The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE CANADIAN MAIL COMPANY will despatch the
screw steamer Charity, Captain Bowen, from Birkenhead
Dock, on the 12th instant.
THE DEBBY MUSEUM was open to the public during
the whole of last week. It was visited on Monday by

'upwards of 4,000 people, 050 more than the visiters at
Whitsuntide.
Mu. C. W. WILLIAMS, of this town, has had a patent
.pealed for improvements in the manufacture of sheet•iron,
and of iron plates used for boilers, vessels, buildings, and
other like purposes.
MAYon, on Tuesday, entertained a party, of gm-
„Semen to dinner at the Town-hall. Amoust the guests
were some of the most influential merchants and other

gentlemen connected with the town.
M. JOHN CHESHIRE, draper, of Runcorn, presented to
twenty-five poor women, principally widows, two pounds
of beef to enable them to partake of the enjoyment of this
festive season.
ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday, a labourer, named George
Holland, employed at Gannon's quarry, Kirkdale, had his
*Yes severely injured by the explosion of a train of gun-
Powder, which was laid down for the purpose of blasting
the rock.
SHERIDAN LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.—On
Wednesday, an essay was delivered by Mr. Rimmer, upon
the " Poetry of Scott and Byron," which was followed by
a very- animated discussion. The annual soiree and ball
of the society took place on Friday, at the Royal Assembly-
rooms, Great George-street.
SOUTHPORT RAILWAY.—The Southport Free Press
states that the Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport Railway
Company has come to a fresh arrangement with the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, which has
agreed to furnish the rolling stock and engineers and
firemen, and to cease having anything to do with the
management of the line.
COLLISION ox THE CLYDE.—As the steamer Mona's
Queen was passing up the river Clyde on Wednesday week,
she ran into No. 4, dredging machine, belonging to the
Clyde trust, near Bowling, by which the dredger was so
much injured that it immediately sunk. The Mona's
Queen was in charge of a Clyde pilot at the time of the

