Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-11 00:00:00

THE DAY'S NEWS:

In the House of Lords' last night, the Bank Act
Indemnity Bill passed a second reading. Some
passing remarks were afterwards made on the state
of India. Lord Dungannon asked why it was that
the Government had not availed themselves of the
private advices which had reached this country,
with regard to the state of India previous to the
outbreak in that portion of our dominions ?
Lord Granville di I not know what the noble lord
alluded to, but Lord Derby did not see why the
matter should be treated in such a cavalier manner.

In the House of Commons last night, Mr. Wise
presented a petition from the inhabitants of
Calcutta, praying that the government of India
should be removed from the East India Govern
ment to the British Parliament. All the corres-
pondence relative to the conveyance of troops to
India will be laid before the House. The Chan-
cellor of the Rechequer intimated that he should
move that it be an instruction to committee on the
Bank Act, to inquire into the causes of the recent
commercial disasters, and how far they were
caused by the issue of Bank notes. A number of
notices of motion were given. Mr. Cooper
intimated that it was intended that after a
short time all grants to Reformatory Schools
should be discontinued. In answer to Sir John.
Pakington, as to what was the state of the Clive
Fund of 070,000, Mr. V. Smith told the House
that ho had written to. the accountant of the India
House for a detailed account on the subject ; but
the Clive Fund had Ion; since, " nominally," ceased
to exist. Respecting the question of the forward-
ing of English troops to India via Egypt, Lord
Palmerston stated that, although Lord Stratford
de Redeliffe had intimated his unwillingness to
ask the Porte for leave for certain English regi-
ments to take the overland route to India, the
English Government had thought it advisable to
do without such assistance, as they did not wish
foreign aid in the matter. A very lengthened
ellsoussion occurred on the motion of Lord John
Russell—that a bill be introduced to remove the
disqualification of persons of the Jewish persuasion
from sitting in Parliament. Ultimately, however,
leave was given to bring in the bill.
As we intimated in yesterday's paper, that which
would likely be the ease, Mr. C. Erving was elected
member of Parliament for Paisley, by a large
majority—fully 600,
The trial of Henderson, for the murder of his
father, was concluded at Chester, yesterday. After
the Judge having delivered his charge, the jury
considered for a short time, and brought in a ver-
dict of "Not guilty."
Our local news of yesterday is confined to the
reports of CIL! Assizt and Police-courts, which will
be found at length elsewhere.
The Wolverhampton Batik has again commenced
business.

The Sheffield Town Council have adopted a
petition to PArliatnent in favour of a ratepaying
suffrage, vote by ballot, and other measures of
reform. They have also adoptel a petition praying
for inquiry into the causes of the existing commer-
cial distress.

At the London Tavern, on Wednesday night,
the India Reform Society held a meeting to
protest against the double government system.
The chair was occupied by Mr. Gilpin, M.P.,
and speeches were made by Mr. J G. Phillimore,
Mr: E. Mizell, Lord Clanricarde, Mr. H. Mead, and
Mr. Waller, the two latter gentlemen lately resi-
dents in lodia. Other speeches were made by those
who sought to add to the resolutions or to amend
them, and a rider proposed by Mr. Earnest Jones,
for a thorough change in the representative system,
as the only means of obtaining the objects con-
templated by the meeting, was unanimously ac-
cepted. The abrogation of the Court of Directors,
the equality of native and British subjects in the
eye of the law, the administration of justice in a
way that will be acceptable to both, the develop-
ment of Indian resources,, the cultivation, of the
Indian soil, the direct responsibility of rulers, and
the overthrow of state support or control in mat-
ters of religion, where doctrines which were loudly
applauded whenever they ware hinted at ; and the
meeting, as a whole, may be taken to- afford a
pretty fair in !ex of the public mind. It was per-
fectly free and open, and the utmost latitude was
given to the expression of opinion.
We publish some further details of news from
India this morning. It appears from a statement
in the Calcutta Englishman that the strength of
-Greathead's column at Cawnpore amounted to
.1,850, besides Sikhs and Ghoorkas ; and that an
additional force of about 2,000 English troops was
expected there. When the latter should arrive, it
was thought likely the relief of Lucknow would,
be effected. A rumour" is noticed by the same
paper of the deaths of Generals Havelock and
Outran], the disbelief expressed of which we trust
may be well founded.
The Continental news this morning is not of any
importance. We are informed, from Paris, that
the long talked of French expedition to China,
comprising a land force of 3,000 men, is now
actually to sail, in consequence of pressing letters
received from the French Admiral in the Chinese
waters.
The Cabinet of St. Petersburg has peremptorily
denied the right claimed by Austria and England,
under the Treaty of Paris, of interdicting Russia
from blockading the Circassian poets. The Rus-
sian- Government hopes to induce the British
Government to view the matter in the same light
as she does. So, at least, say the continental
journals.-
It is asserted that private negociatiorig OA the

