Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.) HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY. The House met at five o'clock. Lord CAMPBELL laid on the table a bill to check the sale and circulation of obscene books and prints. The bill authorised a search of houses upon affidavit that the law Was violated, and the abominable publication might be seized and carred away. The bill was read a first time. The Earl of DERBY gave notice that on the motion for the second reading of the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill, he should move that it be read a second time that day six months. The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from the Irish Ecclesiastical Commissioners, denying that they have surplus funds at their disposal, and declaring that their funds are totally inadequate to the accomplishment of the objects for which, by act of parliament, they were originally destined. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for the report of Mr. Halliday and other papers relating to the cruelties practised in India, and took the opportunity, at some length, to draw their lordships attention to the subject. Lord MoyrmAGLrl observftd that the policy of the government appeared to be to procrastinate in reference to the amelioration of the condition of the Indian subjects of England, but he urged her Majesty's government to give their immediate attention to the subject, and introduce a remedy for the state of things described by Mr Halliday. The Duke of ARGYLV said there would be no objection to the production of the papers. After some observations from the Earl of ALBEMARLE, The returns were ordered. The report of amendments to the transp Irtation and penal servitude was brought up and the amendments were agreed to. Their Lordships rose at eight o'clock. ITOU,cE OF COMMON? `.—MONDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at fcnr o'clock. NEW ME3II3ICRS. Mr. U. Herbert, Mr. Alexander, and Sir C. W. Cod rington, took the oaths and their seats for Kerry, Carlow, and Gloucestershire, respectively. PRIVATE BILL. The Glasgow City and Suburban Gas Bill was read a third time and passed. SLIGO ELECTION PETITION. The SPEAKER announced a report from the examiner of recognisances, stating the recognisances of the petition relative to till election for the borough of Sligo were unob -e ction able. THE SUPERANNUATION ACT. Lord NAAS gave notice that on Tuesday week he should move for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the 22nd section of the superarnuation act of 1854. SAVINGS BANKS. In reply to Mr. Collins, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he had no objection, if the house desired, to append to the Savings Banks' Bill the regulations prepared by him for the suture management of such institutions, but he should state that the regulations were prepared with a view to banks not now in existence. In order to make the measure work in practice, it would be necessary to give to the government power to make alterations in those regulations, which experience might prove expedient, or to adjust them to the circumstances of existing banks. If the house should be willing to agree to a clause of that nature, he would introduce one into the bill before the house, and if it met the views of hon. members, he woull Suggest that the bill should go into committee pro forma that night, and be reprinted with the amendment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, replying to a question, fixed the Report of Supply first thing for Thursday. ADMISSION Or SNWP TIM, PA RT,TAM7V7 The house went into committee on the Oaths Bill. On the clause which provides the oath to be taken in lieu of the oaths of supremacy and abjuration, Mr. DEASY proposed, in page 2, line 11, to leave out " ecclesiastical and spiritual," and to insert " temporal and civil." He stated that the object which he had in view was to put an end to the anomaly of Roman Catholics and Protestants taking different oaths, and he considered that the principle of his amendment was consiste It with the principle of the noble lord's measure. With regard to any argument that might arise from services rendered, he contended that had it not been for the fidelity and courage of the Roman Catholics, both in the army and navy, in the late war, all the money of the Rothschilds would have been as nothing. Lord p iti , REESTON, without going into the merits of the proposition of the hon. member, did not think that the proper time had arrived for its consideration, and opposed it on the broad ground that it would lead to the failure of the Government measure. Mr. Dc.ummoNo supported the amendment, contending that over ecclesiastical and spiritual agencies they could have no control, and therefore the words should be omitted. He also thought that that was the time to effect the alteration. Mr. STAPLETON having offered some remarks, Mr. WALPOLE opposed the amendment. Mr. ROEBUCK objected to the present firm of oath, on the ground that any man who swore according to it swore to that which he believed to be a lie, it being unquestion able that the Pope had power. Sir F. TIIESIGER looked upon the question as one involv ing the supremacy of the Crown, and regretted that the noble lord at the head of the Government had passed it over so lightly. Mr. B. Hope admitted the claims of the Jews as a ne cessity, and had hoped that in any measure for the purpose some proposition would have been made to put an end to questions of religions distinction. Mr. MOORE c;nfessed that the separate oath for Roman Catholics affected him but lightly, if the house in its wis dom declared that Jews and Catholics should be included in one common formula, he accepted the difference as a distinction, and only asked one thing in addition--that Roman Catholics might be allowed to make their protesta tions upon the true faith of a Christian. (Cheers and laugh ter. ) Mr. ROEBUCK appealed to Protestant and truth-loving Members to remove the lie, to which he had referred, from the oath, as a degradation to the house. Mr. N APIER sa id th e Pope had no temporal power out of his own kingdom, and the oath distinctly declared that he had not, nor ought to have, any power or pre-eminence, temporal or spiritual, in this kinghom. The committee then divided. The numben were— For the amendment Against it Majority 290 Itir• ROEBUCK proposed, after " spiritual" to insert "by 4w," his object being to declare that the Pope has no power, ecclesiastical or spiritual, by law. Upon this question the con!,mittee divided without any discussion. The number , were — For the anisnoAment Against it 68 . 