Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-08 00:00:00

REV. 3. K. GLAZEBROOK TO REV. J, MACNALIGHT. Sir,--It has been proved in my three last letters that the principle laid down by Mr. Macnaught in his letter 20th Nov., and elsewhere, that " Reason is superior to every Rule of Faith," is a Socinian principle. Mr. .M. maintains further, that this is not a principle arbitrarely laid down by man, but that it is the especial appointment of God. In No. 2. query Nov. 20, he says, " Has rot God, by making human reason thus the judge over all rules ' of faith, clearly declared the fallible reason of man to be superiour to every other rule of faith° That it is a glaring mistake to make such an assertion cannot but be evident to all who candidly consider the question- This was illustrated by reference to the Supremacy of the law over those who are yet judges of the law. I did not suppose so well-known a fact could be disputed. Mr. M., however, with wonderful courage and infatuation, in his letter of Nov. 30, has endeavoured to show his readers that this supposed fact is not a fact at all, but a mistake. I had thought that the supremacy of the law, and its title to that supremacy, were never doubted in civilised states. And, on reading yesterday's Examiner and Times' leading article I find it said :- 41 Of course law is everything. Law, which emanates from the people, is higher than the highest personage in the realm, superior to the prerogatives of Par liament, or time decrees of the Crown This, we say, is a common thing. The schoolboy learns it in his primer ; it is a hustings platitude—an everyday sentiment." It seems, however, that Mr. M. has forgotten his primer, .and that Reason whose province he would presumptuously extend to a superiority over the Divine Rule of Faith in the Scriptures has failed him in a point which " the seboolbey learns in his primer." This strange hallucination must have arisen in Mr. M,'s mind from ate unwilling consciousness that one of his most dearly cherished first prin ciples was failing him. It was a sort of literary •earthquake, that produced a confusion and insensi bitity of mind. After witnessing such desperate efforts to maintain the supremacy of reason, we should not easily believe that the same advocate would be so regardless of consistency as to speak of human reason in disparaging terms. And yet so it is—when striving to prove Scripture is not infallible, in his questions on the Bishop of Ches ter's speech, October 19, he says—" Will the bishop be good enough to explain to us of what use an infallible book could be to readers, who, like himself and us, acknowledge ourselves to be fallible and liable to err in understanding the contents even of the Bible itself ? What text has not been differently interpreted and honestly mis understood, on one side or the other, by the various theologians who form the great chain of thinkers from Professor Pusey to W. E. Charming ? I ask, then, will his lordship state to us the nee of infalli bility, in a book, to be read by fallible men ? It is scarcely possible to depreciate the power of human reason more than by these words. Truly he must be blind whose sight the light of the meridian sun cannot reach, Orthodox Protestants demonstrate the necessity for a Divine revelation from the fallibility of human reason. Mr. M. argues the uselessness of an infallible revelation from the same cause. His declared object in using this argument was to show that " it is totally impossible to believe that there is any kind of infallibility in the sacred volume." It is for Mr. M. to reconcile a strange inconsistency in his scheme. If his sincere opinion be that human reason is so feeble and fallible that even an infallible revelation would be useless to it, how can he consistently believe that it is constituted. by God to be superior to any other Rule of Faith ? If the depreciating terms in which the fallibility of human reason was described by Ms M. was only a rhetorical artifice and a controversial stratagem—a false argument, which he did not himself believe—it would be well for him to remember that false arguments are the Sepoys of literary warfare, and always rebel against their masters. When Mr. M. is again doing battle for the supremacy of hum ;n reason, impiously elevating it above the word of God, not canonizing son— upon others to join in his idolatry—let him call to mind, let them remember, how feeble, how falli ble, how powerless their idol is admitted to be. What ! man's " fallible reason constituted by God, superior to every other Rule of Faith." Blasphe mous impeachment of Divine Wisdom ! What saith tha Scripture—" where is the wise ? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ; for after that, in the wisdom of God, the world, by wisdom, knew not God ; it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe"-1 Cor. i. 20, 21. Need we, in confir mation of these infallible declarations of the spirit, call to mind the deplorable ignorance and debasing superstitions of ancient and modern heathen nations. The atrocities committed in .India aro surely a striking commentary in the truth of these inspired words. The testimony of the heathen world ought to make it impossible to place any confidence in reason as a rule of faith, much less to say that it is so constituted by God. A similar testimony is delivered by the melancholy history of those unhappy infidels, who have trusted to the false and feeble light of human reason, and have not only partially, like the Se cinians, but wholly rejected the Scriptures. Let us take one example, "Mr. Woolston, who, in his discourses on the miracles of our Saviour, under pretence of vindicating the allegorical sense of Scripture, endeavours absolutely to destroy the truth of the fasts recorded in the Gospel. This writer asserts that he is the farthest of any man from being engaged in the cause of infidelity—that infidelity has no place in his heart—that ho writes for the honour of Jesus, and in defence of Christianity ;—and that his design in writing is to advance the Mes suthship and Truth of the Holy Jesus, to whom,' he says, be glory for ever. Amen ; anti yet that the Gospels are full of incredulities, impossi bilities, and absurdities—that they resemble Gut liverian tales of persons and things, which, out of romances, never had a being—that the miracles recorded in the Gospels, taken literall y , will not abide the t e st o f reason an d common sense, but must be rejected, and the authority of Jesus along with them; and at the same time he casts the most scurrilous reflections on Christ's .Hartwell Home, th 3 Necessity of a Divine Revelation. Vol. 1, p. 23, 7th edition. One instance is enough ; time and space will not allow a particular reference to other infidels. But there are few spectaAes more melancholy and touching than a mind overthrown by the pride of reasn. An infidel's creed is the essence of credu lity, contraiiction, and absurdity ; and yet, an infidel is the professed votary of reason, which is his rule of faith. Would it not be profitable to those who, like Mr. M, have cast away the sheet anchor of faith in the infallibility of God's word, to consider carefully the sure road to error and destruction on which they have entered. The same scoffing