The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-29 00:00:00

• COMMERCIAL StirrIORER, 4 bffende 'l / 4 - T:lteir,genitti has been displayed in SOLD BY contriving to admit bright rays of hope to encour_ CHARLES WILLMER, WHOLESALE STATIONER AND PRINTER, age the obdurate convict to repent. And they are 19, SOUTH JOHN-STREET, LIVERPOOL. not without abundant proof, that where hope has been allowed to reach the captive, in his moments of imprisonment at home, and in exile in a distant forest, the lash has been rendered unnecessary, and the most laudable reformation ensued. But with all this on record, Parliament cannot be induced to believe, that the hope of regaining lost freedom at home by a ticket of leave, or estab lishing a new penal settlement, will suffice THE attention of Merchants, Brokers, Trades men, and others, is respectfully drawn to the fol owing list of CASH PRICES for Per Ream. For 3 Reams, 8. d. Je S. d. . 6 0 0 17 6 6 6 0 18 0 . 6 0 0 17 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 for the punishment and reformation of criminals present day. That the wickedness of mankind can be wholly eradi cated, and society brought to infinite perfection, is a consumation we have no right to expect. On this head scripture couples hope with arbitrary conditions, and man's material history is one unbroken record of violations of the Divine com pact, on which depends the prostration of crime and the world's regeneration. The earth brings forth weeds despite the husbandman's care, and society will have its thorns and tares up to the last day. It is no solecism to say these are great moral certainties. Much may be, and has been done, to arrest the growth of crime. The present year will bear a rigid comparison with the first twelve months of the nineteenth century. Pauperism and wealth, religion and drunkeness, morality and ignorance, education and blind infatuation, have all kept pace with the geometrical ratio of increase which has taken place in popula. tion. Crime alone appears to be the least flourishing limb of the great tree of life. Separate from the category of crime, the less abomin able offences which have been made penal within our own recollection, such for example as intemperance, pauperism, vagrancy, suspicion, and a variety of other charges on which people are now apprehended and con victed, and which have recently been brought in under the head of crime, and the criminal statis tics of Great Britain, would excite the astonishment of the world. We do not say this to throw the public off their guard, or to make our social con dition appear better than it really is, but in order to check the growth of that organised system of magnifying crime for State purposes, and hurling back upon England's defamers that worst of all political:sins—national slander! We have already admitted that their must be a certain amount of crime to provide for in this and every other coun try. The apple that nature or cultivation favours most is but too apt to be the first to fall. The purest virtue borrows increased lustre from a blazing antithesis, and for those who fall a secure resting place must be found. England is not a country in which a true philanthropist would see a man convicted of crime restored to liberty. The prejudices and fears of her people will never admit of the ticket-of-leave man's getting constant employment, and regaining his former status in society. Panal servitude will defeat itself by means of its costliness, unless our prisons are converted into manufactories to compete with free labour, ana so render the exist ence of sober industry more precarious than it is at present. What the reformed convict wants is a really fair field for his labour. This he can never find in England, unless he keeps moving about from one place to another to escape the discovery of his former character. No length of time will remove from him the brand of crime. Once con convicted, he will be a ticket-of-leave man to the day of his death. There can be no greater cruelty, therefore, towards the really reformed criminal, than to throw him on the world afresh under such circumstances, and the idea would never have been seriously entertained if Parliament had not, by some unaccountable means, been persuaded that there was not an island or place on the habitable globe to which convicts could be sent. After some years of experience in the Colonial Office and great geographical research, Lord DERBY pointed to Lundy Island as a fit place for a penal settlement ! Its limited superficies and contiguity to the mother country were its strongest recommendations. But we would have penal colonies as far away from home as possible. We would have one for persons transported for life, from which they should never return. Such a settlement should be established on the distinct understanding that it should always remain a penal colony. We would also have a reformatory settlement for persons transported for seven, fourteen, or twenty years, totally separate from the first, established precisely on the same understanding, but from which the reformed convicts might be allowed to emigrate to any country they pleased, except England. Those who deny we have not suitable places for such establishments, must forget the existence of the New Zealand and Falkland Islands, and the many others in the Northern and Southern Pacific Oceans, which might be bought for one half the sum we should be 'asked to pay for the fee-simple of Lundy Island, with its many insurmountable objections. We must have penal settlements at a long distance from our shores, make them purely r!rown colonies, and not allow free people to settle in them, so that the reformed convict might have the benefit of cultivating the soil and carrying on trade, without being exposed to all the disadvantages he must necessarily labour under in a mixed community. Holding out the hope of marriage, and a comfort able home to both male and female convicts, after a certain probationary term, would also aid the work of reformation ; and from this distant home stead of crime many of the brightest ornaments of humanity might, in after years, date their birth. Every statistic we examine proves that there is more weakness than wickedness in human nature, and while there is an abu idance of room for the incorrigibly wicked in one place, and for the reclaimable weak in another, it is to be hoped that Parliament will again resort to the old system of " transportation beyond the seas," where vice may be made self-supporting without injury to honest industry, and where criminals may have a fair chance of living, if not a free, at all events, a reformed life. THE COURT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MONDAY.