Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-07 00:00:00

plaintiff, on, the 30th of,October,last, went in company
with her brother-in-laW to the hotise of the defendant,

Wheie. oh ale each

After their depar:

ture, the defendant -missed a mat from the bottom of the
stairs. He subsequently had the plaintiff taken into custody,
and taken to bridewelly, where she remained for the night ;
and on the following day, she was brought before the
magistrates and dismissed, there being no evidence
against her. She was put to very great annoyance, and
to some expense in defending herself, and the present
action was brought to recover damages for false
imprisonment. The jury returned a verdict for the
plaintiff, damages £5.
ACTION FOR COMMISSION.—BIRCRALL V. SUMNER.—
In this case, Mr. Conway appeared for the plaintiff, and
Mr. Aspinall for the defence. The action was to recover
commission on the purchase of certain houses. The
plaintiff is a horse dealer and horse trainer, in Liverpool,
and the- defendant is an architect, doing considerable
business. The defendant, together with several other
gentlemen, carried on a sort of model farm,
somewhere near 'Southport, on a partnership principle.
In May last, Mr, Fresh, one of the owners of -the farm,
called upon the plaintiff, and took him to the office of the
defendant, Mr. Sumner. An interview took place, during
which Mr. Sumner gave instructions to procure some
horses for the farm, and told him that he should receive
a commission of five per cent upon the purchase. The
plaintiff succeeded in finding out
-six suitable horses, which
were approved of by the defendant, and purchased by him
for the sum of £lll lOs ; and the commission upon that
sum, amounting to £5 1 ls. 6d., having been refused by
the defendant, the present action was brought. The
defence set up was, that the plaintiff was never
employed to purchase the horses, and no, commission
was ever promised to him for that or any other service
by the defendant. Verdict for full amount claimed,
namely, £5 lls. Gd

BOURNE AND ANOTHER v. DALY.—In this case, Mr.
Simon appearectfor the plaintiff, and Mr. ASOinall for the
defendant Tire claim. " was for goods sold. The

defendant had paid La 14s into court on account of
of goods sold; and the only question in the case was in
reference to the rent claimed by the plaintiffs, Messrs.
Browne and Haigh, ,brewers, carrying on business at
Everton, who had, let a public-house to the defendant in
Bevington Bush.

At this stage of the proceedings the Court adjourned
till this morning, when the case will be concluded.

HEALTH COMMITTEE

The usual weekly meeting of this Board was held
yesterday. Alderman Dover presided. The other mem-
bars present were—Messrs. Sheil, Vernon, Gladstone,
Crosthwaite, Beckwith, Bowring, Haydock, Stitt, and
Clarke.

IMPORT-OF TILE BOROUGH ENGINEER,

The Borough Engineer, Building Surveyor, and
Inspector of nuisances, reported
,various particulars of
the operations in their several departments during the
week,,fiom whith it appeared that 102 nuisances com-
plained.of by inhabitants had been inspected, and means
taken to remedy them.' 430 houses, in the unhealthiest
districts, containing 1,529 apartment's,. and 281 cellars,
had been put under examination, with the, view of
improving their sanitary condition.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN

The Medical Officer's report stated the returns of
mortality for the last week of 1858 present a somewhat
unfavOurable aspect, the deaths from all causes having
been more numerous than in any week since the beginning
Of February, whilst ifie mortality from zymotie
diseases was greater than in any previous week
throughout the year, and that from diseases of the lungs
exceeded the mortality of any week, with two exceptions,
since the severe weather that prevailed in spring. The
total deaths were 306, of which 208 were in the parish,
and 98 in the out-townships, the number being 50 in
excess of the corrected average of the same week of the
preceding ten years. The increase is no doubt in
part owing to .an actual increase of mortality
depending on the damp and unwholesome weather, but
it may also, to some extent, be explained by the fact that
Christmas day fell on the last day of the preceding week,
and that consequently the registration of a certain
number of !deaths, properly belonging' :to that week,
would be delayed till the week following, and that would
swell the present returns. The deaths. registered in the
previous Week were unusually few. Of 93 children and
13 adults who died from diseases of the zymotic sort,
in all 106, 39 were children who died from scarlatina,
15 from measles, 15 from hoopin cough, 7 children and
7 adults from fever, 3 children and 4 adults from diarrhoea,
4 children and 1 adult from small pox. The deaths from
diseases of the lungs were 97, against 66 the week previous.
Daring the last quarter of 1858 the deaths registered in
the borough, including 147 on which inquests were held,
and 80 in hospitals, were 3,643, being about the same as
in the corresponding quarter of 1857, but 230 more
than the corrected average of the same period of
the preceding ten years. The excess is pretty equally
divided between the two classes of zymotic diseases
and diseases of the lungs, the former of *hi& cased
1,137 deaths, and the latter 1,133 ; the corrected'average
of the same quarter of former years being, for zymotic,
1,010, and lung diseases, 1,000 ; of the latter class, 339
were.caused by cdniuniption in the quarter past ended.
Of the 1,137 deaths from zymotic diseases, 481
were caused by scarlatina, a greater number than in any
quarter of the previous 10 years. Trooping-cough cured,
164 ; fever, 134 ; measles, 95 ; diarrhoea, 89 ; croup, 33 ;
diphtheria, 32 ; small-pox, 24 ; mumps, 5 ; chicken-
pox, 2._

- Mr. Stitt regretted to find that fever had carried off so
many persons, and he feared that much of it arose from
the state of the streets, He called particular attention
to the state of Grovp=street, going into Scotland-road,
and said anything more horrible than the state it was in
could not be imagined; in fact, it was a, plague spot, and
he wondered that fever was not raging there. He under-
stood the houses!had no convenience, and the street was
filled with all sorts of filth. • He understood that the street
was not:-an adopted one, but the end that ran into
Scotland-road should be attended to at once, as it must
be most prejudicial to the health of the people of the
locality.

Mr.- Yemen : But what power have we to deal with it,
if the street is not au adopted one ?
Mr. Bowrim-,r; From the state it is. in, surely some-
thing ought to be done to preser.ve health. Let it be
referred to Mr. Fresh, and let us hear, what he may say
on it.

Mr. M'Gowan (deputy-town clerk) said the question
would involve another; but Mr. Lee, who owned the
property, would bo soon in Liverpool, and they would
see what was to be done. If it were a nuisance, the
owners of the property could be prosecuted. -

The question was then referred to Mr. Fresh to report
on it.

In reply to the committee generally, Dr. Duncan
stated that there was no class of disease less under the
intiaence of sanitary arrangements than scarlet fever. It
sometimes appeared in the best portions of a town, and
carried off numbers ; but of course if it broke out in
crowded courts and other places of that sort, the mortality
would be greater.

THE GEORGE'S BASIN SEWER:

In reply to Mr. Stitt, the Chairman said there was to
be a meeting of the parliamentary committee next
Tuesday, and he would take care that this question should
be brought before the committee.

Mr. liowring, said it was a great nuisance, and should
be remedied.

The routine business was then transacted, and the
board adjourned.

