The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-07 00:00:00

Commercial Saltfi THIS DAY Tan DAY, the 7th instant. at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 11, Temple-court, 27g Barrels 1 CURRANTS, ex Carinthia] 10 Cases I _ and Euphrates, 19 Skeleton Cases }Turkey FIGS, ex various steamer s , 2507 Boxes 23 Barrels DATES. ex Tamaulipas, 150 Boxes Layer MUSCATELLES, } ex Tweed, 90 Do. Jordan ALMONDS, 150 Cases Persian SULTANAS, ex Thessalia, 2000 and .1-Drums DITTO. ex various steamers, 435 B Jae' Turkey Eleme RAISINS, ex British Queen, 50 Barrels 1 Black 95 Kegs 3 Bales Soft Shell 7g Do. Jordan } ALMONDS, ex Asia. Apply to DIT CO, ex Parliament, HOUGHTON & LEVY. Brokers NEXT WEEK TUESDAY, On TUESDAY next, the 12th instant. at Twelve o'clock at Browne, Hunter and Co.'s office. ...._ _ CONSIGNIIIE Bales JUTE o. Sunn HE %!P. WNE, HUNTER & CO., Broker , en hale. PARMESAN CH FROM GENOA. EESE Apply to GEORGE S. YATES & CO., 3, Rumford-place Tu ANNUAL SußscßrrtioN TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES Is TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. EVENING EDITION 43g- An Evening Edition of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, Markets, together with all the News of the containing Me Day, up to th our of going to Press, C4e Zgrilyrn (Tiinto THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1866 Liverpool Town Dues are not only of suffi cient local magnitude to justify our following up their discussion with much earnestness, but there is a great principle of public morality involved in their propose. abolition, which every class of the British com ity should watch with the utmost care. Vested rights, particularly those which the subject has purchased on the good faith of the Crown or the Legislature, cannot be demol ished without flagrantly violating the Constitution. The trade of the Mersey does not confine its advantages to Liverpool alone, but they are enjoyed by the United Kingdom and every other country where commerce is known. It is to the shipowners of the world, the home of constant employment for millions of tonnage, and to the manufacturers and producers of the universe a market of inestimable value and magnitude. Blot out Liverpool from the statistics of maritime and mercantile nations, and a blank would be found, which the genius of enterprise, for a hundred years to come, could not fill. The people who have created this emporium of trade number less than nalf a million. To give to England, and to the remotest corners of the earth where industry.and commerce abide the i nca l cula b le aids thik port affords, its people have involved themselies in an amount of debt which many prosperous States could not endure, and they are borne down by a pressure of local taxation, which cannot be increased without producing a frightful depression in the value of all and giving to every other rateable proper species ruinous intensity. A community so numerically small never before hjestie ends. All that we le might, possibly, have been accomplished ''ss cost, had the Legis- of burdens a encompasse have don ch ma at from 30 to 40 per cent lature in manipulati 4, enactments, of the put c in re to raise what they call " private a a due regard for the pockets zulating th 3 expenditure of the ad our local bodies have allow These considerations are, however, foreign to the question now at issue. Parliament is asked to deal with Corporate incomes as though they had been levied for purely local pur poses, and expended on 'undertakings in which none but the Burgesses of this Borough had the remotest participation. A few individuals consti tuting a small municipality take upon themselves gigantic works, which the State ought to have seen carried out for the national benefit; and when they have discharged this great administrative duty , Parliament is quietly asked to despoil us of the income which we have applied for the nation's good, and to throw upon a small section of the community the entire cost of that which is an incalculable gain to the whole Empire. Mr. Lown, as Vice-President of the Board of Trade, ought to know, and ought to have stated broadly to the House, what practical effect the abolition of our Town Dues would have. The right honourable gentleman might have ascer tained that the rates of this borough average ss. in the p oun d, and that the abolitionof the Town Dues would add probably from 2s. to 3s, in the pound to our already high tariff of local imposts. Is the Legislature ready to expose any one locality in the,kingdom to an amount of taxation ranging from 7s. to Ss. and which, under by no means uncommon circumstances, might reach 9s. 6d., in the pound ? When a young legis lator essays to tamper with the established order of things in the great entrepots of trade, he should make himself master of the injurious as well as the beneficial effects of the measures he proposes. To secure a national good he should take care that he is not doing a gross individual or local injustice. If Mr. LOWE had inquired a little into the past operation of increased local burdens in this Borough, he might have discovered the extraordinary and instructive fact, that when its inhabitants were called upon a few years ago, to pay a poor rate of 3s. 6d. in the noun& the number of unoccupied houses, not including those assessed at or under 101., within the limits of the Borough increased to the extent of nearly 2,000, and that a d eprec i at i on of from 20 to 30 per cent. in the value of house property was obliged to be submitted to before people could be induced to rent, houses within the Parochial boundary. Now, what would be the effect of M r . LOWE'S prop osed additio n o f 2s. ed. in the pound gari to our . ordinary rates. Are we to have anot her among our resident p o p u lation, and the rateableYa property of the town again depressed 20 or 30 p er cent? The trade of En g l an d h as not suffered by the existence of the Town Dues, if Mr. LOWE'S department speaks truly. But if any portion of that income is to be made good by such an addition to the present local rates, Liverpool will be the highest taxed portion of Her Majesty's dominions after adding to the Imperial property and wealth an amount of trade:greater than that of all the other ports of the kingdom put together ! We admire Mr. LOWE'S towering genius and untiring industry, and we regret much, that in the early days of his career he should have abandoned his pure political concep tions for the time-serving fallacies /of the crafty official. Mr. Lows must know as well as we do, that all Liverpool boast s o f having done is simply work and labour performed for the national weal ; and as an honest man he must admit, that if our sourc es of local revenue are swept away, the LIE Chambers of Commerce of Liverpool and Manchester held their annual meetings on Mon day last, and these two bodies appear to rival each other in the extraordinary diversity and magnitude of the subjects to which they direct the attention of the mercantile world. In the discussion of matters relating to commerce, politics should be entirely laid aside, and every subject brought under review dealt with purely on its merits. Liverpool seeks to advance its own interests, and Manchester labours to increase its prosperity, and both are equally to be lauded. If one excels the other, in the variety and importance of the questions it brings under notice, it can leave no room for cavil. The Man chester Chamber has excelled that of Liverpool this year in the length of its programme, still, it has left untouched many great national subjects, and other questions of immense importance to the merchants and manufacturers of the North, to which the Liverpool Chamber has given much consideration. Being associations com posed of the leading and practical men of business of the country, their proceed ings cannot fail to have great influence on the Government of the day; and those now in office would do well to take special heed of the sentiments which were uttered, here and in Manchester, on the subject of the diplomatic efforts which appear to have been made to in volve this country in a war with the United States. This is a question in which all classes of the community are deeply interested, and on which the public voice is sure to speak out in unmistakeable language. Meanwhile, we must keep our eyes steadfastly fixed on those changes which are taking place in commercial law, and others which, though of a local character, embrace great national advantages. The Liverpool Ch am b er of Commerce first alluded to the recently enacted measures of the Legislature with regard to bills of exchange. It congratulated its members on the recent alteration which has made bills of lading, together with the property they represent and the contracts based upon them, le gallyprobably because it a d ded so much to our paper circulation in the s h ape of a transferable, quasi-legal tender The reform recently effected in the l aw with respect to bills o f exchange, was also highly commended, on the ground that it gave the bona fade holder pow er o f recovering summarily, while it protects th e " ostens ib le " acceptor against fraud, but not against usury. On the subject of limited liability the Liverpool Chamber were divided, and had not therefore ventured to pro nounce an opinion ; but in Manchester the late and proposed changes were denounced with a vehemence rarely equalled in conclaves not actually infected with a political phobia. Touching Dock Extension our Chamber has arrived at pretty much the same conclusion as that of Manchester. Both agreed that Dock Extension was wholly unneces sary; the former urging that any new Dock works that may be undertaken, to extend or improve those now in existence, either at Birkenhead or on this side of the river, should be considered on their merits. On the Danish Sound Dues question, our Chamber pronounced in favour of their total aboli tion. And then, adverting to a scheme for reforming our postal communications, the changes we pro posed nearly two years ago were brought before the meetin g by Mr. MACFIE, whose name and interest will, w e time, te n d to securetrus t ; h e a i f r t e r a d s o o p t l i o o n n g . a W I a h p a s t e w o e f have been doing fo r our paper before years, i n th e d e li very of eight circle of fi ve miles round o'clo c k, a.m., within a can surely d o as often Liverp oo l , the Post office th done Passing i n on London. rOugeh thebt obtaining n a i y n , g as p it f is a to the tele g with Holyh ea d , and thraphic eomm nication more accurate return of the value of imports, it is much to be desired that the our efforts of our Chamber may b e attended with perfect success. Next w© come t o Charter Act of 1844, and the 1,4 the arguments advanced at the meeting in defence of the course pursued by the Council with respect to the requisition pre- orate should take upon itself the w hole of that sented by the merchants and traders of this town, indebtedness we have incurred in promoting the soliciting the Chamber to convene a meeting of its interests of shipping, trade, and commerce, and members to consider what steps " should be thus practically relieve these three great arms of " adopted for the relief of the community then suffer- Imperial prosperity from all those local taxes "ing under the influence of the present monetary to which they are now exposed. " system." The CHAIRMAN, in alluding to this If the country requires millions of tons of ship- subject, stated that while the Council declined to ping, and thousands of acres of docks for their convene a meeting of the Chamber, a Committee accommodation, no one interest or locality ought was appointed "to watch the course of events", to be specially taxed for that which is a boon to and to report to the Council; but, considering the every member of the community. We have nothing numerous topics our money laws embrace, the to say in defence of local taxation affecting ship- Committee "required a great deal of time ping and commerce. The merchants and manu "to consider them before they could facturers of 'the North are ready to push Free " arrive at any conclusion." In making Trade to its "legitimate consequences," but their this statement, the CHAIRMAN must have forgotten • efforts will be in vain, as long as committees of the that the Council jumped at a conclusion when they Houses of Parliament, Presidents and Vice-Presi- did not think fit to call a meeting of the Chamber. dents of the Board of Trade, and governments of At the same time, they admitted that something every shade