The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-06 00:00:00

Commercial Sam THIS DAY THIS DAY, the 6th instant, at Noon, on the Quay, North Side Waterloo Dock, 1100 Dressed Ash OARS. now landing ex Emerald, from New York.—Apply to Messrs. C. and B. Gray & Co., Merchants, or to EDWARD CHALONER, Broker, 6, East Side Queen's Dock. On account of whom it may concern. THIS DAY, the 6th instant, at Twelve o'clock, - at 19, North John-street, 27 Tierces Savannah RICE, all faults, as Rotondo ; will be open for inspection in Waln's 20, Lancelot's -hey.—Apply to MARQUIS, BAXTER & CO., Brokers. THIS DAY, the 6th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Commercial saleroom, Temple-court, . r 253 oxes 1 4852 B 1 -Do. f Valencia RAISINS, 2 57 Barrels } Valencia ALMONDS, 100 Boxes 70 Mats Valencia Shell DITTO, just landed ex Iris, from Xabea ; 10 Bales 1 French Soft Shell ALMONDS, 16 I-Do. f ex Anna Maria; 11291 Boxes 1 . 317 1 -Do. Muscatel RAISINS, in Layers , 21 -Do. V 42 Boxes 1 Jordan ALMONDS, Do. f Bitter t 25 Casks Turkey Red RAISINS, ex Karnak; 20 Caroteels 40 Barrels 1851 CURRANTS, ex sundry vessels ; 1 Pipe 14 Butts 1853 DITTO, 13 Cases PLUMS, in Cartoons, 15 Do. DITTO, in Bottles, t 6 Do. DITTO, in Tins, 10 F.Barrels j PRUNES. 40 I-Do. For particulars apply to THOMAS PARRY, Broker. TO-MORROW On account of whom it may concern. To•xoaxow, the 7th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Public saleroom, Exchange-buildings, 400 Packages of MANUFACTURED GOODS, partially Damaged, Consisting of Twist, Grey, and White COTTONS, HARD WARE, NAILS, &c., 7 7 landed from the Ship Fort George. hence to Calcutta, put back from sea; king at No. 4, Transit Shed, west side Prince's Dock.-- - Applv to PERCIVAL, CAMPBELL & CO., Brokers to the Underwriters' Association. On account of whom it may concern. To-Moscow, the 7th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 17, Exchange-buildings, 9 Bales Damaged Upland COTTON, and A Quantity Wet PICKINGS, ex-Ellen Hood, from Savannah.— Apply to DUCKWORTH & RATHBONE, Brokers. On account of whom it may concern. TO -MORROW, the 7th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, Royal Bank Buildings, 13 Bales American COTTON, all faults, 24 Do. Surat DIFTO, do., A Quantity Wet Surat PICKINGS. Apply to MOLYNEUX, TAYLOR & CO., Brokers. Tax AzortrAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. EARLY DeLIVERY OF THE " NORTHERN Times."—Any mlbsdiber within four miles of the Liverpool Exchange, or st hock-ferry, Tran-nere, Birkenhead. Woodside, Oxton, Clanghton, Seacombe, Egremont, or New Brighton, who does not receive his copy of the a NORTHERN Tams," by I:Zight a' clock will oblige the publisher by addressing a note to him at the office notifying the fact, in order that the cause of complaint may be investigated and removed. As our messengers commence their delivery at five o'clock on each' morning, it would greatly facilitate its completion if subscribers would have letter-boxes in their doors through which the papers might be dropped, as the detention as some houses is very great at present, and causes delay and disappointment to other subscribers. EVENING EDITION, t ar An Evening Edition of the NOBTREUN DAILY TIMER is now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, containing the Markets, together with ail the News of the Day, up to the hour of going to Press. WILL POSITIVELY CLOSE ON THE 15Ta. FIRST EXHIBITION of the FRENCH SCHOOL of the FINE ARTS in Liverpool, including MAD'LLE ROSA BONHEUR'S GREAT PICTURE OP "THE HORSE FAIR," Is NOW OPEN at the Liverpool Academy Rooms, Old Post-office place, Chnreh-street. Admission lc Catalogues. 6d. Gentle men's Season Tickets, ss. Ladies' Ditto, 31 6d.—Open from Ten till Five o'clock. The Exhibition is now (men in the Evening, from Seven to Nine o'clock. Admission, 6d. B. FRODSHAM, Secretary. tte lattrn firnito THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1866 ...........--.-.---.. Wx wish we could induce the people of the Allied countries to believe that the words made use of by the Emperor NAPOLEON, when alluding to the war, were borne out by incontrovertible facts. His MAJESTY, in his speech from the throne, said :—A " great feat of arms has decided a " desperate struggle, unexampled in history, in " favour of the Allied armies." A. " great feat of " arms" was consummated by the fall of Sebastopol ; but has that event decided a "desperate struggle?" If it has, what does the Conference, and the continued dispatch of large bodies of troops from France and England, mean ? Why are war estimates concocted, supplies granted, loans contracted, and all the other preparations of warfare carried forward with _praiseworthy activity and determination ? These are not days when we should cavil about trifles, or when a syllable should be dropped which would be likely to disturb those feelings of friendship which, happily, exist between the Courts and the people of France and England. Still, war is so great a scourge, so dangerous to trifle with, that every word which falls from the lips of those engaged in it, must be weighed and measured with all the coolness and care we can bestow upon them. The Emrimon NAPOLEON evi dently feels intensely proud at the glory won by the French arms, and desires the restoration of peace with all the fervour becoming a Christian ruler. But where is the feat of arms that has decided die desperate struggle? Sebastopol has not been taken in the literal, or military sense of the word. The besiegers besieged, have captured and de- molished, one side of that fortress, after a long season of nnpreeedented valour and endurance. But the other half remains in the hands of the enemy, an imperishable trophy of the determined resistance and. devotion with which they fought. It may not be palatable to those who occupy the most prominent positions in the history of our age to hear the simple truth told. But we question the soundness of leaving the future historian to record that which more immediately concerns the present generation. W e will, therefore, venture to say that the only feats of arms that have been crowned with entire success, are those of the Turks in the Principalities, when