The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-10-08 00:00:00

MONUMENT TO COLONEL GARDINER.—A meeting was
recently held at Bankton House, near Tranent, to origin-
ate measures for having erected a monument to the
memory of our countryman, Colonel Gardiner, who fell
in 1745, at the battle of Prestonpans, in the discharge of
his duties against the army of the Pretender, there for
the time successful. This project deserves the warm sup-
port of the country, and ought, indeed, to have been
carried out long ago. His life, by Dr. Doddridge, gives
an admirable view of the man—which Sir Walter Scott,
in Waverley, fully endorses. As one of the best soldiers
and christians of the last century. and as an honour to
his country, Colonel Gardiner eminently merits the
honour contemplated.—Edinburgh Post.

A NEW DESCRIPTION OF ORGAN.—An instrument of
simple construction, but of very varied power, called the
" Autophon," has been patented, by which a person
totally unacquainted with the mode of playing upon keys
can produce all manner of tunes by the mere mechanical
process of turning a handle and applying the foot to a
pedal. The music is produced by perforated sheets of
mill board, which are passed between rollers or cylinders.
In their transit, the wind is forced through the perfora-
tions or notes, and, passing through small pipes or tubes,
creates the sound. Each sheet produces a separate tune.
The instruments are of various sizes and power, but are,
comparatively, of small dimensions, being adapted to
private houses, chapels, and churches where an organist,
is not employed.
WHITTLE DEAN WATER COMPANY.—Some attention
having been lately excited respecting this company, we
are enabled to state, from an official source, that the
quantity of water " passed by," or run to waste during
the last winter, when the reservoirs were full, was up.
wards of 200,000,000 of gallons. Had this, or even half,
been stored, there would have been no necessity for
pumping water from the Tyne. The reservoirs of the
company can store about 217,000,000 gallons. The daily
consumption of Newcastle and Gateshead is 1,500,000
gallons; when the present company took possession of
the works the quantity daily used was 800,000. The
increase of new tenants continues satisfactory ; and the
increase of revenue this year over last will be £1,200, the
greatest increase that has taken place in any one year.—
Prmfon Chronicle.
AN AMIABLE SPOUSE.—A woman of the name of Ca-
therine M'Dowall, married to a carter of that name, who
resides in Dempster-street, being seized with a determi-
nation to do something desperate to her husband, caught
hold of a pan of boiling water from the fire, hurried into
the apartment where the unconscious wight was sleeping,
carefully removed from his side her young son, and then,
without compunction, and with unerring aim, threw the
whole of the scalding fluid full upon the unhappy sleeper.
The poor fellow, thus suddenly and unceremoniously
aroused by a feeling of intense pain, bawled out in such
agony that the room was soon filled with neighbours,
anxious to tender their services to the injured man. The
police were soon called and the woman apprehended.
The unfortunate husband is in a very dangerous state.—
Glasgow Mail.
TIM DUKE OF WELLINGTON.—A visitor at Dover
mentions an interesting circumstance that took place
there on Thursday week. His grace was walking along
one of the quays, when his attention was directed to a
steam-packet about to leave the harbour crowded with
passengers, whom Mr. Macgregor, the chairman of the
South-Eastern Railway Company, stated to be three
hundred Frenchmen, retuning to Paris after an excursion
to London. The eyes of all the passengers were soon
directed to his grace, who made a halt and faced about, so
as to have and give a full front view. Our polite neigh-
bours, who appeared gratified, raised their hats, for they
don't appear to understand cheering, and the duke re-
turned the compliment by the peculiar touch of his brim.
Those near him, following the example, took off their
hats. There seemed a sympathy and reciprocal kind
feeling between those afloat and those ashore. May his
grace live to wear out many hats, but no more swords !
FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A ROBBER.—A shocking ac-
cident occurred at the railway station, Derby, on Tues-
day. During the early part of the evening a man,
shabbily dressed, had been observed prowling about the
station yard. At half-past ten o'clock the mail train ar-
rived, when the stoker informed one of the policemen
that he thought a slight collision had occurred when he
passed a luggage train which had arrived a short time
before. A search was immediately commenced, when
the body of the man who had arrested the attention of
the officials during the early part of the evening was dis-
covered shockingly mangled. The whole of the carriages
had passed over his body. It is almost needless to say
that life was extinct. Near to the body were three par-
cels, which the robber had succeeded in extricating from
the luggage-carriages, and it appeared he was in the act
of pilfering the carriages when, the London train came up.
It has not yet transpired who the deceased was..
FARRYING CATTLE.—At the Boston County Court,
recently, Mr. Dyball, of Elkington, claimed 9s. 6d. from
Mr. Barton, of the same place, for farrying cattle, as
stated in the plaint. Judge : " For what is the amount
claimed ? Plaintiff : " For doctoring a. child's head,.
sir." Judge : " Indeed, that is a very curious sort of
cattle certainly." Plaintiff : " I beg to insinuate, gen-
tlemen, that it is a mistake of the clerk's. lam a farrier
as well as a druggist, and as I did not state what it was
for, the clerk (who knows I am a farrier) probably thought
it was for farrying cattle." Judge : "It is only an insi,
nuation, then, and does not amount to a charge."
(Laughter.) Defendant said he thought 9s. 6d. was a
great deal to charge for a ringworm, and he did not cure
the child after all, as he said he would : Dr. Roberts said
" he was not a proper person to do such like things, as
he had not got a certificate." Judge : "He contracted
to cure the child's head, did he ?" Defendant : " Yes,
sir, and it broke out again." Judge : " Well, then, as
plaintiff did not fulfil his contract, and is not a qualified
person, he is nonsuited."

