The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

THE QUEEN has appointed Richard Fort, Esq., of Reed-
hall, sheriff for this county for the year ensuing.
Mr. RUDD, the manager of the Woodside Ferry, has
resigned his situation, on account of ill health.
A FINE LARGE GLonn has been placed in the Exchange
news-room for the use of subscribers.
THE BALTIC United States' mail steamer, Captain
Comstock, sailed on Wednesday afternoon for New York.
BRIDGET PHILLIPS, residing in Highfield:street, who
went to bed drunk on the preceding evening, was found
dead on Friday morning.
Mr. J. R. ISAAC, of Castle-street, has presented to the
free public library an appropriately framed print of that
munificent donor to the institution W. Brown, Esq., M.P.
CAPTAIN NOBLE, late of the Tayleur, arrived in Liver-
pool on Tuesday morning last from Dublin, on his way to
Whitehaven.
Mr. J. GETTY, of this town, has obtained a patent for
improvements applicable to the plating of iron ships ;
part of his improvement being also applicable to the con-
struction of boilers.
D. F. WILSON, ESQ,., is, we understand, appointed clerk
to the Hon. Deemster Drinkwater, vacant by the resigna-
tion of F. B. Clucas, Esq.—Mona's Herald.
SHOPLIFTING.—On Tuesday last, two respectably
dressed young women were committed for trial, on a
charg6 of stealing a piece of silk, of the value of £3 55.,
from the shop of Messrs. Bright, Son, and Legge, in Bold-
street, on the afternoon of the previous day.
THE STEAM-SHIP OLINDA.—On Friday, and official in-
quiry took place at the Sailors' Home, respecting the loss
of the steam ship Olindia, Capt. G. H. Haram, which was
lately wrecked on the Harry Furlong's Rocks, near Holy-
head. The public were not admitted,
THE GENEB4L POST-OFFICE.—We have heard a report
that the Post-office authorities are treating for the sale of
their building in St. Martin's-le-Grand, to an eminent firm
of Manchester warehousemen.—The Builder.
STATUE OF LIVERPOOL—From- Rome we learn that
Mr. Spence has completed the model of a colossal figure,
intended for Sydenham Palace, representing his native
city of Liverpool. The figure is dignified, and grandly
draped, and will be easily distinguished from her com-
panions in the row of cities, by the commercial caduceus
and the legendary bird, the liver, which was the origin
of her name.
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS AT LIVERPOOL—The custom's re-
ceipts at this port for the year ending the 31st December
last amount to £3,411,819. As compared with the year
1852, the receipts show a decrease of £72,806. This is not
to be attributed, however, to any diminution in the trade
of the port, but rather to the gradual reduction of duties
on articles imported into this country.
EXCURSION TRAINS FOR 1851. —The London and
North-western Railway Company have again resolved to
place the management of the excursion trains on their
various lines in the hands of Mr. Marcus. This is the
tenth year of Mr. Marcus's management ; and the num-
ber of excursionists has gone on in an increased ratio year
by year.
SANITARY INFORMATIONS BY THE HEALTH COMMIT-
TEE.—On Wednesday, Mr. M`Gowen, the law-clerk of the
Health Committee, appeared before J. S. Mansfield, Esq.,
to prosecute a number of informations which it had been
found necessary to lay against the owners of house pro-
perty in the borough, kept in a filthy and unwholesome
condition. He said that some four or five notices had been
served, and all he should have to trouble the worthy ma-
gistrate with to-day were some twenty cases. With a few
exceptions the parties were fined 40s. and costs.
FANCY DRESS BALL.—On Friday, the Ltachelors who
enjoy the privilege of entrée to the mysterious sanctuaries
of the Wellington-rooms, gave a grand fancy ball; at
which, it is said, about 500 persons were present. A
considerable crowd was collected round the entrance, who
duly admired the proverbial beauty of the ladies, varying
their admiration by somewhat irreverent remarks relative
to the singular appearance of some of the "lords of the
creation," who appeared sadly ill at ease in the gay habi-
liments which the Nathans so tastefully " makeup."
