Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-03 00:00:00

Commacial 2.lllits. TRIS DAY Tins Dv?, the 3rd instant, at One o'clock, at the Public Saleroom Exchange-buildings, About 1,000 Bales Low American Mad other COTTON. For further particulars, apply to It. L, Bolton, Esq., Mer chant ;or to TITHERINGTON, GILL, and Co., Brokers. TO-MORROW On account of whom it may concern. To-moratow, the 4th instant, at One o'clock, at the Brokers' Saleroom, 25, Temple, s tr ee t, 33 Bags Portugal, t WOOL, 5 Bales Egyptian " tx Gratitude, from Oporto; and lonia, from Alexandria, damaged by'se'a water.—Apply to W. MEANIE and Co., Itrokers. To-MO/mow, the 4th instant, at Half-past One o'clock, at the Broker's Office, Corn Exchange-buildings, Brunswick-street, no Barrels slightly Da..taged FLOUR, from Bahia, ex Emily and Jessie; house, No. 4 and 5. Apply 'to a in Albert Dock ware- H. H. GOLDING, Broker SA . PU RDAY On account of whom it may concern. On SATIIRDAY next, lie sth instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokerg f 'Office, 15, North John-street, L S 50 i'-Barrels White Salted HERRINGS, (suitable for the 'West India market), landed ex Winifred, for Sydney, lying west side Sandon Dock Shed. -For particulars, apply to LAW and WYLIE, Brokers. NEXT WEEK On NiffNlA: next, the 7th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' Office, 2, Dale-street, 80 Cases CASSIA LIGNEA. BROWNE, HUNTER, and Co., Brokers Apply to On Trx*xxl• next, the Bth insta rcialnt, at Hal Saleroom, f-past One o'clock, at the Comme 45 Tons Spanish Locust BEANS, landing ex Pilar Apply to GEO. BADENACH and SON, Brokers WEDNESDAY next, the 9th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' Office, 2, Dale-street 90 lihds. GINGELLY 011 23 Butts 120 Hhds CASTOR OIL, 24 Bales SENNA, About lb Tons SAPANWOOD. BROWNE, HUNTEP Apply to and Co., Brok NEXT MONTH On THURSDAY, the 7th April next, at Twelvve o'clock, at the Public Saleroom, Exchange-buildings, 300 Chests Bengal INDIGO, consisting of consumers and shippers.—Apply to Messrs. Tho; and John Brocklebank, Merchants ; or to T. and 11. LITTLEDALE and Co., Brokers. ABNER STETSON, FROM NEW ORLEANS. G. A. 1 to 8 A. L. Ito 22 100 Bales COTTON, • B. M.l to 37 P. R. I to 33 shipped per above ship by Mr. D. E. Platenius, of New Orleans. Consignees of above Cotton are hereby informed that the same has been warehoused. and will, unless claimed within Fourteen days from date, be sold to defray freight and other charges.— Apply to BAKER, BARRON and Co., 19th February, 1859. 52, Tower-buildings East. On Sgt. JAMES BANKS, CASTLE-BUILDINGS, DERBY-SQUARE, LIVERPOOL FENCING:WIREABIack, Bright, and Galvanise TELEGRAPH WIRE and SIGNAL CORD, Wholesale and for Exportation. TO EXPORTERS AND BOTTLERS. ON SALE, William Whitwell and. Co.'s INDIA PALE AND MILD ALES Eldon. PARRY and CO., Agent Stores-15, North John-street. J. It CAMERON, CHRONOMETER MANUFACTURER AND OPTICIAN, 54, SOUTH CASTLE-STREET, LIVERPOOL. MARINE CHRO.NOIVIE.TERS ON SALE OR HIRE. GOLD and SILVER WATCHES, SEXTANTS, QUADRANTS, BAROMETERS, TELESCOPES, 4t, CHARTS FROM 'LATEST SURVEYS, TTISTORY OF THE WORKING CLASSES, _LI :Every Saturday, in the NORTHERN DAILY Trmzs, Price One Penny W ARM WINTER CLOTHING, T HE GENTLEMAN'S OUTF.ITTING WAREHOUSES, 26, BOLD-STREET. P. L. MACTAGGART. 24 AND INVERNESS WRAPPERS. OVER COATS. DRESSING GOWNS. DRAWERS AND VESTS. FANCY FLANNEL SHIRTS. RAILWAY RUGS AND PLAIDS MuFF US s 'WS §Earigikrd. 11 A, BOYS' WINTER CLOTHING AMERICAN SOLACE Can only - be had from CHARLES TIIRMEAII, TOBAOCONIST, LIVERPOOL in first TO CORRESPONDENTS Under no circumstances can we insert communications not accompanied by the author's real name and address, not neces sarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. The claim made upon T. W. J. is not legal. He should appeal. AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &c.—THIS:DAY. THEATRE ItoyAL—Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE—SIT Wm. and Lady Don. . MENGLED'S CIRQUE VAnrgTE—Miscellaneous Attractions. THE PARISIAN GALLERY OF ANATOMY, Paradise-street. MANDERS',MEIVAOERLE— Foot of Shaw's-brow. ROYAL COLLOSSEuM.—Miscellaneous Attractions. la — For particulars see advertisements on Bth page THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1859, THE DAY'S NEWS The news this morning is notimportant. That from the Continent is of the same vague and con tradicting character as that received for some days past. With reference to the withdrawal of French troops from Italy,the Paris Patric says : " Whatever may come of it, the French government remains faithful to its policy. Its army went to Rome at the request of the Pope, and at the request of the Pope it will quit Rome. In this new proof of disinterestedness and moderation France will find a new element of strength of which to avail her self, in the endeavour to solve the great compli cations of Italian affairs." The Paris correspondent of the Times reports an animated conversation which took place between Prince Napoleon and the Count de Persigny, at the Tuileries, on Sunday, where both atten ded the ceremony of depositing the Prince's marriage contract. The report -is, that Prince Napoleon expressed his contempt for the treaties of 1815, and thought that Italy should be made independent in spite of them. As for public opinion any-where, where : ifit con travened this policy, it should be disregarded. The Prince is reported to have spoken on political and social subjects in a manner that could not be surpassed by a provisional govern mentin the first excess of revolutionary wild ness. The Count de Persigny consequently replied that s uc h principles and such language wer e mischievous, not merely to the Imperial Government, but if carried out would infallibly lead to the ruin of the best interests of the country-, and they should never ceas e oppose them. It is mentioned, as . a significant fact, that the seven