The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-17 00:00:00

Mr. HORSFALI
Mr. Hartley?
Mr. ASKEW

—Have you had any communication from

—I had a letter from him about ten days ago

Mr. HORSFALL.—With regard to this dock?
Mr. ASKEW.—Yes; and he desired me to instruct the
dock-master to keep all the water in the dock that he could.
Mr. HORSPALL.—But not with regard to deepening, of
laying the dock dry for deepening it ?

ASKEW.-:
HORSFALI

Not a word

—That is very strati,

s of rock, or

Mr. YATES.—Are there auy elevated pie(
haul ridges, at the bottom of the dock ?
Mr. ASKEW.—Some parts of the bottom are higher than
others and they are not accumulations of mud.

Mr. HORSFALL.--WOUld it be
to strike against them ?
Mr. ASKEW.—Very dangerous

3gerous for a steamboat

Mr. HORSFALL.—Can you tell what would be the most
convenient time for laying the dock dry? It is stated to us
that the bottom of the dock is two feet above the sill. If
that were taken up, of course there would be two feet more
water. We should like to know what would be the most
convenient time to lay the dock dry. Mr. Hartley will want
the information when he comes hack.

Mr. GLADSTONE believed that the steam-ships ran during
the winter except two months. He thought that during
those two months would be the time.

the vessels would be here

ariug those two months

Mr. MELLOR asked how long it would take to deepen the
dock?

Mr. ASKEW thought about six weeks or two months, ac-
cording to the force employed.
Mr. HORSFALL asked the Harbour-master whether he
thought a gridiron could be laid at the east side of George's
Dock ?

Mr. ASKEW said one could very well; but he should pre-
fer that vessels should go into the graving-dock. The grid-
iron was very well for good ships, but bad ones it merely
helped to patch up.
After a short conversation, a resolution was passed, direct-
ing the Secretary to inform Messrs. M'lver and Co. that
they should have early information of the closing of Coburg
Dock, and another, requesting Mr. Askew and Mr. Rosson
to prepare a joint report upon the practicability and expense
of fixing a gridiron on the east side of George's Dock.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN

The SECRETARY stated, that he had received a letter,
dated the 15th instant, from the chairman of the committee
relative to the progress of the new dock bill. The letter
was then read, but from the inconvenient position of the
reporters' table, and the low tone in which the secretary
pitched his voice, we do not profess to give it accurately.
The letter stated that the parliamentary committee had been
engaged in considering the clauses of the bill for some da,
but t/ d -

past, - -ney had proceeded slowly in consequence of the
opposition of its opponents. Many clauses had, however,
been passed, and some had been modified. The vestry clerk
yesterday had stated the case of his board, and the clerk of the
Highway Board for his as to the rating of the proposed new
warehouses, &c. The committee decided against them very
properly ; but the proportion of lighting and other expenses
was to be paid by the warehouses and the parish. Thus the
parish and highway boards had increased the expenses of
their unwarrantable opposition to the bill. The proposed
clause authorizing the measurement of steamers was rejected,
on the ground that a private bill could not alter a public
enactment. Yesterday and to-day the clauses authorizing
the purchase of land had been discussed; and the committee
decided that the purchase of land was optional, but that, if
bought, the dock committee ought to be compelled to build
warehouses. The clause authorizing them to borrow money
would be settled to-morrow. The next passage in the letter
related to the constitution of the committee, but it was im-
possible to hear it correctly. The letter concluded by stating,
that the opponents of the bill contended that the expense of
the act ought to be equally born by the dock estate and the
warehouse opponents, but this proposition was speedily re-
jected, and consequently clause 97 stood unaltered with re-
gard to the payment of the expenses.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that, with regard to the letter just
read, he could not help thinking that the Chairman of the
Dock Committee would have acted a more prudent part if he
had abstained from expressions calculated to excite and
irritate those who were opposed to the bill. He for one, was
prepared to contend that the conduct of the parish was
called for, and perfectly justifiable. It must be recollected
that those members of the committee of the House of Com-
mons, who were opposed to the views of the promoters of
the bill, had latterly, and, as he considered, most inex-
cusably, absented themselves from the committee during the
past week, in consequence of which, what had been previ-
ously decided was, in their absence re-opened and reversed—
converting what was a majority into a minority. With re.
spect to the expressions in that letter of " promptly re-
fusing," and " speedily negativing," when it was known
what the attendance of the members of the committee was,
and how it was at that moment constituted, it was a farce to
make use of such. On a very late division, he believed the
numbers opposing were cut down to four, solely from the
circumstance of three or four members having left town.
He regretted that in the chairman's communication nothing
was said as to whether the bill could or could not be carried
through parliament this session. Those who were con-
sidered to be well informed, out of doors, were of opinion
that there was no probability whatever of its passing this
session. If that were the case, he should like to know upon
what grounds the bill was still persevered in ; and whether it
was yet known what amount of money had been expended
on it ? He understood that the expenses of the promoters
and the opposers amounted now to from £12,000 to £15,000 ;
and this sum was to be thrown away on a bill which, so far as
could be ascertained, would be lost ! He should be very
glad if the information as to the expense. which he had be-
fore asked for, could be furnished ; perhaps the Secretary
could state it.
The SECRETARY replied that the Treasurer was absent ;
but he believed the expenses did not approach to anything
like the sum named by Mr. Gladstone. The last return was
£2,500, and the expenses since might have been £l,OOO
more.

