The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-03 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1853.

Prince laughed, an Ambassador took snuff. Silently,
however, the Council was doing something ; not a tra-
veller of any character has left these shores' who has not
gone out under the auspices of the Royal Society. It was
here I last saw poor FRANKLIN. Observatories are now
placed in every part of the habitable globe. and the pith
of Lord WROTTESLEY'S speech in the House of Peers
was mainly derivable from the impetus given to science
by the society. Here rank and title count nothing.
" Who are those two plain-looking little men, yet instinct
with genius, sitting on the front crimson bench ?" One
is thin,

sicklied o'er
With the pale cast of thought."
"Eh! Why there's PrinceALßEaTcome in—he is fain to sit
between the two little men—they laugh—shake hands,—
they are apparently at home in each other's affections."
Who are these two little men ? They must be SAscE Go•
THA'S, SAXE WEIMAR'S, MECKLENBURG STRELITZ'S, or
something that way. Not a bit of it. The twain are English.
The paler of the two was a bookbinder's apprentice ;
he who afterwards eliminated the first electric spark in
England. Great MICHAEL FARADAY. The other, son
of a music seller—skilled in phonics—doctrine of sounds.
The youth improved many instruments which he was not
ashamed to sell in his father's shop. Jew's harp twanging
he would make to twang less; harp of King DAVlD—the
young man would have attempted to improve, could he
have laid hold of the sweet psalmist's golden wires ; certes,
our young friend had afterwards to do with " wires" of
another kind. In conjunction with FARADAY and others,
I admit cantankerous. men he perfected, made manifest—
as near as mortals can make manifest—the voice ef the
most High and Omnipresent ! To them we owe the
electric telegraph. Without a penny to begin the world
with, they are now the companions of princes.
All hail, KOSSt7TH ! The rocket affair has been again
before the magistrate this week, since which it Has been
in every body's mouth, and I understand, on unmistake-
able authority, that the " great Magyar patriot and illus-
trious exile" is liim=elf somewhat perplexed. I intimated
to you, in last week's communication, what Mr. HENRY,
the Bow-street magistrate, has since confirmed ; he has
sent the lot to the Old Bailey, and finds that powder is
powder, though its granulation he as coarse as onion seed,
or as impalpable as meal on butterfly's wing, or pollen of
wild flower on thigh of bee. No great weight is paid to
the evidence of the foreigner, who said he was introduced
to HALE by KOSSUTH ; but then KOSSUTH had pablicly
denied that he had anything to do with the rocket people.
I believe that the whole affair will exit infurno, like a bad
made squib on GUY FAWKES'S day. Again, ueople say
how un-English for the detectives to watch KOSSUTH'S
house. I say nay to that ; I hate espionage with a perfect
hatred, but there cannot be a doubt that peace. goodwill,
and good understanding with a great nation is of far more
importance than squeamishness on account of the feelings
of an individual, though they even in the humblest, are
to be respected. Let. KOSSUTH be right or wrong, his
name and that of JOSEPH MAZZINI are blown upon
throughout three parts of Europe,—dangerous to mention
them in friendly accents, and it becomes England to be wary
—a little spark sometimes makes a great fire; and however •
un•English it may appear, it may just be as well quietly to'
look after Loris Kossurii a little longer, though he has
nothing to do with HALE'S rocket factory. Kosscia
certainly recommended to HALE Hungarian refugees who
were starving ; they were sent to the HALES, having been
in the service of Hungary in those departments where a
knowledge of guns, gunnery, and gunpowder was required..
Give KOSSUTH his due, he recommended others of his
compatriots to establishments in town, where they are
now employed in the peaceful art of folding and stitching
religious tracts ! Not much of fire and cannon in them.
Meantime, let the friends of KOSSUTH deny, if they can—
palliate they will—the fact that English, Scotch, and Irish
travellers in Austria have their wings clipped, because
KOSSUTH is here. This is great inconvenience; may lead
to broils ; we cannot help it. KOSSUTH has tasted
our constitutional salt; he is sacred in person; quietly
" bide your time," Kossueli, as you say you will—no
more —while you are here. But I hold, and so do better
lawyers, that one letter written, stirring up revolutionary
strife, and dated London, is warrant sufficient to cause a
discreet Government to say Cave Its ! and if need be—
Go to New York, KOSSUTH. This result, however, is not
anticipated ; KOSSUTH is out of the HALES' affair.
You may depend on it " there is a hair of good wool"
in English character after all. The frank and manly way
in which the public were admitted, on Thursday and
Friday, to hear the startling evidence in the " Aticusrus
STAFFORD" inquiry, told every one that JOHN BULL will
" tell truth, and shame the devil." Oh, AUGUSTUS
STAFFORD I I remember you, my boy, when you rejoiced
as STAFFORD O'BRIEN, M.P., and a nice amateur play-
actor with lords and ladies fair in ancient hall, at Yule
time; but when I recollect at the Admiralty, where you
now sit, JOHN WILSON CROKER. the eloquent, the
scholar, the experienced ; Sir JOHN BARROW, the earnest,
the infatuated—on one subject only infatuated—the
north-west passage. When I remember such men secre-
taries at the Admiralty, and see you there, and contem-
plate the figure you make, I heave a sigh, and say that
times are altered. When STAFFORD O'BRlEN—pardonne:
/710 i—AUGUSTUS STAFFORD got his appointment, about
the first thing he did was to get measured for a pair of
large blue sailor's trowsers. He wears the same sort,
slightly modified, at present. Life and fortune ! that a
young fellow, neither without brains nor money, should
have made such mistakes ;—" there's no use blinking the
question ; I am pressed by Lord DERBY and the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER." Fine admission for a
political jobber—a member of the Coalition Ministry !
Mr. AUGUSTUS STAFFORD did very wrong to interfere, for
" political purposes," in the appointment of blacksmiths
to do government work for their votes. Having men-
tioned JOHN WILSON CROKER'S name, some of your
elderly Conservative readers will be glad to learn that in
his old age he lives with " honour, love, obedience—
troops of friends." Sir JoHN BARROW, the other
Admiralty Secretary, has gone to that bourne whence there
is no return, without knowing the fate of Sir JOHN
FRANKLIN and his brave men, whom Sir JOHN BARROW,
main agent, despatched on the worthless errand to the
arctic regions. Sir JOHN dunned into the ears of each
succeeding ministry the propriety of sending out explorers.
The Board of Admiralty yielded, though they as good as
told him, were the passage possible, it could, in the
nature of things, only be accomplished once in two or
three years—what was to be gained ? Scarcely a grampus.
I have heard Sir JOHN BARROW, at nearly four score
years of age, dilate on this hazardous journey with enthu-
siasm—it was his hobby—had he not agitated, FRANKLIN
would not have been sent.

