The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-23 00:00:00

ice )11 0 , lest, RUSSIA AND TURKEY. PROGRESS OF EVENTS (Prom our Second Edition of Yesterday.) The 7" -tines learns from Paris, that telegraphic Ilews has arrived from Constantinople down to 13th instant. 0 ha d courier who conveyed the collective note circular instructions of the Vienna Conference p o arrived', and the ambassadors of the Four i iit we rs proceeded at once to take these documents tit ° conideration. A strict inquiry has been ordered 4 1 ° ,,the causes of the destruction of part of the 4,:; 1811 fleet at Sinope, which is attributed to the h b'ect of the Turkish authorities in not recalling or ° , s e vessels, after they had been warned to do so, t • '0 the want of timely information that the Rus -141,, fleet was cruising off the coast of Asia. Th "-li,e Post contains dispatches stating that the 1 , 1 ",t48 in Asia had penetrated the Russian territory, 4' 4 not only have maintained their footing, but co mpelling in various encounters defeated the enemy, 'Telling him to retreat or withdraw into his for tified positions. At the latest date, the Turkish eua nnanders represent themselves as preparing nth due caution, to advance further into the "Sian territory. i t T he Post concludes from the authentic accounts received, that the Turks have not suffered `c defeats in Asia, of which the Russian bulletins '`‘'e such gloomy descriptions. With regard to the assertion, that the French t it ti voy at Constantinople overruled Admiral Dun i:l4S proposition for action, the Post is certain that cannot be contradicted, when it asserts that the r, 'joy and action of the French government, so far t 'to having hampered ours, has always been rather advance, and never behind, from the day the :elach fleet sailed from Toulon to the Greek Sl a ters, whilst ours remained in apparent indeci 4at Malta. There is reason to believe that the pabined fleets have entered the Black Sea; but the 0 5t does not think they will go to Sebastopol. The Daily News says private dispatches contra ct the report of the entrance of the fleets , and 'kat It - certainly needs confirmation. OT. PETERSBURG, 2.—The news of the victory at 4 , 40 pe had been celebrated by a thanksiving in tne churches, and the firing of can g non. A b u tkish flag was paraded through the city. The r 4 ssians had stopped a steamer going to Constan - Lople, with the French consul of Wallachia on °B .rd, and compelled her to return to Odessa. tit was . asserted that the fleets had entered the lack Sea, and that the Turks had suffered an other defeat in lesser Wallachia. 13 ; 1 , 17 ; 1 56 or l s reolsl. sTRIA—VIENNA, 18TH.—The budget for n ext ' e llr shows a deficiency of £9,500,000 sterling. g e 6 0 FURTHER PARTICULARS. ENTERING THE BLACK SEA. t t il is well known to nil who take an interest in affairs of the East, that the policy of Russia, ll lee the time of Catherine 11., and indeed before , ha s been directed to make the Black Sea "a Rus 41ltn Lake." So high has Nicholas been upon this e'iorite policy that he has, long years ago, formally e nimunicated- to every court in Europe the decla ration that he should consider the entrance of a l e et of any European power into that sea as a de taration of war int elligence, London journals of yesterday bring us this t elligence, which, appearing in the Times at mid aY, is confirmed by the Globe, another journal 0 :Posed to hear ministerial promptings in the ' enin g "It is stated on authority that the French and governments, on the receipt of the news te the battle of Sinope, dispatched orders to their y, s Pective Admirals to enter the Black Se a im 'ediatelv.”' tjhis intelligence is dated "Vienna , Tuesday °l.ll ,ing," and here is the corroboration :- 4:: in another portion of our impression we copy 7 , ,Patches which appear in the second edition of he Times, informing us that it was stated in Vienna , 1 14 ,1 the combined fleets of France and England .entered the Black Sea. Although having no 41 41t iVe information that such an event has actu (let taken place, we may state with no less confi- A ti re than satisfaction, that we have ever 3, reason believ e the next official accounts from Con , st an -14,11\,0p1e will f u rnish full confirmation of the btate eyel o f our contemporary. In this as well as in o ther step adopted to counteract the aggres. 14 'e i3Olicy of Russii, we gladly recognise the cot , ued and cordial union of the governments e ranee and England." i t ng'aud and France, we may now be sure, have ke the face of the threat we have mentioned above. tit thei r fleets into the Black Sea—it remains to L : seen whether Nicholas will have the temerity to a lise such a declaration as that event was. threat -,,,e4 with. - ,,, e4 With. 4 ,,'11e following further details are of interest; they t,e,from the correspondent of a London . journal :-- V"-e entry of the combined fleets into the Black ti t t May now be considered as a fait accompli; and D I government is in daily,-.1 may say hourly, ex tieletation of receiving the official announcem cut of General fact from its ambassador at Constantinople. t o ,lleral Baraguy cl'Hilliershas instructions to send announcing the Caradoc steamer with dispatches of the the execution of the order for the entry tlo ,Lne fleets, the manner in which the collective I) (3 'e of the four powers has been received by the i t , l le, and the effect produced on the population by tis , th e o ffi c i a l d e t a il s o f t h e Si nope massacre , an d T urku actual state of the publi c m i n d i n th e cap it a l o f 'llrkey. alluded yesterday to the manner in which the thNs of that calamitous event were received by 14 been Louis Napoleon. What I then said ret ueen confirmed since in a q uarter in which 4 14 /Ice may be placed. A burst of indignation teat followed that announcement, and I b elieve t e at for one whole day the Emperor was fully de (Plined to undertake alone, if necessary, the task t i Protecting the Turks from future outrage in the t e .,ek Sea, if not avenging those they have al ti l klY endured: A personage of some distinction, 4 °ll o not a political character, having - very re h e ll tlY mentioned to Louis Napoleon that he had Itrd of the entry of the fleets, and wished to t tl ll ' 3 ,w if it was true—' Yes,' the Emperor is said e gave answered, I hope so, and if they ha v e n 'tered you may rest assured that they shall not, t it exce pt w ith the Russians from the Princi titi.es.” $s has declared on another occasion that, in the o "tern. question as it stood , there was but one. c h l ia'se for him to follow, and that was le sentier e onneur—the path of honour — and that he was t i e h termined to do so, even if he did it alone and ti!,aided. As to the inertness of England, doubts exist, and I believe they have within the last 1: 0 or th ree days pas s ed away. So far as anything p l lnaan can be said to be certain, England and janee are frankly, - sincerely, and loyally united the great question of the day. (),: I may also assure you that the effect produced h . ,: the English Cabinet by the disaster at Sinope C 4 not been less than here. Dispatches have 4 !en sent to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, commu fl'.('ating the approval of his conduct in sending the endto the Black Sea, after the affair of Sinope, h il d also, I am assured, in giving the order for the o i T t 4 i re squadron to enter. I mentioned, a month be nd since, the determination of the Emperor to - 1 1 , a corps dannee, if necessary, for the relief of egey. ' The orders that were then, or soon after, en, have been since renewed, and Marshal St. - baud could, at the present moment , detach no 4eonaoticesiderable force to the East at a very short 4 % T he first object of the combined fleets, once in he Black Sea, will be to protect the coasts of Euro -4444 and Asiatic Turkey from outrage , and render 4 4 Possible another collision between the Ott oman k ~ r Russian squadrons. What they will do if a l i i,Nan admiral repeats the boast attributed to of sweeping " the Turks and their abettors" i e 14 the Euxine, it is not difficult to guess. Sinope `4l l t Ylt the only harbour in that part of the wor ld f o i t e r 'l e may witness the destruction of a fleet and a Ig y ti lk i .kt Was rumoured this afternoon that the Rus karo4mbassador in Paris was on the point of de - N, (- ling his passports. When the news is officially i h I lunicated to him of the combined fleets theenter ki, Black Sea such a step on the part of M. de alr e ,, e leff is not improbable. M. de Kisseleff has rt e lY his instructions. 