The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-12 00:00:00

MEMING OF Ttit DOCK COMMiIItE

The following members were present at the meeting of the
Dock Committee yesterday :—Messrs. Sands, (Chairman,)
Holt, Holmes, Smith, Bulley, Evans, Royden, Bold, Shand,
Moore, Martin, and Tobin.
On the recommendation of the sub-committee for the de-
partment of the Harbour Master, the tender of Mr. Hart-
well to supply twelve cast-iron buoy sinkers, of 16 cwt. each,
was accepted.
The same sub-committee also recommended that a capstan,
to lift four tons, be placed on the quay of the King's Dock
Basin, for the purpose of placing anchors. &c.—Confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN called the attention of the Harbour Mas-
ter's sub-committee to the flags placed at the entrances to the
several docks ; they were kept flying night and day at consi-
derable expense, in order to signalize vessels not to come in,
and he suggested that arms of wood might be advantageously
adopted.
Mr. SHAND doubted whether arms would be seen in all
states of the weather.

Mr. ROYDEN said the flags were of no use except for about
three hours before high water, and he suggested that at high
water they should he hauled down.

The CHAIRMAN had mentioned the subject, because it oc-
curred to him that the flags were more expensive, and not so
useful as they might be.
Mr. Hots, on the part of the Harbour Master's sub-com-
mittee, said the matter should be inquired into, and a report
made.
The CHAIRMAN said the sub-committee on Warehouses
had nothing to report; and Mr. Hot.T stated the mode in
which the offices therein had been for the present appropri-
ated, from which it appeared there was still one office to
spare.—The CHAIRMAN observed that there was not suffi-
cient employment for the persons who had been appointed to
the warehouses.

Mr. EVANS said the committee should then endeavour to
find them some employment.
The CHAIRMAN stated that he had had a great many ap-
plications for situations in these new sheds; and he men-
tioned this matter to say that there was not sufficient em-
ployment for the three persons who had beea appointed.

Mr. HOLT said the sub-committee would make the best
arrangements in their power.
The subject then dropped.
The CHAIRMAN then said he had mentioned to the com-
mittee, last week, that several protests, respectably signed,
had been received. He thought he might now venture to
say, that those who had signed those protests were in entire
ignorance upon the subject, and that the committee would
hear no more of them. Another protest had just been re-
ceived from an American house.

Mr. EVANS observed that the protests were all the same,
and not one of the parties appeared to have really inquired
into the matter.

The CHAIRMAN added, that a great deal had been said out
of doors, unnecessarily, about the unfairness of the Dock
Committee. A good deal had also been said upon an al-
leged want of courtesy upon the part of the committee, in not
communicating with the American Consul. 1-le (the chair-
man) should be sorry if the committee suffered in any respect
through any inadvertency or omission of his, because, in
this case, the fault would he his, if such were the fact; but
he had, in several notes which passed between them, told the
American Consul that the Dock Committee had decided
upon going to parliament, and verbally what they were going
for. lie had told the American Consul the Dock Committee
were going to parliament, that he (the chairman) was going
to London upon the subject, and that if he (the American
Consul) thought it necessary, he would state the object of
the bill to Mr. Everett, the American Minister, to whom lie
requested the American Consul would give him a note of
introduction.VlThe American Consul said he was not suffi-
ciently intimate with the Minister to do that, and there (as
we understood) the matter rested. He (the chairman) there-
fore thought that all had been done which it was necessary
to do ; perhaps it would have been better if he had written to
the Consul, instead of speaking to him verbally, but there
had been no intentional want of courtesy. He hoped the
Dock Bill, notwithstanding all this, would go on satisfac-
torily.

The conversation on this subject then dropped.
Au application from Mr. J. S. Jackson, o❑ the part of the
'oodside Ferry Committee, for the use of the George's
parade basin by two boats of twenty tons each, to be used in
conveying furniture, &c., was read.
The SECRETARY read a clause from one of the acts of
parliament, from which it appeared that the committee had
no power to allow the basin to be used as a carrying basin.
The CHAIRMAN stated, that some clauses had been se-
cured in the Peel Harbour Bill ; and although they were not
to the extent which might be wished, still they were satis-
factory. _ _

The SECRETARY read an abstract of the bill ; from which
it appeared, that if vessels du not use the pier they µ•ill not
pay anything. Some discussion ensued on the vague terms
of this clause ; and
Mr. EVANS suggested that the mode of using the pier
should be specified, but the committee did not arrive at any
definite resolution upon the subject.
The committee then proceeded to some financial business,
after which they ►eparated.

