The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

FRANCE --_......_____ OIIR oval :ToßtusalsoNDENT.) ?Anis, TUESDAY EVENING. ~,T h e Berlin teleg rap h b r i ngs the news to-day that 'ere is to be no armistice, but merely a suspension '0 hostilities. This fact, however, has not had any !ect in diminishing the engouement for peace t e icb. exists i n thi s c i ty. The Berlin telegraph : 1111 8 also that Prussia is to take part in the Con lerences, Austria, France, and Russia having in- Th ed her to do so; as to England, the telegraph 1) 84 Y 8 she h es i tates to allow the admission of rllBBl e. My own inf orma ti on l ea d s ere 51ieve that the telegraph is in error as regards „ ngla nd• What l am i n f ormed i s t h at the French to is d es i rous of having Prussia to take part the conferences, because he intends, after the that of th e peace question, to demand that at Part of the treaties of 1815, which prohibit the ish"eParte famil y f rom ever reigning in France,Bll4ll abolished, an d t h at t h e a b olition thereof b bee signed by th e very powers t h at s i gned the unfPnal treat 'e y- And lam assur e d th a t E ng l a nd theyflrdiallY seconds him in thi s d es i re , an d th a t e f„ re she will not 'oppose the admis ;,°ll of Prussia ; indeed, it was on l y to p l ease t h e ;T eac h Em peror still further i n th e ma tt er i n question that she p ropose d P ar i s as the place of conference. The confid da I 'nee in peace become s s t ronger every le have seen o, private letter written by Count Z a. "enea Minister of Forei gn Aff a i rs , i n • 1 Says ',hat h e h as every reason to believe ! 1 Peace. TLe article in whi c h th e J ourna l o f S t. 4-re t6Bbur g announced th e acce pt ance of the Z 1 E4 , 1141 1 propositions has reached P ar i s t o -d ay, 18, on the whole, considered as very concilia of; n ay, more, it is h e ld t o b e a sort o f confession Ru ssia, that she is completely exhausted by the *at 11 , 4 kcoo i r dng to the C onst i tut i onnel, M. Hubner, o 's ustran Ambassador in this city will, with ° u/It Buol, represent Austria in the conferences, `lld Turkey will be represented by Fuad Effendi, kinister of Foreign Affairs, and Mehemed Bon Ambassador in Paris. • 41 1 the accounts received in this city from Swe- L ' 4 en, say, that the prospect of peace with Russia taused the greatest dissatisfaction in that v'oltb:try. It is really amUsing " 1 to read the foreign p a p ers Fran t t his moment : accordin g t o th em, E ngland and ce have not had the honour of reducing Russia to submission by powers their arms, b ut i t is the neutral that have done so. Thus the Vienna papers S ay, that it wasth Austri a t h at b rought about peace— s Berlin papers say that it was P russ i a ,— t h e IZBthat it was Saxony; the B avar i an, t h at it Bavaria and the Dutch, that it was Holland . ' o n% the journals of Naples soon claim the h ° tit for King Bomba? on ill;The wife of the Minister of the Interior, M; tultthl , who di e d on S unday, has been buried to- Y with a great d ea l of pomp. 1. ;41110U will remember that I told you that the lous article in the Moniteur rebuking the Senate its apathy in matters 'that the Constitution itl ea "( s to its charge, and its meddling with other well ttt ers that concerned it not, was considered in •informed quar".ers a proof that the govern- Illent c ontemplated the adoption of financial 111" i: ti es of a'n unpopular character which it Is'is , --e(1 ; t he Sienate to take the responsibility of r il :' - o r s ' n g• It turns out that this view is the cot.- • e ' r h% the Senate is now stated to be secretly lif e 7iielin d rawing up a scheme for transferring Pover ass urance from private companies to the equalins-,,e11t,---and has other measures of an thY Socialist" character in view. It is said, 8 0 18 :: wmat by means of the Senate the government -"ernplates the dissolution of, or a great modifi a,7l" in, the Polytechnic School. Several pupils 11 -e l th is very day, I understand, bees dismissed 1 1: ‘ , 1 41av in''' signed an address of condolence to the - "w of the late David (d'Angers), a great 1,--▪ eullitor----a noted republican—and several others 4.lftve to • consequence resigned. •TI of u le followct in :.2.7 appeared in our Ext ra Edi t i ons oresterday TIIE CONFERE NCES E XCLUSION OF PRUSSIA born": Lo ndon P os t says : " We believe we will be pe r f ec tl y That p °o t by the result, when we emphatically declare, 'Whate,er : nB sia will not b e a d m i tted to the conferences, ando is l w be th e i mpress i on at Berlin on the subject r t l li ot truemay- that F has withdrawn her oosition, The brii.the British rance cabinet alone will raise p o p bstacl . es. Power Igere nte onl with Austria as the mediating t°° Pisn e :tp a k.e part 3 " r in , the conferences which are about in the o i . Prussia having chosen to take no part war, and , . . Europkeilator, ro ust ' bneaving no recognised status as the Euro- • , ve Ignore an Content to see the other powers of e do r influence which she has allowed to Wa nt, good ' 414 aPo T • offices which she has never exercised, Pritssia herself sll " 111 Europe as a first-rate power which unlikely, has voluntary abandoned. It is not Pra ; that if a treaty of peace be concluded, that then Ze" may be invited to give her signature to a docu -.11! of. -European acceptance, but in its forming she :I n take no part.'' 4liush.e Paris correspondent of the Times says,—The conpn despatches completing and confirming the un wer ltional acceptance of the Austrian prepositions, e„,Le received at Vienna on the 23rd. The rotocol arT i k d Ying these proposition s has been signed at Vienna, Th ose uas already been received at Paris and London. acm e who conduct the negociations, and who, at the a i r ti ttle, are members of cabinets, will be considered that ist p l enipotentiaries on the occasion. It is believed 2, e Plenipotentiaries will meet in Paris on the 17th "''Pebroli.y, that very little time will be lost in dis ceuisio ut and that the whole will be brought to pl'.r, co nclusion by the 25th. Matters should be anirranged that not t h e slightest shadow of excuse 11 W exist for applying to St. Petersburg or Vienna for fresh instructions. The moment that such a pretext is li p ong ged, trickery may be suspected. At p resent every 'L augurs a favourable and speedy result. THE EAST. MARSEILLES', WEDNESDAY. w T h The placeEorshe thenes has arr i ved from Constantinople, h gia ic f the left on • th e 21st. The acceptance by ]'no Austri an an 1 ~! 1. It produc e d pro p o sition was k nown on the . itnrnense sensati on. A courier W,l, im me di a t e ly despatched to the C r i mea where it is understood hostiliti es are suspended. he son o f Sti r b ey i s expected at the third on CI.: Principalities. conference TOWN COUNCIL-YESTERDAY IA special meeting of the tow n council was held at . eliven o'clock, for the purpose of considering the provisions of the proposed Birkenhead dock bill. The mayor, john Steivaft, Esq., occupied the'chair The Mayor said, this being t. syleci council, for the purpose of considering the Etirirenhead docks bill, it would be necessary that the cotincit thould form themselves into a committee. Mn nernby 'moved that the council resolve into a core. Mr. Lloyd seconded the motion, which The Tos6 Clerk 1 took eteeptiOn to the council adopting plans which would lead to the expenditure of £850,000 ; but, upon the suggestion of the mayor, postponed his remarks until the Cla'Uses embodying the plans came before the council. The preamble was then passed. The short title the " Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks Act, 856." Clauses up to 12, which were merely format, vvete thelrearnbre of tho Mr. Hodsu the town clerk, and pateed without disctssi ause was as fol Tows of the act is, posited w cl sections have been de- 'III.