The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-11 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS.

It is said that the Countess of Burlington, now with her
husband and family at Florence, is to be a Lady of the Bed-
chamber.

Dr. Hampden has protested against the annual nomination
of select preachers in the University of Oxford, without his
concurrence.

TEN NEW CHURCHES.—A subscription has been set on foot
at Birmingham for the erection of ten new churches in that
borough within the next five years. Nearly £12,000 have
been already subscribed. ,

The tides in the Bristol Channel comprised in the space o
the East Steep Holmes constantly keep suspended in their
waters at least 700,000 tons of mud!
A man recently died at Dever (Vermont) who had been
tapped 50 times for dropsy in the abdomen, and more than 50
gallons of a watery fluid drawn from him by actual measure-
ment.—New York Sunday Times.
It was reported on Tuesday, at the Service Club Houses,
that ministers intended an immediate and considerable in-
crease to the standing army, and that orders have been given
for puffin. the forts and batteries on the north and eastern
coasts of "Scotland into a state of efficiency equal to tha
usually observed in time of war.

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.—UnIess unforeseen
obstacles arise, the first 14 miles of this line, (viz. from Man-
chester to Littleborough) will certainly be opened in May
next for traffic.

We are sorry to learn by the aarivals in the Clyde from
Demerara, that the sickness still prevails, and that the mor-
tality is very great. The crews belonging to the Clyde ves-
sels have suffered severely.
CLOSING SHOPS.—The tradesmen of Bradford have pretty
generally begun to close their shops at eight o'clock in the
evening, and if the public would cease to patronise the "grasp_
ells" after that hour, they would soon follow the good example.
WESLEYAN CENTENARY.—We heal that the following
gentlemen at Wakefield have contributed the following hand-
some sums :—Joseph Holdsworth, Esq., £500; Samuel
Stocks, Esq., £500; Joshua Swallow, Esq., £3OO.

ARMED POLICE.—We stated in our last that Earl Fitz-
william had applied for cutlasses for the London Police sta-
tioned on the line of the North Midland Railway at Swinton.
They were promptly sent down to Wentworth House, and
immemediately supplied to the officers.—Shdfield Iris.
BREAD.—II is important that the public should be informed
that, by Act of Parliament, every baker is required to keep
scales and weights in his shop, and on the request of the pur-
chaser, he is to weigh the bread in his presence. Neglecting
or refusing to comply with this regulation subjects the baker
to a fine.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—The following is the result of the
late census at Van Diemen's Land:—Church of England,
16,094; Church of Scotland, 2,551; Church of Rome, 2,288;
Wesleyans, 1,389; Baptists, 175; Independents, 635; Qua-
kers, 80; Jews,l32;—Total, 23,244. Male convicts, 16,129 ;
Female convicts, 2,139 ;—Total, 18,268.--Grand Total, 41,512.
—March 29.

BOLTON OPERATIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.—The

fourth quarterly meeting of this association, for the present
year, was held in the Operative Conservative News-room, on
Monday evening week. There was a full attendance of mem-
bers, and several persons had their names enrolled as new
members.

"A HEAVY BLOW AND GREAT DISCOURAGEMENT" TO
SOCINIANIsm.—Cross-street Chapel, at Manchester, at pre-
sent in possession of a knot of Socinians, is likely to be wrested
from them, it being an endowed Presbyterian chapel. The
proper legal proceedings will be commenced immediately,
with every prospect of a successful issue.—Stockport Adver-
tiser.

The Hull town-council have invited the High Steward of
the Borough, Lord Durham, to a public dinner. The reso-
lution of the town-council reminds his lordship of a promise
to dine with them in 1837, which circumstances have hitherto
prevented him from fulfilling; and declares that "late ocur.
rences" have "enhanced" their "esteem and respect for his
character."

