Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-12 00:00:00

THE DEMISE OF A MANX MISER.

There are few natives of the northern parishes of the
Isle of Man who are altogether unacquainted with the
remarkable miser of Itallaugh, whose death recently took
place. John Cowie was by trade a plaincountry joiner ;
he was always industrious and thrifty, and as he aged
these qualities -developed themselves to an inordinate
extent. . Not alone content with starving himself, he
compelled his brother and sister, who occupied the house .
with him, to suffer equally with himself. Fire was not
used except for cooking_ their few_slight meals, and a
small peat stack remained for a long period in the hag_
Bard without decreasing in bulk, while ling and gorse
whins supplied the place of the treasured turf. The sister
was by no means a willing partaker in the system of
privation. After pining'on in discomfort she was laid
down by sickness and aberration of mind, 'and iii this
state was-locked up alone-in her miserable room, when
the "boys"—as she termed her two old brothers--went
out to their fields. When the unfortunate creature
died, her miser brother made a coffin, with so little ex-
penditure of either labour or money, that the outer
bark still remained on the rough planks—only daubed
with soot paint—when carried to the grave. "John-
ny's" favourite recreation, or light employment for
spare hours, was to herd his cattle on the " Long
Meadow," otherwise the high road, and carefully carry
all the manure he could find on it to his own pie:.
mists. His person was filthy in the extreme, a clean
shirt was unknown, and the dilapidations in his clothing
were seldom repaired, and then with cloth of any colour
without respect to the original. For many winters he
was innocent of stockings, and he supplied their place
by wrapping "sugganes," or straw ropes round his legs.
He was always ready to accept the hospitality and enjoy
the good things of those who invited him to partake at
their houses, and he was often successful in obtaining
such invitations, as his conversation was agreeable, and
he expressed himself fluently in English. He was noted
as a maker of good cart-wheels, and continued this
laborious employment till a late period, but for the last
score of years his toil was in his own fields, aided by the
occasional borrowed help of some neighbour's team,
whichhe repaid by his own labour, principally in repairing
woodwork. By the mere force of avaricious thrift
through many years, he acquired by purchase several
fields, and had some thousands of pounds sterling placed
out on mortgage, and increasing gradually by compound
interest. He kept sheep on the mountain common, and
hoarded iris stock of wool in the upper chambers of his
house, year after year, until the greater part of it had
rotted and become useless. In like manner, he kept
some sacks of wheat until scarcely anything remained
in them but husks. Johnny was at least three
times on the eve of matrimony, but drew back on
hearing that he was to be married for his money,
an idea very revolting to him. One time he had gone
so far as to have a white shirt made for the occasion.
The luxury was, however, never made use of. Several
years after the death of his poor sister, his brother
took to himself a wife; who, on coming into the
house, introduced gradually many comforts and conve-
niences into the wretched abode. Probably encouraged
by the result of his brother's marriage, Johnny, last
spring, when in his 78th year, committed himself to the
irrevocable bonds of matrimony, with d sister of his
brother's wife,un whom he settled by deed, duly recorded
ere the marriage, the whole of his worldly goods and
possessions, to have and to hold thenceforth. This step
and the subsequent conduct of his wife, who for some
time refused to cohabit with him, "broke his heart."
At all events, it scattered his mind, though some said
that had commenced before the crowning event of his
life. He never smiled aftei, and was like one stunned
by some disastrous blow, until, just before the close' of
the year, he died.—Manx Sun.

NATAL REsEnvE.—We are informed that a scheme
*for a naval reserve has been laid before the Admiralty
by Sii Charles Napier, which will insure a reserve of
well-trained able seamen. The outline of the plan is
this :—The reserve to consist of men who have served
ten years in the navy, and are in receipt of short service
pensions, to take which under the present system men
have great objections, which this will entirely remove,
these men hold their pensions ; are bound by the regu-
lations for the reserve now in force, and at the expiration
of twenty-one years' servitude—i.e., _ten years in the
navy and eleven in the reserve, are entitled to the long-
service pension.—Herald.
READING ELECTION.—On Monday, the election of a
member to represent the borough of Reading in Parlia-
ment; in the room of Sir Henry Singer Keating, one of
her Majesty's judges, took place. At eleven o'clock, the
Town-hall was crowded to excess by a noisy and impa-
tient assemblage. Lady Goldsmid, bir C. S. P. Hunter
and Lady Hunter, with most of the leadinginhabitants
of the borough, occupied seats near the' candidates.
After the usual preliminaries, Mr. Alderman Andrews
proposed, and Mr. Alderman Harris seconded, the
nomination of Sir Frangis Henry Goldsmid, Bart. Mr.
H. J. Simonds nominated, and Dr. Cowan seconded,
Mr. Ralph A. Benson. The show of hands was declared.
to be in favour of Mr. Benson. A poll was demanded
for Sir F: H. Goldsmid, which resulted, on Tuesday, in
the return or Sir .F. H. Goldsmid, the numbers being—.
Goldsmid, 662 , Benson, 660, • •

COMMERCIAL CIRCULARS, CATALOGUES, &c.
GRIFFIN & AI‘GMIE,
(Successors tO CHARLES WILLMER,)

GENERAL PRINTERS,
Are in a position to execute, on the shortest notice, and with
coirectness, COMMERCIAL CIRCULARS, CATALOGUES,
&c.