of politics sanction the creation of was wrong when they appointed a committee to local tariffs, which are infinitely mor e prohibitive, watch the current of events, who were to and therefore more oppressive, than any professed act when the evils complained of hai Protectionist Administration would venture to pro- produced a positive crisis. Now, it is a • pose. Still, while the people of this town hold these notorious fact that the answer to the requisition opinions, they call upon the Legislature to re- in question was drawn up by an individual member that the Town Dues are as much their member of the Council, and that its result, if not property as the houses and lands which the law its object, was to stultify the public opinion of forbids the Corporation to alienate without the this great emporium of trade, on a subject which express sanction of the Burgesses. They have more directly affects its best interests, than any obtained the right to levy these dues by purchase, of those topics which the Chamber has volun and they expended their proceeds in creating a tarily taken up. Liverpool, which is as great an ornament to the The evils complained of by the requisition- State as it is useful to the com merce of the world, ists were a sudden contraction of the currency and to deplume the Liver after it has brought into and commercial accommodation by demand life such a nestling of present greatness and future ing usurious rates of discount. The sole promise, is a species of political poaching in which question the Council was required to solve was, we are sorry Mr. LOWE has been detected. If he whether the circulation had been so contracted, and had known the ground on which he was treading, whether Banking rates of interest, varying from we question if, for the title of " right honourable: , six to ten per cent, were usurious, and likely to and a prominent seat at the Ministerial board, he produce the suffering complained of. On these would have entered upon so dangerous a career as points the Council need only have gone back a few that of killing with one hand, and bag- years to have seen what a similar monetary condi ging a contemptible mite of one-sided popu- tion had led to, in this town. The Chamber has larity with the other. If, however, Mr. not, therefore, dealt reasonably with this great LowE hopes for an acquittal, let him at question, and it would have been better for it once adopt the common sense declaration that to have confessed at once it did not understand all the Lighthouses, Docks, and other facilities it, or to have announced boldly, as the Manchester afforded to navigation, are required to carry on Chamber of Commerce has done, that notwith the great maritime business of the realm ; and standing " the Bank Charter Act of 1844 had that, as the revenues by which they are now sus- " caused a good deal of excitement, still, until a tained cannot be taken away, without doing gross " suspension of cash payments, or something like injustice to several localities, their whole cost " a crash Caine, the Chamber would not interfere should at once be carried to the Consolidated " with regard to that act." There is something Fund, and their future maintenance provided for candid in this avowal, and if the Liverpool from the National Exchequer. The public would Council, or Committee, had been equally then know what Mr. LowE really meant, and they outspoken, the public would have known would be able to judge whether they were dealing how to have dealt with those " sufferings" with an A.nglo-Polynesian Beanstalk as a legisla- which have nothing at all to do with tor, or simply a man of undoubted genius, who the understanding between the Government enunciates great principles, in order to render the and their bankers ; the privileges or monopolies perpetration of unheard of cruelty and injustice granted to this or that institution; or the innu palatable to those political assassins, who applaud merable theories employed to give a false colouring the death-blows he levels at those commercial to our commercial condition, and which simply towns which have done so much for the nation at resolve themselves into this narrow focus,—is a dis. count market, ruled from six to ten per cent., usurious, and sufficient to prostrate the trade and industry of a mercantile country? PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE -4. The official accounts published yesterday show that, in the year ended the 31st of December, 1855, the income of the United Kingdom amounted to 63,364,6051., and the public expenditure to 84,505,788/., leaving the somewhat alarming deficiency of 21,141,1831. Of the revenue, the customs yielded 20,987,7521. ; the excise, 16,389,486/. ; the stamps, 6,805,6041.; the taxes (land and assessed), 2,945,7841.; the property-tax (income tax), 13,718,185/. ; the post-office, 1,137,2191, ; the Crown lands, 280,515/. ; the sale of old stores, &c., 522,138/. ; moneys received from the)East India Company, 60,0001. ; miscellaneous receipts, 402,7681. ; and unclaimed divi dends, 115,1491. Of the expenditure, the interest and management of the permanent debt cost 22,792,5941 ; terminable annuities, 3,868,2931; unclaimed dividends paid, 173,2401; the interest of exchequer bonds (1854), 217,0001; the interest of exchequer bills (supply), 560,6351; deficiency, 9,3361; and ways and means, 26,7491; making a grand total, for the public debt, of 27,647,8991. The civil list entailed a charge of 396,5701; annuities and pensions, 340,9911; salaries, &c , 162,6971; diplomatic salaries and pensions, 149,2441; and courts of justice, 493,082 i. Of the " supply " service, the army cost 14,545,0591. the navy, 19,014,7081; and the ordnance, 9,632,2901. The vote of credit (additional expenses of the war with Russia), 5,200,000/. ; and miscellaneous civil services, 6,741,1261. The balances of public money re maining in the Exchequer on the 31st of December last amounted to the sum of 3,688,6001. against 6,015,6121. on the sth of January, 1855. In an earlier account, made up to the 30th of September, 1855, the revenue is made to amount to 62,990,580/., and the expenditure to 78,505,553/. —leaving a deficiency of 15,514,9731. NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TRIIRSDAY, FEERUARY 7, 1868. THE COURT. WINDSOR, FEB. s. —There was no addition to the royal dinner party yesterday. The Queen and Prince walked in the Home-park this morning. The younger Princesses took a carriage drive. Her Majesty and Prince Albert and the Royal family pawed this evening at Frogmore-house, where the Duchess of Kent gave a children's ball. The usual notification has been published in the Gazette, announcing that her M.ajes'y will hold levees at St. James's Palace on the following days, at two o'clock :—Wednesday, the 20th inst. ; Wednesday, the 27th inst. ; "Wednesday, the 12th of March next. THE Towx DUES.