Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-04 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

PER (s.s.) CITY OF BALTIMORE.
New York, April 23rd, and Cineinatti, April 22nd.

QUEENSTOWN, Tuesday Evening.—A despatch
from Memphis to the Commercial says that coal
barges containing 72,000 bushels, belonging to J. L.
Hatt, of Louisville, were lost near Lake Providence
on Saturday night, and their crews, consisting of
thirty men; perished.

The Jura (s.s.), from Liverpool, April 9th, passed
the Island Light at eight o'clock this morning,
bound in.

PORTLAND, April 22.—The Indian (s.s.), the last
steamer from this port this season, will leave shortly
after noon to-morrow, for Liverpool.
The trial of Sickles, at Washington, (April 22) was
still proceeding. It is currently reported the jury
made up their minds a week ago. The case was
expected to close the following day.
_ _

The British steam frigate Curacoa left Annapolis
on Tuesday, 19th, having on board Lord Napier,
lady, and suite. Lady Napier was conveyed to the
ship,which was lying about four miles out in the stream,
in a yacht, from the United States Navy Academy,
escorted by Captain Blake, the superintendent, and
Captain Craven, the commaudent of the academy,
together with other naval officers, and a party of
ladies.

The inclemency of the weather, combined with
the absence of the Arabia's letters, and with the fact
that the day was kept as a holiday by
chants, tended to check business

some mer

Transactions in Cotton, which were confined to small
lots, afforded no criterion of the state of the market. Flour
heavy, but closed at easier rates for common grades of State
and Western brands ; the higher and choice grades un-
changed. Southern brands without alteration ; sales were
moderate. Wheat sales light ; good Western red sold at
$1 45c, and Chicago spring 82 to 85. Corn heavy, and
lower, with sellers of Jersey and Southern yellow at 85c to
86c, and Western mixed at $6 85c. Pork firm ; sales of New
Mess at 17, 37, 35, and old at 17, and prime at at $l2 50c.
Beef and lard firm. Sales fair. The steady fall of rain
yesterday checked sales of Sugars, while prices were' less
buoyant. The transactions embraced about 450 hogsheads,
including Cubas, New Orleans, and Porto Rico, 66 hogsheads
Melato, and 69 hogsheads cistern bottoms. Coffee firm,
with sales of 300 bags Rio, and 2 cargoes of Laguayra,

prising 3,000 bags. Frei
and rates unchanged. Cotton easier, but not quotably lower ,
sales, Tuesday, 2,000 bales. April 21 : Cotton quiet; sal(
as before ; middling, 121,e to 121 c. April 22 : F
changed. Wheat firm. Corn steady
bacon sides, 91e. Whiskey firm

hts : Engagements were light

3tir un-

Provisions active ;

-Flour dull. Whiskey dull. Sales

CINCINNATI, April 22
1,000 barrels, at 2n to 2
holders ask is to 9c. Lard firm

Bacon firm, at 61c, to 81c ;

NEW YoRK, April 23.---Money without change. Loans
offered to brokers at 4 per cent. Exchange steady. We
quote sterling bankers' bills at 110, and franks at 510 to
512 c.
The steamer from San Francisco, we learn from
New Orleans, briught down over $2,000,000 gold ;
over $1,500,000 will come here. About 1,000,000
will be shipped to Europe to-morrow.
B READ3TUFF3 : Flour was again dull; sales moderate.
Coffee firm. Pork firm, with fair demand from trade.
Beef steady; fair demand. Bacon steady at 81-c. to 10tc.
Larp steady.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

