The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-30 00:00:00

LAWINTELLIGENCE

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—Tufts')Ar.
(Before Mr. Justice Erie and a Special Jury.)
wARTNEB. V. SHARP.-ALLQTTEFS".RIGHT TO RECOVER

BACK DEPOSIT ON RAILWAY SHARES

This action was bronbt to recover back .£B2 10s.,
being the amount of the deposit which the plaintiff, who
was a solicitor, had paid on 60 shares in the Direct Lon-
don and Exeter Railway, on the ground—first, of alleged
fraud by, the directors of the company ; and, secondly, of
a failure of t"

e consideration on which the plaint ff had
become a shareholder, and had paid the amount of such
deposit..

In support of the alleged fraud by the directors, it was
proved that advertisements had been inserted in the
papers stating that the committee had completed the al-
lotment of Shares, and issued the usual letters, and that
in 'rder to get a large share of legitimate it fluence, the
committee had been t,bliged to give a preference to per-
_ I---II • •

sons locally intere
strong claims on th.
On the faith of this

ted, over other persons possessing
gr and of wealth and respectabilty.

his depo,it, and exchanged the bankers' receipt ft tr scrip.
It was then further proved that the committee had only
allotted 58.000 out of the 120.000 shares (although there
were applications from persons of undoubted respectabi-
lity to the extent of 400,000 shares), reserving 62,000
shares to send into the market when any advantage was
to be gained by it. Owing to a failure in dt po.iting plans
a meeting was called in December to consider the pro-
priety of proceeding with or abandoning the pro je, t. when
it appeared that the company had expended £32,3C9, and
that after providing for outstanding claims there remained
an available balance of only £492.

Mr. Justice Erle, in summing up, said, it was therefore
for the jury to say whether w hat had been stated as done
was a material inducement to the plaintiff to pay his de-
posits. There was, on the second point, a question of fact
es to whether the asso ration was substantially at an end,
and whether there was any probability whatever that the
scheme would have been carried on • or whether it was
not, in fact, an abortive scheme on the 6th of January,
1846. when the action was brought. If the jury should
be of the latter opinion, they would find for the plaintiff.
--Th., jury immediately returned a verdict for the plaintiff
for the sum claimed.

EXTRAORDINARY CONVICTION UNDER.
LORD CAMPBELL'S LIBEL ACT.

Maria Fountain, aged twenty-one,
looking young woman, described as a morning governess,
was indicted at the Central Criminal Court, on Monday.
under Lord Campbell's Libel Act, for attempting to ex-
tort money from the Rev. W. Nivin by threatening to
publish libels concerning him.
The prosecutor said he did not know the prisoner until
he received a note from her, stating that she had some-
thing to communicate to him of great importance, and
begged that he would call upon her. He replied that it
was not his maxim to call upon persons with whom he
was unacquainted. He received another It-tter, stating.
that some slanders bad been utterred by a Miss Richard-
son, residing in Brampton, to the effect that he had been
observed to pay several visits to her sister Caroline, stay-
ing several hours; that this slan ler was going the round
of the neighbourhood and was doing her great injury ;
that she meant to bring an action against Miss Richard-
son, but thought if bis name were mixed up in the affair
it might injure him as a clergyman of the Church of Eng-
land, and that unless she got his consent she would pro-
ceed no further in the matter. Knowing Miss Richard-
son very intimately, he-took very little notice of that and
several other letters which be received from the pri-
soner, until he received one which he thought required
Some attention. lie, with a confidential friend, went to
the prisoner's house, and they were there told aga(n that
Miss Richardson had uttered some gross slanders
.con-
cerning them. His friend then called on Miss R., and
made. her acquainted with the charge whicf; was made
against her; and,. on her. denying having uttered a word
concerning them, he took his leave. Some other letters
pas,ied, after which prosecutor received a letter threat-
ening him with an action for libel, and staiing that his
wile and Miss Richardson having uttered slanders of her
received three more letters, the first of which contained
tshereleedwootardhs i
:m=a‘ shortNocy tthi natteoaufrtefru,nadnsdaraet
edxihffaeuresntetdt:mi
apply
splilye
ean to
icdpornueorystieoauynsos,uw
semar
s,ster, proceedings would bewteclrowemhdhrem:dtsenced. A writ was
tpt
iouo
rynsosuuet,o towardsa
prisoner's
ri the
t o ii;
enurj:us.
skfirlivene,
n letter, hinting that prosecutor had paid improper atten-
tions•
advertise our case, with our names (as we have no
family to disgrace), in the Times, Chronicle, end Post."
And another letter was also read, in which was this W..
sage, " If you will enclose me £2O I will endeavour to
pay you by all means in my power." In many parts of
each letter distress was complained of,
and accusation&
made against prosecutor with regard to prisoner's sister.
The following is an extract from one of her letters :—"
ask you, calmly and dispassionately, what were your at•
tentions to my sister five years ago ?" The prisoners
after these letters, threatened to communicate and lay the
whale particulars before Archdeacon Sinclair and the
Bishop of London, which she did. _

