The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-12 00:00:00

A SUBJECT FOR A PAINTER.

We have seen some dozens of portraits of Jenny Lind ;
but she has yet to be painted as she appeared at the
Liverpool Collegiate Institution, according to the critic
of the Mercury. " Mademoiselle Jenny," we are told,
" was supported by M. Roger, the eminent tenor, from
the Academie Royale Musique, Paris, Signor Belletti,
and Signor F. Lablache, both of her Majesty's Theatre,
assisted by a full orchestra, the principals being selected
from the same establishment, and led by M. Nanaud;
the whole under the direction of Mr. Balfe." A sin-
gular cortege ! Poor " Mademoiselle" Jenny—whence
got she that prefix ?—must have been a little poorly on
the occasion, to require to be supported by the three
powerful singers named, assisted by a full orchestra, led
by M. Nanaud, and the whole directed by Mr. Balfe, who
we suppose acted as a sort of whipper-in on the occasion.
The details of this suggested companion to the pilgrimage
to Canterbury our contemporary promises, as usual, " on
Tuesday."

THE LATE FIRE ON BOARD THE OCEAN MONARCH.—
The vote of thanks passed in Council on Wednesday, on
the motion of Mr. Bramley-Moore, to the numerous par-
ties who assisted in saving the crew and passengers of the
Ocean Monarch, has given universal satisfaction ; but the
country at large has a right to be proud of the efforts of
the clergy, the merchants, and inhabitants of Liverpool
generrlly, to alleviate the condition of the sufferers by this
sad calamity. Never, perhaps, were such efforts distin-
guished by a more munificent spirit, more promptly re-
sorted to, and more judiciously conducted throughout ;
and, in addition to the consoling reflection which every
one who contributed to the success of those efforts will
carry in his own breast, he will have the satisfaction of
believing, in years to come, that by many a hearth, in
many a house, in their own, or in the new country to
which these strangers were departing, and to which many
of them have since proceeded, the name of Liverpool and
its merchant princes will be remembered with respect and
gratitude. 'What a lesson are the whole proceedings
throughout this melancholy event capable of teaching to
the world, if we would read it aright ! What elements
does it contain of solemn warning for monarchs, forstates-
men, and even for the poorest and most heart-stricken of
their subjects! Who can contemplate this spectacle of
princes, of the wealthy, and the toiling, fusing instantly all
considerations of rank, of country, of blood, and of con-
dition, to rush to the succour of their fellow-beings in the
hour of calamity, without having impressed upon them the
folly as well as the wickedness of national enmities, and of
feuds and estrangements between class and class ? Many
of those, in whose behalf these noble efforts were made,
were leaving their native land in bitterness of heart, taught
to look upon England and upon Englishmen as the cause
of their past woes and their expatriation. Some had had
inculcated in them lessons of the utter selfishness of
wealth. Many, it is but too probable, had but recently
been on the verge of rebellion against all authority, and of
society itself. They, too, may with advantage contem-
plate the ample proof's given them of the falsehood of their
past conceptions of human nature, and that they are not
quite the despised units in the earth's family which they
painted themselves. Unhappily there are men upon
whom such lessons are bestowed in vain. Nay, we have
had an instance of one—we blush to say an editor of an
Irish paper—whe has clothed the circumstances of this
sad catastrophe with malignant falsehoods, in order to
aggravate in the minds of his ignorant fellow-countrymen
their blind hatred of this country. Few and far between,
we trust, are such men to be found ; and, in the name of
truth, let all honest men avoid them !
THE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON THE IST OF NOVEMBER.
—A singular recoil in the minds of the public will be ex-
hibited in the course of the elections of members to sup-
ply the annual vacancies in the council on the first of
November. Last year, on the same occasion, we had
every candidate for corporate honours playing off, as his
most valuable card, his zeal for the improvement of the
sanatory condition of the town. It formed the head line
of every electioneering placard ; the leading topic of
every electioneering speech. The community were to be
watered and sweetened forthwith. The council was to be
a body of doctors and scavengers, wetnurses and night-
men. Unhappy wight will be that man who, on the
coming first of November, shall so much as mention the
term " sanatory." The possessor of a chartist pike will
not be regarded as more to be shunned than a candidate
who is suspected of a design to introduce the Rivington
article of that name. Our aspirations after cleanliness,
sweetness, well swept streets, and even an anxiety to
lengthen the lives of our population appear to have
vanished into thin air. How is this ? all the world is
asking. We fancy that, in part, we may attribute it to
the fact of our legislature having been too fast ; and
alarmed the constituencies in that very sensitive quarter,
the pocket. The accumulated evils of a century's neg-
lect cannot be removed in a day, or for a trifle. Miles of
sewerage, draining, flagging, and paving to be constructed;
an army of scavengers to be kept, with engineers, sub-
engineers, architects, inspectors, and• officials of all titles
and descriptions, made up an awful prospect for strug-
gling ratepayers to contemplate, at a period of general
stagnation in business, and with increased pauperism
pressing upon them on every side. The future Elysium
held up before them had been too tempting to resist ; but
when the bills of costs began to come in, they turned
away from the soft seductions of those who had wooed
them to what they now regard as frightful extravagance.
In fact, we doubt if any portion of the community, when
they so eagerly entered into this most desirable effort to
improve the sanatory state of the town, and to check the
great expenditure of life and health, which was being
occasion( d, had ever sufficiently, if at all, attempted to
count the cost. And we fear that those—the Health
Committee, and the council—to whom they delegated the
mode and the extent of its being carried out, will find
that they have used their trust with too little considera-
tion for the circumstances, and respect for the opinions
and remonstrances of the ratepaying public. There has
' been a little want of tact shown. The patient required a
little coaxing, instead of coercion. He had opinions of
his own on some matters, which argument might have
removed, but no mere pelting with great names would
stir him from. We are sorry for this sad mistake, on two
accounts : first, that it threatens to impede a great
movement, from which the most valuable moral and phy-
sical results would have flowed, and, secondly, that it has
produced lamentable estrangement amongst parties and
individuals, and threatens to deprive the town of the
services of many gentlemen, whose absence from its coun-
cils we should regret to witness.
A BRiDEW ELL TENANT.—A wretched-looking female
was brought up as a " drunk and disorderly." Mr. Par-
kinson said that she was brought to bridewell and booked
on the same charge every week. " I can't be here every
week," retorted the defendant, " for I'm not always in
town."