accident.
CUSTOMS PROMOTIONS.—Mr. W. Nott, first-class tide-
surveyor, has been appointed inspector of the river. Mr.
James Sharp, first-class tide-surveyor, has been appointed
'tide-surveyor at Mitford. Mr. Robert Southon, principal
.coast officer at Crail, in the port of Kirkaldy, to be principal
toast officer, tide-surveyor, &c., at Garston docks, in the
port of Liverpool. Office at Crail abolished.
COWARDLY ASSAULT.—On Monday night last week,
-several ruffians attacked a labouring man, named David
Marsh, while he was proceeding down Parliament-street.
After knocking him down they kicked him about the head
in a most violent manner, inflicting a very severe scalp
wound. He was found a short time afterwards in a state
of insensibility, and conveyed to the Southern Hospital,
where he is progressing favourably.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRM—A very destructive fire broke out
on Wednesday, in the extensive premises of Messrs. Barton,
and San, tanners, Bevington-bush. The fire appears to
have originated in one of the tan sheds. By the exertions
of Mr. Hewitt, the conflagration was confined to the pre-
mises in which it originated, and was extinguished in a
comparatively short period, although not until damage
had ensued to the amount of £4,000.
HOLMES'S NOTES.—Over and above the 26,000 notes in
actual circulation, we understand a large bundle of signed
20s. notes was sealed up and sent to the rolls office during
the past week. We understand the governor and council
are about to communicate to the manager of the Bank
of Mona their views in reference to the holders of notes
issued by the late Messrs. Holmes, and the steps to be
adopted in reference to their recovery under the securities
granted on that behalf. —Mona's Herald.
THE POST-OFFICE.—Great complaints are still heard of
the numerous delays and irregularities in the delivery of
letters in London from Paris. The letters brought in by
Thursday's mail were known to have reached the Post-
office at four-o'clock the same afternoon, but had not been
delivered up to the close of business, to the great incon-
venience of the parties interested. It would appear that
these delays are in a great measure cliargeable upon the
Londoir Post-office.
COUNTERFEIT COIN.—At the police-court, on Wednes-
day, John Duffy and Mary Linnigan were sent for trial, on
a charge of passing base coin. Mrs. Mackenzie, a pub-
lican, in Leigh-street, stated that the prisoners came into
her house on Monday night, and paid for the liquor they
drank with a bad shilling. They came again on Tuesday
night, and the male prisoner called for two small glasses
of whiskey, again tendering a bad shilling in payment.
An officer was then sent for, who took them into custody.
DEATH FROM EATING GOOSE.—On Sunday week,
James Gratty, seventy years of age, living in apartments
at 23, Cumberland-street, died from suffocation, caused by
a piece, of goose which he was eating sticking in his
throat. The deceased had been for a walk to the Land-
ing-stage with his landlord, and on their return they sat
down to take tea together, and whilst doing so a portion
of the meat which he was eating stuck in his throat. He
-began to cough violently, and the landlord immediately
ran for a surgeon ; but the man died in about five minutes.
ST. CLEMENT'S SCIWOLS, WINDSOR.-011 Tuesday, a
'bazaar was opened by a number of ladies residing in the
neighbourhood of St. Clement's Church, Windsor, for the
purpose of increasing the funds for the support of the
schools in connexion with the church. It took place in
`the schOol-room, where a great number of useful and fancy
articles* were exhibited for sale on a " Christmas tree.'
The sale on Tuesday realised about £BO, and several
pounds additional were raised on Wednesday, by the dis-
posal of a portion of the articles which remained unsold
from the first day.
BORROWING FROM A LODGER.—At the Police-court, on
Friday, Susannah Mitchell preferred a charge against a
young man, named John Ryley, of stealing some of her
clothes. The complainant lodged in Ryley's house, in
Albert4dreet, and on going to her box where her clothes
-are kept, on Tuesday morning, she discovered that
several articles of wearing apparel had been stolen. In-
formation was given to he police, who found that Ryley
had left some of the stolen articles at a broker's shop in
Brownlow-hill. • Ryley, in defence, said "that he might
have made so free as to take the loan of the things, in-
tending to get them washed, and then to return them?'
The magistrates sent him to prison for two months.
THE WEATHER.—We were last week visited with some
'genuine winter weather, though the temperature varied
almost every day. On Monday it was warm and sun-
shiny; on Tuesday We had our first snow-storm, and on
Wednesday and Thursday the weather was dry, frosty,
and exhilarating. The streets were slippery, and the
ponds in the suburbs getting covered with ice, thick
enough to induce ardent skaters to expect a few days'
good sport. Their hopes were, however, suddenly
damped on Friday, for during the night the snow had
vanished, as if by magic. The streets were wet and
sloppy, and rain mixed with sleet Tell at intervals. On
Sunday it was frosty with some showers of hail, and yes-
terday morning there was a heavy fall of snow, which lay
on the ground several inches in depth, and considerably
impeded the circulation in the streets.
A REFRACTORY SEAMAN.—At the Police-court, on
Wednesday, Robert Taylor, a seaman, was charged with
an assault on Captain Barnes, of the ship Dryad. The
Dryad sailed hence for Callao, and on arriving at that
port the prisoner, who had refused to work on the voyage,
was put in prison for seventy days by advice of the
British Consul. When the ship was about to sail he was
brought on board again, when he took up a large carving
knife and threatened to stab the captain, who, in his de-
fence, presented a pistol at him. The prisoner on this
threw down the knife, and was taken down below in irons.
The next day the ship was discovered to be on fire in the
part where the prisoner lay. The prisoner was sent to
gaol for three months, hard labour.
MASONS' STRIKE.—The celebrated strike at the new
Houses of Parliament lasted eight months, and cost the
union, it is said, £5,000 in sterling money, and the men
£IO,OOO in lost labour, and was productive of no good
whatever, but, on the contrary, an incalculable amount of
evil. Such a strike, we hope, will never occur again in
London. It opened a breach between employers and
workmen, and especially between foremen and journey-
men, which ten years of uninterrupted prosperity has been
scarcely sufficient to heal. We wish the working classes
in the north of England, who are now pursuing a similar
• course with much greater recklessness of consequences,
would take a lesson from the history of this unhappy feud.
And let us give- them another note of warning. During
the twenty years of its existence the masons' union, we
are credibly informed, has spent upwards of £100,000; but
their wages have remained at the same uninterrupted
level.—The Builder.
COLLISIONS ON THE RIVER.—On Thursday morning, a
dense fog envelopedthe lower portions of Liverpool, Bir-
kenhead, and the river. About nine o'clock, most of the
ferry steamers for a time ceased to ply, and even the
regularity of the sailing of the Woodside boats was inter-
rupted. Shortly before nine, the steamer Wirral, from
the landing-stage for Woodside, ran into the steam-tug
British Queen, and sustained considerable damage. The
British Queen was uninjured. The Queen, steam-tug,
and a flat, about the same time, came into collision with
the ship Renfrewshire : steamer and flat considerably in-
jured. A collision also occurred, about a quarter to ten
o'clock, between the Prince, Woodside boat, and the Cato,
Birkenhead : injuries slight. Later in the forenoon, the
steamer Wallasey ran into the American ship Henry Grin-
nell, which was lying at anchor, and damaged one of her
paddle-boxes ; and the Shamrock steamer, from Havre, in
going up the river, ran into the ship Niagara, and carried
away the bowsprit of the latter."
TESTIMONIAL TO • AIR. WALTER SMITH, OF H. M.
Cusroms.—On Christmas-eve, a deputation from the Cus-
tom-house lockers waited upon Mr. Walter Smith, at his
residence, Scotland-road, for the purpose of presenting him
with a testimonial 'from his brother officers for the valu-
able and efficient services lie had rendered them in sup-
port of those claims which have recently been granted by
her l!SAjesty's treasury, Mr. Smith, it appears, havingbeen
'most indefatigable for the Last nine months in i b 'ng
their case before the public, as, also, successfully urging it
• upon the attention of the proper authorities. The testi-
monial, which consisted of a handsome gold watch and
appendages, valued at £25, was presented by Mr. James
Gore, one of the oldest and most respectable officers in the
" regauging department," wino congratulated Mr. Smith
and those present on the successful termination of their
labours, resulting, as they had done, in the concessions of
claims which had been unsuccessfully asked for above
twenty years.
DISTURBANCE IN A. CHURCII.—At the Police-court, on
Tuesday, a 'very respectably dressed man was charged with
interrupting the service in St. Peter's Church, on Monday
afternoon. The Rev. W. J. Tomlin said, that as he was
administering the sacrament of baptism, the service was
frequently interrupted by the defendant, who was quite
intoxicated. He believed that the man himself was a very
quiet and inoffensive person, .41Jid therefore he considered
that the blame was not so intft his as those who brought
him into church in such a state. On that =clot he did
not wish the prisoner should be severely dealt with ; but
as the service in the church was frequently disturbed by
.such occurrences, he wished that the magistrates would
Publicly declare that there was a very heavy penalty
attaching to such offences. The
.prisoner said that
e Was now very sorry for his conduct, but that at the
_,lne he was not conscious of what he was doing. Mr.
Ilan sfield informed him, that if the clergymen of St. Pe-
ter's Church were disposed' to prosecute him, they could
do so in the Ecclesiastical Court, and at an expense which
would be ruinous to him. He was fined s's. and costs, or
-in default to be committed for five days,

