Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-14 00:00:00

a 114 i..,... THE CONGRESS. The Pontifical Government has claimed for its representative at the Paris Congress the pre cedence which is allowed when the diplomatic corps attend the Court or present addresses to the sovereign. THE WAR IN MOROCCO. MADRID, Dee. 12. Yesterday, the third corps d'arinee embarked. at .Malaga. The enthusiasm was very great. Im. niediately on the arrival of the flotilla at Ceuta, th e Spaniards were to take the offensive and offer battle to the Moors. Cholera had diminished in the Spanish encampment. SWITZERLAND. TIIE DUCAL FAMILY OF TUSCANY. BASLE, Dec. 12. The Grand Duke Ferdinand IV, has arrived here in the strictest incognito. It as expected he Will reside in France wring the sitting of the Congress. GARIBALDI'S MARRIAGE. Caribaldi was married en the 7th instant to the eldest daughter of Ramondi, an Italian patriot. RUSSIA AND CHINA. Le .Yord contradicts the statement in -our English 'letter from St. Petersburg, Whick. an nounced 'that the Chinese Government had sum moned Russia to -evacuate the territory -vJashed by the .river Amocr, and shows that the: territory of Eastern Siberia belongs to Russia inAiirtue of a treaty -concluded with the Chinese Government, and cannot, therefore, raise, and . has not raised, :the attention attributed to it. MAIL NEWS. L-E INDIAN MAILS. AfAtTA, Dec. 10. 'Vectis, with the outward Bombay mail, trtived at 7, p.m. on the 77th, and left at 8 aar, lxl. the Bth. The China, from Southampton, 27th Novembl-r, at 3-a.m: on the' Bth, and left at 11 a.m. The Cey14...,n, with homeward CalcAta and China 'mails, ox Candia, arrived at 6 p.m. -on the 9th, to leave at 9 a.m. on the 10th. The Candia arrived at Su z - at son on the-4th. The steamer frcm. Bombay ruched Ad.= on the Zith. CHLNA AND CALCUTTA MAILS. The Panther, with the . mailsy. - from , aria caleutta,•,- ; „•i ve d at Marseilles at S.a.m. 3:2ster daY• Mails left for London at I 0 o'clock,. THE PEND:SULAWMAILS. The . Tagaz, with thePcHnsular , has altriVE She left' Lisbon on the 7th, .and., did not ,ea.ll.at Oporto. or account of bad ;weather. Lisbon exchanges on London Zai to: 1. UN I F P,,31 S TOR 'VOLUNTEER ,CORPS. A committee has been appointed, and isaillout , 110 ' be assembled at the War, Office, to eon - elder ' t he question of Rifle Volunteer wiform, lendtto !l 'ePort to the Secretary of State for War atpen ,the pattern which shall be.recort. mended as the ‘ o, ost appropriate for general adoption by hose "Rifle Volunteer. Corps -which _have not jet ' s elected their uniform. When, decided upon a kle-d pattern of the clothing• so recommended 1111 1 be depssited with -the Volunteer Brnnch, I V - -al' Office, kr general guidance in this matter. THE ARMY. rite Gazette publishes the list of officers ap -1414 ted. to the,Ascend battalion-ot the 23rd Regi tilfttoffeet. FOTIEIGX 'OxricE., Dec. 13. lAteaucen has been pleased to.-approve of Mr. as.consul at Dablii - forhis Majesty t11 : 8 Xing of Sardinia. The fo l lowin ed kf our im pear in a poi, • Are .- • g a p s-,ion f yesterclau THE -XE1)" SOLICITOR-G.EN.EPs.A.L. Atherton, Q.C., M.P., has received the . PP(44traent of Solicitor-General. LORD ST. LEONARDS ON STRIKES. - °a Leonard 9 has addressed a letter to the Times 4,;!he Builders': Sfrike. Re-thinks that the law tself, now stands, is sufficient, apart from the 'famous_ 14 7,..kftratio n to:provide masters with all the security they ttl a „ ° " 6 to ' desire: Re :poiiits out, the course' by :which ticelaration should be:withdrawn, and the prestigious the law tacitly achetted by each . workman. , The - .strike being; hoWever, - partially at aitend, th,ece .estrous are rather for future application. 111: 11343 t Dupers publish a letter from Sarah Dyer, the nate needlewoman recently tried for shoplifting, 14 0 :e, it is re m ar ked, does liei• great credit. All the 1 )1 . 0 "3" due•t o her frOm her customers (£34) has been I, III I ,PtIY paid tip. • N e ll: at Portion-of the conduct of the Rev. James Bon k ti a ° l' Stepney; which could not be properly gone into thi a ,e coroner's incineSt, on the child born in the paio lit4L: s-choolro o m, will be: invc-stigated next Thursday enlarged commission of the Bishop of London. livid report of the Crystal Palace recommends a. 3.p, r 'nil at 2 s; per share. The :earnings of the past_ Pr put doWn at £45,315, Which is in excess of the ltf: tv — ) l ing year. The whole of the 'debenture stock has leten allotted. The visitors during the last year tlia 4 4 , 1 ) 38 4,163 in number, being qome 20,000 more "'e average of:thoSe of the four preCeding years. 444 kr.. w PATEEN DANK. Ac-riorg DAMAGTI . B ;ST TIIE LIQUIDATORs.—An action of dainages, in t a i en , the solatittan is estimated at £5,000, bus just been Ale,; the Mr. Thomas Gray Buchanan, of Seatstown, Att g ;the directors of of the Western Banit, against - "'"ras4n , Gairdner and Raleigh ? the liquittttoM LATEST FROM AMERICA. AnIVAL OF THE CANADA. The British and North American Royal Mail steam -ship Canada, Captain Laing, arrived in Liverpool yesterday forenoon. She sailed from Boston on • the 30th ultimo,- and having been detained by a dense fog at Halifax for thirty-six hours, leaving the last-named pOrt on the 3rd instant, has made, on the whole, a pool passage. Attention in the United States appears to be divided between •.the execution of Brown, the convicted • Harper's Ferry. insurgent, and the :elections—the former topic probably occupying the larger share of - interest. The New York, Herald says : • As will be seen by. our despatches from .Charlestown, Va, and Harper's Ferry, the solemn preparations for the execution of the law upon John BroWn are going for ward. Charlestown is filled with military, and even the churches have been surrendered for their accommoda' tion, so numerous arc the troops concentrated there. It is evident that the authorities have have arrangements to insure a completo vindication of the law. Meanwhile the inhabitants of Charlestown and its neighbourhood are kept-in ecustant alarm, from the rumours that are set afloat as to the movements of bodies of