The Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-22 00:00:00

pool, and other large towns in England. (Hear, heat, and cheers.) In those local examinations during the past year, he was gratified to see a fact, whioh he hoped the reporters would take a note of, namely, that the Collegiate Institution at Liverpool, during the whole year, stood, in those local examinations of Oxford and Cambridge, at the head, in point of success, of all the schools in England. (Loud and prolonged cheering,) And not only did it stand foremost, in point of subeess; at the head of all the schools, but it was more than double the school that stood second on the list. (Hear, hear, and tremendous applause.) He rejoiced, and he was sure his friends around him rejoiced also, in that suc cess, because it did honour to the boys, and also bee:- it was the best practical proof of the -- ' " se . - management of the school. (A n o-- . It was a proof that the P rur ..l;4l and his staff of masters did their duty well. and ably, and efficiently. (Hear, hear, and continued cheering.) He hoped that the same spirit would, con tinue to be manifested, and more honour, would every year be added to the institution: (Cheers.) Tie dlB6 re joiced in the increasing inimber of the scholars, as it showed that the people of Liverpool knew how to value that institution ; • and he wished to say a few words, to impress upon them of what great and immense value the institution was to the good old town. (Hear, hear.) For many years past they had been making great and very successful efforts in all the large towns, but in no town more than in Liverpool, to raise the standard of education among the masses of the people. He rejoiced at and no one could more heartily do so than he did, as he thought it would ultimately achieve great good, He did not mean to say that great intellectual attain= ments were always accompanied with good moral prim , ciples in every individual. Alas ! some of the very greatest names in the roll of literary fame were sad examples to the contrary; but he said this, that as a general rule, intellectual cultivation Was iii itself ble to moral improVemetit. (Hear, heat, and applause.) But fat more than that, With far more confidence he said that education, when based as in this country pity it was based upon relicrion. ment which the "a 3 tne great instru , • - providence of God had placed in soelr power fdt cultivating the moral character of ,the opulation: (Cheers.) tilt the Itiote inithediate object he had in Vie* kkial hi thit=he td glioyr his young friends present how important it was, when the education of the lower Classes Was thits ediitilitially oil the advance, that the education of the higher and middle classes should riot be suffered to go down—(hear, heL7), —or in any manner allowed to retrqgiacte. (Hear, hear, and applause.) As a matter of course, when many of his young friends whom he then had the pleasure of address ing, left school, and grew up to be men, they would march off into the different callings in life that may ,be marked for them, whatever they might be ; no doubt some of them would ge to the university and enter intO the literal profession, and some of them Would, in that town (which afforded such ad ttcellent opportunity for it) engage iii piirsdits of commerce, and some of ,theni wOilld betake theaiseArea to useful and resPOtalite deciip'atA . enS; and a ,ipp",d egueation would be eri4led, to pokfOciii their duties 1/fitli 644, it-Ad at large. (Hear, 643 gild 0166.) Now, he did riot mean to say that ho one but a man of education could perform these dutieg,—it would be going too far and speaking too widely; but he said without any hesitation that ceteris paribus, natural abilities, and all things being equal, a man of education would always perform the duties, of his station, whatever they might be, more efficiently, more easy, and more gracefully than a man without education could perform thetn, (Hear, and applause.) Education helped to abatice a man on in life, and make Ms prospeeta more cheering. If such were the ease, thhii. how excellent an opportunity the boys attending that institution had presented to therm of acquiring a sound practical education, which Was in every respect good, so far as the teaching of the Collegiate Itistittition was concerned. The people Of tiirerpodi had in their own town as good a sthool as could be found in any part of the kingdom. (Hear, hear.) They had no necessity to send their children away from under the parental roof or from under the guidance of the parental eye, or from tinder the all-blessed influence of the parental heart. This was one great advantage possessed by the Collegiate Institution, that the boys, without having to go a great distance, had the opportunity of receiving a good education, as it were at their own doors. He hoped, therefore, the value of the instituti on wou ld be properly appreciated by the people of Liverpool. His lordship then addressed some kindly words of monition to the youthful students, and impressed on them the necessity of their paying attention to their studies, and acquiring proficiency in the various branches of learning. to which they devoted their, attention. He hoped that they would not be backward, but take ekairiple front the great educational moVement *hich was taking .o.nee amongst the lower Classes, Eddeation essential to to their iiseflilliess; their inhenee, their respectability, and their dignity itl after life; and he hoped, now that God *as Pleased to give them the opportunity, they vootlia avail themselves of it; for if they let it pass by with out advantage in the sunny hours of boyhood and youth, that golden opportunity could never again be regained. He had received a letter from their principal the other day, accompanied by three beautiful little .addresses, which had been delivered by him in that institution, and which he hoped they bad all attentively perused. One of the addresses was on drill, the other on and the other on prayer. With reference to the first of these subjects, in an educational point of view, his lord ship considered that drill was highly commendable as an auxiliary in training the boys, and was very useful in making them acquainted with military tactics; and it would teach them how to bear and deport theeaSehresi not only as soldiers, but as gentlemen. (Hears hear.) It was a great advantage, so far; but still he should say that the drill in itself was but a still', dry sort Of thing, if it did not help to imbue theta *ith 'a Maitiali spirit. He then spoite Of the great Voliinteer move ment, and lauded it in thn highest terms, and he con sidered the good weaning from it incalciliable. He concluded alt tlbquent address by urging on his youthful audience to commence and end all their labours with prayer._ _ _ - The Prino;;;:i of the college read the list of prizes as e•- , • ....opined, and as the name of each successful pupil was called out, he walked to the platform and received from the hands of the venerable prelate who presided over the meeting the reward of his toil, amidst the hearty ' applause of his fellow students : CLASS PRIZE?.--1. Classics, G. H. Statham ; mathematics, E. R. M. nigh: 2. Classics, Hindley ; mathematics, Laidman. 3. Classics, floneyburne ; mathematics, Ho'neyburne. 3. Mod. Classics, J. G. Makin; mathematics, G. Brown. 4. mathe =tics, W. Appleton. 4. Mod. Mathematics ' Salkeld. 4 5. • iilathematic4, S. B. Sutton. 6. Mathentatich, Holcombe. 7. Mathematics, A. Healey. S. Mathematics, It. Dawicarh. SPECIAL PRIZES.—Brooks DiVinity Medal, R. M. _Pughe ; Senior History, Cordeaui; Senior FreneTt, "Ottley transferred to Moore ; Junior French, Ca* transferred to • German, A. Ramsay; Dra*ing:(l) Free) *d, A. Statham; (2) Perspec- Are, Seigeant; (3) Froth tfig Refund, Sergeant; Writing (1), S. peel transferred to Menlove; (2), J. H. Butler trans ferred to Preston; Vice-Principal's Junior Arithmetic, W., Appleton'. EXTRA PltlZEs.—lnstitution : Greek Verse, P. J. Ramsay. : Fnglish Verse—" Dante," G. H. Statham. Mr. Latin Grammar, Ellrodt. Mr. Hart : Good Conduct, C. J. Rowe. Dr. Nevins : Chemistry, Gillespie. The following is a list of the young gentlemen who, in their respective classes in the Upper School, obtained the number of marks placed opposite their names, showing their proficiency in classics, mathematics, French, and drawing:— G. H. Statham, 7; P. J. Ramsay, 6; J. M. Moore, 10; K. M. Pughe, 10; Cordeaux, 17; Maynard, 18; Cleaver, 16; Laidman, 8 ; Hindley, 7 ; R. H. Dickson, 8 ; F. J. Mich6d, 8; Tarbet, 16 ; C. S. Carlisle, 16; Irving, 20 ; Honeyburne, 3; Sergeant, 8; A. D. Carlisle, 8 ; A. Statham, 15; J. W. Pughe, 13; P. G. Jones, 17; Lafone, 18; 5. G. Makin, 4; 15 ; Yeats, 10 ; Ferguson, 19 ; G. Brown, 15 ; Martyn, 26; A. Ramsay, 24; Owen, 31; Menlove, 10; IL J. Peel, 20; E. S. Peel, 29; Ottley, 26; A. S. Brown, 13. In the Middle School the prizes were awarded as follows CLASS PRIZES t Class 1, W. G. Nicholls ; 2, W. H. Finlay ; 3, W. Jones 4, Hind; 5, Chambers ; 6, W. L. Williams; 7, I. Zones; 8, H. Daly; 9, Caldecutt ; 10, R. Daly; 11, F. Hutton. sPrent PRIZES : Divinity Medal, T. G. Thomas; Nomina tion to Upper School, W. G. Nicholls; Potter Scholarship, C..n. Cook; Senior M'Neile Scholarship, J. B. Jones; W. H. Finlay ; First Tyree, J. Williamson; Second, H. R. Smith; History and Geography Medal, J. B. Jones; Mathe- Inatical and Arithmetical Prize, It. Pendlebttry i French Medal, Harvey; Penmanship Medal, Barlow; Drawing Medal (Per spective), Newman; Drawing Prize (Model), C. H. Cook. EXTRA Pauses: .Principal's Prizes (Analysis), Scholetleld; Senior Classical Master's Prize for Latin, W. G. Nicholls; Chemistry Prize, W. G. Nicholls; Head Master's Prize for German, Phillips •, Mr. Whitelaw's Prize for English Compo sition, Richard Willan• ' Mr. Kerr's Prize for French (Junior), Lovntdes ; M. Vittoz's Prize for French (Senior), H. Davis. In the Lower School the following is the prize list : Nomination to Middle School : A. , McDowell. M'Neile Scholarship : R. Thompson. Senior Molyneux Scholars : Ist, A. McDowell; 2nd, R. Thompson. • Junior Molyneux Scholars: Ist, under ten years of age, E. D_ White; 2nd, under nine years of age, E. P. Saul. CLASS PRIZES : Class 1., The Senior Molyneux Scholars; 11., W. Makinson ; 111., J. G. Maris; IV.. A. Lunny ; V., A. F. Widdicombe ; VI., G. Wilby ; VII., T. Hughes; VIII., C. H. Ashton; IX., T. C. Clarke; X., V. E. Quaile. SPECIAL PRlZES.—Divinity (Brooks' Medal). C. B. Grundy; History, R. Rea; Arithmetical Medal, R. Thompson; Writing Medal, W. Rogers; Drawing (Perspective), W. Wright; Drawing (Free-hand), A. McDowell. EXTRA PRIZES.—The Pricipal • Analysis, It. Rea. The Principal : General improvement and good conduct, J. Taylor. EVENING CLAssEs.—English, G. Morgan; Mathematics, T. Watson ; Arithmetic, W. J. Johnston ; Writing, R. H. M‘Dowell ; Figure Drawing, W. W. Laing ; Perspective Drawing. J. Ashcroft ; Freehand Drawing, J. Galloway ; Architectural Drawing, W. Davies. The PRINCIPAL said that he had received a kind note from his Worship the Mayor of Liverpool, who expressed his regret that he had been called away to London, and consequently he was prevented from attending, to take part in that day's interesting proceedings. (Hear, and applause.) He spoke of the kindness of the Bishop of Chester in attending on that occasion, and he was sure that the gratitude of the pupils to his lordship for doing so was proportional to the heavy fall of snow with which the youthful snow-ball throwers had been favoured at the present time. (A laugh.) It was owing to the inclemency of the weather that many persons were pre vented from attending the Collegiate on that occasion, though, indeed, they could not complain of the number that were then present. He bore testimony to the importance of the volunteer movement, so far as it affected the corps which was formed from the yOuthful pupils of the Collegiate. The Bishop of MAURITIUS then addressed the audience, and said he rose to perform the very pleasing task of proposing a vote of thanks to the Bishop of Chester, to whom he felt indebted for the very kind Auanner in which he bad spoken of himself. He always remem bered the happy days he spent in the Collegiate Institu tion, and in the far distant region of Port Louis his thoughts often reverted to the early scenes and cherished associations connected therewith. (Hear.) , He said that nothing gave him greater pleasure than to hear the enthusiastic manner in which some of the Collegiate boys spoke of that school in a foreign land—they con sidered there was no seat of learning equal to it. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.) He then spoke of the endearing memoirs of school-boy days, and described the half-sorrowful, half-Pleasureable thrill that pervaded his bosom when, under a cloudless sky of a Mauritian evening, he heard some English sailors sing an old plaintive ditty, of which the follow ing was a stanza, and which brought to his mind many tender and pleasing memories of the past : Oh, don't you remember the old village school, And the master, so kind and so true? The Bev. Canon WNEILE, in rising, was received with loud applause, and said that so far as the resolu tion was concerned which he rose to second, they had saved him all the trouble, if such it might 1P.3 called, of making a speech, for they carried it unanimously. He did not wonder at this, for a vote of thanks should be cordially accorded the Bishop of Chester, While the Bishop of Mauritius was talking of the old village school, he himself was thinkiug what a strange thing a school is—everything grew old, but the school never grew old. He then alluded to the subject of drill and volunteering amongst the boys and young men of the present day, and considered it was highly commendable so far, but caution -should be taken lest it degenerate; .into an abuse. He also gave some practical advice to the students. The 'Bishop - of Chester returned thanks, and gave hie benediction to the audience, which then separate d, CHRISTMAS : PAST AN D PliEStgt—THE FESTIVITIES,---THt MARKETS, &c: , . ) • TWeiVe Moons hae Caine, have passed; havegone; ) the world has turned or; de the learned would say, revolved.Bii. ite aids, and Old Christmas has mite vain made hie appearance, : Arid is about claiming -oar attention to his #1,14TA1,. t . QI;LI CAnisTitAel What magic Ites 41onceriled in there two words and How the Misty curtain of time is raised up de we formally, or thoughtlessly, or thoughtfully utter the sentence tha t ha§ to charm and ills to pain ••- -.ever the blessed sun-light of Christianity sheds its hallowed influence, and that is all over the planet called the great globe itself. Christmas ! we do not know how it is, but there is a sort of spell conies over us when we hear of thee ! Old and young grave and goy the father's heart and the mother's Rite eipand at thy approach. The sister's • pride ..and theßrother's PP breathe benisons on thee;, Old tatlici Clitistnias, The little ; thing, in, the nurse's. lap endeavours to breathe gilt a "happydhristmas r' and although it be eiteritally the bleak, and, dark; and. leaffese time of year, Booth, does it not well adeord . With all the niany charms it imparts to our Warni hearths and happy lionle steads ? What care we for the wild wind that whistles over the moor, or the howliug tempest that lashes the mighty eternity of waters that roll incessantly about our globe ? Not a straw; Old Christmas:is come again, and we cry huzza, huzza, to welcome him. To be sure, trees are verdureless and hedge s b ar e ; fi e ld s ar e no longer redolent of' nature's sweetest flowers that whilonie filled the Wandering tep . nyis With deliadtis perftinfe. The flowers are asleep, but only gathetinq fresh vigour for the hew day that will shortly daWn on Tile trees are- only tatching;, like pod , Serititielk rev at their dst *lien called it were otherwise it ifehld Tail to . oe Old Christmas time. Spring-time has its -beauties, summer its brown auiumn its golden and then what remains for winter ? why Old Christmas, certainly ; and we shall give long odds 'on him against the whole of the other three quarters put together I April, with its _gentle, balmy evenings, and-showers like young maidens tears; May, with ,its flowers and' fragrapee, like, the Iloilevnio4n happy liah ~une;.i'vttli its sort of eribdueeh gay- daYdrilaina a,tid filly, With its Matured top-of-the-hill sort of life tithe, cannot compare withgentle, good, kind, benevolent old December, which ).4u9W2th. the time When the Christmas chime Is a merry sound to hear. Talk of the dark days before Christmas—pshaw ! why man thou art truly a dotard. Dark days, indeed ; not at all, they are the brightest in the sphere of thy imagination. Turn that spark of human electricity that yet remains coiled up *ithin thy ariOierit breast, and telegram (shrieking innovation, *e adniit, is telegram) it over the terratjueous globe of thy fiteniOry, and set us doWii as Hollanders if you doii't all the days before the most effulgent of thv, pilgriniage Oh, youthink so, dq,fitt idd664 ? We thought so too, old gentleman, and notwithstanding thy opthalmic-intellectual wayward ness we shall convince thee, and make you pronounce a verdict of guilty on yOurself, without the slightest recommendation to mercy. Mercy on us, and amen ! What are we talking about ? Christmas undoubtedly— merry, hearty, jovial, social, benevolent, open-hearted Old Christmas. Good grandfather, therefore, we give thee welcome, for thou comest at the appointed time, not in questionable shape indeed, btit in thy sober suited livery of other times, if not of better days. Thy face, good relative, is not much blanched, but another nick is added to thy furrowed brow ;, thy hoary,head has not lost one or its long flowing belts, but seems to gather strength as thy march is diisiarcti arid again we bade thee welcome And has tithe rated With thee old "gittenor since last *e met? Ali, father, thou art right : how has that. great travelling caravan dealt with us ? Yon are astonished when we say that the world has grown honest—marry, come up, I trove ! Yes, indeed; there was only the usual number of suicides, the same quantity of elopements, divorces increased to about ninety per cent. on former census. Oh, you don't wonder at that, don't you?—mutton chops rather smaller in extent and larger in.money figures—of the new cop per coin—than at your last visit—America showing dreadful symptoms of hydrophobia, : and the French Emperor decided traits of lucid intervals. Yes, that's all the foreign news. Oh, very well, t haVe Atety inclination to oblige you and be as tortimunidatiVe as possible, but I hate politics and figures, but I Confess I'm very fond of tropes for all that because, more pathetic, and although . . . I Isve the mtle, evWliiio • lu.tht ti lle the Welds are gay with,flolieri joy 16.d01A everytliing, .vet the winter, when the fall of night sets in almoit before the day gets out of its cradle, has charms for me, and none more so than the rapturous fleeting hours that pass like lightning about thy own day, jolly Old Christ mas. I am content; let us sit down here by this blazing hearth and commune with the past. Oh, my face is the zame, aye, but look at it now And full many a.year cone by, Befare care the brow had wrinkled, Ut sorrow limed the dyd; You think this appliCablc hi ail MottAls Td he It& it is, and every One. *hd tads these lines May take it more or less to himself, df herself, or themselVes, or the whole of theft 'tis trite; honbured father; that .this hearth is not less chterftif, rior ace the Wes tesS b'righ't than at your last Arisitatidn bite hth, ritatiY you found desdlSte and deOe'ited Yes, yes, I ant aware it must he sb hitlitr, yet I cannot choOse but Ce 9. That tafe- - Worn looking lady in deed blael hadki darlrig boy, the:pride, the hope, and the `stay of lier faMilY 7 -alas he is riot beside he-t- he illaddenine: wild strife of the sea wave elosid (Wei hirii, and the billows `were his Winding stieets, whilst Another's shroud was the bloody rain, And the thunder smoke of the battle plain ! And that beautiful girl, you remember, the family lived only in the sunshine of her happy face, and the solian harp-like melody of her voice. She too, has passed, and her eyes that vied with little stars are for Byer closed --i-that voice, which spell bound one With aspirations high At if rttshofpneis' PaSsed mdsically*, is for ever pushed in the cold, dark, oheerless vault of everlasting sleep. That old Man, toe, with long, grey hair, floating to and fro in the evening breeze, .mark him. He has outlived his span ; and you good father Christmas wafts no SOla'ae to his heaVing NAM: You have seen his fireside in the by-gone times : you joined in his mirth; but do you now mingle with him in his misery ? Nay; I upbraid thee not : 'tis only the way of the world; like Job, he had sons and daughters, and maidservants and manserVants, and flocks and herds, and these brought him flatterers; but when the spoiler carne and deprived him of his substance, the world's sycophants fled from hiM as from a plague, and only left himself, a wreck, behind ; and you have only followed the example, father, that's all. That shivering, quarter-' clad; and almost whole-starved boy, and tiny girl, with quivering limbs and Apttittied eyes, that ,Might, Without profanity, be likened to the heaven's own blre—these once sat round the fire with you, old father, at your festival. Where art then who looked do them then With delight ? Where art thou who mined IVith them in their innocence and glee? The Unmarked graves in the lonely corner in yon burying place answers, " here." Sad pictures, you say, father : truly, they are ; and then, 'seeing that there must be alwayS these shades, why lament them ? Well, father, I cannot choose again but weep. Still The sceptered king, The burthened slave, The humble and the hitig,hl;3/ . die; The rich, the Poor, The. base, the brave, in tilist without distinction lie. No ; Y don't thinirtherei;conS;iaifoninthat : for there is a vast dift'erence between a living beggar and a dead king. Well, I don't care if, for the nonce, I doff this dismal and melancholy mantle, and take your arm into THE DRAWING ROOKS But why this chamber is So ZaliM, I never - yet could learn. I tell yon, father; it is not mere crotchets. I have, a great respect for you, old gentleman, because you are over eighteen hundred years my senior ; but that's no reason why I should give up,my opinion to you altogether; and although your head, or your hair, be like the snow—l am sorry to say that - my own has followed your bad example in that respect—l don't see 'either rhyme or reason why I should let you have all the talk to yourself. I quite coincide with you that it, is a very nice room, and a very goodly company too, and very happy faces they seem ; but how many happy faces have you seen on your last visit that are gone now, or on the brow of how many that remain has your partner, OLD TIME, laid his ploughshare? Well, I - admit that this is a season of joy and mirth, and these melancholy, Jaques sort of parenthetical glooms are not quite the 'Cheese,' and not quite in place, far you say truly that One may Mil at this life, but since first I began it, I've found it a life hill of pleasure and'bliss, And till they Can show me a happier planet 1 4 1 l be'quite contented with you, love, and this. So here we go for Christinas and all Ms pleasures. But let us take one longing, lingering look. behind, before joining the festive train. Rea'ier, have you ever spent a moonlight Christmas in a country hamlet ? Have you ever danced on the village green under the shade of the old yew tree, with a rosy-checked, cherry-lipped, comet eyed girl for your partner? Have you joined and par ticipated in the unsophisticated pleasures of a real country Christmas, where fashionable frivolity was unknown ?