The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-04-10 00:00:00

LITERARIZ NOTICES.

The Church of England Quarterly Review. No. 6.

April, 1838. London : Pickering'.
This'ble review continues to sustain its high charac•
ter for ciltical acumen and consummate scholarship. Its
articles are distinguished, generally, by deep research, a
calm and philosophic spirit of inqniry, and great polish
of style. Its principles, in the main, are theologically
sound, and such as every true churchman, and every
lover of the British constitution, must cordially approve
of. We are sorry that we cannot apply this remark to
every article which appears in the pages of this excellent
review ; but we are constrained to acknowledge that
some of its papers are characterised by a spirit of bigot-
ted intolerance little in character with the doctrines of
the Church of England. These exceptions are, how-
ever, very inconsiderable in comparison with the gene-
ral contents. We have been very much delighted with
the able refutation of Dr. Strauss' " Life of Jesus" in
the present number. The critic handles the subject in
the most masterly manner, and exposes the infidel ten-
dency of the neologian school of divinity in a manner
which is 'highly satisfactory. The review of " Camp-
bell's. Poems" is particularly rich in its sarcasm. " The
Episcopal Institutions" is a very able paper. It contains
a complete refutation of Non-conformity, on its own
professed principles. The article of this number is, un-.
doubtedly, "The Roman Catholic Confessional ex-
posed," in which a variety of corroborative evidence is
adduced in support of Maria Monk's " Awful Disclo-
sures." The illustrative quotations from the authors of
the Middle ages are particularly striking. "The Pa-
rallelism of the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian Dis-
pensations " is a very curious and interesting article.
•` The Agglo-Saxon Church" contains much important
historical information respecting this early progress of
Christianity in Great B►itain. " The History of Pius
VII:" forms a very solemn warning to English Protest-
ants. " The Trial of the Unitarians" is a masterly pro-
duction. " The Dangers of the Country" ought to be
-read by every sincere churchman. It is very powerfully
written. The general literature of the present number
is well digested, and, with some trifling exceptions, al.
-ready indicated, (such as the sneers at Simeon, Toplady,
and the orthodox clergy of the Church of England,) will
-be penned with pleasure and advantage.

Fraser's :Magazine. April, 1833.
This is by no means a brilliant number. We cannot
admire. "Our Club at Paris" nor " The Fabnlists."
The former is insipid, and the latter hackneyed. The
other papers are much superior. " A Hundred Months
of Liberalism" is a truly splendid article. We wish we
could transfer it, in integro, into our columns. We hope
to find it printed separately, in a cheap form, and exten-
sively circulated throughout the country. It is calcula-
ted to produce a great impression upon the public mind.
"The Yellow-plush Correspondence—Poring Parts"—
is eminently rich this month. The paper on " Rail-
roads" is very ably written, and pervaded by a spirit of
rational and candid inquily. " Ensign O'Donoghue's
Packet from Belgium" is capital. In the "Gallery of
Literary Characters" we find the Rev. Sydney Smith, the
portly and facetious canon--residentiary of St. Paul's.
.fhe extracts from the " Letters of Peter Plumley" are
very appositely introduced. " Mitchell's Life of Wal-
lenstein" is a very able review. " Homeric Ballads"
will be found fully as attractive to the classical scholar as
ever. " Artaphernes the Platonist, or the Supper at
Sallust's," is very good, but not very original. " More
of the Grenville Act" is a very sensible paper on the de-
,cisions of the election committees.

Dublin University Magazine. April, 1838.
In this number we !lave a very elaborate and eloquent
life of. John Philpot Curran, in the " Gallery of illus-
-trions Irishmen." This forms the principal ar icle, and
is higllly worthy of the series in which it appears. The
-confirmation of " The Rubi, a Tale of the Sea," is ably
executed. The critique on the dictum of Baron Rich-
ard., in opposition to the Twelve Judges, is very clever.
The last Days of Nero" is one of the best dramatic
-sketches which we have lately seen. " Recollections of
a Disturbed District" is the title of a series of tales
which promise to be of a very exciting character.—
Mevler on the State of Ireland" is a very candid re.
view. The sketch which is given of the progress of the
O'Connell agitation is very instructive. VVe confess we
were somewhat startled by the statement that the arch-
agitator had actually been enrolled among the Orange
Yeomanry! Such, however, appears to have been the
fact. The " By-ways of Irish History" for this month
contain some very important particulars respecting the
•' Statistics of Romanism in Ireland," and " Romanism
in action in Ireland." The "Memoranda of the Month"
relate the usual amount of brutality and intimidation
practised towards the poor Protestants of that wisgo-
-v e raed country.

