The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

VIII LITIRPOOL STANDARD.

The shipping trade is exceedingly depressed at Liver-
pool, and freights are wholly unremunerative, A Man-
chester house has just chartered an American ship from
Calcutta at £2 15s. 6d. Freights are at least 15 per
cent. lower, on the average, than they were last year.
On Monday week an old man named William Tyrer,
74 years cf age, whilst walking on the ice in School-lane,
slipped his foot and fell down. On being carried to the
Infirmary it was discovered that one of his legs was
broken. The deceased lingered till Thursday last.
A few days since Henry Jones, a child five years old,
son of Thomas Jones, shipwright, No. 1 Court, Hill-
street, Toxteth-park, fell from a chair on which he was
climbing, and injured his head, from which inflammation
ensued, which caused his death.
The professor of music in the University of Oxford
(Sir Henry R. Bishop, Knight) has addressed a highly
complimentary letter to Mr. Hackett, M. 8., since his
return from Oxford. It will be seen from an advertise-
ment in this day's Standard that Mr. Hackett resumes
his professional duties during the present week.
DARING BURGLARY.—On Monday night a most daring
burglary was committed at the house of Patrick Duffy,
provision dealer, Fontenoy-street. The thieves carried
away £6 14s. sd. in money, a pair of shoes, two sides of
bacon, and 71bs. of butter. The following day ten men
were committed for trial, charged with the robbery.
Dr. W. M. Fisher gives his lecture on astronomy, tides,
eclipses, comets, &c., this evening, at St. James's Schools,
St. James's Road. It requires no comment. The lec-
turer is already known, his ability appreciated, and his
apparatus of such a character as to promise a high treat.
For particulars we refer our readers to our advertising
columns.

PRESENTATION.—A handsome and massive silver snuff
box, manufactured by Mr. Mayer, was presented to Mr.
James Clegg, of the Pontack Inn, Christian-street, on
Monday, " by the Liverpool Operative Plasterers' Society
as a small token of respect, and in remembrance of his
many acts of kindness rendered to that body." The box
is valued at £9, and was presented by Mr. Richard Eason.

Several alterations are now being made at the Exchange
News-room. The two doors at present existing on the
west side are to be removed, and their place, we believe,
supplied with windows. One principal entrance is to be
made at the window next the more southerly of the two
doors now in use. The outer doors of this new entrance
will admit into a compartment boxed from the room, on
each side of which double doors will open into the room.
WELSH CHORAL SOCIETY.—The fourth quarterly per-
formance of this society took place on Wednesday even-
ing, at the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street, and was so
numerously attended that it was with difficulty several
parties could gain access to the gallery and reserved seats,
in the centre of which we observed his Worship the
Mayor, who seemed to take much interest in the proceed-
ings of the evening. The programme comprised seven
English compositions, and the same number of Welsh.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday afternoon, about
two o'clock, as Mr. Charles Jankins, a respectable
plumber and glazier, in Islington, was assisting to lift a
large sheet of glass on the roof of the Lime-street station,
when the glass broke, and he fell backwards to the ground,
a distance of fifty feet. His legs were broken, and he
bled profusely from the lower part of the body. He died
at seven o'clock the same evening. The sheet of glass
was 12 feet by 5 feet, and the breakage was the cause of
the fatality. _ _

EARLY CLOSING ASSOCIATION.—On Tuesday the
members of this association celebrated their anniversary
by dining together at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Lime-
street. About sixty sat down to dinner, amongst whom
were many of those who took an active part in the estab-
lishment of this useful institution, and have subsequently
been engaged in prom9ting its interests. The chair was
occupied by Mr. J. Reyner, and the vice-chairs by Mr.
Furnival and Mr. Hyde. There were also present Mr.
E. L. Morris, the secretary, Mr. Kirkham, treasurer,
Mr. Mirams, Mr. Fidler, Mr. Ball, &e.
MONSTER LOG OF MAHOGANY.—On Thursday last,
there was landed from the vessel Atlantic, Capt. Hughes,
from Honduras, in the Birkenhead Docks, the largest log
of mahogany that ever came into the Mersey. It mea-
sures in length 20 feet, depth 5 feet 5 inches, thickness
4 feet 7 inches, and contains 5,958 feet superficial mea-
sure. This log is one of three which were cut from the
trunk of a gigantic tree felled by Messrs. Carmichael and
Co., at Honduras, the trunk of which, without branches,
was 50 feet long, of sound wood, and contained 17,000
superficial feet. This monster log, together with the one
cut off the end of it, which measures 6.490 feet. are now
in the possession of Messrs. Holme, Slater, and Crook,
and may be seen, where they are placed for sale, in the
Honduras Shed, Birkenhead.

CURIOUS CASE.—On Monday last, an inquest washeld
before J. Heyes, Esq., upon the body of a young man
named Richard Prescott, son of Mr. George Prescott,
Slack-house Farm, Bickerstaff. On Saturday last de-
ceased visited Liverpool with a cart load of produce drawn
by one horse. In the evening he was seen returning to-
wards home quite sober ; but when the horse arrived
there it was without a driver. On the following morning,
about seven o'clock, deceased was found lying on the road
near the railway bridge, Aughton, about three miles from
his home. He appeared to have been dead for several
hours, and his clothes were very dirty. Deceased's
money was found quite safe in his waistcoat pocket, and
his watch was found lying at some distance from the body.
The jury were of opinion that he met his death by an
accident.

