The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

entially men of 'business, and they know

Ipital quite as well as they
lo that of Manchester broadcloth or cotton yarns.
We trust, however, when their ends have been
fully attained, that the reasonable demands of
France and England will have been secured, and
that their interference, in the meantime, will not
swell that frightful torrent of blood which has
already deluged the banks of the Danube and the
shores of the Black Sea.

Ilue of political c

THE Press has succeeded, after years of agita-
tion, in securing for the country the general
adoption of reformatory institutions for juvenile
criminals. The publicity given to the crime
brought before the authorities, day by day, has
had its effect, not only in forcing magistrates and
corporate bodies into action, but in rousing the
moral and religious classes of the community, and
bringing them to look diligently to the degraded
and dangerous condition of their fellow-creatures,
as well as to their own temporal interests and
eternal peace. Moral reformation has, in fact,
become a universal movement; and it is not too
much to hope, that vast individual and national
benefits will bo the ultimate result. The house-
less orphan, and the ill-used offspring of ignorant
and drunken parents, have been too long neglected
in this country ; and, as it ever must be where
society neglect their duty, we have been made to
pay dearly for our recklessness, in taxes for the
erection of prisons, and the maintenance of a
large police force for the suppression of crime.
Hitherto, however, we have confined ourselves
mainly to the punishment of offenders. That,
after incurring an immense expenditure of money,
has failed. We are now entering on an era of
reformation, and hope—by affording timely shelter
and tender regard to the youth unconscious of
the guilt they commit, and the frightful end that
awaits a life of vice—to rescue them from the
yawning aulf into which so many thousands have
fallen. This is, indeed, a great and good work,
which every member of the community ought to
sustain by contributing his mite, be it ever so

The human family present a most appalling
spectacle when viewed as a whole ; and, though it
may only be possible to grapple with one limb of
human depravity at a time, still, there is much in
the actual condition of our race to call for mighty
sacrifices and endless toil, in the great work of
social regeneration. We have always contended,
that the whole of mankind is threatened with pre-
mature destruction by those vices which are still
rampant, not in this country alone, but throughout
the universe. We always put forward the extraordi-
nary decrease in the duration of human life. as a
proof of the inroads which vice, of every des-
cription, is making upon humanity. We instance
the longevity of our species, as disclosed to us in
Scripture in the early ages of the world, and we
come down to the averages given in our present
tables of mortality. If we go back to the days of
JARED, METHUSALEFT, LAMECH and NOAH, we
may safely conclude that the average of life was
100 years. But what is it now ? By some
it has been set down at nineteen years ; but,
certain it is, that the duration of man's existence
has been shortened by three score years and ten,
since the period to which we allude. We cannot
attribute this fearful curtailment of life to physical
causes. Our conventional ideas—our habits—our
recognised follies— our cherished vices—and our
anti-Christian neglect of each other, have worked
out that appalling result, which awakened reason
can scarcely venture to contemplate. The wars of
savage nations have contributed to the
universal desolation. Africa
and Asia have
known no peace within the
memory of
man. The Mogul Tartars, who first inhabited
the American Continent, have all but disappeared
in wars of extermination ; and Europe is covered
with the bones of her sons who have fallen victims
to those Pagan notions of grandeur and power
which rack
,her genius, and are incessantly deci-
mating her manhood. All this, aided by our false
ideas, ridiculous habits, petty vice, and criminal
neglect, has robbed man of his prolonged existence
upon earth.

Every work of regeneration must, therefore, be
hailed with unmingled joy by all who regard the
temporal and eternal welfare of their fellow -
creatures. It is not enough that we should have a
fraction of our population stalwart at sixty, full of
intellectual vigour at seventy, and go down to their
grave, in possession of all their mental faculties,
at eighty. years of age. The average of life is
rapidly dropping down to infancy, and those who
regard the great superstructure of human existence
should be up and doing ! Mind should enforce
its influence over matter, that the frail temple of
life may be preserved as it was in primitive times.
All those devastating follies and vices, which afflict
the world, should be more vigorously assailed
than ever. Missionaries, with schoolmasters,
Christian churches, with their bishops, deacons,
and priests, should, one and all, go forth in
increased numbers, to reform the heathen, and to
arrest the shedding of blood in every land. Had
the priests of Russia trained up the minds of her
rulers and people to abhor war, What a blessing
on would have conferred on the
presentrccrng
on generations to come ! Had the chuha e, and
n other
r
Christian lands denounced the impiousne
bloodshed, and had employed a forty ye of
years'
peace in weaning their respective nations
from the evil tenor of their ways, we
should have had no invasion of Turkey, nor
Crimean battles, But, they look on war as a con-

