Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-25 00:00:00

THE NORYtIEIIN TIMES, WEDNESDAYt-MAY 25, 1859

up your resources; but an•army which you can move
in any direction; 'to be the nucleus round Which those
splendid Corps, those irrisistible forces, may as-
semble." This is an experienced soldier's view of the
case. And it is as plain and forcible an one as it
well could be. The army we have got. Our
neutrality, should it providentiallly be fOund practi-
cable to maintain it, which we must all hope and
pray it may be, will secure the country itself the
services of thegreat body of its regular military
force. And to this well-trained, duly disciplined,
and experienced force, the Volunteer Rifle Corps, we
repeat, may be such valuable auxiliaries, as to
"come the three corners of the
world in arms " against us.

preserve us in safety,

This preparation for standing firmly on the
defensive, is in no wise to be regarded as indicative
of any warlike feeling on the part of the people of
England. It is only a similar kind of precaution to
that which one takes when his neighbour's house is
on fire. It is an expedient for self-preservation
that is dictated by a sense of duty. We are neutral,
as respects this most criminal war, the flames of
which are being lighted" up on the confines of Austria ;
and we trust to being able to remain so. Still it is
impossible to calculate very confidently as to our
continuing free from entanglement with one or other
of the belligerent Powers. There are our national
interests—there is our national honour— to take care
of ; and both are at present exposed to; very immi-
nent danger. It is impossible to foresee in what
direction, and how far, the flames of war may spread;
and it is the part of true wisdom to be prepared for
the worst. The City of London has just voted a
dutiful and loyal address to her Majesty, expressive
of deep regret at the commencement of hostilities
between Austria and France and Sardinia, and a
decided conviction that the best interests of England
will be consulted by the observance of the strictest
neutrality consistent with the security and honour
of the nation. This, then, the_point. To main-
tain a neutrality "consistent with the security and
honour of the nation." But how is that security to
be effected, if we are not fully prepared to resist
aggression ? And what would become of the honour
of the nation, were an enemy to be permitted to
assail us, without our being able to repulse him ?
Our regular armaments will, of course, be the
foremost, as they will be the most effectual Means,
of resisting any foreign aggression. We have not
entirely to rely either upon militias or volunteers
though both militias and volunteers are valuable
forces in their place, as auxiliaries to the other:. We
believe, with a popular writer on war and military
establishments, that " a standing army is not only a
more effectual, but a cheaper method of providing
for the public safety than any other, because it adds
more than any other to the common strength, and
takes less from that which constitutes the wealth of

a nation—its stock of productive industry." But
in times of imminent danger, a standing army,- be it
ever so large, may be advantageously supported by
Volunteer Corps. The very fact that there are such
Corps at hand, in case of necessity, while it imparts
a sense of security among ourselves, must have no
slight effect in checking the daring of an enemy
that might contemplate invasion. It is for such
reasons as these that our Volunteer Rifle Corps are
so valuable, and so seasonable. Let us hope, then,
that their name will soon be legion, and that ,their
ability will be equal to any emergency.
-

"brought to suppoit Austria. If in this war England
were to depart Vora the principle of strict and im-
partial neutrality, you would be in danger of seeing
the colours of England nailed to the mast of Austria
—you would have the fair name of Britannia coupled
to that Babylon of abomination whose power rests
on a tissue of conduct which, even in the ancient
heathen times, caused the holders of power thus
gained to be regarded as self-outlawed, hateful to
gods, and deserving of no defence from men. This
feature of the case, that departure from the principle
of neutrality means support of Austria, should never,
for a moment, be lost sight of. It will convince
every true-hearted Englishman that though the pro-
clatnation of neutrality is deserving of unreserved
approbation, there is much left to be watched,
to be cleared up, and to be controlled by
public opinion. The important question is
What is the world to • understand by the as-
surance that the English Government are firmly
purposed and determined to abstain from taking
any part in this war ? Is this declaration made
under the tacit proviso, that England will remain
neutral, provided the war remains' restricted to
Italy ? Or is it meant to intimate that England
will adhere to the principle of impartial neutrality
and strict non-intervention, although, in the natural
course of events, the area of the conflict' may happen
to be extended to other partS of the Austrian
dominions, and the eventual issue of the complica-
tions happen to be correspondingly enlarged ? I
wish this assembly to come to a proper conclusion
on this subject." This, then, is the language, not of
neutrality, but of hostility. It breathes a spirit of
animosity against Austria which, if effect were given
to it, must destroy every principle of neutrality.
It would, if acted upon by England, in her foreign
policy, commit her to that very course of wanton
and mischievous intervention Which is one of the
worst characteristics of the present war. Besides,
the neutrality it dictates, and would impose, is one
which no Government could ever find it possible to
adhere to, with any regard to the honour and
interests of the country which it governs. If " the
eventual issue of the complications" become so
enlarged as to involve that honour and those
interests, the Government of .the country—be it in

