The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-11-11 00:00:00

THE CURRENCY QUES TION LETTE: at NO. 11, TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES Bir,--" Thou sh a lt no t muzzit Itrteadeth out the corn" is not merely a phi' 11 'igl i a mandat e o f un i versal °blip' est authority— app li ca b le to the c obtains a liv e l i h ood by mental or pb . It is e q u ally binding on states be di g sregarded - with impunit "uolau laws 51:-" ena• back o u ota of resting Portion of th- he mouth of the ox that tophical maxim gation, stamped with the pf every one who and in What, tdividua we say of the he State on the s of taxation, a .e entitled who Are not e mouth of the a of our tax- his Indus— :or. I said stern of the i good in my 1 anxious And, that I i the use of e or subtle, ,em in a plain prese the cour .rs State. By cur•ency wish to ke taxa- y means of a that the' experiment was tried, and was crowned with the most complete success. As to the statement in his P.S.—that "if my scheme were adopted, whenever the country found its circulation cramped, it would only be necessary to petition the Chancellor of the Exchequer to add ten or twenty millions to our taxation, and issue notes to correspond." Surely, "A. Currency Reformer" ought to know that the circulation of the country would never be cramped, with a currency equal to the taxation, in addition to the currency, that would be sufficient if there Id may not t were no taxes A Currency Reformer" is right after all, the currency which I am advocating, would perform a feat for the over. worked and over-taxed population of these Islands, " greater and more wonderful than anything Professor Anderson has yet accomplished.—l am, &c., J. W. Liverpool, November 6, 1856. TO TEE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. Sir,—Bonaparte said, very sarcastically—and not withou` some appearance of justice and reason —that we were a ❑ation of shopkeepers. Did he mean to insinuate thereby, that we were but little better than a set of pedlars? Let that, however, stand for what it is worth. Since, then, we have made won derful progress in many things --if not in every branch con nected with trade and commerce ; and it is high time, therefore, that we should have moved forward a few stages in the science, as well as the drudgery of trading. It is notorious, that we are an industrious, indefatigable, hard-working people. We don't believe that any nation can prosper long, to any extent, without work ; for to labour is the - -it condition of mankind —not to labour is to depart from o laid down by Providence, as authenticated by ,pture, and confirmed to us by the circumstances of our natural condition, and our tenure of life itself. We don't give up our "sh, pkeeping," but we desire, as we ought, so to conduct it, and everything connected theiewith, that if we are still to he taunted for our business habits, it should surely be by this t me, at least, as a nation of mer chants, and that of merchan's capable of organising a well defined scientific system of commerce, and of nobly adopting plans calculated to make such a radical improvement in the social and integral arrangements of our monetary and currency matters, as the complex state of our gigantic trade loudly calls for. These preliminary remarks bring us to the msre definite part of our subject, viz., the subtle and difficult question of the currency ; difficult in one sense, but looked at in another aspect, not difficult in like manner ; difficult chiefly because of the extraneous matter with which it is cumbered, because of the prejudices which hedge up and fence in the venerable pile which we have dedicated to our habits and customs, and which must first be made, at least, to totter to its foundation, if it cannot be crumbled to dust and scattered to the winds as a thing of past ages; fit only to be noted in the curiosity books of industrious antiquaries, ere we can reasonably hope to make progress with a more suitable substitute—a tower of strength and beauty that will defy the elements which incessantly threaten our present fabric with destruction, and which will baffle the scrutiny of the most fastidious, for purity, symmetry, and outline. Beset, however, as is the subject, with difficulties, yet we firmly believe that a remedy will be found, and although we ourselves should not, as yet, have arrived at the full perception of the perfect plan to be adopted, yet we hope to make such suggestions as will, at any rate, help to lead to a searching investigation, and to a studious enquiry into the merits and demerits of the thing we possess on the one hand, and of the thing we are contending for on the other ; so that having thereby attained to an enlightened perception of the cause of the disturbing convulsions to which we are ever and anon exposed, and of which we shall continue to be the victims as long as we allow progress to be made in certain branches of our commerce, without making equivalent improvements in other concomitant parts (less obvious, perhaps, though equally important), and without which the former could not be carried on at all, and even then in a perfect manner, only in propor tion as these necessary assistants are themselves efficient and adequate to the more extended demands made upon them. Keep ing close to our subject, strictly speaking, intrinsic value consists in the usefulness of an article—all other value is a fiction that can only to be paid for by such as have previously supplied them selves with the useful to the extent of their real or imaginary requirements—iron for pots, clay for mugs, wool for clothing, coal for fuel, and corn for food—these are self evident, incon testible articles of intrinsic value to all ; while precious stones, the precious metals, and articles of vertu are of intrinsic value only within a narrow circle, or to a very limited extent beyond that line of demarcation. A diamond, we admit, is of intrinsic value to him whose sphere and circumstances warrant his wear ing a ring, but it is no such value to the industrious hard working man who has no use for it. Gold, by this same course of reasoning, is of intrinsic value only to the extent to which it can be made practically useful ; beyond that, its value is a fiction—a fable—and the estimation in which it now stands as a circulating medium, is well nigh as unsound as the most trashy paper that ever disgraced a commercial nation ; for, if the supply of gold throughout the world should increase year by year a hundred fold, we should not, strictly speaking, at the end of the next fifty years, find ourselves, virtually, under our present system, one jot richer or better off than we are now; neither should we thereby be rendered less subject to these intermit tent panics sod gold fevers than in the present day; but, like the man who takes to ardent spirits, should probably find our wants increased, and, with that increase, our anxieties and fears multiplied, and our sensibilities mac keen and more easily acted upon by the least fluctuation in our cumbrous stock of lazy, useless bullion. Without any change in the demand or supply, provisions would be nominally increased in value, in order to maintain their relative value to gold (rhe only article of commerce which is not allowed to stand on its own merits). Gold would still be worth £3 17s. 1011. per ounce, nomi nally, while, relatively, it might have decreased to half that fictitious price. The labourer might earn his ten shillings per diem, in lieu of his half-crown of to-day, but he would get no more bread, for he would have to pay four shillings for the loaf he now purchases for one shilling, consequently, his cir cumstances would not be improved, although he might seem richer in receiving his earnings, as a greater amount of money, a greater amount of nominal value would pass through his hands as a medium of barter between his labour and his wants—with a fired price for gold, and no idea of 'any other bona fide medium of exchange. Sir Robert Peel was probably sound in his views, in endeavour ing to restrict our paper currency to the amount of bullion lying idle in the Bank coffers, assuring, I presume, that such a thing as a paper currency, not based on a system of credit, could not be conceived of—for strictly speaking—say what you will —no paper of any hind is legitimate for which the issuer is not possessed of value to the extent thereof; hut, where that is the case, as long as the paper is in circulation, such paper is a better and cheaper medium of exchange than gold, because intrinsically valueless, yet