The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-23 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

GENERAL MISCELLANY.

The Archbishop of York is now the oldest member of
the House of Lords; being 87 years of age.
A beautiful phenomena of the conjunction of Mars and
Venus appears iifivi' etery evening in the west.
The Lords of the Treasuty have authorised the Com-
missioners of Customs to admit prussiate Of potasli at the
duty of 2d. per pound.
The Queen has graciously signified her intention to
give a series of brilliant state balls at Buckingham Palace
during the present season.
THE SEASON.—The weather continues exceedingly fa-
vourable, and both field and garden culture go on ad-'
mirably.—Lancaster Gazelle.
A considerable quantity of foreign wheat has been re-
lieved from bond at Gloucester, on the pay ment of 16s.
per quarter duty.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer bas to acknowledge
the receipt of £25 enclosed to him in a blank cover, which
he has paid into the Exchequer.
Earl Howe has liberally consented to giie a sufficiency
of land for the intended new church proposed to be
erected at Oldham ; also ground for the site of a school
house in connection with the church.

- -
We rejoice to state that the wheats on the Cotswolds
present a remarkably vigorous and healthy appearance.
The oldest farmer never remembers a better prospect.—
Gloucester Chronicle.

A person on Bolton-moor, named William Flitcroft,
received, on the 24th ult., the following additions to his
family, within the space of two hours: two children,
eleven pigs, four whelps, and three kittens—in all twenty.
An immense number of very clever counterfeit crown
pieces have been recently manufactured in Birmingham,
and many sharpers are at present in several towns in the
kingdom endeavouring to pass them on the unwary.
Her Majesty has been pleased to grant a gratuity of
fifty pounds to the widow of the late Henry Solomon,
Superintendent of the Brighton Police, who was mur-
dered a short time since.

In the United Kingdom upwards of X 20,000,000 is an-
nually expended in gas; in London alone the sum paid to
the several gas companies has exceeded £2,000,000 an-
nually.

The Bush coach office, in Bristol, where an extensive
business has been carried on for, we believe, more than a
century, was last week closed, in obedience to the giant
power of steam, and the absorption of its business in the
great vortex of railway monopoly.
MESSRS. FIELDEN BROTH ERS.—SEIZ ORE 'UNDER E
INCOME TAX.—During the week government has again
distrained on Messrs. Ftelden for the second year's in-
come tax. There is no doubt but the law will be per-
mitted to take its course, as in the previous instance.
The governor of Knutsford gaol has been dismissed.
The charges against him mainly were that he had em-
ployed felons and other prisoners to do work for h m, and
had used materials belonging to the county for his own
purposes.
The state of things in reference to the colliers "on
strike," in the Potteries and neighbourhood, is daily as-
suming a different aspect, and it is evident that unless
something extraordinary occurs, the turn-out will soon be
at an end.

Mr. Wilson, the celebrated singer, has, during the last
ten weeks, travelled upwards of 5200 miles, and given
sixty-five entertainments, in London, Manchester, Edin-
burgh, Glasgow, Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and
other places.

The annual amount of duty paid by the wholesale bard
confectioners of the United Kingdom for sugar used in
the trade, is about £2.000,000. The enormous quantity
of from 3,000 to 4,000 tons of sugar are used in the me-
tropolis alone.

Ten services of communion plate are ordered to be sent
to each dock-yard, to be placed in charge, of the store-
keepers, who are to furnish each ship to which a chaplain
is appointed with one service of plate. It is to be given
in charge to the chaplain, who will be held responsible for
it.

MASTER AND SERVANT'S BILL.—A petition from the
Letter-Press Printers of this town, against the Master and
Servant's Bill, was on Monday evening transmitted to
William Birkett, Esq., M.P., for presentation to the
House of Commons. The petition was signed by 89 ope-
rative printers and 2 masters.—Leeds Intelligeneer.
GOOD FRIDAY AT HAMPSTEAD.—III the archives of
the register of this parish, there is a singular bequest of
100 loaves, to be distributed every Good Friday. The
testatrix was a lady who contracted a fatal disease, which
was supposed to originate from her fasting too long on
Good Friday.