standing committees of the Legislativ e body, when the suppression' the budget comes on, will demand of the new ministerial depa r t ment Prince Napoleon is the head, as a mar , k of which repro bation expressive of the general sentiments of the country. A telegram from Vienna announces that Lord Cowley had an audience of the Emperor on Mo n _ day, and that on Tr s day there was a grand dinner at Court in his honour. All the ministers and all the ambawadors were invited. Accounts from Switzerland, of Monday, st a t e that the Grand Council of Ticino assembled that day, and elected as its p residen t , b y 53 to 15, votes, M. Battaglini, a Radical advocate, Thi rty members, who elections have not been yet admitted from complaints made, refrained from voting. Our columns this morning contain late and very satisfactory telegrams from India. A general order from, 'Cho Governor General had been issued, in whibil he declares the announcement, that the '-amPaigit in which the troops have been engaged has closed, and that " rebellion no longer exists in rude." We regret to learn, that Lord Clyde was indisposed, and was about- to proceed to Simla for the season. The Bombay Presidency was tranquil. In the House of Commons lest night, Mr. Locke King moved the second reading of the Real Estate Insolvency Bill, whereupon Lord Graham moved an amendment " that it be read a second time this day six months." After some con siderable discussion the house divided, when the bill was rejected by a vote of 271 to 76. The con veyance of Voters Bill, after considerable discussion, was read a second time. The Medi ca l Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed, after which the house adjourned, The Ministerial Reform Bill gives no satisfaction except to the iminKidiate dependants upon the Government, and but little doubt seems to be entertained but that a dissolution of Parliament is inevitable. Whether the Government would gain strength by such a course is more than question able. The general belief is, that the measure is of so lesuistical a character that they would not. The Daily .News now characterises the bill as a "crazy project," the Star describes it as a " com promise of party forces," and the Times declares that the Chancellor has left some of his work to done by the House, and particularly by his antagonists. The Herald, of course, proclaims that the bill has been framed in a very impartial spirit. __ • Locally there is no news to-day. A case of some interest to workmen was heard at the Police court yesterday. A last-maker named Coventry, who was under a written engagement for seven years (not as an apprentice), to Mr. Jacobs, of Dale-street, had absented himself from his work, and he was then proceeded against, under an old act of George the 4th, which inflicted an imprisonment of three months for such an offence. Mr. Bluck, for the defence, succeeded in getting the man to go back to his work, and so the matter terminated for the present. OUR COTTON SUPPLIES We have frequently taken occasion of late to remark upon the importance of this question, as one in which the country at large is deeply in terested, and in which Liverpool, as a great national mart, has of course an especial interest. It is certainly most satisfactory to find that our supplies of an article—the consumption of which is still so largely increasing —are not likely to be restricted, if only due care be taken to render available the opportunities that are being presented, of obtaining new and extended sources. There are other reasons why it is important we should have such sources—reasons quite independent of the amount of the demand. But regarding it as a necessity, arising from the growing probability of our present principal source of supply failing, from whatever cause, to meet the augmented demand, it possesses an importance which can scarcely be over-rated. At such a moment, then, it is most providential that India can be looked to as likely to stand us in good stead, if only the present conjuncture be turned to proper account. Notwithstanding the recent most dreadful disasters in those distant possessions of the British Crown, never, perhaps, since this country has had a connection there, were the prospects of that general prosperity greater than at this moment, which will secure it the advantage of a thorough development of its resources. A new era has been opened in India by the very mischiefs which have had to be encountered. Its government, its legislation, the promotion of its material progress, the advance ment of its social imnrovement_ will now by suoject to the control of the Imperial Parliament. The sceptre of India is hence forth to be swayed in its entirety by the Queen of England ; and on her Majesty's Govern ment will devolve the responsibillty of seeing to the proper direction of its vast concerns. It is a crisis full of anxiety for the future of an empire which promises to be a source of national wealth and greatness not easily to be over-estimated. "Public companies," we read, " are already in process of formation, and private merchants are on the alert, with a view to engage extensively in the wide field now opening for Indian commerce. But why," it is asked, "do they hesitate ? They wait," it is replied, " for the assurance that all reasonable facilities shall be afforded to their ope rations, whether by the grant of lands upon equitable terms, or the guarantee of protection against the system of fraud and injustice that has ruined the fortunes of so many legitimate private speculators under the old regime." Nothing could be more prudent, nothing more reasonable than this. And it is to be hoped that the present Session of Parliament will not be allowed to pass away, without such an assurance having been secured. One of the foremost of the practical advantages to be thus assured of, is that most important one, alike to our manufacturing, our agricultural, and