Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-21 00:00:00

PROGRAMME.

FART I. PART 11.
1. Polka. 16. Polka.
2. Quadrille. 17. Quadrille.
3. Schottische. 18. Schottische.
4. Lancers. 19. Lancers.
5. Waltz. 20. Waltz.
6. Galop. 21. Galop.
7. La Varsoviana. 22. La Varsoviana..
8. Quadrille. 23. Quadrille.
9. Polka. 24. Polka.
10. Quadrille. 25. Quadrille,
11.. Galop. 26. Galop.
12. Waltz. 27. Lancers.
13. Scottischc. 28. Scottischt.
14. Quadrille. 29. Quadrille.
Country Dante. Sir Roger de Dryerley.

Dancing commenced at nine o'clock, but 'parties con-
tinued, to arrive up to eleven, at which time the saloon
present3d a most animated and gorg,eons appearance.
The brilliant light reflected from the sparkling gas lustre,
the rich—iriskced gorgeous—chaste, and elegant fittings
of the hall, •and, above all, the riumerdus ladies in every
variety of fashionable costume, threw over the whole
affair an indescribable charm, for it is well known that--

The gust of joy, the balm of woe,
The soul of lite, the heaths below,
Is rapture-giving woman.

Thelsemblage, though not-so numerous as those of
a more-general character, which shave lately taken place
in tewn, consisted of the. elite orthe society of Liverpool,
-who' Cheerfully respfluded to'tliis call upon their beneva-
levee. The music, 4a the inspiring strains of which the
conkpany " ranged the sprightly dance," was prosiided
by 'the efficient orchestra 'of lir. Squire Greenwood,
-ender the conduct of himself. Everything tended to
`,promote and increase the 'harmony of the night, 'and a
-crew day had been usherekrin ere the brilliant usgembly
;broke up.

'SOCIETY POR MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.--
MtRSEY BRANCH.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of reporting'the inte-
resting prcceedingstattendant upon the first half-yearly
distribution.of pr?7es '..co the boys of the school-frigate
Conway, an institution established for training up a
body of men .as officers in the mercantile marine, of
superior attainments, and with the view, as Mr. Brockle-
bank well,exprassed it, of making them not only good
officers bet gentlemen. We beg to call atteLtion to an
announcement in-our advertising columns of a meeting
to be held 'this at two o'clock, at the Sailors'
Home, trailer the! presidency of cur 'wilily Mayor, in
aid of the fended a most valuable society—that oithe.
Mersey Missions-to Seamen Afloat, having' for its object
the improvement 7.:f the religious, moral, and social con-
dition of the 13fit'sh seaman.

The machinery employed is -eittremely simple, and
the society haST-licen, for some time past,:quietly working
its way, with very limited means, to test by practical
experiment, its-efficacy. The 'work of the society, as
set lOrtlein its:prospectus, is -"to visit the-seaman in his
own ;home, afloat—that is to -sty, on -board his ship—
at the earliest moment after the vessel-enters the river;
to bringbeforahim the Gospel; to supply him with the
Scriptures and tracts ; to .exhibit an :interest in his
temporal ,welfere' by directing him -to our Sailors'
Home, and.--pointing oat its advantages; to give in-
formation of respectable lodging-houses, and to warn
him of:the dangers and temptationsbrwhich he will be
assailed thennement he sets his foot onshore. Also to
visit ships on their leaving port ; to distribute the
Scriptures; -books, and tracts, andto give recommenda-
tions tothdpkins abroad."
Thera is rid:question that the importance of elevating
the character of our stamen—both these who are to
command and :those who are to serve-,has become upon
all grounds-+Teligious, national, and social—a subject
of the deepest interest; since it must be plainly seen
that not alone:are the physical and moral welfare; of our
seamen•-eoneerned, but the maritime strength and com-
mercial greatness of the British eation,are also deeply
involved. •We heartily rejoice, therefore, to see that
the leading men of Liverpool—the .magnates of our
shipping and commercial interests—are fully alive to
their deep •reer onsibilities -as the naturalguardians of the
temporalaud-spiritual welfare of that living machinery
by which- their wealth has be -obtained, and by whose
bravery and toil it alone eat be secured ;!and that twice in
the course ,of the same week, in Liverpool, they are to be
found congregated together, to..promoteby their presence,
their good eonnsel and peeuuiary , support, institutions,
• which althongh employing a, different.agency, and work-
ing in ,different channels, have•only.•onegreat object in
view,—the making the seaman a•betteranan, the man a
better seaman. • ,
We eineerelytrust that our clergy, shipowners, under-
writers, end merchants, captains of vessels, officers and
men, and•ell-_who take an interest in our seamen—and
who does .not i—will support the objects•of this' valu-
able society. by their presence at the -.Sailors' Home
to-day.