Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-30 00:00:00

MAGENTA AND SOLFERLNO.

A lecture on a visit to those famous battle fields, was
delivered last night in the Argyle-room, Birkenhead, by
the Rev. R. H. Lundie, M.A. The proceeds to assist
in erecting schools in connection with the Presbyterian
Church, Birkenhead. The audience was most respect-
able, and the room was crowded in every part. Major-
General Sir Edward Cust, Bart., of Leasowe Castle,
was expected to preside, but shortly before the hour of
meeting, Mr. Lundie, as he informed the audience, re-
ceived a communication from Leasowe Castle, informing
him that Sir Edward, from several unforeseen circum-
stances, was unable to be present on the occasion. Mr. Carr,
however, one of the school committee consented to take
his place. The meeting having been opened by prayer, the
chairman at once introduced the lecturer. The rev.
gentleman opened his lecture by a very graphic descrip-
tion of his descent from the Alps, and progress along the
plain to the field of Magenta. When he entered Italy
the inhabitants were in a state of great excitement from
the visit of King Victor Emmanuel, and the freshness of
the newly acquired liberty. He would not, he said,
enter into any description of the battles, as they had
been graphically described when they took place, but
would only give a sort of general idea of the state of
the country on the spot where they were fought. Ten
weeks had elapsed when he visited it since 'the battle of
Magenta had been fought, and everything gave indica-
tions of the severity of the struggle, and the devastating
effects of war. Vegetation was completely destroyed,
and the trade of the town of Magenta was
entirely ruined. The peaceable inhabitants had scarcely
yet got the better of the terrible fright into which the
fact of the town being the centre of the battle had
thrown them. All, however, bore testimony to the
wonderfully kind treatment they received at the hands
of the allies, considering the state of fury and excitement
they were in at the time the post was carried. Only
eighteen persons were killed by mistake in the general
confusion and velie. Along the whole field, and 'scat-
tered in the vineyards, were to be found memorials of
the conflict,it the shape of shakos, cartouch-boxes, sword
sheaths, and all the etcetera of military 'accoutrements.
His attention was drawn to two very large graves, one
efohal spotgifdl Imeeor
inreett anhwdowra B:ihonuyue gmrblthvhyh Italians.
alighted,n s.
wasfir first t placethe oe no who
is hht oe_
measured 45 feet, and these were the only tombs on
ch
in
which there were any attempt to raise a memorial.
On a stone over the large one was the simple inscrip-
tion---" 83 Austrian soldiers lie here, killed on the 4th
of June ;" on the other there was rather more feeling;
it was as follows—" 12 Braves of the Ist Grenadier
Guards." On visiting a field of battle the thought
naturally arises—where are the mourners ? On this field
of Magenta there is but one. A small solitary mound
marks one spot, and the fact that it is detached-shows
that some distinguished person reposes beneath. It is
daedsoltieier'sselfdeerainthe..
attil ee
Tgrena,veanodf
uhmreea sr
ftoeuprnr proceeded
eeteth e inhabitants "all
or
whine. It is an African dog, which belonged to the
the spot, buyGtoeutrhinenErdesPtihhneeasnilsioeesun. ,Guleotrteart thereienagrl ye; oeowri never
ivne'gr,latev e'mournfulleaves
his master
campaigns, when haendfelrle;fash eedhad
e
leaveFger followednoemrat
hl
sing
country gentleman, but that
the Pas v itetheh,reoo unhgaoheucsoCeuon:lhoaeoh:lcafsli st
a visit from Gen. Garibaldi;
court-
yard; re
ilafiddl of
fsSt
was in a state of dilapidation, as it had been a
defended post, and. round shot and shell had done terri-
ble execution upon its walls. Seven weeks only had
elapsed from the day of the battle, and no rain had
fallen in the interim. The ground was, consequently,
in a hard baked state from the trample of the feet of
wh
aads ar a
2large w
ibt
hr o wn mark, av ke
1, e snhe oe
wover 350,000'men. Under 'each window of the chateau
the whole
ianngd'wbhloeodre thheeincgonmfloicstt
profusely shed. These marks were general over
field. The peasantry were in a dreadful state of alarm
during the battle, as the unexpected return of the'
Austrians did not allow them time to 'escape. ' In one
house which he entered, he found an old woman, on
whose face the terror suffered dUring that day seemed
not yet effaced. She told him, and 'he would never
fbouete,
rniget;, saidtheenapehhase, w
is withere
crashing v‘rhilih
in he
which she spoke, ""the
'the
window. These children 'weie crowding in the corners.
Their mother was distracted ; she died that day ; she was
not struck clown by a bullet, but the battle killed her; she

