The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-24 00:00:00

FAR 7l.lbrrpool

TUESDAY MORNING, NOV. 24, 1846.

We are happy to find that the suggestions which
we threw out last week, with respect to the pro-
priety of dividing the magisterial business of the
borough, Dave been received in a proper spirit;
and have excited that amount of attention, which
the importance of the subject demands. No nig-
gardly spirit towards Mr. Rushton prompted us.
We have nothing to offer against his administration
of the public business ; and have no wish to obstruct
any proposal to increase his remuneration. We
fee!, however, assured that the course which we re-
commend is the proper course to pursue ; and
that the present is the time for its adoption. Before
proceeding as we promised Est week, to state more
in detail the grounds upon which we urge our pro-
position, we must offer a brief reply to some objec-
tions by which it has been met, and which, we
fear, have been prompted more from personal pre-
dilections towards Mr. Rushton than by a proper
consideration of the public interest.
It is urged by the Mercury that the Stipendiary's
salary is less than he is deserving for the immense
amount of business which he is called upon to get
through. At the same time it is admitted that to
a division of that business, the appointment of an-
other magistrate, and the establishment of another
court, we must come very shortly. Obviously, our
contemporary would go with us in our proposition
were Mr. Rushton's claim out of the way. But
upon what is that claim grounded by his friends ?
for we cannot assume that he himself has put for-
ward such a claim. Upon the fact of his increased
duties. We admit such increase. We admit the
justice that such increase should have an adequate
increase of remuneration. We purpose, however,
to decrease those duties; to bring them within the
compass of one man to discharge. We think we
shall be able to show that even with the reduction
proposed, there will be sufficient for a talented man to
discharge, satisfactorily to himself and the public ;
and to allow him to earn, at the same time, an in-
creased salary. We should be far from entertain-
ing the thought of placing a public officer so im-
portant, in a town such as Liverpool, in an unworthy
position as respects remuneration for his services.
But is it wished that Mr. Rushton should have more
pay merely, or more leisure ? Possibly, the latter is
the case. His own candid opinion would no doubt be
that he has already more work to do than he can
get through, with comfort and perfect satisfaction to
himself ; and he must know that an immense mass
of new work is forcing itself upon him. The port
is rapidly increasing ; the town is enlarging its
limits ; and Mr. Rushton will admit that such en-
largement requires increased provision for the ad-
ministration of Justice.

Such provision, it is admitted, must shortly be
made. We say it ought to be made now ; and for
satisfactory reasons. We must very soon determine
upon a proper site for a main Bridewell and a Police-
'court. Our present main Bridewell is a disgrace to
the Borough. The provisions of our Sanatory Act
would compel its removal, or great and expensive
alterations, It is a scandalous fact to state that this
large town does not possess one bridewell in which
the hardened criminal, during his detention, can be
separated from the chance offender. Where must
a new main Bridewell and Police-court be built?
Naturally, under our existing arrangements, a cen-
tral locality must be chosen ; and if a division of
magisterial duties is to take place a few years hence,
we shall have thrown our money away and have to
erect two such main establishments in more suitable
places. Moreover, on the first of January, the pro-
visions of the Sanatory Act come in force ; and
provision for the new business, which it involves,
must be made forthwith.

Another advocate of the present system—the
Journal—argues for its continuance, or rather in
behalf of the increase of Mr. Rushton's salary, on
the grounds of his fitness, and the fact that, with a
central office, there is "a healthy oneness about the
present mode of administering justice in Liverpool,"
and a freedom from " conflicting judgments, ad-
-verse notions and positive fooleries on the Bench."
The healthy oneness spoken of may be a very good
thing in its way ; hut it may, at the same time, in-
volve unintentionally the administration of one-
sided justice. " Uniformity of decision " is very
desirable when it is uniformly right. That there
may be "conflicting judgmen s" is very possible
when there are two tribunals. The laws to be ad-
ministered are not so clear as to enable us to avoid
such accidents. We do not see, however, why we
should be liable to " positive foolerie," unless we
are guilty of the impropriety of selecting an "unfit
person for our magistrate ; and after all king Log
was not a much greater infliction than king Stork.

