Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-01 00:00:00

MATRIMONIAL CALTSZ3 BILL.

The debate on the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill
was then resumed by Mr. Gladstone, who, in arguing
against the measure, remarked upon the fact, that nearly
all the speakers on the previous night were opposed to
bill, and that the feeling of the country was shown
by the multitude of petitions to be against if. The right
hon. gentleman then proceeded at great length to combat
the arguments of the Attorney-General, and contended
that the bill was unjust in its relativJ operation in regard
to both the man and woman. That Divorce was not sane-

tioned by scripture, and that the marriage bond was in
dissoluble. _ _ _

Sir G. Grey defended the bill. The objection of the
clergy had been urged as if it related only to the com-
pulsion to marry the guilty party and her paramour,
but being grounded on the indissolubility of marriage,
marriage, and therefsre included the innocent as well as
the guilty party, but the bill did not alter the law in this
respect, for a clergyman was now compelled to perform the
ceremony in the case of divorce] parties.

Lord Lovaine ohjicted to the measure.
The Solieitoi-General supported it.
Mr. Henley opposed it, and complained that suffiein

ime had not been given for its consideration.

Mr. Walpole stated his belief that had more time been
given for the consideration of the bill, it would have met
with the approbation of the country. hero was much
misunderstanding, he believed, in regard to this measure,
but the House and the country would see that under its
provisions the nnptial bond could not be dissolved for any-
thing for which it could not be dissolved at present, and
that its object was to substitute one good judicial tribunal
for three bad ones. While, however, approving of the bill
generally, he thought that to avoid the violation of
the consciences of clergymen, the re-marriage of divorced
persons should only be a civil contract, or the performance
of the cermony should be optional.
Mr. Napier also condemned the clause respecting the
re-marriage of divorced persons, but the goveenment
having stated that to be an essential part of the bill, he
would rather see the whole measure perish, than that it
should pass with so objectionable a clause.
The Attorney-General then replied, and in the course of
his remarks expressed surprise that Mr. Gladstone, who
supported a similar measure, in 1854, should object to the
present bill.
The house divided. The numbers were—

For the second reading.,
Agasnst, ..... . .

Majority, .... ...

Mr. Hayter moved a new writ for the Falkirk Burghs,
in the room of James Merry, unseated.—Agreed to.
Mr. W. Ewart obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the 28th section of Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act,
1855.
The other business in the paper was disposed of, and
the house adjourned at five minutes past two o'clock,

The Prase d' Orient (Constantinople paper) of the 15th
is rather a curious specimen of the results of the censor-
ship. The greater part of the paper is blank, and where
complete articles have not been suppressed sentenced and
even single words have been erased.
LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT TO A LADY IN HYDE PARK.—
On Wednesday evening, when Rotten how, Hyde Park,
was crowded with fashionables, both in the ride and
promenade, a lady, with a groom behind, was noticed upon
a spirited horse. On her reaching that part of the park
between the statue of Achilles, the animal shycd and
plunged, and violently rushed towards the rails, in cominc,
in contact with which the lady was thrown on the ground,'
the horse falling upon her. The groom dismounted and
ran to tho assistance of his mistress, as did also numbers
of gentlemen. She was taken up perfectly insensible,
end bleeding from her mouth and other parts. The
brougham of Dr. Hutton, Chelsea, happening to be nearest
to the spot, she was placed in it and driven to St. George's
Hospital, when Mr. Tatum, the principal surgeon, and Mr,
Hooper, the house surgeon, were in immediate attendance
upon the unfortunate lady. It is now ascertained that the
lady's name is Miss Gilbert, No. 1, Lodge Terrace, Regent's
Park. From the nature of the injuries she has received,
Mr. Tadtuna gives not the slightest hope of her recovery.
Two CHILDREN FOUND MURDERED.—On Thursday
morning information was received at the Scotland-yard
Police-station, London, that a well-dressed woman, who
had gone down t) Gosport by the railway, had murdered
a female child, about three months old, that she had wich
her, by placing it in the water of the moat that surrounds
the town of Gosport, and distant about 100 yards from
the railway terminus. The woman was observed potter-
ing about the moat by a lad going to the town, and he, on
his return, went to see what she had been doing. when he
found the body of the child which he instantly took to the
Police-station. It was warm, but quite dead. On the
discovery, every effort was made to capture the murderess,
but she has escaped for the present. Information was
also received of another brutal child murder at Campton
Giffard, near Plymouth, where a .male infant has been cut
up, and the pieces put into s pillow-case, which was found
on the Tavistock Turnpike-road by rolicesserseant
Manning.

