The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-05-07 00:00:00

COUNTY COURT.

Mr. Ramshicyf the newly appointed judge of the Liver-
pool County Court, took his seat on the bench for the
first time yesterday-. For some cause or other, consider-
able delay occurred in proceeding to business. At length,
Mr. ILmshay, accompattied by Mr. Harden, judge of the
Birkenhead County Court, emerged from the judge's
room. The parties assembled in the court rose to their
feet, and the judge having bowed to the professional gen-
tlemen present, proceeded to address them. He craved
the indulgence of the bar and the professional gentlemen
present, as well es that of the public, on his assuming a
position somewhat novel to him, and hoped that if he
required assistance be would receive it from his profes-
sional brethren. There was a matter personal to himself
that he wished to mention : He had had a very severe
illness, and though it had not left any permanent injury,
it had rendered him very weak for the present, and, in-
deed, had incapacitated him for any muscular effort ; he
had, therefore, solicited the assistance of Mr. Harden,
who would sit by him and communicate with him if it
were necessary. He had not been out of bed for ten
days, but he was happy to say the head could work, though
it was all that could.

Mr. J. A. Aspinall rose to reply on behalf of both
branches of the profession. He was the only member of
the bar present, and he wished to congratulate the learned
judge very sincerely on his appointment. On behalf of
his professional brethren he expressed the high satisfac-
tion he felt at the appointment, and was sure that a better
one could not have been made ; he had the permission of
the other branch of the profession for re-echoing this
opinion on its behalf. He assured his honor that the
co-operation and assistance of the bar would always be at
his command whenever any circumstance should arise out
of the arduous duties assigned to his honor calling for
such co-operation.
The following attornies were in attendance :—Mr.
Woodburne, Mr. Yates, jun. Mr. Almond, Mr. Daven-
port, Mr. Dewhurst, Mr. Pemberton, Mr. Evans, &c., &c.
Soon after the commencement of the business, Mr. Huh
ton, the %judge of the Preston county court, entered, and
after cordially shaking hands with Mr. Ramshay, took a
seat by his side on the beneh.

The new judge is marked by a courteous and gentle-
manly bearing, which no doubt will be fully appreciated
by the professional gentlemen practising in our county
court, no less than by suitors and defendants who appear
there; he was evidently suffering from physical prostra-
tion to no slight extent, indeed he does not appear to possess
naturally that amount of strength which is required for
incessant application to an arduous profession.
The cases which came before the court were generally
of a trivial character. Hugh Jones, Wm. Smith, and
John Cooper, insolvents, were unopposed and obtained
their final order. The case of John Hankinson, insolvent,
was adjourned-
Joseph Evans, also an insolvent, came up for his final
order. Mr. Evans, attorney, appeared for him. The
insolvent was opposed by Mr. Geo. Spurr, to whom he owed
£5 for .goodwill of premises. The creditor, who was a
simple-looking rustic, could not comprehend what the
clerk of the court meant by his enquiry as to what was
the ground of opposition, his constant reply was, " Whoy
he owed me that £5." The learned judge informed him
that the defendant's final order must be granted; it could
not be helped ; such losses would occur, &c. •

"THE SISTERS AT THE HOLY WELL."
Engraved by FRANCIS Hom., from a miniature drawing by
F. W. POPHAM.

The original drawing, and an engraving by Francis
Holl, of this interesting subject are now on view at Mr.
Gregg's gallery, 52. Bold-street, and will amply repay
those of our lovers of art who will inspect them. The
scene is one of a very picturesque character; a moun-
tainous landscape at early dawn, with the misty haze
slowly rising in the distance, and revealing the outlines of
the distant hills. The indistinctness thus caused is finely
brought out, and serves to concentrate the attention to the
figures at the well in the foreground, which are charming
specimens of the Irish female peasantry. The devotional
expression in the features of the sisters is very nicely
given ; and the few other figures introduced in the picture
are cleverly grouped. Mr. Holl, the engraver, has done
great justice to the work, and produced a very pleasing
specimen of the art, which we have no doubt will be
favourably received by the public.
We may mention that Mr. Gregg has just now in his
establishment a portrait of a very well-known character
in this town—Mr. John Smith, late of the Liverpool
Mercury, which is well worthy of inspection, from the
novelty of its execution. It is the production of an artist
who has recently settled in this town—Mr. Dalton, 131,
Upper Islington—and is drawn in crayons. Yet it has
all the effect of an oil painting; and will be taken for oil
by all except the closest observer. The degree of finish
and smoothness which Mr. Dalton succeeds in giving is
wonderful, and as a likeness. the picture, which is Kit
Cat size, is perfect.