equally safe ; and I repeat again, that the black faced sons of Ethiopia, in their primitive simplicity, set us an example of commercial prac tice, with their cowries and such like—the principle of which we should do well to take a lesson from. All we want, commercially, is something to represent our capital, which consists, not of the amount of gold we possess, or even the amount to which we are entitled, but of all our possessions, including truly our gold, which, however, forms but an atom thereof. We don't require a representative thing to be intrinsically as valuable as the thing represented, or we should be wofully at a loss oftentimes, I fear, of selecting our envoies extraordi naires to represent the worth of our loved Lady the Queen, and the sterling qualities of the nation. A good check is far more convenient than gold, and so is a bank note ; and no man of business cares to touch the coin from one year's end to the other, so long as he can pay these away in exchange for mer chandise. The great importance of this subject makes it incumbent on us not to rush into a theory of action before we have thoroughly cleared the deck for the fray—it is well to be sure in our movements, even if we be slow in our preparations —it is folly to rush into battle unprovided, unprepared, and unenlightened as to the enemy's strength, tactics, &c., if it can be avoided, whereas, no doubt, he is the most efficient and the bravest soldier who is emboldened with information on all these points, let others possess what forces and ammunition they may. These concluding words for to day I have added as an apology to such of our supporters and co operators, and to such of your readers, as are very anxious to get on faster ; for, although I fully sympathise with them, and am equally desirous to proceed, yet lam far more anxious to do, what we do, well. If the subject he really as important as we take it to be, then it is deserving of due deliberation; but if we give it not this deli beration, and rush hastily to the erection of the cupula before the foundations are well secured, we shall, by our own conduct, make it appear that it cannot be of such vital consequence.— I remain, sir, your obedient servant, CORNELIUS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. Sir,—Let me premise the following remarks, with the assurance that it is not the least with a desire to enter into private litigation, or to set myself right, but solely for the adjustment of any apparent discrepancy, and to help forward the cause advocated by your several very interesting and instructive correspondents. It would seem that there is not the same temporizing turn of mind in me as in our friend " J. W.," nevertheless, I am equally with him, ready to rejoice in any onward movement, and, no doubt, with me, he would likewise be glr.d to see the full development of she principles we are alike advocating; but as these discussions are with a view to elucidate the best mode of carrying out the desired object, as well as to propound sound principles on the suLject in question, and to arrive at some fixed and enlightened sys tem, our opponents need not think they discover any weak points in the doctrines we are mutually desirous to establish, because our details may not, at first, dove-tail the one into the other, offhand, without the customary application of the skill of the artizan. Being agreed on the great leading features, of course each person taking part in these delibera tions should put aside all desire to carry out his private views and be willing to have them fully tested. I must admit that " J. W.'s" railway comparison, at first sight, looks very much in favour of his reasoning, while, on closer examination, it will not bear analysing and remain perfect. Now, as it is desirable to make things straight as we go on, I must just observe that, to me, his railway reference rather supports my rashness (if he will have it so) than his temporizing, so that, if he be the better counsellor, it is,now made clear by his pretty railway theory—the case not being similar; to be similar, he must confine himself to the advocacy of a complete system, sectionally, as was the .h, that take n their daily bread by the sweat or fix l aWs Justly charg 'lloat treadeth out t taZ., 48 I s t ated in my last letter, 1 8 a Monstrous oppression, unles ,110Yond his means, can add to the 7 'h h h 0- -.Mount Claimed f rom ," impt”sible for him to do this under ittitonists ; and I promised to make kesent letter. In now redeeming tin to h. 1114 Y , kt-titite the matter plain to the gene .)y so more effect ua ll y . st vernunera able wit's tuuzz e corn P' this ass tr m r ' 3l 3' the mo for "rit e for pinr, practical n ptious of m Focal form, tom there are thr ee ways of raise, ' F as of l4ll ld haave property tax—whi c h f a lli ng u us of I g this matter I own that it al ing xvholi "on o ut of, prc, hational pa per curreileY, P6ceB 444 so raise the2n. difficu'lt to Thy attetiti on ti ndersta n d, an d I fez. ... "S dire c ;cd to it, for Olt , correspondent, " The original 1. H.' e a to understand that whatever redo 140HeY floatinp Bt and, t4Z col le- 'ct on % allion foundation, which we and so lower them ; which would a&l I repeat that this is all cation to o myself when by your however, amount of The in a country, tends to reduce prices %ra o ' e tar takes annually out of circular 1441411t4 qi th e t axes; This produces a scarcit , °t be used at th e same t i me for the purposes of the State, o, to tor , the purposes of trade. If money be scarce it must he -Dear rn or, short time ere may he ere, on the ent: of money )ney means /ow price options, but l noderately taxed c ' J R I iN ow, an stek 4 „ o -eiren cy to raise prices. fo r r dto w or k f or lower wages, and so,,:oo products of their industry Teueltettity like our Z e e ~,._tt.oney would suffice for them, than suffices for us. o ur money to be increased to the extent of our that it is already sufficient for the wants armed community), that it may be made 80 much more Pti e , _ ) than it was before, as would enable us to raise our Stssk"' t ' l ° as to include in them the, taxes which we —the ." i n the • t•d •1 h' ht to gtea ustria lye of good old England —are ao of • If money be made to increase with the ?14,...,,0! taxation, the prices of all commodities will rise, and rho mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn" shall 7111 aced. The taxes, though paid in the first instance Plleroe and productive classes of society, will, in the long out of the pockets of the rich and unproductive v i sbo, in the increased prices they have to give for their y. e t . B and luxuries, reimburse the former. atettade_my Itscaulura Sufficiently plain. If not, let 4tt.hi,i6r l'hose, understand the subjct, and have t.47,ltheat Those end, like my friend "J.H.," are already )stet % ' t l:r; tautology. Never mind. We will take the Katyll.3or man who can earn in an untaxed country 2s 6d lists ''or is barely sufficient to supply his wants. It is th e f male man emigrated to another country, where a tio ' 0 per cent is imposed on his wages, he es ,uo able to earn at least 35 per day to s • uicuself above want in his new position for %00 11111 re - L h i. _ quire threepence per day to pay the tax imposed " u ) and an additional threepence per day to enable :Se4 k ,,Ply the enhanced price for the necessaries of life— :eta -64 by himself and his family. Therefore, if he can kly:; b i l t e! day for his labour, with taxation, when he could Nri o ,:l!I 2s. Id. per day without taxation, it is clear he adds _ r ?,price, and so he loses nothing by the payment of :Ne c irclit h falls—not on him —but on those who have pur- ZseeZ! services. I think this simple illustration will make 4 '6 N_ ln g sufficiently plain to every one. If your readers t,tlieeott,aloug with me so far, they will already have arrived ;: t tee,„_ e tusion, that every country should add to its circulation Zik e h t c, o f its taxation—that the increased circulation might cl44Asor prices, and enable the industrious inhabitants, hp es f r of Pay the t axes i n t h e products of their own industry, lb: ki lo toil' a for e i gn metal, the produce of untaxed labour, 4, transfer the entire taxation from themselves to the o f a ., qa t ,, ......'cunaulated wealth. but `say some of your readers•—•" looks very well on tried ' 8 mere theory after all; the experiment was 1,, Pape r .2 4 of adding taxation to price, by means of large issues , tl 4 er : lo . ney," To this, I reply, It is not mere theory. itiQtaedeitirnent the tried, and, more than that, ' l 4. -,!'eyond the most sanguine expectations of those who Itt :t sve dtttoas tried, n o t by a S partan legislator,. but by . a English stat esman. I n the early .part of 179/, h `ts e . rears of war, it was found that taxation was pushed 1 4 , 1 4 1 31 e4 t.