The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-21 00:00:00

FROM THE TIMES.

TILE English, as we are told on every side, are an emi-
nently sensible, practical, reasoning, and rather dull
people. They calculate when they are told to believe.
They detect an imposture at a glance, and see through a
superstition as they would a trick at cards. How their
ancestors ever cone to worship stocks and stones, to offer
human holocausts in vast wicker images, or to think the
misletoe of the oak more sacred than that of the apple-
tree, passes comprehension. At all events John Bull, even
in fustian and shirt-sleeves, is' too wise for all this now.
He understands steam-engine and looms, can calculate
percentages, strike an average, and do a sum in Rule of
Three. The day-school has banished false religions to the
bats and owls, and the only fear is, that with-so-nmch edu-
cation to be got for the asking, and so many substantial
comforts to be earned by common industry, religion of any
kind should be voted a superfluity. Xevertheless, it is in
this England whereof we write that Joanna Southcote
and Thom were indigenous;' where mesmerism, table-
turning, and spirit rapping have spread to all classes ;
whence tens of thousands of Mormons are going off to the
Salt Valley ; where almost anybody, if he give his mind
to it, can gain converts to anything. Fanaticism is not to
be eradicated by figures, and railways themselves subserve,
in the pride of might, to the most perverted forms of the
spiritual element. So we are not surprised to see the
growth of a new superstition, a new craftsman's idol.
The operatives of Lancashire have discovered a new re-
ligion, and are performing pilgrimages worthy of Jugger-
naut or the Holy Coat of Treves. Their spiritual zeal
carries them beyond the vulgar considerations of comfort
or economy. Monster trains convey them to the places
where this new-born piety may be refreshed by the exhor-
tations of suitable preachers and the devotional hymns of
the new worship. Under the cold blue sky they listen
with edifying submission to the pious raptures of inspired
teachers. Fathers, mothers, children, flock to the festival.
The aged forget their crutches, and the sick their pains, in
this holy ardour. And what is this new Gospel which has
illuminated the darkness of Lancashire, and made it the
Galilee of this land ? Prepare yourself, gentle reader, for
this new and astounding revelation of the Divine wisdom
and mercy. The awful truth which has broken through
the darkness of ages, which has penetrated every heart,
and warmed every soul in the industrious north, is the
eternal and immutable necessity of Ten per Cent. more
wages.

It is a sober and a portentous fact. From all Lanca-
shire, by ordinary trains and by special trains, there as-
sembled last Sunday, which appears to have been adopted
by the new religion for its day of worship, such a congre-
gation as never was seen at Hoghton, we presume one of
the high places of the Ten per Cent. divinity. They who
could not come had sent their Peter's pence in the shape
of more than two thousand pounds. Their preachers pro-
claimed a new era, heralded by myriads of conversions-
Preston is the favoured city of this new church, and it
may almost vie with Rome or Nauvoo in the amount of
contributions poured in by the devout Lancastrians.
"Let thousands more be rolled in," exclaimed one pious
man, " for every man in this assembly must know the great
fact, that money is the sinew of war." Certainly, if Ten
per Cent. more wages is a Gospel from heaven, the sinews
of war may be considered a great fact. The creed is de-
veloping. But why should it not embrace all England, all
classes, all employments, and all relations ? Apo does not
want Ten per Cent. more wages ? Who will not acknow-
ledge that money is the sinews of war ? The millowners
themselves may embrace the new faith, for they want Ten
per Cent. more profits. The clergy may sit under brothers
Lawless and Cowell, for they want Ten per Cent. more rent-
charge and surplice fees. All the functionaries of the State,
all the Army and Navy, want Ten per Cent. more pay. We
fondly hope we have ourselves been instrumental in pro-
curing a boon to the common soldier, equivalent to about
Ten per Cent. Let us be enrolled among the apostles of
Ten per Centism. The doctrine is easy, the burden is
light. You have only to believe that your soul is safer
with 225. a-week than with 205., or with £llO a-year than
with £lOO, and that the man who will not give you the
larger sum instead of the smaller is a son of Belial. The
beauty of the doctrine is its universality ; for who is there
who does not want more money, more rent, more tithes,
more salary, more commission, more profit, more allow-
ances and pay in one form or another ? Master and man
can worship at the same altar, even if their prayers seem
commercially incompatible. But let Heaven settle that
difficulty, and let the operative on the one side pray for
Ten per Cent. more wages, and the master for Ten per
Cent. more profits, out of the same order.
But is there really no remedy for this delusion ? Do,
we witness the veritable beginning of a new religion, the
only bond of which shall be a common,interest in an in-
crease of pay. Surely there are gentlemen and there are
clergymen in Lancashire who can teach these poor dupes
something better than this, and inform them that to offer
public worship and sing hymns for triumph in a struggle
for Ten per Cent. more wages is not one jot better than fall-
ing down before a stock or a stone. True, two shillings a-
week more wages may present itself in a more lovely form
than a grim figure, all eyes, mouth, and nose, with dog's
teeth and matted hair, like the gods of the South Sea
Islanders. Two shillings a-week may stand for more
bread, meat, and beer ; better coats, shoes, and stockings,
a larger house, and so forth. But, nevertheless, comforts
and luxuries mount up into a very sorry idol. If operatives
may meet by tens of thousands on a heath and sing
hymns for boiled beef on Sundays, then their betters with
equal piety may offer up anthems for turtle soup, and iced
punch. No one can say how far devotees will go when
they once place their affections on creature comforts and
a handsome percentage. Certainly all this spurious zeal
looks ill for the religion of the north, and for the influence
of those whose duty it was to set the example. Is it true
that Moloch has been worshipped so long and so exclusively
by his more fortunate followers that the golden contagion
has spread, and the money-making, money-spending mill-
owner, now finds himself crushed by the converts to his
own faith? The Roman critic observed, that when
Homer's chiefs went mad, their followers suffered. Is there
no such madness, no exclusive worship of Z. s. d. in Lan-
cashire, that has at last infected the silly multitude, and
sent them worshipping the god of their betters ? We
should be better satisfied of the result if we saw some-
thing done by those who alone can do it to strip this sel-
fish agitation of its fanatical guise. To ask for Ten per
Cent. more wages is allowable, and even laudable; to in-
sist on it as a divine right, and to invoke the favour of
Heaven on the demand, is simple blasphemy. Surely
there are people in Lancashire whose sacred profession,
whose high social position, and whose affectionate relations
with those whom they employ, will enable them to address
these fanatics with effect. If there are none such, and the
multitude of Lancashire are really left like sheep without
a shepherd, whose fault is it but theirs who, being placed
by Heaven in a place of high moral influence, have thought
of little else but getting their own Ten per Cent., their
£lOO,OOO ?

