Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-01 00:00:00

roads or eanpls, which would spare all the injury to the commodity during its transport; and that if the whole area of India will produce cotton, while yet there is not enough produced for native use, it is clear that the needful stimu lus to its production remains to be applied, as was the case with the American States while still in the posses sion of the Indians ; that the original equal badness of silk, sugar, and indigo, now cured by the application of European enterprise, skill, and capital, is the greatest possible encouragement to supply those aids in the case of cotton; and that it is of no consequence in this view whether the Hindoos are or are not less capable than the Chinese in the absence of European assistance, as the 15,000,0001. derived from their exports show what they can do with the guidance and assistance now proposed to be afforded to them; and, finally, that if irrigation, canals, and roads, should cause an expansion of the rice, in preference to the cotton crop, as a leading object, so that cotton would only have the second place, the benefits would be so great as to be, in mere prospect, a sufficient encouragement to persevere in the movement ; but that, if the American planters find cotton so remunerative a product as to justify their growing nothing else where cotton will grow, the Indian agriculturist may probably come to the same conclusion. So much for the Indian part of the case, according to the view of the movers for a new cotton supply. A few facts related in the course of the late discussions must be added. While our consumptions of cotton doubled in little more than twelve years, the Increase of slave labour in the Southern States was only 28 per cent. in ten years. To confine ourselves to that particular area of production would be sheer insanity, if the commodity can be obtained elsewhere, The area devoted to cotton cultivation in India is, according to the testi mony of some East India directors, one-third more than that employed in the United States, so that it is not land that is deficient ; while labour is cheap and abundant, and being free, of a better quality than the American slaveholder can command. Mr. Bright's Committee re ported that there was plenty of land, plenty of labour, a favourable climate, and already more cotton (including , the wild sort) than had ever yet been grown in the United States. In consequence of that report the company granted leases of land in India, thus removing one of the impediments to cotton cultivation. Mr. Ashworth has pointed out something more that might be done. He has shown that if our manufacturers were to guarantee to the company the amount of their land tax in the Bombay Presidency, and allow all the cotton lands to be cultivated Tent free, there would be a saving of half the amount paid 'by this country to America in excess of the prime cost of its cotton crop. We paid ten millions in excess last year, and shall pay twelve this year ; whereas the Bombay land-tax would be guaranteed for four millions and a half. We hardly remember a case :which - presents such a pre ponderance of argument on one side. "We have had cotton ever since we wanted it," says one side, "and so we may as well trust to having it still ; and if there are half a dozen dangers in prospect, others will suffer as much as we shall ; and if we tried to provide against scarcity, we might find it troublesome and expensive, and one 'cannot` be sure of success beforehand. Better fold our hands, and trust to Providence for the subsistence of our 3,000,000 of cotton manufacturers, "Rather," says the other side, " take the hint afforded by-scarcity and dear ness; remember that there are such things as bad seasons, wars, and perturbations of the labour market ; and use the admirable facilities for cotton 'production found to exist in territory of our own. We cannot have too much cotton, nor get it too cheap; while its failure or excessive dearness would be a grave national calamity." 'No doubt, the movement will proceed."--Daike News, June 30. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. By British - 4nd Irish Magnetic Telegraph. TURIN, 30th JUNE A• conspiracy tending to provoko disorder at Genoa has been discovered, and forty persons been placed under arrest. Tile squadron .of Admiral Lord Lyons, expected on the 4th ofjuly at Spezzi, and at Genoa on the Bth, is at present at Leghorn. PARIS, TITEEin r EvExpro. To••day business has been done in the Three per Cent,Rentes at 67, 45. AMERICA. [MU OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] :SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY AFTERNOON. Thefri.S. Mail Steam-ship Vanderbilt, with three days' later news from the United States, arrived ;here this afternooj, with the American mails, a full compliment of passengers, and some specie on freight. • __ t , The news to hand by this arrival contains nothing of irnportance.!:The celebration of the battle of•Eunker's Hill had passed off with great eclat on the 17th ult. Owing to severe illness, General Scott was prevented from joining in the prooossion. Reports from Washington assert that General Cass was about to retire from the office of Secre tary of State, and it was expected that his successor would be the Hon. Robert'Walker, now on a difficult and delicate mission to Utah. Alluding to the much-talked-of comet, one of the Boston papers says—" The hopes and fears of those who thought the earth would be destroyed on Saturday, by the comet, have been dispelled. The world has since made an entire revolution on its axis, and there is apparently no derangement of the solar system." There was not any change of importance to notice in commercial matters. Money was in fair supply, at last ,quotations. There was but little passing in Breadstuff's or Provisions, and Cotton was held at the full rates .men tioned in the American circulars. THE NORTH RENT RAILWAY ACCIDENT. By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph. M.r. Carter, coroner for West Kent, commenced an inquiry, into the circumstances connected with the deaths of the eleven persons whose lives were sacrificed, in con. sequence of the accident on the above railway, on 3unday light last., After the holies had been identified, the inquest was adjourned to Friday. The life of one of the sufferers at the Plough Inn, at Lewisham, is despaired of. ' LONDON COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.-YESTERDAY. BEFORE MR. COMMISSIONER EVANS. I n re W. J. ROI3SON.—EXAMINATION OF MR. E. T. SMITH.