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

ammunition belt, and brown leather boots Such
a dress would leave our men more free for action,
We all know that how excellent soever and
skilful the workman, yet much depends on his
tools and other appointments. The possession
of the Minie rifle added power to the indomitable
courage:of our Guards and Highlanders at
Inkermann ; and the soldiers of ALEXANDER,
being less encumbered, gained a signal advantage
over the bearded Persians. The simplest dictates
of common sense prescribe that if we would
compass an end we must adopt the fitting means.
As our purpose in India must be to put down
this military insurrection by the sharpest,
shortest, and most efficient instrumentality, we
must desire that our army should be in the best
condition for action. Now, one of the indis-
pensables to that condition is the suitable dress
and equipment of our soldiers. This requires
no elaborate insisting on, it is so very obvious.
But the most obvious things may be denied or
overlooked; and so our Miniaters need remind-
ing. The adjustment of these matters must be
left to those who are acquainted with the- details.
Only we may be permitted to say that the nation
does not expect a repetition of the slovenliness
and incapacity which were witnessed, to, our
cost and dishonour, before the fortress of
Sebastopol.

WE are sorry that the Town Council should
have been the theatre of such unseemly exhibi—
tions as took place on Wednesday and Thurs-
day.- Mr. TURNER adopted a course which was
not only uncalled-for, but placed himself in a
position anything but enviable. The critical
position of the Town Dues rendered it most
desirable that extreme caution should be used
in discussing the question of the, Mersey Con-
servancy Bill. It was for the purpose of
guarding against rany,, ill-judged debate on this
matter that Mr. JEFFERY proposed that the
election of members to sit on the Dock Com-
mittee should be postponed—not, as Mr. TIAINER
attempted-to convince the Council; for political
purposes-, but solely with the view of preventing
any debate which would manifest the least
symptom of division in the Council. Had Mr.
TOBIN or some other of the Conservative members
of the Council, instead of Mr. JIINFERY, moved
the postponement of the re-election of the mem-
bers of the Dock Committee, Mr. TURNER would
no doubt have acquiesced in the matter, and said
nothing. But simply because Mr. JEFFERY,
who, of course, was his deterhained opponents at

the last election, and contributed, in no small
degree to.his defeat, proposed the postponement.
of the election of the Dock Committee, he incon-
siderately, and with, every evidence of spleen,
characterisesd all his movements as emanations
concocted for party and political purposes.
Now, any one who reads the temperate and
close-reasoned arguments of M•r.. JEFFERM will
fail to detect the least scintilla of anything of the
kind. He showed clearly and unmistakeably that
prudence alone should dictate,that the action of

the Town Council on the affairs- of the Dock Trust
should be cautious and, if possible, without the
appearance of a division. The adoption of such a
line of conduct would be commendable, and would
let Parliament see that the guardians of the port
and trade of Liverpool were men who not only
knew how but when to. act. Mr. TURNER
thinks otherwise. He feels as if the whole
Dock Estate depended upon his re-election.
We do not mean to say that he has not devoted
great attention to the duties of his office, nor
do we think that he. is actuated by any but
earnest motives for the good of the Dock Estate.
Still there are men in the Town Council who
would fill the dook chair with greater dignity
than Mr. TURNER. The revelations made at the
last election have not been forgotten, and many
people, both here and in London, consider that
of all men now in Liverpool, he is just now the
least likely to command attention and respect
upon any matter before Parliament relating to
the Town Dues of Liverpool.
But there is.another reason why we object to
Mr. TURNER'S movements, and to the threats
which he held out with• the view of having his
re-election carried through instanter. No matter
how able, assiduous, add faithful a man may be
in discharging his duties as a public officer, he
has no right to aictate his terms to those who
have in their hands his election or rejection.
It was really too bad in Mr. TURNER to
bully and browbeat as he did on Wednesday
and Thursday, and attempt to frighten the
Council by declaring that he would not hold
office until his re-election was confirmed.
Scenes like those of Wednesday and Thursday
will not be readily forgotten. They evince, on
tile part of certain members, to whom we shall
not • particularly refer, a want of judgment,
conceit, and self-sufficiency, and must convince
both the Houses of Parliament that there a:e
divided councils respecting the trade and port
of Liverpool, and that our corporate authorities
are far from being a pattern of courtesy and
gentlemanly demeanour. Anythinz more un-
becoming the character of gentlemen we have
not heard of for a long time. It is to be regretted
that such, exhibitions take place, and particularly
at a time when the deepest interests of Liverpool
are at stake. Had Mr. TURNER not been so
anxious about his re-election, the people of
Liverpool would have been spared the task of
reading a report of the painful exhibitions. of
Wednesday end Thursday. Mr. TURNER has
gained his object ; he is again sent to the Dock
Committee, where be is still the chairman. Let
him learn that in future, if he desires fame and
popularity, he nlitst evince symptoms of mcdes