Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-03 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

IZA rAI4TY, LAST lIIGHT. —A tea party, in connection
with St. David's Church, took place m Hope Hall, last
evening. After the tea had been partaken of, a lecture
was delivered, by the Rev. Dr. James, late of Kirkdale,
on "Martin Luther."

AMERICAN MAILS.—The Philadelphia Screw Steam-
ship Company's steamer City of Washington, Captain
Petrie, sailed for New York yesterday, with the mails,
and about 180 passengers. She will be succeeded by the
Asia, Captain Lott, which sails on Saturday for New
York direct. The post-office box closes at 8 a.m., but
will be open to 9 on payment of a late fee, and on the
Landing-stage to 10 o'clock.
TORR AND LITTLEDALE'S SALE —We noticed yester-
day the interesting sale at the farm of Messrs. Torr and
Littledale. Six of the finest hogs ever seen in Cheshire,
of the pure Berkshire breed, were purchased by Mr.
James Harding, the large pork butcher, and sausage
manufacturer, of Byrom-street, and the quality of the
animals being first-rate, the best judges say they never
saw such a turn-out in hog flesh.
ST. PETER'S PARISH CHURCH.—The Rev. W. Pollock,
Vicar of Bowdon, preached the fifth of the " Sermons for
the Working People of Liverpool," at this church, last
evening. The church was nearly full, a few places only
being vacant, but several of the congregation seemed to
be of the upper class. The Rev. W. H. Denny read
prayers, as before, and will, we understand, close the
course on Ash-Wednesday, by a lecture on " Sin and
Penitence."

MARINE DISASTERS.—The George Washington, for
Boston, has put back to this port, making from 14 to 15
inches of water per hour, having been struck by a heavy
sea on the 27th of February off Scilly, during a heavy
gale, which caused her to leak.• The Martha Hoffman,
for Genoa, put back here with damage, having been in
contact with a vessel, whose name was not ascertained,
off the Skerries. Tile Eliza Young, from Baltimore,
arrived here on Tuesday, with loss of mizenmast, occa-
sioned by a collision on the 28th ult., between Tuskar
and Holyhead, with- a steamer hailing from Glasgow.
Two boats and a piece of a wreck, were washed ashore at
Melkboxh, near Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, prior
to the 21st of January. One of the boats was painted
black outside, and green within ; and the other black, with
a red streak outside. Several pieces of old ship timber
were also washed up.
CORONER'S INQUESTS.—Yesterday, the Coroner held
the following inquests :—On the body of James O'Brian,
14 years old, who lived in Oriel-street. He was one of
those boys who polish shoes in the streets. On Tuesday
he started, along with other boys, for the races, but when
they got to Scotland-road the deceased sat down, and was
found soon after by a policeman, very sick and throwing
up. There was a very strong smell of rum off him and
his clothes. The policeman took him to the Northern
Hospital, but he died before going there. There was no
evidence to show that the boy had had any drink, but the
jury, returned a verdict of "Died of excessive drinking."
On the body of John Thompson Breeze, a car-driver,
who lived at 24, Great Nelson-street. He was 21 years
of age, and for some months he had been very intempe-
rate, and on Monday night, whilst already drunk, he
drank eleven glasses of rum, and of course death was the
result. Verdict, " Died of excessive drinking."
THE BASIL BAKER FUND.—A performance took place
at the Catholic Institute, on Tuesday evening, in aid of
the Basil Baker Fund. The performance derived an
additional interest from the fact, that the son of the late
lamented gentleman was connected with the institute,
and bore a part in the duties which the occasion en-
tailed upon the pupils. Cardinal Wiseman's drama,
" The Hidden Gem," was produced, for the third time,
on this occasion, and was acted by the same performers as
on the previous instances. It was followed by the farce,
"A Thumping Legaby." The manner in which the
pieces were played, reflected as much credit upon the
performers as the kindly and benevolent intention which
suggested the performance did upon the conductors of the
Institute. We are informed that the result of the under-
taking will be to place at the service of the committee
engaged in organising the Baker Fund, a sum of nearly
0. •