—And where ith tlie'clerk of the peace for the county of Chester, ettsin nuts , and altered works in connection with the eke, which it is proposed and intended to substi stead of certain' parts of th'e docks and works hPretefore authorised '•o be constructed, and which, by t The Birke•thead Docks Act, 1855,' the corporation were required to construct and complete in accordance with the then snii gist* plans, and also showing the line, situation, mad levels or therefore-, subject 3f this a, the corporation niav a' sl•all construct id maintain the said new and, altered works, the said deposited plans and sections, and may and the construction and completion of all such parts and works heretofore authorised as shall he ren- . „ „.. ❑nneces , ary by or incompatible with the execution of d new and altered worksi and all such new and altered Rimll be constructed either upon the lands now belong- ?oration, or upon lands which they may acquire This clause had reference to the plans prepared by Mr. Hartley, and approved of by the dock committee, and, subse quently, at the council. Tim estimated cost was £850,000. Mr. Hodson said the subject was one which very naturally people wou'd say belonged rather to a commercial man than it possibly could to him. But the subject had been so much dis cussed in Liverpool since the question of an amalgamation between Liverpool and Birkenhead commenced, and the sub ject involved such a very large amount of money, that he had had several communications made to him by mercantile men, that he had a seat in the council, requested that who, knov he would saKe part in the discussion that day. He could assure the council that he approached the subject with very great diffidence, because he was quite aware there were gentle men in the room long connected with commercial matters, and who had devoted long and laborious time to the interests of Liverpool, connected with the dock estate. He, therefore, hoped Ley would consider that the remarks he felt called upon to make that day were made in a spirit for the best of the. town of which they were all governors; and believing, as he conscientiously did, that the subject now before the council was one of vast importance to Liverpool, he hoped he should be patiently listened to in the remarks he had to make. Ire fully agreed, and had always agreed, that it was wise of Liverpool to become connected and amalgamated with Birkenhead. In fact, be was very young when the subject first entered into the minds of the people of Liverpool, and even then he thought it an unwise policy to have sold Birkenhead. He regretted when Mr. Bramley-Moore was chairman of the dock committee that he did not at that time get Birkenhead. But time rolled on, and it was at last, thought fit, in the wisdom of the council, with which he fully agreed, that they should get Birkenhead. They obtained Birkenhead, and, he believed, at a cost of nearly £1,200,000. This was, he admitted, one step in the right road, providing that caution and prudence were used with the estate. But they were now tilled upon to carry out the act of parliament, which, if car ried out in its entirety, would involve an amount of expendi ture to the town which it was dreadful to contemplate, and upon which no remunerative interest could be brought to bear, and he therefore did think they were called upon to consider carefully the question before them, and .to ask upon what ground they were required to expei.d an amount which he held to be totally unnecessary , at the present time, and why they could not make those dock• , vailable for the present for the purposes of commerce, with some smaller outlay than that proposed by this bill, and go on con structing the work as time might require and as businesss might improve ? Now he was no+ speaking merely his own views. He was speaking upon the views of an engineer of great celebrity. lie had gone across the water several times, for the purpose of going over the entirety of the estate with men whom he considered well qualified to judge of the question, and who might fairly give an honest opinion. The only way in which they Could judge of a question of such importance was by what was before them ; and therefore they had facts now which he should point to. He had watched the rise and progress of Liverpool ; and every man who took an interest in his native town, must be proud of the progress Liverpool bad made. She had gone on more rapidly than almost any commercial town in the world ; and he might say, without fear of contradiction, that no commercial town in the world had risen more rapidly. Ile was not exactly certain as to the amount, but ho thought they might take the money tail out already as about £1,200,000. In addition to that, £850,000 was now proposed to h e laid out within two years. In this case, as in others, he looked with su , picion at the estimated co.t of works, and thought it more than probable bat a consideranly larger sum would be required than the So far as he could judge the expenditure would £850,000 now ;pokn of . ...,..... he something like £lOO,OOO a year. There they had two millions and more of money laid out, and he had been trying to find out wl:at had been the return from the Birkenhead estate. It would he a farce indeed to mention what the r'turn had been for the last 12 or 18 months. But supposing that Birkenhead went on as rapidly as Liverpool had done, even then it would take more than thirty years to pay the outlay for the interest of the money tl.ey were now about to layout upon these works! It would take 30 yearsabsolutely to pay the interest of the money without one penny for work ing expenses, or anything of that sort. Now he would ask the council whethbr it wa s w i se f or t h em to co and lay out that large sum of money upon a scheme of that sort, which was in a great measure visionary, because they must bear in mind that the Birkenhead dock committee themselves had been working their estate to the best advantage for the last several years. They could all see how it had gone on. He could not understand how the dock committee of Liverpool, and the corporation of Liverpool, with the most ample dock space which they were now procuring at the north end of Liverpool, with the vast sums of money they were also laying out at the south end of Liverpool, with the great improvements they were making in the docks, how on earth they could ever expect to make them profitable works while constructing such large and tremendous works as they now proposed to construct at Birkenhead. An engineer told him—of course it was a subject for discussion, and he would be replied to if he was wrong— that a scheme could he laid out, by which Birkenhead, for about £140,000, could be placed in a position to supply all requirements for a long period, for ten or twelva years. Would it not be a prudent course for them to have laid nut such a scheme, and gone on, year by year, expending little and little, just as the requirements of the port would warrant ? Would that not have been the prudent course, which any man would follow in the management of his own estate ? At the last meeting but one, one of the council, Mr. Hornby, told them very justly, the position of the corporation, and drew a very melancholy picture of the corporate estate of Liverpool. No wonder it was a melancholy picture. He (Mr. Ho ?son) thought it would be a melancholy picture indeed—nothing short of a rate to be levied, under the name of a Birkenhead rate, upon the community, to pay the deficit. He had himself asked the chairman of the dock committee, whether that body would buy the docks? Not they ! until they were a paying concern. He did not blame them, for no man would do so. There was a separate cet"of &Inks, which he did not at all like, kept by the dock committee for the Birkenhead docks, and a separate account for the docks of Liverpool. What did that mean? Why, that every particle of the deficiency which occurred in the working of the Birkenhead dock estate the Liverpool corporation would have to pay. If that were the case, be contended it would involve £50,000 a year for many years to come, before they would ever be able to make these docks a paying concern. Gentlemen might gloss it over with beautiful colours about time rolling on, trade increasing, com merce swelling, and all that, but let them take things as they had existed, and what had Birkenli :ad done for the last eight years? Well did he recollect' wLen if". Jackson in' some o hie glowing s:toeeltes d r' a e • ' would rt'' Liverpo.l. IT.