The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-11-07 00:00:00

SERIOUS FIRE LAST NIGHT.

At about half-past eight o'clock last night, an alarm of
fire was given in Castle-street, and in a few minutes after
the neighbourhood around was illuminated with a fierce
blaze, the roof of the building having fallen in, and the
dome of the Town-hall, and other lofty buildings, reflect-
ing the lurid light. The locality in which it occurred is a.
narrow court, called Swift's-court, and is surrounded with
a mass of most valuable property, consisting of offices,
warehouses, shops, &e.
Mr. Hewitt with a portion of his fire brigade, with ra
powerful engine, ladders, &c., were promptly on the spot;
and by the most active exertions the fire was soon got
under, with the loss only of the roof and top room
of the premises, which we believe was occupied as a
printing office. This is the most fortunate saving ever
effected in our town,even by our indefatigable superintend-
ent; for, as the wind was blowing a gale at the time it is
impossible in such a spot to estimate the destructiou
which might have ensued.

The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor died on,
Thursday.
ANOTHER MARINE STORE DEALER HAULED
UP.—
Yesterday, a marine store dealer Thomas Postlethwaites,
whose place is in Brownlow-hill, and a man named
Pritchard, were brought before Mr. Rushton on a charge
of stealing, on Saturday, a quantity of lead. Pritcharit
was observed bargaining with the other for the sale of the
lead, and both were taken into custody. Pritchard w-a
sent to gaol for three months, and the store-keeper for
two months, and to forfeit his license.
THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.—On Sunday last, the say-
vice appointed for the church ( with scriptural propriety)
for the fifth of November, was used in many of the
churches of this town, and the attention of the various:
congregations was directed with much solemnity and effect
to the two merciful deliverances vouchsafed on that
day to our church and country. It was refreshing, in
these days of expediency and infidelity, to hear a Pro-
testant note " sounded out," with such truthfulness an&
zeal, from so many pulpits of our Christian church.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S FUND ACT.—A meeting of mas-
ters and seamen was held last night at the Portico, New-
ington, to adopt a petition to parliament, praying for. au
alteration in the present mode of managing and distribut-
ing this fund. Mr. Pemberton, of Duke-street, was cared ,
to the chair, and pointed out the injustice of the
tinction made in the act between those men who cletl. a
natural death and those whose death occurred, as in the.
words of the act, from being "killed, slain, or drowned P'
—the widows of those only obtaining the contributio.i.
CONVICTION OF A FRAUDULENT EMIGRATION AGENIT..
—At the Leeds Borough Sessions, a few days since, I!,
young man, named Walker, was convicted of having, by
false pretences, on two different occasions, received tk
sums of 2s. and £2 from John Verity, on pretence n
procuring him a free passage to Australia. The prisonez''s -
on Nov. 1&.-
counsel then handed to the court a number of letters.
which the assistant recorder (Robert Hall, Esq.,) saki
would assist the Governivent in tracing out a system to
16+ minutes
fraud, the extent and d.nger of which no one could bale
dreamt of. Walker vas sentenced to be imprisoned a
E
e
Of these hours 136+ were after midnight. The
ktloe, pliot‘tni;_t.
hLpliAa.
or:rdzso,l,abs,bteti
io,onusngir,oroNoonri.._tt
Sept.
Feee
pr so:p.mvacscret:hgoteehf
eooBpnHeehi
oioyi
uune
sragesr;
of
commons
sat no les, than 170 days. Its sittings amounted to
number of entries in the votes of the proceedings
a-sit-tint.
tots.
io;-ii2; the total number of divisions 255 ' • of wlaiciS
132 were on public matters, and 23 on prirafebills. OL
These, again, 42 divisions on public matters ani one Qua,.
p -sate bill were after midnight.

Ebr librzpoot &t4.1173a0.

TUESDAY MORNING, NO V. 7, 1848.

