The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-30 00:00:00

Imm
pr,,FIrE yoRTTIEry T LI 077 PrOL TTY ,)11,SDAY.
4

Speaker's chair mens sano in corpere seem The
long hours of drudgery, incessant midnight toil,
seven long months out of the twelve, demand a
vig6rous frame, untarnished by disease or the
approaching infirmities of old age. The balancing
of disputed points, allowance of precedents, conduct
of debate, and repression of everything that tends
to lower the character of the House as the first
deliberative assembly in the nation, are duties
which calls for the. exercise of discrimination,
judgment. and good sense. But to all this there
must be dignity without affectation—a bland and
conciliatory address towards every member —and
a desire to put the best construction upon all
they say, and everything which they do. Haughti-
ness of tone, and peevishness of temper could not
be tolerated. Coming after such a moiel Speaker
as Lord Eversley was, his successor will have a
most difficult task to perform in following his foot-
steps. To imitate his conduct in the chair will be
to win the confidence and esteem of the house. To
adopt a contrary course, he only prepares for him-
self a seat of thorns and nettles.

There is no home news of the least importance
to-day. It would appear, that in consequence of
the resignation of Mr. F. Peel, Mr. Massey, the
new member for Salford, will move the Array
Estimates and receive the appointment of Under
Secretary for War.
The Court of Queen's Bench have decided that
the Liverpool Burial Board is legally constituted,
at least we should infer so from the fact that it
refused a rule of mandamus brought by Mr.
Urquhart against Mr. Robertson Gladstone. The
Burial Board may now proceed to business without
any fear of acting illegally.
The religious meetings have already begun in
London, and the published list of those that are
to come show that the star of Lord Shaftesbury is
yet in the ascendant, for he appears to be chairman
on almost all occasions. We wait with interest for
the missionary anniversaries, to learn what view
the various societies take of the troubles in the
East.

The inquest on the bodies of those persons
killed at the late boiler explosion at . Wolver-
hampton has ended. The jury have returned the
following verdict :—" That the deceased persons
came to their deaths in consequence of injuries
received by the explosion of a certain boiler upon
the premises of Benjamin Mason, and that such
explosion was caused by the negligence of Benja.
min Mason, the younger, in not properly supplying
the engine with water." This verdict the jury
accompanied by the following recommen-
dation, which they desired the coroner to transmit
to her Majesty's government----" The jury wish
to call the attentionlbf the Government to the dan-
gerous practice of allowing unqnalified persons to
work engines, and have the management of boilers,
and they consider that it would be well to insist
upon all such persons having a certificate of com-
petency from some person authorised to grant
them. They also think the appointment of a
Government Inspector for this neighbourhood to
superintend the engines and boilers in use woe"
have the effect of reducing the number of such
melancholy occurrences as the present."
Further particulars of the dispute between the
West Derby Board of Guardians and their medical
officer will be found in another part of to-day's
impression. In other local matters we need only
call attention to the explanation made on behalf of
M. Lesseps, respecting the intended Suez Canal.
The remarks made on the occasion will well
repay perusal ; also the outlines of the lecture of
Felix Orsini,

Our foreign news is very meagre to-day. Accounts
from Malta of the 17th announce the departure for
Alexandria, on the previous day, of General Ash
burnham ; the General had entirely recovered from
the slight indisposition from which ho had been
suffering,
The closing scenes of the Neufchatel melo
drama are following close on each other, and the
curtain will soon fall on one of the most dreary,
ungrateful subjects that has of late years wearied
alike diplomacy and the public. The Neufchatel go-
vernment had declared its willingness to accept the
proposed arrangement, but at the same time it has
not concealed that, in its opinion, three articles
of the arrangement might have been modified
to the advantage of Switzerland. The Presi-
dent of the Confederation has recommended
the arrangement to the Federal Assembly. The
measure will undeniably encounter much opposi-
tion, and many ultra-patriotic speeches will
be delivered; but its definite adoption cannot
seriously be doubted. The modifications desired
by the government of Neufchatel refer to the pay-
ment of a pecuniary compensation, and to the pre-
servation of the title of Prince of Neufchatel by the
Hohenzollern race.