overwhelmed by Muscovite hordes; and those of the Russians in Asia Minor. where the Cossack was suffered to enter Kars in triumph. The public know full well how to appreciate the chival rous deeds of the French army, and the unflinch ing determination andheroism of the British soldier. But there is danger in placing too high a value on what, little short of superhuman endurance and ' valoUr, have accomplished. The great prize of war, after all, is an enduring peace. All else is but an "(episode," —a revolting narrative, i n w hi c h we NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVRRPOOL, THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1856 should be very orry to share the pain of those 1 who must recite all its tragic incidents, Had we secured the great prize of war, and laid aside loans, war taxation, and were preparing to enjoy the increased blessings we hope to secure to our enemies, as well as to ourselves, by an equitable and solid adjustment of long pending grievances, we should have no objection to reading the romances of the Eastern war, and give their authors the benefit of a literary criticism. But when we come to the direful realities of the past, and the events now occurring before our eyes, and behold mighty armies standing face to face, and monster fleets preparing for the renewal of that work from which nature itself delivers man for six months in the year in some regions, facts assume inordinate gravity, and cannot be lost sight _ _ of, without incurring imminent risk. If the desperate struggle be decided the world should know it, and such an important circum stance would be worthy of some demonstration amounting to proof. This cannot be obtained from the surface of events. In whatever direction we look, war and its preparations exhibit themselves. No man in the French or British Parliaments will venture to announce, on authority, that the struggle has been decided, and that peace is at hand. If the Emperor NAPOLEON is determined to restore tranquility at any price, that implies the existence of fresh difficulties, rather than the certainty of a " pacific solution." But is France satisfied with the renown won by her arms, and will her troops retire from the field, 1 and leave their comrades at Alma and Inkermann, glorious a co. Until peace is proclaimed, we must be at war. This is so homely a proposition, that it will scarcely be disputed; and, while we remain belligerents, there is incalculable danger in entertaining counter assur ances which are enveloped in mystery. We must not, in fact, listen to anything which is not as intelligible to our senses as the roar of broadsides and the charges of cavalry and infantry with fixed bayenets. Our success depends mainly on the experience and intelligence we can bring, as a people, to bear on the business in which we are engaged. And let us not for a moment throw aside those inestimable qualities which we have pur chased at so high a price. If peace should not be restored by the deliberations of the Conference, let us not have to reproach ourselves with having incurred further losses by falling into the traps of the enemy, and giving way to groundless expecta tions. The public are well aware that there are certain political movements which cannot be made with eclat, unless they are preceded by a fabulous story, or a slight departure from the ordinary line of business. We can, consequently make a liberal allowance for much we hear in high political circles, and having done this, experience admonishes prudence. States, when they require money for war, have invariably been . declared to have reached the advent of peace ; and who would not venture to give expression to a mere opinion, when money is the object to be obtained for the defence of his country ? He would be something more than a Turk who would not depart a little from the truth, in obedience to the earnest promptings of patriotism ! And here we think we have given an explanation of that singular passage in the 'EROR'S speech, as it appeared in the London And now with regard to the assurance which his MAJESTY gave, that since the event to which he alluded, " the opinion of Europe has "been more openly pronounced," we can only say that it would be difficult to name those ountries, with the exception of Sardinia Sweden, which have declared in and England. Denmark, Prussia, the German States. Holland and Belgium, lave certainly not " pronounced" more openly, unless it be in favour of a " neutrality" of a most unjustifiable or doubtfnl character. Austria has only given us her assistance as a mediator, and look whence we may, we can dis cover nothing but the workings of silent intrigue. Under such circumstances, the public mind should be kept fixed on the fact that we are at war ; and while we leave rulers and politicians ) make the most of the cards they have to play, .y to keep from falling into the mazes of a childish redulity. f Franc, THE Birkenhead Dock Bill was read a second me in the House of Commons, and committed, pro forma, on Tuesday. The completion of the Docks now in existence, and the extension of Dock accommodation on the other side of the river, cannot be opposed on any valid grounds. The trade of the Mersey has gone on doubling itself every fifteen years. From this it must not be nferred that only five or six times the amount of tonnage comes to this port now than the returns show a hundred years ago. It is the ratio of increase which we have to consider, and this shows that the trade of each fifteen years doubled itself in the next fifteen. This being the case, it cannot be denied, that all the Dock space which can be obtained at Birkenhead will be required within a very short period. All the shipowners, merchants, and the public, therefore, have to guard against is crude and ill-designed engineering plans, and the wasting and jobbing away of money. If the plans and estimates now before Parliament are the best that could have been designed no opposition could be raised to them. But there are many grave objections to closing in Wallasey Pool, and shutting out those tidal waters which are required to carry away, in their efflux, the banks formed at the outfall of the river. Then