The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-12 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

25c to 8 dols ; Fancy and High Extra, 7 dols 50c to 9 dols
50c and 10 dols 75e.
WHEAT continues in good demand for shipment, and an
advance of 3c to 5e per bushel has been established upon
all qualities. Some parcels of new Southern bring our
highest quotations for export.
INDIAN Coax without material change. Yf row, 67c to
70c per 56 lbs. White, 75c to 80c. Western old mixed,
58e to 61. c

S4c to 87e per 56 lbs

RYE scarce at former prices
BARLEY.-90c to 93c per 481bq
CORN MEAL —3 dols 12ic to 3 dols 87ic per brl

RYE FLOUR.-4 dols 12ie to 5 dots 25e'per brl.
FREIGHTS have been dull. To Liverpool for Cotton id
to 5 32d per lb ; Flour, is 6d to 2s per brl ; Grain, 6d to
7d per bushel. To London—Flour, 2s 7id to 2s 9d per
brl. To Havre—Cotton ic per lb ; Flour, 60c per brl.
EXCHANGE on England in moderate demand at 109 i to
1091 per cent. Bills on Franee f 515 to f 5.181.
WOTHERSPOON, KINGSFORD & CO.

ASHES are firmer at 6 dols 250 to 6 dols 315 c for pots,
with some sales reported at 6 dols 37ie, and 7 dols 75c for
pearls.
COFFEE.—The market is quiet; sales of 100 bags Rio
skimmings were made at 10i, 4 months ; 1,000 mats Java
at P.N.T.

NAVAL STORES.—Crude turpentine is quiet but firm at
3 dols l2ic. Spirits turpentine are firmer, with sales of
475 brls at 37ic to 38c for lots in mercantile order; lots in
prime shipping order are now held at 390. Rosin is dull ;
we notice sales of 300 brls No. 2 at. dol 75c per 310 lbs iu
yard ; and 500 do No 1 at 3 dols to 4 dols per 23 lbs
delivered. Tar is quiet and firm.
OlLS.—Crude whale is now firm at 80c for selected;
manufactured is selling 'from store at 86c for spring and
88c to 90c for winter. Linseed oil is dull at 80c to 82e.
Lard oil is quiet, but is held fi mly at 95c to 100 c. Red
oil is firmer. and may be quoted at 60c to 621 c.
PaovisroNs.—Pork is heavy and lower, with sales of
300 brls at 20 dols 37ic for mess, and 17 dols 25c to 17 dols
37ic for prime. Beef is also lower, with sales of 165 brls
at 8 dols 25c to 9 (lois 50c for country mess, 7 dols to 7
50e for country prime, 9 dols to 11 dols for repacked
western, and 11 dols to 12 dols 50c for extra mess. Beef
hams are quiet. Cut meats are heavy with small sales at
9c for shoulder, and 10c for hams. Bacon is dull. Lard
is firm, with sales of 200 tierces and brls at 121 c to 12ie.
Butter is firm, at an advance. Cheese is also firmer.
SUGAR.—The arrivals are large, but holders continue
firm ; the sales (chiefly to refiners) are 670 hhds Cuba at
84 to 9: 220 Porto Rico at 8i to 9f ; l 5 New Orleans at
8i ; and 100 boxes Havana at 9.1 to 91.
FREIGHTS are inactive To Liverpool, 28,000 bushels
grain were taken at 6d to 61d in bulk, and 613 to 7d in
ship's bag ; 5,000 brls. flour is 63; 1,000 brls. rosin 2s ;
70 tons tustic 16s ; cotton id. To Loudon, 3,500 brls flour
2s 93. To Havre, flour 75e, and grain 15c, with but little
offering. To Bremen, 50 bales cotton at ie. A. barque
was chartered from Buctouche to Bristol Channel 102 s 6d.

MONEY AND STOCKS,

The demand for money continues vrry active; the large
stock of sugar here, and the large receipts from day to
day, with the firmness of speculators, and the general
expectation of still higher prices, have absorbed a large
portion of the capital usually devoted to grocers' paper, a
very heavy sum being needed to carry the market. Loans
on call are less easily negotiated, and there are few lenders
below 7 per cent. The stock market opened at lower
rates, but there was more firmness towards the close of
the first board, and the second board showed a stronger
market. Foreign exchange is not active, although there
is more doing than by last steamer. Bills on London,
109 to 1091 for commercial signatures ; bankers 1091
to 110, the latter an extreme rate; Paris 5,18/ to 5,15,
mostly 5,173 to 5,16*; Antwerp, 5,163; Amsterdam, 41*;
Hamburg, 361 to 36i; Bremen, 7t51 to 783. The bank
statement shows, as expected, a large decline in specie,
but an increase of half a million in loans.