By way of France we have news from China to
the effect that the mandarins continue to stimulate
the evil sentiments of the people by official procla-
mations, and other less justifiable means. On the
Bth of March, the Mandarin governor of Whampoa
sentenced three Chinese merchants to death for
having carried on commercial relations with the
English, contrary to his commands.

POLITICIANS always say that there is some-
thing in the wind when the "leading journal"
ventures to suggest new and sweeping measures
of legislation. Monday's Times took the
political world quite aback. It turned its tail
on all the opinions it had previously impressed
respecting the representation of the people,
declared that " Reform" is now a settled fact,
and that it must be accomplished "by the
Minister who would hope to have a quiet berth
to do any good in the session of 1858."
" Better late than never" is a' good old adage,
hence we are glad to know that our metropolitan
namesake has discovered the error of his ways,
and that a sense of duty has induced a recanta-
tion. The leaders of public opinion are slow to
acknowledge the absurdity and indefensible line
of conduct which they adopt in vindicating the
continuance of existing abuses. It, therefore,
requires ingenuity of no mean order, including
a heap of false and fallacious assertions to cover
their retreat from the citadel of errors, and to
permit them to take the foremost rank in the
contest for improvement. This the Times has
done. And although the friends of Reform may
hail its advocacy with delight, they can not but
feel "chagrined that one who now puts itself
forward as the champion of the order, should do
so under false colours.

Our metropolitan cotemporary sets out by as-
serting that Reform is now " more Parliamentary
than popular;"—in other words, the demand for
this much needed measure of improvement in
the representation of the people is more the
hobby of members of the House of Commons
than it is by the people out of doors. This is
fallacy the first ; for if the people " out of doors"
had not insisted upon the return of known and
well tried Reformers, at the general election just
terminated, Lord PALMERSTON could have
met now House of Commons in the
indifferentsame
t way as he treated the motion of Mr.
LOCKE IS..ING In the last Session of the late
Parliament. Yes, the people do demand, and
have set their heart and soul upon Reform, else
the Times would not now be obliged to suggest
that the subject should be taken up, deliberated
upon, and settled. We deny the flimsy and
fallacious assertion, " all over the country it is a
rare thing to find a cry for Parliamentary
Reform." What was it but the cry of

" Reform" that secured the return of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL for London, and Mr. EWART in
Liverpool ? What but Reform kept in the
leading Liberal members of the present House of
Commons ? In the vast majority of cases where
a show of hands has been taken, have not the
people en masse cried out for Reform ? Has not
Lord PALMERSTON'S Chinese policy quailed
before that popular clamour ? And was it not
necessary, in order to give the Ministry a firmer
footing in the public estimation, to concoct
unfounded statements respecting the desires and
intentions of China ? And are there not
districts at the present moment engaged in
getting up testimonials to Reform candidates,
who were defeated in their election by a
combination of selfish and unprincipled
motives?

