The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-03-21 00:00:00

MR. GRAHAM'S CONCERT.—This veteran tenor—this
prince of English song--announces two more concerts at the
Royal Assembly Rooms. The first takes place on Friday
next. The following is the programme :—Part I. Cantata.
—" The Soldier's Dream ;" " When I gazed on her beautiful
face ;" " Stand to your guns ;" " John Anderson, my Jo' ;"
"My Sister dear," from Masaniello ; "Oh ! Albion ;"
"The Old English Gentleman ;" Part 11. " Sampson's
Lament on his loss of sight." Recitative.—" Oh! loss of
sight." Air.—" Total Eclipse ;" " The Devil's Bridge ;"
" Though Love is warm awhile ;" " The Rover's Bride ;"
" Chloe flies me like a Fawn ;" " The Lads of the Village ;"
" Rest, weary Traveller;" "The Bay of Biscay." Those
who heard Mr. Braham when he was here about a fortnight
ago expressed themselves in the most enthusiastic manner as
to the delight they experienced in listening to him. Those
who were absent certainly missed a treat. As a singer of
sacred music Mr. Braham has left all competitors far behind,
and with satisfaction, it wili be seen, that the second part
of the present concert opens with " Sampson's Lament on
his loss of sight," one of Handel's noblest compositions.
As an English singer Mr. Braham stands as he has done for
years,—" alone in his glory."
INDIA SHIP DERELICT.—Captain Douglas, of the Pan-
dora, arrived in this port, reports having fallen in with about
five pan. on the 12th instant, soophead thea bearing S.S.W.
distant twenty miles, the ship 'Windsor Castle, of Liverpool,
from Bombay, with cotton, silks, spices, gums, indigo, &c.,
dismasted and abandoned. A heavy sea being then running,
and every appearance of dirty weather, Captain Douglas did
not consider it prudent to rislc his own vessel by taking her in
tow, besides she was so far to the northward that he did not
think he could bring her, with safety to his own charge, into
the Shannon. A steam-packet from Kilrush having gone in
search of the derelict vessel, she was brought up as far as
Kilbaha bay by the western pilots, and it is supposed that by
this evening she will have reached Scsttery roads in safety.
They anticipate a golden salvage. The Windsor Castle, it is
said, was run foul by an American ship on the 3d of March,
and was abandoned by her crew. She is 900 tons, with a
cargo of 4,500 bales of cotton. In the cabin was found a dead
goat, from which there proceeded no offensive smell, so that
it is supposed the death was of recent occurrence ; and on
the deck everything appeared to have been properly secured
by the crew before the abandonment. The crew of the Wind-
sor Castle,M'Clelland, have arrived at Liverpool by the Hud-
son, Page, from New Orleans, which took them on board,
after deserting the vessel off Cape Clear.—Limerick Chron.
THE HIGH TIDE.—The highest tide at this port for the
present year was on Saturday last, and a large concourse of
spectators (including many of the elite of the town) went to
the pier-heads to witness it. The day was tine, but hazy on
the water, so that the Cheshire shore was not so distinctly
visible as was desirable on such an occasion. It was, more-
over, nearly calm, so that the shipping in the ricer did not
present their accustomed lively appearance at high water.
The late prolonged easterly winds had also thinned the port
of its usual number of out-going vessels. But notwithstand-
ing these disadvantages, the sight was truly noble arid im-
posing, the Mersey being filled into one wide expanse of
water from shore to shore, rising to within about two feet of
the top of George's-pier, the most busy and central marine
promenade, and numerous vessels continuing to drop down
with the ebb, while steamers dashed along in all directions,
crowded with passengers. The height of the tide, as indi-
cated in the almanack, was 20 feet 4 inches, and it exceeded
that height a little by the upward pressure of a slight westerly
wind in the outer channel. The spring tide of the lith of
last month, though indicated at two inches lower, rose con-
siderably higher, owing to the breeze outside. That of
Saturday, had there been a strong wind from the south-west,
even beyond Holyhead, would doubtless have washed the top
of the sea-wall opposite the Baths. A considerable number
of vessels still continue to arrive from the westward.
