The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-08-21 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

knew the prisoner's former wife was alive. The sentence
was therefore mitigated to four months' imprisonment.

CHARGE OF INTENT TO SHOOT AND KILL.
John Barton, 25, was charged with having, at Salford,
presented a loaded pistol at Giles Hardman, with intent
to kill and murder him. The prisoner and prosecutor had
been friendly, and had lived together. The prisoner and
his wife had lodged with the prosecutor, of whom the pri-
soner was jealous. The prisoner had not fired the pistol,
so that there was no felony involved. The case was not
gone minutely into, as the charge reduced itself to a com-
mon assault, which the jury found. The Judge, after a
feeling admonition to the prisoner sentenced him to be im-
prisoned for one month.

BURGLARY AT LIVERPOOL.
David Smith, 26, and Mary Hughes, 26, were indicted
for having, on the 17th May, burglariously broken and
entered the dwelling-house of William Smith, in Bap-
tist-street, and stealing therefrom a loaf of bread, some
butter, and some few articles of crockery-ware. The jury
found the prisoner Smith guilty, and Mary Hughes not
guilty. Smith had frequently before been convicted, and
was sentenced to be transported for seven years.

PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS.
Joseph Ward, 22, and Henry Mitchell, 35, mariners,
were charged with having, on board the ship York, on the
high seas, on the 27th of May last, feloniously endea-
voured to make a revolt, and to excite others to join them
in it, with intent to take possession of the vessel and run
away with her. There were other counts laying the felony
in other ways.
Mr. Paget ,with whom was Mr. Rushton) opened the
case to the jury, drawing attention to the chief points in
the evidence, which was then detailed at great length.
Mr. ATKINSON said a few words in behalf of Ward,
who had told him his story—namely that he had been
shipped while intoxicated, and had so remained drinking
for three days, and he was not conscious of what he might
have done that it would have been madness to attempt
to take the ship against a crew of 33 men and several
boys ; and that several of the witnesses had given him a
good character for quietness. He also addressed the
court in behalf of Mitchell nearly to the same effect.
The learned JUDGE summed up, and read those clauses
of the act affecting the case, the strongest part of which
was contained in the count in the indictment charging a
mutiny with intent to run away with the ship. He recap-
itulated the heads of the evidence. He pointed out that
Mitchell was the least implicated, inasmuch as it was not
shown that he bad himself endeavoured to excite any of
the rest of the crew to revolt ; and it might be that he did
not intend to join Ward in his wicked proposition.
With regard to the language used by Ward, it was
most explicit and serious as showing his intention.
The jury, in a few minutes, returned a verdict of guilty
against Ward, and found Mitchell not guilty.
His Lordship deferred passing sentence until this morn-
ing.
The court rose at half-past five o'clock.

