The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-29 00:00:00

HEALTH COMMITTEE • The us ua l weekly meetieg of this committee was held yesterday, at the Town-hall. Mr. Alderman Langsdale Robe chair. The other members p resen t seere , M essrs . obertson Gladstone, Beckwith, C r o s th wa it e , Sh e il, Joh nson, Halhead,Haydock, &c. The Cl er k read the minutes of the last meeting, Which were confirmed. The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspec tor of nuisances, reported various particulars of the operations in their several departments during the week, from which it appeared that 92 nuisanc e s c ompl a i ne d o f to by inhabitants had been inspected, and m eans ta k en reedy them. 1295 , houses in the unhealthiest dis rletre contairiing•,• 5,0?5 ap ar t men t s , an d 999 ce ll ars , h a d eeh put under examination, with the view of improv °/their Sanitary condition. "The Medical officer of the borough reported, that for le week ending on Saturd a y, 243 d ea th s were reg i stere d in the boroueh, of whi c h 175 were i n t h e par i s h , and 68 1 n the townships. This is about the usal averag hut r )s 38 in excess of the previous week, 48 u e, children and 6 ules, died from zvmotic diseases, being 3 more I tha l2 n week. 14 children died from hoo;,ine- coat; roto scarlatina 6 from croup, 3 from measles, 2 from Bsmall 3"Philis, 1 from chicken pox, 5 died from typhus, 2 from PA 1 from influenza, and 1 from erysipelas. Dise ases of th e l ungs caused 82 deaths, being 3 less than the Prec ious week. Th e unusua l num b er o f 2 7 i n f ants th e d r -,1-"tit convulsions, and teething, delirium tremens was n to 2 males, one a licensed victualler. ef , e • H. Wei htmati complaining of the unhealthy t-h-enodtion of the houses g in Eaton•place, Breck-road, from 1 , amp state of the founda'ions. The medical officer eotl the borough engineer reported, that the houses re ttnired d -rainage, which c , uld not be made until a sewer i?.',l,sh'ormed. One case of small pox had been reported. bnr e'ogh engineer was instructed to include the aw ay ~yiof the sewer in his next estimates, for doing h the nuisance complained of. On te TUE CHURCHYARD NUI SANCE . !e^ •-e Motion of M r. Gl a d stone, seconded by r. 1:1 vv M ith, it was d ec id e d t h at t h e attention of the co. 11 1 "io rn ner of St. John's and St. Paul's churches, t h " l 4 be called to the dangerous and unhealthy state of 7. t et}ler twu °in t - thY tole, with a view of their being alto °, closed. L ln a reference to the nuisance arising tvar-atBd•ii,johns churchyard, the law committee for brie subjoined report, which was drawn up by of heir offi c i a l s: the .T e e bn rial_ ond of St. John's has been used for inter orta 'or the hospital, the barracks, and lunatic asylum b e l e cM the site of St. George's Hall, for prisoners d urine a st War, Who died in large numbers, for the victims of cholera and Irish fever, and for a very large proportion of the "Poorest classes of the town, who bury h ere f or most ot ovenienee and e conom y sa k e . Si nce th e c l os i ng o f 11 !d been the g rave yards in May, 1854, that of St. John's e. much more used that ever before. From 7. at I have seen and heard during some years I hive tuleahesitation in saying that the bulk of the grave yards is St.a J oe ss of Petrifying matter, particularly the plot next b un'a-lane, and St. George's Hall ! In 1850, the r: uncl ag wall at the south-west angle of the hall was - rooved to admit of a new stone wall being built, and a m o toget he rf coffin ends were exposed packed closely end , and one above another, about 150 feet in length, removed" say that only a portion of the wall was at once as the smell was so bad. A cesspool 00 -1 2. kink close by at the same time in the rock. The `logs into this from the churchyard side were so §ueftenole that the men had repeatedly to leave it. It was tt uon halt filled with what was called " black blood,'' the : 411 of which was sickening. The health of tu P pereon long employed at the hall has *uttered f rom the pr ox i m i t y o f t h e c h urc h yar d a t.. 1 1 ° 1 ' , ' baying left they have regained their healh ' tieid refused to take air from the West side for the , e Pur P °s es of v ent il ation. Dr. Sutherland and others onnected with the general board of health strongly skreee_nnlatentled the closing of this burial ground ; and it thra intleded in the Queen's order in council, but t u °, ll g l l an omission in the act of parliament, the order cage in ease of St. John's has been unattended to ! i r ILACT FOR THE RENIOVAL OF STREET SWEEPINGS, &C. it.. 111 reference to this matter the following report was Titled unanimously adopted : ell special sPecial committee appointed to consider and report the e term s on which the new contract should be let for h„ . re nloval of the street anti other refuse from the borough -vi ne met, and given the subject the fullest consideration, r ePcrt as follows : th e l t ,; s !" ) ur committee arc of opinion, and they recommend, wot and k of cl an sing the ing the r sewers efuse colslhecteouldd fr b om e let sweeping in one 111),arlerie trateet, contract; and that fu - removing the contents o f n e, 'eParate contract..` asits ' and re fuse from the markets, in another & * 1) 4. .That i n order to afford the health committee the full 1. iniprovernent which are takin g pl ace in the 4vea atiell the period over b e five years. r which each contract sho u ld exten d 3 : That the sweeping of the streets, &c., should, as at pre rtt, be pl aced under the management of the borough engi eer, 10,4° 4 1 - 1 That th e contract for removal of the street sweepings oft. ld be divid ed into two districts, one embracing the whole on„ erd be be south of Dale-street and London road, the L'onetnh! lem ainder of t h e b oroug h, iccludtng Dale-st ree t an d TI "ad. riiidde nit in r espect of the contract for removal of contents of obt,inent Ste' a n d t h e refuse from markets, tenders should be the Othe r( B epar ate l 3) for each of the five districts into which 4 00 "rough it di v i ded. `I he whole ofsuch refuse to be removed 6. That beyo n d the boundaries of the borough. horsesinat a tender should he obtained for supplying such Premi s and s el ulta as may he required for rem ov i ng as h es f rom 7. r Where there are no ashpits. innorder to secure the proper cleansing of places in . the the c ontents of m idd ens, & c , may he deposited be boon of of cl eans i ng the same, the contractor should 'the /1w d to wash such paces thoroughly w i t h water Yard s cr there is a hydrant within the distauce of thirty a , B o ; d i '_ hat a wi dv ertisement s s h ou l d b e forthwith published, in 3.-,;Enaince th the ab ove recommendation, in all the Liverpool te z h ati :r and also in some one or more of the London, Birna 24ah 0 `,:',0 tl Manch ester newspapers ; and that Monday, the e ar e t , `44 h next, be appointed as th e da which tender s be delivered,he y by otweeinrolin - wing parti es were declared contractors for g outh g:---For Ne therfield-road, North, Mount -street, Apassag:reet, St. George's-street, M Greg or-street, and 8, Owen and Roberts, £623 7s ld. Portland eaex _Portland-squar, Portland-buildings, and pas tl,„. °Wen and Roberts .£3.5 lls 9d. Andersan-street, ti634"9"sn-street, and pa'ssages, William Tomkinson, t erra,:e, • ....Annne•street, Salisbury-street, and William street George Ravenscroft, £B7 10s. Westbourne atteecote? Alma- s t reet, Richard Smith, £461 7s. Lord' tort}, ..!