Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-04 00:00:00

declared his: views. Suppose they had to examine a
Church of England boy and a Quaker boy, how could they
possibly examine on the question of baptism without
disorganising the whole system ? Could they examine
in the bible and leave out the question of baptism?
Could they examine a Church of England boy and a
Baptist boy without reserve on the question of infant bap-
tism ? What were they to do with the Roman Catholics ?
because although the latter might not in any case largely
avail of the scheme, yet, when cohsidering the whole sub-
ject, they must take every point into consideration. He
admitted that there was some force in the remark of the
Rev. Mr. Pugh, but be believed the answer made at
Oxford to similar objections was, that they were satisfied
the feeling throughout the country was so strongly in
favour of having religion a part of the school system they
had no fear of any evil resulting from the examinations in
that respect. That was the answer given—whether it was
satisfactory or not he would not undertake to say. He
again urged upon Dr. McNeil to withdraw his amendment.
Dr. M•Neill declined to adopt Mr. Ho w sen's suggestion,
and urged that the fact of having it forced on them for
three years, ought to make them hold off from it altogether
at present. He reminded them that they had not the
Rector or auy of the other authorities present, and that it
would be a premature step to approve off-hand of the
scheme.

The Rev. Herbert Jones expressed a similar opinion.
The Chairman denied that there was any analogy
between the case which Dr. M`Neill now put and the case
which occurred some years ago ; and be begged distinctly
to say that, if a similar case to that should arise again,
Dr. M'Neill would find him on his right hand as ready to
suppnrt him again as he was before. But on a mere
question of examination, rather than one of education, he
could not see the face of Dr. M'Neill's observations.

Dr. McNeile replied that if the University of Oxford
had confined itself to examination, and had left out the
religious element altogether from the whole scheme, he
did not think he should have been present that night.
It was the manner in which Christianity was treated that
urged him to speak.
Mr. John Aikin, while concurring with the Chairman
as to the want of analogy between the cases mentioned,
suggested that Dr. M'Neile's offer for delay should be
adopted.
The Chairman then put it to the meeting whether there
should be an adjournment or not.
A show of hands was then taken, and the majority
being in favour of the affirmative, the meeting adjourned.

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, Thursday Evening.

The Cotton Market was slightly more active
to day, and prices were well supported. The sales
were fully 6,000 bales, including 1,500 on specu-
lation and for export.