„ me malt. The Bank was all but bankrupt. It t oi ., th e ' of asets, but an empty till. The directors plainly O 4ir ci hitt M..inister that their case was desperate. They tt " 1 :1 effect, that he had already drained the !i t) , of all its pecuniary resources ; and that ki k ° got all N I to the ready money of the people, it was s4teolieeyrted from th. looki, them for more. The minister was not thus purpose. He saw very clearly that Itop: t the e , 0 4 : 11 't /:,e raised ; that, whether the people could 'l l4 lay eh : ~ t , more taxes must be imposed, or tl._ 11 Iv ''i'n its arms and consent to an ignominious peace. I,hl , u onbtless, the alternative which presented itself lo,: t ltio e mind. Necessity—always the mother of N,loa,ught him what to do ha that critical moment, It to the nation was saved. The genius of Pitt made th_ . ktimpossible Ile imposed more taxes, and raised Ish7s ti ,;"Y he required to prosecute the war with vigour. 4 t ;:its ted 4 aged its this way : Bank of England notes were ti p 6 p r i f or gold; prices went up—the price of gold as well tip of other commodieies ; for the people, now that the 1 1?:ei kb ri ,t Provided the means of augmenting the currency, NS th e 'et) to add the increased taxation that was imposed lli, t /thi, l lll to the price of their labour, and to the price of Otil l. tta t i g „ . ,else that they had to sell, Thus it was that, during N t list e "mer of the war, and for many years afterwbrds, they 1 14 ° 14 ,iltalea without difficulty, without inconvenience, and 1 411 1 :s h is t : t.touring. Why ? B ecause b y t h e s i mple process I t s!b o4 4,oe,cribed, they le v i e d, on t h e unproductive rich, the it, le /4 of the ta xes th ey h a d to pay. list.°_able th a t ne ith er t h e minist e r, nor the bank three- People, underst oo d t h e ph i losophy of the bank ; 11 4.kp.,'_ 1 1likely that none of them saw that it would enable to add taxation to price. But it did so for all t heed , 13 succes s of the experiment was, as r have already Lgreate r t h an the expectations of the ministers. So, k) 0 4 10 4 toy of your readers who may have neither time nor l ii t tos t C th ,coPe with the philosophy of tho currency, may t). l _ is fact, that, somehow or other, an augmented tkt 11478 enable the productive classes to add taxation to „: if Pitt bad increased the currency tenfold, and not k l44 ; i i e se s ,,, e ILA from paying her notes in specie, valued at sittiste:.Price, then all foreigners selling their goods in o m stet w ould have got the enhanced prices which were the ZeZ 4, .g r eat taxation, and th ei ram ts here would have been i t tOti e „ ti vest the proceeds its (sold, which would have been (itritt,b"aobje commodity still b purchaseable at the untaxed I,N,,sth er wever, left thepriceofgold to find its own level, like isetiN. co mmodities. Hence the success of his great Of With the free trade in gold thus established, if a eliNt."'reizu merchandise sold for 275., in consequence l i S tk 6 t t , it)ll prices, and if the proceeds had been invested in 104.).,,th,th-'sttet of gold thus obtained would not have been 16Nik,'"uld have been previougi • °to_ aulliiiity, d In such a quire a nunity men lower prices , than in a heavily taxed country purchased for twenty- o,:;:igrier, therefore, gained no undue advantage from 11 ,ellt e . e : that ruled in Great Britain, and he had no tt 4 4 l, 1 1 4e the take gold, on account of its cheapness, in pre- A t tti,, Ivri t rqucts of British industry. tio ti liaol, l ell thus far before I saw the letter of " A 1(1 'rreer "in the NORTHERN - TIMES of to-day. .Ure ' e gii ,t kk the writer, that I have no objection in the 4 ' 8 f i a lance with an h onoura bl e opponent, but, on 1 11 .4 44:tOer lette r , th e conv i ct i on fl as h e d across my (17411)ti4f;i° Wonder, that he was fighting under fdse h,41 1 hat i% that he was a bullionist disguise. It now 44 , adl, ‘l4 ' mistaken. The fault is his, and not mine. . e i. 'ed to his original " n oun do guerre," I should have spoken out so plinly as I did. 4t ferr ini to his former letter, I do w n ot . think that I ll,,S ( ;;: 4 1 11 „ wlore strongly than the occasion domanded 1 4' th tli -° " 1 " are din controversy, _-e not not use . a , 10 " t" iu:ession becoming personal ; t s tO,lti o - "oth er offended, wh ,ty, i 'le, t 's" as ruinous, revolutionary, and fantastic," 11," I.' wild and visionary," his arguments as 0111,74,18'',.50Pi,a,n as one ° which cannot be read without I , , tt e. ' „ a L nd his remedy for a defective system of v,, , 1 44 Qs A ‘"at so far as it has ever yet been 0- c -ech, ' 1 4 11, °neo n , n et bY the world with a shoat of repro Pt. 3 ,hero is no 1 events, l b ghtlits-(1411° who thus speaks of a person, whom he 4414,1:0'41 n r :;: e good service to the cause" of currency 11 A4V 4 i 3 lied -" so very sensitive as your correspondent. t h Qt e 4 li ft c, d learn the first N tt 'l l i r: tno 0 ogo an li,,sti l , - J i tl i , ;.e doctrines of the currency—the ~'‘ I' Of tBte'e4Ce of mone y ," and, having just risen from ;?i„`11241/Pestln:" Pamphlet wh ' ich he refers me, and of t`9o.:l:loctits c,,fi t : i ' , . he is himself the author, and especially after N l N)l i e ic iti c i: t "°f the wor d — MONEY—thaf, it is " that P t 'Pti o to 6„ c°'2Btittstes a sufficient, and the most fitting ' 4, 4 4 4 4 n Vp-rogi"en in exchange for any and every other .t4 gO fi.Pere.!/,--I really think that he would derive ifO„,t,oN,,tlna_ following my advice. te i red i, t u i tl : that " so, far as the plan," which has iel lti it to,',';se letters, "has ever yet been attcmpted . , Y di, 44 a shout of reprobation and contempt, it Pro ved L -3' the fact recorded in this very letter, 6~ ad_'he THE NORTHERN TIMES. -LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. line between Liverpool and Manchester, which was complete, though only a section of all the lines of which it has been the forerunner. To carry out his simile perfectly, that line should have been executed piecemeal, not in its extent, but in its several improvements on the dashing mail coaches of that day. To me it presented itself in a droll way, for, simultaneously, with the first blush of it, methought of a single rail—one wheel on the trial rail, and one, from pru thntial motives, on the old Macadam—then, in succession, the two rails, and carriage drawn by a cow or a pig, and all from the same motives of prudence, lest folks should repudiate clad be scared with the undertaking on account of its com pleteness, and the boldness of its execution. Truly that undertaking was bold, and grand of its kind, and, as I have often said, is deserving of a per centage on the receipts of all other copyist lines; that was no half and half measure, but a full measure; and the men who actively helped forward that undertaking:, and who deserve well of the country, ' should now bring the same spirit to invigorate this far more important object. True it was, so to speak, but an experiment; nevertheless, it was full and complete in itself, just as much as if it had extended to the antipodes, therefore, inasmuch as it was_ tlt.,;s complete, so now, taking that as our precedent, I-- a in asking for something answering thereto, viz 3 plete sectional trial. England, my loved fatherlanu, the trial line—the worl I, the other nations of the world, our followers—the followers of a manly undertaking, full of confidence, and executed with sensible and enlightened assurance—based, not on presump tion, but on the soundness of its principles. If, however, we must have a more limited section, then, I believe, we have it already before our eyes, on the coast of Guinea, where the native African retains his primitive attire of nature, and his intuitive notions of commerce. Oh, yes ! let us be prudent by all means—let us not despise the half loaf if we can obtain no more; but, in the mean time, let us bid for the full measure; and may the wisdom of such, as our friend "J. W.," aptly step in to qualify the rashness of such as yours, &c., SPARTAN. .0. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. Sir, —ln my last letter I said that I objected to the "ex tensive use ofgold as a national (erroneously copied natural) medium of exchange." I also said I advocated " a plan which will at once supply sufficient bullion, sufficient paper,'and sufficient security to meet every want, and to satisfy every doubt." In a note, I referred to the plan itself, which is now before the public, and to which I have never heard an objection of the slightest weight. If am asked why I object to the extensive use of a gold currency, my reply is twofold. First, it is a most expen sive medium, and can only be obtained by the exchange of other property of equal value, so that a very large amount of capital must be devoted in order to obtain the means of carrying on future transactions. Taus, the use of sixty millions of bullion costs this nation from two to three millions annually. Secondly, a commercial country must often be in the situation many merchants often find themselves in, when, notwithstanding the possession of ample property, they are quite unable to discharge all their liabilities in cash. They, therefore, have recourse to paper, which, coming from houses of well known means, is readily accepted, because it promises the required pay ment on a fixed day, and when that day arrives the promise is performed. So, likewise, the nation possesses ample wealth to liquidate all its liabilities, but is not pre pared on any one day to discharge the whole in one particu lar description of goods —say gold—but is, nevertheless, able and willing to do so in time, and, therefore, to avoid the necessity of curtailing business and realising property at loss, it becomes necessary to resort to the use of promis sory notes, which, if they rest upon unquestionable secu rity, will be readily circulated from hand to hand, instead of gold, and to the exact amount of such circulation, bullion will be dispensed with. We have all had sufficient experience of the value of bank notes to render it unne cessary to say more in favour of their use. Are we, then, to discard the use of gold because it is expensive, and not always to be obtained in unlimited quantity? Certainly not. But why not? Because gold and silver have been declared by every civilised nation, in all ages, to be the national and only universal equivalents for all and every other property, and, therefore, our dealings with foreigners must be, and always are, very greatly controlled by our ability to command the universal medium of exchange. Strictly speaking—nothing the is MON sr. All other currency, however good and well secured—however useful or well received—can never be better than a good security for money, or money's worth. Bullion alone is money in the highest and most legitimate sense of the word, for it is the only article that, at all times and in all regions of the earth, will com mand an exchange for every other product. Ought we not, then, to be more than careful in the adoption of any other current medium of exchange, to preserve an indefeasable security, that whenever we may require it to be redeemed, that redemption shall be effected in the currency of the world ? I know that the universal response will be, YES, if it is possible. Well, then, I assert, most unequivocally, that it is possible--very possible, and easy of accomplishment. We may have an abundant circulating medium, based upon a❑ abundant, tangible, and indistructible security, calculated to com mand and retain a higher degree of confidence, and also a more equable value, than notes of the Bank of England have ever yet attained. It would be, indeed, a paper currency; and, therefore, a cheap currency. But the holder of every note would know that he held an abso lute available security, for the value it expressed and promised to pay. He would know, also, that he may at any day receive its value in gold, upon presentation at the Bank of England The mod7rae — limits to which a communication of tliic sort should be confined, oblige me to defer details to a future opportunity. It must suffice at present to say, that they will be found self-evident as to their capability— they will neither exhibit doubtful problems or obscure theories—but be within the grasp of every school boys' intellect. Now, let me ask any steady, thinking man of business, if it is not safer and wiser to consider the all-important question of a currency reform, upon the principles I have laid down, rather than on the visionary and almost incomprehensible, no security theories of self-constructed philosophers, which have lately been so much insisted upon? If we call to our aid the exercise of sound corn• mon sense, it will be found folly to wage war against the general practice and convictions of mankind.—l am, your obedient servant, A CURRENCY REFOAMER. ♦ AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MONEY. Money ! thou hast well said—and in well saying hast given a clencher to my impromptu ; and in so doing, thou hast for once done good service to the cause thou dost disfigure so wofully with thy presumptuous, assumed synomosy, with imperishable gold—for gold, beautiful gold! is never so abused as when it bears thy odious name ; then it is, and not otherwise, that the love of it becomes pre eminently " the root of all evil." Stamp it with thy execrable name, which is a calumny on its sterling qualities and worth, and, much as it is to be regretted. you may apply to it with justice what is written, not of gold, but of thee, that " the love of money is the root of all evil." Gold! beautiful gold 1 I love thee still! for it is written, concerning thee, that there is a city of pure gold, in the fast approaching tuture, clear as glass, whose streets, likewise, shall be paved with then in thy purity; to which city—where there shall be no more sorrow —all who love the truth hope to come, after passing through this vale of tears. NE poa. Liverpool, November 6, 1856. SUDDEN DEATHS TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTH ERN TIMES. Sir,—During the present week you have recorded, in your journal, two most lamentable instances of sudden death, whilst in the act of taking a bath. There is not the slightest doubt that apoplexy, caused by a sudden reaction upon the system, has been the immediate cause of such an awfully sudden end. Now, it is not generally known to those who are in the habit of indulging in the luxury of a warm bath, that, in order to prepare the temperature of the body to the change it is about to undergo, that a simple preparatory process is, in many instances, necessarily required. Using friction with a coarse towel, or otherwise, will often have the desired effect. I speak advisedly on this matter, having, to an alarming extent, been myself subject to a tendency of blood to the head, which more or less is dangerous, if not guarded against, and which too often terminates in apoplexy. These few remarks are intended pro Bono publico.—Yours, &e., November 6, 1856. A NON-MEDICA THE BEARD MOVEMENT TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN TIMES. Sir,—To rectify a public grievance, or to bring about TRANSFERS OF SHARES.—The Directors of the City of any desisable end, the best, indeed 1 may say the only, Dublin Steam Packet Company, at the meeting of the way is to agitate, and to make the matter public, through shareholders last week, gave notice that, in consequence of the medium of our all-powerful press ; and if we can but been committed i n th e trans f er have d fraus which bring to our aid the assista nce o f a leading journal, the recent battle is at once half won. I n thi s respect the NORTHERN d epar t ment of some joint-stock companies, in future a dupli- TIMES has, from time to time, rendered valuable service. cue of the certificates for transfer of shares, countersigned I am led to make these rem ar k s b y reading in your 1 by the secreta r y, w i ll be forwarded by post from the office paper, of to-day, a communicati on on t h e subject of the of the company to the proprietor making the sale, thereby beard movement. Now, you have been instrumental in affording the opportunity of immediately discovering any other reforms, so here is another wide field open to you ; irregularity. The directors at the same time thought it due we want a reform in the beard wi de wild yo u fight for to the officer who has charge of the transfer department to us the battle ? Ido not argue f or it f or th e sake merely testify their full confidence in his integrity, as well as their of the manly appearance it presents—the sign between the satisfaction with the efficient manner in which he has dis boy, the effeminate, the Ernest Vane Tempest, and the charged his duties. man, though that is something—but I argue solely for its These intrinsic value. which is of infinitely mor e i m p or t ance that narrow minded Cl amourers —P ro f essors w h o repro appearance! It is now proved, beyond all d ou bt, t h at the bate i mprovement and disco v e r y as i nnova ti ons — are s il enoe d by the most respectable part of the Faculty, who do notbeard is essen: ial to the preservation of hea:th, and we h ave, o fi c rs i t ts o v n a e l u a e n , d n t o l t ie s n i another, mply in t theory, practice. in his hi high l opinion wa, of s scruple to rec ommend such articles as have acquired celebrity by their intrinsic merit. But it is a subject of regret, with at one time, myself, a martyr to toothache, but I was all classes of the community, that the most valuable Patent recommended to let my beard grow, and I assure you. sir, and Public Medicines are often counterfeited. JONES'S I have enjoyed perfect freedom from it ever since. MEDIUMS WAREHOUSE is established on the principle ' ladies arid part of the empire, or of selling gentlemen, and Medicines and Drugs only experience T hese, fo r are many m my years thou thoughts past, on in the ole u se subject,cfth the beard,ndm y Captains of ships officers in the army or navy which I hope justifies me in recommending its use to others, going to a distant others suffering from a similar complaint ; and if the into the country, may at all subject be only taken up in earnest, each recording his tim t e i , ve it rp w o i o l l l , a N g . Z . . become(l universal.—Yours, case, or plea for wearing it, I have no doubt, times have a large or small assortment of these Approved i B r: c 7urse of Medicines, safely packed, with ample directions for use, so MOUSTACHE.f r • • as to go Without risk to any distance, u rushing an admit able resource of superior and well-tried remedies alway at hand. Perfumers, chemists, &c., will, on application receive a wholesale price list, affording them an opportunity of purchasing on the ve ry lowest terms. E ng lish and Foreign agency care f u ll y con d uc ted. F. G . J . rece i ve s almost daily, p arcels from Lon d on, w h ence all art i cles o f a new kind may be procured free of carriage. Jones's, 5, Paradise-street, third door from Cburoh-street. and nearly facing Lord-street —Adv. " THE NEW SAFETY INKSTAND, we can bear persona witness to, secures to all classes one which will keep the ink always clean and good, will prevent that accumulation of oxide which spoils the finest writing, and de; trot's the best pen ; by means of this inkstand, too, the amount of ink taken up by the pen can be easily regulated." — Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette.—Sold by all Book sellers. Price 4s, 3s, and is 6d.---tidvt. THE TOWN DUES SOUTHAMPTON DOCK CHARGES. The Southampton magistrates have just decided that the Southampton Dock Company have no right to charge mer chandise rates on passengers' baggage, !and have declared by that decision that about 90 per cent. of the dock charges o n baggage is illegal. The Dock Company are going to appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench against this decision, and if defeated, to apply for another act of parliament. The matter is of great interest and importance, and has caused disputes of long standing between the shipping agents of Southampton and the Dock Company there. It appears that the company are allowed by their act of parliament two kinds of charges: one on passengers and their luggage which simply land or embark at the docks, and another for wharfage, shipping, unshipping, landing, r e -l an di ng , l oa di ng, h ous i ng, unhousing, weighing and delivering m erc h an di se . Th e c h arge f or mere ly landing or embarking a passenger and his luggage is • trifling, and is only exacted on passengers by coasting steamers. When steamers arrive from the Channel Islands or f rom foreign ports at the docks, the Customs examine all luggage brought by them, to see if any portion is liable to duty. The Cus toms do not, however, provide the labour or expense necessary to bring such luggage under their examination. It must be landed, conveyed to a suitable place, opened, exposed for examination, enclosed again, and taken away by others. The Dock Company insist upon performing themselves what the Customs will not do, and charging the owners of the luggage for the trouble and expense of doing it. And they consider that such luggage, being subject to the same operations as imported merchandise, through the exigencies of the Custom house authorities, become liable to the dock rates for mer chandise. The Southampton magistrates have decided that, if the Dock Company choose to take the trouble they do they cannot demand payment for it, cannot convert luggage into merchandise, and therefore the only rate-they can legally demand is the landing rate. Some idea of the importance of this dispute may be formed from the fact, that nearly .500 steamers arrive at the Southampton Dock from the Channel Islands and foreign party in the oourea of a year; that from one of these steamers last week nearly 700 packages of luggage were landed, and that on three packages alone the magistrates reduced the dock chirges of Gs. \to Bd. There is but one opinion as to the convenience to the public of the Southampton Dock Company undertaking the safe custody of passengers' luggage until it has passed the Customa, and doing all that is necessary in preparing it fur examination, and restating it to the owners, and being paid a reasonable charge for so doing. But it is doubted whether the company have not pitched their tariff too high even for their own interests. The decision of the magistrates must induce the company to maturely consider this point. TIIE LOSS OF THE TAY On Saturday, at the Greenwich police court, an investigation under the Merchants' Shipping Act, was commenced before Mr. Trail], the magistrate, respecting the loss of the royal mail steam-ship Tay, which went ashore in the Gulf of Mexico, near Cape Roxo, on the morning of the 30;.11 of August last. Mr. Trail was assisted by Captain Robertson, It.N. Sarveyor General of the Marine Dep ar t ment o f t h e Board ' of Trade. Mr. Cumberland, from tho office of the solicitor to the Cus toms, and Mr. Neale attended to arrange the evidence. Mr. Bird, of Cardiff, appeared on behalf of his relative, Captain Strutt, the commander of the Tay, and Mr. Crowder for the company. There were also several of the officials of the company present. Mr. Cumberland having briefly stated the nature of the proceedings, Captain William Strutt entered upon a state ment respecting his nautical services under the company for a period of eighteen years, from July, 1844, as midshipman, thitd officer, second officer, and commander. During the whole of his service at sea he had never met with any mishap until the loss of the Tay, to the command of which he was appointed in May last. He then stated that they left Havaunah on the 25th of August, and then described the course pursued thence till the morning when the vessel stranded. He also put in the night order book, in which the order of course was entered. Ho left the deck at about eleven o'clock the night before the ship struck, leaving directions how the vessel was to be steered ; returned at a quarter to two, and remained till the ship struck at ten minutes past five. After the chief officer came on deck at four o'clock, witness dozed off on one of the seats, and dreamed that the vessel had struck just as it occurred after wards, He started up. Ic was then a quarter past five. Went forward to the forecastle, where the chief officer was. The first glimpse of daylight was then showing. Witness noticed something on the horizon, and ran to get his glass. The vessel struck almost immediately. The witness described the various steps taken after the vessel had stranded, the despatch of the mails to Tampico, &c. Witness attributed the disaster to the influence of au extraordinary current running southward, the said current having been caused by a heavy hurricane which it was subsequently learned had blown on the 27,11 and 28th of August, on the north side of Cuba. Such a hurricane passing from S.E. or E S.E. would produce what is known as a " storm wave," which latter, preceded by a large body of water, would continue its course until it broke upon some shore, how. ever distant, The Tay, passing a dangerous part of the coast exactly at the time the " storm wave" was approaching, felt the effects of its current without warning, and just struck in time to experience the disastrous effects of the wave itself. Mr. W. T. Rawes, third officer, Mr. Herbert, second officer, and other witnesses, also Lieutenant Stewart, R.N., Admiralty officer in charge of the mails on board the Fay, having been examined, and expressed a similar opinion as to the cause of the vessel's stranding, the enquiry was adjourned. ST. ANNE'S r DPENSARY AND EYE AND EAR INSTITUTION, 9, Rose Hill.