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

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1857.

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The House of Lords had a short sitting yesterday
afternoon, when several bills were forwarded a
stage, but the proceedings were devoid of import-I
ance, as being, for the mos;. part, of a routine
character. The Lard Chancellor stated that, ac-
cording to the opinions of the law officers of the
Crown, the traffic in opium in China was perfectly
legal, although it might be desirable to make
some change on the subject. The Divorce Bill
will be doomed to opposition when it reaches their
Lordships. Lord Redesdale gave notice that he
would move that the Commons' amendments be
considered that day three months.
The House of Commons met at twelve o'clock,
and was chiefly occupied in renewed discussion on
the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill, when a
number of amendments and alterations were
proposed, without leading to any great change.
The bill was then reported, and ordered to be
read a third time this day, at twelve c'clock, when
the sitting was suspended. At the evening sitting,
after a number of questions had been asked and
answered, the House proceeded with the considera-
tion of several measures, including the third reading
of the Militia Bill. Several officers, in the course
of the debate, expressed their opinion that at least
1,000 Sappers and Miners should be sent out to
Delhi with as little delay as. possible. The bill
was read a third time and passed, and the other
orders of the day were disposed of, after which
the House adjourned.
It is now stated that her Mejesty will not
prorogue Parliament in person, and it has become
quite uncertain whether the prorogation will take
place. as was previously stated, on Tuesday.
Ministers are extremely eager to pass their
Divorce Bill, but should Lord Redesdale not carry
his motion, already noted above, then there may,
and no doubt will, be lengthened and keen debates
on. the Common's amendments.

Although we have several items of local intelli-
gence this morning, it is devoid of much import-
ance. We regret to observe that the medical
officer's report of the health of the town, as pre-
sented at the meeting of the Health _Committee
yesterday, is much above an average, the number
of deaths for the week ending Saturday last being
twenty more than the corrected average of the same
week of the previous nine years, excluding 1849.
The usual weekly meeting of the Dock Com-
mittee took place yesterday, but beyond business
of a routine character, including the reading of the
minutes of the late meetings of the committee,
which were held for the purpose of considering
what steps should be taken with the Mersey Con-
servancy Bill, No. 2, there was no matter of
importance brought forward. A vote of thanks to
Mr. Turner, for his great exertions in sustaining
the interest of the dock estate at the late Parlia-
mentary contest, was passed unanimously.
The proceedings at the Assize Courts, yesterday,
were devoid of importance. The chief case tried in
the Crown Court was that of Surgeon Bride, who
was indicted with having killed and murdered one
Margaret Mtheal, by endeavouring to procure an
abortion. The facts of the case as detailed by the
counsel for the prosecution and the defence are
given in ano•her column. Mr. Bride was
acquitted and discharged. Three men, named
Williams, Margonson, and Price, were indi .ted for
the murder of one William Yates, at Manchester.
The case for the prosecution broke down, and the
prisoners were acquitted.
Elsewhere will be found a report of Spellen's
narrative of nis trial, delivered in one of the Dublin
theatres, as well as the feeling evinced against the
unfortunate man. A perusal of the matter will
repay the time spent upon it.
The painful spectacle of a double execution was
witnessed yesterday, at Maidstone, by many thou-
sand people. The victims were both exceedingly
young men—Edwards, only 18, whose crime was a
very atrocious fratricide ; and Fox, 24, who suf-
fered for having shot his sweetheart.
The continental news is of some interest. Some
of the papers quote a private letter from St. Peters-
burgh, which says it is rumoured the Russian
Government does not intend to remain an idle
spectator of the events in China, but to take an
active part in them when opportunity should
offer. It is proposed to send a flotilla to the
Chinese waters. Count Puutjaline, who did ser-
vice at the time of the expedition to Japan, has
been selected to represent Russia, but only for the
purpose of the present difference. The diploma-
matist will embark fur China almost immediately,
the flotilla, which is being organising at Cronstadt,
being nearly ready to sail.
Telegraphic news from Tunis says that very
serious religious disturbances have broken out. A
dervise having in the publii streets denounced an
Israelite as a blasphemer, the populace fell upon
the unfortunate Jew, who was, however, rescued
from their hands, and taken for safety to the
Bourse. But the populace broke into the building,
and knocked to nieces everything they could lay
their hands upon. They then went to the offices of
the Messageries, crying " Death to the Jews r'
" Death to the Franks!" The French Consul went
in all haste to the Bey at Mersa, and demanded
troops for the protection of European life and pro-
perty. The greatest excitement prevails in the
town. Another dispalca says :—The Christians
themselves hal been threatened. Severel persons
were killed. The British Consulate was insulted.
Military measures for repressing the outrage were
taken very tardily.
Telegraphic news from Constantinople later
than the B'h, when the mail left, but without exact
date, shows that the consent of the Porte to the
concession made in her name by England and
Austria must already have been given or promised,
for the four Ambassadors had stopped their pre-
parations for departure. A letter from Vienna
says that the Austrian government is actually in
possession of the news of the Porte having given
its consent

The Austrian j )urncils of Lombardy continue to
point to the state of Piedmont as affording ground
for apprehension that a new revolutionary outbreak