THE TIMBER TRADE.—The leading members of the
timber trade are now taking efficient measures to prevent
the removal of their business from the south end of the
town. They have held several meetings lately which
now stand adjourned, as they deem it advisable not to
proceed further until the result of the interview with the
Dock Committee should be known, leaving it open for
them to take whatever course may be required under the
circumstances. It is understood that the Birkenhead
Dock Company are desirous of securing the timber trade,
which employs about 260,000 tons of shipping, and that
they have offered land at a mere nominal charge. The
question is one requiring the deepest consideration, seeing
that so many important interests are involved. The de-
putation waited on the Dock Committee, and the result
of the interview will be found in our report of the dock
proceedings in another column.
PRESENT OF GREYHOUNDS TO THE PACHA OF EGYPT.
—An interesting collection of animals having been pre-
sented to the Zoological Society, by the Pacha of Egypt,
it was determined to acknowledge his kindness by for-
warding a number of greyhounds of the best blood this
country could produce, the officers of the Society hearing
that his highness had been disappointed in some dogs
from France. The Earl of Derby was requested by the
Society to apply to Lord Sefton, and E. G. Hornby, Esq.,
and the result of the application is that six have been
selected from the kennel of the former gentleman, and
two from that of the latter. To those conversant with
coursing matters it may be interesting to know that the
dogs chosen from Lord Sefton's kennel are Superfine,
Speaker, three bitches by Marquis, out of Synedocke, and
(we believe) Sailor. Mr. Hornby's contribution to the
Pacha's pleasure are Homily and Handicapper.
CALIGRAPHY.—The dispositions of men, say some
persons, are indicated in their writing. The Duko of
Wellington, for instance, mates bold tall letters, signifi-
cant of daring and ambition ; while the compact style of
Mr. Brougham betrays an intellect acute and cogent. Mr.
Moore writes a lady hand, from which it is inferred that
gentleness prevails in his mind over more masculine feel-
ings. But here the theory is at fault, for Byron's writing
was very like his biographer's. Perhaps, as Lord Chester-
field said, we can write in whatever style we please ; and
on looking over some specimens at Mr. Thompson's, the
other day, we were forcibly struck with the correctness of
this observation. Mr. Thompson's pupils learn in a few
lessons to correct the most inveterate habits, and some of
our friends have had the good sense to profit by his in-
structions. We would recommend one or two of our cor-
respondents, if they wish us to read their future commu-
nications, to lose no time in applying to him.
ACCIDENT, AND DETENTION OF THE MAILS, ON
THE LONDON AND NORTH - WESTERN RAILWAY.—
On Monday evening, the Newcastle express train
had nearly reached the Roade station, about sixty
miles from London, when it encountered an impe-
diment—supposed to have been a stone detached
from the high cutting at the side of the line—and was
forced violently off the rail, dragging the carriages after
it, which swung round and formed a complete barricade
across the line. The passengers were at once got out;
and efforts were promptly made to raise the engine, but
failed for want of force at hand. In due course the mail
train from London came up, and was of course stopped.
Hands were then set on to clear the line blocked by the
carriages ; and, after some hours' labour, the passengers
for London were forwarded by an engine and carriages
procured from Wolverton. The mail passengers for the
north were next provided for, an engine and carriages
having been procured from Rugby, into which they were
hurried higgledy-piggledy, luggage and every thing being
mixed indiscriminately. At Rugby they were sorted, and
sent on to their various destinations. The mail arrived here
at a little after 12 on Tuesday, being eight hours behind
its time. The only injury sustained was by the stoker,
and it is not serious.—With reference to some remarks
in our last week's paper, upon the non-arrival of a por-
tion of our telegraphic news, we have learnt that the
company's wires were thrown down by the accident.
DARING BURGLARY AT TRANMERE.—On Thursday
evening last, a most daring robbery was committed at the
house of Contain Prowse, Whetstone-lane. About eight
o'clock a knock was heard at the door, and on the servant
answering the summons she was knocked down, and five
or six rough looking fellows entered the dwelling. The
screams of the girl brought Mr. Prowse to her assistance,
and though that gentleman is considerably advanced in
years, he seized one of the robbers, but just at the moment
another of the gang presented a pistol at him, and
threatened to shoot him if he offered resistance. The
scoundrels then ordered Mr. and Mrs. Prowse to turn
their faces to the wall and demanded their purses, which
jointly contained about four pounds, and were given up.
Three or four of the party proceeded up stairs, and ab-
stracted £4O in notes from Mr. Prowse's drawer : they
also carried off a silver watch and three sovereigns from
the servant's drawer in the bed-room. The fellows ab-
stracted the money from the purses, and left them behind.
After locking the family in the parlour, they effected their
escape. Mr. Prowse was obliged to cut a hole through
the door in order to liberate the family, and as more than
an hour had elapsed before his purpose was completed,
the thieves succeeded in effecting their escape. The scene
of this desperate transaction is in the vicinity of the Park
Hotel; and the fact that this is not the first outrage of
the kind which has been perpetrated in the neighbour-
hood, within the last few weeks, proves beyond dispute
the necessity for more efficient measures for the protec-
tion of the inhabitants on the Cheshire side. There is
reason to believe that the burglars are still in the neigh-
bourhood, and it is supposed that they attempted to com-
mit a similar outrage at a house in Clifton-park, on the
following (Friday) evening. A gentleman was talking to
his wife about the robbery which had taken place at Capt.
Prowse's when a knock was heard at the door. The gen-
tleman answered the door himself, merely opening it a

short distance with the chain on. Directly the door was
opened a rush was made from the outside, but without
effect, and a man who was seen standing on the step com-
menced begging. The gentleman told him to go about
his business, and on closing the door h e heard two or
three men making off. The same night, about eleven
o'clock, s bad character, named John Lynch. was observed
loitering about in the neighbourhood of Clermont, and
attempted to break into a house in a similar manner. He
was taken into custody by P. C. Evans, and has been
committed to prison for a month.