9 04 , 0. egraphic intelligence has reached Paris from Itiu„.Lantinople down to the 13th inst. A strict t i tvir ~,„Y has been ordered into the causes of the de -"11 of part of the Turkish fleet at Sinope, tl/ ell is attributed to the neglect of the Turkish t4°rities. Werioaio HEALTH COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY. The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held on yesterday, at half-past two o'clock, Mr. LANOSDALE in the chair. The other members present were—Messrs. Dover, Moss, Beckwith, Fleming, Robertson Gladstone, Hodson, Johnson, Godfrey, Halhead, .11.1‘Nicoll, Henderson, and Nicholson Two gentlemen, Messrs. 'Johnson and Roskell, waited on the committee on the part of the inhabitants of the township of Kirkdale, in reference to the present state of Smith-street and the streets adjacent. It was the great thoroughfare, they observed, for the walking portion of the community ; but it was now rendered almost wholly impassable by the proceedings of the cottage owners in the neighbourhood, in breaking up the ground for building and making bricks. There being certain legal difficulties in the way of the adoption of this street, the matter was referred to the bo rough engineer and the town-clerk to report on. Mr. RisnTorr, the building surveyor, ieported the inspec tion of 172 delapidated privies and ashpits, 140 of which were undergoing alterations and repairs, and 32 of which required such ; together with various ther details in his department. Mr. NEWLANDS, the borough engineer, reported numerous particulars of the work done and in hand in his department. And Mr. FRESH, the inspector of nuisances, reported the emptying of 1072 cesspools, the inspection of 111 nuisances complained of by the inhabitants, and reference of 107 others to the borough engineer for remedy by drainage, &c., with a detail of other operations of his staff, including particulars of a sanitary examination of 632 court-houses, 55 lodging houses, 374 cellars formerly cleared of inmates, in the lower parts of the town, and from which it appeared that the sanitary officers had made special examinations during the week of 2020 different apartments in street-houses, and 1916 rooms in court-houses in the districts named, for the purpose of eradicating unhealthiness therefrom, besides the cellar inspections above named. Mr. M`GowAN informed- the committee that on the pre vious day there was a kind of crusade before the magistrates with reference to the notices which had been served on per sons for not whitewashing and purifying their dwellings, and they were very fairly met by one legal gentleman, and stoutly opposed by another ; and the result was they obtained convictions in every case against sixty or seventy persons, with fines varying from 20s. to 3s. and 4s. and the magis trates expressed a hope that such proceedings would have the effect of making persons keep their houses in good order. They complimented the course adopted by the committee. Mr. JOHNSON . asked were the convictions obtained against the owners or the occupiers ? Mr. 111‘GowArr : Against the owners in every case but one, where the occupier made the house very dirty in a short time after occupation. Mr. Fresh thought it his duty to proceed against the occupier in that case. The MEDICAL-OFFICER of HEALTH reported that the con tinued low temperature causes a progressive increase in the mortality from diseases of the lungs, and that the general mortality of the borough is consequently, as in the previous week, comparatively high. The total deaths were 247, being six more than in the week preceding, but ten less than the average of the same week in the preceding six years, after allowing for increase of population. From diseases of the lungs the deaths were 116, being 12 more than in the pre tious week, and a greater number than in any week of the nine months preceding. Excluding this class of diseases, each week's return shows a decrease of 6 in the mortality of the borough. From zymotic diseases there were 53 deaths, being 26 fewer than in the week previous. This includes 12 from hopping cough, 10 from cholera, 7 from measles, 6 from typhus, 5 from scarlatina, and 4 from diarrhoea. Bowel complaints are not more than usually prevalent, and neither the registrars' returns, nor the daily reports of the district medical officers furnish any indication of the immediate spread of epidemic disease. The temperature was below the average on every day of the week. The mean, 37 6-10th degrees, was nearly 4-1 degrees below the average of the same week of the preceding seven years. In the corresponding week of last year, when the mean temperature was 11 degrees higher, the mortality, from diseases of the lungs was little more than half that of the past week. The medical officer of health also called the attention of the committee to the offensive condition of Grosvenor-street, opposite Grosvenor terrace. This street was reported to the committee on the . 20th June, 1848, as having a stream of filth flowing diago nally along it for a space of 50 yards. The street is still in the same condition as then reported, and in its present state is a disgrace to the town. Mr. JOHNSON said that ho had brought the condition of this street some years ago under the notice of the com mittee. The BOROUGH ENGINEER replied that in 1851 he had brought plans before the committee for the improvement of the street, but that they could not be carried out in conse quence of the objections of the owners. Were it not for those objections, the street would have been long since adopted, but now there was no use in temporisi% The matter was- referred to the borough engineer to re port on as to the expense. MORTALITY OF LIVERPOOL. -VISIT FROM THE INSPECTOR OF TIIB BOARD OF RBALTII. Mr. LEE, inspector of the general board of health, was then introduced. He said : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, being in town, as the inspector of the general board of health, I thought it my duty to pay my respects to you. I need not say that every fact and circumstance connected with the de velopment of cholera, and the means that may be taken for its prevention, and also the apparent cause of its de velopment, must be of very great importance, especially at the present time, to the general board of health, as they have, under the order in council, to advise as to preventive or precautionary measures, and such palliatives as may be adopted with advantage throughout the country in the event of the epidemic becoming general next year, as maybe expected. With that view, hearing there had been some cases in Liver pool, a minute was made at the latter end of last week, which I will take leave to read to the committe :—" 17th Dec., 1853.—The board, having been informed, although there had been a very great expenditure in sanitary works in Liverpool, that the mortality continues to be excessively high, especially from zymotic diseases, deems it important to ascertain the circumstances they may be attributed to, — Order that Mr. Lee be instructed to visit Liverpool as early as convenient, to examine the causes of epidemic, and the places where cholera recently prevailed, and report to the board thereon."