of business, and giving him his own bag to
carry home his papers. It was then a distinction to carry
a bag, and a proof that a junior was rising in his profes-
sion.

A Compmmintr.—Charles Lamb sitting next some
chattering woman at dinner; observing he didn't attend
to her, "You don't seem (said the lady) to be at all the
better for what I have been saying to you." "No, ma'am
(he answered), but this gentleman on the other side of me
must; forit all came in at one ear and went out at the

other..—Moore's Diary.. ,,,,A1 us
THE NEAPOLITAN PASSPORT SYSTEM..—" A, .-.--A- lady
result of passport strictness had just occurrea-
h husband.
expecting her confinement was at Capri) herwit-thenutin land,
Wishing that the child might be born on. , Neapolitan
they sailed across the bay ; but the yout7during the
having unexpectedly made his appe_aora_ned to land, be_
three hours' voyage, they were not all w
nasspert :"—Newman
cause the infant was not in the -pdgrirnage to Rome.
Hall's Sketches during an Easternit
was stated in a paper
embers of the Royal ARTIFICIAL PEARL MAKINtOi:ni
read a few days ago, beforaertificial production of pearls
Asiatic Society, that the
ied on to a great extent at
from the mussel fish is carr
„„. fish are collected in April and
Hoochow, China. The children, who place a bit of bam.
May, and are Opened bYkeep the shells apart. A piece of
pebble, or a pellet of mud, is then
boo in the orifice
auto
brass or bone, a se of three to five spoonsfal
poured in, ando fisthhessealtick
introduced,,: dose of with water is
pounded Ine
fish are then p_laceda few inches apart in
remo eu
andthe water in which is from three to five feet deep,
and which are well manured with night-soil four or five
times every year.
In these ponds the fish are allowed to
remain from ten months to three years. upon taking
them out, the shell is cut through with a fine saw, the
pearl is separated from the shell, and the pellet, or other
substance within it, extracted. It Is then filled with white
wax, and a piece of the shell carefully attached, to conceal
the aperture. Several millions of pearls are thus produced_,_
arillualTt worth fropi omit § penny to eightpenCo a Vo4AI