Northern Times. — 1857-07-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MOATDAY, JULY 6, 1857.  THE DAY'S NEWS.  The local and domestic incidents of the day ere not of much importance. Saturday being the anniversary of " American independence," the day was observed, as usual, with much respect and honour by the Americans now in Liverpool, The ships in the harbour belonging to the United States were gaily decked out in the colours of all nations. The officers of the United States frigate Niagara were entertained at the Adelphi Hotel by a number of the American merchantsresident in Liverpool. These annual meetings are calculated to do good; they assuage anything approaching national enmity, and, if possible, united the mercantile community of the two countries to each other more and more.  Yesterday morning, the body of a man respectably dressed, and having the appearance of a country farmer, was found in the canal with his throat cut- A police officer had observed the deceased in the course of Saturday evening in Chisenhall-street, at a house of ill-fame. We believe the body has been identified. A Coroner's inquest will be held to-day, when further particulars will transpire. The trial of Miss Smith still proceeds at Edinburgh. To-lily's issue contains a good portion of the evidence given for the prosecution. The unfortunate prisoner continues her selfpossession ; and the wonder is, that a female could undergo such a trying ordeal as she has done without the smallest symptom of trepidation. It would be premature to offer any opinion on the evidence at present given --sufficient, however, has transpired to establish that L'Angelier died from the effects of poison, and, without waiting for the medical testimony, we may say, that the poison employed was arsenic— the question yet to be determined is, who administered it ? _ _  We report at full length the proceedings of a trial in the Court of Queen's Bench on Saturday, in connection with the loss of the Lochmaben Castle.  The loss of the barque Ontario, of Liverpool, is reported in another column. On Saturday an inquest was held on the body of the late Earl of Mornington, who died suddenly on Wednesday last. Considerable interest attached .to the inquiry, not only consequent on the high position of the deceased in the peerage, and the circumstances which have so frequently brought his name before ti'e public, but more especially in connection with a sum of something like £200,000, which the noble earl's death will, derived as it is upon policies of insurance, place at the disposal of the trustees of his encumbered estates and other creditors. The chief witness was Major Richardson, who said he did not consider the earl at all likely to commit suicide. During the last four months his spirits had flaggel, but that was only in private. So far from appearing desponding, during the last three or four weeks he appeared the reverse, saying that he had attained the great object of his life, by proving to the world, with regard to his Chancery affairs, that he was a wronged man. With respect to the statement as to his being in want, he (witness) was aware that the earl had not wanted for the last four years. In 1854 he (witness) obtained for the earl 1,0001, which lasted him two years. He had been living upon 81 a week, but on his cousin, the Duke of Wellington, becoming acquainted with his condition, he allowed him 101 a week, which he had up to the time of his decease. He did not, therefore, consider the earl in pecuniary want, but at the same time it might be deemed so in the case of one who, from 100,0001 a year, had had to live upon 5001 per annum. The 101 a week from the Duke, of Wellington was all the earl received, and he often writhed under that. His life was insured on behalf of the trustees of the estate for 87,0001, and for 120,0001. on behalf of other parties, making up a sum of £207,000. The policies were not encumbered, as the premiums were regularly paid by the parties, and the earl frequently expressed his surprise that the people would continue paying on them. Not one of the policies was in his own possession, and some were nearly forty years old. On Monday (the day before his death) he called on him (witness) for the last time, and as he entered the room he addressed him in French—" Ah, my friend, quite a stranger—how do you do ?" The earl immediately placed his hands to his body, exclaiming, " Good God, how ill lam and supported himself by a chair. He was afterwards sick, and he (Major Richardson) sent for Dr. Probert, who gave him some brandy, and he became so vi ell again that before Dr. Probert left he was very lively, and related one of his witty anecdotes. The earl was a very temperate person, although it was reputed he drank a very great deal, yet he (witness) knew for a fact his drink consisted of nothing better than coloured water, which he would sip for hours together, and hence the report about his being an inveterate drinker. Thep, y returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes.'  Thomas Mansell, whose case has engaged so much of the attention of the courts, is left for execution, and will undergo the last penalty of the law at Maidstone this day. His crime was that of a most deliberate murder, having shot a sergeant of his regiment, on account of a personal quarrel. in a cool and determined manner, in the open day. The objections to his conviction were entirely of a technical character—unconnected with the merits of the case—and were overruled by all the Superior Courts to which they were referred, and before which they were elaborately argued. No palliating circumstances have since come light ; and there were no grounds, therefore, to authorise the Secretary of State to advise any departure from the due course of law. One of our London cotemporaries informs us that the Royal Commissioners, appointed to inquire and examine into the constitution of the superior courts of law at Westminster, and into the existing arrangements of the circuit courts, have agreed to their report, which will be printed and ready to be submitted to Parliament before the close of the session. It is understood that the Commissioners will express their opinion, founded upon the evidence before them and their own experience, that