As an argument in behalf of one court, the Journal
quotes the following from our Wednesday's con-
temporary :
In the metropolis, exclusive of the city, which is under
the jurisdiction of unpaid magistrates, there are twenty-
seven stipendiaries, who have the disposing of 61,000 cases
annually, or about 2,100 to each. In Liverpool there is
only one stipendiary, and the number of prisoners brought
before him in the year is 16,000, or seven times the num-
ber brought before any one metropolitan magistrate. In
the metropolis a stipendiary sits only every third week :
in Liverpool he sits every week. The trading or shipping
cases in London are all brought to one office, the Thames
Police-office; Mr. Rushton disposes of such cases in ad-
dition to all other cases, and owing to our want of enclosed
docks, such cases are more numerous here. In the metro-
polis the duty of the twenty-seven stipendiary magistrates
appertains to 1,500,000 inhabitants—that is, there is one
magistrate to 55,000 inhabitants ; Mr. Rusbton's duty
extends to 350,000 inhabitants. In the metropolis there
are 3000 policemen, or 110 constables to one magistrate ;
in Liverpool there are 700 policemen to one magistrate.
In Dublin there are five police-offices, and to each office
two stipendiaries ; the number of prisoners is 40,000,
that is 4,000 to each magistrate. _ _

•
Nothing could have been adduced so strongly in
favour of our views as this extract. In the metro-
polis, exclusive of the city, each stipendiary magis-
trate disposes of 2400 cases per annum. Mr. Rush-
ton disposes of 16,000. He ought, therefore, either
to have seven times the salary, or to have his work
reduced by a short-time bill. The metropolis has
one magistrate to every 55,000 inhabitants,—in
Liverpool we have only one for 350,000 inhabitants
—a clear proof that we are very unjustly provided
for. Even Dublin beats us, a magistrate there hav-
ing only 4,000 cases per annum to dispose of, whilst
Mr. Rushton has 16,000. He ought clearly, ac-
cording to our contemporary's sheaving, to have
four times the salary of a Dublin stipendiary.
But we prefer the alternative of lessening his
duties, not only in justice to Mr. Rushton, but in
justice, as well, to the public. Let our readers, for
one moment, take a survey of the present extensive
range of the town. Our docks, and their adjuncts—
warehouses and habitations —extend, at present,
from the Dingle, in Toxteth-park, nearly to Bootle,
or close upon four miles. We have our eastern
suburbs extending to Kirkdale, Everton, over Low-
bill and Edge-hill to Windsor, and close to Waver-
tree. See, then, the operation of our system of
" perfect oneness" of magisterial and police jurisdic-
tion. A prisoner is apprehended at the Dingle for
some offence ; and, in the first instance, it is found
that the nearest bridewell he can be brought to is
in Jordan-street or Hotham-street. To convey him
to either, two policemen must he taken from their
duties for an hour and a half at least. Next morn-
ing he must be brought down to the centre bride-
well; and the policeman charging him, who has,
perhaps been on duty all night, must be in attend-
for three or four hours at the court, when he ought
co have been in bed to prepare himself for going on

duty again. A witness or two may be required to
support the charge, who, if working men, can little
afford to lose the wages of a day's, or even half a
day's, labour. If men engaged in profitable busi-
ness, it is probable that they prefer suppressing the
charge to appearing at all. Witnesses may also be
required for the defence; but, under the present
system, no poor defendant can procure their attend-
ance. With all that Mr. Rushton may endeavour
to do for the furtherance of justice, it is clear that it
ca not be successful in such cases.

