The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-24 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

Mr. Alderman IjARCLAY seconded the motion.

theeounerirneetcni lasted an hour.

THE MURDER AT ST. HELENS.

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On Wednesday there was a special meeting of the Town-
council, for the purpose of selecting a plan for the new assize
courts, and for the consideration of all matters relative
thereto. The plans which had been selected, including front
and other views of the proposed courts, were hung up on the
walls of the council chamber, for the inspection of the mem-
bers.

The MAYOR referred to the fact of a joint committee, con-
sisting of members of the Finance and Improvement com-
mittees, having been formed for the purpose of examining
the plans sent in for the assize courts, and said that their re-
port was now ready and would be laid before the council.
The following report was then read by the TOWN-CLERK :
" That in pursuance of the resolution of the council, ad-
vertisements were issued last year for plans for the intended
sessions-house, designed also to be used for assize courts, to
be sent in on or before the Ist January ; and at the expira-
tion of the time assigned, eighty-six plans were sent in for the
proposed edifice. For convenience and dispatch, it was con-
sidered desirable that these plans should be referred to a
sub-committee, constituted as above, who should inspect and
report upon the same with a view to awarding the premiums
held out by the advertisement for the first and second plans,
and the following members were accordingly nominated for
the purpose :
" The Finance commit' ee--William Wallace Currie, Thos.
Bolton, John Holmes, Hugh Hornby, and George H. Law-
rence. -
" The Improvement committee—Thomas B. Barclay, Eyre
Evans, William Earle, H. R. Sandbach, and Henry Holmes.
" On receiving their appointment, their first step was to
direct the plans to be arranged in the exhibition-rooms, as in
the case of those for St. George's-hall.
" This being done, the sub-committee proceeded to the in-
spection of the same, giving ample time to each member to
satisfy himself, and to select from the whole (76 in number)
thirty designs which should appear to him most deserving of
attention. These thirty having been ascertained by careful
scrutiny, were then placed together for revision, and the
sub-committee proceeded, on a subsequent day, to reduce
the list from thirty to ten. Ample time in this instance was
also given for selection, which was made accordingly. At
this stage of their proceedings, they thought it right to call
in the assistance and experience of the surveyor, whom they
instructed to report his opinion as to the manner in which the
artists had complied with the conditions required by the ad-
vertisement, together with his professional opinion upon the
plans, both with reference to their external merit and inter-
nal arrangement.

In due time the surveyor laid before the committee his
report, which they were gratified to find approved of their
selection.

" After a careful examination, the committee proceeded to
reduce the number still further, bringing it down to five ; and
it then became their duty to select the two which should in
their opinion be deserving of the premiums offered for the
first and second best plans. Although the committee were
not fortunate enough to meet with any plan combining in
itself both beauty of exterior and an unexceptionable arrange-
ment within, yet always keeping in view these two points,
they have come to a decision recommending the plans now
exhibited—namely, plan marked A for the first prize, and
plan marked B for the second prize ; the superiority, on the
whole, being in favour of the first. With respect to the two
selected, the surveyor has given it as his opinion that by
some modification, of which the interior arrangements are
capable, they will combine the desired objects. The selection
has his entire approval.
"It may be satisfactory to state, that in every selection,
from first to last, these two plans have united the greatest
number of suffrages in their favour. _

" The names of the two architects are still unknown to the
committee, as the letters identifying the plans have been from
the first, and still remain, carefully locked up in a box, the
key of which has never been out of the possession of the
chairman.

" The task undertaken by the committee has been one of
considerable labour and responsibility, but they feel confident
that, as they were perfectly free from bias, being totally
ignorant of the candidates, they will receive credit for having
made the selection, to the best of their judgment, of those
plans most likely together to secure all the useful objects
contemplated by the council, and to be an ornament to the
town."

