The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY.

Yesterday evening the general monthly meeting of this
society took place at the Royal Institution. The private
business, namely, the receiving of the report of the re-
tiring council, and the election of officers for the ensuing
season, occupied some time.
In the theatre of the institution, after these preliminary
matters, the chairman for!the year, W. Bennett, Esq., was
duly introduced, and announced the names of the other
officers.

The following officers were declared elected :—Presi-
dent : Wm. Bennett, Esq. Vice-Presidents : the Rev.
A. Hume, L.L.D., and the Rev. Thomas Dwyer. Trea-
surer : Mr. C. J. Smith. Secretary : Mr. Salt. Council :
Messrs. Boult, Clay, Forrest, Hobson, F. Horner, H. P.
Horner, R. Mather, W. Millner, W. H. Peak, Thos.
Spencer.

LIGHTHOUSES

Mr. J. A. FORREST then brought before the society
" a novel mode of distinguishing lighthouses by night."
Respectfully addressing the president, members, and
strangers, he said
Having been lately successfully engaged with Messrs.
Miller and Sons, of London, upon the Signal Glass for
the Admiralty Lights, it occurred to me that something
might be applied to lighthouses, that would improve the
power of distirtguishing them at night. The necessity of
this has been painfully brought before the public, in the
loss of the " Stephen Whitney," and " The Frankfield,"
the latter of which mistook the South Stack for the Sker-
ries.—The momentous interest of life and property which
the subject involves, are a sufficient apology for my press-.
ing it upon your attention ; and if I only gain the satis-
faction of bringing abler minds to bear upon this most
important matter, I shall feel amply repaid.
The tables which I shall now present to you of the
principal British and Irish lighthouses, have been taken
from the official statement issued by the Admiralty. You
will at once perceive that although they have three dis-
tinguishing properties,—namely, revolving, intermitting,
and coloured lights, that the fixed light is nearly 4 to 1.
Now the plan I would set before you in this model, has
ten distinguishing lights, which added to the three they
already possess, would give a power of 13 instead of 3.
Theefficiency of these 10 is now the question before you. It
would have been an easy matterto introduce the arithmetic
of colours, by whichthey distinguish shopsby daylight ; but
very few of these would give sufficient contrast, or power,
and thus the theory, that would look beautiful on paper,
would be found to be utterly useless when reduced to
practice. There are two colours—light red and green—
which we have proved in our late experiments on the
Mersey, will carry furthest, and are in themselves a suffi-
cient contrast, so as to prevent the possibility of mistake.
Besides this, you have the constant presence of the white
in each signal, which, together with the simplicity of the
geometric figures employed, would be a guarantee that its
adoption would riot injure the effect of any light-house at
present established. There is another important provision ;
the lights being curvelar, you have the signal displaying
itself at all possible positions that the ship might come in
view. I have consulted a number of master seamen upon
the subject, and they all agree that it would be a great
advantage to possess such a system of lights, especially to
coasters. That, during a heavy sea, as in the case
of the Frankfield, the vessel being frequently out of
sight of the light, it is difficult to determine whe-
ther it is fixed or revolving. Many of the master sea-

men stated that the Admiralty signal lights, about to be
enforced on all steamers belonging to this country, would
be a considerable benefit, as the lights of steam vessels
have been frequently mistaken for those of a lighthouse.
After the paper of Mr. Forrest, a vote of thanks was
passed to that gentleman, and another to the Chairman,
and the meeting separated.

PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.—We are authorised to state
that the anniversary of the Church Pastoral Aid Society
will be held on February 10th, and that the Deputation
will consist of the Rev. H. W. M'Grath, Rector of St.
Anne's, Manchester. and several other clergymen.
PRESENTATION.—On Saturday last, the Rev. Edward
Jones, late curate of Christ Church, in this town, and
brother of the Vicar of Holywell, was presented by the
congregation of Christ Church with a beautiful pocket
communion service, with an appropriate inscription. The
reverend gentleman has been appointed incumbent of St.
Matthias's Church, in this town.

The Rev. W. M. Falloon, the estimable incumbent of
St. John's, has just published an address to his congre-
gation, being his fourth annual appeal to them. The
address is written in Mr. Falloon's usual earnest, em-
phatic, and affectionate style; and whilst it is full of
Scriptural precept, it abounds with the tenderest and
most solemn aspirations for the temporal and eternal
good of his flock. Mr. Falloon generally writes with
almost apostolic fervour. No doubt every member-of his
church will become possessed of this-additional proof of
their minister's solicitude for their welfare.
MISS ATHERTON'S CONCERT.—MISS Atherton, who
has for a series of years been the conductor of a musical
academy in this town, takes her first concert this night
week ; and we trust that that kiadly feeling which is so
universal in the musical world, will be evinced towards
her, not less on account of her talent as a pianist, but
her peculiar position, and her anxious and aspiring ex-
ertions. Mr. Thomas, of her Majesty's Theatre, a har-
pist highly celebrated, perhaps the first in the world,
makes his second appearance here. Mr. Ryalls, Mrs.
H. Pardy, and a galaxy of known talent are also an-
nounced. _ _ . .

