The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-27 00:00:00

AY

doing in bugle laces and edgings. Yarns appear
likely to maintain their price, or go even a little
higher. Silk it is impossible to form any opinion
about ; it is at an enormous price at present.
There is a fair demand for hosiery, both for home
and shipping. The Amurican orders, although not
so large as last year, are very general, and machinery
is well employed. The upward tendency of the
wool market has given firmness to the prices of
yarns, and consequently to goods ; and parties who
have been holding off for lower rates are now dis-
posed to operate, as there is more confidence in
the stability of prices. From Leeds we have the
following report :—" Trade has been quiet during
the week, particularly at the commencement ; sub-
sequently, a rather improved feeling manifested
itself, but sales were confined to present require-
ments. The hardware trade of Birmingham con-
tinues in a healthy state. The factors' orders are
remarkably good from all parts of the country.
Accounts from the district as to the condition of
the manufacturing trades in that quarter are equally
satisfactory.
We are reqUested to state that the City of
Glasgow Bank has not a branch at Coupar-Angus;
as reported in connection with a charge of forgery
against a bank agent there.

THE PEOPLES' SATURDAY EVENING
CONCERTS, ST. GEORGE'S HALL.

The fourth of these popular entertainments took place on
Saturday night, in S. Ge ,rge's Hall, and we feel gratifica-
tion at being able, with justice, to speak of it in the same
terms of praise in which we have noticed the preceding
concerts. The programme was again well chosen and
attractive, comprising, in addition to several popular melo-
dies, no less than three pieces on the grand organ. These
were " Grand March (II Pirate)," Bellini ; the " Overture
to•Masaniello," &c., and had the entertainment been confined
sold v to them, no one acquainted with their glorious
mole y ,vill deny but that it would have been value twice
over for the small sum for which the entree is secured. The
vocalists were Mrs. Morgan, Miss Wiatt, Madame Coral,
Mr. D. iranda, and Mr. Tempest. It is unnecessary that
we should enter into any lengthened notice of their efforts,
all, with the exception of Mr. Miranda, being already well
known to the concertgoing public of Liverpool. Of him
we may be allowed to say something, and we shall do so
briefly, because, in speaking of his performance, we
can apply to it every term of commendation. Mr. Miranda
has long attained the pcsition of a favourite with the Lon-
don public, but Saturday night was his first appearance
before the patrons of the St. George's Hall Concerts. He
possesses a tenor voice of power, sweetness, and flexibility,
and enhances these qualities still more by a clear, distinct
articulation—every word in his vocalisation being as plainly
heard as if declaimed. He was effective in all his songs, but
his singing of "The Bay of Biscay" was such as to elicit
from the audience enthusiastic applause. Mr. Tempest, too,
male also a successful debut at these concerts. We need
scarcely say that he is an accomplished member of the Theatre
Royal Company, and that his presence at the St. George's
Hall Concerts is as strong a proof as Mr. Copeland could
afford of his desire to promote all rational amusement for
" the million." He not only ably caters for them at his
well supported establishments, but has the manliness to
contribute aid towards what some might consider competing
amusements. There is, however, "room enough for all," end
no man suffers by a well directed liberality. Of Madame
Correlli, Mrs. Morgan, and Miss Wiatt we have already
spoken in terms of commendation in these columns ; and we
shall, therefore, merely say here that, on Saturday night,
they fully sustained their well earned reputation.
We regret to learn that, although the attendance at
these entertainments have been fully commensurate with
the expectations of Mr. Reynolds, yet the numerous and
heavy expenditure attendant on the Hall, &c., have at
present entailed a loss on the manager. We hope, for the
sake of our town, that this will not continue to be, for a
more bold and deserving undertaking it has never been our
task to chronicle.

THE LIVEROOL TOWN DUES

(From Yesterday's Observer.)

The question of the shipping tolls levied by the corpo-
rations of many of our seaport towns, and expended for
their own local purposes, although exacted from the
commerce of the country, cannot remain in abeyance. A
Mile more promptitude on the part of the people of Man-
chester in their protest against the tax levied upon their
industry by these tolls for the adornment of the town of
Liverpool, might have enabled the Government to carry
through the measure introduced last session. The com-
mittee to which the subject was referred abstained from
making any recommendation, but the evkleuuu rney navo

published is sufficient to condemn the exactions which it
was the object of that measure to put an end to. The
shipping dues are doomed, with all their concomitant
vexations. There are cases, no doubt, where the revenues
derivable from these tolls have been mortgaged for the
purpose of raising sums which have been expended in im-
proving the navigation and constructing works useful to the
shipping frequenting the respective ports. That is a kind
of vested interest which may be fairly respected, and it is
not likely there would be any difficulty in obtaining the
assent of Parliament to a measure of compensation from
the Consolidated Fund. But no good plea can be urged
against the unreserved abolition of passing tolls, and of
tolls expended for mere local objects entirely unconnected
with the shippint, from which they are derived. The
arrangement that has been effected for the discontinuance
of the " Sound Dues " with the Danish Government, gives
assurance that our own local imposts of the same nature
cannot be allowed to continue. Hitherto, in modern
times, the European Governments have submitted to the
exaction of the Sound Dues from their subjects, principally
out of consideration for a weak State. When, however,
the Government of America refused to allow the tolls
demanded on passing the Sound to be any longer exacted
from the shipping of that country, it was necessary to
devise some means of extinguishing them altogether. 'The
question was very fairly met by the Danish Government,
and the terms on which they proposed to abolish the tolls
have been assented to by our own and the other principal
Governments of Europe. Denmark relinquishes the dues,
which formed no inconsiderable portion of her revenue,
on terms which must be considered liberal on her part.
For example, the dues paid by British shipping amounted
to z.70,a10 per annum. The dues are to be capitalised, and
the capital sum paid to Denmark 'by England, will repre-
sent at the current interest a sum of £45,000 per annum.
The arrangement of this question will naturally cause a
still greater disinclination to tolerate the continuance of
our own local imposts. Where there are vested interests
of the nature we have alluded to, such as mortgage
bonds the proceeds of which have been applied to any
works from which the shipping charged with the tolls
derive advantage, such cases will no doubt receive the
consideration they are entitled to. There may be other
cases in which a reasonable ground for a compromise—
by granting a moderate compensation—may be shown. No
doubt, in any fresh measure on the subject, all these
circumstances will be sufficiently provided for, but the
duration of the tolls themselves, which are opposed to the
spirit of the times in which we live, is near its end.