It is quite evident that the firm determination
of the people to obtain their just rights and pri-
vileges in a political point of view, has convinced
our cotemporary that to resist their claims any
longer would be to jeopardize the peace of the
country—fearing, as it considerately does, an
"out-door agitation," " faction," " hypocrisy,"
and "pure mischief." They who clamour- for
reform are the people. Their will should be the
supreme law. They who resist it, as the Times
has done all along, and those who voted against
an extension of the suffrage, &c., as uncalled for
and unnecessary, are the parties guilty of the
" faction," " hypocrisy," and " pure mischief "
alluded to. They have turned a deaf ear to the
people's wants. Their petitions were disre-
garded, and the urgent appeals of their advocates,
both in and out of Parliament, treated with con-
tumely and indifference by the present Premier,
and the Times itself. Any one who will take
the trouble of turning over the leaves of that
unprincipled journal will find its writers branding
an extension of the suffrage as nothing less than
petty treason—a desire to break up the constitu-
tion, demolish the House of Lords, and send her
Majesty to reign as Queen of Botany Bay, but
not the sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland.
Knowing that one of the Ministry is reported to
be a " leader" writer in the Times, we may safely
infer that it is under his direction, if not from
'e.is own pen, that the announcement of Monday
was made ; we may, therefore, legitimately con-
jecture that Lord PALMERSTON, seeing the neces-
sity for a new Reform Bill, urged on as it has
been by the unenfranchised millions, as well as
every liberal elector in the Empire, has made up
his mind to "eat his leek," ccst what it may—
to gainsay all his pompous declarations when
opposing Mr. LOCKS KING'S motion in the last
session of Parliament—and to sacrifice all his
aristocratic feelings and connections so as to
retain place and power. Be this as it may, it is
satisfactory to know that the reformers have gained
the day. They have made a gallant charge upon
the ranks of the obstructionists, who, seeing the
strength of their political enemy, and their
unity of purpose, have surrendered at discretion.
As matters now are, there would seem to be
a rush among the contending political chiefs,
Lord PALMERSTON evidently fears the move-
ments of his old colleague, Lord JOHN RUSSELL,
and it is well known that DISRAELI contemplates,
if possible, stealing a march upon both. The
ministry of which be was a leading member, has,
it is acknowledged, done more for the advance-
ment of Legal Reform, than any which ever pre-
viously existed, or that now in office. To come
forward and grant the people their political
charter in the shape of a liberal and well
devised Reform Bill, although not an improbable,
would be a startling measure on the part of the
Tories. We are, however, safe ; Reform is
virtually ours at this moment. The nation has
made the emphatic " signs of the Times," and
must prepare for the new order of things which
will arise from the requirements of the new
Reform Bill.

The Times gives us a brief sketch of the
principles which should characterise the new
Reform Bill. We accept them as being good,
as far as they go. We are glad to see that it
makes intelligence one of the basis of enfran-
chisement. To these are added "character,"
and "responsible employment." There is an
evident reluctance on the part of the leading
journal, to admit even household suffrage. It
would rather give increased political power to
" University Graduates, and holders of certifi-
cates from authorised colleges and schools, to the
commissioned officers of the army, navy and
militia, to railway servants of a similar rank, to
schoolmasters, and many more of similar quali-
fications." This is giving the least possible
offence to the upper classes, but, is not granting
the full measure of Reform which the nation
requires. The Times is silent on the Ballot,
Plurality of Voting, and Electoral Districts.
This is somewhat suspicious. If its proposi-
tions are to be taken as an index of what Lord
PALMERSTON intends to propose, we take leave
to tell the Premier that his measure will not be
accepted, and that if he cannot screw up his
courage to deal with the subject in a liberal and
enlarged sense of the word, the sooner he gives
place to those who can and will, the better.

WHOEVER may be chiefly to blame for bring-
ing on us the unfortunate Chinese war, it is
most inopportune and deplorable at this moment.
At all times to be deprecated, the renewal of the
war is most ill-timed now, when, with our new
Parliament, we were looking forward to domestic
reforms, and, as some of us fondly hoped, to the
diminution of our national burdens. Instead of
this, it is even possible that a war tax may be
reimposed, we shall have to send a considerable
armament to China, and we are in the beginning
of a contest with almost one third part of the
human race—a contest, of which no one can
foresee the end. If the accounts which have
reached us are correct, there must be great
bitterness and exasperation entertained to us by
the Chinese ; and though in a fair open fight
with even a vast superiority of numbers on their
side, we should not fear the result, yet, when we
consider the long reach over which the contest