Mr. GLADSTONE had still a desire to know whether any
communication had been made to the effect that it was im-
possible for the deputation representing the committee to get
the bill this seSsion?
The CHAIR:mix knew nothing of what might be passing
out of doors ; but the deputation believed that the expecta-

tion of obtaining the bill ;vas not altogether hopeless. '.l:ftere
had been many delays certainly, but none on the part of the
promoters of the bill

at the course adopted to

cure the bill was one calculated to irritate the great

)ody of

merchants and shipowners.
Mr. HORSFALL said this was not the time to discuss the
merits of the bill. Jf a day were set apart for that purpose
he should have no objection to meet Mr. Yates upon some of
the points he had raised.
Mr. YATES should be most happy to discuss the bill with
Mr. Horsfall at any time.
The CHAIRMAN.—We cannot do it at present.
Mr. YATES.—' am sorry for that, because the more you
go into it the worse you will come out of it.
The discussion then terminated, and the committee ad-
journed.

~cvoung ens mients in the same
way, and he collected a large number of facts. The colonel's
book was taken to America, and he (Mr. Espy) procured
a copy. It contained the very things which were most want-
ed, namely, facts. Colonel Reid had access to the logs of
Many ships of war, by means of his connection with the Ad-
miralty, which wets in the West Indies during the storm.
It so happened that twelve or fifteen of them were in the
midst of those storms, and in one or two instances they
were so located A,

. as if Providence designed to show the best
means of ascertaining the cause and phenomena of storms.
Mr. Espy then pointed out on the map the position of the
twelve ships alluded to, and said he had the satisfaction to
discover that, in the storm which took place on the 18th
August, 1837, the wind blew ou all sides towards a central
space. He had reviewed most carefully Col. Reid's book,
and he found that, although the Colonel believed in the
and professed to teach the sailor to sail
-ether rnrlCrm...l /As 'Es

whirlwind theory

... `air. zspy's)
It never occurred to the colonel that it was possible
,iie wind to rush inwards upon all sides towards a central
space. Now, it was a matter of importance to have this
question investigated, and the very fact of his (Mr. Espy)
having come from America to this country to controvert Col.
Reid's theory, would compel men to open their eyes, and to
ascertain which was true. Now, he (Mr. Espey) had de-
monstrated his theory to he correct in three ways, camel"
zw chemical experiments, by ' nepheloseope, and

ruin all
the phenomena of nature, except the aurora borealis and the
shooting stars, in which there was a world for some future
Alexander to conquer. Mr. Espey then proceeded to explain
the formation of clouds and of hail, which was listened to
mihh ..raft* L

••••••• DM/ W LULti, iue great storm, which
ravaged this country on the 6th and ith of January, 1839,
fully confir used the theory he had laid down, The lecturer
then retired amidst great applause.
The last course of the series was delivered last

The principal topic was the great storm of the 6th and 7th
January, 1839, and the lecturer proved most satisfactorily,
that in all its principal circumstances it confirmed his
theory.

