The Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-24 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY. The adjourned annual 'general meeting of the pro prietors, subscribers, and friends of the Philharmonic Society was held yesterday, in the Cotton-saleroom, 7.4ehange-buildings. There was not a very, numerous attendance. Mr. C. CrUttingden occupied the chair ; and the following report, which had been printed for circulation amongst the proprietors, was taken as read Report of the Committee for the Year 18601 "The committee beg.to lay before the proprietors their annual stateniefit of accounts, which have been audited, as usual, by Messrs. Harmood Banner and Son and they feel much satisfaction in presenting a r eport showing so material an i mprovemen t i n the position and prospects of the society. " Twelve full 'dress concerts have been giventothe subscribers during the past season ; and, notwithstand ing' ce the expensive character of the engagements, thern prising artists of high celebrity en every "a 5 increased receipts NM Vitt t6io . Or eitrAt o ic, o k o e ), is h a a n t d e books (amounting this teak to n . bore thati fetiald idditional o nt e l a ay il 'herepyineurred. the number of stalls 'rented by annual . subscribers gt t 4 4s. has greatly increased, the income from this a lse su s rp hh hi w s o a f 6 X te l tt o d 7 ;, source during the past year showing . The subscriptions to the galleries a improvement. ho , „.. let 'letting the Hall has " The revenue ,'derAvei amounted to 110 i against £236 in the previous i:1 , 7 0 03 • .5 ilty . box and one stall, have been sold, realising £123 18s, there now remaining one box and 250 stalls disposable by the society; and from the considerable increase in the number of annual subscribers, , above noticed, there is reason to anticipate that 'these tinseld stalls will not be tinprodttaite tf thttire fctehtie. The profit dfid atecilint slio*s a balance in faVour of- th§. I§ticibq of t 260 17s. 10d., which would li4ge dtirietired much larger hut for the "extraordinary' .oday incurred this year in improving the approaches 'to,the Hall, &c. "The total liabilities of the society are now reduced to ZI,IOO. " In noticing the payment of £62 3s. 3d. to Messrs. Tite and Clifton, for their survey of the roof of the hall, your committee have great lihedsiiic hI stn trig i ,that the periodical eta m in a tien s reedtilineiidtd 13Y these gentlemen have res hl te d i n the hiltiiiilete removal of apprehension urcin that subject. " Td the jiracticat members, upon whose services the Itplftifb of the so c i e ty so great l y d epen d s, your con:I -/Act feel that they are deeply indebted, and they recommend that a resolution be passed, conveying the thanks of the proprietors. • " Your committee have much pleasure in renewing their acknowledgments of the valuable services of the secretary aad treasurer, Mr. Henry , Sudlow.. "Your committee recommend that twelve full.dress concerts be given during the next season, and that the subscription he as follows :—Boxes and stalls (pro prietors), £3 3s. each seat; gallery stalls, £2 each scat ; gallery £1 each seat ; annual subscriptions to stalls (non-proprietors), £4 4s. each seat. " They also propose that proprietors shall be allowed to transfer their right of entree for the season. to resi dent gentlemen, upon payment of as., as before. , And that any resident gentleman, approved of by the' com mittee, and not in business for himself, should be allowed the privilege of purchasing a titket,.er making use of a member's ticket at the subscription concerts, upon payment of 10s. dd. for tilt year, in accordance with the resolution passed at the annuak meeting in January, 1858. "The members of committee who retire by rotation, but who art re-eligible; are as follows :—Alfred Castel lain, Esq., Hardman Earle, Esq. ' W. H. Macl ean , E sq., Duncan MT ' iecar Esq., W. Winter Raffies, Esq., Benson Rathbone,Esq„ Edward Roberts, Esq., William Thornely, Esq., and 'Robert J. Tinley, Esq. "But EL9 the practical members, in accordance with their pritilege, haft nominated Mr. Roberts to represent theht on the ettinmittee, only eight o th er gent l emen can be alttt*A. - I" Principal artistes who have appeared during the year :—Soprani: Mesdames Badia, Banks, Corbari, Fiorentini, Gassier, Grisi, Catherine Hayes, Novello, Orvil, Parepa, Piccolomini and Miens. Contralti: Mesdames Sainton-Dolby, Eyles, Iriardot Garcia,,Huddart and Lockey. Tcnori : Messrs. Neri- Baraldi, Baxter, Belart, Cummings, Gi ug li n i, L oc k e y, Luise, Ma r i o , Perren, Sims Reeves and Reichardt. Bassi: Messrs. Aldighieri, Castelli, Ciampi, Fallar,, Kinni, Lawler, Tagliafico, L. W. Thomas, Valsova.ni, Vialletti and W. H. Weiss. Instrumentalists : Mes dames Moristz and Anna Molique. Messrs. Arditi, Bottesini, George Collins, Engel, J. L. Hatton, Land,, Molique, Brinley Richards, Sainton, Sivori E. W. Thomas and F. 0. Williams." The CHATILUAN (who was ver y i n di s ti nct l y heard by the reporter s ) said, that as the meeting was not very numerous, and as probably every gentleman present was supplied with a copy of the printed report of the com mittee for the past year, it might not be necessary . to take up their time by reading it, no would take the report as read. flu was happy to congratulate them on the steady advance made by the society in its financial operations kali; the year 1860. There were two points to which he wished particularly to call their attention, as, evidencing the satisfaCtory progress they Vine making--first, the receipts from annual subscribers 'Were considerably increased, and averaged £2ll more on the present occasion, than they did in any term during the last ten years ; and, secondly, the revenue derived from 'letting the hall amounted to a sum much beyond what had been realised in previous years. There was some little diversity of opinion as to the subject of letting the hall more frequently than had been done— some being of opinion that it would be better not to let it on occasions when it would be occupied by boisterous and large meetings, by which great damage and injury were done to the edifice itself, while others, on the con trary, thought ,that it would materially increase the profits derived from this source, if the ball were let on special occasions, providing against injury being sus tained in consequence. He then alludectto the subject of letting stalls to the .public, and said, on the whole, that so far as the financial position of the society was concerned, he had only to congratulate the members. He only trusted that the duties performed by the committee. during the past year, would meet with the sanction and approval of the subscribers, whom it had been . their desire and wish to please and benefit. (Hear, hear.). The balance in hand this year presented a very favour able contrast to what it had been on former occasions''' . and showed h'ow steadily the society was improving. The profits would have been even more than they were, and would have amounted to something like £4OO or £5OO, were it not for the large outlay of money incurred in making approaches to the hall and repairing the gallery, so - as '.to ensure the safety and comfort of the public. The prosperous condition of the society shOwed that a taste for music was gradually being awakened in the minds of the people of Liverpool, whose spirited'and generous appreciation of the talented artistes who catered for their enjoyment and amusement in the hall was manifested in the mast unmistakeable manner. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and the passing of the accounts. • Mr. Josh Matuniorr seconded the motion, which agreed to. no.•• • A Proprietor called attention to the large item, nearly £3OO, which had been spent in advertising and station . ery. As th e concerts depended mostly upon the sub scriber?, he dkl.notseewlllist_sh large amount should be spent in adverti s in g . - - The Citaiam.sx said it was a' large item; but they had given twelve concerts last year ; and it included printing and stationery of every kind. Mr. MAantorr observed it should not be forgotten that advertisements were the means of popularising: the galleries, which had been full during the present season, and had materially increased their income. The Chairman next moved a vote of thanks to th e practical members of the society, which was seconded by Mr. Raymond W. Houghton, and passed. The third and fourth resolutions moved from the chair, and seconded by Mr. Duncan and Mr. Thomas. Wilson respectively, embraced those recommendation s in the report, that twelve subscription concerts be given this year, and that the rate of subscription be as pro posed. These were agreed to nem. con. The Chairman next moved the appointment of the committee, the. whole of the retiring members, with the exception of two, being re-elected, and the names of Mr, John Swainson and Mr. P. Vance being added to the David Rae seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting then broke up. DEATH OF MR. DURANDU.—Mr. Durandu, of South Castle-street, died on Tuesday, his demise being caused by bronchitis. He was well known in Liverpool as an energetic man of business, and was formerly proprietor of the Zoological Gardens. Latterly he was engaged in the bullion and money exchange business, an was much respected by all who knew him. THE ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCH/EOLOGICAL SOCIETY. —The fortnightly meeting of this society was held last night, at the Royal Institution. Mr. James M. Hay, the president, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance.—Mr. J. A. Picton exhibited a drawing, and also a photograph, of the front elevation of the proposed new buildings flanking the Town-hall and a portion of the Exchange. It is to be an Italian •building, with four or five colossal figures surmounting the pediment. —On the motion of Mr. Bennett, the thanks of the society were voted to Mr. Picton.—Mr. Chantrell then exhibited an apparatus to be placed on the top, for the cure of smoky chimneys, and which he is at' present applying with considerable success.—Mr. Wm. Brown said it was similar to an apparatus shown to him by a relative in Somersetshire, and which was placed on all the chimneys of Buckingham Palace.—Mr. Chantrell said he had had a patent agent searching the records, to see if th ere h a d been such an invention before.— Mr. Brown did not think there was a patent for it.