may have to extend, the many points that may
be attacked simultaneously, and that our adver-
saries are ten to one, it appears to us a very
serious encounter. The Chinese will probably
be found better soldiers than when we last
encountered them, and they may have the assist-
ance of some European officers—as the Russians,
we believe, at Sebastopol, had the assistance of
some American engineers. Whatever we do,
should be done promptly, Delay in sending
out help, will encourage our enemies, and' expose
our own countrymen to untold peril. France
and England have the same interest in the
matter ; indeed, the whole civilised world are
interested in teaching a presumptuous and bar-
barous people, that they cannot lord it over more
civilised races, and that they cannot be permitted
to isolate themselves from the human race,
excluding that fine and flowery land which they
inhabit from the benefit of human intercourse.
It is a matter of congratulation, that the govern-
ments of France and England are so united in
their view of the Chinese difficulty. The same
courage and perseverance of the allies, that has
triumphed before in a deadlier strife, will again
triumph here,
We apprehend there is nothing for us now
but to fight it out, and to dictate a peace, if need
be, from the palace of Pekin itself. It is
impossible not to shudder while we write, as we
think of the scenes of bloodshed and horror
which must precede the attainment of our pur-
pose. If we had had telegraphic communication
with China, the dispute might have been settled
at once, and perhaps without the effusion of
blood; but the fighting has been going on, and
is no doubt going on at this moment ; and Lord
ELGIN, our Plenipotentiary and missionary of
peace, has hardly yet set out, and will require a
long time before he can arrive at the scene of
contest. Our reinforcements, also, seem to move
tardily. The accident to the ship Transit is not
a good omen. But the nation will not endure a
repetition of the Crimean mis-management. Woe
to the Government or to the Commander-in-
Chief that will trifle with the health and
complete effectiveness of our sea and land forces.
We cannot afford to lose ten or twenty thousand
or even one thousand men, by officers without
heads, improper food served out to the men, or
by neglecting to bring up in time stores of all
kinds, lying in great abundance a few miles off.
Let us hope we have suffered enough of this
already, and that there will be no repetition of
such scenes. One Crimean mismanagement is
enough in a century, and we trust that in a few
years our Government will be so popular, and our
officers so educated and trained to their profes-
sion, that the like cannot occur again. It would
be good for us to learn something of French
method and efficiency.
Our present information is that the United
States of America, though invited to join France
and England, have declined ; but they will co-
operate with us in the interests of peace and
civilisation. Perhaps this is a justifiable
decision. Still an alliance between the three
great Western Powers would be more
imposing, and might sooner attain its end.
It is to be hoped the Americans will deal
fairly by us as friends and brothers, and will not,
Esau-like, play us false. We neither fear nor in-
sinuate that it will be so. The Americans and
ourselves are the one people, having the same
ancestors, laws, literature, language, and religion
It would be most unnatural and suicidal if
America and England could ever be antagonists
on any of the great questions that concern the
world's civilisation. Only the enemies of human
improvement could gain by any misunderstanding
between the two nations forming one people.
We are most anxious to hear that forces have
been sent to China from India ; for, in the China
waters, our brave countrymen seem to be im-
mensely outnumbered. The burning of 700
barrels of flour at Hong Kong, shows what
Chinese numbers and enmity can do against our
comparatively small force. The forcible seizure
of the steamship, Queen, shows the carelessness
of our people. It appears they left loaded arms
in the power of the Chinese while they retired to
dinner. Not even a boy was set to watch.
The first intimation which the Europeans had of
their situation, was the discharge into the midst
of them of a cannon loaded with grape shot.
The captain and others having been wounded,
jumped overboard, and nothing more was heard
of them. One gentleman defended himself with
wonderful coolness and courage, and though
wounded, he threw himself into the sea, and was
fortunately picked up, The marvel is that any
single man escaped. In the burning of the ship
that followed, the Chinese were all destroyed.
Such are the horrible atrocities committed on
each other„by men who call themselves reason-
. able beings ; 4nd the earth, that might be made
a garden, a workshop of useful labours, and a
school for training moral beings, creatures with
"large discourse of reason," is changed into a
dungeon and a battle-field, by "man's inhu-
manity to man."

THE people of Birkenhead are now fairly
involved in a small Water battle. If their
representatives the Commissioners are not as yet
fully committed to the purchase of the Gas and
Water Company's plant and privileges, they
may rest assured that the pressure from without
will soon leave them no other alternative. The
late shortcomings of the Companies, in meeting
the requirements of the public in cases of emer-
gency, has aroused a spirit amongst the Rate-
payers which will not be satisfied with anything
in the shape of a compromise. In fact, it may
be set down as a matter of absolute certainty
that the supply of these two necessaries of health
and comfort are no longer to be trusted to the
dispensation of private enterprise. On this
point the unanimously expressed opinion of the
Ratepayers, at their meeting on Tuesday night,
may be accepted as conclusive.

