The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-12-19 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

GENERAL MISCELLANY

When the new works are fiaished. Wakefield prison
will be one of the largest in the world. _ _ _

New potatoes were selling in Covent-garden Market,
on Saturday week, at from 3d. to 6d. per lb.

THE TEA TRADE, Dec. 11.—The deliveries last week
were larger, being 495,7551 bi. The market continues in
a very inanimate state, and barely at previous rates.

Lord Brougham has, by the advice of his legal friends,
abandoned the' prosecution for libel instituted against the
Exilminer.

Sir Charles Napier, the gallant hero of Scinde, is on
the point of returning to this country, on leave of absence,
arising from indisposition. _ _

It is now generally understood that Lieutenant Munro
will leave the Royal Horse Guards (Blue), and remain
abroad. It is stated confidently by the Morning Post
that be will join the Prussian service. •
CHILD POISONED BY ITS MOTH Elt.-A woman,
named Ann M'Cormick, residing in Manchester, has been
committed to the present assizes on a charge of " wilful
murder," for poisoning her child, only six weeks old.
As a boy at a farm house near Ayton, in Cleveland,
was amusing himself a few days ago, with inciter matches,
he set fire to a cow-house and haystack, both of which
were destroyed.

The agricultural world has lost one of its most influen-
ial members in the person of Mr. George Webb Hall,
who died at Sneed-hall, his residence, in Gloucestershire,
on the 3d instant.

The venerable Lord Lynedoch, one of the brave com-
panions of the Duke of Wellington in Spain. and who is
upwards of ninety years of age, is pronounced by his
medical attendants to be in a very precarious state.

Mr. J. Murray, the celebrated lecturer on chemistry,
states, than the incrustation of steam boilers may certainly
be prevented, either by acidulating the water with sul-
phuric acid, or putting in saw-dust of any kind of wood.

The amount subscribed for the National Society, for
promoting the education of the poor in the principles of
the Established Church throughout England and Wales,
has now reached the sum of £132,825. Os. lld.

On Monday evening last, a barn, containing unthrashed
wheat, was fired on the premises of John Hindley, being
part of Hurst Hale farm, near Chat Moss, and on the
line of the Liverpool railway. A man named Hayes is in
custody on suspicion.

QUICK WORK,—On Saturday week a young couple
were joined together in matrimony at the parish church
at Cirencester. On Sunday, the day following, a child
was born, on Monday the child died, and on Tuesday it
was buried.

MR. MACREADY.—This gentleman concluded a very
successful engagement at the National Theatre on Wed-
nesday evening, the 29th ult. The prices of admission
were doubled, and the house was generally well filled.—
New York paper.

At a privy council held at Windsor Castle, on Wed-
nesday last, it was ordered that the parliament should be
further prorogued from Tuesday, the 19th of December
instant, to Thursday, the Ist day of February, 1844, then
to meet for the despatch of business.
A destructive fire took place on Wednesday evening
last, on the premises of Messrs. Harris and Co., soap-
boilers, Bristol, which were almost wholly destroyed.
The fire was fortunately prevented from spreading to the
adjoining buildings.
THE ARMY.—It is reported that some difference has
taken place in the military branch of the Ordnance, and
that it is to be removed to the Commander-in-chief s office.
This has been long recommended, and will operate as a ge
neral good to the service and public.—Morning Post.
Elizabeth Hammond, a married woman, was indicted
at the Chelmsford assizes on Monday, for the wilful mur-
der of her infant child, three weeks old, by nearly saver-
ing its head from the body with a razor. The jury found
the poor woman insane.

ROBBERY.—A wrought iron box containing about £l2O,
was stolen last week from the dressing-room in the man-
sion of Earl Beauchamp, near Malvern, Worcestershire,
under circumstances that lead to suspicion against some
of the domestics.
EARL GREY.--From accounts received from Howick
Hall, Northumberland, we learn that the venerable earl
continued in the same state on Saturday as on the previ-
ous day, and that there existed no apprehension of a
change for the worse, although a relapse might take place
within a few hours.

