Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-14 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

A good Playing Card for Is. 6d. Sold by Mawdsley
and Son, 4, Castle-street. d 22
CHRISTMAS CREElL—Families residine, within five
miles of Liverpool can be supplied with Burton mild
and bitter ales of the first brand, as also London stout,
in 41, 9, and 18 gallon casks, by sending their orders,
or calling at T. Bolton's, tinnily ale and porter merchant,
110, Duke--street. . . . _

FIRE Yr.srattaly.-:--About three o'clock yesterday
afternoon a fire broke •out in a hayloft in Lydia-Ann-
street, occupied by. Mr. Taylor ; .but the fire-brigade
from Temple-court were quickly on the spot, and ex-
tinguished the flames before any extensive damage had
resulted.
EVERTON COMPANIES OP. VOLUNTEER RIFLES.—We
learn that the Everton Companies of Volunteer Rifles,
whose' services 'have , been graciouly accepted by her
Majesty, have just received an intimation from the War-
office, informing them that the St. Doaningo-lane Bar-
racks are at their service, as store-houses for the corps.
PHONOGRAPIIY.—Admirers of this system of short-
hand will be glad_ to hear that its inventor, • Mr. Isaac
Pitman, of Bath, will visit Liverpool this week. He
will be glad to meet his phonographic friends, at eight
o'clock on Friday evening, at the Young Men's Chris-
tian Association, Renshaw-street, for the purpose of
conversation on sundry matters connected with the art.
CAMBRIDGE MIDDLE CLASS EXAMINATION. The
examiners deputed by the Cambridge University to con-
duct the local examination—the Very Rev. Dr. Goodwin,
Dean of Ely, and the Rev. 11. M. Campion, of Queen's
College—were received yesterday, at St. George's-hall,
by the Mayor. -His Worship having expressed the
pleasure he felt at being present to welcome the ex-
aminers to Liverpool, gave utterance to a hope that the
examiners of Cambridge would be as warmly welcomed
as those of Oxford ; and said that the committee in-
tended, as on a former occasion, to bold a public meeting,
at which prizes would be awarded to the successful can-
didates. The examination was then adjourned till this
morning.
CORONER'S COURT.—The following inquests were
held yesterday, before Mr. P. d. Curry, coroner :—On
the body of Robert Allan, son of a porter, who fell out
of a room in a warehouse in New Quay into the street,
on Sstuxday afternoon last. Verdict, " accidental
death."—On the body of Mary Hornby, a child of nine
weeks' old, whom her mother found dead by her side
when she awoke on Sunday morning, having overlaid
her during the night.—On the body of Alfred Sutton,
also a child of nine weeks old, who was found dead in a
similar manner. Verdict in both cases, " died from
suffocation."—On the -body of Mary Flynn, aged 50,
who died in the Northern Hospital from the effect of
injuries she received -in a quarrel with her son-in-law.
There was no verdict given in the case, as the surgeon
had not as yet been able to make a post mortem exami-
nation. It has accordingly been adjourned till to-day.
TOUNG MEN'S CEIIISTIAN ASSOCIATION.—The tenth
lecture of the present winter course,. in connection with
the above-named association, was delivered last night,
at Hope-hall. The'lecturer was Mr. J. P. Chown, who
had selected for his subject, "The. Pilgrim's Progress."
'.phis immortal Work -af John- Bunyan is so remarkable
for the simplicity and terseness of its diction, and the
unity of its design, that we might suppose any attempt
to improve upon it would be useless; and this supposi-
tion is undoubtedly correct to a certain extent. But the
object of last night's. discourse was not so much. to im-
prove the work itself ,as to set forth its beauties in the
most conspicuous manner. In the accomplishment of
this design, the lecture was completely. successful ; but
Mr. Chown had a much greater object in view than any
mere literary critique,.he drew his hearers from the alle-
gery to the reality, and thus rendered his subject in-
structive in a secular point of view, but much more so
as an elevating and Christian discourse.
TRADESMEN'S COMPANIES OF
.VOLUNTEER RIFLES.
consequence of a-requisition by twenty-five of the
principal tradesmen of this town, addressed to Mr.
Cooper,- honorary secretary to the rifle corps, a spirited
and numerously-attended meeting was held at head
quarters on Monday night, at which many of the leading
tradesmen and shopkeepers of Bold-street, Church-
street, Lord-street, Castle-street, &c. were present, when
it-was unanimously resolved to call a general meeting
of tradesinen for the purpose of furthering this com-
mendable movement among that important Class of the
community. If we may judge from the manner in
which this matter .has .been begun and forwarded, we
may expect to see before long a very numerous body
enrtdi-ed as the Liverpool Tradesmen's Volunteer Rifle
Corp:;. It will be seen by advertisement that a general
meetir is called for Tuesday 'neXt, to- be held an the
Common-hall, Haekin's-hey. _ .

