Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-20 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES WEDNESDA.I, APRIL 20, 1859

that were occupied, on the three similar occasions to
the present that have occurred within the last
twenty-eight years. The first was in 1831, upon the
Reform Bill; the second, in 1841, upon the Budget;
and the last in 1857, upon the China question. In
1831, the division which defeated the Government
took place on the 19th of April. In a House of 590
members, 299 voted against the Government and 291
for the Government—making a majority, against, of
8. Parliament was prorogued on the 22nd of April,
only three days after ; it was dissolved on the 23rd
of April, and the new Parliament was summoned to
meet on the 14th of June, or 52 days after the disso-
lution. In 1841, the division which defeated the
Government took place on the 4th of June.
In a House of 623 members, 312 voted against and
311 for the Government leaving a majority
against of 1. The necessary money bills were
passed, and Parliament was prorogued on the
22nd of June-18 days from the day of the vote.
The dissolution took place on the following or the
same day ; and the dew Parliament was - summoned
at the same time for the 19th of August, or 56 days
after the date of the dissolution. In 1857, the
division which defeated the Government took place
on the 3rd of March. Ida House of 510 members,
263 voted against and 247 for the Government—
making a majority against of 16. The House
proceeded to pass the necessary money bills, and
was prorogued on the 21st of March, 18 days after
the vote. The aissolution took place immediately,
and the new Parliament was summoned for the 30th
of April, being 40 days from the date of the proro-
gation. Ia the present case, the Government defeat
occurred on the 31st of March ; and as Parliament was
prorogued yesterday, it has been 20 days after. So
that Ministers, so far, cannot be fairly charged with
having shown any disposition to delay the judgment
that is to be passed upon them by the country,
through its representatives in the Great Council of
the nation. The Easter Holidays are a good time
for the borough elections to be going on ; and the
result of many of them will probably be known before
Easter-tide is ended.

the Ballot. And it is such vacillation on the
question as this which constrains a liberal journal
like the Star to say of this speech of Lord JOHN'S,
that it "-may be regarded as a downright attack
upon the Ballot, or it may be considered a remark-
able concession in its favour. We may quote it
either way. Like the wig-wag-tail reflection of the
sun upon the white-washed ceiling, it goes spatter-
ing and twinkling about, and does not give us the
benefit of a single settled ray. Under such circum-
stances we cast only declare our own opinion to be
that we do not know whether Lord JOHN RUSSELL
is with us or against us, is on this side or on that.
To believe that he is growing favourably inclined to
the Ballot when he flatly declares he is against it, is
a somewhat difficult task ; and not less so than to
imagine he is going to aid the public in getting the
Ballot at the very time he declares his conviction to
be that the public will ultimately decide upon
not having it." The fact is, it has become a
formidable obstacle in the path of his ambition.
There is scarcely a public meeting on Parliamentary
Reform, among the many that have been held within
the last few months—we cannot, indeed, remember
that there s a single one —at which it has not been
resolved, by acclamation, that no Reform Bill could
possibly be satisfactory to the people which did not
include in its provisions the Vote by Ballot. Its
popularity, therefore, among the class of reformers
whom Lord JOHN is so anxious to propitiate, cannot
but weigh with him, in looking forward to his own
success as a champion of reform. Besides this, there
is the Ballot Society powerfully at work among his
constituents, the Committee of which has just given
to them its earnest advice; that he should not be
supported unless he will give them a distinct pledge
in its favour. This, as we have shewn, he still, in
so many words, declines to do. But he certainly
appears to have been anxious to console the advo-
cates of the Ballot with the persuasion, that, if they
will only persevere, they are sure to win the day.
And, judging from the past, there is every probability
of it.

The remark of the Saturday Review upon the
subject is pertinent and just. "Lord JOHN RUSSELL,"
it observes, " would leave to the growth and
maturity of public opinion' the decision of the con-
troversy between open and secret voting. We
understand by this that Lord JOHN RUSSELL holds
himself prepared to undergo conviction upon this
subject whenever the supporters of the Ballot in the
House of Commons shall approximate to a majority
of votes." Adding—" It is a melancholy condition
of the political prospects of this empire that public
opinion should be grown and matured by Mr. H.
BERKELEY and Sir JOHN SHELLEY, while Lord
JOHN RUSSELL and Sir JAMES GRAHAM wait
passively to be governed by the result." And so it
may be. But how is it to be helped ?• It is only a
part of a political system that has become the order
of the day. Like many other things, the Ballot will
have to be yielded upon compromise. A little more
pressure upon our Lord JOHNS and Sir JAMESES, and
their concurrence is certain. At the hustings,
therefore, next week, there can be no more appro-
priate cry, than Three cheers for the Ballot !