—Mr. Chantrell said. if it were good it would be patented.—Mr. Bennett said not always. Dr. Arnott, who had given more good things to the world than any , scientifi c man of the day, had never patented any. The evil .of smoky chimneys, in nine cases out of ten, did 11."41'rehe at the top of the chimney at all. The evil lay by which of the workmanship of the present day, houses.cll- fresh air was So rigidly excluded from our It was this which caused a down draught in some of the plenty of fireplaces • and the best cure was to intro duceChantrell, it i v:;. , ~ air ' ' • stated, the vestibule and corridor.—Mr. was proceeding at present upon the principle gave him permission cure, Rieh n no pay ;" and Mr. Brown his chimneys at to exnerimentalise upon some of • . had just cured the ;1 1 1 1 ' °lld, Hill.—Mr. Chantrell said he .f.. fifteen years, had beell'in•noW , exhibited of a gentleman who, for afflicted with smoke doctors.— Mr. Picton, Jun. plans of St. P au l' s Ch copies f rom th e or i g i n al urch, that they might be coin -..... pared with the prnenipuartderby H the p members. Ike also exhibited the last o t f he tt e re ' a ' upil d D t i h e e tio p n a a p r e y r „of Archite c t ure ."—M r. J . A. Pi cton of the eveni% vrhicll was 0A ~ Russ - • lan Architecture." liiijiiii LIVERPOOL - POLICE COURT.--YniTERDAY. (iiiic;i•e Mr. RAFFLES.) EXTRAORDINARY CASE 01' ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN MNEY. A female of peculiar appearance, and who appeared about eighteen years of age, whose name was given as Ellen Bramham, of 17, Netherfield-road North, was placed in the dock on the following extraordinary charge. The girl was deseribed as the daughter of a late relieving officer of the West Derby Anion: She had a young child in her arms, but it was stated that she is not married: She was defended by Mr. Cobb. Detective officer Wilion said, on Sunday Mr. Gough, the govern'or of the Weit Derby Workhouse, called at the police office, and produced this letter, which he had received that morning addressed to him : • ' "Everton "My dear Sir;—As lam unable teso out, I want to ass a fat oiir of you: My niece is ,going to begin busidesS,' and I dm going ,to rend her £3O; bUt I have only X2O by the at present. lArmild Yon oblige me by lending me ten ; you shall have it as soon as,' am able to go out. It is, tniltndwo. to My wife, s,o'Seti'd it to_ this address-L-Ifiss Roberts, Tort .llotel, Netherileld , road ..Soith.-Reliein nib to reiliain, dear sir, your humble ana obedient servant, OWEN ROBERTS. _ P.S.—Please to' send it as soon As you ean,.and I 'will be, at the - board on 'Wednesday next, when I will SSC you. 0. ROBERTS." Wilson continued—l went to Mr. Roberts, one of the - guardians, and found it was a forgery. After some 'consultation, Mr. Gough put 3s. worth of postage stamps, and a threepenny piece, into a letter, and directed it as stated: Scat% and I then, went to the place to *eta; and sa* the prisoner come to the hotel, and ask for a letter for Miss Roberts, of Seacombe street. We saw her get the letter, and followed her into the street. She opened the letter, arid took out the postage stamps, and put th em i n t o h er pocket, and, put the threepenny• piece into her purse.. She then. went on beyond Seacombe-street about thirty yards, and eve took hei into •btisto4; and thole the letter fresh sail a voting *Man Whom .she did hot i:noW, the het in the morning„ and requested her to go for the letter. • On the way to the :station the prisOner threw some papers away from her, and in a drawer that her mother and. sister stated belonged to her, we got paper and envelopes, the same as were .sOnt'tO Mr. Gotigh. In rePly , tO Mr.' Cobb, the officer said: The York, Hotel is in Netherfield-road, North. We saw her go into the bar, and get the . setter. Scacynbe-street is about one hu n d re d a n d twenty yards fronctliat, ''She had gone beyond Seacombe.street some thirty yards before we arrested her. I plainly' saw'her open the letter and take out the postage stamps. Scsilfe got the coits in her purse. Mr. dough 'Was ex amines], and said I received this letter on Sunday morning, and thinking it a chtmsy attempt to extort money from mei I Went tb Mr. Roberts, maid foUnd it was a forgery ; so I pat the police on the scent about it, I then directed a letter, and put three shillings worth otStainps and a three-peany-piece into it,'and sent it as directed. Mr. Raffles : Do you know her,? Mr. Gough said : I know her to be the daughter of Mr. Bramham, late a relieving-officer, and saw her sometimes at the gate. Mr. Cobb : What is the charge in this case against het Mr. Raffles i 'The charge is for uttering a forged letter. Mr. Cobb : There is no proof of the 'forgery, and none certainly of-the uttering. Mr. Raffles : The evidence of uttering is inferential, certainly, but such as would warrant me in remanding her. Mr. Roberts, one of the guardians of the West Derby *Union, was examined, and said : , This letter purports to come from me, but is not my writing, nor do I know anything Whatever about it. • Mr. Cobb : Is' there not more Roberts in Liverpool than one ? Witness ;. Judging from the Directory, I should say so. .(Laughter.) Mr. Cobb : And more Owen Roberts than one ? Yes, but not many. Mr. Raffle: Is there any other Owen Roberts a guardian ? Not that I ant aware of. Mr. Cobb contended that there was no charge made out against the prisoner, but his Worship ultimately re manded her for a week. There were several strange letters found with the prisoner, in which the names of many, first-class merchants, professional gentlemen, and people in trade were mentioned, but- as these did not Come fairly before the court, we do not: give any of the particulars at present. THE TRANSIT B ETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER. . Mr. George Picton, of the Duke's Dock, here, has written to the London Times under date 21st January, as follows : Six, —ln your publicati o n of Saturday last is a para graph on the above subject. Tle writer has made him ' self acquainted with one part of the above subject, in reference to the difficulty the two railway companies havein getting forward the cotton that has been offered. .to them for transit, and the consequent detention of the teams which were compelled to wait in the streets until such times as they were prepared to receive the goods offered to them., All that is thus said on that part of the subject is quite true. The writer has evidently fallen into an error as to the cause of the very great excess of traffic that has been sent for their lines. He says "the entire suspension of the canal by frost is the cause, thus throwing an inordinate as well as an unex pected demand upon the traffic resources of the rail way." - Upon this part of the subject your correspondent has not been correctly informed. The fact is, in the article of cotton the frost has had very little to do with the great influx that has been required to be sent for ward as between this town and Manchester and its sur rounding district. Any one conversant with, the very great demand there has been for cotton during the last five weeks will have observed that the sales have been about double the usual weekly demand ; it is to this cause mainly that the railways are in the state above referred to, their rolling stock of trucks, sheets, &c., hot being sufficient to meet the required, demands. I - fielieVe - thiricoone diSposed to attach any blame to the managers at this end, both of whom are personally known to me ; I am quite sure they are not only desirous, but are. competent, to do all that any one can accomplish with the same means at their disposal. Now for the canal between Liveipool and Manchester, Your - correspondent states that this conveyance be tween,Liverpool and Manchester has been entirely sus pended. It may be requisite to state that there are two separate-and distinct water conveyances between Liver pool and Manchester, both owned by and managed by the Bridgewater Trustees. From Runcorn, one of than passes through Preston Brook, Lynn, &c., and is a canal the whole distance ; this portion has been partly stopped 'by frost. The other line frofn Runcorn passes through Warrington, &c., and is partly a large canal and partly a river navigation, commonly called "The Mersey and Irwell Navigation," or " The Old Quay. Company." There are nine separate and distinct large carrying concerns regularly in ordinary times traversi,ng the above routos—say five vid Preston Brook, and four vie/ the Old Quay. With respect to this latter navigation, I beg most distinctly' to state that it has not been closed during the late severe frost ; on the contrary, the whole of the boats belonging to the above nine car riers,—say about 120 in number,—have been going to and fro during the whole time ; that they (the carriers) have during the same period continued to receive and forward all cotton that has been sent to them. They have all, I b e li eve, performed the work to the satisfac tion of their spinning. friends, and without any detention of the carts on arrival at their various wharfs. Speaking for the firm I represent, neither merchants, brokeri, or spinners have any cause to complain either of delay of their cotton, or detention of carts, &c. The community in this part are very much indebted to the Bridgewater Trustees for the efforts they have made, and the expense they have been put to, in keeping e the Old Q uay route open. During the last three weeks they h ave h ad on the line daily upwards of 150 horses breaking the ice and hauling all the boats through it; and, in addition, they .have had upwards of 200 men daily e m pl oyed in lifting the ice out of the water. At this time the navigation 4 quite free from ice and all is going on as usual. Ilad the Bridgewater Trustees not done as above stated, the line would have been closed, and the two lines of rail also ; such would have been the rush f cotton to their s t a ti ons that they would haveheen effectually stopped. I may here observe that I have been over forty years intimately connected with th e water carrying between Liverpool and Manchester, also in connection with rail carrying during the last eighteen years, and I can say from my own knowledge that th e Old Quay navigation has not during that period been entirely stopped by frost. I fear I may have trespassed too much upon yotir space. I could not very well say less on so important a subject.