The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-12 00:00:00

STANDARD,

A. NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR THE POl'l7'o.-111 the garden
of the Horticultural Society at Chiswick are growing two
plants of a Chinese yam, which is expected to prove an ex-
cellent substitute for the potato. They have been ob-
tained from the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, where they
have been made the subject of experiments that leave no
doubt that it will become a plant of real importance in
,cultivation. "If," says M. Decaisne, who has paid much
attention to matters of this kind, " a new plant has a
chance of becoming useful in rural economy, it must fulfil
certain conditions, in the absence of which its cultivation
cannot be profitable. In the first place, it must have been
domesticated in some measure, and must suit the climate ;
moreover, it must in a few months go through all the
stages of development, so as not to interfere with the
ordinary and regular course of cropping; and, finally, its
produce must have a market value in one form or another.
If the plant is intended for the food of man, it is also indis-
pensable that it shall not offend the tastes or the culinary
habits of the persons among whom it is introduced. To
this may be added that almost all the old perennial plants
of the kitchen garden have been abandoned in favour of
annuals, wherever the latter could be found with similar
properties. Thus, latnyrus tuberosus, sedans telephium,
&c., have given way before potatoes, spinach, and the like.
Now, the Chinese yam satisfies every one of these condi-
tions It has been domesticated from time immemorial,
it is perfectly hardy in this climate (Paris), its root is
bulky, rich in nutritive matter, eatable when raw, easily
cooked, either by boiling or roasting, and then having no
other taste than that of flour (ficule). It is as much a
ready-made bread as the potato, and it is better than the
batatas, or sweet potato. Horticulturists should, there-
fore, provide themselves with the new arrival, and try ex-
periments with it in the different climates and soils of
France. If they bring to their task, which is of great
public importance, the requisite amount of perseverance
and intelligence, I have a firm belief that the potato yam
(igname batatas) will, like its predecessor the potato,
make many a fortune, and more .especially alleviate the
distress of the lower classes of the people." Such is M.
Decaisne's account of this new food-plant, which is now in
actual cultivation at Chiswick ; and, judging from the
size of the set from which one of the plants had sprung,
it is evident that the tubers have all the requisites for pro-
fitable cultivation. One has been planted under glass, the
other in the open air, and at present both appear to be
thriving equally well. The species has been called dios-
corea batatas, or the potato yam. It is a climbing plant,
bearing considerable resemblance to our common black
bryony, and, when it is considered how nearly that plant
is related to the yams, the probability of our new comer
becoming naturalised among us receives support. Whe-
ther, however, it realises all that the French say of it or
not, the trial of it in this country cannot prove otherwise
than interesting and worthy of the society which has had
the honour of introducing it.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT SHOEBURYNESS.—On Monday
last week, while Captain Oldfield's company, and the
detachments of Royal Artillery, stationed at Shoebaryness,
were practising with four large guns—one 10-inch gun,
9 feet 4 inches long, of 85 cwt., and one 8-inch gun, 8 feet
long, of 62 cwt., with spherical shot at targets, the one at
800 yards range and the other at 1,500 yards range, and
with one of Lancaster's 68-pounder oval guns, 9 feet long
and weighing 95 cwt., and one 56-pounder gun, 11 feet
long, weighing 98 cwt.—the latter burst in the act of
firing at 2,800 yards, the object against which both it and
