The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-28 00:00:00

A POLICE-OFFICER CONVICTED OF AN ASSAULT:

Mr. Miller, the keeper of a licensed eating-house in
Skelhorn-street, summoned Police-officer Morrison, No.
29, for having assaulted him. Mr. Cobb appeared for
the complainant, and Mr. Bluck for the defendant. The
case lasted a considerable time, and several witnesses
were examined at both sides. The history of the affair
is as follows :—On the morning of the 20th an "unfor-
tunate female" followed a man into the house of com-
plainant. She was drunk, and created a disturbance in
the house, and as she would not go away, an officer was
sent for to remote her. The defendant came, and was
requested to remote the woman, but he refused, and
after some altercation with the coMplainant he knocked

him down add maltreated hint; and then took hint
to Hotham-street statidn add made a cliarge there
against him for being drunk and disorderly. The
charge was not taken, and this was the case on the part
of the complainant, which was fully proved by him and
two respectable witnesses. An important question arose
as regarded the removal of the drunken woman from
the house by the officer, when Mr. Wybergh read the
41st section of the recent act of Parliament, which com-
pels officers to remove drunkea and disorderly persons
from all licensed houses, public or refreshment, at the
request of the owner; and Mr. Wybergh said it appeared
to him that the officer in this case had not performed
his duty, when he did not remove the woman as re-
quested. The Act of Parliament compelled him to do
so, and he supposed the Watch Committee had given
orders to have the act carried out. Inspector Dodd,
who was present, said the Watch Committee had given
orders to have the act carried out strictly. Mr. Wy-
bergh said he thought such was the case, and therefore
the officer did not perform his duty. On the part of the
defence the woman was called, and she stated that Mr.
Miller was beating her when the officer came up. She
said he was drunk at the time, but she admitted that
she was drunk herself. The bridewell-keeper at Hot-
ham-street said when the complainant was brought there
by the officer he was drunk, and the female charged him
with having assaulted her, and the officer charged him
with being drunk and disorderly ; but both charges were
withdrawn. The magistrates sent for the police report
hook, and it appeared that the officer had been once
fined 2s. 6d. for an assault on a civilian. Mr. Cobb and
his client said there was no vindictive feeling against
the officer, and Mr. Miller begged that the magistrates
would be as lenient as possible with the defendant. The
magistrates said they could not inflict less than 20s. fiße
on the officer. Inspector Carlisle asked if their worships
wished to have the man reported ? They replied not,
as the fine met the entire case, and he should not be
punished a second time for one offence.

SECURITY FOR RAILWAY TRAVELLERS.

The French Minister of Public Works has just
addressed the following circular to the engineers in chief
charged with the control of the railways, calling their
attention to different measures calculated to secure pas-
sengers against such dangers as that of which M. Poinsot
was lately the victim. The hon. minister says :
"Sir,—The act committed on the 6th instant, on the
Eastern Railway, has caused the most painful and the
most legitimate emotion. The public has seen in this
frightful event the revelation of a danger, the exist-
ence of which appears to have been never suspected.
Doubtless, if we reflect on the criminal audacity
required to accomplish such a crime, and if we think
on the Co-operation of circumstances, which could
alone allow the murderer to escape the surveillance of
the agents on the line, and the very dangers of that
attempt, we shall be led to see in this deplorable event
only one of those exceptional facts which are beyond all
calculation. Nevertheless it suffices for such a crime
to have been committed for it to be the duty of
the administration to scrupulously seek, with the
co-operation of the railway companies, for the pro-
per means of preventing the recurrence of it, and
of tranquilising the public feeling. Among those
measures, that which first presents itself to the mind,
and which, in fact, appears the most effectual, would
consist in organising the control of the train in a
permanent manner, by means of the circulation of
agents on the footboards of the carriages properly
arranged for that purpose. This system, which
as already been in practice on the Northern and
Southern lines, is, I am aware, not much approved of
by the public, who complain of the frequent derange-
ments which it occasions. Considerations of general
security must, however, evidently give way to simple
questions of convenience. This control of agents of
the trains, effected at any period during their passage,
appears to be a serious guarantee which ought not to be
neglected. It would be well to examine whether, in
order to complete this control, it would not be possible
to place at the disposal of the passengers in each com-
partment a visual signal, which could be hoisted above
the carriage, and which would call the guard placed in
the front part of the train. This signal might be lighted
at night by means of a reflector placed above the
lamps. There has been also suggested as a useful
measure the establishment in the carriages of glazed
panels, forming a communication between each com-
partment; this system also merits examination. Lastly,
as a malefactor could not escape from the train except
at a moment when its speed had somewhat slackened,
either on coming near stations or bifurcations, it is
important that a special surveillance should be exer-
cised at those points. I call your particular attention,
sir, to the different measures which I have just pointed
out. Be kind enough to examine them in concert with
the company the control of which is canfided to you, and
let me know as soon as possible the result of that
examination. "ROURER."