- - Your obedient servant, Duke's Dock, Liverpool, San. 21. GEORGE PIXTON. * The aveiage sales under ordinary circumstances will be about, 45,000 to 50,000 bales per week; the average sales during the last 'five weeks, ending Jan. 18, amouut to 89,705 bales per Week: INLAND BONDING.—AII the necessary arrangements for bonding foreign produce, at Bradford, have been completed to the satisfaction of the authorities at the Custom-house. The town has now, at the Midland Railway station, a warehouse suitable for the purpose of inland bonding, and there is also a custom-house conti guous to the warehouse, Mr. Grieve having been appointed chief officer , of. Customs. • The traders of Bradford have made terms with the Midland Railway Company which the dealers in articles chargeable with Customs duties deem satisfactory. DEATH OF TILE COUNT AND COUNTESS OF MONTE uoLIN.—A Trieste letter gives some details concerning 'the sudden deaths of the Count and Countess de Monte- Tulin :—" The Infante Don Ferdinand and the Count and Countess de Montemolin went on Christmas-day to the chateau of Brunsee, the residence of the Duchess de 'Berry. On the 26th the Infante fell ill, and on the following day a 'fearful eruption made its appearance, which terminated' his existence at, half-past six in the evening. On the sth of January the Count and Countess de Montemolin left the Duchess de Berry's residence,' taking with them•tbeir brothees body, which was after wards inhumed at Trieste. On the 7th the count fell ill; by the 11th he was thenght out of all danger, but on the 13th a second and more violent eruption appeared, which carried him off. He expired at four in the morning of the 13th. The countess, who had also been seized with the same disease—typhus fever, and not scarlatina, u had been stated -- died at midnight." ,/ IMPORTANT MEETING AT MANCHESTER. On Tuesday a crowded meeting was held in the large room of the Town-hall, Manchester, for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent spAiners and manufacturers were favourable to the Cotton Company (Limited). The ilayoi. of Manchester (M.' Curtis, Esq.) presided, and there were present, amongst others, Lord Alfred Churchill, M P.; Captain Gray, MX. ; J. A. Turner, rsq.; T: Bailey, Esq.i`M.P. 3 Aldermen Mackie and right Turner Messrs: lleairy A§hltortil; ThortaaS Clegg, Edmund -Potter, John - Cheetham , hdraind Ashworth, Hugh . Mason, John fender, John Platt, Harold Littledale, J. C. 011erensbaw, Thomas Mosley, W. Wanlyn, Bell (Madras), R. R. Davies, Stolterfoht, Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamsetjcc Pallorji, R. Rtimney, A. Reyner, J. Radcliffe, H. Birley; T. M. Mackay, and J. Marriott (Liverpool), John Mayal (MosSley), J. S. Mickley, li. B. Jackson, T. Barten, tr. Emmott, A. Christie, James Dorrington, H. Buckley, George Andrew, G. It. Hay*ood; &t:: The Mayor; hating stated the objects of the Meeting, said the supply di getteri as a itiesliertofgreat ittiott: ante, not only to the cotton trade, but to the country at large.—(Applause.) At this period it was not a matter which could be left to' chance or mere caprice. Suppose the supply of cotton to be diminished by a third or a half, what results would follow ? The manufacturers would have to work only half their machinery, or work the whole on short time. The workpeople would con sequently be reduced in numbers, or their hours of labour would be shortened. The w a g es i n the aggregate would , be prOpottionably fedtreed; .and att. amount' of misery, which it would lie fearful to contemplate, *ould ensue. If the pfoduaidng of the Manufaeturers were diminished, immediately tile bleachers add dyers; and others engaged in the the guishing of the manufactured products, would be in like manner seriously rdeCted. Our merchants, agents, and shippers *otild at the seine time find their btisifiess . materially reduced. The ships would not find so maCh empioyment ; and the railway. trafge would be like*ige diminished. It wag; therefore, not a mere local, but a national question ; and it de manded the serious and earnest attention of all classes in this district. It might be asked : "Is there any probability of any such events happening ?" Looking at the present state of things in the United States, We could ' hardly expect but that some falling off in the supply of Cotton would be experienced. Even the most sanguine would not deny that,' even in conse quence of the events which had already occurred in the United States, the crop of cotton during the en . suing' year must fall short of the usual quantity. This must happen, supposing that the American ques tied *as settled amicably ; hut s now that the first drop of bleed had been aliud ~ the dispute was not likely to be settled till after lengthened suffering by both parties: Where, then, must the country look for cotton supplies for the removal of the evil ? Looking at the countries which supplied the raw material, India especially claimed their attention.—(Applause.) There were also the West Indies and Australia, to whom a helping hand should be lent ; there was Africa, well qualified to furnish a large quantity of cotton ; and in proportion as cotton was grown in Africa, so was slavery prevented.-- (Applause.) . The _question not only affected Manches ter, but it would also affect the trade of the Liverpool shipowners; and this being •so, a deputation' ought to be sent to Liverpool, soliciting their aid.--(Applause.) If the cotton supply was diminished, the ships at Liver pool would not be employed, and the warehouses there would not be filled. It was also a question of very con siderable importance to the government of the country, because, if the labouring Classes were seriously deprived of labour and wages, their power of consumption of articles paying duties would be lessened, and thus the revenue derived by the govermitent 'from those duties would ho greatly affected.—(Bear, hear.) Mr. Um Cheetham moved : " That this meeting deeply regrets the present depen dence of the cotton trade upon one, chief source of supply for its raw material, the production of which is' now alarmingly imperilled by the disturbances in the Southern States of the American Union ; and recom mends that efforts commensurate with the impending danger should be called forth to prevent the calamities thus threatening capital and labour; as, unless cotton adequate to the existing large consumption be provided, loss and diStress Will' result fearful consequences."' The principle he asked the meeting -to adopt was that we should not be dependent mainly upon one source for our supply of cotton. In the straggle for the abolition of the corn laws the same principle was the only one at stake—it was * not then a question of price but abun dance, an ample supply at any time. The 'supply of cotton was no less important than the question of the supply of food. The population could not exist without employment any more than without food; but the cotton supply question was surrounded with greater difficulties than the question of food was. There were fifty markets for the supply of food ; but for the supply of cotton we were mainly relying on one country. It might be replied that we relied on one country for our tea, but then we always had a stock of from eigthteen to twenty four months' consumption on hand ; but of cotton the . average stock on hand during the last eight years had I never exceeded fifteen weeks' supply During 1860, the world supplied us with 5,524,000 bales, of which Ame rica supplied 4,675,000 bales, or equivalent to 84i per cent. of the whole. During the last eight years, too, the stock on hand had been lower than during any eight years previously. The present time justified graver considerations of the wisdom of the principle which had hitherto been relied upon, than had yet been given to it ; and they ought not to permit the question to be trifled with any longer. (Applause.) The course to be adopted would be proposed by others. Some lirould object that the Cotton Company would be departing from the sound and.acknowledged principles of free trade, and that the matter should be left to the law of supply and demand ; but could the loss of 700,000 bales 'be replaced by any amount of money which might be offered for it ? It was incumbent upon those interested in the trade to do some thing to prevent the impending disaster; but, if they did not come forward, and choose rather to leave the matter to general public subscriptions, then the promoters of the company would withdraw their scheme, and take their individual chance of passing through the calamity. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. John Pender seconded the resolution. He believed that Lancashire was now become aware of the perilous position in which she was placed, and he had great faith in the energy of Lancashire men when that energy was properly aroused. The history of cotton growing in America afforded the greatest possible encouragement to them to go and do likewise in India. (Cheers.) Seventy-five years ago labour was imported into America to grow cotton. That labour was directed by Anglo-Saxon intelligence and energy ; and he believed that that energy was not yet exhausted, and that, if proper facilities were afforded, it would produce the same results in a much shorter period of time, for they had in India land that only required to be tilled and labour that only required encouragement. They wanted a joint-stock company of factors to find money for the cotton planters. India was the best consumer of the industry of this district ; and if they could avail themselves of India as a source of, supply for cotton they would also largely increase the market for consuming their fabrics. The advantage was, therefore, a mutual one. He called upon them to look at the question as one of self-preservation, not only socially but politically. If the supply of cotton failed. the prestige of the country was gone. It was the wealth which had been created through the industry of the country which had given them in the scale of nations that high position in their diplomatic intercourse with nations, and that moral power which enabled them to look on with calmness, while other nations had been convulsed. When the Government was calling their attention to the subject, he was sure that Lancashire men would show themselves alive to their own interest, while they at, the same time maintained the glory of their common country.—(Cheers.)