The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-12-30 00:00:00

The Young Chemist. London : W. S. Johnson

A trifle, in handsome paper covers, containing a variety
of experiments on chemical subjects. It is not an ele-
mentary treatise, however, but is adapted for those who
have already made some progress in the school or lecture-
room. The author is Mr. Henry Howard Paul, London.

Registries of Deeds. By John Edward Dibb. London

Longman and Co

Almost every man is interested in the establishment of
a safe and simple systems for the registration of deeds, as
without it property can neither be sold nor held with se-
curity. Mr. Dibb, who is the deputy-registrar hr the
West Riding of Yorkshire, has paid great attention to the
subject, and the suggestions he offers are entitled to the
attention at least of the legal world. The work now under
notice comprises the draft of a bill having for its ob-
ject the improvement of the whole system of registering
deeds. The bill will, no doubt, command the attention it
deserves.

Notes of an Excursion to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
By R. Dale. London: Effingham Wilson. Liverpool

Rockliff and Son

These notes, though brief, comprise some very inter-
esting impressions made upon the author's mind during
a ♦oyage from England to the Mexican Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. Without pretending to give a minute
description of the various coasts which he passed on the
voyage, or of the comparatively unknown territory upon
which he afterwards pursued the route to his destination,
the author nevertheless points out with sufficient detail
the most remarkable objects, and gives an interesting
description of the climate, soil, and capabilities of the
country. The name of Tehuantepec may be almost
unknown to general readers ; but it is likely to become
a place of note, being the spot fixed upon to connect
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is very gratifying
to learn that, in spite of the alleged difficulties in the
way of effecting a communication between these two
vast oceans, a party of American engineers are now
surveying the Isthmus for the purpose of making a
railway across it. The distance in a direct line, from
the mouth of the River Coatzacoalcos to Ventora Bay,
is about 150 miles. The author reports, on the autho-
rity of the engineers, that the country does not pre-
vent any insuperable obstacles, so that this great problem,
as to a possible connexion between the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, may be considered as on the point of solution.
Wherever the writer touched or passed, he seems to have
gleaned some interesting fact. For instance, although he
only landed at San Juan, and Porto Rico, for two hours,
he describes a house which was built and inhabited by
Columbus. The suggestions lie makes for opening out a
trade in mahogany with Tehuantepec, and the surrounding
districts, deserve the attention of speculators, if not of
the mercantile world generally.

Ireland Sixty Years Ago. Dublin : M`Glasban

This is one of a series, of which the general heading is
" Readings in Popular Literature." It was issued in
1847, and the present is the third edition. Few countries
in Europe have undergone so great a change as Ireland
has. durir g the period indicated ; let us hope, for the
better. The book relates many things in detail which
most Irishmen know imperfectly and traditionally ; and
the writer (whether a senior or a retailer of paternal tales,
we know not) appears to have given them with great
fidelity.

Notes on the Distribution of Gold throughout the World

London : James Wyld

This is a very seasonable pamphlet, coming as it does at
the moment when the discoveries in California and else-
where have created so much speculation and excitement.
The author, after tracing the period when first a standard
of value was introduced, proceeds to give a minute and
interesting description of all the known localities where
gold is to be found, as well as their geological peculiarities,
and describes the modes adopted at the gold workings.
Another part of the pamphlet is devoted to a consideration
of the monetary question generally. The topographical
information given cannot fail to be interesting. A very
useful map of the gold regions accompanies the *ork.

Among the more important kind of SERIALS, we have
Nes. xxvi. and xxvii. of the re-issue of Knight's
Pictorial Shakspeare. They embrace King Henry VI.,
Part i., and Henry Vl., Part ii. On looking through
them, to see if the illustrations have lost any of their ori-
ginal excellence, we do not see anything to complain of.—
The Half Hours have reached Part xxi. in all, or Part
vii. in the series of English History. This part, what-
ever the others are, is merely a hash of the materials
which we had previously as separate dishes—The Penny
Magazine, Shakspeare, &c. &c.—From the series of
Travelling Hours, we have Curiosities of Communica-
tion, respecting the road, the railway, the electric tele-
graph, the sail and the steamer, ocean steamers, and
foreign mails.—ln the Country House, we have the
Poultry Yard, which appears to be prepared with much
care ; but we are not skilled in poultry.—Mrs. Cowden
Clarke has reached the thirteenth girl among Shah-
peare's Heroines, which appears to be the last but two.
The present is Hermione, the Russian princess.

