The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY SHAREHOLDERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST,INDIIRD.
SIR.—At the [expiration of last week, the receipts ()tithe
London and Birmingham Railway, for passengers alone,
were found to average about £lBOO per diem; or, in the
akgregate, to have exceeded £lO,OOO for the six days. Over
a receipt for passengers of £15,000 per week (owing to the
admirable levels and solid character of this work, to secure
which-twice the outlay, large as it isp would have been well
and wisely expended) a profit equal to the payment out of
this division of traffic alone, of 10 per cent. on 5,000,000, the
cost of the line, will arise. As the different coach lines are
brought to work into the railway, within the next few weeks,
considerable augmentation of this may be looked for. Per-
haps on no line of country in the world do the circumstances
favourable to the extension of traffic by railway facilities
equal those existing on this line—the great heart of com-
merce panting and straining for communication with the
head, whilst on the map we may trace the giant in his bulk,
ti 1 you see his feet based on the German ocean, and discover
in this line, the great aorta, the living channel for his mighty
circulation. The opening traffic of the Liverpool end Man-
chester has been more than trebled, and examples may be
multiplied where even this has been increased thrice again ;
enormous growth of communion being found to be the inva-
riable result of the establishment of railways. Looking
forwards a few years, what may be expected to be the returns
of this "via Lactea" of railways, with its two main forks,
through the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and their
various ramifications, with its increase exceeding, we may
rationally expect, all precedent, and the addition of its par-
cel and merchandise department, the most sanguine antici-
pations of its supporters will most assuredly be exceeded.
The Southampton forty miles are opened under auspices even
more promising, for the detail of which we may daily look in
the Morning Chronicle, as Mr. Easthope will not fail to speak
out in accordance with that course of candour and faithful
openness of dealing, distinguishing his connection with the
undertaking, and whose admirable efficiency, and active and
houourable conservatism, as chairman of this direction, leads
one to hope better things of his politics—to hope that his
associat'on with that pattern of enterprising, straightforward,
uprignt, Church and Queen loving Englishman, his worthy
vice, Mr. Garnett, will not be lost upon him. I say, the
auspices of this opening are promising in the extreme, bear.
ing in mind that the revenue, or rather profit on revenue,
per mile, which will yield 10 per cent. on the Birmingham,
will pay 20 percent, on this line, from the difference of cost—
whilst they are both laid upon that admirable, practical, tried
system, and sound, working in such perfection on the various
lines formed by Stephenson, Locke, and others, with the aid
of our Croppers, Rathbone, Garnett, Moss, and the host of
enlightened men to whom we and our country at large owe
so much. By the way, I would here suggest, Mr. Editor,
that honour should be done to our constellation of railway
intelligence, by the contribution from the various leading
companies, of their 2 or £3OO each, for a large painting of a
group embracing all these lights of their day, engaged in
consultation on some matter of interest, chosen at discretion,
to be placed in the public office at the station here. If this,
or something equivalent, is not done, the discredit will be
ours. My object, Mr. Editor, in entering so largely upon
these remarks, is to impress upon the minds of my fellow
shateholders the great value of these interests, and to en-
deavour to awaken them to the danger of playing fast and
loose with them any longer. Who are the men who have
made most by these investments? Those who have held on
steadily through good and evil times, thus sustaining the
firmness and character of their property. Satisfy yourselves
assuredly of the excellence of the undertaking you support,
and neither let one fable nor another induce you to desert it,
even though some present sacrifice or inconvenience be in-
volvtd, for the time is rapidly nearing, when you may com-
mand your own prices for your shares if you pursue this
policy. I last week alluded to the fictitious means resorted
to to influence the markets. A, B, and C, in connexion
with others of a knot of jobbers, hold 500 shares, say
Brighton, and go into the market and sell 2,000 at 5 pre-
mium, to be delivered in two, three, or four months. The
market must be worked so as to enable them to buy 1500 low,
therefore, in the face of a dull 'market, A offers 100 at a de-
pression of £l—no buyers—and B takes them at a £2 fall;
this alarms the public, all sorts of tales are afloat, the trick
is repeated, sales from various causes, especially time bar-
gains, must from time to time be made, whatever the prices,
and down things go. After a certain time, if the geese don't
shed their feathers fast enough, little fluctuating rises are
tried, to tempt them out, such as we have recently seen, until
the bargains are closed—leaving A, B, and C holders of
large numbers of the shares, which, the buyers not having
taken when due, they have kindly taken off their bands, on
being paid some 6 or £8 a share difference. Such, my
friends, is the successful aspect, but supposing you were to
open your eyes to the worth of your propeity and to this
shameful system, and refuse to conic down to the wolf, when
told the house is on fire, what a pickle you leave him in. He
must have your shares. With th.. aaro-
sure of the evil, I promised to suggest a -remedy which it
appears to me must be the work of union and of constantly
sustained communication amongst the shareholders. 1, of
course, only mean the rea: holders, contradistinguished from
the traffickers
I wilt select the Eastern counties line as the one in which,
after some years of close study of the subject, I hold the
largest interest, and consequently have given a pledge that I
consider the most promising of the rising lines. That the
prosperity of this line of railway, in its unrivalled traffic, its
excellent levels, comparative cheapness, unapproachability
by other lines. freedom from competition of canal, and im-
mensely lucrative carrying promise, are well estimated here,
is proved by the shares being nearly engrossed by Liverpool
and Manchester holders, and I hope to see them exclusively
so ere long—believing that every pound sunk in the railway
will yield in the next 20 years, nearer 20-fold than 10 in
return of principal and dividends. No caprice of fashion
can divert its revenues, nor any change ensue, but must im-
prove this line. The same practical men watch over its for-
mation who have completed the Birmingham. You re-
member how the prices of Grand Junctions were maintained
during the evil days after -36, and I want you to aid me in
giving similar firmness to Eastern counties. This was the
effect of unanimity amongst the leading shareholders. I
would, therefore, suggest that all holders of 20 or more
Eastern counties shares meet at the Clarendon Rooms on
the 9th October, and respectfully invite the attendance of
the Directors, or one of their body, to communicate infor-
mation ; that similar meetings be held once a month, and
that measures be organised, similar to those adopted at the
quarterly meetings of the Ironmasters, for maintaining the
prices of the shares.

