The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-26 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

appeals of common sense, or he wonld have long since
acknowledged the justice and propriety of our original
-remarks on the subject.

But whilst we despair of 'effecting any change in- the
opinions of the " simple swain" that does the slop-work
of the Telegraph, we derive great satisfaction from the
reflection that the public of Liverpool agree- with us in
the belief that the meeting of the Reform Association
was a private one. The silence of all the radical papers
in town, with the solitary exception of the Telegraph,
affords a strong proof that the liberals themselves are
generally of our opinion in reference to this question.
Before we dismiss the subject we may as well indulge
in a remark or two on the distinction between a public
and a private meeting. The former we conceive to be one
to which every class of the public is admissible, without
any previous qualification, whether convened for an in-
definite or a specific object. We should, therefore, de-
signate the meetings of the Birmingham Political
Union, if none but members were allowed to attend, as
private cabals. The mere circumstance of one thousand,
or ten thousand, or even a hundred thousand persons
being in attendance on any occasion, would make no
difference, if all were excluded who had not the qualifi-
cation of membership. The Ribbonmen of Ireland have
on various occasions assembled in thousands; but no one
surely would call a meeting of a secret society a public
meeting. The meeting in the Sessions'-house, to which
the Telegraph alludes, was a public meeting. The de•
feat of the radicals on that occasion only proves that the
public of Liverpool, who were invited to attend, dis-
played better generalship than the faction with whom
the invitation originated. The meetings of the Trades-
`men's Conservative Association are private meetings.
We never maintained the contrary. The meeting in the
Clarendon-rooms, in 1834, was
.a public meeting. The
gatherings in Clayton•square Were also, all of them,
public meetings; but they would not haiebeen so if no
one had been admitted into that area but on presentAon
of a ticket, purporting that those who were admissible
were members of a political club.

The next time the Telegraph magnifies the meetings
of the Reform Association into public assemblages, we
shall put the accuracy of the definition to the test by ap-
plying for admission ourselves.

BIRKENHEAD.—In our paper of Friday last we in-
serted the proceedings of the Vestry held on the preced-
ing day at the Church in Birkenhead. The polling was
resumed the next morning, and at its final close the
numbers were,—for the bill, 132 persons-286 votes;
against it, 66 persons 84 votes. Application will,
therefore, be made to Parliament—a measure at which
the great majority of the more respectable inhabitants
seem much pleased.

THE EMIGRATION AGENTS.—We had intended, if our
suace had permitted, to have followed up our remarks of
Tuesday last, by some further animadversions on the in-
famous system of fraud to which the poorer classes of
emigrants from this port have been for many years past
liable. We find, however, that the length of our re-
ports will preclude us from entering at present into the
details of the question. We are in possession of a mass
of evidence upon the subject which has fully convinced
us of the immediate necessity for adopting some active
measures to put down the nefarious practices which cer-
tain unprincipled characters have resorted to, in their
transactions with emigrants from the agricultural dis-
tricts- Hereafter we may deem it incumbent upon us
to give publicity to the facts to which we have just al-
luded.

In the meantime we are glad to find that the attention
of Sir Georgesubject, Grey has been drawn to this important
on the representation of the Town Council. It
is to be hoped'that a bill may be shortly introduced into
Parliament for the purpose of redressing the grievances
under which emigrants have so long suffered, and of ef-
fectually preventing the frauds which have been suffered
for so long a period to disgrace the town of Liverpool.
Humanity demands the interference of the legislature
on 'behalf of those poor pet sons who are the habitual
dupes of the harpies who assume the title of emigrant
brokers; whilst justice requires that the latter should be
placed under the strict surveillance of the law, and liable
to its severest penalties. Our sense of duty will lead us
to discuss this matter more minutely hereafter.

IMPORTANT APPEAL AGAINST A POOR RATE ON
THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.

An appeal, involving the very important question as to the
extent to which railway companies may be liable to be taxed to
the poor-rates in the different townships along the lines, came
on for hearing at the qua' ter sessions at Kirkdale on Saturday
last.
The rate appealed against was for the township of Newton,
through which the company were obliged to admit (indeed
their own books showed) that there was much mote traffic than
rwrough-any other township along the line,
there being—be-
sides i.assengers, horses, and carriages—goods, coal, lime, &c.,
to and from Warrington; they were therefore rated 'upon an
assumed 'nett value to let" of £l,S=to per mile per annum.
Mr. Halton first put in certain admissions agreed upon by
both parties, (Mr. Wagstaff on behalf of the respondents and
Messrs. Clay and Swift on behalf of the appellants; and then
the learned gentleman proceeded to open the case of the re-
sponderits. liel toto admitth having,
theirtw: s
ibnechea
the
thate theni
ee
had company s behavednd he
fairly
of appeal was given, allowed an accountant on behalf of the
township to inspect and examine all their books and accounts.
That the townshiphad in this was obtained such information
as enabled them (though not absolutely to support the rate to
the full extent of the £l.BOO per mile,) to satin.), themselves,
and they hoped to satisfy the court also, that the full annual
value to let of the tolls earned in (that is to say, of the railway
through) Newton was £1,234 per mile, after deducting £2O per
cent. for tenants' profits and for maintaining the railway in
Newton, and £7O for parochial charges in that township; the
gross annual produce being shown by the company's books, and
being stated in the admissions, to be £1,659 per mile in the
township.
Mr. Hutton then called as his witness a gentleman who
formerly had a lease of the Warrington and Newton Railway,
who proved that it had only•cost him £57 per mile to maintain
it, the gross tolls on the business carried on by him then being
£640 per mile; and that before be had the lease the line was
kept in repair by another party under a contract, of £l5O per
mile. Upon this evidence Mr. Hulton proposed to allow a de-
duction of twice as notch per mile, for maintaining the way, as
the 'witness proved that he had spent upon it; but Dr. Brown,
for the appellants, objected to this, and cross-examined the
witness, who admitted tfiat he had spent 'as little as possible on
the railway, because he was liable to have his lease detriuined
by three months' notice at any time.
Dr. Brown then opened the case of the appellants, who, he ,
said, relied entirely on the cases decided by the King's Bench,
and in particular on the Duke of Bridgewater's case, 9 throe-
wall and Cresswell, and the Oxford canal case, 10 Barnewall
and Cresswell. Applying these decisions to the present case,
he claimed to deduct from the admitted gross produce, first, £2O
per cent. as the profits ofa proposed lease, then £7O (as tweed)
for Parochial charges, and then £450 per mile for the expenses
of maintaining the railway, police, point-men, engineers, and
the other necessary payments of. such a tenant ; and in this
way the learned doctor made it appear that the ",full annual
value to let" of the tolls earned in Newton was
_only £827 per
mile. He contended thatthe witness for the township hail fully
entitled him to most, if not all, of the £450 per eiile for the one
single item of maintaining the railway, because if it had cost
£l5O per mile when there -was only a traffic of £6lO per mile,
it was almost reduced to a rule-of-three question, now a hen the
traffic was three times as great (the expense of maintenance
ithoe
being in proportion to the quantity of traffic;) but, besides the
mere.maiutenaure of the way, the appellants claimed to deduct
(as expenses
to keep
lessee would .
points
ootus in place, &c., the police,
and subject)e
men
whicha
switches and
and the engineers employed in superintending the state of the
way, repairs, &c.; and it was in respect of all these, together
with the maintenance of the way, that the. £450 per mile was
claimed.. The learned doctor then called his witness, and Mr.
Hutton replied ; after which the magistrates had a long con-
sultation, and, we understand, a protracted discussion as to the
different facts; and at a late hour they gave their decision,—
£26 per cent. for profits of a supposed lessee. £:300 (instead of
£4so.per ruile),for maintenance of the way, &c.; and the £7O
for•parochial charges. The result of the appeal thus being, in
figures, that the appellants will have to pay £l4 17s. instead of
£27 7s. Gil. (the amount of the rate at 4d. in .the pound, on two-
thirds " the nett annual value to let"—the rates on all other
property in this township being only on two-thirdS.)