Of the publications in a MAGAZINE form, the largest is
a quarto entitled the Home Companion. Its contents are
apparently very varied ; a • ing from the illustrations,
it is much in the y publication style. The Tempe-
rance (i. e. to tal) Chronicle is unquestionably of good
tendenc t gives 16 pages, or 32 columns, of printed
matt for a penny. The present part contains the de-
tails respecting the prizes offered by Sir Horace St. Paul,
Bart.—The Protestant Magazine is a trumpet that gives
no uncertain sound ; this number completes its thirteenth
volume.—Of Lewis Arundel. the thirteenth number is
equally good with its predecessors.—The Parlour Magazine
is a magazine indeed, if it contain the " literature of all
nations." It does contain a marvellous gathering ; but
whether that is like the collection of a magpie's hiding-
place (hardly worth the trouble of taking), or like the con-
tents of a pelican's pouch (useful for future digestion), we
cannot say.—Hogg's Instructor contains the usual quan-
tity of matter, including a sketch of the life of Jean Paul
Frederic Richter. A well-executed plate gives a portrait
of him.—Pierce Egan's Home Circle concludes a " Story
without a Name," tales for which a silver cup and a silver
cake-basket have been awarded, natural history, coverlet-
work, chess-problems, &c. &c., as well as a long list of
the contributors. There are certainly several respectable
names; but whether their contributions are occasional
pistol-shots or frequent cannonades, we have no means of
determining.—The Curiosities of Industry and the Ap-
plied Sciences, Part IV., gives an interesting account of
Gold, in the mine, the mint, and the workshop ; also,
Paper, its applications and its novelties.—The Monthly
Digest of equity, common law, &c., is of a far higher class
than most of the others in this paragraph. It is edited
by E. B. Lovell, Esq., a barrister, and bears the marks
of the hand of a professional gentleman and scholar. We
are not lawyers, but have read this work with much plea-
sure, and shall look for its successors with interest.

The REV. H. S. JOSEPH, Chaplain of Chester Castle,
has published his REPORT for 1851. The prisoners have
increased, during the year—September 1850 to September
1851—from 87 to 109: but the communicants have de-
creased from 18 to 12, that is, from lin 5 to lin 9. Of
156, only 104 can read, some imperfectly ; 28 do not know
the Lord's Prayer, and a man 84 years of age, after his
twentieth committal, hardly knows whether he has a soul.
—Mr. John Bailey Brown writes on the evils of our present
joint-stock banking system, suggesting remedies.

N B TV

MUSIC,

We have received a batch of compositions, amongst the
most meritorious of which may be classed the following,
published by D'Almaine and Co., London :
A Merry Christmas Chorus. Song. By Geo. Tolhurst.
—Who'll have Me I Song. By G. A. Hodson.—
To Music to becalm his Fever. Song. By J. L. Hatton.
—The Wellington Marches. By Stephen Glover.—The
Bloomer Schottische.—Merry Old Christmas Quadrilles.
By Ricardo Linter.—Sparkling Diamonds Quadrilles.
By A. Areni.—The Medora Scottische. By Walter M.
Packer.—Kossuth Galop. By R. Linter.

