The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-10 00:00:00

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.

In our Friday's publication we gave a report of the pro-
ceedings at the half-yearly meeting of this company, and can
only here express the satisfaction with which we view the
suocessful progress of so important an undertaking and our
surprise that its merits are not better appreciated by the
Public than they appear to be.

MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.
HALF-YEARLY MEETING.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Thursday last, at the York Hotel, Manchester, Thomas
Ashton, Esq. in the chair.
The principal topic in the report of the directors, was the
arrangement entered into with the Grand Junction Company,
for the accommodation of their traffic from Crewe to Bir-
mingham, the terms of which the directors consider it ad-
visable, for the present, to withhold from the proprietors.
From the report of the engineer, it appeared that the line,
from Fairfield-street, in Manchester, to Stockport, is ex-
pected to be opened in the month of May next.
A long discussion followed the reading of the reports; in
which Messrs. E. D. Davenport and Tomlinson, landowners
upon the proposed Pottery line, took part, respecting the
abandonment or postponement of that portion of the under-
taking ; and a motion of censure upon the conduct of the
Directors was brought forward, which, however, was nega-
tived, only three hands being held up in its favour.

titZt— We should really be obliged if certain of our contem-
poraries, who are in the habit of appropriating our articles
of Railway Intelligence, would have the common honesty
to acknowledge the source from whence they have been
transferred into their colums. The Liverpool Chronicle,
the Albion, the Chester Courant, and the Manchester
Courier (from whom we should have expected better
things), have lately practised upon us this kind of petty
larceny. We trust a hint will be sufficient to remedy the
abuse.

BIRMINGHAM AND DERBY JUNCTION.
The only features of consequence at this meeting were the
disappointment of some at receiving no dividend, and the
defeat, by an overwhelming majority, of a measure to stop
the trains altogether on a Sunday. The causes of the former
are most ably explained by the chairman in the proceedings.
It is impossible, in our opinion, to expect that this line can
pay, with so small a portion of its resources in action. The
wonder to us is, that it now clears its expenses. Vie were
expecting a large deficiency, and are pleasingly surprised to
find it otherwise. In a year or so, when all its tributaries
are flowing in, we expect it will put on a very different face ;
at all events, it is said to be in very good hands, and if any
can make it pay they will. We are glad to find the good
sense of the meeting negatived the Sunday question by 1,360
votes to 213, and by 2,118 shares to 276. We should have
been pleased to see a resolution against any future agitation
of the question carried by the same majority.

WEEKLY RETURNS OF RA
(Prom the Railway 31

I L WAY TRAFFIC,
rafiazinej

NAME. Passen- Cash. P• mile'P• mile Passeng.
gers. pr.wk. p. day. per day.
Birmingham £.
10831 961 13:1
South Western — 7018
/ 72 10-4
Great Western
South Western ... • 2075 351 5
Newcastle &Carlisle --- 1509 25 31
Greenwich....
Manchester &Leeds 10451 599 44 64 1493
Cr0yd0n....
York &N. Midland 1289 275 19 2i: 184
Midland Counties 2543 251 164 21 363
Glasgow Si Ayr 1352 I 53 5 1 225
Eastern Counties. 4165 595

LAUNCH OF THE NEW STEAMER
"UNITED STATES."

The splendid new steam-ship " United States," which has
been so fully described in the columns of the Standard, was
launched on Saturday from the building yard of Messrs.
Thomas Wilson & Co., at the north end of the Clarence
Dock. The day was remarkably fine, and a vast crowd as-
sembled to witness the ceremony. Every spot, indeed,
whence a view of the launch could be obtained was studded
with spectators ; two commodious stages were erected, one
just before the bow of the vessel and the other on the south-
ern side, both of which were completely crammed, whilst
steam-boats, and other craft, crowded with passengers, plied
on the river opposite the building yard. It would hardly be
possible to estimate correctly the numbers present, but in
our opinion they exceeded thirty thousand. On the platform
under the bow, we observed Mrs. Robertson Gladstone and
Miss Wright, the ladies chosen for the distinguished honour
of christening the vessel, the Mayor of Liverpool, Robertson
Gladstone, Esq., John Wright, Esq., John Myers, Esq.,
Mr. J. C. Shaw, marine surveyor to the Transatlantic Steam
Navigation Company, &c. &c. In the moulding room, from
the windows of which a view of the launch was afforded, we
observed Mr. Richard Cobden, of Manchester, the author of
several free trade publications, and Mr. J. B. Smith, also of
Manchester, commonly called Corn-law Smith, President of
the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, whose controversy
with Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd on the currency is just now
exciting some attention.