rescuers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. A matter which may be considered of even greater importance will be found in the 'conjec tural:synopsis of the Presidential Message. It is thus given in the Yew York Herald's- Wash ington correspondence.: - WASIIINGTG:S", Nov. 28. The message and the.accompanying reports arc nearly ail finished, and ready to be sent in on the first day of the session. Should there be a factious contest in the House regarding. the vealcr, the president will not ,consider himself bound to keep the entire country waiting w - tiile the fight of the factions is going on, and it is not improbable 'that, after a reasonable delay, he will send in his message, leaving . it to each house 'to take its .eWn course upon it,. The 'advantage of so doing is, that there are many public and private interests - upon which the action is delayed at this season of the year until the Message shall have 'laid open 'the Views of the administration, ancl:the pc'Hey it proposes to recommend for the -coming year. In finance and 'commerce the interests of the country are injured . by - delay in the exhibition of the position and wants of the Treasury usually made by the Message ; and' the sane may be said of many other branches. By sending the Message to , Congress as soon as the Senate is - orgali4.:d, it is laid beCprethe country, and the fight of Congressional factions loses much of its'intcrest for • the public. .‘ Mr. Cobb's report pis .the only 'one that : is not closed' up, he having waited Tor some of they important tables. Although the trade-of the country will exhibit a vast teedvery from the depression of the last twoyears, there is room to doubt whether it would not be-prudent to're turn to -tie tariff 0f.1546 until the Whole ;question can he arranged on a more stable basis. 'Under the present 'unwise system every fluctuation in .priers affects the revenue. In speculative years, when the government shatdd not have - the temptation which n large' revenue gives it to entertain` all kinds of schemes, the high prices of merchandise flood the treasury with - inmate 'from duties, and 'stimulate tee :general intoxication. Or: the - other har4 in years of comma:cial depression On low prioes ef - goods deplete the - reAnue, and - ineyease the general 1.1 . 11-ef:sness. The recommendations in tegard to revenue and finance will be -addcd - to the Message - at the last moment. Recent event in Virginia will. - . bring • forth some frpointed rev:l=4'in the Message un the dangerwhich k all sections of the country incur, !from the growing ten !,aency to arrallgc 'parties on gc.).ngmphica.l grounds,. and (=also from the increased disposition: in the public mind Ito hold lightly the obligations of doyalty to thovonsti lAution. Another point , of domestic -pelierv, , hich it - will touch upon is 6 - te protection .to slavery in the territories. ! While the PreSiecut holds to the , constitationalioctrine on this point, hc•deprecates legislation in anticipation of. ; its being required, and thinks we :should wait rantil the emergency ,COTIICS up. If , -Congress will foalow his advice the whole subject wiLl2sink.,..quietly down.; for in - five yearslnaoreove shall • have no , territories on whith to agitate the.ouE4ion. 1 The camclition of the Pat-offcc• Department, in the ; absence of appropriations by the last, Cong,ress;:is a sub ject of earnest :coniment, with a avcommentlation of activn, - irrorder to relieve the department:ma the country frscn . tho, evils that accrue :in the present,state of affairs. i In our kireign:policy, the message will give the first *ace to the San. Juan question, which is at this moment '' in an irritating position. pnring•the last adirinistra= tion an understanding was established betweensas and -Ragland/ dist ;neither government -could exelesively occupy San Juati:until the penkinquestion of:itsdlomi- Alen was settled. General litarney,..either ; from some ambiguity in his rinstructions, .or from not undeTstanding, them.elearly, I took possession , of the island. This step called out from Lord John Russell,n tlespatch to Loral/yens, which was communicated by direction to Geseral!Cass, stating that 1-Ep,gland held [undisputed right to the island, and.would irsist . upon its zeeoznitinn by this country. This ill-advised despatch has cosspliested the question i_materially. We cannot withdraw under ,its implied I, threat, and the Pxesident will set forth war rights.toihe island in the clearest,and most extinct manner,_. and ;advise Zongress tbat , thay be maintained. ;la the mean tiMec it is hoped tkat•the l piudence of Goucral Scott will I prevc.nt.any collision a 1 the island. 1 31Qxie.on affairs are -to "he lightly touched upon; ix i -view of spending negotiatuon . s ; but the ,President. will I.recommead that the present absurd restrictions of our . centrality laws -be so far .modified as to : permit our `citizens who may desire to du.so to enlist, in i the defence 1 of the legitimate governmegt,ef that republic, without, 1 intprripz the penalty of' fMe .-and a term inkthe State prison.. In ,view-ctf the increasing,valu.e of our transtiathmus trade ancl.trAvel, the Message ;will call the attention of Congress again to the inecurity,of those routw„,, and renew the ,recommendation of last year's special4rees sages on this subject. . The Europeau press, especially .the British, haring, Hwitlin sort of maJicicus pride end- jeaaousy, attempted to depredate and ;ridicule the position,of,,Mr. Ward, .our , Minister to China, and the 'results .of his labours, it is gratifying to be able. to inform you *that . the treaty negOtiated by Mr. Iteed, now in the ,State department • is quite satisfactory to our Government; and, indeed, instead of having to rest upon , the most . favoured nation clause, and consequently upon the ratification :of "the English and French treaties , for any ,advan-. tagai of "enlarged intercourse, as has been asserted, by a malignant foreign press, we have obtained all We "coUld desire in the body of the treaty, fully set forth in a rather lengthy document. Besides, the re script of The Emperor ,of China, which accompanies the treaty, in which he ordered the great