The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-21 00:00:00

GENERAL MISCELLANY.

All the London police in South Wales were last week
ordered home,
The Gazette; of Friday last, announces the appoint-
ment of Si: Thomas Freernalitle to the office of Secretary
at War.

The prisoner Dahmtg, charged with the murder at Bat-
tersea, underwent a firusi eZamination on Tuesday last,
and was committed for trial.
An old beggar, of Yorkshire, bass just succeeded to a
fortune of £95,000 by the death of a nephew, who went
out, some years since, to India, and recei:tly died intes-
tate.

Messrs. Bright and Sons are erecting a new cotton
mill, to be 309 feet tong, 75 feet broad, and five otories
high, at Cronkeyshaw, near Rochdale.
The Lord Mayor of London, on Wednesday last, gave
a grand banquet to her Majesty's Ministers at the
Mansion House. The company amounted to nearly 110
persons.

LAUNCESTON ELECTION.—Sir Henry Hardinge, the
Governor-General of India, has issued his address to the
electors of Launceston, announcing his retirement from
the representation of that borough. Admiral Bowles has
personally addressed the electors.
The Morning Herald states that it is confidently ru-
moured in the legal profession that the venerable Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir Nicholas C. Tindal,
has expressed his resolution to retire from the bench on
the termination of Michaelmas Term next.
THE W EATHER.—There was rather a heavy fall of snow
in the neighbourhood of Sheffield on Friday morning.
There was also hail in Manchester. In the neighbourhood
of Birmingham there was heavy and continued rain for
several hours.
A novel wager between two Canterbury gentlemen was
made a few days ago—the one betting the other £lO he
would produce a workman which should sharpen 1980
hop-poles in ten hours. A large concourse of persons
assembled. No less than 2041 poles were sharpened in
7 h. 40 m.

A deputation of West India proprietors and others,
consisting of Lord Sandon, Sir John Rae Reid, the Agent
for Jamaica, Mr. John Gladstone, Mr. Marryat, Mr. Neil
Malcolm, Mr. Chlery, Mr. M`Gregor, Mr. Miles, M.P.,
and Mr. Davidson, had an interview with Lord Stanley at
the Colonial-office on Wednesday.
The Marchioness of Blandford, eldest daughter of the
Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry, was brought
to bed of a son and heir, at the Marquis's house, Wilton-
crescent, London, yesterday morning week. The Mar-
chioness and the young Earl of Sunderland are doing as
well as possible.

SHIPWRECKS.—The Spanish brig Campechano, from
Liverpool to Manilla, with a cargo of piece goods, valued
at from £30,000 to £40,000, was totally lost on the sth of
December, on the Monlufar shoal, in the Straits of San
Dernardino. Four of the crew were drowned. The Eliza
Stewart, laden with teas and piece goods, has been lost
near Amoy, but no particulars have been received.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.—The contributions received
for the establishment of schools for the manufacturing and
mining districts, amounted at the close of last year to the
sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. In the
twenty-three published lists of contributors there are 896
subscribers of £5O and upwards, and 8,879 of sums under
£5O, thus showing the total number of contributors up to
the present time to be 10,000.

REPRESENTATION OF KILMARNOCK.—By the death
of Mr. Alexander Johnston, M.P., of Shield Hall, Roth-
say, which took place on Thursday, the 9th instant, at
Rothsay, a vacancy occurs in the representaticin of the
Kilmarnock District of Burghs. Mr. Johnstone, a Whig,
was returned for the District in 1841, by a majority of
only eleven votes over Mr. Colquhoun, the previous con.
servative member.

The glovers of Leicester recently " struck" for all ad-
vance of wages, asking for an addition of 2d. per pound
upon 40-cotton Berlins and shades ; 2d. per pound upon
30-cotton Berlins and shades ; and Id. per pound upon
20-cotton Berlins. The masters met this demand half-
way, and the increased price commenced on Saturday
week. Some of the hands have acceded to the price, and
others have left the town for Nottingham.

