The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

THE NEW. CLIPPER SHIP

" GOLDEN ERA."

THE new clipper shin Golden Era has been built at St' I
John's, for the owners,. Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson,
who have determined that their " White Star" line of
Australian packets shall in future be composed exclusively
of their own vessels, expressly constructed for the passenger
trade, and to sail them only between Liverpool and the
colony. To carry out this principle, by which the whole
control of ships as well as passengers will be in their own
hands, they have made arrangements with a leading house
in Australia to become their agents, and to superintend
their unloading, and despatch them back direct for this
port. They will thus ensure for the public a fleet of first-
rate vessels, whose sailing- qualities, and the ability of their
commanders and officers, have been thoroughly tested by
actual experience. The model of the Golden Era is very
fine, being sharp below with good bearings above, and
gradually falling off front about midships to her quarter—
a form which has been found by experience to combine to
the greatest extent the- qualities of rapid sailing, ease of
handling, and comfort for those on board. Her entrance
is sharp, and her stern is almost yacht-like. The following
are her dimensions :—lnside, her length, 208 feet; breadth,
36 feet ; height between decks, 81 feet. Earthen, 3,000
tons. She has on deck a very capacious poop cabin, which
is-being fitted up in a most superior manner for the con-
veyance of a select number of cabin passengers. She has
also a roomy house on deck, which will afford very liberal
accommodation for respectable families and single persons,
as second cabin passengers. It is not intended to carry
her full complement between decks ; and hence the berth-
ing is being provided on a more than usually liberal scale,
both for intermediate and steerage passengers. She is
being thoroughly ventilated, and provided with every
requisite accommodation. A very valuable feature in the
arrangements for the comfort of passengers during the
voyage has been resolved upon by the owners of the
Golden Era. She will carry an adequate number of paid
stewards and stewardesses, who, being thus immediately
under the control of the captain, may be depended upon
for the performance of their duty more efficiently than it
is done under the ordinary system of allowing these parties
thus to work out the whole or a portion of their passage
money. At a considerable number of berths in the ship
are already engaged, she may be depended upon to sail
towards the end of February. The Golden Era will be
commanded by Captain James T. Peat, a gentleman well
acquainted with the trade, and of known high character
and abilities. We have before us the following most grati-
fying document respecting him :—" Ship Isabella, Novem-
ber, 1852. Captain James T. Peat; Dear, sir,—On this
prosperous termination of our voyage from England, we,
I the undersigned cabin passengers, feel the utmost pleasure
in expressing to you our most sincere thanks for the
courtesy, kindness, and attention we have uniformly
received at your hands, during the passage ; and also in
testifying to the great judgment, prudence, and caution
evinced by you in all matters connected with the manage-
ment of the vessel. 'We also feel gratified in stating our
entire approbation of the efficient, orderly, and seamanlike
conduct of your officers and crew at all times ; and more
particularly on perilous occasions incidental to a long
voyage. Tendering you our most sincere wishes for your
future welfare and prosperity, we remain, &c." Signed by
thirty cabin passengers, evidently, if the character of hand-
writing goes for anything, highly intelligent parties. An
equally gratifying document was presented on the same
occasion by thirty-six " heads of families, and captains of
intermediatemesses." We have no doubt that with such
a ship as the Golden Era in his hands, Captain Peat will
justify the high opinions formed of him as a gentleman
and a sailor. As the vessel takes but a very limited quan-
tity of freight her draught of water will be light, and
afford the vessel a chance of proving her extraordinary
sailing qualities. The owners have likewise determined,
in the event of the wind not being very favourable on her
sailing day, to take advantage of steam down channel, and
we doubt not such a course will be materially advantageous
to the ship's passage, and the comfort and safety of the
passengers. The cabin accommodations of the Golden
Era are of the very highest order, embracing among other
comforts, baths for the use of passengers, the entire
arrangements in this class are such as cannot be excelled
on any vessel afloat. Those who have been in the cabins
of American packet ships, will be able to form an idea of
what is to be found in the Golden Era, she being in every
respect equal to the best of those celebrated ships.

OPENING OF THE COASTING TRADE.

A BILL TO ADMIT FOREIGN SHIPS TO THE
COASTING TRADE.

