Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1874-03-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CORNRILL. London: Smith, Elder and Jo., 18, Waterloo Place. ONE article alone in Cornhill—" The Unnleasan Past "—is worth the shilling charged for the whole magazine. Some people never weary of talking of the good old times, and lamenting our decadence. In some respects, of purse, the old times were good enough, and the people perhaps stronger. healthier, and happier—happier because they lived 1.. quieter times, and had fewer opportunities than we now have of seeing others batter than ourselves, to stir up a spirit of envy and rivalry. But. taking Engbnd all in all, we really live in better times than those good old days so highly landed by poets and sentimentalists. Who is there amongst us could tolerate the return of the good old days even for a week? Not to go very far back in our retrospect, " the climate was more damp and foggy (says the facetious writer) and the frosts were more severe, because nearly the whole country was undrained. The roads were horrible and infested by highwaymen. The streets were not lighted with gas, and thieves had it all their own way at night time. Cabs are still had enough; but think of the oldfashioned hackney-coach! It took nearly thirty hours to travel from London to York. Tea cost half a guinea per pound, and bread was sometimes sixteen pence the quarteru loaf. The period of the Reformation must have been a detestable time to live in, because one could not reform the Church without running the risk of being hung, burnt brokeu on the wheel, or otherwise tormented instead of arguing, as we do now, quietly in the newspapers and reviews, or discoursing in sermons, and so forth." We have a few highwaymen yet; but if justice is meted to them all in the same handsome fashion as was done with the band before the Durham Assizes last week, the Dick Turpins of Durham and York will speedily disappear. Twenty-one years' penal servitude and twenty lashes is not too severe a punishment for nearly murdering an innocent way-farer. This simile is a fair illustration between the old times and the new, be they good or bad. And, moreover, where would the Nonconformists of the present day, find themselves far agitating reformation or disendowment of the English Church? We will be all the better and happier if we make good use of the times in which we live, instead of jog over that which is past beyond recall. far as literature goes, at any rate, the olden times could produce nothing to be put in comparison with Corrthi 1 Magazine. The present number is one of the most entertain:ng we have read—excellent though . tire articles in this magazine usually are. rough  LIVERPOOL CORN, March 10.—Market opens good for wheat. Flour sttady. Indian corn rather dearer. NEWCASTLE COllllll, March 10. English wheat firm at folly Saturday's rates. Foreign held , for is advance, wnicli.checks buyers. Oats recovered the decline of Saturd-ty. No change in barley, beons, or peas: Flour in dt mand, at fully late rates.  CORE CORN, March 11.—Black oats, 9s to 9s 4d; whit., oats, 9s 21 to 93 11. Weather frosty. LONDON CORN, March Il.—Market firm, English and foreign wheat realised full prices. American &amt.. Flour firm and rather more money asked. Oats fine quality 61 dearer on week. Maize a shade dearer. Barley, beans, and peas remained steady. . STOCKTON CORN, March 11.—The heavy falls of snow and the severe frost, which commenced on Monday, have materially impeded locomotion in this district. There was a small supply of wheat from the farmers, which sold readily at an advance of is per qr. on last week's prices. All kinds of spring corn were firm, whilst infetior sorts were cheaper. Stockton averages for week ending March 9th show wheat to have been 64s per imperial quarter. Currencies to-day were :