You remember the effect of the Directors' arrangement
to take all the shares at a certain discount; that the market
at once ruled 10s. higher; and so it would be, were some
price fixed at these meetings; say par: there would be
buyers above and no sellers at that price. Then the calls
would be paid cheerfully, the work go on heartily, as it is
now doing, and those tuitions fluctuations involving so much
distress be avoided; a few monied supporters would be able
to clear the market of all shares up to par, and hold them
there with very little effort now, and the confidence resulting'
from this would give them a firm and healthy tendency up-
wards. I invite my brother shareholders to co-operate and
see the effect of acting together; to those who can do it, I
would suggest an increase of their interest, so as to clear the
market of any shares pressing for sale. I have given orders
for purchase of 50 this day, as my contribution to the effort.
If I find any good result, I shall, with your permission, Mr.
Editor, address my fellow shareholders through your medium,
as occasion may arise, and am, Sir, respectfully yours,
Liverpool, Sept. 29th, 1838. W. M.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT THE WESLEYAN
CHAPEL, IN LEEDS-STREET.

An inquisition was taken, on Saturday afternoon, before
Philip Finch Curry, Esq., to inquire into the circumstances
that led to the death of eorge Fairhurst and Thomas Wil-
liams, of this town, who were killed by the fall of a portion
of the building, known as Leeds-street Chapel, which they
were, with other workmen, employed in taking down.
The Coroner said, before they entered upon the inquiry,
he would make one observation to the Jury. An unfortunate
occurrence had taken place in Leeds-street, where, by the
falling of part of a building, two persons Wad lost their lives.
The case would require their most particular attention, be-
cause, though the lives of these men might have been lost
very innocently, yet, if it turned out that there had been any
neglect on the part of the owners or contractors, the parties
against whom such neglect might he proved would in the eye
of the law, be guilty of manslaughter.
W. M. Hornby, son of John Hornby, publican, Plumbe-
street, stated, that opposite to his father's house was the Wes-
leyan Chapel. About three months since, workmen corn-
inenced pulling down the chapel. On Friday afternoon,
about half-past four o'clock, witness was opposite to the
chapel, when he saw the outer wall, which was in front of
Plumbe-street, and a portion of the roof fall inwards. The
man whose duty it was to take care of the chapel-yard called
out for help, when witness went forward to the furthest wing
of the building, from whence he heard cries. He jumped
through the window, but could not, at first, see, on account
of the dust raised by the fallen rubbish. As soon as the dust
had subsided, he saw a boy sitting on the ruins. Assisted by
another person, he carried the lad out. He was much bruised.
Witness returned to the ruins, where he saw a man buried
in the rubbish, so that only his head was visible. Several
persons came to his assistance, and the man was extricated
alive. Beneath him they found a man, named Fairhurst,
lying dead. He, also, was taken out and laid in the yard.
The body was afterwards carried to the house of his (witness's)
father. There was a deep cut under the right ear, from which
blood was pouring. A number of men came and assisted to
move the rubbish, which was quickly cleared, and four more
men were taken out. They were all alive, but they appeared
to be severely hurt. They were all taken to the Northern
Hospital. He (witness) did not know who were the trustees
of the chapel. He believed the person wh6 had undertaken
to pull it down was named Hill. He could not say what
caused the wall to fall.

