The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-01 00:00:00

THE SHIP MARCO POLO.

The name of Marco Polo is justly celebrated as the
Venetian traveller and historian, who, from his knowledge
of the different dialects of Tartary, was employed in
embassies which gave him the opportunity of traversing
Tartary, China, and other Eastern countries, whence he
returned in 1295. A short time after, serving his country
at sea against the Genoese, his galley, in a great naval
engagement, was sunk, and himself taken prisoner, and
carried to Genoa, where be composed the history of his
voyages. which appeared at Venice in 1496. The ship
Marco Polo is hardly less celebrated for her extraordinary
rapid voyage under her able commander, Captain J. N.
Forbes, from Liverpool to the Australian colonies and
back to the Mersey, in the short space of five months and
twenty-two days, a speed owing, not only to favourable
weather but to her excellent qualities as a seafaring vessel
and the skill of her commander. She is now about
to leave Liverpool once more on a voyage for which
she has acquired such well-earned fame ; and the merits
of Captain Forbes being appreciated by those most
capable of judging, a meeting of shipowners and
others was held on Thursday, in Messrs. Cunard and
Co's office, the Hon. Joseph Cunard in the cl.air,—
The following resolution, moved by Samuel Gould, Esq.,
and seconded by James Alexander, Esq., was agreed to :
" This meeting considering the recent voyage of the ship
Marco Polo, hence toAustralia and back, as unprecedented
in the annals of sailing, is desirous of publicly expressing
admiration thereof ; and while it accords to the builders
their full measure of praise for the model and construction
of the ship, consider it mainly owing to the untiring exer-
tions and able management of Captain Forbes that the
success of the voyage is to be attributed."—lt was moved
by William Fisher, Esl., seconded by John Hamilton,
E.g., and resolved unanimously :—" That Capt. Forbes
be presented with an epergne, or other piece of plate,
with a suitable inscription, to the value of the amount
subscribed, in testimony of their admiration of his skill as
a British seaman." The following gentlemen were then
appointed a committee to carry the resolutions into effect:
Hon. Joseph Cunard, chairman ' • Samuel Gould, Esq.,
William Fisher, Esq., and Joseph Mandel, Esq.
Yesterday (Monday) a handsome dejeuner was givan on
board the vessel, lying in the Salthouse Dock ; and a very
numerous party, including the Worshipful the Mayor of
Liverpool (Samuel Holme, Esq.), sat down to an elegant
repast, at which Mr. Mackay, one of the owners of the
vessel, presided.
At the conclusion of the repast, the CHAIRMAN pro-
posed the usual loyal toasts of " The Queen," " Prince
Albert and the rest of the Royal Family," and " The
Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese." The latter toast was
responded to by
The Rev. BROTHERS, who said the name of the
ship, and that of her gallant captain, would long be a
watchword to men of enterprise and genius.
The toast of " The Army and Navy" was responded to
by Captain FAULKNER.
Captain SCHOMBERG, R.N., the Government Emigra-
tion Officer, also returned thanks. He said they were
on board the flying Marco Polo, the pride of the
Liverpool fleet, which, well and liberally fitted up,
was designed to carry a large body of men and women
to our furthestcolonies with the utmost safety and com-
fort. As the emigration officer of the port, he had much
pleasure in being associated with an undertaking so
liberally conducted as that of the Marco Polo. He
described in facetious terms the difficulties which emi-
grants have to encounter, and trusted that they might all
be surmounted.
Mr. CUNARD then performed the pleasing duty of pre.
senting to Captain Forbes, on behalf of the merchants of
Liverpool, the magnificent epergne which had been sub-
scribed for, and which reflected great credit on Mr. Mayer.
by whom it was supplied. Mr. Cunard pronounced the
highest eulogium on the skill and enterprise of Captain
Forbes, who had performed the voyage to Australia and
back in a manner unprecedented in the annals of the

mercantile marine. He had been associated with Mr.
Gould and Mr. Fisher in arranging for the testimonial
before him, which he had much pleasure in presenting to
Captain Forbes, and also in proposing his health, a toast
which was received with loud and long-continued cheering.
Captain FORBES, in returning thanks, said he hardly
knew how to express himself. He came to Liverpool in
1839 without a shilling. They all knew his present position,
and he might say, though he was not a Liverpool man he had
Liverpool ways with him. He thanked them most cor-
dially for the handsome manner in which they had acknow.
ledged his exertions, and he felt confident that he should
be able, on his next voyage, not only to do it well, but
that the Antelope must keep up her fires if she expected
to beat him.