T.',e Mosethly Chronicle. No. 2. April, 1838. London:
Longman and Co.
This new periodical promises to outstrip many of its
more aged competitors. The talent displayed in its
pages is of the highest order. The present number is
exceedingly clever. The first article is in answer to the
Ittrestion " Are the Planets inhabited?" The philoso-
phic- views developed in the diScussion of this question
lead us to attribute the authorship of this paper to Sir
Day id Brewster. The confirmation of "Zicci" increases
the interest of the reader, and creates the most intense
curiosity to penetrate into the secret of that mysterious
character. " Slavery and the New Slave Trade" is very
clever, but full of ex parte statements and partial reason-
ings. " Art in Fiction—No. 2," is characterised by the
same fascination of style as the previous part of the same
essay. " Coal Trade Combinations" contains a careful
analysis of the evidence offered on the subject before the
House of Commons. The paper on the " International
Law of Copyright" is ably written, but we cannot sub-
scribe to all its views. The Theatrical and Musical cri-
tiqUes in the Monthly Chronicle are extremely clever.
The miscellaneous department also indicates considerable
taste. On the whole, we think this magazine will soon
become a popular favourite.

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine. April, 1838.
This exceedingly cheap magazine has one feature
which renders it particularly valuable. We allude to the
espionstless of its extracts from the books under review.
This is particularly observable in the present number, in
which we have the substance of " Lord Brougham's
Speeches on Slavery"—" Bulwer's Alice, or the Myste-
ries"—and " Miss Martineau's Retrospect of American
Travel." The poetry in the present number is almost
entirely political. The " Storming of B.viaj,,a," " A
Hymn for the Students of Gottingen," and " Do kings
or nobles care for us," are of this character, and breathe
the most truculent and vengeful feelings. We pray that
we may he ever preservei from the power of such a mer-
ciless anti brutal tyrant as the author of the "Corn Law
Rhymes:* He would make a second Nero. The "Au-
tobiography of an English Opinm Eater" is as delight-
fnl as ever. " The London Peripatetic. or Sketches
snout Town," is a very lively and hurnourous article.
Tlse `• Letter of Ebenezer Elliott to Mr. Tait, on the
Fourth Act of the Tragedy" is full of disgusting cant.
The review of " Hannah Lawrance's Historical Memoirs
of the Queens of England" is full of interest. The com-
munication from Mr. Hume respecting the affairs of Ca-
.ns-da is a most inflammatory production.

The Monthly Magazine. (The Old Monthly.) April,
1838. London : Sherwood and Co.

'lt 14 some time since we have met with this talented
-magazine. The present series contains an admirable
succession of papers, under the title of " Pickwick
Abroad, or the Tour in Franca," which are illustrated by
engravings by Alfred Crowquill. The style is ex•
tremely like that of Pickwick " at Home," and we have
t.so (loubt that these articles will contribute very mate-
rially to increase—the: popularity of the Old Monthly.
The'" Tableaux from Sporting Life" are very correctly
drawn. The essay on " Russian Literature since 1815"
is cleverly written. " The ,Modern French School of
Literature" enntains some very sound criticism. The
artic:, on " Coleridy,e,Southey,and Porson" is a curious
disputation respecting the authorship of " The Devil's;
Walk." Lieutenant Morrison 's es=ay on " Atmosphe-
rical-Phenomena" is of a very speculative character, but
-some of the tabular statements present us with very ex-
traordinary results. " Jessie Weevil" is a capital tale.
The " Economy of the Months" is very pleasantly
written.

