The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-05-25 00:00:00

ACCIDENTAL DEATH.—On Saturday, an inquest was
held before Henry Heathcote Statham, deputy coroner
for the borough, on view of the body of Margaret Wain-
wright, aged 66, who resided with her daughter in Cross-
hall-street. On Monday night week, deceased was left
alone in the house, and was then in liquor, but able to
take care of herself. On her daughter's return she found
her lying on the first floor landing on her back, and un-
able to get up. She said she had fallen while going
up stairs. She was taken to bed. On the following Wed-
nesday she became unable to speak, and a surgeon was
sent for, but she never rallied, and died on Friday last.
Mr. Lodge, surgeon, who examined the body, said that
death was caused by extravasation of blood on the brain,
the result of the fall.—Verdict accordingly.
LADIES' INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE FOR IRELAND AND
SCOTLAND.—We learn with great pleasure that the sale at
the Lyceum has progressed most satisfactorily from the
first, and that considerable relief has been afforded to
many destitute districts in both countries. We have be-
fore pointed out the great gdvantages of a plan which
stimulates industry in.the same proportion that it pro-
vides relief, and we are gratified to find that our anticipa-
tions are being realised, not only in the alleviation of dis-
tress at the present melancholy crisis, but also in the more
lasting benefit of the formation and encouragement of in-
dustrial habits. The greatest praise is due to the ladies
who have originated and conducted the sale ; to their un-
remitting attention and indefatigable labours the success
of the enterprise is due. We trust that the inhabitants of
Liverpool will continue to do their duty in forwarding
this good work, and support an institution which not only
provides relief but teaches thrift.
THE ATHENIC Cum.—This literary, scientific, and ar-
tistic association celebrated the close of its first session by
a dinner at Hamer's Hotel, at Woolton, on Saturday last.
Mr. Robinson, sculptor (son of our late mayor, Nicholas
Robinson, Esq), who is President of the Society, being
unexpectedly prevented from attending until the evening
was pretty far advanced, Mr. Ross, of the Chronicle, was
called on to preside, and the vice-chair was filled by Mr.
Norbury, artist. We may as well here state that the club
excludes the subjects of religion and politic from its dis-
cussions, and that it embraces parties of every variety of
opinion on those and other topics. A sumptuous enter-
tainment, embracing every delicacy of the season, was
served up by Mr. Hamer, in excellent style. After the usual
loyal toasts, and the healths of gentlemen officially con-
nected with the club, had been given, several very excel-
lent speeches were delivered on the subjects of paint-
ing, sculpture, architecture, music and poetry, and
embracing, indeed, the whole range of the fine arts.
Among the gentlemen who addressed the meeting, besides
the chairman and vice-chairman, were Mr. Mc. Bride,
sculptor ; Mr. Reed, architect ; Mr. E. H. Strype, the
poet ; Mr. Isaac, lithographer ; Mr. R. M. Parker,
H. M. C. ; Mr. Gallatley, artist ; Mr. Robinson ; Mr.
Crouchley, (who is, we understand, an admirable judge of
art,) &c., &c. The toast of " The Strangers present,"
was responded to by Mr. Clarke, and " Success to the
Roscoe club" was proposed and drunk with enthusiasm.
The proceedings were diversified with, several excellent
songs, and by an exuberant indulgence in every species of
art and humour. Indeed, the intellectual character of the
whole meeting fully realized the poet's idea of " The feast
of reason and the flow of soul." We never spent a
merrier or more pleasant evening in our lives. We must
do our brother " typo," the chairman, the justice to say,
that he evinced much tact and talent in promoting the
conviviality of the evening, and in preserving harmony
amid the conflicting opinions expressed in disputed ques-
tions connected with the fine arts, and the respective
merits of their professors and patrons. The party broke
up early, at eleven o'clock, (it being Saturday night,) and
Mr. Hamer sent them home in a well-filled omnibus, to
their respective habitations.
LIVERPOOL, BIRKENHEAD, AND BRISTOL. —'The
Bristol Mirror of Saturday, in a complaining article,
draws some comparison between the ports we have men-
tioned, tending to exhibit greatly the progressive supe-
riority of Liverpool. Our contemporary. after publishing
the statement in our last relative to the reduction of our
dues, says :—" About forty years ago, when the Bristol
Dock Acts were passed—that is, in the year 1806—the
dock dues on goods and shipping in Liverpool were
£44,530; and those of Bristol £11,353. At this period
the dock rates and dues were about upon a par in the two
ports ; but how does the case stand now ? Whv, in
Liverpool they are reduced to about one-third ; whilst, in
Bristol, they are stationary on shipping, and greatly
increased on goods. And what do we find is their relative
position ? Why, whilst the one has increased sixfold in
amount, the other has not increased threefold ! No doubt
it will be said that the rise of the manufacturing districts
in the north has produced this result ; but our reply is,
that the neighbourhood of Bristol possessed, and still
possesses, every natural element to place it on a par with
the most favoured localities, both as a port and a manu-
facturing district. That which has been, and still remains
wanting, is the accommodation of artificial arrangements
(amongst which, port charges now rank first in importance)
to the variations in the commerce of the world, and the
consequent spirit of liberality and enterprise. Ten years
ago, the leading men amongst our fellow-citizens aroused
the public attention to these facts, and an endeavour was
made to bring about great changes, the whole of which
were based on this principle, that it was essential the city
should regain possession of her port, and full control over
her docks. Great exertions were made, but the city sank
into lethargy again. Again an effort is being made, but
obstacles are thrown in the way ; and in the meantime,
whilst we are disputing whether the port should be entirely
free, or whether there should be only a moderate reduction
in the charges, the younger ports around us are growing
and thriving on our losses. Birkenhead docks are com-
pleted in less time than we take to construct a new entrance
to the basin ; and the great leviathan is opening his capa-
cious jaws still wider : Liverpool is about to abolish entirely
the dock dues on its staple article of import, the amount
(X 37,000 per annum) being greater than the whole of our
dock receipts, and to reduce and modify other of the dock
charges, the Dock Committee being troubled with a
surplus of £128,000, which they scarcely know what to
do with ! We earnestly appeal to our fellow-citizens of
all ranks and classes, and ask them, bow much longer is
Bristol to be sacrificed to intestine divisions ? We appeal
to the non-proprietary Dock Directors, and ask them to
deal fairly, candidly, and openly, with the free-port