SERIOUS FIRE AT THE " NORTHERN

DAILY TIMES " OFFICE.

Last night, shortly before eight o'clock, a fire
broke out in the oil and paint manufactory of Mr.
Jordan, in Thomas-street. These premises are
immediately adjoining the south side of the
NORTHERN TIMES office, and in a few minues the
flames had spread with such rapidity that they
burst through into the binding-rooms connected
with Mr. Willmer's printing estahlishment.
Several water-hose were immediately put
in full play ; nevertheless, such was the
force and rapidity of the fire that the glass roof
of the binding-room fell in with a tremendous
crash, causing every one in that portion of the
building to beat a speedy retreat. Mr. Hewitt and
Major Greig were instantly on the spot, and
directed the movements of the Fire Brigade with
precision and effect. After considerable exertion
the fire was put out in th© NORTHERN TIMES
Offiee, but not before considerable damage had
been done, not only by the fire, but from the water
being peured on different parts of the building.
The fire continued in Mr. Jordan's premises for
several hours. The extent of the damage done we
have not yet learned, nor have .we any idea how
it originated. It was fortunate that the flames
broke out at the time they did, for the premises
connected with the NORTHERN TINES were all open,
and the flames prevented from reaching the large
quantity of paper in several parts of the building
The great bustle, noise, and confusion which pre-
vailed in the Newspaper Printing Office, was a
great hindrance to the compositors for several
hours, which accounts for the few inaccuracies and
imperfections of to-day's publication. We under-
stand that Mr. Jordon is insured in the Phoenix
fire office, for 1t2,500 on stock, and machinery
Our own Stock is insured in the Liverpool and
London Office. The builings belong to the
trustees of the late Mr. Marsden, and insured
but we are unable at present to say in what office'
We must not omit to mention that among the
pereons first on the spot after the fire was dis-
covered, on our own premises, were Mr. Whitty,
(of the Daily Post), Mr- Stone, Superintendent
Quick, Inspectors Kelsey, Thompson, and Chew
and several others belonging to the police
force, all of whom rendered valuable assist-
ance on the emergency ; and to Mr. Whitty
we must express our obligations and thank

fulness for his considerate and courteous
oiler of rendering us any assistance which he could
give towards getting out our paper of this raorning.
Fortunately we did not require his aid, but his
kindness is equally felt and appreciated.
In connection with the above conflagration, it is
our painful duty to record an accident to one of
the fire-officers, named Henry Woods,' which we
fear will terminate fatally. It seems that in the
discharge of his duties he was making a survey of
a portion of the injuried premises, when,
having placed his foot on a beam that had
been much burnt and injured by the flames, it gave
way under his weight, and his support being thus
removed, he he fell a depth of seven stories, but was
immediately picked up, and conveyed to the hospi

al wlien it was found that injuries of a most severe

nature were sustained.