BLACKPOOL.—AIthough so early in the season, the re.
cent fine weather has induced several families to repair to
this delightful watering place. Great preparations are now
being made at the various inns, boarding houses, and cot-
tages ; and several additional houses are also in oourse of
erection, for the reception of company.
Mr. Daly, the celebrated steeple-chase rider, betted a
wager with Mr. Sefton, of Grantham, that he would jump
the rails and dike in front of the Lincoln stand with the
reins in his mouth and the stirrups over the saddle; and
this he cleverly accomplished after the second race, on a
horse he bad not crossed before.

PROPOSED ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS IN GLASGOW.—A
proposal has been issued for the establishment of a Zoo-
logical Institution in Glasgow. The suggestion is, that a
joint stock company should be formed for this purpose,
with a capital of £20,000, divided into 4000 shares of £5
each.

STEAMER ON THE SEVERN.—The Shrewsbury /Vews
says that a steam-boat is the next novelty meant to be
introduced into Shrewsbury. A party of gentlemen in
the town have purchased a small pleasure-boat, with an
engine of fou: and a half horse power, which, in course of
the next fortnight, will be placed on the Severn, and ply
about for the amusement of its proprietors and the asto-
nishment of the fish.

THE SMOKE NUISANCE. The Town Council, by one
of its committees, has made.another effort to abate the
smoke nuisance in this Borough. Mr. Thomas Cockshott
Rusher has been appointed to inspect the furnaces of the
170 mills and manufactories in the Borough, and to report
how far the law is obeyed with a view to its more perfect
enforcement.—Leeds Intelligencer.
A noble example has .been set by Edward Woodcock,
Esq., of Springfield-house, Wigan, who, during the past
week, has appointed out a field of about two-and-a-half
acres, in Gidlow-lane, in allotmentsowfh3oB4wissobutaoreocycaurpdys
each, to such industrious poor people
their leisure hours in spade husbandry, at the rent of ss.
per annum each.
INTERCOURSE WITH FRANCE.—In the week from the
b2edtwtoeetn Englandhe9ttnstaantt,d, the number bweasr ofaspeforslloonwss w:_hboypassed
Bou-
logne, 1,183; by Calais, 369. At the corresponding pe-
riod
last year the numbers were :—by Boulogne, 754 ; by
Calais, 346. It thus appears that the opening of the
railroad has conferred great advantage on Folkestone and
Boulogne.

NAVAL UNIFORM (PonTsmouTn).—There is a report
in circulation at this port that another change will take
place in the naval uniform. It is said that the present
epaulettes are to be entirely abolished, and in lieu will be
substituted elaborately embroidered collars and cuffs.
There is no special authority quoted for the report ; but
naval men seem to think that it is possible such a change
may take place.

ANCIENT SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.—The late Mr.
Hartley, bookseller, of Rochdale, was probably the oldest
Sunday-school teacher in Lancashire, perhaps in England.
He commenced a Sunday school in the year 1785, in a
garret, and laboured in that vocation up to the time of
his death. The lag time he was at the school, which was
but a few weeks ago, he delivered a very earnest address
to the children, exhorting them to react and study the
scriptures.

Notwithstanding the strike of the pitmen, great quan-
tities of both round and small coals continue to be brought
every day down the Durham and Sunderland Railway for
shipment at the latter port. It is understood that the
stocks at bank at many of the collieries will supply the
demand for a short time, and it is fully expected that
measures will be speedily devised to get some of the prin-
cipal collieries set partially, if not fully to work, as men
can be obtained who will gladly go to work on the terms
proposed by the coal owners.—Newcastle Herald,

