The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-28 00:00:00

It may be useful, as quieting the expectations of persons
who are looking for letters in answer to those which the
India November mail carried to that country, to state, that,
by some bungle at the Bombay Pcstoftice, a box of letters,
intended for that presidency and the north-western provinces
of India, had been mis-sent to Ceylon.—Observer.
SPREAD OF BIGAMY IN CALCUTTA.—Cases of bigamy
are stated to be coming frequent at Calcutta, perhaps from
an inclination to slide into oriental customs. A gentleman
is under prosecution for marrying three wives; and a lady is
in a like predicament for taking unto herself two husbands.
They seem to think that, being in the East, they should do
as the East does.

THE PRINCE OF WALES.-It is not generally known that
Court etiquette requires upon the birth of a Prince of Wales
a state chair to be placed for his Royal Highness immediately
on the right of the throne, and orders have therefore been
given to provide chairs for this purpose, both at St. James's
and the House of Lords, upon which the crest of the plume
of feather, with the motto, " Ich dien," will be duly em.
blazoned.—Court Journal.

ENCKE'S COMET.—We learn, from a letter addressed by
Professor Eneke to Mr. Airy,—a copy of which we have
seen,—that the comet of short period, better known as
Encke's comet, will come to perihelion on the 12th of April
next ; and the learned professor, who has calculated an ephe-
meris for the occasion, proposes that it should be sent to the
Cape of Good Hope, where, he says, the comet can be most
favourably observed.

CONSUMPTION OF SMOKE.—It appears that a saving of
several thousand pounds a year—as much, we hear, as £5,000
or £6,000—will accrue to the North Midland Railway Com-
pany, if the experiment now making to use coal instead of
coke, in their steam-engine furnaces, by the application of
Hall's smoke-consuming apparatus, should succeed. Of
this there is the most confident expectation, from the experi-
ments that have already been made at Leeds within the last
ten days.—Leeds Mercury.
NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT.—The Rev. Waldo Sibthorp
preached his first Roman Catholic sermon on Sunday last,
at the catholic chapel, Pyle-street, Newport, to a very
crowded assemblage ; most of whom were drawn together out
of curiosity, and in the hope of hearing him, from his new
station, give some answer to the many inquiries as to why he
had become a catholic. In this expectation, however, they
were disappointed ; the rev. gentleman's discourse being
confined to a dissertation on the miracles of our Saviour.

A shepherd boy, only 15 years old, of St. Jean de Mar-
vejois, in the Gard. was a few days ago tending his sheep,
when a wolf sprung suddenly into the middle of the flock,
seized one and dispersed the rest. The youth threw a stone
at the beast, and striking it on the head, stunned it for a
moment. His dog seized the animal, and a conflict ensued,
which probably would have ended in favour of the wolf, had
not the courageous lad bestrode its back, and laid it lifeless
under him by plunging a knife into its throat.
We understand that the Admiralty have ordered the War-
spite, a 50-gun frigate, commanded by the Right Hon. Lord
John Hay, to be fitted out for the_ purpose of conveying

Lord Ashburton and his suite to the United States of Airier--
ica. The period fixed for his lordship's departure is not yet
definitely settled, but he is expected to sail on his special
mission in the course of a few days. The Warspite is com-
manded to be in readiness to sail at a few hours' notice.
Lord Ashburton will embark at Portsmouth.

