The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-01-08 00:00:00

rants and allowances were m

Sub-comtnittee of Wor

:commodation
Steam Navi

ted b-y the compan.

to t

)n Company, was then read
Le Brunswick Dock, &c.

were ti

into effect, in accordance with the re

a ordered to be carried
commendations of the

Sub-committee

iolvecl that the company be

Mr. Tour and several other gentlemen entered into a
conversation upon the subject of the working of the dredging
machines, from which it appeared that the process of dredg-
ing could be carried on with much greater rapidity than for.

The tenders of the Soho Company were then read for sup-
plying the light ship with three new lanterns, the cost of
which, with all their appurtenances, was estimated at £476
each. 'A desultory conversation ensued on this subject.
The report of the sub-committee was referred back, in order
that the contract might be fulfilled as speedily as possible.
A motion for a gratuity to the-crews of the life-boats (see
our last report) was then acceded to.
A report was then read, suggesting the propriety of memo-
rialising the Trinity Board, on the subject of having a beacon
erected on Harry Furlong's Rock, near Beaumaris. and de-
tailing numerous losses which had taken place on that spot.
Report con firmed

gainst the Prince's
insulting language, was

The complaint of Henry Hughes, pilot
Duck pier-head master, for using

referred to the Harbour-Master's Committee.
A long discustion then ensued on a report of the Finance
Committee, recommending an improved mode of keeping the

accounts of the trust, in icccordance with the suggestions of
the British and North American Association. The report
was finally agreed to.

Mr. EIORSFALL asked permission to read a letter, with
which Mr. Chapman had favoured him. He was as anxious
to deal fairly by Mr. Chapman as he was by Mr. Hartley,
or any other gentleman ; and he inclined to think from the
concluding expression in the letter, that Mr. Chapman would
expect it to be read to the committee. Mr. Horsfall then
read the following letter
"85, Jermyn-street, London, Jan. 4th, 1841.

" Sir,—l have this morning received a Liverpool Mail of
the 2d, in which I perceive ih the report of " The Meeting of
ck Committee" you have in my absence made allu-
s 1 brought, in willing, against the Dock

to t he eharg,

urveyor, and

which, on the clearest evidence, were admitted
as proved by the sub-committee, of which you were a member.
" The case being so long disposed of. I am at a loss to
know your motive in again introducing the subject, when a
special committee has been appointed to enquire into the old
system of management, the system being what I complained

. . ..,
of. I distinctlydisclaimed any reflection on Mr. Hartley's
honesty, but, on the contrary, commended him for good in-
tentions, and gave him every credit for being a good stone-

" It appears from the report of your speech that you were
instrumental in appointing him, and consider yourself re-
flected upon. If this be the case I think it only right to
mention that it is scarcely fair that you should be a member
of the special committee now sitting for the purpose of en-
quiring into the old system of management, which I have for
years past considered very faulty ; and no wonder, when the
Surveyor, as a proof of• his own capacity, publishes " the
thanks of the Dock Committee voted to him for his able re-
port in 1836," but to which is added, their regret that "they
had not had time to examine it, or go into detail."

ges and senti-

whatever c

You think proper of this

-1 remain, Sir, your obedient servant, -
"HENRY CLEAVER CHAPMAN

Mr. ti

;q., Liverpool

fall, (in continuation) referring to the charge of

on the subject to which it alluded in Mr, Chap-
ce, observed that he (Mr. Horsfall) attended
!e on that day fortnight, and found Mr. Chap-
and he did not then think it necessary to defer

the connnitte

further what he had to say
that it was not fair for him (Mr. Horsfa

ks to Mr. Chapinan's saying
one of the

the fact was well

to all the gentlemen present, that he, although he
n named on that committee, had immediately desired
le to be withdrawn from the list and it was with-

It was then resolved, on the motion of Mr. EVANS, se-
conded by Mr. HonspALL, that the salary of Mr. Mason,
the Secretary, should be increased from £4OO to £3OO, per
annum, to commence from the 17th of December, 1840.
After Mr. MASON had briefly returned thanks for this
mark of approbation of his labours, the Committee sepa-
rated.

