The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-22 00:00:00

LIGHT SOVEREIGNS.—Great complaints are made of the
number of light sovereigns now in circulation. Of a parcel
of 18,000, lately sent into the bank, 1090 were rejected as
short weight, and the loss upon the rejected portion was
from to I per cent. It may be stated in general that all
the sovereigns issued in the reign of George 111. are light :
they are distinguished by having an effigy of St. George and
the dragon on the reverse: those of George IV., with the
arms of England on the reverse, are generally of weight.—
Sheffield Iris.
•
COUNTY MAYO ELECTION.—The Dublin Evening Mail
states that Mr. Charles L. Kirwan has retired from the con-
test for the representation of the county Mayo. That jour-
nal says—" Finding that Mr. Charles L. Kirwan would be
beaten by a small numerical majority, his committee have
advised him, and we think wisely, not to go to the poll upon
the present occasion, arrangements having been made that
must insure his return, should an election take place, either
from casualty or dissolution, within six months from the
next registration sessions."
COUNTY CARLOW—FREEDOM OF ELECTION—ATTACH
ON THE ELECTORS' WIVES IN THE CHAPELS ON SUN-
DAY LAST.—On Sunday last, while the priest was celebrat-
ing mass in Tullow, the mob attacked the daughter of Sil-
vester Eustace, who had voted for Colonel Bruen. They
dragged her out of the chapel, tore her clothes, and beat her
inhumanly. So great was the apprehension that the mob
would murder her, some persons who witnessed the brutal
treatment of the female proceeded to the church during
divine service, and gave the alarm. John Whelan, Esq., of
Rath, proceeded without delay to the chapel, accompanied
by Mr. Fitzgibbon, sub-inspector, and a party of police,
and rescued the girl from the mob, and protected some of
the voters who were threatened with summary vengeance.—
Saunders' News Letter.
NEW CODE OF SIGNALS ON THE GREAT WESTERN
RAILWAY.--The whole of the engine drivers, stokers, guards,
conductors, and other persons employed on the railway,
throughout the line, were assembled at the engine-house of
the Paddington station last week, when a new code of sig-
nals, prepared by Mr. Brunel, the engineer-in-chief to the
company, were fully explained to them by that gentleman,
and several of the signals were put into practical operation.
A special train was sent from the Paddinton to the Faringdon-
road station, to convey the engineers, stokers, guards, &c.,
at that end of the line to town. On its return, the train
reached Paddington in exactly one hour and a half, the dis-
tance being 63 miles. By the adoption of the new code, dis-
tinct and immediate information will be given to the engine
driver, and others, of the least obstruction along the line.
THE GANNAL PROCESS.—On Tuesday a very remarkable
exhibition was entered upon and concluded at the Anatomic
School, in Little Windmill-street, Golden-square, in the
presence of a full assembly of gentlemen, chiefly connected
with the medical profession, for the purpose of testing the
utility of the invention of M. Gannal, for the preservation of
animal substances from decay, of whieh extraordinary notice
has been taken in the scientific world, both in Paris and
here, in our metropolis. The process is simply the injection
into the subject of the operation of a fluid, the discovery and
correct preparation of which has been the result of many
years' study on the part of the French chemist. Its great
practical purpose is to supersede the ordinary process of
embalming, to hinder the quick progress of corporeal cor-
ruption after death, and to secure for the anatomical stu-
dent relief from the deleterious odour to which his table is
ordinarily but too much subjected. The Academy of Medi-
cine in Paris have given, through the reports of a commis-
sion, their full testimony to the success of M. Gannal in his
invention, and the Royal Institute of that city has also con-
firmed his claim to that merit, by awarding to him the great
prize founded by Baron Montzon, for the discovery of the
best means of rendering any art or profession less insalubri-
ous. Mr. George Smith, of John-street, Oxford-street, has,
it appears, taken means to extend to England the advan-
tages of this process, and, by arrangements with M. Gannal,
has become its sole patentee in this country. To test the
powers of the fluid in question in the strongest way, a sub-
ject was injected with it two years ago, and at this anatomic
theatre, where it has been since then carefully retained. At
this meeting it was subjected to the scrutiny and stricture of
the professional men at our side of the channel. Mr. Gre-
gory Smith performed the part of demonstrator on the occa-
sion, and removed, with considerable trouble, the swathings
in which the body was enfolded almost as elaborately as a
mummy. We will not enter into any minute description of
the examination which followed. Suffice it to say that the
result of conservation had been to a great extent attained,
and that the olfactory nerves had but little cause to recognise
the sad remains of mortality. We can feel little doubt that
the philanthropic purpose of this invention will be accom-
plished, and that it will be found of the most unequivocal
importance to those whose study it is to preserve the living
from disease. This is its great recommendation. Anything
beyond the vanity of the tomb is perfectly idle.—Morning
Herald.