It is one of the proud privileges of Englishmen
that when they feel aggrieved at any measure,

whether of a local or national character, they
can meet together freely and fearlessly to
discuss the same, and to commune with each
other as to the wisest and best means of
obtaining redress. It may be true that our
countrymen are not easily moved to a demonstra-
tion against injustice• That in fact it has
become proverbial that John Bull is always
grumbling, but nevertheless he pays. That he
is a somewhat obtuse animal, we admit, and it is
only after his feelings have been goaded by some
monster injustice that he can thoroughly be
roused into action ; and when in that state of
excitement it too often happens he hardly discri-
minates between friends and foes, and sometimes
his ill-digested attempts to free himself from one
only plunges himself into another and a greater
difficulty. Of this we have- a memorable instance
in our own town, where the public indignation
against the old Water Companies was aroused to
the highest pitch, for delinquencies similar in
every respect to those charged against the Bir-
kenhead Water Company. They, too, resolved
that the supply should be taken from the hands
of the Company, and placed in that of the
Corporation—a wise resolution, certainly, but
mark the result. No sooner had the Corporation
decided on undertaking the supply of Water to
Liverpool, than they were besieged by a swarm
of deep, designing adventurers, who, presuming
on their ignorance of the new functions which
had been thrust upon them, succeeded but too
surely in committing the Council to a new
undertaking, which, in place of a benefit, has
proved a positive curse to the town.
We cannot for a moment suppose that with
such a recent example of the result of engineer-
ing jugglery, the Commissioners would be so
infatuated as to lend a serious ear even at this
early stage of their proceeding to any attempt,
however ingeniously devised, to induce them to
listen to any of the many schemes, which will,
no doubt, be insiduously introduced to their
notice for the future supply of the Township
with Water.; and we do trust they will studiously
guard against all such. Their course is clear.

It is the unanimous wish of the people of Bir-
kenhead that they shall purchase the Water
Works. This is the first, and, in fact, the only
point legitimately for their present consideration.
Now, how is this to be best accomplished for
the mutual advantage of both parties ? We
repeat, for their mutual advantage, both
parties will find that they will best consult
their true interests by casting passion
and prejudice to the winds. Althongh at
a public meeting it may be all very well, in
order to excite a strong expression of feeling, or
win applause, to denounce certain proceedings
as dishonest and unprincipled, yet it would be
premature for us to endorse these charges on
mere ex-parte statements, nor shall we do so until
the parties implicated shall have had a fair op-
portunity of defending themselves.
If it be true as Yegards the past, that .the
Company have, as is alleged, borrowed money to
the extent of some 33,000/., on the pretext that
such sum was to be appropriated for the exten-
sion of their works, and if it shall appear on in-
vestigation that it has not been so appropriated,
then the Company are clearly at fault. If they
have expended this for the purpose of paying
dividends, or any such illegal object, then the
Commissioners will have good grounds for offer-
ing every opposition to the recognition of this or
any other sums which may have been so borrowed,
and capitalised by the Company for any other
purpose than that specified in their Act of
Parliament.

In dealing with the compulsory sale of water
and all other works, the Legislature will, as far
as they consistently can, recognise the rights of
private property ; but they will not sanction
anything like a fictitious value being set on any
Company's shares, from any ideal prospective
increase of the Company's revenue. Thus we
find, that in the case of the Liverpool Water
Works, the value was determined on the
actual-market price of the shares, prior to the
time when it was understood that the Corpora-
tion were to become the purchasers; as, on that
circumstance being known, the shares com-
manded a price which was considered fictitious;
and the Birkenhead Company may rest assured
that in their case it would only be a fatal delusion
to suppose that they can enhance the value of
their property by the creation of fictitious
capital, or the payment of unrealised dividends.
It will be fresh in the recollection of many of
our readers, that in 1847, the Liverpool and
Warrington Water Company applied to Parlia-
ment for powers to borrow 200,0001. for the
ostensible object of extending their works, but,
in reality, this sum was to have been divided
amongst the then shareholders. This proposal
was opposed by the Corporation, and success-
fully, on the understanding that the latter body
should purchase the works by arbitration, which
was eventually the case after a protracted
parliamentary contest involving heavy charges
on both parties.

