The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-16 00:00:00

l•s' For particulars see advertisements.

ROBERT MULLINER,
(Successor to Gbewr & Co.),
(Late with Wm. Horne, London)
CARRIAGE AND HARNESS MANUFACTURER,
69 and 61. GREAT CHARLOTTE-STREET, LIVERPOOL,

MANLYFACTOB.raI OF EVERY OBSCRIPTION OF
FASHIONABLE CARRIAGES.
3',[e Agent for the Patent Dioraples, for whfeli a Prize Medal was

awarded at the Exhibition,

A Great Variety of New and Fashionable CARRIAGES always on
view, whieh arc ready for immediate use. Estimates given for
repairs.

CARRIAGES TAKEN IN EXCHANGE.

Good Standing on moderate terms.
mission.
Merchants suppliel with Carriages for exportation on libera
terms.

Carriages sold by Corn,

FREEMASONRY.

WEST LANCASHIRE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION
t Co ADVANCEMENT TN LIFE OF CHILDREN OF
DISTRESSED FREEMASONS.

A SPECIAL COURT of the GOVERNORS
of the above INSTITUTION will be held at the

ADE LPHI HOTEL, on Tuesday next, the 2 Alt instant, at Sir
o'clock in the Et-ening.
HENRY WARD COLLINS,?
HORATIO GANIBELL, Hon. Secs.
Liverpool, 15th January, 1857.

A 0-I,r, 7(ritro
t4l 44411411

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1857.

THE DAY'S NEWS.

As will be perceived, from the columns of the
NORTEIERN TIMES of this morning, the Pike water
agitation has not lost any of the interest and
imijartancepreitiously attached thereto. We are
receiving letters from all quarters upon the subject.
something must be done to put an end to such
excitement. It will be not only unfair, but unjust,
to compel the use of the Pike water, if the people of
'Liverpool, in public meeting assembled, shall
refuse to use it, from the conviction that it
is a deliterous compound which contains
the essence of disease and death. No law can
compel thorn to use what will do them harm ; and
both the Water Committee and Town Council will
be playing a most dangerous and unconstitutional
gama if they presist in opposing the expressed
wishes and desires of their constituents. Not one
Of the rowu Council is an hereditary local
legislator, or life members of the Liverpool cor-
poration. The same power which sent each and
all into the conned can divest them of the funs.
tions of local government, and, as the
skilfsl and industrious gardener lops off,
year by year, the decayed and useless branches of
his fruit trees, iii order that their produce will not
be diminished in quantity nor deteriorated in
So also can and will the ratepayers aunt'.
ally lop off the objectionable, the unsound, and
4.lseless branches of the Town Council. Every
Pike advocate will have, sooner or later, to meet
his constituents and give an account of his steward-
ahip. Already, many gentleman, considered sound
on other questions of local interest, have
been stripped of their municipal authority
and, in consequence of their " Pike " tendencies,
been compelled to beat a speedy retreat from the
precincts of the Town Hall. It is not yet too late
for the Rivington delinquents to retrace. their
'steps, and devise such plans as will give to the
people of Liverpool, for culinary purposes at least,
the pure, and limpid streams of the red sandstone.

The bock Committee held their usual weekly
ineeting yesterday, when another argument took
place as to certain observations made use of
by Mr. Mansfield some two or three
years ago, but it ended in nothing of the least
interest. After the reading of a letter from Messrs.
Joynson, complaining of extra chat ges on cotton in
the dock warehouses, Mr. Hubback brought
forward a motion to enquire into the subject of
dock fines, and did so in a clear and temperate
speech. Mr. Halhead seconded the motion. The
committee unanimously agreed to it.