—This was the:day appointed for the examination of Mr. E. T. Smith, of Drury-lane .Theatre, touching the estate and effects of W. J. Robson, a bankrupt in this court. Some difficulty had been experienced in obtaining the attendance of Mr. Smith for this purpose ; but it was stated that this was owing to his having suffered from indisposition, and the explanation was admitted as satis factory. Mr. Mount, for the .assignees, stated that Mr. Smith ha& on the previous day, rendered him an account of his transactions with Robson, which showed a small balance due to the estate. Ultimately, the matter was ordered to stand over for a fortnight. THE QUARTER'S REVENUE. By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph. The returns were made up this evening, June 30. The n ett deficiency on the quarter will not exceed £350,000. 11 ~,," reve nue for the year shows an increase o f about w' °Q ° ; and the total revenue collected for the year ter' amo unt to .4'72,000,000. i large portion of th e quar— s 4eficien eY, namely, £240,000, arises from the post poned payment of the hop duty. There may be said to be a falling off of more than £lOO,OOO upon the quarter's deficiency, Which was £1,200,000. The actual result affords a very favourable idea .of the condition of the revenue. CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY. 4 1 41 a general meeting yesterday, an amendment was carried for the appointment of seven shareholders to confer with the directors on the accounts of the com anY, reca p m for th e adjournment of the: meeting to anoth • IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TIIESDAY. The House met et five o'clock. Lord BROUGHAM askeo for information np-,,n 8 subject which was creating some alarm amongst t il e enem i es o f slavery. It was understood that a ;reputation of West India planters waited on Lord Pal7.derston to propose the importation of free Negroes into.: the British colonies, and that the Emperor of the Frr,nch had given permission to a company at Marseilles tq Import free Negroes from Africa into the French cr.iionies. He wished to know what foundation there was for these statements, which, if true, appeared to him as instituting a species of slavery. The Earl of CLARENDON had read the statement in the papers relative to the deputation to Lord Palmerston, but was not aware of the answer given by his noble friend, — though, from the antecedents of the premier, he was con vinced that he would not in any way, directly or indirectly, countenance the slave trade. With regard to the statement respecting the French trade, the government were in possession of no official information. He concurred in the condemnation of the slave trade, and was glad to learn that the Portugese government had set its face against it. The Waterford and Tramore Railway Bill, the Dublin and Wicklow Railway Bill, and the Australian Agricultural Companies Bill were read a third time and passsed. The Oxford University Bill was read a second time. On the motion of the Earl of HARROWBY, the Turnpike Trusts Arrangements Bill, the Insurance of Lives, and Abatement of Income Tax Continuance Bill, were read a second time. _ _ The County Cess (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The other business was disposed of, and the house adjourned at half-past seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS—TuEsDny. The SPEAK= took the chair at twelve o'clock. The following bills were read a third time and passed — Dorset Central Railway Bill, Fife and Kinross Railway Bill, Haslingrlen and Todmoreen Road Bill, Kinrosshire Railway Bill, Midland, Great Western Railway of Ireland, Streamstown and Clara Sanction Bills, Selby and Market Weighton Road Bill, Stratford upon Avon - Gas Bill, Watchet Harbour Bill, and West Somerset Mineral Rail way Bill. The motion for considering the report of the South Eastern Railway, Greenwich Junction to Dartford, &c., Bill, was opposed by Sir B. Hill and Mr. B. Osborne, but was csrried without a division. In the case of the Finsbury Park Bill, the Board of Works accepted the late decision of the House as a refusal to allow a Government grant for the purpose, and the bill was read a second time. The Committee on the Bankruptcy and Insolvency (Ire land) Bill was resumed. Clause 161 was struck out ; clauses 1f.2, to 314 were agreed to ; clause 315 was expunged. The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill with amandpients was ordeFed to be reported. Mr. Elliott toci - th© oaths and his seat for Roxburgh shire. _ _ The tutting was then suspended. At the evening sitting, Mr. ROEBUCK presented a peti tion from West Norfdk, complaining of the interference of Lord Leicester, Lord Sondes, Lord Walsingham, and Lord Hastings, at the lato election for the county. he hon. and learned member stated, that he considered the allega tions so general, that no steps should be taken in the matter. In reply to Mr. GREER, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was his intention to lay on the table in the present session a bill for the registra tion of titles to property in land. He did not expect to pass the bill in the present session, but was anxious that it should be in the hands of members for their considera tion during the recess. Mr. H. BERLELEY then rose, and moved for leave to bring in a bill to allow voters to record their votes at elec tions by the ballot system. He said that the noble lord at the head of the government had recommended them to wait for his Reform Bill, which, like Aaron's rod, was to devour all smaller measures. But they were in darkness as to what the noble lord proposed to do. If it were con templated to make the ballot one of the features of the Roform Bill, he had nothing more to say ; and he was sure that the announcement of the fact by the govern ment would give rise to cheers in that house which would be re-es hoed throughoat the country. From the silence of the government he did not anticipate a favourable answer upon that paint, and he therefore pro ceeded. He ergaed that the only security for indepen dence of voting was to be found in the ballot, which had proved eminently successful in Sweden and in America. It was the great safeguard for purity of election, and Mr. Cobden and Mr. Blight had stated their opinion, that had it been introduced at the time, the corn laws would have been abolised thirty years ago. Consciences of tenants were never -consulted at elections, and it was considered a great want of etiquette in counties for one gentleman to canvass the tenants of another. In proof of this he cited a particular case, and . afterwards alluded to the