The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-02 00:00:00

COURT OF REQUESTS.

The TOWN-CLERK read the following report of the Court
of Requests Committee:—
"That the committee regret that they are compelled.to
lay before the council their deliberate opinion, that expe-
rience has proved that this court, with a barrister as the sole
judge, however high the character and attainments of the
individual, does not give that satisfaction to the public which
they are reasonably entitled to. and which it was the anxious
desire of the council to secure, by the expensive re-construc-
tion of this important tribunal under the act of 1836.
" That to effect this object, it is, in the opinion of the
committee, essential that commissioners should be appointed
from the inhabitants, to act conjointly with the stipendiary
commissioner, or as a jury, with his legal assistance as as-
sessor.

"That if it be determined by the council to apply for an
act to authorise this alteration, the committee would consider
it most desirable that the power of the court to recover the
property and effects of debtor's, comprising, under proper
limitations, payments out of future salaries and wages,
should, if practicable, be extended and made more effectual.
"That the committee recommend that these considerations
should be especially referred to the new Court of Requests
Committee for consideration and report, with power to give
the necessary parliamentary notices, to secure the ensuing
session, to be followed up or not, as the council may, on re-
port of the committee, determine."
The report was confirmed.
CHURCH ENDOWMENT.
The final report of the Church Endowment Committee
was read by the town-clerk. The circumstances that led to
the final determination of the suit, and the arrangement of
the question by the act of 2d Victoria, which directed the
transfer to the corporation of the fund in litigation, lime
been so recently before the public, that it is unnecessary to
particularise them. The amount of principal transferred to
the corporation was £105,000, and of interest £13,812 Bs.
malting a total of £llB,OOO Bs. The total amount of costs
and expenses paid by the corporation, including £1154 ss. 91,
the costs of the trustees is £4086. Balance received by the
corporation, E 111,726 Bs.
The report was adopted.
Mr. Aldeimau EVANS wished to state that it was his inten-
tion to move that no more of the presentations of corporation
churches should be sold. He had been informed that those
sold for £l5OO were worth £5OllO. At this moment any man
might buy one of the presentations and give it to a relative,
whatever be might be, and however unfitidd fir the office;
even a Jew might buy one. Were, they to suppose that the
council could not make a better appointment than was.likely
to be made under such circumstances?

The MAYOR explained that it was imperative on the coun
cil to sell:

Mr. Alderman EVANS.—StiII they were not in haste to do
so. and he proposed that they should endeavour to get an
act of parliament for a better system. The present was a
most monstrous one.

Mr. Councillor BOLTON abserved that the finance com-
mittee had 'to sell the advowsons, and that, he was happy to
say, was the conclusion of the church endowment job.
Mr. Councillor Bt.acxouuri said, that it had been rendered
imperative on them to sea fur the express purpose of de-
priving them of the opportunity of presenting to a living in
the church. It was feared that sonic dissenters might get
into the town-councils, and that they would, he supposed, put
into the livings the most disgraceful men belonging to the
church of England that they could find. The measure was
therefore proposed by the Bishop of London, and agreed to
by parliament. Ile thought that it would be desirable to put
the report of the church endow►netnt quution on permanent
record, and he should therefore propose Mat it be printed, so
that it might be referred to when needed.
Mr. Councillor JontiAN seconded the motion, which was
carried.

WAREHOUSES ON THE DOCK QUAYS.