THE result of the municipal elections, just decided,
affords ample evidence of the opinions of the consti-
tuencies on the water and the dock rating questions.
Some-of our leading men, the elite of the Council-
chamber, men of the highest standing and ability,
have been compelled to yield, in many instances,
before untried and unknown opponents, whose sole
claim to support has been a pko!ge to a particular
course upon these questions. The balance of par-
ties in our municipal body is now entirely changed;
and we wait to see the practical effect of the
change.
The first step, it appears to us, must be the se-
curing of a Health Committee, containing a greater
amount of the popular leaven. There are strange
rumours abroad of unfair dealing- on the part of
that committee, or their servants, with respect to
the water supply. We hear of steam-engines
pumping night and day ; of millions of gallons of
water being thrown a way to waste, whilst the quan-
tity furnished to the inhabitants is in extreme defi-
ciency. Public rumour states broadly that there is
something of design in this ; that we are to be
starved into the adoption of the Pike scheme; arid
it points to the fact as significant that the fur-
nishing of that supply, and the entire control of the
works of the late Water Companies, are in the
hands of Mr. Hawksley, and officials appointed by
him, and interested in the pet scheme being pressed
forward at all hazards. We do net, of course, assert
that all this is fact. We believe it is not ; hut we
do say that it is the duty of the Council and the
Health Committee at once to satisfy the public
whether it is or is not fret. Let the works be
handed over for a time to the control of the borough
engineer ; let him test their capability of supply, not
an engineer interested in convincing, us that it is
deficient, and the public mind veil he satisfied.
To arrive at the truth in this matter ought to be
the first effort of the new blood infused into the
Council. They will he told, no doubt, that it is too
late now to pause ; that contracts for the carrying
out of the Pike scheme have been entered into and
the works commenced ; that a mandamus may even
he had to compel us to go on with them. They
must not beileee all this. Money, we admit, has
been spent, but nothing to render it imperative
on us to spend mote.. 'the first sacrifice may be
the best and wisest, if, as the result of a fair trial it
turn out, as we expect it will. that there is under
our feet an abundance of excellent water, which
can be had for a very trifling expenditure, probably
for less than Me. Hawksley's commission, or the
law charges for getting the Rivington Bill.

-rill , 5-..l,ti.Ltc.i.

It is said that Sir W. M. Stanley intends to winter on
the continent. He is now at Genoa.
On Tuesday night, about seven o'clock, a gentleman
was knocked down in the field behind the Collegiate In-
stitution, by two men who rifled his pockets and made off.
The barque Free Trader was abandoned on the 12th of
September, waterlogged. The crew were rescued by the
Washington Irving, bound for this port.
On Thursday, several parties were summoned before
the County Court, for their subscriptions to the Exchange
News Room, and ordered to pay the same.
On Friday morning Bernard M'Cloyne, aged 50, living
in Collingwood-street, was found dead in bed. He retired
to rest quite well and died of apoplexy.
111essrs. Atkins, of this town, are exhibiting in the Free
Trade-i.all, Manchester, their beautiful panorama of the
insurrection in Paris.

In all probability we shall have a visit shortly from a
detachment of the French National Guard, now in Lon-
don. They intend to visit Bristol, Liverpool, Birming-
ham, Sze.
The two most culpable parties eng,zed in the robbery
of two bales of lace at the railway station, have been sen-
tenced to seven years' transportation, and the third to
three months' imprisonment.
Richard Heywood. of the Mitre Inn, Dale-street, un-
dertook to walk, on Friday week, one mite in ten minutes,
on the Walton road, for one sororein, which he accom-
plished in nine minute and c half.
On Wednesday, a great nuilio,e of the owners of cellars
in different parts of the town were fined 20s. and costs,
for allowing them to be occupied contrary to the sanatory
act.

Mr. Edward J. Massey of this town has obtained a
patent for improvements in apparatus for measuring the
speed of vessels and streams, and for ascertaining the
depth of water.
The election of six honorary medial officers for the Li-
verpool Dispensaries took place on Tuesday last. when
the choice ft:ll upon the following gentlemen :—Messrs.
G. T. Alanson, John Hey, G. F. Easton, R. Hutchinson,
R. T. Lodge, and John Fenton.

