The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-02-02 00:00:00

Loss OF THREE LIVES AND FIVE SEX NEELY BURNED.
—An inquest was held at the house of William Johnson
sign of the Bull's Head, Parr, before John Heyes, Esq.,,
coroner, on the bodies of three young lads who came by
their deaths in consequence of the explosion of fire damp
in Messrs. Bourne and Robinson's colliery, at Parr. It
appeared from the evidence that one of the lads went with
a lighted candle into the place where he worked, and the
explosion took place in consequence.

EMBEZZLEMENT AT MANCRESTER.—On Wednesday
morning, a respectable-looking man, named Thos. Smith,
was brought up at the Borough Court, Manchester, before
,Mr. Maude and a full bench of magi -trates, charged with
embezzling several sums of money from his employers,
amounting in the whole, it is said, to several thousand
pounds. It appeared from the evidence, that the prisoner
had been in the employ of Mr. John Shuttleworth, stamp
distributor for that district, cotton-broker, and agent for
Messrs. Strutt and Co., of Derby. Mr. Maude sent the
prisoner to the sessions.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT NEAR HALSALI. MOOR.—Four
men, James Cowsill, aged 40, William Cowsill, his son,
Peter Harrison; 38, and William Johnson, 30, all brick-
setters, lost their lives on Tuesday last by suffocation,
while at work in a coalpit. The pit had been excavated
to the depth of 61 yards, and two sets of men were alter-
nately employed. Those named were at work, during a
storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, which had prevented
other workmen from coming, when the banksman at the
top heard a loud noise from the bottom of the pit, and
immediately an immense flame issued from its mouth. A.
man was sent down, and discovered the bodies of the four
men, all dreadfully burnt., Some days before, the work-
men discovered a fissure in boring through the rock, from
which a small quantity of gas escaped. It was stated that
stormy weather had always considerable influence on the
air in coal mines, and that some gas had collected under
the scaffolding on which the men were working, which
had come in contact with a lighted candle. The verdict
of the coroner's jury was, " Died from suffocation."
MEETING AT ST. HELENS.—A highly respectable pub-
lic meeting of the inhabitants of St. Helens and neigh-
bourhood was held in the Town-hall there, on Wednesday
last, in aid of the funds of the British Association for the
relief of the destitute in Ireland and Scotland. The chair
was taken by E—Pilkington Esq., and the meeting was
successively addressed by Mr. Mulvany, the Rev; Mr.
Carr, Incumbent; the Rev. Mr. Mostyn, Incumbent of
St. Thomas's, Eccleston ; Mr. Fincham •, the Rev. Mr.
Edmonds, Independent Minister; the Rev. Mr. Wat-
mough, Wesleyan Minister; Mr. Bishop; and by the
Rev. Mr. Pollock,' lately Incumbent of St. Helens, and
now of St. Mark's, Liverpool. The following was the
first resolution moved :—"That Almighty God having, in
his inscrutable wisdoM, permitted a widely spread and de-
solating famine to fall upon our fellow subjects in Ireland
and Scotland, we desire deeply to sympathise with them,
and feel it our duty to contribute out of our necessities,
still more out of our abundance, towards its alleviation."
The sum of £325 was subscribed the room, and an or-
ganization formed for further collections amongst those
who were unable to attend.

POLITICAL VARIETIES.
The victory of the " Ten Hours Bill," is now said to be
certain.

The rumours of a dissolution in May, are all fudge ; the
sessional business will not admit of it.

On Monday, W. J. Chaplin, Esq., chairman of the
South-Western Railway, was elected member for Salis-
bury, in the room of A. Hussey, Esq., resigned.
The manufacturers and merchants of the Midland
Counties have sent a memorial to Lord Palmerston,
praying his lordship to use every effort to put an end to
the blockade of the River. Plate.

Mr. Miall. the editor of the Nonconformist newspaper,
is to be a candidate at the general election for Edinburgh,
supported by the anti-state-church and complete suffrage
party.

- The election of Middlesex is fixed for Wednesday, the
3rd of February. It is reported that. Mr. H. Foamsll will
be started in opposition to Lord Robert Grosvenor on the
Conservative interest.

Mr. Charles Lushington has promptly replied to the in-
vitation of the Westminster Reform Society,_ that he
would come forward as a candidate for that city on the
next dissolution of Parliament, when Mr. Leader retires
from that honourable position.
CONSERVATIVE BANQUET.—A splendid banquet was
given at the. Carlton Club, in London, on Saturday even-
ing, and we observe among the names of the distinguished
noblemen and gentlemen present, those of Lord Stanley
and Mr. Talbot Clifton. The Duke of Newcastle occu-
pied the chair.