MARKETS BY TELEGRAPH

NEW ORLEANS, Saturday, July 26.—Receipts of Cotton
during the week 800 bales, against 4,900 in the corre-
sponding week last year. Freights to Liverpool, 7-16 d.
Market very dull, and quotations almost nominal.
MOBILE, Saturday, July 26.—Cotton receipts for the
week 200 bales ; same week last year 3,000 bales. No
foreign export. Crop prospects unchanged.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES.-YESTERDAY,

CROWN COURT.

(BEFORE MIL JUSTICE WILLES.)

The business of these assizes commenced yes'erday at
eleven o'clock. The follovving, gentlemen were sworn on

THE GRAND JURY

John Cheatham, Esq., M.P., ' 1 homas Baines, Esq.
foreman J. Chidwick, Eq.
John Stewart. Esq. ~V. C. Crittenden, Esq
J. Bramley-Moore, E-q., MP. Hon. Algernon Pgertun
Charles Turner, E-q. Thamas Earla, Esq.
William Rathb,w, Esq. William Fenton, Esq.
T. F. Bayley, Esq. A. Harrison, Esq.
Sir Elkanah Armitage, W. Harris in, Esq.
L. Heyworth, Esq., M.P. J. R. Kaye, E-q.
Sir James Patter, C. H. Perc vall, Esq.
Jas. Brotherton. Esq., M.P. "rhomas Wrig!ey, Esq.
Peter Ainsworth, Esq. Duncan Macvicar, Esq.
-

After the usual proclamation was made,
His Lordship said : Mr. Foreman, and Gentlemen of
the Grand Jury, you are about to enter upon a very
serious, and, lam afraid, a very lengthened task. 1
lament to see before me an exceedingly heavy calendar,
and that the very large proportion of the crimes which
are charged in that calendar are crimes of violence. That
circumstance, however, will enable me to dismiss you
without any lengthened observations on the calendar.
The crimes which are charged are for the most part of a
nature which renders unnecessary any observations on

points of law. They are offences which the common sense
of every body may recognise, and with which you as
gentlemen of experience will be able to d-11 without any
assistance on my part. There are, however•, one or two

observations with respect to the calendar, and also with

spect to a duty which your foreman, or one of your
,dy will for the first time in this country have to per-

form, to which I must call your attention. An act or
Parliament has been recertly passed and come into force
_ _

which •
on the 14th of last month, by the foreman, or one

of the Grand Jury deputed by him, will have to administer
an oath to each of the witnesses who shall be examined
before them—l say an oath, including affirmation, or any
other form of swearing by which the conscience of any

witness may happen to be.bound. A. question has arisen
on this statute—it is whether any of your body may
administer the oath in the presence of the foreman ;
whether in case he should happen to be engaged in
other matters, or should be fatigued with the duty which

is imposed on him—it can be administered by any other
of the grand jury? My own opinion upon the construc-
tion of this statute is, that that may be done, but inas-
much as a question has been raised on it, and has caused
different impressions to prevail in other places, I should
recommend you to administer the oath through the fore-
man, or through such person as the foreman, in his neces-
sary absence, may depute for that purpose. I shall
bring the question before the judges in the next term, but
until they have expressed an opinion on it, I think it
would be wiser to act upon the minor construction of the

statute, to prevent any difficulty from arising►. That
statute, if you have not seen, you will be aided in the

administration of, by being furnished with a copy. The
witnesses were formerly sworn in court, and then taken

before the grand jury; but it was thought that it would
be more solemn, and have greater effect, by the oath

„ being administered to them by the tribunal before which
they were then about to be examined. With respect to
the calendar, I have only one or two observations to
make. You will find it. has been divided into several
days' work. The cases which will be brought before you

to-day are principally burglaries. I need not detain you
with the law with respect to burglary—you are all