quiet, modest-

The. letter: to the Bishop of London was then read. It
contained charges made against witness in connexion with

prisoner's sister

The prosecutor deposed that, except as one of his con-
gregation, he had never seen The prisoner or her sistere
and had never spoken to either.

Miss Richardson and Mrs. Nivin were afterwards called;
both of whom stated that they had never spoken to the
priqmer or her sister..

John M'Naughten, formerly beadle to the prosecutor's
church, said that on the 27th of. May a young man came
to him, and offered him money on condition that he would
afford Miss Fountain all the information he was master of
in regard to Mr. Nivin, which he refused to do.
Mr. Parry made an able address for the defence. Thel.
jury, however, returned a verdict of Guilty. Sentence."'
Twelve months' imprisonment in the House of Coale"
tion.

The Court of Exchequer has decided that if a man 1.
luntarily kills himself, whether sane or not, a policy
assurance on his life, containing the usual clause relative,
to persons dying by their own hands, is void. A cerdie;
given in favour of the widow on five policies for X 99
each, effected in the Argus office by a gentleman who e°l''
mitted suicide whilst labouring under insanity, was, there,
fore, set aside.
THE NEW INSOLVENT COMMISSIONER..—Mr. Charles
Phillips, a Commissioner o: the Liverpool Court of Bank-
ruptcy, has received the appointment. The learned core:
missioner, by accepting the situation, will lose £3OO a•Yeal!,
his present salary as a country Commissioner in B„
ruptcy being £l,BOO per annum, but it is said he has been
influenced mainly by consideration of health. The V 9
cancy thus created in the court at Liverpool will be fille a
it is understood, by Mr. Henry James Perry, the Lord
Chancellor's se,:retarv.

capitalists and others desirous of making safe and pt
well to consult the lists of both, which may iw il do
fitable investments in land and household property,
be bad on
application at the office of Mr.
Liverpool. .
Determination of blood to the head, apoplexX' 14,,,"
effectually prevented by the occasional use-01- " ."B—`-
the action
ton's Pill of Health," which. by strengthening
of the stotnach,•and promoting a 12,,-elihy and regular al"
gestion of the food, prevents a recurrence of tho6el.l_olol.
Williams,lhams, anelag
toms of this alarming disordyr; giddiness, oppress",t __
the brain, singing- noise in the ears, head-ache'
6‘.tralt7ortY3
ere an excellent aperient, with' griping or
Pi'?s. ,_„,.
of strength, create app tit, reli,ve languor, and inviTL
rate the sprits; what.; to the flee liver or sedentary
.1,07_
offer great and important advantages. Sold by all vend ;
e name °
of medicine-. Price Is. lid. pri box. See the
_fo_
" Thomtls Prout, 229, Strand, London," on the goy°
meat stamp. /
h_street,

June 30, 1846.