STEAM•BOILER EXPLOSION.—On Sunday week the
boiler at Sharp's Mill, at Bradford, suddenly burst, scald-
ing six msn, three of them so severely that two died shortly
afterwards, and one lies without hope of recovery. An
inquest was held on Tuesday last, en the two:deceased,
when, it appearing that the owners had put more power
on the boiler than it could safely carry, they were severely
censured, and the jury laid a deodand of £lOO on the
engine.

Sir. Henry Hardinge, the present Governor-General of
India, was Aide-de-Camp to Sir John Moore at the battle
of Corrunna, Jan. 17, 1809, and was close to the lamented
General when a cannon ball carried away his left shoulder
and part of the collar-bone, leaving the arm hanging by
the flesh. Sir John Moore was Aide-de-Camp to Sir
Ralph Abercrombie, at the battle of Alexandria, March
21, 1801, and caught the noble hero in his arms after he
had received his death wound.

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.—On Friday a notice was
issued of an alteration, the effect of which will be, to make
the postage of letters between this country and Berbice
one shilling and twopence for half an ounce, and so on in
proportion, an internal postage of twopence being added
to the packet rate of one shilling. The next mails for
Madeira, the British and Foreign Colonies in the West
Indies, Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, Havana, Bahamas,
Chagres; and New Granada will be made up on the morn-
ing of the Ist of June, to be forwarded via Southamptin.
CAPTAIN PIDDING'S CHINESE OLIO AND TEA TALK.
—A very interesting and cheap weekly periodical, abound-
ing in useful information relating to China, considered
politically, commercially, historically, and philosophically.
Whilst it cannot fail to be acceptable to the general read-
er, it must be peculiarly valuable to persons connected
with the tea trade, and for their use it will be specially
adapted. The merits of the work, so far as the present
number enables us to judge, will ensure a wide circula-
tion.

MR. O,CONNELL.-At half-past five o'clock on Tues-
day morning, the agitator arrived in Liverpool, by the
mail-packet from Dublin, and immediately proceeded to
the Adelphi Hotel, where he breakfasted, and then started
by the quarter to eight a.m, first-class train for London,
with the view of attending in his place in the House of
Commons on the same evening. He was unaccompanied
by any of the members of his family, and was merely at-
tended by his servant. The repeal rent, on Monday,
amounted to about £4OO.

NEW OBLITERATING STAMP AT TILE POST-OFFICE.--
A new-invented obliterating stamp is now in use, of a
circular form, and bears in its centre the number of the
post town whence the letter is despatched. This stamp