proceedings at the late elections, pointing out the bribery, corruption, intimidation, and nriestly influences which had been employed. With this as a specimen of the results of the open voting system, he proceeded to compare the results of the secret system, as illustrated by the elections in the colony of Victoria. From this comparison, he contended that a case was made out for the adoption of the ballot system, and assured the Government that no measure of reform could be final without acknowledging that principle. Sir JOHN SHFLLEY seconded the motion. He believed that bribery would continue se long as men could be found bad enough to offer bribes ; but he advocated the ballot as a means of putting an end to the exercise of undue in fluence and intimidation. The Cinusceeeoit of the EXCHEQUER referring to the arguments that the ballott had been successful in America, stated that the system employed was not as the ballot was understood in this country a secret system. The votes were taken in public by means of tickets with the candidates names upon them, and any one standing by could see for whom the elector gave his vote. Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts, had proposed to the senate a means of secret voting, by enclosing the vote in a sealed envelope, bet it had been rejected on two occasions. In the majority of the States the vote by ballot un doubtedly existed, but there was nothing to show that anywhere in America a system of compulsory secrecy was in force. Did the hon. member for Bristol rec ,mmend the optional secrecy system, or the sealed envelope system ? All the arguments in favour of the bill referred to com pulsory secrecy, but the experience in America was in favor of optional secrecy, and against compulsory secrecy. No one was more opposed to intimidation thee himself, but he could not consent to force upon the people of this country institutions altogether repugnant to their habits and feelings. But he did not thick that the ballot would provide the secrecy for which it was proposed; and he felt confident that the circumstances attending the late elections would have been identical, even if the ballot-booths had been used. Mr. GREER observed that the same necessity that was felt in England for secret voting did not exist in America, and he urged the Government to concede to the people here Ilse optional secrecy ; a secret vote allowed to citizens of the United States. Lord lonx RUSSELL looked upon the electors as holding a trust of equal importance with that of a member of par liament or a secretary of state, and he thought it but reasonable- therefore, that they should esk to know how their votes were given. The ballot was said to be un-English,li.d what was meant by that was, that the decqmon to Ivilich it would probably give rise, and the promise breaking, were un-English. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the ieelings of the people of this country was adverse to the int! eduction of a system of secret voting. which would take away something from the open character of England. ?here was more freedom in England than in Amer2na, where the sacra system had been Adopted, and in regal el to Victoria, he thought we, as the el, er, should wait and ts,Ne the working of the system there before it was adopted linere. The hon. member f , r Bristol deserved success for his ability and perseverance, but so long as he had a vote iu the house he should give it in favour of open voting. ( Loud cheers.) Mr. H. BERKEL; Y . replied. He expreseed surprise that the noble lore, the member for Loudon, afte'r his speeches and the speech of his relative, Lord Charles assell, at the late elections, was found amongst the opponents of his motion, but hoped and expected that a change of opinion would take place in that house by the exercise of popular influence. After a few words from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in explanation, The House divided. The numbers were— For the bill Against Majority against Mr. Avr.vous moved for a copy of the case submitted to the law officers of the Crown respecting the registration of newspapers and other printed papers, and their opinion thereon. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would not consent to the production of that which was a confidential opinion given for the guidance of the Executive. The motion was then negatived with •ut a division. Lord NOB moved for 1011Y0 to bring in a bill to repeal the twenty-seventh seed()n of the iperannuation Act of present the superannuation fund 1834. He stated that, at amounted to £90C.,000, of which £BO,OOO only was paid in allowances, —leaving 4820,000 una pp ro p r i a t e d ; and the objee,l, of his bill w merely to repeat the power of making d'aduotioi cot superannuation allowances. Mr. F. lIANKEY seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER admitted that the present system was full of anomalies and inconsistencies, but disagreed with the remedy proposed. After a few words from Sir F. BARING, leave was given to bring in the bilL Leave was given to Mr. WILSON to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the conveyance of mails by railway. The other business was disposed of, and the house adjourned shortly after one o'clock. MERSEY CONSERVANCY AND DOCKS BILL. (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, jrliz 30. The committee resumed its sittings this day at twelve I o'clock, Sir J. GRAHAM in the chair, and at once pro ceeded with the consideration of the clauses postponed yesterday. Clause 29, which relates to the Town Dues, was then considered. The clause provides that "subject to the rights of the creditor, as hereinbefore reserved, the charges on the Town Dues shall, to the amount of .E600,01.;0, together with interest thereon, be payable by the Board out of the moneys to be received by them, in pursuance of the act, and shalt, as to the residue thereof, be payable by the Corporation " The clause was agreed to, upon a division, by a majority of 4to 1. M. Phillips wag the dissentient. The following proviso to clause ten was next considered, and ultimately ad' pted :—" No purchase of land shall be made by the Board, unless at the least one months' pre vious notice, specifying the situation and quantity of land proposed to be purchased, and naming a day on which . a • meeting of the Board is to be held for considering such purchase, has been sent by circular to each member of the Board ; nor unless at the meeting held the whole or a majority of the members present (such whole or majority to consist of not less than seven persons) vote in favour of the purchase." 