again there are extensive excavations to be made from which the earth is to be carried and deposited on ground which would probably be the next required for a floating dock. Let the former of these questions which so deeply affects the conservancy of the river, be at tended to, and let no money be thrown away in doing in one year what must be undone the next at immense costs. If these thing are attended to, the proposed bill will meet the most strenous support, where it otherwise will be opposed in all its future stages. The present proposal differs widely from the 4,000,0001 scheme of last session. There is not in the amount required anything to cause alarming and wide spread perturbation. It is, moreover, of the highest importance that all local feuds should cease, and that Birkenhead should be treated with something like justice. We can there find abundant space for Docks without carrying our trade to the utmost northern limits of the port of Liverpool. The merchant seeks con centration, and with a view to economise money and labour, would fain see our forest of masts brought close to the windows of the Exchange. But this cannot be done, and they, g therefore,reat centre are anxious that the nearest spots theto of business should be selected for their shipping. As Birkenhead is certainly in closer approximation to Liverpool than the North shore, the only objec tion that can be urged to the plans laid down, are purely of an engineering character—on which it would be unfair to offer an opinion until their authors have had an opportunity of explaining them in Parliament. Should they survive a fair and searching scrutiny, well and good ; if not, or if that obviously necessary duty should be neglected by those whose business it is to see that nothing is done in haste, and without mature consideration, it will then be time for the Press to speak otit and expose what is faulty. We have not heard that there is to be any oppo sition to the bill in question, ; nor is it likely that there will be, considering that the Liverpool Dock Committee are its promoters. The Dock Trus tees may, however, become ORLOFFS and BRUNOWS, and enter a protest against peace being restored to the Mersey by amalgamation and concessions. But, should, they bow to the hard necessities of the times, and yield a little to the force of public opinion, the bill may be what is generally called " smuggled through Committee," and we may hear nothing more of it until some large ship is found stuck in a dock-gate, or wrecked in a Birkenhead sluice. Such things have occurred on this side of the water in a Slightly modified degree, and for the sake of all parties interested in the safety of ship- ping, the high perfection of our port and dock accommodation, we shall endeavour, should no one else undertake the task, to give in detail, what we conceive to be the leading features in the proposed plan. Of this, we hope to be relieved by hearing of some explanation being given before the Parliamentary committee, previous to the legislature sanctioning a measure, which so materially affects a navigable river of incalculable value, and the trade of the greatest seaport in the realm. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. -t LIVERPOOL, W DNESDAY EVENING The Liverpool Cotton Market continues to show great firmness, and with a fair supply offering; prices show a gradually hardening tendency. The sales to-day reach 10,000 bales, and comprise 3,000 taken for speculation and export. The Liverpool Share Market has been steady throughout the day, closing firm at the best ; the b - lsiness still, however, is entirely speculative, and very limited in extent. The following were the closing prices :—Aberdeen, 131 131. Chester and Birkenhead, 141 14*. Caledonian, 29 291. Chester and Holyhead, 121 13. Eastern Counties, 91 93. East Lancashire, 178 181. Great Northern, 23 231. Ditto A Shares, 91 10. Great Western, 611 611. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 83* 831. Liver pool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 151, London and North Western Stock, 991 100. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 251 25f. Ditto Preference, 114 118. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., 1 Np. Mid land Stock, 701 701. North British, 71 71. North Staffordshire, 6a 6:41. South Eastern, and Dover, 20 9-16 20,1-. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 19 3-16 19 5-16. York and North Midland, 26 261. Leeds Capital Stock, 15-'4- 16. Dutch Rhenish, 8 9-16 p. Ditto New Shares, 21 21p. Great Western of Canada, 25: 251. Do New Shares, 31 31p. Great Luxembourg, B',l 81d. The half-yearly meeting of the Great Western Railway of Canada is to be held at Hamilton, on the 12th inst„ when the directors will issue their half-yearly report, and make a declaration of divi dend in conformity. We give below an estimated result of the half year's working to the 31st Jan. 1856, which will compare well with the best of ou English Railways : Total receipts (1855 '161,452) 1856 Balance from last half-year.. ,R 272,154 1,875 £274,029 Less working expences, 48 per cent , same as last year Debenture debit £1,133,000 6 per cent. ... Government debit £770,000, 6 per cent...... ... Redemption of debt, 3 per cent.- - 11,550 199,2 £130,434 Leaving for dividend Amount of share capital, old and new, t 1,424,000, at 10 per cent £71,200 Bonds converted during 3 year, say £lOO,OOO, but really less, say three ',._months at 4 per cent 1 000 72,200 To carry forward 2,552 After paying off ..