--It will be seen, on reference to our report of the proceedings of the Town Council yesterday, it was resolved that the Mayor should be requested to convene a public meeting of the inhabitants of our town, to organise measures for resisting the bill affecting the town -dues of this and other boroughs, introduced into the House of Commons by the Right Hon. the Vice-President of the Board of Trade. T-- HE MURDER IN THE MlNORlES.—Yesterday, at the Central Criminal Court, William Thomas Corrigan was tried before Mr. Justice Wightman and Mr. Justice Willes, for the wilful murder of his wife on the day after Christmas-day last. The circumstances will be fresh in the reco;:ection of our readers. The prisoner's counsel urged a plea of insanity ; but the jury, a f ter twenty minutes' deliberation, re t urne d a verdict of foGuilty,'' and sentence of death was immediately passed. The prisoner appears fully to expect his awful doom. SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL.—WEEKLY REPORT, FEB. 6, 1856.--In patients :—Discharged : cured, 9 ; relieved, 0; at own request, J ; irregular, 2. D ea d, 3 ; entered, 15; under treatme n t, 69. Out patients : cured, 30 ; entered, 43 ; under treatment, 53. Treasurer, James Houghton, Esq. Visitors, Mr. J. Ingram, and Mr. J. Rogers. Honorary chaplain, Rev. D. T. Barry, B.A. Physicians and surgeons for the week, Dr. Cameron, and Mr. Minshull. House surgeons, Mr. Charles Royston and Mr. E. C. Garland. -.-. THE LATE ACCIDENT IN lIIGH-STREET.—DEATH OF JoisEs.—Yesterday, the coroner held an inquest on the bodies of John Williams and Thomas Jones. The deceased persons fell from the buildings now being taken down in lligh-street. An account of the accident appeared in our paper of Tuesday. 'Williams was killed on the spot, Jones had his leg broken, and the limb was amputated at the Royal Infirmary, where he died on Wednesday morning. The only addition to the details already published was the evidence of a man engaged at the works, who said he did not consider the guide rope sufficient for the work ; but it appeared that was the fault of the deceased man Jones, who had been employed to take down a portion of the buildings with his own materials. The coroner, in summing up the e via',;:lee, pointe€l out the law to the jury, who found a verdict 0, " Accidental death."—The coroner also held an inquest on the kl.?dv of a poor cripple, apparently about 60 `mound dead in a cart at Wellington road.was The name of the dect,.: t - :_n. it appeared that the evidence of Mr. ICemp t ,. su . rg ~ ' natural causes. deceased died from disease of he lungs, until, The jury returned a verdict accordingly. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING. There has been no change in the tone of the Cotton Market, but the amount of business done has not been quite so large, the sales amounting to 8,000 bales,2,ooo bales of which have been taken on speculation. Prices were about the same as yesterday. The Liverpool Share Market was flat at the open ing, and declined during the day about 1 to g per cent., rallying, however, at the close, although not to the opening prices. Aberdeen, 128123. Chester and Birkenhead, 131 14. Caledonian, 27 9.16 27 11-16. Chester and Holyhead, 13 tn. Eastern Counties, gi 10. East Lancashire, 18 181 Great Northern, 23 234. Ditto A Shares, 98 9. Great Western, 55 554. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 802- 801. Liver pool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 151. London and North Western Stock, 1003 1001 Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 25. Ditto Preference, 113 11g. Ditto New 6 eel. cent Pref., 3 In. Midland Stock, 683 691. North British, North Staffordshire, 8 7V. South Eastern and Dover, 18f 18 11-16. York, Newcastle, and Ber_ wick, 18-f 18f. York and North Midland, 241 24f. Leeds Capital Stock, 141 141. Dutch Rhenish, op. Ditto New Shares, 2 2 1-16 p. Great Western of ainada, 25 1-16 25 316. Ditto New Shares, 2 15-16 3 1-16 p. Great Luxembourg, 93 81d. The official returns of the Revenue and Expendi ture during 1855, just issued, have naturally given rise to much conversation, but all things considered, they are held to be less unfavourable than might have been expected. With the lavish expendi ture necessitated by the war, and the limitation of commerce which necessarily follows, the income derived from the ordinary sources of revenue could scarcely fail to exhibit a deficiency. In the pre sent instance the excess of expenditure has amounted to 21,141,1831 8s ld, but when the 16,000,0001 loan, the 3,500,0001 raised by authority upon Exchequer Bills, and the 407,9021 ls, pre_ ceeds of Exchequer Bonds, sales, &c , are added, there was a balance of assets over liabilities to the extent of 3,888,000/ 6s 3d on the 31st December last. To this last-named item, however, must be added 3,500,0001, the remaining moiety of the un issued Exchequer Bills for which the Chancellor obtained power in August. As before mentioned, a further loan will no doubt be necessary. The National Bank of Belgium have published their annual statement for the year ending Jan. 31, 1856. The amount of specie in the Bank coffers at that date was 51,312,270 f., having diminished about one million during the month of December. The notes in circulation amounted to 101,476,840 f., and the accounts current to 31,967,854 f. Compared with the returns of the two previous 3 ears, the re_ suit is satisfactory, and shows a sensible progres sion in the affairs of the Bank. The amount of specie in hand has been much the same during that period, but the Portfolio item has increased five millions, the circulation four, the accounts current three, and the advances on the public funds one, million francs. In other