The resolutions of the Dock Committee-having been read,
Mr. Alderman LEA THOM rose to move that they should be
confirmed. He said that the Dock Committee had recon-
sidered the matter, and the-more they considered it the more
they were convinced, of the neceesity and importance of
warehouses upon the dock quays. The resolution; which they
now proposed were resolvable into two parts. First,—That
the committee should be empowered to build warehouses and
let them upon lease to public bodies; or, secondly, that they
should sell or lease the land to public bodies for the purpose
of building upon. It appeared to him that the first proposi-
tion only could be entertained, namely, that the Dock Com-
mittee should themselves build the warehouses, and let them
on terms of five or seven years, so that, if any difference
in the system of management should arise, they might have
the upporlunity of redispusing of the lease. If it were pro-
posed that the land itself should be let on lease, it was the
opinion that no pet son would think of building, unless he
had a lease fur a number of years, perhaps seventv-five.
In that case the land would be alienated, and the Dock:Com-
mittee would be prevented from carrying out any system to
provide for the wants of the docks. They were therefore
desirous of adhering to the proposition of building ware-
houses on-the margin of the docks, and letting them in the
manner he had mentioned. An uniformity of system could
never be preserved if they were let to separate individuals.
Seine of the persons most opposed to their scheme were con-
vinced that a system of separate holders could not be carried
into effect, and they had therefore abandoned that view of
the subject. The corporation must build and let them; or,
in other scolds, if their plan should he adopted, assume pos.
st•ssion of the land, and then make a reconveyance of it to
the dock trust, accompanied with the power to build ware-
houses, whirls might be let out to two or three public compa-
nies at most. By that means the necessary officers would
not have to be appointed either by the council or dock trust,
and any aprehensmns which might have been entertained as
to the patronage which would result, if they reserved to them-
, selves the power of management, would be done away with.
The opposition to the measure, he was glad to say, had now
considerably abated; and what the committee had to press
upon the council now was, that they should allow the neces-
sary notices, to enable them to go into parliament next ses-
sion for the bill, to be inserted in the Gazette, which must be
done three Fridays in November, commencing on Friday the
16th, and that the discussion on the merits of the bill should
be taken afterwards. They had been lately laying the founda-
tion of docks at Southampton, and the chairman had ob-
served as to the advantages they would possess over Liver-
pool in having warehouses on their quays. There were
several other points of importance in the proposed bill;
but he would then pass them over, and allude to one of more
importance—he referred to the admeasurement of steamers.
It appeared, on looking at the revenue derived from the
steam-vessel docks, that, after the payment of their portion
of the charges incurred, there was scarcely anything left to-
wards the repayment of the money which those docks had
cost. The steamers simply paid for tonnage, and their
tonnage was so reduced by the present mode of measurement
that they did not pay anything like an adequate sum. He
would give them an instance of the manner in which the
system worked. There were several steamers, the tonnage
of which, according to the mode of measurement, amounted
to 2876 tons; their actual measurement was 5108 tons • and
if they were measured over their paddle-boxes, which was
certainly the proper way to ascertain the amount of dock-
room they occupied, it was 8148 tons. They (the Dock
Committee) had written circulars to those very steam-boat
proprietors, requesting that they would have a meeting and
communicate the result to the committee. Their answer was,
that they thought they paid too much already, and one was
of Opinion that they ought not to pay anything. From the
increase of steam-boats. it was evident that they must he a
lucrative investment, and it was not proper that the mer-
chants should pay all.
Mr. Alderman BENN seconded the motion. He said that
it was his wish to give Liverpool such accommodation as was
elsewhere to be had, and unless they had warehouses on the
-margin of the docks they never would have such accommo-
dation. What they most wanted was security. The propo-
sition waslhat the warehouses should be built by the Dock
Committee, and let out to two, or perhaps three, public com-
panies, in which the merchants should be interested—that is,
that they should be held in shares—in order that the mer-
chants, as shareholders, might see that justice was done,
and every thing attended to that could give facility to time
trade of the port. The main object of having these ware-
houses was for the purpose of transhipment—to prevent the
expense and loss of carting into the town and back again.
The plan of the Dock. Committee was not yet altogether
formed, because they wished to take advantage of any com-
munications that might be made to them in the progress of
the work; but they did think that the patties should be un-
der the direct controul of the Dock Committee. In fact,
what they wanted was, to have a perfect controul over the
management, iu order that they might be enabled to correct
any abuses that should creep into the system, and thus give
satisfaction to the merchants. Many persons were of opinion
that their proposal, if carried out, would lie injurious to the
owners of existing warehouses. But it ought to be recollected
that it would be five years ere the proposed warehouses were
erected, and that within the last five years more than they
proposed to build had been erected; and surely no one would
maintain that they ought to stand still. Undo: these circum-
stances, he thought they would be fully justified its proceed-
ing with putting its the notices, which ought to be dune in
such general terms that no inconvenience could arise, or .ad-
vantage be taken.