P.REAMBLE.—Whereas by the one hundred and fifty-
second section of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1853, it
is enacted, that no goods or passengers shall be carried
coastwise from one part of the United Kingdom to ano-
ther, except in British ships : And whereas by the one
hundred and ninety-first section of the same act it is en-
acted, that no goods or passengers shall be imported into
the United Kingdom from the Channel Islands or ex-
ported from the United Kingdom to the said islands, or
carried from one of the said islands to another, or from
part of any of the said islands to another part thereof,
except in British ships. And whereas it is expedient to
remove the restrictions contained in the said recited enact-
ments : Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent ,
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this
present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the
same, as follows :
I. The enactments herein-before recited, that is to say,
the one hundred and fifty-second and the one hundred and
ninety-first sections of the said Customs Consolidation Act,
1853, shall be repealed from the passing of this Act;
provided, that it shall be lawful for her Majesty to exer-
cise, in respect of foreign ships employed in the coasting
trade as aforesaid, and of goods carried coastwise in such
ships, such or the like powers as are conferred on her Ma-
jesty by the three hundred and twenty-fourth, three hun-
dred and twenty-fifth, and three hundred and twenty- '
sixth sections of the said Customs Consolidation Act, 1853,
in respect to foreign ships employed in the oversea trade,
and of goods exported or imported in such ships.
11. Every foreign ship which after the passing of this
act is employed in carrying goods or passengers coastwise
from one part of the United Kingdom to another, or from
the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Mau,
to the United Kingdom, or from the United Kingdom to
any of the said islands, or from any of the said islands to
any other of them, or from any part of any one of the
said islands to any other part of the same, shall be subject,
as to stores for the use of the crew, and in all other re-
spects, to the same laws, rules, and regulations to which
British ships when so employed are now subject.
111. No foreign ship which, after the passing of this act,
is employed in the coasting trade as aforesaid, nor any
goods carried in any such ship, shall, during the time such
ship is so employed, be subject to any higher or other rate
of dock, pier, harbour, light, pilotage, tonnage, or other
dues, duties, tolls, rates, or other charges whatsoever, or
to any otherrules as to the employment of pilots, or to any
other rules or restrictions whatsoever, than British ships
employed in like manner;or goods carried in such ships,
any law, charter, special privilege, or grant to the contrary,
Notwithstanding; nor shall any body corporate or person
having or claiming any right or title to any such higher
or other rates, dues, duties, tolls,. or other charges as afore-
said, be entitled to any compensation in respect thereof
under any law or statute relating thereto, or otherwise
howsoever.
IV. And whereas it is expedient to provide for the safety
of Passenger steamers : Be it enacted, that every foreign
steam-vessel carrying passengers from one place to another
on the coasts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland and the Channel Islands, shall be subject to the
provisions of the Steam Navigation ActZlBsl.