—Yesterday her Majesty and the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, and the domes tic household, attended Divine Service in the Chapel at Buckingham Palace. The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor officiated. The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester on Saturday, at her residence. Gloucester-house. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Lord James Mur ray, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with her presence on Saturday evening. ( TIPPERARY 13errx..—Dublin, Monday. —In Master I Murphy's Court the whole of this day has been occupied with arguments an d statements by Mr: Brewster, Q.C., on the part of Mr. V. Scully, M.P., and aeyeral other learned gentlemen, respecting the settlement of the list of contributions. Nothing has yet been finally arranged, and it is likely that the process of settling the list will be a very tedious one. TIE NORTMEIN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1866 MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL, LIVERPOOL, MONDAY EVENING. The Liverpool Cotton Market has been quiet to-day, with a liberal supply offering. The sales amount to 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 have been taken for speculation and export. Prices remain without change. The amount of business done in the Share Market has been small, and at the opening there was some depressed, but the tone of the market subsequently improved, and closed steadily at the following quotations :—Aberdeen, 12113. Chester and Birkenhead, 151 1511 Caledonian, 297-, 298. Chester and Holyhead, 141 151. Eastern Counties, 9 11-16 9 13-16. East Lancashire, 19 191. Great Northern, 231 231. Ditto A, 98 94. Great Western, 61 618. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock. 87 87:1. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 171 17k. London and North Western Stock, 99t 100. Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 271 271. Ditto Pref., 11/ 12. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., t ip. Midland Stock, 731 73k. North British, 81 Bt. North Staffordshire, 6 51d. South Eastern, 20 15-16 21 1-16. York, Newcastle and Berwick, 19 1-16 198. York and N or th Midland, 27-i 271. Leeds Capital Stock, 151 154. Buffalo and Lake Huron, Ift lip. Dutch Rhenish 11-16 1 3-16 p. Great Western of Canada, 2.52- 258. Ditto New Shares, 2 15-16 3 1-16 p. Ditto 2nd issue, 3 34p. Great Luxembourg, 71 74d. The Australian advices received by the Beemah, convey some bad complaints of the inferiority of a large proportion of the goods recently imported from Europe. Our writer adds : The people of England seem to know but little, and to care less, about the politics of the British colonies. They regard us as a kind of outcast adventurers, and, having handed us over to the refuse of their own statesmen in the Colonial Office, they think they have done enough for us, when they have bagged the millions of gold which we send home to them, in exchange for the cargoes of devil's dust, poisoned pickles, factitious alcohol, rotten broad cloth, cast iron cutlery, and other products of the dis honest loom, the swindling laboratory, and the lying factory, which they can find no sale for in Europe, but which were well enough to fill their salted invoices with imaginary values. This evil is growing to a portentous magnitude, and it will probably lead ere long to a com plete revolution in the state of commerce. European houses are not likely to hear of it from their correspon dents in trade ; but we write in the interests of the consumers, and we undertake to inform the English manufacturer and shipper, that the complaints we refer to are in the mouths of every body, except the parties interested in the con spiracy against the colonial public, and that unless a change be made in the mode of transacting business and in the quality of the goods sent hither, the British mer chant will lose his character, and the door will be thrown open to the foreign trader, whoever he may be, that will supply us with a better article. It is so now, legally, so far as the tariff is concerned ; but, practically, the prejudice still runs in favour of British manufactures ; and as we have some ten or twelve millions which we can conveniently spare annually in the purchase of foreign commodities, it would be quite as prudent as otherwise, for our friends at home to look to the means as well as the policy of retaining the connection. From the Trade and Navigation Returns made up for the month of March, and published yester day, we learn that our national exports during the past month amounted in value to 9,448,5701, being more than two millions in excess of those of the corresponding month last year, and about half a million less than those of March, 1854, the last month before the declaration of war. For the first three months of 1856 the value of our exports is 25,149,0001, being an increase of about six millions and a quarter on the first three months of last year, and of something less than a million on the same period in the preceding year. The Monthlyilieturn of Trade and Navigation in France are published in the Moniteur of Sunday. From them it appears that during the month end ing March 31, the total of customs duties paid in France during the month of March of the present year is 14,382,224 f, against 15,149,671 f paid during March, 1855. The total paid during the first quarter of the present year is 38,518,400 f, against 38,358,628 f paid during the first quarter of 1855. In the course of the first quarter of the present year 4,950 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 796,356, were entered inwards in the French ports; the number entered inwards in the corresponding quarter of 1855 was 4,307 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 655,342. The number entered out wards in the first quarter of the present year was 3,193 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 537,966 ; the number entered outwards in the corresponding quarter of 1855 was 2,778 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 428,524. 