The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-16 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

bly adjusted, and that no steps will be taken to
effect a blockade of the ports of that republic by
the British fleet.

is without a parallel in history. Finally, we are
rejoiced to find, that the Message is as pacific as
we could well wish it to be ; and the Central
American question is in a fair way of being ami-
cably settled.

PRESIDENT PIERCE'S Message resembles all
the State documents which have gone before it. I
A more complete pocket edition of the history of
a year of human life and national existence could
not have been produced by the abridging hand
of a GOLDSMITH or a PINNOCK. The condensed
narration gives the broad outline, and distin-
guishing features, of a great family of giants
struggling for ascendency among themselves,
while they are at peace with the rest of the
world. This contest has arrived at very remark-
able dimensions, and bids fair to grow in propor-
tion to the increase in the numbers and prospe-
rity of the combatants, who, like most other
people, seem doomed to the toil of averting mis-
fortunes in order to make room for calamities.
This may not be so; still, if we judge from com-
parison, it appears as though the promised pro-
gress of a young country was beset with as many
difficulties and dangers, as the retrogression and
downfall of the mightiest empire. The same
mountain of cardinal errors, moral weakness, and
national sin, faces the great and youthful Col-
lossus that follows in the wake of the grey-
headed and withered HERCULES of our time.
Man's cupidity, revelling in the most wanton,
social, and political depravity—the tyrant claim-
ing property in the flesh and blood of his fellow-
creature—mental' power—political sagacity, and
cultivated genius distorting truth—outraging
Divine law, and disgracing humanity, are things
which are to be found among the toys in the
Republican cradle, as well as among the hobbies
which we associate with the crutches of Mon-
archy.
The past and promised growth of the United
States is perfectly astounding ; but it is not un-
alloyed with human frailty, or wholly free from
man's blindness and cruelty. The type of his
fallen state—the original plitical sin—slavery,
is still rife in what President PIERCE calls, by
way of a paradox, we presume, " The Great
" Republic of the World." There are many
worlds in eastern fable, and it must he to one of
these that Mr. PIERCE alludes, for no statesman
of those countries which really hold a respect-
able position, and lay claim to a high degree
of political morality, dare say to Europe, that an
enactment, which gave its King's, to say nothing
of its citizens, a monopoly in human flesh, was
" a compact of perpetual moral obligation," and
that its " repeal would constitute an odious breach
" of faith." -We must import statesmen from the
Union, when we need rulers with sufficient hardi-
hood to give utterance to such sentiments, and to
reveal the secrets of a twelvemonth's Govern-
ment, such as President PIERCE is about to sur-
render to his successor. We repudiate all origi-
nal and imitative compacts with SATAN ; but
Mr. PIERCE says of the American Abolitionists,
who think as we do, that " they have entered a
" path which leads nowhere, unless it be to civil
" war and disunion ; and which has no other
"possible outlet." This is a mere piece of poli-
tical superstition, which is opposed to proper
religious teaching and healthy moral conviction.
It is the climax of a frightful category of illusions,
and with them we must leave the Abolitionists to
deal for the present: Mr. PIERCE was, is, and
will ever remain a slaver ; and, if his successor
belongs to the same stock, we shall have slave-
grown produce cheaper than it can be obtained
from those free nations where the industry of the
labourer has been most shamefully neglected.
Turning from the incomprehensible portion of
the Republican Message, which has, no doubt,
confounded and enraged the people of the States,
we. can find much to encourage the Abolitionists,
and true friends of America's peace and progress.
Financially, the Union is incomparably rich
Her income amounted, for the fiscal year, to
92,850,117 dollars; and the expenditure, includ-
ing 15,776,390 dollars paid to Mexico and in
liquidation of the public debt, to 72,948,792
dollars, leaving a surplus income of 19,901,325
dollars. The customs, it appears, contributed
more than 64,0000,00 dollars towards the re-
venue, and the sale of public lands 8,821,414
dollars. The former of these items shows, in our
humble opinion, the extreme folly of adhering to
a high and prohibitive tariff, and the latter the
true source of income on which the States should
rely. Within the year the Government have
sold, and located with " military scrip," no less
than forty millions three hundred and twenty-
eight thousand one hundred and eight acres of
land. This vast and' growing demand for the
soil, shows the rapid strides the Union is making
in population and agricultural prosperity. To
drag from the necessities of the multitude,
64,000,000 dols. for a Government whose average
expenditure for the next five years will not
exceed 50,000,000, while they have suet a pro-
lific source of revenue as their public domain, is
a grievous hardship, Mr. PIERCE seems to view
the system as most impolitic at the twelfth hour,
and he recommends a change to the consideration
of the citizens.
Whether the vanishing PRESIDENT'S advice will
be taken, remains to be seen. The slaveholder
stands more in need of Free-Trade than even the
Northern manufacturer ; but that both classes
would be benefitted by free imports, is quite
clear. The most prosperous trade —the most
mighty limb of commerce of which we can boast
—is our unshackled cotton trade. Had that
inexhaustible spring of employment and profit
been taxed by our Legislature for the last thirty
years, what would it have been to the England
or America of to-day ? It owes its greatness, as
America does, to the absence of harsh and arbi-