THE WASHINGTON TRAGEDY : TRIAL STILL UNFI•
NISHED ; CHARACTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
SPECULATIONS ON THE NEXT ELECTION FOR
PRESIDENT : PROBABILITY OF ITS FALLING TO
CONGRESS TO ELECT ; DIFFICULTIES IN THE
TYRANNY OF STATE LEGISLATURE : STRIKING
INSTANCE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ; THE
ENORMOUS EXPENSE ENTAILED. RENEWED Ex-
eITEMEN'i RESPECTING CUBA : ANOTHER FILI-
BUSTERING EXPEDITION SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SAILED. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH JAPAN
ESTABLISHED : THE JAPANESE COMMISSIONERS
EXPECTED AT WASHINGTON. DENUNCIATION OF
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM BY THE ROMISH
HIERARCHY ; OBJECTIONS OF THE PROTESTANT
EPIScOPAI, CHURCH ALSO.
The Washington tragedy trial continues the
almost all-absorbing topic of the day. It has now
occupied twelve days, and is likely to occupy several
more. This tedious process of criminal judicature
will no doubt excite surprise in England, where you
are accustomed to a more summary, and altogether
more regular mode of procedure, in your Courts of
Justice. But in the United States there is none of
that discipline, if I may use such a phrase, which is
necessary to establish and enforce a system like
yours. The Judges arc powerless, it seems, to main-
tain and uphold such a system. All sorts of irrele-
vances are tolerated in the mode of conducting the
case, whether for the prosecution or the defence ;
and there is a loose way of doing-things that makes
the proceeding tiresome and mischievous. The real
facts of the case lie in a nutshell. That Sickles shot
Key is not disputed : neither is it questioned that
Key seduced Sickles' wife. The only question,
then, is -Was this a justification, in anywise,. of
such an act of deadly vengeance and. retribution P

aounced that it was ;

Public opinion has already p
and little doubt is entertained that the is
trial will be in harmony with that opinion

ue of the
L. In the

(Hear, h!lar.) He felt perfectly satisfied that in A very few
years the township would be ahle to compare in its financial
position with any municipality of that size in the kingdom.
(Efear, hear.) Be had much pleasure in seconding the
motion.
The Chairman said, as that was probal:ly the last oppor-
tunity which he might be able to appear thine in his present
position, that being the last regular meetie.g of the board,
he thought, after the statements made by Mr. Rae, he should
be pardoned if he made some general remarks upon the
present position of the township. After -what they heard
from Mr. Rae, they must all admit that they had arrived at
a position which a very short time ago could
not be anticipated. This had been, of course,
with great difficulty accomplished, and with more
difficulty than those who had not been on the beard might
perhaps have conceived. In 1353. he retired from the
board, and in 1855 the deck works were stopped, and there
was a change in the board, and a number of gentlemen was
asked to come in again; and, from that time to' this, there
has been a degree of unanimity at the board which had, in
his opinion, been the great means of accomplishing what
bfr. Rae had trONV Ibrought before them. They then
associated for the purpose of securing the purchase of the

docks by the Cmporation of Liverpool. There hid hew.
difference of opinion, for many years, as to the mode in
which the works were to be completed. He admitted that
he advocated the pmts proposed by Mr. Abernethy ; some
were opposed to them; but, he believed that, by the plan
adopted by Mr. Hartley, so far as he- (Mr. Laird) was
individually concerned, was not far off being right, for he
believed those plans which were- being carried out by
Hartley were, in many respects,. similar, but improved by
what tune had developed.. Certain charges, had been

raised against the present commissioners, and, as he had
been told very frequently by members of that board, that
they were a very united body, that there seldom was a
division at the board, and that they spent the ratepayers'
money too freely in the- salaries, of officers and in
parliamentary expenses, and other charges of
the kind. These matters- were very commonly talked
board ; but he
o far as he was con-

of, and very openly
would endeavour to show that, Dv
cerned, and he believed the majority of that board was con-
cerned, that if they had been, united they had spent the
money of the ratepayers in remunerating the services of
respectable servants, and in securing able parliamentary
services, and they had not done so to the disadvantage of
the township, and did nothing. more than every individual
at that board would do to bring his affairs to a successful
issue. The first question. he would allude to was the ques-
tion of the dock works. In 1855; as most of the inhabitants
in that place and tradesmen. were aware, the dock
works were at an entire stand still, but arrangements

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st plan

ge at Woodside, an