4. clause was then inserted, empowering the Board to purchase out of the moneys received by them the Liverpool Observatory, together with all its instruments and appur tenances. Ihe price to he settled, in case of dispute, by arbitration, in the manner provided by the Companies Clauses Consolidation Act, 1855. A clause was !hen prepesed, requiring any dispute in reference to securities to be seeded by arbitration. Mr. PHiLLiPS asked whether, if this clause was inserted in the bill, and the parties disagreed, they would be prevented from going into a court of equity. Mr. CALVERT said the clause directed that disputes should be settled by arbitration, under the Companies Clauses Consolidation Ace but it would be very difficult to exclude the authority of the regular courts. The clause, however, wen- as far as it could be carded by legislation Sir J. GRAHAM remarked that if any specialty could be shown to the court of equity why a jurisdiction should be exercises: beyond arbitration, the court would have power to consider and decide upon that special point. The clause was then added to the bill, The following clause was then proposed by the pro moters :---" And whereas it is expedient for the objects and purposes of this act, that all that space of land situated on the north side of the entrance to the Birkenhead Dock Float, commonly called the North Reserve, should, from and after the let day of January, 1858, and subject to any (harms affecting the same, be vested in she Board— be it therefore enacted, that from and after the Ist January, 1858, the said space of laud, called the North Reserve, shall, subject to any charge affecting the same, be vested in the Board." tdr J. GRAHAM asked if there was any clause in reference to the purchase money ? Mr. WYA IT, parliamentary agent, said there was, and then read the following clause : " The Board shall pay to the Co poratiou of Liverpool, out of the moneys to be re ceived by them in pursuance of this act, the sate of one hundred and twenty seven thousand pounds, as compenste tion for the said North Reserve ; such compensation money shall be applied, in the first place, in satisfying any charge &fleeting the said North Reserve, and subject thereto—the same shall be paid to the Corporation of Liverpool." Sir J. GRAHAM said, the effect of this clause would be to give the Corporation of Liverpool a profit of £27,000 upon the purchase. The two clauses were then agreed to, as also were clauses providing that the penalties imposed by the act should be recovered in the manner directed by the Rail ways Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and saving the rights of the Menk.ey and Irwell Navigation Company, and Trustees of the Bridgewater Canal. Mr. CALVERT then proposed to insert a clause •saving the rights of the Railway Companies at Birkenhead, the Great Western Company, and the Birkenhead and Chester Company. Sir J. GRAHAM said, he could not conceive why a clause should be intrcduced to reserve the rights of persons who . were in point of fact the promoters of the bill. Mr. Caevsar : If they had no rights the clause will net help them the least in the world, but if they have rights they will be batter enabled to protect them. Sir J. GRAHAM : What possible advantage could such a clan , e confer upon the Great Western Railway Company. Mr. CALVERT : The advantage it would give us is this. When the Board are carrying out their works, they would be warned that they are to have_due regard to the rights of the Great Western Company. Sir J. GRAHAM : At the present moment the Great Western Company are in possession of a strip of land on the north side of the Morpeth Dock, and if the Construc tion Bill should vary their position on that land, would not they ple'td this very clause as a bar to the exercise of a discretionary power to alter the position of the existing works. Mr. CALVERT : I apprehend that under any circum stances, no committee would abrogate the rights of the Great Western Company. The CHAIRMAN : They would not abrogate any rights but would only vary them. Do you mean to argue that Parliament has no power to do that ? Mr. CALVERT : We dont% object to the power of Parlia ment, but to the power of the Board. Sir J. Guattem : The Board would not have power to d) anything without the sanction of Parliament. Mr. CALVERT : You have empowered the Board to com mence works substantially in accordance with certain plans. The word " substantially" is so ambiguous, and might be made to include so much that my clients simply ask the committee to protect their rights. Sir J. GRAHAM : I admit that the word " substantially" is open to objection, but the committee look upon the clause now submitted with great jealousy. You are the promoters of the bill, and the committee are about to create a new trust at your sugostion, and yet you do not seem to have confidence in your own trust. Mr. CALVERT : We have every confidence in it, but we desire to have our rights reserved. Sir J. OR kliAlsl : Have you any misgiving as to the amount of justice you would obtain at the hands of the Board ? Mr. CALVERT : I do not see any inconsistency in our saying, "We want you to be our trustees, but you ought to take care that you do nothing to prejudice our rights." Sir J. GRAHAM : Are you willing to omit the word " existing," so as to make the clause to read, " having regard to the rights" of the railway companies, instead of to the " existing rights " k[r. CAL WERT suggested that the words should be " rights and interests." - - - - - Sir J. GRAHAM said that would go much further than the clause went at present. Probably the best course would be to save the rights of the companies, such as they could establish in law in equity. After considerable discussion, Sir. CALVERT submitted the ialowieg clause, which he thought would meet the views of the committee :—" The Board, in carrying into effect any works authorised to be made by them, shall not prejudice any rights of the G.eat Western Company or of the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company." Sir J. GRAHAM said his objections to the clause were now much mitigated, and if pressed he should vole for it. Mr. PAGET said he could not vote for the clause, because, as far as he was enabled to judv, it would give the railway company a monopoly of access to a plot of land which might hereafter be required in any dock scheme which parliament might san ci ion. The clause was then negatived by 3to 2. Sir J. Graham and Mr. Phillips supported it, and Mr. North, Mr. Paget, and Lord Henniker opposed it. A. similar clause, proposed