(!ag lan- street, Sp ea k e l and-street, and a street u ..sls t ditto in West D er b y, I saac Dixon and Co., st r • Park-street, Mersey View-street, Vaughan- To:.2Ja•towortla street, Napierettreet, and passages in Dixon'o rne-,,,street, Cerltort keZ`eoutt-park, Richard Smith, £7OB 14s 6d. Penrith, street, and passages Isaac ' Richardand £213 158 Lleeren str et andpassages, Thi s Sra ith, £5ll 48: Yu- e concluded the business. DOCK COIVIMITTEE. weekly meetin of this committee was held i.:. one o'clock yesterday,g at the Dock Offices ; Mr. Aireancis Shand in the chair. Other members present_ Ra: *". L Palmer Brocklebank, Gregson, Chaloner, oer, Rubbac,_, K Rankin Robert on Gladstone, Ander lob, Robinson, and J. lioirne. s The minutes of the last meeting. were read and con firmed. The sub-committee of works r ecommended that the tender s of Messres.b%bVuawlkevra,lParker & Co., for two tons of lead, and of the, quantity of iron, be ace-e teclir°n Company' p e .--.-Confirmed. The harbour-rnasterto for a certain committee reported the death of Mr. John Easton, forrnwear,ly Ported of the_ 13unwick dock, and who annutgrannuated in 1801, on an allowance of £l5O Per A co mmunication was read from Messrs. Allan and Gillespie, requesting that a permanent berth in the Wellington dock may be allotted to the vessels of the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company. Thesy will coin- Mence service in April, and will run between this Port and the St. Lawrence. _ A letter was read from Messrs. Granger, 13ristow and Jghnson, requesting greater facilities for the loading, keo of the Belfast steamers in the Nelson dock, and complaining that when the wind was entirely north or !onth, the rain came in at the ends of the shed, to the injury of the goods lying there. A letter was read from Messrs. MeClune and Tamplin, "I;aP,PlYing to resume the loading berth for the London Plymouth steamers in the Nelson dock. 10,4 letter was read from Messrs. Boult, En g li s h . and Joranden, requesting that greater facilities might be given for the discharging of ships at night. 1 All the foregoin g communications were referred to the our master's committee. Te nders for the fi nance com pmittee .rinting and stationary were ref erred to nl4 A letter Was read f rom Mr. J. P. Miller, agent of the ,s,',„ Com pany carters, requesting to know if there .w.,5 -"y s va cant spot on the estate, wer e th e company ' s tea cartd remain at ni g h t, and stating that they would take soul That fo r a term of years. Place for the purpose. Mr. Gl adstone thought the company should provide th e y carts, for not hi ng more barbarous than those which y had at present, and whi c h were merely h uge p i eces of timb er merely hem Woul d under cover. (Lter.) T his concl u d ed the Me aughnd ifilaia.". I ST. HELEN'S RAILWAY & CANAL COMPANY HALF-YEARLY ➢MEETING,-YESTERDAY, (FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.) The half-yearly ordinary general meeting of the St. Helen's Railway and Canal Company was held at the station; Str Helen's, at twelve o'clock yesterday. Gilbert Greenall, Esq , M.P., presided. The following gentlemen were among the directors and shareholders present : t Messrs. Charles Halland, S. Steers, J. Rigby, R. S. Harlow, T. L. Rushton, R. Dayleigh, E. Greenali, John Smith, James Eaton, James Gorton, Samuel Bishop, Charles Bishop, A. J. Jones, H. Gaskell Taylor, John Whitley, junior, Th,,mas Haddock, and James Hesketh The S rs have to report that the increase in the gross for the six months jugt ended, when compared with the same period of 1854, is £3475, against which must hp paced an increase of working and renewal charges Of £1984, and of interest of loans and preference dividends of £586. X. s. d. , ecretary, Mr. Sinclair, read the following half- REPORT. yearly The Toe gross revenue for the half year, as shown statement of accounts circulated 35176 12 3 the shareholders, is And the working charges, rates, taxes and } 13683 18 7 rents amount to Or 39 per cent on the receipts. Leaving a surplus of 2149 13 8 Deducting from which, for interest 6659 4 2 on loans For renewal of permanent way.... 350 0 0 And for two half year's contribution } 826 1 0 to cost of additional works ..... T .enves 7835 b 2 13657 8 6 To which must he added the balance left, after payment of the dividend declared at the 84 4 5 last general meeting.... ...... . ............ 13741 12 11 Out of which the dit ectors propose that a dividend shall be declared for the past half year, Of 2 per cent on stock (13) , 3600 0 0 /, 3 ~ „ (C).... 3757 10 0 2 1, )1 „ ( D).. . 2674 2 6 ~ 2+ „ the .£25 shales 18f2 16 4 0 „ 2+ ~ £2O shares 1353 1602 11 3 And 3 „ £2O shares 1855 1192 16 0 -- 12843 3 9 Leaving a balance to be carried to the next acct. of 898 9 2 From Jatuto June July to Den. The number of passengers e ,, n . veyed during the year 1855, 263108 303467 566575 was .. Showing a decrease of 74,201, on tle number conveyed in the year 1854. The weight of coals and merchandise carried— Tons. Tons. Tons. On the railway On the canal . ... 232753 296175 639228 Total Being an increase of 68236 tons over the weight carried in the previous year The directors have filled up the vacancy caused by the lamented death of their late esteemed colleague and deputy chairman Mr. Kidd, by the electio❑ of Mr. John Blundell, of St. Helens. The North Staffordshire Company having introduced into Paliament bills to enable them to exercise running powers over this line, to extend it from Garston to Liverpool, and to pur chase this company's undertaking, or amalgamate it wi h their own, the directors have considered it necessary to petition against the concession to that company of the extension line, or of any rights or powers over this company's undertaking. GILBERT GREENALL, Chairman. The Chairman said : Gentlemen, I shall conclude the few remarks which I think itmy duty to make by moving before I sit down, the report which has now been read, with the half-yearly statement of accounts which has been laid before you, be received and adopted. It is with much satisfaction that the directors meet upon this occasion, inasmuch as we have now arrived at a period of time in our concern to which some of ns have looked forward with much interest, not to say with some anxiety, and we are in a position to lay before you accounts which are so satisfactory that it is to me a pleasure to lay them before you. I may say in the first place that I should wish each shareholder in the room should, as clearly as the directors do themselves, under stand the accounts, and that all should know for them sets-es. minutely cud intirnat,ly, all the intricacies, if there be any, and everything conducted with their property, its management, and its prospects. The gross income of the year, as you will perceive, upon referring to the accounts for the half year ending December 31st, amounts to £35,176 12s. 3d., which I am glad to say, is an amount superior by some £ 2 ,5 0 0 to the gross receipts upon any previous half year since the existence of the company. It is an excess of about £3,475 upon the gross income for the half year ending December, 1854. The disbursements, you will perceive are £13,683 18s. 7d., which represents a cost of manage: went equal to about 39 per cent. upon the £35,176, the gross half year's income; 39 per cent., you are aware as well as I, is not a very high average for railway expendi ture. I hope, however, that the directors see their way, and that it will be their object, and their endeavour, to du all in their power to reduce the annual cost of the management, to something which shall be lower than 35 per cent. I hope that they will be able in this respect to accomplish their wish. The balance applicable to loans and dividends, amounts to £21,492 13s. Bd. For the payment of interest upon our loans, we require £6,659 4s. 2d. For preferential interest, we require for the half year £12,843 3s. 9d. The balance which repre sents the profits, upon the half year ending December 31st, 1855, is £1,990 ss. 9d. From that protitof £1.990 ss. 9d., we deduct, as usual, for the maintenance of our permanent way, the sum of £350. We also deduct for additional works £826 Is , leaving a balance to be carried to the credit of revenue, of £Bl4 4s. 9d. I should wish to point out to the observation of the gentlemen here, that that £826 Is. contains in it the sum of £399 10s. 2d. That is an amount which we deduct from revenue, which you will remember, we were unable to deduct last tinKr, and which, I am happy now to see, we are able to deduct from the present half year. If that £399 108. 