Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-26 00:00:00

then suffering very severely from diarrhcea and fever, of
which he died on Sunday. According to the infirmary
doctor, immersion and exposure would be likely to produce
the diseases of which poor Thompson died. An inquest was
held yesterday, and the coroner's jury returned a verdict of
" Died from immersion, but how immersed there is no
evideace to show."
LIVERPOOL Vocal, UNION.— The Liverpool Vocal Union
gave their concert last night, for the benefit of the school
for the blind. They were assisted by Miss Hiles, Mr.
Mason, and Mr. Brandon. They gave the first two parts
of the " Creation" very well, Miss Hiles being encored in
" The glorious work." Mr. Best played the accompani-
ments on the organ, which frequently drowned the voices
of Mr. Mason and Mr., Brandon, which are not very
powerful. The choruses went very well, conducted by Mr.
Armstrong. After the oratorio a number of the blind
scholars, male and female, sang Bishop's Blow gentle
gales," the opening chorus from Balfe's " Bohemian
Girl," and Bishop's " Where art thou beam of light."
The Vocal Union then sang some glees and four-part
songs. Miss Hiles was very successful in "La Zingarella' "
by D OPiA e tti. Mr. Mason sung "There is a flower that
bloomelh ;" and Mr. Brandon sang a bass song. And the
concert concluded, with Rossini's prayer from Mose in
Egitto, " Dal tuo stellato soglio." The hall was not so
well filled as it should have been for so good a concert.
The galleries were filled, butthe body and reserved seats would
have accommodated a great many more than were there.
SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION.—A Liberal Registration
Association for the Salford Hundred of South Lancashire
was formed on Tuesday afternoon, at a meeting held in the
Assembly-room of the Free-trade Hall, Manchester, to act

in conjunction with a similar association at Liverpool
for the West Derby Hundred, Mr. E. Potter, who presided,
said the state of the register was miserably defective. Out
of about 19,000 votes nominally upon it, some 3,000 or
4,000 were rotten. An opposition association to this one had
been established, and no doubt between the two these
votes would be struck off. But it would be an ab-oirdity
that out of a population of 1,500,000 there should only
be 16,000 voters, and by ordinary exertion the two parties
might put on about 10,000 votes. In the West Riding
although the area was larger, the population was not, and
yet there were nearly 40,000 voters. No time was to be
lost, as this association would have to do all the work of the
year in the next three or „four months—to put on 4,000 or
5,000 votes if possible, and to strike off nearly the same
number. Sir J. Watts, Mr. H. Mason (mayor of Ashton),
Mr. J. Platt (Oldham), Mr. J. Whittaker (Hirst), Mr. T.
Wrigley. (Bury), Mr. Hibbert, Mr. T. B. Potter, and Mr.
J. Sidebottom, proposed resolutions and an executive com-
mittee, some of the speakers pointing out the importance of
union in the Liberal party, if the representation was to be
wrested from the landowners. Mr. T. Livesey (Roch-
dale) proposed that the name of Mr. George Wilson
(who had shortly before entered the room) be added to
the committee. One or two other gentlemen said no
organisation could expect success unless the most advanced
Liberals were at the head of it ; and, there being no objec-
tion raised, the chairman added Mr. Wilson's name to the
list. Mr. Wilson said he must respectfully decline to join
any committee to which his name was added by an amend-
ment, but he should be
.glad to give his hearty co-operation
and assistance. He pointed out, by reference to the poll-
books, that the recent election had not been lost by divisions
in the Liberal party at Manchester; and that South Lanca-
shire differed from other county constituencies in this
respect---that nearly all the great landowners were in the
Conservative interest. The appointment of the committee
was agreed to without further discussion.
HER MAJESTY'S SHIP LIFFEY.—This new and beautiful
war screw steamer, the arrival of which we announced in
our paper of yesterday, attracted great attention yesterday
in the river. We had an opportunity of visiting her, and
we frankly state, that we have never seen any man-of-war,
of any class, so well arranged, or more appropriately fitted
out in all respects. Of course, on board ships of this
description, the utmost regularity, discipline, and order
must be rigidly enforced, but in the case of this vessel
everything that conduces to the above organisation is
observable, at the same time that there are many improve-
ments also visible. The order and regularity that prevails
is certainly the greatest proof of what discipline is capable
of being brought to—and this proves that, "in the hour of
need," the wooden walls of old England still maintain their
old renown, which has made the country famous, and our
flag respected, feared, and obeyed all the world over. The
Liffey is a 51 gun ship—the guns being on the new and
improved principle, the lower tier being heavier than the
upper. Everything that science of the present day
can do, may be seen practically carried out on
board this ship. We need hardly refer to the arrange-
ments made on board for the comfort and convenience
of the crews—both nautical and military. In
the olden time, men of war were notorious for being prisons
rather than vessels that should afford accommodation for
the men who were fighting the battles of their country.
