Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-20 00:00:00

BANK OF LONDON.

Yesterday morning the ordinary half-yearly
meeting of the above Bank was held at the London
Tavern. A dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. was
declared, and the report adopted.

ADVANCE IN THE BANK RATE OF

DISCOUNT.

LONDON, Jan. 19.

The directors of the Bank of E i.gland, at their
weekly court to-day, have raised the minimum
rate of discount from 21 to 3 per cent. The
measure has excited no sensation whatever.

The following appeared in a portion of our
impression of yesterday :

BOMBAY MAILS.
The Valetta, with the above mails, arrived at Mar-
seilles at eight o'clock this morning. Mails left for
London at ten : letters on Saturday.

FRANCE.
[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]
PARIS, Jan. 19.
The .Afoniteur of to-day announces, that M. Amedee
Thierry has been nominated Senator, and M. De
LaTenay Councillor of State.

THE WAR IN MOROCCO.
[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]
MADRID, Tan. 18.
Yesterday the Moors showed a disposition to attack
the Spanish, but were thrown into disorder by the fire
of the Spanish Artillery. The projectiles nearly reached
Tetuan, from which place the army was four miles dis-
tant. The Moorish army was encamping at the Sierra
D ermej as.

RUSSIAN• SILVER IN CHINA.
The Northern Bee publishes a letter from a member
of the Russian Mission in Pekin. The Chin and have
received a large quantity of silver from Russia,.
now able to give their soldiers one-third of their pay in
that metal, the paper money having become greatly

repieeiated.

MAIL NEWS.
The light portion of the Bombay mail se expected to
be delivered in London to-day (Thursday,) havig been
broaght to Marseilles by a French steamer in advance
of the regular mail packet.

MERCANTILE DISCOUNT COMPANY.
At the first meeting of the Mercantile Discount Com-
pany, held yesterday, the profits from the 16th of May
to the 31st of December were stated at £7,922. After
allowing for rebate and preliminary menses, and
carrying £l,OOO to the reserve fund, this sum is reduced
to £3,661, out of which a dividend and bonus at the rate
of 10 per cent. per annum were declared. £2,272 re-
mains to be carried to the new profit and loss account.

THE POSITION OF THE KING OF
NAPLES.
The Tifites contains eulogistic articles on Garibaldi.
and Cavour. The return of the latter to power it con-
siders as a proof that an Italian policy will now be per-
mitted and protected from Paris. Venice we may hope
to see become again Italian by purchase • but how will
Naples fare ? The King is acting like those who build
little white villas half-way up Vesuvius. 'The article
concludes by exclaiming how dry must be the elements
of combustion laid upon such a kingdom as this, and
how readily will they catch fire when Cavour shall
bring his king-like influence close up to the frontier.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

DEATH OF THE COUNTY TREASUREE.—MF. C.
Moore Wilson, the treasurer of the county, died on
Tuesday at Fleetwood, w'iere he had been staying for
the benefit of his health. The deceased gentleman was
appointed county treasurer on the 2nd of May, 1850, on
the resignation of Mr. W. A. Hulton. The appointment
to the office rests with the county magistrates. Mr.
Wilson had a salary of £6OO a year, out of which he
bad to pay his clerks.—. Preston Chronicle.
THE RECENT GALE. We mentioned in our paper
yesterday, that during the heavy gale from the south,
which prevailed throughout the night of Tuesday,
several collisions had taken place on the river. The
Troy, for Hong Kong, and the Robert Kelly, for New
York, which came in contact above Rock Ferry, were
separated on the flood. The Troy will be obliged to go
into dock again, while the Robert Kelly has had her
bowsprit carried away. The De Witt Clinton did not
sustain much damage from being in contact with the
Charmer.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—E.XAMINATION OF PRIVATE
BILLs.—Two of the examiners sat on Wednesday, and
disposed of the following bills :—Unopposed—Liverpool
Corporation Water; St. Helens Canal and Railway
(Powers over Railways near Liverpool and Manchester);
London and North-Western Railway and St. Helens
Canal and Railway Companies ; Bradford, Wakefield,
and Leeds Railway; Great Ship Company; East Somer-
set Railway; Midland Railway (Burton-upon-Trent
Branches) ; Midland Railway (Rowsley and Buxton
Lines) ; .Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction, and
Bradford, Wakefield, and Leeds Railway Companies
Amalgamation. Opposed Wakefield Gravitation
Water.
CHEMISTS' AssocrkTiorr.—Tlie eighth meeting of the
session of the Liverpool Chemists' Association was held
last night, at the Royal Institution, Dr. Edwards,
president of the association presiding.—Mr. John Shaw,
the honorary secretary announced two donations—a
number of a periodical called "The Chemist and Drug-
gist," and a part of Dr. Sheridan Muspratt's work on
chemistry.—Mr. Shaw presented a specimen of cahinca
root, a plant which is a native of Jamaica, although
comparatively unknown in English commerce. This
drug is used in some parts of. South America in cases of
intermittent fever.- Dr. D. V. Thompson presented a
specimen of podophyllin ; and Dr.. Edwards presented
a specimen of trisnitrate of bismuth—The paper of the
evening was by Professor Archer " On the Useful Pro-
ducts of the Orders Quadrumana, Chreiroptera, and
Insectivora." At the conclusion of his very interesting
and instructive paper, Professor Archer received a cor-
dial vote of thanks for his communicatien.
NEW PATENTS.—The following patents, amongst
the Great
t Seal. during uarind .w
ngth.e
Hw.eeokreanvediienyg,
others,janua r
ypassed h 17t, "
improvements in apparatuses for ventilating ships ;"
C. S. Walker and R. Hoyle, "improvements in ma-
chinery,:or apparatus for promoting the consumption of
smoke in steam boiler and other furnaces, and for
preventing the explosion of steam boilers ;" R. Long-
staff and A. Pullan, " improvements in traction or
locomotive engines ;" J. Shanks, -"improvements in i
mowing machines ;" W. E. Newton, "improvements in
the construction and manufacture of casks, barrels and
such like vessels, and in the machinery or apparatus to
be employed for such manufacture.A communication
from J. de Lehatcheff, Russia : P. A. Viette, " improve-
ments in engraving on metal, or on other substances
decomposable by acids or corrosive salts ;" D. Russell
and J. Russell, ti improving the means of docking, and
lifting ships out of the water for the purpose of ex-
amining and cleaning their bottoms, effecting any
necessary repairs, fixing new screw propeller, rudder,
raising sunken vessels, or anything else for which it is
, desirable to get at any portion of a vessel generally
under water."—Communicated Iron the Patent-offices,
Clayton-square, Liverpool.

