The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-26 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS DAY.

It is said that a " green Christmas makes a fat church-
yard," but hero the proverb endeth. The contra, it may
be supposed, deprives the " last resting-place of poor
humanity" of its future tenants for some time longer. Be
this as it may, our present has not been a " green Christ,
mas," although, up to ten at night on the eve of the great
festival, there was no special indication to the contrary.
Wednesday was gloomy and changeable—cold rain, with
showers of heavy sleet, prevailed during the day ; but•
from four up to nine, the atmosphere was soft and foggy.
About the latter hour there was a heavy sleet shower,
accompanied by several flashes of bluish sheet lightning
and repeated heavy peals of thunder. Soon after this a
considerable fall of snow came down, and during the night
a smart frost set in, and, as the snow was soft, the effect
of the frost made the streets like a sheet of ice, and it
became difficult, on the part of man and beast, to make
good footing. The quadrupeds (horses are very fearful of
slipping) tumbled about the streets in all directions,
whilst the bipeds kissed the mother earth in hundreds ;
and, in many instances, the process of falling was much
augmented in conseqeence of the " top-sails" being
"light," for it is " Christmas time," and every one knows
that hallowed period " comes only once a year." So the
meaning is plain. Early yesterday morning the streets pre-
sented as ugly an appearance, to pedestrians, as could be
well looked upon. The sun rose, however, in
much splendour, and continued so till he sank to rest.
It was reported :that two persons had been killed by the
lightning of the previous evening, but upon enquiry, we
cannot obtain any authenticity for such a report ; nor
have we, we are happy to say, heard of any accident or
mishap to disturb:the:pleasures of the day. Of course,
as on all such occasions, there were some few who com.
menced the enjoyment of the good things of this life at
an earlier hour than usual, and some having been found
luxuriating inlthe channel, others clinging for support to
a friendly lamp post, after imbibing:too much strong drink
were, through the kindness :of the police, locked up for
safety, and were thus deprived Zof their liberty and the
good cheer provided for them. This, with the addition
of a fine of a few shillings, will be their punishment-
while all classes of the community were celebrating and
enjoying this time-honoured festival, the poor whose
necessities have compelled them to seek assistance from
their more afflaent brethren, were not forgotten; and
while each domestic hearth were rejoicing in the savoury
smells from the "roast beef and plum pudding," the halls
of our workhouses re-echoed :with the cheers of the
inmates, who on this day had the pleasure of partaking of
the same substantial fare. To them it was, indeed, a
joyous occasion, and each heart seemed to forget for the
moment the bitter pangs of poverty, and by their looks
testified the gratitude they felt to those who had been
instrumental in thus, for the time, alleviating the misery
attendant on being dependant on others for home and
sustenance. At the workhouse on Brownlow-hill, per-
haps containing a larger number of poor than any other
union workhouse in England, each inmate had a boun-
tiful supply of the good old English fare, while the poor in
the West Derby Union, to the number of about eight
hundred, partook of the same luxury, and it was, indeed,
a pleasing sight to see such a number of England's unfor-
tunate sons and daughters, of all ages, from youth and
healthfulness to decrepid old age, thus provided for on this
great holiday. In each of the above establishments, the
governors and matrons made every exertion to add to the
comfort and happiness of those for whom they were
providing, and were assisted in their labours by several of
the guardians, who were in attendance. The inmates of
the Kirkdale School of Industry were similarly provided
for, as were the inmates of all the charities in the town.

So all this was a great treat, and it is our hope that the
time .honoured custom of providing on such an occasion—
a grand dinner to the poor—and making their hearts

rejoice, when all others are rejoicing, will never be for-
gotten by those who have the wa,' oiling over them.