It was high water, the tide rising to twenty feet, at seven-
teen minutes past one o'clock. Every thing being in readi-
ness, precisely at twenty-three minutes after that hour the
magnificent fabric began to move, and, amidst the hearty
cheering of the multitude, glided majestically and safely into
the bosom of old father Neptune. Mrs. Gladstone and Miss
Wright, as the vessel began to move, performed the cere-
mony of christening by breaking a bottle of port wine against
the bow. It was one of the most beautiful launches we ever
beheld, and many have we seen in our time, and gave the
greatest pleasure to the countless thousands who beheld it.
A. steamer was in attendance to take the vessel in tow and
assist to dock her. The ebb tide, however, was found to run
so strongly as to prevent her from docking on Saturday, and
she was towed to the Sloyne, where she was made fast to the
Liverpool's moorings. On Sunday she was brought down
by two steamers, and placed safely in the Trafalgar Dock, in
which the President also lies. Thousands of spectators lined
the seawall to see her come down the river and enter the
dock.

An accident, we are sorry to say, happened at the time of
the launch. A man, who was standing on the margin of the
river, was unfortunately swept into the water. Scores of
boats were about, but some time elapsed before the poor fel-
low was taken out, when he was in a state of complete insen-
sibility. He was conveyed to the Northern Hospital, where
the unfortunate man died in the course of the afternoon. A
report of the inquest will be found in another column.
A splendid entertainment was laid out in the Mould-room
of the Messrs. Wilson's yard, for the ladies and gentlemen who
had tickets of admission. Two tables ran the whole length
of the room. They were covered with a variety of dishes,
fruits, and confectionery, accompanied with a profusion of
champagne and other wines. A few of the dishes were ac-
tually hot ! When we state, that Mr. Horne, of the Mersey
Coffee-house, Old Churchyard, was master of the ceremo-
nies, we need not add another word by way of proving the
excellence, as well as the elegance, of the entertainment.
There was a crowd of waiters, who were attentive to the
guests, and all passed off pleasantly and most harmoniously.
A band of music, which had previously played appropriate
airs in the yard, was stationed at one end of the room, and
enlivened the company, while regaling themselves, with fa-
vourite strains of music. The repast being over—
The MAYOR rose to propose the first toast, " Prosperity
to the Transatlantic Steam Navigation Company," and re-
marked that it was to their spirit and enterprise that we were
indebted for that splendid effort of human genius which we
had just seen launched upon the waters of our noble river,
and which, for architectural taste and mechanical skill, it
would be difficult to excel. (Cheers.) It was due, he con-
ceived, to that company to say, that their exertions had
rendered essential service to this town—that we owed them a
deep debt of gratitude for those services—and that it was our
duty to promote their prosperity. For his own part, he could
not witness one of these heart-stirring scenes without remem-
bering, with pride, that it was to these mighty engines we
owed many of our present comforts : they had been our safe-
guards during adversity, and were now. the means of our
national prosperity. It had been said, that the best way to
preserve peace was to be prepared for war ; but he thought,
and he believed many would agree with him, that the surest
means to preserve peace was to cultivate its spirit by the
interchange of mutual good offices, and by making these
great machines the source of happiness and comfort to the
people by the extension of our commerce. (Loud cheers.)
It was with these views that he had ventured to propose the
toast, and he doubted not that every one present would feel
disposed to join in wishing them the most brilliant success.
(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with enthusiastic applause.
Mr. J. C. SHAW briefly returned thanks, in the name of
the company.
Mr. WRIGHT craved permission to propose a toast. As
"a chip of the old block," (his father was an eminent ship-
wright,) he had enjoyed the highest pleasure in witnessing
the launch of that day. For beauty, and symmetry, and
strength, the splendid vessel which had just been launched
was, he was satisfied, unequalled. (Cheers.) He was glad
that so fine a specimen of naval architecture was called the
" United States." The great country whose name she bore
was the eldest daughter of Great Britain; and long might the
mother and the daughter live together in peace and harmony !
(Loud cheers.) England and the United States were closely
connected by the ties of commerce and of friendship, and
Liverpool, his native town, owed much of her prosperity to
the share which she enjoyed of that commerce and that
friendship. (Cheers.) He concluded by proposing the
health of Messrs. Thomas Wilson and Co., the builders of
the " United States."

