The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

NEW METHOD OF SWEEPING CHIMNEYS,

The praiseworthy agitation that existed a few years ago,
and carried with it the almost total abolition of sweeping
chimneys by climbing boys, has of late calmed down, not
from any desire or wish on the part of the public to en-
courage a business so fraught with danger, and so injuri-
ous to health, but from the fact of there not having
hitherto been a machine invented that would thoroughly
cleanse, or even pass through, a circuitous or angular flue.
We are now. however, in possession of an apparatus,
patented by Mr. L. Wellman Wright, which bids fair to
answer all the intended purposes of application ; and
though it does not differ in appearance materially from the
ordinary machine, its principle is so complete that its effi-
cacy is beyond doubt. At the top of the machine, which
is used exactly as the ordinary one, is a moving and oscil-
ating ball, followed about a foot below by a circular
brush, suited in size to sweeping chimney pots. At
about five feet below this, are a series of brushes, fixed on
a belt of vulcanized india rubber, and the top and bottom
of which are ends of brass, the former rather larger than
the latter, which is of the same circumference as the india
rubber bands. As the machine is forced up the flue, the
elasticity of the vulcanized india rubber allows the brushes
without injury to take an oblique position, and facilitates
the operation of its ascension, but directly the machine is
attempted to be withdrawn, they become fixed in an hori-
zontal form, by their catching against the flanging por-
tion of the top, and thus the outer circumference of the
apparatus is so much increased, that it would be next to
impossible that it could fail in removing every particle of
accumulated soot. The following diagram will illustrate
it. The dotted line shews the position of the brushes
when the machine is ascending, and the parallel,lines when

descending,

mall

~,~

Joii

#

Rubber,

Another important advantage is the adaptation of vul-
canised Indian rubber to the purpose of universal joints,
which are fixed between each required length of cane, so
as to allow them when slightly pressed by the revolving
ball coming against the curvatures of a chimney, to turn
the most acute angle.
A trial of the apparatus was made last week on a chim-
ney of rather a difficult character. The operator at first,
conceiving it to be a straight flue, did not apply the
pliable joints, which are only necessary where ordinary
machines would not do ; and the consequence was, that

'before the brushes had reached half the height of the pre-
nises, the became fixed across an an. The w was
,mmediately y withdrawn and the jointsgle applied, whhenole with
,Pparent ease the ball was projected and exhibited at the
-op of the chimney, which, to the astonishment of all,
ran into a stack horizontally fully 20 feet from the place
at which the machine was introduced. On its being drawn
down the flue, it brought with it an immense quantity of
soot, but in order to prove that none was left it was again
•=ent up, and the result was most satisfactory. A com-
pany has been formed in this town for the purpose of
practically carrying out this invention ; and we trust that
(if for humanity's sake alone) they will meet support.
The charges they make are in accordance with the rents,
varying from 4d. per chimney upwards, but the projectors
have most liberally undertaken to cleanse the flues in all
unrated houses gratuitously, which will do much for the
sanatory condition of the town, and tend to prevent the
annoyance and danger arising from firing chimneys.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE

M. Dejean ane..l his

company, we shall only have this opportunity of re-
viewing the remaining members of the establishment,
and regret that we cannot do that ample justice to
them which they so well deserve ; we will, however,
glance at them, and fulfil the promise we gave at the

bas a sma

but muscu

iar figure ; he has

, eat power of spring, and takes lion-like leaps over a
table at least eight feet wide, and concludes by riding
with great energy and spirit. He is a very useful person,
takes part in a variety of acts, and contributes much to
the general amusement. He speaks English, and offi-
ciates as master of the ring occasionally.
M. CHANDLER.—His figure, as he appears in the tight
flesh-coloured dress, handsomely bedizened with spangles,
makes us exclaim, how truly beautiful is the human form
.when finely developed ! The Greeks might well have sta-
tues. The nature of his exercise has given him a thigh of
the finest mould ; the rectus and vasti muscles are very
powerful. His performances are very extraordinary.
His brother is also a fine little fellow, and deserves all
--'-out like a ball at play—but it is

praise ;
no pla'

he is t

hrown a

Chandler are balancing his brother on liishariraiart;;
length, with the body inverted, and repeatedly tossing
an.i catching him on the soles of his feet, which are truly
astonishing. We believe he is an Englishman.
M. A. SIEGRIST does some perfectly astounding feats
on the decanters, is amazingly clever, and must be seen to
be appreciated.

ay& IA/5G1.441 LUG
" Chinese Festival ;" an extraordinary display of muscu-
lar power, agility, and the art of equilibrium. M. biegrist
at one time sustains the weight of the four others on his
person. The entire action is very characteristic of the

