The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

GENERAL MISCELLANY.

On Sunday last a hive of bees swarmed in the parish of
Easton, near Wickham Market.
On Friday week the shock of an earthquake was felt in
the island of Guernsey.
The cuckoo was frequently heard in Balderstone during
Christmas week.—Blackburn Standard.
NEW MAGISTRATE.—On Thursday last, at the quarter
sessions, the Hon. Colin Lindsay, son of the Earl of Bal-
csrres, took the oaths, and qualified as a magistrate.
Madame Vestris and Mr. C. Matthews re-appeared at
the Haymarket on Saturday evening week after an absence
of several weeks.

On Tuesday evening a female committed suicide by
throwing herself off the suspension bridge at Hammer-
smith into the river Thames.

The Plymouth Journal states, that there are two hun-
dred apples as large as walnuts on a tree in a garden at
Stonehouse.
The United States Customs have decided not to allow
the drawback on coals in future to the steamer Great
We4ern ; this will make a serious difference to the com-
pany.

The London New Price Current of Tuesday published
an annual statement of the deliveries of goods : in almost
every instance there is an increase as compared with the
previous year.

INCOME TAX.—We understand that persons claiming
allowance for empty property. for the year ending sth of
April last, are required to oake their claims on or before
the lit of February next, or they will not be allowed._

•
CHALLENGE TO MR. COBDEN.—Mr. Feargus O'Con-
nor has addressed a letter to the Manchester Courier en-
gaging to discuss with him the propriety of a repeal of
the Corn Laws on Mr. Cobden's own terms.
DEATH or GIBSIDE FAIRY.—This celebrated brood
mare, the Grandam of Mundig and Cotherstone, both
Derby winners. the property of John Bowes, Esq., M.P.
died at Streatiant Paddocks, on Saturday last, in the 33rd
year of his age, completely worn out with old age.
DEATH FROM SLEEPING ON A DAMP BED.—The
Shrewsbury Journal mentions the demise of Mr. John
Morris hop-merchant, of Mardol, in that town, whose
death was caused by having slept in a damp bed at an inn,
in Nantwich, a fortnight before. •
It is a curious fact that the new year's receipts at the
Edinburgh Zoological Gardens have exactly doubled
every year since its opening. In 1841, the receipts were
£3O; in 1842, £6O; in 1843, £120; and t.:is year they
amounted to £240.

EXTRAORDINARY MUNIFICENCE.--The following
most munificent bequest., have been made by the late Dr.
Beckwith. of York :—X2OOO for the bells of York Min-
ster. £3OOO to restore the Chapter-house, £lO,OOO to the
Museum, £5OOO to the Blind School, and £5OOO for the
Penitentiary.

EXPLOSION OP A BOILER AT MIDDLISSBRO%—On Sa-
turday last an explosion, from the blowing up of a boiler,
occurred at the bon works of Messrs. Bolckow and
Vaughan, Middlesbro'-on-Tees. We regret to add that
one man lost his life and two others were dangerously
wounded.

THE TOBACCO TRADE.—From the result of the inter-
♦iews had by deputations of the tobacco trade with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, it is inferred that no re-
duction of duty is contemplated. but that there will be
an alteration in the excise law affecting the article. This
will be news for many of the trade.—Globe, Tuesday.
A new description of augur for boring wood has been
invented by an American gentleman ; it is constructed in
a spiral form, exactly similar in appearance to a cork-
screw, which empties itself of the fragments of wood
'ithout having occasion to withdraw it from the bore, as
is the case with augurs on the common principle.
An official address from the general treasurers and se-
cretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society has just
been published, from which it appears, that, on an inves-
tigation of the probable state of the finances for 1843,
there is some reason to apprehend that the income of the
year will fall short of the expenditure by not less than
from ten to twelve thousand pounds.

According to a report made by Mr. Braidwood, the
number of fires and alarms in London, which have hap-
pened from Jan. 1 to December 31, 1843, at which the
engines of the establishment have been called into requi-
sition, amount to 901. It further mentions that the fires,
by which premises were totally destroyed, number 298,
buildings considerably damaged 231.

