The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-01 00:00:00

CHESHIRE AND WALES

THE NETT PROCEEDS realised
Infirmary Ball amount to £57.

by the late Chester

CHESTER INFIRMARY.—The late Mrs. Orred, of
Runcorn, has bequeathed £l,OOO to this institution.

THE LAST OF THE BIRKENHEAD SUBSCRIPTION BALLS
took place at Gough's Hotel, Woodside, on 'Wednesday
evening.

THE Morning Herald of Thursday intimates that Vis-
count Combermere has lately been suffering from an
attack of lumbago.
THE THIRD and last subscription ball for the season
took place on Wednesday evening last, at Mr. Gough's,
Woodside Hotel.
THE CLAIRVOYANT FRAUD.-Mr. Prince Miller is at
present lecturing on this subject, in the Royal Assembly-
rooms, Great George-street.
THE POOR of Eastham, Childer Thornton, and Sutton,
have been well supplied this Christmas with food, coal,
bedding, and clothing, by the kind liberality of the resi-
dent gentry.

MONMOUTH AND GLAMORGAN BANK.—The creditors
have been receiving another dividend of Is. Bd. in the
pound, making, with the dividends already paid, Ils. Bd.
out of the composition of 15s. in the pound agreed upon.
THE BACHELORS' BALL AT Rocx FERRY.—The
bachelors of Rock Ferry and the surrounding district
furnished their fair friends with a most agreeable entertain-
ment last week. It came off on Tuesday evening at the
Royal Rock Ferry Hotel.
THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, Queen-street,
Lower Tranmere, has been enlarged by the front being
brought level with the road. On Friday evening it was
re-opened with an eloquent and appropriate address by
the Rev. Robert Newton, D.D.
ON Sunday afternoon last Henry Smith, aged 55, a
labourer, living in Tranmere, feeling unwell, set off to
see his medical adviser, Mr. R. E. Gorst. He had not
proceeded far before he became worse. He was conducted
home by two men, and died in an hour and a half after.
WALLASEY IMPROVEMENT.—The appeals against the
bill for the amendment of the Wallasey Improvement
Act have been withdrawn, Mr. Charles Holland, the
chairman of the commissioners, having expressed a wil-
lingness to pay his share towards the costs which the
appellants have incurred.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the
week ended Jan. 23, 1853 :—Railway : Passengers, par.
cels, &c., £1,863 Ils. 11d. ; Goods, £1,122 Is. 4d. ;
Steam-boats : passengers, parcels, &c., £223 14s. ld.—
Total, £3,209 7s. 4d.—lncrease compared with the cor-
responding week last year, £866 19s. Id.
WIRRAL PLOUGHING MATCH.—We understand that
the annual plowing match of the Wirral Agricultural So-
ciety will take place on the 23rd of February, on a farm
near the Hooton station of the Birkenhead and Chester
Railway. A dinner will take place after the match, and a
good attendance is anticipated.
A. DARING DEED.—On Wednesday night last, some
thieves effected an entrance into the dwelling-house of
Mr. Macdonald, superintendent of the Liverpool police
force, at Higher Bebington, by means of cutting out
some panes of glass, and so opening one of the windows.
They stole a work-box containing seventeen sovereigns.
BIRKENHEAD CHURCH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE.—On
Friday, the Rev. Dr. Hume delivered a highly-interesting
and instructive lecture on " Australia," which was listened
to with great attention by a numerous auditory, and
warmly applauded. This institution bids fair to form a
valuable aid to the dissemination of information in the
town of Birkenhead and the neighbourhood.
BHIGHWAY ROBBERY.—On Friday night, as Mr. Moses
enson, dealer in butter, accompanied by his nephew, a
boy 13 years of age, was coming from Holywell market,
they were attacked by four men, and robbed of £6 in
silver. Very fortunately, in their haste they left another
They bag, containing 28 sovereigns. Theha've been traced to
Liverpool, and Mr. Jones has identified one of the robbers.
—Chester Courant.