• STATE OF PUBLIC FINANCE.—The Gazette of the 12th
states that the amount of builion in the Bank of England
on the 30th of last month, amounted to the large sum of
sixteen millions three hundred and twenty-two thousand
pounds sterling. This, then, is the present financial po-
sition of the country :—the revenue having improved at
the rate of more than four millions in the year. The Three
per Cent Consols are half per cent. above psr. Sixteen
millions three hundred and twenty-two thousand pounds
in gold and silver in the cellars of the Bank of England.
ART-UNIONS.—It appears by a treasury notice, dated
12th instant, addressed to the secretary of the Art-
Union or New Association for the Promotion of the
n 3 imani
remedy
yt tl
moo
tat
yse ur
bipeeps r.
fe
us
usl
nt
dt hi
sef
ust eor t
bhb
eeo dhii
noe
jps
ue,
rdya, a ht oihnwof
ser iv
Fine Arts in Scotland, that government have deter-
plisuibolgicthaensde
athsseoopiraotifoesosso,rosr oiof
vtelsietiolignmeovaertrns,o3eotewr
ibthy
niengriii,nitgehteattdheusoplmauwne '
against
atlehgedaiscretionary power to permit the existence of those
which are
Ecaoleyu.sla,tteLdwtjtoiLy DESTROYING
benefitL the public. A
still)
_mr
the
teeiddl ianayen,procured
the shipbuilderc
eo
William
r aoi
llf l
ila Ipswich,
CriminalwS cil i
Simpson
in-
dictedsn Court,to eminent
cast away the brig Colina, with intent to defraud the un-
derwriters, &c. The case mainly rested on the evidence
of Simpsonlwho had pleaded guilty to the charge of being
Wfo n
h.aßvoeiipia
gd*
an accessory to the crime alleged against Mr. Read. In
his cross-examination he acknowledged that he sank the
vessel, 61 miles from Rotterdam, by boring holes in her
bottom ; he had previously when in Glasgow, threatened
to be revenged on Mr. Read, for dismissing him from the
command of another ship. The Jury acquitted Mr.
Read ; and Simpson was sentenced to be transported for
life.
GUANO : ACCOUNT OF AN EXPERIMENT AT CHARD-
STOCK, NEAR CHARD: POTATOES.—TDE application of
guano as a dressing for potatoes has been attended with
surprising results. In a piece of hilly ground where the
soil is poor and stony, but clean, were planted two rows of
potatoes, each occupying 6i perches. Guano, at the rate
of half a cwt. per acre, mixed with a moderate proportion
of coal ashes, was hand-sowed over the first of these rows,
while none was applied to -the second row. During the
growth of the potatoes a manifest difference was observa-
ble in the luxuriance of the two rows, and on taking up
the crop the result was as follows :—First row, manured
with guano, produced 4391 b. • second row, without guano,
239 lb. Extra produce from guano, 2001b.--Dorset
County Chronicle.

The following clerical appointments have recently been
made in this county :—The Rev. C. Bissett, to the in-
cumbency of Upholland ; the Rev. E. Pigott. to the
living of Longridge ; the Rev. Richard White, to Wribby-
with- Wray ; and the Rev. T. Lamb? to St. Mary's,
Preston.

SALE OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS.—The following
vessels, belonging to the royal navy, are shortly to be
bruught to the hammer, at Somerset-house, viz.:—The
Lyra, 10 guns, 236 tons ; Delight, 10 guns, 231 tons ;
Jasseur, 16 guns; 387 tons; Plyades, 18 guns, 432 tons;
Algerine, 10 guns. 231 tons ; Weazle, 10 guns, 237• ions ;
Termagant, 10 guns, 231 tons; Swan (cutter,) 144 tons ;
and Harriet, (lighter,) 83 tons.
WHITBY.—We are glad to find the revival of trade has
reached this place, the advance in Iron has caused an in-
creased demand•for ore, which is procured along the line
of the railway. The quarries also, with which the district
abounds are in full work, having some extensive contracts
on hand, the workmen making extra time. The shipping
interest in which the port is largely interested, is consider-
ably affected by the turn-out in the coal district, but the
owners look for a higher freight when that cause ceases.
LONGEVITY.—Last week a few friends met in Walton-
ledale, to enjoy each others company over a refreshing cup
of tea, when their conversation turned npon their relative
ages. It was ascertained that there were three in the com
party, whose united ages amounted to 260 years and all in
excellent health. The names of the three individuals
were Fanny Barnes, aged 91 in March la-t; Henry Pres-
cot aged 88 last Michalmas day ; and James Whalley, in
his 81st year.
PUBLIC WALKS AT OLDHAM.—A grant of £l,OOO,
being the first,grant from the fund of £lO,OOO voted by
parliament, for the purpose of providing public walks for
the use of the inhabitants of large towns has been allotted
to Oldham; and a communication having been received
to that effect a short time ago, from Thomas Freemantle,
on behalf of government. It is understood, that additio-
nal funds will be required to carry into effect the highly
desirable object in view ; and measures are to be taken
forthwith to promote the design.