The toast was drunk with marked applause.
Mr. WILSON briefly acknowledged the compliment.
Mr. J. C. SHAW, after a few appropriate remarks relating
to the presence of the ladies, proposed the healths of Mrs.
Robertson Gladstone and Miss Wright, which was received
with loud cheers.

Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE returned thanks on the part
of his lady. He was sure he could not too strongly express
how deeply indebted Mrs. Gladstone telt to the company,
for the high honour conferred upon her in having been le-
quested by them to be present on the occasion, and to assist
in giving a name to a vessel which was likely to confer so
much benefit upon the trade of the port, and, at the same
time, he humbly trusted, to prove equally beneficial to the
enterprising company for whom she had been built. (Cheers.)
That company, he thought, ought to feel a satisfaction to
which expression had not yet been given. It was this—that
the noble ship just launched had been built by British hands
(applause)—that she was principally composed of British
materials (cheers)—of the old English oak," which he
trusted would now prove as lasting and profitable to them,
as it had on so many occasions been serviceable to the coun-
try. (Continued cheers.) In again returning thanks on the
part of Mrs. Gladstone, he could not avoid expressing his
belief that the company could not have adopted any means
better calculated to secure the confidence and good opinion
of the public, than by entrusting the building of this noble
ship to the hands of Messrs. Thos. Wilson & Co. (Cheers.)
Mr. WRIGHT acknowledged the compliment on the part
of his daughter. She would feel this day one of the proudest
in her life, in having been invited to name such a magnificent
vessel as the United States •, and she would highly esteem
the honour of having her health proposed and drank with so
much cordiality. (Applause.)
Mr. J..C. SHAW rose to propose the health of a gentleman
who held the highest station in Liverpool, and who had
honoured the ceremony of the day with his presence. (Cheers.)
They all knew to whom he alluded—Joshua Walmsley, Esq.,
Mayor of Liverpool. (Cheers.)
The MAYOR returned thanks for the honour which the
company had done him in drinking his health in so flattering
a manner. • Carried upon the shoulders of the people to the
highest office in the town, it would give him the highest pos-
sible gratification to find, on the expiration of the limited
period during which he held it, that he retired from its oner-
ous duties with some ecliit. He thanked them for the kind-
ness he had at all times received from the inhabitants of the
town, and from his fellow citizens ; and, if greater exertions
from him were possible, he would use them to the utmost to
deserve that kindness. (Applause.)
shMawr:
which was
wtiiitehhgeraleatht
aopfplliaisusfrei.end Mr. J. C.
acknowledged
highly the compliment.pleasedwwith
TMhre. bju. lCk.oSflithAeWcom verypany brieflythen departed,
the sight and the entertainment
inin
from
it
ent ofts izhsedea,s
admirablyyiSome,fizte d
for however,
lingered
a dance. Dancinggeredinthero which,
accordingly commenced, and added to
the enjoyment of the select few who remained.

The Directors of the company, being determined to make
this vessel in every respect worthy of the public patronage,

advertised, during the past year, for plans for the cabins,
offering premiums for the first and second best, if approved of.
There was considerable talent displayed in the arrangment
of the plan and design by Mr.. J. R. Isaac, of Castle-
street, to whom the first prize was awarded, but the arrange-
ments were not deemed applicable for ocean steam-boats.
The conseduence was, the Directors have fallen Lack on Mr.
Shaw for his ideas on the subject, and, when we know that
his experience in such matters goes beyond that of most men,
we are sure that the Directors have acted wisely. Mr. Shaw
has been in connexion with the City of Dublin Company six-
teen years : he has been mainly instrumental in gaining that
character for their vessels which the general outfit has elici-
ted from the public : moreover, he accompanied the Royal
William to and from New York on her first voyage, and also
the Liverpool from Cork, in November, 1838, thus having
opportunities of knowing, from experience, what are the ac-
conunodatibns required by transatlantic passengers.

