The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

THE OAK AND THE ASH.—The oak has opened its
leaves this spring earlier than the ash. This augurs the
approach of a bot and dry summer.
On Monday, Wm. Davies, of Upper Frederick-street,
was found dead in bed. The cause of death was aneurism
of the aorta.

Mr. George Hudson, who for some years has been a
resident in Liverpool, was sent for to London by the
Attorney-General, on Saturday, to give evidence as to his
alleged claim to the Devonshire estates, in consequence of
a memorial sent to her Majesty.
At the adjourned special meeting of the Birkenhead
commissioners, held on Monday night, the improvement
rate for Birkenhead and Claughton was fixed for Is. in
the pound, the lighting and watching rate ls, and the
sewerage rate 4d., for the township of Birkenhead only.
DEATH FROM BURNING.—A few days since some
children, the eldest only eight, living in Lace-street, were
left alone in the house, when the clothes of one,
live years old, caught tire, and she was so much injured
that she died on Saturday.
On Sunday week, a prize fight took place at Cabbage-
hall, for a sovereign. The men fought for two hours and
forty minutes, and both having then their eyes closed up,
it was agreed to increase the stakes to £5, the men to
fight again when sufficiently recovered.
At a preliminary meeting of rate-payers in Toxteth-
park, on Tuesday, it was determined to call a meeting for
the purpose of having the docks rated. From the state-
ment of Mr. Sheppard (the chairman), it appeared that
the local rates of the township now amount to 10s. in the
pound !
HANDSOME DONATION.—Mrs. Brown, the widow of
the late Thomas Brown, Esq., of Clarence-street, has con-
tributed £lOO to the funds for the support of the schools
in connection with St. Silas Church, in this town, in con-
sequence of a wish expressed to' that effect by her late
husband prior to his decease.
On Wednesday last, John Jones, a labourer employed
at the new tunnel now in course of excavatio❑ at
Edge-hill, was preparing a piece of rock for blasting,
when a poreion of it gave way, and fell upon him. He
was killed on the spot. The weight of rock which fell
upon the deceased was about two tons.
On Monday last, John Hope, aged 33, residing in Cop-
peras-hill, committed suicide by hanging himself. The
deceased had been for some time complaining of general
debility and sickness ; his mind had also been depressed
in consequence of the stagnation of trade and other
matters.

Our advertising columns of this day contain the twenty
second report of the Directors of the Standard Life
Assurance Company, which must be highly gratifying
to all connected with the Company. We also observe
that the directors have opened an office in South Castle-
street, under the charge of Messrs. J. and D. L. Murdoch.
On Thursday, Margaret Inglis, of Hunter-street, died
from injuries received from being burnt. It appeared
that so far back as the 19th of January last, she was in the
act of passing a table in the house on which there was a
lighted candle, that her gown caught fire, and that she
was severely burned all over her back.
Mr. Ross, F.A.S.S., who lectured, on the 26th of April,
at the Portico, on the Druids, has been solicited to deliver
an illustrated lecture, on the same sutject, to the Arch
Chapter and Primitive Lodges of Druids, in this town, of
which notice will appear in future advertisements. Mr.
Ross' lectures are both instructive and pleasing, and well
illustrated by diagrams.
The Rev. W. J. Conybeare, A.M., Principal of the
Collegiate Institution, has been presented to a valuable
living in the South of England. He resigns his office at
the Collegiate at the termination of the current half-year.
The pupils of the institution, by whom the reverend gen-
tleman is highly esteemed, having spontaneously entered
into a subscription for the purpose of presenting him with
a memorial of their regard.
• WATER.—We have already stated that the yield of
water at the wells of the late water companies has far ex-
ceeded the estimate of Mr. M'Donald, and therefore
egregiously that of Mr. Hawksley. Some of our con-
temporaries have published figures on the subject, but as
the accuracy of these has been called in question (though
we have no reason to Question it), we will postpone giving
any further statement on the subject, until the official
calculation appears.
TRANSATLANTIC STEAMERS.—The Hibernia, Captain
Shannon, took her departure from this port on Saturday.
for Halifax and New York, with the usual I.iails and fifty
passengers. The United States Capt. Hackstaff, will leave
for New York to-morrow, and the Niagara, Capt. _
for Halifax and Boston, on Saturday. The Acadia, Capt.
Stone, which would leave Boston on the 3d instant and
Halifax on the sth, may be expected to arrive in the
Mersey to-day.
LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.—Mr. C. Popham, the emi-
nent lecturer on astronomy, has engaged the Theatre
Royal for four nights in the present week, to give a series
of lectures on the sublime and interesting subject of astro-
nomy, during which he will make plain and comprehen-
sible a subject too often enveloped with technicalities.
From the collection of diagrams, views, and chronoatropes,
alluded to in Mr. Popham's prospectus we are led to ex-
pect that a rational and edifying combination of amuse-
ment and graphic instruction will be embodied in the lec-
tures and exhibitions announced in another column.
THE BRUNSWICK CLUB.—The rapid progression of
this useful tradesman's society, must be alike satisfactory
to its conductor and the public. Day by day there is an
accession to its number of members (now 500), and equally
proportionate are additional and increased advantages
announced. Whiteman is ever on the alert to the com-
fort of his patrons, and the late untollerably hot weather
having suggested a luxury, he has 'opened the baths in
connexion with the Hotel to the members of the club,
on terms most advantageous. Indeed, so numerous now
are the privileges of members, that, ere long we expect
to hear of all Liverpool being subscribers.
MR. PAGAN, OF DUTTON HALL, NEAR FRODSHAM.—
This gentleman will be kuuwts su usual, of our readers as
the Pminpnt cattle salesman, lately resident in Liverpool.
He has latterly become a Cheshire farmer, reposing upon
the well and honestly earned wealth of his long and active
life. The Durrfries Courier contains a full report of a
public dinner of 150 agriculturists in that town, for the
purpose of marking the respect they have long cherished
for Mr. Pagan's character, as an extensive purchaser of
cattle for the markets of the south, and latterly as the
first of the salesmen for Dumfries and Galloway, resident
in Liverpool, and of presenting him with an elegant silver
jug and cup, suitably inscribed. The proceedings were of
the most gratifying character.
INTERESTING SPECTACLE.—A few days ago there was
an assemblage of steamers in the Cobourg Dock which
could not be paralleled in a similar space in any port of
the world. The following is the list of the vessels, with
an approximation to their tonnage and power :—The Great
Britain, 3,500 tons, 1,200 horse power; Niagara, 1,700
tons, 800 horse power; Hibernia' 1,400 tons, 600 horse
power; Caledonia, 1,200 tons, 450 horse power • Hibernia,
680 tons, 370 horse power; Alphonzo (steam frigate), 600
tons, 300 horse power; United States, 2,000 tons, 1,000
horse power—Total 11,080 tons, 4,720 horse power. The
six steamers first named are British built, and the United
States was built in New York. These vessels form a
navy in themselves, with capacity for carrying upwards of
11,000 tons, and with nearly 5,000 horse power.
NEW UNITARIAN CHAPEL, HOPE-STREET. —On
Tuesday, the foundation stone of the new chapel was
laid. The proceedings were opened by Mr. Swinton
Boult, the chairman of the congregation of Paradise-
street chapel. Mr. Barry, one of the architects, followed,
who presented the trowel to Mr. Thomas Bolton. After
some suitable observations, Mr. Bolton proceeded to lay
the stone with the usual formalities, and, when it was de-
posited, three cheers were given. The Rev. James
Martineau next delivered a long address, in the course of
which he alluded to the parallelisms and the contrasts in
the circumstances under which the foundation stone of
this chapel, and the one in Paradise-street, were laid.
Mr. J. B. Yates, Mr. William Rathbone, the Rev. Lewis
Lewis, severally delivered their sentiments. In the even-
ing the building committee, under the superintendence of
the builders, 'Messrs. Furness and Kilpin, entertained the
whole of the workmen at Mr. Whiteman's Brunswick
Hotel. Mr. Kilpin occupied the chair, and the vice-pre-
sident was Mr. Hornblower. The cost of the building
will be about £7500.

