Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-15 00:00:00

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"A MAN that is busy and inquisitive," says Lord
BACON, "is commonly envious ; for to know much
"of other men's matters cannot be, because all that

ado may concern his own estate; therefore it must

needs be that he taketh a kind of play-pleasure in

" that mindeth but his own business find much matter
" for envy ; for envy is a gadding passion, and walketh
" the streets, awl doth not keep at home : non est
" euriosus idem sit malevolus.' " And how applicable
are such words of wisdom as these to the case of
accusation in our Town Coun

cil a few days since, to
which, on a previous occasion, we have referred, where

it was so forcibly shown, that not only is the busy
body an envious body, but that one can scarcely

meddlesome without, at the same time.

ueing male-

volent. Por without wishing to inanige in anything
offensive to the honourable 'Councillor who came

forward to charge 4, most respectable and eminent

fellow-citizen with having sought to injure the

town, we are unable to characterise such a-charge in

any milder terms, to be truthful, than those of ill-

nature, if not of malignancy. Had there even been
ground of mere suspicion, that Mr. CHARLES TURNER
had acted in a spirit of hoStility to the interests of the

town, it would have been bad enough, without some

colourable evidence, to have brought such an accusa-

tion against one in his responsible position. But,

when not only was there an absence of all ground
of suspicion, but everything to show that had he, and
those with whom he was acting officially and by

authority, not been interfered with by Messrs

JEFFERY and ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, who had

really nothing more to do with the matter than -any
other private citizen had, tke town would have got
compensation for the dues which were under consi-
deration, to the amount of two millions sterling. So

that, by the officious interference of those gentlemen,
the town has actually lost half a million of

money

We can realise, we say, some such reflections af
)314t we know what the Conservatives did

ihnv

We know thai when they came a tiieti sense.,
resolve:l
to leave their vilidiroation to the sure results
of time and direilinsioace. They preseri,ed silence

when silence was their truest dignity; and con-

temned the slanders of their opponents, when there
would have been disgrace in acknowledging the
necessity for denying them. It is needless to re-
capitulate how signally, how superabundantly, the
event has justified their discretion. There was one

thing poetic justice demanded over and above
the mere refutation of the enemy's charges,

namely, a sharp retribution for the superfluous

and wanton arrogance of their own pre-
They had covered themselves with
a„ false splendour. Truth woifid not have been satis-
fied, had they not been covered with a just and real
shame

tensions

They would not be content with a doubtful

reputation, so history has again stripped them of the
fictitious character they had assumed, and they stand
naked before England. Not only have Conservatives

been proved not to be the bribers, but they them-

selves proved guilty beyond the utmost range of
ordinary calculation or ordinary suspicion.
startling -picture. of contrast which they drew three
months ago by the force of imagination, may indeed
stand as to its general aspect, only the position of
the labels over the figures—purity, corruption—must
With this material alteration too, the

looking upon the fortunes of others ; neither can he " voice. We ought, no doubt, to be very proud and declare, that they -would infinitely rather be the
" indignant. It all seems very foreign to our way of ousted from Hull than the legally confirmed in the
"judging things, and our way of doing things. But purchased seats of Huddersfield and Preston.
" Brutus says so, and Brutus is,' that is, pretends to
" be, 'an honourable man."

WE are glad to find that the militia is to be embodied

in some way or other, both as a fountain from wial
the army may be 'fed and our general national de-

TL. t4overnment, however, will
only do it piece-meal. The European political at-
mosphere, they tell us, is tranquil. France is dis"
arming, Sardinia is contented, and even Austria
rejoices at having been worsted; GARIBALDI is loyal
to VICTOR EMMANUEL, and MAZZINI'S pen is only 3
little bye-play, which gives life to present stagnation

fences establighpd

—so Lord J. RUSSELL rand Lord PALMERSTON fiSer.

We are the more inclined to accept Lord STRATFORD

DE REDCLIFFE'S premonitions gathered from the

history of the last few

months

It is impossible to

say how long this calm may continue, if it be not the
prelude
.and lull before a violent storm. As a national
means of defence, the militia is unquestionably the
most effective and constutional force to which we should
look. We should have been glad to have seen ill

this " Militia Laws Amendment Bill" that the ancient
and lawful custom of the ballot was to be resorted

to, since in this country :we have no conscriptioth

lire or maritime, as in other continental states'

We believe that

country

it will never be tolerated in thill

A high bounty was offered to induce

recruits into our militia regiments, the standard Of
height had been lowered, and still our corps were
very incomplete ; and the men who had enlisted

before this higher rate of bounty was given, Were
disgusted and discontented. This alteration, like 1130.4
others made upon the broad basis of ultra-Libei•al

ciples, is very fine in theory.