Lancaster's gun were fired with spherical shot being a
flag-staff at that range. The whole of the gunners who
manned the 56-pounder gun escaped unhurt, with the
exception of a slight abrasure on the back of the hand of
one of them ; but a fatal accident took place on the
adjoining platform. The largest piece of the breach of the
burst gun, upwards of a ton in weight, proceeding to the
right, broke down the brickwork in front, and, sweeping
along the platform, jammed Colour-Sergeant Rose between
it and the front elevation, tearing his flesh and breaking
both his thighs, and causing such other injuries that he
died within an hour after the accident took place. The
same mass of metal of the breach, in its progress, struck
Repository-Sergeant Lea, breaking both his thighs, and
inflicting such other injuries, that he died the same after-
noon, after both thighs had been amputated. Pay Com-
pany-Sergeant Williams was also struck by the same
piece of the breach, and had one of his thighs broken,
which was shortly after amputated, and it was hoped he
would recover; but it was found that his left arm was
shattered, and he died shortly afterwards. Capt. Bullock,
R.N., with a party of ladies, and a number of the sea
bathing parties from Southend, were stationed about 30
yards from the spot where the gun burst, to witness the
practice; all escaped without the slightest injury, although
pieces of the gun-carriage, which was torn into a great
number of fragments, and the bolts, screws, and nuts
which held it together, with the displaced bricks, were
thrown with great force in all directions. Two gunners
doing duty at the other guns were hurt, but able to walk
to their barracks, the one having sustained a cut in the
forehead and a severe blow on the cap of the knee, which
made it bleed. All the injury done was on the right side
of the gun. The other half of the breach was broken into
two parts, which were projected to a considerable height.
'ESTRANGE CIRCUMSTANCE.—A singular circumstance
occurred several weeks ago in New York, which has thrown
a woman and her family of fine children, and a large circle
of friends, into the greatest excitement. The particulars
are as follows :—Mr. James Christie, tailor, Montrose,
emigrated some years ago to America, where he succeeded
pretty well for a considerable period ; after which he sent
home word to his wife (who, with her children, were still
resident at Montrose,) to leave this country for the land
of his adoption. Accordingly, at his request, she imme-
diately set sail, and arrived in safety at her destination in
due time. After rejoining her husband they both travelled
together a good deal, residing now in one place and then
in another, unsettled as to the exact locality where they
might permanently take up their abode. They continued
in this way for some time, when all at once Christie was
seized with what in America is termed the "home sick-
ness," and he determined, consequently, to visit once
more the land of his fathers. Preparations were made
for the journey to New York : and after arriving in that
city passages were secured on board a vessel bound for
Liverpool. The luggage was all stowed away on board,
and everything arranged to the entire satisfaction of all
concerned, Christie remarking to his wife that all was now
right excepting a small quantity of rum, which could
easily be procured on the morrow. The day after making
tins observation he left his family, intending to visit the
New York Exhibition before leaving the country, and
since then no trace of him has been found. During the
four days that elapsed between that time and the day of
sailing his wife caused him to be advertised and placarded,
but all was unavailing. Mrs. Christie, however, along
with her family, came with the vessel to Liverpool, arriving
in Montrose on Saturday afternoon last, children and
luggage all safe. A cloud of mystery seems to hang over
this extraordinary affair.---Jarontrose Standard.

