Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

SUPPER AT COMPTON HOUSE.

The supper annually given by Messrs. Jeffery, Mor-
rish, and Co. to the employes in their establishments,
at the conclusion of " stock-taking," took place on
Wednesday evening. About 200 persons, male and
female, sat down to supper, which was laid out in the
mess-room in the most sumptuous manner. Mr. Isaac
Watts, the manager, presided. -
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been
drunk,

The CHAIRMAN rose and said—They were all aware
of the new building which was rapidly progressing, but
they were; perhaps, not all aware of the vast expense
gone W by the firm to elevate the characters of the young
persons employed in this establishment. He hoped
that the young men and young ladies would put their
shoulder to the wheel and show the firm that their
enlarged views were not too large for them. They
wanted this house to be a model hotise, and they wanted
the young' ladies to be model young ladies, and the
men to be model young. men. It was important that
they should be not only business men but business-like ;
and it was also important that they should not only be
gentlemen but gentlemen-like. He was now going to
propose the health, of the firm, and a good balance-
sheet. (Applause.) The toast was drink with great
enthusiasm. '

Mr. JEFFERY, in reply, said—Mr. Watts, ladies, and
gentlemen, in the name of my firm. I thank' you for the
enthusiastic manner you have received the toast proposed
by Mr. Watts. Health is a great . blessing ; and if
accompanied by a rew of the good things of this life, I
am sure you will agree with mo when I say that it is
the greatest blessing on earth. When you wish us a
good balance-sheet, you will allow me to return the
compliment, and wish you long life, pleasure, and
prosperity. lam very happy to meet you all again in
this manner; and there are several circumstances that I
call to my recollection during the past year with pleasure.
None had been removed from amongst them by death.
In an establishment numbering so many as we do,
that is a mercy for which we cannot be too thankful.
I hope the year • upon which we ,enter to-morrow will
prove equally free from the hand of death. By attending
to the laws of nature any individual can improve himself,
both morally and •physieally. In the erection of the
new building the firm is making provision for both
physical and mental comfort. The baths. will be
enlarged, and the new library will be about double the
size. (Applause.) It will be recollected that during
the past year a deputation waited upon me to ask if we
could not improve the ventilation of the library. I
received that deputation with mingled feelings of plea-
sure and pain ; pleasure, to think that the library was
so much used as to require additional
_ventilation, and
pain that we could not at that time accede to their
wishes. Some years ago a movement was set
on foot, the object of which was to curtail the
hours of business. I look back at that time, and wonder
that so many hours of our life should have been devoted
to purposes of business. I believe even at the present
day we devote a greater number of hours to, business
than it requires at our hands. (Applause.) Thereis
everything to encourage us to go forward in this direc-
tion, and I am happy to think that you devote those
hours in which you are not engaged in business to your
mental and physical improvement. (Applause.) In the
course of last week I had no fewer than foUr deputations
on' this subject. I stated to them that there was a
difficulty in early closing, and that difficulty was in
keeping our markets open so late, and especially on
Saturday nights. They were anxious that a memorial
should be presented to the Mayor, praying him
to call a public meeting on the subject, but
I advised them to memorialise the Council. I
see no reason why these places should be kept
open more than a private establishment. Saturday
being the day which precedes Sunday, we ought to close
earlier. I have taken a good deal of pains to seek in-
formation on this subject, and on making inquiry in the
neighbourhood of the markets, I found many even in
our own trade who kept open till eleven o'clock on
Saturday night. Their reason was that in consequence
of the markets keeping open so late they were obliged to
do so too. Great is the responsibility and great the
power of the Corporation to curtail the hours in
these places, and thus cause a beneficial influence to
pervade the districts in which they are situated. I hope
to see the time when every retail establishment will be
closed at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. But this
cannot be, so long as our market day is Saturday. There are
many places which keep their market day on Friday, and
I see no reason why it should not be so in Liverpool.
If we desire it, we have only to will it as a community,
and it shall be so. If this should bo it will be indispen-
sible to pay wages on Thursday. I have mentioned this
to several large employers of labour, but many are afraid
that it would be the cause-of much intemperance. There
was a time when our firm -were greater employers of
mechanical labour than we aro at present, and we made
the experiment and found there was not so much intemper-
ance amongst those who received their wages on Friday as
among those who received them on Saturday. I feel that
those engaged in our business have had comparatively few
opportunities of mental, culture. I know the fatigue of
a day's business ; but you must overcome them if ,You
wish to acquire knowledge, and you have the consola-
tion of knowing that they are not so great as those
which had to be. overcome by those who have gone
before you. Now, if I am addressing any who may
shortly commence business on their own account,
I hope they will not follow the example of many whom
I have observed, who have shown great anxiety to get
their employer to shorten the hours of business, but
have not done so in their own places. I cannot close
these observations without referring to those who cause
the firm more anxiety than any others in the es-
tablishment—l mean the apprentices. It is with
no slight degree of pleasure that I refer to them,
who number about twenty males, when I be-
lieve the year has passed over without any complaint
having reached the firm, either of disobedience or want
of assiduity or respect to those who carry on' this estab-
lishment. It is to their credit that I say it, and it is to
our pleasure and satisfaction that I am enabled to give
utterance to it. (Applause). I trust, if we are all spared
to meet this time twelve months, to be able to make 'a
similar statement. (Hear, hear.) They are forming
habits for future life ; and in proportion as they instil
into themselves habits of regularity, courtesy, and
assiduity, so must they, will _they, reap the reward
which ever waits upon those who seek it. lam much
obliged to you all for yOur toast, and the attention you
have given to those few remarks. (Cheers.)
Mr. JEFFERY again rose, shortly after resuming his
seat, and said as time was pressing, he would, before
going, propose the health of the ladies of the
establishment, who numbered about fifty. He
believed that in no-establishment where so many young
ladies are associated with so many young men
is there so little levity, and he trusted .that so
long as young ladies formed a part of this establishment,
they will consider that there is something more than
their own reputation at stake, and that is the reputation
of the entire house.

