The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES,

Sir,—This morning being very foggy on the Mersey, in
crossing, my attention was called to the compass; to
quote the captain's reply, it was of "no use?' Now, sir,
as security to life is a point the marine department of the
Board of Trade profess to protect, may I ask the
question, for the good of the public, if ferry and other
steamers are entitled to a passenger certificate with
defective compasses and inefficient water-tight bulk
heals ? Your insertion of this communication will only
be a confirmation that your disinterested untrammeled
journal is open to expose public" abuses, and protect
thereby public interest, and, by that rule, you only carry
out your duty to that part of her Britannic. Majesty's
subjects you derive support from.—Yours, &c.. .

- JOHN CLARE, Jun.,
20, Exchange-buildings, by the Underwriters' Rooms
Liverpool, Oct. 22, 1856.

Sir Stafford Northcote attended a public meeting of his
constituents at Dudley, on Tuesday night, the mayor pre-
...
The hon. speaker alluded, but with many profes-
f diffidence, to the state of our relations with Naples,
-

siding,

loped that

all would turn

At the conclusion of his speech

which la

I more than an hour, a vote of confilen.ce for
one year was carried. An amendment for a general vote of
confiience was not seconded.

MERICAN RAILWAYS.—The following is extracted from

the circular of Messrs. G. A. Thomson and Co., dated Lon
don, the 21st October :—" Every month the development
of American railways becomes more striking, and the returns
which the leading lines fairly earn and pay upon their stocks
are so great that they can hardly fail to attract more general
attention from English investors before long. English rail-
way investments may be said to yield at present prices a
maximum return of five per cent, whereas, it is a very
moderate statement to say that the principal American
railway stocks yield a minimum return of ten per cent.
The management of American railwai s, judged from the
careful and minute reports issued by the board of direction,
and the large amount of business conducted on the lines, is
admitted by all who have examined the subject to be most
satisfactory, and deserving of confidence. American securi-
ties are now largely held in England, as well as in France and
Germany, and those who have gone into them with due care
have, in recent years, de. ived returns on their investments
not attainable in this country, and with those parties the
disposition to make further purchases is quite general.
With others who have merely general impressions regarding
America and the Americans, derived from newspaper read-
ing, undue prejudices prevail. These prejudices are not
surprising, when the leading journal of this country loses no
opportunity of publishing reports calculated to increase
them ; but time will show that reports recently published,
prejudicial to the American character, have not been suffi-
ciently authenticated. To thole who are conversant with
American business, it is well known that the merchants and
bankers of New York and other principal cities of the Union,
merit the highest respect for the spirit of integrity and
liberality by which they are guided in business, combined
with the most enlightened enterprise. Well selected invest-
men s may be made in America with as much confidence,
as to security, as in any country in the world ; and they yield
greater returns than can be obtained elsewhere."