LIST OF FAIRS. ORIGIN OF FAIRS.-When bishops and abbots observed that crowds of people assembled to celebrate the festivals of their patron saints, they applied to the crown for charters to hold fairs at those times, for the accommodation of strangers, and with a view to increase their own reve nues by the tolls which their charters authorised them to levy at these fairs. Hence the multitude of attendants increased, some of whom were actuated by religious, and others by commercial views. YORKSHIRE. Aberford, last monday in April and May; first monday in October; first monday after Oc| tober 18; first monday after November 2. Adwalton, February 6; March 9; Easter thursday; and every thursday fortnight after, till Michaelmas. Aldborough, September 4. Appletreewick, October 26, 27. Askrig, May 10, 17; first thursday in June, October 28, 29. Astwick, thursday before Whit sunday. Bawtry, Whit thursday; November 22. Beverley, thursday before February 25; Holy Bolton, June 28. Boroughbridge, April 27, 28; June 22, 23; August 16, 17; October 23; December 13, 14. Bradfield, June 17; December 9. Bradford, March 3, 4; June 17, 18, 19; December 9, 10, 11. Brundsburton, May 15; cattle market every alternate wednesday, commencing with the principal Stallion show nearest wednesday to April 8. Brawby, first monday after July 11. Burlington, monday before Whitsunday; Oct. 21. Corwold, August 25. Dewsbury, wednesday before May 13; wednesday before October 11. Doncaster, Feb. 2; April 5; August 5; Nov. 16. Driffield, Easter and Whit mondays; August 26; September 19. Easingwold, July 5; September 25. Egton, tuesday before February 14; May 13; Grassington, March 4; April 24; June 29; Sep. 26 Guisborough, last tuesdays in March and April; third tuesday in May, August, and September; second tuesday in November. Gaisburn, Easter monday; second and fourth mondays after; saturday after the fourth monday; fifth monday after Easter; September 18, 19. Halifax, June 24; first saturday in November. Harewood, last monday in April; second mon day in October. Hawes, Whit tuesday; September 28. Hedon, February 14; August 2; September 22 ; November 17; December 6. A market eve ry other monday in the year. Helmsley, May 19; July 16; October 2; Nov. 6. Holmfirth, October 30. Hornsea, August 13; December 17. Howden, April 15, 16, 17; September 23 and six following days (the great horse fair); and every alternate fuesday for horses & cattle. Huddersfield, March 31; May 14; October 4. Hull, second tuesday in April for cattle, &c.; October 11, 12; Wool markets, two last tuesdays in June, all the tuesdays in July, and first two tuesdays in August. Hunmanby, May 6; October 29. Ingleton, November 17. Keighley, May 8; November 8. Kettlewell, July 6; September 2. Kilham, August 21; November 12. Kirbymoorside, Whit wednesday; September 18. Kirkham, Trinity monday. Knaresborough, wednesday after January 13; Leeds, July 10, 11; November 8, 9. Leyburn, second fridays in February, May, October, and Decǝmber. Long Preston, March 1; September 29. Malton, monday before Palm sunday; Whit sunday eve; October 11, 12. Marsden, April 25; July 10; September 25; Masham, September 17, 18. Middleham, Easter & Whit mondays; Nov. 5, 6. Moor Kirk, June 24. Northallerton, February 14; May 5; September 5; October 3; second wednesday in October, for cheese. North Duffield, May 4. Otley, August 1; November 15. Patrington, March 28; July 18; December 6. Penniston, thursday before February 28; last thursday in March; thursday before May 12; thursday after October 11. Pickering, monday before February 14; monday before May 13; September 25; monday before November 23. Pocklington, March 7; May 6; Aug. 5; Nov. 8. Pontefract, first saturday after the 20th day from December 25; February 5; first saturday after February 13; saturday before Palm sunday, Low sunday, and Trinity sunday respectively; saturday after Sept. 12; first saturday in December. The fortnight fairs are held on saturdays after the York fortnight fairs. Reeth, friday before Palm sunday; second friday before May 13; friday before August 21; second friday before November 22. Richmond, saturday after Candlemas; saturday before Palm sunday; first saturday in July September 25. Ripley, Easter mon. & tues.; August 25, 26, 27 Ripon, thursday after January 13; May 12, 13; first thursday in June; thursday after August 22; November 22. Rotherham, Whit monday; December 1. Sedburgh, March 10; October 29. Selby, Easter tuesday; June 29; October 11. Settle, tuesday before Palm sunday; thursday before Good friday; and