infidel spirit which is exhibited in the creed of Woolston is shown by Mr. Min his objections to the Scriptures. In No. 11 paragraph he says, " How pure (i. e unmixed or infallible) truth can exist in a book which teaches that Jesus was on his birth, is part of the pro blem which I have invited the Bishop of Ches ter to solve, for the edification of us all ;" and in his questions to the Bishop of Chester, the whole paragraph fears, " whether in spite of geological science, we are to believe that the earth and the universe were created in a given order of sueces sion in six days, some six thousand years ago, &c It is the irreverent spirit which is so rampant in these queries, that merits the strongest condemna tion. The delight in discovering and magnifying apparent contradictions; the industry which busies itself in . finding difficulties, and which, not on l y does not sincerely search for solutions, but sneers at their variety and number when offered. - It is .. ._ ..... these daring presumptuous rebellious attacks upon revelation, that place their authors deservedly in the rank of infidels. That they arP thus regarded with justice, is evident when we hear ..Mr. M. Exclusively for CLOTIIING BOYS from Six to Twenty Years LEWIS Ss COMPANY, it4nolago-sutio THE 7N ORTIIERN saying :—" The Bible errs in the narrative of Stephen's speech, and why may it not err in the apparent enumeration of an irrational version smne true doctrine." Professing themselves wise they become fools.—Rom. i. 22. J. K. G. Lower Darwen, Dec. 5, 1857. THE MEETING OF PARLIAMF,NT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIIIE3. Sir,—Her Atajesty's speech from the throne:has now been circulated throughout the United Kingdom. 'Uhe people know a little of the intentions of Government. The ministerial programme of thi§ extraordinary session is, without a doubt, scanty in the extreme. The only ray of hope which it contains is that relating to the question of a ethau. Lord PALMERSTON has plucked up courage, and promises to ask the legislature to consider how the representation of the people can be extended and improved. But the tone in which he makes the announcement is anything but encouraging. The Royal oration may be div:ded into four distinct heads :---the Commercial Crisis,— Affairs in India Parliamentary .I.l„teforra,—and an Amendment in the Criminal Code. We have repeatedly alluded to the currency question, and demonstrated that the, laws, regulating our monetary system, afe imper fect in the extreme. It is, therefore, no wonder that the Government should feel bound to call Parliament together, for the purpose of considering if any, and what, amendment can be effected in this most important matter. The commercial crisis, through which we are now passing, clearly shows that we are labouring under the effect of a law which is unequal to the requirements of the times in which we live. It cramps the commercial energies of the country, and, as we have now innumerable end painful proofs, it induces bankruptcies and insolvencies without end. Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be prepared with a panacea for all- our commercial disasters we know not. Indeed, from the tone of her Majesty's speech, as well as from the remarks made by ministers on Thursday night, we must not expect much in the shape of Currency Preform. In connection with this matter, the Government. have named an early day, and already taken steps to obtain a bill of indemnify in favour of the Bank of England Directors, who, by the way, are still in favour of the existing charter, notwithr standing the serious evils which it has caused. It is in the power of Currency Reformers to obtain some amendment of our banking laws ; if they do but press their views upon Parliament at the present time, a more fitting opportunity could not present itself. The history of the recent failures will form a reason, forcible and conclusive as Holy Writ, that the Bank Charter is faulty in principle and injurious in operation. The first night of the session did not pass over without the two great political chiefs having a " sparring match." Mr. DISRAELI very properly taunted Lord PALMERSTON with ignorance, as to the approada of the commercial crisis, and showed that, as far as the President of the Board of Trade is concerned, the monetary panic tcok that noble Lord quite aback. He was unprepared for the results which have been manifesting them selves almost every day during the last two months Justly, indeed. did Mr. DISRAELI remark that, i❑ 1847, the country was panic struck and half ruined. Parliament was called together and the country looked to it for the expression of distinct opinion. A committee was appointed. Ten years have elapsed ; the same occurrences take place ; Parlia ment is again called together; and what is Parlia. went and what ere Miuisters, the most influencia members o! Parliament, about to do ? Again they are going to evade doing that which is the duty of every statesman in this country—to lay dawn in this House the opinion which they have formed on this subject as to the course which they think is proper and necessary, and to call on the House to maintain that opinion. Instead of that we are to have another committee on the Bank Charter Act of 1814, and, I suppose that, in 1867, after repetition of the same mischances and the same miseries, the same fruitless and bootless process will be adopted of appointing a committee on that eel j__,. tea.. ....Liss Lt.caL sletieser the country or the House will permit such trifling with a question of such paramount importance. The allusion in the Royal speech as to our suc cesses in India, and our friendly relations with the Continental powere, was quite gratifying, and Lord PALMERSTON heightened the pleasure by stating in his speech, replying to Mr. DisretEer, that the Emperor of France had offered to furnish us with the means of transporting our troops to India through the French territory. We are sorry to see that no illusion has been made to the Jew Bill, or the question of National Education. If we are about to extend the political power of the people by means of a new Reform Bill, it is indis pensably necessary to 'prepare the minds of the masses for the exercise of that power by sound and useful information. Taking the speech as a whole we do not see much that is of an encouraging character in its contents. But Royal speeches are proverbial for their vagueness, and the scanti ness of the designs of ministers which they fore shadow. In this respect we have about the average amount of intelligence which the government de sire to be made known. It is quite evident that there is not any intention to deal with any great political question before the Christmas rece ss . In the meantim e , ministers will probably go into an explanation of their intentions before that period, so that the country can form an estimate of their honesty cf purpose. ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER SHIP ALBION AT MELBOURNE. By the Australian mail which has just arrived, we have advices of the arrival of many of our Liverpool ships, and we have great pleasure in nctieing, specially, the arrival of the above ship, as, at the time she was loading, being the first ship despatched in this trade by Messrs. Tapscott and Co., we took occasion to remark upon her peculiar claims to the notice of Australian shippers, and at the same time to prognaili'ate a most success ail passage for her. We were induced to indulge in these anticipations from a personal inspection of the vessel, and we referred, also, to the great care which her owners had taken to secure the comfort of her passengers. It ha therefore, a matter cf gratifiqtion to us to fi❑d cur anticipations so fully borne out; her voyage was performed in 85 days, beating every other ship she sailed against, and anticipating the arrived of the mail by two days; and the satisfaction expressed by the passen gers in the annexed testimonial to the captain, renders it unneo:ss.iry for us to say a word on that subject. We wi-h j the ship, her captain anei owner-, a continuatian of like success in her subsequent career. TESTIMONIAL. Ship Albion, Melbourne Bey, 13th October, 1857. To Messrs. W. Tapseott & Co.,— Geatlemen—We, the undersigned, passengm of the above ship, desire to show cur gratitude and thanks in the following statement :—Having left Liverpool on the 19th of July, made a very pleasant passage to the above port in eighty-four days, we feel it our duty to speak in the highest terms of the accommodations, provisions, and commander, of whom we cannot speak so fully as his abilities deserve ; a more attentive captain cannot leave port. The officers deserve the praises due to their rank for ef f iciency and promptitude in all their duties. We do not hesitate in attesting the undermentioned fact to the skill of the captain and the efficiency of his officers—of our surpassing the following ships that left port previous to ourselves, namely, the Phoenix, July 16th; Oliver Lang, 15th ; and Florence Nightingale, July 16th. We trust these remarks will find their way to the homes of these who, like our selves, intend leaving their native land for the Colonies, end induce them to secure theirepasTagn in the same line of packets. We trust, too, that the firm will see their line in the position it deserves, that of the top of the list.—We remain, your ever well-wishers, (Signed by all the passengers). CAGLIARI, Dec. I.—The Elba and Desperate have arrived from Corfu with the cable. The electric communication is completed, In a speech by Prince Adult Czartoryshi, delivered in Paris, on the anniversary of the Polish insurrection, he declared that, during the late Russian war, the Emperor of the French proposed the re-establishment of Poland, but that England resisted. Alluding to the treaty of Paris, he said the peace of Paris had restored it to the condition in winch it was previous to the war. At LEWIS & COUPANY'S, Ranelagh-street. BOYS aro CLOTHED from tke Ages of Six to Twenty Years. TIMES.- LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1857. with its high scale of interest. He trusted that the Liver pool Chamber of Commerce would move. He hoped the Manchester people would not long hag their fetters by upholding a system which shut up their mills and cast thousands of workpeople out of employ. Edinburgh, Glasgow, and, he hoped, Leeds, would speak out. He earnestly entreated the Council to send in a petition on the very day that Parliament met. He had himself felt as well as seen the effects of. the present system, and no earthly motive could induce him to enter into business again until it was altered. He had almost taken a vow that he would never cease his exertions until it was overthrown, knowing, as he did, its evils theore tically, and having felt them practically. They should pray for a renewed committee of the House of Lords, that House having signally condemned the act of 1844 in 1848. If the Commons'eCommittee of last session were renewed, they should petition that one of the representatives of each of the largo towns might be added to it. Failing such a committee, the next best thing, he repeated, was a Royal Commission. Pending a deliberate inquiry, they should ask that the Bank issue of notes on national securities, limited by the act to £14,475,000, should be extended to twenty or twenty-five millions. The Government letter had let out tw millions beyond the fourteen millions, and there would probably b 3 an attempt to make that the per manent limit. Bet it should be recollected that the Bank had been obliged to sell Government securities amounting to 0E3,600,000, so that the necessity for such a total was proved by the necessities of trade. The real secret which w.s at the bottom of all the laboured articles of " Mercator," and the Times, had been avowed by Lord Overstone, when he intimated to the Commons' Committee that his ultimate object was to have nothing but a metallic circulation. His lordship was asked by Mr. Cayley—" Do you think that the transactions of this nation could b 3 carried on with me'sti ic money only ?" and (as would be seen from questions and answers 3787-8-9, et seg.,) he most distinctly pledged himself to that opinion, which, if it were acted upon, must produce a curtailment of the manufactures of the country, to the extent of about seventy-five per cent. On this point, the b calm and intelligent evidence of Mr, Edward Cripps was well worthy of c insideratiou. In answer to Question 5498, also put by Mr. Cayley, he characterised this as a most extraordinary notion, and sail he could hardly ima gine how it ever entered into the head of a sane man. He (Mr. Knott) was most thoroughly convinced, that if ever an attempt were made to carry on the commerce and manufactures of this country with a metallic money only, the whole system would explode, and the throne itself would soon afterwards totter to its fall. On the conclusion of Mr. Knott's address, an adjourn ment to Wednesday was agreed to, The adjourned meeting took place accordingly, RICHARD Joartsort, Esq., in the chair. Mr. BRITTEN, a gentleman who, during the last ten years, has given his almost undivided attention to the Currency Question, was present by invitation. He stated that his object was, not so much to further his own views, as to get together persons who had studied the subject, to talk it over quietly, and reduce the points on which they were agreed to the smallest possible compass. Whenever this had been done, in his experience, he had always found that however widely men might appear to differ, there were some points on which they really agreed though they might have arrived at them by different roads. He did not anticipate much benefit from any large assembly of persons in London, or elsewhere, such as hid been suggested by the Council, for at such assemblies tlere was always a tremendous amount of talking, and hit little listening to the purpose. But if in this or other towns a few persons met together, and drew up some fie or six propositions, on which all agreed, then it would certainly be very advantageous to send some one person t. advocate them at a general conference. He also thought he present made of conducting inquiries before Patiamentary committees unsatisfactory, since the result vas, almost invariably, a mass of contradictory evidence, rom which it was next to impossible to draw any practicalconclusion. Without entering into any particular expositioi of his owe views, he illustrated what he considered the