FATAL EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS.—An inquest was
held on Saturday, before P. F. Curry, Esq.. for the purpose
of investigating the circumstances which led to the death of
Margaret Evans, aged 36. It appeared that the deceased
was much addicted to drinking. On Thursday last she was
discharged from the Borough Gaol, where she had been con-
fined a month for drunkenness. Ann Maxwell stated, that
she and the deceased were walking together on Thursday
night, about half-past twelve c'clock, along Park-road. The
deceased was perfectly sober. The) met a gentleman whom
they did not know, who asked them if they would have a
drink from a bottle which he had with him. The deceased
assented, and took a hearty draught. Maxwell tasted the
liquor also, and discovered that it was rum. The gentleman
told them that it was new rum. Maxwell asked the de-
ceased to go home, but she refused, and appeared inclined to
follow the gentleman, who had moved forward a few yards.
She (the deceased) placed herself against the wall, and Max-
well left her and went home. Next morning, about five
o'clock, as a youth, named Robert Brannan, was passing
across a footpath in some fields in the park, he saw an object
at a little distance which attracted his attention and that of a
man who had been walking a little way before him. They
went up to it, and found a woman lying on her face. Be-
lieving her to be asleep, Brannan asked the inam, tv awake
her; hut the latter said, if they did so, perhaps she might
accuse them of having robbed her. They then left her.
Near the end of the field Brannan met a police-officer, with
whom he returned to the spot. The officer turned the woman
over, and feeling her pulse, found that she was dead. The
jury returned a verdict accordingly.
NEW PLAN FOR THE PROPULSION OF STEAM VESSELS.
—On Saturday last, the first trial, on a small scale, was
made on our river, of a new principle in the propelling appa-
ratus of steam-vessels, in lieu of paddle wheels, which, though
generally adopted, are liable to some objections. The vessel
in which the experiment was made was the Daedalus, a small
yacht of 151 tons burthen, built by and belonging to Mr.
M'Ardle, the foreman carpenter of thelCity of Dublin Steam
Company, under Mr. J. C. Shaw, marine superintendent of
that extensive concern. Mr. M'Ardle is also the inventor of
the plan, which consists, we believe, of an axle, provided
with fanners or blades, placed in a peculiar position, and re-
volving in an aperture in the dead wood of the stern. This
propeller is turned, in the Daedalus, by two four-horse en-
gines, also on a new principle,—the cylinders moving from
side to side, on joints below, so that the piston rods pursue,
and act upon the cranks, without the necessity for the par-
rallel gear required in upright fixed cylinders. The little
vessel is schooner rigged, and looked remarkably well. She
started from the Clarence Dock basin about high water, and
went up the river, passing the Prince's and George's Dock
piers at a rapid rate, to the no little astonishment of the nu-
merous spectators congregated on the sea walls to witness
the highest tide of the year, many of whom, seeing no pad-
dle wheels, or other propelling apparatus, or sails (the whole
being under water,) were at a loss to account for her speedy
progress. She took a few turns up and down the river, and
notwithstanding the stiffness of the new engine, made good
way even in running up against the unusually strong tide.
The precise rate of her going, exclusive of the effect of tide-
way, was not on this occasion ascertained, but it is probable,
that when everything is put in complete order, (which was
not then accomplished,) and when her proper trim is found,
she will not be exceeded in fastness by any boat on the river ;
and it is certainly a great desideratum to be enabled to dis-
pense with the unsightly paddle boxes, and to have the pro-
peller under water; the vessel at the same time being capa-
ble of carrying sail without detriment to the working of the
engine, to the same extent as a vessel solely using sail. The
principle seems to be well adapted for canal boats, inasmuch
as there is no surge made in the wake, or at the sides, as
with the paddle wheel, to wash against and break down the
banks. The propeller, too, may, we learn, be altered and
modified, so as to be more peculiarly suitable either for canal
craft, or sea-going vessels. A considerable period has elapsed
since the inventor conceived the idea of his propeller, but it
was not until the present trial that be was enabled, after re-
peated experiments and anxious study, to bring it to its pre-
sent gratifying practical result. He now entertains little
doubt of its being pronounced to be entirely successful by
competent judges, in which case he will take out a patent.