Hugh Hughes, a labourer in the employ of Mr. Robinson,
stated, that his master was engaged to take down the stone-
work of the chapel. He (witness) went to work there on
Friday, for the first time. He had to take the cornice and
gutter off. The slates were off the building. Witness was at
the top of the building, on the ceiling joists. He and two
others were rolling a loose gutter stone, weighing about five
cwt., from one end of the building to another, along the edge
of the wall. They were within two yards of the place where
they were to drop it down, when, suddenly, the joists and
ceiling of nearly one half of the building gave way from un-
der their feet, and fell into the chapel. They (witness and
his fellow-workmen) clung to the stone that was on the
roller, which was, fortunately, supported by a small piece of
brick, otherwise they would have fallen with the stone upon
them. When they recovered sufficient presence of mind,
they managed to climb to the wall, and went, away to the
back part of the building, where a ladder was placed for
them, and they descended. All the bodies had then been
taken away, with the exception of that of Fairhurst. The
joists of the ceiling were fastened by one end being let into
the wall, and the other into one of the principal beams.
'There were five men above the ceiling, who, with a lever,
were raising up the back part of the principal beam. The
whole of those men fell with the rubbish. Fairhurst was one
of those men. The other four were all hurt. In his (wit-
ness's) opinion, it was the operation in which these five men
were engaged that caused the accident. Witness explained,
on a plan of the roof being laid before him, that the men had
prized out one of the " runners" or " I:Arks," as he termed

them, which sprung out, and caused the whole fabric of th•
ruin to give way.
Daniel Grimes, a labourer, in the employ of Mr. Ousley,
Highfield-street, stated, that, on Friday, he heard of the ac--
cident at Leeds street Chapel. Himself and fellow-werk-
men were ordered to go and assist in clearing the rubbish.
Witness described the process of moving the men from the
•ruins in words that corroborated the testimony of the first
witness. He said, he had assisted to carry Fairhurst, whose
head was smashed to pieces, so that the brains were dropping
out Fairhurst was carried to the Rose and Crown public-
house. Six others were extricated, badly hurt, from the
rubbish.

George Neile Amott, one of the surgeons of the Northern
Hospital, stated that about five o'clock on Friday evening,
six men were taken to the house, all of whom were badly
hurt. One of them, Thomas Williams, was so severely in-
jured that he died in about an hour and a half after he ar-
rived. His skull was fractured at the front,. the ribs on the
left side were shattered, he had a compound fractureof the
left thigh, and several other injuries sufficient to cause death.
Mr. Amott was of opinion that the evidence of someofthe
other men might be taken at the hospital.
Joseph Yates Ashton, stated that the was the professional
adviser of the trustees of Leeds-street Chapel. . A contract
was entered into between them and a joiner, of the name of
Ambrose Hill, and a stonemason, of the name of ,George
Robinson, to erect a new chapel in Great Homer-street, and
to take down the one in Leeds-street. They were to use the
old materials in the erection of the new building. Another
contract was entered into, but it had nothing to do with
either the joiner's or stonemason's work. By the terms of
contract, the old materials were to be the property of the
contractors. The trustees had nothing at all to do with tak-
ing down the building. The contractors had the whole ma-
nagement of that.

The Coroner said it would be necessay to have the evidence
of the men at the hospital, who were actually employed in.
the operation. He should, therefore, adjourn the inquest till
eleven o'clock on Monday, when it would be resumed at the
Northern Hospital.
We are sorry to add that William Curry, another of the
men, of whom very faint hopes were entertained from the
first, died on Sunday morning. His ribs and one leg were
fractured, and one of •the bones of the former penetrated his
lungs. He has left a wife and large family completely un-
provided for.

