The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

ROYAL PARK THEATRE.

• NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE!
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS !
04 MONDAY, Dec. 26th, a Grand MID-DAY PERFORMANCE
will take place, at Two o'clock. The Performance will commence
with the Drama of THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. To
conclude with, for the first ilme, the NEW PANTOMIME,

ROYAL PARK THEATRE..
Parliament-Street, near St. James's Market

Extraordinary Christmas Attraction.—NeW Magniloquently Giand,
Comical, Local, Operatical, Cabalistical, and Anachronismatical
CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, entitled, ORMSHEAD Tau
GREAT; or, HARLEQUIN & JENNY JONES, AND THE
FLOWER F SNOWDON. Written expressly for this theatre
by the author of " Ye Siege of Leverpole," &c., with new and beauti-
ful scenery, by Mr. John Wright, from her Majesty's Theatre, Mr.
Liver, and assistants; properties by Mr. Haines; Music, composed
by Mr. Hope ; Machinery, by Mr. Jackson ; dresses by Mr.
West and assistants; and the whole produced under the immediate
superintendence of the Lessee, Mr. R. Edgar. Snowdrop, the Fair
Flower of Snowdon, with a few " airs "which the author has thrust
upon her, Miss Marriott ; Lushiane, a doubtful specimen of a Fairy,
afterwards-Clowri; Mr. J. Appleby ; Davydd Jones, an ancient Briton,
Mr. Wilmore, afterwards Pantaloon, Dir. P. Anderson, from the
Theatre Royal, Drury.lane ; Edward Morgan, with a " terrific corn-
bat,"-Mr. S. Lennox, afterwards Harlequin, Signor Guarrino, from
her Majesty's Theatre; Jenny Jones, the Flower of North Wales,
Mrs. J. Appleby, afterwards Columbine, Mad'lle Rose, from the
Theatre Royal, Edinburgh; Sprite, Signor Vilderini, the wonderful
contortionist from the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane. The remainder
of the characters by the entire Dramatic and Pantomimic artistes
attached to the establishment, forming the most complete and
powerful cast ever submitted to a Liverpool public. The
Pantomime will be preceded by a grave Episode, in which the
shades of Joe Miller and the Author will have very lively representa-
tives. Doors open at half-past six, to commence at seven o'clock pre-
cisely. Prices of admission.—Dress Boxes, Front Boxes, 2s.
Pit, la.; Gallery, Gd. Half-price to the Boxes at Nine o'clock.
Books of the Pantomime may be obtained at the Theatre.

AME PIES! GAME PIE-8
!=The Celebrated
kir Yorkshire Game Pies !—The greatest Treat of the
season for Christmas Parties.. Suitable for Ladies, as well as
Epicures, and everybody else. Made only by W. LAWTON,
BEE HOTEL, Queen-square =who contracts for Public Balls,
Suppers Entertainments—where and other large will be
found Good Beds, Good Viands Good Wines, &c..

HIGH WATER IN THE MERSEY.
Tins DAY—Morning, 4h. 59m . ... Afternoon, sh. 33m.

---
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1853,

THE measure of commercial reform proposed by
the United States is now before the world, and it
is just
.the Comprehensive and liberal pro-
,posal we have anticipated. It deals with the re-
duction of high import duties as a great national
requirement. ; The old system of Collectingonstorni
.revenue, which was both complicated and costly,
is to be placed on a simple and economical footing.
First, the present Free List is to be so enlarged
as to take in a great variety of articles now almost
prohibited by the operation of the existing tariff
dues. Secondly, the duty-paying articles are all to
be brought under 25 per 'cent. ad valorem,' or. 100
per cent. ad valorem. The principle of ad valorem
duties is to be adhered. to in all cases, unless Con
gress should make exceptions, in which case thy
will be specified in a separate list. The articles
which are likely to be most benefited by the pro-
posed reduction to 25 per cent. are the following,
which we show under the heads of present and
proposed duties, with the amount of reduCtion in
each case :

PRESENT DUTY. PROPOSED.
Per cent. Per cent. Reduction
Carpets of all kinds 30 25 ..
Clothing of all kinds_ ...30 ... 5
Flowers and Feathers ...30 ... 25 ... 5
Straw for Hats 30 ... 25 ... 5
Woollens 3O ... 25 ...
Embroidered Goods 3O ... 25 ... 5
Wool under 10e. per lb. 30 ... free. ... 30,
Hemp. :30 ... 25 ... 5
I,inei.l3 '25 free. ... 25

In orde.r to appreciate the full value of this
clpinge we must take into, account the actual

amount of du_ty paid on them, and we.find_ )ay
the latest returns 'that the. amount of duty paid
on-Woollens this year is 7,574,530 dollars; Cotton,
6,658,337 dollars; Hempen, 95,834 dollars; Total
on these three articles, 14,328,701 dollars. The
reduction of duty, or in other words, the amount
of relief given to the trade by the proposed changes
upon the articles above enumerated, will be in
round numbers, about 4,500,000 dollars. This con-
cession at a moment when the stecks of nearly
every duty-paying article stand at a remarkably low
point, must be hailed by the manufacturers of the
Northern countries as a great boon, and its value
becomes the more enhanced when we consider the
position of the manufacturing districts at this
Moment.