The CHAIRMAN said they must not forget, while think-
ing of the vast empire upon which the sun never sets,
that they were in the important port of Liverpool, and she
had the good fortune to be presided over by a gentleman
who was one of their guests that day, and he had much
pleasure in proposing " Prosperity to Liverpool, and the
health of the worthy mayor (loud cheers).
The MAYOR (S. Holmes, Esq.) returned thanks, and
descanted in terms of warm approval on the excellent,
and liberal manner in which the Marco Polo was fitted up
for the comfort of so many passengers, who, he hoped,
would carry the laws of the civilisation of Englsnd to
the most distant parts. He trusted they would all
join him in fervently wishing, according to the pious clause
in the bills of lading, that God may send the good ship
to her desired port in safety. His worship then proposed
the health of the owners of the Marco Polo, and success
to their spirited exertions.

The toast was receivedwith loud cheers, and responded
to by Mr. MACKAY, the chairman.
Mr. W. FISHER paid a high eulogy to the merits of
Captain Forbes, who, in returning thanks, said that as
long as the owners had a coat to button he was there to
button it.

Mr. BAINES then proposed " Prosperity to the Town
and Trade of Liverpool,"--a toast which was warmly
received and responded to by Mr. MozLEy, who en-
larged on the importance of the judicious expenditure of
capital, and the benefit which had accrued to Liverpool
through the union of wealth, skill, and prudence. Ha
trusted such a beneficial combination would long continue.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the Emigration Officers in
Liverpool. Captain Schomberg was, comparatively, a
stranger, but he had always found him a true British
sailor to the back bone. As for Mr. Prior, lie had
grown grey in the respect of every man.
Cipt. SCHOMBERG and Lieut. PRIOR returned thanks.
The •CHAIRMAN then alluded to the services of Mr.
Macdonald, the first mate of the Marco Polo ; and, in the
name of the owners, presented him with a handsome gold
chronometer, with a suitable inscription.
Mr. BAINES said that, on the return of the Marco Polo
after another voyage, Lieut. Macdonald should have the
command. They mould find some suitable employ for
Captain Forbes, in a ship to be built in Liverpool,
Captain &turn remarked, that as the chairman had
promised a ship to be built in Liverpool to beat the colo-
nial tub, he would only say, as the builder of the Marco
Polo, that if the owners got a Liverpool builder to beat
her, he would engage to keep pace with her. Their ship
had beat all the world, and they meant to keep their pre-
eminence ; and if any gentleman had the spirit he would
risk the value of the ship, to sail ship for ship. Some ran
down colonial-built vessels, but he had then in his pocket
orders for six two-thousand ton ships, a proof that they
were appreciated in some quarters.
The next toast was the Australian trade, with the names
of Boyd, Edwards and Co.

. .
Mr. BOYD said the only fear was their over-doing a
trade in which they should act with caution.
The MAYOR, after a complimentary eulogy on the ser.
vices of British Seamen, proposed the junior officers of
the Marco Polo, trusting that, like good seamen, they
would perform their duty, and take the good ship out and
home again.

The CHAIRMAN, in a complimentary speech, proposed
" The Press," which he denominated the only Free Press
in Europe.

Mr. COULD then proposed " Prosperity to the Black-
ball Line of Australian Packets," which was responded
to by Mr. Baines. He said if the best endeavours of a
determination to succeed had any effect, they were bound
to go a-head. lie proposed "The Masters and Mates of
the Mercantile Marine," which was acknowledged by
Captain Mills, of the Indian Queen.
The MAYOR, in a humorous speech, which excited roars
of laughter, proposed " The Ladies."
Among the toasts was that of Mr. J. T. Towson, the
author of the system of greatcircle sailing, who, in re-
turning thanks, highly complimented Captain Forbes
for the genius he had displayed in finding so short a
passage to and from Australia. In the course of the
evening Mr. Baines, on the part of the owners, pre-
sented Captain Forbes with a magnificent silver tea
service, consisting of coffee-pot, tea-pot, sugar-basin,
cream-ewer, and salver, all richly chased, and the latter
with an appropriate inscription.

LIVERPOOL kEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM,
ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annual Meeting of the members of the Livery ol
Female Orphan Asylum took place yesterday, at the Insti-
tution house, Myrtle-street.

William IVl`Criicken, Esq., the President of the Institu
tion, took the chair.

Amongst those present, we notice Mr. Hubback, Mr.
John Aiken, Mr. H. T. Browne, the Rev. H. H. Higgins.
and several ladies.