seal of the Empire Ito be attached ; and the exchange of the. treaties, ii ex pressed the most friendly language towards our country and gcsiernment, It is dignified and well expressed, en tirely divested of that extravagant hyperbole which we consider characteristic of the Chinese: No American or English statesman eould, , T have- set forth the reasons for ordering ,an exchange of treaties with more propriety, or in a clearermann.er.. The stamp of good faith and direct ness of purpose is on its face. :In this,rescript the con duct of the English at tiie Peiho and throughout is set forth by way of comparison, placing the conduct of the A . Allwriom in ratapcsition, to show his good faith, and why the English and French failed to have their treaties exchanged, - anl the reason for ordering the exchange of the Anierican treaty. There is no foundation for the statement telegraphed to the press that the French are about to proceed to hostilities against Mexico. Neither the Mexican Minister nor our government believe it. It is believed to be another alarmist canard, got up in the city of Mexico for political ends. The New York, Herald says :—By the over land mail we have San Francisco advices to the 7th inst. The Californians have again organised an association to exclude the Chinese from all employment except the lowest kinds. LATEST PER THE CANADA. (Ty TelegpaA is Halifax.) The following is Ihe latest news received by the Liver pool agent of the -New York Associated Press, and which was not landed at Queenstown : NEW YORK, December Ist, Evening.—lt is an nounced that. the Canadian mail steamship Bohemian will sail from Portland for Liverpool on Saturday next, the 3rd inst., in place of the ill-fated Indian, which was advertised for that day. The sales of cotton in this market during the past two days have been abouthl,ooo bales, on the 'basis of 11c. to 114 a. per lb. for middling. Uplands. The market closes pretty firmly at these figures. The corn market is quiet, and there has been no. change of moment in either flour, wheat, or Iridian corn since the closing ofthe mails. In Provisions a firm tone prevails and quotations are well supported. The stock market exhibits a drooping tendency and prices of the leading securities have slightly given way. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 30.—Our cotton market con tinues very active, but prices are not maintained, the quotations to-day showing a decline of . b 4e. per lb. The business of the day has been 18,000 bales, and for the past two days the sales reach 43,000 bales. Middling closes at 10/o. to Ile. per lb. LIST OP PASSENGERS PER R.M.S. CANADA.-1 Om Xnton.—Mr. W. J. McPherson, Miss E. Adams, Mr. Charles Upton, Mr. and Mrs. Deeds, Messrs. A. Xrcedeckne, David Law, Tam, P. Faulkland, jun., T. 11. Gossler, Ogden Codman, Richard Burn, William Treherne, - Warren Delano, J. .S. Baillie, Mr. and Mrs. J. Bambrooke, Miss Bambrooke, Messrs. P. B. Lenchars, Wm. S. Cordingly, Mrs. E. Butcher and Infant, Messrs. Atkinf,•John'earter, William Lawson, Wm. James, James Riggans, Jno. Tursland, J. Bennet, Jas. Gittins, Charles Barlow, 'D. Phillips, J. Hall, Jno. Davis, C. Hurst, Wm. -Dalton, J. McCartney, J. W. M‘Dcriald, Mr: F. Renwick and lady, Mrs. Whitbread. Frog lialiyax.—Messrs. -Le Blank, G. Wrigley, Lieu tenant W. Clarke, Messrs. 'George Weborne, Kayzes, Mr. and Mrs. Sel c v,ar and two chiloiren.• AFRICA. ARRIVAL OF THE ETHIOPE. - The Royal mail -steamship Ethiepe arrived in the Mersey, at one o'clock yesterday morning, from the West Coast of Africa, `T'enerif'e, and Madeira. Her dates are—Fernando Po, .28th Oct.; Ca. troons, :30th ; Old Calabar, Ist -Nov. ; Brass and Nun, 2nd;. Bonny, 7th; Benin, 23rd Oct. ; Lagos, - 10th:Nov. ; Accra, .nth.; Cape 'Coast Castle, 14th ; Cape Palmas, 1(1th ; Sierra Leone, 21st; Bathurst, .25tb.;• -Tenerife, Dee. .Ist; Ma deira, 3rd. The Ethiope • brings 1,557 voices of gold dust, five boxes of specie, a full .carzo, and thirty-four passengers. CAlltROONS:—This river is - at present - in a very unsettled state, the free population:being in daily expectation Of. a rising among the slaves, which had partly commenced, and?should it proeeed fur then, will be attended with,creat sacrifice of life. Dysentery . has been very prevalent among the Kroomen; mary deaths having occurred. A sub-. seription was•being raised for the purpose of re compensing the natives for the damage done to their town by the Sparlifill war steamer Santa Teresa, some few months Idek. Boxxv.--Another of those civil wars so eon stxatly occurring in this part of Africa- as again .expected.- among the natives of this tocm, in con sequence of the Regrnt, laollah-peppy, having seized and murdered a wowan, accused of witch cret, belanoing to the'house of another chief named. Tidere, who in .return seized - two men belonoing to the house et 7the Regent, whom he reifuscql . to deliver up. A . :: , unmber of -chiefs from the Oa-country had arrival in - Bonny to decide the amount of tribute to be paid ,by'the Bonny peopleupon the oil comir4; from Ebo, the whole . of which passes through the Osa territory, on Ib way; down to this river . FERN? D 0 Po.—Groat improvements are in progress .at Fernando Fe, many hundreds of kbourers.liaving been 'brcught from--the Kroo country-for the purpose -of .clearing land, making roads, &-c. The stun of 24600,000 reels 'had been granted ...for installation -purposes: A large number df white soldiers and emigrants had arrived fram-Spain. 3(40,600 in cash had been imported into the Wand* by the new. Governor, Grandera, for the vzecesstuy expenses of the "Government. Active measures -axe being taken by: - the Spaniards to...colonise the,:adjacent island of .Annobon, Corissop&c. LAGOS.—An attempt had :been again?znade to fire the town by some inceadaries on the 29th of October, whereby two wanran were •burnt to death. Fortunately very little damage was done. Trade had been freely opencillby two kings in the interior, consequently business was very brisk ; a large quantity of oil coming forward ; the pro duction of,cotton increasing. ACCRA.-Cojoe, King of :Accra, was again taken prisoner on the ,12th • a November, and placed lathe fort. Trade dull, and also at Cape Coast. SIERRA CLEONE.