Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-31 00:00:00

WHAT IS PAPER ?

In the -Court of Exchequer, before the Lord
Chief • Baron, Mr. Baron Bramwell, Mr. Baron
Watson, and Mr. Baron Channel, a curious case
has just been argued—that of

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL v. BARRY.-This- was an_
information filed by her Majesty's Attorney-General
against the defendant, for making paper without a
license. The case was tried more than a year ago before
Mr. Baron Bramwell, when a verdict was taken for the
Crown by consent, with leave reserved to the defendant
to move to set aside the verdict, it being understood that
if, in the opinion of the Court, the learned.judge ought
to have left the case to the jury as a matter of fact, then
there should be a new trial. Mr. Wilde, Q.C., and Mr.
Bevan argued for the Crown ; Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and Mr.
Welsby for the defendant. The evidence at the trial
went to show that the defendant in his manufacture took
the fibrous portions of skins, and, reducing them to pulp, .
made__thetn into sheets by means analogous to those
employed in the manufacture of paper. The 2nd and
3rd Victoria, cap. 23, sec. 66, enacts, " That all paper,
buttonboard, millboard, pasteboard, and scaleboard, of
whatever materials made, and by whatever denomination
known.. or. called, and however manufactured, whether
ma le by the materials being reduced to pulp and moulded
or finished by machinery, or being pressed or intermixed
in a dry state, and made to adhere by pressure or other-
wise, shall be deemed and taken to be paper, button-
wood, millboard, pasteboard, and scaleboard, within the
meaning of this Act." It was argued for the Crown, that
anything was paper made from articles of a fibrous
nature which had been previously converted into pulp ;
that the defendant's manufacture was a material known
in the trade as parchment paper, because long prior to
the defendant's patent a Mr. De la Rue had imported
parchment paper from France, and that paper made from
animal substances has been long known and used ; for
instance, the bank-notes were printed on paper made
from silk rags, and paper was largely made from
pieces of woollen cloth, and the act required the
manufacturer thereof to have a license, failing
which he was liable to a penalty. The defendant's
manufacture was paper made from animal snbstances,
which clearly brought it within the definition of the
Act, and this being so the verdict for penalties ought to
stand. For the defendant, it was contended that the
manufacture could not be brought within the definition
of the Act, and that if it was anything at all approaching
to paper it was parchment, upon which all duties were
abolished ; that the statute of the 10th of Queen Anne,
cap. 19, was the first Act imposing a duty on paper ; and
that the defendant's manufacture must be proved by the
Crown to be such a manufacture as would have been
termed paper before the passing of that Act. The defen-
dant's material strictly was neither parchment nor paper.
It was not sold, as paper always is, in reams, but in
separate skins. Baron Bramwell: I want you, Mr.
Bovill, to define what paper is. Mr. Bovill : The Crown
must do that. The real question to be decided here is
one between the Crown and the trade. No one ever
heard of the defendant's manufacture being sold in reams.
Mr. Wilde : Ido not accede to that. It may be sold by
the retail man in a single sheet. Mr. Bovill :It is sold
as the defendant's patent parchment, and is applied to
the uses to which parchment is applied, and it can be
tested in the same way as parchment. If you apply heat
to it it melts, and if the heat is great it shrivels up ;
moisture effects it ; it can by heat be made into gelatine ;
it is not paper, and never was known as such ; and does
not come within any known definition of paper before the
pasSitig of the Statute of Anne. The Crown seeks to
make paper because it happens to be manufactured
from pulp ; that goes to the manufacture and not to the
material produced. The Crown has not succeeded in
showing that there is a duty, in fail' and unambiguous
language, chargeable upon the manufacture as paper.
After Mr. Wilde had replied, their lordshipssaid that they
would take time to consider judgment.

