The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-24 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL OF BREACH OF
PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

We noticed in the STANDARD last week the commence-
ment of a trial of this nature in which the plaintiff was
Miss Zlary Elizabeth Smith, of Anstrey, Warwickshire,
and the defendant Washington Earl Ferrers. The action
was brought to recover compensation in damages for a
breach of promise of marriage ; since such promise defen-
dant married Miss Isabella Chichester. The defendant,
however, pleaded that he had not promised, and that at
the time he made the promise he was under age. The
plaintiff replied that the promise had been renewed after
he came of age. In the early part of 1814 it was agreed
that the union should take place in the month of May, but
it was afterwards postponed till July or August. Every
preparation was made—the dresses were prepared—the
bridecake was ordered, and everything was done that was
usual on such• occasions ; and it was only at the end of
July (so it was alleged on the part of the plaintiff) that
this unhappy young lady was at, iqed of the fact that the
defendant could not marry her, 4,y reading in the news-
paper of the marriage of the Earl of Ferrers to Miss Chi-
chester.

The trial occupied four days Saturday, Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday, and in consequence of the ex-
traordinary character of lbe case of each party to the ac-
tion, it excited an unusual degree of interest. The young
lady is just past her 21st year, and the Earl is two years
older. The acquaintance of the parties is alleged to have
commenced in 1839, and to have continued up to the period
of the Earl's marriage in 1844, during which unequivocal
promises were alleged, and the letters containing them put
in as eviden._e. The defence was, that no promise had
been made. Moreover, it was alleged that Earl Ferrets
never was acquainted with the young lady at all, and that
the letters produced were forgeries.
The counsel engaged in this extraordinary case were—
The Solicitor-General, Mr. M. Chambers, Mr. Robirr-
son, and Mr. M. Symons for the plaintiff; and the At.

torney-General, Mr. Crowder, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr.
Barstow for the defendant.

On Saturday the Solicitor-General opened his client's
case in a speech of great length, in the course of which he
read a series of letters alleged to have been written by the
noble defendant to the plaintiff. These were filled with
the usual ardent protestations of attachment, and spoke of
the intentions of the noble defendant to make his " dear-
est Mary," the plaintiff, who possesses considerable per-
sonal attractions, his wife. They contained frequent al-
lusions to the anticipated marriage, house furnishing, &c.
These epistles were mostly written on scraps of paper, a
peculiarity, it was said, which Earl Ferrers had adopted.
The Solicitor-General anticipated that it would be at-
tempted to be shewn, on the part of the defence, that Earl
Ferrers never spoke to this young lady in his life, and that
all the letters were one tissue of forgery and fabrication
from beginning to end. All he could say was, that if it
should turn out to be so, it would surpass anything among
the possibilities of human life, that a young girl should
have made such a claim upon a young nobleman, and carry
it out in a manner which would have puzzled the most
skilful and experienced imitator of handwriting. Such a
defer ce was incomprehensible, and not to be credited. He
called a number of witnesses, some of whom spoke posi-
tively as to the letters being in the handwriting of the
Earl, others only believing they were, and all of whom
deposed to having, at one time or other, seen the Earl
walking and talking with the plaintiff, or close to her. The
witnesses were not all of a very respectable class, and one
of them was so intoxicated that he was ordered out of
court. The first witness called was the Rev. Edward
Francis Harding, chaplain to Earl Ferrers, who proved
the communications to be in his lordship's handwriting.
In cross-examination Mr. Harding stated that he was 37
years old, that he held a curacy ; that the Earl was in the
habit of going out as one of the Rebeccaifes ; that he (the
Rev. Mr. Harding) had allowed his lordship to paint
mustachios on his (Mr. H.'s) upper lip, and that with the
Earl he hail gone out disguised with his shirt over his
clothes. He also joined in other "larks," and could not
tell whether he was sober when he did so. Notwithstand-
ing this, he had never been deprived of his curacy ! °tilt r
witnesses were examined as to the hand-writing, and as
to the defendant having shown attention to Miss Smith.
On Monday the father and mother of the plaintiff were
examined to prove the receipt of letters and presents from
the noble defendant, and to speak to the preparations for
the anticipated wedding. A younger sister of the plaintiff
was also examined, to prove that the defendant came to
Mr. Smith's house to visit Miss Smith. A labouring
man was also called to prove that the plaintiff and defen-
dant had been seen walking together. Other witnesses
deposed that they had received letters from the plaintiff
to the defendant, and had put them into the post-office.
The evidence in chief went to prove the preparations for
the marriage, in consequence of the letters received by
the plaintiff, purporting to come from the defendant. In
cross-examination of the plaintiff's parents, it was elicited
that they had never seen her receive any letters that came
from the defendant, but that she showed them to them
generally a few days after they were dated ; also that they
never came by post, but always by private hand. They
were also rigidly cross-examined as to whether the hand-
writing of the letters was not similar to the plaintiff's.
Some of the letters they said they believed to be plaintiff's
handwriting, and others wete like hers in some of the
characters, but they did not think they were her writing.
They had noticed the similarity previously, but accounted
for it by the fact of her having bad some of the defen-
dant's writing when young, and endeavoured to imitate it.
The mother of the plaintiff also stated that she once went
to a ball at Tam worth, with her daughter, who wore a
white rose in her hair, to meet Lord Ferrers by appoint-
ment, but his lordship was not there. The evidence of
the plaintiff's sister was to prove two visits of the defen-
dant to the plaintiff at her father's house at Easter, and
on the 9th December, 1843, after the defendant became
of age.
On Tuesday the examination of two or three more wit-
nesses closed the plaintiff's case, when the Attorney-
General addressed the jury for the noble defendant. He
admitted this to be a most extraordinary case; but he
undert)ok, however, to make it perfectly clear and plain,
and he called on the jury to suspend their judgment. He
admitted that their decision might send the plaintiff from
the court with disgrace and infamy; but, on the other
hand, what must be the effect of a decision that a noble-
man had eagaged the affections of a young girl, and then
wholly denied all connexion with her. He admitted the
project of the plaintiff was extraordinary in one so young ;
but, unfortunately, not without parallel ; and here he
cited two remarkable cases of conspiracy. One was the
case of a young woman who had left her employment, and
in order to account fur her absence told a falsehood, which
led on to others, and at last got herself so involved, that
she swore she had been taken away by two gipsies, whose
lives had well nigh been forfeited, had not her perjury
been detected, and she was transported. The other case
was somewhat similar. He would show distinctly and
clearly that this was a like case, and that it was from be-
ginning to end a base and infamous conspiracy, got up by
the plaintiff herself, by a series of letters, for the purpose
of involving his client in this action. In 1842, the defen-
dant arrived from the continent, and in two days after
came to the title. About this time he received, from time
to time, anonymous letters from some female, breathing
the most ardent affection, which he, not duly appreciating
then, generally destroyed, and after the most diligent
search they had only been able to find four. These were
read to the court. They contained protestations of ar-
dent attachment, and were signed " Isabel," " A. 8.,"
and " Marie." He was not aware who the fair corres•
pondent might be, and destroyed most of the letters as he
received them. Some, however, had been found, which
the learned counsel read. The first was from a stranger,
recommending Lord Ferrers to go to a ball at Tdmworth,
and see a young lady who would be there with a white
rose in her hair. The charms of this young lady
were most extravagantly extolled in this letter. After
reading it, the Attorney-General asked if they under-
stood the ca-e now ? The plaintiff's mother had spoken
as to the white rose in the hair to be worn at the ball. He
had admitted that letters were received by Lord Ferrers,
directed to him. Had they the slightest doubt that this
girl, deceiving some, assisted by others, had been con-
triving, from the beginning to the end, a scene of the
grossest and most scandalous iniquity. [The style and
even some of the expressions in the anonymous letters
are very similar to those in the letters purporting to be
written by Lord Ferrers.] Some witnesses, among whom
were the guardian and sister of the defendant, were then
examined, who expressed a very decided opinion that the
letters were not in Earl Ferrers's hand-writing. It was
also proved that Earl Ferrers was in another part of the
country on the 2nd of December, when it was said, by the
plaintiff, that he had paid her a visit.
This extraordinary case came to as extraordinary a ter-
mination on Wednesday. The Hon. D. Shirley was ex-
amined with reference to two letters which it was alleged
by the plaintiff had been written by him to her on the sub-
ject of the attachment between the plaintiff and defendant.
Mr. Shirley, however, positively denied ever having writ-
ten such letters, or that he (Mr. Shirley) had ever sent
the plaintiff a jacynth ring at the request of the defendant.
These letters which have since been published, purport to
be written by Mr. Shirley, from Chartley Castle, where
the defendant (Mr. Shirley's brother) is represented as
lying dangerously ill, and making repeated inquiries about
the plaintiff in his intervals of consciousness.
After this evidence had been gone through, the Solici-
tor-General entered the court, stating that the four let-
ters which had been produced on the previous day had
come upon him by surprise, and also upon the solicitor
for the plaintiff; that surprise being shared in by the
members of the plaintiff's family. After a conference
held on the subject that morning, the result was, that as
there would be no time during the trial to institute those
inquiries which were necessary in order to bring the whole
facts to light relative to that mysterious part of this ni-)st
mysterious case, he had felt it his duty, with the concur.
rence of his learned friends, and with the consent of the
plaintiff, whom he represented, as no explanation could
now be given to those letters, to withdraw from the pre-
sent contest, without making any observations relative to
either plaintiff or defendant.

