Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-19 00:00:00

the coining of the tackles and running gear capsized.
The number of ships' boats that escape this disaster
is very small as compared with the number attempted
to be got out or launched in cases of emergency. We
have frequently taken occasion to remark upon this.
The proper provision of ships' boats, and their
readiness for immediate use, at a moment's warning,
cannot be too carefully attended to ; and yet it is
one of those things which are most commonly
neglected. Take our ocean steamers, as an example.
They may have the requisite number of boats on
board, and swung ready for being launched; but
when an alarm is raised, when danger is imminent,
and suddenly, and under excitement, the boats are to
be had recourse to, nine times out of ten there is
something amiss; and either the opportunity of
making them available is lost, or if they succeed in
getting them afloat they are found, unmanageable
and unavailing. CLIFFORD'S apparatus for lowering
ships' boats would seem to possess such great
advantages over every other means we have ever
heard of, that one's wonder is, it is not recommended
by the Board of Trade. The process is so simple,
that one man can manage it. He gets into the boat,
unhitches a rope from a cleet (on the boat's seat)
over which he slacken's it off. The boat descends
evenly, frees itself from the gripes by which it was
lashed to the ship's side ; and letting go the rope
disengages the boat from the ship. Such is the
prompt and simple method by which, with this
apparatus, boats may in any emergency be safely
lowered ; and it is the opinion of practical .men, that
its general adoption would conduce most materially
to the preservation of imperilled life at sea.
It certainly speaks volumes for the humanity of a
nation when so much is thus done for the preserva-
tion of human life amidst the dangers of the sea
around its coasts. The National Life-boat Institution,
of which we have on several occasions spoken most
favourably in these columns, contributes in an
eminent degree to further the humane efforts that
are being continually made to that end, —efforts that
cannot be undertaken, it must be evident, but at
great expense, and which therefore demand the
Lberal assistance of the country.

THE COURT.

OSBORNE, March 17.—The Queen and Prince walked in
the grounds yesterday. Prince Leiningeu visited her
Majesty.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

At7STRALIA.-ARRIVAL OF THE MORNING LIGHT. - The
clipper ship Morning Light arrived here yesterday with
17,329 ounces of gold, valued at 69,316. She sailed from
Melbourne on the 2nd December, and has been 94 days on
the passage.

THE AMPHITHEATRE.—We can add nothing to previous
notices of the present performances in this theatre, except
that Madame Celeste's benefit took place last night before
a well-filled house, and that the engagement of this talented
actress closes with the present evening.

Her Royal Highness Princess Frederick William of
Prussia, throngh Baron Storhwar, has expressed her
acceptance of a poem on the birth of the young Prince, and,
in her Royal Highness' own words, her best thanks " to
C. M. P., the authoress, a young lady of this town.
RUN OVER. —Yesterday, a boy, named Thomas Holden,
residing in one of those mysterious courts off Vauxhall-
road, was playing in Moorfields, when he was run over by
a spring cart, and sustained a severe contusion of the legs,
and had his fingers broken by the horse trampling them
under.

BROTHER AND SISTER.—Ann Larkins, a denizen of
Hockenhall-alley, went on a friendly visit, on Thursday
night, to a brother, residing in Back Portland-street, and
becoming rather merry they indulged in a few blows, the
result being that the woman received a severe contusion of
the thigh, and is now lying in the Northern Hospital.
AMERICAN MAILS. —The Cunard steamer Persia, Captain
Judkins, will sail for New York direct to-morrow morning.
The box closes at the Post-office at eight o'clock, and
finally at nine, but the receiving box will be open on the
Landing-stage till ten, with the payment of a late fee of Is.
The City of Manchester, arrived here yesterday, repoits
being in the company of the steam-ship Prince Albert, for
Newfoundland and Galway, on the 4th inst., thirty miles
from Sands Hook.