IMPLEMENTS FOR WARFARE.—WHERE ARE THEY TO
END ?—We are informed that our enterprising townsman,
John Clare, jun., of 21, Exchange-buildings, has designed
an agent for warfare, to be called the Marine English
Bull-Dog, that is capable of destroying, in half-an-hour,
the largest ship-of-war, and her crew, If this be true,
and we have no reason to doubt it, if the ingenuity and
talent of Mr. Clare are sufficient guarantees for his scientific
and mechanical capabilities, what use are either ships con-
structed as our navy is composed of, or what effect can
guns have, before so destraetive a production as Mr, Clare

asserts he is ready to bring out at a moment's warning.
The maker has been brought under the attention of the
government, and from the great opinion held of this gen-
tleman's ideas on naval mechanical architecture, it may
not be too much to expect, under present-critical warlike
aspects, that we may be in a position to state what the
exact particulars are of this mighty warlike structure,
intended to neutralise guns, powder, and shot.—From a
Correspondent.
CLAREMONT LITERARY ASSOCIATION.—The seventh
lecture in connection with this association, was delivered
in the schoolroom of the Claremont Independent Chapel,
Kirkdale, on Monday evening last, by the Rev. Nevison
Loraine, of Waterloo. The lecture was entitled
" Counsels," and was received with marked approval by
a large audience. The Rev. W, C. Preston, of Claremont
chapel, occupied the chair, and announced that the next
lecture would be delivered on Monday, the 14th instant,
by Mr. M. W. Emery, on " Men of the World."
Tows COUNCIL.—The usual monthly meeting of the
council was summoned to be held yesterday, at 11 o'clock,
in the Town Hall. At that hour the Mayor and several
members were in attendance, but not sufficient to form a
council. After considerable delay, it was found that the
number had increased to twenty-two, being still two
short of the requisite compliment. Mr. Ald. Holme
said he supposed the attractions of the steeple-chase had
more weight with gentlemen than the dry business
of the council. Mr. Holden suggested an adjournment ;
bnt the Town-clerk stated that there could be no adjourn-
ment, as there was, in point of fact, no council to
adjourn. Mr. Holme said he could not afford to waste
his time in waitinc, for gentlemen who ought to ,have
attended. Mr. Parkerb remarked that some of the mem-
bers were in London. Mr. Holme said there were a few
in London, but even they might have got down in time
for the council meeting. Finally, after waiting for about
twenty minutes, the Mayor said he thought they had
given grace enough to those who were absent, and the
meeting broke up.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF THREATENING TO SHOOT
A MEDICAL MAN.-The public has lost an interesting
topic for conversation, that would have created a "nine
days' wonder" had the affair transpired publicly, as it
was very likely to have done, but for certain influences
that have been brought to bear, and come under the
Christian benison of " Blessed are the peace-makers."
As far as we could collect the facts of the case, the fol-
lowing may be found correct :---A gentleman, stated to
be a first-class American merchant, wrote to a medical"
gentleman in this town, informing him that he would
come across the Atlantic, and have the pleasure
of blowing his brains out. This interesting cm'
munication, it seems, produced some alarm; but,
whilst 3,000 miles of sea- rolled between the parties,
even " 'Warner's long range" could not have done
any harm. However, the gentleman kept his word, so
far as coming here, and then an information was sworn,
and a warrant was grounded thereon, and issued for his
arrest. Two active detectives got the warrant to execute,
and they were not long until they found where the
American gentleman had ordered a private lodging.
They proceeded to the place, and arrested the gentleman
just as he was stepping out of a carriage. Subsequently
the stipendiary magistrate (at his own house) was applied
to, and admitted the accused party to bail. He was to
have been brought before the presiding magistrate at the
police court, but in the interm' an arrangement was made
by friends of both parties, and the case did not therefore
come before the public. It was stated that some family
difference was the cause.