FArly on Wednesday morning, a boy employed on board the
Pocahontas Philadelphia packet, Princes Dock, was severely
wounded by a crook falling on his leg. He was carried to the
Northern Hospital, Leeds street.
During the night of Tuesday a woman was rescued from
drowning in the
.canal, near the. Northern Hospital,. Leeds-
street, to which excellent institution she was conveyed: by the
,We understand sbe is likely to recover.
duAND JUNCTION RAlLwAlt.—On Friday last, a lady travel-
ling towards London by the Birmingham train, left in the wait-
ing-room at the Hartford station a bag, containing with other
articles, about £lO in gold. On arriving at Birmingham, she in-
formed the clerk at the station of her loSs, and begged him to
cause enquiry to be made at Hartford. Her request was so
promptly as well as civilly attended to, that within fourteen hours
of the lady's arrival in London, the bag and all its contents were
safely restored to her.

VrMR.• RUMUALL'S LECTURF.S4ON PHRENOLOGY.—We are
obliged by want of space. to omit till Tuesday next, Mr. Rum-
ball's lecture of Tuesday.

- -
THE EASTERLY GALES.—.The long prevalence of the easterly
gales has now for some weeks kept vessels beating about in (he
channel unable to make the port. h will betray gfeat neglect
on the part of the government, if steamers and vessels are not
sent out to relieve them. We have heard of several vessels
having been spoken to, six and even seven weeks ago, and one
in Want of provisions. hill of s'hcih are unable to make the poit.
This measure .has, on fortnor occasions of a similar nature
been resorted to. We trust that on this point at least, on the
score of humanity.. that government will shake off the apathy
which distinguishes all its movements.

THE CHARGE OF MURDER ON THE COAST OF ,
AFRICA.

On Tuesday, at the Police-office, this case Which was ad-
journed from the night before, again came on before Mr. Hall.
We gave a full report in our last pater of the evidence of the
seamen on board the Kingston. implicating Captain Cain, the
waster, as having ordered his Kroolp,ys, white off New
Calabar, to beat his steward. Lewis Hausford, till he died.
The prisoner when brought up appeared downcast aid de-
pressed.

Mr. Statham, the partner of Mr. Curry, appeared on behalf
of the ptisoner.
Mr. Hall said there was one person whore evidence he was
wishful to have, but he had absented himself. However, they
must endeavour to procure him ; and his exaalination might be
appended to the evidence
Mr. Statham.—What is his name, sir?
Mr. Hall —I had ral her not mention his name: you have no
right to require his name.

Dl Staihain.— You seem to say that under an impressio❑
that we have some hand in keeping him nw,iy. I can only say
I have been no party in keeping hint away, sir.
Mr. Hall.—l am sure you would nut, Mr. Statham; I don't
suppose you would.

Mr. Statham said it only remained for him to lay the pri-
soner's case before the magistrates. He did not mean to deny
for one moment that the steward was flogged ; but he hoped
he should be able to prove something in mitigation of the cap-
tain's conduct, by showing that he only ordered him to be
flogged after violence had been offered to himself in his own
cabin, and after great provocation. He was sorry to say he had
only one witness, who was an apprentice on board the ship, and
was in the cabin at the time the assault was committed. Mr.
Statham then proceeded to recite the evidence to he brought
forward, which will be found in the evidence which follows. If
this were the time he could bring forward stone of the first mer-
chants in the town to speak to the character of the prisoner.
He had been eleven years in the service of Mr. Horsfall, and
had been a captain five years. No doubt that would have its
weight with a jury. He called

George Lees,vrho deposed that he was 17 years old last May, was
now apprentice on board the Kingston, and sailed from Liver-
pool on the 2d of March for New Calabar, and arrived there at
the latter end of April. Was there on the 20th of May. He
knew the steward Lewis Hansford, who sailed from Liverpool.
About five o'clock in the evening he was in the ship stowing
away some cloth. The captain told him to go and tell the stew-
ard to pump some runt up; he told him. and he did it. It was
just then going dusk. The steward came into the cabin after-
wards; he had not nailed the tin over the bunghole, he said he
was looking for the tacks. There was a sideboard in the cabin.
There was a tumbler and decanter on it. There was some rum
in the decanter. Ile was in the shop stowing away efoth,, and
could see the steward. He saw the steward-put the decanter
down, and put the stopper in. There was a black boy in the
cabin along with him. In consequence of his saving something
he looked round and then saw the steward putfina the decanter
down. The captain was in the other cabin talking to one of the
pilots. He could not see the steward. He might have heard
the decanter moved. The steward after that went on deck. He
saw him looking about for something before he put the decanter
down, and asked him what he was looking for, he said tacks.
He said he wanted them to nail the tin over the bunghole of
the ruin puncheon. It was not a likely place to find tacks.
There was nothing put there but tumblers and decanters, and
water. The'captain asked him a question about the steward,
and in consequence of his answer sent him to fetch him down.
The steward t•atne down into the cabin, and he (the witness)
followed. The captain said, " What have you been dotr.g
amongst the decanters r' The steward said " Nothing," as
sulky as could be. The captain told him he had, that he had
been drinking. The steward denied this, and said he had not.
The captain asked him would he tell a wilful lie to his face. The
steward said he was not telling a lie. The captain then struck
him with a small cat made of fishing line, over one of the
shoulders, and said, " Oh, you'll tell a lie, will you! I will
make you tell the truth." The steward said "he was a hard-
working man, and he would he d—d if he would be imposed
on," and seized the captain with his left band to his neck and
his right hand to his knee. He moved his right hand and laid
hold of the captain's privates, and lifted him np and hove him
down against the door heavily-, and the steward fell with him,
the steward being uppermost. The captain's head struck
against the door-handle and key. His head was wounded by
it, and he tiled much. The wound was about one inch and a-
half in size. The steward still kept his hands where he had
Stated, and the captain was not able to speak plain; he said
" Kroo," which witness understood to mean that he was to call
for the Krooboys. He called the Krooboys, named Walker
anti Grey. Walker was at the gangway trying palm oil. He
was not landing front a boat. Witness went back into the
cabin. The pilot was in this cabin before the Kroobays came.
He was a black man, and did not come home with them. Wit-
ness and the pilot pulled the steward off the captain; they were
not able to pull him off. The Krooboys came down in about
two minutes, and pulled the steward off with some difficulty.
The steward was a stout man. When they go: him off they took
him on deck. and he resisted, and tried to get back to the cap-
tain, but the Krooboys prevented him. They then took him on
deck. The captain had the print of the stewards hands on his
neck, and his face was of a blue colour. He appeared to he in
pain, and sat down. He soon afterwards went on deck;
in two or three minutes, and witness followed him. The
steward was opposite the cabin Omit when they went on
deck; the Kroobovs were holding him and had him down,
and kept him down. The captain ordered them to flog hm.
The Kroobovs flogged him. Walker and Grey and two other
boys came in about five minutes time. They at first held him,
and the captain told him to let him go, and they did. He did
not get up; be could not rise, he was in too great a pail). They
let him. go in about eight minutes. The flogging continued a
quarter of an hour. Five persons flagged him, and the captain
made six. He did not see the captain knock him down with the
butt end of a cat, but he saw the captain kicking him. He saw
one of the boys that was flogging him strike him on the face,
the boy's name was Dogabow. He and the steward had not
been on good terms. The steward died soon afterwards; he
was almost dead when they had done. He was buried in the
morning. That was not the usual time of burying. They bury
people as soon as they die. He was examined before Captain
Dawson, and Captain Hemmingway. Before he was examined
no threats were made to hint, and none to any of the men that
he heard. Captain Grant was on board, and present during
the examination. He was the Captain of the Heyworth, and
took part in the examination. He was examined. that was all.
Witness was examined by Mr. Dawson and Mr. klemmingway.
Nobody else interfered in the examination. Captain Caln was
present walking about in the cabin, but did not take a part in
the examination. A fortnight or three weeks after the affair the
captain was taken ill, but not sooner. He bad a touch of the
fever before. He had never had any difference with the steward
until the steward attacked him. He never saw the captain be-
have unkind to him beftire. At the time of the flogging the
pilot's canoe was alongside with two boys natives, in. The most
that were hogging him at one time were five, who were flogging
him nearly all the time, two had cats, and the others had pieces
of, lead line. During the time of the hogging he heard the
the captain call the steward " a son of a to come and
attack him in his own cabin." He did not hear bim say more
than that. He bad once said that he did nut hear the captain
use violent language.