—A slaver, oivithout naive or colour, captured a short time :back by her Ma jesty's ship Spitfire, Captain Chaproan, at Jacknel, in the neighbourhood of Lagos, had t„rrived in Sierra Leone, in charge of a prize crew; at.the time of her seizare.she had on board 469lslaves, the whole of whom had been shipped on hoard the evening previous, in ,the short space of .one hour .add a half. Her entire length is 1:10 feet:; breadth 26 i.feet 6 inches. Her hold was 'large and capacious ;' :ale slaves, consequently, had-far,more room than Ifs usually the ease in vessels , of this description. The passage up to Sierra Leone , occupied 35 .dssys, (hiring which time she lost sere= of them, landing 462, viz., 284 men, 101 women, 34 boys, and 40 - girls; they were chiefly Popoos, Akees, and Taupa . lis ; she had been condemned by the Vice-Admiralty Court as a lawful prize. A fire man/named Thomas 'Williamson, belonging to the ;nail. : steamer Athenian, had been .accidentally drowned durino• her stay here on the of November. On' the 21st of November, her Majesty's- ship Sharpshooter left Sierra Leone for the river Gambia, having on board .Major 11-11,Tray, with recruits far Bathurst. • - TENEnn - TE.—Captain George Walker and four mere.of ,the..imerican - schooner William bad been landed near Teneriffe by a French vessel, the Rose Marguerite; they had been abandoned by their vessel, which was, in charge of the mate, while engaged in obtaining provisions from the French . .bark Jeannie. Tbe William bad $27,000 in specie. on board. . The bark Madras, •Captain Davis; of . London, was abandoned at sea in a sinking state on the 22nd of November, 150 miles from Cape Finisterre. The crew were picked op by the brig Jenny, and landed oil the 3rd instant, at Maderia. Captain Davis; his mate; and five of the crew have. returned by the . Ethiope. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. , The "Ethiope reports having encountered very severe gales from: the N.N.E. After leaving Madeira, on the 26th of November, in hat. 16 N., long. 18 W., passed the brig Thomas . Snook ; and on the 30th, in lat. 27 N., h:::g 17 W., the French bark 'ranee, bound south ; and the Swedish steamer Ernest. At Madeira.—The Celia, with troops for Cuba. The Cambria, from London ; the Bellone, from Cher bourg; the Euxinc, from Bwamea, Her Majesty's ships Snake, Ringdovc, and. Beagle, for China ; Her Majesty's ship 'Clio, for Vancouter's Island; and the French war steamer D'Estaing, for Senegal, were at Teberiffe. • Her Triajesty's gunboats Havoc, Hardy, Snap, Boun cer, Grasshopper, Ferret, Weasel, and Her Majesty's frigates Sphynx, Encounter, and Odin, sailed for China ; and her Majesty's•frigate Arrogant, for the Coast of Africa, had arrived at Madeira. From a private and thoroughly reliable source we have the following shipping details:— . • OLD CALABAR, Oct. 31.—Sailed: Marshale, Oct. 26; a brig, Oct. 17. - Loading : Tapley, Minho, Africa, Roderick Dhu, T...acella, and William Owens. The last named vessel will sail about Nov. 12. _ BoNNY, Nov.—Salled : Dauntless, Oct. 17; Royal Arch, Nov. 2 ; Ferozepore and Ellen Grant, Nov. 7. Loading : Fanny, Elizabeth, Valleyfield, Thornhill, Adventure, Mis issippi, Empress, Mary, Earl Derby, Woodman, and Pomona. D.R.V:3, Nov. 4.—Sailed: Selina, Oct. 24; Severn, Oct. 26; Biafra, Oct.. 15. Loading : Florence :gight ingale, Orient, Arabian, Ranaymede, St. Lawrence, Express, and Bc.:11e of the Bar, Oct. 29. BENIN, - Nov.—Aastin and .Ellen about to sail. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. A good Playing Card for Is. 6d. Sold by Mawdsley and Son, 4, Castle-street. d 22 CHRISTMAS CREElL—Families residine , within five miles of Liverpool can be supplied with Burton mild and bitter ales of the first brand, as also London stout, in 41, 9, and 18 gallon casks, by sending their orders, or calling at T. Bolton's, tinnily ale and porter merchant, 110, Duke--street. . . . _ FIRE Yr.srattaly.-:--About three o'clock yesterday afternoon a fire broke •out in a hayloft in Lydia-Ann street, occupied by. Mr. Taylor ; .but the fire-brigade from Temple-court were quickly on the spot, and ex tinguished the flames before any extensive damage had resulted. EVERTON COMPANIES OP. VOLUNTEER RIFLES.—We learn that the Everton Companies of Volunteer Rifles, whose' services 'have , been graciouly accepted by her Majesty, have just received an intimation from the War office, informing them that the St. Doaningo-lane Bar racks are at their service, as store-houses for the corps. PHONOGRAPIIY.—Admirers of this system of short hand will be glad_ to hear that its inventor, • Mr. Isaac Pitman, of Bath, will visit Liverpool this week. He will be glad to meet his phonographic friends, at eight o'clock on Friday evening, at the Young Men's Chris tian Association, Renshaw-street, for the purpose of conversation on sundry matters connected with the art. CAMBRIDGE MIDDLE CLASS EXAMINATION. The examiners deputed by the Cambridge University to con duct the local examination—the Very Rev. Dr. Goodwin, Dean of Ely, and the Rev. 11. M. Campion, of Queen's College—were received yesterday, at St. George's-hall, by the Mayor. - His Worship having expressed the pleasure he felt at being present to welcome the ex aminers to Liverpool, gave utterance to a hope that the examiners of Cambridge would be as warmly welcomed as those of Oxford ; and said that the committee in tended, as on a former occasion, to bold a public meeting, at which prizes would be awarded to the successful can didates. The examination was then adjourned till this morning. CORONER'S COURT.—The following inquests were held yesterday, before Mr. P. d. Curry, coroner :—On the body of Robert Allan, son of a porter, who fell out of a room in a warehouse in New Quay into the street, on Sstuxday afternoon last. Verdict, " accidental death."—On the body of Mary Hornby, a child of nine weeks' old, whom her mother found dead by her side when she awoke on Sunday morning, having overlaid her during the night.—On the body of Alfred Sutton, also a child of nine weeks old, who was found dead in a similar manner. Verdict in both cases, " died from suffocation."