The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

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The most judicious men of the country have no
hope that it will redeem us from the deplorable
condition of distrust and want of confidence that
generally prevails politically and commercially.
The public debt is of such an amount that but
little prospect exists of its redemption for many
years, though the taxes are now as high as can be
borne. It is understood that the Minister of the
United States has pressed energetically the
different claims preferred by citizens of the United
States on account of advances made in the war of
independence and other claims.

A remarkable exodus is this year setting in to
Canada and the Western States of America, via
Canada, owing to the through opening of the Grand
Trunk Railway to the West, which affords the
emigrant protection against plunder on arrival
The government emigration agent and the officials
or the railway take charge of the passengers and
luggagetheir from the ship to their finaldestina-
tion, which is a great boon to all strangers, more
especially to the foreigners who cannot speak the
language. At New York and Boston these friendless
strangers were greatly imposed upon -by rival rail-
way touters, whereas in Canada not-only protection
but every information is afforded by the government
Emigration Commissioners. The establishment
of a weekly ocean steamer, with a subsidy of
£50,000, in connection with the Canadian system
of railways, restores the valley of the St Lawrence
as the loop line between Europe and the Far West,
from whence the traffic will flow to Montreal,
Quebec, and Portland. The latter will monopolise
the supply of food, not only in the lower British
Provinces, but in the eastern States of Maine and
Massachusetts. Hitherto this great traffic has been
diverted to New York, by means of canals and
railways ; the latter of which Canada did not pos-
sess until this year, as the eastern sections of the
Grand Trunk were comparatively useless until the
opening of the western section tapped the traffic.
The government bring in a bill on the reassembling
of the Provincial Parliament on the 15th instant,
to grant the Grand Trunk Railway a subsidy of the
provincial subscriptions of upwards of three millions
sterling, rather than drive British capital to Russia,
or permit the trade of the West to be diverted to
New York.

Owing to the non-arrival of the continental
mails last evening, we are without our usual letters
from Paris and elsewhere. From Denmark we
learn that the Cabinet is being reconstituted
slowly. The cause is the difficulty of bestowing
the portfolio of Foreign Affairs and that of
Holstein, left vacant by the retirement of M.
Scheele. M. Andrae, Minister of Finance, will
carry off the Presidency of the Council over M.
Hail, Minister of Public Worship. Still, with the
exception of M. Scheele, the retention of the
former Cabinet is no longer doubtful. A despatch
from Paris states that the Credit Mobilier, being
desirous of effecting an operation in Russian
railways which it could not lawfully do without the
consent of the government, has been refused the
authorisation.

The most recent advises from St. Petershnrr.
speak of the publication of the new tariff as still to
be confidently expected this spring; the delibera..
tions on this subject are being carried on in the
capital with great assiduity and energy, and we are
given to understand that the publication of the
tariff will be accompanied by new Customs regula-
tions, the object of which will be the deliverance
of commerce from the numerous irksome forms
and processes with which all import business has
hitherto been hampered in Russia.
The general Committee of the Austrian Agricul-
tural Exhibition, officially announces that the
murrain has not spread in Moravia and Silesia
The complaint is sporadic, and has only affected
cattle which have been driven into thos.e provinces.
However, to tranquillize the exhibitors, a promise
has been given that their cattle shall be brought to
Vienna on the Northern railroad in new waggons
constructed for the purpose.