'f At the close of business Consols were quoted at )2& to 921,. TRADE REPORT.-MONDAY, LIVERPOOL. COTTON : There has been a quiet and steady market for cotton to day, with a fair demand, and sufficient offering, prices are unchanged. The sales—including 250 Pernambuco, 7d ; 90 Maranham, 67-,d to 68d ; 10 Bahia, 78d; 500 Egyptian, 7d to 71c1;„ 1,500 Surat, 47 7 id to 58d—are reported 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 are on speculation and for export. ScoTen PIG IRON : Our market for warrants closes cash 75s buyers, sellers 765. SUGAR: We have had a quiet market to day, but without any alteration in prices; including Saturday's sales, the busi ness comprises 100 hhds Demerara at 408 64 to 435, 500 bags Benares (to arrive) price not reported, 1,000 bags Rio Grande at 25s 3d, and 140 boxes Havana at 26s 6d to 31s per cwt, in bend. MOLASSES : Nothing has taken place. Rum : 100 puncheons Demerara brought previous rates. COFFEE : No sales to notice. TEA : The market is flat, and lower rates have been accepted. _ RICE : The transactions consist of 1,500 bags old Arracan at 8s 6d, 1,900 bags Bengal at 8s to 8s 3d for yellow cargo, 9s to 9s 3d for middling old, and 13s for new; also 800 bags of Madras, all faults, from 5s to 7s 9d per cwt. MADDER ROOTS : We have to report 150 bales of Bombay at 33s 6d per cwc. MUSTARD SEED : 2,000 bags yellow at 48s. LINSEED : 200 bags Calcutta at 50s per qr. CATTLE : Our supply today, consisting of 2,050 beasts and 6,621 sheep, was mostly cleared at unchanged prices from those of last week. An increased supply of lambs brought the price down 4s to 5s per head. Beef, sid to 6/d ; mutton (in the wool), 7id to sid ; do clipped, 64cl to 74c1. LONDON. The following public tales are advertised for to-morrow Sugar : 500 hhds West India, 15,500 bags Mauritius, 2,000 bags Bengal, 1,600 bags Madras, and 3,500 bags Penang. Coffee : 120 casks Plantation Ceylon. Cocoa, 600 bags. Saltpetre, 2,006 bags. Rice, 9,500 bags. SUGAR : There has been a limited business done since Fri day, at full prices. RUM : A large business has been done, say 2,000 puns, sold at a slight advance. Proof leewards, 2s 2d ; Demerara proof, 2s 3d to 2s sd. OILS : Seal, pale, £53; yellow, £4B; brown, £4O to £4l; sperm, £122 to £124 ; cod, £43 ; South Sea, pale, £44 to £46; olive Gallipoli, £5O; Spanish and Sicily, £47 to £4B ; cocoa nut, 38s to 39s 6d; palm, 36s to 40s; linseed, 298; rape, pale, 47s to 50s; brown, 458 to 465. . _ _....,. TALLow : The market is quiet at the subjoined quota tions, viz. :—Town tallow, 48s net cash; Petersburg Y C en the spot, 473; May to June, 46s 9d ; October to December, 4636 d, sellers. BOROUGH HOP : The demand for fine and middling hop is on the increase, and prices for such are improving, whilst low and inferior are stationary. The bine has made fair progress during the last week, but it is yet much too early to form any opinion as to its future progress. Cons.—Wheat : A rather large supply, but the market is slow, the millers being reluctantly compelled to give Is. advance on red, and ls. to 2s. on white. Barley : Short supply and steady. Oats : Short supply, and market 61. dearer. Flour : Short supply of foreign. English country held at 3s. advance on the lowest rate. CArrLE.—There was a considerably increased supply of beasts on sale to-day, and the quality of all kinds was good. The Beef trade ruled heavy at a decline in the quo tations of Monday last of 21 to 4d. per 8 lbs. The Sheep trade was well supplied. The Mutton trade steady at full prices. Lambs sold steady at a fall of 4d. per 8 lbs. In the Calves and Pigs no change. Beef, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 81. Mutton, 4s. to ss. Bd. ; Lamb, ss. Bd. to 6s. Bd. ; Veal, 4s. 21. to 55. Bd.; Pork, 3s. 4d. to 4s. Bd. —per 8 lbs to sink the offal. Supply: Beasts, 4 ; 152 ; foreign, 259. Sheep and Lambs, 19,800 ; foreign, 90. Calves, 105 ; foreign, 73. Pigs, 290. YESTERDAY'S MARIETS DUBLIN CORN : There was a large attendance at market to day. White wheat, 393 to 40s ; red, 37s to 395; oats, 12s 6d to 13s ; barley, 20s to 228. BELFAST CORN : At the farmers' market small supply, and no change in value. At the corn exchange Indian corn the turn dearer. No change in any other article. CORK CORN : Red wheat, 305 to 335; barley, 16s to 19s ; oats, 11s $d to 14s Bd. CORK BUTTER ; iSte, 140; 2nds, 1311; &de, 110 ; 4ths, 110 ; sths, 94. THE ULVERSTON AND LANCASTER RAILWAY.—This rail way on the south side of Morecambe Bay is progressing fast towards completion, and it is currently reported that it will be so far finished by the end of June, as to be able to run a train from Carnforth to Arnside. This will give excursionigts from Lancaster and the neighbourhood an opportunity of visiting the beautiful little watering-place of Arnside, which hitherto has been comparatively unknovp to the public.—. Preston Guardian. L &TEST INTELLIGENCE, THE CRIMEA We have news from the Crimea, brought by the Thabor arrived at Marseilles, to the date of the 14th inst. From this we learn that the French soldiers of the class of 1848 have all left for France, and that on the 14th, those of the class 1849, who have just completed their period of service, were marching to Kamiesch to embark. A. general censure of the conduct of the Army Works Corps had appeared in the general orders of the British Commander-in-Chief. Lieutenant-Colonel Halewell, Assistant Adjutant general of the 4th division, had been ordered on special duty to Balaklava, where the gallant officer is to have the superintendence of the embarkation of English troops leaving trom that port. SPAIN The Madrid journals assert that Russia will next acknowledge the Queen Isabella, and that this recognition will be followed by the submission of a great number of Carlist Chiefs. THE THANKSGIVING DAY, A Supplement Extraordinary of the London Gazette has been published. It contains three proclamations—The first announces the fact of a treaty of peace having been concluded with Russia; the second appoints