COMMON LAW PROCEDURE.—The Lord Chancellor's
bill for the further amendment of the process, practice, and
mode of pleading in and enlarging the jurisdiction of the
superior courts of common law at Westminster contains
100 provisions. It is proposed to enact that a judge of the
superior' courts may, by consent, try questions of fact.
Two judges may sit at the same time for trial of causes
pending in the same court. The Court or judge is to be
empowered to direct an arbitration before trial. A special
ease may be stated and question of fact tried. An arbi-
trator may state a special case. There are several clauses
with respect to matters referred to arbitration. Regard-
ing juries some material alterations are to be made. The
qualifications of jurors are raised to £3O a-year rating.
Common juries may be made up of persons qualified to
serve on speciaVand commons juries. Jurors are to have,
on the payment of ls., a certificate to exempt them from
further service for, a certain period. A jury is to be dis-
charged after 12 hours if they cannot agree, unless they
desire further time ; " and they may during such time be
furnished with fitting accommodation and necessary re-
freshment by leave of the judge, and, at the expiration of
such time, if they cannot agree, they shall be discharged,
and an entry of the fact of such discharge shall be made
upon the back of the record, and the cost of such abortive
trial shall be costs in the cause." Upon the discharge of
a jury the cause may be tried again. "It shall be lawful
for the Court or judge at the trial of any cause, when they
or he may deem it right for the purposes ofjustice, to order
an adjournment for such time, and subject to such terms
and conditions as to costs and otherwise, as they or he
may think fit." If any person called as a witness shall re-
fuse from conscientious motives to be sworn, the Court,
upon being sntisfied of the sincerity of such objection
to permit such witness, instead of being sworn, to is
declaration, which is set forth, which declaration is to
haevae
the same force and penalties attached to it as an oath.
On certain points a party may discredit his own witness.
A comparison of disputed writing is to be permitted. In
case of an unstamped document or insufficiency of duty, it
is not to be read, unless the same be paid to the officer of
the court, with £1 additional penalty. On application for
a new trial, whether the rule is
made absolute or not, a
right of appeal is to be
eof
gin Court of 'Error, the
v
Exchequer Chambers,and thee Hous The
*
Lords to
s are be
courts of appeal. Oral examination may
be
allowed
byon
motions. Another important alteration to
be
this measure is lith reference to judgment debtors. A
mcreayditorergt‘drvheomhs debtorarobtaini! a judgment in a superior court
noatitien,d before a Master, and be
examined as to debts o • wig im
is to be binding,and they may be attached
for the payment of theßules
and orcers
particulari debt, wlbleichmadatte toachcarmtri!yt
out the present second measure on common law procedure,
which is to take effect qu the 24th of October next.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1854.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1854.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

TITI y
'Alr°ll, ♦J. B. Lloyd, Esq, entertained about forty
to dinner on Wednesday.
114 r C4I'"IA., Captain Douglas, which conveyed the
kiLegirnent from Kingstown, returned from Malta on
fter an excellent passage.
!lilsEa, the patenteewPr of the improved safe, now
used, has' it is said, invented a lock which
ei'ent the new
4gltaPowder. plan of robbery by bursting locks
1,1441! tun D T TEES —Ou Thursday, offers
Niiaas to the amount -Ruts f £57130 at four per cent.,
Ilitteated• Bonds, ea"mnan(jnting, to ,£lO,OOO, were re-
ktit),,ilt4-,tt7:ame rate of interest.
wheD., JAILES iiOSECI (captain of the Great
tkitc,a,,,,_," that vessel went into Dundrum Bay), who
R.;—'4 last year when the lieutenant-commander
Banshee Mediterranean mail and special service
zai,teot, has been appointed to command the BFlle-
izt tttt„ commissioned for service as an hospital-
tlog, -44ance on the Baltic fleet.
Nttereculavaem EtHIBITIONS.—At a meeting of 91. e
ON. tai Monday, it was decided to hold the
T 25th of
4hyoor
June,
tnethe Botanic Garden, on
andttl the 7thofSptembeer. Mr.
•ItsTe4ale 'vas appointed president for the year.
!11,,.14d, sal_ •--.A handsome silver tea and coffee ser-
C, m the shop
_of
ftolg manufacturer, Mr.
~).,e4ted-ru-str *Awn :

til'
oiv
o',
e of

tt,i',., 4 , -,creet bears the following inscriptiok.
1,4
t'•''‘) , li p a °ix the workmenFo ofo MAejaesxras ;le: George Forresteres sg ,
tt firril,aB a testimonial respect on his leaving the'
t,,,,Le ,7b• March,‘ 1854."
:4,`lte ,‘,, "faaa.—The correspondent of the Shipping
li?-3:---" The wreck of the ship Orleans, from
s„°r Mobile, is still lying in the North Bay,
lila haall! in nine fathoms water. She is lying in a
I,44.'''luan, her starboard bow on the ground, and
,ill '7,_'a few feet above water. There is. no light
i'N the wreck at night; consequently it is very
.„‘ tar vessels standing into the bay in the night.
