The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-15 00:00:00

Eitstrirt ROJO.

H. Brooke, Esq., of the Grange, is the sheriff for
Cheshire for the present year.
Sir Robert Peel has subscribed £lO towards repairing
the Independent Chapel at Bellshorn near Blackburn.
The assizes commence at Lancaster, on Saturday, whence
it had been
a ngs
the Judges proceed to Appleby, &c., and flnishkaitLifivhere:
Liver-
pool.
The Chester Courant mentions that on Sunday last two
butterflies were taken, one in a garden at Chester, and
the other at Plas-yn-Yale.
A os
ewi
sechoked
found
inPrestonouat .
deadt
attempting paper
pt ii mentionsnng
ctoadsily,eayu t
swallow
t Brook,
a, oron aFriday,
ewh h,
ewrwhich was found
i nha
Mr. Paul Dyson, of Manchester, well known in the
betting circles, vms found drowned in a brook near the
Reservoir, on Sunday week. There is no doubt that his
death was accidental, his watch and money having been
found on his person.
The operatives in Blackburn who recently turned out
on the proposed reduction of ten per cent. on their wages,
have gone to work again. on the understanding that when
better time; eoUle? OW uasteg will make up the reduq,
tic,

Peb. 15, 1848.

E. R. Harris, Esq., of Preston, has been appointed
deputy prothonotary for this county, in the place of the
late Mr. Forrest, who committed suicide.
The poor-rates in Walton-le-Dale are now after the
rate of eight shillings in the pound per year. Even that
high assessment is scarcely equal to the demand upon the
parish through want of employment by the factory opera-
tives.

FOWL STEALING.—At Ormskirk, on Monday, William
Rimmer, an old offender from North Meols, was charged
with having stolen a quantity of fowls from Mr. William
Rimmers, farmer, Formby. Prisoner was captured at
Liverpool on the 3rd instant, offering the fowls for sale
at St. John's Market, and was conveyed to Ormskirk.
The fowls being identified, he was committed to take his
trial at the next Kirkdale Sessions.

FEARFUL ACCIDENY.—An awful accident occurred at
Buckley, near Mold, on Tuesday. As two of the men
were at work at the colliery the roofing of the mine fell in,
and killed them both upon the spot. They were so
firmly embedded in the fall that gunpowder was necessary
to separate the mass before the bodies were removed. On
the same day, and in the same mine, one man was killed
by an explosion of fire-damp.
ME DARING HIGHWAY MOHBERY NEAR MANCITESa
TEll.—Two of the men, named Connolly and O'Brien. eon-
cented in the robbery of the Rev. N. Germon, head mas-
ter of the Manchester Grammar School, were apprehended
on Tuesday, in a little alley in Blakely-street. On Wed.
nesday, they were placed before the magistrates. Mr,
Germon; swore to their identity, and they were remanded
to complete the evidence. O'Brien is an Irishman. Co-
nolly was-born at Liverpool, but of Trish parents.

The coalinasters in the Ruabon district, finding no ad-
vantage in working at present prices, have resolved to give
notice of a general redaction of wages, to-take effect in the
course of this week, The Brymbo company have already
done so, ant/Vie men have met the reduction in a proper
spirit. The British Iran Company's men, at Ruabon,
have now been out of work since Christmas'. The rate of
wages being quite out of proportion to the profits of trade,
the company were compelled to give notice to,their work-
people of a proportionate reduction of wages:
MYSTERIOUS CJtSE.—On Friday afternoon last, an
agent for a house in BlOom-street, Manchester, which had
far some time been unoccupied, found in the yard an
earthenware jug, covered with a lid, and within it the
body of an infant. Information was given to thepolice,
who found another jar also containing the body of an in-
fant. Both bodies were in a state of decomposition, and
were filled up with water. The last occupants of the
house were two single ladies, one of whom died in it, and
'the other, it is stated is new in a lunatic asylum. They
used to take lodgers. An inquest was held, the result of
which was a verdict of "Found dead."

