Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-07 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHRISTMAS CHEER.-Families residing 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, family ale and porter merchant,
110, Duke-street.
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.—The Black Ball clipper
British Trident, sails for Melbourne to-morrow (Sunday).,
with about 120 passengers and a full cargo of .valuable
goods. The succeeding packet of this line is the beau-
tiful clipper ship Vocalist, which is appointed to sail on
the 15th proximo:
DINNER TO THE LIVERPOOL SCRIPTURE READERS.—
The scripture readers of this town were entertained
yesterday evening, by Mr. Radley, to a dinner at the
Adelphi Hotel, together with the Revs. T. Cowan, Jas.
Bardsley, Arthur Gore, J. IV. Twist, J. J. Butler, W.
Bannerman, and Mr. Seragg, agent for the Church of
England Societies. This act of liberality on the part of
Mr. Radley will be an encouragement to a very deserving
class of men whose labours are essential in the populous
districts of this large town.
..TAXATION, DinEci AND INDmrcr' —We have adver-
tiSed a pamphlet under this title, which is a complete'
reply to the report of the Financial Reform Association
of Liverpool, by Henry Booth. We shall take an earl
opportunity of examining in detail the reasons adduced
in answer to what we cannot but consider the mischie
vous fallacies which that association is endeavouring t
propagate on this subject. In the meantime w
earnestly recommend the pamphlet to all who take an
interest in this very important question.
ENORMOUS BEAR.—We perceive by an advertisement
that Mr. Gorsuch, of Parker-street, who has distin-
guished himself as a bear destroyer, kills his fifty-fourth
bear on Wednesday next. This is -an incident of no
slight moment to those who stand in need of the
friendly aid of that most effective panacea bears' grease.
It is universally conceded that in this part of the king-
dom there is no one who has justified for himself, such
a character in this particular department of the Friseur's
art as Mr. Gorsuch, and we are confident that in this
instance, as all heretofore, his customers and patrons
will find him equal, to his established reputation.
GRIND CONCERTS IN ST. GEORGE'S-HALL.—We beg
to remind our readers that Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W.
Harrison, together with the band fine of Her Majesty's
Coldstream Guards, are to give a series of three concerts
in St. George's-hall, commeneing on Monday evening,
and continuing on Tuesday morning and Tuesday even-
in g. In each of the concerts these celebrated vocalists
will sing favourite Pieces ; and the splendid band, in
full regimentals, will perform selections from the most
popular musical compositions of the day. The treat
will necessarily be a high one, and all lovers of fine music
should take special care to avail themselves of the op-
" portunity of listening to the performances of so able a
combination of musical talent.
CORONER'S COURT.—The borough coroner, Mt. P. F.
Curry, held the following inquests yesterday :—IOn the
body of Catherine Gornal; a child six years of age, who
died from the effects of burns received- by her clothes
catching fire. Verdict, " Accidentally burnt."—On the
body of Margaret 'Brown, aged ten years, who also died
in consequence of being burnt. Verdict, " Accidentally
burnt."—On the body of Robert Quilliam, aged six
years, who resided in "Gough-court, Parliament-street.
The poor lad was killed on Thursday by his legs becom-
ing entangled in the spokes of a wheel of a mourning-
coach, on which he had mounted. Verdict, "AcCiden-
tally killed."--On the body of Patrick Mulligan, aged
44 years, who resided in No. 3 Court, Maguire-street.
He was in the employ of 'Messrs. Ackers, Vauxhall-road,
and died in consequence of being thrown from the cart
he drove, by the horn making a stumble, Verdict,
" Aceidedtally killed,"