Sunday next as a day of thanksgiving for the restoration of peace ; and the third notifies the same to the people of Scotland. PROCLAMATION OF PEACE IN THE METROPOLIS The formal Proclamatio n o f P eace w ill b e ma d e in the metropolis this day. A notice has been issued to the Commissioner of Police, in order to prevent the obstruction of the thoroughfares in the Earl Marshal's procession from St James's Palace to Temple Bar. AUSTRALIA. By the Overland Mail we nave received the Singapore Free Press of March 20, which announces the arrival, by the steamship Hellespont, Captain Keys, of intelligence from Melbourne to February 17th, and from Sydney and Adelaide to February 9th. All the colonies were busy with the elections under the new constitutions, and there seems to be little news of general importance. FRANCE. RATIFICATIONS OF THE TREATY OF PEACE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. As you have been informed by telegraph, the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty of peace has taken place to-day, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At ten o'clock the Secretaries of the Embassies of the contracting Powers assembled, and compared the several ratifications with each other. Having found them in accord, the pleni potentiaries at three o'clock met in grand uniform, as on the day of signing the treaty. These pleni potentiaries were, Count Walewski and Baron de Bourqueney for France, Baron Hubner for Austria, Lord Cowley for Great Britain, Count de Hatz feldt for Prussia, Count . Orloff and Baron de Brunow for Russia, Count de Villamarina for Sardinia, and Aali Pacha and Mehemed Djemel Bey for Turkey. Count Walewski presided. The exchange was duly effected ; it consists in each contracting power giving to each a copy of the treaty signed and ratified by the sovereign of the power. Thus, there being seven contracting powers, Queen Victoria had signed and declared ratified seven copies of the treaty, six of which were given to the other Powers, and one kept by herself. The plenipotentiaries afterwards drew up, and severally signed, a proces verbal of the exchange of rati fications. The treaty will be communicated to morrow to the Senate and Legislative body, and will, conse quently, not be published in the Moniteur until Tuesday. The protocols, the publication of which was confidently expected to-morrow, will, I am as sured, not take place till Wednesday. The Moniteur will, to-morrow, announce the exchange of the ratifications, and perhaps say something about the treaty. Count de Cavour arrived in Paris on Friday, from London, and had yesterday an audience of the Emperor. He left for Turin this morning. His departure, just before the meeting for the exchange of the ratifications, has occasioned some remarks. The ceremony of the exchange of ratifications being a mere formality, has excited no attention. Several of the Ministers, and even Count d'Morny, found time to attend the horse races, which have taken place in the Champ de Mars. The Emperor has ordered that the same mili tary honours shall be paid to the Imperial Prince as to himself and the Empress. Consequently when the baby is carried near a guard-house, the soldiers will have to turn out and present arms, whilst the drums will be beat and the trumpets will sound. There is reason to believe that the Empress did not go on so well after her confinement as was officially announced, at least, until recently, she was not able to receive even her most intimate friends. We have received to-day, by telegraph, via Vienna, diplomatic news from Beyrouth. A Christ ian (one account says an English missionary), having killed, whether designedly or accidentally does not appear, a Mussulman, the fanatical population, excited to fury, attacked the houses of the Foreign Consuls, and killed the Prussian Consul. Accounts from Constantinople announce the raising of the blockade of the Crimea, and the departure of Sardinian, French, and English troops. Fraternisation between French and Russians was going on. At Alexandria there had been enormous losses in corn transactions, and bankruptcies were expected. The state of Greece excited alarm. PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING. The M)niteur announces to-day in its boldest type that in consequence of house rent being greatly increased in Paris of late, and of the measures adopted to reduce it not having had the desired effect, the Emperor has purchased a large site (upwards of 20,000 yards) in the Boulevard Mazas, and has determined on building a number of houses himself, in the cheapest and most com fortable manner possible, and on gelling them afterwards. The object of his Majesty, no doubt, is to give practical demonstration of the fact that houses can be built much cheaper and more com modiously than at present. But, think of an Em peror turning builder ! Why, it is asked, should he not take to the selling of groceries, or vegeta bles? However, an empire on the Bona partean line, is but a sort of socialism, and so it is right that his Majesty should carry out socialist measures ; besides, it is an admitted fact, now-a-days, that the French people are utterly incapable of governing themselves, or of doing anything at all for themselves ; and so it is well that their benign and sagacious ruler should teach them how to build houses. It is doubted, however, by the far seeing, that the speculation will turn out profitable, inasmuch as people will be very unwilling to become tenants of the Im perial houses, least they should be subject to the constant surveillance of the police, It is the fear of this surveillance which has prevented the workmen of Paris from accepting the very excellent and very cheap lodgings of the Cites Ouvrieres, or model lodging houses. The investigation into the affair of the publica tion of the treaty of peace in Belgian and English newspapers is proceeding. The government, I hear, has ascertained that it was a M. Le Jollivet, a person well known in connection with the French press, who communicated the treaty to some of the papers ; and I am told that he has confessed that he received an incomplete proof of it, from some one in the national printing office, several days before he made use of it. _ _ The Constitutionne 1 having, in spite