The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-16 00:00:00

THE POTATO PANIC.

This ingenious device has served its turn. The Corn
Bill is passing through its last stages, the Legislature
having been frightened from its propriety by awful visions
of famine and rotten potatoes. The bubble, however,
has burst at length, our streets being yesterday placarded
with announcements that " potatoes of excellent quality"
are on sale in this town at Is. 6d. per measure. On re-
ferring to our file, we find that on the corresponding
market day of last year the prices were quoted as fol-
lows :—Cups, Is. 6d. to ls. Bd.; Pink Eyes, 2s. As-
suming the potatoes now placarded, therefore, to be the
best description of the commonest species, they are 2d.
per measure cheaper than last year, and 6d. if pink
eyes !

We wonder if Sir Robort Peel, or his Potato Commis-
sioners, would be pleased, if required to repay the losses
incurred by those unfortunate speculators in this article—
chiefly composed of the humbler classes of tradesmen,—
who have embarked their money upon the faith of official
prognostications of scarcity ; or if they can feel otherwise
than ashamed at the needless suffering which they have
caused amongst portions of the Irish people, whose sup-
plies have been drawn from them to supply wants in this
country which never existed.

RUYAL MERSEY YACHT CLUB.—We are informed,
that in consequence of the requisite number of yachts
not being entered to contend for the £5O prize, which was
to have taken place on Saturday, the 20th of June, the
for is A
Tthe
N presentoFTHEpostponed.
FEMALE CHTLDLEN OF THE
matchE xA
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—Yesterday, the second an-
nual examination of the pupils of the girls' and infants'
school, Blackburn-house, Hope-street, (attached to the
Mechanics' Institution,) commenced, in presence of a
large concourse, chiefly of ladies and the female friends of
the children. The examination gave great satisfaction,
the progress of the pupils being peculiarly marked during
the past twelve months. The girls and infants are taught
reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, singing, dancing,
drawing, &c. There are at present attached to the insti-
tution, in this department, 280 girls from seven years of
age and upwards, and GO infants, making in all 340 of
these interesting juveniles. There are about twenty teach-
ers, including several females who have themselves been
latterly trained in the schools. The pupils acquitted
themselves with great credit, their replies, especially on
grammatical questions, and their productions in drawing
and writing, being at once striking and extraordinary.
These schools were commenced as an experiment, and
their suceess has so far exceeded all expectation, that the
premises arc now being enlarged for the reception of the
additional applicants. A new work-rocm and a new in-
fant schoolroom are in progress of completion, both to be
lighted and ventilated on the mcst approved principles.
These additions will require an outlay of about £7OO. A
large play-ground and garden are attached to the estab-
lishment, and in these, as an interlude between the two
carts of the examination, the children walked about in
procession, presenting a deeply interesting appearance.
The present mistresses are, Miss Jones, who superintends
the literary department, and her assistants are Miss Gal-
lagher and Miss Francis; Miss Hollis is the teacher of
sewing, Mr. Swindles of writing, Miss Appleton of arith-
metic, and Mrs. Pedder of drawing. The examination
will be resumed and concluded this day, from ten to two
o'clock ; and, on Thursday evening, a public meeting
will be held in the Lecture Room of the Institution, in
Mount-street, for the distribution of prizes to the suc-
cessful pupils in the several schools, after which will ensue
the midsummer vacation, which will be prolonged, so
that the scholars may see Prince Albert, on his intended
two days' visit to our magnificent town. Several im-
provements in the girls' schools are to be brought into
operation during the next twelve months, the experimental
proceedings of the past having been so successful.