The lord chancellory living at Mission, Notts, has
been presented to the Rev. Colne Postlewaite.

A marriage will shortly take place between Captain
Ferguson, of the Grenadier Guards, and Miss Hood,
eldest daughter of the Hon. Col. and Lady Mary Hood.
_ _ _

WHAT is A CLOWN ?—" You are a clown," said I,
meditatively. " What is a clown ?" Ile did not answer
me in words, but, placing his hands on his knees, stared
at me steadfastly, and then, having fixed my attention,
his face performed a series of the most fearful contortions
I aver beheld. With one horrible spasm he made his
mouth appear to stretch from ear to ear ; with another,
his nose wagged from side to side ; with a third, his
er.brov.s went up and down alternately, giving the
different sides of his face two directly antagonistic
expressions. I was shocked and horrified, and called to
hill to desist. " And yet," thought I, "there arc natures
wEo can delight in these, and see in them matter for
mirth and laughter." " Old man," said I, gravely,
" las it ever occurred to you that in this horrible cum-
mixture of expression, wherein grief wars with joy and
sadness with levity, you are like one who, with a noble
instrument before him, should, instead of sweet sounds
of harmony, produce wild, unearthly discords, the jang-
ling bursts of fiend-like voices ?"—All the Year Round.

TILE PAROCHIAL MlND.—There is a popular idea
that every vestryman is an oratorical greengrocer or a
discontented tailor, with mean views, a loud voice, and
an abusive tongue. Some vestrymen may be of this
order, like some members of Parliament ; but underlying
this sort of scum (scum always floats to the top) there is
often a solid substratum of sound sense and discretion.
The faculty of ready utterance is generally possessed by
smill minds, which have little in them to check volubi-
lity It is the mere parochial orator who brings ridicule
upon the good old system of local self-government : while
Ulm men who do credit to it, and are the working bees
among the buzzing drones of the parochial hive, are
seldom heard. It is they who do the work ; the others
tali about doing it, but really obstruct it ; and are,
happily, the minority. The revenues of the larger
London parishes amount to sums which many a full-
blovn continental State looks upon with envy. Yet, on
the whole, these are collected and dispensed with rea-
soluble accuracy awl judgment. The majorities in
vesaies must, therefore, consist of men of unsullied
principles and active business accomplishments, who
work hard and talk little ; otherwise, parochial affairs
could not be so well carried on as they are. It must
alv,,ays be remembered that the shortcomings of local
adninistrative bodies depend, not upon the noisy un-
grammatical speechmakers, but upon those who elect
then. Parish government is representative government,
ani the ratepayers pull the strings.-dl/ the Year Round.

RULES OF Ti

ASSOCIATION.

The following are the rules and regulations
44"rhifih have been framed for the constitution and
goN!erifni`ein & this valuable association
Y.' The The Ohiiedi ot Ist/liitiou is to assist in giving
"rohi'n'teeitaefpl3,, gtkl to promote rifle
shooting throui c"ca'fr.
2. Tb 9 I.6ociaiioii' will detts( fenlithrl subscri-
l?4is of 10s. pnd' upwards, ariifoftl dotif.v.iOA' of and
upward:. Thek,niV have ,the piiiitege of becoming
members of the IN atilc4itl Rifle Association, by increasing
their annual subscriptions or les, t6'2.ipL; half of which
will be paid to the National Rifle As'so-Ati6n;' or by
doubling their donations, half of which will be aptlied
in the same manner.

Donors of not less than £2O for prizes in any one year
di the county meetings will be enrolled as members.