lliam Kennay, a labourer, residing in
Collingwood-street, sustained a fractured leg at the new
North Docks, by a large quantity of clay falling on him.
He was taken to the Northern Hospital.
TUB TRANMERE WATER , QUESTION.--The Govern-
ment inquiry upon this question was resumed yesterday
morning before Mr. Dickens. ,The examination of wit-
nesses who are opposed to the operation of the local act
having been concluded, Mr. Dickens expressed it as his
opinion that the filthy condition in which some parts of
the township were; he' had never seen surpassed. He
considered that the board for the removal of nuisances
Jiad been quite a dead letter ; and he therefore thought
it was unnecessary to hear the evidence on the other
side, as it .would only tend to strengthen his present
opinion. The investigation was than concluded.
THEATRE ROYAL.—It is gratifying to notice the ready
manner in which the public have appreciated and rewarded
Mr. Copeland for the liberal spirit in which he has pro-
vided for their amusement, in the production of the
Christmas pantomime, at the above-named theatre. The
house has been, and is, crowded nightly with most
respectable audiences, who invariably testify, by frequent
applause, their delight and satisfaction with the enter-
tainment. The admirable groupings of the corps de
ballet—perfected as they now are by constant practice,
and heightened in their effect by the ingenious intro-
duction, of a looking-glass curtain—reflect the highest
credit upon Miss. M'Ginty, and never fail to elict hearty
applause. The Lauri Family have not altogether
deserted us, and the excellent manner in which Mr. E.
Lauri, the Pantaloon, sustains . his share of the hark-
quinade, fully upholds the reputation of his talented
family: The pantomime altogether, for the beauty of
its scenery, the cleverness of the artistes, and the merit
of the libretto itself, cannot but.continue to be in cha-
racter, as it is in name, the " Royal " pantomime of
Liverpool.
PEOPLE'S CONCERTS AT ST. VEORSE'S-HALL.—The
programme of the People's Concert at 5,t. George's-hall,
this- (Saturday) evening, gives promise of an entertain-
ment of peculiar excellence. Madame Endersshoia, the
great English'soprano, will lend a charm and interest to
the occasion by her exquisite singing ; and the parts
selected for Miss M. Wells, Mons. Depret, and Mr.
J. G. Patey, are such as to bring out the several excel-
lencies of these popular artistes. The extraordinary
dm:l:me; Corporal Woodhouse, who is a host in him-
self, is engaged to perform his celebrated solo on the
drum. But perhaps the most interesting feature of the
entertainment will consist in the wonderful handling
of the violin by Mad'lle Sophie Hunter. fetich
has even condescended to recognise the vast abilities
of this lady; for our facetious contemporary, in
notice of her performances in London, says " she
made that stupid-looking bit of wood appeal, cry,
laugh, whisper, scream, fall on its knees, tumble
,head over, heels, sing, talk, persuade, charm, convince,
and make love." He adds, "on most occasions we
would rather walk over several muddy crossings to avoid
hearing the violin, against which our excoriated ear
cherishes a most hearty hatred, but to hear Mademoiselle
Hunter we could wade every day through a very .Novem-
herish depth Of mud to pay oral homage to the eloquent
music she has the power of extracting from that instru-
ment of torture." The attendance is certain to be con-
siderable, fox the treat thus cheaply offered to the public
by the Messrs. Hime is of the highest order.

CAPTAIN BOUSFIELD AND THE IST.
LANCASHIRE RIFLES.

Sir Duncan McDougall, in his lately published work,
" Remarks on National Defence," pays the following
very high tribute to the great amount of public' spirit
evinced by Captain Bousfield's Rifle Corps. He recog-
nises it not only as the leader of the movement, but as
having actually given it existence. He says—" I can-
not but consider Captain Bousfield's corps of the Lan-
cashire Rifles to have been the immediate cause of the
late Government's having issued the circular authorising
the formation of volunteer corps, as in consequence of
Captain Bousfield having offered to the War Minister
the services of a body of gentlemen. I stated in for-
warding the offer to General Peel as follows. A
number of gentlemen connected with Liverpool; whose
offer to form a Volunteer Corps in 1857 was injudi-
ciously rejected by the Government of that day, are now
most anxious to renew the offer of their services, pro-
vided I would ascertain the probability of their ac-
ceptance at this momentous crisis. In tte event of the
Government accepting the offer of the patriotic gentle-
men in question, and holding out encouragement to
others to form similar corps, I am assured that three
or four hundred thousand would soon enrol them.
selves as volunteers ; and under judicious training
they. would, in a very short time, efface the ridicule
and disgrace to which Great Britain has been sub-
jecte i "in Europe as a consequence of the defec-
tive state of our defences having so repeatedly led
to the expression "of fears of invasion. And, after
giving a quotation from the letter which was addressed
by the late Duke of Wellington to Sir John Burgoyne,
I said most anxiously do I pray that. her Majesty's
Government may give serious consideration to the warn-
ing that was given by the most experienced warrior that
ever served the British Crown."
_ _ _