—lt forms no part of my duty to interfere, or attempt to interfere in any degree, with any matter of local management or arrangement in Liverpool ; but simply to do what am in the course of doing through the assistance of your officers, to look at those localiti es , an d no t so muc h with reference to Liverpool, (for the reason I have already stated), and to report to the general board of health, as to any peculiar circumstance; every matter connected with this disease being thought of the utmost importance. I commenced my labours yesterday, and have visited along with Dr. Duncan and your engineer, and to day with Mr. Fresh's assistants, a considerable number of places, •where cholera has recently exhibited itself in Liverpool ; and I say, with three exceptions, so far as the inspection has gone, I have found the cases have been in close contiguity with open privies, and almost with those exceptions, iu the houses immediately adjoining to those open privies. It seems, there fore, although your drainage works are very excellent, and the pavement has been wonderfully improved, and 3ou have done, undoubtedly, more than has been done anywhere else in sanitary works, —still it does seem that a s the privies now are, they are a very serious evil. Of this you are fully con vinced, and I am glad to hear that you are about to apply to parliament for powers to remedy those evils. The posi tions of those privies, and their character are both objec tionable, and from the character of the houses themselves, I do not know how they can be remedied generally, except by converting them into some sort of closets from which the soil should go away. They are in the most disgusting state, as perhaps some of the committee may have seen ; and the emanations from them are in very many instances within a few feet of the window of the rooms in which the persons have died of cholera. In a great number of instances, such is the position of the houses, the windows of the chamber in which persons have died, look down on the place where the soil is. lam quite aware you have not power to remedy those things, and I am glad you are about to apply for pow ers to remedy them ; but it is a remarkable fact, so flar as this inspection has gone, with three exceptions (two of which can be accounted for by other causes) those cases occur in houses closely contigious to privies. The C HAIRMAN remarked that t 1 e committee was quite aware of what Mr. Lee had stated. They knew the proximity of the windows to those places was such, in many cases, the only wonder was the disease was not more prevalent ; and until they had something from head quarters to assist them in rectifying this evil, they were actually tied with their hands behind their bads. Mr. GLADsxoNE : The powers we seek to convert privies into water closets, is to apply only in exceptional cases. Is not that so ? Mr. IlopsoN : If the medical officer of health say they are injurious to health, you can convert them : but unless he say so, by the act of parliament you can go no further. The CHAIRMAN said in his opinion the water closets would never have the desired effect. Nothing would be an absolute cure, but some power to make the baCk premises elsewhere, so that the petty, or whatever it might be, should be at a sufficient distance from any windows that would spread contagion. Mr APNIcoLt. : You must deal with things as they are. Tho CHAIRMAN : Whilst the present law ii is force they will keep building, and we cannot prevent them. Mr. LEE : One of the best apparatus for common pur poses is aue to your borough engineer. There are several kinds of apparatus not liable to disarrangement, that might be kept clean, either under public or private control, and at a cost not exceeding £2 for each place. I am quite aware when you have got an ignorant dirty set of people to deal with, there are great difficulties. It is an educational pro cess ; and will require some time to reform people whose habits were at present disgusting, and teach them to use a water closet properly. In a great many instances I have examined, I do not see how the evil can he remedied, other than by some apparatus of a nature that will take the soil down into the drain, because the buildings are already erected, and unless we have powers to tike some down, ynu cannot get more space than there is. We all know, who happen to be blessed with the means—that we can have these accom modations in our own houses; and they an be used regularly without being in the slightest degree ofensive. You would have trouble no doubt for a considerable time, but as they are now, their very character is such, they can not be but prejudicial to health, and Dr. Duncan will bear me out in this. I don't speak from medical knowledge, but the result of long experience in those matters ; and if your bill went to the extent only of proof being required that it was pre judicial to health, and that disease was produced by it, then I should scarcely think it would go far enough. That of course I say with all deference to the committee. If it were capable of being prejudicial to health in the estimation of the medical officer, that would be a good turning point, because you would then throw the whole responsibility on him who is, no doubt, best able, from his professional skill, to judge. Mr. GLADSTONE : Perhaps Mr. Lee is not aware that privies, as they exist at present, are under the sanction of an act of parliament. The act of parliament points out how many privies there should be, and I think points out the position and size of them.. The borough engineer will be able to speak more correctly on that point. Mr. NEWLANDS : They are built under the old building act. Mr. GLADSTONE : That has the sanction of parliament. Mr. NEWLANDS : In going through the courts Mr. Lee could indicate the successive improvements in the acts of parliament, by the successive improvements of the dwellings. Mr. HonsoN disagreed on one point with Mr. Lee, namely, that Liverpool was unhealthy. Liverpool had been in a very healthy state, and they had very little reason to complain. Mr. M‘NicoLL : Mr. Lee only referred to one class of disease—zymotic diseases. The CHAIRMAN considered Dr. Duncan should be called upon to explain what was his experien6e for, some time past. Mr. GLA.DSTONE : Before Dr. Duncan speaks, it is only fair to make this remark, and as the opportunity is offered to me before Mr. Lee, I mention it whilst he is here,—in dependent of this matter which occupies his attention, I think you will agree with me, and most of the other mem bers will also agree with me, it would be well if he turned his attention to the manifest injury we suffer, in a sanitary point of view, from the smoke emitted from our manufac tories. Our health suffers more from this one circumstance, the denso heavy atmosphere with which our lungs arc charged from morning till night, and causes more mischief, more indisposition, and a greater number of fatal cases than anything else. It is an evil to the whole town. Mr. LEE : I have observed a great quantity of smoke here, and I could not help remarking it yesterday to Dr. Duncan and your engineer, when they accompanied 11111 ; but it does not form a part of the mission with which I am charged ; and as I said, I do not come with the least idea or desire to interfere at all with your local arrangements ; and I think perhaps you may not know there has been recently an act passed which would enable you to deal with the smoke nuisance. Mr. GLADSTONE : I am aware of the act. Mr. LEE : Quite irrespective of any general board of health, I cannot but observe how the fronts of buildings are discoloured, and shop and on other fronts are streaked down where the rain conies with marks, and the painting is dis coloured with particles of soot. I have no doubt the smoke nuisance is a very great nuisance, and as you have got powers under the act recently passed, you will exercise them. With respect to what another member said, I may merely observe, I think he referred to the minute which I read, not to anything of mine. It was the remark in the minute of the general board of health which I read to you, that the unhealthiness had respect to a zymotic class of diseases, as was stated, and more especially with reference to cholera. Mr; DOVER : With reference to the subject of privies and water closets, lam of opinion, in cottages whieji I am now speaking of, if you put water closets there, they will be per fectly useless. They would get stopped by all sorts of things being thrown into them. But there is another diffi culty. Where would You get water ? You made allusion to a cheap construction of water closet, but that cheap con struction will not supply you with a sufficient quantity of water, or a receptacle for water to wash the soil down. From my observation I am of opinion that a great deal of nuisance connected with privies may be abated by this means .