Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-16 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JUNE 13.
A day or two back a Ministerial Council was held here,
and attended by such of the Ministers as had not as yet
left town ; it was then decided that, if nothing unexpected
happened, no further Ministerial meeting should take
place for a month ; an 3 all the Ministers have since left
town. The Minister President has withdrawn to his
country seat for that period. From the above an idea may
be formed of the correctness of a statement that lately
appeared in the French papers, that the Prussian Diet
was about to be convoked shortly for an extraordinary
session, for which extraordinary measure no other reason
could be assigned than the necessary settlement of Princ3
'Frederick William's appanage, a subject with which the
Diet has nothing whatever to do. A longer space of time
than usual will elapse before the next meeting of the Diet,
inasmuch as during the last session that clause of the
charter was altered which requires the Government to
convoke the Diet in November of every year, and gives
them breathing time till January, an alteration which
they will gladly avail themeelves of, if nothing unexpected
happens, of which at prcsent there is not even a shadow
forecast.
The Staats Anzciger here has published the text of the
treaty concluded between Prussia and Denmark for the
redemption of the Sound dues, together with the supple-
mentary treaty regulating the modus by which the quota
that falls to the share of the former shall be paid off.
The total sum amounts to 3,330,0201 thalers (499,5030,
which is to be paid off in forty half-yearly rates, together
with the interest accruing on the balance.

SPAIN.

MADRID, JUNE 10,
The latest arrivals from Mexico are unimportant, and
do not seem likely to accelerate the settlement of
dispute between that country and Spain. The trial of THE SUNDAY BANDS.—The People's Subscription Band
the prisoners was proceeding, but they were numerous,
aud it would occupy much time. In short, no advance again performed in Regent's-park on Sunday afternoon.
has been made towards a friendly arrangement, and all There were about forty performers, many of them favoar-
that appears to be doing at present is to gain time. This ably known to the public. For more than an hour before
is a decided gain, for if the question could be left quiet
until the law on the press is passed, and the Cortes that announced for the opening of the performance every
separate, the Spanish Government would be more free to entrance to the park was admitting an uninterrupted stream
make becoming concessions than when urged by irritating
appeals in the Chambers and the newspapers. For of respectably dressed people, a large proportion of them
.
the last few days little has been said about the Mexican accompanied by children. From some of the park-keepers
affair, that topic having been to some extent superseded we learn that there were present in the park, at five o'clock
by the law relating to the press. It is said that the ,
when the band began to lpa y), upwards of 120,000
Government is determined to carry it through in its full l
severity, and will oppose even the slight modifications f persons. There were no policemen to be seen, and the park-
made in the project by the committee. The journalists keepers confined themselves to preventing persons entering
are in commotion, and have held several meetings, which •
were attended by the editors of all the Madrid papers, within the railed anelosure round the platform. The pro-
with the exception of four Ministerial ones. Four gramme consisted of operatic selections and other orchestral
deputies, directors or editors of as many papers, of very
nieces, and concluded with " God save the Queen." The
various political opinions, pledged themselves to combat .
the project in the Chamber. A number of other editors members of the committee, who are responsible for the
were of opinion that all political journals should suspend expenses of the band, were actively engaged selling pro.
Publication on the day on which the law is published.
This was not the unanimous opinion of the meeting, but grammes, at one penny each, which were readily bought by
it is said that a number of papers shall cease to appear, the audience. The weather was beautiful—a cloudless sky
should the law pass, as there cannot be a doubt that it With a pleasant breeze. The scene altogether was one of
will do. the most remarkable we have ever wituessel,—London
The treaty between England and Spain for the mutual
aper.
protection of literary property is on the point of signature ; p

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY.

The House met at five o'clock.
Lord CAMPBELL laid on the table a bill to check the sale
and circulation of obscene books and prints. The bill
authorised a search of houses upon affidavit that the law
Was violated, and the abominable publication might be
seized and carred away.
The bill was read a first time.
The Earl of DERBY gave notice that on the motion for
the second reading of the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill,
he should move that it be read a second time that day six
months.

The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from the
Irish Ecclesiastical Commissioners, denying that they have
surplus funds at their disposal, and declaring that their
funds are totally inadequate to the accomplishment of the
objects for which, by act of parliament, they were originally
destined.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for the report of
Mr. Halliday and other papers relating to the cruelties
practised in India, and took the opportunity, at some
length, to draw their lordships attention to the subject.
Lord MoyrmAGLrl observftd that the policy of the
government appeared to be to procrastinate in reference
to the amelioration of the condition of the Indian subjects
of England, but he urged her Majesty's government to
give their immediate attention to the subject, and introduce
a remedy for the state of things described by Mr Halliday.
The Duke of ARGYLV said there would be no objection
to the production of the papers.
After some observations from the Earl of ALBEMARLE,
The returns were ordered.

The report of amendments to the transp Irtation and
penal servitude was brought up and the amendments were

agreed to.

Their Lordships rose at eight o'clock.

ITOU,cE OF COMMON? `.—MONDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at fcnr o'clock.

NEW ME3II3ICRS.

Mr. U. Herbert, Mr. Alexander, and Sir C. W. Cod-
rington, took the oaths and their seats for Kerry, Carlow,
and Gloucestershire, respectively.