'ZialeGps as SILVER PLATE.--A new style of elabo-
yallo Plate has been introduced in Sheffield. The
\tik tcerated upon by the same process as that ern-
;l4(lese. bina, and may be made to receive any desc.rip-
' yeislga Several specimens have been received by
rk4ti,n,' Lord-street.
SeaxraechutPorgettic;
t4t.4.4%tree'i
Liverpool,euEsrs. e
has— directedla Iresr
itkae bequests after the decease of her mother, which
14,. 4:a the 13th instant ; and the net residue to be
Itlaeo„°4gat the London Missionary Society, the Lan-
yaaaot rtr,sY Union. Society, the. Town Mission Society,
Frie„Aeligious Tract Society, the Liverpool Sea*
t ,ad and Bethel Union, and the Liverpool
Bible Society-
-1/4k
ZA American
Port AUSTRALIA .—The Ocean Chief, a
~tkta eerkan ship, has been purchased by Messrs.
, 4),, of this town. The same firm have also
',.‘ M`Kay, of Boston, the builder of the
AN, be wand other clippers, for two new ships, which
Ask It ii iced on the ' Black Ball" line of Australian
the L anticipated that the new craft will even sur-
hCaatiful vessel, the Lightning.
4t,41,4 4111.4 T BRITAIN. —A report has been prevalent
V:tte;"4'lll,.. *ship has been chartered by government for
tCace of troops to the East. To this report we
\ia A'. Most unqualified contradiction. Her desti-
kiklers t4tralia, and she has already a large number of
Nlyitialid considerable freight engaged. She will
iet 0„,,,,APri1, and as her owners have decided on her
aba,:a to Melbourne, without any stoppages, she
elB-- make the run in less than 60 days.
lZlLetas.—The passengers have presented to
4p64 a re'ler, Captain Cox, a silver tea and coffee ser-
kiitil -ntkirYk of the high sense they entertain of his
1444,k Ina' the voyage home, being one of the quick-
kt e 3
eti
°a record. Mr. Hausburg, of Church-street,
)L t,„ the plate. The passengers speak in the
leTak's of the internal arrangements of the vessel.
os!°1-T ACCIDENT.—The ship Crisis, Capt. Bell,
Ott ',,;`,.:3, morning week for Bombay, and having a
!ttZ th.,
wind
Holyhead before midnight. uring
$e Ind blew a gale, so that at eight o'clock
titg the ship was put' about. She continued to
, i, e Irish Channel during the day, the fury of
k‘igiotlri?Jeasing, and the ship rolling very much.
„Op). Olock in the afternoon, as Hilton Herbert
I:4;4 the 'all', two of the apprentices, were running
eti.,,, mainmast the ship gave a sudden lurch, and
444,1:1'01i; i.uawser, Which had e
cru. lashed with stout
ktlitte-b'r°nl its lashin,,s and hed both the boys
, 1 0,,, elwarks. Storr' 'was so much injured that
'ik_ 114 twenty minutes afterwards. Captain Bell
Itit'N',,returned with the vessel to Liverpool, and
erVa apprentice, Hilton Herbert, was removed to
ko '9113e in Beau-street, where he died on Wed-
laq koig.
" -
L iisis,.. GING.—On Wednesday a peal of grandsire
p three of 5,165 changes, was rung in masterly
bt.ikal of twelve and thirty minutes, on the back ten
ykbe_ in St. Nicholas's tower, by the follow-
•.' '1011" of the Union Society :—John Thompson,
k 0,34. rooks, second ; Edward Davies, third ;
cti i.l fourth ; Alexander Mills, fifth ; 'Richard
11iltelePlo, th; William Thistlewood, seventh; George
npt..', Thomas Gay, ninth ; James Cave and Thos.
t o.qt,, Composed and- conducted by Thomas Gay.
Ni`ge L:iinc)r, 41 cwt ; key of B. This peal was rung
4.4 4 ''''s muffled, a tribute of respect to the late
k%pl4tt4l,l.vjaelix, Esq.
they,),, bizozEu or THE IRISH CLIIII.—The yearly
le P qhmer of this club took place on Thursday
'1 c 4 4
Re ylak,,,c4 St. Patrick's Day, in the Adelphi Hotel.
;441i t4.),',5' /4?,hout one hundred and thirty in number,
41,_,11 411.,1tt1 over by Mr. J. Whitty. The dinner
"ityeral,,N, teris,°44.l style of excellence and abundance
1)41.1 the 41g a the Adelphi, the viands, wines, and
qatir,erisfielretale of general approbation. The hila-
almaaed ,•,aeperpag was enhanced by the tasteful and
tiqoh 01,''' the qlrmances of Gribbin's band, Which was
ito 4ntis• cirollestra, and performed an extensive
't '.4.t ie.
„,„ Of b 011 I,
ik1:10,400, 'ROOPS.—The reserve of the 88th Begi-
4to h' Oa T or Connaught Rangers, marched from
' t ' wile ileSday last, for Manchester, en route to
° etab nee th • •
l'eli ark L. e whole regiment will roceed to Liver-
i ofev9 b_ for the East on the 28th. instant. They
t\ tietx Y two irregular companies, under the com-
*leh tenant Palmer, of the 7th Royal Fusileers,
t°,ll. b,_ester, who are not intended to occupy the
►t,il 'Pet backs many days, the enrolled pensioners of
N,,regwilig,!xpected to mount guard in the absence
nre ke; rs, the Fusileers (the greater number of
iVter e recruits) being under orders to return to
ktil:leto,,,‘PdsreP,.akrato. ry to their embarking for Constan-
-I<er co '., latter end of the present month.—
~,,Ar Geier,
a 9 el Itlt'italas. On Thursday, Mr. Francis
lllta.ll,Aylleeted alderman in the place of the late Mr.