respects there is not much variation in the affairs of the Bank ; showing that prudence and judgment have been exercised in managing its affairs during two finan cial years of difficulty. Commercial letters from St. Petersburg state that the government have just published some interesting particulars relative to the external trade of Russia across its European and Asiatic frontiers. In the year 1854 the exports in produce and mer chandise amounted to 65,337,681 silver roubles, and the imports to 70,358,608 roubles. During that year also the amount of specie in gold and silver imported was 11,999,496 silver roubles, and the sum exported 6,401,350 roubles. A special general meeting of the shareholders in the General Iron Screw Collier Company was held yesterday at the London Tavern ; and, after some discussion, the objects for which the meeting had been convened were carried—namely, to enable the directors to reduce the capital from 250,0001. to 125,0001. in 5000 shares at 251. each, instead of 50,000 51. shares as heretofore. Other reso lutions were further carried enabling the directors to adopt such measures as might be deemed neces sary to bring the company under the operation of the Limited Liability Act. Some of the pro prietors were opposed to adopting the Limited Liability Act, under the impression that that act would necessarily be repealed if Mr. Lowe's bill, introduced last Friday, were passed into a law. It was, however, explained that the company would be benefited by coming under the Limited Liability Act, and that if that act were repealed, they would then be placed under the still more favourable measure of Mr. Lowe, if it should pass into a law. The Funds opened with little change, but sub sequently experienced a decided improvement, owing chiefly to a money purchase of 200,0001. in new 3 per cents. and Consols. The Market closed at to per cent. better than yesterday, the prices being 911 91+. Speculative purchases for the March account are encouraged by the progress made in the arrangements for the settlement in the Consol Market. The charge exacted from specu lative buyers for carrying over their purchases to the 14th of March has also receded to-day to 3 ,4 to per cent. The prospect that an armistice will be declared towards the end of the present month, and the hope that the approaching conferences will result in peace, continue to induce operations for a rise as well as bona „fide investments. The settlement of the account in Consols has led to the failure of another jobber in the Stock Exchange, but the amount involved is not important. At Paris to-day the 3 per cent Rentes closed to -I per cent. higher than yesterday. The Corn Market to-day was dull at Monday's fall. The Freight Market is quiet, the de mand for tonnage being very limited, and the supply by no means abundant. Very little altera tion, therefore, is observable in current rates. The prospects of peace have occasioned some inquiry among the Russian merchants for ton- nage, but at present no rates of freight are mentioned. The Railway Share Market to-day was generally flat, and the closing quotations were in many cases below those of yesterday. The following were the prices at the Railway Share Market at the close :--Caledonian, 551 55.1. Eastern Counties 10 101. East Lancashire, 72 74, Great Northern, 91 911. Ditto A, 751 761. Great Western, 55 559. London and North Western, 1001 1009. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 241 251. Midland Stock, 681 691. North British, 34 311. South Eastern and Dover, 62 621. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 731741. York and North Midland, 49 491. The Gazette contains a copy of the Royal warrant for creating the new naval and military decoration, to be designated the " Victoria Cross." The rules under which it shall be conferred are also set forth. The decoration will consist of a Maltese cross of bronze, with the Royal crest in the centre, and underneath this in. scription, "rot Valour." OUNG MEN'S CEIRISTIAN AssoctATloN.--The ninth of the series of lectures advertised in connection with this association, was delivered last night in Hope-hall, Hope street. The lecturer was the Rev. Dr. Raffles, and the subject of his disco urse " St . P eter ' s and the Vatican." The chair was occupied by Christopher Bushell, Esq., and the attendance, notwithstanding the inclemency of the night, was most numerous. At the outset of his discourse, the rev. lecturer declared that it was not his intention to treat his subject controversially, or theologically, but graphically —not to discuss, but describe. His purpose was to take his hearers to St. Peter's and the Vatican, that they might see them as they are, the things which they contain, the scenes and ceremonies which they present, and in short to obtain such information respecting them as should enable all to attach distinct and accurate ideas to them, when either in books, or in conversation, or discources they might be brought before them. He then entered at once into the midst of his subject, and having taken his audience with him into the heart of Rome, through the " Flamincan gate" and down the " Corso," introduced them to all the frivolities of the Carnival. Passing on, after he had shown the maske rs in the wildness of their last revel, and about to mount the " stool of penanca" during the Lenten time, he entered St. Peter's, and after describing the impression which the majestic building first produces on the mind, proceeded to analyse its beauties, and stupendous propor tions, in detail. Leaving St. Peter's, and the magnificent panorama to be seen from ; its spreading roo, with regret, the rev. lecturer led his hearers into the Vatican, and ascending its chief staircase — the Scala Regia —e n t ere d its galleries, filled with the noblest triumphs of art. Tile their world-renowned Apollo" and beauties, ao c o o n' were long lingered abo u t, an d though a" thrice-told t a l e, " was so fresh and glowing that the assembly, warmed into enthusiasm,and attested their appreciation of it!by rapturous applause. The rev. gentleman concluded his discourse, interesting and instructive in the highest degree, by a description of the ceremonies of the " Holy Week.", LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SECOND EDITION, THE