A Venetian fete, given on Tuesday night, on the canal
at Brussels, is described es exceedingly brilliant. Upwards
of 60,000 spectators were assembled on the banks to
witness this novel spectacle. Two powerful bands had
been placed in orchestras erected for the occasion, and
played in succession Belgian and Austrian airs. About
half-past ten o'clock, the King, accompanied by all the
members of the royal family, including the newly married
couple, arrived, and were hailed with the most enthusiastic
cheers. The boats which took part in the fete were fitted
up in the most tasteful manner, and splendidly illuminated
with Venetian lanterns, and many of them bearing
transparencies appropriate to the occasion. The fete
terminated by a brilliant display of fireworks. The royal
party did not retire until near midnight.
VISIT TO A.GUN MANUFACTORY.—Perhaps all our readers
are not aware that there is a gun factory in Liverpol, and
that, too, of the most interesting and useful kind. Amongst,
the mechanical sciences, there is none can boast of more
rapid and successful progress than the improvements that
have been made in fire arms, not only for war, but for
domestic and sporting purposes. It is always a pleasing
task to the journalist, to put on record the achievements
male in his locality ; and it will be a source of pleasure
to all Liverpool men to know that there is amongst them
a man who, by his indomitable perseverance and skilful
experience, has done as much as any living man to bring
fire arms to a state of perf clion. That man is Mr. Bentley,
of the firm of Bentley and Son, gun makers, South Castle-
street. A visit to the factory ef this house is, perhaps, as
interesting as can be imagined; but as details to the
general reader would rwt prove as attractive as the results
of our visit, we shall endeavour to convey an idea
of the perfection to which Mr. Bentley has brought
guns in all their details. The first implement that attracts
attention is the " patent breech-loading rifle." This is
decidedly the most perfect and effective rifle at present to
be had in any country. The chief objects in a rifle—in
fact in any gun—are facilities for loading and quick
discharge, without the fear of accident. In
this respect, when it is stated that the rifle
has been loaded and discharged 1,000 times in 31 hours,
in the presence of some of the best judges, and most
scientific persons in England, and that the barrel was as
c3ol as ice after the operation, and did not even require
cleaning, we might stop there, and let the tact speak for
itself. The operation of loading iS so managed that
neither ramrod nor other implement is requisite ; a simple
but beautiful contrivance by an effective lever, underneath
the barrel, performing the work instantaneously, and a
child may load the gun with safety—aye, and discharge it
also, for there is no flash, and it is made air-tight by the
wad of the cartridge—the succeeding charge clearing out
the barrel, better than all the sponging that could be
resorted to. As a piece of perfect and effective mechanic-
ism, this rifle cannot be surpassed. The next implements
that call for notice are the revolvers of all kinds. We do
not wish to institute any comparison between this and
that maker;. we merely describe what is before us. In
these revolvers, both guns and pistols, once the barrels
(five in number) are charged, you can fire the whole in
four seconds, without the loss of time of re-cocking, as in
the old system—for the hammer and trigger are so arranged
that the usual pull of the latter works the former in the
most effective manner, and such a thing as misfire is out of
the question. The gun is loaded by a screw rod, in a time
almost incredible, and with precision—plain to the most
ignorant capacity. To riflemen in the army these guns
and pistols are indispensable, and in the present Indian
war are a desideratum not to be overlooked by the autho-
rities. For field—that is, sporting—purposes, the gun
recently invented by Mr. Bentley, and called the " central
fire gun," is the most complete and safe firearm in the
world, How many sad accounts have we not had to record
in consequence of the bursting of guns and other accidents
arising from missing fire and the like impediments in
field sports. In the central fire gun such things are quite
impossible, for instead of the cap depending on external
influence, the fire goes right into the centre of the barrel,
the nipple heing horizontal with the barrel, and communi-
cating directly with the charge. We might mention a
variety of details of the arms manufactured at this factory,
but the above general outline will convey some idea of
their utility. It may be stated that Mr. Bentley possesses
more patents for his improvements, and holds more testi-
monials as to the efficacy of his important inventions,
than any similar house in England. To all who take an
interest in this important class of manufacture (and who
does not ?) a visit to the house will more than compensate ;
and it is satisfactory to know that our townsman holds
such a high position in this art, most useful for the
protection of our lives and liberties at borne and abroad.