Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-14 00:00:00

SHORT PARLIAMENTS.

ONE of the requisites of a real Parliamentary
Reform, is undoubtedly that of shortening the dura-
tion of Parliaments. Annual Parliaments used to be
the thing insisted upon by all thorough reformers ;
and we suppose it is so still. Triennial Parliaments
would content, it used to appear, the more moderate
of the reform party; and it may be the case yet.
But short Parliament, at any rate, were always
deemed essential, in any efficient scheme of reform
by which the people were to be benefitted. We
believe that the more advanced, which is the more
popular section of the great reform party, would not
be satisfied with any longer term of existence, than
that of Annual Parliaments. That is to say, that
after every session the members should be returned
to their constituents for re-election : to give an ac-
count of their stewardship during the session ; and
if it should happen not to have been satisfactory to
the electors, to afford them the opportunity of choos-
ing others in their stead, whom they may hope to
find more worthy of their' confidence and favour.
This plan is quite consistent with that more com-
plete control by the people themselVes of the whole
process of parliamentary legislation which it is being
sought to bring about. If the axiom be a true one,
that the people are the only legitimate source of all
power,—and more particularly of the power of
making laws, and of imposing taxes, to which the
people are to submit,—surely they ought to possess
the most effective practical check upon those to
+whom they delegate that power; and to have them
brought face to face with them every year, after the
I close of each session, were certainly a most appropriate
method of securing such a check and control.
This, we say, was wont to be considered a most
necessary provision of any really complete and
popular measure of Parliamentary Reform ; and we
believe it is still so considered by the more advanced
Liberals. Yet in commenting, in their addresses to
their constituents, upon the step which her Majesty's
Ministers have thought proper to take in obtaining
a Dissolution of Parliament, even advanced Liberals,
we find, treat it, not as a desideratum, but rather as
a grievance. One would have thought, that, carry-
ing out as it does, the Annual Parliament principle,
they would have rejoiced at it. But the fact, we
say, is far otherwise. One very advanced Liberal,
for instance,—so advanced, indeed, as to advocate the
enfranchisement of the whole body of the working
classes,—tells his constituents that he again appears
before them, in consequence of " the reckless and
unnecessary election now demanded by the Ministers
of the Crown." That Lord PALMERSTON should
complain that " a House of Commons of only two
years standing is to be suddenly dissolved in an early
part of the session, and before all the supplies of the
year have been voted,"—one can easily understand.
Although, if it be true, as his lordship says it is, that
an Administration circumstanced like the present
" holds office on the condition of shaping its course
in conformity with the declared opinions of the
majority, unless in a case in which that majority may
require something which would be forbidden by con-
siderations of public duty or by regard for the
principles of the Constitution,"—one cannot wonder
at its members wishing to try and turn that majority
into one more favourable to the course of policy they
wish to pursue.

But that so advanced a Liberal, for example,
as Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE should censure the
Dissolution of a Parliament that has al-
ready existed .two years, does certainly appear
somewhat strange. In addressing his constituents
at Dover, a few days since, he said to them,—" Now
a dissolution of Parliament is a grave thing. Trade
is interrupted, friendships are broken, a political
excitement is created under which commerce seldom
flourishes ; and I am one of those who are of opinion
that without there be some compensation, some
great question of policy to be settled and to refer to
the People, a dissolution of Parliament like the
present is not healthy for the constitution." This,
we say, is strange language for so great a Liberal

THE NORTHERN TIMES THURSDAI, APRIL 14, 1859

as the hon. member for Dover to employ,—or,
rather, it would be strange, but that he has an
object of his own,—or, at least, of his party's, in
view, in thus deprecating a General Election, But
if the Dissolution of a two-years' old Parliament be
a "grave thing"—that is an objectionable thing,
what would a Dissolution every year be ? If it be
an evil that trade should be interrupted, friendships
should be broken, and political excitement should be
created once in two years, what would it be if it
took place every year ?

We humbly think that such considerations as
these are too much overlooked by the Liberal party.
Short Parliaments would be insisted upon, we
believe, by all those who were the exponents of the
popular will. They are regarded as involving a
great principle—the principle of prompt and fre-
quent accountability. But let us not be mis-
understood. We are not ourselves committed to
Annual Parliaments, any more than we are to
universal suffrage. But several members of Parlia-
ment are, who yet are denouncing the Dissolution,—
the Dissolution of a Parliament that is already two
years old,—one year older than, upon principle,
they contend that any Parliament ought ever to be !

The Morning Post publishes a Paris despatch, which
states that the government of England proposes that the
question of a general disarmament shall be submittal to the
plenipotentiaries as soon as possible after the assembling of
the congress.