THE ANTI-CHURCH EXTENSION MEETING. OF
THURSDAY LAST.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
,—M 22, GROVE-STREET, MARCH 9, 1840.
SIRS attention has been directed to an article in the
Journal of Saturday last, which is calculated to do me serious
injury, unless promptly replied to. You will therefore much
oblige me, by inserting the following in your paper of to-
morrow. In the article above-mentioned my name is most
malignantly introduced, with reference to the anti-church
extension meeting of the previous Thursday. The object of
the writer appears to have been to fasten upon me, most un-
justly, the odium of the disturbance, and injure me in my
business, by giving unnecessary publicity to the names of my
employers. Intimately acquainted though lam with the un-
manly tactics of the radical faction, (particularly the papist
section of it,) I was not prepared for this most unmanly
attempt to mar the prospects of a youthful opponent, by
trumpeting to the world the names of the parties whom he
served. lam sure all honest antagonists will join me iu
stigmatising this, as a most venomous effort of ungenerous
rivalship. Had the writer contented himself with insinuat-
ing that I was recognised as a leader by the dissentients, that
I manifested pleasure at the disapprobation they evinced,
and that I only interfered to stop the interruptions when the
police made their appearance, I should not have deemed it
necessary to trouble you with this communication, for I have
sufficiently vindicated myself from those charges, in my letter
to the Chronicle. But as he has thought proper to carry his
rancour so far as to seek to expose me to the displeasure of
my employers, I think some reply is called for. The article
states that " a forward looking young man, in a blue cloak,-
marched along the aisle to the head of the room, and was-
respectfully greeted by the front rank of the rioters."
" Marched along the aisle." The writer of this must be
blessed with a most extraordinary vision, to discover any-
thing peculiarly dignified in my mode of walking up the aisle.
I thought I walked as mortals ordinarily walk. But it ap-
pears I marched. What a pity there was not a trumpeter at
the meeting. I am sure, if there had been one, this acute
individual would have desired him to play
" See the conquering hero comes ;"
for lie has certainly (most unmeritedly) made me the hero of
a scene in which I had not the most remote idea of playing a
part. _

" A forward, looking young man." What the writer
means by this I cannot conjecture. If by forward looking
he implies that I exhibited a thorough contempt for the mot-
ley combination the platform presented of treacherous church-
men and political dissenters, scoffing infidels and licentious
socialists, refined socinians and bigoted papists, united in an
unholy crusade against the bulwarks of our land, then, sir, I
plead guilty to the charge. If he means by forward looking
that my countenance indicated a readiness to step forward
manfully (whenever propriety would permit it), to defend
my principles with all the energies I possess, then, sir, is his
implication a just one.

A forward looking young man, in a blue cloak."
Upon my honour, sir, I have hitherto been ignorant of
the charm contained in a blue cloak. What a scruti-
nizing gentleman this writer must be, and how faith-
fully he records the most minute particular connected
with my appearance at the meeting. I marched along
the room :—I bad a most forward looking countenance :
—I wore a blue cloak. When I read this part of the ar-
ticle, my first impression was that the writer, seeing the
paucity of respectable persons at the meeting, had his
gaze anxiously directed towards the door, to see what addi-
tions would be made to the number, and beholding an indi-
vidual enter wearing a blue cloak, he deemed it of sufficient
importance to be recorded ; but, on reconsidering the mat-
ter I saw it was an instance of the writer's accuracy in de-
tailing everything connected with his hero, even the garment
that covered him. What a pity it is he could not ascertain
the colour of my trousers ! This he would undoubtedly have
considered an interesting fact to have noted. Having stated
that I marched along the room in my blue cloak, this faith-
ful chronicler goes on to allege that I walked across the
room, and began to converse with some decently-dressed
people, with whom I occasionally simpered with great glee.
Now this is all very correct, and I cannot withhold from
him my approbation of his extreme accuracy. Had I known
he was watching me to observe whether I smiled or looked
grave, I should have taken care to have acquainted him with
my reason for smiling--namely, my great satisfaction at the
remarkable failure of the meeting ; for there did not appear
to me to be more than a hundred persons present who sym-
pathised with the parties who called it. So far, sir, Ido not
complain of his statements. All that I quarrel with is the
impression conveyed by them that I was a ringleader in the
disturbance, and interfered to calm the tumult only when I
fancied it had gone far enough. I have already stated in my
letter to the Chronicle, that, from the commencement, I wit-
nessed the interruption with pain, and did all I could to
prevent it. There are statements, however, contained in
the article which are not correct. The writer says that most
of the men who made the noise were half intoxicated. This
assertion, sir, is as far from the truth as it can possibly be;
and I can only free the writer from the charge of uttering
what he must have known to be incorrect, by supposing that
he had been paying his devoirs to the merry god himself,
and fancied he saw the hilarity of his own countenance re-
flected in the faces of the auditors.
In conclusion, sir, I would beg to offer a word or two by
way of apology for the men whom the Journal politely calls
ruffians. I have reason to know that they went to the meet-
ing entirely of their own accord, intending to propose
amendments to the resolutions. They looked upon the meet-
ing as a public one, and fancied they had a perfect right to
evince their disapprobation of the proceedings. I do not
mean to excuse the manner in which they skewed their dis-
approbation. lam only desirous of shielding them from the
imputation that they attended at the instigation of others,
and had no object in view but to create a disturbance.
That such was not their intention is evident from the fact of
their leaving the meeting at my suggestion. Ido not believe
there would have been any uproar but for the indiscretion of
some bigoted Papist, who commenced a discussion on some
doctrinal point. Mr. Rathbone, by his imprudent allusions
to the police, and the riot act, added fuel to the fire.

