The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

HISTORIC SOCIETY.

The usual weekly meeting of this society was held
last night in the grand jury room, St. George's Hall, the
Rev. A. Ramsay, M.A., in the chair.
Among the donations received were, from the author,
"Voyage a Constantinople, par M. Boucher de Perthes,"
2 vols, 1855 ; from the society, " Proceedings of the
Literary and Philosophical Socitty of Liverpool," No.
10, for the session 1855 56 ; from Mr. Lamb, 1 vol.
Athenaum ; from Mr. Johnson, Church street, -5 vole,
Shakespeare and let Report of the District Provident
Society, &c., &c.
A member asked if the council intended to express the
grateful approval of the society in reference to the
munificent proposition of Mr. W. Brown. He thought~
that so important a society should express its feelings on
such a subject representing as it did the largest number
of literary men in the district.
Dr. Home replied that the subject had not been lost
wininapt v,t it wa. *b.+
b
any movement mum e premature. At present it was
but a proposition, but from the moment that brick and
mortar were touched, it was an inaugurated act. He saw
by the newspapers that the founnkifion stone was to be
laid in the Easter week ; and either on that occasion, or
at any time before the close of the seson, would
obviously be the proper time for the society to act.
The Secretary announced that a committee had been:
appointed to aid at Liverpool in the arrangements for
welcoming and 'raiding the Archaeological Institute
during its meeting at Chester. Gentlemen having
objects of antiquity to lend for the temporary museum,
or who were desirous of reading papers, might facilitate
the arrangements by communicating with the com-
mittee.

The paper for the evening was by the Rev. A. Ramsay,
" On the aid which cc mparative Physiology may afford
to history." In this paper the learned author showed
how many ancient nations have become better
known in modern times by fragments of their lan-
guage ; and that others, like the Gatbs, had new
lights thrown upon them as members of the great
human family. He traced fully the derivations of
places, and showed the great light which they threw
upon the peoples who had occupied those localities. The
frequency of some words in the north and at the coast,
show that the terms were given in a maritime people.
The Saxons were shown to be an interior people from
the objects which their words represent, and the Normans
a superior people, as the words indicating luxulT are
expressed in their language. These and other causes
had thrown great light upon history, and by these new
lights it would no doubt be greatly elucidated in the
future.

003131ITTAL Or GEORGE 11001E8 —At the Bradford
Borough Court, on Wednesday, this individual, who, along
with Jesse Fmith, had been remanded on the charge of
etealing poultry from a farm yard at Hawkeswortb, near
Otley, were again brought up. Whet; even by the police,
Holmes had a Cochin China hen, which he threw away over
the wall when the officers came up. Both prisoners were
sharply pursued and captured. The magistrates committed
them both to the sessions.

THE LATE MR. LITTLE OF DUBLIN.—A committee has
been formed in Dublin (at the head of which is the lord.
mayor of that city, and having the co-operation of several
of the most respectable citizens) for the purpose of raising a
subscription for the benefit of the bereaved wife and widowed
sister of the deceased. Mr. Little was their only support,
and his death, apart from the fearful mental suffering they
have endured, has deprived them of their only protectors
Some of the officers connected with the English railways
have generously responded to the appeal, and Sir Cusack
Roney, the secretary of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada
has been authorised to receive subscriptions.
SUICIDE BY A POSTMASTER —CARLOW, 9TH FEB.—The
inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Castlederthot
were thrown into a state of consternation on yesterday,
consequent nn a rumour which prevailed, and which, on
inquiry, turned out to be too true, that the postmaster,
Mr. George Graham, had died by his own hand, by nearly
severing his head from his body with a razor. The cause
of this melancholy catastrophe is enshrouded in mystery, as
he was not actuated to commit the deed through poverty,
he having been in most affluent circumstances, and at the
time of his de ith had a cinsiderable sum of money to his
credit in the Bank of Ireland. The deceased, who was an
aged person, was universally respected, and filled the office
of postm: ster for a period extending over forty years. His
most in'itnate acquaintances assert that they never knew
him to manifEst the slightest aberration of intellect, being
rather shrewd and sharp in all his transactions with the
public. Dr. Carter, the coroner for this division of the
county, held an inquest on the body, when a verdict Was
returned in accordance with the above facts.—Saunders'a
News-Letter.

FRANCE AND FRENCH POLITICS IN THE PRESENT DAT.--•
The present feeling in our days is to see on all sides only
hopes baffled, illusions destroyed, and disappointments ;
and, in truth, all that we have seen and experienced is of
a nature to give us a sad notion of social and human des-
tiny. Where we have counted upon strength we have found
weakness. A premature decay or a violent end has over-
taken all that once promised us a long future. The greatest
warriors have been vanquished; the wisest politicians have
failed; the noblest institutions have been overthrown. We
have lived in the midst of ruins. But the passionate love
of science and of truth has not been weakened ; the con-
quests of mind alone have remained durable, and the power
of intellect has alone stood erect amid fallen greatness. It
is a clear indication of the way by which we may always be
sure of security and of solid success. France has more than
once seen her fortune fail her in her aspirations towards a
free governnient. Sad, but not disheartened, she has sought
and found a space in the strength of her moral activity for
other sources of gratification.—M. attire s Speech at the
.French Institute.