EMPLOYMENT IN MANCHESTER.—Prospects are rather
discouraging at present in the manufacturing districts,
owing to, the advance, though slight, in the price of r cot-
ton •;• the spinners will be unable, if the advance is main-
tained, to purchase adequately- to the full employment of
their mills, and thousands of hands will thus be thrown
out -of employment. The number of hands working full
time in Manchester is nearly 1000 more, by the last return,
than-the preceding one, and there is• a considerable in-
crease in the number of hands wholly out of work, whilst'
aboutsoo hantis have been added to those on short time.
Most of the mills around Manchester are working short'
time, and the operatives are suffering severely from low-
wages and the privations of the season.
NORTH' LANCASHIRE AGRICULTURAL. SOCIETY.—The
annual meeting of the subscribers to this society was held
on Saturday last, at the Bull Inn, W. Garnett, Esq., in
the chair; The accounts, it was stated, had been ex-
amined, and showed a balance in favour of the society of
about £lOO. The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year:--President, the Earl of Burlington ; vice-
presidents,.T. R. W. France, J. N. Farington, P, Daw-
son, and Le Gendre N. Starkie, Esqrs. ; committee, T.
Birchall, W. J. Garnett, J. Peel, A. R. Ford, J. Fair, J.
German, W. Lamb, A. Begbie, J. Binns, C. Birket, D.
BoagoeT:Marsden, and W. Rhodes, Esqrs. Deputations
from Kendal and Yorkshire attended, to propose the ex-
tension of the society's limits to those places, and their
proposals will be considered on the 12th March next.—
Preston paper.

A remitrliable example of what may be accomplished by
courage and' perseverance under the most discouraging
circumstances is presented in the history-of the "Com-
mercial Bank•of England," the seat of which is at Man-
chester, with a copy of the present directors' eighth
annual report•of which we have been favoured. This un-
fortunate bank was among the hotbed creations of the
banking mania which overtook many parts of the United
Kingdom, and none more so than Manchester, some
twelve or fifteen years since. At the eighth annual meet-
ing, held last week, the directors were enabled to present
a liquidation, all but complete, out of the elements of dis-
order with which they were embarrassed. The total lia-
bilities of the unfortunate bank are now reduced to
£1,684 16s. which there are assets to cover of
£2,007 19s. Bd., leaving the small balance rescued out of
the entire wreck of £323 3s. 3d.

DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—On Friday afternoon,
as a cheese-factor, (whose name we have not learned,) was
walking from Adlington to Macclesfield, he was stopped,
near the railway bridge at the former place, by two men
resembling hawkers, each of whom presented a pistol and
demanded his money. They snatched at and broke his
watchguard. A man came up and the robbers ran off.
The alarm being given, the landlord of a public-house near
at hand mounted his horse, and, joined by others, pursued
the chase, and came up with the fellows after a run of
about three miles. One of the pursuers, named Wyatt,
was fired at, and the ball went through his arm, but
without touching the bone. The brother of the same man
was also fire& at,,,and more dangerously wounded. in the
thigh. The two robbers were finally appreliended. A
surgeon succeeded in extracting the ball from, the body of
the man most severely hurt, but he is still in a precarious
condition. The robbers are, of course, committed for
trial.