. _
familiar with it. I cannot however, help observing, in
reference to these and other cases, that the police appear
to have acted with great vigilance in the performance of
their duties, with regard to the business of the present
assizes. There is a very serious case in to•day's paper
—that is a case of forgery. lam afraid, if the evidence
comes out, as it appears on the depositions, that the per-
son charged will appear to have forged acceptances to a

very considerable amount, and tc have committed a seri-

oust' offence against the statute affecting that matter.
There are three cases from the Bank of England, with

reference to the passing of forged bank notes ; and two
mint cases. These will be short eases ; and it is desirable
that you should first begin with them, so 'that the court

may be furnished with some business to proceed with.
There is in the second day's list a case of attempting to

drown, and a case of stabbing—one of a great number of
similar cases to be brought before you. In the following
day's list there is a case of manslaughter—one of ten
which appear in the calendar. In the fourth day's list
there appears a case, 94, 95, and 96, a charge of rape—a
case which appears on the depositions to bear a serious
character ; but, with respect to some of the cases of that
description, which will be brought before you, your at-
tention will be earnestly required to them, lest persons
should he put upon their trial without any real prima facie
case having been made out against them. Ofthat character
there is, at all events, one—that is case 169. You will,
perhaps, see that the circumstances of that case render it
highly improbable that there was such an offence com-
mitted against the will of the prosecutrix. With regard
to that, however, and all the other cases, I should rather
that you exercise your own discretion than follow any
dictation of mine. The cases on Friday include two
cases of murder; and these, I lament to say, are two of
four which appear upon the list. In reference to this
class, I would draw your attention to the case which
appears is Friday's paper_a charge of administering
poison with intent to murder: It is a case in which a
wife is charged with administering poison with the inten-
tion of murdering her husband. The persons charged
with such an offence, though murder may not
actually have been committed, yet certainly range
within the class of murderers. One cannot help,
in looking at this case, lamenting—and I think
you will find reason to lament the extreme facility
with which poisons can be purchased, and the very
large amount of them which appears to be sold by
druggists without any proper precaution. I do not
mention names, nor shall I observe further on it at
present. I reserve what I have to say until the trial,
and until I see what evidence is given then; but I cannot
help making that observation in passing. With respect
to the cases numbered 114 and 115, in which two persons
are charged with murder by kicking a person on the head,
in a very savage manner, if the depositions should be
true, I think it will be your duty, in that case, to bring
in a bill of wilful murder, although it is possible, when
the matter comes to be investigated, it may turn out to
be an aggravated case of manslaughter. With respect to
the case of Betsy M'Mullan, I have merely to say, that
that is a case in which it will be your duty, I fear, also to
bring in a bill for wilful murder. The next case of mur-
der is No. 50, in which a person is charged with murder-
ing a woman by jumping upon her in a very savage
manner ; and in that case also, I am afraid you will have
no other duty than to bring in a bill for murder. But
though you may bring in such a bill, it will still be
competent for the petty jury to consider what the
intentions of the parties may have been in the cases
I have just mentioned, as also in the case
which appears in the same day's paper, where
death was produced by a series of violent blows,—in these
cases, as in 114 and 115, the actual intention of the parties
charged will stilt be a question for the petty jury. There
is one case more to which I shall call your attention ; that
is the case in which eighteen persons are charged with
riot of the most serious char acter,—a riot arising out of a
strike of bricklayers. I need but remind you—as offences
of this description have of late been happily uncommon_
that the assembling of three or more persons. for the pur-
pose of doing an unlawful act, or the assembling for the
purpose of doing a lawful act, if they do so in such a man-
ner as to cause fear and alarm to her Majesty's subjects,
is, in point of law, a riot. From the depositions in this
case, the riot appears to have been of a most serious
description. I don't think that 1 need detain you any
longer from the performance of your duties. But whilst
I have to lament the exceedingly heavy calendar to which
I have just shortly called your attention, I cannot help
congratulating the county upon the fact, that a full grand
jury has been found willing to comp forward to the per-
formance of this most arduous and painful task.
The grand jury then retired.
The calendar conta,ned the names of 169 prisoners,
but, since which, several others have been committed. Of
the 169 prisoners named in the calendar, fifty could neither
read nor write, sixty-four could do each imperfectly, twenty-
eight could read, and eight could read and write well. Of
the offences charged against the latter class, one was a cotton
manufacturer, charged with forgery; an engraver and a
turner, charged with obtaining goods under false pretences ;
a packing-case maker, charged with manslaughter ; a cos-
termonger, charged with house breaking; a seaman, with
manslaughter; a shoemaker, with housebreaking; a labourer,
with doing grievous bodily harm to a female ; and a groom,
with bigamy, and there was one who had received a superior
education, a commission agent, who was charged with
having obtained some goods by false pretences. The other
prisoners were out on bail, and, therefore, in most instances,
neither their trade or the education was noted.
BURGLARY AT MANCHESTER.—WiIIiam Jones, aged 10,
a dyer, was indicted fur having burglariouslv entered the
house of Major Knox, and stolen therefrom a. writing-desk,
containing a quantity of jewellery. Evidence was adduced
to show that the premises were secured on the previous
night, but at an early hour on the following morning, it was
discovered that the house had been entered by the scullery
windows, and the property mentioned in the indictment hal
been stolen. A policeman on duty the night of the robbery
met the prisoner, and he being a suspicious character, was
searched, and upon him was found the articles of jewellery
stolen. The prisoner, who had been formerly convicted,
was again found guilty. Sentence deferred.
ANOTHER BURGLARY AT MANCHESTER.—Thomas
Norris, aged 15, a factory worker, and Luke Cenlan, of the
same age and trade, were charged with breaking into the
house of Isaac Wright, with intent to steal. On the morn-
ing of the 2d of April the prosecutor, a member of the
society of friends, was awakened from his peaceful slumbers
by hearing a noise in the house, and on proceeding down
stairs, he discovered that the house had been entered by the
grid hole. The parties being disturbed took to flight, but
were apprehended by the police who had observed their
actions, and took them into custody, The prisoner Norris
pleaded guilty. Sentence deferred.-- [Prior to the com-
mencement of the trial, the prosecutor, a sturdy Quaker,
appeared in the court with his hat upon his cranium.
He was told to be uncovered in the court, but nothing
would induce Isaac of Brook-street, Man-
chester, to doff his bonnet, Wright,'although it had a brim wide
and broad enough for a navvies nand to grasp. The judge
respectfully, but in vain, told him that it was not decorous
for one person to appear covered in a court of justice, while
all others were uncovered. This gentle hint, failing to
induce their " friend" to pay the respect due to her majesty's
representative, his lordship put the matter plainly—" You,

