Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-16 00:00:00

believe that the distant claire of it has any appreciable,
effect in inducing them to7eriter the o,ervice.
Thirdly.—That such a change in international law
will not he respected longer than may suit the conve-
nience of either belligerent. -

Past history, however, shows that European nations
have, with rare exceptions, respected the principles of
international law, when well defined, and established
by their unanimous' concurrence.. If private property
at sea were declared inviolate, its seizure would morally
be an act of piric.y. - :So far are nations in the present
day from being inclined to push war to extremes, not
sanctioned by international usages, that they have on
several occasions shrunk from availing themselves of
practices still nominally permitted.; as witness the
release, by the Emperor of the French, of the Austrian
merchant 'ships seized in the late war, in order, as he
expressed it, to "attenuate' the evils of war." And,
moreover, the principle,.if once agreed to, could not be
violated -without risking a collision with those neutral
nations whose subjects might have entrusted- them-
selves end their property under the flag of a belligerent,
in full faith of security from either captureor detention.
• All the arguments so far brought forward in
defence of the exceptional state of morality on the
ocean, seem to us utterly insufficient. The :present
practice • appears to. have its origin in the piratical
character of the early navigators; and although during
times of peace the inviolability f property at sea has
long been acknowledged by all civilised countries, war
is no sooner declared than the order is issued to seize,
burn, and destroy the maritime property of the enemy,
in a spirit worthy only of the most barbarous times.
As president of this chamber, which is specially con-
cerned in guarding the interests of commerce; I have,
of course, had to dwell-largely upon the importance to
the mercantile 'world of the proposed Change. But
beyond this, the directors believe it is demanded by the
more humane spirit of the times. Without it, the con-
duct of the future naval wars—in which this country
is peculiarly liable to be engaged—will stand in most
unfavourable contrast with that of the recent European
conflicts on land, and the injuries sustained by indivi-
duals will only aid in embittering hostile feelings, and
in making more difficult the re-establishment of peace.
'ln submitting the foregoing observations 'for your
impartial consideration, the directors of this chamber
'have the fullest confidence that they will receive that
attentive perusal which the importance of the subject
is entitled to demand ;, and should they be so for-
tunate as to obtain your concurrence in the views
therein propounded, they doubt not you will avail your-
selves of every fitting opportunity of enforcing the same
upon the notice of her Majesty's Government, and of
the House of Commons.—l am? gentlemen, yours faith-
fully, EDMUND POTTER, President.
To J. A. Turner and Thomas Bailey,-Esqi-e.,
Members of Parliament-for the City of Manchester.

Coy
To To the night Iron. the Lord Viscount Palmerston, K.G.,
G.C.8., &c., First Lord of Her Majesty's Treasury.
The Memorial of the Directors of the. Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, by their Chairman,
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH,—

That public attention is daily becoming more and
more aliv3 to the inconsistency in the existing rule and,
practice of internationallaw, as affecting'the property of
the subjects. of belligerent states on land and at sea
. , _ .
respectively.
That througbout the liostile operations which have
been carried on in Europe within the last few years, the
ships and cargoes.Of non-combatants have, as in former
wars, been held liable to seizure, confiscation, or destruc-
tion, while, on. the contrary, a strong disposition has
been manifested to abstain from inflicting unnecessary
injury upon private property on land.
That your memorialists are of opinion that it is both
desirable and politic that the latter course of action, so
much more in accordance with the principles of justice
and humanity, should, if possible, be extended towards
private property on the high seas in time of war ; and
the assembling of an European Congress would appear
to offer a most favourable occasion for the discussion_ of
so important a change in international law.
That the-general adhesion of European nations to the
principles of maritime law, comprised in, the basis laid
down at the Congress of 1856, taken together with the
surrender by the French of the Austrian merchant
vessels, captured by them in the late Italian war, lead
your memorialists to indulge the hope that the question
would be favourably entertained at the approaching
Congress.
That inasmuch as it is universally admitted that no
war has been brought to a termination by reason of the
amount of injury, or loss inflicted upon private persons,
but rather from political considerations, or by the de-
cisive superiority of-the Militar7 or naval power of one
of the belligerents, your memorialists would respectfully
§ubmit that the pr:oposed'ohange'would not be open to
the objection of having -a-tendency to prolong hosti-
lities, but, on the contrary, by mitigating the. ealatraities
of war, it would confer a lasting benefit upon mankind
at-large, and directly promote the interests of civili-
sation.