WILFUL MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.

At the Police-court, yesterday, a seaman named Daniel
Miller was charged with the wilful murder of Peter Marr,
the carpenter on board the packet-ship Lady Mary, of
London, during her passage from Demerara to this port.
The charge was preferred against the prisoner by the
captain of the vessel, on her arrival at this port, on Friday.
Detective officer Murphy said that, from instructions which
he received on Friday evening, he went on board the
Lady Mary, lying in the Brunswick Dock. He found the
prisoner in the cabin, and told him he was an officer, and
that he (prisoner) was charged with killing a sailor named
Marr, by striking him on the head with a stick. Prisoner
said, "he said he was going to strike me with it, and I took
it from him. He then drew his knife, and I struck him on
the head with a stick." Witness asked prisoner if they had
been quarrelling before, and he said " No, I don't recol-
lect ever having had a wrong word with him." Witness then
took him into custody. The captain then came into the
cabin and pointed out a stick, and said that was the stick.
Witness examined it, and found marks of blood upon it.
[Stick produced.]
Alexander Young said—i am master of the English brig
Lady Mary. The prisoner was one of my crew. He was
an able seaman. About the hour of seven on the morn-
ing of the 28th of February, we were on the homeward
voyage, a little to leeward of Demerara lightship, at sea,
when the prisoner came to me on the quarter-deck, and
said, " Captain, I have come aft to give myself up to
you." I asked him what he had been up to, and he told
me he had struck the carpenter with a stick. I asked
him if he had killed him, and he said, " I believe so, or
nearly." I went forward, and found the carpenter lying
on his bed, on the deck of the forecastle. He was insen-
sible, but alive. I called all hands, and secured the pri-
soner. I examined the wounded man, and found it was
Marr, the carpenter. I found two wounds upon
his head, from which blood was flowing. There
was one wound upon the forehead, above the eye,
and another higher up nearer the top of the head.
One of his hands was smashed as if with guarding
off the blow. The deceased never spoke after we saw
him, and died in about two hours. I inquired from the
mate and crew if they had seen or heard anything of it,
and they said they had not. I saw the mate find the
piece of wood now produced. It was lying in the cabin,
about twelve or fourteen feet from the deceased. I exa-
mined the wood, and found blood and hair upon it. I had
seen that piece of wood in possession of the prisoner when
he came alongside in the pilot boat. We had only been 12
or fourteen hours at sea when it occurred. Immediately
after I found the deceased insensible, I asked the pri-
soner if that was the stick he struck him with, and he
said it was. I asked him what he struck the deceased
with it for, and he told me that the carpenter had a knife,
and said he was going to stick him or kill him with it. I
then said to him, " Was it in self-defence that you struck
him ?" Ile said it was. The prisoner appeared to he
under the influence of liquor when he came on board the
ship. I examined the place about where the carpenter
was lying, but did not see any knife. The body was
thrown overboard.

A seaman, who assisted the mate in sewing the de-
ceased up in a sheet, before throwing him overboard,
stated that, on examining his clothes, they did not find
any knife.

Mr. Francis Ayrton, a surgeon at the north dispensary,
said he had examined the prisoner, and from that ex-
amination he believed him to be sane, but from his own
account of this transaction he believed him to have been
labouring under delirium tremens at the time of the
occurrence.