The new American tariff will not come into
operation before the Ist January, 1855. The ob-
ject of thus fixing so long a period before the
change comes into effect, is to allow time for the
present holders of stocks to clear off the goods on
hands. Still the effect of the change will be felt
here almost immediately, particularly in the manu-
facture of those articles which have hitherto been
prohibited, and those which require time in order
to produce them in any considerable quantity.
Deferring the date of this change is not an act of
honest caution towards the American merchant
alone, but it is one of equal justice to our manu-
facturers, who are also large holders of goods for
the American market. A sudden alteration in the
commercialrelations of America would, in fact, be
productive of many lamentable consequences to
both producerB and consuMers, while it could
answer no legitimate end. The caution observed
in its promulgation is therefore one of its most
valuable features.
In the present prosperous condition of the
United States, the quantity of foreign manufac-
tures in stock at the present time will be entirely
disposed of, unless indeed that speculators should
be induced to hold over for higher rates under the
operation of the new tariff. But as no sane man
would think of pursuing- such a course, we be-
lieve that a general clearance will be effected long
before. the coming year expires, and that a two-
fold larger demand upon our • producers will be
the result. And as the American government have
been prompted to adopt Free Trade under a heavy
pressure of' positive fiscal prosperity, and as they
only retain a tariff at all to cover the national debt,
we are inclined to believe that the revenue of the
States will be augmented 'instead of decreased,
and that in:obedience to the sound policy which
has dictated the present change, they will come
forward with a still bolder and more perfect
measure of commercial reform, which shall leave
the trade of America as free as her soil, or the air
her citizens breathe.
The bullion wealth of the States is increasing
with great rapidity, and by the adoption of a policy
which must tend to economise the power of the
precious metals, trade will attain a degree of
solidity hitherto unknown in the great " commer-
cial republic. The career of a vast industrial
nation without a national debt and with
millions of surplus gold lying in their the
banksr
justice
can
scarcely be foreseen. But who can queStion the
wisdom that shall direct itsdestinies, or
and success that shall mark its progress." To trade
with America, will be to be linked to a great pro
gressive people,. whose destiny appears to be that
of iliimitable dominion. She has commercial fore
sight, enterprise, and the legislative' wisdom to
open .new countries for her commerce, and she
comes 'to us to supply the surplus wants of her
merchants. That which she cannot produce her-
self, to the full extent of her people's wants, she
throws open to the world to supply.
In time these wants will be supplied by her own
hands, but until that event does take place, the ma-
nufacturing countries of Europe may expect a sea-
son of unequalled activity. The admission of
linens_ duty free into the Union, will carry comfort
to the door of almost every cottier in---Ireland. A
concession of 1,750,000 dollars is no trifling boon
to the, Irish people. But what will be the amount
of increased employment it will give to the spin-
ning-wheel and loom of the Irish -peasant ? To
the small and struggling spinners of Lancashire
and Yorkshire, the reduction of duty on woollens
will be no less a boon—while the more wealthy
millowner will spring from his present lordly estate

to that of princely- circumstances. The hardware
trades of Sheffield and Birmingham also lie within
the circle of increased activity, and more constant
employment. And we are mistaken,. if the em-
ployers of Preston will not yield to the call of Ame-
rica that which
.they have refused the operatives
of their own locality.

There will be but little time to spare for" strikes"
or " lock outs," ere the spring shall be but half
spent. • The springs of production must be kept in
motion by those who hope to participate in the
rapid expansion of Free Trade. The orders from
America will be large. Brazil will be a, better cus-
tomer. India is in a flourishing condition. Aus-
tralia's wealth can swallow millions-of-our products,
and if Russia should persist in shedding blood, her
downfall is'c ertain and her prostration would open to
our trade streams of wealth that would amply repay
us for her subjugation to the laws of peace andna
tional progression.- To exist, she must seek shelter
among the nations 'who-, look to the, free inter-
change of their peoples' industry. Having thus •
removed the circumstances by which we are sur
,rounded at the present moment, we can find no in-
surmountable object between us and the full at-
tainment of a degree of commercial prosperity,
hitherto unknown even in this prosperous Eng-
land.

PERIIAPS there are few social reforms more im -
portant than that which is now engaging public
attention—namely, the reclamation of juvenile
delinquents. With all our boasted progress,other
nations have left us far behind in some particulars

—in none more so than in the establishment of
Refuges for criminal children. We have, at immense,
expense, erected gaols and' penitentiaries for the
punishment of vice. These are maintained at the
public cost. Whilst, until recently, it never struck
us that prevention was better than cure—remedial
than retributive measures—and that to reform• the
young thief was far more politic, humane, and in-
cumbent, than to punish him for a while, and then
suffer him to go abroad, that he might again prey
upon society. But " better late than never !" and
if the public will but take the matter up• vigorously
and collectively, their present zeal will go far
towards atoning for their past indifference.
A Conference of noblemen and gentlemen inte-
rested in the establishment of Reformatories for
juvenile criminals, has just been held at Birming-
ham. A report of the proceedings appeared •in
our impression of Wednesday; which, we must say,
are both interesting- and instructive. It appears,
that at the .beginning of the present year, an Indus-
trial School for criminal children was established
in that town; and, from the report of the Cora-
mitte9 of the Institution, which was read in
presence of the Conference, we have every reason
to regard the scheme as highly practicable and'
eminently successfut

There are many reasons why our criminal popu-
lation—the juvenile portion of it especially—should
be mercifully regarded and leniently treated. In
the first place, society bas made them what they are,

THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.