every other friday till Whit sunday; April 26; August 18 to 21 tuesday after October 27. HULL DOCK COMPANY. DIRECTORS. Chairman of the Dock Company, Thomas Firbank, Esq. George Liddell, Edward Foster Coulson, Wm. Jackson, Wm. Simpson, Secretary, Mr. Wm. Henry Huffam. Superintendent, Mr. Edw. Coleman. Receiver of Dock Dues, Mr. Thomas Edward Radford. Resident Engineer, Mr. Edward Welsh. Solicitor, Charles Frost, Esq. HULL DOCK COMMISSIONERS Appointed by the Act 7th and 8th Victoria, cap. 103, sec. 214, for certain purposes connected with the Trade and Business of the Docks, Haven, and Quays, at the Port of Hull. Appointed by the Dock Company-James Henwood, Thomas Firbank. Thomas Bentley Locke, John Tall, Thomas Ward Glendow, Edmund Smith. Samuel Hall Egginton, John Sadler, Anthony W. Young, and John Leaper, Esquires. The Mayor, of the Borough of Hull, for the time being. Appointed by the Town Council-William Priest, Robert Blyth, and William Batchelor Brownlow, Aldermen. Merchants or Ship Owners appointed by the Town Council-Henry Smith Bright and Samuel Talbot Hassell, Esquires. Appointed by the Corporation of Trinity House-John Hall, William Collinson. and John Alder, Esquires, Elder Brethren. Merchants or Ship Owners appointed by the Corporation of Trinity HouseThomas Wilson and Robert P. Keighley, Esquires. Clerk to the Commissioners, Mr. Holden. HULL POST OFFICE. Mr. RICHARD MOSEY, Postmaster. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF THE MAILS. **The latest Time Letters can be received for despatch by the several Mails, on payment of the usual Fee, is as follows:-Scarborough, 45 minutes past 4 afternoon;-Liverpool, 15 minutes past 8 morning, and 30 minutes past 5 afternoon;-First London Mail, 50 minutes past 6 afternoon;-Second London Mail, 20 minutes past 9 night. DELIVERIES BY LETTER CARRIERS three times a-day, viz. 8 a. m., and half-past 3 and 6 p. m. POST-OFFICE ORDERS may be obtained at the Post-Office; for sums not exceeding £2, the charge is threepence; above £2 and not exceeding £5, sixpence.-Open from nine o'clock in the morning to six in the evening. The Receving Houses are in Waverley-Street, Machell-Street, Carlisle-Street, and Witham; stamped and unpaid letters only received by them. RATES OF POSTAGE.-Not exceeding ounce, 1d.;-exceeding ounce and not exceeding 1 ounce 2d.;-exceeding 1 ounce and not exceeding 2, 4d.; exceeding 2 ounces and not exceeding 3 6d. and 2d. for every additional ounce, so far as 16 ounces: beyond which weight no ordinary letter or packet is allowed to pass, but are forwarded to the dead letter office. : Letters to be Registered must be sent to the Post Office half an hour before the Box is closed for the particular Mail by which they are to be despatched; the charge is one shilling, which with the Postage, must be paid at the time of Registration. ORIGIN OF FAIRS.-When bishops and abbots observed that crowds of people assembled to celebrate the festivals of their patron saints, they applied to the crown for charters to hold fairs at those times, for the accommodation of strangers, and with a view to increase their own revenues by the tolls which their charters authorised them to levy at these fairs. Hence the multitude of attendants increased, some of whom were actuated by religious, and others by commercial views. YORKSHIRE. Aberford, last monday in April and May; first monday in October; first monday after Oc| tober 18; first monday after November 2. Adwalton, February 6; March 9; Easter thursday; and every thursday fortnight after, till Michaelmas. Aldborough, September 4. Appletreewick, October 26, 27. Askrig, May 10, 17; first thursday in June, October 28, 29. Astwick, thursday before Whit sunday. Bawtry, Whit thursday; November 22. Beverley, thursday before February 25; Holy Bolton, June 28. Boroughbridge, April 27, 28; June 22, 23; August 16, 17; October 23; December 13, 14. Bradfield, June 17; December 9. Bradford, March 3, 4; June 17, 18, 19; December 9, 10, 11. Brundsburton, May 15; cattle market every al ternate wednesday, commencing with the principal Stallion show nearest wednesday to April 8. Brawby, first monday after July 11. Burlington, monday before Whit sunday; Oct. 21. Cave, Trinity monday; second monday after old Michaelmas day for cattle. Cawood, May 13; September 23. Clapham, September 21. Corwold, August 25. Dewsbury, wednesday before May 13; wednesday before October 11. Doncaster, Feb. 2; April 5; August 5; Nov. 16. Driffield, Easter and Whit mondays; August 26; September 19. Easingwold, July 5; September 25. Egton, tuesday