2d. had not been deducted, the profit, instead of b tin £Bl4 4s. 9d., upon the half year, would have been £1,213 14s Ild, or something representing proximately 8s per share upon the 3,168 shares which are considered as the old shares of the company. There is one feature in the concern which, upon all occasions, I am anxious to impress upon the eyes and to the notice of the shareholders, namely, the large amount of our preferential capital. You—all of you know the circumstances under which that preferen tial capital was created, and I think we have all lived to see times and events which justified the directors in then issuing that preferential stock. On our paid up capital, which is represented, as you will see, by a sum of about £912,000, the preferential stock is an amount of about £703,000, and we require an annual income of £39,000 to pay the preferential dividends. Now, it has been a matter of great satisfaction to myself, and also to those with whom I have the pleasure to act, that we have been at all times able to meet that large dividend upon our preferential stock. I hope that at this moment the holders of preferential stock see and know that their property is safe ; and there is little—l would almost say no doubt—on my mind whatever that the concern now will be able conveniently itself to pay all the preferen tial dividends. It is a great satisfaction to me to be able thus strongly to express my opinion. There is another point to which I wish to call your attention ; and it is, as all the shareholders well know who have observed the weekly returns which the company pub lishes, the very satisfactory state of our traffic, and of our revenue at this moment. (Hear, hear.) On the 24th of February, which has just passed by. we received the last week's return which was published. For the eight weeks ending then the gross return was £10,637. The r-turn for the cor responding eight weeks of 1855, was £9,250. There fore, we have -ta excess upon these eight weeks of 1856, over 1855, of about £1,420. if the revenue continues during the whole fifty-two weeks of 1856 to rise in the same proportion over the year 1855, we shall have an increase of income of from £B,OOO to £9,000, deducting from which 40 per cent for the expenses, which is more than I think, even at the present high charge will be required, we may calculate upon having at the end of the year 1853, something like £5,000, which will be divisable upon our old stock of 3,168 shares. Now, I know how very dangerous it is to prophecy. I give you the facts and the figures, and I work them out to the result which I have made, and I hope we shall find a happy result at the termination of the year. Now, gen tlemen, theme is one subject which the directors have considered with all the gravity which they think its weight deserved, and that subject was, whether they wthol:utelrid;,:ive any dividend out of that £Bl4 4s 9d, to the old shares. We came to the conclusion, that it is much ) 11 1. e e s holders ra o e t d e o r to (ll d e o a s r o , , hear.) My own feeling is, and not to state the reasons to the gentlemen who held the shares. la the first place, nsider that the money is as it were, borrowed from e th th ey at r ti e i c e e y il m, • anosdifotnt Istehsoiht.pares, that this is only a deferred Payment, a of that to which'th stock, when we com e to expect we shall be,eY are entitled i e f ill w n reetchaeirinevge someu p le o , n a l) t s ahre l t year. There is anothedeclar e a large dividend on the o the termination of the next half 'desirable that the directrorreason, which I think, makes it tsli.ouol of our o n u o r p p r a e y fe u re p n t t o i a t l h the stock last penny of their revenue. my intention, to let the ho ld ershulk we are bound, and it is reel, that the directors are determined, so far as in them lies, to make it a good, safe, valuable, and marketable property. I think the security will be felt greater in that stock, when the holders of it feel that the manage ment of the concern is in the hands of directors who look carefully and attentively to the interests, who have carried the concern through so many difficulties, and brought it to its present position. Again, I think that the old shareholders may be satisfied that the manage ment will never forget their interests, when they con sider that at that board a very large proportion, indeed, of that old stock is held ; and I think they should regard the directors as a body of men who had a strong per sonal in:erest in taking care that the old shareholders were well cared for. It has been a matter of deep regret to us, that we had the misfortune to lose the services of a gentleman who was the oldest of our directors, and I believe has been associated with the fortunes of our com pany since i.s commencement. (Hear, hear.) I mean Mr. Kidd. Of that gentleman it is needless for me to speak. His character was well known, and his value and worth appreciated in the neighbourhood. (Hear, hear.) The directors thought that they would do well to add to their board a large holder, if we could find one, of the old stock. With that reason, lam glad to say, that we have been able to secure the services of a most eligible gentleman, ➢lr. Blundell, who, you will see, has been elected by us. I am very glad, upon this occasion, to see Mr Jones, who has audited the accounts. I shall be happy indeed to hear from him any remarks, and so will the directors, which lie may think fit to address to the meeting. I regret, indeed, the absence of Mr. Crosfield, and i•s C4USe. I wish, myself, and lam sure my col leagues join me in that wish, that that gentleman may return to us to perform the valuable duties he has dis— charged, in the possession of health and strength before very long. (Hear, hear.) With these remarks, gentle. men, I beg to move the resolution, that the report which has been read with the half-yearly statement of accounts, be received and adopted. (Hear, hear.) Mr. H. Gaskell Taylor seconded the motion, expres sing his full concurrence with the discretion the direc tors had exercised, in withholding the dividend at present. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was unanimously adopted. Mr. Charles Holland moved the adoption of the dividend mentioned in the report. Mr. Jones in seconding the motion stated, that every thing in the acounts was in good order, and well accounted for t> his satisfaction. In addition to what the chairman had stated, as reasons why a dividend should not now be declared upon every share, and which lie was very happy to see seconded by a share holder, he might state one very important thing, that towards the end of the year or thereabouts, some £BO,OOO would fall due in their debentures, and if circumstances should not alter, if the war should unhappily continue, and they had then to go into the market, they would be yond any question, hay:: to pay one per cent. more th in they did now, a hich would add £BOO per annum to thier interest. Another reason was, that it was a very important thing at all times to have from £l,OOO to £1,200, if possible, as a balance overstanding. (Hear, hear.) They had been very happily circumstanced in having no accident which might call upon the company to pay serious damages • but yet they could not po s sibly f oresee w h at m i ght occur, and he therefore thought it only a prudent measure that they should have something in hand to fall back upon without taking excessively from the sum which might be required for dividend. (Hear, hear.) He considered that, under all the circumstances, the traffic, for a long time past, had been wonderfully kept up, and there could be no doubt that, if peace were concluded, a very great expansion of trade and business would take place in Liverpool and the towns around, and a very great increase won't' consequently come to the railway. (Hear, hear.) He wished the dock were a little more in use ; it would be serviceable not only in the interests of itself, but also in bringing up coals for the purpuse of shipment. But they could not force those matters. (Hear, hear.) They would, nee,s sarily, he hoped arise, and the time come when there would be a very great increase in the traffic of the line. The (311 airman reminded Mr. Jones that there were scarcely any of these four per cent bonds which would fall due during the next twelve months. Mr, Jones said it would be somewhere about twelve months, and he thought the only practicable measure would be to keep some money in hands. The Chairman : I quite agree:with you. I may add that I omitted to say one thing—that we had an elaborate and careful valuation of our working-stock made by ➢lr. Ken. aedy, and the working-stock. accoriing to his valuation, represents exactly £54,423 8s 7d. Mr. Jones observed that there was a vast improvement in the appearance of the enqines. They were now a credit to the railway—they were now machines fit to look at and fit to work. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was carried unlnimously. This was the whole of the buiness, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. POLICE COURT.—YBsTETIDAY. (BEFORE 31R. E. EVANS.) THE " FAST YOUNG MAN."—James Jones, alias Davis, who had been remanded on a charge of having offered twelve yards of silk for pawn, fur the possession of which he could not properly account, was brought up. There was a good deal of mystety about the afftir, and the p isoner was evidently a very "fast young man." He was very well dressed, his appearance was most respectable, and he is a person of superior address. It wee stated by the police that some time in January the prisoner arrived here from London, and went to lodge at No. 1, Ray-street. There was some suspicion attached to him, as he had no apparent business, but lived a fast life. He went from this town ito Chester and returned in about a fortnight with a well filled hag of valuable goods. He went to offer twelve yards of silk in pledge, and when asked some questions about it he ran away, but was followed and captured. Mr. Clough produced a letter in reply to one he had written to the police of Bllton, in reference to the prisoner, and then asked the magistrate for a remand to Satur day, as he should then be prepared with fmther evidence. The prisoner asked for a remand to this day, when he said he could explain the whole affair, He wam remanded. BURGLARY IN A PUBLlCsuou'sn.—Three persons, named James Nl`Cann, William Evans, and Peter Cosgrove, were brought up by detectives Povey, Horn, and M'Culloch, on a charge of having broken into ,the Farmer's Arms public house, Palk-road, belonging to Mr. William Holt, and stealing a coat, a pair of boots, a cash box, containing about £3, some cigars, tobacco, and a quantity of spirits, and other things. It appeared, from the evidence adduced, that, on Tuesday night, the premises of Mr. Holt had been locked and fastened in the usual way. In the morning, when one of the servants came down, sho found the hack doors open. It would seem that the persons who entered the house, did so through the cellar grid, and, having gained admission, they regaled themselves on a fine ham and somo bread, that lay invitingly on a table before them. They partook of large quantities of ale and gin, and, it would seem, they took their time, and eat, drank, and made merry, at the expense of Mr. Holt. Having done justice to the viands, they searched the place, and carried off all property they could lay hands on. The officers traced them to a cellar in an adjoining Street, where they had left a quantity of gin. From this, the constables got scent, and went to the Aintree race-course when they arrested the prisoners, some of whom had portions of clothes that had been stolen, on them. They were fully identified and the bench sent them for trial at the ensuing assizes. Two of the prisoners are " ticket of leave" men. (BEFORE MR EVANS AND MR. HARVEY.) CHARGE CF CRIMINAL ASSAULT ON A CHlLD.—Duncan James Boyd, described as a ca-tain of a ship, was brought up charged with having committed a criminal assault on a child named Hanmar, the daughter of a man named Richard Haman, residing in Silkhouse-lane, Tithbarn-street. Mr. Snowball appeared for the prisoner. The details were of course unfit to meet the public eye. Mr. Snowball repudiated the charge, and said his client Seas a highly respectable man, with a respectable wife and four children. The case he con tended was got up through spite, as the prisoner was about leaving the house of Haninar, where he had lodged. The magistrates convicted the prisoner of a common assault, and fined him £2, which he at once paid and was discharged. (BEFORE MESSRS. CROSTIS WAITE AND MOLT.) Messrs. Crosthwaite and G. Holt sat in Mr. Mansfield's court, in the absence of that gentleman, and disposed of a variety of small cases, dock and other informations, &c. CHARGE OF ASSAULT.—U,rIes Henry Wilson was charged by his sister.in law, Margaret Wilcox, wi:h h a ring assaulted her. Mr. Bluck was for the defendant. The case was this. The mother-in-law of the complainant gave her some beer on Saturday last, and in the evening, when her (complainant's) husband came home, there was a " shine" kicked up, and the husband went off on a "spree," and returned about two o'clock in Cie morning in c ompany of the defendant, and, as the complainant spoke to him about the impropriety of his conduct in taking her husband aw a y, he struck her two blows and cut her mouth. Mr. Bluck cross examined the witness, and produced the brother of the defendant, who stated that the female was " fresh" in drink, a nd that she attacked the defendant with a basin, an d w i th i t struck him on the head. The defendant was fined Ss and costs for the assault. ASSAULT ON A WIFE.—A pretty young woman, named Mary Robertson, the wife of a barber residing in Scotland road, charged her husband, John Robertson, with having assaulted her, blackened her eye, and thrown a bucket of water on her, on Saturday night last. The complainant went to the shop of her husband (they did not reside at the shop) on Saturday night, with his and two workmen's supper, and it was proved in evidence that he heat her and threw water on her, and gave her a black eye. Lie was sent to prison for three months. A New York correspondent writes on the 12th instant : " Rachel takes her final departure to-day from the United States. She has not been able to fulfil her engagements, which extended to one hundred and fifty performances, and it is feared she returns with her health materially impaired. But she carries back with her the affectionate regards of least two hundred thousand Americans who hare seen her impersonations and felt her magic power." NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 18156 SABBATH DEFENCE TO THE EDITOR OF THE NOR iIIERN TbIEN Sir,—l am glad to meet a respectable opponent in Mr. Bardsley. He advances a plausible argument. I cannot in courtesy decline to reply. I agree with him upon many of the positions he maintains in