—New patients entered on the books last week, November 8 :—Relieved at the institution. 163 ; relieved at their own d wellinaq, 77 ; total, 240. Visitors, Mr. E. Watts and Mr. T. Kirk. Hon. secretary and treasurer, Joseph Kitchen, Esq. AS MANTLES and JACKETS are so very generally worn this Season, J. MAC LENNAN, 36, CHURCH-STREET, (OpposiTE PARKER-STREET), Has mtvie arra , gements to have a Case of Paris MANTLES." and JACKETS, in Velvets, Reversible CLiths, and all the other Fashionable Afateria!s, delivered Every Week tor the nex t Two Months; therefore, those Ladies desirous of having the Fashions as soon as they make their appearance in Paris, combined with moderation to prices, are respect fully solicited to inspect the Stock. JUST RECEIVED, from London, Two Cases contai Ing about 700 MANTLES, comm enc i ng at the extraord ::: arily Low Price of 4s. Ild. each. SHAWL AND MANTLE WARETTOITSE OPPOSITE PARKER STREET. A. MACDIA_- TE ACHER OP NAVIGATION AND NAUTICAL ASTRONOMY, ABLY ASSISTED, PRACTICALLY, BY CAPTAIN A. MACNAUGHTAN, ACA D E M Y , and the LIVERPOOL MASTER MARINERS' ASSOCIATION'S ROOMS, 24, GREAT GEORGE -SQUARE, LIYRIIYOOL, TO THE EDITOR OT THE NORTHERN TIMES &r,—When will our governing men here elevate them selves t) the position Liverpool is fast assuming i❑ Britain, or expand their views beyond the jealous and narrow-minded spirit in which they at present manage its affairs ? ➢ir. Laird's propsitiln of allowing Birkenhead Gonmis sioners to sit on the Dock Committee is so just, and so self-eviient a necessity, that the suggestions should have proceeded from this side of the river instead of the other ; and might not the same principle be still further extended with vast benefit to this port ? For Liverpool, instead of showing jealousy and a spirit of opposition to the growing interests around her, should assist their development and assimilate to herself what, undoubtedly, at no distant time, she is destined to abzorb. Manchester, even, and other towns which are so inveterate against Liverpool, on the question of her Town Dues, should be conciliated. I will suggest how, for it is to be deplored that any unfriendliness, which often assumes the character of hostility, should exist between two so important and contiguous communities. Twin sisters of commerce ; they should pursue their career band in hand, reciprocating mutual benefits. Why should Miss Manchester scold and scratch the face of Miss Liverpool, because when old Dame Commerce sends Miss L. out marketing she appropriates a trifle out of her bargains for wear and tear, as she says, but which Miss M., who is the blue stocking, declares is only spent in frivolities. Manchester should he proud to see her buxom and saucy sister making herself look so beautiful and becoming. But why, again, should Miss L. he so stiff about giving M. an explanation of what Mrs. Commerce allows her as per quisites ? If she would be a little more bending, M. might be a little more complacent and forgiving. So much for allegory. Now for facts. Why should not Manchester and other towns, who are interested in the Dues on Ship ping, unite their interests more closely with Liverpool, and assist it in developing its commerce, instead of lending their capital and sympathies to rival ports ? Those Dues which Liverpool has now to defend against nearly ; The United Kingdom, and may one day have to sacrifice to such opposition, might, by a dill• rent policy, be made a bond that would unite the whole north in her favour, and lead to an amazing developement other resources. Let Liverpool invite Manchester, and all other towns entitled to the privilege, to unite in forming an electoral chamber, which would have the power of appointing, annually, three or more members to sit. in the Dock Com mittee to watch the appropriation of the Town Dues, and to see that they are solely employed In developing the facilities of the port. And if a room were apportioned to the use of the electoral body in St. George's Hall, we should hear no more of those heart-burnings which that superb edifice has hitherto provoked. Thus, Liverpool would become the representative town of the whole north. One of the representative members would, necessarily, have to reside in Liverpool, and might be an inhabitant of it, having power to enforce due notice being given to his coadjutors of any important motion by the committee. Such a measure would, of course, require the cumber some aid of Parliament. And the Imperial legislature might regard with a jealous eye this imperium in imperio. London would fight against it, and the Times might growl out its thunder, but could they withstand the determined and united north ? I know that the proposition of allowing other towns to interfere in the appropriation of funds which we have always considered our own peculiar right, will be regarded with extreme jealousy; but if it be made subservient to our aggrandisement and prosperity, let it be adopted, and so Manchester, or any other town, could not grumble at the disposal of funds in which they hada voice. They would begin to regard Liverpool as an outlying port of their own, or rather as their metropolis, and would assiit and delight in its development. And, situated as it is, in the very heart and centre of Britain, equally accessible to England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, who can prognos ticate where its importance will end ? for the topographi cal situation of London entitles it to he the metropolis of England merely, not of Britain. Its situation was chosen as England's capital, some 2,000 years ago, when England and all its dominions was included within its own sea-girt coast south of the Tweed. Macaulay's New Zealander standing over the ruins of departed London is all very fine in its way, but may be realised, and yet indicate no diminution of English power or English wealth, but as having merged only into British power and British wealth, which have found a new and more central radiating point for their throne, and that point must be Liverpool. This is taking an ambitious and large view of the sub ject—but it is only by large views and large aims that great ends are secured. If carefully guarded, the destiny of Liverpool is but in its infancy. I hate to hear the sense less jargon of calling Liverpool " the good old town." Date its rise from a fishing village, and scores of English, Scotch, or Irish towns will beat it in age. It is yet a young town and a rising one —comparatively young in its traditions, and still younger in its aspirations and its growth. Make it, therefore, the representative town of northern enterprise, and you will make it the centralising point of its wealth and its power, which, added to its situation, will command an influence which must radiate to and from the whole empire. With all modesty I float this idea for abler heads to take up, well knowing that contrane lucrum nil valere canclidum, pauperis ingeniurn.—Yours, &c., J. L. S. TIIE nnerc S'ff EDS The statement from the Chamber of Commerce on the subject of Dock Sheds, laid before the committee, embraced the report from the export committee, which we give at foot, as it will be seen that the Chamber, repre senting more particularly the commercial classes, are most anxious that the sheds should be rendered of the most perfect description, and we fancy that few who have perish able property at any time exposed on our quays will not confirm the statement, " that no dock should be con sidered as completed, until the part of the quays intended to be used for goods liable to be injured by exposure to the weather, be covered by warehouses, or suitable sheds." REPORT, Your committee have to state to the council that since the report of the export committee of the chamber was presented, in 1852, a number of new sheds have been erected on the dock quays, others have been extended, and several have been enclosed and otherwise improved. Your committee would point attention to the partial enclosure of the shed at the east side of the Prince's Dock, as a considerable improvement, and yet more especially to the new shed on the east side of the Salt house Dock, which is spacious, well lighted from the roof, enclosed, and with the hydrants covered, so that it seems welt adapted for any description of perishable goods, and particularly for vessels