POLICE INTELLIGENCI

;WEDNESDAY

YOUNG LADY

Mary Young, a blowsy creature, young in years, but old in
vice and debauchery, was placed at the bar, she having been

found in the streets in a state of extreme intoxication, and put
into bridewell for safety. She had been liberated only the day
before, when placed at the bar on a similar charge ; and Mr.

Parkinson mentioned that she had been brought up ut least
100 times. She stated, when asked whether she had anything
to say, that she had been attending a wake for the last two
days and nights, and had got more ale than she could com-
fortably carry. " But if yr- honour'll If

tine off

... tuts once,
I'll go home to Ireland, and you shall never see my face
again." Mr. Rushton replied, " I'll take care that I don't
see it for three days at any rate," and ordered her to pay a
fine of live shillings, or to be imprisoned for three days.

ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE-.ESCAPE FROM
A LOCK-UP.

An occurrence which. has caused a good deal of cor
tion in this town took place last Saturday inornin

:—Lin Thursday last a lady and gentleman in
smart gig, drawn by a capital grey horse, drove
West's, the Brownlow Arms, in Clitheroe. The]
there all night, and next morning, when the bill ot4
been mid_ it n-..

it to have

n was in the unen-

ad a ho,

biLuatioll or being without case.
be had, he left the gig and the lady, as a pledge a..
while he mounted the horse and rode over to Blackl
putting up at Mr. Rothwell's, the Dun Horse inn, Mar
street Lane. Here he bargained for the sale or
and gig and harness, which the buyer v-
seller's description, and the sate L
whole was £l5. One sovereign was given to him to se
bargain, which done he exchanged his horse for a poi
Mr. Rothwell's, and hastened back to Clitheroe to rel
his wife and the gig by the baympTit ea ter.

s to take on ti

e was to receive for the

- •a a. at Val, a Utah
'With these he returned to Blackburn, the latter being deli-
vered to its new owner, and the purchase-money handed over
to our traveller. Thus matters stood on the evening of Fri
day, when the suspicions of our active and

Superintendent of Police,
the fact of this entraordinarily cheap barg
knowledge. lie accordingly made it '

Burke, were, awakened a

in plain clothes he had no dir
in getting into conversation with the gentleman a•
at the Dun Horse, the result of which was that he was cot
vinced the horse and gig were stolen. The parties wer
immediately taken into custody, and the male prisoner, beint
of highly respectable appearance, was granted the privilege
of a room up staits in the police office, apart from the herd
of common oflenders, drunkards, and the like, until the c?
could be heard before a magistrate. He w
on the third story in the building, the •

lto the affair, and bein

[nd lady

placed M a room

indOw of which w

at intervals of about an hour, apparently perfectly safe. Mr.
Burke himself, we understand, saw his prisoner a little be-
fore one o'clock on Saturday morning. However, soon after
that hour the fellow very ingeniously and dexterously con-
trived to make his escape. First he removed one of the iron
bars which secured the window, by what means does not
clearly appear; after which. having torn his shirt into strips
and made a sort of rope thereof, he attached it to a remaining
•>rid jet- ,
ig clear off

ler himself down into the street, gettin,
without discovery by any of the inmates of the police,
When the escape was discovered by the means of de
hanging from the window, a hue and cry was raised, audit
were despatched in pursuit in all directions, but the runam
evaded his pursuers and has not since been beard of. Fri
the statement made by the woman it appears that that

" honoured in t
spite of all I could say, Joe would keep trying effects,
scale, thereby, as he observed, to keep his hand in;
and to my remonstrance, his only answer was, " Tut, man,
what ratter? we should always be merry when we have no-
thing else to do. It is bad weather, indeed, if we never get
a glimpse of sunshine ; no, no, my boy, next to avoiding
cares it should be every man's business to forget them. So
here goes." Saying this, he bowed very profundly to an
elderly lady and two young ones, that were coming the oppo-
site way; the elderly lady. returned the compliment with a
slight curtsey, the two young ones with one half way down
to the ground. " There,'" said Joe, " those honest people
are just now wondering where they could possibly have seen
me before, and how stupid not to have known rne, nor yet
to have remembered my face. Ali, never mind, the next
time they meet me they will know me. Now that's what I
call giving an agreable turn to you young creature's thoughts ;
no trifling epoch in the life of a young lady is a bow of adora-
tion (they of course will read it that way) from a handsome
young stranger; at any rate, it is giving happiness at cheap
price. Afarthing given to a hungry wretch, with a word of
comfort anti condolence added to it, is more esteemed than
the gingling penny thrown ostentatiously by pride-registering
donation." _ . _