—by keeping water out of the ash-pit, and by throwing a quan tity of ashes on the soil. I find in places where that has been done, when water has been kept out of the ash-pit and where ashes have been thrown over the soil there was little or no smell arising. I think if we could observe a plan of that kind, and get people into the way of using it, it would be found greatly to reduce the evil. ' Mr. LEE said that ashes acted chemically on soil to a certain extent; and to that extent, no doubt, had a tendency to disinfect the soil. But then it would be required to have the ash-pit always tolerably full. Mr. DovER remarked that the ash pit should be covered, and that there should be an opening in the side. Mr. LEE : Where you get water you get an agent which creates oleaginous gases which are most injurious to health. If you get a covering you keep in the foal smells, and it comes up the seat in a more condensed state when a person goes in ; and is more likely to be prejudicial. Parties might abuse those closets, but apparatus could be made so that it could not be injured. They might make dirty work of it, but with better arrangements, the habits of the people them selves would undoubtedly improve ; and this had been found to be the case everywhere where closets had been tried. Iu Field- lane, St. Giles's, of which many of the committee may have heard, closets were introduced as an experiment,with the lowest class of people, those wild Irish, who were as bad there as in Liverpool ; and for a long time there was an ob struction in the way, and the closets, were very much abused ; but 1 am informed the habits of the people have so much improved for many months, there has been only twice occa sion to pay . any attention to them at all. As to the water, it was a mistake that ar y large quantity of water is required for a closet, because, if the closet is properly conducted, as the water goes off with a flash, from two quarts to a gallon would suffice after One person had used it. If there were two houses to one, there would not be more than from 10 to 12 persons using it in a day ; so that even if a little more was wasted, the, e would not be more water consumed for the closet than was ordinarily provided as a day's supply for ono individual. 'With an ordinary size of closet, from 12 to 20 gallons per day would be the utmost limit of water consumed. This had been one of those fallacies perpetuated throughout the country, so that water companies might lay on a large charge for water which had no reference to the quantity consumed. _ _ vv The MEDICAL OFFICER said that although the mortality might be high, it was much less than the average of the past six years. On receiving the minute from the general board he conceived that the Inspector was to come down to inquire into the " unusually high rate of mortality in Liverpool," and he accordingly wrote to the Board stating that they were in error in supposing that the mortality here was unusually high. He said in that communication, as in his official reports, that owing to the severity of the weather the mortality from long diseases was exceed ingly high, and that excluding those deaths'the mortality of Liverpool throughout the present year had been much lower than the average of deaths for the past six years. Mr. HODSON : But we want to know what has been the mortality for the past six months ? The MEDICAL OFFICER : I don't know of any six months during which the mortality has been so low as for the past six months. Mr. GODFREY observed that it would seem from the minute that the general board conceived Liverpool was now in a very unhealthy state. Mr. M'Nicom, observed that the minute had reference to zymotic diseases, and that the inspector's visit was for the purpose of gleaning information, in case the cholera should break out next year. The MEDICAL OFFICER : That was not the meaning of the letter of the board of health to me ; it spoke of the annual mortality in Liverpool at the present moment. Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE : It was stated in the Lon don papers by a misprint that eighteen persons had died here of cholera in one day, whereas it should have been a week. Mr. M‘Nicom, : But the mortality here may be still very high, though not so high as in past years. The MEDICAL OFFICER : Last year the mortality of Liver pool was below that of Manchestt r. Mr. LEE : Manchester being near the highest in Eng land, the meaning of the words " excessively high" has reference to the kingdom at large. There can be no doubt, without the slightest wish or intention to depreciate aught that this committee has done—that the mortality of Liver pool is excessively high, as compared with the average of the whole kingdom. Compare it with London, for instance. Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE : It is scarcely fair to com pare it with A large village or town in the heart of the coun try, but compare it with a sea-port similarly situated as it is compare it with Glasgow. Mr. LEE : I do not knew what is the average mortality of Glasgow, as the system of registration does not extend to it. That there is an excessive rate of mortality here cannot be denied, but it must be due to some causes. These causes may be preventable, or they may not, but still it is a matter of inquiry, whether or not they are preventable, and to what extent. At the same time, I thought I had said to the com mittee what would be sufficient to satisfy them that my mission has solely reference to the epidemic districts, and not any interference whatever with the local matters of Liverpool. Mr. HODSON : There is one part of Mr. Lee's statement to which I must demur, and I am very anxious, on behalf of Liverpool, that it should not go to the world uncontra dieted. Now, I must demur to Mr. Lee's statement as to the excessive mortality of Liverpool, and safely put it in comparison with either Bristol, Manchester, Bolton, Preston, or any other large town similarly situate to it. It may bo perfectly true that Liverpool is excessively high compared with the agricultural districts ; but I do say that it may be safely compared with any of the large towns which I have mentioned. Being a medical man myself, I have taken some trouble for the last four years, since I became a mem ber of this committee, to collect, from various sources, the average rate of mortality in different towns. I found that some years ago Liverpool was a very unhealthy town, but it has so greatly improved, that it will bear comnarison with any large town in England, not excepting London. Mr. GLADSTONE : There is one matter that must be al ways taken into account, and that is the great amount of our population connected with vessels. Mr. BECKWITH : We had no case of cholera here until the German emigrants brought it to us. Mr. LEE : I have not the slightest doubt that Liverpool is in a much more healthy state from its sanitary measures THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES. than it was, and I sh.oull be exceedingly rejoiced if it were still more so. The MEDICAL OFFICER : As to the mortality of Liver pool being high, that we cannot deny, but we are improving. Within the last year we have been below Manchester. At the same time it can be still more improved, and I know no measure better calculated to accomplish it than that which has been suggested. Mr. LEE then withdrew. Mr. JOHN . LAIRD waited on the committee in reference to the manure deposit near his concerns. The Committee conceived Mr. Laird's complaint reason able, and resolved that Mr. Rose should be called on to remove the deposit immediately. Mr. Fresh to report weekly as to the amount removed. Plans of the extension of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway were laid on the table. Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE observed that they should avail themselves of the present favourable opportunity while the company's bill was before parliament, to compel them to give an equivalent advantage to the town to that which they were about to seek for, by carrying the sweep ings and other refuse matter at a cheap rate into the country. The plans were referred to the parliamentary committee. The Committee then adjourned. SOCIETIES FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOW LEDGE, AND FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL. The annual meeting of the Cathedral School Association, in aid of the society for promoting Christian knowledge, anal the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, was held in the cathedral school-room, Todd-street, Manchester, on Wednesday evening, at 8 o'clock, when there was a highly respectable audience. On the motion of the Rev. Canon CLirrox, the Very Rev. the DEAN of MANCHESTER was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN said, he thought it would not be necessary that he should occupy the attention of the meeting with very many observations. He would simply state the object they had in view in thus assembling, and the circumstances con nected with their present position, which were in an unusual degree interesting. They were met as friends and supporters of two most important societies, whirls had been existing in this country for a longer period than any other societies, for the purpose of promoting religious influences both at home and abroad. They were met as friends and supporters of the society for promoting Christian knowledge, and of the society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts. Most of them must be well aware how long those two societies ex isted, and that they were established more than 150 years ago. And from that period to the present, they had been exercising very important influences upon our social position. The society for promoting Christian knowledge confined itself mainly to operations which were calculated to promote good effects at home ; the society for the propagation of the Gospel was instituted for the purpose of extending the bene fits which we ourselves possessed to those who had departed from us, but yet were of us, and who had chosen to settle themselves in other lands. It was felt that it was absolutely necessary for our reputations, as Christian-minded persons, that those who had gone to settle in other countries, for the purpose of social benefit, should have the same religious privileges given to them in other places, which they pos sessed in their own country.. The benevolent founders of the society for promoting Christian knowledge were also the same persons who foundel the society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, and for many years they confined themselves entirely to those who went to settle in the British colonies. But circumstances had arisen which made it absolutely necessary that they should do more than give the benefit of their assistance to such as were established in our colonies, and that they should also do the utmost in their power to bring the heathen to the knowledge 'of Christianity. He believed that much had been done, and done wisely, so as to justify the highest expectations of success. And he believed it to be the desire of all those who were interested in the work of the societies that the two should go on as it were, pari passu —hand in hand. The whole of their religious teaching was in conformity with tie Church of England. (Hear, hear). They proposed to teach, and they did teach, Christianity in all its fulness, and with all the forms which belonged to their own mode of divine worship. And he believed that while they were establishing in other places that form of worship under which we ourselves derived so much benefit, they were con ferring the greatest benefit upon others, and doing that which it might be reasonably expected was calculated to promote the greatest success upon all our undertakings. (Hear, hear). It was no uncertain teaching that was Fiven by this society, but it was the teaching of the church in all its fulness and all its purity. And for his own part he confessed that he was more disposed to encourage undertakings of this kind than those which he might call adventu7ers. He wished not to speak in the smallest degree disparagingly of the efforts of other religious denominations; but at the same time he thought that the systems they acted upon were better calculated for permanency than any adopted by any other form of religion now known in the universe. (Hear, hear). They had set an example that was worthy of imitation, and those who did not follow the example ought to confess that they were inferior in religious zeal. (Hear, hear). He hoped and prayed that all their efforts would be successful; and he was sure that the public would duly estimate the value of their services. If what had been begun by Sunday and national school teachers, should produce an effect which was now being recognised as valuable, what the society had already done so well, would, he thought, oblige others to associate themselves with them. The two societies on be half of which they had met, had not received that attention in this great and important city to which they were entitled ; but he thought that now greater interest would be felt in them, and that the happiest results would be the consequence. (Hear, hear). Tho Rev. P. PERCIVAL next addressed the meeting, and gave some interesting details respecting the two societies on behalf of which the meeting was held. The Rev. Canon CLIFTON moved a vote of thanks to the Rev. P. Percival for his able statement, which was seconded and carried by acclamation. - After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up. CATHOLIC BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the members and subscribers to this society, was held last night, in St. Nicholas's School, Copperas-hill, Rev. Mr. SHERIDAN, in the chair. The CHAIRMAN after briefly stating the objects of the society—namely, to assist their poorer brethren, particu larly at this festive season, said that much cruelty was prac tised towards their poor by the poor law officers. He thought that the society should take up this matter, and should furnish the priests with a condensation of the law, that they might know how to act when visiting the sick and impoverished. If their poor were entitled to the law's pro tection, they should receive it, but unless the society took up the quarrel they would continue to be denied their rights. The Chairman particularised one instance in support of his statement. Mr. SHELL then read the annual report. Mr. CORBALLY, treasurer, submitted a statement of the accounts. Balance since last year, £lO 18s. 9d. ; donations, £l2B 16s. ; subscriptions, £BO 3s. 6d. ; church collections, £79 Is. 6d. ; Catholic ball, £lO 15s. 6d. ; total, £309 14s. 2d. Distributed to the clergy for relief, £267 lOs ; adver tising, &c., £6 6s. ; postage, &c., 15s. 7d. ; collector's com mission, £3 16s. 7d. ; balance in hands, £3l ss. 10d.; total, £309 14s. 2d. The Rev. Mr.CoLLYNs moved the adoption of the report. In doing so he observed that he entirely sympathised with the chairman, in all that he had said concerning the distresses and wants of the Catholic poor of this town. No one who had the slightest acquaintance with the poor distriets of Liverpool could doubt for a moment that there existed throughout them the deepest distress. which called for the moqt netivo cxe, Lion. of uhristian charity to 'alleviate it, and to give to the sufferers that comfort which it was their duty to afford them as members of the Catholic church. They could not doubt that if there was any ob ject which, above all