At the Central Criminal Court, London, J. W. White, the
captain, and Joseph Younghusband, the mate, of the brig
Native, pleaded guilty to the charge of sinking that vessel in
February last. Sentence was deferred.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, May s.—lmporters having
freely supplied the offices with samples from the late arrivals,
and the trade having shown a desire to purchase, a fair
amount of business has been done since our last report. The
sales consist of anout 900 hogsheads and tierces of West
India, and 300 mats Mauritius, at steady prices. No sales
are reported in Bengals, the cargo per Argyle not having as
yet been brought to market. Rums are more enquired for,
but the supply is very indifferent.—Average price of sugar
week ending May 2, is 345. 9/d. per cwt.
THE CABut DISASTER.—The committee appointed to
collect subscriptions for relieving the surviving sufferers of
those who were slaughtered in Affghanistan is now disolved
and the following is a statement of the fund subscribed :
Amount of subscriptions advertised and received, A:4,832105.
3d. Disposed of as follows :—Amount paid into the Hon.
Company's treasury and remitted to India, £4,124 6s. 4d. ;
amount paid Mr. Kershaw, as per instruction from Kurnaul
committee, £lOO ; cost of advertisements, 4145 ; clerks, £6O;
stationery, servants, messengers, postage, &c. £lO3 3s. lid.

ANTI-DUELLING ASSOCIATION.—An association has been
just formed for the suppression of duelling. It consists of
326 members. including 21 noblemen, 13 sons of noblemen,
Di members of Parliament, 15 baronets, 30 admirals and ge-
nerals, 44 captains. R.N., 23 colonels and lieutenani-colo-
nels. 17 majors, 26 captains in the army, 20 lieutenants,
R.N., and 24 barristers. They denounce duelling as sinful,
irrational, and contrary to the laws of God and man. They
also pledge themselves to discountenance, by influence and
example, a practice which so greatly dishonours God. Cap-
tain Hope, R.N., and Mr. W. Dunmore, have become hon.
secretaries to the association.—Standard.

DECLINE OF SociALtsm.—Robert Owen, and a number
of itinerant Social lecturers, have just returned to London
from a tour through the provinces, where they have been
endeavouring to disseminate their pestiferous doctrines.
Their mission has proved a signal failure, as they themselves
confess that they were unable to enlist a single recruit for
Harmony Hall. Failing in their provincial tour, they have
turned their attention to the metropolis, where they are
holding meetings under the pretence of discussing whether
home colonization or emigration is likely to ameliorate the
condition of the working classes, while they seize the oppor-
tunity of ridiculing religion, morality, and the social ties.
But here, as in the provinces, all the exertions of Owen and
his satellites are likely to prove labour in vain, as they can
with difficulty secure an auditory, and when they do so, the
greatest part content themselves with laughing at the rhap-
sody in which the orators indulge.
CHANNEL HARBOUR OF REFUGE.—We rejoice to see
that the subject of a refuge harbour in the Channel has been
again revived. This is a project of Mr. Pitt, which, but for
the demands of the war of 1793, would have been realised
almost half a century ago ; and it is a project, the importance
of which it is impossible to over-rate. A refuge harbour in
a prominent position in a frequented part of the Channel,
and in deep water, would obviate nine-tenths of the wrecks
that annually occasion so much sorrow and such great losses.
To such a harbour all vessels would, in threatening weather,
boldly direct their course, without looking to the doubtful
security of bad ports, that prove so often treacherous and
fatal. The value of such a harbour is, therefore, not to be
measured by the losses that have occurred in its immediate
neighbourhood ; it would be the means of safety to the
whole channel navigation. Dover is the site which we have
heard preferred by most naval men, and a refuge harbour at
Dover would at once render harmless the Goodwin Sands,
except in cases of gross mismanagement or indiscretion. We
prefer to dwell upon the pacific advantages of such a harbour,
but its uses in time of war would be so great that it were in-
justice to the subject to omit them. A dozen line-of-battle
ships, and a dozen first-class war steamers, with transports,
&c., riding in deep water at Dover, with the facilities of rapid
approach now about to be secured by railroads, would leave
the whole west coast of Europe, from the Baltic to the Tagus.
absolutely at the mercy of Great Britain. Had we possessed
these advantages at any time in the twenty years from 1793
to 1813,h0w promptly could we have terminated the war that so
long tormented Europe, and cost this country £2,000,000,000.
Such an easy outlet to the incalculable power of England
presents a prospect which it would be the extreme of rashness
even to sketch i❑ outline.—Standard.

DESPERATE ATTEMPTS AT MURDER.—On the morning
of the Ist of May, at Oxfold, within one mile of Kiltemaugh,
a deabolical fellow named Canavan attempted to murder the
servant girl of Martin •M'Dona;h, who, with his wife and
family, happened to be at the fair of Balla. The fellow en-
tered M'Donagh's house with a view of committing robbery,
but, finding the servant unexpectedly present, lie set about
murdering her in the most brutal manner. On her neck he
inflicted with a sharp knife no less than 18 wounds, and cut
off one of her fingers. He then jumped on her body re-
peatedly, having first struck her head three or four blows
with a heavy iron spado. Conceiving that be had deprived
his victim of life, Canavan walked up to M'Donagh's bed-
room, intending to plunder every thing he could lay his hands
on. The girl crawled out on the road, gave the alarm, and
through the exertions of that active magistrate, Mr. Deane,
and constable M'Guinness, succeeded after a short time in
having her ruffian assailant arrested. He is now in gaol.
On the night of Thursday last as a servant boy named Mulli-
gan, in the service of Mr. I'. Boyd, of Mount-Gordon, was
returning home from this town with some commands for his
master, he was met at or near the Pigeonhole, on the West-
port road, by a boy named AndrewDuett, who accosted him
saying, " Why did you laugh at me as I passed you on the
road ?" Mulligan denied having done so, when Duett re-
plied, " You lie, you did, and I will put you from hum-
bugging me," at the same time making a thrust at his breast
with a knife. Mulligan warded Off the deadly blow by throw-
ing up his arm across his body, when he received a desperate
and dangerous wound on the under part of his arm above the
elbow, cutting in two the artery. The poor boy was con-
veyed to the County infirmary, where he now lies without a
hope of recovery.—Castlebar Telegraph.
A plan of considerable magnitude has been set on foot,
and will soon be carried out, on the Birmingham Railway,
for the improvement of the men employed upon it. A library
is being formed, consisting of works of a moral, historical,
and religious nature, for the use of the porters, policemen,
&c., upon that extensive line. There are about twenty-two
stations, and forty volumes will be assigned to each station,
to be changed as soon as they have been read through. The
plan has been made, and is being carried into execution, by
the company's chaplain at Wolverton, the central station of
the line, where a great number of workmen are congregated,
and where considerable improvement hasalready been effected.
This is the more interesting as it will probably be followed
by other railway companies and public bodies employing
many labourers. The directors of the Grand Junction Rail-
way have already appointed a chaplain at their station at
Crewe, and may be induced, in this respect, to follow so good
an example. We hear, too, that a library has been established
in the workhouse of St. Matthew, Beth.nell Green, The re,
lieving officer, from a desire to afford instruction as well as
amusement to the inmates, has succeeded in inducing the
Board of Guardians to allow a small circulating library to be
placed in the institution, consisting of such book
present 500 vo-
lumes, consisting of books upon religious. subjects, history,
&c., the reading of which by the aged and
.infirm has afforded
to them great relief during their abode in.the workhouse.
We announced, some time since, that libraries had been es-
tablished at the several London police stations ,• the
home works
s
either to be read at the station-houses, or taken
restrictions ; also among the servants at the Athenaeum Club.
Time considerate attention to the amusement and instruction
of the humbler classes, which.has markiu
become lastdfaerfyymeaorrae,
has already borne its good &tuts, and w
manifest.