INFORMATION AGAINST TUE CAPTAIN OF A STEAM-
BOAT.—Yesterday, at the police-court, Mr. Waln ap-
peared is behalf of the Commissioners of Birkenhead, to
support an information laid against the Seacombe steamer,
Thomas Wilson, the captain of which, had cut a rope,
contrary to the act, belonging to the Kingfisher, a lug-
gage boat. It appeared that on Thursday afternoon, the
Seacombe boat was at her berth at the stairs of the
Prince's-pier, one of the Welsh steamers was to the north
of her and pretty close, and the Kingfisher, on coming in
a-head of her was shouted to, the captain of the Thomas
Wilson saying that if they went to make fast there, the
packet would not have room to get out, This was not
heeded by the Kingfisher, and when the packet attempted
to get out, she carried away her flag-staff against the
hawser of the luggage boat, upon which the captain,
being irritated, cut the hawser. Mr. Rushton, after a
long hearing of the case, said both parties were wrong,
the luggage boat in going so near the packet, and inter-
rupting her egress when the bell rang; and the captain of
the packet for cutting the rope, for which there was no
justification. He awarded the complainants 6s. Bd. for
the rope, and fined the packet Is. for damages for having
cut it.—The fine might have been £5O.

LIVERPOOL POLYTECNIC SOCIETY.

INTERESTING PAPER ON THE SMOKE QUESTION.