PRINTING OF'FICES, 15, SOUTH JOHN-STREET,

'MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Evening.

- •
The Cotton Markpt to day was again quiet,
with very abundant supplies. This caused prices
to be irregular and somewhat easier. The eales
amounted to 8,000 balei, of which 1,00 werelor
export; or taken on speculation.

In the Liverpool Share Market the tone was
steadier than that of yesterday, and early in the
afternoon a slight advance in prices was esta-
blished; subsequently, however, the rates became
a little easier, and the market closed
_somewhat
heavily, yet without the slightest pressure
of stock. The day's transactions included_
Eastern Counties at 115 ; Lancashire and.
Yorkshire, 1011 2 15 / 2 ; Lancaster and"
Carlisle con. Stock,
.211 ; London and, North,
Western, 991 91, f, si; Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincoln, 381 ; Midland, 1101 ; North
Eastern, Berwick Stock, 95 ; South Eastern,
25 5-16 5 7-16; Warrington and Stockport, 9;
Grand Trunk of Canada, ; ditto 7 per cent.,
1872, cum int., 761 ; ditto 7 per cent., 2nd issue
cum int., 75 ; Birmingham, guaranteed by Great
Western, 761. , • , -

CLOSING PRICES.

Chester B'head 761 771 , E. Der. c. Stook 941 95
Caledonian 941 941 York Capital Stock 78 78a
E. Coun. ,11 5-16 117-16 Leeds Stock .. : 481 481'
G. N. Stock .. 107 1071 S. Eastern.... - 4
ern. . 25Z- 25 7-16
Great Weiterns.. 691 70 Duteh Rhen. : 5 41-d
Lan. and Y0rk...101& 1028 Gt. "Liizern: .. . 7l-16.71
La. & Nora West. 99 994 G. T. of Canada. 104xbdsl0t
t-shares .. .4 7-16 a G. W. Canada . . 121 124-

,
M. S. and Lincoln 381 39 „ new shares. 81 8d
Midland, Stock ..110 1101 Buffalo kL.Huron 4t •5,
N. British Stock . 62 621 Lomb-Venetian 24 2p,
N. Stafford .. 3.0 Great Ship , ....12/9 13/3
The traffic returns on the Grand Trunk of
Canada for the keel ending 17th Deceinberlast,
was £1.1,096 lls. 2d., -with 970 miles of railway
open, against £9,261 Is. 32d., with 880 miles of
railway open in the cOrresponding week of 1858.

LONDON STOCK FACHANGE.
Wednesday Evening.

The .Market for English Securities was heavy
all the morning. Consols opened at an eighth
decline, with a tendency to further depression,
owing, it is . said, to the unsatisfactory nature
of the advices from Paris, and from which
no recoVery took place. "'Consols for money
are now quoted 954 to 4, and 95.1,; to -1 for
money. Bank Stock has been dealt•in at 229'; Re-
duced Three per Cents., 957: 1; India Stock, 224
and 2224- ; Ditto Debentures, 98f: and"t-;-', ; India
Enforced Paper, 97 ; and Exchequer Bills;
325., 285., and 325. prem. A desire to realise
appeared to predominate, and prices of most
stocks were drooping. New Indian Five: 'per
Cent. Stock has been dealt in at
.1031 ,and :204i.
Canada New Loan is quoted atlo2l to 403. New
Bank .of Turkey Shares are at< s to.,' At the
close business remained dull at yesterday's quota-
tions. -

In the Market for English itailway Shares the
business done was of very limited compass, and
an adverse influenCe seemed to prevail. -Eastern
Counties; Great Western, London and North-
Western and Midland are each I per. cent. lower;
South-Eastern have' declined ss. to 10s per s'hare.

The •larket for Foreign Securities.was languid,
and in some cases values Were depressed.• .Mexi-
cans show flatness, bntSpanish-are firmer, whilst
Original Turkish have declined to
.78, and the
New Sixes to 65 to 641.. .

The price of French 13,ent:es 'at a-quarter-past
twelve was 68f. 25c., thence to GBf. 30c., again to
68f. 35c.,. and 'subsequently. to, 681. 40c. ; the
market described-as firm, but quiet. -, ,

The Athenian has arrived from the West Coast
of Africa with 1,053 ounces of gold, worth about
L 16,200.

. TUB FUNDS.,--CLOSING 711. ICES.
Consols,.Money-7. 9.5
;, ~Accourit ~..:95.
Exchequer Bills.. 28 32

Bank Stock . . . 228 30
Three per Cents.. 95;1 4

RAILWAY SHAR44.
Amb. Not. &E. J. 6}
Caledonians . . 941
Dutch Rhenish . .
Eastern Counties., 461
_7
East Lancashire.
Edinburg. & Gins. .821,
Great Nortliern
,) , //71
Gt. Westerns .., A• 96 7
.. 69i 70
G. W.Canada . 124 A
Gd. Tk. Canada .. 101 T.:
Gt. S. & West. - 112 13