The National 3lagazine, and Monthly Critic. April,

18.38. London : Mitchell.

In this number there are several articles of considera-
blemerit. The review of the " Life and Works of Sir
Wal!er Scott" is very clever. " Malevole the Triste-
kan interesting tale. The illustration, by Bran-
.4E.l, is beautifully executed. His lithographic en-
ravings are almost equal to those on copperplate. The
"portraits of the Spanish Christino Generals" for this
month are those of Count Mirasol, Espelata, Martinez,
Allailunrvaez, Guerrea, and Saarsfield. " A Glance
at.the Authors of the Middle Ages" contains some inte-
testir ,g; translations from Marcus Hiero n vrn us Vida. The
tale r f " Anna Ross," by Major Calder Campbell, is one
of m pathos. I. The Death cart" is a tale of gloom.
"Tiff Lady of Bewsey" is accompanied with another of
Brand ,rd's Illustrations. The miscellaneous department
of he Nationa./, is extremely well conducted.

rho Asiatic. Journal and Monthly Register for British
and roreipc ladia, China, and Australasia. April,
1838. London; Allen and Co.

• The " Review of Eastern News" is continued in the
resent atunber, and in its usual tone of impartiality.
Thet.Po3r Appeals from the Mofussil Courts" is
ellnPel.A‘•l4l3t-tsrittido. The subject is one of great deli-
eaC.r. Tbewrekeos.chapter " Select ions and Reflee-
timin" hasottonte.very clever remarks of a miscellaneous
abaraster oa classical eatilon, " The Vow of Sunjota"'

is continued in this number, and is fully as figurative
and hyperbolical as ever. The memoir of Dr. Marsh•
man is a tribute of just remembrance to a truly great
and worthy man, who for many years laboured with nn-
remitting-assiduity as a missionary in India. " The
Angels of Liie" is a very superior poem, descriptive of
Poetry, Learning, the *Domestic Affections, and Iteli•
gion. The review of Wilkinson's " Manners and Cus-
toms of the Ancient Egyptians" contains some curious
particulars. The "Adventures of Frank Hartley" form
a very interesting tale, illustrative of Indian life. The
Miscellaneous information in the Asiatic is copious and,
interesting.

Parbury,s Oriental Herald and Colonial Intelligencer.

April, 1833.
This magazine resembles the preceding in its general
character. It contains a faithful digest of stich informa-
tion as must be of value to all who are interested in the
affairs of the British India Presidencies, and of the
Eastern nations generally. The present number con-
tains an excellent article on " The Culture of Silk in
Bengal." " The East India Voyaaer" this month con-
tains useful advice to outward bound cadets. We have
next a brief memoir of Dr. Marshman, in which the ca-
reer of that eminent Orientalist and missionary is re-
viewed with candour. " The Best Abused Man in In-
dia" is accompanied with a portrait of the subject, Mr.
Stocqueler, editor of the Englishman newspaper. The
usual copious selection of Oriental news is appended :
much of this is of a very interesting character.

The Sunbeam.—A Journal devoted to Polite Literature
and Music. Part 2. March, 183 g. London : Berger.
We have before noticed this very spirited periodical,
which is one of the cheapest published. Its contents are
extremely varied, embracing tales and essays, posthu-
mous papers of celebrated authors, original poetry, trans-
lations, sketches of scenery, extracts from popular books,
correspondence, criticisms on the fine erts, poetry, paint-
ing, music, and sculpture, with other articles of a mis-
cellaneous character. We should add that each'number
is embellished with a piece of music by some of the most
popular composers of the present clay, as well as from
the old masters. The present part contains the follow-
ing The Spring Time has come," (Spohr,) " The
Highland Chief," (Barnett,) "The Hawthorn Tree,"
(Bochsa,) and " Sweet, thine heart is like that river,"
(Plumstead.)

Hood's Own, or Laughter from Year to Year. Part 1.
January, 1838. London : Baily.
We. received this part of Hood's inimitable "comicali•
ties" at a very late period last month. We are glad to
find in this number many of our old friends. • The prin-
cipal attractions are, " The Pugsley Papers," " A
Report from below," "The last Shilling," and "Black,
White, and Brown." The illustrations are, of course,
rich in every variety of humour. The work must have
a large circulation.

