The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-22 00:00:00

ROYAL MERSEY YACHT CM:YR.-011Thursday next
sailing match for an elegant piece of plate, of the value of
50 sovs., will take place from New Brighton, by the large
class of cutter yachts belonging to this club. The follow-
ing vessels are intended to take part in the contest :—Sul-
tana, 99 tons, R. C. Naylor, Esq. ; Queen of the Ocean,
49 tons, Thomas Littledale, Esq. ; Vision, 45 tons, Thos.
Birchall, Esq. ; Gondola, 75 tons, W. H. Woodhouse,
Esq. ; Bacchante, 80 tons, B. H. Jones , Esq. ; Water
Wyvern, 40 tons, J. E. Stopford, Esq. The Queen's
Course, the line to be sailed over, is from the starting
place at New Brighton round the Bell Buoy and North-
west Lightship. The latter marks sailed twice over, and
back again to New Brighton.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE.—A meeting of the principal
inhabitants of Everton was held on Wednesday at Mr.
William Halliday's, the Everton Coffee-house, for the
purpose of presenting a service of plate to Mr. William
Shaw, who has been for many years an overseer of the
poor for that township, as a mark of esteem for his con-
duct during the time he held that office. Mr. George
Kerford, secretary to the testimonial committee, was
called upon to present the testimonial, which consisted of
a lithographic portrait of Mr. Shaw, by Mr. M'Gahey, of
Bank-buildings, and a handsome tea and desert service.
Mr. Ledger said he had had an opportunity for eleven
years of witnessing the correct manner in which Mr. Shaw
had kept his accounts, and of marking the honesty and
general excellence of his character. The township of
Everton had also tested him, and the list of subscribers
to the testimonial, which contained the names of a num-
ber of men of every shade of political opinion, and every
standing in society, testified their opinion of the manner
in which he discharged the parochial duties which de-
volved upon him. He was respected by the magistrates
for his intimate acquaintance with the intricacies of the
poor-law; and the poor themtelves had proved him kind
and charitable. The Chairman then formally presented
the plate to Mr. Shaw, whose health was drunk with
three times three. Mr. Shaw briefly thanked the com-
pany for the unexpected honour which had been conferred
upon him, assuring them that his only desire was to give
satisfaction to the rate-payers. The proceedings then ter-
minated, and the meeting resolved itself into a convivial
party, the hilarity of which was maintained undisturbed
till a late hour.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—ANNUAL EXAMINATION.
—The annual midsummer examination of the pupils in
the higher and lower schools connected with this institu-
tion commenced on Wednesday. In each department the
examination was conducted by the masters of the different
classes, under the supervision of the Principal, W. B.
Hodgson, Esq., LL.D. The pupils in the English classes,
and those for foreign languages, in both schools, displayed
the greatest proficiency, and the result must be very
gratifyieg not only to the students themselves but to the
parents and to the teachers under whose tuition they have
been placed. In the drawing classes no mean degree of
talent was exhibited; and if some of the young and as-
piring students will only patiently study good models they
will doubtless stand high in the walk of art they have
chosen. There were some fine specimens amongst the
productions of the students in the High School, the best
of which were by Mason, (who had several excellent heads
and figures,) Lyon, Langshaw, &c. There were some
good drawings also in the Lower School: and where all
were excellent, it may perhaps be deemed invidious to
particularize ; but those of Thomas Hill were particularly
striking. The evening scholars also contributed a number
of pleasing sketches, one of which was a sweet little rural
scene, by Williams. H. Stanley showed a beautiful draw
scene from a French subject. Fairclough, John Wild,
angshaw, and Carrington, had some of the best draw-
am. The best of the ornamental drawings
ghan, and Dagnall. There was a fine head

nas Burrows, who -had also a tastefully drawn
figure of Venus. Simpson, Stephenson, Frederick Fos-
brooke, Hatherlev, Cotter, and E. H. Wylde, had also
some very creditable specimens. There is also an elabo-
rate and well executed copy of Herrman's painting of
St. Nicholas's Church, by George Walker. The whole of
them displayed great care and diligent study, and reflect
the greatest credit upon pupils and teachers. The exami-
nation was resumed next day, and in the evening a meet-
ing was held in the theatre of the Institution, at which
prizes were awarded to the most successful scholars.

