The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-29 00:00:00

M R .

THE LIVERPOOL FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY
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" T H E MESSIAH," •
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PRINCIPAL VOCALISTS _
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MISS LACY GASKILL,

MRS. SCARISBRICK, MRS. MORGAN.
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MR. HENRY DODD.
MR. SCARISBRICK.

MR. WILSON.
MR. ARMSTRONG.

LRADER MR. BAETENS.
GRAND ORGAN . . MR. BEST.

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CONDUCTOR.... MR. C. B. HERRMANN.

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Eke Totitlnern 4:4)iiiiia

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1857.

THE DAY'S NEWS.

At length the advocates of the Rivington Pike
water begin to feel that the course whichthey have
adopted is unsafe—that, independent of the strong
objection of the ratepayers, the fact of being com-
pelled to use an article which so many and such
distinguished chemists have pronounced dangerous
to health, is a position of affairs which nothing can
excuse—and that, therefore, it becomes the Council
to consider how, and by what means, and under
what restrictions, the use of the red sandstone
water can still be retained for culinary and
other domestic; purposes. We are glad to
perceive that, foremost among the members
of the Town Council to move in this pro.
posed compromise, is a gentleman who, on the
last occasion when the subject was discussed in
the Council Chamber, extolled the quality of the
I.ike. water, and highly approved of the entire
conduct of the Water Committee. He has,
however, had ample opportunity to consider the
Objections of that numerous class who are opposed
to the Pike water being used for domestic
purposes, and he has found out, no doubt by expe-
rience, that all that has been said as to the bad qua-
lity of the Rivington water, is founded on truth.
Accordingly he has placed on the " Order" Book
of the Town Council, notice of a motion, the effect
;.If which, if carried, will be to grant the prayer of
the ttimorial to the Mayor and the Corporation,
now hi the Course of signature. In the course Mr.
Alderman Parket, has taken we cordially agree.
Meantime, homier to st.FePgthen his hands when he
rings forward the motion to in high we have alluded,
the inhabitants should lose no time in-affixing their
signatures to the memorial. Now, more than ever
is there a necessity for the people at large, high
and low, rich and poor, to record their opinion upon
the question. Every signature which the memorial
contains is only an additional reason why the
retention of a supply of water from the wells of
Liverpool should be ordered. By a reference to
another column, it will be percei'red that Mr.
Godfrey has also placed a motion on the Books of
the Council, on the same subject. From these cir-
cumstances we have reason to opine that the
the voice of the people will not be di.clained, but
that in the long run, the Water Committee, yield
ing to-public opinion, will convert the 'streams a
Rivington to important, profitable, and useful pur
poses ; whilst the red sandstone water shall be
supplied for all uses of a culinary or domestic
character.

There was a special meeting of the Town Council
yesterday, for the purppse of considering and
determining upon the proposed bill for regulating
the construction and management of the Birken•
Bead Docks. The cle ►r and succinct statement of
Mr, John Stewart, who.explained the nature of the
proposed construction and extension of the Docks
on'the Cheshire side of the Mersey, gave much
satisfaction, and the preamble of the hilt was passed
vent con. On the consideration of the Birkenhead
Docks .Management Bill, Mr. Pietkon provoked
short discussion upon the question as to
whether these docks, when completed, would
be liable to parochial taxation, but it did not
result in anything. of a practical character. The
proceedings, which are reported at full length,
will ,be foundi n another column, and are worthy
Of.an attentive perusal.
The annual meeting of the Liverpool Governesses

Institution was held at the Savings' Bank, Bold-
street, yesterday, the Lord Bishop of Chester
presiding. His. Lordship introduced the business
of the meeting in a brief but appropriate speech,
The report read by the secretary was on the whole
of a satisfactory character, and demonstrated that
the institution was doing as much good as it could,
considering the amount of funds at its disposal.
The speeches delivered were philanthropic and
appropriate, nevertheless we cannot help thinking,
that society fis far from being right, when the
_existence .of such an institution is requisite. If the
governesses of thei United Kingdom were treated
as they ought—if their remuneration was on a
scale commensurate with the onerons, and impor-
tant duties which they perform-if mistresses of
families would act towards them as their equals in
all respects, and not expect that they should be
prepared for a seat in the drawing room or the
nursery at a nod or a wink, according as caprice or
vanity may dictate, then would the respectable
class of ladies acting as governesses, ,be able to
befriend themselves, and not have any necessity
to be • the recipients Of funds which have
affixed around them the appellation of " charity"
contributions. We feel deeply and strongly on
this subject, mid shall refer to it on another
occasion.