€11,550 of debt, and ten per cent. per annum to shareholders. The West India Mail arrived at Southampton this morning with 1,100,000 dollars in specie. The International Association for establishing a uniformity of weights, measures, and moneys throughout the civilised world are going to resume their labours at Paris. The Minister of Agriculture and Commerce has reserved a hall for their meet ings in the Institution of Arts and Manufactures. It has been a question for some time past with the Prussian Government. as to the formation of a monopoly of tobacco throughout the dominions. For this purpose a committee of the Lower House was appointed to examine the question. Their report being unfavourable, the government have abandoned the project. The Funds showed a little flatness during a part of the morning, but soon recovered. In the after noon increased firmness was manifested, and the closing quotations were A per cent. higher than those of yesterday—namely, 914, to 918. Pending the negotiations at Paris, business in the funds is very inactive. The retention here of a portion of the recent arrivals of gold is a favourable feature. After the pressure of yesterday, the demand for money in Lombard-street was less active to-day. The rates, however, are fully maintained. The arrivals of specie, ex the James Baines, to-day, and ' 100,000 1 . worth which was in hand, is known to have been presented for purchase at the Bank of England. Of the specie, ex Persia, the bulk goes to the Continent. The amount of specie brought in by the Parana, from the West Indies and Mexico, is stated at about 219,0001. At moss of the country markets held yesterday wheat fell 4s. to ss. per quarter. At Paris also a decline of 2s. 6d. to 4s. per quarter has taken place. The prospectus of a Turkish Gas Company is issued. The Railway Share Market to-day was firm though not active. The following are the closing quotations : — Caledonian, 581-. Eastern Counties, 9 91. East Lancashire, 71. 72. Great Northern, 92 924 921. Do A., 781 79 Great Western, 61a. 61i. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 838 831. Lon don and North Western, 991 1008. Manchester, Slireffield, and Lincolnshire, 244 251-. Midland Stock, 701 7Q. North British, 308 31. South Eastern and Dover, 664 661. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 76 77. THE COURT The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen at Buckingham palace. Prince Albert rode on horseback, attended by Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Gibbs visited the British Museum. WINDSOR, TUESDAY.—Her Majesty will entertain the King of the Belgians, daring his stay in England, at Windsor Castle. The king, it is expected, will land in this country on the 17th instant, at which time the court will arrive here from Buckingham Palace for the Easter vaca tion. Shortly after his Majesty's arrival the Princess Royal will be confirmed in the Chapel Royal of St. George Apartments have been prepared for his Majesty on the south side of the Castle. It is said that Claremont will become one of the royal residences attached to this court. The King of the Belgians will remain at the castle until Monday, the 24th instant. THE MANCHESTER STa►KE.—On Tuesday a report was made to Captain Willis, chief constable of Man chester, to the effect that at all the factories in the C division (the mill district), an arrangement had been made by which as many of the minders and piecers as were required to complete the complement of hands, had resumed work on Tuesday morning. __...-. SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL. — WEEKLY REPORT, I MARCH 5,1856.—1 n patients :—Discharged : cured, 16 ; relieved, 0; at own request, 2 ; irregular, 0. Dead, 0 ; entered, 21; under treatment, 5. Out patients : cured, 65 ; entered, 50 ; under treatment, 45. Treasurer, James Houghton Esq. Visitors, Rev. J. Robberds , and S. Martin, Esq. Honorary chaplain, Rev. D. T. Barry, B.A. Physicians and surgeons for the week, Dr. Cameron, and Dr. James Petrie. House surgeons, Mr. Charles 1 Royston and Mr. R. C. Garland. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. ---.-..--- THE CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. A despatch from Trieste dated the sth instant, mentions that the news from Kertch state that Gen. Vivian was preparing a reconnaisance on a grand scale towards Arabat, where the Russians were concentrating great numbers of troops. -..-•01,--- THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING The closing quotations on the Bourse to-day were as follows :—Four and a half per Cents., 97f. sc. ; Three per Cents., 72f. 83e WEST INDIA MAIL SOUTHAMPTON, MAttcit 5 The Royal Mail Steamship Company's pqcket Parana, Capt. E. Baynton, with the West India and Pacific mails, has arrived. Her dates are : Santa Martha, Jan. 25 ; Tampico, Feb. 2; Vera Cruz, Feb. 4; Colon, Feb. 8 ; Havanna, Feb. 9 ; Jamaica, Feb. 11; Barbados, Feb. 12 ; and St. Thomas, Feb. 17. The Parana brings 25 passengers, a full cargo, and 1,101,932 dollars in specie, of which 519 684 dollars is in gold, and 582,218 dollars is in silver. Among her passengers are Captain Ord, 36th Regiment, and Assistant-surgeon Somerville, 69th Regiment, from Jamaica ; and Assistant-paymaster Shirreff, R.N., from Barbados. From Antigua, we learn that the weather con- ral and manufac turing operations. The absence of rain was severely felt by the planters. The Legislature was to meet on the 7th Feb. From St. Thomas we have intelligence that Mr. 1. Emerson, acting consul there since his brother's Leath, expired on the 17th ult.. a few hours before he Parana left. The Queen, 35 days from Liverpool, arrived at Barbados on the 9th ult. THE CRIMEA. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Camp before Sebastopol, Feb. 22 A correspondent in the Crimea at the present moment must needs have an ingenious mind, if he wish to cater to the public appetite for news. With the dull routine of camp life, the stagnation of winter quarters, the prospect of an armistice, and a peace infaturo, he almost finds it impossible to extract anything interesting or exciting from the dead level of things around. The weather indeed is an unfailing topic, and with the quality of variety at the least ; but even this may be exhausted ; and there is nothing left but to grumble or to be silent. A slight episode of a martial character indeed did occur last week. On Wednesday, the 13th, the Russians made a great reconnaissance ; they ad_ vanced in two distinct bodies, one from the Mac kenzie Heights on the right attack, and the other at Baidar. They came down in great force, drove in the French outposts, but retired again without effecting anything, leaving several prisoners in the hands of the French. What their object could have been, it is impossible to conceive. It was reported that the reconnaissance took place in con