GRAND JURY ROOM—YESTERDAY.
Before Mr. Serjeant Murphy.
Owing to the nature of the cases left for trial on the
criminal side being likely to extend the business beyond
the present week, Mr. Justice Patteson, on Saturday,
appointed Mr. Serjeant Murphy to hold a third court in
the Grand Jury Room ; and accordingly at ten o'clock
this morning the Learned Sergeant took his seat, and pro-
ceeded with the following cases :
FORGING A SHIPPING NOTE.
Thomas Charles M`Kay, 26, pleaded guilty to having,
at Liverpool, forged a shipping note for the payment of
£5, with the view of defrauding Robt. Gracie. The wit-
ness wad formerly master of a merchant ship of this port,
but for some length of time had been out of employment.
Several witnesses were called, who gave him a most unex-
ceptionable character. His Lordship, after remarking
upon the serious nature of the offence in a port like Liver-
pool, said, in consequence of the good character given to
the prisoner, he felt inclined to be more lenient than
otherwise he would have been. A sentence of two years'
imprisonment to hard labour in Kirkdale was passed.
BIGAMY.
James White, 48, pleaded guilty to having, at Liver-
pool, feloniously married Catherine Manger, his former
wife being then alive. The second wife stated that the
prisoner, at the time she married him, ten years ago, re-
presented that he was a widower. She had lived with him
from that time, but they had no: had any children. The
learned judge, after commenting upon the aggravation of
the offence, owing to the deception resorted to, sentenced
the prisoner to seven years' transportation.
DEFRAUDING AN ODDFELLOW'S LODGE.—IMPORTANT
DECISION.
Cardwell Russell Smith, 32, was indicted for having, at
Liverpool, on the 2d August, 1848, foloniously forged and
uttered a certain order for the payment of 35., with intent
to defraud Price Jones. Subsequent counts laid the for-
gery with the view of defrauding T. A. Hunter and others.
Mr. Blair prosecuted.; Mr. 11. T. Atkinson defended.—
The prisoner was secretary to the Loyal Rainbow Lodge
of Oddfellows, and part of his duty was to make out all
orders for the payment of money, which orders were to
be signed by the N. G. or V. N. G. before they were ren-
dered payable. On the 2d of August, last year, the pri-
soner presented an order for the payment of 3s. purport-
ing to be signed by Mr. Hunter, V. N. G., to Mrs. Ann
Jones, the wife of Mr. Price Jones, the treasurer of the
lodge, and received the money upon it. In March last
the prisoner was removed from office, and his successor,
Mr. Astley, discovered that the order presented was a for-
gery, Mr. Hunter not having signed it, and in June the
prisoner was taken into custody on the charge.-1n cross-
examination by Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Astley, the secretary,
described an Oddfellow's Lodge to be an association for
mutual protection in sickness and distress, and for:general
purposes ofTelief. The subscriptions were paid into a
common fund. They communicated with other lodges in
the country, and a portion of the funds were appropriated
to the purposes of those lodges.—Mr. Atkinson : Sup-
pose a lodge were to break up, with funds of £5O, what
would become of it ?—Witness: When a lodge decides to
break up, the majority coming to that determination can
join another lodge."—Mr. Atkinson: Suppose the majo-
rity do not wish to join, can they not divide the funds ?"
Witness: 44 If they do, it is by force and against the rules
of the order ; but it has been done."—Mr. Atkinson then
submitted to the court whether there was any case for the
jury upon any of the counts in the indictment except the
first, the intent in each charging the iprisoner with the
forgery to defraud Mr. Hunter and others, one of which
orders was for himself.—Mr. Blair replied.—Astley, the
witness, being recalled, stated that trustees had not yet
been appointed to the society, the funds not being of the
required amount.—The learned fudge, having consulted
an analogous case in a legal work, decided that the objec-
tions raised by Mr. Atkinson relative to the counts of
uttering with intent to defraud, must be held fatal, inas-
much asthe law contemplated the appointment of trus-
tees, in -whom the property of the society should be vested,
and in their names all charges were to be brought. and
suchttruatees not having been appointed, the prisoner
must be'held a joint owner of the property.—Mr. Atkin-
son-then addressed the jury with respect to the first count,
and contended that the intent to defraud was not esta-
blished, the name of Mr. Hunter having been attached
merely to facilitate getting the money in Mr. Hunter's
absence, as a mere matter of form, and not with any in-
tent to'defraud, the money having:, for anything shown to
the contrary, been honestly appropriated to the objects of
the society.—The jury, after a short consultation, returned
a verdict-of not guilty.
Thevhole of the list of prisoners -sent over for trial
having been gone through, at four d'clock his lordship ad-
journed•the court until nine o'clock:the following (this)
morning.