- n Cie t RELEASE OF COLONEL TURR The second edition of the Times contains the following Peror o espatch, dated Vi enna, yesterday morning : —" The Em ,as a mark of consideration for his illustrious A Tu lly, Q ueen Vi ctor i a, has granted a pardon to Colonel rr.' —._,,op.,_______ ENGLAND AND AMERICA The London Post thinks the news of peace will at once exercise considerable influence on the course adopted by President Pierce towards this country. Th e naval ith Power o f E ngland comprises a force, in comparison w which t h e entire navy of the United States is but a weak and in e ffi c i ent squadron, if by the certainty of pea ce it be set at liberty, ready to act in vindication of the national honou r in whatever quarterit may be assailed. The change, therefore, which has recently come over the drama of Europ ean po li tics will, no doubt, have its proper weight it% all reflecting men in the United states ; and they will consider whether, in a point of mere international Punctilio, which has been the subject of explanation and MitV, a war should b e ras h ly and wickedly provoked, a whit; d h would sweep Ameri can commerce from the seas, attack the whole sea b oar d of the union open to the of the greatest naval force in the world. With a Birkenhead don, ~do said to him, " Mr. ilen&un, I feel very Corry fc my native town, but Birkenhead must inevitably ruin Liver. pool." What had been the result? Birkenhead bad ruined itself. It was bankrupt, and this council had taken upon itself the unprofitable concern. He urged that the corpora tion of Liverpool should do for the corporate estate what every wise man wonld d u for himself, and he asked any gentleman in that room whethe r he would involve an esree of his own in debt by making an outlay, unless with some possible chance that there would be a moderate return for that outlay ? He bad asked for a retur n of the Birkenhead estate for mo nths- He had not believed it was so small an that it would be unnecessary for him to mention it, but it could easily be conceived by all the gentlemen in th e room. The gentlem en around him, or some of them, might make very glowing speeches about what would happen here after, and what the Birkenhead dock estate would become; but he was a practical man himself, and 'would wish to see something like an indication of these results. R e saw no increase of Birkenhead ; he did not see that impetus of trade which looked like any of their own dock, ; he did not see any energy there ; the people of Birkenhead shrugged their shoulders, and well they might; they would like to see that corporation bear the whole of the outlay, and they were very glad that Liverpool had taken the estate up. If Liver pool not had not taken it np, thei r streets would be empty, and no no doubt, i, on. There would h e b u i lding going on now He did not wish to take up the time o f th e council any lon ger by going further into tile question, but would move as an amendment upon the clause that it be an tuber of t mittee, got it, ,mount nstruction to the special committee to modify their plan t so as to avoid, as far' as possible the large pre§ent btitlay ieqiureci within so limited a period of time. Mr Beckwith said he had great pleasure in seconding the I amendment Mr. Hornby said he entirely concurred with Mr. Hodson at the undertaking of the . e6rporation Upon the other side of the w a te r Was one of great ,tnagni sede, and that the corporation Ought to look at it with the most treriote ettentioh, and that the utmost care and pru derq't ought to be exercised in regard to it. But'he thought there was great inconsistency in the remarks which had been made by Mr-Hodson. (Hear, hear.) If he understood him correctly, Mr. Hodson had always been an advocate for unitine ahead docks with their otan. dock him, also, to say that he had been tivd'urab becoming possessed or the Birkenhead doeloi; st a cost of doe million sterling. And yet be was tin - Willing that 4 idAesiarlt outlay should be made, for making those docks available for the pftrpOs`cs of commerce. (Hear, hear.) But it would appeal , that s r. Hodson had forgotten th a t th ere was an act of parliament passed, which was now in force, which recited " that, in the first place, it is expedient that, with the smallest possible delay, the Birkenhead docks shall be made available for the purposes of commerce, and that they shall be united under the same management as the Liverpool docks, and that the same rates shall be paid for Bireenh'eads at are [ilia far Liverpool." The act of parliament also enac'ed that the corpo ra/ion should carry out the stork's which Were at piesent auto rised to he ConstruCted at Birkenhead, according to the plans of Rende,ll,—at an expense far exceeding that which the coubtil now 'proposed to lay out ApOn theni ; and unless they proceeded to parliament for poWers to Make the docks available, they would be compelled, by the law as it now stood to carry out those plans which would he far more ex pensive and ie'ry much less issnvewent to the commerce of the port, (Hear, hear.) Now although it was stated in the bill that the works which they proposed to construct Must be made in 'the course of a few years, there could be no doubt that when the Circumstances or the case were repre sented before a committee of the House of Commons, it would be round that the time specified would be wholly inadequate to die carrying out of such plans, and that fur ther reasonable time would be accorded to the object. The ohjest of putting the same date into their bill which was required by the act of last session, was that they should show that they had a genuine intention of carrying out the works with the least possible delay. There were two points which were necessary to make those valuable works useful and profitable to the town of Liverpool. It was absolutely necessary that the pool should be deepened, and that a deep water approach should be made, so as to make it available for the large class of ships which were now built. This, of course, would be done at the least possible expense. It did not follow that because the plans which were now laid upon the table were those proposed to be made, no modification would be made in those plans in the course of construction, which would 'render them more useful for ,commercial purposes, and more economical also. He apprehended that as the council stood at present they had no alternative. They were bound to apply to parliament for power to render the Birkenhead docks available, and the special committee had exercised their • best discretion in employing Mr. Hartley, whose experience in regard to the commerce of Liverpool, and the docks of Liverpool, was greater than that of any other man, and the result of his deliberations had been laid upon the table of the council, Under these circumstances he for his own part, although he was as desirous as Mr. Hodson could be that the expenses should be diminished—because he did not disguise from the council, and he never had disguised from the council, that for many years the corporation would be subject to very con siderable loss as in the case of all the other great undertakings connected with the town by which Liverpool had obtained a commerce so enormous, and had increased so rapidly—he had no hesitation in expressing his own belief, although lie did not wish to give any too-sanguine statement to the council, that eventually the Birkenhead docks would become profitable to the town and to the corporation. (Hear, hear.) But they must have some patience, and must wait several years—there could not be the least doubt of that—and they were all perfectly aware of it, and Mr. Hodson himself was perfectly aware that that must be the case when he consented to give a million sterling for property at present producing such a small return. He did not know that it was necessary for him to say any more. He could only add that the special committee had, to the beet of their judgment, carried out the instructions of the council. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Samuel Holme confessed himself a little surprised at the speech of Mr. Hodson, and thought it would have been .ble that that, gentleman should have made himself a better acquainted with the whole subject before he o: ought it forward.. While, upon the one hand he deprecated very much the discussion of these details in the present posi • two of the transaction with reference to the property in ques tion, yet as they had been brought forward by Mr. Hodson, in his capacity of councillor, it was of course desirable that same reply should go forth. At the same time, - he must again express his regret that the council should be 'drawn into the di.cussion at the present period, when they were assembled for the purpose of considering the clauses of the act 6f parlia ment, which must be investigated, together with the other great questions connected with them, by a committee of the House of Commons. He would first speak with reference to tho period within which the work should be completed, though Mr. Itirnby had already glanced at it, With refer ence to the two years for the completion of the work, gentlenien would remember that there was a clause inserted in the last act by the committee. whiclt compelled them to go to parliament again this year. There was a clause obligatory upon them to carry out the plan of Mr. Rendell, and two years was the time which the committee, in their legislative wis dom, thought fit to allow. But the committee having inserted that clause, had full power to abrogate it when the council went now with a bill before parliament. They could abrogate that clause, and might and would, undoubtedly, give such an extension of time as could reasonably be demanded for the carrying out of the works. For supposing the plans, either of Mr. Reudell or Mr. Hartley to be ultimately adopted, it would be physically impossible that during two years after the passing of the act, they csuld complete the whole of those works.' (Hear, hear.) Then a question would arise as to the transfer of the docks; but that would be a very improper sub ject to moot at the present time, and a subject which did not now bear upon the question before them. They must now deal with Birkenhead as it stood. Parliament had thought fit that the corporation of Liverpool should purchase that pro perty, and the corporation of Liverpool, with the assent of a great majority of the inhabitants of the town, had purchased it, and now stood possessed of that property; and although there might and would he objectors to every great plan of the kind, yet lie did not hesitate to say that that purchase was entirely a wise one, and he had never concealed his opinion from the first time he became a member of the council, that it would have been great wisdom if the council had purchased theproperty years ago instead of delaying it until the present time. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hodson said the pro perty would cost £lOO,OOO a year until it was finished. At the present time gentlemen must remember that it was, liter ally, a mass of mud banks. There was not an entrance int the docks, excepting the small Morpeth dock, and when Mr. Hodson told them that there had been a very small production from the docks, he stated what was perfectly true, because vessels were unable to enter the upper pool to any extent. (Hear, hear.) There was only the small Morpeth dock as a passage, which contained now a few ships. The corporation who possessed between 700,000 and 800,000 square yards of land upon the margin of the pool, had that land lying in an un occupied state, and consequently producing no rental, because there was no entrance, anti the works were incomplete for the admission of vessels. When the works were completed this land would unquestionably be let for shipbuilding purposes, and for manufactures, which they were unable to accommodate at this side of the water. In addition, when these docks were completed, an increase of dock rates must unquestionably accrue, which must be added to the pro duction of the land ripen the margin of the pool, so that although some years must elapse before it would be valuable, the day would ultimately come when it would he a valuable property. Therefore, when Mr. Hodscu asked at that stage of the proceedings what had Birkenhead done, he said it was not fair to ask such a question with regard to unfinished a orks. He ,might ask the same question with regard to any great railway when the works were only half completed and two or three millions expended, what had it produced ? Why, nothing, because the works were unfinished ; but wait until the works were' finished and then there would be a return. He !night: ask what had a house produced for the money spent on it while its walls were yet unfinished and no roof on it? It had produced nothing ; and could produce nothing until more money was spent upon it, until the walls were finished and the roof put on, and then it would enab:e the owner to get rent from a tenant. He might point to a purchase made many years ago by a distin enistsed and sagacious man at the north end of the town.' It was perfectly possible that'Mr. Leigh when he bought t la'rad on the north shore might have been charged with 'prudence, but ;let them look at the result. By the gredual extension of commerce the whole of that land had been brought into play, and had produced an immense fortune for the purchaser's descendants. (Rear, hear.) It might happen that they might, before the committee in parliament make some arrangements for converting the Morpeth dock into an entrance, and leave the proposed entrance for some years to come. They did not know what parliament might do, or what arrangements might be made by the dock committee. But when he looked to the enormous steamers which were coming into the port, he thought it necessary to provide accom modation for that class of vessels. The question what Birkenhead had done, would be answered when the works were completed. Whether they were completed upon Mr. Rendell's plans, Mr. Abernethy's plans, or Mr. Hartley's plans, the works must spread over a great num ber of years, and the corporation could not be forced to do what was impracticable. Therefore, the question put by Mr. Hodson was somewhat premature, and he thought they had only to deal with Birkenhead in the best way to ad i c n a g r carry they possibly could, considering it as an established fact. as they had been compelled in some degree to purchase sp the property, and to lend the whole oftheir aid re it on in the most judicious manner possible, over such a period Of time as parliament would allow, without crippling the corporate funds by going headlong into immense undertakings, of which they might have afterwards to repent. (H ear , hear.) Mr. Pieton did not altogether agree in one remark of Mr. Holme's, although concurring generally with what had fallen from him. That gentleman deprecated discus sion at the present period, considering it premature, and o the corpoiltion NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 185& not calculated to further their objects. lie rather diffeied from that Opinion. He thought the time had come, when the whole question should properly be looked in the face, and that the public of Liverpool generally, had a perfect right to understand the subject In all its bearings. The council had, in all thee did, in reference to, this matter, idted with • the &haat prudence, and propriety, and with :due ,reprd 'foi the interests of the town, They had a very. difficult put to play,,and he believed they had done It to hest of their ability for the interests of the town. • lie thought the tiore the subject . was discussed and the bette r un d e rstood, the bead , koUld the position of the council be, both in reference to Liver pool itself and wherever the proceedings of the council bossessed any interest at !all.