The proceedings having been opened with prayer, which
was offered by the Rev. Mr. Higgins, Mr. Harwood
Banner, the treasurer, read the report : which was to the
effect that 160 was still the number of the inmates; that
two deaths had occurred during the year; that the average
cost per head was .£l7 13s. 2d., or ls. less than in 1851 ;
and concluded with the hope that, as the price of pro-
visions in the present year would probably increase the
outlay, they hoped the friends of the institution would in.
crease their contributions, and that new subscribers
would be obtained. Ninety girls bad to this time been
apprenticed ; -and it was a pleasing duty to state that
those who were in service were.doing

H. Hiconveon moving the adoption of
the
healthepy, roconrt,
dition of allud a mongst
the other things, ,to the
• inmates which was evi-
denced by :06 exceedhig 'small amount which had been'
paid for medignes during the year. it was gratifyih ' :fo'
anal./ that.the conductoftliainmateg onwint:sa.v.
those who had lift tiWinfititutiOn.',..fts-cif the :haste-La)
plary description. Pomo jnltnnoel of .en .opposite nature

had been somewhat prominently brought before the
public ; but he must remark that whilst, perhaps, undue
Publicity was given to isolated cases of insubordination on
the part of some particular inmate, the satisfactory man-
ner in which the inmates as a body conducted themselves,
although well known to the managers of the institution,
was not within the knowledge of the inhabitants generally.
(Hear, hear.) He wished to name this on the present
occasion, not only in justice to the inmates themselves,
but. also because it might probably be the last occasion on
which he should have the opportunity of speaking of the
institution as one connected with it. [We understand
that Mr. Higgins is leaving Liverpool. 1 After referring at
some length to the great value of the institution, the rev.
gentleman concluded by moving the adoption of the
report
Mr

AIKEN seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.

Mr. BRANCH next moved, and Miss LONG seconded, a
vote of thanks to the clergy for their attendance upon the
inmates.
This motion was also carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. HUBBACK, seconded by Miss
AIKEN, thanks were voted to the committee.
Similar compliments were also paid to the other officers,
after which the proceedings terminated.

THONS AS EDWARD MOSS, ESQ., has been appointed a
Deputy Lieuttnant of the county.
EXPOSITION QUADRILLE.—The performance of this
music last evening at the Philharmonic-hall was received
with rapturous applause.

GAS EXPLOSION.—On Saturday morning considerable
damage was caused to the house of Mr. Lawrence Birnie,
of Wakefield-street, publican, by an explosion of gas.
Mr. Birnie's hand was severely burnt.

MICHAEL CURRAN, labourer, was found drowned in
a pit near St. Anne's church, Birkenhead, on Friday
morning. The deceased had been missing since the ith
January. When last seen alive he was in a state of
inebriation.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.--The committee on the
Bridgnorth election have unseated Sir Robert Pigot, on
the ground of bribery. The committees on Clitheroe,
Cambridge, Chatham, and F, ome, are still sitting. The
new appointments are Waterford County, yesterday ;
Wigton Burghs, Hull, and Derby, to-day ; Guildford,
Rye, and Huddersfield, to-morrow ; Tynemouth, 15th.
and Athlone, 16th of March.

DELIVERY OF LETTERS.—Mr. Banning, the post-
master of this town, has published a letter recommending
each person to have a letter-box on his front door, as the
most effectual means of expediting the delivery of letters.
A mere aperture in the door wculd be sufficient, particu-
larly if there is a piece of wire-work at the back, through
which the letters might be seen ; and if secured with a
lock, there could be no doubt of the letters getting into
the proper hands.

PROMOTION.—The Rev. D. James, M.A., the incum—
bent of St. Mary's, Kirkdale, has been elected Chief
Warden of Llandovery College, rendered vacant by the
resignation of the Yen. Archdeacon Williams, from ill
health. There were eleven candidates, many of them of
the highest classical attainments, as well as possessing
superior literary and colloquial knowledge of the Welsh
lar guage, which, by the deed of endowment, is of primary.
importance. The choice fell upon Mr. James, as being
not only an eminent classical scholar, and well versed in
Welsh literature, but a man of indomitable activity and
energy.

HEALTH. OF LIVERPOOL DURING 1852.—From the
annual report of the medical officer of the Board of
Health, it appears that 11,824 deaths wars registered in
the borough ; one less than in the preceding year. Dis-
eases of the zymotic class were 2503 ; measles carried
away 554 • diarrhcea, 804 ; smallpox, only 57 ; typhus,
629 ; scarletina, 694 ; hooping-cough, 243 ; croup, 133
dysentery, 143 ; cholera, 46 ; erysipelas, 74 ; syphilis, 39;
remittent fever, 35 j thrush and chancre, 29 ; purpura, 10;
influenza, 7 ; scurvy, 3 ; ague, 3 ; diseases of the lungs,
(including 1486 from consumption,) 3380 ; gout, 5 ; car-
buncles, 12 ; sudden and violent deaths, 490 ; intemper-
ance, 48.