—where ships and cotton bales were only read of in books bynamewhere roast beef and plum pudding were the produce of the farm and the garden, when the ale was of home manufacture, and the apples and cheese, and the cream and butter, came from plates that you know to be as pure as the dew at balmy morn —if you have ever Rent such . a Christmas, you will be fully able to appreciate one in d modern Tyre or half Babylon sort of town like ours ; and if you have not, we pity you, and that's enough. A CHRISTMAS IN TOWN is a pleasant thing enough in its way—so far as grasping of hands, and smiles passing on, and compliments of the season, and many happy returns—and the' tittle little evening parties, and the dancing, and suppers, and -- the headaches next day, and many other things tao numerous to mention. But give us a Christmas in the country, with warm-hearted friends by our side, and the starry sky, above ; the echo of the running cascade in the distance, and then the quiet sleep, devoid of nightmare, after heavy suppers ; no thoughts of coming due acceptancei ; no thoughts of inipending • writs ; nothing but the happiness of a clear conscience and an unseared heart—yes, give us a Christmas in•the country! Yet still, turning to the other side of the canvas, the Christmas in town has its magnetism. The bustle in the streets and the crowds in the shops show that there is something more than ordinary afoot. We often asked ourselves if people's stomachs become more ex panded at this peculiar season of the year than at other times ? and the question is not an unnatural nor un meaning one... Why ? There is certainly more, beef and mutton, and pork and bacon, and turkeys and geese, and capons and barn doors, and black game and every other sort of game, consumed at this time of the year,, than in any given period of the twelve moons that encircle our globe in their nocturnal wanderings. And only think, too, of the whole vine yards of grapes, alias raisins, that disappear, and the entire gardens of Zante, and other currants, that vanish. Great groves of oranges are 'destroyed at this peculiar season, and the wonder is that Ceylon can stand the drain made on its spice trees; so that really people must cat more at Christmas than at other seasons. On natural principles it cannot be at all accounted for, because it is a well known axiom that all bodies expand with heat, and contract with cold. We therefore doubt if this law applies to the stomach—or if it does, that reservoir must resemble a collapsed balloon, and only remains to be doubly inflated, at the Hallowed time When no witch has power to charm. Is it not a very marvel to behold the heaps of beef, , . mutton, veal, and other anpnal substances that are 'fatted for, our use T and foF ; our abupe into the bargain-- for a man can Commit suicide as readily by over-eating al Ei3i oer:drinking.. ktlfe great bisiiiess of life, after all, richt* rtioie than eating and &hiking?' We may be wealthy-perhaps it is desirable —we may possess 'broad latuls,,. and fine mansions, and grapi equipages, but we cannot enjoy these beyond the grave, nor bear, them to • pi,atyundcovcred country, from wh'ose bourn o trateiler returns. , . 13ut there are otter W a y s . o f enjoyment beside the gfa:ti kation of the mere gastronomic appetites ; and we like to look on happy faces, and bright smiles, and juvenile sports, and playing forfeits; join in a quiet tete-a-tete, and sip our claret—now that it is tolerably comfortable—look at.the younkers figure in mazurkas and English contrary dances, find finish up the etening With rt goad reusing Irish' jig, that beats Clontiriental polkas into emitheree6 i thdt vie begirt to get into godd hunimfr and with dufselves, Vie die pthilanthropic enotigli tp etfiers into good hiiindur too, because we think man was rot liorq,al;tiether for iris own selfish ends-46.16 and Should dd all iii his; power to pledse his felleNtfs, if he Cannot aetuallY edritiihnte to their linjipineSs; In this respect, the iihdpiteepef4 o LiVertidOl are the Most unselfish class of beings to be found in a day's peraMbitlation of electric wires; and every one knows that Reuter can compass more than the 360 degrees that circumscribe this planet, in a walk of 24 hours, with his tel-a-crams ! Let us look through THE STREETS- Ole' LIVERPOOL, and aSceftaln if this lie fact or fiction. Facts i sir, plain, aridisgaised faits, See on that window ; how disinterested the ,dwrier ig acting toitardet you i an you read ? Teti; !fell alert fail dllSefte lie °gets you that splendid article for the ridicillons slim of Ms., whilst he tells you on the label that it cost exactly 42 13s. 4d.! The genius exhibited in the decoration of windows has not been properly appreciated. We should like to see Stephenson, or Watt, or Armstrong ; the monk who invented gunpowder, or the discoverer of the mariner's compass, put into a draper's, or a hatter's, or a fancy,warehouse, .or a , shpe establishment, or a ttiiliiiler'a, p>; A or silkersoith's•shdp;aild ordered to "dress up the *mild stake a man's life to a game of jackstones, that they would Utterly fail. And yet the young ladies and gentlemen who perform these wonderful - things, are left like flowers to blush unseen, and waste their sweetness all around the counter! What a waste of intellect is there in this neglected class ; and yet we prate about the Fee-jee Islanders, and other neglected mortals of that class, whilst- we need - never travel further than Church, Lord, Bold, Byrom, Castle, Great George's, and° other great streets, to find emporiums full of the greatest but most riegleeted genius irt.the World. It makes little matter who said. that he enjoyed a coach by looking at it, its mach as the °Wrier who rode in the Yehidle--Avias a shreWd,o4oig thi,t, and, the shopkeepers Liverpool affordyet* agreeable sort of sensation to tlie. public. Look at the beautiful flowers that they have culled from all the hothouses and nurseries in the rural suburbs, to adorn the windows, the gas-lights, behind the counter and every place else, so that the two chief senses of our material being may be gratified —sight and smell. Think too, of the holly and - ivy, and the pretty little " kissing bushes" prepared for us all. In fact, there is. not a shop in the "good old town," where you cannot meet with the most disinterested invitation, To such an extent is this good nature carried, that some adorn the . very lamp-posts with gay floWers acid attrabtite nosegays ! Who, then, •dan despise our streets of our people! . Are both ridt.the bride of did Eaglarid, - and the adniiiitidri of stirrotirlding nations, flArtichlarly at this tinie Of the ,year, 4hen the heart eioands and parses open ? We . might dwell on this theme until neit Christmas, 'Without being alale to do more than point out such acts as we haie here synopsised. , But before assuming ancither departnient, let us say .a word about ,two classes of the community—for . these ~ are the only classes that deserve tills word specially, namely, the iltdit and the 1 ociit. This season comes alike to both in its external aspect. lf it rains on the one, the sun shines not on the other. But, oh how different in other points is this great redeeming festival to the rich and to the - poor? The one knjoys the splen dour of the square, with gorgeously furnished house and: eVery comfort and luxury that tflOney earl pfopilre: The other tiiifdS in the and ddili 04 . 0; or . daufp,eellar; Watitlag . foriti The dlioity.sit Litorildol is, hOWeter, thank God, equal to its great wealth ; andVe are sure I , e We, (hilt to fennatheie whom an, all-wise Pl'oodo.ilae lids VleSSed. with, 4hand4dee, that, there are many channels throUgh which they ,can rmicier good Ussiltariee to theii, poor and stiffering,fellOw-beings:, By assisting to. alleviate ; the hardships to which some of our brethren are -exiiosed,,the,rieli will enio+ their , own com forts With briglita serealty, they rill have tie satiifac- • tion of inward approval, • and will therefore lay up treasure for themselves where no rust can reach it. Ladies, think of your p o or suffering sisters—but we need not exhort you to deeds of benevOlence—your own hearts lead the way in the good work, and your reward will be exceeding great. One word, to one and all we wish every comfort, _and may you arid .y mirs enjoy many and, many llArint CitursTstAs titsTitAls. We now come to a More Material paft of our duty. It is - a tinie:horiOnted cdstom, both here and, we believe, iii eery other ,tOiirl Of note iii the for the ~,• jOtirfialist to notice specially t he , ~ itfARAETS *OF THE TdWN, And, is newspapers are the chroniclers of the thries; it would be a sort of neglect of.history to omit recording the alip6ararice arid details of these great marts at this Season of the year; for sure we arc that in after times' when We are dead and gone, lady, When we're dead and gone ; And at our heels a grass green turf, And at our head a stone, these lines will be looked to as the best history of the present time. Shakspeare has talked something about "Our ancestors who are to come after us,"—and mind Sbakspcare was not an Irishman—although, we believe, the ancient Buffalo who last made his. appearance in print do tlld lit and adVerititres of the k ` Third of Avon," has shown 'Clearly enough to his own mind, that the said "bard" was a native of Tipperary, or; at least, a denizen of nonnybrook, arid trig his nanie was Wagstaff. if that is not satisfaCtOry Dan Sitllitan, of Cork, hits shovin that " Hamlet" ova§ Written by Garret O'Shangliriessy (there's a' name for you) and inserted, by pure mistake, in Shakspeare's works. This is not more wonderful than to find the present . Chinese general-in-chief is a native of Mullanahone ; and, although he is called in the celestial language by the classic name of " San-ko-lin-sin," he is neither ,less . nor more than " Sam Collinson," and there are plenty of people about Malianahone, who are *ell acquainted with the .afore Said Samuel. flat what has all this to do with the Ohristnias markets ? Why it will. She* otir " ancestors Who are to come after us," what sort _of, fare we of the Present daY _provide for Christmas Cheer. We read, with rather a smile, Of ill; old Christieas Cheer, and probably in time to donie our present-day histOiy * s ill meet with a like reception some time after the millennium: It is really astonishing to see the absolute mountains of beef, mutton, pork, turkeys, hares, 'geese, small fowl, game fowl, and every other conceivable edible article, natural and artificial, provided for gastronomic gratification this 'Year of grace, 1860. Manufacturers of -beef and Mutton=as those who.rear pxen and sheip are how 6alipaltae of late yearS,Paid treat attdritioil to the produce of the farm. To pile oh tat on such quadrupeds is not now an object so much as neat finish.; indeed, our fat animals do not make as good food as what is called " well mixed." Generally, this year the stock on show of all sorts is excellent in quality, and as to quantity the wonder is when will it all be consumed ? In this regard; how ever, a couple of days make sad haid, mid the disap- . pearknCe tan bt , adeohnttd rdi on the -" devouring pritiapie alone. All the markets are plethoric with provisions of all classes, and the -depth of each pocket can be suited to aT. As an invariable rule prices at Christmas range higher than at other times, but we do not think that there is an increase on the high figures that have so long ruled our markets, as such prices could hardly bear augmentation. A large supply does not . bring the prices down, although alibi many 'Vendors will or .bad markets." Geese, turkeys, capons, and other fowl, are in great abundance, and of fine quality, which commanded good figures, with a brisk sale. Here and there may be .met a. few house lambs, but these dainties are approachable only by persons with long purses, and something in them. Rabbits and hares plbhty, and ill goad dendition; the latter "rim" from s. 6d. to 65.., according to weight. Wild fowl Ana game seem to be plenty, and in demand. We do not know what effect the late severe weather and fall of snow may have had on the markets gerte'tally, but it is 'presumed it caused an ap*Atd tetidehey in prices. Having said =eh ahOnt the markets in globo, we must now netioe them in detail. The first, of course, in every respect is . ST. JOHN'S MARKET, an emporium that ‘ Liverpool is justly proud of, for we believe there is no other repository in England equal to it in dimensions, nor for the variety and quantity of merchandise that it supplies for the traffic of the human alimentary canal. St. Sohn's Market has been always A great sight at Christmas, and this year lacks nothing of former attractions, but, we should say, the magnetism of its contents is rather increased. To a person who never saw such a sight before, it must be overwhelming, and if we had visited it for the first lira, the idea of something - atipernattiral Would at once suggest itself, If there is food here for the body, there is a trifle also for the intellect; for on looking at the carcass of some fine prize bullock or sheep, which might Form a picture for painters to study, The fat being so white and the lean being so ruddy, the question will naturally force itself on us, "What pains we take to fatten animals to fatten us, and we to fatten worms !" Melancholy again. No one has any right to indulge in such gloomy discontentedness in presence of such beautiful gorgons as meet the eye at every turn. The most merciless epicure that ever breathed could not find a particle of fault with anything in the market. To look from either end of the market, up or down, one of the great avenues, the tout ensemble is remarkable and picturesque. The decorations, the bustle of those who ,have business, and the gaping wonder of the sightseers,—the exclamationi of juveniles and a sort of contented. hilarity that runs through all, —is something to contemplate. For some years past Mr. Thomas Lowthian has been called the King of the Market, in reference to the amount and quality of the stock that he exhibits; and we do not see any reason why he should not retain the