enables the duty of the inland office to be more expedi-
tiously performed, as the postage frank is obliterated by
the country postmaster, thus securing the vast body of
correspondence intended for delivery in the metropolis
from being delayed by the process having to be gone
through in the London office.
THE DUKEDOM OF SUSSEX.—The following is the
minute of the proceedings, as entered in the Lords' Jour-
nals, on the subject of the petition of Sir Augustus
d'Este, the son of the late Duke of Sussex, and claimant
of the title and dignities of his royal parent :—" The
petition of Augustus d'Este, claiming to be Duke of Sus-
sex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron of Arklow, for leave to
lodge cases, considered; and the standing order, No. 128,
also considered, and dispensed with; and leave given to
the petitioner to lodge the said cases." The committee
for privileges has been appointed to meet on Thursday,
the 23rd instant, to investigate the claim thus set forth.
THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.—From all parts of the
country, the accounts are most cheering, and the infant
crops are said to be making rapid progress. In every res-
pect the present season bears a strong resemblance to that
of 1841, so much so that even the retarding effects of
March, are not visible, the excellence of April, and what
has already passed of May, has brought the crops as far
as if they had been in the ground a fortnight earlier.
Even the hill farmer is sharing bountifully of the fine
weather, which is already visible upon his sportive lambs,
enjoying as they do warm days and nights, and dry bed,
and the ewes have a rich supply of suculant herbage.
THE FORCE OF CONSCIENCE.—About nine years ago,
Byam Green, a gamekeeper in the service of a Miss
Lloyd, of .Hintles ham Hall, Essex, had his brains dashed
out by one of a party of poachers. A man, named
Chalker, was apprehended, tried, and executed, for the
murder ; but he died protesting his innocence. A
short time since William Towns, a soldier in the 21st
Fusileers, stationed in India, confessed that lie was the
murderer, and that he, was present at the execution of the
innocent man. He stated that he could get no rest day
or night, and that the face of the man was continually
before him, haunting him even in his dreams.
UNUSUAL PROFICIENCY.—Mr William Peel, third
son of the Premier, and mate of the Excellent, has been
appointed Lieutenant, after having gone through the
course of instruction given in that ship, and passed the
probationary examination, with a degree of credit
before unheard of—nine hundred and tea is the number
which marks the utmost possible proficiency in gunnery,
and Mr. Peel obtained nine hundred and eight ; 270 is the
highest number for navigation, and he obtained 260; 14
months is the time allotted for the course—it never was
before accomplished under nine months—Mr. Peel
passed the examination in five months and four days.
MURDER OF A NEW-BORN CHILD.—On Monday even-
ing, an inquest was held before J. Hargreaves, Esq., co-
roner, and a respectable jury, at the Police-office, Black-
burn, on view of the body of a new-born male child, which
was found concealed in the water-closet of Mr. Briggs,
chemist, King William-street. The jury returned a ver-
dict of wilful murder against Mary Davies, the mother,
who was a servant in the house, and let the child fall into
the slop-can, when delivered. It is stated that the unfor-
tunate woman is of weak intellect, and had been confined
for two years in a lunatic asylum. She was said to have
been an honest and well-behaved girl, up to the time of
this melancholy transaction.

HORRIBLE MURDER NEAR COVENTRY.--Scarcely had
the intense excitement following the murder of Mr.
Goldsby's infant daughter subsided, than the inhabitants
of Coventry were again thrown into a state of great con-
sternation, in consequence of intelligence having reached
the police station of another cold-blooded murder, upon
the person of a weaver, named Henry Clewley. An in-
quisition upon view of the body was held at the Red Lion,
Sowe, on Saturday last, when several witnesses were ex-
amined, from whose evidence it appeared, that while the
deceased was walking quietly home, he was attacked by a
man named George Skelsey, who knocked him down and
kicked him in the most brutal manner. The jury, after
a consultation of not more than a minute, returned a ver-
dict of " Wilful murder" against Skelsey.—Banbury
Guardian.

May 21, MU

SECOND EDITION.

Standard-office, Ten o'clock.
lIOUSE OF COMMONS—MONDAY.

BIRKENHEAD DOCK BILL.

The Parliamentary Committee on the Birkenhead Dock
Bill resumed its sittings yesterday (Monday).
Mr. Walker was examined on behalf of the Town Cowl'
._ _

cil of Liverpool by Mr. Hill. He was well acquainted
with the navigation of the river Mersey, and had been so
for several years; had often seen vessels laying on the
space now proposed io be occupied by the Birkenhead

docks and wharfs. It would be injurious to these vessels
to have this space taken from their use, and the proposed
plan would therefore be prejudicial. He suggested a re-
medy which does not app3ar to have occurred to any of
the engineers who crowded the room to hear his evidence.
It was the construction of a sort of pier, that, by being

built very wide, and at some distance from the north side

of the shore of the pool, would leave a vacant space for
coasters to resort to. As a general principle the abstrac-
tion of any back water would be injurious to any river, but
in Liverpool it would be practically found to be but slight•
Beyond this he was not asked any questions as to the dan-
ger to the navigation. Had doubts whether Mr. Rendell'S
plans would sluice the docks, but if not they might be
dredged, as most harbours were.