Mr. CURRIE, the chairman of the committee, moved the
adoption of the report. _ _ _

Mr. BUSHEL!, said that he had no intention of saying one
word to impugn the taste of the committee, or to question
their desire to do perfect justice to the artists as well as to
the inhabitants of the town ; but it had occurred to him that
in a matter of so much importance as this, the inha-
bitants of the town, who would have to pay so large
a sum of money for these courts, ought to have some oppor-
tunity of judging as to the beauty and efficiency of the de-
signs. Although the gentlemen of the committee were
perfectly competent to give a just and upright opinion
on all matters of business, or on subjects connected with
local affairs, still he thought that on an architectural ques-
tion any person might be allowed to dispute their ability
without offence. He thought it just as right to bring down
a number of architects to decide on a mercantile question, as
to depute a committee of mercantile men to decide on an
architectural subject. He was speaking from a desire that
Liverpool, which had become celebrated for many things,
should in some way redeem her architectural character, and
be relieved from the blot which rested upon her of having
scarcely one public building which exhibited anything like
taste. It was far from his intention to pass any remarks on
the design for St. George's .Hall' he was less competent to
decide on the matter than those gentlemen who had been
appointed. But he thought it would be satisfactory to the
public to be allowed an opportunity of judging of the designs ;
and if the council expended a hundred guineas in calling in
some gentlemen of acknowledged ability, such as Smirke,
Barry, or Mr. Burke, of Edinburgh, and submitted the plans
to them, he thought that it would be a proceeding that would
give satisfaction to the town at large.
Mr. Alderman EARLE said, that Mr. Bushell, after ac-
knowledging his incompetency to decide on an architectural
matter, had roundly asserted that there was no building of
taste in Liverpool. He should think that a person making
such a statement must fancy that he had some taste ; but
perhaps it was Mr. Bushell's modesty which cidq:l him to
say that he had no taste at all. With regard to the ability
of mercantile men, he might mention that law-attorneys,
barristers, some of the judges, and, in short, all those con-
versant with the business of the courts, were consulted, and
the surveyor had taken a good deal of pains to ascertain
what was required, and, having done so, the advertisement
was put forth stating what was required. If the plans were
to be submitted to the town, he did not know how a decision
was to be arrived at. Mr. Barry and others might have
competed if they had liked; but they had not. (" We don't
know that.") lie knew that Mr. Barry had said that he
would not compete, and that was the ground of his assertion.
The probability was that the plan selected was that of a clever
man, and they might sit down with him and make any alter-
ations that should be deemed desirable.
_ _

Mr. COOPER hoped that something would be done to
remove the Bridewell from its present situation.
The report having been adopted, Mr. Currie handed to the
mayor the key of the box containing the letters that were to
identify the several plans sent in. The number of the plan
A was 36—that of B, 70. The letters bearing these numbers
were therefore picked' out and opened by the mayor. His
worship announced that the design marked A had been sent
by Mr. Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, of London, the same gen-
tleman, as appeared from his letter, who had been suc-
cessful in the competition for furnishing the design for St.
George's Hall. The plan B had been sent by Mr. Samuel
A. Greig, of Paris-street, Exeter, Devon. No other letters
were opened. _ _

The MAYOR mentioned the meeting which was recently
held in Lancaster' for the purpose of endeavouring to get
back a portion, at least, of the assize business to that city,
and said that it would probably be necessary for the council
to take some steps in consequence.
Mr. CuRRIE moved that the Mayor be authorised to com-
municate to the successful candidates the fact of their designs
having been approved, and that the treasurer should be
ordered to transmit to them their respective premiums of
£3OO and £2OO (or guineas, it is not stated which.)
The motion was seconded, and agreed to.
Mr. Alderman HORSBY asked whether it had been agreed
that the successful architect was to have the erection of the
courts, or if the candidates had been requested only to send
in plans.