- (Hear, hear.) Mr. Picton riefly reviewed the eatiseg which led. to the pt among which a principal_cause was the dentintial dis putes previously going on between Liverpool and Rirkep- Jtead, and which it was felt desirable to rut a stop to. lle believed it was actuated by a feeling of that kind, and not by the hope of any immediate profit, or indeed, any pros pective . profit at all within any reasonable time, that the council stepped in and made an offer to purchase the property, considering that by consolidating all the inter ests of both sides of the river in reference to the commer cial facilities of the port, they should, thus united, be better:able to sustain theit• rights and privileges, and con duct their businesa a§ a cdturriercial port than if they remained a divided community. (Hear, hear.) He b,alieved that ' notwithstanding all the difficulties which surrounded them, the council never took a wiser step than when theY purchased the Birkenhead estate. They took it with certain difficulties before them, not one of Which was not previously foreseen by those whe took an in'erest in the matter. They took it with liabilities to carry out a certain set of plans devised by Mr. Rendell, with the proviso that they should have the option of coming to parliament again this year, and pro posing whatever plans might suggest themselves to the deck committee as likely most to promote the interests of the port. Immediately after that was passed the'special homtnittee put themselves in communication with the dock committee. He thought Mr. Hodson was mistaken in supposing that Mr. Rendell's plans were more expensive, as he believed , the contrary was the fact, but he con tended that they were now bound in honour to carry out the plans they had adopted. They were not called upon actually to strain every nerve to push them upon parlia ment at all risks, but to offer them bona fide, as the best which had occurred to them. They felt, themselves in difficulties upon other points. it e , s h oul d say that that part of 'Birkenhead which applied specially to dock acdommodation ought to have been purchased by the dock estate of the town and not by the corporate estate. They *ere placed now in this unfortunate position—here was an estate which had been brouaht by A., which had to be managed and taken charge of by 8., who had no interest whatever in the estate, or if he had any interest at all, had an interest somewhat adverse. It the corpora tion had the sole control of the works they could carry them on little by little. But the difficulty here was this— their unhappy disputes for years gon e Y by had so pre judiced the government authorities and the house of comntons against them, that they had actually got the absurd notion that the corporation of Liverpool had bought the Birkenhead dock estate, in order to prevent it from being brought into operation at all—that the corporation was so wealthy that they could afford to throw away a million of money on works which they never intended to use at all. Therefore, he did not see why they should not state publicly in their places of council, that they had an interest in advancing Birken head, and that it, Was their interest, as well as their object to obtain all the facilities which the nature of the place would allow., (Hear, hear.) They should, therefore, go before parliament to state their case in the best way they could. In carrying out the details of the matter, there should be confidence to some extent, in the committee they appointed. The great principle they were all agreed upon, and it could not be the interest of the committee to throw away:money, or to launch into large undertakings, without:seeing their way how to get out of them. (Hear, hear.) • After a few words from Alderman Parker, Mr. Charles Turner said that Mr, Picton had alluded to an antagonism of interests between the dock estate and the council. With Mr. Picton's knowledge of both bodies and the commercial interests of the port of Liverpool, it was surprising that such' an idea should have ever entered into his head. • They were both public bodies, both were associated for public purposes, and both had the interests of Liverpool at he ar t. The dock committee had especially entrusted to it the commercial and shipping interests of the port, while the corporation had com mitted to their care subjects also connected with the interests of the town, and how there could be any antago nism of interests between two bodies so constituted. he could not possibly conceive. (Hear, hear.) The dock committee had:not been able to. enter into negotiations for the purchase of the immense estate (Birkenhead), in a great measure, through the want of the means of doing so. Mr. Picton was aware, and all tcommercial men were aware, that the dock committee was bound, when they raised sufficient money for the purposes of paying the interest on their debt and the expenses connected with the docks, to reduce their rates; and, during the last year the margin, after paying the interest on their debt and expenses of management, was so small, as quite to preclude the possibility, as prudent men, of their entering into liabilities of that great nature. In fact, it was per fectly clear, 'that if it were to continue—he hoped that under present circumstances there was a hope of its ter minating sooner than they at one time expected ; but, if it were to continue—it was perfectly clear tharthe existing revenues of the dock estate would not be sufficient to pay the increasing liabilities which would necessarily come upon them. Under those circumstances it was totally impossible for the dock committee to enter into negotia tions of the kind ; and then the corporation of Liverpool, with that public spirit which distinguished them, stepped forward to make that bargain, which he agreed with Mr. Hornby, under all the circuoistances, would be beneficial to the town of Liverpool, although for some years, no doubt, it would entail a very serious loss on the corpora tion. No one who had considered the subject, could con ceal that fact from his mind. He, however, made those observations merely in reply to Mr. Picton, and to show that there was no antagonism of interests between the dock estate and the council. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hodgson then replied, and maintained that all that had fallen from the other speakers, was but a corrobora tion of his views. He saw, however, that his motion would stand no chance of adoption in the then temper of the council, and he would therefore withdraw it. The twelfth clause was then passed. The twenty-first clause empowers the corporation to let out water from the docks, for the purpose of effecting sub stantial repairs of any of the docks or basins, after one week's notice in writing, under the hand of their Town clerk, of their intention so to do. Mr. Halhead thought seven days' notice too short to enable shipowners or masters to make the necessary pre parations for the removal of their vessels, and moved that fourteen days be substituted for seven days. After some conversation, the motion was put, and lost on a show of hands. The remaining clauses, which were repitions of exist ing clauses, were passed without discussion. There are 123 clauses altogether in the bill. The council then adjourned. SUNDAY SCHOOL AND LITERARY INSTITOTE.