243 Majority ..... . .. 175 SIR F. TRESIGER then moved to insert after realm — "and I do make this Promise, renunciation, abjuration , and declaration, heartily, Wiggly and truly, on the true faith of a Christian." tor e remarked in commencing, that the profession of faith which this bill proposed to alter had been in use for the last 250 years without any objec tion being raised against it, and that it was incumbent upon them to maintain the christian character of the legislature. Tne proceedings of Parliament were opened with prayer in the name of the Author of Christianity, and they were compelled to observe certain festivals and fast days of the Christian Church. The words "on the faith of a christian," had been handed down in order to maintain the christian character of that assembly, and he resisted any attempt to remove them. Several arguments had been proposed by those who thought that Jews should not be exclnded—one was, that a Jew being a British born sub ject should be entitled to the previleges of other British born subjects, but he maintained that they had no right to that form which the legislature had prohibited them It was also argued that they should bow t , ) the decision of so large a constituency as that of the City of London—(hear, hear),—but he thought that the City of London in electing a person prohibited from taking his seat had not shown much respect to Parliament. It would, in his opinion, have shown greater deference to the institutions of the country if it had, instead of electing a prohibited person, and endeavouring to force the legista ture to admit that person to its body, endeavoured first to alter the constitution. He contended to acknowledge the decision of the city of London would be to set a very bad example to other constituences. It was said that the Jews, being allowed the franchise, shoull also be allowed to sit in Parliament, but he saw a great difference between hold ing an infinitisimal fraction of the right to send a represen tative to Parliament, and assisting in giving laws to the country. It was also argued that the offices of lord mayor, magistrate, and sheriff, being open to the Jews, it was anomalous to exclude him from Parliament—(hear, hoar) —but it was widely different to dispense law being bound by it, and to make laws which are to bind others• The Jews were a people separate from all others, and so they must remain. Mr. STANHOPE seconded the amendment, and Mr. KING' LAKE opposed. Mr. L. WIGELM thought that if the Jews were to be admitted to Parliament, their entrance should be made by a more legitimate method then die setting aside of the greatest obliation of Christians. Mr. Evers maintained that every subject of the realm had a right to the privileges enjoyed by his fellow-subjects unless some disqualification was shown, which in this case the mover had failed to do, with regard to the Jews. Mr. WARREN believed that the admission of the Jews to Parliament was contrary to the feelings of the country, and he appealed to the house whether those should have seats in that assembly who looked upon the Redeemer as a crucified impostor. The effect of the bill, as it stood, would be to unchristianise the legislature, and he believed that the effect of such a step would be to lose the favour of God. Sir JOHN PAEINGTON had carefully considered the ques tion, both as a religious and as a political question, and he had at length come to the conclusion that he ought not to vote as he had formeriy done for the exclusion of Jews from Parliament. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to combat the arguments of the supporters of the amend ment ; and with regard to unchristianising the house, he contended that if the admission of Jews would have that effect the legislature was already unchristiauised by numbering Unitarians amongst its members. He did not approve altogether of the course taken by the Govern ment in omitting the words "on the true faith of a christian," but would have preferred a proposition for the removal of Jewish disabilites by a special measure Mr, NAPIER referred to the opening of the day's business in Parliament with christian prayers, and the acknowledgement of festivals and fast days of the Christian Church, contending that Jews could not be ad mitted without destroying these evidences of christianity. Mr. HORMAN in replying to the speeches in favour of the amendment, alluded to the religious basis which had been given by the speakers to the constitution, and warned the house against sanctioning the principle that they should punish abstract opinions. The words, "on the true, &c.," were, in his opinion, inserted in the oath for the protection of one Christian from another, and it was unjust to exclude the Jews from the privileges of other British subjects ny woruo wutu:. to apply to them. The exclusion of Jews was merely the result of accident, therefore, and he did not think it con sistent with the character of the parliament to take advan tage of such an accident, to the prejudice of their fellow subjects. Mr. WHITESIDE supported the amendment upon the ground that the law of the country was founded upon principles of Christianity, and the exclusion of every ele ment antagonistic to it. The principle of parliament w..s legis'ation for the benefit of Christian consti tuencies by their representatives, but that could not take place in the case of a Jewish member, and he would be of no benefit to his country, to his constituents, or to parliament. Baron Rothschild came down to triumph over their ancient religion, sanctioned by the usage of centuries ; and in after days, if this bill passed, what would become of those sublime words, "on the true faith of a Christian." The hon. member's speech was characterised throughout by powerful and effective eloquence, and at its close was long and loudly cheered. Lord JOHN RUSSELL argued that the words, "on the true faith of a Christian," were never intended to exclude Jews from Parliament, and that those words which did not occur in the oaths of allegiance or supremacy might, without the abandonment of a principle, be struck out of the oath of abjuragation. He did not believe that the Christian religion was to be maintained by a system of exclusicn, but, that admitting the Jew to the same pre vileges as the christian, they should rely upon the measures now employed to spread christianity throughout the land. Mr. NEWDEGATZ opposed the principle of the Jewish disabilities, on the ground, that it was an irreligious and awful principle. Lord PALUERSTON offered his tribute to the right