Pickwick Abroad ; or, the Tour in France. By G. W.
M. Reynolds. Illustrated with steel engravings, by
Alfred Crowquill. London : Sherwood. Part 3.
This is a republication from the Old Monthly of the
series of papers which we have noticed in a preceding
article. The style is very fascinating and the illustra-
tions abound in humour. Some of the adventures re-
lated in the present part are of a highly ludicrous cha-
racter. The sketches of " Life in Paris" afforded in
this work will be found of great utility to the traveller.

Sketches in London. By the Author of " Random

Recollections." No. 7.

Mr. Grant, in this number, introduces us to the work•
houses in London, giving us some details respecting the
inmates, statistical calculations, the system of farming
out paupers, romantic incidents in the lives of some of
the inmates, and the operation of the new poor law bill.
The plates are exceedingly well executed and afford a
view of a " Workhouse Dinner," and of " Out-door
Relief." The misery of each scene is of a very touching
character.

The Works of Jeremy Bentham. Part 2. Edinburgh:
Tait. 1833.
To those who are admirers of the Benthamite system
of political economy this will be found a remarkably
neat and cheap edition of the works of the great master
of that school of philosophy.

A Trip to Wales ; or, the Steam packet Companion
from Liverpool to Beaumaris, Bangor, Caernarvon,
and Conway. By the late Richard Llwyd. Chester :
Part v.

7
is a very interesting Dade mecum to the traveller
who way wish to visit the northern counties of the prin-
cipality. It is written in a lively, gossiping style, and
gives a description of the Menai, the Snowdonian moun-
tains, the lakes and vallies, the castles and mansions,
and the other principal objects of attraction in the neigh-
bourhood visited.

The Poetical Works of Richard Llwyd, the Bard of
Snowdon, comprising " Beaumaris Bay" and other
Poems, with a Portrait and Memoir of the Author.
London : Whittaker and Co. Chester : E. Parry.

1837.
This interesting volume comprises several very ad-
mirable compositions from the pen of a self-taught
scholar. In the words of the dedication, " they are the
production of a man of humble birth and subordinate
station in society, but whose genius, with a commenda-
ble perseverance, burst through the shades of obscurity
a.,d eventually placed him in a respectable rank with the
literary characters of the age." The memoir which is
prefixed to this complete edition of Llwvd's Works is a
very interesting piece of biography, from the perusal of
which ow- young friends especially will derive consider
able benefit. It will show them how to master diffi-
culties in every station in life. R. Llwyd, Esq., was no
less celebrated as a herald and an antiquarian than he
was as a poet, and he was frequently consulted by the
nobility and gentry on complicated questions of gene-
alogy. To our Welsh friends, in particular, the poetical
remains in the volume before us will be very acceptable,
especially as they are enriched with so many valuable
notes

ON THE ESTIMATED AND ACTUAL COST OF THE

GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.

( From the Railway Times.)

Slll.--It is very currently reported, and is universally be-
lieved, that the Grand Junction Railway is the only one that has
been executed/or the estimate. I have, in some measure, been
acquainted with the proceedings of that Company, as well as
several others, from their commencement; and have, as a Share-
holder, become possessed of their published reports, but arrive
at a very different conclusion. Instead of making assertions, I
have subjoined a few queries that will illustrate my ideas on this
subject.
If I am mistaken, I shall be happy to be set right ; but, if I
am right, the public ought not to be deceived, and apprised of
the true state of the case.
Query I.—Was not the estimate for the Grand Junction
Railway made, and the capital raised for the line laid out in
part be Mr. Stephenson, and the remainder by Mr. Rastrick,
Frr which the first act of parliament was obtained in 1833? Aud
did they nut subsequently, at Mr. Stephenson's recommenda-
tion, apply for, and obtain, an act to alter that portion of teh
line designed by Mr. Rastrick. to the extent of nearly forty
miles, on the ground that it would effect a saving in the con-
struction, of somewhere about £250,000?
Query 2.—Besides the preceding alteration in the line of di-
rection, was not there a considerable alteration made in the in-
gradients or levels of the said railway from the parliamentary
section, in older to avoid making a tunnel near Pi eston Brook;
whereby about £70.000 were saved, and the line thereby made
to rise at the rate of 50 feet per mile, instead of IS or 20, as at
first designed ? _

