The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-20 00:00:00

TEE NORTHERN TIME S.----LIVERPOOL; WE DNE S DAY.

manifesto, exhorting the voters to exercise their
rights, and not to follow the policy of " abstenta
tion," which, as a political demonstration, is
utterly insignificant, whilst it furnishes the enemies
of a Liberal suffrage with telling arguments.
Madrid letters state, that the squadron destined
to act against Mexico had sailed from Cadiz, but
had been obliged to put back on account of bad
weather. Oue of the frigates had received some
damage by rucining against the rock..

In the Belguim Chamber i',Jp:,,6,titatives, on
Saturday, M. Rogier conjured the ministry to
withdraw the Bill on Charity, in order to avoid
great inconvenience, if not even misfortunes, to
the country The closing remarks of the bon
gentleman having been received with loud applause
in the tribunes, the President ordered them to be
cleared. In the secret sitting which followed, two
of the members are said to have expressed regret
that in Blearing the tribunes that of the journalists
had not been spared, and proposed that they
should be invited to return, but the Minister of
the Interior having observed that the usual time
for separating had nearly arrived, the sitting was
brought to a close.
The King of Bavaria arrived at Fontainebleau
on Sunday afternoon, where he was received by
the Emperor and Empress with the usual cere-
monies. The Grand Duke Constantine is at this
moment in Bordeaux.

A letter from Berne, in the Presse, states that
rumours are current respecting the formation of a
new Swiss Legion for account of the British govern-
ment. This Swiss Legion, it says, would consist
of two line regiments, and a battalion of riflemen ;
it would be united to two Italian regiments and
despatched to China.
A letter from St. Petersburg says that the port
of Kertch is beginning to assume its commercial
importance. In March 130 vessels were occupied
in landing coffee, olive oil, English porter, &c.

A SINGLE war is enough to have on our hands
at once. Very welcome, therefore, to the people
of this country is the intelligence that the Shah
of Persia has accepted the terms of peace. Once
committed, it is not our practice discreditably
to back out of a quarrel ; but if our purpose can
be attained with little fighting and little blood-
shed, this is infinitely preferable. However
much foreigners may believe that England is
actuated only by the lust of power, and of
extended territory, there is, we are satisfied,
another feeling far more honourable which modi-
fies this,, and would go far to justify it—the
feeling, namely, that the extension of British
power, and finally, of British institutions, must
be a benefit to the less civilized nations over
which we rule. Even misgoverned India is a
gainer by us, in additional security for life, and
the extinction of feudal wars. So, also, Turkey
and Persia are benefitted by British influence.
It is to be hoped that the brief hostilities just
concluded with Persia, will teach that power
that its interest is to be in friendship and alliance
with England. From the accounts received,
these operations in the'Persian territory seem to
be among the most brilliant feats of our military
history, not indeed for the extent of those opera-
tions, and the patient endurance of sieges,
battles, and ambuscades, but for the rapidity and
gallantry with which all was done, and the
advantageous results that must immediately
follow. The Latin proverb has it—" bis dat gui
cite dat"—he gives twice who gives promptly.
In war he strikes twice who strikes promptly.
Nothing can read better than the account which
General Sir JAMES OUTRAM gives of his own
proceedings. The landing in the Persian terri-
tory, the subjugation of Bushire, and then the
taking of the strongly-fortified Mohammorah,
with the final rout of the Persian army at
Ahwaz, is worthy of a successor of the (lives,
Wellesleys, and Napiers.
Our General did not rest on his oars ; one
success but urged him on to another. The
enemy were not expecting so rapid an advance
of the British General. They seem to have made
no regular preparation for a possible retreat from
their strong fortress of Mohammorah—the
Sebastopol of their strength. This place
appears to hair'e been fortified with their best
engineering skill ; large guns, though inferior in
calibre to those on board our ships, were admi-
rably planted to bar all approach, and sweep the
river lengthwise and crosswise; huge earth-
works were reared twenty feet thick and eighteen
feet high. It seemed as if European skill had
helped them, and arranged every thing so as to
give the British a warm reception. Nor are the
Persians cowards or bad soldiers. Military men
acquainted with the East allege that the Persian
soldiers are brave, and patient of fatigue. They
offer the raw material for making good fighting
men. It would be slight honour to conquer
mere barbarians and dastards. In a position
so well fortified there • was every chance that a
strong stand could be made, and much trouble
given to the British Commander. We were very
inferior in numbers. Our cavalry was not
landed. But no odds daunted the General ; he
took no counsel with fear or delay. Having
taken the Persian Sebastopol, he does not daily
with his good fortune, but launches some forty-five
dragoons in pursuit of the whole Persian cavalry,
now in flight, and.. 300 infantry, forward to a
place called Ahwaz, to chase the whole Persian
army of thirteen thousand man ! This was gal-
lantly and promptly executed both by soldiers
and officers. If Sir JAMES OUTRAM and his
officers had thought that in taking Mohammorah
they had done enough, why, then, the enemy
might have rallied, and returned to renew the
fight, and crush an army so numerically inferior
But this advantage was not allowed them.
Rapidly our commander improved his supe-
riority. He did the right thing at the right
moment; he was cordially supported by all
under his command; he has maintained the
immemorial character of the British army, and
gained peace for his country.
It is affirmed that the Persian army is coin
pletely broken up and disorganised. It seems
almost incredible that a large mass of many
thousands should retreat in confusion and dis-
may from Ahwaz before a few hundred men.
If such was indeed the fact, it implies that they
must have had a very severe lesson in their pre-
vious stronghold ; and we may presume that they
will not again be soon anxious to come within
range of the British columns. This will be
another wholesome lesson to all barbarian tribes
of the East who may envy our dominion. It
will even act upon China, And it happens at

this moment that the Persian war being ended,
our ships and soldiers are available for service in
China. We incline to think that the same
prompt and decisive policy, if followed up every=
where by Europeans, will give them victory over
the Asiatics. If General ASHBURNHAM will only
display something of the same vigour when the
time for action comes, there is little fear that the
people of the flowery land will be able to make
any effectual stand against the men who are
fresh from victory over the hardier Persian sol-
diers. But much will depend on the vigour an.'
promptitude of our leaders. We rest secure that
if our soldiers, whether Indian or English, are
only properly officered, commanded and led,
there is no soldiery in the world—certainly no
Asiatic soldiery, that having once experienced
our charge of bayonets, will willingly wait for a
second.

THE betrothment of the PRINCESS ROYAL of
England to the presumptive heir to the throne of
Prussia has just been announced, and the QUEEN
has been graciously pleased to follow this by a
message to both Houses of Parliament, touching
the dowry to be assigned to the Royal lady. The
QUEEN'S lightest wish is sure to be dutifully
received by her people, and nothing less than the
kindest desires and most earnest prayers will be
put up for the happiness of this august alliance,
and that it may redound to the good of both the
nations thus drawn together by new ties, as well
as to the felicity of the illustrious espoused.
But however loyally disposed the Parliament
may feel towards our Queen, we trust they will
not forget the duty which they owe to the people
as stewards of the public purse. Her MAJESTY
has strong personal claims on the loyalty of her
people ; the highest lady of the land is a model
of her sex, her household is a pattern household,
her children are well and wisely reared, strength-,
ened by manly exercises and trained according to
principles of reason and common sense for the
high stations they may hereafter fill. The QUEEN,
we have reason to believe, voluntarily practices
that economy which is enforced on so many
of her subjects. From her own private
purse, without any appeal to the nation, she.has
defrayed the expenses of her royal summer resi-
dences of Osborne and Balmoral. All this is com-
mendable, and it is all as it should be. There is
no reason why royal personages should be exempted
from the morality of ordinary mortals. Payment
of debts and provision for a family are reckoned
among the duties of ordinary morality, though we
well remember that the former virtue has not
always been honoured by English royalty.
The more praise is now due to the lady who
shows to kings and princes the more excellent
way of plebeian honesty. But none of these con-
siderations, nor all combined, should avail to make
our representatives forget that a decent economy
should go hand in hand with generosity. The
fabulous allowance which has been whispered of
£70,000 a year, we are satisfied would appear
extravagant to most heads of families who know
the responsibility of providing for their own. We
have lately expended a large amount on the Russo-
Turkish war. Provisions are high. Many of our
manufacturers are working short time in conse-
quence of the limited supply of cotton, and
though, unquestionably, the country is prosperous,
yet there are thousands of our working classes
struggling against a narrow lot. It is, therefore,
unseemly to vote away a very large amount of
money for one member of the Royal family, while
the sufferings and struggles are forgotten of thou•
sands of families not royal, but honest and plebeian.
Besides, the private estates of our sovereigns, the
Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster if well
managed, surely ought to provide for the wants
of our Royal family. Why are not these turned
to better Account? Why does not some
popular member in the house require
a searching examination of these matters ?
Why before coming to the nation, are not the
Duchies made to yield their utmost? The people
might then be asked to supply the deficiency.
We are not a niggard nation. John Bull has always
had an open purse for people at home and abroad.
But the requirements of his own family compel
his charity to begin at home. We ' are sure the
Queen would not be offended if reminded of the
duty of providing for her own family—and though
the nation, both from immemorial usage
and from inclination will be quite ready
to do the generous thing—yet we are
equally satisfied that if our representatives
allow themselves to do the weak and foolish thing
by launching forth into an unjustifiable extrava
gance, it will not accord with the feeling of the
great body of people. Let loyalty to the QUEEN be
joined to consideration for the people.

A SCONE IN WALTON CHURCH, —lt is always painful to
record anything unseemly that may happen at the solemn
and sacred worship which we attend atteast every Sunday
at church ; but as public journalists we cannot shrink front
the duty of recording, however, disagreeable, such a scene as
the following. We may state that it has created an unusual
and painful sensation, not only amongst the large and
respectable congregation that witnessed it, but out of doors
it has been much censured and spoken of. However; our
duty is simply to record what took place in Walton church
en Sunday last, and we regret bliog compelled to do ea,
particularly as a lady has been the observed of all observers
in the scene. In about the best spot is the sacred edifice
is a pew capable of accommodating, with till greatest ease,
at least nine .or ten persons. It appears that this pew is
the property of a persan in some way related
to a dignitary of the church, but of course
this has nothing to do with what we are about to relate,
and we merely mention it en passant. On Sunday last
the church, as is usual, was pretty full, the congregation
being most respectable. The paw in question was empty.
Three highly respectable young gentlemen entered the
sacred building, and seeing the pew empty, and the only
place they mere likely to obtain a seat in, entered it.
Shortly after the service had commenced, two ladies
entered the pew—one about 20 years of age, the other,
perhaps, treble that number. The latter at once, by her
unmistakeble signs and gestures, desired to get rid of the
three young gentlemen, not because there was not sufficient
room in the pew, but because (as it seemed) they were
strangers, and were considered intruders. The lady, after
kneeling a short time, went to the door of the
pew, and in a very unmistakeable manner, flung
it open, and in such a way as to attract the atten-
tion of almost all the people in the church.
One of the young gentlemen not understanding
what this meant, shut the door, whereon the lady left the
pew in an abrupt manner, and went to one opposite.
The young lady remained in her place. After the sermon
the lady again went to the pew, Thing open the door in a
remarkable way, and stood by it for a short time. The
hint was not taken, and then the lady slappd one
of the gentlemen's hats off the seat in a manner that
could not be mistaken. The congregation felt amazed
at this last- scene, but we say no more about
it. Two of the gentlemen are the sons of a
respectable parishioner (for fifty years) of Walton, the
third befog their friend who accompanied them to church ;
and it seem% that their father has had a pew in the church
for nearly the above period, but lately it has been curtailed
in consequence or alterations. They declared that they
had no intention of annoying any one by going into a pew
which was quite empty when they entered, and which, as
stated, could hold ten persons without difficulty, instead of
five. The sensation created by the above occurrence is
not likely to subside for some time in the locality.

IMPE DIAL PARLIAMENT.

[By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.]

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY.
The home met at fly e o'clock.

IHE INTENDED WESTMEATH DITOHCE CASE.

The Marquis of Weetmeith made some remarks will reference to
what he characta Lied as a false and lioiltous statement in the Glo
newspaper. The pamphlet sent about by the lady who bore his name,
from whom he had been separated thirty-eight years, upon which the
statement was founded, cont2ined miners wth which he had no
concern, but there wore points in it bearing upon the bill on the
subject of divorce then before their lordships, the falseness of which
he would provo when the house went into committee on the bill.
Tnere were some libellous statements which he left to the proper
tribunal.

THE WAR WITH CHINA.

