The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-11-30 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL STANiiiii.

Crittral tsrellanp.

---+----

No appointin.erit has yet been made of. a President to
the Poor Law Commission.

No fewer than 1,195 sheep were brought to London, on
Friday, by the steamer from Harlingen, in Holland.
The new 2s. piece will be issued from the mint in the
course of a few days. _

Netley House, situated at Shere, about six miles from
Guildford,•the residence of the late E. Lomax, Esq., was
on Wednesday totally destroyed by fire.
We are sorry to see the name of James Sheridan
Knowles, the dramatic author, in the list of Scottish
bankrupts.
Four men and three women have been committed to
take their trials, charged with the murder of William
Morrison, of Whitmore-lane? Cardiff, on the Ist inst.

At the late Middlesex sessions there were complaints as
usual of counsel taking fees and " refreshers," and yet
being absent when the cases came on.
On Sunday week a violent storm burst over Benscliffe
wood in Leicestershire, and the trees on nearly two acres
of land were completely stripped of their bark by light-
ning, which also killed two cows.
The boy Allnutt has confessed himself to be the mur-
derer of Mr. Nelme, whose mysterious death has excited
a great sensation in the parish of Hackney for some weeks
past. He administered arsenic to his grandfather.
IMPORTANT CHANGE.—There is no longer any doubt
that a new system of management is about to take place
on the extensive properties of the Duke of Sutherland.
His grace is about to cut up his immense sheep-grazing
farms into small arable lots of £lOO annual rent.
THE " CRICKET " EXPLOSION.—At the Central Cri-
minal Court, on Friday, Haisman, the engineer of the
Cricket at the time of its explosion, was found guilty of
causing the death of one of the passengers by his negli-
gence, and was sentenced to two months imprisonment.
On Thursday night an old woman, named Anne Panton,
was found dead on the floor of her lodging, in Clerken-
well, for which she paid sixpenca a week ! She could
not be prevailed on to enter a workhouse, and preferred
death to doing so.
For Westmoreland the Sheriffalty is hereditary in the
family of the Earl of Thanet, consequently, there is no
necessity for any appointment. It is upon record that the
Countess of Pembroke once served the office herself, and
sat by the side of the Judge upon the bench!
On Monday last, Thomas Shapter, Esq., M.D., was
elected mayor of Exeter, in the room of Thomas Snow,
Esq., who decline to serve. The council, by a majority of
fourteen to eleven, refused to inflict the fine of £5O on the
recusant member.

The Rev. Isaac Benson, incumbent of West Acklam,
and surrogate for the diocese of York, refused to grant a
marriage license to a party the other day on the ground of
drunkenness, a check which may possibly deter others
from applying in a like condition.
A person named Stirk, a baker at St. Albans, has been
sentenced to pay a fine of £3OO, and to be imprisoned
until it be paid, for publishing a libel reflecting seriously
upon the conduct of the late mayor of St. Albans and the
county magistrates.
A few days since, a lad named Prestyge, who was af-
fected with a large wen in the throqt, quarrelled and fought
'with another boy. at Birmingham ; and his muscular ef-
forts and excitement produced such an effect on his wen
that it closed his windpipe and suffocated him in a few
minutes.

A ship's boat was run down by a keel in the river Tyne,
a few days ago, and two of the men in the boat were
drowned. An inquest has been held on the deceased, and
a verdict of "Manslaughter against Anthony Thompson,
the skipper of the keel, and the two men under him," was
returned.

The second graiing dock at Southampton, says the
Builaer, is almost completed. This piece of brickwork
must have required some little skill in " naval archi-
tecture," for it is " turned to the shape of a ship's hull."
it is relieved with masonry, and the cost is not more than
a third of what it would have been if built of stone.

On Saturday morning week, on the arrival of a train at
Lancaster from Carlisle, a child was found labelled, "to
be left till called for." In the evening, the child, which
bad been taken to the workhouse, was claimed by the
father, a poor fellow on tramp, who had forwarded it from
Kendal, and walked himself.
At the Central Criminal Court on Monday, a prisoner
about to be arraigned as Ann Davis, a prostitute, for
street robbery, was discovered to be John Scavers, a hair
dresser, who had committed many such robberies as a
female. The scoundrel was arraigned in his proper cha-
racter, and sentenced to seven years' transportation.
ANTIQUITIES AT CAEILLEON.-Sir Digby Mackworth,
Bart., has liberally granted the old Town Hall as a
Museum for the preservation of the numerous memorials
of ancient Roman splendour, constantly discovered in the
vicinity of the town. The Lord Bishop of the diocese has
headed a local antiquarian association.—Carmarthen
Journal.

George M'Coy, one of the parties in custody on acharge
of murdering and robbing a gentleman named Bellcham-
hers, in London, a week or two ago, has made a confes-
sion, implicating himself and two others. M'Coy robbed
the unfortunate deceased of his watch, and ran off; the
other ruffians struck him on the forehead with a bolt,
which caused his death.