The Times says the question put to Sir John Pakington
and the Lords of the Admiralty may be decided by asking
whether the Admiralty is a machine for producing all
effective navy, or a machine for helping a minister out of a
parliamentary difficulty in the House of Commons.

ROMAN CATHOLICS IN INDIA —The salaries of the Roman
Catholic Bishops and Chaplains in India are to be increased.
The Governor-General has also determined that there shall
be a Roman Catholic Chaplain where there shall be one
hundred British-born Roman Catholics resident, and in the
service of the Government.

THANKSGIVING DAY FOR THE SUCCESS IN INDIA.-At the
Privy Council held at Buckingham Palace, on Tuesday, the
Archbishop of Canterbury was directed to prepare a Form of
Prayer and Thanksgiving for the recent success in India, to
be used in all Churches on Sunday the Ist of May. A sup-
plement of the Gazette has appeared, containing the usual
form of notification.

SHIPWRECKS.—The barque Marion Maclntyre, of 283
tons, Captain Little, which sailed from Hong Kong on the
Bth Jan., for Sydney (N.5.W.,) has been lost in the Java
Seas ; she was the property of Mr. L. H. Maclntyre, of
this town. The ship Lochiel, Thomas, from Manilla to
London, struck near Anjer on the 15th February, and sunk,
but floated next day, and drifted away.

THE BALLOT.—The Daily News thinks Lord John
Russell's speech on the Ballot, on Tuesday night, is
calculated to facilitate the union of reformers. The Star
is of a different opinion, though it admits Lord John
Russell's speech will give a certain satisfaction to the
friends of the Ballot. The Daily News says Lord John
Russell himself still votes for publicity. It is with him
little more than a matter of personal taste.

The repetition, in the Paris Pays, of the worn-out devise
of quieting the public by a semi-official assurance that the
way has at length been smoothed to a removal of every
difficulty, produced but a faint effect this morning on the
English funds. The public at large do not believe that the
Emperor Napoleon intends to promote a pacific adjustment
on a basis that shall clearly recognise the treaty rights of
Austria, and consequently prove such as can be accepted by
that power, while it will utterly disappoint Sardinia. It is
likewise seen that, if an arrangement were patched up to-
morrow, with the existing feelings of France, Austria, Sar-
dinia, and Russia still left in play, the prospects of the
repose of Europe would not be in the slightest degree
better than at this moment.

railways. This invention was complete in its eflicacT as to
communicate with the guard and driver of the engine, in
case of any accident happening in any of the carriages on
the train. Every one who saw the invention pronounced
it perfect, and even the railway people admitted it was the
best thing they ever had seen on the subject of communi-
cations. There was a train on fire on Monday night,
coming from Warrington to this town, and it was only by
a sort of half miracle that the lives of several persons were
spared. Had Mr. O'Neill's apparatus been on the train,
the guard and driver would have been at once apprised of
the fire. Why not adopt this useful and efficient inven-
tion ? -- more so, as it costs hardly anything, whilst it may
be the means of saving many lives annually.

CLA.REMONT LITERARY ASSOCIATION, KIRKDALE.-011
Monday evening, the 11th instant, the last of a course of
twelve public lectures in connection with this society, was
delivered in the Claremont Independent Chapel School-
room, by Mr. Thomas Nicholson; subject—" King Edward
the Third ; his Life and Times." The lecturer was warmly
applauded throughout the delivery of his interesting
lecture.