was not afraid for herself, it was her feari for the children'
j Relics, are very scarce; the peasantry have collected
everything which can possibly be made merchandise of,
so closely does commerce in this age follow upon the
heels of the direst events. After dwelling at some length
' upon the peace of Villafranca, the characters of the
Emperors Francis Joseph and Louis Napoleon, the rev.
gentleinen concluded an eloquent and interestincrlecture
by expressing the hope that the shores of England would
'never be visited by a foreign foe; but the most efficient
way to guard against any such contingency was to be
prepared for it, therefore he would say success to our
volunteer corps, and he would address to them the same
advice as had been given of old—" trust in Providence
'and keep your powder dry."
-,• After votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman,
the proceedings terminated.

THE SHIPPING INTEREST.

IMPORTANT MEETING, YESTERDAY.
Yesterday afternoon a general meeting of shipowners,
shipbuilders, shipmasters, shipping tradesmen, and others
interested in shipping, was held at the London Tavern,
" to take into consideration the present ruinous condition
of the British shipping interest, and, to adopt petitions
to Parliament praying for a comprehensive, searching,
and impartial inquiry into the actual state of British
navigation and the causes that have led to its present
depression, as well as into all the laws and resolutions
under which it is now conducted."
Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P., presided. He was sup-
ported by Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M.P., Mr. Soames,
M.P., Mr., Bramley,Moore, Colonel Sykes, M.P.,
,Mr.
Duncan Dunbar, Mr. James Beasley, Mr. J. Smith,
and other gentlemen.
Th. 01...a.;:r...a. ortia *ha+, no ono of Cho representatives
of the City, of London, he had come there at the request
of; many gentlemen whom he highly respected. Wien
it was first proposed to him to take the chair he
expressed his fears lest his views on the subject of pro-
tection and free trade might clash with those of the
meeting, but the gentlemen who had invited him had
assured him that it would be quite consistent with his
Views to attend, and he should be ready at all times
in his place in Parliament to advocate the claims of the
shipping interests. -He was in the earlier part
of his life an extensive ship-owner, and could well
understand the difficulties under which the shipping
interest laboured. It was not for him to anticipate
the observations which would be made by. the, movers
and seconders .of resolutions, but he might briefly
call attention to the state of the question as it stood
in reference to Parliament. At the close of the
session of 1858, he gave notice that early in the
next session he would move for the appointment
of a select committee to inquire into the operation
on shipping of certain Acts of Parliament,
particularly Lord Campbell's Act, which was
never intended to have reference to shipping, the
Merchant Shipping Act, and the Passenger Act. Mr.
Lindiay siibiequently gave notice for a committee to
inquire into the fiscal burdens on shipping ; for instance,
parsing tolls, local•dues, duties on timber light dues,
and other imposts of that kind. He (Mr. Crawford)
waived his committee, and that proposed by Mr. Lindsay
was appointed: They met, and selected an admirable
chairman in the person of Sir George Lewis ; but they
got no further, for Parliament was sent about its
business, and several members were not returned. A
committee would be re-appointed this -year, and he
trusted that gentlemen who had grievances to complain
of would attend before the committee with a clear state-
ment of their grievances. One should show the
grievances of the Eastern trade, another of the Ame-
rican trade, another of the Continental trade, while others
should, point out the legal difficulties which surrounded
them, and the restrictions imposed upon them from which
foreigners were exempt. He repeated that in Parlia.
ment he should be glad to give the shipping interest all
the assistance in. his power.
Mr. Soames, MX., moved the, first resolution, which
affirmed the continued depression of the shipping in-
terest, a depression which threatened' absolute ruin to all
who were engaged in it. He was well acquainted with
details, and the resolution had his' hearty concurrence.
He could only say that if eome immediate remedy were