— A lecture in connection with thisinstitution, was delivered in the usual course, at the Concert Hall, on Tuesday night. The lecturer was the Rev. W. M. P. Unshon, of Leeds, and the subject, "Literature and Science —their connection with Religion." The Duke of Lancaster's Own Rifles, stationed at Glas gow, have just given their first instalment of volunteers to 'he line for the year 1856. 170 men have been approved. principally for the Queen's Bays, Artillery, Marines, 31th, 40th, 71st, and Rifle Regiments. The volunteering was limited to one day. The regiment now stands about 600 rank and file. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PEACE SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of this society was held in the Slater-street rooms, on Tuesday night. Mr. Richard Rathbone occupied the chair. After the routine business had concluded, a lecture was delivered by the Rev. Francis Bishop, upon the general influences of war, and the injuries to social welfare and morality, with whioh it is accompanied. TnE MANCITESTER POISONING.—The body of John Monaghan, who is supposed to have been poisoned for the sake of recovering the amount for which his life had been insured. was discovered on Monday afternoon in St. Wilfred's graveyard, after a search of five days, during which many other bodies had been exhumed. The inquest was to be opened on Tueiday morning, but as a post mortem examination will have to be made, and a chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach, the most material portion of the evidence will not be ready for some days to come. CORONER'S INQUFSTS.--On Tuesday the coroner held the following inquests: —Oa the body of an unfortunate female named Margaret Brown, aged abut 32 years, who had been of very intemperate habits. Sarah Norton said she resided in a cellar in Hotham-street, and on Saturday last the deceased called for her, and said she had come out of the Model Jail at Waltham ; that the jail had killed her, and that the police used her very rough ; before she had been committed there for four days, for being drunk and disorderly. She appeared very ill, end witness gave her a glass of whiskey. She subsequently got worse, awl had several fits from that time up to after 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when she died. A surgeon made a post mortem examination of the body, and stated the cause 01 death to have been excessive drinking. Verdict accordingly.—On the body of the child, Daniel James Christian, the son of a tailor residing in Pcllew-strset, who died in cons , luence of his clothes having caught fire, whereby he was fatally in jured. Verdict, Accidental death.—On the body of Maria Cunningham ' aged 12 years, who also died from injuries received by her clothes catching fire in the house of her parents, Blenheim-street, a fortnight ago. Verdict same as in the preceding case.—On the body of Elizabeth Turner, aged 38, who resided in a cellar in Hornby-street. On Saturday night the deceased was drank, and whilst in that state her clothes caught fire, and to use the words of a witness who was examined, "The deceased was burnt to death—literally roasted !" Verdict, died from injuries received whilst in a state of intoxication. [This case was described as a truly horrible one. The deceased had a child dead, and with several persons were engaged in what is called a " wake," and a scene of drunkenness took place which the coroner described as the most frightful he had known. The deceased was alive, drunk, burnt, and dead in half an hour.] POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY T~ (BEFORE MR. SMITR.) WEIAT'S YOUR NAME ?—A young'wonien of ladylike appearance', address, and attire, whose name was set down as Mary Clarke, %vat charged with having stolen d valuable pin, the property of a young gentleman, named William Qliverson. 'the complainant said he met the lady in Great Charlotte-street at an carry hour the previous evening, when she positively asked him, " Is your name Mr. Charles Clarke replied that his name. wtcs not Mr. Charles Clarke, nor had he any acquaintance with that respectable individual. She then inquired if he had any acquaintance with the tinnily of the Smiths? He was (she said), Very like some of that ilustrious race. Mr. Oliverson having disclaimed any relationship with that extensive family, the prisoner; in the most polite manner, and with a theatrical wave of her dexter-band toxfards his breast,' begged his par don, and expressed h e r r eg r e t dt, the mist ikes she made, and wished him goof night. In an instant. afterwards he missed the pin, which he had safe immediately pre vious to the magic pass she made towards his stock, in which the pin was fastened. He ran after the prisoner and caught her, and had every search made for the pine but it was not found, The - prisoner said she had certainly asked the gentleman if his name was Mr. Clarke, as he was remarkably like him ; but she repu diated, in the strongest terms, the charge of stealing the pin. Police officer No. 225 said he made every search for the pin t but. could. not find it. The prisoner was disch argel. THEFT BY A SERVAI4T.--A respectable looking girl, named Ellen Barry, late a servant of Mr. Kenneth M'Pugh, Neth&field-road, was brought up by detective Cdtdd on a charge of having embezzled 55., and also for having obtained money by false . pretences. On the 15th Dec. the prisoner was sent to a butcher for a leg of mut ton, to pay for which she received a sovereign, but it ap peared she got the meat without payment, keeping Ss as the amount. Subsequently she went to a public-house and borrowed 3s for the purpose, as she alleged of pay in..; for a parcel, that had arrived in the absence of Mr. M'Pugh. The prisoner alleged that she had paid for the mutton, and that she intended to pay the 3s when she got her wages: The prosecutor said, he should not have brought forward the charge, but he had reason to know that his house had been plundered to a large extent by the prisoner, on the death or his wife, some time ago. The prisoner was remanded for a week. THE ROBBERY OF £2l.—Anne Wilson, and James Jackson, were brought up on remand on a charge of having stolen £2l from John Wilson, of lireseot-row. The details of this case have already appeared. The prisoners were defended by Mr. tiluck, A young lady from the shop of Mr. Pentony, in Commutation-row; proved that the note (which was stolen from, and identi fied by the prosecutor), was changed there on Saturday night, in paythent for a pair of boots. The note was changed by a female, but not the prisoner. The prisoners were again remanded fore week. CURIOUS Casa.