Zoral anb Vrabinriat p.clus.

The last stone of the Branch Bank of England, King-
street, Manchester, was laid on Tuesday.
On Thursday. a young man, named John Farrell, was
drowned whilst bathing at the south shore.
It i. expected that a public meeting will be held in the
Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on Thursday, to celebrate
the passing f the Corn Bill.

The bells of the Collegiate Church, Manchester, rang
merry peals on Friday, when the news was received that
the Corn Bill had passed.
A black man, the other day, who was summoned for
allowing 'nis dog to be at large, pleaded that it had no teeth,
but the magistrates fined him. nevertbelesq, ss. and costs.
The children of the 'West Derby Union 'Workhouse, at
their examination on Tuesday, acquitted themselves very
creditably.

'On Tuesday evening a female named Paulson, while
under the influence of liquor, threw herself from George's
Pier into the river, but was fortunatfly rescued.
On Tuesday John Goldie was fined ss. and costs, or be
imprisoned ten days, for endeavouring to evade the Wood-
side Ferry toll on Mondayi evening.
_ _ _

On Wed❑esday, the axletree of a carriage broke on the
Chester and Birkenhead Railway, while the train was in
motion, but no damage was done.
Ibrahim Pacha has placed the sum of £4O in the hands
of the Mayor of Liverpool to be distributed to the public
chari►ies.

A room has been hired in Greenland-street, for the
purpose of tr3ing a ragged school ; but the principles on
which it is established do not augur well for its success.
The assistants of the late firm of Richardson and Cow-
turn, in this town, on leaving their employ, presented to
Mr. James Cowburn a handsome silver cup, richly chased,
and of elegant design, as a mark of their respect.
A strong reinforcement of police are required in the
new streets in Windsor. Every Saturday night the fight-
ing is brutal, especially in Harding-street, and the police
far too weak.

STEALING STRAWBERRIES.—On Tuesday, a young
lad namrd William Haliiwell, was fined ss. at our Police-
court, charged with stealing strawberries from the gar-
den of Mr. Scarsbrick, at liirkdal.

On Thursday, feorge Jackson, a flatman, was fined ss.
and costs for beating a boy, his son, in a brutal manner
with a rope, knotted at the end. He was in the habit of
"correcting" his wife with the same intrument.

FATAG ACCIDENT.—On Friday, an inquest-
was held
on the body of Thomas Cork hill, aged 40, a rigger, who,
while at work at Mr. Peter Cato's ship-building yard,
had his skull fractured by the falling over of a timber
truck. - _ . . .

--
Mr. James Gordon Bennett, proprietor and editor of
the New York 1-!erald, arrived by the Hibernia, and re,
mains during his stay in Liverpool at the Adelphi Hotel.
We understand that it is Mr. 13,nnett's intention to visit
London and make a tour upon the continent.
ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.—On Friday, at the Police-
court, a servant-girl, named Ann Kelly, was committed
for trial, charged with stealing various articles of wearing
apparel. the property of Mr. and Mrs. Tinley, of Vine-
street, with whom she lived as servant.

A correspondent suggests the propriety of the figures
on the dial of the Infirmary clock, in Brownlow.street,
being repilt. At present they are almost invisible, and
for the convenience of such a thortughfare, the trifling
expense of restoring it is scarce worthy notice.
Last week two little boys were drowned in an old marl
pit on Bartington-heath, Cheshire. They had gone in to
bathe, and no doubt had got out of their depth ; their
clo:hes were found lying near the spot, which gave the
first intimation as to their melancholy fate.
A public meeting will take place at Chester on Friday
next, for the purpose of promoting the erection of public
baths and washhouses for the poor. The Mayor will take
the chair ; and the fund already subscribed being £225,
there is every prospect of sue,