On the prisoner being asked what he had to say, after
receiving the usual caution, he said—" It was not my in-
tention to kill the man. I should never have struck him,
if I had not thought that he was going to kill me."
lie was then fully committed to take his trial at the
assizes on a charge of wilful murder.

Mfts. HILES' CONCERT.— On Tuesday last n this lady,
in conjunction with her daughter, gay() a C
Hall, Lord Nelson-street. Miss Hiles went throughcert in the
usually diappearance very cult task of a fil st
satisfac-
torily.o
Her voice is a contralto of rich quality and good
compass ; not, as has been stated, " a sort of mezzo
soprano." The first song selected for her debut was
however, but ill calculated to produce a favourable im-
pression, the words and music being of a very mediocre
description. The same remark will also apply to other
portions of the programme. When it is considered Miss
Hiles has had but little opportunity of instruction, there
is no doubt, under the judicious training of an able
master, she will be eventually a very great acquisition to
our local concerts. Mrs. Hiles is a soprano, possessing
considerable talent, and was much applauded in her songs
andupbrdaidle,t,,ts ; in the latter she was ably assisted by her
daughter. The old and favourite songs—" Should he
tehspeiercieaxlerrteirnaons remark„
being fully
and " Tell me roy Heart," were capitally ren-
dered. The otherr portions of the concert call for no
performers being well known, and
fully appreciated by a very crowded
auditory.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY NEII S.

MONDAY NIGHT.
THE adjourned debate on the proposition of the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER to perpetuate
the Income Tax for seven years, not having been
brought to a close, the week has presented very
little fluctuation in the money market, there being
a natural disinclination to speculate until some
decision has been arrived at, as the tone of the
debate offers little upon which to found a confident
opinion. The value of public securities has been
rather depressed than otherwise, owing probably to
the reduction of interest about to take place, but
money for mercantile purposes has been easy, and
consequently the tone which has generally pre-
vailed has been of a favourable character. The
weekly returns of the Bank of England show a
further decrease in the stock of bullion to the ex-
tent of nearly a quarter of a million, so that the
fears of a plethora of gold and a consequent dis-
arrangement of monetary transactions arising from
the gold discoveries in California and Australia
have not, as yet, been realised. Itlvill be remem-
bered that a short time since, when the directols of
the Bank of England raised the minimum rate of
discount, it was said to be owing to the fears of a
drain from France to meet losses in Bourse specu-
lations. The check for a time was effectual, but it
is now said that the exportations of gold to France
are still going on, though in small quantities, but
with more frequency. Since the Bank account was
made up there have been several arrivals of gold
from Australia, viz. :—The Clifton, 27,507 oz. ; the
Brilliant, 15,183 oz. ; the John Taylor, 10,847 oz. ;
the Sir Robert Sale, l 3,8'36 oz.; the Vimiera,
45,000 oz. ; and the Admiral, 22,000 oz., making
altogether about £530,000, besides what may have
been in the hands of passengers. The whole,
however, is no great sum against the drain which
seems constantly going on.
The state of the Cotton market is now exciting
considerable interest, and the reports from America
are looked forward to with great anxiety, as the
future value will much depend upon the final reali-
sation of the last crop. The attempts-of the Man-
chester men to depreciate this market, by with-
holding all purchases beyond immediate require-
ments, have had the effect of limiting speculation,
and preventing a corresponding rise to-that which
has taken place.on the other side the Atlantic; but
they have not succeeded in producing the fall which
was anticipated.. The-advices received by the steamer
Atlantic on Wednesday show a still further dimi-
nution in the receipts at the shipping ports; and on
Friday the firmness in this market was sezured by
the account that the- actual stock taken that day
showed a deficiency of 65,300 bales, as compared
with the estimated'stock, the discrepancy arising in.
consequence of carriers-forwarding Cotton imported
by spinners direct from-the ships, and withholding
any return of them from the brokers. The effect of
this discovery is considerably to alter the aspect of
the weekly consumption;- which, instead of being_
2;3.00 bales per week below that of last year, as pre-
viously shown, is now proved to have been more
than 1,000 bales above it.- In estimating the pro—
babilities for the future,- it is necessary to take into
account not only the now diminishing receipts, and
also the increased consumption, which, in spite of
the Manchester reports,- ooze out from some of
their trade circulars, but also the easiness of the
money market, which must tend to inspire confi—
dence. The spinners are known to be very light in
stock even by their own admissions : Yarns, except--
ing perhaps the lowest qualities, are in gobd demand
at firm prices, and a continued advance in the value
of Wools, the supply of which is below the demand,.
must have the effect of improving the value of
Cotton manufactures, with which in many descrip-
tions of goods it enters into competition. We see,
therefore, no reason to lower that confident opinion
which we have previously expressed as to the pros-
pects of holders in our market.
Although. the uncertainty as-to the fate of the
Budget has prevented any decided operations, yet
no doubt is entertained of the proposed reductions
in duty on Soap and Tea being_ carried into effect,
and the market throughout the week has presented
a considerable degree of firmness-- on almost all de-
scriptions of produce. In Tea, some large pur-
chases for speculation have been made in sorts
most likely to enter into general consumption, and
the tendency to a rise may have been further in-
duced by the reports of the- rebellion in China
having assumed a very formidable appearance,
although by some it is considered that it will not
have any very sensible effect upon the Tea trade. We
have, however, so little information on the internal
affairs of the Celestial Empire, that it is difficult to
prognosticate the consequences-of any movements
in which we have no- direct concern. As increased
consumption of Tea will, no doubt,.lead to a corres-
ponding increase in the consumption of Sugar, this
latter article has experienced an active demand,
particularly in qualities for refining purposes. The
materials for Soap have also experienced considera-
ble improvement, and an active business has been
done in Palm Oil and Tallow, both on the spot and
far arrival; and now that an efficient line of steamers
has been established between this country and the
coast of Africa, a very extensive trade in the former
article may reasonably be anticipated.
The return from the Bank of England, for the
week ending the 23rd of April, gives the following
results, when compared with the previous week :
Public deposits £3,712',989; Decrease £67,227.
Other deposits .. 13,206,923 ; Decrease 416,045
Rest .. _t. 3,114,339; Increase 3,868