This false policy has faded before enlightened progress; and
we believe that in no instance, either ashore or afloat, can
anything be better arranged for the comfort, and, we may
say, the enjoyment of the men, than on board the Liffey.
Libraries, smoking-rooms, baths, water-closets, &c., are
observable on hoard this vessel. With these general
remarks, it will be seen that the Liffey has no superior even
in our naval service, which boasts of being the "sovereign of
the seas." On our visit yesterday, Lieutenant Sullivan, with
all the frankness of a sailor, and the urbanity of the gentle-
man, accompanied us over the vessel, and the intelligent
Quartermaster Evans, pointed out the chief features of
interest, which to a landsman cannot fail to be attractive.
Captain Fox, of the marine department, also was very
attentive, and gave us much interesting information con-
nected with the discipline and order to be observed on hoard.
The commander, Captain Preedy, although absent, had
given orders that visitors for the day should be
shown over the vessel, and we have only to say
that these orders were carried out, to the fullest extent,
by the gentlemen already named, to whom we have to ten-
der our thanks for their extreme kindness. The ship— now
in Liverpool will be lOoked neon by nautical men as a fine
mode', not only of naval architecture in a war point of
view, but even one that the merchant service might copy
with advantage. The Liffey, with the permission of the
captain, will be open to the public for inspection on to-
morrow (Friday), and the following Tuesday the Rock-
ferry boats having the privilege of putting on board, and
taking away passengers; and we are sure that large numbers
of our town's people will avail themselves of this opportu-
nity of going through one of the finest vessels of her class
afloat, and we know that the officers prove themselves " true
British sailors."
A CEIVIi,TELtY FOR BIRKENHEAD AND CLAUGHTON.
Last evening an adjourned meeting for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety of purchasing a
burial ground under the several acts of Parliament relating
thereto, was held in the Town-hall, Birkenhead. Thee
Rev. A. Knox in the chair. The hall was densely crowded.
After some remarks from the Chairman, Mr. Laird
rose to propose an amendment upon an original
motion which had been made at a previous meeting, to
the effect that a burial ground should be provided for the
township of Birkenhead, under the several acts of parliament
mentioned. Mr. Laird's amendment was to the effect that
the Birkenhead Improvement Commissioners be requested
to take the requisite steps to be made a burial board, under
the provisions of the burial acts. He contended that the
commissioners were the best body to conduct the affairs of a
cemetery. He had employed Messrs. Fletcher and Mills to
make an estimate of the cost of a cemetery, and he received
a letter from them, stating that they could have six acres of
land at Flaybrick-hill, which was exceedingly well adapted
for this purpose, including all the appliances, for £4,630.
He had communicated with Mr. Tollemache, M.P., and
with the Home Secretary, and with the Under Secretary of
State, on the subject, and the opinion of these gentlemen
was that the commissioners bad not only the power to obtain
a cemetery for Birkenhead and Claughton, but also the
I power to levy a rate for its maintenance. This cemetery of
six acres would serve the township for many years to come,
and he asked why they should establish a cemetery at a
cost of £20,000, as was estimated by Mr. Henderson, or at
£lO,OOO, as estimated by Mr. Craven, or pay 3d in the
pouud when aid in the pound was sufficient. They had a
staff connected with the offices of the commissioners, which
would save expense in the management. Some of the
clergy and dissenting people, and also Mr. Jackson, M.P.,
cordially approved of his proposition. He felt confident
that the cemetery would not cost more than £5,000,
but he would guarantee it for £6,000. He concluded
by moving the amendment, which was seconded by Mr.
Horublower. Mr. Baylis objected to the amendment,
contending that the commissioners had enough to attend to
already, and that Mr. Laird had not proved his statements,
by showing, from acts of parliament or otherwise, that the
commissioners had power to form themselves into a burial
board. Mr. Bretherton and Mr. Craven also opposed the
amendment at great length, contending that a separate body
should be appointed for a burial board, and that the scheme
put forth by Mr. Laird was not such as would suit the town.
The Rev. Mr. Wall, and other gentlemen, supported the
amendment, and after a lengthened and much interrupted
discussion, the amendment was put to the meeting, and
afterwards the motion, when the show of hands was almost
unanimous in favour of the amendment. A poll was de-
manded, which was afterwards arranged to be taken on
Monday and Tuesday next, between the hours of 8 a.m. and
w 8 p.m., and t
even o'clock.he meeting was then adjourned to that night
eek, at s