YOur memorialists would therefore earnestly entreat
your lordship to take this most important subject into
your early and favourable -consideration, And that-you
will exercise the. influence of Tier --Majdsty'S Govern-
ment in bringing the same under the notice of Foreign
nations, either at the approaching congress, or in such
other manner as 'your lordship in your wisdom may
deem most effectual.
And your nicimnialists will eye'. pray.
For and on behalf of the board of directors,.
(Signed) EDMUND POTTER, President.

THE REV. ARCHER Goßsry.—We learn from Crock-
ford's Clerical Ditectory that the Rev. Archer 'Gurney,
to whom allusion has naturally been recently directed,
was formerly a member of the legal profession. He was,
ordained deacon in 1849, and priest in 1850, and was
appointed to the senior curacy of Buckingham. He is
the author of several poems ; among them 'King Charles
1., a dramatic poem, dedicated to the memory of the
Church's Royal Martyr," and "Songs of the Present."
He has also published several sermons.
IMPROVEMENTS TN CO§§TINTINOPLE.—The gas lamps.
from the main street of Galata to the Bridge of Karakem
have been fixed during the week, and the whole line of
street, therefore, from Pera to the bridge is now lighted
up. This is of vast convenience to _the large portion of.
the public who have to pass from the business quarters
of Galata to Pera after 'dusk. Six or eight other streets
adjacent to the New Bourse will also be lighted this.
week. The general lighting of Galata will not take place
before spring. - Nearly all-the mains; however, are ready,-
and a considerable portion laid down, but the lamp-posts
have not yet been commenced -at the works at Zeltoun
Bournou. The energy with which this extension-of the
eclairap is being pushed on, both at Galata and Pera,.
reflects infinite credit. on Mr. Crawford, the director of
the works. Gas, paving, and cabriolets having made
good their hold upon- Pera, are about to carry their
revolutionising influence across.the Golden Horn ; yea,
more, omnibuses are .on the eve of whirling alike the
faithful and unfaithful through the labyrinthine alleys
of Stamboul. A project for the establishment of a line
of these useful vehicles has been set on foot, and has, it
is said, already received the' sanction of his Majesty the
Sultan. The particulars of the scheme have not yet
been promulgr.ted, but that it is already in advanced
existence may be accepted as a fact.—Levant Herald,
Jan. 4.

LATEST FASHIONS.—Evening dresses of the splendid'
new silks recently introduced are frequently ornamented.
With trimmings of lace in the form of tabliers, montants,
or flounces. Ceintures of lace with long flowing ends
are very fashionable as well as very pretty. The skirts
of some dresses have been trimmed with bows of lace,
and epaulets of the same ornament the sleeves. Ball
dresses continue to be made with two or three-Au' tsc
and with one skirt only, trimmed with flounces. Double
skirts are gathered up by chatelaines of flowers,
bouquets, or bows of lace. Flowers also ornament
corsages ani sleeves. Wreaths for ball the
head-dresses are
very full at'each side. Many are, however, still mounted
with pendant sprays. For dinner dress nothing is more
fashionable than velvet, either of black or of some dark
colour, as crimson, green, or dark blue; black velvet,
however, has the preference. Dresses of plain satin are
again becoming fasionable, and may be worn on the
same occasions as dresses of velvet. Wedding dresses
are composed of white moire, velours royal, Bros de
Naples, or tarletane over silk. The latter are trimmed
with. narrow fluted flounces, the number varying ac-
cording to the height to which' it is required they should
ascend. A wedding dress of white moire has the skirt
trimmed with three rows of maccaroons, formed of
white satin encircled with lace, and of graduated sizes.
Three rows of maccaroons pass up the front of the
corsage, which is high, fitting close to the figure, and
pointed in ,front. A ceinture of lace is worn with it.
The sleeves 4re wide and slit up their whole length;
they are lined with white satin, and trimmed at the
edge inside with 1a yuche of ribbon, and on the outside
with a row of. macorons.—LaclP 11Telv8114-P".'