THE SOCIAL EVIL AT CAM BRIDGI

A case lately occurred in the University of Cambridg.
on which some of our contemporaries have already
commented. Most of our readers are probably aware
that, in consequence of the recent appointment of a
University Commission, new statutes have been intro-
duced into that seat of learning. Whether the changes
effected by these statutes will prove generally beneficial,
time only can show. We may, at all events, take' it for
granted that they were expected to work. Strange to
say, however, the machine is no sooner put into motion
than it strains and cracks and gets out of gear :-its
wheels that were expected to revolve, suddenly stop ; the
ropes, and chains that should have guided and controlled
its action not only snap assunder, but fly back in the
faces of its managers, to their, consternation and dismay.
-The facts of. the case are as follows : One of the
Pro-proctors (whose office it is to search out and otherwise
deal with cases of moral delinquency. among the under-
graduates), on a certain night in December last,
discovered a member of that body in a house of ill-fame.
The Pro-proctor naturally turned to the new statutes to
see what course was prescribed in such a case. They
direct that, if the offence be a light one, some moderate
punishment shall be inflicted by the officer himself ; but
that, if it be a grave offence, he shall make it known to
the Vice-Chancellor, and leave the case to be dealt with
by him and his Court, if he thinks proper to assemble it,
for the purpese of adjudication. In the present instance
it appears that the Pro-proctor, assuming the offence to
be a grave one, reported it to the Viee-Chaneellor.
Thereupon the Vice-Chancellor, deeming, we suppose;
that the gravity of the occasion required it, assembled his
court, and submitted the case to their consideration. -So
far the new machine seems to work smoothly. There is
wanting but one more stroke of the piston, but one
more turn of the wheels. But just at this point there
comes a smash. The Supreme Court, formed of venerable
heads of colleges not accustomed to be summoned from
their comfort;ble " Lodges" -for purposes of this kind,
give vent to their indignation against their subordinate
• officer for venturing to deviate from the easy-going rule
t of established usage. The criminal and the Pro-proctor
have, if not to change places, at least to share alike. The
• former leaves the court with an admonition ; so does the
Pro-proctor. Each is told "he had bettor not do it
again," The Pro-proctor, not feeling, we presume, quite
so well satisfied as the delinquent, resigns his office. And
o the academical machine comes to a dead stand-still.
Here, thee, is nothing less than a simple, but very
l unpleasant hitch. An officer, whose great mission is to
guard the morals and restrain the excesses of the younger
members of the University, feels bound, by the very
statutes which he has sworn to obey, to bring a case of
grave mMi deliapeuey before the Yi.ce• Chancellor,

We should have thought that an appeal of this kind from
the lower officer to the higher tribunal would hate found
a sympathetic response. On the
.contrary, the highest
court of the University so little appreciate the meaning
of the statute under which they have to administer
justice, that, in the first case which comes before them,
they actually feel indignant at being asked to interfere!
This is a strange way of inaugurating an improved
system of judicature, and certainly does not present the
University of Cambridge in any very advanced state of
enlightenment, either on the subject of morals or of
obedience to its own statutes.

CARDINAL WISEMAN'S LECTURE, AND

EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir,—l am sorry. to see—in your remarks on
Cardinal Wisman s lecture, in the NORTHERN
DAILY TIMES, of to-day—that you endorse the
vulgar Protestant prejudice against the Catholic
Church—that she is opposed (in Italy at least) to
the cause of popular education, and, in England,
only favours it from the force of circumstances.
This is (I think) the more to be regretted, when
we consider the usual liberality of the NORTHERN
DAILY TIMES—so different from most of its Liver-
pool cotemporaries—three of which seem to be
afflicted with a perfectly maniacal hatred of
Catholics in general, and the great Cardinal in
particular. Instead of being opposed to the
spread of knowledge, the Catholic Church has always
been the nursery of learning. The Catholic.
Church founded the great Universities, civilised
Europe, and before the invention of printing, kept
the lamp of science burning, and gave our fathers all
their learning. Pope Gregory, VII. commanded
all the Bishops in Christendom to encourage
literature and the arts, and to have each a school
attached to his Cathedral Church. And Gibbon,
the historian, declared that " one monastry of
Benedictine monks, gave to the world more works
of learning than both the universities of England."
The Jesuits have always been famed for their
admirable system of education, and Catholics in
this country are at present straining every nerve to
give a sound education to the poorer members of
the body of Christ.
And as for education in Italy, the Protestant
traveller Zaing, bears the following testimony :
" The Catholic clergy adroitly seized on education,
and not, as we suppose in Protestant countries, to.
keep the people in darkness and ignorance, and to
inculcate error and superstition, but to be at the
head of the great social influence of useful
knowledge." "In Catholic Germany, and France,
Italy, and even Spain, the education of the com-
mon people, in reading, writing, arithmetic,
manners and morals, is at least as generally diffused;
and as faithfully promoted by. the clerical body,
as in Scotland. Y Education is, in reality, not only
not repressed but is encouraged in the.' Popish'
Church, and is a mighty instrument in its hands
and ably used. In every street in Rome, for
instance, there are, at short distances,
.public
primary schools, for the education of the
children of the lower and middle classes."
Rome, with a populatin of 158,618 souls, has 372
public primary schools, with 482 teachers, and
14,099 children attending them. Has Edinburgh
so many public schools for the instruction of those
classes ? I doubt it. Berlin, with a population
about double that of Rome, has only 261 schools.
Rome has also her university. The Papal Statcs,
with a population of 24- millions, contain seven
universities. Protestant Prussia, with a popula-
tion of 14 millions, has only seven. The statistical
fact, that Rome has above 100 schools more than
Berlin, for a population little more than half that
of Berlin, puts to flight a world of humbug. . .
Is it asked —what is taught to the people of Rome
by all these schools ? precisely what is taught at
Berlin—reading. writing, arithmetic, geography,
languages, religious doctrine of some sort. And
yet Catholics are accused of being enemies to pro-
gress, although Europe is indebted to the Catholic
Church for civilisation, laws, and arts, and England
for her "Magna Charta."—l am, sir, yours very
faithfully, A SCOTSMAN.
Liverpool, 29 January, 1859.