THE PHILOMATIIIC SOCIETY.—Last evening, the members
of this society, with a number of their friends, met in the
Royal Institution, Colquitt-street. The chair was occupied
by Mr. Foard, The business before the meeting was a
paper by Mr. Meany, on " The Women of Skakespere."
The manner in which the subject was handled was such as
to elicit the loud and frequent plaudits of the audience,
who seemed to be entirely taken by surprise. The subject
is not one that we could do justice to Mr. Meany in a
limited space, but we must say that the aptness of- the
language used by the lecturer in describing the prominent
heroines of Shakespere was such as to prove him to be a
very able critic. His view of the character of Lady
Macbeth was entirely new. Most people look upon her as
a woman of strong will, but the opposite view was taken by
the lecturer. He showed so clearly that her first character
was not so natural as her last, that even those present who
had been accustomed to adopt the generally entertained im-
pression, were forced to acknowledge the correctness of Mr.
Meany's view. At the conclusion of the reading of the
paper, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Meany, on the
motion of Mr. Bowie, seconded by Mr. Woodburn. After
some further complimentary observations on the paper, by
other members of the society, the meeting separated.
WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDlANS.—Yesterday, the
usual weekly meeting of this Board was held in the board-
room of the Workhouse ; Mr. H. Edwards in the chair.
The other members present were - Messrs. Whitby,
Abrahams, Shaw, Stone, J. Edwards, Kirkus, Parkin,
Morris, Roscoe, Medcalfe, Mawdslcy, Richmond, Taylor,
Smith, Wensley, and Bolshaw. The following cheques
were granted for out-door relief: Mr. Potts, £122; Mr.
Olney, £36 ; and Mr. Lythgoe, £2O. Mr. Ledger, after
some observations, moved that 20s. per week be allowed to
Dr. Nevins, as medical officer of the workhouse, for three
m-mths for the payment of a dispenser. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Abrahams. After some discussion, the
motion was put to the vote, When there appeared—For :
Messrs. Ledger, Kirkus, Smith, Medcalf, Wensley, Roberts,
Abrahams, Parkin, Morris, and the Chairman. Against :
Messrs. Green' Richmond, Shaw, Bolshaiv, Roscoe, J.
Edwards, and Taylor. The motion was accordingly
declared carried by a majority of 10 to 7. The Clerk read a
report from the police-office, dated 2nd inst., alleging that
on the admission of a pauper, on the night of thelstinst.,
a person came out ofthe porter's lodge who was drunk. In-
spector Tomlinson, and constable 448, attended before the
Guardians, and, in the presence of Mr. Moore; the book and
gate keeper, both stated that he (Moore) was the person re-
ferred to, and that he Was drunk. This was denied by Mr.
Moore, and his statement was supported by Mr. Cranage,
the porter. It was then moved by Mr. Ledger, seconded by
Mr. Wensley, and resolved that the charge against Mr.
Moore was not satisfactorily proved to the board. On the
motion of Mr. Abrahams, seconded by Mr. Roberts, it was
resolved that the following cheques be granted : —Mr. Wm.
Cleaver, for conducting general election of guardians, £lO
10s ; do. for contested elections for the township of West
Derby, £34 6s. 11d.; Everton, £26 19s. ; Kirkdale, £lO
6s. ; Walton, £2 11s. sd. ; Fazakerley, 17s. 911 The
clerk produced the return of the election of guardians.
This concluded the business.

YANKBE DEFINITION.—" Pleading at the bar," says a
western editor, " is trying to persuade a bar-keeper to trust
you to a three-cent nipper."

The young Bavarian wife of the heir of Naples already
distinguishes herself at the hunting lodge of Caserta, by
driving out four-in-hand, she taking the reins.
AN ENGLISH BULL.—" He was a very good husband
before he was married," said an imploring sister, a day or
two since, at the police court, in behalf of her brother who
was sent to the House of Correction.

No SHIP SHOULD Go TO SEA without one of Saunders
and Co.'s Patent Self-cleansing Charcoal Filters, cased and
fitted-up expressly for use on board ship. Note the address,
SAUNDERS dc Co., 16, Parker-street, Liverpool.

COMPLIMENTARY.—A political novice rose to make his
first speech, and in his embarrassment began to scratch his
head. " Well, really," said one of his opponents, "I am
beginning to think he has got something in his head after

Four hundred doctors dined on Sunday in the grand hall,
Hotel du Louvre, to celebrate the defeat of the homeopaths
in their action for libel against Le Journal de Medicine.
Homeopathic doses of eatables and drinkables were, of course,
scorned.

" Come here, my little dear," said a young man to a little
girl, to whose sister he was paying his addresses; "you are
the sweetest thing on earth." " No, lam not," she replied,
artlessly ; " sister says you are the sweetest." The question
was popped next day.
Mir. Thomas Wilkinson, proprietor of Botolph Wharf,
Lower Thames-street, and a member of Lloyd's, is about
to issne an address to the electors of Rye, as a staunch
snpporter of the present Ministry, as well as the shipping
interest, in which he is considerably interested.

"Woman, lovely woman," said Brown, " what is the
world without woman ? Yes, if there were no women in
the world we should all be miserable ! They are the prim-
eval cause of all happiness !" "No doubt," put in that
cynic Robinson, "for they are the prime evil themselves."

THE BALTlC.—Advices from the Baltic state that the
navigation may now be considered as re-opened in that sea.
Steamers have commenced plying between Lubeck and the
ports of Sweden, and between Hamburgh and Norway. In
the course of the year not fewer than six steamers are to
ply regalarly between Lubeck and St. Petersburg.