\ I); Co n.,—(.'4-1- Mr. Shand was the vice-chairman of
I,,ktli.er ttee, having been elected a member of that
/41445 q °415 ratepayers. His appointment as alder-
Ikt-Orac.. ri.him from sitting on the Dock Commit-
Vi Ea ki's''s'el
,tive of the ratepayers, but, no. doubt, he
111,113;"'llea, for
at the board as a representative elected
kNSttl_ k co there. is now a vacancy in that section
1 k, Committee, occasioned by the death of Mr.
hk),11011 cege dock ratepayers will be immediately
v:ltzt tt „elect a member of the Dock Committee in
aa . air.
Ni tt'l) WA STIHOUSES.—At the meeting of the
aNA,
(ics
Monday, the business of the different
jas Was reported to be very thriving. Thus,
acth")a all .teet, the number of bathers last week was
-Ne ,th, iherease of 951 over the same week of last
Nit the' t-„, Pierhead the bathers were 415, being an
a4,,,p1e lieever the same week of last year. At Paul-
, .G reek ,rt! Were 765, being an increase of 176 over
a4,ek:ve we last year ; and the washers at the last-
Gtr Thy
205, being 72 more than last year. The
ittl44 .1e " washhouses are expected to be shortly
Ille°lll anis `
L iii , e w -street new baths are in active
ytk ''-agia great plunge bath (which will be the
Nat, It 'ad) will shortly be ready.
S,l k41)4)11 xti;Taga.amENT.—On Wednesday, an inuest
ktta'!l,lf:M ill, b?Ay of a seaman, of the John Curtis,
i Alt the
ra,4dietiaaLewrseLyfsrolirefoNreewthe
aOrleans,.vaoino alotit:e-
-:It:1kt cii kiA„,an€Ved that the man had been severely
~‘ li, 3' Iti,"ilz,y Captain Hogan, of the John Curtis,
'lOll4. The °Teers, which ill-treatment had caused
,'Nflki t he 1 evidence was that of a coloured man, who
jZ'illc't telfld shipped at New Orleans for Liverpool,
a, tts, 0 'the name of the ship or the name of the
it 6:1 l'ei.,fil_the banks of Newfoundland the vessel
, l'h kid ljemPestueus weather ; many of the crew
4:%.,tti:, d« captain Captain and officers had to work the
,0,
•
,liaa—red, who was known by the name of
R ,ltuess'is feet frostbitten, and was disabled from
~tt"rilti had seen the captain rope-end the
41,1,b4t lig him over the head and back, because
1114,k4'" it'a, to the pumps. He had also seen the
10,.: Nitaille,Z the decea-sed about the deck. On being
i'i',:tt t,' hehq„ admitted that the crew had plenty of
\I a the 'Qat he had seen the captain and the mate
:ttc,`ta, dew_ 's feet. Mr. Kemp, surgeon, was of
t.t,ltkik that et u had resulted from debility, and a
,i 1 :11,1441, eet was returned.
,B,4tettnie itatrzumvers.—On Thursday, the ad-
Oka4tlaeld of aTaveowners in St. Michael's church-
k . c' a the Church schoolroom, Cornwallis-
ath-ithr, acwAsall said that a memorial had been sent
k.'Ztliekal mrl'e,bad laid it before the Council that
'1 t parp - Pemberton had waited ukion his wor-
-0 choose of ascertaining his decision, and he
ket. t It was not a money question, but a
‘:4144,.41(1 ilatg. the health of the inhabitants, and the
'iiptiq't_atio„ interfere at all in the matter. After
~ 4tti. '`a. Coo-14 was resolved that a deputation, con-
, 41,e'lqould'eoP, Mr. Pemberton, and the Rev. Mr.
a jetaiawalt upon the Town-clerk, for the pur-
km
~,, f,,,talpeuegjhet.her the owners of graves could
'`i, era the i? give up the. graves which they had
,Nh... t4:O, that corporationeraon wiont;h3liiiet ssuob9leectmshmolne-
Nlta I.rd p 3
- t\ik tovir omay Palmerston. The meeting was then
tltlee, daI‘",:&c.T.SOCIETY. —The annual meeting was
abf.aari',.._,a, the new meeting-room (lately St.
v, 7 th47ust s church), Hope-street ; E. Cropper,
,ttitl,44
qa, t. The b_v e R. P. J. Saffery attended as a
),j,§asealTi INT,- W. Graham (the secretary) read
/'.,:1; l'Ale t ea it appeared that during the last
qute Illet tjacts had been distributed, making a
N 1 lltla`ote,..!oramencement, of 630,000,000 tracts
I,° ti4riag tes. The circulation of tracts in
1,447- , ut,,,,,,, e last year had been 435 926 • and
i., ei vaa ...toe, w . , 1 .
.)
14, an i„„ as 00,000 less than in the previous
;,la,_ `aets increase on the actual amount of read-
` had h:re much larger now than formerly.
ei teo ' of tiVa distributed to emigrants, and it is
, a ~,,very ~,,, apciety to furnish some of their pub-
.' tortk7,Warrhuler leaving England for the Eastern
a`l the ~,,tead the treasurer's account, and a cora-
, 1-y -ns,-.•
,kki y det~ing year was appointed. The Rev.