Alderman James Lawrence, Alderman John Holmes,
JLIM33 Aikin, Esq., and Hugh Hornby, Esq., are now the
only members of the council who have retained their seats
since the passing of the Municipal Reform Bill to the pre7
sent tima. They are still four of the most popular mem-
bers of the body, and they well deserve that popularity.
The resolution of the Bank of England come to by the
directors, at their weekly board meeting on Thursday, to
reduce the rate of interest on bills of exchange, not having
more than 95 days to run, to 3 per cent., which is a re-
duction of -1 per cent., has not exerted any material in-
fluence here, nor is it apparently likely to do so.
WHALLEY v. M'CONNELL.—This case, in which it will
be remembered that the plaintiff, a car driver, had been
committed to prison by the j,idge of our county court, for
refusing to appear to severli summonses served upon him
in the wrong name, wa- brought hetore the Vice-Chan-
cellor on Thursday, and a rule nisi granted.
The Loat man Cain, belJoging to the Tranmere steamer
Mersey, saved the iif of e man on Monday, by jumping
into the water him and holding him whilst the tide
was rtmbing strongly, ui.til a rope was thrown to them.
This is the thirteeuth life that Cain has saved in a similar
way, and a subscription is very properly being raised for
,him.

On Tuesday a grand dinner was given to T. Birchall,
Esq., Mayer of Preston and owner of the beautiful yacht .
" ' which has been so successful in competing for
prizes at. the various regattas. Among the guests were
E. W. Lloyd, Commodore of the Royal Dee Yacht
Club, and John Crindrod, Erq., ex-Commander of the
Royal Mersey Yacht .Club.
The Cambrie steamer arrived at, Liverpool on Tuesday,
after a voyage of shirt. en days, liavi:-!g sailed from Boston
on the 18th and frersi ILtlifax on the 20th ult. She brings
sixty-seven passengers, but no specie. The Britannia
had arrived out in sixteen (lays, and the Niagara was
spoken b,•tween Halif:•x r.nd Boston. There is nothing
important by this arrival.
A MATAMOTII Snip.----3.lessrs. We tervelt and McKay,
of New York, have laid .the kc el of a ship, intended for
Robert Kermit's Liverpool line of rackets, which will
surpass in size, every other sailing vessel yet constructed
in the United States. This ship will measure, in length
200 feet ; breadth of beam, 4IA feet ; depth of hold, 28
feet. and will carry 1,600 tons.

BAINERIGGE oN CELEREFoRm.—We have been
very much interested by a perusal of this argumentative
and eal-rernely wall written pamphlet. We cannot agree
with all Mr. Bainbrigge's reasoning, but we think he has
gone far towards establishing not only; the utility but the
scriptural propriety of the use of chloroform. We intend
in our present, or in a succeeding paper, to give an extract
or two from the pamphlet.
QUEER MisTaKra—On Monday nLht a person named
John Roberts, residing near Pool-street North, who had
been indulging so freely in libations to "John Barleycorn"
as to be in a state of oblivion, actually undressed himself
near a pond adjoining Canning-street, Birkenhead, and,
imagining he was near his bed, plunged into the water.
The police being near, be was speedily rescued and con-
veyed to'Briclewell for safety.
The sloop Banff, of Sunderland, laden with slates, from
Bangor for Northumberland, was wrecked in the Solway
Frith, on Tuesday, through striking on a sand bank. She
beat on the baniz all bight, shifting nearly two miles, the
crew (four in number) clinging to the rigging, and in this
way passing a stormy night. At last they were observed
by the Royal Victoria steamer, from Liverpool to Carlisle,
from which a boat was lowered and dispatched to the
wreck, and thus the poor fellows were rescued.
NORTHERN HOSEITAL.—Mr. Stubbs, one of the sur-
geons to this valuable institution, has just published the
introductory lecture to chemical surgery, delivered at the
hospital last month. It appears to contain many excel-
lent practical suggestions to medical students. The toial
number of cases treated at the hospital last year, was
2379. Three hundred of these were cases of fracture ; a
large proportion of which were compound. There were
more than a thousand cases of severe injuries of the head.
UNFAIRNESS OF THE MERCURY.—WhiIst alluding to
.the correspondence between Dr. M'Neile and Mr. Ewbank,
the Mercury of Friday says—" It appears that Dr.
M`Neile is most anxious for a reconciliation with the Rev.
Mr. Ewbank, to be based upon a practical admission that
the latter was altogether in the wrong on the occasion of
the_ recent fracas at the Collegiate Institution." Let our
readers peruse the correspondence which appears in ano-
ther column, and they can then judge whether our con-
.temporary's cry for " fair play" is always sincere.
DISCOVERY OF A NEW SATELLITE OF SATURN.—III
the last fasciculus of the Ropal Astronomical Society, is a
communication by Mr. William Lassen, of Liverpool,
,giving the particulars of his discovery of an eighth satelite
of Saturn, winch he proposes to call Hyperion. It seems
that on the 18th of Septem,lser last, whilst surveying the
,planet in the 20-foot equatorial, and looking out for Ja-
petus, the most external satellite sof the seven, he saw two
stars in the line of the interior sa2tellites; and the next
night. he found that both had moved h way from the fixed
stars, and were still accompanying Satnk a. Various cir-
cumstance; led him to the conclusion that .the more dis-
tant was Japetus, and thst the nearer and fain, er must be
a new satellite of Saturn, Fue-3,a* ob •servati' satisfied
him that it still followed the o ,et, and
fixed star. therefore could not be a track of the R lap
Its magnitZde
small, perhaps not intrinsically
o fha
satellite Mimas, the one nearest theso great as that oz .._
satellites were thus named by Sir J planet.--The seven I
John Herschell, b
ning with the closest to Saturn :—Mimas, egin—
Tethys, Drone, Rhea, Titan, and Japetus.Enceladus,