Query 3.—When the original estimate was made—Had the
Grand Junction Railway Company then made any arrangement
with, or was it even contemplated that the Liverpool and Man-
chester Railway Company should be at the expense of building.
and providing all the requisite coach-offices, warehouses, en-
gines and coach sheds (charging the Grand Junction Railway,
a rent for them, of course ?) Had not such arrangement been
made, would they not have had to incur a similar outlay (if the
traffic was of equal amount) with the Liverpool and Manches-
ter Railway Company, whose stations were stated by Mr.
Booth, in his evidence in an appeal against the Barton poor's-
rate, in 1833, to have then amounted to £175,000; 'since that
time considerable additions and improvements have"been made
(independent of those for the Grand Junction traffic), therefore
say
Query 4.—Was not the Grand Junc-
tion capital •• • 1,040,000?
Their Report. just published, stales
their expenditure to have been.... 1,607,490
Tait not evident that they might have
borrowed or incurred debts to the

amount of
Qiiery s.—lf the preceding queries command an affirmative
answer, will not the account stand as follows?
Spent, as per half-year's Report, to
end of 1837 £1,607,490
Deduct purchase of the Warrington
line, not included in the original es-
timate

To►al cost of Grand Junction Railway £1,542.020
The original capital being 1,0.10,000

Actual excess of expenditure to end
of 18.37 £502,020
Add saving by alteration of line (see
Query 1) 250,000
Ditto, by alteration of levels (see
Query 2) 70,000
Ditto, by renting stations, instead of
buildiug them (see Query 3) 200,000

Total excess, had the work been executed
as originally designed, and for which
the estimate was made. being about
fiBpertent. on the £1,040,000*• • • • £1,022,020

Lastly,—Are the works on the Grand Junction Railway even
now completed ?
A PRACTICAL RAILWAY ENGINEER.

* It may he alleged that the original estimate did not ex-
tend to the purchase a locomotive engines, -coaches, &c.,
which are comprised in the gross expenditure of £1,607,490.
But, even if it were so, hail not that been the case with all other
railway. yet executed?

ATLANTIC STEAM NAVIGATION.

(Abridged from the Athenmum.)