NAPTII A. OR LIQUID GAS LAMPS.—These lamps
having come into extensive use, and several cases of fire
having arisen from them, the attention of the principal
Ere insurance companies has been directed to the danger
arising from them ; and we are told that several of the
offices have resolved not to issue any policies on premises
where they are used.

THE Pori`Eatas.—We have great pleasure'in stating
that the trade in Staffordshire is very good. The potte-
ries are in full employ, and the iron business improving,
with an increasing demand, and steady advancing prices.
Many blast furnaces that had ceased smelting are now re-
charged and in full operation—a beneficial effect to the
numerous colliers in that district.—Derby Mercury.

One day last week a sailor-looking man was found dead
in a sitting position, near a public-house at Chelsea. He
had only one leg : in his pocket was found the duplicate
of a leather leg which had been pawned that day for seven
shillings. It was ascertained that his death had arisen
from natural causes—ossification of the valves of the
heart.

It is now positively stated that a Chinese ambassador—
" a real live China mandarin"—deputed by his Celestial
Majesty, the imperial brother to the sun and
Bermancousin-
to the moon—is about forthwith to exhibit his
pigtail and five-clawed dragon, his peacock's feather and
red button, among the blue ribands, black rods, white
sticks, and garters, of the Court of Her Majesty Queen
Victoria.

PRESENT TO HER MAJESTY.—Eight most beautiful
and pure-bred bantams (consisting of a cock and three
bens of gold, and the like number and d scription of sil-
ver, bantams) arrived at Windsor Castle on Monday
week, as a present to the Queen, from Mr. W. 11 Hol-
combe, of Campden, in Gloucestershire, a gentleman who
has long been celebrated for his peculiar breed of this
rare and curious species of domestic birds.
A House D
delight IvIDPn, &c.—The League are in high
at
few days
a letter,
ago. from the ahich was sent to them, a
• Marquis of 'Westminster, containing R sub-
scriptton of £5OO. How this subscription was wrung
from the noble marquis, perhaps Lord R. Grosvenor can tell. Certain it is, that the house of Grosvenor is divided against itself, RS the well-known principles of the two
elder sons of the marquis, in contrast with those of the
llteinber for Chester and the father, can testify.
ANTI-LEAGUE SOCIETIES.—We are glad to observe
that the agricultural interest is becoming alive to the ne-
cessity of energy and union in resisting the machinations
of the Anti aw Corn I -League. Associations are about to
be formed in Sussex. Kent, Warwickshire, Lincoln, Hun-
tingdon, and other counties ; and one has been already
organised in Essex, for the above important purpose. The
association already formed is the " Essex Agricultural
Protection Society!,
THE 'WIDOW OF Mr. ASPINALL'S LATE GAME-
KEF:PP.R.—A subscription has' been set on foot for the
relic .t and family of poor Scholfield, late eamekeeper of
John Aspinall.
of Standen-hall. Mitton, who was
shot in an affray with poachers in Mitten Wood, a few
weeks since. The subscription already amounts to a sum
adequate to
secure an allowance of five shillings a week
to the widow and family of the deceased for four years.
Lova AND MuttnEa.—On Wednesday night, a youne
man, named Sumner who was paving his addresses to a
girl named Shelton, both of Arnold, was talking with his
1 dy-love in the town street, when her father came to
them, and told his daughter to go home. She refused,
When he went and fetched a bill-honk or hand-bill. and
inflicted such a sever e wound upon Sumner as to fracture
his skull. The brutal fellow has absconded, and his vic-
tim now lies in a most dangerous state.—Nottingharri
Journal.
PRESTON FLEETWOOD, AND LYTRAM.—A general
order has be
en received from the Customs announcing
that the Lords of the Treasury have constituted Preston
an independent port of the 6th class; and directed that
Fleetwood, the present head port of the district, he a
creek within the port of Preston :—and, further, " ap-
pointing Lytham within the port of Preston to be the
proper station for all ye...els coming to, or departing
from, the said port to Grits(' to, for the boarding or land-
ing of officers of the Customs."
SURRENDER OF AN INCENDIARY.—On Thursday
afternoon, a youret man named Thomas Katterns, by
trade a weaver, resisting at Kettering, in Northampton-
shire, surrendered himself into the custody of constahie
Dudenev, of the Northamptonshire police, a.-knowledgmg
that he had set fire to a stack of wheat on the premises
of Mr. John Gotch, a farmer and butcher, of Kettering,
on the night of the 211 of February, 1839. On the fol-
lowing day, the prisoner underwent a lengthened exami-
nation before the Rev. J. Hogg, a magistrate of Ketter-
ing, when he was fully committed for trial at the next
assizes,

