The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-19 00:00:00

THE SEAT OF WAR.

The following description of Bucharest, the
centre of military operations in Wallachia, cannot
fail to be interesting to our readers at the present
crisis :

" Bucharest is situated on a vast marshy plain,
on the river Domboritza, about 400 'miles N.N.W.
of Constantinople. It is the capital of Wallachia,
and the residence of the Waivode, or Hospodar,
and the see of. a Greek archbishop ; •is partly
fortified, and shows, at a distance many gaily
painted cupolas and pointed- spires, with a vast
extent of buildings interspersed amidst luxuriant
gardens; but when closely approached is found to
consist of merely a collection of villages, without
plan or regularity. In 1836 there were estimated to
be 10,674 houses, which are, in general, very small,
and in numerous instances not larger than huts,
the best of them being built of stone and covered
with wooden tiles. Almost every house possesses
a wide garden, enclosed with entire trunks of oak
set closely together, and the streets Eiro paved
with planks of wood about 30 feet long, giving to
the streets the appearance of continued bridges
throughout the whole extent of the town. It is
said to contain 26 monasteries and 90 Greek
churches, the principal of which is the patriarchal
cathedral adjoining the palace of the archbishop.
This edifice stands on an eminence, and commands
a pleasant view of the whole capital. The hall
of the Wallachian chamber of representatives is-
in a building connected with the magnificent
church of St. George. The palace of the Hospo-
dar presents but a mean appearance, being of con-
siderable antiquity ; but the hotels of the Austrian
and Russian ambassadors, and several of the
mansions, of the boyards, or nobles, are modern
and very handsome. In the centre of the town,
are the bazaars or shops, protected from/the sun
by roofs of timber frame-work. During the
months or January and Fobruawy frnQf eryntinnes
without cessation, and the thermometer often falls
eight degrees below zero. In March, April, and
May, the temperature is moderate ; but in June,
July, and August, the maximum heat is 85 degrees.
Its principal exports consist of wine, provisions,
skins, and wool to Constantinople ; salt and salted
provisions to Russia, and of cattle and hogs to
Germany. The population is variously estimated;
in 1837 it was supposed to be from 70,000 to
83,000, of whom 27,000 are boyards ; 236 secular
priests ; 137 monks ; 2,583 Jews; 1795 foreigners,
and the remainder are chiefly Christians, though
in their manners and customs, they resemble
'much their Turkish. masters. Two newspapers are
published ; there are three printing offices, a public
and 22 private schools. Bucharest has been suc-
cessively subject to the Russians, Austrians, and
the Turks ; but was delivered up to the nominal
government of the latter power at the peace of
Sistova, in 1791, and to the Turkish treasury it
pays an annual tribute of about £26,000.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND MIDLAND RAILWAY.
—lt appears that these companies intend to apply to par-
liament in the ensuing session for power to amalgamate the
two undertakings upon such terms and conditions as may
be agreed upon; also for power to fix the amount of the
capital stock, and to regulate the different classes of shares,
and to make working arrangements respecting the traffic.
VERY SMALL BEER.—On a recent visit to Winchester, I
tried the St. Crosse tap, which is open to any wayfarer, as
all the world knows. Ido not know whether the liquid
given as " beer" to the traveller has passed through the
ordeal of the _Lancet analysation, but this I do know, that I
would go all the way to Winchester to see Lord Guildford
drink a pint of it. My only fear would be that I might run
the risk of being tried as " accessory before the fact," in case
it killed him. It reminded me of the celebrated small beer
case, when the landlady gave her evidence, "that no man
had ever got drunk off it, but two had burst."—The Times
Correspondent.
TYNEMOUTII BRIBERY COMMISSION.—The commissioners
appointed by the crown to inquire into the corrupt prac-
tices in the parliamentary elections at Tynemouth, opened
their court in the Town•hall, Saville, on Wednesday. The
names of the gentlemen are Henry Davison, Esq., (chief
commissioner,) John Harrell, Esq., and James Vaughan,
Esq.. The chief commissioner opened the proceedings by
setting forth the nature of the inquiry they were about to
institute, which would depend on the nature of the evidence
they received, whether it should be extended to preceding
elections. A great number of summonses have been issued,
and Mr. Granville Somerset, the secretary, has been down
n Nr6 KeltingLpi the evidence.
an advertisement from EieriCßilt iFos &Wan contain
for tenders for mail contracts to California, Oregon, Utah,
and New Mexico. The contracts are nearly 100 in number,
and some of the mail routes are 1,000 miles long. The
distance of the whole of the mail routes is nearly 10,000
miles. Mail bags are to be taken up and dropped at about
300 places. The postal communication between great
numbers of the towns is to be daily. The longest routes
are to have a mail service once a month. Every kind of
mail conveyance will be adopted suitable to the districts in
which they will travel—viz, steamboats, four-horse coaches,
carts, wagons, and saddl,s-hones. The contracts are to
commence in 18J4, and to last until 1858.