CHLOROFORM AT THE ROYAL ACCOUCHMENT.-From a
memoir of the late Dr. Snow, in the Medical Times,
we learn that on April the 7th, 1853, he administered
chloroform to her Majesty at the birth of the Prince
Leopold. A note in his diary records the event. The
inhalation lasted fifty-three minutes. The chloroform
was given on a handkerchief, in fifteen minim doses,
and the Queen expressed herself as greatly relieved
by the administration. He had previously been con-
sulted on the occasion of the birth of the Prince Arthur,
in •1850!„ but had not been called in to render
his services, Previous to the birth of Prince Leo-
pold, he had been honoured with an interview with
his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, and' -returned
mach overjoyed with the Prince's kindness and
great intelligence on the scientific points which had
formed the subject of their conversation. Oa the 14th
of April, 1857, another note in
_the diary records the fact
of the second administration of chloroform to her
Majesty, at the birth of the Princess Beatrice. 'The
chlorof....,rm again exerted its beneficent influence; and
her 'Majesty once more expressed herself as much satisfied
With the result. Inquisitive 'folk often oveiburthened
Snow, after those events, with a multitude of questions
of an unmeaning kind. He answered them with all good
natured reserve. " Her Majesty is a model patient,"
was his usual reply ; a reply which, he once said., seemed
to answer every purpose, and \vas very true. One lady
of rather an inquiring mind, to whom he was adminis-
tering chloroform, got very loquacious during the
the period of excitement, and declared she would inhale
no more of the vapour unless she were told *hat the
Queen said, word for -word, when she was taking it.
" Her Majesty," replied, the dry doctor, " asked no
questions until she had breathad very much longer than
you have ; and if you *ill only go on in loyal imitation,
I will tell you everything " The patient could not but
follow the example held out to her. In a few seconds
she forget all about Queen, Lords, and Commons ' • and
when the time came for a renewal of hoStilities' found
that her cleier witness had gone home to his dinner,
leaving her 760.1 Ow thirst for ipmflefAgo still ou, her
tollulet -.. 1111 t ;•• • .; • . •;vl, . '1

DR. GUTHRIE'S CONVICTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SORTHERN TIMES

Sir,—Though standing by itself in this great
commercial town, I am glad to gee your paper
reciprocating so warmly the sentiments expressed
in Hope Hall, last Week, by the Bev.. Dr. Guthrie
of Edmbilrgh.

Previous to my coming here, my home, for a
short period, was in the Scottish metropolis, and
I mn testify to the truth of Dr. Guthrie's state-
ment regarding the advantages gained by Edin-
burgh through its Ragged Schools.
It is known, as through tradition there, that at
one time the streets swarmed from morning till
night with hosts of " young beggers ; " but that
no such thing is to be met with now I know from
practical observation. -
Now if this can be done in a place like Edin-
burgh, it surely stands to reason that muck more
can be done in this mighty wealthy town of Liver-
pool. And why has it not been done ? This is a
question which I have often asked, myself, and
which I have as often failed to answer,. There is
here neitheir lack of means nor lack of subjects,
and subjects which none can fail to notice. They
pester you on the streets, they disturb you in the
counting house, they pilfer from the warehouses,

and infest, like an infectious vapour, every corner,
every crevice, where respectability dares to show
itself. And until something better is provided for

them theiwill remain as they are —a ;:et of semi-

barbarian-s, nursed in the bosom of civilization.
Unless we apply some remedy, nothing short of
miraculous interference can keep these wretched.
specimens of humanity from, some day soon, filling

icp the breaches which the convicts' lot and the
murderers' portion make in the ranks of crimi-

nalit'y

But apart from all the worldly advantages
which would be entailed to the inhabitants by the
existence of suitable Ragged Schools in this ,place
apart from the fact that, under such treatment,
Liverpool would assume an air of healthful re-
spectability rivalling that of other towns—does it
not show a great want of natural fellow feeeling
that next to nothing of this nature has ever been
done or attempted. Would to God that some of
our leading men had risen from that sect which
they so much neglect ; then would they have un-
derstood better the awful wretchedness incumbent

upOn its slaves, and they would have been more

Willing in helping to emancipate them from their
life of misery,—Yours very truly,

Jan. 4, 18-59,

SCOTCHMAN

REVISION OF DOCK RATES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir,—l beg leave to suggest to the Dock Com-
mittee, through your columns, the expediency and
justice of reconsidering their rates on shipping for
dock accommodation. At present the charge is
ls. Gd. per register ton, for a stay, long or short,
under four months. Would it not be desirable to
reduce the charge one-half on those vessels which
merely discharge, and leave in ballast, earning
only a homeward freight, and occupying the dock
only for a few days; or, simpler still, to make a
return of say Gd. per ton for those vessels which
are in port under a month.—Your's respectfully,
Liverpool, Jan. 6, 1859. 'A 'SIIII'OWNER..

ANNUAL TRADE REPORTS

THE CANADIAN - TIMBER TRADE.