THE Docs COMMITTEE have purchased from Mr.
Stringer two houses on the south side of Mersey-street,
for the sum of £l,OOO. The property is required for the
London and North-Western Railway Company.
CHURCH Music.—On. Friday, the Rev. Aug. Campbell
read his second interesting paper on the above important
subject, at the Philharmonie-hall. About 600 persons
were present. The illustrations were very effectively
given by about 25 male and 30 female singers ; and the
rev. gentleman's object in advocating a pure, simple, and
solid music, was successfully vindicated.
AN OLD OFFENDEU.—At the Police-court, on Friday,
Thomas Barton, a returned convict, and formerly a mem-
ber of the local police-force, was charged with stealing a
quantity of joiner's tools from the shop of Mr. Ellis,
Cambridge-street, on Saturday night. From the evidence
of about a dozen witnesses, it transpired that Mr. Ellis's
shop was broken into and robbed on the night in question,
and that the prisoner had been detected attempting to pawn
some of the stolen tools in Park-lane. Committed for trial.
Ma. BRADLEY AND VAUXHALL WARD.—The recent
proceedings in the Council induced Mr. Bradley to call his
constituents together and offer to tender his resignation,

and pay the penalty of £5O. They not only refused to
accept his resignation, but at once entered into a subscrip-
tion to present to him a testimonial expressive of the value
which they placed on his services. In a few days £lOO
was subscribed, and a piece of plate is to be presented to
Mr. Bradley, at a public dinner at the Royal Hotel.—
Chronicle.