sequence of the arrival of their new general. Whatever was the reason of it, it satisfactorily proved, at least to us, how soon a large force could be concentrated on any one point ; for the French, on the first news of the attack, poured in on the point assailed, with a rapidity and steadiness that, I have no doubt, astonished the Russians. The Russians still keep up a desultory fire from the north side; it has been somewhat more fierce of late, though as little effective as ever. They have been, probably, attracted by the increased number of men employed on the French side in removing guns, anchors, and other Russian spoils. I was in Sebastopol the other day, and saw this weighty booty undergoing the process of removal. the labour is immense, and the French have lost by it a great number of horses. I saw quantities of large anchors which had stuck on their way; they have to be dragged from the water's edge up the precipitous hill on the entrance to the French side of the town, and thence along the road, over hill and dale, to Kamiesch, where they are shipped for their destination. Since my last letter, though we have had every variety of weather, we have had no rain, and the ground having attained a consistency sufficient to bear man and horse, reviewing has been the order of the day. Yesterday the Third Division marched out and were reviewed ; the day before, the Light Division were out; and to-day, the First Division had a grand field day. This division looked remarkably well ; the Brigade of Guards especially attracting much attention. The Grenadier Guards are now nearly 800 strong ; and, perhaps, a finer body of men never stepped together. Sir W. Codrington, who -vas present, complimented Lord Rokeby on the appearance of his division. Last Monday there was to have been a review of the whole army, but the weather, which, up to that day, had been mild and favourable, suddenly changed to the •depth of winter again, and the morning was ushered in with frost, sleet, and a piercing north-east wind, the thermometer falling t o 15 , ) ; the review is, therefore, postponed till next Monday, always with the proviso of weather per mitting. To-night orders h ave come ou t f or detachments from each division to parade at 7 a.m. to-morrow, to see a private of the 77th Regiment hanged, for murdering his comrade in hospital. To-day the weather has again changed, the frost is all gone, and has been succeeded by a very bluster_ ing wind from the south-west, and the thermo imneorsntinpgeeniltiarw; as yes fr te e r s d tv a , y, a f n o d r instance,meter is up again to above 40°. This climate is c in erta t i h n e ly cold ; at noon misty and muggy, and towards evening quite mild and w arm. Th e arm y however, continues in good health, and however the peace negociations may end', certain, that 'at no time could our Q ueen have finer— entrusted the honour of her country, an d th e safe keeping of her throne, to a one thing is a more loyal— and a better-conditioned body of men than the one which is now drawing sword in her behalf on the shores of the Euxine. LIVERPOOL SPRING COP.—The race not being p.p., the bets about Berezina, De Ginkel, and other horses that did not start, are void. _ _ THE LATE CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT FROM 111E3SRS. BROCKLEBANX.—A writ for £6,000 has been served on the prisoner, Robert Wilson, late cashkeeper to the. above firm, and who is at present confined in gaol on the charge of embezzlement, for which he is to abide his trial at the coming assizes. The writ is at the snit of his late employers. THE " FAIR SEX."—It may be considered very ungallant to say anything that could be construed into disparagement on the " fair sex," but truth compels us to state a fact. At the police.courts on Tuesday, the proportion of females to that of males, brought before the magistrates, was remarkably striking. In the felony court the proportion was sixteen females to six men. In the summons department, twenty three women to seven men, and in the " drunk and dis orderly list," there was a considerable per centage in favour of the "womankind" also. PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. — The monthly meetirg of the Liverpool Photographic Society was held in the Royal Institution on Tuesday, Mr. Corey in the chair. Mr. J. W. Jeans, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, and Mr. James Eden, of Park road, Liverpool, were elected members on the motion of Mr. Forrest; and Mr. Bensusan, of the Electric Telegraph office, was elected a member on the motion of the chairman. A copy of a new publication of the Manchester society, designed to illustrate their experiments in the art, was exhibited. Mr. Iliggin exhibited some very beautiful specimens of the Photographic art, in landscapes and archi tectural delineations, by Meisrs. Martin and Bisson, freres, of Paris, and glazed by a peculiar process through the adaptation of Gelatine. Several other interesting items of intelligence relating to the Photographic art were laid before the meeting. The third yearly report of the society's pro ceedings and accounts was read, which took a retrospective glance of the society's labours during the past year, as well as of the general condition of the art, which it declared emphatically to be in an advancing state. On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Banner, seconded by Mr. Higgio, the report was unanimously adopted. Mr. Bell read a communication from Mr. Stansfield, of Leeds, relative to the albumen process, and giving an account of the results of his practice in that respect. Mr. Berry read a paper on the advance made in the art as regards facility of production in all lights and seasons. A short conversation on this paper closed the night's proeeedings. £74,752 FRANCE. (FROM OUR OWN,CORRWONDENT.) PARIS, TIIESDArEVRNING. The Conferences have assembled to-day, and the sitting was continuing at half-past four, at which hour I was at the Ministry of Voreign Affairs. I have heard nothing which modifies in any respect what I have said in my preceding letters as to the difficulties which have presented themselves in the course of the discussion; but I have not heard, either, that