Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-23 00:00:00

MANCHESTER BANKRUPTCY COURT.

In re JOSEPH WRIGHT.—The cross-examination of Mr.
Stannay, by Mr. Cobbett, was concluded on Friday. Fur-
'her explanations were given respecting the arrangement
between the bankrupt and the firm of Lees and Co. for the
purchase of cotton. Mr. Stannay stated that until cotton
became dear, the firm charged ai-d per pound as their per
tentage, and gave three months' credit for the payment.
After money became dear, they charged 3-16 hs of a penny.
The profit, upon the average, would be 14 to 2 per cent
during the last twelve months of the bankrupt's trading,
The average price of cotton-at the time was 7d per pound.
Cotton was much lower in January. 1855. The arrange.
ment was the same, whether the cotton was high or low.
In re-examination by Mr. Atkinson, the witness said he
unders'ood the arragement to be equivalent to a purchase
by Wright, on their account, and he could not have pur-
chased on credit in the Liverpool market. The case was
adjourned until Wednesday next, when a certificate will be
applied for.

Mr. Knowles is, it is said, about to resign the office of
Attorney• General to the County Palatine of Lancaster, in
consequence of his intention to retire from the North frn
Circuit.
DIVIDENDS.—The Midland Railway, we are informed on
good authority, will pay at the rate of 4 per cent. The
Berwick will show a disposable balance of 4 per cent.
but as the whole is not derived from the traffic of this half:
it is probable they will not divide so much. The Leeds
dividend, it is rumoured, will be 5 per cent.—Herapath.
'fLIE POPE AND SARDINIA.—The Opinione of Turiu, of
the 14th, states, notwithstanding previous asser.ions to
the contrary, that the Chevalier Boncompagni, the Sar-
dinian diplomatist, has been received by he Pope at
Bologna, and affirms that the interview was marked by
coldness on both sides, the conversation consisting of an
exchange of compliments, and nothing more.
T PIVJEOTED MU3ICAL 0'2115 —MT. Beale has just con-
cluded arrangements for his annual musical tours in the
provinces at the close of the opera season. Amongst the
more distinguished members of his company are Madame
Grisi, Madame Alboni, Madame Gassier, and Signor Mario,
who will appear in a series of concerts and musical enter-
tainments, embracing the choicest pieces which have been
presented at her Majesty's Theatre and the Lyceum during
the present season.
TheecTmer OF A MONASTERY.—The Benedictine order
are about to erect a monastery at Belmont, near Here-
ford, on a scale unknown in England since the reforma-
tion. Mr. Welby Pugin has advertised for tenders for the
work. A handsome Catholic church has also recently been
built at Belmont, at the sole expense of F. R. Wege
Prosser, Esq,, formerly a member for Herefordshire, and
who a few years since seceded from the Church of Englanl.
Cheltenham Examiner.
DUMAS FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS.—When M. Dumas
pere was a witness at Rouen, on the famous trial for mur-
der by duel, where Lola etontes also figured, he was asked
his profession. " Ahl" said he, " if I were not in the
re&ve city of Cornfille, I shouhl call myself a dramatist."
He wag leoking for a compliment—and did not find what
he sought. The judge respec'ed the supremacy of Cor-
neille; and remarked, with sly irony, " Sir, there are
degrees and extremes in every profession !"
" STRAIN AT A GNAT AND SWALLOW A CAMEL."—A
writer to a cotemporsry says :—" We read in the Bank
of England returns of Friday, that the government deposits
in the hands of that corporation amount to upwards of
seven millions of money; which, at present interest, pro-
r'.uces, or would produce, if properly used, nearly half a
million per annum ; and yet the very men who sanction
this waste of public money begrudge our Queen's daughter
a paltry dower of £B,OOO per annum."
CALLAO.—The following is an extract from a mercan-
tile letter dated Lima, May 12 :—" Vivanco effected a
lauding here of his troops to the number of about 700,
and attacked Callao on the morning of the 22nd April, but
met with no sympathy, and after a sanguinary conflict in
the streets, in which about 200 fell or were mortally
wounded, only one man returned to him on board the
frigate. On Sunday last the rest of the squadron (the
frigate remaining with him) entered the bay and surren,
dered to the constitutional government."—Shipping Ga
zette.