There is not a question, either, that instances
occur in which the police themselves neglect to bring
charges, in consideration of the loss of rest required
in pressing them. A glance through our Police-
court any morning will show that at least one-half
of the police bringing charges are off duty—are, in
fact, giviny their time and rest to the public. We
cannot expect men to do this, except in very gross
cases, or for other obvious reasons of their own ;
and it is a well-known {act that very many offences
well deserving punishment are thus passed over,
both by the notice and by the parties against whom
they are inflicted. The lengthened withdrawal of
the police from their beats is also a very serious
cause of increase of crime. It is not unusual on a
Monday to see at least a third, or more, thus with-
drawn to attend for three or four hours at the Police-
court, leaving, of course, a large portion of the town
inefficiently protected.
A further source of inconvenience arising from
the present system is seriously felt by the commer-
cial community. The infractions against our dock
acts are necessarily frequent, and few days pass over
without half a score of informations against mer-
chants and shipowners for leaving goods too long
on the dock quays, and similar offences. In at
least one-half of these the offence is admitted and
the fine paid at once, rather than lose the time of
witnesses to attend the court. The timber mer-
chants at the south end of the town are especially
sufferers in this way. No extensive firm can afford
to allow two or three of their landing clerks or
labourers to be in attendance for several hours upon
Mr. Rushton's court—perhaps when a cargo is
being discharged—to defend such cases, or attempt
to adduce mitigating circumstances. The usual
plan adopted is to despatch a clerk or a porter to
admit the offence and pay the fine, though perhaps
unjustly incurred.
In several ways the evils which we have noticed
are remediable by the adoption of the plan which we
propose. Let Mr. Rushton's court sit at the north
end of the town ; and he may have a salary of
£l5OO per annum. We should not certainly be-
grudge him £2OOO, if we thought that either him-
sely or any other man was capable of getting through
the entire business of the town. Let us have
another stipendiary—say at the same price—for the
south end. The line of division may be struck at
the Custom-house. We shall have, as the result,
dispatch of business, impartial justice to all parties,
and we shall have more : we shall have crime ar-
rested and properly punished, and property ade-
quately protected. It will no longer be necessary
for the suitor to incur heavy penalties, in loss of
time in prosecution, or defendants to incur similar
penalties from the same causes.
We have much more to say upon the subject;
but at present are compelled to refrain. The bug-
hear, created by a contemporary, that a cost of
£5OOO per annum will have to be incurred, by the
establishment of another court, will have to be met ;
and it shall be met and shown to be absurd. No-
body knows better than the party who invoked
that objection how much the change which we ad-
vocate is required, and how comparatively small
will be its cost. At his own price, however, the
community would welcome such a change. It might
cost a trifle to the borough fund ; but the public
would be advantaged to three times the amount.

We have already expressed our opinion that the
conduct of the Rev. Canon Parkinson, in retaining
his large income derived from the Collegiate Church
of Manchester, whilst occupying the post and re-
ceiving the emoluments of his recent promotion—viz.,
the principalship of St. Bees—was calculated to im-
pel the friends of the Church to an inquiry into the
duties which the higher orders of her clergy render
to religion in return for these emoluments. Our
prediction is very likely to be fulfilled. The tone of
a meeting of the deputation, appointed to request of
the Dean and Chapter their interference with the
Rev. Canon, leaves little doubt that an agitation
directed to the purpose of procuring a reform of
such institutions as the College of Manchester is
about to be got up ; and the high standing and
character of the gentlemen composing the deputa-
tion warrants us in believing that it will receive very
powerful support from all classes of Churchmen.

The letter of the Dean of Manchester himself,
addressed to Mr. Richard Birley, contains a direct
admission that there is something wrong—some-
thing calculated to prevent the spread of religious
teaching—in the laws which affect the institution of
which he is the head. The Dean says,—
" I feel it my duty, notwithstanding my respect for you,
and for the opinion of the gentlemen who concur with
you in this request, to decline summoning a chapter to
receive a memorial on such a subject, because the chapter
have no authority whatsoever in the matter, and have no
power or right, as a body, to influence the Rev. Canon
Parkinson to resign preferment which the law allows him
to hold. The chapt r has power, before it makes fresh
appointments, to ask from the candidates an assurance
of an intention to reside more strictly than the law at
present requires in Manchester; and it has not, since I
have had the honour of being connected with it, in any
one ecclesiastical appointment, been neglectful of the im-
portance of so doing ; and, I trust, that in bestowing pre-
ferment, it will continue to bear that in mind ; but it has
no retrospective authority."