POPULARITY.—A letter from Bucharest states, that so
enthusiastic. was the reception given to Omar Pasha on
his entering that place, that his carriage was literally
covered with flowers thrown to him as he passed.
FEMALE PHYSICIANS.—The Massachusetts Legislature,
at its last session, appropriated funds to the New England
Female Medical. College; located in Boston, to pay for the
tuition of forty students annually for five years.—New
York Tribune.
THE WORCESTER: MUSICAL FESTIVAL took place last
week, and with unusual brilliancy and success. The
artistes engaged. were Madame Clara Novello, Madame
Castellan, Mrs. Weiss, Madame • Viardot Garcia, Miss
Dolby ; Signor Gardoni, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Weiss, and
Herr Formes.
AN OLD FOLKS' TEA PARTY.—A venerable matron
of North Adams, sa years of age, gave an old folks' tea
party- a few days since, and among the guests who were
present were four ladies of the respective ages of 86, 82,
80, 70, and three gentlemen of 85, 80, and 73—making
the united ages-of the eight persons (including the hostess)
649 years, an average of 81. Six of these persons own
farms on which they reside, all in one neighbourhood of
less than a mile square, and have been residents of the
town over 50 years.—Boston Traveller.
A HORSE KILLED BY WASPS.—Last week, a valuable
pony, belonging to F. U. Pattisson, Esq., of Chelmsford,
came by its death from the stings of wasps. The pony
was grazing is a field on Mr. Pattisson's farm, when, in
its wanderings, it came in contact with a nest of wasps,
which fastened upon and so severely stung the poor animal,
that death ensued two days afterwards.—Essex Herald.
SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE OE COMMONS.—A parlia-
mentary return states that the House of Commons during
the last session sat on 127 days, and that the total dura-
tion of the sittings of the house was 997 hours 16 minutes.
Of this time 912 hours were after midnight. The number
of entries on the votes was 8,857, and the average length
of each sitting was '7 hours 51 minutes 8 seconds.
THE GUNS OF TEE TIGER—A letter dated Vienna,
Sept. 3, says:—" The two Paixhan guns taken from the
Tiger were tried on the 24th of August, at Odessa, in the
presence of the General Governor Annenkoff. At the
fourth shot one of the guns burst, killed one cannoneer,
and wounded several others. Fortunately the pieces of
metal did not take a horizontal direction, or many lives
must have been lost, as there was a great crowd as-
sembled."
RAILWAY PASSENGERS' ASSURANCE COMPANY.—There
was a meeting on Wednesday of this company, at which
the report stated that the receipts of the half-year and
previous balance amounted to £7,527 17s. 4d., and the
disbursements, including a sum of £1,802 for compensa-
tion in cases of accident, to £4,769, leaving a balance in
hand of £3,733 Bs. 4d., from which the directors recom-
mend the payment of a half-yearly dividend at the rate of
4 per cent. per annum. The report was adopted.
COURT-MARTIAL ON A WOMAN.—"We perceive that a
woman has been tried by court-martial a Neemuch. The
occurrence is almost unprecedented in India. The accused
is a camp follower, and was charged with receiving stolen
property. The native court-martial found her guilty, and
sentenced her to imprisonment with hard labour for one
year. In India, under the ordinary law, we do not sen-
tence women to hard labour.—Friend of India.
A YOUNG MISCHIEF MAKER.—A few-days since the
electric telegraph communication from Elsinore to Ham-
burg was suddenly stopped. On investigation it was
found that the earth which covered the wires had been
dug up in a certain spot and the wires cut, and it was
soon afterwards discovered that the author of the mischief
was a little boy, 12 years of age, who resided in the village
of Apenrade, near which place the line passed. He was
arrested and brought before the Correctional Tribunal,
by which lie was sentenced to be whipped three times,
and to receive in all 45 lashes.
SITTINGS OF THE SUPERIOR COURTS.—By the Com-
mon Law Procedure Act an important alteration can be
effected in the sittings of the superior courts after the
present vacation. It is enacted that any one of the judges,
at the request of the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chief
Baron, may try the causes entered for trial at nisi prius
in Westminster or London, in either of the courts, on the
same days on which the said Lord Chief Justice or Lord
Chief Baron, or any other judge of the same court, shall
be sitting to try causes at those places respectively, or at
either of them, so that the trial of two causes may be pro-
ceeded with at the same time. This provision will mate-
rially lessen the delay of causes and the great expense of
keeping witnesses in attendance for several days.
COMPARISON OF DISPUTED WRITING.—A new feature
is introduced in the New Common Law Procedure Act
with respect to disputed handwriting. It is provided by
the 27th section, that comparison of a disputed writing
with any writing proved to the satisfaction of the judge
to be genuine shall be permitted to be made by witnesses,
and such writings, and the evidence of witnesses respect-
ing the same, may be submitted to the court and jury
as evidence of the genuineness or otherwise of the writing
in dispute