The MAYOR.—Not to build ; only to send in plans.
Mr. Alderman &LEM said that as the erection of the Assize
Courts was a very important matter, seeing that they might
exist in the town for ages, he thought that every means
should be employed to make them as perfect as could be
reasonably expected. Taking into consideration, also, the
very large amount of the public money that was to be ex-
pended, every possible means should be taken to secure a
proper appropriation of that money. Seeing what had
hitherto taken place in erections at the public expense—the
mistakes which had been committed, and the difficulties
which had been the result of those mistakes, he thought it
incumbent on the council to select the best members to have
the management of this building, without reference to the
members of any committee. But he would not have the
management given over to any gentlemen until time had been
given to consider who were the best fitted to be entrusted
with the affair. He should therefore move—`• That at the
next meeting of the council a special committee of nine
members be appointed for the erection of the intended
courts ; and that such committee- be elected upon lists to be
delivered in and proceeded with as by law is appointed for
the election of aldermen.
Mr. Alderman HORNBY seconded the motion.—Carried.
Mr. Alderman EARLE thought it a fortunate circumstance
that the same architect would probably be employed both on
the Assize Courts and St. George's Hall, because there was
no saying, when they sat down, what alterations might be
found necessary. It might probably be found advisable to
alter both buildings, and with advantage to the whole place,
and. in that case they would, by having the same architect,
be relieved from every difficulty. If, as be believed, Mr.
Elmes was a man of talent, there was little doubt that his
plans would give satisfaction.
Mr. Alderman SRIEL then moved, " That the Watch
Committee be required, at the next council, to report on the
expediency of the removal of the Bridewell, Police-office, and
Watch Committee-rooms and offices from their present situ-
ation to the Old Infirmary-ground, or other site in the neigh-
bourhood thereof, or otherwise."
Mr. BOLTON seconded the motion.
The motion was originally to consider the expediency of
removing the above-named buildings to the vicinity of the in-
tended Assize Courts ; but it was stated by one or two mem-
bers that the land was scarcely sufficiently extensive for the
Assize Courts only. The motion was then qualified as above,
and carried.

A conversation took place with respect to submitting the
various plans to public inspection, as in the case of those for
the St. George's Hall.

Mr. CuRRIE observed that the public would be naturally
desirous to see the plans, and perhaps the council would think
it right to direct the surveyor to have the rooms open for a
few days, for the inspection of members of the council and
their friends, and afterwards for a certain number of days for
the public. There had been an almost unanimous verdict of
the public in favour of the plan selected for St. George's
Hall, and he hoped that there would also be in the present
case.-
The council seemed to concur in the propriety of this sug-
gestion being carried into effect ; but nothing was decided
upon, though it will be perceived from an advertisement, that
the plans will be submitted to the inspection of the public
during the whole of next week. Tickets for admission may
be procured at the Town clerk's office, to-morrow.

The following has been received, in answer to a numerously-
signed memorial on behalf of George Murray, who was con-
demned to be executed for the above murder, or rather ag-
gravated manslaughter. Both the prisoners implicated in the
affair will now escape the extreme sentence of the law.
" Whitehall, 18th April, 1840.
" Stu,—The Marquis of Normanby having carefully con-
sidered your application on behalf of George Murray, I have
the satisfaction to acquaint you, that, under all the circum-
stances of the case, his lordship has felt warranted in advising
her Majesty to grant the prisoner a pardon, on condition of
transportation for life.-1 am, sir, your most' obedient, hum-
ble servant, " S. M. PHILLIPS.
" Mr. J. Andrade,
" 1, Brunswick-street, Liverpool."

The Hampshire Advertiser states that government has
Lially announced their selection of Southampton as the
for the mail steamers to the West Indies and America.

SKETCHES OF LIVERPOOL AND ITS VICINITY

No. 11.—CONTINUED.

(Written for the Liverpool Standard.)
THE FOURTH OR MOSTYN CONTRACT.

