The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

With a

Birkenhead don,
~do said to him, " Mr. ilen&un, I feel very Corry fc
my native town, but Birkenhead must inevitably ruin Liver.
pool." What had been the result? Birkenhead bad ruined
itself. It was bankrupt, and this council had taken upon
itself the unprofitable concern. He urged that the corpora-
tion of Liverpool should do for the corporate estate what every
wise man wonld du for himself, and he asked any gentleman in
that room whether he would involve an esree of his own in
debt by making an outlay, unless with some possible chance
that there would be a moderate return for that outlay ? He
bad asked for a return of the Birkenhead estate for
months- He had not
believed it was so small an
that it would be unnecessary for him to mention it,
but it could easily be conceived by all the
gentlemen in the
room. The gentlemen around him, or some of them, might
make very glowing speeches about what would happen here-
after, and what the Birkenhead dock estate would become;
but he was a practical man himself, and 'would wish to see
something like an indication of these results. Re saw no
increase of Birkenhead ; he did not see that impetus of trade
which looked like any of their own dock, ; he did not see any
energy there ; the people of Birkenhead shrugged their
shoulders, and well they might; they would like to see
that corporation bear the whole of the outlay, and they were
very glad that Liverpool had taken the estate up. If Liver-
pool
not
had not taken it np, their streets would be empty, and no
no doubt, i, on. There would he building going on now
He did not wish to take up the time of the
council any longer by going further into tile question, but
would move as an amendment upon the clause that it be an

tuber of t

mittee,

got it,

,mount

nstruction to the special committee to modify their plant so
as to avoid, as far' as possible the large pre§ent btitlay ieqiureci
within so limited a period of time.

