The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-28 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS,

" Your friendship is very dear to me," as the merchant
said, when he had to pay the endorsements for his neighbour.

We learn from Athens that a violent shock of earthquake
was felt in that city about midnight of the 11th ultimo.
The bazaar held last week in Manchester, for the benefit
of St. Andrew's Sunday School, realised the sum of .£l4OO.
The borough of South Shields, which recently established
a chamber of commerce, has now formed a company, with a
large capital, to trade with the East Indies.

At a meeting of the proprietors of the St. Katherine's
Docks, on Tuesday, a dividend of 21 per cent. was declared
for the half-year ending at Midsummer.
A formal union has been effected between the Synod of
Ulster and the Secession Synod, numbering together 700,000
Presbyterians.

The Earl of Shrewsbury contemplates purchasing Ashton-
hall, near Lancaster, belonging to the Duke of Hamilton, for
the purpose of a catholic college.
It is stated, on pretty good authority, that there are no
fewer than 1,500 houses untenanted in the borough of Brad-
ford.

A writer in the Quarterly expresses his belief, that the
weight of suspicion points to Lord Sackville, and not to Sir
Philip Francis, as the author of Junius.
On Thursday, the 16th instant, an unfortunate man named
George Hardy was killed by one of the trains of the North
Midland Railway.

CON. THE LATEST.—Why is the queen's portrait on the
Postoffice envelope, like a remedy for corns? Because it is
a " Sovereign Plaister."

During the year 1839-40, as many as 192 fires occurred in
New York. New York it is likely to be if all its houses are
to be burnt away in this manner.
In consequence of the refusal of a church-rate, last week,
by the inhabitants of Rochdale, the clock has been stopped,
and the bells have not since been suffered to ring.

EXTRAORDINARY FECUNDITY.—During the last month
three sows, of the Chinese breed, belonging to Mr. William
Labrey, of Higher Broughton, have produced the amazing
number of sixty-one pigs.
THE LANCASTER PACKET BOATS.—We understand it is
now fully agreed upon to have the Archirnedean screw pro-
pelling principle introduced into these boats at a very early
period, and not later than the coming October.—Lancaster
Gazette.

It appears by the bill authorising a new census of Ireland,
that the constabulary are to be the numerators, " with such
assistants as may be deemed necessary." The perambula-
tion is to occur in May, 1841.

LAW.—The Right Hon. Thomas Lefroy has been served
with a latitat for £5,742, at the suit of Mr. Vignoles, the
civil engineer, for a projected railway, called the Great Wes-
tern Irish Railway,—Lirnerick Chronicle.

The purchase of horses need not only always be requisite
in future for ladies desiring equestrian exercise ; as an adver-
tiser in the Morning Post, gives notice that he assists ladies
in mounting their needlework.

The high sheriff of Cork has invited Mr. G. Standish
Barry, M.P., to act as foreman of the grand jury for that
county, at the approaching assizes. The hon. member will
be the first Roman Catholic who has filled that office in the
county of Cork since the reformation.

It is calculated that there are eight hundred millions of
yards of cotton goods manufactured annually in Great Bri-
tain ; being nearly one yard for every supposed human being
ou the globe. The trade has, from within ten years of its
commencement in this district, increased twenty-four fold.
At the Carlow assizes an action for libel was brought by
the Rev. Priest Tyrrell, of election notoriety, against the
Carlow Sentinel, a staunch conservative paper. The jury
could not agree, and were discharged.

We regret to learn that there prevails in this neighbour-
hood a disease among cattle and pigs, which has in many in-
stances proved fatal. Among the former the feet and throat
are attacked, and among the latter the throat only.—Bath
Herald.

The sheep-breeders of the mountain districts in the neigh-
bourhood of Appleby, state that those useful animals were
hardly ever known to be in so good a condition, in carcass
and fleece, as they are at the present time.—Kendal Mercury,

PRODUCTIVE FOWL.—Mr. Thomas Seed, of. Poulton-le:
Fylde, has a young,duck that has this season laid inwards of
100 eggs, eleven of which were double•yoked, two of which
weighed four ounces each; she has occasionally produced three
eggs in two days.