Death is no respecter of persons. The high and
noble born, as well as• the humblest in the land,
are subject to the " scythe pf time." The grisly
monarch makes no distinction. Once the " Death
Warrant" tis issued, :he .proceeds to immediate
execution. Today we record the demise of an
able, a learned, and an upright judge, Mr. Baron
Alderson He was one of those men with whom
it was impossible to come in contact without at
once perceiving the depth, activity, and strength
of his intellect. The country, by his death,
has lost the services of a most accomplished and
sound lawyer, and an upright and impartial judge,
which it will be difficult to replace. Already there
are numerous aspirants for the vacant judgeship.
The case of Archdeacon Dennison was before
the Court of Queen's Bench yesterday, when Dr.
Byford appeared for the Dean of Arches, to show
cause against a rule why a mandamus should not
issue commanding him to• proCeed to hear and
determine the appeal of Archdeacon Denison from
the decision of the Archbishop of Canterbury and
his assessors, sitting at Bath as the statutable
substitute of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. It
will.be remembered that the sentence of depriva-
tion was passed upon the Archdeacon, and that
Sir John Dodson had refused to hear his appeal
from the archbishop's judgment on the ground
that he had no jurisdiction; After hearing Dr.
Byford, the court decided the mandamus should
issue.

The political incidents of the day are becoming
rather numerous. Cabinet meetings are frequent,
which would indicate that ministers have some
serious matters on hand, whether it be dissensions
among themselves, or that measures of vast
importance are being' concocted prior to their
introduction to Parliament. A second deputation
has waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer
respecting a reduction of the Income Tax. On this
occasion many arguments were presented to in-
duce him to remove the tax altogether - upon-
incomes—of 1501 and under. The Chancellor asked
-a question, and appeared to be about to venture
upon an explanation, when the deputation rose
and retired. Apparently, the deputation was
composed of gentlemen not accustomed to
such pursuits ; and as " the Chancellor did not
take the trouble to give them , a lesson, but
allowed them to go, we may 'suppose that he
was very gratified in being able thus easily
to get rid of his visitors.. Mr. Roebuck has just
.been making a speech to his Sheffield friends on
the -not- very exciting subject of art; and the
leader of the Chartists in the metropolis has
delivered his sentiments at St. Martin's Hall on
foreign4policy.
_ _

• The condition of the working classes in London
must be rather
,serious just now. They have had
a second demonstration at the Police Courts. In
addition to these there has been a meeting of
ticket-of leave men. The report will be read with
not little interest. The point of the ticket of leave
meeting is that this class of her Majesty's subjects
would rather go abroad that remain at home. They
would prefer the colonies to their mother country,
nn doubt. heoanoo the* would have A. hottor rhwnna
of obtaining honest labour.
Frain our , Continental advices we learn that
matters are not tluite so smooth with the Austrians
in Lombardy as the amnesties of the Emperor and
the reported enthusiasm of the population would
indicate.; for the IMperial Government has been
making serious representations to that of Sardinia
on the subject of the demoeratical demonstrations
in Turin and Lombardy against the presence of
the Emperor. From Naples, too, the accounts are
gloomy—distrust, fear, and rigour in the Govern
ment, and another revolt is said to have taken place
in Sicily.
The Prussian ministry, menaced with an inter
pellation on the part of the opposition, concerning
the application of the extraordinary credit of
4,500 0001, voted during the Oriental war for
military purposes, have preferred to meet any
accusation in advance, and the Minister of Finance
has submitted to the Landtag a project of law,
concerning the extraordinary military expenses
entered into, and the application of the credit for
this purpose. The interpellation of Herr von
Patow has, in consequence, been withdrawn.
From Berne we learn that two of the Royalist
prisoners, who had been liberated on hail, had
presented a petition to the: Federal Government,
praying that, in consequence of their great age
and other particular circumstances, they might
not be , forced to quit the , country. The
Federal Government, who would willingly
have granted their request, found that they
were incompetent to mitigate the decision
pronounced by the Supreme Council of the nation
It has been remarked that the Austeian cioYern•
ment has been one of the first to congratulate the.
Federal Government on the resolutions adopted by
the Chambers, which will lead to an arrangement
by which, the interests of the Confederation, as
well as those of the King of Prussia, will be main-
tained intact.

It is now generally believed that the Shah of
Persia has accepted our conditions of peace, and
it is.considered that he has been induced to adopt
this pacific course on the recommendation of
Russia. The Czar can, by no means, relish the
idea of English encampments established at the
mouth of the Euphrates ; which, after all, may have
been more the object of the expedition than the
capture of Herat. The Court of St. Petersburg
seems to have become aware, too, of the tendency
of Fienoh policy in. the I.?ts.t--,a policy which
neither Russia nor England could . profit by. If
the affair is settled.as .we.have.reason to expect
it then we ought to be glad that we have escaped
another.war in the East.

THE sessions of Parliament must,, for some
years to come, be prefaced by a bold declaration
in favour of Free Trade. A subject which
touches so directly on financial and revenue
questions must be diligently guarded by all.who
believe its principles are sound, and are ready to
make any sacrifice to maintaining them intact.
We have entered on an age of prodigal budgets—
those very inflictions which forced its economic
dogmas on the country. To justify a lavish
expenditure, the House of Commons, as at pre-
sent constituted, will not hesitate to sanction
financial extravagance, which they seem to think
is the true lever of Ministerial power. We shall
see this verified to the letter, in the votes on the
supplies. Every member will find some public
danger to urge in defence of his participation in
a-national wrong. We have a rnid,ile-class Par-
liament, in which the purity of the popular
mind and the true aristocratic element have long
ceased to exist, We axe on the " middle passage"

