The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-05-25 00:00:00

of locomotion at home; while at Birkenhead, in-

Wind yesterday, N.W. ; at Holyhead, W.N.W., mod. breeze.

FRIDAY, HAY 25, 1860.

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The House of Lords, last night, went into
committee on the Union of Benifices Bill, which
was passed through committee after a long dis
cussion. Lord Lyveden gave notice that on the
13th Juno he should move the second reading of
the bill for the abolition of church rates.

In the House of Commons, last night, Lord
Palmerston moved that a committee be appointed
to inspect journals of the House of Lords with
relation to any proceedings upon the bill to
repeal the duty of excise on paper made in the
United Kingdom, and to make a report thereof
to the House. The motion was agreed to without
observation, but amid some laughter. The noble
lord then, amid the continued merriment of the
House, brought up the report of the committee,
consisting of an extract of the proceedings in
reference to the late reception of the Repeal Bill,
taken from the lords' journals. Lord Palmerston
then gave notice that he should, on to-morrow
(this day), move for a committee to search for
precedents on the subject. A considerable
variety of topics of varied interest were intro-
duced in the course of the sitting, for which we
must refer our readers to our report,
The present unhappy position of the Ministry
is very sarcastically commented upon by the
Morning Herald. All idea of any one of them
resigning is, of course, deemed utterly improba-
ble. " How," it is asked, " could the country be
governed if any single Minister of so marvellous
a combination were to resign ? Let, then, Lords
or Commons repeat their insults and cumulate
disgust with censure—what matters ? Have not
reproach and censure become habitual to Pal-
merston, Russell, Gladstone, and Co. ? What is
a vote of two to one against such men, except a
duplicate ratio of envy and jealousy in proportion
to successful budgets, successful treaties, success-
ful reform bills, successful diplomacy, 'and suc-
cessful interpretations of the law." Questions
these, the irony of which is as comical as it is
cutting.

The Morning Star, speaks out plainly as to
what it conceives to be the duty of Ministers.
"They are bound," it contends, " to carry out, at
least the leading promises of the Queen's speech,
to resign their commissions into her hands, or to
appeal to the country against their obstructors.
A baffled and beaten Ministry, clinging to office
but abandoning their measures, withdrawing
scheme after scheme, or submitting to alterations
that degrade as well as disfigure, is a reproach to
the cause of Parliamentary government and an
object of contempt to a free people." Such is the
opinion of Mr. Bright's newspaper organ. The
hon. member contributed materially to place
them in office ; will he continue his assistance
to keep them there, now that they have become
" objects of contempt ?" We shall see.

There would now seem to be no doubt, not only
of Garibaldi's defeat of the forces of the King of
Naples, but of his having already become com-
plete master of his position. Having so far
overcome all resistance, he had issued a procla-
mation, we learn, in which he declared that he at
once took upon himself all the responsibilities
of the dictatorship of Sicily. This step is con-
sidered to be preliminary to the proposal for a
formal annexation to Piedmont,—though to such
a consummation the French Emperor is under-
stood to have already protested by anticipation
in the strongest manner. There are late accounts
from Naples and from Rome, which represent
the insurgents in Sicily as having just sustained
serious defeats, and the insurrection to be making
no progress. If these accounts were true, they
would show Garibaldi's position to be still one of
uncertainty. But they are scarcely to be relied

upon.
It is stated in communications from Rome to a
late date, that an understanding has been come to
between General Goyon, the commander of the
French army at Rome, and General Lamoriciere,
the Chief of the Papal Volunteers. The former
remains in the city to protect the Pope and keep
the city tranquil ; the latter will operate outside
the walls:
The Prince Regent of Prussia's speech at the
close of the Chambers on Wednesday, may be
regarded as satisfactory in a European point of
view. His assurance 'that the Government is
most seriously endeavouring to bring about such
solutions of the questions which at present engage
the attention of the European Cabinets as will
be adequate to the maintenance of the political
equilibrium," is very re-assuring. We only wish
that the French Emperor could give to Europe, in
sincerity, any such assurance. Again, the Prince
Regent declares that " the Government also
will in future adhere to those principles, and
will continue to regard the maintenance of
.the recognised rights of others as neces-
sary for the maintenance of its own rights."
There is no lurking ambition iu such lan-

