The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-19 00:00:00

go on to .a great extent without detection. He ought to sen.
tence her to 15 years transportation ; but should not go that
length. The sentence was that she be transported beyond
the seas for the term of 10 years. The prisoner was carried
from the bar in a dreadful state of mind.

COURT OF PASSAGE.—The Court of Passage for the trial
of causes within the borough of Liverpool, will be held on
Thursday next, in the Sessions House, before Joshua Walms-
ley, Esq., mayor, and Charles Crompton, Esq., recorder.
The cause list contains 54 issues, and one writ of trial. The
undefended causes will be taken first.

STATE OF EDUCATION AMONG THE PRISONERS FOR.
TRIAL AT THE BOROUGH SESSIONS.—The calendar of pri-
soners confined in the Borough House of Correction, for trial
at the present sessions, contains as usual a column denoting
whether each individual is able to read and write, and his
proficiency therein. The following is a summary-11 can
read and write well, 23 can read imperfectly, 48 are able to
read and write imperfectly, and 38 have never been taught a
letter ; total 120.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday an inquest was held on the
body of Margaret Ham, who was knocked down by a cart
that was passing from Fraser-street into London-road, the
preceding day. The driver had hold of the horse's head at
the time, and no blame attached to him, as the unfortunate
deceased, who did not appear to be looking before her, walked
against the off wheel, which passed over her. She was taken
to the Infirmary, but died in a few minutes. A verdict of
accidental death was returned.
SUDDEN DEATH.—On Friday an inquest was held on the
body of Thomas Taylor, who, while passing along Tower
Garden, about ten o'clock on Thursday morning, fell down,
and almost instantly expired. The deceased was a porter,
aged 40 years, and. in the opinion of Mr. Cooper, the sur-
geon, died of sanguineous apoplexy. Verdict accordingly.
DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST STEAM MAIL PACKET FOR
HALIFAX.—On Saturday forenoon, the UnicOrn, the first of
the line of packets engaged by government to carry the mails
to and from our North American colonies, sailed from the
river on her voyage to Halifax. Nova Scotia. She had on
the previous day, having received all her coals and stores,'run
up to the Sloyne, where she lay at anchor. At ten o'clock, the
passengers (with the exception of a few who had before gone
on board,) embarked, in company with several of theirfriends,
in the Steam-tug No. 5, which had been provided by Messrs.
M`lyer and Co., the agents of the Mail Steam-packet Com-
pany, for their conveyance to the ship. On reaching the
Sloyne the latter vessel was already underway, and the Steam-
tug being secured along side, the passengers and their friends
went on board, and the luggage, which would apparently have
loaded several carts, was transhipped. Both vessels turned
ahead slowly as the tide was running up. We observed
amongst the passengers (30 in number) several ladies with
their female servants and children. All being in readiness,
the,bell of the Steam-tug was rung, and the parties who were
to return on shore, took a last farewell of their friends, and
returned to-the vessel. Both steamers then proceeded down
the river, for some distance abreast. Repeated cheers were
given to the departing voyagers, and hands and handkerchiefs
were mutually waved, expressive of a final adieu. A gun was
fired from the Unicorn, when, at the word " turn ahead,"
the full power of her steam was applied, and another, as she
passed St. Nicholas's Church.—about 25 minutes past eleven
o'clock. The vessel was rather deep in the water, from the
necessity of taking a large quantity of coals for so distant a
voyage, but she went down the river in gallant style, with
colours flying, and looked well. All on board seemed to be
gratified by her excellent accommodations, and the roominess
of her decks. She was preceded by a very beautiful cutter
yacht, manned by gentlemen, and on her way to Dublin,—
the property. we were informed, of Mr. Perry. There was
a moderate breee, and this fine lite vessel, uner a tower-
ing press of sail " walked the waters like a thing of life."
