The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-19 00:00:00

gressed by the non-fulfillment of the letter of the

Which they had requested him to present.
In interrogating the validity of this desultory system of
disposing of public petitions, I eschew all dishonourable
intentions towards his worship ; tbut I most assuredly con-
sider that he has exceeded the duties of his temporary capacity
by so erratically disposing of petitions, more especially when
the supplicants are all ratepayers.
My motives in thus addressing you are, that by the afore-
said disposal, there will be considerable delay in the abolition
of the stated nuisance ; and furthermore, that should its
discontinuance take place, there will not be sufficient security
for the public unless there are stoops and chains, (as men-
tioned in the petition,) which I fear will not be the case if
pursued only in secret committees.—l am yours respectfully,
ONE OF THE PETITIONERS.
Byrom-street, October 18th, 1841.

SHERIDAN KNOWLES' NEW COMEDY

On Wednesday a new comedy, by Sheridan Knowles, was
produced at Covent-garden. It was eminently suc:essful,
and the applause throughout was frequent until the curtain
fell. The notice of repetition was received amidst unfeigned
manifestations of pleasure. The Morning Herald says :
" The chief merit of this work consists in the spirit and
delicate piquancy of its dialogue, and the nicely-devised em-
barrassments by which the progress of its two leading actions
is amusingly retarded until the arrival of the just moment of
eelaireissement. It is not, in any degree, remarkable for
strongly-conceived dramatic situation, but terminates with a
fair concurrence of effects. It was performed with much
animation."

As a literary work, we belieye that this may rank amongst
the most successful of Mr. Knowles's dramas.

In act four, where Lady Blanche appears to her friend in
the dress of a cavalier, we find the following vivid and poetic
passage :

Lady Blanche—Give me a kiss !
Lady Anne—A kiss ! I never yet gave kiss to man
Lady Blanche—You have kiss'd me many a time !
Women forget
Their girlhood days ; Their lofty age o'erlooks
Such tiny things !
Lady Anne—Kiss'd thee !
Lady Blanche—When we have stroll'd
Along green lanes in honeysuckle time,

~~'ith thrilling throats mocking the merry birds ;
When we have chased each other 'mong the sheaves,
Whose ears have lent us gold to make us crowns ;
When.forced to keep the house in winter, of
Our. plays we have made fires to warm ourselves ;
Or when we have coax'd spring on with primroses,
Till'hedge-rows leaved, and trees were all a-bloom!
,
I have kiss'd thee all these times. not to recount
How often we have sat on the same chair,
Or made a chair of one another's lap,
'On the same carpet roll'd—slept in one bed!
'Lady Anne (shrieks)—Ah !
Lady Blanche--:-You may shriek—There was no shriek-
'lng• then—
In short, were comates more than hand or glove,
lor'Still were we together!—Kiss me Anne !
Lndy,Anne—Hoa help !"
Mr. Georgi'Vandenhoff played Sir Thomas Blount, but
in cOnsemence of a severe domestic calamity which occurred
that morning, he was unable to give the character with the
spirit it required. We find, however, that his acting since
has been highly extolled by the London press. The Sunday
Times says, that he has developed the beauties of the cha-
racter per •sultum as compared with his first representation.
We were surprised to see it stated that Mr. Vandenhoff was
heavy in the part, as the character so well suited his talents.
The reason we have accounted for. Mrs. Nesbitt, Madame
Vestris and Harley are reported as being excellent in their
respective parts. The play has been greatly improved by
some judicious curtailments.
The,reader of this comedy will find much mere in it, in n
high vein of to reward hie careful perusal of it.

SHOCKING CATASTROPHE-BURSTING OF A
BOILER.-SEVEN MEN KILLED AND NINE
SEVERELY INJURED.