regal dignity this year. His shop is about, the most attractive in the market, and consequently a large crowd is collected before it. It is adorned with all that can • please the eye and gratify the palate. Amongst his stock may be noted a splendid West High land ox, from the-Earl of Galloway's celebrated farm, a baron of which 'is to be cut off for Morrish's dining rooms. Four very prime Galloway oxen, from the farm of C. Stuart, Esq., Kirkcreist ; four immense heifers, from Mr. Batterby's, Crossakeil, Ireland; two prize oxen, bred by the Earl of Galloway; two very splendid prize calves, from Cheshire, and a magnificent house lamb ; ten prime sheep, from the Duke of Richmond's celebrated flock ; twenty first class Cheviot sheep, bred and fed by the Duke of Sutherland ; twenty-five prize sheep, fed by Mr. Battersby, (Ireland), together with some fine pigs, and three splendid Cape and one African sheep alive, which he has fed on his own land at Tue brook, and which the admirers of such animals will see at the farm. The shop, when seen from the centre avenue of the market, is most attractive. After shouldering our way through great coats, and our legs by crinoline—the latter is still unfortunately worn—we got near enough to note the following : Vieing with Mr. Lowthian for the crown of the market is Mr. Tomilson ; but it would require a couple of beef and mutton Garibaldis' to decide between them. The existence of two kingdoms so near to each other, is not at all incompatible with the happiness of the subjects that seek the assistance of each, and it will be gratifying to know that the_ utmost cOrdi a lty'exists b e t ween th e two monarchs, whoseteyritwies, are approached by such adrifiring liedes„ •Mr: Tomilson ~ s howe an immense qUatitity d lieges., finest tieefi inuttm veal„hinth, and pigs, that can be seen. He has nti leas illat fifteen (fen and heifers, all of the finest quality, and about forty irinl9 .sheep , together with some lamb. His stock is from the-beaten& most . admired breeders in the three kirigdolits., arid altogether cannot be surpassed. A reniaritable and , attractive shop is that of Mr. Aughes, and the Croid enlieetell before itlesterday was an indication that something more than Ordiriaty N'as to be seen there, and so there was. Mr. Hughes shows splendid stock of the finest veal and pork perhaps in the market, He has also an extensive display of beef— ' coien, and heifers—and a large English, of first-class niatton. his stuck consists of English, Scotch, and friph fed animals, and beyond the flue quality and amid 13e eipeOtect The attraction alldaed to is; or rather Wag, d r iiatiVe if the trdasdtiantie continent—, a fem'ale &gin" from . ChicagO: The his= tort' of this ' bear is as follows ;- - It is just drie',yes:t. arid ten m9uths old;.anci atriVel in Liverpool when it Weighed gist nine pounds avordupois., Miring its mciz.al career in the atmosphere of England, and iti. i the siike of tWelity:ivro moons, i t t has .increased in del-lefty. to no less than 374 pounds of good and lawful weight of this realm—or nearly 27 stone! It hi beautifully, fat, rue latter being white as the very driven snow, dfid the flesh is prettily variegated like a carnation pink. It is pro nounced one of the greatest "beauties" of the "genus " (was ever seen in Liverpool. The flesh of this animal is highly esteemed by brother 'Jonathan, and we believe it forins g co*eted dish at the table of genuine epicures. Mn/ Sdirtpson has a #ne' eAibiticni of beef, veal, thatton, St 6., aiid , anforigst the. Liter. is a qpantity of prime wethet animals of the best finish: His stack is ample, and ami,llge, It may be classed spine' of the Vest fed beef and mutton from Ireland and,Scotland. He has managel, too, to lay out the "stuff" in the shop front to much advantage, and his picturesque mode of arrangement has caused much attention.' Mi:Wiikinson,shows, as usual, a stock of prime beef and judge a master of his trade, he is a first idte of *hdi he ,chooses; and his customers are sure to find a good article at his allot); • Mr. Dentieth has a large stock of prime stuff. This is an old-established shop in the market, and has always maintained a respectable name and position, which he fully sustains this year. He has two pigs, fed by Mr. Lafone, of Cheshire, that are the wonder of the market. Some of the finest saddles of mutton we have seen may be met with here. The only Brahmin beef, as we are informed, shown in the market, is by Mrs. Gibbons; and judging from Its appearance, it is all that can be required. Mr. Knight's shop is, as usnal i attractive, and stocked With a large quantity of various articles, such as beef, mutton, Veal, lair* and pork. The quality is prime, and the finest of the animals conimand the appreciation of the best judges. We may now notice in globo, the shops of Mrs, *ood: ward, Mrs. Crosdale, and Mr. Deane, all of whom show ample stocks of the best materials, in beef, mutton, and veal. The latter seems very fine this year. In the poultry market there is a large and very fine stock, but very dear. The shop of Mr. Robert Isaacs, Clayton-square, adjoining the market, seems to take the lead in this respect, both as to extent and variety, and Many a farm yard must have been emptied of its crow ing and cackling deniiens to furnish this establishment With the ample arid ftrie stock. Ai& Is shown there ',- We never, saw more splendid tdrke3's, geese ; and cap ins; „with a variety of other fowl and as for garde; ,ftlae. drlp'dais to ,be }id end to it; in extent and variety.. : The place, is, vi6lll g visit, eiefi to look at the display, provided one did not require to ptirehase. Mr. Isaacs also shows two of the most extraordinary pigs in the market, at the shop of Mr. Hoskins; The animals Were fed, by him at Buxton -1 all, At the shop of Mr,, Clendenning there is a giant pile of till sorts of foWl and game, The shops of Mr. B. Mahon, Mr. Smith, Mr. ratititfi; dnd Mr. Renshaw, are also attractive, from the extent and variety of their contents in the home feathered tribe and game line. Mt: Sullivan's stall seems to be the premier this year, closely followed by. Mr: Edwards and Mr. ReeveS. The atitlls took heatitiftiti and althongh we are left in the dark a s to tale Peetfilat fruit villidh is known by the name of " forbidden;" perhaps it, migit he tonal . linen amongst the mountains,, it we could only identify. it. Altclgether the show id the'rridrket is a sticcessfril one; and may challenge C l ordrietitichi Brij} le'dt for the past ten.. . Aniongst the Shops outside the market to which we would direct special attention, is that of Mr. ftarditig, of Byrom-s:reet t the most extensive pork butcher in England. For the last few years we had,• at the seasons corresponding to the present, the ilatf.sfal, tion of calling public attention to this extensive and singular establishment, whose ramifications are not con fined to Liverpool, nor to the United Kingdom, but Treads over the Continent, America, and Australia. his is something that the " Fond old - town" has a right to be proud of, for Mr. Harding not only supplies the emintriei his nian,lifattnred meats, but he employs a large ritiniher of hinds, at cicellinit wages, digs affording comfortable liiing to nialif throUghout . #re v year. Few pen* Liverpool (except Own *ho have visited this faetory) are, aware there is such an extensive establishment here, but for the information Of thdse Who . are not acquainted with it, we may be permitted to say • thdt it is nothing short of a perfect wonder. The extent and Variety of the machinery, together with its wonderful adaption to the purposes of Mr. Harding's trade, is a subject worth contemplation; and we can confidently say that any one who sees it Will pronounee,it a, wonder. Such an establishment ought not to remain LinknoWri l for here is a tradesman expending thousands a year, and benefitting his fellow-men in:more ways than . one; and yet; like every other good man, he is as modest as he is excellent. Ilia stook of the finest fed pork is always considerable, and this year he shows no less than 100 pigs of unsurpassable quality, from the tiny to the largest, of the finest ddtiditlou. He has them from all parts 'of the United Itingddri, rind of the rilqst afprdijed breeds. His factory IS worth a visit, and the scene at liis ShOp this yetir the most. remarkable : in LiVerPoOl. The other markets in the tewn though not .so riehty decorated as St. johti's, ha+e Put on their Chriitnias garniture, and from seeing the cartloads of e.Fergreens which were all yesterday deposited at the gates, the idea was no longer a mystery how ‘ Birnam Wood" could "go to Dunsinane." As a general rule, St. James's Market does not bestir itself much in the way of display, but this season an extraordinary effort seems to have been made, and we have certainly never seen finer or choicer meat than weighs down the stalls of all the leading butchers there, amongst whom we may mention Mr. Robt. Lawson, Mr, Charles Sillitqe, Mr, Sohn Brownhead, Mr. George Daft, Mr. Jdlni Pcidddn; Thomas Meado*p., Mr, J. Otitratti,' Mr. Michael Shelley, Mr. Joseph Hiighes, Mr. Richard Wheeldon, and Mr. Benjamin Davies. The latter gentleman displays several attractive labels. Franklin warned emigrants that when they went to the land of promise they must not expect to see fowls flying about and crying, Come eat me.!" but Mr. Davies shows a sheep which carries on its back that very invi tation. It is in . poetry, too. We subjoin the lines, liichr .as ~will be seen front internal evidence, are evi dctitlY Tennyson I have come from afar, my friends for to see So I hope you will all welcome me. • And my business to yon I now will express— It's to wish you all a merry Christmas. Mr. Davies has also got, as we find from another placard, "suet for the million." The only other peculiarity that we noticed in this market was, that the geese, like public docnments, were tied up in red tape. Their selling price fbiii to semen shillings. ar Romh's feathered saviours" are thus at a premium, and we regret that the working man's board will thus be largely destitute of the bird which has always been regarded as so conventionally appropriate to the season. Out side the market, Mr. S. G. Broomhead has, as usual, a Christmas show of his own. ... Scotland-road market will also be found well worthy of a visit. Apart from its. Christmas dress, it appears looking sip in prosperity, and with one article or another every stall seems to be occupied. There is thus infinite variety ; and a stock of kitchen stuff laid in, the ens tomer has no occasion to d further for the supply of any want, whetherjt be a aby fiddle; a tiff trumpet, or A washing tab, The market tow is in fact what a Yankee would term one huge " variety store.' THE SHOPS, &c, tl.e advent of Christmas is heralded king before its arrival hy.mariy linmistakeable tokens; besides frost and snow: GrOcers windows become suddenly plethoric with currants; confectioners' shops, always neat and attractive, display quaint sugar figures of colossal size, decorative devices of every sort, and an' unusual abun dance of " sweets for the sweet ;" the drapers tell, by a display of elegant coiffures, that the ball season is at hand; the booksellers are rich in gilded literature for deserving school-boys ; the toy shops show the march of mechanical ingenuity ; and the jewellers—an art stttdy in themselves—are so filled with beautiful yet costly presents, as to cause a sigh to poor Paterfamilias when he comes to make an instinctive appeal to the pocket. Trays of the new bronze coinage serve at this time to add to the decorative display of many shops ; and half ton of the new metal is as attractive as his yellow butter. The approaching festivities are pretty eloquently told by the snug-looking hampers which are now passing out daily from all the great wholesale wine and spirit dealers ; and, as suggestive of the hospitalities of the season, it is both pleasant and exhilarating to witness the bustle in such first-class establishments as those of Messrs. T. Anderson and Co., Thomas Robinson and Co., James Stewart and C 0.,. Henry Hayes and Co., George Boyer and Co., and many others upon whose advertisements we are not able at present to lay our hands. Well, we need not say that to a good glass of wine a good biscuit is a proper accompaniment ; and in this line our old friend Mr. Gibbons, of London-road, is as great as usual. We need not say a word in com mendation of his world-famous Balmoral and Blair- Athol cakes. For those who eschew spirits, and have a preference for the more English beverage of beer, Messrs. Camidge and Co., of Duke-street, are emptying their cellars of the very