—Mr: Baxley, M.P., in sup porting the resolution, said he was impressed with the feeling that the great industry upon which they all sub sisted was imperilled. He regretted that the trade had not appreciated the propositions that had been promul gated for obtaining supplies of the raw material ; which would make them independent of the United States. For twenty years he had been impressed with the neces sity of the trade ministering to its own wants ; and in 1851 he had urged this view in a lecture he delivered before the Society of Arts, Ruder the presidency of the Prince Consort. Public opinion had been very much in advance of the trade, and the Times and Daily News urged them to action. With such encouragement the trade ought to rouse itself and vindicate its position, and not be dependent upon the eleemosynary contributions of capital from wealthy sources, independent of their own rich treasures. From the midst of Lancashire and Lanarkshire should arise a firm phalanx of individuals, not only determined to maintain their position, but to vindicate the rights of humanity, and to command for their great industry a supply of cotton, without which they must sink as a commercial nation. Last year the consumption of the [raw material was 48,543 bags per week. Of that supply 85 per cent came from the United States, the consumption of Americ . an cotton being 41,195 bags weekly. From Egypt, Brazil, and other independent countries; the consumption was 3,968 bags per week, or 8 per cent; whilst from British East and West Indies the consumption was 3,461 bags per week, or 7 per cent. For five out of the six work ing days they were consuming American cotton, and for the sixth alone they needed all they got from foreign and British sources. This was their dependent position while they had more land capable of growing cotton than any other country on the face of the earth pos sessed. The capabilities of the East Indies were im mense. Some of those present were endeavouring to promote the improvement of the river Godavery, with its 500 miles of adjacent cotton growing country. Upon the banks of that river was a population of twelve millions, all of whom might become customers for the produce of this country. The ob6taeles in the way of communication must be removed, and an effort made to support those members of the House of. Commons who contended for the regeneration of India. (Cheeri.) A thousand men, who would advance Xl,OOO each, would ' give them a capital of a million sterling ; and surely they could spare one-half per cent. of the £200,000,000 of floating and fixed capital for what would be an insu rance for their trade and a protection for their work people. (Cheers.) Mr. bailey - Ceteltidiad b' saying he had received a letter from Lieutenant Glover, 13..\'., arid from another gentleman, stating that cotton was ready in Afiica and the Gold Coast, and only wanted facilities for its shipment. The resolution was unanimously ad'opted. Mr. Hugh Mason (Ashton-under-Lyne) proposed : . " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the emergency demands that prompt, liberal, and ample support should afforded fel- the fortriation of a powerful joint-stock limited liadilitY Corripany, to promote air increased cul tivation of cotton, by offering to Aiiirdhat,e it in India, Australia, Africa, or other countries r arid that capital of one million sterling, in shares of £lO eich; sitbMcl te raised for this purpose." It took a great deal to rouse the British Lion ; but, when he looked around the room, he thought the British Lion was aroused to the importance of the cotton ques tion. (Laughter.) The importance of joint-stock com panies was so well known to Manchester men, that he need not say much upon that question, except to ask ithelt our railways, waterworks, and banks would be withoift thrq principle He was glad to find that Lord John Russell had* . titteii a letter Von the cotton-supply question; but he did not *ender that 'Me tiovetntneut was alarmed when so much of the refeae of the country depended upon the taxes paid by the cotton trade. (Hear, hear.) He had not much faith in what governments could do ; but he had faith in what Lancashire men could do, when roused as they had now been ; • and he looked upon it as providen tial that the Cotton Supply Association had existed no* for setetal years, and had thrown opon cotton fields on efery part of the globe. The spinners and Mani:Wadi/refs must follow rip *hat the Cotton Associa tion bad began: India bad 6.84 million acres of cotton gfoWing dotintry, Whilst the United States had only 600 millions; and it Was l'fot a question of 'ebb& in India, brit a question of a selfish oturtictite gotetiirrient. Our own subjects in India might deluge rYs with cotton, if they were only shown the way.—Mr. T. M. Mackay, shipoWner, of Liverpool,. seconded the resolution. He had dtteraded the meeting at the instance of a Liverpool cotton broker. (Applanse.) Looking at the hand-to mouth condition in which they *ere living, and to affairs in the United' States, he thought they were like a person sitting upon a barrel of gunpowder with a match in his hand. (Applause and laughter.) He had paid some attention to the cultivation of cotton in Aus tralia, from which place he returned about 18 months ago; and he had since received . a letter from Sir Charles Nicholson, describing the capabilities of Queensland for growing cotton, the river Fitzroy being the largest navi gable stream yet discovered, with several tributaries, and without any bar at its mouth. The only wants were d sufficient stlrtplyof Indian or Chinese coolies, and per sons to instruct thern.—Mr: Nadabbai Ifaoroji, a Parsee merchant, supported the resolution, in a speech which was frequently. applauded. He said that, though a native of India, he was proud of being an English subject. They were taught in their colleges in India that the English were the wealthiest, most enterprising, and most civilised people on the surface of the earth ; and they believed it too. As to the wealth and enterprise he had only to look round that room, and to think of the Great Eastern and the. Atlantid telegraph. He believed also that Eng land was the most civilised nation of the earth ; but when he said that, it was not simply because the people were better clothed, better lodged, and better fed. They could defy the world in intellectual exertion as long as they could claim a Newton, a Bacon, and a Watt. (Applause.) But, besides the body to work and the mind to think, there was also a heart to cultivate; and had Englishmen attained the greatest amount of civilisation in that respect ? It was a right appreciation of the duties and rights of man, that made man a civilised being ; and as long as man did not know his duty towards his neighbour he was no more, or rather he was less, civilised than the savage who traversed the wilds of South America. It was, therefore, often a puzzle to bim, when he considered' England's civilisa tion, to find out why the children of those men who paid millions of money to emancipate the slave, should now pay ten millions a year in order to make those shackles stronger, -and more rivetting. (Applause.) With the faith he had in' Englishmen, he hoped when the time came they would gird up their loins and vanquish the foe altogether. (Renewed applause.) ' Con sidering what England had done for the slave, he could only'come to the conclusion that the emancipators were the noblest of men, presenting to the world the noblest spectacle of maintaining and defending the rights of humanity, and that their children were degenerate ; or, that the children were wiser than their fathers, and that their fathers were fools for their pains. (Cheers and laughter.) The prestige of the English nation might rest on the one • act of emancipation; but now. look at. the spectacle of men, the emancipators of slaves, becom ing slaves to slaves ; for what were we .but slaves to those very slaves-in America, because we depended upon them' for our supply of cotton ? (Applause.) Whence was the supply to be obtained ? India should be the nation to which Englishmen should turn their attention. At this moment India produced many millions of bales. The question was very often asked why the demand often did not bring forth the supply ; but they forgot that other laws besides those of political economy governed the world: There were often obstacles in the way of supply. ' These obstacles in India, it would b e, the duty of the Cotton Company to remove; for India only wanted machinery and management for the pro duction of cotton, and means of transit.—The resolution was adopted unanimously. Mr. Edmond Ashworth moved— "That this meeting cordially approve the initiatory efforts of provisional directors of the Cotton Company, Limited,' and is of opinion that at the present crisis, the basis of their action should he greatly enlarged, and hereby strongly recommends that the exertions of that body be vigorously renewed, its permanent directors appointed. the company registered, and operations com menced without delay." He held in his hand papers showing what could be done by the company, but at that late hour be would not trouble the meeting with all of them. In 1862 there would be a scarcity of cotton, and the company wanted to show how the difficulty might be met. If Lancashire would entrust a million of money with the company, it would raise a large amount of cotton to supply the defi ciency. Letters had been received from all parts offering to cultivate cotton if the money for the purpose was sup plied. What had the Cotton Supply Association done ? The association were forbidden by their rules from becoming traders ; they were merely to sow the seed, and supply the implements ; and that they had done. From Africa her Majesty's Consul wrote that cotton was wait ing there to be shipped away ; and, the merchants in India said, " Give us orders, and we will fetch you cot ton." A princess of one of the independent states of India, having heard of the want of cotton and the Cotton Supply Association, had called the British Commissioner and her own Council together, and, after consulting, had sent a letter to the Association offering to supply cotton, and improve the growth of it in that district if the Association would send out seed and machines. What he proposed was that a million of money should be raised. Ten per cent. should be paid down this year and ten per cent. next year, making £200,000, with £BOO,OOO to back it with if required. If the supply of cotton was not in some way increased, the mills would be losing three months of time in 1862. The lose of a single week was the loss of two millions of money. He therefore wanted every manufacturer and spinner to gauge his loss of money by the loss of. time, and then to give to the Association the value of two weeks' wages ; while the merchant should give a per tentage upon his turnover. (Applause.) The company could do what private individuals could not. The com pany could afford to lose money in sending out agents and teachers, and the shareholders must not expect divi dends, but must be content if they got half of their money back again. It would be better for Lancashire to spend a million now than lose ten millions in 1862. Every man should be honest to himself, and work in the cause, so that cotton might be fetched from all parts of the world. (Applause.)