Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-02 00:00:00

Parliament might sanction. We are glad to find
that the Committee rejected the proposal. Its
purport and object was too transparent to escape
detection; and although Sir JAMES GRAHAM and
Mr. PHILLIPS voted for it in a mitigated form,
Mr. PAGET, Mr. NORTH, and Lord HENNIKER
defeated the motion. After this, there was
another discussion on an attempt by Mr.
CALVERT to obtain powers of unlimited taxation
without any published statement of the accounts.
This, too, the CoMmittee did not agree to, and
it is probable that a special report will be made
to the House upon the point.
The crowning piece of arrogance in the matter
was Mr. CALVERT'S seeking to obtain a clause
ordering the Liverpool Dock authorities to give
compensation for alleged damage to the Cheshire
frontage, in consequence of certain works on the
Liverpool side of the river, moving the stream of
the Mersey from its proper course. So great a
favourite is the Birkenhead side of the river with
the learned counsel, that any and every thing
which can be done to injure Liverpool, although
it could not advantage Birkenhead, met
with ready eloquence in its advocacy
and support. The Committee considered
that the justice of the case would be met by
providing compensation for future damage. This
terminated the Committee's labours on the
Bill ; and, after a short consultation, Sir JAMES
GRAHAM intimated that, in consequence of the
preamble of the Conservancy Bill being proved,
and the fact that the Committee would report so
to the House, the preamble and fourth clause of
the next, the Construction Bill, Were entirely
inconsistent with the Committee's decision, and
as such, would not be sanctioned by the Com-
mittee. Mr. Serjeallt MEREWETHER here inti-
mated that the Corporation of Liverpool were
determined to fight the battle of the Bill inch by
inch, in the House of Lords. This was in effect
telling the Committee that the Corporation did
not recognise the propriety of the decision on the
Conservancy Bill. To do otherwise would be
to cut from under their feet the grounds of
defence which shall be laid before their lordships'
House. The statement had the effect of nettling
Sir JAMES GRAHAM. He, no doubt, had some
foreboding that the House of Lords will regard
his views of the whole question as untenable,
and that they will throw out the bantling projects
of the men of Manchester, in consequence of
its unjust and inconsistent character. There is
still one hope left, and that is, that when the Bill
reaches the upper House, it will be examined
by impartial judges—noblemen, who will cast
aside party feeling, and decide only according to
the recognised principles of fair play. This has
not been the case in the Commons. Government
influence has been enlisted in the cause ; and we
should not be surprised if, for his tact and ability
in the matter, he was rewarded with a seat in the
Cabinet.

PERHAPS accidents must happen in a world of
matter and motion ; as offences:will come in a
world of imperfect human creatures, in whom
passion and reason, caution and heedlessness,
are blended in varying proportion. If it would
be Utopian to expect that all accidents could
be quite precluded, it is nevertheless certain that
their number will diminish as men are trained
to carefulne,s, and made acquainted with the
laws of nature. The number of accidents that
are inevitable is probably small compared with
those which are attributable to ignorance, in-
attention, incautiousness, and the want of that
moral principle which would lead us to be as
chary of the interests and well-being of others
as we commonly are of our own. Probably
drunkenness is the single cause that produces the
greatest number of accidents, and the sobriety of
a workman though it ought to be a more ordinary
virtue, is one of the best recommendations to
employment. No reliance can be placed on a
working man or a tradesman who is deficient in
the quality of sobriety.

We are often led into such thoughts as
these on hearing of the numerous accidents by
flood and field ; by rail and highway; in the
private dwelling and at the public theatre.
At the Lewisham Station, on the North Kent
line of Railway, we have just read that on
last Sunday evening 12 persons have been
killed, and 40 more seriously injured by one
train running into another. There must have
been carelessness here ; neglect of duty some-
where. But a far more dreadful and afflictive
accident was that which happened the other
day at Leghorn in Italy, in the theatre, during
a representation of the taking of Sebastopol.
Some part of the scenery took fire, which
rapidly spread; and in the rush, crush and
confusion that followed, 106 persons were
killed and 300 injured. If the doers of the
bulling; had opened toward the outside, pro-
bably the torror and confusion -would have
been far less and consequently die accidents
fewer. But, unfortunately, as raz ors are some-
times made not to shave, but to sell, so houses
and public buildings are conslaucted not for
convenience, but for some other unknown
purposes; and so, in this cast:, the doors of the
theatre were not adapted. for readiest egress.
And to make confusion w orse confounded, the
police, or gensdarmes, -outside, mistook the
cause of the tumult. They supposed it to be
o
some political outburst of sedition. Under that
impression the doors, were kept fastened, in
order Aoters to a spot where they
could
1 po
e confinesumtn summarily
ie. 7
y dealt with ; and the result
was this most sa',l catastrophe.
t
Now, we spef Ak advisedly, when we say that