Last week, a silver coin of King Stephen, in good preser-
vation, was found by a man when working in a field adjoin-
ing to Standard Hill grounds, near Northallerton. The head
appears in profile, with the sceptre in his right hand, and the
name oddly spelt, viz., Steifize, R. On the reverse is the
supposed name of the moneyer of that day, and a cross, with
the year 1137.
MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY.—The following is the en-
gineer's return of the quantity of earth-work executed, and
the number of men, horses, and engines employed on the
Midland Counties Itailway, from the 27th of October to the
24th of November, 18.38:—Earth-works executed, 210,722
cubic yards; number of men, 4485; number of horses, 505;
engines, one locomotive and one stationary.
Last week two lovers arrived from the country to be mar-

ried at Gainsborough. The ring was purchased.; but as the
pair were proceeding to church, the devoted inamorata let it
fall upon the slab, and away it rolled, disappearing in a
sewer. The grating was speedily removed; but notwithstand-
ing the utmost zeal of the bridegroom to discover the preci-
ous treasure, it could nowhere be found. Poor Sally and
her lover were compelled to depart unmarried amid the jokes
and laughter of the bye-standers.—Hull Times.
How DID THEY COURT ?—At the last term of the Court

of King's Bench of Quebec, a wife sued her husband for a
separation de bien de corps—one of the grounds set up be-
ing that she did not understand one word of French, and
that her partner, to whom she had been married for the space
of four days, was equally ignorant of the English language !
The woman obtained judgment in her favour.
" The destiny of the children of the adopted son of the
Emperor Napoleon," says the Commerce, " is worthy of re-
mark. One of the sons of the Prince Eugene Beanharnois
became the consort of Donna Maria, Queen of Portugal,
and the other is on the point of being married to a daughter
of the Emperor of Russia. One of the daughters is the widow
of the Emperor of Brazil, and the other is the wife of the heir
to the throne of Sweden."

A preventive to accidents occurring at night on :he rail-
ways will commence on Monday, on the London and Bir-
mingham and Great Western Railroads. The police con-
stables are to be placed a mile distant from each other on the
line, and to meet half-way. Each officer to carry in the front
of his person three lights, of green, red, and yellow, one of
which.is to he show❑ on the approach of a train towards Lon-
don,,or departure of one from it.—Manchester Paper.
POPERY AND THE FISH TRADE.—The increase nt'..,r=
ise-t:Tirrtitpho'n,nire anfel•hdar, ;ii-0-7.-viben she was called
on by the committee of the Diocesan Church Building So-
ciety, to solicit her subscription for the building of churches,
immediately answered, she could not afford to give any thing
for building churches, as she had given £5, a few days before,
for building a Roman Catholic Chapel in Ripon, with a view
that she would have a greater sale for her fish.
OPERATIVE CONSERVATIVE DINNER AT BARNSLEY.—
On Friday, the 30th ult., the members of the Barnsley Ope-
rative Conservative Society celebrated their first anniversary,
by dining together in the Odd I. ellovrs' Hall. About half-
past five o'clock, near►y two hundred persons (including a
number of the gentry, professional gentlemen, and others, of
the town and neighbourhood) sat down to table, under the
presidency of Mr. Joseph Wilkinson. an operative, supported
by Mr. Cherry, Mr. Chappel, and Mr. Earley, as vice-presi-
dents.

THE MILITIA.—The rumour of its being the intention to
call out the militia, arose out of the circumstances of some
new regulations in contemplation respecting that body. It
is the intention to increase the staff, and have a serjeant, a
corporal, and a drummer to every 30 men, to drill them, and
render them fit for duty, as occasion may require. It is ru-
moured that a third of the militia is likely to be called out
in the spring of next year, for one month, to be exercised;
a third the year following; and the remaining third in the
spring of the succeeding year.—Globe.
On Wednesday evening last, the Huddersfield Loyal and
Constitutional Society held their quarterly meeting, at which
a number of new and respectable members were admitted.
The state of the society's funds was laid before the meeting,
and they were found to be of the most satisfactory nature.
It is gratifying, indeed, to observe the gradual spread of con-
servative principles which is daily progressing in this hitherto
hot receptacle of whiggerv. It is to those operative societies
that the gradual spread of sound constitutional principles is
mainly owing, and we cordially hope that similar societies
will arise in every village in the empire.—Leeds Intelkqencer.
VOTERS DISFRANCHISED.—An order has been issued by
Lord John Russell, for returns to be made as early as possi-
ble by the Overseers of the poor in the different Parliamen-
tary boroughs, of the number of persons, and the amount at
which each is assessed, who have been disfranchised this year,
in consequence of the non-payment of poor-rates. What
these returns are for we know not, but the supposition is that
in consequence of the number of registered electors in seve-
ral boroughs being considerably less this year than formerly,
Goverment intend through their political friends to make in-
quiry whether the persons who have disfranchised themselves
are of their own party.