72 74,

NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, MIA

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.
•

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
There has been a very active demand for Cotton
to-day, both from the trade and exporters, and a
large business has been done at an improvement
in price of aof a penny per lb. The total sales
reach 15,000 bales, and include 5,000 for specu-
lation and export.
The Liverpool Share Market has been lower
to-day upon the decline in Consols, and the
arrangement of the share account. At the close,
however, the tone was somewhat firmer.-
-Aberdeen, 12i 12i. Chester and Birkenhead,
131 131. Caledonian, 281 283. Chester and
Holyhead, 121, 133. Eastern Counties, 91
9-7,. East Lancashire, 18 181-,. Great Nor-
thern, 231 23-4. Ditto A, 91 913. Great
Western, 58 591. Lancashire and Yorkshire
Stock 81,1 811. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport,
15 151. London and North Western Stock, 99 991.
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 25 253. Ditto
Preference, 11 12. Ditto New 6 per cent
Pref., ; in. Midland Stock, 693 693. North
British, 72- 71. North Staffordshire, 8 71-d.
South Eastern, 18 7-16 183. York, New-
eastle, and Berwick, 187,-, 183. York and North Mid-
land, 244 241. Leeds Capital Stock, 14114;. Dutch
Rhenish, 1 4p. Ditto New Shares, 23 21p. Great
Western of Canada, 25i 251. Ditto New Shares,
34 3 5-16 p. Great Luxembourg, 84 81d.
Letters from St. Petersburg state that the total
amount of bonds bearing interest, and issued by
the public treasury, had risen to 85 millions of
silver roubles from the ordinary average in times
of peace, which seldom exceeded 60 millions. The
amount of paper money in circulation not bearing
interest has increased from 336 millions in 1854 to
400 millions at the close of last year.
Accounts from Peru, by the West India Mail-
packet Atrato, furnish some interesting particulars
regarding the guano trade from the Chincha Islands.
It appears that the net produce of a ton ofguano to
Peru when sold in England is 23 dols sc, and when
sold in the United States 21 dols sc. The loss by
trans-shipment, waste, and accidents by sea, is cal-
culated at 12 per cent. Recent estimates of the
quantities on the group of islands are as follows :
On the north island, as computed by M. Faraquet,
a French engineer, 4,189,477 tons; on the middle
island, as calculated by Senor Castanon Cana
and others, 2,505,948 tons ; and on the south
island, as estimated by the same authorities,
:5,684,679 tons—making a total of 12,380,102 tons.
From official returns it appears that the quantity
of guano exported from,November 1853, to Oct.
1855, was 780,000 tons, or about 800,000 in two
years, which is valued at twenty million dole. At
the present time the National Debt of Peru is
46,698,889 dollars, bearing interest amounting
annually to 2,101,750 dols. Should the proceeds,
therefore, of guano be judiciously applied, there
is sufficient to pay off the debt in a few years.
According to the customs returns at Panama,
the trade between that port and California is
steadily increasing. During the last year there
were thirty-two vessels of the United States mer
cantile marine entered the port from thence of
49,300 tons aggregate measure, and laden with
cargoes including gold and specie of the value of
30,691,815 dols.

The Funds have been weaker to-day. At one
period of the morning, the extreme reduction from
the final quotations of yesterday was R per cent,
but a partial rally afterwards took place, and the
market closed a to 2- per cent lower than yesterday,
the final quotations being 91k to 911. The depres-
sion is attributable to large sales by some of Lthe
influential parties who originally purchased in the
hope of peace, and who have since retained their
stock. There has also been a continued pressure
for money, especially in the Stock Exchange. It
is assumed, however, that the stringency in this
quarter will be merely temporary. Rumours con-
nected with the state of our relations with the
United States, and other reports thinking that the
Queen's speech will only refer in guarded terms to
the peace negociations, assisted in the prevailing
tendency towards depression. In most quarters,
however, there is a disposition to scout the idea
that any serious embroilment can arise between
this country and America. The commercial rela-
tions of the two States are, it is hoped,
,too inti-
mate, and too mutually beneficial to admit their
disturbance. Another failure is announced on the
Stock Exchange. The individual is a broker,
who had speculated for a fall in Consols and
Turkish Stock. Neither in this case, however, nor
in tiro t reported yesterday is the amounts heavy.
At Paris to-day the Bourse was extraordinarily
buoyant. The Three per Cent. Rentes closed fully
1 per cent higher than yesterday. About one half
of the 496,0001. in gold, ex the Champion of the
Seas, has been sent to the bank ; the other moiety
goes to the continent. The amount of specie
brought in by the Atrato, from the West Indies,
is stated at 276,000 dols in silver, and 445,000 dols
in gold, making a total of about 144,0001. The
Railway Share Market to-day was generally well
supported, notwithstanding the flatness of Consols.
Subjoined are the closing quotations :—Caledonian,
56+ 571. Eastern Counties 91 91. East Lancashire,
Great Northern, 934 9471. Ditto A, 77 79.