NISI PRTUS COURT—YBSTERDAY.
BROWN V. COOPER.
'Verdict by consent for £llo—subject to an arrangement.
SHARPLES H. COOPER.
Mr. -Seger for the plaintiff, Sergeant Martin for the de-
fendant. Plaintiff was a manufacturer of silk cloth in
Blackburn, and defendant a printer having an establish-
ment in 'Manchester and another in Glasgow. The action
was for the value of twenty pieces of.eloth sent to be
printed, which the defendant had refused,to deliver up.
John Emoadson, a commission agent, inChurch-street,
Manchester,,proved the delivery of the cloth to Brown to
be printed in Glasgow, and sent back to:hire in Manches-
ter for sale. They were to be charged for printing ss. a
piece, if not more than four colours; and a further sum,
not agreed upon, if they exceeded four colours. He made
several applications afterwards to Brown for the goods;
but he said he would not deliver them up_; without giving
any reason. Made a tender of ten pounds forthe printing.
His answer was that his Glasgow partner and himself had
dissolved, and he should not deliver the goods. On exa-
mination by 'Mr. Sergeant Martin, it was cilicited that
witness had been arrested and sent to gaol; and filed de-
fendant's debt as owing to himself, which schedule was dis-
missed. Afterwards presented another, and was remanded
four months. Shatyles was his detaining creditor, and
discharged him two days after his sentence. A.letter was
put in, showing that he had written, while in Lancaster
Castle, a letter, dated from London, requiring the goods
to be sent up there. He had been both bankrupt Mid in-
solvent before.
Re-examined by Mr. Segar.—Several letters vat in
from defendant's house,advising of the prints being.aiNaut
to be sent off to Edmondson.
Mr. Mitartx addressed the jury for the defence., eon-
tending that the transaction was between the defendant
and Edmondson; and that the whole proceeding was con-
cocted between Edmondson and Sharples, to enable the
latter to get back the goods, leaving defendant unpaid for
the.printing, and for £lO lent to Edmondson.
An errand boy of defendant's was called, who deposed
that he never saw any tender made.
Mr. Neilson, defendant's partner, received the goods to
print for Edmondson, and never knew the plaintiff in the
transaction.
Mr. SEGAR replied, and his Lordship having summed
np, thd Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict for
the defendant.
CASE OF LIBEL.—STANSFIELD V BOWLER.
Mr. Sergeant Martin and Mr. Atherton for the plain-
tiff, and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Crompton for the
defendant. This was an action against defendant for
libel, consisting of a report of a public meeting at Burnley,
and remarks upon it in a leading article in the Man-
chester Courier. The plaintiff denied the libel, and
pleaded justification.
Mr. Sergeant MARTIN stated the case. The plaintiff
was a banker in Yorkshire, and was formerly a barrister
in this circuit. The libel consisted of articles contained
in the Manchester Courier of the 21st April. The plain-
tiff lives in the township of Habergharneves, In the parish
of Whalley, the inhabitants of which frequented a chapel
at Burnley. By a recent act of Parliament, Habergham-
eves was male a separate ecclesiastical district, and de-
clared totally independent of Burnley. Mr. James was
the first curate appointed, and Mr. Wilson is curate at
present. The unfortunate cause of the present action
arose from the vicar of Burnley, Mr. Masters, persisting
that he had still a right to appoint a churchwarden and
sidesmen for Haberghameves, which the inhabitants of
that place resisted and called a public meeting, at which