The boy having been admonished by Mr. Hall to speak out
boldly, and tell the truth, was examin.ti by Mr. H A Lt.—The
scuffle took place about four O'clock in the afternoon. The deck
was three steps from the cabin. It war by the captain's order
that the Kroomen dragged the steward out. He did not tell
them what they were to do with him. Ihe Kroonaeu began to
flog him after they had let him go, when he was too weak to get
up, by the captain's orders. The same men flogged him again.
The captain said "pay him well." They flogged him for about
seven minutes more. He saw the captain kick hint while they
were fogging him many times, in all parts, whenever he eould
get a chance at him. lie never heard the captain say "kill
hint, kill him:" he said " pay him well " When the boy was
flogging him on the face the steward said " Oh, my eyes " The
captain, at that lime, was standing quite close to him. He saw
some rope ends used in beating the loan, besides eats and lead
lines. The second mate used a rope's end two or three times,
and he gave it to one of the pull-away boys, and he continued
to use it. The second mate brought the lead lines to flog him by
the captain's order. All the time they were flogging him his
shirt and singlet were off his back, and his back was quite bare.
The captain ordered his shirt and singlet to be taken off. They
flogged him a little time with his shirt and singlet us, and then
the captain made them take it off. He did not see his body
before he was buried for fear of getting the cat himself. He
remembered seeing his head near a hook while on the deck,
and the captain kicking his head on the hook. There was a cut
on each side of his head with the hook. boos acre pot on his
hands when he was ding, by the carpenter, by the captain's
orders. He did not move afterwards. The ship arrived here
on new year's day. He mentioned what he had seen done to
the man after they had arrived. A gentleman came to him,
and asked him. He never told any one to the best of his recol-
lection the flogging lasted half au hour to three quarters of an
hour. He never recollected seeing inspector Tyrell. He re-
membered telling the same gentleman he before mentioned,
that they were all afraid of speaking the truth, when they had
been examined. He never told any one that ho beard the cap-
tain tell the black boy to cut him over the eye. He saw him
after he was dead. His face, and neck, and eyes were all swol-
len. Dogabow who flogged him on the eyes, was a Calabar
boy.

By Mr. Statharn.—Dogabow belonged to the ship at that
time; no other person from Calabar flogged him. The steward
did not appear to be sober when he Came to look for tacks.
Mr. Hall inquired what other evidence Mr. Statham had

Mr. Statham said he had only the evidence or ChelLciWan.
Mr. Hall said The did not know how to aihninster an oath to
the black man; he would rather leave it to the judges.
Mr. Statham said, perhaps Mr. Hall would try to make him
understand the nature of an oath.

Mr. Hall said he felt some difficulty about it, because ke was
quite aware that the oaths differed very touch; there were some
of them of a less binding nature than others. He thought if
they meant to have the man examined, they, had better have
him examined in London, and let the court determine in what
way his conscience was to be hound.
Mr..Curry.—Onlv if you could arrive at the manner of ad-
ministering an oath to him you might determine on committing
the prisoner for .felony only, which was of importance for the
captain.
Mr. Hall.—After your last evidence !
Mr. Curry.—Well, if you are determined to commit him.
Mr. think you had better reserve this evidence for
the Central Criminal Court.
Mr. Curry.—Don't you think, on the evidence of the last
witness, we have shown sufficient provocation 'to reduce the
charge to manslaughter.

Mr. Hall.-1 wish to abstain from all comment, because the
charge is one of the most painful and distressing nature. But
I stiti feel inclined, as I before told you, to commit him to take
his trial on the charge of murder. lam not working any in-
justice to him in so doing, fora man may be guilty of man-
slaughter committed for murder. But I think it would not do
for ins to determine on such a case; I must leave it to higher
authority. It is my duty, I think, to send him for the higher
offence, leaving, it to the Central Criminal Court, whether to be
found guilty of murder or manslaughter. should, therefore,
commit him to take his trial far murder.
Mr. Curry said they had endeavoured to get the evidence of
the surgeodwho had examined the body, who would prove that
his wounds were not sufficient to cause death. They were told
be was in the Isle of Man, but they had sot been able to find
him. Did Mr. Ilall think the prisoner could be admitted to
unexceptionable bail?
Mr. Hall.—Oh, no, 1 cannot hear of it. My mind is per-
fectly made up about that. I should require bail of an enor_
twins amount.

Mr. Curt-.—l dare say we could get it.
Mr. Hall.—No, my mind is made up; I yvoe't {lsar of it. I
feel it my duty to bind Mr. Horstall, the toaster of the boy,
over, for the boy's appearance to give evidence.
Mr. Curry said he would acquaint Mr. Horsfall with his de-
termination, ►hough they should take'the boy up.
Mr. Hall then gave the usual caution to the prisoner, ant to
say anything which might criminate himself, as it would be
taken down, and then asked him if he chose to say anything?
The prisoner, after conferring with his attorney,dectined sav-
ing anything.
He was then committited to take his trial at the next Central
Criminal Court for .►larder. [The court ruse at a quarter past
five o'clock.]

ACCIDENT TO THE N.W. LIGHT SHI

As the Independence was leaving this port on Wed
she ran foul of the N.W. Light Ship. The following is.
master's report to the Dock Committee:—

" Meteor, 2-Ith Jan., 1838.
" I have to report to you that the American packet-ship In-
dependence, of New York. has run foul of the N.W. Light
Ship at noon to-day, in coming out of Liverpool. The day
was quite clear. She ran right stem into us, blowing strong
from the 6.E.. stove our larboard bow in, completely started the
plank, carried away the timber-beaus, night-heads, staunch-
eons, sprung the bowsprit, carried away the fore shrouds, in-
jured the foremast, if nut sprung it, and left her bower anchor
on our larboard bow. The ship ❑ever so much as hove to, to
see whether we were going down or were adrift, but carried oa
right before the wind. The lanterns are not the least injured,
and the moorings held, but I think the vessel has gone a little
to the westward, owing to the chains being dragged out of the
mud. I have nailed canvas and tarpaulings all over the bow, to
prevent water from coming in, but she won't be safe if the
wind comes to Le westward and heavy, for if the canvas washes
off she witl be all open forward, and we shall not be able to
keep her free. She is quite free at present. All the injured
part is above water. 1, and all the men, stood on the fore-
grating long before the ship came near us, waving with my hat
and shouting to him to keep away, but all in vain. There were
two men standing on her forecastle long before she struck us.
(Signed) JOHN JONES, Master."
The Independence proceeded, and was off Hob bead 61
hours after leaving the dock.