absurdity of the present system, by saying that if any MU undertook to supply a thousand million pouts ls of cotton next year, at 81 par lb., everybody would ca'l him mad first, because there is not so much cotton in the world ;and, secondly, because next year cotton may be worthl6d instead of 8d per lb. But it was quite as abard to under take to pay a debt of a thousand militias in gold, at a certain pric-, when, notoricesly, there is not so much gold in the world, and that f there were, its price may vary quite as much as that of cotton. He described promissory notes of all kinde as out the transfers of debt from one person to another, aid said that the indispensable requirement in all sound fortes of legal tender was a definite value entitling the ultimae holder, who had no debt to pay, to go somewhere and demand something for it. If any proposed form of legal tender had not this definite value there was a fallacy in tie pro position. As to the present system, he expre;sea his conviction that if men had gone to work expressly for the purpose of producing something which slould occasion constant uncertainty air] endless convulsiocs, they could not possibly have devised any scheme ly which those objects would be more effectually attaned. At the request of the Council, Mr. Britten undertook to draw up a few propositions, with a vies to their being submitted to a subsequent meeting, na of the Financial Reform Association, but of members obit, of the Chamber of Commerce, and other gentlemen who may be invited to attend. A petition to the Hous, of Common was agreed upon, and has since been ent off to Mr. J. C. Ewart for presentation. The follaving is its substance : " That in the deliberate judgmen , of great numbers of intelligent persons of practical kno7ledge and experience, the present system of National Balking and Currency is completely erroneous in principle, deeply injurious to the general community in its working, and likely, if persisted in, to be productive of conseque.ces sti 1 more disastrous than any that it has yet cccaioned, though these are alleged to be of the most griev.ue description. That, on the other hand, other persons, (pally intelligent, and also possessed of practical knowlecke and experience, contend that that system is sound bothin theory and practice, and most beneficial to the nation generally. That, hitherto, the course of legislation on the subject appears to have been guide :l exclusively by tie opinions of the latter class comprising many greit CopiaHas who have grown rich under the present system, tc whom periods of commercial, manufacturing, and industial calamity bring great ac quisitions of wealth, ani vhose individual interests are, therefore, deeply involved inthe continuance of a system most advantageous to them, how3ver incurious it may be to th 3 rest of the community. Mat, under these circumstances, it is most desirable that tiara should be a searching and thoroughly impartial inv,stigation of the principles and operation of the monetary laws cf the country, conducted by men of the highest ability, character, and standing, who are not pledged to one system or another, but desirous only of the truth, and free to adopt and pursue the best means of ascertaining it." Tie prayer is for such an investigation, either before an open committee of the House, so constituted as to comnand universal respect and confidence, or in such other way as may seem best adapted to accomplish the ends in view,viz , the ascertainment of the true principles on which a national currency should be grounded, and the promotion of he general welfare which is so vitally concerned in their &Option. THE BALLOT SOCIETYAND THE QUEEN'S SPEEff. On Thursday night a crowdd public meeting W2S held at the Greyhound-inn, Sydenhar, in favour of the Ballot and Parliamentary Reform. Mr. John Bennett, F.B.S ,took the chair, and read to the meeting the passage of the Queen's speech announcing the intention of the Governtnat to bring forward a Reform Bill. Mr. Stavely, of Geelong Victoria), gave a clear and detailed description of the waking of the Ballot in Vic toria, accompanied by reform to a plan of the polling room used at the elections inthat colony. Mr. Whitehurst (vice-ehaimin of the Ballot Society) then addressed the mr-etin„; atgreat length, recapitulating the usual argume n t s f or t h e tallot. He advocated the Ballot, becanie it would lead to legislation intended for the benefit of the middle, the fading, and working classes of the country. He wanted tie country not to trust Lord Palmerston, who was ose of tle government that introduced the six acts, and his elm government had lately put one of them in force agaisst an editor of a newspaper. Mr. Janes Camplell also addressed the meeting. Mr. Hall.mcved, and Joshua Beardmore secor , th d tie following resolu'ioi, which was unanimously and enthusi asqcally carried : Resolved,—Tht this meeting desires to Express its satisfaction at th announcement in the Queen's speech !hat the attenOn or Parliament, will be called to the laws which reg':ate do; represen'ation of the people in Parliament, wit! a view to consider what amendments may be made therein and at the same time desires to record its conviction tha no extension of the frauchiEe will be • eatisfactory utl‘ss accompanied by the vote by Ballot. That copies if this resolution It,: forwarded by the chair- • man to Lord lalmervon and to Mr. Charles Wykeham Martin, and M. James Whatmart, the Members of Par liament for th division of the county. Mr_ Elt (o' the Baro-, Society) moved, and Mr. Le Maitre (Ballo Society), seconded a vote of thanks to Mr, Bennett far pesidinT,,which that gentleman acknowledged, and the meet* then separated. At IEWIS & ONPANY'S, flane'agli-street, BOIS are CL.OTEIED from tc:e Ages of Six Twenty Years THE LIVERPOOL FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION. At the weekly meeting of the Council on Monday, (Nov. 30), the President in the chair, a letter was read from Wm. Coningham, Esq., M.P. for Brighton, inclosing a sub scription of £l, and requesting to be enrolled a member of the Association. There were also letters from Mr. Henry Lloyd Morgan, of London, respecting the public accounts ; from Colonel Clinton, of Royston, complaining that the Council had decided on his scheme of imperial representa tion too summarily, and without adequate consideration ; and from Henry Ayres, Esq , of the 13ankers' Circalar, expressive of his gratification on finding that the Council had directed its attention to what he termed " the monster monopoly of the Bank of England, whose destructive powers are spread throughout the world," and of his astonishment that " a few private merchants, sitting in secret conclave, should so long have been suffered to possess the power of depreciating every man's property, and spreading devastation and destruction amongst millions of people." THE PEOPLE'S BLUE BOOK. The author of this very valuable work, (published by C. Routledge and Co., Farringdon-street, London,) forwarded two copies of the 2nd edition, for the use of the Council, with a complimentary note. The preface to this edition was read. It contains the following very handsome ac knowledgment of the assistance derived by the author from the publications of