I am, sir, &c.,
W. WHATHAM.

PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT or A SHIP-OWNERS
AND SHIP-MASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—I was much pleased by perusing in your paper, a
short time ago, a letter. signed " Nauticus," in which the
writer, after stating that vessels frequently leave this port
that are altogether unseaworthy, strongly recommends that
a surveyor of all ships and vessels should be appointed by
Government, and that none should be suffered to depart that
are not fit for sea, and sufficiently found in rigging, sails, &c.,
for the voyages on which they are destined. In this recom-
mendation I most cordially agree, and no respectable ship-
owner would object to its being taken up in the proper quar-
ter. The fact being notorious that, from the cupidity of
some owners, unseaworthy (uninsured) vessels are sent out
manned from the shipping offices by poor fellows who are
ignorant of the fact that such vessels will in all probability
become their coffins, I have now to offer a further suggestion
to all the respectable ship-owners and ship-masters of the
port. I beg to propose to them the formation, amongst
themselves, of an association for the mutual protection of
mariners, first by taking steps to prevent unseaworthy ves-
sels from going to sea, and secondly, for the raising of a fund
for the protection and support of such captains, officers, or
men, as may be thrown out of employment by refusing to go
on board of such vessels. No doubt ship-captains who have
retired from the service, who are well qualified to watch the
interests of such an association, and have time to devote to
it, would readily be found to undertake the respective offices
of chairman, treasurer, surveyor, &c. I need only refer to the
graving docks, and particularly to one of them not one hun-
dred miles west from the Queen's dock, in proof of my asser-
tion, that some men, regardless of the lives of their fellow-
creatures, will patch up and send to sea vessels the greater
part of the materials of which (originally of poor description)
are unsound or absolutely rotten. I could name one of
these, the upper works of which, upon a rotten bottom, have
been repaired with short junks of deal by way of timbers.
When planked up and painted she will look very well, of
course ; but if she encounters a gale of wind, the probability
is, that her upper works and her bottom will part, and that
not a soul will be saved to tell the tale. The great number
of ships that have got water-logged at sea during the past
winter, as well as those that are missing, and have doubtless
foundered, furnishes a lamentable proof of the necessity of
such an association as that suggested ; and I do hope and
trust that, when the wind changes to the westward, and
brings in our mercantile fleet now at sea, a meeting of ship-
owners and captains, and others interested, will take place,
for the purpose of its immediate formation. At such a meet-
ing the facts that would be elicited would strike the public
with astonishment, and rouse the indignation of every well-
regulated mind. It is surprising that such an association
(which might embrace other objects connected with the ship-
ping interests, as well as those stated) has not long since
been established. If once commenced, however, its benefits
would be too extensively acknowledged to leave a doubt of
its being amply supported, not only in Liverpool, but in
London, Hull, Bristol, and, finally, in all the sea-ports of
the United Kingdom.
A requisition to our worthy Mayor, to call a meeting on the
subject, would doubtless be cheerfully complied with.
I am, sir, respectfully, your most obedient servant,
A FRIEND TO HUMANITY.
Liverpool, 9th March, 1840.

