The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-09-21 00:00:00

(From the Gateshead Observer.)

Wh st we were congratulating ourselves that we had at
length completed our report of the late eventful proceedings
in the borough of Sunderland, we were startled by the in-
telligence that an attempt had been made to assassinate Lord
Howick ! A handbill was brought to us, which had been
printed in Sunderland, and stated that a gun had been level-
led at his lordship during the " chairing " in Monkwear-
mouth, by Mr. Liddle, from the window of his house in
Dundas-street, with an apparent intent to shoot his lord-
ship, but that it missed fire ; after which stones were thrown
at the noble lord's carriage. This led to the destruction of
Liddle's windows.

Since we received the following statement, we have ob-
tained intelligence which incline us to believe, that although
a gross outrage 'was perpetrated upon Lord Howick, and
Lady Williamson, &c., no fatal result was contemplated.
The Herald states, in the second edition of its yesterday's
paper, that when the procession accompanying Lord Howick's
chairing arrived in Whitburn-street, Monkwearmouth, they
found two blue and white flags (Mr. Attwood's colouva) sus-
pending from the window of a private dwelling-house, nd of
a public house kept by a person named E. Liddle (the sign of
"The Reform Tavern.") In passing these, as is usual on
such occasions, the crowd hooted and hissed. No sooner
had they done so, than a volley of stones was thrown
from the upper story of the house into the procession. The
stones were such as are used for paving, many of them as large
as half-bricks ; and they of course scattered the procession,
and seriously injured 'several individuals. One of these hit
Lord Howick over the right hand, and the other hit Mrs.
Bell (who was in another carriage) on the arm. A third
stone was thrown in the direction of Mr. William Allison,
solicitor, of Monkwearmouth, whom it missed, and (instead)
hit Mr. J. W. Robinson, solicitor. _ _ _

A portion of the crowd, exasperated by this proceeding,
instantly threw back several of the stones. No sooner did
the course of retaliation begin, than the landlord of the house,
Edward Liddle, presented a fowling-piece from the window
of the upper room (the lower sash of which was completely
up), and moving it in various directions, without apparently
taking aim at any particular person, snapped the gun, but
fortunately it only flashed in the pan.
Instantly on this daring act being observed, several of the
procession attacked the house ; and brickbats, thrown from
both sides, wounded different persons ; two or three of
whom received several cuts on their heads. The house was
rushed upon—the windows and a great part of the furni-
ture broken—the small casks in the front room (which was
fitted up as a bar) dashed on the ground and the spirits
wasted, and many of .the smaller articles in ordinary use
either injured or destroyed.
After the gun had been presented Sir Hedworth William-
son accompanied the ladies to Thomas-street, and then
returned to the spot, and took possession of the
gun. A person was sent to the station-house for a
policeman ' • but one not being then there, Sir Hedworth
himself took the man into custody. Immediately afterwards
an officer arrived, and Liddle was conveyed to the station-
house. The fowling-piece was then examined by the hon.
baronet, Mr. Anthony John Moore, and a policeman. There
was found in it a full charge of powder, and the wadding
consisted of paper, twice-or three times the quantity of that
' ordinarily used, tightly pressed down. It did not, however,
contain any shot.
On this serious disturbance taking place Lord Howick was

driven to Whitburn, the seat of Sir liedworth Williamson,
and endeavours were made to prevent mischief, but it was
some time before hostilities ceased.

DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIP INDIA BY FIRE,

AT SEA

" Rio JANEIRO, JULY 25.—1 t is my lot to describe to you
one of the most melancholy events in the annals of ship dis-
asters which has occurred for years, tempered with the mer-
ciful interposition of Providence in saving multitudes of hu-

man beings from certain destruction,
" On Aloaday, the 19th inst., our ship the India was in
IA degrees south latitude ; after breakfast one of the passen-
gers came to the cabin and reported that a strange sail was
in view Not having seen one .for the previous 14 days, we
were all on deck instantly ; but it was too far distant to no-
tice our signals, and as she was sailing in the same line with
us, we kept in view of one another all the forenoon, and came
rather nearer after lunch, at 12 o'clock."
The writer states that he returned to the cabin, and then
proceeds with his narrative :
" I had not sat above half an hour, when I was sur-
prised by a cry for water, and, horrid to relate, mixed with
oaths, by the second mate, who was running from the stair
leading to the store-room in the direction of the saloon.
I immediately sprung towards the door of the stair
which leads to the store-room, where the cause was but
too apparent from the smoke and light. Not a moment was
to be lost; the men were immediately called aft, with all
the pails, pitchers, and everything they could lay hold of.
This was done with the utmost alacrity ; the supply of water
was, however, far from sufficient. We had a pump behind
the binnacle, but its bore was very trifling ; some flung
buckets over the ship's sides, but in the hurry these were
drawn up scarcely half full. All this time, although some of
the hands were breaking up the vessel to get at the seat of
the fire, it was rapidly gaining ascendancy. It being evident
that we could not save the ship, our whole energies were
directed to the preservationof our lives. -