Among the local occurrences of the day are two
of a very painful character. One relates to the
barbarous and bloody attack made upon Mr. Saxby
near Rock Ferry, and also robbing him of some silver
and a p .ncil case on Wednesday evening. We
hope that the atrocious scoundrels who thus
waylaid and brutally treated and robbed a young
gentleman, of twenty years of age, will be captured,
and meet the due rewards of their bloody outrage.
The other matter to which we refer is an accident
attended with serious, but, as yet not fatal re salts,
by the falling of a portion of a building in course of
erection at the corner of Oldhall and Tithebarn
streets, by the iron beam which supported the
scaffolding giving way. Four of the workmen
were precipitated to a great depth below, all of
whom received more or less damage.
The general news this morning is by no means
important. The trial of the gold dust robbers at
the Central Criminal Court, has occupied the
attention of Mr. Justice Willis, and Mr. Baron
Martin for the third time. To-day, the counsels
for the defence, severally addressed the Court and
J-try. Mr. Serjeant Parry, for Pierce, was the
first to speak, and commenced in the usual
strain, laying down the startling argument
that there was not a tittle of evidence
against any of the prisoners, except the statement
of the accomplice. Mr. Giffard appeared, and
spoke on behalf of Burgess, his line of defence
being that Agar's testimony was unreliable, and
that his client knew no more of the robbery than
did the jury. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine appeared
for Tester. Mr. Baron Martin summed up, and
the jury, after an absence of ten minutes, returned
a vurdict of 't Guilty." Baron Martin then pro-
ceeded to pass Eeatence, and in doing so com-
mented with much severity upon the villanous
conduct of Pierce, whom he ordered to be impri-
soned for two years with hard labour, and the first,
twelfth, and twenty-fourth months, solitary.
Burgess and Tester he ordered to be transported
for fourteen years.
All doubt as to the settlement of the Neufchatel
dispute seems to be at an end. On Tuesday, the
committees of the two houses—or councils, as
they are called, of the Federal Assembly—adopted
the proposition to release the prisoners, which the
e7,,cutive government had made its own. The
eolienittee of the National Council was unani-
Aous, while there was one dissentient in the com-
rnltt ee of the Council of the States, and it will be
interesting to know from which Canton it has
proceeded, for in the Council of States the votes
represent the Cantonal Governments. Nothing
now remains but the adoption of the proposition,
on the report of these committees, by the Federal
Assembly itself, which was to have met last
night. There can be no doubt the Assembly will
v)te like the committees, which, in their compo-
sition, are fair specimens of the whole legislative
body.

liespeeting the part taken by Prussia, the Paris
Constitulionnel intimates that the Prussian Govern-
ment has made no formal engagement whatever;
but it is hinted that France knows what Prussia

intends to insist upon. This may be stated in two
words, Prussia wants to preserve her honour,
and is ready to relinquish eveyy.hing in the shape
of government authority or revenue as respects
Neufchatel. The two castles are to remain the
King's property, and will display Prussian flags,
and the revenue from the domains is to be dis-
bursed in loCal -charity. Thus Switzerland and
Prussia will part friends, and a very disastrous
and unnatural war is avoided. We ektract the
following from the Berlin telegraphic despatches :
" It is stated in high circles that the King persists
in claiming the preliminary liberation of the
prisoners, though disposed to abandon his claims
to the sovereignty of Neufchatel, provided he is
allowed to retain his proprietorship in the chateaux
of Neuehatel aid Lode, with a revenue of 20,000
dollars, and the Prussian flag to remain on both
cheateaux. The Kreuz Zeitung affirms that Prussia
has agreed to no other arrangement than that of
entering on negotiations when the prisoners shall
be.unconitionally released. It maintains that the
Powers 4equired nothing else of her."
Rumours prevail in Paris that the Governments
of England and France, now that the Treaty of
Peace has been confirmed by the second Con
ferences, are turning their attention to the allied
occupation of the kingdom of Greece. It is stated
that despatches have even left Paris calculated to
make way for a speedy evacuation; but according
to the latest advices received from Athens, Mr.
Wyse, her Britannic Majesty's representative, had
not yet received his instructions on this subject.
The Russian diplomacy is represented as being
very anxious to witness the retirement of the allied
forces.

We have news cf the arrival of Feronk Khan,
the Persian ambassador, on French soil. Thus
another strange dispute seems to come before the
tribunal of the French government, which, in the
Neufchatel affair at least, can claim the character
of pacificator,—a character, after all, perhaps, not
so unprofitable.

The Patrie announces, on the authority of a
letter from Kalisch, that the troops of the hilt
Polish levy but one have received orders to leave
immediately for the Caucasus. It is believed they
are to reinforce the army of observation of 40,000
men, which it is asserted is assembled on the
extreme frontier of Persia. It appears," adds the
Patrie," that serious operations are expected in
the beginning of spring, to counterbalance the
probable results of the English expedition in the
Persian Gulf."

