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Liverpool has been a scene of stirring interest this week, for other things than commerce. St. George's Hall, a colossal edifice, which has been for a good many years under the hands of architects and builders, was inaugurated on Monday. This building is described as being of great beauty. It has four fronts ; the chief being a majestic portico on the South side, rising ninety-five feet to the pediment, which is upheld by twelve columns, eight without and four within. The grand purpose of the structure is the administration of justice. In the centre there is a great hall, surrounded with galleries ; the Nisi Prins and Crown Courts,. with Grand Jury rooms occupying the North and South of the building, on a level with the galleries. There are also a concert-room a library, and court-rooms for the Duchy of Lancaster and the Sherd The in- augural ceremony was simple. Mr. Lloyd, the Mayor, accompanied by the Corporation, walked in procession to the building, through a great crowd. Within, they found some two thousand persons assembled ; among whom were the Earls of Derby and Sefton, and the Bishop of Chester. The National Anthem having been sung, and a prayer o ffered up by the Bishop, the Mayor proclaimed St. Georges Hall opened. Then followed a performance of the " Messiah " of Handel—the first of a three-days musical festival. Two days afterwards, the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science was commenced. The first meeting is always connected with formal business, the receiving of reports, and the delivery of an inaugural address by the President elect. One of the subjects which have occupied the Committee since the last meeting was the conditions on which pensions are bestowed on men of science. In a correspondence with the Premier, Lord Wrottesley ex- presses the dissatisfaction felt by the Association at the distribution of the pension fund; and Lord Aberdeen replies by citing the act of Par- liament, under which he is enabled only "to grant pensions, not exceed- ing 1200/ in any one year, to such persons only who have just claims on the Royal beneficence, or who, by their personal services to the Crown, by the performance of duties to the public, or by their useful discoveries in science and attainments in literature and the arts, have merited the gra- cious consideration of their sovereign and the gratitude of their country: Anxious as he is to grant pensions to men of science, the Premier is pre- cluded from doing HO by the act. Among the other subjects, are Lieutenant Maury's scheme for the improvement of navigation, which Government have dealt with in a satisfactory manner - and the proposed ju.xtaposi- tion of the scientific societies in some central locality of the Metropolis.

The Earl of Harrowby delivered his inaugural address on Wednesday ; and the usual vote of thanks to him was proposed by the Earl of Derby, in a playful speech, full of compliments to his old college friend "Ban- don." The motion was seconded by Sir Charles Lyell, and of course carried by acclamation.

The Stow in the Weld and Chipping Norton Agsevltural Society h its annual show, and its annual dinner, in the own-ball of Chipping eld Norton, on the 15th. Colonel Dawkins, the President of the Society, took the chair at the dinner ; and Lord Redesdale, Mr. Henley ALE, Colonel North M.P., and Mr. J. H. Langston M.P., were the Conspicuous The manner in which the company had received the toast of "The AMY arising out of guests. Mr. Henley spoke at some length upon the topics

the abundant harvest, and the war.

and Navy" was enough to show that, in common-with every human being in the land, with a few exceptions, they regarded the war in which we are engaged as a just and righteous war ; a war to help the weak against the strong-5 war carried on upon those principles which, after all, are the true bases of action, whether private or public—that you should do unto others asrem would that others should do unto you. If we were weak, and were to attacked by a strong and powerful enemy—if our liberties were at- tempted to be trampled upon, under the plea of giving religious assistance to others—we should feel that the independence of our country was endangered, that our freedom was sapped at its foundations ; and we should naturally look to those with whom we are allied to render us aid in the great struggle we must be engaged in. We are now in some particulars lending a helping hand to support an ally wel.hought weak, but who has shown himself to be mud' stronger than the people of England ever expected There was no difference of opinion among the various parties in the Houses of Parlia- ment with respect to the carrying on of the war; but all parties with one consent said, If we are to have war, let us carry it on in that way Eng- lishmen always have done—never to engage in a war without a good cause, and never to give up fighting until we can do so with honour." The repre- sentatives of all parties concurred in that opinion ; and they were induced to vote great burdens—for burdens they were, and burdens they were felt to be when they came to pay them; and he had no doubt the same sentiments would induce the people of this country, should fresh burdens be needed, to pay them with a good heart. He had no fears about their army and navy : with suoh men and such an ally he could have no fears' he wished them all success, and entertained no anxiety as to the result. It might be a long war ; for they had got an enemy undoubtedly powerful in his natural posi- tion, and obstinate, and possessing immense resources, having a large extent of country upon which they could make little impression—it was like a man's finger just rubbing the tip of his nose—it might scratch him, but as to making any serious impression' he was not very sanguine on that matter. But this he was sanguine of, that the longer he carried on the war the worse he would get; and so on to the end of the chapter ; and we and our allies would come out of it with credit.