TAPPING A SHEEP FORTHE DROPSY.—This singular, and
we believe original operation, was performed a fortnight ago
at Laxton, by Mr. Esam, butcher, of that village. A ewe
sheep was almost dying from the effects of dropsy, when Mr.
Esam suggested that he should like to by the effects of tap-
ping. His suggestion being approved of, he made an in-
cision in the side of the animal, into which he introduced a
piece of elder as a tube, and drew from the sheep no less than
eight gallons of water. It soon began to revive, and it is
now apparently in perfect health.—Nottingham Mercury.
DANIEL'S EXCHEQUER.—At thirteen minutes past ten
this morning—we like to be precise as well as particular in
matters of importance—at thirteen minutes past ten this
morning, and not until after the high sheriff had given an in-
telligible hint as to the absolute necessity of the expenses of
hustings, &c., being paid, previously to a second candidate
being put in nomination, Mr. Smith, the agent of Mr.
O'Connell at the last, and for Lord Morpeth, his nominee,
at the present election, scraped together a sum of three hun-
dred pounds, which he paid down—giving a written under-
taking to pay up the balance. Mr. Gregory's committee
handed the sheriff five hundred pounds on Friday, being the
full sum claimed. SG much for the contrast of the respec-
tive treasuries.—Dublin Evening Mail.
DESPERATE DEED.—On Wednesday last, a girl of thirteen
years of age, belonging to Merryston, Coatbridge, named
Martha Hodgkis, was sent by her mother on some particular
errand to Drumpeller store, but, falling in with some of her
companions, she accompanied them to Dundy van, and passed
the greater part of the day there. In the evening she was
returning homewards with the same girls who had com-
panioned with her during the day, but, struck with her mis-
conduct in neglecting her mother's errand and injunctions,
she formed the desperate resolution of drowning herself.
For this purpose she seated herself on the edge of the canal
at a short distance from the Comet Inn, when her compan-
ions did everything in their power to divert her from her
purpose, but to no effect, for so soon as they moved off to
apprise her mother of her desperate resolution, little Martha
clasped her hands above her head, and, with the exclamation
of—" My mither 'ill ne'er see me again," she plunged into
the canal, and ere assistance could be got the little desperado
was a lifeless corpse, her body having been a considerable
time in the water.
DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF CHARCOAL.—The meeting of
the board of guardians of the Bodminster Union was inter.
rupted by an occurrence which, if not providentially dis-
covered in time, might have had a more melancholy, and,
indeed, fatal issue. Business had been proceeded in for about
two hours, when several of the gentlemen were affected with
unusual sensations. One felt taint, and on expressing this
to his neighbour, he replied that he himself had nearly fallen
from his chair once or twice, and on the vice-chairman
banding a paper to the chairman to sign, he pushed it back
to turn, saying that he must sign it, for something had af-
fected his vision so that he really could not see to do it. Se •
veral others then finding themselves affected with various
symptoms the windows and doors were directed to be thrown
open, when Mr. Nicholas Cottle, of Clevedon, became at-
tacked in a most strange and distressing manner ; he sprang
from his seat, beat the air for breath, and uttered hideous
and terrifying screams, evidently in a state of suffocation,
when he was forced out of the room by those who were more
. fortunate and less affected than himself. The cause of all
this was ascertained to be the burning of charcoal in a stove
in the room. People cannot be too cautious in the use of
charcoal.—Bristol Mirror.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, MONDAY.—(Sillings in
Banco.)—TlLE QUEEN a. BERNARD CAVANAGH (THE
FASTING MAN.—This defendant was brought up under the
writ of habeas corpus, directed to the keeper of the gaol of
Reading ; and the return of that officer, setting forth the
commitment by the mayor, was read. The commitment
stated a conviction under the vagrant act, and a sentence of
three months' imprisonment. Lord Denman.—Has not the
case been argued, and the commitment declared to be bad ?
Mr. James (who appeared for Cavanagh) answered in the
affirmative. Lord Denman.—Then let him be discharged.
The Solicitor-general rose and was beginning to argue the
question ; but Lord Denman interposing, said, that this
court was not a court of appeal from the decisions of the
learned judge by whom this case had been decided ; and the
case, therefore, could not be reheard. His lordship added,
that the judges now in this court bad, in fact, been consulted
before the decision on the commitment was pronounced. The
defendant was then discharged ; and bowing very low to the
judges, and thanking them very audibly, he withdrew from
the court. There had been a great crowd collected in court
to see him, the curious much preferringthiseconomical exhibi-
tion of the man to that at which money was to be paid for the
sight. As soon as the order for Cavanagh's discharge had
been pronounced, the crowd hastily and noisily began to dis-
perse ; and while the next case was going on, the ordinary
occupants of the court were alone to be seen in it.