by Mr. WEBSTER, to reserve the rights of the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, was also rejected. Mr. CALVERT then submitted the following clause— " Nothing in this act shall exsmpt the Board from the pro visions of the Merchant Shipping Law Amendment Act, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, or any general act re lating to docks, harbours, dues on shipping, or any other charges on shipping now in force, or which shall be passed during the present, or any future session of parliament." Sir J. Cilltawi asked the learned counsel for the pro motets, if there was any clause in the general Merchant Shipping Act relating to docks and harbours, which pro vided that there should be any periodical statement of the dues levied. In the bill tow under discussion there was no limitation to the power of taxation, nor any clause providing for the publication of an annual statement of the (Ines levied, and he wished to know whether any clause to that effect was contained in the Merchant Ship ping Act. Mr. CALVERT said he was not in a position to answer the question. Mr. MIRING: The general Act provides that the dues may be diminished, but that they shall not be increased beyond the existing rate. lam not aware that it contains any other provision. Sir J. GR&ITAbi : The Scotch Harbour Act contains special provisions which require a periodical re turn to be made to the Board of Trade of any variation from the schedule appended to the bill. I do not think that parliament ght to give unlimited powers of taxation, unless they pass a clause rendering it imperative that thi promoters should come to parliament next session for a new consolidation aet, which would be the proper time for parliament to meet any limitation or regulation. With that view only, the committee omitted to insert in the bill some clauses of limitation, similar to those which are contained in the Scotch Harbour Act, Mr. WYATT said he had taken the clause now before the committee, from two acts passed last session. Sr J. GRAHAM said it would be for the committee to consider whether they would make any special report to the house upon this question. At present he only wished the promoters of the bill to understand that the point had not been overlooked. Mr. CALVERT drew attention to the 39th clause, which required the receipts of the Board to be annually published• Sir J. Gaartam said that clause had no reference to the amount of dues levied. The clause was thee agreed to. Mr. atevEar next submitted two clauses in reference to the injury which the works, carried on in connection with the Mersey, had inflicted upon the property on the Che shite shore. The first was as follows : —4' Whereas it is allegod that certain works, constructed by the Liverpool Dock Trustees, in 'minnow° of the Act passed in the Session holden in the 7th and Bth year of the reign of her present Majesty, chapter 80, and in the 11th year of the reign of her present Mapsty, chapter 10, have caused the stream of the Mersey to infringe on the opposite shore, and to waste land abutting on such river, situate in the toensUp of Poulton-cum-Seacombe and Lisc - ird, in the parish of Wallasey, in the county of Chester, thereby occasioning serious loss to the owners of such land, be it enacted, that the Board shall, if satisfied that such allegation is true, do such one of the following things as they think mostexpedient, that is to say, shall either give compensa tion to tt e owners of such land, in respect of the loss they have sustained, or may sustain, or shall construct a wall or ether prcteetion, for the purpose of preventing any waste so foiled to be caused." The second clause was as follows :—" Any expenses incurred by the board in making compensation to the owners of the above-mentioned land, or in constructing any works for their protection, shall be defrayed by the board, out of any money for the time being in their hands, standing to the account of their general receipts." Sir J. GRAHAM said the injury inflicted upon the Cheshire frontages had been fully established by evidence, but, though it might be very salutary to insert in the bill a provision to protect the property in future, he did not think the Committee ought to give compensation for the past. After a short discussion, the clauses were agreed to,with the exception of those portions which had reference to compensation. 'Air. JOHNSON, on behalf of the London and North Western Company, then applied to insert a clause prohibit ing the Board from conferring any undue preferentisl advantage upon the Great Western, or any other rail way, at Birkenhead. Mr. CALVERT objected to the loccs s(4 , lcii of the London and North Western Company. Mr. JOHNSON addressed the committee at some length in support of the locus standi of his clients, and read the clause which he wished the committee to insert in the bill. It was as follows :—" Whereas, the London and North Western, and Great Western Rail way Companys, respactively, possess railways from the south to Chester, and the London and North Western • Railway Company also possess railways from the east to Chester, and are largely interested in the Chester and Holtyhead Railway, from the west to Chester; and at Chester the Great Western, and London and North Western Railways, respectively communicate with the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railways. and by means thereof have, respectively, access to Birken head ; and, whereas it is expedient that equal facilities should be given to the Great Western, and the London and North Western Railway Companies, respectively, and to any other railway company whose railway communicates with the line of the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway—for the collection and delivery and transmission of traffic to and from the docks at Birkenhead, and in all other respeets,—therefore, it is hereby declared, that no preferential or exclusive rights, powers, or privileges shall be granted to any particular railway compasy for . any exclusive uses of the docks, basin works and conve nience, or in any other respect; but that the Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, and every other company whose railway communicates with the line of the last-mentioned Company, shall have equal rights, powers, privileges and facilities for the colleetlon and delivery and transmission of traffic, to and from the said docks at Birkenhead ; and conveniences and equal rights of use of the same docks, works and convenience, and in all other respects." No new clauses being proposed, the Chairman directed the room