. .
The bakers of bread have run thrir stocks of flour so
-fine that it was difficult to obtain bread in some of the
villages in this county at the beginning of last week. Even
in this town some of them are so completely nut of stock
as to require that the flour bought by them shall be sent
borne the same afternoon for immediate use.
The Mayor of Bordeaux is at present in Liverpool. He
was at the Police-court about an hour on Saturday, and
sat alongside Mr. Rushton on the bench. He seemed to
watch the proceedings at the court with great interest.
On Sunday he was waited upon by William Brown, Esq.,
and other merchants of the town.
During the week, a number of parties have been sum-
moned for keeping pigs in the vicinity of dwelling-houses,
allowing ash pits to be in a defective state, and refuse mat-
ter to flow into the stree's, &c. In all cases where the
ofience was proved the parties were fined, in some cases
205., and others 10s. and costs.

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH.—On Wednesday, Mary
Bell, aged 17, servant of Mr. D. Scurfield, shawl dealer,
Bold-so eet, was committed for trial. charged with secret-
ing the birth of an illegitimate child, and hiding the body
up the chimney, where it remained undiscovered for six
weeks.

Edward Murray was on Wednesday committed on a
charge of bigamy. Tne prisoner was married in Ireland
in the year 1837, to Catherine Bennett, and again in Oc-
tober, 1837, to Margaret Parry, at St. Nicholas' Church,
Liverpool, the first wife being then alive. Both wives
appeared in court and gave evidence.
A long investigation, involving the conduct of two or
three police-officers, took place on Wednesday, respect-
ing an alleged assault committed on Mrs. Morris, who
lives with her husband and family in the neighbourhood
of London-road. The evidence was conflicting. Mr.
Rushton was unable to adjudicate, but he dismissed 283
for being intoxicated.
ILLICIT DISTILLATION.—On Friday, three middle
aged men were brought before Mr. Rushton, and ordered
to pay a fine of £3O each, or to be imprisoned for three
months, for having been detected in the act of making
preparations to work a still in Ear:et-dale-street. back of
St. Martin's market. Their names are Patrick Traynor,
itatriek Ptrcival. and Jas. rvl` Bride.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH SCHOOLS, HACKIN'S Hay.—
The chiloren of these schools were exsmined before the
Rev. Robert Davies and a number of the congregation
and friends, (in Tuesday 14st. The examination gave
great satisfaction to the company assembled, and the Rev.
Chairman declared himself much satisfi:d with their at-
tainments, and delivered an impressive address to the
children.

CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL.—On Tuesday the half-
yearly examination of the boys of Christ Church Schools,
took place. The object is to select the cleverest boy, to
be educated free ia the Lower school of the Collegiate
Institution. The boys acquitted themselves creditably,
and were surprisingly quick at their arithmetic. Ihe
-principal examiner was the Rev. Dr. Hume', of the Col-
legiate Institution. After the selection was made, a gen-
tleman present made a handsome pecuniary present to the
sixbest boys,

-••
A BET TO THE BENCH.—On Tuesday, an old gentle-
rnan appeared before Mr. Rushton, to answer an in-
formation charging him with allowing offensive matter
from his pren,i,es to ocze through to those of his neigh-
bours. He denied the statements of the informant. and
(turning to Mr. Rushton) offered to bet him, or any one
in court, .ZIOuO that the inrp> ctor bad been mistaken.
Mr. Itushtnn quietly informed him that he did not bet, and
fined him £1 and costs—warning him of the probable re-
petition of the fine, if the nuisance was not removed.
CHESTER REGATTA.--The ensuing Chester Regatta, in
August n-xt, is likely to be an unusually interesting and
spirited affair. Mr. Jervis, M.P. fur the city, gives a cup
value £25, which will of course be enhanced by a sweep-
stakes. The `• Royal Rowing Club" hove a new boat
building for them by Searle ; and have already a very
effi,ient crew in training upon the Dee, under Maynard,
of London. N, ho took them in hand last week. Crews are
expected from Lancaster, Liverpool, and Dublin, to con-
tend for the prize.