LECTURE.—Yesterday evening, a lecture was delivered
in the Chaloner Schools, Jordan-street, by the Rev.
Robert Belaney, M.A., Cambridge, late vicar of Aslington,
Sussex, subject, " Irish Emigration Religiously Con-
sidered." The Rev. Mr. O'Reilly occupied the- chair,
who introduced the lecturer by a few appropriate obser-
vations. The lecturer came forward amid applause, and
said, in choosing the subject on which he was to speak
that evening, he did not intend to treat the matter
philosophically, nor to take a political view of the sub-
ject, but religiously. When a person took up a news-
paper and read of the vast number of Catholics in
America and Australia, and other parts of the world, he
would naturally be driven to inquire what was•to be the
result of this spreading the Christian religion? The Jews
were the chosen people of God, who for 1,400 years main-
tained his true religion in Palestine, in spite of the scorn
of surrounding nations, and here arose Christianity, which
was carried into Great Britain by the Roman army, and
the people of these kingdoms converted from their heathen
faith to the religion of the Romans. In the sixth
century the religion became impure, and the people
began to cry out against it, but God raised up the
Saxons, who gladly received the priests into the
army, and the religion was again as pure as at the
first. He went on to say that the people of Ireland
at the present day bore the same relation to the world
that the Jews and Romans of former times had done.
They were in many cases obliged to emigrate from their
native land, by the oppression of the Established Church—
where no Protestant people were to attend that Church—
and when they went to other lands, and found so much
liberality, their first care was to have their friends there
too. He said Ireland was like the Gulf of Meiico, giving
out a stream of fresh water, by which the voyager was
refreshed, for the streams of people which left her shores
to visit other lands took the truth with them, and
he hoped it would continue to spread. The lecture oc-
cupied an hour and a half in delivery, at the end of which
a vote of thanks was passed to• the lecturer, and the
meeting separated.

- •
DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S SOCIETY. -On Tuesday
afternoon, the annual meeting of this institution was
presided over by the Venerable Archdeacon Jones.
Amongst others present was the Mayor, William
Preston, Esq. The Rev. Mr. Denny (on behalf of the
secretary, Mrs. Wainwright), read the following report :
" The committee of the society for the relief of sick or
distressed needlewomen are desirous to report to the
subscribers and friends of the charity the result of their
exertions during the past year. The only difficulty they
haire in doing this results from the fact, that they have
been compelled to exercise a very rigid economy In. the
distribution of their extremely limited funds. A deep
anxiety was felt by the committee that this work should
be undertaken on sound principles, and that, as far as
possible, it should be guarded from abuse by any en-
couragement of the idle or unworthy. As with every
other new institution, the first few months of the
committee's labours were devoted to the con-
sideration of details requiring time and expe-
perience in deciding, namely, how they could
most effectually carry out the benevolent intentions of
the subscribers. Consequently it is only during the pre-
sent winter that the society has beeh actually in active
operation. It is a lamentable fact, presented to our
notice by the late census, that there are no fewer than
240,859 sempstresses in Great Britain (of whom 78,068
are shirtmakers), many of whom, even when in health,
can but earn what will just enable them to keep life
together. A still more painful truth has to be stated.
Many of these have moved in the higher walks of life,
being the widows or daughters of professional men or
merchants, and when these are left without provision,
how truly pitiable is their condition. Ordinarily,
the only available resource for the decayed gen-
tlewoman is needlework. To earn, by this means,
the barest necessaries of life it must be pursued
early and late—often in the confinement and unhealthy
atmosphere of a poor lodging. In such circumstances
aggravated by the necessity for close application,
and sitting many hours day after day in one unvarying
position, the frequent recurrence of sickness is inevitable ;
and, if the ready hand of relief be not present in its
visitations, who can picture the dreary hours of struggling
anguish, ending perhaps in some desperate rush into
infamy, or the sad but happier lot of a premature grave ?
The great object of this society is to assist not the mere
clamorous and needy of this class, but the industrious and
deserving, for whom, in the hour of sickness and calamity,
there is neither refuge nor help. To effect this end, a
personal investigation of every case has been made by the
committee, and, at the same time, they have obtained
satisfactory information respecting the antecedents of each
applicant; all this requiring unwearied zeal and perse-
verance in their labours. The actual amount ex-
pended is but a small proportion of the benefits
conferred. Medical aid has been gratuitously given by a
skilful and experienced practitioner. Valuable donations
have been put at the disposal of the committee in the
supplies of medicines and articles of nourishment, wine,
&c. Timely and valuable information and assistance in
cases of puzzling difficulties have been obtained for these
friendless sufferers, and in several instances of extreme
debility they have been promptly placed in economical
" homes," where food and rest for a few weeks have
enabled them to resume their labours with renewed hbalth
and energy. The committee desire to call attention to
the fact that they have hitherto carried on this work
without any of the usual expenditure of charitable insti-
tutions. All charges for rent, superintendent, messenger,
and other minor expenses have been avoided. They
cannot hope permanently to continue this, as from
the great distances included in the borough, it
would be beyond the power of any committee to give the
requisite attention, apart from paid assistance,
should a considerable number of applications reach
them from various quarters at once. It is, however, their
determination to avoid every outlay of the kind as long
as it is possible to do so, consistently with a due sense of
the responsibilities they have undertaken. The committee
gladly avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing
their sincere thanks to their surgeon, Mr. Bailey, for his
valuable and efficient services ; also to Mrs. Moss, of
0 tterspool, to Messrs. Clay and Abraham, and Messrs.
Mackie and Gladstone, for the great assistance given by
them to the charity; and to the trustees of the Savings