TURNPIKE Tous.—At the Birkenhead Petty Sessions,
on Thursday. Mr. J. D. Hare was summoned for refusing
to pay turnpike toll; at the Oxton gate, on a horse and
cart. Mr. Greatley, who appeared for Mr. Hore,
claimed exemption under the 3d Geo. IV. cap. 33, by
which agricultural produce was exempt from toll when
not being conveyed before or after a sale. It appeared
that Mr. Hore, who resides at Oxton, has a farm at
Thingwell, about five miles from his residence, and the
vehicle in question was engaged in conveying the produce
from his farm to his home. The bench dismissed the
summons, thereby affirming the exemption.
JEALOUSY—OnThd an inquest was held at
Chester, on the body of Elizabeth Meacock, a married
Woman, about 27 years of age, whose death was supposed
to have been occasioned by the ill-treatment of her hus-
band. Thomas Meacock, husband of the deceased, keeps
a beerhouse in Frodsham-street, and he is in the habit of
going from home a good deal. He was away on Wednes-
day week, and during the day a child was born, which
was a seven months' child. Meacock, before reaching
home, met with some of his companions, who, to annoy
and vex him, told him of the birth of the child, and said
it could not be his. In a state of great excitement Mea-
cock went home, and, stung by jealousy, behaved in a
very violent manner. He told the midwife that he would
" sooner the hob, ..ore, of tho bnr4 uuf the fire than where
it was." He went into his wife's room, and threatened to
cut her head off. The deceased continued ill for several
days, during which her husband's jealousy did not seem
to abate, and on Monday night her illness was so dan-
gerous that Meacock was advised to send for a medical
man. He refused, however, to do so, and some of the
neighbours then sent for Mr. Florence, surgeon. Mea-
cock, who was drunk and violent, was taken off to the
police-office. The jury found that the deceased died from
inflammation, after premature confinement of her first
child ; and expressed a strong opinion that the conduct of
her husband had been brutal and disgraceful.—On Friday,
Meacock, (the husband,) who had been in prison several
days, awaiting the verdict of the coroner's jury, was
brought up before the magistrates, and convicted in the
Penalty of 20s. and costs for resisting the police-officers.

THIRD CONVERSAZIONE OF THE
BIRKENHEAD PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

--•-- 1
THE third annual conversazione and soiree of the Birken-
bead Philosophical Society was held on Friday, in the
assembly rooms of the Monks' Ferry Hotel, and amply
realized the most sanguine anticipations of its success.
The large room had the walls tastefully hung with pink
drapery, relieved by blue and white, and illuminated with
a series of gas jets down the centre. At the upper end
was a raised platform, or dais, with an orchestra, and an
excellent cottage piano-forte. On the centre table was a
series of glass cases, containing a choice collection
of British Lepidoptera, beautifully arranged. There
were also several specimens of African implements and
philosophical instruments. On the walls were hung a
variety of specimens of rare animals from the interior of
Africa, exhibited by Mr. Leyland, the celebrated African
traveller, and about the apartment were interesting and
scientific apparatus, including gas-fittings of novel con-
struction, exhibited by Mr. Edwards, of the Liverpool
Gas-works, and several microscopes, belonging to Drs.
Inman, Byerley, and Higgins, who displayed their several
powers in the illustration of natural objects. There were
also plans of the new Crystal Palace, diagrams of fossil-
f erous remains restored, and other means of instruction
and entertainment.
The company, which comprised most of the leading in-
habitants of Birkenhead and its vicinity, with their wives
and daughters, who were attired in evening costume, num-
bered between two and three hundred, and, when assem-
bled in the midst of the various objects we have described,
presented an interesting and brilliant appearance. In
consequence of the president of the society having to de-
Avliver one of the lectures, the chair was occupied by T. C.
er, Esq., who discharged its duties most efficiently.
have been informed that several members of the
committee, having received intimation that Mr. Archer's
numerous scientific engagements would render it impos-
sible for him to undertake the office with satisfaction to
himself, the intention of electing him as president for the
ensuing year was abandoned with regret, at the annual
Meeting of the society, held on the evening of the 26th
ult. Under these circumstances, although there was no
Precedent for such a course, the retiring president was
unanimously re-elected.
Many scientific gentlemen from our side of the Mersey
who attended the conversazione warmly expressed their
approbation, and complimented the society for having set
the example, three years ago, to the literary societies here
of uniting science with pleasure, and on the very eminent
success which had hitherto, and especially on the present
occasion, attended their efforts. Unquestionably tl
tempt to combine intellectual with social
rational amusement, was never more succ
out ; and all the arrangements reflected th _
.on the committee of management.
tatir• ARCHER, who was well received and loudly ap-
corti!sd, both during and at the conclusion of his address,
the r,...ced the proceedings with a detailed history of
dariag"lp's vicissitudes, its difficulties, and success,
a
years sio'lee Past four years. He stated that, some
kind 0P tho chemists of Birkenhead had formed
others' hoostivate society, which assembled at each
becoming etd:r for the interchange of ideas ; but that,
to throw it
e (:),P'
open beyond convenience, they had resolved
hensive title of tht
They had so far Public, under the more compre-
prcoßeirkenhead Philosophical Society."
lectures on literary as weried i but he thought, if they had
secure a larger share of public subjects, they would
I.3ari to their support. terests, and pointing out thetoaddvealnivtaef
Patronage, which was necs-
ha called, upon Mr' Wills After ably advocating the in-
advancement triumphs,, ofeasleocftutrheeonso'c'
knowledge : its tendency, power, and
Alr, ' . NA, rus adv iTetlyie
Made since its la erted to the progress the society had
behalf to all the st annual reunion, and appealed on its
to the exertions patrons of general literature. Referring
difficulties
with
hs of its early friends, he remarked, that the
which they had to contend at its com-
mencenaent,
bap :i
Duy overcome, and for some time subsequently, were now
der sa l• 'come, and that though it was yet but a ten-
andt) ing, requiring
much nursing and great care, by
might grow
into a healthy and thriving plant,
and at length b
Whose shelterinecrle a goodly tree, under the shade of
boughs and luxuriant foliage some future
students of morgal and natural philosophy might sit down
together to arrange the b
string the • g eauteous gems of truth, and
rich
and parpous pearls of knowledge, therewith to en-
endowed ()a
the
great social fabric, the heaven-
sioo
of temple .0 humanity. After discussing the mis-
tional societies, various literary, philosophical, and educa-
perform an important
part in the great scheme of their past sucees:.ued'iand predicted their future, from
eroachments of Scieneehe fears of some as to the en-
were proved to be on the domain of revelation
Philosophy were the utterlybest groundless. Science and
Church. Its early futlerand most ancient allies of the
literature, and did not hesitate to
the great patrons of costly spoils of even the hoottei to enrich it with the
Their feeling with regard to the iden temple of science.
Julian, commanding all the seats
ec of the Emperor
of learning in the
Roman empire to be closed a •
that they regarded human kngival
lust them, showed
antagonistic power, but as the ed_ge, not as an
Wend and ally

est credit

ecturer

rue religion. In the course of his nr
L!ency of knowledg
;ion, arid expres

gument, the
e to subserve
his belief

that the ,irne had gone by when its acquirement and dif-
fusion could be considered, save by a few impracticable
fanatics, as hostile to Christianity, or obnoxious to its
genius and spirit. Speaking of the wondrous works of
the Creator, and showing how the investigations of science
enabled us to trace more clearly in all things. above us,
around us, beneath us, the work of an Almighty hand—
Mr. Wills went on to say, that the more their hidden
uses were revealed and their secret properties discovered,
the more striking would they display the gooodness,
wisdom and power of God, the more loudly would they
proclaim that none hut an Allwise and Almighty Being
could speak that " Word of Power" by which all things
were created and are continually upheld, could frame
that perfect law by which every particle of matter was
governed and every grade of existence regulated. could
adjust the unerring balance which weighed with equal
accuracy a grain of sand and a chain of Alps,—a dew-drop
that glittered on a rose-bud, and the great waters of the
mighty deep—a mote that danced in the sunbeam and the
glorious orb of light itself. Mr. Wills maintained that to
man in his fallen estate, placed in the midst of a world
where evil not only existed but predominated, the know-
ledge of the evil was requisite as well as the knowledge of
the good, and describing the perfect law of liberty
established by the gospel, as the Magna Charta of
Christian freedom, he exclaimed—in virtue of this new
and perfect law, the Christian philosopher may boldly
climb the steepest hills of science, may fearlessly thread
the most intricate mazes of the pleasant groves of know-
ledge, culling the lovely flowers that grow beneath his
feet, and eating the delicious fruits of the fair trees that
are planted there, " asking no questions for conscience
sake."