The Attorney-General then applied to the Court, that
the letters produced in support of the plaintiff's case
might be impounded in court; and the Solicitor• General
made a like application as to the four letters produced on
the other side. The learned judge granted both applica-
tions preparatory to an indictment for conspiracy being
laid against the plaintiff and the other parties concerned
in the concoction of the plot, and the plaintiff was non-
suited.

Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN, addressing the Jury, said
that unless those four letters could be most fully and
completely accounted for and explained, it would be im-
possible to believe that those alleged to have been written
by the defendant had really been written by him. As
they were not accounted for nor explained, the jury could
not believe that the letters that had been read as those of
the defendant, had really been written by him.
The public, however, have not done with this strange
case as yet, for independent of ulterior proceedings to be
adopted with regard to it, they are likely to be amused
with another case arising out of it, as the notice paper of
the Court of Queen's Bench contains an announcement
of a case in which the parties are" Erpe v. Earl Ferrers,"
the cause of action being a claim by the plaintiff, the
grandfather of Miss Smith, for £lOO against Lord Fer-
rers, which he, Mr. Erpe, contends was a loan made by
him to the Earl, upon the representation of his grand-
daughter, to pay for presents, which she stated his lord-
ship had made ter.

Mr. Sergeant Warren goes down special to Roscom-
mon and Sligo, to prosecute Ribbonmen, in custody,
under charges of committing agrarian outrages—the new
name for shooting one's landlord.
COUNTERFEITING ENGLISH MARKS.—The Messrs.
Taylor, of Leicester, England, have obtained a verdict of
800 dollars against Daniels and Carpenter, in the United
States Circuit Court, for counterfeiting their marks on
their " Persian thread," by which the interests of the
Messrs. Taylcr were injured.
THE QUEEN V. THE MIDLAND COUNTIES' RAILWAY.
—Lord Denman delivered the judgment of the Court in
this case. A rule has been granted to bring up an inqui-
sition that had been held at Nottingham, on the body of
a person who had been killed on the line, on the ground
of the informality of the proceeding. The Court was of
opinion that the inquisition ought to be quashed on the
grounds shown.

In the Court of Common Pleas, on Tuesday, a case
of " Parrott v. Collins" was tried before the Chief Jus-
tice. In this cnse the defendant, who was described as
Calwell Hall, Worcestershire, and Thomas Edwards, of
No. 6, Smithfield-place, Camberwell, Surrey, were the
two only registered provisional committee-men of the
" Railway Banking Company"—a speculation in which
nobody had either paid for a share or applied for one.
The plaintiff is an advertising agent. Ile claimed the
sum of £94 15s. for advertisements inserted in the Lon-
don papers. Having proved the demand, and also a
promise to pay on part of defendant, the Chief Justice
summed up, and there being no defence, the jury found
a verdict for the plaintiff, for the amount claimed.