FIRE AT WAVERTREE.—At three o'clock, on Sunday
morning, a fire broke out in the workshop, &c., of Mr.
Pearce, joiner and builder, Wavertree, and, before any as-
sistance could be afforded, the workshop and sawpit were
burnt down. The fire did not extend beyond these. Mr.
Pearce is insured, and the damage done is about .X3OO.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Friday forenoon, about eleven
o'clock, a fine youth of about fifteen years of age, named
Edward Mylrea, apprentice to Mr. Thomas James, plasterer,
fell from a part of the new range of buildings belonging to
Mr. Barned, of Lord-street, and was so dreadfully injured
that he survived only a few hours. At the hack of the pre-
mises there is a small yard forming an indenture of the build-
ing, open to the top, and having ranges of three windows in
each story, facing each other across it. The plasterers were
employed in the upper rooms, and the deceased was assisting
'them. A single stout plank was placed across the yard from
oneof the upper windows, four stories in height, to that on
the opposite side, for the passage of the plasterers from room
to room. The deceased was in the act of going from one room
te other by this plank, to bring a white-wash brush, but
thearcely placed his foot upon it, when, by some accident,
he slipped, and was precipitated head foremost into the yard
below, from a height of forty feet. in his descerit his head
struck on the string course of the story below, and this
wound alone would, in all probability, have been fatal. He
thence fell on the flagged top of an out-house in the yard,
where, it appeared, his chin was dreadfully cut on both
sides, and
of t hie s whole body dreadfully bruised. From
the roof out-house he fell to the bottom of the
yard opposite to it. Some of the workmen in the opposite
rooms saw him fall, and he was instantly picked up by Mr.
Harpur, the master flogger on the premises, (who was close
to the spot where he fell,) and another workman. There
was a fracture of the skull, faom which the brain protruded,
and other injuries, yet he still breathed. A surgeon was
instantly procured, but gave no hopes of his surviving. He
was carried to the Northern Hospital, where he died about
five o'clock. On Saturday, (and by adjournment yesterday,)
an inquest was held on view of the body of the deceased,
when the above facts were elicited. It appeared the plank
had been used by the master of the deceased and the work-
men, and that it was considered safe. The deceased, it
tuaher appeared, had incautiously jumped from the plank
crossing the top of the yard or area, on to another plank
erected above it, and that he accidentally fell off the latter
plank, and was precipitated into the yard. The jury returned
a verdict accordingly of "Accidental death."

INQUESTS

Before P. F. CURRY, Esq. Coroner.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LAUNCH OF THE STEAM-SHIP
" UNITED STATES."
Yesterday an inquisition was held on view of the body of a
man unknown, who unfortunately lost his life at the launch
of the United States, on Saturday last.
Alexander Sweeny, being sworn, said,—l am a labourer,
and live in Mathew-street. On Saturday last I went to see
the launch of the steam-ship " United States," at Mr.
Wilson's yard, at the North Wall. I was standing on the
north side of the vessel, and the deceased, whose name I do
not know, was standing alongside of me. There was a rope
hanging over the bow of the vessel which had a noose on it,
and just as she began to move off the stocks we all ran to see
it. The rope was hauling on the ground, and the deceased
whilst he was running, put his foot in the noose, and he was
drawn under the water along with the vessel. I saw him in
the water, and shortly afterwards he was taken into a boat.
The deceased was not under the water long before he rose
again. When the deceased came to the top of the water I
could see nothing but his hand. I helped to carry the de-
ceased to the top of the yard, and he was then placed in a
coach and taken to the Northern Hospital. He was dragged
about a couple of yards along the yard before he got in the
water.
Thomas Wilson said—l am timekeeper in Messrs. Wil-
son's ship-building yard. I was present on Saturday last
in the yard when the -United States was launched. There is
a rope attached to the bilge-log which slides along with the
vessel. This rope is held by a man on deck, until the vessel
has slided about three parts of the way, and is.then dropped
into the yard, and the men employed to do this work then
haul the logs into the yard by Means of the rope. Knowing
the danger there always is by people rushing to see the launch,
I placed myself at the particular spot, and a policeman along
with me, and cautioned the people not to come too near. I
did all I could to prevent the people coming too near, and
there was another policeman stationed at the other side of
the vessel for the same purpose. I saw the deceased standing
near, but I cannot positively say whether I did not caution
him in particular. After the vessel had gone about three
parts down the slide, the rope was thrown in a coil .dawn into
the yard, and just at that moment the deceased stepped off a
plank which he had been standing on, and his foot was caught
in a coil of the rope, and he was drawn into the water. He
was dragged about five or six yards along the ground before
he got into the water. There are a number of balks and
planks which necessarily go along with the vessel when she
is launched, and the deceased was amongst them, and as soon
as ever these had got clear of the vessel, the deceased came
up, and he was taken into a boat which was close at hand.
It is generally considered there is more danger by having the
ropes fastened in the yard, than by having them fastened to
the vessel, in the way this was done,
Mr. Askew, harbour master and water-bailiff, said,—
Messrs. Thomas Wilson and Co. had four boats stationed in
the river just outside of their yard, for the purpose of keep-
ing vessels out of the way of the launch. I stepped on board
one of them in my official capacity as water-bailiff, for the
purpose of keeping vessels clear of the launch. I was about
120 yards from the wall when the United States passed me.
I heard a great noise, and on looking round, I saw a man
splashing in the water. I directed the men to pull towards
him, which they did. When within six or eight yards of
him, the oars were stopped. The man nearing the bow oar
held himself in readiness, to take hold of the man. When
we got within about six feet of the man he went down. The
man at the bow put his hand down as low as he could reach,
but could not take hold of bins. A few seconds afterwards
I saw him come to the surface. I hailed a boat astern of us
to hook him in, which they did by getting hold of his jacket.
They raised bins out of the water as high as the• gunwale of
the boat, and I took him into our boat and landed him on
the quay. He was alive, but not able to speak. I laid bins
in a recumbent position, and unloosed his neckcloth. I
consider it would be a most dangerous operation to have the
rope attached to the bilge logs fastened on shore, instead of
on board the vessel. I must, in justice to the police say,
that they used every exertion in their power to prevent any
accident from happening.
Police officer, Anthony Barrow, said :—I was stationed in
the yard on the south Eside of the vessel, for the purpose of
keeping people back. The deceased was landed a few minutes
before I got to him. Every precaution appeared to have
been taken by Messrs. Wilson and Co to prevent any acci-
dent. The deceased was carried in a coach to the Northern
Hospital ; but appeared to be dead before we got there.
Mr. G. N. Arnott, house surgeon of the Northern Hospi-
tal, said—the deceased was apparently dead when admitted.
He had received a severe bruise on the right side of the body.
I used the usual means to restore animation, but without
effect. I have made a post mortem examination of the body,
and am of opinion the deceased died from the combined effect
of the bruise on the right side and the drowning. The de-
ceased had on a long brown coat and faded grey trousers,
and, I think, a black waistcoat. He had in his pocket a
punch, such as is used by engineers.
The CORONER, in summing up, remarked, that, in his
opinion there was not a shadow of blame that could attach to
Messrs. Wilson and Co., who had taken every possible pre-
caution to keep the people off. If the jury thought other-
wise, they might lay a deodand on the rope by which the de-
ceased was hauled amongst the balks and into the water. He
could not, however, help remarking, that, in his opinion, the
power to lay deodands was a disgrace to the statute book.
It was instituted in a very dark age, and its object was stated
preposterously to be to purchase redemption for the soul of
the deceased person in a future state; the amount laid for a
child being less than that for an adult or old person, who had
.none sins to answer for.