ROYAL COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY.—The Queen has been
pleased to appoint a commission to inquire into the expedi-
ency of bringing together into one neighbourhood all the
superior Courts of Law and Equity, the Probate and
Divorce Courts, and the Court of Admiralty. The Queen
has also appointed commissioners to inquire into the laws
regulating the sale and consumption of the excisable liquors
in Scotland. Commissioners have also been appointed to
inquire and report on the civil, municipal, and ecclesiastical
laws and customs now in force in Jersey.

PROVINCIAL EXAMINATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LON-
DON.—The Council of Queen's College, Liverpool, under
authority from the university, will hold a matriculation
examination, at the College, Mount-street, Liverpool, in
July next, simultaneously with the examination in Loudon,
on the same days and at the same hours. The following
information is taken from a paper issued from the College :
The University of London was founded, by royal charter,
to extend to all classes and denominations those encourage-
ments to the pursuit of a regular and liberal course of
education which academical degrees afford, and which pre-
viously, in this country, could be obtained only by a pri-
vileged few. The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
being sectarian in principle, their literary and scientific
honours were restricted to the members of the church with
which they were connected ; and the expenses of residence,
college fees, &c., closed their doors to all, but the wealthy.
The establishment of the University of London pro-
vided largely for those who were thus unable to
obtain the degrees of the other universities. Recently
the university has received from the Crown a new charter,
whereby still greater facilities for graduating have
been created. Formerly none could obtain the degree of
bachelor of arts without producing a certificate of student-
ship during two years after matriculating, either at a
metropolitan or at one of the few provincial colleges con-
nected with the university ; and two journeys to London to
undergo examination, occupying a week on each occasion,
were necessary. Under the new charter, no certificate of
studentship is required. By this change, and by the insti-
tution of provincial examinations, there are few who may
not aspire to the degrees of 8.A., M.A., and LL.B. Those
who cannot command the advantages of collegiate instruc-
tion, may pursue the requisite studies at home, and with due
attention to professional and business engagements. Appli-
cants for any of the degrees in arts, law, or medicine, must
first matriculate, unless they have already taken a degree in
arts in another of the universities of the United Kingdom.
Candidates for Matriculation must have completed their six-
teenth year, and must pass an examination in the following
subjects :—Mathematics : Arithmetic, algebra, as far as
simple equations; the first four books of Euclid. The elements
of natural philosophy and chemistry. Classics: Passages from
one Greek and one Latin subject to be translated into Eng-
lish, and simple and easy sentences of English to be tran-
slated into Latin. Also, questions in grammar, history, and
geography. The grammatical structure of the English
language. Outlines of English history to the end of the
17th century, and of modern geography. Translation of
French or German into English. The Examination at
Liverpool will commence at Queen's College on Monday,
July 4, and continue during the four following days. Sealed
packets, containing the examination papers, will be sent
down from London and publicly opened at the commence-
ment of the examination. These packets will be entrusted
to a sub-examiner, who will be responsible to the senate of
the university for the proper opening of the papers, for the
conduct of the examination, and for the collection and seal-
ing up of the answers at the close of each examination.
The answers will be returned to London in sealed packets,
so as to be reviewed by the examiners in London at the same
time with the answers of the London candidates ; and the
total results (including the local as well as central) will be
made known by the examiners in London on Monday, July
18th. Candidates who pass the matriculation examination
may afterwards compete in London for honours and prizes
of the value of from £lO to £6O. Tho matriculation fees
are £2, payable to the University, and a local fee of £l,
payable to Queen's College. Non-residents of Liverpool
are admissible to the examination. .Degree of Bachelor of
Arts : None are admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts
until they have passed the matriculation examination and
two subsequent examinations. None are admitted to the
first B.A. examination within one academical year after

matriculaaon, nor to the second B.A. examination within
one year after passing the first B.A. examination. Prizes,
varying in value from £lO to £BO, may be competed for by
those who pass the first B.A. examination, and university
scholarships and prizes of the value of from Lit; to £l5O by
those who pass the second B.A. examination. Further
details may be learned from the University Calendar, or by
applying to the secretary of the college.

GREAT FIRE IN LIVERPOOL.

Last night, about ten o'clock, a fire of great magnitude
broke out on the premises of Messrs. Bond and Co., the
extensive coopers, of Tabley-street and Mason-street, which
for several hours considerably alarmed the whole neighbour-
hood. The engines from Hatton-garden, accompanied by
Mr. Hewitt, a reel from Seel-street station, also from. the
Brunswick Dock, and the West of England fire engine, were
quickly at the scene of the conflagration, and a good supply
of water being close at hand, they went bravely to work,
and after great labonr succeeded in extinguishing the flames.
The origin of the fire is unknown, and the amount of
damage it is at present Unable to estimate, bat it is believed
to be insured. M,jor Greig and several of the authorities
were quickly on the spot, and afforded great assistance by
their exertions and directions.