The Liverpool Share Market has shown further
tendency to advance, especially in Midlands, but
does not close at the best. Caledonian, 381; Great
Western, 511; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 91k,
911 91, 911, 901; London and North Western, 95%,
951, 951, 951 c., 05 ; do. one-eight Shares, 1, 1-16 d ;
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 361, 36,
361, 36; Midland, 841, 841, 848. 841, ma, 84t, 85,
848; North Eastern, 23! ; Dovers, 18
15-16, 19, 19 1-16 ; Grand Trunk of
Canada, 9 13-16, 94. 9 13-16, 9 16.16 ; Great
Luxembourg, 6 1-16, 6*; Great Western of Canada
18 7-16; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire,
three-quarter per cents, 621 ; Liverpool and London
Fire and Life, 7 15-16 p. The following wore
the closing quotations -Blackburn, 9, ;
Chester and Birkenhead, 641, 65; Caledonian,
331, 381; Chester and Holyhead, 16, 161; Eastern
Counties, 11, 11*; East Lancashire, 871, 881; Do.
9/. Shares, par, 1 ; Great Northern, 231, 234 ; Do.
A, 91, 10 ; Great Western, 51, 511; Lancashire
and Yorkshire Stock, 901, 91 ; Do. 9/. shares,
par 1 p ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 181,
181; London and North Western Stock, 95, 951 ;
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 359, 36 ;
Midland Stock, 841, 81/; North British, 111, 111;
North Staffordshire, 41, 41 d ; North Eastern -
Berwick, 2311, 231 ; York and North Midland,
401, 41; Leeds Capital Stock, 244, 251 ; South
Eastern and Dover, 19, 19 1-16 ; Dutch Rhenish,
5.5 g, 51 d ; Great Western of Canada, 18%, 181;
Do. new shares, 21 2% d ; Great Luxembourg,
6 1-10, 6 3-16; Grand Trunk of Canada, 9%, 9*.
There was a fair demand for Money to-day, and
rates of interest were well maintained. Messrs.
A. F. and D. Mackay, in their Circular, just issued,
make the following interesting remarks on the
present state of the Money Market :-
Within the fortnight which has elapsed since the date of
our last circular, commercial matters have remained in
nearly the same condition which they had then, and for
some time previously, assumel. The state of the money
market, without having in almost any degree improved,
has not become worse. Recent advices from America
represent money as more plentiful on the leading Exchanges
of the United States; and specie to a considerable amount
has been remitted thence for the purpose of meeting engage-
ments in this country. In England it is pleasing to know
that some of the large houses which were forced to succumb
to the monetary pressure, have upon a searching examina-
tion of their affairs, been found to be in a position so very
nearly approaching solvency that they will be able to pay all
their debts in full, after the lapse of comparatively brief
periods of time. These are unquestionably satisfactory
points of information; yet, gratifying as they undoubtedly
are, they unfortunately indicate an approach to future
prosperity, rather than give an assurance of present or
even very immediate improvement. Trade of every kind
remains in a torpid and languishing condition. The re-
moval of the Bank restriction has proved only a temporary
remedy for the pressing evil, and its casual and somewhat
irregular operation shows rather what might be expected
from a permanent relaxation of that law, than frnishesu
evidence of the utility of such passing infringement of
its provisions, Money remains as difficult to be obtained,
even on first class securities, as ever, and the
exorbitant rate at which alone it can be at all procured
cripples trade and paralyses exertion. This is keenly felt
on all hands ; the .pressure being so great as to have
induced the leading mercantile institutions in the country
to step forward and declare their conviction of the entire
unsuitableness of the present laws which regulate the trade
in money. The Chambers of Commerce in Liverpool and
Glasgow have taken the matter up, and in a tone of
earnestness, in a spirit of usefulness, and with the autho-
rity of intelligence, have enterei their protests, in common
with those of other mercantile communities, against
the present arbitrary and unjust laws which derange
rather than regulate transactions between the money
capitalist and the enterprising trader. Such an anomalous
state of matters, every one feels, cannot long be permitted
to exist. It has been denounced on all hands, and various
reasons have been pu forth to justify the condemnation ;
but all of them embrace the one complaint, that the law,
as it at present stands is inoperative, except as a means
for aggrandising the moneyocraey, and that at times when
legitimate trade is least able to bear the burdens thus
artificlly put upon it for behoof of that limited though
powerful interest. Since the commencement of the com-
mercial storm, great reliance his been placed on a belief,
that, acting up to the spirit which had suggested to them
the necessity of suspending the Bank Act, Ministers
would recommend, through the speech from the throne, a
thorough reconsideration of that Act ; e much anxiety was
evinced as to the nature of the terms in which the Royal
Speech would allude to the recent commercial crisis. The
document has been receive', and a perusal of it has
occasioned general disappointment, as the crisis has been
in it dismissed with merely the most formal notice. No
allusion whatever is made to a revision of that Act ; but it
is believed in well-informed circles, that an acceleration of
the steps pursued by the Committee of inquiry into the
operation of the Act, which has now sat for two sessions,
without apparently doing anything, will be forced on the
speedy attention of Ministers. The representatives of
most of the commercial constituences in the kingdom have
been urged to forward completion of such an inquiry, and
many independent members of the Legislature are also
pledged to the adoption of a similar course.

Tito Market for the Public Funds was very firm
this morning, but towards the afternoon it became
and Consols declined from 90i to 901, at
which figure they closed.
The London Railway Share Market was very
firm to-day, but closed rather lower than the best
quotations of the day. The following were the
closing prices :—Caledonians, 761-, 77 ; Eastern
Counties, 541, 55k; East Lancashire, 88,90 ; Great
Northern, 93, 94 ; ditto A, 79, 81; Great Westerns,
50/ 511 ; Great Western of Canada, 181, 181 ; Grand
Trunk of Canada, oi, 9d ; Great Southern and
Western, 97, 99; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 902,
9li ; London and North Western, 95, 951 -;
London and South Western, 88, 891; Leeds
Northern, 501. 511; Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, 352, 361 ; Midland Stock, 84i, 'B5;
North British, 471, 48 ; South Eastern and
Dover, 62i, 631; York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
94 93 ; York and North Midland, 811, 82 ;
—The following were the nominal quotations after
official hours :—Caledonians, 761, 76,1; Dutch
Rhenish, 62i, 634 ; Eastern Counties, 10 15-16, 11
1-16 ; Great Northern, 93, 94 ; Do. A, 79, 80 ;