HENGLER'S CIRQUE

TO THE TREASURER OF THE ROYAL INFIRMARY

Sir,—The receipts for last evening, although
announced for the benefit of your excellent local
charity, were not such as I did hope they would
have been, considering the nature of the appeal that
was thus made. to the feelings and generosity of
the public. It was understood, sir, when my
manager had the pleasure of waiting upon you,
that a moity of the receipts, free from all expenses,
should be handed over to you, in aid of the funds
of your institution, but as the amount falls far
ihOtt of-*hat Might faiiiOnably- have been antici-
pated, I beg to hand you a check for fifty pounds,
being the entire amount taken at the entrances,
in place of one-half as originally intended. Waiting
your kind acknowledgement of the enclosed,—
I am, sir, yours, &c. CHARLES lIENGLER.
Liverpool, January 29, 1859.
P.S. —I cannot refrain from 'stating, that I am
much indebted to the gentlemen of the Press for
the very obliging manner in which they gave
publicity to, and forwarded in every way the
interests of the institution.

THE COTTON SUPPLY

TO THE' EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES

Sir,—The article on the Cotton Supply Associa-
tion, in the papers of this date, strikes me as very
inappropriate at the present time. There are
many reasons for coming to this conclusion, but
the principal one, in my opinion, is, that the
manufacturers of this country don't seem to wish
a supply of cotton ; at any rate, they go about it
in a most extraordinary manner.
Take the last three months, for instance, what
has been the means they have taken to induce the
merchants of this country to supply them with
an adequate quantity of cotton, whilst they have
been realising from 20 to 50 per cent profit, and
the manufactured article rising weekly ? They
have ground down the importer, so that there has
not a bale of cotton arrived here for months but
has left a loss of from 20s. to 30s. each. The
consequence is, the merchants have not been
able to send orders to America, to compete
with the Continental and American merchants
and manufacturers, -and, as a matter of course,
these parties will run away with the Lyon share
of the staple, and, I may say, the most of the finer
grades; leaving nothing but the dregs for this

country.
Now, Mr. Editor, this is not a.question of price.
The association says that cotton is above its natu-
ral value ; but this is mere talk, for, provided the
manufacturer can get a good price and a good
profit on his article, it seems to me that he should
be able to give a good price for the raw material.
However, I am sorry to say that this is not the
belief of the Manchester spinner. He believes in
getting the raw material for nothing, and selling
his manufactures at an enormous price.
What will be the consequence of this ? Instead
of having, at the least, one million and a half of
bales in stock in this country (and I say we never
should have less)' we will have two or three hun-
dred thousand bales, and, provided anything takes
place to the coming crop, I leave you to judge
what will be the consequence. I will be met
by the manufacturers with they old cry that we
should not have sent out orders at such a high
rate, but this argument falls to the ground for
once, as it happens they (the manufacturers) could
well afford to -pay the price; as -it appears the.
Continental and American merchants and manu-
facturers do not think the price unreasonable,
as the quantity they are securing plainly shows.
I put these few lines together more for the
benefit of the manufacturers than the importers,
as they may depend on it, that if they continue to
screw down -the importer the way they have been
doing lately, a day of reckoning will come, and
that at no distant date, when they will find, by
their short-sighted policy, that they have with-
held the means whereby this country could n
er; ow
receive an adequate supply of the raw mat:c.a,
through their not adhering to the good old role of
ff live and let liv© A. B,
- 1859.
. __l ow7+l, TnnuarY,