LOSS OF THE KILLARNEY STEAMER, AND OF
TWENTY-FOUR LIVES.

(From the Curk Constitution.)

One of the most calamitous occurrences that we have for a
long time had to deplore, took place on our coast on Saturday
—we mean the total destruction of the Killarney Steamer, and
the loss of not fewer than iwenty-four lives. The Killarney,
which belonged to the City of Bristol Company, left this on
Friday morning for Bristol, but, the weather being very tem-
pestuous, she only made Poorhead, awl was obliged to return
to harbour. She put off again that evening about 5 o'clock,
and got abreast of Youghal. Here she was found so " labour-
some." that a number of pigs were thrown overboard for the
purpose of lightening her, and it was deemed advisable to try
and regain the harbour. '['hey could out, however, keep full
steam on her, for she had been leaking, and the water had so
increased iu the hold in which the coals were kept, that they
became quite wet and would not burn freely. There were dry
coals in the fore cabin, but they were not easily procurable.
.From 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, they could scarcely keep
any steam up, and in 12 hours after—about 4 o'clock:in the
evening—she struck on a rock under the Rennies, near Curhine'
and about two miles from Roberts' Cove. It wo'ald seem im-
possible to account fur her reachrng this coast, and it is said
that all endeavours were made to keep her then off the land.
The sails were spread, but they were shivered to atoms. When
she struck, the anchor was let go, and the vessel swung round
and touched a large rock that rose a considerable height above
the level of the sea. The people on the cliffs, seeing her ap-
proach the danger, called out, but their calls, if heard, could
not be attended to. The rock against which she swung was in
the centre of a bay, the jutting promonbiries of which are
perhaps a mile apart. The rock is about 200 yards from the
cliff, (there is no beach.) and the cliff, which is quite perpen-
dicular, is about 600 yards above the sea. On her striking,
twenty-one persons acre able to reach the rock, when immedi-
ately the vessel and all that remained in her went down!

Thoee who got on the rock were—Mr. Bailey, the Captain ;
George Rose, mate; Win. Hancock, seamen; John Price,
Ditto; John Champion, ditto; Cbas. Goodlin, ditto; George
Porter, coal-trimmer; Chas. Atfel, seamen; Win. Peterson,
ditto; two engineers, Scotchrnen ; the cook, a black; James
Archer, seaman; Richard Reed, ditto; the stewardess; a
young boy intenued for a steward; a bov in care of pigs; Johtt
Ward, head steward, and his brother; Mr. John Collis, of
Castlecooke; Mr. Thomas Foster, of Ballyinaloo; Dr. Spo-
lasco; a woman whose name could not be learned; a sea-
man, who was afterwards drowned in trying to swim ashore.
Of those perished, the head steward -and his brother, the
stewardess, the boy intended for a steward, and the boy in care
of pigs, the seaman who tried to swim ashore, and poor young
Foster. He and Mr. Collis were apprentices of Mr. Richard
Beamish, the engineer, and were going over to him. 'Mr.
Foster, while on the rock, slipped; Mr. Collis made a grasp to
save him, and the lad, seeing his danger, sprang upwards.
He rose three feet of the rock, but he fell on his head, and Mr.
Collis says he h .ard his neck crack, and he tumbled into the
sea ! He was second son of the late Clement Foster, Esq., of
Ballvmaloo, and nephew of John Cuthbert Kearney, Esq., of
Motifieldstown. Mr. Kearney, and Mr. Foster, his brother,
were at the scene of desolation yesterday morning; they had
not heard of the wreck till then, and their feelings we leave our
readers to imagine. Mr. Collis, is the third son of William
Collis, Esq., Castlecooke. Foul-Seen were rescued from the
rock, but one of them died (a carpenter) soon after he was got
on shore. The great diffiulty was to get a rope to reach them.
On Sunday, ducks with rapes fastened to them were sent out—
only one reached, and that they were not able to catch. Wire
was attached to ballets, and rope to the wire, and sundry shots
were tired, but without the tops reaching tie unfortunate peo-
ple. The gentry around were all present giving their assis-
tance :—Captain Knolles, of Oatlands, and his son, Richard
Knolles, Esq., George Daunt, Esq., and Arthur Daunt, Esq.,
of Newbro', Dr. M'Derrnott, Charles Newenham, Esq., Mr.
Hull, of the Coast Guard, at Robert's Cove, and his brother—
and, "though last, not least," Lady Roberts, of Britfieldstown.
Nothing could exceed her ladyship's attention to the sufferert
when rescued—Sir Thomas was not at home.

On Sunday, when all fforts to reach them with a rope by
the above-mentioned means, were found vain, Mr. Hull,
brother to the officer of Coast-guard, suggested the fastening e
long rope to one part of tke Promontory, and carrying it along
the beach to the other side, until a rope, dependent from the
middle of it, was brought within reach of those on the rock.
'['his was effected, but the dependent rope was so weak, arid it
was so late—then after 4 o'clock, and just dark—that it was
necessary to give over further exertions for that evening, and,
direful as was the alternative, leave the sufferers exposed to the
fury of another night. The night, however, was not so tem-
pestuous as the preceding, and at daylight many were on the
spot to give their assistance, Lady Roberts amongst the fi►st.

On going away at night the rope was left extended as we have
described, and ready for operations in the morning; but during
the night some inhuman wretches cut the rope and carried
it off ! ! -

On Monday morning captain Manby's Life Preserving Ape
pantos was brought from Kinsale, but the same difficulty wee
experienced in reaching the rock with the rope. Shots wer
again fired from guns aad small cannori brought for the purpose
but without success, and Mr Hull's plan was again resorted to.
This suoceeded; captain Manby's apparatus was affixed to the
centre rope, about I l o'clock, Iwo loaves of bread, and a little
wine and spirits were lowered to them—the first they had par-
taken of since Friday. After refreshing themselves, they were
hauled up in the cradle, one by one, the woman first.
The following were those drawn sp—Mr. Collis, Doctor
Spolaseo. a woman, passengers; the Captain; George Rose,
mate; Wm. Hancock, John Price, John Champion, Charles
Goodlin, James Atfel, and Wm. Paterson, seamen; George
Porter, coal-trimmer, and James Mason, carpenter, who died
soon after. _ _

They were all put into neighhooring cottages, and attended
to under the immediate superintendence of Lady Roberts, who
provided them with covering, gruel and other nourishing drink.
Dr. fit' Dermott, and indeed all in the vicinity, were most at-
tentive. Mr. Collis, who appeared to have suffered less than
would have been supposed, was taken to Britfieldstown, Sir
Thos. Roberts's; and the captain to the Water Guard Station;
the rest were cninfortahlv provided for, and seldom were indi-
Nidwils more in want ofit, the, having beer the whole of Saturday
night, (and a most dreadful night it was,) all Sunday, and Sun,
day night, exposed to both winds and waves—besides which
they were wet before they left the vessel. The woman who lay
on the rock and was rescued, had on her nothing but her night
dress and a small handkerchief. The stewardess was washed
ashore with only buskins on her. Mrs. Morris, whose husband,
is among the dead, had two stays, on. and 180 sovereigns stitched
between the linings. These were riled when she floated ashore,
as well as some rings that were on her fingers! Inhuman as this
act may appear, we cannot marvel at it, after the cutting and
making off with the rime that was intended as the means of sav-
ing from death 14 suffering fellow-beings.
The Cabin Passengers were—Robert Laws, Esq.. and his
wife; Thos. Foster, Esq.; John Collis, Esq.; Mr. Nicolai
(or Nichol), we are not sure which,) 99th refit.; Dr. Spolasco
and son: _

The fate of Mr. and Mrs. La we and young Mr. Foster is de-
plo►ed by every one to whoop it has been mentioned. Mr. Laws
had tarried with him throu..:ll lite the respect and esteem, not
merely of his mercantile brethren, bet of all who knew him. HAe
never reached the rock —bis lady, we understand, did, but did
sot long survive her husband. A sea, according to one report,
washed her off—aeccorillog to another, she dropped from the
rock and sank. Mr. poster's fat*, when all seemed safe, we have
already described. Mr. Nichol, er Nicolai, was not seen after
the vessel struck.

