Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-31 00:00:00

AMUSEMENTS.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The grand balloon ascent from
these beautiful gardens took place on Wednesday evening.
It is needless to say that the event was attractive, and the
operation quite successful. After a splendid ascent, the
wnere quru
furore was created. The enterprise and spirit which
characterises the able and liberal proprietor of this
deservedly favourite resort have, we are glad to find, met
with a hearty response from the public, who flack in
large numbers to enjoy the most pleasing evenings, where
everything intellectual is provided for them. The gallas
prepared for next week are quite majestic, and cannot fail
to please thousands.
CLAYTON HALL.—Mr. Cumming continues to interest
and instruct crowded and fashionable audiences at this
little prince of houses. Last evening the hall was very
fashionably and fully attended, and the company were
delighted by the graphic delineations of forest and hunting
life, given by the able lecturer. There is a freedom about
Mr. Cumming's description that is always welcome, one
never tires of the brilliant pictures he incessantly presents,
and whilst you are rivited in attention by some startling
incident, he has the happy turn to illustrate the whole by
some ludicrous accident—a thing inseparable from the
life of an African hunter. Those who have not read his
book, will find iu the entertainment a history of bush
life in Mika. never before presented to Europeans. We
shall make some extracts from this work, but at the same
time, a visit to the hall will amply repay in intellectual
enjoyment.

Docron OF Laws.—We are much pleased to announce
that a European Diploma of Doctor of Laws has just been
conferred on W. M. Fisher, Ph.D.F.R.A.S., of this town.
We have c irefully inspected the beautiful tablet which
reflects the highest credit on the talents and scholarship
of this spirited gentleman. One dissertation required for
this high literary honour was the " origin, progress, and
present state of the British Constitution ;" another, << the
solar system, including comets, universal gravitation, laws
of Kepler," &e. In all these difficult and interesting sub-
jects, our esteemed friend has been eminently successful,,
and carried off the palm of victory.
PLUNDER OF PUBLIC Menem—lnformation has bean
received at the chief police station, Scotland-yard,
London, of two extensive acts of plunder by government
officials, who have gone off with a large amount of public
money. The individuals who have thus gone off are a
clerk of the Transport Office, Liverpool, who has abconded.
with upwaids of 4,0001. ; and a clerk in Customs
at Hull, who has gone off with 2,500/. Both delinquents,
it is thought, have either left or will try to get out of the
country. One is a person of great attainments, speaking
the continental languages fluently. He moved in the
first circles, and is accompanied in his flight by a young
lady of good family. Warrants have been issued for
their apprehension.
RITCHIE'S CORK Bans.—We have had an opportunity
of examining specimens of these really useful articles,
and although we heard much of their superiority, were
quite surprised to find them so admirably adapted for
the camp, emigrants, and sea service. They are composed
of cork, and perfectly waterproof. Past experience has
proved that at sea this surpasses all other descriptions of
beds. The company by whom they) are manufactured—
" The Patent Mattress and Cork Fabric Company"—have
received numerous testimonials, setting forth the excellent
qualities of the beds among them are letters from the
Surgeon Superintendents of the Ocean Monarch and James
Fernie. From these documents we learn that the follow-
ing were some of the results of a trial of them in a voyage
to Australia. Ist —The cork bed is at first somewhat
harder than the ordinary cotton mattress, but it soon
becomes soft during use. 2nd.—ln cold weather it ap
pears to be quite as warm as the cotton one ; while in the
hot weather it is cooler, and in all respects far more com-
fortable than the other. 3rd.—To determine the value of
the cork bed with regard to dryness as compared with the
cotton one—says Dr. Rowland—l caused one of each sort
to be thoroughly saturated with water, and then to be
placed in the sunshine to dry. The cork bed was dry at
the end of one day, the cotton one was still wet on the
evening of the second. 4th.—Tbe cork bed is not liable to
the objection of obstructing the ready passage of the heat
and moisture of the body, but the cotton bed is. Sth.—
At the end of the voyage it was found the cork beds were
in every respect as good as when placed on board, while
the cotton beds used in the same manner and for the same
length of time, are lumpy and uncomfortable, many of
them having quite lost the shape of mattresses, being quite
reduced to mere bags with a large hard lump of cotton at
one end. The cork beds are made of all sizes, and at
various prices, ranging from four or five shillings to
twenty-three or four. They are well suited for schools.
workhouses, asylums, hospitals, &c. Mr. Ball, of Cum-
berland-street, we observe has been appointed sole agent
at Liverpool for the company, 'and will gladly permit an
inspection of the beds by anY 'party calling at his office,

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

By British anel Irish Magnetic Telegraph.

FRANCE.

PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING.
The Three per Cents. closed at 66.65, showing
a decline of 15 centimes. The average price of
YlTheat in France, for the month ending Jnly 28th,
Is 25.75, being a decline of 1 franc 43 centimes on
'the previous month.