HEALTH COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting was held
on Thursday, Mr. Langsdale in the chair. A conversation
took place relative to the removal of the night soil by Mr.
Rose, from the places of deposit at Sefton-street and
Kensington. It was agreed that the Town-clerk should
give notice to Mr. Rose, that if the manure was not re-
moved within 14 days, the terms of the contract would be
enforced.—The Town-clerk read a comparative statement
of rates collected in 1852 and 1853. The returns showed
an increase in 1853 over the previous year of £3. 2s. 2d.
per cent., or £2,93o.—The medical officer reported that the
more genial temperature of the last fortnight having
caused a considerable decrease in the prevalence of inflam-
matory affections of the lungs, the mortality of the borough
had fallen below the average for the first time since the
month of November. The deaths, from all causes, in the
week ending Saturday were 209, being 35 less than in
the previous week, and twenty less than the average of
the same week of the preceding six years. Diseases of
the lungs, with consumption, caused 86 deaths, a decrease
of 22 as compared with the previous week. From diseases
of the zymotic class the mortality was lower than in any
week of the previous seven months. The total deaths
were 42, of which there were from typhus fever 13, hoop-
ing cough 11, diarrhcea, &c., 5, scarlatina 5, measles 3,
croup 3. Of the total 209 deaths, 112 were below the age
of 5, 71 between 5 and 60, 28 above 60, and 1, age un-
known.—ln reply to a question by Mr. Moss, the medical
officer said he believed the cholera had left the town.
HISTORIC SOCIETY or LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.—
The fourth monthly meeting was held in the Collegiate
Institution, on Thursday. Samuel Gath, Esq., in the
chair. The Earl of Harrowby was elected an ordinary
member ; also Alfred W. Hunt, Esq., A. 8., and Samuel
Wood, Esq., F.S.A., of Shrewsbury. The late Mayors
of Liverpool, Manchester, and Lancaster, were also en-
rolled' as permanent members, without election. The
curator announced as donations the last volume of Pro-
ceedings from the Literary and Philosophical Society ; the
Atheneum for 1853, from David Lamb, Esq. ; the Liver-
pool Photographic Journal, No. 1, from the society; Essay
on the Rock Salt formation in Cheshire, from the author,
G. W. Ormerod, F.G.S. ; several reports for the Board of
Health, from Robert Rawlinson, Esq., including that for
Garston ; Hall's Chronicle, 4to. blk. letr., 1549, from John
Clements, Esq. ; and a complete copy of his Essay on
Churches and Chapels, from the Rev. Dr. Thom. The
Rev. Peter Steel Dale exhibited the account of the curious
Runic Cross at Ruthwell Manse, Dumfriesshire, written
by the Rev. Dr. Duncan ; and Dr. Kendrick exhibited a
peculiar shaped halbert-head, which had been discovered
in the ceiling of a house at Manchester. Mr. Clements
banded round a clarions ancient spur, which had been
found near West Derby.- • The most curious article exhi-
bited was a horn-book washing tablet, arranged for fifteen
kinds-of domestic linen, and for twelve Of each. The
names—which are ruffes, bandes, cuffes, handkerchiefs,
capps, shutes, half-shirtes,bootehose, topps, sockes, sheetes,
pillouberes, table clothes; napkins, towels—appear through
the hhorn; and a circular disc under each moves round, a
hole in its margin standing , over the number of articles
sent to be washed. Dr. Hume appealed to the society for
subscriptions to the Newtori Mbnument at Grantham, in
Lincolnshire, to which he had become local secretary in
Liverpool, at the request of the committee. A letter was
read from Mr. Boardman, giving some additional particu-
lars respecting the late Mr. John Holt, of Walton. Two
interesting papers were read, each of which was illustrated
by drawings or engravings. Biographical Sketch of Mr.
John Wyke, with notice of the condition of arts and
manufactures in Liverpool, from 1760 to 1780, was edited
by H. C. Pidgeon, Esq., from the materials of W. J.
Roberts, of Aughton. The second paper was by Mr.
Mayer, giving an account of Shotwick Church, near
Chester, with remarks upon the curious arch there, and
Sam arches in general.

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

(EROM BELL'S WEEKLY MESSENGER.)
EvEY BODY is asking—" what are the Conservatives
going to do in the present Session of Paaliament !"—We
answer to this inquiry—" Nothing !" What can they do?
They threw away their chances when in power. They
They took up questions they could not carry. They dis-
heartened their friends, and did not pacify their enemies.
For the third time, within the short space of twenty years,
they were scattered, chiefly through their own mismanage-
ment, and it will take some time to bring them together
in such force, as to be able to form a firm and powerful
Administration. _ _ _

We believe, that it has already been determined by the
most influential members of this party, not to make im-
mediate exertions to displace the Aberdeen Administration.
A short time ago a meeting of the Conservative party was
held, when, after much discussion, it was resolved, that
the course to be adopted through the session should be,
not to throw any obstacles in the way of really useful
measures propounded by the Government, but to watch
every proceeding narrowly, and to take care that nothing
injurious to the Constitution should pass into a law, with-
out a firm and resolute opposition. It is said, upon com-
paring notes upon this occasion, that these gentlemen
found themselves to be quite strong enough at any
moment to turn out the Coalition Cabinet ; but that they
had not the materials to form an Administration, which
could carry on the business of the country, with any pros-
pect of permanent stability or success. If the vaunted
Reform Bill is really brought forward, then it is that we
shall see the combined strength of the Conservative party
ranged on the side of constitutional principles, and the
true interests of this Protestant country. But under the
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by
circumstances we have named, it was deemed to be more
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mediate servants of the Sovereign in every difficulty,
which the present discordant condition of European affairs
may engender. Another meeting is about to be called
shortly, further to discuss arrangements and to make
them final ; but we have no reason to think that any
alteration is either anticipated, or so much as even enter-
tained.