The Chapter cannot compel residence; but they
admit its desirableness, and ask for an assurance to
reside from those whom they appoint. The Chapter
hold' a large and increasing estate in a populous
town ; but the law allows those receiving the re-
venues of that estate to hold other and distant pre-
ferments, and to leave the spiritual care of the
parish to he provided for by the voluntary exertions
of the laity. It is a striking anomaly that the funds
left for the endowment of the Collegiate Church,
and to make provision for the spiritual wants of the
whole parish, maintained as many clergymen, or
within one or two, when the population was but
10,000, as now, when the population is 200,000,
and the revenue produced has immensely increased.
Not a shilling of that revenue has been expended
in supplying churches for the increased population.
The laity have done that, with occa-ional aids from
the State; and they have even taxed themselves by
a voluntary church•rate for the repair of the Col-
legiate Church itself.
These considerations are calculated to render the
conduct of Mr. Parkinson especially galling to all
classes of Churchmen. They see readily how apt
a handle it may afford for Dissenters to rail against
the Establishment, and how serious a discourage-
ment it offers to the exertions of members of their
own body in their efforts to provide increased means
of religious education for the people. It is no
wonder, therefore, that they are arriving at the con-
clusion that the only remedy is to be found in the
law's interference, however much they may have
been previously disposed to deprecate any meddling
with the Church's property or the duties of its
clergy. The original institution of the College dis-
tinctly provided that its revenues were to be devoted
to securing spiritual ministration for the entire
parish. It is only the interpretation of an act of
Parliament which enables the Dean and Chapter to
engross the entire revenue, and prevents ,its being
devoted to greater usefulness. What legislation has
done it can undo.

The public cannot fail to have noticed the prac-
tice, very freely resorted to of late by a portion of
the liberal press, of inventing facts for the purpose
of damaging political opponents, or classes, who
have, by any mischance, incurred their displeasure.
At this moment our streets are posted with hand-
bills, bearing the signatures of a number of the
leading bakers in the town, offering a reward of a
hundred pounds to any party who will find out the
authors of "several false, malicious, and unfounded
reports" which have recently appeared in the Li-
verpool Mercury. Our contemporary, it will be re-
membered, professed to have made the discovery
that the bakers were a sad set of fellows, adul-
terating their flour and bread with all kinds of rub-
bish—gypsum, chalk, alum, and other substances.
And the gullible public believed the whole fiddle-
faddle, and were almost afraid to buy a loaf or a
stone of flour, through their ordinary channels, lest
they should unwittingly be buying poison. All of a
indulging
in however, just as the Mercury was
in an incipient crow, and dreaming of an ovation,
as the reward of his superior sqgacity, the absurd
house of cards which he had reared, was blown up, by
the result of an investigation before the police court ;
and the bakers were enabled to open their shops, or
to walk the streets, without being pointed at as ha-

bitual robbers. We noticed last week a paragraph
in the Albion, calculated to annoy the late mayor,
Mr. Hodgson, which we showed to be a pure inven-
tion; and, to-day, we have to show the utter want
of truth contained in a charge brought by the
Mercury against a member of the select vestry, and
to expose the miserable humiliations, to which the
indulgence of their propensity to vilify their poli-
tical opponents occasionally brings our contempo•
raries.

The Mercury's charge was, that Mr. Horn, a re-
gistrar of births and deaths, was seen going up to
the poll in Abercromby Ward, with Mr. Hand, a
select vestryman; and the imputations conveyed
were, of course, improper intimidation on the part
of Mr. Hand, and truckling to authority on the
part of the registrar. Here is the Mercury's
defence :

The party who did conduct Mr. Joseph Horn to the
poll was once, we are told, a member of the Select Vestry,
and was known only as such to our informant, who ho-
nestly and firmly, though it now appears erroneously, be-
lieved, and had so believed for some time, that his name
was Hand. His conviction at the moment the occurrence
took place, was strengthened by a party standing by, who
also believed that the person with Mr. Horn was Mr.
Hand. The error was as to the name ; and whatever
may be said by parties personally interested, the other
circumstances mentioned by this informant are strictly
correct as to persons and expressions. Having dis-
covered the error into which we were unconsciously and
unintentionally led, we hesitate not to acknowledge it,
and to give Mr. Hand, as he deserves, the benefit of this
explanation, regretting, at the same time, that he should
have suffered the least annoyance from the statement,
and that our informant should have been so grievously
mistaken as to the name. It is right, also, to mention,
that the paragraph which appeared in our last was written
by our informant in the full conviction of the identity of
Mr. Hand, and not by the editors of the Mercury, who
had previously, with the view of correcting any mistake,
called attention to the disclaimers made in reference to
this affair. _ _ _