WE have recently witnessed two most fright-
ful tragedies in Liverpool from fire in our narrow,
foul, and barricaded courts. Poor FAGAN and
family were burnt to death owing to the
impossibility of getting at his wretched hovel
to give the sleeping husband, wife, and children
the alarm. And now we have to add poor
DANIEL APKILLoP and his wife to the list of
sufferers. In the latter instance there was some

reasonable means of access to the scene of deso-
lation ; but there are hundreds of courts in
Liverpool similar to that in which FAGAN and
his family lost their lives. These disgusting
rookeries are, in fact, closed up at one end as if
to prevent the possibility of retreat in case of fire,
and free circulation of air where the greatest
number of persons are congregated in the
narrowest space. When a fire occurs in the first
or second house in a court, it cuts off all com-
munication with the main street, for those living
at the enclosed end. Had the flames spread to
the cottages at the back of the house occupied
by FAGAN, nothing could have saved their
inmates from destruction. They were all shut
in by high walls on every side. Those who
oppose the opening of these courts must, how-
ever, see the danger to life which we have pointed
out.

The health of the poor also requires the most
perfect ventilation we can bestow upon them.
Our courts are wretchedly damp, owing to the
shutting out of a free current of air, and clean-
liness cannot be secured where the flags are
always wet, and the lower floors of a house damp.
The public health is therefore endangered by
the system of court closing we have been follow-
ing. The original design of the concoctors o f
this nuisance has never been sufficiently explained
to justify the authorities losing sight of it, now
that a lamentable loss of life has attended it.
That all the poor people in the house in Raglan-
place were not burnt to death appears to be little
short of a miracle. A few moments more lost
in sleep, and all must have perished. The
barricades prevent the police going through
these very places where their vigilance and pro-
tection are most required. When a riot takes
place and the constables are needed in force,
there is only one point at which they can
effect an entrance. The disorderly know the
advantage of this arrangement full well, while
the quiet and sober poor who are compelled to
live in courts deplore the want of a safe retreat
most bitterly. But the subject may not be
thought of sufficient importance to require the
prompt attention of the Corporation.
We may be left to go on until some still more
heartrending calamities occur than those which
have happened within only a few weeks of each
other. When cholera becomes a plague, or one-
half of the inhabitants of our entire courts have
been burnt to death, then, probably, something
be done to let the air into these homes of
filth, and to let out the people in moments of
danger from fire. But it is not necessary, surely,
to wait for a repetition of either of these catas-
trophes, in order to get those whose duty it
is to attend to such matters, to bring the subject
under the notice of the Council. By open-
ing the courts we should have so many short
streets through which the police would pass
occasionally during-the night. This advantage,
added to those of a sanitary character which
would improve ventilation, would add very
materially to the maintenance of both the peace
and health of the poorer sections of the borough.
May'we then hope that some of the philanthropic
and reasonable members of the Council will call
the attention of the Corporation to the subject.
The fire which occurred in Raglan-place, though
not attended by the same sacrifice of life, will, it
is to be hoped, serve as a timely warning to
habitual drunkards who set no bounds to their
brutal thirst for the drink which robs them of the
sense required at every moment of their existence
for the protection of life.

THE PAST PROGRESS AND FUTURE
PROSPECTS OF AUSTRALIA.