THE ORIENTAL STEAMER.—The following is Captain
Soy's account of the collision which we have already noticed
as having taken place between the Oriental steamer and a
French man-of-war. The Oriental's repairs were made good
at Gibraltar, and she left for Malta and Alexandria on the
9th instant., the letter is addressed to the agent at Gibraltar :
—" Oriental steam-ship, Gibraltar Bay, Bth January, 1842.
Dear Sir,—l have to inform you that, after our leaving Gib-
raltar last night, when about eight or nine miles to the east-
ward of Europe Point, we came in contact with a large ship
standing to the westward ; when first seen she was nearly
two points on the larboard bow, and very close to us, not
showing any light. I immediately ordered the helm to be
put to port to go clear of her ; but she was going fast through
the water, and struck us on the larboard paddle beam with
her larboard bow, and ranged alongside, carrying away our
projection beam, all the frame of the paddle-box, two boats,
the maintopmast, and quarter gallery. Finding that we
would come into collision I gave directions for the engines
to be stopped, which was done instantly. On examining the
paddle wheel we found we could not move the engines, as the
whole of the frame of the paddle box was broken in, and
jammed the wheel so that we were unable to follow the ship
to render any assistance, but immediately lowered a boat,
and the first officer went after her to ascertain what damage
she had sustained, as she fired a gun and showed blue lights.
After being away an hour he retained, and reported that he
could not reach the ship, as she went fast away from him.
We endeavoured, then, to unconnect the engines, and, after
trying for upwards of two hours, found it impossible to get
the crank pin out, and were then obliged to cut the paddle
floats to allow the wheel to work clear of the broken frame.
After examining the nature of the damage, I considered it
necessary to return to this bay to repair the projection beam.
I regret very much not being able to go to the assistance of
the ship, but six hours elapsed from the time of the accident
before we could move the engines, and 1 could not say what
course she would take. I do consider that they must have
seen our mast-head and bow lights ; and if they had shown a
light we would have been able to go clear of her, but we did
not observe her in time to enable us to get out of her way,
as we give way to sailing vessels under all circumstances.—I
am, dear sir, your obedient servant, John Soy, Commander."

DESTRUCTION OF A COTTAGE BY FIRE.—AbOIIt one
o'clock on Saturday morning, information
~ was brought to
the town's yard, that a house in the neighbourhood of Board-
man-street, Harpurhey, was on tire. Mr. Rose immediately
proceeded with an engine and several firemen to the place ;
but, when he arrived, he found that a small cottage had
just been destroyed by fire. The cottage was occupied by a
washerwoman, who, it appears, very narrowly escaped being
burnt to death. She was slightly scorched on the hands
and face, but not materially injured.—Manchester Guardian.
BEFORE I'D BE BURIED, I'D DIE FIRST.—" What do
you say ?" said a woman one day to her neighbour, speaking
of an old acquaintance, who from affluent circumstances was
reduced to a state of abject poverty, so that she sought, with
great earnestness, a refuge or asylum in what is generally
called a workhouse ; here she found the comforts to which
she had long been a total stranger ; however, from the se-
verity of the winter, together with an aged and shattered
constitution, she at last sunk, and death seized her mortal
frame. No friend, no relative, attended her mortal remains
to their last home ; she was indebted to the parish for her
grave. " What do you say—she was buried by the parish
oh, the mean contemptible wretch !" said her old acquaint
ance ; " before I'd be buried by the parish, I'd die fir -t •
that I would."

