The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-11-19 00:00:00

REDUCTION OF DOCK AND LIGHT DUTIES.

The following report on this subject was read :—" The
Sub-committee, to whom was referred the revision of the
dock and light duties on tonnage, and the dock rates on
gaods, beg to state to the General Committee, that im-
portant changes having taken. place since their appoint-
ment, and various circumstances having prevented them
making an earlier report, the only alterations in their du-
ties which they now venture to recommend is, that the
rates to be charged upon the seventh class of voyages
be, on tonnage, Is. 6d., and on lights 1 per ton, making
Is. 71d. per ton. The sub-committee consider it to be
desirable to ascertain the opinion of the general committee
as to whether the whole question of dock rates should be
revised, it being the opinion of this sub-committee that a
small rate of duty upon goods brought coastwise shall be
charged, the inward duties to be deducted in case of ex-
portation."
Mr. BOLD explained that the seventh class of voyages
referred to all ports in South America, to the southward
of Rio de la Plata, in the Pacific Ocean, in Africa and
Asia to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, the du-
ties upon which at present were, for tonnage, 2s. 3d., and
for light, 2d. He stated also that the loss to the estate
would only be about £4OOO a year. The report was re-
ceived, and it was ordered that the reduction should take
place on the 10th of December next.

ANOTHER DREADFUL COLLISION.- SINK-
ING OF THE BRIG BLUNDELL, OFF THE
MAGAZINES.

(From our Second Edition of Tuesday last.)

It is with exceeding sorrow that we have again to record
one of those casualties which have of late been of but too
frequent occurrence, and which it would almost appear
no human aid can avert. The Blundell, a fine brig, bound
to Trinidad, started from this port on Saturday—and on
putting back came in contact with the American ship
Feronia and sunk almost immediately. The following
particulars communicated by the captain, Mr. Townsend,
of the Blundell, will, we doubt not, be found interest-
ing.
The brig Blundell sailed from Liverpool for Trinidad
on Saturday, at half-ebb, with wind about N.N.W. At
midnight the pilot left her, the N.W. Light-ship bearing
at the time S. by W. Stood on for two hours, and then
stood towards the light. At two o'clock tacked ship, and
stood four hours heading W. and W. aS. At 8 o'clock
made the Great Ormshead ; wind light.
About 8 o'clock on Sunday night a breeze sprung up
from the northward and westward, which freshened till
midnight, when a sudden gnat carried away the jibboom.
The hands were at the time reefing the maintop-
sail. At four o'clock made Lynas light, broad on
the lee bow, distance about 8 miles. Wore ship, and
at half-past eight o'clock, the sea running tremendously
high, and the ship labouring and straining dreadfully,
carried away the foretopmaststay and foretopmast, which,
with all the gear, hooked the foreyard, and split the fore-
sail to pieces.

To save the vessel, the wreck was immediately cut
away, when it was found necessary to keep the pumps
constantly going. Stood on till twelve o'clock, heading
N.E., the wind still blowing tremendously in heavy gusts,
when they spoke the fishing-boat Eliza and Betsey, which
stopped by them.
At this time the vessel was drifting bodily to leeward.
Abont four o'clock a man came on board as pilot, the
N.W. Light-ship bearing about S., distant about twenty
miles. Got the ship to wear at 8 a.m., and ran her
through the Victoria Channel.
At ten o'clock passed the Rock Light; saw a ship to
the eastward, (the American ship Feronia,) and a collision
took place before there was time to clear her. The brig
had a light up, and a watch was, we learn, on the deck of
the Feronia. The Feronia's bowsprit hooked the main-
mast of the brig, and her cutwater struck her just abaft
the main rigging with such a tremendous crash that it
carried away a great portion of her side. At half-past te❑
the brig was cleared from the ship, and almost imme-
diately went down, head foremost, in 91 fathoms at low
water.

The Feronia was inward bound from Quebec, and was
anchored off the Magazines. The hands bad barely time
to save themselves. The Blundell belonged to Messrs.
A. Labertouche and Co., and is, we learn, fully in-
sured in the Marine Insurance-office.

The John and Mary, of Dublin, from Quebec for Li-
verpool, out 57 days, was spoken on the 24th ult., with 4
feet 10 inches of water in her bold, making 2feet 6 inches
of water per hour. The master feared she would not get
home.—The Eliza and Ann, reported yesterday at Cove
of Cork, picked up the crew of the John and Mary on
the 28th.