It is only a week since we made some remarks upon a
subject akin to our present heading. But, although it
may seem extraordinary, that we should so soon again
refer to the same subject, yet to us and all other public
journalists who take, an interest in the rapid and
extraordinary development of the resources and wealth
of our Australian colonies, we consider it a duty
to notice the latest facts in connection with these
interesting regions, so that all who desire to try
their fortunes in this second land of promise may
know exactly how they are likely to fare on reaching the
antipodes. By this means they whO are still in that
unhappy and unpleasant position—doubt--can at once
determine to proceed or stay at home. It is only a week
to-day since we received full files of Melbourne papers to
September 12, Sydney, to September 11, and from other
quarters of an equally late date. A careful perusal of
their contents warrant us in stating that of the present
wealth and futuaei, greatness of the Australian colonies
it is almost impossible to speak in a manner that will not
by some be regarded as inflated and over drawn. Our
answer to such an insinuation is, that at the present
moment Victoria, the junior of the Australian colonies,

has, within the short space of not much more than ten
years, attained a commercial position much more signi-
ficant than the majority of the Continental States. of
Europe. Her gold fields, to all appearance, are inex-
haustible ; yet she does not rely upon them, valuable
though they be. Her trade and commerce has grown,
and is growing with a rapidity that borders on the marvel-
lous. Melbourne Bay is studded with ships and steamers
of every clime. From the north to the south, and from
the east to the west, Christians, Jews, Turks, and
Infidels, alike swarm to this wonderful quarter of the
British possessions. Hence it is, that last year the total
exports from Victoria amounted in value to 11,775,0001,
and of this large amount the United Kingdom received
10,276,0001, and our other colonies 1,372,0001. The:value
of the gold exported was 8.255,0001, the whole of which,
with the exception of 320,0001 shipped to other British
colonies, was received in this country. On the other
hand, Victoria received, in exchange for her gold and
other produce, articles from this country to the value of
10,942,0004 and from our British colonies 4,467,0001, the
total value of ht - imports being 17,659,0001. The colony
of New South Wales, the elder of the group, sent us its
produce to the value of of 2,307,0001, and to other colonies
y, including
1,624,00011 LThe entire exports of the colon

trary taxation ; and if every other branch of ex-
changeable industry were released to-morrow
from the jaws of " Protection," we should witness
all around us, in a few years, that which we see
in cotton. The Americans have a source of
revenue on which they can rely for centuries to
come ; and that they should tax their necessaries
to nearly double the amount required for the
government of their country, is an anomaly which

those to foreign countries, amounted to 4,030,0001, of which
sum 773,0001 was the value of the gold produced in the
country. But, again, we have South Australia, which is
" rich" in its own peculiar way. It cannot boast of gold
or silver mines, but there is abundance of copper,
and the agriculture and pasturage of the colony had
proved, and is still proving it to be, a most desirable
resort for industrious and steady emigrants. As a proof
of the growing importance of South Australia, we may
mention that last year that colony was a customer to the
manufacturers and producers of this c nintry of goods to
the value of -e1,628,000, and from our colonies of £392,000
while the South Australians sent us in return their raw
material to the value of £611,000, and to British colonies,
principally Victoria, they exported produce of the value
of £708,000. Tasmania has been long and favourably
known as a desirable resort for the British emigrant.
Gold has lately been discovered there, and it bids fair to
rival some of the more opulent and extensive commercial
of the group. Every day adds some new fact to demon-
strate that, ere a century passes this quarter of the world
will stand pre-eminent in all that contributes to tl
greatness of a people. Churches, colleges, and
schools are reared with rapidity; cities are
beautified, squares and streets laid out, and public
buildings erected with a rapidity and beauty that
would shame the mother country. Internal improvements
are going on rapidly. Railways will soon form a network
over each of the colonies. The electric wire is being laid
down from colony to colony. In a word, everything that
can render this portion of God's creation far famed, a
pleasant and a prosperous abode for the British emigrant,
a model for agricultural, mining, and commercial industry,
has been put in operation. To speak of the beauty of the
Australian landscape, to delineate the brilliant plumage
of its feathered tribe, the resources and the capabilities of
all the colonies would be a task of a herculean character,