his letter of the 20th of February. I believe in his sincerity, and though I still differ from him upon some important questions, nothing shall tempt me to treat him as other than a scholar and a gentleman. lie has, I am sure involuntarily, made a misrepresenta tion of the views of the authors of the pamphlet which he criticises when he wrote that they asserted that on Sunday (which Mr. Bardsley will call the Sabbath) " it is lawful at any hour to buy and sell whatever a persons pleases that it is a day for rational amusement, innocent recreation, and pleasure." From this it is clear that Mr. Bardsley has not read the pamphlet very carefully. His time has been employed. But it is hard that the authors should suffer from his oversight. I have never doubted the authority of certain Acts of Parliament which prohibit Sunday trading. On the contrary I think it a very proper municipal regula tion, and have certainly never advocated its abrogation. Azain, I have advocated sober and rational amusement, and all the pleasure that can be derived from it, but I never have, and never shall, advocate it if it were to be attained by the sacrifice of the slightest portion of the de, otional duty. No word that I have writ , en can in the slightest degree derogate from the importance of public worship. It is with the gin-shop and not with the church that I am at war. Mr. Bardsley indulges in pleasant irony, when he quotes the 7ih Article against me. I will, as he is so minded, be come his catechumen. Commandments are moral or posi tive—moral, if they relate to piety, purity, ju , tice, mercy and the like ; positive, if they ordain things which, without Divine ordinance, would appear indifferent, such as to offer sacrifices, to rest on the seventh day, to abstain from tillage in the seventh year. The Fourth Commandment is therefore positive, and while I deny its obligation upon Christians, I can still sincerely subscribe the 7th Article. J. Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, B. 1., c. 2., Rule 6, s. 58 Thirrow's Works, ed. 1847, vol. 1., p. 572. Mr. Bardsley proceeds to enforce his arguments by refe rence to the Communion Service. He treads upon danger. ous ground. In it there is apparent confusion or worse, but I think it may be explained, and that upon the authority of an Irish clergyman. In the outset, we observe that the version of the Decalogue in the Common Prayer differs from that of the 20th chap ter of Exodus. The First Commandment in the former omits the words " which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." These are very material, because they show that these c immandrunts were addressed exclusively to the Israelites. However, the omission is of little importance to educated Christians. They are perfectly cognisant of it, and they also know that the Fourth Commandment is exclusively addressed to the Jews, because Christians do not observe the Sabbath, but worship God publicly, and take their rest on the Lord's Day. There is, moreover, no autlioritive declaration by the church that the obliga tion of the Sabbath was transferred by Christ, or his Apostles. to Sunday. On the contrary, Mr. Bardsley may be surprised to learn that this doctrine was held by the Romanists, and was a marked point of difference between them and the early Reformers. Lingard, vol. 7, note N. The responses of the people are ejaculations taken from a Psalm, the first Book of IC ngs, and the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Rubric is, that after every Commandment the people shall " ask god's mercy for their transgressions thereof"—in other words, acknowledge that they are guilty of theft, murder, adultery, and the like. If, therefore, this be taken literally, it is simply absurd. But when we know that it was intended as the substitute for confession, which invariably preceded communication in the old religion, it bears a very different aspect. These fragments of holy Writ, repeated on the most solemn occasion, are far from inappropriate remembrances to the penitent, though they be, and must be, recited with the same feeling that we recite many of the Psalms—at all events, not in a literal sense. The following words, of an Irish clergyman (bishop of Down), will better explain my meaning :—" Now, whilst each commandment is reading, every communicant ought, by a secret recollection at least of his grosser sins, to examine his own conscience, and being conscious wherein he hath offended, bewail his own sinfulness, crying out with the rest—" Lord have mercy upon us," and also purpose his amendment, adding, " and incline our hearts to keep this law." (Common Prayer--pant.) 1 do not pretend to censure the introduction of the mutilated Decilo , ' ue, with the respon s es a nd Rub r i c in question, into the Communion Service. But I may remark, that it is r.ot to be found in the liturgy of any of the other reformed churches. I conjecture it was inserted principally for the sake of inculcating the second commandment, which the Reformers held to be infringed by the Romanists. If so, it is a curious circumstance that its introduction should, after a lapse of three hundred years, induce a Protestant clergyman to defend another Romanist doctrine. With respect to the Homilies, Mr. Bardsley again indulges in pleasant irony. The articles are only binding upon me which are articles of faith and doctrine. These he well knows are the first eighteen and the twenty-second. (Burns Ecclesilstical Law—Title Articles.) The homilies, however, I can freely admit in the sense prescribed by Burnet, even the 35th, though I do not admit the first portion quoted by Mr. Bards'ey to be an authora tive exposition of the Church. To the latter quotation I object no more than Mr. Bardsley himself. I give the passage from Burnet to show I do nut speak without warrant : We profess about them is that they contain a godly and wholesome doe - rine. This rather relates to the main importance and design of them, than to every passage of them. This approbation is not to be stretched so far as to carry in it a special assent to every particular in that whole volume; But a man must he persuaded of the main of the doctrine that is taught in them." (Exposition of the Articles.) The head of the church, in two successive reigns, seems to have disregarded in like manner the authority of this homily, and found it necessary to decla re w h at spor t s were lawful on Sunday. It is absurd to suppose that the royal declarations were issued without the advice of prelates. 'They formed a portion of the ecclesiastical legislation of th country. Thee declarations hare not been continued. Still no ordinance of the Church has been made iu derogation of the liberty they proclaimed. These matters, however, are, after all, but mere child's play. In my first letter I appealed to the authority of the great teachers of the Christian and protestant c hu rc h. Con vocation, in our day,is mute ; and, to ascertain the doctrines of the church, we can only refer to th e i n di v id ua l aut h or i ty of their great rec o gnised exponents. Of these, Dr. M'Neile had taken no notice whate ver . Il e a'sume d i t to b e a clear case . Religion on one sid e , an d at h e i sm on t h e ot h er ! I had no alternative but to ascribe to him either ignorance or deception. I know nothing of the gentleman personally. My respect for his high office forbade me to impute a wilful suppression of the truth. I%lr. Bardsley ret a li a t e; th e c h arge o f ignorance upon me. With him I appeal to the public as my judge. I regret, however, that much of this letter has turnedis i upon the vindication of my se lf as a c h urc hman, fort hardly relevant to the main q ue sti o n. Let me sum up the proposition I maintain. Sunday is a day of Christian public worship and rest. Recreation is a necessary part of the rest of an intelligent being. From withholding it on Sundays, manifest evil follows. Neither the gospel tor the church, enjoin upon us that we should abstain from sober and rational entertainment on that day.