it was determined they should choose their own church-
wardens and sidesmen ; and such appointment was ac-
cordingly made at the Easter Vestry. Mr. Stansfield was
required to go down to Burnley with some of the witnes-
ses to communicate this appointment to the Burnley
Vestry. Mr. Masters was in the chair. The church.-
wardens for Burnley were appointed ; but Mr. Stansfield
was surprised when the same parties whom they had them-
selves appointed were proposed aschurchwardens and sides-
men for Habergameves, which they considered was done
to prevent two other persons being proposed, and the
question tried. Mr. Stansfield then read the resolution
passed at the meeting, asserting the independence of Black-
burn of the new ecclesiastical district. Mr. Masters,
on his own authority as chairman, refused to put the ques-
tion. Such refusal being given, a violent disturbance
took place ; the police were sent for, and the church
cleared ; after which, Mr. Masters insisted that the par-
ties elected by the Burnley Vestry were legally elected.
The learned Sergeant then read a statement of the affair
from the Blackburn Standard, which he urged was a
statement concocted by a partisan of Mr. Masters, but of
which Mr. Stansfield never thought of taking any notice.
This is the report, whose quotation by the Manchester
Courier is part of the libel complained of. The learned
Sergeant next read the comments upon the conduct of
Mr. Stansfield, made in that paper, headed " Disgraceful
Proceedings in Burnley Church." The libel admitted
Mr. Stansfield to have been a barrister, though a silent
one, a " briefless barrister ;" and then accused him of
being the party who a few assizes ago "broke faith with
Mr. Baron Alderson, by failing to produce an important
document which he promised to fetch, and sending in its
stead a stupid note full of ignorance, presumption, and
disrespect." This was the passage of which Mr. Stans-
field complained. The learned counsel explained the
transaction referred to, which arose out of an indictment
of two parties for a conspiracy to defraud an insurance
compaey. The policy on which the claim was made, with
the title deeds of the property were in the hands of Mr.
Stansfield, in his capacity as a banker, as security. In
the course of the trial the policy was called for, and Mr.
Stansfield admitted that he so held the policy. He was
asked if he had it with him and he said no, upon
which Mr. Baron Alderson said very angrily, " do you
come here to defeat the ends of justice ?" and after some
more.conversation Mr. Baron Alderson ordered him to
bring the document, and Mr. Stansfield left the court.
The learned Sergeant contended that Mr. Stansfield, not
having received a subpoena, the Judge had no right
to make such an order. The letter said by defendant to
be "full of ignorance," &c., was then read • and, in pur-
port, it was a protest against the authority Of the learned
Judge; and a complaint against having it imputed to
him in open court that he had come there to defeat the
ends of justice. The remarks of the Courier went on to
style Mr. Stansfield "a well-dressed demagogue," who
" not only countenanced but counselled the brutalities"
exercised towards Mr. Masters. A letter was next read
from Mr. Stansfield's attorney to Mr. Sowler, and that