REDUCTION OF THE HOURS OF FACTORY LABOUR.-

We are informed that the proprietors of one of the most
extensive cotton factories in Preston have intimated to
their spinners, and other workpeople in their employ-
ment, that if they wish it, they will reduce the hours of
labour to eleven, da,ly. The spinners, generally, have
expressed a willingness to accept the offer, and there is
little doubt but the whole of the bands will take advan-
tage of it. There will, we believe, be a proportionate
reduction of wages.—Preston Chronicle.
A WEALTHY PICKPOCKET.—A very respectable-look-
ing man, who gave his nameas Thomas Collins, was tried,
convicted, and sentenced to ten wears' transportation. at
the. Central Criminal Court, on Tuesday last, for picking
the pocket of a clerk in the house of Baring Brothers and
Co., on Saturday last. It appeared in evidence that he
kept an account at a bank, lodged in expensive apart-
ments, had an ample and elegant wardrobe, and had con-
trived to acquire a reputable character with a number of
respectable tradesmen. From his case it appears that
careful habits, and apparently correct conduct, are not
incompatible with dishonesty.

SAGACITY OF THE Don.—Among the many instances
of canine sagacity or memory, the following may be re-
corded :—An excise officer in the west of Fife, in his
perambulations found a fine pup dog, which, from the
circumstance, he named " Trouve." This he kept for
some time, till getting a notice of removal, he gave the
dog to a friend who resided in Leith; but the dog was
not long in his new quarters till he showed symptoms
that he was not at home, and soon after disappeared. No
more was thought of the animal; but upon a late night
in February, with snow upon the ground and the sea
between, the former owner heard his howl at the window,
and opened the door, found his faithful " Trouve," cold,
wet, and weary, with feet worn and jagged. It is need-
less to say, the poor dog found that welcome to which his
affection and sufferings entitled him.—Edinburgh paper.
A MONSTROUS POEM.—A poem about King Alfred
has lately been published, in six- large octavo volumes.
The author of this huge work was a Mr. John Fitchett,
who died in 1838, after having consumed the best part of
his life in the attempt to sing at fitting length the valo-
rous deeds of the great Anglo-Saxon Monarch. The en-
tire poem is arranged in forty-eight books, and it is said
to contain no less than 131,238 litaes ; so that if poetical
worth were measured by bulk. the name of Mr. Fftehett
would rank far above that of Homer, Virgil, or Milton.
The Iliad contains only 15.693 lines ; the Eneid, 9,985 ;
and the Paradise Lost .of Milton only 10,565. It would
therefore take four Made, four Eneids' and four Para-
dise Lost: to peke one King Alfred. The most surpri-
sing thing about the poem, however, is the last book,
containing 2,500 lines, the whole of which have been fur-
nished by the editor, Robert Roscoe. After this let us
hear no more of the flimsy writing of the present age.
PUBLIC PETITIONS.—The total number of petitioners
to Parliament on various important public measures
amounted, according to the last statement issued by the
House of Commons, as follows :—For a repeal of the Le-
gislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland, to
738,911; against the union of the dioceses of Bangor and
St. Asaph, 6,435; against any further alteration in the
existing corn laws, 48,866; for a repeal of the cotton
duties, only 173 ; for a reduction of the duties on tobacco,
55,676 ;_ against a Ten Hours' Factory Bill, only 483,
and in favour of a limitation of labour in factories to ten
hours a day, 7.853, this number being actually greatly
below the mark, from the circumstance that in two in-
stances the petitions, which represented the opinions of a
large concourse of persons, were only signed by the chair-
man on behalf of the meeting; for the establi-hment of
local courts, 2,980; against the Masters' and Servants'
Bill, 690; for an alteration of the Poor Relief (Ireland)
Act, 1,189 ; for a free competition in the carriage of goods
upon railways, 8,968' and, lastly, for withholding the
supplies until the " grievances of the people 'are investi-
gated and redressed," 59,869.
DEATH OF OLD STUART.—This singular being lived
amongst us a relic of hoar antiquity, connecting our mra
with the far-off reign of George 11. ;. while, -according to
his own unvarying tale, he was the lineal and the last
surviving descendant of the royal race of Stuart. He
this week paid the debt of nature. Endowed with a tena-
city of life, of which we have always regarded his extra-
ordinary feats of personal strength in former days, and
the extreme old age to which he reached at last, as the
joint confirmation ; his time could scarcely yet be said to
have come, in the course of nature, for his death was the
result of an injury in the hip j occasioned by a fall on
Thursday last week. In his anxiety to get out of doors,
to enjoy the recent sunny weather, his foot got entangled,
and he was thrown down. Any injury, however slight,
was almost sure to have proved fatal, and accordingly the
utmost care and skill were unavailing. He expired on
Thursday Morning, at the advanced age of 116 years, 31
months. On the Tuesday morning before his death, his
senses appeared perfectly acute, and his appetite was un-
diminished. He called to his wife and asked in a gurgling
voice for his breakfast, eating a little bread and treacle to
his tea. Shortly after he had finished it he requested a
gill of beer, which his wife went to purchase, and in her
absence the old man gave vent to an expression of dis-
pleasure at her delay in bringing it—saying he thought
she had gone to Berwick for it. On Tuesday one of the
last ordinances of the church to which he belonged was
administered to him. After that morning, recollection
and observation only recurred at fitful intervals. On
Wednesday his son visited him, and was recognised by
the old man. He has three daughters living—one at Aln-
wick, one at Lowick, and another at Bennington. It
may be satisfactory to know, now that all poor Jamie's
wanderings have ceased, that the fund, which the kind-
ness of a few munificent individuals (including our gra-
cious Sovereign, and several of the leading names in the
land) had placed at the disposal of Mr. Jaffrav, book-
seller, in Berwick. and ourselves, has amply sufficed to
smooth the last asperities in his path ; and the old man
lately bestowed his blessing on Mr. Jaffrey, and said that
" he hadna been sae weal aff this hunder year."—Berwick
Warder.