others, was worthy of the attention of Catholics, it was that of giving relief to the destitute poor. (Rear, hear.) It was not on behalf of those who made a trade of begging that they appealed. No, they spoke on behalf of the deserving Catholic poor---in behalf of those who, by unfortunate circumstances, had been reduced to distress, and whose virtue and modesty forbade them to put their claims before the public. They spoke in behalf of those poor who were found by the sisters of charity and mercy who visited them in their cheerless homes, and there beheld the wretchedness of the living, and the absence of every comfort that could soothe the dying. (Applause.) It became the duty of the society to put those claims before the public, and by doing so earnestly, they might rely on suc cess. (Rear, hear.) Mr. JAMES GIBSON seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. Mr.SHEIL proposed the next resolution, which was to the effect that the society, on behalf of the sick and destitute poor, tendered their grateful acknowledgments to the many Men& who, during the past year, had generously contri buted towards their funds. The speaker briefly, but forcibly, urged the claims of the:society on the Catholic public. Rev. Mr. DUTERRE seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. GERARD LYNCH proposed the next resolution, namely, " that they endeavour, by active and strenuous exertions, to increase the funds of this society, and thereby extend and enhance its influence." Mr. Lynch observed that no Catholic institution in Liverpool deserved greater support than this society, and urged all Catholics to support it by their contributions and advocacy. Rev. Mr. SUTTON seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. On the motion of Mr. THOMAS DALY, seconded by the Rev. Mr. AYLWARD, the officers for the next year were appointed. On the motion of Mr. FRANCIS ROCKLIFF, seconded by the Rev. Mr. I:arm/480N, the thanks of the society were given to officers for the past year. At the conclusion of the meeting, which was far from nu merous, a collection was made, and Mr. JOHN YATES, jun., the secretary, announced at the close that it amounted to 4148.. DOCK CO lf,lll rTEE. -YESTEIUM Y. The usual weekly meeting of the dock committee took place at one o'clock yesterday, Mr. CRARLES TURNER in the chair. The other members present were—Messrs. Robinson, Brocklebank, Gregson, Chaloner, Steele, James Holme, Barber, Robertson Gladstone, Langsdale, Lockett, Malcom son, Royden, Evans, Rounthwaite, Rankin, and Smith. The Secretary read the minutes of the last day's proceed ings. Mr. GLA.DSTONE said : Mr. Chairman, would you permit me to say,ithat the subject of funding our bonded debt has by no means, escaped my attention. Ido not consider the present moment the right time to bring before the notice of the committee any scheme for the object contemplated; but, whether I may be right or wrong, it has not been by any means forgotten by me, and in a short period I will take an opportunity of mentioning it to the finance committee what my views are upon the subject. The CHAIRMAN ; I am sure that the finance committee will be very glad to consider such an important question. It is a very desirable object-to take into consideration. THE HARRINGTON DOCK ESTATE. The CHAIRMAN read a report of the sub-committee of works, submitting a plan for laying out a portion of the Harrington dock estate in yards, from the south to the west, for storing timber, which they recommended to be approved. They also recommend that the rate of rent for occupation by the year being five-sixteenths of a penny per square yard per week, and that temporary accommodation be one half penny per square yard per week, and that these rates of rent take effect from and after the Ist of April next. Mr. STEELE said, as a member of the committee of works, he had objected to that proposition when it was brought for ward there, and of course he was in a minority. Why they should commence to increase the rent upon the Ist of April next was perfectly incomprehensible to him; for up to the Ist of August the timber trade had no impost, and he did not see why they should pay an increased rent during the period of the year which elapsed between the Ist of Agra and that time. He could not see why. if they were to in crease the rent, they should not commence at the next impost, when the land would be actually required, instead of the Ist of April, after which, for upwards of four months the land would lie dormant. Moreover, he contended that the proposed alteration would be found not to operate to the advantage of the dock estate. Since the last meeting of the committee he had ascertained the feelings of many parties, and he believed there would not bo one additional penny gained by the dock estate, in addition to the fact that it would create feelings of by no means a pleasant character. Mr. HOLME said it was well known that the Harrington dock estate had cost a very large sum of money, and, al though he should be the last man to desire to oppress the timber trade, still he should consider that that committee had a certain duty to perform, and that they were sitting in that room as members of a great public trust. It had been well known that the Harrington dock property cost above £300,000, and that it was producing only something like £4,000 a year. Now, the question which that committee had to consider was, whether they should attempt to get for that land something like what the value of the property was believed to be. The sub-committee of works took into con sideration the fact of the timber trade being in its present position. He could say for one, that he believed the rent they had fixed to be a far lower rent than the property would have been given for to other parties, but he considered that there was a great advantage derived from the timber trade as attached to the dock estate. Persons must not sup pose that the £36,000 put down as the return of the Bruns wick dock, was clear money, because they had to sacrifice £lO,OOO or £12,000 a year to keep the Harrington dock estate in its present position. Now, for one individual, he could say that he had no intention of pressing too hard upon the timber trade, but he thought they were bound, in jus- tice to the estate, to see that They derived the proper value for their property. He had even gone to Is. 6d. a yard, but feeling that several members of the committee were in clined to meet the timber trade, it was agreed to snake it a lower rent, and he therefore thought it only right that the committee and the public should know exactly the posi tion in which they stood, and the principle upon which they had acted. Mr. STEELE coul 1 not suppose but that there must be a feeling towards the north end when an attempt was made to raise the rents of that land, and put the trade in such a posi tion. He gave it as his candid opinion that the committee would find at the end of twelve months, by that attempt to increase 25 per cent. upon these rents, and they , would be taxed for the increase_also, they would scarcely derive one penny profit. Mr. CHA.LONER thought that viewing the question as a matter of property, the estate was likely to gain more by low rents than it would by imposing too high rents. Mr. EVANS hoped that the committee would not be inti midated from getting what was in reality no more than half the value of their land. If the estate were to give the land for such low rents as some parties proposed, he should prefer, for the honor of the thing, giving up the land to them alto gether for nothing. (Laughter). Mr. STEELE : Perhaps even that would not be a very un wise act. Mr. EVANS would rather do so than be trifled with. He denied that the committee of works had agreed to anything exorbitant, and the majority of the committee who were present when the report was passed, were living by the tim ber trade themselves. It was literally extorted from the convictions of these gentlemen, against their interests and their wishes, be had no doubt. But were they to be going on