—l an;, Sir, &c., A CHURCHMAN. 27th February, 1856, SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY The half -yearly meeting of the South Eastern Railway proprietors was held yesterday, at the Bridge House Hotel. The Hon. Mr. Byng in the chair. The report which had been previously published, was taken as read, and the chairman, in moving the adop tion of the report stated, that the dividend to be declared would be 13s. 2d. per share, payable on the 6th of March. Mr. Caird moved an amcndmz:nt disapproving of the report, because the engineer's report had not been pro duced, and suggesting that one director should go out every year, and not be re-eligible. This amendment was seconded by Mr. Maxwell, upon which several shareholders asked Mr. Caird, whether he intended to become a candidate for a directorship ? Mr. Caird replied, that he certainly had been asked to stand, but he did not care whether he were elected or not. A shareholder pointed out that between the years 1852 and 1856, the receipts of the company had increased to £200,000, while the dividend was only per cent. more. _ • Mr. Herapath contended that there had been an increase of 20 per cent in the receipts, and the increase of dividend had been 30 per cent, and there was, there fore, nothing to find fault with. The Chairman stated that the annual loss sustained by the company, by the branches, was £86,000. The atnendrnent was withdrawn, and the report was agreed to, and a dividend of 13s 2d per share was declared. The retiring directors were re-elected. A Constantinople corm spondent write*, on the 14th inst. M. Donizetti. brother t of the celebrated composer, died it his house in Pera on Saturday last, after a long and painful illness. Ile was generally esteemed and respected by all classes, and displayed great skill and ingenuity i n training th e Turks and forming their military bands, which have now attained to considerable proficiency in the musica arts. He had amassed a large fortune, and had been pensioned off by the Sultan a short time before his death, with the rank of Paella. ORMSBIRK UNION • The board of guardians of the Ormskirk union held their weekly meeting yesterday :-T-Present Mr. Mundsley (in the chair), Mr. IV. G. Tilsley, vice-chairman, Messrs. Linacre, R. Parr, Orayson i Bromley, Carr, Norris, Stoner, and Mercer. On the clerk of the board presenting the minutes of the last meeting to the chairman for his signature, The Chairman objected to sign them, and requested to be informed why the resolution relative to the advertising for a chaplain to the onion workhouse had not been entered. The board had last week resolved not to advertise, and yet he found that an advertisement for a chaplain had appeared in the NORTHERN TIMES. Mr. Bromley: — Oh! I have a motion to make on that subject. Mr. Stoner : Make what motion you will, but do it yo shall in the order prescribed by the Poor-law Board. I take upon myself the responsibility of that advertisement which I inserted in order to keep you straight, and prevent the board again becoming the victim of designing men. Who they are is yet to be discovered, but I will have them out yet. I deny that any resolution declining to advertise was agreed to. The Chairman asserted that such a resolution had been adopted at the last meeting of the board. Mr. Stoner : Very well; then compel your clerk to report himself for neglecting to enter it. But I say there was no such resolution agreed to. If it was, pray tell me who moved and seconded it, and how many voted for it. I grant that there was an understanding, but a:. understanding is one thing, and a resolution is another. But, to end the matter, it may be settled by adding to the minutes the following, by way of supplement :—"As supplemental to the above minutes of this meeting, and in reference to the appoitament of a chaplain, it was considered, and agreed by the guardians present, that a chaplain should not be advertised for in any newspaper." This suggestion was put, and adopted by the meeting. Mr. Tilsley wished, as the discussion had commenced, that it should Le finished. M:. Stoner maintained that all things in the matter should be done according to law, and the orders of the poor law board. The minutes were then signed by the chairman, and the ordinary business, which was very light, was gone through and disposed of. The Chairman, taking up a copy of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES of Saturday last, said : I went to know who has been guilty of the presumption of publishing the advertisement relating to the chaplaincy in the newspaper P Mr. Stoner : I have already told you that I take upon myself the entire responsibility of that insertion, and I did it for your own good ; say what you like. Mr. Bromley, interposing with manifest anxiety, paid : I have a motion to submit on this subject. Mr. Stoner : And so have I. I will satisfy you at once, by now proposing the following resolution :—" That the board now adopts the advertisements which appears in the NORTHERN DAILY Tom, relative to the chaplaincy." And now I beg to refct the board to the 153 d article of the Consolidated Order, which is in these terms :—" That the guardians shall, whenever it may be requested, or whenever a vacancy may occur, appoint fit persons to hold the undermentioned offices, and to perform the duties respectively assigned to them— namely, Ist, clerk to the guardians; 2nd, treasurer to the union ; 3rd, chaplain," and then follow the other appoint ments which are enumerated. Article 154 defines the tenure under which these offices shall be held; article 155 provides the mode of appointment, the number to be present, when to be made, and further its immediate notifica tion, when made, to the commissioners. The 156th article states that no appointment shall be made, unless a notice that the question of making such appointment will be brought before the board has been given, and entered on the minutes of one of the two ordinary meetings of the board, next pre ceding the meeting at which :ho appointment is made, or unless an advertisement, giving notice of sult appointment, shall have appeared in some public newspaper, by the direc tion of the guardians, at least seven days before the day on which such appointment shall be made, provided that no such notice or advertisement shall b 9 necessary for the appointment of an assistant or temporary substitute." To that article is appended a note which says—" It is desirable, in order to prevent surprise, and the choice of an improper candidate, that sufficient notice of appointment should be given to the Guardians. It will not be necessary to advertise the appointment in any news paper, if notice of the appointment shall have been given at one of the two preceding meetin t .s of the Board." Such being the regulations, I ask what harm have I done ? I begged you last week to advertise. You have always done so before in the case of inferior offi •ere, and why not in the case of a superior officer. The clerk says—" Why, because we have a candidate." No matter, I would always advertise. But to the point. I was determined I would not be done, when 1 remembered the way Mr. Bush behaved to Mr. Pepper. What was the trick then ? Why before the board had declared a vacancy, there came a letter from Mr. Inman, a tool of the vicar's, applying for the chap laincy. I objected to receive it on the ground that there was no vacancy, and Mr. Inman d;d not apply again in time. But what did some of the guardians do? They came down to