Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-21 00:00:00

NovEMBERT 21, lAico.

Leh . .
of the whole Republic is. thrown into a state
commotion by- what are called . the " State
And this ytftr, in particular, they '
re of more than ordinary 'importance, since they
`re the immediate prelude to the presidential
campaign.
The. Papers brought by the Persia, on Saturday,
:e full of details respecting those elections, which
:re described' as having been characterised, not
417 by. the usual amount of political scheming'
:14 trading,. but in many instances' by
\,,si(lerable violence. " And how,7 asks a
Qw York journal, in the Presidential interest,
Lata'uls the order of battle ? Looking over the
;It1.11('-'tive schedule of these elections of tilt
rot year, we find the all-powerful Northern
'ti°ll of the Union in the almost unbroken
e:Pation of the anti-slavery Republican party,
~ the indispensable Southern section in the
•
must absolnte possession of the pro-slavery
racy. . Between these two overshadowing
41°11a1 parties, the Conservative elements of
~t:ell'orth and South have struggled in vain, and
the controlling party managers of the two
•,ctli'ns stand as fiercely opposed to each other as
bc4iigerent houses of. York and Lancaster."
..4` is the complexion of the conflict that has
,44tkeen going on in this "Model Republic." Let
s4ot, however, be led away with the idea, that it
ththe question of slavery that is producing all
kischief. The same writer on the spot,
remarks we have just quoted, emphati-
L~e adds, that '" no friend of the Union—no
:ever in the principles of popular gevern-.
'.etit---no advocate of peace and harmony--no
z 44
interested -in the prosperity of the state,
ci)
tlt4tY, city, or town in which he may have
.his hoMe, can contemplate this .fear-
., state of things with indifference." The
tr\ .°4Q Republic," in short-, seems to be shaken
11.8 very itts centre'; and this by the agitation of
Nti'''sll inherent principles.
pc,f 011', to show that this is the case we need only
4'tt to the remarks of another New York jour-
-11 42 and one who is not, like the former, in the
tticiental interest, but who takes his stand upon
v:_0.37 independent ground, when he thus re-
h'ws the present state of things :---" We have,"
th:44.375, " more than 200,000 office-holders in the
he ed Statesrand'not less than, double that num-
-444 of persons who are seeking to remove them
t° 'their places. Let-us for a moment
'fliplate 'the descent of this vast horde
I.4ll4l4l)enine wolves' upon the plains and
el's of our industry, and measure their in-
s*ee, if %we can, upon i the character of our
:41it1ons. They :come down at . each recur-
Election, armed with the weapons of
113gement,' intrigue, and. fraud. Their powers
111. vast, and they are exercised by hands
in -the arts of deception. With appe-
tzatft sharpened by hunger and want, they barri
every' avenue to the polls, and subvert
/114 %Oit." lt at h
And su an ochnest
being expression of
Y * the
rta
- 4t .he asked if there is any wonder
tA3oltll that " the GoVernment is a mere
that °I -this or that Political organisation 9-- •
tali it descends to acts of meanness
,and immo-
tv 8 L
tbati"o6:-.ing to every, sense. .of fair. dealing ?
th,
.."-n
Qtlxl.lges in Ow spites and cunning deviceO
° of
.41 uas from right; to at the dictation
"4tei 11, whose policy is its law, and to whose
ess it is devOted 9—that it seeks to mislead
ikePilblk mind upon. every measure of general
tettreBttto,society ?—that.it uses:the-powers con-
taZ upon it to degrade one portion of the emu- ,
i4t3r and elevate another:" No,—these are the
table results' of the -working 'df Republican
tkie—teit'le:i; -and so we should _find it to be the
eve in sthis-country, did the "Advanced. Liberals"
haZaCeeed in.giving the predominance to those
or t eQ:i!rinciples which they seek to eenforce,—
evenso to 'tincture our Monarchical institutions
them, as to give them a Republican hue.
On
of the most reliable exponents of 'Political
_
B°Pliy has described some of the evils of a
liiel)/41)lie to be—" Dissensions, :tuln.ults, factions,
attempts of powerful citizens to possess them-
tit of the empire,' the confusion, rage, and
I:41r which are the inevitable:consequences of
131ing multitudes, and of propounding clues-.
(3f State to the discussion of the people."
14 all this, and a great deal more, and, in
t 4,34 es, perhaps, a great deal worse, is at
ktmaent-taking place' in the Republic of the
states; and. it is doing so under eircum-
stk,. s which ought to be Most "favourable to the
-'%4 Of Republican institutions. For the present
1414 %.t, Mr. BucHANws, is a very able states:
c.N shrewd, cautious, prudent, experienced, and
\vile', we believe, has no personal -ajects to
bat only seeks to promote the best interests
44t. e ItepUblic.. And it is under the--adminis-
tilis4lof such President that tic Republic is at
4 414°Ment torn asunder as we have stated. Some
4%4 e American jOurnals, we Observe, are pro-
If Mr. BUCHANAN'S administration a faiZure.
so, sure we are that it' is not owing to
_ _ _ _