before February 14; May 13; Grassington, March 4; April 24; June 29; Sep. 26 Guisborough, last tuesdays in March and April; third tuesday in May, August, and September; second tuesday in November. Guisburn, Easter monday; second and fourth mondays after; saturday after the fourth monday; fifth monday after Easter; September 18, 19. Halifax, June 24; first saturday in November. Harewood, last monday in April; second mon day in October. Hawes, Whit tuesday; September 28. Hedon, February 14; August 2; September 22; November 17; December 6. A market eve ry other monday in the year. Helmsley, May 19; July 16; October 2; Nov. 6. Holmfirth, October 30. Hornsea, August 13; December 17. Knaresborough, wednesday after January 13; Leeds, July 10, 11; November 8, 9. Leyburn, second fridays in February, May, October, and Decǝmber. Long Preston, March 1; September 29. Malton, monday before Palm sunday; Whit sunday eve; October 11, 12. Marsden, April 25; July 10; September 25; Maskam, September 17, 18. Middleham, Easter & Whit mondays; Nov. 5, 6. Moor Kirk, June 24. Northallerton, February 14; May 5; September 5; October 3; second wednesday in October, for cheese. North Duffield, May 4. Otley, August 1; November 15. Patrington, March 28; July 18; December 6. Penniston, thursday before February 28; last thursday in March; thursday before May 12; thursday after October 11. Pickering, monday before February 14; monday before May 13; September 25; monday before November 23. Pocklington, March 7; May 6; Aug. 5; Nov. 8. Pontefract, first saturday after the 20th day from December 25; February 5; first saturday after February 13; saturday before Palm sunday, Low sunday, and Trinity sunday respectively; saturday after Sept. 12; first saturday in December. The fortnight fairs are held on saturdays after the York fortnight fairs. Reeth, friday before Palm sunday; second friday before May 13; friday before August 24; second friday before November 22. Richmond, saturday after Candlemas; saturday before Palm sunday; first saturday in: July September 25. Ripley, Easter mon. & tues.; August 25, 26, 27 Ripon, thursday after January 13; May 12, 13; first thursday in June; thursday after August 22; November 22. Rotherham, Whit monday; December 1. Sedburgh, March 10; October 29. Selby, Easter tuesday; June 29; October 11. Settle, tuesday before Palm sunday; thursday before Good friday; and every other friday till Whit sunday; April 26; August 18 to 21 tuesday after October 27. Sheffield, Trinity tuesday; November 28. Sherburn, October 6. Skipton, March 23; Palm sunday Eve; Easter Eve; first & third tuesday after Easter; Whit sunday Eve; August 5; November 20, 22. Slaidburn, Feb. 14; April 15; August 1; Oct. 20. Snaith, last thursday in April; August 10; first friday in September. Stamford Bridge, December 1, 2; if the first of December falls on a saturday, the fair is always held on monday and tuesday following. Stokesley, saturday before Trinity sunday. Tadcaster, last wednesday in April, May, & Oct. Thirsk, Shrove monday; April 5; August 3, 4, 5; October 28, 29; December 14. Thorne, monday, tuesday, and wednesday after June 11; same days after October 11. Tollerton, August 15. Topcliffe, July 17, 18. Wakefield, July 4, 5; November 11, 12. Wetherby, Holy thursday; August 5; October Yarm, thursday before April 5; Holy thursday; York, principal fairs, Whit monday; July 10; August 12; November 22. Principal markets, every other thursday in the year. Principal fairs for horses, monday in the race week, and monday in the first whole week before December 25. LINCOLNSHIRE. Alford, Whit tuesday; November 8. Barton, Trinity thursday. Belton, September 25. Boston, May 4 for sheep, 5 for beasts; August 5 for fat cattle; November 18, 19, 20, horse mart; December 11, beast mart. Bourn, May 6; September 30; October 29. Burgh, May 13; October 2. Caistor, saturday before Palm sunday; Whit saturday; saturday after October 11. Caythorpe, second friday after Good friday. Corby, August 26; monday before October 11. Crowland, June 28; September 4. Crowle, last monday in May; November 22. Donington, May 26; September 4; October 17. Epworth, first thursday after May 1; thursday after September 29. Falkingham, Ash wednesday; Palm monday; May 13; June 14, 15; July 3, 4; thursday after old Michaelmas; November 22. Gainsborough, Mart, tuesday in Easter week, Fair, day after; tuesday after October 20. Grantham, fifth monday in Lent; Easter Eve; Holy thursday; July 10; Oct. 26; Dec. 17. Grimsby, June 17; September 15. Harey, July 5. Heckington, wednesday