our commercial interests, of our abundant supply of Indian Cotton. The Indian soil, it has been ascertained, possesses an extraordinary expansive capability for Cotton cultivation- The productive powers of the Indian soil for such cultivation, were shown in evidence before the Seleet Committee of the House of Commons on Colonisation and Settle ment (India), to be very great indeed. The yield per acre of cleaned Cotton in Goozerat, for instance, was shown to be at the rate of 2501b5. to 2,0001b5. in extreme cases. "Of clean Cotton in a good season," said one witness of experience, "it is impossible to ascertain exactly what is the yield of the district under the Company's rule, inasmuch as it is mixed up with that grown in the Baroda district, of which we have no statistics at all ; but on questioning the ryots, which I have done fre quently, I have ascertained from them that they get from 1251b5. per beegar up to I,ooolbs. per beegar, a beegar being half an acre. In Goozerat 100 beegars would be perhaps 104 or 105 acres ; the kuppas vary from 3 dhurrees, or 1601bs. to I,ooolbs. of seed cotton a beegar." " About 30 per cent. of that is cleaned cotton, is it not ?" it was asked : to which the witness replied in the affir mative—adding that it ranged from 1001bs. to 6001bs. an acre—the latter in extraordinary- yields, making an ordinary average of from 2001bs. to 2501b5, an acre of cleaned cotton, the cost of the production of which would not mach, if at all, exceel half of what it is in America. But, to accomplish that, there must be enterprise and energy directed to the object. And to encou ra,gc this, there must be inaugurated an entirely new system of legislation, and a new and better principle of land t e nure, in India. Th ere mu st, in a word, be deraanded of the British Government justice for India. Hitherto th ere , h ave been impediments that have harassed and lettered the progress of our Indian trade, and have obstructed the advancement of its productive industry. But for such hindrances and discouragements, we might long ago have had large supplies of Cotton from India. The time is at length come, hoNiever, when there is the sure prospect ,of their being for ever removed out of the way. Doubtless there are yet many difficulties in the path of progress. But they are not insurmountable; and the new system of rule and governance which has, through so terrible an ordeal, been brought about, will be found, let us hope, in no long time, to have surmounted them effectually. FREE LABOUR IN THE WEST INDIES IT is most satisfactory to find, that the prejudices against the immigration of free labourers into our West India Colonies are now being rapidly dissipated, and that even such undoubted philanthropists as Lord BROUGHAM, in the House of Lords, and Mr. •BUXTON, in the House of Commons, are becoming reconciled, as well to its propriety as to its practicability. It is, in fact, not only a proper course to pursue, for the interests of those islands, to promote such immi grittion, but it is the only practicable means of restoring their prosperity. It is a question, the plain and obvious bearings of which cannot but recommend themselves to every impartial mind. The case has been thus clearly and forcibly argued, —" Take first the position of the immigrant himself. He is;by the very nature of the case, a creature in the most abject state of destitution or degradation—a Coolie perishing for want of food, or a Negro holding his very existence at the capricious will of a chief. He is brought to a country where, for no 'consideration but that of his unskilled labour, he obtains continuous 'employ ment, good wages, good treatment, and the means of instruction in religion and civilization. Is it too much to ask that, in return for such advantages, he should stand bound to work ? Take, next, the question of slavery—of that infamous institution against which the efforts of the philanthropists are ultimately directed. Europe must have sugar, and has shewn plainly enough that if Jamaica cannot produce it, Cuba may. If Cuba secures the privilege, not only slavery but the slave-trade itself continues to flourish ; if Jamaica wins the market, Cuba and the slave-trade go down together. Is the Anti- Slavery Society prepared to protect Cuba in its, monopoly, for fear an immigrant should get a day's imprisonment too much from a Jamaica :magistrate? We cannot understand such a policy, nor can we believe that Parliament will ever approve it: It is possible that a planter might be too hard with his labourers, though the checks upon such severity would be instantly forthcoming ; but, considering the nature of the alternative and the fundamental importance of the question, we really cannot conceive that the philanthropists of this country can do otherwise than encourage the British Colonies, if only as the rivals of Cuba and its slaveholders." Thus argues the leading organ of public opinion in this country ; and the argument is one which adopts so thoroughly the ray lam of the case, and is so consistent with plain, practical common sense, that a question which can be so sensibly and so strongly main . - tained, must in the end prevail. And it is most important, not to say most essential, to the prosperity of the West Indies, that it should prevail. They want labour there — the cultivation of the soil cannot now be carried on fully and profitably, without more' labour.. The old Negro, that is the former slave population, and their immediate descendants, whose labour is at all available, are not only not sufficient, but are in a great measure, as far as their numbers go, becothe inefficient, for the work that there is to do. Their inefficiency may be owing, probably, in a great degree, to so many, since they became their own masters by emancipation, choosing other occupations—which is certainly a very natural result of such a change in their circumstances, however