The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-03 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMIA.

LIVERPOOL AMATEUR GLEE AND MADRIGAL. UNION.
—A Christmas performance by this Society was given in
the lecture-hall of the Mechanics' Institution on Friday
evening, and was not only successful, but deserved to be
so. The programme was a singular but very pleasing one,
consisting entirely of Christmas pieces. The- first part
consisted of C. E. Horn's cantata, The Christmas Bells,"
an exceedingly pretty and pleasing work. It is a musical
description of Christmas-day from the " ringin&-in" of the
, bells in the morning to the ringing oat" of them in the
evening, and includes a church service of great beauty.
The performance of it was not marred, except by .a single
trivial error, and the admirable variety which the-work
afforded prevented the slightest symptom of fatigue during
its continuance. The solo pieces with which it abounds
were well rendered by Miss-.Maycock, Miss Williams, Mr.
Johnson, and Mr. Santley,...to the first of whom .especial
praise is due for the chaste: manner in which she gave the
very sweet music which she had to sing. We. may espe-
cially mention. the part commencing, A merry Christ-
mas, sir, to you," which she gave with a child-like sim-
plicity, admirably in harmony with the subject. Miss
Maycock, whom we had not before heard in public, appears
to have a highly finished style of singing, and we shall be
glad to have an opportunity of hearing her again. The
piano-forte and organ accompaniments were- excellently
given by Mr. Edmund. F. Smith and Mr. George Hirst.
The second part of the concert consisted of carols, glees,
and madrigals—all on the subject of Christmas—which
were well sung. An organ solo (" The Christmas Pre-
sent," by Mendelssohn,) was given by Mr. George Hirst
so delightfully, that it had an immediate: encore. The
concert would have passed off with much, greater spirit,
but for the excessive coldness of the room—a matter to
which the attention of the committee ought_tobe called.

BRANDY.—There are bad accounts of the vintage in
Cognac. The brandy is so inferior, that some .of the
principal houses have resolved not to„ quote it in their
lists. Old brandies will be looking up in, consequence.
A. GOLD-DIGGER IN A Fix.—The• following is an
extract from the letter of a digger established Eagle
Hawk. Gully, Sept. 3d :—" You remember Dead Horse
Gully,' the scene of our sporting adventures. Well, I
lately sank a hole there in the deep, sinking. Mine ran
about 17 feet,,and, as it turned out pretty good, I drove in
about 40 feet towards the side of the hill. One day I had
been more than usually lucky, so next morning betimes I
was stirring; made fast my rope to a tree, and down I went
by it hand.under hand, lit my slush lamp, and proceeded
along the drive on my hands and knees, eager to begin
work, and thinking of the big nuggets. You remember I
was always celebrated for making small drives. Shading
the light with my hand, I crawled in. Near the far end I
stopped to avoid crawling through a small pool of water. !
Casting the light before me to see how the land lay— '
horror of horrors !—on the other side of the pool I per-
ceived a pair of small glittering-gray eyes intently fixed on
me, the cold, malignant expression of which forced the
warm blood back to my heart with a bound which nearly
suffocated me. I knew at once that it was a snake, and a
deadly one, too. Arching its neck with a hissing noise, it
collected itself for the fatal spring ; starting back, my head
eame in contact with the roof of the tunnel, and I fell back
stunned and senseless. How long I lay in this state I
know not, but when I came to consciousness I at first
thought that I was at home in the ' big smoke;' but
gradually the truth forced itself upon me. Where was the
snake ? Was I bitten ? To the last mental query I
cheerfully answered, `No !' for most of these snakes are
very deadly, and the bitten part swells up immediately.
On consideration, I remembered that the snake had reared
for the spring, so it was clear I had fallen in the nick of
time, and the reptile had passed over me ; but where was
it now ? A cold shudder passed over me when I consi-
dered that the snake must still be in the hole, perhaps
even within a few feet, watching me with its glassy eyes,
or preparing for another spring. I am not easily],
frightened, as you well know, but for all the gold
Bendigo I would not be in that situation again. How was
Ito proceed ? My only weapon was a driving pick ; grasp-
ing it, and creeping cautiously along, I heard a noise in
front. Was it the snake ? I held my breath in fearful
suspense, with the sweat of agony moistening my brow.
No, it was only some loose stones falling from
reproemtthestreodotfhi.
stealthily
breathed again, and with a forced courage
along. Arrived near the mouth of the tunnel, I was again
startled at seeing a large carpet-snake (my late tormentor)
circling round the bottom of the hole, and gliding half his
length up its slippery sides, darting in and out his forked
tongue, and slowly moving his head as if searching for an
opening to hide itself. Being concealed iu the dark tunnel,
I had ample time for deliberation. Evidently I should be
able to strike the first blow if I could succeed in reaching
the mouth without making a noise. I made up
my mind
at once, perhaps rashly; I might have done better if I had
waited until it was asleep. Muttering a prayer, I crept
cautiously forward, but the head of my pick caught against
a loose projecting stone, and down came a lot of earth.
Cursing my bad luck, I looked to see what effect it would
have on the snake. It was evidently aroused, twisting
and contorting its body into all sorts of knots and circles,
at the same time keeping its piercing glance fixed on the
mouth of the tunnel. Darting quickly from my conceal-
ment, I nailed the snake to the ground through the neck
with my pick. With a hiss of pain it suddenly threw its
folds round my leg and partly drew it towards its head ;
recovering, I planted my leg firmly, pulled out my bowie-
knife with my left hand, and cut the snake in two about a
foot from his head ; still the slimy body was '
contracted
round my leg, and still the forked tongue was playing in
and out, notwithstandinc, the body was severed in two. I
clambered up the side of 6 the hole with the snake's body
still clinging to my leg ; when I got to the grass, I again
cut the snake in two and unwound it, thanking God for
my narrow ecsape. The snake measured 8 feet 6 inches.
I went home to my tent, and made out the day fos-
sicking."