AND GENERAL COM3fl

aRCIA.I

ECCLESIASTIC

appointec
sub-coma

ADI

tTISER

IL INTELLIGENCE,

PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS.

Rev. C. R Alford, M.A., Incumbent of Christ Church,
Doncaster. to the Principalship of the Metropolitan Training
Institution, fliabbiiry.
Rev. S. Allen, D.D., to the Curacy of Crossthwaite, Cum-
berland.
Rev. C. Arnold, M.A., Rector of Tinwell, to an Honorary
Canonry in Peterborough Cathedral.
Rev. F. A. Baker, M.A., to the Rectory of Godmanstone,
near Dorchester.
Rev. C. Bellairs, to be Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of
Strafford.
Rev. W. Bell, M.A., Curate of Lillingston Darrell, near
Buckingham, to the Rectory of that parish.
Rev. G. Beresford, M.A., Rector of Hoby, to an Honorary
Canonry in Peterborough Cathedral.
Rev. Dr. Bloomfield, Vicar of Bisbrook, to an Honorary
Canonry in Peterborough Cathedral.
Rev. J. Carthew,.M.A., Curate of All Saints, Southampton,
to be a Surrogate for the Diocese of Winchester.
Rev. W. P. Chappel, M.A., Curate of the Parish Church,
Leeds, to the Curacy of AJI Saints' Parish Church, Wakefield.
Rev. W. H. Cox. 8.D., late Rector of Tenby, Pembroke.
shire, to the Rectory of Eaton Bishop, near Hereford, and to
the Prebend of Inkberrow, in Hereford Cathedral.
Rev. W. It Doveton, M.A., to the Rectory of Sampford
Peverell, near Tiverton.

,
Rev. A. A. Edwards, M.A., to the Vicarage of All Saints,
Leeds.

Rev. W. Fraser,.B.C.L., to the Curacy of Alton, Stafford-
shire.

Rev. C. D'Ewes Granville, M.A., Honorary Canon of Dur-
ham Cathedral, and Perpetual Curate of Alnwick, to the
Vicarage of Thaxted, Essex.
Rev. T. H. Ha11,.8.A., to be Domestic Chaplain to the Earl
of Crawford and Balcarres.

Rev. E. It. Hampden, M.A., Rector of Eaton Bishop, to
the Rectory of Cradley, Herefordshire.
Rev. P. Hartley,, S,C.L., to the Perpetual Curacy of St.
Leonard's Wigginton, in the parish of Tamworth.
Rev. C. F. Hayter, 8.A., to the Curacy of the united pa-
rishes of Stiffkey and Morston, Norfolk.
Rev. H. Prior, M.A., Perpetual Curate of Lucan, to the
Rectory of Clonmel, in the diocese of Lismore.
Rev. T. Ramsbotham, M.A., Curate of Wakefield, to the
Curacy of Walmersley.

Rey'. E. Reddall, 73:A., to the Head Mastership of the
Grammar School, Woodstock.

. —.—...
Rev. J. Rees, to the Incumbency of Bangor, near Aberyst-
with.

Rev. A. J. Sandilands, M.A., to the Vicarage of Ringstead
and Denford, Northamptonshire.
Rev. J. Senior, LL.D., to the Incumbency of St. Mary's
District Church, Wakefield.
Rev. C. B, Snepp, LL.B., Curate of St. John's, Perry Barr,
near Birmingham, to the Curacy of that Church.
Rev. C. W. Soden, B.A. to the Curacy of Tong, near Leeds.
Rev. R. F. Tompkins, to,the Vicarage of Tortington, Sussex.
Rev. R. Wilton, 8.A., to the Incumbency of the newly-
consecrated Church of St. Thomas, York.

Tasa RRY. HENRY WRAY has resigned the perpetual
curacy of St. Andrew's, Manchester. The patronage is
vested in the dean and canons of Manchester, but under
the "Manchester Division Bill " the Rev. Canon Wilson,
who was the last canon appointed, succeeds to the curacy.
THE Bisooi OF Sr. DAVID'S has intimated his inten-
tion of holding the triennial visitation of his diosese ac-
cording to the following arrangement :—Tuesday, Sep
tember 26th, Carmarthen; Thursday, September
Swansea ; Tuesday, October 3, Brecon ; Thursday, 0

, , •Il
d, Cardigan ; Tuesday, October 10, Haverfordwest
LIR BOARD oa EDUCATION has appointed ti
C. R Alford, Incumbent of Christ Church, Do'
Principal of the Metropolitan Training College_ His

park, vice the Rev._ Dr. Ryan, Bishop elect of t

tius. To this appointment is attached the lectureship—Of
Highbury, the salary and emoluments being about £7OO
per annum.