the board room determined that Mr. Inman should be the chap lain ; aad I had to fight hart again, for I knew where the rehearsal had taken place, and the parts many of them had to play. Those to whom I allude would have brow-beaten me if they could, but Mr. Farnall, the inspector, came in and told you that I was right, and that Mr. Inman was not, nor could ho be, a candidate, and Mr. Eyre being the only legal candidate, you could do no other than take him. Surely you have had enough of weeks to be on your guard now. Until I find out the men I will suspect every one, inasmuch as incorrect minutes have been made, why I cannot tell. Let me mention that, not content with my own opinion, I obtained that of a legal gentleman, who told me to insist on the advertisement appearing. I did so, and I now ask you to adopt that which was done to assist you. Mr. Tilsley said that the lawyer who had given Mr. Stoner that advice was a d—d fool ! Mr. Stoner said he had not intended to mention the name of the gentleman, but after the remark just made, he would say that it was the late chairman of the board, Mr. Welsby. The statement appeared to create great surprise, and a general buz of conversation, all speaking at once. . . Mr. Stoner at lungth said, that if the chairman would not keep order, he would try to do so. It was clear they had come down for a purpose which, if possible, they meant to accomplish. He, however, would remind them that there had as yet been no legal notice except the advertisement, and con cluded by moving the resolution he had read. The Chairman inquired whether any one seconded the reso lution, and no person replying, he said that not being seconded it fell to the ground. Mr. Stoner : Not quite so fast. I have not heard any amendment moved yet. Mr. Bromley said he would move an amendment. The Chairman again refused to pnt the original motion. Mr. Stoner: I will make you do so ! If you are a young man, and if the board has placed you in the chair, you must do your duty. I ask the Clark to define the law. The Clerk said the chairman might take the votes without requiring a seconder, or, not having been seconded, he might treat it as dropped. After some further discussion, the chairman put, the amend ment to the vote, when the following votes were taken :—For it, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Tilsley, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Linacre, Mr. Parr, and the chairman. Against it, Mr. Stoner. Refused to vote, Mr. Norris. Mr. Carr, and Mr. Grayson. Mr. Stoner complained of the course which had been taken by the chairman, in having canvassed members to remain and vote. Such conduct was most disgraceful, and only excusable from the chairman's youth and inexperience. Mr. Bromley then moved a resolution, to the effect that the Board repudiated the advertisement which had been published. Mr. Stoner required that the resolution be reduced to writing. _ The Chairman then handed Mr. Bromley pen, ink, and paper, and that gentleman prepared the resolution, which was handed to the chairman, who began to read it, and to take up his pen to amend it. Mr. Stoner protested against this interference, but Mr. Tilsley then joined the other tyre gentlemen in amending it. At last it was reduced to something like form, and eventually it was put and declared by the chairman to have been carried, Mr. Stoner protesting against the proceedings. Mr. Stoner handed in the following notice of the resolution he intended to move on Thursday next _ That the clerk of the board do, without demur, furnish to Mr. Stoner all books, letters, and documents relative to all and any business connected will the administration of the law for the relief of the poor, and allow him at once to copy the same. That the clerk prepare, by Tuesday cext, for the use of this board, au account of all monies received by all, and any, or every overseer, assistact overseer, or treasurer, to this union from the consolidated Lund, committ ee o f council on education, or otlT.governirentald, or in liquida tion, or aiding, or augmenting the salaries of any person, matter, or thing connected with the ca rr yi ng oat or dependent on the administration of the law for the relief of the poor. That immediately after the election of chaplain this board adjourn to the town hall. That theoctliaeourndks,atuallrnitd t the Lordto al the rai m o rs parties ton :In L p o l r i d o a p t e e d r b it y, copy Lordo r these Stanley,m members for the county. Tun EMPIRE OF 'nut CZAR, —The Imperial domains of Russia are about three times and a half as large as the Empire of France, and their population consists of 8,825,958 males and 9,312,326 females. It has been calculated that on an average 502 persons inhabit an area of five English square miles. The services rendered to the State by the 18,138,284 " domain peasants" during the year 1853 were as follows : Of the 8,825,958 males about 1,000,000 may be fit to render military services, but as the " conscription" in 1853 extended but to 5,500,000 of males, only 55,283 soldiers were actually raised. If 10 able-bodied men were taken from every 1,000 "souls" throughout the whole of the European part of the Russian Empire, there ought to he about 150,000 recruits ; but M. von Redan very justly remarks that the result of a general conscription is never what it appears to be on paper. In 1853 the gross; revenue from the State domains was 48,694,069 s ilver roubles. Th e number of domain or Cro w n peasants was 20,25 2 ,o 00 i n 1843, but M. von Redan has :omitted to tell us why c , e population had within 10 years (between 1643 and 1853) decreased to 18,33,264 souls. I TRADE REPORT.-..-THIIRSDAY LIVERPOOL. CorroN : The Cotton market has been quiet but steady, the demand has been moderately fair, the supply moderate, and prices are without change. The sales—including 10 Pernambuco, 6Ad ; 50 Bahia, 6-1 d ; 50 Maranham, 6d ; 350 Egyptian, 6d to 8d ; 1,500 Surat, 40 to 411—are reported 8,000 bales, of which 2,000 are on speculation and for export. PIG Inas : The business to-day comprises 500 tons, sold at 66s 6d, and 600 tons at 675, cash, the quotation for three months open beirg 67s 6d. SUGAR There has been a good demand for the refining descriptions, which, added to some sp ecu l a ti ve i nqu i ry , h as led to an advance of 6d per cwt ; the transactions are 20 hhds grainy Demerara, at 41s 6d ; 30 hhds Dominica, at 3ds ; 12, hhds Surinam, at 35s 91 to 36s 91; 700 mats Mauritius, at 303 6d; and 3,000 bags Paraiba, at 21s 9d per cwt in bond. MOLASSES are still neglected. Rum : Only about 30 puncheons Nava found buyers previous rates. COFFEE : 200 bags Rio are reported . at 425 to 40s 6d, and a small parcel of Bahia at 45s p2r cwt. TEA : The public sale passed off with fir actiTity ; by private contract there is not much doing. RICE : The transactions are confined to 600 bags Bengal, at 9i 9d to lOs 6d, 500 bags Larong, at 9i 93, and 100 tees Carolina, chiefly damaged, at 23s per cwt for sound. Pitrran : 50 bags Malabar black are reported at 50 per lb. Loowoon : 25 tons St. Domingo, at £7 5s per tor LONDON. SUGAR: This article continues in steady request, and full prices, to 6d advance, are paid. Bu,iness has been done in clayed Manilla, but the particulars are not made known COFFEE : No improvement has taken place in this market, native Ceylon quoted at 51s to 51fi 6d. A cargo of Santee has been sold at 45, for a near pore, TEA : The demand for common congou continues goad at 9,1 per lb., with full prompt ; sa l es h av e a l so b ees ma d e at B . tcl nett cash ; other sorts dull of sale. SALTPETRE continues steady. sold at 263. Mad ras, raft action 1 3 BICE ; The parcel of Madagascar, bought in at yester day's sale has been sold at about 13s 6d. SPICES VII steadily at full prices, with the exception of Cassia Lignea, which has declined about 4s per cwt. Rum: No sales are reported. A government contract is advertised for 100,000 gallons for the 13th March. JUTE Low qualities are dull of sale, and prices bate declined, common to middling have been sold at £9 to £ll 10s, but superior lots are without alteration. COTTON : The sales yesterday were 3,500 bales, at 30 advance of per lb. since Friday last. TALLow : The mirket is firm to-day, at the following quotations, :—Town Tallow, 51s net cash ; Petersburg Y. C., on the spot, 595; February to March, 58s 6d to 58s 9d ; March to April, 54s to 54s 6d. SMITHFIELD HAY : Mr. E. J. Davis reports the supply shorter ; trade without alteration. Prime meadow hay, 100 s to 105 s; superior ditto, 110 s to 115 s; inferi - r, ditto, 70s to 908; rowers, 70s to 9Us; clover, 1003 to 130 s ; second cut, 1003 to 1203; straw, 243 to 28s. YESTERDAY' MARKETS. MANCHESTER Coax ; Our market to-day was moderately attended ; the transactions were of a most limited character. 