to be cleared. _ _ On the re-admisßis n of the parties, at the expiration of half an hour, Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, the committee has now con eluded its labours in respect to the Mersey Conservancy Bills It has adjusted and passed the preamble; it has settled the Claus :s, and it has determined to report that bill to the house, accompanied by certain special observations. That bill would be so reported to the House of Commons to-morrow. Council on both sides will remember the obser vation which I made on behalf of the committee at the commencement of our labours. When we determined to take the Mersey Conservansy Bill first, I said that bill contained principles which were of paramount importance, and that it was the major proposition really covering the other bills, which were secendary and minor. We have come to the decision, as far as our decision can go, that the governing body of the Mersey requires forthwith to be changed; and that thole shall be a transfer of power from the Corporation, and the Dock Committee associated with the Corporation, to a new body, to bs chosen by a new constituency, and to persons so to be chosen to be subject to a new qualification. The preamble and the fourth clause of the next bill are entirely incon sistent with that decision. The committee, from self-respect, cannot for one moment proceed to consider that second bill except under notice to the parties promoting it: that the preamble is inconsistent with our past decision, and cannot be assented to ; and that the 14th clause also must be altered, and so framed that the operation of the bill shall be contingent upon the appointment of the new governing body, in conformity with the bill we are about to report to the House. Thetis our fixed decision, and it is right that the parties promot ing the bill should take their course under that notice and warning. Petbaps they would wish to have till to-morrow to consider the effect of the notice I have given them, and will either proceed with the bill under that notice, or otherwise shape their course as they may deem ex pedient. Mr. Malawian= : Sir, we are much obliged by your proposal of delay, but we have had an opportunity of reflecting upon what might probably be your decision and your view, and, therefore, I am in a position to make answer without further delay. Of course, sir, we were perfectly prepared for the view that the committee has taken, and that being come to a decision to change the governing body, they would hardly stultify that decision by passing the bill for the construction of the docks in the original state of things, and, therefore, your announce ment takes us in no manner by surprise. And now, sir, with all respect to the committee, and bowing to their decision, as it is our duty to do—to their decision on the last bill, that it is as far as it will enables us to do by not making it necessary that we should proceed to take a part in passing any of the clauses, I shall state to the committee the course we intend to pursue. We shall proceed upon the Construction Bill as ashen we first entered this room, and before the committee announced that the Conservancy Bill would be fir. .t taken ; and we shall, therefore, sir, if you will p rmit us, proceed with our Construction Bill, confident, of course, that in its progress, as regards the governing body, you will make such alterations as shall make it consistent with the first bill that you have agreed to report to the House. We, sir, with very great respect to the committee cannot run the risk of laying on your table a bill in an handwriting which recognises the new conservancy. We shall, therefore, respectfully produce our bill, expecting and believing that you will alter it. We shall lay before you the nature of Mr. Hartley's scheme, and the reason why the Corporation thought that whether they, or any body were fixed upon to carry out the works at Birkenhead, these were the best plans. Sir J. GRAHAM : The majority of the committee may entertain an undue prejudice in favour of an arrangement which they have already decided to be right and just, wide; the eirounotaneec Diet would be a gerseral arrange ment, consequent on the present decision, and we should gladly undertake the task of considering the question of construction, with the view of bringing the Birkenhead works in connection with the Liverpool dock scheme, so that in the hands of the new trust the general interests of both sides of the Mersey should be recognised. I do not exactly understand the force of what you have just stated, that you will go with this construction bill on the under standing that the preamble is to be adjusted in conformity with he decision ju t come to. Mr. MICRRAVETHER: I may state at or ee that we shall go to the House of lords, prepared to offer the bill, if it should get there, the most strenuous opposition. We cannot make any recognition, therefore, of the propriety of your decision on the Conservancy Bill. We still thick, or we should not have brought the bill here, that it contains the best plans for works at Birkenhead. We are prepared, and are desirous, to go on with the bill, but we cannot with our own hands place in the preamble of the bill a statement which would in the slightest degree admit the propriety of your decision, or it would inevitably be cast in our teeth in the House of Lords that the new con servancy had our sanction. We propose now to proceed with the Conservancy Bill as a mere raw case of construc tion ; and if you should find that Mr. Hartley's plans have a preference to Mr. Renders, you would pass them, making such alterations as you might think fit to carry out the decision you have come to on the Conservancy Bill. The CHAIRMAN : The effect will bo that we must negative your preamble. Mr. MEREWSTIIER: Pardon me, sir. That is not neces sarily the case. You may pass the bill in its integrity, and say that the. bill should be transferred to such and such a body to carry out. The CHAIRMAN : Unless you consent to our altering the preamble we must negative it. Mr. MaRRENVETHER (after c )nsulting with some members of the Liverpool Town Council) : Will you forgive me, sir ? We thought we knew exactly what was the course we should adopt, but— The CliarnlAN : You had better ta':e until the morning to consider of the matter. Mr. 31ER,RWSTIIIM : Ps.rdon me, sir. but— The CHAIRMAN : You had batter take time to consider. Mr. MEREWETIIER : If the right hon. chairman will allow me one word. The committee might think it inconsistent, after what I have said, If — The CIIAIRNAN : Believe me we had better