hon. baronet for Droitwich, upon the honourable and courageous course which he had pursued. (Cheers.) He could understand the arguments of those who opposed any alteration in the forms of oaths, on the ground that they became sacred from antiquity, but he was at a loss to understand why persons with such opinions supportitg an amendment, the object of which was to eFtablish a perfectly new principle, that the condition of the words "on the true, &c.," had for their object the exclu sion of Jews from parliament. Under the circum stances he asked the house to declare in the division their determination to support the principles o" civil and religious liberty, and free institutions. The committee divided. The numbers were— For the amendment Against it Majority l4O - - Mr. WALPOLE wished to know whether it was intended to introduce a clause restraining Jews from holding officee which Roman Catholics could not hold ? Lord PALMERSTON said the Government had no intention of making any alteration in the bill as it stood (Cheers.) Mr. DRUMMOND asked whether it was intended that Jews should have the distribution of bishoprics ? (Loud cheers.) Lord R. CECIL moved that the chairman report progress. Lord PALMERSTON opposed. The committee having divided, the numbers were— For reporting progress . 142 Ag iinst it 278 Majority . After some further discussion, clause one was agreed to. The remaining clauses were also agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS BILLS. The Sound Duesiill76;;ni; Cess (Ireland) Bill, and Militia (Ireland) Act, 1856, Amendment Bills, were read a third time and passed. The house adjourned at half past one. PORTSMOUTH, Juue 14.—The Archduke Maximillian of Austria, arrived at Spithead this morning, in the Austrian paddle sloop Empress Elisabeth. MADRID, June 12—General O'Donnel, as soon as he obtains permission, will visit France. The Mexican question is farifrom being settled. THE MERSEY CONSERVANCY AND DOCKS BILL. (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY. This Committee met to-day at noon. Sir Jemes Graham in the chair. The other members present were, Lord Henniker, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Paget, and Mr. North. Mr MICRRIC \MITER said he thought it was his duty on behalf of the Liverpool Corporation to tell the committee, in the first pla^e, exfv , tly how (the opponents of the bill) stord. It would not be uninteresting to the committee, in their kindness, to know how Mc. Shuttleworth was. That gentleman was progressing favourably, but at present he was not in a condition to corns to London, under the advice of his medical attendant. The evidence of the Town Clerk, therefore,couldnotat present be proceeded with, and it would b 3 inconvenient for gentlemen t 3 leave Liverpool that day, as the American mail arrived on Sunday, and Monday was a most impst•tant day of business. He hs.d witnesses with which he could proceed to a certain extent, but he was bound to say he thought their evidence would not occupy the whole day. They had sent to Liverpool for witnesses. The CIIAIRIRN was extremely sorry to hear this, Mr. Shuttleworth was taken ill on Friday afternoon, and three days had elapsed—a sufficient period in which to have procured evidence. The period was now rapidly approaching when the functions of the committee would cease. The committee had a great public duty to perform, and it would be a great pity if such a matter of public importance as this should be defeated by a waste of time Such a thing would he di•graceful to the opponents of the bill, and very discreditable to the committee, if they allowed such a proseeding—if they allowed such a melancholy deft at to take place As to inconvenience in attending before the committee, Liverpool gentlemen must know th.t the committee were put to great inconvenience in attending to hear all this evidence, and that the sacri fice on both sides should be mutual. Mr. AIEREIVETTIER said, that his clients were gentlemen who were incapable of an unworthy action, and he there fore asked e Chairman to dismiss from his mind the idea that he seemed to entertain, that the Corporation wished to defeat this bill by time, they would engage at the risk of not calling all their witnesses, that that should not take place. The CHAIRMAN said, he had had a request on Saturday that the committee would not sit to-day, but he had assured that gentleman that they would sit, and, there fore, the Corporation had had Ample time to make proper arrangements fer proceeding with business to-day. Mr. MEREWETIM said, unfortunately the Town Clerk was she solicitor under the opposition, and his atten dance was necessary to instruct counsel as the examina tion proceeded. The CHAIRMAN : We are now within a fortnight of the period when this committee must come to an opinion affirmatively or negatively upon the merits of this bill, and our lime ought not to be wasted. If you do not proceed to occupy our time to-day, we should consider ourselves very ill-used. Mr. MEREWETIIER : Sir. I think you shall have no cause to repeat the imputation—we will proceed. Mr. John Weightman, surveyor to the Liverpool Cor poration, said—l have held that office about nine years, and as assistant eleven years I am aware of the land trans actions that have taken place between the Corporation and the Dock Committee during the last eleven years. I have now the records on the question from the date of Queen Anne. The first gift was made in 1710, and con sisted of 5-1- acres, and £5OO ; the second in the reigu of George the Second, 1737, 18.3 acres, for the Salthouse and and Thy Decks, and a sum of £ l , OOO ; the third was in the year 1762, the second of George the Third, 17 acres : the fourth gift was in 1785, 15 acres, for the George's Dock and quay ; the fifth gift was in 1811, for the extension of the Queen's Dock, 14 acres, and £15,165, for which they were to receive 2 acres of the old dock, constructed in the reign of Queen Anne. The Dock Trust subsequently gave up the remainder to erect a custom-house. That building was erected jointly by the Corporation and the Government, the former contributing £75,000. The Dock Trust stipulated for a portion tithe building to be reserved as offices for them. The value of the land that the Corporation gave towards that building was £7,000. The next gift was in the 1826, when the Corporation gave up property and reversionary interests to the extent of £29,000, the latter being worth alone £21,229. The Corporation have given fifty-six acres to the docks, and money aed reversions to the amount cf £41,894. The first sale was made in 1788 