RICHARD DADD.—The order for the transmission of
this unhappy young roan to England is in the hands of
the authorities here; but it is held back from a kind and
merciful consideration, and will not be put in force until
a few days before the commencement of the assizes; his
imprisonment in the common gaol of the county will,
consequently, be very brief. Very brief, also, will be his
trial ; evidence of his insanity for some time previous to
its melancholy consummation will be given by one or two
of his intimate friends, artists, sufficiently to satisfy the
jury, although forming but a small part of the proofs that
might he adduced, if necessary, and the poor fellow will
be at once removed to some lunatic asylum for the re-
mainder of his sad life. Latest accounts describe him as
in a bad state of health, but receiving unremitting atten-
tion from the persons under whose care he is placed at
Fontainbleau.—Arl-Union.
r THE HIGH Lr.tcn BDRGLARS.—Thomas Riley, Richd.
Holbrook, and Joseph Holbrook, weavers, were placed at
the bar at the Chester assizes, on Wednesday, charged
with having, on the 14th of October last, burglarinusly
entered the dwelling-bouse of one Lettice Widders, at
High Leigh, and stolen therefrom fifty sovereigns, her
monies. This b trglary was of the most atrocitais descrip-
tion, perpetrated in the middle of the night by armed
men, with blackened faces, under circumstances of almost
unparalleled atrocity. The evidence has apneared so
recently that it will not be requisite to insert it here. The
learned judge summed the case up very elaborately, re-
capitulating most minutely the evidence that had been
offered, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty. The
learned judge, after commenting upon the heinousness of
the offence, sentenced them to be severally transported
for eighteen years.

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday week, .1.,13n Cubbon,
master of a small vessel called the Laxey Mines, belong-
ing to Dom:las, Isle of Man, met his death in a very un-
accountable manner. The vessel having discharged her
cargo at Runcorn, was on the morning of Thursday week
about to proceed to Liverpool, when the master missed
his punt, or boat, and, supposing that it had drifted away,
he sent two men in search of it. They returned without
being able to find it, or to learn anything respecting it,
and the captain fancying that his men had not performed
their errand with sufficient attention, went oft hastily in
search of the missing boat, and was never more heard of
alive. Many speculations were raised as to what had
become of him, the most probable of which seemed to be
that he had fallen into one of the docks.