We have given the explanation at length, because
it clearly shows upon what very loose grounds a
party can be slandered by these prints, or an indivi-
dual he held up by name as a mark for public re-
probation. First, " the party who did conduct Mr.
Joseph Horn was once," the Mercury is told (!) "a
member of the Select Vestry, and was only known as
such" to the reporter, who always " believed" he
was Mr. Hand. It so happens, however, that the
gentleman who did accompany Mr. Horn to the
poll—whom the reporter only knew as a Select Ves-
tryman—never was a member of that body at all !
But the reporter does not appear, at the time, to
have been very clear as to the identity of the party.
He " believed" it was Mr. Hand; and his belief
" was strengthened by reference to a party standing
by, who also believed." Surely, men ought to be
certain before they venture to bring charges im-
puting serious misconduct against an honourable
man. But the Mercury adds, in excuse, that the
error was only "as to the name"(!) Why, if we
chose to detail very circumstantially the commission
of a murder, or any other crime, and state that the
stipendiary magistrate, or Mercury himself, was the
criminal, would it be a mere error as to the name,
when it was afterwards shewn that John Tawell was
the criminal ? This was no mere error as to a
name. The error is one as to person and facts.
First, it was said that Mr. Hand did an improper
act, which it is proved he did not. Next, it is said
that some other person, who was once a Select Ves-
tryman, did an improper act. Now it is shewn that
no improper act whatever was done by any member
belonging to, or who had belonged to, the Select
Vestry. The charge is idle from first to last ; and
the statement that the paragraph reiterating the
charge after its correctness had been distinctly dis-
claimed by respectable parties, was not written by
the editors of the Mercury, is ridiculous.
Having made the amende—such as it is—to Mr.
Hand, what does the Mercury intend to do with
respect to the charge against Mr. Horn ? Is a
respectable officer of the public to remain under the
stigma which that paper has attempted to cast upon
him, by holding him up as submitting, for con-
siderations of private interest, to act contrary to his
own convictions ? We suspect that no amende will
be made at all.