A. letter received from Algiers announces that
very tempestuous weather had been experienced
on that coast since the beginning of the year.
The steamer which runs from Gran to Algiers
had met rough weather off Tunis, and had been
driven by the force of the gale to, the Balearic
Islstnds. She suffered considerable injury, and
niter much danger she was enabled to seek shelter
at Arzow. The French mail from Marseilles had
not reached Algiers on the 2d inst,

THE pacific resolves of Prussia were no soooner
made known to an indignant world, than we are
informed that war has actually commenced in
Persia. The SHAH'S army has taken the field,
and will soon entrench itself at all those points
worth holding. Some hard skirmishing has

already taken place between the Persian troops
and our Ally's, Dost MAHOMMED. The British
force, under Brigadier CHAMBERLAYNE, had
nearly reached Cabul. The Persian Gulf expe-
dition is also, no doubt, employing time to ad-
vantage. That the SHAH should feel somewhat
uneasy under such circumstances is not at all sur-
prising, and that he should appeal to our old
enemy (Russia) for succour is perfectly natural.
The romance regarding the CZAR'S military
strength and his desire to wrest India from Great
Britain, has travelled further than Persia. It has
not only added a new book to the library of
Eastern superstitions, but it has found a host of
believers in civilised Europe. Foreigners cannot
understand how we continue to govern our

distant possessions indifferently, and carry ou

a bold spirit of subjugation with a master hand.
But so it is. We give the Hindoo his own way

in social and religious matters, whilst we exact
from him a rigid obedience to our notions oi
public order.

In cases where life and property are concerned,
he is taught to respect the common instincts of
justice. He finds in the jury box that protection
which MAHOMET sought to secure for him, and
which his prophet's purest and ablest disciples
are the first to subvert and trampl. in the dust.
Beyond this we have little or no moral hold on
the continent of Asia ; but what an imperishable
grasp this has given us of the millions of a race
who have been for centuries the victims -of
fanatical pastors, and debauched, tyrannical,
money-getting rulers. It has given us an army
equal in discipline, loyalty, and valour, to any in

the world. They look on our love of their
country as superior to their own patriotism, and
their emulation of British sincerity has raised

them to the level of the best and most devoted
of European troops. Where there are no despotic
princes in India there are no turmoils. The
road through the jungle is more secure than the
highways in many European States. The people
are not only made to obey their conquerors
but to respect each other. The crimes of a
savage state are punished, and Hindoo virtue
rewarded, and never was a transition from bar-
barism to civilisation, in the abstract, more
universally appreciated and revered. We have
little, therefore, to apprehend from Russian, or
any other foreign interference, in the Far East.
If we can boast of military strength actually at
command, or large warlike resources which are
readily made available, it is in that portion of
our Empire where military service obtains the
highest remuneration, and where the enlistment
of a million of men could not disturb any of the
vital relations of society. Where we have a
population of 170,000,000 of souls without any
fixed means of existence we might engage
in war as a pastime, without doing any
serious injury to the multitude beyond that
which Christianity forbids, and political philo-
sophy, by some strange contradiction, sanctifies.
Russian, and, indeed, Continental diplomacy gene-
rally, would do well to look forward and pon-
der over these facts. Our dominion in Asia can
never be overthrown, so long as we guarantee
its millions of cruelly-oppressed people against
the brutal tyranny of their native rulers,
and the despotism of Foreign Courts. In
doing simple justice to all, setting a moral
example, and enforcing moderation, we have
conquered British India; and must, ere many
years elapse, subjugate Asia. We borro w strength
fbr this mighty and glorious work at every step
'we take. The A ffghans are now our allies, and
the first to invade the territory of our enemy !
They will be followed by the hosts of other

Asiatic nations ; and, if events should render it
necessary, we could concentrate 500,000 of as
good soldiers as any in the world, on the Persian
frontier. Still, we are faffrom being prepared
to admit, that the policy which has led to the
present difficulty is perfectly justifiable.
These are not times for carrying armed con-
quests beyond very narrow limits. -We are not
in a position to indulge in dreams which extend
to the immediate subjugation of all Asia, and the
annexation of Pekin to the India House,- Siam
must satisfy the territorial rapacity of the mag-
nates of Leadenhall-street for 1857. The
" Children of the Sun" are falling rapidly into
our hands in this direction, and with them will
come sugar and cotton in almost incalculable
profusion. Persia, as a matter of course, knows
what is impending, and as she appears to have
nothing more than European sympathy to rely
upon, she had better retrace her steps, and pre-
pare for that tide of moral revolutions which has
done so much for us and the great family of Asia,
within a very few years. From the hostility of
Russia in the East we have nothing to fear.
The CZAR, by the display of a little more
insanity, might give us some trouble nearer
home ; but we grow so vastly in military prow-
ess as we penetrate'into the Eastern hemisphere,
that he will scarcely think of following us even
as far as Herat. If he should, he knows his fate ;
and Persia may prepare for her inevitable doom.