Chinese, and the costume most adniirable
a singular piece of vivid action.
M. VEHEL is a grand vaulter over the back of the
horse. His costume is good, a mixture of red and blue,
handsomely ornamented. He is also a clever rider, and
manages four horses in an act entitled " Middle Ages."
The horses have been finely trained, and make some re-
markable changes in their positions.
M. Ducos is a good equestrian, and performs some
clever feats in the act entitled " the leaping man and
leaping horse"—both springing at the same time. He
has a good form, but the style of dress does not show him
to advantage.
MADLLE. CAROLIE Ducos is a very spirited and clever
rider, and leaps through hoops and over streamers with
much activity. She dresses in the Swiss costume..
M. Momrcao.—The ape is so finely exhibited by him
that it actually looks like the reality. His nimbleness
and activity are unique. The death scene is acted to per-
fection ; his limbs quiver, and the last struggle is most
admirable. He will perform the ape during the course of
this week, and we can strongly recommend those who have
not seen the performance not to lose this opportunity.
THE SPANISH DWARF HIDALGO.—riat diminutive
specimen of humanity has much droll humour. and is an
excellent comic performer : he is also an equestrian like
the rest of the troupe.
M. SIEGRIST is a very useful and good actor. The
simpleton in the " Harlequinade " is well enacted by him ;
,
and the gendarme in " Rondolet and Passecarreau ' is a
clever piece of comic acting. His back gets most desper-
ately kicked by that wild and untameable little poney, with
the remarkably long mane.
YOUNG NIED exhibits feats of horsemanship on the
bare backed steed ; he rides a handsome dun-coloured
horse, and balances himself on the hind-quarters of the
animal at full speed, in a very remarkable manner.
M. ANDRE personates a variety of characters on the
horse, is a clever equestrian, and makes a good harlequin.
M. LAMBERT is a good rider in the saddle. He has a
tall figure, and officiates in conjunction with M. Franconi
as master of the ring. There are several equestrian acts
in which he performs. " The Four Quarters of the
Globe " are remarkable for the extreme beauty and cor-
rectness of the costume and trappings of the horses. The
dress of M. Lambert is that of Africa—a handsome Ara-
bian costume. " The Musketeers' Quadrille," and the
preceding, are quadrilles danced by the horses, and prove
that M. Franconi can teach a four-footed animal to dance
as well as our Mr. St. Albin can one of the biped race.
To these may be added the " Hussars of France," and the
" Festival of Flowers," which are evolutions performed by
the horses, and exhibit the most accomplished training
which these animals are capable of. "Le Jeu de Barres '
is a very exciting game, and exhibits some excellent sad-
dle riding. _

Theii exit is

THE LiVERPOOt STAIOARD.

W,7,14•_,!v;.4!m

*ad**

THE NAVIGATION LAWS.—A petition to both houses
of parliament from the shipowners of this town was lying
for signature a short time on Wednesday and Thursday
at the Exchange News-room. It received the names of
upwards of 400 of the principal firms of the town. The
prayer of the petition is that a select committee be ap-
pointed to inquire into the policy and operation of the
Navigation Laws, and that parliament will refuse its sanc-
tion to any legislation thereon until such inquiry shall be
completed.
THE MECHANICS IN LlVERPOOL.—Mechanics and
artificers particularly, are badly off. Men who formerly
earned, as joiners, 255. to 30s. a week, are now glad to
find employment as common labourers, at 15s. to 17s. 6d.
a-week. The suspension of building is the cause of this
depression. One half of the houses, we might almost
safely say, are " to be let" in Birkenhead ; and in this
town not a few. Fortunate has it been for us the winter
has been mild ; and we may now look forward to a genial
spring bringing some comfort to the unfortunate working
classes.

