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

REPEAL MEETING AT THE CURRAGH

The aggregate repeal meeting which was advertised to take
place at the Curragh was held there yesterday (Sunday).
The weather proved very favourable, and from an early hour
large numbers of people were to be seen proceeding along
the line of road on cars, from Dublin to the place of meet-
ing. All the roads leading to the Currah were thronged with
equestrians and pedestrians long before the hour appointed.
Mr. O'Connell arrived on the ground shortly after two
o'clock. The hon. gentleman immediately proceeded to the
Stand-house, from the front of which he proposed addressing
the assemblage. There were on the ground about 120 of the
constabulary, with three sub-inspectors, There were about
two dozen tents erected for the sale of refreshments, and
the proprietors of the different games played at race course
and fairs were busily occupied in their avocations. At half-
past two o'clock the chair was taken by Gerald Aylmer, Esq.
of Painestown, and Dr. Henry Lynch acted as secretary.
The several resolutions passed at the meeting declared
" the act of union to have been carried by fraud, bribery,
and the unconstitutional employment of military force, wan-
tonly and wickedly called into requisition by the then go-
vernment, for the unjustifiable purpose of dispersing meet-
ings legally convened to petition parliament against passing
the base and iniquitous measure of the union, which their
forefathers foresaw would be ruinous to Ireland, and the
cruel and unjust operations of which had already injured the
best interests of their common country--that it was not their
object to seek a separation from Great Britain—and that
nine millions of people could not be dragged at the foot of
any other nation."

A vote of confidence was then passed by acclamation to
Mr. O'Connell, expressing their hope that he would never
cease his exertions until he restored to Ireland her domestic
legislature; after which the learned gentleman rose to ad-
dress the meeting, in a speech which occupied nearly an hour
and a half in its delivery.

Some subscriptions were then received, and those upon the
standhouse were provided inside with dinner. Mr. O'Con-
nell was, of course, the principal guest, and remained until
about six o'clock, when he passed to Naas, where he re-
mained for the night.—Dublin paper.

REPEAL OF THE UNION-MR. O'CONNELL

TO DANIEL O'CONNELL. ESQ., 3.7. P

SIR,-111 consequence of your declining to come and take
part in the discussion which I proposed to bring forward in
the House of Commons relative to the agitation you are now
carrying on, for the purpose, as you say, of effecting a repeal
of the legislative union between England and Ireland, I take
the liberty of writing to inform you, that, as you and your
followers so completely set at nought the Catholic Emanci-
pation Act, by virtue of which you are entitled to sit in the
British parliament, and so lightly esteem the privileges
granted to you by that act, that I now feel justified in making
a motion that the act be repealed; and as I am going to
question the wisdom of that measure, I shall be glad if you
will favour me with a line to say if you will come and do your
part in defending a measure which you were so instrumental
in causing to be carried. lam determined that the people of
England and Ireland shall no longer labour under the delusion
that the passing of that measure was, as they supposed, the
settlement of a great question, but they shall know that it
was exactly the reverse, that it was the unsettling of a great
question, which had been in progreess of settlement from the
first century of the Christian era till the revolution of MSS.
You are now justifying your agitation by saying that England
has done nothing for Ireland. If the three estates of the
realm, forfeiting all claim to freedom by refusing to contend
for that truth by contending for which they were alone en-
titled to the liberty they enjoyed—if you say that making
such tremendous sacrifices to you and Ireland's clamour is
doing nothing for Ireland, you must be a cormorant with a
vengeance; it is truth that is ultimately to make men and
nations free. Truth is in England not in Rome. You are
by your restless proceedings bringing on a religious war be.
tween England and Rome, and you appear to be perfectly
sensible how much money and funds are the sinews of war ;
but you have hitherto had the ingenuity to accumulate a great
deal of sinew without coming to any actual war. Your peace-
able agitation is a sort of hermaphrodite war—a half and
half state of things, which is half peace and half war ; but
if you will come and hear what I have to say, I think I can
show you why you ought to do one thing or the other; you
cannot hide from me that religion is the main-spring of all
that you are doing. My chief object in writing to you is to
say, that I must make personal allusions to you and the head
of your church ; and although you might say that I was per-
fectly at liberty to say what I :pleased about :you in your
absence I had rather not do so. But surely the regenera-
tor of bold and chivalrous Ireland will not shrink from
coming to defend his absent friend. Come, therefore, and
be present in that house where your former valour entitles
you to a seat. As it is my opinion, from the signs of the
times in which we live, that we are on the eve of a new era
in the history of England and Ireland, I shall take the
liberty of making this letter public, that the Protestants of
both countries may be prepared to stand by the assured
truth, that Protestant ascendancy, and no surrender, is the
law of CHRIST, and that England is the power which Goo
has called into existence to maintain a religioUs principle ;
and she will now do her duty. Then will the earth be full
of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea,
and a Papist will be a rara axis iu terris.—l have the honor
to be, sir, your obedient servant,
3, St. James's-square, May 10