Feb. 24, 1840.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL NEWS'
Rev.O P OXFORD,
bridge, was admitted ad eundum. At the same time lu;
RADip,e F. Ems..lA9..T olfncaocropnuvsoccathiroinstihecld oitthegises,thte
following degrees were conferred :-211ristees
Arts—
Rev. C. Ward, and Rev. J. Jackson, Exeter College.
Hos"
Bachelors of Arts—T. Jones, Brasennoze •A. sl r••F
mer, Oriel; J. E. Hill, G. C. Irving, A. 'C. Smith,
pi.
Lear, and G. G. Kennaway, Christ Church • J•W•Zir.°
kin, and W. J. Springett, Wadham ; R. J. Church;
°
tester. has
The Archbishop of York, now in his 83rd Year,
been fifty years on the episcopal bench. d bo-
The Rev. C. A. Thurlow, rector of Malps,
erid
norary canon of Chester, has been app rinted a Pre"
of York Cathedral. been
b
7'he Times contradicts the statement which ht.! Jett
" going the round of the press," that Miss building
Coutts has devoted the sum of £30,000 to the uil
and endowing of a pew church in the metropolis. 180
A very superb and costly silver salver, weighing 'A
ounces, has been presented by the parishioners of GeoP°:
and Alverstoke to Dr. Samuel Wilberforce, theirlatere‘
tor, (now Bishop of Oxford.)
INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR BUILDING C111314C°51;
&c.—At the meeting of this society on Monday last's'
was stated, that notwithstanding some liberal doeatio.,.
recently received, the sum for which this excellent just'.
tution is responsible is not less than £65,592 sterlV;
that large sum being the amount of outstanding grilt;
whilst the means at its disposal are only about .£4offii,
thus leaving a deficiency of about £16.000, which, "b°oo
ever, it is hoped will, ere long, be supplied amply by t „ht
who, being blessed with the means, feel that they 0054
gratefully to assist in promoting the spiritual education
their fellow-subjects.
T in etni
• rHE WILL OF THE REV. DR. D'OYLT.—" • -nits,
this as my will and testament. I, George D'OylY, m*de.
rector of Lambeth, bequeath all my property of every
„f
scription whatsoever which I may possess at the tine
my decease, to my dearly beloved wife, Maria Frau;„a
D'Oyly. Ido this in the full and entire confidenee,te7o
she will dispose of it at her decease amongst ehkies
in the manner which she deems most equitable, and so
she knows to be consistent with m wishes and intention:,
Dated 7th of March, 1838. (Signed) GEORGE D'OTl';
D.D. Witnesses, EDWARD MILLER, M.A., JOHN
M.A.," No executor being appointed, administrate;
with the will annexed has been granted to the widow'
personal effects were estimated at £48.000.
ACCIDENT TO THE REV. E. BICHERSTETH.
Wednesday week, as the Rev. E. Bickersteth vrastif
ceeding in a four-wheeled chaise to the Hertford Ra""et,
Station, for the purpose of going to the metropolis to
tend a Committee of the Evangelical Alliance, he
took a cart laden with flour sacks, at the moment
..1.16
another cart laden with bricks was passing in the opPrni,
direction. In trying to pass between the two, Mr. p 4.170,
ersteth's carriage was caught by the cart coming
Ware, with such force, that he was thrown over the 00
Yin
of his own horse under the wheel of the cart which bfreh,
passing. The wheel passed over his legs, neither of 'is
wonderful to say, were fractured, though his left Jett,e
seriously injured. He also received severe wounds on 11
head from the tall, but his own vehicle was provide
hindered from passing over him. The reverend geie,"
man was insensible for several hours, and though tie's
alarming symptoms were presented at first, be in
likely to recover. nob'
THE REV. T. D. GREGG.—At a meeting of theip
lin Protestant Association last week, the rev. gentle...oJ
(whose chapel, as we stated last week, has been attetcP
to be closed by the Archbishop of Dublin) relatedit7r
" outrage" perpetrated on him by the Archbishop-
oiler
the publication of the discussion with Father Mag
Mr. Gregg sent a copy to his Grace, accompanied 'is
polite note. The reception which the gift met with a.
will give in the rev. gentleman's own words, merely ose'e,
ing that we consider Mr. Gregg to be a very ill.usedy'refr
Ile has done much for the cause of Protestantism h 1
men more—and we are sorry to see him so oppOgutbe
the archbishop. Mr. Gregg says, " After I sent to, to
archbishop that copy of the discussion, his Grace sent,,trir
the Diocesan Lending Library, with an insulting.inn' ss,
tion on the title-page. (Shame.) The inscription wee,.
in fact, written under Mr. Maguire's name and raYkfies•
u
par nobile fratrum, otherwise a ' pretty pair of rt
guards.' (Shame.) Though indignant at the ins,
considered considered it beneath notice; but having been a 0
time ao at Mr. Oldham's, in whose house the liblbs
held, 1 asked that gentleman whether it was so, and ot.
would allow me to see the book. He replied in the ad)•
motive, and got it for me. When I found in the foot
bishop's handwriting, with which I was acquainteu:beef
merely the insulting inscription spoken of, but two °LOA
of a like character, one in Greek and one in, The.
(Shame); and, not only so, but pasted in the flY'le'll"•eb,
foie the title-page of the very identical letter with oar,!
in my courtesy and anxiety to confer an humble fa,,o
had accompanied the book. (Loud and indignant crier
of ' Shame,' and • Send him back to England.') sC
my Mends, he is nothing the worse for being is
Englishman. (Cries of He is.') No, no, Val
not ; but this much I can say, that when I faun egt
polite attention, my Christian anxiety, to show ail bot 0 •
to authority, my own good nature in fact change,' Ifess.
whip of scorpions wherewith to lash me—taken 3 bre.
rage of
sttwoop
ykn
feflsanhi t chotteuoarl
d?inl perpetualsGn uooedth,
havea would wound
gentletneeti
btpvhartiortteepsinef—rch was not the course pursued towards tne;
ol
clergyman,
rengedyni
mai
snvaeenn thet,bofeoree
for, why
ae
the
h hoe
yf 010010,70:00,"
when I saw all this, I confess to you my Irish blood not
lea
within me. It was not merely I who was iusulte°' sat
my adversary too, and, in the person of us both,,,,rs
country ; and having perceived as much, I instantly
p
out the fly-leaf, title-page; letter, and all, everytbitif rot
I was quite certain the archbishop had touched.'" Mr
them into pieces, and flung them into the fire. `naite
mendous cheers for some time.) Mr. Oldham wag boot
blameless in the matter: he remonstrated with ine,,)ooo
it ; he told me that he was responsible for the bool (of
that he did not think another copy which proffer' ger
the library would be valued as much as the one in 9,teer
tion. Then,' said I, ' you must tell the corrObu)l
with my compliments, that I know no so proper a recd.!
tbr so monstrous an outrage as a counter-outrage; .ed•
think that they themselves owed it to a brotheri%tlon
countryman to refuse to be made parties to the in tiro
tlto
of an insult on him.' (Cheers.) lam happy, IttiO
character of Irish gentlemen, to state that I learnedtbef
when the subject was brought before the committee. 1110
t
Ts
idEt
archbishop,hAat p theyFeorpsaoaTi
anatcdocohtuLleil
deld C
acn thereforeho.
c,
Church
cArj
commissioner"
trmhshti
meai
they could
t,dcsi
oi courseadesrtne,
:OcitnFabt
zolaeadoiGmoiEeeep
rrt
vine ?Lib
ow:
committee of clergymen and laymen in Englal,f,
yind(to the actual state of the religious n3ls"etn-
ir cciAeunirtel
that country.
~,,t sv2s
The results have been most unsatisfactory ;
so much that it is unplaasar,t to learn, we gleteov4
comfort nevertheless. That the movement con.o',.rtv,„`"
by Rouge has become ratiibalitic, and plunged int7slr:
as great as those with which Ronge was trammelleuristial
in the toils of Popery, is matter now of public not, and
but the movement will not on that account be 01t..,"- ha;
great and successful ends. All who have left R°,ll.sti°';;
now flung themselves headlong into the abyss 0'
alism ; they have stood on the brink of the Vele J 76
counsel those who were insanely willing to take 0,
perate leap ; but, finding remonstrance of no are.P.,;
faithful have come out from among those who ca.gor
changed one despotism to another; and hope
o°l
again on the remnant who seek God.
By this remnant, the rationalistic Leipsic e°"efe6Cl
has been denounced as a " confession by which ernes,
fess not that they are Christians." And to this..,,roo';;
—the true apostolical catholics of Germany, hau"iiteeo
ing where to look for aid—the envoy of the corpn'bo,l,a,
England has made a most judicious present of boo ?fin
the " English Liturgy " at their head. Both Dr' tbvef
and several individuals of his flock, have express CI thei
grateful sense of the instruction and comfort l'h.l of :et,
have derived from the use of the beautiful prayers its et,
Church, as well as their admiration of many 0' .esiono
vices. Dr. Pribil himself, says the eorntaition.af
" made use of it at the meetings of his congrega etorr
the Sa bath, two of which I attended ; and it co
to be so used.— VSeo:
This was in Berlin. In the other parts or :030.0.
with the solitary exception of the congregation 10_, KA
which at once signified its sympathy, the invitatiouet !frii
to them to secede from the Rongists have not To inflt
equal success. A commencement,) however, a Orts
made, which, conducted with prudence and in t jot°
of prayer, will yet, we confidently believe, tern)
ty
triumph. o'lo
The committee ask for aid ; but we must so Y•
cause is one that ought to ensure its own victor,:jet
if aid be really necessary, particularly of booksviesteiit,
given, and given liberally. The thing chief!y best
instruction, and not money. Nay, when Wee tellt).
Pribil, the head of the protesters against Roga, thy.
latter, in answer to his inquiry of what be want oaf' cOl
wants what Ronge cannot give him :—" I wa°, 'Pod I
Pribil) Jesus Christ; and him you know not.' (ettlitsi
Ronge replied, " But we have Christ." "dot, ° II
Pribil) ; but it is Jesus the son of man not the
living God. You hold Christ to be a mere to our
as you or I ; but know him not as the only Son..,_ct,
If you do, and will sign a declaration to that ette,,,itt9il
as subscribe the Apostles' Creed, I will give Yon.; "01,1",
" No (answered Ronge) • I will not subscribe l_etifluile
thing. I cannot believe,l cannot swallow, such useort,oo;
leavenhe A p s t oWI Chen waet hearli tohfi
or refrain of asserting that the Friends 41. -411'Thoottri
in desperate need of our sorrow and our pity ••iodised,
when they raised their banner against Rome, C., of Bead
it a host anxious to be freed from the bondagt;„ der( LP.; ii
superstition ; but that banner floats now.,eu-rostueg
against the Trinity; it has inscribed on it ...a U+, Or!,
divinity of the Son, and limits that of the nub's in• Ar.‘ '
inc °s
"an exercise of the divine power which 6 th,,CA
soul, and enables it to attain its end." hdltbe'hegs
sfihlTl fancied
shall
eaEdonnxt
Among
ioetouyhsowul
anxiously
eeßrmweTahrt
cao4hlla:yrFi
are most
sf ol
ir Christianity cse t'. b
enrolled in defence of infidelity. This tyloe
to enable them to recover their position, is
,006:0
tts
ewremac
nany hardly
virhtrastiolas
ti
y; 01114
h well
I etPe
it is confidently stated that her Majestys bi
not expected before the end of May. dfinie 00 et
The Queen and Prince Albert, acconyer, Cilesfreat
Prince of Wales and the Princess IloYal' e and /041
for town on Tuesday afternooa in a carrilnee r
corted by a party of Light Dragoons- Pf Doifse cot
the Princess Alice, accompanied by o', ur. at
Lytteiton, were in another carriage and arty
lit 4
Sir Wm. Stanley will entertain a largl iPferP°° or,
ton-park, on the 2nd of March, for the faosd
chase. Sir William is at present in 1-°l,;eeo
The preliminaries for the marriage be`apallf
tleresgb and Lady Power scourt have been