The •names of the deck passengeis we have been unable to
ascertain. Two of them were the Dean named Morrison and
his wife, mentioned above. There were 6 others, besides 6
persons in charge of pigs. The crew, including the Captain
and mate, were ahont eightee❑ in •umber. Altogether, there
were 37 persons on hoard. Thirty-seyen human beings alive
and well oe Saturday morniug, aed now four and twenty of
them in eternity !

The crew were nearly all from the aeiglthourbood of Bristol.
The cargo consisted principaliy of Boar, butter, leather, and
pits, and must have been valuable. Of tie pigs, of which there
were 650 on hoard, 108 belonged to the Messrs. Adams of
Blackpool; 2011 to a poor man named Michael Murphy, who
some time ago lost 300 on board one of tie London vessels, and
70 to a woman of the name of Sullivan. The vessel, we under-
stand, was worth about £lO,OOO. Altogether it is a most
calamitous affair. The country-people, however, are endeavour-
ing to turn it to account. In every direction they ate to be seen
moving off with pigs' heads, hams, &c., under their arms.
The only part of the vessel now visible, is the top of the
Engine. which lies adjacent to the rock.
Mr. Beale. Mr. M. H. Conway, and Mr. Robinson, of the
St. George Company, went down to render their assistance
immediately on the news of the disaster reaching Cork.

Mr. G. ETToN's CONCEIIT.—VIII9 gentleman's concert was
held on Wednesday, in Mr. Lasselt's Saloon, St. Anne's, and
we were glad to see that he had so crowded ae audience. We
have not space for a lengthened critique, but we may state that
the choruses were very excellent, as also were sonic of the glees.
An aria curia solo on the violin, by Mr. Eyton, was loudly ap-
plauded, and the glee of " Hail smiliag, more," was cleverly
played on four trombones, and met with hearty approbation.
•

THI ROYAL AMPHITHEATER.—We see that Mr. Bates, the
spirited manager of this theatre, bus announced that he will
devote the procee4s of his louse on next Thursday evening, for
the benefit of the Soup Charily for the Lour. It does Mr.
Bates intioite credit, and v%e hope, for Ike sake of the charity,
he will have a crowded louse.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEIIN.-Mr. Lacy, Bold-street, has
on view at present, an etching which will well repay anyone the
trouble of inspecting. It represents her Majesty in her robes
of state, as she appeared when she when to prorogue the first •
parliament. The countenance is radiant with rnajesty, and the
figure beams with grace: the drapery is thrown with the most
consumate taste. It is a magnificent work of art. The origi-
nal was painted by Chalon, the present engraving is by Cousins.

EMPEROR WHEAT.—We perceive by an advertisement, that
Mr. Pollard, of Thorney, the discoverer of the celebrated
Chevalier Wheat, has introduced, another new sort, which even
excels the Chevalier in point of quality, it is called the Emperor
Wheat, we certainly or% er saw finer grain. and we have no
doubt from the high testimonials of its merits, that it is really
as productive as stated,
- -

•
Should the rumoured union between the AlarTlis of Douro
and Miss Burdett Coutts take place, the sf.cond Dyke of Wel-
lington will be the fist in Health, as the first has been in funs:
and glory.

A vobig member of convocation at Oxford, not satisfied Irak
giving himself that desiguatiou, at the ond of a loti desertatiott
In a provincial journal; sigus b►naeelf " A Distincitunetliso

r4gAtzZi"

eCONTE2IIPORARY PRESS.

LORD DURHAM.
( From the Morning Herald.)

Up ii;the very moment of the re assembling of Par.
liament last week, ninety-nine persons in every hundred
of those who had given the matter a thought, imagined,
we will venture to say, this nobleman to be still, nomin-
ally at least, our ambassador to the Court of Russia;
and that he had returned home on leave, merely to try
his luck at a prize in the cabinet lottery ; in which hav-
ing failed, we might soon expect to hear of his return-
ing to a post, which any man of the most ordinary judg-
ment and discretion must he aware, ought not to have
been left for a single moment unoccupied. It now
seems, however, that all this was a mistake—that Lord
Durham's Russian embassy was vacated (and, of course,
his salary ceased) from the moment lie left St. Peters-
burgh ; and it follows that our inimitable foreign secre-
tary considers it an appointment of no earthly conse-
quence, no one step having been, for six months or
more, taken to supply the vacancy thus occasioned. In
the mean time Lord Durham being, as they say, " at
leisure," accepts a new appointment, and exchanges the
frozen regions of the noriii for the not less wintry wilds
of the west. Whether the noble lord will acquire greater
fame on the St. Lawrence than his exploits on the Neva
have yielded him, remains to be seen. He has at least
this consolation and encouragment, that the effort to ac-
complish that need not be very great.
The John Bull, in allusion to the honourable member
for Kilkenny's Canadian politics, describes him as a per-
son " who. as the evening papers tell us, was, with two
or three of his patriotic friends, expected one night last
week on a visit to the Duke of Wellington—not at Wal-
mer, or at Strathfieldsaye, but at another of his Grace's
establishments on the banks of the Thames." By the
bye, the crowd assembled on Tower hill upon the occa-
sion in question, seems to have been brought together
by a common feeling of probability—no bad guide on
many occasions.

One difficulty presents itself relative to Lord Durham's
Canadian mission, which does not as yet appear to have
been adverted to ; and it is, that it is most probable be-
fore his arrival there the whigs who sent him will be out
of office. In this case what is to become of the high
commissioner, commander-in chief, vice-admiral, &c. ?
Surely all these high-sounding titles will not induce the
conservatives to accept him as an heir-loom. Should
such be the case has lordship's campaign, like that of a
certain other great commander, will have consisted in
" marching up the hill and down again."

THE BALLOT.
( From the London Times.)

Tie last argument we offer in condemnation of secret
voting—its irreligious and immoral tendency—is one
which we are quite aware will have little weight with
the principal advocates of the project ; but it is just on
this account that we press the argument the more ear-
nestly upon such men as Sir George Sinclair and others,
who may be capable of appreciating its importance, and
willing to bow to its authority.

As Christians are enjoined to he patterns of every
personal, social, and political virtue, so in the discharge
of duty they are not only warned against yielding to
the fear of man which bringeth a snare," but they are
bound to " renounce the hidden things of dishonesty,"
and to let their " light so shine before men that others
may behold their good works," and be instructed by their
example. Now, without pretending to indite a homily
upon this subject, we may be excused for suggesting
that the exercise of cowardice or concealment in regard
to any action affecting the public interests were to go
directly in the teeth of these obligations, because, be the
action good or bad, the cause of virtue must equally suf-
fer from secresy, being deprived of a salutary example
in the one case, and of the means of exposure in the
other. In all cases of contested elections the character
and qualifications of candidates must necessarily be a
test of the moral discernment and political integrity of
voters.