THE MATILDA WATTENBACH. which sailed from the
Mersey with the November mails for Australia, under the

command of Captain Clare, on the 4th instant, was seen
by the Gannet (s.s.), from Lisbon, at anchor in the Tagus,

with fore and mainmasts gone to.the rigging, on the 19th
instant. It will be remembered that the American paddle-
wheel steam-ship Golden Age, Porter, left Liverpool a few
days after the Matilda Wattenbach, and much interest is
attached to both voyages, many bets being laid upon the
sailing qualities of each vesseL
ACCIDENTS ON TUE RIVER.—On Friday, aboilt eleven
o'clock, as a flat laden with salt was proceeding down the
tiver and passing Monk's Ferry, she was struck by a sud-
den squall, and came into collision with a schooner, and
had her bows stove. She instantly sank, the crew having
bhrely had time to leap into their boat. In the afternoon,
as the lugger Uncle Tom, from Castletown, was passing

the Princes Dock wall, she ran down a cockle-boat; bound

to Hoylake. The parties in the boat escaped with the
exception of one boy, who was drowned before efficient aid

could be rendered.
ANOTHER RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The mail train which
left Euston-square station on Thursday night, at 10 p.m.,
and dile at Lime-street, Liverpool, on Friday, at 4.45 a.m.,
met with an accident which delayed the train until nine
o'clock. When near Harrow, about twelve miles from
London, the tire of the engine broke, one portion of it
penetrating a considerable way into the ground, and the
other forcing its way into the bottom of the engine.
Beyond the damage done to the engine, other injury was
sustained.

EXTIC 4.ORDINARY ACCIDENT.-011 Friday, a woman
named Mary Quinn died at the Northern Hospital, from
the effects of the following extraordinary accident. On
Friday week she was talking to another woman iu Thomas-
street. At the same time a horse and cart were in the

street, and, in consequence of some crockery-ware being
thrown down, the horse took fright, and dashed across

the street. The shaft of the cart struck the deceased in the

breast, and pinned her against a shutter. On being con-
veyed to.the hospital, it was discovered that several of her

ribs were broken.
TRANSATLANTIC STEAMERS. —The Baltic, Capt. Com-
stock, which ought to have sailed on Wednesday last for
New York, could not get out of dock, owing to a strong
north-east breeze having cut off the tide. She went into
the river on Thursday morning, but had to anchor in con-
sequence of the dense fog, and did not get away till
Thursday evening. She took a full cargo and eighty passen-
gers. The Europa, Captain Shannon, sailed for New York
on Saturday, with a full cargo and fair complement of
passengers. The screw-steamer City of Glasgow, Captain
Wylie, will sail for Philadelphia to-morrow.
CHILD MURDER AT ORMSICIRK. —Oll Thursday week
a woman, named Susannah Kirby, widow, of Bickerstaffe,
was taken into custody on suspicion of concealing the birth
of a child. She denied the, charge, but on search being
made the following day the bodies of two full-grown male
children were found buried in a pigstye. At an inquest
held on the bodies on Monday, the jury returned a ver-
diet that one of the children was still-born, and that
there was no evidence to show how the other came by its
death. • The woman was taken before the Rev. J. A. Ker-
shaw, at Ormskirk, on Tuesday, and committed for trial .
at the assizes for concealment of birth.
HOLMES'S SALE.—The sale of the late James Holmes's
effects in Douglas, Isle of Man, commenced on Monday,
the 19th, and continued till Friday, the 23rd instant.
There was a numerous attendance, and the whole of the
property sold at remarkably high prices, realising, it is
said, a thousand pounds above the valuation. Wines and
spirits sold high ; white herrings realised on an average
20s. per barrel ; red ditto, 10s. per kit. There was some
close competition for the rare histories and other books
relating to the island. The Commissioners' Report, of
1792, fetched £3 15s. ; Waldon's History, £1 17s. ;
Sacheverell's History, £1 45.; Feltham's, £l, and Rolfe's,
10S.
THE LADIES' CIIA.RITT BALL.—The annual ball in aid
of the funds of this excellent charity was held on Wed-
nesday at the Town-hall rooms, the use of which had been
granted by the Council for the occasion. This was the
57th anniversary of the institution. The ball was attended
by a most fashionable assembly, including some of the
most influential families belonging to the town. The lady-
patroness was Mrs. T. Edwards Moss, and Edward H.
Roscoe, Esq., filled the office of president. The pensioners'
band was stationed in the vestibule, and performed a variety
of appropriate music. The orchestra in the ball-room was
occupied by Mr. Gribbin's quadrille band. The result of
the ball was favourable to the cause of the charity.
New PUBLIC HALL FOR MANCRESTER. —The gentle-
men, who were appointed in July last to obtain plans and
estimates for the intended Public Hall upon the site of the
Free Trade Hall, made their selection last Tuesday. We
understand that six sets of designs were sent in. That by
Mr. Walters was chosen by the committee—the prize of
100 guineas being awarded to Mr. Edward Salomons, for
the second best design. It will be remembered by our
readers, that the committee selected a few of the architects
of Manchester to send in designs, and some dissatisfaction
seems to have arisen, that the competition was not open to
all the profession in the city. It is said that the architect's
estimate for the selected design considerably exceeds the
amount named as the limit by the committee.—The
Builder.
CIIRISTMAS AT TICE COUNTY ASYLUM, RAINIIILL.—
The happy influences of the season were most satifactorily
felt and enjoyed by all connected with this large establish-
ment. Good old Christmas cheer gladdened the board on
Sunday, and Monday was made a general holiday. In the
forenoon nearly 100 of the patients walked in the grounds
accompanied by the band, and afterwards made an excur-
sion into the country. A variety of entertainments had been
prepared for the evening, and about six o'clock there was a
general mustering in the recreation-hall, which had been
tastefully decorated with evergreens and devices of various
kinds, including the county arms, and those of the Ven.
Archdeacon Brooks, chairman of the committee of visitors.
An exhibition of Punch, skilfully managed by a profes-
sional operator, opened the proceedings, which were not a
little aided by some clever songs, sung by Mr. Ware, the