Feb. 24, 1846.

dr
i,foreo,
!,3116
001
`be
ea bfoolic
.11iclrediel‘
ti
E fe-d
cifep,
e oet
)0'

nt 'eel"
,r1Y..01
rVu ci
o rt.ro,
• r''atie
11)•

X oral anti probintial priuss.
1/Ir. Rushton, last week, fined several parties for using
nnerotected lights in warehouses.
, Last week two children were suffocated in this town
by having been overlain by their parents.
The young man Braithwaite, whose body, we stated last
Week, was found in a pit at Wavertree, committed
suicide.
,_,°n Wednesday last, a child named Tallent, 18 months'
io, living in Albert-street, Toxteth-Park, suffocated
itstlf whilst drinking a basin of broth.
On Thursday, the body of a new-born feale child was
'2llnd in a box under some soil at the bricmkfields, near
asreat Howard-street. There were no marks of violence.
;8 a proof of the fallen condition of hand-loom weav-
i"„g, it may be stated that at a sale by auction near Pres-
.,"l, a few days since, fourteen of the best looms were
sold for as many shillings.
latOn Friday week, Elias Watson, a lad about fifteen, was
IA "ng down the jigger-rope at a warehouse in Tithebarn-
reet, when he fell into the street, and received such in-
Airy as to cause death on the following Monday.
tT,be annual dinner of the Blue Coat Brotherly Society
;'°K place on Tuesday, at the Adelphi Hotel, Mr. Foster,
tilliL e excellent governor of the institution and president of
great number
occupied the chair, and was supported by a
number of clergymen and gentlemen.
8 otatoes are now selling at Ramsey, Isle of Man, at
otst: Per boll of 4481bs , for export to the Liverpool and
have
"et English markets ; and some choice descriptions
been sold as high as 15s. per boll, as seed for home
Use.
p On Wednesday evening, a lecture was delivered in St.
tattrieva schoolroom, by Sir A. J. Knight, on the sani-
-1.0 improvement of the town. Mr. Tinne, Mr. H. G.
...iarhord, and Mr. S. Holme, also added their valuable
testimony on the occasion.
4 4. person named Green made an attempt on Wednes-
tit! t? jump on board the Woodside boat as it was leaving
i
p Pier, and not making good his footing, fell into the
er. He would have been drowned if a boatman
named Thomas Roberts had not jumped in to save him.
LIEATiI FROM DROWNING.—As Thomas Dollman,
tate, of
the Nonpareil, at present lying in the Canning
restore animalon
peel', Was in the act of getting on board that vessel, on
wes riday night, he was tripped by a hawser and fell in. He
forta to got out of th water awere ineffecs soon as possituable, but all ef-
So
l.
, ICIDE AT THE WORKHOUSE.—On Wednesday se'n-
;lilt, IVlartin O'Neill, an inmate of one of the medical
4tua at the Liverpool Workhouse, threw birnrelf out of
wee
_,b.ed-room window, and was so seriously injured.d that
tio.ued on Monday. It appeared he was aftlicte with
,gnitn tremens and of weak mind.
at "e Only case assuming a very serious character, tried
14 the Lancaster assizes last week, was a charge of child
ri tililder againit a woman at Blackburn. The trial lasted
king time on Tment,hursdabut acquittingy, and a verdict was eventually
10,Z" of conceal
.She was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
ry a boatman named Cornelius Green, was
uitnnaitted for trial by Mr. Rushton, on a charge of ob-
% wniug money under false pretences. He had conveyed
fore,,,,rnt.an to a brig which was lying off New Brighton,
e ""joh he was paid 45., and afterwards made a further
demand of 10s. 6d.
fett,WIPuLLY SUDDEN DEATH.—On Friday morning, a
llbi:e named Mary Llewellyn, aged 47, landlady of a
;0,,,,ue-house in London-road, went out, in apparently
,health, into the yard behind the premises to clean
tieo-ati" in about an hour afterwards was found lying quite
of the he The cause of death was ossification of the valves
art.
14/3n Tuesday, Philip Bibby, a boy, aged thirteen,
of ~c°,narnitted by Mr. Rushton to the assizes on a charge
Granhing another boy, Laurence Murphy, in Back
seeeten-street, with a clasp knife. The wound was in the
hae, an inch deep, and two and a half inches long ; and
deothit been an inch higher, would have caused instant
Wt
hear Ll' EARNED.—There is a man living in Blackburn,
lai„t!co Printer, who is employed at a calico-printing esta-
thintent, near Clitheroe, and who has during the last
oft'en weeks walked too and from his work, a distance
a waetvveen 500 and 600 miles, and earned £4 Os. He has
labor and seven children. Are any of the agricultural
knTv??arers paid as badly, or worked so, hard, as this poor
Vii
klm E ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—The stage spectacles
this equestrian fetes produced by the double company at
keritnealre, continue very attractive--the audience nu-
the Bally being considerably above mediocrity. During
ba,,Past week .‘ Timour the Tartar" has been played with ,
tio
success, and last night the celebrated dog Emilie,
Lyle and intelligent creature, was, for the first time in
p3l.enn erkol, produced 'in the drama of the " Dog of the
ee
Ace!, s•
It bo ..-,ENT FROM POWDER.—OD Monday, Jas. Moon,
kJ, Was severely injured by the explosion of some gun-
ritl,'',,e.r. The father of the boy is a coachman, and, du-
ll shelf absence, the boy, in a playful humour, took from
Whi;he'f, in the harness-room a quart bottle of powder,
tali:, ne began to pour into the fire, when th powder
or,'" de forcing the fragments of the bottle into the mi-
d "ate boys face and hands. Little other damage was
go,.
ohllt.avy FAILURE. —A very heavy failure in the soap
or Palm oil trace, said to be to the extent of a quarter
1,, a million, took place here on Wednesday, and has been
dLueeeeded by four or five smaller ones. Some of these
;eer failures have been produced by the larger one, and
t4,..eresdt by the excessive pressure on the money market,
Trlle2l etroys nearly all the usual commercial facilities.
fot„ila failures, together with the uncertainty as to the
iirlte, have produced a very gloomy feeling on 'Change.
that ~• JACKSON'S SALE OF LAND.—t Will be perceived
Szeti,lle long announced sale of Mr I
Jackson's land is
ekateur take place on the 17th March, a hen an immense
unildin et, Property—say nearly one thousand plots of
eale wil And, will be brought to public competition. This
and rat;' no doubt, do much towards establishing a stand-
:alp. Mr
of value on the property of this thriving town-
itgara ri r. Jackson has, with his usual consistency and
.otrnofSo the interests of those who have located in the
'actio„ Which he is styled the founder, employed resident
t I) t.,"r,rs to conduct this important sale.
tient) der4k•,toaaaairrEE..—At the meeting on Thursday, the
;air offi -Messrs. Troutbeck and Son, for colouring the
Itt,4l„iati paces, was accepted.—lt was ordered that the pyroe-
oigder
,enea' for the crews of the light-ships and
,I.a. r
letter of 148•,
be increased. the masters to have 16s. in-
ho,tttr 7.148., and the men 12s. instead of 10s.—A long
ear from Mr. Thomas Robinson, councillor, recom-
t:rehn-5,, a system of management for the Albert Dock
livt manses, the officers necessary to be appointed, and
Gabarnner of keeping the books, was referred to the
a a.Use Sub-committee.
tilila 4 aesday a seaman named Hodges, with seven or
itialianther seam' en, belonging to the William Botsford,
to:. Cit. the coast of Africa, preferred a claim before
Oder shton, for shoat provisions, against the corn-
' s,i,the ~' Captain Calvert. They claimed £5 4s. Bd., being
11 gsbe'ate of Bd. per day for 157 days. It came out in
iPttl t 4 kthat the lime juice had run short, and the men
Os alai "en properly supplied with it. Mr. Rushton
t 1( eti
,that tii,, te,a at parties were liable to a penalty of £2O for
it;tl,ll.'"'ng lime juice on board. As to the claim of the
►i's be- considered it a reasonable one, and should order
bil, Paid, deducting the 30s. each which they had pre-
Opal' re.?eived.
)1i7,,1aty,,,:ne report of the Liverpool Strangers' Friend
loaadred ~e learn that during the past year above eighteen
1144414 Unifies had been visited, comprising near 8000
lt4tlll, 8,", of whom 500 have been widows and 1000 or-
lt4liteci .I'n Consequence of destitution, arising from pro-
itio tho-tifkness, the visiters have been induced to ex-
Veilt
,t" relief, and the committee therefore trust this
lai/,'Par" tfficiency of the society will be met by increased
tibito(ln the part of the public. The treasurer's re-
tell,. frowa the receipts, which, including a balance of
te,tiaitna the previous year, amounted to £713. The i
trotetatnute of the past year has left only £B3 balance 1
tr:Ce or,:ethe present year. There is• a frightful in- ;
ode
Iv;d alekness among the poor, owing to the over- t
4 ate of their houses.
40,41 etv,'-"RBY UNION.—At the meeting of the guar-
aof a asuesdav a 'motion of Mr. Smith for the adop-
eto.o,4lraft letter, which he produced, to the Poor-
Vas ,`", lasioners was carried. The letter stated the
be the the Majority of the board had for deviating
lariat thPlan recommended by the Commissioners for di-
la:, k„e union into districts for dispensing out-door re-
-0114 `• aosk 11
Jt• en- . e moved an amendment—that the plan
smsioh ,ettissioners be at once proceeded with. On a
li4at tci.
tilAilz. Smith's motion was carried by a majority of
NI tote • After this had been disposed of, Mr. Har-
ts tho, red, and Mr. Roskell brought forward his M -
%,;IM t, the
Bsalary of the medical officer be increased from
gioth;o hi,CI Per annum, with six shillings for each patient
Ato:al be except in some instances, where the amount
y•,,%." 4,:. 6d., and that Mr. Harbord be appointed
o'aat th'lr• Parker seconded the motion, but regret-
11,,ratake salary had not been £lOO instead of £BO.
Ihot,tas4;ll Was carried by a majority of eight to six.
N, oIbPORTRAIT OF SIR H. POTTINGER.—There
141.1* the view. at Mr. Grundy's repository, Church-
(thtitlaa .I.original full-lengh portrait of the Right Ho-
liql,l:,l,4lelt„AlaGeneral Sir Henry Pottinger, G.C.8.,
. d bf, SRceessful Minister Plenipotentiary to China,)
Narnelirrrancis Grant, A.R.A., for Her Majesty's
as roper
ii and intended as. a national present to His
lisa'll t4Perr Keying, Imperial Commissioner, &c. &e. to
aao 4 Atter of China. 'We do not remember to have
tilllt!sea the head than is here depicted, and those who
,!I osaaa,b'e gallant and gifted solder and diplomatist,
N4a poi acknowledge tl e likeness to be admirable in
toatd ao'sewhether of facei o r of figure. He is repre-
atatlaipersated at a table, on which are opened various
i:!ta tibratei, English and Chinese, holding in his hand
Ossae 6.-' treaty with Nankin, which it is to be sup-
Cas;;! his .7; Just been perusing, as he appears to have
Nated
_t es from it in the act of deep but quick arid
4e. el:anl:dilation on its contents. The manly coun-
Itstlsio,,ef intro fled by the influence of a southern sun,
If.ev." of tuigonce, and (especially in the peculiar ex-
Olaidsosi,,ie„ eyes) of generous but wary consideration
ti,ttts t.;tig', the honour and advantage, in the compact,
Iliott•-a bainu• The costume is diplomatic and unas-
h ,ne dress coat, with white vest and trousers—
IN ath
t't'arnent being the pink ribbon of the order of
tiZ) ' ana '',",ess the breast. The foreshortening of the
It, t trope"..e general perspective are managed in a mas-
, ltto.,_ oLe giving the figure from a proper point of
'1,1117(1 devsP•aranee of statuary. The accessories are
is t*liiejald of that meretricious elaboration and co-
-1,6 ish 8 are too often the besetting sin of limners,
Y4at lital 01,1:e but to distract the attention from the
Nt,6itseief t' The painting of the documents on the
. tat turned achievement of genius,—one of them
tat the " uP fromthe surface by the crease in fold-
) lOer i,.BPectator might fancy he could put his fin-
\,, ,i; tl,t, . The picture, we learn, will remain in
tat', the" It be engraved in the finest mezzotinto
.liity‘ the art, by Barnett, R.S A., F.S.A. Those
(It thane karts
ryr who appreciate the services to their
steps thY knight, would do well to take the
to secure early impressions.

