Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-06 00:00:00

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Mawdsley's school-boy pocket pencils-in great variety,
3d, 6d, and ls. Also, writing cases and desks, from ss.
4, Castle-street.

PRESENTATION TO MR. DUTTON.—To-morrow (Friday)
evening, a testimonial consisting of a handsomely bound
Shakspeare, in six volumes, and a silver drinking cup,
will be presented in the news-room, to Mr. Dutton,
librarian to the Free Public Library.
TUETONIC HALL.—Mr. J. R. Smith opened his monstre
panorama of the grand Tour of Europe, &c., last night,
at the above hall, for the first time. To-day we have no
more space than to announce the fact, but to-morrow we
shall enter into details. The scenery is beautiful and
correct.

LIVERPOOL FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY.—On Tuesday
evening last, the Liverpool Festival Choral Society gave
a performance of Handel's " Messiah," which was very
well attended, but pressure of matter will not allow of
our going into particular details. Mrs. Sunderland, Miss
Mr. A. Mann, and Mr. Cuzner, were the principal
singers. Mr. Baetens led the band, and Mr. Saunders
conducted with his usual ability.
HOUSE STRIPPING.---WO are given to understand that
persons are in the habit of stripping a number of
unoccupied houses, in Bedford-street, awl C4therine-

street, of the taps, lead, ofanything they can lay their
hands upon. It appears from information we can gather,
that men are in the habit of going there as if they had
been sent by some one to work, and by this means take
the opportunity of stripping the house. It would be
well if the police would be a little more on the alert in
that neighbourhood, as it is a serious matter to the
landlord. The lead must be sold somewhere or other,
and we think the authorities ought to look after it, as
they have been informed about the matter.
SERIOUS FALL PROM A WINDOW.—A serious accident
occurred yesterday, to a woman named Mary Donelly,
residing at 12 Court, Sawney Pope-street. It appears
she had been washing, and was in the act of hanging her
clothes out at the garret window, by the aid of a pole.
She laid too much• stress, however, on the pole, which
broke, and precipitated her to the ground. She fractured
her right thigh, and received a compound fracture of the
right arm.

RIOTOUS MILITIAMEN. Several militiamen, whose
names we have not been able to ascertain, were drunk
last night, at a public-house in Regent-road, where they
commenced creating a disturbance. Two policemen,
named Todd and Kenny, who were on duty in Regent-
road, were called in to quell the disturbance, when they
were set upon by the militiamen, and kicked very severely.
Todd sustained a severe scalp wound, but Kenny is not
so badly hurt. Two of the militiamen are in custody,
and will be brought before Mr. Mansfield this morning.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL MUSIC AT ST. GEORGE'S HALL
The New Year's Festival of Scottish music at St. George's
Hall, provided by Mr. Reynolds, progresses rapidly in
public favour. Last night the Hall was filled, and the
dances and music were received with enthusiasm. Mr.
Notman's fine figure and graceful action is very effective
in the flings and reels, and the audience cannot refrain
from joining in with the characteristic " Hoot," as the
figures change. Miss Esther Jacobs and Mrs. George
Keef, do their best with the vocal portion of the concerts,
and all the pipes and violinists are fully up to their work.
There is to be another concert this evening.

THE ENGLISH OPERA AT THE AMPHITHEATRE.
During the week, Mr. Elliott Galer's Opera Tronpe has
been drawing good audiences every evening, and we are
really glad of it, for they are evidently taking great
pains to deserve well of the Liverpool public. The operas
performed have been the- ever-admired " Sonnambula,"
the equally favourite " Bohemian Girl," and Gay's
charming Beggars' Opera," in all of which the various
artistes have well acquitted themselves. Miss. Fanny
Reeves, as Amine, in the former, and as Arline in the
last named, is nightly making herself a greater favourite,
being invariably encored in the well-known airs. Madame
Maud Bishop, as the Gipsey Queen, sings Balfe's music
with discriminating taste and good effect ; also, in the
character of Polly Peaclaum she displays a true conception
of the character, and therefore sings and plays it with
credit.to herself and to the satisfaction of the audience.
Mr. Elliot Galer, as Elvino and Thaddeus, and Mr. Lyall
as Florestine and Captain Macheath, each meet with
great success, being loudly applauded in their various
parts. We may remark, en passant, that Miss Hodgson
makes a good Ilfrs. Peachuna, though, strange to say, we
could not find her name attached to that character, either
in the public advertisements or the "bill of the play." *

CHRIST-CHURCH, HUNTER-STREET.—A circular has
come into our hands, issued by the incumbent of this
Church, the Rev. J. W. Twist, notifying that a reduction
of the pew rents has been made, with the laudable view of
increasing the congregation, by accession from the labour-
ing poor. The Church, it is stated, " although capable
of accommodating a large number of worshippers, has for
many years past been comparatively neglected by the
inhabitants of the district where it is situated, owing, in
a great measure, to the want of free accommodation and