A PLEASANT WAY OF SETTLING BEFORE A MAGIS-
TRATE.—A number of persons were on Monday summoned
before the magtstrates at Rochdale, for non-payment of poor's
rates. Amongst them was a cheerful-looking little woman,
who, when asked why she did not pay, said, they bad been so
busy mustering Mr. Royds's rent, that it had not been con-
venient to pay the rate. After a moment spent in laughter,
caused by the singular plea, Mr. Royds said she would have
to comply; how soon could she pay it? "Well," said she,
" Ween pay it o' Setturday, an bring yo vur rent too."
" Very well," said Mr. Rovds, amid renewed laughter; and
the little woman walked out of court.
INLAND NAVIGATION.—The navigable canals used for the
transport of goods and produce in England alone are now
estimated to exceed 2,200 miles in length, while the navigable
rivers exceed 1,800 miles, making together more than 4,000
miles of inland •naviation, the greater part of which has
been created or rendered available during the last 80 years.
The whole extent of navigable canals at this moment avail-
able in Ireland does not amount to 300 miles, and, including
navigable rivers, the entire water communication does not
exceed 400 miles for the whole island.
DESTRUCTIVE INVENTION.—A sergeant of artillery at Leg-
horn has made an addition to the common carbine or musket,
by means of which 20 balls may be discharged from it, with
equal force, and in whatever direction it is wished, in 80se-
conds. He has also applied his invention to pistols, from which
seven balls may be discharged in the same interval of time;
and has constructed the model of a howitzer, which will dis-
charge 2350 musket balls in 80 seconds, in one direction, or
in several, if required.
EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURE AT STAYLEY BRIDGE.—At
the Hyde Sessions, this week, after the clearing of the court,
a most extrordinary case was heard "by the magistrates. A
shoemaker of Stayley-bridge, was charged with having vio-
lated the persons of no fewer than five of his apprentices. It
seems that the fellow has been in the habit of applying to the
overseers of Ashton for four or five years past, for females to
learn, as he stated, the trade of shoe-binding, but were almost
invariably sent to the cotton mills, whose wages he also re-
ceived. To accomplish his brutal object, he was accustomed
to withhold their Sunday clothes till his wishes were com-
plied with. When threatened with exposure, he has not
only cruelly treated them, but still further restricted their
supply of food. The case was adjourned till Saturday to
enable one of the witnesses to bring further evidence. The
sensation at Stayley-bridge, when the facts became known,
was extreme.

MURDER AT NEWCASTLE.-00 Thursday last, a murder
was committed at Newcastle, the circumstances of which are
involved in some mistery, though strong suspicions are enter-
tained as to who is the guilty party. It appears, that, about
two o'clock on Friday morning, the Savings' Bank, in the
above named town, was discovered to be on fire. By great
exertions the flames were subdued and the firemen entered
the building. in the bank they found the dead body of a
man, whose head and face were so much mutilated as to render
identification almost hopeless. Near him was found Mr.
Bolam, the actuary of the bank, who was wounded in the
throat, and lying apparently, insensible. A poker, much
bent and besmeared with blood, was lying near them. The
dead man was, at length, recognised as Mr. Millie, who was,
on Tuesday last, appointed to the office of assistant clerk.
Mr. Bolam was removed to a Mr. Glenton's, were medical
assistance was procured. He gave the following explanation
of the scene. He said he had recently received several
anonymous threatening letters, all of which he had burnt,
except one which had arrived on the preceding night. In
consequence of the letter be went home, but returned at
half-past seven o'clock. He found Millie lying on the rug,
and thought he was asleep. As he (Mr. Bolam) was about
to open his desk, he heard a foot behind him, and turning,
beheld a man whose face was blacked. He was felled to the
ground, and soon after felt a knife at his throat, when he
becime insensible. He shortly afterwards recovered a little,
when he beard some one walking about the next room, but
he did not dare to stir. The deceased was a widower with a
large family.