—On the - body of Mary Flynn, aged 50, who died in the Northern Hospital from the effect of injuries she received -in a quarrel with her son-in-law. There was no verdict given in the case, as the surgeon had not as yet been able to make a post mortem exami nation. It has accordingly been adjourned till to-day. TOUNG MEN'S CEIIISTIAN ASSOCIATION.—The tenth lecture of the present winter course,. in connection with the above-named association, was delivered last night, at Hope-hall. The'lecturer was Mr. J. P. Chown, who had selected for his subject, "The . Pilgrim's Progress." '.phis immortal Work -af John - Bunyan is so remarkable for the simplicity and terseness of its diction, and the unity of its design, that we might suppose any attempt to improve upon it would be useless; and this supposi tion is undoubtedly correct to a certain extent. But the object of last night's. discourse was not so much. to im prove the work itself , as to set forth its beauties in the most conspicuous manner. In the accomplishment of this design, the lecture was completely . successful ; but Mr. Chown had a much greater object in view than any mere literary critique,.he drew his hearers from the alle gery to the reality, and thus rendered his subject in structive in a secular point of view, but much more so as an elevating and Christian discourse. TRADESMEN'S COMPANIES OF .VOLUNTEER RIFLES. consequence of a-requisition by twenty-five of the principal tradesmen of this town, addressed to Mr. Cooper, - honorary secretary to the rifle corps, a spirited and numerously-attended meeting was held at head quarters on Monday night, at which many of the leading tradesmen and shopkeepers of Bold-street, Church street, Lord-street, Castle-street, &c. were present, when it-was unanimously resolved to call a general meeting of tradesinen for the purpose of furthering this com mendable movement among that important Class of the community. If we may judge from the manner in which this matter .has .been begun and forwarded, we may expect to see before long a very numerous body enrtdi-ed as the Liverpool Tradesmen's Volunteer Rifle Corp:;. It will be seen by advertisement that a general meetir is called for Tuesday 'neXt, to- be held an the Common-hall, Haekin's-hey. _ . DIL. LAN KESTER'S LECTURE.—Last evening, Dr. Lankester deliVered his fifth lecture at the Concert-hall, Lord 'Nelson-street, the Chair being occupiedil Mr. W. Preston, the ex-mayor. The.subject was, " Tea, Coffee, and 'Chocolate ;" and the lecturer said that these beve rages,were fast superseding the use of alcholic drinks, and .that we in the British Isles consumed more tea - than the inhabitants of any other oountry, the people of China only excepted. • The inhabitants of this kingdom con sumectos-i ounces each, while those of France consumed only one ounce, those of Russia four ounces, and those of the United States sixteenounoes: Those nations which: consumed less tea drank larger .quantities of coffee ; but, in this ,country, we consumed larger quantities of both in propeition to the number than the inhabitants of the other countries that he had' Mentioned: It appeared that those who have- the greatest strain on the brain. and the utmost exertion of intellect, consumed the greatest. quantity of those beverages. The lecturer described the manner of ; production, preparation, and the export of the subjects of his lecture ; after which, Mr. Steains made some observations upon the consumption of tea, and advocated the. reduction of the duty on that article to sixpence in the pound, which, he said, would be worth fifty acts of :parliament regulating the sale of beer and spirits. Tea, he said, employed one hundred ships and ,many millions of capital, and brought to the national exchequer £250,0.00. * The consumption during the past wear was 80,000 4 000 lbs. In 1606, tea in England was Ws. per lb., and many years afterwards the East India . .Company introduced 100 lbs. as a venture. In 1820, the consumption of tea was 26,000,600 lbs... in 1840, 40,000,000 lbs., and this' year, 80,000,000165, having doubled •in nineteen years. ; The proceedings . terminated with a vote of thants to the chairman: N.TEXIDALE RAGGED SCHOOtSp—CIiRISTMAS TREE.— For some time past, thar)q; to the energy of the Rev. M. Lester, incumbent of St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale, and the iissistance of Mrs, Lester, his amiable wife, great exertion; have been made for the purpose of pro viding limas of education for the children of the poor in Kirkdale. Besides the advantages to be derived froin well-orrranised; sehoofs in connection .with the church,, the efforts referred to have been also directed to the establisbnient of "ragged schools," through the instru mentality of which the children of even the poorest may be enabled to partieipate' in *the advantages of educa tional instruction. The, endeavours of the rev. gentle man, and of his lady kave been highly beneficial, and they have met with , deServed *encouragement. A con siderable sum. has been contributed towards the erection of a sehool-libuse. for the -aeeeniniodation of the "ragged school". pupils.- John Shaw Leigh, Esq., has in- the kindest manner. agreed .to give a site,for tbe'building, the fonndation of Which it is expected will be laid about Vaster ; and some.reasouable‘antieipf,ttions are entertained that the Earl of Derby will officiate in laying the founda tion stone. For the support'of the institution, and with a view to aid its funds, a Christmas-tree and bazaar. have been resort& to, the ,proceedings of which commenced yesterday, in the school-room belonging to St. Mary' s Church. A large and very. handsome tree was contri buted by the Earl of Sefton, from Croxteth-park ; and it was very tastefully, as well as liberally, decorated .1 with elegant and ornamental matters for disposal on such occasions. The school-room was also very beauti fully decorated by festoOns of evergreens, wreaths, and other devices; while well furnished stalls were ranged around, containing a choice display of fancy articles. TV sale of these numerous and pleasing