MANAGEMZ-NT OF THE ATHENAEUM—AN-AWKWARD
DISCLOSURE.—The manner in which the loose religious
and moral principles of one Dawson, a lecturer; embroiled
the directors of the Athenaeum with the friends and sup-
porters of the institution, will probably not have faded
from the memory of our readers. If not, it will be re-
membered that in consequence of Mr. Dawson's opinions
becoming known to the Bishop of Oxford and others, they
declined to take part in the proceedings of the soiree at
which Dawson was to be present. The other evening,
there was an adjourned annual meeting of the members
of the Athenaeum, in the course of which the conduct of
Mr. Langley, as secretary, was very freely discussed—so
much so, that Mr. Langley became hard pushed for suit-
able weapons of defence. He was charged with incompe-
tence and neglect of duty ; and. by way, we suppose, of
shewing his competency as the depository, amongst other
things, of confidential matters, he let out the following
instance of foul play on the part of Mr. Edwards, the
chairman of the board of directors. The passage is thus-
reported in the Courier of Saturday Mr. Langley
then read a minute, with the view of proving that he was-
placed under the direction of Mr. Edwards, as chairman
of the board. He then read a letter to himself from Mr.,
Edwards, of date September the 18th, 1846. It commen-
ced with dear sir,' and proceeded thus Do not
say a word about the Bishop of Oxford's letter to any,
one.' (Loud laughter.) Send me word by the train which
leaves at a quarter past five this evening, whether you:
have answered him. if not, Watkin and I will cook the
affair—(roars of laughter)—and endeavour to place hint
in a wrong position, if we cannot prevail upon him to
alter his mind.' (Laughter.)" This was obviously an
awkward disclosure for Mr. Edwards, and not over plea-
sant, we should think, to " Watkin ;" for it very broadly
insinuates that " Watkin" is just the kind of man'to assist
in "cooking" a dilemma for a bishop. It is certainly,not
very creditable to the taste or candour—to use a mild
phrase—of either party ; but we trust, nevertheless, that
it will be put down to indiscretion and vulgarity, and that
the blab, Mr. Langley, will not have succeeded in injuring
the institution itself. Whilst upon the subject of public
literary institutions, which profess in some degree to edu-
cate their members, (but without any disparaging refer-
ence whatever to the Athenaeum,) let us suggest the pro-
priety of founding in this city a Collegiate Institution,
upon principles somewhat similar to the noble institution
in Liverpool, which, among the more respectable of the
middle classes, has almost superseded the Mechanics' In-
stitution. Some institution of the kind is much wanted,
and we should like to see one raised by the hands of
Churchmen.—Manchester Courier.
EXPLOSION OF A STEAM BOILER : Mims LIVES LOST.
—On Friday morning last, a steam boiler, on the premises
of Mr. Thomas Riley, spindle-maker,. Medlock-street,
London-road, Manchester, exploded with a loud report,
and was followed by the appearance in the air of bricks,
stones, iron bars, and other materials. Great consterna-
tion prevailed in the neighbourhood. A smithy at the
workmenback w a
and s
apprentices
destroyed,ere andknowiwnthtino b
ite M
busyr.
atthe
Rile y'
time. Strenuous exertions were made by the police and
others to extricate such of them as might be found to be
alive. Mr. Statham, of the firm of Tennants and Co.,
happened to pass at the time, and, narrowly escaping
himself, sent his workmen to assist. Several workmen
and lads were extricated from the ruins. An elderly man,
named Turner, who was at work over the engine-room,
was found, and but little injured. The boiler had buret
suddenly, and the whole building tumbled down. The
following were found dead ; Henry Hughes, an appren-
tice, about 18 years old; Charles M'Curdy, aged 16;
Joseph Atkinson, a lad 15 years old, residing in Britain;
street ; John Davies, about 18 ; Samuel Chadderton, age('
10 ; Samuel and John Wadsworth. The last two were
children of Mr. Wadsworth, butcher, of Medlock-street,
from the back door of whose house there is a passage,
leading to Mr. Riley's premises. The children, one of
whom was seven, the other two years and a half old, were
playing in the smithy when the explosion occurred. .11.
brother named Richard was with them, who escaped with
slight injury on the head ; and also the lad Chaddertol
mentioned above. The bodies of those who were fowl!:
dead were taken, some to their respective residences, and
others to a stable adjoining the Royal Oak, in Downing:
street. Those who were injured were conveyed to
infirmary. Ten other persons were seriously hurt. 1701
of the materials of the building, and many pieces of me,were thrown to a great distance, and did more or less
jury—premises being injured and parties uarrowly eseaP:
ing with their lives. Two dogs were buried alive in
horse-shoe forge adjoining, but were got out, and testiAr;
their gratitude from their release in a variety of ways ;-
their deliverers. The engine was found to be completeiti
shattered. Strange to say, notwithstanding the gene
destruction, a Dutch clock in a shed close by, continuo"
for some hours ticking as steadily as ever, seemingly 011';
affected by the shock. On examining the remains of t o
boiler, it was discovered (it is said) that it had been ill*
weak and inefF.aent condition, in parts reduced to. 1-160(
of an inch in, thickness, with patches badly secured- "„
the truth of this report, we, of course, know
Mr. Riley, the proprietor, was apprehended on Saturn,
L horning, but was liberated on bail, Another suffer v:4
I Benson, died, after the:fatalities stated. Three perse;.
1 (survivors) are atilt in a premien* state in the incomes'