—Mr. John Platt (Old ham) seconded the resolution. He said any disaster which affected the cotton trade of Lancashire also affected other trades, and amongst them the iron trade, with which cb was connected. The annual increase of spindles in England and on the Continent, and in America, was so large that the statistics would take many by surprise. From calculations he had made, he had no doubt that in this country, for the last two years, the average production of mule and throstle spindles had been at the rate of 3,000,000 per annum. Then he calculated that 1,000,000 were produced annually on the Continent, and 2,000,000 in the Northern States of America; which gave a total of 6,000,000 spin dles annually produced in the world. To furnish this large growth of manufacturing power with the requisite supply of the raw material, would require an annual increase of upwards of 400,000 bales of cotton.—Lord Alfred Churchill, M.P., supported the resolution. Referring to the letter of Sir Charles Nicholson, he said that he had also received intelligence from Queensland and the North of Australia, where it was believed that by the employment of Chinese labour the country might be made productive. He hoped they would soon hear of every settler having, in addition to his sheep-runs, a small patch of land devoted to the cultivation of cotton. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was passed unanimously. Mr. John Cheetham moved, and Mr. J. A. Turner, M.P., seconded a vote of thanks to the Mayor, in putting which Mr. T. Clegg. who occupied the chair, said he had expressed his cordial approval of the Com pany, which he thought was absolutely necessary. If gentlemen thought they could do good individualy, why not try; for there was room enough for everybody. (Applause.) The Mayor having acknowledged the vote, the proceedings (which lasted two and a half hours) terminated. ITALY.—A "Narrative of a recent Tour through Italy, Sicily, and Malta," was the title of an interest ing lecture delivered by the Rev. J. P. Chown, of Bradford, in the school-room under the Myrtle street Chapel, last night. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Hugh Stowell Brown. The meeting was largely attended. THE SUPPLY OF COTPON THE DAILY TIMES, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1861. THE-RISCA -COLLIERY EXPLOSION. Monday afternoon and Tueiday morning were occu pied for the most part in taking evidence from workmen arkl others of a character calculated to impeach the good account hitherto almost unanimously given of the condition and niatiagenterit of the mine, The witness Phillips entered into further. tattictilars of the im proper and irregular act of the kirente D'erriek in firing a blast close to a stall where there was a eft siderable amount of gas present after the regular fire man of the district had refused to fire it on account of the danger, and his story was corroborated by other witnesses. One of the principal contrivances used in a colliery for forcing the air into every part of the work ings is the placing of stout, tight doors at certain points, 13hfett ttetent it from tanning away by the nearest route ii'pedst shaft. One witness, Smallwood, was called, who stated in hix district same of these doors were very badly hung, atid *did not close except with a great deal of trouble. On one of detot While he was at work, the current of air stopped entirely; and the place filled so rapidly with g as that he thought the ventilating machine bad broken down. He snatched up hii lamp and ran off, but had not got far before he found that two doors at the bottom of the heading had been left open, so that the air was allowed to escape without going into that part at all. in pits *here the Moors and roofs are bad, and have a tendencY gqffeeie together, a door, though originally well hung, very soon gets tAtt of order } and,. according to Smallwood's account, sufllcient 'Vienna . was not shown by the overman and firemen in keeping the doors airtight and in serviceable condition. Generally speak ing, it is the practice in collieries to place a boy at each of these doors to close them whenever they are opened for the passage of trams, but Smallwood made it a matter of complaint against the management of the Black Vein Pit that boys were there attached to the trams, and went along with them, on their journeys to and from the bottom of the shaft, to close the doors as they passed through. By this arrangement, the witness contended, the chances of the doors being left open were much increased. Smallwood spoke of the imperfect state of the wind-ways in some parts of the pit, Several of them had "squeezed up" so much, that the current of air was seriously checked, and opportunity was thus given to the gas to accumulate. One witness asserted that he himself and other men had been discharged because they bad refused to work in "fire," but Mr. Harrison positively denied this, and said that, on the contrary, he had always ezwauraged men to complain of the presence of " fire," and had pat men into good places because they had shown themselves careful and alive to danger. Most of this class of witnesses spoke of the "goaves" as being in a dangerous state, both as to the quantity of gas which they contained and the irregularity of the examination of them. THE EXPLOSION AT CHATHAM. The unfortunate occurre.pce which took place at the Royal Engineer Barracks, Chatham, en Monday, has caused the suspension of all work in the laboratory at the north gun-shed, where the explosion took place, and from the utter ruin in which the interior of the factory was found after the accident, it will be some time before work of any kind can be resumed in Mat building. The north gun-shed, it ought to be stated, is a building by -no means- suited for the description of the work carried on within it, and, as the name implies, was never intended to be used as a laboratory for the manufacture of dangerous missiles. The only protection that is afforded the inmates .on one side of the shed is a row of palings carried up to the roof, communicating with the outside, to which the public have access, and where the operations of the persons employed can be witnessed by any person from he exterior. Now that a fatal accident has occurred the authorities seem to be aware of the highly improper locality of the laboratory for a large establishment like that of the Royal Engineers at Chatham, and on Tuesday morning Colonel Harness, C. 8., after paying a visit to the factory and inspecting the damage caused by the accident, gave positive orders that no portion of the north gun-shed was ever again to be a laboratory, and at the same time directed that the works should be sus pended until a suitable building, in which the dangerous occupations could be carried on, was provided. Two large ranges of buildings are now in course of erection at the Engineer establishment for the requirements of the officers and men, and it is probable that a portion of one of these will be ultimately used for the purpose. The account of the accident on Wednesday conveys but a very imperfect description of the terrible nature of the explosion, and, considering the force with which the heaps of hand-grenades and fuses exploded, it was little short of a miracle that there was not a large loss of life. At the time of the explosion there were about fifty shells of various sizes,.on the floor of the laboratory, some of them being as large as p-inch ; these, fortu nately, were not charged, or the result of their explosion would have been most appalling. There were also several hundred hand-grenades and fuses, some charged, and others waiting for that operation to be performed on them. These were scattered about, and it is owing to this fortunate circumstance that the violence of the ex plosion was much less than it otherwise would have been. So great, however, was the force of the explosion, that nearly every but in the ranges of buildings forming the new barracks, a short distance from the Engineer establish ment, was shaken to its foundation, the inmates rushing out to ascertain the cause. A number of troops of the line were being exercised very near to the north gun-shed at the moment of the accident, and these, observing the side of the shed blown out, threw down their arms and ran away, under the impression that the entire building would blow up. The whole of one side of the laboratory was blown clean away, and through this opening were expelled a sergeant and two Sappers into a coal-yard below. After the explosion the laboratory was discovered to be on fire in two or three places, but, the engines being soon on the spot, the flames were extinguished. Daring the whole of Tuesday a body of Sappers were engaged in clearing out the interior of the factory, and removing the fragments of hand-grenades, fuses, and also the shells there at the time. The sufferers by the accident, of whom there are seven still lying at the Royal Engineer Hospital, are all pro ceeding favourably, notwithstanding that some are suf fering very severely. Those most injured arc Sappers Rogers and Smith, both of the Indian engineers, whose cases were mentioned on Wednesday. Rogers is so much burnt that scarcely a feature can be distinguished ; he is also believed to have lost the sight of one, if not both, his eyes. His is the only case likely to prove fatal. Smith, through whose carelessness the accident is known to have occurred, is much scorched and black ened about the face, head, and body, and is suffering severely. The others arc all progressing towards reco very. The board of officers, under the presidency of Major