It has been discovered that a young woman named
Turpin, who was lately sentenced, in London, to six
months' imprisonment on a charge of stealing a watch
and chain, is wholly innocent of the crime of which she
has been convicted, as the articles were stolen by their
owner's grandson, who has since confessed the theft, and
whose uncle has admitted that before the young woman's
trial he knew the boy had committed it.
ATTEMPTING TO PolsoN.—A person named Small-
wood has been committed to Chester on the charge of ad-
ministering poison with intent to murder. It appeared
from the evidence, that the poison used was Cantharides
or French flies, and that having procured some ale at a
village public-house he mixed it with this poison, and then
distributed it amongst those present. No cause can be
assigned for this proceeding.
GOVERNMENT •EMIGRATION.—Her Majesty's Colonial
Land and Emigration Commissioners have given notice
that they will despatch a vessel, with 200 emigrants, from
Deptford to Sydney, New South Wales, on the 20th of
December ; and a like number from Deptford, on the 28th
of December, to Port Adelaide, South Australia. On
Monday 200 settlers, for Otago and Wellington, New
Zealand, left the Thames.
At the Central Criminal Court, Tuesday, a youth of 17,
named Ward, was convicted of stealing a watch, and im.
pudently told the Court that his grandfather pretended to
to be a phrenologist, and had foretold that he would be a
thief, and he only committed the offence to make out
what he said to be true. He had been previously instru-
mental in having an innocent person convicted of the
same robbery. He was sentenced to seven years' trans-
portation.
Messrs. Trueman and Cook have discontinued their
sales, and Mr. Mason, for many years in the house, has
commenced business on his own account—separate and
apart from Mr. J. Trueman, and Mr. H. T. Windsor—as
his circular notifies. The Bank of England, who are
large creditors, in order to investigate thoroughly the
estate, have called in an accountant of their own to con-
duct the inquiry. The result of that gentleman's labours
will be known in the course of next week.
A CONTRAST.—The contrast between England and
Ireland never appeared in a more striking point of view
than in the instance of the robbery of Dr. Bowring. Had
the doctor been plundered in the latter country, his
assailants would have been concealed, instead of the in-
habitants turning out to a man for their capture. These
ruffians evidently forgot one little fact,—they thought
they were in their own country, instead of being among
the honest Welshmen.
GREAT FIGHT BETWEEN ENGLISH, AND IRISH LA-
BOURERS.—On Sunday se'nnight a body of English miners
set upon a body of Irish as they were leaving the Romish
Chapel, Crookhall, Northumberland, pelting them with
stones. The latter retreated, but only to arm themselves
with pistols, knives and bludgeons. A desperate conflict
then ensued, about 4000 men being engaged, but it does
not appear that any lives were lost although serious
wounds were inflicted. Houses were also damaged,, and

the contest was kept up for some days. Several .of the
offenders are in custody. It appears that these conflicts
have continued for some time.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF STABBING..—On Friday the
Magistrates- at Weston-super-Mare were, engaged, in: hear-
ing a charge preferred against a man named Thomas
Cann, for stabbing Police Superintendent Hill, of that
town. .It appeared. in evidence that on Saturday last Hill
was called into a public-house to turn out an unruly com-
pany, among whom was the prisoner. Cann refused to
go home, and once or twice subsequently met Hill, who
advised him to be quiet ; at length, however, Cann stabbed
Hill with a knife twice, and caused such injuries as to place
Hill in a serious position. The prisoner was committed
for trial.
MENDELSSOHN.—At the Birmingham festival, last year,
the principal vocalists who took part in the oratorio of
Elijah requested Mendelssohn to write his name in their
books, Which he readily did, adding a few bars of the most
prominent part in the music which each had sung, with
his acknowledgment. A gentleman connected with the
London press asked him to favour him with his autograph.
He quickly ruled five lines in his book, and wrote a few
bars of music, signed his name in full, and then said,—
" There is a canon for you ; make the best report you can
with it." Mendelssohn has left a young widow and seve-
ral children. Madame Mendelssohn accompanied him in
one of his visits to England, and was justly admired for
her qualities of mind and graces of person. When he was
seized with his last sickness, he was on the eve of setting
out for Vienna to direct the performance of his Elijah by
a band and chorus of a thousand performers. .Next year
he was again to have visited England, for various purpoges
—one of which was to direct the performance of one of his
own works at the Norwich festival.
WHEELS OF FORTUNE.—At the Leeds Court-house last
week, eight men, proprietors of booths and stalls in the
Free Market, during the recent fair, at each_of which a
" wheel of fortune" was kept, were arraigned before the
presiding magistrates, all of whom except one, were
committed to gaol for seven days. A! policeman gave the
following sketch of the plan of operations. The prisoners
invited parties to try their luck in the wheel of fortune.
He had seen several persons put in a shilling each, and
draw out articles not worth above 2d. or 3d. He had
examined the tickets in the box, and he found that it con-
tained about 200. Out of the whole of these there were
only three prizes worth from Is. to 4s. each, and a clock
that might be of the value of 12s. The rest of the 200
tickets were for articles varying from ld. to 3d. or 4d.
The value of the whole of the articles which these tickets
represented would not exceed £3, if they would amount
to so much ; so that, reckoning the 200 tickets at ls.
each, the prisoner would clear £7 by the contents of each
wheel, without risking a shilling. But this was not all ;
parties after drawing one ticket with which they were dis-
satisfied, put in another 6d. and drew again, and thus
they went on until they had spent perhaps ss. or 10s. or
emptied their pockets, without getting utide worth
• the sum they httd at fuat Mir/awed*