Mre:AlderMall BOOTH said, that the proposed alteration
did tint do away with the principle of the measure, and it was
that to which he objected. But he would waive that, and
ask them how far it was consistent that, at this late hour of
their existence, the council should pronounce its opinion on
a measure so important, and about which there was so Much
difference of opinion. Ou this ground, he should move that
the question be postponed until the next council meeting.
He saw no objection, however, to the notices beiag given,
with an understanding that that should not be construed into
a pledge .On the part of the council to proceed.
Mr. Councillor J. Hol.totis was in favour of a postpone-
ment until the details of the measure were given in, and sent
to a committee for consideration.
Mr. Councillor EARLE said that there was no necessity
to hurry the measure on in this session. If the saltpetre bill
required consideration, surely this did. With his permission
they should not have power to go to Parliament at all.
Perhaps if some of the gentlemen who were such strong ad-
vocates for the measure, were warehouse-owners theniselves,
they would think differently to what they did. It was, cer-
tainly, rather extraordinary that, with one or two exceptions,
all the warehouse proprietors should think one way, and
those who were not should think another way. Ile should
move, as an amendment, "That it is inexpedient to proceed
to parliament on so important a subject, until some steps be
taken to reconcile the present conflicting interests."
Mr. Councillor H. Holmes seconded the amendment.
Mr. Councillor BLACKBURN thought that if the notices
were given at all, they ought to he given with the utmost lati-
tude.. He was surprised that the warehouse • owners should
express alarm at the addition of so small an amount to the
warehouse property. The warehouses of Liverpool might be
put down at 1200; what they proposed to erect was 20, or
one-sixtieth part of those at present in existence, and the
liberty to erect those would prevent the building of any others
during the five years they would be in progress. He thought.
there was no ground of apprehension in this.
Mr. Councillor W. C.'unnth: would not object to the notices
being given, but he was not opposed to a postponement of
the consideration of the question, so as to allow time for the
collection of evidence, and a thorough maturing of the whole
play. They might then come to such a proposal as would be
of advantage to all parties, and, if they should decide to go
would remove the apprehensions of those who feared that
their interests would be iujured. The warehouse proprietors
were like any other body ; but 'they were not the public at
large. Those who said that the council ought not to consent
to the erection of warehouses on the docks, because it might,
by possibility, injure them, might as well say that railways
should not have been constructed, because they would injure
canals. In short,.the assertion was tantamount to a declara-
tion that. society should make no further progress.
. • Mr. Councillor Ho oosori said that it was not the manner,
but.. the fact, of bringing the warehouses into 'existence that
he objected to. Being built, their competition would be equally
ruinous, in whatever manner or by whomsoever they were
built. It had been said that the opposition had abated. If
it :had ever relaxed, it was under the expectation that some
*principle was about to be brought forward ; but he felt con-
rifted that.the present measure would experience the same
opposition as the former one had done. It was not the quan-
tum that was to be brought into action but the very principle
itself, that tuned the.ground of objection.
Mr. Councillor H. LawitaNca remarked that the council,
after having negatived the principle of building warehouses
at all, were now asked to give notice of a bill to carry into
effect the very measure which they had rejected. He should
support Mr. Earle's motion.
Mr. Alderman Evasrs said great squeamishness was ex-
pressed with regard to the consistency of the council. It was
a pity this exquisite delicacy of sentiment did not act with
them before when they reversed a decision which they had
once come to, to build warehouses on the dock quays. Per-
sons were always talking about vested interests and private
property. Was the community considered worth nothing?
-Was the•community to be bereaved of the vast lands now
lying waste, which were worth amillion and a half of money?
Mr. Evans proceeded to argue at some length in favour of
the plan.
Mr. Councillor BnockLEBANK was fully convinced of the
necessity fire the measure. Many articles were imported
which were not for home consumption; such as foreign sugar,
the pilferage of which, the difficulties at the Custom-house,
and the expenses of cartage, would drive this branch of com-
merce from the port, if there were not bonded warehouses
on the verge of the docks.
After some couversation between Messrs. Leathom and
Bean and Mr. Booth, the latter gentlemau consented to agree
to the amended motion of the former gentlemen, which was
as follows :
" That the consideration of the resolution of the Dock Com-
mittee be postponed till the next council, but that the Dock
Committee be at liberty to insert the requisite notices in the
Gazette, and other papers, immediately, fur the proposed
bills for building docks and warehouses."
Some discussion arose out of the above, and respecting the
powers of the Dock Committee to act before the council
should have tilled up the vacancies. The result was, the ad-
dition of the following to Mr. Leathom's motion :—" Such
notices to be sufficiently comprehensive to include all plans
as to warehouses reasonably for consideration, and to be set-
tled to the satisfaction of the Mayor and Chairman of the
Dock Committee, by the Solicitor of the Dock Committee
and the 'Town-clerk."
The council then went to the vote. The division was as
fellows:—
For the amendment of Mr. Earle—Messrs. J. Holmes, J.
lievwoith, Hodgson, Logan, Houghton, Preston, Wood,
IL Holmes, C. Lawrence, Cooper, H. Lawrence, Earle,
Mason, Smith, G. H. Lawrence, and Jones.