finest quality of the celebrated Preston ale. The newest and the best music of the season may be found as usual at the establishments of Messrs. Rime and Son in Church-street, and Mr. Ryan's, of Birken head. In the way of periodical literature, we are to have, on the morning of the 26th, a new and promising adventure in the shape of the Liverpool Charivari, a local Punch, which is to be profusely illus trated ; and it is but right here to state, that amongst the seasonable publications which will to-day attract the notice of purchasers of light literature, we have little doubt but that the Christmas double number of our facetious and progressive friend the Porcupine, will hold a well-merited popularity. Eschewing this week , jokes and satire, which ;night offend some one, the Porcupine's Christmas number (double the usual size, and at the usual price) contains nothing but apropos and seasonable talit and sketches in prose and verse, some of them of a very high order of merit, and quite equal to the majority of similar productions in pub lications of older standing and greater pretensions. For true pathos and poetical feeling, we may speak highly of "Christmas on the Ice," and "The Giant Christo pher," while•nothing could be more amusing and funny than " Mr. Spoonberry's Adventures at the Zoological Gardens," and " Haunted—a Tale of an Umbrella:" In fact the whole number is a credit to our local literatures, and we hope that its success will be commensurate with its varied and talented contents Before leaving this part . of the subject, why should we not refer - to a very elegant, and, what is more,, a very valuable "Practical Treatise on the teeth," which has just been issued by our • townsman 4 F , Gabriel, and a copy . of which now lies before us, Va t bitahl9 at any time, it is also seasons- THE DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1860. . . . ble, r.s every juvenile at least will admit, for of what use are the most tempting dishes, if t,liq, necessary incisors and molars are not in eicelflentorslec. Those wishing to send an acceptable present to friends at a distance could not do better than sit a tee r.7:teftes for their portraits to '.Messrs. Goodwin and Beet, whose likenesss, are as artistic .as they Are life-like; or, if partiet pfetet i they can be taken, by Mr. Rattray, with his new paient sOlat,Canttell Pr9COSSC , • Mr. Tooke, as usual, mares d Millie*, display of fancy, jewellery, suitable for presents; no; in, this Col - Medic& shOuld we omit to notice the establishment CT 1V11.; Promoli, in Church-street, which has just been extended by the addition of the adjoining shop, lately occupied by Merits. Willroer and Smith, of the Chronicle. Mr. ThdiripioW, of Elliot-;street ; We may also state, has laid on a very tale Chid' info' t,. attractive stock of elegant little knick-nacks arid article's of c Mu, mast suitable as souvenirs. Ih talking of presents, however, let lid odeforget tb'c claims which the poor have upon our sympathy iti this certainly joyous, but at the same time bleakest and mat desolate of seasons ; and we were pleased to observe that f with beautiful suggestiveness, the windows yester daV of both Compton-house and the Liver, displayed, g orgeon;s profusion of decorative attire, some Moores Of btanietgr for the pot. Benevolence, at other tinies vi'rt'ue; is fro* a cinty ancl there is no more genuine wof iiiyopig thristm'as than to ItEIIIOII3 s ER TAE PRO O: BIRKENHEAD) MAIffET. Cosfr neighlmja Dislcenl?9 )la-ye been far froth remiss this year, IP Weir ,prp : pakOona to' greet the approach of ever-welcome Chfisttnai.;, Vfe cloUbt Tery • • much, indeed, whether, so far as the Christthas inat are concerned, Liverpool must not yield the palni tithe has held so long to her rapidly increasing and prosperous neighbour across the river. The Birkenhead Market ibis year presents an appearance worthy of the occasion for' vi fi it has Been designed. The inventive genius of the aniateilY decoratids has heort well nigh exhausted, in the multifarious devices into *AA the holly and mistletoe have been formed around the tarfda's stalls. The illuthinatiods, foo, is on a most extensive' stale, large arches having been erected across the Market, each containing some ap'pr'opriate motto, as "Welcome Merry Christmas," " 'Defence , licit Deffrance,' be ever the motto of our Volunteers," and others of a similar character.' Beneath many of the mottoes, and suspended from the arches, are ingenious devices, and' the illumina tion is altogether of a very superior character. The stalls are all well filled with their respective commodi ties—the butchers, as usual. taking the most prominent part. Outside the market and in the principal streets of the town a similar desire to do honour to the national holiday is everywhere evident. The principal shops are profusely and gaily decorated, while the " stock " in general is not at all inferior to that which the leviathan establishments upon this side of the river are displaying. The inhabi tants of Birkenhead will have no need to cross the river td fill their larders, as every imaginable want kas been well provided for by the enterprising shopkeepers of their own town. Among the stalls within the market rite niay mention, as among those Which appeared to attract most attention; Mr: Geerge Fallard's, Mr: Mi chael Doyle's, and Mr. John M4theOs's, vnio eihibited a monster pig, bred by Mr. D. Case of Poulton; and weighing 40 score, also 19 Welsh pigs, and i/ froth various parts of Cheshire. Mr. George Fullard eihi bited three Southdown sheep, the winners of the first prize at the Baker-street Show in London; one fine calf, a very fat six months old kid, and a four-year old ox, the win ner of the gold medal at Birmingham. Mr. Heathcock had a magnificent show of prize animals, chiefly heifers. The displays at the shops outside the market were too numerous to he svecilled here / although all are well idithi oi ~ notice the Visitor. THE WINTER AS CROWN COURT.—YESTERDAY. (Before Mr. Justice KEATING.) BURGLARY. Patrick Coughlan (20) was charged with having, with others not in afstudy, committed a burglary at Bolton, on the 26th of November' last: It appeared from the evidence that on the night in question the they of Mr. Aspinall, a watchmaker, carryins on business in Bolton; was burglariously entered, and six silver watches stolen. The prisoner subsequently offered one of the stoielf *doles far sale at a pawnshop in Oldham, but thel kOper of the sfroi !Aviv received information of robbery, sent 2 . poteentaa bait before he arrived the pr . rioe ns hating b'eeti aratised i he de 6anip;'d; 41,*, after a:, VA Chase; deolireit and taken to the police ofEi3e, being Charged with the robbery, he said he had purcnased the iiaofrOhYartia - U at Preston. The prisoner was found guilty, &lid OW: tented to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour. GAROTTE ROBBERY. garildtt •Relgate ;.(24), and John Neil (23), were charged with committing' a gar t robbery at Bedford, near Leigh ; and Peter Cain and Tang Oats were charged with receiving the property, knowing it to be ii,ored.' It appears that on the night of the 7th of November, the prosecutor, a Mr. Battersby, an innkeeper at Bedford, was proceeding along a secluded street on his way home, when he war seihed from behind. by Neil, and afterwards deetal blows by the prisoner Ilolgate. The pre sectitor b'ecanie hisinSibleiWhen the prisoners robbed him of £l4; the produce df he had that day said at Leigh market,' Tnforniation *aff We'd id the polite, who; having, seen the prisoners loitering Ann the neighbourhood on tlie night in ciuestion, apprehended them, and found a of the money in their Pdssei sion. There was no evidence agdiait the prisoners Cain and Oats, who were discharged, and the other e .lson'eri each sentenced to four years' penal servitude.— ROBBERY BY A RETURNED CONVICT. Join Massey (27), a stout-built, robust-looking felloiv; efts MI/caged with, burglary at Pemberton, near Wigan, on the night of the. (It • i,9stant. Mr. James Burton, a shopkeeper at Pemberton; fgitentl his pre mises as usual' before retiring to rest, but on the Morn ing folio - wing it was found that an ontranoe had bccn effected by the cellar, and two firkins of butter, about two - cwt. of bacon, and £6 10s. in small silver coin had been stolen. The prisoner was observed re moving some property to the canal, and suspicion being drotised lte *as itatehed, and eventually after a desperate resistance; itr the' coarse of which he discharged a pistol; he Was arrested Vy a pplic'e officer named , Dean: On searching the prisoner's house at Ashton-in-Mackerffeld, portio'ns of the stolen btitter and two sides of bacon, •besides dor& gilVer money and a pistol, were found concealed in a olodic-cse'. The pri soner was found guilty; and it having been pfdled that he had been convicted, and sentenced, in 1855, to four years' penal servitude, under the name of John Hindley, he was sentenced to twelve years' penal servitude. His lordship ordered that three guineas should be awarded to Police-officer Dean for his gallantry in arresting the prisoner, NfG/IT VoACHING, Ten deSperaie-lddliiiig, middle-aged men, named re spectively, Roger Ifilshaw (20), Isaac Kilshaw (34), neither read nor write ; Thorns Fildes (26), neither read nor write ; George Pennington (42); imperfectly instructed; John Eccleston (26), neither read . nor write ; Thomas Greenough (29), neither read nor write ; James Wareing (27), neither read nor write ; William Hill (23), imperfectly instructed ;. Robert Forber (34), neither read nor write ; and John Kil shaw (n), ntith7r read nor write, surrendered to take their trial it answer to a charge pre ferred against them for having, at Itainfordi on the 20th of October last, together with divers other personas unknown to the number of three or more, at night, being then respectively armed with sticks and stones, entered the land of one John Whalley, for the purpose of taking and destroying game. Dr. Wheeler, Q.C., and Mr. Nay) appeared to prosecute; the prisoners Kilshaw were defended by earnest Jones, and the other pri soners were defended by Mr. Tort: Dr. Wheeler, in detailing the circumstances of the case for the prosecu tion, said the charge was institutedpunder the provisions of an Act of Parliament passed in 1828, which was pas sed for the more effectual prevention of persons going at night for the purpose of poaching with offensive weapons. The 9th section of the statute on which. the prosecution laid the first count, enacted that if three or more persons together should unlawfully enter, or should be found on land, either open or enclosed, for tha purpose of taking Or destroying game, being armed with guns, bludgeons, or any other offensive weapons, such, and every such person should be guilty of a misdemeanour. The second set of counts upon which the prisoners were charged proVided that it should be lawful, where parties should enter upon land, for the owner of the land, or his game keeper, his servants, or any assistant gamekeepers, to seize and apprehend such an offender or offenders, and hand him over to the police ; or in case he should be guilty of an assault and offer violence, he should be liable to a conviction for a misdemeanour; and the last count was for a common assault. The prosecutor in the case was the Earl of Derby, who was the owner of ex• tensive game preserves in this county. It appeared that there was a field in the township of Rainford, about four miles from St. Helens:the property of his lordship, which was occupied by Joseph Whaley. Some of the prisoners and other two men, named Corbett and Kenyon, were seen at a beerhouse, known by the sign of the Red, White, and Blue, in Whitfield-street, in St. Helens'on the night in question, where they left at abou ten o'clock, and, having been joined by the rest of the prisoners, they proceeded in the direction of the field, accompanied by two dogs. The field was situated in Mowberry-lane, and was immediately bounded by a plantation. Having got sonic distance over the field, a net was set by him for the purpose of netting the game that came out of the plantation. When they proceeded so far they were not merely observed, but some of them secured by the keepers, who, having got over the fence out of the plantation, were within four or five yards from the prisoners, one of whom, on seeing them, called out " Go on," and the men instantly began throwing stones, which he would prove they had gathered before entering the field, at the gamekeeper, some of which struck one, man named John Baines, injuring him severely. The gamekeeper, however, con sidering valour the best part of duty, rushed upon the men, who formed themselves into a half circle, and commenced striking him with sticks, and one of them, Roger Kilshaw, was about to strike him with a pitchfork which he had, but he fortunately intercepted the blow and broke the weapon. Eventu ally the prisoners made a retreat, but the keepers suc ceeded-in capturing Kenyon and Cobbett, who had been admitted as approvers or witnesses against the prisoners, and were consequently not included in the indictment. The next morning the keepers made an examination of the place where the occurrence had happened, and there found a large quantity of stones, several sticks, a bag, and various other things indicating that the prisoners had come there fully prepared for an attack upon the keepers should they interfere with them. The learned counsel banded in a plan of the road from the public house in Whitfield-street up to the field, and described to the jury the track they bad pursued, and the position of each party, after which a number of witnesses were called, and all the prisoners identified, independently of the evidence of the approvers, with the exception of Fildes and Wareing. Mr. Ernest Jones, in addressing the jury for the defence, commented at considerable length upon the Game Laws, which he characterised as the cause of a vast amount of misery and crime, and submitted that before the prisoners could be convicted, the prosecution must not only show that they went into the land for the purpose of poach ing, but that they went into that very field to poach, or they were entitled to an' - acquittal.