of land near the King's Dock, in all 68,975 yards of land, for which the corporation gave and received from the Dock Trust £27,315. The corporation subsequently sold land by t a jury tu Lue v.O .01 i ,C tionary interest in a house received £1,249 is ; - 181:2, they sold, under the verdict of a jury, 5,313 yards of land on the strand for £974. Again, they sold the reversion of three houses near the Salthouse Dock, for £214 10s, and a piece of land for £328. These were jury sales, In January, 1825, the corporation sold No. 4 and 5 graving docks for £29,800 to the Dock Trust. The quantity of laud was 16,387 yards. The corpora. tion had expended in improving them about £20,000. In 1826 they sold more property, 6,033 yards, for £18,361 13s, This land was occupied by houses and warehouses rented by tenants of the Corporation, whose reversionary inrerests had to be bought up by the Corpora tion. This was a jury sale. In 1841 there was a further sale, consisting of all the property to the west side of the Salthouse Dock, consisting of graving docks, shipyards, warehouses, &c. The price was fixed by agreement, in anticipation of, and was inserted in, the act of Parliament. The quantity of land was 83,353 yards, and the price at which it was sold £221,853 17s. The Corporation have expended on these two last properties, of which the pro ceeds were £250,000 the sum of £98,000. The CHAIRMAN : It is impossible to follow these important statements viva tom ; we must have an abstract. The witness' examination was resumed. The corporation in 1806, handed over to the Dock Trust property for the construction of the Prince's Dock, of the value of £41,000, and to the extent of 92,282 yards about 41,1651 yards had been bought by the corporation. On this transaction they gained nothing, for they sold the land at the price they gave for it. Subsequently the corporation, in the year 1817, paid the Board of Ordnance for the old fort on the site of the Prince's Dock £4,173 145., although originally they had given the Board the site of that fort. In 1819 the corporation sold the Dock Trust under the verdict of a Jury, for Prince's Dock and Basin, 79,198 yards for £ 30,053 15 s . 7d. In 1820 the Waterloo, Victoria, and Clarence Docks, and quays, were under construction, and under a jury's verdict they received £llO,OOO for 270,049 yards of land. In 1844, for the Collingwood and Stanley Docks, the cor poration sold 346,040 yards for £250,879, a sum which was fixed by agreement under she act of parliament On this property the corporation had expended upwards of £136,000. The last transaction was 560,000 yards of land purchased from Lord Derby for £17,000, and from the Duchy of Lancaster for £83,000 In 1809, for one of the South docks the Dock Trust paid the corporation, under a jury's verdict, £13,091 lls 8d for 4,107 yards. On the same day, and under a jury's verdict, another sale of 73.169 yards for the Coburg dock, was sold for £30,104 15s. In 1826, the corporation sold buildings and strand, South, for £65;900, the quantity of land being 159,912 yards. In embanking this land the corporation had expended £lO,OOO at least. In March, 1850, land for widening the approaches to the Wapping docks was sold by the corporation to the dock trustees for £164,170. I represented the corporation in fixing these values, and Mr. John Stewart the docks. The quantity of land was 40,500 yards. The total amount of these sales has been £1,073,357 65., and in respect of all the expendi ture and purchase money of the property by the corpora tion which they have thus sold is £388,251 17s id., leaving a balance accruing to the corporation of £685,105 Bs. 11d. I have heard it stated that the corporation has sold land to the Dock Trust which had been improved at the expense of the docks —an assertion which was incorrect. It is not true that the corporation now hold 47 acres of land re claimed at the expense of the docks. The witness then proceeded to corroborate the Town Clerk's evidence as to the sales of land at Birkenhead. Cross-examined by Mr. CALVERT : The land was not made by the Dock Trust, except in so far as they, to save expense to themselves, placed their " spoil" upon the Corporation land. Re-examined by Mr. Loewe : There is no doubt, as Mr. Hartley told the committee in 1855, that the Dock Com mittee saved their own pockets by putting their " spoil" on our land, and it hae, no doubt, benefitted us to receive that " spoil." Mr. Jones . STEWART, late Mayor of Liverpool, was next called and said : I am a surveyor and land valuer, and have been extensively employed by the Woods and Forests department of the government. I have for many years been the adviser of the Dock Trustees in the purchases of land &c., the sales by the corporation don't represent more than one-half of the transactions that have been entered into by the Dock Trustees for dock purposes. It is a great advantage to the Dock Trust to lay their spoil on adjoining land, and when such has been the case as regards the corporation property, the cor poration, I believe, Or their lessee, build and pay for the sea wall. It is the ordinary practice, if a man has put spoil on his neighbour's land, and subsequently buys that property, to pay the in creased value for it occasioned by the deposit of spoil. There is a case in point now, where Mr. Ryder obtains an advantage by allowing the corporation to put the spoil from the Great Float upon his marsh land. I believe that Par liament will not allow the Dock Trust to buy land in antici pation. Cross-examined by Mr. CALVERT : If the Dock Trust could have usefully converted the adjoining land, I think it would have been prudent to have obtained it. Re-examined by Mr. LOCKS : The four million, or North Dock scheme, was opposed by the Birkenhead people and by Lord Darby, partly on the ground that power was sought to take land in anticipation. The witness proceeded to exp'ain the nature of the dealings of Lard Derby in respect of purchases for the Dock estate. Mr. TWEEDIE i treasurer to the Corporation of Liverpool, said the practice of the corporation is, and always has been, to borrow money on bonds under the corporate seal, for an agreed number of years, and the bonds to bear interest. After an agreed rate of interest, being the current rate at the time the loan is negotiated, varying from 34- to 5 Der eent. Our average rate now is £4 8s 6d per cent, The atneuut of bonded debt at this time is £1,143,469. The charge made on the borou,th fund by the purchase of the Birkeah ead docks is £1,183,860. Under au act for supplying the town with water, there is also a bonded debt