The steam-tug in a few minutes landed the party at the
Prince's-pier. We understand the Unicorn will not return
to this country, but will after the arrival out, be employed to
run between Halifax and Picton, in which -service she will,
doubtless, be a great acquisition to the colonists. She will
be succeeded, we believe, by the Achilles, another fine Glas-
gow steam-ship, which will carry out the next mail to Hali-
fax, as the larger vessels intended permanently for the line
will not be fully equipped for some time longer. The Bri-
tannia, the first of them, will be ready to sail on the Ist of
July, for Halifax. The following are the names of the pas-
sengers by the Unicorn, exclusively of the children :—Mr.
Houghton, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Sweerman, Lieut.-Colonel
Snodgras, British Army, lady, and servant, Hon. Mr. Stew-
art, lady, and servant, Hon. Mr. John Robertson, Lieute-
nant Wynne, 23d Royal Fusileers, Dr. Bell, Mr. Andrade,
Mr. James Scott, Mr. George, Mr. Wishart, Mr. Gray, Mr.
Alexander, Mr. Williams, Mr. J. Lewis, Mr. Doherty, Mr.
Jamieson, Mr. Cormack, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Ashbume, Mr.
Archibald, and Mr. Tannahill.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—FIFTY POUNDS REWARD.—On
Sunday morning between eleven and twelve o'clock. some
person or persons stole from the house of Mr. Andrew Brown,
South Hill:Place, Toxteth-park, a small clay-coloured can-
vas bag containing the following bills and notes :—A. draft at
three months date, £1226. 145.; a cheque, £5., and a cheque,
£B. 45.; several Bank of England notes, to the amount of
£lBB., together with a sum of £44. in notes and gold. A
reward of £5O. will be paid to any person or persons who
will give such information as may lead to the conviction of
the thief or thieves, and recovery of the property, on applica-
tion at the police-office. It is not known whether the house
was entered, or whether the offender or offenders had pre-
viously found their way in and were acquainted with the pre-
mises.
GREAT ARRIVAL OF VESSELS.—The arrival of vessels
from foreign parts was, on Friday night and Saturday morn-
ing, remarkably numerous. At sunset, on Friday, nineteen
ships, besides barques, brigs, &c., were off the port, and most
of them entered in the same nigt. On Saturday morning,
at daylight, the whole horizon was studded with vessels, in-
ward-bound, presenting to persons who had the pleasure of
beholding it one of the gratifying sights which a great sea-
port such as Liverpool can alone exhibit. There were Jozens
of gallant vessels, from the east and from the west, from the
north and from the south, laden with the produce of foreign
climes,numerous coasters, and several large steamers, all press-
ing towards port. In fact, the channels were crowded with
the inward-bound, justas, after a long prevalence of westerly
winds, they are crowded with the outward-bound. Respect-
ing these arrivals, Mr. Jones, of the Exchange Newsroom,
has furnished us with the following particulars :—" On Sa-
turday morning last the wind, which, for some time before,
had been blowing from N.E. to S.E., veered round to the '
westward. Above 100 vessels, which bad been kept out by
contrary winds, availed themselves of this favourable change,
and came into the river. In the course of the day, not less
than 112, including coasters, were reported as having ar-
rived. There were 65 arrivals from foreign parts, principally
vessels of large burden and with valuable cargoes : namely,
1 from China, 27 from the United States, (21 with cotton,
5 with flour, and 1 with tea,) 6 from the West Indies and ad-
jacent parts, 2 from Africa, 10 from the Mediterranean, 3
from Spain, 5 from Portugal, 6 from the Baltic, 24 from Ire-
land, and 23 coastwise. Although the wind, previous to Sa-
turday, had been blowing from the eastward, there had been
a fair arrival of vessels daily. On Friday, 2 vessels from Cal-
cutta and 1 from China, besides several others arrived ; and,
on the Sunday previous, 53 vessels arrived. We believe so
many arrivals in one day.has not occurred since the 29th
March, 1833, when 134 vessels arrived, namely, 50 from
foreign parts and 84 from Ireland and coastwise."