—A man named William Smart, who said he was a potato dealer, residing at !Elston, near Wolverhampton, and who appeared to be about 60 years of age, charged a girl named 111'Neil, who was not more than 14 years old, with having assaulted and robbed him of, 34 sovereigns in a house of ill fame ; in Gascoyne street. Two policemen said, about one o'clock in the morning, they heard a voice in the street; and on going to ascertain the cause, they saw the man running along with his coat on his arm, and the girl (to use their words) " licking him most unmercifully on the head with a flat poker." ( Here the poker was produced The prosecutor's head was a ll b an d age d up an d hi s f ace covered with blood. He said, the prisoner and some other females in the house laid on his head with the poker and other weapons, and knocked him into a com plete doldrum, and he could not tell what happened, except that he " got jolly well licked." The police said, when they met him he was very stupid. They asked him if he had anything, but he could not tell. They went to the house, and, on searching it, they foand 34 sovereigns in a handkerchief concealed in a room ; this had been stolen from the complainant. The girl to!d a long story, which iltrue, did not reflect much credit on the potato dealer. The prisoner was discharged, but the complainant got his money. (BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.) . . A CANNIBAL —A black man named William Wilson, was charged by . a comrade of the same colour named Jackson, with having violently assaulted him, and with having bit off one of his lips ! The parties were in a boarding-house kept by a countryman of their own, when some quarrel arose between them, and they were put out into the street, where they had a fight. The prisoner bit the complainant in the arms and other parts, and then seized one of his lips between his teeth and bit it off. The piece of flesh was here produced amid a thrill of disgust. The complainant could not speak in consequence of the injuries he had received, and the prisoner was remanded until the result of them could be ascertained. ASsAuLT.—George Wool, apparently a seafaring per son, and Elizabeth Freeman;were charged with having assaulted a publican named Loubs, who resides in John street. The prisoners wanted to get into the house of the complainant after hours, but were refused, whereon they assaulted the complainant. They were each fined .ss. and costs: SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL.—WEEKLY REPORT, JAN. 30, 1856.—1 n patients :—Discharged : cured, 12 ; relieved, 2; at own request, l ; irregular, 1. Dead, 0 ; entered, 17; under treatment, 70. Out patients : cured, 25 ; entered, 33 ; under treatment, 40. Treasurer, James Houghton, Esq. Visitors, Mr. J. Ingram, and Mr. J. Rogers. Honorary chaplain, Re r. D. T. Barry, B.A. Physicians and surgeons for the week, Dr. Cameron, and Mr. Churton. Ilouse surgeons, Mr. Charles Royston and Mr. E. C. Garland. CEEISTIANITY IN NEW ZEALAND.—Last, evening the members of the Everton branch of the Church Missionary Society, held a meeting at the Everton and Kirkdale School room, for the purpose of hearing an address from the Rev. Richard Taylor, a misionary from that colony, detailing the progress the gospel had made there, and• affording interest ing information in connection therewith. He was attended by " Hepango," a New Zealand chief. On Friday evening a similar meeting will be held at Hope-hall. _ Fimunn.--Much surprise was excited in Manchester on Saturday, by a rumour of the failure of Messrs. Richard Clarke and Sons, manufacturers, concurrently with the appearance of an advertisement in the newspapers announc ing a dissolution of the firm. The rumour proves correct ; the immediate cause ,of the stoppage being the private speculations of the retiring partner in the public funds and other securities to a large amount. We shall not be .far 'from correct in the following general statement of the affairs of the house :—The real property, say £30,000, secures the 'mortgage; the shipping liabilities, £25,000, are covered by consignments ; and the stock and other available assets are expected to turn out well in meeting the trade debts, which are about £16,000. The books are in the hands of an accountant ; and, -a .meeting of creditors will be held in a few days. THE COURTS OF BANIERUPTCY.—The following is an analysis of the bankrupt list for th e p ast year : ...... . „ NUMBERS OP Rh:TURNS FILED IN 1855. Official A ssig. Official As sig. London .... 657 .. 10 Bristol .... 85 .. 2 Birmingham 200 4 Liverpool..Bo 4 Leeds . ... 146 ... 4 Exetir 65 .. 1 Manchester 119 3 Newcastle 51 .. 2 The amount of business which the framers of the Bank. ruptcy Act calculated would probably flow into each dis trict may be measured by the assignees appointed, and we have therefore inserted them as above. It will, therefore, be seen that there has been much less bankruptcy in the Liverpool district (which embraces all North Wales), than in any other. Whether this arises from the superior prudence and circumspection of the traders in this part of Great Britain, or from other causes, is a subject worth attention. REFJRM IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.—On Tuesday morning a meeting was held at the Town-hall, Manchester, the Mayor in the chair, to receive the report of a deputation appointed at a public meeting in Birming ham, on the 31st of October last, with special reference to the Cambridge University Improvement Bill of the Lord Chancellor, and to agree to a memorial to the Lord Chan cellor on the subject. Mr. Heywood, M.P., read the report, which gave an account of interviews which the deputation had had with Lord Palmerston and the Lord Ct ancellor, at which various subjects of importance relative to the proposed measure for the reform of the Cambridge University, were discussed. The Lord Chancellor was much interested in the subject of Cambridge academical reform, and gave his attention to all the points brought before his notice by the deputation. A memorial signed by the depu tation was subsequently presented to Prince Albert, the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, in favour of academical reform, which his royal highness commanded to be forwarded to the resident university authorities, for their consideration. There had not, however, been any meeting or active movement of the friends of university reform at Cambridge for more than six months. The report con eluded by quoting from the written opinions of the Rev. J. J. Taylor of London, Mr, H. A. Bright, Liverpool, the Rev. James Martineau, Professor Foster, and the Rev. John Jenkyns Brown, on academical teform. Mr. Gibson, M.P., in moving the adoption of tbe report, advocated the throwing open the ho nours and the emoluments of the university to persons of all religious opinions. Sir John Potter seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. A me morial to. the. Lord . Chaneellor was then adopted, a ft er which a committee was. appointed to carry out the objects of the meetino • „, b • HB'ALLEGED MITRFIEU OF A MOTHER AND HER CHILD. —KINGSTON, Saturday.—The two prisoners, Ford and Jackson, were again brought up for examination before the bench of magistrates this day, on the charge of wilfully murdering Mary Ann Peacock, and her daughter Eliza, by drowning them in the River Thames. After some further evidence had been given, the bench discharged Jackson, but Ford was fully committed for trial, the bench refusing to take bail. The gaardiant cc weekly meeting at the Board - Rev. W. Badnall, chairman c PFICIAL RETURNS 1 3 cleat'. vin fo: , e reported WEST DERBY UNICIN, , reiclecT, rmed. i ETi \emmiaLpswisavom,"L''lml=o on held then arua a, Mill-lane, yesterday. The. The other J. Birch, Sidde— atfieht, Medealf; Ls week 120 patients; k there been guardians present. w bertf4, Abrat Harrison, Ni'r, for the eoriesp, The Master were 783 paupers in the house, since when 17 admitted, 1 born,- 29 discharged, and 2 deaths, remanun the present week 725, bi ing week of last year, a for the correspond- .....oer was 707. Cheques 'l6 were voted for the relief of the out. door poor within the several districts of the union THE BUSINESS. roe of th board was occupied in hearing d in disposing of the in-door pauper of them were of a most painful character, and at the juvenile while others Were a( ailed ono to retrieve their characters, lattcr c owed th THE HOSPIT the management e of some few I a door- THE VISITI large sto