of .E 1,560,000. The CHAIRMAN : What is the rental of the corporate property ? WITNESS : The income of the corporation frnm all sources for the present year is estimated at £204,000, including the town dues. The CIL AIR3IAN : Excluding the town dues, what do you receive ? WITNESS : Only £69,000. The Cu tiny : The committee wal rag:l;re a return showing the idcome of the corporation for the last ten y ears, exclusive of the town dues. At four o'clock the committee adjourned until this day ;Tuesday) at twelve o'clock. THE WEAVER NAVIGATION BILL (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, Meepee, Juice 15. The committee re-assembled at twelve o'clock this morning. The members of the committee present were— Lord Naas, in the chair, the Marquis of Blandford, Mr. Booker Blakemore, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Handley. Mr. Serjeant WRINGIWI proceeded to a'ldress the com mittee on behalf of the '"rustees of the Weaver Navigation. He intimated, in the first place, that he did not propose to call witnesses on the part of his clients, because he thought that the evidence on the other side would amply justify the committee in rejecting the bill. It had been admitted throu g hout the inquiry that the consumer would not be bsnefitted by a reduction of the dues. Mr. Brace girdle said the reduction would find its way into his pocket, but as a salt dealer and shipper, and not as a salt manufacturer, because in the latter capacity it was quite obvious that the competition at home regulated the price, and that if it was taken off the salt manufacturer would not be allowed to put it into his pocket any more than he would be allowed to maintain a fictitious price by agreement. Such agreements had already been tried in the salt trade, but an outsider had invariably come forward and, by selling at a lower rate, had brought the price down to the ordinary scale. The circumstances of the salt trade in this local ty were somewhat peculiar. The salt of Cheshire was almost ex clusively sent to Liverpool for exportation to America, and it was asserted that the supply generally, if not always, exceeded the demand. If that were really true, how would the reduction of the dues by Bd. affect the price to the consumer, the price in America not being regulated at all by the impost on the river Weaver? In point of fact, the rates in America were determined by the sums charged for freight between Liverpool and America ; but the sum which the committee were now asked to remove was in the nature of a middleman's charge, and the only effect of reducing it would be to put the money into the pocket of the middle man, and to encourage speculation in salt in America,with a view of benefitting in some way the dealer on the other side of the Atlantic. He did not think that the committee were prepared for the sake of encouraging speculation either in Liverpool or New Orleans, to withdraw from the county of Chester a surplus revenue which had been dedicated to them by a series of Acts of Parliament, ranging through o the v ert whole h a of d bteheenp asked past andeci that presentvery question centuries.uestio nby Now,the com mittee, h "e eeeereeteee of the bill ? His learned friend , Mr. but dexterously fenced with it by talking of those who were said to support the bill. In point of fact, it could not be contended far a moment that the bill was either promoted or bona fide impportea by tue u,w •—_ turers of salt. The committee already had it in evidence that the salt manufacturers were a numerous body, num bering as many as sixty persons, but which of them had taken part in the bill as a promoter ? He had not had the advantage of seeing the petition or the signatures to it, but he ventured to say that if Mr. Jackson or Mr. Bracegirdle had signed it, they were the only persons engaged in the manufacture of salt who had stretched out a finger for the purpose of promoting the bill; and in the case of Mr. Bracegirdle, that gentlenman appeared not in the character of a salt manufacturer, but of a salt monger, into whose pocket the reduction, whatever it might be, would go. It seemed that there had already been an application to the trustees to reduce their rates—but upon what? Certainly not upon salt, which was the main object of the present bill, but upon coals. He was sorry to say that the trustees had been weak enough to consent to a reduction of the dues upon coal, but in so doing they had not conferred the slightert iota of benefit upon the salt trade. In fact, it was impossible that they could confer a benefit, inasmuch as they were asked to give an equality where equality was impossible, because the manufacturers whose works were contiguous to the railway, possessed advantages which no reduction of dues would give to manufacturers upon the river. Indeed, the reduction of the coal dues had simply acted as a stimulus to the rail- way to reduce their charges, and the parties were now in precisely the same position as they were before the Trustees consented to comply with the request of the manufacturers. He entreated the committee to reject the bill now before them ; if only upon the ground that in passing it they would confiscate the property of the rate payers of the County of Chester, for which their fore fathers had paid a consideration How could they expect that Lord Ellesmere walk securely in the neighbourhood of Bridgwater Canal, if in this case the committee held that all the rights and the privileges which had been pur chased, and conceded by acts of Parliament, were to be treated with contempt. His iearned friend (Mr. Calvert) said that the revenue derived by the Trustees way an ac cidental revenue which Parliament had never contem plated. He (Mr. Sergt. Wrangham) contended that it was a bona fide bargain, and thought it ought not to be broken because the ratepayers of the county had been gainers. If a surplus had not been contemplated the legislature would not have introduced into the Acts of Parliament provisions to prevent the ratepayers of Cheshire from acting as jury men in disputes between trustees and the persons engaged in the trade, of the weaver, and to give jurisdiction in all matter of dispute to Lancastrian juries. It was clear that Parliament had contemplated a surplus, and a considerable surplus too. His learned friend said that what Parliament had given Parliament could take away again, and also added, that in this case there was nothing but—bare words of an act of parliament to sanction rights of trustees. But what could be more strong in favour of trustees, than the fact that Parliament had fully considered