gentleman's reply, offering, if Mr. Stansfield would deny
the accuracy of the report in the Blackburn Standard he
would publish it, and stating that he had made no impu-
tation upon his private character. •
The witnesses on both sides had been ordered out of
court during the learned Sergeant's address.
Henry Holland was the first witness called—examined
by Mr. ATHERTON,—Is Assistant-overseer of Habergah-
meaves—explained the ecclesiastical position of the Burn-
ley district ; and described the occurrences which took
place at the Burnley meeting, exonerating Mr. Stans-
field from the charge of having taken any part in the
disturbance. Heard no threats used towards Mr. Masters.
Mr. John Maggerison corroborated the evidence of last
witness as to the nature and conduct of the meeting.
Charles Owen, examined by Mr. ATHERTON,—Heard
no threats used towards Mr. Masters. Mr. Stansfield
never advised any violence towards Mr. Masters.
Mr. Richard Shaw, attorney atßurnley, was examined by
Mr. Sergeant MARTIN as to the circumstances attending
the indictment of two parties for conspiring to defraud an
Assurance Co.; and statedthecircumstances connected with
the deposit of the policy of assurance with Mr. Stansfield
in substantially the same terms as the description of them
in Mr. Sergeant Martin's opening. Witness stated that
the policy of insurance was given up by his father to Mr.
Stansfield, after a threat of a prosecution had been held
out. Witness explained that his father was afraid the
parties indicted might set hold of it and taking it to
York settle the affair with the Company for a few hun-
dred pounds, and thus defeat his claim for £l5OO, for
which he had become security for them at the
bank. When Mr. Stansfield left the court and did not re-
turn, he was sent for, but could not be found. Baron
Alderson remarked on this that Mr. Stansfield had left the
court on an honourable understanding that he would re
turn ; and that his not doing so would teach him in future
not to trust persons put of court. Mr. Baron Alderson
went out to consult Mr. Baron Rolfe on the matter,
whose opinion he stated to be that, under the circum-
stances, parole evidence ought to be taken, and that Mr.
Stansfield ought to be liable to a contempt of court.
Re-examined by Serjeant Martin :—Did not himself con-
ceive that there was any honourable understanding to re-
tain. The reading of Mr. Stansfield's letter to Mr.
Baron Alderson closed the case for the plaintiff.
Mr. Sergeant WILKINS rose to speak to the defence;
and after an eloquent exordium, in the course of which he
commented with great force, upon the ill-advised nature
of the proceedings adopted by Mr. Stansfield, went at great
length through tie evidence, and commented upon the libel
itself, the latter of which he contended was fully justified
and proved by the plaintiff's own witnesses. In the
course of a long and eloquent address, many portions of
which elicited great merriment from the happiness of their
sarcasm, the learned counsel held up the conduct of the
plaintiff as worthy of the -unmeasured reprobation of the
court, and, without producing any witnesses, called for a
verdict for the defendant.
The learned judge summed up, and the jars returned,
after an absence of about a quarter of an hour, a verdict
for the defendant on both counts.
The Court rose soon after.