as they had been ? Were they to be losing 8,0001. to 10,0001. a-year upon property of that sort ? Were they not to take any remedial measures ? With regard to the land, if they were to let it for other purpoees, they had an exam ple upon the spot. There was one considerable lot which was let for no less than three shillings a-year, and if they were to let the land in question, he had no doubt but tha4 they would get the same for it. Mr. GREGSON thought the committee should be guided in some measure by the rent of the land adjoining. Mr. HOLME said the position in which the committee found itself was this. Any attempt they made to get a proper va lue for the land was met by the timber trade, who said that if the land was taken from them their trade would be de stroyed altogether • and yet it was a positive fact that if a timber merchant himself had land in the same position, the moment he had an opportunity of selling it he immediately sold it. He was not aware of the price which Mr. Halhead had got for his land ; but had not that gentleman sold his land, and had he not deprived the timber trade of the pos session of it, because he could get a party to pay him a greater price for it, the interest of which was more than an equivalent for what he was deriving from it in rent. The question was this : Were the committee of works to submit to see their valuable land left in its present position. It should be left in its present position, of course, until some thing was done to meet the requirements of the timber trade; but at the same time were they doing their duty in letting that land, as was now the case, far below its cost ? The dock dues of the Brunswick dock last year amounted to 36,0001. Now if they made a sacrifice of 12,0001. a-year on the Harrington dock estate, they must take that sum from the 36,0001. which appeared before the public as the produce of that dock. When the land was purchased, it was pur chased at the suggestion of the timber trade, that a dock should be made there. The moment the committee sought to get the land, there was an outcry raised that if they took it they would be destroying the trade. Here, then, was the committee of works placed in such a position tltat they did not know what to do at the present moment. (Hear, hear). Mr. EvANs said that £36,000 a year was not all derived from timber. A great deal of other trade went into that dock, which made a considerable proportion of the £36,000. Mr. LANGSDALE said the land more south was not let for less than a farthing. Mr. CrIALONER : Nothing like that. Mr. STEELE : It does not pay above an eighth Mr. CHALONER : Let the land be nut up in lots, by tender. That will convince you that thA Lracte cannot afford to go to tho aura -.WA% is spoken of per year. Mr. HoLmE : Are the timber traders prepared to give back the land, and let us deal with it as if it belonged to us as individuals ? If the timber trade will do so, let them deliver back the land, and let us begin to cut a canal through it, and make use of it as if it were our own property. Mr. SMITH said he had heard what had been said by different speakers : and certainly, he should agree with the principle laid down ; that if the property was worth £300,000, it could not be urged for a moment that the committee should give it at such a rate that it would only produce £3,000 a year. Upon the principle laid down, he quite agreed ; but he woad argue against the system which it was proposed to adopt. It would be clear, in the work recently published by Mr. Poole, that the value of the tim ber imported into Liverpool in the year 1852, :was £300,000, and the amount of space covered by it 250,000 yards. Now, 2s. per yard upon these 250,000 yards, would amount to a sum of £25,000 per annum, which was equal to 2 per cent. upon the entire value of the ''hole of the timber imported into Liverpool in 1852. If, however, they made the calculation only upon that portion of the timber which was stored during that time, it would be found to amount to 4 per cent. Now, in the case of an article, such as timber—an article of such very little value, and such very great bulk—he would ask any gen tleman present, whether it was possible that the trade could be so taxed as at the rate of 4 per cent. upon the value of the article. It was not possible, and all this consideration led to the conclusion that the committee, bcforo thoy took any atop which might produce a result of that kind, should in the first instance make up their minds how they would find accommodation for the trade. In the Brunswick dock it appeared that there was £36,000 a year received in the shape of dock dues. The timber trade produced in the shape of dock - , dues upon the ships and the timber, consider ably more than £30,000 a year, and therefore, he said it was important for that committee to be very careful how they took any step which might operate injuriously. If they took any step which operated upon the trade injuriously, the trade might be driven to take up their locality in another place, and it might be difficult to bring it back again. He should therefore recommend that until they had provided themselves with better accommodation for the timber trade, they should be moderate in their present charges. Mr. LANGSDALE said he did not know any parties in Liverpool who would sooner sell their land and get a profit, than those in the timber trade. Mr. Halhead, who made such a cry out for want of room was about the first to sell his land, and deprive the trade of that quantity of ground for stowage. He did not think the timber trade was in a position to complain. He remembered the charge being a halfpenny the square yard 40 years since; and there was no grumbling then. Mr. HOLME said Mr. Halhead was the owner of a piece of land, which was calculated to accommodate the timber trade. It did not, therefore, show any very great zeal upon his part for keeping the timber trade in that part of the town, when he sold his land for a larger per centage than the land now in question yielded to the deck estate. Mr. Evials said Mr. Smith appeared to have gone upon a calculation that the whole timber trade of Liverpool•went into the yards, 11v4 much went off the quays at once, and how many cargoes lay the whole year in the-yards ? should think there must be a great error upon the , part,of any one who kept it there the whole year. Mr. SMITH : I think you must have misunderstood my argument, for what you have observed goes rather to strengthen my case. My calculation is that the charge would be 2 per cent. upon every log of wood which comes into Liverpool. There never is stored more than one-half, and therefore it will amount to something like 4 per. cent. - Mr. BROCKLEEANK : Do you base your calculation upon the superficial area of the laud you occupy, and not by the pile of timber ? Mr. SMITH : I am speaking of the value of the timber. The ground occupied in storage in 1852, was 250,000 yards which, at 2s. per yard per annum, will come to 2 per cent. upon the entire value of the timber. Mr. RANKIN said it was impossible to deny that the rent fixed was far less than the value of the ground; but at the same time, while they had no accommodation to offer to the timber trade, he thought it would be very injudicious4to raise the rent ; and he would for one, for a year or so, until further accommodation was afforded, which might vsnr .vun be the case, think that Is. 4d. would be s proper rate per yard. He did not mean *..ay that he would extend uri.;..,h mat rate should prevail longer than the period during un til .u l / 4 ,11 time as proper accommodation could be afforded to the trade; but he thought that until that could be done, it might be the interest of that estate to keep down the,rate at present, and even to make no distinction between large quantities in the year, and small quantities, because it really appeared to him that it was a matter of more importance to give accommodation to casual importers who did not know where to place the goods for the moment, and might take the option of going to other docks, and'depriving then of the dues altogether. He would, therefore, suggest that an amendment shoulde proposed upon the report of the 'sub committee, to the erect that the rent should be is 4d in all cases, to take effect from and after the, Ist July next, and to prevail for a period of twelve months. Mr. BA 'arum denied that 2 per cent was excessive rent, and contended that if a eine eiatien -e-or. :eagle of all the differ ent cargoes coming into the town it would be found that that amount of rent did not exceed the charge made on the average. Mr. GREGSON then moved an amendment to the effect that the rent be id. per week or Is. 4d. per annum for the next ensuing twelve months, whether for permanent occupa tion or for temporary occupation. Mr. CHALONER seconded the amendment. 