The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-18 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held yes-
terday, when the following members were present :—Messrs.
Horsfall. Holt, Holmes, Smith, Nicol, Aikin, Bulley, Boy-
den, Molyneux, Barclay, Shand, Moon, Evans, Middleton,
and Martin. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Hons-
NALL, the deputy chairman, presided.
The Surveyor's plans and report upon the lengthening of
the Clarence Graving Dock were laid upon the table ; and
the CHAIRMAN stated that the Surveyor was engaged in
making preparations for going on with the work. After a
short conversation, it was agreed that, after the land had
been cleared, the committee should personally inspect the
site, and then decide to what extent the lengthening should
be made. .

_Mr. ROYDEN called the attention of the Committee to a
large sand bank, which, for some time had been accumulating
right abreast of the Brunswick dock gates. It was now
three feet three inches above the sill of the dock gates. In
several instances ships had got upon it, but, had been
got off with the assistance of steam ; but, it would be very
difficult so to manage ships of larger burden, of which there
were many in the timber trade. It was of much conse-
quence to those in the timber trade, that this bank should
be removed as low as the dock sill.
From the explanation of the Surveyqr, it appeared that the
removal of this bank belonged to the conservator of the river
under the conservancy act. The subject was, therefore, re-
ferred to the Sub-committee for the Department of the
Marine Surveyor, who will communicate with the proper
authority. _ _
_

The CHAIRMAN stated that a letter bad been received
from the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Coun-
cil, recommending the Dock Committee to appoint their
proportion of the Joint Committee (one-third), to protect
the interests of the corporation and the docks under the con-
servancy act.—lt was decided that the committee should be
nominated next Thursday.
Circulars were ordered to be issued inviting tenders to be
sent in for the supply of 3000 gallons of sperm oil for the use
of the light-houses.

The MARINE-SURVEYOR reported that the new iron bell
beacon had rode out the heavy gales in October satisfacto-
rily; and that upon examination, the hull and machinery
were found as perfect as the day it was put down.
Vacancies for two dock-gatemen at Clarence-dock, one at
Trafalgar-dock, and one at Toxteth-dock, were filled up.
Thomas Glansdill, a superannuated dock-gateman, had
hia weekly allowance of 15s. continued for three months.

A. reply to Messrs. Fielden Brothers, who requested ac-
commodation in Waterloo Dock for a new line of packets
between New York and Liverpool, was ordered to he sent
to the effect that there was accommodation there for all the
lines if the consignees would agree upon it among themselves.
The committee next considered the subject of the statistical
account for each dock. It appeared that the original cost of
commencing the account was £217 13s. 6d., and that the
annual charge of it was £152 Bs. 6d., which was paid to
three clerks who kept it after the usual office hours. It was
postponed for further consideration till Thursday.
A letter from Messrs. M'Arthur and Co., and several
other agents, consignees, and owners of coasting vessels, was
read, complaining of the inconvenience to which that trade
was put by vessels being laid up for side in the docks they
frequented ; and requesting that the whole of Canning-dock,
the whole of Salthouse-dock, and the west side of George's
dock, should be appropriated to them.
After a few words from Mr. AIKIN and Mr. EVANS, the
committee decided that the application could not be com-
plied with.
On the motion of Mr. Nscot, Mr. Shand was appointed
a member of the Sub-Committee of Finance, in the place of
Mr„ Mellor; Mr. Itoyden, of the Harbour Masters' Sub-
Committee, in the place of Mr. Shand ; and Mr. Bramley

Moore, of the Sub:-Committee of Works, in the place of
Mr. Sandbach.
The committee then separated.

SPLENDID PRESENT TO THE PROVOST AND TOWN
COUNCIL OF EDINBURGH.—Last week, a packet, containing
several of the most beautiful specimens of needle-work, in
the shape of night-caps, that were ever seen, were forwarded,
per post, to the above distinguished personages by a number
of young ladies resident in London, as a small tribute of
their admiration of the conduct displayed on her Majesty's
visit to " Modern Athens."

MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.—PLYMOUTH, Nov. 14.
On Friday evening, between sire and seven o'clock, John
Burt, a deaf and dumb lad went to the Lambhay Point to
observe the state of the weather, it being the intention of
his master, the skipper of a trawler, to go to sea the next
morning, should the weather be favourable. After remain-
ing there a short time, he returned in a very agitated state,
and by his gestures and entreaties induced a boatman to go
back with him to the point, explaining by the way, in a man-
ner intelligible to those who knew him, that some person
had jumped overboard. The boatman, however, could per-
ceive no indication of such an event, and this caused still
more distress to the poor boy. He afterwards informed his
father, an honest fisherman, that while standing on the point
he observed a strange young man, about twenty years of age,
in a retired part, apparently watching until the place should
be deserted. The stranger then took his watch from his
waistcoat pocket, observed the time, replaced it, and, first
gazing intently on the moon, thrust his hands firmly in his
side pockets, ran down the slope, jumped on a low wall, and
fell face downwards on the steep rocks, upon the edge of
which the wall is built. The boy Burt immediately leaped
upon the wall, and clambering down the rocks went half into
the water, and was just in time to seize the other by the col-
lar of the coat. The suicide, whose forehead and cheeks were
bleeding profusely, gnashed his teeth at his intended pre-
server, and with a menacing aspect compelled him to desist
from his humane endeavours, lest his own life should be for-
feited in the contest. The stranger sank near the rocks, and
rose again out of reach, sank once more, and then disappeared.
He was dressed in a peaked cap, with a leather strap beneath
the chin, a pilot coat, and black trousers, and wore a silver
guard to his watch. Boatmen have been since employed
creeping for the body, but hitherto without success, and from
the inequality of the ground, it is not likely to be recovered
until the tides fall off.

ON A RECENT PRESENTATION TO A NEIGH-

BOURING CLERGYMAN

"veniente die

—Tea,—decedente, requiro."

Fish, flesh, and " bones," (with Butler!) being remov'd,
(0 may we hope—the viands—were approv'd?)
I think, dear sirs, we now shall all agree,
To ring the bell, and order in the tea!
(Don't make it strong, for I am rather nervous,)
Pray have you seen friend H's handsome service?
Tho' some indeed make very great objection,
When clergy take such pledges of affection.
Oft have I heard ascetic cynics stale
Th' absurd unsuitability of plate
Presented to a rector or a curate ;
That, for their part, they never could endure it ;
Perhaps—because not tempted—is the reason
They think that such is e'er out of season ;
Nor—deeming such an offer in futuro,
At once exclaim, Nec nescio, nec curo !
As damsels' " I'll not marry" (if unmasked)—
Means only this—not marry ('till I'm asked!)
I don't make the assertion unawares—
A tea-service has a reference to theirs.
What are their duties? let us sum them up
The law of God, is it—no "bitter cup ?"
" Death in the pot—the Prophet's sons did shout,
The Prophet's salt—the poison soon drew out !
Thus, the pure milk, the faithful pastor pours,
Destroys the bitter, and a calm restores
The Gospel sweets—of Gospel hope—supplies,
He lives, who drinks ; the bitter only dies!

Another emblem may be thus applied,
" Tried in the furnace as the Silver's tried ;"
What juster emblem of the Pastor's life ?
Incessant trials, and perpetual strife,
For ever tempting in this vale of tears,
" Without—are fightings—and within—are fears"
(We cling, like Daniel's image, to the clay,)
Which this, the " need be" furnace, takes away :
Burns not the metal—only the refuse,
To make us suited to our Master's use !

These—not unlike the ancient triple crown—
Reflect a threefold lustre and renown.
Here Christian kindness in the donors shine,
Here Christian efforts (the recipients) twine;
Here all unite in one harmonious voice, _

To praise th'lncumbent for so good a choice !