adjourn, an:l you can consider the matter during this evening. The committee is adjourned until noon to-morrow. DUCKY OF LANCASTER-MR. BERT OL A_C Cl' S COIISIITrEE. The inquiry was resumed, when Mr. Beztolacci was again examined. Much correspmtlence which had taken place upon the subject of signing the bills was put in,- in which Mr Bertolacci objected especially to the certificate appended to them. He also objected to sign them, b3cause the certificate would then carry the infetence that the auditor was an advi.ing party. In the examination of accounts an auditor should be unfettered, and his duty was to make himself acquainted with all matters submitted to him. He had never struck a balance, and had never made a complete audit of the accounts. Mr. Bertolacci then entered int) a lengthy statement as to his appointment to the office o► auditor of the duchy whilst holding a situation in the Ordnance-office. The committee then adjourned. ELECTION COMMITTEE. SUNDERLAND ELECTION. The petition against the return of Mr. George Hudson has been withdrawn. PONTEFRACT. The case of the petitioners was concluded to-day, and evidence was heard on behalf of the sitting members in refutation of the charge of bribery and corruption. ROCHDALE, This committee was occupied in hearing evidence in proof of agency. MAYO. The committee-room was densely crowded. W. B. Chambers, valet to Colonel Higgins, was with his master in a phaeton on the Sunday before the polling day. On the road they met a large mob, with Father Conway at their head. Father Con way came up to the carriage, and said, "is this Higgins? It is, at him boys." A shower of sticks and stones then came flying on the carriage. Mr. Bernwd 3l'Manuel,a tnag:strate and a Roman Catholic, spoke gam rally as to the violence and intimidation during the election. BANK RU PI'S. [By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.] Timm &s DANSON BRUDAY, Rupert. street, tavern keeper. Ricusitio Bill's, Shrewsbury, wine merchant. JOSEPH Caoprs, Walsall, builder. RICHARD GOMER, Dudley, dealer in fancy goods. JAMES BRIMWELL, Glossop, grocer. WILLIAM HENRY rIBBIT, Old-street, St. Luke's, oilman. - SAILITEL MiffioPr, Worksop, butcher, HENRY HOLRAND, Ley, builder. THOMAS STYLES SANSBURY, Na , k-lane, dealer in hemp. ANTHONY MARSDEN and WILLIAM MARSDEN, Islington shawl warehousemen. HUGH INNEs CAMERON, late of liyde-park-gate, Kenning. ton Gore, sheep salesman. SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A LIVERPOOL EXCURSION TRAIN. The annual holiday of the factory operatives in Wigan was held on Saturday last, and excursion trips to Liver pool and Blackpool, by railway, were arranged for. A large number of the factory operatives, about 5,000 altogether, availed themselves of the facilities thus afforded for a day's recreation, by far the larger propor tion selecting Liverpool as the scene of their day's enjoy ment. The day was remarkably fine, and those who went to Blackpool experienced,notbing to mar their pleasures. Unfortunately, however, the Liverpool excursion closed with a painful accident, by which a large number of persons were more or less injured. The first return train left' Liverpool about 25 minutes to seven o'clock. On reaching Kirby station, the train was delayed in order to collect the tickets, as is usual in the case of excursion trains. While thus waiting, a luggage train from Liverpool was seen approaching. The usual signal was given, and in addition, the passengers, who had become aware of the danger, did all they could to warn the driver of the luggage train by shouting. waving of handkerchiefs, &c., but still the train approached, and seeing the danger imminent, many jumped out, and so escaped. Imme diately afterwards the collision took place, and a scene of confusion ensued which may be better imagined than described. Surgical aid was rendered to all the sufferers, and a special train conveyed all the surgeons in the town to the scene of the accident. The driver of the luggage train was taken into custody and brought on to Wigan, where ,he still remains. Should no death take place, he will be handed over to the couny police.—Manchester Guardian. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CARLISLE RAC S.-YESTERDAY. CORBY CASTLE STAR hIS„ Intercidona..... I j Meta 2 Dineany 3 Three ran. CUMBERLAND STAKE Pattomime....] King of th'. GipEics..2 All's Well .3 Eight ran. Won in a canter. GRAND STAND UANDICAP. De GinkeL......l Laugh Bawn ....2 I Alma 3 Ei[zbt ran. Swee was s3ratehed Lt 1.30 p.m. CHELMSFORD RAC E S.—YESTERDAY. LLEYW 10D STAKES. Admiral of the White..l I Firebrand.... 2 I Little Pet.. 3 CHELMSFORD HANDICAP. Renown ....1 Triton 2 I Lord Derwentwater ..3 Six ran. Won by three .engths. PAID FORFEIT.—Energy, Early Bird, Siding, and Old English Gentleman. BRENTWOOD STARES. Schoolfelow....l I Miss Waters ....2 Vola!'cre. 3 MEMBERS' STAKES. Maggie Lauder..l I Lucy Lockit .2 I Jeu d'Esprit......3 Six ran. WELTER STAKE'. Turk Firmament fell. Two started. LATEST BETTING. GOODWOOD CUP. 4 to 1 agst Arsenal (taken) COUNTY COURT. Judge, presided i number Of ga.VE, ieterest. —Yesterday, Mr. Conway, Deputy n this court and disused of a large None of them possecied any public THE QUEEN AT MANCHESTER. Her Majesty the glean, the Prince Consort, the other members of the Royal Family, and the Prince of Prasia, a-rived about ten o'clock on Monday evening, at the Petri . - croft station of the London and North Western Railway, whence they immediately proceeded in the royal carriages te Worsley Hall. The royal party left London at five o'clock in the afternoon. It was originally intended to start much earl , er in the day, so as to arrive in the afternoon at the Marl of Eilesmere's residence, but the arrangement was altered, owing to the extreme heat of the weather, which rendered it much more agreeable to travel in tho evening, and a tele graphic message to this effect was received at Worsley Hall on Sunday. Notwiths:anding the lateness of the hour at which her Majesty arrived, there were a considerable number of people assembled at the station, who welcomed her with much cheering. In preparation tor the royal visit, a large pavilion, one hundred and twenty feet long, had been erected over the station platform by Mr. Rsinford, of Liverpool. Tire interior was gaily adorned with different coloured tapestries, and with stands of flowering plants. Over the entrance to the staircase leading from the station was placed a crown of flowers, constructed by Mr. Noyes, nurseryman. The royal party passed under a tiumphal arch near the station, past the Bridge water Foundry