It is, therefore, perfectly preposterous for the
Birkenhead Company to suppose that they can
so far hoodwink Parliament, as to induce them
to sanction the extravagant and absurd powers
which they now solicit, unless, indeed, the
people and the Commissioners of Birkenhead are
to be considered as idiots. They have shown
by their recent proceedings, that they are not so.
And we warn the Company, that their attempts
to capitalize 53,000/. for unrealized dividends
together with 100,0001. for such extensions as
they propose, will, if 'persisted in, end in their
utter discomfiture ; and we believe they are well
aware of the fact.

It behoves all parties, therefore, to approach
the subject, divested, as far as possible, of preju-
dice. The ratepayers must not be carried away by
clap trap oratory, which, by opening their eyes
to the dangers of Scylla, may have for, its
object to keep them closed to those of
Charybdis, until it is too late. In fact, the
whole question lies in the compass of anut shell,

and if both parties are only honest and straight'
forward, the question may he settle I in a week,
without Parliamentary or any other litigat:°a•
Let the Commissioners and the Company (in
voluntarily at first what otherwise they will find
themselves compelled to do; submit the question
of value to arbitration in the usual manner•
The Water Company and the Commissioners,
alike binding themselves, the one to sell and the
other to buy at the price fixed by the arbitrators.
This done, nothing will be easier, than for the
Commissioneas to obtain powers f►om Parliament
not only to raise the necessary capital to pay inr
the works, but any additional sum which may
be required for extensions, &c., taking care not
to bind themselves to the carrying out of any'
engineering job for the benefit of any set of
schemers, armed with their Act of Parliament,
and once in possession of the works, the Con-
missioners can proceed to test calmly and deliber-
ately their capacity, and to determine the ntest
rational means of augmenting the supply Per"
manentlV at the smallest cost. Let then].
never forget, that in futile litigation and
engineering jugglery their now coadjutors
the Liverpool Corporation, were induCed to
embark in an undertaking which has proved a
total failure, although it has already cost
million and a half sterling. The amount abso-
lately squandered by the Corporation, in merely
procuring their bill, 40,0001., would of itself he
sufficient to procure an ample supply of pure
water to the inhabitants of Birkenhead for the
next 50 years. We, therefore, again say to the
ratepayers, beware ! They may rest assured we
shall keep a vigilant eye on their proceedings'
We quite agree with Mr. BRETHERTON, that the
quality of the Birkenhead water is now superi°r
to any other in the county. But we hope that,
ere long, the water which we ourselves were
formerly so proud of, will be restored to usiti
its original purity, in which case ours will hear
a comparison with that of Birkenhead, or any
other place. It is perfectly true, as remarked by
Mr. BRETHERTON, that really good water is
abundance is cheap at any price.

PAROCUIAL RATES.—When - ex Churchwarden
Carne appeared before Mr. Mansfield in answer
the summons of the churchwardens elect for 1)8•F'
merit of the-parochial rate,. it was conten&d tin)t
the rate was not laid according to law, and there'
fore ought to be dismissed. :Because, that acoordi"
to the acts of William and GeOrge 111 , tb:
Town Council and churchwardens are authorise-
to tax certain descriptions • of property to raise:-
yearly sum of £2OO for the .rector-_ of the pari-91,14
and £240 for the ministers and curates of St; Pan' -
and St. John's Churches, over and above the suing
paid by the corporation, and the rents of all the
pews in the galleries of these churches, and ac-
cording to the 1 and 2 Victoria, the payment te
parish curates—£72o, making £1,160. That ad
the Town Council and churchwardens are required
to lay some of the rates "on personal estates an
th 3 stoek•in-tra of the inhabitants," and others bYtil,,
'i
churchwardens and overseers on the occupiers
houses in the parish. The rate not being laid aSs
required by the various acts of parliament, Wed
submitted to the consideration of the judge. 'lOl f
while the various acts authorise the raising 0
£1,160, if laid according to law, the last Yele
the churchwardens laid a parochial rate, the rlid
in question, for above £2 600. They have Pa,.-0
£1,459 2s srl instead of £1,160; have a balanee
cash of .R-144 Os Id, and £7OO of the rate to enlee
xtr.
It is therefore important to the parishioners it
Mansfield should, this day, give judgavnt-,,,ial
favour of the churchwardens, making the parnt3"-t0
rate legal. The parishioners, certainly, ouglit ,er
resist such an impost as would place in the l7° re
of the Churchwardens to hold and to raise gd.ocl
£4,127 of their money ; to pay £1,160 as regurst.
by law, and the small sums for St. Paul's itn;',De
John's, as also provided for, in the event o' es
pew rents not being sufficient to pay the eNPen-
of these churches.