FAILURES EXTRAORDINARY.—It is rumoured that the
Duke of Roxburgh, the Earl of Eglintoun, and Mr.
Campbell, of Islay, are bankrupts. If so, the liabilities
of the two former must be very heavy ; the liabilities of
the latter are said to be £670,000; the assets are valued
at £BOO,OOO, but it is calculated that this sum could not
be realized in the present state of the money-market.—
Edinburgh Chronicle.—[Lord Eglintoun, it is said, gives
up all his property, and his creditors allow him £5OO a-
year. Viscount Kenmure, of Galloway, has appeared in
the Scotch Gazette.]
TnE CORN TRADE.—During the month ended the sth
November instant, the quantity of corn and grain im-
ported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries
was 600,364 qrs., and the quantity from British posses-
sions was 10,078 qrs. The quantity of meal and flour
from foreign countries was 276,571 cwt., and from British
possessions 124,839. The importations are very large
considering that we have scarcely touched the product of
the late harvest, the quantities mentioned being doubtless
the sweepings of the harvest of 1846, which is even not
yet nearly consumed.
THE SABBATH IN THE GENERAL POSTOFFICE.—A pre-
liminary meeting was held on Monday, at Freemasons'-
hall, to take into consideration the rumoured increase of
duty at the General Postoffice. Among the persons pre-
sent were Lord Ashley, who took the chair ; Earl Wal-
degrave, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, the Hon. and Rev. L.
Noel, T. Hankey, Esq., J. Deane Paul, Esq., Joseph
Wilson, Esq., Major-General M'lnnes, Henry Pownall,
Esq., E. W. Sidebottom, Esq., G. R. Clarke, Esq., the
Rev. Daniel Wilson, the Rev. John Harding, the Rev.
R. Burgess, the Rev. E. Pizey, the Rev. T. B. Hill, the
Rev. G. Smith, the Rev. M. Preston, and many other
clergy and gentry, &c. A memorial to Lord John Rus-
sell, against Sunday delivery, was unanimously agreed to.
EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.—:-On Friday, as the two-
o'clock train from Kilmarnock was proceeding at full
speed for its destination at Glasgow, and when about two
miles east from Paisley, a woman, who had been waiting

its approach, was seen by the parties in charge to walk'
deliberately into the middle of the up line of rails, and
await her fate, by the overwhelming concussion of the
train. As a matter of course she was killed on the in-
stant, and, on the train being stopped, her head was
found literally cut in two. She was a woman of irregular
habits, and her husband had not seen her for four weeks.
What is still more singular and melancholy is. that she
was the wife of the stoker of the engine which ran her
down.

RECOVERY OF £2O, LOST THREE YEARS AGO.—In
November, 1844, a gentleman connected with the South
Wales Railroad, of the name of Russell, lost, as he sup-
posed, between Narbeth and Egremont, two ten-pounds
Bank of England notes ; the case was then advertised,
and bills widely circulated through the neighbourhood,
offering a reward of £5 for the restoration of the property.
Nothing, however, was heard of the matter until Sunday
morning last, when Messrs Griffiths and Nicholas, drug-
gists, and Mr. Phillips, of the De Rutzen Arms, Narberth,
received each a letter from the Haverfordwest post-office,
unpaid ; the letters to the two former gentlemen contained
each ten pounds, with a request written on a strip of paper
that the same should be paid to Mr. Phillips, to the credit
of the surveyor who lost the same. How they came into
possession of the sender is not stated.—Hereford Journal.
FISHES TA/ifED BY A CHILD.—In a quarter of a town
of Hingham, known as Rockynook, there is a pond where
a little girl, not six years old, who resides near the bank,
has tamed the fishes to a remarkable degree. She began
by throwing crumbs in the water. Gradually the fishes
learned to distinguish her footsteps, and darted to the edge
whenever she approached ; and now they will actually feed
out of her hand, and allow her to touch their scaly sides.
A venerable turtle is among her regular pensioners. The
control of Van Amburg over his wild beasts is not more
surprising than that which this little girl has obtained over
her finny playmates. Visitors have been attracted from a
distance of several miles to the spectacle she exhibits.—
The fishes will not have anything to do with any one but
their friend. They will trust no one else, let them come
with provender ever so tempting. Even fishes are not so
cold-blooded but they will recognise the law of kindness,
and yield to its all-embracing power.—Boston Transnipt.
On Sunday, the minister who officiated in the forenoon
in Greenhead quoad sacra church, Glasgow, was, imme-
diately after the termination of the service, apprehended
as a deserter. The preacher, who is a private in the 71st
regiment, absented himself from the barracks only on
Monday week. He took up his quarters with a lady in
Charlotte-street under the assumed name of the Rev.
Mr. Bercum. How he got an introduction to the estab-
lished presbytery, so as to get admission into Greenhead
Church, we are unable to state. His father, we are in-
formed, is a minister of the gospel in the neighbourhood
of London. Our hero was educated for the ministry ;
but previous to his being licensed, he enlisted into a regi-
ment bound for the West Indies, the name of which we
have not ascertained. He was, however, afterwards trans-
ferred to the 71st regiment, from which he deserted when
in Barbadoes, but was aftewarde recaptured. He was
absent from his regiment then as many months as he has
been days now.
EARTHQUAKE IN THE PRINCIPALITY.—The concurrent
testimony of accounts from different localities leaves no
doubt of the fact of smart shocks of an earthquake having
been felt in South Wales, about three o'clock in the after-
noon of Tuesday se'nnight, the 16th instant. At Llandaff
two shocks followed in rapid succession, accompanied by
a noise similar to distant thunder, the discharge of heavy
artillery, or the blasting of rocks in a pit, mine, or tunnel.
Many persons were alarmed, and one who lives near the
Cathedral, exclaimed that the Jasper Tower was falling.
So unusually strange was the noise, that a mechanic work-
ing in Radyr Church scampered out under the impression
that it must have been what the Welsh call `TOLATH '
(moaning). The alarm extended to the villages in the
neighbourhood.—At Cardiff, the frames and cases in the
printing-office of the Adberteser were shaken violently—
the desk vibrated for a moment and•then all was still.—
About half-past three o'clock, a very extraordinary noise
was heard by the inhabitants residing on the Canal Bank,
Pontypool, at the same time a number of persons felt as
if the houses were shaken to the foundation. One little
girl who was sitting at dinner with her aunt, in George-
street, who was thrown off her chair, and many felt as if
they were falling on their faces. The persons residing in
the neighbourhood were dreadfully alarmed, and were
seen running from house to house, inquiring of each other
if a similar shock had been felt, and on receiving answers
in the affirmative, their terrors were increased.—ln the
neighbourhood of Risca, and other parts of the mining
country, so violently was the shock experienced in some
pits, that colliers, in many instances, ran from the work
in the headings, under an apprehension that an explosion
of fire damp had taken plaee.—At Newport, Monmouth-
shire, the rumbling noise and shaking of premises sent
many persons to their windows, to ascertain some palpable
cause for the visitation.