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION—THIRTEEN LIVES
LOST.—On Monday last one of the most calamitous col-
liery accidents that have occurred in this neighbourhood
for years occurred at the Ince Colliery, near Wigan, the
property of A. F. Halliburton, Esq. By an explosion of
what is ordinarily called " fire-damp," no fewer than ten
men and three boys lost their lives. The pit where this
catastrophe occurred is situated near the Hindle}, station
of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. It appears
that on Monday morning, about half-past five o'clock,
upwards of 100 men and boys descended the shaft ; that
being the usual hour for commencing work. About six
o'clock, when they had scarcely been half an hour at
work, a tremendous explosion of fire-damp took place,
throwing the neighbourhood into the greatest consterna-
tion and anxiety. When the alarm had a little subsided,
and the foul air in the pit had been dissipated, a number
of the surviving colliers and pit-men went vigorously to
work, and by their united and energetic exertions all the
thirteen bodies (all that were known to be missing) were
found and conveyed to their respective hones, which are
chiefly in Hindley.
THE NEW YEAR.—It is at this happy period of the
year, that the exuberance of the feelings amid scenes of
gaiety naturally induces the fair and youtlifult6 shine to
advantage under the gaze of many friends; and hence
probably arises the enormous demand that usually attends
Rowlands' Kalydor, Macassar Oil, and Odonto or Pearl
Dentifrice, at this festive season. The well-known and
highly-prized virtue of the above happy discoveries have,
in many instan , rendered their use indispensable to
courtly ele' ce ; and, as long as a beautiful complexion,
a luxur' head of hair, and teeth of pearls are in request,
their way must remain undiminished.—See advt.
HOLLOWAY'S PILLS, AN ADMIRABLE REMEDY FOR
THE CURE OF LIVER COMPLAINTS AND BAD DIGESTION.
—Mr. Wilson, a gentleman lately returned four-Bengal,
where he had been employed for several yeafs in the Hon.
East India Company's Service, calledli Professor Hollo-
way's establishment a few days ago to state the benefit he
had derived from taking these unparalleled Pills, having
suffered from a liver complaint for years, with a digestion
so impaired, that for 'Months he could not take any solid
ilept. food ; other re? (dies seemed to have no effect on his
disorder, b olloway's Pills acted so wonderfully in
cleansin e e liver and strengthening the digestive organs
that is now quite restored to health.

IRELAND.

The report is revived that her Majesty will visit Ireland
next summer, and that Bristol will be honoured as the
port of embarkation.

A society has just been formed in Dublin for the pre-
servation and publication of the ancient melodies of Ire-
land. Dr. Petrie, the eminent artist and antiquary, has
been nominated president.
THE-VACANT PROVOSTSHIP.—The Dublin Daily Ex-
press gives currency to a rumour, which has been some
days in circulation, assigning the provostship to Dr.
Longfield, one of the Commissioners of Encumbered
Estates, and a junior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.

BARBAROUS MLYRDER.—On Thursday, the 18th inst.,
a man named Michael Cunningham, who has been acting
as a bailiff under Mr. John Kelly, of Ballinrobe, county
Mayo, was attacked by a number of men in the streets of
that town, and beaten to death. .

The Limerick Reporter notices an extraordinary feature
in the history of emigration. It appears that while thou-
sands are leaving their native shores for the land of the
west, there are vast numbers returning to Ireland ; and it
is added that scarcely a ship leaves New York that does
not bring 80 or 100 persons homewards.
In the Clonmel Chronicle we have a fresh murder re-
corded. A poor man of the name of Kennedy, who resided
at Mullinahone, received a beating on his return home on
Tuesday night last, from the effects of which he died on
the following morning. This awful deed was perpetrated
at Kiltinan, in the county Tipperary. The miscreants
remain as yet undiscovered. _ _

A Government reward of £lOO has been offered for the
conviction of the murderers of Mr. Bateson. As one spe-
cimen of the fruits of agrarian crime, we may mention
that Mr. Bates, an English gentleman, who was about
purchasing the Blayney estates in the locality where the
murder was committed, has, solely on this ground, declined
completing his purchase.
THREATENING NOTICE.—The Newry Telegraph states
that " the customary notice has been served upon Mr.
Rutherford, J.P., agent for the Marquis of Anglesea's
estates:in the county Loutb, threatening him with the fate
of the murdered Bateson." That journal adds—" Few
agents have proved themselves more humane, more con-
siderate, or encouraging towards the tenantry over whom
they exercise delegated authority."
HOMICIDE IN THE COUNTY DONEGAL.—OR Friday
last, a man named M'Kain was killed in a scuffle with a
person named Galbraith, at Raphoe, in the county Done-
gal. The deceased had a distress warrant against Gal-
braith, which he went to execute at his house. Galbraith
met him with a tua in his hand, which the deceased laid
hold of and took from him after a struggle. Galbraith
thereupon stabbed M'Kain in the left breast, who died of
the wound in a few minutes after it had been inflicted.
A few days ago the dead body of a fine whale, of the
sperm species, was found floating near Castletown, Bere-
haven, on the Trish coast. Its dimensions were 94 feet
9 inches long, 42 feet girth, breadth of tail 24 feet, length
of lower jaw 12 feet, breadth between the eves (one of
which is broken by a wound) 15 feet. In the belly and
shoulders portions of a tusk were found, evidently be-
longing to some fish of the sword species, and which had
caused death.

