The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL WrANDARD

WIRRALL FARMERS' CLUB.—The
anniversary meet-
ing of this society took place on Tuesday last, Wood-
side, and a number of influential gentlemen and far..litr,
were present. Colonel Sr E. Cost, who was to havt:
presided, was prevented from attending by a farn:.ly be-
reavement. The show of stock and implements took
pllce at the back of the hotel, but as no premiums were
given, but few were shown. Rewards were adjudged to a
considerable number of servants and labourers, for length
and fidelity of servitude, bringing up the largest families
without parochial assistance, &c., amounts from £1 to
£3. A new and useful machine for cutting up pastures,
and rendering cross-plowing unnecessary. was sent by
Mr. Jackson of Noctorum. A fine bull was shown, the
property of Mr. Webster ; three store pigs (China breed,)
and a cow, by Mr. Jackson, and two fine cart horses. by
H. Littledale, Esq. The dinner took place in the coffee-
room of Gough's Hotel, John Formbj, Esq. in the chair.
Mr. Jackson, of Noctorum, vice; number present about
60, including many of the influential on that side of the
water, but few farmers. The usual loyal and other toasts
on such occasions were drunk and ably responded to, the
principal speakers being the chairman, Mr. Higgins, Mr.
Bennett, Mr. Mortimer, and Mr. Moore. The entertain-
ment passed off with much spirit, though the absence of
landowners and farmers was regretted.

FORTUNE TELLING.-At the Borough Court, Manches-
ter, on Saturday, Anne Chrimes. a professional fortune-
teller, was charged with defrauding several poor simple-
tons of their money by pretending to " rule their stars,"
tell their fortunes, &c., &c. One of them, a widow of
the ripe age of sixty, being exceedingly anxious to revisit
the shrine of Hymen, consulted the wise woman as to the
probability of her obtaining a second husband, and being
promised one by the first of May, paid sixpence for the
information, receiving, however, twopence out, and a
quarter of an ounce of tobacco, she being very poor.
Nancy Bradley, a middle-aged married woma residing
at Heaton Norris, consulted the sage about her husband,
of whom she was jealous. She was told that four young
women had bewitched him, and that if he were not un-
bewitched he would very soon go off in a galloping con-
sumption. Mrs. Chrimes undertook to cure him and
make him a good husband for ten shillings, and was so
accommodating as to offer to take the money by instal-
ments.—stipulating, however, for a silk handkerchief, or
something else belonging to him, as necessary for the pro-
cess of conjuration. She received a shilling by way of
earnest. A young woman, named Ellen Simpson, was
offered a charm for her sweetheart, at various prices, from
three shillings to fifteen shillings each, and told that
the higher the price the more effectual they were, and that
the beau of one of her acquaintance, who had bought a
charm, had come " ranting after" her, he having previ-
ously been rather a lukewarm wooer. It so happened,
however, that Ellen Simpson was already married, and
wished to consult the stars not about love matters, bat as
to the time of her becoming rich, a process which was not
going on so rapidly as she wished. There were many
other cases against the prisoner, and she was committed
for three months with hard labour.

SEAMEN'S READING-ROOM,
DAILY SCHOOL, AND NAVIGATION SCHOOL

On Friday evening the annual meeting of this institu-
tion, in connection with the Mariner's Floating Church.
George's Dock, was held in the Music-Hall. Owing,
probably, to the extreme severity of the weather, the at-
tendance was not so numerous as on the previous anni-
versary. The Rev. Mr. Maynard opened the proceedings
by stating that his Worship the Mayor would have been
present, but had had an at'ack of illness, which rendered
it imprudent for him to go abroad on such a night. Mr.
Adam Hodgson, Mr. James Aikin, and Mr. T. B. Hors-
fall, all warm friends of the institution, were also absent
from unavoidable engagements.
The Rev. J. H. STEWART was then called to the chair,
and opened the business by an exposition of the objects of
the institution. The whole of the community was inte-
rested in the cause for which they had met, for all were
in gratitude and duty bound to do their best for the be-
nefit of the seaman. To the tars of old England they were
indebted for protection in time of war, and for many of
the comforts of life during peace. It was to sailors, too,
that they were indebted for the glad tidings of salvation.
The disciple whom Jesus had most loved went down to
the sea, and " did his business in the great waters."
Surely, therefore, they ought to befriend the sailor. The
first object of the institution was to support a reading-
room, wherein the seamen might enjoy each others com-
pany, and be led to know their only true God, and not to
become the prey of those harpies who, on their arrival
from a voyage, were ever seeking whom they might de-
vour. Another part was to support the school for the
orphan children of seamen—that the society might supply
their fathers' place. Another was to instruct the young
men in navigation, which would be a benefit to the mer-
chant, as it would enable those youths to conduct a ship
in safety to the haven of her destination.