SHAKSPEARE MEMORIAL NIGHT.—On Wednesday
the performances at the theatre were for the fund now
raising for the purchase of Shakspeare's house. The
pieces selected for representation were " Hamlet," and
Katharine and Petruchio." The character of Hamlet
was undertaken by Mr. George Jones, chairman of " The
People's Central Committee of the Shakspeare Memorial
Fund," who has generously offered his gratuitous histrionic
talents at every " memorial night" throughout the king-
dom ; the Ghost of Hamlet's father was represented by
Mr. Pritchard. The pit and gallery were crowded, and
the boxes pretty well filled ; and upon the appearance of
Mr. Jones upon the stage, the house rung with loud and
reiterated applause. Eight years ago Mr. Jones, after
attaining the summit of his profession, and winning en-
during laurels both in the British metropolis and the
United States, retired from the stage ; and he only now
re-enters it for the purpose of aiding, in the truly national
object of doing honour to the birth.place and genius of
Shakspeare. Hamlet was an arduous character for a
readinggentleman
of
the
loe
ng
authoroff dthiseplsatya
eg
de ;inbutthtehetalentdelineation and correctfrrtehcet
part, showed that Mr. Jones had not over-rated his powers.
There was an entire absence of mannerism or unpleasing
straining after effect, and an ease and dignity throughout
the entire pourtrayal of this arduous character which,
while it delighted all, showed also that the actor had ajust
conception of his author. Many of the scenes were ex-
quisitely played, and there was considerable originality in
the enunciation of speeches set down in some. The ghost,
scene, for example. Altogether, we do not remember to.
have seen the- character of Hamlet—the scholar, courtier,
the " glass of'fashion and the mould of form"—more finely.
rendered than on this occasion.—Leeds Times. [Mt.
Jones, we understand, is very desirous of getting up a
" memorial' night" in Liverpool ; and, we have no doubt,
the lessee of the Theatre Royal will second his efforts.]
MATRICIDE.—LAMENTABLE CONSEQUENCES OF •IN-
rEmPERANCE.—On Friday the coroner's jury reassembled
in London, to investigate the circumstances attending,- the
death of Mrs. Sheridan, the widow of an officer in the
army. At the close of the inquiry the jury returned a
verdict of wilful murder against William Stewart Sheridan,
son of the deceased. The presence of arsenic was disco-
vered in the stomach of. the deceased. In the course of
his address to the jury, Mr. Baker,lthe coroner, proceeded
to refer to that portion of the evidence affecting the
character of the accused party, remarking that he thought
they could have little difficulty in coming to the con-
clusion that he was a. young man of dissipated habits,
and very much addicted to intemprance. The learned co-
roner here read from Ray's Medical Jurisprudence several
extracts, showing the effect of excessive indulgence in spi-
rituous liquors on certain minds. Among the illustrations
quoted was that of the celebrated Sheridan, who, accord-
ing to the author, "never spoke in the House of Com-
mons without the inspiration of half-a-pint of brandy." It
was a singular coincidence, continued Mr. Baker, that
that once great man should have been the very beacon
held out in the book from which he had quoted to warn
others of the vice of intemperance, and it was still a
remarkable and painful fact that he was no other
than the grandsire of that unfortunate young man
who was now confined within the walls of a prison on
the dreadful crime of matricide. The Coroner here
read an extract from the biography of Sheridan, which
stated that—" his death took place amidst a complica-
tion of difficulties, fears, and sorrows, brought on by
his own imprudent and intemperate habits." After
which he remarked, bitter indeed must have been his
reflections could he but have been conscious of the
legacy he thus bequeathed to his posterity, viz., the
hereditary inheritance of a broken constitution, a debili-
tated body, an emaciated and attenuated frame. What
did the jury now see before them ? A whole family im-
mersed in the lowest sink of intemperance—their minds
debased—their morals impure. The mother had died a
victim of filth and disease ; one of her daughters unable
to bear the last closing scene, had wandered forth on the
evening of her death, not knowing whither she was going,
and only returning when driven back by the prostration of
her physical energies ' • while the son, instead of dutifully
rendenng the last sad offices to his widowed parent,
there was too much reason to fear, first placed the
" poisoned chalice to her lips," and then hurried to the
office in which her life had been insured,;seoging, on the
very day of his mother's death, the small Pittance of £96,
on his policy of £5OO, to feed his depraved APPetite for
future revels of intoxication.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Nov. 23.
THE tfIIEAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY V. THE RIR."

MINGDAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION COMPANY.

The Vice-Chancellor (Sir L. Shadwell) delivered judg-
ment on the demurrer preferred by the defendants agains-
the plaintiffs' bill for enforcing the completion of the
agreement for the sale of the Birmingham and Oxford
line to the Great Western Company. He did not think
it right to prevent the whole question from being heard
on a formal objection, and therefore overruled the de-
murrer.

Notice of appeal to the Lord Chancellor was given im-
mediately.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, WEDNESDAY.

THE QUEEN V. GUTTERIDGE.-CRIMINAL INFORMATION.

In this case the Attorney-General had obtained a rule
calling on the defendant, a surgeon, residing in Birming-
ham, to show cause why a criminal information should not
be filed against him for the publication of a series of
alleged libels, reflecting on the moral character of the
Rev. J. Prince Lee, the newly-elected Bishop of Man-
chester.

The defendant (in person) showed cause against the
rule. He contended that the affidavits on which it was
granted were not sufficiently clear and distinct to author-
ise the Court in making the rule absolute. Mr. Gutter-
idge commenced his address at the opening of the Court,
and spoke for some hours. At the conclusion of the de-
fendant's speech,

The Attorney-General rose to address the Court in
support of the rule, when
Lord Denman said it was unnecessary. They were
unanimously of opinion that the rule ought to be made
absolute. The defendant, in his address of some hours'
duration, had only indulged in inuendos. There were no
satisfactory affidavits in support of the charges that he
had made against Mr. Lee, whose character shone forth
with brighter lustre in consequence of the charges.
Rule for a criminal information made absolute.

The Court of Exchequer have decided that a chemist
can deal in sweet spirits of nitre without a license, as that
article is not affected by the excise laws.
IMPORTANT TO ADVERTISERS.-At the last sitting of
the "Leicester County Court, his Honour decided that
parties advertising in provincial papers, be their residence
where it may, could be summoned for the amount of their
debts in the town in which such paper is published.
By the new Town Police clauses Act, any person stand-
ing on the sills of a window, in the upper stories of a
house, for the purpose of cleaning them, is liable to a
penalty of 40s. A person flying a kite or sliding in the
street, is liable to a similar penalty.
Marcus William Turner, a barrister-at-law, was sen-
tenced by the Court of Queen's Bench, on Thursday, to
pay a fine of £2OO to the Queen, and to be imprisoned in
the Queen's prison for three months, and until the fine
was paid, for having published certain libels on a relation
named John Hornblower Turner.

A VALID PLEA.—A felon, sentenced at York to seven
years' transportation,- appealed to• the courts of law at
Westminster, on the ground that the statute prescribed
ten years' transportation, at the least, as the penalty of
his crime. The judges decided that he was in the right,
and discharged him from custody.
A severe sentence has been passed by the Queen's
Bench on Archibald Douglas, Esq., an. officer in the East
India Company's service, and formerly resident at the
court of one of the native protected princes. He was
convicted of receiving presents while in-that capacity, an
offence rendered highly penal by the 33rd George 111.,
c. 52. The sentence was that Captain Douglas should
pay a fine, upon each of the counts of the indictment, of
£lOOO ; that he be imprisoned in the Queen's prison for
twelve calendar months ; and forfeit the sum of £3,545,
being the full value of the presents received by him.
COUNTY COURT, NORTHWICH.—(Before J. W. Harden,
Esq., Judge.)—Anderson v. Moore.—More than usual
interest was excited by the proceedings of this Court on
Wednesday week, in consequence of the appearance of
several eminent Liverpool merchants, to be present at, and,
if necessary, to give evidence, in the trial of an action
which had• been commenced by a discharged gamekeeper
against the Chairman of the Liverpool Dock Estate, as
one of the lessees of the manors of Sir Charles Shaker-
ley, Bart. The action was in trover for three pointers,
valued at 18 guineas, and which were claimed by the
keeper as his own, though they were admitted to have
been suckled by a bitch belonging to Mr. Van Zeller, the
plaintiff swearing that she was only a foster mother.
Some curious disclosures as to the alleged practice of
keepers with reference to the exchange of puppies trans-
pired in the course of the trial, but for the honour of the
fraternity, it is to be hoped that no such practice exists.
The most remarkable coincidence disclosed by the plain-
tiff however was, that though his employer's puppies were
always spurious, he had therefore some to exchange ; yet
by some lucky chance he was always furnished with
thorough-bred• puppies just when they were wanted to
replace the little mongrels, and that he either did not
know, or was in honour bound not to tell where they came
from ! The case had a very patient hearing, but th%
learned Judge was of opinion that the plaintiff had made
out no case at-all, for even if the plaintiff was to be be-
lieved, there had, by his own shewing, been an uncondi-
tional surrender of the dogs in 1846, when the plaintiff
was convicted and dismissed for poaching.