whose hands it may—must act accordingly. No
Government can be tied up to -persist' in a course of
neutrality under any circumstances. "In the
natural course of events, the area of the
conflict" -may be so extended as impera-
tively to demand the intefereuce of England.
And even M. KOSSUTH, we suppose, would not
object to such interference, if only it sought to favour
that " nationality" which would serve his own
political and personal ends. But if it is not to'be
exerted on one side, neither must it be on the other.
'At the same time, her Majesty's Government must
do their duty to the country. England is a first-rite
Power of Europe; and the belligerent despots who
are now making some of the fairest fields of Eur Ope
the arena of their hellish conflicts, are not to be
allowed to act therein as though there were no such
Power as England to be considered in their career of
invasion and desolation.

The cloven foot was very plainly shown by one of
the speakers who followed M. KOSSUTH, on the
saina occasion. The Hungarian exile himself 4-
pressed a hearty sympathy with Louis NAPOLEON,
a circumstance which only serves to makEl his
feeling all the .more suspicious. But 'the other
stickler for Italian independence repudiated the
French despot, while- he counselled English inter-
vention in furtherance of his professed object ; and
the resolution he would fain have:had adopted was
this,—" That this meeting, while repudiating all
idea' of British intervention in the present strug4lo
between France and .Austria, yet desires to expresS
its deep conviction ,of the necessity of recognising
the iridependenee of Italy; as much in the interest
of the peace of Europe, as an act of too long delayed
justice to the Italian people. And this meeting
hereby declares its opinion that no settlement can
be recognised. by,--England, which is not based -on
the principle of Italy for the Italians." Now: is
England to go to war for, the assertion of such a
principle as this ? If so, why might not Louis
NAP,OLEON, in
.teturn, enter . upon: a war for the
assertion of the principle of—say "Ireland for the
Irish ?" It 'would Certainly. come to this in due
course. And where would it stop ? "He cared
iiethitig," he said, "about the conflict between
Austria and France, but it would be a monstrous
position to set forth that at the very commencement
of a war between first-rate Powers of Europe
England should -pledge herself- that under no
circumstances whatever would she take part in the
struggle." Yet this is just what England is
pledging herself to do; her Government have taken
upon them to do it, and her people have everywhere
confirmed and applauded their resolution. Yes,
" that under no circumstances whatever would she'
take part in the struggle." A struggle between
two despots cannot possibly be worth taking part in
by' a free country like England. Not that Italy, is
without her sympathy. But the cause of Italy—of
Italian freedom,'of Italian'independencewill never
be served by the struggle of despots for Italian
dominion. Our true policy, therefore—our plain
course of duty—is to keep out of such a conflict.
Our real interest lies in our strict neutrality—to the
very latest moment that it is possible to maintain it
with honour:

The Dublin _Daily Express, of yesterday, announces that
Arthur Edmund Gayer, Esq., Q.C., LL.D., has been ap-
pointed to the office of Ecclesiastical Commissioner, in the
room of Sir Henry Meredith, deceased.

STREW PREACHING.—On more than one occasion have
we directed the attention of the authorities to this public
nuisance—a nuisance, if permitted much longer to exist,
will terminate in consequences most serious to the public
safety. Nightly; at 'the various public lamp-posts, and on
pieces of spare ground, scenes of a most disreputable
charactef are constantly occurring—scenes which are a
_disgrace to religion and morality. The piece of land in
front of tne Islington flags is the most central arena for
these exhibitions, where, almost every evening, a large
concourse of persons assemble, for the purpose of hearing
a few ignorant itinerant persons expound, as they call it, the
true Gospel. These gatherings are composed of all sects—
from the Ultra-Protestant to the Infidel and Mormenite, and
beingfrom the very lowest class of society, their demeanour
and language is low and insulting in the extreme, A dis;race-
to a christian community; and which frecoonity lead to:
conversations amongst, the crowd, which tie carried on in
such language that blows not unfreqnently follow. On
Sunday evenings, their displays 0: ignorance and bigotry
are a perfect nuisance to the general, public who have
occasion' to pass this locklity. A few evenings since, one
of these' self4;t7led eapounders of true Christianity, was