DEPAUPERIZING THE POOR.—For the information of
the public as to the meaning of this clap-trap phrase, so
much in use of late by our " philosopher s, we
give the outline of a most painful case, which has just been
tried before the Central Criminal Court. The accused, a
woman of 40 years of age, was arraigned for the murder
of her infant child by drowning under the following cir-
cumstances, which, as in the main facts, it agrees with the
evidence for the prosecution, we give in the words of her
own defence. The wretched woman, on being called upon
at the conclusion of the evidence, said, that " while she
and ber children were in the Whitechapfl workhouse,
they were well treated, but on going to the Bethnal-green
workhouse the eldest child became ill from some affection
of the head. It was removed to the infirmary, and sent
down again to her, and its head became a second time so
bad that it was ordered to be shaved. The barber who
performed this operation Was drunk, and in consequence
he cut pieces of flesh from the head of the child. The
wounds became very bad, and continued so for some time.
An eruption
and on their being cured the child's eyes became sore.
also appeared all over its body, which she
attributed solely to the fact of the child being fed at the
workhouse on hard beef. She requested that it might be
changed for mutton, but this was refused. She then came
to the determination of leaving the house, and after hav-
ing obtained a loan of 6s. from the guardians, she went
about amongst her friends, and by small contributions
from them she got a few shillings. She obtained employ-
ment at shirt-making, but as they only allowed lid. for
a shirt, and by working hard she could only make three
shirts a day, she was compelled to relinquish it and seek
some more profitable employment. She then determined
to lay out the small stock of money she had in the pur-
chase of a few ribands, &c., to make up dress caps and
sell them, to try and eke out a slight subsistence for her
infant. She accordingly set out to do so, but, on arriving
at the shop, she found that a little green silk purse, con-
taining her money, had been lost or stolen from her pock-
et. This occurrence increased, if possible, her distress of
mind, as she had then no friend in the world who could
assist her, and no other prospect before her than to re-
enter the workhouse, to which she entertained such an
aversion, that she preferred death to herself and her
child. (.0 (The prisoner faltered at this part of her state-
ment, and spoke in so low a tone, that nothing but the
words, I fell off the plank at the wharf," were heard.)
She then sat down, much affected." Here, then, is the
process of " depauperizing l" Here is the process by
which workhouses are to be depopulated and parish rates
reduced. The lives of the wretched inmates are rendered
FO insufferably miserable that they grasp eagerly at any
opportunity, however hopeless its prospects, of throwing
themselves once more upon society ; and, in the event of
failure to earn a livelihood, prefer death, or a felon's lot,
to a further experience of workhouse tyranny. The result
of the case of this poor woman has been a verdict of
guilty, and a sentence to undergo the last penalty of the
law; and Set great as undoubtedly is her crime, we much
question whether morally she is one-half so guilty as the
harsh
ae ! ! and
unchristian system which has impelled her to

