Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-15 00:00:00

1857.

THE COMET,

POSTPONEMiNT OP THR mit.

All Liverpool, and the greater portion of Scotland-
road, expected the comet on Saturday and yesterday, but
for some reason that, may hereafter be explained—if it
can—the:" blazer" did not make its appearance, and the
world has gone on much as usual, after the old fashion.
It was stated, we cannot say how truly, that a " forked
lightning " message was received by the " authorities,"
who were in waiting to receive the visitor, and its tail—
(tail is the fashionable word, in the milky.way language,
for suite)—that an unforeseen accident had happened to
the locomotive, by which its high-ness was to have been
conveyed; in fact, the fireman got drunk with a relation
of Jupiter's, and, having been " booked for safety," could
not be found when wanted. It has not been stated when
the ill./ustrious foreigner may be expected ; probably
about the time the New Zealand artist will be seen
sketching the ruins of St. Paul's from London Bridge, or
when the New York awl Liverpool Atlantic Railway
Bridge is finished. Much disappointment was felt at the
non-arrival, and the vox populi has by no means bean
silent on the occasion. The people did not see (neither
do we) any reason why such a provoking accident should
have deprived them of the anticipated visit, and the heat
of the reception that would have been given and received
on both sides. Indeed, the warmth of :the meeting is
spoke❑ of (if it had happened) in terms of enthusiasm.
They say (and we agroe with the saying) that even Royal
visitors should be punctual, and not allow their stokers
to be imbibing alcoholic liquids—that the Maine Liquor
Law should be introduced by the Hon. Neil Dow into the
regions or realms of this princely comet in the Isle of
Skye; and that would secure punctuality. So great was
the anxiety to be present at the arrival of the stranger,
that hundreds of people remained up all night (in solemn
seriousness—this is a fact) and inflicted on themselves
great mortification, chiefly consisting of fasting and pray-
ing. In the latter respect, no doubt, a great deal of good
has been effected ; but every one knows that—

When the Devil was sick,
The Devi; a monk would be ;
But when he got well,
The Devil a monk was he I

The most remarkable features, however, that we have
heard in conjunction with the expected visit, were the
following :—A pawnbroker being seized with an unusual
fit of benevolence, and fearing he had only a short time to
live, began'tfaPbey the precept that tells us to " clothe
the naked," ara„,he accordingly/commenced flinging " fine
garments" into the street, to every poor person that
seemed to want' them. Of course, comment (or'comet) on
such a noble action would be ill-timed ; it carries its own
reward. The next was an extensive car-owner, who made
his will, leaving vast property amongst his poor relations
(goodness bless him), and then, jumping into a large
water barrel (we could not ascertain if it was Pike
water), tried to drown himself, saying it was an easier
death than burning! We have heard of several equally
disinterested actions ; but we have just received a com-
munication from an old friend and correspondent, " The
Man in the Moon," and he informs us that he will trans-
mit an elaborate account of the whole transaction, from
" head" to " tall," and so we must postpone further re-
mark, as the COMET HAS THOUGHT PROPER TO POSTPONE
ITS VISIT.