''ire pro/Alt, of the association shall be vested in
three trustees, to' h'e *pointed by the council.
4'. The Lord-Lieoerianf Ur the sounty to be the
patron or the. association.
s'. Ttete stalf ble a president annually- efeefed by the
council, Who' shalt dot fot the office of
president for three years.
6. There, shall be ivielie vice-pl 6 rel'en'ts a i4~u'ally
elected at the yearly general meeting n'ecenther,
7. There PbaTl. be a council of twenty--One ordinary
members (exclusiie of members) elected at the
general meeting in December; Cr 411;41;1'one-third shall
in each year vacate office (in the first th';c7 e64.6iid year,
according to alphabetical order, afterwards in the 6ider
of their election), but shall be eligible for re-election.
Five shall be a quorum. The council shall have power
to appoint sub-committees.

8. The patron and president of the association and
the trustees shall be at officio members of the council,
and there shall he a tfeastiter appointed by the trustees,
who also shall be ex yficio a Member of the council.
9. The council shall have the sole niatiagetnent of the
income and the funds of the association, rencleAlg ait
account at the annual meeting in December, such account
having been previously audited by a person or persons
not rnernbers of the council to be annually named by the
totincil tot that purpose. The council shall also have
the entire managentent rind superintendence of all the
Other affairs and Concerns of the. Amer/don ) and shall
do all snob acts and deeds as shall appeat to them neces-
sary to be done fo't the purp'o'se of Carrying into effect
the objects thereof.
10. The council shall be regulated In their proceed-
ings by such byelaws as may from time to time he efiacted
by them, established byelaws not being in any case
altered, or new ones proposed, without at least one
month's notice of such intention being given to each
member of the council.

11. There shall be a paid secretary appointed by the
council, who shall be removable at their pleasure. Clerks
tray also be appointed, and offices taken, at the discre-
tion of the council.

12: There shall be a general meeting of the associa-
tion in each year; held in Chester/ In the month of
December ; at this meeting the council shall be elected,
vsho shall afterwards elect the president for the ensuing
year.

13. There shall be at general meeting of the Associa-
tion each year towards the end of August or beginning
of September, in such part of the county as shall be
deemed by the council most advantageous for the
advancement of the objects of the association. At
this meeting it will be open to all volunteer artil-
lery or rifle companies in the county to send a certain
number of their members (the number to be fixed by the
council) to compete for prizes, provided that the persons
so sent are bond fide effective members of the company
from which they are sent. Volunteers to pay such
entrance fees as the council may decide upon.
H. Prizes shall also be given which shall be open to
all corners belonging to or resident in the county,
whether belonging to volunteer companies or not, on
payment of a certain sum by each competitor, which
payment shall entitle him to a certain number of shots.
Troops quartered in the county to be considered resi-
dents for the time being.
15. An umpire shall be appointed by the council.

16. All members of volunteer corps competing for
prizes will be required to appear in the uniform of their
corps.

17. An officer will be appointed to take the command
of the volunteers who may have assembled to compete
for the prizes. This officer will be responsible for the
maintenance of order and discipline at the different
ranges.

18. The council shall decide the number and amount
of prizes to be given, as well as fix the extent of the
ranges, and settle all the details connected with the
meeting, and they shall cause due notice of all such
matters to be given to the public.
19. The firing shall be conducted in accordance with
the regulations of the School of Musketry at llythe,
unless otherwise ordered by the council.

20. The prizes, which are restricted to enrolled
volunteers, shall be competed for with any rifle of a
bona fide Government pattern in use by volunteer corps
in the county, and with the Government ammunition.
The minimum pall of trigger to be 31b.
21. The prizes open to all corners on payment of the
entrance fee, may be shot for with any description of
rifle, provided its weight does not exceed 101 b.
22. In no case shall hair triggers or magnifying sights
be used, but a prize or prizes may be given without these
restrictions.

23. The place of meeting in the ensuing year to be
announced publicly at the December meeting.

24. All entries shall be made at least fourteen days
before the meeting, and no subsequent entry shall be
made except with the permission of the council.

VICTOR EMMANUEL AND FRANCIS 11.