The Rev. Mr. MAYNARD read the report. It stated
that a reading-room had been provided, and supplied so
far, but more books were much wanted, and they there-
fore took that opportunity of soliciting donations of books
or tracts, which the seamen received with gratitude. Many
of them gladly availed themselves of the room, and
evinced their sense of its comfort and advantage by at.
tending every evening whilst they were ashore. During
the past year fiity.five apprentices and twenty five seamen
have received instruction in navigation from the master
who has been appointed, and who attends from six to half-
past nine in the evening. The committee would particu-
larly call the attention of the merchants to this object,
and remind them that sub-cribers of a guinea are privileged
to send their apprentices and others free of charge. Tbe
number of girls in the daily school has increased during
the past year. At the close of it there were seventy-five
on the books, and the average attendance has been from
fifty to sixty. With regard to the Sunday school, they
have reason to be thankful; it is now going on satisfac-
torily, and the number of children in attendance is about
eighty. (1 he Report here quoted the gratifying report of
the last examination of the school from the STANDARD.)
The receipts for the past year amounted to £l6B, and the
expenditure was £l2O, leaving a balance in band to the
amount of £4B.

The Rev. Mr. CONKER moved the adoption of the re-
port in a long address, in which he contended that in place
of supporting only one mariner's church and schools, the
merchants and others ought so to come forward that there
would be a chaplain, a church, and a school, to every
dock. _ _

Mr. Alderman CHILTON seconded the motion, and it
was carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. NOLAN moved the next resolution, ex-
pressive of thankfulness to God for the success of the in-
stitution so far, and a hope that through his goodness it
might go on in increasing usefulness. The rev. gentle-
man spoke at considerable length, and with great effect,
on the be.iefits that would arise from it, and urged the
propriety of our merchants and shipowners contributing
towards it, for their own sakes as well as for the seamen
they employed.
The Rev. DAVID STEWART seconded the resolution.
dwelling strongly on reliance being placed on the divine
blessing in this and ali other undertakings.
It was carried.

The Rev. Mr. PARRY moved, in effect, that it was the
urgent desire of the meeting that the merchants and ship-
owners of the port should give that support to the insti-
tution of which it was in every respect so well worthy.
Mr. W. MooRE feelingly seconded the resolution, which
was passed.
Mr. MAYNARD said he had much pleasure in stating
that her Majesty the Queen warmly interested her,elt on
behalf of seamen, as a proof of which she had promptly
consented to become the patroness of the Liverpool
Sail' rs' Home, recently originated. (Cheers.) He pro-
posed a vote of thanks to the Chili' man, which was passed
by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and after reading the
doxology the meeting separated. A collection in behalf
of the institution was made at the doors as the company
retired.

PROGRESS OF WORKING IN IRON, &c.—
SPLENDID GRATE AND FURNISHING ES-
TABLISHMENT.

We had, some time ago, occasion to denominate the
present times " the iron age"—alheA out of the proper
application of iron comes " gold"; and we are daily con-
firmed in our (minion by the rapidly-imm-easing use of the
former material, and its acknowledged adaptation for
many commercial and domestic purposes which our fore-
fathers never dreamt of. Iron roads and iron ships have,
comparatively speaking, be n long known, and are All
gaining in public appreciation : but since our last general
notice on the subject, we have seen iron houses, and even
an " iron palace" for a sable monarch, constructed in our
own locality; and in articles of furniture, and even of
vertu, the metal, malleable or cast, appears to be capable,
under the hands of our skiPul artificers and designers, of
being fashioned or moulded into any form, from the largest
line-of-battle ship, or a cannon carrying a 2001 b. ball (one
of which, of beaten iron, is actually in preparation for a
foreign power at one of our foundries), to the minutest
and rno.,t classical chimney ornament. The talisman of
science has, in tact, rendered this formerly-con.idel, ,4
hardest nd most obdurate of metals as ductile as 11-. id ;
and we have now iron bedsteads, iron easy chairs, iron
statuary—iron everything,—muA lighter in appearance,
and often in reality, and in all cases more durable, than
their predecessors in wood. . . _

We are led to these remarks by a first visit, a few days
ago, to the Show Rooms of Mr. Bennett, Sir Thomas's-
buildings, which have recently been greatly enlarged, and
Corm an architectural ornament to that street. The pre-
mises (near Whitechartel) are of two stories in height as
seen from without, but over one part there is a spacious
attic.