WE have given the Pikeists the benefit of our
undivided attention, and no ordinary amount of
space in our columns, for some days past. We may,
therefore, turn now to the testimony of those
scientific Ontlemen, `chose opinions are well
entitled to respect, and so fully corroborate our
often repeated convictions. We are at liberty to do
this, and without, we may add, exposing ourselves
to a charge of favouritism. We have adverted
already to Dr. SHERIDAN MUSPRATT'S analysis. This
gentleman's opinion is given in the most concise
and positive manner, and it is sufficient of itself to
deter the Corporation from attempting to force the
Rivington water on the inhabitants. But the
opponents of the nefarious job have something
more to rely upon. Mr. NATHAN MERCER, a Fellow
of the Chemical Society, has confirmed all Dr.
MUSPRATT has stated. Mr. MERCER, who writes
with a sufficient degree of freedom to show
that he has long studied the subject—after
testing the water received from the Rivington and
Prescot reservoirs and equalising tank, " after
filieration"—deelares that they " all contain veget-
" able matter in suspension, such as peat, moss,
" and leaves." The R:vington water contained the

largest quantity of this rapidly dissolving organic

or vegetable matter, which Dr. MUSPRATT says,
" changes the system, and produces a complication
"of ailments ;" and Mr. MERCER found' that these
dangerous ingredients were not much diminished
after Passing over the filtering beds; and he adds,what
every man of ordinary understanding must know
to be true, namely, that " no system of filtration,
" on a large scale, yet adopted, will deprive water
" of those impurities which will not spontaneously
" subside." We stated this fact at the onset of the
agitation, and Dr. TAYLOR has i►ot ventured to
contradict it.
Mr. MEncEn gives us, however, a clearer insight
into what we have to expect from the presence of
floating vegetable filth, in the ordinary process of
chemical action. Speaking of the water taken from
the Prescot reservoir, he says it contains " eight
"grains of solid matter to the gallon—the inorganic
" portions consisting principally of carbonate of
"lime and oxide of. iron. The bulk of the solid
" impurities washed into reservoirs fed by surface
" drainage. gradually, subside, and, if allowed to
" accumulate, undergo a series of. chemical changes
" which soon materially affect, and render unfit for
" use, the purest and best of water. These chemical
" changes depend altogether upon the nature of the
" deposit. rf decaying vegetable matter, carbonic
" acid, carburetted hydrogen, and sometimes
" sulphuretted hydrogen are evolved ; if decaying
" animal matter, then ammonia, sulphuretted
" hydrogen, phosphuretted hydrogen, and other
" deleterious compounds result, most of which

" are taken up by and impregnate the surrounding
" water." Here we have death at both the top and
bottom of the pot. Should the surface scourings
become decomposed, and fall to the bottom of the
tanks, they undergo chemical changes which will
render unfit for use the purest and best of water !
Our only safety then depends on the presence of a

large amount of animalculue, which the carbonic
acid gas evolved from decayed vegetable matter
renders impossible !
Mr. MERCER treats this portion of his sub-

ject with great perspicuity, and hero again
supports our 'previously expressed opinions.
" The injurious effects," he says, " that would
" arise from the use of water contaminated by
" these products of decomposition, are partially
" remedied by the existence of living organic im
" purities—confervm, alga;, animalculx, (to., all of
" which are in- direct dependance upon decaying

organic matter, vegetable or animal, and from it
derive their nourishment and support. They
are thus eminently useful in absorbing organic
matter into their own tissues, which would

" otherwise be transformed into a number (.f most
" deleterious and offensive gases and compounds."
Now, these " gases and compounds," it appears,
will render the Rivington water wholly unfit for
the shipping of the port. It will not keep in
warm climates even when mixed with our pure
well water. " The Rivington water," according to
Mr. MERCER, " contains organic matter, the red
"sandstone water sulphate of soda, and when
'` these two compounds are found in the same
" water, and this water. is kept in close vessels,
such as casks or tanks, the organic matter will
rob the sulphate of its oxygen. Sulphur in com-
" bination with hydrogen is set free, and the water

" rendered offensive both to the taste and
We need scarcely follow the chemical investigation
of this most shameful job any further, except to
remind our very critical reviewers, that it matters
very little whether we mistake " hea," for " peat"
henceforth. The public would have reason to be
thankful if they could get rid of either; but where
it is even more than morally certain that they
will have to swallow the deleterious gases and
compounds arising from the union of both, they
will have little to commend our cotemporary for,
in setting us right.

We never change our colours for filthy lucre—
as our cotemporary, the Liverpool Mercury, has
done—and we have no wish to be dyed, and made
to appear as though we had bartered away our skin
for that of the frog or toad, from drinking ,their