GERMAN LEGION A despatch from Trieste dated yesterday men- ti9ns that according to news received from Con- stantinople of the date of the 28th ult., the German Legion was proceeding to Asia, and that other troops were accompanying them. -4- THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, WEDNESDAY EYENINC/ The transactions in the Funds closed on the AT ALLEGED POISONING MANCHESTER. ADJOURNED INQUEST, AND RESULT OF TI10; ANALYSIS. (PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY NIGHT. The adjourned inquest on the body of John Monaghan , ' supposed to have been poisoned by acetate of lead in whisk'', administered by his son James Monaghan, and two accom plices, viz., Edward Dunn, an insurance agent, and a mal l named George Barry, took place this afternoon before the city coroner, Mr. Herford. Mr. Bradlaugh appeared in support of the case for the prosecution, on the part of the Diadem Insurance Conl" pany, and Mr. Ferneley, barrister, on behalf of the accused. Dr. Frankland, professor of chemistry at Owens Col lege, Manchester, was the first witness examined. I le stated, at some length, the result of the analysis which b e had made of the intestines of the deceased. It was to the effect that, in the stomach he had found traces of zinc' and in the liver traces of copper and lead. In the kidney s he also found zinc. Ile was not prepared to say that death had been caused by poison. He would not say that acetate of lead had not been administered to the deceased in whisky. It might have been administered, and passed off, and yet have poisoned the deceased, iS Mr. Hatton, surgeon, Was examined, and ga v e it as h opinion that the deceased died from dysentery. At this stage of the proceedings, the coroner said he desired to adjourn the case, in consequence of the prisonell having to be brought before the magistrates on the PO charge to-morrow. It was then adjourned till to-m0n...0 fortnight. We learn that at the adjourned investigation before th e magistrates to-morrow, evidence will be brought forwar d to prove the actual administering of poison to th e deceased, and also that further disclosures will be Dad e by Mr. Hallam. Bourse to-day as follows Cents., 90f 50c.; Three per Cents., 72f. 90c '—Four and a Half per FRANCE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING It is not impossible that the Conferences will open before - the 20th of this month, the date spe cified. A telegraphic despatch states that the Russirn negociators have already left St. Peters burg for this city. Lord Clarendon, will also, probably, arrive before long. A splendid house, known as the " Hotel Cooper," in the Champ Elysees, has been hired for him and his suite, whieh, it is expected, will be very numerous. According to a Vienna letter in the Constitutionnel, a few weeks after the rupture of the famous Vienna conferences, Russia made known confidentially to Austria that Prince Gortschakoff, and M. de Titoff, her plenipotentiaries, had exceeded the spirit of their instructions in rejecting the neutralisation of the Black Sea. Austria informed the French ambassador of this, and when he came to Paris in October last he communicated it to his govern. ment. That government declared that it had no hatred of Russia, and would endeavour to facilitate an honourable arrangement for her. This decla ration led to the Austrian propositions, to the circular of Prince Nesselrode of the 22d Dec. last, and, finally, to the acceptance of Russia. The protocol signed at Vienna relates, it is added, at full length the preceding facts, records the reading by Prince Gortschakoff of a despatch accepting the Austrian propositions, and sets forth at length the conditions themselves. The letter adds that the Allies have decidedly sent orders to their troops in the Crimea to suspend hostilities until further orders. The Moniteur publishes officially the names of the plenipotentiaries who are to take part in " the negociations about to be opened at Paris." Their names are known, but it may be well to repeat them. For France—Count Walewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Baron de Bourqueney, Am bassador at Vienna. For Austria—Count de Boul Schaunstein, Minister of Foreign Affairs. and Baron Hubner, Minister at Paris. For Great Britain—Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and Lord Cowley, Ambassador at Paris. For Russia—Count Orloff, Member of the Council of the Empire, and Aide-de-camp General of the Emperor of Russia, and Baron de Brunow, Envoy Extraordinary, and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Germanic Diet. For Sar dinia—Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio, Senator of the Kingdom ; and for Turkel —Aali Paella, Grand Vizer of the Sultan, and Mehemmed Djemil Bev, Ambassador at Paris. It will be observed that Prussia does not figure on the list; her exclusion, therefore, is a fait accompli. England, as I have already told you, insisted on it, and France after some hesitation adopted her views. General Espinasse, commander of the 3rd division of the French army in the Crimea, has just left this city to return to his post after a months' leave of absence. As he is an aide-de camp of the Emperor, some people think that he would not have gone back unless there was a likelihood of his having work to do. It is a positive fact that the French Government "1-' has not suspended in any respect its military and naval preparations. The contrary was said a few days ago with great confidence. This is Mardi-gras, the last and grandest day of the Carnival, and the unfortunate bceufs gras has again been paraded about the town, accompanied by a brilliant cortege. Vast crowds assembled every where, and especially on the Boulevards, to see the sight. The Emperor and Empress passed down the Boulevards in an open carriage, at about three o'clock, and were well received. The day has been observed as a holiday by the larger part of the Parisian population. There seems to be a greater number of maskers and mummers in the etreets than usual, but they are of the lowest class of society. Accounts from Constantinople to the 28th ult. have reached Marseilles to-day. It was General Codrington who announced to the allied armies the acceptance by Russia of the Austrian propositions, but the troops at first received the news with in credulity, and afterwards with stupefaction. Mar shal Pelissier shortly before had heard that the Russians intended to surprise the advanced divi sion in the valley of Baidar, and he sent a vast force (eight divisions) to support it. At Kamiesch, there had been some fires, and trade was in great distress. At Constantinople, the Cheik Ul Islam had appealed against the resolutions adopted in favour of the Christians. A telegraphic despatch from Stockholm says that the King had sent the Grand Cross of the Order of the Seraphims to Prince Albert. This dignity in Sweden is equal to our Order of the Garter. . 