STRANGERS' FRIEND SOCIETY

On Wednesday last the annual meeting of this most excel-
lent society took place at the Charitable Institution House,
in Slater-street. Mr. Crossfield having been requested to
take the chair, the Treasurer, Mr. Ashton, read a statement
of the receipts and diSbursements. He said that at this period
last year the society bed one or two hundred pounds in
hand, but he regretted to say this year their funds were quite
exhausted, indeed they were heavily in debt, and unless the
public and the friends to the institution came forward, they
could not possibly carry on. There was a balance due to the
r of X 13., and the sum of £223. to the Soup Society
up supplied to the poor. He could
reason why it was so, but it was his firm convic-
n this town were deplorably on
a: it might be either that the wants of the poor
:..r; or from the increase in population. He would
le report of the committee, and twelve cases that had
selected out of many others even of a more appalling

for 107,000 quarts of

tion that distresvan

miser

" The committee of the Strangers' Friend Society take the
rliest opportunity of laying before t

friends and subseri-
lings, as the present

hers the iiport of 'the last year'

exhausted state of the fUnds calls for the most prompt and
liberal supply, in order to carry oti The benevolent'designs of
the society, and to prevent the loss of the services of the visit-
ors, a hich, if even partially suspended, at this season of the
year, may not easily be restored again. So long as the means
are available, by Which they may be able, in some degree, to
alleviate the miseries which it is their lot so frequently to
witness, they will cheerfully continue to afford their valuable
services • and it would be painful indeed to your committee
to he obliged to interrupt, or even to curtail, the extent of
their usefulness, for want of the necessary means of employ-
ing them in their arduous and disinterested labour.

7` During the past year there have been relieved about 2700
cases of distress, comprising, probably, about 12,000 indivi-
duals, besides &very large number relieved by the distribu-
tion of soup, during the depth of the last winter. Of the
cases examined at the office there• were about 930 English,
260 Welsh, 1300 Irish, 140 Scotch, and about 40 foreigners .
amongst these there were a large proportion (about 750) of
widows, who have, in the whole, upwards of 2000 fatherless
children. It is true that the applicants were more than double
this number of cases, but your committee direct those to be
relieved whose emergencies are the greatest ; and here it
would be unpardonable not to record their best thanks to the
Select Vestry, for having taken so rnany•cases for relief into
their favourable consideration, at the recommendation of the
agent and the officers,—cases which, otherwise, must have
been a great bui-den upon these funds.
" The state of the poor during the last winter was extremely
distressing, but it was liberally and generously met by the
subscribers and donors. The Soup Society also freely sup-
plied the visitors with soup tickets, for distribution amongst
the very poorest of the community, to the extent of upwards
of 10,000 quarts of wholesome, nutritious, and palatable food,
which was, with very few exceptions, most gratefully received,
and no doubt was the means of saving the lives of many, es-
pecially children. It has been, however, a subject of great
regret to your committee, that the treasurer has never been
in circumstances to pay for this supply, though it has been
made at the low charge of one halfpenny per quart. The
. .

- - -
receipts of the society have been distributed nearly as fast as
they have been received, chiefly in bread, oatmeal, coals, and
other necessaries, and now, at the conclusion of the year, in
the commencement of the pressure of the winter season, when
it has been usual t 3 reckon upon a tolerable sum in hand to
meet the exigencies of the same, your treasurer is a trifle in

advance, with a debt due to the Soup Society of £223. The
distresses of the labouring poor are, at the present time, ex-
tremely heavy and pressing ; great numbers of them are dis-
qualified from labour through sickness, even if employment
were abundant; but this is far from being the case, the great
numbers of labourers and handicraftsmen who flock to this
great commercial mart in search or; employment, almost al-
ways exceed the demand, great as it may bt... The extent of
destitution and sickness, in some of the poorest neighbour-
hoods and streets of this town, at present, is most appalling,
even to those who are no strangers to such sad scenes. YOur
committee are persuaded that no appeal is necessary beyond
this plain statement of the case, but that that long-established
and well-tried society will continue to meet with that support
from the benevolent, which it has never yet, for the last 45