productions - was presided over by varion.s ladies who take an interest in the movement; and, ju.dgiug from the appearance of yesterday, this exhibition promises to be both pleasing and profitable. The object is an excellent one, and it . deserves every encouragement. PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY. The society gave their fourth undress concert last night, to a moderately filled house. The first part of the programme consisted of Mendelssohn's " Walnurgis nacht," the solo singers being Miss Hiles ' Mr. Willbye Cooper, and Mr. Armstrong. The first chores had very nearly been a break-down, from the chorus singers making a• false start, from which they • had some difficulty in. recovering themselves. With this excep tion, they sung very well and steadily throughout, especially considering the great difficulty of the music. The solo singers sustained their parts very satisfactorily; Mr. Armstrong, in particular, went through the difficult modulations in the part of the "Druid Priest" with great steadiness; and the composition, taking it as a whole, was very well interpreted on all hands. The second part consisted of a miscellaneous selection. The programme was as follows Overture "La Gazza Ladra" Rossini. Song, Mr. W. Cooper..." Th -,. Home of My Fathers" J. Barnett. Recitative and Air from " Orfeo" Miss Oldfield Gluck. Solo, Violoncello M. Vieuxtemps Lee. Duet " Zuleilia and Hassan" Mendelsohn. Miss Miles and Mr. W. Cooper. Four-part song for the New Year Mendelssohn. Solo, harp 11r. Streather Parish Alvars. Cavatina, " Robert le Di ale" Miss Oldlield Meyerbeer. Trio from the " Bohemian Girl" . Balfe. Miss Hiles,. Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Armstrong. Overture" • 'Fra Diavolo" Auber. The overtureto " La Gazza Ladra" we think too light and operatic for a concert, and of Barnett's song it can only be said that it is not unpleasing, as there is little in it that is in any way characteristic. On Miss Clara Oldfield, who made her debut last night, it is perhaps hardly fair to pass judgment, as she was evidently exceedingly nervous—but - we did not at all like the liberties she took with Gluck's " Che faro," and should have been much better pleased had she kept strictly to the text. Lee's fantasia on "Robert le Diable," played by M. Vieu.x temps, was a marvellous display 'of executive skill, but notwithstanding out adthiratiOn of the difficulties that he achieved, we could not help thinking of Dr. John- son's wish that such things were impossible. The Harp solo by Alvars is clever and characteristic, and was very well played by Mr. Streather. The single composition given by the chorus was, .to our cars, by far the most enjoyable thing in the programme, and was so well sun g that we cannot but , wish that the chorus singers tooka more prominent place in the miscellaneous performances, instead of being given only one or two short, and often insignificant and - trifling, pieces, as has generally been the case hitherto. _ _ Our impression is that the miscellaneous selection last night was decidedly below the level of such a society, particularly in the instrumental music. Light operatic overtures do very well to close a coacert, and form an accompaninent to the putting on of cloaks, &c., which generally noes on at that time; but the want of a piece of instrumental 'music of the highest class is a lacuna which ought never to occur, and which the best vocal music cannot, in our opinion, entirely fill up. X LITERATURE. THE CoNSTITUTIONIL PRESS MAIAZINE, December, • 1859. London : Saunders, Otley, and Co. We have not, before, had an opportunity of.introdue ing this excellent Constitutional publication to the notice of our readers. It had its origin in the Constitu tional Press'newspaper—an able advocate of the Con stitutional cause, which, after a career of some twelve months and upwards, issued in this publication,—a Magazine of a general character—a review of Politics, Literature, the Church, the Drama, and the Fine Arts; yet, pervaded throughout by a Constitutional spirit, and availing itself constantly of opportunities of presenting such political disquisitions as are of popular interest, and this with great advantage to the Constitutional cause. Some of the more eminent writers of the dak are contributors to its pages. We may mention, in particular, the author of " The Heir of Redcliffe," and "Sam Slick." In the current number, which is now before us, there is a very pleasing variety of subject matter, • both in literature acrd polities—in the latter department there is a very able criticism of what it terms " The Liverpool Manifesto "—the letter, namely, of our four Liverpool merchants, who have thereby acquired such unenviable notoriety. As a Magazine (uniting the pleasures of literature with the interests of politics), it is certainly one of the ablest publications of the day, and has strong claims upon the patronage of the great Constitutional party throughout the country. RECOVERY OF GOLD FROM THE ROYAL CHARTER. — The letters from Moelfra received on Monday report a further discovery of gold from the wreck of the Royal Charter, namely, 5401b5. of gold coin, 40 ingots of gold, 2861 sovereigns, 47 rupees, 38 lbs of gold - dust, 5 bars of gold, and 1 cup ingot, and a piece of iron plate with part of a bar of gold, and some sovereigns driven into it, which latter, it is observed, "is a great curiosity." A :MATRIMONIAL DISAPPOINTMENT. A curious termination of an intended marriage took place at Halifax on Sunday last. On that day, Henry Greaves of Mount Tabor, and Mary Mitchell, of Gibbet-street , in that town, had arranged to be married at the parish church. The wedding party met before the ceremony at. the Spotted Cow Inn, in Gibbet-street, and pro eceded thence towards the church.' When they had arrived at an inn named the Ring of Bells, the bride found fault with her intended husband for not having his shoes clean. They, however, still pursued the jour ney, but so shocked was she on going along the aisle of the church in company with the dirty boots, that she renewed the complaints, and, setting at defiance all remonstrance, left the church and refused to be married. Dinner had been provided for sixteen, and tea for twenty. After the return of the wedding party, the proportion of expenses to be borne by each party formed a further topic of dispute. The disappointed kidegromn refused to pay anything unless he had the ring, which cost him 10s., returned; and then declined to contribute more than one-half. The final issue will probably have to be decided in a court of law.