Ve home at some length the operations of
,\1\i,411.,t1 N,,anZllethuseesanodfabroad. He concluded by stating
I, , , tt
..e hew_ management, 91aries, travelling
44 it„ hy :',l theV,Costs of production were paid out
"'1,4,11a t'isue Dubt,'aok trade; and that the money
\,4,1
'a %gage boo-Lc was devoted exclusively to the
the e
meetingaa A collection was then made,
a. Falloon and the Rev. Mr, Kelly

WRECK OE TER TA.TLEUR.—Au inquiry is being held
before the Local Marine Board,-at the Sailors' Home, to
inquire into the circumstances attending the late wreck of
the emigrant vessel Tayleur, and the conduct of Captain
Noble. _

MANSLAUGHTER AT MANCHESTER.—MiIeS Scanlan, a
Manchester carter, has been committed for trial at the
assizes, for the manslaughter of Michael Mullins, five
years of age. Scanlan was driving at a furious rate along
the Rochdale-road, and, although called on to stop by a
police-officer, he continued his headlong career until he
knocked down the boy, who died almost immediately.
DEPARTURE OF THE GOLDEN ERA.—The fine ship
Golden Era, belonging to the owners of the " White Star
Line" of. Australian packets, sailed on Friday, with
upwards of 500 adult passengers, chiefly cabin and saloon,
who are certainly favoured in the excellence of the arrange-
ments made for their accommodation and comfort. She
carries an Azimuth compass, a patent log, and other scien-
tific instruments. In fact, no expense has been spared' to
render her a perfectly equipped vessel. She has on board
a chaplain, in connexion with the Colonial Church Society,
and a surgeon, who has had a large practice for many years
past in a neighbouring town. Her crew consists of forty
able seamen, only two of whom are foreigners, who, how-
ever, speak English fluently, and twenty-five ordinary
seamen. This is in addition to an ample number of pas-
senger-stewards ; and the ship is therefore manned with
four seamen to every hundred tons register, which is
one-fourth more than is usually taken by Liverpool
vessels.

ISLE OF MAN SURPLUS REVENUE.—For some time past
an agitation has existed relative to the disposal of the sur-
plus revenue of this island, and district meetings on the
subject have been held in different localities, at which
committees have been formed, and resoliftions adopted.
Delegates were also appointed to attend an aggregate
meeting, and this took place last week, the object of which
was to devise measures for having the surplus revenue
devoted to the improvement of the harbours and other
insular purposes. The meeting was numerously attended,
and much unanimity of opinion was expressed as to the de-
sirableness of securing the objects in view. A protracted
sitting resulted in the formation of a committee to carry
out the objects of the following resolution, which was
adopted :—" That this meeting is unanimously of opinion
that a simultaneous effort should be made by the inha-
bitants of the island to obtain the surplus revenue arising
out of the Customs' duties, and that, to this end, measures
should be adopted to enlighten the inhabitants of the
"several parishes, and thus secure means to carry out the
object contemplated."
SELECT VESTRY.—Mr. Hart, the clerk, announced at
the usual meeting, on Tuesday (the Rev. Mr. Campbell in
the chair), that all the necessary documents had been sent
to the Poor-law Board preparatory to their sanction of the
£lO,OOO loan required to complete the Workhouse.—The
House Committee reported that, on the Bth instant, there
were 2043 inmates, and that the sick cases numbered 762
—99 of fever, and 51 of itch. A letter had been received
from the Associated Masters at Preston, asking if there
were any hands available for mill purposes in the house.
150 women and 75 youths had volunteered, and the com-
mittee had given them their permission to go. The
minutes also embraced the report of Mr. J. B. Browne,
Government inspector of schools, who considered the state
of the schools generally as low, though it was not, he
thought, attributable to any fault of the teachers. A re-
port from the Governor showed that the working of the
corn-mills in the vagrant department had very materially
tended to diminish the numbers of that class of paupers.
A discussion took place upon a motion, " That the board
give permission for a lay teacher to visit the Workhouse
at proper hours suited to the regularity of the house, to
impart religious instruction to the Romanist children,
without any charge to the parish." Mr. Bradley seconded
the motion, which was lost.
CHARGE OF FELONY AGAINST Two OFFICERS OF THE
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—John Morris
and Lee Wood, two men in the employ of the above com-
pany, were brought up on Wednesday on remand, charged
with pilfering some articles from a box which had been
forwarded from Dumfries, and arrived safely at the station
i in Crown-street. From the evidence it appeared that on
Saturday, the 4th instant, the box in question arrived
from the north by a train which reached Edge-hill station
between one and two o'clock. The prisoners are breaks-
men, and it was their duty to take the train from Edge-
hill down to the station in Great Howard-street. The
train was taken through the tunnel, and a short time
afterwards a parcel, containing two dresses (a silk and a
merino) was found about 600 yards from the entrance.
The prisoners were spoken to on the subject, when Morris
claimed the dresses, and said he would call for them in the
evening, which he did, and took them away. Subsequently
a report was made to Mr. Knox on the subject, and this
coming to the ears of Morris, he stated, in reply to a
question, that he did not know what possessed him to do
it, but he had burnt the dresses. Mr. Rimmer, to whom
the box was addressed, proved that two dresses had been
abstracted. When the inquiry took place respecting the
box, the prisoners went in search of Mr. Cochrane, the
manager of the goods department, to speak to him on the
subject. 'They were shortly afterwards apprehended by
Inspector Bates. The magistrates were of opinion that
the evidence did not affect Wood, and ordered his dis-
charge, but Morris was committed for trial.
HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held
on Thursday, Mr. Langsdale in the chair.—The Town-
clerk read several communications which had passed
between the Howseowners' Association and the Parlia-
mentary Committee of the Health Committee, relative to
certain clauses in the new Sanitary Bill. From the pro-
ceedings it appeared that, in the first instance, the house-
owners met and adopted a resolution, which they instruc-
ted their solicitor to forward to the Health Committee.