Against the amendment—:"Messrs.'rliornhill, Harvey, Bow-
don, Miller, \Valoisley, 'Bolton, Wonßlight, Bright, 11.
Ilornby, J. Lawrence, Lassell, Brocklebon-lc, Carson, More-
croft, Higgins, Blackburn, Coglan, Segar, Jordan, Platt,
Currie, Romsden, Duncan, Shell, Booth, J. I ornbv, Bos-
kell, Leathom, G. Holt, Beun, Evans, T. Holt, Moon, Bul-
ley, Freme, Barclay, Robinson, and the Mayor.
For the amendment, 16; against it. 3P. Majority 22.
The original motion, with the addition thereto, wAs put and
carried.

RESIGNATION OF MR. BIRCH.
• A letter from Al r. Birch, resigning his otlice as councillor,
was read by the Mayor, who informed the council that that
iTentleman had paid the fine of £:5(1.
Mr. Bot.ToN passed some eulogiums on the talents of Mr.
Birch. but spoke in severe terms of that part of his address to
the electors which related to the appointment of aldermen at
tho ensuing council. He denied that there was any inten-
tion,on the-part of the liberal members of the council, to
ti)t nake it a sine qua non, in the election of aldermen, that
they should vote in favour of the warehouse scheme. It was
casting an unjust reflection upon their motives, which he
ventured to say were as pure as his own, He, for one, in-.

dignantly repelled the insult that was offered to the council
in that advertisement.

Mr. EVANS followed to similar effect, and said Mr. Birch
was actually admitting, through the whole of his letter, his
own determination to be influenced in his conduct by motives
which he was attributing to, and censuring in, others; and
Mr. COGLAN characterized the address of Mr. Birch as a
gross libel on the council.

VOTE OF THANKS TO THE MAYOR

Mr. H. HolNnY, after speaking warmly of the conduct of
the Mayor in his office of chief magistrate and president of
the conneil, proposed the thanks of the council to his worship,
for the urbanity and strict impartiality with which he had
presided over their deliberations. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. SMITH, amid great cheering, expressed his cordial con-
currence in every word that had fallen from Mr. llornby,
and seconded the motion.

The MAYott briefly and feelingly returned thanks, acknow-
ledging the support he had met with in the council in the
execution of the arduous duties of his office; and the council:
broke up at four o'clock.

A German novelist, sketching a military hero, gives him
"a dress much worse fur wear, the breeches pocket excepted.'
SPORTING EXTRAORDINARY.—At what they term a morn-
ing set, on Tuesday last, Mr% George Tucker caught the ex-
traordinary number of 700 rabbits on Sauntun Warren.—
West of England Conservative.