DIL. LAN KESTER'S LECTURE.—Last evening, Dr.
Lankester deliVered his fifth lecture at the Concert-hall,
Lord 'Nelson-street, the Chair being occupiedil Mr. W.
Preston, the ex-mayor. The.subject was, " Tea, Coffee,
and 'Chocolate ;" and the lecturer said that these beve-
rages,were fast superseding the use of alcholic drinks,
and .that we in the British Isles consumed more tea-than
the inhabitants of any other oountry, the people of China
only excepted. • The inhabitants of this kingdom con-
sumectos-i ounces each, while those of France consumed
only one ounce, those of Russia four ounces, and those of
the United States sixteenounoes: Those nations which:
consumed less tea drank larger .quantities of coffee ; but,
in this ,country, we consumed larger quantities of both
in propeition to the number than the inhabitants of the
other countries that he had' Mentioned: It appeared that
those who have- the greatest strain on the brain. and the
utmost exertion of intellect, consumed the greatest.
quantity of those beverages. The lecturer described the
manner of ;production, preparation, and the export of
the subjects of his lecture ; after which, Mr. Steains made
some observations upon the consumption of tea, and
advocated the. reduction of the duty on that article to
sixpence in the pound, which, he said, would be worth
fifty acts of :parliament regulating the sale of beer and
spirits. Tea, he said, employed one hundred ships and
,many millions of capital, and brought to the national
exchequer £250,0.00. * The consumption during the past
wear was 80,0004000 lbs. In 1606, tea in England was
Ws. per lb., and many years afterwards the East India.
.Company introduced 100 lbs. as a venture. In 1820,
the consumption of tea was 26,000,600 lbs... in 1840,
40,000,000 lbs., and this' year, 80,000,000165, having
doubled •in nineteen years. ; The proceedings. terminated
with a vote of thants to the chairman:
N.TEXIDALE RAGGED SCHOOtSp—CIiRISTMAS TREE.—
For some time past, thar)q; to the energy of the Rev.
M. Lester, incumbent of St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale,
and the iissistance of Mrs, Lester, his amiable wife,
great exertion; have been made for the purpose of pro-
viding limas of education for the children of the poor
in Kirkdale. Besides the advantages to be derived froin
well-orrranised; sehoofs in connection .with the church,,
the efforts referred to have been also directed to the
establisbnient of "ragged schools," through the instru-
mentality of which the children of even the poorest may
be enabled to partieipate' in *the advantages of educa-
tional instruction. The, endeavours of the rev. gentle-
man, and of his lady kave been highly beneficial, and
they have met with ,deServed *encouragement. A con-
siderable sum. has been contributed towards the erection
of a sehool-libuse. for the -aeeeniniodation of the "ragged
school". pupils.- John Shaw Leigh, Esq., has in- the
kindest manner. agreed .to give a site,for tbe'building,
the fonndation of Which it is expected will be laid about
Vaster ; and some.reasouable‘antieipf,ttions are entertained
that the Earl of Derby will officiate in laying the founda-
tion stone. For the support'of the institution, and with a
view to aid its funds, a Christmas-tree and bazaar. have
been resort& to, the ,proceedings of which commenced
yesterday, in the school-room belonging to St. Mary's
Church. A large and very. handsome tree was contri-
buted by the Earl of Sefton, from Croxteth-park ; and
it was very tastefully, as well as liberally, decorated .1

with elegant and ornamental matters for disposal on
such occasions. The school-room was also very beauti-
fully decorated by festoOns of evergreens, wreaths, and
other devices; while well furnished stalls were ranged
around, containing a choice display of fancy articles.
TV sale of these numerous and pleasing productions -
was presided over by varion.s ladies who take an interest
in the movement; and, ju.dgiug from the appearance of
yesterday, this exhibition promises to be both pleasing
and profitable. The object is an excellent one, and it.
deserves every encouragement.