RELIGIOUS ENTHUSTASM.—During the whole of last
week, special services were appointed to be observed daily
at the Wesleyan chapel, at Holmfirth ; and as early as
six o'clock in the morning numbers of devotees might be
observed wending their way towards the meeting-house.
It was on one of these occasions that a most melancholy
incident occurred, by which considerable alarm was com-
municated to the assembled members. Amongst the
congregation was the wife of a respectable general shop-
keeper in the neighbourhood, named Joshua Mosely, a
woman noted for her activity in the Methodist cause, and
for her regular attendance at the chapel. On this parti-
cular occasion, however, she prayed with more than ordi-
nary zeal, and ultimately worked herself up to such a
pitch of imaginary and extravagant inspiration or delirium,
as to produce a decided state of insanity, in which state,
lamentable to relate, the unfortunate woman still remains.
—Leeds Intelligencer.
Mr. Ferrand is rendering high service to the industrial
interests of England, evoking, as he is everywhere doing,
the expression of a spirit of deep hostility, on the part of
the manufacturing operatives, to the doctrines of the Anti-
Corn-Law League. If our landowners were wise, they
would turn to account those manifestations of popular
feeling which are now taking place in the north of England.
Mr. Ferrand has been busied for some weeks in rousing
the labourers of the north to rescue Mr. Oastler from
prison. 'When we consider the poverty of these labourers,
and the drains to which their very limited means have
been so often subjected by noisy and greedy demagogues
—when we consider, on the other hand, Mr. Oastler's
high and old-fashioned toryism, as well as the non-politi-
cal cause of his incarceration—we can regard the present
movement in his behalf as nothing more nor less than a
national movement in favour of the policy of PacyrEcTloN.
W. uld that our agricultural capitalists—landowners and
farmers—possessed the same clearness of view, and the
same energy of character, which distinguish the oppressed
operatives of Lancashire and Yarkshire.—Morning Post.

THE CHESHIRE MURDERS.—At the Chester assizes,
on Thursday, before Mr. Justice Wightman, George Fox
was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife, at Stock-
port. On the day named in the indictment, it appears
that the prisoner came home in a state of intoxication,
and soon afterwards his wife came in, when they had a
quarrel, and the wife left the house. Mr. Temple con-
tended that the death of the deceased was occasioned by
accidentally falling down stairs. The jury found the pri-
soner guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to be
imprisoned in Chester Castle for two years.—On the
same day, Samuel Maddocks was charged with the wiltul
murder of Matthias Bailey, gamekeeper to George Wil-
braham, Esq., of Delatnere House, on the 28th of July,
at Crowton ; and on the arraignment pleaded not guilty.
The chief witness was Joseph Clarke, a labourer, who
swore that he had seen Maddocks shoot the gamekeeper,
but whose evidence was rendered rather questionable by
the fact that he himself had been accused of the murder.
The jury, having retired, and remained absent about half
an hour, gave a verdict of " Not guilty."
SHOCKING M URDER.—On Sabbath last, tho dead body
of an old man, named John Geddes, a labourer, residing
in a cottage by himself, on the farm of Longford, ate- tit
three miles from the village of West Calder, was found
in a shockingly mangled state on the floor of his own
dwelling. He had been missing for several days, but as
he was in the frequ nt habit of working at a distance
from home, no alarm was excited among the neighbours
till Saturday night. On Sabbath, therefore, it was re-
solved to break open the house to see whether he might
not be lying ill, when the neighbours sere horrified to
find his murdered body stretched on the floor in a state
almost indescribable. On removing an old shirt which
was thrown over the body, they found a deep fracture in
the ,kull, the left eye knocked into the head, the bone of
the eye-brow broken, the nose all but torn off, the jaw-
bone and collar-bone and collar-bone and all his ribs but
two broken ! A more horrible sight has seldom been
seen. A pair of tongs covered with blood were found at
the fireside, with which the wounds had evidently been
inflicted. The deceased, though a labourer, had the re-
putation of some wealth, and probably the possession of
that might have been the object of the murderer.—
Glasgow paper.
LONDON Docks.—On Tuesday the half-yearly general
meeting of the proprietors of this company was held.
Mr. J. D. Fowles read the report, and the statement of
accounts for the half year ending the 30th of November
last. The number of loaded ships which entered the
docks from foreign parts, during that period, was 570, of
136,026 tons, and in the same time of 1842, 676, of
149.452 tons. There was an increase in the income, or
earnings, of £14.513 lls. 4d., viz., to £197,168 15s. 7d.,
although a decrease had occurred in the tonnage, the
corn-laden ships which entered having fallen off, in the
six months to November 30th last, to 8,436 tons, or a de-
crease of 25,446 tons, as compared with the same period
of 1841. The general business was better. The directors
recommended the construction of new warehouses, in
order to meet the increased wants expected to arise from
the extension of the China trade, and recommended that
a dividend of 2 per cent. should be declared for the half-
year ending the 31st of December last. After a discus-
sion of some length, the report and dividend were agreed
to, thanks were voted to the chairman and directors, and
the meeting adjourned.