This length extends from the end of the last, in Led-
sham parish, to the terminus of the railway at Ches-
ter, being a distance of five miles and a half. The
excavations were computed at 450,000 cubic yards, and the
masonry and brickwork, at no less than 13,500 cubic yards.
The line here declines, the fall being from 1 in 350 to 1 in
1,367 on its approximating Chester.
This longest portion of the line, on which the work is
heavier than on any of the others, had been relinquished by
the contractors, and was taken into the hands of the com-
pany, with a view to its completion, so that the opening of
the line might not be retarded. The greater part of the
earth excavated at the north end was required for forming the
embankment at the Moston Valley, and to expedite the work
side cuttings were resorted to in the elevations on the south
side, so that the embanking latterly proceeded from both
ends. The work has been considerably impeded at this
point bytthe unfavourable state of the weather ; the material
excavated being principally marl or clay. Sach, however,
has been the activity with which the operations have latterly
proceeded, that the whole is nearly completed. Here, in
August last, about 900 men and 40 horses were employed,
and the work has been actively continued, wherever practi-
cable, throughout the winter.
The road in this length verges a little to the eastward, its
direction (in nearly a straight line) being about SSE. half
E., to the point of junction with the Chester and Crewe
Railway, at Brook-street, on the eastern extremity of the
city of Chester, whence runs the road to Tarvin. The
ground is of more unequal surface than that through which
pass the other portions noticed, a cutting of considerable
depth being required from the commencement of the con-
tract to the Moston Valley, or nearly half its extent ; and
the remainder presented considerable variety of hill and dale,
and being intersected by brooks, roads, &c. requiring bridge-
work of a costly description.
The most interesting portion of this final part of the rail-
way, (and perhaps of the whole line,) is the embankment and
viaduct across the Moston valley, at the iottom of which are
the Chester and Ellesmere Canal, and a brook of considerable
size, the latter 68 feet, and the former 37 feet below the level
of the railway. Some part of the embankment is above fifty
feet in height, and it was computed that it would require
358,000 cubic yards of earth to complete it. To facilitate the
work of embanking, a temporary wooden bridge was thrown
across while the viaduct was in course of erection, and the
whole is completed within about 40,000 cubic yards of earth-
work.

The viaduk consists of eleven arches, forty feet in height
from the surface of the canal, and in several places, 52 feet
from the foundations. The central arch, a skew-bridge on
an angle of 45 degrees, which spans the canal, is of rusticated
ashler, and is of 45 feet in span. The other ten, (five on each
side of the valley, and forming a continuous bridge with the
centre one,) are of the same height, but smaller in span.
The pierS are of corresponding rusticated stone-work of
massy dimensions ; and the arches are turned in brick work.
Below, in order to strengthen the foundations, the piers are
united by inverted arches in the manner of culverts. The
masonry throughout is exceedingly substantial, and the
bridge, as seen from the valley, presents a light and hand-
some appearance.

The valley and the surrounding country is well wooded
and picturesque. To facilitate the operation of embanking,
a steam engine has been employed at the top of the eminence
north of the bridge, for the traction of waggons laden with
materials, which, on reaching the crown of the ascent, run
down to the embankment on an inclined railway plane.
On approaching Chester, the railway is, for the most part,
elevated on embankments, and the views of the country are
extensive and pleasing—the Cathedral tower of the ancient
city forming a prominent object. There is a considerable
number of bridges on this part of the line, including a fine
skew bridge at the crossing of the Liverpool and Chester
turnpike road. As the railway, at its junction with the
Chester and Crewe line, is on a level with Brook-street, a
bridge will be built to carry that thoroughfare over the rail-
way. The length of the line is 14 miles and 56-100 of a mile.
The station-houses, sheds, &c., have not yet been erected,
but plans and specifications are in progress, and materials in
readiness, for the principal erections at the termini. The
whole quantity of railway, in portions, laid down, is equal to
about 15 miles of single railway, and (I learn from the last
report) about 10 per cent. only of the whole amount of earth-
work remains to be completed. Several engines and a con-
siderable number of carriages are also built; and such is the
general forward state of the whole undertaking, that I trust,
Mr. Editor, to be enabled by the mouth of August to supply
you with a t`, sketch" of the opening of the line, which will
furnish A more interesting paper to the mass of your readers
than the details now submitted. _

I may remark, in conclusion, that it was resolved at a
meeting of the directors of the railway, held on the 10th
instant, to issue new shares for the sum of £125,000, autho-
rised to be raised by a recent amended act of parliament, for
the completion of the works. Of this sum, however, only
£85,000. is expected to be called up. The three directors
ballotted to retire, but again eligible, were re-elected, and
the utmost cordiality has prevailed throughout.