of the pro hibition of the government, published in its departamental edition a protocol of the Congress, copied from the Russian paper of Brussels, Le Nord, that edition had yesterday been seized by the police. THE TOWN DUES, SELECT COMMITTEE ON LOCAL CHARGES ON SHIPPING (FRO➢i OUR OWN REPORTER.) HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONDAY. The committee re-assembled this morning at twelve o'clock. Mr. Lowe in the chair. Mr. John Johnson, of the firm of John and Thomas Johnson, import and export merch ants, of Runcorn and Liverpool, was the first witness examined. He said he attended OR behalf of the merchants and inhabitants gene rally, who complained of the heavy impost they had to pay by way of dock dues, at Liverpool, on all grain, &c., coming from Ireland, and on slates, from Wales. His firm pos sessed a coal estate, which produced about 150,000 tons annually, and a salt mine, producing 50,000 tons annually, on the carriage of which they had to pay passing tolls to the Corporation of Liverpool. The dues the firm pa id amounted to £9OO a year. The dues or tolls levied by the Liverpool Corporation were laid out to a great extent in lights and buoys for improving the navigation of the Mersey, but Liverpool- did not contribute a shilling on the improvement of the river towards Runcorn. With regard to local taxes, at Runcorn, the total amount was about X 1,400, as tfollows :—poor rate, is 9d; highway rate, 6d ; lighting improvement rate, 6d : watching, 6d ; making together 3s •3d in the pound. The Town Dues would amount to 10 per cent on the first value of salt imported ; that was a fnanufactured article ; 6d a ton town dues saved by a freemen was a very large profit—a larger profit he should say than the manufacturer made by his manufactured articles. He was not aware of any considerable competition they had to encounter from America. The people of Run corn felt the dueo levied on articles used in the manufacture of the Staffordshire Potteries, and the import of grain from Ireland, of slates, &c., from Wales, and on the export of coals, the more so as they considered they rt.ceived no equivalent whatever for the money they paid in dues. The Town Dues were collected by a collector appointed by the Corporation of Liverpool, who had an office at Runcorn. To him the dues were paid. His name was Jones. He believed Mr. Jones gave a receipt for all dies collected by him. He could not say that her Majesty's Collector of Customs, at Runcorn, required to see those receipts before he allowed vessels to clear out of that port, but he believed it was so. . By Mr. Horsfall : On the manufacture of all the salt he made last year, his profit did not exceed £250. How much salt did you make ? Witness : About 15,000 tons. Mr. Moffat : Are you a freeman of Liverpool ? Witness : Unfortunately, I am not—(laughter)—but many of my competitors are. By Mr. Watson : He thought that by purchase he could now beconie a freeman of Liverpool. Witness was proceeding to state that some firms, one member of whom happened to be a freeman, and the others were not, exported and imported all their goods in the name of the one who was a freeman, and then divided the amount of the dues thus saved among the whole firm. Mr. Horsfall : Can you name any individual firm who acted thus ? Witness : I know several firms who do so, and was prepared to name them if the committee thought fit. The room was cleared, and when the public were re admitted, The Chairman said the committee had ordered the latter part of the witness's evidence to be struck out, as not bearing upon the immediate object of the enquiry. By Mr. Horsfall : He did not object to pay for lighting and buoying. Mr. John Hutchinson was next called. He said that he belonged to a firm who weze alkali manuf ac t urers a t War rington, on the opposite side of the rive r t o Runcorn. The whole of the alkali district made 50,000 tons of salt, 60,000 tons of barytes, and 60,000 tons of limestone. These, together, produced about 30,000 tons of soda ash, 4,500 cons of bi-carbonate of soda, and about 1,500 tons of bleaching powder. The first tax levied on these articles was £2,500, Weaver Dues upon the salt consumed—a large proportion of which dues went to reduce the local rates of Cheshire. The value of the salt was £20,000, upon which dues were paid. Some service was rendered for these dues, bat not to half the amount. The value of barytes consumed was £40,000, and the Town Dues levied upon. it by the Corporation of Liverpool was £5OO. The limestone was valued at £12,000, and the Town Dues upon it were £250, making a total of £750 of dues levied on the raw material. Four-fifths of the alkali made was exported, and Town Dues were paid upon them. The largest market for alkali was America. We pay a tax on our raw materials, and also on manufactured articles. There was also a duty of from ten to twenty per cent. levied in America on manufactured articles. He considered they had no benefit at all from the Town Dues. They paid threepence per ton Town Dues, for which they got nothing, and only twopence per ton Dock Dues, for which they got very good service. For what alkali was consumed in Liverpool there were no dues charged. The whole amount of local and parochial taxation was less than the Town Dues extorted from them, without giving any benefit in return. The Newcastle and Clyde manufacturers who competed with them pay much less for the raw material, and also less dues. By Mr. Vance : Our firm pay £2BO for Town Dues. Our local rates amount to about 2s Gd in the pound. Mr. William Hayes, merchant and shipowner at Runcorn, was the next witness. He said the Town Dues and Dock Dues at Liverpool had to be paid before the entry could be obtained—that is, a ship was not allowed to pass until those dues had being paid. There was no assistance rendered by port officers to collect these dues at Runcorn, all was done by the Liverpool Corporation: The freemen's property was exempt from Town Dues. The freemen have to certify that the property belongs to them, and the collector has no power to refuse the exemption. He himself paid a total of £1,154 Town Dues last year to the Corporation of Liverpool. Runcorn got no benefit whatever from Town Dues. Runcorn would have a much larger trade in various