railing in Mr. BUCHANAN himself, but solely
tte le natural working of those principles which
illkkillierent init. Republic, and which it is evident
e'.3llth a form' of government one that we
kt.e.ngland; at any rate, cannot have
t,l,„l4lltest pretext for desiring. No,—we have
kki*Yiteason to be satisfied with our institutions;
trt were otherwise, we should repudiate the
-- •
tott4 principles which are so sedulously sot
1h'0,111331 theLibe.rals, as those Which would best
tcC4b c'te the- interests of the Bitibh people ;
e
they are such, as we see' by the e*ample
•telleai as, . so far from .being conducive:
tt—L4t:"lP)orty connected with
.order" that is
•
ici,(llXll public liberty worth enjoying, are del
•Y 6.111);-evive of it. - •

Paley.

A HOME IN LIVERPOOL FOR SCIENCE
AN]) LITERATURE.

FITTING VP OF THE NEW BUILDING FOR
. THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.

Liverpool will ever be distinguished by the externa
splendour of its Free Public Library and Museum. Why
Should it not become equally distinguished by the in-
ternal perfection of its arrangement as a scientific and
literary collection ? The " good old town" has already
some charadter. at stake as a nursery of science and
literature; not merely by reason of its already existing
and highly popular and useful library and museum,
bnt by its possession and cultivation of other valuable
adjuncts to the successful pursuit of knowledge,—such
as its well-arranged and yearly improving. Botanic
Gardens ; the phytological collection of ferns, in which,
consisting of about six hundred specimens; is quite
unique; the geological collection of fossils in its Royal
Institution and others ; while -on several occasions we
have distinguished ourselves by our worthy reception of
the savaas of our great scientific associations. Why.
should not that good.-charaeter be sastained, and More:
amply merited ? Why should not. Liverpool become
equally entitled to be known as affording a suitable home
for science and literature, as well as for being the great
centre of the world's shipping and commerce ?
• The Reports respecting the institution, which have
just come into our hands, show that there is at present a
rare. opportunity of taking a most important step in
that direction,—a golden opportunity which ought not:
to be neglected by those who wish well to Liverpool and
its teeming population. ,
We have much satisfaction in directing public atten-
tion to the leading features of the Reports OR the arrange-
ment and fitting-up of the Museum and Library in the new
building, which have been printed and circulated for the
purpose of obtaining suggestions preparatory to holding
a meeting fof final consideratiim' of the matter. The'
course, thus adopted shows that 'the committee not only
have no desire to exercise their authority arbitrarily,
but that they are determined to 'do the very best that
can be devised for the interests of the institution cOm-

mitted to their charge ; and' for this they deserve the
public thanks.
The importance of this subject, and the necessity for
an improved mOde of dealing with it, is urged upon the
committee thus :

"The opening of a museum, like that under your
direction, .is not an every day occurrence : it is a matter
of importance not for ourselves or ,even for our own
generation only, but perhaps for centuries to come ; and
I believe .that if museums are to participate in the
general advancement of the age, their improvement
must mainly depend, on the discontinuance of the old
method of forming a heterogeneous assemblage of
curiosities, and upon the exercise of forethought, together
with the adoption of and adhesion to a-plan."

And referring to the advantage of strictly adhering
to some fixed plan, it is very judiciously argued that—
"it is something to aim at ; something definite, which
may afford an indication, in questions of purchases, and
in many other matters. in most provincial museums
the absence of plan is painfully evident. Things liave
been taken as they have happened to occur, and the re-
sult has been the exhibition, perhaps', of many fine
things, with much care•and skill in the inner arrange-
ment of a case here or a cabinet there, but withal an
utter want of fitness for anything like real instructive-
ness in the collection as.a whole, or in acy great portion
of it. This is much to be 'regretted. It is, perhaps, in
many cases, to be attributed mainly to the acceptance of
donations made under-certain conditions, as that they
shall be kept entire, or displayed in some particular
way ; but it is not always easy to avoid this inconve-
nient generosity, unless there Is sow recognised plan-
on which the collection is proceeding, and which is not
to be interfered with."