NEW DOCK-SHED.—There is now nearly completed on
the east side of the King's Dock, and extending along its
whole length, or about 790 feet, a handsome and s
th pac e
i roof
is at once neat and strong, iron rods being employed, on the
tension principle, in place of the usual v ertical be
ofamins. The
roof is covered with large plates of composition zc, se-
cured by parallel strips or ridges of iron from the top to the
eaves, and is supported by two rows of lonic columns, or
rather pillars, in all sixty-eight in number. This shed will
be a great convenience, particularly in wet weather, in the
loading and discharging of vessels.
ARRIVALS AT THE ADELPHI HOTEL DURING THE WEEK.
—Lord Castlereagh, Lord Saltoun, Lord Cochrane, Lord
and Lady Gosford, Sir Richard and Lady Keane, Sir David
and Lady Kinlock, Sir Hanson Birnie, Major RiveDrrs,
umSir
John Walsham, Shipley Conway, Esq., Rev. Mr. -
mond, Rev. Archdeacon Clarke, Captain Hood and Lady
Mary Hood, Mr. Torrens and Lady, E. Grundy TertiHon.us,
Esq. of Bury, Shackerly, Esq., Captain Hume,
Mr. Cunard, Rev. Mr. Irving and party, Mr. and Lady
Stewart, Cake, Esq., of Leicester, Edgar Ross, Esq. and
party.
FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS AT THE GRAND JUNCTION
HOTEL.—Countess of Ormonde, Lady Col. Tote .
and family, the Hon. C: Rochyatt, Ca Gordon,Goptain Hill, Captin
Turner,.R.N., Captain French, Captain Hamilton, Mrs. E.
Taylor and family, B. Davison, Esq., C. Vickers, Esq., and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston, J. Littledale, Esq., H.
Machamara, Esq., Mrs. P. Ponsonby and family, Thos.
Stewart, Esq., and family, H. Keif, Esq.. J. Jones, Esq.,
G. Swingerton, Esq., H. Boker, Esq., Wm. Philips, Esq.,
Mr. and Mrs Dean and family, the Rev. H. Marshall, J.
Congrieve, Esq., R. Cameron, Esq., W. Phips, Esq., W. J'.
Mackenzie, Esq. H. Beresford, Esq., W. H. Benson, Esq..
and family,
,y, H. Broomfield, Esq. and family, Rev. C. More,
H. Goodchild, Esq., W. R. Needham, Esq. and family, W.
Grame, Esq., Mr. and Mrs. Webster and family, Mr. and
Mrs. Hamilton, F. J. Castle, Esq., Mrs. Welsh, W. Strange,
Esq., H. Shackerton, Efq. and family.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—The Chebor, which sailed
on the 16th ult. hence for China, put back on Saturday last,
leaky. Captain Smallwood, as soon as the leak was dis-
covered, set the hands to the pumps, in the hope that the
cause of the leak might be discovered and removed. It was
not until the third or the fourth day after the leak had began
that he finally determined to bear up for an English port.
His intention was to run for Plymouth ; declaring to his
mate that he could not face his owners by returning to Liver-
pool ! At this time, though he had exerted himself to the
utmost, even taking his turn at the pumps, he became ex-
tremely low and melancholy, occasionally wishing that the
ship would sink. At length, on the 2d instant, in a fit of
temporary insanity, he swallowed laudanum. His officers, on
finding that he had' swallowed poison, took means to relieve
the stomach of the laudanum, in which they succeeded. At
night, he became more tranquil, and it was hoped he had
abandoned all idea of destroying himself. In the course of
the night, however, when there was no person in the cabin but
himself, he threw himself out of one of the cabin windows,
and perished. Captain Smallwood had been twelve years
in the command of vessels, and was a steady sober man,
highly esteemed by his employers. He fell a victim to the
morbid sense of the responsibility of his situation. The
mate, after the death of the captain, took the command of the
ship, and bore up for Liverpool instead of Plymouth.
LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAM SHIP.—On Saturday last,
fine Iron. Steam-vessel, of 470 tons burthen, called the
" Brigand," was launched from the building-yard of Messrs.
Grantham, Page. and Co. south of the Brunswick Dock.
She is intended for the trade to Wexford, and was built for
R. Redmond, Esq. of that town, the proprietor of " The
Town of Wexford" steam-vessel. The launch was beauti-
ful, and the vessel was found to float remarkable light in the
water, a great desideratum, as the bar at the entrance to the
port of Wexford is so shallow that a vessel of considerable
draft cannot pass it during low tides. We are informed that
the Brigand is a vessel of superior strength, and when com-
pleted, will be calculated further to confirm the applicability
of iron in the construction of ships,with an advantage in
lightness of draft, and equal safety when at sea.
Two YOUNG ROGUES.—At the police-court yesterday,
two boys, William Roberts and Edward Williams, were
placed before Mr. Rushton, charged with an attempt to com-
mit a robbery. A police-officer stated that having on Satur-
day night gone up a court to ascertain if all the doors and
windows were fast, liesn entering towards the street, saw a
lady and gentleman ping, and the two prisoners close be-
hind them. The younger prisoner, Williams, was in the act
of attempting to pick the lady's pocket, and as the other
was evidently ready to carry off the transferred spoil, he
took them both into custody. The prisoner Williams, a
little chubby-faced lad, with great volubility, and a touch of
impertinence, said to the magistrate, as he cast an indignant
glance at the police-officer—" Sir, I did nothing at all. He
only took me up because I was a suspicious character." The
officer repeated his charge. The prisoner : " That officer,
sir, is always taking false oaths against us lads. Sir, there
is no walking in the streets now-a-days ; they are always
stopping us though we do nothing, and swearing against us."
Mr. Rushton inquired of Parkinson if the prisoners were
known. Mr. Parkinson said " Yes sir ; Williams has been
sixteen lbws committed, and five times discharged ! (A
laugh.) The other prisoner has also been several times
committed." The prisoner Williams here said—" There,
sir, you see it is as I said. He took me up because I was a
suspicious character." (A laugh.) Mr. Rushton, address-
ing the prisoners said, that if they did not amend their course
of life, they would certainly, ere long, be transported. He
then sentenced them to be imprisoned for three months, and
kept to hard labour.

A HINT TO ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND
OTHERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sia,—l observe in your paper of the Bth instant, a para-
graph noticing the taking out of " a patent "—of a some-
what singular description—" for an invention to supersede the
ordinary wooden letters usually fixed upon the facia of shop-
windows," viz., " letters made of porcelain, of every form
and hue." The advantages are stated to be that they are
easily cleaned with a sponge, and restored to their pristine
beauty ; that the cost will not exceed that of wooden letters ;
that many of the patterns and hues are elegant ; that they
may be gilded ; and that, being glazed, they present " a daz-

zling and animated appearance." The writer of the para-
graph in question, with whom I entirely agree as regards
the advantages of the porcelain raised letters, concludes by
stating that they are not yet quite ready for public use, but
that it is expected they will soon arrive from the manufactory
in Staffordshire. On this last point,your informant is under
a mistake, as a very neat specimen of these letters (in imita-
tion of veined marble) were to be seen on the premises of
Mr. Waring Webb, in Castle-street, in this town, some time

before the insertion of the paragraph.
My object, however, is to throw out a suggestion to
'builders and persons building, and to manufacturers of Staf-
fordshire ware, which I some years ago made to an intelli-
gent architect of Preston and which was considered by him,
and by several other gentlemen connected with building, as
one which, if acted upon, would conduce greatly to the beauty,
the durability, the cleanliness, and the dryness of dwelling-
houses, and even public buildings, and that, too, at a compa-
ratively small expense beyond the mere cost of ordinary

brickwork.