THE VOTE OF THANKS TO JOHN HOLMES, ESQ.--We
have had an opportunity of inspecting, at the private
room of the artist, the emblazoned copy, of the vote of
thanks passed to Mr. John Holmes, at the last meeting
of the Highway Commissioners, in December last. It
has been executed by Mr. John R. Isaac, of Castle-street,
and is one of the most elegantly finished and elaborately
executed works of the kind we have seen. It is done on
vellum, large size, and handsomely framed. The vote of
thanks is written in original church text, with illuminated
letters ; and an agreeable relief is afforded by the intro-
duction of different characters, some of which, the origi-
nal design of Mr. Isaac, are exceedingly chaste. The
border, which is very gracefully designed and richly orna-
mented, is purely allegorical. On the right side there is
some golden tubing, or segments of circles,—intended to
convey an idea of water-pipes,—Mr. Holmes, as is well
known, having been mainly instrumental in obtaining a
proper supply of water for the town. These are charged
with a serpent, with ivy leaves intertwining, denoting
lasting health. At the top are a scythe and a bee-hive,
representing time and industry ; and at the bottom an
olive branch and a cornucopeia, the allegorical represen-
tatives of peace and plenty. The centre division is occd-
pied with the Liverpool crest. At the top there is another
beautiful bordering, with wreaths of flowers and fruit
pendant; and.two aerial figures in the centre, supporting
the armorial bearings of Mr. Holmes,—a pelican, natural,
feeding her young. On each side is a medallion, that to
the right representing the highway, with a car of fame,
intended to signify the exertions of Mr. Holmes as a
member of the Board of Highways ; and on the left is a
fountain and a stream of pure water. At the bottom are
drawings of the Town-hall, and Scotland-road, which
was widened in the year 1825, on the individual responsi-
bility of Mr. Holmes. These are joined with a wreath of
roses, in the centre of which are Mr. Holmes' initials,
the whole supported by a beautiful base of scrollwork.
Lilies, forget-me-not, and heartsease are strewed down
the left side. This beautiful work, which is done entirely
by the pen, has been designed and elaborated in a style
the most creditable to Mr. Isaac, the artist.
MURDER AT KNOWSLEY.—The household of Lord
Derby and the residents in the immediate neighbourhood
of Knowsley-hall were thrown in a state of considerable
excitement on Sunday evening last by the following shock-
ing occurrence :—About 7 o'clock in the evening a man
who appeared to be in a very excited state and without
hat and shoes came to the door of the lodge in Knowsley-
park, which is built in the Swiss cottage style, near the
stable yard, and in which resides an old retainer of the
family, well known as Betty Highcock, and her servant-
maid, an interesting looking young girl of 15, named Ann
Leyland. The old woman was alarmed at the man's ap-
pearance and told him to go away, as she had nothing to
give him. He immediately rushed at and threw her
down. The girl Leyland ran terrified out of the house,
down the avenue leading to the main carriage road. The
maniac, for such he was, pursued her. Old Mrs. High-
cock, taking advantage of the opportunity, got up and ran
in the opposite direction towards the stables. Some of
the grooms having heard her screams, came out, and
going in the direction of the carriage road, found the mad-
man about 50 yards from the cottage door, standing over
the unfortunate girl, whom he had knocked down. He
had one foot upon each of her arms, and her long hair
twisted in his hands, whilst he was pulling it with all his
might. The girl then appeared to be insensible. It
would appear that some minutes elapsed before the per-
son who first arrived would dare to approach the maniac,
who threatened them with instant destruction if they
interfered with him. At length, however, a helper in the
stables, named James Mills, came behind and threw him
fright over, when, horrible to relate, the scalp, extending
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tacbed by the previous blows, was rent completelyfrom the
hand. The girl was immediately taken
the breadth of a man's
yoftlten up and conveyed
skull, leaving the bone e
to the hall. Mr. Alty, surgeonae was in attend-
ance as soon as possible and remained with her all night.
She, however, never recovered from the collapsed state in
which she was found, and died at 8 o'clock on Monday
morning. The perpetrator of the horrid deed was not .e-
-cured for some time. He deliberately walked up before
the windows of the hall—sometimes wiping his hands with
the bloody scalp, and at others holding it up high over his

head, and singing "hallelujahs." Its e;cult-a.tion was
only similar to that of a savage Indian displaying the
reeking trophy just severed from the head of a prostrate
foe. Within about a quarter of an hour after he had first
been seen several persons collected around with pitch-
forks, staves, and other weapons ; and he was secured, and
handed over to a policeman, who had been sent for. The

latter, with some difficulty, extracted the hair from his
hand. A sort of pruning-knife was found in his pocket,
but he does not appear to have made any use of it. He
was then conveyed to Prescot police-station, where he re-
mained for the night. The name of the man is James
Dwerryhouse. He is a powerful looking person, about 35
years of age ; had been for some years in the army ;
served in India, and was discharged with a conditional
pension about four years since. For the last two years he
has been employed as a signal man on the London and
North-Western Railway, stationed at Broad-green, the
duties of which office he performed up to Saturday even-
ing last. On that day he appeared to some of the over-
lookers and to his family to be rather strange in his con-
duct, constantly reading a hymn book, and refusing to
take his usual meals. At 8 o'clock on the same evening
he left his friends, and they, supposing him to be insane,
searched for him through the night, and gave a descrip-
tion of his person at the different police-offices. Unfor-
tunately he was not found in sufficient time to prevent
mischief. His is evidently a religious madman. For the
last two months he has completely given up drinking and
smoking (although previously addicted to both practices,„
giving as a reason that, as Christ had suffered for him he
was bound to suffer in return. He stated to Mr. Allen,
the superintendent of police at Preseot, that he had killed
the unfortunate girl because she was an enemy of the
Lord, and that he was commissioned from Heaven to 'lay
all such. He refused every kind of sustenance, saying
that he was " fed with manna from on high." An in-
quest was held on the body of the girl at Knowsley-hall
on Wednesday evening, before Mr. John Hayes and a
respectable jury. A post mortem examination had been
made by Mr. Alty. He was of opinion that death was
produced by comprsssion on the brain, produced by the
extravasation of a quantity of blood between its mem-
branes, the effect of a blow or a severe fall on the back of
the head. He did not think that the scalping had any-
thing to do with the immediate cause of death, The pri-
soner, who was present during the inquiry, preserved the
most dogged silence, although several times asked his
name by the coroner. His hands were manacled behind
his back, which appeared to be a very necessary pre-
caution, as lie was sometimes disposed to be violent
A verdict of " Wilful murder " was returned against him,
and he was immediately forwarded to Kirkdale gaol. The
old woman Highcock is still confined to her bed, danger-
ously ill from the effects of her fall and fright. 1