comic actor. The party, consisting of."-nerly 300 of both
sexes, then repaired, for the purpose of dancing, to a large
room, affording space for about 40 couples to enjoy this
amusement together. Some of the dances were led by a
harp and violin, efficiently played by the Brothers Rogers,
of Liverpool, and others by the band of the asylum. Glees,
madrigals, and comic songs were interspersed throughout
the evening, which was rendered doubly gratifying to all
concerned by the perfect and uninterrupted good feeling
and conduct which prevailed.
PRESENTATION Or PLATE.-011 Tuesday a party,
gentlemen connected with Abercromby ward sat down to
supper, on the occasion of presenting a silver tea service to
Mr. Christian, secretary to the Conservative Association
for Abercromby Ward. Mr. Richard Griffith occupied
the chair, and Mr. John S. Gardner officiated as vice.
After the usual loyal toasts, the chairman, in appropriate
terms, presented the testimonial to Mr. Christian. The
service, which is of elegant design, is the work of Mr
Mayer, Lord-street, and bore the following inscription :
" Presented to Mr. William Christian, by the committee
and friends of the Conservative Association of Abercromby
Ward, as a tribute of their esteem, and in acknowledg-
ment of his arduous, zealous, and faithful services in pro-
moting Conservative principles in the ward for the last
sixteen years. Liverpool, November, 1853." Mr. Alder-
man R. C. Gardner, in returning thanks on behalf of the
aldermen and councillors of the ward, said it gave him
great pleasure to return thanks for that toast. It was
not the first time he had had to do so, as the ward had
supported him for the last six years, he could fearlessly
assert, without solicitation on his part. His best energies
and continued exertions would always be used on behalf of
the ward and for the good of the town. Of himself he
would say he was a steady reformer of all abuses, and
whenever called upon to remedy these abuses he did so'
with a good heart. As regarded his Conservatism and his
actions, his conduct had been long before the town, and
his votes had been thoroughly reported. Though he was
not so flowery an orator as some, he had yet maturely
considered all matters brought before him without feeling
or favour ; and, having acted according to his conscience
hitherto, he would continue to do so. From his long and
practical knowledge in local, matters he was able to vote
from experience ; and in this belief he considered he was
servir', his own and his constituents' interests, and bene-
fiting the town at large—a duty for which he and the
other representatives of the burgesses were sent to the
Council.
ANNUAL COIINTY SESSIONS.—The annual general ses-
sions of the peace for the county of Lancaster is appoint-
ed to be held by adjournment at the Court-house, in
Preston, to-morrow. Amongst the subjects set down in
the notice-paper for consideration are the assessment of
money to be raised by rates, during the ensuing half-
year, for public purposes; reports of county lunatic asy-
lums, and the appointment of the committee of visitors
thereto, appointment of surgeon of Lancaster Castle;
directions to the clerk of the peace as to shewing cause
against the rule nisi for a certiorari—justices of Lanca-
shire : ats., Saunders, Esq.—The notices of motion in-
clude, amongst other subjects of minor importance, the
appointment, of eight additional constables for the higher
division of the hundred of Blackburn, to be moved by Mr.
Jonathan Hargreaves ;—that a committee be appointed to
obtain plans for a fit and proper place for the reception of
idiots and congenital lunatics, where they may be main-
tained at a much less cost than at the present hospitals ;
—that an addition of ten constables be made to the pub-
lic force of the Bury division, to be moved by Mr. Ed-
mund Grundy ; —that a committee be appointed to watch
all bills that may be introduced into parliament connected
with the duties of county magistrates, which committee
shall be authorised, in case of necesity, to send a deputa-
tion to wait on government or other parties, for the pur-
pose of suggesting such alterations as may be deemed
expedient, and of opposing all clauses which may be con-
sidered to be injurious to the general interests of the
county, to be moved by the Rev. J. S. Birley ;—that a
police station and strong rooms be provided at Denton,
i Droylsden, 31ossley, Lees, and Waterloo, to be moved by
Mr. Thomas Harrison ;—that the committee of visitors to
the Lunatic Asylum, near Rainhill, be authorised to build
. I a new church in connexion with that asylum, to be
I moved by the chairman of the committee of visitors; that
' , three additional police constables be appointed in Ithe
Warrington division.