Isaac Wright, of Brook-street, Manchester, must either take
off your hat while you sit in this court or quit the same."
Isaac left, but with his bat on, amidst general laughter.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Wright appeared as a witness in
the following case, having previously doffed his hat, and his
lordship, in the course of his remarks to the jury, said that
he was not aware that he was the same person who had
app ared is court on the previous occasion, for had he known
that he had any business to transact in the court, and had
any real scruple in taking off his hat, he might have sat
there without interruption. Isaac Wright attempted to
ex,lain the matter, but eventually left, waiting to put on
his broad brimmer till he had reached the out-let of the
Court ]
AxtyrtiEll MANCHESTER BURGLARY.—Peter M'Guire,
aged 18, and Sias Kelley, aged 28, both mechanics, were
indicted for having burglariously broken and entered the
dwelling house of Thomas King, and stolen therefrom some
eatables, and about £5 in cash. On the night of the 14th
of April the two prisoners were seen to leave the premises
by the police, and when searching them some of the property
was found, and the remainder concealed near the premises.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and M'Guire was
s.mienced to five, and Kelley to four, years penal servitude.
BURGLARY.—John Slater, aged 22, a porter, John
Waters, aged 23, hawker, and Cornelius Riley, aged 23,
a labourer, were charged with breaking into the house of
Robert Richardson, and stealing therefrom twenty pairs of
boots and shoes, of the value of £5. In this case the pro
perty was found in the possession of the prisoners, who
could not give a satisfactory account of how they
became possessed of the same. The prisoners were
found guilty. Cornelius Riley was then charged with bur-
glariously entering the pr miser of Mr. William Harrison,
and stealing a variety of property. A second count in the
indictment charged him with receiving the property, know-
ing it to have been s:olen. The jury returned a verdict of
guilty of receiving the property. Slater and Riley were
sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment.

NISI PRIUS COURT

(BEFORE BARON BRAMWELL AND A COMMON JURY.)

AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY —THRASHING AN ATTORNEY.—
THACKTHWAT /E V. Jouotrix. —The plaintiff is an attorney,
and the defendant a publican, late of Manchester. Some
time in May list the plaintiff was employed by tha defen-
dant to collect some accounts at a commission of twenty per
cent, but with no costs in unsuccessful cases. The plaintiff
had collected £4 175.. when, on the sth of June, the defen-
dant called on him and demanded the money. The plaintiff
replied that there was a larger amount due to him than
what he held in his hands, showing his books at
time, and consented to have an account prepared
in the afternoon. The defendant then called
again at four o'clock, and, adopting the " fee-
fo.fam" style of address, declared that he wanted
" money or blood." The plaintiff who was unwilling to
oblige him with either, proceeded with his dinner, and
referred him to the account. Finding that his wishes
could not be gratified but by assault and battery, the
defendant locked the office door and, taking the plaintiff
by surprise, struck him over the head with a stick. He also
otherwise assaulted the plaintiff, and inflicted on him such
savere iajuries that ho was confined to his bed for ten days,
and six days more to his house. After the case had pro-
ceeded some time, Mr. Wheeler, who appeared for the
defendant, said that there was but Is. between the parties
—his client offering £2O, and the plaintiff demanding Is.
more. Mr. Fernley, who was for the plaintiff, said that
his client was quite willing to accept the £2O as substantial
compensation for the injury done him. but he thought the
defendant should -also give a further proof of his sense of
the moral wrong of which he had been guilty. His lordship
thought the plaintiff was fairly entitled to substantial
damages for the substantial I-eating which he had received.
If it had gone to the jury they probably would have given
more. A Juror : No doubt of it. A verdict was then
returned
eedofoue for the
adjourned
dff forat h
£2aOltsa,atwsitihx cao,ck setlsa to nine.
o'clock this morning,

WAVERTREE L()CAL BOARD OF HEALTH

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday evening, at. the Public! Offices, Wavertree. The
Rev. Badnell occupied the chair. The other members
present were—Messrs. Chaffers, Rishton, Gore, Brad-
burn, Clarke, Davis, Swinden, and Halhead. After some
conversation, with regard to the drainage of certain por-
tions of the township,—The Chairman said, before we
proceed with the business, I fell myself bound to make
a few observations on what has been done by this hoard,
and I do hope that the reporters which are present, will
take a note of them, that it may go forth to the public. I
have much pleasure in stating that Mr. Dickens (who
was sent down from the board in London) is perfectly
satisfied with what we have done, after inspecting the
whole of our drainage, from Mr. Athertons to the utmost
extent of the township; and I am happy to say that he
considered, that the course of drainage we had pursued
was most satisfactory, and that it was impossible that
we could have done better. (Hear, hear.) It
ought to go forth to the ratepayers at large that he
had stated that from the way in which the drainage had
been carried out, that this board might be considered as
a model hoard. (Hear, hear.)—Mr. Halhead believed
that Mr. Dickens was perfectly satisfied, and would give
his report, to that effect to the board above.—Mr. Chaffers
expremed the same opinion.—After some further con-
versation it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Halhead,
that tenders should be obtained for making a sewer from
the township to Smithdown lane, through certain estates
occupied by the Marquis of Salisbury, Mr. Rogers,
Mr. Halhead, &e., for the proper drainage of the same.
—Mr. Chaffers seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted.—A. letter was read from Mr.
Leech and from Mr. Thompson, complaining of the
injury they had sustained from the overflow of water,
from the want of drainage accommodation, during the late
heavy rains. After a report from the Surveyor, and
some conversation, the subject was referred to a com-
mittee, to report thereon at the next meeting. After
some other routine business was disposed of, the board
adjourned.