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1854.

TEA PARTY at ALL SAINTS' SCHOOL

TIIE first annual tea meeting of the congregation 00
friends of All Saints' Parish Church was held, last tilet
in the upper room of the new school-rooms, in Great IN el
son-street. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Henn:
Marlen, incumbent of the parish ; on the platform were the
Rev. S. B. Sutton, Rev. J. R. Conor, Rev. J. 0. Powell
Rev. Isaac Holmes, , Rev. George D. Todd, Rev. Richar(
Dandy, Rev. Wm. Winlaw, Rev. John Woodhouse, an(
Rev. W. B. Matthias.
About three hundred sat down to a well served all;
plentiful supply of tea and cake, furnished by Mr. 'Mei
bourn, 20, Clarence-street. The room was tastefull:
decorciel with flags and banners, bearing appropriat
devices, and with flowers and evergreens. Grace befall
tea and after tea was sung by the choir in good style
after the latter of which an anthem was sung, and
prayer offered up by the Rev. J. Woodhouse.
The Rev. H. 31A.BLEN expressed the great pleasure h
experienced in meeting with so numerous a body of hi
parishioners at the beginning of a new year, and under cil
cumstances more gratifying than had usually been hi
fortune. Never till the present occasion had he been nbl
to meet them with what he felt entitled to call all the pais]
machinery in inn operation. Our schools (said the rev. gee
tlernan) are now built, and mostly completed in all respect:
and me nearlyallpaidfor. (Cheers.) We have them now in
condition toreceive the aid of the government to clear off
small remaining debt, and in a few weeks or months we wi]
have our schools in full work and without debt. In loot
ing at a report made by his predecessor, he- found that as
cording to that report there was but one school in tb
parish, although it extended to Kirkdale. There wer
8,000 souls in All-Saints' Parish, and among these wer
children of all. fit ages to attend school. In 1847, Sr
got a school opened in Upper Beau-street, another was the]
added, and after that the church. was built, and at last
have got our schools built and free of debt. (Cheers.
He had therefore: to thank his congregation for 11l
efficient manner in which he had been aided, and
a particular manner he had to thank the ladies for the'
kind and generous exertions. The schools had heel
built at a large expense, no small portion of whirl
was swallowed up in the cost of the site ths
being not less than £1,404. The building cost £1,310
the residences £309; in all £3,273 ; but as sofa
little apparatus was still wanting, say that £3,300 may b
set down as the full sum. Ho was glad to say that nearl;
all that sum had been raised in the space of ti
years, still they were something short, to meet whit
they would be in a short time entitled to receive £854 fret
the committee of the Privy Council. (Cheers.)
The New Year's Hymn was here sung.
The Rev. ISAAC 110LMES addressed the meeting, all;
congratulated the pastor and the congregation of Al
Saints- on the exertions they had-- made and the succo
they had met with in their laudable exertions.
The Rev. J. R. Cocoa, in commencing his address
begged to correct a popular error which existed as to th
ecclesiastical status of the Rev. Henry Marlen, who wa
not unfrequently called the incumbent of All Saints' dis
trict ; now, his position was equal to that of the rectors
Liverpool, and All Saints' was a parish: It might be wel
enough knewn that 200 years ago Liverpool was a slid
out of Walton, and now All Saints' is a-slice out of Liver
pool. The rev. gentleman, in a speech full of facetin, an
replete with well-told anecdotes, enforced the blessings 0
a really charitable disposition, and urged-on the meetii'
the gratification of indulging in it in regard to such oh
jects as the one-they were that night met to promote.
The collection in favour of the School Library, amount'
ing to £7 Os. ld., was now made ; during which time 61
anthem was sung._
The meeting was then addressed by the Revs. J. C
POWELL, of St. Thomas's, S. B. Surros, and JoiLl
WOODEOUSE, WllO. severaly urged on those• present till
important claims of the schools and the library ; afte
which the doxology was sung, and the meeting_ separated

