The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-15 00:00:00

FOREIG

N" INTELLIGENC

E.l

FRANCE.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, MONDAY EVENING

Most important news has arrived today from 1
Spain. The O'Donnell Cabinet has ceased to exist,
and one presided over by General Narvaez has
taken its place. The telegraph, however, will have
informed you long before this letter can arrive, of
this important event. At present. the circum-
stances that have led to it, are not known even by
the government; but, whatever they be, they have
occurred with greater rapidity than had been
expected. The new cabinet is thus composed :
General Narvaez, President of the Council ; M.
Pidal, Minister of Foreign Affairs ; M. Seifas,
Finance ; M. Nocedal, Interior ; M. Arzuela,
Justice; General Urbistondo, War; and General
Lersundi, Marine. In addition to these appoint-
ments, General Sanz has been nominated Captain
General of Madrid, and General Pezuela Director
of Cavalry. With the exception of M. Pidal, none of
the new ministers are of much political note; but as
they will be expected to obey purely and simply the
commands of Narvaez, this does not much matter.
What course Narvaez means to pursue remains to
be seen, but it will no doubt be one of blind
reaction ; and it is morally certain tliqt it will lead
sooner or later to nothing less than tie overthrow
of the throne of Queen

rflw Bourse has been bad again to-day--the
Threes having fallen on Saturday's quotations no
less than 65 cents for cash, and 70 cents for
time, and other securities having declined like-
wise. The cause of the fall was partly the
news from Spain, partly the report that the
Bank of France was about to take other restrictive
measures, and that its metallic reserve has, within
the last few days, diminished very considerably,
and partly a report that the English and French
Ambassadors at Naples have been re-called. With
regard to the Bank of France, it is denied that it
contemplates the adoption of any new measures of
seventh; and it is asserted by persons who pretend
to be in its confidence, that its metallic reserve, so
far from having diminished, has increased within
the last few days to the extent of £300,000 sterling.
With respect to the reported recall of the Ambas-
sadors from Naples, I am able to assure you, on
good authority, that it is unfounded. But at the
same time, it is considered very likely, that before
very many days shall elapse, the recall will be issued.
Even the German papers which have hitherto
maintained that the Neapolitan question would
lead to nothing, now express fears that the
threatened naval demonstration will certainly be
made, not by England alone, but by France also.
But the German papers have fallen into such
gross contradictions on this question, that there is
no relying on anything they say. What is certain,
is, that the French fleet continues quietly at Tou-
lon, and that the English one remains at Ajaceio.
I told you, yesterday, that great importance was
attached here to the continued occupation of the
Danubian Principalities by the Austrians, and that
the matter was considered likely to lead to great
difficulty. The semi—official Constitutionnel
has this morning au article against Austria,
on the subject ; and it is said that all the news-

papers, under the control of the government, have
received instructions 'to make the most of the

affair. The precise object of France in making a
fuss about it just now does not appear. Accord-
ing to the Independance, of Brussels, the English

Cabinet, out of vexation at the conduct of France
in the Neapolitan affair, does not support her in
the matter so cordially as she thinks she has the
right to expect, and accordingly some very sharp
notes have passed between the two governments.
But statements in the Independance must be
received with caution
According to a Frankfort newspaper, the French
Government has sent a reply to the late circular of
Prince Gortschakoff, in which it maintains that the
projected intervention of England and France in
Naples is not contrary to international law.
On dit, that the Prussian Government contem•
plates a complete re-organisation of its system of
taxation.

There have been some disturbances in the little
Italian republic of San Marino. They were caused
by refugees from the Papal States, but were of no
importance.

WEST DERBY GUARDIANS

SPECIAL Y MEETING.- -ESTERDAY.

IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION.