THREE MORE INCENDIARY FIRES IN DOWN.—We
(Down Recorder) are obliged to announce the occurrence
of no less than three incendiary fires which took place in
this county during the lact few days. The first, a house,
the property of Captain Browne, of Janeville, burned on
Friday night last ; the second, a mill and some office-
houses at Grey Abbey, the property of Mr. Hugh Mont-
gomery ; and the third, a house in the neighbourhood of
Killicchy. All, we regret to say, turn out to be agrarian
outrages.
IRISH RAILWAYS.—GOVERNMENT GRANT OF £50.000.
Tt is our gratifying duty (says the .Derry Standard) to lay
before our readers one of the most important announce-
ments, as far as the city of Derry is concerned, which it
has been in our power to make for a number of years.
The government have, at length, consented to encourage
northern industry and energy, and have granted a loan of
£50,000 to the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
Company, for the further extension of their line. It is
expected that a similar applicaticn on the part of the
Coleraine Railway will be granted by the commissioners.

CULTIVATION OF FLAX IN THE WEST.—The Con-
naught Watchman has the following gratifying statement :
—" There are a good many hands now employed in the
manufacture of this plant throughout Connaught, the
principal factories are, we believe, those of Sir R. O'Don-
nell at Newport, and of Messrs. Hay and Messrs. Rollo
and Holliday, at Ballina, all of them doing well, and thus
affording the best practical proof that its cultivation and
manufacture can be made remunerative here as well as in
the north. Indeed, the lowness of the rent in the west
forms an additional advantage which must soon determine
English speculators to this part of the country."

THE TRANSATLANTIC PACKET.—Mr. Wagstaff has
written the following letter to his agent at Belfast :
" New York, Dec. 9, 1851.—Sir,—I arrived here the
night before last in the Pacific. I find that the finishing
of the ship has taken longer time, and will take longer,
than I expected. She will be ready for the trial trip next
week. She is a magnificent vessel, and will be finished
in beautiful style. I have no doubt of her making her
trip inside of nine days, even if we should meet with as
heavy weather as we may expect at this season of the
year. I shall write you next week, stating when we shall
leave, and giving you all the necessary instructions. I
have appointed Captain C. Thompson, one of the owners
of the Sarah Sands, as my agent in Liverpool. I shall
employ another ship at once, so that we shall have two
ships on the line ; and I am in hopes that the business of
the line will warrant having three ships on in April.—
Yours truly, JOHN C. WA GSTAFF.—Mr. Robert Scott,
74, Waring-street, Belfast."...