POLICE COURT-YESTERDLY-

STYALPTG OATMEAL—WiIIiam Lee, an oh man,.
charged with stealing.. a small quantity of oatmeal f
the side of a ship, unloading in the docks, on. Sato.]
afternoon, The prisoner, who looked very sqtatlid.
miserable, was discharged with an admonition.

ROBBERY FROM i7IFE PERSON.—HeIen Carron it
charged with stealing a watch from a man, past midd
age, named Edward Brennan. It appeared from the es'
dente of a policeman that, about two o'clock that more
ing, he saw the prosecutor and prisoner come out. of
entry, anct, knowing her to be a bad character, he stopp(
them, and asked prosecutor if he had lost anything. C
examination; prosecutor discovered that he had lost 1,
watch, which was found concealed on the prisoner, and I
took her into custody. The prisoner said the proseeuti
gave her the. watch, as he had no money, and wishE
to treat her. She was sentenced to be imprisoned for dill
months.

STEALING PROM A SHlP.—Thomas Johnston charge
with Stealing a-silk handkerchief from a coat pocket in .-tW
cabin of the ship Geraldine on Friday last, was sentence
to two months' imprisonment.
STEALING MOM WAPPING RAILWAY STATIONI
Patrick Hegan and Martin Conway were charged wit'l
stealing a quantity of fustic-wood. It appeared that a
quantity of fustic-wood had been sent from Evan, Cox, and
Sons to the railway station at the end of last week f 0
transmission to Kidderminster, and that nineteen pie(
had been abstracted from• the number sent to the rails
station. The prisoners -were found with a billet of fustic.
wood similar to that sent to the railway station on SatAt;
day last, and near to the place. They gave conflict
_will'
accounts of how they became possessed of it, and
sentenced each to twenty-one days imprisoumsaL
HOLTSEIMEAKING.—John Phillips and Done

were charged with having, on Saturday afternoon, enter(
the house of Mrs. Williams, in Rack Salisbury-street, Eva
ton, and stealing the sum of 4s. in silver and some cePPi
money,whileMrs.Williams was absent. When apprehends
by detectives Grisenthwaite and Eaton, two purses and etill
articles, supposed to have been stolen, and two skelet°
keys, together with a picklock, were found in their P°
session. They were remanded for seven days.
STEALING A WATCTI.7- Catharine Smith ISMS Ellgige,