BOLTON AND PRESTON A I LIVA y.—We are informed that
nine miles of the length of this railway, commencing at Bol-
ton, are already lined out.—Preston Observer.

EFFECTS OF RAILWAYS BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND
LONDON.—The few remaining coaches now on the road be-
tween Birmingham and London are actually carrying pas-
sengers at twenty shillings inside and ten shillings outside;
whilst of twenty-two coaches on the road prior to the opening
of the railroad, there now only remain four., and it appears
uncertain that that number can continue.—Bermingham paper.
* Some curious funeral remains were recently discovered
among the mountains of Ardes, in the department of the Puy
de Dome, in a wild spot, probably the site of the forest no
longer in existence, and at present waste pasture land. The
turf concealed from sight a layer of charcoal and ashes, mixed
with pounded glass, in the centre of which was an urn con-
taining a second vase of glass of a square form, in which were
placed the remains of some human bones. Around this urn,
and at equal distances, were disc ibuted three lamps. In the
interor of the fosse were fragments of vases of different
forms, the greater part of which were of Roman pottery.

DEATH FROM TERROR.—On Saturday night, as Miss
Symonds, eldest daughter of Mr. John Symonds, of Green
Bank, FL:lmonth. who had been spending the evening with
some friends, was returning to her father's house, attended
by a man-servant, when she.had nearly reached the gate
some miscreants caught hold of her dress, which terrified her
to such degree, that on entering the house she became seri-
ously ill, and continued so until Tuesday morning, when she
expired from the effects of the fright.—Cornwall Gaxette.

STRANGE AFFAIR IN HIGH Some paragraphs
having appeared in various papers respecting an affair that
happened lately at the residence of Henry Winston Barron,
Esq., M.P. ; on inquiry, we find that the facts are as follow :
The were some friends stopping at the honourable member's
residence near Waterford, on a visit, and amongst the rest
Lord L. and his pretty wife. One evening that some gentle-
men dined there from the neighbourhood, Lord L. lost a
very splendid gold snuff-box. A great noise was made about
the affair; and the box was discovered in the shop of an
eminent jeweller in this city, some days alter it was lost, and
traced to a Captain D., who then held a commission in a
regiment quartered in Dublin, and who is the son of a gene-
ral officer, and related to seine of the most distinguished
officers in the army; he was one of the party who dined at
at Barron's, the day the box was lost. He has since sold
out of the army, and, we believe, left the kingdom.—Dublin
Evening Post.

CURIOUS DEATH OF Two BIRDS.—A few days ago, at
Sudbury Rectory, a noise of the breaking of glass being
heard, search was made to ascertain the cause, and a pane of
glass in the door of the conservatory was found broken. On
opening the door, two thrushes were found lying amongst the
broken glass, on the floor, quite dead. It is supposed that
they were either flying at so rapid a rate as to be unable to
stop themselves when coming to the glass, or that they were
allured by something in the conservatory, and, being uncon-
scious of the intervention of the glass, dashed through it. It
is evident the birds were flying very swiftly, as the pane was
small, and would require a considerable force to break it.
The necks of both the unfortunate warblers were broken.
BOOKSELLERS' ESTIMATE OF LITERARY PROPERTY.—
At first Miller would not give Thompson a farthing fur his
" Winter," he afterwards gave him three guineas for it.
Cave offered half the booksellers iu London the property of
the " Gentleman's Magazine;" and as they all refused to
engage in it, he was obliged to publish it himself. " Burn's
Justice" was offered in vain to every publisher for £5O, Dr.
Buchan offered his "Domestic Medicine" to every principal
bookseller in Edinburgh and London for £lOO, without ob-
taining a purchaser; and after it bad passed through 25
editions, it sold in 32 shares at £5O each. Beresford offered
the copyright of the "Miseries of Human Life". for £2O
it afterwards realised £5,000. ,