MEMORIAL TO TUE LATE BISUOP OF SALISBURY.—
At a meeting, on Wednesday, of the general committee
. .

selection, as the architect to be engaged in the restoration
of the chapter-house, was adopted and confirmed. A
building committee to
also appointed. The
to £4,375, of which £2,000 has
Salisbury Journal,

with the dean and

en paid and invested.—

LITERALLY THE POOR MAN'S CHURCH.— _
week, the Bishop of ➢lanchester laid the founds
of a new Church in St. George's District, Hulme, .
chester. This Church will owe its origin entirely to the
humbler classes. It is situate in a district containing 10,000
persons the greater portion of whom are of the working
class, and of the subscriptions obtained for its erection the
majority ranged from 2s. 6d. to 103., given by
"""

—On Satur
Ition at

peopt.. the entire cost of the Church, including the land,
will be about £3,000. There is sufficient land in the pur-
chase for Sunday and day schools, which will hereafter be
built.

ST. COLUME
that a magnificient new church was being built at Not-
ting-hill by the Rev. Dr. Walker, rector of St. Columb
Major, Cornwall, as a memorial to his father and mother.
Sinnn fbns• Lt.-L • • . .11 •

That the sacrament, that is
and `the inward part, or thii

as worthily receive the same

the outward part or sign,

anients of the

and the blood of Christ) they have a wholesome effect or
operation ; but they - that receive them unworthily, pur-
chase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith. 8. That
worship is due to the body and blood of Christ, superna-
turally and invisibly, but really present in the Lord's Sup-
per, ' under the form of bread and wine,' by reason of the
Godhead, with which they are personally united. But that
the elements through which `the body and blood of Christ'
are given and received, may not be tvorshipped." The
archdeacon relies for proof of his opinions mainly on the
first part of the service, concerning the sacrament of the
2nd Book of lgomilies and on the 25th and 28th of the 39
40 Articles of religion. Th " rticles" against the venerable
archdeacon are promo the Rev. Joseph Ditcher,
M.A., vicar of South. near 'Weston-super-Mare, in
the diocese of Bath and % ells. I

RESIGNATION OF ARCHDEACON
WILBERFORCE.
The following correspondence has just been published :
Burton Agnes, Aug. 30, 1851
MY LORD ARCRBISHDP,—The step which I now take
would have been taken somewhat sooner but for the
rumours that my work:on the Holy Eucharist would be
made the subject of legal investigation. I find it difficult
to believe that the intention is seriously entertained, for
the warmest opponents of the work deny baptismal re-
generation, the priestly commission, and the validity of
absolution. Now, these doctrines are so positively affirmed
in the formularies of our Church, that for one passage in
them which presents difficulties in my system, there are
hundreds by which that of my opponents is plainly con-
tradicted. I can hardly imagine that they desire a rigour
in interpreting our formularies which must be fatal to
themselves. But I should have felt it due, both to my
opinions and to those who shared them, to defend myself
to the utmost against such an assault.
My book, however, has now been nearly a year and
four months before the public, and no legal proceedings,
so far as I know, have been commenced. And in the
meantime my attention has been dravlrn to another part of
our Church's system, with which I have become painfully
conscious that I can no longer concur. I refer to the royal
supremacy. I am.as ready as ever to allow her Majesty
to be supreme over all persons, and in all temporal causes
within her dominions, and I shall always render her, I
trust, a loyal obedience; but that she or any other tem-
poral ruler is supreme "in all spiritual things or causes"
I can no longer admit. If the Act of 1832 were all on
which my difficulties were founded I might justify myself,
as I have heretofore done, by the consideration that it
was probably passed through inadvertence, and had received
no formal sanction from the Church. But my present
objection extends to the Act of 1533, by which this power
was bestowed upon the King in Chancery, and to the lit
article in the 36th canon, which is founded upon it.
With the grounds of my objection I need not trouble yoin•
Grace, though I shall shortly state them to the nnhlip

To your Grace.

,scription to the Ist artiel

ag it to be contrary to the law

,erforce

T nf the (