1 % TROPHIES FROM SEBASTOPOL.— Some very interesting relics, brought from Sebastopol by a gentleman, can now Fe seen at the jewellery establishment of Mr. John G. Jacob, Waterloo-place, Church-street. Amongst these are the following articles : Three books, on religious subjects, printed in the Russo-Greek language, possess peculiar interest. One of the volumes is 127 years old, and relates to Jerusalem—being a history of the " Holy places, &c." This was found in the house of the bishop of Balaklava. There are two other books of prayers, &c., which were found in the church at Balaklava. There are also swords and muskets, helmets, and other things of that sort, which were taken out of the Redan and Mamelon Towers. Another curiosity is a small square piece of brass, with the image of the Virgin and child, and some mystic figures. This is called the " charm," and is held in great veneration by the Russians, and worn by them next the person. All these things are well worth inspection, and Mr. Jacob's gentlemanly conduct, in exhibiting and explaining to his visitors, is duly appreciated.—At Mr. Dixon's Eldon dining rooms, South John-street, may be also seen a variety of things just brought home from Sebastopol, and amongst them a Russian infantry coat, helmet, gun, and bayonet, A " charm," in excellent preservation, and a splendid star, (silver) which was taken from a Russian officer. They we'e presented to Mrs. Dixon by a gentleman who has come home from the Crimea. LIVERPOOL ARCHITECTURAL AND ARCLUEOLOGICAL SO CIETY.—Last evening, the members of this society held their usual periodical meeting, at the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street. Mr. Huggins presided on the occasion. The following gentlemen were unanimously elected associate members of the society :—Mr. G. F. French of Bolton and Mr. R. Wells. The following donations were presented to the society : Report of tte General Board of Health as to the sanitary state of Southport and other places ; the Land and Building .News; the minutes of the meetings of the Royal Society of Architects ; the Irish Reporter; the Building Chronicle. Mr. Boult stated that be had that morning received, from blr. W. G. Elliott, Blisworth, several copies of a letter addressed to the Mining Journal on " Drainage, and Utilization of Slag." As he had before noticed the subject, when he had received similar communications, he would not detain the company with any observations, further than to say that Mr. Elliott had suggested th at his patent would be very applicable in the proposed railway tunnel between England and France, as the material might be converted into bricks on the s p o t . The copie s o f t h e letter were t h en distributed amongst the members. In the absence of Mr. T. C. D. Barry, who had an engagement in London, Mr. B . oultread that gent l eman's paper, " On the causes of damp in buildings, and the means used to prevent it." The best thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Barry for his valuable and interesting paper Mr. Verelst apprehended that the chief cause of dampness in h% ases arose from that curse which was so prevalent in this country—the curse of cheapness ; for architects, in too many instances, were not permitted to consider how they could build best, but how they cou ld build cheapest. After a few brief observations, the business of the evening was concluded, WEST DERBY UNION The usual weekly meeting of this board of guardians sef held at the board room, Mill-l ane , yesterday. Mr. J. 1111“‘ son, in the absence of the chairman, presided; The othe r guardians present were Messrs. Shaw, Pitts, Abraban34 Roberts, Lunt, Siddeley, Wensley,"Whitby, Edwards, Pie" Mountfield, and Mullins. The Clerk having read the minutes of the last meeting!: reported that the balance in the hands of the treasutr, was £1,400 1.55. 6d , and that he had ex am i ne d a ll th e boo kept by the respective officers connected with the union, s n found them correct. . From a return prepared by the Clerk, it appeared that th e following balances of the last call were due from the under mentioned townships :—Everton, £316 13 s . 10d. ; Kirkda , ', 4 £B2 Is. Bd. ; Orrell and Fort, £4; Sephton, £7 ; Textet''' park, £2,408 19e. Iod. ; and Wavertree, £92 I s . 3d. 125 The Master of the Workhouse reported th a t th ere w ere paupers in the workhouse last week, since when 30 had b e h ► admitted, 9 horn, 3 d ea th s , an d 20 di sc h arge d, l eav i n g 7 ' and for the corresponding week of last year there were 71 5 . Tho Master of the Hospital reported that the numbe l l ue patients in that establi s h men t was — t hi s w ee k 119, an d for P' corresponding week of last year 84. Cheques to the amount of £214 were voted to the se/ e . f relieving officers for the out-door p oor i n t h e i r respecu.° . - districts. , s- A letter was read from the p oor l aw b oar d, i n reptl e r(quest from the local board, r e l a ti ve to ma ki ng new avel°Pro for t"-_e union, requesting to be informed, as the averages % le fi only taken as late as M a rch, 1854, w h at spec ifi c reason s the" were for taking them again. The Chairman said he had no doubt that in the' CO ills of a few weeks, the relievin g o ff icers wou ld b e prepar ed t returns, which would show th e necesa i ty . The o°l dropped. In pursuance of a notice given last week, Mr. Shaw mov e as a matter of duty, that the salary of Andrew Hamilton, tb ; out-door superintendent, be increased from £6O to £B O P e annum. No guardian seconded the proposition. Mr Muliens said he should propose that the subject ot Bl3 over for six months. The Chairman—That is unnecessary, as there is no seconder' The board then adjourned. POLICE COURT. -YESTERDAY (BEFORE MR. MAXWELL) e "CIGAW AND LITE!"