loading export goods. There is still a large portion of the dock sheds entirely unenclosed at the sides, and, therefore, affording only very partial security to the property placed under them ; and, as your committee find, that it is the intention of the dock trustees to erect some new sheds, and to remove others, with a view to their reconstruction, they would suggest that a communication should be made by the council to that body, expressive of the hope that in all new sheds, as well as in the alteration of old ones, spacial attention should be directed to make them enclosed, and improve the lighting of the roof, which, in the case of most of the older sheds, is still defective. As scarcely of secondary importance, your committee think that the fl mrs of the dock sheds should be carefully constructed, as to preserve the goods placed in them from dirt. Your committee is i n f orme d th a t one of the new sheds is intended to be erected of two stories ; but, not having seen the plans, they hesitate to pronounce a full opinion, but they would express the hope that the experiment may be successful, especially if mechanical appliances can be used to facilitate their working. In conclusion, your committee would submit to the council, that no dock should be considered as completed, until such parts of the quays as are intended to be used for goods liable to be injured by exposure to the weather, are covered either by warehouses or suitable sheds. Y our committee present a plan of the docks, carefully prepared by your secretary, showing the nature of the dock sheds, and the alterations intended to be made. (S►tined) T. B FORWOOD, Chairrnan of the Export Committee, Liverpool, November 3, 1856. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. [LETTER Ll.] TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. Sir,—ln my last letter I endeavoured to show that we possessed documentary evidence, as ample as that of any other nation, by which the agricultural produce of this kingdom might be computed. I also suggested how that might be more demonstratively obtained. The entire establishment still in being, for procuring and publishing the average prices, collected from two hundred and ninety towns and cities, to govern duty which does not exist ; and in conformity to a law which the abrogation of the corn laws, to all intents and purposes, abolished. This machi nery of the corn department of the Board of Trade, I sug gested, might be employed (in preference to poor law guardians, or any other ofticiality) to procure returns of all the grain sold by the producers, and also of returns from the buyers, of all they buy of the producers—each party giving the respective names of those to whom they sell, and of those of whom they buy—and by which proved evidence the produce of the kingdom would be given. That it will not inform the Government of a deficiency in the crops, on the eve, or on the immediate event of the harvest ; that the farmers will have to forego the intimation promised them of such a fact—and that the community will be left to a fate common in such cases, i.e., paying a consequently higher price, or having the deficiency supplied by the magnetic intelligence of individual interest, I admit as a truth. But not as an argument against this mode of knowledge, nor for such statistics as the Agricutural Statistic Bill would acquire. I apprehend the agricultural reports of each month, written as they are with so much judgment and truth, will not cease. The practical and speculative opinions formed of the appearance and growth of the crops will still be formed, and propitious and adverse seasons will continue to exercise the observations and thoughts of all. These, end the means of computation already possessed, assisted by the proposed returns of the farmers' sales, will give an unerring estimate of the matter at issue. It may also be remarked that the importations of grain have been a tolerably close approximation to the deficiency of crops. And then as to the bill as it affects the returns of cattle—a stock in the hands of._ the farmer so shifting, and so variou s , as t o d e f y the alsllfty of either Poor Law Guardians or Government clerks to collate or arrange in apprehensible limits—one may ho assumed to imagine the Bucolie Departrnent•of the Board of Trade, with an array of dismayed London officials in the face of columns, not of serrated hosts—but of long horns, short horns, and antlered bulls, cows, oxen, knout beasts—fat in their degrees of fat—half fat—put up to feed— three year olds, steers, heifers, stirks, stots, and calves, with a nomenclature varying in every country ; and then as to sheep, bracke-ewes, Leicesters, South Downs, Cheviots, Teviots, Ettricks, half-breds, and whole breds, black faced, and black sheep. But here I pause, as the analogy is contaminating; and leaving " Eumteus " and " Gruth ''.with their modern herds, proceed to show the more excellent way extant in the numbered head of cattle from Smithfield to every other cattle market. In the fairs, or trysts, from Falkirk to Balinasloe, and across to Barnet, to which may be added the importation of cattle; and if these known and published collection of facts is not a statistical record of a supply, created by the demand, of a community sufficient for all the purposes of knowledge, or of statists, then, but not till then, let the Agricultural Statistic Bill pass into a law.—Yours, &c., Liverpool, Nov. 3, 1856. JOHN BERKLEY, COMMITTAL OF HARRISON, THE LEEDS WIZARD, FOR BIGAMY. EXTRAORDINARY REVELATIONS. Henry Harrison, the Leeds Wizard, who was concerned is the recent poisoning case at Leeds, and who had obtained s singular power over t h e mind of the convict Dove, is now ob taining a greater notoriety than ever. It is only a fortnight since he was committed to prison for nine months, fora criminal assault upon a poor servant girl ; and on Saturday, ho wall brought down from Armley prison, and placed in the dock of the Leeds Court-house, on charges of a still more dreadful complexion. The principal of these charges was for intermarry ing with a second, third, and, it is now believed, a fourth wife, while the first was still alive. The whole narrative is one of a painfully interesting character, and the court-house was crowded to suffocation Burin; the whole of the prolonged en quiry. On the 3rd August, 1833, Harrison married his first wire (Jane Brayshay,) at the Leeds parish church, and by her had issue of several children. He soon became d!ssatisfied with Jane, however, and left her to s`ruggle on with her family as best she might. The consequence was, that, ultimately she was obliged to apply for parish relief. Harrison was then living with a widow named Elizabeth Brown, who was owner of some cottage property, and whose only daughter, a girl of 16, lived in th bawd with her The house was of veil' small capat single bedroom in it. In this bedro mother, Brown, used to sleep in one bed, while the girl, E. 4 .arah Ann Brown, occupied the other. Mrs. Brown loft home on a visit to some friends early in 1846 ; her daughter and Harrison still occupied their respective beds ie the same room, and, according to the girl's own account, without any imprepet familiarity resulting. But on one ocea.iion, during the mother's, absence, Harrison took base advantage of some oppertand moment, and seduced the girl. As soon as her mother camel her of the injury that had The mother, therefore, had a only A ,n(1 tbd Harrisol home, Sarah Ann Brown inform , been done b,r by Harrison. violent alto' ion with the prisoner; and, ultimately, Harri• son was made to promise that ho would marry the girl, in order to save her reputation. This ill-starred marriage, accordingly, took place at Rothwell Church on the 18th May, 1846. Por this and three days afterwards Harrison and the girl slept toge . her as man and wife; but, on the fourth dal, the mother / Elizabeth Brown. usurped her daughter's conjugal positions and returned to Hirrison's bed. The girl, who was g flnei well grown young woman, in the meanwhile contfnued td occupy the other bed in the same room. Sarah Ann Bt:rtrlii was delivered of a child a few months afterwards, and during the illness the child was taken away, and when she saw it again it was dead. When the court arrived at this portion of the enquiry, there was a great sensation among the spectators; and groans, hisses, and execrations were loudly directed against _ . j the prisoner and his housekeeper, Elizabeth Brown. Brown was so terrified by this expression of public feeling, that she fainted away, and