DIPERFECTIONS OF A LOCAL MAGISTRACY. Many in-
stances of local interest are constantly arising, in which
pre-arrangement of the judicial decision may be readily
conceived. One instance would be in the strikes and
combinations among manufacturers and workmen en-
gaged in undertakings which involve large partnerships and
connections, and where there are other manufactories and
works of the same description affected by. such strikes, and
where the result to one magistrate being an employer,
would affect others in the same predicament. low could
there, in such a case as that, be the firm and implicit
reliance on the part of the public that ought to rest on the
magistrate appointed by the state to do impartial and
undeviating justice between man and man ? Obviously,
there could be none. Another instance might arise out
of the system of licensing where partiality has been
in some cases so clearly shown as to call forth strollg and
indignant remonstrances. A third might be connected with
the supervision of prisons, and other local institutions ; and
upon that latter point there has already been so much
before the public, that further allusion to the subject seems
here wholly unnecessary.—" Sigma," in the Chronicle.
OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD.—South-east and south-west of
the metropolis lies a vast exp:inse of low land, reeking with
stagnant water,—like the fens of Cambridgeshire and Lin-
colnshire in the 17th century, or the banks of the Lower
Danube at the present hour. Its fetid mists rise up under
the nostrils of nearly 3,000,000 of persons not generally
supposed to be careless of their personal comforts, and help
to poison the atmosphere breathed by the rulers of the
world. 3,000,000 of men, with boundless wealth, and a
marvellous scientific apparatus at hand, rise up in the morn-
ing to breathe the miasma, inhale it all day long, and lie
down with it in their bedrooms at night, content and help-
less. Truly we are a strange people as regards our social
logic. Men who would avoid a Venetian lagune in August,
and would hurry from Rome at the fall, lest some lurking
poison in the Italian air should creep into their lungs, will
sit down easily on the banks of the Thames, and smile ap-
provingly at lobe Isle of Dogs.—Athencetem.
THE LORD RECTORSHIP OF GLASGOW UNIVERSITY.
The election of lord rector, took place on Tuesday, the
candidates being the Earl of Eglinton and Mr. Alfred Ten-
nyson, the poet laureate. The result of the voting was as
follows : Lord Eglinton. Tennyson.
Glottiana B9 ...
Loudoniana
Transforthiana . . 27 .. .
,Rothesiana

222 179
it will be seen that the votes are equal in the Loudoniana
nations, but as the procurator gave his casting vote in
favour of Lord Eglinton, his lordship was placed on an
equality as In the number of " nations" with Mr. Tenny-
son. The vice-rector, Dr. Itainny, then gave his casting
vote for his loraghip, giving him a majority of ono nation.
Lord Eglinton waz accordingly re-elected.

WHAT MIGHT BE DONE TO AVERT THE PESTILENCE. —I
have a profound conviction that nothing of a remedial
nature can be attempted (when whitewash and shovel have
done their present work) without a dispersion of the con-
gested life with which we have to deal, and with this a con-
sequent lowering of an unnatural value attained by certain
house property. I look upon this dispersion as the only
chance of safety for more than 50,000 fellow-creatures, the
only chance of avoiding a huge wreck of life. Look to
Newcastle. This dispersion must be effected, with the law,
if possible, but effected and at once. I think it may be done
thus :—Let houses of refuge on a large scale be immediately
formed at convenient localities, on existing lines of railway,
within ten or fifteen miles of London. Let passage within
this distance, by means of a general rate, be made easy.
Let all condemnable dwellings be forthwith compulsorily
closed. Let residence in all localities upon a certain low
level be discouraged, and the formation of business premises
in their place be by all means enforced. Let the extension
of the metropolitan railways to convenient central termini
be no longer delayed. Let new suburban lines, if possible,
be commenced. Let small markets be erected at frequent
intervals, in which costermongers should be compelled to
store and sell :their gods. Let poor-rates be equally spread
over the entire metropolitan area; and, finally, let the Queen
be petitioned to cause a royal commission to issue for the
attainment of that grand object, a life-possible home for the
Poor. lam supposing we are prepared to sanction a large
outlay for these purposes ; it might possibly be cheaper to
let us die; but the money-cost of even 50,000 lives (and the
cost of 50,000 deaths), supposing us worth no more than the
fifth of an American nigger, would be something more than
a million sterling. Look at Newcastle. And again I say,
what is done must be done at once, for the night is at hand.
—The Builder.

LIVERPOOL DISTRICT COURT OF BAIYERUPTCIS

YESTERDAY.