Mr Beckwith said he had great pleasure in seconding the

I amendment

Mr. Hornby said he entirely concurred with Mr. Hodson
at the undertaking of the. e6rporation Upon the
other side of the water Was one of great ,tnagni-
sede, and that the corporation Ought to look at it with
the most treriote ettentioh, and that the utmost care and pru-
derq't ought to be exercised in regard to it. But'he thought
there was great inconsistency in the remarks which had been
made by Mr-Hodson. (Hear, hear.) If he understood him
correctly, Mr. Hodson had always been an advocate for unitine
ahead docks with their otan. dock
him, also, to say that he had been tivd'urab
becoming possessed or the Birkenhead doeloi; st a cost of doe
million sterling. And yet be was tin-Willing that 4 idAesiarlt
outlay should be made, for making those docks available for
the pftrpOs`cs of commerce. (Hear, hear.) But it would
appeal, that s r. Hodson had forgotten that there was an act
of parliament passed, which was now in force, which recited
" that, in the first place, it is expedient that, with the smallest
possible delay, the Birkenhead docks shall be made available
for the purposes of commerce, and that they shall be united
under the same management as the Liverpool docks, and that
the same rates shall be paid for Bireenh'eads at are [ilia far
Liverpool." The act of parliament also enac'ed that the corpo-
ra/ion should carry out the stork's which Were at piesent auto-
rised to he ConstruCted at Birkenhead, according to the plans
of Rende,ll,—at an expense far exceeding that which the
coubtil now 'proposed to lay out ApOn theni ; and unless
they proceeded to parliament for poWers to Make the docks
available, they would be compelled, by the law as it now
stood to carry out those plans which would he far more ex-
pensive and ie'ry much less issnvewent to the commerce of
the port, (Hear, hear.) Now although it was stated in the
bill that the works which they proposed to construct Must
be made in 'the course of a few years, there could be no
doubt that when the Circumstances or the case were repre-
sented before a committee of the House of Commons, it
would be round that the time specified would be wholly
inadequate to die carrying out of such plans, and that fur-
ther reasonable time would be accorded to the object. The
ohjest of putting the same date into their bill which was
required by the act of last session, was that they should
show that they had a genuine intention of carrying out the
works with the least possible delay. There were two points
which were necessary to make those valuable works useful
and profitable to the town of Liverpool. It was absolutely
necessary that the pool should be deepened, and that a deep
water approach should be made, so as to make it available
for the large class of ships which were now built. This, of
course, would be done at the least possible expense. It did
not follow that because the plans which were now laid upon
the table were those proposed to be made, no modification
would be made in those plans in the course
of construction, which would 'render them more useful
for ,commercial purposes, and more economical also. He
apprehended that as the council stood at present they had no
alternative. They were bound to apply to parliament for
power to render the Birkenhead docks available, and the
special committee had exercised their • best discretion in
employing Mr. Hartley, whose experience in regard to the
commerce of Liverpool, and the docks of Liverpool, was
greater than that of any other man, and the result of his
deliberations had been laid upon the table of the council,
Under these circumstances he for his own part, although he
was as desirous as Mr. Hodson could be that the expenses
should be diminished—because he did not disguise from the
council, and he never had disguised from the council, that
for many years the corporation would be subject to very con-
siderable loss as in the case of all the other great undertakings
connected with the town by which Liverpool had obtained a
commerce so enormous, and had increased so rapidly—he had
no hesitation in expressing his own belief, although lie did not
wish to give any too-sanguine statement to the council, that
eventually the Birkenhead docks would become profitable to
the town and to the corporation. (Hear, hear.) But they
must have some patience, and must wait several years—there
could not be the least doubt of that—and they were all
perfectly aware of it, and Mr. Hodson himself was perfectly
aware that that must be the case when he consented to give a
million sterling for property at present producing such a small
return. He did not know that it was necessary for him to say
any more. He could only add that the special committee had,
to the beet of their judgment, carried out the instructions of
the council. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Samuel Holme confessed himself a little surprised at
the speech of Mr. Hodson, and thought it would have been
.ble that that, gentleman should have made himself a
better acquainted with the whole subject before he
o: ought it forward.. While, upon the one hand he deprecated
very much the discussion of these details in the present posi •
two of the transaction with reference to the property in ques-
tion, yet as they had been brought forward by Mr. Hodson,
in his capacity of councillor, it was of course desirable that
same reply should go forth. At the same time, -he must
again express his regret that the council should be 'drawn into
the di.cussion at the present period, when they were assembled
for the purpose of considering the clauses of the act 6f parlia-
ment, which must be investigated, together with the other
great questions connected with them, by a committee of the
House of Commons. He would first speak with reference to
tho period within which the work should be completed,
though Mr. Itirnby had already glanced at it, With refer-