. ,
On the other side of the account—
Government securities £13,221,382 ; the same as before.
Other securities .. 13,632,497 ; Decrease 452,540
Notes unemployed .. 8,584,145 ; Decrease 322,575
The amount of notes in circulition is £23,408,330,
being a decrease of £Z04,835:: and the stock of
bullion in both departments is £18,551,181, show-
ing a decrease of £2384815, when compared with
the preceding return.

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
Notes issued .. £31,992,475 Govrnt. Debt.. £11,015,100
Other securities 2,984,900
Gold coin& bu1n.1%973,321
I Silver bullion .. 19,154

£31,992,475

£31,992,475

BANKING D
Prop.'s eapita1.414,553,000
Rest
Public deposits. 3,712,989 ,
Other deposits . 13,206,923
7-day, &c. bills. 1,412,479

:PA RTM ENT.

Gov. securities.Xl3,22l,3B2
Other securities 13,632,497
Notes ..... 8,584,145
Gold & silv. coin 561,706

upwards of 900 tons to arrive at £35 to £36 per
ton. For Tallow there was a steady demand at 475.
to 6d. for old, and 48s. for new Petersburg
Y.C. Some fine South American sold at 478. to
485., and about 600 pipes to arrive at 455. per cwt.
For Lard there was a brisk demand, and 300 tons
to arrive sold- at 535. to 535. 6d. per cwt. Hemp is
slightly lower, 250 bales Manilla sold at £ll to £42
per ton. Of Jute the sales amounted to 200 bales.
TO-DAY there was a very good inquiry for Sugar
from the refiners, and rather higher prices were paid,
the business, including Saturday's sales, comprising
2,500 mats Mauritius at 255. 6d., 3,750 bags Per-
nams and Paraiba, at 18s. 3d. to 18s. 6d. for brown,
19s. 6d. to 20s. for yellow, and 235. for low white ;
160 bags Benares have also been sold at 38s. per
cwt. There are no sales to notice in Molasses. Of
Rum, 70 puns. Demerara are reported at about pre-
vious prices. 50 bags red Bahia Cocoa were taken
at 255. per cwt. In Tea a moderate amount of
business was doing, at last week's rates. Small
sales are advertised for Thursday next. 700 bales
of Jute were sold for arrival.
WOOL. —The recent advices from Australia state
that large quantities of this year's clip had arrived
at Melbourne, and were being shipped for this
country, so that further supplies may very shortly
be expected. The business of the week has not
been so active, principally from the reason that
manufacturers have supplied themselves pretty
freely; there does not exist that speculative demand
which has characterised the market for some titne,
as prices are now beyond speculation. The market
still continues to wear a very healthy aspect, and
the demand for all sorts of low clean useful Wools
continues good ; but the want of supply precludes
any great amount of activity. A sale of Peruvian,
about 1,000 ballots middle quality;, is reported at
the medium quotations, ruling at the auction sales
of 21st ultimo. English and Irish prices very firm,
but not so much activity. The opinion seems to
gain confidence, that unless great competition rae
for the new clip, prices have reached, the summir.-
Skin very scarce.
Messrs, W. GREATII: and Co., in their monthly cir--
cular, say :;—" The same excitement and buoyancy in the
wool market as noticed in our circular of the Ist ultimo
has characterised the trade during the past month. A.
considerable amount of business has been done both by
public sale and private contract ; and in the early part of
the month se7eral cargoes, including 400 bales of Dbriskoi
fleece which arrived about the end of March, were sold
on the quay as-landed at improved rates. In Alpaca we
have no alteration to note ;- the stocks are light, and
prices the same-; the late arrivals were chiefly sold for
delivery. In English and Irish combing Wools the late
advanced rates are fully maintained ; there is now very
little left in the growers' hands,-and for the few lilts re-
maining in the country a furthar advance is demanded.
The' trade are looking forward anxiously to the opening
of the new clip the latter end or this month and begin-
ning of June • higher prices are expected by the farmers.
For acotch Wools there is -a good enquiry ; no stocks on
the market."

