Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-20 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS

Under no circumstances can we insert communications not
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AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, -/tc
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ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE—EngIish Opera Company
ALLSOP'S WAX WORK EXHIBITION (Lime-street).
TILE PARISIAN GALLERY OF ANATOMY, Paradise
TEUTONIC HALL (Lime-street)—Ascent of Mont Blanc
liVe" For particulars see advertisements on Bth page

-THIS DAY

Ruttl)mi

TiIuRS'DAY, JANUARY

20, 1859,

The
most i THE DAY'S NEWS.
nevrnstferresting, and, in fact, the most im-
portant, the Continent, this morning,
is contained in from
aefretent published in the Paris
_Zifoniteur, to the
that eighty-nine political
at l
prisoners, imprisonedaplanishment. King
es, have had their
punishment commuted into
Ferdinand evidently wishes :,,
b
see diplomatic
France relations with England and Tr restored. As
it
far as England is concerned,
ofa be useful as
an indication of the restorationgood feelings
,
between the two governments. France, it is true
by re-appointing- an ambassador at
show that the French Government disclaims Naples,
WouldnuLd
y
connection with the alleged Muratist molvenietll
It is with satisfaction that we announce that. the
French Government has abolished the visa
upon
passports. We are informed that this is the a
of the Emperor himself, and that he has succeeded
in carrying his point in spite of much opposition
on the part of the bureaucracy, and of persons
interested in the fees. Passports, we are given
to understand, can now be obtained with less
difficulty and with fewer formalities than under
the constitutional monarchy or the republic. The
facilities thus offered for intercourse between the
people of the different countries of Europe may
exercise an important influence in the progress of
ivilisation•
A semi-official declaration in the Austrian Gazette

says that France has made no application whateve
either that the foreign troops should be withdrawn
from the Papal States, or that reforms should be
urged upon the Pope ; at least not for the last two
years. This sets at rest the rumours of a war on
that score for the nonce.
The West India mails have arrived. The adviees
are rather interesting. Four Spanish ships of war
had anchored at Tampico to bombard the city.
Vera Cruz was also to be bombarded. A special
act of the Jamaica Legislature imposes the fol-
lowirrg additional duties from the 22nd of last
December : Flour, 2s per barrel ; cod fish, 6d per
cwt. ; and wheat 3d per bushel. The South
American republic was generally quiet. The
losses by the late fire at Valparaiso are $3,000,000.
Lima was healthy, and the crops flourishing; and
great hopes Of peace between Ecuodor and Peru
were indulged in. A severe shock of earthquake
had been felt at San Francisco, but the damage
was trifling; and no lives lost.

The Magdalena arrived at Southampton, reports
the sinking of the Bernard (brig), from Newcastle,
and the ship Rettershaft, from Glasgow, but no
lives lost. The frigate Vision, from Glasgow, had
also foundered in the West India waters ; but in
this cage also, we are happy'to say, no lives were
lost.

The half-yearly meeting of the London and
Westminster Bank took place yesterday. Mr. Aldef-
man `.Salomons took the chair. The report was,
as usual, very satisfactory, and stated that,
after making provision for all bad and doubt-
ful debts, paying the income-tax, setting
apart the sum of 2,0007 towards the new build-
ings of Westminster, Bloomsbury, Southwark,
and Temple Bar, and presenting a gratuity of ten
per cent on their salaries to all the officers of the
establishment, the net profits of the Bank for the
last half-year amount to 86,3501 lOs H. This
sum, added to 9,8521 18s ld, the balance of
the previous half-year, and another sum of
10,0001 reserved in December, but not re-
quired, would make the total sum now availa-
ble 106,20318 s 2d. The directors now proposed
a dividend of 6 per cent. per annum, and by way
of further dividend out of the profits, a bonus of
6 per cent. on the paid-up capital. The surplus
fund now amounted to £181,407 17s. 10d. There
was scarcely any discussion, after which the report
was adopted, and a cordial vote of thanks was
given to the directors.
At Bradford, Dir. Bright has met a deputation
of reformers from the West Riding of Yorkshire,
who came to consult with the hon. member as to
the best course they could pursue to support the
bill now before the country. A resolution was
passed, pledging the meeting to the formation of
a West Riding Reform Association, with branch
associations in all towns and villages of the
Riding.

A memorial to the Crown, praying for the re-
lease of Paul and Strahan, the bankers, is said to
have been extensively signed in London. The
ground taken is, that by an act of last Session
they would, if now convicted, be liable to three
years penal servitude only, which term they have
now passed.
The Gazette contains a warrant ordering the
discontinuance of the special services for the sth
November, the 30th of January, and the 29th
May.