their case and had conferred upon them a grant which was purchased in the first instance for a consideration, and which had been held ever since on condition that certain duties and oblige • tions should be discharged. With regard to the maietenance of navigation he denied that there had ever been the small est degree of neglect on the part of the trustees. Instead of having refrained from discharging the obligatiohs which had been thrown upon them by the act of parliament, they had performed them to the fullest extent, and had paid over every farthing of surplus to the county for the purposes to which parliament directed it to be applied. He believed that no blot whatever rested on the escutcheon of the trustees of the Weaver, or that there had been anything iu their conduct which would justify a committee of the House of Commons in repealing or rescinding the express provisions of an act of parliament passed more than 150 years ago. He contended that there had been no ground laid for an adverse decision as against the trustees, and without troubling the committee with any further remarks, he confidently trusted the case in their hands. Lord NAAS asked if the lamed sergeant proposed to call any evidence. Mr. Sergeant WRANCIIIAM : No, my lord. The committee-room was then cleared at one o'clock, and after the committee had deliberated for about half an hour, the parties were re-admitted, and Lord NAAs said : The committee are unanimously of opinion that the preamble is not proved. The bill is consequently lout, THE COMING COMET. BY THE MAN IN ME MOON. The inhabitants o f Liverpool, including London-road, with the b g lamo in L ime-street, and every soft abode, in the locality of John's-lane, are hereby notified that the comet she is coming, with all celestial pride, like the handsome Queen of Sheba, the inhabitants, therefore, will meet a hot recepti n from this visit to their shore. As this comet is my cousin -as we often have a chat, and am acquainted with the e liter of the Milky 'Pay Gazclte that's the fishioeab' e org All, like the London Morning Post, that's on our breakfast table, with the butter, eggs, and toast. I say, being :has acquainted with that very famous print—knows what the scissors man leaves out, and all that he puts 'nt ; T can tell you all our movements, and the places without fail that my cousin she wllt honour with her read and with her tail. She will cell on her arrival, but this is entre nous -on the Bonn-est bey in England, and that's Tom. What's to do ? for the Hyades come ser aching, and they are in our suite, and fling themselves distractedly down at my cou-du's feet. Some terrible disaster, I fear, has taken place, and here comes brother Jupiter, with horror in his face. I knew that something wrong was up; ho was in his m :ruing gown, and cursed like aey trooper, " Jove. we eteritr d ,wn !" After foaming like a madman, on the sofa he stretched out, and then I asked him, " Ju. my dear, pray what's it all about ?" and the ass Ter that he gave me was decisive, t eat., and handy—'twas, " D your eyes, old fellow, fetch me a glass of briudy." Rasing thus " tipped " off his " morning," like other gentlemen, a sigh deep as Atlantic came out above his chin, and he cried, alas, dear Luna, is'nt this a shocking fix' that scoun drel has placed us in ?" and then he gave some kicks, that smashed a Grecian lounger in the middle of the room; then he called for an Havenna, and with its soothing fame, assisted by the co-ni-ac, and meditation deep, I'm glad to say he gradually went very fast asleep. All my satellites, at the instant, were packing up my traps—they were putting cords on boxes, and "laving" trucks with straps--even my little tiger Jemmy, that I found in Doneybrook, and my page young Billy Mulligan and Nora Mike, my cook, were busy just as midges, all packing up the delf, s) the only thing was for it—l attended on myself. 'Twas a little in fra dig. no doubt ; but that's nothing hero nor there, for then the cause I ascertained of my brother's great despair ; 'twas certainly a great mishap —a very sad provoker—nothing more nor nothing less than the drunkenness of the stoker—who was to fire the engine, destined to bear us all, a-down to terra firma, from my cousin's blazing hall. By this time Ju had wakened from his brandy and cigar, and again he swore like C. Napier, or Alick the young Czar. I sug gested moderation, and the best thing to be done, under the great privation, WAS to ask ours friend the SON--•for he's our noble ally, and when e're in a fix, he " stands" most nobly to us—like a thousand of new bricks. He's a regular piece of "granite," and true as British steel, that's the thing they make the bayonets of, and bayonets make foes reel before their mighty influence, and so I thought our friend, King Sol, a few sharp fellows of that very stamp would send. Ono of my " beams" stood ready—l despatched him to the south, where our friend was on a visit, but unluckily he was out, and his mother did not know it, although he was tweate -won, and all with her admitted he is a " brilliant son." The reason of his absence, to me was thus explained ;—lle was out electioneering, and too long had remained—after a public breakfast, at which he took the shine, by speeches the most luminous, and conversation—fine. Now, was'nt this perplexing ? But just in nick of time, who walked in but Madame Venus—she was humming the last " rhyme" that was written by Mr. Meany, when presenting an address, to doctor (!) Billy Russell, front the Associated Press—that is, he said, it was from them —yet but four of all the "gang" knew anything about it, so the bosh and fulsome slang, offered at the shrine of Billy, in the speeches after dinner, emanated—oh good Gemini—from a publican and sinner, 'Tis said the pleasure to deceive is always very great; and I hope on the occasion that all parties felt elate ; but I can't tell the most deceived—Bill, or the deputation—so 11l put it down under the head of " The grand hallucination," that took place at the Philharmonic Hall on Thursday night, when the " Crimean Hero" had done his wordy fight. But just as I was saying. when the Queen came walking in; my brother Ju jumped out, and cried, " I'll take a ' throw' of gin." Oh, that was very shocking, and so the lady said ; he should practice better manners ; but then you know his head, wasn't in the right place, or, as some say, "not all there ; and very true, because it lacked a thatching of black hair. Some one —I think 'twas Watty Scott, or any one you pleate— wrote thus of " lovely woman"— " Oh, in thy hour of ease," Thou art a very