. -
years, had to call for in vain."
Mr. Comm said that there were two causes which had
very materially tended to give increase to the impoverish-
ments of the porn, one of which arose out of the strike of the
bricklayers, in consequence of disputes with their masters,
and the other cause was the operation of the New Poor-Law
in lrel,intL The greatest repugnance was felt and expressed
towards that measure, and persons there objected to be sepa-
rated and placed at a distance from their friends in work-
houses. In Belfast and other towns, it was actually a fact,
numbers of the poor were shipped off and sent to this country.
In conclusion, he begged to move that the report be passed.
Mr. BROWN briefly seconded the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN said that he'had no doubt the high price
s during the last two or three years had been the
ntributing largely to the distress prevalent.
poor were growing poorer, and were parting
Ind everything they possessed to find food
This was operating throughout the coun-

of provi

ith furniture
.onl day to day

-Mr. COMER 'remarked that there had been less work going
,n this year than ever known ; some men who at tirneaeould
;eta day and a half, had been many weeks idle.

.., _ ...-.
.
A conversation then ensued respecting the propriety of the
Dciety distributing tickets during the inclement season.
The TREASURER said, in the low state of their credit, he
id not see how it was to be done.

Thanks having been voted tothe Chairman, the meeting
,eparated.

VEGETABLE CHIMNEY ORNAMENT.—In winter an ele-
gant chimney ornament may be formed by cutting the head
or thick end of a carrot, containing the bulb, and placing it in
a shallow vessel with water. Young and delicate leaves nnfold
themselves, forming a radiated tuft of a very handsome ap-
pearance, and heightened by contrast with the season of the
year.—Recreations in Science.

HOUSE DECORATING.—We were gratified a few days
ago with the sight of the drawing-room, in the house of
Henry Paul Fleetwood, Esq., which has recently been de-

corated in an elegant and perfectly novel style, by Mr. R.
Richardson, of Mr. Walmsley's establishment, Avenham-
street. The ceiling is divided into six compartments ; in
the angles are groups of allegorical figures representing the
four seasons, and in the centre pannels are figures of morn-
ing and night. There are a number of figures in each com-
partment st., admirably designed, that you cannot spare one
without leaving a blank in the general representation ; nor
can imagination suggest another which would be necessary
to supply additional spirit to th" The grou.ns of

;I:ouping

winter and night, are highly poetical and delicate ; the har-
monious floating lines which the different figures form—their
buoyancy, and transparency, and the fine arrangement of the
light which illuminates them, cannot be too highly praised.
The more sombre appearance of the cornice, and the deeper
hue of the wood work, give a full relief to the aerial beauty
of the figures ; and the fine appearance of the imitation
watered crimson silk of the walls, is novel, ingenious, and
tasteful, and presents a proper contrast to the bright atmo-
sphere in which the figures are supposed to move. The doors
Rrid all the wood-work are in imitation of English oak, and
present a beautiful specimen of the great perfection to which
this artist has brought imitation of woods in this country.
The decoration of the room is in good keeping with the fur-
niture, and highly creditable to the skill of Mr. Richardson.
This style of house decoration forms a new era in our arts,
and is, we trust, a certain prelude of their increased prud-
-1 ad value in public estimation.—Preaton Chtvrtlek.

COLUSTOiN I.5Vvt.L
MERLIN AND A RIVER STEAMER

STEAM-SHIP

(From our Second Edition of Tuesday

This morning, about eighteen minutes before seven o'clock,
as H. M. mail steam-ship Merlin was coming down the ri-
ver on her way to Dublin, and the Earl of Bridgewater

steamer was oil her way up from Georg

1 to the

ceived considerable damage. The Bridgewater had at ti
just passed under the stern of the Windermere Stea Wel

precise caus.