The Courrier du Havre, in alluding to the plan lately
suggested for driving away flies (the use of laurel oil),
states that no fly will enter a room in which a wreath of
walnut leaves has been hung up.
The Ilamburg News contains a letter from Berlin of the
4th, which gives the following rather improbable piece of
intelligence :—" Some of the minutes of the general confer-
ence of the Lutheran communities, which took place in
May last, have just been published. It results from them
that the conference was of opinion that auricular confes-
sion should be re-established, and that the clergyman
should be invested NS ith the power of pronouncing:excom-
munication."
SUPPOSED MURDER.—The police authorities at Exeter,
are engaged in investigating the death of a young female,
named Mary Ann Dyke, daughter of a labourer residing
at Countess Weir. Deceased had been living with a Mrs.
Clatworthy, in the New North-road, Exeter, and left her
service without notice on the 14th ult., sleeping the fol-
lowing night with the friends of a young man to whom she
was engaged. She was scen the following day by a young
man with whom she originally kept company, but nothing
further was known or heard of her till a few days since,
when her body was foutid floating in the water near
Countess Weir. A cut was found upon the upper lip,
and from various rumours and the suspicious nature of
the case, the coroner's jury returned an open verdict.
Deceased was a good-looking young woman, about 18 or
20 years of age.
SIR CHARLES NAPIER AT CRONSTADT.—We extract
the following passage from a private letter just received
from a gentleman whom the attraction of the Emperor
Alexander's coronation has drawn to the Russian capital:
Judge of my surprise on goimg down to Cronstadt a
few days since, at meeting our old friend, Sir C. Napier,
on board a steamer specially provided for him by the Sr.
Petersburg agents of the North of Europe Steam Naviga-
tion Company, in whose splendid steamer Oscar he had
arrived a few days previously from London. The worthy
admiral was taking a survey of the redoubtable forts
which protected the Russian fleet during the war, and
concerning the impregnability or otherwise of which to
the attacks of British seventy-fours such various opinions
have been offered. Since then I have seen Sir Charles in
many places, and have witnessed the cordiality with
which he has been everywhere received." The pl-
iant admiral has since arrived at Berlin on his return
home.

TWO MEN SUFFCCATED 1N A " DAV HOLE" AT CLAYTON
WEST—On Friday last a most shocking occurrence took
place at Clayton West, a village situated midway between
Huddersfield and Barnsley. „ Two individuals named
respectively Thomas Carter, about 45 years of age, and
George Lockwood. about 40, fancy weavers, who reside in

a lonely place called Fourfield, were suffocated in a " day-
hole," which forms the approach to some old workings to a
colliery. The parties have been for some time past in the
habit of obtaining from these old works (which were for-
merly worked, but discontinued some years ago, by Messrs.
Norton and Co.) coals which they used for their own
domestic purposes. On Friday morning, Lock wood
went to get some coal, and not returning at the usual
time, his wife became alarmed, and went in search of
him. Not being able to discover any traces, she com-
municated her alarm to Carter. The " hole" appears to

have generated a large quantity of sulpharettecl hydrogen,
on which account it was discontinued by Messrs. Norton.
This was known to the parties, and Carter remonstrated
at Lockwood having gone into the place on such a morn-
ing, after the thunderstoim on the previous day. lie,
however, proceeded to the place, and went down the
" day hole" in search of his neighbour, but never
returned. Mrs. Lockwood now raised an alarm, and the
greatest consternation prevailed in the neighbourhood,
Information was sent to the oolteries in the neighbourhood,
and every exertion was made to recover the bodies of the
unfortunate men, but such was the deadly effect of the gas
that several persons, after attempting to enter the " day
hole," had to return immediately, or they would have been
suffocated. A blow was, however, brought from Mr.
Jugger's coller;es and by means of tubes, pure air was
forced into the pit, but the lifeless bodies of the unfortunate
men were not recovered until near four o'clock on Friday
afternoon, that of Lockwood being found in a sitting
posture, about 17 yards from the mouth of the " day hole,"
and that of Carter about 12 yards. A jury was empanelled
to inquire into the cause of the deaths, and a verdict of
" Accidental death" was returned,

CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL -YESTERDAY

THE GAS COMPANIES AND THE CITY.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
The quarterly meeting of the Town Council of Chester,
was held in the Exchange of that city, by adj iurnment
from Friday last, at eleven o'clock, yester.lay. The

mavoT, Major French, pr,?,siiled.
The council was occupied for some time in striking a
watch rate for the ensuing year,

The Watch Committee brought forward a recommen-
dation for an alteration in the arrangement and distri-
bution of the city lamps, in order to effect a reduction
in the expense, with the least possible diminution of

Mr. Peacock proposed the adoption of the recommen-
dation. He remarked that they were all aware of the

embarrassed state of the accounts, and that it was quite
impossible they could go on with the same description

of light, if theyj desired to keep the expenditure within

the feenme,

as for this 'reason that the committee

recommended the alterations to he adopted. There
would be a light in every part of the town where there
was one at present, and he did not think that, without
very close observation, any diminution of the light

would be perceived

If the plan were found not to be

suitable, it could hereafter be altered.
The recommendation was adopted without discussion

The resignation of Mr. Bell,'the City Surveyor, was
accepted, and the Improvement and Corporate Estate
Committees requested to take steps for the appointment

of a successor

A motion given by Mr. Meadows Frost, stood upon the
book—" That the Deputy Town Clerk be requested to
inform the council by whose authority the pipes of the
two gls companies h-ve been united " . .