S. L. FOX

DARING OUTRAGE.—On the night of Wednesday last,
about ten o'clock, as Mr. M'Creight, of Umera, in this
county, was sitting with his family in the room usually oc-
cupied by them, a villainous attempt was made on their lives,
the ball of an assassin being deliberately discharged through
the window, immediately opposite the fire round which they
sat. The shutter, which was providentially of stouter and
better material than those in ordinary use, prevented the
entry of the ball, though it forced the panel from the frame.
We are, however, happy to state that the act is not attributed
to any combined system of outrage amongst the peasantry,
to whom Mr. M'Creight has given a good deal of employment;
and in no instance has any occurrence taken place to warrant
a suspicion of any malice being entertained against him in
that locality.—Cork Constitution.

Tun DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.—After nearly two years of
severe, nay almost of unexampled suffering, we now begin
to enjoy a breathing time of comparative alleviation. The
list has been reducing for the last three months, and on
Saturday the 29th the whole number on the roll was 835
men, women, and children. About a fortnight since the
committee took into consideration the propriety of closing
their labours, and after examining into the state of those on
the roll, and of the still very destitute circumstances in which
numbers were placed, they unanimously agreed to continue
the relief for another fortnight, and accordingly a final end
to the laborious exertions of the committee took place on
Saturday last. Although thus relieved from the very apps-
' rent, the every-day appearance. of alistress, still severe and
in many cases unmitigated suffering must be the lot of vast
' numbers of our townsmen. Thousands have parted with
• everything necessary for their comfort, that so they might
preserve their life; and it will take many years of prosperity
ere they be in the state in which they once were, and many
never will. Bankruptcies took place in Paisley to the amount
, of seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds; therefore, even
) in a healthy state of trade, it would take years to recover the
shock. It may be necessary here to place on record, for the
use of those at a distance, the highest numbers which were
on the relief list. On the 11th of February the numbers in
Paisley were 14,791, and in the surrounding villages 2744,
making a total of 17,535. Over and above this there might
, be about 2000 who were not on the roll, but who neverthe-
s less were supported from the charitable donations at the
disposal of the various churches in town.—Glasgow Post.
NARROW EscAi'e.—On Saturday week, two girls, one of
them four, and the other five years of age, the children of
George Callender, servant to Captain ThorCurn, at Kelton,
were wading in the edge of the river Nith. From having
been swollen heavily with late rains, the current had washed
the sandy bank into a deep hollow, where there was none
before ; and the younger of the children having ventured a
little beyond the edge of the water, was in a moment over
head, in the place referred to. Her elder sister seeing her
danger hastened to help her, and was herself also in a moment
beyond her depth. A brother a year or two older was playing
not far off, and hearing his little sisters crying for help, he
ran in to get hold of them. Ile also, instead of being able to
render assistance, was himself engulfed. lle screamed for
help; and the mother of the three children fortunately heard
their cries, and hurrying to the river saw her:two girls borne
away into the current, while, nearer the shore, her boy was
struggling for his life. She plunged in, and was immediately
beyond her depth. The boy laid hold of her, crying out
(for strange fancies come into children's heads)—" Oh !
mother, let us a' die thegither." Finding herself thus
rendered powerless to lend any help to her daughters, the
poor mother somehow managed to get her face turned to the
shore, and got out with her little boy. By this time a general
alarm was given ; and a earpenter of the name of Neilson
swam in and brought out the nearest girl. The other was
floating awbaeyinngtihneg middle
a iddleveosfsetlhelysintrg on the
A bsbooatr'es,were
crew,
however, belonging
putting out for her, and soon picked her up. The two little
girls were laid on the sunny shore quite insensible. By dint
of rubbing, however, they began to show symptoms of re-
turning animation. and were carried home recovering. Warm
applications brought them gradually round to their natural
heat.—Wavoto paper.