THE CHOLERA.—This dreadful scourge is, we regret to
say, devastating the poorer districts of the town with in-
creased effect. On Sunday there were upwards of twenty
funerals at St. Mary's, Kirkdale, and such was the scarcity
of funeral equipages, that as the occupants of one mourn-
ing coach were puttown the carriage •was driven rapidly
away with its accompanying hearse, to supply the urgent
demands of those requiring interment for their.relations.
The proprietors, these instances, provided ordinary
hackney carriages for the purpose of conveying the funeral
parties home. The funeral pedestrian processions daily
approaching St. Patrick's Chapel, Toxteth,park, are so
numerous as to shock persons livinginthe neighbourhood.
AWFUL MORTALITY IN ONE Fammr.--Unfortu-
nately, it hes been often our duty Of late to give publicity
•to the inroads of-disease and deathumongstusl but sel-
dom has it been our melancholy tack to detail such
serious mortality in a single family as is exhibited in the
following particulars :—On Thursday, Mr. Superintendent
Anders, of our borough police, a -young man.universally
'respected for his gentlemanly demeanour in the.discharge
Of the duties of his office, lost his wife, who died of cho-
lera. On the -same day, a brother of Mr. Anders, who
was a machinist employed at a mine in St.'Haled's, was
instantaneously killed by the breelking of a rope; and on
the following day, the daughter of Mr. Anders, a little
girl not ten years of age, died ofthe same fatal-disease as
her mother.
PASSENGERS:HY THE EUROPA.—From New York :
Mr., Mrs., and Miss Mozier, and servant ; Mr. and Miss
'Stone; Mons. and Madame deCkallaye, infant, and two
maid servants.; Mr. Parr, infant and nurse; Mr. and
Mrs. Gillespie, two children, and nurse ; Mrs. Gipps ;
Miss Harrison; Mrs. M'Nab; Miss Moir; -Nom le
Moyne and Lady, four children -and maid servant.; Dr.
King; Colonel:Hitchcock ; Master Parr; Signor Gomes
Farcaz ; Signor Cartrode de flan Salavidor; Comple. J.
deßruery, Margrur de Radpont-; Col. Clark : Mons. de
Challage and lady ; Dr. Young ; Master R. Stone ;
Messrs. M. Bertheen, Eml. Peek, G. Hook, E. and A.
Ober, E. A. Fryon, Greeves, J. :Scobie, F. Alexander,
Lambert, A. Parrillier, Thomas, Canty. A. Grace, G.
Lawrence, C. C. Burr, P. S.'Lacave, S. Draper, Barlow,
J. M. Picabea, John C. Lord, James C. Lord, S. Baker,
Sandford, Cook, Rufkohl, W. E. -Rutherford, Bucking-
ham, H. Boyle, Canfuld, R. M'Carty, F. Placide, Wil-
kinson, Tuckerman, J. H. Connell, Frednek, Penond,
Solebac, Herbert, Deem. Lauchtin, Davies, Manaharett,
Turnbull, Stevens, -Gordon, Keely, and Millar. From
Half-fox :—Miss Bazalgitte, Assistant Commissary Gen.
Greg, lady, infant, and nurse; Mr. Seattie ; Mr. Playfair ;
a non-commissioned officer, wife, and two children.
CoN6Ecuariox.—The new church at Dringhowses,
near York, erected and endowed'hy Mrs. Leigh (widow of
• the Rev. E. T. Leigh, for eighteen years rector of Cheadle,
in the diocese of Chester), was consecrated by the Arch-
bishop of York on the Bth inst. The prayers were read
by the Rev. G. H. Phillips, the incumbent. More than
sixty clergymen were present, and as many of the families
as the church could contain. The .ehurch is a very
elegant staacture. The style is middle pointed or deco-
rated—the windows containing geometrical tracery. The
church comprises chancel and nave, with porch to the
north andcacristy to the south. The interior arrange-
ments are extremely beautiful and well ordered. The
pulpit is of stone, elaborately earved:; the desk being sup-
ported by an angel. The nave is lighted bycight windows,
four of which are filled with stained glass illustrating the
remarkable events in the life of Christ:: the others are
ultimately to be filled in like manner. The doors are of
oak, with curiously wrought iron scroll bands. The seats
in the nave all front towards the chancel. They are
executed after themost approved design, open, of spacious
dimensions, and fitted throughout with cushions and
hassocks. All the woodwork throughout the church is of
the best oak, and in design and workmanship no expense
appears to have been spared for providing for the comfort
and convenience of the congregation. The church con-
tains accommodation for about 250 persons.
BAnnic FESTIVAL.—The Royal Welsh Eistedffod took
place at Aberfraw, Anglesea, on Tuesday. The concourse
was very great, and comprised the elite of the principality.
After an address from the president, competition for the
various prizes commenced. Fifteen prizes, consisting of
premiums and medals, were awarded for poems, epigrams,
essays, and addresses in Welsh and English. M. Morris
Williams, curate of Amlwch, was the successful caodidate
for the grand prize, a premium of fifteen pounds, and a
medal worth five, for a poem on the creation. He was
installed in the Bardic chair by two chief bards, and in-
vested with the medal by Lady Vaughan, amid general
acclamation. On Wednesday the proceedings were re-
newed. Amongst those who addressed the company in
the pavilion, was the Rev. D. James, of this town. The
award of a medal value £2, and £3, for the best poem on
the " Chester and Holyhead Railway," was declared by
the bard to be in favour of Richard Parry, of Llandovery,
formerly of Llanerchymedd. Mr. Robert Williams, of
Newborough, took the prize, a medal worth £3, for the
best poem on the Menai Straits. In the competition on
the Welsh harp, several harpers from Liverpool took
part, amongst them Miss Mary Ann Brewer, who is only
ten years old. Her performance was greatly admired.
The prize was awarded to Ellis Roberts, of Bangor. On
Thursday the proceedings terminated,