The Great Western was designed and built, and is owned
wholly, we believe, at Bristol; so that the somewhat sleepy hut
venerable old port, which (list, through Cabot, found out the
variation in the needle of the mariner's compass, and establish-
e'd the trade between this country and Russia. as well as dis-
covered Newfoundland, and described distinctly the coast of
Florida (as many contend) the year before Columbus made his
voyage—Bristol, waking trout her Rip Van Wynkle slumbers,
has had the merit at least of rousing English enterprise to a
new maritime effort of the highest interest, coming very near,
too, at the least, to taking the lead, nominally as well as virtu-
ally, in that effort
At all events, the Great Western is in itself an achievement
sufficient to renew for that ancient city the fame of the days
• when Maister Canynge's merchant-ships were the first on the
globe; witness the Mary and John, of 900 tons, 420 years ago.
This noble steamer has a hurt hen of 1,311) tons. How it com-
pares with the class it belongs to, and with its spry little com-
petitor before mentioned, may be judged by the least seaman-
like reader we have, when we say that, as tar as we know, the
largest steam-ship in her Majesty's navy, and that a new one,
is the Gorgon, with a tonnage of 1150. The Gorgon is con-
structed to carry 20 days' coal, a crew of 150, and 1,0/0 men
besides, and spires for six months. Fier engines areonly of the
satne power with those of the Sitius. The largest American
steatn-ihip we have heard of is the Natchez, now or lately on
the stocks at New Yolk, and intended to ply as a packet be-
tween that city and the southern port whose name she bears;
her tonnage is 900. The Wilberforce and the Victoria, llull
packets, were considered to be at the head of the old order of
boats; the former a little exceeding 200 feet in length, with
paddle-wheels 24 feet in diameter, and engines setoud only to
those used in the American scheme. There may be a farther
comparison with the Bristol boat by stating, that her length is
about 240 feet; that each paddle shaft, after turning, weighs 6%
tons, and the intermediate shaft 41 tuns, with diameters of 181
and 171 inches ; that her cylinders are 731 inches in diameter,
the Gorgon's being 64 inches—and nearly rivalling the size of
the hugest ever used in the most extensive operations of the
Cornish mines; that she has four boilers, rated to weigh, with
water in them, 180 tons—bordering on a stowage-room capable
at' containing in iron boxes nearly 900 tons of coal; and that her
two marine engines are stated to have a 225 horse-power each.
To imagine, in it word, the appearance this vessel makes in the
river, among the myriad craft which encircle her, one must con-
ceive of a large man-of-war of 80 guns, with the unwieldy pro-
tuberances we have mentioned at the sides, a steam apparatus
of the total weight of 470 tons, a great black funnel, and volumes
of smoke in due proportion; and withal, for the plan is am-
phibious, a complete sailing machinery—for emergencies of fair
winds or accidents to machinery—including four rather low
masts, rigged somewhat in schooner style, and able to add con-
siderably on occasion to the boat's speed. It appears that this
ship is much the largest, on the whole, ever built, The fore-
Cabin is 46 feet long; an ample engine-room is left in the centre;
and this separates the former fsom a state cabin of 82 feet in
length and 34 in extreme breadth, taken up, except in the centre,
with berths (like the fore-cat-in) at the sides, including, above
and below, and fore and aft, 12l sleeping-places for one class of
passengers, besides which there are 20 fjr servants. Of the
very costly and elegant fittings-up of this grand saloon we can
add nothing to the plentiful details furnished by the daily
papers : suffice it to say, that Mr. Yantis has had charge of the
decorations, which ate in the style of Watteau and date of Louis
IV., and that no pains seemed to have been spared to outdo the
Liners, and " astonish the natives" on the other side of the sea.
We should not forget that, affixed to the frame-work of the en-
gine is an index, by which the number of strokes performed by
the machinery, and the rate of their performance is shewn with
the greatest accuracy, and which, it is stated, without requiring
to be again wound tin, will mark as many strokes as suffice for
the voyage to New York. Finally, she must doubtless be pro-
nounced as staunch a piece of British naval architecture as ever
floated, as well as the must elegantly decorated of all filer en
gives have been proved—the boat has been, and will be, tho-
roughly tried throughout-200 tons of cargo will be taken, if
offered ; and so the Great Western, hoisting, at length, the lion
flag, will commence her tnarch on the mountain-wave, with the
motto, victory or death. She is expected to make her passage
out, under average circumstances, in fifteen days. and the return
voyage in twelve. Fair luck befall her !

The cabin fare, we may mention, is 35 guineas out, and 30
returning, which includes bedding, provisions, and wines This
is the seine as the fare of the Liners out. It is the same on
hoard the Sirius, we see; but provision is made, by that boat,
fur a second class of passengers, in an inferior cabin, of the old
regime, at twenty guineas; and for steerage passengers, like the
Liners, at eight. The Sirius also expects to make her passage
in fifteen days, from Cork. Of course, we must very soon know
the result of the predictions of all parties, and the general prac-
ticability of the slime it will test—its policy or permanency,
and especially its 'desirableness as a mere speculation, (which
must become its principal pint of interest), is wholly another
affair, and oue which admits of a leisurely discussion. More of
this when we take up, on another occasion, the Liners.

But we are not yet done with the steamers. We promised
to give a summary of all that is proposed by the various parties,
and we have not yet named the greatest of all the lions by far—
we mean the Victoria, now on the stocks, at Limehouse. This
extraordinary shin is the project and property of the British and
American Steam Navigation Company. Their plan, as first
announced, was, to build a line, composed of two British and
two American steam-ships, of great size each, as snfficient to
keep up a communication faire a mouth to and from New York;
the reason for uniting the two classes being of course, that Bri-
tish ships, by treaty of commerce, are not permitted to take
foreign goods to the United States—they must be shipped in
American bottoms; while, on the other hand, American ships
are not permitted to bring foreign goods to England except fur
exportation only. By the union of both, a►l descriptions of
goods are secured. These four were expected to make as many
passages to and fro as eight sailing-packets would. More were
to be added as required. The tonnage proposed was 1,2(X), and
the horse-power 300; and the ships were estimated to cost
£40,000 each. The annual expense of such a vessel was rated
at £18,480, including fuel out and home for six voyages, or for
42 Mt/mites. This calculation, which we think worth preserving,
is exclusive of the charges incident to freight. These, with :he
profit also on freight, are contingent. Set down this at 400 tons
measurement goods, with certain prices, and 60, 80, and 100
passengers, of three different classes, and we have £4 GOO re-
ceipts on freight. The expenses on the same being rated at
£2 520, the net. frei,lit out and home is made to amount. to
£3,884, or above 50 per cent per annum on prime cost; or 3J
per cent, with a net of £1,200 and £BOO out and home. We
subjoin, for reference, the following items of the annual expense
of the floating establishment : commander, £300; first mate.
£100: second mate, £80; third mate, £6O; surgeon, £100;
twenty-five seamen and apprentices, 1:61X); ten firemen, at 605.,
£360; one engineer at £l5O, one at £100; and one at £BO,
£330; one carpenter, £5O; oil, tallow, and tow fur engines,
and other small stores, £lOOO.
__