—Mr. Pope followed in a lengthened speech, in which he contended that it was usually the practice of jurors in cases of this descrip tion to have evidence to corroborate the testimony of the approvers.—His lordship, in summing-up, expressed his concurrence in Mr. Torr's observations, that it was better for a jury to have the evidence of approvers cor roborated before they convicted prisoners, and they pru . st be sairsAerrthat when they entered the Land they entered with the origipal lising the sticks andistones they had in theliTiossesSaa l softnsOe Wea. pcins;andnot for the purpose of beating faogs; and locitink the dogs to' do the Ivor]: for which thefif - ezq irrie'rided, as alleged by thc,:.eotineffor the defence. The jury retitedoNl 6ii their_ return fdimd the prisoners guilty of a . cominoicnti . o:l4 and, hy, the diredtion of his lordship, acquitted the prisonjis Piehlen. and Wareing. The prisoners were, after a severe reptirriWta frapfhis lordship, 'sentenced to six mouths' hard labour 14PEO1'iL COURT, YESTERDAY. , • . (refer 7 e S. 'TEMPLE- Esq., Q.C.) EXTENSIVE ROBBERIES?' El3;1;1, A., OctrfoN MILL AT ASIITON-11NbER.4.7NE; • Soseph Wainwright (26), 'Milian( diebffirim (40), and Isaac Darbyshire (36), were charged with having, 1 at Ashton-under-Lyne, on the 11th December, broken , into the warehouse of Messrs. Alf r ed Rayner and Co:, i and ,stealing therefrom one bale of cotton, the pro ' perty of the prosecutor.- Mr, Lereeche appeared to prosecute. Dr.: ; W. heeler, qa, defended the pri soners liaintirright alid.,p'arb3>shil-e ;: Mr.• Pope was counsel for Cheethani: Froin'thh, opening stattinent of the learned counsel, and the eiidence afterWardsadduced, it would seem that the prisoners, 14bld'aie . residents in the neighbourhood of Ashton-under-Lyne, fiaVti . f . ofs - eine time back carried on a systematic course of Phinder from the prosecutor's mill, situated at a place known ag Onckhrook, The prisoners had, for several days previous to' the robbery for which they were now tailed nigh to answer; &deem:trod, by offers of money, to lag& ;the" Offeolitot's Watehmati, a man named I i ; )11cliley" . „ to allow their a enter the promises, and nam away cotton withouf being afraid of him giiing interfering, information or inexorager, init refpied: to aPbeqe tO their' prapOiftT ii`pbt any conditions. raeldek,.it eipeais,.had been to' Man. i chester on the 3rd of December, for the purpoSe of Wit- - nessing a .dog-fight, which was to tea place at aptibli& house kept by a woman named Clarkson: Tre,there met the prisoner Darbyshire, who informed him that he' might improve his situation by complying with a request he had to make to him on behalfof himself and the other two' prisoners, The watchman enquired by what means he might iinprotehis situation, to which he replied that if he would allow hint and the other two prisoners to Coale upon the premises at night, for the purpose of stealing the cotton, they would give him S 4 a week. His inducements, however; did not prove successful, and they parted: - The fallowing day Buckley met the other two prisoners in the market -place in Ashton, and th asked him if he intended to agree tO the proposal Dar byshire had made to him the day previous f• and he re plied with an emphatic negative. The same . night the watchman Met the, three prisoners in Stamford-street, when they renewed their offers, and finding hint to be still irresistible, increased the alliount they proffered him' to X 11,4 week ; but he refused to corupft with their request, whereupon the prisoners said they would conle'early the next morning, and run the risk of being taken into custody: They then separated. Buckley was proceeding towards the Mill when he met Inspector Chadwick, whom he informed of what had occurred. He also communicated the circumstance to Mr. Whitehead, the manager, who arranged with the inspector to place several officers in the immediate vicinity of the mill early next morning, in order to secure the prisoners if they came near. The prisoners did arrive about four o'clock in the morning, accompanied by a horse and cart. The police watched them enter the preinites, and afterwards return with a bale of cotton, which filet IYlaced in the cart, and were about to depart when the police made their appearance. At that time Chatham was. leading the horse, and Wainwright and Darbyshire were in close proximity to the cart. Cheetham and Wainwright were secured, but the other prisoner escaped for several hours. On being charged with the offence they all said they never would have been there . had it not been for Buckley. They were taken before the magistrates, when the witness Buckley was not examinedi and were committed for trial to the assizes, when the learned' &Unger for the prosecution deemed it advisable to have him present, and he was accordingly sent for. At the conclusion of the evidence Dr. Wheeler and Mr. Pope severally addressed .the -jury ; admitting that the prisoners were the persons who Were at the mill on the morning in question, and who placed the bale of cotton is the cart, but contended I that they were the innocent dupes of a wicked man, and were there in obedience to the direction of the watch man, for the purpose' of pursuing their avocations as carters, and submitted that thealyemiat of the conversation given by Buckley was totally incorrect, and commented at considerable length upon his evidence and conduct The learned judge summed up the evidence, after which 1 the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence was I defetr CttiVßT.—TesTmaxT. (llefnfe Mr. kstia Vi.ktititttng.) INFRINGEMENT Of IVTENI PLATT v. HOWARD.—The plaintiff' is aii Chgfueer and machine manufacturer in Oldham, and the delend'airt is a manufacturer carrying on business in Accrington. Tha action was for infringement of patent right. The case ifgs long ; intricate, and of little public interest. It occupied the whole* .esterday, and will probably not be- completed until laft to , ciat It appears that in 1844, Tatham and Cheethani at( s ,lYted an improved coiling apparatus used in the manufacture 6i tettort, the improvement being that instead of the former slot) and incomplete methods, the" sliver"—that is, the cotton in a state of preparation—was conducted, by means of an efeiated and angled iron rod, to a pair of smooth calendering rollers; performing a double motion of reiolving on their Ofn aces and moving around the periphery of a plate, and aepdsital circular layers on a iii ban, moping in an oppbgtd direction, and pressed cldvin*arde by an iron plate froni ahofe, To this method, bOiftiei, there were many .objections, The calendering rollers were lti &M . & of being clogged by the untwisted cotton ropes, whiceli *mid break the wheels ; and the duty of threading, or tying add replac . - ing,the cotton, was di ffi cult, and dangerous to the Cin- Pic;Yed r :Witlic,nt stopping the machine, which was a serious objection. ladee Houghton, a me chanical engineer in the plaintiff's employ is gatt fir have spent a good deal of time in 1847 in experimenting oh this.department of cotton machinery, with a view of removing h imper fections ; and after repeated trials he discovered tile by substituting for the calendering rollers, an inclined movable tube fed, so to speak, with two delivering rollers the tcquired result would be attained, the machinery sim -01001, and alt the difficulties in the way of the labourers entirely renio'fed. A model on this principle was accord ingly constrtreted and the renu gate complete satisfaction. However, the prindiple in the abstract Was Latham and Cheethani's. It was recognised in their spetiAeatiort, and to some extent; hoWever imperfectly, Milled out in their coiling machines. The improvements were, hoW ever, so important and self-evid'en't; that, on application, Messrs. Latham and Cheetharti Consented to the ex clusive manufacture of the new machine ty Plait Broth era; and Houghton's patent became immediately popular. Latham and Cheetham's patent has expired ; that of Houghton's, who is dead, has yet about 12 months to run. It was, therefore, in consequence of an infringement of Houghton's patent that the action was brought. A great number of witnesses were examined on behalf of the plaintfe, amongst others, Mr. Benjamin Fothergill, of Manchester. The c alendering rollers were said to exist in the %arliest ca lling machines ; by most it was stated that the inclined tube was a new idea, never recognised or carried out previously. As are hare stated, however, such a contrivance Is eipressty mentioned, but not explained, in Latham and Cheetham's specification. Mr. Edward James, who appeared on behalf of the defendants, admitted the similarity of the patents, the identity of the principle, but denied its novelty and discovery by Houghton, but practically by a man named Hardman, who stated that, in 1845, he was employed at the mills of Messrs. Jackson Brothers & Co., of Oldham. In 1846, whilst he was engaged as carder, he experimented upon the coiling machine, mid in the March of the succeeding year completed the dis covery attributed now to Houghton. When finished it was tried and examined by. the Messrs. Jackson, the foreman at the Works' by Mr. Platt and his foremen ; and, with Messrs. Jackson's consent, conveyed to the works of Mr. Platt, where it remained for five or six weeks. The witness denied altogether that the inven tion was Houghton's, but his ; and remarked, that on the occasion of a former action, Messrs. Platt had pro mised "to set him up," but had never carried that out. Mr. John Jackson, and a man named Wolfenden, cor roborated the former witness's evidence, and The court was adjourned at twenty minutes to seven o'clock. LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY. (Before Mr. RAFFLES.) HOW A CORONER'S JUROR ENDED HIS DAY'S WORK. John Thomas, alias John M'Nulty, the keeper of a beerhouse in Comm-street, was brought up, charged by Inspector Smith xith having assaulted him. The in spector said : I went yesterday, along with Wilson, to search the beerhouse kept by the prisoner in Comus street, and which is the resort for all sorts of thieves, and when we went there we saw a number of well-known thieves, but none that we wanted. When out on the street, after leaving the house, we met the prisoner, who asked us what we were doing in his house, and we told him, when he swore a dreadful oath that he would take my life, and struck me on the shoulder; and knockel me off the footpath. He came up to hit me again, when Wilson caught him. He repeatedly swore he woul , nake my life, and repeated the threats in the station. Super intendent Kehoe said : This fellow is one of the most notorious villains in England. His house is the restort for all the thieves of London, Birmingham, Manches ter, and other towns in England : we hardly know what to do with him. Detective-officer Wilson corroborated the statement of Inspector Smith. The prisoner, in reply to Mr. Raffles, said : I was serving on a coroner's jury yesterday—(laughter)—and when I vent home my wife told me theSe fellows bad been searching my house. I have only kept the house three months, and how am I to know who the parties are that come into my house ? Mr. Kehoe : You know them well enough. I may tell your worship that I never knew this fellow to do any thing, and no one goes to his house except the very worst of thieves from all parts of England. 