It has often been to me a subject of regret that this coun-
try has not the advantage of extensive marble-quarries, that
could be worked at a cheap rate ; and that even our free-
stone is not only very costly in some localities, but much of
it of inferior quality, both in colour and texture, and a con-
siderable quantity of it, which looks well when newly
wrought, becoming soon afterwards dark and unseemly from
the " vegetation" produced by the earthy particles which it
contains. Much of it, too, imbibes so much water, that the
interior walls have to be battened and plastered. On the
other hand, a brick house, be the materials and stencilling
ever so fine, is but a sorry substitute for stone, at least to
the eye of classical taste. The pieces of which it is cpmposed
are too trifling and minute to convey an idea of grandeur or
stability ; and the walls, particularly in towns, soon become
dusty and dingy. I allude, of course, to the front only,
being ready to admit that for back and partition walls bricks
are peculiarly well adapted. As a remedy for the plainness
or dulness of the exterior appearance of brick houses, resort
has of late years been had to Roman cement, which, in new
or newly-fronted buildings, has been applied in the forma-
tion of pilasters, pannels, mouldings, cornices, and other
ornamental work, in relief, giving to the whole the appear-
ance and variety of taste and style which can be produced
by stone. The expense in the first instance is, however,
very considerable, and the work sometimes requires repair,
and, to maintain its clean appearance, frequent painting
either in oil or water colour. This, indeed. forms a consi-

derable deduction from rental.
With these impressions, Mr. Editor, I have often set about
considering of a remedy for the various obstacles which the
paucity or inaptitude of the materials hitherto exclusively
used by builders presents to the cheap construction of hand-
some, dry, and durable dwellings ; and I almost flatter my-
self that the idea which I formed some years ago (as before
stated), but which I did not publish, will supply that deside-

ratum.
We have all read of the far-famed porcelain tower or pa-
goda of Nankin, in China, and that it has withstood the
shocks of time for several centuries, and still retains its
pristine grandeur and stability. Of the peculiar manner of
its construction—l mean of the securing of the exterior
pieces of porcelain, or their peculiar shape—l know nothing.
We have also all seen, Mr. Editor, in some of the snug,
old-fashioned parlours of ancient domiciles, the chimney-
place adorned on each side with what are called Dutch tiles,
of porcelain, in various patterns, and which have not only a
cheerful appearance, but, from their glaze, serve to radiate
the heat, and are easily kept clean. As a substitute for these,
we have, in this truly iron age (of even, iron roads and iron
ships), iron coves, or " Rumfords," which, though they may
be equally useful, entail considerable additional trouble on
housemaids, in brightening them with black-lead.
My suggestion, sir, is a new application of porcelain tiles
to the exterior of brick and other buildings, in oblong-square
plates, to resemble polished blocks of stone or marble, or
indeed of any other desired shape or pattern which fancy may
suggest, or the peculiarity of the structure may require. In
submitting my sugg-stio r, I shall first advert to the expense;
secondly, to the mode of fixing and joining the plates or
tiles; thirdly, to the variety of ornamental patterns in which
they may be produced, and fourthly, to the advantages the
plan would possess.
Is. The cost of covering a house front with porcelain would
be very small, compared with the durability of the material,
and the absence of ulterior cost in painting and repair.
Every one conversant with the Potteries knows that a good
dinner plate of the usual Chinese pattern, and well glazed,
can be produced and sold for less than one penny. Other
articles are in proportion, the price being in a great measure
regulated by the form or fashion,—those least complex, or in
other words, nearest to a flat surface, and a uniform shape
being the cheapest. There can exist, therefore, very little
doubt but a flat tile or plate of porcelain of say two feetlong,
and one foot broad could be more readily made, with a
simple pattern, (say) veined marble or free stone, than three
common dinner plates. The cost, even if it were one-eighth
of an inch thick, would not exceed perhaps threepence ;—if
the pattern were embossed or raised, a trifle more. The
manual labour required to produce such tiles would doubtless
be greatly reduced by the application of machinery, in the
event of their coming into extensive use. Angular tiles
could be made for corners.