had to be removed into the magistrates' private room. But we must resume our narrative. When Sarah Ann Harrison had recovered from her con• finement, she went to reside with her cousin, and left Harrison and her mother to pursue their adulterous intercourse. A period of three years elapses, and then Harrison is returning from an excursion to Liverpool, when he meets with a fair travelling companion in the shape of a fine, buxom widow, named Maria Steel. The acquaintance thus casually formed ripened into a closer intimacy, and two months afterwards, or on the 11th October, 1850, he leads the fair Maria to the hymeneal altar at St. John's Church, Wake• field. After the wedding, they lived for eight days in a house in Dewsbury-road, Leeds. The ninth day of the honeymoon arrived, and brought with it the brother of the bride, who had heard that Harrison was already married, aad that his Sister was consequently an injured woman. Ho taxed lidrrison with the imputation, but received for reply from the prisoner " thai Maria was his lawful spouse, and that he had no other Wife." The brother was satisfied, and after partaking of some refreiltiz. ment, went out with his sister to visit some of the "lions" al Leeds. When Maria returned home in the evening, however, she found the door of her own house closed against her, and was obliged to accept the hospitality of a neighbour. At five o'clock the next morning, she procured a ladder, and ascended to the bedrooat window, which she then entered. Imagine her astonishment and disgust when she found Harrison and the widow Brown i❑ bed together ! Maria acted like a girl of spirit, she packed up her clothes, shook the duet off her feet; and turned her back for ever on Henry Harrison. Harrison then gave up the house in Dewsbury-road, returned td his Old lodgings and familiarities at Mrs. Brown's, and was there id clover when the first charge of assault was preferred agaiSiii him. All the above facts were stated in evidence on Saturday and Harrison, declining to make any defence, was fully com mitted to York Castle to answer both the charges of bigamy against him. He will, consequently, when the assize commis sion opens in December, have to be removed by habeas corpus from Armley gaol, from which it is not probable he will return. COTTON GROWING IN ALGERIA. A traveller in Algeria gives the following account of the cotton growing experiments in that colony :—.'As to cotton, the utmost that the most enthusiastic Frenchman can say about it is that it is an expensive experiment. I have asked in vain for those cotton plantations which produced the longue sole, and the courte sole, and the colon jsune, and the fine stockings which we saw at the French Exposition. I had been toll as a fact quite decisive of the cotton question, that the prize of 20,0001. offered annually by the Emperor, for the best specimen of longue sole cotton, had been divided in 1855 between a Frenchman and an Arab. This fact suggests the conclusion that natives and colonists are all striving against each other to produce cotton, and that all French Africa is covered with competing co:ton plantations. The fortunate winner of the 10,000 f. is the Caid Ali Ben Mohamel, whose plantation is near Guelma. As I had asked in vain for cotton wherever I have been, I had made preparations to take a two days' journey on mulehack in order to see this fameue plantation, when I fortunately met with a distinguished Arab, who knew both the place and the Caid, and who assured me that his cotton plantation amounted to about 13 aerei. Subsequent enquiry confirmed this statement, and I came to the conclusion that the Guelma cotton plantation was not worth four days' journey, and the further chance, if the rains should come on, of being shut up in that country for a month. Moreover, there is a secret history about this Guelma cotton. The Caid Ali Ben Mohamed is not a rich man—few Arabs are. The hest of them have net a revenue of a thousand a year. This Caid Ali Ben Mohamed is a sous-lieutenant of Spahis. There was a certain superior officer of the sub-division of Guelma who had a desire for the Cross of the Legion of Honour, but had found no opportunity of earning the distinction. He knew that the cotton cultivation was a great point with the authorities; so he, it is said, advanced the funds, obtained the best European as sistance, and at great cost produced a crop of fifteen acres of cotton at Guelma, just as it might be produced at tho Jardint d'Essai. The cotton was exhibited in the name of the Oak,. It obtained the moiety of the great prize, and loud was the exultation that an indigene should have applied himself sd successfully to the culture of cotton. A commission was sent to report upon the whole crop, and this commission represented that much of the success was due to the intelligent zeal of the officer in question, and so the officer got his cross. Now, there is nothing in this which is not honourable to all parties con cerned, and the officer deserved his decoration for his energy in carrying out the policy of his superiors. I only tell the story to show that this is an exceptional ease, and that the Arabs aro not labouring to turn all their corn stubble into cotton plantations. A few of the southern tribes do grow a little cotton, as they always have done since the Spanish Moors taught them the culture. The plain of Nedroina was covered with cotton plants in the time of Leo, the African. Moreover, they work up their scanty crops into shirts and burnouses; but this is not prize cotton ; it is a short staple cotton of little worth. In the present year the Caid did not again Appear as a competitor. The whole the prize of 20,000 f. was adjudged to Messrs. Masquelier Freres, St. Maur, and Co., who had divided the prize in the previous year. Unless the Akhb3r and the Colonization are misinformed, this company has discovered that it is impossible to prosper in Algeria, except by employing native labour. In truth, neither the natives nor the colonists have the capital to attempt the culture of cotton, except as a mere garden patch. What cotton is grown is cultivated by spade husbandry. Tho streets of every town, are placarded contemn e d years temne theel with large bills setting forth the prizes, from theEnrperor , s prize of 20,000 f. (with intermediate prizes, which it would take half a column to enumerate) down t t o h t a h t e fo m r much three on in gold and silver medals of the Society of Mulhouse. Th e moat strongestimportanetatndwitlhieprovidethe seed ce gratis, i tL, and b u y up all the incentive government cotton grown at ten prix de fayeur. Yet, with all thi s f orc i ng, the sum total of all the land in all Algeria which at the last published returns was cultivated for cotton is 1,000 acres and for the produce the government p a id 3 00,000 francs. The i cotton is bought n i ts raw state ;it is sent to France to be whereof England uou g o c t o t world ca cleaned, and to Rouen to b e manufactured. Seeing that the about i s, believe,3sodoaoboutth7eroeo,doooeoB cotton produce tl hu not, fear, appear muc h lik elihood of Algeria'bectiming a very formidable competitor to the United States. The articles exhibited at London and Paris were in no instance manu factured in Algeria. For the most part the cotton was grown in the government pepin2eres ; the egrenage was done by hands and th e cotton was worked up with * grea t care in the looms of Lilie, Pi car d y, and Flanders Tho only logical conclusion is, that it is not impossible that at some future time Algeria may produce cotton as an article of commerce." EDUCATION IN IRELAND.-91ite a commotion has been created among the Irish national and R oman Catholic, journals, by certain views upon education in its highest b n r adn thech d by Dr. Lyon s , b e f ore Dr. Newman P i c ounde University, on th e open i ng of the secon d and B C , a t p h r o o session of the Medic.il School. " The statistics," says one ca ndid, however mortified journal, in the exemplification of the low state of education in Ireland, "are truly startling," and it is . asked—" Can we wonder that Scotc h men are pre p to Irishmen in most places where learning and skilled every 5,000 of the population,labour are requi re d ; w h en we find that one Scotchman in is a graduate of some univer sity, while in Irel an d, on l y one man i n every 20,000 h as re xived a simil ar proo f o f hi g h education ! Dr. Lyons proves by incontrovertible figures, that Ireland is the meat ignorant of all the civilised nations; and further, that we cannot plead poverty as our excuse !",