The stock of white pine wintering in Quebec is
11,290,478, very nearly the same as in 1857, and although
the supply is less by five millions, the export shows even a
greater falling otl, being about 13,388,380 against
19,246,480. A good deal of what winters over is poor in
quality, although a more than ordinary quantity has been
used for local purposes, many new wharves of large
extent having been built last summer. Prices generally
have been good for superior qualities, but through the
season ordinary and inferior have found buyers with diffi-
culty at from 3.!id to 5-id measured off. We fear more is
manufacturing than prospects warrant, and we recommend
prudence and caution to our friends on the Ottawa and St.
Lawrence, and'more than usual care in the manufacture of
what they bring to market. Red pine is much lower in
stock than last season, but the price in England is by no
means encouraging, and as long as freights are so much
in favour ' of the foreigner, our red pine will find a
dangerous competitor in the Baltic. Prices closed high,
and of what winters over only about a third is of good
quality and average. We feel certain a great error must
have been committed in the exports of white pine of last
year, but both in the stock on hand and in the exports it
is difficult to arrive at any conclusive data. If a de-
duration at the Custom House accompanied a clearance
as to the specific quantity, the statistics would be more
correct no doubt. Oak is larger in stock than was
generally supposed; the high price at which it
opened in May, 20d., having induced many to
manufacture in summer and consequently to bring
down much that was inferior. The consequence was
foreseen and prices fell from 13d. for fair ordinary quality
to 15d. and 16d., at which it was impossible to close sales
in November.- The greater portion of what winters over
is poor and inferior, and very choiee parcels are not
procurableeasily at our highest quotations: Prices in
England are far from remunerating, and we see little
encouragement for another season unless things mend
very much on the other side. Elm has been dull and
difficult of sale all the year, although it closed better than
we expected, the stock wintering is small, but very good
in point of quality and average. Tamarac has been a
complete drug all summer, and was unsaleable at any
price, but latterly some good parcels have been sold
although at the low price of std. to TO. • for square, arid
4d. to sd. for fiat. Staves have been abundant since
Jul`, and prices which opened at X5O on•nd,,all‘,

receded to £42 10s. to £4s' for superior, a°11773.Y5
to £4O for ordinary quality. We have never known
so much discrimination shown in the quality, and
while ordinary lots were sold with difficulty at our lowest
quotations, prime lots were placed easily at a difference
of from £5 to £7 10s. per mile. In September and October
a few speculative purchases were made, which had the
effect of raising their value, but they afterwards receded,
and closed dull at our quotations. Puncheons varied in
like manner, and from £l6 prices fell to £l2 lOs. and
£l3 10s., according to "quality. Stocks of both are
abundant, and unless prices in England improve, we see
little prospect of their doing well the ensuing season
finless laid down here at a low figure. Deals have been
.nipped as heavily this year as last; parties preferred
them to square timber where vessels had to load on ship's
account, but notwithstanding the low rate of freight,
prices on the other side have not been remunerating.
The quantity of 2nd and 3rds is in nearly every instance
greatly in excess, and a decline of 20s to 30s per hun-
dred pieces has been submitted to in consequence, good
specifications bringing £l3 lOs and poor ones only £l2
for floated. Bright have been in tolerable fair request, and
the stock wintering is moderate, and composed principally.
of 2nd and 3rd quality and odd sizes.. Spruce, in conse-
quence of the bad prospects last winter, were manufac-
tured sparingly, and the season was •unfavourable from
want of water on the South Shore, which has made them
a very buoyant article all summer, and the quantity win-
tering is small.. Freights have:been low allthe season, and
latterly most ruinously so, ruling in Oct. and Nov. at from
22s 6d to 2.1 s for Liverpool, and earlier at 25s to 28s 6d.,
Ship building has been a very unprofitable branch of
business and tonnage in England is greatly depressed.
But few keels. are laid down this winter, and we are
glad to see the great ship building interest at last fairly
aroused in England to the one sided view of free trade.
which is altogether in favour of the foreigner. Perfect
reciprocity shiould be insisted on, and if Canada and
New BrunsWick, through their Legislatures, were to
co-operate with the ship building interest at hoine, this
matter would be placed on that broad principle of justice
which should exact of foreign nations the same privi-
leges granted them, FORSYTH. BELL. & Co