The lecturer, referring to the prediction that " in the
latter days many should go to and fro and knowledge be
increased," showed how remarkably the former part of it
had been fulfilled in the facilities for internal and external
communication afforded by steam boats and railways,
which had created amongst the community at large a kind
of locomotive habit, equally conducive to the health,
morals, and mental improvement of the masses. With
regard to the latter part of the prediction, the present was
preeminently an age of increasing knowledge, of mar-
vellous and almost miraculous inventions—an age ia
which scientific discoveries were pushed far beyond all
former precedent. We bad caught, and tamed, and har-
nessed the " fiery bird of heaven ;" the winged lightnings
were our messengers,—the materiel of the thunderbolt
moved in obedience to our will, so that though hundreds
of miles asunder, though even an ocean rolled between,
we could now, by the wonder-working wires of the electric
telegraph, communicate our thoughts to each other with
the rapidity of thought itself. The electric light, and the
chemical knowledge of the present, as being greatly in
advance of that of all preceding ages, were briefly referred
to. The rapid progress of knowledge during the last half
century being thus reviewed, who—demanded the lecturer
—who shall roll back its everflowing tide, or, say to the
advancing waves of intellect " thus far and no further
shall ye come." As well attempt to recall our yesterdays
from the irrecoverable past, or drive back the moments as
they come trooping on, as endeavour to dam up the
mighty stream of knowledge, and convert into a stagnant
pool its living waters, continually increasing as they are
in volume andin strength, and bearing down in their irre-
sistible and majestic progress all the unavailing opposi-
tions of ignorance, selfishness, prejudice and pride.
Knowledge was increasing, was multiplying its power
and extending its triumphs. Those engaged in its diffu-
sion were called upon and encouraged to go forward in
their path of bloodless glory. Association for educational
purposes was " the sling," and useful knowledge " the
smooth stone" wherewith they might slay the presumptu-
ous Goliath of ignorance. Freedom was alike incompa-
tible with the decrease of knowledge, or its perversion by
a false system of philosophy. Knowledge increased, and
was cultivated by the wise and the good, and ennobled
and hallowed by the sanctifying influences of religion in
our own country, therefore " a double portion" of this
mighty spirit of freedom rested upon her children, nerv-
ing the arms of her valiant sons " the blessings they en-
joy to guard," and imparting a charm beyond the fabled
power of magic to the peerless beauty of her lovely daugh-
ters. Englishmen were justly proud of their fatherland,
for it was the home of the free, the sanctuary of the op-
pressed ;—around it liberty had drawn her mystic circle,
—within it she had reared her fortress temple,—from it
she had sent forth into all the world her heart-rejoicing
spirit-stirring voice, proclaiming that the days of des-
potism, of ignorance, of slavery were numbered, and
teaching " to all nations and peoples and tongues," to
men of every clime and of every hue, that the same blood
circulated in all their veins, that the same God was equally
the Father, and the same loving Redeemer equally the
Friend, the Brother, the Saviour of them all.
The angel of liberty sounded forth from us those trum-
pet tones that were shaking the foundations of despotism
in every land, because the principles of freedom were bet-
ter understood, and the sacrifices of all selfish interests,
which freedom so often required from her votaries, were
more cheerfully made in this than in any other country
on the face of the earth.
Here the lecturer alluded to the despotic governments
of Europe, and to the existence of slavery in America,
and referring to Mrs. Stowe's 'very popular work of
" Uncle Tom's Cabin," showed that the increase of
knowledge, especially our recently-extended knowledge of
the horrors of slavery, even where it was said to exist in
its mildest form, must inevitably precipitate its downfall,
anti pnctuaea this part of his subject by predicting that
the time was rapidly approaching when the hell-tinted dye
of slavery should be washed for ever from the brow of
England's trans Atlantic daughter—when the black brother
of the white tyrant should make good his claim to the
possession of unrestricted freedom, and, once for all, shake
the fetters from his enfranchised limbs—once for all break
the bonds of his ruthless oppressors, and go forth from
the house of his bondage in the proud consciousness of
unshackled freedom. Thus should be accomplished one
of the most glorious of the many glorious triumphs of
knowledge.
The lecture was terminated by a description of the
exhaustless mines of knowledge from which generations
yet unborn should continue to draw those supplies of in-
tellectual wealth that were necessary to the health and
well-being of our intellectual existence, as the supply of
our daily food to the health and well-being of our bOdily
frame.