SUDDEN DEATR.—On Thursday morning, a young
man named David Knox, of Houghton-street, went into
the public-house of Mr. Harwood, Williamson-square,
where he was supplied with some spirits. Whilst in the
parlour he was suddenly seized with a fit, and died shortly
afterwards. Mr. Taylor, surgeon, who attended the de-
ceased, was of opinion that death had resulted from
apoplexy.
ROBBERY AT MANCHESTER. A Frenchman, Louis
Montagnet, was committed for trial, at Manchester,
on Monday, charged with stealing bills and other pro-
perty, to the amount of nearly £lO,OOO, from the bed-
rooms of the Queen's Hotel, Manchester. The prisoner,
who went to the hotel on Saturday evening, contrived,
during a stay of two hours, to visit several of the bed-
rooms, and abstract the property from the trunks of
persons who were stopping in the house. Bills, to the
value of several thousand pounds, were found upon the
prisoner, which were identified by the persons to whom
they belonged. Montagnet was apprehended at the rail-
way station in Manchester, and at the time was about to
start for Preston.
THE QUEEN V. BERESFORD.—This case came on in the
Court of Queen's Bench, on Thursday. Mr. James, on
behalf of the persons preferring the indictment, said that
owing to the exposure which had taken place, they consi-
dered that enough had been done to prevent the recur-
rence of improper practices at future elections, and that
he was, therefore, to offer no evidence in support of the
indictment. It would, therefore, be the jury's duty to
return a verdict of not guilty. A verdict of not guilty
was accordingly returned. Sir F. Thesiger, on behalf of
Major Beresford, denied, in the strongest manner, that
anything had been done on behalf of Major Beresford to
prevent, the fullest inquiries. Mr. James having stated
that no compromise had been made, Lord Campbell said
that, under the circumstances, it might be supposed that
the course pursued was suspicions ; but from what had
taken place the public mind would be satisfied that no
corrupt compromise had taken place. The jury then
withdrew.

LivEnroor, SHlPPlNG.—Australian shipping doubled
itself in 1852, and 501 vessels were despatched that year.
The average passage in the Liverpool ships was reduced
from 120 days, in 1851, to 110 in 1852 ; the shortest
passage being made by the Marco Polo, in 75 days. In
1853 the statistics of Australian navigation are known
to the 30th of September last, and there seems to be
every reason for supposing that the trade will again
double itself, for 804 ships had been despatched in the
first nine months of the year. This gives an excess of
about 67,000 tons on the whole of the trade of the year
1852. Accounts have already been received of 234 of
these last vessels, and the average passages were about
1051 days, being a clear gain of five days upon the
average passages of the preceding year. The Liverpool
ships have beaten the Loudon ships in the extraordinary
race to the antipodes by 20 days upon the whole average,
and the shortest passages were again made from Liverpool
by the celebrated Marco Polo, and her sister ship the
Indian Queen, the first in 78 days, and the last in 82 days ;
and it is supposed that when the returns for the whole
year (1853) are completed, the average passage for the
Liverpool ships will be less than 100 days.
MEETING OF THE MEDICAL GENTLEMEN OF LIVER-
rooL.—On Tuesday evening a meeting of the Medical pro-
fession of this town was held at the Medical Institution,
for the purpose of considering the dismissal of Mr. Gay
from the Royal Free Hospital, London. It appeared that
a biography of Mr. Gay had appeared in the Medical Cir-
cular, which stated that he was more an honour to the
hospital where he was surgeon than it was to him. He
was requested to disavow the article, which he had done,
but not to the satisfaction of the committee, who had dis-
missed him. Mr. J. M. Banner was called to the chair.