--Leeds Mercury. EJECTMENT OF AN AUDITOR'S CLERIC..—Mr. Wm. Roberts, attorney, Rochdale, auditor of the South Lancashire and North Cheshire audit district of poor law unions, having appointed the 12th of December for his audit of the accounts of the Manchester guardians, attended on Monday in company with his clerk. The Manchester boardwere assembled to meet him, but on the clerk of Mr. Roberts proceeding to examine the books they objected to his taking an active part in such audit, on the ground that he was neither an officer appointed by the Poor-law Board nor a ratepayer, and having no right to be present. Mr. Roberts contended that he had a right to employ a clerk, but the guardians requested the clerk to withdraw. Mr. Roberts refused to allow his clerk to retire, and ultimately a constable was called in nUth3orjiy Roberts heacte d d e r annddedthf from m offith c e er c nrseatpdal vl b i e l ede e dakr o e n odtno whose thttehhmee p authority of Captain Palin, the chief constable. Th e clerk was then ejected. A strong objection had been taken by of tlle the cPrest wich clerk, b ut guardians iari s Roberts to remove him, and he was allowed to remain. WRECK ON SIZEWELL BANK.—ALDRRO, SLTPTOLE, Dec. 11.—Last night, about nine o'clock, signals of distress were observed on Sizewell Bank. The wind at the time was fresh, with a heavy swell on. The Thopeness life-boat of the Royal National Life-boat Institution was immediately launched, and proceeded'eff to the scene of danger. The life-boat's crew reached • the wreck about ten o'clock. They found the vessel with ten feet of water in her, and rapidly sinking. Indeed, in an hour after Wards, she had sunk in six fathoms of water. The crew had abandoned her in their own boat: They were afterwards taken on board the life-boat and brought safely ashore, about half-past twelve o'clock. A shore boat had previously made an attempt to reach the wreck, but in consequence of the boisterous state of the weather, and the heavy sea that Was on, she failed - to render any assistance to the ship wrecked crew. The vessel proved to be the brig Henry Martin, of Sunderland. The life-boat's crew have been promptly paid £l2 by the National Life-boat Institu tion for tbcir prompt and laudable services on the occasion. COURT AND OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. The Queen, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, Princess Alice, Princess Helena, and Princess. Louisa, crossed over to Portsmouth on Monday morning in the Royal yacht Fairy. Her Majesty returned to Osborne in the afternoon. Lieut.-Colonel James T. D. Crichton Stuart. as sworn Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Bute, before the Lord President and other Lords of the Council, at the. Council Chamber, Whitehall, on Monday. The new Solicitor-General, Mr. William' Atherton,. Q.C., M.P., is the son of the late Rev. Wm. Atherton,., a distinguished Wesleyan minister, and some time president of the conference, his mothe r b e i ng a daugh ter of the late Rev. Walter Monson, a clergyman of the Established Church of Scotland. lie was born in Glasgow in 1806, and was married in 1843 to Agnes Mary, the second daughter of Mr. Hall, the chief magistrate of Bow-street. In 1839 he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple, having during the pre-- vio - as seven years practised as a special pleader. - Ile has represented the city of Durham since 1852, and is what may be considered a very advanced Liberal,,being in favour of the ballot, a large ref - ,rm in the law, the removal of all religious disabilities, and the extension of the suffrage. THE LATE LORD GEORGE • BENTINCE..—DPCSSed in buckskin breeches—none of your Norway does or West Riding imitations, but in the hides of his own stags,— with exquisitely made boots of true orthodox length, and antique colouring in top; a buff waistcoat, and reddish brown double-breasted coat, ornamented by the button of the jockey club ; a quiet beaver, placed neither at a right 'angle nor yet a left, but in the juste siailie of gentlemanly taste, on a well formed head of auburn hair, with large whiskers of the same colour ; a starting-Rag; in his band, and followed by eight-and-twenty race horses, stepping like a troop of old Franconi's, bearing a tulip-bed aloft—so brilliantly shone the silken jackets of the riders in the sun, the observed of a hundred thousand eyes, Lord George Bentinek, as steward of the races, undertook to start - the immense field for the " Great Yorkshire Handicap," on a plan of his own special invention. • THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION AT PALERMO.—The following particulars relative to the attempt to assassi nate the - director-general of police at Palermo have been received in Paris :—" It was at half-past one o'clock in the afternoon 'of the 27th of November that the Commander Salvator Maniscalchi, director of the Sicilian Ministry of Police, alighted from his car- . riage in front of the church of Santa Rosana. M. Manisealchi was accompanied by his young wife and two children. At the moment he was about to enter the church, he was stabbed by an assassin. The dagger entered deeply into the lower part of the back, and the shock was so violent that M. Maniscalehi, in order to avoid falling, was forced to lean on the arm of his wife. The wounded man, however, was able to turn round and to obtain a view of the assassin. The latter is a man who does not appear to belong to the operative classes. Ho was dressed with a certain elegance, and wore a watch chain. M. Maniscalchi had sufficient strength to withdraw the dag ger from his back and to pursue the assassin. His coach man and a police agent followed him, but the wounded men was soon compelled to