Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-16 00:00:00

NORTHERN DAILN TIMES.

Yesterday morning, Agnes Miller, aged seven months,
residing in Cork-street, was found dead in bed by her
mother. . An inquest will be held to-day.
FIRE, LAST NIGHT.—A rather alarming fire broke
out last night, shortly after nine o'clock, on the premises
of Mr. 11. B. Roberts, cabinet-maker, 7, Berry-street,
which was not got under until considerable damage had
been done.

MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE.—PROPOSED CONFERENCE
IN LIVERPOOL.—At a meeting of the secretaries of the
principal missionary societies, which was held in London
last week, it was unanimously resolved that a conference,
to be composed of individuals actually engaged in the
work of propagating the Gospel at home or abroad,
should be held in Liverpool on the 20th of March, and
three following days, chiefly with a view of taking into
consideration, in a confidential and unreserved manner,
the great questions connected with the procuring of
funds and agents for missionary duty. • The meetings
will be held in Hope-hall, and begin every morning
with prayer. A public meeting will be held on. the
Friday evening, at the conclusion of the conference. The
subjects to be discussed are important, and there is no
doubt that the proceedings will be exceedingly inte-
resting.
THE REV. H. S. BROWN'S LECTURE.—A lecture was
delivered, last night, by the Rev. H. S. Brown, in the
school-room of his chapel, Myrtle-street. The subject
of the lecture was "Hudibras," and notwithstanding
the charge of one shilling for admission, the large room
was completely filled. The lecturer commenced by
observing that Samuel Butler, the author of " Hudibras,"
was one of those great men of whose private life but
little is known. He would, however, from the frag-
ments which he had been able to collect, give an
outline of the illustrious poet's life. He then
communicated sonic interesting particulars of But-
ler's parentage, his life and death ; after which
'the author's writings were more particularly treated of.
Hudibras was written in order to satirise the Puritans,
and to support the Royalists, upon whom Butler relied
for advancement. They, however, but ill requited his
efforts on their behalf, as he obtained little more than
promises from Charles 11., in whose interest he had
written. In tht course of the lecture several of the
most striking passages in Hudibras were quoted and
commented upon in such a manner as to furnish great
amusement and instruction to the audience. There was,
said Mr. Brown,, scarcely any vice against which the
great satirist had not directed some of his [scorching
shafts. The various religious denominations, also, were
frequently ridiculed in such a manner as to make one ;
laugh with the author, and yet feel that those, denomi-
nations were not much injured by his wit. For instance,
lie said of the Baptists, " Our Saviour, by telling his .
tdhi sacti pml ee sn theyh ous
lhdo t
bi l be
ed
taken
fishers
enout of
of men,th evidently
e water;
but intended
these
pragmatical fellows go quite contrary, by plunging men
into the water." The Established Church had been
thus bit :

What makes all doctrines plain and clear ?
About two hundred pounds a-year.
And that quite clear was false before,
About two hundred more.
The Jesuits, also, had been caricatured;—

For none but Jesuits have a mission
To preach the faith by sunmunition ;
To propagate the chnrch with powder,
Their founder was a blown-up soldier.
These and many other quotations were highly relished
by the audience, who frequently interrupted the lecturer
by loud applause.
MEETING OF WORKING MEN IN BIRKENHEAD.—
A public meeting of working men, which, however, was
very thinly attended, was held last night in the Crown
Hotel, Conway-street, Birkenhead. Mr. McDonald
occupied the chair. The meeting was addressed by
Mr. Greenslade, the delegate from London, and its
object was to express sympathy with the operative
.builders, numbering about
.2,300, who, though the
"document" is withdrawn, are reduced to a state of
great misery and destitution. Not only almost every
article of spare clothing and furniture, but their tools
are all in pawn. They are consequently unable to re-
enter the service of their late employers. Two resolu-
tions were unanimously carried ; the first expressing
the thanks of the meeting to the workmen of London
for " the successful and determined stand against the
document," and the second appointing a committee to
receive subscriptions in their aid. The usual vote of
thanks concluded the proceedings of the meeting.
WEST DERBY BOARD or GUARDIANS.—The weekly
meeting of this Wald was held yesterday, in the board-
room of the Workhouse, Mr. Pitts in the chair. The
other members present were—Messrs. Ileyes, Garratte,
Roberts, Woods, Edwards, Abrahams, Parkin, Whitty,
Pilling, Wensley, Wareham, Medcalf, Smith, Bolshaw,
Davis, and Richmond. The number of paupers in the
•Workhouse last week was 308 ; admitted since, 16;
discharged, 3 ; dead, 1. This week the number is 320;
corresponding week last year, 314. In the hospital
there are 131 patients, which is an increase of 15 over
the •cerresponding week last year. The following
cheques were granted for out-door relief :—Mr. Potts,
£110.; Mr. Olney, £3B; Mr. Lythgoe, £23. Mr. Hey-
wood Thomson, the medical officer for the Garston
district, sent in his resignation, which was accepted.
Mr. Abrahams proposed that Mr. Robertson should be
appointed to the vacant situation of relieving officer, at
a salary of £125 per annum. Mr. Smith proposed Mr.
Holden; but on a division, it appeared that there were
14 for Mr. Robertson, and only 4 for Holden. The
former gentleman was therefore appointed. This was
all the business of any public interest.