At an early hour on Wednesday morning, the neighbour-
hood of Jersey-street, Ancoats, Manchester, was thrown
into a state of the greatest alarm and excitement by a loud
explosion of the engine boiler, and the falling of one end of
a three storied building, situate on a branch of the Roch-
dale canal, a little below Poland-street, belonging to Messrs.
John Elce andieo., machine makers' A number of people
were speedily attracted to the spot by the noise of the explo-
sion ; and the scene of distress that ensued, it would be im-
possible to describe. Parents were seen looking for their
children, and wives for their husbands, fearing lest they
might be amongst the sufferers.
With respect to the cause of the explosion, nothing is.
known with any certainty ; but, as the engine was not at
work, and can hardly have been short of water, there seems
to be little doubt that the accident was caused either by an
overloaded or a detective safety-valve, or by the boiler itself
being too weak to bear the pressure which it ought to have
sustained. It aprears tolerably clear, from the circular end
of the boiler which was found in the yard, and which was
evidently the one nearest the engine, that the commence-
ment of the explosion was in that end. The injured parties
were in and over the engine-house at the time of the explo-
sion.

[Since the above was in type, another of the unfortunate
sufferers has breathed his last, and two others are lying with
very slight hopes of recovery. The inquest, which was held
on Friday, was adjourned to yesterday. The deceased are
all young men in the prime of life, of the respective ages of
21, IH, 18, 17, 22, 19, 25, and 17. Three of them were mar-
ried, and have left wives and families.]

THE THIMBLE Rio.—At the Southampton Sessions last
week, five persons were indicted " for conspiring together to
cheat and defraud the sabjects of the Queen of their money,
by proeuring them to play at an unlawful game called
thimble rigging," and thereby obtaining divers large sums of
money. Mr. Edwards, a planter of Antigua, stated that he
left England in 1804, and returned in July last. lie at-
tended the Southampton races in that month, and saw there
several persons, in a ring round a table, who immediately
made way for him. He first staked a sovereign, which was
lost. He was then induced to try his luck again, and the
man at the table having challenged any man to bet £59, Mr.
Edwards put down a £5O note, which was all he had in his
pocket, and which was immediately lost. The parties about
the table then induced Mr. Edwards to borrow money from
several apparent gentlemen who stood near to the gamblers,
and the game went on until Mr. Edwards found that he had
lost £7O of borrowed money, in addition to the previous sum
of £5l which he had in his own possession. For this £7O
Mr. Edwards gave a memorandum in writing. payable that
evening at the " Nelson" Public-house. After this Mr.
Edwards foolishly engaged again in the game, and borrowed
£52, which he lost. One of the parties occupied in thus
duping Mr. Edwards, represented one of the gentlemen who
lent the money, as a traveller for an eminent house, and
another as a man of immense fortune, who could buy half
Southampton. Mr. Edwards did not keep his appointment
at the Nelson that evening, but went there on the following
day with his solicitor, where he met three of the prisoners,
who were immediately taken into custody. Other witnesses
were then called, who proved that they had seen these parties
" waiting upon" Mr. Edwards. A policeman stated that he
was on the course in plain clothes, and observed one of the
prisoners with Mr. Edwards. The others walked behind,
and he heard one of them say " leave Ben alone ; he'll draw
him if any one can." The jury found all the prisoners
guilty, and the Recorder, in passing sentence upon the pri.
boners, said their offence was one which appeared to him to
derive uo extenuation from the fact of such practices having
been extensively tolerated; that fact only called for a more
rigorous application of penalties of the law, when any one
came forward to demand that the law should he put in force.
He should not be discharging his duty if he did not take the
opportunity of making an example of them for the benefit of
others. It happened that poor persons who took only a
small amount of property were compelled to atone for their
offence, for offences which were white
.indeed as compared.
with their conduct. He regretted that it was not in his
power to transport them, for if he had
had such power, lice
most unquestionably would have exercised it. lie hoped the
punishment he should now inflict would have the effect of
keeping snch persons at all events from coming within this
jurisdiction, if it did not altogether put an end to such
fradulent practices. There was a distinction in their cases,
and therefore the sentence would be that Parrott, Purcell,'
and Vernier,
ler, should beimprisoned for two years, rid pay a
fine to the Queen of £5O each ; and that Kempand Curran
should be imprisoned for one year, and pay a fine of £25
each, and that they should be further imprisoned till the
fines were paid. This is the first case of the kind that has
ever been tried.