ARE THE PEOPLE THE SOURCE OF POWER?—A con-
temporary writer says, " a claim to dominion, wherever
it is lodged, must be ultimately referred back to the ex-
plicit or implied consent of the people." This, of course,
is but a fair inference from the favourite maxim that the
people is the only source of legitimate power. But op-
posed as we are to oppression, under whatever pretence it
may exist, we are unable to subscribe to the truth of this
maxim. Power, we believe, has a much higher source
than what is here ascribed to it. We would say, in the
language of the Divine founder of Christianity, " Shew
us a penny." " Whose image is this, and what is that
superscription ? "—" Victoria Regina Dei Gratia."
Does Dei Gralia signify, by permission of the people.?
No: it refers to a higher power ; that power " by whom
kings reign and princes decree justice.' We are no advo-
cates for the divine right of kings to govern wrong. That
is a totally different affair. The principles of Magna
Charta provide against any such abuse of the royal prero-
gative ; but at the same time we would caution the advo-
cates of popular rights against the use of arguments
which can have no force whatever with those who are
attached to the ancient and well-tried principles of the
British constitution. Newcastle Adv,rtiser, (Whig
paper.)
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.-011 the motion of Mr.
Stuart Wortley a return was ordered by the House of
Commons in March last "of all illegitmate children whose
baptisms were registered by the clergymen in the several
parishes of Lancashire, the West Riding of Yorkshire,
Norfolk. Surrey, and Herefordshire, during the years
1831, 1832, and 1833, and during the years 1839, 1840,
and 1811." '1 he return shows a great number of illegiti-
mate children who have been baptised in the years men
tioned, and by analogy there are num-rous persons in the
same counties who are likewise illegitimate; but the erec-
tion of churches and the recent act for providing for the
spiritual destitution in populous parishes, will, it is hoped,
he used to call forth the life they have received in the
baptismal covenant, and be the means of unfolding into
active exercise the gift bestowed upon them. It appears
that in the county of Lancaster the number registered in
1831 was 1,739 ; in 1832, 1,833; and in 1833, 1818;
making a total of 5.390. In the other three years there
were registered by clergymen in baptism--1,988 in 1839,
2,045 in 1840, and 2,129 in 1841, making a total in the
period of 6,172, being nearly 1,000 over the former period.
The West Riding of Yorkshire shows 3,382 in the three
first years and 3,082 in the second three years. In the
county of Norfolk the numbers in the first-mentioned
years were 2,028, and in the second 2,422. In Surrey,
959 were baptised in the first period, and 1,066 in the
second. In Hereford there were 720 in 1831, 1832, and
1833, and in the second three years 681. The return fur-
ther states the numbers in the various parishes, and the
information afforded incontestibly shows the necessity for
the exertions of those intrusted w th spiritual ins ruction,
whilst their temporal affairs should not be neglected by
others.