THE POLISHING OF TELESCOPIC SPECULA.—Mr. Las-
sell, of Liverpool, in a letter which is given in the last fas-
ciculus of the Royal Astronomical Society, states that he
has at length brought his polishing machine to do all he
ever purposed or hoped it would do. He says he is now
able to re-polish a known good surface without hurling it,
and to turn a had one into a good one with certainty and
expedition. By certain rules, varying with the proportion
of the focal length to the aperture, he can produce a para-
bolic surface which shall have the same focus in every part
of its surface, to the hundredth of an inch. He adds that
the improvement in regularity of curve is not less than in
the truth of its general form.
MoNs. PANOFKA.—This celebrated violinist, who
caused such a sensation at Madame de Lozano's concert
at Manchester, on Monday week, is expected shortly in
this town. The talent of M. Panofka is adorned with
peculiar grace and elegance. In the full possession of
every resource in reference to execution, he does not de-
scend to artistic display, except to move and charm his
auditors. He at once attracts our sympathies, and we
follow his inspiration with delighted emotion ; for, to
beauty and purity of tone, he unites great delicacy, ex-
quisite taste, and, above all, deep feeling. Few perfor-
mances of late have given us so much gratification.

MR. HAWKSLEY'S PICKINGS FROM THE PIKE.—At
the Council meeting on Tuesday, the giant bill of the
water engineer was presented to the Council ; and as it
will, no doubt, be interesting to our readers to see the
various items, we subjoin them :
Charges. Expenses. Total.
Sanatory and Harrington....t'2s7 5 <t'42 6 0 £299 11 0
Bala and other projects 149 2 33 0 0 184 2 0
Rivington scheme '609 13 509 5 4 2118 18 4
Purchase of companies . 4OO 0 100 0 0 500 0 0
Existing {Yorks

.t'2754 0 £735 1 4 .e 3489 1 4

LANDING-PLACE AT THE SOUTH END.—We have to
congratulate our friends in Toxteth on the not very re-
mote prospect of a landing-stage being placed, for the
convenience of passengers crossing the river, at the south
end of the town. Mr. Hae,ord and other Councillors
have exerted themselves in a praiseworthy manner to
secure this much-desired convenience. The Corporation
Surveyor reports that the only site available is about 350
yards to the south of Toxteth slip ; he recommends the
construction of a flight of wooden steps, five feet in width,
outside the existing wall, and the removal to that place of
the barge lately used at George's pier-head. The first
expense of fitting up this temporary accommodation is
calculated at £650, and the annual cost at £250. _ _