'Wilson said the prisoner knew all the thieves in the country. He was not long here, bitt came from Birmingham to set up a house for the meeting of thieves in Liverpool. Mr. Raffles : I fine him 40s. for the assault on Inspector Smith, or two months' imprisonment. Mr. Kehoe : Would you think it necessary to bind him over to keep the peace, in consequence of his threats to take the inspector's life ? Mr. Raffles : I think not at present ; if he says anything hereafter be can be given into custody. THE CHARGE AGAINST MRS. CATTERELL. Mary Anne Catterell, who was remanded on a charge of having stolen certain goods froni the outfitting and baby linen warehouse of Mrs Barris, Berry-street, was brought up. Mr. Campbell appeared for the prosecu tion, and Mr. Cobb for the prisoner. We published this case in full a few days ago, when it was before the court, so thakit is not necessary to republish the evidence now. Mr. Campbell asked Mrs. Harris some questions about some small things found in the prisorer's lodging, and the witness identified the articles as her property. In reply to Mr. Cobb, she denied ever having sent the prisoner to Mr. Machin, of Commutation-row, to borrow money, or discount a bill for her. She wrote a letter once to Mr. Maclin, and got an answer, but she did not show it to the prisoner or to Miss M'Bride. Sent the prisoner to Mr. M'Dermott for money. Mr. Raffles said he did not see what this had to do with the case. Mr. Cobb said it was a question of credibility, and if that question of credit got his client discharged, he had a right to put such questions..: Mr. Raffles said it was another issue, and he would not put it on the deposi tions. The witness, in reply to Mr. Cobb, said she got £2B from the prisoner, but she did not know that rel , vet was pledged for that. She said some rings and chains pledged along with the velvet were not her pfoperty. Some other evidence, not of a very material description; was given, after which Mr. Campbell called a pale and: Curious-looking lady named Miss Clemmie, who' was eiarhied, hilt her direct evidence merely went to show that she lids" pleserit When the prisoner admitted that she had £3 15s. worth of etptli , that was charged in an invoice to Mrs. Harris. Mr. eckhk—fiYo'ycya follow the professfon of spirit-rapping ? Not at et- Mr. Cobb— re* you the `t medium" ? Not at all. Are you the hook-keeper ? Not at all. - Mr. Rail es—Were you assist ing in the shop ?' 011, not at all !- What are you to Mrs. Harris ? A friend. MI. Cobb said if hd had not objected to the witness being sworn in the first instance, he could have shown some curious revelations= of her own . mouth. After some desultory conversation, his l'rcvship said he would send the ease before a jury, and let them decide it. N. emnpbell said he would prefer a charge of embezzlement a‘gainst the prisoner, hut after some further conversation itwan" ffgreed to take the depositions in the present case, and let tin; yrisoner stand out on good bail for seven days. Mr. Cobb'thtn, on behalf of Miss M‘Bride, a young lady who was forniel e 2y in the employ ment of Mrs. Harris, and who was eianhed on the fettncr day, and who was now in attendance to be eiamineif ant the part of the prisoner, made a Very serio4 charge gr.,fainst certain detective police-officers, and' aliOagainst Mrs. Harris and other persons, for, as she n'tat'ed; atteMpting totamper with her, and for taking a mantle freni off her shoulders, which the police still retain. As the case ryas' not gone into, and as it is to be investigated hereafter, *6 &V not give publicity to Mr. Cobb's charge, the more se) as th'e other side was not heard, and Mr. Nehoe said A was only a mere statement at present. However, we may say that Mr. Raffles observed that if the statement made by Mr. Cobb was established, it would be anything but what was right oil the vain of the officers. The case will go before Major Greig, and Until the result we say no more about it. AafEnicl.- - =The Biittsb mad North American R.M.S. AustfaiaSian; Captain Hod , ley, will sail this afternoon for No York direct. The steam-tender Satellite will conk , " phssengers on board from the St. George's Pier, opposite' flit baths, at one o'clock, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH SCHOGIy Si. PAUL'S-SQUARE.-- A meeting of the teachers and children' took place at the schoolroom, Edmund-street, vestal:ivy evening, and the Rev. George Read, the incumbent, prescrited several prizes to the children—consisting of the Troll Bible, workboxes, &c.—for good answering at the exami"aa tion. Several of the children's parents were present. CAR DRIVERS' SOIREE.—The Liverpool Coach and Car Drivers' Society held their annual tea meeting, in Hope Hall, last evening. At the conclusion of tea, John C'ropper' s Esq., was called to the chair; and the meeting was addressed by several clergymen and a cab man, upon the impropriety of employing the latter on the Sabbath. GRAND CONCERT AT ST. GEORGE'S-HALL—On Mon day nett the public of this town will have an oppor tunity of hear ng the celebrated Band of the London Rifle Brigade, as they are announced to give two grand concerts in St. George's-hall. The programme contains selections from the new opera of "Robin Hood." and also from "Don Giovanni," "The Rose of Castille," and other favourite compositions. The whole of the band will, on this occasion, perform on silver instru ments, expressly manufactured for them by Mr. H. Distill. CORONER'S INQUESTS.—THE WRECK ON TAYLOR'S BANK. Yesterday Mr. Curry, the coroner, held an inquest on the body of Pierre Caillot, the master of the schooner Grenville, of Bordeaux, that was lost on Taylor's Bank on Wednesday morning. And at the same time inquests were held on the body of James Williams, the pilot who was on hourd c and the bodies of two sailors whose names were unknown, all of whom were drowned when the unfortunate vessel went on the bank. The only evidence given was that of Sohn Muir, a boatman, who lives in Leeds-street, who (with his comrades) was out on the morning in question with his boat, and he saw the schooner high and dry on the bank, and dis covered the four dead bodies. An account of this unfortunate wreck appeared a day or two since in our paper. 'The fury returned a verdict of found drowned, as the only evidence they had brought them to that conclusion. DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL PRIZES.—The annual distribution of prizes at Mr. Greatrex's classical, mathe matical, and commercial academy. in Itosconnnorz-street, took place yesterday evening. The boys, who are in two separate departments, upper and middle, to the number of between forty and fifty, were in the first instAnce entertained by Mr. Greatrex at a substantial tea, after - which the prizes were presented to the successful competitors by several gentlemen and ladies, the parents and relatives of the boys, whom he had invited to be present on the occasion. Much satisfaction was expressed by one or two gentlemen who addressed the assemblage, with the success of this excellent educa tional establishment ; and, after a joyous evening and an abundance of music, games, and dancing, the boys went home thefonghly gratified and delighted. DISTRIBLITIOI OV PRIZES TO THE Ray. MR. PIZEY'S PUPILS.—The following are, the successful competitors for prizes during the past half year ::—General English : 3rd Form, Sidney; 2nd Form, M'Neile senior; Ist Form, Turner (Reyner honourably mentioned). Spelling : Armitage. Conduct : Gilmour. Application:: Ogden and lifiWarns senior.—The following prizes were open to general competition, and were awarded to those pupils who had made the greatest progress during the post half year :—Classical Podge. Mathematical : Dodge. French : Douglas. Divinity W.Neile senior. Writing : Wannop. ST. STEPHEN THE MARTYR'S SCHOOLS, EDGE-HILL. —These schools broke up yesterday for the Christmas holidays, Two persons interested in the schools and district', had placed at the disposal of the managers prizes for the children, and there was a numerous attendance of ladies, who visit the schools, to witness the distribution. The Rev. Thomas Moore, M.A., in cumbent of the district, gave away the prizes, which consisted of Nooks, toys, and useful clothing. Besides the prizes, the boys, ghls-, and infants, were each presented with cakes and mango?". They all looked very happy, and sang their hymns and songs in a very creditable manner. The number in attendance at the daily and Sdn , dafy schools exceeds 200. There were suitable presents tot each of the teachers. THE LliDEtfll i Rine CORPS SOIREE.—The Soiree of the above corps (08 . th L.R.V.) was held last evening, in the room above the establishment of Messrs. Bradley Brothers, in Bold-street. The room was.tastefully and 'elegantly decorated with flags, the insignia of the sea son, books and articles of virtu, specimens of precious ores, and costly ornaments of various descrintirms. There Was upwards of one hundred ladies and gentlemen pre sent/ amongst them gentlemen attached to ether com panies, arid a few in evening dresses. Altogether it was a brilliant gathering, Mr. Morrish catered in his usual capital style for the inward man, and servgd out, whilst there were any to serve, the very best refreshments, in solids and liquids. Dancing commenced at an early hour in the evening, and was continued at intervals, during which the guests engaged in other pleasant pastimes, until the small hours of the morning. THE COUNTESS OF DERDI I *TREAT TO THE CHILDREN OF THE KIRKDALE INDUSTRIAL RAGGED SCHOOLS. — Yesterday afternoon, a good substantial tea was given - to 400 ragged children, at the expense of. Lady Derby, as a gracious acknowledgment of the patchwork made arid presented to her by the girls of this schoOl. The room was most tastefully decorated. At the end of' the room stag'a banner, upon which was inscribed "Long live the good Earl and Countess of Derby." The im mense delight and amazement of the poor children when they caught sight of !Amps of plum-cake, &c., would have warmed ,the coldest heart, and their eyes bright with gratitude would have cheered the Saddest coun tenance. Long will these children remember this 'kind and unsolicited act, so like the noble-hearted '.Countess. Contributions of left-off wearing apparel would be most acceptable just now. The children need a little clothing, ALL SOULS' TEA PARTY.—This festive reunion was celebrated last night, a substantial tea, at the Concert Hall in Lord Nelson-street, under the able presidency of the Rev. Dr. Hume. The hall was profusely de corated with flags, and banwrs, and many-coloured streamers, and the most exquisite , ornamentation was brought into requisition. Nothing was left undone to render the occasion a gala one. A large assemblage of persons was present. Amongst others in attendance on the platform we observed the following—Lieut. - Colone l William Brown; Captains James Currie, Donald Currie, and M'Cabe; Lieutenants James Brown, Berry, and Mercer.; Rev. Dr. Hume, Rev. Messrs. T, C. Cowan and S. B. Sutton ; Messrs. Thomas Moore, Thomas Robinson, It. It. Moore. W. J. Friel, &c., Mr. Garland, of Copperas-hill, had the furnishing nf the viands of the repast entrusted to his care, of which ilcisk he acquitted himself to the entire satisfaction of ever person who partook of the excellent constituents of the tea. The splendid band of the 70th Lancashire Volun teers was in attendance, and played a variety of national and other airs in excellent style. The Rev. Dr. Hume, who occupied the chair, addressed the audience in a good speech; after which Lieutenant-Colonel Brown spoke, and in the course of a few appropriate remarks pointed out to them the necessity of their cherishing frugal and industrious habits. The meeting separated after spend ing a most agreeable evening. LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE, MOUNT - STREET.--The Christ mas rehearsal of the vocal music practised by the pupils of this institution was held yesterday afternoon, in the concert-hall of the Institute. As is usual upon such occasions, there was a very large attendance of the parents and friends of the pupils. The programme was as follows :-- Roc ND ..." We Merry Minstrels." Purcell. SONG ...... " It was my Father's custom." • Shrirol. CHO ars..." The Boatie Rows." (Scotch.) DUETT ..." What are the Wild Waves Saying?" Glover. SONG "Nancy Till." (Ethiopian.) Cnoaus..." The Gleaner." . (irish4 sone "Ally Croker." Alexander Lee. SONG " The Englishman." Block'ey. Durrr ..." I know a Bank." lforn. Cnonus..." The Blue Bells of Scotland." SONG "Do they miss me at home ?" ......... Gratin is. RouND " The Clock." .