No. 111

THE DOCKS, QUAYS,

AND SHIPPING OF

LIVERPOOL.
It has been well said by an admired English bard,—
" Ever charming, ever new ;
When the landscape tire the view ?"
And, though, in common with all men of a somewhat poetical
or enthusiastic temperament, I should prefer, as a perma-
nency, the quiet of the country to the bustle of the town, I
may, 1 trust blamelessly, with reference to our great port,
equally exclaim,
Ever charming, ever new;
When will the Mersey tire the view ?
For myself, I am, as if instinctively drawn, every leisure
hour, to the docks or quays; and I almost begin to think
that I can smell the approach of high water, and am entirely
independent of the justly celebrated Mr. Holden, or any
other manufacturer of alinanacks on this point. Ido not
remember to have gone to any one of our principal quays
or pier-heads, at any time, in summer or in winter, by night
or by day, without seeing something new, something inte-
resting. On our outward piers, many of those congregated
watch with intense interest the approach of the vessels from
foreign ports in which they are interested, and give them
joyous welcome when they reach the quay ; or with equal
anxiety witness the departure of others on foreign and peril-
ous adventures ; and the whole becomes a scene of dramatic
amusement to even the idle spectators.
I have before stated that my friend, Mr. Alfred E—had
been abroad ; and I may add that both of us assume a touch
of seamanship, and particularly in boat-sailing. We are both,
and I more than he, particularly curious in all nautical im-
provements. We differ on some points, on this as on some
other topics, to a considerable and almost hostile extent, until
the better argument, admitted by one or the other, confirms
our mutual friendship and respect.
I yesterday (Wednesday) regretted that my friend could
not accompany me on a short ramble round some of the
docks. The day was cloudy and hazy, but, withal, mild and
agreeable ; and I strolled down James's-street, reminded, as
I past from Lord-street. of the docks, by the Custom House,
a certainly heavy pile of stone work, which, in the thinking
of my friend, usurps the site of the ancient " cradle of
Liverpool" (the Old Dock), with no adequate claims to the
same consideration or respect. He regards it as a mere
specimen of the bulk of matter that can be raised out of a
quarry, and put together in huge, and to the sight, over-
whelming masses. Ido not altogether agree with my friend,
and shall express my own opinion, on noticing the principal
public buildings of the town. But now to my ramble.
GEORGE'S DOCK.

It is impossible for any one, who knew anything of ship-
ping even 20 years ago, to observe the changes in our com-
mercial marine, in particular, and not to acknowledge that
both in the size of the vessels, for the respective trades for
which they are destined, as well as in their equipments and
finding,—the palm of superiority is due to the modern owners
and builders. Thirty years ago, there were few vessels of
the ordinary tonnage of our larger New York line ships, in
the kingdom, with the exception of vessels of war, or ast
India-men. Our merchant vessels, too, from small to great
are, (independently of exterior mechanical appliances,) fitted
up, in cabin and interior accommodation, in a manner, sur-
passing all ideas of our forefathers, and showing that the
utmost cleanliness, comfort, and even palatial splendour may
be accomplished on board of ship (a floating box after all),
notwithstanding the ancient opinion that it was hopeless and
effeminate to endeavour to overcome, in any vessel, the
offensive effluvium of tar or bilge-water,—a supposed infliction
of father Neptune for our vain attempts to " tatoo" him, by
furrowing him up by our thousands of keels. We manage
these matters better now-a-days in England, and in most
other countries. Much science, and a variety of taste, are
displayed in the production of vessels ; and skill and compe-
tition have combined to improve the character of our whole
government and mercantile marine.
George's Dock is the most central, and, therefore, though
small, as compared with some of the others, is, from its po-
sition, one of the most important in the town. It is con-
tiguous to and parallel with Castle-street, the centre of busi-
ness, and it is thence accessible by several wide thoroughfares
at right angles, in one of which (Water-street,) leading from
the front of the Exchange, are nearly all the steam-packet
offices, in which the business of transmission is transacted,
whether as regards Wales, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland,
in our proximity, or New York on the other side of that
puzzling and ill-natured dub called the Atlantic ocean.