vixen, " Uncertain, coy." and what ; with other little libels that I really have forgot; but then he made the antende in the following h tnclsome strain, that shows she is an angel too, in sickness, glief, and pain. _ _ 41 When pain and sorrow wrings the brow, A ministering angel iheu." I think I'd write th© same myself—as good, perhaps, or so; if I only got a fortnight's leave—but I fill that thing "no go :" although there's a but.er man" in town, who offered me a nice near the corner of John's market—aye, and did so with much grease—that was Weaargetagitig, he asked but one condition, that I would PLACE affords to public health. I no dotibt oftnar-L . beats all medicine to snuff—as the oak's above the lath ! At the place where last I broke off I mean now to begin ; it was where Ju was talking about real Holland gin, which much shocked Misses Venus, though with a gracious smile, she said, let him sleep a little longer, and that will cure his bile. I told her how the fireman, who was to drive our car, got fuddled by attraction, at the adjoining Hotel bar—when she nisei her hands imploringly, say ing, a—lass—what shall we do ? and her pretty eyes were filled with tears, and she groaned, " Oh wirra-strue"— which told me she was Irish—her father was a Brady, and her mother an O'Brien—a real Garryowen lady. She considered for a moment, and then her " womans wit," in the twinkling of a tarf-clamp, on this expedient hit— " give me some scented paper," she said with seraph laugh, and 11l cure it in a " jiffey," with a neat paragraph. Now send this off to SLIM-KINS of the " MILKY WAY GA zErrE," and tell him just to publish it. I'll send him the best hat, that's sold by WOOD of Lord-street, yes go and tell him that ; and on the Earth, nor on the sea, none these hats surpasses—they are fit to fit our neighbours, over there on Mount Parnassus ! Tell him to put a placard conspicuous in the street, and let its elevation be at least some thirty feet, so that all who runs may read it—that is if they can read—but such as can't, no matter :be off now boy with speed ! I suppose you will be asking what that paragraph contained? You'll find it some day in a " Blue Book," and then your object's gained; but I'll tell you before-hand, so you'll gain knowlectge from it —'twas a fashionable on dit, 'bout our cousin the Great Comet ! Madame Venus being a poetess, all her correspondence wrote, in that soft and flowery language, such as I'm about to quote; you'll find it quite Homeric, and no wonder that it should ; she was a pupil of Diogenes, when surround by the wood. Many long winter's evenings, did she the hours beguile ; writing ballads to dark eye-brows, whilst sitting on a stile—not looking for a Mary, whom she never more could see ; but smiling in her beauty and—looking strait —at me ! some of her fine productions are very scarce, but yet, hear the last sonnet that she sent to the Milky Way Gazette. Good people all, Both great and small, Lament for Madame Blaze That's the cornet that was coming Within the last few days ; The needy seldom passed her door, But always found her kind ; She had no ehilder to be sure, Tho' she carried her tail behind ! Piano — It happened in the month of June, In tho year of '57, When larks and linnets are in tune, And sing their songs to heaven, That our cousin, Lady Comet, Bethought her of a journey, And sent for a shorthand writer, Whose name w.is Pauclheen Gurney. Chorus—(By sixty thousand Constellations ) She's akin to the Callaghans, Brallaghan3, Nowlans, and Dowlin3 likewise, But what is all that to the fire That darts from our lady's bright eyi's ? Piano again— My lady was £0:'0 disappointed, And begs of the people below Not to think that she's cold in her promise, As very soon she'll let them know. Her affection they'll find very warm, As soon as her fireman's sober, Then she'll come on the sunbeams expressly, With tail-or, and nay-lor, and robe-her. Chorus, with additions, variations, and accompaniments — Oh, for that was the way with the comets, And flaming O'Flannagans too, They could set the whole world on fire With that fine Grecian cry-- CROIII Anoo ! Just as the fourth edition of the Gazette came out, our Cousin called to us, to ask us what it was all about ; for up to this same instant she knew not that the " stoker " was booked for being "incapable , " and blind as any poker. You really would have pitted her, 8110 almost took hysterics, and then she sent a courier to eight-and-forty spherics, to know if ei nveyances could be had, to prevent disappointment—as time was an ingredient that would not allow disjointment. They sent her word immediately, that they'd supply a car, but thought the 19com olive waulirnt carry steam so far ; but this sh A obviated by the aid of her own tail ; and some barrels of Pike water, some buckets and a pail. She asked if I'd drive the engine ? to this I gave consent,but if I live a thousand year; that day I will repent; for at the equimmial line, I mis , ed the points, the which caused train and coiner, tail and all to flounder in a ditch. And there I left them sprawling, whilst I ran down to tell of the horrible cat-ass-tr , phy that to the train Wel ; and I'm off to the ass-tranome-s, with my heart (pits full of sorrow, but if I get some rest to-night, I'll tell you more to-morrow. SOME INCIDENTS OF ITS " Nr;r" COMING. We could fill—if NI - c3 had the stn time and space at our command as c me's are said to have —some two thousand quartos about the sayings and doings of this firey creature. The following are all we can find space for t o-day An unusual number of disorderly men. and women were br aught up at :he Police Court, ye , terday morning, charged with assaulting the police, creating disturbances, and committing vssious oifonces against the peace. It appeared the prisoners were out on Liatun'ay and Sunday nights wate-dug for the arrival of the comet, but as the visit was postponed, they got angry, and• vented their pugnacious spleen on each other. They were fined in sums varying from 5s to £l, according to the degree of the offence. One decent old woman, who resides at the north end of tie town, has locked up lier house, and ha; been waiting sin:te Saturday on one bf the piers. When the comet strikes the earth, and everything is at once involrel in what' the Yankees call a " tarnation blaze," the old woman intends to jump into the river, and drown herself and her anxietiAs together. In nuoth3r ca'e, is man who has never for years uttered a prayer, has been, it is said, praying f r twenty. four hours consecutively, and intends to clntiuue this exercise, with the additional