, (BEFORE MA. COMMISSIONER STEVENSON.)
; IN RE BENJAMIN DAvia, draper, Holywell.
Mr. EVANs said that he had been instructed by Messrs.
Sale, Worthington, and Shipman, of Manchester, attorneys
for the assignees, to mention a circumstance in connection
with this case, which had given rise to considerable annoy-
' ante. The petition was filed on the 3rd, and adjudication
took place on the sth of May last, and the 20th of May
. last and the 16th of June, were appointed the days for Bur.;
render. The bankrupt did not surrender, and he had there=
fore by the 251st section of the act, committed a felony and
rendered hiniself liable to imprisonment or transportation ;
but in order to prove that he had committed the felony, it
was necessary, first, to show that notice had been given in
the Gazette, and, secondly, that a summons in writing had
been served upon him personally, or left at the last knori
place of his abode. The bankrupt did not surrender on the
appointed day, and the creditors were put to considerable
expense in endeavouring to trace out some property which
had been removed from place to place. But it being eveo-
tually discovered that the bankrupt was living in Manches-
ter, an application was made to his Honor to direct that a
prosecution be instituted against him at the expense of the
Chief Re,gistrar's funds The application was granted on the
3rd of this month, and the magistrates immediately granted
a warrant on the proceedings in the Court of Bankruptcy
being produced to them. The bankrupt was arrested, ankl
on being brought before the magistrates, applied for a re-
mand in order to obtain legal assistance. The remand was
accordingly granted, and he was again brought up at the
police-office on last Friday. Mr. Evans here detailed all
that occurred on that occasion ; but it is unnecessary
for us to do so, as a report of the case was given
in our ensuing publication on Saturday. The proceed-
ings in the Court of Bankruptcy were regularly proved, but
it appearing by the evidence of a Mr. Bell, auctioneer, Holf-
well, to whom the summons for surrender had been sent
for service, that he had posted the summons inside tbe
shop! then locked the door and took the key with him, the
magistrate held that this was not a proper service, and dis-
charged the bankrupt. The consequence was, Mr. Evans
proceeded to say, that the bankrupt went away ; no prose..
(nion uuultl therefore Laic -race, awl 1,1.. c v.,,a14,...,, w 0,,,,
laughed at for their trouble in the matter. The service pf
the summons was entrusted to the proper officer of the
court, the messenger, and it was his duty to see that it was
served in such a way that the act of parliament would haye
been complied with. The solicitor having charge of the
case had nothing whatever to do with it. It was altogether
in the messenger's hands, and if he could not have attended
at the place himself, he should have taken care to have ell-
ployed a proper person to serve the summons, If the me -
senger had gone to the place himself, and had known t o
circumstances, and that the bankrupt could not have acce s
to the shop, he would most certainly have taken a different
course from that adopted. Or if a solicitor had been em-
ployed, he would have taken care that the service was pro-
perly done. But here an improper person was employepl,
and the consequence was that the bankrupt escaped, aid
the labours of the creditors went for nothing. In conclu-
sion, Mr. Evans said, that he had been requested to mention
this matter thus publicly to his Honor, in order to prevent
a recurrence of such cases, and then read the letter which
he had received from Messrs. Sale, Worthington, and
Shipman, in which they represented the annoyance their
clients, Messrs. Samuel and James Watts, who were credi-
tors against the estate for £lOO, experienced at the turn
matters had taken ; and stating that as the case should be
begun de MVO, they would cease all further proceedings. '
Mr. GASKILL, the messenger, was then sent for, and on
being made aware of Mr. Evans's statement, he observed
that what that gentleman had stated was true. When this
file was originally opened by Mr. Evans, it was stated that
there was a very large stock of drapery goods at the bank-
rupt's place in Holywell. Upon this he (Mr. Gaskill) sent
over one of his messengers, and immediately followed him
himself, but found nothing there but an empty shop. Hear-
ing, then, that the goods had been removed, he told the mes-
senger that he would be better employed in looking after the
property than in keeping watch over bare walls ; and as soon
as the man had done so, he communicated with Mr. Evans,
and was directed to withdraw, and to give up the keys to
the auctioneer. If the man had not been withdrawn lie
would have remained in the house, and no question as to the
proper service of the summons would have arisen ; but even
as the matter stood, he (Mr. Gaskill) contended that he had
complied with the Act of Parliament, by leaving the sum-
mons at the bankrupt's last known place of abode. Itis
wife, moreover, lived within a few doors of the premises, and
knew full well that Mr. Bell had the keys of the house, and
that they could be had if at any moment the bankrupt re-
turned and wished to enter the house. The man could not
help locking up the premises when he was told to withdraw.
As to the service of the summons by deputy, (he Mr.
Gaskill) could not do it personally, because he would not be
allowed his personal expenses for going there ; he was there-
fore obliged to do it by an agent, and he contended that in
this instance the auctioneer was a proper agent, inasmuch as
he had been a solicitor's clerk in Manchester and Liverpool for
sionai ageliti-liaugrelirasi WatirceNnfiteud t1kaae...21191:.
nearly six hundred miles, nor could he attend in all places
himself, because he would not be allowed his personal ex-
penses for doing so. At the same time he should still contend
that in this case the act of parliament had been complied
with. The summons had been left at the bankrupt's last
known place of abode—it could not bo loft at the public
house, or at tho nost door, and he was still to learn that the
',shutter or the door was " the last known placa of abode" of
the bankrupt.
___.

The 003 L-MISSIONER : Have you never on any occasion
posted the summons outside ?

- Mr. GASKILE : Never.
The COMMISSIONER : Then, I suppose, the doors were
open.

Mr. GASKILL : Not always; we have had similar cases to
this, and it was never disputed that we had complied with
the act of parliament. Tne act says nothing of posting on
shutters or doors, but of leaving the summons at the bank-
rupt's " last known place of abode."
Mr. EVANS : But here is the wife living within a few
doors of the house, and she has not been informed—at least
it does not appear so upon the evidence—of this service.
Mr. GA.sxua, : I beg your pardon. The wife knew that
Bell had the keys, and if the bankrupt had returned at any
time he could have had admission.

The COMMISSIONER : Is it clear that the service outside
the house would be thoroughly right ? I would not, nor
am I called upon, to give an opinion on that point now; but
is it clear that the service outside the house is right ? If it
is not, then the act is made a dead letter. If thb messenger
had employed a solicitor, would he be allowed the usual
charge of a professional man in such a case ?
Mr. GAsKILL : Certainly not ; and if he should employ a
solicitor he would have charged me just double what I am
allowed. I would have had to pay him 13s. 4d., and lam
allowed only 6s. Bd.
The COMMISSIONER asked if in that case it would not be a
hardship on the messenger to requiro him to employ a soli-
citor ?

Mr. EVANS did not think that the messenger was
so badly paid in the matter, and cited one or two of the
fees.

Mr. GASKILL said that that was not the question.
Besides, the Messenger was paid not by salary but by
fees.

Mr. AYRES, Mr. Gaskill's clerk, observed that that gentle-
man had gone over to Holywell, in the first instance, not to
serve the summons, but to look after property to a large
amount which was said to have been removed. He had his
man there to perform the other duty.
The COMMISSIONER inquired if Bell had done anything
before for the court ?

Mr. GASKILL replied that he had, and that Holywell was
so small a place, that the receipt of the summons there
would have been known in a moment.

The COMMISSIONER: But the complaint is that the case
fell to the ground for want of proper service.
Mr. GASKILL : The summons was left at the bankrupt's
" last known place of abode," and there has been, I contend,
a proper service.

The COMMISSIONER observed that the magistrates deci-
ded that the summons should have been posted outside.
Mr. GASKILL : The magistrates have decided that the
shutters were the bankrupt's last place of abode, and that I
deny. And Mr. EVANS, when before them, contended for
what I do now.

The COMMISSIONER said, that the question for his con-
sideration was whether or not the failure in the case had
arisen from the messenger not having properly fulfilled ihis
duty—either in not having been at the place himself, or in
not baying employed a competent person to act for him.
He thought, under the circumstances, that it could hardly
be expected that the messenger, not being allowed his
personal travelling expences, should have gone down to the
place himself. He was required, certainly, to employ a
person that was likely to do the duty properly that was ,en-
trusted to him ; but here it could not positively be alleged
that such a person had not been employed. Various
opinions were entertained as to what constituted a proper
service in such a case ; but if it were necessary, as it was
not, for him to express an opinion, he (the Commissioner)
should say that he was inclined to think that the summons
should have been posted outside.
Mr. EVANS observed, that they were in this difficulty : if
they posted the summons inside the house, and left the door
open, it might be said that any person could have gone in
and torn it down ; and if they posted it inside, and locked
the door, then the present objection would again arise.
The COMMISSIONER said that to avoid all mistakes it
would be well to paste it inside and outside, and thereby
comply with the spirit of the act. In this matter it was to
be very much regretted that such a point had arisen, as it
was very desirable, from the nature of the case, that it
should have come before the court and be made an example
of. He could quite understand why the creditors should
have been so much annoyed, but he thought it would be a
very harsh view to take of the matter to say that the case
had failed through neglect on the part of the messenger.
Mr. Gaskill himself said that he considered the posting,
under the circumstance, a proper service, and that he him-
self would have done precisely as Bell did, and therefore he
(the Commissioner) did not think that any charge could be
laid against him. In conclusion, his Honor said that in
future, if application were made to him, he would at once