The Somersetshire magistrates have dismised an
action brought against the keeper of a turnpike-
gate, who had claimed and received toll from one
of her Majesty's coachmen. The coachman
claimed exemption for all her Majesty's car-
riages.

The Sheriff of Glasgow has just given an im-
portant decision to trustees on bankrupt estates,
in which an undertaker sued the trustee for the
funeral expenses of a deceased bankrupt. The
trustee had exhausted all the funds in paying the
landlord's rent, medical charges, and the expenses
of realising the estate, and therefore refused to pay
the costs of the funeral as a preferable claim, but
offered to rank it on the estate for a dividend along
with the other creditors. The Sheriff, held, how-
ever, on the authority of the cases cited, that
funeral charges were a preferable claim over all
others, and decerned that as the trustee had had
sufficient funds to meet them, he was bound now
to pay them out of his own pocket.
It is reported that the friends of the Rev.
Robert Millar, who was killed by an accident on
the London and North Western Railway, in the
Trent Valley, have commenced an action against
the company. The damages are laid at the high
figure of £lO,OOO. Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., pro-
secutes, and the Attorney-General defends.

Our Irish advices go to show that the intended
"Landlord Demonstration" will, to a certain
extent, be a failure. Mr. Bagwell, the Member
for Clonmel, and Mr. Loftus Bland promise to be
present, but with a view of proposing amendments
to the resolutions. Mr. Hugh organ Tuite,
formerly member for Westmeath, and Mr. Bernal
Osborne peremptorily refuse to have anything to
do with the matter. The latter gentleman says,
in the absence of any information as to the con-
struction of this committee, the names of the
two honorary secretaries being alone attached to
the circular, it is material the public should
be informed whether any nobleman or gentleman
connected with the south or west of Ireland
has been consulted as to the correctness of
the facts assumed in these extraordinary proposi-
tions, how far it is true that the " Riband system
has been " recently revived," and is the law really
inefficient " for the protection of life and property ?'
Several other gentlemen give equally cogent
reasons for refusing their support to the demonstra-
tion.

The practice of requiring the names of attorneys
to be struck off the rolls for three years before they
are called to the bar, was discussed at the meeting
of the Law Amendment Society on Monday last.
A resolution declaring this practice to be
inexpedient and unjust was unanimously adopted.
Gilbert Henderson, Esq., Recorder, delivered
his charge to the Grand Jury, at the Kirkdale
Sessions yesterday. The- number of cases for
trial is forty-four, but his Worship could not enter
into any particulars of the crimes committed,
as he had only been furnished with the deposi-
tions in four cases. The non-presentation of the
depositions to the Chairman of the Sessions was,
in his opinion, a defect in the practice of the
Court which calls for a remedy.

No business of importance was transacted at
the meeting of the West Derby Board of Guar-
dians yesterday. A bookkeeper and porter was
appointed, as was also a mistress for the Infant
School.

At the Police Court, yesterday, the mate and
second mate of an American vessel, at present
lying in the Coburg Dock, were charged with hav-
ing committed a murderous assault upon the cook
of the vessel. The case was clearly proved, and
the prisoners were fined £5 each. Richard Badger,
a publican, in Rathbono-street, was fined .E 5 for
an indecent assault upon two young women. Mr.
Mansfield, on the application of Mr. Fearnley, of
Manchester, issued a warrant against John Sperett,
on a charge of having committed perjury, at the
last Liverpool Assizes.
The proceedings at the annual poultry show,
annual meeting of the Liverpool Institute, and
the performance at the Catholic Institute last
night, will be found detailed at the length
their importance demands. We are glad to per-
ceive that the Liverpool Institute is in a flourish-
ing condition, and that the income exceeded the
outlay last year.

THERE is hope for Ireland at last. Her nobles
are at length aroused to see to the people's inte-
terests, as well as to their own. They and the
gentry, or such of them as can be awakened to a
sense of public duty, are to meet in Dublin next
week, « to consider the propriety of forming a
permanent association for obtaining such amend-
ments in the law as may appear from time to time
necessary for the better protection of life and
property in that country." This looks like busi-
ness. We all remember the fable of the farmer
and the lark. The bird, which had its crest of

young ones in the grass, heard with indifference
the occupier of the field give orders to his men. to
have it mown as soon as possible ; but when at
length he was overheard to say that he himself
would set to work with his scythe the next
morning, and to desire his sons to come and help
him with the work, then the lark was convinced
that it was high time to look to her own and her
brood's safety, and make all haste to " tempt her
new-fledg'd offspring to the skies " accordingly .
Just so is it going to be, let us hope, with those
who "have a stake in the country" in Ireland.
They are about to look after their own business.
Had they done this half a century ago, Ireland.
would verily and indeed have been—