ence to the two years for the completion of the work,
gentlenien would remember that there was a clause inserted
in the last act by the committee. whiclt compelled them to go to
parliament again this year. There was a clause obligatory
upon them to carry out the plan of Mr. Rendell, and two years
was the time which the committee, in their legislative wis-
dom, thought fit to allow. But the committee having inserted
that clause, had full power to abrogate it when the council
went now with a bill before parliament. They could abrogate
that clause, and might and would, undoubtedly, give such an
extension of time as could reasonably be demanded for the
carrying out of the works. For supposing the plans, either of
Mr. Reudell or Mr. Hartley to be ultimately adopted, it
would be physically impossible that during two years after the
passing of the act, they csuld complete the whole of those
works.' (Hear, hear.) Then a question would arise as to the
transfer of the docks; but that would be a very improper sub-
ject to moot at the present time, and a subject which did not
now bear upon the question before them. They must now
deal with Birkenhead as it stood. Parliament had thought fit
that the corporation of Liverpool should purchase that pro-
perty, and the corporation of Liverpool, with the assent of a
great majority of the inhabitants of the town, had purchased
it, and now stood possessed of that property; and although
there might and would he objectors to every great plan of the
kind, yet lie did not hesitate to say that that purchase was
entirely a wise one, and he had never concealed his opinion from
the first time he became a member of the council, that it
would have been great wisdom if the council had
purchased theproperty years ago instead of delaying it until
the present time. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hodson said the pro-
perty would cost £lOO,OOO a year until it was finished. At
the present time gentlemen must remember that it was, liter-
ally, a mass of mud banks. There was not an entrance int
the docks, excepting the small Morpeth dock, and when Mr.
Hodson told them that there had been a very small production
from the docks, he stated what was perfectly true, because
vessels were unable to enter the upper pool to any extent.
(Hear, hear.) There was only the small Morpeth dock as a
passage, which contained now a few ships. The corporation
who possessed between 700,000 and 800,000 square yards of
land upon the margin of the pool, had that land lying in an un-
occupied state, and consequently producing no rental, because
there was no entrance, anti the works were incomplete for the
admission of vessels. When the works were completed this
land would unquestionably be let for shipbuilding purposes,
and for manufactures, which they were unable to
accommodate at this side of the water. In addition, when
these docks were completed, an increase of dock rates must
unquestionably accrue, which must be added to the pro-
duction of the land ripen the margin of the pool, so that
although some years must elapse before it would be
valuable, the day would ultimately come when it would
he a valuable property. Therefore, when Mr. Hodscu asked
at that stage of the proceedings what had Birkenhead done,
he said it was not fair to ask such a question with regard
to unfinished a orks. He ,might ask the same question
with regard to any great railway when the works were
only half completed and two or three millions expended,
what had it produced ? Why, nothing, because the
works were unfinished ; but wait until the works were'
finished and then there would be a return. He
!night: ask what had a house produced for the money
spent on it while its walls were yet unfinished and no
roof on it? It had produced nothing ; and could produce
nothing until more money was spent upon it, until the
walls were finished and the roof put on, and then it would
enab:e the owner to get rent from a tenant. He might
point to a purchase made many years ago by a distin-
enistsed and sagacious man at the north end of the town.'
It was perfectly possible that'Mr. Leigh when he bought
t la'rad on the north shore might have been charged with
'prudence, but ;let them look at the result. By the
gredual extension of commerce the whole of that land
had been brought into play, and had produced an immense
fortune for the purchaser's descendants. (Rear, hear.)
It might happen that they might, before the committee in
parliament make some arrangements for converting the
Morpeth dock into an entrance, and leave the proposed
entrance for some years to come. They did not know
what parliament might do, or what arrangements might
be made by the dock committee. But when he
looked to the enormous steamers which were coming
into the port, he thought it necessary to provide accom-
modation for that class of vessels. The question what
Birkenhead had done, would be answered when the works
were completed. Whether they were completed upon
Mr. Rendell's plans, Mr. Abernethy's plans, or Mr.
Hartley's plans, the works must spread over a great num-
ber of years, and the corporation could not be forced to
do what was impracticable. Therefore, the question put
by Mr. Hodson was somewhat premature, and he thought
they had only to deal with Birkenhead in the best way
toad
icnagr carry
they possibly could, considering it as an established fact.
as they had been compelled in some degree to purchase
sp
the property, and to lend the whole oftheir aid
re
it on in the most judicious manner possible,
over such a period Of time as parliament would allow,
without crippling the corporate funds by going headlong
into immense undertakings, of which they might have
afterwards to repent. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Pieton did not altogether agree in one remark of
Mr. Holme's, although concurring generally with what
had fallen from him. That gentleman deprecated discus-
sion at the present period, considering it premature, and