CLOSING OF THE POST-OFFICE ON SUNDAY.—"We
understand that application having been made to the
Postmaster-General, by some parties in Liverpool, for the
closing of the Post-office on the Sabbath, an answer was on
Tuesday received, to the effect that if a memorial, signed
by a majority of the inhabitants, were presented to ,that
effect, it would be complied with. As a literal fulfilment
of this condition would of course be impracticable, it is
understood by some parties that a memorial very numer-
ously signed would be sufficient to ensure the Postmaster-
General's acquiescence.
ST. PAUL'S SCHOOLS.—A very kind response has been
given to the appeals made by the Revds. Hugh Jones,
Fielding Ould, and Dr. M`Neile, in behalf of the schools
belonging to St. Paul's Church. We rejoice to find
that the collections and donations amounted, together,
to about £7O. A gentleman waited upon one of the
ministers of the church, and handed in what he had re-
maining of a sum consigned to him for charitable pur-
poses, which sum was £l5 10s. 7d. Another gentleman
gave a £lO note, two others £5 each. Handsome as all
this is, it goes a very little way towards liquidating a debt
of nearly £200; and when that debt is all paid, how are
the schools to be carried on ? Is it not to be feared that
the loud and frequently urged appeals, in behalf of moral
and religious education, are a mere hypocritical pretence,
whin the very advocates themselves, when applied to,
withhold the pecuniary aid necessary to maintain it ?
CONDUCT OF THE CHIEFS OF THE POST-OFFICE TO
THEIR CLERKS.—Mr. Thomas Plant, a clerk in the Li-
verpool Post-office, has written a letter to the Postmaster
tendering his resignation, and conveying a just rnbuke of
the inconsiderate and illiberal conduct of the Post-office
authorities to their clerks. He states that after a faithful
and diligent service of eight years, and notwithstanding
repeated petitions from himself and fellow clerks for a
more equitable scale of salaries, he is no better paid than
the novice of yesterday's appointment, end that even
some of the stampers (of inferior standing) have risen to
salaries equal to clerks who have been longer in the service,
with extras besides, which are denied to the clerks. He
adds that, weary of beseeching the Postmaster-General
to consider these facts, and his patience being exhausted,
he has sought and obtained employment elsewhere, where
faithful services will be requited, and therefore would retire
from his situation at the post-office on the 21st, yesterday.
THE POOR OF LIVERPOOL.—At the meeting of the
Select Vestry, on Tuesday, it was stated that five able-
bodied men, who had refused to break stones, at which,
if industrious, they might earn 9s. or 10s. per week. had
been sent into the workhouse by Mr. Gray, who was
alarmed by the threats of Mr. Rushton. The uncourte-
ous treatment of the overseers and committee by the sti-
pendiary magistrate was much deprecated, but it appeared
that his remarks had not applied to the above case, but to
one in which a young man who was lame had been refused
relief. The Rev Rector Brooks stated that the allowance
of food to tramping casual poor had been fixed by a recent
regulation of the Poor-Law Commissioners, at six ounces
of .bread for supper, and the same for brerkfast, after
lodgings during the night. This regulation has not yet
been addressed to Liverpool. A total of £175 45. had
been expended in bread and soup from the 7th to the 15th
February. The chairman expressed his conviction that
there was more distress at present amongst our local me-
chanics than last year.
THE CELLAR NUISANCE.—The formidable work of
clearing the unwholesome cellars from occupation as
dwellings, is steadily advancing. There are no fewer than
14,085 of these wretched abodes, occupied by 27,128 hu-
man beings ; and in 5,841 of the cellars there are found
open wells or cesspools for receiving the drainage and
filth of the upper and adjacent property. 132 of the worst
streets have been selected, and notices to clear out the
tenants have been served upon 4,204 owners, 344 occu-
pants, and for 312 cellars in courts. The number of cel-
lars entirely vacated are 2,726. By sleeping on the floor,
or worse contrivances, in about 500, the inmates evade
the operation of the act, which requires proof that a bed
is found in the premises, and 749 cellars have been so far
altered as to keep within the letter of the law, although
still unfit for residence. In these respects, and in several
others, improvements might be introduced into the sani-
tary act ; but, on comparing it with Lord Morpeth's
Health of Towns' Bill, which, as it now stands, would
supersede the provisions of the local act, the proposed bill
is found to be very deficient in several important practical
details, and will, therefore, probably, be resisted so far
as its operation might extend to this borough.
ST. DAVID'S DAY AND THE WELSH SCHOOLS.—We
are sorry to hear that the Welsh Schools, in Russell-
street, are languishing for want of funds. There are 400
children receiving instruction daily in the schools at pre-
sent. The Committee feel it their duty to make an
earnest appeal to the public to come to their aid, other-
wise their present efficiency cannot be maintained. The
inhabitants of Liverpool are aware, that education based
upon the Word of God, is the only system of instruction
calculated to make the poor good subjects and good
Christians. This old-established and excellent institu-
tion therefore ought not to be suffered to remain under a
cloud. Sermons on behalf of the Schools will, we per-
ceive by an advertisement elsewhere, be preached next
Sunday in St: David's Church. The Rev. J. Baylee will
preach in Welsh. Mr. Baylee, like the learned Bishop
of St. David's, in addition to his other mental attain-
ments, is now able to preach fluently in Welsh. The
Rev. Mr. Pollock, the able and esteemed minister of St.
Marks, is to preach in English, and the Rev. Mr. James,
of Kirkdale, whose talents arid patriotism are too well
known to require any remark, is to preach in Welsh.
An eminent minister from North Wales will preach on
the Anniversary of St. David

