Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-10-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES

Sir,—So we really are to have an opposition. The
small clique of restless, rabid politicians, who, without
weight, position, or influence in the ward, have, never-
theless, contrived for the last month to keep it in a
ferment, and to drag the Liberal party through the
mire, to the disgust of evory honourable mind. After
being snubbed by two gentlemen, they have at length
succeeded (and, as rumour states, by the promise of
paying all expenses) in inducing a third to come forward
and lead their "forlorn hope," in the person of Mr.
Clarke Aspinall. What the claims of this gentleman
are, lamat a loss to imagine. He is an entire stranger in
the ward, and totally unknown to the electors; whereas
Mr. Nickson is personally acquainted with the great
majority of the electors, and his long residence in the town
has not only made him cognizant of its local wants and
requirements, but his general conduct, character, and
ability, have inspired that respect and unanimity of
feeling on bis behalf, which renders opposition hopeless.
I have nothing to say against Mr. Aspinall; he may be
"All that fancy paints him," but he is not the man for
the tradesmen of St. Anne's ward. Had Mr. Aspinall
consulted their wishes, instead of listening to the repre-
sentation of a wise few, he would not have been placed
in his present false position. It is to bo regretted that
his discretion has not equalled his valour, and that his
first entrance into public life should be associated with—
Defeat.

It may not yet be too late to retreat ; and that, as in
the case of Mr. Hall, some " unforeseen and unavoid-
able circumstance" may yet transpire to extricate, him
from the dilemma into which his simplicity has led him.

—Yours, &c.;

AN ELECTOR.

CASTLE-STREET WARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.
__.

Six,—May I ask if one of the persons attending the
meeting of Mr. Steains' friends, at the Common-hall,
Hackin's-hey, last night, who, on the occasion, appeared
to be more big with speech than pregnant with argu-
ment, is the same who, a few years ago, resigned his
seat in the Town Council in order to become a candidate
for the office of "chief of police," in which high aspi-
ration. and stroke of relief, he was, fortunately for the
-• • -
public, checked by the good sense of his late colleagues
id the council chamber, If he be the gentleman in
question, a key at oiled afforded to his observations
Of 1. 1,;
last night, in his assumed versa::._ v 0144', 7"
`°"
makes him a fit parallel to the illustrious anu: ."8"11".
guished political leader of the small Whig party, of
whom it has been written, that he would be
willing either to take the command of the chan-
nel fleet, or to undertake the minutest operation
in phlebotomy, so conscious is he of his consum-
mate ability. The members of the legal profession
who addressed the meeting last night may be excused
the pique displayed, in not having the honour thrust
upon them which has been so graciously proposed to
Mr. Woodburn, by not only a majority of that body,
but, I believe it will also be found on the Ist November,
by a majority of the electors of the ward.
The twenty-four " sitting in a row," so eloquently
alluded to, by several speakers, will, no doubt, prove
blackbirds, and not show the white feather; and to
indulge these platform orators with a little more nur-
sery literature, from which source they borrowed so
largely, I woad remind them "when the pie was open"
(the return of the poll, Ist proximo,) " the birds begin
to sing," and the chorus will be—
Woodburn has in the Council-chamber got a seat,
Steains has sustained a signal defeat.
I remain, sir, yours obediently,
October 20th, 1859.

VINDEK.

SUPPOSED LOSS.,OP A STEAMER IN THE CHANNEL BY
Ex PLOSION.—For several days much anxiety has prevailed
respecting some wreck which has been cast up on the
Cornish coast, and which is believed to have formed
part of a large steamer .which has blown up. The
schooner Devonport, Captain Ferguson, on a voyage
from the Thames to Plymouth last week, fell in with
some :wreck off the Bolt Head, and being a light wind,
a. boat was sent to examine the timbers, build, &c.
It was found to be part of the maindeck of a large
vessel, and from appearances it was judged to have
belonged to some foreign steamer. The deck had been
capsized, and the deck beams and under part of the deck
were exposed and were painted white throughout. The
beams were of large scantling, and the deck was com-
posed of 4 or 42 inch plank, the metal spikes of which
are evidently of foreign make. Lashed to the under
side of the deck was an iron tiller (spare one) of nearly
5 cwt., which was brought off by the crew of the
schooner; a piece of copper or metal pipe of 10 feet
long and 3 to 4 inches diameter, with a short length of
canvas hose attached to one end, was also brought away.
A large hole, supposed to be that for the funnel, was visible,
and the under part of the deck in the neighbourhood
had been lined with tin, as if to preserve the wood from
the heat. It bad all the appearance of being but
recently in the water, no grass, or weed, or slime being
about it, and the paint was quite fresh. On the fol-
lowing day the wreck was washed ashore at Pentewan,
and Captain Eden, R.N., of the Plymouth Dockyard,
proceeded to inspect it, and from his report, which has
been forwarded to Lloyd's, it appears that he is of
opinion that the wreck is the remains of some
i steam-
boat which apparently had blown up ; that t is of
foreign build, and had not been long in the water.
The catastrophe must have happened, therefore, in or
near the mouth of the English Channel.
•