The Albion feels it necessary to inform its readers that
" there is no edilress of the Albion." Can our contem-
porary of Lord-street say as much?
A deputation from Liverpool, on the subject of a re-
duction of ti :e duty on tea, had an interview with Lord
John Russell, on Saturday, at his official residence in
Downing-street.
NORTE' DISPENSARY.—Yesterday, the election of an
honorary surgeon to this dispensary took place, when Mr.
H. H. Radcliffe was elected. The numbers were, for
Mr. Radcliffe, 111, for Mr. Walton, 61.
The sermons preached by the Rev. Hugh M`Neile and
the Rev. Dr. B}rth, on occasion of the d ath of the Rev.
Dr. Tattershall, have already reached a second edition.
Dr. Booth has also published a most excellent discourse
on the same subject, which we regret we only received
last night.
THE TEA DUTIES —The meeting at the Session's-
house, to-morrow, will be of the very greatest importance.
The Mayor will, f course, take the chair, and amongst
those who will take part in the proceedings will be Wm.
Brown, Esq., J. Bramley-Moore, Esq., Thomas Black-
burne. Esq., T. B. Horsfall, Esq., Hugh Hornby, Esq.,
Adam Hodgson, Esq., George Grant, Esq., Samuel
Holme, Esq., &c., &c.
SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—Yesterday, at the Police-
court, a man was convicted for illicit possession of 2671b5.
of leaf and foreign manufactured tobacco, the greater
portion of which was found, by Custom-house officers,
concealed in a pigstye and in the petty adjoining the pri-
soner's residence, in Croston-street. It appeared that
the prisoner was implicated in the offence, and he was
fined £lOO, or to be imprisoned for six months.
NEW SCREW SCHOONER "DUBLIN."—This fine ves-
sel belonging to the Dublin and Liverpool Steam Ship
Company, and the first of toeir new line of screw vessels
to ply between this port and Dublin, arrived in the Trafal-
gar Dock early on Sunday morning, consigned to Messrs.
T. Martin, Burns, and Co., having made the run from
quay to quay, deducting a stoppage at the entrance of the
river, in consequence of the darkness and storm of Satur-
day night, in less than 11 hours.
INTERESTING LECTURE.—We beg to call the attention
of our readers to an advertisement announcing a lecture
on natural scenery, by Mr. W. M. Fisher, which will be
deliver-d at the request of the incumbent and churchwar-
dens of St. Michael's Church, for the benefit of the
Church Missionary Association. Mr. Fisher has a very
happy method of interesting an audience, and no doubt
his lecture will abound with instructive matter. No time
should be lost in procuring tickets, as the justly-acquired
popularity of Mr. Fisher has already caused a great demand.
INCREASE OF PAUPERISM IN LIVERPOOL.—WeIeaTO
that such is the increase of pauperism amongst us, and the
difficulty experienced in meeting the heavy demands made
upon the authorities, that the overseers of Toxteth-park
have forwarded circulars to the magistrates, requesting
them to grant them two sittings a week at the public of-
fices, during the ensuing three months, for the hearing of
the large number of summonses which will be required to
be issued against parties in arrear. The difficulty felt is
aggravated, and the necessity of prompt collection in-
creased by an order, now enforced by the auditor ap-
pointed by the Poor-law Commissioners, that the collec-
tion of poor-rates should in all cases be completed before
the expiration of the overseers' year of office.
LIVERPOOL BOARD OF EXAMINATION OF MASTERS
AND MATES.—On Tuesday last, the first examination
took place in this port, by the Board for the Examination
of Masters and Mates. Captain Charles Judkins, of the
steam-ship Cambria, one of the British and North Ameri-
can Steam Company's vessels, and Mr. John Thomas,
of Bangor, North Wales, both passed as duly qualified for
first class certificates, and, in considerat;oo of their being
so well versed in nautical astronomy and great circle sail-
ing, were entitled to be rated extras. It is to be hoped
that the prospect of passing this examination creditably,
will be the means of stimulating rising young men to pay
closer attention to both the practical and nautical
.part of
their business, and give them a fair opportunity of raising
themselves, and increasing the respectability of their pro-
fession, the furtherance of this object being the sole mo-
tive of the voluntary promoters of the Board.
THE SCOTCH CHURCH.—On Sunday last Dr. Cum-
ming, of London, preached three powerful sermons in the
Scotch Churches, connected with the establishment, in
Rodney-street and Oldham-street, and collections were
made in aid of the funds of the British Reformation So-
ciety. This association has been formed for the purpose
of distributing tracts, and appointing Scripture readers to
labour amongst the Roman Catholics, and we trust from
the energy with which our northern brethren prosecute
their business transactions they will, now being enlisted
into this good cause, zealously co-operate with the doctor
in his endeavours to enlighten their Romish brethren.
Dr. Cumming, in St. Andrew's Church Rodney-street,
in accordance with instructions from the Presbytery of
London, declared the church vacant, in consequence of
the resignation of the Rev. J. Tod Brown. Dr. Barr, of
St. Enoch's ( hurch, Glaszow, so long, many of our
readers will remember in this town, in connexion with
Oldham-street Chapel, will preach at Rodney-street on
Sunday next.
INQUESTS YESTERDAY BEFORE TIIE BOROUGH CO-
RONEB.—On view of the body of a new-born male child,
found in a box close to the wall of St. George's Church,
Everton. Mr. Wood, surgeon, who had made a post..
modern examination, said that the child was still born.
Verdict accordingly.—On view of the body of Samuel
Metcalf, aged five years, who lived in Carlton-street. On
the 16th of last month deceased's clothes took fire, and he
was so much injured that he died on Saturday last in the
Northern Hospital. Verdict : Died from the injuries,
but how they originated there was no evidence to show.—
On view of the body of Garrett Farley, which was found
on Sunday morning on the sand-bank near the Waterloo
Dock Pier. It appeared that on Saturday night, about 11
o'clock, the steamer " Brien Boroihm" was lying along-
side the Clarence Dock Pier, and that the deceased, in
endeavouring to get on board of her, fell into the water.
A life buoy was thrown out to him, but he did not succeed
in getting hold of it, and sank in a few minutes afterwards.
. Verdict—Accidental death.

THE SCREW STEAM-SHIP ANTELOPE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—As the voyage of the screw steam-ship " Ante-
lope," hence to Brazil, excites a good deal of attention,
we send you the letters of the Captain (H. H. O'Brien),
written at sea, and on his arrival at Pernambuco.