No fewer tnan three new operas have been produced
within the space of a few nights at the Theatre Lyrique in
Paris. One is called Les Conzmeres, is in one act, and is
by M. Montuoro ; the second is called the Duel du Cara-
mandeur, is also in one act, and is by M. Lajerte ; and
the third, which is entitled, Les Nuits d'Espagne, and is in
two acts, is by M. Semet. The three pieces are not got up
with much care, and have not made any sensation ; but as
the first productions of three young composers who are
endeavouting to make themselves a reputation, they deserve
mention.
A scheme is on foot for organising an annual exhibition
cf works cf British art in New York. The proposition
promises well, considering the rapidly increasing demand
for works of art in America. A collection is to be in full
readiness by the end of August, for the transit to New
York. The project meets with the syinnathy and support
of many or our leading artists, amongst whom are Millais,
Holman Hunt, and E. M. Ward. The American native
artists and some capitalists and public men in the United
States receive the idea warmly, Mr. William Rossetti
will act as secretary.
TACK FALSTAFF AND JULIUS C/EsAR —AN HISTORICAL
PARALLEL—FaIstaff, in fact, like all men born to sway
large destinies, had a lavish disregard of trifling expendi-
ture. Like Julius Caesar, he contracted debts ; that is to
say, as much like Julius Caesar as possible—our hero
lacking that arch insolvent's facilities of obtaining credit.
With two millions of somebody else's money (about the
amount, I believe, on the Julian schedule) whet would not
Falstaff have done? It is difficult to answer. It may be
safely stated, however, that it was from no fault of John
Falstaff's that Julius Caesar bad the best of him in this
respect.—Robert Brougles Life of Sir John Falstaff.
JUSTICES' JUSTICE IN MONNIOUTIISIIIRE.—At the Usk
Petty Sessions, on Saturday, a ygung lad, about 17 years
of age, giving the name of Henry Frederick Morgan, was
convicted of hawking a few gross of shirt buttons without
a licence, and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard
labour, which the bench thought would do him great ser-
vice. The lad was of quiet, civil, and rather respectable
demeanour; had given no offence to anybody, and was
doing the best be could for a livelihood ; and for this he is
sent to prison for a fortnight. It would have been well if
the " great unpaid" had put him in the way of doing him-
self some service when he comes out of gaol.
The German papers announce the death of Count Hahn
Netihaus, a most celebrated character in his day. He was
the father (says the Literary Gazette) of the well-known
Ida, Countess of Hahn-Hahn, and had devoted the whole
of his life and a very large fortune to the stage. In his
early life he built on his estate a beautiful theatre, which
he fitted up in the most costly manner, and for which be
provided a regular company of actors, maintained at his
own expense. Most of the celebrated actors of the day
made occasional appearances on his stage; his passion,
however, cost him dearly, and one estate after another had
to be sold to defray his lavish expenditure. He died
at Altona, at the advanced age of seventy-eight, in very
needy circumstances. He had lately been obliged to work
for his bread, and—the " the ruling passion strong in
death"—conducted, as paid director, a provincial theatre
up to his last moments

THE CHINESE REBELS AND OPIUM.—Lord Shaftesbury
states that the rebel chiefs have prohibited the use of
opium. There is no doubt of this. The prohibition is
made one of the commandments in the rebel deaogue ;
but it may be questioned if this appeal to the moral sense
of the Chinese people has had any considerable influence,
for though in the immediate prasence and neighbourhood
of the rebel kings the prdhibitory laws are said to be
obeyed, the information I have obtained from various
localities to which the rebellion has extended, leads me to
believe that the supporters of the iusurrec`ion are no more
free from the contamination of opium than the rest of their
countrymen. At Shanghai, where the insurgents were
immediately under our eyes and observation, their con-
sumption of opium was enormous, and the vice almost
universal, the chiefs being particularly addicted' to it, while
among the junks, whether piratical or patriotic, which
have crowded the coasts of China, opium smoki❑g prevails,
without, as I believe, a solitary exception.—Sir John Bow-
mg, in Despatch of Jan. 8, 1854.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF MR. EDWARD BRIGGS, OF
WILP3HIRE GRANGE.—On Thursday morning, the utmost
consternation pervaded all circles in Blackburn, on its
becoming known that Mr. Edward Briggs had committed
suicide. It appears that the deceased was found on
the forenoon of that day by Mr. Thomas Hindle, his
partner, about a quarter to eleven o'clock, stirs.
pended by the neck with a rope, which was fastened to
an iron railing, in the engine house at Greenbank Mill, in
Blackburn. He was immediately cut down, but was found
to be quite dead. Mr. Irving, surgeon, was immediately
sent for, but any effort of his must have been unavai'ing.
The deceased was soon afterevards removed to Wilpshire
Grange. No especial reason can be assigned for the rash
act ; it has, however, been observed that, for several days
past, he has manifested a low and desponding state of mind.
His untimely death is much regretted. His upright, un-
swerving, and enterprising character as a manufacturer,
was proverbial, while his kindness and undeviating attention
to the true interests of his workpeople ever drew forth their
unfeigned acknowledgment of his public and private Worth.
He was els() a steady adherent to the creed of advanced
and advancing politicians. His purse was always open to
the appliances of educational and charitable institutions,
while his manners were easy, and his person approachable
by all. His urbanity of conduct and usefulness in public
and private life were universally appreciated. He was a
borough magistrate arid a member of the Town Council.