Referring to Free-trade, Mr. Henley said he would not reopen the controversy which had come to an end. The problem had been solved. Twice within seven years the country had been on the verge of famine, and it is quite clear that in future it will depend on the quantity of corn and meat of home growth brought into the market whether the people shall obtain their food at reasonable and fit prices or not. He urged upon the agriculturists tho duty of increasing their exertions to keep pace with the increasing population in the supply of food. Between the manufacturer and the farmer all ground for jealousy has gone by.

The anticipation of Mr. Gurney's success at King's Lynn has been confirmed by the result : Mr. Gurney was elected on Saturday, without opposition.

Quarter-Sessions are to be granted to Brighton ; and Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., will be the first Recorder.

Devon has come forward in the cause of reformatory institutions. Last week an influential meeting was held at Exeter—the first of the kind—in consequence of a requisition signed by Earl Fortescue, and the chief of the county gentlemen ; and resolutions were carried for the establish- ment of a Reformatory School, which will be incorporated with the Devon and Exeter Refuge for Discharged Prisoners, established in 1836. Among those who prominently took part in the meeting, were Sir Staf- ford Northeote, Sir Thomas Dyke Aeland, the Reverend Canon Rogers, the Reverend Chancellor Harrington, Mr. Sillifant, Mr. S. T. Kekewich, and Sir John Kennaway, County Magistrates, and Mr. Gard the High Sheriff, who filled the chair. Earl Fortescue sent 100/. as a donation, and at the close of the meeting the subscriptions had reached 700/.

The numerous accidents from boiler-explosions, and the great loss of life therefrom, have moved the Lancashire manufacturers to devise some means of prevention. At a meeting of influential millowners and engi- neers, held in the Manchester Town-hall on Tuesday,—the Mayor in the chair,—it was unanimously resolved to form an association for two ob- jects: first, the prevention of accidents from explosions, by constant in- spections • and secondly, the saving of fuel. Mr. Fairbairn, Mr. Baxley, and Mr. in- spections; were among the speakers. Mr. Platt of Oldham

mentioned that the operatives of Oldham had formed a similar society, but being without the influence possessed by the masters, they had been able to effect comparatively little good. One of the arguments which had great weight with the meeting was, that if the manufacturers did not take these steps themselves, the Government would interfere for the pre- servation of life.

The Public Health Committee of North Shields, co6perating with the Board of Guardians, have provided a hospital on the Tyne for the recep- tion of seamen brought into that port suffering from cholera. The crews M the harbour are healthy.

A school of art has been established at Great Yarmouth by the De- partment of Science and Art.

At a meeting of seamen's delegates held at Sunderland, it has been re- solved to ask for an increase of pay for sailors employed in the coal-trade : the wages to be 6/. for the voyage to London from the lilt of October to the 1st of April, and to other ports in proportion. It is thought that the owners will grant the demand.

Mr. Aaron Scholefield, a grocer of Oldham, has been committed for forgery. Re paid a creditor 581. 188., receiving 10/. in cash, with a bill for 68/. 188. which purported to be accepted by Mr. George Dyson. It appears from his own admission that Seholefield had intended to ask Dyson to accept the bill ; but his " heart failed him," and he wrote Dyaon's name on the bill instead. When the discovery was made Mr. Dyson offered to accept a bill for the amount if the false one were given up ; but the holder refused. Scholefield has been admitted to bail.

The sentence of Michael Cosgrove, the aged man who killed a woman at Manchester, has been commuted to penal servitude for life.

Animosity between Irish and English has been carried to the extent of rioting at Ashton ; the windows of the Irish were smashed, some of their property destroyed, and their chapel threatened, in retaliation for a cowardly attack on an English boy. The Magistrates swore-in special constables, who paraded the streets at night, and the military were kept in readiness : fortu- nately, quiet was soon restored.

Four Artillery soldiers have been committed by the Devises Magistrates for "maliciously firing their carbines with intent to commit murder du- ling a quarrel and scuffle with the townsfolk. A Devizes man, John Fowler, was badly wounded.

Margaret Thomas, a girl who has been leading a dissolute life at Cardiff and Newport, has been all but murdered by a ruffian who set upon her as she was returning on foot to her friends at Carmarthen.

The statistics of the Police Court of Newcastle-upon-Tyne show incon- testably an increase of drunken cases on the Sunday since the now Beer Act has been in operation.