The clipper ship Anglesea arrived off Plymouth
yesterday. She sailed from Melbourne on the
2nd of February. She is laden with 600 tons of
copper ore and 1,266 bales of wool, and brings
on freight 52,600 ounces of gold,besides what may
be in the hands of her passengers (170), among
whom are some successful colonists and Lieut
Colonel Thomas James Valiant, 40th Regiment,
and Lieutenant William Henry Paul, of the 12. th
The Alhambra arrived at Southampton yester-
day, with the Peninsular mails. She brings no
news of the least importance.
We ought to have telegraphic news today from
Suez, Aden, Point de Gale,and Singapore, and
also from the Mauritius to the lot inst. Up to this
latter date the Oneida would have been out 55
days from King George's Sound ; so that if she
was crippled, and made for the Isle of France, she
would probably have reached that place by the
last-mentioned date. This day week we ought to
hear from Australia by way of Marseilles
Of political news this morning there is little or
none. It is understood that on the opening of
Parliament, on Thursday next, the motion that
Mr. Evelyn Denison be the new Speaker, will be
moved by Lord Harry Vane, and seconded by Mr-
Thornley.

A very destructive fire broke out in Snarling
street yesterday morning, and although the fire
brigade and the police worked with the greatest
coolness and heroism, the flames were not
subdued before thirty thousand pounds' worth
of property was sacrificed to the devouring
element. The warehouse in which the conflagra-
tion committed its ravages, contained upwards of
3,000 bales of cotton

We give the particulars this morning of a fright
fill collision at the mouth of the Thames, by which
the revenue cutter Curlew was run down, and all
her crew lost save one man—in all, seven men.

The inquest on the body of the gamekeeper
murdered at Beeston, in Cheshire, has ended in a
verdict of wilful murder being returned against
one John Blagg, who is in custody.
The inquiry into the boiler explosion at Wolver:
hampton, by which five persons were killed, and a
number seriously wounded, has been adjourned.
A full report of a couple of czim, con. cases
will be found in our columns to-day, they are both
connected with parties in " high life."
This day another of England's mighty " engines
of warfare" will make " her home on the deep,"
and arrangements having been made for the con-
venient witnessing, by upwards of 10 000 spectators,
the launch at Portsmouth of the Royal Sovereign,
three decker, 131 guns, will no doubt prove a day
of joyousness to many, should the weather prove
propitious.

_ AT
A. very influential and enthusiastic meeting of
shipmasters and shipowners was held yesterday
afternoon, at the Underwriters' Rooms, to adopt a
petition to parliament in reference to the powers
vested in the Board of Trade, for investing the
causes of wrecks and casualities at sea. The peti-
tion was unanimously adopted, and a full report
of the proceedings will be found in another por-
tion of to-day's paper.
The Bank of England returns of last night, show
an important increase in the amount of Bullion in
the coffers of the bank. The amount deposited
there is, £9,605,749, being an increase of £541,137,
when compared with last week.

WE have already expressed our thanks to
Drs. NEVINS and EDWARDS for the very able
Report, which, on a previous occasion, they laid
before the Philosophical Society on the qualities
of the Rivington Water, and more especially as
to its action upon lead ; and, in common with
most of those who felt an interest in the matter,
we rejoiced in the announcement made by those
gentlemen that it was their intention to follow
up the experiments, in order that the most con-
clusive results might be arrived at; and we can
only express our sincere regret that they appear
to have been deterred from carrying this resolu-
tion into effect fully, from the serious expense
involved by prosecuting experiments on a large
and comprehensive scale. Had their views been in
unison with the Pike faction, this obstacle would

have been soon obviated. As their published
opinions were, however, antagonistic to those
held by the stipendiary philosophers of the Town
Hall, they could command no pecuniary aid from
that quarter,.bence the majority of those who
attended the meeting of the Chemists' Associa-
tion on Thursday night, were doomed to a cer-
tain amount of disappointment at the circum.
scribed character of the Report, which had been
so anxiously looked for, and which in its main
feature was merely a repetition of its predecessor.
Of course, it was not to be supposed that the
gentlemen in question could be expected to
expend their own means solely for a public
purpose, in addition to giving their own time
and .talents to the investigation of this great
question; for what they have done, they deserve
the best thanks of the town at large. Their
experiments, although not so comprehensive as
some might have desired, are yet in themselves
most conclusively proving the utter fallaciousness
of the theories, arguments, and pretended facts
of the paid advocates of the Pike.
The important question of the action of the
Pike water on lead is thus set at rest for ever by
their experiments—sixty in number—and
extending over a period of several months. In
every one of them it was found that the action of
the Rivington water on lead was most rapid and
decided, so much so that in the course of a few
days nearly four grains of this deadly poison had
been dissolved by one gallon of Pike water in a
lead cistern; and, morever, it did not appear
that the affinity of this water for lead was in any
wise neutralised, as some had anticipated, by the
coating which was imagined would form on the
cistern by its continued contacts with the water;
although in the case of hard water such a coating
will be formed as in the Liverpool cisterns, yet
no such results follow from the action of Riving-
ton water.