The first resolution, which was moved by Mr. J. P. Hat-
ton, was as follows :—" That this meeting, having had the
circumstances of Mr. Gay's case brought under its notice,
is of opinion that the dismissal of that gentleman was
arbitrary and unjust." Dr. Inman seconded the motion,
which was unanimously carried. Mr. Blackburn proposed
the Second resolution : " That this meeting strongly disap-
proves of, and will discountenance by every means in their
power, the publication of biographies of living members of
the profession." Mr. Ellis Jones seconded the motion.
After some conversation, the resolution was carried, and
the meeting closed.
THE LABOUR CONTEST IN PRESTON.—At a special
meeting of the master manufacturers, on Wednesday, a
memorial was presented from the mayor and principal in-
habitants, urging them to re-open their establishments,
on account of the great distress prevailing in the town.
The memorial was favourably received, and a resolution
was passed to the effect that the mills be re-opened on the
following morning, upon the terms and in accordance with
the resolution passed on the fourth November last. These
terms are the prices of March last, upon which the opera-
tives demand an advance of ten per cent. In pursuance
of the resolution issued by the masters, the factory bells
were rung at eight o'clock on Thursday morning. So far,
,however, the result has been anything but satisfactory to
the employers, very few hands having returned to their
employment. Indeed, at some mills there was not a sin-
gle applicant for work. Messrs. Almond and Co. have
given the ten per cent., and obtained a full complement of
hands. A large body of the county police were brought
into Preston early in the morning, but there seemed no
reason whatever to apprehend any breach of the peace,
although considerable excitement prevails in the town.
The largest and most enthusiastic meeting ever witnessed
in the Orchard was held at nine o'clock on Thursday
morning. The excitement was intense, but notwith-
standing this, the utmost order was preserved throughout
the proceedings. The speakers and the vast auditory
unanimously refused to accede to the terms of the masters.
ST. HELEN'S RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meeting of
this company was held on Thursday, at St Helen's, Mr.
Greenall, M.P., presiding.—The secretary read the report,
which stated that the increase in the gross traffic receipts
for the past six months, as compared with the correspond-
ing period of the preceding year, was £10,026, against
which must be placed an increase in the working charges
of £4,016, and the interest on loans and preference shares
7,616. The revenue for the half year amounted to
£31,720, and the expenses to £11,213, leaving a surplus of
£20,506, out of which £7,584 is deducted for interest on
loans, leaving a balance out of which 1 per cent. is to be
paid on the A stock, 21 per cent. on the B stock, 3 per
cent. on the C stock, and 2/ per cent. on D stock, leaving
a balance of £l3B. The chairman, in moving the adop-
tion of the report, said there had been an increase in the
number of passengers of 221,010, and in amount of mer-
chandise 144,552 tons. If the present traffic at the dock
was any criterion for the future, he was happy to say it
was most satisfactory, for in the last month they had
shipped there 4,000 tons. After all, the state of their:pro-
perty and its value must be measured by the dividend
the directors were able to recommend; and his opinion
was that the dividend now offered was, under the circum-
stances, favourable, and as much as they could possibly
expect, when he stated that a large additional charge had
been made upon revenue, which had necessarily been
brought against them in the half-year's account. With
respect to the property itself, he was convinced that their
prospects were most hopeful.—Mr. R. J. King thought
that the opening of the Garston Dock ought to have
enabled them to pay the old dividend of 30s. The reso-
lution was carried nem. dis.—Mr. W. C. Fosberry, in
moving that the dividends mentioned in the report be
adopted, expressed a belief that they would have a large
and valuable traffic at Garston Dock, which, at no distant
period would possess advantages greater than any other.-
13,1 r. A. Jones seconded the motion, and it was carried.—
On the motion of Mr. C. Holland, it was agreed to con-
solidate the 44 per cent. shares, upon which £51,150 had
been paid, into the general capital stock of the company.—
' A vote of thank* to the chairman concluded theproceedinga.