Mawdsley's school-boy pocket pencils in great variety,
3d, 6d, and ls. Also, writing cases and desks, from 56.
4, Castle-street.
The Exhibitton of 1861, says the Town-Talker of the
Illustrated News, is a fact It will take place, and be
admirably well carried out. The Fifty-one Commission-
ers will, with the produce of the people's freely-bestowed
shillings, come,. on the 26th inst., all efficiently, to the
aid of the Sixty-one Commissioners. The site is settled—
not at distant Sydenham—not at ague-covered Battersea—
but on the very ground bought by the Comm;s..
sioners of Fifty-one, through the shillings of
the people. Who that ever saw has forgotten th'd liyao
Park Palace of 1851 ? Nor will the Palace of 1861
be for..o.otten in 1871. The site for Sixty-ono is better
than the site of Fifty-one. It is only over the way,
other side of the great thoroughfare loading to kingly
Kensington, the Star and Garter at Richr:iond, and
Wolsey's time honoured Palace at Ilan;,,on Court. A
railway is already in formation for il::e purpose of pour-
ing in the well-informed, but 'l:ensely-crowded, inhabi-
tants of the manuffctnrilut, llstricts of England,

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.
LIVERPOOL, Thursday Evening.
There was not so much doing in our Cotton
Market to-day, but prices were well supported.
The sales w-ere about 6,000 bales, including 1,000
an speculation and for export.
in the Liverpool Share Market to-day business
was restricted, and at the close, prices were hardly
so- firm..

The demand for money has slightly decreased,
and the general appearance of the market is easier,
although the terms asked for negotiating commer-
cial bilis show no quotable variation. It seems to
be generally expected that 2 per cent will continue
to represent the _ value of accommodation, on

good -security, for some time to come, for,
although the requirements• of trade at

e coin-

paratively moderate, loan instalments and railway
calls trench largely upon the available resources
of the market. The effect of the dividends
payable next week, however, remains to be seen,
but it is understood that a large amount will have
to be returned to the Bank authorities, on account
of loans obtained on Stock until the Transfer
Books re-opened. This operation; together with
liquidation of the commercial bills due on the
4th, has probably caused an important dimi-
nution in the Stock of other securities,
lodged in that establishment ; and if so it will
tend to allay the anxiety of those who, intimidated
by the sudden addition to that item of the weekly
balance-sheet, imagine that the directors will soon
be compelled to return to a three per cent. mini-