The general monthly meeting of the Polytechnic Society
took place at the Royal Institution yesterday evening, and
was pretty numerously attended. The President of the
Society occupied the chair.
C. W. WILLIAMS, Esq., made a communication on the
subject of the Smoke Nuisance, which (he said) had lately
occupied so much attention. The operations of the pro-
visions of the Sanatary Act had given fresh impulse to the
enquiry. That act had, however, given dissatisfaction to
those who had to pay for its infringement. and a memorial
had been presented to the Council, complaining of the
proceedings under it, and alleging that it required more
perspicuity in the letter, and more toleration in the spirit.
The sub-committee, on the other hand, report, on this me-
morial that the act had been carried out with great lenity.
The speaker then quoted the statements of the memorial,
as introductory to his discourse, and these were to the
effect (after stating what the act required that parties
should do to consume or prevent smoke) that intelligent
practical men bad acknowledged that science had not been
able to lay down any positive law, nor had experience dis-
covered any certain method by which this desideratum
could be accomplished. The same, said Mr. W., might
be said of any branch of science. Certainly no law had
been laid down by which the desirable end of perfect
combustion, without smoke, could be accomplished,
while we proceeded at random in the erection of our
furnaces, and without adopting those means and pre-
cautions which nature dictated as necessary to success.
The assertions of the memorialists applied equally
to the prevention of smoke from oil lamps or gas-
burners. Yet the burners and lamps before them
disproved the assertion. The nuisance of smoke could
not be universally avoided. But if ill-constructed lamps
airlifting much smoke be used, it is no reason that we
should be justified in adopting no means or method by
which smoke from lamps may be avoided. The question
of the omission of smoke from furnaces turned on the
perfect or imperfect combustion, not of the coal, but of
gas generated from it. In our gas-burners we saw it
could be effectually consumed ; and why not the same in
furnaces. Chemistry pointed out the laws which govern-
ed combustion in both. What then were those laws, and
how should we carry them out ? We must not only pro-
vide the proper ingredients, but also adopt proper means
for effecting our purpose. It was seen that the perfec-
tion of our gas-burners was attributable to the mode in
which the air was brought into contact with the gas ; yet
we made no enquiry whether the air as admitted to the
gas, was admitted to our furnaces in a proper manner. It
was generally supposed that a sufficiency of air passed up
the bars. We might as well expect that air could pass up
through the lungs of one man to support the life of ano-
ther. Yet the lungs were but the chambers in which the
oxigen of the air was brought into contact with the carbon
of the blood. This is what takes place in the furnace.
He showed that this was purely a chemical question, as it
involved the combining of carbon, oxigen, hydrogen, and
nitrogen. Yet many professional smoke burners affected
to despise these chemical views. The term " burning
smoke" might pass in ordinary conversation ; but in dis-
cussing scientific subjects such an expression could not be
admitted. With respect to the economy of the practice
of admitting air in proper quantities to the gases in the
furnace, Mr. Williams illustrated it with reference to the
Trafalgar steamer, in which the consumption of fuel was
38 cwt. per hour ; but under the process of admitting
air to the gases, it was reduced to 25 cwt. The
dense volume of smoke no longer appeared, and the
generation of steam was improved. But we had proof
sufficient, in this town of land boilers, in which perfect
combustion was effected. Why then not succeed in
other instances ? Mr. W. here referred to the works of
two public bodies, the Liverpool and Harrington Water
Works in Soho-street, and the steam-engine furnaces at
Edge-hill. Our object, he said, ought to be the obtaining
the largest quantity of heat from coal, without the gene-
ration of smoke. That was effecting perfect combustion
of the constituents of the coal. This led to the inquiry
what were those constituents. In general terms, coal
contained 5 to 7 per cent. of hydrogen, and 60 to 70 per
cent. of carbon or coke. Their combustion was effected
by their union with oxygen. Mr. W. here went into a
consideration of what combustion was. Flame was not
combustion, but merely one of the preparatory stages.
Combustion then was the chemical union of the combus-
tible with the atmospheric oxygen. If, for instance, one
volume of hydrogen were brought into contact with half
its volume of oxygen, and raised to a given temperature,
th ..)r would instantly chemically combine, and form
water of the exact weight of the two gases. So also
of the carbon of the coals. Mr. Williams then pro-
ceeded to shew, by diagrams, that, in the combustion
of the gas from coals, each cubic foot of gas required
10 cubic feet of air. This be proceeded to explain
not only theoretically, but practically,—combining
the gas and the air in a glass jar, and therein effecting the
combustion. He also illustrated the effect produced when
the air was not supplied in the required quantity, in
which case the gases, in place of exploding, burned down
in the jar, only in proportion as the air was supplied. In
this way Mr. W. clearly showed the necessity of attention
to the three following conditions :—namely-
-Ist. Providing the quantities of air required.
2nd. The necessity of mixing it, and
_ _