SUGGESTED CAUSE OF THE WRECK OF THE

STEPHEN WHITNEY.

A correspondent of the London Times attributes the
wreck of this noble vessel, and the sacrifice of life result-
ing, to the defective and vicious management of the Ballast
Board of Dublin, a body which has the administration of
£55,000 a-year of the public funds for the especial main-
tenance of proper lights on the coast of Ireland. It will
be remembered that the letter of the mate, published in
our last, stated that " at eight precisely we made the land
off Crookhaven, which we judged by the light to be the
Old Head of Kinsale, (which lies about fifty miles to the
eastward.) We immediately made all possible sail, and
hauled off shore. At nine, kept away channel course,
judging we were clear of danger; but at ten made the land
within pistol shot. In tho act of staying, owing to the
tremendo-is sea, the ship went ashore stern first, nearly
broadside on. The island proved to be the Western Calf,
inside Cape Clear." For the last half hour of her course,
and at the time she struck, the ill-fated vessel was within
two miles of the island of Cape Clear ; and could she have
seen the light on that island, she would at this moment
have been safely in port. Instead, however, of its being
placed ott the low land at its southern end, or at a mode-
rate height, where it would have been clearly seen, as
the light -of Crookhaven was seen, by the vessel, at a
greater distance, it has pleased the wisdom of the board
in Dublin to place the Cape Clear light at an elevation of
453 feet above the level of the sea ; and hence, in fogs and,
thick weather, when its guidance is most required by the.
navigator, it is commonly. obscured and useless.
The Times correspondent, who seems to be well inform,.
ed on the subject, remarks- of the board, to whose inca-
pacity he refers, thus :
" Tithe would fail me, and the patience of your readers
would be exhausted, were I to adduce the multiplied
proofs which crowd on me as to the incompetency of the
board in question for the important duties they have un-
dertaken. To prove that this is no random assertion, I
may mention a few instances taken from the parliamentaryi
papers now lying before me. These point out inter acid
the neglected state of the east coast of Ireland, from
Dublin to the Tuskar, where there is no light to mark the
dangerous Blackwatnr Bank off Wexford, and a want of
at least eleven additional buoys or beacons to mark, the
shoals that line that•shore. They speak, too of the in-
efficiency of the Saltees light vessel, significantly described
by. the master of a steamer between Bristol and Water-
ford by saying ' We often cannot see her until we are
a-top of her.' From, the Hook of Waterford, to the Old
Head of Kinsale a distance of 70 miles, there is no coast
light, and this is in a track frequented by the whale trade
from Liverpool and the Bristol Channel, to, Cork—and
the scene of the wreck of the Sirius last year. From
Cape Clear to the Skelligs, 46 miles, and again from the
Skelligs to Loop. Head, at the entrance of the Shannon,
56 miles are without a light, on a coast which is the com-
mon landfall for vessels coming from America. On the
north-west coast of Ireland, between Eagle and Tory
islands, a distance of 8& miles, there is no= light except:
within the Lay. of Donegal, where are good local lights,.
but useless to general navigation. On the north coast a.
light is wanted on Rathlin island, to break the distance
of 51 miles between Innistrahul and the Mull of Kintyre..
But your readers will be tired ; I return then for a few
moments to the more immediate subject, of this letter.
Cape Clear light is a revolving light, placed in 1817, and
stands on a lofty promontory at 455 feet above the sea,.
and about a mile and a half from the extreme end of the
island. Four miles to the south-west of Cape Clear lies
the Fastnet Rock, the outermost danger, and this on
many accounts is the proper position for the light. The
uselessness of Cape Clear light, owing to its being fre-
quently obscured by fog, is notorious among sailors, but
the attention of the Ballast Board of Dublin was more
especially directed to its ill chosen site by the London
Trinity Brethren in their official visit in 1844. Since that
time Captains Frazer and Wolfe, R.N., have also both
reported against it in the years 1845 and 1846 ; and the
latter officer says, I have passed Cape Clear and the Old
Head of Kinsale, seeing the break of the sea on the shore
without the light being visible.' Why, then, I would ask,
is this light allowed to remain and lure ships to their de-.
struction ?
But it is not this light alone that is defective ; the whole
of the south-west coast requires to be properly lighted.
First, there should be a light on the Foze Rock, the most
western point of Ireland, which forms a salient angle ex-
tending eight miles beyond the direct line between Loop
Head and the Skelligs. Secondly, there should be a light
on the Bull Rock, another outlying danger off Dursey
Island, (even, if necessary, at the sacrifice of the Skelligs
light, which, however, does not appear requisite.) Third-
ly, Cape Clear light should be removed to the Fastnet
Rock. And, lastly, a light should be placed on the Galley
Head, half way between Fastnet and the Old Head of
Kinsale. The lights, too, should be of the best quality,

with every modern improvement. Why should not the
brilliant beam of light recently exhibited by Mr. Gordon,
civil engineer, be applied in this important situation, or
some other mode to be devised for producing a powerful
light in case of emergency ? As far back as the year 1826
Sir David Brewster suggested the necessity of providing
every lighthouse with the means of exhibiting a more
powerful light in case of need ; and Sir John Robison
showed how this might be done in an economical man-
ner by introducing a light into the focus of the lens. Our
neighbours across the Channel can produce brilliant
lights ; why not we also ?"
Such a state of things as this, involving as it does the
lives of thousands, ought really to be brought at once
before the notice of the Government ; and we know of no
body who could mere effectually move in the matter thou
the Do 4 Committee of Liverpool.