inconvenient and injurious it may be to the staple interests of the islands ; and if their inefficiency is also to be traced to their having been emancipated from slavery, and rendered thereby indisposed for the requisite exertion, it must be remembered that the transition from the degradation of bondage to the privileges of freedom, could scarcely avoid having effects, for a while at least, unfavourable to the continuance of that severity of toil to which it was formerly found necessary to drive them, and at which to keep them, with the whip,—though that would certainly not seem to be any good reason why they should have been still kept in slavery. But, at any rate, more labour is now imperatively demanded ; and it must, to answer the purpose, be the labour of those who, being accustomed to a tropical climate, can endure the heat to which they will be exposed. Coolies are found suitable enough, we believe. But Negroes answer better still, and they are more easily pro cured, and more likely, we understand, to become adapted to the state of civilisation around them. The only drawback, more particularly, perhaps, in the case of the latter, is the risk of their under going the treatment that slaves used to be subject to—of being harshly, if not cruelly dealt with, in forcing upon them their daily drudgery. But surely it is not impossible to protect them from improper treatment. Of course they must be made to work —they are taken there under a distinct engagement to do so. But are not our own free labourers and operatives, here at home, obliged to work ; and, if they will not, are they not made to do so ? When an able-bodied man applies to the Workhouse for relief, is it not the first thing that is done with him to set him to work, and make him work, as the condition of his being supplied with food ? And the Coolie or the Negro immigrant, in the West Indies, can have no reason to complain if he is similarly dealt with. The principle is a Christian one. " This we com manded you," says the Apostle, " that if any would not work, neither should he eat." And it is to bring the poor Coolies, and the wretched Negroes, under civilising and Christian influences —or ought to be—that is one of the greatest recommendations of the system of immigration, by which they are transplanted from a state of barbarism and demoralisation, to one which may be made to them a state of the greatest blessing, both for this world and the next. This view of the subject has been forcibly taken, in an Ame rican pamphlet *to which we have, on a former occasion, alluded, entitled The Negro Labour Question : By a New York Merchant,—the object of which is to show, that the constrained labour of Free Negroes, under proper regulations, while it would supply the market of labour in the Southern States of America, and the West Indies, much more effectually than it is at present, would at the same time be the means of eventually civilising Africa. And on this plea it is, that the writer contends, " they are the friends of humanity they are the friends of human civilisation and progress—they are the friends of commerce, of industry, and of all that can advance a people who would thus engage in an arrangement which so many and such high interests evidently demand at the present moment. Were there no other question," he adds, " than this—the de graded condition of so many millions of our fellow creatures in Africa, who are capable of being elevated and made useful, and even honour able, in their day and generation, while at the same time they contributed, by their industry and their example, to promote all that can make the nations great and good, surely it would be deservin g the highest and foremost regard of our statesmen, our philanthropists, and our divines." REFORM MEETINGI IN THE CITY OF LONDON.---A requisition is being signed to the Lord Mayor to convene a meeting in the Guildhall for the Purpae, of taking into consideration the Reform Bill which was 'introduced into the House of Commons, on Monday night, by Mr.. Disraeli. It is understood that the Lord Mayor is ready to accede to the wishes of the requisitionists, and it is probable that Friday, the 11th inst., wilt be the day fixed tor the meet ing, no earlier date being Convenient to the Lord Mayor. It is also said to be in contemplation to have a great metro politan demonstration against the ministerial measure.--- Star. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—A parliamentary return issued yesterday morning shows the number of accidents to rail way trains in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and of persons killed and injured thereby, during the half-year ending December 31, 1858. The number of accidents was 29"; of passengers killed, 15 ; and injured, 322: There were also 7 servants of companies killed and 21 injured ; and one person killed and another in jured who were neither passengers nor servants of com panies. The total killed was 23, and injured 344. THE COURT The Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied by the Princesses Alice and Louisa, took a drive in an open carriage and four on Tuesday afternoon. Major-General the Hon. C. Grey and Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge attended on horseback. The Prince Consort rode on horseback in the morning, attended by his Equerry in Waiting. The Queen and Prince Consort honoured the perfor mance of the English opera at Covent-garden Theatre with their preSence on Tuesday evening. The royal suite consisted of the Countess of Caledon, Hon. Lucy Kerr, Hon. Mary Bultee, Lord Raglan,l Major-General the Hon. C. Grey, and Col. the Hon. A. Hardinge. Major-General the Hon. C. Grey, and Col. the Hon. A. Hardinge, C. 8., have relieved Col. F. H. Seymour and Captain the Hon. D. de Ros in their duties as Equer ries in Waiting to the Queen and the Prince Consort. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. IZA rAI4TY, LAST lIIGHT. —A tea party, in connection with St. David's Church, took place m Hope Hall, last evening. After the tea had been partaken of, a lecture was delivered, by the Rev. Dr. James, late of Kirkdale, on "Martin Luther." AMERICAN MAILS.—The Philadelphia Screw Steam ship Company's steamer City of Washington, Captain Petrie, sailed for New York yesterday, with the mails, and about 180 passengers. She will be succeeded by the Asia, Captain Lott, which sails on Saturday for New York direct. The post-office box closes at 8 a.m., but will be open to 9 on payment of a late fee, and on the Landing-stage to 10 o'clock. TORR AND LITTLEDALE'S SALE —We noticed yester day the interesting sale at the farm of Messrs. Torr and Littledale. Six of the finest hogs ever seen in Ch es hi re , of the pure Berkshire breed, were purchased by Mr. James Harding, the large pork butcher, and sausage manufacturer, of Byrom-street, and the quality of the animals being first-rate, the best judges say they never saw such a turn-out in hog flesh. ST. PETER'S PARISH CHURCH.—The Rev. W. Pollock, Vicar of Bowdon, preached the fifth of the " Sermons for the Working People of Liverpool," at this church, last evening. The church was nearly full, a few places only being vacant, but several of the congregation seemed to be of the upper class. The Rev. W. H. Denny read prayers, as before, and will, we understand, close the course on Ash-Wednesday, by a lecture on " Sin and Penitence." MARINE DISASTERS.—The George Washington, for Boston, has put back to this port, making from 14 to 15 inches of water per hour, having been struck by a heavy sea on the 27th of February off Scilly, during a heavy gale, which caused her to leak.• The Martha Hoffman, for Genoa, put back here with damage, having been in contact with a vessel, whose name was not ascertained, off the Skerries. Tile Eliza Young, from Baltimore, arrived here on Tuesday, with loss of mizenmast, occa sioned by a collision on the 28th ult., between Tuskar and Holyhead, with- a steamer hailing from Glasgow. Two boats and a piece of a wreck, were washed ashore at Melkboxh, near Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, prior to the 21st of January. One of the boats was painted black outside, and green within ; and the other black, with a red streak outside. Several pieces of old ship timber were also washed up. CORONER'S INQUESTS.—Yesterday, the Coroner held the following inquests :—On the body of James O'Brian, 14 years old, who lived in Oriel-street. He was one of those boys who polish shoes in the streets. On Tuesday he started, along with other boys, for the races, but when they got to Scotland-road the deceased sat down, and was found soon after by a policeman, very sick and throwing up. There was a very strong smell of rum off him and his clothes. The policeman took him to the Northern Hospital, but he died before going there. There was no evidence to show that the boy had had any drink, but the jury, returned a verdict of "Died of excessive drinking." On the body of John Thompson Breeze, a car-driver, who lived at 24, Great Nelson-street. He was 21 years of age, and for some months he had been very intempe rate, and on Monday night, whilst already drunk, he drank eleven glasses of rum, and of course death was the result. Verdict, " Died of excessive drinking." THE BASIL BAKER FUND.—A performance took place at the Catholic Institute, on Tuesday evening, in aid of the Basil Baker Fund. The performance derived an additional interest from the fact, that the son of the late lamented gentleman was connected with the institute, and bore a part in the duties which the occasion en tailed upon the pupils. Cardinal Wiseman's drama, " The Hidden Gem," was produced, for the third time, on this occasion, and was acted by the same performers as on the previous instances. It was followed by the farce, "A Thumping Legaby." The manner in which the pieces were played, reflected as much credit upon the performers as the kindly and benevolent intention which suggested the performance did upon the conductors of the Institute. We are informed that the result of the under taking will be to place at the service of the committee engaged in organising the Baker Fund, a sum of nearly 0. • IMPLEMENTS FOR WARFARE.—WHERE ARE THEY TO END ?—We are informed that our enterprising townsman, John Clare, jun., of 21, Exchange-buildings, has designed an agent for warfare, to be called the Marine English Bull-Dog, that is capable of destroying, in half-an-hour, the largest ship-of-war, and her crew, If this be true, and we have no reason to doubt it, if the ingenuity and talent of Mr. Clare are sufficient guarantees for his scientific and mechanical capabilities, what use are either ships con structed as our navy is composed of, or what effect can guns have, before so destraetive a production as Mr, Clare asserts he is ready to bring out at a moment's warning. The maker has been brought under the attention of the government, and from the great opinion held of this gen tleman's ideas on naval mechanical architecture, it may not be too much to expect, under present - critical warlike aspects, that we may be in a position to state what the exact particulars are of this mighty warlike structure, intended to neutralise guns, powder, and shot.—From a Correspondent. CLAREMONT LITERARY ASSOCIATION.—The seventh lecture in connection with this association, was delivered in the schoolroom of the Claremont Independent Chapel, Kirkdale, on Monday evening last, by the Rev. Nevison Loraine, of Waterloo. The lecture was entitled " Counsels," and was received with marked approval by a large audience. The Rev. W, C. Preston, of Claremont chapel, occupied the chair, and announced that the next lecture would be delivered on Monday, the 14th instant, by Mr. M. W. Emery, on " Men of the World." Tows COUNCIL.—The usual monthly meeting of the council was summoned to be held yesterday, at 11 o'clock, in the Town Hall. At that hour the Mayor and several members were in attendance, but not sufficient to form a council. After considerable delay, it was found that the number had increased to twenty-two, being still two short of the requisite compliment. Mr. Ald. Holme said he supposed the attractions of the steeple-chase had more weight with gentlemen than the dry business of the council. Mr. Holden suggested an adjournment ; bnt the Town-clerk stated that there could be no adjourn ment, as there was, in point of fact, no council to adjourn. Mr. Holme said he could not afford to waste his time in waitinc , for gentlemen who ought to ,have attended. Mr. Parker b remarked that some of the mem bers were in London. Mr. Holme said there were a few in London, but even they might have got down in time for the council meeting. Finally, after waiting for about twenty minutes, the Mayor said he thought they had given grace enough to those who were absent, and the meeting broke up. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF THREATENING TO SHOOT A MEDICAL MAN.-The public has lost an interesting topic for conversation, that would have created a "nine days' wonder" had the affair transpired publicly, as it was very likely to have done, but for certain influences that have been brought to bear, and come under the Christian benison of " Blessed are the peace-makers." As far as we could collect the facts of the case, the fol lowing may be found correct :---A gentleman, stated to be a first-class American merchant, wrote to a medical" gentleman in this town, informing him that he would come across the Atlantic, and have the pleasure of blowing his brains out. This interesting cm' munication, it seems, produced some alarm; but, whilst 3,000 miles of sea- rolled between the parties, even " 'Warner's long range" could not have done any harm. However, the gentleman kept his word, so far as coming here, and then an information was sworn, and a warrant was grounded thereon, and issued for his arrest. Two active detectives got the warrant to execute, and they were not long until they found where the American gentleman had ordered a private lodging. They proceeded to the place, and arrested the gentleman just as he was stepping out of a carriage. Subsequently the stipendiary magistrate (at his own house) was applied to, and admitted the accused party to bail. He was to have been brought before the presiding magistrate at the police court, but in the interm ' an arrangement was made by friends of both parties, and the case did not therefore come before the public. It was stated that some family difference was the cause. LECTURE.—Yesterday evening, a lecture was delivered in the Chaloner Schools, Jordan-street, by the Rev. Robert Belaney, M.A., Cambridge, late vicar of Aslington, Sussex, subject, " Irish Emigration Religiously Con sidered." The Rev. Mr. O'Reilly occupied the - chair, who introduced the lecturer by a few appropriate obser vations. The lecturer came forward amid applause, and said, in choosing the subject on which he was to speak that evening, he did not intend to treat the matter philosophically, nor to take a political view of the sub ject, but religiously. When a person took up a news paper and read of the vast number of Catholics in America and Australia, and other parts of the world, he would naturally be driven to inquire what was•to be the result of this spreading the Christian religion? The Jews were the chosen people of God, who for 1,400 years main tained his true religion in Palestine, in spite of the scorn of surrounding nations, and here arose Christianity, which was carried into Great Britain by the Roman army, and the people of these kingdoms converted from their heathen faith to the religion of the Romans. In the sixth century the religion became impure, and the people began to cry out against it, but God raised up the Saxons, who gladly received the priests into the army, and the religion was again as pure as at the first. He went on to say that the people of Ireland at the present day bore the same relation to the world that the Jews and Romans of former times had done. They were in many cases obliged to emigrate from their native land, by the oppression of the Established Church— where no Protestant people were to attend that Church— and when they went to other lands, and found so much liberality, their first care was to have their friends there too. He said Ireland was like the Gulf of Meiico, giving out a stream of fresh water, by which the voyager was refreshed, for the streams of pe o ple w hi c h l e ft her shores to visit other lands took the truth with them, and he hoped it would continue to spread. The lecture oc cupied an hour and a half in delivery, at the end of which a vote of thanks was passed to• the lecturer, and the meeting separated. - • DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S SOCIETY. -On Tuesday afternoon, the annual meeting of this institution was presided over by the Venerable Archdeacon Jones. Amongst others present was the Mayor, William Preston, Esq. The Rev. Mr. Denny (on behalf of the secretary, Mrs. Wainwright), read the following report : " The committee of the society for the relief of sick or distressed needlewomen are desirous to report to the subscribers and friends of the charity the result of their exertions during the past year. The only difficulty they haire in doing this results from the fact, that they have been compelled to exercise a very rigid economy In. the distribution of their extremely limited funds. A deep anxiety was felt by the committee that this work should be undertaken on sound principles, and that, as far as possible, it should be guarded from abuse by any en couragement of the idle or unworthy. As with every other new institution, the first few months of the committee's labours were devoted to the con sideration of details requiring