Thus have we concluded the Christmas of 1856, which
is now numbered with the past of these festive occasions•

FEARFUL FIRE ON CIIRISTMAS EVE

On Wednesday evening about eight o'clock, a most
fearful fire broke out on board a vessel lying in the Stanley
Dock, and which, if it had not been timely discovered,
might have led to the most serious consequences, as the
destruction of property would have been immense. The
fire was discovered on board the barque Lillian, coal
laden for Savannah, and was ready to put to sea. During
the thunder storm which passed over this town about that
hour, the electric fluid struck the vessel, and was the
immediate cause of the conflagration. When the fire was
first discovered, flames were issuing from the cabin. The
alarm was immediately given at the Temple-court Station,
and instantly Mr. Hewitt, superintendent of the fire bri-
gade, with the men under his command, proceeded to the
scene, with the reels and hose. At first, much difficulty
was experienced in getting on board the vessel, from the
position in which she was moored in the dock, but that
difficulty having been over come, with the assistance of a
staff of dock gatemen, it was seen that the cabin was in
flames. An immense body of water having been brought
to bear on the devouring element, the danger was soon
over, and, by the united exertions of all engaged,
the :damage was confined to that one vessel, but
not until the clothes belonging to the captain and mate
had been destroyed, as well as a portion of her stores,
mizenmast, sails, and other articles. The damage is
estimated at from £l5O to £2OO. The time the fire was
first discovered to its being distinguished, occupied nearly
two hours, principally owing to the difficulty experienced
by the fire brigade being enabled to get to her, therefore,
it is surprising that a greater amount of damage was not
done, and which, we doubt, would have been the case had
it been for the exertions made by the brigade when they
got into operation. At the time of the fire, the iron screw
steamer Khersonese was lying alongside of the
which may have been the cause of attracting the electric
fluid.

SUNDAY QUERIES.—At this particular season, Christ-
mas presents and New-year's gifts are among the common
occurrences of the season. We know no more appropriate
gift than the " Sunday Queries," edited by Mrs. Birrell.
The work contains much useful and valuable informatiom
respecting the scriptures, and as such we recommend it, not
only for distribution among children, but emigrants pro-
ceeding abroad should possess copies, a perusal of which
cannot fail to make them wiser and better Christians.
LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT,—BEFORE MR. COM-
MISSIONER STEVE N N RE Bien IRD FLYNN.—The
bankrupt carried on the business of a provision dealer in
St. James' street. His Honour delivered judgment on the
the certificate this day. He held that the charge of reck-
less trading, urged en behalf of the assignees, had been sus-
tained, and the certificate should therefore be suspended for
eight months, and be of the second class, but with protection.
Mr. Evans appeared on behalf of the assignees, and Mr.
C. Aspinall for the bankrupt.
THE BLIND ASYLUM, HARDMAN•STREET.-111 accordance
with the time honoured custom which has Drevailed in
this institution since its establishment, its inmates wel-
comed in on Christmas eve the advent of this happy season
with song and festivity. They assembled at seven o'clock
in the dining halt of the asylum, and spent the interval
until ten o'clock in singing and in partaking of huge
mince-pies, bun loaves and wine, which were generously
supplied by friends of the institution. Around the gas
lights evergreens were tastefully woven, and an air of
cheerful comfort pervaded the room—clean and bright as
most scrupulous neatness could desire, which made the
whole scene homely and happy. The programme was
prodigiously long, each of the inmates (male and female),
a goodly number, having some one song to sing, not to
mention the catches and choruses, which particularly were
creditably given. We have heard, we admit, many a time
much better singing, but we have never seen a company
more sensible of the joys of music than the humble one
whose Christmas merry-making we witnessed on Wed-
nesday night. The concert was wholly under the manage-
ment of the inmates themselves, the piano accompaniments
being performed by the females, but Miss Hiles and Mr.
Henry Johnson, who have the charge of their musical
instruction, were present assisting and sharing in their
enjoyments. Mr. and Mrs. Adanbrook, the governor and
matron of the institution, were unremitting in their
attention to the poor sightless beings committed to theft
charge, and whose healthy appearance and cheerful
demeanour bore the most eloquent testimony to the
fidelity with which that trust is discharged.