To the above, I received the following reply from the
'War Department
"I am directed by the Secretaiy of State to acknow- •
ledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, and
to acquaint you that a circular has been issued inform-
ing lord-lieutenants of counties of the conditions on
which her Majesty's Government will recommend to her
Majesty the adoption of the services of volunteer corps,
in the respective counties."

GREAT REFORM MEETING AT
BIRMINGHAM, LAST NIGHT.
A great Reform meeting was held la.st night at the
Town-hall,—Thomas Lloyd, Esq., Mayor, presided,—
for the purpose of considering the subject of Reform,
previous to the meeting of Parliament. The spacious
building was crowded to excess.
The Mayor having opened the business, Alderman
Baldwin moved the following resolution :—" That the
necessity of Parliamentary Reform being acknowledged
by all the great political parties, and her Majesty's Go-
vernment being pledged to introduce a Reform Bill dur-
ing the ensuing session, it is the opinion of this meeting
that any bill, to be useful to the country and satisfactory
to the people, must provide for a large extension of the
franchise, for vote by ballot, and for a better apportion-
ment of members to population."
George Edmonds, Clerk of the Peace, seconded the
motion, which -.was ably supported by William Schol-
field, Esq., .M.P6 after which
Mr. John Bright, M.P., rose, and was,received with
immense cheering. He said he felt sure they would
agree with him,. that it was a wholesome- thing that
constituents and representatives should meet as they
were met that night, for the purpose of discussing great
questions, of vast interest to the community--questions
which must very soon come before Parliament, and be
determined by Parliament. But if there were great
questions affecting the vital interests of the community,
which were to be determined and could only be deter-
mined by Parliament, how necessary was it to assume
that the Parliament to whose jurisdictions these ques-
tions referred should fairly represent the great interests
and intelligent mind of this great country. He thoUght
he did not overstate the case when he said that for many
years past there.haAl been a growing conviction not only
amongst unrepresented classes, but all classes, that the
House of Commons in this country did not fairly include
within it the representatives of all the interests, and all
classes which belong to that great concern, and the
population of that kingdom. They had. a most con-
clusive proof of that opinion from this fact, that, •
without any great agitation, or combination, throughout
the country, the entire people had come at last to the
conviction that they must have another reform bill,
larger than heretofore, and which would. effect such a
change as would make Parliament more a mirror to.
represent the people than at present. The question
had grown quickly, and ultimately the admission
had come down from the Crown, had been
enunciated by members of all classes f politics, and
had been responded to in the House of Commons, that
the people were entitled to put another representative in
Parliament. When the last Reform Bill was passed, in
1832, it was deemed a great measure, and 20 years
elapsed before any statesman of note could be prevailed
upon to make another advance,indeed it had often been
said that the members of Brook's Reform Club
were as frightened as any other peop of at
what had been done. At las't Lord John Russell, who
was as able, and he believed as trustworthy, as any of
his party offered to propose a bill for the further
exten-
sion of the suffrage, and in 18.52 he brought in a bill
which provided that every man living in a house
rented at £5, and being equal to a rental of £6 should
have a vote, and in Scotland every person rated at £5
should have a vote ; that was a large offer for the
, country, but an unfortunate difference arose between
t Lord John Russell and the present premier,
, and the bill was dropped. In 1854 Lord John
Russell again acting as spokesman for the Reform