THE PHILHARMONIC HALL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sir,—Having received the following very satisfactory
communication from Mr. Samuel Holme, accompanied
with his permission to make what use of it I might deem
proper. I have the pleasure of sending it to you for inser-
tion in your paper of to-morrow, believing that its
insertion at the present moment will at once remove all
apprehension for the safety of the building that might
have been excited by the remarks of the editor of the
L'verpool Mail.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. H. TURNER, Chairman.
Liverpool Philharmonic Society,
August 20, 1849.

Dear Sir,—l have seen with much regret the remarks
which have appeared in the Mail as to the alleged inse-
curity of the new Concert-hall. To publish a letter
throwing doubt upon a magnificent structure, just as it is
about being thrown open to the public, is sure to create
alarm, and although that alarm has been quieted, yet I
tremble to think of the serious consequences that might
ensue if a panic was to seize the audience when assembled
in the edifice.
Having been appealed to by many persons for my opi-
nion, and having been alluded to by the press, I take the
liberty of forwarding you the following remarks, in the
hope that they may dissipate the feeling so unnecessarily
and injudiciously created. I have had nothing whatever
to do with the building in question. I have never had the
slightest communication with the architect on the subject,
and I may therefore be presumed to give an unprejudiced
opinion. I do not even know the names of any of the
persons engaged in its erection, except that of the mason.
When the building was nearly roofed in, I observed that
a portion of the cornice had been taken down and reset,
and I then heard the common report that subsidence of
the roof had caused a slight bulging of the external wall,
which rendered it necessary to make some alteration. Im-
pelled by curiosity, I visited the building. I found that ;
the archirect had adopted the bold idea of supporting the
central portion of the roof upon longitudinal trusses ;
and as it was necessary to frame these trusses from scaf-
folding on account of their prodigious size and weight, it
naturally happened that a slight subsidence occurred when
they came down to their bearing. The spars being placed
at an angle of 38 or 40 degrees pressed against the back of
the cornice, and every practical man knows that a lofty ,
and newly-built wall which will carry any weight verti-
cally, may be pushed out of perpendicular by a very slight
lateral thrust. Such a circumstance is of common oc-
currence, and I have often known the walls of the best
constructed edifices twisted by frost, or thrown out of per-
dendiculsr by a gale of wind following wet weather before
a roof was completely finished. On perceiving the cause
of the alteration then being made, I dismissed the circum-
stance from my mind.
In consequence, however, of the remarks made in the
Mail, I have this morning been over the building, and I
have carefully scrutinised the whole with the working
drawings in my hand. The plaster-work of the roof is a
delicate and most unmistakable test of its security. Had
there been the most trifling settlement, it would have
been manifested by cracks in the plaster, chewing the na-
ture of the settlement by the direction of the lines of
fracture. Nothing of the sort is visible,—all betokens
solidity. The natural shrinking of the fibres of so much
timber might have caused some cracks, as is often the case
in ceilings which are hastily finished. In this case, how-
ever, nothing of the sort appears. With reference to the
floors and galleries, it is perfectly preposterous to throw
the slightest doubt upon them. They may be weighted
by as many persons as can pack upon them with perfect
safety. I can hardly conceive any weight that could touch
them. The idea of their insecurity is too ridiculous to
need a single comment. And even supposing a roof not
to be of the strongest (although in the case of the Con-
cert-hall, I suppose nothing of the sort) the loading of
the building has nothing whatever to do with the roof,
which stands independent,is not in any way connected with
the seats, and is quite unaffected whether a building be
full or empty.
The surveys made by Messrs. Smirke, Tite, and
Cockerell, and the known reputation of the architect
himself, amply satisfied me that the reports connected
with the building had magnified a common occurrence
into a " dangerous construction." When the old Music-
hall was altered a similar cry of insecurity was raised.
Mr. Stewart surveyed it and reported his opinion. How
well that opinion was borne out, let those thousands say
who have attended public meetings on that " insecure"
floor, which has over and over again been crammed to
suffocation.
In the case of the Philharmonic Concert-hall, the best
proof of my opinion (whatever it may be worth) is, that
if I am in Liverpool next week, which at present is some-
what doubtful, as I am expecting to be called into Ire-
land, it is my intention, together with my family, to be
present on the occasion of its opening.—l am, dear sir:
yours very faithfully,
August 20, 1849.
Lao. H. Turner, Esq.

SAMUEL HOLME.

THE COTTON TRADE.