The Deputy Town Clerk said he had made the neces-
sary enquiries, and found it was done by the authority

of Mr. :-'itlisbury

Mr. Meadows Frost then proceeded to propose the fol-
lowing resolution, of which he had also given notice—
" That the nominal capital of the amalgamated gas.
companies shall be fixed at £30,000, and whenever the
income shall exceed 10 per cent on that amount, the

price of gas shall be so reduced that not more than JO
per cent shall be ever divided among the shareholders,
and that no overplus shall be permitted to be distributed
as a bonus in any form or under any name." He said a

capital of £30,000 was sufficient to erect works to supply
gas to the inhabitants of the city, and return 10 per cent
upon the amount of the investment, a return not often
to be met will. It was injurious to the welfare of the
city, to permit the two gas companies, which in-
dividually paid a fair rate of interest, to amalga-
mate, and to tax the citizens at the rate of 10 per cent.
upon the two capitals of £30,000 and £20,000 ; where
one capital would be quite sufficient for all practical
purposes it was utterly unreasonable. Let them reflect
for a moment, that 10 per cent on £50,000 was equal to
16; per cent on £30,000, and they would perceive how
unreasonable it was to ask the citizens to tax themselves
unnecessarily and gratuitously to that amount, which
would yield an additional income of £2,000 for the
benefit of Mr. Salisbury, and to the loss of the city ; 10
per cent upon the capital invested was quite sufficient,
and he thought Mr. Salisbury and his friends ought to
be well satisfied with that rate, on a nominal capital of

£30,000, leaving any overplus to be devoted to the bene-
fit of the city, in the shape of a reduction in the price of
gas. (Hear, bear.) It might, however, be asked by

r 3 •
some persons—what was Mr. Salisbury to gain by the
purchase of the old gas company, for which he gave
£20,000 ? The answer was obvious and clear. In buy-

ng the old gasworks, he bought off an opposition (hear,
lean, and it' the town permitted him to get 10 per cent
nterest on £30,000, it would yield an amount equal to

6 per cent upon £50,000, the amount of the two capitals,
and 6 per cent was a very fair return for money,

especially when plunged into a bad concern, and the
corporation in agreeing to that amount would be con-
ferring a great favour upon Mr. Salisbury, because at
present he was only receiving 44 per cent upon
£30,000. lie proposed to present a resolution, not
because he thought they were justified in conferring
so great a favour upon Mr. Salisbury, but simply be-
cause the corporation were desirous of havinc, an
amalcatnation, and of giving- him 10 per cent, and he
(Hr. Frost) preferred that the 10 per cent should be on
'L30,000 rather than on £50,000, that being the lesser
evil. Bat if the corporation did what they should for
the benefit of the city. they ought to have gas works of
their own. He could show in a very few words how in