PORTSMOUTH.—The Nautilus, 10, Lieutenant Beaufoy,
has left the Nore for Sunderland, to collect men desirous of
joining the naval service. She will also ♦isit the other
northern ports on the same errand. The Impregnable, 104,
Captain Thomas Forrest, C. 8., will go out of harbour into
Plymouth Sound next week. She has for the most part a
fine able-bodied crew. The Belleisle, 78, Captain Nicho-
las, is to be ready for sea by the Ist of January. The troop-
ships, Apollo and Athol, are in the harbour refitting. Re-
port sends the former on a trip to Ceylon, and the latter to
the Mediterranean. The St. Vincent, 120, has been un-
docked, preparatory to being commissioned for home service.
It is expected that she will be flag ship at this port, and that
the Queen, 110, will be sent to the Mediterranean. The
Vengeance, 84, is being rigged in the basin with all despatch,
and will be commissioned about the sth of January. No
orders have yet been received for the frigates Vindictive,
Madagascar, and Warspite to hoist the pendant. The
Phoenix, steam-frigate, Is ordered to be prepared as soon as
possible to return to the Mediterranean. The Rapid, a new
10-gun brig, is fitting out here to be attached as a tender to
the Royal George yacht, in lieu of the Pantaloon, 10, found
found to require repairs. The Gloucester and Eagle 50-
gun ships, at Chatham, reported as commissioned, have not
yet hoisted the pendant. The Alfred, 50, at Sheerness, is
quite ready, awaiting orders for commission. The Indus,
84, Captain Sir J. Stirling, will quit the basin in a few days,
to go into the harbour to receive her crew. She will be
ready for sea in about one month from the present time.
The Snake, 16, Scout, 16, and Harlequin, 18, are bringing
forward for commission in the river. The Woolveriue, 16,
Commander Tucker, and Dee steam frigate. Commander
Sherer, are shortly expected home to be paid off, the former
from Sierra Leone, and the latter from Jamaica.—Brighton
Gazette.

EXTRAORDINARY BLOCKS OF MARBLE.—The Menlough
Quarries, near Galway, so long and so justly celebrated for
the very superior quality of black marble which they contain,
have just produced several of the finest and largest blocks on
record. It appears that his grace the Duke of Hamilton,
regardless of the expense, determined upon employing the
Galway black marble for the principal staircase and the land-
ings of his magnificent palace now building near Glasgow.
For this purpose he instructed his agents to procure a quan-
tity of the best and largest-sized blocks that could be found.
After considerable trouble and expense the proprietors of the
above quarries succeeded in raising several fine blocks of ex-
traordinary size and weight, the largest of which, when first
moved from its natural bed measured sixteen feet by twenty_
two feet ; the others varying in size and weight from five
to thirteen tons. Owing to the want of proper machinery,
and to the extreme lowness of the water in the river, it was
found necessary to reduce the largest block considerably be.
fore it could be shipped with safety. Upon its being landed
at Wood Quay, it was placed on a powerful truck built ex-
pressly for the purpose, and even then 150 men were re-
quired to convey it down to the new docks. These immense
blocks are in the first instance, to be shipped to the Marble
Working Company, Esher-street, Millbank, London, where
they are to be sawed, polished, and elaborately worked up by
means of the unique and wonderful machinery belonging to
that establishment, and from thence they are to be removed
to Glasgow, to be forwarded to their final destination, Hamil-
ton Palace. Now that it is ascertained that blocks of such ex-
traordinary size and beauty can be procured, there is but little
doubt that this descriprion of black marble will come into
more general demand, and be introduced for a variety of use-
ful as well as ornamental purposes, for which it is evidently
so admirably adapted.