It was :—" That a renewed offer be made to the Health
COmmittee for the purpose of a settlement of the clause
for rating the owners of property in the amended Sana-
tory Bill, as follows, that is to say, upon condition of the
Council now undertaking to reduce the composition from
two-thirds to one-half of the rates, as set forth in the
bill originally deposited in committee, that the association
agree and undertake forthwith to withdraw their petition
in opposition to the bill." The association stated, in a
further communication, that they could not do more than
that, as it would place them in a difficulty which they
believed neither party intended. The Parliamentary
Committee, having considered the propositions of the
association, passed the following resolution :—" That (on
condition that the Householders' Association immediately
withdraw all further opposition to the bill, and that no
appearance be entered before the committee on behalf of the
owners and lessees of house property, manufactories, sugar
refineries, and steam-boats in the borough of Liverpool,
and the ratepayers of the borough, petitioners against the
bill) the sub-committee are willing to recommend to the
Health Committee that a clause be proposed to the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons with a modificatiou of
the composition ; and further, that the Health Committee
be recommended to use their best exertions to have the
bill passed with the clause so modified; but, nevertheless,
such recommendation is made upon the express under-
standing that if the clause so modified be not passed, the
rejection thereof is not in any way to interfere with or
affect the progress of the bill." After a brief conversa-
tion, the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee
was confirmed. . _ _ _

GEA.TIFYING Tzsximoicrar..—A number of gentlemen
connected with St. George's Ward met at the house of
Mr. Lawson, Upper Pitt-street, on Friday evening last,
for the purpose of presenting to Thomas Wagstaff, Esq.,
one of the Town Councillors for that ward, a memorial of
the friendship and esteem in which he is held by his con-
stituents. John Lawrence, Esq., who ably fulfilled the
duties of chairman, dwelt, in an eloquent speech, upon the
private worth of Mr. Wagstaff as a friend and neighbour,
passed a just eulogy upon the zeal and ability which he had
always displayed as their representative, and in the name of
the subscribers presented to that gentleman a handsome
silver tea and coffee service and goblet, (manufactured by
Mr. Wordley, of Lord-street,) accompanied with the fol-
lowing address, signed by the subscribefl, and engrossed
upon parchment by Mr. A. Stewart :—" To Thomas Wag-
staff, Esq. Dear Sir,—lt is a source of gratification to us
whose names are attached, to have the opportunity of
expressing to you, in a manner more permanent than
words alone can convey, the high sense we entertain of
your character as a tradesman, of your zeal and ability as
a town councillor, and your kindness to those who have
occasion to require your assistance either publicly or pri-
vately. Entertaining these sentiments towards you, we
request your acceptance of the accompanying service of
plate, and with it our sincere and earnest wishes that Mrs.
Wagstaff and you may enjoy health and long life, and that
happiness and prosperity may attend you in continuing
your sphere of usefulness to your neighbours and to the
public of Liverpool. We are, sir, yours very faithfully."
The goblet bore the following inscription :—" Presented,
with a tea and coffee service, to Thomas Wagstaff, Esq.,
March, 1854, by a few friends, as a token of esteem and
respect for his public and private worth."—Mr. Wagstaff,
in responding, feelingly thanked the subscribers for the
magnificent gift, and assured them it would be his study
to merit well of his constituents.
TEA-PARTY AT ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH SCHOOL-
11003i.—On Wednesday evening, a numerous and respect-
able company, including the day and Sunday-school
scholars, with their teachers, in connexion with the above
church, met in the school-room, and partook of an excel-
lent tea, &c., which was amply provided by Mr. Charles
Chalk, of St. John's-lane. Upwards of four hundred sat
down. The room was tastefully decorated with flags and
various devices indicative of loyalty and constitutional
principles. Tea being disposed of, the Rev. Henry Cooke,
8.A., the respected minister of St. Matthew's Church,
opened the proceedings with singing and river, after
which he observed, in apologising feE the non-attendance
of parties whom he expected would have attended, that he
had received one letter, with the modest request " that he
should not allow the subject of Popery to be mentioned."
The reverend gentleman trusted that, no matter what
position of life he might occupy, he would ever say what
he meant and mean what he said. He believed that
Popery was one of the greatest curses this country had
ever seen. The reverend speaker then lucidly pointed out
the religious liberty we enjoy under the Protestant reli-
gion, in contradistinction to that of Popery ; and referred
to the Jesuitical influence which was at work to prevent,
in this country, public meetings on the question of religion.
A few days ago a Protestant meeting was prohibited at
Windsor, lest the Romish soldiers stationed there should
feel offended in consequence thereof. After some further
excellent and judicious remarks, and some wholesome
advice to the younger branches present, the speaker con-
cluded amidst the plaudits of the company.—Mr. William
Clark then came forward, and, in the course of his address,
after alluding to the large number of friends then present,
and various other matters, spoke of the excellent instruc-
tion given in St. Matthew's schools, and justly and ably
dwelt on the vast improvement that had taken place, in
the short space of three months, since the appointment of
Mr. Cooke as minister of the church. On several occa-
sions, throughout Mr. Clark's speech, he was loudly
cheered.—Before the meeting separated, the reverend
chairman informed the company that the point he was
aiming at was, to make St. Matthew's the model schools
of Lancashire, as he was determined to afford the children
the best possible education ; and requested all friends to
use their influence to procure as many scholars as they
could.—ln such a neighbourhood as Scotland-road, where
vice and immorality ab4und, we have no hesitation in
saying that much goel,l will accrue from Mr. Cooke's
labours, as he appears to be fully determined to carry on
the important work of instruction in the Gospel with the
vigour and perseverance befitting a minister of Christ.
After singing a hymn the company separated, much gra-
tified with the entire proceedings, and impressed with,the
importance of the counsels which they had receiyek

THE NIAGARA British and North Amerinan: royal:mai
steamer, Captain Leitch, arrived at this port on. Wedne-
sday, on her return from Malta, after having: landed the
28th regiment at that place. The Niagara was•absent not
quite 18 days, during which she steamed over 6000 miles
and landed 900 troops.