DUTIES ON TEA AND SUGAR.—A petition to the
House of Commons, praying for a large reduction of the
duties on tea and sugar, was laid down on Fr:day for
signature at the Royal Exchange, Glasgow. The petition
alludes to the very liberal tariff of the Chinese, and
the important mark et opened up in China for the sale
of our manuf.ctures ; and sets forth that the extension of
our trade in that part of the world will be materialiy re-
tarded, unless we consent to receive the tea grown by the
Chinese, at a greatly reduced rate of duty. "1 he petition
states that at present the duty ranges at the rate of 100 to
200 per cent„ which limits the consumption to about liln.
per head per annum, for the United. Kingdom, in place of
from 51b. to /Vbs., which is about the annual consumpti-
on per head in families in easy circumstances. The con-
sumption of sugar, the duty on which would require to be
reduced simultaneously, is about lblhs. per head, i i plate
of 56Ibs. which is the usual consumption where the means
of freely purchasing it exist. Of course no possible re-
duction could place the unrestricted use of these articles
within reach of the poor; but it is calculated that a really
liberal reduction in the rare of duty would cause the con-
sumption of both to be at least doubled, thereby raising the
importation of tea from 4,000,000 to 80,000,0001bs„ annu-
ally, ald of sugar, from 200,000 to 400,000 tons.—Seol-
Judi Guardian.
FIRES IN MANCHESTER.—It is satisfactory to learn,
that, in consequence of the late disastrious fire at Man.
chester, by which property to the amount of £12t,000
was destroyed, the merchants, manufacturers, and other
proprietors of warehouses, are likely to follow the example
of the inhabitants of Liverpool, arid improve the con-
struction of their buildings, with a view to add to the
security of the town, anti prevent the extension of fires.
The fire offices have paid losses on warehouses alone,
within the last tour years and a half, amounting to more
than £200,000, the largest portion of which loss has taken
place in those warehouses which were lined with wood,
were fitted up with well holes, had imperfect party walls,
and external cornices. Though the rates which have bt en
lately fixed for the risks of warehouses appear high, Net
very large reductions are provided for as soon as improve-
ments are made by party walls being rendered perfect,
and by the removal of wood linings, well holes, and ex-
ternal wooden cornices. The fires have been of late years
increased to so great an extent, the investment of capital
in insurance companies has been found so dangerous, and
the rates have been so wholly inadequate to the losses and
expenses, that upwards of 40 fire offices have discon-
tinued their business since the year 1825.—Manchester
Guardian.