The distance float London to New York is about 3,000 nau-
tical, or 3300 English miles; and the speed of the vessels is
taken from an average of the Dundee and Perth ships, Dublin
and Liverpool postoflice packets, Clyde and Liverpool vessels,
and Mediterranean packets; their averages giving a mean
speed of ten statute miles per hour in all weathers. At this
rate, the average passage will be from fourteen to fifteen days
to New York; and, allowing for prevailing eastward and cur-
rent winds, about eleven to twelve dais home. The fuel is taken
at the rate of 91bs per horse-power the hour. The quantity each
vessel is supposed to take is for twenty days' consumption, or
about 500 tons.

Such was the plan. On further reflection, it was so far
altered, that the company, increasing their capital from half a
million to a whole one, at the same time concluded to concen-
trate their efforts, at present, on one grand ship, to be built in
this port—and hence the origin of the Victoria. This mam-
moth craft is truly the naval curiosity of the age: her tonnage
is stated at over 1800, nearly 500 inure than that of he Bristol
rival. Her length on the water-line is 2.30 feet, the length of
keel exceeding. we suppose, that of any existing man-of-war;
extreme length, 253; 40 feet breadth of beam. and '27 feet depth
of hold ; whole breath, including paddle-boxes, b 9; displace-
ment, 2740 tons; draught when laden, 16 feet ; cylinders, 78
inches diameter; paddle wheels, 30 ditto; with Iwo engines of
250 horse-power each. The calculation is, that this vessel may
take 500 passengers. of various classes—which is plainly relied
on for her chief business and support—together with 1000 tons
of measurement goods (which we consider a liberal scheme,
considering that we have 25 days' fuel on board.) The cost of
the Victoria is rated at £lOO,OOO, which alone indicates suffi-
ciently the power put into her. Her sailing apparatus is as
unprecedented as her steam and her size ; but all this is no-
thing, so long as Victoria sits at the gates of Limehouse, and
the expetiment remains untried. Well, we must wait. This
ship will be afloat, we hear, in a few weeks, and ready for sea in
the course of the summer. Her final place of departure is
fixed at. Liverpool; and this, by the way, to the best of our
knowledge, will be the only part which, at present, the port just
named is to take in the play. This, known as the character of
that place is, may be unaccountable to some persons,'who are
accustomed to think of her as the leader of the commercial
' cities. We have seen her at the head of every fresh enterprise,
at the entrance of every new field where money or honour—
marine, at least—could be madeor won. Her citizen, Scoresby,
was not a bad specimen of her enterprise and skill in one de- •
partment. As to Bristol, in particular; the world is aware that,
for a hundred years. she has taken, as it were, her bread out of
her mouth—cut into her West Indian business—met her in
Iteland, face to face—seized on the whole of the contraband
trade with Spanish America, from 1 722 to 17-10; selling yearly
sometimes according to Edwards, even then, a million and a
half of the British manufactures, newly started or encouraged
at Manchester. chiefly by her own influence and spirit. Mean-
while, unsatisfied, she managed to have a slice, we are sorry to
say, in the African trade, and to undersell both London and
Bristol with the West Indian islanders by £4 or £5 per head.
The latter port, in 1764, cleared out but thirty-two African
ships to Liverpool's seventy-four; and this city had over
half of the trade of the whole kingdom to that continent.
And thus things have gone on, till she has taken into her hands
a fourth part of our whole foreign trade, and one-sixth of our
general commerce—retaining also to this day. five-eighths of the
African trade of Great Britain, and three-sevenths of that of all
Europe. And look at her works at home; her docks alone speak
for her. Look at the growth of her navigation, from 5789 tons,
or one 42d part of the British aggregate. in 1709, to 226 in 1760,
and then mark how, with her usual sagacity and energy, she
plunged into the Amer icau trade, like one of her own dashing
steam-boats ; now pursuing her old rival, Bristol—now coming
coming up with her—sizzling and then leaving her behind. The
fact is remarkable in our present connexion. For 70 years
Liverpool has been bone of the hone of the United States. She
has grown up with them upon them, and like them—being still
more now than she ever has been before, the most American
city in the Old World. The independence of the States, while
it sent an• impulse of commercial prosperity, more or less, into
all the veins of the mother country, was availed of by Liverpool
in the most extraordinary degree. It is said, persons alive can
remember when one ship did all her nusiness to and from the
United States. By '6B, however, 188 vessels entered the port
inxard-bound from that quarter, and 141 outward. Of the many
thousands which now the list of Liverpool embraces, we presume,
over one half would appear to sail from that country alone. The
sailing-packets merely to New York are enough to give us a no-
tion of this business. This subject, however, must be deferred.
Suffice it, that to Liverpool is due their establishment; there
they have flourished beyond a precedent. in the history of navi-
gation ; there still, for this continent, is their grand home and
there, in a word, is the secret, after all, of the march now gained
upon her by her waked-up ancient competitor. Bristol had no-
thing to
.lose—she hail lost all ; and Liverpool was and is en-
crossed, and to great advantage; her capital invested, reputa-
tion settled, habits formed. Everything inclined her, justly to
take the new plan coolly. Everything,. including her new rail-
road to the metropolis, inclined her rival to snake ‘.a, bold
struke"—and she has made it.