Mr. TuomsoN, on behalf of the lathes, responded to
this toast.
The remainder of the evening was enlivened with
songs and recitations, and the company broke up at a
late hour, after spending a most harmonious and agreea4
ble evening.

About twenty thousand tons of ice are being packed
in Peru, 111., this season. Thirty-six hundred tons of
it are loaded on barges for Baton Rouge and other
places south.

PETITION OF LONDON SHIPOWNERS
AGAINST THE ANGLO-FRENCH TREATY.

To the Honourable the Commons of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in
Parliament assembled.
The Humble Petition of the undersigned Mem-
bers of the Special Central Committee on
Merchant Shipping in London, acting in the
name- and on behalf of large bodies of Ship-
owner's and others interested in British
Maritime Commerce throughout the United
Kingdom.
SHEWETH,—That . your petitioners have long
deeply felt, and have constantly complained
the utter want of reciprocity exhibited by almost
all foreign nations to whose 'Maritime interests
the enormous concession was made, of the repeal
of the British Navigation Laws ; and that the
sacrifices to which, by :that measure, the British
shipping interests were compelled to submit,
instead of being compensated' by admission to the
navigation of foreign States, have hitherto in
most instances been met only by. the continuance
.of a system of jealous exclusion, or of unfair and
ungenerous inequality.
That in these respects no nation has more con-
spicuously repelled the friendly approaches of
this country than France, whose maritime code
is based on the encouragement of a national
marine b3'. the diScourigement of the employment
of foreign ships in her .carrying trade ; and every
page of whose commercial tariff bears traces of
this policy, in the form of discriminating duties
in favour of importations in French shipping.
That your petitioners claim no right to con-
demn the adherence by France as an independent
State, to the principle of protection of her own
marine, however they may view it as an un-
generous return for the unbounded liberality of
British legislation towards her.
But by a treaty of commerce some time antici-
pated, and now concluded between the two
nations, different and more liberal principle was
• expected to be inaugurated in the whole com-
mercial intercourse between the two nations,
which it was announced was henceforward to be
conducted in accordance with those principles of
free-trade which are now in the ascendant in this
country. And in the actual treaty submitted for
the assent of Parliament, it is not to be denied
that, to some extent, the prohibitory and protec-
tive system of French commerce is relinquished
or relaxed.
But it is with feelings of the most intense sur-
prise and disappointment, that on examination of
the particulars in which it is stipulated by the
treaty, that the restrictions of the French tariff
on British commerce, are to be remitted or
diminished, your petitioners find that while relief
is stipulated for many of the most important
interests of British producers, merchants, and
manufacturers, no provision is made for
the removal of the far more obnoxious
and injurious fiscal arrangements which
directly harass and impede the British
shipowner, almost to the extent of prohi-
bition, in his maritime intercourse with France,
and which indirectly interfere seriously with his
trade, even with the possessions of his own coun-
try, with the exception alone of that contained in
the 10th Article, which refers only to local dues
and charges of very secondary importance, while
Article 3 expressly. stipulates for the retention of
the present "differential duties in favour of
French shipping."
That your petitioners are totally at a loss to
conceive the motive that can have induced British
negotiators, while contending for the advancement
of interests acknowledged to be in a state of
palmy prosperity, thus to neglect entirely those
of shipping, which is admitted to be struggling
against great and long continued depression ;
and which is also admitted by the Government
itself to be " of peculiar importance in 'a national
point of view." They feel it impossible, however,
to refrain from the declaration that, whatever the
cause Of this neglect may be, it is in itself to the
last degree unjust, irritating, and impolitic; and
they feel bound by an imperative sense of duty
respectfully, but unequivocally, to protest against
it.
With these sentiments and in this position their
only hope of relief is derived from their con-
fidence in the discrimination and justice of their
representatives in Parliament, and they therefore
humbly but earnestly pray :
That your honourable house will be pleased to
withhold your assent to the " Treaty of Com-
merce between her Majesty and the Emperor
of the French," now before Parliament, until
it shall be amended by the introduction of some
stipulations, providing equitably for the relief
of British shipping entering the ports of France:
from the unequal restrictions imposed on it by
the French -system. of commerce and naviga-
tion. And your petitioners, as in duty bound,
will ever pray, &c.