FIVE MEN DROWNED.—About five weeks since the
end of the very long wooden bridge crossing the river
Wye, opposite the village of Glasbury, in Radnorshire,
fell down, having been left without repairs for two or
three years, while the counties of Radnor and Brecon
were litigating the question of liability to its repair in the
Court of Queen's Bench, which question had only just
been decided against Breconshire when the bridge tell.
As a temporary means of crossing the river some of the
neighbouring magistrates made arrangements for ferry-
ing passengers over in a.large boat, which was worked by
means of a rope and pullies—an arrangement which
answered very well until Saturday morning last, when, at
the second trip, the rope broke, and one end being still
fast, it drew the boat under water, and seven men who
were in it were left to the mercy of the flood, which was
much swollen by heavy rains on the previous night. Out
of the seven, two only (including the ferryman) were
rescued. Two of those who perished were father and
son, and the other three have left large families. Two
bodies only were found up to Monday. There is much
reason to fear that the rope had been partially cut by some
evil-disposed miscreant.. _ _ _

HURDLE RACE EXTRAORDINARY.-A match for £5O
a-side, between a bay mare named Miss Fanny, and
Thomas, the Salopian runner, over a distance of 2 miles
and 50 hurdles, 3 feet 8 inches high, came off on Mon-
day, at Exeter. A large quantity of rain rendered the
ground damp and more than ordinarily unfavourable to
the man, notwithstanding which he found many backers.
Round the field at equal distances of 70 feet eight hur-
dles were fixed, and to complete the distance and the
number of jumps required six circuits and two hurdles
more. At 20 minutes to 4 the start was made, and during
the first round the horse took the lead, waiting for his
opponent very leisurely. At the third jump the man
caught his foot, but did not fall. During the second
round the man was evidently permitted to get a-head.
During the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds the horse
led, usually walking, except when put to the leaps. At
the first leap of the sixth round the horse knocked down
a hurdle, and had to return and go over clear, but it was
pretty evident that the man's chance was very small in-
deed, and the mare came in a winner by nearly two
lengths, at a pace very little above a walk at any time.
The whole distance was accomplished in sixteen n.inutes
and a half. The man took the leaps in a style pro-
nounced beautiful. He is a young man, under 30 years
of age, and of spare habit. The mare iS very well, but
not thoroughbred.

BROUGH:IIILL FAIR, WESTMORELAND.—This, the
largest and most important of all the cattle, sheep, and
horse fairs in the north of England, was held on Monday
and Tuesday. The supply of cattle of every description
was large, especially black cattle from the Highlands.
Selling was dull at reduced prices. The show of sheep
was about an average one, 40,000. There was a large
show of horses, but generally they were of an inferior de-
scription ; strong draught horses were the best samples,
and the most business was done among them. There was
a good display of Highland ponies, and a considerable
business was done among them at good prices. The sale
for sheep was very bad, Upon the whole the fair was a
slow one, and prices on the decline. The following are
the quotations, as near as could be ascertained at such an
extensive fair.—Cattle : Milk cows and cows about to
calve, from £7 and £9 to £ll and £l2 ; heifers and young
bullocks, especially the latter, were very bad to sell, at
prices from £3 and £3 10s., to £4 ss. and £7; black cat-
tle, according to description and condition, from £3 ss.
to £3 155., £4 to £6 and XL—Horses : Hunters, from 30,
35, and 45 to 50 guineas; horses fit for the road and har-
ness. from £lO and £l2 to £25 and £35 for the best ;
draught horses, first-class, from 18, 21, and 25 to 40
guineas : second-class, from 8, 10, and 15 to 18 guineas ;
Highland ponies, from 3,5, 6, and 8 to ten guineas, ac-
cording to quality.—Sheep : Scotch wethers, from 19e.
6d. to 245. a-head ; gray-faced hogs, from Bs. 6d. to 9/6 ;
black-faced ewes, from 9s. 6d. to Hs. ; Cheviot ewes,
from 14s. 6d. to 18s. per head.
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGS.-011 Thursday a
case of this description of a novel character was tried be-
fore the sheriff, at the Paisley Small Debt Court, which
created much amusement. The action was brought on
at the instance of Mr. John Edgar, grocer, against Miss
Francis Ruiger. The following is the claim of the pur-
suer :—" Sept. 12, 1850. To sum due to me for the in-
jury done to my feelings, and also for the loss, injury,
oonse.
and damage which I have otherwise sustained,
promised to marry me, and without just cause
quence of your having, on or about the 23d f
or about the
fulfil that promise; and haring again, onrefused ne l 85t0o,
on the evening of the Ist or morning o
26th of June, 1850, consented or promised
without just
of
August,
1850, 1850, or about that time,
and
afterwards,
the last-mentioned
cause or provocation, refused to fulfilBd.
er denied the charge. After the
ap-
peared, and the defend
the case was dismissed as
the 2tdo
examination of two witnesses,
' of the witnesses was car-
riednot proven. The examinationter
From their evidence
promise." Restricted to £8 6s. Miss Ruiger
on amidst shouts of laugh •
it appeared that
rnent to her wou e
ld b suitor ; but, on the con-
encourage
comp
of the annoyance caused her
the young lady had never given any
trary, had often he evidence of a dressmaker whom
prove that the wedding gown was
ordered, it appeared that the defendant had only ordered
byh cbiitsedvi,sietxs.Pectifuograto
that the pursuer bad sustained no pecuniary loss two mourning mourning gowns to be made. It was also proved
ever, so that hie claim was for the " injury to his feelings."