Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIIIE3.

Sir,—Her Atajesty's speech from the throne:has now

been circulated throughout the United Kingdom.
'Uhe people know a little of the intentions of
Government. The ministerial programme of thi§
extraordinary session is, without a doubt, scanty
in the extreme. The only ray of hope which it
contains is that relating to the question of a ethau.
Lord PALMERSTON has plucked up courage, and
promises to ask the legislature to consider how
the representation of the people can be extended
and improved. But the tone in which he makes the

announcement is anything but encouraging. The
Royal oration may be div:ded into four distinct
heads :---the Commercial Crisis,— Affairs in India
Parliamentary .I.l„teforra,—and an Amendment in the
Criminal Code. We have repeatedly alluded to the
currency question, and demonstrated that the,
laws, regulating our monetary system, afe imper-
fect in the extreme. It is, therefore, no wonder
that the Government should feel bound to call
Parliament together, for the purpose of considering
if any, and what, amendment can be effected in
this most important matter. The commercial
crisis, through which we are now passing, clearly
shows that we are labouring under the effect of a
law which is unequal to the requirements of the
times in which we live. It cramps the commercial
energies of the country, and, as we have now
innumerable end painful proofs, it induces
bankruptcies and insolvencies without end.
Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be
prepared with a panacea for all- our commercial
disasters we know not. Indeed, from the tone of
her Majesty's speech, as well as from the remarks
made by ministers on Thursday night, we must
not expect much in the shape of Currency Preform.
In connection with this matter, the Government.

have named an early day, and already taken steps
to obtain a bill of indemnify in favour of the
Bank of England Directors, who, by the way, are
still in favour of the existing charter, notwithr
standing the serious evils which it has caused.
It is in the power of Currency Reformers to obtain
some amendment of our banking laws ; if they do
but press their views upon Parliament at the
present time, a more fitting opportunity could
not present itself. The history of the recent
failures will form a reason, forcible and
conclusive as Holy Writ, that the Bank
Charter is faulty in principle and injurious in
operation. The first night of the session did not
pass over without the two great political chiefs
having a " sparring match." Mr. DISRAELI very
properly taunted Lord PALMERSTON with ignorance,
as to the approada of the commercial crisis, and
showed that, as far as the President of the Board
of Trade is concerned, the monetary panic tcok
that noble Lord quite aback. He was unprepared
for the results which have been manifesting them-
selves almost every day during the last two months
Justly, indeed. did Mr. DISRAELI remark that, i❑
1847, the country was panic struck and half ruined.
Parliament was called together and the country
looked to it for the expression of distinct opinion.
A committee was appointed. Ten years have
elapsed ; the same occurrences take place ; Parlia-
ment is again called together; and what is Parlia.

went and what ere Miuisters, the most influencia

members o! Parliament, about to do ? Again they
are going to evade doing that which is the duty of
every statesman in this country—to lay dawn in
this House the opinion which they have formed on
this subject as to the course which they think is
proper and necessary, and to call on the House to
maintain that opinion. Instead of that we are
to have another committee on the Bank Charter
Act of 1814, and, I suppose that, in 1867, after
repetition of the same mischances and the same
miseries, the same fruitless and bootless process
will be adopted of appointing a committee on that
eel j__,. tea.. ....Liss Lt.caL sletieser
the country or the House will permit such trifling
with a question of such paramount importance.
The allusion in the Royal speech as to our suc-
cesses in India, and our friendly relations with
the Continental powere, was quite gratifying, and
Lord PALMERSTON heightened the pleasure by
stating in his speech, replying to Mr. DisretEer,
that the Emperor of France had offered to furnish
us with the means of transporting our troops to
India through the French territory. We are sorry
to see that no illusion has been made to the Jew
Bill, or the question of National Education. If
we are about to extend the political power of the
people by means of a new Reform Bill, it is indis-
pensably necessary to 'prepare the minds of the
masses for the exercise of that power by sound and
useful information. Taking the speech as a whole
we do not see much that is of an encouraging
character in its contents. But Royal speeches
are proverbial for their vagueness, and the scanti-
ness of the designs of ministers which they fore-
shadow. In this respect we have about the average
amount of intelligence which the government de-
sire to be made known. It is quite evident that
there is not any intention to deal with any great
political question before the Christmas recess.
In the meantime, ministers will probably go into
an explanation of their intentions before that
period, so that the country can form an estimate
of their honesty cf purpose.

ARRIVAL OF THE CLIPPER SHIP ALBION AT

MELBOURNE.

By the Australian mail which has just arrived, we have
advices of the arrival of many of our Liverpool ships, and we
have great pleasure in nctieing, specially, the arrival of
the above ship, as, at the time she was loading, being the
first ship despatched in this trade by Messrs. Tapscott and
Co., we took occasion to remark upon her peculiar claims to
the notice of Australian shippers, and at the same time to
prognaili'ate a most success ail passage for her. We were
induced to indulge in these anticipations from a personal
inspection of the vessel, and we referred, also, to the great
care which her owners had taken to secure the comfort of
her passengers. It ha therefore, a matter cf gratifiqtion
to us to fi❑d cur anticipations so fully borne out; her
voyage was performed in 85 days, beating every other ship
she sailed against, and anticipating the arrived of the mail
by two days; and the satisfaction expressed by the passen-
gers in the annexed testimonial to the captain, renders it
unneo:ss.iry for us to say a word on that subject. We wi-h j
the ship, her captain anei owner-, a continuatian of like
success in her subsequent career.

TESTIMONIAL.
Ship Albion, Melbourne Bey, 13th October, 1857.
To Messrs. W. Tapseott & Co.,—
Geatlemen—We, the undersigned, passengm of the
above ship, desire to show cur gratitude and thanks in the
following statement :—Having left Liverpool on the 19th
of July, made a very pleasant passage to the above port in
eighty-four days, we feel it our duty to speak in the highest
terms of the accommodations, provisions, and commander,
of whom we cannot speak so fully as his abilities deserve ;
a more attentive captain cannot leave port. The officers
deserve the praises due to their rank for efficiency and
promptitude in all their duties. We do not hesitate in
attesting the undermentioned fact to the skill of the
captain and the efficiency of his officers—of our surpassing
the following ships that left port previous to ourselves,
namely, the Phoenix, July 16th; Oliver Lang, 15th ; and
Florence Nightingale, July 16th. We trust these remarks
will find their way to the homes of these who, like our-
selves, intend leaving their native land for the Colonies,
end induce them to secure theirepasTagn in the same line
of packets. We trust, too, that the firm will see their line
in the position it deserves, that of the top of the list.—We
remain, your ever well-wishers,
(Signed by all the passengers).

CAGLIARI, Dec. I.—The Elba and Desperate have arrived
from Corfu with the cable. The electric communication is
completed,

In a speech by Prince Adult Czartoryshi, delivered in
Paris, on the anniversary of the Polish insurrection, he
declared that, during the late Russian war, the Emperor
of the French proposed the re-establishment of Poland, but
that England resisted. Alluding to the treaty of Paris, he
said the peace of Paris had restored it to the condition in
winch it was previous to the war.

At LEWIS & COUPANY'S, Ranelagh-street.
BOYS aro CLOTHED from tke Ages of Six to Twenty Years.