AUSTRALIAN MAIL. OrrwAuLs.—The London mail of
the 4th February will be despatched to Australia by the
Bosphorus, screw-steam vessel, the General Steam
Shipping Company, having obtained the contract for

its conveyance.
SUDDEN DEATH OP' A BOATMAN.—About half-past ten
o'clock ou Saturday morning, Patrick Tivney, a boatman,
fell in a fit iu his boat, while engaged in running a line
down to warp the ship Mary, in Brunswick-dock. He was
promptly taken to his house in Perry-street, where he died
almost immediately.
A GOOD BOOK IN BAD COMPANY.—At the Police-
court, on Saturday, Eliza Thompson, a respectably-dressed
girl, was charged with having stolen a book entitled
Gleanings from Pious Authors, from the shop of Messrs.
Butler and Beazley, of Lime-street. The prisoner had
offered the Pious Gleanings and some other work for sale
at an old book stall, and information having been given
that Messrs. Butler and Beazley had lost several religious
works, the prisoner was detained and given into custody.
In her defence, she said that the books were given to her
by a sailor, and that s he sold them, not liking to take
them, for fear of being questioned about the donor. The
case was remanded.
A DISAGREEABLE POLICEMAN.—At the Police-court,
on Saturday, Police-officer Pearson (317) charged Mr. F.
A. Hamilton, one of the borough magistrates, with driving
a gig on the wrong side of Great Howard-street. Mr.
Hamilton said that he was riding in his gig in Great
Howard-sreet, with no other vehicle within a quarter-of-a-
mile of him, when he heard some one shouting to him,
and, on turning round, observed that it was the policeman
Pearson. He drew up, when the officer said, " What are
you doing taking up the whole road to yourself, whydon't
you keep on your own side ?" He (Mr. Hamilton) then
took the officer's number, and on the officer, in return,
asking his name, he gave it. Mr. Mansfield said the officer
should do his duty so as to avoid giving unnecessary
offence. A gentleman had lately complained of his rude
behaviour in Lord-street, and he warned the officer to be
more circumspect in future, for if he used a gentleman
rudely there could be little doubt but that his conduct to
poorer persons would be much rougher. Mr. Hamilton
was fined 2s. 6d. and 2s. 6d. costs.
CAUTION TO MARINE-STORE DEALERS.—At the Police-
court, on Saturday, Thomas Wintersgale and Mary
M'Barrew were charged with having a quantity of lead,
brass, iron, and other metals, of which they could give
no satisfactory account. Officers Povey and M'Culloch
stated that, on Wednesday night, they went to the shop
of Wintersgale, who keeps a marine-store in Warwick-
street, and found, in a cellar and a garret, a quantity of
copper nails, cut brass, bolts, &c., of which there was no
entry in his books. While thus engaged, the female pri-
soner came in to sell some scrap iron; and, as she could
not satisfactorily account for her possession of it, they
took her into custody also. Wintersgale, who said in his
defence, first, that his wife had been dying for the last
six weeks, and secondly, that, being daily engaged at the
Albert Dock, he left all the marine-store business to her,
was fined 2s 6d, with 2s 6d costs, and his license revoked.
The female, who told a pitiable tale about a carter giving
her the iron, the sale of which would have saved her from
starvation, had evidently moved the magistrates to mercy,
when detective Murphy stated that she had frequently
been in the habit of selling old iron to a marine-store
dealer named M'Cormick, who lost his license some short
time since. This " turned the tables," and procured for
Miss M'Barrew two months imprisonment.
CHRISTmAs FESTIVITIES AT THE WORKHOUSE, &C.—
The inmates of the principal charitable institutions have
been permitted to share in the festivities of the season.
On Monday, the paupers in the Workhouse were allowed
roast beef, plum-pudding, and beer. The dining-room
_ _