THE LOSS OP THE SOLWAY,

The directors of the West Indian Steam-packet Company
have published the following statement as the result of their
inquiry into the circumstances of. the loss of the Solway :
After a thorough refit of the ship and her machinery, the
Solway left Falmouth on the 3d of April, and encountered
some stormy weather in crossing the Bay of Biscay. She
arrived at Corunna at noon on the 7th of April, received 80
tons of coal, and departed again on her voyage the same
evening, passing the light-house about 10 p.m. At this time
it was blowing a fresh breeze at W.S.W., with a ground
swell, the result of the late gale, and a haziness over the land,
which, however, was visible. It appears the captain never
quitted the deck but once, at about 11 o'clock, when the
purser, Mr. Lane, saw him with parallel rulers laying down
a course upon the chart, which he finished by saying,
" There, west, that will do, Lane ; that course carries us
clearofe vaenre heard)
y thi n g him order the steersman to keep the. The captain then went on deck,
and Mr. Lane
ship west. Mr. Lane states that he had previously made two
voyages under Captain Duncan's command, that he was a
sober, careful, vigilant officer, and from the beginning to the
end there appeared no cause to suspect him of any want of
ability or seamanship, but that, on the contrary, in a hurri-
cane in the Gulf of Mexico, in a storm of the Western. Is-
lands, and on many other occasions, be saw him evince great
coolness, skill, and resolution while commanding the Solway.
Mr. Lane further states that he went on shore at Corunna
with Captain Duncan, came off to the ship with him, dined
with him, and remained walking the deck with him till 11
o'clock ; that Captain Duncan was perfectly sober ; that he
never resigned the charge of the ship till she struck, which
was immediately after midnight, and that he alone directed
the.course to be steered. In about five minutes, or less,
after the ship struck, Mr.. Lane was on the forecastle looking
round, but could distinguish no breakers.
The chief officer was on deck also until 11 o'clock, and
took the bearings of the lighthouse at half-past 10. He
asked the captain how he intended to steer, who said W.N.W.,
which the ship was steering, when the chief officer went to
bed, having to keep the e morning watch. Before he went
below, however, he visited the look-out men, and saw them
alert at their post. It had been the practice in former voyages
to station and exercise the men at getting the paddle-box boats
out and in ; but there had riot been time to accomplish this
since the ship last quitted Southampton, as there had been
a continued gale of wind, and the crew had been only a few
days on board when the ship was lost. Before the chief
officer went below, the captain said he should keep pretty
close to the land, to avoid the swell outside, produced by the
late gales ; "but," he added, " I shall remain on deck my-
self in charge of the ship.
The second officer had been three voyages in the Solway.
He was on deck from the time the ship passed the lighthouse
till she struck, but the captain alone directed the course.
The second officer visited the two look-out men forward not
seven ininntes before the ship struck, and looked a-head him-
self, but could not see the land distinctly then, nor even
after the ship had struck. The captain gave orders to back
the engine, which was done, and the ship came off the
rocks ; but, finding her sinking, the engines were set on
again to run her on the shore, which was prevented by the
collapse of the boiler.
The third officer was below in bed when the accident oc-
curred. He immediately assisted in getting over one of the
paddle-box boats, but while so employed the boiler collapsed,
from sudden condensation, occasioned by the water rushing
into the engine-room, and the steam came up so strong
amidships as to drive all the people away. They afterwards
returned and got that boat into the water. There was not
time, however, to get the other paddle-box boat over before
the vessel foundered, owing to the time lost and the alarm
created by the collapse of the boiler.
Three of the quartet-boats, as well as one of the paddle-box
boats, were safely lowered, and these four boats saved 98
persons. Of the 35 persons lost, several, including the cap-
tain, might have easily saved their lives, but could not be
persuaded to go into the boats.
It appears further that all unite in praising the noble and
devoted conduct of Captain Duncan after the striking of the
ship, and it is manifest that lie sacrificed his own life in the
endeavour to preserve the lives of others.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE

(From Eke Mark Lane Express.)

The weather was exceedingly tine up to this (Saturday)
morning, and the rain—which has fallen in almost every part
of the country—together with the high state of temperature
which has prevailed during the greater part of the week, have
stimulated vegetation to a surprising degree ; and the reports
from all quarters agree in describing the appearance of the
grain crops as luxuriant and vigorous.
The pastures have also been greatly benefitted by the late
warm rain, and already bear a heavy crop of grass; the pro-
spects for the future are, therefore, highly cheering, and hold
forth a promise of uncommon abundance.
The only cause of apprehension seems at present to be, that
the wheat plant may run too much to straw ; and its very
rapid growth renders it more than usually susceptible of in-
jury, should the summer prove wet or boisterous. This,
however, is anticipating evils which may happily never come
to pass—a proceeding we are always averse to. Up to the
present time, the seasons have been all that could be de-
sired, and there certainly exists no reason for complaint.
The conviction that stocks of wheat in the hands of the
farmers are short, appears daily to become more general ;
and, notwithstanding the effect produced by the continuance
of auspicious weather, a check has been given to the down-
ward movement of prices.
At many of the markets in the agricultural districts, barely
sufficient wheat has lately been brought forward to supply
the demand; and, though purchasers have acted with much
caution, sellers have succeeded in obtaining rather advanced
rates.

The quantity of free foreign wheat at the different maxi.
time ports is also drawing into a narrow compass; and, un•
less duty should be paid on such parcels as may arrive, good
qualities will soon become scarce.
At Liverpool the stock has been reduced 20,000 quarters
since the end of March, only 50,000 quarters remaining ir
warehouse on the 20th of April ; whilst at the commence.
ment of the month the quantity was estimated at 100,00(
quarters. _ _

At the leading pork in Yorkshire the stocks are likewise
unimportant, and the deliveries from the London warehouses
have recently averaged from 12,000 to 15,000 quarters per
week.

Under these circumstances, and with but little probability
of supplies of any magnitude reaching us from abroad, it is
fair to suppose that prices of the article have at length touched
the lowest point, particularly as there is a prospect of a gra-
dually augmented consumption, the population in the manu-
facturing districts being now more generally in employment
than has been the case tor some months.

The improved tone which the wheat trade assumed at
Mark Lane on Monday last, had some influence in the coun-
try ; and at nearly all the principal provincial markets held
since then, prices of the article have advanced about one
shilling per quarter.
From our Scotch advices it appears that some very rough
weather had been experienced in that country about the end
of last week, but since then a favourable change had taken
place. Wheat had, we are informed, come forward rather
slowly, which, with the somewhat more encouraging reports
from the south. had induced sellers slightly to raise their pre-
tensions, and prices had an upward tendency, both at Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, on Wednesday. The supplies of oats
had proved fully equal to the demand, and quotations of this
grain had further given way.
Our letters from Ireland state that, though a considerable
quantity of rain had fallen there, the growing grain crops
looked healthy and well. Wheat, from its extreme scarcity,
had however commanded very full rates; and even oats had
nearly supported former terms.
In duty-paid foreign wheat, the transactions have been on
a limited scale, and, with the exception of a slight inquiry for
shipment to Ireland, nothing has been done in the article be-
yond a few small purchases, made by our own millers to sup-
ply immediate wants ; holders have, nevertheless, remained
extremely firm, and have shown more disposition to raise
their pretensions than to submit to any abatement. Polish
Odessa has realized 425. per quarter, a price at which it has,
until very recently, in vain been held. The finer kinds of
Baltic have also brought fully as much money as could have
been obtained on Monday last.