LIVERPOOL GAS-LIGHT COMPANY.—The half-yeaily
meeting was held on Tuesday. The accounts are made
up yearly to the 30th June, and the committee were
therefore able to report eigely generally on the company's
affairs. The usual half-yearly dividend of £5 per share,
less income tax, was declared, although the price of gas
had been reduced to 4s. Gd. per 1000 feet. In conse-
quence of the great increase in the consumption of gas,
the committee had purchased land between Harrington.
street and Grafton-street for a station at the south end of
the town, and they had secured land to the north of the
town in case the same should be required. After these
plans are matured the committee say it will be for the
proprietors to consider whether it will not be advisable to
relinquish the station in Dale-street, and sell the compa-
ny's property in that and the adjoining streets. To pro-
vide funds for the south station it was agreed to create
the 250 new shares authorised by the last act, to be is-
sued to the proprietors of original shares. By that act
the company had power to create 500 new shares, one-
half to be sold by auction, and as soon as the money so
raised had been expended, they were empowered to is-
sue the remaining 250, to be divided amongst the origi-
nal proprietors. £50,000 one-half being premium, had
been realized by the sale by auction of the 250 shares,
and it was all expended. The calls are to be made on
the 31st March and on the 30th June.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION
FOR AIDING MISSIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD.—A
meeting was held on Tuesday evening, at the Commercial-
ball, Gloucester-street, for the purpose of forming a
branch in this town of the above association, which has
been found very useful in London—having for its object
the diffusion of a missionary spirit among young men,
and the collection of funds in aid of the various depart.
ments of missionary exertion in connexion with the Church
of England. Adam Hodgson, Esq.. was called .to the
chair. The chairman, in opening the business of the
meeting, spoke at great length of the privileges and bene-
fits which would accrue to young men in joining this so-
ciety. The Rev. Mr. Ewbank moved the first resolution.
In doing so, he argued that, although there were already
many missionary societies in connexion with the Church
of England, yet this association, it was intended, should
be of an exclusive character, confined to young men from
eighteen to thirty years of age ; and in its objects to bene-
fit the following missionary societies :—The Church Mis-
sionary Society, London Society for Promoting Christi-
anity among the Jews, Pastoral Aid Society, and the
Colonial Church Society. The Rev. F. Close, M.A., of
Cheltenham, in proposing the second resolution, spoke at
great length on the working of the system, and the great
benefit an infusion of missionary zeal had been to many
wbo bad been in his own parish, and who were now in a
foreign land,' labouring in the good cause. He instanced
many who, in humble life, bad been impressed with a de-
sire to go out, and who had been sent out as teachers. He
also remarked that this society, being in ccnnexion with
the other four societies now in existence, would offer ad-
vantages and afford facilities to young men going abroad,
who might be called upon to remove to the vicinity of any
of their stations, and particularly to young emigrants,
The meeting was also addressed by the Revs. Messrs.
Butler, Carpenter, Hunt, and Hampton. Subscriptions
from Lord Sandon and Adam Hodgson, Esq., of £5 each
towards the funds of the institution were announced. The
cfficers, &co of the association were appointed.
HIGHWAY BOARD.—At the meeting on Thursday,
good deal of conversation took place, as to the public
meeting of the inhabitants, to.consider the water bill now
before Parliament; several members being of opinion
that the meeting should be held immediately.—Mr.
Gladstone said, that with respect to the application of the
Council, he considered that if they went to Parliament for
the bill to supply water, the expense to the inhabitants
would be diminished, as they could make their surplus
fund available for the purpose. Whereas, if the other
course were adopted, and the Highway Board were to
have powers, they would have to lay a water rate at least
sufficient to pay five per cent. on the cost of purchase;
they could not shut their eyes to this fact, and he thought
the parishioners would be mad if they consented to the
course the Board were about to adopt, when the Council
would give them the same for less than half the money.—
Mr. Procter said the Corporation had requested them to
go to Parliament for powers. The only way would be to
settle the matter by the opinion of the public meeting.
If the parishioners wished it in the hands of the Council,
let them have it; but he had no wish 'he Council should
go in the Board : he would rather they should join and go
together. Both bodies might submit their bills to the
meeting, and let the parishioners take their choice.—Mr.
Tinne considered it would be better to get the long-
omised report of Mr. Simpson, in order that the inha-
bitants might have the subject fully before them. They
were at present going on in the dark respecting the
purchase of the Bootle Company's works, and the right of
Lord Derby in those works. There ought to be some
information as to the cost.—Mr. Gladstone said that
if the Council took up the matter, it would do away with
the necessity of levying are te. They had a public purse,
and the board had none. The law clerk said in the present
position of the Parliamentary proceedings, he did not see
any chance of a public meeting for three weeks. The
matter dropped without any resolution being submitted.
The feeling of the board seemed to be that if the council
would take the matter up, levying a rate considerably less
than that contemplated by the board, they should be left
to complete the matter.—Mr. Aspinall moved that a com-
mittee be appcinted to examine into the amount of wages
now paid to each mason, pavier, and labourer, in the
employ of the board, and whether any alteration, and what
increase could' be made to meet the views of the men. Ile
stated that he did so in consequence of their having lost
some of their best men, owing to the high rate of wages
offered them by other parties. He thought the board
ought to pay what other people did. They ought to have
the best men, and pay them good wages. The resolution
was adopted, and a committee was appointed.
THE Loss or THE BENCOOLEN.—An inquest was held
at Crosby, on Tuesday, before the county coroner, touch-
ing the death of George Ellis, steward of the Barque
Bencoolen, which was lost on Saturday fortnight, on
Taylor's Bank. Previous to the investigation, Mr. Ripley
stated that he was the owner of the vessel, and he wished
for a most searching investigation into the whole circum-
stances, so as, if possible, to ascertain the cause of the
unfortunate disaster. It would, he believed, be proved
in evidence that the loss of the vessel, the sacrifice of so
many lives, and of so much property, had been occasirned
by the usual course of events in such cases. It would be
proved that the weather was moderate, that the atmos-
phere was clear, and that the ship was in good con-
dition; and if these pleadings were proved, it would,
he believed, be incumbent that the inquiry should go
further, and that they should look into the causes that
bad produced the disaster. It was of no consequence to
the poor fellows whose lives were lost, or to him as the
owner of the ship, what the result might be; but circum-
stances might arise in evidence to show the necessity of
adopting measures to prevent in future such loss of lives
and property.—One of the seamen then deposed to the
way the vessel struck,—that the pilot was perfectly sober,
and that the tiller ropes of the Bencoolen were in good
order, and that the ship answered to the helm very well.
David Lloyd, master of the Formby light-ship, said that
the Bencoolen passed close to their buoys, and that the
helm must have been put to starboard, whilst he heard
them say on board, " Port the helm," " Hard up with
the helm." If the helm had been put the right way, the
vessel would have gone up the channel. There was a deal
of noise en board. The vessel had struck when the order
to port the helm was given. Mr W. Lord, marine
surveyor to the Dock Trustees, produced a chart of the
different channels to Liverpool, and said that he had been,
the day before, surveying the banks, and that there had
not been any alterations for the last seven years. The
buoys were in the same position as laid down in the chart,
and all the lights were in their proper po,itions. He should
have preferred more head sail to the Bencoolen, and she
would then have answered the helm better. He was of
opinion that the helm had been put the wrong way, and
that nothing could have brought her into the position ex-
cept putting the helm to starboard. He said the Liverpool
pilots were, taken collectively; a very skilful set of men.
Mr. Rowland, secretary to the Pilots Committee, said
that be had been instructed to give the fullest information
as to the pilot in charge of the Bencoolen, James ,
Greenwood Harding. He obtained his license, after
upwards of three years' previous service, on the 22nd June,
1830; from that time, up to the 16th of March, 1810, nearly
ten years, no complaint was made against him. On the
latter day, a complaint was made against him of getting
the ship Ceres on Hoylake bank. lie was severely
reprimanded, On the 3rd February, 1842, he was again
complained of grounding the barque Jackson on Burbo.
On this occasion, he was re-examined, but found fully
qualified. On the 12th May, 1815, his license was with-
drawn, for getting the barque Lady Constable on Burbo
bank. On his petition his license was restored, but he was
told that, if any further complaint was made against him, he
would be dismissed. The verdict of the Jury was '
" Accidental death."
EFFECTS OF RAILWAY SPECULATION.—A man,
named Lambert, died this morning in the North Infir-
mary, of which he had been an inmate f,r a few days,
whose career affords a melancholy illustration of the ruin
and disgrace in which many have involved themselves by
the reckless practices arising out of the late railway
mania. The unfortunate deceased was confidential clerk
to an eminent mercantile house in Liverpool, and, having
speculated to an immense extent in railways, he made
use of money belonging to his employers to the amount
of £9,000. Finding that the crush had ruined him, and
that he lost all, he absconded from Liverpool, with the
intention of getting off to America from Cork ; but on
hs arrival here he was taken ill, and was sent to the North
Infirmary. A police officer arrived yesterday from Liver-
pool, having traced him to Cork ; but the hand of death
had been already laid on him, and, on searching his ef-
fects, all that was found in his possession was £7O, which,
it is believed, was all that be had saved from the wreck
of his disastrous fortunes.—Cork Reporter.
MISS KEALE'S CONCERT.—This talented pianiste gave
an exceedingly well-arranged concert of vocal and instru-
mental music, at the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street,
on Friday evening last. The talent engaged was of the
highest order, and the house, though not crowded, was
sufficiently filled with a highly-fashionable audience.
Mrs. Sunderland, who must now be classed as one of our
first concert singers, was warmly applauded throughout.
The scene, " I saw him on the mountain," was loudly
and deservedly encored. Mrs. Sunderland's voice is
full and mellow, and her upper notes particularly fine.
Her modest and unassuming demeanour, and the taste
she displays in every ballad, never fail to win the admira-
tion of the audience. Miss Keale played several difficult
pieces on the piano, and was in others accompanied by
Mr. Haydock, the violoncello-player, in all of which she
fully maintained the high standing her great talent has
gained her. She is a brilliant player. Mr. Jackson, a
tenor, and Mr. Hornby, a bass singer, whose compass of
voice is exceedingly great, also appeared. And last,
though not least, Mr. John Parry—the inimitable John
Parry—was at home; but as a thousand tongues have
told his fame, we are not inclined to devote to his perfor-
mances that space their peculiar talent demands, knowing
that he cannot further advance in public estimation.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SOCIETY FOR IRELAND.