was decorated for the occasion ; and the gallery..which

runs along one side of the room was throngedwitlivisiters.
Tea, coffee, and refreshments were also supplied at break-
fast and supper.—The inmates of the School for the Blind
were on Saturday week treated to fruit, &c., and allowed to
enjoy themselves until about midnight, a portion of the :
evening being devoted to music. On Sunday they were
liberally regaled ; and on Monday those pupils who bad
friends in the town were allowed to spend the day with
them, while the others were entertained in the institution.
—On Christmas Day, the children of the Blue-coat School
had their usual treat, and a holiday on Monday.—The
children of the Male and Female Orphan Asylums, to the
number of 150, were treated, on Monday, to roast beef and
plum-pudding ; and the children at the Industrial Schools,
Kirkdale, had a similar indulgence, in addition to their
two days' holiday.—The inmates of the West Derby Union
Workhouse, to the number of about 700, sat down on
Monday to a dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding, with
good ale. The governor of the house presided ; and the
chairman and other gentlemen of the board were present
during the day.
ELECTRIC TIME BALLS.--CATTTION' TO MARINERS.—
It appears from the following letter of Mr. Hugh Neill,
chairman of the Liverpool Observatory Committee, that
the Electric Time Ball in Castle-street is not to be de-
pended on for correctness, and that captains who rate their
chronometers by it, run a chance of throwing their vessels
out of position at sea two miles per day. Mr. Neill says—
" I have received two communications to-day from Mr.
Hartnup, of the Observatory, calling my attention to the
errors occurring in the dropping of the time ball of the
Electric Telegraph Company in Castle-street, which pro-
fesses to give the true Greenwich time. 'On Saturday,
the ball was dropped too late by several seconds ! To-day
the ball fell, too late by 19 seconds.' I have replied to Mr.
Hartnup's note, begging of him to make public these
errors, for the sake of the mariner. As another day may
elapse before this note can appear, I have taken the liberty
of extracting from his communication The incorrect-
ness of Saturday would cause an error in a ship's longi-
tude of two miles a day.—Yours.
.&c., HUGH NEILL,
Chairman of the Liverpool Observatory Committee."
Mr. Hartnup, in a letter to a contemporary, states that
on Monday and Tuesday, the time denoted by the fall of
the time ball was so incorrect, that captains trusting it,
would fake an error in a ship's longitude of fifteen miles
a day.
Ism? op MAN BANKS.—After the closing of Mr.
Holmes's bank, there was a panic among the depositors in
and a run on the Bank for Savings in this town, in conse-.
quence of which the trustees of the bank issued a notice
guaranteeing the depositors their respective sums in full.
This notice, we are glad to learn, has, in a great measure,
allayed the unnecessary run ; and last Saturday a number
of depositors, who had previously given notice of the with-
drawal of their respective deposits, withdrew such notices,
not immediately requiring the money, and their confidence
being restored by the guarantee as . to the stability of the
institution. We have reason to know that the affairs of
the bank are perfectly solvent, notwithstanding the sum
locked up for the present in Holmes's, and that tie trustees
will be no losers thereby, as there is a sufficient surplus to
meet the supposed loss by Holmes's Bank. But should
this not be the case, the trustees have come forward hand-
somely and guaranteed any deficiency. The business of
the bank will in future be transacted in the new premises,
next door to the Odd Fellows'-hall, Atholl-street. The
office is fitted up expressly for the business of the bank,
and contrasts favourably with the present place of busi-
ness. We stated some time since that Messrs. Dumbell
and Howard had been granted a license to issue £5,000 of
notes. The Herald has twice denied this statement in its
own refined manner. On further inquiry we find that we
were correct in our announcement; that on the 24th of
November the application for a license was made, on which
certain documents and information were required by the
Governor and Council; on the 30th the required matters
were provided, and on the Bth of December a minute of
the Council was made that Messrs. Dumbell . and Howard
be granted a license; which license was subsequently
drawn up, and (we have perused it) signed by the Gover-
nor, Lord Bishop, the Water Bailiff, and Archdeacon, and
dated the 23d of December, and which license commenced
on and from the Ist November last. This will show that
we were correct in our former statements, and the license
was virtually granted on the 30th of November or the Bth
of December, when notes were ordered, although actual
possession of the paper writing, which has since been pre-
pared, did not take place at that time.. So much for our
quibbling contemporary, who wants all at once to be so
very punctilious, and, with its usual coarse effrontery, takes
wonderful pains to draw us down to its own standard of