Messrs. HUGHES and RONALD, in their circular, say :
" There has been a continuous and' active demand for
all descriptions of Wool, and. owing= to the lightness-of
stocks, even the less current kinds have enjoyed more
favour. in all cases higher prices cray be quoted, but
this is• more particularly the case in English Combing
Wools, which, from the brisk demarrd, have advanced
considerably. The great difficulty the trade have at pre--
sent to contend with, is the want of stocks ; and never
at any former period do we-remember them reduced to so •
low a point. It is now quite evident that at war approach-
ing English clip there will be considerable excitement ;;
there seems no reason to expect, notwithstanding the in-
creased supplies which will then be available, that Wool
dill be bought on more favourable terms ; but, on the•
contrary, more -firmness will be given to prices. There is
little change to notice in the value of fine colonial Wools,
and 'much uncertainty still prevails as regards future sup.
plies. The accounts just received seem more favourable
as to the probable receipts, although it is generally ad-
mitted they wilt be subject ro greatly enhanced cost.
Irish Wools have been in good demand at extreme prices,
and are now vary scarce. Scotch are more-in request,
and prices are looking up : some parcels have- rately been
-contracted for to- be delivered as soon as shorn;: which is a
most novel feature in the trade!'

IRoN.—The rrrarket has - suffered considerable
depression during the week, arising from the report
that the acceptances of Mr. John Attwooato a very
large amount had been returned dishonoured. It
is -said that they will be ultimately met by-a sale of
landed property, .but the event has alarmed the
speculators, and. Scotch Pigs are quoted this day
in the Glasgow market at 495. per ton, a result
which we predicted some time since would he the
consequence of a speculation which no circumstances
seemed to justify. Other metals: have also. experi-
enced a considerable decline.

THE PEW QUESTION AT WALTON.-
MEETING OF THE PARISHIOESTERDAY:

AD.
At the last Vestry meeting held in the parish of Walton,
a number of claimants appeared to certain pews in the
gallery of the Church; and it was resolved to appoint a
deputation to wait upon, and receive the opiniort- of, the
Archdeacon. In compliance with the wish of the deputa-
tion at the Easter Vestry meeting, the Rector an 'Mr. R.
Ford North, Churchwarden, waited upon the Archdeacon
on the 4th ult. and, after reading to him the resolution ',and the other documents in their possession relative to the
erection of the galleries, and the titles by which, the re-
puted proprietors claim a right to the pews in such gal-
leries, they entreated from the Archdeacon, on the part of
the deputation, in the words of the resolution, " his
opinion and advice as to the best means of bringing this
matter to a just and amicable conclusion."' Id giving-his
opinion, the Archdeacon had no hesitation in saying,.that
the faculty granted under date of the ISt of September.
1809, as a personal:grant to individuals, according_to the
extract from it, recited in the titles of the respective pur-
chasers of the pews, was, " as a title, of no value,"' and
that, consequently, the rights of the parties to these pews,
being thereby conveyed as mere personal claims, were, in
fact, from the first, merely conventional, having no legal
foundation whatever. At the same time, it being evident
that these parties, having subscribed their money for a
laudable purpose, and in utter ignorance of the want of
legal validity in the faculty under which they were acting,
were entitled to be treated with that courtesy and con-
sideration which the peculiarity of the case naturally
called for ; and that although, officially, he could not sug-
gest any mediative plan, yet, speaking non-officially, he
was of opinion that, after looking into the details of the
matter, weighing the sums originally given for the pews,
and the rentals they had yielded, it would not be difficult
for the parishioners (either by some modified compensa-
tion to such as, from their position or circumstances,
might be desirous to receive it, or by._ any other mode
which might suggest itself,) to arrive at a conclusion
which, while it would still reserve to the parties in ques-
tion such .a preference of occupancy,_ in the re-appropria-
tion of the pews, as their respective positions might seem
to warrant, would, at the same time,, restore and preserve
to the parish that inalienable right to the seats in the
Parish Church which has always, and must always belong
to it. That it was above all things most important, that
all parties should come to the consideration of this ques-
tion with that liberal and amicable feeling, and in that
Christian and reverential spirit,, which should pre-emi-
nently animate and control all' discussions in any degree
relating to the House of God..
For the purpose of receiving this opinion a meeting of
the parishioners was held yesterday morning, at ten,
o'clock, in Walton Church. the Rev. Thomas Gerard.
Leigh, rector, presiding. It was moved by Mr. North,
seconded by Mr. Tristram, and unanimously agreed to,
that a committee be appointed for the purpose of receiving
and investigating the nature of any claim to pews which
may be made by their reputed owners, and to draw up a
report for consideration at the next meeting of the parish,
it being understood that all those who fail to present any
such claim to the chairman on or before a certain date,
be interpreted as a voluntary cession thereof. Another
resolution was moved by Mr. Roskell, seconded by Mr.
Musker, and unanimously adopted, to the effect that the
resolution be advertised once in each of the Liverpool
newspapers, together with the notice of the next public
meeting. The following gentlemen were then appointed
a committee :—The Rev. Rector Leigh, and Messrs.
Tristram, Roskell, Pitts, Morrish, Johnson, and Charles
Musker. On the motion of Mr. North, a vote of thanks was
accorded to the chairman, and the proceedings terminated.

FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE IN LIVERPOOL,

YESTERDAY.

Yesterday morning, a man named John Slattery, who
had only arrived in Liverpool from Ireland on Sunday,
committed suicide in Sherwood-street, being at the time
under the influence of deliriu,;. tremens.. An inquest
was held on the body yesterday afternoon, when Thomas
Ronan, who keeps a lodging-house in Sherwood-street,
gave the following evidence ;--The deceased came to my
house yesterday about nightfall. I knew him in Ire-
land. He was a native of Clonmel, and thirty years of
age. When he came to my house he appeared quite
deranged in his conversation. He was raving about
" Peelers." (police-officers) in Liverpool, hunting him
for drowning his brother, and he wanted me to go bail
for him. I made arrangements to send him back to his
friends in Ireland, by the packet of to-morrow ; put him
in bed with a young man, a returned emigrant, and went
to bed myself in the same room. He was raving all
night, and wanted to jump through the window. He
said his mother and brother were hunting him. Between
six and seven o'clock this morning, an alarm was given
that the deceased had cut his throat. I had just then
dropped asleep, having had no sleep during the night.
As soon as I was called, I jumped out of bed, and found
deceased with his throat cut. I held him up, and he
died there and then in my arms. A small knife covered
with blood was found by the bed. Yesterday evening,
about eight or nine o'clock, 1 was asking him what made
him rave in that way, and he said it was from the horrors
of drink. He said he had been drinking whiskey on
board the steamer on Saturday, and he got nothing yes-
terday. He said he had been tee-total for seven years
before he broke out. James Kenely, a returned emi-
grant, who slept in the same room as the deceased, cor-
roborated the last witness's statement, and added that
about six o'clock yesterday morning he went down stairs
to light his pipe. In about half an hour he returned, and
then found the deceased lying in the bed with his throat
cut. Before witness got out of bed, he saw the deceased
go to his waistcoat and take something out. A verdict of
temporary insanity was returned.

SUDDEN DEATII.—On. Monday last week, when near
the Mansion house, London, Mr. Thomas Dax, taxing.
master of the Court of Exchequer, was seized with an
apopletic fit and expired. Mr. Dax had been connected
With the court for half acentury. The appointment is in the
gift of the Chief Baron, and the salary is X 1,200 a year,

EMBEZZLEMENT BY A CLERK.—A young man, named
Thomas Alien. was charged at the police court, yesterday,
by Messrs. Jabez Rayner and Co., cotton-brokers, Ex-
change-alley North, with embezzling thesum of.£lo lOs 1 ld ,
the property of his employers. The prisoner had received
from Messrs. H. Farrer and Co., of York-buildings,
Sweeting-street, the several sums of £2 Bs. 5d., £6 35.,
and £1 I9s. 73., for which he had not accounted. Mr.
Joseph Dickson, one of the prosecutors, said that the
prisoner had been in their employ between twelve and
fourteen years, as a bookkeeper. It was his duty to pay
and receive cash up to about six o'clock in the evening.
Some time ago witness found that the prisoner was ad-
dicted to drinking, and he avoided, as much as possible,
allowing any money to pass through his hands ; but he
never gave any positive orders that the prisoner should
not receive money. The three bills now produced were
in the prisoner's handwriting, and were due to their firm
by Messrs. H. Farrer and Co. Mr. Vim. Austin Code
said he was cashier in the firm of Messrs. Farrer and Co.
On the 11th of April the prisoner came to the office, and
presented the bills for payment. The money was given
to him, and he gave witness a receipt for them. Subse-
quently another person presented the bills, when witness
told him they had been paid. Police-officer Carlisle said
that on Sunday morning last he apprehended the prisoner
at his lodgings in Bixteth-street. He told him that he
was taking him on a charge of embezzling about £l2.
The prisoner replied, " It is all right; I expected it be-
fore this. I did it to get transported." The prisoner,
on being asked if he had anything to say in answer to the
statement of the prosecutor, remarked, with careless in-
difference, " Oh, its not necessary to ask any questions
about it." On receiving the usual caution before com-
mittal, the prisoner said it was quite true he had commit-
ted the offence • but he should not have done it, had it
not been that hei was much perplexed in consequence of
the small salary he had received from the prosecutors, and
the way in which they had used him during the last few
months. They had asked him, amongst other things, to
go to the brokers' offices, and take -samples of cotton,
which was a breach of principle, 89 sampling was the duty
of brokers. This had led him to drinking, and to doing
what was not right. The prisoner was fully committed
for trial.