time and expe perience in deciding, namely, how they could most effectually carry out the benevolent intentions of the subscribers. Consequently it is only during the pre sent winter that the society has beeh actually in active operation. It is a lamentable fact, presented to our notice by the late census, that there are no fewer than 240,859 sempstresses in Great Britain (of whom 78,068 are shirtmakers), many of whom, even when in health, can but earn what will just enable them to keep life together. A still more p a i n f u l t ru th h as t o b e state d . Many of these have moved in the higher walks of life, being the widows or daughters of professional men or merchants, and when these are left without provision, how truly pitiable is their condition. Ordinarily, the only available resource for the decayed gen tlewoman is needlework. To earn, by this means, the barest necessaries of life it must be pursued early and late—often in the confinement and unhealthy atmosphere of a poor lodging. In such circumstances aggravated by the necessity for close application, and sitting many hours day after day in one unvarying position, the frequent recurrence of sickness is inevitable ; and, if the ready hand of relief be not present in its visitations, who can picture the dreary hours of struggling anguish, ending perhaps in some desperate rush into infamy, or the sad but happier lot of a premature grave ? The great object of this society is to assist not the mere clamorous and needy of this class, but the industrious and deserving, for whom, in the hour of sickness and calamity, there is neither refuge nor help. To effect this end, a personal investigation of every case has been made by the committee, and, at the same time, they have obtained satisfactory information respecting the antecedents of each applicant; all this requiring unwearied zeal and perse verance in their labours. The actual amount ex pended is but a small proportion of the benefits conferred. Medical aid has been gratuitously given by a skilful and experienced practitioner. Valuable donations have been put at the disposal of the committee in the supplies of medicines and articles of nourishment, wine, &c. Timely and valuable information and assistance in cases of puzzling difficulties have been obtained for these friendless sufferers, and in several instances of extreme debility they have been promptly placed in economical " homes," where food and rest for a few weeks have enabled them to resume their labours with renewed hbalth and energy. The committee desire to call attention to the fact that they have hitherto carried on this work without any of the usual expenditure of charitable insti tutions. All charges for rent, superintendent, messenger, and other minor expenses have been avoided. They cannot hope permanently to continue this, as from the great distances included in the borough, it would be beyond the power of any committee to give the requisite attention, apart from paid assistance, should a considerable number of applications reach them from various quarters at once. It is, however, their determination to avoid every outlay of the kind as long as it is possible to do so, consistently with a due sense of the responsibilities they have undertaken. The committee gladly avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing their sincere thanks to their surgeon, Mr. Bailey, for his valuable and efficient services ; also to Mrs. Moss, of 0 tterspool, to Messrs. Clay and Abraham, and Messrs. Mackie and Gladstone, for the great assistance given by them to the charity; and to the trustees of the Savings Bank for the use of a room for their meetings. In On elusion, when looking back upon the past year, the coni mittee feel that, with the limited means entrusted to them, they have been instruments of great good, and tl.l O l are more thoroughly convinced than ever of the Im portance of an institution of this kind. It comes to the to of industrious women struggling for an honest livelihood, at critical times of failing health or sudden di stre* when, if unhelped, they m u s t sink into utter destitution rush into crime, It enables them, with good heart an revived strength, to resume their honest toil; and it groea this assistance in such a way that there is no loss o self-respect in the recipient, nor any danger of inducing,, the feeling of dependance, which is frequently the grel, !!, danger in the administration of temporary relief. A n all this - be duly weighed by the benevolent and hum ane, the committee can entertain no doubt that an institution whose object is so good, and which is so prudently on' ducted, will secure public approbation, and obtain that lar,g,n, and liberal support which it equally requires and deservo• The statement of accounts was also submitted, fr ail/ which it appeared that, though extensive relief had been given by the society 'since its formation, there wa s : , balance to credit of £6B 15s. The report and . accounts were adopted, after which the meet' „ separated. THE RAILWAY QUESTION. (From a Correspondent.) In the columns of our weekly contemporary , til e Albion, has appeared a series of articles upon t he "Railway Question," of considerable local interest' which have called forth some remarks in the sau te journal from a " Country Correspondent," which ought not to be left unnoticed, not only because they directly bear upon the interests of the trade of Liverpool, but also because, we venture t ° think, they emanate from a pretty high authori t y in Lancashire Railway affairs. Those who peruse our columns will know th at we have always recognised in this Rai ll l question—a topic second to none in its direct and. extensive bearing upon Liverpool trade, in eve r l d way—that it must enter most materially al l intimately into every consideration directed t ° the means calculated to extend our commer ce ' and that it must have full attentio