Two white pigeons are at present building their nest
under ihe pediment of the Town-hall.
A memorial to the Lords of the Treasury against the
threatened veto of the Woods and Forests on the Bir-
kenhead Dock Bill ay for signature, during the past week,
in the Exchange-rooms, and received a fair number of
signatures.
The screw-steamer Levantine, ten days from Liverpool,
arrived at Gibraltar on the 21st, and sailed for Genoa.
The Hellespont, fifteen days from Constantinople, ar-
rived on the 23d, and sailed for Liverpool. The Bos-
phorus, six-and-a-half days from Liverpool, arrived on
the 25th, and sailed on the 26th for Constantinople.
Mr. H. S. Johnson, of this town, was on Friday ad-
mitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. We
recently congratulated this young gentleman on his ho-
nourable admission at Apothecaries' Hall. Since that
period he has had conferred on him the title of M.D.
The three honours have all been awarded to him during
the present year.
We have pleasure to refer our readers to Mr. Percival's
advertisement, wherein it will be seen he is going to give
a series of flute soirees. We feel convinced that, from
the novelty of the entertainment, and the acknowledged
talent of Mr. Percival, he will be successful. He has en-
gaged Mr. John Robinson, who will sing " The Adelaide"
of Beethoven.
THE BRUNSWICK CLUB.—OPEN AIR EXERCISES.—
We are glad to find that the projector of this club (in
order to give an increased stimulus to the practice of
those athletic games and exercises that conduce so much
to health), purposes during the ensuing summer to pre-
sent to the successful competitor at each meeting a prize
of not less than half-a-guinea. It will no doubt raise
amongst our young men an honourable spirit of competi-
tion in quoits, bowls, &c., &c. The exercise grounds at
Low Hill will be opened on Whitsun Tuesday, the 21st
instant.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—We scarcely re-
member a colder commencement of the generally delight-
ful month of May than that which we have experienced
during the last six days. The winds have generally been
from the N.E., N., and N.N.W.. rather strong, and
throughout of a chilling temperature, especially during
the nights and mornings, when the air felt fairly frosty.
Even during the day, notwithstanding the power of the
sun at this time of the year, the air has been inclined to
cold. During the night of Friday a heavy shower of rain
and hail passed over the district. On Saturday, about
midnight, there fell another heavy hail shower, mingled
with snow and rain. Sunday was throughout very cold—
wind from N. to N. N. W. The early potatoes
have suffered much in lower or North Wirrall, but
we hope most of them will recover ere long. Some
damage has been done to the same crops at Wallasey,
but not to so great an extent as in some other neigh-
bouring localities. That district frequently sends to
market potatoes fit for the table in the first week of May;
but very few have yet appeared. Such was the demand
that a celebrated green-grocer in St. John's Market,
could but obtain on Saturday (to supply customers) one
hamperful of " kidneys," from a garden near Leasowe
Lighthouse, for which the high price was paid, wholesale,
of ss. per lb. The usual price at the beginning of the
crop is about Is. 6d., which in a week or two falls to 6d.
and Bd. ' The fruit trees have suffered also, but the field
crops look well. Yesterday was fine and sunny, but
cold. Wind east.

THE UNION EMIGRATION SHIPPING OFFICE AND
HOTEL.—That very extensive and comparatively recently-
erected building, originally known as " The British
Hotel," at the top of Moorfields, is now appropriated,
through the enterprise of several foreign gentlemen, to a
most useful purpose, the reception and accommodation of
emigrants from the continent of Europe, on their way by
this port to the various ports of their respective selection
in North America. The style or title of the building
is "The German, English, and American, Emigration
Shipping Office and Hotel." A more appropriate site,
in the vicinity of the docks, and close to the common ter-
minus of the East Lancashire and Bury Railway could
not have been chosen, had any of the valuable land in the
locality been available ; nor could a structure have been
architecturally designed and constructed on an equal area,
presenting greater conveniences or greater extent of ac-
commodation. On Saturday evening, a representative
from each of our local papers and others, visited and in-
spected the establishment, and were hospitably enter-
tained by the principal and manager, Mr. Sabel, a Ger-
man gentleman, who communicated every information in
good and forcible English. The whole party were as-
tonished at the extent and admirable adaptation of the
premises, the fittings in which have required a large out-
lay. The entries and lobbies are spacious, and the rooms—
many of them very large, and all well lighted and venti-
lated—so appropriated as to accommodatein distinct
apartments, the three respective classes of passengers.
About eight hundred beds in all can be made up, if
at any time required. A large number of emigrants,
Germans, Austrians, &c., of both sexes and various ages,
were in the house, and appeared to consider it quite a
comfortable " home." Saveral active gentlemen, assis-
tants of Mr. Sabel, are in attendance, all of them masters
of the continental languages, so that no emigrant need be
at a loss. The whole pro-tempore family are well pro-
vided with food, beds, &c. ; their stay in the house de-
pending on the sailing of the packet-ship by which
they are to proceed ; and the very best vessels of the
regular lines are selected. The three classes are the first
cabin, the second cabin, and the steerage passengers.
Mr. Sabel's partner, and his agents in various towns on
the continent, contract with the parties there, and insure
them and their luggage
is right through to their final desti-
nation. From Manheim, for instance, an adult steer-
age passenger conveyed to New York for the small
sum of £6 55., including food and lodging here. Some
rumours had got abroad that foreign emigrants were not
sufficiently protected while in this country ; but they
receive the same protection as British subjects ; and the
Mayor, Mr. Rushton, and Lieut. Hodder, who have visi-
ted this excellent establishment, and expressed their high
approbation, have certified to the fact, so that it may be
known on the continent. We need but add that the
house is well furnished and beautifully clean.