The market opened dull and languid, in con-
sequence of the threatening aspect of affairs
between France and Austria. Prices, however,
subsequently improved, and closed fractionally-
better. Consols were quoted at 964, and the New
• Threes, 964 to 96a ; Exchequer Bills steady at
37 to 40 pm.
The London Railway Share Market opened
to-day rather weaker, but afterwards went sightly
batter, finishing, however, rather flat. Chester
and Holyhead shares were better; Indians heavy.
Foreign Stocks left off lower. Banks, Mines, and
Miscellaneous shares dull. The following are the
closing prices : -Ambergate, 6y, 6:3 ; Caledonian,
88, 883; Do. Pref., 103, 105; Eastern Counties,
623, 633; East Lancashire, 96, 97; Edin-
burgh and Glasgow, 693, 703; Great North-
ern, 1061, 1091 ; Ditto A. 91, 92 ; Ditto
B. 133, 133; Great Western, 561, 57 ; Lan-
e ashire and Yorkshire, 981, 981; Brighton,lll,ll3;
London and North Western, 961, 97 ; London and
South Western, 94, 93 ; Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincolnshire, 391, 40 ; Midland, 1024, 1031;
North British, 601, 61 ; ditto Pref., 111, 113 ;
North Eastern-Berwick, 93, 94 ; Leeds, 481,
491; York, 77, 781; North Staffords, 41, 4 ;
Dovers, 74f, 751 ; Great Western of Canada, 161,
161; ditto New, 4, 31 p ; Grand Trunk of Canada,
9, 91,-; Turkish, 90, 901 ; ditto New, 105, 106 ;
Bank Stock, 225, 2261.
At a meeting of the Colonial Bank yesterday,
Mr. C. Marryat in the chair, a dividend was de-
clared for the half-year 'ending in June, 1858, at
the rate of 8 per cent. per annum. There was a
short discussion, chiefly upon the subject of the
reserve fund, some of the proprietors objecting to
the appropriation of the sum of £16,320, out of
the profits of one half-year, but it was stated that
after £50,000 shall have been reached, the
directors will be satisfied to make more moderate
additions.
Messrs. Littledale and Co., in their annual
review, thus allude to the article of Tea :
The course of the tea market during the past year,
with very few exceptions, has been one of the most dis-
astrous and unsatisfactory experienced since the opening
of the trade, not only to importers but also to speculators
and dealers. At various periods it was almost impossible
to effect sales, however cheap. The high prices which
were given in China last year will ever be regretted by
many. We are glad, however, to observe that the same
reckless course • has not been followed this season,
looking to the extraordinary low freights, combined
with the more favourable rate of Exchange.
The few arrivals of new crop congous, to
London, have paid well, should the total exports turn out
to be an average, 'or shipments later on prove large,
present prices will not be supported-on the contrary
should the almost unanimous accounts from China prove
correct of a very deficient season coming on the back of
our decreased stocks, and increasing requirements, a
higher range of prices must be looked for, as specu-
lators will not lose sight of the reduction in duty of 5d
per lb. in April, 1860. The stock of Tea at this port is
4,912,605 lbs. against 8,204,520 lbs., which is less than
we have had for the last fourteen years, and quite inade-
quate to the capacity of this market.
Respecting Silk, the same authority states : -
There are few articles of import that appear to have
improved less in price than raw silk, and this is the more
remarkable, as in no previous year has the consumption
of China silk been so large-the use of it far exceeds all
other descriptions -the deliveries being 80,950 bales, and
yet prices have not fluctuated more than from 5 to 15
per cent ; the present stock is only 16,130 bales in which
is included 2,720 bales Canton, and 470 bales China
thrown.

From the annual trade circular of Mr. G. F.
Martin we make the following extract :
In reviewing the past and present position of the Hide
trade we may state that the past year opened with a
depressed trade, a dull leather market, and a disinclina-
tion to transact business, the result of the panic, from
which it took some months to recover, although there
have been some disasters in the tanning trade in conse-
quence of the depreciation in value of the tanned mate-
rial, yet tanners generally have held that high position
which have always characterised the trade. With
4" e..,

are, that taking into Consideration the smallness of
stock, both here and in the United States, the good de-
mand that now exists, and the general prosperity of
the country, we look for a brisk trade, higher prices,
and a prosperous year, both for our home trade and
exporters.

At the meeting at Dudley, a somewhat sanguine
feeling was expressed that the prospects of the
Iron Trade were good ; and there are many indi-
cations of a character to induce this supposition.
There is every probability of a better demand for
America and other foreign markets, notwith-
standing some hostile tariff's which are said to be
looming in the distance ; and as regards our
colonies, India and Australia especially, the
quantity of iron required for railway purposes
will unquestionably be considerable. With
reference to the manufacturing trades generally of
this town and the district, the prospects are
encouraging. Money is available sufficiently to
promote industry, and to further legitimate
enterprise ; whilst the low price of food, and a
well-em;ployed population, cannot fail to be power-
ful stimulants to every branch of commerce. At
the same time there is a deep-rooted aversion to
speculation, which will materially contribute to
the restoration and maintenance of trade in a
healthy action. The metal market is firm.

The amount of Duty paid at the Belfast Custom-
house, for the week ending January Ist, was
6,203/ 9s. 9d. against 7,1511 2s. 6d. the previous
week, and. 7,1801125. 7d. the corresponding period
of last year.