During the voyage of the Roscommon steamer from
Dublin to 'Liverpool on Saturday week, a fight commenced
amongst the' harvest men, some hundreds of whom were
on deck. The combatants being armed with stout shille-
laghs, it was not long before some dozen were stretched
insensible upon the deck ; and the fierce, mad yells of the
men, together with the screams of the women by whom
they were sus rounded, were only quietened by a was -r-pipe
being brought to play upon the •` boys." During the row
a poor woman was prematurely delivered.
A YOUNG CANNIBAL.—.At the Police-court, Black-
burn, list •Wednrstl..y week, Ilenry Elope, of Billioge
End, was charged by Alice Hindle with baring assaulted
a little boy, her son. During the inquiry as to the cir-
cumstances of the case, the singular fact was elicited that
the child in question had an irresistible propensity to taste
'lumen flesh. Nearly every little playfellow's nose, ears,
and fingers, that came within reach of his mouth, would
'this young cannibal seize between his teeth, and endea.
your to make them meet. The mother admitted that her
child was " rather given to biting;" and as it was for the
exercise of this uncivibzed inclination on the defendant's
son, that defendant had chastised the juvenile savage, the
magistrates dismissed the chat ge, with a recommendation
.to complainant to get her child muzzl,d.
F4TItAORDINARY DE kTII.—On Wednesday, an in-
,quest was held before Mr. Curry, touching the death of
a man named William Newall, aged 25, who lived in
Sperling-place, Everton. Deceased was in the employ of
Messrs. et itchley and Co., manufacturing chemists, Can-
ning•street, and on Monday last was engaged there, with
the foreman of the establishment, in drawing off some ni-
trous acid from an earthenware receiver with an earthen•
Wane top into stone bolt es, when the tap came out, and
the Held gushed out. They both got away as quick as
possible. The deceased afterwards complained of a light-
netts of the chest, caused by the fumes arising from the
acid. In half an hour he left off work, and went home:
Next morning he became worse. and was taken to the
Northern Hospital, Where he died soon after. The house-
ileur4g,•oll, Mr. G ldersleeves, ascertained. on a post mortem
x :. ination, that death hail been caused by asphyxia,
fro
the e"gorgement of the air tubes, the result of inhaling
ens front nitrous acid.—Verdict accordingly.
Citot' IN THE Pvl.DE.—The late rain has been of great
service; its beneficial effects being visible through vege-
tation. Tue wheat crop, genet ally speaking, looks well,
and fully an average produce is anticipated. Oats, on
land " good heart," look well ; but, on inferior soil, are
short and bad in colour. Beans will be a sorry affair;
there will neither be 8-raw nor pods. Potatoes of early
sorts are Pretty fair; but late crops present a somewhat
ragged' appearance, and in some instances the baneful
effects of the rot are visible. A great denl of the turnip
seed, sown in the drill a month ago. has not yet made its
lOPesrance.:.n come qu,liee of the hot and dry weather, but
to jug now begioninz to brain!. In some instances the
ft y has done much damage. Many farmers are busy in
their hay, although it is a month heft), e the usual time of
cutting. In bruuk or low lying meadows the crop is fair,
but the generality of fields will cut up "thin," and, taken
as a Willie, the produce of hay will be below average.
.of all kinds will be a failing crop this season.
WRITING.—We have tare .dy borne personal testimony
'to Mr. Toornoson's excellent system of teaching, writing,
lad need now only refer to itis advertisement.

THE LATE CAPTAIN EMERSON.—This much respected
gentleman died a few days since, at 13,)oterstown, near
Dub in. For years he commanded one of her M-ijesty's
mail steam boats between nis port and Dublin, and his
gentlemanly bearing, great goodness of heart, and a dis-
position always eager to oblige, recommended him to all
who knew him. He was a skiltul and experienced naval
officer.