o the corpoiltion

NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 185&

not calculated to further their objects. lie rather diffeied
from that Opinion. He thought the time had come, when
the whole question should properly be looked in the face,
and that the public of Liverpool generally, had a perfect
right to understand the subject In all its bearings. The
council had, in all thee did, in reference to, this matter,
idted with • the &haat prudence, and propriety,
and with :due ,reprd 'foi the interests of the town,
They had a very. difficult put to play,,and he believed
they had done It to hest of their ability for the
interests of the town. • lie thought the tiore the subject.
was discussed and the better understood, the bead ,koUld
the position of the council be, both in reference to Liver-
pool itself and wherever the proceedings of the council
bossessed any interest at !all.- (Hear, hear.) Mr. Picton
riefly reviewed the eatiseg which led. to the pt

among which a principal_cause was the dentintial dis-
putes previously going on between Liverpool and Rirkep-
Jtead, and which it was felt desirable to rut a stop to. lle
believed it was actuated by a feeling of that kind, and not
by the hope of any immediate profit, or indeed, any pros-
pective
.profit at all within any reasonable time, that the
council stepped in and made an offer to purchase the
property, considering that by consolidating all the inter-
ests of both sides of the river in reference to the commer-
cial facilities of the port, they should, thus united, be
better:able to sustain theit• rights and privileges, and con-
duct their businesa a§ a cdturriercial port than if they
remained a divided community. (Hear, hear.) He
b,alieved that 'notwithstanding all the difficulties which
surrounded them, the council never took a wiser step
than when theY purchased the Birkenhead estate. They
took it with certain difficulties before them, not one of
Which was not previously foreseen by those whe took an
in'erest in the matter. They took it with liabilities to
carry out a certain set of plans devised by Mr.
Rendell, with the proviso that they should have the
option of coming to parliament again this year, and pro-
posing whatever plans might suggest themselves to the
deck committee as likely most to promote the interests
of the port. Immediately after that was passed the'special
homtnittee put themselves in communication with the
dock committee. He thought Mr. Hodson was mistaken in
supposing that Mr. Rendell's plans were more expensive,
as he believed, the contrary was the fact, but he con-
tended that they were now bound in honour to carry out
the plans they had adopted. They were not called upon
actually to strain every nerve to push them upon parlia-
ment at all risks, but to offer them bona fide, as the best
which had occurred to them. They felt, themselves in
difficulties upon other points. ite, should say that that
part of 'Birkenhead which applied specially to dock
acdommodation ought to have been purchased by the
dock estate of the town and not by the corporate estate.
They *ere placed now in this unfortunate position—here
was an estate which had been brouaht by A., which had
to be managed and taken charge of by 8., who had no
interest whatever in the estate, or if he had any interest at
all, had an interest somewhat adverse. It the corpora-
tion had the sole control of the works they could carry
them on little by little. But the difficulty here was this—
their unhappy disputes for years gone Yby had so pre-
judiced the government authorities and the house
of comntons against them, that they had actually
got the absurd notion that the corporation of
Liverpool had bought the Birkenhead dock estate, in
order to prevent it from being brought into operation at
all—that the corporation was so wealthy that they could
afford to throw away a million of money on works which
they never intended to use at all. Therefore, he did not
see why they should not state publicly in their places of
council, that they had an interest in advancing Birken-
head, and that it, Was their interest, as well as their object
to obtain all the facilities which the nature of the place
would allow., (Hear, hear.) They should, therefore, go
before parliament to state their case in the best way they
could. In carrying out the details of the matter, there
should be confidence to some extent, in the committee
they appointed. The great principle they were all agreed
upon, and it could not be the interest of the committee to
throw away:money, or to launch into large undertakings,
without:seeing their way how to get out of them. (Hear,
hear.)
• After a few words from Alderman Parker,
Mr. Charles Turner said that Mr, Picton had alluded
to an antagonism of interests between the dock estate and
the council. With Mr. Picton's knowledge of both bodies
and the commercial interests of the port of Liverpool, it
was surprising that such' an idea should have ever
entered into his head. • They were both public bodies,
both were associated for public purposes, and both had
the interests of Liverpool at heart. The dock committee
had especially entrusted to it the commercial and shipping
interests of the port, while the corporation had com-
mitted to their care subjects also connected with the
interests of the town, and how there could be any antago-
nism of interests between two bodies so constituted. he
could not possibly conceive. (Hear, hear.) The dock
committee had:not been able to. enter into negotiations
for the purchase of the immense estate (Birkenhead), in
a great measure, through the want of the means of doing
so. Mr. Picton was aware, and all tcommercial men were
aware, that the dock committee was bound, when they
raised sufficient money for the purposes of paying the
interest on their debt and the expenses connected with
the docks, to reduce their rates; and, during the last
year the margin, after paying the interest on their debt
and expenses of management, was so small, as quite to
preclude the possibility, as prudent men, of their entering
into liabilities of that great nature. In fact, it was per-
fectly clear, 'that if it were to continue—he hoped that
under present circumstances there was a hope of its ter-
minating sooner than they at one time expected ; but, if
it were to continue—it was perfectly clear tharthe existing
revenues of the dock estate would not be sufficient to pay
the increasing liabilities which would necessarily come
upon them. Under those circumstances it was totally
impossible for the dock committee to enter into negotia-
tions of the kind ; and then the corporation of Liverpool,
with that public spirit which distinguished them, stepped
forward to make that bargain, which he agreed with Mr.
Hornby, under all the circuoistances, would be beneficial
to the town of Liverpool, although for some years, no
doubt, it would entail a very serious loss on the corpora-
tion. No one who had considered the subject, could con-
ceal that fact from his mind. He, however, made those
observations merely in reply to Mr. Picton, and to show
that there was no antagonism of interests between the
dock estate and the council. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Hodgson then replied, and maintained that all that
had fallen from the other speakers, was but a corrobora-
tion of his views. He saw, however, that his motion
would stand no chance of adoption in the then temper of
the council, and he would therefore withdraw it.

The twelfth clause was then passed.
The twenty-first clause empowers the corporation to let
out water from the docks, for the purpose of effecting sub-
stantial repairs of any of the docks or basins, after one
week's notice in writing, under the hand of their Town-
clerk, of their intention so to do.

Mr. Halhead thought seven days' notice too short to
enable shipowners or masters to make the necessary pre-
parations for the removal of their vessels, and moved that
fourteen days be substituted for seven days.