Yesterday morning, the jury again assembled, and viewed
the body of William Curry. The bodies were identified.
*The jury then proceeded into one of the sick wards, and the
Coroner took the evidence of Daniel Jones, one of the
sufferers. He presented a very weak and exhausted appear-
ance. His bead was bound up, one of his legs broken, and
he laboured under great difficulty of breathing from an in-
jury he had received in the chest. He stated that he was
one of the men employed at the time of the accident, with
five or six others, and they were taking down the timber
work and slates at the time the accident occurred. They
were employed in taking the back out of a principal beam, by
means of a lever. It was the forcing, by means of a lever,
of the end of this beam out of the main beam that caused the
accident. He recollected seeing the end of the beam come
out, of the wall, and falling on the flooring; five out of the
six men fell with him. He could not say what caused the
accident unless it was caused by the falling of this beam. He
was acting under the orders of one of Mr. Hill's men, who
gave the necessary directions for the work. He could not say
that the proper precautions were taken, as be had not been
engaged in similar work before. There was no other way
but prising out the end of the beam, as they had tried iron
wedges before without effect. They had been talking to
each other for some time, and, having done nothing, they
all made the effort to prize out the beam, which caused the
accident.

A long discussion took place between the jury and Mr.
Hill's foreman, with regard to what directions were given;
and several of the jury stated that they must have the evi-
dence of the foreman, who was considered to be not then in a
fit state to give his evidence. The foreman of the jurv,said
there was other evidence to be laid before them. The only
question for them to consider was, whether it had been an
accident or Was the result of any mismanagement. If the
latter were proved, they should give a verdict of manslaugh-
ter against Mr. Hill; they had therefore better adjourn t►ll
that further evidence had been obtained. Mr. Hill said he
would bring a plan of the building at the next examination.
The inquest was then adjourned to ten o'clock on Wednes-
day (to-morrow) morning,

BOLTON.—F. Robinson, S. H. Walpole, and R. Wharton.
Esqrs. the revising barristers for the Bolton district of the
southern division of the county, held their court on Monday
week, at the sessions room. The following is the result :
Conservatives and overseers' objections against
Liberals
Failed in ----50
Liberal and overseers' 'objections against Conser-
vatives
Failed iu

-1- 9

New claims, Conservatives
Liberals
107
COUNTY REGISTRATION.—The courts for the revision of
persons claiming to vote in respect of property situate within
the townships comprised in the Ormskirk district, were held
on Thursday, the 20th September last, and, by adjourntrient,
o❑ the ensuing Saturday, at the King's Arms Hotel, in that
town. The following is, we believe, an accurate statement
of the result:—

Conservative new claims 7l
Radical new claims

OBJECTIONS BY CONSERVATIVES.
Sustained 24
Failed
Postponed

31
OBJECTIONS BY REFORMERS.Sustained
37
Failed
Posiponed

105 Trq:
Leaving a clear gain to the Conservatives of 45 votes. Na_
case of peculiar interest or importance arose.
. • ,ave

Sir .tohn Herschel, it' is said refusas to allntv himself to
be put in nomination as-President of the Royal Society, in
the place of his ltoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex.
RIPON EPISCOPAL. PALACE.—The foundation stone of the
edifice intended fur the residence of the Bishop is intended to
be laid on Monday next, by the Right Honourable the;Eati
De,Grey. There will be a grand procession on the occasion:
Leeds Intelligencer.

STANNINGIET NEW CHUIICH.—We are glad to learn that
through the indefatigable exertions of the Rev. Thomas
Furbank, M.A., incumbent of Bromley, assisted by members
of the committee, the sum of £l,OOO has been subscribed to-
wards the erection of the new church at Stanningley. Still.
however, a considerable sum will be wanted to build a church
suitable to the wants of that populous village.
LYMINGTON, Sept. 27.—Our registry here is now con-
cluded for this year iu a manner most favourable to the Con-
servative cause, both for the county and borough represen-
tation. The total increase in the Conservative majority for
the county representation is 49, and the total Conservative
increase for the borough representation is 15 over the majo-
rity of last year. Mr. W. Royle has acted for both the
borough and county registry with his usual talent, zeal, and
discrimination.

Buay.--On Friday, the 21st instant, the Lord Bishop of
Chester confirmed 117 girls and 95 boys, in St. James's
Church, at Heywood; and on Saturday, his lordship con-
firmed 548 girls and 215 boys, in the Parish Church of Bury.
His lordship consecrated Christ Church, lately erected in
Walmersley, near Bury. On Wednesday last, the Rev.
Mr. Carter, the incumbent of Christ Church, laid the first
stone of a new charity school, now erecting at Buckhurst,
in Walmersley, in which, when completed, divine service
will be performed on the Sunday afternoons.
ABERDEEN COUNTY REGISTRATION.—The Conservative
cause continues steadily upon the advance in this county.
Upon the first trial of strength between parties, after the
passing of the reform act, the day was carried by a majority
of 180. On the last occasion, although the Liberals con-
trived to take their opponents by surprise, the Conservative
majority had mounted up to 415. The annual registration,
which has just closed, adds 70 votes to a majority already
overpowering.