addressing a large number of hearers—using the most
abominable and disgusting language, argument or common
sense being entirely out of the question, in pressing the
claims of his own peculiar views, which were quite anta-
gonistic to Christianity and religion, and having expressed
it as his opinion that all, and everybody was going to
the regions below—the Pope and all Papists in particular—
his disgusting remarks caused a person in the crowd, more
respectable than the rest, to observe, " What is the use of
listening to such stuff ?" when he was immediately sur-
rounded by a mob of blackguards, and bullied, and had he
not have quietly left the scene, would have been forcibly
ejected. Soon after this, another• affray took place, which
was near being attended with very serious results to the
public peace. A young man left the crowd, evidently in
disgust at the language he had heard, and in doing sormade
some observation as to their being "a poor bigoted rot of
Orangemen." He was followed up the London-road by
some of the parties, as far as Back Commutation-row, when,
after a few

words, he was struck. Evidently much
excited at the treatment he had received, he turßed
and exclaimed, " Give me fair nlay. :

round upon them
come one by one, and I'll flay every Orangeman there is
amongst you." lie was immediatelfset upon by four or
five, knocked down, and kicked in a most shameful manner.
A large crowd soon assembled, and the melee went on for

some minutes, when the police were seen approaching, and
the parties made their escape by concealing themselves
amongst the crowd. A policeman caught hold of one of the
chief offenders, who had lost his cap in the affray, and

pretended to be looking for it, and was let go. The prin-
cipal part of the crowd returned to "the preacher," and

amongst them was the fellow without a cap, who wa

congratulated by his co-partners for having got out of the
0 clutches of the Bobby," to which he replied, "Yes, I
gammoned him by telling him I was looking for my cap.
but never mind that, I gave the - what he won't soon
forget. I gave him some - wipes under the ear, and
then I kneed him ; and when I knocked him down, I gave
him two or three such -- kicks ; but nobody saw that."
This was his own description of the affray. There could be
no doubt that, had the young man who was thus attacked
had a few friends to support him, there would have been a
general row, and, the parties being all on the spot, some
considerable time must have elapsed before a

been trot

sufficient body of police could have
together to quell the disturbance. Surely it is the
duty of the authorities to take some effectual steps for pre-
venting these unseemly gatherings, which may on no very
distant period, be attended by the most serious consequences
to the public, and cannot be attended by any good results,
religiously or morally, but on the contrary have a greater
tendency to bring religion into contempt and ridicule. If
the bye-laws of the town, or the police regulations are not

stringent enough to suppress such dangerous public nuisances,
it is quite time that they were amended, and compel these
"religious firebrands 7 to confine their views to their own

immediate supporters, in private, and not insult the feelings
of a mixed community by their irreligious and unchristian

dogmAs.

THE COURT

OSBORNE, May 23.—The Queen, and Prince Consort,
and Princess Frederick William walked in the grounds this

morning Prince and Princess Leininnn were expected to
0

arrive to-day, on a visit to her. Majesty

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

WAR STEAMER IN THE MERSEY.—Yesterday evening,
about five o'clock, her Majesty's steamer, Liffey, fifty guns,
arrived in the Mersey and anchored between Birkenhead
and the Sloyne. She was piloted by a small local steamer
that knew the channel. She is a new craft of a beautiful
model, and attracted much attention. She has a double
tier of guns.

The contract for the Australian mail service, via Panama,
is to be for seven years. The maximum time for performing
the service to or from Melbourne, is to be fifty-five days,
exclusive of the transit across the Isthmus, but proposals
embracing a shorter time will receive favourable considera-
tion. A premium of £5O will be given for every day less
than the contract period.
CORONER'S COURT.—The borough coroner, Mr. P. F.
Curry, held an inquest, yesterday, on the body of a man
found at sea, five miles north-east of the Great Orms-
head, on Monday. The body was very much decomposed.
One of the arms bore marks of the letters T. B. J., and the
other a double eagle, both in Indian ink. Verdict, " Fo►ind
drowned,"—ln the adjourned inquest on the body of Jane
Fell, the jury found a verdict of " Died of excessive drink-
ing," a verdict which the deputy-coroner, who took the
case, stated he .did not think warranted by the evidence.