Several cargoes of wheat have arrived from abroad since
our last ; 1215 quarters from Danzig, 2609 quarters from
quarters from Rostock, making to-
gether Hitherto, we have heard of no sales
Ko i g ssb3:e
irt)g ,qaunadr t
el;is7.s
from on board, and the lay days of some of the vessels which
arrived previously having expired, the wheat is being landed
iu bond. For lock wheat we have heard of no inquiry, the
prices asked are generally 16s. or lis. per quarter below the
value of the article free. _

On the sth ult. the stock of wheat in bond in the United
Kingdom consisted of 225,854 quarters, and there were on
the same day 98,917 cwts. of flour under lock. During the
s'duty was paid on 2,752 quarters of
wheat,l4,oBBcwts. of flour at the different maritime ports.
month
and ending Ap April

Tun TF, A TRADE, MAY B.—The deliveries of tea last week
were rather greater than during the preceding, being 497,476
lbs. Since the public sales, business has been dull, and the
accounts from China have not affected the market. The
stock of tea in London on the Ist inst. was 27,389,000 lbs.,
against 28,376,000 lbs. at the same date in 1842. Of the pre-
sent stock, congou forms the proportion of 19,442,000 lbs. ;
souchong, 1,008,000 lbs. ; twankay, 1,650,000 lbs. ; hyson,
1,197,000 lbs. ; and Assam, 17,000 lbs. Of Company's con-
gou, the stock is 6,833 chests. The deliveries this year have
been 11,738,000 lbs., against 11.511,000 lbs. to this date in
1812, and the imports 11,200,000 lbs., against 10,010,000 lbs.,
to May of last year.

TUE INDIGO CROP.—The crop of this season is very fa-
vourably reported upon by the papers brought by the over-
land mail, and the good accounts received of the appearance
of the plant have induced some parties to estimate the
probable quantity at 110,000 maunds, while others think it
will fall short of that considerably. The Committee of In-
quiry, composed of shareholders, appointed to look into the
transactions which occurred between the late firm of Gilmore
and Co. and the Union Bank, have at length finished their
task, and they have done so to the satisfaction of all parties
interested in the losses of the latter as well as the former
establishment. Tbn roport has been published. and it dis-
closes some extraordinary proceedings Ott the part of the bank,
by which they lost £50,000, instead of £500,000, as it might,
and was reported, to have been; while the investigation has,
on the other hand, exposed what one member of the com-
mittee calls fraud in effect, if not in intention, on the part of
Gilmore and Co., in procuring advance on goods which they
never held, and removing what goods were pledged to the
bank without authority. The secretary has, of course, had
all the blame of the losses thrown upo% his shoulders, and
this, we think, with too much severtfy ; for the directors,
under whom he acted, should have had their moiety of the
odium. The supreme government has suspended the opera-
tions of public lotteries, pending a reference to the court of
directors. It is stated that the lottery has been made pro-
fitable to the company under its late management. It has
been abandoned for its immoral tendency. The Indian press
has passed a general vote of censure on these nuisances.