•La Henn irre." Crionns..." Isle of Beauty." Whitmore. SONG "The Merry Sherwood Rangers." ...A.. Lee. Crimes " Friends, Good Night." ............... geli. "GOD SAVE TILE QUEEN." Of the above we have nothing further to say than tbat it was well carried out; one or two of the pupils, indeed, sang excellently, and were rewarded with the hearty plaudits of their friends. " Ally Croker," which was sang by Master Armstrong,,, one - of - the junior pupils, met with a well-deserVed encore, and many of the choruses were e qually well rendered. At the close of the concert, the pupils were dismissed for their Christmas vacation. CONSUMI4ION, COUGH, ASTHMA. AND BRONCHITIS CURABLE I believe that the preparation of Balsam of Horehound and Aniseed (as prepared by Jir. ..11artin t qf 22, Copperas hill, Liverpool,) will prove of more value, in ca , cs of bron chitis and incipient consninplion, than any other remedy eitant. It relieves the most irritating cough in a fete minutes ; and, although it contains no preparation of opium, it induces sound and refreshing sleep, soothes the nervous system-, and restores the healthy action of the lungs." Recommended above all other medicines by Sir Alexander Tralles—see Thomson's Ifateria Medica, page 175, vol. 2. The followin g i s f rom D r . Brett, the eminent chemist I consider the balsam of hore hound and aniseed, as prepared i n ' Mr. Martin, an' elegant and efficient cough remedy, and I fully agree with t-ir Alexan der Tralles and Dr. Anthony Todd Thomson, that, in conjunc tion with cod liver oil, it is an admirable remedy for con sumption and delicate constitutions."—R. 11. Brett, Ph. Dr., M.R.C.S., late Lecturer on Chemistry and Medical Jurispru dence, Liverpool Royal Infirmary. The b a lsam of horehound an d aniseed is prepared only by T. Martin, chemist, 22, Cop peras-hill, Liverpool ; bat, owing to its great and increasing sa le, agents have been appointed in all principal towns anc: cities. It can be procured wholesalc from Raines and Ce.. Edinburgh and York, .from Sutton and Co. London, West -26. 4s. 6d. eac h macott, Manchester, and wholesale and retail from the manu facturer, as above. Price, Is. lid., The lozenges in box at Is. lid: or ire! jby Poet for Is. 6d. LATEST NEWS. BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) FRANCE. PARIS, Dec. 21. The Moniteur publishes a. decree regulating the right of precedence of the Ifithsters of State. GENERAL MONTAUBAN'S ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF The lioniteur also publishes the report of General Montauban, from which it appears that, there arc some inaccuracies in the accounts of the plundering of the palace of the Emperor of China. The General states that the booty was divided. between the Allies. THE FRENCH FUNDS. PAIUS, Dec. 21, 3.27 p.m. The Bourse continues dull. Rentes finally quoted 68f. 40e., or nearly lc lower than yesterday. PRUSSIA. M. Bernuth, President of the Court of Appeal of Poxen, has been gazetted Prussian Minister of Xustien in place of M. Simon. HUNGARY. The troops in Hungary have been of late stationed in every part of the country ia small detachments so as to be able to form king columns s in all directions. AUSTRIA.- M. de Schemerling, the new Austrian Minister, on being introduced to the chief employes in his department, spoke of the dangers which menaced the throne and the country, and said he hoped for the aid of those whom he addressed in bring ing about a more satisfactory state of things. SWITZERLAND. BERNE, Dec. 21. The National Council, in its sitting of to-day, 'took into consideration the decree concerning the construction of military roads in the Alps, sub mitted to it by the Federal Council. -The National Council resolved upon returning this project to the Federal Council, for a definite report to be made in the course of next session on the nego tiations with the different cantons for its realisa tion, and on the pecuniary sacrifices which the construction of these roads might involve. The National Council then resolved to adjourn its sittings till the Federal Council should again consider its convocation necessary. MONTENEGRO. TRIESTE, Dec. 21. The Trieste,. Zeitung publishes letters from Montenegro denying the reports that Godinjo would be ceded to France for the purpose of colonisation. SAXONY. ARREST OF A HUNGARIAN REFUGEE. DRI;sDEN, Dec. 21. The official Dresden journal of to-day contains the following :—" Count Ladislaus Teleki, the Hungarian refugee, who had arrived here with a. false English passport, has been arrested and delivered to Austria." DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF DALHOUSIE. The death of the Marquis of Dalhousie is announced. He was only in his forty-eighth year. Having no male issue the Scotch earldom and estates of Dalhousie fall to his cousin, Lord Panmure. RIPON ELECTION.-NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. R. A. Vyner, proposed by George Dixon, seconded by Henry Kearsley ; Dr. Lees, pro posed by James Duunington, seconded by John Redman. Show of hands in favour of Lees. Poll demanded. AMERICA. SOUTHAMPTON, December 21. The United States steamer Arago, Captain Gadsden, from New York on the Bth instant, has arrived. She brings forty-four passengers for France and twenty-eight for England; also,specie for France $25,000, and 15,000 bushels of wheat. The Mexican mail had arrived at Independence on the ith. The mail was detained by deep snow and cold weather. The Indians were almost in a starving condition, consequently they are anxious for peace. The campaign against the Navajoes had proved successful, and they are still prosecut ing it with energy. The news by the Arago is generally anticipated. GAZETTE NEWS. Francis Howard Vyse, Esq., now British vice consul at Jedo,gazetted consul at Kanagawa. The following consular appointments are gazetted for the Republic of Liberia :—Mr. John A. Callender, Edinburgh and Leith; Mr. Charles Cotesworth, Liverpool ; Mr. George. Newanham Harvey, Cork; Mr. Thos. Beynon, Newport, South Wales; and Mr. Edwin Fox,. in London. • There was a slight fall of snow in London yesterday. All the leading warehouses in the city will be closed on Monday. The letters by the Midland Railway were not in time by the first delivery yesterday morning. In the case of Dent versus Dennison the Judge Ordinary stated yesterday that he felt it his duty to refuse the defendant his costs out of the estate. GRAND CONCERT IN ST. GEORGE'S HALL, LAST NIGHT. Those who were so fortunate as to have been at the grand concert in St. George's Hall last night enjoyed a rare musical treat. It is difficult to say whether the programme excelled most in the distinguished names of the artistes, or in the choice selection of the pieces allotted to them. Had there been nothing else sung than the grand scena "Hail' Happy Morn," and some other pieces from Macfarren's new and successful opera of "Robin Hood,"—introduced last night for the first time to a Liverpool audience by Madame Lemmens Sherrington,—the occasion would have been memorably great ; but when with that lady's first appearance here, in a part so entirely and originally her own, were com bined the performances . of such well known names as Madame Fanny Huddart, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, Mr. Winn, Mr. Sainton, and Mr. Charles Halle—all under the able conductorship of Mr. Lemmens—we may ven ture to say that such a rich entertainment has rarely been presented to the Liverpool public. The concert opened with Bishop's pleasant and highly seasonable trio, "The Winds Whistled Cold," which was cleverly sung and well received. Signor Sarti then .made his Mitt in Donizetti's aria, " Sulla Pappa." He was . exooodingly well received throughout. Tt were premature to offer any very decided opinion as to this gentleman's capabilities as a singer; but after making due allowance for the difficulties attending a first appear ance in public, we are inclined to believe that, with care, he may realise the very highest anticipations. Next came the anxiously looked-for grand scena, Hail - t Happy Morn," which was listened to with profound pleasure, and most rapturously applauded. Mr. Sainton charmed all ears on his wonderful violin in a selection from "De Beriot." The very touching story of " The Skipper and his Boy" was most feelingly sung by Madame Fanny Huddart. On glancing round we could perceive many eyes glistening with tears of sympathy. Mr. Halle's solos on the piano -forte were executed with a degree of skill that left little to be desired. In Weber's "Il molo continuo" we thought him espe cially successful. •The duets with- M. Lemmens were faultless. Hatton's "The Return," by Mr. Wilbye Cooper, was a delightful moreenter, highly relished by all present. " The Poor Blind Boy," by Mr. Lemmens, sung by Mrs. Lemmens Sherrington, was done great justice to, and enthusiastically applauded. " The Somp ,Nmes Song," front " Robin Hood," wps splendidly •gi oen by Mr. Winn. After another gran performance on Ole piano -forte, the first part concluded with the quarte.`t "May the Saints prctect a nd g uid e thee !" sung With gre. effect Mr. Huddart, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, Signor Sat . 41 , and Mr. Winn. d a tt ra ctions of the second part of the con cert were th s luett "To the Fair," from " R o bi n Hood," firing by The leain e by _Mesdames Sherrington and Huddart; and the Jicena " Omi \ re Leger—the " Shadow Song," from Meverbeer's „ el.oorah, sung by Madame Sher rington—both were in,'st brilliantly executed, and undeniably encored. " v own, my guidi ng Star," ano ther selection from a 2obin Hood," was well done by Mr. Wilbye Cooper, ant encored ; and this most charming concert was concluded by the quartet from Rossini's "I 1 Carnovale," mos t s pi r jtedly rendered by Mesdames Sherrington and Huddart ant.l3 . llessrs. Wilbye Cooper and Winn. C o n s id er i ng the inclem ency of the s eason, the attendance was good ; but, cons'_idering the quality and costliness of the provision made bf Messrs. lime & Sons, we should have been happy to hest.' seen the splendid hall quite full, which it very nearly tv:"s• The concert must be pronounced to hate been sAltegether' a decided success. IMPROVENEAT IN GEXTL EMEA"S HAM TITHEEARN.-STREET, LITERMOL. GENTLEMEN -I have given your Patent Easy-fitting Hat a fair trial, and I must say it is the most comfortaly c hat I ever wore, particularly when crossing the water in a windy day, when with the old style of hat I invariably had a headache, which with your new style is not the case. I can, therefore, safely recommend it to any one, particularly to those subject to headache.—l am, gentlemen, yours truly. I have worn for some time one of the Patented Easy-fitting Hats sold by Mr. -, and I can testify to the advantage derived from the absence of that unpleasant pressure, particu larly on the forehead, usually felt from the hats generally worn. -- House, Cheltenham. (Signed) This letter is from a first-ra'e English admiral. The name is not given for obvious reasons. NOTICE.—Ike Pounds Reward upon conviction of en in fringement of my Patent. Simpson's Patent EasT-itting Hats are on.y 11 , 4 in Liverpool at No. 6, St. Gs. •oot eseent (two doors from the top of Lord-street). and at 9, Dale -street (opposite Royal Bank Buildings), and in upw'ards of one hundred other towns, a list of which would make this advertisement too long. The Agents in each place make themselves known. NEW INVENTION.—TRB NEW FOUNTAIN PEN.—A greater annoyance than a bad steel pen can, hardly be met with—the difficulty is to get a good one. Amongst the recent improve. ments the new " fountain pen," just introduced by Rudhall and Co., is the beet we have ever seen. By a simple but effec tive con riVance the ink is retained in.a fountain , by means of a second inv erte d b arre l , ‘ a bove the writing nib, and this b arre l can be take n ou t a t any time, so the pen can be kept perf ect l y clean w thout an y chattel of beieg corroded. Another feat ure in this p m is, that one Alin tothe it.lt "%Pill last for five minutes' qu i c k w a t i, g. Th e pen itself is or the finest description, a nd in merchants' .offices, banks, and indeed in eve ry place, it m ill be found to fill a want felt by every one up to this time. We have tried this splendid pen, handed to us by Mr. E. T. Hall, South John-street, and can pronounce it perfect, and we are re all who use it will give a full verdict in its favour. .. •L .; • 4-111 ISt