CLAIM FOR THE ATTENDANCE 05' THE FIRE-POLICE,.—
On Saturday last Mr. Shuttleworth, the Deputy Town-clerk,
appeared before the Police-court to prefer a claim against
Mr. Robert Neilson, for the attendance or the fire-police at
his premises at Halewood, in October last. Mr. Neilson
did not appear, but Mr. Davenport, who was instructed by
the agent for the West of England Fire-office, attended as
his representative. Mr. Shuttleworth said, the information
was laid under the 159th section of the Improvement Act,
which rendered occupants liable for payment for extinguish.
ing fires, and gave justices power to decide in disputed cases.
Mr. Davenport said, Mr. Neilson was not the owner but the
occupant of the premises. Mr. Rushton said he would hear
the evidence. Mr. Shuttleworth stated the case, which was
afterwards proved in evidence by Mr. Hewitt, the superin-
tendent of the fire-police, who said that Mr. Neilson's servant
called at the station on the 14th of October last, and sum-
moned him to Halewood, six miles off, telling him that the
premises of Mr. Robert Neilson were on-lire: He took three
engines, to the first of which he had four horses, the second
three, and the last two. H took five officers of the police,
and eleven others followed. He met a messenger about two
miles and a half out of Liverpool, who urged him to make
haste. When within a mile of Mr. Neilson's premises, he
met another, who told him that the fire was subdued. He
sent back two of the engines, and went forward with the one
of which he had taken charge. He found the fire extin-
guished, with the exception of that in an outhouse. The roof
was burnt, and some hay had been consumed. lie made the
usual report to the Watch Committee. The claim upon Mr.
Neilson was £9. Mr. Archibald Tweedie, a den( in the. Watch-office, said that he paid £3 to Mrs. Ann Lea for
horses for two engines, £2. 2s. to Mr. Evan Williams for
horses for one engine, and 15s. for allowances to the drivers,
on account of the visit of the tire-police to Halewood' William Hall, Mr. Neilson's servant, proved that in the
absence of Mr. Neilson he summoned the fire-police, and
that the engines attended as above stated. Mr. Davenport' :
" But Lord Derby is the owner of the premises, is he not?"
Witness : " Yes." Mr. Shuttleworth : " And to whom did
the hay belong ?" Witness : "To Mr. Neilson." Thomas
White, a clerk in the Fire Police-office, proved that lie had
called many times for the account, and that he was at length
informed that Mr. Neilson objected to pay it. Mr. Rushton
called upon Mr. Davenport for the defence. Mr. Davenport :
4. They have not proved, sir, that the property belonged
thtaot
Mr. Neilson," Mr. Rushton : " They have proved
Mr. Neilson's servant summoned the engines, and that some
of the hay was burnt." Mr. Rushton here read from the
act an extract bearing on the case. Mr. Rushton said it
mattered not where the premises were situate, if the parties
called out the Liverpool fire-police, they must pay for it.
Mr, Davenport : " But if Mr. Neilson had been at home he
would not have sent for the fire-police, but for the West of
England, where he is insured." Mr. Rushton : " But it
happens that his servant went to the proper place. It is
quite clear that Mr. Neilson is not the real defendant here.
He has an indemnity from the Fire Insurance Company, and
lie has acted as advised. He is the nominal defendant."
Mr. Shuttleworth said, as evidence had been given pro.,ing
only a charge of £3 for the engines, his claim would be only
£B. 17s. Mr. Rushton said, no doubt the claim was a rea-
sonable one, and when they. considered the importance of
the fire-police establishment in the protection of property, it
was contrary to good policy, as well as law, for any insurance
office to resist such claims. Mr. Rushton directed the order
to be made for payment. We are informed that this decision
will be appealed against, on the ground, that the magistrates
were bound, by a subsequent clause, to apportion the charges
amongst all parties to whom the assistance was given, whether
insured or uninsured.