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE. AT GREENWICH.—On Sunday a
a great sensation was occasioned at Greenwich, by the an-
nouncement that Geo. Smith, Esq. (one of the magistrates
for the county of Kent) had committed suicide by hanging
himself. It appears, that Mr. Smith attended divine service
on Sunday morning, anti returned home about one o'clock,
leaving Mrs. Smith to receive the Sacrament. On being let
in by one of the servants, he walked up stairs to his own
bed-room and shut the door. Mrs. Smith returned at two
o'clock, and expressed some alarm on hearing that her hus-
band had been in his bed-room so long. She and the ser-
vant hastened up stairs, when they found the door locked,
and could get no answer. A man named Chapel was
promptly employed to mount to the window by means of a
ladder, and found Mr. Smith hanging by the neck at the
bed-post, with his hands tied with a silk handkerchief. Cha-
pel cut the unfortunate eentleman down, but, though not
cold, he seemed quite dead. Mr. Kemble, surgeon, de-
posed :—" I have attended the deceased professionally.
There were circumstances that induced me to think that he
ought to be held under restraint, but he was of so tractable
and amiable a disposition that it would have been cruel to
have prevented him from walking alone. He had a delusion
on his mind that he had made an incorrect return for the
income tax. He was himself one of the commissioners.
The deceased has long been of infirm mind. A man atten-
ded him generally, by
way of precaution, and deceased was
aware of the object of it, and appeared grateful for attentions
and care. The deceased never confined. He had been
away, and returned on Friday. I saw him on Saturday, and
then he seemed in deep gloom as to the income-tax return.
I considered this an infirmity of mind, and clearly indicative
of insanity." Col. Fead tendered evidence, but the coro-
ner considered it unnecessar ,end the jury immediately re-
turned a verdict of " Temporyary insanity."

WHIUTTIAMPSTEAD.•-WrIOL'Eg ALM SIMP
During the past few days several ewes and lambs beltpging
to a respectable farmer in this neighbourhood, Mr. Dicken-
son, of the Cross farm, hap been stolen under most myste-
rious circumstances ; for 'though taken away night after
night, not the slightest trace of sheep or thieves could be
obtained. Mr. Dickenson on Sunday morning last, having
by that time lost no fewer than twelve ewes and eleven lambs,
proceeded to give information to Captain Robertson, the
the chief constable of police, who immediately himself took
the case in hand. The chief constable proceeded to Cross
farm, and the result of his exertions has been that all the
missing sheep have been recovered, and two men are in cus-
tody for the offence, one of whom we deeply regret to learn,
is a son of the party robbed. It appears that Frederick
Dickenson, the prisoner alluded to, sold the ewes and lambs
to a man named Charles Young, residing at Codicote-bottom,
and the latter drove them to Hertford market, and sold
them to a dealer named Desborough, from whom they were
taken by one of Captain Robertson's officers in Hitchin
market on Tuesday. We are given to understand that the
unfortunate youth, Frederick Dickenson, has confessed
everything relating to the transaction.—Bedford paper of
the 6th.
REM MILKAIILL Cif AlLACTER.—Alexander Innes, who has
resided in Queensferry for many years, died on the 4th inst.
at the very advanced age of 101. He was born in the parish
of Duffus, Morayshire : but unfortunately the date of his
birth has not been recorded in the parish register; yet, from
every circumstance being taken into consideration, it seems
he had reached the years which few are permitted to see.
He had a distinct recollection of the events that preceded
the battle of Culloden—was in the neighbourhood of an af-
fray with the Highlanders on their march thither—and often
spoke of a horse on which Prince Charles rode, as being an
object of particular care among his juvenile companions.
He had been present also in the stirring times of the Irish
rebellion, and had witnessed some of the attrocities of that
dreadful period. Often bad he proceeded with cattle from
the North of England, and was well acquainted with that
trade, and the persons engaged in it. With a change of
times, lie had been engaged in many pursuits ; he had been
a road contractor, a farm servant, and had his share in the
demoralising trade of illicit distillation. For the last twenty
years and upwards he followed the humble trade of a hawker
of fish. Old Sandy Innes and his ass were known to the
whole country side, and there were few doors he knocked at
without finding a purchaser, and few, who had the means,
who refused him the cheer his aged frame required. He had
walked to and from Hopetoun House the day before his
death. The Earl of Hopetoun, whose sudden death has oc-
casioned a great sensation, was a kind benefactor to the old
man, and at his departure for London had left orders that he
should not be forgotten. He was civil and grateful for any
kindness shown to him. He occupied a solitary dwelling,
his aged companion having died many years ago; but there
were those who consulted the old man's comfort while alive,
and many neighbours accompanied his remains to their
last resting place in the churchyard of Queensferry.—Edin-
burgh paper.