Mr. Hill addressed the committee on the evidence against
the bill, of which he spoke in most unmeasured terms•
He considered it merely a land speculation, in which the
parties looked to no interest but their own—their plans to
advance which were crude and undigested in themselves►
incapable of being carried into effect, though they at-
tempting to do so, would injure, perhaps ruin, the port of
Liverpool. Upon these grounds he was instructed by all
the authorities of Liverpool to offer their most unqualified
opposition to the bill, which he entreated the committee
to reject. Mr. Cockburn, for the bill, followed, who
stoutly maintained the converse of all for which Mr. Hill
had contended. The scheme had been formed on the-,sur-
veys and plans of the most eminent engineers, who were
responsible for the work, and whose capability to form a
proper judgment could not be doubted. The bill was re-
commended by the government, whose officers, through the
Lords of the Admiralty, as well as the conservators of the
River Mersey, approved of the plans, which had been by
them most minutely examined, and were considered
by them the most eligible to supply the universally
admitted want of dock accommodation at Liverpool.
He complained of the counsel and agents of the
bill not bringing forward Mr. Hartley, Lieut. Lord,
and others of their engineering department who could tell
much better the effect which the proposed plans would have
on the river than any who were comparatively strangers
as nearly all those called were. Denying every point on
which Mr. Hill had insisted, he declared that be fully ex-
pected the decision of the Committee would be unanimous
in favour of the bill.

The result will not, however, be known until to-morrow.
as it was past four o'clock before the counsel had finished
speaking, and Committees do not vote after four o'clock.

STATE PROSECUTIONS.
From last night's Dublin Evening Mail.
It is understood—we ourselves entertain no doubt of
the fact—that the Judges of the Queen's Bench are noW
unanimous in refusing the motion for a new trial ; and
that whatever doubts existed in Mr. Justice CRAMPTON'S
mind with resrect to including the Reverend Mr. TIER
NEY in that decision, have been removed. The Judges,
we believe, will deliver their judgments seriatim, and it
said that each member of the Bench, to avoid the system
of misrepresentation which has hitherto been resorted to
with such effect, has reduced to writing the legal reasons
and arguments upon which he has formed his conclusiona
A whole term has in fact been consumed in debating a
question which now appears was never arguable.

AN UNCONSCIOUS HIT.—At the uproaricu; An"'
Slavery meeting, on Friday, at Exeter Hall. a
lowed the speech of Mr, F. Buxton, when the audience
becoming somewhat impatient, the chairman arose, and,
with a gravity that must acquit him of anticipating the
inference that would be drawn, craved patience, °Wert--
big that Mr- O'Connell was about to address the assent..
bly—but the collection of money must be first made."
The proper application was instantly made, and a roar of
laughter followed. A second burst was excited by as
explanation (not, however, from the chair,) that as Mr-
Bright was to follow Mr. O'Connell, it wag necessary tO
make the collection before the member for Durham :should
clear the 100 m. Ta ise fol-

IRISH SOCIETY.—The supporters of the above associa-
tion, established for promoting the education of the Irish
peasantry through the med;um of thz vernacular language
of the country, held their twenty-second annual meeting
on Tuesday afternoon, at Hanover-square. George Finch,
Esq., presided. The report stated that in the King's
County district. notwithstanding the hostility of the priests,
the progress of the society, and consequently of scriptural
instruction, had much advanced during the past year. In
hat district alone were no fewer than 8,000 scholars, not
one of whom had been found in possession of a repeal card,
to attend a repeal meeting, or to be in any way favourable
to the movement. A favourable report was also made of
the state of affairs in Donegal, where against threats of
vi dence and punishment the teachers were resolved to
proceed. The Society's Schools in Drumclair, Cork,
Kerry, and other parts of the country, were also in a very
satisfactory condition. The schools in Ireland nu,nbered.
altogether 797, containing 17,301 scholars, of whom 1,235
were adults. The total income of the society during the
past year amounted to £4,107 13s. 6d., a sum exceeding
the expenditure by £l2l 6s. 11d.

TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION.—On Saturday week, a
fire broke out at a baker's shop in George's-court, Lyme
Regis, and by means of a furze stack quickly caught the
George Inn, which, with several adjoining houses, were
soon burnt to the ground, the inmates having barely time
to escape with their lives. Everything being exceedinglY
dry in consequence of the long drought, and a fresh breeze
springing up at north-east, the flames spread with the
greatest rapidity, and quickly crossed the streets to the
opposite premises, when the Victoria Inn and the adjoin-
ing premises fell a prey to the devouring element, the
whole of the furniture and stock being entirely consumed.
Nothing could now arrest the progress of the flames-
Both sides of Coombe-street being on fire, the greatest
consternation and alarm prevailed. The scene became
truly awful, as several houses caught fire at once, and
women and children were seen running about the streets
in a state of distraction, endeavouring to save some Por-
tion r
tion of their goods. The wind had now carried the flames
to the stables of the Cups Hotel,which,being all thatched'
burned with the greatest fury, and soon communicated to
the dwelling-house, and the whole of the extensive pre-
mises of the head inn in the town were soon reduced to a
heap of ruins, with barely sufficient time to
Faye the
horses and different vehicles in the yard. Meanwhile the
fire continued to proceed through Coombe-street, the
houses on each side being entirely destroyed, as far as
Mr. Munden's on one side, and the Crown Inn on the
other—both being preserved by pulling down a house
between each and the fire. The custom-house and seve-
ral other buildings were afterwards destroyed. In the
afternoon the wind gradually subsided, and the progress
of the flames was fortunately arrested. The amount of
damage done is immense. The lower part of the town
presents a scene of destruction and desolation never wit- -
nessed here since the memorable fire of Nov. 5, 1803,
when the whole of Millgreen was destroyed. About forty
houses have now been burnt down, amongst which is the
head inn, and five other public-houses. The greater paq•
we believe, are insured ; but many have lost their all,
whilst vast numbers had their goods torn to pieces and
lost by removing to a place of safety.
THE FACTORIES BILL.—On Friday the Factories Bill,
amended by the Committee, and on the report was
printed. It contains seventy-four clauses with four ache_
;
dules. The act is to come into operation on the first of
October next, except any provision which is otherwise
especially mentioned. No Inspector to act as a Meg°.
tzate. Inspectors to enter factories and schools at anY
time to examine any registries, &c. An office in London
or Westminster is to be provided for the use of inspec"
tors and for the preservation of factory records ; clerks
and servants to be appointed for the office. Persons be" '
ginning to occupy a factory to send notice thereof to tbe,
office of inspectors ; Certifying surgeons to be appointed
by the inspectors ; fees to be fixed by inspectors. The
certificates of age, &c. to apply to only one factory, and
may be annulled by the inspectors. Machinery to be,.
guarded, and factories kept clear. Notice to be given al
any accident. Certifying surgeons to examine into the
cause and extent of accidents. Actions may be brought
on the report of an inspector, for bodily injuries from We'
chinery. Clocks to be provided for regularity in work!,
and registers to be kept in every factory. An abstract of
the act, and notices to be hung up in every factory
Children at eight years old may be employed in factories?
but not to work more than seven hours a day ; to go to
school. Young persons to be restricted to ten hours o
day. Lost time may be recovered. Work to cease on
Saturday at half-past four o'clock. One hour at least to
be given as meal time, half holidays allowed, and &yew;
dance of children at school. Inspectors to give notice;
dangerous machinery. All complaints under this act
be preferred within two months. Proceedings to be tel`„
before justices. Power given to distrain goods in fecp,,
ries belonging to persons convicted. Inspectors corek;e.
tent witnesses. Surgical certificates to be proof 008111..
Penalties for infringing the act—on parents allowibk,c
dren to be employed contrary to the provisions. reli
ties. to be applied for the establishment or suppiafactorl ort of do
and
..
Ascphpoeoallssfallothweedediunecaetirotaninofccahseilsd.renAveemprlyoylong
interp
tation clause is set forth. Act may. he appealed •ail
amended. In the schedules the varioue,Certificates require's_
are set forth, and directions givtik to carry the govern"
o
rent measure into operation.

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