articles were it not for the dues. Some of the freemen are large exporters. They have a great advantage over others, shutting them entirely out. If he was a freeman, and exported to his own order, he would save about £l,OOO a year. By Mr. Headlam : The town of Liverpool had been greatly benefitted by the Dues; but it was impossible that Runcorn could be benefitted by them. Neither the docks nor shipping of Liverpool were improved by the Dues, but only the town. The trade of Liverpool would have been much greater, if there were no Dues. By Mr. Moffat : Many of the large Liverpool firms were freemen. They had a great advantage over others. By the Chairman : Did not know how many freemen there were. Mr. Frederick Sheppard Hull said he was an attorney, practising in Liverpool. He appeared on behalf of several of the leading merchants and shipowners of Liverpool, and manufacturers of the Valley of the Weaver, and he wished particularly to draw the attention of the committee to the burdens on salt. Mr. Horsfall objected to thl evidence, and the room was cleared. The committee remained in deliberation for nearly half an hour. On the re-admission of strangers, Mr. Creed (the committee clerk) read a resolution which the committee had come to, declining to hear the witness, in his capacity of agent. The Chairman : You may state anything which you know of your own knowledge. Can you tell us how the Weaver Dues are levied ? Witness : They are paid by the Liverpool merchant, through the captain of the flat, on board which his salt lies shipped. The witness then retired. Mr. William Worthington, a salt proprietor at North wich, was then called. The Chairman : Can your give us any information as to how the Weaver Dues are collected? Witness: They are paid at Northwich, about h ill way up the Weaver. The Chairman : They are not collected at Liverpool ? Witness : No, at Northwich. An honourable member objected that the Weaver Navigation Dues had nothing to do with the enquiry ; at least it did not come within the order of the reference to the committee. The Chairman : Then clear the room. Strangers withdrew accordingly, and were absent five minutes. The Chairman said the committee could not hear the witness on the Weaver Dues, as they did not come within the order of referenoe, but they would hear his Sugges tions or remarks relative to the port of Liverpool. Mr. llorsfall : Do you know if the Weaver is within the boundaries of the poi't of Liverpool? Witness Ido not know the extent of the boundary. The room . was cleared to consider this point. On the re-admission of strangers, • The Chairman said the committee will hear Mr. Hull as to the extent of the boundary. Mr. Hull was therefore again put into the witness chair, and he stated that the boundaries of the port of Liverpool included a mile and a half of the waters of the Weaver. Mr. Shuttleworth (Town-clerk of Liverpool), was oalled at the request of Mr. Borstal' to speak to this point. He stated that the port of Liverpool extended to Frodsham Bridge, which was a bridge on the Weaver. Northwich certainly was not within the boundary. The Chairman : Then we will hear Mr. Worthington on the other points. Mr. Borstal' : In that case I must clear the room. The Chairman : " Strangers must withdraw "—which they did forthwith, wondering what it was for this time. On their re-admission, The Chairman said the committee decided not to go into the Weaver Dues, not being within their reference. The committee then adjourned until Thursday next. LIyERVOOL :ROYAL INFIRMARY.—Week ending April 26, 1856 . —Admitted : In-patients, 42 ; out-patients, 5 ; casuals during week, 10. Discharged : In-patients cured, 14 ; relieved, and at own request, 16 ; made out-patients, 5 ; irregular, 4 ; dead, 2 ; remain in the house, 179. House visitors : Charles Langton and Lawrence }'eel, Esqrs. Physician and surgeon for ensuing week : Dr. Turnbull and Mr. Long. House surgeon : Mr. G. B. Halford. Junior house surgeon : Mr. Cecil Webster. Chaplain : Rev. H. J. Garrod, B.A: Robert Hutchison, treasurer IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY , Their Lordships met at five o'clock. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE LAWS. Lord BROUGHAM introduced a bill to remedy the evils arising from the celebration of marriages between persons who cross the border for that purpose, and to improve the conflicting laws of divorce in operation in England and Scotland. THE TREATY OF PEACE. The Earl of CLARENDON laid on the table the Treaty of Peace, signed by England, France, Austria, Sard inia, Prussia, Turkey, and 'Russia, and stated that the ratifica tions were exchanged yesterday. He presented with the treaty three separate conventions, and also a declaratio n respecting the maritime law, and the course to be pursued in reference to neutrals during the time of war. In reply to Lord BflouGua;i, The Earl of CLARENDON said the object of this was to do away with privateering. The protocols were ordered to be taken into considera tion on Monday. POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND. The Duke of ARGYLL announced, in reply to Lord Dungannon, that as soon as pos s ibl e th e new arrangeme' s for postal communication between L on don and Dublin would be carried into effect. One of the conditions would be that the passage between the London and Du blin terminus should not exceed eleven hours, and it was also required that the train should not leave London later than 7 25 a.m. STATE OF ITALY. Lord LYNDHURST, at the request of the Earl of Clarendon, agreed to postpon e f or th e p resen t his motion d with respect to the aff a i rs o f It a l y . I n d o i ng so, he s' he that he observed with ver y cons id era bl e an xiety, course that was intended to be pursued, to put an e,e' r to the mismanagement a n d i n t o l eran t gr i evan ces and which the people of Italy are now labouring. Their Lordships rose at half-past six o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BILLg. • The Edinburgh Municipality Bill, and the Ulster Bail way Bill, were read a third time and passed. IRISH CONSTABULARY. In reply to Lord CASTLEMORE, Mr. HOESHAN stated that it was th e intention o f the Government, if the business before the House would allow of it, to introduce a bill in the present session for the more equitable distribution of th e cons t a b u l ar y' o f Ireland' THE PEACE PROTOCOLS, Lord PAratEnsTorc laid on the table the protocols kof the Paris Conferences relative to the Treaty of Peace. T 1 noble Lord added, that the ratifi ca ti ons were exchang e , in the course of yesterday (S un d ay ), an d h e m oved th at the papers be taken into consideration on Monday next" GENERE L THANKSGIVING. The Noble Lord then announced that next Sunday w as appointed as a day of thanksgiving fo r th e restoration of the blessings of peace. LETTER PAPER Superfine large thin Cream Laid Ditto ditto Blue Wove Ditto ditto Yellow Wove B ink Post (Towgood's) for Foreign 1 7 6 Correspondence Ditto French, extra thin !FOOLSCAP OR CUSit HOUSE PAPER Thin Blue Laid Middle Yellow Wove Per Ream. For 3 Reams .. 