First flower of the earth and first gem of the sea

Already, we perceive from certain suggestions
that have been drawn up for the consideration of
the meeting, have they discovered some of the
roots of the evils which afflict their country. For
instance, in the very outset, the hint is thrown
out, that " from the impunity which has for many
years attended the most atrocious agrarian crimes
in this country, and the recent revival of Ribbon
Societies, and othei illegal combinations, it is
manifest that the law needs to be amended and
rendered more effective for the protection of life
and property." This impunity, again, it is sug-
gested, " which affords so much encouragement to
criminals, is to be ascribed chiefly to the sympathy
of the lower classes, extending to jurors, many of
whom are drawn from these classes, who cannot be
expected to act independently in any case which
strongly excites popular feeling." More than this,
it is now believed, that " stipendiary magistrates,
who are specially charged with the detection and
prosecution of offenders, should be invariably men
of education, energy, and ability ; consequently,
they should be appointed and promoted according
to a system-founded upon some adequate test of
capability and merit." And further, that " the
commission of the peace should be given by the
authorities only to gentlemen whose station and
character are such as to command the respect of
the people, and who possess a property qualifica-
tion such as is required in England." Again, they
are become• conscious, that " as go much depends
on the efficiency and fidelity of the members of the
constabulary, no constable should be appointed to
the force without a certificate of good charactei
from the magistrates in petty sessions for the
district where he resides." Further still, they
have come to understand, that " inasmuch

as ribbon conspiracies are generally con-
cocted in low public-houses, more effective restric-
tions should be placed on the granting of licenses."
And then it is suggested that " the absence of
power in grand juries to grant compensation to the
family in cases of murder and to the individual in
cases of malicious personal injury is a very serious
defect in the law." Now all these ideas are so
natural, all these suggestions are so reasonable,
while the necessities of the case are so palpable,
one's special wonder is excited that only now—for
the first time—they should have come to be
deliberately thought of, and to be taken up in
earnest, by those who all their lives long have
been suffering under the intolerable evils they are
designed, and they are calculated, so effectually, to
remedy.

But there is still another, and, if possible, a yet
more important idea, that has all at once come
into the minds of the nobility and gentry of
Ireland,—that, namely, of the duty which lies upon
them to see to the physical, and more particularly
the domestic wants and comforts of the peasantry
and small farmers. " While we are anxious,"
they say, "to see the laws repressing crime made
more effective, we are not unmindful of the
necessity of improving the social condition and
habits of the humbler classes. The improvement
of the dwellings of the labouring population and
of the small farmers of Ireland are matters of
vital importance, and an association of persons
interested in property would feel it their duty, as
well as interest, to give their best consideration to
questions bearing so immediately on the means
that may promote the suppression of those secret
societies which have hitherto counteracted every
effort towards amelioration." This is as it should
be. It is only sad to think that it was not dreamt
of, and dealt with, long, long ago What is it, in
fact, but a practical illustration of the sacred rule,
that " property has its duties, as well as its
rights ?" Had this divine principle but been
religiously regarded by the property-holders of
Ireland, what a long succession of the direst and
most dreadful social evils would not their country
have been spared ! It is a Christian obligation,
that we " bear one another's burthens;" and had
the burthens of the Irish poor been borne, all
along, by those who were bound, and who were
able, to bear them, there would have been less
crime to repress, and less wretchedness to grieve
over. Still, "better late than never." Let us be
thankful that the time has come when a full sense
of duty appears to be awakened. There has been
a long, cold, and wearisome night of cimmerian
darkness spread over the land : let us hope that a
da.y of light, and warmth, and enjoyment is
beginning to dawn upon those who have been
deprived of these common blessings of Heaven ;
and that therewith mutual charity and general
contentment will prevail,—they to whom much is
given ever remembering that from them will much
be required ; and, in short, that, in the words of
an ancient poet of our own country,

"Good is no good but if it be spend :
God giveth good for none other end."

IF there is one section of the community that
has a greater claim than another to the protection
of the law, it is the working class. In the first
place, it is a class which has not that influence
which others have, either directly or indirectly, in
securing legislative attention to its own interests ;
and on this account it ought to be all the more
carefully dealt with by those who have. In the
next place, it consists of those who have often
neither the ability nor the means of protecting
themselves,—neither their education, their time,
nor their resources are such as to put it in their
power to guard themselves against injustice, or to
defend themselves from imposition. The Legisla-
ture, therefore, must look especially bathe security