before Lincoln April sheep fair; October 10. Holbeach, May 17; second tuesday in September; October 11. Horncastle, June 22; August 21; October 29; Mart, thursday after Midlent. Kirton-Lindsey, July 18; December 11. Lincoln, first thursday after second tuesday after April 12 for sheep, friday for beasts; monday and tuesday in the same week for horses; July 5; first wednesday after September 12, three days; November 28. Long Sutton, May 13, 14; friday after Sept. 25. Louth, third mon. after Easter mon.; Aug.5; old Martinmas Day; fri. before Sep. 18, and fri. before Oct. 28, for fat and lean stock; fat stock market every alternate friday. Iudford, August 2; November 30. Messingham, Trinity monday. Partney, August 1, 25; Sept. 18, 19; first we nesday & thursday after Old Michaelmas da Saltfleet, October 3. Stamford, tuesday before February 13; monday before Midlent; Midlent monday; monday before May 12; June 25; August 5; Nov. 8. Stockwith, September 4. Stow, October 10. Stow-Green, July 3, 4. Swaton, October 11. Swineshead, second thursday in June; October 2 (cheese fair). Swinstead, monday after October 11. market first thursday in October, and following weeks during the season. Tedford, monday after Easter monday; Dec. 6. Tetney, first monday in old July. Torksey, Whit monday. Wainfleet, third saturday in May; July 5; August 24; October 24, Winteringham, July 14. Winterton, tuesday before Palm sunday; Sep. 23 Wrugby, Holy thursday; September 29. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. ter October 3, for hops; November 1; monday before December 11, for cattle & horses. Nottingham, friday after January 13; thursday before Easter; May 7, principally for cattle; March 7, 8, 9, for cattle, cheese, &c.; October 2, 3, 4. Ollerton, May-day, for cattle; September 27, for hops. Retford, March 23; first thursday after June 11; last thursday in July; October 2, 3; second thursday in December. Southwell, Whit monday, for cattle, horses, &c. Tuxford, May 12, for cattle, sheep, and swine; September 25. 28. for hous. Worksop, second wednesday in April; second wednesday in October. Abstracts of Acts of Parliament passed in 1850. 13th and 14th Victoria. MERCANTILE MARINE ACT.-"A bill for improving the condition of masters, mates, and seamen, and maintaining discipline in the merchant service." Central and Local Boards.-All matters relating to the Mercantile Marine are by this Act placed under the superintendence of the Board of Trade, assisted by two paid officers. Local Boards are to be established in all Sea ports that have employed a registered tonnage of 30,000 tons foreign going ships, to have the management for such port under the superintendence of the Board of Trade. Such Local Board to consist of the Mayor or Provost, and Stipendiary Magistrate of the place, four members appointed by the Board of Trade, and six members to be elected by Shipowners, who are to have one vote for every 250 tons of foreign going shipping they hold up to ten votes. Lists of parties entitled to vote are to be made out every third year, by the Collector of Customs, to be revised by two justices. Examination of Masters and Mates.-All persons who intend to become masters or mates must undergo an examination by examiners appointed by the Local Board, upon such plans as may be determined by the Board of Trade, who will grant to every applicant, reported to have passed his examination satisfactorily, a "certificate of competency." All persons serving as masters or mates before Janu ry 1st, 1851, may have a "Certificate of Service" without examination or payment of fees. And where the Board of Trade see fit they may also give to such parties a certificate of competency. Any master or mate convicted of misdemeanour under this Act, or if the Board of Trade or a Local Board consider him, and he is proved to be, incompetent to discharge his duties from gross incompetency, drunkeness or tyranical habits, his certificate may be cancelled-but one may be afterwards granted if the Board of Trade see fit. No foreign going ship shall proceed to sea unless the master and first and second mates (if there are two) possess valid certificates of competency to be produced to the Customs before clearing. There are penalties for false representations, forging or altering, or neglecting to give up certificates, &c. Shipping Offices and Shipping Masters.