Imruo-vinr,Ncr. OF THEODORE HOOK.--Theodore Hook
was buried in Fulham churchyardof (within one foot of the
August 20, attended by Messrshi
east wall, near to the tomb
is3hroopd Gibsonnd),Poon Monday,solici
ftors, and A. Milne and D. Ly.on, EesriiP-s.a On theeir'return-
Jm the grave they made the heart-rending discovery that
Mr. Hook had left six orphan children, with their mother,
men did not separate till they
without the least provision whatever. These four honoura-
blehad put down their £lOO
a-piece as a nucleus round which the friends and admirers of
Mr. Hook's genius might rally for the support of his family,.
and this sum (to which it is to be hoped will be added many
subsequent subscriptions), is deposited at the banking-house
of Messrs. Ransom and Co. to the account of the trustees of.
Mr. Hook's family. The carelessness of his disposition—
his non-attention to matters of money—as it bad involved
him in difficulty at the Mauritius, unhappily prevailed with,
life, and p
him while life lasted. Tbepresent moment was the one to be.
prized, and his life, and the close of it, afford another instance.
Hbeisfirst but
of extraordinary talent existing without a particle of what is,
called worldly wisdom, and proving that he who wrote most
elaborately upon the best means of enjoying
forth preeepts to guard against folly and vice, was t
practise what he taught others to guard against.
c was still IL
fond-
ness of a joke—and ready wit—often cost others .
jhoikmesre;lffoar firnisetiaidn.ce,lwn
hdeinstrleasnsd.inangdatssutff.eHrineglenha
aonpalhlgi's way'll
home, a prisoner, from the Mauritius, he was met by Lord
Charles Soaterset, who, astonished at seeing him, asked him
how it happened be was homeward
of
bound?
"t
hOehele'sB7,l
Hook, " I am ordered home—some disorder
believe, is the cause of it."

n chaos first sprung up to light and life,
I the war of elemental strife;
Deity surveyed, with watchful eyes,
h beauties from the new-born world arise ;
n man, obedient to Jehovah's nod,
: trod the ground, the image of his God!
on his brow the impress of his birth,
of his destiny—the lord of earth !
eye of Omnipresence grasp'd the whole
endous scenery, from pole to pole,
n the charms of innocence it stood,
Wisdom Infinite pronounced it " good" !

was one object wanting in the scene,
fresh beauties on the vast terrene.
aw it ; and, at His command,
vas born, to glad the happy land !
was completed !—this, her last,
st boon, all other gifts surpass'd !
ose, in beauty's charms array 'd ;
t dimm'd her lustre by its shade;
ction touch'd with smiling ray ;
made youthful Nature gay!

\nd but her 1+

Mankind has fallen ! Sad it were to trace
The sins and sorrows of our suff'ring race.
Still, lovely 'Woman is the richest gem
That studs creation's dazzling diadem.
Where'er she moves, she spreads her blessings round,
And Eden's flow'rets deck again the ground ;
Her smiling presence, like the cheerful day,
Chases sad sorrow's darksome night away.
How mutely eloquent her speaking eye !
How kindle sweet her glance, her tear, her sigh!
'Each heav'n-born charm is mirror'd in her mind—
Each virtue that exalts the human kind.
How oft, when anguish ruffles pleasure's calm,
She yields the suff'rer consolation's balm !
And, as the gentle dew-drop strength instils,
Still gentlier she assuages mortal ills!
She is earth's happiness—life's lovely light—
In virtue matchless, as in beauty bright !
When Fortune's sun is clouded or may shine,
Woman is still less human than divine!

Oct. 9, 1841

STANZAS TO ANNIE

OR THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.)

Annie ! thou art gone
eet Comlongon's bower ;
It thou again return,
path and wiropling burn

aye as heretofore ?

We feel a blank in our abode,
When Annie is not here,
Who sweetened pleasure when it came,
And ne'er withheld a tear
For those who felt affliction's pain,
Whether on couch of sickness lain,
Or sad. with grief and care.

And when, in melodious accents, she
Read from some beauteous book
A tale that seemed to bring reproof
To those who merely felt the truth
Of what my Annie spoke,
'Twas like some mellow fairy strain
That did some muse invoke.