When Victor Emmanuel was at Florence in
the spring of this year, he wrote to the young
King of Naples, giving him good advice, advising
him to grant a constitution, and offering him the
alliance of Piedmont. Here is the letter :
Dear Cousin,—lt would be useless for me to point out
the political state of the peninsula, since the great vic-
tories of Magenta and Solferino annihilated the influence
which Austria exercised upon our country. The Italians are
no more the people of thirty years ago, to be led like sheep
by their rulers. They have acquired the full knowledge of
their rights, and they possess the wisdom and strength
necessary to defend them. Public opinion has, on the
other hand, sanctioned the principle, that every nation
has the incontestible right of governing itself as it
thinks best. When once the overpowering influence
of Austria was conquered, it was natural enough
that the people of Italy should get rid of the minor
princes, and try to constitute a powerful and inde-
pendent community. We have, therefore, reached an
epoch at which Italy must be divided into two
powerful States, one in the north, the other in the south,
which, by adopting a similar course of national policy,
should assist the Italian leading idea of our time, which
is unity. But to carry this project into effect it is, I
firmly believe, necessary that your Majesty should at
once abandon the fatal course you have hitherto pur-
sued. Should you resist my pressing advice, which I
beg you to believe is the result of the truest affection
for your welfare, and for that of your royal dynasty—
should you repudiate my friendly proposal, a time may
come in which I should be placed in the terrible alter-
native of endangering the most urgent interests of my
own dynasty, or of becoming, in fact, the chief in-
strument of your ruin. The principle of dualism,
which, if successfully established and honestly car-
ried out, will at the same time ensure our happi-
ness and the happiness of our colintry, may be still
willingly accepted by the Italians. If you allow a few
months to pews without following the friendly advice
I give you, your Majesty will, in all probability, expe-
rience the bitterness of these terrible words, "It is too
late !" as a member of your family did at Paris in
1830. The Italians will then concentrate in me all
their hopes, and there are duties which, however pain-
ful they may be, must be fulfilled by an Italian sove-
reign. Let us therefore work together at such a noble
work; let us urge upon the Holy Father the necessity
of granting the requisite reforms ; let us unite our
States in a bond of real friendship, from which the great-
ness of our country will surely spring. Grant at once a
liberal constitution of your subjects ; surround yourself
with the influence of the men who are most esteemed
for all they have suffered in the cause of liberty ; dispel
all kinds of suspicion in your people, and let an ever-
lasting alliance be established between the two most
powerful States of the Peninsula. We will then work
together to insure to our country the great blessing of
being the sole arbitress of her future destinies. You
are young, and experience is not generally the lot of
youth. Allow me, therefore, to impress upon your
mind the necessity of following the advice I give you in
my twofold capacity of a near relative and of an Italian
sovereign.
I anxiously wait, by the return of the confidential
courier who will present this letter to your Majesty, a
satisfactory answer.—Believe me, your Majesty's most
affectionate cousin, VICTOR EMMA:WEL.
Florence, April 15, 1860.

To this letter, it is said, not only no answer
was given, but the orderly officer who took it to
Naples was not even allowed to deliver it to the
king, as he had been directed to do.

M. REICHARDT, TILE TENOR.—This charming tenor
singer is now in Paris, and respecting his performances
in that gay capital, we quote the following fropi La
Rowe ct Gazette Musicale :—" M. Reichardt, the cele-
brated tenor and composer, has lately arrived in Paris,
where he purposes to pass the season,—a fortunate event
for our Parisian salons. On Thursday last we had the
pleasure of hearing him at one of our most fashionable
and aristocratic reunions, where he obtained a most
spontaneous and enthusiastic success. Accompanied by
the Princess Metternich. the feminine Maecenas of all
artistic celebrities, M. Reichardt sang, in the most
exquisite style, two of his recent compositions, 0 belle
e'toile; odoux regard; and La Berecusc. The applause
of the aristocratic and critical audience was all that could
be desired by either a vocalist or a composer."

Dr. Thompson, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford,
died on Wednesday.
About thirty miles of the Smyrna and Aden Railway
was opened on Monday last.
Sir E. Head, Governor-general of Canada, is on a
visit to the Duke of Newcastle at Clamber.
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have
gone on a visit to Sir Lawrence and Lady Talk at
Hahlon House, Exeter,