INVITATION TO UNITED PRAYER,
FOR THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
On Saturday, let of January. 1848, being the First Day
of the New Year.

' Dearly Beloved in the Lord,—Again the kind provi-
denne of God affords MP the opportunity of inviting you
to unite on the First Day of tne New Year in a general
concert for prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The Ist of January, 1848, falls on a Saturday, affording
to those who are willing to embrace it, the opportunity of
a special blessing; the devout spirit granted, as we may
trust, on that day, being still further strengthened and
increased by the privileges enjoyed on the Sabbath of
God. May the Lord, for the sake of his dear Son,
vouchsafe the abundance of grace and peace; making
the first day of the year the forerunner of a Sabbath
when there shall " come down showers of blessing."
Already for ten Recessive years have these general
concerts for prayer on the first day of the new year been
held ; and, through the goodness of the Lord, with in-
creasing success.
In addition to the various calls for' this • devotional
union to which reference has been made it former Invi-
tations, the peculiarly interesting circumstances in which
the new year approaches, press upon us with command-
ing force. They seem to say to those who look to God
both as the Great Ruler of the Universe and the Hearer
of Prayer, " Draw nigh to God, and He will draw' nigh
to thee." _ _

To mention only a few of these circumstances.
First. The present very remarkable dispensations of
Providence towards our country. This year commenced,
as it is well known, with a grievous scarcity, amounting,.
in some parts of the United Kingdom, to almost actual
famine. This judgment, whilst it was felt by all classes
fell more especially upon the poor—thousands of whom
either perished by hunger, or by maladies produced by
destitution. When, however, we publicly humbled our-
selves before God as a nation, seeking his aid by a day of
national prayer and fasting, that "God, " who is slow to
anger and of tender mercy," was pleased to remove this
severe calamity ; yea, far more than remove it—for not
only did the Lord favour us with a most abundant har-
vest, but, that this blessing might not be lessened by
demands from other nations, throughout almost every
part of Europe " His paths dropped fatness," and the
year " has been crowned with His goodness."
To teach, however, how entirely dependent we are
upon Almighty God, and that it is not one day of fasting
that will suffice to turn away His just anger, if that day
is not followed by departing from our evil ways, the Lord
is now visiting the nation by another mark of his displea-
sure, shewing to those in higher stations that his provi-
dence can enter their chambers, and visit them as well as
the humbler classes—can convince them that " covetous-
ness is idolatry ;" that " the love of money is the root of
all evil ;" that " a man's life cousisteth not in the abun-
dance of the things which he possesseth ;" and that
" riches take to themselves wings, and fly away." For
into what straits and difficulties have they fallen, of whom
it might be said, as of ancient Tyre, " Her merchants are
princes, and her traffickers are the honourable of the
earth." For a season credit was almost at a stand—a
general panic prevailed—and the enquiry seemed to be,
not Who has fallen ? but Who can weather the storm ?

Looking at these dispensations of the Most High, must
we not feel how urgent a call this is for prayer for the
outpouring of the Spirit, that as a nation we may benefit
by this wonderful mixture of mercy and judgment ?—that
the goodness of God may lead to repentance, His judg-
ments to that holy fear of offending against his Divine
Majesty, that may bring us as humble suitors to his
throne of grace, put an end to the open profanation of
the Sabbath, to " making gold our trust," to depending
" upon an arm of flesh," or otherwise provoking Him who
is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to another."
Let us then, my Christian brethren, as with one heart
and soul,. approach the mercy-seat, entreating that He
with whom is the residue of the Spirit," will pour out
of his Holy Spirit for these important purposes.
A second striking circumstance which is presented to
us at the opening of the new year, is the assembling of
the new parliament. Her Majesty has indeed summoned
the great council of the nation to meet before this Invi-
tation will have reached you ; but this, it is considered,
is only for a mere special purpose. The great suLjects
which concern the general welfare of the British Empire
will remain for legislation when the new year arrives.
At such a crisis, what language can express the impor-
tance of her Majesty's counsellors, and of all the assem-
bled members of parliament, being under the special
guidance and direction of the Lord—of his granting to
them that wisdom which comes from above, prospering
all their consultations " for the advancement of his glory,
the good of his church, the safety, honour, and welfare of
our Sovereign and her dominions."
This is more especially called for from the peculiar
activity of the Church of Rome, and from the favour she
has obtained in some quarters.
Surely we who rejoice in our deliverance from her yoke,
and count it among, our highest privileges to possess the
faith of our Protestant forefathers,—surely we are called
to earnest prayer for our rulers, that God would raise up
a body of faithful men from among. them, and grant to
them, by the gift of his Holy Spirit, that firm faith in his
written word, that holy boldness in maintaining our Pro-
testant principles, and that power of argument in the
senate, that none shall be able to gainsay or resist ;
making them, by his blessing, the honoured instruments
of handing down to our posterity the unsullied faith of
our forefathers, without exposing us to those judgments
which God has denounced " upon Babylon," and upon
those who have her.mark.* _ . .