On Tuesday evening the anniversary meeting of the
Liverpool Auxiliary of the Sunday School Society forilre-
land, was held in Christ Church School-room, Chriiiian-
street, and was numerously attended by a respectable as-
semblage, including many ladies who take a warm inter-
est in the prosperity of the institution. The Rev. Field-
ing Ould occupied the chair, and after a hymn had been,
sung, opened the proceedings by an impressive and ap-
propriate prayer.
The CHAIRMAN expressed his gratification at so strong
an attendance, especially as there was that night another
meeting of a somewhat kindred character in the neigh-
bourhood. During the ten years he had ministered among
them, he had often told them how much he prized this
society, and the regard he entertained for the secretary
and all those who officially conducted it. He regretted
that the multiplication of societies for the promotion of
religious instruction tended considerably to embarrass
their operations by increasing the calls upon them. Still
he was not without hope of great good being done even
by a few if they would undertake to collect for this insti-
tution. It had but £2,000 a year of income, yet it was
the means of carrying on 3,000 schools, with upwards of
20,000 gratuitous teachers, and attended by 240,000 scho-
lars. It had circulated 750,000 copies of the Bible since
its commencement; and if it had done nothing more, this
itself was a powerful argument in its behalf. All reflect-
ing persons must be shocked to contemplate the horrid
murders and crimes that were perpetrated in Ireland,
most of them on the Lord's day, which showed the crying
necessity for Sunday Schools amongst such a population.
The society had been in existence since 1809, and it was
cheering to remark that there was no instanee of any indi-
vidual, amongst the millions who had passed through its
schools, who had so offended as to suffer the extreme pe-
nalty of the law. Nothing, he believed, could redeem the
ignorant population of that country from the evil of their
ways but the prevalence of Scriptural education. He al-
luded to the vast difference between the higher and lower
classes of society in these times, in circumstances and
feelings, and their consequent social disseverment ; and
what, he asked, was better adapted to bring them toge-
ther in mutual good-will than these Sunday Schools. The
president of the society, the Earl of Roden, showed a
bright example in this respect, and reaped a grateful re-
ward. Peer of the realm though he was, he went him-
self every Lord's Day, and collected the children and their
teachers from the neighbouring farms, whom he joined in
the Sunday School ; and he was in no danger of agrarian
aggression, or of being the victim of the prowling assas-
sin. No, he was beloved and respected by his tenantry,
and by all around him. The society addressed itself to
the accomplishment of three principal objects;—to disse-
minate Scriptural education ; to prevent the desecration
of the Sabbath and to bring about a kindly feeling be-
tween the rich and the poor. He did not expect a great
deal from those he addressed, as they had other calls upon
them ; but they might contribute what they could, or take
collecting cards, and urge their friends and neighbours to
give according to their means for the promotion of this
good work. The society paid no rents of school-rooms ;
their province was to supply Wks' and to keep up agen-
cies for the working of the beautiful machinery of, at pre-
sent, 3,000 Sunday schools. He concluded by requesting
that the report be read.
Mr. GEORGE O'NEILE read that document, of which
the following are the heads :
The committee of the Liverpool auxiliary present their
annual report with mingled feelings a pleasure and pain.
They had to congratulate their friends and subscribers on
the enlarged sphere of Sunday Scho 1 operations in Ire•
land, amidst the fiercest oppositiou from the Romish
clergy. But the Roman Catholic population were not ex-
cluded from the schools in connexion with the society,
and many children of the Roman Catholic persuasion at.
tended them. It was gratifying, too, that the parents,
when left to themselves, not only freely allowed them to
attend, but frequently by their means procured copies of
the Word of God for perusal at home. The general re-
sults of the system amongst the Protestant population had
been most satisfactory. The schools had spread over the
country, and continued to collect together the youthful
portion of the Protestant population on the Lord's Day,
to imbue them with a knowledge of His blessed word, to
secure their attendance at public worship, and to arm
them against the insidious influence of error, especially
of the corrupt doctrines of Romanism. The object of the
society was to make known amongst the rising generation
in particular, the saving truths of the gospel, and the
means (simple and effective) were, the cooperation of vi-
siting agents, correspondence with the conductors of Sun-
day schools, and grants of Bibles, Testaments. Scripture
reading books, and spelling-books, the reading lessons of
which are selected from the Bible. During its 36 years
existence it had dis,ributed upwards of 700.000 Bibles,
and it had at present a connection with about 3,0'10
schools, attended by 246,788 scholars, and 23,408 gratui-
tous teachers. The committee, however, regret to say
that the society, which is supported by voluntary contri-
butions alone, experienced a falling off of about £6OO in
its income for the year ending March, 1845. Although
the amount received for the Liverpool Auxiliary of late
years had been less than previously, owing to the number
of demands constantly made upon the friends of scriptural
education, the committee record with gratitude the obli-
gation of those attached friends who continue their sup-
port to the institution. Previous to the publication of
the last report the Parent Society received—
From the Liverpool Association .... £6l 6 11
„ the Ladies Branch