stop and the assassin escaped. A search was made in every direction, but without success. - It is believed that the assassin relied on the aid of ac complices to save him from detection. It is koped that the director's wound, although dangerous, is not mortal. It was feared that an insurrection might be the cense- • quence of this attack, but Palermo remained perfectly tranquil. The city, nevertheless, has been placed in a state of siege. It was reported at Naples . on the 3rd instant that the director of customs at Messina had been similarly attacked." BANKRUPTS. James Beatty, Longtown, Cumberland, draper. Henry Harris, Cheapside, mantle maker. Robert Hockley, Crisp-street, Poplar, victualler. Wm. Forrester, Hanley, Staffordshire, iron merchant. Charles Jones, Gloucester, sail maker and shipowner. BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. James Gilham, Exeter, boot and shoe manufaCtUrer. William heckle, lianskill, Nottingllamshire, horse dealer csDzitiing antiii4lentt. HUNTING APPOINPqN'.U. THE CHASE. THE CHESHIRE HOUNDS WILL ]:LI7; ON Wednesday Thursday Saturday Dtc. 14 • I .:nont. • Dec. 15 Teton Pink; Dec. 17 Calvcley Dec. 10 Church Min•3hull. Dec. 21 Wrenbury. Dec. 23 C !JAI' mor.doley. • Dec. 24 Mere. A Half-past Ten o'clock Ntcnday . Weduesday Friday Saturday COURSING. COURSING FIXTURES FOR 1859.—DEcEmnEn. Brougham and Whinfell (Open), Ctmherland ; Mr. Dalzell, 14. Hordley, Salop ; Mr. Warwick, 14.. Churchtown (Southport), Lancashire; Mr. P. Taylor, 14. Ardrossan C. (Sharphill), Ayrshire; Mr. Patrick, 15. Selby, Yorkshire ; Mr. S. Crandall, 13, 19. Amicable - Club (Hampton-cotirt), Middlesex; Mr. Warwick, 15, 16. Mountainstown ; Mr. W. O'Wens, 13, IG. Mid-Annandale, Dumfriesshire; Mr. Hay, 1.5, 16. Bryn-y-Pys, Flintshire ; Mr. Warwick, 19. 19. Tyne . Side Club (Kirkley),- Northumberland ; Sir. A. Daliell, Tredegar Park (St. Pierre, Chepstow), Monmouthshire : Mr. Warwick, 20, 21. Chilton, BerkAlire : Mr. M'George, 21, 22. - • Newhall Cross (Combermere),.Cheshire :Mr. A. Bennett, 22. Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire : Mr. Warwick, 22, 23. Pembrokeshire Club (Haverford*est), Pembrokeshire : Mr. Warwick, 27. • Kenilworth,•Warwickshire : Mr. M George, 27, 28. Soorton t Catterick (Open), Yorkshire : Mr. Headley, 27, 28. Caledonian Club (Open), Edisburgh : Mr. A. Da1ze11,.27" and following days. 'Bishop's Castle, Salop : Mr. Warwick, 28. North of England (Grcenridgc), Northumberland : Mr. Coxon, 28. Great Crosby, Lancashire : 29. Chillington, Staffordshire :Mr. Warwick, 29, 30. STEEPLE CHASE FIXTURES FOR 1860. JANUARY 2 Jersey FRBLATARY Carmarthenshire.7, 9 I Tcnby Derby Midland 03 Manchester .4 I Aberystwith.24,. 2G ,28,1 Grand Military I (N'thampton) 29,30 MARC/I. Tenby 1 I Pembroke Animal I Coventry 14 Birmingham ...12, 13 13 SIP. WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNN'S HOUNDS WILL ILIEET ON Wednesday . Dcc. 14 - Cloverley, Friday Dec. 16 %lalpas, Saturday Dec. 17 Lightwood Green At half-past ten. Mak : Sir W. W. Wynn.---Huntsman: John Walker. : t i hintli n t g h r t o o wn lin o d u t t i h n a t o u t rh first rstex I) strongly-decrying oll e Bell's Life, speaking of fictitious "commission ag n eat s , , , • tone we adopted with reference to these swindlers has .met with the general response of the racing world; and we now, system, draw attention to the establishment of a Subs t cription Club, for the protection of gentle Men, and with • . suppression of the frauds committed by f a view to the and ' commission' agents." in say e s lu :— ci:it i i t on is of g the advertising ' tip' A correspondent to the same journalalso • writes as folloWs : —"I would caution your readers ' advertising fraternity, styling himself C • against one of the ~,eorge Taylor, of 4, Market-street, Melton. This worthy professes to send infonnation'about all the horses .n training at Mahon, but those who rely upon his infOrmation little know that The party sending it barely knows a horse from a handsaw. Tkere is no such person as George Taylor, nor is there such a place as 4, Market-street, Walton, but their letters and contributions find their way . to an indivi dual called Newby, in Greengate (appropriate name), until lately a journeyman plumber and glazier, who has left off I mending his neighbour's lights, to lighten the pockets of such greenhorns as -believe he can enlighten them in racing matters. It is time the public were put upon their guard against such impostors." Birmingham Steeple Chases will take plaee.on Monday and Tuesday, March 12 and 13, and it has been arranged to hold Coventry on the following day. . STEEPLE CHASE MATCII,--Or Monday, Feb. 20, an -interest ing match will take place over four miles cross country, near Darlington, for SY) a side, £25 forfeit, between a well-known hunter, the property of a gentleman residing within two miles .of Stockton-on-Tees, awl Black Bess, a celebrated - hunting maze, belonging - to Heary Denton, of flee:car. Both to - be ridden by their owners. The betting is pretty even. STEEPLF. CHASE Marcurs.---On Wednesday, Dec. ith, at. the Talbot Hotel, the following sporting matches were made, to come off over Brewood Race Course, on the 2dth inst. :---Mr. Worrall's Hymetiwavainst Mr. Aston's Gaylass, for £lOO a side, over four miles of a fair hunting country; and Mr. Taylor's brown mare against Mr. Henry's Hospitality, for £5O a side, over the same course. The Eri» , es, in its report of Tattersall's on Monday, silts, "The scanty muster of subscribers was drawn together pe r _ haps more by the purpose of ascertaining the deeision'whieh might be pronounced on the disputed race at Croydon than by an inclination to purste speculation on the Derby. Th e cre ,_ don Steeplechase is, however, still in abcyanze, for, greatly to the chagrin and disappointment of those persons who have bets 'on•the race, the stewards have pa tiered their investigation of the., , ease until Monday next. The odds quoted against Umpire were taken to £lOO. The other qumations do not re quire cOmment, the room berg too fi - rinly aZtended for us to a , lc e:tain the correct state of he markt.t. )1/ cIMPEfI 14, 1&50. NORTHERN RAIL/ LIMES