-These offices and masters are to be appointed by the Local Board, with clerks, &c., and to fix wages, regulate the business, &c. The general business of the shipping masters is to afford facilities for engaging seamen, by keeping registries of their names and characters, to superintend and facilitate their engagement and discharge, to provide means for securing the presence on board, at the proper times, of men who are so engaged, and to perform such other duties in respect of seamen are committed to them. as Fees are to be payable upon engagements and discharges, to be altered in amount from time to time by the Board of Trade, but not to exceed certain sums fixed by a schedule, which fees are to be paid in the first instance by the owner, or master, but partially repaid by the seamen, by deduction from his wages. Agreements with Seamen.-Every master of a ship shall on carrying any seaman to sea as one of his crew, enter into an agreement with him, sanctioned and issued by the Board of Trade, dated at the time of the first signature thereof, signed by the master before any seaman signs the same, and shall contain the following particulars as terms thereof:-1. The nature, and, as far as practicable, the length of the voyage or engagement on which the ship is to be employed. 3. The time at which each seaman is to be on board or to begin work. 3. The capacity in which each seaman is to serve. 4. The amount of wages which each seaman is to receive. 5. A scale of the provisions which are to be furnished to each seaman. 6. Any regulations as to conduct on board, and as to fines, short allowance of provisions, or other lawful punishments for misconduct, which have been sanctioned by the Board of Trade as regulations proper to be adopted, and which the parties agree to adopt. And shall be so framed as to admit of stipulations, to be adopted at the will of the master and seaman in each case, as to advance and allotment of wages; and may contain any other stipulations which are not contrary to law. These agreements are to be in duplicate, one to be retained at the Shipping-office, the other to be kept by the master: they are to be produced to the shipping master before sailing, and again within forty-eight hours after arrival. Any seaman's right to wages and provisions shall be taken to commence either at the time at which he commences work or at the time specified in the agreement for his commencement of work or presence on board, which ever first happens; this enactment shall not prejudice the infliction of any lawful punishment, forfeiture, or fine; nor shall any seaman be entitled to wages for any period during which he refuses or neglects to work whea required, whether before or after the time fixed by the agreement for his beginning work. Any seaman who has signed an agreement, and who is discharged before the commencemt of the voyage, or before one month's wages are earned, without fault on his part justifying his discharge, and without his consent, shall be entitled to receive from the master or owner, in addition to any wages he may have earned, due compensation for the damage thereby caused to him, not exceeding one month's wages. Advance Notes.-These notes are to be in forms sanctioned by the Board of Trade, with blanks for the number of days within which the notes are to be payable; no advance note is to be given except in the presence of a shipping master, and four hours after the agreement has been signed, which agreement is to contain an accurate statement of the amount of such note. Miscellaneous. Every place in any ship occupied by seamen and apprentices shall have a space of nine superficial feet for the use of each adult, to be kept free from goods or stores belonging to the ship, and every such place shall be properly constructed and ventilated. Inspectors of Medicine are to be appointed-fines (not exceeding £20) to be paid for supplying bad medicines, lime juice, &c. ; proper weights and measures are to be kept on board by every master, to be used at the time of serving out provisions, &c., in the presence of a witness if there is any dispute about quantities. Offences of Semen.-Punishments and penalties are provided for seamen neglecting to join their ships, for desertion, and refusal to perform duty. For any of the following offences, on due proof thereof, and entry in the log book at the time, they may be summarily punished by a justice by imprisonment, with or without hard labour, not exceeding the following, viz:-1. Twelve weeks for wilfully damaging the ship, or embezzling or wilfully damaging any of her stores or cargo. 2. Twelve weeks for assaulting any master or mate. 3. Four weeks for wilful disobedience to any lawful command. 4. Twelve weeks for continued |