It is positively frightful to contemplate the
events which might have occurred to the health
of the inhabitants of Liverpool from the general
use of water surcharged as that of Rivington
would have been with sulphate of lead to this
extent ; and the public of Liverpool cannot be
too grateful to those gentlemen who have been
instrumental, directly or indirectly, for prevent-
ing this calamity; for had the Pikeists been per-
mitted to carry out their plans as they c3ntem-
plated, every inhabitant of this town would have
been imbibing a slow but certain poison in
every meal he eat, or every draught of water he
drank. Verily, this would, indeed, be death in
the pot with a vengeance! Thanks to the oppo_
sition, this calamity has been averted; and after
the conclusive experiments of the two gentlemen
named above, we hope we shall have no more
empirical twaddle about the non-poisonous cha-
racter of this water when stored in lead cisterns,
It was shown that although the well water
attacks lead cisterns, more especially at such
places as there may be soldered joints ; yet it
does not bold the lead in solution as surface
water does--hence no injury can result from the
use of such water, however long it may be in
contact with the lead. But there was another
important point which received its solution from
these experiments, namely, the ,colour of the
water, It is notorious that ever since the intro-
duction of the Pike water, its colour, even when
mixed with double its volume of spring water,
has been most offensive to the eye. The hire-
ling Pike apologists contended that this colour
was the result of oxidation in the pipes, and that
when these were scoured out the water would
prove perfectly pellucid. Those opposed to the
scheme, on the other hand, maintained that the
colour was caused by vegetable growth ; that it
was in fact peaty water. Drs. EDWARDS and
NEVINS have proved by actual experiments that
the latter is the correct opinion. They found
the water, after having been in contact with the
iron main for a distance of twenty miles, purer
than it was when leaving the reservoir. The
discolouration, which they declare to be highly
objectionable, is caused by vegetable algae, with
which the Rivington waters teem—both brown
and green. This organism, when viewed through
the microscope, presents the appearance of
myriads of minute bunches of hairs, which no
ordinary system of filtration will rid the water
from. At present these pass freely through the
filter beds, but in their passage along the pipes
their vitality ceases: being excluded from the
atmosphere, which is essential to their living
existence; hence the greater purity of the water
from the Prescot reservoir, when compared with
that at the filter beds. This impregnation of
such immense quantities of minute vegetable
matter is what gives the colour, so much dis-
liked, to the Rivington water; and its remedy
presents difficulties apparently insurmountable.
As has been shown, the ordinary process of
filtration is of no utility whatever in decolourising
the water ; and for this purpose, it appears, the
only known agent is animal char, and our
chemists recommend its use. But however effi-
cient this may prove on a small scale, it is doubt-
ful whether it would be equally so when employed
to filter many millions of gallons daily ; besides, '
even were its efficacy guaranteed, the enormous
cost would be an effectual barrier to its applica-
tion to such works as those of Rivington. It
would be idle, without some data to guide us,
even to hint at anything like an estimate of what
the cost of filtration by this process would amount
to ; but that it would be excessive, no one con-
versant with the process can entertain a doubt.
Next to the poisonous character of the water,
when kept in contact with lead, its discoloura-
tion is the most objectionable feature about it.
In the one case there is a remedy, and, as Dr.
EDWARDS observes, the only sure one, that is, to
dispense with lead altogether. In the other, we
have only a suggestion, and, we fear much, a very
doubtful one.