any new ones have arisen. In truth, however, those which have been indicated to you are sufficiently grave. The greatest secresy con tinues to be observed by the Plenipotentiaries, and I find that people in the highest official sta tions are ignorant of what takes place amongst them. The mystery now observed is much greater than it was at the beginnings The legislative body has held a sitting 'to-day, but the proceedings in thispseudo-parliament being without any real political importance, attract but little attention. The newspapers even do not report them until a day or two after, and then are obliged to insert the report which the government sends them. It is really amusing to read the Belgian papers to-day—they announce positively that peace is definitively concluded, and make as grand a flourish on the matter as if it were Belgium which had accomplished it. They seem to have been made the subject of some stock-jobbing inystifica- tion. The French Government, I understand, has received to-day, news from its diplomatic agents, that new disturbances have taken place at Malaga, and that in Greece, several French soldiers have been assassinated by brigands. An imperial decree, dated the 27th ult., and just promulgated, reduces to 6f the 100 kilogrammes, the duty on the import of rails for railways, pro vided they be required for the prompt renewal of existing lines, or for adding new lines to those that exist, or for enabling a railway, in course of execution, to be opened somewhat earlier than the period fixed; but the Minister of Commerce is to decide what quantity shall be imported for each special purpose. Any modification that may be made in the existing tariff duties, is certainly acceptable, whatever may be the conditions which shackle it; but, it is much to be desired, that the government should have the courage to reduce permanently the existing duty on iron 'in every shape, and especially on rails. It is now said that the cardinals of Rome posi tively object to the Pope coming to Paris to christen the Emperor's baby.' The Constitutional seems almost anxious to bring doWn on it the vengeance of the government. In addition to the scrape it got into the other day, it has this morning done greater offence by sneering at two of its semi-official cotemporaries, as "ministerial journals." Preparations for the embarkation of not fewer than 20,000 men for the Crimea are at this moment being made at Marseilles. Constantinople letters of the 26th ult.. say that the new reforms in favour of the Christians had caused great agitation amongst the Turkish popu lation, and that even the Greeks were profoundly discontented with them. Fears of disturbances, were entertained. PARIS, MONDAY EVENING The great eyent of the day is, naturally, the speech of the Emperor on opening the Legislative Body. I have forwarded it by telegraph. The impression the speech has created has been this—The partisans of peace d tout prix, who were, unfortunately, far too numerous here, are not pleased with it, because it does not announce what they had confidently hoped, namely, that peace is virtually a fait accompli ; the advocates of war are not pleaied with it, because it does not proclaim that the Conferences are all foolishness, and that the war is to be renewed with greater energy than ever; but moderate men consider that it is just what it ought to be—firm without bravado, ready to accept peace if it be honourable, ready to make war with desperate vigour if it be needed. On the whole, perhaps the speech, impartially weighed, leads one to the conclusion that the Emperor cal culates infinitely more on war than peace. The evident pride with which the Emperor speaks of the Queen's visit to Paris, and the glowing terms in which he talks of the English and French alliance in the last paragraph, will effectually put an end to all the intrigues of natives and foreigners directed against that alliance. Greater mystery than ever is thrown over the deliberations of t the Conferences. But I am in formed that there is the best reason to believe that they are not very cordial. lam even assured, that the differences which were previously mani fested, were not only not arranged, but became embittered in the sitting of Saturday. The fifth point, it is said, was under discussion on',that day. This is the most difficult point of all ; and if, by chance, an understanding were to be come to upon it—which, however, according to present appear ances, is scarcely to be expected—the Conferences would then take up the third point as of the next degree of difficulty, then the fourth, and then the second No sitting of the Conferences has been held to day, but it is understood that one will take place to-morrow Very little credit is placed in well-informed quarters, in this city, in the statement of the Morning Post of to-day, brought to us by telegraph, to the effect that preliminaries of peace, accepting the Austrian propositions, were signed by the Plenipotentiaries on Saturday. A Belgian news paper, the Independance, has got hold of the same story, and it gives it in the guise of a telegraphic despatch from Paris. But it turns out that no such despatch was sent from Paris, and the government people talk about prosecuting the Independance. I even hoar that the Emperor, on purpose to show that the Independance spoke without authenticity, altered his speech so as to make it more reserved than it otherwise would have been. After writing thus far I received this evening's Patrie, and find in it a " positive contradiction " of the statement of the Independance. Coming from a semi-official journal, and published in the form which. is usually adopted for semi-official announcements, this statement of the Patrie is of great gravity. Though the Morning Post is not men tioned, the contradiction is, no doubt, meant to be as much addressed to it as to the Belgian paper, The Patrie takes advantage of the occasion to remind tho public that the plenipotentiaries are pledged to solemn secrecy, and that they will certainly not violate it. Several English officers, absent on leave in this city, received, yesterday and to-day, positive orders to rejoin their resneetive corps without delay. The Borysthene, with news from Constantinople to the 25th, has arrived to-day at Marseilles. The principal item of the news is. that the English were preparing an expedition against Trebizonde. There has been rather a serious decline to-day on the Bourse in rentes and all securities. It is said that the Credit Mobilier had to advance nearly 3,000,000 f. sterling, to facilitate the last liquidation, otherwise there would perhaps have been a crash. EMS tR KATION OF TROOPS.—Yesterday forenoon about 130 men, and a like number of horses, belonging to the Royal Artillery, embarked on board the Sarah Sands. She was to have sailed last night or this morning. It was stated that she would call at some Irish port, Cork, most likely, to take in more men for the Crimea. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—On more than one occasion have we had to record the excellence of the acting of the Lauri Family, and particularly that of Miss Jenny Lauri, who has become a general favourite in her peculiar line. We are glad to find that on Saturday evening she presents herself to the public, for her first benefit. Independent of the ample and excellent bill of fare provided for the occasion, we think the claims of the young lady herself would be sufficient to attract a bumper. Miss Lauri will appear for the first time, as Columbine, in " Sketches from the Panto mime," and from what we heretofore observed of her dancing, we think she will hold the first place in that role. We trust in future to see her as she deserves to be, the Queen of Columbines. NEW BRIGHTON CLUB ROOMS.—On Tuesday evening a highly interesting and instructive lecture was delivered in the New Brighton Club-rooms, by the Rev. James Cran brook, to a very numerous and select audience. The subjt et was the theory of human progress. The lecturer sketched the rise and fall of the various kingdoms of Persia, Greece, Rome, Bre., with groat power, and his rem irks upon the ancient philosophers, poets, and sculptors, and the advan tages of modern science, &c., showed profundity and deep research. At intervals the rev. gentleman elicited much applause, and at the conclusion a vote of thanks was pro posed by Peter Wright, Esq., for his very admirable lecture, and the meeting separated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY . The SPEAIFER took the chair at twelve o'clock. The East Kent Railway Bill was read a second time. The Cole Vtilley and Halstead Railway bill was read a second time. PETITIONS Several petitions were presented in favour of ill( Abolition of Church Rates, and several against w an equivalent being provided. Petitions were presented in favour of the Medic fession Bill, against the opening of the British Mus Sunday, and for a more equitable arrangement church rent charge ----- ST. lAMBS PARI. Sir HENRY STRACEY asked the , President of the Board of Works if the possessors of property in Q u een-scpvir e ,', and those on that side of the Bi r dcage-walk, appreh ena . ing a - depreciation at their property in the event of a roil j e c i i and bridge being carried across St. jznes's Park, wc ul receive compensation if that plan were caif ied out. ‘• rl - _ . nitiP,4lo-9 There being no answer to the hon. member'; ‘it"7,: n et Sir H. STACEY said, not seeing the right hon. 1.• - .1 9 0 in his place, he gave notice that he would ask the ques, tomorrow. ABOLITION OF CHURCH RATES, Sir W. CLAY, in moving the second reading of the Church Rates Abolition Bill, said that the question µ'o,, one more of civil and religious liberty than c" pecuniary relief. The bill was almost the same as that proposed last session, the principle of which bad b een approved by the House of Commons. Since the decbion in the House of Lords in the Braintree case, that a church rate was only valid when passed by a majority of rale' payers, the question had assumed a new aspect, and man,' parishes had refused the rate. He quOted a number of statistics in reference to the adoption and refusal (,f church., rates, shewing that out of 258 rural parishes 109 ha ck opposed and 129 had allowed a rate, and of 99 cases from' which the rate was levied, there were only 47 instance s il l: which it was really paid. He considered it unjust that the minority should be compelled to pay a rate to whi ch they objected, and he, therefore, asked for support to his measure which proposed to abolish church rates in every case, except when there was a charge upon the rates. without interfering with the power or responsibilities or the churchwardens. lie held that the church should be' supported by voluntary contributions, and pew rent s, an d t remarked that it must be little respected by the peo . ple this country if it suffered by the removal of the coml3l°. With regard to the argument that it we ' s_ unwise to interfere with constitutional principles , be adverted to the fact that the proposition which be " iv urged had been', concurred in by Lord John Russell, wh ° had four times run the risk of upsetting the constitution, and his efforts had, in each case, been attended with ° most perfect success. He felt ;that the time had come' when legislation on the question was inevitable, and 11° believed that the measure which he had brought forward' was the only one calculated to set the question at rest', and to promote peace in parishes between those sory rat, different religioJs opinons. Lord JOHN MANNERS, in asking the House not to asseu e ' to the motion for the second reading of the bill, adverted to the remarkable absence of petitions in favour of the ~ hon. member's proposition. He admitted the injustice 01 compelling dissenters to contribute to church rates, hilt submitted that the simple remedy for that injustice, via° to exempt them from liability to the, rates, and at the' same time to remove from them the power which tile now possessed and exercised in the control of the chur ch ( ' and the clergy. There was nothing in the pream ble the bill, in reference to the grievance which W ag justly complained of by non-conformists, and the enact ment of the measure would inflict a greater grievance t° churchmen than was now felt by dissenters. He tained that the evils of the church-rate system were