The follaiVing information has been received on good au-
thority, and no doubt will be read with interest :—The Rev.
John B. Maude, M.A., Senior Fellow of Queen's College,
has offered to endow four additional fellowships in that Col-
lege, thus increasing; the number from 16 to 20. The offer
has been accepted by the Provost and Fellows, and will be
acted upon immediatelv.—Orforn Herald.
WA RIZINGTON.—Tbe revising barristers held their court in
Warrington on Saturday. There were six claimants resi-
dent in the borough, five of whom had their names placed
upon the register. 'De only case of interest was that of a
party claiming to be put upon the register for a house for
which he was paying £7 a year rent. The house was stated
to be worth £lO, and the low rent at which it was let accounted
for, by the tenant having undertaken to do the landlord's,
as well as the tenant's repairs.—The claimed was allowed.—
Manchester Courier.

THE VICAR OF RUNCORN.--.The Chancellor of the diocese
of Chester was to have
.given judgment in the case of the
Rev. F. Masters, the vicar of Runcorn, on Friday. It will
be recollected that, at the last sitting ofthe Consistory Court,
the rev. defendant, at the suit. of Joseph Donald and John
Johnson, two inhabitants of Runcorn, was charged with an
illicit intercourse with a servant of his household. Evidence
was produced to rebut the charge, and to prove the contra-
dictory nature of the evidence offered for the complainants.
Judgment was then postponed, and the rev. defendant peti-
tioned to have the case speedily brought forward. Friday
was appointed for that purpose, but the chancellor consider-
ed that it was a case of a criminal nature, declined departing
from the rule laid down in his court, and judgment is now
deferred until next October.
BARRISTERS' COURT, BURY.—Henry Lawrence, Esq.,
the revising barrister, held his court at the Eagle and Child
Inn, Bury, for the revision of the list of voters for the bo-
rough members. In the list for the township of Bury, there
were seven persons objected to, which were all struck out
but one; in the Elton list there were five objections, but
none of them were struck out. In the list of claimants for
Bury, there were fourteen names, all but• two of wlaiehwere
allowed, and in that for Elton, only four, which were all
allowed. The total number of vote§ for the borough of
Bury, in both the townships, is now 693.

A PUZZLE IN COSTUME.-At Delvino, the Mussulman
women wear the most ludicrous dress that woman's fancy
ever invented; which consists of a white.wrapper, covering
them from the top of the head to the feet, with two half sleeves,
into which-their elbows are thrust, their hands being crossed
upon their breasts, and their elbows stuck out at right angles.
In this way they stalk about like rough-hewn marble crosses.
This white wrapper opens at the face, however, to display a
black mask, with two holes for the eyes. To all my inquiries
as to the origin of.this singular costume, I got one invariable
answer, " so it has been found.'!—Urgultart's Travels in the
East.

THE TABERNACLE.—Tbe Tabernacle was a portable tem-
ple designed for a wandering race, and the Egyptian religion
prohibited every thing which encouraged nomadic habits.
indeed, it would seem as if the Tabernacle had been design-
edly fashioned so as to withdraw the people from all-associa-
tion with the idolatrous worship of Egypt; for Moses was not
in this instance permitted to use his own discretion; but re-
ceived specific directions ft on't Jehovah, not only respecting
the general plan of the structure, but even the minutest par-
ticulars of its details. The wood of which it was composed
united the two great requisites, lightness and durability ; it
was probably the same us that of which the mum-my cases are
composed, a species of timber which has continued uudecayed
for nearly thirty centuries, and which everybody who has vi-
sited amuse= of Egyptian antiquities must know to be about
the lightest with which we are acquainted. It was thus easily
transported from place to place, especially as the v, hole- tribe
of Levi was charged with its custody. The various parts of
the structure and its edifice were assigned to the charge of
different families; and from the monuments it would• seem
that the custody of the sacred things in the Egyptian temples
was similarly distributed, for there is no example of priests
of one rank using the same utensils as those of another.:—Sa-
turday Magazine.

ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE.—On Friday week, Messrs.:Wal-
pole, Wharton, and Robinson, held their court for the revi-
sion of the lists of county voters, for the parish of Ashton-
under-Lyne. The overseers' list contained 952 names, being
117 more than the number on the register last year. There
were 50 objections by the overseers, 25 by the ConserVatives,
and 11 by the Radicals, total 86. The number of objections
last year was 250. Of the names objected to by the overseers,
38 were struck out, the parties having changed their abodes,
and made fresh claims. Others wele struck off for other m-
ime; and one was retained: .•