but from what

coming into contact has not transpire
can learn, the collision—the light bi
all probability entirely accidental or t
Merlin immediately backed her engines.
the Earl of Bridgewater, thinking the N

made their way on board the

The men on board
rrl;crilt eint

foul of each other, with the exception of two, fo:
Captain Tudor, the commander of the latter vessel

dialely sent one of his boats. The Earl of Bridgewater had
her starboard paddle-box and wheel completely smashed up.
One of the paddle-beams was broken, and there was some
slight breakage of the engine. She was, however, got safely
into the Duke's Dock with the same tide, and is there afloat,
though leaky. The Metlin sustained such damage in her

head-works, that it was deemed advisable not to proceed to
sea until the vessel had been overhauled, and she was accord-
ingly docked immediately in the Coburg. The mails were,
of course, despatched by another vessel. The prompt assist-
ance given by Captain Tudor and his officers and crew, the
moment the accident occurred, was, we learn, most praise-
worthy and seaman-like. No one was, in the slightest de-
gree, hurt in either vessel.

FURTHE

R. PARTICULARS

Since writing the above, our reporter has visited the Mer-
lin, in which the effect of the collision is peculiarly remark-
able. The end of the paddle-beam of the Earl of Bridge-
water (which is apparently of tough American elm, and from
to 9 inches square) has been driven clean through the lar-
board bow, about a foot from the stern, and about two feet
and a half from the water's edge. It has broken some: of
the bow timbers, torn „up the ceiling inside, and projects
nearly three feet into the interior of the vessel ! It appears,
indeed, as if it had been fired from a gun. The paddle-beam
(as above stated) was broken in the collision, and the end of
it on the starboard side being thus firmly fixed into the Mer-
lin, that vessel, in backing off, no doubt drew out the re-
maining portion, probably 12 or 14 feet in length, which,
together with some woodwork and part of the iron machi-
nery attached, is now sticking in her bow,-not unlike the
wreck of a boat. So tightly is the beam driven in, that-no
daylight is admitted by any part of the perforation made ;
and were the portion of the wreck outside sawn off, that
driven in would remain fixed, perhaps water-tight, in the
nature of a plug in a gunshot perforation. On one side of
the beam driven in, there is a strong plate of iron. Neither
the stern of the Merlin,.nor her figure-head, are injured, and
'the damage sustained may be readily repaired.

AWFUL FIRE AT DUNDEE.-TIIREE CHURCHES

BURNT DOWN

[The following appeared in our second edition on Tuesday,
and was the first public announcement of the unfortunate
occurrence.]
A respectable gentleman of this town has furnished us with
the following extract of a letter which he has just received
from his son, who is a pupil at a school in Dundee :
" Last Sunday morning, January 3, three of the Dundee
town churches, being connected, were burnt to the ground,
and the fire raged so furiously that it was considered neces-
sary to remove several of the ships in Earl Grey's Dock for
safety. The fire, which broke out about four o'clock a.m.,
is supposed to have originated from an overheating of the
stoves. In the afternoon the drummer and bellman gave
notice through the town that sermons would be preached in
the seminaries and infant schools."

(From the Times of Wednesday.)

DUNDEE, SUNDAY MORNING, Jan. 3.-IThis morning,
about five o'clock, a fire was discovered in a portion of the
venerable pile of buildings which have for many centuries
been the pride and ornament of our town. The alarm was
immediately given to the police. the fire engine and fire
brigade hastened to the spot, the alarm bell pealed forth to
rouse the inhabitants, and thousands were disturbed from
their rest to witness the entire destruction of three of the
churches, and one of the most sublime spectacles which ever
took place in Scotland. The fire originated from a stove in
a passage betwixt the Steeple and South Churches; and when
we arrived at the scene of destruction, the flames were
bursting out of one of the windows, situate in an angle of
the latter building. Nothing could equal the frightful vehee
tnenee of the devouring element ; it ran with the speed of
lightning along the galleries of the church, the pulpit was a
mass of fire, and in a few moments was entirely consumed ; an
intense white flame burst through the roof, while from the back
part of the church an overwhelming volume of massive fire
moved towards the front, and, gathering force as it proceeded,
burst with irresistible fury out of the beautiful window facing
the street, driving the assembled populace backward by the
intensity of the heat. At the same moment the venerable
cathedral, which has for 700 years wea.hered the storm,
Caught fire, and the sympathies of the spectators were much
excited at the approaching destruction of the noblest rem-
nant of antiquity of which our town can boast. Meanwhile
the Cross Church, f rtning a limb of the cross in which the