ADMIRAL WALKER.—Baldwin Wake Walker, Esq., cap-
tain in the British and admiral in the Turkish service, served
on board the Menai, Captain Moresby, till about the year
1820, when he was promoted to the rank of a lieutenant. He
afterwards served as senior lieutenant of the "'Etna, bomb,
at the taking of Mora Castle and Patras, in 1838. Subse-
quently he was first lieutenant of the Barham, under Captain
Pigott, and acquired a considerable reputation in that situa-
tion, which is, next to the captain, the most important—and,
in many cases, the most important on hoard. On the first
lieutenant, unless the captain be himself an extremely active
and clever person, the discipline of the ship chiefly depends;
and the officer who can adequately fill that post is fit for the
highest command. In 1834, Mr. Walker was promoted to
the rank of commander, and was subsequently appointed to
the Vanguard, commanded at first by Captain Bouverie, and
afterwards by Sir Thomas Fellows. In 1838, Captain Walker
was raised to the rank of a post-captain, and entered the
Turkish navy for the purpose of disciplining the Turkish
fleet. In his new capacity he served on board the ship of the
Capudan Pasha, when the Turkish fleet was cruizing with
the English squadron in that year • but he left that ship be-
fore the Capudan Pasha traitorously delivered up the Turkish
squadron to Mehemet Ali. Captain Walker has the repu-
tation of being what is called a smart officer ; but he has also
the sterling merit of being a good seaman. In person he is
tall, stout, and handsome—is married, and has a family. His
wife has joined him at Constantinople. The gallant officer
is related to the ancient Northamptonshire family of Wake,
If Courte,m, and thence derived his Christian names. The
ate capture of Acre has raised him to the highest rank of
laval merit, and secured for him promotion and the title of
)asha, in the service of the sultan, where he may achieve his
own greatness, and promote the interests of his native coun-
try.—London paper.

It is rumoured that Lord Barham will be created Earl of
Guisborough on the christening of the Princess Royal.
Captain Wemyss will have the Lieutenancy of Fife, vacant
by the death of Robert Ferguson, Esq., of Raith.
M. dela Bourdonnais, the celebrated chess-player, has just
died in London. He had been for some time ailing.
We learn that it is the intention of government to increase
our naval force in the Mediterranean to 25 sail of the line.—
•Brighton Gazette.
On Tuesday evening Mrs. Hughes, the lady of Captain
Hughes, of Naas, county Kildare, whilst sitting at dinner,
suddenly dropped from the chair, and, without speaking a
word, she breathed her last. Mrs. Hughes was sister to
Captain Carter, of Carlow, and was 74 years of age the day
of her death.
On Monday last an inquest was held at Cheltenham on the
body of Jeremiah Daly, a labourer, who met his death by
swallowing a teaspoon, which he had put in his mouth for
the purpose of making himself sick, when, being seized with
a violent retching, it actually drew the spoon from his hand,
and forced it down his stomach. Verdict—Accidental Death.
Mrs. Benson, (wife of Lieutenant Benson, late of the 57th
Regiment,) who resides at Chatham, was a candidate for the
honour of nursing the Royal Princess. She proceeded to
town on. the 20th ult., but unfortunately arrived two hours
too late, a nurse having been already engaged. His Royal
Highness Prince Albert on Wednesday week wrote to Mrs.
Benson a very kind note, and enclosed a hundred pounds for
her trouble and disappointment.
As the Marquis of Douro was returning on Friday after-
noon from a day's shooting with Lord Wodehouse, at Kim-
berley, his chaise was unfortunately overturned near the
Colney gate, on the Hingham-road, by coming in contact
with the donkey cart of a man named Copeman of Little
Melton, who was intoxicated, and apparently asleep in the
cart. The noble lord was thrown with great violence on the
ground, and received a severe cut on the nose, but was ena-
bled to pursue his route to Norwich.—Bury Post.
We have heard recently some touching instances of the
benevolence of Queen Adelaide, as manifested towards per-
sons resident in this town, which at once prove the good-
ness of her heart, and show that her Majesty has not for-
gotten a place rendered dear to her by past associations. It
would, we are sure, be far from acceptable to this royal and
excellent lady, were we to specify further the cause to which
we allude : they will be registered, with a multitude of simi-
lar acts, " where moth and rust do not corrupt" the record
of good and virtuous deeds.—Brighton Gazette.
Amongst the officers who served on board the Charlotte,
Sir Robert Stopford's flag-ship, at the late siege of Acre, was
one of the sons of Sir Robert Peel. The gallant youth, who
ranks as " mid," is understood during the whole of his short
service to have forwarded to his distinguished father a faithful
diary of all the events which have fallen under his notice, and
his narrative of the affair at Acre is said to be peculiarly
interesting.