SELECT TEA PARTY.—On Thursday evening last, a
select •tea party took place at Mr. Samuel Roberts's Tem-
perance Hotel, Button-street, when about thirty gentlemen,
frequenters of the establishment, and a fair sprinkling. of
ladies,. sat down to' an elegant and substantial repast.
After tea, Mr. Wm. Simpson was called to the chair;. and
Mr. Banister to the vice-chair. Loyalty was the order of
the evening. " The Queen," "Prince Albert and the
Royal Family," and "Success to the United Armies and
Navies of England, France, and Turkey," commenced the
harmony, which was continued by several gentlemen
giving songs, recitations, &c. The meeting broke- up
about twelve o'clock, everybody appearing highly pleased
with the evening's entertainment.
HEALTH OF THE TowN.—The medical officer reported
that the deaths registered last week were 209, and the
aggregate mortality of the borough showed an increase of
18 over the previous week, and 14 over the corresponding
weeks of the preceding 6 years. The increase in the
mortality of last week arose from diseases of the lungs,
which rose to 100 from 72 in the week previous. The
estimated mortality from diseases of the zymotic class was
57 ; of these 15 were from measles (including 11 deaths of
children in the workhouse), 12 from hooping cough, 10
from diarrhoea, and 8 from typhus; 4 from croup, and 3
from scarlatina.
LANCASTER AND PRESTON JUNCTION RAILWAT.—The
report of the directors submitted at the meeting yesterday,
stated that the revenue derivable from the co-partnership
has increased to £28,607 lls. 9d ; this amount, added to
the other resources of the company, will, after all neces-
sary outgoings, afford the following dividends, viz.:—For
each whole sare the sum of" £2 10s. 7d. ; three-quarter
share, £1 13s. 7d. ; quarter share, 13s. 4d.; twelfth share,
4s. sd.—£lol3x. per cent. per annum, and subject to the
deduction for income-tax; the directors recommend the
declaration of such dividends at the approaching meeting.
YACHTING PICTURES.—A marine painting, by Mr.
Melling, representing the late grand regatta on the
Mersey, on the occasion of Her Majesty's Cup, in July
last, was exhibited at the last meeting of the Royal Mersey
Yacht Club, and was considered by the members so very
spirited and truthful a representation of that event, inde-
pendent of its merit as a work. of art, that the artist has
received commissions to execute two other pictures of the
same regatta—one for Mr. A. E. Byrne, the owner of the
Coralie, the winner of Her Majesty's Cup ; the other for
Mr. R. M. Grinnell, who has lately become the owner of
the Blue Bell, of thirty-two tons.
THE CITY OF MANCHESTER, Captain Leitch, arrived
on Friday from Philadelphia, after a passage from the
Delaware of 151 days, deducting detention in a large field
of ice off the banks of Newfoundland, along the edge of
which she had to steam 80 miles to the south. It was 16
hours before she could find a passage through. She was
also detained in a heavy gale of wind about 140 miles to
the west of Cape Clear, in sending her life-boat to the
brig Star, with only mainmast standing and hoisting
signals of distress. On the arrival of the life-boat, the
master of the brig refused assistance, because the steamer
could not take her in tow in the heavy sea running.
AN OLD INIIABITANT.—There resides in this town a
woman who attained on the 10th instant the age of 109
years. Her name is Elizabeth Currie, and she was bap-
tised on the 4th of August. 1745. She is in the enjoy-
ment of all her faculties, though slightly impaired, and
speaks with interest and fluency of circumstances which
transpired a hundred years ago. Her appetite is good,
and her voice is remarkably strong. She commenced
smoking when she was 18 years of age, and amuses her
hearers by telling an anecdote of her mother discovering
her propensity while in her teens. She has now been a
widow thirty years, her husband being nearly 100 years
of age when he died.
- LIVERPOOL IMPROVEMENT BILL: HOUSE OF COM-
MONS, Friday, March 17.—The committee appointed to
consider the bill met in Committee-room, No. 9. The
members of the committee were, Mr. Freshfield (chair.
man), Mr. Brockman, Mr. G. Smythe, Mr. Byng, and Mr.
Warner. In reply to a question by the chairman, the
agent for the railway companies said their petition was
technically against the preamble. Mr. Paget, in reply to
a question by the chairman, said that the ratepayers offered
no opposition to the preamble. The Chairman : It is
very good-natured on the part of the ratepayers to offer
no opposition. Mr. Paget then proceeded to open the
case on the part of the promoters of the bill, which he did
at considerable length. When he concluded, the agent
for the railway companies here intimated that since he
had come into the room clauses had been proposed, with
which his dents were satisfied, and lie should, therefore,
not press his opposition further. The committee then
declared the preaMble of the bill to be proved. The
clauses were then proceeded with, and agreed to with
carious amendments. Several new clauses were added,
and the committee agreed to report the bill to the house.
WEST DERBY GUARDIANS.—The weekly meeting was
held on Wednesday. The number of paupers in the
workhouse was reported to be 665 being 14 fewer than
last week, and 66 fewer than in the corresponding week
of last year. A letter was read from the superintendent
of Rainhill Lunatic Asylum, informing the board that
the institution was full of inmates. It was agreed that
the asylums at Derby and Denbigh should be written to.
Mr. Cleaver read a letter from T. B. Horsfall, Esq.,
M.P., acknowledging the receipt of a petition from the
board in favour of the bill recently introduced into par-
liament by 111 r. Baines, in reference to the removal of
paupers, &c. Mr. Roskell moved that the salary ,of Mr.
William Andrews, assistant-overseer of the townships of
Wavertree, Garston, Allerton, and Childwall, should be
increased from £lOO to £l3O a year, which was seconded
by Mr. Lunt, and agreed to.