Faotic of Foorc. This celebrated hutnourist, while
educating at Worcester. college, Oxford, found in the head,
Dr. Gower, a highly suitable subject for one of his droll
devices. Observing that the rope Of the. chapel-bell was
allowed to hang near the ground, in an open space where
cows were sometimes kept for the night, he suspended a wisp
of bay to it, and the consequence was, that some one of the
animals never failed to seize the hay before morning, and so
produce a most unseasonable and mysterious tolling of the
bell. A solemn consultation took place for the elucidation
of this portentous circumstance, and Gower having under-
taken with the sexton, to sit up all night for the purpose of
catching the delinquent, disclosing the nature of tie jest
by pouncing out upon the poor cow, and had the hearty
laughter of all Oxford to reward him for his pains.
NEW Dvc PLANT.—In the south of Russia, numerous
tufts of Harmala, or rue of the steppes, has been remarked.
It is called Inserlik by the Tartars, and its botanical name
is Peganum harmalu. It sometimes covers extensive plains
in the Tat tar country : its root is strong and coriaceous,
re-
sists the plough, and is an invincible obstacle to cultivation.
It is not useful for cattle, its odour being so disagreeable that
they will not touch it ; but it is likely to prove of immense
service to the Russians in their manufactures. Attempts
were formerly made to dye cloth of a red colour with the
seeds, but it was a complicated process,•and has been slut e
abandoned. M. Goebel, professor of chemistry at the uni-
versity of Dorpat, having analyzed these seeds, has ascer-
tained the nature of their colouring matter, and invented a
much simpler method of extraction. It is superior to most
of the ordinary substances which produce seed, serves equally
well for silk, wool, cotton, and linen, presenting every shade
front ruse to crimson, and not being subject to fade. Half
an ounce of the extract is sufficient for dyeing six square
archines, or more than three yards, of a deep ctimson.
THE NORTHERN YACHT STEAMER.—AIL hope of the
safety of this vessel seems now to have been given up. We
understand that the master of one of the London smacks, ar-
rived at Leith on Saturday last, in passing Eyemouth, was
told by some fishermen :hat a quantity of wreck had been
driven ashore on that coast, amongst which were sonic hum
green painted scats, such as are used on the quarter decks of
steam-vessels. The Perthshire Advertiser of Thursday states,
that "a gentleman, who was in conversation with some of
the crew of the Euphemia, belonging to Perth, which ar-
rived there on Wednesday, informs us that they passed the
Northern Yacht, on her way to Leith, twice on the night of
the storm. The last time they saw her, the sea was running
terribly high, and must have rolled over her decks, so that
the probality is, she was i❑ this way filled with water, and
rendered incapable of weathering the storm. The crew of
the Enphemia state that, on Thursday night, they saw pieces
of wreck floating about, and no fewer than four vessels go
down, but were unable to render them any assistance from
the danger they themselves were in. The crew of the Cir-
cassia, of Newburgh. report, that they saw a vessel sink close
to the Bell hock,—Scotsman.

DESCRIPTION OF HERAT.—Herat, the Aria of the Greeks,
is a very ancient city of the province of Kborassan, in Persia,
but now constitutes the western frontier of Affghanistan,
being situated on the 'high read from Persia and Tartary to
Hindustan. It has experienced all the advantages and
advantages of such a position. It has been from time im-
memorial the route of all the caravans, and the depot of the
commerce carried on between the three counries, by which
its inhabitants amassed great wealth ; but it has also been the
route of ail the invading armies, and has been often plundered,
sacked, and burned. It was taken by Alexander, by Jingiz
Khan, by Timour, by Nadir Shah, and many others. In the
end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries,
it was the residence of Sultan Abdul. Ghdzv, fourth in de-
scent from 'limner, who ruled Khorassan with great reputa-
tion for 31 years. It was then in the zeuith of its splendour;
and the Persian historians are profuse in the description o
its palaces, caravansaries, gardens, mosques, &c.- It is now
held as a viceroyalty, by one of the sons or brothers of the
King of Cabot, or Affghanistan. In the year 1783, this city
was visited by Mr. Forster, who describes it as standing on a
spacious plain, and intersected by a river, over which there
are several bridges, and surrounded by numerous villages in
the midst of plantations. It then possessed a considerable
share of commerce; and persons from all parts of the east
were there to be met with. It has an extensive manufacture
of carpets; and.some good horses are bred in the vicinity. Its
revenues are estimated at 4(XX4100 of rupees per annum. The
King of Persia is very ambitious of adding Ilerat to his do.
minions,. and has sent an army against it. Long. 62 20. E.
lat. al 50 N.