gunge as ' this—no sinister signs of a yearning
after either personal of imimrial. aggrandisement.
Prussia is a German power; and the interests of
Germany are most properly objects of primary
concern. " Notwithstanding the difference of
opinion existing in reference to important ques-
tions," his Royal Highness observes,. " in one
feeling all the German Governments and peoples
are unanimous with myself and the
.Prueeian_ ,
people—that is, in unshaken fidelity to the com-
mon fatherland, and in the strong conviction that
the independence of the nation and the integrity
of the national territory are matters of importance
before which all internal affairs and dissensions far
recede." This, we may depend upon it, is the
true policy. Would that our own Government
may never depart from such a course as it involves.
The statement of a_
,London
_morning paper
would be most important if true, that " Lord
Palmerston and Lord John-Russell are in posses-
sion of facts which prove in the most conclusive
manner, that Louis Napoleon has not only formed,
but fully matured designs which, if he be allowed
to carry them into effect, will convulse, the whole
of Europe, if not plunge it into actual war, before
many months are over." Not that we are at all
incredulous as to the probability of such a state-
ment, in so far as Louis Napoleon is concerned.
Nothing, we believe, is more likely than that he
has formed such designs, and that he only " bides
his time" to proceed in giving effect to them.
But although this communication by the I.Toriiiiig
Advertiser is made " in the most positive terms,"
its source is anything but a reliable one. Lord
Palmerston and Lord John Russell may probably
know more than they dare reveal at the present
moment ; and it would not increase the public
confidence in the Ministry, to have it believed
that they are in possession of any such alarming
facts as we have referred to. But to conclude
that they are actually in posseesion of them,
" must give us pause."
It is by no means an insignificant • sign of the
times, that the Pope should, by secret note to the
Bishops in Italy, have requested their retirement
to Rome until what is looked forward to as a
better state of things shall be re-established.
This has reference more particularly, of course, to
the now enlarged, and still expanding, dominions
of Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia. ." The Church,"
his Holiness tells them, " might never to recede
before the violence of the. civil .power." Yet this
is just what has lately been the ease in those
Italian States which have been recently placed
under Sardinian rule. To withdraw the Bishops,
therefore, were a most politic proceeding. There
could, strictly speaking, be no Church to " recede
before the violence of the civil power," were the
Bishops away in retirement at Rome.
We have three days' later news, it will be
seen, from America, by the mail steamship North
Briton, from Quebec. The Canadians appear to
be excessively delighted with the near prospect
of the Prince of Wales's visit. The Great Western
Railway Company are building a state carriage
for his Royal Highness, which it is said will
surpass anything of the kind ever seen en that
side of the Atlantic. The accounts from the
United States are of no political importance.
The price of flour was falling in the principal
markets. Further extensive gold fields, though
of, a. coarse quality, had been discovered in British
Columbia. By this arrival we have also intelli-
gence of a most destructive conflagration in Cuba.

deed, they have not only taken the initiative
already, but, as would be seen by our report of
the monthly meeting of the commissioners on
Tuesday, an :enterprising American gentleman
has undertaken to try the experiment of street
railways there, under the special sanction, and
under the control, of that important local body.
Hr. TRAIN, at his own cost and risk," so the
chairman announced, "is to lay down a tramway
from their ferry to the park, arid through other
portions of the township to be agreed upon, and
that tramway could be used not merely by Mr.
TRAIN but by any other carriages. This the
committee, so far as they were able to judge," he
added, " be,lieved would be a great advantage,
saving the wear and tear of the streets, and deve-
loping their property in the township. And con-
sidering these circumstances, and that the arrange-
ment was likely to prove beneficial not only as
regards the wear and tear of the streets, but also
as regarded the ferry traffic and the sale of their
property, he felt that they would not be justified
in refusing the very liberal offer Mr. TRAIN had
made." Certainly, they would not have been jus-
tified in refusing such an offer Nor do we think
that our own Town Council will be justified in re-
fusing the offer that has been made to them, for
laying down similar tramways through the streets
of this town, and to certain of its suburbs. We
are only apprehensive that the Birkenhead Com-
missioners may he found to have drawn Mr.
TRAIN into a fatal mistake, in requiring that the
rails may bo equally used by the public gene-
rally, unless it be provided that his carriages are
to have a preferential right of way. But of this
we are not at present very folly informed.
In another respect, our locomotion at home is
also promised to be improved."' The Wallasey
Local Board offer premiums for plans cf improve-
ment in the existing landing places at the Egre-
mont and New Brighton Ferries; and likewise
premiums for glans and models of an improved
steam ferry boat for the passenger traffic between
the opposite sides of the Mersey. These are,
both of them, objects of very great importance.
At present the Ferry-boats are really most dis-
creditable means for crossing the river. Any
one that has seen the American ferry boats—
more especially those on the Hudson and the
East River at New York—must behold with
amazement and disgust the wretched accommo-
dation afforded by those on the Mersey at Liver-
pool. It were indeed high time that something
were done to redeem the credit both of Birken-
head and Liverpool in this respect ; and it is
most satisfactory, therefore, to find that the
Wallasey Local Board has taken it in hand; We
would suggest, that while they are thus laudably
seeking to improve the public accommodation in
so important a particular, they should at the
same time contrive to provide additional landing-
places on the Liverpool side. One landing-place
can never fully meet the public convenience.
There ought to be at least three—one a mile or
so south, and another a similar distance north, of
the present landika,-stage. All classes of the
community are more or less deeply interested in
this subject of improvement in our means of
locomotion at home ; for all have, more or less
constantly, to avail themselves of its accommoda-
tion. But there is one class of the people to
whom-it is of the greatest importance of all,—
and whose convenience, and whose interest gene-
rally, ought to be very attentively considered,
and very carefully consulted—we mean the
working class. We advocate, both on moral and
physical grounds, the importance of providing
every available opportunity for that class of our
townspeople living in the outskirts of the town,
or even beyond them, rather than be, as they
often are, crowded together in something very
like rabbit-warrens, surrounded by filth, and
stifled with stenches, as well as exposed to still
more morally pernicious influences. And a
cheap and expeditious means of locomotion are
essential to the practicability of so important an
object as this. But such means are often of
great moment also to working people, both
mechanics and labourers, for the purpose of
reaching expeditiously and cheaply, the places
where their work may have to be carried
on. In many instances the distance they have
to go is so great, as to require a full hour
or more to walk it—an hour in the morning
and another hour in the evening—which, in point
of fatigue, is two hours added to the labours of
the day, as well as being the occasion of other
inconveniences. Our means of locomotion, there-,
fore, may be most beneficially directed to provide
a remedy for such a disadvantage as this. Cheap
and expeditious Street Railways and Ferry-boats
would be of immense benefit to that numerous
and important class; while to every other class
they would be more or less an advantage. Let
us hope that we are at length about to have the
matter taken up with public spirit, and with a
determination to spare neither pains nor expense
to make such an object at once advantageous and
creditable to so important a town is Liverpool.