True, as Dr. NEVINS observed, in other towns
people have been compelled to drink discoloured
water, and although they may have complained
loudly at first, yet after using it for a year or
two, they became reconciled to it, and although

not liking it. y,:t they did not now complain.
We certainly could not coincide with the views
of the learned Doctor on this point. As a medi-
cal man, he must know that you may train the
senses to become reconciled to almost anything.
Thus tobacco, spirits, opium, even the most
deadly poisons, as prussic acid, may be taken not
only with impunity, but with positive pleasure
by those who have trained their stomachs to their
use. Yet we are very certain Dr. NEVINS would
not recommend these for general use, except
medicinally.
He instanced several towns, such as Kendal,
Lancaster, and Sheffield, where mossy coloured
water was supplied without producing any injuri-
ous effect on the health of the inhabitants. He ad-
mitted, however, that in some of these towns the
water was so offensive, that for two months
during the summer it is totally unfit for dietetic
purposes; thus showing that at the very time
when pure water is most wanted, it is not to be
procured. It may be very true that many towns
are so circumstanced in regard to water supply,
as to make any plan welcome which gives them
relief. In such cases quality may not be such
an object as quantity. Liverpool is, however, an
exceptional case, and we must protest against
any attempt to despoil us of our pure water on
any pretext, however specious.
The more recent analysis of those gentlemen
has also brought to light another important fact,
namely—that the Pike water has become much
harder than it was when first introduced. This
hardnes%Dr. EDWARDS ascribes to the presence
of lime. This he declares has had the effect of
completely neutralising the only good property the
water possessed, namely, its softness. From
what fell from the learned gentleman, it would
appear to have been his opinion that the presence
of lime in the water could only be accounted for
on the supposition that it had been employed as
a discolouring agent—in fact, we inferred from
his remarks that he had been informed such was
the case, although he did not commiit, himself to
any positive statement on the subject.
It is well known that from the quantity of free
carbonic acid contained in our spring water, a
rapid growth of conferva takes place, when it is
for a length of time exposed to the action of air
and light. This growth is much more rapid in
spring than in surface water. But exclude these
influences, and the Liverpool water will retain
its pristine purity and sparkling brilliancy for
years, as our everyday experience proves.
We would again express our thanks to the
Chemists' Association, more especially to the
gentlemen named, for the pains they have taken
in investigating this important question ; and the
conclusions they have thus impartially arrived at
prove the correctness of our views on every point
connected with it.

They have shown that, even when mixed with
equal proportions of well water, its action on
lead is very perceptible —that when not mixed
it speedily becomes a deadly poison—that its
colour is not the result of oxidation, but of vege-
table impurity, rendering its use decidedly objec-
tionable. They have proved that this colour
cannot be removed by ordinary filtration; and,
lastly, they have ascertained that the quality of
the water has of late undergone an important
change for the worse, from some cause. We
heartily agree with them that when the use of
the water shall have become safe for dietetic pur-
poses, and when :some process shall have been
devised which will render it of equal purity to
that which we have so long enjoyed, then the
Pike will become a positive advantage to the town;
but until these important objects are accom-
plished, we must protest against our being com-
pelled to use water which is at present declared
to be not only repulsive, but actually poisonous.
We are resolved that no effort on our part shall
be spared, to prevent the town being deprived of
their pure, "wholesome, sparkling well water,
until a fit substitute has been obtained ; and,
assuredly the Pike water, in its present condition,
is not that substitute.