with the theft of a watch, which she sent a woman
to pawn at the shop a Mr. Simons, who, suspecting-
property ti
not to have been honestly come by, insisted 'I;
having the owner- brought to him. For this purpose .1
sent an officer along with the woman who brought it
his shop, and, after sonae inquiries, the officer took Stab
into custody. She . said she found the watch 'lli
on the pillow of her bed, where she considered it b'
been left by some one. of -her numerous lodgers on Frid!
night, and being in want of money on Saturday mornit
she had sent the watch to be pledged, as stated. She Nr'
discharged, but the watch was ordered to be kept.
PA SSIN A. COI:I4%TE RFEIT CROWN PI EC E.—Jail
Jackson was charged with attempting to pass a. bs
crown piece, yesterday afternoon, at the shop of Mr. CC
son, in Falkland-street, offering it for two penny worth
rasberry cordial. On the cheat being detected, the P 1
soner endeavoured to repossess himself of the-coin fo
make his escape; he was, however, secured, and gis:'
into custody. In defence, he said he had been drinks
on Friday and. Saturday, and was drunk when be offer
the coin, which,. however, he said he did not remenit
anything about. He was remanded for seven days.
ILLEGALLY PAWNING.—Eli7beth Strang was char".

with illegally pawning a pair of trousers, gelonging
man named Fairhairn, who, along with his wife, wile
an apartment in the house of the prisoner. She was
charged with:taking a watch, belonging to a man nave
Strang, on the 23rd December, and pawning- i• at the
of Powell, in Scotland-road. The prisoner did not dell
pawning the articles, but said she meant to-redeem tbell
She was ordered to pay a fine of 205., with. costs, on Eac
of the articles, or to suffer imprisonment for one mol"
The watch was ordered to be restored to the owner.

AN ExpENstv-E GLIZZLE.—James
man wit-lithe .appearance of a "swell down on his luel
was charged. with assaulting and threatening an Wel
woman.who sells oysters at the corner of,Queen-square,
Saturday night last. It appeared that the. prisoner 1
ordered and. swallowed three dozen of oysters, for nie
prosecutrix charged him the very moderate sum of
instead of paying which he became very abust
auctpushed the poor woman about ; after which he Pllll
out a.knife. and threatened to stab her if -she did not
silt from demanding her money. In. extenuation, he s!
he-had been drinking, and had lost his luggage, will
had by mistake been forwarded to_Belfast, and he did'
know what he was doing. He was ordered to pay 4'
or suffer one month's imprisonment. He said he col
not.pay the money, and was removed in custody.

THE PANTOMIMES continue their deserved attractiol
and during the week have afforded much pleasure
numerous hosts of youthful pleasure-seekers, and also
those of graver years, who, forgetting the irksomeness a,
cares of business, sought to. while away an hour in ivfl
cent mirth. At the Theatre-Royal, the introduction‘,
furnished
an'd incidents, the co
mach
ecpah
artisticntomim an had
hda.iLmauatnitywasettle.ancetr,ians_
at the peculiar hobbies of the day, a mode of censure
transformations embrace many smartly told practical
out of mind allowed to be legitimate. The scenery
tunny instances beautiful, and the concluding one,
gorgeous in the highest degree. It opens with the revie
the British fleet air Spithead, is gradually changed
statue of Britannia, with her accompanying emblems'
the back of which is a brilliant star of the Order of , '
living statue of her Majesty. This is a scene of gilt
Garter, which, opening up, unfolds a splendidly attil
brilliancy and beauty. At the Royal Park Thol,
the talents of the artist and machinist are also enlPlo'
with admirable effect in seconding the efforts
Columbine and Harlequin in producing a running co
mentary on life's frivolities and laborious foils
In the Adelphi we also found a warm rivalry of the
pretending houses, and in all greet a hearty desire to P
duce something worthy of the festive season.

