Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

THE DAY'S NEWS.

It will be observed with regret, by a telegram
given elsewhere, that the strike of the London
builders still continues, " accompanied," it is
stated, "with indications that it is beginning to
tell seriously against such of the men as persist
in their refusal to resume work." The season is
at hand when work generally becomes scarce in
most departments of the building trade. And
here are some thousands of workmen, who for the
last few months,—the very best period of the
year,—have been throwing away the opportunity
of making an independent provision for their
families; and now, at the beginning of the dead
season of the year, are still unemployed, with
probably less prospect than ever of getting to
work again. It is to be feared that, in conse-
quence of their persistence in this -most deplo-
rable strike, there will be great distress among
them, aggravated by the inclemency of winter.
The Election Commissions are drawing their
proceedings to a close. The Gloucester Commis-
sion is expected to conclude its labours to-day ;
and the Wakefield Commission has adjourned for
some weeks, in order to give time for the produc-
tion of the missing witnesses. It is stated that
this Commission will resume its inquiry in Lon-
don. All the information that it WAS most
desirable to obtain upon the spot, has now, it is
understood, been obtained, and the witnesses who
are yet to be produced may be as easily examined
in London as in Wakefield. It is further stated,
we observer that proceedings are likely to be
commenced, against some of the Wakefield wit-
nesses, for perjury. Bribery and perjury are
not at all unnatural concomitants.

Our latest accounts from Paris show that a very
unpleasant impression has been produced in that
capital, by a report that England would resist, by
force, any attempt of Spain to occupy both sides
of the Straits of Gibraltar, in the coming hosti-
lities with Morocco; accompanied, as it was,. by
an intimation, that France would not be deterred
by this language, from taking all necessary pre-
cautions for the protection of its Algerine frontiers
from the troops of Morocco. The impression
would seem to be, that our Government suspects
the Emperor of the French of some sinister design
in the Mediterranean ; not improbably of some-
subtle scheme for wresting out of our hands-
Gibraltar, as the great entrance to that sea. It is.
further apparent, that our Government is quite dis-
posed to resist the contemplated war by Spain oni
Morocco,. under the apprehension, no doubt, that
it would afford an opportunity to France of in-
flicting upon us some serious injury in that guar- I
ter- It is to be hoped however, that this tem- I
porary misunderstanding with the Emperor or
the French will not be the cause of any distur-
bance of our peaceful relations with his Majesty:
It will .be seen- by a communication, in another
column, on- the early closing movement, that out
of 895 shops, in one particular district of Liver-
pool, as many as 740 do not close before nine
O'clock at night ; and a considerable proportion of
this number, it is-probable, not until much later
still. This- fact is adduced to show how impos-
sible it is that the assistants and apprentices in'
such shops can possibly avail themselves of any-
opportunities that are presented throughout the.
winter season, for the improvement of their minds,.
by means of lectures,. evening classes, and the
like ; while, in summer, this late confinement to
business, must effectually preclude their enjoy-
ment of an evening's walk, or any other desirable.
means of recreation- and healthful exercise.

At a public banquet given at Beverley, Major
Edwards, M.P:, in answer to a toast, addressed The
meeting at some, length, on the subject which has
for a considerable period occupied the atten-
tion of the public, viz., our National Defences.
The gallant gentlemen, after reviewing at some
length the altered conditions which must now be
looked for in the event of a war coming on us,
remarked that the prestige of British sailors for
their skill in the various evolutions formerly in--
dispensable to nautical success in war, has been
greatly curtailed by the introduction of steam,
power in the practice of navigation. This, he
said, had obliterated in a great degree the
advantages secured by superiority in manning
the yards, and so working the ship as to
obtain the weather-guage of the enemy. Re
then briefly,. but significantly, reviewed the
efforts made to improve our defences, and
while disclaiming any impeachment of the good
faith of the Emperor of France, he contrasted the
magnitude of the French preparations for defen-
sive or aggressive war as compared with our own.
He further reminded his hearers that the French
Emperor is himself, to a great extent, a mere
instrument to be impelled or• restrained at the
will of the 600,000 soldiers, of which the French
army is composed. In every view of the case,
however, he urged vigilance and observation, and
the adoption of energetic measures to ensure im-
munity from any attack, whether arising from
premeditated violence or resulting from an out-
burst of military enthusiasm.
In to-day's paper we record the death of the
sixth Earl of Jersey, who survived his predeces-
sor, and his own elevation to the earldom only a
few days, having sueeeeded so lately as the third
of the present month. Such an occurrence is un-
usual in family records, and scarcely meets with

a parallel in the history of the Peerage _of

modern times, The disease of which the noble
Earl died was consumption.

THE Church of Rome in any peculiar emergency
seems always to have at hand the ally just fitted
for the peculiar service of defence required. At
the moment most critical to her spiritual fortunes,
that wonderful body the Jesuits, by the unwearied
exertion of a power more subtle, and it must be
said more unscrupulously used, than. any the
world had seen, restored her authority and in-
fluence. The crusade against her spiritual as-
sumptions is no longer seconded by statesmen, nor
used. as a bond of union in international politics.