George's Dock recals to memory some interesting histori-
cal facts. The Tower of Liverpool, the once residence of the
Earls of Derby, and one of whom, together with "Mr." Gros-
venor, of Eaton, was entertained by the mayor in 1566,—
stood at the bottom of Water-street, near the north-east
corner of the dock. A portion of the same building was, I
believe, afterwards used as a gaol, and was extant about
twenty years ago, but has now disappeared. In the same di-
rection, but a little further from the dock, is St. Nicholas's
Church, formerly a chapel-of-ease of the parish of Walton,
and which remained so until 1655, when Liverpool became
ecclesiastically independent. On the east side, and facing
nearly its whole extent, stands the lofty pile of buildings
known as the Goree warehouses. The original buildings of
the same name, and which stood on the same site, were burnt
down in 1802. The ruins continued to-burn for upwards of
three months, and the total loss in buildings and merchandise
was estimated at £323,000.
In this dock, vessels from any part of the world are ad-
mitted, but comparatively, few are of the largest tonnage of
those that frequent the port. On the south side are congre-
gated, stern to the quay, brigs, schooners, and sloops, chiefly
from Ireland and the south of England, with grain and other
produce. On the west side are ships, brigs, and first-class
sharp-built schooners, the last handsomely fitted up, and
chiefly employed in the Mediterranean trade. At the north
end may be generally found foreign brigs employed in the
trade to Havana. Some of those are o fine model, and a
" polacca" may occasionally be seen amongst them. On
the east side are the larger vessels discharging or loading;
but I may here remark, as regards all the docks, that the dis-
cha is principally on the east, or town, side of the
dock,rg charging
thatvessaeilts forfor daisftauini tecaorugnot,rigeesn,
earnadnyhahu,after
vaingla con-
siderable time to w
w
discharging, to the west 0t; rihveieh I
rsideoohfsetrvheeddoicnk
George's
oeerga
load.e
Amongst the " clippers"
Dock yesterday,
belonging to the maritime insti-
tutionthe Trinity Yatch, formerly
idaerraahkiiysh,,-
masts
as brother Jonathan would say. This vessel,
and but just arrived were, a schooner called
looking craft, with her raking
of that name ; andtherq
ue
is said to be
'`pretty Mischief,eon
one of the fastest out of the port. She was
Van-
guard, a private-armed slave-vessel, and was,
lonlecae the
learn,
caught Va-
by one of our cruisers, by stratagem or chance, rather than
her arrival
faaltirersaatiileinngs,inohnerthueppceorasNtvoorfkaA, farifetea. She underwent some
years ago, and still more in her rigging. She was, so far
theas
1 remember, a ship, when she sailed on the voyage up
Mediterranean from which she had just returned; but now
appears in the dubitable modern rig of a barque, with masts
and spars, and cordage enough to' tear her to
pieces, from
their top weight:and leverage,—including poles for the setting
(besides royals) of " sky-scrapers" and "moon-rakers." This
appears to me as reprehensible and dangerous as the overload-
ing of a fine, spirited, and speedy horse; and I feel assured that,
as a three-masted schooner, with a couple of light topsails,
the " Mischief" would be much more safe, and paradoxical
as it may be, much more " mischievous" than now. As for
the " barque" rig—now becoming so common—l almost
agree with my friend Alfred, that it is a sort of paltry com-
promise between a ship and a brig, marring the look and
often the sailing of a fine vessel, merely to save the wages of
a hand or two in managing the mizen topsail and topgallant-
sail. As my friend belongs to the old school, nothing will
reconcile him to the naked pole stuck in the tail of a fine
vessel,—that, to look well, and sail well too, he considers
should, under all contingencies, be square rigged throughout.
He goes the length of asserting, that if this rig be adopted by
the Navy, " Rule Britannia" may for ever be expunged from