question of the Principalities are taking place
between the French and our own Governments.
The assertion is made, however, and it is even
added that these negotiations have already led to a
notification, addressed to the Divans, that the idea
of a foreign dynasty must be given up.
The Monetary Crisis in the north of Europe
continues unabated. All the miserable palliatives
resorted to in Hamburgh, Denmark, and Sweden,
have proved unavailing, and as they consist in
nothing else than a transfer of capital from one
hand to another, this is only what was to be
expected. Switzerland seems now to have been
drawn into the vortex. The system of accommoda-
tion bills, and commercial insincerity, have created
the evil, and more accommodation, and more insin-
cerity will not remedy it.
Lord Stratford de Redeliffe will leave Constan-
tinople for England to-morrow (Saturday), the
12th inst.

THERE is a hitch in the Cabinet. The
discordant elements of which it• is composed
are at sixes and sevens, and if any credit can be
attached to the rumours of some well informed
parties it is not unlikely that Lord
PALMERSTON will find himself obliged to dispense
with some of his present colleagues, and
introduce a little fresh blood into his adminis-
tration. Indeed, from what has already taken
place in Parliament, such a crisis may
legitimately be expected. We showed in our
remarks upon the debate on the address to the
Queen, that such was the incompetence of the
President of the India Board, Mr. VERNON
SMITH, that unless his past conduct, with regard
to the mutiny in India, was completely
vindicated, and the serious charges put forth by
Lord DERBY and Mr. DISRAELI, and that is
believed to be next to impossible, it would be
the bounden duty of the Premier to part
company with the great official of Cannon Row ;
and failing that, then both the Parliament and
the People should step forward and compel
the Right Hon. Gentleman's resignation.
We believe we are right in saying that
the Ministers feel themselves in a difficulty on
this very matter, and that not a few of them are
disposed to urge Mr. SMITH to resign his place
in the Cabinet, whilst on the other hand, the
aristocratic element of the Ministry are entirely
against the adoption of such a course, as it
would, unquestionably, require the recall of Lord
CANNING.