Lovell, R.E:, ordered to investigate the cause of the accident, concluded their inquiry . on Monday night, and a report has since been forwarded to the Duke of Cambridge. , . THE ROBBERY ON BOARD THE WELLESLEY. Thomas Bate, the steerage passenger of the Wellesley, who is charged with robbing Mr. Glover, one of the cabin passengers, was brought before the magistrates at Plymouth, on Tuesday morning, and remanded till Monday. From the evidence it appears that Mr. Glover occupied a cabin with his wife on board the Wellesley. Outside his cabin door he had stowed a large chest which he could not take into his cabin. The chest contained a large quantity of wearing apparel, about Boz. of gold, two valuable brooches, two gold pins, three cheques, respectively for £4OO, £3OO, and £250. During the passage some ill-feeling arose between Mr. Glover and the prisoner, and the latter was heard to threaten that he would be revenged. On the evening of the 24th of December Mr. Glover's chest was safe, but on following (Christmas) morning it could not be found. On inquiry being made, it was found that there were strong roasons to suspect that the prisoner, in con cert with another passenger, named Day, had removed the chest, and thrown it and its contents overboard. When the Wellesley arrived off the Start, the prisoner and Mr. Glover were landed, with other passengers, at this port, and the prisoner was then given into custody. Day is gone on to London, where, on the arrival of the vessel, he will be given into custody by Mrs. Glover, who is gone on in the vessel. Mr. Brian, solicitor, on behalf of Mr. Glover, applied to have the poisoner remanded in order to give time for the procuring of further evidence on the arrival of the ship at London. On the person of the prisoner were found a cheque for £250, several sovereigns, and articles of jewellery, and a valuable watch, but none of the missing property. He had landed here on his way to Bodmin, to which place he belonged. The bench admitted him to bail, himself in £lOO, and two sureties in £5O each ; the latter he has written to Bodmin to procure. He seemed to treat the latter lightly, saying that there would be found a very different version of the story on the ship's arrival. JOKES UNDER THE GALLOWS TREE.—Any story of a joke within sight of the gallows is, nowadays, referred to some long-gone-by time ; but storytellers need not give to their narrative such a remote date, as the spirit is still extant, and manifested itself at the very latest performance which took place in these islands. After the execution of Lunnay, the murderer, at Dumbarton, on Friday last, the assistant hangman went below to receive the culprit's body on being lowered by Calcraft ; but Mr. Ketch in chief, being in a somewhat humorous mood, endeavoured to coil the slack of the rope round his assistant's neck. This he did not succeed in doing, but evidently amused with the idea, he walked off the scaffold laughing heartily. The convict himself too seems to have exhibited a little bit of jocularity on the eve of his hanging. During the night before his execu tion, while in a slumbering state, the warder, in order not to disturb the dying wretch, slipped on his carpet shoes. Lunnay observing this asked the warder whether they fitted him, and on being answered in the affirma tive, remarked that he would sell them to him cheap as he could afford to do so now. 'TIE.-ACCIDENT. ON THE SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD RAILWAY. Peter 'Warburton, Esq., the city coroner, and the jury previously impanuelled, re-assembled in the board-room at the railway station at Hereford, ,on Tuesday after noon, for the purpose of resuming the inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Sophia 'Lowe, the daughter of a gentleman of property, residing at Curzon neat Chester. and Mary Jones, daughter of Mr. Penes; Of Vp'pet 13reriton, a few mites from Hereford, who lost their lives through the disaster which occurred near the Moreton Fitatititr, on the above line of railway. It will be remembered that the accident took place on the afternoon of Friday, the 4th /NA', when, through the breaking of a tire of one of the wheels, several of the carriages left the rails, and were hurled off the' line into a dyke, containing several feet of water, and that the two deceased were drowned in a second-class carriage, in which they had been riding. Mr. Peel, solicitor, of Shrewsbury, again attended on behalf of the railway company, and Mr. Gwillim, Hereford, represented the relatives of Miss Lowe, as on the pre - riot:is Occasion. Mr. Lowe, father Of One of the deceased, and several and several of Miss Jones's retatites, dressed in deep mourning, were also present, and ap'pettred considerably affected during the proceedings. The first witness called was Thomas Newman Child (who appeared with his fore head bound up), who said—l am a guard on the Shrews bury and Hereford Railway, and have been so for about sixteen months. Previously I was for seven years a guard on the London and North-Western Rail way. I fag also two years a porter on the same line. I had charge of the /2.40 train from Shrewsbury on the 4th inst. At the time of the accident it consisted of one first-class, one second, one Tall, and oae composite. We arrived at Leominster fifteen minutes late. We ought to have been there at 2.10, but did not reach the station till 2.25. The carriages were all examined at Leominster by Stowmouth, who is appointed by the company specially for the purpose. After his examina tion, he directed that one of the carriages should be taken out of the train. There were several passengers in it; and they were transferred to another. The car riages were tested in the usual manner. We left Leo minster et 2.23, and we left Dunmore at 2.40. Shortly after we left Dunmore the guard, Brown, who was sit ting at the break, remarked that there was something wrong with the train, and he immediately applied his break. I looked out of the window and saw the ballast flying and the carriages oscillating, and in a very short period afterwards the van jumped off the line and I blew nothing further until I was got out of the water. Coroner—Are you not bound to make up lost time ? Witness—No. Do you think if you had means to communicate with the driver, the train could hare been stopped before the accident?—l do not know. We might, perhaps, have applied the break sooner. I did not hear any of the passengers screaming out. It is almost impossible to hear when lam in the van. The carriage doors are always unlocked. I have not resumed my duties since the accident. James Herbert (whose right leg appeared to be much injured) deposed—l reside at Desmenes, Garway, Here fordshire. I was a passenger in the train, and occupied a second-class carriage, with about eight other persons, three of whom were females. Miss Jones and Miss Lowe were two of those females. I got in at Leomin ster, and the first thing that attracted my attention was a kind of thumping under my feet. That commenced about half a mile from the accident, and continued to increase until the carriages went over. When the train was upset I found myself under water, and I believe the water in the carriage was about six feet deep. By the Jury—A young man who was in the carriage put his head out of the window, and called out at the top of his voice before we went over, but was not heard. The carriage doors were all fastened, and they were broken open with a hammer. I did not know the females were left in the carriage when I got out. We were all struggling to escape. We afterwards tried the water in the carriage, but did not know any one was left. Childs (the guard) was recalled, and asked by the coroner if he could state in what distance, at the rate he was going, the train could have been stopped. Witness—Generally in about 600 yards upon that part of the road, but with such a train, and if the rails were , dry, in a shorter distance—perhaps in 450 or 500 yards. I consider the break power on the train was quite sufficient. By Mr. Peel—The usual plan to attract the attention of the engine-driver is to apply the break sharply, and to continue to do so and take it off again. That was done in this instance by Brown, and everything was done to prevent an accident. I am quite certain of this. Thomas Weaver, a carpenter, deposed that he re membered the accident. He was sitting on a fence, waiting for the train to pass to cross the line, when he saw the carriages topple over. He afterwards assisted to rescue the passengers. Mr. Edward Jeffries, the locomotive superintendent of the line, called and examined l• Mr. Peel—l saw the condition of the guards' break after the accident. It was hard on, showing that it had been applied sharply. The carriage where the deaths took place, measured from corner to corner, is about eight feet. The depth of water in it was four feet four inches at the deepest part. I have travelled many thousands of miles upon engines, and have driven them also. The driver of the train in question must have had immediate notice when the break was put on. It would affect the engine by causing a jerk at the coup ling. The engine-driver stated that he first knew of the accident by a sudden jerk, and I believe that was in consequence of the break being applied, and decidedly not by the breaking of the coupling chains. Nothing could possibly have been done by the guard or driver, beyond what they did do, that would in any degree have prevented the accident. I never had a tire of a carriage wheel broken before in my experience, but since the accident we have had two others broken through the frost. I have, however, known tires to break on other lines. I produced at the last meeting of the jury the particular tire in question. A portion exhibited to the jury appeared to be in a crystalised state, broken off short, and not fibrous. The best iron will break off short during frost. It was a fracture caused by excessive tension. I have since made certain experiments with portions of the tire to prove the action of the frost. I have caused two fractures to he made in a portion of the tire, one with the frost in it, and the other by extracting the frost by passing it through the fire. The piece with frost in it presents a crystalised appearance; the other has no crystalised appearance, but is tough and fibrous. Coroner—Why have you not adopted means of com munication with the drivers on your line ? Witness—We have a very small rolling stock. The majority of our traffic is front the London and North- Western and Great Western Railways ; we use most of their stock, and we are waiting to follow what steps they take. Then no such plan is in use on either of those two great lines ?