The British whaling ship Sarah and Elizabeth was cap-
tured and destroyed by pirates in May last, in Coffin's
Bay. and three of the crew are supposed to have been
massacred. The cargo, consisting of 850 barrels of sperm
oil, was worth £8,500. The total loss with the ship is
calculated at about £12,000, and the owner is not insured.
ANOTHER PROSECUTION FOR BLASPHEMY.—We un-
derstand that Miss Roalf, a young lady wbo some weeks
ago opened a shop in Nicolson-street for the sale of irre-
ligious publications, was apprehended on Monday last,
and lodged in jail preparatory to her trial for blasphemy.—
Edinburgh Courant.
SMITHFIELD CLUB.—The annual cattle show of stock,
oxen, sheep, and pigs, is this year better than on any for-
mer occasion. A horse was exhibited at the above show
which had more the appearance of an elephant. It stood
19 hands high ! Some very handsome pigs were shown
by Prince Albert, in his capacity of " British farmer."

THE RESULT OF A PRIZE FIGHT.-It will be recol-
lected that a fight took place in Banwell-marsh, when
John Foster, one of the parties, was killed, and Sylves-
ter Williams, the survivor, was committed to the county
gaol. Williams, who was ill at the time of his committal,
died in prison on Tuesday last.—Bath Journal.

THE ATTEMPT TO POISON A FAMILY.—Joseph
•Taylor, the young man mentioned in our last as being re-
manded on a charge of attempting to poison his sisters, at
Prestwich, was again brought up at the Salford Town-
ball, on Tuesday morning, and was fully committed to
take his trial at the present Liverpool assizes.
LIGHTING KNUTSFORD WITH GAS.—The poll, which
was demanded at a late meeting of the inhabitants of
Knutsford, took place in the Court-room, on Thursday
week, and terminated in favour of the measure; the num-
bers being, for lighting the town with gas, 138 ; against
it, 59; majority in favour of the proposition, 79.
AFFGHAN SHEEP.—Four of the native breed of sheep
from Affghanistan have been lately brought to this coun-
try. They were presented to Sir 031 in Mackenzie, of
Kilcoy, Bart. The Instaliff sheep are singu ar looking
animals, with pendulous ears, mop-shaped tails, and silky
wool.—lnvernees Courier.
FRAUDULENT TRANSFER OF STOCK.—OR Siturday
Mr. Barber, of the firm of Barber and Bircham, solicitors,
of London, and Joshua Fletcher, underwent another long
examination before the Lord Mayoi, on the charge of
obtaining a transfer of £3,500 in the Government Fu•lds
by means of a forged will, as mentioned in our last. The
prisoners were again remanded.

We have been given to understand that many persons
labour under the misapprehension that light sovereigns
will not be payable or receivable at the bank after the Ist
of January next. This is a mistake ; of course they will
—subject to the proper deductions arising from wear and
tear—be as current as far as their weight is concerned as
ever.

THE POOR•LAW COMMISSIONERS AND THE OXFORD
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—At a special meeting of the
Oxford Board on Thursday last it was resolved, by a ma-
jority of 17 to 4, " to resist the interference of the Poor.
Law Commissioners by every legal means, so as to bring
the subject before the Queen's Bench, and obtain their
decision upon it."
A most desperate encounter took place on Thursday
week, between two gamekeepers of Sir G. Musgrave,
Bart., of Eden Hall, Cumberland, and two poachers.
The gamekeepers were severely injured, but they ulti-
mately got assistance, and the poachers were secured, and
they have been committed for trial. One of the keepers
may not recover.
The Board of Customs have decided by a recent order,
that " Price Currents," printed abroad in the English
language, should be charged with the duty of fourpence.
halfpenny per lb. as " paper not otherwise enumerated,"
and if the parcel does not exceed one pound in weight, to
be delivered free of duty. A similar rate of duty has been
ordered to be charged on " Bills of Lading," printed
abroad in the English language.
BRISTOL SUGAR MARXICT, Dec. 15.—We have expe-
rienced an improved demand for all descriptions of raw
sugar this week, and the sales, which amount to about
550 hogsheads West India, have been at rather better
prices than were previously obtainable; and the market
closed with much firmness. In East India and Mauritius
the transactions are unimportant. Average price of
Sugar, Dec. 12, is 325. 6fd per cwt.
LORD WILLIAM PAGET AND THE EARL OF CARDI-
GAN.—The above cause, which was specially fixed for
trial as yesterday, and for which the jury has been sum-
moned for upwards of a week back, is now postponed
until Friday next. The damages are laid at £15,000, and
the plaintiff's case will be conducted by Sir Thos. Wilde,
Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, and Mr. Wordsworth ; while the
Earl of Cardigan will be represented by the Solicitor-
General, Mr. Sergeant Channell, and Mr. Peacock.
ONE HUNDRED SHEEP DESTROYED BY FIRE.—.OI3
Sunday week a destructive fire broke out at a farm in
Foulness Island, Essex, occupied by Mr. C. Harvey, and
in an incredibly short time destroyed a sheep yard, (the
walls of which were composed of mustard and carraway
straw,) one hundred ewe sheep, all in lamb, and a large
bean stack, the produce of forty acres adjoining. The
value of the property is £5OO. A man named Rampling
has been committed for trial on suspicion of having caused
the fire.