CONSERVATIVE DEMONSTRATION AT
READING.

On Wednesday evening-a grand demonstration
of Conservatives took place at the Town-hall,'
Reading, in honour of R. A. Benson, Egq., their
champion at the late election.
The cloth having been drawn, and the usual
loyal and other preliminary toasts proposed,
The Chairman gave " The Army and Navy,"
which was warmly received.
Sir Charles Russell returned thanks for the
army.
The toast of the "Volunteer Service" followed,
and having been responded to by Sir Paul
Hunter,

The Chairman gave the toast of the evening—
" The Health of Mr. R. A. Benson"—which was
received with vast cheering.
Mr. Benson replied, and, after some preliminary
remarks, . said that he received with the greatest
possible satisfaction the vast amount of kindneSs
which so large a number of gentlemen, who had
assembled to meet him, had done him the honour
to shower upon him. (Hear, hear.) After
dwelling at some length on the advantages of
Conservatism, and.on theprogress it was making
in general, notwitstanding its defeat to : a
certain extent in that . quarter, Mr. Benson•
proceeded to say that, although he felt utterly
powerless to thank them as they deserved; they
must not attribute it to any want of courage on
his part on account of having been defeated, for
he felt strong enough to render even a life-time
in their service—but to the simple fact that they
had, by their warm support and generous kind-
' ness, laid him under an obligation which it was,
indeed, difficult to repay. (Cheers.)
Sir C. Russell then proposed " The healths of
the late Conservative Administration ;" for which

The Right Hon. Mr. Mowbray returned thanks.
He felt flattered by the high compliment they
had paid the noble lord (Derby), and those who
had been associated with him. He could claim
justly, he thought, for that distinguished noble-
man that he held a name that was honoured
throughout England. (Cheers.) Although they
no longer held the reins of Government, he felt
confident he might say, in a word, that he saw on
one of the mottoes which adorned their room,
" Renaseentur !" (Cheers.)
Dr. Cowan proposed "Tie Conservative Mem-
bers of the House of Commons," to which

The Hon. F. Lygon 'responded.
The Chairnian having given "The Conservative
Members for Berks and Boroughs,"
Captain Vernon returned thanks.
Several local and other toasts followed, and
the meeting broke up at a late hour.

tRIAL FOR MURDER AT_EDINBUROH.

On Tuesday, the High Court of Justiciary pro-
ceeded to the trial of Edwin Thomas Salt, charged
with the crime of murder, in so far ay, on Thurs-
day, the 17th November last, he attacked and
assaulted. Mary Ann Hall or Salt, his wife, and
did, with his fists and feet, and with a stick or
poker, or other instrument, strike her severe
blows on different parts of lipr person, by all
which she was mortally injured, and died on the
18th November, and was thus murdered by the
prisoner.

The prisoner, a good looking young man, with
large whisker and moustache, pleaded, in a firm
tone of voice, "Not Guilty," and a jury were
called to the box.