RECENT FAILURES.—The Courier says—" Obseiva-
tions calculated to mislead hiving been made in connexion
with the embarrasments of Sir Thomas Brancker, and
also of Mr. Tomkinson, the extensive builder, we have
been at some trouble to ascertain the facts, and the cor-
rectness of the information we are about to give niay be
confidently relied upon. We learn that the difficulties of
Sir Thomas Brancker have been chiefly caused by depre.
ciation in railway shares, and the unfavourable issue of
some mining operations in which a considerable portion
of his property was invested. The stoppage of the Royal
Bank was likewise a source of great inconvenience to him;
and as much misrepresentation is afloat on this head,
owing to the position which he formerly held with the
bank, it is but justice both to Sir Thomas and the bank
to state, that his liabilities to the establishment are very
small, being under £1,500. And against this the directors
hold forty shares, on which £5OO each has been paid, and
which were quoted at the time the bank stopped, at £B5O.
With respect to Mr. Tomkinson, it was not, as stated by
a contemporary, his connexion with the Herculaneum
estate which caused his failure. From that he had been
deriving a large profit. An unfortunate railway contract
in Yorkshire, heavy sacrifices arising out of his contract
with the Birkenhead Dock Company, a considerable loss
with the assize courts, together with a large outlay upon
his Runcorn quarries, and the great difficulty of obtaining
money to meet such large engagements, are the causes
which have led to the embarrassment of one of our lead-
ing tradesmen, whose industry and benevolence had been
for so many years the subject of admiration, and whose
misfortunes every one deplores. Another failure which
has excited much sympathy is that of Mr. William Potter,
one of our most eminent merchants, a gentleman respected
wherever he his known for his high character, and beloved
for his amiable qualities. His embarrassments have been
caused exclusively by the depreciation of his immense
property at Birkenhead."
CHARGE OF CHILD MURDER.—On Saturday an inqui-
sition was held, before the deputy borough coroner, on
view of the body of a new-born female child. A woman,
named Jane Pearson, was in custody on ' suspicion.
Jane Roberts, who lives in Shannon-street, said the pri-
soner had been her servant. About seven months ago she
appeared bulky, and complained of swelled legs, which she
atttributed to dropsy, and witness entertained no suspicion
of her being pregnant. On Thursday evening witness
went out, leaving Jane up. On her return home she
found the accused in bed, and was told by her that she
had been very ill, but was much better, and would be
enabled to attend to her work in the morning. The accused
got up next morning as usual. Witness's suspicions were
roused by information she received from a friend, and she
went to Jane's room, and, on searching her hex, found the
body of a full-grown. new-born child, pinned in a piece of
rag. Witness taxed her with having delivered herself.
Prisoner did not deny it, and went on her knees, begging
that the circumstance might be kept secret. Mr. Burrows,
surgeon, who had examined the body, said that the child
was full grown. He found the face and neck of a livid

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.