A GRATEFUL ARTIST.—The Duke of Nemours once
sent his steward to call on an artist on whom he wished to
confer a snuff-box as a mark of his approbation, to ascer-
tain if such a present would be acceptable ? The offer was
received with enthusiasm. " Where shall I send it ?" in-
quired the envoy. " Oh, if you would be kind enough,"
replied the grateful artist, "to pawn it on the way you can
let me have the money."
A MISTAKE.-7-A friend of mine told me he once overheard
two fine fashionable looking girls, just come from some
great school, say to one another, on seeing a boat approach-
ing the ship at Calcutta, containing two yellow-looking or-
dinary people, " Who are those old quizzes ? what an anti-
deluvian couple !" when, to their horror and dismay, the
despised couple claimed the gay young ladies as their chil.
dren. —A Lady's Escape from Gwalior. By B. H.Coopland.

ALL THE DIFFERENCE.—Young Gent. (who has trodden
upon a lady's toes in getting out of the omnibus : "I beg
your pardon, madam, I could not help it, I assure you."
Young Lady (in the blandest manner possible) : " Oh,
don't make , any apology, sir, I beg ; it was my fault
entirely." Same Young Lady, (whose dress has been
stepped upon by a pretty girl about to alight) : I wish that
some people would keep their eyes open, and be more careful
when they are passing other people."
COMBINATION OF WORKMEN.---The following is a copy of
the bill just brought from the Commons to the Lords,
intituled "An Act to amend and explain an act of the sixth
year of the reign of Kitt George the Fourth, to repeal the
laws relating to the combination of workmen, and to make
other provisions in lieu thereof:"---" Whereas an act was
passed in the sixth year of the reign of King George the
Fourth, intituled An act to repeal the laws
relating to the combination of workmen, and to make
other provisions in lieu thereof.' And whereas
different dicisions have been given on the construction of
the 'said act : be it therefore declared and enacted by the
Qneen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice
and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com-
mons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same as follows :---I. That no workman or
other person, whether actually in employment or not, shall
by reason merely of his entering into an agreement with any
workman or workmen, or other person or persons, for the
purpose of fixing or endeavouring to fix the rate of wages
or remuneration at which they or any of them shall work,
or by reason merely of his endeavouring peaceably, and
without threat or intimidation, direct or indirect, to pursuada
others to cease or abstain from work in order to obtain the
rate of wages or the altered hours of labour so fixed or
agreed upon or to be agreed upon, shall be deemed or taken
to be guilty of 'molestation' or ' obstruction,' within the
meaning of the said act, and shall not therefore be subject
or liable to any prosecution or indictment for conspiracy ;
provided always, that nothing herein contained shall autho-
rise any workman to break or depart from any contract or
authorise any attempt to induce any workman to breaic nr
depart from any contract."

ELECTION NEWS.

CONSERVATIVE MEETING
IN LIVERPOOL.

The meeting of Conservatives, to decide as to the coming
election, was held in the Philadelphia Chambers, Hackin's-
hey, yesterday. Mr. Francis Shand presided, It was inti-
mated that Sir John Pakington has definitely declined
coming forward for LiVerpool. The name of Mr. James
Aspinall Tobin was then proposed, and received with great
enthusiasm. Mr. Tobin, however, firmly declined. His
name was proposed two or three times over, until at
last Mr. Shand, Mr. 'Bushell, Mr. Arkle, and other
gentlemen, urged that it was unfair to press the
matter any further. Mr. George H. Horsfall's
name was then proposed, but Mr. Horsfall at once de-
clined, and it was not urged any further. It therefore does
not appear at all probable that any second candidate will
be brought forward, as it was not believed, even by the
Conservatives themselves, that any chance exists for any
one whose position and character would not ensure him
the full and cordial support of all classes among the party.
No further steps towards seeking a second candidate were,
we believe, taken, or even suggested, at the meeting.

PITT-STREET WARD REFORM ASSOCIATION.
At the monthly meeting of the above association, held at
Mr. Meyrick's, Hanover-street, after several matters of
local and general business had been disposed of, the follow-
ing resolution was proposed by Mr. Haylock, seconded by
Mr. James Steel, and carried unanimously :—" That it is
the opinion of this meeting that if Mr. T. B. llorsfall is
willing to support such a moderate Reform Bill as that
recently sketched by Lord John Russell, it will not be
expedient to oppose his re-election ; but if ,he declines to
pledge himself to this, then the Liberal party should bring
out a second Liberal candidate." Several gentlemen pre-
sent stated their willingness to subscribe sums from £5
upwards towards the expenses in the event of a second
Liberal candidate being brought out, providing they
thought him a fit and proper person to represent their
views.