As to the war question, the Conprvatives will not act,
as their opponents doubtless would do, if removed from the
purlieus of Downing-street and Whitehall. They will
support every measure for active operations, likely to be
conducive to the re-establishment of an honourable peace,
whilst they will readily assist in voting such supplies as
the emergency of the moment may require. A great and
momentous struggle is to be expected ; but with their
usual fidelity to the true interests of the people, and
loyalty to the Throne, the Conservatives will stand by
their country, and do their utmost to defend Turkey from
Russian spoliation, and our own shores from invasion.
Such may be considered to be the tactics upon which
the Conservatives are agreed. We have no doubt they
' will meet with general approval. It may be said, that
these gentlemen " make a virtue of necessity ;" but it is
clearly far better and a more honourable policy to do so,
than to raise a factious opposition, which would but recoil
upon themselves, so long as they have not the power to
form a Cabinet, and do not feel themselves to be equal
efficiently to govern the country.

THE REPRESENTATION OF WINDSOR.—Lord Charles
Wellesley, one of the members for this borough, has inti-
mated to his leading supporters that he is about to resign
his seat, on the ground of ill-health. He has nearly lost
his eyesight.
THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY PRESENTED TO DR.
LAYABD.—On Thursday, a Court of Common Council was
held for the purpose of presenting the freedom of the
city to Mr. Austen Henry Layard, D.C.L., M.P., agreeably
to the resolution of the 3rd of March. In the evening
the Lord Mayor gave a dinner at the Mansion-house, in
honour of Mr. Layard.
Din. BUCKINGHAM has for some time held an exalted
position among the spiders of literature.—Preston Pilot.
Mn. CHARLES DICKENS was one of the special jurors
who failed to attend at the Court of Queen's Bench on
Monday last. Lord Campbell said that, if Mr. Dickens'
great chancery suit had been still going on, he certainly
should have excused him ; but, as it was, he certainly
thought Mr. Dickens might have done them the honour
of attending, to see how they got on at common law.
WAR NEWS.—We have good authority for stating that
the government are making arrangements for supplying
the intended Baltic fleet with coal at Great Grimsby.—
Manchester Examiner.
A KIND OF PAPER, made from gutta percha, has been
invented, which is considered to be superior to all kinds
for lithographs and engravings.
RULERS OF THE WORLD IN 1953.—Perhaps the fol-
lowing table, recently met with in a foreign journal, may
be thought of sufficient interest to make a note of. In
these unsettled times, and in case of a general war, how
much might be changed ! There are at present 83 em-
pires, monarchies, republics, principalities, duchies, and
electorates. There are 6 emperors, including his sable
Highness Faustin 1., of St. Domingo ; 16 kings, number-
ing among them Jamaco, King of all the Mosquitoes, and
also those of Dahomey and the Sandwich Islands ; 5
queens, including Ranavala of Madagascar, and Pomare of
the Society Islands 18 presidents, 10 reigning princes, 7
grand dukes, 10 dukes, 1 pope, 2 sultans, of Borneo and
Turkey; 2 governors, of Entrerois and Corrientes; 1
viceroy, of Egypt ; 1 sha, of Persia ; 1 imaum, of Muscat ;
1 ameer, of Cabul ; 1 bey, of Tunis ; and lastly, 1 direc-
tor, of Nicaragua.
A BOLD PROPOSAL.—INDIA. LET OUT TO FARM.—
"An Old Dealer in Paper " publishes a letter in the
Times, in which he offers to supply the East India Com-
pany with stationery as a free gift, if they will give him
the amount saved by the extinction of the three stationery
establishments and the three presidencies, which, he says,
owing to mismanagement and swindling, are now pro-
ductive of £20,000 loss annually. The writer has a
friend in the " drug and chemical line," who is willing to
make a similar offer for the supply of medical stores ;
and, in fact, he says " a party of us have been thinking of
offering to farm India altogether, at a rent of £10,000,000
sterling annually-,—the total nett revenue at present re-
ceived from it being under £2o,ooo,ooo,—giving a gua-
rantee for the extinction of famines in ten years' time, and
the completion of 500 miles of railway, and half as much
of canals, annually, with a proportion of common thorough-
fares, for thenext twenty years."
AN EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE took place late on
Thursday on the Great Western Railway. One of the
travellers by the down train, which leaves the Bath sta-
tion at 20 minutes past ten, was Mr. Charles Shaw, who
has been !performing in the pantomime at the Theatres,
Bath and Bristol. It is believed that he was not tipsy,
and it is said that he is a steady, sober man ; but he must
have been seized with some delirium, for the train had got
to within three or four miles of Bristol, when he made a
sudden leap through the window of the carriage in which
he was riding, and disappeared from his alarmed fellow-
passengers. Of course the train could not be stopped,
but upon its arrival at the Bristol station, the officials im-
mediately sent back an engine to ascertain the fate of the
man. He was found on the siding, alive, and without
having sustained any fracture, but suffering from many
contusions and from concussion of his brain. He was at
once brought into Bristol and conveyed to the infirmary,
where he now lies. It is a remarkable fact, that in one of
the scenes in the pantomime in which he has been playing,
the clown, pantaloon, and sprite have to jump through the
window of a Great Western Railway train while in motion,
and that the scene is then immediately changed to the
Bristol Royal Infirmary. It is not improbable that these
circumstances might have had some influence on a diseased
mind.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A WHOLE Fe.xn.Y.—The
village of Waddington, five miles from Croydon, has been
for some time past in a state of excitement and terror,
through the sudden and suspicious death of five members
of a family, named Atlee, under extraordinary circum-
stances. In the latter end of December- the mother was
absent one day on business for two hours, having left her
children in the house perfectly well, but on her return she
found them very ill, and vomiting violently, As they
continued ill, Mr. Hubert, the district surgeon, was called
in to attend them, as well as the mother, who too
also seized with similar symptoms. Two days after-
wards, one of the children died. On the next day another
died. On the following day the third child, and on
the fourth day the mother died. An inquest was
held by Mr. Carter, the coroner, when Mr. Hubert
gave it as his opinion that their deaths had been•caused
by want of sufficient nourishment and by typhus 'fever.
Mr. Bottomley, surgeon, of Croydon, feeling convinced
that the symptoms and appearances described were
not in accordance with the facts which are usually
found when typhus fever exists, addressed a letter
to Lord Palmerston earnestly requesting his lordship's
interference to have the bodies disinterred. The noble
lord instantly addressed a communication to the coroner
directing the disinterment of one of the bodies and the
adoption of a careful chemical examination. The body of
the mother was accordingly exhumed, and the contents of
the abdomen were forwarded to Dr. Alfred Taylor, for
analysation ; after which an inquest was held a few days
since, on the body of the mother, when Mr. Bottomley
attended on behalf of the Crown. The report of Professor
Taylor was then read, which excited the utmost surprise
and terror from its announcing the fact that, upon analy-
sing about four ounces of the liver, arsenic in large quali-
ties was discovered ; and that the tests employedleft upon
the professor's mind not the slightest doubt that deceased's
• liver contained that poison. The Jury, after hearing some
further evidence, returned the following verdict :-- " That
deceased had caused her own death by taking poison
(arsenic), but there is no evidence to show the state of
her mind."