ACCIDENT TO Ma. HEADLAM, painful
dent occurred on Christmas-day to Mr. Headlam,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne' who is staying with his fat ",i
Archdeacon Headlam, at 'Wycliffe Rectory. The n,)
gentleman was going down stairs when his foot cal*i
some obstruction and lie lost his balance ; in struggling
recover it, he snapped the tendons of the knee-caPse
both legs. Surgical assistance was promptly obtain.,
and it is expected that no permanent bad effects will ens:
though he will probably be confined to his room for sect/
weeks.
COLLISION ON LUDGATE-HILL.—On Monday nib
collision of a frightful character happened at the foot
i
Ludgate-hill. As a cab was proceeding past St. rin!,:i
the horse took fright, and dashed down the hill at a teriii
pace. The cabman managed to keep the affi'igh,
animal clear of passing vehicles, till it came to the fo°,,,
the hill, where the horse drove against the back of anotP,
cab proceeding in the same direction, and the driver,
the foremost cab was thrown from his seat, and pitch
his head. It is feared that his injuries will
ininate fatally. His cab was likewise greatly broken,
and the teeth of the other horse stuck into the
panelling, making an indentation of at least an inch
The horse in the hindermost cab was so much i 31.14
that it was left lying at the corner of Farringdon-sui
to be killed. The driver of this vehicle only saved
life by clinging to the Royal Society's fire-escape:o
the corner of New Bridge-street, Blackfriars ; and Ikepi
worth, the conductor of the machine, having the pre'
of mind to scotch the wheel of the cab, no furtheY,
chief took pla,ce,

SIPPING AND MERCANTILE

111ISCELLANY.

NEWSPAPERS addressed to the British possessions of
Accra, on the West Coast of Africa, will be forwarded by
the contract snail packet free of postage, provided they
are posted in conformity with the general regulations
applicable to newspapers sent through the post to British
colonies and countries beyond sea. Upon each newspaper
addressed to Dutch Accra, a rate of 2d. must be paid in
advance.

THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE.—The quantity of freight
on offer in London for the Australian colonies continues
very large ; and, as the brokers experience some difficulty
in obtaining a sufficient supply of tonnage to meet the
demand, the rates of freight have in consequence again
advanced, and there is the prospect of their going still
higher. The present weather prevents many vessels in the
Baltic, &c., from leaving, and the amount of available ton-
nage is consequently reduced.
SHIPBUILDING AT QUEBEC.—Twenty-four shipbuilders
have upon the stocks 28 ships, the smallest of which is
650 tons. Three of them are 1,750 tons, and only seven
are under 1,100. There is also a ship of 1,300 tons build-
ing at Point-aux-Trembles, and one of 650 at Kingston
(C.W.). All are under the special superintendence of
Lloyd's surveyor, Thomas Menzies, Esq., and most of them
are intended for the highest classification of colonial ships.
The aggregate tonnage of these vessels is about 35,000.—
Boston Advertiser.
FOREIGN Goons UNDER BOND.—An important con-
cession has been made by the commissioners of customs,
which will he a material convenience to the holders and
removers of foreign goods under bond to a considerable
extent, by the issue of an order dispensing with a separate
bond on the occasion of every individual removal of foreign
goods of any kind in bond from one port of the kingdom
to another, snd allowing a general bond to be entered into
for the purpose, which is to cover all subsequent transac-
tions of this nature, under certain regulations specially
arranged and approved for the purpose.
DISCOVERY OP A NEW ISLAND OR Rocs.—From a letter
addressed by the commander of the American barque
Isabelita Hyne, to Messrs. S. B. Were and
agents, we learn that he considers he has discovered an
island or rock, which is not laid down on the chart. He
says :—lt lies in lat. 29 42 N., long. 140 15 E., and is about
200 feet high and 100 feet base. I ran within three miles
of the rock, and no bottom. It looks black, having the
appearance of a bottle. = I had good observance both for
chronometer and latitude ; and my chronometer I found
to be correct on my arrival at Port Philip (New South
Wales). I will name it " Black Rock." This rock I con-
sider very dangerous, if a vessel should strike it in a dark
night, as there is but little chance of getting on the rock,
and, if gained, there is not a vestige of anything of vege-
tation on it ; and the chance of getting off—no one would
ever think of a man being there, even should it be seen.
The nearest island to it lays N. 52 miles, called Ponofidin,
or St. Peter's, by J. S. Bubb's chart of 1850, and additions
to 1851.—Melbourne Argus, July 26.
A NEW BRAZILIAN TARlPP.—Considerable changes in
the Brazilian tariff of customs duties have for two or three
months past been anticipated the chambers hating in
their last session passed a law conferring power on the
imperial government to alter those duties ; and, though
the commercial policy of the empire has from its first exist-
ence as an independent state been that of free trade, some
apprehension existed in our manufacturing districts that
the alterations thus authorised might, to some extent, be
of a restrictive cr protective character. The last mail
shows the groundlessness of such fears. A draft of the
new tariff has been published, and so far from raising, it
materially reauces, the duties on the principal articles of
importation from England, in many cases as much as from
25 to 30 percent. The proposed alterations were, indeed,
of so satisfactory a character that one of the last acts of
the English charge d'affaires, Mr. Jerningham, before
leaving Rio de Janeiro, was to press the Brazilian cabinet
at once 'to legalise the draft it had prepared, and which
public opinion had fully sanctioned. This ability to reduce
duties arises from the flourishing state of the imperial
finances, and the continued existence of a considerable sur-
plus beyond the expenditure.