The Augutta Chronicle gives the following picture as an
exemplification of hard times :—" To see two bank presi-
dents riding into the town in a salt box on a dray." " The
times are harder and harder," says a western editor: " we
have not heard of a single steam-boat explosion in two
weeks."—American paper.

THE REPRESENTATION OF ROCHDALE.—During this
week, a requisition to Mr. Wm. Sharman Crawford has
been in the course of signature, requesting that gentleman,
in case of a dissolution of parliament, to allow himself to he
put in nomination as a candidate for the representation of
this borough. This requisition has been headed by Mr. Fen-
ton, the present member.--Manchester Guardian.
A FACT FOR NATURALISTS.—Under the eaves of the
Boot and Slipper public-house, Southwingfield, a swallow
had built its nest, and hatched several young ones. Some
one unfeelingly knocked it down ; the humane landlord im-
mediately placed the young birds in a cage near the place
from whence they had fallen, and the old ones, continuing
to feed them, immediately began to build another nest, and
by some means have carried the young ones into it, where
they are now comfortably lodged.—Derby Reporter. --
GREAT FIRE IN LEEDS.—On Wednesday last an alarm-
ing fire took place on the premises of Mr. Land, druggist,
Leeds. It originated in an explosion of gas in the shop.
The whole of the property was quickly consumed. The
flames spread right and left, and nearly destroyed the shop,
&c., of Mr. Harrison, book-seller, and to save the property
from the element, the stock and urniture were thrown into
the street. It also destroyed four butchers' dwellings in the
shambles, and greatly endangered Beckett and Co.'s bank,
which received considerable injury.

NOVELTY IN A ROSE TREE.—In the garden of Mr.
Machan, of Fartown Green, near Huddersfield, there is at
present a rose tree of the cabbage kind, bearing from one
bud or envelope, a couple of perfect roses of the ordinary
size. The heads of both are, from mutual pressure, bent a
little, and one faces due east, the other due north. The
curiosity is enhanced by the rose facing due west possessing
two hearts or mosses of different forms and size. The tree
contains an average quantity of roses, and was transplanted
early in the year, being part of a larger one four years old,
growing from a number of stems.
A learned clergyman in Maine was accosted in the follow-
ing manner by an illiterate preacher, who despised edneation :
" Sir, you have been to college, 1 suppose ?" " Yes, sir,"
was the reply. "I am thankful," rejoined the former, "that
the Lord has opened my mouth to preach without any learn-
ing." " A similar event," replied the latter, " took place
in Balaarn's time, but such things are of rare occurrence in
the present day."

THE SPINNERS' TURN-OUT AT WIGAN.—The disagree-
ment between the manufacturers and their spinners, respect-
ing wages, still exists ; and at present we hear of no likeli-
hood of their coming to terms. On the contrary, it is ru-
moured that the hands at one or two mills are going soon to
make a similar strike. and the number of persons then out
will be deplorable.—Wrgan Gazette.
A commission of lunacy sat the other day, in London, to
inquire into the sanity of the venerable Admiral Sir Ross
Donnelly, K.C.B. The inquiry was a long one, and the jury,
after some consultation, returned the following verdict .
" That Admiral Sir Ross Donnelly, K.C.8., was of unsound
mind, and had been so since the 15th of November, 1839,
and incapable of the management of his own affairs."

A day or two since, Smyth was holding forth at great
length to Jones on the manifold excellencies of the wooden
pavement :—" Capital thing, Jones—excellent thing; what a
pity that all the parishes don't adopt it." "True," replied
Jones " and so easily effected, too. A wooden pavement !
why, if only some of the parish authorities would but lay their
heads together, all London might be covered with it."