EXPLOSION' OF GUNPOWDER NEAR' WIGAN : THREE
LIVES LOST.--On Friday night, an explosion of, gun-
powder, which caused the death of three persons and
imperilled the lives of several others, occurred at New
Springs, near Wigan, in a small grocery shop, kept by
-Hugh Smallshaw. Behind the shop counter was a par-
tially-filled cask of gunpowder, and, in a store-room up
stairs, there were three full casks. About half-past eight
o'clock, while Mr. Smallshaw was waiting upon Mrs.
Lever, a neighbour, the powder behind the counter ex-
ploded, owing, it is thought, to a spark from a‘candle fall-
ing upon it. The shop and back-room fell in-; burying
Mi. and Mrs. Smallshaw, the servant, and three-children,
and Mrs. Lever in the ruins; the room above was lifted
up and carried behind the house, an infant in the bed
being hurled to the margin of a small brook, where it was
found unhurt; the store-room containing the three casks
of gunpowder also came down ; and the wall dividing the
shop from the adjoining cottage was blown through; but
the inmates were uninjured. A crowd speedily collected ;
and, the flames having been subdued, a search was made
for the bodies. Mr. Smallshaw and Mrs. Lever were
taken out dead, the latter being almost in a state of nudity,
her clothes having been torn away by the force of the
blast ; Mrs. Smallshaw was- found horribly disfigured,
and just alive, but she died soon afterwards; and the ser-
vant and three children were rescued before they had sus-
tained serious injuries. The three full casks of gunpowder
were found among the ruins. Had they exploded while
means were being used to rescue the bodies, a,lamentable
sacrifice of life would no doubt have followed. An inquest'
was held yesterday over the bodies-, before Mr. Rutter, the,
coroner for the district.