After some conversation, the motion was put, and lost
on a show of hands.

The remaining clauses, which were repitions of exist-
ing clauses, were passed without discussion. There are
123 clauses altogether in the bill.
The council then adjourned.

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND LITERARY INSTITOTE.— A lecture
in connection with thisinstitution, was delivered in the usual
course, at the Concert Hall, on Tuesday night. The lecturer
was the Rev. W. M. P. Unshon, of Leeds, and the subject,
"Literature and Science—their connection with Religion."

The Duke of Lancaster's Own Rifles, stationed at Glas-
gow, have just given their first instalment of volunteers to
'he line for the year 1856. 170 men have been approved.
principally for the Queen's Bays, Artillery, Marines, 31th,
40th, 71st, and Rifle Regiments. The volunteering was
limited to one day. The regiment now stands about 600
rank and file.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PEACE SOCIETY.—The annual
meeting of this society was held in the Slater-street rooms,
on Tuesday night. Mr. Richard Rathbone occupied the chair.
After the routine business had concluded, a lecture was
delivered by the Rev. Francis Bishop, upon the general
influences of war, and the injuries to social welfare and
morality, with whioh it is accompanied.
TnE MANCITESTER POISONING.—The body of John
Monaghan, who is supposed to have been poisoned for the
sake of recovering the amount for which his life had been
insured. was discovered on Monday afternoon in St.
Wilfred's graveyard, after a search of five days, during
which many other bodies had been exhumed. The inquest
was to be opened on Tueiday morning, but as a post
mortem examination will have to be made, and a chemical
analysis of the contents of the stomach, the most material
portion of the evidence will not be ready for some days to
come.

CORONER'S INQUFSTS.--On Tuesday the coroner held the
following inquests: —Oa the body of an unfortunate female
named Margaret Brown, aged abut 32 years, who had
been of very intemperate habits. Sarah Norton said she
resided in a cellar in Hotham-street, and on Saturday last
the deceased called for her, and said she had come out of
the Model Jail at Waltham ; that the jail had killed her,
and that the police used her very rough ; before she had
been committed there for four days, for being drunk and
disorderly. She appeared very ill, end witness gave her a
glass of whiskey. She subsequently got worse, awl had
several fits from that time up to after 1 o'clock on Tuesday
morning, when she died. A surgeon made a post mortem
examination of the body, and stated the cause 01 death to
have been excessive drinking. Verdict accordingly.—On
the body of the child, Daniel James Christian, the son of
a tailor residing in Pcllew-strset, who died in cons,luence
of his clothes having caught fire, whereby he was fatally in-
jured. Verdict, Accidental death.—On the body of
Maria Cunningham' aged 12 years, who also died from
injuries received by her clothes catching fire in the house of
her parents, Blenheim-street, a fortnight ago. Verdict same
as in the preceding case.—On the body of Elizabeth Turner,
aged 38, who resided in a cellar in Hornby-street. On
Saturday night the deceased was drank, and whilst in that
state her clothes caught fire, and to use the words of a
witness who was examined, "The deceased was burnt to
death—literally roasted !" Verdict, died from injuries
received whilst in a state of intoxication. [This case was
described as a truly horrible one. The deceased had a child
dead, and with several persons were engaged in what is
called a " wake," and a scene of drunkenness took place
which the coroner described as the most frightful he had
known. The deceased was alive, drunk, burnt, and dead
in half an hour.]

POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY

T~

(BEFORE MR. SMITR.)
WEIAT'S YOUR NAME ?—A young'wonien of ladylike
appearance', address, and attire, whose name was set
down as Mary Clarke, %vat charged with having stolen
d valuable pin, the property of a young gentleman,
named William Qliverson. 'the complainant said he
met the lady in Great Charlotte-street at an carry hour
the previous evening, when she positively asked him,
" Is your name Mr. Charles Clarke replied that
his name. wtcs not Mr. Charles Clarke, nor had he any

acquaintance with that respectable individual. She then
inquired if he had any acquaintance with the tinnily of
the Smiths? He was (she said), Very like some of that
ilustrious race. Mr. Oliverson having disclaimed any
relationship with that extensive family, the prisoner; in
the most polite manner, and with a theatrical wave of
her dexter-band toxfards his breast,' begged his par-
don, and expressed her regret dt, the mist ikes she made,
and wished him goof night. In an instant. afterwards
he missed the pin, which he had safe immediately pre-
vious to the magic pass she made towards his stock, in
which the pin was fastened. He ran after the prisoner
and caught her, and had every search made for the pine
but it was not found, The -prisoner said she had
certainly asked the gentleman if his name was Mr.
Clarke, as he was remarkably like him ; but she repu-
diated, in the strongest terms, the charge of stealing the
pin. Police officer No. 225 said he made every search
for the pint but. could. not find it. The prisoner was
disch argel.