GUANO PROM CAITHNESS.—We believe that Guano is
scarcely known in Caithness further than what our farm-
era have read of it in the newspapers and agricultural ma-
gazines, if we except a trial made by some half-dozen of
our proprietors and large farmers, who had a small im-
portation of it from South America, via Liverpool, last
season. We confess we have not turned our attention to
the subject, and are, therefore, not prepared to write on
it; but, the matter having been pointed out to us by a
correspondent, we readily seize upon the contents of his
note, with the hope that by so doing we may set some of
our enterprising landlords or tenants on experimenting
with this new and valuable manure. Our friend says, " I
wonder you have not taken up the subject of guano, and
explained to your readers, more especially to your landed
proprietors. that there is a great abundance of it to be
found in Caithness, Sutherland; Orkney, and Zetland,
amongst the islands, stacks, and cliffs of the rocks. There
must be immense deposits of birds' dung on these coasts,
which could he collected at a trifling eypeuse. 1 last year
made trial of it from an island near Inchcoltn, took a boat
in the morning, a d, with some small spades, mason's
trowels, and some bags, clambered to the top, about 80
feet high, to the resort of the sea.fowl, from which, in an
hour's time, three of us nearly filled the boat with excel-
lent stuff resembling dirty lime. The season was pat to
try it on vegetables, and not
_being a farmer, I used it in
top-dressing a flower garden, where it had an astonishing
effect. The feeding fibres of the plants came to the sur-
face, and laid hold of the small pieces as greedily as a
hawk would his prey ; it was interesting to observe the
feeders of the dahlias coming to the surface, a hundred at
a time, as small as threads, attached to a small piece, not
larger than a walnut. I had a delightful show of them,
but will not have the pith of the guano until next summer.
I am certain Sir George Ounbar could take a vast quan-
tity of it from the rocks on his estate of Id empriggs, Noss,
&c." We shall be glad to hear the result of any experi-
ment made with guano in this or neighbouring counties.
and shall be happy to record the same in our journal for
the benefit of others. Why go to Africa for what may be
procured at home ? We believe that heavy rain redoces
the strength of this manure, which may be one objection
against what is found in this. country.—John 0' Groats
Journal.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BIRKENHEAD.

The congregation of this church have presented the
Rev. A. Knox with a beautiful cover and cushions for the
communion-table, with carpet, &c., as will be seen by the
following address arid reply :

" Birkenhead, 301 h December, 1843.
"TO THE REV. ANDREW KNOX, INCUMBENT OF ST.

MARY'S CHURCH, BIR'KENHEAD.
" VERY DEAR SIR,-It affords us no ordinary plea-
sure, and we esteem it to be a very high privilege, that we
have an opportunity of testifying our sincere and increas-
ing attachment to the venerable establishment of which
your congregation forms a part.
‘• We are gratified that the sacred edifice in which we
are accustomed to worship has been rendered so comfort-
able and complete in its internal arrangements, by the re-
cent alterations ; and, that the general effect may he still
further improved, allow us to present to the church,
through yourself, a new covet, &c.. for the communion-
table. In doing this, we acknowledge the obligations we
are under to a bountiful Providence, and we heartily join
with this offering our earnest prayers that you may be
long spared to minister to the church in holy things. and
especially that both you and ourselves, following on to
apprehend those things which are eternal, may receive
from the God of consolation that joy and peace which the
world can neither give nor take away.
We remain, very dear Sir,
With affectionate esteem,
(Names attached as ner Subscription-book.)

" Birkenhead Abbey, January 1. 1814.
"MY DEAR FRIENDS,—I. sincerely thank you for your
very affectionate address accompanying a rich and beauti-
ful velvet covering, with other furniture for the commu-
nion-table in my church. Of the numerous offerings of
affection and esteem I have received from you from time
to time, I can truly say I value this most, because it lio-
hour the house of God in which it is my happy privilege
to minister unto you the Gospel of Christ with all its or-
dinances. I rejoice in your expression of sincere and in-
creasing attachment to the National Established Church,
of which we are members, believing, as I do, that it is a
pure branch of the Universal Church of Christ, built
upon. the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, as a pillar
and ground of truth, holding forth the word of life, and
protesting against heresy. It has for centuries proved,
under God, a blessing to our nation ; it is daily increas-
ing in life and efficiency ; and, I doubt not, is preserved
to become a still greater blessing to our nation, and to the
ends of the earth. May we value more and more the
means of grace it provides so abundantly for our spiritual
improvement : may we often meet around that table which
you have so liberally adorned, there, in obedience to the
command of our Lord and Saviour, to celebrate the sa-
crament of his body and blood, in rememimince of his
meritorious cross and passion, who gave himself for our
sins, and by one offering hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified .

" Believe me to remain, my dear friends,
" With much affection,
"Your friend and servant, for Christ's sake,
"ANDREW KNOX."

MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF BIRKENHEAD.
—On Tuesday evening the usual monthly meeting of the
Commissioners of Birkenhead was held at the Town-
hall, for the despatch of business. Shortly after seven
o'clock, the chair was taken by J. H. Greene, Eaq , at
which time we noticed the following members present :
Messrs. Watson, Hind, Dale, Howard, Laid, Sransfield,
Pint, M'Nicol, Appleton, and J. S. Jackson. From the
proceedings of the committees it appeared, that Mr.
Walker proposed to sell 3,096 square yards of land, on
one side of Hamilton-street, opposite the square, at 235.
each ; that Mr. John E. Brine was recommended to be
appointed as general-surveyor to the townships; that, in
consideration of the Corporation of Liverpool paying a
certain sum of money, a sewer and a road be made, and
that alterations to the new market be agreed upon. Mr.
Mallaby suggested that the Finance Committee should be
the parties appointed to sell, subject to a consultation with
the other committees, and that certain distinctions, which
he specified. should be made between the Improvement
and Road Committees. The Watch Committee recom-
mended that the constables should subscribe threepence
a week for the payment of a medical man to attend on
them during their illness. The Ferry Company reported
that there had been a continued improvement in the re-
ceipts, and that they would have a new boat ready this
month, to be called " The Queen." Mr. Mallaby stated,
that all the purchases from Messrs. Price and Jackson had
been that day completed at Chester, and that notices had
been served upon him, as the representative of the Com-
missioners, respecting the Birkenh-ad docks, which related
to the proposed sewer, the opening of the waters, and the
inclosing of the shore opposite the Woodside property.
The serving of the notices was, he said, a mere matter of
form. After the several recommendations bad been
adopted, the meeting adjourned.
SEAMEN'S MEETING—MERCHANT SEAMAN'S FUND.
—On Thursday evening a public meeting of shipmasters,
shipowners, and seamen, was held at Seamen's Meeting
Room, Wapping, for the purpose, as stated in the placard,
of appointing fifteen trustees for the management of the
Merchant Seamen's Fund for this port for the present
year. pursuant to the act 4th and sth of William Fourth,
cap. 52. There were about 100 persons present. The
placard was signed by five shipmasters and two shipowners
belonging to the port. Mr. Evans, solicitor, was in at-
tendance. On the motion of Captain Ward, seconded by
Captain Jones, Mr. George Pryde was called to the chair.
Mr. Evans stated that a meeting had been held on the
day previous at the Underwriters' Room to elect trustees,
but he gave it as his opinion that that meeting was ille-
gally constituted, as the notice had not been given in pur-
suance of the act, which required that it should be signed
by five owners or shiptnasters of the port. Taking these
points into consideration, he was of opinion that the ap-
pointments were consequently illegal. Mr. Evans then
read over the act of Parliament, observing that lest the
Corporation seal should be attached to the proceedings of
the meeting held on Wednesday, he had given notice of
its illegality before a magistrate, and likewise that a meet-
ing, properly convened in accordance with the terms of
the act, would be called to elect the trustees, and a deed
forwarded to the authorities, containing an of the
the proceedings, and that if the Corporation should con-
firm the wrong appointment, an appeal would be made
against it in the Court of Queen's Bench. Oa the mo-
tion of Mr. Samuel Reid, seconded by Mr. William Co-
nelly, a list of fifteen gentlemen was read to the meeting,
whom he proposed as trustees for the ensuing year. The
chairman having stated the qualification which was neces-
sary to entitle parties to vote, thirteen shipmasters and
shipowners came forward and attached their signatures to
the document containing the list of trustees. Thanks
were then voted to the chairman, and the meetingseparated.
MERCHANTS' SEAMEN'S FUND.-011 Weduesday
last, a meeting was held in the Underwriters' Room, for
the purpose of appointing trustees to this fund, in accor-
dance with the act of Parliament. The chair was occupied
by Wm. Potter, Esq., who, after stating the object of the
meeting, said it would be better to read over the accounts,
