Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-06 00:00:00

Eitt Parthrtri

MOATDAY, JULY 6, 1857.

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The local and domestic incidents of the day
ere not of much importance. Saturday being the
anniversary of " American independence," the
day was observed, as usual, with much respect and
honour by the Americans now in Liverpool,
The ships in the harbour belonging to the United
States were gaily decked out in the colours of all
nations. The officers of the United States frigate
Niagara were entertained at the Adelphi Hotel by a
number of the American merchantsresident in Liver-
pool. These annual meetings are calculated to do
good; they assuage anything approaching national
enmity, and, if possible, united the mercantile
community of the two countries to each other
more and more.

Yesterday morning, the body of a man respecta-
bly dressed, and having the appearance of a
country farmer, was found in the canal with his
throat cut- A police officer had observed the
deceased in the course of Saturday evening
in Chisenhall-street, at a house of ill-fame.
We believe the body has been identified. A
Coroner's inquest will be held to-day, when further
particulars will transpire.
The trial of Miss Smith still proceeds at Edin-
burgh. To-lily's issue contains a good portion of
the evidence given for the prosecution. The
unfortunate prisoner continues her self-
possession ; and the wonder is, that a female
could undergo such a trying ordeal as she
has done without the smallest symptom of
trepidation. It would be premature to offer
any opinion on the evidence at present given
--sufficient, however, has transpired to establish
that L'Angelier died from the effects of poison,
and, without waiting for the medical testimony, we
may say, that the poison employed was arsenic—
the question yet to be determined is, who admin-
istered it ? _ _

We report at full length the proceedings of a
trial in the Court of Queen's Bench on Saturday,
in connection with the loss of the Lochmaben
Castle.

The loss of the barque Ontario, of Liverpool, is
reported in another column.
On Saturday an inquest was held on the body of
the late Earl of Mornington, who died suddenly on
Wednesday last. Considerable interest attached
.to the inquiry, not only consequent on the high
position of the deceased in the peerage, and the
circumstances which have so frequently brought
his name before ti'e public, but more especially in
connection with a sum of something like £200,000,
which the noble earl's death will, derived as it is
upon policies of insurance, place at the disposal
of the trustees of his encumbered estates and
other creditors. The chief witness was Major
Richardson, who said he did not consider the earl
at all likely to commit suicide. During the last
four months his spirits had flaggel, but that was
only in private. So far from appearing desponding,
during the last three or four weeks he appeared
the reverse, saying that he had attained the great
object of his life, by proving to the world, with
regard to his Chancery affairs, that he was a
wronged man. With respect to the statement as
to his being in want, he (witness) was aware that
the earl had not wanted for the last four years. In
1854 he (witness) obtained for the earl 1,0001,
which lasted him two years. He had been living
upon 81 a week, but on his cousin, the Duke of
Wellington, becoming acquainted with his condi-
tion, he allowed him 101 a week, which he had up
to the time of his decease. He did not, therefore,
consider the earl in pecuniary want, but at the
same time it might be deemed so in the case of
one who, from 100,0001 a year, had had to live
upon 5001 per annum. The 101 a week from the
Duke, of Wellington was all the earl received,
and he often writhed under that. His life
was insured on behalf of the trustees of
the estate for 87,0001, and for 120,0001. on
behalf of other parties, making up a sum of
£207,000. The policies were not encumbered, as
the premiums were regularly paid by the parties,
and the earl frequently expressed his surprise
that the people would continue paying on them.
Not one of the policies was in his own possession,
and some were nearly forty years old. On Monday
(the day before his death) he called on him
(witness) for the last time, and as he entered the
room he addressed him in French—" Ah, my friend,
quite a stranger—how do you do ?" The earl im-
mediately placed his hands to his body, exclaiming,
" Good God, how ill lam and supported himself
by a chair. He was afterwards sick, and he (Major
Richardson) sent for Dr. Probert, who gave him
some brandy, and he became so vi ell again that
before Dr. Probert left he was very lively, and
related one of his witty anecdotes. The earl was
a very temperate person, although it was reputed
he drank a very great deal, yet he (witness) knew
for a fact his drink consisted of nothing better
than coloured water, which he would sip for hours
together, and hence the report about his being an
inveterate drinker. Thep, y returned a verdict of
"Died from natural causes.'

Thomas Mansell, whose case has engaged so
much of the attention of the courts, is left for
execution, and will undergo the last penalty of the
law at Maidstone this day. His crime was that of
a most deliberate murder, having shot a sergeant
of his regiment, on account of a personal quarrel.
in a cool and determined manner, in the open day.
The objections to his conviction were entirely of a
technical character—unconnected with the merits
of the case—and were overruled by all the Supe-
rior Courts to which they were referred, and
before which they were elaborately argued. No
palliating circumstances have since come light ;
and there were no grounds, therefore, to authorise
the Secretary of State to advise any departure from
the due course of law.
One of our London cotemporaries informs us
that the Royal Commissioners, appointed to inquire
and examine into the constitution of the superior
courts of law at Westminster, and into the existing
arrangements of the circuit courts, have agreed to
their report, which will be printed and ready to be
submitted to Parliament before the close of the
session. It is understood that the Commissioners
will express their opinion, founded upon the evi-
dence before them and their own experience, that