THEFT BY A SERVAI4T.--A respectable looking girl,
named Ellen Barry, late a servant of Mr. Kenneth
M'Pugh, Neth&field-road, was brought up by detective
Cdtdd on a charge of having embezzled 55., and also for
having obtained money by false. pretences. On the 15th
Dec. the prisoner was sent to a butcher for a leg of mut-
ton, to pay for which she received a sovereign, but it ap-
peared she got the meat without payment, keeping Ss as
the amount. Subsequently she went to a public-house
and borrowed 3s for the purpose, as she alleged of pay-
in..; for a parcel, that had arrived in the absence of Mr.
M'Pugh. The prisoner alleged that she had paid for the
mutton, and that she intended to pay the 3s when she
got her wages: The prosecutor said, he should not have
brought forward the charge, but he had reason to know
that his house had been plundered to a large extent by
the prisoner, on the death or his wife, some time ago.
The prisoner was remanded for a week.
THE ROBBERY OF £2l.—Anne Wilson, and James
Jackson, were brought up on remand on a charge of
having stolen £2l from John Wilson, of lireseot-row.
The details of this case have already appeared. The
prisoners were defended by Mr. tiluck, A young lady
from the shop of Mr. Pentony, in Commutation-row;
proved that the note (which was stolen from, and identi-
fied by the prosecutor), was changed there on Saturday
night, in paythent for a pair of boots. The note was
changed by a female, but not the prisoner. The prisoners
were again remanded fore week.

CURIOUS Casa.—A man named William Smart, who
said he was a potato dealer, residing at !Elston, near
Wolverhampton, and who appeared to be about 60 years
of age, charged a girl named 111'Neil, who was not more
than 14 years old, with having assaulted and robbed him
of, 34 sovereigns in a house of ill fame; in Gascoyne-
street. Two policemen said, about one o'clock in the
morning, they heard a voice in the street; and on going
to ascertain the cause, they saw the man running along
with his coat on his arm, and the girl (to use their words)
" licking him most unmercifully on the head with a flat
poker." ( Here the poker was produced
The prosecutor's head was all bandaged up and his face
covered with blood. He said, the prisoner and some
other females in the house laid on his head with the
poker and other weapons, and knocked him into a com-
plete doldrum, and he could not tell what happened,
except that he " got jolly well licked." The police said,
when they met him he was very stupid. They asked
him if he had anything, but he could not tell. They
went to the house, and, on searching it, they foand 34
sovereigns in a handkerchief concealed in a room ; this
had been stolen from the complainant. The girl to!d a
long story, which iltrue, did not reflect much credit on
the potato dealer. The prisoner was discharged, but
the complainant got his money.
(BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.)
. .

A CANNIBAL —A black man named William Wilson,
was charged by .a comrade of the same colour named
Jackson, with having violently assaulted him, and with
having bit off one of his lips ! The parties were in a
boarding-house kept by a countryman of their own,
when some quarrel arose between them, and they were
put out into the street, where they had a fight. The
prisoner bit the complainant in the arms and other parts,
and then seized one of his lips between his teeth and bit
it off. The piece of flesh was here produced amid a
thrill of disgust. The complainant could not speak in
consequence of the injuries he had received, and the
prisoner was remanded until the result of them could
be ascertained.

ASsAuLT.—George Wool, apparently a seafaring per-
son, and Elizabeth Freeman;were charged with having
assaulted a publican named Loubs, who resides in John-
street. The prisoners wanted to get into the house of
the complainant after hours, but were refused, whereon
they assaulted the complainant. They were each fined
.ss. and costs:

SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL.—WEEKLY REPORT,
JAN. 30, 1856.—1 n patients :—Discharged : cured, 12 ;
relieved, 2; at own request, l ; irregular, 1. Dead, 0 ;
entered, 17; under treatment, 70. Out patients : cured,
25 ; entered, 33 ; under treatment, 40. Treasurer, James
Houghton, Esq. Visitors, Mr. J. Ingram, and Mr.
J. Rogers. Honorary chaplain, Re r. D. T. Barry,
B.A. Physicians and surgeons for the week, Dr. Cameron,
and Mr. Churton. Ilouse surgeons, Mr. Charles Royston
and Mr. E. C. Garland.