Lvfmnroor, POULTRY SHOW.—This exhibition re-
opened yesterday, and was largely attended. It is-to be
continued to-day.
AcciDENT.-7-Yesterday David J. Meakin, a labourer,
residing in Stockdale-street,- sustained a severe injury
to his foot and ankle, by a-stage falling upon him at
the Nelson Dock.—This case was received. at the
Nor.thern Hos ital.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MARKETS COMMITTEE,
YESTERDAY.—Yesterday morning a special meeting of
the Markets Committee was held at the Town-hall, Ald.
Woodruff in the chair. The only business was the
ordering an advertisement to issue for a collector for St.
John's and the neighbouring markets. The salary
attached to the office is £lO.O a year, and the person
elected must give security in. £l5O.
PORTRAIT OF LORD DERBY.—A fine full-length por-
trait of Lord, Derby is now being issued to subscribers
by Messrs. Tho Mas Agnew and Sens, of Liverpool and
Manchester, which, whether as a work of art, or as a
striking likeness, will secure, we are convinced, the
highest admiration. It has been beantifully engraved
by Frederick Bromley, from a painting by F. Grant,
R.A. It represents the noble earl standing at a table,
in the attitude he would address a public company—the
attitude, indeed, in which he may frequently be seen in
his place in the House of Lords. We understand that
this is the only painting for which Lord Derby has sat,
and is destined to be one of the heir-looms of Knowsley.
It is an engraving that we should think would be
eagerly sought after.
HISTORIC SOCIETY.—A meeting of this society was
held last night, in Mr. Mayer's Egyptian Museum,-
Colqui4-street. Through the kindness of Mr. Mayer
the various departments of the museum were thrown
open to the the members and friends of the society, who
attended in large numbers. The extensive and valuable
collection of antiquities was much appreciated by the
company, and the first portion of the evening was spent in
examining the interesting specimens which compose the
collection. Refreshments of first . class quality were
provided in abundance in the library, after which the
paper for the evening was read. It was by Mr. C.
Roach, Smith, and had for its subject "Public Museums."
The essayist animadverted with great skill upon „the
necessity and utility of large, public collections of an-
tiquities. He said museums were to be regarded as
academies in which youth might continue its studies in
a manner both pleasing and instructive. To all classes
of students such collections must be extremely valuable,
as specimens are necessarily so. expensive, that but few
men could obtain them in sufficient number to be
available. It was much' to be regretted that good
museums were 'so rare in this country. He believed
there were only threexeally valuable ones in the country.
In France, on the contrary, nearly every town had a
museum of antiquities, and that of Lyons was especially
valuable. As it is impossible in our limits to do justice
to this excellent essay, we content ourselves by saying
that the object of the paper was most satisfactorily ac-
complished.
WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE.—The weekly meeting of
this committee of the Select Vestry, was held in the
board-room at the Parish Offices, Brownlow-hill, yester-
day forenoon. Mr. Churchwarden Cropper presided ;
and the other members present were Messrs. Smith,
Denton, Melly, Scott, E. Byford, A. Byford, and
Broome.—Mr. Carr, the governor, reported that the
number of paupers in the workhouse was 2,186, being a
decrease, as compared with last week, of 12, and a
decrease of 259 compared with the corresponding. period
of last year.—The medical officers reported that the
number of sick paupers in the wards last week was
709; new cases since, 162 ; cured and discharged, 143 ;
died, 30 ; remaining under treatment, 698, including
20 fever and 15 itch cases.—The master of the vagrant
sheds reported that the number of destitute persons
relieved in his department during the week ending the
14th instant, was 138 males, 58 females, and 14
children ; total 210 ; being an increase as compared
with last week's return of nine persons, and as com-
pared with the corresponding week of last year, an
increase of 30 persons.—A case of 'a lunatic woman,
which the parish authorities had been unable to get into
either the Haydock Lodge or the, Rainhill asylums, hav-
ing been brought before the committee by the master of,
the vagrant-sheds, the chairman remarked that it was a
most extraordinary thing that almost all the pauper
lunatic asyluMs in Lancashire were full. The woman, had
accordingly been returned to the workhouse, and it was
a fortunate circumstance that accommodation had been
provided in the house for such cases. Mr. Hagger, the
vestry-clerk, stated that there had been such a vast in-
crease in the number of lunatics sent to the asylum, that
everybody was taken aback by it. The other proceedings
were of a formal character.