If a Christian, acting conscientiously, find it a right
thing, to support or reject a pai-ticular candidate, (no
matter whet her Mr. Pownall or Joseph Hume,) the in-
terests of religion, according to his own views, be he
churchman or dissenter, conservative or liberalist, impe-
ratively require that lie should give an open testimony,
in order that the distinctions between truth and error,
wisdom and folly, morality and vice, piety and sectarian-
ism, may not be confounded and lost. Assuming, then,
that every elector is desirous to give a virtuous vote for
the benefit of the commonwealth, publicity is obviously
essential for the hill accomplishment of his purpose.
The secrecy of his suffrage would denude it of all the
moral or exemplary influence that ought to attach to
every virtuous action. On the supposition, for instance,
that Dr. Pye Smith had possessed no means of recording
in an open manner the conscientious vote which lie re-
cently gave in favour of Joseph Hume, it is evident that
the excellence of Joseph's character, the uprightness of
voting_that black is white, the propriety of designating
a legislative recognition of Divine Providence as cant
and humbug, the duty of encouraging the Canadians to
throw off the baneful domination of the mother country,
and the spirituality of establishing the ballot for the pro-
tection of perfidy and ingratitude—it is evident, we say,
that had the Doctor's vote been a secret one, his high
public sanction in favour of these matters, which he
doubtless believes to be in accordance with the word of
God, would have been lost; the world would not have
had the advantage of knowing that Dr. Smith considers
Joseph flume a better public character than Mr. Pow-
nall, and consequently more worthy of a Christianssup-
port and imitation; and the light of the Hoinerton Ga-
maliel would have been so prevented from shining, as
neither to reprove the wickedness of the Protestant con-
stituency of Middlesex, nor to ratify the choice of the
Popish voters of Kilkenny. In short, viewing Christi-
ans as " the children of the light and of the day," the
ballot would manifestly restrict the operation of an im-
portant law of the Redeemer.
Again : in whatever way the votes of electors may be
actually given at the pricking-place, as proposed by Mr.
Grote, no person can pretend that promises will not be
exacted under the contemplated system as inexorably as
at present. No device can possibly prevent this; and
the same disability to withhold pledges, which is sup-
posed to be the bane of the existing plan, must be equally
felt under any new arrangement, as long as the gentry
shall deal with tradesmen, or let their farms to tenants.
Observe, we are not now questioning the facilities which
the ballot affords for breaking those promises. To the
lovers of "the hidden things" of dishonesty" we may
momentarily concede that its folds for covering them in
thick darkness are impenetrable. But we are reasoning
at present with religious men : and in reference to such
persons, we are entitled to maintain, broadly and abso-
lutely, that whenever a promise is really given, they are
bound at all sacrifices to fulfil it. We frankly own, how-
ever, that although there is no moral turpitude in merely
asking a promise, there must be very serious guilt in
giving it contrary to one's conscience. The utmost cir-
cumspection and independence should be exercised in
listening to applications for a vote, and still more in fa-
vouring them. A high sense of duty should be the de-
termining principle in all such cases. The power of an
applicant to injure a voter forms a cogent reason why
the latter should not permit his conscience to be ensnared
by a mere regard to his worldly interests. To resist
every solicitation, threat, or bribe, is the bounden duty
of every upright elector whose convictions of propriety
are opposed to such influences. But when once his pro-
mise is actually given, there is no conceivable plea that
can justify its violation. The ballot may cloak his du-
plicity, and the confessional may pretend to absolve it;
vet, as long as the " man that sweareth to his hurt and
changeth not" is declared in Scripture (15th Psalm) to
be an object of Divine approbation, it is plain that the
rule involved in such applauded fidelity must be impera-
tive upon every professor of Christianity . and, cons&
quntly, as no device can be found to prevent the asking
and giving of promises, no expedient can be resorted to,
consistently with religious principle, to secure impunity
for their infringement.
Finally, the ballot can be viewed by Christians no
otherwise thin as a dexterous contrivance to protect a
man's worldly interests at the expense of his integrity.
We have already seen that the exaction and giving of
promises cannot possibly be prevented. Now, an elector
will either be disposed to vote according to his promise,
or he will not. We therefore contend, that as in the
one case there is no necessity for concealment, so in the
other there ought to be no protection for treachery. A
cowardly and mercenary promise is bad enough ; a base
and skulking violation of it is still worse ; but an ela-
borate and legalized plan to facilitate such doings is
worst of all : it is a systematic plot against truth and
righteousness. If any serious person support the ballot,
whether churchman or dissenter, he is " doing evil that
good may come ;" albeit, with the additional aggrava-
tion, that the evil thereof is as palpable as the good is
doubtful, even were it fully realized.
The way for religious men to test the thing is to take
an actual case of every-day occurrence. Sir George
Su-and-Su is a candidate for the suffrages of a large con-
stituency. Mr. Thingumbob, the boot-maker, a member
of Shepherd's-market meeting-house, whose minister has
refused to pay his church-rates, works for him. The ba-
ronet's committee beset Thingumbob for his vote, who,
being anxious to keep both his customer and his consci-
ence, permits his name to be booked among Sir George's
pledged supporters. Nay, be must even enrol himself
on one of his employer's parochial committees. He does
so. He attends all its meetings, is privy to all its coun-
cils, busies himself in sending out circulars, and does all
that any bootmaker can do in apparent furtherance of
his patron's interests. But when the .day of balloting
arrives, the unhappy tradesman's dissent gets the better
of his honesty, and he blackballs the candidate whom lie
has professed to support. The ethics of Shepherd's
markk 'prevail over the morals of the 15th Psalm. If
any Christian can either prevent this under the ballot
system or vindicate it, we respectfully invite him to try

his ingenuity : while, as such instances of dup
would neither be accidental accompaniments of the plan,
nor of rare and unusual occurrence, but would rather
constitute its proper, inth-itable, atia intended ft uits, no-
thing more need be added to cons►gn it to toe loathing
of every well-regulated mind.

LIVERPOOL AIECHANICO' INSTITUTION.

LECTURES ON '