LEAGUE PATHOS.—The imposing effect, in the list of
Doncaster subscribers to the League, of " R. Milner,
and Miss Milner, and Miss A. Milner, and Master C.
Milner, and Master F. Milner," has been the subject of
much amusetro ut in our town. It is a grand conglome-
ration, which is universally felt to be " a heavy blow and
great discoui avinent " to the corn-laws. But it is gran-
deur simply ; it is wanting in the deep pathos which dis-
tinguishes the following exquisite morceau, announcing a
donation to the League from a daughter of free-trade
Quaker Bright :—•• Helen Priestman Bright, Rochdale,
to help papa, and Richard Cobden, and Robert Moore.
to get bread for poor little children, 2s. 6d." How af-
fecting ! Such pathos from the touch of a sing'e half-
crown is most wonderful. It is clearly a cut above the
Milner demonstration. But, " from the sublime to the
ridiculous there is one step," says a cynic Frenchman ;
and that step is made by interpreting Miss Helen Priest-
man Bright's effusion into plainer. English—" To help
papa, and Richard Cobden, and Robert Moore, to reduce
the wages of their workpeople, 2s. 6d.," or by giving the
Milner demonstration in the intelligible language of Al-
derman Brooks—" Lord love you, we are all for our-
selves and low wages: signed R. Milner, and Miss Mil-
ner, and Miss A. M. Milner, and Master C. Milner, and
Master F. Milner."—Doncaster Chronicle.
THE COST OF THE POOR.—From returns just prepared
for parliament respecting the amount expended for the
relief and maintenance of the poor, &c., it appears that
there are 590 unions in England and Wales, of which the
population was 13,993,967. The average annual expen-
diture for the relief or the poor, three years prior to the
union, was 5,608,934. In 1841 the expenditure was
£4,288,520 ; in 1842, £4,438,660 ; and in 1843,
£4,679,495. Under this head of expenditure are included

the cost of maintenance, out-door relief, establishment

charges with salaries, workhouse and emigration loans re-
paid, and other purposes immediately connected with the
relief of the poor. The number of in-door and out-door
paupers relieved in 1841, in England and Wales, was
1,116,523; in 1842, 1,235,437; and in 1843, 1,333,247.
The number of illegitimate children (in-door and out-
door) relieved during the quarters ending Lady-day, 1841,
was 29,123 ; in 1842, 29,357 ; and in 1843, 29,699. Thus
the proportion of illegitimate children, in 1843, to every
1,000 of the total number of paupers relieved in that year,
was 22.3; and the proportion of illegitimate children in
the same to every 1,000 of the population was 2.1. This
return is exclusive of places not united under the Poor
Law Amendment Act. The above will show that the ex-
penditure has been yearly increasing at the rate of abuut
£6,000 or £6.500, and the number of paupers from
100,000 to 120,000, while the number of illegitimate chil-
dren increases annually at the ratio of about 300.

POLE-CATS OF THE PrtEss.—A Mr. Wells has told a
moving tale to the Lord Mayor of the sorrows and hard-
ships of Barnard Gregory, prisoner in Newgate. "He is
compelled to associate with felons," says Mr. Wells—
doubtless, a dreadful indignity to the late editor of the
Satirist. whose co-mates and fellow-labourers in the
vineyat d were men of the nicest sense of honour-gentle-
men "of the first house, the very'first house." More-
over, the said Gregory " sleeps on an iron bedstead, with
rope mattress and rug covering"—a shocking circum-
stance, when we remember the beds of roses that the said
Gregory was wont to spread in the columns of his news-
paper for certain sufferers. " Mr. Gregory is only allowed
the prison diet !" Considering the extreme delicacy of
his appetite, that for years fed upon lying and slandering
—a moat cruel punishment! "Mr. Gregory's health is
suffering," and therefore Mr. Wells will " call a publ,n
meeting to address the Queen" upon the matter. We
know nothing of the state of Mr. Gregory's health ; but
this we know—men, on board the hulks, who, it may be,
have only wronged society to the amount of a few shillings,
fall ill, and find no sympathy in their sickness from the
Home-office. How, then, is the late editor of the Satirist
to claim any indulgence denied to late abstractor (to
use a soft woad) of pocket-handkerchiefs? Mr. Sheriff
Musgrove " regretted to declare that Mr. Gregory's
health was declining." Has the sheriff no sympathy for
the declining health of many a wretched conv;ct at Wool-
wich ? Can he only find compassion for the convicted
slanderer that turned his venom to profit—has he no
touch of tenderness for the declining footpad, the wasting
housebreaker? Let Gregory's ill-health plead successfully
for his pardon ' • but let the same pardon be awarded to
sick culprits of every denomination.—Punch.