MR. RICHARD lIARBORD.—At the Councii meeting of
Tuesday, the Mayor gave the following explanation re
specting the penalty which was inflicted on Mr. Harbord,
for having illegal weights and meacures in his possession.
The Mayor said,—the facts were these: The gentle-
man in question was a warehouse owner, and there
were weighta in his warehouse which did not belong to
him, and scales also which he kept for the convenience of
others. The gentleman, therefore, had no interest in
having any illegal scales or weights, but they were in his
warehouse, and because they were there, which was an
act of negligence, be (the Mayor) felt in duty bound to
fine the gentleman, stating publicly in the court at the
time, that there was not the slightest intention on Mr.
Harbord's part to do wrong, but that the case was one of
negligence, and that he was consequently fined for that
negligence and that only.
EASTERN DISPENSARY.—We deeply regret to learn
that the committee of this highly-valued institution are
in considerable debt, and unless some funds are immedi-
ately raised, it must be closed. The Dispensary has now
been in active operation above nine years, during which
time its usefulness has been fully proved by the great
and increasing numbers who daily apply, and get medical
aid and medicines close to their own homes. It is impos-
sible to over-rate this advantage in cases of sickness, as
prompt aid may perhaps be the means of arresting the
disease at its commencement, more especially in cases of
cholera. 'I he expenses, of every kind, are kept as mode-
rate as can be—renting a house at a low rate, and having
only one paid surgeon and an apothecary : nearly all the
rest of the subscriptions are expended in drugs. The
numbers that have received medical advice and relief,
since its establishment, amount to above 52,000, but se-
parate and distinct cases • and this has been done at the
small expense, including the debt, of £2,600 ; or at the
trifling cost of only one shilling each person—thus show-
ing what an immense deal of good has been done at a
trifling expense. Surely an effort ought to be made to
relieve the embarrassments of the committee.

BANKRUPTCY COURT.—On Thursday and Friday an
examination of David Hughes, who was formerly a lime-
burner, in Welchpool, Montgomeryshire, took place before
Mr. Commissioner Perry. The bankrupt, who appeared
before the court to make an application for his certificate,
was brought up in custody of the Monmouthshire gaoler.
Mr. Evans, solicitor, opposed the application, on behalf of
a creditor, on the ground that the bankrupt Commenced
business with a capital of £6OO, and in the course of twelve
months he incurred liabilities to the amount of £8,312,
his assets not being more than £l,BOO, leaving, conse-
quently, a large deficiency. He had also carried on busi-
ness iu a reckless manner, lending his name to accommo-
dation transactions to two persons named Golding and
Bradshaw, beyond his means to discharge the liabilities
he incurred. There was also a sum of £1,300 in his
balance-sheet unaccounted for; besides, he had fraudu-
lently asserted that his wife had in her possession £5OO
by which he obtained credit to a large amount. Mr.
Oliver Jones, attorney, who appeared for the bankrupt,
contended that Golding and Bradshaw, whom he had
considered men of capital, had caused the bankruptcy,
and the liabilities incurred were principally on their ac-
count. If thebankrupt's certificate were refused it would
be most injurious, as he was too poor to come before the
court again. He held a situation in which he could not
continue if the certificate were not granted. His honour
p)stponed the else until Saturday, when he gave judg-
ment, which was, that the bankrupt's certificate be sus-
pended for twelve months, the principal grounds being
that he had made fraudulent representations to creditors
with the view of obtaining credit, and that his liabilities
had been imprudently incurred.
THE MAYORS OF LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER.—
On Thursday evening, the Mayor of Manchester enter-
tained a number of gentlemen at dinner, including the
Bishop of the Diocese, the Dean and Canons of Man-
chester, T. B. Horsfall, Esq., Mayor of Liverpool, Edw.
Rushton, Esq., and W. Shuttleworth, Esq., our respected
Town-clerk. After the usual loyal toasts, and the health
of the Bishop, had been given and responded to, the
Mayor of Manchester referred to the close ties of con-
nexion existing between the great boroughs of Liverpool
and Manchester, which rendered the prosperity of the one
an object of the deepest interest and importance to the
other; and he expressed the satisfaction which it gave
him, in reciprocation of the opportunities which had been
afforded to him to enjoy the splendid hospitalities of the
Corporation of Liverpool, to entertain at his table the
chief magistrate of that borough. He concluded by pro-
posing the health of the Mayor of Liverpool.—Mr. T. B.
Horsfall, Mayor of Liverpool, in acknowledging the toast,
expressed the pleasure which he felt in receiving and in
accepting the mayor's invitation ; and he congratulated
the city of Manchester upon the individuals she possessed
as representatives of the civil and of the ecclesiastical
authority, within her boundaries. He had for some
years past known and esteemed the right reverend prelate,
and he could not refrain from stating the opinion ex-
pressed of his lordship by a great and good man; which
he was not sure was recorded in the life of Dr. Arnold.
Upon a friend inquiring of the late lamented Dr. Arnold
what he thought of Dr. then Mr. Lee,—the characteristic
reply was—" Ask me, indeed, what I think of Lee ! Go
and ask Lee what he thinks of me."—The Mayor of Li-
verpool subsequently referred to the agitation at present
rife in Liverpool, with respect to the rating of the dock
estate, observing that he considered that the attempt to
carry any such proposition, and thus to tax the goods and
merchandise of the merchants of Manchester and of this
district, was unjustifiable in itself, and one whieh, when-
ever it should be made, he hoped the opponents of such a
proposition in Liverpool would receive the cordial co-
operation and support of the Mayor and Corporation of
Manchester. lie explained that, by the present acts, the
dock estate is exempt from all local taxes; and that the
dock dues are from time to time to be reduced, whenever
the receipts are more than sufficient to cover the ex-
penditure. Mr. Horsfall concluded by proposing, "The
city and trade of Manchester."