permitted to break they had Mr. Hat con sideration. aving more stones broken than consumo, salary, tL should be made, in c Shaw, having stated that the board was then ,ossibly of Hamilton's ar, for and to seek for sii was per wee 1 to the in were all azi ;equenee of the extra duties he was called upon to perform, since the erection of the new weighing machine, but could not agree as to the amount. One wished to have it increased to £BO, another to £75, and another to £7O. Such beiag the case, the committee left it to the board to deal with the motion as it pleased ; but he would state -" ' ' ' ' .sked Mr. Hamilton what this, that would do in Tease be He of refused ,(1 . his reply was, event s to be a moat efficient officer adoption of trio r. Edwards moved as at report, wbich rt._, of salary, should be taken into consideration that day sir „months. He felt quite that £6O per annum was sufficient for the ser--' - ai he had nothing to do only walk about. Mr. Roberts seconded the amendment dated to the inere performed, Mr. Shaw denied that the superintendent had but little to do, as his time was fully occupied with the weighing machine, which he could not leave. Mr. Lunt : Did not Mr. Wensley move that the salary should remain as it was? The Chairman : That took place is committee, and cannot be answered here Mr. Shaw : I will answer it. Mr. Wensley was for having the salary £7O, Mr. Kirkus £75, and Mr. Whitby £BO ; aud r as none of those gentlemen would give way r the subject ;via referred to the board. After some further conversation, in the course of which it was considered that no harm could arise from receiving the report, Mr. Edwards withdrew his amendment, and the report NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. Harrison then gave notice that, the next meeting of ntendent's salary be the board, he should move th incr:-ased to £BO. On that ( reason for submitting thatproposition THE CORRESPONDENCE ved bT k, which chiefly consisted of [fence r, the board:durin letters of intruction and admonitions from the poor law board, One, relative to some trifling inaccuracies by Mr. Bees, the poor law auditor, in some books kept by the master of the past v workhouse, which, it appeared, had been explained,as arising from inadvertency on hia part, but the fact was, the blame, if any, rested with the clerk, Mr. Kennedy. THE APPOINTMENT OP' AN ASSISTANT SCHOOLMISTRESS. On the motion of Mr. S:iaw, 'seconded by Mr. Harrison, Miss Harriet Bishop was elected an assistant schooolunstress, at n salary of £1.5 per annum. IMPORTANT TO, LETI ER CARRIERS. At the morning sittings before Mr. Mansfield at the Police-court yesterday, Mr. J. G. Bates, the chief super intendent and inspector of letter carriers, appeared to charge a man, named Thomas Stevenson, late a letter carrier in the General Post Office, under the Ist Vic., chap. 36, section 7, for wilfully detaining letters which had been entrusted to him for delivery. The penalty for this offence is 201 or three month's imprisonment, accord ing to the discre!ion of the magistrates. Mr. Chilton .appeared for the defendant. It appeared that the defendant had been employed in the delivery of letters in the Monnt Pleasant district, and from time to time complaints had been made of irregular deliveries there. Mr. Bates was accordingly on the look out to discover how the default arose. On the Ist inst., the defendant absented himself, without leave, from his duty, and Mr. Bates went in search of him. He found him in the evening in bed, at his lodging, in a state of intoxication. He asked him ifi he had delivered all his letters safely? and he replied he had. Not being satisfied, Mr. Bates searched the prisoner's coat, and found in the pockets four letters which ought to have been delivered early that morning. The man was then suspended, and subsequently dismissed, and an order Caine from London to prosecute him under the act. Mr. Chilton, for the defendant, said he pleaded guilty, and hoped the court would deal leniently with him. Mr. Mansfield said the office of letter-carrier was, one of the greatest importance to the public, and, therefore, the' men should be ,particu larly cautious in the discharge of their duties. In this case the man had been already dismissed, which was punishment, and he trusted it would prove a warning to all other persons engaged as letter-carriers. He inflicted a fine of 2/ and costs, or in defatilt of payment, three months imprisonment. TRADE REPORT. -WEDNESDAY. COTTON There has been an active demand for Cotton to-day, the trade and exporters having operated liberally, and holders, although offering in quantity, are firm in their demands, and prices' again favour the seller, making an advance of about r ld per lb ainee Friday. The sales, includ ing 100 Pernambuco, 611; 80 Bahia, 611 ' • 300 Maranham, 511 to 6id ; 500 Egyp t i an , 52i to 61d : 2,000 Surat, 311 to 4.1-d ; are reported 15,000 bales, of which 5,000 are on speculation and for export. Pro InoN : Our markets for warrants closed at 76s 9i to 77s cash; three months, open, buyers 77s 6d, with a better enquiry, but few sellers. TALLOW advancing. 52s paid for January and March. There is also some demand f,r consumption at last. March to April, 555; April to June, 63s 6d. The Market continues extremely quiet, the sales being confined to 50 cases white Bahia at 28s, and 250 boxes white Havana at 31s per cwt, both in bond. MOLASSES RUM, and COFFEE : No transactions to report. RICE : There seems no disposition to purchase. GUM GEDDA : At the auctions this morning, 200 bags, with all faults, sold at 17s to 19s. . SUGAR SAGO FLOUR : 130 bags sold at 25s to 25i 3d per cwt. CLOVES : 100 bags sold at 4id to 5d per lb. LOG WOOD: 180 tons Campeachy sold at £8 5s to £8 7s 6d. FUSTIC : 60 tons Curacoa sold at £.5 7s 61 to £5 lOs per ton. CASTOR OIL : 50 eases taken at 6icl per lb. THE HONOURS OF THE SHRIEVA.LTY. —The present sheriffi of London, Mr. Alderman Kennedy, and Mr. Alderman Rose, are in danger of incarceration, like their predecessors in office (Messrs. Evans and Wheelton), who were kept in durance yile,,for a b reac h of the privileges of the House of Commons, some years since. The present sheriffs, in their capacity of sheriff of Middlesex, have come, under the purview of the Court of Ch . ancery, for we see that on Tuesday Mr. Keene applied for special leave to serve a notice of motion for Thursday, to commit the sheriff of Middlesex, the under sheriff, and his officers, for a contempt he stated, has levied an execution on r,)perty and eff In the • F PARTN EMIT IP ra ty pointed by t served with dington, oectx bottle manufacturers, so far as reg, , a, Taylor, T. Taylor, and H. Taylor, Bingit, Yorkshire, drapers; G. Tolson and B. Hague, Yorkshire, rag merchants; T. Clarke, R. Clarke, J. and B. Clarke, Worslev and Manchester, cotton manufac_ turers, so far as regards It. Clarke ; H. Hickson and W. Anton, Sheffield, painters; T. C. Hincksraan and J. Furness, M. flax spinncrs ; E. Po we ll and J. Preston, Lancashire, Bouvier, Manchester, silk finishers ; It. Bleasdale and B.' Bleasdale, Preston, corn millers ; J. Cumming and E. B. Cumming, Belmont, Lancashire, cotton spinners; W. Furness and T. J. Kilpin, Liverpool, joiners ; T. Shepherd and F. Jones, inne,hester, Carpet manufacturer.; C. Cammell and E. Bury, Sheffield, steel converters; W. Partington and B, Aldred, Darcy Lover, Lancashire; coal proprietors ; W. England and H. R. Williams, Liverpool, iron founders; J. Hargrave and W. Jackson, Leeds, joiners ; S. Lees and J. singleton, Manchester ; joiners ; H. Wright and J. Mercer, Ashton - in-Makerfield, master coal miners. certain cau to withelra and having been 1 E. bray, ii d Keigl;ley sv bury, ,-„ . , asession of a receiver, ap- Leave was 6anted. —G. Needham, R. Wad- I Leeds. Yorkshire, glass ris G. Needtmra ; R