th e A eso ciion. " The author has only;;to add that, for many important details, he is indebted to the valuable Tracts circulated by the Liverpool Financial Reform Association. Being engaged on the book when those Tracts first came into his hands; in the summer of 1857, he availed himself of whatever he there found ready prepared, which suited his views ; and as it would have been scarcely pos sible, and certainly not convenient, to have made a dis tinct and separate acknowledgment of each extract, he therefore mile his acknowledgment by a general reference. But he is so sensible of the great service tendered by those tracts, and he so highly appreciates many of the principal objects of that association, that he is desirous, not only of making his own acknowledgment, but also—and which is of much more importance—of making known to others, as far as may be in his power, how greatly all classes in this country are indebted to the persevering labours of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, which is supported entirely by the voluntary contributions of the members. He wishes also to add his own conviction, that if all those who are desirous of seeing the reforms here advocated carried out, would join that association, and would assist by their contributions, however small, to defray the unavoidable expenses of opening the eyes of the people to their actual position, the objects in view, for the benefit of all classes, would be speedily and effectually accomplished. . . . . If, therefore. the people would have tea for ls. a pound, coffee for 6d. a pound, sugar for 2d a pound, tobocco for 3d. a pound, the light, pleasant, and wholesome wines of France and the Rhine for 3d. a bottle, .and all other wines, spirits, and other articles of necessary consumption at prices reduced in the same proportion, they must abolish all customs and excise duties, all income tax, all assessed taxes, and nearly all the stamp duties : and they must agree to have one tax, which will bear equally on all realised property, and leave every industrious working man in the kingdom to enjoy the produce of his own daily labour, free from all taxation, Let every man in the kingdom who desires this, enrol his name as a member of the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, and let him add his contribution, however small, to the funds of that Association, and then no power in this country can prevail to prevent these results. The 'only question will then be a question of time. With stedfastnees of purpose the people will not have to wait long, and then the working classes in this country shine forth in the three orders of greatness —power, intellect, and goo Iness." The thanks of the council were voted to the author of " The People's Blue Book," for his zealous recommends_ lion of additional support to the association, which is essential to an enlargement of the field of its operations. THE BANKING AND CURRENCY QUESTIONS. The Temesueve stated that Mr. Knott, deputy chairman of the Central Currency Committee of London, had called upon him that morning, left several tracts and papers, and was very desirous of an interview with the Council He (the Tr. asurer) thought that a spacial meeting should be called, not to discuss any particular planor plans, but to consider the propriety of memorialising government in favour of a convocation of the ablest men in the country, to discuss the subject, and sit from day to day, until they arrived at some definite results. As to these matters not being within the province of the association, he held that the State ought to enjoy all the advantages ereic, front tha mstrmfArshiri. of an d all A ttie benefit of the lost or hoarded notes ; and when he saw that these advantages fell to the Bank of England, which was receiving interest on the Government debt of fourteen or fifteen millions, was allowed to issue notes to the full amouht of that debt besides, and was also paid some hundreds of thousands a-year for what was, in feet, simply an exchange of bank paper for Government paper, in the shape of Exchequer Bills, he felt that these were abuses, at which, as a financial reformer, he had a right to fire his musket. After some conversation respecting a petition or memo - rial , which should not commit the association to any par ticular theory, Joax M. KeorreEsq., was introduced, and urged upon the Council the necessity of immediate action on its part, as well as on that of the Chambers of Commerce, of all similar associations, and of all mercantile men, to prevent the renewal of the Bank Charter Act of 1844, which he de scribed as fraught with obstruction or ruin to all classes in this country: He observed that both history and philosophy taught that money need not be of intrinsic value to be the representative of the value of all things, and that the state which imposes taxes ought to provide the money in which taxes are paid. This was done by the Romans, and by all wise governments. He adduced, as an instance, the conduct of Christ, who, when asked whether tribute should be paid to Caesar or not, called for a penny, that being the tribute money provided by Rome, and then gave the memorable reply, " Render, therefore, unto Cresar the things that are Caesar's." The Jews, however, had another money—the shekel—which was of intrinsic value, estimated by weight. It was the policy of Solon, Lycurgus, and other wise law gieers of ancient times, to provide money possessing a conventional value only; and it was the duty of our Go vernment to do the like, because our large indirect taxation rendered it necessary. Mr. K. stated that, after his interview with the Council, abut twelve months ago, a motion was brought forward in the House of Lords, an his instance, suggesting the appointment of a Royal com mission, to consist of men not committed for or against the present system—men of the highest deliberative character, such as Mr. Pemberton Leigh, who had twice refused the Chancellorship—men who had attained their ultimate station, and were free from all possible bias, incapable of being swayed from right, or in any way sub jected to corrupt influence, even in its most delicate forms —men of judicial minds, adapted for the weighing of the evidence already recorded in the several Parliamentary blue books; capable of comparing that evidence with the reports, varying so widely from the testimony recorded that they seem only the results of committees packed far the purpose of establishing a foregone conclusion—men capable of weighing the theories of the various publications on the science of money, and of hearing calmly and attentively oral testimony from witnesses of practical experience, without attempting to brow beat or overbear them, as members ofordinery committees. wedded to theories of their own, were very apt to do. Referring to the committee of last session, he spoke of the practical wisdom displayed by a London ban er, Mr. Twehis, a venerable gentleman ap proaching 80 years of age, who, having had experience of banking business since the Restriction Act of 1797, explained most clearly, whilst he deprecated, the ruinous consequences, of the present system, and suggested the true principles which ought to regulate the currency. It was here intimated to Mr. Knott, that