On Wednesday, a court of common council was held at the
Guildhall, London, for the purpose of deciding on the propriety
of petitioning parliament, that the election of members of the
commons' house of parliament should be by ballot. The ques-
tion was moved by Mr. Heppe', at some length; and alter a
discussion, in which Mr. Stacey, Mr. R. Taylor, Alderman
Harmer, and others, strongly supported the motion ; and Mr.
Deputy Stevens, Mr. Bower, Mr. R. L. Jones, and others op-
posed it, the original proposition was negatived by a majority of
2G, the numbers being 31 tor it, and against it 57.

LIVING TOAD IMBEDDED IN IKONSTONIL—III a coal pit, at
Green-gates, about five miles west from Slaniannan, a living
toad was lately found embedded in the solid strata. about six
fathoms below the surface, and between a level bed of ironstone
and dalk. Its lodgment was in a soft wet 111 ass , and the animal
was sent to Glasgow, in a perfectly lively condition.—Glasyow
I'aper.
The state liveries of the numerous. train..of domestics of the
Governor-gene( al of Canada ( Lord:DM:4m) are understood to
be of the must expensive and elegant desCtiption, and will cost
£7O each man. The service of Plate which the noble earl takes
with him is, it is said, his private property, and previous
to being shipped on board the Hastings, was sent to his
silversmith's to be weighed, -in order that it might be in-
sured.

It is said that one of the prime reasons for the recent appoint-
ment of six or seven whi'g•radical magistrates for the West-
Riding, all resident in the borough of Leeds, was the intended
establishment of a poor law union in the borough, when their
services might be wanted as ex officio guardians.
We learn that notices have been served upon the contractors
who horse the London mail between Shrewsbury and Holyhead,
that their contracts are to cease on the sth of July next, and
we have also heard that that conveyance will cease rnuuing from
and after that day.—Carnarrun Herald.

LARGE EEL.—One day last week a ropemaker, at Harring-
ton, Cumberland, named Barnes, descried an immense eel
floundering amongst the rocks near that place. The tide had
receded, and left the tunneler stranded, when Barnes knocked
it on the head, and brought it on shore. On examination it
was found to measure in length sft. Bin. and in girth upwatds
of 16in. and to weigh 5 stones 81bs.