Making a total of £lo2 10 11

The committee express a confidence that such on insti-
tion will ❑ot be suffered to languish and decline from the
absence of support in Liverpool. They add, that past
success and present symptoms encourage the friends of
the sister land to go forward in their exertions on its be-
half, and that they may hope, at some distant time, per-
haps not so distant as some may suppose, the peace of
Ireland may be established on a firm foundation, guaran-
teed by the improved character of the Irish people, influ-
enced by early Scriptural instruction.
The Rev. Mr. CUTHBERT moved, in an eloquent ad-
dress, that the report be received, in the course of which
he urged that we owed a debt to Ireland, for we had im-
posed a yoke upon her which we ought to redeem. Many
bright and shining lights amongst them were from Ire-
land, and they could not do better than aid the cause of
this society, which was calculated to bestow inestimable
blessings on the fallen sons of men.
The Rev. ROBERT GAGE, from the Parent Society, se-
conded the motion. He adduced many affecting instances
that had fallen within his own experience in Ireland, of
the great good that was effected by the efforts of the so-
ciety, and furnished some interesting statistics, as well as
expositions of the deplorable errors and superstitions of
the Roman Catholic population, and the hostility of the
priesthood to Scriptural teaching, notwithstanding which
many of the children of Romish parents availed them-
selves with gratitude of the benefits of the schools. Whole
districts, indeed, in which Sabbath desecration, lawless.
nest, ani riot, were common, had by their means been
redeemed to religious observance, order, industry, and
comparative domestic comfort and happiness. 'I he reso-
lution was cordially passed. _ _ .

The Rev. Mr. I-RsVINE moved the appointment of the
officer; for the year, with the warmest acknowledgments
to the friends and contributors to the society in Liver-
pool. He also related many instances and anecdotes re-
lating to his ow❑ ministry and Sunday School in Ireland.
The Rev. Mr. ORMSBY seconded the resolution, and
after an impressive statement of facts he had himself wit-
nessed, concluded by a feeling and energetic appeal to the
meeting in behalf of the object under discussion.
The resolution being passed, a doxology was sung, and
the meeting separated. A collection was made at the door,
and cards were distributed to those who undertook to
raise subscriptions.

ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE BIRKEN-
HEAD & CHESTER RAILWAY COMPANY.