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL FOR THE
DEAF AND DUMB.

Yesterday, at the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street,
the annual examination of the poor children under
tuition at the Liverpool School for the Deaf and Dumb,
took place in the presence of a goodly number of the
supporters. The president of the institution, the secre-
tary, and members of the working committee, were
present. The children were examined by the principal
of the school, Mr. David Buxton, in the various branches
of education ; and the extensive knowledge of general
history, and the minute acquaintance with Biblical his-
torical facts which they manifested, must indeed be very
gratifying, not only to the gentlemen who have charge
of them, but also to their parents and friends. Three
boys and a girl, who at an early age were bereft of their
sense of hearing through fever or illness, were examined
orally, the master having taught them to enunciate words.
Deaf persons, it appears, are made conscious of sound
by the vibration of the air ; and thus their attention
may be attracted by striking upon a table or stamping
upon the floor. It is by stamping on the floor that they
are aroused in the morning. All the children and
adults appeared . exceedingly clean and neat ; some of
them, who belong to the higher and middle classes, were
dressed tastefully. Their general appearance indicated
great intelligence, and they all seemed perfectly happy.
There are at present sixty indoor and thirty outdoor
pupils, and the establishment is quite full. The girls'
dormitory has its full complement of inmates, and that
of the boys is inconveniently crowded ; and as the
number of applicants for admission does not diminish,
the committee have entered upon the question of enlarg-
ing the building, which they consider can now be no
longer delayed. Plans and specifications have been pre-
pared, which contemplate a large addition to the present
available space, and also a vast improvement in the
present arrangements. From .£BOO to £9OO has been
already subscribed for this object; but a sum of not less
than £l,BOO will be required in order to carry out fully
all the intentions of the committee. We hope that aid
will be forthcoming at once.

After the examination bad been concluded, the Rev.
Augustus Campbell made a few remarks to the effect
that he hoped the parties present at the examination
were satisfied with the progress made by the children,
and if so, that they should make the objects and the
success of the institution known to their families and
friends. The committee, he said, had taken the preli-
minary steps towards enlarging the building and increas-
ing its utility. Additional Nrids were required for that
purpose. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Buxton,
the principal, which was seconded by the Rev. Thomas
Moore. Mr. Buxton returned thanks, in a few words,
and mentioned as an instance of the benefits arising
from the institution, the case of a boy who was about to
leave the school for his father's counting house, where
he had no doubt, his services would become valuable.
On the motion of the Rev. Thomas Banner, a vote of
thanks was awarded to the president, wbo returned
thanks briefly; and the meeting terminated.

The report of Mr. Ingham's committee on Green-
wich Hospital has been issued. Great reforms are
shown to be needed in this important national insti-
tution. •
The Daily Yews says the work in preparation for the
allotment.' of the shares in the Thames and Mersey
Insurance Company has proved so heavy that, although
numerous clerks are incessantly engaged, the letters are
not expected to be issued before the end of next week.