We first visited the " BED-STOCK ROOM," in which is
displayed a variety of elegant iron bedsteads, of all sizes
and patterns, with handsome and diversified head and foot
rails. Some of these have elegant canopied roofs, of iron,
or of gilded brass. They are beautiful in design (English,
French, &c.). and may be instantly put together or taken
to pieces, without the trouble of screwing—the joints of
the stocks forming each a sort of circular tapered dove-
tail, that fixes firmly of itself. Some of them have beau-
tifully coloured, polished, and tastefully gilded posts, and
other fittings, and so varied in design and richness, that
the prices range from thirty shillings to twenty guineas.
There is also an assortment of small bedstocks and chil-
dren's cots, all of metal. The whole of this room is lined
round with black stove or register grates, marry of them
with Venetian backs to regulate the draft, and with neat
ornamental mouldings cast in relief. Here also are fen-
ders, in great variety, to correspond.

The "'
LARGE Snow /loom," adjoining, is one of the
finest arartments for the purpose in the kingdom. It is
about 30 yards long, extending backwards, and 10 to 11
yards broad. It is lighted from the street by a lofty w n-
dow the full width of the room, and at the further end by
another nearly as large, making a thorough light. Here
we found ourselves amongst avenues of the most splendid
register grates of polished steel, bronze (on iron castings),

black, gilt,—or a combination of these to suit every '
taste. Many of the ornamental c,stings, in wreaths of
flowers, foliated and shaft work, china, &c., are extremely
I elaborate, sharp, and beautiful, and so contrived that they
be partly taken to pieces, and eas ly kept clean.
Three pf the most approved of these parlour or drawing-
roam grates
were in full fire, tie building being con-
st ueted s,„)
to allow their respective draught and effect,
without any aOPeararle6' of
chimneys. Ora of these—
Stephens's patent—struck us as peculiarly excellent,
though comparatively plain in ornament. The fire-place
is rec.- s-ed in the form of a square funnel, from the po-
lished interior sides of which the heat is so powerfully
radiated, that it emits thirty per cent. more warmth than
th,se grates that were lot merly c,,rosidered the ne plus
ull,a in this respect. The bars of most of these modern
grates are considerably lower than iti the ordinary kind—
a resumption of the olden mode; and the general decora-
tions, in foliated ornaments in alto. relievo, flowers, &c.,
partake of the styles of Louis Quatorze am! the Eliza-
bethan age. They have the combined advantage of
beauty, pod draught (which may be regulated to a nicety),
and a smaller consumption of fuel. The chimney-pieces,
representing marble, &c. are massive and elegant. In this
room there are also beautiful iron drawing-roOrn stands,
tastefully painted and japanned, or richly inlaid with
m,,ther-of-pearl, &c.. amid enamelled. The hat and time
umbrella stands are highly ornamental. One of them is
a fa.t-simile of a large stalk of Indian corn, the leaves of
which serve as the pegs, and a large sea-shell below re-
ceives the water from the umbrellas. The whole stock.
in fine, is the most modern in design, and of the best
manufacture—including splendid plain and ornamental
polished steel fire-irons

A large room be!ow is appropriated almost solely for
stoves, of all kinds, sizes, and patents—many of them
rich in castings and classical in form. The adjoining
room is filled with kitchen ranges, of Mr. Bennett's
highly-approved design, and of which he is the sole ma-
nufac'urer. One of them (in which the fire was burning
brightly) has a large oven, and a hot closet below it on
one side ; a large boiler forming the back of the grate ;
and a hot hearth at the other side. To this is attached a
smoke-jack, spit-apparatus, &c., and the whole is highly
finished and compact. These ranges may be had of any
size, and more or less comprehet.sive for extensive or for
plain cooking. We also saw a superior and most ingeni-
ous steam-cooking range. There are likewise show-rooms
for minor articles in the trade; but refraining from de-
tails, we recommend an inspection of the establishment,
which cannot fail to gratify and interest the visiter. Mr.
Bennett is, we learn, agent for Stephens's patent grates,
and also for Day's patent windguard—an invention which,
for the curing of smoky chimneys, is considered the most
effectual that has yet been devised.