An adjourned meeting of this company was held on
Tuesday, for the purpose of receiving a report of the com-
mittee appointed to inquire into the present state of the
affairs of the company, the report of the directors at the
previous meeting not having been passed, and for other
business. The meeting was most numerously attended.
Mr. Wm. JACKSON, Chairman of the Directors, took
the Chair, and stated the object of the meeting. He then
called upon Mr. Mallaby, who read the following

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED AT THE GE-
NERAL MEETING OF THE CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD
RAILWAY COMPANY, HELD ON THE 29TH JANUARY,
1846, " To take into consideration the peculiar position
of the Company, and Report thereon to an Adjourned
Meeting 6f the Proprietors, to be held on the 17th Fe-
bruary, 1846."

Your committee, in compliance with your requests,
have instituted those inquiries and proceedings which
appeared to them most likely to accomplish the object of
their appointment.
_ _

They have reviewed the reports of the directors and en-
gineers, and in this report have intimated their opinion
or recommendation on such points as they have thought
it needful to notice.
They recommend, _ _ _

Ist,—That the dividend be 14s. ins'ead of 13s. per old
£5O shares, and so in proportion on other shares, because
there appears to be no sufficient reason, with an increas-
ing revenue, to provide for any greater outlay in earning
it and keeping the stock in repair, than the large propor-
tion which, during the last half-year, was devoted to that
purpose.
2d,—That the land at Grange-lane be not sold,
3d,—That the bill for the additional tunnel to Monk's
Ferry be not proceeded with.
4th,—That the construction of the extension line to the
docks be proceeded with in the course of the ensuing sum-
mer, to the extent of making street communicati ,ns across
the line, and preparing the retaining walls and margin of
it, so as to enable the company to tell their adjoining
land.
_ _ _ _

sth,—Your committee are of opinion that the questions
relating to a station at Bridge-end should be determined
by the board of directors hereafter, as the Monks' Ferry
terminus may be used for the present traffic if additional
accommodation be provided there for carriages.
6th,—Your committee, having considered what took
place at and before the last general meeting on the sub-
ject of leasing the line to the Chester and Holyhead Com-
pany, and that the terms proposed were reasonable, de-
termined to resume negotiations with the Chester and
illiolyhead board so far as to ascertain whether that com-
pany were willing to lease the line on those terms. if you
finally approved of them ; but your committee having
found, on a discussion with them, that there were impedi-
ments to arriving at an arrangement, abstained from any
further communication.
ith,—Your committee deeming it within their province
to review the proposed terms of arrangements with the
Grand Junction Company, are of opinion that it is not
desirable for the company to conclude the agreement with
them in its present form, but that this company should
afford every facility to the Grand Junction Company for
working their traffic over your line, by charging the most

reasonable rates, and supplying all needful accommoda-
tion to that company.
Bth.—Your committee have thought it their duty to in-
quire into the statements made in reference to the traffic
of this line, and feel warranted in expressing their decide d
conviction that the prospects of the company are in the
highest degree satisfactory.
9th,—Your committee think that the directors should
be fully authorised to make whatever arrangements they
may think proper to meet the demand for accommodation
which will shortly arise from increased trafic.
10th,—Although your committee desire not to interfere
with the duties and discretion of the directors in reference
to calls, they yet feel bound to recommend that the call
of £2 10s. on the new shares announced to be paid on the
23d March be not enforced until the Ist July, until after
which period there does not appear to be the least proba-
bility of the amount being required.
WM. POTTER, Chairman,
Dissenting individually from the 7th clause regarding
the proposed agreement with the Grand Junction.

It was agreed that the report be passed, printed, and
circulated amongst the proprietors.
Mr. MALL AD'S( then submitted several resolutions,
which resulted from the adoption of the report—to the ef-
fect that the dividends should be as follows:
On Old £5O shares.
„ New Do. (the dfference being for interest) 12s. 6d.
~ £25 shares
„ £lO shares
which would leave a balance of £4lB ss. sd. (Cheers.)
Mr. BROWNRIGG said, at the last meeting some impu-
tations were cast upon a portion of the directors, and he
put it to the committee whether they had found any cause
to justify the unmeasured terms in which those imputa-
tions had been conveyed. He appealed for a reply, parti-
cularly to Mr. Cochrane, who had moved for the appoint-
ment of the committee.

Mr. COCHRANE wished to hear the expressions alleged
repeated.
Mr. BROWNRIGG replied, "an undeviating hostility to
the interests of the company."
Mr. BENTHAM intimated that such were not the pre-
cise expressions used by him. What be had said was,
that with reference to the negotiations of the Birkenhead
and Chester Company with the Chester and Holyhead
Company, a great and grievous error had been committed.
Mr. BROWNRIGG then alluded to an alleged expression
by Sir Joshua Walmsley, to the effect that there were
parties on the board with whom he could not sit.

Sir J. WALMSLEY said he was not aware of having said
anything more than was justified. All that they had done
for the good of the company bad been undone and thrown
aside. What he and Mr. Jackson had done in London,
was merely in the nature of propositions to be afterwards
submitted to the board for approval or rejection. He was
not aware he had said anything offensive, and meant no
personal reflection.
Mr. BnowisißlGG urged his question, whether the com-
mittee in the course of their inquiries had found cause
to justify the imputations stated. So far from the Che-
shire Junctionhaving acted against the interests of the
Birkenhead and Chester Company, they had done from
first to last quite the. contrary to forward their interests,
and to preserve their own.
Mr. COCHRANE said the committee did not go generally
into the subject involving these charges. They met a de-
putation of the Ches. June., who were most accommoda-
ting, and had no objection to the leasing of the line. The
interests of both lines, indeed, were to be fully respected
reciprocally. It was not owing to any obstacle therefore
thrown in the way by the Cheshire Junction that the
leasing did not take place, but to other causes.
Mr. BROWNRIGG said be was quite satisfied with the
explanation given.
The CHAIRMAN said, that supposing tie lease had
taken place, the interests of the Cheshire Junction would
have been fully respected.
Mr. WANKLYN complained, at some length, that his
name had been used by the chairman, in connection with
a letter he (the chairman) had received from Mr. Paxton,
to the effect that parties connected with the Cheshire
Junction had been bearing the market with the Birken-
head and Chester stock, in order to effect a purchase
of that line.
The CHAIRMAN said the letter had been read at a
meeting of the Birkenhead and Chester board. What lie
heard was, that negociations were going on, not with the
directors, but with certain proprietors, tor the leasing of
the Birkenhead and Chester Railway to the Cheshire
Junction. He had said he thought Mr. Wanklyn was
one of the party, for he bad heard so ; but he was sure
he never wanted to charge Mr. Wanklyn personally with
bearing the shares, and th t his expressions on that occa-
sion must have been qualified, and therefore not liable to
the interpretation put upon them by Mr. Wanklyn.
Mr. PAXTON said he had not mentioned Mr. W7ank-
lyn's name in the letter.
Mr. WANKLYN said he was satisfied with Mr. Paxton's
explanation.
Mr. M`GREGOR LAIRD here wished to draw the meet-
ing into a discussion relative to the purchase and sale of the
land in Grange-lane ; but the meeting being a special one
to hear the report, declined entertaining the question, the
law-clerk having given it as his opinion, that no
discussion should take place on a question which he found
from ra letter just banded to him, was to become
the object of a chancery suit, at the instance of Mr.
Laird. The matter was one for the consideration of the
Directors only.
The business being concluded,
Mr. JAcxsoN said that at the last meeting be had inti-
mated his intention to resign the office of chairman, but
he now begged permission, under the circumstances, to
withdraw that intention. (Loud cheers ) He defied those
parties who had made unfounded charges against him to
substantiate them, and declared that so long as lie pos-
sessed the confidence of the shareholders lie would not
desert them. (Applause.)
The meeting then broke up.