- -
RUNNING DOWN TIM BELL BUOY.

RESPONSIBILITY OF PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.
AT the County Court, on Tuesday last, an action was
brought by the Liverpool Dock Trustees against Mr.
James Brown, of the firm of llessrs. Brown, Shipley, and
'Co., and one of the owners of the United States royal mail
steamer Baltic, for compensation for damages occasioned
'by that vessel having run down the Bell Buoy Beacon, at
the mouth of the channel, on the 14th of April last. The
damages were laid at £3lO. 18s.; and, although the juris-
diction proper of County Courts is confined to sums under
£5O, it appears that suits Tor a still larger amount may be
brought in a certain form, with the mutual consent of the
litigants. Mr. Blair and Mr. Simon appeared for the
plaintiffs, and Mr. Aspinall and Mr. Raffles for the defendant.
Mr. Aspinall applied for a postponement of the trial,on
the ground that a material witness, Alexander M'Kentie,
the man on the look-ott at the time of the accident; vas
absent in America.

The application was -resisted by Mr. Blair, who urged
that there had already'been three postponements, and-that
the plaintiffs might be prejudiced by further delay, as an
action was pending against them, to be tried at the next
assizes, for injury alleged to have been occasioned to the
steamer Nimrod, by coming into collision With the
sunken buoy.

The trial was ordered to proceed ; but, after some time,
it was discovered that the .pilot, necessarily a material
witness, was also itbsent; His Honour, under these
circumstances, urged a postponement, which counsel for
the plaintiffs were evidently reluctant to accept. 'lt even-
tually transpired -that the pilot had made a written
statement of the facts, and the case proceeded, ,with the
understanding that this should be read, and 'taken for
what it was worth.

From the statement of the pilot, (John James Ellison)
it appeared that on Wednesday, the 14th of April, about
seven minutes paid two a.m., he was bringing the Baltic
into port, and, after he thought he had passed the Bell
Buoy, he ordered the helm to port a little, so as to keep
the fairway into the channel. Soon afterwards they came
into collision with fhe buoy. After disengaging 'the ship,
she was put round, and, on passing the Imoy,it was left
in the same position as usually seen ; but he did not hear
the bell.

Mr. Blair, in addressing the court on the Tat'ts of the
case, said that the Bell Buoy was of importance, as lying
precisely in the line of two lights, which make the fairway
up that channel, and he should show that it- was usual
for vessels to stop, when nearing it, till they-caught the
bearings of those lights, and also to take soundings.
Therefore, to slow the vessel was only a common practice.
He contendedthat the buoy could easily havebeen made
out, and that the captain had been guilty 'df reckless
negligence in not-glowing the engines, and taking sound-
ings, instead of proceeding before it had been-made. He
maintained that the captain must have known that the
speed at which they were going, twelve miles an hour,
was a dangerous•one, and that was a matter more within
the control of the captain than the pilot. Hecalled wit-
nesses.