contempt.-Manx Sun.
Towle Couricm MEETING.—At the monthly meeting,
to-morrow, (Wednesday,) the following subjects will be
taken into consideration :—The proceedings of the Finance
Committee, comprising, recommendation to increase the
salaries of two clerks in the office of the clerks to the
magistrates, namely, Mr. Jacob Walter, from £l3O to £lOO
per annum, and Mr. Richard Ellis, from £llO to £l4O per
annum, the consideration of which was postponed at the
last monthly Council, pursuant to the standing orders ;
recommendation to appoint Mr. Edward Chamberlain
superintendent of the chain testing machine, at the salary
received by his predecessor, namely, £lO5 per annum, with
house ; report of the probable income and expenditure of
the Corporation for the year commencing Ist September
last, and ending 31st of August next ; recommendation to
grant a sum to each of the townships within the borough,
equal to the amount of watch-rate payable by such town-
ships respectively; recommendation for payment of the
usual gratuities to the public charities ; recommendation •
to authorise the sale on lease of land in Canning-place and
New Wapping; recommendation to enter into arrange-
ments with the Dock Committee in order to provide pro-
per approaches to the new landing-stage for sea-going
steamers, proposed to-be moored in front of the Prince's
Dock Parade ; and recommendation to increase the salaries
of Mr. S. M. Strick, clerk to the Town-clerk's office, Corn-
, wallis-street, from £7B to £l2O per annum ; and of Mr.
William Colwell, clerk in the same office, from £7B to
£lO9 4s. perannum. Theproceedings of the Gaol and House
of Correction Committee, comprising, recommendation to
increase the salary of the chaplain of the Borough Gaol,
from £250 to £350 per annum ; and recommendation to
accept the following tenders : namely, of Messrs. Adam-
son and Tapley for gray cloth, of Thomas Milner for white
scouring flannel, and of Thomas Aspinall for milk. The
proceedings-of the Health Committee, comprising recom-
mendation that the salaries of Mr. William Sainsbury and
Mr. Richard Blades, district surveyors, be respectively
increased from £l3O to £l5O per annum. The proceedings
of the Water Committee, comprising recommendation to
sell to the Church Building Committee. at £1 3s. per
square yard, the land in Eaton-street, formerly used as a
waterworks station ; and recommendation that the salary
of Mr. Thomas Duncan, engineer, be increased from £450
to MO per annum. e proceedings of the Library and
Museum Committee, comprising statement showing the
position of the Library and Museum Fund, with estimate
of the amount required for the year ending 31st August
next ; recommendation to take the necessary proceedings
preparatory to laying a rate under the provisions of "The
Liverpool Library and Museum Act, 1852 ;" recommenda-
dation to appoint Mr. William Roulson superintendent of
the Lending Libraries, at the salary of £lOO per annum,
the consideration of which was postponed at the last
monthly Council, pursuant to the standing orders. The
following motions, of which notices have been given
By Mr. Samuel Holme : That Mr. William Earle be
I appointed a member of the Improvement Committee. By
Mr. William Earle (after the proceedings of the Improve-
ment Committee) : To rescind or vary so much of a reso-
lution of the Council passed on the sth day of October last,
as authorizes the Improvement Committee to apply to
Parliament for powers to construct a new street, twenty-
four yards wide, commencing near the south portico of
St. George's-hall, and terminating in Dale-street, at the
east side of Colonial-buildings, near Moorfields, and to
limit the powers to be applied for by the Improvement Bill
to be introduced into Parliament, m the next session, so
far as respects such intended new street, to the property
situated between St. John's-lane and. Hood-street, and to
effecting the other imp royements kroposed by that bill.