DR. W. M. FISHER, OF ST. GEORGE'S STREET, we
are glad to learn has yielded to the request of several
friends, and intends to repeat the splendid exhibition
passed off a few weeks ago, at the Collegiate Institution,
with so much 'eclat. He has consented to show his rich
and varied views in the Cornwallis-street schools, on
Tuesday evening, the 15th instant, so that those who,
from the crowded state of the collegiate were prevented
from getting in on the former occasion, will now have an
opportunity of seeing this most beautiful and attractive
exhibition. As usual, Dr. Fisher's efforts are again en-
listed in the cause of a charitable object, and are given
without any remuneration to himself, beyond the gratifi-
cation he derives in assisting to promote what is good.
We shall be able to announce particulars next week.
INQUESTS.—An inquest was held yesterday before Mr.
Curry, the coroner, on the body of William, aged three
months, Infant child of John Wigzell. biscuit-baker, 28,
Ben Johnson-street, who died very suddenly on Saturday
morniag last. Verdict, natural death.—Another inquest
was held yesterday on the 'Jody of Mary. aged seven
months, child of John Williams, 10, Margaret-street, who
died on Friday from the effects of an accident on Satur-
day week, by which the contents of a boiling teapot were
poured upon the unfortunate infant, who had been left in
the charge of a sister ten years old, while the mother was
absent from the dwelling. Verdict, accidental death.—
An inquest was also held on the body of James, aged
eleven weeks, infant son of Jamas Minshuil, of Sillitoe's.
terrace, Stanhope-street, who died suddenly on Sunday
morning. Verdict accordingly.

NEWRV, WARRENPOINT, AND ROSTREVOR RAILWAY.
—The fourteenth ordinary general meeting of the pro-
prietors was held on Saturday, in the Clarendon-rooms,
South John-street, Francis Shand, Esq., in the chair.
The report alluded with satisfaction to the fact that an in-
fluential company had been formed to complete a through
line of railway (commencing by a junction with the line to
Newry) to Armagh. The passenger traffic on the line ex-
hibits a steady progressive improvement, the increase this
year being upwards of ten per cent. The chairman moved
the adoption of the report, which was unanimously
agreed to. The retiring directors, Messrs. Shand, Hol-
land, and Cochran, and the retiring auditor, Mr. Maun-
der, were unanimously re-elected.

THE SELECT VESTRY.—At the fortnightly meeting,
held on Tuesday last, the Rev. Rector Campbell in the
chair, the number of paupers reported to be in the house
was 2161 ; in the vagrant sheds, 776. In regard to the
inquiry relative to the Roman Catholic children being
required to attend the church at the workhouse, it was
deemed proper to defer further proceedings—the state-
ments of the three Romanist boys brought before the
committee being a tissue of contradictions. Mr. Hughes,
in the course of a long speech, said he " found that a
feeling prevailed out of doors that the workhouse was a
Protestant establishment." A letter was re d from Mr.
Mansfield, the stipendiary magistrate, addressed to Mr..
Earle, and showing that the system adopted by the vestry,.
in the admission of paupers, and in the administration of
out-door relief, was such that the rate-payers were neces-
sarily defrauded of a large sum. An angry debate ensued;
Mr. Morse and Mr. Earle were especially warm in the
discussion, and eventually the letter was referred to the
Finance Committee. We regret that we cannot give Mr.
Mansfield's letter in extenso, as it is one of much moment
to the rate-payers, and is likely to form the theme of
future discussion.

BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE JUNC-
TION RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meeting of proprietors
was held on Saturday, at the Monks' Ferry Hotel, Mr.
Bancroft, chairman of the board, presiding. The attend-
ance was unusually thin ; the storm prevented many
shareholders from crossing the river. The report was
read by Mr. Gibson, the secretary. The accounts show,
during the half-year just closed, a considerable increase of
traffic compared with the corresponding previous bait-
year. The following statement shows the amount re-
ceived in the years : 1851. 1852.
To 30th June...—. £38,329 £41,477
To 31st December.. 41,784 46,542

£80,113

£88,019

increase
The amount expended in the years :-
1851.
. £21,070 .
24,077

£7,906

To 31th June.....
To 31st December,

£45,147.