Bank for the use of a room for their meetings. In On
elusion, when looking back upon the past year, the coni-
mittee feel that, with the limited means entrusted to
them, they have been instruments of great good, and tl.lOl
are more thoroughly convinced than ever of the Im-
portance of an institution of this kind. It comes to the to
of industrious women struggling for an honest livelihood,
at critical times of failing health or sudden distre*
when, if unhelped, they must sink into utter destitution
rush into crime, It enables them, with good heart an
revived strength, to resume their honest toil; and it
groea
this assistance in such a way that there is no loss o
self-respect in the recipient, nor any danger of inducing,,
the feeling of dependance, which is frequently the grel, !!,
danger in the administration of temporary relief. An
all this -be duly weighed by the benevolent and humane,
the committee can entertain no doubt that an institution
whose object is so good, and which is so prudently on'
ducted, will secure public approbation, and obtain that lar,g,n,
and liberal support which it equally requires and deservo•
The statement of accounts was also submitted, frail/
which it appeared that, though extensive relief had been
given by the society 'since its formation, there was:
,
balance to credit of £6B 15s. The report and .
accounts were adopted, after which the meet'„
separated.

THE RAILWAY QUESTION.
(From a Correspondent.)
In the columns of our weekly contemporary, tile
Albion, has appeared a series of articles upon the
"Railway Question," of considerable local interest'
which have called forth some remarks in the saute
journal from a " Country Correspondent," which
ought not to be left unnoticed, not only because
they directly bear upon the interests of the trade
of Liverpool, but also because, we venture t°
think, they emanate from a pretty high authority
in Lancashire Railway affairs.