DREADFUL ATTEMPT AT MURDER.—DUNDALK, DEC.
25.—1 hasten to inform you of a dreadful attempt to mur-
der a landlord (Mr. James Eastwood, of Castletown, in
the county of Louth), who resides within one mile of this
town. It appears that Mr. Eastwood was yesterday even-
ing found lying in a quarry, within a few perches of his
own house. He was perfectly insensible, and up to the
present moment is unable to give any account whatever
of the transaction. He was found in the quarry by a girl
going to her home, who seeing him lying on his face, sup-
posed him to be a drunken man. On telling him to get
up he began to groan. She then went over to him, and,
finding that he was Mr. Eastwood, she alarmed the neigh-
bourhood, when he was removed to his house. His head
having been shaved they found three deep cuts on the
right side, his ear was split, his cheek dreadfully lacerated,
and one of his eyes nearly forced out. A stone was found
within a few feet of where he lay. It was long, and of an
oval shape, and one end of it was covered with blood and
hair. The miscreant or miscreants who maltreated Mr.
Eastwood deprived him of his gold watch, leaving a strong
steel chain round his neck to which it had been attached.
I can safely affirm that the gentleman who now lies on,
in all probability, his death-bed, was a most exemplary
and kind-hearted landlord. He laboured with great zeal
to improve the condition of his tenantry, and had recently
introduced among them the art of manufacturing linen
from flax grown on his estate. Taking him altogether
he was one of the best specimens of his class to be found
in lreland.—Times' Correspondent.
EXTENSION OF RIBBONISM.—It is painful to have to
record further evidences of the rapid extension of Rib-
bonism. A number of outrages have been perpetrated by
the Ribbon conspirators in the county of Meath during
the east few days. No life has been sacrificed, but pro-
perty to a large amount has been destroyed. It appears
that since the graziers and farmers of that fertile county
have been subjected to the competition of foreigners they
have been obliged to curtail their expenditure, with a
view to meet their diminished incomes. They have gene-
rally reduced the number of their labourers and tilled less
land. In addition to this they have lately introduced
threshing mills, which have been found to do the work
formerly done by the hand and the flail, at about one-
sixth the cost. Something of the spirit which was excited
in Lancashire by the first " spinning jenny," has been
manifested in Meath by these threshing mills. A widow
woman, who farms a large tract of land, employs a consi-
derable number of labourers, and gives freely to the
Church, was cautioned some time ago to give up the
" mill." She was advised to pass by the threat with
" the contempt it deserved." The consequence has been
that an attempt was made a few nights since to destroy
her house, farming offices, and stock. Too well the mis-
creants succeeded, for they burned her barn and some
other offices. Another person, a farmer, was likewise
served with a Ribbon notice, to give up his mill. He
disregarded it, and an outhouse containing 17 head of fine
black cattle was consumed. His loss is estimated at
nearly £3OO. Several other farmers in Meath are ordered
to re-employ certain discharged labourers, on pain, of
being roasted alive or shot. No care is entertained how
many " innocent" may suffer with the guilty

A NEW DODGE.—The begging fraternity have adopted
a new dodge in Cheltenham. A burly fellow, wrapped
up to the chin, calls at a house where he knows there are
only ladies, and sends up his name as the " Rev. Francis
Close !" The reply of course is, "Oh ! pray ask Mr.
Close to walk in," and having once obtained a footing in
the drawing-room, the fellow commences by asking a
subscription to some mock charity, and failing in this, he
unfolds a bundle of scissors, and begs the astonished
ladies to make a purchase ! This impudent trick has
been performed at several houses during the past week,
and it is only to be regretted that the perpetrators of it
have not been handed over to the custody of the police.
The fellows take good care to visit no houses in which
there are either gentlemen or men servants, otherwise
they would pretty quickly meet their deserts by being
kicked into the street.

MILITARY COSTUME.—Rumours are current in the
purlieus of the Horse Guards of important changes (not
until much wanted) in the costume of the army. The
heavy cavalry dress will, it is understood, undergo a com-
plete revision at the next issue of clothing. The absurd,
tailless jacket is to be exchanged for a frock-coat, loosely
made about the sleeves, and with no other ornament than
the row of buttons destined to connect one side of the
coat with the other. The brass shoulder-scales, es use.
less as inconvenient, are to be abolished, the authorities
having at length discovered that they press disadvantage-
ously on the sword arm. The new helmet is to fit the
head closely, and to be no larger than it need be. The
" swinging horse-tail at each valorous back" is to be
discontinued ; as is also the huge black muff, weighing
several pounds, which is at present stuck upon the heads
of Grenadier Guardsmen, and which, during the dog-days
more especially, makes them the object of everybody's
sympathy. It is impossible to conceive any costume less
picturesque or more uselessly absurd than much of our
military dress and accoutrements. If any reform be in-
troduced, it ought to be a sweeping 0ne,—.41 Journal.