Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-23 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL

The Stock Markets continue to fluctuate with the
varying rumours of the hour. Dealers are timid, as each
rumour of a pacific tendency has an immediate, if only
momentary effect, and any project of permanent improve-
ment in the political horizon would probably cause public
securities to be held for considerably advanced prices.
They : Funds, which yesterday fell I per cent., have this
day recovered per cent. M. most- Of the other depart-
ments of the Stock Exchange a partial rally likewise took
place,' this afternoon, although the advices from the
Continental Bourses are still discouraging. To-day first-
class Bills were readily taken at 2 to 2i per cent., the
supply of money being as large as at any period of the
late plethora. The Bank have once more parted with
their discount business. About £13,000 in American
gold was this day sent into the Bank. On the Paris
Bourse, to-day, there has been a fresh fall of about
a quarter per cent. Much depression prevailed yesterday
in all the other Continental stock markets. At Vienna
the Austrian funds fell three-quarters per cent. ; and at
Frankfort one and a-quarter per cent ; whilst at Amster-
dam the deprecation appears to have been still more
serious. . On 'Change this afternoon bills on 'Hamburgh,
St. Petersburg, and Vienna, were quoted at rates more'
favourable to this country. The rise in the Vienna
Exchange is considerable, and indicates the steady growth
of distrust at Vienna.—Daily _News City Article, Tuesday
Evening.

The English Funds opened at a further decline, but the
market closed with an appearance of comparative
buoyancy, at a recovery of a quarter per cent. It was
rumoured that some communication of a tranquilising
nature had been received from Paris, but the public, after
recent experience, will not be likely to place much
reliance upon it unless it be accompanied by an immediate
reduction of the threatening preparations daily reported
from all parts ,of France.—Times City Article, Tuesday
Evening.

The letters from Calcutta and China are expected to be
distributed about Monday next.

As •a symptom of the end of the Sepoy rebellion, it is
stated that berths on board the homeward Indian mail
packets for several weeks to come are all taken.
_ _

Mr. Edwin James, at a large meeting of the Marylebone
electors, on Tuesday night, expressed his general con-
currence in Mr. Bright's bill.

The Nonconformists body have begun to move against
Mr. Walpole's:Church Rate Bill.
The Morning Star learns that Lord Derby will meet
his Conservative supporters on the Ist of next month,
that is to say on the day after Mr. Disraeli has submitted
his Reform Bill.

LONIBARDY,

The Official Gazette of Milan, of the 17th, has
the following

" In execution of an order of the Minister. of
the Interior, notice is given to the public that the
prohibition to export horses by the frontiers of
the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, the Tyrol, and
the Voralberg is extended to mules."

KNUTSFORD SESSIONS.-PROPOSED TRANS-
FER OF THE ASSIZES FROM CHESTER TO
KNUTSFORD.

At the Knutsford adjourned Sessions, on Tuesday, the
chairman, Lee Porcher Townshend, Esq., congratulated
the gentlemen of the grand jury upon the continued
decrease of crime in the county, a result which, he
he thought, might fairly be attributed to the increased
efficacy of the constabulary. He had been told that one
cause of the decrease in the number of persons for trial
at the sessions arose from the reduced scale of allowance
to witnesses, and that parties had, in fact, refused to
prosecute, in consequence of the low remuneration they
received. He had taken special care to investigate the
truth of this assertion, and from the reports he had re-
ceived from other counties, he was quite sure that the
remarks could not be borne out. One case occurred at
the last sessions, when an. officer in the Stafford gaol
refused to attend upon a subpcena to prove a-prior con-
viction ; but he being a man paid by the government,
ought to have been the last to have raised a complaint,
as the allowance he would. have received would have
been in excess of his pay as an officer of the
Stafford gaol. In - order to prevent a repe-
tition of such an instance, he recommended the
service of a crown subpcena in all cases where officers
are required to prove previous convictions. In the in-
stance referred to, had the officer been served with a
crown subpcena, instead of a subpcena from the Clerk of
the Peace, merely, the court could have dealt with the-
offending officer.
During. the prosecution of some county business, H.
Mainwaring, Esq., (deputy chairman,) said he
had a very important matter to bring before
the attention of the magistrates. He did not,
however, intend to deal further with the subject at
present, than to give notice of the motion, in order that
it might be fairly brought before the notice of the
magistrates as well as the public generally. His notice
was to the effect, first, that two gaols in the county of
Chester being unnecessary, it is expedient that the Chester
Castle shall be discontinued as a prison for criminal
offenders ; secondly, that Knutsford gaol be the only
county prison and house of correction ; thirdly,
that the assizes and quarter sessions be held
at Knutsford only ; fourthly, that a hOuse be
purchased or built by the county, at Knutsford, for the
use of the judges at the assize, and the magistrates at
quarter sessions, as at Shrewsbury and Stafford; and
fifthly, that the above motion be adjourned for further
discussion on the first day of the next Michaelmas General
Quarter Sessions, when a larger • attendance of magis-
trates may be expected. His reasons for making the
motion was, that the same system worked well in York-
shire, Surrey, Middlesex, and other counties of the same
size as Cheshire, and of course it would be a saving of
about £l,OOO in the public expenditure of the county.
The court then proceded with the trial of prisoners:
EMBEZZLEMENT AT BIRKENHEAD.—Henry Caldcott,
30, baker, pleaded guilty to feloniously embezzling several
sums of money amounting to £2O, belonging to his
master, Mr. J. Alexander Barnett and another, at Birken-
head, on 13th January: Mr. M'lntyre prosecuted. The
prisoner received a good character, and was sentenced to
three months imprisonment.
STEALING BRASS AT BIRKENHEAD.—John Rogers,
joiner, pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of brass and
copper articles, the property of Mr. John Laird, his
employer, at Birkenhead, on 16th February. Mr.
Antrob as prosecuted. Guilty —four months hard
labour.

FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING GOODS AT BERXENREAD.
—Bridget Culloton, 26, dress maker, pleaded guilty to
obtaining goods by false pretences' from several trades-
men in Birkenhead. Mr. Swettenham stated the case
for the prosecution, and said the prisoner was employed
by a society of ladies in Birkenhead, formed for the pur-
pose of assisting female emigrants, by supplying them
with wearing apparel. She took advantage of her
connection with the society in obtaining from
Mr. J. C. Brierley, Mr. J. Hope, and Mr.
J. Kind, a quantity of bed linen and other articles,
in December last. She pleaded guilty, and was
sentenced to six months hard labour.

FELONIES AT RUNCORN.—James Williams, 53,
described as a letter-press printer, but imperfectly edu-
cated, and who was brought up from the hospital, was
sentenced to one day's imprisonment,' for stealing a shirt,
the property of Richard Mannion at Runcorn, on 22nd
January. Mr. H. Lloyd stated - the case. Maria
Thompson pleaded guilty to stealing a flannel petticoat,
the property of Anne Rougier, at Runcorn, on 17th
January. Mr. Trafford was engaged for the prosecution.
STEALLNG AND RECEIVING AT LISCARD. Mary
Murphy, 26, and Elizabeth Murphy, 29, domestio ser-
vants pleaded guilty to stealing and receiving, the
AjiarlyVhCihteeesEebsogrongh. Mr. 11.
and the latter
stated the case for the prosecution, Si, rwithi
Lloyd •
hard labour each,
ffroormmehrerroramishtreerss,mritresr: