The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-21 00:00:00

laurels. The captain = and officers would be
tempted to a species of recklessness ‘i hich would
jeopardise not only the comfort, but the very
lives of all on board. The history of American
steam-bout racing, and the boiler explosions
connected therewith, should warn us from
attempting anything of the kind in running
across the Atlantic. Nor would a single race of
the kind decide, in a satisfactory manner, which
was the fleeter vessel of the two.

Every succeeding passage would be made
another test of the speed of each ship, until some
serious mishap would put an end to such
practices. We hope, therefore, that nothing of
the kind will be ever commenced, and although
Commodore VANDERBILT is disposed to sacrifice
both life and property in an attempt to gain a
petty triumph, and have his name handed down
to posterity as the champion of steam-ship
owners, we depend that the British and
North American Royal Mail Steam-ship Com-
pany will discountenance the proposal in every
shape and form. If there is not a law in exist-
ence to punish steam-boat racing, there should
be one; for we hold that any captain who would
place the lives of himself and numbers of his
fellow creatures is such serious danger as a
struggle of the kind must ensure, is not fit to
have the command of a ship.

The steamers belonging to this country, as
well as those owned by citizens of the United
States, have each behaved themselves in a very
creditable manner, and it is simply absurd to
compare a passage across the Atlantic, and claim
a victory, when the difference is perhaps fifteen
or twenty minutes. Any one acquainted with
nautical affairs must be aware that good or bad
steering of a "single turn at the wheel" may
protract the passage more than twenty minutes;
besides, the two vessels may not be in the same
trim for sailing. Altogether we look upon the
proposal not only as uncalled for, but reprehen-
sible in its character, likely to be dangerous in
its consequences, and, therefore, justly entitled
to public condemnation, both here and in the
United States.

THE RIVINGTON WATER WORKS.—VISIT or THE COR-
PORATION.—Yesterday morning a special train left the
Tithebarn-street station at eight o'clock with twenty-two
members of the Town Council, accompanied by Mr.
Duncan. At four o'clock they arrived at the Black Boy,
at Rivington, after having inspected a portion of the
works.' iWe are not In a position to furnish any report of
the speeches which, we understand, were delivered over
the dinner table, from the fact that alth nigh two reporters
were present for one of our cotemporaries, no invitation
for one from our office was given, nor did we receive any
intimation from the Town Hall of the intended movement.
Notwithstanding, we are in possession of all the facts
connected with the proceedings and progress of the
excursionists, and we shall take an early opportunity of
presenting a resume of them to our readers, together with
such observations as they demand.

ANTIQUITIES IN SUAIICS-BRAW.—SOIIIO of the antiquities
of Liverpool have just been discovered in Shaw's-brow,
where the houses are being pulled down for thh erection
of the new Free Library and Museum. At the north-east
wall of the extremity there has been discovered a stone,
which would lead to the inference that the place was at
some period a burial ground, and probably attached to
a church not now known. Beside this stone, which
stands perpendicular against the wall, there are also
others placed flit against the wall, and there seems little

doubt that these cover the remains of people of a
byegone age. The upright stone h, however, the only
one at present that bears any inscription, and this, even,
it is to be regretted, is imperfect, so that little more than
speculation can be arrived at about it. Would it not be
interesting to dig up the surrounding earth, and probably
then some light might be thrown upon the whole affair.
The character of the letters and figures on the stone
clearly show the period to which they belong, namely, the
.17th century. The stone seems at present to consist of
two parts, or rather looks like two stones; but, on close
examination, it seems that the stone was by some accident
split downward. The portion to the left hand, as one
faces it, contains :—ln a second line—the top one being
destroyed—in the corner, " 1672 ;" and then, further on, the
getter "I ;" and more to the right, near the split, the letters
"A. G." and figures "83," all in old English characters.
The " A. G." and figures are clearly the age of some one,
whose name was on the first line. On the other, or right
hand side of the break, are the following letters :
" M." on the corner, and then " Wife of loh Dows, I. 70."
This is clear enough, and shows, very likely, that the
lost line on the other side related to her husband. Some
examination ought to be made of this place, and very
likely interesting discoveries may result, should such
take place. The site was visited by a number of people
yesterday, and the antiquarian cannot fail to be attracted
by this singular stone. There are indications of vaults
existing in the place, and altogether some examination
ought to be made before it is choked up and built upon.

LONDON GOSSIP.—The correspondent of the Manchester
Examiner writes :—Although no debate was anticipated
on the introduction of the Jew bill on Friday evening, and
notwithstanding the thoroughly threadbare character of
the subject, the House of Commons was as crowded as if
a personal explanation or an " Irish row " had been
expected. We had, indeed, a slight skirmish of the latter
kind ; but as Mr. Horsman got no further than telling
Mr. Whiteside that his abuse was rather favourable than
otherwise to the parties wh• were its victims, and Mr.
Napier confined himself to a mild insinuation that the
Chief Secretary had at present no right to consider him-
self of any service whatever to the public at large, the
incident may pass with an allusion. Considering the
parties engaged, the little discussion on that great
national question, the removal of the site of the
Encumbered Estates Court, must be regarded as rather
polite than otherwise. A good deal of interest was
naturally felt to see Lord F'almerston's first appearance
as the introducer of a great question of domestic legisla
tion. His speech was, as you would see by the reports,
eminently characteristic of the man. The adroit apology
to Lord John, appealing directly to the good taste and
feeling of the house—the emphatic and happy exposure of
the absurdities of the present oaths, and of the " Christian
-legislature" cry—the practical tone of the arguments--
the absence of historical details, or of any doctrinaire or
philosophical consideration of the subject, were just what
might have been expected from his lordship. A long
speech is not required on a subject so often debated, and
on which no fresh discussion can be expected to affect the
opinion of a single member. What Lord Palmerston had
mainly to do was to convince the house, and particularly
his own supporters, that he was thoroughly iu earnest in
the matter. This, I think, he accomplished. I have
never heard him speak with more heartiness or energy--
with less of the hesitation that often characterises his
speeches to an almost painful degree, when dealing with
a subject which he dislikes, or by which he feels
embarrassed. The cheers of the Liberal members might,
under these circumstances, have been anticipated, but I
was a good deal surprised by those which came from the
Opposition, not only when he sat down—that might be
accounted for by his personal popularity and by admira_
tion of the wonderful vivaoity and buoyancy of his
delivery—but during his address, and at some of those
portions of it which bore most directly on the Hebraic
part of the question. I cannot help indulging the hope
that the ministerial majority may bo swelled by a band
of recruits from the newly returned Opposition members.
In that case the majority, which will certainly be large,
would be positively overwhelming. What, then, will the
House of Lords do ? The Premier and his friends are, I
understand, sanguine of success. But others, whose
opinions are entitled to much weight, doubt whether any
majority in the House of Commons will overcome the