mu` b than counterbalanced by the moral and social goo" "' d hie resulted from it. Proceeding to examine the clatise° s's the measure the noble lord remarked that its purpose fla r not to exempt dissenters from the payment of the rate but to prevent churchmen from taxing their own p ro p ert y' for the support of the church; and referring to the op P°' sitions 'of dissenters to church rates, the noble lord ob; served that out of the £700,000 realised by church rate - tO a'600,000 was contributed by churchmen. He refer reu : the provision of the measure appointing auditors for tn e _ application of the voluntary contributions to the p urpose for which they were intended, who were to be selected' not by men who subscribed the money, but by a majority of the vestry, which, in populous towns, was composed principally of dissenters. The noble lord concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time that daY months. , Sir S. NORTHCOTE seconded the amendment. Sir G. GREY urged the House in the consideration of question, to keep it distinct from the totally differed' law in Scotland upon the subject. He denied that W.. effect of this m - _asure would be to separate Church adc; State, and observed that in Ireland, where the rate h a il been abolished by act of parliament, the National Chnreof was in no way affected. There were no legal mea ns o f enforcing a church rate against the wish of a major" io the ratepayers, and a number of the large towns tb country had refused to rate the mse l ves f o r the supPlert'°f the church, and, therefore, it be c a me nece ssary to legis late upon the subject. Ile believed that any attemp t "7 8 make a compulsory church rate in places where it .anti been refused, and where the ch urc h was supP er V' s , upon the loyal voluntary system, would fail, and nude. the circumstances the Government had come to t he con ; elusion that the measure on the subject must contain tb 114 principle of the abolition of the compulsory rate , Y eti t , ;5 11 did not, however, think it would be advisable to ab th- e they church rates, where they were voluntarily levied. an d would, therefore, propose that the obligation of the ' he ro ment should be for ever put an end to in parish es the rate had been refused for a time suffi c i en t to 1195 P g. that the ratepayers were determined in their obje t This was the principle contained :in a bill presented "1;i the heads of the church in the other House of Par lia , t e ne last session. The noble lord who mov ed hold amendment had admitted that dissenters sates. be exempted from the payment of church r`;lso and in this he (Sir G. Grey) concurred, and IT A n al agreed in the justice of the argument that they shoei-lica' ifso exempted, haveany power of levying or in the aPProe. tion of the rtes. Under the circumstances of the Government were prepared to sanction the Pl c oati of the abolition of church rates, by voting for the toge reading of the measure before the House, and to amendments in committee to carry out the views Iv a- • had epressed. t Mr. x DittnemoND held that the amendments suggestiennser Sir G. Grey were so very unlike the bill before the e nt to that it would be but fair on the part of the Govern NP reject the measure and bring in one of their own. P,i e on agreed with all the propositions that had been In, 3 ;,.. 4 • raj the subject of church rates, and in the course of J l- antf marks he charged the bishops with neglecting the,,firig in failing to provide means for public worship, attelrwitil the deficiency to the churche s being overcrowde,", for pews, so that there was not sufficient accommod ti°- the poor. th e The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended himself frofTlollo charge of recklessness which had been made by Ln r t o 0 1° , Manners in the course of his speech. Passi n g question of the abolition of church rates, he stage su re. reasons for supporting the second reading of th e in reseed Lord J. RUSSELL thought that with the views eX, P r i h 3"/ by Sir G. Grey, the most convenient course vv° 9- , - gre been for the Government to have introduced a Ine a Thitit/ their own rather than propose, in committee. ° b e ' ,etee alteration of the measure under consideration. g? ? h . e - eb': to the measure of Sir W. Clay's, as it abolishe" gation upon a parish of supporting w it s church sr , e iviS; providing a remedy, though h e agreed that it as i d - i i able for the sake of peace that th e c hurch sb th ; t s °"- 11 enforce an obligation which e x i s t e d, b u t which *v i ;tnirc legally binding, he held that, at th e same time, tbe'nvore.'" ; had a right to demand some other means of sP the' d " This was not proposed by the government , a n ,;',,,stit propositions would only tend to complicate the ti"i v ireP" without satisfying the just demands of the c to rch The exemption of Dissenters from the pa-ement, of C vestL e l rates and their consequent exclusion from t" e , g to 0 , when any question connected with the church considered, would be most injurious, as it would the nl o f the separation of the Established Church from t „ia of the people, and, after such a step the church en-sitieT maintain its dignity, property, government, and r b y tn' d L or d PALMERSTON vindicated the course tall e l ev• has G overn ment, remarking that the decision which t Id Dee come to had not been hastily resolved upon, adopted after mature deliberation. Mr. MIALL supported the bill. The House then divided. The numbers were the second reading Against Maj0rity............................................. t 4 ht t b tr e Sir G. G REY in reply to Mr. Walpole, sai— tho to Government amendments would be laid on before Easter. MARRIAGES. ile Mr. A PELLATT DISSENTERS moved the second reading Of t the senters' Marriages Bill, which, he said , was in e,ec,s;lni same as the one that passed a second reading las' 1/ 4 After a few words from Sir W. HEATIIOO'S, o. PALMERSTON, Mr. HENLEY, Mr. 11. n0v61311 110 t GLADSTONE, Sir G. GREY, and Mr. WALroix• fitted 013 was read a second time, and ordered to b e counu the The Consolidated Fund (426,000,0 00 ) llt h of April. Tee d a Bill w as second time. The House_adjourned at half-past five o °look.