The Bath.and. West of_England Society are organising
an extraordinary Festival of Agriculture and the Industrial
and Pictoral Arts at Barnstaple, to commence on the 30th
May and continue for the week. The attractions are to be
an agricultural exhibition ; a grand display of glass,
pottery, .hard Wares, carvings, &c. ; an exhibition of art,
including a very extensive collection .of water-colour
drawinvs by Turner, Dewint, D. Cox, &c., and music of a
high order ; and,• in short, all the attraction's of a Gehnan
Fair baSed on an agricultural exhibition. Cheap trains
are to run from London, Bristol, &c.,.. and, with the far7‘
famed North Devon scenery, it will be, very hard if visitors
will not be able to make a pleasant week of it.

MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY. —An extraordinary
meeting of this company was held in the Offices 2,
Exchange-buildings, at half-past one o'clock, yesterdaY.
Mr. J. C. Ewalt, M.P., presided. The meeting was called
to sanction a resolution, authorising. the directors to borrow
a sum of money, not exceeding £30,000. The chairman
explained that, the object of the directors was to enable the
Submarine Company to. complete an arrangement, by-which
the latter- were bound to lay a cable to Hanover, and
another from the coast of Norfolk to Denmark. The
Magnetic Company agreed, at the time this arrangement
was made, to assist the Submarine. Company in placing
;shares- to the amount .of £50,000, for the toying of these
two cables. The line to Hanover hadbeen completed under
this arrangement, and there now remained the line to
Denmark, for which £30,000 was to be. appropriated. The
directors, therefore, required power to issue -debentures to
that amount in exchange for shares, which the Submarine
Company would hand over to them. The money borrowed
upon these debentures would be replaced by the sale of the
shares, whenever they could be sold at par. The meeting,
after a . short conversation, agreed to sanction the
resolution.

BIRKENHEAD MODEEL YACHT CLUB. --- The- first
match for the season of this excellently managed Club
took place yesterday, under very favourable - auspices.
The weather was excellent, and everything that cltild 'con-
tribute to the enjoyment of the_ day was ob4ervable. The
Lord Morpeth steam-boat was in attendance, and conveyed
a large and highly-respectable class of visitors, along.with
the racing boats, during their progress. At two o'clock the
yachts started from the south side of the Woodside-ferry slip.
The prizp was a silver cup, value £l5. The Course : From
W:oodside Pier round a flag-boat stationed off Brombro%
pool, thence round a flag-boat stationed southward of the
Dingle, back to flag-boat at Brombro'-pool, thence round
flag-boat southward of Dingle, returning to flag boat sta-
tioned southward of Woodside• Pier -back round the flag-
boats stationed off Brombro'-pool; and southward of the
Dingle—returning direct to south of Woodside Pier, passing
between the shore and flag-boat, leaving the last-mentioned
flag-boat on the starboard hand.. All other marks and flag-
boats to be left on the port hand. Time : One and a-half
minutes up to five tons : one minute over.

Yacht's
Name.

ONwanmerels Tons. Rig.

Distinguishing Flag

Snake Wilkinson ... 7 ... Cutter ... White & Blue Diagonal
Tyro Gemmel 7 Do ...Whiteßlueßorder&RedCross
Enigma.. M. Richardson 7 Ditto ... Red and White (dicular
Vision ... Byrne 7 Ditto ... Red and White Perpen-
Scorpion Bishop
The boats went off in excellent style, there being a fresh
and favourable breeze, which had the- effect of making the
race very interesting. It is unnecessary to give the time
kept by a stop watch, when the different craft rounded the
flag-boats. On the second round, the Vision, it was said,
.fouled, and, therefore, there was an objection raised to her.
After this, the race became very exciting, and after the
third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds,-lay between the Snake,
the Tyro, and the 'Vision. It 'was an exceedingly interesting
contest, and the difference of time between the Vision, and
the Snake, at the first roundin&., of the flag-lxiat at Birken-
head, was not more than a minute, the Vision coming in
first, but in consequence of the dispute already mentioned,
the race was claimed. by the Snake, and the gun was fired