Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

fffy finest of the Greek dramas, such as di°
"Edipus," the - "Electra," and others, is
ful, and almost revolting, to find favour in the icycs
of most modern theatres; and the peculiar form of most
of ../Eschylus' tragedies would not fall in with the require-
ments and regulations of our stage. The "Antigone" of
Sophocles is, howeveilloa drama which* harmonises even
with our dramatic laws, and is admicably,suitcd for such
a reading as that which Mr. YandenhGff has annonnced.
The veteran dramatist does well to occupy some portion of
his leisure, as Mr. Macready does,
_in continuing to pro-
mote among the public a taste for the literary
and dramatic .art to which his life has been mainly
dedicated.

CuLoxins.--This day (Friday), the
"White Star" line of packet ship,' the Scottish Chief,
Captain. Buchan, will take her departure for Melbourne',
We understand that she will carry out about 150
passencrers and a full cargo of fine goods on freight.
The fine three-decker ship Tudor, Captain Frederick
Wheland,-Will be by Messrs. H. T. Wilson
aid Chambers, on the 20th iust., as the "White Star ":linerof that date. The celebrated clipper Red Jacket, Captain
O'Halloran, will-be the packet of the Ist of April, under
the "' White Star" flag. The British Trident, Captain
Henry' O'Neill, will be the "Black Ball" ship of the sth
instant, and is, expected to carry 300 passengers and a
fall cam.; She is. a fast ship, and, from her past per-
formances,. likely to make a successful Toyage., The
Montmorency, Captain A. Stinson . (late of the' Marco
Polo) will succeed the British Trident, under the amal-
gamated "Eagle" and "Black Ball" flags. She isene of
the fastest' of 'our Australian fleet, having made the passage
to and from Sydney in • the shortest time on record.
Messrs. Walthew and CO. will despatch. the Jessa-
mine, • Captain H. Beard, on the" 10th instant,
with passengers and. cargo, to 11,1-.lborirne, The
clipper ship Red Jacket, from ,11elbourn6;i4 how out 91
days, with 39,611 onuces, valued at £156,444 ; the Morn-
ing Light is out 76 days,. with 13,609 ounces, valued at
£54,446 ; and the Tornado, 74 days, with 4,139 ounces;
valued at £16,556. The above are all for Liverpool,
For London—the Anglesey is out 73 days, with 26,000,
ounces, valued at £lOl,OOO. The freight market to.
Australia does not exhibit any remarkable change since
last week. The trade is by no means brisk, and the large
amount of tonnage in the berth. fills slowly. One vessel
only haS been despatched during, the week. The packets
are still getting about 455. to the bay and 555. to the
wharf for measurement goods; while weight may be
quoted at considerably less: Easy "terms can be made
with outside ships, where there is some uncertainty as to
the exact time of sailing., It isTrobable that shippers
are' holding back for the arrival of the mail now nearly
due. The accounts froM the colonies by her will in a
great measure govern operations foe the month; on which
we have just entered; but we do not-think that even if
the reports of the markets be of a. favourable character,
there will be anv inducement for shipowners to increase
the tonnage for Australia. The accounts from India as to
home freights are rather more favourable. If the im-
provement there can be confirmed. by the next mail, it
May influence rates to .Australia ; shipowners will have
less* besitatiOn in sending their 'ships to the East, if
there• be a prospect of home business from India.
Befere concluding, we may state that the Oneida
with the English mails from Australia, was to
sail from Melbourne on the 21st of January. She is
consequently now out 42 days. The • Oneida not being
considered a fast boat, the advices from. Australia are not
likely to. reach England before • the end of nett week.
The Royal Mail screw steamship Columbian, with -the
mails of the I.4th of January, had arrived from Su.ez:nt
Aden, and, left on the 4th of February for Point de Gale
and Australia. It may be added that, owing to arrange-
ments with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company,. a change will take place in the:despatch of the
mail's, the next for the Australian colonies being made up
at Southampton on the 12th inst., and vim Marseilles on
-the.lBth inst.,.:which 'arrangement will continue until
further notice: The Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamers will not call iu future at Point of Galle, . but
will instead touch at Port Louis, Mauritius.

THE AIERSE DOCKS AND HARBOUR EGIURD AND DOCK
RAIING.--At the meeting of the Manehester
Council on Wednesday, Alderman Clark, in moving the
adoption• of the proceedings of the general-purposes com-
rnittee,.drew the attention of the council to the success
which had attended their efforts in opposing the -Mersey
Docks Rating. Bill. Every borough in Lancashire and
Yorkshire, with: the exception of Salford, had given the
council all the assistance in their power iur.accomplishing
the .object they. had in view. It must he. admitted that
the Manchester•oorporation would have stultified itself if,
after taking so.much interest with regards to the town
due 3. of Liverpool, had they allowed them tcobe re-imposed
under another name. Another bill had been introduced
for the purpose of extending the docks at the north end
of Liverpool,. anti the general purposes eDinnaittee had
lodged a petition, which would afford them
the.. opportunity of having the various pro-
visions fairly considered in committee.. The parties
connected with,Birkenhead, whilst they wished the Man-
chester corporation to oppose an expeudituce of £300,000
fon:dock extension in Liverpool,'. gave little. sympathy or
aid towards thrOwing out the Mersey Docks Rating
Bill. Councillor Rawson" hOPed that the general
purposes committee would oppose the. government
bill, for rating. all descriptions of peoperty now
exempt from rates. Councillor Bennett protested
against the general purposes committe presenting
a petition to parliament in the name of the
Councillor Neill did not thinkithat Manchester
ought to have sent a petitiOn to Parliament against the
LiVerpool Dock Board for 'extending thedocks in Liver-
pool. The opposition to the Dock eboard.areie out of a
squabble amongst the rival railway companies and water
carriers. Councillor King said the objtiot of the general
purposes committee in lodging the petition was, to give
'the corporation a locus standi. The proceedings of the
committee were.vonfirmed.