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS.-It is intended to pull
down the whole of the south side of Shew's Brow, and the
east side of the Old Haymarket, including the mass of
small tenements called St. John's village. Handsome
buildings will succeed the present old fashioned and un-
sightly houses. It is probable that the proposed salt
water baths will be constructed on the site of St John',
village. All the masses of old buildings at the bottom of
Water-street, forming part of Tower-gardens, are to be
immediately removed, and the site occupied by stately
and handsome edifices for business purposes.
WATER.-We believe we may now congratulate the
town on the prospect of an abundant and speedy supply of
water, the purest in the world. The Corporation is aware
that the plan is being prepared for them by Mr. Robert
Rawlinson, the engineer, of Manchester, who, availing
himself of his opportunities while engaged in the hydraulic
and other works of the Bridgwater trust, has perfected a
plan, simple, cheap, and efficacious. This plan will require
neither steam-engine, pump, or turncock ; the supply of
water will be inexhaustible and constant ; it will flood the
sewers, keep a thousand public fountans in eternal play,
and give every householder, poor or rich, an opportunity
• of having always on, from high pressure, abundance of the
purest water.-Journal.
LAUNCHES.-On Tuesday morning a beautiful iron
steamer called the Fenella (the cognomen of the interest-
ing dumb girl, characterised in Sir Walter Scott's novel
of " Peveril of the Peak") was launched from the building
yard of Messrs. Thomas Vernon and Son, South Shore
The Fenella was constructed from a model by our towns-
man, Mr. John Grantham, and is truly a fine specimen of
naval architecture, of very fine lines, and light flotation.
She was built for Messrs. Kemp and Laidlav, of the new,
and now thriving, town of Fleetwood; and she is intended
to run, chiefly with passengers, between that port and the
Isle of Man.-On the following dry, a fine new vessel
called the Georgina, was launched from the building-yard
of Messrs. Peter Chaloner and Sons, Baffin-street. She
is of 600 tons burthen, of a beautiful model. apparently
adapted for combining speed with the capability of carry-
ing a large cargo, and intended to be employed in the
Calcutta trade. The vessel was built for John Worrell,
Esq.
LIVERPOOL Docgs.-A comparative statement of the
rates and duties received in the years ending on the 24th
of June, 1845 and 1846:-In the year 1846, duties on
tonnage, £114..709 Iss. Bd. ; on goods, £98,714 Os. 61. ;
lighthouse, £8.732 15a. 2d. ; floating light, £3 775 15s. Id.;
graving dock, £12,338 4a. ; graving block. £2,308 12s. 6d. ;
extra dock rent, £483135. 6d. ;-total, £211,062 16s. 54.
In 1845. duties on tonnage, £118,046 Bs. 8:1. ; on goods,
£103.200 15s. 94. ; lighthouse, £8,632 Os. 9 1.; floating-
light, £3.897 3s. , graving dock, £11,660 17s. ; graving
block. £2,239 3s. Gd.; extra dock rent, £660 ss. ;-total,
£250,541 13s. 10d.,-showing an increase on lighthouse
duties of £lOO 14s. sd. ; graving dock, £677 7s. ; graving
block, £69 9e. ; and a decrease of duties on tonnage of
£3,335 135.; on goods, £6,486 15s. 3d. ; floating
£l2l Bs. Id.; and extra dock rent, £3Bl Ils. 64.;-total,
decrease, £9,478 17s. 5d.-Number of vessels in the year
1846, 19,951: tonnage, 3,095.444. In 1845, number of
vessels, 20,521; tonnage, 3,016.531; increase on tonnage,
79,913 ; decrease on number of vessels, 570.
FATAL AND SINGULARLY SIMILAR ACCIDENTS.-On
Saturday week, a young man named Burton, a native of
Birkenhead, employed on the Holyhead Railway at Pen.
manmawr, was ordered to take his horse and cart into
the sea to wash them. He did so, when the animal be-
ginning to plunge and kick, got beyond his depth, and
Burton was thrown off and drowned, being carried away
by the tide. His body was afterwards found.-On Wed-
nesday last. a young man named Myers, a carter in the
employ of Mr. Hitchmough, Higher Tran,nere, took his
two chain horses to :in old stone quarry filled with water,
near'the Park Hotel, Birkenhead, to wash their feet. One
of the horses slipped into a deep part of the quarry, and
deceased clung to the reins to endeavour to get him out,
but the horse became restive, threw him on his back in
the water, and kicked the poor fellow so severely that he
sank and was drowned. The vicious horse was drowned,
but the other was got out. The body of Myers was not
recovered until an hour had elapsed. Ilis brother was
drowned last year, and was pulled out by the same grap-
nel. His father was killed by a cart a few years ago.
REMOVAL OF PAUPERS.-The House of Commons
have directed the publication of a return, showing the
number of paupers removed to their places of settlement
from the manufacturing towns of Lancashire, Yorkshire,
and Cheshire, during the years 1841, 1842, and 1843.
The total numbers of persons removed from twenty-five
manufacturing towns enumerated in the return were :-
in 1841, 718 families, comprising 2,254 persons ; in 1842,
1.393 families, comprising 3,922 persons ; and in 1843,
1,745 families, comprising 5,168 persons. No returns
had been received from Stockport, Bury, Blackburn, and
Leeds (township.) The return states that from Man-
chester there were removed. in 1812. 414 families, com-
prising 928 persons ; in 1843. 587 families, comprising
1.553 persons. From Salford (including Fendlebury and
Pendleton), in 1841, 156 families, comprising 419 persons ;
in 1842, 183 families, comprising 470 persons ; in 1843,
229 families, comprising 614 persons. From Chorlow-
upon-Medlock (including Ardwick and flulme), in 1841,
32 families, comprising 90 persons ; in 1842, 65 families,
comprising 166 persons ; in 1843. 60 funailies, comprising
186 persons.
111 HWAY BOARD, THURSDAY.-OR the recomieen-
dation of Mr. Walthew, the law-clerk was directed to
write a letter to the Town-clerk, requesting him to call
the attention of the Council to the desirability of erecting
troughs for supplying cattle with water, as the Board ex-
pect that the water-works at Green-lane will be in opera-
tion in about three months.-A conversation took place
as to the laying of pipes from the new mains, for the pur-
pose of supplying the new north baths, but the opinion
generally expressed was, that the Board had not funds to
lay the pipes, and that, therefore, the Corporation ought
to undertake that wotk.-Mr. Thine said they exp, cted
the baths at the north end would be ready early in July.
The law-clerk announced that the Liverpool Sanitary Bill
bad passed through committee on Friday last, with a
clause inserted authorising the continuance of the present
commissioners in office till the act came into operation.
Mr. Higgins alluded to what took place last week, when
on his stating that a motion relative to the Sanatory Bill
bad not been put, Mr. Birkett gave his statement a flat
denial. As that statement had since been correborated,
he called on Mr. Birkett to retract the offensive expres-
sion. Mr. Birkett refused to withdraw the exoreseion
which referred to the assertion that the motion had never
been put. A long conversation and some explanations
took place, which ended in both parties withdrawing all
they had said, and shaking hands with each other. It
appears that Mr. Higgins's version of the affair was the
right one. He had said " the motion was not put," and
intended to add, •' while I was in the room," (which he
afterwards called out aloud) when he was repeatedly in-
terrupted.