Lieutenant Lot.l, surveyor of the port, thought that the
Baltic should hard been going at that point withdiminished
speed—say for ten minutes before, at half-speed—and the
lead should have been kept going, at night time more es-
pecially. It would be the duty of the master of the vessel
to keep the lead going, and he thought it should have
been kent going till the vessel passed the bar.
By the Judge—Witness should suppose, frour the pilot's
statement, that, -svhen the vessel's course was altered, she
was about half a mile from the Bell Buoy. The fact was
the pilot thought that he had passed the Bell Buoy, while
he was not abreast of it. The mistake arose from an error
of judgment on the part of the pilot.
Mr. John Jones, lia\T , assistant surveyor of -Liverpool,
Charles F. Fox, water-bailiff, Captain Evans, R.N., -acting
conservator of the navy, Mr. Thomas Hodgson, harbour-
master, and Capt. William Williams, gave corroborative
evidence.

Mr. Aspinall, for'the defence, contended that there was
no case which could' be sent to a jury. The defendant,
having a pilot on board, was exempt, unless it was proved
that fault had attsehed to some of the crew or servants of
the deFendant. He maintained that there was nothing
whatever to show that' there was any such fault. The other
party seemed to have assumed that the duty of a pilot was
diminished, when a commander like Captain Comstock was
acquainted with the entrance to the port ; but he main-
tained that the pilot's responsibility continued just the
same as if the captain was a perfect stranger, and the ves-
sel had never been here before.
His Honour thought the responsibility of a captain
varied according to the amount of knowledge. The real
question in the cause which would most probably come to •
be decided was this—was the vessel coming in that
channel, on that night, at that time of night, coming at
a reasonable speed when she approached the Bell Buoy, or
was she coming at such a speed that a person of reason-
able capacity in such affairs would have known that the
pilot was doing manifestly wrong, or was guilty of mani-
fest incapacity in what he did ? He was not prepared to
say that the steamer was gciine, manifestly wrong; but
the captain should have remonstrated,' even if too late to
be effectual. For instance, Captain Comstock might have
said " You are near the Bell Buoy ; you had better
glow." Had he done so, could the answer of the pilot
have been that they were past the Bell Buoy ? then, per-
haps, Captain Comstock might have relieved the owners
of their liability.

Mr. Aspinall believed that such was the case, and said
that to prove what occurred, he should put Captain Com-
stock into the box.
Captain Comstock stated that he knew about the time
they were approaching the Bell Buoy, that he asked the
pilot why he had altered the course, and he replied that he
had passed the buoy. Soon afterwards she came in colli-
sion with it. In reply to Mr. Blair, he further stated
that it was the usual practice to run the steamer into port
at full speed, unless they had foggy weather.
His Honour intimated that in a case of so much im-
portance to the owners of steam-vessels, he should like,
before deciding, to have time to consider the evidence and
read the cases which had been quoted ; he should, there-
fore, postpone his judgment till Monday next.

THE NEW YEAR
0, happy may the New Year be—to each bring joy and bliss ;
Throughout that year may all our friends know nought but
happiness.
And.still, as comes to each the thought of what was done last

year,
The Coats must needs recur to mind which those good friends
bought here.
And now, when on the wintry breeze come cold, and frost
and storm,
When, chilling from the icy blast, shrinks back the shivering
form,
'Tis now the Tailor's matchless skill becomes a thing of note;
Those friends in quick succession come to buy an Overcoat.
And many, too, o'er frozen ponds in freedom schoolboys play,
And pass in clothes' destructive games their Christmas holy-
To JdayOSEPH EARP'S their parents come those garments to
eWhorseen:twyle can better be than his, whose cut can be more
true?
Aped."'"
m fara away to distant climes, the Emigrants will speed—
ceed—
the Emigrants, their ships, their captains, toe, suc-
y
But, ere they leave old Liverpool, to J. EA nr's Mart they hie;
What Mart, to suit their many wants, can better goods supply ?
Ablytlie New Year for one and all ! Whatever fate they see,
Ifs. EA RP's wishes are fulfilled, their lot will happy be;
And oft he trusts his many friends in future years to meet,
And sell them ninny ;Other pits at No. 3, Cu tritCti-STIMET

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1854.