2nd. The tiles should, I propose, be what is called in
joinery " rabitted," or halved at the edges, so that they
would overlap—the upper one over that below it—say, from
from half an inch to an inch. By this means, and the aid
of a little fine cement, putty, or thick white lead, a joint
would be formed impervious to the rain. The wall on which
they are to be placed should be thinly coated with cement or
plaster. A degree of roughness should be given to the back
of each plate, so that it may set more strongly in the cement.
In building a new brick house, tiers of those imitation blocks
of marble or stone, might be securely fixed as the walls were
reared, by means of small copper clamps, which could be
readily inserted into the joints of the brick-work,---each
plate being also bedded in a coat of plaster. In houses
already built, small plugs might be driven into the wall, to
which the plates might be secured by small copper screws,
penetrating holes in each ; or thin copper clamps at the
edges might be employed without producing any eye-sore.
The porcelain letters now used for signs, are nailed or screwed
to the wood, holes being perforated in them for that purpose.
3d. Not only the finest marble, variegated or Parian,
might he imitated in porcelain, but even columns, pilasters,
capitals, and other ornaments, could reaoily be produced, in
pieces, suitable for jointing, and in endless variety. The
pattern might be embossed, or raised in relief. In villas,
cottages, lodges, or other ornamental rural buildings, the
whole might be made to represent tressel or lattice work
covered with roses, vines, jessamine, ivy, and any combina-
tion of plants, flowers, or fruits. Every shower of rain
that dashed against the tiles would wash off the dust and re-
store them to their original freshness and beauty. Ido not
assume to fix the precise size of the tiles, as that would be
subject to circumstances, and peculiar tastes and adapta-
tions. Suffice it to say, they could easily be made of any
size, and of any shape. The interiors of lobbys, and even
rooms, might also be lined with smaller tiles of a finer and
more costly quality, of any desired pattern. They might be
gilded and ornamented to represent the finest' room papers,
or even historical subjects. The cleanliness and comfort of
walls thus lined with china, would, I think, be at once ad-
mitted. All that would be required, would be to dust them
occasionally with a soft brush or towel, or, if casually soiled,
to wash them with a sponge. Neither moisture nor insects
would affect them.
4th. The advantage of the tiles is to me obvious. They
would completely turn the water and the damp,- and super-
sede all expensive renewal of plastering, pointing, painting,
and the like. They would last for hundreds of years, and al-
ways look well. In my humble conception, a town or village
in which they were introduced would be regarded with admi-
ration, and furnish an example that would soon be followed
elsewhere.
In conclusion permit me to notice, and, I trust, success-
fully to repel an objection which I have heard urged against
my scheme, and which though it may appear plausible to su-
perficial thinkers, is, in my opinion, practically untenable.
It is, that mischievous people would throw stones at my un-
fortunate tiles and break them. Persons who would object
to them on this score had better petition parliament, for the
good of the foolish lieges, to prevent, the further use of win-
dow-glass, because it is sometimes broken by accident or
design! The glass in a window is much easier broken than
any tiles would be. The former has nothing behind it to
back it up and protect it against a volley of stones or other
missiles : the latter are firmly fixed and bedded on the wall,
of which they would form the solid outer coat, and would
resist even a very considerable blow of a stone. Besides
protection would be found both in law and in custom, if the
Wan were adopted. Most of the tiles, too, in towns at least,
would be from the second floor upwards, the lower part being
in shops with stone or iron pillars, doorways, &c. as at pre-
sent. After all, a similar objection may be advanced to fine
work in stone, plaister, or other material now in use. What
is more easily broken than the florid work in the capital of a
Corinthian column, or the angles of mouldings or cornices?
Hoping that some builder, or some gentleman about to
build, will make a trial of my proposition,
I remain, Sir, yours, &c.,
J. S. W.