the Council did not propose to ge into the consideration of any particular plan. They considered the present system erroneous in some respects ; but what they suggested was a conference of the ablest men in the kingdom, specially convened by Government, to discuss the subject which they had indi vidually considered. Mr. Knott said the misfortune was that when a man had studied and discussued the subject, he ton often fell into some crotchet of his own, and would attend to nothieg that differed from it. From such an assembly as that proposed, they would not have that calm consideration and deliberate decision which they might expect with certainty from arch a commission as he had snoken of. He would have upon it judges of the land, and experienced intelligent merchants and bankers of the first class, but not a single millionaire. From the tone of the Times, whose highest authority was "Mercator," generally believed to be Lord Overstone, and who so obviously sympathised with the Rothschilds and the Bank of Eng land, it was all but certain that, unless very strenuous efforts were made, the charter would be renewed in its most stringent form. Petitions against it ought to be poured in on the very day of the meeting of Parliament ; and he hoped there would be one from the Financial Reform Association, which might be signed by the president, on behalf of the council, and sent off at once. He had been at Birmingham, where, though there were most intelligent opposers of the existing legislation, there were also many of the more wealthy who rejoiced in the present system, O n' CLO ffiING MADE wrr GREAT TASTE, at LEWIS and COMPANY'S, Ritnelagh-street. GROSS ILL-TREAaMENT OF TE BRITISH SUBJECTS IMPRISONED AT NAPLES. NARRAiIVE OF ONE OF THE PRISONERS. N.A.PLES, Nov 28.—For some time I have sent you such reti,orts of the state of the English engineers now in con fanement at Salerno as have oozed through the walls of a prison. lam able to state upon incontrovertible authority that my reports, so far from exaggerating, have faded to give the true aspect of affairs. The treatment of our fellow -countrymen has been as bad a 3 it could be, My last letter informed you that a demand had been made by our Acting• Consul for permission for himself and Mr. Parks to visit the prisoners. On the 24th it was obtained and on Wednesday, the 25th, both these gentleman went to Salerno. The following is the report of the latter gentleman, and I give as nearly as possible in his own words, for it is a tale so revolting to humanity, that it requires neither addition nor ornament. At La Cava, the British Vice-Consul joined the party, and they proceeded to Salerno, whore they had an interview with the Pro curator-General. Some conversation took place on the subject of two letiers, which were alleged to have been found on the:person or in the cabin of the prisoners, and the Procurator said that he was prepared to go on with the cas e , cons id er i ng t h at ha had proofs of their guilt. Previous to the visitors going to the prison, an official suggested that it would be batter, as Parks was in a nervous c , ndition, that ho should be first advised of the arrival of his father. A man, therefore, was sent in for that purpose, but instead of reporting correctly, he said that Watt's father had come. "On entering, therefore, the room in whi c h th e y were confined," Parks says, " I saw Watt standing quite pale and immoveable. I was frightened at his appearance, but I had no time to think of him, for my son rushed into my arms and swooned. I laid him on the bed and tried to encourage him, and he revived, but immediately he swooned again: I then said to the consul, My son was never subject to this ; his nervous system must have been much injured.' " Parks then gave the following statement of fiefs to his father, "and my son," he said, "has been always truthful; I will guarantee what he says." "On the nigh. " said the son "on which the rebels rose on board the Cag'iari I was on deck with the captain. A number of men, dressed in red, suddenly appeared. What is the matter' I said, and then turning to one of the men, I asked, What are you after ?" You will soon know,' was the reply. I went and spoke to Watt, saying that something serious was on, and told him that we must prepare for the worst. A letter was given to me, which, as it was dusk, I could scarcely read. It contained menaces spinet our lives if the machinery was not kept iu perfect order and we did not do our duty. I managed to decipher it, and read it to Watt. I was fillowed down by five or six men, armsd with pistols and d ggers. Thoy remained below whilst another guard was placed above. On passing near Admiral's Lyons fleet there wore fears entertained that we might signal them, and additional precautions were taken, for we were not permitted to come up. When we approached Sapri we were told that we must join the revo lutionists; but we answered that we were not fighting men, and that our duty was to manage the vessel. Later in the voyage, on seeing the Neapolitan vessels, the rebels thought that they had been betrayed, and counselled together to murder passengers and crew. Eleven were about to do so, but at this moment one of their number fell down in an apoplectic fit. It was regarded as an interposition of Providence; all fled to the buts. Some of the rebels came to me (Parks), and asked how much coal we had on board. I told them a less quantity than we really had, and the answer was, that I must make it, together with the wood, last so many hours, or we sheulet be murdered. We were returning to Naples when we were captured. Our intention was to deliver ourselves up and state the whole case, for we had not coal enough to enable us to escape had we bean disposed to do so. A Neapolitan officer came on board, and I delivered to him the letter which I had received from the rebels. He said, You had bettor keep it for your exculpation.' I went down and made a correct copy of it, and then gave the original to the officer. This copy was left in my ca‘iin in the hurry of my arrest and removal. Whether this was the second of two letters spoken of I know not. lam not aware of any other letters. It was said that a letter directed to Watt, and written in a fema'e hand, was found; but Watt was only the substitute of Newcastle, who was kept at home by sickness, and the former did not know any length of time beforehand that he would have to go. On arriving at N a pl e s, a ll, exce pti ng ourse l ves, were hand cuffed, and were taken to prison. We were taken into our cell and stripped naked, whilst other prisoners were look. ing through the iron bars which separated them from us, laughing and joking at our expense. I was enraged and disgusted witk the government which could permit such inew T etwee. swe 'more e=arrvinoa rand croon-o.oxalutod regard to the letter or letters on which the accusation against us is based, till my mind was in an awful state of confusion. When they saw that nothing could be made out of us, they led us round chambers and cells fearful to leek upon, and said that if any guilt was proved against us we sh: aid be put in there. Finally we were confined in a separate cell, so damp and dark, that God knows how we kept our health—the only window that there