The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-26 00:00:00

GENERAL MISCELLANY.

FtrzE.—On Monday the Gibraltar Soap Works, at
Knostrop, near Leeds, were very seriously injured by fire,
and the stock on the premises was completely destroyed.
The loss is estimated at £6,000.
ANOTHER ESCAPE FROM NOTTINGHAM GAOL.—Ort
Wednesday last considerable excitement was occasioned
in Nottingham, by the circumstance of another convict
(Thomas Shelton, under a sentence of transportation for
life) having escaped from the Nottingham county gaol.
At the Mansion-house, last week, a young man, named
George Gurnm, was remanded on a charge of having
stolen £2,000 in bank notes from the City of Boulogne
steamer, in September last. The prisoner was proved to
have paid two of the notes away.
CAUTION.—It has just been decided, that every device
engraved on a seal, although not exhibitinc, the family
a' arms or crest, or accompanied by a :Ye or heraldic
colours, is to be considered an "armorial bearing, or en-
sign," or crest, within the meaning of the act, subjecting
the user to taxation.

ODD THEATRICAL EXPERlMENl.—Shakspere's Co-
medy, the Taming of a Shrew, was produced, on Satur-
day week, at the Haymarket, as originally written. It
was represented, as the custom of the olden time, without
scenery, the stage being curtained in and each locality in-
dicated by a printed placard.
THE MURDER AT NEWCASTLE.—At Newcastle, On
Monday, the adjourned inquest on the body of Ann Sher-
wood, supposed to have been murdered by her husband,
was resumed, and, after hearing further evidence, the jury
returned a verdict of " Wilful murder" against the pri-
soner. Mark Sherwood. He was fully committed to take
his trial at the next assizes.
On Tuesday night, the brig Hibernia, Pearce, master,
belonging to Dover, was destroyed by fire at Stockton-on-
Tees, The vessel in going in had taken ground, and after
being left by the tide, she fell over upon her beam ends,
and a lighted stove on board set some bedding on fire,
and hence the accident.
SINGULAR CAPTURE OF A WOODCOCK.—On Sunday
night last, as a countryman was going across a field in
Haighton, a brace of woodcocks flew against a lighted
lantern, which he was carrying in his hands. He aimed a
stroke at the birds, and succeeded in knocking one of
them down, which he caught alive. The other made its
escape.—Preston Chronicle.
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.—The ease with which the re-
duction of the Three-and-a-Half per Cents is going on
seems even greater than could possibly have been antici-
pated by the most sanguine. Although the time for ex-
pressing dissent expired on Saturday, the whole amount,
for which notice has been given, barely exceeds £60,000.
THE COLD WATER CURE.—A splendid hydropathic
establishment and hotel are now erecting, at an estimated
cost of £15,000, by a company of Leeds gentlemen, at
Rhydding, near Ilkley, in the romantic vale of Wharfe,
within a few miles of Leeds. It is intended to open the
establishment in May next, and the company have al-
ready engaged a German physician, at a salary of £3OO a-
year to superintend its operations.—Lancaster Guardian.
Mary Ann Johnson, aged twelve years, who was com-
mitted for trial at Lincoln assizes, charged with having
poisoned her two younger half brothers, has been dis-
charged, the grand jury having ignored the bill against
her. It is said that the child had been made the instru-
ment of some one else in giving the poison, and that there
is ground to hope that the really guilty party will be dis-
covered and brought to justice.
SALE OF THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE'S COINS AND
MEDALS.—On Monday this magnificent collection was
submitted for sale by Messrs. Christie and Manson, at
their auction mart, King-street, St. James's. All the
the well-known amateurs, and antiquaries were in atten-
dance, besides some continental speculators. It was said
that the collection cost his Grace upwards of £50,000.
The day's sale realised upwards of £7OO.
NEW HATS FOR THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.—The
commissioners of police have decided on an alteration in
the hats of the police, which Fill be immediately adopted
throughout the force, and will tend materially to add to
the ease and comfort of the men whilst on duty, especially
in hot weather. The alteration about to be adopted con-
sists of a perforated button, affixed on each side of the
hat, near the crown : the hat having also an eyelet hole
where the buttons are affixed, so as to admit air, and thus
keep the policemen's heads cool.
SERIOUS COACH ROBBERY.—On Monday last, the
Defiance, Oxford coach, was robbed of 1,500 sovereigns,
which had been forwarded from a banking house west of
Temple Bar to Messrs. Robinson, Thomson, and Co, of
the Old Bank, Oxford. The coachman, Mr. Hobson,
who is a highly respectable man, it appears has been in
the habit of bringing bankers' parcels to Oxford, which
no doubt some of the swell mob were aware of. The box
containing the gold was put in its accustomed place of
security, in the front boot, in London; but, on arriving at
the Old Bank, Oxford, it was missing. It is supposed
that the robbery was committed by a person who occupied
the box seat. Oxford Chronicle.
RUNCORN PARISH :CHURCH.—On Tuesday last the
committee appointed in public vestry, some time back,
to employ an architect to give plans and specifications for
a new church, met at the Town-hall, Sir Richard Brooke,
Bart. in the chair, when, in accordance with their duties,
a plan was produced from Mr. Salvin, the eminent Lon-
don architect, of a church in the early English style, with
tower and spire. It was much admired for the beauty
and grandeur of its design, and was recommended by the
committee to be adopted by the parishioners, to carry
which object into effect a committee was then appointed
to collect subseriptions from the more wealthy inhabi-
tants, so as to ease the burden from the poorer rate pay-
ers. The estimate, including all expenses, was under
£6,000.
CAPT. MILLER.—We are gratified to learn that raea-
sures are in progress to present Capt. Miller with a testi-
monial, previous to his leaving Glaagow to assume the
office of Chief Constable of the Liverpool Police. The
testimonial is intended to embody, in a manner more
sabstantial than could be done by a complimentary vote of
thanks, the feeling in which the citizens have appreciated
his zeal, energy, and perseverence, during the several years
which he has held the office of Superintendent of the
Glasgow Police—a period, it may be remarked, fruitful
I in the occurrence of many incidents well calculated to
exhibit the virtues of patience, prudence, arid assiduity,
on the part of the chief officer. From the high character
of the gentlemen who are interesting themeelves in for-
warding this acknowledgment of Capt. Miller's services,
there is no doubt that the result will be of the most satis-
factory kind.—Glasgow Herald
THE WEST CALDER MURDER.—On Tuesday week,
James Bryce was placed at the bar of the High Court of
Justice, Edinburgh, charged with murder and robbery, on
the 26th or 27th of December last, when the prisoner, in
order. to 'Assess himself of money and goods, attacked
John Geddes within his dwelling-house, at Blae Weary,
parish of West Calder; and with a pair of tongs, inflicted
several blows on his head, face, and other parts of his body,
and with a cord, or other ligature, compressed his throat
so as to strangle him, in consequence of which the said
John Geddes died; and therefore robbed him of a sum of
money. The prisoner very audibly, and with the utmost
firmness, pleaded not guilty. The trial was very long,
occupying the whole of two days. At the conclusion, the
jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Lord Justice Clerk
sentenced him to be executed on the 3rd of April, in the
Lawn Market, Edinburgh.
DEATH OF LORD LONSDALE.—The venerable Earl
of Lonsdale eApired at his residence, York-house, Twick-
enham, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, on Tuesday,
the 19th instant, at a quarter to seven, p.m. The noble
earl had, during several weeks past, suffered severely
from three separate attacks of illness, the effects of which
were happily averted by surgical skill and the unremitting
assiduity of those around him, and his health and spirits
were recovering their usual elasticity, when on Saturday
week his lordship was seized with the prevailing influenza,
(which is more than ordinarily violent in the vicinity of
Richmond,) and which excited so much alarm in the
mind of Mr. Bolton (his consulting surgeon) as to induce
that gentleman to call in the additional assistance of Dr.
Chambers, who remained in attendance upon the late earl
up to the day of his decease. Some flattering symptoms
displayed themselves on Monday, but on Tuesday after-
noon every favourable expectation had vanished, and the
venerable earl sank under the effects of the malady that
had attacked him ; the progress of death being, however,
so gentle and gradual, that the moment at which he ex-
pired was scarcely perceptible. It is worthy of notice
that the demise of the Eatl of Lonsdale was preceded only
by a short period by that of his friend and former coad-
jutor, the late Viscount Sidmouth, whose decease never
was communicated to their aged chief, fearful lest so
mournful an event should retard his recovery or operate
injuriously on his spirits.

r ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY.—An affaire du cceur,
followed by a somewhat romantic adventure, has formed
the topic of much sprightly gossip amongst the tea-table
coteries of the neighbourhood of Woburn. The facts are
these :—On Tuesday last Miss Frances, second daughter
of Mr. Gascoigne, of Brickmore House, suddenly dis-
appeared from home ; her relatives and friends immedi-
ately commenced an investigation, and the result was,
that the young lady was found to have placed herself
under the protection of Mr. William Thomas Gawthorn,
solicitor. The parties met by appointment and proceeded
to London by railway, and next morning were married.
When the bridegroom felt sure of his prize, be despatched
a mission to a younger brother, residing at Ridgmont,
with authority to acquaint Mr. Gascoigne that Miss Fanny
had become Mrs. Gawthorn, and only waited permission
to offer her dutiful respects to her family in that charac-
ter. The younger Mr. Gawthorn, entertaining apenchant
for Miss Gascoigne, his sister-in-law's elder sister, rea-
dily accepted the office of mediator. He requested an
interview, which was peremptorily refused. The young
gentleman protested that such cruelty would be the death
of him—he swore that he would incontinently make away
with himself. Fathers, it is said, have flinty hearts : nei-
ther threat nor entreaty was of any avail. Stung with
such indignity, he drew a pistol from his bosom and fired
it—in the air! Even this proof of devotion made no im-
pression on the callous feeling of his lady-love's relatives.
Another murderous weapon was drawn forth, and flou-
rished in front of the windows. Still there was no symp-
tom of compunction exhibited. Another moment, and a
loud report told that the deed was done. These successive
discharges of fire-arms brought to the spot some of the
inmates of a neighbouring cottage. The young gentleman
was found lying on the ground writhing in agony, and
though not dying, yet much more seriously wounded' than
he had probably intended. The ball had passed—not
through his head or his heart, but—through his leg! The
effusion of blood was considerable, and the young gentle-
man teas taken home to Ridgmont, where he now lies in
a very precarious state. The elder brother and his bride
are supposed to be keeping the honeymoon in London ;
but it is reported that the lady's friends have determined
to take legal proceedings, in order to set aside the mar-
riage, as she happens to be under age, and heiress to a
large fortune.