The readers of the NORTHERN TIMES are already
aware that, for some time past, certain parties
have been dissatisfied with the mode in which relief is
granted in certain quarters of the township. It will
also be recollected that Mr. Shaw was the prime mover
in the affair, and addressed a letter to the Poor Law
Commissioners, asking them to send down Mr. Farnall,
the Poor Law Inspector, to visit the workhouse, and
hold an 'enquiry into the allegations put forth in Mr.
Shaw's letter. This communication has appeared in the
NORTHERN TIMES of the 11th ult. On the receipt of
Mr. Shaw's letter, a correspondence took place between
the Rev. Mr. Badnall, Chairman of the West Derby
Guardians, and the Poor Law Board, the result of which
was, that on yesterday Mr. Farnall, Poor Law Inspector,
attended for the purpose of investigating the correctness
of Mr. Shaw's statements. The enquiry took place in
the boardroom of the West Derby workhouse.
There was a large attendance of guardians present,
namely, the Rev. Mr. Badnall, chairman, Messrs.
Harrison, Lunt, Johns, Pickup, Roscoe, Craig,
Rains, Leyland, Wilson, Edwards, R. Shaw, Callis,
Abraham, Batten, Davis, Richmond, Evans, Elias, and
Siddeley.

Mr. Farnall opened the proceedings by referring to
the correspondence which had taken place between
Mr. Shaw and the Poor Law Board on the one hand, and
the Chairman of the West Derby Guardians and the
Commissioners on the other. In consequence of that
correspondence, he was there that day to investigate the
truth, or otherwise, of the charges brought forward by
Mr. Shaw, and would then proceed to take the evidence
of the overseers. He would first observe that he had
seen the remarks which appeared in the NORTRBRN
TIMES of that day, and should be glad if he could, by
his visit, attain the desirable result alluded to by that
journal. _

The first witness examined, was Mr. Barnett, one of
the overseers of Toxteth-park. He said that no cases had
come under his notice of either a public or private
character, where parties complained of getting less relief
in Toxteth_park than in other districts of the union. It
was the rule of the board to consider and adjudicate
upon every case of relief which came before them
upon its own merits. He was never at variance with
the medical officer of the district, and was perfectly
satisfied with the mode in which relief is administered
to the poor on his books. He had raised the relief of a
pauper himself, after the case had been before the board,,
but not before some alteration or new feature had taken
place in the case. None of the relieving officers had said
to him that he was treating the paupers of Toxteth-park
with harshness. He had known of paupers leaving his
district to go to another, but they were of the very
lowest characters. These went into Mr. Lathatn's
district, to try and get an increased relief, but
did not obtain it. He had not any know-
ledge of any other removals, and had never compared
notes with the other overseer as to the rate of relief
granted. The allowance to an old and infirm woman,
who could not work, but was able to go out, would be
about 2s 6d per week. A widow with three children,
who could go about, would be allowed 3s per week.
Mr. Farnall here said, that if the board agreed, he
thought that the other overseers might be admitted to be
present, as, by so doing, it would abridge the time of
the enquiry.
Some members thought that it would be as well to
call them as they were required, but ultimately they
were brought in to attend to the examination.
Cross-examination resumed : Considers that the poor
of his district are relieved as they ought to be. He
thought that their necessities were well provided for.
The witness was at great length examined upon all those
points, and most emphatically denied that there was
any difference made in the amounts of relief to paupers
in Toxteth-park and other districts of the union.
Mr. Shaw cross-examined Mr. Barnett at much length
as to several cases of alteration of relief, with the view of
proving some of his (Mr. Shaw's) allegations, but in this
the witness was very emphatic in disproving.
Mr. William Allen, and Mr. Latham, overseers of
West Derby, and part of Toxteth park, gave similar
evidence to that of Mr- Barnett, and the Rev. Mr. Bad-
nall and Mr. Cleaver volunteered a statement that, as at
present constituted, they were most anxious to admini.
ster relief impartially. Two or three years ago matters
were otherwise. Except in very rare cases, whenever he
recommended an increase in relief it was granted. Mr.
Cleaver substantiated Mr. Badnall's remarks. This
closed the examination of witnesses for the day. At this
stage of the proceedings, Mr. Shaw stated he was not satis-
fied with the case as it then stood, and he wished to have
Mr. John Whitehead, and Mr. Parnell, vestry cleric,
Kirkdale, examined.
The matter was adlourned until this morning at ten
o'clock.