- - No. If you had had such a plan—and the most perfect in use—do von think it would have prevented the accident? —I do not believe any means of communication would have prevented the accident. We have taken every precaution in our power to prevents accidents. We had employed 300 extra hands during the frost, before the accident, and since the accident we have doubled them. We have also reduced the rate of speed. ' By Mr. Gwillim—We have had two other tires broken since the accident. None before, in my experience. I think the train to which the accident happened could have been pulled up at that particular spot in about 250 yards. I think the train was nearly at a stand when the carriages went over, and it was unfortunate the ditch was full of water. By a Juror—Do you not think a plan for communi cating with the drivers of engines would be of service in preventing accidents ? Witness—We are waiting for some good plan to be taken up, for if we rush on with some uncertain scheme, it will, in all prdbability, have the effect rather of causing more accidents than preventing any. We are waiting for one of the large companies to take the matter up, and then we shall be very ready to adopt the best plan. Mr. Lowe complained of the irregularities in starting trains from Shrewsbury, and remarked that if on the day of the accident the trains had been despatched at their proper time, his (laughter would not have been in the train that met with the accident. He knew nothing could now bring him back his child, and he only made reference to the matter in order to protect the public for the future. The room was then cleared, and after about half an hour's deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," accompanied by recommendations that the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Company should use a better quality of iron for tires of the wheels of their rollinz stock, and that there should be a com munication with the guard and driver. The inquiry then terminated. Loss or Two irves.—The continuance of the thaw in London, during Tuesday and two preceding days has rendered the ice of the Regent's and Grand Junction Canals dangerously treacherous, and at the Paddington end numerous immersions of children have taken place, and in two instances have resulted fatally. The first case was that of the son of a gentleman, named Em manuel Ford Inman, aged 7 years; residing with his parents at 8, Carlton-terrace. Orme's-green, who, it appears was enticed upon the ice by other children and immediately afterwards fell through. Two men named Bail and Cooper went to the rescue, hut when the body was recovered life was totally extinct. The other case was of an alarming character. It seems that on Tues day afternoon a little girl named Mary Anne Cox, 10 years of age, in company. with two other little girls, ventured upon the ice near Dark's wharf, Paddington. They had not been on long before the ice on which they were became detached, and, after carrying them along a short distance, it tipped and they were instantly im mersed together. Assistance was promptly rendered and two were saved, but the body N the girl Cox was not rescued for about seven minutes. She was removed to the surgery of Dr. G. S. Beale, l' s ddington-green , and the usual remedies for resuscitation prove d unsuc cessful, life being extinct. - - LATEST--SEWS: (IVY BRITISII AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) NAPLES. THE INSURRECTIONARY MOVEMENT. ROME (via Marseilles), Jan. 19. The reactionary movement in the district sur rounding Ascoli has been suppressed by the Piedmontese. Several prisoners were shot. A column of 2,000 Sardinians has been disem barked at Civita Nova, and are marching on the province of Terrano. It is asserted that the reactionary bands, after having taken Taglicozzo, were defeated. Numbers of royal officers and Roman peasants continue to enter the Abruzzi. NA LEs (via Marseilles), Jan. 19. Numerous arrests have taken place. Many Royalist officers have been dismissed. GAETA (vie Marseilles), Jon. 19. It is asserted that Spanish frigates arc about to be stationed off Civita Vecchia. GAETA. THE BOMBARDMENT. NAPLES, Jan. 22, Morning. The batteries of Gaeta opened fire against the Sardinians this morning ; the latter are actively working at the new batteries ; the blockade of the bay is being rapidly carried out. [OFFICIAL DESPATCH.] MOLA DI GAETA, Jan. 22, Evening. At eight o'clock this morning the batteries o Gaeta unexpectedly commenced a very heavy fire. Our batteries promptly replied, and comp e ll e d the place to remain silent. The fleet placed itself in line at twelve o'clock. The fire of the besiegers continues. PREPARATIONS IN FRANCE FOR WAR. The Paris correspondent of the Daily News says there is no doubt whatever that extraordi nary naval and military preparations are now going on in France, the excuse for which is the menacing attitude of Germany towards Denmark and the speeches of the King of Prussia. There is a talk of a creation of sixty or eighty general officers of the navy. GARIBALDI AND THE SPRING CAMPAIGN. Garibaldi has addressed a letter to the Vigi lance Committee in Italy ; it is dated the 13th instant. He calls for fresh donations, to procure the necessary means of facilitating to Victor Em manuel the enfranchisement of the rest of Italy. The committees are invited to penetrate every Italian with the idea that in the spring of this year Italy must have a million of patriots under arms. A journal should be established to incul cate upon electors the choice of deputies, who, having as their first thought the enfranchisement and integrity of Italy, shall obtain from the government the arming of the nation. THE EAST. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 16. The new commercial treaties are advancing to a conclusion on the expected basis of uniform duties of S per cent. on imports and exports. PRUSSIA, SARDINIA, AND ITALY. A despatch from Count Cavour to the Prussian Minister for Foreign Affairs disavows the lan guage used by M. Valerio, the Sardinian Com missars- at Ancona, which seemed to signify that Sardinia was inclined to regard Trieste as a part of Italy. The Piedmontese Government declares their wish to conscientiously respect the territory of the germanic Confederation. HUNGARY. PESTH, Jan. 23. The General Assembly of the Comitat of Grau has voted a reply to the - last Imperial resolutions, communicated by the Chancellor of Hungary to the Government at Buda. The following is a summary of his reply :—The permanent conflicts with the Government have rendered Hungary distractful. The Imperial diploma of October 20 is in contradiction with the Pragmatic Sanction which is binding on the King as well as on the nations. The oath taken by Charles 111. is bind ing on his successors. Taxes not sanctioned by the Hungarian Diet are illegal. The Comitat demands guarantees for the right of the Diet to sanction or reject taxes, and wishes that the " King-Emperor of Austria" should reside in Hungary. AMERICA. LONDONDERRY, Jan. 23. The Montreal Ocean Company's screw-steamer North American, with Portland dates to the 12th, and dates from New York, ria Cape Race, to the 15th instant, arrived in Lough Foyle this fore noon, and proceeded, having landed all mails. The steamers Nova Scotian, Glasgow, and Ame rican have arrived out. On the 11th instant the State Conventions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida passed the ordinance of secession from the United States. The ordinance of Alabama is similar to that passed by South Carolina, with an addition invit ing all the Southern States to meet her Conven tion, for the purpose of forming a new govern ment at Alabama, on the •lth of February. The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 61 to 37. That of Florida passed by a vote of of 62 to 7. The Charleston batteries, occupied by the South Carolinians, fired into the Star of the West, with reinforcements for Fort Sumter, which retired to the lower harbour to await the arrival of the steam-ship Brooklyn. A great battle was threatened if the latter entered, but on the receipt of pacific news from Washington on the 11th, the excitement at Charleston had consi derably abated. The Federal troops had aban doned all the forts in Pensacola harbour, with the exception of Fort Pickens, where they are con centrated, and 300 men had started from Mobile to seize on that. The Washington correspondent of the Com mercial telegraphs that an effort will be made in the Senate to order an investigation into the charge of a treasonable plot to establish a Southern confederation with its capital at Wash ington ; also, that Mr. Trescot, of South Carolina, has come to Washington with pacific overtures from Governor Pickens. The state troops of Louisiana have taken pos session of the Barters Lodge Arsenal, with Forts Jackson, Saint Phillip, and Picka. Resistance was offered. Returns from this State (Louisiana) indicate that the secessionists will have a majority in the convention. Indian depredations in Texas continues. New York has tendered her whole force to the general government. A quarrel which took piece between General Scott and Senator Toorms at a dinner party was likely to lead to a duel. Senator Seward's speech on the present crisis, which he was to deliver on the 20th, was anxiously looked for. SAN FRANCISCO. Advices to the 29th December had been received. Weather had improved; but, business was dull; transactions very light, and sales forced low rates. Operations in produce had been entirely sus pended. Money easy in good d eman d . Th e • steamer of the Ist January, for Panama, will take 51,000,000 in treasure. COMMERCIAL. NEW YORN, 11th Jan., 0 p.m.—Stocks dull and lower. Illinois Central Scrip 73, New York Central 77, Erie 371. Cotton firm, sales 2,500 bales at 13L-c. Flour firm for State and Western, sales 23,000 brls. Wheat, sales 83,000 bushels. Corn firm. Whiskey steady. Rice steady. Sugars steady. Freights to Liverpool quiet. Exchange yesterday, bills at sixty days on London 101 to ; for commercial 105 to 1051 for bankers. NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 10.—Sales of cotton to-day, 27,000 bales,„ The steamer's news caused an advance from 111 c terl2.le for middling. HAVANNAII, Jan. 7.