ORAITOE AND GREEN.—Thomas Finirty, though an Irish-
man, is a very violent orange one, and on St. Patrick's
Day he became somewhat ,elevated, whether in drowning
the shamrock or not deponent saith not ; certain it is that
he began a bullying and abusing of St. Patrick, " damning
and sinking the Pope," and other peeuliar diversions, the
result being that, residing in the classic neighbourhood of
Bannistre-street, he got himself into a row and was se-
verely handled, being beat about the head and neck, and
receiving a dangerous scalp wound.
CORONERS INQUESTS. —Yesterday the Coroner held the

following inquests : On the body of Benjamin Cross, a
prisoner in the Borough Gaol, who died suddenly. He was
undergoing a sentence of four months, and was admitted to
the hospital, where he died of general debility. Verdict,
" Died of natural causes." On the body of a new-born
female child that was found in Bath-lane on Thursday. It
appeared that the child was born alive, and that death was
caused by conj ection of the lungs from exposure to cold.
Verdict, "Wilful murder against some one unknown."
EDGE-HILL WORKING MENS' ASSOCIATION. —The last of
a course of lectures was delivered on Thursday evening, by
Richard Houghton, Esq., on the interesting subject of
" Astronomy." The room was again crowded, and though
the lecture lasted for two hours, it was listened to with
great interest throughout. The subject of the solar
system in general was most lucidly treated, and the subject
of comets seemed especially to gratify the audience. The
lecture was illustrated throughout with the " Magic Lan-
tern." A great feature of these lectures has been the large
attendance of the working classes. The Rev. Thomas
Moore presided.
WORKING MEN'S ASSOCIATION.—On Wednesday evening
last, the usual weekly lecture connected with the Association,
was delivered, in St. Anne's National School-room, Stanley,
W. Patten, Esq., occupying the chair. The lecturer, Mr.
J. B. Marsh, selected " Rare old Chester" for his subject,
and had it very well illustrated by diagrams and prints of
various kinds. The room was full, and these meetings
appear rather to give popularity as the session approaches
its termination. The audience appeared much gratified by
the many interesting details given, and a hearty vote of
thanks was accorded to Mr. Marsh. Next week Mr. It. R.
Swan lectures on " Moral Education."

CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY, in monthly
parts, imperial octavo, sixpence each, magnificently illus-
trated. The design of this undertaking is to present to
families a work which will prove exceedingly amusing and
instructive. Each part will contain illustrations executed
in the first style of art, which alone will render it .a beauti-
ful picture-book. The text, while being truly scientific,
will be written in a popular style, each latin term will be
rendered in English, and numerous anecdotes and illus-
trations will be interspersed, descriptive of the structure
habits, and haunts of animals, so that the juvenile mem-
bers of a family will become so interested as to make
them welcome each monthly part of " Cassell's Illustrated
Natural History."
MERCANTILE MARINE SERVICE ASSOCIATION. - The
following is a copy of a memorial presented to the Earl of
Derby by the Mercantile Marine Service Association, seeking
that the Certificated Masters of the Service may be included
in the Reform Bill :—" To the Right Honourable, the Earl
of Derby, K.G. The Memorial of the Mercantile Marine
Service Association of Liverpool. Sheweth,—That the
Mercantile Marine Service Association of Liverpool is
composed of masters and officers of the merchant service of
the United Kingdom, and has been established for, among
other things, taking all possible steps to elevate and improve
the position of British merchant officers. That the masters
of the merchant service are, as a body, men of intelligence
and ability, and must possess a considerable amount of
scientific knowledge. That they are also, as a body, largely
interested in the ownership of vessels. That the present
Reform Bill haying recognised an educational test as a
qualification for the electoral franchise, and having also
recognised the possession of money in the savings' banks,
your memorialists submit that with equal justice the
franchise should be extended so as to embrace the certificated
masters of the mercantile marine service. Your memo-
rialists have, therefore, respectfully to urge upon your
lordship as the head of the Government by which the Reform
Bill has been introduced, the propriety of making such
an addition to the bill as will enable the privileges of the
electoral franchise to be exercised by the certificated masters
of the mercantile marine service, &c.