Madame Von-der Luders, one of the most beautiful and
accomplished actresses at Hamburg, destroyed herself in that
city last week, but from what cause is entirely unknown.
Early in the morning she rose, dressed herself in her richest
toilet, put on all her diamonds, and then sent out her servant
to buy some fruit for breakfast. As soon as she was -alone.
she laid herself on a sofa, put a pistol to her mouth, and
blew out her brains. A second pistol, loaded, was found by
her side.—Galignani.
COMMERCIAL BANK Of ENGLAND.—WC hear that the
Commercial Bank of England have disposed of the business
of their branches at the following places, viz., Chester, Black-
burn, Burslem, and Liverpool, which have been taken over
by other joint-stock banks. The committee of deputies of
joint-stock banks in London have received a communication
from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. informing them that
the law regarding embezzlement by shareholders would be
placed on the same footing as it is in Ireland, agreeably to
their wishes, and that a clause for that purpose would be in-
troduced accordingly into the bill now before parliament, re-
gulating the law connected with the rights of partnership iu
those estabishments.—Morning Chronicle City Article.

" Two days ago," says the Audience (French paper), " a
country girl, who had spent all her money at a lottery of
handkerchiefs, collars, and other articles, on a public pro-
menade at Versailles, offered ber umbrella to the keeper of
the stall, as security for some more tickets. The man refus-
ed to comply with ber request, but told her that, if she would
allow him to cut off her hair, he would give her in exchange
for it twenty tickets. The poor girl, in the hope of redeem-
ing her fortune, consented, and in a minute the scissors of
the despoiler had deprived her of this ornament of her sex.
The girl played on until nineteen of her tickets came up
blanks. The twentieth was a prize. On opening the paper,
the lottery-keeper read it aloud to the persons who were
crowding around him, and who were convulsed with laughter
—it was a comb."

. .
STATE OF THE WEATHER.—On Tuesday last, between
ten and twelve o'clock, a.m., the clouds 'accompanied. with
lightning and thunder, poured forth their contents most pro-
fusely. The rivers Lune and Wenning had swollen to a
great extent, and even the little brooks passing through Tar-
leton and Claughton, were never known to run with greater
rapidity. A root of a tree having been borne down by the
violence of the current, stuck in the arch of the bridge, close
by W. Luin's house, stopped the water, and turned it out of
its proper course, so that the road was made impassable at the
time for cattle travelling from Hornby to Lancaster and
Preston. It is conjectured that a water spout had' burst, and
emptied its contents on the summit of the hills above.—Lan-
caster Gazette.

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.—At a meeting of the committees
of the British Association, held on Monday in the Royal
Exchange, it was reported that the number of members ad-
mitted was in all 353 ; that fourteen foreigners of the highest
distinction, as promoters of science, had accepted in-
vitations to the forthcoming meeting of the Association.
Hutchisons' Hospital was fixed on as a general office for the
reception of strangers, and for answering all inquiries with
respect to the business of the meeting, this building being
considered the most eligible, from its central situation be-
tween the College and the Exchange, and from the accom-
modation which it affords. Various sub-committees. were
named to make the necessary preparations commensurate
with the magnitude and importance of the occasion. which
is looked forward to with increasing interest.—Scottish
Guardian.

RE-ERECTION OF SHAWE HALL.—On Wednesday last,
the foundation-stone of the new building of Shawe-hall was
laid, with the usual ceremonies, by the Rev. Thomas Moss,
Vicar of Walton-on-the-Hill. In the cavity of the founda-
tion-stone .5 glass bottle was deposited, containing two
Preston newspapers, and the respective coins of the present
reign, when the rev. gentleman expressed to Mr. Farington,
in an appropriate speech, the gratification he felt upon the
occasion, with many good wishes for the happiness of the
family, and the continuance of the hospitality for which
Shawe-hall has ever been so justly noted. Mr. Farington
thanked Mr. Moss for his kindness, and hoped that all
present would be spared to meet when the building was
completed. He trusted the hospitable feelings which had
existed at Shawe-hall, in days gone by, would be handed
down to whoever might succeed him ; and while he should
ever open his doors with a hearty welcome to his friends,
he trusted they would never be closed against his poorer
neighbours. The workmen, about fifty in number, were re-
galed with bread, cheese, and ale, and several loyal and
appropriate toasts were drunk with much acclamation; The
village bells rang merry peals at intervals during the day.—
Preston Pilot.