The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-18 00:00:00

taken of //

favourable

ct created by this news was increased
the message of the President of the
United States being much milder towards England
than was expe.ted; and it was still further increas-
ed by the Moniteur having published a report from
the Minister of Finance to the Emperor, on the
state of the finances ; which report says, that the
deficit of 1854 will not reach 70,000,000 f, (2,800,0000
and that of 1855 will only be 50,000,000 f. ;
that there still remain 535,000,000 f. of the recent

loans to disburse in expenses of the war; and that
the floating debt is only 625,000,000 f. (121,000,000 f.
less than last year), and the amount of Treasury
bills in circulation only 168,000,000 f.

As a set off to the couleur de roe view of things
which is taken to-day, it must be mentioned
that it is alleged in a Berlin despatch, that Eng-
land, in addition to what is set forth in the Aus-
trian propositions, peremptorily requires that the
fortifications of the Aland Isles shall, on no account
be rebuilt, and that Russia will not consent to this.
I am assured to-day on authority which is
entitled to tho very highest respect, and English
authority too, that the understanding between
Austria and England is much more intimate and
friendly than is generally supposed, and than the
recent state of their relations would cause to be
expected. Indeed it is said that their communica-
tions have lately assumed such a very cordial
character as to cause some little disquietude to the
Emperor of the French. • He has hitherto striven
hard to gain the good graces of Austria, and has
succeeded to a great extent. Hi 3 alliance with her
increased his power and prestige in Europe, and the
idea of seeing himself supplanted by England is
naturally not palatable to him.

A Trieste despatch gives bad news from the
Asiatic provinces of Asia. The Russians were
only at three hours' march from Erzeroum, The
despatch mentions a report that the Allies were
to evacuate the Crimea, with the exception of
Kamiesch and Balaklava, and that the English
-were to march against Tiflis, and the Sardinians
to join the Turks at Erzeroum. As to the French,
nothing is said of them. .This report, however,
merits no credit, for the Council of War now
assembled at the Tuileries can alone decide what
the plans of the new campaign are to be. The
despatch further says that Omer Pacha was to
leave for England, but this is either a mistake or

an absurdity

A Berlin despatch tells us that a sort of Congress
the petty princes of the Confederation is about
be held in that city, and that the Prince Regent
Baden and the Grand Duke of Weimar had
eady arrived to take part in it.

diers are to be seen everywhere
with their English medals on

t the Ens

iish Embassy last night,
the distribution of the

ery brilliant, on(

n, did

ball v

Lady

Aimmatemree.7--,
TIIE RUGELEY POISONING

CASES.

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE POST-MASTER--

HIS COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL

PROM OUR 017 N REPORTER

• RUGELEY, THURSDAY.
The adjourned investigation into the charge; preferred
against Mr. Samuel Cheshire, the post-master of Rugeley,
for opening a letter respecting the results of the analysis
of the stomach and intestines of the late Mr. John Parsons
Cooke, written by Professor Taylor to Mr. Gardener,
solicitor, of Rugeley, and making the same known to
William Palmer, was resumed this afternoon, at the
Talbot-hotel, Rugeley, before the county magistrates—.
Dr. Harwood presiding. The room was much crowded
during the proceedings.

Mr. Phillips, solicitor to the post-office, was again in
attendance, to conduct the case on the part of the post-

master-general,

tt The facts of the case, and the admission of the accused
at the'former hearing, to the extent that he found the
letter lying open in the post-office, and after looking into
the letter, communicated its contents to Palmer, have
already appeared in the papers, and the case had been
mainly adjourned for the purpose of the examination of
Mr. Ward, the coroner, to whom Palmer communicated
Dr. Taylor's letter after receiving its contents from Mr.
Cheshire. The attendance of Mr. Ward had also been
requested by the bench, in consequence of the evidence
given by George Bates at the first hearing on Thursday
last, and from which it has been inferred that Palmer
endeavoured to tamper with the coroner with reference to
the inquest on the body of Mr. Cooke.
At the commencement of the proceedings,
Dr. Harwood, the Chairman, said : Our meeting here
to-day is chiefly to obtain evidence from the coroner re.
specting two letters which he is said to have received from
William Palmer on the Bth and 13th of December respee'
tively. I believe he has been summoned—Does 110
appear ?
Mr. Bergen, superintendent of the Rugeley police: ,No;
he states that he has inquests to attend, and has sent a
letter.

4 Ellis Crisp, inspector of police at Rugeley, was then
examined : He said that on Friday last, the 11th of Jane'
ary, he served the coroner, Mr. Wm. Webb Ward, with a
summons to:appear here to-day, and produce two letters
named on the face of the summons. lie said, " Ireri
well."

Thomas Addison, clerk to Mr. Ward, the coroner, Wag
next calkd, and said he resided with Mr. Ward. 'TO
morning Mr. Ward gave him two letters, and desired hi'
to give them to the magistrates. lie said to witness that
he could not attend, in consequence of having an inquest
to attend to-day at Copend. One of the letters given me
by Mr. Ward to deliver to the magistrates is directed to
the magistrates, and is as follows :

Stafford, January 17, 1856-
Gentlemen,—l send you the letter I received from Mites;
I have none other, nor can I give ant evidence against
Cheshire ; if you wish to examine me oil sny question relat"
ing to William Palmer, would it not be well to do so after
the enquiry is concluded now pending on the body of
Walter Palmer? I must apologize for my non-attendance
to day, as inquests require my presence elQewhere.—l am,
yours obediently, WILLIAM WEBB WARD. ,
To the magistrates sitting ae the Post-office
Enquiry, at liugeley.
The other letter was directed to William Webb Ward,
Fan_

Dr. Harland read the letter, as follows, remarking that
there was no date to it :
My dear sim,— I am sorry to tell you that I am Oil/
_confined to my bed ; I do not thtnk it was mentioned at the,
inquest, yesterday, that Cook was taken ill on 'Sunday and
Mondafnight, in the same way as he was on theVoesdai
night when he died; the chambermaid at the Crown Hotel'
Master's, can prove this; I also believe that a Tr""
by the name of Fisher is coming to prove
that he received money at Shrewsbury ; n 0
here, he could only pay Smith £lO out of £4l 1
owed him. Had you not better Smith to prove this?
And again, whatever Professor- Taylor may say to-morroscf
be wrote from London last Tuesday night to Gardener to sag'
'We have this day finished our analysis, and can find ~
traces of either strychnia, prussic acid, or opium.' , W 119:
can beat this from a man like Taylor, if he says what het"'t"
already said, and Dr. Harland's evidence Mind you,
knc it in black and white, what Taylor said t.to
Ga, , 1
is strictly private and con*lential, but
is t Ar regards his betting I know nothing. of it,
is of ro good to any one. I hope the verdict to-mor-
•o will be that he died of natural causes, and end it. 1. vet

Ward ?