Those who peruse our columns will know that
we have always recognised in this Railll
question—a topic second to none in its direct and.
extensive bearing upon Liverpool trade, in everld
way—that it must enter most materially all
intimately into every consideration directed t°
the means calculated to extend our commerce'
and that it must have full attention, and not a were
passing regard, from our Mersey Dock Board, in
all the plans it may lay for the future development
of the important estate committed to its charge'
We have always maintained that one of the first
duties of the authorities here should ever be t°
shorten, cheapen, and improve, as much as possible;
the Canals and Railways, which are the great
highways by means of which she distributes lice
e
imports through the interior and receives
manufactured returns and minerals for circulation
abroad. What forced upon- the attention of
enterprising townsmen the grand, unique, all
successful experiment of Railway communication
with Manchester, and prompted them to work it
out, when the scheme was " pooh, poohed" by
the scientific and many long-headed men °
business; but the proved inadequacy of the means
of transit into the interior, especially in winter'
when frost sealed up the canals ? Fortunate
would it have been for the town at large, and 01,
a
the shareholders also, if the Liverpool and
Manchester Railway, undertaken original' t°
further the inter-communication of the two t0°1187,4
had remained an independent company.
the then presiding Dock Committee, or our e'er;
poration, foreseen at that date the true interests °`
;the town, they would have fought hard to haver;
vented the amalgamation of that railway with $11:7,1
other line whatever. The improvements introdue't
of late years into Railway affairs, applied to that
line, would, if it had been independent, have led TRa
a large reduction in the rates of carriage ; and
hence Liverpool would not have witnessed the
extraordinary anomaly of having the directors
her chief Railway with Manchester and Lanca-
shire at the same time directors also of the line
which, having its chief terminus in London, 01 c
central shipping point and place of largest traw.,i,
in goods, and communicating direct thence NO;
Manchester, must seek to draw the trade fro
a'
to London, in preference to Liverpacic
r
This is no fancy picture, but a real statement °'
facts. Liverpool has no independent and free
Railway Company communicating with 3feli
chester. The original line is merged into i:e
London and North-Western Company, wiljc;r
administers it as they do other branches of the"
great scheme of lines which centres in, el
radiates from, London.
We are quite aware that Liverpool men sit at th
London Board, but what is their voice among;
many ? What proportion does the outlay on t r
line between Liverpool and Mancheste
(£1,000,000) bear on a company whose aggreg°o
capital makes a total of £30,000,000.
This was Railway amalgamation number one, A.— t
which Liverpool received " a severe blow and et. 4
discouragement." Let us now glance at some of i
fruits and consequences. So long as the Livere;
and Manchester Railway was independent, la
competitors for traffic were only the canal all
water companies between the towns, and from
their struggle for that traffic Liverpool reaPed_ao
the advantages, both in additional cart Y;
accommodation and lower rates of carriage. e
interest of one and all these concerns was to tai
from, and bring .to Liverpool, all the goods thee
could possibly control.
But a change comes over this pleasing view'
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Coninsl
ceases to exist as an independent company
" amalgamated "—and the new element in I—t,
direction of its affairs makes its influence appardhil
The " centre " of all interest in the new coraPetl;o
is London. It is easily seen at that centre that the
Liverpool traffic from Manchester has to
divided between the Liverpool branch line and the
water companies, and moves in the game eri
planned in consequence, which we shall notice 1
a subsequent number.

A new German performer on the violin, M. Becket,
has been well received at a concert at Paris. •ear
=ln matters musical, the state of London this
before Easter is encouraging to all well-wishers to 101,10,
The Sardinian loan of two millions has not been
as was at one time expected, by the house of M. Fti p-
at Paris. This is looked upon as an unfavourable sY—so
tom, since M. Fould, as Minister of State, must knslot
opportunities of foreseeing if events are at hand
might render speculation too hazardous.
resigns MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.—The reported regp.
of the Marquis of Salisbury is not confirme,d•l of
Tuesday, his lordship paid two visits to the r-431•00.
Derby, and remained in consultation a considerable tiloa
Lord Lovaine does not purpose going to Northumbeirwil
on the occasion of his re-election, as there is not =.
to be any opposition.
TgiS
THE SHEEP POISONING CASE AT NEWCASTLE. dor,
case was concluded at the Newcastle assizes on 301.1datts.
after having occupied the court for nearly threem6
The plaintiff, who was a farmer, had bought fr° leg
defendant a certain composition to be used for dill
sheep. After the sheep had been dipped, a great to
4'tbn,
came on, and washed the stuff out of their fleeces 'lOOl
grass, and, from eating this, the sheep, to the nun' „nog
seven hundred, died. Mr. Justice Niles, in surt,,ll
up, said the verdict of the jury must be founde rbe
whether this was a reasonable and fit composition
used according to the directions upon the packs u
at.
they thought the loss of the sheep could be reason be tot
tributed to no other cause, then their verdict must this,
the plaintiff; but, if the plaintiff had not made out .4
then their verdict must be for the defendant. TlAlgcl,
returned a verdict for the plaintiff : damages, 411'