one of fasring, until the crisis is past. On Saturday, a countryman, from near Bolton, who has been staying a few (Lys at Birkenhead, was standing on the pier, talking to a police-officer. The theme of dis course was the cornet, and the dre'dful consequences of its touching the earth. All at once, a roar as of artillery burst forth. " What's that?" inquired the affrighted bumpkin. "I'm afraid," said the officer, "that is the comet Etrikirg us " A deadly paleoess spread over the countryman's face, his knees knocked together, and he seemed in a faintin , :r state. When told, however, that the noise might be the guns of the Persia as shs steamed out, he slowly recovered. CRICKET MATCH, THE ELEVEN OF ALL ENGLAND V. TWENTY GENTLEMEN OF LIVERPOOL. The grand cricket meteh advertised to take place between the Eleven of all England and twetny gentlemen of Liverpool, with two bowlers given, came off yesterday on the cricket ground, Prince's Park, under circumstances as auspicious for the thorough enjoyment of our national game as could well be desired. A brilliant sun shone down from a cloudless and glorious sky, but his rays were happily , tempered by a pleasant breeze, which was not more wel come to the players than to the numerous crowd of ladies and gentlemen assembled to witness :the. match. , In the far distance, so clear was the a'mosphere, the bold outlines of the Welsh mountains could be clearly traced by the naked eye, and the scene was rendered still more spirit stirring by the excellent performance of the Local Pen sioners Band, which was early on the ground, and played throughout the day au admirable selection of popular airs. Tee number of spectators, among whom were several ladies, was large, but it may fairly be taken that the muster will be much larger this day and Wednesday when the "All Englanders" will take their second innings, and make good by their play, their claim to the proud title which they arrogate. Of yesterday's play little need be said. The match was to have commenced at noon, but it was nearly one o'clock before the wickets were pitched. The " All Englanders" had the first innings and only scored 49, including 3 byes. The higheQt single score was 13 by Stephenson, but it was very evident that they were not playing their best -- indeed their play might be characterised as loose, if not careless. Occassionally fine balls were struck, but this excellence was not sustained, and they were all out before three o'clock An interval here took place for rest and refreshment, and the play was resumed at four o'clock, at which time the number of spectators had greatly increased. The Twenty-two of Liverpool then went in on their first innings, and started most auspiciously, scoring 15 by Tinley before his wicket went down. Throughout they played steadily and CAll. tiousle, and the result of the match may teach the "All Englanders" the truth of the cld ::dage, that it is well to make hay while the sun shines. To-day they will probably get their second innings about two o'clock, and will then show what manner of men they are. The wickets were drawn at half-past six o'clock, at which time the Twenty two of Liverpool had 59 scored, with eight wickets more to go down. The play stood _thus : .trY, 1 7 1 5. . t,,Tsv , &cowl Innings A. Clark c & b Ilinkly 1 T. Sherman c Fairclough, b Tinley 2 Julius Ca3sar b Rinklv H. S. Hirst, Esq. h linkly • G. Parr .. c Trodd, b H. Stephenson b Hinkly .. 13 G. Anderson b Hinkly .. 10 E. Wilsher c Fairelougb, b Tinley 1 J. Jackson . cSt b Hi❑kly .. :, 0 J. Bickley no+ out bl, 1-b ,W 2, n-b 3 T0TAL....49 TOTAL.... LIVERPOOL First Innings Suend lan rgs F. Tinley .. s Stephenson, b Willsher 15 S. Jackson .. c Parr, b Willsher 2 G. Hampshire . . c& b Willsher .. 0 W. Horner b Willsher .. W. P. Lockhart b Bickley . • E. Hinkly b Bickley • . W. Clare .. b Tinley .. Troth]. b Bickley • • E. W. Bird .. b Willsher „ Greenwood .. c Willsher, b Bickley J. Fairelough b Bickley C. Owen .. b Bickley G. Clare b Bickley D. M. Drysdale b Bickley R. P. Jones .. not out W. Garrow T. Holt C. Hampshire W. G. Cross H . Linton J. Cooke 3. Gamble b I, 1-13 0, w , n-b 1 TOTAL ...59 TOTAL..." Mrs. May, of the Land Hotel, Wavertree, had some excellent marquees on the ground, which were well supplied with every description of the choicest refreshments. The play will commence this day punctually at 12 o'clock. DEATH OF LIEUTENANT STRAIN, U. S. N.—Lieutenant Strain, U. S. N., whose name is well knawn to all resi dents on the Isthmus, as connected with the Darien Exploring Expedition, undertaken by the United States Government, in 1853, of which he was the commanding officer, came out a passenger in the Illinois, to join the sloop-of-war Cyane, in Aspinwall, and we regret to say died on Thursday night, shortly after his arrival. Hie remains were interred yesterday in Mount Hope Cemetery, the corpse being accompanied to its last resting place by the officers of the Cyane, and of the British ships-of-war Orion and Basilisk, and by many of the residents of Aspinwall. examined the boiler for his own information, gave evidence iii considerable detail as to the cause of the explosion. He was satisfied, from the appearance of the internal flue, that it was not from scarcity of water. He discove red that the angle iron, uniting the flat end to the cy linder, had had a fracture in it for about four feet. This was along t he lower part of the end ; and he considered that the expan sion of the flue (which lice nearest to this part) had tendedto create the rupture. There might have b een a veinin the plate originally , but, if so , ii; would , with a short flue, as in the present instance , be gradually increased. and —Panama Star and Herald of May 23. THE LATE BOILER. EXPLOSION AT RED BANK. — On Saturday last, an inquest was held before Mr. E. Herford city coroner, at his court, Ridgefield, on the body of Edward Grimehaw, of Arthur-street, Fairfield-street. labourer, aged 32, who had died from injuries occasioned by the explosion of a boiler on t he p remises of Mr. Jose p h Carter, tinplate worker, Ba ck Foundr y -s t r e et, on Wednes day the 3rd instant. — T homas Ro wlands, who worked on the prom i se e, stated that he found the deceased immediately after the explosion, lying upon his back, badly bruised. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary,' and died —Mr. Thomas Forsyth, managing engineer at o n Thursday. Witness was also knocked down by the Atlas Works, Oxford Road, who had Messrs. Sharp's, result, as this had done, in as explosion .—The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." THE MI Off