The Earl of Ellenborough asked what steps Vie Governm,nt were
going to take to reinforce the army in India, in consequence of the
information received by the last mail ?
Lord Panmure said, that in the second week in June four regi.
ments would be sent out, and, if necessary, the regiments which, in
ord na y course would return home, would be kept in India.
The Earl of Ellenborough wished to know what was the number of
recruits sent out to reinforce regiments in India daring the year.
Lord Pannatire said the number was about 4,000.

DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CASES BILL.

The Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the Divorce and
Illatrimonial Cases and entered into the history of the Law of
Divorce. He acknowledged the principle, that divorce should be re-
cognised by law, and proceeded to detail the provisions of his measure.
He proposed that all divorce cases should be referred to a competent
tribunal to be created ander the bill, which should investigate cases
once for all, and hear evidence, viva room, before a jury, except
in special cases; so that where a charge had been sustained, that
relief should be given which was now obtained by a private act of
Parliament. The court was to consist of the Lord Chancellor, a lord
chiJfjustice, and a judge. In the Court of Probate, a wife would be
entitled to divorce in cases of incestuous intercourse, bigamy, unjus-
tifiable absence, aad adultery, combined with cruelty. He proposed
that actions for damages by a husband, should only be granted on a
divorce. Where there had been a divorce a menaa et Moro, h 3 proposed
that alimony should be paid, but that it should be placed in the
hands of a trustee, and in such cases the woman would stand in the
same position 83 an unmarried woman, her property being under her
own control.

The Archbishop of Canterbiry pointed oat the dangers of legislation
upon the inject of divorce, and expressed his hope that this measure
would not prove an evil rather than an advantage.

Loyd Lyndhurst and Lord Wensleydale concu: red in the principle
of the measure, but thought it defective in some points.
The debate continued at great length, and was partieipated in by
the Duke ef Norfolk, Lord Campbell, Lor I Dungannon, the 13'shop of
Oxford, and other peers. Upon a divis'on there appeared—
Forthe second reading . , .. 47
Against. .

Majority.. ... ..... ....
Their lordships rose at a quarter past ten.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-TUESDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS:

Lord Claude Hamilton. Sir H. F. Davie Mr. W. Jackson, Mr•
Crook, Col. Clifford, Sir J. Owen, and Mr. Blake took the oaths and
their seats.

THE MILITIA•

In reply to Major Sibthorpe,

Sir John Ramsdea said that until it was known what sum would
be voted by parliament for the purpose, be could not state what
regiments would be called out for trAining. In March last a circular
was sent to the diff,rent lord lieutenants, informing them that the
militia would not would not be called out before September.

THE SAVINGS' BANE BILL.

Mr. Collins asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what time he
intended to 6r for the second reading of the Savings Banks Bill, and
whether he proposed to embody in the bill, regulations for the future
government of savings banks.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer saki the course he proposed to
pursue was, inasmuch as there appeared to be little or no objection to
the principle of the bill, if the house would allow him to tale the
second reading without discu"sion, and then going into committee
pro forma for the insertion of some alterations which irul been
suggested to him.

Mr. Hadfield asked whether the right hon. gentleman wonli snow
time between the committal, pro forma, and the re-clminital, for
members to corn nnnieate with their fri,nds upon the amanimants.
The Chance for of the Exchequer said he would allow LAE:lent
interval fur the purpose.

Mr. Barrow wished to know whether the re_ulations to be imposed
on trustees were to be embodied in the b,ll.

The Chancellor of the ExchNuer proposed to make some a:tora-
tions in the.el arses of the bit; bat he did not propose to set forth in
it the rezu!atisns for the government of banks.

ARMY REGULATIONS,

In reply to Captain Daniel O'Connell,

Sir John Ramadan said, the question of the relative ranks of regi-
mental captains and adj !tante of mi.itia regiments, was still under
the consideration of the Government, but no decision had yet been
come to.

THE MURRAIN, & C.

On the motion of Mr. Bentinck, leave was given to bring in a bill
to amend an Act passel In the Session 11 and 12 Vic., c. 107; also, to
amend an Act passed In the Session 16 and 17 Vic., c. 62 ; also, to
amend an Act passed in the Session 19 and 20 Vic., c. 101, entitled,
"An Act to continue certain Acts, to prevent the spreading of con-
tagions er infectious disorders amongst sheep, cattle, and other
animals."