The jury, after a few moment's deliberation, returned a
verdict to the effect that the deceased accidentally came to
his death by the combined bruises and the immersion in the
water.

As the body of the deceased has not yet been claimed, and
his name is unknown, we may state, (though it was not taken
in evidence,) that there was found upon him a two-foot rule,
stamped with the letters T. N.

CAUTION TO MOTHERS.
Yesterday an inquest was held on view of the body of
William Catterall, a child of eight years old. The deceased
was left by his mother in the house, Catterall-court, Renshaw-
street, on Thursday evening last, when his clothes caught
fire, and he was so much burnt, that he died on Saturday.
Verdict—" Accidental death."

THE SHERIFF.-111r. Sheriff Evans was released from the
custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms on Friday night, in a few
minutes after the house had agreed to his discharge.
WOODSTOCK ELECTION.-Mr. Frederick Thesiger, bar-
rister, has issued an address to the electors of Woodstock,
soliciting their suffrages to become their future representative
in parliament, in the room of the' Marquis of Blandford,
called to the peerage by the death of his father, the late Duke
of Marlborough.
LEWES, March B.—Our anticipations with regard to the
success of Viscount Cantalupe, the conservative candidate,
are fully realised. General Trevor, the whig candidate,
finds, upon a canvass, that he has no chance, and therefore
last night withdrew his pretensions ; consequently, Viscount
Cantalupe will be returned without opposition, and will,
perhaps, take his seat in the house to-morrow night.--Times
of yesterday.

We are desired to state that the late Mr. Henry Lace
never held a situation i❑ his cousin's office, as intimated at
the last council meeting by Mr. Rathbone, but that up to the
date of his appointment under the corporation he held a
commission in his Majesty's customs. A correspondent,
for whose letter we have not room, expresses his regret that
Mr. Isaac Holmes was not acquainted with this fact, iu order
that the council might not entertain an erroneous impression
on the subject.

LIVER THEATRE.—We beg to direct the attention of our
readers to the announcement of the performances at the
Liver Theatre. They will be found highly attractive, and
to furnish a combination of talent which is not usually to be
found out of the metropolis.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—A very few days will bring the
termination of the season at this establishment. Mr. Du-
crow will leave Liverpool with an universal acknowledgment
that he has most abundantly provided for his patrons, and
on another occasion we can readily foresee a most lucrative
season.

" ARISTOCRATIC LARK."—We are authorised to give an
unqualified contradiction to a paragraph under the above
head which appeared in the Chronicle and Albion, no such
event as is there described having taken place at the Am-
phitheatre. The box book-keeper, the box checker, and the
cashier positively declare that no pauper got up the box
stairs, either on Thursday or any other evening.
THE OPIUM TRADE.—A petition has been prepared, and
is now receiving signatures in this town, praying the House
of Commons to adopt measures for the suppression of the
growth and preparation of opium in British India for trans-
mission to China, and the traffic in the came by British sub-
jects.

THE ACCIDENTS AT THE STEEPLE CHASE.—We under-
stand that great credit is due to Dr. Collins and Dr. Davies
for their kind and prompt attentions to Mr. Barker, at the
steeple chase on Thursday, and also to Mr. Bullen, of
Brookfield House, who very kindly rode over to his house
at the time of the accident, and brought back the things re-
quired by the medical men. The unfortunate accident at the
stone wall leap was evidently owing to a reckless bet made
by some parties that Valentine would be over the wall first,
which he was, and the parties won £3OO on the event.
Messrs. Barker and Oliver, who were supposed to be so
much injured by the accident, were brought to Liverpool on
Friday, and proceeded, by railway, to Birmingham the same
evening.
CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—At a coroner's inquest
held on Friday, a verdict of manslaughter was returned against
Elizabeth Brown and James Lynch, in having caused the
death of William Dunn, by assaulting him on the 19th ult.
in Queen-street.—lt is a remarkable feature in this case,
that Lynch, one of the accused, was brought before Mr.
Rushton for the assault, and that the deceased appeared and
gave evidence against him. He was sentenced to a term of
imprisonment, and is still in gaol; so that, until his term of
imprisonment has expired, he is beyond the jurisdiction of
the coroner. How this circumstance will affect his case on
the trial, remains to be seen. The other party, (Brown) was
trial
LAUNCIIES.—On Friday was latinched, from the building
yard of Messrs. Robert Clarke and Sons, a fine, handsome
ship, burthen 410 tons, called " The Urgent," for T. J.
Hutton, Esq., of this town, and intended for the East India
trade, for which she is admirably adapted. She is to be
commanded by Captain Gibb. On Saturday Messrs Thos.
Royden and Co. launched a fine ship of upwards of 400 tons
from their yard, in Baffin-street. She was christened "The
Devon," after the native county of her enterprising owner,
T. Tapley, Esq., of this town. After the launch a party of
the owner's friends retired to partake of a substantial repast
which had been provided for the occasion, their numbers
being augmented by the arrival of James Tyrer, Esq., (under
whose auspices the ship will be loaded for Canton,) with
another party, including a goodly number of the gentler sex,
who had been witnessing the launch of the United States.
Several appropriate toasts were given and responded to; and
the company separated much pleased with the entertainment,
and cordially wishing success to the Devon.
EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF BASE COIN.—Mr. Woodruff,
the active officer ofexcise, whilst searching the Irish steamers
this week, for smuggled whiskey, made a curious seizure on
board one of the City of Dublin Company's vessels. In the
course of his rummage, three suspicious boxes attracted his
attention, and, believing they contained illicit spirits, he
caused them to be opened. On examination they were found
to contain base pennies. The packages were addressed to a
person in Small-Brook-street, Birmingham, and weighed 7
cwt. The packages were handed over to the police, by whom
the affair is being investigated.

WHIG WlT.—Poor Sheriff Evans will cut a miserable
figure at Lewes. Even the aid of his " Riot Act" deputy,
Air. France, will be unavailing; not a score of votes will he
obtain from any party. He had better content himself with
following up the hint of our witty contemporary, the Ex-
aminer, and cherish his unfortunate liver, so as 'to make a
magnificent pate" de foie Bras.—Palmerston print. (All the
harm we wish the unfeeling scoundrels who can thus turn
into ridicule a man labouring under one of the most distress-
ing diseases that flesh is heir to, is, that they Thal' themselves
practically experience what a very laughable matter a live:
complaint is, and not be without "witty" writers at th(
same time to cut jokes upon their sufferings.)
MONTEO VlDEO.—Priumpuvnp,:.—A l's:Lw FRENCH
COLONY.—The Sentinelle of Bayonne says, that emigrations
for South America are continuing from that part of France,
and that a vessel, containing 292 emigrants on board, sailed
from that port on the 12th inst. for Monte Video. Among
them were 50 women and 17 children. More than 300 had
left before in two vessels for the same colony.