EMBASSY TO BRAZIL.—Lord Howden has been ap-
pointed minister to Brazil. His lordship will call (en
route to to his station) at the river Plate, with a view of
bringing matters in that part of the world to a satisfactory
termination. His lordship arrived in town last week
from the continent, and will proceed to Rio early in the
present month.
• The National Club, which was first formed after the
passing of the Maynooth Endowment Bill as a rallying
point for the Protestant party, have taken the houses,
No. 2 and 3, Old Palace-yard, between the House of
Commons and the House of Lords, which will open as a
club-house in the course of a few days.
The Mark Lane Express says, " we are highly gratified
in being enabled to state that the Government has made
the important announcement that their attention has
been directed to devising a system of agricultural statistics,
and that a measure thereon will be laid before the House
of Commons as early as possible."
SIR R. PEEL AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL.—The Globe
states that on Tuesday evening, in the House of Com-
mons, Sir Robert Peel sat for a long time by the side of,
and conversed very earnestly with Lord John Russell,
which occasioned considerable observation. Sir R. Peel
subsequently conversed for a long time with the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, and afterwards engaged in a long
conversation with Lord Monteagle.
THE FARMERS' CLUB.—In consequence of the ill suc-
cess which attended the deputation appointed to seek an
interview with Lord John Russell, on Friday week, on
the subject of the repeal of the malt tax, the council of
the Farmers' Club, in conjunction with the committee of
the Central Society for the Protection of Agriculture and..
the Malt Tax Association, have resolved, when Ile pre-
sent distress in Ireland has in some degree abated, to
organise a combined system of agitation, as important in
numerical strength and persevering in energy as that
which characterised the Anti-Corn Law League.
LORD ASHLEY AND THE TEN HOURS' BILL.—The
Ten Hour Bill agitation, which was carried on in York-
shire and Scotland under the superintendence of Mr.
Oastler, has been honoured in Lancashire with the at-
tendance of Lord Ashley. On Thursday week, the no-
ble lord addressed a large meeting at Manchester. On
Friday, lie was at Blackburn ; on Monday, at Bolton ;
and, on 'Wednesday evening, he attended an enthusiastic
meeting at Todmorden, the native place of Mr. Fielden,
in whose hands the cause in Parliament is now placed.
The reception given to his lordship at all these towns was
such as his noble sacrifices on behalf of the Hour
Bill demanded and deserved.

THE COBDEN NATIONAL TRIBUTE FUND. The
amount of this subscription, when last advertised, a few
weeks ago,—we mean the subscriptions forwarded to the
committee for this district,—amounted to £53,624. Since
that announcement, other subscriptions have been re-
ceived, chiefly from Liverpool,ltogether with some from
Paisley, Kendal, and Macclesfield, increasing the amount
by £4,722 ; the total, up to last 'evening being £58,846
19s. 9d. These subscriptions include one from Mr. John
Pennington, of Liverpool, of £3OO. J. C. Ewart, of Li-
verpool, 4200 ; Messrs. Tenants, Clow, and Co., Liver-
pool; Mr. William Jackson, Liverpool, £150; the family
of Mr, Crosfield, Liverpool, £145 ; and ten others of
£lOO each, all from Liverpool.
DESTRUCTION OF THE POWER OF THE POOR LAW
COMMISSIONERS.—The proposed alterations of the des-
potic poor law government, submitted by Lord John Rus-
-011 to the House of Commons on Friday night, has given
general satisfaction in this town. We believe there will
be no public meeting convened upon the subject until the
ministerial scheme has been fully developed. The propo-
sition that the president of the new board to replace. the
present irresponsible commissioners, and one of the secre-
taries, be members of the House of Commons, whereby
they would be compelled to answer all such questions as
would be put to them by the representatives of the peo-
ple, and thus, rendering them responsible to the country
for their acts, meets with almost universal approval.
Mr. Bright's party held a great ticket meeting at Man-
chester on Thursday. It was stated that upwards of 6000
pledges had been obtained. Mr. Milner Gibson, who was
present, said he was opposed to the endowment of the
Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland, and also opposed to
the creation of a new bishopric in Manchester, and pro-
mised that if Lord John Russell introduced a bill for
that purpose he would oppose it. On the subject of na-
tional education he.had very strong opinions. He would,
in all cases, objeCt to any religious instruction being given.
in those schools ; indeed, he would go so far as to exclude
the use of the Bible. Mr. Bright followed with an anti-
chureh speech. The canvass by Lord Lincoln's friends is
now complete. It is stated that, under the most unfa-
vourable circumstances, there is a majority of nearly 100
in favour of his lordship.
CHESTER .ELECTION.—The election to supply the
vacancy in the representation of the city of Chester occa-
sioned by the resignation of Lord Robert Grosvenor
(candidate for Middlesex), took place on Saturday. The
Mayor (Dr. Phillips Jones) proposed Earl Grosvenor,
which was seconded by Thomas Dixon, Esq., who said
that 1400 electors had been waited on, and not more than
two dozen had declined to support Earl Grosvenor. No
other candidate being proposed, the sheriff declared Earl
Grosvenor duly elected. His lordship thanked the elec-
tors most warmly, but said his youth and inexperience
must be accepted as the excuse for his not making pledges,.
and for not giving a declaration of his political opinions.
His lordship did, however, say that it was his desire " to
promote the extension of commerce, and support every
measure calculated to improve the social and moral con-
dition of the people." A vote of thanks was then passed
to the sheriff and to Lord Robert Grosvenor, and the
meeting separated. -
MR. BRIGHT AND MR. OASTLER.—A correspondence
has taken place between these two gentlemen, which has
excited some little interest. A deputation from the Man-
chester Short-time Committee had waited on Mr. Bright
with a copy of the Ten Hours' Advocate, of which Mr.
Oastler is editor, and which contained a " challenge" to a.
ii
public discussion to' Mr. Bright, to prove his assertion
that he (Mr. 0.) was either " deceiving himself, or being
dreadfully guilty." Mr. Bright refused to notice any
letter not addressed to him in manuscrriipgth,tanddeca written
copy copy was sent by Mr. Oastler. Mr. B
accept the challenge, on the groundfllr.
atll,olars.tFieire,lsdfeanitahnf,
Mr. Ferrand, "two leading apostles o
were in the House of Commons, where thestluteesst,io inn wouldreply,
tehaomtetifioerqdiuescstusiot
of
curpra.biOliatraetrtacjuhsedtlyto
him
cannot
be
discussed in the House of Commons in his absence—ho
not being a member. Mr. Bright, however, adheres to
his dexterous shuffle, and will not publicly meet the man
he has slandered.