Great Western, 57/ 58,f. Lancashire and York-
shire, 811 80. London and North Western, 99
991. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 25+
254. Midland Stock, 69+ 70. North British, 30
31. South Eastern and Dover,6l+ 6111. York, New-
castle, and Berwick, 75 7.5 i. York' and North
Midland, 481 491.

The weather still continues frosty and cold, although
otherwise fine overhead. There is an indication of con-
tinued frost.

The Gazette of Tuesday evening announces that the
Queen has approved of the appointment of Mr. William
Watson as Consul at Liverpool for the republic of Vene-
zuela.

FIRE LAST NIGHT. —About half-past eight o'clock a
fire was discovered in a public-house in the Old Ropery,
near Fenwick-street. It was extinguished before any
material damage was done.

LADIES' COLLEGE IN LIVERPOOL,—We understand that
some of the clergy and laity of the town, including gentle-
men connected with the Collegiate Institution, have under
consideration the propriety of establishing a college for the
instruction of young ladies, similar to the colleges which
have been so successful in London.

SUDDEN DEATHS.—Yesterday an old woman named
Catherine Harding, who lodged in a c iurt off Lawton-
street, and who sold fruit in the street, was found dead in
her bed. A child named Egan, 22 months old, was burnt
some days ago and died yesterday. Mary McGee, a child,
died suddenly yesterday in Bolton-street.
PROPOSED PLAN FOR RENDERING THE MECHANICAL
FORCE AFFORDED BY THE RISE AND FALL OF THE TIDE
AVAILABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING
MACHINERY.—Such is the title of an elaborate paper (M.S.)
with which Mr. Joseph T. Price, of 34, Hunter-street, has
favoured us. He also sends us plans in reference to George's-
basin, as illustrative of his principle. All appear to have
been compiled with great care, but at present we are not in
a position to offer any remark on the mooted question.
Mr. Price's theory seems to be the construction of machi-
nery to be worked by a wheel, which, in turn, would be put
in motion by the rising and ebbing of the tide. He enters
elaborately into this point, a❑d if what he proposes on
paper could be carried into practice, no doubt the success
would be unquestionable. We think the subject worthy
the attention of scientific persons, who, from practical
experience, would be enabled to pronounce on the merits of
the suggestion.

YouriG MaNs' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.—Last evening,
the Rev. Luke Wiseman, of Stoke Newington, attended at
the Hope-hall, Hope-street, for the purpose of delivering
the eighth of a series:of winter lectures to the members and
friends of this association. There was a very smaa attend-
ance. At the time appointed. the Rev. Mr. West took the
chair, observing that on that occasion his duties Would be
exceedingly light. Sometimes the position of chairman
was attended and surrounded by many difficulties ; but wh( n
they considered the lecturer and the subject, he felt that he
was relieved from all difficulty, as both commended them-
selves so much to the meeting. (Applause.) He would,
therefore, conclude by introducing the Rev. Luke Wiseman.
(Applause) The lecturer, on c:miing forward, was mst
enthusiastically received. lie said it was possible that the
title of the lecture, ' Things sacred and things secular,"
might not seem to restrict them to any particular line of
thought, therefore, before illustrating the subject, it might
be desirable that he should explain at the commencement, a
little more particularly, the object he had in view. He
then went on to explain the meaning of the two terns,
sacred and secular, the latter denoting worldliness, and the
other its opposite, and relating to all things spiritual and
ecclesiastical. What they would have to consider was,
where the two were at variance with each other, when they
are so antagonistic that in no position of lite could they be
brought to act with each other. The lecturer then pro-
ceeded to trace the various opinions that had existed ou the
subject,
and finally concluded by showing that the two were
not opposed to each other, but might act in unison. A vote
of thanks to the lecturer concluded the business. At the
next meeting, on Wednesday, the Rev. Dr. Raffles will give
a lecture on " St. Peter's, and the Vati:an."