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

0

COURT OF CHANCERY.-FRIDAY.
MENLOVE V. CARTER AND THE LIVERPOOL DOCK

COMPANY.

This was an appeal motion from the Vice-Chancellor of
England to dissolve an injunction restraining the master
of a ship from handing over the cargo to the consignees,
and also to annul the appointment of a receiver for the
purpose of selling the cargo. The short facts are, that
the ship in question, called the Charlotte, sailed to
Charleston, America, with a freight of coal and salt, and
was consigned to the plaintiffs, with instructions to ship
a cargo of cotton in return. This was accordingly done,
and the difference in value between the out cargo and the
home one was charged to the firm of Barton, Irlam, and
Higginson, at Liverpool, the consignees, by means of bills
drawn upon them to that amount. Before the arrival of
the ship at Liverpool, Barton and Co. became bankrupts,
and the question raised by the present suit was, whether
the plaintiffs had a lien upon the cotton to the extent of
their advances, as against the assignees of Barton and Co.
The Vice-Chancellor thought, from the letters, &c., they
had, and granted the injunction.
Mr. ROLT and Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER, to dissolve,
urged that the only title of the plaintiffs, if they had any,
was a purely legal one, and, therefore, they had no busi-
ness in a court of equity.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, however, without calling
upon them, said he thought the Vice-Chancellor was
right in granting an injunction. I was quite clear that
there was a question to be tried between the parties, and,
although a court of common law might be the proper
Place to determine it, still this court would protect the
property in the meantime. The motion must, therefore,
be refused with costs.
It was then settled between all parties that arrange-
ments should be made for trying the question at law.

TUE QUEEN IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY.—We have
to announce a great legal novelty, her Majesty, through the
medium of Prince Albert, and the prince on his own be-
half, having instituted proceedings in the Court of Chan-
cery. Her Majesty and the Prince are well known to be
not only patrons of the arts, but artists. Our readers
may remember to have read an account not long since of
various drawings and etchings which have been executed
by her Majesty and Prince Albert, and which excited a
deserved admiration in those who were so favoured as to
be allowed to inspect them. These drawings, or etchings,
or copies of them, it seems, have by some means been ab-
qtracted from the palace without authority. They were
to a publisher in Paternoster-row, who has adver-
"s of them for publication, with a " descriptive
TTuon an affidavit by the Prince an injunc-
- and granted.

hat.
tised cop,
catalogue."
tiori was applied tii. ~.