MONETARY AND COMMEh
LIVERPOOL, Saturday vening
The demand for Cotton continues very uiet, at
previous prices. To-day, the sales were 5,000
bales, including 500 on speculation and for exp art.
There was a decided improvement in the tone .11.
the Liverpool Share Market to-day, and at the
close an advance in prices was established. The.
following are the day's transactions :—Caledonian,
87, 871, 874; Great Western, 5,5# ; Lancashire
and Yorkshire, 98 ; London and North Western,
964, 964; Manchester, Sheffield andlincoln, 38k ;
Midland, 103 k, 1027 ; North British, 62i; lovers,
22 5-16 ; Warrington and Stockport, 84, 8 9-16;
Dutch Rhenish, 41 d ; Grand Trunk of Canada,.

CIAL

8!,
The Money Market continues in an exceedingly
easy state, notwithstanding the commercial pay-
ments and loan instalments which will have to be
effected during the next fortnight. The fact is,
the available supplies have lately increased, princi-
pally through the release of the half yearly
dividends - and, as at the same time the demand
has subsided, competition has been stimulated, and
lower rates are chated foi accommodation. The
Bank authorities are not yet enabled to make any
large addition to their stock of securities,-.discount
business being attracted to the open market, where
easier terms are accepted for negociatiug first class
commercial paper. The Bullion in the national
establishment is fairly maintained, and the remit-
tances just announced from Australia are expected
to create a further accumulation. The Monetary
Times of to-day says—
The stagnation of business, and the uncertainty of the
future, have caused money again to accumulate amongst
bankers and brokers, and the rate of discount has receded
to 2k to 24, with a tendency to the former figure, and the
large arrivals of gold during the week, amounting to
700,0001., is calculated to produce a further decline.
The market for the Public Funds and Securities
has been dull, a few speculative realisations hav-
ing been effected, but the reduction in Prices
amount to only about 1-16 per cent.
In the other markets firmness prevails, except as
regards Indian Railway shares, which remain
heavy. English Railway Stocks have generally
improved, and French are firm. Business through-
out the Stock Exchange is languid. Consols
are quoted 951, " buyers," for money and the
Bth February, and 951, " rather sellers," for the 9th
March. The Three per Cents. Reduced have been
dealt in at 961 to 4 ; the New Three per Cents., at
961 to t ; India stock, at 221; the Indian Four.
per Cent. Debentures of the first issue, at 991 to-
-991, being pressed for sale ; the March Exchequer
Bills, at 37s prem.; ditto June, at 35s to 38s prem.;
and Exchequer Bonds, falling payable in May
next, at 1001. The foreign Stock Market is very
quiet. The New Turkish loan shows renewed
heaviness, the first series being quoted at 61 to
51 dis., and the second, 64 to 6 dis. The. Six per
Cents. of 1851 are quiet at 901 to 914. Mexican
Bonds continue to meet with, some transactions.
Very little activity was apilarent in the London
Railway Share Market to-day, but prices show
rather more firmness. Great Northerns are
quoted 105 to 106. Great Westerns, 55 to 551.
Lancashire and Yorkshire 961, 971. Brightons,
1094, 1101 ex div. North Western, 961, 964.
South Western, 954, 96; and Midlands, 1021, 103.
In the Foreign and Colonial Markets there is no
change of importance to notice. Paris and Lyons
are 331, 334. Northern of France, '371, 371.
East India, 1031, 1014; and Great India Peninsula,
1024, 1031. Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous
Shares realise about former rates.
In noticing the Market for Mines, the Mining
Journal of to-day says:
The General Stock Markets have been subject during
the week to many fluctuations and the want of activity
the common remark. The Mining Share Market, how-
ever, continues particularly buoyant, with a large busi-
ness doing in most descriptions of shares, while in a few
a considerable advance has takes place in prices. Metals
coninue to rise, and offer the most encouraging feature
to the miner. Rosewarne shares have been largely dealt
in at 50 to 521; the next sampling, it is understood, will
• realise nearly £1,500, and the succeeding one more; the
lode in the 70 will be cut in about a fortnight; and a
stope in the back of the 58, south of old lode, is worth
£BO per fathom.
The movements of the precious metals during the
past week have been of an important character.
The imports have amounted to 762,016/., including
13,610/. from the United States, by the America,
and 26,1371. by the City of Manchester ; 9,6131.
from Alexandria, by the Tagus, and 5001. by the
Behar ; 7001. from the Cape of Good Hope, by the
Phcebe ; 322,336/. from Australia, by the Black-
wall, and 339,100/. by the Swiftsure ; with about
. 50,0001. in silver from the Continent. The exports
have. been 76,195/. to Bombay, by the Ripon.;
10,0001. to the Peninsula, by the Alhambra ; and
shipments to the Continent, through the London
Custom House, estimated at 35,670/. The total
amounting to 121,865/,

