The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-09-12 00:00:00

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES
STEAM-FRIGATE 'MISSOURI BY FIRE.

The splendid new steam-ship Bentinck arrived at Cadiz
from Gibraltar on the 31st ult., bringinc, the intelligence
of the total destruction by fire of one of the finest vessels
of which the United States navy could boast. The fol-
lowing is the official notification forwarded to her Ma-
jesty's Consul at Cadiz :--
" Port of Gibraltar, 27th of August, 1843.

" The American steam-frigate of war Missouri unfor-
tunately caught fire in the course of the past night, and
burnt down to the water's edge, between the Orange and
Montague batteries, in four fathoms of water; and as it
is impossible to remove her now, she having gone to the
bottom, and being anchored there, all captains of vessels
who may enter the bay at night are thus advised, lest it
should happen that, through bad weather or any other in-
cident, the light should be extinguished, which will be
fixed over the place where she is sunk.

" W. THOMPSON, Acting Captain of the Port."

The Missouri carried 28 guns; and was pierced for 44.
The crew was entirely saved through the active interven-
tion of her Majesty's steamer Locust, which immediately
repaired to the spot, attracted by a spectacle of such ex-
traordinary and disastrous brilliancy. The burning vessel
threw a glare over the entire rock, illumining in the midst
of the night the various points and batteries, and throw-
ing its reflection over the bay as far as Algesiras. The
black hull and dark spars and rigging stood out in the
midst of the intense glare of light with a fine but porten-
tous effect, and the roar of the fire was intermingled with
the discharge of guns of distress, which soon, however,
ceased in the despair created by the awful rapidity with
which the flames increased their ravages, and made all hu-
man efforts unavailing. The Locust got up her steam
immediately, and arrived just in time to rescue the crew
from the fate which awaited them. So rapid was the
progress of the flame from the moment it burst forth, that
by the time the Locust reached her side she had burnt
down nearly to the water's edge. The Missouri had on
board a very large quantity of gunpowder, and to prevent
the dangerous effects of an explosion, it was judged advi-
sable to scuttle her, which was successfully accomplished
without delay, when she instantly disappeared.
The Missouri was bound for Canton, with the new Am-
bassador sent from the United States to the Emperor of
China, together with the gentlemen of his embassy and
suite. The fire was occasioned by combustion of the
large cargo of coal which the Missouri was obliged to
carry. This combustion had been going on for a con-
siderable time, and upon its discovery a quantity of water
was thrown upon the coal, which had the effect of appa-
rently extinguishing the flame. But it was, in fact, merely
smothered ; and upon its breaking out a second time, it
was found to have gained such head that no efforts could
arrest its progress. How the fire was first communicated
to the mass of coal has not been ascertained. The fire-
engines were worked with great vigour, and other means
resorted to to throw a quantity of water on the flames,
but in vain. By dint of considerable exertions many va-
luable effects were saved, and put on board the Locust,
including 50,000 dollars of specie. The vessel was of im-
mense capacity, her register being of nearly 2,000 tons,
and her crew was very numerous.

WATERPROOF BOOTS.—We have this week bad the
pleasure of seeing an exceedingly neat specimen of a
waterproof boot, manufactured by Mr. Russell, of Duke-
street, whose advertisement will be found in another co-
lumn ; but owing to a press of local matter, we must defer
our notice of it until next week.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. A gala of extraordinary
splendour took place at this deservedly popular resort yes-
terday evening. The brilliancy of the lights was perfectly
dazzling. The same entertainments will be repeated on
Friday next, when we feel confident that all who attend
will be as gratified as we were ourselves.
BARRISTERS.—We learn, from an authentic source,
that the barrister of longest standing in England is Char-
les Saville Oxley, Esq. (originally " Harvay") but who
changed his name. He was called to the bar on the 24th
April, 1780. Our respected townsman, Mr. Venables, is
also of long standing, he having become a barrister on
the 23rd of Nov. 1797.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE PARTRIDGES.—It is a circum-
stance worthy of observation that whereas, up to this date
in 1811, the number of Game Licenses taken out in the
County of Lancaster was 1190, and in 1842 the number
was 1216, to the corresponding period of the present year
only 316 licenses have been taken out, or about a fourth
of the average of the preceding years. We know not to
what we must attribute the falling off in the numbers of
our Sportine fraternity. ?ad times cannot be pleaded, for
we are certainly better off this year than in either 1841 or
1242.

THE AMPHITHEATRE.—We last week noticed, that
during 111iss Whitnall's concert at this large and com-
modious place of amusement, a portion of the platform
over the circle had given way, causing considerable alarm—
and alarm only—whieh quickly subsided. We learn
that the whole of the carpentery and fittings have since
been so remodelled, under the superintendance of Mr. J. H.
Gray, architect, that no apps ehensions need be entertained
of their solidity and safety—as was proved last night, by
the immense attendance at the vocal concert, elsewhere
noticed.