On Wednesday se'nnight Dr. Kane delivered his fifth lecture.
We saw, in the last lecture, that by the direct combination of
sulphur with oxygen we can only succeed in uniting two equi-
valents of oxygen to one of sulphur, and that this product is
sulphurous acid. When we wish to produce the body which
contains the most oxygen united with sulphur, we are obliged
to have recourse tc, indirect methods, and to supply the oxygen
from other sources than atmospheric air or oxygen in a state of
isolation. The discovery of sulphuric acid belongs to a very
early period of chemistry, but it was then obtained in a manner
so circuitous and exclusive as to prevent its general introcluctiou
into the arts. If we mix with sulphur a quantity of saltpetre,
and set fire to them under a bell glass, a rapid combustion
ensues, and we find, as an experimental result, that the sulphur
is converted into sulphuric, instead of sulphurous acid. In this
way the manufacture of sulphuric acid wan carriedon formerly ;
and when the fumes which arose were condensed in the water
at the bottom of the hell, and the solution further concentrated by
boiling, au oily-looking liquid was obtained, so oily as to have
borne in commerce the name of "oil of sulphur, by means of I
the bell." After a short time it was found to be identical with
a similar liquid, obtained as oil of vitriol,under which name strong
sulphuric acid is spoken of in commerce. When we consider
the circumstantem under which the acid is generated in this
experiment, we are led to a very simple and apparently plausible
means of explaining its action. We conceive that by the
burning o: sulphur in common air we have sulphurous acid, or
sulphur combined with two equivalents of oxygen. Now when
we reflect that there are few bodies which contain so much
oxygen as saltpetre, or give it out so freely, it appears to us very
natural that. the additional atom of oxygen requisite for the
formation of sulphuric acid is derived from the saltpetre, and by
this means we obtain the combination of sulphuric acid or sul-
phur in combination with three atoms of oxygen. Such was the
theory to which chemists in the first instance were led. The
change which scientific opinion has undergone as to the forma-
tion of sulphuric acid deserves to be reinemberest and carefully
studied, as an example of the consequences into which we may
be led by listening to an argument which is most frequently
made use of, that nature is always simple in her operations, and
that when we are capable of seizing upon the principles which
regulates the action of natural bodies on each other, they are
the simplest that can be imagined, and that bodies always enter
into combination on the simplest principles. You will see that
the theory of the formation of sulphuric acid, as previously de-
scribed, is exceedingly simple—a quantity of oxygen passes
from one body to another. Yet we find that the instant we
apply ourself to the determination of quantities, it is necessary
to abandou this simple hypothesis, and altogether to adopt one
of the most complicated but yetone of the most beautiful theories
of combination with which we are acquainted, iu order to solve
the principle. There is nothing more beautiful than the study
of this problem. Dr. Kane then exhibited an apparatus illus-
trating the intermediate phenomena which take place in the
preparation of sulphuric acid, which are of so transitory a na-
ture as to escape observation under.ordinary circumstances, but
which, by means of the apparatus used by Dr. Kane were self-
evident. It consisted of a woulfe's bottle, with three apertures,
the one in the middle proceeding from the top of the bottle,
open to the atmosphere, and the two others in the centre of
the sides of the bottle having the necks of a couple of
retorts inserted into them. Into the one retort was poured
quicksilver and oil of vitriol, and into the other sugar and nitric
acid. By applying a strong heat to the first retort, the quick-
silver is oxydized, and sulphurous acid flows into the Woolfe's
bottle. The immediate result of the admixture of the nitric acid
with sugar is, that by the application of a gentle beat, the acid
is deprived °fa certain quantity of oxygen, and nitrous acid pass-
es into the Woolfe's bottle, which, by the addition of the oxygen
of the atmospheric air which enters the woolfe's bottle by the
central opening, is converted into hypo-nitrous acid. Now let
us consider what takes place under a bell glass in which nitre
and sulphur are inflamed. One part of nitre is used to ten of
sulphur. According to the old theory, the oxygen was trans-
ferred from the nitre directly to the sulphur. Now, to form
sulphurous acid, ten parts of sulphur unite with ten of oxygen.
To pass to the condition of sulphuric acid, half as much more
oxygen is required. Therefore, ten times as much oxygen is
required to convert the sulphurous acid into sulphuric acid as
the nitre introduced contains. This puts an end to the theory,
apparently so simple, that the oxygen passes from the nitre to
the sulphur. But what does take place, the portion of sulphur
in contact with the nitre deflag rates, and is at once converted
by combining with oxygen to the state of sulphuric acid. This
sulphuric acid seizes upon the potash of the nitre, and there are
generated those red fumes which we get in this experiment by
another process. The nitre having been thus reconstructed,
the remainder of the sulphur burns as if no nitre had been pre-
seut at all; but the nitrous acid formed mixes with the sulphur-
ous acid. If the fumes be dry. there is no action whatever, but
if there be a small quantity of water, the two gases react upon
each other, they combine with the water, and the result is a
crystallized substance, which is deposited at the bottom of the
vessel. This solid matter, by coming into contact with water,
is decomposed. Let us consider for a moment the result of the
admixture of the very small quantity of the red fumes with a
large quantity of snlphurous acid gas. The red fumes must
condense immediately a small quantity of the sulphurous acid
to form a small quantity of solid matter, which it decomposed
and gives back the nitric oxide, which, taking a fresh supply
from the atmospheric air, again seizes upon more sulphurous
acid, is again precipitated; and, it, to practice, this process
could be carried on without loss, we should find that a grain of
nitre might, by a series of successive reactions, convert into
sulphuric acid 1000 tons of brimstone. The nitre does not
acidify the sulphur by yielding to it itsown oxygen, but,by a sort
fo carrying trade, transfers from the atmospheric air whole car-
goes of oxygen gas to the sulphurous acid, which, by itself,
would be incapable of uniting with it. We here see the opera-
tion carried on in glass vessels, but practically the operation is
carried on in a different way. Instead of a bell glass, we have
a great number of leaden chambers, the bottom of which con-
tains water. Oil of vitriol cannot be obtained in a concentrat-
ed form by this process. The concentration is, in the first in-
stance. effected by expelling the superfluous water by means of
a retort of lead. But as the oil of vitriol becomes stronger, its
boiling point rises until it nearly reaches the boiling point of
lead. It then becomes necessary to carry on the concentration
to the full extent in vessels of glass or platinum. Tne latter,
notwithstanding its expense, is preferred, the breakage of glass
being so enormous. On the Continent the sulphuric acid made
in these leaden chambers is spoken of as English sulphuric acid.
Its usual density is about 1.815. It has a peculiar oily feel, and!
is intensely corrosive. The corrosive properties of sulphuric
acid, generally speaking' depends upon the affinity which it
possesses for water. If a small quantity of thread be placed
around a vessel containing sulphuric acid so as to press small
pieces of phosphorus jto the surface of the vessel, the heat
generated by the admixture of the water with the sulphuric
acid will be enough to inflame the phosphorus. When bo-
'
dies combine with very great energy, the consequence is, the
evolution of an intense degree of heat. Sulphuric acid is corro-
sive to organic matter in consequence of its intense affinity
for water, as it not merely possesses the character of uniting
with water wherever it finds it, hut wherever it meets with a
body possessing in its composition the constituents of water
—it not only seizes upon the water :it may possess already
formed, but it always breaks up the arrangenieuts of that body
to re-arrange them so that the elements may combine to form
water. Thus, if a small quantity of sugar be moistened with
water, and a small quantity of sulphuric acid poured upon it,
the mixture becomes black, and effervesces so violently as to
raise the mass to a considerable height in the vessel containing,
it. Sugar is composed of 12 equivalents of carbon, 11 of hy-
drogen, and 11 of oxygen, Now as one atom of oxygen, and
and one of hydrogen will form water, the whole of the oxygen
and hydrogen of the sugar combines to form water. Sugar
does not contain so much water, but the sulphuric acid breaks
up the constitution of the sugar, and we can obtain the carbon
perfectly free, as from wood. All organic substances contain
carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, therefore if sulphuric acid is
thrown upon the body of any individual, it reacts upon the skin
as upon the sugar to form water, and as sulphuric acid always
causes heat when it unites with water, occasioning the intense
burning feel which accompanies its action. Sulphuric acid has
been taken as a poison, in which cases the interior of the sto-
mach is converted into a black substance or carbon. The soapy
feel of the sulphuric acid arises from the commencement of the
decomposition of the skin. Our oil of vitriol is called the
English oil of vitriol by the natives of the continent, to distin-
guish it front the German oil of vitriol which is manufactured
in a different manner. Sulphate of iron is put into an earthen-
ware retort, and distilled at a full red heat. The copperas IS de-
composed, and oxide of iron remains as a brown powder in the
retort and a thick liquid distils, over which is sulphuric acid of
a dark colour. When exposed to the atmosphere this acid
gives (sot copious white fumes, which the English oil of vitriol
does not. On this account it is termed fuming sulphuric acid,
or Nordhausen acid, from the town in Hanover in which its
manufacture is carried on. When this acid is used it gives out
copious white fumes, which is sulphuric acid free from water.
Now this dry sulphuric acid is volatile, and its vaponris colour-
less, but it has such a powerful affinity for water that it unites
with the moisture usually floating in the atmosphere. Sul-
phuric acid is one of the strongest bases we know of; if a drop
of it he mixed with a large quantity of the infusion of red cab-
bage it changes it to a red colour. 'File red cabbage infusion
is one of the most delicate tests for an acid. The acid proper-
ties of sulphuric acid may be rendered very evident by takiu a
few pieces-. of-well-burnt Time and placing item in the neck of a
retort containing some of the German oil of vitriol, By apply-
ing a heat the dry sulphuric acid will be disengaged, which will
combine so powerfully
.with the lime as to raise it to a red heat,
and present a cumbustion as intense as that of lime and oxygen.
Combustion, in chemistry, is independent of any particular
body; thus, in chemistry, sulphuric acid, is towards lime, just
as much a supporter of combustion, as oxygen is to iron wire or'
a candle. Sulphutie acid is characterized for its affinity for
bases, and with some of these bases it forms some compounds
which are sparingly soluble or insoluble in water, which we
make use of as test for the detection of sulphuric acid. Upon i
adding a solution containing barytes, to a solution containing a
few drops of sulphuric acid, we immediately get a white pre-
cipitate, which is a combination of sulphuric acid with barytes,
and a perfectly insoluble salt. If we take, in the same manner,
a quantity of liquor, containing souse sulphuric acid, and add
to it a selutiou containing lead, we get a copious white pi eci-
pitate consisting of a combination of sulphuric acid with oxide
of lead. These tests are both of extreme delicacy, and by
their means, an exceedingly small quantity of sulphuric acid
may be determined.
Sulphur unites with hydrogen in two proportions, one of
which is gaseons and the other liquid, the gaseous substance is
well known by the name of sulphuretted hydrogen, and the
other is the bi sulphuret of hydrogen. We shall only occupy
ourselves the gas, as the other is of no importance. -Sulphur-
etted hydrogen is not an uncommon natural production. Am-
monia has been dttsciibed as the result of the decomposition of
animal matters. Now there are a great number of animal
matters which not only contain carbon hydrogen, oxygen and
nitrogen, but also sulphur. One of the most remarkable in-
stances of this is the yolk of an egg. Sulphur has the property
of combining with metals and blackening them, this is the rea-
son why our silver spoons are tarnished when employed for
eating eggs. If we leave the yolk of an egg to itself, after the
chick has died the law of vitality ceases and that of chemistry
conies into its place. Putrifaction ensues and the consequence
is that the sulphur unites with the hydrogen in the yolk, and
we have sulphuretted hydrogen, which is the gas to which rotten
eggs are indebted for their disagreeable odour. We can get
sulphuretted hydrogen in a variety of chemical ways, of which
two are interesting. If iron is heated with sulphur, it combines
with it and forms sulphuret of iron or iron pyrite. When this
is heated with sulphuric acid, decomposition ensues, the oxygen
goes over to the iron and the sulphor unites with the hydrogen
to form sulphuretted hydrogen. The other method is by treat-
ing sulphuret of anion-oily with muriatic acid, when the chlorine
will unite with the antimony, amid the hydrogen with the sul-
phur. Sulphuretted hydrogen is 'absorbed by water, and it is
consequently not collected over water. It does not differ much
in weight from atniospLetic air, amid therefore cannot be ob-
taiued to the manner adopted fur sulphureous acid or am-