eight years the city could have gas works, wi bout hav-
ing a cost of one farthing, and bringing in an income of
£5,000 a year, towards paying off the annual expenses of
the borough. Mr. Salisbury and his lawyer had proved
distinctly, that there was an income to be derived from
the gas company of £50,000 a year, because 10 per cent
upon £50,000 was just that amount. They had seen it
proved that £30,0`)0 was sufficient capital. If the cor-
poration would expend £30,000 in erecting works,
and the eitiz ,ns were satisfied with the pre-
sent rate of 2s. 6d. per 1.000 cubic feet,
from that £30,000 an income of £5,000 per annum
would be derived. If no one else would undertake it,
he would himself undertake to raise the money for the
town, and in eight years it would be paid off in this
way—six per cent on £30,000 was £l,BOO. The income
of the gas company being £5,000, there would be left,
after paying six per cent interest upon the money bor-
rowed, an overplus of £3,200 He would propose that
£3,000 be devoted the first year to paying off the £30.000,
which would leave then only £27,000, and with £2OO
towards the formation of a reserved fund. The second
year the interest due upon the £27,000 would be £1,620,
so that there would be an overplus of £3,380 out of the
income. Of that amount let £3,000 he devoted to pay-
ing off capital, which would leave £3BO to be added to
the reserve fund, and only £24,000 of debt. The third
year the interest upon that £24 000 would be £1,440,
leaving £3,560 to the corporation out of their income.
The Mayor thought these questions quite out of order.
The speaker was making arrangements for the council to
erect new gas works instead of confining himself to the
question referred to in the motion of which he had
given notice.
Mr. Frost said as that was a quarterly council he was
ertitled to introduce any new question. He would,
however, cut it short. £3,000 per annum for eight
years would be £24,000. The reserved fund in that
time would amount to .66,640, besides a large lump of
interest. This would make up the £30,000, so that at
the end of eight years the city would have gas works
without having one penny cost, and a reserve fund of
£640 with a considerable amount of interest. The gas
works would yield £5,000 a year, which would pay off
the watch, the borough, and the lamp rate. Should the
consumption of gas increase, in course of time they
might have the improvement rate wiped off also. Mr.
Frost concluded by proposing the motion.
Mr. John Jones believed Mr. Frost had been an advo-
cate for the amalgamation, and was very glad that that
gentlemen had now discovered his mistake.
Mr. Frost denied that he bad advocated the amalgama
tion, and produced in support of his denial, the Liver-
pool NORTHERN DAILY TIMES, containing a report of
the discussion in the council on the subject. That
paper, he observed, contained a very accurate report of
the debate, and of his observations. He then read a
passage from his published observations, the effect of
which was that he considered the report of the com-
mittee recommending the amalgamation would require
re-consideration, and ought to be sent back to them to
he re-modelled.
• Mr. Jones said, so far as he knew, Mr. Salisbury
always said £50,000 was the capital on which he would
require to get 10 per cent. interest.
Mr. Peacock thought if they went to parliament to
erect new gas works they would be called upon to give
compensation for the works which had been erected with
their sanction. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the
whole discussion was now quite out of time. All they
had now got to do was to see that the amalgamated
company fairly and honourably fulfilled the bargain
before the agreement was ratified. He did not think the
corporation was in a position that day to make any
alteration in their agreement. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Humberstone said he was not present at the
meeting of the council at which the amalgamation was
agreed upon, but he took the liberty of addressing a
letter to the Mayor, expressing what his views were.
They were these : If the amalgamation were granted. of
which he was in favour, then the amalgamated company
should come on expressly the same terms as the Raodee
company now hold the privilege of using the streets
under lease of September, 1851. He thought, generally
speaking, the town had been a good deal astonished to
see the streets taker. up, and pipes laid down, before all
the arrangements were concluded. He should prefer
seeing the arrangements, such as they were, carried into
effect by the sub-committee, which, be understood, had
been appointed to carry the details into effect.
The Deputy Town•olerk referred to the recommenda-
tions of the committee proposing the amalgatnalinn,
which were adopted by the council, and which specified
the amount of capital as £50,000. He explained that
the fact of the committee not having been since called
together was because of the necessary delay in having a
new deed prepared, and re-modelling the company,
without which it was his opinion the amalgamation
could not take effect.
Mr. Frost contended that his resolution was not yet
too late.
Mr. Humberstone said he for one had certainly guarded
himself entirely against agreeing to el the terms on
which it was recommended that the amalgamation should
take place. He was not present at the meeting when it
was sanctioned, being then unavoidably out of town, nor
was he aware that at that meeting the whole of the
recommendations of the committee were adopted. That
being so, the terms were clearly fixed upon which the
amalgamation was to take place, and he was only sorry
that such should he the case.
Mr. Musgrove said they never had a meeting of the
committee since.
The Deputy Towu-clerk said the time was not come

yet. The council was not yet in a position to take any
step. They had made a certain arrangement, and they
must let the matter lie until the deed was prepared.
The moment the deed was prepared it would be laid
before the council, and then they could see whether all
the terms were carried out. If any gentleman then pro-
posed that the resolution sanctioning the amalgamation
be rescinded, the council could take it. into their conside-
ration. The very moment he should be in a position
to call the council together to consider the deed of s.Atle-
meat, and to take their instructions upon it, he would
do so.