Zoom:lomat GARDENS.—The advent of the gentle
month, bringing with it flowers and leaves, and clothing
the hedgerows and the fields with the vernal livery of
summer, is by none welcomed' ST heartily as the busy
dweller in the town, who has unfortunately the fewest
opportunities of enjoying the fragrance of the country. It
is with pleasure we notice that M. Durandu, the pro-
prietor of the Zriological Gardens, is preparing many at-
tractions for the approaching season;: knowing that, lack-
ing the opportunity of penetrating far into the country.
many of our townsmen will be induced to spend a leisure
hour in these delightful recreation grounds, where music,
painting, and science combine with nature to charm and
instruct. From a visit paid to the gardens the other
evening, we are enabled to promise a rich treat to those
of our readers who visit them. Although the late spring
has retarded the progress of vegetation to a most unusual
etxent, still the buds and flowers are quickly bursting into
life, as if anxious to make amends for their delay, and al-
ready the grounds are assuming an attractive and winning
aspect. In the mechanical, as well as- the natural, world
of the Zoological Gardens progress is- perceptible. Over
the great lake rises the ancient temple of Janus in the
Eternal City, surrounded by statues,and backed by beau-
teous hills, which look surprisingly natural in the day-
time, and must be still more effective. when lighted up
after dark. Then, there are among the list of new, ex-
pensive, and notable things a transparent panorama of the
Wars of Wellington • a maze or labyrinth, afac simile of
that at Hampton Caurt ; a commodious gymnasium, at
which we hope to see young Liverpool exercising itself in
vigorous and manly fashion ; a mechanical contrivance for
the shooting gallery by the ingenioualtons. \roger • fresh
and pleasing entertainments in the great hall; and new
gallery from which the spectators may survey the fire-
works on the lake. Time, ingenuity, and capital have all
been expended by Mr. Durandu in prospect of the ap-
proaching season ; and we hope to see the public do him
and themselves justice by patronising adequately this de-
lightful rural retreat.
GALVANISED IRON Towrrs.—The• establishment of
Mr. Hemming, at Woodside, Birkenhead, for the manu-
factory of a novel article. no less than portable towns of
galvanised iron, will render interesting the following
description of Mr. Hemming's works at Bedminster,
which we extract from a Bristol paper:—" When first we
were led by curiosity to pay a visit to the establishment,
the manufactured stock consisted cf., a single model cot-
tage—the first that had been made,. Its completeness,
its promising durability, its lightness, the facilities it pre-
sented for erection, dismemberment, package and removal,
and the evident care which had been taken to adapt it to
the climatorial and other peculiarities of its destination,
were apparent, and we feel no hesitation in recommend-
ing it as What was wanted.' We were induced, a day or
two ago, uninvited, to give a second:look in at the manu-
factory, and it was impossible to fail being struck by the
extensiveness-of the operations there going on. Not only
are there enough emigrants' cottages in progress towards,
completion to, form a little toun, but there are stores,
villas, a hotel, parsonage-houses for missionaries, and,
last of all, a church, which has- been ordered by the right
rev. the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, and which it is be-
lieved is only the first of several, which will be sent out to
supply the means of public worship to the diggers. Ow-..
ing to the eagerness with which every completed erection
is caught up, Mr. Hemming finds it impossible to retain
one for many days in a thoroughly finished state; but a
glance at those in progress cannot fail to be interesting.
The smallest house made is the " cottage for the million."
It comprises two neat rooms, measuring 16 feet by,l2,
and can ,be purchased as low.us 35 guineas. A house, in
course of completion for Mr. Brooks, the auditor of Mel-
bourne, is upon a more commodious scale. It comprises
four rooms, of 14 feet square, ,with an entrance-hall,closets,
and a detached kitchen, and will be fitted with Venetian
blinds to every window, and a verandah running all round
the villa. A parsonage-house, making at a coseaof 250
guineas, to the order of the Bishop of Melbourne, pro-
mises to afford a very comfortable dwelling. It will con-
tain a sitting-room 177 feet by 11 feet, a kitchen,ll feet
Bemire, a servants' room, store-room, pantry, and water-
closet, and four bedrooms, measuring each 9 feet. by 10
feet. One of the stores, which had been contracted for at
WO guineas, consists. of a shop or wareroona, 22 feet
square, fitted with safety-shutters, &c. ; a sitting-room,
kitchen, and bedroom. The hotel or lodgingahouse is
being erected with ~a view to the peculiar wants of the
colonists, and will comprise 14 bedrooms, so constructed
as to divide, almost at will, into four compartments
each, thus enabling the occupier to make up fifty-six
beds. There will also be a first and second class coffee-
room, each 29 feet square ; a housekeeper's room, the
requisite pantries and closets, a detached- kitchen, and a
luggage-room, which is to be fitted with 56 numbered,
compartments, each having a lock and a key, so as to en-
able even, occupier of a bed to deposit and secure his.
personal luggage. The church will comprise a nave and
two side aisles, with pulpit, reading-desk, baptistry,
vestry, and a tower ; it will cover an area of 70 feet by
48 feet, and will contain sittings for 600 worshippers. An
interesting, and, indeed, most important part of Mr.
Hemming'; manufactory is the seasoning stove, a, large
building in which the doors, sashes, &c., are, before they
are fitted together, exposed until thoroughly seasoned to
a higher temperature than they will have to stand in the
colony, thus providing against future shrinkage, which
would otherwise inevitably takeplace. Some of the porta-
ble furniture for the houses is remarkable for its ingenuity."
COUNCIL MEETING.—At the usual monthly meeting
to-morrow the following proceedings, amongst others,
. will be discussed :—The proceedings of the Finance Com-
mittee, comprising a recommendation to grant an increase
to the salary of the Town-clerk of £5OO per annum, &c. ;
a recommendation, in accordance with resolutions of the
borough justices in consequence of the resignation by Mr.
M. D. Lowndes of the appointment of clerk to the jus-
tices for parochial business, that the additional duties be
performed by the present clerks to the justices, and that
they respectively be paid the additional salary of £lOO
per annum, and that one of the clerks lately employed by
Mr. Lowndes, be engaged permanently in the magis-
trates' clerk's-office, at the salary of £lOO per annum ;
the whole arrangement effecting a saving of £lOO per
annum to the Borough Fund. The proceedings of the
Watch, Lighting, Fire-police, and Fire-prevention Com-
mittees, comprising a recommendation that the wages of
all the officers in the police force, under the rank of in-
spectors, be increased 2s. per week to each man, and
that the pay of inspectors be increased from 308, to 335,
per week each man. The laying of the watch-rate for the
year 1853-4. The making of the fire-police rate, not ex-
ceeding one farthing in the pound, for defraying the costs,
charges, and expenses of maintaining the fire-police of the
borough. The proceedings of the Gaol and House of
Correction Committee, comprising a recommendation to
increase the salary of Mr. J. M. Wade, chief clerk:from
£llO to £l3O per annum. The proceedings of the
Health Committee, comprising a resolution directing the
chairman to request the Council to lay the various rates
previous to an adjournmept of the council meeting of the
4th of May next, in order to avoid the expense of fresh
advertisements, and the loss likely to accrue in the
collection of the rates, in the event of the making thereof
being postponed ; a report on the rates under the sanitary
act for the ensuing year, and a recommendation to bor-
row the various amounts therein mentioned, on the credit
of the paving-rates for the several districts within the
borough ; a report as to railways crossing highways on
the level ; and a recommendation to increase the wages
of various workmen employed in the borough engineer's
department. The making of a sewer-rate, a paving-rate,
a water-rate, and a general rate for the parish of Liver-
pool and the townships of Everton, Kirkdale, West
Derby, and the extra-parochial place of Toxteth-park.
The proceedings of the Water Committee, comprising re-
commendations to increase the wages of several clerks,
Ste.; and a recommendation to accept the offer of Messrs.
Case and Morris, of land adjoining Audley-street, as a
site for the Everton Reservoir, and also the tender of
Messrs. A. and G. Holme, for the construction of the re.
semi!' and works connected therewith on that site,