Suffice it to say they are unequalled as whole in another
part of the globe. They who wish to employ they indus-
try, skill, and ingenuity in other than their native lands
should make Australia their future home. They should
not halt between two opinions. This reminds us that we
have lately paid a visit to that wonderful, but no less
far-famed maritime palace—the :Steam-ship Grea
Britain—of whom Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Co., are
the consignees. She is now undergoing extensive repairs
and alterations. She is in a forward state of
preparation for the voyage' to Melbourne, her appointed

day of sailing being the 15th of February. The history Of
the Great Britain proves that for strength and durability
she cannot be surpassed; whilst her performances, under
both steam and canvas, shew that her sailing powers are
first class. She has had a new stern post, forged at the
Mersey Foundry, which is said to be the most ponderous
piece of wrought iron ever put together for any purpose.
She is to be fitted with a new double blade screw, of fine
pitch, to be attached to a lifting apparatus ; and has a
new figure-head—lion and unicorn—life-size ; her masts
have been moved forward, alterations also have been made
in her rig to enable her to carry one-fourth more canvas
than heretofore; and a full poop has been built on deck.
In consequence of altering the position of her masts, she
will have one instead of two funnels, and that will be
oval in shape. She will be able to carry nearly 600
passengers, about 2,000 tons of cargo, 1,000 tons of coal, be-
sides stores and water for a voyage to Australia. By these
improvements it is expected that the voyage will be perform-
ed from port to port under sixty days. But, ever alive to the
interests of the passengers, attd studying how their health,
comfort, and happiness can be best promoted while on the
voyage, the owners have paid particular attention to the
ship's ventilation. The berths are both roomy and airy,
whilst the state cabins are so constructed as to satisfy the
most fastidious. The arrangements for cooking and serving
up the provisions are most effective. There are baths and
water-closets in abundance, and a large portion of the
fore saloon on deck is set apart as an hospital. The main
saloon is constructed to dine 103 first-class passengers.
There is a separate cabin for the la-lies, which will be
fitted up with a library and a piano-forte, so that when
the weather is unfavourable for promenading the deck,
they can enjoy an intellectual or musical treat.
Their comforts have been attended well to. The ship
has been made perfect in every respect. And she will go
forth wanting in nothing which can secure a speedy run,
or impart to all on board health, and a pleasant time
during the passage. The Great Britain is to be com-
manded
by Captain :Gray, a gentleman of extensive
nautical experience, and who has already earned for him-
self the esteem and admiration of the many thousands
who have sailed with him since he took charge of his
noble craft. It must be a source of much comfort to pas-
sengers to know that their captain is cool in danger, that
he is ever on the alert, and that whilst insisting upon
order and decorum, he administers his authority with
becoming gentleness, and in such a way as to win the
gratitude of all with whom he comes in contact. Our
knowledge of Captain Gray enables us to say, that in all
these respects he stands pre-eminent. Many and un-
bounded have been the praises which he received whilst
engaged in the transport service. In him the wounded
soldier, who had gone forth to battle in his
country's cause, found a kind-hearted friend, who
left no means untried to assuage grief and
relieve pain and suffering. It is a remarkable and an
important fact that of all the emigrants he has carried out
to Australia there has not been a single death. Captain
Gray is fortunate in having first-rate officers—men who
are bent in carrying out his instructions- Inleed the
second mate, Mr. Turner, has distinguished himself in a
very marked manner, and left on record an unparallelled
instance of daring bravery and courage. When in the
transport service, and as the Great Britain was running
between Genoa and Constantinople, a man was washed
over board. The ship was steaming ten or eleven knots an
hour. An alarm was raised, Mr. Turner jumped over-
board, and notwithstanding the danger, got hold of
the man who was in the act of perishing, and kept him
above water until a boat was launched, and he was
placed therein. Great interest will be attached to
the forthcoming voyage of this truly noble vessel. Expe-
rience of her past performances induce the hope that she
will eclipse her consort the Royal Charter, and that she
will run to the Antipodes in a shorter space of time than
any sailing clipper or screw or paddle steamer ever did
before. She will start on the voyage with the best
wit- hes of the country at large for her safety and success,
and the earnest and universal desire, that eventually her
spirited and enterprising owners will :meet that due
reward which such gigantic and noble efforts so truly
merit.