churches are built, and situate immediately behind the
South ChuFch, which was first on file, was one mass of flame.
About half-past six the conflagration was at its height. The
three churches, from the base to the highest pLinaele, were
wrapped in the 'devouring element. The sublimity of the
spectacle may be imagined, not described : its astound-
ing grandeur paralysed every effort of the fire-brigade,
the military, and the police. All seemed to feel at once
the hopelessness of any attempt to check its fury, and
to ponder upon the feebleness of man's efforts in com-
parison to the awful ravages of the flames. While all
this was going on below, the ancient tower, which rises to
the height of 150 feet, and is attached to the Steeple Church,
the only one not in flames, rose Phoenix-like above the ter—
rific contention, and the peal of the alarm bells • from its in-
terior added to the grandeur of the spectacle. The utmOst
efforts were made by the firemen to prevent the fire spreadint
to the Steeple Church, and happily this was effecter by di-
recting the hose to the door communicating with the lobby
between it and the part of the edifice in flames

the steeple and church were preserved.- 'I he utmost alarm
prevailed for the safety of the old buildings to the east and
south-east—the sparks flying in these directions in showers
resembling the thickest bail, many of them of considerable
size—but we are happy to say the destruction was confined
to the churches. The buildings are almost entirely ruined.

The East Church, or Cathedral, is a complete wreck ; the
tine Gothic arches, with their supports, are destroyed, and
the only articles rescued were the silver communion service
and the records of the Presbytery of Dundee; a valuable
library composed of many works of the-fathers of the church

in Greek and Latin is entirely lost. The fire spent its fury
before nine o'clock in the morning, and all fears for the
safety of other buildings had subsided. The damage done
to the churches is estimated at betwixt £30,b00 and £40,000,
and the event has occasioned great and universal regret in
the minds of our townsmen, the great mass of whom are
warmly attached to the church of their fathers, and to the
venerable edifices themselves. No lives have been lost, not
have we heard of any casualty. .

. .„
We regret to learn that Dr. Olinthus Gregory hasn suirereil
a paralytic stroke, and remains in a very precarious state.
It is not saying too much to designate this excellent man as

the great Christian philosopher of the day.—Leicestershire

Mercury

The circumstance of the alleged blossoming of the Glaston-
bury thorn on Christmas Day has generally been accounted

a fable ; we are, however, assured that this ihorn, which had
not a single blossom on it on Christmas eve, was in blossom
next day.—Hereford Journal.
REPRESENTATION OF MONMOUTHSHIRE.—Mr. Tracy
has replied to the requisition, and expresses his readiness,
whenever the present member, Mr. Williams, shall relinquish
his seat, to stand forward as a candidate for the representa-
tion of the county of Monmouth.—Ministerial Paper.
A WRITE HERON.—A fine specimen of this bird, now
nearly extinct in this country, was seen a few days ago nest
Port Carlisle. The cautious manner in which it made choice

of a feeding place, and its general shyness. precluded the pos.•
sibility of approaching it within 200 yards. A number of
white swans have also within the last few days, visited the
Solway, near Port Carlisle. These birds'are considered the

certain precursors of a severe winter.— Whitehaven Herald.
FIRE IN THE VICTUALLING-YARD, DEPTFORD.—About
five o'clock on Sunday morning a fire broke out in the Vic-
tualling-yard, Deptford, which created considerable alarm
amongst the officers and men employed at the establishment.
Information of the fire was dispatched to town, when the
Southwark Bridge-road, Morgan's-lane, Waterloo-road, and
West of England engines started for the spot. On the ar-
rival of the engines the fire was fortunately out, owing to the
exertions of the men employed in the yard. It appears that
by some accident a quantity of rice or sugar bags had caught,
and when discovered they were in flames. The damage done
is but small.