n , a n d not a w ere passing regard, from our Mersey Dock Board, in all the plans it may lay for the futu re d ev elopme nt of the important estate committed to its charge' We have alway s ma i n t a i ne d th a t one o f the first duties of the authorities here should ever be t ° shorten, cheapen, and improve, as much as p ossibl e ; the Canals and Railways, which a re the grea t highways by means of which she distributes li ce e imports through the int er i or an d rec eives manufactured returns and minerals for circulation abroad. What forced upon- the attention of enterprising townsmen the grand, unique, al l successful experiment of Railway communicat ion with Manchester, and prompted them to work it out, when the scheme was " pooh, poohed" by the scientific and many long-headed men ° business; but the proved inadequacy of the mean s of transit into the interior, especially in wint er ' when frost sealed up the canals ? Fortuna te would it have been for the town at large, and 01, a the shareholders also, if the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, undertaken original' t° further the inter-communication of the two t0° 11 8 7, 4 had remained an independent company. the then presiding Dock Committee, or our e' er ; poration, foreseen at that date the tr u e interests °` ;the town, they would have fought hard to haver; vented the amalgamation of that railway with $ 11 : 7 , 1 other line whatever. The improvements introdu e ' t of late years into Railway affairs, applied to that line, would, if it had been independent, have led TR a a large reduction in th e ra t es o f carr i ag e ; an d hence Liverpool would not h ave w it nes sed t he extraordinary anomaly o f h av i ng the direc tors her chief Railway with Manchester and Lanca shire at the same tim e di rec t ors a l so o f the line which, having its chief t erm i nus i n London, 0 1 c central shipping point and pl ace o f l ar gest traw .,i, in goods, and communicating direct thence NO; Manchester, must seek to d raw th e t r ade fro a' to London, in preference to Liverpa cic r This is no fancy picture, but a r ea l s t a tement °' facts. Liverpool has no indepe n d en t and f ree Railway Company communicating with 3 f eli chester. The original line is merge d into i:e London and North-Western Company, w iljc ; r administers it as they do oth er b ranc hes of th e " great scheme of lines whi c h c e n t res in, el radiates from, London. We are quite aware that Liverpool men sit at th London Board, but what is their voice among; many ? What proportion does th e ou tl a y on t r line between Liverpool and Manches te (£1,000,000) bear on a company whose aggreg°o capital makes a total of £30,000,000. This was Railway amalgamation number one, A.— t which Liverpool received " a severe blow and e t. 4 discouragement." Let us now gl ance a t som e of i fruits and consequences. So long as the Livere; and Manchester Railway wa s i n d e p en dent, l a competitors for traffic were only the canal all water companies between the tow ns , and fr om their struggle for that traffic Liverpool reaPed_ao the advantages, both in additional cart Y; accommodation and lower rates of carriage. e interest of one and all these concerns was to tai from, and bring .to Liverpool, all the goods th ee could possibly control. But a change comes over this pleasing view' The Liverpool and M anc h es t er R a il way Conin s l ceases to exist as an independent company " amalgamated "—and the new element in I— t , direction of its affairs makes its influence appard hi l The " centre " of all interest in the new coraP etl ; o is London. It is easily seen at that centre that the Liverpool traffic from Manchester has to divided between the Liverpool branch line and t h e water companies, and moves in the game e ri planned in consequence, whi c h we s h a ll notice 1 a subsequent number. A new German perfo r me r on th e v i o li n , M. Be cket, has been well received at a concert at Paris. •ear =ln matters musical, th e s t a t e o f L on d on this before Easter is encouraging to all well-wishers to 10 1, 1 0, The Sardinian loan o f t wo m illi ons h as not b ee n as was at one time expected, by the house of M. Ft i p at Paris. This is l oo k e d upon as an unfavoura ble sY — s o tom, since M. Fould, as Mi n i ster o f State, mus t kn s l o t opportunities o f f oresee i ng i f events are at h a nd might render speculation too hazardous. resigns MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.—The reported regp . of the Marquis of Salisbury is not confirme,d• l of Tuesday, hi s l or d s hi p pa id two v i s i ts to the r-431•00. Derby, and r ema i ne d in consu l tat i on a cons id era ble t i l o a Lord Lovaine d oes no t purpose go i ng to N o rthumbe i r w il on the occasion o f hi s re - e l ect i on, as t h ere i s not =. to be any opposition. TgiS THE SHEEP POISON ING C ASE AT N EWCA STLE. do r, case was concluded at th e N ewcas tl e ass i zes on 301.1 datt s. after having occupied the c our t f or near ly three m 6 The plaintiff, who was a farmer, had bought f r° leg defendant a certain compositio n t o b e us ed for dill sheep. After the sheep had been dipped, a great to 4'tbn, came on, and washed the st u ff ou t o f th eir fleeces ' lO Ol grass, and, from eating this, the sheep, to the nun' „ n og seven hundred, died. Mr. Justice Niles, in surt,,ll up, said the verdict o f the jury must be founde rbe whether this was a reasonable and fit composition used according to th e di rect i ons upon t h e packs u at. they thought the loss o f th e s h eep cou ld b e r eason be tot tributed to no other cause, then their verdict mus t t his, the plaintiff ; b u t, if the plaintiff had not made out .4 then their verdi c t mus t be for the defendant. Tl A l g c l, returned a verdict f or th e pl a i n tiff : d ama ges, 411' THE NORTHERN TIMES THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 18 59