and. Monton-green, to the private carriage drive to Worsley. The road was kept by 100 men of the county pike, under Captain Sheppard, the chief constable ; and in the private grounds a number of Lord Elesmere's tenantry were en gaged to assiat in preserving order, but their services were not so much required as they might have been if the arrival had taken place as early as was at first contemplated. A terrible thunderstorm vieitecl Worsley, Mvichester, and the noighbou"hood, but the royal travellers esetp3d it entirely, and not so much as a drop of rain fell on the royal train, though the storm lasted until past nine o'cl)ck. iYAL VISIT' TO THE EXFIIB Tl' N. Yesterday morning the Queen, accompanied by the Prince C nsort, the Prince of Wales, the Prince-s Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, Lord Palmerston, and a brilliant assemblage of the aristocracy left Worsley Hall, emorted by the Lancashire Yeomanry, preceded by the private carriages of the Earl of Ellesmere, the Earl of Burlington, Lord Lieutenant of the county ; Charles Townley, Esq., High Sheriff of the county of Lancaster, aud proceeded at a rapid rate through Wonky, S winton, height, Pendleton, and Salford. As Cro;s lane, the Right Hon. the Lord Overstone, President of the General Council of the Exhibition, and Lieutenant General Sir H. Smith, G C. 8., Commlnding the Midland District, and his staff, met the royal cortege, which wore conducted from thence to the Exhibition building by a squadron of the 4th Dragoon Guards. The cortege entered the city of Manchester by the Albert bridge, where the Mayor and the town clerk met the the procession. Triumphal arches, flags, banners, and devices thronged the streets, and covered the g7gantic warehouses. The members of the various operative societies formed at different points on the route, aud added to the imposing character of the spectacle. Her Majesty arrived at the Exhibition building shortly after eleveri o'clock, and was received by a guard of honour and a royal salute. Her Majesty and the royal party was con ducted by the prepident, chairman, and members of the Executive Committee along the central hall, to the dais in the transept, and having ::aken their places on the daie, the orchestra performed the National Anthem. Ad dresses were then presented to her Majesty by the chairman on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Exhibtion, and from the Mayor and Corp rations of Manchester and Salford. After reading replies to the addresses of the committee and the corpora tion of Manchester and Salford, her Majesty conferred the !amour of knighthood on the Mayor of Manchester. Tue orchestra then performed the Coronation Anthem ( during the performance of which her Majesty and the royal visitors proceeded to examine the picture galleries, which were exclu'ively reserved for the royal party until their departure from the Exhibition. The royal visitors then returned to the transept, and were conducted down the central hall to the reception room. During the progress of her Majesty through the picture galleries, the following selection of music was performed by the orchestra (con sisting of six hundred performers), conducted by Mr. Charles Halle:— PROGRkMNIT. 1. "The Coronation Anthe.n" "The Marvellous Work," from the " Creation "—Soprano solo, Madame Clara Novella, and chorus . 3 Air, from "Jephtha," "Deeper and deeper still," Mr. Sims Reeves 4. First chorus from .he "Hymn of PraTse" Mendeissohn. 5. Luther's ilymu—Soprano solo, Madame Clara No;rello, and chorus 6. Air, Tenor —" In Native worth " from "Tt e Creation," Mr. Sims Reeves .... llaydn. 7. The ‘. Hallelujah" chorus The wea her was fine till the Queen entered the build ing, when rain fell in torrents. Her Majesty will pay her second visit to the Exhibition this (Wednesday) morning ; and should the weather be favourable, the journey is to be made in the Earl of Ellee mere's state bargss, on the Bridgewater Canal, which runs in the immediate vicinity of Worsley Hall. The barge for the use of the Queen, and immediate members of the Royal family, is a beautiful craft, not unlike the slim gaudy caiqaes of the Pasha that skim about the waters of the Golden Horn. It is luxuriously fitted up to accommodate thirty or forty viiitors. A larger one is set apart for the suite in attendance, which can convey ['ivy or eighty with ease. Both will be used, when four horses will tow them from Worsley Hall down to within 100 yards of the Exhibition in half an hoar. The visit will be strictly private, and probably, with the exception of the royal f tmily, and the most distinguished members of the suite, there will be none invited to be present save the Mayor of Manchester, one or two members of the executive com mit'oe, and Mr. Deane, the general manager. On Thursday the royal party will return to London, arranging the time of their departure so as to reach the metropolis at an early hour of the evening. As the inhabitants of Salford expressed• the gratification it would afford them if her Majesty were to visit Peel Park and inspect the statue lately placed there in com memoration of her Majesty's visit in 1851, it is probable that her Majesty will return to Worsley Hall this day, by way of Salford, and drive through the park. The magnificent historical picture in water colours of the opening of the Exhibition by the Prince Consort on the sth of May, was placed upon an easel in the reception room at the Exhibition. The drawing was executed by and has occupied th a t gent l eman ' s the ceremonial. The vi ew i s t a k en f rom the m.mient when th e P r i nce C onsort, e to the addres s o f th e execut i ve com leMihnaertviirrieLg orchestra t o ri t ms sh H i sacaget replyu e, com mittee, is in the act of handing the document to Mr. Fairbairn, the chairman. Mr. Hague has been commis sioned to paint a companion picture of the ceralonial of to-day, and both will be engraved. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary honoured the Countess of Fife with their presence on Monday evening, at a musical party given by her ladyship, at her residence on Carlton House Terrace. His Excellency the French Ambassador and the Coun tess Persigny have left London for St. Leonard's-on -Sea. His Excellency and the Countess are occupying apart-. ments at Starkey's Royal Victoria Hotel, on the Espla nade. The Countess of Dunraven's soiree clansan . te is unavoid ably postponed. The French ,Exhibition was honoured on Monday morning by a visit from the Duke and Duchess de Mont pensier. .6 THE NORTHERN TIMES. --- LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1857.