A complication of disasters has occurred on the Leeds Northern Rail- way, with a surprising escape from a wholesale sacrifice of life. The Bramhope tunnel, more than two miles long, is pierced through a hill abounding in water, which gave much trouble in its construction. The line through it rises from North to South ; and trains coming South to Leeds are provided with an additional engine. On Tuesday morning, a train passed through the tunnel for Leeds at half-past eight; and the man at the South end signalled to the North end, "All clear." An hour after this a train en- tered from the North. It consisted of two engines and tenders and eleven carriages, the centre carriage being an open one, filled with Iriah reapers; altogether there were about two hundred passengers. When the train had proceeded half-way through the tunnel, the first engine dashed into a large mass of stones and rubbish lying across the rails; and no powerful were the engines that both of them and one of the tenders ran over a considerable quantity of this rubbish, and the fore-wheels of the second tender were dragged over so much of it that the tender afterwards stood at an in- clination nearly equal to that of the roof of an ordinary building. The shock of the concussion drove the passengers against the sides and ends of the carriages and against each other with great violence, inflicting cuts and bruises and more serious injuries upon many. The driver of the first engine, John Graham, was severely crushed in the back and loins, but the other driver and both the stokers escaped comparatively unhurt. Thomas Porritt, the guard, sustained such wounds as to place his life in danger. The shock caused the coupling-chains of the fifth and sixth carriages to break ; and the five hindmost carriages, with the guard's van, began to de- scend the decline to Arthington station, near the tunnel, with great speed. Porritt, however, notwithstanding his dreadful hurts, managed to put on the breaks, and the carriages were brought up at Arthington station. Scarcely, however, had the carriages begun to slacken their pace, and before a single passenger could alight, when the truck filled with Irish reapers, which had also become detached, was seen descending the decline with frightful velocity; and it dashed into the five carriages with a force so great that the truck was shivered to pieces, and the Irishmen were flung in all directions—fortunately not far enough to be thrown over the embankment, which is very high at that point. Several of the Irishmen were a good deal hurt, but none fatally ; while the passengers in the five carriages suffered more from this second concussion than they had done from the first one inside the tunnel. Immediately after the collision in the tunnel, the drivers and stokers hur- ried from their engines and tenders : and most fortunate it was they did so ,.-- for scarcely were they clear of them when a large mass of the roofing and. the superincumbent earth and loose rock fell in with a terrific crash, bury- ing engines and tenders beneath. The passengers in the carriages in the- tunnel were removed as quickly as possible. No one was killed on the spot, but thirty or forty passengers were more or less hurt. On examining the tunnel, it appeared that the stone arch had given way for fifteen feet of its length by eleven feet in width ; and that an immense mass of earth and stones had poured down, nearly filling part of the large tunnel. Much more of the arch of the tuuuel is cracked and depressed, and will have to be removed. The reinstatement of the tunnel will occupy weeks, if not months.

The first " accident " since the opening of the line, seven years since, has just occurred on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. It arose from a gross disobedience of orders by two men, not in the Company's service. They were unloading at Chick station four trucks of wheat belonging to their toaster; the waggons were in a siding ; a pointsmau told them not to move any of the waggons till the goods-train had passed ; but while he was attending to the signals, the men unhooked one of the waggons, and it ran on to the main line. At that moment the goods-train came up, and ran into the waggon. Blackburn, the driver, was dreadfully scalded, and he soon died. The two men who caused the mischief have been committed on a charge of manslaughter.

A man and his wife have been drowned in the Hollinwood branch of the Manchester and Ashton Canal, by falling into deep water while attempting to cross a swing-bridge at night, the two portions of which had become separated—apparently blown apart by the wind.

Mrs. Watts, wife of a retired surgeon living at New Brighton in Cheshire,, has caused her own death by taking a decoction of tobacco. Mrs. Watts was ailing; she said she would have no medical advice but that of her husband. Unfortunately, she did not even obtain that; but, on her own mere notion that decoction of tobacco would do her good, she made some, and swallowed enough to kill five people.

Charlotte Challice, a lady's-maid in service at Ramsgate, has committed suicide by throwing herself off the cliff near Pegwell Bay.

Mr. Ashby's flour-mills at Beddington, near Croydon, were burnt down on Tuesday. Engines arrived from London before one from Croydon, close by, could be got to the spot.

The origin of the recent fire at Gloucester Cathedral has been -traced with tolerable certainty to the spontaneous combustion of some cotton rags, satu- rated with oil and turpentine, which the workmen had incautiously left in a pew after using them to polish the Bishop's throne.

The Hertford authorities are building a sewer which will empty its con- tents into the New River, whence water is supplied to the town itself as well as to the Metropolis. A brilliant "sanitary improvement" !

Several of the canals in the manufacturing districts have ceased to be available for traffic in consequence of the long drought having greatly di- minished the water in them. .

Numbers of deluded people are still leaving comfortable homes in the counties of Carmarthen and Glatnorgan to join the Hormone at Salt Lake.