111LCrelit as a uuuy, 'do In-
uest would, soon have to, be held on that body.
(Laughter.)
The Chairman said that the resolution was to have
been seconded by Mr. Digby Seymour, the member for
Southampton ; but that gentleman was 'unavoidably
absent.
Mr. Bramley-Moore seconded the resolution. He had
opposed the repeal of the Navigation Laws in Parliament,
and nothing had since occurred to change his-opinions.
The country was ignorant of the real bearings' of the
questions, and he suggested that "a hand-book" of
their case should be published for the enlightenment of
the provinces. So far from the repeal of the uaiiption
laws having cheapened carriage by shipping, it had
increased it, while it had placed the foreigner, at an
advantage with the British shipowner. Having
instanced various foreign countries that favour their own
ships at the expense of British bottoms, he went on to
argue that the efficiency of the navy and the security of
the nations demanded that the existing system. should
undergo a material. alteration. Not one person . in' ten
thousand was aware that the coasting trade Was gra-
dually drifting into the hands of foreinmers. one
advantage' which the foreigners enjoyed at expense
of the British shipowner was trading. with our colonies
upon equal terms, although entirely free from.the burdens
of the state. lie advocated the principle of reciprocity
adopted by the rnited*States: He was as much a free
trader as any man, but he would stipulate that he
should have the right of selling to, as well as purchasing
frcim the foreigner.. We imported £14,000,000 of the
manufactures. of Fxance; but_in return France only
took £4,000,000 of our raw material. Such-a state of
things was grossly unfair.
Mr. Lindsay, M.P., claimed the right to address the
meeting in opposition to the resolution, as he could not
allow at to go forth that the distress of the shipping
interest was attributable to the existing system of
maritime commerce, or the repeal of the navigation
laws. The resolution and the memorial presented to
the crown last year were fallacious. He was favour-
able to "reciprocity ; but not enforced reciprocity,
because that was protection in. its: worst form. It
would revive the war of classes and the system of com-
merce which prevailed in the time Of Cromwell.
(These opinions provoked' conSiderable uproar and a
general cry of " Turn him out.")
Mr. G. F. Young rose to order, as Mr. Lindsay was
travelling from the business of the meeting. The
question Mr. Lindsay was raising he had challenged
Mr. Lindsay to discuss with him in public, and Mr.
Lindsay had declined the challenge.
The Chairman thought Mr. Lindsay was not out of
order, but left it to the meeting to decide whether they
would hear him.
Mr: Lindsay continued to speak amidst repeated in-
terruptions.
Mr. 13eazley, of LiVerpool, contended that the Pas-
sengers' Act, and Lord Campbell's Act, had given the
foreigners such an advantage 'over the British ship-
owner, that it was impossible to compete with foreigners.
Re read several extracts from a letter, written by Mr.
The
r.
o resolutionF .
Young,w a saMr.nultimately
0. t
Taylor,
Potts, ea r
Lindsay to an Ameriein correspondent,' stating that he
could obtain advantages for American ships to the
eafdSoputnedderland.; Mr. J.
detriment' of -British vessels: [So great was the uproar
of Tynemouth ; Mr.
laodr:ocates of the shipping
taetthfoelrlotwheetrtho
proceedings
6adin
go us necomenbte that it
continued.]seemed doubtful
isnntilereths,t,ofinlcliuvderpingoa;
Digby Seymour M.P., and Mr. Cave, M.P., also ad-
dressed the meeting at some length.
A petition to Parliament, setting forth the grievances
complained of, and praying for inquiry, was agreed to,
and entrusted to the chairman for presentation to the
House of Commons.
The proceedings occupied the whole of the afternoon.

BANKRIJPTS.
Samuel Weldon, Manea, Cambridgeshire, machinist.
John Ronald Lyon,. Cainbridge, brewer.
Henry JOhnson' Stoke, Newington-green, and st.
'James's-walk, Clerkenwell, builder.
Abraham Cross, West Bromwich, ironfounder. -
William Durand, jun., Birmingham, harness furniture
maker.
Johit Cartwright, Dunstan, Lincolnshire, corn merchant.
James Lomas, Bolton, draper. •
BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED,
Samuel Johnston, Burslem, tailor. •
George Corbett, Suotteswell, city salesman.

CORRESP

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