—Sugar and freights dull. Exchange on Northern ports is 5 to 9?-, prem. Mr. Cobden has arrived in Paris from Algiers ; and, after seeing the Emperor, on Tuesday, was to proceed at once to London. The following appeared in our later editions of yesterday : FRANCE. - - THE REPORTS OF TIIE LEGISLATIVE CFIAMBERS. • PARIS, Jan. 23. The Moniteur announces that a "Sentitus Con sultum " has been presented to the Senate order ing that accounts of the sittings of the . Senate and of the Corps Legislatif shall be placed at the disposal of each journal every evening. A tom_ ~ , -,_~, "'~- mission has been appointed by the Senate to examine this project — Ne speech was -made: THE FRENCH ARMY. There is a report that it is proposed to arm the whole of the French army, infantry as well as cavalry, with six-barrelled revolvers. The steamer Salsette sailed from Point de Galle, on the 22nd December, with the English mail of November for Australia. The ilioniteur says that Gaeta can only be bombarded by a fleet in very calm" weather, and that no effective fire can be opened by ships till spring. The Turin correspondent of the Times, however, says, that on the landside the bombard ment would re-open with terrific effect, and is asserted that after three or four days cannonading the place must fall. _ The impression becomes stronger that the year against Venetia by the Garibaldians -will be post poned. The correspondent of the Times at . Turin, asserts that Garibaldi has sent, through General Turr, a message of concord and conciliation. There is an abatement of factious opposition in - electoral proceedings. Garibaldi, - it -is- stated, has fallen in with the view of General Turr, who thinl , s that the natural progress of moral resist ance in Hung ary, might wear out Austria mop efficiently and more speedily than any violelat LAW INTELLIGENCE. ADMIRALTY COURT, JAN. 22. (Before Dr. LESILINGTON and TRINITY VASTER/I.) TILE C ONCEPCION.--SALVAGE. • This was an action brought by the owners and crews of the steam-tugs Chieftain and Sailor Bing, of Liver pool, against the Spanish ship Concepcion, of 793 tons, Spanish measurement, to recover remuneration for salvage services performed to her in the River Mersey, on the 28th of February, 1860. On the morning of the day on which the service was rendered the Chieftfin observed the Concepcion exhibiting signals for assist ance, when she went to her, and with difficulty took the vessel in tow. While the Chieftain was towing the Spanish ship the Sailor Sing came up, and was also employed with the other-steam-tug in. taking-A= 4o an anchorage to the southward of Tranmere-ferry, which was done on the same day. It was asserted that the weather was boisterous, that the Concepcion was in great danger, and that the steamtngs were is peril performing the services rendered to the ship. The defendants made a tender of £2OO. The witnesses for the plaintiffs were examined in court on the 22nd o f N ovem b er last. Dr. Deane, Q. 0., and Mr. Vernon Lushington were for the salvors; Mr. Digby Seymour and Mr. E. C. Clarkson for the defendants. The learned judge stated that the Elder Brethren were of opinion that the Concepcion was not in imme diate danger when she was taken in tow by the steam tugs, and that they were not endangered by perfmnin the service ; and the Court therefore plenouneed degree for the tender, but without costs. THE CARELESS 'BUS CONDUCTOR AGAIN. COURT OF EXCIIEQUER--MESDAY, Jfix. 22. SEY3tOuR r. GREENWOOD. This case was tried at the Liverpool spring assizes , last year, before Mr. Justice Blackburn, when a verdict was found for the plaintiff, leave being reserved to the• defendant to move. Mr. T. Jones moved accordingly and obtained a rule to set aside the verdict, and enter a nonsuit on the ground that there was no evidence to go the jury. The plaintiff was riding at Manchester in an omnibus belonging to the defendant, when a dispute arose with the conductor about the fare to be paid. The conductor seized the plaintiff b}• the collar and a scuffle took place between them, when the former was pulled out of the omnibus and thrown to the ground, at the moment when a Hansom cab was passing, and before the driver could stop the lower part of the cab had struck the plaintiff on the head, inflicting a severe scalp wound some inches in length, and a wheel passed over his foot, from the effects of which he was rendered insensible, and taken away in another cab. Since the verdict, the plaintiff had died. Mr. Monk, Q.C., and Mr. Wheeler now showed cause against the rule, and Mr. Jones supported it. Against the rule it was contended that an improper mode of doing that which it was the duty of the de— fendant's servant to do as conductor made the defendants liable. In support of the rule it was urged that if the con ductor exceeded the authority deputed to hire, or deviated from it, then no liability attached to the defendant, unless he had subsequently ratified the act done. The Court said that the question was whether there was evidence on which the jury might find that the act of the servant was one for which the defendant w as reasonably liable ; the conductor was obeying the lawful commands of his master; but not doing so with wilful brutality, but doing it with such want mf care as to put the unfortunate plaintiff in danger. Tie rule to enter a nonsuit would be discharged. Rule discharged. THE LADY AND THE BARRISTER ON A FISHING EXCURSION. GRAHAM V. GRARAM AND GRIFFITH. COURT OF PROBATE AND D IVORCE— Y ES TERDAY.. Mr. J. 0. Griffits appeared for the petitioner, and Mr_ Douglas Brown for the co-respondent. The respondent did not appear. William Graham, the petitioner, was married to th e respondent, formerly Dorothea Holland, in March, 1843, and lived with her first at Manchester, and then at Betws-y-Coed, a watering-place in North Wales, f or several years. He held the office of sub-inspector of factories at Manchester. In the summer of 1859, having become indebted beyond his means of paym ent, he went to Scotland, to take the benefit of the Scotch insolvency laws. During his absence his wife sent her daughter to Scotland with a servant, wrote him an affectionate letter, saying she was going to L e , n d mr to see her father, and ran away with Mr. James Drum mond Griffith, a barrister, who had been staying in North Wales on a fishing excursion, and had made Mr. Graham's acquaintance before he went to Scotland. In August, 1859, her father had received a letter, written by her from Paris, containing various reproaches against her husband, and she was afterwards traced to Dinan, where she was living with Mr. Griffith as h is wife. Mr. D. Brown said that the lady was 40, an d th e co-respondent was some years younger, and it was pro bable that she had left her husband not so much in con sequence of his solicitation as because she was not living happily. h is Lordship thought that the supposition that she► had any ground of complaint against her husband had been completely negatived by the evidence, and granted a decree with costs against the co-respondent. A MODERN JACK SHEPPARD. A LOADED PISTOL FIRED AT THE BURGLAR. calendar A t th e as M a i d d e l a e b s i e n x e t s nslsais' on k o e n r assistant judge, Thomas Andrews fully attempting burrlariously tobreak Tuesday, nan beforeenter t t h h e e (22), d escr ibed in the d was indicted for unlaw prosecuted. Thi s goods. &c. Mr. Metcalfe, in s t ruc t e d by Mr. Beard, dwelling-house of William Graves, with intent to steal Gaol prisord, ner was known as a kind of mo dernjtv,a-cikce,Shit was stated ; and he had boasted in the he would be out in three having broken out of Newcastle Pawnbroker at 19, ]Mile- f end ey ßO ' a o d u ; ld o'clock House of Detention g an ir d e h ab im ou a t nail, four hours. The prosecutor was a on ' ti morning of the 20th December the prisoner was detected by a young man, named Whitlock, an assistant to the prosecutor, boring holes through the panel of the d oor . F or ty-t wo holes had been bore d clean through, and the prisoner, by means of a key-hole saw, which was found in his possession, would bare soon cut out as much of the panel as would allow a man's body to pass through. The assistant fired a pistol loaded with ball at him, but missed, and the alarm baring been given the prisoner was captured, and in his possession was found a complete set of burglars implements, gimlets, chisels, jemmies, screw-drivers, matches, keys, wrenches, key-hole saw, auger, &c. 'I he jury found the prisoner guilty. The Assistant Judge, after having received a com munication from the governor of tLe House of Detention, Captain Hill, said the Court would pass upon the prisoner the full sentence the law allowed; and he understood that at the expiration of that sentence the prisoner would be taken elsewhere to answer other charges. The sentence was that he be kept to hard labour for two years. His lordship cautioned the witness Whitlock for using firearms loaded with ball so recklessly as he had in this matter. Had the shot struck the prisoner fatally the consequences might have been very serious if not perilous to him. The prisoner, no doubt, was found doing a daring and criminal act; but he had not gone to that extent which would justify any one on the moment in firing a loaded pistol at him—that was the last extremity; an alarm, no doubt, would have been sufficient to deter the prisoner. • The prisoner picked up his hat, and bounced out of the dock with a jaunty air. A n it COLLISI ON Y . ON THE LONDON AND NO RTH - IvTE v nN RA 7 -On Tuesday morni ng , accor di ng E s so to a brief report inao!. by a guard of a tra i n pass i ng about the time, a colii , lon occurred near Wigan, early, from which a number of passengers were more or less E A injured, and a lady and gentleman seriously, the lady ht particular, as she was dangerously cut about the head over one eye. In addition to this, it is stated that one of the trains was very much damaged. TUE CONVERSION OP ST. PAUL —TO-1110140W (F z i t day), the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul will specially observed in several ecclesiastical quarters. „„, addition to ,the performance of the oratorio of.lfi services in twiny of the London ellurc, h e e r :',,,iii h e an Messiah, in St. Paul's Cathedral, there will he a dditional ton others, St. Paul's Church, Walwvrth, atsueco- n a y one at early service (choral), I eleven a.m., the fall evenaiteBg.63:rig•.;ind a sermon: J,';',ll