THE Hon. NEAL Dow, of Maine Law celebrity,
has arrived in England. His coming is of course
connected with the Temperance movement, and
he intends to visit the principal towns of Eng-
land and Scotland to promote the attainment of
a Maine Law for this, country. Doctors differ,
and so do reformers ; no one would profess to
be other than a friend of temperance, but there
are serious grounds of difference as to the best
means of attaining an object which all adrift to
be desirable. Opposite statements are very con-
fidently put forward respecting the results of this
Maine Law. While its advocates proclaim it as
the herald of the Millenium, its opponents affirm
than it has made things worse than before. Mr.
GOUGH, the far-famed temperance lecturer, has
declared that in some parts at least Maine Law
does not work well ; people are more drunken
than ever ; in America, as in Ireland, many have
gone back from their high pledges. We must
leave these two great authorities to settle the
matter between them. We are, however, seri-
ously of opinion that men will have to agitate a
very long time indeed before the public sentiment
of this country will be ripe for so great a change.
Earnest reformers are daunted by no difficulties.
But a Maine Law is so alien to the habits of our
people. All reformatory movements must be
in some keeping with the character of the people,
for in the long run the Legislature will corres-
pond with that character ; or, stating it in other
words, the character of a people will mould their
laws. The advancement of civilisation tends to
restrict more and more the province of govern-
ment. The feeling in England is growing
against all government interference. The more
people are left to themselves to consult their
own interests in their own way, so much the
better. We are learning to believe less than ever
in the omnipotence of Parliament. It is felt that
people should look to themselves for help, rather
than to government. Governments have hitherto
governed too much—it would be their wisdom
to let us alone. Whatever may be the case in

America, we in England are rapidly attaining
the conviction that men cannot be made moral,
religious, or sober by Act of Parliament.

The Maine Law has to struggle with this ris-
ing and wholesome feeling. John Bull will not be
dictated to what he shall eat and what he shall
drink, or wherewithal he shall be clothed. He is
not a child to be held in leading strings. If this
will do for the young man over the water, it will
not suit the old gentleman on this side. We
have a small instalment of this sort of legislation
in the Forbes-Mackenzie Act for public-houses ,
and while opinions are divided even on this, it
is not for us to decide. But whatever may be
thought of temperance societies, pledges,and Maine
Laws, we believe there are other and not less
effective modes of promoting temperance. Every
improvement in the condition of the people is a
help to temperance. Improved dwellings for the
poor, cheap literature, schools, mechanics' insti-
tutes, baths and wash-houses, and all kinds of
uncostly innocent recreation, are among the
means to which we must look for the permanent
increase of temperance amongst us. Temperance
lectures have done good by directing attention
to the enormous amount of inebriety, and
causing the subject to be discussed. But not
to lectures alone, nor to abstinence alone, must
we look to the practical promotion of this
great object. The most enlightened advocates
of temperance will be the most ready to admit
this.

In addition to lectures and exhortations, it is
obvious that if people can be brought together
for recreation, to a musical entertainment or to a
lecture on health, we are indirectly but most
effectually promoting temperance reform. It is
a mistake to suppose that this reform can proceed
alone in separation from all other reforms. As
the average morality of the community is
increased, so will this great reform advance also.
We should have little faith in any lasting
improvement from constantly harping on tem-
perance alone. Make it a part of general
improvement, 'appeal to men's self-respect and
enlightened interest, facilitate innocent gratifi-
cation s, remove all needless restrictions on the
enjoyments, information, and general prosperity
of the community, and success is ultimately
assured. But we have no belief in any short
cut to this " consummation so devoutly to be
wished ;" no trust in any patent method which is
the private and pet secret of a party. As the
homes of the poor are made more confortableo
the desire of simple pleasures will be gratified,
and that of deleterious excitement will decline.
Even an abundant supply of pure air and clean
water is no contemptible help towards making
people temperate. Mr. Dow is, no doubt, a
strenuous advocate of water drinking, and no
doubt he would agree with us that if we are to
d,ink water it should really be a beverage of
tolerable purity, and not a filthy compound, de-
based by human art or carelessness. In short, if
we are to drink water, let us not be condemned
to drink the Pike water.