ACCIDENT AT THE RAILWAY WORKS, GLOUCESTER-
STEP ET.— On Friday afternoon, about half-past two
o'clock, an accident took place in the excavation, now
approaching towards completion, for the extension of the
yard-room, or station, of the Grand Junction Railway
Company, between Gloucester-street and Sidney-street.
Two borings had been made in the yellow freestone rock
at the east end of the excavation, and both being charged
with gunpowder, ignition was effected by slow matches in
the usual way, and the overseers and work tnen retired fi om
the spot to await the effect, at what they considered a sate
distanm—about forty yards. Contrary to expectation,
the lower part of the stone bored into was softer tLan the
upper stratum, and gave way first by the force of the two
explosions, sending in the direction where the men were
standing a terrific shower of large and small pieces of
stone. They saw the, coming missiles, but had not time
entirely to escape. One man named Jones was struck by
a stone on the leg with such force that a compound frac
tore was the effect. He was sent to the Infirmary, and is
doing well. Three other men were seriously wounded by
other stones, one on the back of the head, another on the
hack. and another on the shoulder. which was dial cated.
Thee were take-, to the surgery of Mr. O'Gorman, in the
immediate neighbourhood, and were attended to by that
gentleman, and nfterwards sent to their home,.. They ar,..
we learn, in a fair way of recovery. There were from 30
to 40 persons. including casual spectators, at the time in
the excavation, and it is wonderful, such were the size and
quantity of stones projected, that a great fatality did not
take'place. The houses in the neighbourhood were sha-
ken by the explosion, and the inhabitant: considerably
alarmed. The blasting of the rock is no doubt resorted to'
to save time and labour, or, in other words, to expedite
the work ; but as the site is in a potiulons and central
part of the town, it is to be hoped that the remaining part
of the operations will be accomplished without blastit g,
especially as the stone is of a soft nature, and may be
easily quarried out in the usual way, by pickaxe and
wedge.