from class- to popular representation, and many
shoals have to be cleared away to render the
transition politically just and materially safe.
When we had a proud aristocratic Court, Govern-
ment, and House of Commons to combat, we had
fixed principles and high feelings of honour only
to overcome; but now we have cant, servility,
and falsel prophecies to swallow and digest, at the
end and beginning of each succeeding session.
Give us then our really aristocratic Court, with
its oligarchical and aristocratic predelictions•
Political power is not equally balanced between
the middle and working classes, and we want the
aristocratic element to stand between them. They
are conflicting interests, whose moral antagonism
subverts and distorts their political identity. It
is a fortunate circumstance for mankind that the
power they wield is even partially governed by an
intelligent and far-seeing people. Matter of course,
and somewhat inventive men, are rarely the most
discreet mortals in the management of their own
private affairs, and they must therefore require
incessant looking after, when- they essay to take
the burdens of a nation on their back. When
the House of Commons commits a gross injus-
tice on its constituents in matters of taxation, or
dictates to the man of property whether he shall
use his substance—his capital as money or
raw material, it is thought a sufficient excuse for
honourable members to declare that they were
ignorant of finance, and had never devoted one
hour of their lives to the study of money. The
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge men do not see
the propriety of imparting information to the
people on these all important subjects. The
legislator who does not read the Bible cannot be
induced to look at the budget—and the political
philosophers who think with Lord DERBY, and
adore the Premier, and have studied Tom
PAYNE, despise Bishop BERKELEY, PITT, ALLI.
SON, and TAYLOR, and whilst they cling to ADAM
SMITH and his errors, and to MACAULAY) who has
exposed their designs and misery-creating falla-
cies, they trample on all that is patriotic, magna-
nimous, reasonable, and true.
Some may think that these strictures are too
true to meet the public eye ; but we would have
the timid remember that the fate of the greatest
empire upon earth—the future of the world's
civilisation —and the march of Christianity itself
—depend on a wise, impartial, and pure admi-
nistration of affairs at the centre of action.
England has grown beyond the dominion of
class, and we have reached the day when the
material welfare of the multitude must be ranked
among the primary business of the legislature.
Habitual prejudices and sordid selfishness must
give place to those principles, which cease to
deserve the name when they lead us astray, and
divide a people into defenders of right and
wrong. Policy is no excuse for a departure from
common sense. Were it not so, what would
become of the doctrine of responsibility ? The
people only ask for laws in which sc me trace of
the ConStitution—some tangible principle—can
be found, and the gentlemen who would resist
this appeal, and " compromise" what common
sense must tell them is right, commit them-
selves to acts of folly, which are sure 'to 'be
LiA.cia by hzav y peuulties the instant
forced • or natural change of policy takes
place. There are many evils of an
.experi-
mental and organic character—such as inva-
riably follow a wanton departure from go-
verning principles—to be discussed during the
coming session ; and the country expects to find
its representatives equal to the task of dealing
with them with as much intelligence as ordinary
men out of doors.

A Council of BONHAMS will not satisfy Liver-
pool. Manchester hopes to feast her ree Trade
'love at the shrine of representative virtue. Com-
merce hopes to be able to taste the sweets, as
well as to hear, of industrial prosperity. The
income and property tax paying classes would be
glad to be relieved of the forced suspension of
employment and depreciation of all kinds of
property which immediately follows a legislative
resort to usury and a screwing money market.
It will be useless to preach prosperity, where debt,
difficulty, and bankruptcy are threatening on
every side. Increased taxation cannot be ob-
tained from growing stagnation. Free Trade has
succeeded in everything except in giving us anti-
famine prices, and our banking laws have done
everything that has been promised by their
authors except keeping down the cost of food
and other necessaries of life. They have caused
a scarcity of stocks in our colonial and foreign
produce markets, and, with a few months more
of a stringent discount market, commercial men
ought to know the state we shall be in. If we
get a liberal supply of gold from abroad, all well
and good; but if we do not, and cannot keep it
when we do get it, who will answer for the con-
sequences, and undertake to effect a " compro-
mise" with the industrial masses on questions of
taxation ? AL the natural springs of commercial
action are now tied down, and the current prices
'in trade regulated by legislative enactments, and
it remains to be seen how a middle-class Ministry
and Parliament will deal with this glaring inno-
vation on the mercantile freedom of the Empire !
There is much with regard to foreign politics
which deserves attention; but the internal peace
and welfare of the British dominions mainly
depend on the wisdom displayed by the House of
Commons on the questions relating to industry,
trade, and commerce, which occupy so prominent
a place on the roll of subjects which are ito be
disposed of this year.

The Pikeists care nothing for chemistry. They
say, "If you think our water bad, try it. Don't
" condemn it because you cannot see through it,
" and do not like its taste or smell." But while
they are saying this they either. give .you pure
well water or a very small portion of the precious
Pike liquid ; and then they exclaim, " Look at
" that water ! better water was never seen." This
species of shuffling, however, must exhaust itself.
They must come at last to supplying the town
with theirßivington trash without any admixture,