-----
How many more tricks he would have played off, and then
moralised upon their absurdities, I don't know, but I posi-
tively refused to go any further with him if he persisted in
his " etchings by the way." We had not gone far, however,
when we met a very interesting little group of six young
cherubs, and a nurse girl. The darlings " run" from about
one to eight years of age, and all of them dressed in a sort of
kilt, or short plaid petticoat. Though of different sexes there
was very little in their dress to denote it, being all bare from
the shoe, up to about a quarter of an inch above the knee ;
bare arms, bare necks, with flat white collars laid half way
over their shouliers ; Scotch bonnets, with ostrich feathers;
their hair all curled down behind as low as it could be got,
was all of one colour, as well as their sashes, which were all
tied at the back in large bows. There was just a perceptible
step in their heights, from the youngest to the eldest ; they
had all red cheeks, all biue eyes, all pretty plump, the eld-
est being the thinnest, the younger the fattest ; they were all
very chubby, and no doubt, somebody thought them all very
pretty. . _ .

- The nurse held the youngest one by the hand, the youngest
held the next, and so on for the first three ; the others fol-
lowed hand in band behind, the nurse giving them short
admonitions, and long cuffs as they walked along. "Oh
fie, Master Fretheric, where is your handkerchief?"—
cuffing little Billy—" it id'ut me, its Freddy."—" Oh,
I dare say your quite as bad—Miss Julia Ellen La-
foon, I wish mamma seed you just now. Miss Emily,
what are you pulling at Augustus Leopold for 111
give it you ? Miss Lafoon, I an: surprised at you ; you
ought to know better." " Oh, durse ! somsing pricking
me." " Augustus, did you prick Julia ?" " No, ness.'
(Cuffs Augustus and Julia too.) " Oh, oh ! Leppy trod on
mu trip_" 1111117 • I did not_" Oh_ veg i von did."

. _
"1 didn't." " Oh, oh ! you did.'' " Realla, children,
you're nothing but trouble; I never did see such—never; I
never did, and yet mamma wanted me to bring baby! lam
sure I have anuff to do with six."_ __ _

" Not but they are very pretty," said Joe, coming up un-
perceived by the nurse ; " pretty little dears, I am sure you
must love them as much as if they were your own; I
should," said Joe, taking one of them up and kissing it.—
"Ye yes, sir—only they're so much trouble, to get 'em
ready before they comes out, and a good deal of trouble
when they goes in," said nurse, hardly knowing what to
Ah, but then their delicious little prattle when they
a know, nurse."—" Yes, but they cries a good
i."—" Ah, hut see how they must naturally
Oh, aye they does, but they scratches and
hen they're vext."---" What beautiful
Intinued Joe.—" Oh, yes, their hair
es dresses that herself."—" Such a

are out

deal sometimes

love yon

bites uncommon

nice number too," pursued Joe, "just a right quantity,
six "—" Yes, sir, when the three littlest ones arr gone to
bed, and the three big,iest are a Jeep in the parlour ; but
then the baby is almost sure to cry."

Joe, however, by this time had kissed them all round, and
declared he would not mind if he had sixteen like them.
" Bless me !" quietly ejaculated the girl, " I think he
doesn't know."—" Now my little heroes," said Joe to the
three least, " have a catch for a bull's eye !" for Joe always
carried sweets in his pocket, as he was in truth fond of

; he consequently threw one amongst them, when

all three ducked do;n at once, showing about-an inch and a
half more of their little naked chubby legs. Master Wil-
liam Henry Charles, however, the youngest but one, lost his
dance, and fell with his face in the mire, the bull's eye
sticking to his forehead. "There'll be a yell just now,"
said nurse—and there was, for when Master W. H. C. was
got up, his mouth was distented from ear to ear, and after a
full half minute had elapsed, the girl's prophecy was verified.
She pacified him, however, with thrusting the sweet, dirt and
all, into his month. " Catch again !" Said the mischievous
Joe; down they all went again, the three eldest going, the
nurse striving, but all in vain, to prevent them. " Oh, my
word, Miss Emily, von will catch it; mania will give it
you! and you. Ntss Susan, you ought to know better."