The collection of Objects in the existing museum
which have 'to be accommodated in the new building, the
curator purposes.to arrange in four great classes in such
.a manner as will easily permit of addition and extension
by future acquisitions, as follows :--
1? rSL Tan FINE ART SERIES, CONSISTING OF
SCULPTURE, FAINTING, &c.—As to the importance of
keeping these, from the very first, thoroughly distinct
from other leading divisions, he well• Observes---
" The effect .of a, gallery devoted to scubture and
painting can scarcely be improved by an adMixture of
Ethnological specimens, clubs and spears for instance,
however conveniently they-may fit into unappropriated
space.. This space surely had far better be left for future
acqUisitions of pictures and sculpture."
Second : THE, MODELS OF LIVERPOOL AND TILE . 1 •
COL-
LECTION OF IMPORTS.—These, he says, " may Well go
together."
Third:. Tax ETTIN'OLOGICAL COLLECTION---COlTSiSt-
ing of weapons of warfare and hunting, and all objects
illustratiVe of different races of men, which if kept toge-
ther and arranged according to nations or races, the
curator thinks=-
" May be made to yield very much more instruction
than if arranged- merely with a view to effects in the
spare spaces of rooms principally devoted to other
objects." . . . . •

-Fotirlh TILE NATURAL HISTORY SERIES—Which
forms the largest "and most popular portion of the
Museum. The curator remarks with truth that,
" In laying out a museum, not for present use only,
but also for future generations, a museum in which
natural history already forms so large a portion, it is
especially desirable that system should here also be most
'carefully attended to the
.principal sub-divisions re-
cogniSed, and provided for to an .extent bearing some
proportion to their relative numbers. As far as posSible,
these sub-divisions _should .be arranged so as to follow
in the order of their 'rank: quadrupeds before birds,
birds before reptiles, reptiles before fish; and so on with
the invertebrate classes." -
After giving the details of his scheme for accomplish-
ing
these objects, which, are too .numerous,
.and minute,
to enter ipon here, he sums up the ;results of the pro-
posed arrangement as folloWs.:- t.
"o " Immediatelyn entering' the 'building, the visiter
will have before hhh, and on 'his right hand; the results.
of the highest efforts of human genius, represented by
books, painting,- and sculpture. O hisildt, in the Liver-
pool room, he• will find samples of nearly every object
condureive to the material well-being of mankind, and
exhibiting man in his commercial aspect. In the next
room, he will 'be surrounded with objects illustrative of
thehabits and manners of mankind, down,to the lowest
and most 'barbarous races. He _ will .then enter the
natural .history rooms, containing the quadrupeds,- and
find at the head of the series, the man-like apes, followed
by the various mammalian forms in consecutive order.
Passing to the upper floor, he will find, arranged in.the
Wall'eaSes,' the birds, then the reptiles, and then the fish,
coneludin the vertebrate series. Turning immediately
to the table ease 4utearest to him, he will find the next most
highly developed objects, the articulate animals, (insects,
crustacea,-&e.); following in due succession, will be the
molluscous animals', from the highly developed,cuttle-
fishes down to the tunicates and others; and, finally,
the radiate animals, from the sea urchins and starfishes
down to the lowest forms of the animal. kingdom, which
in many cases so closely approximate to the vegetable
world. A simpler arrangement than this can scarcely. be
suggested, or one more desirable to be carried out
With reference to the proposal to' form a collection ofa
:series ofsPecimens and illustrations of the invertebrate
animals—an interesting class which is at present scarcely
represented in the . existing museum,
.it is, very pro-
perly observed by the Rev. Mr. Higgins, in his careful
report, that
"With the. exception of British Mollusca, the series
of cbrels, and some fossils, the collectiOnhas let to he
set on ibot. There is no stock in hand whiCh must be
used, no occupied room to stand in the way of a pro-
posed artangeinent : the present is an opportunity which
can never occur again for delib,:ration as to the best and
Most useful. plan upon which a' Colleetion c:f inverte-
brate animals. eau 'be formed in the -Liverpool Muscmn."