We are in possession of the logs, both of the ship and
engine ; but as they are too voluminous for publication,
we merely have to state, that on the second day after her
departure, the framing of the engines was found so defec-
tive, that for the remainder of the voyage it was thought
desirable to work the engines only half-speed.
During the voyage the engines appear to have been
stopped eight times, in all about fifty hours. These de-
fects can very easily be remedied on her return, when we
feel confident she will make her passage in 18 to 20 days.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks, H.M. Packet, which
sailed from Falmouth two days before her, and several
other vessels from this port, had not arrived.
We are, respectfully, your obedient servants,
M'TEAR and HADFIELD.
Tower-chambers, 23d November, 1846.
[copy.]
" Antelope, Oct. 2d, 1846.
" Lat. 6.30 N., long. 23 10 E.
" GENTLEMEN,—I beg to enclose copies of the log of
the ship and engine. The former fully comes up to my
expectations, having every opportunity of tasting her in
various grades of weather, as you will see by her log. I
am happy to say that her masts stand well, and she bears
her canvas like a Trojan. I regret that I cannot speak so
well of the engine : so far it has been of little or no use to
us, at times barely keeping the drag of the screw from
impeding our way. You will see by my remarks made
both night and day, that while the machinery was right it
helped the ship most remarkably in all weathers, as we
never found the ship ovel'running the speed of the screw.
When going even up to eleven knots, the break, if some-
thine larger, would easily hold her.
" I found it not safe to disconnect the screw when blow-
ing hard, the ship not steering well, the backwater from
the screw leaving the rudder to work in vacancy. This
is not the case when working, as the screw then throws a
column of water on the rudder, making her steer like a boat
when blowing hard, as well as in smooth water. From
this you will see that with the four-threaded screw we
must never be without steam, but it is my opinion that
with two threads we may dispense with steam frequently,
as I do not think it would interfere with the rudder so
much. Though it may have the same surface, still the.
blades would not come so often abreast of the rudder.

" The Welsh coal answers remarkably well, but the
Liverpool, on the contrary, takes one ton in five more
than Jevons coal, which appears to be the best, having
much less smoke than Welsh.

" For further particulars I beg to refer you to the logs.
For the last two days we have had a strong S.S. W. wind,
a circumstance most uncommon in these latitudes. It
has already driven us three degrees to the eastward. In
conclusion I beg to say, every exertion has been made to
make our passage, and I have no hesitation in saying that,
when the machinery is in working order, the Antelope
will make her passage in eighteen days.
" I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant.
(signed) •' H. H. O'BRIEN, Commander.
" Messrs. M`Tear and Hadfield."

" Oct. sth, 1846.

" GENTLEMEN,—Under the most disadvantageous cir-
cumstances, I ventured to put the Antelope head to wind
on Friday, it blowing a strong S.W. wind—l should say
a topgallant breeze, the engine showing no vacuam by the
barometer or condenser, wen she steamed 4i knots by
observation, much to the surprise of all on board. When
she will do this, with her machinery in its present con-
dition, what may we not expect when it is made all tight
We fear the foot valve has given way, having stopped the
engine twice for some time to examine. She makes a dis-
tance, as you will find by her log, of 96 miles in twenty-
four hours, all sails furled, dead to windward. You will
see on the 6th that the guard of the escape-valve bent in
the after cylinder, the same one that gave way before.
Friday, 10th ; I expect to make the Picao Lighthouse,
at Pernambuco. at six o'clock this evening, making our
passage in twenty-six days twenty-three hours, from the
lightship off Liverpool. I shall endeavour to leave Per-
nambuco as soon as possible. I hope not to take coal
until we get to Bahia. All well on board. Allow me to
siy all exertion shall be made to make a speedy passage
to Rio de Janeiro. As it is, if we bad been bound there,
we could have accomplished it in thirty-one days.
" You will hear from me at Bahia.

" Saturday morning, anchored in the outer road of
Pernambuco last night, at eight o'clock. I find the
latest news from England is only up to the Ist of August,
pet Columbus.
" Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
(Signed) " H. H. O'BRIEN, Commander,
" Messrs. M'Tear and Hadfield."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—We have this moment to hand (7 p.m.) letters
from Bahia, by her Majesty's packet, to the 15th October.
The Antelope arrived on the 12th, having made the run
from Pernambuco in 52 hours, and from Liverpool, in-
cluding stoppages, in 30 days. She sailed again the fol-
lowing morning for Rio Janeiro.
Your insertion of this, in addition to our former com-
munication of this morning, will oblige
Your obedient servants,
M'TEAR and HADFIELD.
2, Tower chambers, Monday, 7 p.m.