NEW " BLACK STAR" PACKET SHIP.—The New York
Journal of Commerce gives the following description of
the noble ship Columbus, which lately arrived in our
river, and is certainly worthy of the character. " A new
three-decker merchantman, of 1.800 tons, carpenter's
measurement, has just come round from Portsmouth,
where she was built by Fernald and Pettigrew, for Messrs.
D. and A. Kingsland, of this city, to be employed as one of
C. Grirnshaw and Co.'s Liverpool and New York 'Black
Star line of packets, under the command of Capt Robt.
M`Cerran, late of the `America,' and who is favourably
known in the trade for his rapid passages. The ship has
been built at extraordinary expense of workmanship ; the
keel and kelson are immensely heavy, being 81 ft. deep.
besides sister kelsons and bilge kelsons. The knees,
braces, and timbers, of every name, are large and tho-
roughly bolted with copper in every direction, until the
whole seems to be formed into a solid mass; the masts
are trunks of a noble pine of Maine, 90 feet long, and.2a
feet, in diameter, at top ; she has three full decks running
the whole length of the ship ; the cabins are beautiful and
the passengers
sleanr gg ee rs st
andcom meroedwi,ouesithaendmeasllt arrangements, for
efoisr
merchant vessel in the United States; length 186. feet,
breadth 41 feet, and depth of hold 30 6-10 feet. She is
now loading at No. 5 pier and makes an 800 ton ship
by her side look like a boat. We recommend all who are
curious in naval architecture to pay her a visit, and can
assure them they will not be disappointed."
THE WATER GUARD OF THE CUSTOMS.—A pamphlet
has just been published by Mr. Dignan, South John_
street, bearing the following title, " The Waterguard of
the Customs : the inhuman treatment of Tidewaiters of
H.M.Customs—the absurdity of the duties required of
them—the impossibility of their compliance with the
instructions issued for their guidance; and their useless-
ness as guardians of the revenue : by W. Short, of Park-
lane, Liverpool."—This work comprises a series of letters
and editorial remarks, originally published in a contem-
porary, by which all that is stated in the title page quoted,
as well as much more on behalf of tidewaiters, is made
out in an undeniable manner. Mr. Short exposes, in
indignant language, the severe and indeed impracticable
duties imposed upon that class of revenue servants ' • their
long and continuous hours of attendance on hoard ship,
(24 hours one day, and 15 the next) ; their inadequate
pay ; their constant liability to be discharged for not
doing what mortal man cannot accomplish ; and their
consequent inutility (under the present system) as pro-
tectors of the revenue. His objects, as stated in his in-
troduction at more length, are "to abolish the worse
than Egyptian bondage under which the unfortunate tide-
waiters labour"; "to free the community from undue
pressure upon their purses in the support of a larger and
more expensive Customs establishment than is required " ;
and " to afford the necessary security to the Crown by a
more rational system of duties for the tidewaiters." The
author points out a plan to accomplish these objects.
The subject is well worthy of the serious attention of the
general public, and we recommend a perusal of the book,
which may be had for a very small sum.
MR. BUCKINGHAM'S LECTURES ON- PALESTINE.—NO
lecturer who has visited oar town for years past has given
INF satisfaction to the audiences whom he has addressed
than the veteran in travel and in literature, Mr. Buck-
ingham,—not only from the variety and extent of the in-
formation he has personally collected on the subjects of
which he treats, but from the perspicuity with which he
.arranges his matter, and his elegant and pleasing manner
in conveying it. His evening course of lectures on Italy,
recently delivered at the Mechanics' Institution, were lis-
tened to with delight. The morning course, now in pro-
gress of delivery at the same place, are even more inte-
resting to the general auditor ; for what country presents,
in its ancient and present condition, and in its associa-
tions with scriptural records, so wide a fi•ald for study and
affecting historical reminiscence as Palestine, or the Holy
Land. On this subject the lecturer may be said to be in
his favourite element; and no traveller, we believe, ever
bestowed upon it, by reading, and by acute observation
during his sojourn in the country, more unremitting at-
tention. He brought to his task a love of research in this
peculiar department, and, it may be added, a gifted and
indefatigable mind. He has already given his two first
lectures,—embracing the history and geographical features
of the country, &c., and the cities and ports on the sea
coast, but four remain to be delivered in succession, on.
Tuesdays and Fridays, all of them of high interest, whe-
ther heard in order or apart, each being important in
itself. This evening he will speak of the cities and towns
of the interior, and on Friday, on Jerusalem and its en-
virons. The closing lectures, next week, will be on the
regions beyond Jordan, and on Damascus, Baalbeck. and
Palmyra. The prices for admission are extremely moderate.