We regret to state, that the measles and small-pox have
visited this neighbourhood, especially Barnwell, with ter-
rible effect. Upwards of 100 children have died of the
measles in one parish ; some families have been left quite
childless. Of the small-pox, in some houses in Barnwell
all the inmates are " down," as it is called, with it. One
poor woman has six children sill at this time with this
dreadful disease. The ravages: of these complaints, as
might be expected, are confined principally to the poorer
classes.—Cambridge Advertiser.
OPERATIONS OF THE LEAGUE IN THE COUNTRY.—
During the last week league meetings were held at Leeds,
Halifax, Holmfirth, &c., at which Mr. Cobden, Mr.
Bright, Col. Thompson, and Mr. Ashworth of Bolton,
figured as stars; but there was no new feature in the
speeches. The Leeds contributions amount to about
£2,500. The Messrs. Marshall, flax-spinners, gave £5OO,
and John Marshall, Esq., senior partner, subscribed £3OO
on his own personal account—pretty well for poor manu•
facturers, who are borne down to the earth by the oppres-
sive corn laws. The Halifax contribution approaches
£2,000. The Liverpool quota to the league fund is
upwards of £5,650.

THE DURHAM COLLIERS' DISPUTE.--In this case,
which we noticed in our last, the magistrates unanimously
decided that the three men now ircustody for a breach of
the bondin refusing to work, had acted illegally, and sen-
tenced them to six week's imprisonment. From 300 to
400 of the men were in court and appeared very much dis-
satisfied with the result.

A case of monstrous barbarity, at the Birmingham
Workhouse, has been the subject of official inquiry. It
appears to have been the custom of the master, aucz matron
to confine refractory parties for several days together in a
kind of blackhole, a dark and most filthy receptacle. In
this horrible place four youths, who had destroyed their
clothes, were confined in a state of nudity, and without
anything to lie upon but the bare boards, for eight or ten
days. The case has excited much indignation.
FATAL AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.—On Thursday
week a desperate affray took place between the game-
keepers of John Aspinall, Esq., of Little Mitton Hall,
not far from Blackburn, and a gang of about twenty
poachers, in which John Scholfield, the heed gamekeeper,
was wounded and afterwards so severely beaten that he
died on Tuesday last. A reward of £lOO has been offered
for the conviction of the offenders, who being so much
superior to their opponents in number escaped during the
affray.
CURIOUS ACCIDENT.—On WednesdAy last a man was
admitted into our Infirmary, labouring under rather severe
injuries, both his ears being cleanly cut off close to his
head; his jaw also was fractured, and his finger lacerated.
The patient asserted that the injuries were caused by a
cart wheel, he having fallen from the vehicle. [low the
two ears were taken off by one wheel is certainly inexpli-
cable, but the man persists in his statement. Rumour
ascribes the mutilation to various causes—amongst others,
that a jealous lady was at the bottom of the affair.—Bris-
tol Times.

A good deal of scandal has been occasioned at Stam-
ford by the presence of a young Frenchwoman, calling
herself Madame Miard, who has endeavoured to extort
money from the Rev. Herbert Marsh, rector of Barnack,
and eldest son of the Bishop of Peterborough, on the pre-
text of an immoral connexion between them in Paris and
in London, and of certain consequences of such connexion
falsely and slanderously alleged by her. The affair is
likely to come before a higher tribun I (Lincoln assizes),
the rev. gentleman having instituted legal proceedings for
a conspiracy.

LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.—An artist of very con-
siderable talent has lately been introduced into this coun-
try under the patronage of King Leopold. His name is
Bauquiet, and the novelty of his mode of taking portraits
lit is this :—H yys them at once on a stone prepared for
lithographi ing, and the impressions are at once
made from *ginal drawing upon paper. By this
means any n who has his iportrait taken by M.
Bauquet can have 500, or more, impressions taken of the
original, and merely for the expense of the paper and
printing multiply the picture, and oblige his friends and
acquaintance with a likeness.
NOVEL STEAM-SHIP.—A steam-ship, to be named the
Janus, has been laid down at Woolwich, and is being
pushed forward with unusual activity. Her length be-
tween the perpendiculars is 180 feet, and her extreme
breadth 29 feet 4 inches. She is to be constructed on a
novel plan. The stem and stern are to be exactly alike,
and a rudder is to be fitted to each, so that she will be
enabled to reverse her course without turning, and she is
also to have bowsprits at both stem and stern. It is ex-
pected that she will be ready for launching about Christ-
mas. She is on the suggestion of the Earl of Dundonald,
and is to be fitted with a rotatory engine.

ANOTHER ACCIDENT FROM FIRE-ARMS.-7-On Satur-
day last, M r. Crump, who occupies a farm tear Eversham,
callen Mount Platsant, fetched his gun, which was
loaded, down stairs for the purpose of shooting rooks,
on his farm. In the kitchen he encountered his eldest
child, a girl about five years of age; and while attending
to her infantine talk, lodged the gun against the wall, to
which another child, unable to walk, crawled and threw it
down ; the concussion caused it to explode, and the con-
tents were unhappily lodged in the shoulder of the little
girl, who died from the injury in about a quarter of an
hour after the accident.— Worcester Journal.

CHRISTMAS DINNERS.—An experienced salesman in
Leadenhall-market, estimates the number of goose clubs
in different parts of the metropolis, with members vary-
ing in number from 30 to 100, by which upwards of
10,000 persons are each provided with good Christmas
cheer, who would not have otherwise tasted this luxury.
These clubs are held at the houses of licensed victuallers,
and by the payment of Gd. per week, for some weeks
previous to Christmas, each member is entitled to the
choice of a goose and to a bottle of spirits. To meet
this extra demand in the poultry market, very extensive
importations take place from the Continent, and parti-
cularly from Hamburg and Ostend.
THE RISING GIENEENTION,-011 the election of Mr.
Butcher, jun., to the office of mayor for the borough of
Devizes, the boys belonging to the Bear Club School were
invited by the Rev. E. J. Phipp, the rector to celebrate
the election. Some of the boys were pledged teetotallers,
and refused to drink his worship's health in beer, saying
they could drink it equally well in water, The rector,
who is opposed to total abstinence, insisted on the boys
drinking the beer, and said he would have none of that
trumpery teetotalism there, and if they did not drink it,
he would have them turned out of the school. Some of
the boys were " true to their principles," and steadfastly
refused. - Wiltshire Independent.
MEETING OF THE COLLIERS.—On Wednesday last,
according to previous announcement, a public meeting of
the colliers in the St. Helens district was held on the
Moor Flat, St. Helens, at one o'clock. About three
hundred persons, principally colliers, attended, and the
proceedings were condwlted in the most orderly manner..
Mr. John West was unanimously called upon to take the
chair, and briefly introduced the business of the day.
Mr. Wm. Dickson, of Manchester, then addressed the
meeting at great length, and with much ability and tact.
At the conclusion of his speech, three cheers were given
for him, which he briefly acknowledged, and the meeting
then separated.

ASHTON-UNDER- LyNE.—The turn-out still continues,
and the numbers who have left the mills have been aug-
mented from 6800 to 14,000. All the weavers at Staly-
bridge have " struck" for an advance of wages. It is an
extraordinary fact that the parties whose hands have turned
not on this occasion are the identical cotton-lord Leaguers
with whom the turn-out of August, 1841, commenced,
the Messrs. Bayley, of Stalybridge, and Messrs. Reyner,
of Ashton. At a meeting of the operatives held on Mon-
day, on Thacker's groand, a deputation was appointed to
wait on the Messrs. Reyner, for the purpose of settling,
if possible, the differences between them and the weavers.
From a placard which has been posted, it would appear
that the weavers are already almost starved into submis-
sion.—Leeds paper.
THE LEVEN SMUGGLING CASE.—At a justice of
Peace Court held at Kirkaldy on the 29th ult.. Joan
Rogers or Gourlay, residing in Leven, wife of Robert
Gourlay, shipmaster, residing there, was charged under
the act 3d and 4th William IV., Cap. 63, with knowingly
keeping and concealing 12001bs. weight of tobacco, liable
to the payment of duties of customs, &c. The ctharge
was found proven, and the panne' found liable in the pay-
ment of £lOO, mitigated to £25, or six months imprison-
ment in Kirkaldy Jail. Ann M'Conneli or Adamson,
wife of Stuart Adamson, seaman, Leven, charged with
having Ribs. weight, and David Thomson, charged with
having 431135. in their possession under similar circum-
stances, were found liable in the same penalty.
CRUEL FREAK!—One of the most cruel and malicious
acts we ever remember has recently been committed in
Newport Pagnell. Last week n party of men were as-
sembled in the tap-room of the Three Cranes, and with
them was John Green, a poor deformed, diminutive object,
who it appears had hitherto excited their sport and hilarity
in various ways. A man, whose name we learn is Pield-
ing, a horse-breaker, in the heat of drunken mirth, after
saturating tho hair of Green's head with naphtha, placed
a candle to it, and completely burned the hair, with the
skin, from his head. It is doubtful if Green will ulti-
mately recover the injury thus received, and if he eo s,
it is more than probable that he will lose his sight. Yield-
ing, however, was so far cognizant of his actions that he
escaped, leaving his victim to the cruel mercy of his
drunken companions. We have not yet heard that Pield-
ing has been apprehended.—Bedford Mercury.
CUSTOMS ORDER —By an order in Council, dated 2d
October last, it is ordered, that upon the following articles
imported into the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, there
shall be levied upon the entry thereof for consumption the
following Customs duties :—Meal: Salted or cured, of
all sorts, not being the production or manufacture of the
United Kingdom, or of any British possession, 3s. the
cwt. Salted or cured, of all sorts, being the production
or manufacture of the United Kingdom, or bf any British
possession, Is. 3d. the cwt.—Oil: Train and blubber, the
produce of fish or creatures living in the sea, of foreign
-5' the tin (imneriAl
foreign fishing, £7 10s. the tun (imperial measure).—
Fish: Dried or salted, and fins and skins, the produce of
creatures living in the sea, of foreign fishing or taking,
for every £lOO of the value thereof, £l2.

'4MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On the 26th ult. at Ouchan
village, Isle of Man, a youth, between fifteen and sixteen
years of age, who was on a visit from England to his re-
latives, had been amusing himself in the fields, shooting
birds. On his return, his cousin, Miss Livingston, re-
monstrated with him, and attempted to prevent his en-
tering the sitting-room with his dirty shoes; some little
banter ensued between them, and the youth, pointing the
gun, said, in a playful humour, that he would shoot her
if she persisted. At that moment his elbow came in con-
tact with the door, and, by some accident, the gun was
discharged. The contents lodged in the head of the un-
fortunate young lady, and produced extravasation of
blcod on the brain, of which she died after lingering ten
days. The young man and the deceased were on the
most friendly terms.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.—By a parliamentary re-
turn of last session, a statement has been given of the
total amount of taxation reduced or repealed in Great
Britain since the Ist of January, 1814, which amount was
computed on the average prodnce of each tax, during the
five years next preceding its partial or total repeal. The
amount of the several sums is given in the return, and the
aggregate of the period. In Great Britain, the reduction,
or the repeal of taxes, amounted to £45,549,683 ; the
amount in Ireland was £2,416,981 ; and in Scotland.
£48.110,824—fr0m 1814 to the year 1842. The several
branches are then given in distinct statements, namely,
the Customs, Excise, Stamps, Taxes, and the Post-office.
The amount reduced in the Customs, in the period speci-
fied, was in the United Kingdom, £11,436,635; hi the
Excise, £747,200 ; in the Stamps, £1,150.06 ; in the
Taxes, £614,734 ; and in the Post-office the a:::;aal esti-
mate for the year 1840 was £1,240,000. Theio, is a re•
markable circumstance in the Post-office return ; the re-
duction in 1839 was only £160; and in 1840, when the
alteration was in part eiteeted, it was £1,240,000. The
return is dated in August last.