ATTEMPT TO BREAM INTO WINDSOR CASTLE.—Next
to setting the Thames on fire, a burglarious entrance into
Windsor Castle would 'appear to be the most impossible
thing to effect, and yet there is every reason to believe the
attempt has been made. It is stated, on reliable autho-
rity, that Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood, of Cumberland-
lodge, Clerk-Marshal to his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, arrived at the Windsor terminus of the South-
Western Railway by the last train about midnight on
Monday. When the South-Western Station was erected,
some three years ago, a private carriage-road was-xasde. at
the foot of the Slopes to the Castle, the entrance be'lt
immediatell, opposite to Her Majesty's waitinF.
___,T..
This road is used only by members of the rorld,."Zil
and by gentlemen attached to the royal h°l:sen°ood pro-
leaving the train last Monday night Colonel
t castle, and
ceeded by the Slopes, as the nearest way.
tilt)hde walk seven
was not a little surprised to encounter
en 2
or eight men with their facesblack ed and their feet
fiedeat the approach of the
noiseless character of
muffled, if he might judge by the
their movements. The ruffians
that the suspected burglars
hon. and gallant gentleman,
of. On inquiry, it appeared and have not since been heard
cud on duty at the corner of the
were observed by
looking down from the terrace,
gold pantry), and that
Prince of Wales's
r give the alarm, they would blow
the
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oin
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se
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nt
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Proceeded thus
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f he
eattempted
parley Itid
Colonel Hood entered )33, the led
ge.gate in
far, when The
the burglars doubtless supposed that he
Ratchet-lane, and
his brains out.
was at the head of a party sent to capture them. This
„-iii account for their precipitate flight and subsequent
escape. On the arrival of Colonel Hood at the castle the
police were ordered to patrole the Slopes for the remainder
Of the night, but they could detect nothing likely to ex-
cite suspicion, or serve as a clue to the apprehension of the
guilty parties,