9 0 1 6 0 .. 9 6 1 7 6 ENVELOPES ietid Adhesive, full letter size. 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Tins DAY, the 29th inst., at Half-past One o'clock, at the Commercial saleroom, Temple•court, 612 B Ices American CHEESE, now landing ex Empire, from New York.—Apply to John Doherty, Esq., Merchant, or to TRIMMER & GRAINGER, Brokers, Bank-chambers, Cook-street. On account of whom it may concern Tins DAY, the 29th instant, at One o'clock, at the Brokers' sale-room 10, North John-street, 91 Ballots ALPACA, damaged by sea water, ex Naomi, from Islay, via Giaszow.—Apply to ABRAM G iRTS IDE & CO., Wool Brokers. THIS DAY, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office ' Colonial-buildings, Dale-street, SQO Bales JUTE, now landing ex Melicete, from Calcutta, in Albert Dock.— Apply to BUSHEY & CO., Brokers. THIS DAY, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' sffice, 23, Oldhall-street, 150 Bales JUTE, just landed ex Evangeline, from Calcutta, and on show in the Stanley Dock warehouses.—For particulars apply to GLADSTONE & SERJEANTSON, Brokers. T O-M 0 R R 0 W. TO-MORROW, the 30th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 23. Oldhall-street, 70 Bags CLOVES, 31 Nungs SENNA, 30 Chests GUM ARABIC, now landing.---For particulars apply to GLADSTONE & SERTEANTSON, Brokers. TO -MORROW, the 30th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Public saleroom, Exchange.-buildings, 10 Tons Pegue CUTCH, 50 Bales Fine Persian BERRIES, 17 Bales Bombay ROOTS, 34 Bags White GILLS, 17 Bags Green S ex Dumfriesshire, Melita, &e.—Annly to ROBERT CHRISTIE, Jun., Broker. TO-MORROW, the 30th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Public saleroom, Exchange buildings, 200 Bags P l'errno SUMAC, ex Frankfort; now landing in Nelson Dock.—Apply to Messrs. Vienna, Chappl & Cu.,l Merchants, or to SPENCE, BROTHERS, Brokers. On account of whom it may concern. To-monuo - w. the 30th instant. at One o'clock, A Large Quantity COTTON PICKINGS, partially damaged by salt wr-ter, ex Favorite, from Apala chicola.—Apply to E. 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A. our messengers commence their delivery at five o'clock on each morning, it would greatly facilitate its completion if su b scr ib ers wou ld h a ve letter-boxes in their doors through which the papers might be dropped, as the detention at some houses is very great at present, and causes delay and disappointment to other subscribers. —Any- EVENING EDITION t$ An Evening Edition of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, containing the Markets, together with all the News of the Day, up to the hour of going to Press. Tiß ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES TR. TWO GUINEAS PPR ANNUM. at kortinn TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1856 THE frailties of humanity have been, from the days of ADAM, a source of anguish, if not a puzzle to the world. Created perfect for his mission he fell, and continued onward in his lawless course, until summoned before the throne of heaven, found guilty, and swept from the face of the earth by a deluge. The Ark was no sooner stranded, and the olive braneh sent forth to proclaim forgiveness, than crime poured out, and covered the earth in hideous mockery of the avenging waters. This planet became one universal homestead of foulest gu ilt ; one universal penal settlement, filled with criminals convicted of abominations, for which centuries have had to repent and atone. We need scarcely be surprised, therefore, to find the British Senate bewildered at the thought of the crime with which they are called on to deal in their legislative capacity. They see with the keen eye of human earnestness the an ate of convicted vice for whi c h soc i ety h as to pro vide. The past tells a tale of mingled gold and evil. The future is, however, the unfathomable mystery. They have all the crimes which have been followed by con demnation, at their tongue's end. They can name wildernesses Which have become the most flourish ing countries, by the labour of the penal slave. It would be unjust to say that they lacked severity in the measure of punishment, or refinement, in the administration of the penalties awarded to WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS, In reply to Lord JOHN MANNERS, Lord PALMERSTON said that the Whitsuntide Holidays would extend from Friday to Friday. The orders of the day having been postponed, FALL OF BARS, Mr. WHITESIDE rose to move a reso l u ti on t o the effect That whilst the House of Commons felt it its duty t 0 express its admiration of the gall an t ry of the Tur kish soldiers, and of the deportment of th e British officers a t the siege of Kars, it felt it to be equally its duty to express,. its conviction that the capitulation o f th e fortress Kars, and the surrender of the army which defende d it, thereby endangering the safety of the Asiatic provinces of Turkey, were in-a great measu re ow i ng t o the want of foresight and energy on the part of her Majesty's Governd ment.” He alluded to the position in which he was Plac e as impugning the conduct of public men, but urged that the war having ended, the reserve of the House of Com mons should be removed, and the conduct of those vv lsv , had advised the Crown to ent e r u p on a bl oo d y , and w hat might have been a protracted war, sho u ld be fre e, / canvassed. Proceeding to refer to the papers relating to the fall of Kars, which he char ac t