Lord PALMERSTON, we all know, is a great
political tactician. He knows better than almost
any living statesman how to shuffle his cards so
as to retain place and power. No better proof
of this assertion need be cited than the fact that,
with the exception of only a very few years,
he has contrived to hold office in almost every
Cabinet that has existed since he entered
Parliament in 1807 ! If, then, the only difficulty
against which be had to contend, was the
removal of Mr. VERNON SMITH from the India
Board, we could see a movement,—which Lord
DERBY applied t 3 the Government of the late
Earl GREY—" political thimble-rigging." A
change of places would soon be effected, and the
incompetent of Cannon Row might, in all
probability, take office as Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster, a snug and easy berth,
whilst the amicable and talented member for
Leeds would assume the duties and functions of
President of the Board of Control. By such
an arrangement the happy family could pursue
the even tenor of their ways for a time longer,
draw their quarter's pay, and laugh in their
sleeves at all the attacks and taunts of the Tories
and the peace party.
But there are other matters on which the
Cabinet are well known to be far from unanimous.
The first, and most important of these questions,
is that of Reform. We have frequently hinted
that on this partijular matter Lord PALMERSTON
is neither sound or zealous. True, it is, that
at the close of last session he pledged
himself to take into consideration the propriety
and expediency of a New Reform, and,
in fulfilment of that pledge, hethus instructs
the Queen to address " My Lords and
" Gentlemen,—Your attention will be called
" to the laws which regulate the repre-
" sentation of the people in Parliament, with a
" view to consider what amendment may safely
" and beneficially be made therein." At first
sight, this paragraph would appear to enunciate
a fixed determination on the part of the Govern-
ment to bring in, and carry through Parliament
a New Reform Bill. But it warrants no such
conclusion. The speeches of neither the movers
and seconders of the address, in either House,
said one word which could lead us to believe
that Ministers actually meant to propose any
measure for reforming the representation of the
people. Certainly, Lord CAREw, with a
candour which does credit to a nobleman of
" the sod," said "The Government deserve
" credit for the
.course which they had adopted
"with regard to this subject." Well might Lord
DERBY say that his noble friend " roared like a
sucking dove," when he alluded to that part of
the speech which mentioned Reform." But,
independent of the absence of any strong
allusion to the matter in the debate alluded to,
the very wording of the. paragraph in the
Queen's Speech relating to the matter, is
ambiguous in the extreme, and, for ought we
know, may, when the proper time comes for an
exennplication of its meaning, turn out to be a
Parliamentary enquiry touching the defects of
the present Reform Bill, and the best means of
improving those defects, i.e. in staving off the
the day of actual legislation ; and when the
people "ask for bread, giving them a stone."
Independent of all this, were Lord PALMERSTON
ever so well inclined to be considered the author
of a new Reform Bill, he is thwarted by mom

the Cabinet remait2.B as at present constructed,
there is little chance of A thoroughly efficient
measure being prepared and submitted to
Parliament.

Thus, then, on two of the most vital and
important questions of the present day, we see
that Ministers are not agreed. Again they have
left the Jew Bill in the hands of Lard J onN
RUSSELL, whose unreasonable tactics last year
prevented the settlement of the question. This
must be a sop thrown to his Lordship for the
purpose of keeping him quiet on what he prides
himself and regards as his great political hobby—
Parliamentary Reform. The absence, too, of any
allusion to the question of National Education,
seeing that so many private members are rivals
for the honour and distinction of being regarded
as its successful champions. There are other
topics on which, we believe, they are far from
being unanimous. No matter how we look, we see
breakers ahead. For our own part, we are not
sorry at it, and should rejoice to see the
incompetents, the arrogant and self-sufficient,
and the obstructive demands, which form no
small portion of the Cabinet, pushed aside, and
their places taken by enlightened and progressive
statesmen. Lord PALMERSTON may depend
upon it, that the country will allow of no halting
on the question of Reform ; and the iniquities of
the Indian Government must be swept away, or
else popular indignation will hurl him from his
innacle of power.'

than one of his colleagues; and that? a lok-g. as

TIDE NORTHERN' TIMES.:=-LIVERPOOLI FRIDA.Y, DECEMBER 11, 1857.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

loss was trifling. All the men are now going to Gwalior
and the gallant 3rd has jest marched out of the fort mid
cheers and music to relieve the Queen's Bth, who will remain
with us. A prisoner taken to-day says that the enemy
did not know that our reinforcements had arrived, and
intended to cut up our militia who were encamped near the
parade ground and all the ladies and gentlemen outside
~Ite fort. What a Providential escape ! Our hospital is
f&t of sick and wounded, and a dreadful spectacle it is!
I went this morning five miles down the road along which
the erten!) v fled, and saw numbers of dead bodies of Pandies
and maht6,-dans in in all their frightful attitudes and
conditions. fcgs offs, hands off, heads off, &c.