CEEISTIANITY IN NEW ZEALAND.—Last, evening the
members of the Everton branch of the Church Missionary
Society, held a meeting at the Everton and Kirkdale School-
room, for the purpose of hearing an address from the Rev.
Richard Taylor, a misionary from that colony, detailing the
progress the gospel had made there, and• affording interest-
ing information in connection therewith. He was attended
by " Hepango," a New Zealand chief. On Friday evening
a similar meeting will be held at Hope-hall. _

Fimunn.--Much surprise was excited in Manchester on
Saturday, by a rumour of the failure of Messrs. Richard
Clarke and Sons, manufacturers, concurrently with the
appearance of an advertisement in the newspapers announc-
ing a dissolution of the firm. The rumour proves correct ;
the immediate cause
,of the stoppage being the private
speculations of the retiring partner in the public funds
and other securities to a large amount. We shall not
be .far 'from correct in the following general statement of
the affairs of the house :—The real property, say £30,000,
secures the 'mortgage; the shipping liabilities, £25,000,
are covered by consignments ; and the stock and other
available assets are expected to turn out well in meeting
the trade debts, which are about £16,000. The books are
in the hands of an accountant ; and, -a .meeting of creditors
will be held in a few days.

THE COURTS OF BANIERUPTCY.—The following is an
analysis of the bankrupt list for the past year :
......

. „
NUMBERS OP Rh:TURNS FILED IN 1855.
Official A ssig. Official As sig.
London .... 657 .. 10 Bristol .... 85
.. 2
Birmingham 200 4 Liverpool..Bo 4
Leeds . ... 146 ... 4 Exetir 65 .. 1
Manchester 119 3 Newcastle 51 .. 2
The amount of business which the framers of the Bank.
ruptcy Act calculated would probably flow into each dis-
trict may be measured by the assignees appointed, and we
have therefore inserted them as above. It will, therefore,
be seen that there has been much less bankruptcy in the
Liverpool district (which embraces all North Wales), than
in any other. Whether this arises from the superior
prudence and circumspection of the traders in this part of
Great Britain, or from other causes, is a subject worth
attention.

REFJRM IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.—On
Tuesday morning a meeting was held at the Town-hall,
Manchester, the Mayor in the chair, to receive the report
of a deputation appointed at a public meeting in Birming-
ham, on the 31st of October last, with special reference to
the Cambridge University Improvement Bill of the Lord
Chancellor, and to agree to a memorial to the Lord Chan-
cellor on the subject. Mr. Heywood, M.P., read the
report, which gave an account of interviews which the
deputation had had with Lord Palmerston and the Lord
Ct ancellor, at which various subjects of importance relative
to the proposed measure for the reform of the Cambridge
University, were discussed. The Lord Chancellor was much
interested in the subject of Cambridge academical reform,
and gave his attention to all the points brought before his
notice by the deputation. A memorial signed by the depu-
tation was subsequently presented to Prince Albert, the
Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, in favour of
academical reform, which his royal highness commanded to
be forwarded to the resident university authorities, for their
consideration. There had not, however, been any meeting
or active movement of the friends of university reform at
Cambridge for more than six months. The report con-
eluded by quoting from the written opinions of the Rev.
J. J. Taylor of London, Mr, H. A. Bright, Liverpool, the
Rev. James Martineau, Professor Foster, and the Rev.
John Jenkyns Brown, on academical teform. Mr. Gibson,
M.P., in moving the adoption of tbe report, advocated the
throwing open the honours and the emoluments of the
university to persons of all religious opinions. Sir John
Potter seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. A me-
morial to. the. Lord . Chaneellor was then adopted, after
which a committee was. appointed to carry out the objects
of the meetino •
„, b •
HB'ALLEGED MITRFIEU OF A MOTHER AND HER CHILD.
—KINGSTON, Saturday.—The two prisoners, Ford and
Jackson, were again brought up for examination before
the bench of magistrates this day, on the charge of wilfully
murdering Mary Ann Peacock, and her daughter Eliza,
by drowning them in the River Thames. After some
further evidence had been given, the bench discharged
Jackson, but Ford was fully committed for trial, the
bench refusing to take bail.