to the high price of such sitting as were to be procured."
It was hoped, we understand, that the pew rents wonld
be done away with altogether, but this has been found
impracticable at present. The upper gallery, however,
the circular states, is free. The devoted incumbent does
not hesitate to declare—" I am willing to allow that much
of the neglect with which it has been treated in this dis-
trict hitherto is attributable to the cause already men-
tioned, namely, your practical exclusion from Christ
Church, owing to the high charges demanded for sittings.
Having endeavoured to meet and remove this objection
to the best of my ability, I hope I may be supported and
encouraged by the best sign of approval which you can
give me, a more numerous and regular attendance in
God's house of prayer." It is to he hoped that he will
be supported in so desirable an object, more especially as
they are educating, in connection with that Church, from
500 to 600 children daily, and have also a Provident
Society constantly at work in the district.
In the NORTHERN TIMES, I sometimes read about
" Pat Kelly's Batter"—and looking over' it to-day I find
some " Irish splutter "—about an Orral Lever line from.
Galway to New Yorkers ;—Well, really, now, it does seem.
strange, would they the "Liver" fork, sirs ? and roast her,.
too, upon a spit to serve out dainty rations ? My friends,.
pray know, they are not fit, they yet will get a
, thrashing ; for "Jenny Jones" and Dicky Sam" will
"speck" with Orral Lever. May be his words and ways
are sham, he is not quite so clever.—The ships they
boost, from land to land, which make the distance
shorter—Was built before the Lever Line was thought of
or reported. To " Dicky Sam" they owe so much, 'tis
feared they will forget it, for both the ships and engine
steuf were made and proved of merit. 'Twas " Dicky
Sam" that gave-them berths it was not Orral Lever; he's
not the man of such great birth., nor is he quite so clever.
But then, 'tis true, I may be wrong, he is a man of spirit—
much praise he gets, just now-a-days, by many "Men of
Merit." Still, Father Tim,ey. as true as syne, will
prove all Men and Mothers ; then let me say, without
delay, look out for friends and betters. For " Dicky
Sam," and " Jenny Jones," and little "Northern Bell,"
will make a boat which soon may float, soswift none
will excel, And like a fish, yet not a fish, but as a fish
does swim, she gets her speed, 'tis true, indeed, she'll be
a Naval King. The clock points (I see) half-past ten ;
I've something else to do ; excuse me, therefore, gentle-
men, again I'll write to you.—Liverpool, Dee.. 31, 1858.

Tun LATE C. BENTHAM, ESQ.—In our obituary of
this day will be found recorded the death of Christopher
Bentham, Esq., of Laurel Grove, Bersham, near this
town. A local paper in speaking of Mr. Bentham, says—
" A gentleman who has been well known i this locality
for some years, far the sympathy and support he
he has manifested towards all the liberal and en-
lightened movements of the day, as well as for his
benevolence and charity towards the poor, the aged, and
the afflicted, and his cheerful contributions towards those
institutions established for the succour and support of
these various classes, Mr. Bentham was a Liverpool
Merchant, and up to the time of his death was a partner
in the firm of Bentham, Bowen, & Co. tea merchants,
Liverpool. He was also one of the directors of the North
and Sonth Wales Bank, in which we believe he was an
extensive shareholder. As is well known to most of our
readers in this locality, he was a member of the
Society of Friends, and, like his brethren generally, he
was a strenuous opponent of Church rates, tithes, and all
compulsory payments for eclesiastical purposes, and, upon
one occasion, suffered the spoiling of his goods rather
than submit to these unjust exactions. He possessed
considerable power as a speaker, and upon the few
occasions in which he appeared in this capacity, he was
listened to with great delight ; his remarks, accompanied
by a most distinct articulation and enunciation, always
being pithy and pointed, and characterised by an entire
absence of anything approaching redundancy, His loss
will be severely felt by the poor in his locality, by the
numerous benevolent institutions to which he was a liberal
contributor, and by the friends of civil and religious
liberty generally.—Chester Observer.
WEST DERBY GUARDIANS. —At the usual weekly
meeting of this board, held yesterday, Mr. Edwards
occupied the chair. The other members present were
—Messrs. Abrahams, Stone, Medcalf, Kirkus, Roscoe,
Roberts, Bolshaw, Wensley, and - Smith. The
Clerk reported that he had examined the daybook
and inspected the other book kept by the Master of the
Workhouse and Hospital, together with those of the
several Relieving-officers (with the exception of Mr.
Potts's, which were not sent for examination), and the
books of the Superintendent of Out-door Labour, and
found all to be correct. Monthly statements were
received from the various Collectors in the township.
The following cheques were granted for out-door relief
Mr. Potts £125, Mr. Olny £36, and Mr. Lythgoe £23.
A letter was read from the Poor Law Board, approving
of the appointment of Messrs. Wm. Seward and James
Standing, as assistant-overseers of the Wavertree and
Garston districts. It was moved by Mr. Stoi.ie, and
seconded by Mr. Bolshaw, that the assistant-master of
the hospital, Mr. Hall, be authorised to act as master for
one Month. It was moved, as an amendment, by Mr.
Smith, and seconded by Mr. Roberts, that Miss Hobbs
be requested to take the management of the hospital.
The amendment was lost ; there being four for the motion,
and three for the amendment. It was moved by Mr.
Stone, and seconded by Mr. Kirkus, that the wages of 6s
per week, hitherto paid to John Kershaw, as messenger
at the hospital, be discontinued, and that he be allowed
to remain receiving rations only as remuneration for his
services. The motion was carried. Mr. Stone moved,
and Mr. Wensley seconded, that Julia Ready, cook at the
hospital, be discharged at the expiration of a month, on
the grounds that she had been reported as drunk, and
that Margaret Dickens be appointed in her stead, at a
salary of £lO per annum ; also, that Catherine Wattrfs
be engaged as laundress, in the place of iliargaret
Dickens, under wages of £lO per annum. ibis conclu-
ded the business.

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

THE PENINSULAR MAIL.
SOUTHAPMTON, Wednesday.

The Tagus steam-ship, w ith the Peninsular mail,
arrived here at ten o'clock this morning. Her
dates are :—Gibraltar, Dec. 21; Cadiz, Dec. 27 ;
Lisbon, Dec. 30 ; Oporto, Dec. 31 ; and Vigo, Jan.
1. She brings £1,500 in specie, a cargo of fruit,
and 67 passengers. _

No news of importance from Gibraltar or other

ports.
The schooner Vestal was at anchor off Oporto.
' She experienced very foggy weather in the
Channel.