The failure was announced yesterday of Messrs.
Prior, Turner, and Co., merchants, The clause
assigned for this suspension is a gradual decline in
business, the death of the senior partner, and the
uncertainty attending the settlement of the part-
nership accounts. The firm have agencies at
Naples and Palermo, but it is believed that the
draughts of these establishments will be provided
for. The liabilities of the London house are esti-
mated at £20,000, and it is expected that the
whole will be paid in full.
The report of the directors of the National Dis-
count Company, just issued,. states that, after
defraying current expenses, and reserving £11,667
12s for rebate on bills 'not yet due, a balance of
£13,555 .11s will remain for distribution, out of
which they intend proposing a dividend at the
rate of 5 per cent per annum, and carrying £3,921
18s. 6d. to the reserve fund.
From the report published by the London Dis-
count Company, it appears that the directors
recommend a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent per

annum.
The Swiftsure, from Melbourne, arrived in the
Downs last night, and her gold, £339,100, will be
delivered on Monday .

The London Colonial Markets this week have
been fairly supplied with produce, and a steady
demand has existed. Of Sugar large quantities of,
grainy kinds have been offered, and these have
to-day barely maintained the previous value, while
other sorts have, in many instances, gone slightly
in favour of the buyers. Some large transactions
are ' reported in Saltpetre at an advance of 2s to
3s. per cwt. from the late lowest currency, owing
to purchases on account of foreign governments.
Coffee is unaltered. Sales of Neilgherry Hills
descriptions have been made at full rates. Rice is
dull of sale: Cassia Lignea has declined is to 2s
per cwt.. Tea has been very active at higher
prices since the arrival of the China mail, nearly
all kinds showing a tendency to further improve-
ment.
We have Alexandria advices to the 17th inst.
From the circular of Messrs. Peel and Co., we
make-the following extracts :
Cotton since the receipt of the last advices from
England has been in greater favour at an advance, this
advance being more perceptible in the higher range of
Qualities. . The prices paid have been from id to 813 per
lh r n h_ Fair average commands 73i1 per lb., f. o. b.

There is no general improvement in the quality oi toe
arrivals. Flax : For good dressed the price of .£46 per
ton, f. o. b., has been reached, and there are orders with-
out limits as to price in the market, which aro
impracticable for want of supplies. Wheat has gradually
advanced during the month, and the last European
advises have pushed up our markets to the following
figures vis. :—For Saidi 24s per qr., f, o. b., Behareh 22s
per qr., f. o. b., and Contracts for Saidi deliverable
during this and the two following months, about 2,4 s pet
qr., f. o. b. These quotations shew a general advance o
piastres .5 on those of our last Cireular,wfweehairils:t.daodereeirvaeratriy:
ro
kets for all comestibili are very buoyant, alarm-
unlikely we may have a further rise. • Beam: erg
nowp;r q remainr.s. o inb thisfo r part,ad yi teu
ffl !st
and
sales
for
!- •

it is n

Cry
3.1n1 M

London