and then proceed to elect the trustees, which was ,ccord-
ingly agreed upon : it appeared the receipts during the
past year amounted to £5,755 18s. 2d., and the disburse-
ments to £7,556 35., which had been paid in pensions,
&c., and which was independently of charges. The chair-
man intimated that there would he three vacancies to be
filled up in the list of trustees, occasioned by the resigna-
tion of the Messrs. Dixon and Mr. C. Horsfall. A list
of names, including those of last year, with the addition
of Mr. George Kendall, Mr. Wm. Tapley, and Mr. Jas.
Ritson, aas then proposed by Mr. S. Sandbach, and
adopted by the meeting. Mr. H. C. Chapman observed
that he had heard a great deal out of doors as to the ap-
propriation of the fund for the seamen, who imagined that
the amount received was not disbursed. He thought
there was no ground for such an impression, as the sea-
men not only got the money received, but the interest of
the £50,000 which had been so often alluded to ; if that
were more generally known, any bitter feeling which
might exist out of doors would be put an end to, as it was
a great pity there should be any dissatisfaction on the part
of those who deserved so well to be provided for. He
wished to know whether the accounts might not be pub-
lished in the local and other papers, and also in the Ship-
ping Gazette. Mr. Tyrer observed that the committee
had in one or two instances been rather niggardly in dis-
tributing the funds. The Chairman said there was a scale
laid down varying according to age, and although there
was a discretionary power vested in the trustees, who
generally took a course rather in favour of the applicant
than otherwise, he had no doubt the trustees would adopt
the suggestion as to having the accounts published in the
Shipping Gazette, and that copies might be rioted and
sent to the Custom-house for distribution among the sea-
men, or in any way that might be considered the most
desirable. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and
the meeting separated.
LIVERPOOL MARINE SOCIETY.--On Tuesday, the
annual general meeting of the members of the Liverpool.
Marine Society was held at the Clarendon-rooms. South
John-street, for the purpose of transacting the usual busi-
ness. The chair was taken, shortly after two o'clock, by
William Potter, Esq., at which time there were very few
members present. Mr. Moss read the statement of
accounts, from which it appeared that the receipts, inclu-
ding the balance in hand last year, amounted to £12,358
13s. 5d., and that. deducting the annuities and other ex-
penses, there was a balance remaining of £ll,BBl 19s. 6d.,
£11,834 of which was vested with the commissioners for
the reduction of the national debt. The subscriptions
from honorary members had amounted during the year to
£l9 17s. there were twenty-seven marine members on the
books; and there were twenty-three widows, three cap-
tains and one orphan, receiving annuities from the society.
It was then proposed to make the annuities somewhat
higher, and to give to the twenty-three widows £l6 each,
to the three captains £2O each, and to one orphan £B,
which would make a total of £436. The chairman stated
that the average age of the annuitants, not including the
orphan, was 68 years, and that this age was such as to
make it probable that the annuities would be increased
during the next three years, even without any additional
receipts, thereby making the society more eligible for those
to enter who had not already entered. It was remarked
by one gentleman that the captains of vessels must not
be aware of the advantages of the society, or they would
join it in great numbers; and Mr. Moss and Mr. Rowett
stated that the immense amount of the balance in hand
(nearly £12.000) prevented many from subscribing, an
opinion being abroad that with such a balance the society
could not possibly be in any difficulty. The trustees are
the Rev. John Gladstone, M.A., Thomas Booth, and
Joseph Brooks Yates, Esqrs. The following directors
were appointed : Wm. Potter, Esq, president, Alexander
Smith, jnn., and James Stitt, Esqrs; vice-presidents,
William Rowett, Charles Coteswortb, Duncan Gibb, and
H. G. Sutton, Esqrs., Capt. Thomas Ogilby, Capt. David
Smith. Capt. Stroyati, Capt. Tasker, and Capt. Tummons.
Huson, Esq., was elected treasurer; Samuel
Moss, Esq., secretary; C. S. Middleton, Esq., auditor;
and William Gill, Esq., medical examiner. The meeting
then separated,