. . _

DRUNKENNESS.--011 Friday, an inquest was held
relative to the death of Maria Lowrey, who rented a
garret and a cellar in a court in Saltney-street, and was
removed, in a very injured state, from the effects of
burning, to the Northern Hospital, in January last. She
was the wife of a fireman employed on one of the steamers.
He came on shore on Saturday, the 6th January. On
Monday the deceased got drunk ; and on Tuesday both
were drunk. On Wednesday evening both were drunk
again. On the succeeding Tuesday they were both drunk
again, when the husband beat the deceased severely.
About ten o'clock on Wednesday night the deceased went
to her cellar, drunk ; and about twelve the deceased gave
an alarm of fire, when the woman was found most
severely burnt, though there was not much fire at the
time in the grate. The husband said he was asleep when
his wife caught fire. Verdict, died from the effects of
burning; but how she became burnt there was no evi-
dence to show. _

MURDER ON BOARD THE DUBLIN STEAMER TRAP AL-
can.—On Tuesday night, about half-past eleven o'clock,
the dead body of a youth, aged 14, named William Hare,
was discovered on board the City of Dublin Steam Packet
Company's steamer Tiafalgar, in the Sandon graving-
dock, under circumstances which leave no doubt that the
deceased met with his death by violence. On being found
by two police-officers, who were attracted to the vessel
from hearing an unusual sound, deceased (who had been
assistant steward,) was found stretched on the deck with
his head between the wheels of a gun carriage, quite dead,
but not cold. Under his head there was a pool of blood,
and he had a deep cut over the right eye. On giving an
alarm John Jordan, steward of the vessel, was roused up
from a sort of lethargic stupefaction, occasioned, it was
surmised, by drink, and on being questioned he behaved
in so extraordinary a manner as to lead to his being taken
into custody next day. A post mortem examination of
the body, performed by Mr. Wall, surgeon, at the Northern
Hospital, showed an extensive fracture of the skull, with
laceration of the brain ; two or three portions of the skull
being, in fact, loosened from the general structure. Such
injuries, the medical gentleman declared, might have been
produced by repeated falls, or blows from a heavy blunt
instrument, but could not have been occasioned by a single
fall. In course of the coroner's inquest, held on Thursday,
several suspicious circumstances transpired, tending to
inculpate Jordan in the perpetration of the crime, and
the jury, after consulting for three quarters of an hour,
returned a verdict of " wilful murder " against him, and
under the coroner's warrant he was committed for trial.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE LATE MESSRS. HOLMES.—A
meeting of the creditors of the late Mr. James Holmes
was held in Douglas, Isle of Man, last week, for the
purpose of filling up two vacancies in the committee, in
room of two who had declined to act. The administrator
of the estate, Mr. Harris, informed the meeting that the
principal part of the personal estate in the island had
been sold, and that lie held in his hand an account of the
sales, which was open for the inspection of any of the
creditors ; that he had realised about £6,000 belonging
to the estate, namely, stock sold in Douglas, £2,600;
farm stock, £1,600; overdrawn accounts, £1,960; rents,
£646 ; interest on mortgages, £37. The whole of the
two first items had not been realised. An order of court
had been granted to enable parties who stood indebted to
the estate to pay their accounts in the notes of the
bank ; and he had received in this way somewhere about
£1,200. He hoped arrangements would speedily be made to
pay the remainder of the noteholders, and thus enable the
administrator to dispose of the whole of the estates in
suitable lots, -to meet purchasers, rather than the whole
estate should be sold in one lot. It was further stated by
Mr. Avison that the principal part of the personal estate
of the late Mr. John Holmes, of Liverpool, had been
sold, and that it realised a larger sum than had been
anticipated; that he had paid over the £12,000, taken
from this island, into the hands of the accountant-
general of the English Court of Chancery, and that he
had about £30,000 now in his hands .for the same pur-
pose. He was sorry to find, by the law of this island,
that many impediments existed to the immediate winding
up of the estate; and he should propose that the Manx
creditors shouktmake their claims before the Master in
Chancery in England—which could be done, if no oppo-
sition were offered, in six months—rather than delay
three years, as was provided by the Manx Ecclesiastical
Statue. After some little discussion the suggestion of
Mr. Avison was concurred in.
REFUSING TO PROCEED TO SEA.—On Thursday, eight
seamen belonging to the ship Crisis, Captain Bell, named
James Reay, Alexander Musey, John Williams, Thomas
Read, John Hawthorne, Robert Cryer, Henry Conroy, and
William Stanson, were charged with refusing to proceed
to sea, after sig,ning,articles and receiving their advance
notes. The vessel was the property of Messrs. Brockle-
bank and Co., and was bound for Bombay, and had been
to sea, but in consequence of a fatal accident on board she
had put back. In reply to a question from the bench, the
men said they had been to sea with the vessel, but had
every one been nearly drowned by the water which came
into the forecastle. The cook, too, said that his caboose
was in such a disordered state that he could not prepare
the men's victuals with it. The captain stated that all
necessary repairs had been done to the forecastle, and the
vessel had been inspected by Lloyds' surveyor, who had.
pronounced it seaworthy. The magistrate said his know-
ledge of Mr. Brocklebank was such as to convince him that
he was not a man who would allow his vessels to proceed
to sea in an unfit state. He then asked the men if they
would be willing to return to the ship, and as they each
firmly expressed their determination not to do so, they
were committed to gaol for 30 days with hard labour.—
Two other seamen, named William Johnson and John
Burns, belonging to the Sarah Ann, Captain Cooper, were
also brought up on a similar charge. The objection made
• by the men was that the forecastle was too small, and that
the rigging was in an unsafe state. This was denied by
the captain, and the prisoners were committed to gaol for
129 days each.