Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-21 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIAIES..:-LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, T 857.

VO THE EMTOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

up anchor, and proceeded in tow to sea. Cast off

the tug at the Bell buoy, and made sail, the Light-
ning steaming with two boats ahead—wind light,
from SW. to W.S.W.—Lightning towed close in
shore, and lost in the haze. During the night
wind freshened at W.S.W. Commenced beating
down channel at noon. On the Bth tacked off
Bardsc-y Island, and exchanged signals with the
steamer returning from the Lightning, there
being at the time a fresh breez?. Clear weather

at;3 p.m. ; whilst on the southern tack, saw the
Lightning, courses down, dead to windward.
During the night a strong steady breeze from the

W S.W , and clear weather, ship going very fast
through the water; tacked every two hours. At
4-a.m. crossed the Lightning's bows, spoke her,
put our helm down, and after her. At daylight
sixteen ships in sight, beating down channel, also
a yacht. Vessels all single, and some double reefed
—Dreadnought and Lightning under royals
and staysails. At 4 p.m., Lightning hull
down dead to leeward, everything else
out of sight. During the night light airs
from N.N.E. At 3 p.m., 10th, spoke a brig that
wished to know our longitude; wrote a letter back
to my agents, Messrs. A. Taylor and Co., whilst the
brig was waiting for my note ; weather cleared up
astern ; saw the Lightning steering to the south
westward ; brig reported us both off Cork.
They say we have never sailed in the same
direction with their Australian ship. Surely
Messrs Baines and Co. cannot be so ignorant of
I the geographical position of the channel as not to
admit, our course is exactly the same, as far as the
Smalls. They also state they have once been in
our trade, and that the Lightning and James
Baines made the passage from Boston to Liver-
pool in 121 clays and 13 to 17 hours respectively.
These remarks were entirely uncalled for, and
therefore calls for a comment. I am entirely
opposed to newspaper controversy ; but Messrs.
J. Baines and Co , endeavouring to build up the
reputation of their ships, regardless of the conse-
quences to other vessels, compels me to vindicate
the honour of my ship.
They state they have yet to learn the Dread-
nought has made better time than the above
named ships. I feel most happy to enlighted them
upon that subject.
If they examine the records in the News-room,
they will find that the Dreadnought came to
Liverpool from New York, and was docked in the
Waterloo Dock, in 13 days, 11 hours, and
15 minutes, and passengers landed ; and that
upon more than one occasion Dreadnought has
brought the mail ahead of the steamers—(some
of the passengers are present in Liverpool
and can testify those facts)—to stay any further
controversy, I here offer to bet them £lOO that
every word I have written is a fact.
Will they !bet me the same amount that their
ship came to Liverpool in the time they specify,
although Boston is nearly one day sail nearer to
Liverpool than New York is ?
I now retire from the field, leaving the public to
judge which is the fastest ship, and beg to
apologise for .having occupied so much valuable
space in your columns.—ltemaining, dear sir, very
respectfully yours. S. SAMUELS, Commander.
Waterloo Dock, 20th August, 1H57.

SrM JOHN POTTER, M.P. FOR MANCH&STER.—The Il-
lustrated London Times says that this hon. gentlem no has
had an attack of paralysis, and that at the end of the present
senion he will probably apply for the stewardship of the
Chiltern Hundreds.
WOOLWICH, August 47.—This afternoon, at half-pact
three o'c'ock, her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands
and a numerous smite arrived at Woolwich Dockyard, for
embarkation in the Netherlands gov.-rnment steam vessel
Cycloope, C mimander lilerck, on her departure from En-
gland. Her M:jcsty's suite arrived in six private carriages,
and comprised the Comte de Rand wick, Baron Wakerin,
the Come Schirnmelpeuinek,:Envoy Extraordinary, M.
Stratein, councillor of legation, &c. &c. Her Majesty
was received by Commodore Superintendent Shepherd,
sad a guard of honour composed of Royal Marine Light
Infantry, and on arriving at the landing place a royal sa-
lute of 21 guns was ,fired from the Fisgard flag-ship. The
platform, from the wharf to the vessel, was laid with baize
covered with crimson cloth, and after heartily shaking
bands and taking leave of the Cornmordore Superintendent
and his lady and those of her suite who returned to town,
her Majesty and attendants embarked at 4 p.m. The
Cyeloope immediately proceeded on her voyage down
the river.

CENTAALISATION AND ed.RCITILLOCTITION:—In a late issue
we spoke of the mischief which -had resulted to the Indian
army from centralising military power in the hands of the
Governor-General. The reader, unaccoainted with the fact,
will scarcely believe the extent :to which it is carried;
indeed, we:hardly knew it ourselves until the government
correspondence coonec ed with the .mutiny came into our
possession. Wilt it be crodited that a private cannot be
promoted to thesank of se:Pant except by the Governor-
Generat? 111:,jor .General Hearsey, in order to reward
sepoy Sheik Phultoo, who gallantly defended his officer
from the attack of a4nutineer, promoted him sur le champ
to the rank of havild,ar or se, jeant, whereupon Viscount
Caeninc!, jealous of his patronage, records in a minute that
"It is not ie the power of the naajor-generaltornmanding a
division to make this proms:gime which can prooeed only f rom
the goverment of India"' and all the members of council
subscribe to his doctrine. So much for centralisation.
Now for circumlocution. The government agree that the
sepoy deserves promotion, and confer it, and at the same
time grant the man the "Order of Merit," and this is the
way in which the very important honour is conferred.
Colonel Birch, the military secretary to the government of
~ writes to the adjutant-general, and reques's that the
corcinancler,in-chief may be moved to cause the documents
to be submitted for the orders of government. Then, of
course, the c -rumander-le-chief, being moved thereto,
desires the adju'ant general to send to Colonel Birch, who
lava the documents before the government, who issues an
order g anting the distinctior, sending it to the usrij itant-
general, who forwards it to 31,j0r General Hearsey, who
bands it to the commanding officer of the regiment, who
gives it to the adjutant, when it is entered in the °Met'
hcolr, and read 41Di to toe regiment.— United States
Gazette,

Sir,—ln reply to Messrs. James Baines ani I Co.'s
letter in this morning's issue, I regret to fin d that
they should be so bad;y posted respecting this qua-
lifications of their own ships. They don't know
how the ship Dreadnought could have nwt the
Lightning—permit me to enlighten them. C)n the
"e:h November the Lightning got under weigh ; I
determined (having heard her so much spokt In of)
to race with her, and waited one day for that pur
pose. She, however, did not sail till the 7th, when
again perceiving her under weigh, the Dreadnought