—A young f e ll ow, named C. a iu stt' f thr whoic head and f ac e m i g ht h ave ma d e a fortune for Hoga_rto was charged with st e ali ng a b ox o f c i gars f rom t h e s h op o f P: er Bradshaw, James-street. Th e pr i soner ' s appearance a l to get i , P bc was of the most singular a n d ex t raor di nary d escr i pt i on . fi charge against him was this. He rushed into the cornplainvilo shop, snatched up a box of cigars, with which he ran awal',.. ce , he was followed and c a pt ure d. Th e pr i soner, i n hi s d e ftw said he was going alo ng th e s t ree t, w h en h e met a boy oliinif o " Cigaws and lite," and having a notion to take a wilifkrias stopped to do so, when he was gripped by the police. ; 0 3 magistrate said th e p r i soner was an i ncorrigi b le rogu e, committed him for one month with hard labour. a • SUSPICIOUS CASE.—A man, named Owen Owens, Ol a f female, nam e d J ane J ones, were charged by detective ° Patrick under the following circumstances. The officer s he he was in search of some tea that had been stolen i° r ib locality of Vauxhall-road, and on the stairs of the prisg e ths house he discovered 1001bs of sugar in two bags, O r br D e e possession of which the p r i soner cou ld not account, excePt ot saying that he purch ase d it f rom some ono whom he did del know. On searching a ce ll ar i n Q ueen-street, which b e long to the prisoner, sev era l samp l es o f sugar were foun d !1 3°,0 to which corresponded to that found in the bags. In rel' i l oo lcl the magistrate the pri soner sa id h e k ept a smal l s h op, aod ta# sundry articles. P a t r i c k, i n rep l y to the bench, said be prisoner had not exhibited any sugar for sale, althong'o, sold sugar worth 6d, f or 3;,d a pound. D e t e cti ve Grist° o ;ll waite corroborated the e v id ence o f P atr i c k . The 01 charge against the wom an was h er b e i ng found in comParl'ost# Owens. She was discharged, and the male prisoner t b# committed for a rnontl , , not being able to account fc' e legal possession of the sugar. t he A BAD SERVANT.—EIIen Barry, late a servant i° re' employment of the Rev. Mr. Pugh, Everton, who w P f log manded on a ch arge o f h av i ng embezzled .55., and for of obtained money under false pretences, was brought 0 1 ) final examination. The details of this case appeared i n t hat paper last week. The evidence given was the same ° 9 O " sit already published ; an d t h e d epos i t i ons h av i ng been per fect the prisoner was committed for trial. kid THE MYSTERIES OF A WATCH CASE. --A ge n teel JO 0 # yonng woman, name d Ell en H am li n, was brought UP ° o at , charge of having stolen a watch, the property of a gentle ~ be whose name was not given, tut w h ose off i ce was stated tug(' at No. 41 Dale-street. The fa. is were these Thomas Hart, a watchmaker, residing in Park - w itb said—About ten o'clock i n th e morning, the prisoner, and another female, not now in custody, entered his shell 00 offered the watch for s a l e; h e questioned her about it a p , said it belonged to her husband, whom she stated to be ' ° „geo Crimea. He did n o t lik e t h e explanation, and he lg"egb her over to the p o li ce. M r. W ybergh asked Mr. ` l :4 - the how he knew the watc h was sto l en? Mr. Clough to° owner had called at the police office and given a full d e scrif t he of the watch, and th e d escr i pt i on exactly agreed wi..ft b! b ad watch stopped from th e p r i soner , i n every particular. - 13 ' e 10, sent an officer to the gentl ema n' s office to look for bi° 3 'l3o' he had not been there during the day. Mr. Wybergh : I fah did he tell you the watch was stolen ? Mr. Clough ; d i° he said distinctly it h a d b een sto l en from him. The priso°' to g an earnest mann er sa id s h e was in the habit of g°lo3l a house in Rupert-lane every morning to clean a nd io a d the up. When going that morning, at six o'clock, she foil 0 0 0 watch in Rupe r t-l ane. She gave the name of th e gent' e obe to whose ho u s e s h e was going, and said her character e°ll spoken to. She was remanded for further inquiry. A BAD BEGINNING.—A nice-looking lad, about t t he years of age, and neatly dressed, whose name appeared ~,° ; c i te; charge she e t as P atr i c k P orde, was charged with having r;tate' the pocket o f P au l V apie, chief steward of the United -ot° mail steamer Atlantic, of a purse and 125 dollars. Th e m e; plainant was n o t present, but Mr. Clough produced a 11„), ~ et ° who stat e d t h at on S aturday he saw the boy pick the r 4 Mr. Vapi e i n Li me - street, an d w h en he got the purse a ° to ol‘ away, but was f o ll owe d by w i tness , w h o caught him, ° ° .,,id °°, dup t o h upn e r esaen p i.nd u r tr s .iral e enh ec a oa n ffs de prisoner, ttnisid it, not ew n n t whroh e ita n e stcsr thinkingef rdomb bitterly, thim.ie trlany n, y saidhMa harm. . e Clough w a oit0 ; 00 ; i : the Atlantic was going out on Saturday, and as the steward the be s o e b h l i o g o e l d , a t d l leave, : , eigfi h oe e trhes l ae la w3p d fut rgivensely lying g m o t n h e money, the a g but w ay o h t e a lltaadvyingcatmakeefnoriwt afrrdo,mant,hi e sai p ilbs o fou c tay k binl et of any one. The wt swore e w a p s o s s i t e i n v t c days. sese p fici i e c ti l k ed n,lltiltyr prisoner. r V wteram a ys p a i wenw # edshical p dt c o O c i a or e nt ave ti,seat: (BEFORE MR. M ANSFIELD .) Dr) 4° CAUTION.—A respectable-looking person, named pit'l Bulg ey, was charged with creating a nuisance, a nd ar - 55 fiel" Police co ns t a bl e 540, at the amphitheatre. Mr. I ‘' 3s , j ° '; remarked that it was necessary persons should have s ome fio tili went, and the public must b e protected at p l a ces °f fined ti e amusement from a nno y ance and nuisance. H e prisoner 20s. ide" THE KNIFE.--A shoemaker, named Downes, who r ":11 1° in the Park, was c h arge d with having attempted to sta daughter, and with having assaulted constable, No• pin e g he saw the p r i soner attempting to stab his daught er .., officer heard c r i es of murder,er, and on procee di n g to tithe shoemake r ' s knife. After a terrible struggle, the pris°' oo er ti 3" arrested, but not before he had cut the officer severelY hand with the knife. The prisoner was committed for trig'