M INISTERI AL 'PROSPECTS.—WaIsnII would appear, from
the last accounts, to be decidedly lost to the Ministerialists.
Manchester also still expects an election, immediately on the
sitting of parliament, and Mr. Gibson's chance cannot be a
good one. In Monmouthshire too, despite the schemes of
the great whig landlords, an opposition is talked of, and if a

Moran should enter the field, the manceuvrers may be dis-
appointed. The possible, therefore, and not improbable, loss
to the ministry may extend, includ,ng Carlow, to five votes,
counting la on each division. Such a loss, we need hardly
say, must decide the fate of the government.—Correspondent
of the Times.

GIPSY FESTIVAL.—The twelfth anniversary of the meet-
ing of the reformed and wandering gipsies, at Spring Hill
House, the residence of the Rev James Crabb, whose phi-
lanthropic endeavours to improve the Condition and habits of
that extraordinary race have procured him the appellation of
the " Gipsy's Friend," was held on Tuesday last. The at-
tendance of visitors who assembled to witness the interest-
ing scene was exceedingly respectable ani numerous, amount-
ing to 200. There were about 110 of the wandering tribe
present, but few of the reformed were amongst the number,
as several of them are in service, and others, who are living

in a creditable and respectable manner, we are infortned, are
now ashamed to associate with their former companions.
After a religious service, and an address by the Rev. Mr.
Orger, minister of St. James's Churh, Sairley, during which
the quiet and attentive behaviour of the gipsies was remark-
able ' • a collection was made in aid of the benevolent designs
of Mr. Crabb, which we are glad to learn was 'productive of
a considerable amount. A. good dinner, consisting of the
old English fare—beef and plum-pudding—was then set be-
fore the gipsies, who did ample justice to the. provision. Two
of the families present expressed their desire to abandon
their wandering habits. Their case will be investigated, and
if approved of, assistance will be rendered them, to accom-
plish their laudable object. After the dinner every family
was furnished with a blanket, a pair of stockings, Se.c., for
each member, and a copy of the S,^riptures was presented to
every family who did not possess 4' e.—Hampshire Indepen-
dent.

THE YEAR.—January, for new year's gifts; February, for
pancakes and valentines ; March, for leeks in Wales ; April,
for fools ; May, for milk-maidsand their garlands; June, for
green peas and mackerel, beans and bacon ; July, for hay in
the couatry ; August, for corn ; September, for oysters ;
October, for brewing good beer; and November, for drinking
it. After all these have passed, some for work, but all for
meat and drink—after all, comes December, with the barns
full of corn, the larders full of beef and pork, the barrels full
of beer, the ovens full of Christmas pies, the pockets full of
money, the masters and mistresses full of charity, and the
young men and maids full of play.—From an old almanac.
CURIOUS ANTICIPATION.—th the works of Roger Bacon,
who wrote in the 13th century, may be found an anticipation
of the invention of the steam-boat, locomotive engines on
railroads, the diving-bell, the suspension-bridge, and, it 'night
almost be said, of the recent events at St. Jean d'Acre. His
own words are these :—" Men may construct for the wants
of navigation such machines, that the greatest vessels, di-
rected by a single man, shall cut through the•rivers and seas
may conceive machines
with more rapidity than if they were propelled by rowers;
chariots may be constructed, which, without horses, shall run
. pan the
engines
and waters. Men could invent a multitude of other ig
ne
whichwith could bear theb i speed.e
di diver,
Menwithout
danger, to the
that shall depth
span
ofs
banrodaudeesftaril vienrsstlx.st.7tulleontlitl
suchs'a- a
sbridges
intermediate support. Art bath
its thunders more terrible than those of heaven. A small
quantity of matter produces a horrible explosion, accom-
panied by a bright light; and this mayskrepeated so as to
dolt:; Was.
a eit• or oaths baste "

/.~'~'

~'v~t