was was high up in the wall. There was an abominable system observed in our cell in one c Jrner of it was placed a tub, or half-butt, in which to perform the necessities of nature. During the hot summer weather the stench was insufferable, and we were compelled to pay for the removal of it every night. Our prison faro has been a soup that we could not drink bread ao hard and bad that we could not digest it, and beans ; in fact, we were compelled to seek for money for our support, and it was supplied from various sources, though, on several occasions, it was rejected by the au therifes. At our earnest entreaty we were pat into another cell ; and at length we were removed down to Salerno to await our trial. We were handcuffed, and that severely, and bound by ropes round the arms so tightly to each other that our flesh was black and blue for five days after." Watt, who is a strong man, with much feeling, was very in dignant. He himself confesses that in his fury he attempted his life with his razor on arriving in his cell. Blond flowed from the wound and Parks, who was in a nervous state, fall to the ground in a swoon. The captain of the Cagliari wrested the razor from his hand, and thus saved him. With regard to the health of the two engineers," says Mr. Parks, " though it would be what might be called generally good, I see that it has suffered a great shock. My son is not whet he was ; he has been ble I in conse quence of his nervous sensitiveness, and the doctor of the Bey of Tunis, who was a prisoner, said that, had it not been done, his life would have been sacrificed. He is now subject to violent palpitations of the heart, and thore were good reasons for saying that Parks ought to be apprised beforehand of the arrival of his father. Watt is still ev.d , ntly effected in the head. He speaks little, though that little was sensible—is sad /tad melancholy. He had distributed a portion of his clothes anwrgst the prisoners, and a gold watch. On Parks enquiring for it, he said it was in the box or in the bag; but when it was not to be found, he confessed that he had given it away. A custodi was called, the watch was found, end Parks now wears it as a precaution. Watt, too, has been bled once, if not twice. The room in which we wore when Mr. Pugh visited us (said Mr. Parks) was small." " Perhaps," said the father, speaking from the description of the son, " about seven feet by to elve." There were two beds at the lower end of the room packed close against the wall. Then came a small table, large enough for one person. and then another bad. Standine on the bed or the table, one could manage to look out of a small window, the remainder of the room would form a space of four feet square where we walked, and we had worn it down with our foo'steps. Such was the room, which was a comfortable Paradise in comparison with what they had occupied in the Vicaria in Naples. Nov. 21, Mr. Parks arrived with instructions from Lord Clarendon for Mr. Acting-Consul Barber. Sunday, Nov 22, Mr. Barber saw Signor Carafe, and made a formal demand to be permitted to see the prisoners. A telegraphic communication was opened with his 31 , jesty at Gaeta. On Tuesday, Nov 24, we were placed in another larger and better room, where you now see us. We could not explain she reason of it, for none of us knew what was passing without. A permission was sent to Mr. Actirg-Consul Barbar and Mr. Parks to visit the prisoners. I had given the result of that visit. Mr. Pugh's report was less full, and apparently more favour able ; but his position was peculiar and delicate. He announced that he went as a priest, and from honour abstained from many questions, declaring that it was not his object to increase ,he unpleasantness between the two governments. His report of their comfort was compara tive, fcr no man in Naples knows better, or better appre ciates the state of things, than ho does ; but he confined himself to his clerical duties. In the room which they occupy are five prisoners —the two engineers, the captain and second commander, and the commander appointed by the insurgents. This man usderstands English, —does this explain why he, one cf the chiefs of the accused sh(fuld be imprisoned together with the others of the party ? At all events the engineers a joined precaution in speaking before him. Mr. Parks offered his son a copy of a London weekly paper, but he refused it, as ho was afraid that in some way or other it might be used against him And this may explain why the engineers were less precise in their derails to Mr. Pugh, far prisoners, who have been liberated have said that in their reports they were com pelled to speak favourably —they were fearful of an advantage being taken of them. The visitors included Mr. Acting-Consul Barber, the British Vice-Consul at Salerno, Mr. Parks, and two officials. "He begged me to see BOYS' CLOTHING MADE WITH G n EAT TASTE, at:LEWIS an 4 COMPANY'S, Ranblagh street. Signor Robertini, the chief of the steam company at 1 : 46 ' 0 * describe his positio n , a n d d ec l ar e his innocence. 116 1 ,0 a young wife and two children—one having bee n ig of since his arrest, and sh e h as b een in a state ahnuoi destitution. The captain had all his property i 1a 2 2 , 1 01i• and goods on board, but all is i n the hands of the 116%,00 tan government." How the Sardinian prisone ri n d , oa treated the Sardinian go vernmen t w ell knows ; t tin authority, I may say that th e i r t re atment is worse t' 1 0 1 of the English. As for the Neapolitan prisoners, ale s 'got the imagination will conceive it. Call to mind °i l l bee n ments of Mr. Gladsrone—call to mind vl l2O 1 , 71 3 - ey stated in my letters during; th e l as t t wo years , l 114` in a deplorable state, so much so, that the ps na Sorn e English room have sent theta a few coppers s i e longr, tobacco. '• In one part of the g ao l, as we wiw‘ e- d said Mr. Parks, "we pass e d some i ron bars, it ' n p sa . l half naked, mi s erabl e -10 0 ki ng h uman beings cenldeteil'e begged of us ; we gave them a trifle." Such je t N , ° se report of what has bee n commun i ca t e d to In° the visitors to the prisons of Salerno on Novenive r - te ee• I send you his vouc h er f or t h e trut h o f the s ‘" he And such is the t rea t men t to w hi c h men bearing:gee', honoured name of Briti s h subjects, have ' bee n ' The reason th e y h ave b een cut off from all intercourse their countrymen is obvious. Law for it ther e bss oiri e l none. Nothing but an ar bit rary po li ce regu lation , do; for the purpose. A n d w h a t w ill my Lord Clareldcols heaven knows. What h as L or d Clarendon done : r ight° a Chinese stand ar d, p a i nte d a ll over with bvieste to f leg LIO y `he King--that is 't o say, we sent down b a dispatch in Pre nc li some' weekssince kntee, demanding im me di ate admission' to the P r " - ,iff",,:, Actlig-Consul. The d eman d was l aughe d at an''. v t Al It is Lore t o th e po i nt to b.cik what will the Brinse; sno do ?—tke the case of the Eoglt engineers is thel ; ,, t r 'tyst it is to tie interest of every British stetscet to 1)8 their countrymen in every part of the world roe:, treated with legality and humanity. One n aturell A Y 6 . l A s if British subjects have thus been treats 1- --en- a u l ifr t accounts agree in stating that they have been dictiP.A° dent above the others—what must have been the 5 : 4 0 . 