No attempt having been made for some time past on
the part of our manufacturing neighbours, who are gene-
rally on the alert, to rebut our statistical deductions, we
concluded that the thinking portion of their body at length
viewed the matter in its true light, and would act on the
suggestions we have frequently thrown out, which were to
buy freely and keep well stocked; but not a little to our
surprise, do we find our old friend, the Manchester Exa-
miner, actually stating that there will not only be plenty
of cotton, but that the manufacturers of Manchester and
the adjoining districts may go on spinning and weaving
away in perfect security, regardless of the future. He
promises that the stock of cotton is considerable, that the
supply to come forward will be ample, that the stocks will
not be less for the next twelve months than they were on
the 30th June last, that his private accounts of the grow-
ing crop in America by the last steamer were very satis-
factory, and that with a favourable autumn the coming
crop will be as large as the last (2,700,000 bales);
and further, he particularly calls the attention of his ma-
nufacturing friends to the necessity, at the present critical
juncture, of studying the position of the cotton trade for
the present year, and of investigating for themselves the
statistics connected with so important a subject. We had
thought our friend of the Manchester Examiner was si-
lenced two months ago, but since he has thought fit to come
on 'the arena again, we shall be happy to silence him once
more, which will probably be sufficient for the next two
months.
Regarding our present stock of cotton. by referring to
'the Brokers' Circular of the 17th instant, we find it put
down at 652,810 bales, against 581,160 bales same time
last year, which must be considered small when we com-
pare the present rate of consumption with what it was
twelve months since. He states that we shall receive the
-same amount of cotton for the six months ending 31st
December, if not more, than we did last year, which was
617,000 bales. But how stands the fact ? We have
already received, since the 30th June, 242,713 bales, which
are absorbed in our present stock of 652,810 bales, and
we nzay receive some 300,000 bales more, at the utmost
,calculation, viz.::--
Of the old crop in America .
New crop 100,000
Bombay, Egypt, South America. &c 150,000

Total. 300,000 bales.
There are yet 19 weeks to the close of the present year,
and 300,000 bales is a trifle short of IG,OOO per week, or
one half of our present consumption, so that spinners may
form their own conclusions, without the aid of our sage
contemporary, knowing as they do how firmly our present
stock is held for higher prices. With regard to what the
probable stock will be at the end of the year, that is easily
arrived at, supposing the consumption to continue at its
present ratio, though we are afraid we have given too flat-
tering an estimate of the probable supply for the next four
months, parties inthe American trade estimating the pro-
bable supply of the ACW crop at only ,one half of what we
have taken it.
Stock, 17th August, 1849 .. . 653.000

Probable supply to the end of the year 300,000

953,000
53,000

Export

900,000
19 weeks consumption, at 31,600...... 600,000

Extreme stock on the.3lst Dec. next.. 300,000
And in calculating the export at only 53,000 bales, we
have left out the probability of France being a large pur-
chaser. The stock of cotton in France is only adequate to
a few weeks' consumption, and as there is little probabi-
lity of their getting supplies from elsewhere, it is highly
probable they will be forced to come to this country, in
which case their government would have to suspend their
navigation laws.

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firmation of this view, prices had risen Id. per lb., and
the planters' letters to their correspondents in this coun-
try were to hold on and not to sell at present prices, and
in some instances considerable orders were received to
purchase cotton. The writer of the Manchester Examiner
Is very ingenious, no doubt, in attempting to mystify the
next six months with the first six months of 1850, but if he
will attempt to give his readers information upon such an
important subject as the supply of cotton, he had better
confine himself to what be so earnestly recommends to the
attention of his friends—valuable data. We know pretty
nearly what we can receive for the next four or five months,
but with the accounts from America of the certainty of a
late season, the crop having received considerable damage.
and the general estimate being below an average one, and
every probability that the prices this year in the States
will open at an advance of at least Id. per lb. over last, to
attempt to speak with certainty of the future, and that
over a space of twelve months, either with respect
to supply or prices, seems to us to be a piece of pre-
sumption which any person of experience in the cotton
trade would not commit. That the great body of the
spinners will look to other data
.than that furnished
by our contemporary we cannot doubt, and well will it be
for them if they do so. It is neither desirable that cotton
should advance too rapidly nor too high, but being in pos-
session of correct data is calculated to check both, for if
there is to be a scarcity before Christmas, spinners had
better know it, and " cut their cloth accordingly."
During the past week the market has been very active,
and prices have advanced id. per lb. Spinners and ex-
porters have purchased freely, and have been met by
speculators. This now being the cheapest market, we
may reasonably expect a considerable pull upon it for the
next month or two from our continental neighbours. By
the last accounts from America cotton would lose id. per
lb., so that with their reduced stock we cannot look for