ANNUAL SESSION.—The annual meeting of the ma-
gistrates for this county took . place at Preston, on Thurs-
day last, Richd. Earle, Esq., in the chair.—Mr. Alderman
Hodgson, on behalf of a committee who had been appointed
for that purpose, reported that a bite for a new lunatic ar y-
lum for the West Derby hundred bad been selected by
them in the neighbourhood of Ra;nhill ; its cost would be
5.000 guineas.—The Rev. J. S. Birley said the Poor-law
Commissioners havi,,g been consulted, had given it as
their opinion that Manchester and Liverpool would be
bound to contribute to the new asylums proposed to he
erected, in the same proportion as they now did to the
asylum at Lancaster.—On the motion of Mr. J. F. Foster,
it was resolved that a committee be appointed to consider
the order made on the county treasurer for the payment
of the special constables employed in that borough during
the disturbances in 1842.—Mr. T. B. Addison, in a speech
of considerable length, proposed that a committee should
be appointed for the purpose of taking into consideration
the general state of the prisons in the county, and repo. t-
ing to the next meeting, with the view of introducing the
separate system. He referred to he new cells for male
prisoners erected in the House of Correction at Preston,
and said the separate system there had caused a great
decrease of prisoners in the gaol, and thus effected a saving
of £3274 to the country. lie expressed approval of the
principle of the model prison of Pentonyille, and con-
sidered that the prisons at. Preston, Kiikdale, and the
New Willey were sufficiently ample for the wants of the
county, and sail Lancaster Castle was not only unfit for
a prison, but incapable of being made so. The Rev. J.
0. Parr seconded the motion. and Colonel Rawstorne,
Mr. Hodgson. Mr. Foster, and Mr. Neild express-d their
general concurrence in the resolution, which was passed
unanimously. A motion to erect an office and storehouse
at Preston for the constabulary force, at a cost of £5OOO,
was, after some discussion, defeated. Mr. Superintendent
Fanning's salary was increased from £lOO to £l3O, and
the salary of Mr. M*Guire, second clerk in the chief
con-table's office, was increased to £9O per annum. The
meeting then adjourned till the 10th September neat