1 p'actised to cards Neapolitans ? I believe I nanl e l' e -t sdv e a telegraph despatch has been sent to Lord tr s „ with the result of the visit, and asking for direct ion regard to Mr. Parks' movements. • t r MR. JOHN BRIGHT, l'4.P Af ON THE - 5 AND REFORM. The ehaireian of Mr. Bright's committecieitor Alaerman Lloyd, h as rece i ve d t h e f o ll o wing from the honourable gentleman : 0 16 51 ' Rochdale, December My dear Sir,—As 1- krliament. contrary to e 1 r,,0f.,1 is about to meet befor e t h e usual time, I fear tne e l o t a electors of Birmingham w il l feel some disappo inta l . 4 ll 3 do not make my appea• present week, and more so ' rom the circumsta nce t ance in the House dtinbold colleague, Mr. Schofield, will % I s° b e a b sent . tO t.lO It is not necessary for me la explain to you of gentlemen who communicat e d wr h me at the olisele/Itsq election, why I am n o t lik e l y to bqin my par to t a duties before Christma s . It was t h eaundetsto od 00; six months, that is, until th e ti me w h en Par li ar aent o 551 assembles, I was not to be ex p ec t e d under t %oill y labour connected with th e pos ition in 'which I w ll; placed by the good opi n i on o f th e e l ec t ors cf 1 3 it te a friq My own judgment, and the urgent advice of 14 , 0 111: 1 ° 11 11 and medical advise r s, c o m p e ll e d me to ma k e ar e - c p e' t „ to that effect, and th ose o f nay Birmingham frillise' whom I had any communication, granted me a ation " for that period. Os ° , Ido not suppose that a n y rea l b ns i ness l o thit acted before February, and th ere f ore I h ope thst 9 0. 1 " which is entrusted to me will su ff er f rom my te fee ° absence froai the House. "ble It is because I wish t o abst a i n as muc h as pos Bl 4 0. 4 public affairs that I ha ve no t t rou bl e d m y constitu c :4 l ll% any views I may entertain on the great subjectes"„ l- 0; 4 been so much dis cusse d d ur i ng th e past t hree or Aht . the question of I n di a . I n d ee d, I f ee l t hat it i ` g o 1 ? 1 ," r rashness to utter a decided o pi n i on , an d I '-tllo,if, 'whether one ought to rega r d w ith a d m i ra tion or many of those who have written or spoken so c 0 rittf on it, since the insurrection. Judging from tb,? 0 00 of newspapers, and from the speeches of PubL ic re of i d fear the country is by no means sufficiently aw 3 „ i ff t ? crisis which has arisen, whether as regards the dr op of restoring order in India, or the -obitaclee which themselves to the future government of the COUlltrre tr ali years ago, when the India Bill was about to c° ol • a- discussion. I thought I knew something of Indie' tbe sce j that I could give advice upon the subject. B at be do n e has totally changed, and that which was WY ° co il sc',l in fair weather may be impossible or of little t, &Id the storm rages. I presume, however, that Wi t ' .Leaaennati-street rulers of India are numbered' of pet; character, without power, it required but a V r i oe ljece scent to - give legal effect to that w hich pd public opinion of England h as a l rea dy decte-of Indi e t y coming session shall es t a bli s h t h e G overnment J a secure and wise ba s is, so f ar as th a t is pass' en trP i f unnatural position in which we stand to tha t co an d shall feel that Parliament has not laboured in vai ll ' ic lisof; the threatened p os tp onemen t o f a R e f o rm Bill ', e ~01,f pointment to me. an d t o many ot h ers , I shall encleil o f console myself with th e h ope t h at t h e improvenle n tr i6 representation will hereafter be entrusted to inore o f hands than tho se ' w hi c h now a d m i n i ster t he affairs a country. be' Excuse me for troubling you with this letter, an JouN Da me, very sincerely yours, To Thos. Lloyd, Esq., Birmingham. TEST OF ROPES. ENGLAND versus AMERICA. rs gi l o l- 0 A few Lys ago a n ar ti c l e a pp eare d i n the p , P 6 , o erl o r the test of rope manufactured by some neW machinery, and chewing it as much superior to t''Silg io 'e factored by English machinery. To show 004110 skill is not yet eclips e d, G arnoc k, Bibby & Co., P ti oter t lr3 ropes, made by their new English machinery , 0 , the corporation testing machine, on Satur.l: l 9/ following is the molt : riel tts Capy of Certificate of Ropes made by Am e- ci to Machinery. 1 - 011 5 ' 3 6 31 inch Manilla Hemp Rope, broke at ••• 6 " Russian „Herrin Rope, „ • • Copy of Certificate of Ropes made by -- 0 4 , Machinery. fag. g 4 inch Manilla Rope (one strand), broke ? 1° 0 under ceizirg, at .•• 3 ti,s „ Manilla Rope (one stran d), a t . • " 3 ' One strand of Manilla Rope, „ . • • • 1 0 3Z inch Russian Hemp Rope, broke in thimble . • e itiPto ‘ By the above certificates it will be seen that b oy Hemp Rope, rnanufacturedby English machinerY er American 75 per cent., and Manilla nearly 1 5 P e Telegraph. OUR DUTY TO THE INDUSTBI°. TO THE EDITOR GE THE NORTHERN TIO F e . S O ) , Sir,—Amidst all our commerc ial di s ji `old, s o l ' suffering has yet entered our hotlef li erlti° compare with th a t o f th e p oor , lint Wi l d who, day by day, returns without Dr ell ocle famishing children, and i s d a ily s tiro u bled the imploring look and cries of his fanli i i; s to n o On how many of our fellow merclig i r,;ol: the wine and dessert still circulates ? charity that cannot practice some r s i c t De ri and surely in such times th e Town 1 113 ,;p1° .° , e , money would be better spent in a sc'' O tiu for the winter. dee te Above, and beyond all this, the Wioc-k hand is well paid labour ; and why not the e velli o cl o 4 l mittee authorise their engineer to ge t _ i 0.11 he possibly can and finish off the IN ° :iing s;0 , and open them in spring, instead of stf=" o ol . %El ls time by working on Sunday, as nosy.---) CITI Liverpool, sth Dec., 1857. ;tie do' :13° 13t ''lit 1Pg i i HAMBURG, Dec. 6 —The Assembly of tP - for has rejected all the proposals of the Senate , , t for alley the commercial crisis, by the establishr o ,reiv. .„es bank. Another sitting will take pl ac e to-T rh ' e LIVERPOOL SIM'S FROM MELBOURNE --- :"J e part il " the Simla announce the following pro jecte" scv• e ar' , Marco Polo, Oct. 24th ; Donald 3.1e 1 M 7 ', a t 5 13 Oliver Leg, Nov. 25th; and the „‘..hafzesbl,lrl e I)e,clsr date. ' c v s c fol Some thousand; of the colli ers i n the d istric! o° ,lo have entered upon a strike against a reduV r l ia t P e ,, ot iti ° One of the resolutions th e y h ave passed is, "ibeaa,pre' the struggle they will not pay the shopkoeP ers es are 4 they now owe them." Serious disturbaue hend€d. , NJ' OYS' OLOTIIING MADE WITH GREAT TATO' tar..h_ ,- P ERSONS seeking Em 'e.i De, NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. ,- 40P a t Assistants, Clerks, Apartments, or Lodgin!,:atoviPtig bringh their wants utv'er the Notice of the Public, bY.f rii i 0 11 ) .1'00 0 e NOUTHEEIN TIMES h' h• th st efficient oth' rtiov in this district. r ' w le is eMc 'al Irs of d're The cash r rice for this spect ca . is reduced to THREEPENCE for TWENTY WORO. ployment, or s co s oi COPANY'S, R, I.'?8 1 ' ~U ~~ , Oy tt kAcki i ~a,a, p C. drCg 10; 11 'i t l ' l P ,°.re ua Of 4, 4 th , b L re -A to tita4ir, t % 11 °. it l' tq lt 0,