The England, from Liverpool, for Ichaboe, at Cork—
having been in contact with a wreck and stove her bow.
The Raw, from Ichaboe, for orders at Falmouth ; left
about 400 sail of vessels at Ichahoe.

BEAUMARIS, Nov. 11.—Put in, Sisters, Smith, from
Liverpool to Penzance, with jibbootrt and foremast gone,
and sails split; and the Margaret, Hughes, from Dublin
to Liverpool, with part of her bulwarks washed away.
A flat went down at her anchors in Conway Bay ; par-
ticulars not known.

The Oriental, steamer, from Alexandria, arrived at the
Motherbank, Cowes, Nov. 10th.

PAVING AND SEWERAGE COMMISSIONERS—Tnuns-
DAY.—On the motion of Mr. Procter, the treasurer was
directed to prepare a return of the law expenses for the
years 1842, 1843, and 1844, distinguishing the amount
paid to Mr. Deane, the law-clerk, the expense of deputa-
tions, and parliamentary expenses.—An application from
the trustees of Molyneux's charity having been read, after
some conversation the request, which was to place some
crossing in Myrtle-street and Falkner-street, was granted.
—A sewer was ordered to be made in Temple-street, on
the application of Mr. Bond, who is to contribute £25
towards the expenses.—An application having been made
to alter some sewers in Chatham-street and Walnut-street,
it was stated that the Board would place sewers where
there were none, before they would alter those already in
existence.—A quantity of Chinese granite was advertised
to be bought at 6s. per square foot.
ADVENTURES OF A Fox.—Mr. Henry Blunt, at Wool-
ton, has long had a couple of foxes, male and female,
which, like Home's hermit, are " the wonder of the
neighbouring swains." Bound in chains rather stronger
than the chain connubial, neither the lady fox nor the
gentleman fox ever appeared inclined to rove from home,
till, lately, a disposition to wander suddenly seized upon
the latter, and, strange to say, he received assistance from
his lady in the accomplishment of his wishes. Mrs. Fox
actually knawed through the collar of her lord, and, like
many a heroic female " famous in story," heroically, for
his sake, dared the vengeance of offending power. Reynard
might now have made his escape, but whether the ancient
appetite of his kind prevailed over his proverbial discre-
tion, or whether he wished to fortify his inner indivi.
duality ere he set out on his travels, we know not ; but
certain it is that he crept slyly amongst the poultry, and
selected a fine, plump chicken, on which he forthwith
breakfasted. Then " consideration, like an angel," came,
and he gallantly determined upon helping his lady, who
looked wistfully on, unable to help herself. He selected
for her a black Spanish cock, of a valuable breed, which,
having killed, he laid before his spouse. He next set him-
self to work to provide provision for a future day. Seizing
a fat goose, be quietly bit off his long neck, and concealed
the huge bird beneath some branches in the garden. The
villain next snapped at a fine duck, and was proceeding
to bury it alive when he was discovered, and, upon a rush
being made at him, he at once cleared a wall ten feet high.
He took another wall into Mr. Gibbons' garden, where
his brush was seen for a moment ; but, determined to
escape, he dashed at the carriage-gate, which is planted
with spikes, and actually cleared it into the road, where
he was seen by Mr. Gore, who turned him, upon which
he made across the country. He went to a farm be-
longing to Mr. Bibby, where he lay concealed for some
time ; but, on the following morning, he appeared at the
residence of Mr. Ambrose Lace, the excellence of whose
poultry we believe he had the honour of testing. Next
morning he favoured Mrs. Foster, widow of the late Mr.
Foster, Town-clerk with a visit, and did her a similar
favour. Here, however, he was pursued by the dogs,
which seem to have given him something of a fright, for
he was not heard of for several days afterwards. His
next appearance was at the residence of Dr. Shepherd, at
Gateacre. Here, however, he again met with a reception
which he did not like, the dogs having rushed upon him
and chased him a considerable distance. He took the
direction of Toxteth-park. Passing behind the Coburg
Hotel, he crossed the bridge of the Coburg Dock and
took shelter under some loose timber. Here he was
taken, and Mr. Blunt was soon informed of his where-
about, and, a few days ago, he was taken back to his old
quarters.