In the way of literature, everybody is talking about an
article in the Quarterlu published on Tuesday. It is in
defence of ministers from Whigism on the one hand and
" Young England" on the other. We purposed extract-
ing largely from it, but space forbids. We must not omit
to mention that Mr. Murray is about to carry out a spi-
itcd but:gum-iv. of Ilia fatlici'n, by publklitug swipe of nUt
standard works at a cheap rate, under the title of " Colo-
ni.l and Home Library." The series will commence with
" Southey's Life of Nelson," the most perfect and de-
lightful biography in our language.
SINGING FOR THE MILLION.—We had a littie con-
tempt for this new species of performance ; but an at-
tendance upon Mr. Crowe's classes yesterday evening, at
the Amphitheatre, agreeably disappointed us. Nothing
could be much better than the precision with which the
children a,sembled performed their various parts; and
some of the pieces, in which adults took part, were as
well sung as could have been expected from more prac-
tised voices. Th,. house was crammed with a fashionable
audience; and upon the platform we noticed a number of
the clergy, and several of the most influential merchants
of the town.

THE MAGICIAN AT THE LIVER THEATRE.—We
imagined that it was impossible greatly, if at all, to beat
the great Magician of the North—Anderson. But we
were mistaken. Mr. Sutton is quite his equal in sleight-
of-hand, and is superior in many of the tricks and per-
formances which he brings before the public. His auto-
maton " Tom " is inimitable. The little rascal is only
too life-like in his drollery. The entire of the per-
formances in ventriloquism are indeed first rite. But to
ourselves, the charm of Mr. Sutton's exhibition is his
performance on the two instruments, which for the first
time he has brought before our notice. The taste of the
performer, and his proficiency, are well worth the price
of the night's amusement ; and this has been evidenced
by the tumultuous encores with which they have been
honoured. We would advise every reader to pay the
Liver Theatre a visit.

THE FUNDS, SATURDAY EVENING.—The English
stocks closed firmly this evening at an advance of nearly
one quarter per cent. on previous prices, a few purchases
having given increased confidence to speculators. Con-
sols for money and the account closed 951 to 31; Exche-
quer Biils, 625. to 645. vremium ; India Stock, 265 i to
2661; and New Tbree-and-a-Half per Cents., 1081- to 1.
Although in the- foreign market there was not ninth busi-
ness transacted, firmness was more generally apparent.
The advance in Mexican, occasioned by yesterday's re-
action, was maintained to-day, and the operators for the
fall have been checked in Consequence of buyers coming
in at the low prices. A decline of nearly three per cent.
in this security during tie last week was no trifling
matter to parties who have ao interest in its position in
the market; and hence, though the Bears prevailed on
the first expression of doubts concerning the payment of
the dividend, they do not appear likely to have much
Inn.,:er the business all their own way. The settling day
approaches, and, should the discovery be made that they
have oversold themselves, Mexican will stand a chance of
recovering its value, even before any official announce-
ment can he made whether the dividend will or will not
be paid. The last prices to-day were 364 to 2 for the
Actives, and 104-' toll for the Deferred. Spanish Actives
closed 181. to 19; the Th ree per Cents., 268 tom; Dutch
Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 523- to 38; the Five per
Cents., 101 to a ; Danish, 86 to 87 ; Colombian, 251 to
25& ; Brazilian, 74 to 75 ; Portuguese, 42a to 434; and
Belgian, 1043, to 1054.

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO CHILDREN.—On Saturday two
rather good-looking little boys. one about seven and the
other about nine years old, and in the Workhouse dress,
were placed before Mr. Rushton, that their case might be
investigated. Their faller and mother were also in court.
Mr. Dowling stated, that from having learned on Friday
aftei noon great excitement prevailed in Concert-street, in
consequence of a rumour that two children were confined
naked in a garret by their step-mother, the wife of a
blacksmith named Washington. He went to the place
and there found the children almost in a state of nudity,
and in great destitution of bedding, but not apparently
suffering from want of food, Inspector Campbell had
previously with difficulty obtained admission into the
house, and found them in the state described. The
children were sent to the workhouse, and the father and
stepmother to the Police-office. The latter, it was said,
had in the absence of her husband, who, was some weeks
in gaol for debt, converted the house into a brothel.
and neglected the children. The father explained that he
had been unlucky in getting work, and that he had been
thrown into gaol, from which be had only got out on
Thursday, and !bat he could not provide clothing for the
children, who, it appeared, got some food from the neigh-
bours. lie decia.td he did not know that his wife had
kept the house as stated, and he never sanctioned such
conduct. He intended to resume Lis work as a horse-
shoer, as soon as he could get anything to do. Mr.
Rushton, who had found that there wete no marks of
violence on the children, said they must he taken care of
by the parish until the father could provide for them.
He stated that the father's case should also be inquired
into, and relief given if he were found to be destitute. On
the part of the mother there was no excuse, as she had
been, to say the least, grossly negligent, and if she con-
tinued to keep the house as stated, she would be prose-
cuted. The parties then proceeded to the parish-office,
where the case would be fully investigated.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT FIGHELDEAN, WILTS.—On
Thursday evening last a fire broke out on the farm of Mr.
Mills, at Figheldean, near Amesbury, which is said to
have originated from the circumstance of a child playing
with Inciter matches in a barn. Several ricks of corn were
destroyed, also two barns; and, in despite of all human
efforts, the flames soon extended to the roofs of some two
or three humble cottagtes, and burnt their inhabitants to
the whole ci the damage is calculated roughly at £7OOO.