A great number of witnesses were examined to
show the unhappy life led by the prisoner and his
deceased wife, and the circumstances under which
she died. The evidence of three medical wit-
nesses was taken at great lcgnth, the bearing of
Which may be learned from the testimony of
one of the most skilful and eminent, as well as
popular, physicians in the Scottish metropolis, viz.,
Dr. Matthews ])uncau—l have been in practice
in Edinburgh thirteen years. On the 20th Nov.
I was shown portions of the body of a woman by
Dr. Littlejohn' in. the Police-office. The walking-
stick produced would have caused the wounds
if introduced into the body. The injuries
must have been inflicted during life. I found
evidence of at least six violent thruSts, none:.
of which could have been produced at the same
time as others. I would expect such wounds
to be fatal, though. I do not think it was
absolutely necessary they should be fatal. I
think the woman must have died from the shock
to the system. The wounds must have been
inflicted by a second party. Firstly, the wounds
must have been made with .very..considerable
force; secondly, the direction of the wounds were
such that they could not have been self-inflicted;
and thirdly, the infliction of one wound would
have preVented the woman inflicting another. It
is possible, supposing the woman to be drunk or
insensible from other injuries, that the -wounds
may'have been inflicted unknown to her.
The evidence of another medical man called for
the prisoner, was rather in favotir of the idea that
deceased might have inflicted the wounds herself.
Counsel for the prosecution and for the defence
having addressed the jury,
The Lord Justice-Clerk, in summing up, ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the moderate tone which
had characterised the addresses of counsel on
either side. The case turned, to a very consider-
able extent, on the value to be attached to the
medical evidence ; and he begged to warn the jury
against being misled by a very natural observa-
tion. of . the prisoner's counsel, that the medical
evidence was entirely a matter of opinion. This
.was, to a certain extent, the case in medical
evidence ; but the observation was ill-founded as
regards the present case, for two reasons-Ist,
Because the statement drawn up by the medical gen-
tlemen as to the state of the deceased's body was
not a matter of opinion at all; and; 2i'id, Because
opinions deduced from medical facts were entitled to
be regarded with great respect.' His lordship then
' read the medical report, explaining minutely its
various statements, and their bearing on the case.
He next referred to Mr. Logan's remarks about
the medical witnesses for the prosecution, and said
that, in some cases, the standing and authority
of medical gentlemen might be of some import-
ance; but, in the present case, it was of the
smallest possible consequence- whether they were
at the head of their profession or not, and Dr.
Duncan was well known as a witness in this
court 'as frequently for the defence as for the
prosecution; and the last occasion on which he
remembered seeing him here was as a witness for
the prisoner, and it was his evidence chiefly which
saved the life of the accused on that occasion. He
then proceeded to remark that. it -was impossible to.
resist the conclusion that the regular series ofwOunds
were inflicted by the passage of some instrument.
Three questions here presented themselves—first,
whether these wounds were inflicted by violence;
secondly, whether they were the cause of death ;
and thirdly, whether the wounds could have been
inflicted by the deceased herself. It was neces-
sary, reverting to the medical evidence, to remind
them that one of the medical men, Dr. Lay-cock,
was placed at great disadvantage in giving his
opinion on this case. His evidence was, from
circumstances, necessarily ' evidence of opinion
merely—his information was not information
that had been procured by him by the use
of his own eyes and senses, but from facts that
were communicated to him through a medical re-
port which he read. Still, Dr. Laycock's opinion
commanded their attention and respect, and they
must weigh what he said as to the probabilities of
the case, although whether his opinion would
have been the same if he had seen the parts of the
body himself, they Would not say. There was n&
question that the wounds inflicted by the instru-
ment were the cause ,of death. The jury would
have to make up their minds whether the de-
ceased woman committed suicide by these extra-
ordinary means, or whether the injuries were
inflicted- by the hand of any other person. His
lordship, then directed the attention of the jury to
the details of the case, in a manlier that showed
that the facts weighed heavily against the
prisoner.
The jury retired at twenty-five minutes past one.
The jury returned to the box in about fifty
minutes, and the Chancellor gave in the following
verdict :—" The jury, by a majority, find the libel
proven, but unanimously recommend the prisoner
to mercy on account of the great provocation he
received."
The Lord Justice-Clerk—Gentlemen, that form
of verdict is unusual. I presume you mean by a
majority to find the prisoner guilty as libelled.
The Chancellor—Yes.

The Lord Justice-Clerk—ls the recommenda-
tion unanimous ?