moniacal gas, it is therefore collected over brine. When collected
in this way, it is a colourless gas quite transparent. Its odour
at once recognises it. It burns with a beautiful blue flame; but
as the hydrogen barns with considerable rapidity. a considerable,
quantity of sulphur is consuined, but by allowing a considerable
quantity of atmospheric air to Le mi it before coin-
tistisu, the whole is burned with a beautiful vioiet-coloured
flame, ilplrogen has a much greater affinity for chlorine
than it has for, sulphur, and the consequence is, that vt lienever
chlorine is presented to sulphuretted tivdrog•cii the hydrogen
leaves the sulphur which is then deposded and unites with the
chlorine. This is a test in the analyzation of sulphuretted hy-
drogen; and it is also used to free the air of any of it which
may be present. For this latter purpose it is exceedingly im-
portant as sulphuretted hydrogen is highly poisonous, and many
persons have met their death through inhaling it. Sulphuretted
hydrogen can be recognised in a great variety of ways. It is
soluble in water, and we make use of this solution iu the labo-
ratory for the purpose of detecting metallic bodies with which it
fortns a number of salts; the sulphur acting upon the metal and
the hydrogen upon its oxygen. Solutions containing lead are
immediately blackened by the addition of a solution of this gas,
so that adulterations of lead in different liquids may be readily
detected. If we add the solution of the gas to a solution con-
, taming corrosive sublimata it is immediately turned black. It
is one of the best tests for quicksilver that we have. If we add
it to a solution containing arsenic, the latter is instantly
,preci-
pitated as a yellow powder,—the orpiment of commerce.
tar emetic is distinguished by the dark orange-coloured precipi-
tate which sulphuretted hydrogen causes. By means of such a
number it characters, sulphuretted hydrogen is a very easy sub-
stance to distinguish, and we have no difficulty in detecting Its
presence.
The next substance to which it is necessary to direct our at-
tention is one of the most important, considered both in a theo-
retical as in a practical point of view. lit is the substance called
chlorine, which was by its discoverer termed dephlogisticated
muriatic acid. It got this name in consequence of the remark-
able view which its discoverer entertained, that the muriatic
acid in the preparation of the chlorine was deprived of plogis-
ton. Phlogiston played the part of hydrogen, and we find that
this idea of the discoverer of chlorine was correct, and that
chlorine was muriatic acid deprived of hydrogen. AtA time
when chemistry held the highest rank amongst the sciences,
and engaged by far the greatest part of the scientific of Europe
in ito study, a period of brilliancy which has never since been
equalled, and perhaps never will, there existed in a remote part
of Sweden au apothecary's apprentice, despised by his master
and not thought any thing of by his countrymen, whose chemi-
cal studies were made by stealth in the back kitchen of his was-
tes's house. This man studied silently, and in one paper brought
forward four of the most important substances with which
chemistry is acquainted, viz: oxygen, chlorine, barium, and
manganese. Unencouraged and 'uninstructed, and under cir-
cumstances the most unfavourable, Scheele raised himself to
the rank of the first European man of science, and is an ixam-
ple to those who will undergo the labour of studying science.
l'he name chlorine was given to this gas by Sir Humphry Davy,
and it constituted likew:se one of the most brilliant departments
of his triumphs. The original name given to it by Scheele was
abandoned npon the announcement of the discovery which
Lavoisier had made of the constitution of this gas, and the
name of oxymuriatic gas was given to it. It was afterwards
perceived nut to have any oxygen gas in its constitution, and
chemists now adopt the original view of Scheele, changing the
name phlogiston to that of hydrogen. It is only necessary to
take any superior oxide which is capable of giving off oxygen,
such as we use for obtaining oxygen, and pour upon it nauriutic
acid, when the hydrogen of the muriatic acid will unite with
the oxygen of the metal to form water, and the chlorine will
unite with the metal. By means of heat the chlorine is disen-
gaged from the metal, and obtained for experiment. The black
oxide of manganese is generally employed for the purpose of
burning chlorine. This gets is neary two and a halt times as
heavy as atmospheric air. It is collected over warm water or
brine, as cold water rapidly absorbs it, and it unites with quick-
silver to form calomel. The name chlorine was given to the
gas by Sir H. Davy iu consequence of its greenish yellow co-
lour. As the gas is exceedingly irritating to the lungs when
inhaled, great care should he taken in operating upon this
gas. Chlorine possesses a remarkable analogy to oxygen in its
power of supporting combustion. If a piece of paper is dipped
• into oil of turpentine and immersed in chlorine it will be in-
' flamed. The affinity of bodies for chlorine is at least equal to
their affinity for oxygen, and in some instances much more so,
the bodies burning spontaneously in chlorine where they require
to be ignited to burn in oxygen gas. If the metal antimony,
• or Dutch leaf, be dropped into chlorine, in a state of minute
division, they are heated to whiteness, from the energy of their
combination with the gas.