Whether the supporters of the Pike will be re-
minded by the presence of the honourable
gentleman of their duty to provide pure water
for the public drinking—or whether Mr. Dow
has kindly or maliciously presented himself in
Liverpool by way of reminder to the authorities
of the Pike, we cannot determine; but it is no
exaggeration to say, that the abominable condi-
tion of this water may tempt many to intemper-
ance. People that dare not drink toads, and
putrid remains of animal life, in their water, are
tempted to drink something stronger than water.
We put it to the consciences of our friends—
" Have you considered bow you may be acces-
sary to forming, or tempting to, habits of intem-
perance, by the abominable wash you offer us
for water. You are neutralizing the effects of
the temperance reform, and in a short period you
may undo the work of years. Bad water is not
only a physical, but also a moral pollution!'
We leave this appeal with all whom it may con-
cern, trusting that the whole community who
are not vitally interested in this matter, will not
suffer the appeal to be made in vain.

BODY OP A CIITLD Fourin.—On Thursday, a woman,
named Mary Curtis, found the body ofa child in Raymond
street, Vauxhall road.

Edward King, an old man, residing in Paul street, died
on Thursday night rather suddenly, under somewhat
strange circumstances, which will be investigated this day.

The works connected with the establishment of a lire of
electric telegraph between Lisbon and Madrid have
alre idy commerced.

ATHENS, April 20.—The government has determined to
oppose the French proposition for the establishment of
credit institution in Greece.

Thursday.—The Upper House has rejected
paragraph one, of a bill imposing an additional duty on
salt, by a majorily of 95 to 21. The government there-
upon abandoned the bill—the first paragraph containing
the entire measure.

DEATII FROM DRUNKENNESS.—On Thursday Evening a
man, named James Hatton, slater, was taken in a car to a
house in Birch street, in a helpless state of intoxication,
where he expired almost immediately. He lived at 47,
Pitt street.

THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ SHIP CANAL.---M De Lesseps,
the projector of the Ship Canal for uniting the Mediter-
ranean Sea and the Red Sea, will visit Liverpool next
week, in order to explain the merits of the scheme to the
merchants and others interested in the subject, which
is one of vast importance to the whole mercantile com-
munity.
TEUTONIC HALL, LIME-STREET.—At this institution, a
series of entertainments has been given, for some months
past, with great success, consisting of a series of Panoramic
Views. The proprietor has lately introduced some new
and novel scientific amusements, Dissolving Photographic
view, Swiss scsnery, glaciers, statuary, &C., with excellent
vocal and instrumental music. The most prominent fea-
tures are the singing, the Enchanted Fountain, and Eve
listening, which is truly beautiful. The Fountain is cer-
tainly the most lovtly we have ever seen. An hour's
amusement and science may be here had of the most
pleasureable description.
Ma. GIDDEN S' CLOSING SEA SON BALL. —Mr. Giddens,
the eminent professor of dancing, gave his last ball for the
season on Thursday evening, at his newly erected, and
splendidly decorated rooms, Hardman street, which was
attended by about a hundred of his first-class pupils. The
rooms were most tastefully laid out and decorated for the
occasion. The admired band of Mr. Martin was present,
and amongst other pieces, performed the following
music :—Polka, Quadrille, Deux Temps, Lancers, Schot-
tische, Varsoviana quadrille, Galope, Wal'z, Quadrille,
Polka, Lancers, Schottische, Country Dance. Mr.
Fanning kindly acted as master of the ceremonies, and
was most effective in his efforts. Dancing commenced at
nine o clock, and was continued up to supper time. At
supper Mr. and Mrs. Giddens presided, and everything
was done in the best style. Dancing re- commenced after
supper, and NI as kept up till three, when the company
separated, highly gratified with the evening's entertain-
ment.