5

MONUMENT TO THE LATE MR.
FIELDEN, •M.E:

Wtr are indebted to the Manchester- Examiner for an
-aee.ount of .a public meeting at Stalybridge, on Tuesday
evening, to promote the erection of a monument in Tod-
inorden, to the memory of the late John Fielden, for-
merly M.P. for Oldham, for his exertions in procuring
the. Ten Hours' Bill. The Rev. Joseph Reyner Stephens
of Stalybridge, presided. Mr. Abel Swan, Stalybridge,
moved :---“That, in the opinion of this meeting, the ser-
vices rendered by the late John Fielden to the factory
operatives of this country are deserving of grateful recog-
to
ebtxehorcereeoce
du,t, erect, in
ui
xhigondl,y
nitiort, and we therefore hail with satisfaction the pro-
posalKTa
wnoi
enddl
King,"
of,
or
thewdr eanhs , i a
r.
appointmenta sssuitableale,
aant
dtmonumenthhoeef delivered
tevttoeirnl
his memory." The motion was seconded .by Mr.
Joseph Wardlow,and carried unanimously, with much
com-
mittee
gtoetiocaarrdydress, out
ie the
eu ppaobortveef
cheenng ; as was, a resolution to raise. a subscription
objects.the e
h j e e
tM,erf.
the R.
il°maneskettetilhinneneregg:. He said he was thnnkful to his God that he
was once more enabled to stand before them--not with
` the same energy as formerly—but with a heart as fully
in their service as it ever was. He was also thankful
that they were assembled to do an act such as they were
cthheitfac wastory theirla
w
called together to perform; that evening, and he hoped
they would do their duty: in subscribing their share
determinationt ovardserce t erecting
rathatise . moil e
u m
never would be kept until the breach of the law was
rewardech by criminal punishment. Mr. Oastler then
spoke at-considerable length as to the factory apprentice-
ship system, and gave- an interesting account of the
beeilltiev wehdi
exertions of those who had been engaged in obtaining
the passing of the Ten Hours' Bill, naming Robt. Owen,
Sir Robert Peel and Nathaniel Gould (who spent
£lO,OOO in the movement, and who, Ile had been told,
left £lO,OOO, but it never got into thehands of theshort
time committee), and others. Mr. ()ostler then alluded
to. Michael Thomas Sadler, to Hindley, and Brotherton.
When Hindley introduced him to Brotherton, Brother-
ton took him in his arms and kissed' him es the friend of
I:little children. Ho glorified him, and said, " Oh, that
Nathaniel Gould was alive !" Then John Fielden took
him in hand. At first he told him that he feared him,
because he could not see that a Tory could take such a
part. But he afterwards said lie saw that be (Mr. Oast-
ler) was in earnest, and he gave him his hand, and a
more faithful one he never clasped. Mr. Fielden went
with him through good report and throtigh bad report.
His money was always ready, and he knew that he
(Mr. Oastler) could net have carried on the work as he
had, had it not been for his (Mr. Fielden's) sovereigns.
Alluding to the select committee which was appointed,
he said a more important document than the report of
the committee did not exist, and he recommended every
one present to read it. After alluding to several person-
ages who were engaged for and against the measure,
Ihe came to the time when John Fielden took the
cause in hand, and he paid a high tribute to Mr.
Fielden's exertions and to the talent which he
displayed whilst advocating the Ten Hours', Bill,
until it passed the House of Commons. Mr. Oastler
then alluded to Mechanics Institutions, public
parks, to the education of the people, &c., and to the
general progress for the better of the working mom, and
he said these things were never dreamt about until the
factory movement commenced ~ so that all, more or less,
owed a debt of gratitude to John Fielden. He did
think that it became the nation to raise a monument
worthy of the name of John Fielden, and as an ex-
pression of that gratitude that should be felt to God for
raising up a man so worthy of perpetual fame. (Loud
and long-continued cheers.)
A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the
meeting terminated with three cheers for the " Old
King," the Fielden Monument, and the Ten Hours' Bill.