We are pleased to hear that at St. Andrew's Church,
on Sunday, after a sermon by the Rev. J. Jones, a collec-
tion was made (without previous notice) amounting to
£3l, for the poor of the district. We have often thought
a church collection was a very admirable mode of raising
money for the poor of a district, because contributions
thereby received are such as would not otherwise be
obtained ; and the donors have the satisfaction of being
assured that their money will be judiciously dispensed,
through the kind assistance of the ministers and church-
wardens. We shall be glad to hear at these very pressing
times to the poor, of this example being followed.
TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. DRUMMOND ANDERSON.
—On Monday evening, Dec. 27th, the teachers of St.
Jude's School met the Rev. Dr. M‘Neile and Rev. D.
Anderson at Mr. W. T. Thompson's, Seymour-street.
After tea Dr. M`Neile explained a portion of the 10th
chapter of Hebrews, in his usual searching and practical
style. The Rev. D. Anderson then engaged in prayer,
after which Dr. M`Neile presented, in the name of the
teachers, several valuable volumes of approved works to
Mr. Anderson, containing the following inscription :
" Presented to the Rev. Drummond Anderson, A.M.,by
the superintendent and teachers of St. Jude's Boys' un-
day School, as a small token of their affectionate regard
for him as a faithful minister and kind friend. Ileb. vi.
chap. 11, 12. Liverpool, Dec. 27th, 1847." Mr. Ander-
son having expressed his gratitude in the most feeling
manner,the party separated about half-nest nine o'clock.
ST. THOMAS' CHURCH, TOXTETII-PARK.—The usual
examination of the infant school attached to this church
was held on Thursday, 23rd December. The school-room
was completely filled, for the most part, by the parents of
the children, who appeared greatly pleased with the know-
ledge displayed by their little ones, especially in Bible
subjects, which justly occupy the chiefest and most promi-
nent place in the system of instruction adopted in the
school. Much interest was excited by an object lesson on
wheat. in which some of the naive answers of the children
caused considerable amusement. We should be unjust to
conclude this notice without naming Miss Hassalwood,
the mistress, to whose unremitting care and attention such
favourable results are mainly attributable. In connection
with the same church was held, on Thursday last, a con-
gregational tea-party, in the school-room. It was well
and respectably attended. After tea, the company were
delighted, during the intervals of speaking, by some excel-
lent vocal music, performed by the members of St. Thomas'
choir, which is entirely voluntary, being composed of school
children and sunday- school teachers, under the superin-
-tondence of Mr. C. ihwkett_the muathr of tho day-school,
to whom, during the evening, there was presented, through.
the Rev. T. C. Cowan, incumbent of the church, a hand-
some Pocket-Bible, being a voluntary tribute of gratitude
from the boys of St. Thomas' school. The piano was ably
presided over by Mr: Williams, the organist, whose services
on the occasion were, we understand, gratuitous.
AMUSING CASE IN THE POLICE COURT. —After the

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usual heavy business of the day at this court yesterday,
Mr. Davenport, a gentleman of long and respectable
standing as a practitioner within its walls, and who has
almost daily to make application to the magistrates for
others, seized the opportunity to make one in behalf of
himself. With a gravity which we scarcely thought he
could command on such an occasion, he said,—Sir,—On
Friday last, several cases of smuggling came before
you, and a person named James Fowler appeared
professionally in behalf of some of the accused. That
person thought fit, on leaving the court, to appro-
priate to himself my hat, leaving his own in its
place—and a very sorry one it is, as I believe--(ex-
hibiting it to the court.) Mr. Fowler's own hat was
afterwards found, Sir, under the bench on which he had
been sitting. Mr. Rushton (smiling) said that the affair
would form a fine subject for an action between them
(laughter) ; but what did Mr. Davenport ask for ? Mr.
Davenport said that he had written to Mr. Fowler, but
had not yet recovered his beaver. He had received the
following reply, which he handed up, and which Mr.
Rushton read as follows :-
19, Grafton-street, Ist, January? 1848.—Sir,—I was not aware
that the hat I took out of the Police-court belonged to you. (I ,
took it by mistake.) I presume it is so, as it is considerably
larger than my own, and must, of necessity, belong to some in-
didual of a cranium of greater dimensions than mine. On
sending up my hat, and the handkerchief that was along with
it, yours (if it be yours) shall be delivered.—Yours obediently,
" To Mr. Davenport, Dale-street." "J. FOWLER.
Mr. Davenport said he considered this reply conveyed an
insult.—Mr. Rushton repeated, What would you have
me to do in such a case ? He says he will not detain
it if you only send back his hat.—Mr. Davenport com-
plained of the necessity of going so far ' • and besides, wha
knew how often he might go before he could find Mr.
Fowler "at home."—Mr. Rushton said he might send
his office lad, and thus (as we understood him) all chance
v•ould be averted of " Greek meeting Greek" in tug of
" legal " war. The matter here ended, Mr. Davenport
sitting down and appearing to enjoy the merriment which
the Me had excited,