A third remarkable circumstance which is presented to
us at the approach.of the new year, is the disturbed state
of Christendom,—the present movements in Spain, Por-
tugal, Italy, and the Roman Catholic Cantons of Swit-
zerand. Upon this subject, however, I can only glance ;
brevity allowing me no more space than to mention how
urgently these coaimotions call for prayer, that " the
Lord who sits upon the flood " would overrule them to
hasten on that glorious season " when the kingdoms of this
world• shall be the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ."
The last circumstance which I notice as demanding.
earnest prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit, is the
paramount importance in the present day of cultivating
a high and holy standard of personal religion.
Without entering into any detail respecting, " the
signs of the times," all who have attended to the instruc-
tion given by many of the Lord's faithful ministers for
some years past, will have heard the cry, " Behold the
bridegroom cometh, go ye out. to meet him; " that is,
they have been warned that " the coming of the Lord
draws nigh.'.' It is at such a .season that those who
" Lave slumbered and slept " are said to •` awake, and
to.trim their lamps." This " the wise virgins " did so
effectually that the foolish said to them, " Give us of
your oil." For although their own lamps were gone out,
ling no oil in them, they saw the bright shining of the
Mips of their companions, and were attracted by it.
Does not this convey to us. this important instruction,
that as the coming of the Lord draws nigh, the religion
of his true followers will be of so attractive a nature, that
others will desire to possess the same ? It is clear also
that this attractiveness proceeds from their having the
active power of the Holy Spirit granted to them. For
the request is, " Give of your our,''—the frequent emblem
used in the Scriptures to express the Holy Spirit. At a
season, then, Beloved in the Lord, when the judgments
of God are in the earth, bow desirable it is for us to be
seeking after this " attractiveness"—this
thin
ctanrnifirotf into
ordinary life those graces which are
Spirit.' How important, not for our own glory, but for
the glory of God, and. the promotion .of the eternal
blessedness of o,„r fellow-men, that these. graces should,
in a measure atleast, seen in us ;--divine confidence,
holy boldness ; 10,14; knowledge, godliness;
faith, hope, py, ikice,, love' goodness, meekness, humi-
lity ; tempererpatience, 'forbearance, brotherly kind-
ness. -'These are all the gifts of the Spirit, and can only
be expected .if earnest prayer is made for a large measure:
of His sanctifying grace. Let us then, my beloved friends,.
" forgetting the things which are behind and reaching
forth to those that are before," commence the new year
by uniting in this general concert for prayer ; that, though
our bodies may be distant from each other, our spirits
may be in perfect union, our desires one ; that God may
be glorified, his Son our Lord Jesus Christ universally
honoured, and that happy season soon arrive when the
new song of the redeemed shall be sur g, and the courts
of Heaven resound with unceasing hallelujahs " to, God
and to the Lamb."

Bearing in mind, then, the reasons for a general concert
for prayer, mentioned in former Invitations, let me re-
quest you to ponder upon the circumstances adverted, to
in this address, and, with, the affection of a brother,
earnestly desiring your present peace and everlasting
felicity, invite all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sin-
cerity, to commence the new year, Saturday, January Ist,
1818, by uniting in the general concert for prayer for tl.,
outpouring of the Holy Spiri,'
The flowing suggestif2n -ectfully offered, LO
assist Owe who are desirous this' Luion.:—
Ist. Let Christians follow, the c;arnple 02 our -,s,ed
Lord, (Me rk". 25,) who rose up a great while tie'Jie day
for secret 1 r.,y-r. Let them thus secu: e ti-T ':l4sing of
Him, who says, "- Pray to thy Father' seeth
secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shallrewara
thee openly."
)
2nd. Let them call upon the Lord in their fam Nos,
for his Spirit to be poured upon themselves and their
households, their neighbours, their country, including
Great Britain and Ireland, and-our- colonies, the ministers
the Lord,, the churches of Christ, the remnant of scat-
tered Judah and outcast Israel, and upon the Gentile world.
3rd. Where circumstances will admit of a morning ser-
vice, let the congregation be assembled, and, in addition
to the appointed prayers and a, suitable sermon, let all
who are devoutly disposed partake together of the Supper
of the Lord—or, as may be more convenient, let the
whole congregation meet in the evening for public wor-
ship, and let an appropriate discourse be preached.
4th. Let the ministers of the Lord meet on the follow-
ing Monday, with their brethren of their own commu-
nion, in earnest prayer for themselves, their Rocks, the
whole body of Christ, and the world at large, and then
especially consult together upon the most effectual means
for hastening the coming of the Lord's kingdom, and
particularly for the continuance of such a general concert
for prayer, that the year may proceed according to this
devout commencement.
May the Lord accompany these means of grace, or
such others as may be adopted, with His abundant bless-
ing ! Oh ! may it indeed be a season of special refresh-
ment from the presence of the Lord !

r.
Let this he the prayer of all who read this paper ; and
as the new year is now approaching,. it would be a great
kindness if those who approve the object, and have influ-
ence over the press, would republish and circulate this
Invitation ; which any one into whose hands it may fall
has full permission to do.
Peace be with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity !
Thus grays their affection ate brother, and servant in the
Lwd, JAMES HALDANE STEWART.
Linpsfield Rectory, Godetone, Surrey,
November 2nd, 1847.
* See Revelations 2CiY. xyiii, liiXs