SANDON.—The royal christening was celebrated here on
Tuesday with every joyous feelings. The morning was
ushered in by the ringing of the church bells ; a large ft g
being hoisted on the church tower. Lord and Lady Sand( n
and family, with the Rev. Edward Harland, visited the
schools, when the rev. gentleman kindly presented each
scholar with a book. After singing " God Save the Queen,'
(in which the family joined,) and a loud and long cheer for
the Prince of Wales, they were dismissed to join their
parents, who were each presented on this occasion with a
handsome piece of beef and a quantity of ale by their ever
kind and venerable landlord, the Earl of Harrowby, whose
valuable life may it please God long to preserve. The num.
ber who partook of his lordship's liberality was upwarCa
of three hundred.

TRADE OF SOUTH A MPTON.—We understand that the busi-
ness of this port in the past year trebled that of any prece-
ding. The exports have increased in the same time five fold,
and the number of passengers landed from foreign amounted
to nearly 50 per day during the 365 days. There were 553
vessels inwards from foreign, and with cargoes outwards near-
ly 300. This year commences under auspices still more
favourable ; for now we shall have a direct communication
with-all the West India isiaos, New York, Halifax the,
coast of South America,'the Isthmus of Panama, &c. once a
fortnight ; besides twice a month to Alexandria, Suez, Cal-
cutta, Madras, and Ceylon. We are also gratified to find,
that there is a corresponding augmentation of the coasting
trade : hence Southampton ranks as a port of importance in
the commercial world, and the first in England for passenger
traffic.—Hants Independent.

DELAHUNT'S CONFESSION OF GUILT.—This unfortunate
culprit on Saturday morning made a confession of his guilt
to Mr. Allison the governor of Kilmainham prison. Mr.
Allison had a conversation with Delahunt on Saturday mor-
ning, and having been cautioned not to make a disclosure
he wished to do so voluntarily, he said he was desirous to tell
the truth, and he did not wish to deny anything. With re-
gard to the crime of.which he had been convicted, he ackow-
ledged he had committed it. The only way in which he
could account for it was, that he bad been for a month or
more previous to the commission of it, instigated to murder
some person or other, but he had no particular individual in
view, nor was it to satisfy the least personal hostility that he
was instigated to do so. He stated that the temptation came
over his mind every night in bed, for at least a month
before he murdered the boy Maguire, but up to that time he
endeavoured to overcome it. On the morning of Monday.
the day upon which the fatal deed was perpetrated, he felt an
invincible determination to yield to the evil spirit which had
governed him ; but although he did not then contemplate the
destruction of any particular person, he said he thought a
child would be his best victim, because it would give him the
least resistence ; accordingly he took the knife from his
brother's house on the Monday morning, for the purpose of
of effectuating his object. He wandered about the streets
during the entire of that day, until he met with the boy Ma-
guire, playing with other little children, in the neighbourhoo,
of Plunket-street ; he had never seen nor known anything of
him before, and his attention was attracted to him by obser
ving him endeavouring to jump up on the end of a coal cart
the boy was not able to get up on the cart, end he then called
him away, under pretence that he wanted him to go of a mes-
sage for him, promising to give him something for it ; the boy
inmediately went with him, and they roamed from thence
together from street to street, as had been stated on the trial.
He then took deceased to the stable-lane, and having held
him by the forehead with his left hand, the boy's back being
next to his (Delahunt's) person, lie held him tight, without
letting him see the knife, or know what he was about to do,
and while in that position he perpetrated the di eadful deed.
As soon as he made the gash in the boys throat I e flung lin
at once away, so that the blood flo,A ed entirely m on him ;elf.
In that way Delahunt contrived to seape being marked with
blood; but he positively denies having used the stone foutic
in the boy's cap. The deceased did lilt see the knife, am
could not have known what was abo' t ro be done to hi 11, tht
deed was done so quickly. He did tof eam, or ma e
ightest resistance, and immediately after Delahunt went
away.