The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-15 00:00:00

judge of the Imperial court'narrowly escaped

assassination on the:bench. As the judges were
about.6.retire to'their kivate 'room, a man in the

body of the court fired a pistol at the president,
whop would probably have received the ball in his

head but for the accident of his having stooped at
the taoment whet the shot was delivered to give a

paper to a registrar. Pursuant to articles 507 and

508 of the Code, which authorise courts of justice

to take immediate cognisance of crimes committed
in their presence, the judges at once resumed
their seats, and the criminal was put on his trial
for his life then and there. On being interro-

gated, he gave his name as Casimir Guilhem, of
Gra.ulhet (Tarn). He very coolly stated that,
having lost two causes in that court, he had
applied to the Emperor for redress, but not
having received a favourable answer, he had
taken an oath two months since that he would
be revenged upon the judges. He was found
guilty, and sentenced to imprisonment with hard
labour for life.

A blue book relating to Indian railways has
just been published. By the end of last year the
three great companies—the East Indian, the
Great Indian Peninsula, and the Madras—had
636 miles open. The estimated cost of the whole
of these undertakings is £52,430,000, but at
Present the Indian government has only
authorised £34,133,300 to be raised, and the
amount actually raised at the end of 1859 was
£27,079,712. It is remarkable that of this
sum only £625,971 has been subscribed in India,
or £1 in every £44. With regard to the magni-
tude of the works, the report instances the bridges
over the Soane and Jumna, the former consisting
of 28 spans of 150 feet each, and the latter of 15
spans of 200 feet. The rails to be sent out from Eng-
land will weigh 1,210,000 tons ; more than
794,904 tons had been shipped up to the end of
last year. Of the immense capital required, it is
calculated that about £555,000 out of every million
is expended in this country for materials, freight,
and management ; at the end of last year the
eight companies had actually expended here
upwards of £10,000,000.
The all-absorbing question of the day in this
country relates to the report of the Royal Com-
mission on the National Defences, of which we
gave a brief abstract yesterday. The scheme,
however necessary in the opinion of those most
competent to judge, is not likely to be viewed
with much of the public favour; and the great
objection which naturally arises is the enormous
expense of what, after all, it is admitted will still
form an insufficient system of defence. The
twelve millions do not include any works for the
protection of the Metropolis, or of the mouths of
the Mersey, the Humber, the Tyne, or the Clyde.
It is proposed to raise the money by terminable
annuities, so that the whole sum may be absorbed
in 25 years; but even if the intended works
would perfect our defences, our national expendi-
ture already is enormous and almost intolerable ;
and the Times quaintly remarks that the scheme
certainly is a singular sequel to the commercial
treaty. We are admitting everything French or
Continental without duty ; and now we are called
on to pay £12,000,000 merely to keep out foreign
produce in the shape of our new customers.
It appears that besides the questions relating
strictly to the defences of the kingdom, the
Commissioners were directed to inquire what site
would be the best for the establishmeni of a great
internal arsenal. They have investigated this
question, and decide that Cannock Chase, in Staf-
fordshire, is the spot best adapted for such a
purpose.

It will be seen that an important communica-
tion from the War Office, on the subject of the
defences of our port, was submitted yesterday,
at the meeting of the Mersey Docks and Harbour

Board.
In the House of Commons last evening, the
disturbances in New Zealand Were referred to,
when it was stated that there was already a con-
siderable force there, and it was not intended to
send out further reinforcements. Mr. Lindsay
brought under notice the difficulty which had been
experienced in the formation of the Naval Reserve'
and a discussion, but without result, ensued upon
the subject. Mr. Whalley called attention to the
inequalities in the present mode of assessing the
income-tax, and urged the adoption of a more
equitable mode of adjustment. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer, however, admitting the evil, con-
fessed his inability to cope with the difficulty.
He observed that the relief of one class involved
additional burdens on another ; and many of the
proposals for the re-arrangement of the tax would
cause more injustice than they would remedy.
The House then went into Committee of Supply.
Their lordships sat only for a short time, and
swere engaged in the transaction of miscellaneou
business.

EARLY CLOSING OF THE MARKETS

ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

WHAT has been left unwritten or unspoken on
the Early Closing question ? Have not states-
men and councillors, patriots and philanthropists,
journalists and orators, associations and com-
mittees, pronounced every favourable argument,
and refuted every objection that can be brought
to bear upon it ? Dare any man stand up
and publicly declare himself opposed to the
spirit of the movement ? That many heartily
dislike it, we are afraid, is too true ; but, conscious
of the base selfishness which inspires their
animosity, they are ashamed openly to avow their
opposition. Satisfied that the question, when
discussed on its real merits, and on a fair and
equal platform, has been unanimously decided
against them, they confine their hostility to
underground operations. These secret foes seek to
disguise their not less disgraceful because indirect
attacks, under the pretence of practical difficulties.
It accords with their insidious policy to suggest
procrastinating delays as expedients, which, they
secretly trust, may ultimately prove fatal to the
whole movement. Like many other crafty and
selfish schemers, they think their success depends
upon deceiving others as to their real intentions ;
but their fancied strength is their weakest point.
They succeed only in deceiving themselves. Their
false wisdom is like that of the ostrich, which,
when hotly pursued, is said to bury its head in
the sand, stupidly supposing that its whole body
is thereby equally concealed and
.protected from
attack, while, in truth, it only affords a more con-
venient opportunity for its capture and despatch.
After all that has been written, said, and done on
this important subject, how much has really
been effectually and permanently accomplished ?
Something has, undoubtedly, been achieved ;
but what does it amount to ? Is it enough
that certain branches of trade, in parti-
cular localities have derived , some little
apparent . benefit from the agitation ? Are the
active promoters of the movement in LiVe'rpool
prepared to rest satisfied with what has been
overtaken in this good work ? Is the advantage
of early closing to be confined to one or two
sections of the community, or is it to be extended
throughout the whole body ? Is the committee
of the association disposed to rest satisfied w
having made a dashing onset on the outworks
of the enemy, or with having successfully stormed
and carried a few insignificant outposts ? We
trust not. Are they to relax their exertions and
rest upon their oars because the task is a pro"-
tracted one, and its execution beset with many diffi-
culties? We hope they entered upon the undertak-
ing with larger views and more determined courage.
Having put their hands to the plough, we trust
they will never look back, until their great object
has been fully accomplished. They shall then
have won a glorious victory, which will• live in
the grateful recollection of generations to come.