The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-29 00:00:00

The last accounts reported that 400 of his force'
after fighting for nine days at Granada, wore sur
rounded by the Costa Rica, Salvador and Guate-
mala forces. Gen. Walker was on boat d a steamer
on the lako, without communication with his army,
and his men wero suffering for the want of provisions
and clothing, and were dying of disease. We are told
that throughout the whole of Central America there
reigus the m

A comp'ete union and the greatest
nthusiasm for the rational cause, the Archbishops
and Bishops being especially distinguished for
the fervotar of their religious and patriotic
exhortations. A subscription for the expenses of
the war has boon eager:y taken up in Guatemala,
and in both Republics the clergy have contributed
freely.

Front Mexico we learn that the revolutionary
element in the Republic seems to have been by no
means suppressed Jt was rumoured that Comm).
fort was playing false to his party, and that he
intended giving his influence to the church party.
The intelligence from Vera Gritz gives us no;hing
definite as to the action of the Government troops
at Puebla, and at the various points in North and
North-eastern Mexico. From letters received at
Vera Cruz, it was understood that General Alvarez
had raised 5,000 troops to put at the dispostion of
the Government I;y many intelligent persons it
is asserted that Comonfort has proved treacher
ous to the cause that placed him in power.
and that he has sold himself to the interests
of Santa Anna, who may appedr at any moment
upon the scene to restore harmony and church-
claims to the people We do not learn of auy
movement at Vera Cruz by the friends
of the chicken cock chief that warrants such con-
elusion ; as he has broken the wizard charm of
thrice—and he is no more young—the idea of his
return the fourth time to power, is laughed at by
the friends of his wife. The seise of Puebla had
been actively carried on, but up to latest accounts
the beseigers bad been frequently repulsed with
severe losses. The town was defended by the
citizens and a few companies of " Pronouneiados,"
and were constantly urged on to renewed exertions
by the friars, who walked through the ranks with
crucifixes in their hands, appealing to.their religious
sentiments to die fighting the battle of the Church
against Comonfort.

We have later news from Havannah, but it is
devoid of any importance Reports were in circu
lation, to the Effect that General Concha, antieipat
ing a change of authorities of the Island of Cuba,
had asked to be reeioved from his office. The
government had determined to establish free schools
in Havannah, to the number of 60, so that the
children of the poorer classes may have the oppor
tunity of receiving a good education. Such as aro
able will be obliged to pay for the tuition, and
parents will he forced to send their children to the
Schools in question.
Advices from Honduras inform us that the
country was tranquil, and the excitement caused
by General Walker's appearance in the affairs of
Nicaragua, had somewhat subsided. There is
nothing new in regard to the future course of
Honduras in supporting the other States against
Walker. The news of the latter's successes was
not known to the people of Honduras, and it was
believed that the famous adventurer had been
defeated. The party of American gold diggers
who have been in Honduras for some time past
prospecting for the precious metal, had nearly all
left the country on account of the sickle climate,
which had proved on the coast very debilitating to
Americans.

Our Continental advices this morning inform us
that, as yet, there is not much prospect of a
settlement of tha dispute between Prussia and
Switzerland. According to our latest Berlin
advices, a note bearing the names of the signatories
of the Protocol of London, with the exception of
Prussia, has been addressed to the Federal Council
of Switzerland, demanding the liberation of the
Royalist insurrectionists. Prussia declares her
hope that this general expression of the Powers
will terminate the conflict. The Suisse of Berne
under date of December 23, informs us that
during the last two days, it was rumoured there
that the representatives of the Powers and the
.Federal Council had agreed upon a prcjeet of
arrangement which had be: n submitted to the
ratification of Prussia. That fact is true, but we
are enabled to affirm that the Prussian Govern
ment has formally refused the proposed negotia
tions. A declaration of war is therefore imminent."
In another column will be found the copy of the
memorandum which was addressed by the Prus-
sian Government to its representatives at the
Courts of the four great Powers—France, Great
Britain, Austria, and Russia. The intelligence
from other quarters of Europe do not call for special
notice at present.
The domestic incidents of the day are neither
numerous nor important. Mr. Henry Berkeley
has addressed another letter to the "leading jour-
nal" on the subject of the Ballot, in which he
completely demolishes the arguments adopted by
the Times. Lord Hastings has again been figuring
in another "rabbit case." At the Holt petty
sessions, held on Saturday, his lordship presided
on the bench, and although requested by Mr.
M'Enteer, barrister, who acted as counsel for Mr.
Tillett, the editor of the Norfolk News, to leave the
bench, as he was about to make an application to'
have his lordship bound to keep the peace
towards Mr. Tillett, he would not do • so,
and a perfect scene took place in court.
It is reported that a memorial has been sent to Sir
George Grey, requesting an investigation into the
conduct of the Holt magistrates in the great rabbit
case. Lord Heniker has been elected for East
Suffolk without opposition. There is nothing new
respecting the contests for Southampton and
Greenwich. Another execution has taken place.
On Saturday John Hannah suffered the extreme
penalty of the law at York Castle, for the murder
of Jane Benham. From the report of the last
hours of the unfortunate wretch he 'died penitent.
There are still some other convicts ordered for
execution, so that, like 1850, the New Year will, in
all probability, be ushered in by the gallows being
called into requisition in more counties than one.
The local occurrences ate quite meagre and
insignificant The murdered policeman at Birken
bead was interred on Saturday, when an immense
,loncourse of people attended, including his com-
panions in the police, by whom he was much
respected. Great sympathy is flt for his aged
mother and his sister. Steps are being taken to
rats a subscription for their relief The unfortu-
lale deceased was their only support To day, th
mortal remains of the late Mr Parkinson are to be
n erred The police force will accompany the body

) the gray(

Tag candid expression of public opinion in
liA country, on the subject of diplomatic inter-

meddling in the affairs of foreign States,
appears to have had the desired effect in the
case of Switzerland ; or else ;t must be generally
agreed to by the responsible Courts of Europe
that a Continental war is necessary, and that the

Swiss are the people who are to be made to taste
its horrors. When the bulwarks of Paganism

id social barbarism were assailed in the East,

11 Christendom spoke out with an united voice in
'efence of the weak. The strong were denounced
)r their cowardice in attacking a defenceless

,tion, as we would declaim in our streets against

giant's assaulting a cripple, or a person infirm,
id tottering with old age. Much of the mira-
ilous succees which attended the efforts to save
it Crimean army, after they had been lost, may
ascribed to the sacredness of our cause. Reli-
ions and political prejudkes, and all thoughts

the coat of war, and the difficulties of restoring

peace, were laid aside in favour of the simple
principle of defending the weak against the
strong. No one waited to ask whether Turkey
was a Christian, a Monarchial, or a Republican
country. It was enough to know that they were