Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-23 00:00:00

THE DAY'S NEWS.

Another step has been taken towards the
Settlement .of the Italian question. It is semi-
officially announced in Paris that the Plenipoten-
tiaries of the three Powers engaged in the late
hostilities, namely France;- Austria, and Sardinia,
exchanged, on- Monday, at Zurich, the ratifica-
tions of the treaties of the 10th of November.
The next proceeding, therefore, is the Congress,
letters of invitation to which, it is said, will be
sent out immediately by the French Government,
and similar letters, in due course, by the Austrian
Government. The most .important step of all,
therefore, is yet to be taken. It by no
means follows as a. matter 'of course that the
Congress will confirm the treaties of Zurieli,—at
any rate, without considerable modification. It
does not appear that England is yet invited • to
the Congress; but it is- understood that a corres-
pondence
,is at present going on between the
French and English Cabinets, as to the issues
, proposed to be carried out. From what is known,
it would seem that'England and France are -the
nearest in agreement as to the terms of the settle-
ment of this difficult question of Central Italy ;
though not quite at one yet, as to the transfer of
allegiance made by the subjects, of the'. Grand
Dukes to King Victor Emmanuel.. Austria, it is
believed, will object to such transfer altogether.
And this will probably constitute one •of the
n•reatest difficulties of all.
The Crown has already filled up the vacant
Bishopric of Sierra Leone, by the selection of a
cleigyman who, it is hoped, has been tolerably
well acclimated to tropical heat by ling residence
in the diocese of Antigua.
It is gratifying to find that the humane and
heroic conduct of the Maltese seaman, Jose Rogers,
to whom a gold medal was presented in Liverpool
last week, for his bravery_ and humanity at the
wreck of the Royal Charter, is equally appreciated
in Portugal, to whose maritime service he belongs.
A subscviption has been set on foot in : Lisbon to
reward his heroiSni.
One Of 'our' London contemporaries; Of the
extreme Liberal' Section of " Reformers," promises
to give a sketch of the Reform Bill of the Pal-
merston Cabinet, as soon as possible. ...It is. to-be
limited, it appears, to the mere extension of. the
franchise. All the other points—as to' -dis-
franchisefnent, _taking.. of _ votes, the ballot, and
the rest—are to be dealt with separately, if dealt
with at all. „

The Wakefield Election commission has met
in London, according to adjouflunent,,mt only
pro forma, having examined "no witnesses, hut
arranged for a xesumption...of the. inquiry, at
Wakefield on the day but ono before Christmas,
day.

In another column of' our impression to-day
will be found a copy of the correspondence which
,we have already referred to, as having passed
between Mr. Lindsay, M.P., and Mr. Disraeli,
respecting the alleged " compact" -between him
and other independent members in the Liberal
interest, and the Derby Administration, on the
subject of a future Reform Bill. There is nothing
disclosed in this correspondence that is in the
slightest degree discreditable to either one party or
the other.. It turns out to be quite true, that no
document containing such a " compact," .or
anything like it, was ever signed either by
Lord Derby or any other member of the Cabinet ;
but at the same time it is equally true that an
assurance was *given to those independent mem-
bers Who Were unwilling that the late Ministry
should be displaced by a factious vote, that the
GovernMent did 'intend, in due' Seaton; to settle
the question Parliamentary -Reform, and that
m doing So, they slithild not hold theinseVes ham-
pered, -by the,hill ,which had been' rejected, but
Should deem themselves,at liberty to make such a
Proposition as might seem to be required by the
recent expression of public opinion. This is the
sum and substance of the whole,matter ; and, as
we have before said, we believe that a very
similar statement was made from the Ministerial
benches in the House of Commons immediately
previous to the no-confidence vote being taken.
On more occasions than one we have gladly re-
corded the patriotic spirit_which appears to have
newly animated—rather, which has had a new
channel'opened for its display—all classes of our
countrymen, to offer an undaunted front of oppo-
sition to ally invaders of our "island home," should
any invaders be so ill advised as to attempt a
descent upon 'ear Shore-8. The volunteer move-
ment, by sea, and land, more especially the.
latter, shows . that our sages appreci-
ate the privileges we enjoy, the rights
We boast of, and that our youth are valiant and
resolute to defend them. From every quarter of
the island we read and hear of: this most praise-
worthy course ;of proceeding, and scarcely .a,
village in the kingdom does not now boast of its'
enrolled .001.133 of volMiteer-S. Liverpool-and its
Vicinity has reason 'to" be 'proud of the position
assumed by its industrious sons in carrying out this
patriotic resolve:6& Her "merchant prinbeal" halt'
contributed munificently of their wealth to organise
guch an indigenous - " defensive band" as may
sustain thelionour of their name and mercantile
achievements. The rising.' hope of an hononied
band have not been remiss in. answering to the
Call, and Liverpool,. with her adjoining and
associated townships, can with conscious, as well_
as justifible pride point to, such a manifestation of
popular ardour as is seldom seen, yet was wit-
nessed last night at St. George's-hall, where
upwards of Sixhundredgallant then fOrmally _took
the oath to sustain the privileges transmitted to them
by their fathers—an almost unnecessary proceeding
seeing that each of them had inhaled. the .breath
of freemen in their cradle. Besides those who
were,swpra in last night a number of others who
had preViously participate-el .in -the sane solem
`pity were also present. .I.This-Portion of thelerce,
'three hundred in number) fully equipped, and pre-
,ceded by their fine band, marched through several
of our principal streets, and met their." brethren
in arms" in St. George's-halt- The scene was
beylto, gl9eitidhearnad most interesting and most animating
one, and the gallant " Volunteers,"-"were--greeted
enthusiastic cheers as they marched
steadily along.

StirgoFliG that we credit Louis NAPOLEON to
the full, with the intentions that are being so
freely attributed to him,—and 66-French people
with the feelings that are • said to have become
their second nature ; we may ask, what is the
most dignified, and the most secure, and, at
the same _time,- the least irksome, attitude which
England can assume ?
- All men are agreed-Iliarflaiires-always look
like fear, and have a "smack of •ignominy about
them. 'They soon degenerate into the terror that
spreads about on whitened lips,77breathes itself
in whispers, and Colours the ordinary_ intercourse
of life. They are, therefore, unworthy• a great