er i se d as the key o f Asiatic Turkey, he contended th a t f rom mo ti ve s of 1 1° '''' Sar a ' as well as in fulfilment of a pledge, the fortress of should not have been allowed to be reduced to that state which rendered capitulation unavoidable. He censured the conduct of Lord Stratford for his silence when eon); municated with by General Willia m s, b u t he thoug h _ that the Government was more t o b e censure d for retain ing' Lord Stratford as ambassador, after the culpability, of his conduct became known to th em . The charge ° I intractability, was, he held, sufficient ground to revue" an official ; and for a precedent f or adopting such a course, he referred to the removal of Mr. Kennedy by Mr. Gladstone during the time that he held the position of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He then allude d to and commented upon the defence of Lord Stratford, arguing that the way in which it had be en prepared showed that, from the beginning, he was aware that he was neglecting his duty. General Williams complained that his despatches were unanswered, till they reached the number of 61, and the defence was, that Lord Stratford did not wish to give rise to false hopes , and he therefore proposed replying in full, when the whole affair was over. This was, he (Mr. Whiteside) consi dered, a lame excuse for a neglect of duty. He called upon the House, for the guidance of future campaigns, and for the acknowledgment of the services of the gallant General Williams, to support him in the motion which he now introduced to their considera tion. The speech of the hon. and learned member, which lasted four and a half hours, was received throughout, with loud cheers. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, while paying a tribute t',) the gallantry of the Turkish troops and of their com mander, General Williams, vindicated the Governmen t ' from the charge of neglecting the relief of Kar a : It was said money should have been sent, but , would it have been as a gift or loan ? A gift would have been objected to, and a loan would have been opposed, With regard to the conduct of Lord Stratford, he urge d that he was no friend of the present Government, th at he received honours from the government of Lord Derby, and that Lord Stratford had been sufficiently censured by Lord Clarendon for his neglect to reply t o General, Williams' despatches. It was admitted on all hands, tha t had Selim Pacha done his dut fallen; and he asked, wheth er i t was just, under t he r circumstances, to attach a n y bl ame to her Majes t y Government? 5 1 , Kars would never have Lord J. MANNERS replied to some of the argucle pts advanced by th e Att orney -G enera l , and d e f en ded the resolution moved by Mr. Whiteside. The JUDGE ADVOCATE defended the Government, con tending that every exertion had been employed for th e defence of Kars. On the motion of Mr. J. G. Phillimore, the debate Was then adjourned till to-morrow (this day). The other orders of the day were then disposed of, a nd the House adjourned shortly after twelve o'clock. THE CRIMEAN MILITARY ENurray.—The Board of General Officers appointed to enquire into the allegations contained in the report of Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch, re-assembled yesterday morning at Chelsea hos pital. The entire day was occup i e d i n hearing t h e Earl ° Lucau's address in reply, and the board again adjourned. Th, eteatt, By detlec Whisk hand. Th, reach st eam c/r i th le arn both tQ6rri f or i e eiii e t l'alu e of„ f i t o , tt k id b eet , th ;_ e 1 Be tit 19hi ( Qua, o ect 1 4 4 Xte bp Ail l,l b r) 4 A „ 4, Is / .. 1 1 CI , lb: % At ' b al ch, lio, T THE MISSING ARTICLES OF THE TREATY OF PE 4 " .--. The Dresden Journal publishes the entire text of the Treaty of Peace, including Articles 5 to 8, not hitherto published. The substance of these articles is :-5. 43 amnesty for compromised subjects (of Russia ?). 6. The , admission of the Ott oman P orte i nto t h e concert o f European States. 7. The guarantee of the independe nce and integrity of the Ottoman Empire. 8. In differenc es between the Porte and the other contracting po wer (Russia ?), should the other Powers intervene, an addi— tional article provides that the Dardanelles shall not be closed for ships introducing troops. New MILITARY HOSPITAL.—The Queen will l a y th e first stone of the Military Hospital about to be erects between Netley Abbey and Hamble Cliff, on the nort h side of Southampton Water. The day fixed for the i ceremony is the 12th of n ex t mon th. Th e b u ildi n g cost nearly of a million of money. It will be erected on a beautiful and healthy spot. A jetty is to be at once thrown out into Southampton Water, close to the er t where the hospital is to be built, for the purpose of landing materials for the building. The 12th of May being Whit Monday, a large concourse of persons are expected to be present. MOVEMENTS or POLITICAL PARTIES,--A meeting of t" Liberal members of the House of Commons was h e ld 11 invitation of Lord P a l merston at his lordship ' s residence lc' Piccadilly, this aft ernoon . A numerous body o f t h e flo use* —amounting to a b ou t 2 00 — attended. The mee ting w as .: private, but we may we ll presume t h at the o bj ec t of Lor d Palmerston in calling it together was to counsel among the section into which the representatives of Libe ral opinions of the House are so unfortunately divided. We believe we may add that the result of the meeting was of a character to afford gratification to thc. , e who, in common with Lord Palmerston and those gentle men who assembled to-day, are devoted to th e progress of Liberal principles.— Globe of last night. — The Sun, of last night, states that the meeting was coy vened by Lord Palmerston for the purpose of discussing the course to be pursued that evening, on the motion of M r. Whiteside, relative to the fall of Kars. In the event of the motion being carried, it is expected that the noble Viscouu t will either dissolve the present Parliament or resign—the former being the most likely course to be adopted. The proceedings were strictly private. A meeting of the Conservative party also took place yesterday, at the residence of Lord Derby, in St. James's square. The attendance was very numerous.