THE COLLIERY DISTRICTS.—ThE colliery districts
continue in a state of gredt agitation. Various rumours
have reached this town as to acts of violence having been
committed, but we are happy to say they have either been
considerably exaggerated, or traced to' no satisfactory
foundation. The pitmen in most instances have exhibited
a very improper spirit, being apparently determined to
secure by force what they have failed to acquire in
peaceable manner. Matters will not be much better, as
long as the pitmen are led by men, whose object is evi-
dently to live—and live well—by the poverty and crimes
of the ignorant. The Sunderland correspondent of the
Times says :—The sailors' strike being just over at this

port, the pitmen's strike threatens to inflict still greater

mischief on the shipowners and al,n the sailors, many
hundreds of whom are out of employment. Reports of
slight disturbances among the colliers in the Durkim coal
field are constantly reaching the town, and these, es well

as the conduct of the pitmen generally, form the ordinary
topib of conversation. The opinion among those best in-
formed on the subject appears to be, that, considering the

present advisers of the men, the strike will be a protracted
one, provided the shopkeepers in the pit villa2es will sup-
ply the men with goods on credit. lam inclined to think
many of them will do so, for they are bound up in feeling
as well as interest with the men, and are easily persuaded
that the colliers are an injured body, and that the masters
are disposed to grind them into the dust for the gratifica-
tion of their selfish and sordid purposes. A Chartist lec-
turer, named_ Dickenson, is endeavouring to enlist the

sympathies of the working classes on behalf of the pitmen
by the delivery of exciting addresses. A petition ema-
nating from a public meeting of working men (including
many of the colliers lately employed at the Monkwear-
mouth Colliery) is also in course of signature against the
Master and Servants' Bill, which it is supposed (I do not
know with what reason) will press with peculiar severity
on the mining population. The petition has already re-
ceived about 1,000 signatures, and when completed it is
to be forwarded to Mr. Duncombe, for presentation to
the House of Commons. Mr. Ferrand and the members
for the borough and the county being especially requested
to support it.—Newcastle Herald.

CATHEDRALS.-Mr. Hume, on Thursday night, pro-
posed a resolution, which promises to be periodical, that
the public should be admitted freely to the cathedrals of
this country. The motion was negatived, without a divi-
sion, on the old ground that the question was no affair of
the House of Commons. We quite agree with Sir Robert
Peel that it is not very consistent with the dignity of the
house to pass a resolution which it is utterly powerless to
enforce, and which in all probability will have no other
effect upon those whom it is desired to influence, than that
of " putting their backs up"—of rousing a very natural
suspicion of intended usurpation, and a not less natural
readiness to resist it in limine. We bear no bigottect at-

....
tachment to deans and chapters. They have fallen griev-
ously short of what might be fairly expected of them.
With the funds of which they, or at least some of them,
are possessed, our cathedrals should hare been in a state
of continually growing magnificence. The ravages of the
rebellion should havd been remedied, the unfinished de-
signs of other ages should have been completed, the effi-
ciency of the cathedral schools and choirs continually
increased. They have not, it is true, had at their com-
mand the wealth which in former ages was employed to
build those stupendous works of art ; but they have surely
had enough to mend what their forefathers created. It
has been, however, the fashion during the last century to
take a strong view of the domestic obligations—of the
duties of giving good port wine to our friends, leaving our
sons in comfortable circumstances, and keeping carriages
for the use of our delicate wives and daughters. Our own
flesh and bone, it has been thought, is nearer and dearer
to us than stone and mortar—antique monuments and
painted windows; and so,
while piedining-roorns of dig-
nitaries have marched with civilization, and partaken to
the full in all the growing luxuries of the age, the mighty
and beautiful buildings which had a prior, if not a closer,
claim upon their pockets, have continually increased in
dismalness and disrepair. Now at last public scrutiny
has been sternly fixed on them their guardians, partly
from the constant pressure
of opinion from without, and
partly from a participation in the growing spirit of the
time, are slowly awakening to the duties of their situation,
and some part of cathedral incomes is again being appro-
priated to strictly cathedral purposes.—London Times.