" When I came forward all was one scene of confusion and
despair, the women wringing their hands in the most heart-
rending manner, and this, mingled with the screaming of
children, presented a scene it would be vain to attempt tode-
oribe. During this interval guns of distress were fired to
.attract the attention of the vessel in the distance. But in the
meantime we sent away the jolly boat, with five seamen, to
'overtake or attract her attention to our situation ; as it was
apparent that unless she came to our assistance every soul
on board must perish. They next commenced clear-
ing the long-boat of pigs, goats, ikc., which were tossed over-
board. The boat was strong and heavy, and it was with.
difficulty got over the side. After it was over, it was, Ml-
mediatelyfilled with children and as many of the females
as it could hold, with four men to row them towards the
vessel, and the gig was lowered and lay off about fifty
yards to prevent its being swamped."
The writer goes on to state that it was by this time evident
that the strange sail was aware of their situation, and several
of the crew and passengers who could swim were now floating
towards the vessel. Nothing but despair was depicted on
every countenance, and everyone was anxiously in search of
some means of deliverance. So great was the rush when the
boats of the strange vessel reached them, that one of the
boats was upset, and five or six men drowned.
" The total number on board the India was 214, of whom
eighteen perished, viz., sixteen steerage, one cabin passenger,
and the boatswain.
" The fire originated thus : the second mate and one of the
boys were drawing off some gin, and as the candle was too
short for a lanthorn, they took it out, and when placing it, it
fell between two barrels, where some of the spirits had been
spilled, and in a moment the whole was in a blaze, the store-
room being full of canvass and other combustibles."

The receipts of the principal railways for the last week,
that is to say, up to the date to which the respective returns
are made, were as follow :—Brighton. £2,127; Blackwall,
£1,112; Eastern Counties, £1,038; Manchester and Bir-
mingham, £389 ; Great North of England, £1,524 ; Hull
and Selby, £993 ; Midland Counties, £2,949 ; Birmingham
and Derby, £1,226; Great Western, £14,501; South-
Western, £6,525; Northern and Eastern, £1,169; London
and Birmingham, £18,136; York and North Midland,
£1,897 ; and Greenwich, £975.
-

, .
A LUCKY HAIN (NOT WIND-FALL).—On Monday week,
in consequence of the heavy rains that had fallen during that
morning and previous night, two lads left Perth in search of
rabbits among the haughs of Earn, and during the day suc-
ceeded in capturing 300 pairs. The plan they took was ex-
ceedingly simple. They were well acquainted with the rabbit
burrows about the Earn ; and watching the gradual rise of
the river, when it was within a few inches of a " hole," they,
with a small spade, dug a channel for the water to flow into
it, which immediately ejected the inmates, who were smartly
captured on attempting to make their escape. A cart con-
veyed the whole to Perth, where at an average they were sold
for fully 4d. per pair.
ROBBERY OF A CONVENT BY ITS SUPERIOR.—The fol-
lowing appears in the Public Hue and Cry, of last month :
" GALWAY.—Description of Francis Duffey, who stands
charged with having; on the 17th of August, at Mountbellew,
in the barony of Killian, and parish of Derrylough, ab-
sconded, taking property with him to a large amount, which
belongs to the monks of Mountbellew Monastery, of which
he was superior,-45 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches in height,
stout make, very red complexion, brown hair, rather dark
eyes, lame of the right leg, his foot contracted; wore a hat,
blue cloth top coat, black cloth trousers; is a native of the
county of Westmeath.—Mountbellew-bridge, 21st August."
Disgraceful as 'is the charge thus publicly recorded, there are
circumstances of far darker atrocity connected with this
same " superior's" departure, which,, for the sake of mo-
rality, would require elucidation. At present the affair, as I
am informed, stands thus :—The worthy Mr. Duffey has
been arrested, along with a partner (a female) in iniquity.
Government volunteered to conduct a prosecution against the
guilty parties, but the religious confraternities (for there
were two of them implicated) declined following the matter
up, on the ground that the funds abstracted by the amiable
pair had been restored, and, as in such cases usual, " scan-
dal among the faithful," was to be shunned at the sacrifice
of every principle, moral and religious.—Dublin Letter in
the Times.

SLEEP AT WILL'.--A mode of producing sleep without
narcotics has been for some years communicated to any one
desirous of obtaining acquaintance with it by a gentleman of
the name of Gardner, and we understand that he has in-
structed hundreds in the art, many of whom have borne
public testimony to his success. From the actual experience
of persons in whom we have been long accustomed to place
eutire confidence, it seems to be ascertained that his remedy
for sleeplessness requires no particnlar condition of the human
constitution ; that it is equally applicable to both sexes, and
to persons of any age ; that it overcomes the effects of mental
anxiety or of bodily, pain, unless the former be excessive, or
the latter unusually violent and acute; that it is equally
available in bed, on a sofa, in an elbow chair, a carriage, or a
steam-boat ; that the process can be repeated as often as the
patient may happen to be disturbed during the hours in-
tended for repose ; that no medicine need be administered,
no eternal application, no aid from other persons ; and above
all, there are no opiates of any description used, and the pro-
cess is so evidently harmless that it may be adopted in any
state of health or of disease without the slightest hazard. It
is so simple and obvious that it might have occurred to the
mind of any one, but Mr. Gardner has the merit of being the
first to make the discovery publicly known, and practically
to teach the art. His plan possesses almost all the advantages
derivable from narcotics, and is at the same time wholly ex-
empt from any of the disadvantages well known to be at-
tendant on that class of remedies. The sleep obtained is as
perfect and as refreshing as the patient can enjoy under any
direumstances, for it is thoroughly natural, and in no respect
dependent on any causes which, properly speaking,
might be
called artificial. To some classes of insane patients it may be
highly useful, and to the asthmatic, or to those labouring
under chronic rheumatism, it must be peculiarly advan-
tageous. It may, perhaps, be necessary to add, that neither
animal magnetism, nor any thing resembling it, is ever re-
sorted to by Mr. Gardner; on the contrary, he emphatically
disclaims any knowledge of that so miscalled " science.
Evening Paper.