•
The details of his.schemo of the con-
,ideration•
,of all ,intercstc(l, of Li. 3
plan are clearly stated.
"And whai is fh- result
course of years ?. :You wool :i h :g .J
(the Vertebrataer.:A'lqod) .-• . • • c.
that exists or has existed' tilien l'r);•1 th?

cheese-mite to the gorreOus butterflies of the Brazils;
from the earth-worm to the magnificent shells and corals
of the tropics;. from the nummulite, the tiny fossil so
abundant is the material of the Pyramids, to the shield-
like ammonite and the graceful encrinite. Amongst the
beautiful, the most beautiful—amongst the interesting,
the most interesting (for the room, though 1;000 feet,
would be scant enough), but of all some type or memorial
would be found exhibited in the table cases ; the invisible
made visible, the perishable made imperishable by the
labours of, the. artist in drawing or in Model ; the
•natural history of each, to some extent, and in a lan-
guage understood by the people, accompanying the
groups. Below, you would have, in the drawers, the
genera—at all events some of them—more fully illus-
trated; longer series of species, and if need be, to indi-
cate varieties, duplicates. In short, you would have a
place for everything, and this might, and, as I think,
would, be one great step towards having everything in
its place."
Turning from science to literature, we observe that
the librarian proposes, among other novelties, to have a
reading-room for' ladies.. His other suggestions for the 7
accommodation of the library and its readers are judi- -
cious, and merit attention.

We have only to add, in conclusion, that these re-
ports contain details sufficiently ample to enable compe-
tent parties to form an opinion of the various proposals,
and are made intelligible and interesting by the appen-
dage of two well-drawn maps by Sears Brothers, of
Duke-street,—one of the "ground plan" and the other
of the " one pair plan." The public will best show
their appreciation of the importance of this subject, and
their approval of the course pursued by the committee,
by the_ immediate tender to them of any suggestions
that may present themselves. How is the time, after-
wards will be too late.

[BY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TBLEGRAPII.]

FRANCE.

• PARIS, Nov. 20.
It is .stated that the official convocation of the
Congress will take place to-morrow. A certain
objection, made by Russia, causes the delay.
It appears that Baron.de Ballaret is to replace
the Prince Latour cl'Auveri,,ne as Ambassador at
Turin, in case the latter should be appointed Am-
bassador at Berlin.
•
DIPLOMATIC CHANGES.
Baron de Talleyrand will replace the Marquis
de Moustier as Ambassador at Berlin.

The Marquis de Bonneviefe will be appointed
Ambassador at Athens.

THE FRENCH FUNDS.
Ems, Saturday, 12.15 p.m.
The Bourse continues very dull. Rentes open
69 90. 3.15 p.m.—Funds close a shade lower.
Rentes 69 85, or nearly y below yesterday.

ITALY.

TURIN, NOV. 20.
M. Boncompagni has left to-day for Parma
and Modena, where he will stay several days.
The question of the acceptation of his Regency
of Central Italy by Tuscany is en the way of
settlement.
A courier, bearer of the Treaty of Peace, is
expected to -arrive here to-day from Zurich.

The exchange of the ratifications will, in all
probability, take place toTmorrow.
General Garibaldi announces, in a proclama-
tion addressed to the Italians, that lie has with-
drawn from the military service, and he adds
•.n clay whon. P.n.= aaaul will *cal lain
soldiers to arms,•". I will take my_ place amongst
my fellow-combatants."
Zunren, Nov. 20.
It is stated, on the invitation of Bavaria, that
a conference of the Ministers of the States of the
second rank, and also the minor states of Ger-
many, is about to take place on the 23rd inst., at
Hamburg, in order to come to some agreement
about the pending questions of German policy.
GENOA, Nov. 18.
General Garibaldi has tendered his resignation
to the King of Sardinia, and he is not to return
again to Central Italy.
A deputation from Tuscany, Consisting of
Signor Egalcotti, Signor Coppi, and
,Signor
Febrizzi, sent by the Baron Itieasoli, :Presi-
dent of the National Assembly, to protest
against the Regency of M. Boncoinpagni, has
arrived in Turin. The deputation: has not been
received by the King, but the Prince Carignan
will receive them in a private audience.

GERMANY.

HAMBURG, Nov. 19.

At the election of burgesses, which took place
here yesterday, neither the Conservative party,
ner the party of the Guilby, succeeded in bringing
in their candidates. The chief leaders of the
moderate Liberal party have been beaten by the
leaders of the extreme Liberal faction.