3rd. Maintaining the required temperature in the gas.
The experiments were most successful and excited much
interest. The lecturer, who was listened to with great
interest throughout, sat down amidst much applause.
The CHAIRMAN having invited any remarks, an inter-
esting discussion ensued. The Chairman first put some
questions to Mr. Williams, relative to the effect of cooling
the gases by their coming in contact with the colder sur-
face of the boiler, which were answered satisfactorily.
Mr. GRANTHAM, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr.
Williams, for his interesting address and experiments,
(which he did in termsof high praise,) referred to the recent
differences between the engine-owners of the town and the
Corporation. Some parties amongst the former had chosen
to be personal in their remarks regarding himself, but that
he cared not for. They had stated, too, that the provisions
of the act had been carried out most rigorously. But not
only was notice given to them six months before the act
was passed, but six months after it passed elapsed
before a single information was prosecuted. No fewer
than 669 notices had been given ; 220 informations had
been laid for nuisances, and of these only 45 were gone
on with, and out of these last only 33 had been fined, he
himself having advised the withdrawing of many of the
cases. He did not call this severity. The reason the in-
formations were withdrawn for a time was, that as parties
complained of severity to the council through a deputa-
tion, the latter body had to make inquiry, and the depu-
tation had on their last interview gone away satisfied that
the Council had acted considerately towards them. He
denied a rumour that he had withdrawn himself through
fear from acting for the Corporation ; and said that he
should act again professionally for them when called upon,
and do his duty without being frightened by any cabal
whatever, for he considered the abatement of the nuisance
would greatly benefit all large towns.
The vote was passed by acclamation, and Mr. WIL-
LIAMS briefly acknowledged it, promising the remainder
of his discourse some meeting night this year.
Mr. C. I. SMITH then spoke at considerable length,
quoting Dr. Brand and others, and expressing his opinion
against Mr. Williams as to the combustion of smoke,
which Ile contended, could be accomplished to a great
degree.

Mr. WILLIAMS ably replied.
After some further conversation the meeting broke up,
highly pleased with the intellectual treat of the evening.

Miss Burdett Coutts is at present staying at the Adelphi
Hotel here.

An association has lately been formed. under the title
of the " Royal German and British Musical Society,"
which promises to be conducive to the advancement of
music in this country.
A DOCK TlllEF.—William Aliwood was brought up
for having been found, with two other boys, under suspi-
cious circumstances, on board a vessel lying in Brunswick
Dock. The prisoner, who has been ten times previously
committed, was sent to gaol for three months.
COLOSSEUM, BIRKENHEAD.—There is now before the
public a torospectus for erecting at Birkenhead, a little to
the north of Woodside Ferry, a colosseum, on the plan of
the building of the same name, Regent's-park, London.
The capital is announced at £20,000, in 1,000 shares of
£2O each ; but it is calculated that not more than XS per
share will be required.
DREADFUL. INTELLIGENCE.—A contemporary, remark-
ing upon the fact of Mr. Lawrence Heyworth being re-
turned for Derby, in the place of Sir Joshua Walmsley,
who was unseated on petition, congratulates the electors,
" that Derby will not, at all events, have to complain that
we furnished them with a silent member. Mr. Heyworth
can talk." This is shocking. Another addition to the
talkers of the house will render that body almost unen-
durable.

PITCH AND TAR UNINFLAMMABLE.—On Saturday af-
ternoon some highly-interesting experiments took place
in Mr. Royden's yard, Baffin-street, with the view of test-
ing the non-inflammability of pitch:and tar, prepared by
Messrs. Bagot, Boissage, and Tindel, merchants, of Bor-
deaux The tar prepared by the new process is applicable,
we believe, to sails, rigging, and other general purposes,
and it is stated that if a ship's bottom be coated with it, it
will be as effectually preserved from worms, shells, and
seaweed as if it were sheeted with copper or zinc.
THE WEATHER..—The past week was, on the whole,
very favourable for the completion of the harvest, there
being some fine sunny days, with drying winds. On Sa-
turday and great part of Sunday we had again a good deal
of rain; but yesterday was fine, though with a sensible
change in the atmosphere, for the colder. The grain in
this neighbourhood is now, with very little exception, put
under thatch. It would appear that the late fine weather
has arrested the further progress of the potato disease, if,
indeed, it has not to some extent restored it to a heathier
condition. Other field crops are looking well.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—It will be seen on reference
to our advertising columns that the untiring managers
of this establishment have succeeded in engaging Madame
Rossini, whose wonderful evolutions created such a sen-
sation, and drew such crowded audiences when last an-
nounced. Apart from even the attractions of expensive
engagements, these gardens are by far the most exten-
sive in the provinces, and now that the verdure is par-
taking of the rich autumnal tints, they present a prome-
nade that cannot fail gratify as well as advance the taste
of every patron.
Mr. Hastie, the member for Paisley, has offended some
of his constituents. Resolutions were unanimously agreed
to at a public meeting of the electors, finding fault with
his votes and general conduct for some time past, and that
he has incurred the displeasure and lost the confidence of
the great majority of the electors of Paisley, and calling
upon him to resign his trust into the hands of his consti-
tuents. In replying to the resolutions the hon. gentleman
declines accepting the hint about resignation, stating that
next election will be a sufficient opportunity for settling as
to the further continuance of his services.