our national songs ; but in this I do not coincide, inasmuch
as, independently of sails, [ opine that we shall be fully com-
petent to cope with any foes that may rise against us, by
force of steam—that mighty agent in the new mechanical
world. Our government have nothing to do but to secure
the exclusive services of Messrs. Fawcett; Preston, and Co.
in the making of steam-engines and great guns, to secure us
as complete a triumph over Bur foes as was achieved by Go-
vernor Elliott, when he pitched his red-hot balls into the
combustible bulls of the Spanish junk ships, in Gibraltar Bay.
At the south-west corner of George's Dock lies
THE MARINERS' CHURCH,

Formerly the Tees, sloop of war, of 28 guns,—a frigate built
vessel. She is an object of considerable interest to strangers,
and passers by will he gratified by a visit to this floating tem-
ple. The bow of the vessel is of very fine mould, and she is
anything but wall-sided, having fine and rounded bearings
amidships ; but she is rather deficient in length, and above all
in transome, being tucked in astern so as to leave little sup-
port abaft to weather a gale. Though still, however, a strong
vessel, and retained on the admiralty lists as one of our " thou-
sand" ships, it is questionable whether she will ever again be
put in requisition as a man of war. In all probability, she
will continue as a sanctuary, from which the doctrine of peace
and good will towards all men will long be inculcated.
The interior of the Mariners' Church is spacious, and
neatly and appropriately fitted up. The body, or lower part
is fitted with seats having backs. The pulpit is raised a little,
and on the " starboard" or right side of it is the seat for the
family of the minister, and on the " larboard" side a similar one
for the committee. There is a gallery all round, formed on the
main deck, from which an oval portion has been cut out. The
front of it is neatly empanelled and painted in oak, as are the
the pillars. The altar is neat, and the commandments, the
apostles' creed, and the Lord's prayer, inscribed in compart-
ments, divided by pilasters, painted in resemblance of veined
marble. The gallery extends round the altar, and there is ano-
ther above it, for the accommodation of the Sunday-school
children connected with the church. The roof is raised from
the upper deck, fore and aft, to a considerable height, and
the sides of this erection being glazed from end to end (be-
sides several port holes below), the whole is well and cheer-
fully lighted. The ship will accommodate about 1000 hear-
ers, and I am glad to learn that even during the severe
winter months the attendance was every Sunday from 600 to
700 persons, including many of the most respectable ladies
and gentlemen of the town, who befriend this excellent esta-
blishment; and that on the last day of worship it was quite
full. The annual meeting will take place this day. The
officiating clergyman is the Rev. Mr. Maynard.
An intelligent old seaman, named Walker, who has been
appointed by the Admiralty to take charge of the ship, and
who is keeper of the church, politely shewed me all through
the vessel. The original after-cabin, lighted from the stern,
is converted into a vestry-room, and is neat and well furnish-
ed. On one side are closets, and on the other the library
for the supply of mariners with religious works at a cheap
rate. The whole establishment is supported by subscriptions
and voluntary contributions. I was much pleased with a
visit to Mr. Walker's private cabin, or domicile, on the up-
per deck. It is a neat, well furnished, cheerful little room.
On the chest of drawers stands a model of a church, with a
tower, made of mahogany, with holly railings, ballustrades,
and ornaments of holly. By turning a handle, a fair imita-
tion of a peal of bells is produced from wires within. This is the
work of the good old tar himself, with very humble tools,
and is creditable to him. He has here also a model of one
of those East India or Ceylon boats, that, being very narrow,
are kept from upsetting, when under sail, by two outriggers,
or poles, to windward, to which is affixed a log of wood,
sharpened at either end like a canoe, and parallel with the
boat. The model also shows the manner in which the sail is
set. The sight of it brought us to a long and, to us, inter-
esting conversation on boat-sailing, in which the old tar had
had much experience in the south of England and abroad,
and I took my leave of him with a resolution to pay him an
early visit in his floating home.