'Vheat was offered at a reduction of is to 2s per qr, and flour is per sack, without leading to sales. Oats and oat meal rather easier. Indian corn, is per gr lower. DUBLIN CATTLE : Supply not so large as last week. Prime meat was firm, but not higher, except for first class mutton ; which was a shade in advance of Thursday's rates. Small meat, veal, lamb, and pork, were in plentiful supply, and demand active. WooL steady; nothing doing on a large scale. CORK CORN : White wheat, 323 to 363; red do, 30s to 37s 6d ; barl y, 17s to 20s 3J ; oats, lis to 12s 6J, Pork, 36s to 43s 63. CORK BUTTER : No change GLASGOW CATTLE : We had 916 beasts and 2.118 sheep at market to day, being 40 cattle more than last Thursday s the number of sheep being the same as on that day—‘the demand for which was fair at former prices, and all sold early. Best Scotch beef, 64d ; do. Irish, 514 to 511; middling and inferior, 41-1 to 5d ; mutton, Gd to 7d, per lb. THE IRON TRADE A very considerable fall has come over the iron trade of this district. This is accounted for to a en, great extent by the still existing doubts in relation to the Peace Conference, and by the very small number of orders which have been received from the United States. Recent failures amongst the shipbuilders have also ton. tributed, to some extent, to produce the depression, to which may be added the languid condition of the home trade generally. Tbere has been, during the last ten days, a very considerable amount of under-selling, and orders for manu factured iron have been somewhat anxiously sought after, at prices (for bars) varying from 10s to 12s 6d below the prices which the same description of iron would have com• manded on quarter-day. For sheets and plates there is evert less enquiry than there is for bars, and so long as the present state of uncertainty exists in relation to political affairs, [there is no probability of the trade reviving. The general impression, however, appears to be, that as soon as the /preliminaries of peace are settled, a reaction will speedily follow. It should be stated, too, that even at present, the makers of what is called " marked" iron are very well off for orders; that they are adhering to the prices fixed on the 27th December, and they have declared their resolve not to submit to any reduction. To some extent they are warranted in this by the continued firmness in the price of all kinds of material; by the circumstance of their being no stocks of the best qualities of pig iron, (cold blast ;) and the high rate of wages, which forbids any material reduction in the price of the manufactured commodity,. The fall-off in the demand for finished iron has been con fined chiefly to sheets and plates; the decline in the price of pigs have been almost exclusively confined to hot-air, or, those pigs in which there is a large proportion of cinder. The number of furnaces in blast has not been reduced ; and the under-selling as regards manufactured iron has been confined almost exclusively to necessitous and needy makEre.—Birminghans Herald. THE SALE OF CORPORATE PROPERTY. The sale of corporate property was continued yesterday by Mr. Branch, in the Nisi 'Prius Court, Chapel-street, which was crowded by respectable persons of both sexes, who seemed to take an interest in the proceeding=. Mr. Branch was very energetic and effective in his operations, as will be seen by the return of the property sold, which consisted of 20 valuable lots, and 18 of these went off after aninaa+ed biddings, particularly for lot 34, which seemed a very favourite one. The sale commenced at one o'clock, and, by the industry shown by Mr. Branch, closed at three. The following is the result of the day's sale : Lot 21 , a plot of land, south side of Brownlow bill and west side of Pomona street, containing about 210 sum yards, with the materials of the buildings now standing thereon, Mr. Stoward, £2 a yard, 22, a plot of land, upon the west side of Brownlow street and east side of Pembroke street, containing about 1,232 square yards, with the dwelling house, and the four dwelling houses fronting Pembroke street; Mr. Tomkinson, £1,360. 23, a plot of land, upon the south side of Netherfield road South, contain ing within the line of improvement about 1,623 square yards, with the materials of buildings now standing thereon ; bought in. 24, one dwelling house, No. 28, Pembroke place, divided into two shops, with the land or garden in the rear, containing in the whole about 355 square yards, Mr. Senner, £BBO. 25, a shop and dwelling house, No. 112, Whitechapel, Mr. Gibbons, £730. 211, a dwelling house, No. 95, Duke street, Mr. Carroll. £490, £ 27 5 , 7 a 0. g o . 13 1 0 4 : 7 54 , e5, Duke N0. 3 s 9o t street, Mr. d Dukell l e r ls . i nr ß l r e o t B g romley. yr Upper.. Inglefield, N .£ 0 7 . 20 1 . 07, 2 r 9 a , rk a d a n w e e 1 ng i Q h o ui u ll s i e n , m c o 7 . 8 4 0 0 . Pitt street, Mr. Clements, and shop, r. 1, d s3d3t2 w iie e e n nor gge:ihhhroood. houses, vss s neee e ls, , al:(N N in Nf dwelling or.. houses,3. 4 4 1d a , is S , p e a asr r nN : s l d i en n oyss6 g , street, Mr. JiU £3 hous e6Oa. 15, and g l a 7 na Forrest .80t,f1e53eOt,O Bridgewater 73. r.3D3,awasstorsnehe,ot £46o.Aainrd. Drake, £1,210. 35, the several dwelling houses, Nos. 11, 15. 17, 21,'23, and 27, wi t h th e e i g ht een h ouses i n Gren ville, Roscoe, and Denton courts, £1,400. Bought in at that figure. 36, a dwelling house, No. 5, Roscoe lane, Mr. John Lightbound, £270. 37, two dwelling houses, Nos. 14 and 16. Greenland street, Mr. Taylor, £350. 38, a ti weling house, No. 25 , Greenland street, Mr. Thomas, £2lO. 39, two dwelling houses, Nos. I and 3, Grayson street, J Heap and Sons, £330. 40 , a ploototifte2lhn land on squaree o s n tr t e h t e , nortbside of Kitchrn containingstreet,os.ltnd 14, K about yards, with the materials of the several dwelli ngs now standing thereon, being Nos. and the six houses in rear, Mr. White, £2BO. BIRKENHEAD POLICE COURT Yesterday,Major-General the lion. Sir Ed war d C us s, bait.. Messrs. Jackson. Bryan, Barton, and the Rev. Mr. Fielder, presided at the .Petty Sessions at Birkenhead, for the purpose o f disposing of the police business of the district. Mary Shelley was charged with stealing coals from the dock, quay. The offence was clearly proved ; but it being the oil:. Mon of the bench that the prisoner was not of sound mind, she was therefore discharged. Alexander Degnam Bushes, a phrenologist, who had been locked up for twenty-tour hours, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, and insulting the magistrate, was discharged, with a caution as to his future conduct. The other cases disposed of were of minor importance, and possessed ❑ot the slightest public interest.