J. M. L

But, oh

ly Annie, gentle love !
t can these words impart,
what I have felt for thee,
When, viewing thee apart,
Licking with gentle hand the flower,
That you placed in like mode
Upon that snow-white breast of thine,
As on your path you strode,
And seem'd quite pleas'd with what you'd done,
As you went on your road !

And who shall then describe the smile,
That play'd thy lip around,
When, with a light and easy step,
My Annie onward bound,
In spite of what would intercept,
By ditch and dyke around !

Ah! whose admiring eyes could meet
Thy blue-eyed sparkling gems,
Shining just like the sun's bright rays
On golden diadems,
And not find something lovely there,
Which no art could design,
Eiiher by aid of poet's pen,
Or painter's portrait-line!
For thou art Nature's child, my love,
And genius glows within.

Farewell ! but not for ever yet !
My lovely Annie now
Will walk by Nith's fresh flowing stream,

And call it lovely too;
But lovelier is the maiden's form,
That thus admires the view.

Then, Annie, come to our Toon-end,
And view Comlongon's Tower ;
The hawthorn-'hush that scents sae sweet

Vv---____
ill form our lady's bower,
nd give an 0:1071:' to the breeze.
That freshens every hour.

en, lovely Annie, come again
Co sweet Comlongon's bower;
ere you'll find one who loves to pluck
?or thee a modest flower:
a, maiden, thou shalt yet return.
flowery path and wimpling bun'
'o rove as heretofore!

October 6th, 1841

UMAN SACRIFICES IN GOOMSOOR

.grom an Indian paper)
' , or human sacrifice, takes place once a
other of the confederate mootas in succession.
are stolen from the low country, or are brought
other distant part, and sold to those mootas where
—,orrned. If children, they are kept until
proper age. This cruel ceremony is thus per-
-When the appointed day arrives, the Khunds as-
from all parts of the country, dressed in their finery,
with bear-skins thrown over their shoulders, others
he tails of peacocks flowing behind them, and the long
ig feather of the jangle cock waving on their heads.
decked out they dance, leap, and rejoice, beating
and playing on an instrument not unlike in sound to
hllnd pipe. Soon after noon the jani, or presiding
i tl a
the aid of his assistants, fastens the unfortunate
a strong post, which has been firmly fixed into the
dthere standing erect, he suffers the cruel torture
tshcut from his bones in small pieces by the
_ e savage_ crowd, who rush on him and contend
t h r for a portion.
ue is attached to the first morsel cut from the
dy, for it is supposed to possess greater virtues,
lortionate eagerness is evinced to obtain it ; but
le danger to the person of the operator attends the
happens also that equal virtues are attributed to
f the lucky holder of the
en dersat a svliiellea.geTwoiliguard
disagreeable an appropriation
our to secureptehre
one of its number to
I object, and they accordingly' him with a
on by the
), tie cloths' round him, and, ioalrd7l
pointed signal rush, with 3,000 oref others,
sacrifice ; when, if their 'man should 1:)
;in, they exert their utmost efforts toe StiCg-
' (so few being able to approach the Should he escape unhurt. th
to their homes, for, in order to secure
nest deposit in their fields, before the day
e
OD they have so cruelly won. The intent
acuilice is to propitiate Ceres. In Gudda,
A eually cruel sacrifice frequently precedes
descqribed. A trench seven feet long is dug,
human being is suspended alive by the neck and
ed with ropes to stakes firmly fixed at each
i end of
.ion, so that to prevent strangulati on he s corn-
pport himself with his hands over each
.sideseavietrhael
~life presiding priest or jani, after performing
takes
ales 'in honour; of the goddess Alanekisir, ke a
andinflicts_isix cuts at equal distances from the back of
s
eck to the heels, repeating the number one, two, &c.,
iat the seventh, decapitates him ; the body falls into the
1 midis covered with earth, when the hellish orgies first
crib,f.d.ara-enacteci. Womenare sacrificed as well as men.

a Pooja

g his fie

crowd

We regret to hear that the heavy and long-continued rains
we save experienced almost to the present hour have
seriously damaged the potato crops in this neighbourhood,
which are to a considerable extent, rotted in the ground.--
Bath Chronicle.