After some vocal music by the members of the Liverpool
Philharmonic Society, Mr. Richard Manson delivered a
short lecture on " Fossil Geology," illustrated by a pano-
ramic chart of extinct animals, &c.
Mr. MANSON first dwelt slightly on the remarkable
progress of science during the last seventy or eighty
years, ascribing it to some special agency in the scheme
of divine Providence, and then proceeded to explain the
interesting and important knowledge to be derived from
geological studies. The formation of the fossiliferous
rocks and the true nature of organic remains were the
next branches treated of; and in mentioning that fossils
afforded the earliest evidences of creation, the lecturer
expressed an opinion fleet divine revelation would not be
given to teach man physical science, and that the work of
creation seemed to have ended with the production of
man; for since that time no new forms of life had been
produced. Mr. Manson then divided the past ages of
our world's history into epochs, distinguished by the na-
ture of the animals which existed during their continuance;
and by means of a large panoramic chart, which was
really an ornamental appendage of no mean value,
brought before his audience representations of the prin-
cipal reptiles, plants, &c. of our antehominal world.
While noticing the period of the new red sandstone, a
graphic description of the probable appearance of Store-
ton, when the Labyrinthodon existed on earth, was intro-
duced, and at the conclusion of the lecture Mr. Manson
speculated on the classification of future geologists, when
the bed of existing oceans may form the dry land, and all
our now continents be submerged ; and whether the savans
of those days would not argue a regular progression in
our knowledge from the time when the frail coracle of
the ancient Briton trembled on the wave, to the period
when mighty steamers ploughed their onward course
through rough or calm.
The company then adjourned for refreshments, which
were laid in adjoining rooms, in one of which were tea,
coffee, &c., and in another sandwiches, tarts, jellies,
cakes, blancmange, fruit, &c., excellent in quality and
liberal in quantity. During this time the company not
actually occupied in the supper-rooms promenaded to the
music of the harp, and many took the opportunity of
examining the select specimens of rare animals introduced
by Mr. Leyland, who has explored the interior of Africa
to the great Lake " Ngamie," five hundred miles further
than any white man had previously penetrated. We need
hardly mention that the magnificent microscopes of Drs.
Inman, Byerly, and Higgins, and of Messrs. Abraham
and Edwards, were objects of general interest. Dr.
Edwards entertained the company with some brilliant
galvanic experiments, and Mr. Brockhole's beautiful and
very extensive collection of British Lepidoptera afforded
much gratification.