PROJECT FUR SWEEPING AWAY TILE BANKS FROM THE
ENTNANCE TO THE PORT OF LIVERPoOL—What are the
means of diverting and wearine, the various land streams ?.
would seem the next question to be answered. Any material
diversion of the rivers Dee, Mersey, and Ribble would evi-
dently appear inconsistent with the character of those re-
spective streams. \Veering. however, seems applicable in
the first place; and, when given advantages were thereby
gained, embankment might securely follow at an available
expense. Dealing in general principles, however, rather
then especial details, it may be enough to say, that powerful
jetties ought to he thrown judiciously out on lower or wester',
extremities of those estuaries. Be it observed, the true set
of a prevailing current is not alone with, but against the
courses of these respective rivers. Since the flow of the tide
into an empty space is necessarily more rapid and powerful
than either its ebb or the temporary influence of 1 end floods:
this fact is of considerable moment. The neglect of a con-
sideration so vital would be sure in leading to eirors and dis-
appointments. Besides, any works successfully undertaken
on the lower parts of the Dee, the Mersey, and the Ribble,
would be sure to increase the -effective scour of those rivers,
narrow their breadth, deepen their channels. and materially
improve, facilitate, and secure the course of navigation. All
experience shows, that depositions ofshingle mostly go tilling
with, and not against, the flowing tide, as the current is cetn-
monly more rapid and stronger during the ebbing and flow-
ing than the ebbing tide. Every shore on the British Isles
attests the frequency, not the constancy, of this tidal law.
Yet engineers have failed in bestowing due attention on, and
availing themselves of, a powerful instrument by which land
may be securely gained from the sea, through the aid of tidal
power, and the channels of navigation undergo material im-
provement in depth of water and evenness of course. Why
is the navigation of the Thames so favourable? Because
running through weak ground inland, and compressed at
Tilbury Fort and Gravesend by strong ground on both sides
of the river, it has shaped out for itself that even channel for
which it is preeminent. On similar laws a marine dike, like
that of the Low Holm on the shore of the Solway Frith,
projected on Formby Point, travelling continuously east-
wards, or in the direction of Liverpool, would augment the
scour of the Mersey deepen its sea channel, and sweep off
those sand banks which impede and endanger its navigation
so materially in its present form. A few inland streams that
continually disturb the channel by cross currents and rest-
less sounds, found on the shore between Formby Point and
Liverpool, would, by the application of such means, assume
an eastern course, cease to disturb the channel, and deposite
broken and shifting sand banks. For the balance of` the up-
wards current exceeding in strength the downwards one, so
the projection of a travelling beach might not only reclaim
a large area of land from time sea, deepen the channel ma-
terially, steady its navigation, and facilitate, in the meantime,
the ease thereof, but probably lead to the formation of a
place of refuge, having sufficient water at ail times of the
tide. Such an acquisition in the vicinity of Liverpool would
be invaluable. Indeed, as applicable to the instance hero....
us, nature having expounded her own laws, we have but to
follow her dictates to come at sound conclusions, and fabricate
works on plain and effective principles. While engineers
continue to mistake the balance of currents, and treat them
as flowing in the opposite direction to the true one, little or
no good can he effected. Let such a defect he fairly obviated,
however, right principles might speedily lead to a correct
aoplication, and wonderful results follow; converting those
very rivers and streamlets that now disturb the ebannehs of
navigation_ so destructively, into the means_ of acquirings,,ceee places 'of refege.'at• all times: or the .tide.--Rooke
Geoloyli as a 'offence. •