The Chancellor-01(es, my.lord.
The verdict was amended accordingly.
A lengthened pause ensued during the writing
out of the sentence; which the Utmost silence
prevailed in the densely crowded court-room, and
the prisoner maintained all the outward appear-
ance of composure that he had shown throughout
the trial. After the lapse of some minutes,
The Lord Justice-Clerk addressed the prisoner
in a very solenin and earnest tone; ex-
horting him to faith and repentance. He
held out no hope of a commutation of sentence.
His lordship then (putting on the black cap)
read the sentence of the court, which was that
the panel should be conveyed to the prison of
Edinburgh, therein to be detained till the 6th
day of March, and on that day, by the bawls of
the common executioner, to be hanged by the neck
on a gibbet till he be dead, his body thereafter
cma
but cast-down aspect, was
then removed, and the
bGeoTbdiaiher iapevdiej
simonneterlrci e,ywpohtn• eocyiconotcinrttsisnoouuf
el thea op reixs and
court adjourned.

plated
.. .
ABANDONMENT OF TEE SCIIEME FOR A RAGtaRD,
SCHOOL; In consequence of the strong opposition.
offered to the. Mayor of Manchestet's proposal for di-.
verting a portion of the funds of Clarke's Charity to the
Coins. should have
establishment and maintenance of a ragged school, his
Worship has determined to take no further steps in the
matter.
decree
ehoef
Firarini, ..
Modena Gazette o
AN OPEN BOAT —A letter 1
s for a new
been enumerated the one which is most loudly -
cJoaiirrnivanagEieT.
,
asked foil
21:) l 20th, publishes
Among °the g °ne
:anNdtAee.m
—the new Italian sovereign.—punch.
from Cromarty, dated Friday last,'sa s .
y :—" A Cromarty '
MAN PERISILED AT SEA IN
man died yesterday between the S to 7
Su tors—was frozen to
death in an open boat. He was steering, too, and died.
with the helm in his hand." . -

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, Thursday Evening.

The Cotton market, to-day,- continued without
change. The demand was moderate, and the
supply plentiful. The sales reported, amounted
to 7,000 bales, including 2,500 for eport, or

taken on speculation.
lii the Liverpool Share market there was very
lade- business done to-day ; but still the tone was
steady, and prices closed without any appre-
ciable change. The transactions included
sales of Blackbiirns at 115 ; Caledonian, 941 ;
Great Western, 685; Lancashire and Yorkshire,
1001 ; Lancashire and Carlisle, Consolidated.
Stock, 210; London and North-Western, 991
; Ditto 4 shares, ; London and South-
Western, 921 c. ; Midland, 1111.5 ; South-Eastern,
261 5-16 7, 7-16 ; Buffalo and Lake Huron, 5 3-16•

SuoAn.,--There is a firm market, and the transactions
comprise 200 hhds. Demerara, at 38s. to 435.; 600 bags
Guatemala, at 335.; 300 bags Dates, at 425. 6d. ; and
150 hhds. Porto Rico, at 41s. 6d. to 435. per cwt.
Rum.-160 puncheons Demerara have realised steady
prices.
RICE.-In Bengal no sales have transpired, but 100
tierces Caroliria have 'found buyers at 245. to 255. 9d.
per cwt., cx quay.
LINSEED.-1,200 bags Bombay at 525. per quarter.
CLOVERSXED.-450 bags ,at. 38s. 6d. to 475. 6d. for
old, and 475. 6d. to .50s.,per cwt. for new.
DYEWOODS.-300 tons Jamaica Lagwood at £4 I.os.
per ton, ex quay.
DRA7SALTEUIES, &c.-20 casks discoloured Tartar, at
1255. 130'baks Palermo Sumac, at 12a. 3d. to 12s. 6d..
50 tons 3rds Brimstone, to arrive, at £8 10s. 100 tons
of Nitrate, 5 per cent., at 14s. '6d. Ashes; 20 barrels
Pots, at 31S 3d., with small sales of Pearls at 345. 6d.
to 355. Small sales of American Linseed Cakes, at £lO
to £lO 2s. 6d. 32 tons-new Valonia, at £EI6 15s.
OILS, &c.-Palm ,X 45 to £46. Tallbw unchanged.
150 barrels and 50 tierces fine lard at 605.; 20 tons
Gingelly oil at 355. 6d. ; 600 barrels rosin, medium at
6s. pd.,.10w medium at 4s. 9d. to ss. 3d; spirits of tur-
pentine; 36g. 6d. 'to 375.