4. The CHAIRMAN put the amendment, which was lost by 12 to 5. Mr. SMITH then proposed a second amendment to the effect that the rent for permanent occupation be is. per annum, and for temporary occupation three-eighths of a penny per week. Mr. ROITNTHWAITE seconded the amendment. Mr. EVANS : Oh! that is only a farce altogether. There has been no cause whatever made out for over-ruling the report of the committee. 'f he CHAIRMAN put the amendment, which was negatived by 10 to 7. Mr. SPNICLE :—Perhaps the committee would not object to a little change being made in the time when this rule is to come into effect ? It is fixed here that, the alteration shall commence on the first of April. Now the import in the tim trade is not received until the end of July or the be of August, and during that period of three or four months, with out any import coming in, it is hardly fair that we should be under this rent. Mr. LANGSDALE said he was sorry to find their ancient ground was disputed, and by one of their own body. Mr. STEELE said he was himself perfectly disinterested in the matter. The CHAIRMAN: It is the best course, perhaps, to•refer the question back to the committee. Mr. EVANS: Oh, not at all; why should it be referred back ? The CHAIRMAN : Mr. Steele wishes that it should be dis cussed over again as regards the time when it is to come into operation. Mr.ISTEBLE said that seeing what were the opinions of the committee, he would not persevere with any motion on the au bject. The CHAIRMAN then put the original report to the vote, and it was conirmed. A report was read from the harbour masters 'r ith reference to a proposed alteration in the graving blocks. The report recommended that no alteration should be made. After a short conversation, it was agreed that the report should be referred to the harbour masters' committee, and that Messrs. Barber, Royden, and Brocklebank, be requested to attend the committee for the purpose of discussing the question. • A copy of the rules and re,gulations for the master porters was submitted and confirmed, to come into operation on tho th January. A letter was read from the president of St. Ann's dispen sary, requesting that the committe e would contribute the usual yearly sum of 301. towards that charity. It was re= solved that the request be complied with. A letter was read from the secretary of the shipbuilders' association, calling attention to the frequent instances in which vessels using the graving docks were charged the same for fourteen tides as for twenty-four tides. Mr. LOCKETT said the rule was made in order that there might be some check to prevent vessels from remaining in the graving dock longer than was necessary, as it was most important that the harbour masters should be made aware of the time each vessel was about to remain, in order that the arrangements for the reception of other vessels might be made. Mr. BROCKLEBANK observed that the question brought up the subject of lighting the docks. They had all perceived that private enterprise had lit up a vessel inside as if shi3 were lighted by the sun; he thought it was very remiss of the committee that they had not taken some step for the lighting of the graving docks before. The letter was referred to the harbour masters' com mittee . This closed the general business. There have been heavy floods - in Devonshire, destroying much property. ILLICIT DISTILLATION IN SCOTLAND.—IIIicit distillation is enormously on the increase in Scotland, Last week.gove ral seizures were made in the Orkneys. Amongst these. were several malt seizures. Malt and still have been seized in the district of Wick. NORWEGIAN TRADE.—The scarcity of Norwegian birch, timber threatens to send us back to die old American pipe; staves for supplies of barrel wood. If we can believe report, the Norwegian forests of suitable timber for barrel making are becoming rapidly exhausted, and the price, delivered" here, partly no doubt owing to higher freights paid; has risen, during the current year from Bd. to is. 2d. per f00t.,---Nortla:i British Hail. . I DEVONPORT, TUESDAY.—The Royal George, 120, con verted screw-ship, Captain Codrington, C. 8., arrived here this afternoon to fill up her compliment, having less than 603, including marines and officers, on her books. t The Reo. Mr. Hall, of Hull, is about to succeed' Mr.. Sherman, at Rev. Rowland Hill's Chapel. There were two destructive th-p =n L. Aikluil on Tuesday n i g ht_nno 1.23 . 0,vgate-street, and another at London-wall_ There was another collision on the Gieat Northern railway this week ; but fortunately, in this also, no life was sacrificed. The hunting stud of 11 animals, belonging to Sir Cliflord Constnble, was sold at Doncaster, this week for £1,418, being £129 on the average. One horse brought £2lO. MUNICIPAL HOSPITALITY.—His worship the mayor, entertained upwards of fifty gentlemen at dinner, last eve ning, at the Town-hall. The consuls representinc , th different foreign nations at this port were amongst th. guests. IRISH PRODUCE FONVLS.—The Belfast Mercury says that, at the market of Lisburn on Tuesday, a pair of turkeys was sold for 18s; geese brought 3s 6d to 5s each; and fowls 3s to 4s per pair. Immense pens of poultry purchased at tho market were shipped by the steamers for Glasgow and , - Liverpool. Commerce U.., muoh to the influence of steam, but agriculture is no less indebted to the same ponor. Taking everything into account, and examining, all the ad- „ vantages derived by cheap and rapid transit, the manufae- , turer of food is quite as much indebted to the steam-ship 7 ,- and the locomotive as the manugacturer of clothing. 4 THE STRIKES AND INTIMIDATION.— On Monday the factory owners at Wigan threw open their mills for such = of the operatives as would return at old prices, and 1,000, or about a sixth of the whole; availed themselves of the oppor tunity. Many more would probably have returned to work,: but trades' delegates, attended by a large crowd, were in the streets at an early hour in the morning to intercept, per- - t suade, and intimidate all they could, out'of going to work. w The Messrs. Eccles obtained the greatest number of hands (about 400), and 200 went in at Rylands. The othersl were pretty equally disperseduu s 1 various mills. The $.l magistrates and police did all they could to protect the hands in going to the mills, and this they also did again on Tuesday and yesterday morning. On Monday and Tuesday morning they found it necessary to appprehend several per sons for undue interference with persons going to work, and for inciting to a breach of the peace. The system of - intimidation does not apply to those alone who go to work at old prices, but in other towns it applies to persons refusing or neglecting to subscribe funds to the .Preston and other strikes. At Stockport, on Monday, and at Ashton on the same day, men were brought before the magistrates • for acts of intimidation, and there is no doubt that a wide- • spread system of tyranny prevails throughout the whole manufacturing districts to extort money from the operatives . in work at the mills to support those out of employment Id through the strikes. The people complain of it loudly at the shops where they buy their provisions, and it is talke&sa of every where.-2 7 M Timm