and very plausible, but in

practice most suicidal and damaging
observed by a noble lord of great diplomatic expe—
rience, we may be told that the political atmosphhere
is at present all serene, but who can tell what ,g a dal

As has bees

may bring forth." We hare seen waged a sang'-n"
nary war and a peace concluded in the brief space

of a Parliamentary

Session. May not with equal

facility, the Continent, during the recess, be age

plunged in war ? We are at present, in our opinion,sur-
rounded by uncertainty,and much gloom hangs over the
horizon. We ought therefore to be prepared for any
contingency. We may find it difficult a second time to
preserve that neutrality, which we have hitherto

done. There ought not to be any difficulty in raising

a good militia force in this country, if proper machi-

nery were put into operation to produce it. If th°
population of Great Britain and Ireland were scanty'
there might be some .reasonable apprehension that

we cannot compete with the armies of neighbouring'
states ; but that is not the case. Scarcely any °f

our colonies can be spoken of, without imine"
diate reference to the valuable outlets these are for
our redundant and over-crowded population•

An expedition is sent tinder the command of Captain
PALISSER, to explore territory between the Red River'
and. the Rocky Mountains, where there is, it appear*
a vast bed of coal ; and immediately the reflection is,

what an opportunity for our superfluous labour-

what a relief to the plethora of the labour market•

We do not believe, ourselves, in the theory of a redua-

dant population. How are the

Array and the

NavY

to be supplied, if we had a small population, unless

we subscribe to the peace-at-any-price, party ? The
wise man tells us, " The glory of a King is in the
multitude of his people." Yet, notwithstanding this
burdensome redundancy, as it is called, we have 3
military force which, when computed, is ridiculously

small, and we have a navy, which we cannot pat

afloat,, as we have no sailors

This recent plan of a

maritime volunteer .edipssouricig Well, and lOokg

well and imposing on paper; but where are the
30,000 sailors to be found ? During the Cri"
mean war, although the bounty was high, and

wages £4 per month, it was with great difficulty
that 14,000 ineffective men could be got together•
It is well known that Sir CHARLES NAPIERfOUTIa

great fault with them. It is also well-

known bi

competent judges, that, owing to the repeal of the

Navigation Laws, it would take five or ten veal

to make this volunteer scheme operative. It wO
only at the beginning of last week, that' a splendil

screw transport, the Finisterre, was launched

Rochefort. This is one of seventy-two transports, the
construction of which was decided upon last year

it has an engine of 800 horse-power, and will be able

to accommodate 2,000 men besides its crew. Another
is to be immediately laid down on the same sliP
What does Louis NAPOLEON want with vessels which
can transport 144,000 men ? And why, while he hail
disarmed his forces, is he so busy with these, and

the coast defences of France ? " Verbunz sat sapienh.
Let us take care of ourselves. If he is cunning, astute►
crafty, and patient, we must be cautious and vigilant,
and. be up arid. doing.

NOTES OF THE DAY

For all that is really satisfactory in the Queen's Speech►
the late Ministry must have the credit, not the present'
We are not, of course, to doubt the gratifying statement
which is given, in her Majesty's' name, of the condition of
the country, or of the friendly relations which continue to
exist with Foreign Powers. Let us hope that all that fe
held forth in this statement will be realised during the
recess of Parliament. Her Majesty very properly and
feelingly regrets the interruptions to the usual course of
business, which have prevented the completimx of importleA-
matters pointed out to the attention of her Parliament,
the beginning of the present year ; and it must not be
forgotten that, for the circumstances which occasioned these
interruptions, her Majesty's present Ministry are altogether
responsible. We can readily believe that "the happineB
of her Majesty's people is the object.dearestto her heart ;''
and it must be the earnest prayer of every loyal Subject of
her Majesty, that she may be surrounded-by Ministers vill°

will assiduously and faithfully labour to enable her to effect
so blessed an object.

Some -of- the natural fruits of Louis Napoleon's recent

devices in Italy are /now, coming to maturity; ery prFL

neatly and fatally in Parma

This linperial revolutionary

policy has hid the erect of stirring up :die -Red Republicans
to such a height of fervour that, taking- courage under tho

auspicious circumstances of .the moment, they have risen
en masses and declared.their Republic in all its reroCity,--
driving the Piedmontese from the State, and putting the
respectable classes to flight under the reign of terror that
has thus commenced. Well may the Times now exclaim
that " poor doomed Italy has once again missed her oPP°r"