After the interval, the Chairman called upon—
Mr. JOHNSON, who commenced his lecture by alluding
to the account given in Genesis of the history of the
creation, " That in the beginning God created the heavens
and the earth, and the earth was without form and void,"
and stated his conviction that science agreed with it. But

on endeavouring to form an estimate of the probable dis-
tance of time at which such an event might be supposed
to have occurred, he suggested that other parts of the
Word should be searched for an:explanation of the expres-
sion, in the beginning. Upon adopting this course it
would be found that when such was used in the inspired
writings nothing less than eternity was intended. This
method of interpretation reconciled the account given
with the revelations of science, and also threw a light upon
the method of acertaining the true meaning of the suc-
ceeding verses, which, Mr. Johnson maintained, could not
be successfully effected by natural philosophers, as had
been too often attempted. Astronomy had thrown out
the idea which chemical investigation has since supported,
that originally the whole of the stars had existed as
nebulm or matter in an intensely heated or vaporiform con-

dition ; that in the course of time this had become
cooled—condensed to a liquid of a globular form,
and by a continuation of the process a crust had been
formed upon the surface, to be eventually deluged with
continued rains. That, subsequently, portions of this
crust would be forced up from below by the instrumentality
of igneous causes, as in the present day, and thus would
be fulfilled the injunction " Let the dry land appear."
Mr. Johnson then took a rapid view of the changes and
appearances whicti might be supposed to have followed
this period, and dwelt at considerable length upon the

.circumstances attending the formation of the coal, the
lime, and the iron strata, and showed how everything had
been designed by the Creator for the best interests of that
creation, which was still " looming in the future," and
preparations for whose advent were all this while steadily
going on around ;—how the time was anticipated when
man would require not only the corn, and the wine,
and the oil of Egypt, but when steam should have
exerted her giant powers, and rendered time the sole
measurer of distance. and when thought should travel
round the earth with the rapidity of the sunbeam. He
spoke of the existence of poisonous gases in the original
atmosphere, and of their gradual removal—of the part
which plants had played in this consummation, and of the
powers with which they must be endowed in order to
effect the decomposition of carbonic acid, and of water ;
that science itself started back in amazement when in-
formed by the researches of a Faraday that in the decom-
position of one single grain of water as much electricity
was PUG into circulation as would be developed in the wild

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE CHASE.

The CHESHIRE HOUNDS will meet on

To-morrow (Wednesday), the 2nd instant, at. Tattenhall
Thursday, the 3rd, at Duddon Heath
Saturday, the sth, at Rock Savage
Each day at half-past ten o'clock.
The NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS will meet on
To-morrow (Wedy.), the 2nd instant, at.. Three Crowns, Stoke
Friday, the 4th, at Alsager
Each day at half-past ten o'clock.
Sir W. W. WYNN'S HOUNDS will meet on
- -

.... _
To-morrow (N\ edy.), the 2nd instant, at... Marchwiel Toll Bar
Thursday, the 3rd, at Cherry Hill
Saturday, the sth, at Penley Hall
Each day at halGpast ten o'clock.

TATTERSALL'S.-TH URSDAY

LIVERPOOL STEEPLE-CHASE

10 to 1 agst Captain Forster's Oscar—taken, aft. off.
12 to 1 Mr. Mason's Miss Mowbray—taken, aft. off.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP

10 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Contentmenttaken, aft. off.

30 to 1 --- Mr. C. Tavistock—taken, aft. off

33 to 1 Mr. Wrefoid's Wedlock filly—taken, aft. off.
The improvement in Contentment was the result of transac-
tions in the City. Little or nothing was done at the Corner.

NEWMARKET HANDICAP.
10 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr'B Contentment.

CHESTER CUP.
20 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Lady Evelyn.
30 to 1 Mr. E. R. Clark's Constantine—taken.
1000 to 30 Mr. T. Parr's Trifle—taken, aft. off.
40 to 1 Mr. Southby's Contentment.
2000 to 30 Mr. Longshaw's Banshee—taken, aft. off.

THE DERBY.
19 to 1 asst Duke of Bedford's Sittingbourne.
1000 to 15 Mr. T. Parr's Contentment—taken, aft. off.
1000 to 10 - Mr. E. It. Clark's Mr. Sykes— taken, aft. off.
Offers to take 11 to 1 about West Australian, and 20 to 1
about Sittingbourne.