The churchwardens having, from the parochial A 0
rate of last year, a cash balance cf
0E444 „' 0
And of that rate to collect 9OO
0
£1,43-x
As the cash in hand, and the m mey to et'`"re6
being £1,434, a sum more than the law reclu..-ch•
them to raise, then, why should the 011111'431
wardens be allowed to ma`ke a further par°°-)
rate for £2,693—f0r this year making £4,127"..-
compulsory church rate, under the name of
tio
parochial rate ;" while the church wardens, at fob
same time, are collecting a " voluntary eh°
rate" from the parishioners ?

SPEAKERS OF THF, HOUSE. OF COMMON,•-, pE
day (Thursday), the members of the 1-Pussj.er•
Commons will assemble to choose their Sii3;be
The first Speaker mentioned on record WAS 13 iff•
reign of Rufus, and in the reign of Edwaid
the Commons answered by the mouth of 101'00
Tressel, ‘• and therefore it was considered he 3,,r
their Speaker." In Henry IV.'s reign no "law.Y4B
was to be chosen, but afterwards they ;i5
" learned in the laws." The present salary
A 5,000 a year, with a residence.

. _
t°
Recurring to the late meetings regarcling.o 8,
better local management of our mercantile troreiral
we regret much to learn that, from want of a gel:ott,
sympathetic identity of interest and CO-Opel
*(A
such an association as that endeavoured to beogl
up so lately among our ship owners for
marine assurance, on the principle so exten6'll.oo
carried out at many minor ports, should -9tal
failed ; for from what we know of the energ J
business habits of the party who originateot,
nothing has been wanting on his part to Pasqiel
though even at no small sacrifice of time and 13'1' tile
to himself. We specially refer to this, seem': fat
many admirable rules and regulations ad°Pt
the management and guidance of 0131„-th ate,
captains and officers; and the success of su'teriP
association could not but have proved a Ina.-jog
boon to our port, if for nothing else than 01'ilonrei
the Board of Trade how such an instittw-t
judiciously worked, would have more than ans.;ie,,,ll"
the ends of their tribunal, and put men of the ,e," -
stamp in their true and self-dependant positte-.

o
n 3
ppe
FATAL ACCIDENT. —On the 11th inst. a labourer, in
itSk
John Murphy, was hurt whilst working at a ship'
of the docks. He was taken to the 'Northern tb"
where he remained up to yesterday, when he died tr`)—
effects of the injuries.
g S 01$
SHIP LATINCII.—A splendid clipper ship, of -,,,-,,4eb„ecia
register, and to be classed A I for twelve years,was..",ell9,
from the yard of Mr. F. C. Clarke, at J'l"-jii4r,"'‘
Saturday last, She is the property of Messrs. J.
huish and Co:, shipowners, of this port, is called the .1 and
Smith, and is intended to trade between LiverP°
Calcutta. Ors
_FritEs.—Y sterday morning, about one o'clock, int
was di.covcre I in the shop of Mr. Johnson, outiltl,.'eolll°
lane. The police, with Mr. Hewitt, and reels froth f eSei:
court, were in prompt attendance, and after a deal °,bfit
tion the fire wee got under, but we are informed 'tot°
good deal of
property was destroyed.—Another fire,ercl‘l
out in a court off Lever M 1k street,
about five ° bees
but was put out without any serious damage ,!
done. a the
AtrsTRALTA.--Tbe celebrated clipper ship, Vic:, in t,`ll
extra mnthly p:cket of the "Eagle Line," is no
river, and taks her departure to-day for Melboorll `
a large and ve.luable cargo, and her full cornreo '
and
r
passeng-Ts, in charge of an experienced surgeo.,ooo be
liberally suppliel with every possible cornfor.-- arlicter
e
unrivalled sailing qualities, and the well known ce of tb
of the captain, she is fully expected to make oil
shortest passages on record.